"we never wanted any part of Mother's plan," Mothball explained.

He and Screwball were sitting at Zecora's table, eating soup with one hoof and holding hooves with the other. Well, Screwball was the only one eating anyway, since Mothball was not accustomed to solid food.

"But what were We supposed to do?" Screwdriver continued. "we were young, we had nowhere else to go. The hive is the only home we've ever known. The changelings never really felt like family, but..."

"We get it," Cherry Blossom said, giving his hoof a gentle squeeze. "No matter how crazy they are, you can't pick family." She hung her head. "And sometimes, you'd do anything to please them."

"Part of what our mother told you is true, though. we were supposed to feed off your love, but...we couldn't bear to hurt you. Eventually, we kept away from you altogether." Mothball explained.

"It's funny. You keep saying that the more time we spend with you, the weaker we get, but the thing is..." They put down their spoon and scooted closer to them. "When we're with you, we feel...stronger."

"You do feel stronger. We still don't understand how that's possible." Mothball and Screwdriver marveled.

"Perhaps I can explain," Zecora volunteered, "why they feel no pain." She held up the card 'Temperance.' "We spoke to you of balancing your traits. There is more to what this card dictates. You gain power from Screwball and Cherry Blossom's love, it's true, but from your love, they gain power too. What you give replaces what you take. 'Tis such a rare magic that you four make."

"So what you're saying is," Mothball attempted to clarify, "that instead of us taking away their power, we're...sharing our own?"

The zebra nodded.

"It makes sense," Cherry Blossom declared. "Love is the most powerful form of chaos there is." She smirked. "But I thought you didn't have a heart, you big softie."

"So did we," the princes said. "But Zecora told us something interesting. If I were heartless like our mother, we would have left you for dead." They gazed into their eyes. "But we didn't."

Screwball smiled and nuzzled her head into Mothball's chest. "I'm sorry I doubted you."

He grinned nervously. "Well, you had reason."

She slowly pulled away and looked at him seriously. "What else do you know about Chrysalis' plan?"

He sighed. "The night of the Gala, when we returned to the hive, Mother demanded we tell her everything we had learned from you. We refused, but then she threatened to hurt you, so..." He turned his head away in shame. " we told her. That's how she knew that you could see through lies and that you had a baby brother and Sister. She replaced Zany before you returned from Canterlot.

"He's alive, as far as I know. He's being held in the hive's nursery. Changelings find babies to be..." he winced, "a bountiful food source, because in their innocent age, they tend to love everything and everyone. I would have rescued him, but we scarcely escaped from the hive ourselves. we tried to warn you about Chrysalis in the park today, but we couldn't risk revealing myself to her."

Cherry Blossom's eyes were wild with worry. "Why is she doing this?"

"She wants revenge on your father. What for, we're not sure, but this was all so she could get him back into stone. With him out of the way, and his power transferred to Chrysalis, the changelings would be free to take over Equestria!"

Screwdriver shook his head. "She had it all planned out! She even got to possess you and him and have a changeling capture your aunt!"

Screwball's jaw dropped. "I knew Mom would never betray us!" She gasped. "Mom! Oh, she's probably gonna ground us for life after this! She might... No, she would never let Daddy be turned to stone."

''Our mother figured that, which is why she also planned to pose as Discord and act so evil that your mother and the other bearers of the Elements of Harmony would have no choice but to turn him to stone. Once that's done, she intends to dispose of them so that nothing can stop her!"

"Oh no! What if it's already been done? What if we're too late?" Cherry Blossom asked.

As she spoke, a frog crossed with a teapot hopped onto the windowsill. Its lid opened as it croaked.

"I think your uncle's alive," Mothball observed.

"But we might not have much time!" Screwball exclaimed. "We have to warn him! We have to save Zany and Zanabelle! We need to explain things to..."

"No," Zecora said. "You have not fully recovered, and you cannot risk being discovered."

"But if we wait too long, it'll be too late!"

"Your father is crafty, clever and cunning. He will sense the ponies coming. It will take time for them to hunt him down. I suggest you rest till morning comes round."

"But..."

They trailed off as Mothball and Screwdriver laid a hoof on their shoulder. "She's right. You need your strength if you want to go up against our mother." they hung their heads. "we wouldn't recommend it though. Our mother is clever too, not to mention she has a whole army on her side."

"we don't care! Our family's fallen apart and I have to help put it together again!" Cherry Blossom snapped.

"You'll need a plan first."

"Yes," Screwball said with a sigh. "we're sorry, our minds are so jumbled right now!"

"You should get some sleep."

"Yeah. Zecora, do you have a sleeping bag or something?" Cherry Blossom asked the zebra.

"You are welcome to sleep in my bed," the zebra offered. "I will find a place to rest my head."

"Oh, Zecora, really. You've done so much for my family already. I don't want to..."

"Nonsense. You both need your rest. For that, the bed would be best."

"But where can I...?" Mothball started to ask.

He trailed off as Zecora winked at him and Screwdriver. they were silent as she gathered the empty teacups and disappeared behind a curtain. Screwball, Mothball, Cherry Blossom and SCrewdriver simultaneously glanced at the bed and then at each other with a blush.

"I suppose there will be no harm in..." Screwball stammered, "snuggling?"

In a few minutes, they were lying under the covers, tight in each other's embrace, their hooves entwining. They were careful not to do anything...inappropriate, but Screwball tried to get a kiss from her love. Mothball leaned his head back in hesitation.

"Come on," Screwball groaned. "We already know you won't hurt me.''

"Yeah, but...I...I just don't want to risk it. At least, not now when you're not your strongest."

She sighed in disappointment. "Fine."

On that note, she turned her body away from him.

"I didn't mean it like that!" Mothball insisted. "I mean...now that we know how...different I am with you...I just...don't know what will happen!"

She faced him again. "Why don't we find out?"

He stared into her pleading spirals. He wanted to kiss her so badly, but he could not risk hurting her.

"Some other day," he said.

She sighed again and gazed up at the ceiling. He looked in the same direction and for a while, neither of them said anything.

"Did you know?" Screwball asked abruptly.

Mothball raised an eyebrow at her. "Did I know what?"

She locked eyes with him. "Did you know how I felt about you?"

He looked away shamefully. "I can sense emotion a mile away. I've always known."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Her tone was sounding angry now.

"Because I thought I couldn't return your feelings. And...I didn't want you to think I was just staying with you so I could feed."

Screwball could understand that, considering how she had treated him earlier.

"Sorry," she apologized again. "Also...I never properly thanked you for saving my life."

That made her feel even more guilty.

"That's okay," Mothball said with a shrug. "I never thanked you."

"For what?"

"For saving me...from myself." He winced. "Okay, that was cheesy."

Screwball laughed. "I love you anyway."

She took his hoof and snuggled against him again. He smiled and stroked her mane. Even though he had always known it, hearing her say those three words warmed his heart, which he supposedly had.

"What I mean is...I always thought I was a heartless creature who didn't deserve love of any kind, until I met you. Not only that, but you showed me what it's like to have fun, to be crazy, to be...well, a kid."

She smiled. "How long have you and your Brother been in love with us?"

"we were bewitched the moment we saw you. What we don't get is why you love me."

"When we first met, you were so different that I found you interesting. I knew you weren't as bad as Daddy said, because you tried to save me from that manticore. I...I can't really explain it, but...I just feel so...complete with you."

Screwball sighed contentedly as he wrapped his hooves around her.

"I feel the same way."

She was so happy that she finally had her prince, but her heart sank at the thought of her family.

"I have to make things right," she whispered.

Mothball shook his head. "It's hopeless. There's no stopping my mother."

"She was stopped before at Cadence and Shining Armor's wedding."

"Huh?"

Screwball raised an eyebrow. "You mean your mother never told you about that?"

"If she was defeated, I don't think she would have."

"Well, basically, what happened is that Princess Cadence and Shining Armor cast a spell that banished the changelings from Equestria. But they're all the way in the Crystal Empire now! By the time they hear about Chrysalis, it'll be too late!"

"What kind of spell did they cast?"

"I...I don't remember. My mom told me a long time ago, right after I met you, but I don't remember. I just know they cast it together and not even Chrysalis could fight it."

"That must have been some spell."

"If only I could remember..."

"We'll worry about it in the morning. For now, let's get some sleep."

As they held each other, Mothball could feel her love transfer to his body, but he could also feel his love going to her in return.

So he could not hurt her, but that did not make up for the fact that he was the Changeling Prince. He had to prove his loyalty, not just to her but to everyone.

He had to clean up the mess he had caused, and he knew exactly how.

When Screwball and Cherry Blossom awoke, they were alone. Their hooves went to the empty space beside them.

"Mothball?"

"Screwdriver?"

They stepped out of bed and looked around the hut. Their eyes fell upon a note on the table:

Stepped out for a moment, will be back before evening. MB and SD

A few minutes after Screwball and Cherry Blossom had read the letter, Zecora returned with a plate of scrambled eggs.

"Let me guess," the young mares said. "Daddy/uncle made it rain eggs."

The zebra shook her head. "No, my dear Cherry Blossom and Screwball. In fact, they were pouring from the waterfall."

"Typical."

The two waited hours for Mothball and Screwdriver to return, until Screwball grew impatient.

"Where could he possibly be?" she demanded, slamming her hoof on the table.

"Hush, my dear," Zecora said sternly. "You must have patience. It's not like we've been waiting for ages."

"But what is he doing?! Can't you look in your magic brew or something?"

The zebra rubbed her chin. "I will see what I can do. Hand me that jar of dust, would you?"

After Screwball handed her the jar, Zecora scooped up the green powder and blew it into the cauldron. As she said a few words, an image began to form in the brew. Screwball peered inside and saw the silhouettes of six mares she knew well. She gasped as she started hearing voices.

"His twenty-four hours are up," said the voice of Princess Twilight. "I'm sorry it had to come to this, Fluttershy."

"No!" cried Fluttershy's voice. "Just a little more time! Please!"

"You could try to reason with him once more, but it must be done. Come on, girls. Let's find Discord."

As the image disintegrated, Screwball felt a wave of panic.

"No! They're going to do it! They're going to turn Daddy to stone!"

''What?!'' Cherry Blossom's head shot up.

The fillies rushed to the door.

"Where are you going?" Zecora demanded.

"we have to warn him! Or, if we find Mom first, we'll explain things to her! we have to fix this! When Mothball and Screwdriver get back, tell them where I've gone!"

The zebra was about to protest further when Screwball slammed the door.

Mothball hid behind a dead tree so the changelings guarding the entrance to the hive would not see them. For a second, they considered turning back. Suppose he were caught, or worse, if his mother caught him! She would do worse than ground him! She would blast them to dust!

Then he remembered Screwball and the promise he made. He had to prove he could keep that promise and that his love was sincere. The task was dangerous, but he would face a thousand changelings for Screwball!

Under the circumstances, that might be exactly what he would have to do. He gestured Screwdriver to stayed behind. Screwdriver was about to protest, but sighed and obeyed his big brother.

The prince closed his eyes and took the form of a nurse changeling.

"I hope my smell doesn't throw them off," he muttered to himself.

The guards did not appear to be suspicious, which was a great relief to Mothball, but the most difficult part of the task was yet to come. He took the passage to the lower level of the hive where the nursery was. He immediately caught sight of the gray foal lying in a cocoon shaped like a cradle. Despite the number of changelings surrounding him, the infant was laughing and clapping his hooves. The changelings, in the meantime, were feeding off his unconditional love.

Now what? The prince had to think of a way to get the child out of there without arousing suspicion. He cleared his throat.

"Ahem."

The changelings turned to him.

"Her majesty," he stammered, "would like...the child...to be...brought to Ponyville! She wishes to...show him off to Discord."

The group murmured amongst themselves in confusion.

"Why would she do that," one said, "when she is disguised as the child at the moment?"

Mothball bit his lip. "Uh...well...she wants to..."

Then he grunted. "Oh, to heck with it!"

His horn glowed and the changelings scattered as he blasted open the cocoon. The baby applauded, as if wanting him to do it again. Mothball swept the baby in his hooves and felt its love transfer to him.

He's actually kind of cute, he thought with a smile.

"Stay where you are!"

The prince looked up and saw that he was surrounded by soldier changelings.

Author's Note

Welp, they at least got Zany! Btw, Who else ships Applespike with Zanabelle? Hey! SOMEPONY had to do it!