“Ugh!” Gale exclaimed. “Where are those two?!” Jade, who had been walking in circles, glanced at Gale.

“Probably still getting their outfits.” Jade replied, adjusting her sweater and hat. "Lavender did say they were getting theirs done last minute.”

“Besides,” Twilight chimed in. “Rarity and Capper aren't here either.”

“Why don't they just pick outfits that Rarity has already made?” Trixie's tone was the same complaining voice she always seemed to speak in.

“Knowing Rarity she probably thought her existing dresses didn't match their ‘color palettes.” Starlight and Trixie giggled to themselves.

“Hey!” Jade exclaimed. “I'll have you know that color palettes are an incredibly important aspect of design!” Starlight's face was contorted with one of confusion while Trixie remained giggling.

“You know fashion?” Starlight asked.

“Not really.” Jade clarified. “But I do know character design.” Jade returned to walking in circles while the abnormally huge group watched her with a kaleidoscope of facial expressions. Seriously, there were so many ponies and non-ponies there including Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Discord, Applejack, her sister Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Button Mash, Tempest, Spike, Rainbow Dash, her sister Scootaloo, Starlight, Trixie, Gale, and herself. They were all wearing lovely outfits, most made be Rarity herself. Gale's in particular really stood out to Jade. Gale wore what was essentially Garnet's wedding outfit, a combination of a suit and a dress. It looked really good on Gale too. Suddenly, a white figure rushed past Jade.

“Rarity!” Everyone gasped.

“About time you showed up.” Discord scoffed. “I could've gotten us there in an instant you know.” Rarity shot an annoyed gaze at Discord.

“I'm truly sorry.” Rarity gasped. “Making two outfits took longer than I expected even with the help of Capper.” The tom bowed at the mention of his name. Jade couldn't help but giggle. After a few moments, Cookie Dough and Lavender rushed toward the group. Cookie Dough skidded to a halt, panting from exhaustion. Stopping beside him, Lavender tapped his shoulder encouragingly. Lavender's purple mane was adorned with blue and red flowers and she wore a long red dress and black flats. Though you could hardly tell she was even wearing shoes. The dress dragged on the floor, covering her hooves. It made Jade wonder how she hadn't tripped over it. Cookie Dough beside her wore a typical black and white tuxedo, a black hat, and shoes. He also had a single pale rose on his lapel.

“Did we miss the train?” Lavender asked. Before anyone could answer, there was a distant honking sound. Jade and Gale dashed to the edge of the train station. Peeking out, they were graced with a huge colorful train that spewed out gas from it's funnel. Everyone else joined them.

“Nope. You're just in time.” Applejack answered. Jade and the others backed away as the train pulled into the station. As it came to a halt, the doors opened. Ponies filed out of the train.

“All aboard the train to Canterlot!” The conductor called. Pinkie Pie cheered and hopped onto the train. Twilight smiled and trotted after her. The rest of the group began to make their way inside as well. Jade waited until the doorways were less crowded to make her way onto the train. Gale, Lavender, and Cookie Dough filed after her. The train seemed full with just their group. Jade couldn't spot anyone who wasn't traveling with them. She rushed toward one of the few opened seats, Gale following her lead. Lavender and Cookie Dough went the opposite direction, sitting just horizontal to them. Jade sat closest to the window, so she could stare out at the scenery. Glancing over the seat, Jade saw Spike, sitting alone.

“Hey Spike.” Jade called. “Who are you going with to the gala?”

“No one.” Spike sighed. “I'm not going to the gala.”

“Well...why not?” She asked.

“It's just a boring Canterlot party. I'm going to get donuts instead.” There was a hint of misery to his tone that made Jade suspect there was something more to this than Spike was letting onto.

“The gala probably will be dull.” Gale agreed. Jade glanced at her friend.

“Well duh!” Jade replied. “That's why I'm going with friends.” She lowered her voice to add, “Plus is gives me a good excuse to stay in Equestria longer.” Gale's eyes were filled with sadness.

“You're leaving tomorrow?” They asked.

“Yeah.” Jade sighed. “I'll still come to visit but I don't belong here. I was raised in the human world.”

“So what?!” Lavender butted in from the seat behind them. “I was born and raised…” She hesitated for a few seconds. “In a horrible loveless community, but my home is here in Ponyville.” Cookie Dough's interest was now piqued as well. He stood up in the seat of the moving train and gazed at his friends.

“The human world isn't horrible and loveless.” Jade argued. “I do want to go home it's just…” She let out a defeated sigh. “The creatures in this train right now are the only friends I've ever had.” Cookie Dough, Gale, and Lavender looked around the train.

“Well that's a lot of ponies.” Cookie Dough pointed out.

“And non-ponies.” Gale added.

“Surely if you made so many friends here you can make more friends back home.” Lavender suggested.

“I guess.” Jade sighed. She glanced at her spread wings. This world on the surface had so much more to offer than the human world. Here, there was flying, magic, and friendship. After being in Equestria for so long, the human world seemed even more dull than it ever had been. There, Jade had no friends and no one who cared about her aside from her parents. She had found all of that here. Why would she want to leave? Suddenly, the train screeched to a halt. Jade flung forward a bit against the front seat.

“Yay!” Pinkie Pie cheered, leaping out of her seat. “We're here!” When she landed, Pinkie Pie took Twilight's hoof. “Let's go!” Twilight nodded and the two rushed off the train together. The rest of the group followed close behind. Jade watched Spike depart from the group before she and Gale zipped out of the train. The two landed beside Lavender and Cookie Dough, who were towards the back of the group with Sweetie Belle and Button Mash.

“Thanks again for inviting me Sweetie Belle.” Button Mash was blushing. “If you hadn't, it would've been a really boring night for me.”

“It wasn't a big deal.” Sweetie assured the colt. “I really wanted to to with you anyways.” She squeaked in excitement. Jade glanced at Lavender, who was avoiding everyone's gaze. Jade trotted toward her.

“Hey.” She whispered. “Are you gonna be okay tonight?”

“I don't know.” Lavender admitted. “There's so much romance at the Grand Galloping Gala, especially this year…I should be fine. I've kept this charade up for years. I can do it for one night.”

“If you say so.” Jade whispered.

“What’cha guys talking about?” Gale chimed. Jade and Lavender nearly jumped out of their fur.

“Nothing!” Lavender blurted out. Gale eyed them suspiciously but said nothing. Jade gazed up to see a huge Disney-like castle looming over them. Taking a step into the light, Jade had to squint her eyes. She opened them to see a very tall, white pony in front of them with a flowing blue, pink, and green mane. She loomed over them, and gave off a wave of regality and confidence. From the sun on her flank, Jade guessed this was Princess Celestia, one of the princesses Twilight had told her about.

“Twilight!” She greeted excitedly. “It's good to see you!”

“You too, Princess Celestia.” Twilight replied. Suddenly, Celestia's gaze shifted toward Jade and the princess's eyes widened. She pointed at Jade.

“Is that the pony you told me about Twilight?” Celestia asked. Everyone moved aside, so that there was nothing in-between Jade and the princess besides floor space. Jade shrank down to the floor in embarrassment.

“Y-yes.” Jade answered. “I-I'm Jade...Jade Leaf.” Celestia's expression was confused but thoughtful.

“You look awfully familiar.” Celestia admitted.

“Probably just my clone!” Jade blurted out. Before she could embarrass herself further, Jade rushed into the nearest room, which thankfully ended up being the room where the Gala was going. It was huge with a ton of open space to walk around in. Perfect for a party. Even though the space wasn't being used for a party. It was being used by snobbish Canterlot ponies to just talk. That's all that was going on. Ponies talking, some eating from the food table or dancing but for the most part, it was just fancy dressed unicorns standing around and talking.

“Wow.” Jade deadpanned aloud as she looked for a place to sit. “I knew the gala would be boring but I didn't think it would be this dull.”

“Exactly!” A voice squeaked. Jade jumped up and gasped at the sudden sound and sight of Pinkie Pie. “I don't even get why they call it a party. I mean, there's food and dancing, but what's a party without games and well...fun?!” Jade nodded in agreement.

“Well at least you have your girlfriend with you.” She teased.

“Heh heh, yeah.” Pinkie Pie giggled. “She's great.”

“Hey Pinkie.” Another voice chimed. Pinkie Pie whipped around mid air and threw her hooves around Twilight.

“You're great!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. Twilight blushed and wrapped her hooves around Pinkie as well.

“You too.” Twilight planted a soft kiss on Pinkie's forehead before they both backed out of the hug. Twilight's gaze then shifted back to Jade.

“Hey Jade, you seemed pretty jumpy back there with Celestia.” Twilight commented. "Are you okay?” Jade's previous anxiety came back like a boomerang.

“I was just freaked out when she put me on the spot.” Jade answered. It was partially a lie though. Yes, Jade hated being put on the spot like that but she mostly freaked out due to the possibility that Celestia had seen her clone, who could be nearby. Jade didn't want to know what would happen if she met her clone but she didn't doubt it would be something awful. Jade sat at the same table with Pinkie Pie and Twilight.

“Hey Jade!” A voice called. Jade looked up to see Gale, Lavender, and Cookie Dough trotting toward her. “Why’d you ditch us back there?”

“Sorry.” Jade apologized. Gale sat next to her while Lavender and Cookie Dough sat across from them. “I freaked out a bit. I’m fine now though. Anyone wanna go raid the food table with me?” Cookie Dough shook his head.

“We’re good.” Lavender replied.

“I’ll go!” Gale volunteered. Jade and Gale hoof-bumped before trotting toward the table adorned with different types of food. Jade noticed it was mostly bite-sized fancy foods that Jade predicted had absolutely no flavor to them. Gale grabbed one of the tiny foods and put the whole thing in their mouth. Immediately, Gale spit it back out.

“What kind of food is this?!” Gale exclaimed. “There’s absolutely no flavor!”

“These are the finest delicacies in all of Canterlot!” A new voice exclaimed. Jade and Gale turned to see an unfamiliar pony glaring at them. “It’s not something I would expect a foreign creature to understand.”

“Foreign creature?!” Gale exclaimed. Their eyes were filled indignation.

“You know,” Jade added. “It’s not wise to pick a fight with one of your nation’s allies.”

“Especially those with the power to change form.” Gale reached for the pearl fragment on their necklace. The pony’s eyes narrowed.

“Are you threatening me?” They challenged. “Because I don’t think the press will take kindly to a foreign creature threatening a pony.”

“They also won’t take kindly to you insulting the friends of a princess.” Jade turned around to see Twilight, glaring at the other pony.

“Oh my celestia!” The pony exclaimed, bowing. “I’m so sorry my princess! It will never happen again!” Then they dashed away.

“I’m sorry.” Twilight sighed. “I shouldn’t have used my status as a weapon like that.. I hated seeing that pony bully you like that though.”

“You’re fine Twilight.” Jade replied. “Besides, it worked. That’s all that really matters.”

“That’s some...interesting logic…” Twilight lowered her voice. “Has Loki been rubbing off on you?” Jade’s eyes widened. Then she smirked and cleared her throat.

“What?” Jade did her best english accent. “Where in the nine realms would you get an idea like that?” Twilight and Gale giggled to themselves.

“Who’s Loki?” Gale asked once they stopped laughing.

“You have much to learn my friend.” Jade replied, tapping their shoulder. “Let’s head back to the table.”

Gale nodded. “There’s nothing worth eating anyways.” They followed Twilight back to the table, where Twilight was greeted with a hug from Pinkie Pie. Suddenly, slow, graceful music filled the room. Ponies began to walk into the center of the room, holding hooves and nuzzling each other.

“Ooh slow dancing!” Twilight squeaked. She turned to Pinkie Pie and extended her hoof. “What do you say Pinkie? You up for a dance?”

“I don’t know…” Pinkie Pie admitted. “It’s kinda...slow.”

“It doesn’t have to be slow.” Twilight winked.

“In that case I’m in!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, grabbing Twilight’s hoof. Twilight walked Pinkie Pie onto the dance floor. Jade gazed at the scene and noticed other familiar couples including Capper and Rarity, Sweetie Belle and Button Mash, and Fluttershy and Discord, all dancing. Lavender stared intently at the dancing, even swaying slightly to the music. However, Jade could also sense some discomfort coming from her friend. Pinkie Pie and Twilight twirled each other around in rapid succession, which didn’t match the music at all. However, they didn’t care, as they giggled and nuzzled each other in between twirls. At the end of the song, Twilight and Pinkie Pie kissed on the lips. The other dancing couples followed their lead. Lavender was twitching and hiding her face awkwardly. Suddenly, she leaped back onto the table and was enveloped in a green light. In Lavender’s palace, stood a hissing and snarling changeling. Everything in the room stopped dead. The silence was followed by horrified screaming and the room was now full of stampeding ponies.

“Changeling!” One shrieked.

“It’s going to kill us all!” Another one screamed. Letting out a cry, Jade leaped off the table and dashed toward an open door. The crowd of screaming ponies ran away from her, giving her a clear pathway out of the castle.

“Lavender’s been impersonated by a changeling!” Cookie Dough gasped.

“No!” Jade exclaimed. “No, she hasn’t.” Cookie Dough and Gale gazed at her suspiciously.

“What have you been keeping from us?!” Gale demanded.

“I didn’t mean to!” Jade insisted. “But Lavender insisted that no one should know!”

“Then tell us what SHE’S been keeping from us!” Cookie Dough’s tone was angry but Lavender could see betrayal in his eyes.

“Lavender isn’t a real pony.” Jade explained. “She’s always been a changeling in disguise.” Cookie Dough and Gale’s eyes widened. Jade leaped out of her chair. “Now come on! We have to go after her!” Cookie Dough and Gale exchanged glances before nodding. Jade zipped over the crowd as fast as her wings could carry her. Gale followed her lead, carrying Cookie Dough with them. Jade landed just outside the door. In front of her, stood a huge garden full of hedges and tall trees. Gale landed beside Jade, gently placing Cookie Dough on the ground beside them. Once they were all on the ground, the three friends immediately began bolting through the garden.

“Lavender!” Jade called. “Where are you?!” Oh please tell me she didn’t leave Equestria entirely! Gale took to the sky, looking around from above while Jade and Cookie Dough searched the plants. Cookie Dough poked his head into one of the bushes. He leaped backward in shock when another head emerged, hissing at him. It was Lavender!

“Oh!” She gasped. “It’s you Cookie Dough!” Jade trotted toward Lavender. The changeling’s ears were so low they practically brushed against the ground.

“Lavender…” Cookie Dough gasped. “You’re a dude?” Gale landed beside Cookie Dough, folding their enormous wings.

“More importantly, you’re a changeling?!” They demanded. Lavender stared at the ground in shame before nodding. Jade backed away from the scene, eying Lavender sympathetically.

“I’m so sorry.” Lavender sobbed. “I didn’t want to tell the truth because I didn’t want you to hate me. I have no intentions to feed on your love!”

“Then why didn’t you transform like all the other changelings did?” Cookie Dough asked.

“I don’t know how!” Lavender exclaimed.

“We don’t hate you.” Gale insisted. “But we do feel betrayed.”

“Yeah!” Cookie Dough butted in. There were tears in his yellow eyes. “I’ve been your friend for three years, Lavender, if that even is your name, and you couldn’t trust me?!”

“And your parents, the flower ponies.” Gale added. “You lied to them too! In fact, why is Jade the only one you ever told?!” Cookie Dough and Gale turned to Jade.

“She didn’t tell me.” Jade clarified. “I found out.”

“And I have too!” Another voice chimed. Jade turned around with a gasp to see Twilight staring at them. Gale and Cookie Dough stared at the princess in shock as she made her way toward Lavender. “Alright, what have you done with Lavender?!” Twilight demanded. Jade backed away. She had never heard Twilight so angry and serious before.

“I am Lavender!” She cried. “I’ve been a changeling my whole life.” Lavender covered her eyes with her hooves. “Don’t hurt me. I never wanted to steal any pony’s love. I didn’t even know I could change my form until I met Ocellus yesterday!”

Twilight’s gaze softened, “Oh sweetie.” Her voice was soft and encouraging, like a parent talking to their children. “You could’ve just said something sooner. We can help you.” Lavender moved her hooves aside.

“Really?” She asked.

“Of course.” Twilight replied. “I can take you to the new changeling hive tomorrow. I’m sure Thorax will want to help you as well.”

“I...I hope so.” Lavender changed back to her pony form. When Twilight raised an eyebrow, Lavender replied, “I don’t want to arouse anymore panic or suspicion.”

“I suppose that’s fine for now.” Twilight replied. She then turned to Jade. “Jade, if you want to stay here an extra day to support your friend, I won’t object.” Jade was confused for a moment until she remembered. Right, this isn’t my home…

“Thank you Twilight.” Jade replied. Twilight nodded and went back inside the castle. Jade turned to her friends.

“Hey Lavender, I’m sorry I got so upset.” Cookie Dough sighed.

“Me too.” Gale added. “We understand why you did it we just…”

“It’s okay.” Lavender sighed. “I know I should’ve said something.” Lavender pulled Cookie Dough, Gale, and Jade all in for a hug. Jade savored the brief moment.

Author's Note

This is kind of late. Fimfiction is a pain to use on mobile. Hope you enjoy.