Rainbow Dash stirred slightly in her sleep, shuffling the warm blankets that lay over her. A soft knock at the door sounded once again, causing another episode of shuffling in a vain attempt to banish the knocking. The knock quickly turned into a loud banging, making Rainbow to jump up at it. Mumbling to herself she rubbed an eye as she flew down the stairs, still wishing she could just sleep peacefully. Glancing at the clock her jaw dropped.

It was two o'clock in the morning!

Gritting her teeth, she picked up the pace to the door, eager to give this thing a peace of her mind. Smashing the door open she glared at a hooded pony that stood at her door, malice in her eyes. "What the heck do you want!" She yelled at the pony, causing it to jump back.

"Rainbow." It suddenly said, causing Dash's ears to perk up at the familiar voice, she stopped rubbing her eye to get a better look under the hood, "Rainbow I need-" The pony continued before being cut off, as it was brought into a crushing hug brushing her hood off in the process.

"Buttercup!!" Rainbow Dash said with immense amounts of joy. Before releasing her tight grip on her prisoner, after several hooftaps, signalling that the recipient was failing to breath oxygen. Smiling sheepishly she backed away from Buttercup, before launching a barrage of questions at the yellow pegasus.

"Where have you been?"

"Man, how much have you grown?"

"DId you miss me?"

"How's Morin?"

Buttercup winced slightly at the last one, going unnoticed by Rainbow however, as she continued her rant of questions. A hoof suddenly shot up into Rainbow's mouth, halting the questions.

Buttercup then cleared her throat before asking her own question, "Can I crash with you tonight?" Rainbow Dash was immediately taken aback, by this very sudden and strange question. Frowning in concern she noticed the faint look of sadness in Buttercups eyes.

Nodding slightly, her gaze turned to one of suspicion as she backed away slowly, looking her up and down before shaking her head slightly. "I missed you." Rainbow said as she wrapped a hoof around Buttercups neck guiding her inside.

Sighing in what seemed like relief she walked in, following Rainbow to a couch. "It ain't much but it's all I got right now." She said in an apologizing tone, checking that everything was set up, she turned around to wish Buttercup a goodnight, onlyto find her laying on the couch snoring her head off.

Giggling at how quickly she had fallen she grabbed a blanket from her cupboard, gently laying it over the sleeping pegasi's limp body.

"Sweet dreams." Rainbow whispered quietly before heading back upstairs to her bedroom.

"Spike!" Twilight called from her study, the pitter pattering of tiny dragon feet could then soon be heard. Bursting through the door, the tiny purple dragon halted before giving a salute to Twilight.

"Spike at your service." He said in a serious tone.

Laughing at Spike's sillyness stepped down from her desk, walking over to Spike and giving him a big hug.

His seriousness broke as he soon smiled, hugging Twilight back. "What would I do without you Spike." She said quietly.

"Let's find out." A voice suddenly said, from behind her. Gasping she broke her hug on Spike turning to the creature. The creature however simpy raised it's hoof and pointed at where Spike was. Tilting her head in confusion she looked back to find a gaping vortex behind Spike pulling him in.

Spike noticed this to as he reached out a hand, "Twilight! Help me!" He cryed as he was lifted off his feet and sucked into the vortex, his screams echoing throughout the room.

"Spike! NO!" She screamed as she ran towards the vortex before being smashed into the ground by something. Looking behind her she saw a black changeling with blood red eyes laughing maniacally. Screaming in rage she bucked the changeling off of her sending it flying into the wall. Hissing in pain it fired a spell at Twilight, too quickly for her to react, as she felt a searing pain in her chest.

A loud bang was then heard as hooftsteps could be heard echoing through the halls. Looking up at the door to her study, Princess Luna burst through, firing a spell at the changeling, yet only barely missing as it morphed through a nearby shadow, leaving nothin but a partially destroyed study.

Twilight coughed blood coming out of her mouth, and coating the floor. Her vision became less and less clearer as she began to get tunnel vision. before losing sight of everything completely...

Twilight shot up in her bed screaming and firing a spell at random hitting the door to her bedroom sending it flying into the corridor. Panting and sweating her gaze swept across the room nervously, only to find herself completely alone. Sighing in relief she lay back down cuddling up to her blankets, as she silently cried.

Spike was gone and she had no idea where he had went. And she couldn't do anything about it.

The morning continued as usual with her reading up on books, trying to find something on this changeling. It was extremely powerful, with the ability to morph into walls, and who knows how much else it has in its arsenal. She shook her head, she shouldn't call it a changeling yet, as it could be something else. Her dreams didn't know everything after all.

Groaning she planted her face into the book she was reading. Their was nothing on this creature, or any other creature similar to it. A knock at the door suddenly echoed throughout the halls. Sighing she got up reluctantly walking to the door. The banging got louder and louder until a worried look came on Twilights face. It could be urgent, maybe even about the... Creature.

With this new found motivation, her pace quickened into a trot, determined to reach the door. Opening the door, she sighed in both disappointment and relief at the sight of her good friend Rainbow Dash. Fully opening the door she held out her hoof, inviting Rainbow into the castle.

"Rainbow Dash!" She said in a happy tone, "What brings you here?" She asked, tilting her head slightly.

"Oh nothing, just came here to intro-" She cut off as she looked behind, only finding empty space. Sighing she walked backed out, turning to the right. A quiet conversation was then, it's contents unkown to Twilight, was heard then before Rainbow reemerged from the corner beckoning something to follow.

A yellow head, with a blue mane suddenly poked its around the corner, looking aound the room cautiously her gaze lingering on Twilight for a while, before fully coming out of the shelter of the corner, revealing her pegasus wings.

Gulping she glanced nervously around her, "H-hi." she stammered, her gaze never fixing in one place for too long.

Sighing, Rainbow Dash sighed once again, walking over beside the pegasus, wrapping a hoof around her before explaining, "This is Buttercup, I used to foalsit her. She's staying at my place while her home gets renovated."

Nodding Twilight opened her mouth to speak, when a scroll appeared in front of her in a golden flame, causing her heart to ache as she remembered Spike's beloved green flame. Regardless she enveloped the letter in her magic floating it over to her before unfurling it.

Dear Twilight,

It has come to my attention that a yellow pegasus has just showed

up at your doorstep.

This is a dangerous individual, that burned down her own village.

While I cannot give a reason why she did it, as it is unkown to me,

I wish for you to hold her there as long as you can.

I have already arrived in Ponyville and am making my way to your castle.

Yours Sincerely,

Princess Celestia.

Twilight's eyes widened with every word. Not only did Celestia know that Buttercup was here, but also what she did to her village. Rainbow Dash looked at her in worry, waving her hooves in front of Twilight's face, snapping her attention back. Her eyes fell on Buttercup who was still glancing everywhere in worry. She had to distract Buttercup for as long as possible until the princess got here.

"So Buttercup." She said walking over to her, "What village did you used to live in?" She asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Fear and pain seeped into her face as Twilight's question sunk in, she opened her mouth to speak when a knock at the door brought everyone's attention to it. In the common way of the owner opening the door for the knocker Twilight did just that, pulling open the crystal doors to reveal Princess Celestia.

"Princess! How have you been?" Twilight asked, the question falling on deaf ears though as Celestia scanned the room, her eyes locking on Buttercup. Curious she followed her gaze to Buttercup, finding not the usual smile or dumbstruck gaze ponies usually had when meeting the princess. Heck, Buttercup didn't even grovel at her hooves like most others did. Instead her face was filled with fear and panic. Not the type that usually came with meeting a princess, no not that. This was pure fear and terror, like what a filly would look like when meeting the most terrible monster they had ever thought up.

"Buttercup." She said in her motherly voice, "If you may come with me for a talk, we can sort this whole thing out." She continued.

And then the impossible happened. Buttercup shook her head, and backed away further, entering a combat stance. Celestia's smile faltered at that, and she repeated it again, with more sterness in her voice. The same result, as pure terror began being tinted in rage. Celestia then abandoned the smile altogether, and glared at Buttercup, with a look that could kill a manticore.

"Buttercup come with me now." She ordered, walking forward slightly, giving herself a menacing glare. Twilight was now quite mad, because not only had Buttercup disobeyed an order from Celestia herself, but also treated Celestia as if she was a hydra.

Growling, her horn became enveloped in he signature purple aura before suddenly shattering. Blinking Twilight touched her horn with a hoof, to find nothing wrong with it. Pouring her magic into the horn again she attempted to lift Buttercup up, only for the same result to happen again.

Her focus then came back to Buttercup to find her staring right at her a warning look in her eyes. Twilight's own eyes widened as she understood the implications of this. Buttercup could cancel out her magic. she opened her mouth to speak before Celestia suddenly yelled, shaking the crystal room with the Royal Canterlot Voice.

"Buttercup! You will come with me now!" Anger was taking over her face as she took another step towards Buttercup.

Buttercup however didn't hget a chance to speak, as Rainbow Dash stepped between Buttercup and Celestia, a look of defiance on her face.

"What right do you have to yell at my friend!" Rainbow Dash yelled at Celestia.

Celestia blinked at this, seemingly stunned. Twilight facehoofed at the brashness of her, she walked over to Rainbow Dash to talk her out of this, when a quiet voice suddenly arose behind Rainbow.

"Stop Rainbow." Buttercup said, being identified as the speaker, "Please don't, you're gonna get hurt."

At this Rainbow Dash turned towards her, tilting her head in curiosity. A spell suddenly shot into Rainbow side, sending her flying across the floor. Twilight's head whipped around to find Princess Celestia, horn at the ready staring at Rainbow Dash. She stared in stunned silence at her beloved princess, as her look alternated between her and the now limp body of Rainbow Dash.

Celestia then turned to Buttercup, another spell being prepared. Buttercup however stared silently at Rainbow, no emotion visible, or being shown. A stray breeze somehow made its way into the room, despite the windows and doors being closed. The breeze then grew larger and larger as Twilight felt her mane being gently pushed, with Celestia's hair being blowing more fervently then it usually did.

Buttercup then turned to Celestia and Twilight, the wind growing stronger and stronger. She sensed magic and turned to Celestia, to find her prepping a spell. She didn't have the time to cast it however as an even stronger wind began to push against them, making Celestia lose her focus. It then all cut out as Buttercup turned and began running to the door. She made to cast a stun spell until an explosion barely missed the yellow pegasi's neck smashing a nearby wall.

Stunned she turned to Celestia who was now giving chase to Buttercup who was now out the door, and into the streets of Ponyville. Deciding to ask questions later, she followed Celestia and Buttercup.

The chase was on...

Author's Note

Sorry for bad pacing I am currently having a creative block with this story, and I am also braindead.

point out any mistakes you see please and have a nice day.