Sealegs

The group swept over the small port town in a panicked haste.
Eventually, Sombra managed to dig up information on the changelings whereabouts.
The Six ponies met at a fountain in the middle of town, where they shared their findings.
"They've been spotted in a cave complex not far from here."
Sombra explained.
"Then lets get moving!"
Shining bellowed, before taking point and leading the party into the forest.
The forest was quiet.
All life had been silenced by the unnatural night.
They had been galloping through the undergrowth for a good few minutes before Gold stopped.
"Hey, does anyone else feel a little...funny?"
Shining rolled his eyes.
"I appreciate you trying to lighten the mood, but now really isn't the time!"
Gold shook his head.
"No, Not THAT kind of funny. I mean..."
Gold never managed to finish his sentence, as he disappeared into thin air.
Braeburn and Shining both looked around, hurriedly.
Sombra shook his head.
"We don't have time to look for him. We have to go, Now!"
Shining looked about.
"Wait. Where did Braeburn go?"
Sombra yelled out.
"We don't have time to waste! We need to find the Changeling queen, and we need to find her now!"
Shining looked back once more, before following the remaining Three through the jungle.

The four remaining ponies thundered through the undergrowth, until they came to a large pit.
"What the...?"
Shining leaped backwards, shocked by what he saw.
It seemed as if the world was tearing apart right in front of him.
"Oh no... It's happening!"
Fluttershy squeaked.
"W-w-whats happening?"
Sombra grimaced.
"The Astral forces have broken free of Luna's will. They'll tear this world apart if they aren't contained and focused again."
Shining raised a hoof to his chest in salute.
Sea Breeze noticed, and was confused.
"What are you doing?"
Shining closed his eyes.
"The world is being torn apart by the inbalance between the sun and moon. That means, Ponies are slowly, but gradually, being wiped out of existence."
Sombra shook his head, and spoke out.
"That means the runt and the cowpony have been wiped from existence, right?"
Sea Breeze could hardly make it out, but he was sure he saw a tear roll down Shining's face.
"Yeah. They're gone. And If we don't hurry, We'll be gone soon too. Let's move."

The company headed further into the jungle.
The cave complex was meant to be near the heart of the jungle.
Crashing through the undergrowth, the party eventually came to a river.
Sea examined the water carefully.
"It's flowing too fast. We can't cross here."
Shining stamped a hoof.
"Well We've gotta cross here! We don't have a choice!"
Sombra smacked Shining on the back of the head.
"Don't be a fool. If we try, We'll die."
Shining took a moment to think about it, before falling silent.
Fluttershy and Sea stood, agape.
Both of them tried, but none of them could summon the words.
It was... It was....

"YE LOOK LIKE YE NEED A HOOF THERE, BREEZY!"
It was Green, at the helm of the Equila.
Wasting no time, he threw down the gangplank, allowing the group aboard.
Sea Breeze was stunned.
"But how...! I saw you die!"
Green winked.
"It'll take more than an overgrown squid to do me in, laddy."
Sea Breeze was overwhelmed with pride in his friend.
Turning his attention to his maps, he traced the flow of the river.
"Just up here, Green. It'll take us straight where we need to go."
Green looked about.
"Where's the little Golden lad and the Cowpony?"
Silence.
"Ah. I see. Sorry for askin' mateys. Chin up! We've got work to do!"

It wasn't long before the Equila hit the rocky riverbank.
The caves were in sight.
Shining took the opportunity to explain the situation.
"Our only hope is to get Chrysalis back to Canterlot. The world is disappearing fast, So we don't have much time. We abduct her if we have to."
Sombra was liking this plan.
"Fluttershy, you stay with the ship."
Fluttershy looked at the floor, before looking up, straight into Shining's eyes.
"I'm going with you."
Shining layered his voice with sympathy, trying not to snap.
"Fluttershy, We need someone to take care of the ship. Green is coming with us, so that leaves you."
Fluttershy shook her head, again.
"Why don't you stay with the ship?"
Shining snapped.
"BECAUSE IF I FAIL HERE, I'M NEVER GOING TO SEE TWO OF MY BEST FRIENDS AGAIN."
Sombra immediately stood between Shining and Fluttershy, turning to comfort a frightened Fluttershy.
Sombra seriously considered striking Shining, but in the end decided against it.
Green stepped in.
"Yer all hopeless without me. Aye, I'll stay with the ship. Breezy will as well. We'll be ready to go when you three get back. Now get goin', mateys!"
Not waiting a second, Shining Galloped from the ship, heading into the darkness of the caves.
Sombra and Fluttershy were close behind him.

Shining galloped down the dark corridors, full haste.
Sweat formed on his brow.
All he could do was run, His horn lighting the way.
Parts of the cave were crumbling away into nothingness already.
The Astral distortion was getting worse and worse.
All He knew was that he couldn't give up hope.
He could hear Fluttershy and Sombra, galloping as best they could to keep up with him.
Eventually, he came to a large antechamber.
Sure enough, Chrysalis was cowering on her throne.
All around her, changelings blinked from existence with horrifying shrieks.
She noticed the white unicorn, and put on her best threatening face.
"What do YOU want?"
Shining ignored it.
"We need you to come with us. You hold the only way we can stop this!"
Chrysalis thought for a moment.
She had nothing to lose.
And Everything to gain.
"I'll help you... If you promise to turn control of Equestria and its subjects to me!"
Shining had a dangerous look in his eye.
"You don't seem to understand. You WILL help us. You ARE coming with us. And as many of your changelings as possible, too..."

Shining fired a bolt of magic forwards, hitting Chrysalis straight between the eyes.
She was under his spell instantly.
He had learned a few things, the last time she had manipulated him.
And now the tables were turned.
Chrysalis spoke out, her voice dull and lifeless.
"Come my Subjects. We must go with him."
A swarm of changelings rushed past the three, heading out of the cave complex.
Chrysalis lurched down, flying unsteadily, to meet eye to eye with Shining.
Sombra raised an eyebrow.
"So When I do it to an entire empire, I'm villain of the millennia. But when you do it, You're the heroic captain of the royal guard?"
Shining shook his head.
"Let's just go."

Sea Breeze and Green Flash were shocked and disgusted by the huge number of changelings pouring from the tunnel, and attaching themselves to the ship.
Shining and Co. Came soon after, immediately heading to the helm to give Green the Green light.
Chrysalis stood mindlessly beside Shining.
Fluttershy had an idea, stretching her wings and whispering in Shining's ear.
Sombra eyed them wearily.
Sombra turned to Chrysalis.
"Have your changelings fly this ship, HONEY."
He grimaced slightly at the last word, and Chrysalis let out a lifeless yell.
"Everyone flap their wings. Everyone make this vessel fly."
Green Flash grinned in excitement, Whilst Sea Breeze hung on for dear life.
He wasn't good with heights.
As the reality below it began to tear apart, The Equila rose into the air, riding on the many changeling wings.
Green Flash let out a bellow of happiness.
"I NE'ER WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT, MATEYS! WE'RE FLYIN' THROUGH THE AIR!"
Shining prayed that they would make it in time.
Within minutes, the ship had risen high into the clouds.
Shining couldn't help but feel the thrill of flying.
He now understood why Gold loved it so much.
Loved...
Shining fought back more tears.
There would be plenty of time for crying once the world was safe.
It was at that moment that the night sky split open.
Fluttershy screamed.
Sombra yelled.
"It's getting worse! We don't have much time left!"
Shining galloped back to the helm.
"Sea Breeze. It's up to you. Get us back, the quickest way possible!"
Sea Breeze saluted.
"Aye Aye, sir!"

Shining looked around.
"Where are Sombra and Fluttershy?"
Sea and Green looked around.
Surely enough, the two had disappeared.
Shining was about to break.
"No... Not them too."
Sea Breeze let out a yell.
"There's Trottingham! And there're the mountains of Canterlot!"
Shining whirled around.
Sure enough, his home was now within sight.
Right down to the last tower.
"Aim for the top tower of the royal castle!"

Shining looked down.
It was horrible.
Canterlot was being torn apart, ponies blinking from existence.
Everything was coming apart.
If he could just get the changelings to the tower...

Sea Breeze looked around.
"Where Did Shining go?"
The changeling queen snapped from her trance.
"What.. Where... TRICKERY!"
Sea jumped.
Green tapped him on the shoulder.
"Laddy, They'll be escapin' if you don't do something quickly."
Sea Breeze stood and thought.
What Could he do?
What could he possibly do?
He turned to look at Green.
He looked around for Sombra and Fluttershy, but found them all gone too.
There was only one way he could prevent the changeling escape.
He dug deep, and with a gigantic flash from his horn, He ignited a huge shield around the perimeter of the ship.
The changelings were disoriented long enough, and the ship landed square on the tower.
The Jewel in the center of the tower lit up, reacting to all the energy that had been brought together.
An almighty flash lit up the sky.

Celestia woke with a start.
Instantly, she analyzed her surroundings.
Her horn lit up with magic, as she dug deep down...

A gigantic beam of pure energy erupted from the heart of Canterlot Castle.
The beam spiralled upwards, before splitting and hitting both the sun and moon at once.
An almighty flash lit up the sky, as the splits in the world began to return to normal.
Celestia, Her eyes alight with magic, spread her wings and took off through her window.
She flew upwards toward the central tower, the beam of magic never breaking.
She landed upon the cobbled floor, before lifting her head to deliver one final burst of magic to the heavens.
With a final flash, the Sun and Moon began to part, returning to their original places.
Twinkling lights floated down from the heavens, eventually re-forming the ponies that had been wiped from existence

And the sun rose to the center of the sky, bathing the land in light.

Sea Breeze awoke atop the tower.
The Equila was nowhere to be seen.

"It's alright, little one. I've moved it back to where it belongs."

Sea Breeze turned around.
Standing, Regally, behind him, was none other than Princess Celestia.
He looked about.
Everyone was there, on the tower.
The changelings were being escorted away by the royal guard.

Shining was the next to wake up.
Dazed, he surveyed his surroundings.
Eventually, his eyes came upon Braeburn and Gold, lying next to each other.
With a yell of joy, He bound towards them, waking them both up with a tackle hug.
"Ow, Owowow! Shiny, Chill out!"
Sombra was the next to wake. He quickly crawled over to Fluttershy, waking her gently.
Green was the last to wake up.
He trotted towards Sea, regarding the view with melancholy interest.
Their journey was over.

They could do anything now. The world was safe.

The end.