The Secret of Smarty Pants

Chapters

A Friendly Request
An Ancient Tale
The Crystal Empire Express
An Imperial Welcome
A Chance Encounter
A Meal Between Friends And Foes
The First Strike
A Word With Royalty
A Sympathetic Story
A Shadow Before Dawn
A Ray of Light
A Call to Arms
A Patchwork Solution
A Time To Mend
A Surprise In The Shadows

A Friendly Request

One – A Friendly Request

As she put the finishing touches on her latest dress for the next Royal Garden Party, Rarity smiled. She’d been looking forward to this for so long. And now that her dear friend Twilight was a princess, it was going to be even more amazing. All the finest ponies in Canterlot, seeing her at the Princess’s side—seeing all her dresses made for the occasion!

But even as she stood back to marvel at her latest creation, Rarity felt just a little sad. She had nothing else to do between now and the royal event. Nothing but to wait and sigh and dream.

But Providence was with her, it seemed. Not a second later, she heard a knock downstairs. Rarity eagerly trotted down just in time to see Applejack walking through the door, wearing her saddlebag.

“Howdy, Rarity!” The earth pony tipped her hat. “How’s the dressmaking goin’?”

“It’s going very nicely, thank you very much,” said Rarity. She leaned around and peeked at her friend’s saddlebag. “And what, may I ask, is in there?”

“Well, that’s why I’m here.” Applejack opened the bag with her hoof and pulled out a very old and worn-out doll. “I was wonderin’ if you could fix this.”

“Hmm.” Rarity scrutinized the doll. “I’ve seen this somewhere before. Isn’t this Twilight’s doll? Smarty Pants?”

Applejack blushed. “Sure is. An’ after all that trouble with Twilight’s spell, somehow Big Mac gotta hold of it. He’s too proud to come himself, but he figured I could come an’ talk to ya about fixin’ her up.”

Rarity pictured Big Macintosh curled up with the doll in his bed, then smiled. “Of course. And this is actually a wonderful chance for me to try my hand at making dolls. Pinkie Pie’s been begging me to fashion a new set of dolls and toys for the Cake twins.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Up in her workshop, Rarity had the doll sitting on her table. She used her magic to summon several coils of thread and yarn. By the looks of it, Smarty Pants had been designed several years ago and never once repaired.

“I’m afraid this doll might need a complete makeover,” Rarity explained. “I might be able to save the coat, but the stuffing and the thread holding her together has got to be replaced, and her ‘mane’ is falling out.”

“Well, do what ya can, Rarity.” Applejack was sitting on the other side of the table, watching her work. “I’m sure Big Mac won’t mind.”

Very gently, Rarity summoned a pair of scissors and began to cut some of the decayed thread holding Smarty Pants together. The doll fell open, exposing the cotton inside. Rarity was about to pull it loose when she noticed something shiny buried in the middle.

“Whatever could this be?” she wondered out loud. With another spell, the unicorn summoned a pair of tweezers and delicately pulled out the bauble. But it was stuck to the cotton. Still, she was able to turn it around and get a proper look at it.

Applejack leaned over in surprise. “Whoa nelly. Is that a watch in there?”

“It’s a pocket watch,” Rarity answered. She pulled on her glasses and looked over the watch very carefully. “It looks very old. Maybe we should ask Time Turner about it.”

“But why’d there be a pocket watch inside Twilight’s doll? That don’t make any sense.”

Rarity let the watch fall back into place within the stuffing. “I’m sure I couldn’t say, but I know who might.”

When they’d gotten to the library, Applejack tilted her hat down in embarrassment. “Sorry ’bout yer doll, Twi. But y’see, Big Mac was mighty keen on havin’ it…”

“Don’t worry about it.” Twilight trotted over and put a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder. “I haven’t needed Smarty Pants for a very long time. I’m glad to know somepony is putting her to good use.”

“Whew! Thanks, Twi. That’s been buggin’ me fer Celestia knows how long!”

Rarity, meanwhile, was holding the doll up with her magic. “But I’m afraid we have to ask you something important. We were trying to fix your doll up when we found this inside.” She gently pulled out the watch from the stuffing.

Twilight’s eyes widened. Her new wings fluttered anxiously. “W-where did you get that?”

“It’s been inside the doll this whole time, darling. Didn’t you know that?”

Slowly, Twilight settled back onto her haunches, still in shock. “No, I never knew. I… I knew that Smarty Pants was always a little heavy, but Cadance told me that was so I wouldn’t—”

“Cadance? As in Princess Cadance, your old foalsitter?”

Twilight smiled. “Yes. When I was a filly, she gave Smarty Pants to me for my birthday. I had her all through magic kindergarten and school. And after Spike was born, I put Smarty Pants away. I’d hardly touched her until after I came to Ponyville.”

“Curious.” Rarity looked over the doll. “But why would Cadance put a pocket watch inside a doll? It seems far too valuable to be left inside a toy.”

Twilight frowned. “I wish I knew.”

“Couldn’t ya just write to Cadance an’ find out?” asked Applejack.

The alicorn sat for a moment, thinking quietly. Then she brightened and turned toward the stairs. “That sounds like a great idea. Spike?”

“Yes, Twilight?” the baby dragon called down.

“Take a letter!”

Dear Princess Cadance,

I hope you’re doing well. I haven’t seen you and Shining Armor since the coronation party, and I miss you both so much. But I have a question for you. It’s about my old doll, Smarty Pants. Apparently, there’s a pocket watch that was stuck inside her this whole time. Can you tell me anything about that?

Sincerely,
Twilight Sparkle

P.S. Please say hello to my brother for me.

P.P.S. If the watch isn’t anything important, then don’t let me keep you from your royal duties at the Crystal Empire. I’m sure it just got stuck in the doll when you were making it for me.

Two days later, a royal guard showed up at the library with a letter for Twilight. When she opened the scroll, she immediately recognized Celestia’s elegant handwriting.

My most faithful student Twilight,

I have just heard from my niece Cadance about your letter. There’s something you need to know about the watch and how Smarty Pants came to be. You and your friends need to come to Canterlot as soon as possible, and please bring the Elements of Harmony with you.

Sincerely,
Princess Celestia

Twilight dropped the scroll and looked at Spike, who had just walked in with a feather duster and an apron. When he saw the look on her face, he took off his apron.

“Okay,” he sighed, “what’s the crisis?”

“Pack up the Elements of Harmony,” she said quickly. Twilight focused and summoned the crown to her head. Then she spread her wings and flew upstairs, where she kept all her cold-weather clothing. “I’ve a feeling we’ve got another adventure on our hooves.”

An Ancient Tale

Two – An Ancient Tale

It wasn’t easy to get everypony onto the chariot—even with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flying them instead of the royal guards—but they managed to get to Canterlot in record time. Twilight found herself a little embarrassed to have to fly out of town in such an auspicious way, but she was grateful to have friends to help her out.

Rainbow Dash wasted no time in landing them right outside the royal palace. She paused long enough to let Twilight fly ahead of her and Fluttershy, then led the others after her.

When they entered the audience chamber, Princess Celestia was already waiting with her sister Luna. They offered a salute with their wings to Twilight, who nearly tripped over herself when she came to a halt. It was a little unnerving to realize that she was their peer now.

“Your Highness,” Twilight said as she bowed. “I’ve brought my friends and the Elements of Harmony as requested.”

Celestia smiled. “Very good, Twilight. And did you remember to bring your doll?”

“Uh, yes.” Twilight blushed when she heard Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash snickering behind her, but she summoned Smarty Pants out from Applejack’s saddlebag. Rarity had managed to stitch the doll up to make it presentable, though the stuffing near the watch remained exposed.

“I realize that it might seem like a strange thing, but there’s more to that watch than you realize,” said Celestia. She nodded at Luna. “Do you remember how my sister and I used the Elements of Harmony to dispel enemies of Equestria like Discord and King Sombra?”

“I do.”

“Long ago, when Discord was imprisoned, we used the Elements of Harmony to drive off the wendigos and other malicious creatures that ran wild.” As Celestia spoke, the air in the audience chamber swirled, creating an illusion of the times she described. Twilight and her friends saw the two alicorns flying over Equestria, as wendigos and dragons fled in terror. A cold and barren landscape turned bright and sunny.

“But back when the Crystal Empire was formed, there were more than six Elements of Harmony,” Celestia continued. “Besides the six you all wield, there were two others.”

A crystalline blue heart appeared in the air. Twilight recognized it as the Crystal Heart that she and Spike had saved from the returning King Sombra. Beside that was the mysterious pocket watch. Emblazoned on its case was a magnificent shield.

“These are the Elements of Love and Patience. They were both lost when the Crystal Empire disappeared, though it did not break the power of the remaining six as you well know.”

“But the Element of Love did return,” Princess Luna added, “when the Crystal Empire reappeared. After the Crystal Heart was found, the Element of Love was reformed and given to Princess Cadance for safekeeping. It now sits in the throne room of the Crystal Palace, bringing hope to every pony who visits there.”

“Well, that’s all well an’ good,” Applejack interrupted, “but how the hay did this pocket watch end up inside this here doll?”

Celestia and Luna exchanged a worried glance.

“To be perfectly honest,” said Celestia, “we don’t know, though we suspect who might have been responsible.”

“And who’s that?” asked Twilight, adjusting her crown in anticipation.

A burst of light and smoke went off right over Twilight’s head. She ducked as a tall and motley creature appeared between her and the royal sisters.

“That,” said Discord with a courteous bow, “would be moi.”

Behind her, Fluttershy landed with a cheerful expression. “Hello! It’s so nice to see you again!”

“Ah, my dear Fluttershy, lovely to see you!” The draconequus bowed again. “And the same to all you ponies. And of course, Princess Twilight Sparkle, it is a pleasure and an honor. You know, I always thought you were the one best suited to rule.”

“Discord, we discussed this,” Celestia chided. “Her royal status doesn’t work that way.”

The trickster disappeared in a flash, reappearing beside the alicorn on her dais. “Yes, of course, Your Highness. I do understand the difference. After all, I practically invented royalty.”

“Now what’s this about you and the pocket watch?” Twilight asked.

When Discord turned to her, he wore an expression of mock-horror. “Oh, really. ‘Pocket watch’?” He reappeared beside Twilight, taking Smarty Pants in his hand. “This is the Element of Patience, my dear princess. And it ended up inside your doll because I put it there.”

“You?!” the six ponies exclaimed.

“B-but you were encased in stone!” Rarity objected.

“Oh, this was before then.” Discord stretched himself out with a groan. “Aargh. Just thinking about that makes me ache. Anyway, when King Sombra took over the Crystal Empire, he hid the Element of Love. And when I ruled Equestria with the power of chaos, I made sure that nopony could find the Element of Patience.” He shrugged with a terrible grin. “So I buried it inside a cotton field in the south.”

“A cotton field?” Twilight frowned and considered his words. “So that means it was harvested for the cotton that Cadance used… to make Smarty Pants.”

“I know!” Discord snapped his fingers, causing Smarty Pants to suddenly kick its legs and wave its arms in a crude dance. “But tell me that’s not hilarious. One of the most powerful artifacts in all of Equestria, buried inside a filly’s doll!”

Pinkie Pie was already bouncing up and down with joy. “It totally is!”

“Pinkie! Stay focused!”

“Sorry, Twilight—oops! I mean, sorry, Princess Twilight!”

Celestia cleared her throat. “So, you see, Twilight, it’s imperative that we find a way to unlock the Element of Patience and deliver it to its rightful bearer. Just as each of you bears your own Element, and Cadance bears the Element of Love, there is only one pony who can wield it.”

“And who is that?”

“That would be Shining Armor.”

Twilight gaped. “My brother?”

“Well, I guess that makes sense,” said Rainbow Dash. She hovered beside Twilight. “I mean, you’ve gotta be patient to make it into the Royal Guard.”

“Indeed,” Celestia replied. “It was for that reason, along with his love and commitment to others, that I chose him to be Captain of the Guard.”

“Whatever,” Discord remarked. He was in the middle of doing a tap dance routine across the audience chamber. The still-animated Smarty Pants doll was dancing alongside him, now sporting its own tap shoes. “Patience is overrated.”

Twilight looked back at her friends, then over at Celestia. “In that case, we need to go to the Crystal Empire.”

“I’ve already informed Cadance and Shining Armor.” Celestia and Luna smiled and lifted their hooves. “They look forward to your arrival.”

“Oh, please.” Rarity tugged at her mane. “Any chance to see more of the Crystal Ponies is well worth the effort!”

“Crystal Ponies,” Discord said with a snort. His body suddenly turned crystalline. Then he produced a hammer and smashed himself to pieces. “How predictable! How boring!”

“And yet,” said Luna, “I believe that your journey will be anything but boring, my dear ponies.”

As Princess Twilight Sparkle and her entourage of friends left the audience chamber, it was time for the rotation of the royal guard. Cold Courage and his partner Black Storm left their posts outside the throne room as their replacements arrived.

“I don’t care if he’s a court advisor,” Black Storm was saying. “That Discord gives me the creeps.”

“Tell me about it,” Cold Courage replied. He turned when he saw the six ponies exit the main corridor of the palace. “Hey, I have to take off. I made a promise to visit my sister. I’ll meet you at Donut Joe’s later, all right?”

“Sure thing, buddy.” They bumped their hooves together and Black Storm trotted off.

Cold Courage spread his wings and flew from the nearest balcony. He soared away from the palace and toward a distant corner of Canterlot, far from the beautiful towers and well-kept public roads.

In a neighborhood called Bad Horse Lane, the stallion come to a landing. Here, everything was dark and gritty. Celestia’s sun hardly touched this place. Nothing but dust and rats on broken cobblestone roads. He quickly trotted past the empty storefronts and run-down houses.

Behind one of those houses was a courtyard with a dried-up fountain. Cold Courage found a white pegasus with matted gray hair and red eyes sitting beside the fount. She was staring pensively, barely noticing his approach.

“My queen,” he hissed and knelt in front of her. “I bring tidings from the royal court.”

The pegasus smiled and stood. Her coat rippled with a sickly green light, turning black and hard like an insect’s carapace. Her eyes became green and cold. And as she tossed back her mane, a jagged horn emerged from her forehead. The mare’s stance became regal and proud.

“Excellent work, my servant,” Queen Chrysalis declared. “I can’t wait to hear all about it.”

The Crystal Empire Express

Three – The Crystal Empire Express

“Now leaving for the Crystal Empire!” the conductor announced.

Twilight looked out the window from her private car as the train lurched forward. The air was abuzz with excitement. Her friends were taking their seats and discussing their trip. But all Twilight could think about was Cadance and Smarty Pants.

She remembered…

“Happy birthday, Twily!”

“Thanks, everypony!” Twilight blew out the candles on her cake. She was so excited she could barely stay in her seat. Her mother had to keep using magic to hold the filly on her chair.

There weren’t many ponies at her house that evening. Besides her parents and her brother, the only other guest was her new foalsitter Cadance. Twilight was glad to have her there. She always knew the best games to play and it was fun watching her make Shining Armor blush. But Twilight didn’t understand why her parents always looked at each other and smiled when that happened.

After cake and punch, everyone gave Twilight her presents. Her mother and father had bought her a biography on Star-Swirl the Bearded; she knew she’d finish it before the week was over. Shining Armor had gotten her a kite, which he promised to teach her how to fly.

When Cadance came up, she dropped a green-and-red box in front of Twilight. “Here you go, Twilight. Hope you like it.”

The filly’s horn glowed as she eagerly used her magic to rip the wrapping paper open. She looked inside the box and gasped.

“Her name is Smarty Pants,” said Cadance. “I thought you could use somepony to study with.” She pointed her hoof at the box. “Look, she even has her own notepad and quill. You girls can do homework together!”

“I love it!” Twilight leapt from her chair, bouncing up and down around her foalsitter with her new doll on her back. Then she hugged Cadance. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“You’re very welcome, sweetheart…!”

“Um, are you feeling okay?”

Fluttershy’s gentle voice snapped Twilight out of her flashback. She smiled when she saw the yellow pegasus sitting next to her. “I’m fine. Sorry, I was just thinking about my fillyhood.”

“Oh, that’s nice.” Fluttershy picked up the doll that had been resting in Twilight’s lap. “But if it’s all right to ask, why do you think Cadance left this watch inside? I mean, wouldn’t she have noticed it?”

“I’ve been wondering that myself, but I don’t think we’ll get any answers until we see her and Shining Armor.”

“Oh, okay.” Fluttershy blushed. “I suppose I shouldn’t worry about it then.”

Her concern was touching, but that was one of the many things Twilight loved about her. She’d said so last Hearts and Hooves Day, at a picnic in White Tail Woods. Very gently, the alicorn leaned over and nuzzled her friend.

“Well, I’m still glad you’re here,” said Twilight. “We’ll face whatever comes together, okay?”

Fluttershy’s eyes lit up. “Okay!”

In the train’s caboose, Lady Garnet and Sir Emerald, a pair of well-dressed unicorns, were taking their afternoon tea. Sir Emerald thanked the earth pony porter and offered him a pair of bits.

“Much obliged, sir,” said the porter, whose nametag read Can-Do Spirit. He tipped his hat at the gentleman as he left the car.

“Really, Emerald!” said Lady Garnet. Her white horn glowed as she raised a teacup to her lips. “I don’t see why you should be so generous with the help. I should think we’ll need every bit when we get to the Crystal Empire.”

“On the contrary, my dear,” Emerald replied while Garnet drank her tea, “it’s a sign of good breeding. Everypony expects Canterlot mares and colts to be well-to-do and generous. Our dear Princesses are themselves incredibly kindhearted to their inferiors. How can we not live up to those standards, high as they might be?”

“I suppose—” Garnet began. But she was interrupted when somepony knocked on the door.

Emerald gave her an apologetic shrug and turned to the door. “Do come in!” he called out.

The door opened as the porter Can-Do Spirit walked back inside. But Emerald thought there was something strange about the pony’s eyes.

They were green. And glowing.

“My dear fellow,” he said, “whatever is the matter—?”

“Whatever is the matter?” said the porter in a flawless impersonation of Emerald’s voice. The unicorns turned to one another, utterly shocked.

“Now, see here!” Garnet declared. “We will not stand for this mockery!”

“No,” a voice behind the porter hissed. “We believe you won’t.”

Two pairs of green and glowing eyes stared out from the shadows of the train corridor. Emerald clutched at his wife, terrified beyond rational thought. His horror only grew as he saw a sickly light rippling over Can-Do Spirit.

He now looked like Sir Emerald himself. Except for the green in his eyes and the sinister grin he wore.

“So hungry…” he growled in Emerald’s voice. “So much love here…”

“What in the wide world of Equestria are you?!” Emerald demanded. He shuddered as several insect-like hooves and legs stretched out from the corridor and into the train car. And the hissing was getting louder.

“Take their form,” said the creature that wore Emerald’s face and spoke with his voice. “Steal their love. Feed and grow. Now and forever. So says our queen…”

Sir Emerald and Lady Garnet cried out only once before they were consumed in a flash of green.

“All right, that should do it!” Rarity’s horn glowed as she lifted Smarty Pants up from the bench. “In spite of this train’s motion, I’ve got her all patched up.”

“She looks great, Rarity!” said Twilight. “Just the way I remember her!”

The white unicorn smiled and bowed. “Thank you, darling. It means so much to hear you so that!”

“Ooh, ooh! Lemme see that watch!” Pinkie Pie bounced up and down, trying to grab at it with her hooves.

Twilight used her magic to play keep-away from her pink and bubbly friend. “Not now, Pinkie. We need to wait until we take this to Shining Armor.” She used her magic to hover the watch in front at eye-level and examined it closely. “Hmm. I can’t seem to get it open. Is it supposed to open? But how would you fit an Element of Harmony in there?”

“Who cares?” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “We’ll find out when we get there! Won’t we, Smarty Pants?” She picked up the doll and moved its head up and down, giving it a falsetto voice. “‘Golly gosh, yes, Pinkie! We sure will!’”

Applejack grit her teeth. “Pinkie Pie, don’t break her! Big Macintosh would be mighty upset if somethin’ happened ta her!”

“I don’t get that at all,” said Rainbow Dash, spreading her hooves in confusion. “Why would a big stallion need a filly’s doll anyway?”

“Everypony needs something to snuggle with, Dash,” Fluttershy answered sweetly. She even gave a rare smirk. “Didn’t you have a safety cloud at Flight Camp—?”

“Shh!” The blue pegasus stuck her hoof into Fluttershy’s mouth. “Not. A word. Fluttershy.”

Twilight watched her friends having a good laugh and smiled quietly. She frowned when the lights in the train car suddenly flickered on and off.

“What’s goin’ on?” asked Applejack.

Fluttershy huddled close to Twilight. “Oh, dear.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Twilight said reassuringly. But she didn’t feel convinced herself.

Ever since they’d left Canterlot, she’d felt uneasy about this journey. Like something was quietly following them…

Author's Note

I'm curious to see how my readers take the balance between the Mane Six and the changelings. The mood whiplash between those scenes is deliberate, but I hope not too jarring.

An Imperial Welcome

Four – An Imperial Welcome

When the train finally arrived at Crystal Junction, everypony standing on the platform was energetic about the arrival of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Crystal Ponies bowed and cheered as she and her five friends passed, who were a little embarrassed at the large public display.

Fortunately, this allowed the changelings to pass unnoticed in their midst. It had been hard work during the trip, creating blackouts in almost every car in order to steal away an unsuspecting pony. One green flash, one muffled cry, and then carry on like usual.

Wriggler—though he had to remember that his pseudonym was Sir Emerald of Canterlot—moved confidently through the crowd. His mate Ichor kept up a strong air of confidence as Lady Garnet. They led their compatriots into the Crystal Empire as discreetly as they could. It wasn’t an easy thing, trying to look like a perfectly random crowd of new arrivals.

But even harder, Wriggler thought with glee, was keeping up the façade in such a tasty place. The Crystal Ponies were overflowing with love. So juicy, so ripe! His carapace was aching for it. He wished he could eat his fill and never see another pony as long as he lived. But sadly, Her Highness had set her plans into motion and what choice did the Changeling Nation have but to obey?

“Have you chosen your target?” Ichor hissed. She lifted a pair of opera glasses and focused on the Princess’s entourage. “That yellow pegasus seems like an easy grab.”

“Ha, beware that one!” Wriggler rubbed his false chin in dismay, remembering the failed occupation of Canterlot. “Thanks to her trickery, I ended up fighting with two of my brothers over nothing! Got a forelimb right in the jaw, too!”

“Well, I think I’ll give her a shot anyway. What about you, dearest?”

“It should be someone who isn’t close to the alicorn.” Wriggler kept the Princess’s friends in view, passing over the two pegasi and the unicorn. “Perhaps an earth pony. That orange one might do nicely.”

“Ooh, yes,” said Ichor. “She seems very strong. Just your type.”

From behind them, they heard a few eager snickers and giggles. Wriggler turned and glared at them. His fellow changelings turned away, embarrassed.

“Not so eager, my friends,” he said quietly, trying not to draw attention from the Crystal Ponies, walking past them. “We will eat when our work is finished, not before. Is that clear?”

“Clear, clear,” they replied, using their pony voices.

“Keep a loose perimeter when you get to the palace,” Ichor instructed. She tilted her fancy hat and smiled. “The five chosen will meet at the train station by sunset. Then we will feast.”

“Yes, yes!” their brethren hissed. Wriggler smiled and waved a hoof toward the royal entourage. He and Ichor watched the crowd of “ponies” follow their prey in an aimless, harmless manner.

For the first time on this mission, Wriggler breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad to be so close to the promised day. His belly had been growing small and weak for far too long.

The Crystal Palace dominated the skyline from every direction. Twilight readjusted her crown as she and her friends trotted past the palace guards, who saluted and escorted them straight to the throne room.

Twilight’s heart was racing. It was such an auspicious day, being the deliverer of a new Element of Harmony, but even if that weren’t the case, she would still be excited to see her brother and sister-in-law. They brought up so many happy memories of her fillyhood in Canterlot, not to mention the well-deserved memory of their wedding and the foiled Changeling plot.

And if all goes well, I’ll get to talk to Cadance alone, Twilight thought on their way into the throne room. She knows a lot more about being a princess than I do…

“Twily!” From the throne, Shining Armor raced down, looking magnificent in his uniform. Twilight didn’t even bother trotting over. Thankful for her new wings, she leapt up and flew right at her brother, tackling him in a hug. He laughed and almost ruffled her mane, but held back when he remembered the crown on her head.

“It’s great to see you again!” said Twilight. She looked him in the eye. “Did you get Princess Celestia’s letter?”

“Yes, I did!” Her brother stepped back, smiling proudly. “I’m surprised, but at the same time I’m deeply honored.”

Twilight grinned as her wings twitched. “I know the feeling.”

While Shining Armor went to greet her friends, Twilight trotted up to the throne, still smiling. Sitting on the throne was Princess Cadance, whose smile matched Twilight. Fighting the urge to make a fool of herself, Twilight remembered her royal title and bowed.

“Hello, Princess Cadance,” she said in her best Canterlot accent.

Cadance cleared her throat. “Good afternoon, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

When Twilight looked up, they smiled awkwardly. Then Cadance jumped off the throne and at the same time, they jumped up and down, clapped hooves, and shook their tails.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!”

So much for decorum, thought Twilight as she hugged Cadance. But she didn’t care. She was having a pretty great day so far.

After all the hellos and happy compliments had been exchanged, it was time to get to business. Shining Armor stood beside Cadance, his horn glowing as he accepted the pocket watch from Twilight. The other ponies stood in line behind Twilight, wearing their Elements of Harmony and waiting for their cue.

“The Crystal Pony scholars tell me,” Cadance declared, “that it’s essential to bring the Elements of Love and Patience into alignment with the six Elements you bear. Only then can their true potential be unleashed.”

“Well, I’m ready.” Twilight looked over her shoulder. “Is everypony else?”

“You bet!” said Pinkie Pie.

“Let’s do this!” Rainbow Dash added.

Twilight turned back to her brother. “Okay. With the right focus, we should be able to bring all eight Elements into alignment in the same way we’ve used the six Elements before. Focus on your particular Element and then contribute that to the magical field.”

Her brother nodded. “Got it.”

Cadance, meanwhile, was summoning the Element of Love. Upon its gold collar was a blue heart that resembled her cutie mark. She spread her wings and closed her eyes.

Twilight did the same, letting the spark of magic grow inside her. She remembered every happy moment between her, her brother, her foalsitter, and every pony in Ponyville. That was the spark they needed to make this work.

Light radiated from every Element in the room, linking them one by one with a magnificent rainbow stream. Twilight opened her eyes as the magical reaction lifted everypony into the air.

She watched as Shining Armor was lifted up alongside Cadance. They were facing each other, touching their horns together like they’d done on their wedding day. The pocket watch floated between them for just a moment. Then it dissolved in a white flash, turning into the Element of Patience. A violet shield on a gold collar, now set on Shining Armor’s neck.

Slowly, the magic faded, setting everypony back onto the floor. Twilight bowed her head, exhausted by the effort, but glad to see that it’d worked as promised.

Shining Armor looked down at his Element and grinned. “Well, all right! Nice job, guys!”

Cadance leaned in to kiss his cheek. “I’m so proud, Shining. I can’t tell you how happy I am to share this with you.”

“They’re so beautiful!” Pinkie Pie cried. Literally, in fact. Two rivers of tears were pouring down her face as she watched the royal couple nuzzling. She paused to blow her nose on a handkerchief that Applejack had given her.

Twilight grinned and trotted over to hug her brother. “Welcome to the team, B.B.B.F.F.”

“Thanks, sis.” Shining Armor hugged her back, then looked at her friends. “Since the train back to Canterlot has just left, I think it’s best if you guys stay here for the night.”

“Of course they’ll be staying,” said Cadance. “The palace kitchens have preparing a banquet all day. Why let it go to waste?”

“Oh, my!” Rarity exclaimed. “A banquet?” She threw her arms around Fluttershy and laughed. “How marvelous!”

Twilight laughed, too, but she turned and caught Cadance’s eye. She gave a subtle nod to the door in the back of the throne room.

The other princess smiled and winked. Then she turned to the others and said, “Well, you must be tired from your journey. Shining dear, can you show them to their rooms? I want to catch up with Twilight for a moment.”

“Sure thing, dear.”

Wriggler pretended to examine a pen full of sheep. He’d even seen anything like them before. Curious little creatures, pastel-colored and grazing all day long. He didn’t see what the appeal was, but all the Crystal Ponies found them enthralling for some reason.

Still, he didn’t have long to wait. One of his agents was returning from the palace. Wriggler smiled and nodded like the rest of the ponies while the spy—disguised as a gray pegasus—landed beside him. He, too, adopted the same cheerful behavior as the others.

“Report,” Wriggler ordered through his false pony’s grin.

“The ponies just completed their ceremony, sir,” said the spy in a high-pitched and childish voice. “All the Elements of Harmony are aligned and accounted for.”

Wriggler nodded, lifting his hoof as he pretended to point out one of the ewes in the pen. “Good. And where are the ponies now?”

“Being shown to their rooms. They’ll stay for dinner and leave for Canterlot in the morning.”

“Private rooms?”

“Yes, sir.”

Wriggler didn’t have to fake his smile now. “That’s better than we could have hoped for. Prepare the team. We will make our move before their feast.”

Twilight followed Cadance out onto the palace balcony, normally reserved for public speeches and diplomatic functions. It was the best spot for a private conversation between two princesses. On her way out, Twilight had put her crown in Rarity’s saddlebag and taken Smarty Pants from her. She presented the doll to Cadance once they were alone.

“Oh, I remember you!” Cadance’s eyes lit up as she held the doll in front of her. “Gosh, I was so young when I made her.”

Twilight nudged her. “I haven’t needed her for a while, but Applejack’s brother is getting a lot of use out of her now.”

“That’s good. It’s nice to know another filly is—”

“Actually, he’s a full-grown stallion.”

Cadance stared at her sister-in-law in surprise. “Oh. Well, that’s fine, too.”

Twilight laughed and took the doll back. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about her. We spoke with Discord earlier. He told us that he disguised the Element of Patience as a pocket watch and hid it in a cotton field. Apparently, you used the same cotton to make Smarty Pants.”

“I did,” Cadance said softly. She was staring out at the public square below, where a crowd of visitors was being given a tour. “I actually never saw the watch. I hardly even remember the day I made her for you. It just… happened.”

“Really?”

“It was the day I got my cutie mark, as a matter of fact.” The pink alicorn gave Twilight a tender smile. “All because I wanted to make the best birthday present for you.”

Twilight’s heart glowed when she heard that. That mystery had been bugging her for the entire train ride from Canterlot.

“There’s something else I’ve wanted to ask you. For quite a while now, actually.” Twilight paused and extended her wings. Even after months of flight training with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, the sensation of having wings was still a little strange. “What was it like for you when you became a princess? Did it come naturally to you or did you have to practice at it?”

Cadance put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “That, sweetheart, is something you have to practice. I’ll admit I was nervous at first. I’d been a foalsitter for so long that I didn’t expect I’d make a very good princess. But I was born an alicorn and it was expected of me. Celestia told me that my duties wouldn’t be that different from taking care of foals and fillies. My subjects come to me with problems and I try to fix them. They need someone to guide them when things are rough.”

“Hmm.” Twilight looked away in thought. “That does sound a lot like what I do in Ponyville.”

“And Celestia knew that when she sent you there.” Cadance guided her back toward the palace. “You just have to have faith in yourself and faith in your subjects. Treat them like you would your best friends.”

Twilight smiled and leaned into her old foalsitter, remembering the way they used to talk when they were young. “Thanks, Cadance.”

“Anytime, Twilight.”

A Chance Encounter

Six – A Chance Encounter

Fluttershy had just emerged from an invigorating shower when she heard a knock on her door. She put on a bathrobe and wrapped her mane in a towel before flying over to answer it.

Waiting outside was Twilight, wearing a shy smile. “Hi, Fluttershy. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“Not at all,” said Fluttershy. “What can do I for you?”

“I, uh, need some help with grooming.” Twilight’s wings twitched anxiously. “I’m still having trouble with preening my own feathers.”

The yellow pegasus smiled. “Oh, of course! Here, have a seat on the bed. I’ll just be a minute.”

As Twilight hopped onto the guest bed, Fluttershy trotted back into the bathroom. She needed a minute to dry herself off and fix her mane for the banquet. While she did this, she pictured Twilight waiting patiently on the bed, picking at her wings with her teeth. She and Rainbow Dash had shown their friend how to clean and maintain her new wings months before. Twilight had always insisted on doing it herself in private, like most pegasi.

Still, Fluttershy couldn’t stop from blushing. Ever since the day she’d finally confessed her feelings for Twilight—who had already become an alicorn princess—she’d been hoping for a chance to help her preen. It was a sign of serious intimacy between pegasi, usually between very close friends and married couples. Only a year ago, the thought of cleaning wings with another pegasus would’ve terrified Fluttershy.

But for Twilight, she’d do it in a heartbeat.

Twilight sighed as she settled into the bed. She was glad things were working out in the Crystal Empire. Cadance had explained that her attendants would be able to manage things while she and Shining Armor made their trip to Canterlot.

Her thoughts were interrupted when somepony knocked on the door. Twilight stood up. “Who is it?”

“Housekeeping,” a delicate voice answered. The door opened as a Crystal Pony maid entered, walking on her hind legs and pushing a cart full of cleaning supplies with her front hooves. Her mane was bronze and her coat was a lovely sapphire. “I’m sorry for the intrusion, Miss.”

“It’s no problem,” said Twilight. She flew over to the bathroom. “I’ll just tell Fluttershy and we’ll step out for a moment.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want you to do that.”

It was the sudden change in the maid’s tone that put Twilight on instant alert. She spun around in midair, gasping at the rapidly transforming pony.

The Crystal Pony now looked just like Twilight—wings, horn, and all. Her eyes flashed green in a way that Twilight found sickeningly familiar.

“Farewell, princess,” said the changeling in Twilight’s voice. Her horn glowed green and Twilight braced herself for an attack—

“Oh, no!” Both of them turned around to see Fluttershy flying out of the bathroom with her mane disheveled. Her eyes went wide when she saw the changeling. “No. Not my Twilight!”

“Blast it!” the doppelgänger hissed in a harsher voice. Her horn glowed again, forcing the door open, and she turned to leave.

Twilight glared. “Oh, no, you don’t!” She cast a telekinesis spell to pluck the changeling by her wings and slam her back onto the floor. Twilight’s doppelgänger kicked her hooves furiously in the air, unable to escape the spell’s pin.

“Queen’s bane!” the creature moaned. “My shoulder! Wh-what did you do to my shoulder?”

“Twilight, don’t hurt her!” Fluttershy landed beside the writhing prisoner, giving her a look of pity. “There, there. Don’t worry. You’ll be fine…”

Twilight stood resolute. “I didn’t mean to hurt her, but I’m not letting her get away. Fluttershy, you should stay back—”

The pegasus suddenly reached down and slammed her hooves hard onto the changeling’s shoulder. There was a disgusting pop and the fake Twilight suddenly stopped moving. She craned her head up and stared open-mouthed at Fluttershy.

“Wh-what w-was th-th-that?” asked the changeling.

“I’m a pretty good chiropractor,” the yellow pony answered with a smile. “I figured the blow must’ve dislocated your shoulder, so I popped it back into place. Feeling better?”

“Y-yes, much better…”

“Good! I’m Fluttershy. What’s your name?”

“Really?” Twilight asked, rolling her eyes.

“I’m… Ichor.” The changeling’s face rippled for a moment, briefly becoming Fluttershy’s face before returning to Twilight’s. “P-please don’t hurt me, p-ponies.”

“Weren’t you about to hurt us?” Twilight demanded.

“T-try to un-understand,” Ichor hissed. She’d stopped trying to struggle against the telekinetic bind Twilight was using on her. “We—we do not hurt our prey. We store it. Take their faces and keep them asleep in our pods. Draw upon their love for sustenance.” She closed her eyes. “We have been hungry for so long now. The famine…”

“Famine?” Twilight exchanged a look of surprise with Fluttershy. “What famine?”

“Queen’s bane, I-I’ve said too much.” Ichor’s body rippled with green, revealing her true form—a dull black carapace, hole-filled limbs, gossamer wings, and a pair of cold blue eyes.

When those eyes flashed, Twilight braced herself for another attack. She felt her telekinesis spell fail as the changeling heroically pulled herself off the floor and flew above the two ponies. But instead of attacking, Ichor flew into the bathroom. Twilight and Fluttershy gave chase, arriving just in time to see the changeling open the window and fly out into the night.

“Horse feathers,” Twilight cursed. “I can’t believe it. The changelings are back!”

“W-what are we going to do?” Fluttershy huddled against her for security.

Twilight put a comforting hoof on her shoulder. “Celestia and I did our research after that last encounter. There’s a spell that should let us find a way to break a changeling’s disguise and tell the real one from the false one. But it’s back at the royal library. We have to get to Canterlot right away!”

Fluttershy’s lip quivered. “But Twilight, if that changeling was supposed to impersonate you, then doesn’t that mean…?”

“Oh.” Twilight blinked, filled with dread as she finished her friend’s line of thought. “Oh, no.”

She was on the verge of panicking, but she remembered Cadance’s exercise. Instead, Twilight lifted her hoof, breathed in, breathed out, and smiled. She felt more focused, even though she was still terrified about the danger they were in.

Then she remembered Cadance, whose own wedding had almost been ruined because of the Changeling Queen impersonating her. That gave her an idea.

“We need to watch our friends,” said Twilight, giving Fluttershy a sly smile. “If there’s an impostor in our group, we’ll know about it at the banquet. Just follow my lead…”

When he stepped out into the hallway, Wriggler took a moment to adjust his stolen hat and whip his yellow mane out of his eyes. He felt a little strange to be impersonating a mare instead of a stallion, but if it was for the good of the Nation, he’d manage it.

Not to mention, the earth pony’s love for family and friends was strong. Just the refreshment Wriggler needed to complete this mission.

However, he didn’t get far down the hallway when he heard a high-toned voice call out, “Oh, there you are! Just the pony I was looking for!”

Wriggler turned his head and remembered to smile when he saw the white unicorn with the blue mane trotting toward him. If the spies were correct, the pony’s name was Rarity. A haughty fashion designer with a melodramatic flair. He guessed whichever changeling got to impersonate her would an easy time of it; just exaggerate every word and gesture. Who’d tell the difference?

“Howdy, Rarity.” Wriggler let the rough accent flow easily from his lips. “What can I do fer you?”

“I was just making a few last-minute touchups to Smarty Pants.” The unicorn’s horn brightened with a blue aura as she floated a patchwork doll toward Wriggler. “I know Big Macintosh has had to go without her for so long, so I thought he deserved to get the best-looking doll when we return!”

Big Macintosh sounded important. Wriggler smiled and took the doll on his hoof. “Well, thank you! I’m sure he’ll be happier than a rattlesnake in July!”

Rarity’s brow lifted in confusion. “Why in the world would a rattlesnake—oh, never mind. Just say it’s my little gift to him, free of charge.”

“Will do!” Wriggler took the doll into his mouth and quickly trotted back into the guest room. He allowed himself a surreptitious glance over his shoulder and was pleased to see the unicorn moving down the hallway and out of sight.

Once he was inside, Wriggler dropped the doll on the floor. He trotted past it, not really caring about the unicorn’s silly concerns. He just hoped the other changelings were in place. Ichor still hadn’t reported back from her assignment with the yellow pegasus.

But for some reason, he couldn’t help looking back at the doll. It didn’t look like anything special. Just a crude facsimile of a pony.

A young, delicious, love-filled pony…

Wriggler found himself picking up the doll with his hoof. It wasn’t the doll itself that attracted him, he found. It was what was inside the doll.

Love. So much love! He’d heard tones of it when Rarity had spoken affectionately about the doll. He felt Rarity’s touch on the doll and imagined Big Macintosh cuddling the doll as young ponies were known to do. This wasn’t the love he was used to consuming—not the burning passion in a pony’s heart. It was an old love. A rich and long-lasting love. Affection that never faded over time.

And best of all, Wriggler thought, I don’t have to coerce love from it. How curious…

He put the doll on the bed and trotted back from it. As overwhelming as these thoughts were, he didn’t have time for them. There was a mission to be completed. But Wriggler made a note in the back of his mind to tell Queen Chrysalis about this discovery when it was all over.

A Meal Between Friends And Foes

Seven – A Meal Between Friends And Foes

Fluttershy followed Twilight into the royal dining hall, feeling more than a little on edge. On any other occasion, she’d have been glad to put on a nice green dress and fix her mane up. But Twilight’s warning about the changelings in their midst had her feeling anxious about the banquet. And how could she not feel guilty every time she looked at her friends, wondering wondering if she was judging somepony unfairly of being an impostor?

Just follow her lead, Fluttershy thought. Have to remember that.

The hall was filled with Crystal Ponies, all servants of the royal court. Cadance and Shining Armor stood near the back of the hall, greeting every guest. The rest of their friends were gathered near the main table. Pinkie Pie was tasting every single appetizer and dessert, while Rarity basked in the attention of two young stallions. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were huddled together, talking quietly about something.

On the surface, they seemed perfectly normal, wearing lovely dresses and their Elements of Harmony. But Pinkie Pie was hardly talking up a storm, Rarity seemed a little anxious, and Rainbow Dash was frowning like she had a headache.

“Hello, girls!” Cadance smiled and reached out to hug Twilight. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m putting you and your friends with Shining Armor and I at the main table.”

“Yeah, about that.” Twilight leaned in and whispered something into Cadance’s ear. The other princess frowned and looked at her sister-in-law in alarm. But then Twilight smiled and Cadance smiled with her.

The older princess waved at the last guests to enter the hall. Fluttershy was close enough to hear her murmur, “Well, that sounds wonderful. How are you going to expose the impostors?”

Twilight stood beside her old foalsitter, looking very regal in her crown and gown with a polite smile on her lips. “When Queen Chrysalis was impersonating you, I knew something was wrong because she didn’t know our special dance, and she certainly wasn’t loving like the real Cadance. Everypony has something that sets them apart, some secret or little quirk. If there’s a changeling in our midst, then they’ll have to slip up sooner or later.”

“That’s very clever, Twily,” said Shining Armor. It amazed Fluttershy how he could whisper without hardly moving his lips. But he’d been Captain of the Royal Guard. He knew how to keep perfectly still. “But what about the Crystal Ponies?”

“I don’t know them as well. They’re your subjects.”

“If the Crystal Empire is in danger of being invaded,” Cadance suggested, “then perhaps we should postpone our trip.”

“You and my brother should stay. The rest of us will go to Canterlot and find the spell to break the changelings’ illusions.”

“Um, can we stop waving now?” Fluttershy asked. “My hoof is getting sore.”

“Sorry,” Twilight whispered back. They all dropped their hooves in relief.

Cadance turned to the young pegasus with a smile. “You must be Fluttershy. Twilight’s told me a lot about you.” She paused as Shining Armor put a hoof around her shoulders. “I’m so glad to see she’s found her special somepony.”

Fluttershy’s cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson. “Oh, thank you, Princess.”

“Please, call me Cadance.”

“Th-thank you, Princess Cadance.”

Twilight leaned over and nuzzled her. “It’s okay. You’re family now. The titles aren’t that big a deal.”

Hearing that made Fluttershy’s heart swell. She smiled and nodded.

I guess Twilight really does have this crisis under control.

When the feast had finally begun, everypony sat down and listened to Cadance’s speech about the Element of Patience and the great honor her husband had received. Twilight was only giving her sister-in-law half her attention. The other half was spent looking over her friends.

Everypony has a secret. Something that nopony else but a true friend would know.

“Hey, Pinkie Pie,” she whispered. “Did you remember to bring your party cannon?”

“Of course I did!” the pink pony cheerfully whispered back. “Ooh, I think I see a spot that’s missing a few decorations! Be right back!” She slipped under the table with a goofy smile.

It wasn’t Pinkie Pie. She’d never be caught dead without her party cannon, even if nopony else could see it. It would take a very talented changeling to copy her randomness.

To her right, Fluttershy gently nudged Rainbow Dash. “Um, I was going to ask if you needed any help with Tank when we get back to Ponyville. If that’s all right with you…”

The blue pegasus blushed. “Fluttershy! Not so loud!” Twilight watched her lean in and whisper, “I don’t want anypony to think I’m some kinda softie!”

“But I think it’s cute the way you two—”

“If you say one word about rubbing noses, so help me, I’ll—!”

“Meep!” The yellow pegasus ducked her head. “I’m sorry! Please don’t be mad at me!”

Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. It didn’t look like Rainbow Dash either. She was proud—and, at times, quite the prankster—but she was still kindhearted. Not many ponies knew about her pet turtle and how Fluttershy had often spied them being adorable together.

“…and so, I thank you all for being here to share this special night,” Cadance was saying. “Feel free to share in this feast in honor of the love this empire is built on!”

The room burst into stamping and cheering. Twilight stamped her hooves for a moment, then turned back to her friends, who were starting on their dinner. Except for Pinkie Pie, who was shooting more confetti and streamers into the far corners of the hall.

The only ones still unaccounted for were Rarity and Applejack.

“Ugh, this fish isn’t agreeing with me,” Rarity was saying. She dropped her napkin and pushed her chair back. “Excuse me, girls. I have to use the little filly’s room.”

“Don’t know what yer talkin’ about,” Applejack replied, still chewing her mouthful of fish and vegetables. “This here’s some of the best grub I ever ate!”

“Oh!” Rarity stamped her hooves in dismay. “Applejack, that’s horrid! I can’t bear another second of it!” She turned up her nose and trotted off gracefully.

Fluttershy watched her leave, then turned to Twilight. “Um, maybe I should follow her?”

“Good thinking. Be careful.”

The yellow pegasus smiled and winked. She gently flapped herself out of her chair and flew after Rarity from a safe distance.

Twilight took a careful sip of punch as she considered her two friends. On the one hand, Rarity’s absence could be counted as suspicious. But that was no reason to discount Applejack either.

There was only one way to find out.

“Hey, AJ.” Twilight scooted her chair over and smiled at the orange pony. “Can I ask you something?”

Applejack swallowed her mouthful and sighed. “Sure thing, Twilight.”

“Do you think Big Macintosh will let me borrow Smarty Pants for a while?”

“Now what would you want with that old thing?”

Twilight blinked. “What do you mean, ‘that old thing’? It was my doll, remember?”

Applejack stared. Then she blushed and grinned. “Oh, yeah! How could I forget? Course it’s fine! I mean, it’s yer doll, ain’t it?”

Celestia help me, Twilight prayed. It’s her.

A few moments later, Fluttershy flew back and landed beside Twilight. She leaned in to kiss her on the cheek, then whispered quickly, “It’s not Rarity. She seems fine to me.”

“I know,” Twilight answered softly.

“You do?” Then, as Fluttershy looked at Applejack, her eyes widened. “Oh, no…”

The First Strike

Eight – The First Strike

For the first time in years, sunlight washed over Bad Horse Lane.

As Princess Celestia landed on the cobblestone street, she waited while a phalanx of royal guards assembled behind her. Pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies—all chosen for their bravery, loyalty, and honesty. Overhead, the three Wonderbolts were circling in patrol routes, ready for an aerial incursion by the changeling horde.

“There will be no bloodshed today,” Celestia declared. “You are the finest ponies to defend the realm. Now, you may begin your search!”

“No need!” a voice hissed out from the shadows. Celestia reared back as changelings burst out from every door and window of the neighborhood, surrounding the phalanx.

She was not the least bit surprised to see every changeling transform itself into the splitting image of a royal guard.

“Protect the Princess,” said her lieutenant Black Storm. “That is your first priority.”

“No, Sergeant.” Celestia glanced up, trying to sense the true heart of the malevolence she felt. “Though I appreciate your concern, I can defend myself. Your first priority is to find and defeat the changeling queen.”

“As you wish, Your Highness.” Black Storm adjusted the plume on his new helmet. “Find the queen and hold the horde back! For Equestria!”

“For Equestria!” the guards cried and charged.

And so the Battle of Bad Horse Lane had begun.

For Twilight, the banquet could not be over soon enough. She led her friends out as soon as Cadance finished her closing remarks. With her new wings, she could fly straight to her private room, with Fluttershy close behind her. The others took a while to catch up, but that was fine.

Twilight took advantage of the moment to lean in and kiss Fluttershy. “Whatever happens, you know me and you know who our real friends are. Okay?”

“Okay,” the pegasus whispered, wearing a determined smile.

When the remaining four entered the room, Twilight cast a spell to lock the door behind them and close all the windows. There was no point in letting another impostor escape like before.

“Girls, we’ve got a problem,” said Twilight, putting on her best princess tone. She hated using it on her best friends, but they had to know how serious she was. “Fluttershy and I were attacked by a changeling earlier tonight. We think they’re trying to replace us one at a time.”

The other ponies gasped and muttered amongst themselves, looking wild-eyed at one another. That was what Twilight expected. But she kept her focus right on Applejack.

“Darling, you can’t expect us to believe you think one of us is an impostor?” asked Rarity. She put a hoof to her head and moaned dramatically. “Oh, how terrible!”

Applejack frowned. “Now how’re we supposed to tell who’s real an’ who’s not?”

“I’m glad you asked, AJ!” And before anyone could respond, Twilight’s horn fired a magenta bolt that struck the earth pony square in the chest.

Everypony cried out as Applejack dropped onto her hooves. Their shock only grew when the magenta light turned green and Applejack’s eyes flashed up at Twilight with emerald rage.

“C-clever p-p-princess,” the changeling hissed in a darker, more masculine voice. As he spoke, he reverted to his true nightmarish form, though he still wore Applejack’s hat. “Very clever—”

Rainbow Dash cut off the rest of his tirade with a body slam. The changeling howled as the blue pegasus pinned him to the ground. “One more word outta you and it’ll be your last, creep!”

“Twilight,” Rarity cried, “however did you figure out it wasn’t the real Applejack?”

“Fluttershy and I were checking up on everyone at the banquet,” the princess said proudly. “We asked things that only our real friends would know. And ‘Applejack’ here didn’t remember that Smarty Pants used to be my doll, even though we talked about it just the other day!”

“Confound that doll,” the changeling hissed.

“What was your plan?” Rainbow Dash demanded. She pressed a hoof into the creature’s side until it flinched. “What did you want with us?”

“Why, the Elements, of course! Why else bother with you blasted ponies?”

“The Elements of Harmony can only be wielded by us,” Twilight challenged. “Only our friendship can power them.”

“Ah, but who says the real ponies have to wear them?” The changeling grinned. “Imagine six changelings disguised as the Elements of Harmony, acting on behalf of Queen Chrysalis. Who would stand against the might of the Changeling Nation then?”

“You can’t fake friendship.”

“Can’t you?” The changeling shrugged despite the pegasus holding him down. “I see you’ve already made your first mistake.”

“Which is?”

“Trusting me,” said Fluttershy.

Twilight barely had time to turn around before she felt a pair of hooves kick her in the back. She fell onto her wings, tumbling right into Rainbow Dash. The changeling leapt into the air on his gossamer wings and buzzed in triumph.

“With enough practice,” the false Fluttershy buzzed as she hovered over Twilight, “you can fake anything.”

Twilight groaned. Through tear-filled eyes, she watched as Fluttershy and Applejack stood together, wearing the cruelest smiles.

I shouldn’t have sent her alone after Rarity, she thought bleakly.

Then the entire room was covered in green fire and she remembered nothing more.

Author's Note

Hopefully things will develop more dramatically with less chance for comedy. I know I'm throwing so many twists and turns into the plot, but there is going to be a resolution soon.

A Word With Royalty

Nine – A Word With Royalty

Something wasn’t right. It felt like Twilight was back at the library in Ponyville, standing among all her books and listening to Spike dusting upstairs. She trotted over to the front door to see if she was really in Ponyville.

When she pushed the door open, she saw her adopted hometown, with the streets full of ponies she knew. Lyra and Bon Bon. Derpy Hooves and Time Turner. The Cutie Mark Crusaders. But when she stretched her hoof out, they all began to disappear.

“Please, don’t go!” she pleaded. “You’re real! I know you’re real! Don’t leave me!”

But she couldn’t stop them from leaving. They were false! All false ponies! Changelings and liars and—

“Peace, Twilight Sparkle!” a deep voice called out. “Do not give into despair now.”

Twilight turned around. Standing in the middle of her dream-library was Princess Luna. She certainly looked real. And sounded real. But it took Twilight prodding her with her hoof to know that she was real.

“Princess,” Twilight said, bowing her head, “the changelings are about to take over the Crystal Empire. And they’re after the Elements of Harmony!”

“I see. It is worse than we feared, then.” Luna pointed her hoof at a swirling vortex near the center of the room. Twilight watched as a terrible scene unfolded inside the vortex.

She saw Princess Celestia standing in the middle of a dark Canterlot avenue, fending off multiple changelings with gusts of wind from her wings and golden bolts from her horn. Only a few royal guards could be seen carrying on the fight beside her against identical clones of themselves.

“She fights well, but this battle is already lost,” Luna explained. “The changeling queen has slipped away and now she has taken possession of the Elements of Harmony. Nothing stands between her and control of the Crystal Empire.”

“But Cadance…” Twilight shook her head. “And Shining Armor! Surely they can stop her! They did it before!”

“But never before have the Elements of Harmony been turned against each other. And we do not know what would happen if they did.”

“Fortunately,” a suave voice called out from the shadows, “that’s right up my alley.”

Twilight noticed Discord making his way down the library stairs. For some reason, he was dressed up like Star-Swirl the Bearded and carrying a large tome in his paws.

“Queen Chrysalis has set things up very nicely for herself,” said the draconequus. He flipped through pages of his book, causing green pixie dust to fall from the sides. “But that’s boring, so I’ve decided I’m gonna ruin things as best I can.”

“Since we can’t beat the changelings by force,” Luna explained, “we must beat them by a more cunning strategy.”

Discord smiled and began to fiddle with his false beard, making it grow longer and longer while he spoke. “Personally, I’ve always found that being taken captive is the best time to do some damage. Think about it. Where does your enemy usually take you when you’ve been caught? Right to her! It’s the perfect ploy!”

Twilight listened to them with an open mind. She knew she didn’t have many options in her state. No doubt she was passed out inside some changeling prison cell, just like Cadance had been trapped inside a dark cavern on the eve of her wedding.

Still, that gave her a few ideas. It helped to know a princess who could enter a pony’s dreams.

“Princess Luna,” Twilight asked, “can you deliver a message in this form to Cadance? Tell her and my brother what’s going on?”

“Of course, Twilight.”

“And, if you can…” Twilight blushed a little. “Tell my friends what’s going on and not to worry. Especially Fluttershy.”

“Oh, I can guess why,” Discord remarked. He snapped his fingers. Two plush dolls appeared in his paws—toy ponies that resembled Twilight and Fluttershy. He bounced their muzzles together and made several kissing sounds with a sadistic grin.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Thanks for that. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to wake up now.”

“Your wish, milady, is my command!” The draconequus snapped his fingers again—

And then Twilight opened her eyes.

It was warm inside the pod. Warm and hideously green. Twilight tried to turn her head, but it hurt too much to do so. It was easier to lie still in the pod’s warm embrace.

The front of the pod was transparent. Twilight saw through a green filter a grove of gnarled trees. She surmised that she was somewhere inside the Everfree Forest—or perhaps in some other distant woodland. She might not even be in Equestria anymore.

As her vision cleared, Twilight noticed other pods like her own. If she squinted hard enough, she could see her friends trapped inside them.

All her friends were there. Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash—all unconscious and contained. Twilight’s heart sank, but she prayed that Luna would visit them in their sleep soon enough.

It hurt when she remembered the changeling who’d masqueraded as Fluttershy. How could she have been so blind? And she’d kissed her! The thought made Twilight’s stomach churn.

If we get out of this, she swore, I’m going to take a week-long trip with Fluttershy. Just the two of us. And maybe Spike, so he doesn’t worry about me. But that’s all.

“Oh, you’re awake at last,” said a sickeningly familiar voice. Twilight watched as a tall and lanky changeling with a jagged horn stepped out of the shadows. She moved straight for Twilight’s pod with a cruel smile written on her face.

Queen Chrysalis! Twilight snarled inside her head. She tried to open her mouth, but she didn’t seem to have the strength for it. She couldn’t even feel her tongue.

“Yes, it’s been a while, hasn’t it, my little pony?” Chrysalis lowered her head until she was eye-level with Twilight. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this day. My perfect day. You get to sit and watch while I claim this entire land for the Changeling Nation.”

If not for the pod that held her, Twilight would gladly have kicked the changeling queen in the face. Instead, all she could was glare in silence.

“I could say I’m only doing this because we crave the love that fills Equestria,” Chrysalis added, “but then, that’s not entirely true. My subjects might need that love to survive, but I can live quite well on your misery. Watching you and your friends squirm. Watching every pony princess fall and submit to my rule.” She grinned. “Yes… that would keep me satisfied for a long time, my little pony princess.”

From behind one of the other pods, a small changeling stuck its head out and buzzed, “My queen, we have secured six of the eight Elements of Harmony!”

“Excellent, Wriggler. I shall be there shortly!” Chrysalis began to trot away from Twilight, but before she left the grove, she took one last look at her prisoner and sighed.

“I really couldn’t have done this without you,” said the vile queen. “Remember that.”

Twilight Sparkle had never been a pony given to hatred. But in that moment, she despised Chrysalis and everything she stood for. She would not weep for any tragic consequences the changelings would face.

It scared Twilight to think how cold her heart felt. She tried to remember Fluttershy’s kindness and how she’d reformed even a mad and heartless deity like Discord. But that thought gave her no comfort. She doubted there was anything left in Chrysalis to redeem.

Still, it helped to think of her beloved pegasus, to imagine her beautiful smile and sweet voice. That was something she could fight for. Something she could believe in.

Stay strong and sleep well, my love, Twilight promised. Somehow, we’re going to fix this.

Wriggler, now glad to be back in his true form, ascended through the treetops with his team close behind him. Every single one of the changelings wore an Element of Harmony. Having taken the form of Applejack before, Wriggler wore the Element of Honesty around his neck.

When he breached the open air above the forest, he buzzed in joy at the sight of the full moon. His carapace throbbed with pride as he watched Queen Chrysalis emerge from the woods, her dark beauty silhouetted by moonlight.

Tonight would be their final victory. He could feel it.

“Transform yourselves, my servants,” Chrysalis hissed. “We will begin.”

Wriggler concentrated as his body morphed from changeling carapace to pony hide. He felt a golden mane and tail sprout, followed by a brief spasm as his wings retracted and his limbs readjusted to suit the earth pony’s strong physique.

When he opened his eyes, he and his brethren looked just like the six pony heroines. He felt particular pride in seeing his dear Ichor wearing the face and crown of Twilight Sparkle.

“Friendship is a nuisance, but sadly it may be necessary for our victory.” Chrysalis raised her hole-ridden hoof and swept it down at her minions. “Recreate the bonds between the ponies and we will be able to claim the Elements of Harmony as our own!”

Wriggler concentrated. The Element of Honesty. He tried to think of what it was like to be honest. He was honest with his mate and his queen, if no one else…

“Blast it!” Ichor cried out. She dropped to her hooves, panting as her eyes flashed green. “My queen... we… we cannot sustain the spell…”

The queen glared daggers at Ichor. “I don’t want excuses, I want results! Try again!”

“But I’ve never known how to be kind,” the false Fluttershy buzzed in a deep, masculine voice.

“And there is little for us to laugh about,” the false Pinkie Pie screeched.

Wriggler immediately saw the crux of the problem. He prostrated himself before his queen and added, “Your Majesty, if I might be so bold, perhaps the Elements of Harmony simply can’t be tricked by false friendship—”

A green bolt struck him in the chest. He went skidding over the treetops, crashing into a tangle of leaves and branches. Green light rippled as his disguise failed. Wriggler groaned and looked up at Chrysalis’s seething face.

“I don’t want excuses,” she repeated. “You six will keep trying and make them work, or I’ll find servants who can.”

Wriggler ducked his head shamefully. Then, while his wings twitched painfully, he remembered his discovery from earlier that night.

“Your Majesty,” he risked saying, “there is a doll that I stole from the earth pony. I beg leave to fetch it and show you the love that we can harvest from—”

“Silence, insolent whelp!” Chrysalis’s horn glowed as she lifted Wriggler into the air and sent him hurtling back toward his comrades. “I have no time for your foolish notions. Make the ponies’ Elements work or else!”

Without another word, she flew off.

Ichor crept over to Wriggler’s side. “Are you wounded, dearest?”

“Only my pride,” he hissed back.

A Sympathetic Story

Ten – A Sympathetic Story

When she opened her eyes, Fluttershy could have sworn she was still dreaming. She really wished she could have stayed in the last dream, where she and Twilight were running through a meadow full of butterflies and cute little bunnies. This new dream was more like her nightmares about the Everfree Forest.

Her world was green, cramped, and hot. Hideous trees and faces stretched out beyond her.

But when she felt something sharp poke her wing, Fluttershy knew it was real. And then she remembered what happened. Running into herself outside the bathroom. Being hit with green fire. Falling into darkness and calling out for Twilight to save her—

Twilight! She pressed her hooves against the slimy green glass, seeing all her friends trapped in their own pods in the forest. Her mouth wouldn’t move, though she wanted to scream for them to wake up.

Right across from her was Twilight’s pod. Her beloved princess was sitting in her cell, staring—well, more like glaring—at nothing. Fluttershy wanted to apologize for letting her get tricked and captured. But she couldn’t get through.

“You’re awake,” a voice purred from the side. Fluttershy squeaked and looked up at the small changeling flying toward her pod. She remembered this one—Ichor. The changeling whose shoulder she’d fixed. It looked like she was doing fine now.

“W-why did you have to do this?” Fluttershy’s bottom lip quivered. “We never meant you any harm!”

Ichor bared her fangs—an aggressive sign in most creatures. “Foolish pony. Neither did we, but that’s the way the world works. We need your love for food and you refuse us!”

It was hard to stay civil when the changeling’s appearance was so threatening, but Fluttershy did her best. “But you could have asked us…”

“Ha! Looking like this? I think not!”

“But earlier… you mentioned a famine…”

Ichor’s sneer vanished.

“I-I’m sorry if I offended you—”

“No,” said the changeling. She looked away. “It’s fine.”

As she settled onto her hooves, Ichor looked around for anyone who might be listening. But she was the only changeling in the clearing and nopony else but Fluttershy was awake.

“Long ago, the Changeling Nation lived in a distant land called Morphopolis,” Ichor began. “It was very different from your Equestria. Beautiful mountains, canyons, and swamplands to the far east. In Morphopolis, there’s a special kind of flower that grew abundantly—the heart-rose. And in that flower is the most delicious nectar, made out of pure love and joy…”

Fluttershy saw the changeling smile dreamily, but knew her nostalgia wouldn’t last. These kinds of stories rarely stayed happy.

“But there was a blight on the land. The heart-roses stopped growing. There were terrible fights over the last crop between our kind. In the end, we had to leave in search of food. Imagine how hard that journey was, leaving behind what was once a beautiful country. And with each trip, our queen grew crueler. Always hiding, always running, always pretending to be something else, just to survive…”

Ichor’s voice trailed off. She looked up at the pegasus and sneered again. “But what would you ponies know about it? You’ve never suffered. You’ve never starved!”

To Fluttershy’s surprise, those accusations didn’t hurt much. In fact, they made her remember her history. There was that play she and her friends had performed in Canterlot on the last Hearth’s Warming Eve.

“I’m very, very sorry for your loss,” she replied softly, trying to be sensitive. She could see that the changeling was miserable, and she knew how to handle depressed critters. “But we’ve had those kind of troubles here in Equestria.”

“I doubt that very much.”

“No, really! A long time ago, there was a very cold winter…”

Shining Armor came up behind Cadance as she stared out from the royal balcony. “It’s late. You should really get your rest.”

“I can’t sleep,” Cadance sighed. “Not until I know Twilight and her friends are safe. Did the search party return?”

“Not yet.”

Cadance closed her eyes—just for a moment, she told herself. She wasn’t going to fall asleep until she saw that her friends were safe. She was just resting her eyes for a moment…

“Good evening, my dear.”

Cadance’s eyes flew open. She was sitting in the throne room, looking at Princess Luna.

“Horse feathers,” said Cadance. “I’m dreaming, aren’t I?”

“Do not worry yourself about it.” Her aunt trotted toward the throne. “You’ll need the rest. I bring a message to you from Twilight Sparkle.”

“Where is she? Is she all right? Where did the changelings take her—?”

Luna raised a hoof to Cadance’s mouth, silencing her. She smiled. “She asks me to tell you about the changelings’ plot. They’ve infiltrated nearly every corner of the Crystal Empire. Twilight tried to use secrets that only her friends would know to distinguish the impostors, but I fear that the changelings have grown smarter since our last meeting. They appear to be after the Elements of Harmony, to steal them and use them against us.”

Cadance felt her blood run cold. “They have the girls. So Shining Armor and I… are next.”

“I fear it is so.”

Although she was now a Princess, Cadance felt like a filly whenever she remembered the days she spent trapped in Canterlot’s crystal caverns. Cold, hungry, and alone. Desperate for help that would never come. Desperate to see her fiancée again. And the only laughter she heard was from Queen Chrysalis.

She would do everything in her power to spare everypony she knew from that fate.

“We have the Elements of Love and Patience,” she told Luna. “We can defend ourselves.”

“I am certain you can hold off the changelings, but without the Elements of Harmony, it may not be enough. Discord is developing a strategy to find Queen Chrysalis and I fear that my dear sister is losing the battle for Canterlot.”

Cadance nodded. “Very well. Tell Twilight to look after her friends and protect them. Her brother and I will do our part with the Crystal Ponies. We’ll root out every changeling in our midst.”

“I hope that may be enough, dear Cadance.” Luna smiled and bowed. “Farewell.”

Cadance blinked, feeling weak and groggy. She was lying in Shining Armor’s hooves and looking up at his worried expression.

“Thank goodness you’re awake,” he said. “You were passed out for a while!”

“Shining,” Cadance groaned. “Rouse the palace guard. We need to search every guest room right away.”

“Of course, dear.”

“And… tell them to be careful…”

The Crystal Empire was now on heightened alert. Pegasi flew out from the royal palace, delivering an emergency decree from Princess Cadance: all Crystal Ponies and traveling ponies were advised to take shelter for the night, and to report suspicious behavior to the nearest guard.

Fortunately, Wriggler knew how to avoid raising the ponies’ suspicion. After checking at the train station to make sure nopony had reported the absence of Sir Emerald of Canterlot, he took up his old disguise. Then he joined the other ponies in their wide-eyed panic and scrambling for shelter.

Moving quickly between alleys and small avenues, Wriggler made his way toward the palace. He trotted as casually as he could, keeping up a fearful expression for the benefit of guards that passed him by.

Queen’s bane, he thought, these ponies are getting vigilant. It’s a miracle they’re not asking for identification…

It galled him to remember how that young princess had seen through his Applejack disguise. He would have to be less obvious this time.

After a short pause to let a pair of pegasi fly overhead, Wriggler trotted straight toward the palace doors. A plan was already forming inside his head. It all depended on how gullible the two Crystal Ponies standing watch by the main entrance were.

“Please help!” he called out in Sir Emerald’s cultured voice. He pantomimed a stomach pain and dropped onto his hooves. “Oh, dear! Oh, dear! It hurts too much…!”

“What’s wrong?” asked the blue pony on the left. She turned to her friend. “Get the royal nurse! He needs medical attention!”

“Right!” said the lavender pony and dashed off.

Meanwhile, the blue pony was kneeling down beside Wriggler, who twitched and kicked his legs spastically. “It’s going to be all right. Just keep still. The nurse will be on her way.”

For a moment, Wriggler contemplated taking this pony’s form and using the teleport spell on her. There was quite a bit of love he could consume from her. But it was far too risky and her friend would be suspicious. Better to fake his illness a little longer and get inside the palace.

I have to get that doll, he reminded himself. It could be the key to solving our crisis.

When the lavender pony returned, she was accompanied by a shimmering white pony wearing a nurse’s hat. The nurse took one look at Wriggler and sighed.

“Oh, dear,” she said. “He looks like one of the guests from tonight’s banquet. Everypony who had the fish ended up getting sick. Bring him in. And please, be gentle.”

While he hadn’t counted on spoiled fish and other sick ponies, Wriggler wasn’t about to let go of an amazingly convenient cover story. He groaned and pressed a hoof into his mouth, pretending he was on the verge of throwing up, as the two Crystal Ponies carried him inside.

Through a long and winding hallway, the three ponies brought Wriggler into a medical ward. He was deposited onto an empty bed and the nurse pulled up a curtain to give him privacy. Through the curtain, he could hear other ponies groaning and gruesomely losing their supper. He was glad he couldn’t see any of it, though he was cursed with a very vivid imagination.

But at least he was inside. It was time for Phase Two.

With a deep breath to steady his nerves, Wriggler underwent another transformation. He let go of Sir Emerald and took on the appearance of a hospital orderly. A brown Crystal Pony with a dark mane and white scrubs. Then he pulled the curtain aside and trotted through the ward.

The nurse passed him without a glance in his direction. Wriggler hid a smile behind his hoof when he heard her go to his bed and say, “Now, sir, this medicine won’t taste very good, but it should help… oh, no…”

He was already bolting for the exit before she could finish.

From there, it was a simple matter of ducking around corners and hiding behind potted plants whenever somepony came into view. But step by step, inch by inch, Wriggler made his way through the palace and closer to the guest suites.

He went straight to Applejack’s room, which was unlocked for some reason. Wriggler decided to be extra careful and avoid leaving any hoofprints on the carpet. He let his wings emerge and hovered off the ground as he entered.

Fortunately, the doll was sitting lying on the bed. Smarty Pants, he believed it was called. Even at a short distance, he could feel a faint aura of love inside the toy. Fondness buried deep in its heart for everypony to draw upon. It brought a smile to Wriggler’s face as he trotted toward the bed and stretched out his hoof—

Almost too late, he spotted the three red crystals on the floor by the bed. They flashed and suddenly a glowing net sprang up around Wriggler, pinning him to the ground. He felt a wave of heat wash over him, causing his disguise to fail.

He fought against the net, but it was too strong. Wriggler slumped in defeat as the door opened and Shining Armor entered with a pair of royal guards behind him. The unicorn prince glared at his captive, then turned to his guards.

“Take him to the princess’s chamber at once,” he said. “And bring the doll. We have quite a few questions for this one.”

A Shadow Before Dawn

Eleven – A Shadow Before Dawn

Something slithered past Princess Celestia as she turned away from the carnage in Bad Horse Lane. She was covered in grime and sweat from all the fighting. Her wings and horn ached terribly. She hadn’t had a fight this bad since the Griffin Wars.

Ahead, her handful of guards were holding the line. The unicorns among them were using their magic to break up the changelings’ illusions, while their brothers-in-arms were knocking the enemy back with well-placed kicks and throws. Not their finest hour, but they were valiant all the same. Celestia swore to repay them all for their service.

“Ah, Princess.” That slithering sensation came over her as a wisp of black smoke curled up around her. The smoke grew a pair of yellow eyes that winked at her. “So good to see you. Queen Chrysalis sends her regards.”

“Tell me where she is, Discord!”

The draconequus emerged from the smoke in his true form. He put one finger to the Princess’s lips, then snapped his other fingers.

Time froze around them. The changeling swarm was frozen in midair, some of them stuck in the middle of their transformations into royal guard imitators. The guards themselves seemed no worse for the wear. It was all too common to see them keeping perfectly still when on-duty.

“That’s better.” Discord bowed his head obediently. “Now then, Chrysalis’s minions have been spotted in a small forest to the northeast, roughly between Canterlot and the Crystal Empire. If I were to hazard a guess, I would imagine our six Element-bearers can be found there as well.”

“But can you free them?”

Discord’s smile was suddenly less friendly. “I’ll do my best. Provided they haven’t already freed themselves. They’re terribly clever and resourceful, you know.”

Celestia breathed a sigh of relief. “Then do so. And thank you.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to take care of that?” He pointed at the frozen changelings. Although several had been knocked out or injured, there were still well over a hundred ready to fight. “One finger-snap and they’re gone.”

“Thank you, but no. Chrysalis will try to take both Canterlot and the Crystal Empire. If she believes she can easily reclaim Canterlot, she’ll be more focused on the Crystal Empire.” Though she was exhausted as an earth pony, she allowed herself a tiny, impetuous smile. “And I need her to believe she’s close to winning.”

“Oh, I love it when you’re nasty.” Discord rubbed his paws together in satisfaction. “Very well, Your Highness. Try to have fun. I know I will!”

He cackled and vanished in a white flash. Celestia blew some loose strands of her mane out of her eyes and turned back to the battle, which had just resumed.

Rearing up on her hind legs, she charged back into the fight.

Twilight had nothing better to do but watch Fluttershy carry on a pointless conversation with one of their changeling guards. She recognized the creature as Ichor, the one who’d tried to abduct her in Fluttershy’s room.

And, she remembered bitterly, the one who’d abducted and impersonated Fluttershy.

Despite racking her brains, she couldn’t think of a good escape plan. The containment pods were sealed from the outside and they seemed to be limiting her magic. Twilight couldn’t blow it up from the inside-out, nor could she project illusions to trick one of the changelings into opening the pod for her. Wearied from her numerous attempts, she sat back in her cell and stared.

At least Fluttershy was awake. She could focus on her, if nothing else.

But she was worried that none of her other friends had woken up. The four of them were still lying in their pods, their eyes closed peacefully. Twilight wondered how long they’d been asleep. And she couldn’t help but wonder if they’d all been abducted since they went to their rooms back at the Crystal Palace.

No, she told herself. Don’t start down that path. That leads to despair. Think. What would Princess Celestia do in this situation?

Try as she might, she couldn’t imagine anypony capturing Celestia. Wounding her, yes. Thwarting her, sure. But imprisoning her would be difficult, and how would they contain her?

Twilight remembered the wedding between Cadance and Shining Armor. She thought about how Queen Chrysalis and the changelings had nearly ruined everything with their takeover of Canterlot. Celestia had stood by, defiant when Chrysalis revealed herself. Even wounded, she managed to talk Twilight and her friends into getting the Elements of Harmony. And when that plan failed, what had she done then?

Nothing, Twilight realized, but I did my part for Cadance.

She could see it clearly in her mind. A simple spell to break Cadance out of her restraints. Cadance nuzzling Shining Armor, now freed from Chrysalis’s brainwashing. Cadance’s love powering Shining Armor’s defense of Canterlot, ridding the city of every last changeling.

That was the true power of a princess. What Cadance had tried to tell her before. It wasn’t about smashing your foes to dust or lording over everypony or hosting extravagant ceremonies.

It came down to empowering your subjects. The ponies you trusted most.

Twilight’s greatest magic was her friendship. She could bring the Elements of Harmony together with a simple spark of hope, a friendly nudge in the right direction.

She looked out of her pod at Fluttershy. To her surprise, Ichor was listening to the pegasus with a rapt expression. Not cruelty or smugness like before.

“Keep talking, Fluttershy,” Twilight whispered. “Show them the kindness that their queen never gave them. Then we’ll see what happens next.”

From her perch on the tallest tree of the Old Forest, Queen Chrysalis surveyed the land that would soon be hers. Equestria looked much more appealing at night. It reminded her of the beautiful desolation in Morphopolis.

Her horn ached when she thought about those days. Hard days. Awful days without hope or laughter.

Chrysalis had been young and far more lenient when the Changeling Nation had set out in search of food and a new homeland. She’d earnestly believed that they could resettle, find new love to eat, and blend in with the locals. She’d sworn that they would grow strong and numerous once more.

And so the Great Exodus had taken them over hill and vale, bringing them toward the ponies’ land, where love never ran dry. But the ponies would not share their love. They could be not reasoned with nor would they bargain.

That left only taking by force and guile. Chrysalis would never apologize for her schemes, like the first failed invasion of Canterlot. She did what she had to do for the good of her subjects.

But it is a pity we cannot feed so well on fear, the queen mused as she looked up at the silhouetted moon. We would never starve while the ponies tremble in fear of us.

She did not understand why these ponies hated her. What crime had she committed? Chrysalis sought to nourish her own kind, nothing more or less. So what if they relished a little in the pain that came from absorbing a pony’s love? There was nothing wrong about enjoying one’s work.

A buzz and flutter of wings from behind her pulled Chrysalis out of her meditation. She turned and glowered at the minion hovering beneath her.

“M-my q-q-queen,” the changeling said in a raspy voice, “I bring news of the invasion. We have almost taken Canterlot. Our swarm is poised to take the Crystal Ponies by dawn.”

“But what of the Six?” Chrysalis’s glare turned deadly. “Have they gotten the Elements of Harmony to work yet?”

“N-no, my queen—zzt!”

The rest of his answer was lost as Chrysalis used her magic to hold him up in midair and shake him furiously.

“Then don’t come back until it’s done!” she bellowed. “I want results and I want them now! I want our swarm to occupy the Crystal Empire now! Do you understand, weakling?”

“Y-y-yes, my queen!”

She dropped the changeling, watching him plummet back into the forest to rejoin his comrades. It galled her to think that she was of the same species as her minions. They were so weak and uninspired. At least Chrysalis could grow and thrive on her own. But they needed a strong hand like hers or else they’d perish.

Really, what other choice did she have but to rule them?

Ichor looked at her companions with concern. “Has anyone seen Wriggler? We can’t perform the ritual without him!”

“I saw him going back toward the Crystal Palace a while ago,” said Gadfly, the youngest one among them.

Ichor frowned. That wasn’t like her mate. He wouldn’t neglect his duty to their queen and she had demanded results tonight—or else. But perhaps he had good reason for it.

Still, there was no time to lose. Ichor cleared her throat and looked over her four remaining siblings—Gadfly, Mantis, Cricket, and Longlegs. They were five of the six chosen to wield the Elements of Harmony.

Ichor waited for their transformations to finish up. She felt her body contort into a perfect replica of the pony called Fluttershy. Through the change, she felt she had learned something about the Element of Kindness from her conversation with the yellow pegasus. The pony was strong in a gentle way. She had the most powerful wings, yet rarely used them. She could shout across town, but she hardly raised her voice. Ichor knew something about self-restraint for the sake of another—usually as part of an act.

But kindness for its own sake was a curious feeling. Warm and fuzzy. She didn’t exactly hate it.

“I don’t think this can work,” Gadfly was saying, having taken on Rarity’s form. She shook her mane and put her hoof to her head. “I can’t think about generosity and conquest all at once.”

“Laughter seems more appropriate.” This was from Mantis, who was bouncing up and down as Pinkie Pie. “I can laugh in the face of the Crystal Ponies’ downfall. Ha ha!”

Ichor lifted a cautioning hoof. “No, no! The laughter shouldn’t be spiteful. It should be more… more bubbly! More happy!”

Mantis frowned. “I don’t do happy, Ichor. I’m used to feeling miserable, and I feel better when others share my misery.”

“Try pretending to feel happy, at least.”

Cricket and Longlegs—disguised as Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash, respectively—glanced at each other, then back at Ichor.

“We’ve tried pretending emotions,” said Cricket. “It just doesn’t work, Ichor. You have to see that. Our queen’s plan isn’t working!”

Ichor wanted to dispute that. She wanted to say that such talk was treasonous and Cricket would be punished severely for it. But she couldn’t force the words out of her mouth.

All she could think about was Morphopolis and the Great Exodus. She knew now that the ponies long ago had faced the same conditions, but they endured through the power of friendship. But try as they might, it seemed the changelings were not made for friendship. They knew how to lie, cheat, steal, and attack, but nothing about how to make friends.

But the six most important prisoners knew something. Ichor decided it was time to find some answers.

“Come with me,” she told her crew. “We must interrogate our captives in person.”

That was a lie, albeit a well-told one. As Ichor led the way back to the prison pods, she knew she wasn’t going just for answers. She was going because she wanted one last chance to believe in the rightness of her queen’s cause.

She was going because, if the royal plan truly didn’t work, she would have to come up with a plan of her own.

A Ray of Light

Twelve – A Ray of Light

Exhausted but unbowed, Cadance strove to uphold her regal bearing as the guards dragged the imprisoned changeling into her chambers. Shining Armor stood by her side, silent and loving as ever. Just being next to him was enough to keep her focused on the matter at hand, even while her mind recoiled at the sight of a changeling.

But she wasn’t that frightened. As twisted as they seemed, it wasn’t the changelings’ faces that plagued her nightmares, nor even Chrysalis’s true face.

Far too often, it was her own face, wearing a mocking smile, staring out from the depths of the crystal caverns—

Celestia help me, Cadance prayed. I’m stronger than that. Be brave. Be brave for your friends and your subjects.

The changeling looked up from the glowing net in which it was held. “Ahh, Princess. So nice of you to grant me an audience…”

“That’s enough,” said Shining Armor. He put a protective hoof on Cadance’s shoulder. “Show some respect for the Princess of the Crystal Empire.”

“Yet I serve a queen,” the changeling hissed. “I think that puts her one rung higher on the chain of royalty, wouldn’t you say?”

Cadance stepped forward, cutting off her husband’s sharp retort. She looked down at the pitiful creature, trying to keep up a stoic façade.

She asked, “What is your name?”

The changeling looked up, blinking slowly. “Wr-Wriggler.”

Cadance looked at the doll that one of her guards was carrying in his saddlebag. She used a levitation spell to bring it forward for all to see. “And what did you want with Smarty Pants, Wriggler?”

She watched the creature’s jaw work in consternation. As a former foalsitter, Cadance knew how to deal with children who had been caught doing something bad. Interrogating prisoners was really no different. You just had to be firm and steer the conversation down the right path.

Finally, Wriggler said, “I… I only came back… for the love inside the doll…” Then he threw his face down between his hooves, letting out a soft buzz into the floor.

Cadance looked the doll over. It was more than just a gift she’d made for Twilight. It was the work that had brought out her cutie mark. Love infused in a simple toy for a darling filly.

And apparently, it was strong enough to draw the attention of a changeling in enemy territory.

“If we were to give you this doll,” Cadance suggested, “what would you be willing to give us in return?”

Wriggler looked up. His jaw dropped in astonishment. “What?”

Shining Armor turned to her in confusion. “What are you doing, Cadance?”

“I’m trying to see if our guest here is willing to be civil.” Cadance turned a smile onto the lowly changeling. “So far, he hasn’t been harmed. All I’m asking is that he returns our… courtesy.”

“So you’re saying,” Wriggler hissed softly, “if I tell you what you want to know… I get the doll?”

Cadance nodded.

“The ponies you’re looking for are being held in the Old Forest six kilometers east of here,” he rattled off with a casual grin. “Queen Chrysalis has made her camp there as well. And as we speak, there is a swarm of my brethren—eight hundred soldiers strong!—poised to rain down over your precious empire and claim it at dawn.”

Shining Armor lifted up a hoof to stop him. “Whoa, hold on a second. You’re spilling the beans just for a doll?”

“Oh, but you’ve no idea! That doll is magnificent! Appetizing! Everything we would need!”

Cadance looked at her husband, then down at the changeling. “Your kind feeds on love, yes?”

“We do.”

“And this doll contains enough love for one of you to feed on?”

“Zzt—yes!”

Cadance allowed her wings to carry her off the floor and into a midair reclining position. She held Smarty Pants in her hooves and examined her a little more closely. Rarity had done a good job of patching her up. And even though it no longer contained the Element of Patience, the doll still had a certain spark inside. An echo of the beautiful fire of love that had swelled up inside Cadance’s heart when she put the last stitch in and wrapped the doll inside a gift box.

Even years later, that spark was still powerful. Or perhaps it was from the use that Applejack’s brother was giving Smarty Pants. Either way, there was a magic at work that couldn’t be denied.

A slow smile formed on Cadance’s face as she turned to Shining Armor. “I have an idea, but I need you to summon every dressmaker, toymaker, and tailor to the palace at once.”

“Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”

Her only response was to land beside him and wink.

Shining Armor laughed. “I keep forgetting how smart you really are, Cadance.” He turned to the guards and nodded. “You heard the princess. Let’s send out those summons.”

Twilight’s stomach churned when Ichor returned to the prison pods with a host of other changelings. When she’d left Fluttershy, the impostor had seemed pensive about their little chat, which gave Twilight a sense of hope. But when she returned, Ichor’s face was unreadable. And she had company—all of them wearing the Elements of Harmony.

It seemed like the start of something awful.

“Longlegs,” Ichor buzzed. “Open Pods One through Six.”

One of the larger changelings—who was wearing the Element of Loyalty around his neck—grunted and walked behind one of the gnarled trees on the edge of the clearing. Twilight couldn’t see what he did, but she felt a sudden chill as the green front of her pod dissolved and fresh air came rushing in. Twilight gulped in as much as she could and dropped onto the blessed cool dirt.

When she looked up, all her other friends were being released from their pods. Fluttershy was the first to be fully awake. After shaking her wings and stretching out her hooves, she quickly went to each pony and nudged them. While that happened, Twilight cast a simple rejuvenation spell on them.

As the four sleepers began to get their strength back, Twilight faced Ichor with a steely glare. “Would you mind telling me what this is about?”

“It’s about your precious Elements of Harmony,” said the changeling pack leader. “What I told you earlier was wrong. Turns out you really can’t fake friendship.”

“I’m sorry, what was that?” Twilight couldn’t resist a cruel grin. “Could you repeat that?”

The changeling growled. “I said. We. Can’t. Fake. Friendship. Is that clear enough for you, Princess?”

“Crystal clear.”

“We need you to teach us how to use the Elements. If you do, I’ll see to it that you’re allowed to go free before the queen knows what we’re up to.”

Twilight reared back. “We’ll never help you take us over!”

She felt a gust of wind as Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash flew to her side, followed closely by Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity. None of them were smiling. In fact, they all seemed ready to tear the changelings limb from limb for what they’d done.

Ichor seemed to appreciate this fact. Her eyes scanned the ponies. Then she turned and waved a forelimb at her companions. At first Twilight was expecting an attack, but instead they huddled together and quickly chatted in their native tongue.

When Ichor stepped away from her group, she buzzed in a way that sounded like a tired sigh. Twilight watched as she touched the Element of Kindness on her neck.

Then, very slowly, she removed the Element and tossed it to Fluttershy, who caught it midair.

Twilight’s jaw dropped. One by one, the other changelings did the same, returning the ancient artifacts to their rightful pony owners. It felt good when Twilight got her crown back, even though she didn’t enjoy wearing it on non-formal occasions.

“P-please understand,” Ichor hissed. “We only want love for sustenance, but lately…” She pawed at the ground for a moment, clearly collecting her thoughts. “Lately, our queen has not been very reliable. Our closest victory to date was the conquest of Canterlot. But now our plan hinges on mastering these Elements without any true sense of friendship. It is folly and we can’t win with it.”

“Glad to hear somepony’s finally talkin’ sense,” Applejack exclaimed. Her eyes were sunken, but she seemed no less fierce and honest than usual. “Now, how’d you reckon we’re gonna fix this here situation, Twilight?”

Twilight looked at her friends. So courageous and strong, though clearly hurt by their captivity. They wanted a quick resolution to this long and terrible conflict. Then she turned and observed the changelings. Timidly staying back and regarding their pony counterparts at a safe distance. They seemed exhausted. And if Ichor was to be believed, all they wanted were answers.

“I don’t know if we can give you love to feed on,” Twilight said slowly, “but we can teach you a thing or two about the magic of friendship. Maybe it can help your people in a way that Queen Chrysalis can’t.”

“Oh,” a cold and sinister voice called out, “I very much doubt that.”

Twilight huddled close to her friends as she frantically searched the treetops. It was just like being in the crystal caverns again. “Chrysalis! Show yourself!”

“I think not, my little pony princess. I’ve got an empire to claim. But don’t worry! I’ll be sure to tell your in-laws hello for you.”

Her mocking laughter echoed through the forest. Twilight caught the briefest glimpse of green eyes and a fanged smile that soon became a bright green flash racing away through the trees. If her calculations were right, she was headed west and that could only mean—

“She’s going to the Crystal Empire!” Ichor snarled. She leapt up, her wings buzzing as she glided to Twilight’s side. “My dearest mate Wriggler is there. Can’t you help him?”

Rarity giggled. “My, my. I didn’t know changelings could be so romantic.”

“Yes, we can. And shut up.” Ichor’s glare sharpened. “Please, Princess Sparkle. Will you help us?”

Twilight looked at the changelings. They seemed a little more confident after Ichor’s speech. But she couldn’t sense anything hostile in their approach.

Very cautiously, she leaned over to Fluttershy and whispered, “You seem to know her the best. What do you think?”

“I don’t think she’s that bad,” her beloved pegasus answered. “A little rough, sure, but they’ve all had such a hard life. I think we ought to give them a chance.”

“I guess it’s a good sign that they returned the Elements of Harmony to us.”

“Trust is a good foundation for any friendship. Remember when we went out after Nightmare Moon?”

Twilight smiled and nuzzled Fluttershy, remembering her bravery in handling a very belligerent manticore. “I sure do.”

“Well?” Ichor prompted.

“Okay, we’ll work together. But we’ll work in teams of ponies and changelings. I don’t want to see any backstabbing or hear any putdowns from anypony. Is that clear?”

With her declarative tone and her sparkling crown, it was hard for everypony not to nod in agreement. It was one of the nicer parts of being an alicorn princess.

“Then let’s get moving, everypony! The fate of two races is in our hooves tonight!”

A Call to Arms

Thirteen – A Call to Arms

The moon was already low in the early morning sky as a train of Crystal Ponies made their way into the palace. Shining Armor stood ready to greet them as they entered, wearing his royal uniform and the Element of Patience. It felt a little strange to have a real Equestrian artifact around his neck, but he could bear it. He’d faced worse challenges during basic training.

Meanwhile, the audience chamber was getting crowded. Everypony had answered Cadance’s summons: tailors, dressmakers, and toymakers. All carrying their tools in saddlebags that had been hastily packed. All looking very confused and afraid.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” Cadance said as she ascended the throne. “I would not ask this if it wasn’t serious, but the Crystal Empire is under attack by the Changeling Nation. And while my husband and I will be defending it with our Elements of Harmony, I fear it may not be enough.”

Shining Armor touched the Element around his neck. He remembered to be patient while the ponies below murmured in confusion. Terror hung in the room like fog.

“This battle will not be won by strength of arms,” the Princess continued. “It will be won with courage, with patience, and above all else, with love.”

That was the cue. Shining Armor stepped forward, using his magic to raise Smarty Pants into the air. Every Crystal Pony stared up at the doll in wonder.

Cadance offered a confident smile. “She may not look like much, but this doll was the first gift I ever made, long before I became your Princess. This doll is filled with true love. And when put before a changeling, it is virtually impossible to resist.” She lifted a hoof and pointed at Smarty Pants. “This is how we will save our kingdom, my friends.”

The mood in the crowd was still thick, but Shining Armor detected a slight change. There were less anxious frowns and shifting eyes. He saw a few hesitant smiles, even a confident nod or two.

Even after the hell they’d been through under Sombra, the Crystal Ponies were stronger than they realized. They just needed someone to remind them.

“With our loyal guardians, my husband Shining Armor will wield the Element of Patience to stall the invasion.” Cadance pointed at the crowd. “While they hold them at bay, we will use the Element of Love and work as fast as we can. I expect everypony to do their duty.”

The crowd’s fear dissipated with each word and some even stamped their hooves in approval. Shining Armor and Cadance shared a knowing smile.

They had only a few hours until dawn. No time to waste.

Applejack trotted slowly toward Twilight and Fluttershy. The two winged ponies were having a conversation with the changeling called Ichor—and just thinking about that creature’s name sent a tingle down Applejack’s spine. But she refused to be swayed when she came right up to the edge of the forest.

Everypony turned when she cleared her throat. “Twi, sorry to interrupt y’all, but I gotta ask ya somethin’.”

“What’s up, AJ?”

Applejack pointed a hoof at Ichor. “What’s stoppin’ her an’ the rest of her kind from turnin’ on us the first chance they get?”

The changeling leader didn’t say a word. She did, however, suddenly transform into a copy of Rainbow Dash.

“Believe it or not,” the changeling said in Rainbow’s voice, “loyalty is something we understand. Usually between ourselves, but these are desperate times and our queen is leading us to ruin.”

“Well, pardon me fer sayin’ so, but we remember how tricky y’all were back in Canterlot!”

While she answered, Ichor changed again into a perfect imitation of Rarity. “And I’m sure you’ll pardon me when I say that we certainly remember how easily your friends Shining Armor and Cadance drove us out of Canterlot with the power of love. Despite what Chrysalis thinks, it’s obvious our defeat today will be the same as before, if not worse.” She leaned toward the earth pony, catching her off-guard with a very convincing Rarity-like glare. “And I assure you, I won’t let that happen again!”

Fluttershy quickly moved in between the two. “Look at it this way, Applejack. She and her friends would rather give up their attack than watch their kind be humiliated and scattered all over again. She’s doing it because she cares about them.”

Resignation washed over Applejack. She looked back at Ichor, who had reverted back to her true form. “I reckon I owe ya an apology then. Guess I’m still steamed ’bout what you an’ yer friends did to me an’ my friends.”

“Perfectly understandable,” Ichor replied. “We’re not asking for forgiveness. Just your help.”

“In the meantime,” Twilight interjected, “I think we’re about ready. The changeling swarm is close to entering the Crystal Empire, so we need to beat them there. But not all of us can fly, so travel’s going to be a problem.”

Applejack looked at Ichor. She frowned and put a hoof to her chin, thinking about the changeling’s body. A sturdy black shell and some very strong wings, much like a pegasus or an alicorn.

“Well,” she offered, “how ’bout those of you with wings fly those of us without ’em?”

“But even at top speed, a pegasus couldn’t carry an earth pony at such a long distance,” Fluttershy objected. Then, because she was Fluttershy, she blushed and whispered, “Er, sorry for arguing, AJ.”

Twilight brightened. “But you might be onto something. A single pegasus couldn’t, but two fliers can easily share the load of a single non-flying pony.”

“But we only got two pegasi and an alicorn!” said Applejack.

Twilight didn’t respond. Instead, she turned and smiled at Ichor.

The changeling caught her smile and returned it, though the fangs didn’t make it seem too friendly. “I see your point, Princess.”

She transformed back into Rainbow Dash in a flash of green and added, “We’ll give you as many pegasi as you need. There’s no time to lose.”

It had been a long time since Queen Chrysalis felt so glorious. The last time had been on the day when she and her subjects had taken over Canterlot. She’d stood on Celestia’s own balcony, filled with glee as she surveyed the kingdom she’d just won from those foolish ponies. But that feeling was back again as she trotted past the rows of changeling troops, who prostrated themselves and buzzed or hissed their oaths of allegiance.

“Remember this day,” said Chrysalis. Her gaze was focused not on her swarm, but on her target—the distant spires of the Crystal Empire. “Remember this as the day when our hunger finally ceased! When our golden age returned! When we ate our fill of love and restored the Changeling Nation to its rightful place!”

“We are ready, Your Majesty!” one of her retainers cried. “We will send them into the wastes we once walked!”

Chrysalis smiled. That one seemed more clever than the rest. He was certainly more obedient than wherever that whelp called Wriggler had gotten off to.

“Indeed, we shall,” she answered. With her head lifted high, Chrysalis closed her eyes and concentrated. She felt her body contort as her wings and horn changed color. Slowly, she let go of her true form and took on the appearance of a black alicorn in midnight blue armor.

Oh, if only Celestia and Luna could see her now. Chrysalis had no doubt that they’d be shocked, even horrified, to witness the return of the enemy called Nightmare Moon.

If her spies were to be believed, this was a face the Crystal Ponies had never seen before. Chrysalis was looking forward to making sure they’d remember. Their fear would be sweet enough to last her for a lifetime.

Around her, the changeling swarm transformed into ponies of every size, shape, and color. Crystal Ponies and earth ponies. Pegasi and unicorns. Full-grown mares and young fillies. It seemed like the whole of Equestria stood before Chrysalis.

Divide and conquer. Confuse enough ponies and rile them up with battle, and their love would be easy to claim. It had worked on the ponies who’d held the Elements of Harmony, and it would work just as well against the whole Crystal Empire.

Just as the sun began to rise in the east, Chrysalis flew into the air and pointed at the shining city on the horizon. “Forward, my subjects! Take their city, and take their love! For our Nation!”

“For our Nation!” the swarm cried and raced toward the city at once.

A Patchwork Solution

Fourteen – A Patchwork Solution

Cadance and the other tailors looked up as Shining Armor came galloping in with a pair of pegasi guards behind him. Immediately, the Princess dropped her tools and rushed to his side, nuzzling him as he panted fiercely.

“Thank you…” he wheezed. Then, when he’d started to calm down, her prince lifted his head and added, “They’re already here. We’ve got reports… ponies being attacked and changelings being exposed… it’s bad, Cadance. Real bad.”

“I know, dear.” Cadance used her magic to summon a pair of dolls, handing them to the pegasi guards. “Take these to the front lines. If it works, we’ll have more for your phalanx very soon.”

The guards looked at the dolls dubiously, but nodded and followed Shining Armor back out. Cadance sighed and prayed for his safe return.

“Your Highness?” A tailor pony named Sapphire Sun came up beside the Princess and bowed. “The first batch is nearly finished.”

“Then it’s time for the key ingredient.” Cadance smiled and touched the Element of Love around her neck. “Everypony, remember the day we drove off King Sombra. Remember the Crystal Heart and the love you bear for one another.”

Sapphire Sun rejoined her fellow workers as the Crystal Ponies bowed their heads and closed their eyes. Cadance hovered into the air, clearing away all doubt and misery from her mind and heart. She thought about Twilight and her friends, every one of them as dear to her as her own husband.

Casting the love spell on all seventy-six dolls was not difficult. What was difficult was serving as the focus for the love of over a hundred Crystal Ponies. She felt a tingle in her flanks, right around her cutie mark, as their emotions washed through her, emerging as a single point of light from the tip of her horn.

Dolls floated into the air. The magic took hold, burying itself into each toy.

Let it work, Cadance prayed. We’ll give them a false pony to feed on so that a true pony might be spared that pain.

Rarity held on tight as she and her friends were flown at a terrible speed toward the Crystal Empire. This was definitely not how she wanted to be brought to that magnificent city. If she’d had her way, they’d arrive by train—or even better, by royal chariot! Not like this—not clinging to the backs of two changelings who both looked like Rainbow Dash.

“Excuse me,” the changeling on the left grunted, “but would you mind moving your hoof to the left? You’re—hrggh!—pushing into the bottom of my wing!”

“Oh, how rude of me!” Rarity moved her hoof as instructed. “Er, I don’t suppose you could make yourselves look a little more glamorous? Riding on a pair of Rainbow Dashes just isn’t fashionable!”

“You’re worried about fashion at a time like this?”

“How could anypony not be? If you’re going to save the day, you might as well look good doing it!”

The other changeling—Gadfly, she believed his name was—craned his head around to look at her. Then, after nodding to his wing mate, their bodies rippled with green light.

When it cleared, Rarity found herself riding two copies of herself. With beautiful wings.

“Is this,” Gadfly said in Rarity’s voice, “more to your liking?”

“Yes, yes, yes, yes!” Rarity squealed and hugged the changeling. “Now we’re heroes with style!”

At the head of their formation was Twilight and Ichor. Behind them were Fluttershy and Longlegs carrying Applejack, followed by Cricket and Rainbow Dash carrying Pinkie Pie. They’d been in the air for the better part of half an hour, racing out of the Old Forest and straight for the distant gleam of the Crystal Empire.

At first they’d been slow to fly and slow to trust one another. Rarity in particular hated the idea of having to work alongside any brute who’d trick her friends so cruelly. And to think she’d given that one impostor Twilight’s doll! But a few calming words from Twilight and Ichor had apparently been enough to quell the dispute.

“We’re flying to save everyone,” Twilight had insisted. “We’ll stop the war before it starts.”

Rarity had to admit that her friend had the right idea. These changelings on the whole seemed rotten, but individually they’re weren’t so bad. And they at least had some sense of savoir-faire to pull off their illusions.

Perhaps when all this fighting is over, she mused, I could get a few of them to turn into the most beautiful fashion models Equestria has ever seen!

“There they are!” Twilight called out. She pointed a hoof at the Crystal Empire and the dark swarm’s descent from above. “Everypony, get ready!”

What followed was the most brutal, most uncivilized affair Rarity had ever encountered. One moment, she was soaring through the air on the back of her two changeling counterparts; the next moment, she was landing a solid kick against a sinister-looking unicorn right in his horn.

Her friends joined the fray as well. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were the first after her, tag-teaming their opponents with the earth pony’s well-placed kicks and the pegasus’s violent dive-bombing. Pinkie Pie and Twilight were flanking the edges of the swarm, using a party cannon and bursts of magic to drive them out of the city.

As Rarity ducked a swing by an incoming unicorn—and let Gadfly swoop in to finish him off—she heard a delicate voice cry out, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Turning around, she saw Fluttershy performing a most unusual martial arts style. The yellow pegasus wasn’t so much hitting her opponents as rapidly dodging them and “accidentally” tripping them into one another. Her battle-cry was a constant litany of apologies and terrified squeals.

Rarity fought her way toward the poor dear, using her magic to levitate herself as she’d seen Twilight do so many times. She managed to perform a front flip and land right beside Fluttershy, just in time to land an impressive whack against a changeling’s head. The brute groaned dizzily and collapsed onto the shimmering pavement.

“Th… thank you!” Fluttershy panted. She leaned into Rarity for support. “I don’t think I can keep this up!”

Rarity nudged her affectionately. “Not to worry, dear. Just think about all those animals back in Ponyville you’ll be keeping safe today!”

“Safe.” With one word, Fluttershy’s whole demeanor changed. Her eyes widened. Her mane was tossed back defiantly. She got back onto her hooves and flew right at the nearest group of changelings. Rarity watched them wilt beneath the power of “The Stare,” stumbling away from her.

“That’s right, you’d better run!” Fluttershy called out. “Or I’ll tell your queen on all of you!”

Rarity smiled. “There’s a good girl. Now, for Spike and all of Equestria!”

Then turned and charged back into the battle. It looked like Gadfly could use a helping hoof.

Chrysalis snarled when she saw the protective bubble appear over the Crystal Palace. The first wave of her changelings flew and ran right into it, bouncing off without causing a single ripple. Clearly, Shining Armor had learned a few tricks since his wedding day.

“Pull back!” she ordered. “We’ll let them barricade themselves in. Take the rest of the city and feed, my servants!”

She watched as her swarm extended away from the palace and back over the city. So many Crystal Ponies fleeing in terror. So many guards falling to their assault. This day was going exactly as she’d hoped it would.

When she landed on the avenue, Chrysalis trotted toward the palace with a victorious sneer. She hoped Cadance was watching. She wanted her to watch as the changelings took her precious empire. She wanted the princess to remember how it felt to be that helpless.

Only then would she know. Her and Celestia and every last accursed pony in Equestria. They’d all know how it felt to wander the wastes as a dying nation—

“My queen!” One of her loyal subjects briefly lost his disguise and raised his hoof to the sky. “Look!”

Chrysalis glanced up as a series of blue flashes spread across the sky. She recoiled, sensing some kind of air-to-surface attack, but to her surprise, it wasn’t magical attack.

Hundreds of dolls rained down onto the streets and rooftops of the Crystal Empire. Chrysalis’s jaw dropped as miniature ponies landed right in the heart of the invading swarm. Everything went silent as the dolls fell to the earth with a collective plop.

And then, nothing. No follow-up attack, no ambush, none of the usual treachery.

But her minions stopped fighting at once. Their disguises began to fail as they looked down at the dolls in wonder.

“S-so much love,” one nearby changeling hissed. “So juicy!”

“Food!” another screeched. “True food!”

Chrysalis snarled. “It’s not food! They’re just… just toys! Carry on the fight!”

But thousands of beady eyes stayed fixed on the dolls. The changelings crept toward them with hesitant hooves and prodded them. Blue and pink sparkles burst out from every doll’s head, giving each changeling a rapt smile in return.

“Food!” the cry went up. “Food! Food! Food!”

“No!” Chrysalis bellowed. “Stop this nonsense! I am your queen and I order you to finish the invasion!”

This was outrageous! She had dealt with insolence before, but never on such a massive scale. Her subjects were ignoring her—ignoring their queen! Their savior in the Great Exodus!

A commotion to the east drew her attention. Chrysalis cringed when she saw a pack of fliers racing toward her. Fliers led by Princess Twilight Sparkle.

The alicorn stared dispassionately at Chrysalis. The queen stared back, wondering how fast she could make it back to occupied Canterlot. At least she could ransom Celestia and Luna—

“It’s over, Your Majesty,” a humble voice called out. Chrysalis turned and noticed one of the dolls standing upright. A gray little pony with a mane made of yarn and soft blue shorts.

“What devilry is this?” she demanded. “What are you?”

“Oh, just call me Smarty Pants!” The doll bowed its head and waved its little hoof. “But if you want to stop this, you’ve gotta catch me first!”

Chrysalis no longer cared. Abandoned by her swarm, she would have her answers and then her revenge. Even if it took another century in the wastes, she’d have it.

She fired a green bolt at the doll, but Smarty Pants dodged it with a floppy roll. Then the queen was chasing it down the avenue, only marginally aware of how ridiculous she must have looked to any bystanders. But she chased it all the same into a nearby alley, snarling as many threats as she could think up.

“…And when I’m done with you, I’ll tear down the Crystal Palace and build an even larger one in its place!” she finished. When the doll came up against a wall, Chrysalis dove toward it with all her hate—

And landed on cold rock.

Groaning, she pushed herself back onto her hooves. The alley was gone. So was the rest of the Crystal Empire. Chrysalis stared in disbelief at her new surroundings.

She knew these caverns. She’d banished Cadance down here a long time ago.

“Well, well, well,” a giggling voice called out from the darkness. “So this is the fierce Queen Chrysalis. How nice of you to honor us with your presence!”

Slowly, the queen turned around. Standing behind her was a hideous creature with a deer’s antler, a goat’s leg, a bat’s wing, and a snake’s tail. And two unfriendly yellow eyes…

“But you’re not nice, are you?” Discord continued. He walked toward her, forcing Chrysalis to shrink back quickly. His smile disappeared. “How dare you? How dare you treat my friends so shamefully?”

“I-I don’t know you mean!” Chrysalis found herself falling back onto her wings. She lifted her hooves to shield herself from the approaching draconequus.

Discord glared. “I may be an agent of chaos, but even I have standards, Your Majesty. I don’t suck the love out of ponies and I don’t betray the best friends anypony could possibly have!”

“Please!” Chrysalis threw her hooves over her face. She could feel the raw power inside this mad creature. One snap of his fingers and she’d be wiped from the face of the earth. “Have mercy!”

Discord smiled hideously. “Mercy? Oh, I don’t do mercy, Your Majesty.” He pointed a thumb back into the shadows. “For that, you’d have to ask her.”

She didn’t have to look to know who it was. She could hear gentle hoof-steps from within the shadows, followed by that unnaturally calm voice.

“This war is over,” said Princess Celestia. “Your changelings are free to leave Equestria. But you, Chrysalis, will remain here. Not as our prisoner…”

A quiet smile crossed her lips. “But as our guest.”

Author's Note

This is possibly the penultimate chapter of the story. Only one or two more left to wrap up this tale! I hope you've enjoyed it, and thanks to everyone who commented on and favorited this story.

P.S. Bonus points to anyone who gets the "Nightmare Before Christmas" reference in this chapter.

A Time To Mend

Fifteen – A Time to Mend

“Ahh!” The collective sigh echoed through the spa as everypony settled into the relaxing embrace of the mud bath. Crystal Ponies attended to their needs, bringing drinks and snacks on carefully balanced trays. The staff seemed especially anxious to provide whatever the “Heroic Six” required.

“We’re fine, thank you,” said Cadance. She rested near the left of the bath next to Twilight and Rarity, who were getting their hooves polished in the meantime. The others were chatting and having their manes done. It was the least Cadance could offer them after their harrowing time in captivity.

“Your Highness,” said another Crystal Pony. She bowed, her sparkling white mane touching the floor as she did. “I bring a letter from the Princesses of Canterlot.”

Cadance considered it, but when she looked at her friends, she figured it could wait. Though Shining Armor was leading the guard in a search for changelings who’d been separated from the swarm, the hostilities had been over for almost a day.

The changelings who’d grabbed every doll had left the Crystal Empire peacefully, mostly retreating to the Old Forest. Armed with the Element of Patience, Shining Armor had escorted them to the woods himself. And after he’d been reunited with his mate Ichor, Wriggler had been allowed to join them, taking a leadership role in the absence of their queen.

Cadance hadn’t heard what happened to Chrysalis. On this otherwise perfect day, it was the only thing weighing heavy on her mind.

My dear Princess Cadance and friends,

We are pleased to announce that the war with the changelings has been successfully averted. Queen Chrysalis has been stripped of her power and now resides in Canterlot under heavy guard. She will be treated fairly, though she will not be allowed contact with anypony other than her guards, and should she attempt to trick us into letting her out, we have Discord to see through her deceptions and keep her in line.

As for the Changeling Nation, we have begun negotiations with a handful of veterans known as Wriggler and Ichor. They have formed an Interim Council to lead the swarm until a new queen is chosen. Although we have offered them a place in Equestria, they assure us they will be returning to Morphopolis shortly. Nonetheless, good relations are on the rise and we believe that the dolls your tailors created on the eve of battle will soon be our country’s largest export.

It is our wish that all eight ponies who wield the Elements of Harmony should come to Canterlot as soon as you are able. We look forward to your formal presentation to the entire court.

Sincerely,
Princesses Celestia and Luna

Sunset fell over the Old Forest. A great black swarm spread out from the trees, taking wing and hoof as they followed their new Council out into the light. Overhead, just to the north, a trio of pegasi-drawn chariots hovered.

Wriggler recognized Shining Armor standing on the first chariot, clad in full battle-dress. The other chariots bore Crystal Pony guards in similar attire, all watching the changelings emerge from the shadows.

Tension was palpable in the air. Though their bellies were filled with sweet love from the dolls they’d found, the changelings twittered anxiously among one another. Would there be a final attack? Some pony treachery to enslave them? Wriggler knew the ponies weren’t capable of such acts, but he doubted he could convince his people otherwise.

However, he didn’t have to. Shining Armor removed his plumed helmet and lifted his hoof. “Hail the Changeling Nation!”

“Hail!” his guards answered and lifted their hooves in a crisp salute.

Wriggler’s jaw dropped. He’d expected gloating or victorious cheers on their way out. But nothing so respectful.

“Dearest?” Ichor prodded him. “Are you all right?”

“It’s nothing.” Wriggler looked back at his mate, pleased at how strong she was. He’d heard of her exploits during the battle and knew he hadn’t made the wrong choice in choosing her for life. The Nation would need such strength on the long road ahead.

“Come,” he said, putting his hoof around her shoulder. “Let’s go home.”

In a twist of irony, they’d given her a private house in Bad Horse Lane. Opulent as any palace, with a fountain and well-kept gardens. Guards chosen from Princess Luna’s personal cadre had been assigned to guard the perimeter. Though small, it seemed as majestic as any palace.

Chrysalis loathed it. The whole place reeked of ponies. And it was all the more grating to live here when she could never again see the barren beauty of Morphopolis. That traitor Wriggler was being treated more like royalty than she was. Where was the justice in that?

She paced her new den, kicking at the furniture whenever she passed by. When that grew tiring, Chrysalis took to slamming her hooves against the floor in desperation.

She’d have to get out. Even if it meant facing down that demon Discord, she’d do it. Maybe not soon, but she could be patient. She’d make every last princess in Equestria suffer for this. They’d all played a part in bringing her low. All she’d have to do was return the favor…

Somepony opened her front door. Chrysalis waited in the den as one of the guards entered. He was a strong-built pegasus named Captain Night Watch. He seemed handsome despite the bat-like armor he wore.

“Forgive the disturbance, Your Majesty,” he said in a low hiss, “but this just arrived for you.” From out of his saddlebag, he took a small brown bundle and laid it at the former queen’s hooves.

Chrysalis sneered. “Very well. Are you expecting a reward for this good deed? Because you won’t get one. Now get out!”

The pegasus bowed his head and quickly backed out of the room. Chrysalis waited until she heard the door close. Then she furiously tore open the package.

It was a pair of dolls. A felt pink pony with a horn and wings, and a cotton white pony in a red guard’s uniform.

Cadance and Shining Armor. Oh, how Celestia loved to mock her. The stories of her legendary generosity were just that—stories. None of her subjects knew how cruel their princess could be.

There was a note as well. Chrysalis lowered herself onto the carpet and read it.

To Her Majesty, Queen Chrysalis,

Although we cannot give you ponies to feed upon, we hope that these love-filled dolls might suffice. Other arrangements can be made if you so desire. We are always free to talk if you should wish to write a reply.

Sincerely,
Princess Celestia

Chrysalis’s horn glowed as she crumpled up the note and tossed it into the corner. That old mare had some gall, all right.

Still, she couldn’t help looking over at the dolls. With a cautious hoof, she prodded the pink one’s mane.

The taste was pleasing. Chrysalis looked around to see if any guards were eavesdropping. Then she grabbed the doll with her hoof and held it close.

At least she wouldn’t starve.

With the aid of a magic mirror, Celestia smiled as she watched Chrysalis pick up the doll. Just as expected.

“You know this might not solve anything, dear sister,” Luna argued. “She may feed, but she’ll still resent us for what we did.”

“I’m not asking her to forgive us,” Celestia replied. She kept her eyes on the mirror. By now, the former queen had begun to hold the doll to her chest, absorbing more of the love within. “But she has to be contained. Left to her own devices, she’s a threat to us all. But without her, the Changeling Nation will have to find its own way to peace and prosperity.”

The older princess lifted a hoof to the mirror, almost touching the image of the queen’s hoof. “And I know it’s a tall order, but there’s no reason we can’t someday become friends.”

Luna smiled slyly. “Is your goal in life to befriend every single threat to Equestria?”

“To the best of my ability, Luna.”

“I was only joking.”

Celestia smiled as she turned from the mirror. “Well, I wasn’t.”

“Now leaving for Canterlot!” the conductor announced.

“Oh, those are the most beautiful words ever!” Rarity declared. She tilted her feathered hat graciously at the porter serving her a tall glass of lemon water as the train moved forward.

“Nuh uh!” Rainbow Dash threw her hooves into the air. “The best words are ‘Here come the Wonderbolts!’”

Applejack laughed. “Now I’m gonna have to disagree with the both of ya. The most beautiful words are, ‘Welcome to Ponyville!’”

“Ooh, yes!” Pinkie Pie chimed in. “And then comes the party for newcomers! And then the party to celebrate their first week in town! And then the party for their second week, and the one after that…!”

Twilight smiled as she leaned back in her seat, glad their work was done. Fluttershy’s head was resting on her shoulder as the pegasus took a much-needed nap. After all the chaos from the battle and the changelings’ surrender, somepony had to be responsible for calming all the animals in the Crystal Empire.

“Wow, I can’t remember the last time we took a trip together, Twily,” said Shining Armor. He and Cadance sat on the opposite side, holding hooves the whole time.

“I think it was that time we went to Granny Sun’s house for Hearth’s Warming Eve.”

“Oh yeah!” Her brother grinned. “And you got sick halfway through the train ride!”

Twilight blushed, which got worse when Cadance lifted a hoof to cover her giggle. “Well, I wouldn’t have if Mom had let me practice my healing spell for upset stomachs!”

“Well, you’ve come a long way since then,” Cadance remarked, still smiling. “And not just in your magic, Princess.”

Twilight smiled and looked over at the sleeping Fluttershy. Then she glanced down at the doll in her lap. “Well, I didn’t have to do much. Between these two, they did most of the work.”

“Only because they were responsibly guided.”

“I know, I know.” As Twilight held up Smarty Pants, an idea came to her. Her horn glowed as she passed the doll over to Cadance. “I don’t suppose you’d want to hold onto her for a while? Just for old times’ sake?”

Cadance took the doll into her hooves and turned her over with a smile. “Sure does bring back a lot of happy memories.” Then she used her magic to teleport Smarty Pants over to Applejack. The earth pony nearly jumped out of her seat, but when she saw Cadance’s smile, she smiled back and tilted her hat.

Shining Armor laughed. “I think it’s time we let somepony else have a turn, don’t you?”

“Eeyup!” said Twilight, trying her best Big Macintosh impression. At least it got a good laugh out of Cadance.

Trumpets blared as the doors to the grand hall opened. A line of doves flew in, tweeting a triumphant chorus. Guards posted near the doors raised their hooves in salute. The entire audience turned in awe as eight ponies entered the hall.

“Mares and gentle colts,” Princess Celestia announced, “it is my pleasure to present to you—for the first time in the history of Equestria—the complete Elements of Harmony!”

Twilight walked in the middle of her friends, with Cadance and Shining Armor up front. She’d insisted they go first because their Elements were the most recently rediscovered. Everypony deserved to see them the most, especially with all that love and patience had done for saving the Crystal Empire.

“Let it be known from this day forth,” said Princess Luna, “that the land of Equestria is under the protection of the Elements of Harmony. Let the friendship between these eight ponies serve as an example to us all, and long may they defend the realm!”

The audience cheered as the eight heroes ascended onto the royal dais. Twilight turned, quickly adjusted her tiara, and waved to the crowd. Her friends did the same, enjoying the praise.

“I still can’t believe we really did it,” Fluttershy commented, almost drowned out by the cheers.

Twilight smiled. “And I can’t believe my old doll made all this possible.”

THE END

Author's Note

I know the ending might seem a bit rushed (my endings need more work, I admit it), but I hope it wraps things up. Thanks to everyone who read, favorited, and commented on my story.

A Surprise In The Shadows

Five – A Surprise In The Shadows

Princess Luna landed on the veranda at the palace observatory, where her sister was waiting. She waited until her guards flew off before giving her report.

“Sister, I have news from Twilight Sparkle. They have unleashed the Element of Patience and brought all the Elements of Harmony into accord. All eight ponies will be arriving by train tomorrow morning.”

Celestia sighed with relief. “That is wonderful to hear. I only hope that there will be enough time to prepare.”

Luna eyed her older sister as they trotted into the observatory. “You still suspect a threat?”

The white alicorn nodded. “As much as I want this to be a joyous occasion, I’ve sensed that something’s amiss. Something cold and dark, gathering force.”

“It’s less clear to me,” Luna admitted. “I feel anxiety and movement in the city, but that could be from anypony.”

“Indeed.” Celestia glanced at the massive telescope that filled the inner chamber. “Discord?”

On cue, the draconequus appeared out of thin air, wearing a white robe and slippers, and drinking a cup of tea. “You called, Your Highness?” He lifted a paw to his mouth and yawned. “Not that I’m complaining. Even at this late hour.”

Celestia smiled. Luna knew that smile all too well. It was her sister’s teasing smile, the kind she wore before pulling a prank or developing a very crafty plan.

“Discord,” said the Princess, “there’s something I need you to do.”

“Hail Equestria!” the royal guards cried. They raised their hooves in salute and left their posts outside the throne room.

“Hail Equestria!” Cold Courage and Black Storm replied. They took up their posts just in time to see Princesses Celestia and Luna leaving the throne room.

“Good afternoon,” said Celestia. Cold Courage followed his partner’s lead and bowed his head as the royal siblings passed. Though he was patient, it seemed like they took forever to trot down the main corridor and make their exit.

As was their custom, the two guards stood tall and silent. But Cold Courage couldn’t help noticing something strange out the corner of his eye. Something bright and pink was peeking around the corner.

“Is that what I think it is?” asked Black Storm.

Cold Courage fractionally turned his head to get a better look.

It was a donut. With a pair of legs and a pair of arms. And it was whistling to the guards.

“That can’t be real,” said Black Storm. “Probably one of Discord’s pranks.”

Cold Courage frowned. “Hmm. But it might be a threat. Stay here. I’ll check it out.”

“We’re not supposed to leave—”

“That’s why you’re staying here. Trust me, Black Storm.”

His partner frowned and shook his head. “Fine, go ahead.” He resumed his upright posture and stoic expression.

Cold Courage trotted down the corridor. He caught a glimpse of the animated donut leaping up in surprise and racing away. Quickening his pace, the guard ran after it, hearing its whistle down the side hallway.

When he noticed the donut going for the balcony, Cold Courage flew up and dove for it with all his might—

Flash.

He landed on cold, hard ground. Woozily, he lifted his head, stunned at his new surroundings.

He wasn’t in the palace anymore. Instead, he sat in the middle of a dark and vast cavern. The walls were covered with enormous and radiant crystals, but there was hardly any light down here.

The donut, however, was still there. It turned and waved at Cold Courage, then exploded in a puff of smoke. When the smoke cleared, Cold Courage swallowed.

For the first time in a long while, he was afraid.

“Not much of a guard are you?” Discord said casually. He slithered around the pegasus’s shoulders, wearing a friendly smile. “No, I’d say you aren’t really fit for the job. And leaving the throne room unprotected like that? Why, that would make you… a traitor.”

Cold Courage shook his head. “Look, it was an accident, I swear! Let me go back! I-I won’t do it again!”

The draconequus shook his head. “Tsk-tsk! Still not seeing the whole picture, are we? But whatever would your queen say about that?”

“My—zzt—queen?” Cold Courage winced. His voice had buzzed when he answered. He knew he was done for now.

“And so the traitor is revealed,” a regal voice called out from the shadows. Cold Courage looked up as Princess Luna appeared. She trotted toward him and Discord with a cold expression.

“Ah, Your Highness, you’re just in time.” Discord lifted the pegasus up by his hoof and poked him in the chest. “This little bug was about to tell me why he’d joined the royal guard under false pretenses. Weren’t you, Cold Courage?” He glared into the pony’s eyes. “If that is your real name!”

The guard swallowed. Then Discord snapped his fingers and the changeling’s disguise vanished in a wave of green light. He hung dejected in Discord’s grip, buzzing out a short curse.

“We suspected Queen Chrysalis would make another move for some time now,” said Luna. She stepped up to the changeling and looked him in the eye. “If you want to be shown more mercy than she will be, you will tell us everything you know about her plans.”

The sun was setting on the Crystal Empire, bathing the magnificent city in orange and red. From the window of her guest room, Applejack looked out at it, feeling homesick. The city reminded her of the time she spent in Manehattan, while the colors reminded her of autumn at Sweet Apple Acres. Right about now, Apple Bloom would be tending to the livestock and Big Macintosh would be bucking away in the orchards.

“Guess I shouldn’t feel too bad,” said Applejack. “I’ll be seein’ them soon enough!”

There was a knock at the door. Applejack turned and called out, “Who is it?”

“Room service!” The door opened as a Crystal Pony in a red uniform stepped inside. He was pushing a fruit basket forward with his muzzle. “Your complimentary fruit from the Princess.”

“Well ain’t that a fine thing! And nothin’ but apples, too!” Applejack suddenly felt a lot less homesick. “Just put ’em over there, thank you kindly.”

She turned toward the bathroom. The banquet was in an hour, so she needed time to clean up and put on something nice for the occasion.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” said the service pony behind her, “but where did you get that hat?”

“This old thing?” Applejack turned around with a smile. “Well, that’s quite a story—”

The words died on her lips. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

The Crystal Pony was gone. She was staring at herself. No, a perfect copy of herself, but without the hat.

The other Applejack reached up and grabbed the hat off the real’s one head. “Thank you kindly,” the impostor said in Applejack’s voice. Then she grinned.

“What in tarnation—?” That was all Applejack could say before the green light swallowed her up. Then she falling into an endless void.

Her last conscious thought was I should’ve never left Ponyville!

Author's Note

I don't know if I'll be able to write and post a new chapter each day, but so far it's working out that way. Hope you like it so far!