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by Dramatic Stories

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"Boy Canterlot looks like its gettin' a beatin' from those storms."Applejack said looking at the city in the distance.  Canterlot had a powerful storm cloud directly over it, darkening the entire city.  "C'mon Applebloom, we need get selling."

The farm mare flipped a sign to 'Open', and presented her apple products she had to sell on their cart.  She had simple apples, fritters, pies, and carmel apples, all neatly arranged in an appealing way.  It wasn't long before the first costumer came along.

"What can I do ya for?"Applejack asked.

"I'll take five granny smiths please."The mare responded.  Applebloom retrieved five green apples, and presented them.

"That'll be five bits ma'am."Applejack said.  The mare paid, and left with the apples.  The next mare in line stepped forward.

"Are...are you Applejack?"She asked nervously.

"That's me."AJ responded.  "What can I getcha?"

"Oh nothing..."A wicked smile spread across her face.  "I just, have to go tell my queen that...we've found another element wielder...the Element of Honest is it?"

"That's...wait, how would you know about the elements?"Applejack quickly flipped the sign to closed.  Everypony else abandoned the line, except for the mysterious mare.

"Because I was sent here."The mare said slowly.

"Applebloom...go home, now."Applejack ordered.  Applebloom tore off her white apron and walked away.  "Alright, now start talkin'.  What do you want from me?"

"It's not what I want...It's what WE want."

"Who's we?  Start talking sense!"Applejack's face burned red in her growing fury.  She felt a hoof poke her hind leg.  She looked down to see Applebloom still there.  "I thought I told to..."

"Cease her!"Applebloom cutoff Applejack before engulfing herself in green flame.  As the flames cleared, a changeling stood, preparing to charge.  Applejack gasped, looking over at the mare, who had also turned into a changeling.

"Whoa nelly!"She realized that many of the stallions and mares around the street were changelings.  All of them walked towards her, cornering Applejack into a wall.

As she prepared to take on a hoard of changelings, she felt her hoofs rise up above the ground.  She looked up, and saw Rainbow Dash carrying her away swiftly.  "Let's go!"She dashed away towards the library leaving the changelings stunned in her dust.

Above them, Applejack could see the hundreds, maybe even thousands of changelings bearing down on the small town.  One by one, they came crashing down into the earth beneath.  "What's happenin'?"Applejack shouted as they landed in front of the library.

"I don't know!  The others are inside, come on."Rainbow Dash pushed the door open, leading Applejack inside.  She closed the door silently.

"What in Celestia's mane is going on out there?"Rarity asked.

"We're under attack!  Changelings everywhere!"Applejack said.

"How?"Spike said running down the stairs.  "I thought we got rid of Chrysalis."

"Apparently not.  Where's Twilight?"Rainbow Dash asked.

"She went to Canterlot about a month ago.  You girls haven't noticed?"Spike responded.

"WHAT?!"Everypony shouted at once.

"What do we do?  Without Twilight we can't use the elements of harmony, and without the elements of harmony we can't defeat the changelings!"Pinkie exclaimed in a quick sentence.

*CRASH*

A changelings burst through the ceiling, landing in the middle of the five ponies (and Spike).  It gave a brief hiss, before having Applejack's hooves hit its head.  It fell limp with a thud to the floor.

"Gosh Darn varmints."AJ said.

"We're not safe here.  We gotta get away from here!"Rainbow Dash exclaimed, making a run for the door.

"We can go to my cottage."Fluttershy spoke.  "I rarely have anypony other than you guys come nearby."

"Well what are we waiting for!?"Pinkie said, bursting through the door without opening it.  Outside, the sky had been covered over with dark clouds similar to the clouds over Canterlot.

Big Mac was running by with Applebloom when Applejack stepped out the library.  "Big Mac!"AJ stopped them.  "Take care of AB and Granny.  We gotta go find a way to deal with this."Big Mac nodded, and threw Applebloom on his back, and bolted away.

"Let's go!"Rainbow Dash waved her hoof towards Fluttershy's house.  A second wave of changelings now rocketed through the cloud layer at intense speeds.  Ponies ran helplessly through the streets, dodging the incoming changelings as they struck the ground.

In the matter of seconds, the second wave had rained down completely, and the streets were littered with the parasites.  "We've got to find Twilight as soon as we can.  Else we're done for!"Applejack shouted as they ran.

"We'll discuss this when we're safe.  Just keep going!"Rainbow Dash shouted back from in the air.


Rainbow quickly shut the door once everypony was inside.  "Everypony okay?"She asked.

"We're all fine.  Though I think Spike may need a nap."Rarity said looking upon the exhausted purple dragon on the couch.

"Good.  Now, about Twilight.  Spike said she left for Canterlot about a month ago..."Rainbow said.  "And for some reason, without telling us.  Something tells me Princess Celestia had her come to Canterlot for a particular reason."

"Are you suspecting that Celestia knew this would happen?"Fluttershy asked.

"Maybe...or maybe it wasn't Celestia.  Chrysalis was right under our noses the entire time last time...so she could easily do it again disguised as one of the most respected ponies among us."

"Knowing what happened last time, we would have never seen it coming."Applejack said.

"So as far we know, Twilight could be being held captive by Chrysalis?"Rarity asked in a worrying tone.

"I'm afraid so."AJ responded.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

Everypony jumped in sudden fear to the knocking at the door.  No answer was given, and the outsider knocked again.  "Stay quiet."Applejack whispered.  She slowly crept to a window to look outside, and gasped a little.  "Phew,"She said wiping sweat off of her forehead.  "Don't worry everypony, it's only Zecora."She opened the door.

"Is everyone okay?  I heard Ponyville experienced quite a terrible day."She walked in, closing the door behind her.

"We're all fine.  What brings you here?"Applejack asked.

"I need some herbs from Fluttershy, so that I may brew a soup in the blink of an eye."Zecora responded.

"Well, um.  I can see if I have any...what do you need?"Fluttershy asked.

"Just a little bit of Chives and some Basil, it will make this brew bedazzle."

Fluttershy disappeared into her kitchen to get Zecora's request.  "So, what are you ponies up too?"The zebra asked.

"Discussing a way to get to Canterlot.  We assume Chrysalis has Twilight hostage."Rarity answered.

"Oh I wouldn't worry my little ponies.  I'm sure Twilight is safe and sound with the princesses in the Crystal Kingdom."Zecora said in a calm tone.

"But, but, What if she isn't!"Pinkie exclaimed.  "She could be in the dungeons, or even worse, at the gallows!"

"Don't you dare think like that Pinkie Pie.  I'd reckon Twilight can handle herself as long as she stays out of trouble."Applejack said silencing the party pony.  Fluttershy came back with the spices.

"Here you are."Zecora gave her five bits in return for the spices.  "Well I best be going.  I wish you good luck on your journey, which there is no telling."Zecora opened the door as a gust of wind blew into the house.  As soon as it was open, it closed again, and Zecora was gone.

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