Shaun leads the Elements through a wide alley. He keeps looking down at his mobile then trying to determine his position. Alba and Corona glare at the confused griffin. The others groan at yet another stop. Only Rainbow seems relaxed as she sleeps on a cloud. Apple Pie gets some comfort as his sister’s cloud hovers over him.

‘I told you I should have led the party,’ Corona huffs.

‘I thought you said you had this,’ Alba joins.

Shaun taps his mobile. ‘This should be right. My map program has never been wrong before.’

Octavia glances over at the griffin. ‘Are you using Pear Maps?’

‘I might be.’

‘Because it says our final destination is in the middle of the ocean.’

‘Why they hell are you using a Pear product!’ Alba yells.

‘Can’t you use Sorbet like somepony sane?’ Corona hisses. ‘You might as well be leading us into a trap.’

There are loud clangs as four griffins carrying firearms land on fire escapes, surrounding the party. Another armed griffin lands in front of the Elements, aiming his weapon at them.

‘You dirty...’ Corona growls at Shaun.

‘It wasn’t me! I swear!’ the prince defends.

‘You’re coming with us,’ the lead attacker orders. ‘If you resist, you will be shot.’

Alba, Helios and the unicorns charge spells on their horns. Razzly hides under Trixie. Apple Pie gets on guard, the stone street rippling around his hooves. Octavia calmly looks around and smirks.

‘Stand down,’ the assassin states. ‘We have backup.’

There is a thump as one of the griffins is pinned to a wall. A pony in a white, hooded robe like Octavia’s holds the griffin up before dropping him. A white horn and muzzle can be seen sticking out of the hood.

‘Sweetie Belle?’ Apple Bloom wonders.

The hooded pony shakes its head and leaps at the nearest griffin. The pony deftly dodges the griffin’s bullets and slams into the target, impaling the griffin with hidden blades. The pony leaps off the wall and sails over the Elements. The griffins fire at their attacker. The hooded pony charges a spell on its horn and extends its hidden blades. Electricity travels from the unicorn’s horn to the blades and arcs out to the remaining griffins on the fire escapes. The griffin on the ground keeps firing at the attacker as it falls towards him. The hooded unicorn spins around the shots and lands on the griffin’s back, balancing on its front hooves, hidden blades out before flipping off its prey.

Octavia smiles happily and trots forward. ‘About time you show up.’

The hooded unicorn turns and grins. ‘Me? I’m not the one lost in the middle of the city.’

Alba and Corona glare at Shaun. The griffin backs away into Helios.

‘Well, we wouldn’t be lost if you showed up to meet us at the train station like we had planned,’ Octavia counters.

The new unicorn laughs sheepishly. ‘Sorry about that. There was a record shop selling some of your original vinyls, and I just had to snatch them all up.’ He looks at Corona. ‘Go easy on him, beautiful. It wasn’t his fault you were ambushed. They had as hard a time finding you as I did.’

Corona growls at Shaun, ‘You’re safe. For now.’

‘Um, Octavia. Who is your friend?’ Helios asks.

Octavia smiles and stands by the new pony. ‘He’s somepony I hope you will all get along with. I’d like you to meet’ -- she pulls off the unicorn’s hood to reveal a white unicorn with an electric blue mane and wearing sunglasses matching hers -- ‘my son, Technis.’

Technis’ grin grows, and he waves to everypony. ‘How’s it going? Great to finally meet all y’all,’ -- he turns to Corona again -- ‘Especially you, beautiful.’

Corona blushes. ‘Right. Uh, hello.’

‘Good to meet you,’ Alba adds.

‘Yeah. Hey,’ Helios says.

The others mumble greetings. Trixie analyzes Technis.

‘Come on. You can do better,’ Octavia snorts. ‘I would have thought you’d be happy to finally meet your long lost brother.’

‘WHAT!’ Alba, Helios and Apple Pie shout. Rainbow yawns and starts stretching.

‘Wait. Did you say he is your son?’ Apple Pie asks.

‘And how the hell is he our brother?’ Helios gapes.

‘Well, you see… When a stallion and a mare...’ Alba begins, making hoof gestures to go with the explanation.

‘I DO NOT want to hear how foals are made from my little sister,’ Helios shouts.

Octavia sighs. ‘It was all my fault. I came back from a mission depressed. I got myself really drunk and forced myself on your father. With your father really hating me for that desperate act, that gave me plenty of time to start raising Technis.’

Technis puts a foreleg around his mother. ‘And a fine job you did of that too.’

‘Yes. Raising your foal to be a murderer,’ Helios scoffs. ‘Real mother of the year material.’

‘Hey,’ the white unicorn snaps. He pulls back his robe to reveal a barred eighth note with red and blue wave functions superimposed over it. ‘Check the mark. I’m a musician. Helping my mom’s order is just my side job between shows.’

Rainbow yawns again and sits up. ‘Are we at the hotel yet? I’m tired.’

‘Rainbow, we’re in the middle of something right now,’ her older brother replies.

The young mare looks around. Technis waves at his older sister. Rainbow springs up and gasps. She flies over to the new pony and starts nuzzling him.

‘I love you so much!’ Rainbow squeals. ‘I am your biggest fan. I have all your albums memorized. You are the coolest pony ever!’ She leans up to Technis’ ear. ‘I would let you do everything to me.’

Technis laughs and backs away. ‘Glad to know one of my siblings is a fan.’

‘You know him?’ Apple Pie asks.

‘Uh, duh,’ his sister replies. She turns around and starts waving her tail in Technis’ face. ‘He is Synth Tech, only the greatest musician to ever live.’ She looks back. ‘And you can start any time now.’

‘Thanks for the offer but as we were explaining, I am your brother.’ Technis slips around his sister. ‘Besides, when I am ready, I will give myself to a special lady.’ He slides up to Corona. ‘Hey, special lady.’

Corona blushes redder than in her mane. She squeaks and tries looking for an out.

Rainbow frowns. ‘Ah! Come on. Low hanging fruit here. Just one go.’

‘He’s your brother!’ Apple Pie and Helios yell.

The pegasus blinks as if confused. ‘What are you trying to get at here?’

Apple Pie marches over and grabs his sister around the neck. ‘Looks like somepony needs a bit of a talking to...’ he grumbles, dragging her away.

‘That seems like a good idea,’ Trixie agrees. ‘It appears we have a lot to figure out. The least of which is where our hotel is.’

‘Don’t worry. We’ll have somepony else lead the way this time,’ Helios huffs.

‘I got it!’ Razzly speaks up, levitating her mobile. ‘Grandpa Blackberry always gives us the latest models.’ She trots off with Trixie and looks back at her friends. ‘Plus, it gives you time to get to know your brother.’

The other ponies mumble to themselves as they trot away. Technis gets to know his newfound siblings. He notices Corona watching him and shakes his hips a bit. The mare freezes as she watches him.

‘Corona, hurry up!’ Trixie calls.

‘I’m coming!’ the young mare shouts as she catches up.

‘I really hope you don’t mean like Rainbow,’ Alba teases.

Corona growls at her cousin and silently follows along.

Corona stands on a balcony overlooking Los Arion. Even at night, the city buzzes with activity. The mare takes a deep breath as she watches ponies passing below. A pony is heard approaching, causing Corona to go on guard.

‘Nice night, ain’t it?’ Technis asks.

‘Oh. It is only you,’ Corona huffs. ‘But yes, it is.’

The white unicorn stands beside the amber one. ‘I can’t think of anypony to better spend it with too.’

Corona rolls her eyes. ‘Do lines like that really work?’

‘I don’t know. You’re the first mare I’ve tried them on.’

The mare looks at the smiling stallion. She snorts, rolls her eyes again and looks away.

‘Ah. Come on,’ Technis moans. ‘Do you know how many mares would love me to say that?’ He shudders. ‘Given the my and some of my fans’ ages, that is a really creepy prospect.’

‘Given your sister’s reaction to you, I don’t envy your position.’

‘Heh, heh. Hey, speaking of family, how cool is it to finally know your family? I was worried I’d be alone my whole life.’

‘Knowing my cousins is pretty nice...’

Technis bumps his shoulder against Corona’s. ‘You’re telling me, cuz.’

‘I don’t think being them your half-siblings and my cousins makes us cousins as well.’

‘Phew!’ Technis breathes. ‘Then what I am feeling for you isn’t as weird as it would seem.’

Corona frowns and looks away, her cheeks blushing slightly. ‘Why do you keep talking like that?’

‘Can’t I call you beautiful? Not to mention, you are pretty, smart and determined. I think that makes you a very attractive mare.’ He smiles. ‘I’ve seen the way you look at me. You think the same way, except replace mare with stallion.’

‘I… I do not think about such things,’ Corona denies, blushing redder.

‘Why not? It doesn’t hurt.’ He leans close. ‘Just give in to your feelings.’

‘I… I...’ She backs away. ‘I can’t. I… don’t know how...’

‘Don’t know how? That’s silly.’

‘I’ve been on the run for so long. I never thought I would stop long enough to meet anypony. I had resigned myself to being forever alone. I just… I just didn’t expect…’ She takes a deep breath. ‘I like you, okay? I’m just not ready to like you, if that makes sense.’

Technis stares at Corona in silence. ‘Ready yet?’

Corona laughs. ‘I don’t think it works like that.’

‘I’m here for you whenever you’re ready. … Ready yet?’

‘Technis...’

Technis laughs. ‘Take it from somepony else who thought he’d have to lock away his emotions, it feels good to be wrong. It feels really good.’ He turns Corona to face him. ‘I could learn to love this feeling.’

‘I might be able to love this feeling too...’

Technis grins. Corona smiles. A shadow passes over them.

‘Now, kiss.’

The unicorns look up to see Rainbow floating on a cloud above them. Corona screams and jumps back.

‘Not funny, Rainbow!’ the amber unicorn shouts.

‘Ah, come on,’ the pegasus pouts. ‘I totally ship you two.’

Technis chuckles. ‘That’s a good endorsement.’

‘I’m going to bed,’ Corona grumbles.

Corona storms off to her room.

Rainbow lowers herself to beside her brother. ‘Mares. Am I right?’

‘Thanks for the help, Rainbow. … You’re not going to do things to me, are you?’

‘Nah. You’re super sexy and all, but Apple convinced me that it would be reaaaaally bad if we slept together.’ She pauses. ‘Wanna see the lumps from him convincing me?’

‘Our father is okay with him treating you like that?’

Rainbow shrugs. She leans down. ‘I’d chase after her if I were you. … Unless you want to come to my room instead.’

‘Rainbow!’ Apple Pie glares at his sister from a doorway.

Rainbow snickers. ‘Hee hee. Looks like I gotta go to bed.’ She slaps Technis on the butt. ‘Go get her, tiger.’

Rainbow flies off while her older brother starts scolding her again. Technis laughs to himself as he heads to his room.

‘This family is the best.’

Apple Bloom and Razzly trade items off their breakfast plates. Helios and Apple Pie try to stop Rainbow from drinking maple syrup straight from the bottle. Corona has a map of Los Arion out to show Trixie, Octavia, Technis and Alba known changeling hotspots.

‘When we traveled through here, we got help from the changelings in the city,’ Corona explains. ‘They knew all the best places to hide. Unfortunately, we had to leave when the griffins finally started closing in on us.’

‘Not my fault!’ Shaun defends from across the table.

Octavia studies the map. ‘Looks like they are spread around the city. Might take some time to find any who are allied with Chrysalis.’

Shaun slides over to the map. ‘Look for ones with crystal jewelry. Those were the ones allied with Chrysalis in the Empire.’

‘Why crystals?’ Alba asks.

‘Probably a dig at her disappearance after the invasion,’ Trixie guesses. ‘She is taunting us.’

‘Whatever it is, it will make it easy for us to find them,’ Octavia surmises. ‘Technis and I can find a changeling and extract the information. Just give us ten minutes.’

Technis turns to Corona. ‘It usually takes me much longer. Believe me.’

The amber unicorn blushes redder than in her mane. Alba snickers at her cousin.

‘That doesn’t really sound like the most diplomatic idea,’ Trixie argues.

‘I agree,’ Alba adds, nodding. ‘Corona can show me where to go and Technis can escort us. I’ll speak with the changelings personally.’

Helios lets go of the syrup bottle, allowing Rainbow to start chugging, as he turns to face his younger sister. ‘Are you crazy? Don’t you know how dangerous that is?’

‘This mission was my idea,’ his sister argues. ‘I volunteered us for it because our presence would show that we are serious about allying with Chrysalis. I want to be involved in every step of the negotiations, from first contact to the final decision.’

‘I don’t like it… You could get hurt.’

‘Don’t worry. I’ll have my big brother with me.’

‘Damn right, I am going with you!’

‘I meant Technis. We might need to save you in case I really do get into trouble.’

Helios huffs and sits back. ‘Great. Just waiting until there is something only I can do. That will be fun.’

Rainbow drops the syrup bottle from her mouth and takes a deep breath. ‘I recommend napping on a cloud until then. That always works for me.’

Helios groans and returns to his breakfast. His big sister gives him a very sticky pat on the back.

Alba and Corona trot through a back alley of Los Arion. The cousins carefully take in everything they see. A pair of ponies stand by the back entrance to a club, chatting. A glint of jewelry can be seen. Alba looks up at Corona, nods and approaches the other ponies.

‘Excuse me. Can you answer a question for me?’ Alba asks.

‘What do you want, kid?’ a dark green pegasus replies.

‘First, I like your necklace,’ the princess compliments. ‘Second, can you tell us where we can find Queen Chrysalis?’

‘What are you talking about?’ a yellow earth pony growls.

‘You are changelings, aren’t you? I want you to take me to your leader.’ She laughs. ‘I always wanted to say that.’

The ponies flank Alba. ‘Kid, you better be joking. Accusing a pony of being a changeling is risky business.’

Alba rolls her eyes. ‘Have you seen the wings and horn? I am Princess Alba. I am trying to find your queen so we can negotiate an alliance.’

‘Our queen is in Canterlot.’

Alba sighs. ‘Please drop the act. It is getting childish.’

The pegasus nods at the earth pony. He goes inside the club and returns with several more ponies, all wearing some sort of crystal item.

‘Ya know, telling us you’re the princess isn’t that good of an idea,’ the pegasus says. ‘That might make you a valuable bargaining chip, especially if we really are changelings.’

Corona is shoved into her cousin. The unicorn turns and growls at her assaulter. The cousins are surrounded.

‘You really don’t think I would have come without back up?’ Alba scoffs. ‘I’d suggest telling us what we want before it gets messy.’

‘You and what army?’

‘Well, I would say my mom’s, but...’

All the other ponies collapse and a blade appears under the pegasus’ throat. Each of the fallen ponies revert to being changelings.

‘Just tell the princess what she wants,’ Technis hisses into his captive’s ear.

The pegasus looks around nervously. Corona kicks the pony who shoved her earlier. The pegasus drops his disguise, reverting to changeling form.

‘Fine,’ the changeling sighs. ‘I just hope you know what you are getting into. Our queen will not be coerced so easily.’

Technis eases off as the changeling starts telling Alba everything he knows. Corona watches her cousin before looking at Technis. The stallion smiles and blows a kiss at the young mare. She blushes and looks away. Above the group, Octavia, Helios and Shaun relax their guard and wait for Alba to finish her interrogation.