Chapter 2: Changeling Dragon adored
As the horde of changelings proceeded to dive bomb, a cloaked figure stood over Scootaloo. She seemed to have lost conscious from her final minute. A white horn appeared from under the figure’s hood. The horn became enveloped in pink aura as it surrounded the changelings. This magic seemed to intensify as it began to pry the changelings from the incoherent pegasus and fling them in all directions. The figure took hold of Scootaloo, lowering her to the ground, and then removed her hood to expose a purple curly mane.
“Scootaloo? Scootaloo? Answer me!” Scootaloo swore she heard a familiar voice as she groggily opened her eyes.
“Sweet… Sweetie Belle? Wha-what are you doing in heaven?”
The white unicorn proceeded to nuzzle her friend warmly. “You’re not dead! I saved you!”
Scootaloo regained her poise.
“Whoa I owe you one! I’m lucky you were here when you were! Say, why were you here?”
“Well, a certain pegasus likes to stay out longer then she’s supposed to and make her friends worry,” Sweetie said. She looked toward her friend who was sheepishly smiling.
“Heh, I feel asleep.”
“Seems your acrobatics isn’t the only thing you picked up from Rainbow,” she said, looking at her friend, who had a light red blush on her cheeks.
“Heh, yeah.” They both shared a laugh as they made their way towards the camp.
The two friends made their way back to the sanctuary. Some refugees had established it on the border of the everfree forest. It served as their new home, protected by magic to ward off enemies. As they neared the first post, the guard saluted. The two moved to the center of refuge.
“That must have been a new spell!” gushed Scootaloo.
“Well, not really new. I’ve been practicing,” Sweetie Belle replied
“Still can’t believe you took care of those creeps and sent them packing! That was so awesome!” She hovered in her excitement.
“It was sort of cool, wasn’t it?” she replied sheepishly.
Sweetie had grown to possess a beauty that surpassed even that of her sister, but in a time of war beauty is useless. She wore a brown cloak that concealed her mane and awesome coat. Her mane was much curlier then Rarity’s. Her cutie mark had been that of a heart surrounded by a circle, symbolizing that she was gifted in healing and care of others. She cared for all living thing and was more gifted then most unicorns her age. It was on one fateful day she knew her destiny.
“Rarity, when can I help you? I’ve been standing here forever!” Sweetie complained.
“Sweetie Belle, please, I’m trying to create.” Rarity raised her hoof. Her eyes were closed. “Besides, it’s such a beautiful day out. Why not go and see what your friends are up too?”
“Ugh! You never listen to me! Scootaloo’s hanging out with Rainbow Dash, and Apple Bloom is helping out with apple buck season! Besides, I wanna help out my sister.” Sweetie’s lower lip quivered as she adopted puppy dog eyes. “PLEASE!”
Rarity recalled that all the other times Sweetie wanted to “help”, things only ended in disaster. However, she knew her sister had good intentions. Rarity’s eyes darted to and fro trying to find a simple yet significant task for her little sister.
“Um, you could…” She sighted her laundry. That wouldn’t do. Her eyes met the kitchen, but vision of burnt toast soup caused her to recoil. She finally decided on her organization room.
“Oooo! I know! You could help me reorganize my inspiration room!”
The little unicorn’s eyes widened as her face stretched in a smile from ear to ear.
“Oh, thank you sis! I won’t let you down, I promise,” she exclaimed, with a hoof to her head and a serious look on her face. Rarity could help but giggle. Sweetie ran up the stairs of the boutique to begin her task.
“Now I must create!”
Sweetie moved through the room at breakneck speed, organizing fabric and sewing material.
“Sis is going to be so proud. I didn’t even mess up anything,” Sweetie thought to herself. She was filled with glee as she continued with the deed.
Rarity sat at her sewing table, making another glorious dress. “Perfect, absolutely perfect!” she said to herself. She couldn’t help but let out a cry of joy, as she was glad she found something for her sister to do. Rarity knows that sisterhood is like an apple pie: you need both delicious apples and a crispy crust. She allowed herself a laugh before returning to work. Minutes passed as rarity finished her work for today.
“Ah, right on time! Sweetie must still be working. She’s such a gem. I know, I’ll make her favorite hazel nut soup! It will be perfect!” She walked quickly to the entrance to her boutique to close shop. As she began to lower the blinds and start to flip the sign, the door came open to reveal two young colts with black coats and identical manes.
“Oh, sorry gentlecolts, I’m closing shop early. Come back tomorrow!” she said.
“Oh, come on. We just want to look,” one said with a mischievous laugh.
Rarity didn’t seem to notice his laugh. She sighed and said, “Fine. I have something to attend to in the kitchen.”
“That’s fine. That’s all the time we need,” the other said with a smirk.
“Just holler if you need me,” Rarity said. With that she disappeared into the kitchen.
“Finally done! Sis is going to be so proud! I’m a great organizer! I didn’t even mess up!” Sweetie Belle said to herself. “Ooh, I probably already got my cutie mark!” She span around in a 360 motion but to no avail. She sat down and started to pout but immediately got up as she heard her sister call her name.
“Sweetie, come down here please,” said rarity
Sweetie obliged. “Hope I’m not in trouble…” she mumbled to herself.
Rarity proceeded to make the table as the soup was finishing up. She made her way into the main floor of the boutique. “Alright, gentlecolts, I must ask you to…” She was surprised to not find anypony there. “That’s odd. I didn’t even hear the front door... oof!” She fell on the ground as one of the colts was on top of her back.
“Unhand me this instant, you ruffians!” demanded Rarity. The colt just smirked as the other appeared from behind a mannequin. “I have a mind to tell your mother what you are doing.” The colts both laughed
“She’s the one that told us to do this,” said one.
“Plus, it’s just too much fun,” said the other.
“What kind of parenting is that!?” said Rarity, still being restrained.
“Ha-ha, we’ll show you.”
As a light suddenly flashed, Rarity shut her eyes. She opened them to reveal two changelings. They spoke no more, only hissed and cackled. Rarity’s eyes widened.
“Oh dear,” she said.
Sweetie emerged from upstairs, still contemplating what it was she did wrong. “I thought I let Opal out… No, maybe it was the dress I helped her make.” Her concentration was broken by muffed screams. She hid behind a stack of fabric. “What’s going on?”
The changeling on Rarity’s back held her down for her not to scream as the other opened his mouth to absorb something. A stream of pink energy was being depleted from Rarity as the changeling devoured it.
“Unicorn taste good,” laughed one of the changelings.
“Me next me next!” said the other.
Rarity became weaker as she raised her head. “Yo-you monsters,” she said.
They bellowed and howled loudly.
Sweetie Belle watched in horror as her life force was being depleted from her body. “Those meanies! I’ll save you, Rarity!” she stated. She hopped up from behind the fabric. “Leave my sister alone!” she called out. The two changelings ceased their laughter only to grin again.
“Look, a snack!” one said.
“Me, me! You already have big one,” the other said.
“Fine.”
As the changeling released Rarity, she laid there motionless. He flew full force at Sweetie. “Come here, pretty pony.”
“Oh crud!” She ran toward the other side of the boutique, moving through the mannequins. He was right on her tail. She hopped over a desk, hoping he would crash, but she had no such luck. She sat behind the desk, panting. She raised her head, only to be picked up from behind.
“Ooh hoo hoo, I’ll enjoy this,” the changeling said.
Sweetie tried to release herself from her captor. “Let go of me! Rarity!” she called out.
The other changeling beside Rarity held her head to the direction of Sweetie Belle.
“You going to want to see this,” he laughed. Rarity was weak from the previous activity.
“Swee… Sweetie Belle...” She rose her hoof towards her little sister.
“SIS!!!” cried Sweetie, tears now rolling off her cheek. “Leave her alone, you bullies!”
The changeling beside Rarity laughed. “Now for the main course.” He dung his fangs into Rarity’s neck.
Unseen by the changelings, Sweetie’s horn started to glow. A pink aura enveloped her horn.
“I said leave my sister alone!”
A bright light flashed as though Celestia’s sun was in the room. The two changelings flinched, releasing their grip on the two sisters. Released from her captor, Sweetie ran to her sister’s side. As Rarity lay there motionless, Sweetie cried once more. “Rarity, wake up! Please don’t leave me!” Tears were in Sweetie’s eye, and her horn, still glowing a light pink, was growing dimmer. The boutique was in silence as the young filly sat next to her sister, sobbing.
“Rarity, please wake up. I promise I won’t take any more cookies without asking. I’ll even eat that vegetable that looks like tiny trees. Please say something!”
The door to the boutique opened to reveal a small creature with purple scales and green frills. It was the baby dragon known as Spike, Twilight Sparkle’s number-one assistant. Observing his surroundings, Spike saw clutter everywhere.
“This must be the organized chaos times ten,” he thought.
“Rarity! I finished my chores for today, and Twilight came me the rest of the afternoon off, so I thought I wou-” He stopped to hear sobbing. He turned his head toward Sweetie, who was lying next to Rarity. “Rarity!” he shouted. Spike ran towards the two.
“Spike, help! My sister won’t move,” she sniffed
Time seemed to stop for the baby dragon. “My love… no… what happened?”
Sweetie wiped her eyes from the tears. “We were attacked by those… things. She pointed her hoof at the two changelings regaining their composure.
Smoke emitting from the dragon’s nostrils, teeth grtted and fist clenched, he roared. “I’ll make you pay, you bastards!”
The two figures arose from the clutter they had made, shaking fabric and sewing material off their bodies. They hissed and hovered over to the dragon.
“You two have to answer to me now!” Spike’s eyes flared with emerald fire as he charged headfirst into one of the changelings, taking him to the other side of the boutique. He crashed into a mirror, causing shards of the mirror to come falling down on the two. Spike’s scales prevented any penetration, but the changeling howled in agony. Sweetie was still tending to her unconscious sister. Her horn, still a dim color, radiated an aura towards Rarity.
“Come on sis, you’re stronger then this. I know you are.” She stood from her position as she watched spike take the changeling by the throat. He gripped harder as his claws sunk in. “Spike!” screamed Sweetie. His spines rose and he started radiating heat. His voice was much deeper as he spoke.
“I’m going to send this fool to the gates of Tartaus, then I’ll send that other weakling shortly.” He smiled to reveal a sinister grin with pearly white fangs.
“Stop that! You’ll kill him!” yelled sweetie. It was becoming ever so hard for the changeling to breathe. His limbs and wings flared wildly, as his companion stood petrified. Spike’s grip tightened.
“This worthless pile of shit doesn’t deserve mercy!”
“”No!” Why should your life have more meaning then his!” she declared with her hoof to the ground. Her horn seem to glow once more, brighter than before. Spike growled loudly as he held his prey.
“They hurt your sister; my love. I can’t stand by idly while he still walks this earth. This I swear by my dragon code.”
“You’re just being an even bigger bully then they were! I’m tired of seeing everyone fight and hurt each other. It breaks my heart to see our home of love and harmony tainted by hatred and despair. Why can’t we all get along?” Her horn now released a pink light towards Spike and the changelings. Spike roared as it consumed his body. He lifted his grip on the changeling, who fell to the ground. Spike changed back to his baby dragon form, and gasped for air. The changeling flew out of the shop, crashing into multiple objects. His companion followed after. Spike fell to his knees, regaining his composure.
“Wha... What happened was I dreaming?” he said.
Sweetie fell unconscious. Spike ran over to the two sisters. He noticed that Rarity was breathing again. “Ah you’re alright,” he said. He sighed in relief. He then went over to Sweetie and shook her gently. “Sweetie Belle, can you hear me?” She moaned as she opened her eyes.
“Ngh… Spike?” She sat up, rubbing her head. “I think those were changelings, like at Cadance and Shining Armor’s wedding. I wonder what they were doing here.”
“Yeah me too, but first thing’s first. We need to get Rarity some help. Let’s take her to Twilight, she’ll know what to do.” He put Rarity’s forelegs on his back as he motioned to Sweetie for assistance. As they positioned themselves, they nodded at each other. Spike’s claw met the door, and it opened to reveal an amber colored earth pony with her trademark Stetson hat.
“Not yall too,” she said.