If you remember the Changeling solider, #186, he was given strict orders to guard over the nest with other chosen ones while she went off to search for a food source with an accompanied group.
As #186 was fulfilling his duty, he seemed to be distracted. He was deep in thought, remembering #457’s words before she was banished and left.
Well… well fine, see if I care! But just you wait, I will find someone who will love me for who I am and not because of some tricky illusion; and then we’ll see who has the foolish idea!
He couldn’t help but ponder on those words of what she said. Could it be possible for a Changeling to think in such a way?
“Hey, what are you pondering on about over there,” said a voice near beside him.
His brain suddenly snapped back to reality, “Huh? Huh, what? What is it #760?”
#760 was a Changeling who was always loyal to his Queen but was always a pushover who wanted to get his way all the time, even if it meant spying on or blackmailing others. #760 and #186 weren’t exactly the best of friends, but they were often paired up in missions. It was only because of their loyalty to their Queen they were able to stand each other’s company.
“Wake up; you seemed to be off in your own world not paying attention to your surroundings!” He gave #180 a suspicious look in his eye, “You’re not thinking about that treasonous #457 are you?!”
“Well… what if I am? Is that a crime, to think about someone you know?!”
#760 just rolled his eyes, “Well I really don’t care if she was a dear friend to you, what she did was a crime against the queen, and she got what she deserved! Heh, but if you asked me, her majesty should have given her death for such treason!”
“You’re wrong,” #186 shouted out of anger, “She was just expressing what was on her mind, and the queen just shoved it in her face like it was a joke; she felt insulted!”
“So what, she insulted us,” said #760 with a smug look on his face, “How can we possibly love other creatures of this land if they don’t even love us back!? Our kind has been doing this for generations, and it would be completely pointless to do something like #457’s idea now.”
“Gee, I’m so sorry,” said #186 in a sarcastic tone, “I didn’t know Chrysalis put you in charge as temporary queen.”
“Oh, just be quiet,” #760 shouted in a louder voice, “Just do your duty and quit thinking about that treasonous traitor! Any contact or interaction with her now will only get you in trouble. I’m telling you this only because we’re put together as comrades, not because I am friends with you or anything.”
#186 just turned away from him and scoffed, “Yeah, thanks; but I don’t need your act of kindness.”
“Yeah, yeah. Just don’t come whining to me if Chrysalis banishes you too because I’ll be right there behind her.”
There was no romantic relationship between #186 & 457; it’s just that Changelings are sometimes specified as brothers and sisters even though many of them are from different families. These two weren’t, but #186 saw #457 as a sister ever since her biological parents died in a battle 3 years ago; he decided to look out for her ever since. Now that she was banished and was out there all alone, he became worried for her and feared that she was dying by loss of energy. However, he decided to believe in her words and believe that she found some place to hide out in.
Ignoring the words of #760, he looked out in front of him and thought to himself, “Wherever you are #457, just please… be safe.”
#457was pretty much still alive, in fact she was in the middle of hanging out with the Cutiemark Crusaders on their newest crusading attempt… corralling sheep!
Applejack gave them permission to try it out under her supervision with the help of Winona. Dragon Heart, she was actually enjoying herself; she forgot the last time she ever had this much fun.
“Whoo-hoo! Now that’s was some fine corallin’,” shouted Apple Bloom.
“That was a bit nerve-wrecking for me,” said Sweetie Belle while shaking a bit, “I felt like I was going to get stepped on!”
“Oh come on, Sweetie Belle,” said Scootaloo, “They’re just sheep. I had it completely under my control though.”
They all looked over at Dragon Heart (#457) who was just laid out on the ground exhausted and catching her breath.
“Hey Dragon Heart,” said Scootaloo, “aside from my skills, you were the best one out there!”
“Scootaloo’s right,” replied Apple Bloom, “Why, if Ah didn’t know any better, I’d say you were a natural!”
Dragon Heart just shied away in being complimented on, “Well… maybe I am; it was very fun!”
Scootaloo quickly tilted her head towards her flank to check for a cutiemark… but nothing was there.
“Darn, no cutiemark; any luck girls!?”
The others looked too, while receiving the same results.
“Nope,” said Apple Bloom.
“No,” sighed Sweetie Belle.
“Nada,” said Dragon Heart with a little giggle.
Scootaloo just shrugged, “Oh well, it was definitely worth the try; that was fun!”
“Much fun,” replied Apple Bloom, “I watch my sister and Winona do it all the time!”
Suddenly, Apple Bloom’s sister, Applejack, came back out carrying a tray of lemonade glasses towards the crusaders.
“Well my little crusaders, ya’ll look pretty tired! Perhaps ya’ need a little refreshment.”
They all smiled and jumped up and ran over her, and they each took a glass and started to gulp down its refreshing contents.
“Ahhh, that hits the spot,” said Apple Bloom, “Ah feel refreshed already!”
After being told about Dragon Heart from Apple Bloom and her friends, Applejack went over and started a conversation with her.
“So Dragon Heart, how are ya’ enjoying ya’ new home? Is it to ya’ liken’?”
She remembers Applejack being one of the Elements of Harmony that attended the Canterlot wedding. She just smiled and replied, “Oh yes! This town is a whole lot better than I heard it was! Every… pony here is so friendly; it feels wonderful.”
Applejack smiled back and gave her a little noogie on the forehead.
“Well, that’s how it is around here, but I’m afraid to tell ya that it ain’t perfect. We all have faced with many challenges here; challenges that tested our friendship.”
“Seriously,” questioned Dragon Heart.
“Oh yeah,” said Apple Bloom, “like that time when I had to tell the truth to save myself from the cutie pox!”
“Or when Rarity and I learned the true value of having a sister,” added Sweetie Belle.
“Or when the three of us learned that it wasn’t worth it hurting others through newspaper tabloids to try and earn our cutiemarks,” replied Scootaloo.
Applejack felt proud of those three remembering such good lessons in friendship.
“That’s right, every-pony here have learned valuable lessons in our lives. But the toughest situation I remember was when… Discord came.”
The little fillies just shuddered at the sound of that name… except Dragon Heart who wasn’t quite sure of whom he was.
“Why, when he was here, he did things so bad, it endangered the very essences of my friendship with my friends. But our friendship was so strong, that it didn’t last forever because we knew that a friendship as strong as ours was worth fighting for!”
Dragon Heart was amazed at Applejack’s story, realizing the kind of things they can go through here almost every day.
“Wow, you guys are amazing! I’ve never experienced anything so magical in my life!”
“And being a unicorn, that’s saying something,” said Sweetie Belle.
They all had a good laugh at Sweetie’s little joke comment.
“Umm, Miss Applejack,” said Dragon Heart, “if you don’t mind, I’m afraid that I have to use it.”
“No sweat, there’s a nice old-fashioned outhouse behind the barn right over there; use it to your heart’s content!”
Dragon Heart looked at her kind of weird, “Gee, thanks… I think.”
As she walked off towards behind the barn, Apple Bloom flashed another little smile on her face.
“Ain’t she great?! She’s going to be an awesome crusader!”
“I’m sure she is, sugarcube,” Applejack replied, “Well I’ll leave you girls to your crusading; I have to go and continue to help Big Mac with the apple buckin’. Have fun!” With that she left the scene.
“See ya, Applejack,” shouted Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
“See ya, Sis,” shouted Apple Bloom.
They suddenly turned around quickly due to a loud distant voice from behind them.
“Hey, Apple Bloom!”
Coming down the dirt road towards their direction was Spike, and he was carrying Apple Bloom's bag; panting and… he appeared to be grumbling a bit.
“Hey look, its spike,” said Sweetie Belle cheerfully.
Apple Bloom kind of smiled a little nervously, “H-hey Spike, ya wouldn’t happen to be here to shout an’ patronize at us for leaving the library in a bit of a mess, would ya?”
Spike’s face looked very annoyed while he took the backpack off, “Trust me, I would love to but I only came over here because you left this.”
A big grin came onto Apple Bloom’s face as she came over to him and grabbed it, “My backpack! I was wonderin’ where it went; thanks Spike!”
“Yeah, you’re welcome,” said Spike with a grumble, “Just make sure you don’t do it again.”
“Well well, seems like some wittle dwagon is cwanky,” teased Scootaloo.
Spike turned towards all of them and yelled, “I’M NOT CRANKY!!!” All three of the fillies jumped back a bit being surprised by the uprising of his voice. Spike blushed a little from embarrassment, “Heh, okay maybe I am just a little bit tuckered out.”
In an attempt to cheer Spike up, Sweetie Belle spoke up, “Hey guess what Spike we have a new crusader companion with us!”
“What, seriously?”
“Yeah, she just moved her recently. Her name is Dragon Heart and she’s a unicorn; just like me and Rarity!”
Spike scratched his chin a bit wondering about the name of their new friend, “Dragon Heart, huh; such an interesting yet peculiar name.”
“She’s a bit busy right now,” stated Apple Bloom, “but she should be back any minute now; you should meet her!”
Spike let out a big ‘YAWN!’ then just shook his head, “Nah, maybe later. Right now I’m off back to the Tree library for an appointment with a soft bed and sweet relaxation.”
The crusaders just looked at each other and shrugged, wondering what the big deal was of not waiting a few seconds; but he did seem a bit tired.
“Well, okay,” said Apple Bloom, “We’ll tell her that you said hello.”
Spike was already on his way down the dirt road as they looked his way. He just waved his arm lazily in the air, “Yeah, sure. Whatever.”
They watched as he lazily continued to move down the dirt road until he was out of his view.
“Poor Spike,” lamented Sweetie Belle, “Maybe we should make this up to him and help him out someday.”
“Yeah, maybe;” Scootaloo replied, but I still don’t think it’s such a big deal.
Just then, Dragon Heart came back from the outhouse behind the barn. But the truth was she only went in there to check up on her strength and to make sure that everything was in check. She didn’t want anything to happen that might ruin her cover.
“Hey girls, I’m back. Did I miss anything?”
“Oh nothin’,” said Apple Bloom, “Our friend Spike just came by to give back my backpack that I left at the Ponyville library.”
Dragon Heart arched her eyebrow, “Spike; who’s Spike?”
“He’s a resident here in Ponyville,” said Scootaloo, “He’s also a dragon!”
Dragon Heart’s eyes grew wide upon hearing that fact, “Wait, did you say… dragon?”
“Yeah,” Sweetie Belle responded, “he’s the first one to ever live here; or to ever live in any town actually! But don’t worry, he quite sweet and friendly… when he’s not cranky; he is a baby dragon after all.”
“We told him that you could meet him later because he went off to relax. He seemed to be very tired.”
Could this be the same dragon that she saw hanging out with the ponies at the Canterlot wedding? She wanted to see for herself!
“So where does he live?!”
“Well… um, he lives over at the Tree library along with a purple unicorn named Twilight Sparkle,” explained Apple Bloom, "That’s where we were last. Why do ya sound so eager to see him?”
She began to feel a little nervous as the crusaders looked at her with curious eyes.
"Oh, um… it’s just that, you know, I’ve never seen a real dragon up close and… I would love to see one now.”
Scootaloo nodded her head in understanding, “Well, that does make sense, but why do you seem to be blushing a bit there?”
“BLUSHING?!!! Um, who’s blushing? It’s just… it’s… it’s a bit… hot.”
They all were looking at Dragon Heart awkwardly wondering why she was acting so weird.
"Ooooookaaaay,” said Scootaloo, “Well, want to come and see our clubhouse first; it’s a must see for any new recruits.”
Dragon Heart thought about it and decided that maybe seeing the dragon could wait just a little bit longer.
“Oh, okay, sure! I was thinking that some ponies like you three would have some special gathering establishment!”
“Huh, a what,” said Sweetie Belle looking confused.
“Oh, I meant a special hangout spot! Heh,heh.”
“Oh, okay; that’s what I thought you meant.”
Scootaloo suddenly shouted out in a loud pronouncing voice, “Okay then, to the clubhouse Crusaders! The day is not going to get any earlier on our watch!”
Dragon Heart could help but continue to ponder on the fact of their dragon friend, Spike. It was obvious that he was the same one she was looking for! Soon, she would finally confront him face to face.
“Um… could I perhaps have your special #2 for today,” said Fluttershy very shyly.
She was pretty tired out and parched after dealing with her animal friends today, so at some point she decided to come over to Sugar Cube Corner to have a little refreshment. Pinkie Pie was so happy to see her Pegasus friend here today that she gave her recognition.
“One Watermelon Paradise Smoothie for an awesome yellow Pegasus named Fluttershy!”
Fluttershy panicked and sweat rolled down her body.
“Come on, Pinkie, you don’t have to compliment me so openly.”
Pinkie fetched Fluttershy her beverage and gave her a bright smile; Fluttershy then smiled back.
“You know what, Flutershy,” said Pinkie Pie so suddenly, “there’s a new filly in town! I ran into her earlier today.”
“Really, there is,” said Fluttershy sounding a bit nervous of knowing there was a new pony in town.
“Yeah, I haven’t met her parents yet, but I bet they’re a nice bunch! Hopefully, I’m going to throw a welcoming party just for them tomorrow!”
“A-a-are you sure that’s really necessary, Pinkie?”
Pinkie started to giggle and snort a little, “Oh fluttershy, don’t be silly; I welcome and throw a party for every newcomer in Ponyville!”
Fluttershy took a little sip from her smoothie, and then smiled with a sigh.
“So… what was the filly’s name?”
“It was Dragon Heart,” said Pinkie very enthusiastically, “She did act a bit awkward when I met her, but that didn’t bother me a bit; she was very cute!”
“Dragon Heart, huh,” said Fluttershy very suspiciously, “Sounds mysterious.”
“Nah, just very peculiar,” said Pinkie, “Trust me, there’s nothing mysterious about it!”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right.”
Pinkie just continued to smile as she watches her Pegasus friend nervously proceed to drink her refreshing drink with her eyes wandering around.