//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Recruiting Friends of Different Types // Story: Sun's Equestria Girls Adventure: Changeling Magic // by Pinkie Pie Sweets //------------------------------// Later in the evening, Sun has packed some of her things she needs to help rescue Princess Twilight and her friends, and the other princesses. Twilight and the others are also making sure she has everything she needs. Right now, she and her friends are at the school in front of the portal. Rarity gives her a scarf as she says, "Here's a scarf to keep you warm." "And I packed you some food in case you get hungry," Applejack says, giving her a large bag. "Promise us, that you grab the journal and write to us so we'll know that you're alright," Falling Star replies. "I will. And I hope you girls will do find with Thorn and Stinger," Sun says with a calm smile. Putting the things in her backpack, Sun and the girls give each other a group hug, and the others wish Sun good luck on her journey. Sun turns around and face the portal. True, Sun is a little scared about seeing Queen Chrysalis after all these years, even if it is just a glance. However, knowing that her home world, especially her family and friends who live there are in trouble, Sun knows that she needs to get back to Equestria. After taking a deep breath, Sun walks through the portal as the girls watch. In Princess Twilight's Library, the devices around the portal begins to activate. The portal opens, and Sun flies out and lands on her pony stomach. Sun gets up as she rubs her head, and says, "Note to self, ask Princess Twilight for landing pads or something." Sun looks around to see that it's a very dark night, and nopony is around. She decides to leave the library and go find help. Since she knows that Princess Twilight and her friends are captured, she needs to find another way to get help. Before she leaves, she uses her magic to grab the journal that Princess Twilight uses, and puts it in her bag for safe keeping. Using her magic, Sun quietly uses it to open the window, and floats out. Then closes the window. She then uses her magic to calmly lands herself on the ground. Even though she has never use magic in a long time, she not too much out of practice. Sun then walks down the path and see that practically everypony is a sleep. She then walk down the more until she hears a sound. Sun says to herself, "That sounds like a teleportation spell." Sun quietly walks through the bushes to see if there anyone who she knows that can help her. Just then, a panic female voice that Sun finds familiar screams, "Can't deal with this! I'm just a performer! This is... This is princess-level stuff!" "That sounds like Trixie's voice?" Sun says in her thoughts. Sun then quietly walks through through the pushes, and pull a few of the branches aside to see a pony who looks exactly like Trixie, and a pony that Sun has met before. "That's Starlight, and… Trixie?" Sun questionable replies in a quiet tone. Starlight worriedly says, "Maybe not. Uh, Queen Chrysalis only said they took Luna and Celestia and obviously Twilight and the others... but maybe Cadance is still safe. Our best bet is to get to the Crystal Empire before the changelings do. That way we can…" "There's no help coming from the Crystal Empire," A calm male's voice comes out of nowhere. The two mares, and Sun who is still hiding behind the bushes, look to see a changeling coming out of the bushes. Sun is surprised to see another one, but notices the shimmering transparent wings on his back. Trixie becomes to shriek at the sight of the changeling. Thinking fast, Starlight creates a sound proof bubble that is preventing her scream to be heard. Starlight narrows her eyes as she questionably says, "Thorax?" "Yes," Thorax calmly answers. "Your wings look... different," Starlight replies, noticing how different his wings are. Thorax looks at them, and says, "I guess they do." Starlight becomes a bit suspicious as she lights up her horn and sternly asks, "How do I know you aren't some other changeling pretending to be Thorax?" "You were there when Spike defended me to the ponies of the Crystal Empire. Princess Twilight said…" Thorax calmly answers. To prove it, Thorax changes himself to be Twilight and says in her face, "As the Princess of Friendship, I should set an example for all of Equestria. But today it was Spike who taught me…" "Okay, okay. I believe you. We don't need the whole speech," Starlight quickly replies, completely convinced that this is Thorax. Thorax changed back to his original appearance soon after. Sun begin to snicker in the bushes. "Trixie, this is Thorax. He's a reformed changeling. He's on our side. Understand?" Starlight calmly introduces Trixie to Thorax. Trixie nods her head in reply. Starlight makes the bubble disappear with her magic. Thorax holds out his hoof as he walks to Trixie, and happily says, "Hi. It's a pleasure to…" Trixie flinches to see Thorax walking towards her, and scaredly asks, "If Starlight says you're on our side, I believe her. But maybe just stay over there for now, okay?" Starlight worriedly asks, "What did you mean there's no help? Did the changelings get Cadance too?" "They took Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart! Sunburst sent me here to get Princess Twilight's help, but... but it sounds like it's too late for that, too!" Thorax explains. Sun quietly gasps and see that what the two changeling has told them are true, all the princesses and the others are stolen and switched with changelings. Then Thorax asks Starlight, "So... what should we do?" "Yeah, Starlight. What are we gonna do?" Trixie asks. Feeling pressured, Starlight responds, "I... I don't know! There has to be somepony else who can handle this?" "There is nopony else! Everypony with powerful magic is already gone!" Trixie panicky announces. Sun decides to speak up, and says, "Not everyone." Starlight and the others become startled to hear Sun's voice. They look to see Sun walking out of the bushes. Shocked Starlight exclaims, "Princess Sun!" "Starlight, we're friends. You don't need to be so formal," Sun replies with a giggle. Trixie narrows her eyes, and asks, "How do we know you're you and not another changeling." "Because, one: I've been away at Camp Everfree and been hanging out with my friends. I brought pictures to confirm it with the date on the back. Second, I just attacked by two changelings yesterday," Sun calmly answers. "What?!" The three exclaim in shock. "Yeah. they told me about how they practically kidnap Twilight, the girls, Spike, the princesses, and Princess Cadence and her family. I asked my friends to keep an eye on them while I came here," Sun explains. Starlight then notices the other necklace Sun is wearing and says, "Nice necklace." "Thanks. I got it when I was at Camp Everfree. It gave me the magic power to see people or pony's thoughts, their memories," Sun says with a smile. "Cool," Starlight complements. "Still, what are we going to do?" Trixie asks. Just then, they hear a voice, and turn to see Discord on the top of Trixie's wagon. Discord says as he knits a Angel Bunny doll, "You know whenever ponies talk about powerful magic, they always leave me out. If I weren't so evolved, I might decide to take it personally." He smiles and says, "Well, isn't this quite the combination of secondary characters? Discord looks around as he asks, "Where are Twilight and the girls? "First, how do we know that you're really you?" Starlight sternly asks, not wanting to take chances. A bit annoyed, Discord snaps his fingers and use his chaotic magic to change things in the air. He makes flowers come to life, turn a tree to a cuckoo clock with a squirrel inside, and the road into soap. Sun and Thorax fly in the air a little while Starlight and Trixie slips on the soapy road and fall on their backs. They all sternly glare at Discord. "Shall I continue?" Discord asks with a smirk on his face. "That's okay. We're convinced," Sun replies with a straight look on her face. Starlight getsup as she explains, Chrysalis and the changelings are back. They've ponynapped all of the most powerful ponies in Equestria! Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Shining Armor, Flurry Heart, Twilight and her friends, and almost abducted Sun. We need to…" Hearing Starlight mention Twilight and her friends. Discord can tell this situation has become personal for him, so he ends up changing everything back to normal. Discord glares as she angrily asks, "They took Fluttershy?" "Yes!" Starlight answers. "Where?" Discord asks with furry in his eyes and gritting his teeth. "The Changeling Kingdom. With you on our side, I can…" Starlight explains. But before Starlight can continue, Discord snaps his fingers to teleport the group to the Changeling Kingdom. In a flash, Discord has the three mares with some bags and other gears for the journey, except for Thorax. The five can see that they are not at the Changeling Kingdom, but are at the end of a forest. Confused, Discord looks around as he says, "Odd. I was trying to take us right to Fluttershy, but there is no Fluttershy." He lists a rock and his eyes line out looking in there. Thg gang looks around to see if they can find where the castle is. Trixie looks at front of her and begin to shake like a leaf on a tree. Trixie begins to whimper and scaredly says, "I think I have a pretty good idea where she might be…" The others look to see what is Trixie looking at. They are shocked to see a strange looking mountain, but has holes coming out of it. Around the mountain are a lot of creatures flying around, that will be the changelings. Sun says looking stunned, "That's the changeling kingdom." "Yes. I'd hoped never to see that place again," Thorax answers with a unsettle expression on his face. Then Thorax asks, "Now what?" Starlight and Sun are not sure what to do about the situation. However, Sun looks to see that Starlight is very nervous about coming up with a plan. Of course, Sun doesn't know what to do about it either. Back in the world of CHS, Twilight and her friends are at Sugarcube Corner with their changeling guests. The two look around to see so many people in one building. The girls are having some food and drinks, while the two simply stare at them. Applejack asks, "Are you sure, you two don't need anything to eat?" "We're sure. Changelings don't eat normal foods like you do," Thorn answers. Stinger nods his head, and says, "Yeah. Changelings feed off of love, not so much on anything." Pinkie gasps, and shouts, "You mean you can't have any cupcakes, cakes, cookies, muffins, pie, candy, and other kinds of sweets." "Can't have any of it," the two reply. "Gee, it's like changelings can't eat anything," Rainbow complains. Rarity clears her throat, and says, "Maybe we should start by telling you about ourselves. I know that you already know a lot by stealthing on us, but it will be a good idea id you get to know us personally. Then we like to get to go know two. "Um sure? What would you like to know?" Thorn questionably answers. "Well, what do you two like to do during your spare time?" Adagio asks. Stinger and Thorn try to think about what they do during their time. Stinger answers, "Well, since we are unable to change into you… humans with our magic, we look on how to disguise ourselves. We read books on how we can disguise ourselves to look like other people." "I was able to get a job at a costume shop. That's where I learned how to sew clothes and other stuff. The owner of the store also taught me on how to put on makeup and style wigs," Thorn adds. "That's cool. But how were you able to imitate Sun's voice," Sonata asks. "We were able to read some books and look at videos on how to change the way we talk. During our snooping, I imitate the males while Thorn imitate the females," Stinger answers. Pinkie nods her head, and says, "That make sense." "And you were going to use your talents to kidnap Sun and you will switch places with her," Rainbow says with a suspicious look on her face. "Pretty much," Thorn answers, nodding her head in reply. "Well, kidnapping Sun is not a very nice thing for you to do, but it seems that you two have good talent with clothes making, acting, and spying on people without being noticed. In fact, a lot of that are useful for other things," Rarity calmly complements. Thorn and Stinger look at each other with confused look on their faces. Stinger asks, "Like what?" "Well, you can be a costume designer or a fashion designer, make up artist, an actor, or maybe a secret agent," Pinkie happily answers. Then Applejack, "You also be part of a play or in the movies." "That sounds like good idea, but we're changeling soldiers not actors," Stinger replies. "Who said you have to feed on love?" Aria remarks while rolling her eyes. "Well, that's what changelings do. We're supposed to steal love so we can feed ourselves and the rest of the hive," Stinger explains. "Changelings are always starving, and we can't seem to get enough love," Thorn adds. "You mean that all you changelings feel that you have to steal love just to live! What kind of crazy backwards idea is that?!" Pinkie exclaim, not believing the point the two are making. Stenger and Thorn simply nod their heads in reply. The girls start to think about the situation the two changeling humans are having. They believe that they have to keep stealing love just to survive. Falling Star thinks about this as she says, "Maybe there's another way for you to gain love without taking it." "How are you going to do that?" Thorn asks with a stern look. "Well, maybe becoming friends with us, we can share our love to you two. Maybe there you can have some friends and can still eat love. But of course, we will be giving you our love willingly," Twilight says. Then Rarity says, "Now that we know a little bit about you. I think it will be a good idea to come up with an activity to do today. Since none of us are at school right now." Pinie happily suggests, "Maybe we can do a sleepover or a party?" "Maybe later," Twilight replies. "How about we take them to the barn and play some games?" Applejack suggests with a smile on her face. "Um what kind of games? Fluttershy asks. "Well, we can play some board games," Twilight suggests. "And we can play some ball games," Rainbow adds with glee. "And we can play some party games like pin the tail on the donkey," Sonata happily adds. Thorn becomes skeptic and asks, "So we can't have friendship without games?" "Not exactly, but that's one of the ways friends can have some fun together," Fluttershy replies. "And that's a way that friends can hang out together," Rainbow says. Then Falling Star asks, "Don't you play some games back at your home?" "No. We mostly practice our changeling abilities, magic, and other ways that we can feed on love and defend ourselves from danger," Thorn answers. Rainbow rolls her eyes, and says, "Sheeh! Is that changeling queen of yours thinks of nothing but absorbing love or what?!" "That what us changelings do," The two reply at the same time. The others look at them with confused looks, and have some questions about the changelings' way of life. Then again, they don't know much about changelings or much about Equestria for that matter. They think it will be a good idea to ask Sun about more about Equestrian culture when she gets back.