//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: Crisis 
// Story: Golden Ink 
// by Detsella Morningdew 
//------------------------------//

Dinky sat with her friends in their little clubhouse on Apple Bloom's farm. She wasn't into their Crusading business, despite their repeated protests, but they frequently hung out in the little treehouse for some lighthearted fun.

The usual cheer was still present, but it was slightly muted. They had just arrived, but the three Crusaders seemed to be looking at her a bit too often to be normal. She unconsciously shifted into the unicorn she was used to.

Apple Bloom shook her head. "Sorry, Dinky. Ah'm just a bit confused. I wanted to ask at school, but not in front of anypony. What was all that with Silver? And if it was just sucking up stuff, why didn't you just brush her off?"

"Silver is... different than we thought."

Scootaloo scoffed. "Different how?"

"You do know she just follows Diamond Tiara around, right?"

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "Yeah. Which is even worse. Applejack always says that if all you do is follow somepony else, it's worse than not getting a cutie mark at all. You're just them, but less."

Dinky sighed. "Yeah, she was bad. And she didn't do the right thing when she tried to help Diamond Tiara out that way. But she wanted me to tell you girls she was sorry about it."

"Yeah, well, sorry doesn't help if she keeps doing it."

"...Did you know she didn't actually think it was affecting us?"

Apple Bloom gave her an incredulous look. "Say what?"

Dinky shook her head. "Sorry, I didn't think any of you would actually believe that. Not unless she told you directly."

"I suppose that's fair."

Everypony looked at Sweetie Belle.

"But why does she even hang out with Diamond Tiara if she's this good pony or whatever?"

"Because Diamond Tiara doesn't have anypony else. It's actually kinda why she wanted to talk with me. She didn't know who I was, or that I knew you girls, but she noticed that you looked like you were interested in being friends."

Scootaloo's jaw dropped. "Wait... so Silver Spoon tried to set up, like, a pony with huge suck-up potential, to us?"

"Yeah, I know. But it wasn't like she was going to recommend Diamond Tiara or anything."

Apple Bloom narrowed her eyes. "Ah'm okay with her not being bad and stuff, but this is a bit... out there, you know? Why would she take that much time and effort for somepony she doesn't even know?"

Dinky cringed. "Oh, yeah... she kinda pieced together what happened at the wedding. Not that I was a pony before, but... everything else."

Apple Bloom sat down on the floor. "Oh."

Sweetie Belle snorted. "Come on, girls, we were supposed to do fun things this afternoon. Rarity doesn't let me out past six on a school night."

Dinky suddenly remembered a certain conversation with Twilight. "Oh right!" The Crusaders turned towards her expectantly.

"Princess Celestia found M-Chrysalis' old hive. I was going to go this weekend, and was wondering if any of you wanted to explore it with me."

"Like, a camping trip?" Sweetie asked.

"Yeah. I don't think we'll be able to look through all of it in one day."

"I dunno. I mean, it's not like we're going in the Everfree or anything, but Rarity doesn't really like anything long like that unless there's an adult watching us."

"Oh, I forgot. Twilight's coming too."

"Ohhh, right. Yeah, that makes more sense. I'll try to convince her, at least." She grinned. "Wait, it's easier if I just get Twilight to do that for me."

Scootaloo shrugged. "Should be fine for me." Her grin widened. "Not to mention we might find some Daring Do treasure or something!"

Dinky chuckled. "You do realize that all treasure in there is technically mine?"

Her grin froze.

"Scootaloo, of course you can take some treasure if we find any. I just have to make sure it's not dangerous or anything."

She puffed out her chest. "You doubt my booby-trap-finding ability?"

Apple Bloom snorted. "Ah certainly don't. It's your knack for setting them off that I'm worried about."

Dinky rolled her eyes. "I mean that I'm probably immune to any of them, since I'm a changeling. Or at least, I'm the one with armor."

Scootaloo looked at her critically. "I thought the minimum age for the Junior Guard was sixteen."

Sweetie Belle laughed. "Dinky means the chitin stuff. Right, Dinky?"

"Yeah. Anyway, I don't want of you hurt because my stuff decides to attack you or something."

Scootaloo pouted. "Why does she get built-in armor?"

Dinky narrowed her eyes suspiciously at her. "Wait, you weren't planning on joining the Junior Guard just to be able to wear armor, were you?"

She avoided her gaze. "Maaybe?"

Dinky rolled her eyes again. "Nevermind. What about you, Bloom? Can you come, too?"

"Ah'll probably have to check with my sister to see if somepony can take over mah chores and stuff. But probably. If I say Twilight's gonna be there, she'll say yes for sure."

There was a sudden pop, and a flash of light.

"Dinky!"

Dinky blinked rapidly, trying to get the spots out of her eyes. "Twilight? What are you doing here?"

"I just thought of something, like, a minute ago! It very very very very very supremely extraordinarily terrible!"

The Crusaders took this distraction to slowly back away from the clearly unstable mare.

"Twilight, calm down! What is it?"

"The changeling invasion! They couldn't possibly have taken every changeling with them! Or if they did, it's pretty much statistically irrelevant for any known egg-laying creature."

"Wait, egg-laying? What?"

Twilight blushed. "I may have, kinda, done some non-intrusive scans of your biology when you weren't looking. But that's irrelevant! There is, like, a 97.8% chance that there is at least one egg at the hive, and about a 14% chance that Chrysalis actually left a changeling back there to take care of it. Or them."

Dinky's eyes widened. "Someone might have survived?"

"But there's only a 17% chance of them surviving! At best! We can't wait until the weekend."

Dinky's face hardened. "Certainly not. How fast can we leave?"

"I already stopped by your house. Your mother should have her mail delivery cart ready. We can't wait for a chariot to arrive from Canterlot."

Dinky looked at the Crusaders. "Are you three able to get permission within, like, three minutes."

Apple Bloom shrugged. Scootaloo smiled. "I pretty much do what I want."

Sweetie Belle smiled uncomfortably. "Well, you know what they say. It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission."

Twilight opened her mouth, then decided time was too short to argue semantics. "All right, everypony get close to me. I think I can teleport us back."

Apple Bloom gave her a worried look. "You think?"

They disappeared in a flash of light.





"Just how urgent is this mission?" Ditzy asked cautiously to the panicking mare in the cart. They were already in the air, but Twilight hadn't stopped checking three different pieces of parchment in quick succession.

"Very."

"No, I mean what time frame? You showed me the map and everything, but how fast do I need to get there?"

"As soon as possible, but... four or five hours, maximum."

"And... just to be clear, this isn't a world-ending threat, right?"

Twilight looked uncomfortable. "No, but foals' lives are at stake."

Ditzy sighed. "Thank goodness." She suddenly looked panicked. "That's not what I-"

Twilight's eyes widened. "Oh, right. That. No, I don't think it's necessary. Or wise for foals to go through."

"Right."

They flew in silence. Scootaloo opened her mouth to speak, but Dinky put a hoof over her mouth. "My mom's weird. Don't worry about it," she whispered to the three of them.

Eventually, the silence got to them, though.

"So... if this hive thing is yours... does this mean you actually have a kingdom?" Sweetie Belle moved closer to her on the crowded cart.

"I mean... kinda. It's not like I'm going to move there or anything."

"Mhm."

"..."

Sweetie shuffled her hooves. "So, um... what will you do if there are really baby changelings there?"

"I mean, take care of them, I guess. Maybe Mom can help with that. Sorry for bringing you three into this. I thought this was just going to be a fun adventure. And I kinda rushed you into it."

"No, it's fine. Yeah, sure, Rarity'll be pissed that I left without telling her. But this is kinda important. It's nice being with the important ponies."

Dinky looked down.

Sweetie quickly waved her hooves around. "Not that I'm saying you're just an "important pony" now. I was just saying Twilight and stuff. And your Mom has that same look, too. I know it's not a world-saving adventure or anything, but it kinda feels like it.

"And it's not like we can't have fun after we make sure nopony... I mean changeling, is in danger. We can still explore, right?"

Dinky looked back up, smiling. "I guess you're right." She looked over the front ridge of the cart, at her mother, and Equestria speeding below them. "I just hope we don't get there too late."