A new guiding Star

by Amethyst Sparkle


Normal?

" What's going on here?" Spike asked as he beheld the mess that was a sea of pots and pans strewn on the library floor.

Rainbow Dash was floating above it all with an annoyed look on her face, Applejack was completely buried with only her hat as a testament to her existence, and finally the perpetrator, Pinkie, was in the center with a nervous look as she watched Spike's muzzle slowly scrunch up in anger.

" I was just trying to find the right cooking pan to make the pancakes later in the morning! But Twilight didn't have any so I brought my own stash but they were lost too under all this and I can't find them without making noise I'm sorry but I can't allow no breakfast to happen so I really needed that pan!!" She explained without even being winded.

Spike groaned. Rarity's magic would've been useful in cleaning this mess, but she had to watch their sisters and was way over at Carousel Boutique.

He went down the stairs and started picking up pots and pans.

" This could've waited till later, Pinkie." He said with a stern look.

Pinkie gulped as she too started putting the items back in the safety of her hair, somehow.

" I'm sorry, I got excited. Making the perfect breakfast would've made you guys cheer up a bit!" She tried a smile.

" Well ya blew it by makin' a mess, Pinks." Murmured Applejack as she was rescued by Fluttershy from the sea of kitchen utensils.

" Yeah, and we're here to look for any clue as to where the changelings would hide Twilight." Rainbow grunted.

Spike sighed as he placed the last pot into Pinkie's tail. " Plus you guys would've had gone home once morning arrived, having breakfast at your respective houses."

Pinkie's ears drooped. " Oh.... I'm sorry.... I just wanted to make you guys cheer up...."

Rainbow gestured to the now clean library. " You know what would cheer all of us up? Finding Twilight!!! We should be out there, actually looking for her, not in her library looking for some damn clue! Why would we even find a clue here!?! It's not like the changelings used her geography books to find the perfect place to hide her! It would've been in their hive!"

Spike sighed again. " I know, Rainbow. I feel the same. But Princess Celestia said to keep looking in the Library. We can't disobey."

Rainbow scowled. " Why though?! I thought she would have at least known something about changelings to figure out that they always put their captures in their hive!"

" Speakin' of knowin', how'd YOU know so much 'bout them lings?" Applejack interrupted.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. " Flutters here told me."

Everyone's eyes looked at the pegasus, who was quiet the entire conversation. Eyes suddenly trained on her made the shy pony tense up.

" How do you know that, Fluttershy? I doubt you read them from a book." Spike said with a raised eyebrow.

Fluttershy shrunk but that was normal. " I just thought that the changelings looked a lot like insects and the fact that they have a Queen made them similar to Termites, so I thought it made sense for them to keep Twilight in their hive, where they are the strongest."

Everyone went silent at the logic.

Then Applejack widened her eyes. "So that's why ya insisted that Twilight prolly was just actin' on instinct!"


Fluttershy nodded. " Yep. And if my theory is right, then it WAS Twilight who Shining Armor thought to be an impostor."

" It that's true.... Then poor Twi...." Spike said quietly.

" Betrayed by her own kin..." Applejack whispered.

" Then all the more reason to find her!" Rainbow practically screamed. " If that's true, then she's probably hurt somewhere, hiding from the guards or worse, starving to death!" She said in alarm, wings flapping twice as fast.

" But how will we find her!? There's a 50/50 chance that Fluttershy is right. If she's wrong, Twi's in a hive we can't trace. If she's right, then we don't know where the heck she's hiding. Probably Canterlot, Ponyville and the Everfree, but it will take us forever and she may be injured but she's still the Element of magic. She'll teleport out of our sight before we could even explain we weren't on Shining's side." Spike listed.

" No she wont! Not after this at least."

They froze at the new voice, then slowly looked up to find not one, but 6 changelings staring down at them from above.

All jaws dropped in unison.

One of them giggled.

" You broke them, Espada."
---------

Twilight was between panicking and pride.

She was panicking because she worried that her friends will think that her nymphs were a threat and report them to Celestia, which was fine but that report would eventually go to her brother and he might kill them.

She was filled with pride because her nymphs worked together and snuck past the hive's guards, on another mission with the purpose of helping out the hive.

She was far from angry, she was like that too when she was a foal. Celestia has pictures of her everyday shenanigans even.

215 stared at the pacing Queen, a smile on her face. " Twi, no need to worry. They're YOUR nymphs. They're more than capable of getting themselves out of trouble."

" If they even manage to get into trouble. They made it past 215. That's not an easy achievement to accomplish." 324 added.

" I'm sure they'll be back right before dawn." 18 said with a grin.

Twilight stopped pacing, sighed, then offered her closest ling friends a smile.

" I sure hope so." She said.

" Twilight!!!"

They looked in unison outside Twilight's cave, seeing a flying Alchemist, 65, waving for their attention.

Twilight flew to the lip of her cave and settled, looking at 65 with concern. A few buzzes later informed her that her three friends followed.

" What is it, 65?" She asked calmly, producing love for the ling, sending shivers up his spine.

" Uh-Uh YOUR nymphs a-are back. But they brought something much bigger than books." He gulped.

Twilight frowned. " Much bigger?"

" Follow me, they're at the Entrance." He retained his composure and gestured for his Queen to follow, which Twilight obliged along with the other three.

They flew over the lush Lake Forest, actually taking 2 minutes to get to the Entrance. Once they got there, Twilight stopped in mid-air as she saw what exactly the nymphs brought that were bigger than books.

Her Friends.

Rainbow Dash immediately made eye-contact with her, and Twilight made a break for it, startling everyone.

" COME BACK HERE AND EXPLAIN YOURSELF!!!!" The Element of Loyalty demanded as they turned the Hive's airspace into a racetrack.

215 tensed then glared at the nearest pony, Applejack.

" What is the-" Applejack's chuckle stopped everyone's rising aggression. Their Queen was being chased by a more-than-capable-of-hurting-her-pegasus, after all.

" It's fine, miss. Rainbow won' hurt 'er. 'Specially with what the youngin's said." She looked at her unofficial nieces and nephews.

Espada laughed as he watched his Mom somehow outfly the more experienced flyer before turning to 215.

" Don't worry Soldier 215! Aunt Rainbow knows that Mom's about to lay again. She's just having revenge for Mom not trusting any of them." He said with a smile.

215 relaxed, signalling to the others that they do the same.

" If you say so, Espada. But we're probably going to have a hive wide meeting about this latest mission of yours."

Gaia noticed the wording and frowned. " You're not angry?"

215 was surprised. " Angry? No! Everyone shares the same thought as your Mom, that what you did was fine, just next time alert us so Twi doesn't have a heart attack."

Fluttershy perked up at that. " And also be more careful in whatever New mission you embark in."

215 nodded. " Exactly My Queen's point miss...." Her eyes washed over the startled pegasus, as well all the other close lings'. The 4 and Spike stared back, trying to figure out the sudden change in demeanor.

".... Fluttershy. Welp. I just hope you don't sell us out." She eyed her warily.

To the group's surprise, Fluttershy seemed offended instead of confused.

" Hey, Twilight's my friend. I won't sell her out!"

" What are you talking about, Fluttershy?" Spike asked, watching the two mares engaged in a staring contest.

" Not now Spike." She whispered.

" Then what are you here for? Where's the real one?" 215 asked, ignoring Spike's interference.

This time Fluttershy actually frowned. " She's right here. And as to why I'm here...." She gulped before straightening ber posture, looking confident.

" I'm here to join a friend to build her future."

Everyone that was not a changeling had confused looks on their faces, while the nymphs had something like a realization strike.

All the grown up lings stayed wary, but 215 just nodded at Fluttershy's words.

" Fine. I suppose you're not much of a threat-"

Rainbow's scream at almost being hit by a lavender beam caused 215 to snicker.

", but I think you'd have to deal with Twi hyperventilating and your other friends' questions."

Fluttershy eased her stance and looked at her still confused group. She allowed herself a small laugh.

" I know, and I'm already dreading it."

-------

It took a while for Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle's chase in the sky to end, surprisingly caused by the flier stopping and mentioning that they shouldn't fly any longer with Twilight's condition.

It surprised the Queen, Rainbow's knowledge of her about to lay in a few days shocking her, causing the beginning of an impromptu hive-wide meeting in one of Lake Forest's meadows.

It took them the whole day straightening things out, but in the end all misunderstandings were fixed and all questions were answered. With everyone satisfied, they decided to call it a night.

Twilight had the girls taken to the Guest Cave along with the Thestrals, but Spike stubbornly never let go of her leg.

" Spike, I missed you too, and okay fine you stay with me just please let go of my leg or my nymphs will follow you and I won't be able to sleep." She stated.

Spike grinned as he got his wish and obliged, looking smug at the lavender Queen.

He got a playful punch to the shoulder as a reply, as Twilight smiled and turned to the inside of her cave, with the baby dragon following eagerly.

The inside had a snug little nest-like bed with a bunch of pillows and blankets, a couple of bookshelves and worktables, stools with paper work on them and other things.

It was basically a study cave.

" What are you studying for, Twi?" He asked.

" I was just recording everything I've learned about being a changeling, Spike. May come in helpful one day." She said proudly as she shoved a little journal in his chest. He grunted at the impact but took the book with great care, opening it and widening his eyes.

It was, in-short, a VERY detailed journal.

Almost like an encyclopedia.

This was easily one of the best works Twilight has ever done.

Twilight could sense the awe radiating from the Dragon as he marveled at each page he turned. He slowly looked up at his sister.

" D-Does Princess Celestia know about this?" He managed.

He knew with all his being that Celestia would practically devour this, both for the new knowledge about changelings and the fact that it was written by the smartest pony in Equestria, who was her student.

Twilight blushed. " Not yet. I still think it's too short."

Spike beheld the obviously thick and well-informed book with a hanging jaw.

" I think you and I have VERY different understandings of the word short."

Twilight giggled as she hugged the dragon, who placed the book carefully on a nearby stool and hugged the Queen in return.

" It's good to have you back, Spike." She whispered.

" I love you, big sister." Spike said with a smile, filling Twilight with love with the eggs in her abdomen the recipients of it's nourishment.

" I love you too, little brother." She squeezed him for good measure before letting him go.

She watched his smile grow.

" Brother? That means I'm an Uncle now!" He said happily.

Twilight laughed. " Yep! An Uncle to an entire hive."

Spike puffed out his chest.

" Then I'm going to make sure I grow up big and strong! Your hive's lucky to have a Dragon protecting it, you know!"

Twilight just smiled as she listened to him ramble on and on about ways he could use his lineage as a Dragon to defend her hive. It was charming to see such determination fron the little hatchling.

" Excuse me, Twilight? Are you there?"

Both beings jumped at the soft voice, whose later appearance confirmed it's owner.

" Fluttershy? What can I do for you?" Twilight asked with a smile.

Fluttershy's eyes drifted to her midsection, eyeing the shadows of the eggs with worry.

She hoped her confession won't stress the Queen.

She took a deep breath.

" Actually, I have something to tell you...."

The surprise that rippled through the hive mind startled everyone, except 215 who just cackled with laughter.

Later when a new presence joined their little server however, they understood what had happened and welcomed the new hive member with open arms in the Hivemind Archives.

----------

" What are you reading, Sister?" Luna asked as she walked in on Celestia reading a rather lengthy scroll.

" Twilight's letter." The white alicorn said with a smile. From what she read, her student had things looking up for her, and the alicorn was happy for that.

" Really? Let me read thy student's letter!" Luna snatched the scroll clean from Celestia's magical grasp and to her own.

The night princess was a fast reader, and in no time she laughed at a part that was way far into the story written in ink.

" Twilight's nymphs would make great guards in the future, Sister. I'd much rather have them protect us than the current guard, all talk and no action." Luna smirked.

Celestia chuckled. " I'm sure they will be guards someday, but we have to wait until the public at least views even only Twilight's changelings to be good."

" With your student? I'd bet that will happen in mere months, a year give or take. Any other pony would've taken centuries." Luna grinned.

Celestia smiled at that. " Twilight is a special pony, after all."

" Now if only her brother would see that."

---------

" What else about the missing ponies' case that you've dug up? Anything new?" Shining Armor asked the pony in front of him.

The pony shook his head.

" Nothing. Only the usual. Changeling slime's the only evidence of them being taken and not just disappearing mysteriously."

" Argh! Those monsters! First my sister, then thousands of innocents?! They're up to something, I just know it." He grunted.

" They're definitely up to something, if they take hundreds of ponies every single passing day." The pony said, ruffling his feathers.

" It's been about a month now, Stormy. We have to crack this case before something worse happens."

" We can't get anymore closer than we are now, you know that. The changelings are taking ponies by random, with only your sister's kidnapping as the one with at least a valid reason why. We can't bait one to kidnap an agent, they'd simply just choose another target miles away. And doubling patrols are useless against shape-shifters. They're getting stronger, they can hide from a normal unicorn's revealing spell. The only revealing spells powerful enough to actually work are the ones cast by the Princesses and evidently your sister. But with one missing and the other two just not allowed to help on the field, we're stuck in an endless goose chase until they decide to attack or something."

The pegasus', Stormy, Spike was rewarded with a frustrated growl.

Shining's horn sparked angrily.

" I-I just HATE not being able to do anything!!!" He snarled.

Stormy patted his shoulder.

" I know. I'd do anything to be able to track those changelings down."

Shining gritted his teeth. " We need to capture just ONE, just one changeling, to be able to catch up with them. But that alone is already a challenge."

Then he sighed. " It would've been much easier with Twilight and her smarts."

Stormy gulped at the sore subject being brought up. The Captain talked about his sister everytime his walls broke, each time getting more and more sucked down the memory lane, which was bad for a Captain of his calibre. They needed to all be strong in the emotional side too, after all, especially with mind manipulators as enemies.

" Hey, we'll find her soon." He tried.

" As I've said, It's been a month now since she disappeared, Stormy. A month of suffering. I just can't help but think I'm failing her every day that passed without so much as a progress to figuring out her location. If we can't find her then, can we find her now? The thought of her in somw kind of torture for her love gives me terrible nightmares." Shining dragged a hoof on his face, showcasing his stress.

" Your sister's strong, Captain. Have faith."

" She may be Equestria's hero, Stormy, but she's still my little sister. If I can't handle the changelings, then who's to say she can?"

Now that statement made Stormy want to protest, since he spied on the mare sometime, it's his job after all, and she was more than capable of protecting herself. He was willing to bet that she was probably giving the changelings a hard time.

He opened his mouth to vocalize the thought, but he was interrupted by sudden shouting.

Both stallions went on alert and immediately ran towards the source of shouting, abandoning their previous location of the Castle Courtyard were they often met to discuss findings.

The shouting was coming from the Main street, evident by the running ponies. The source of the chaos wasn't hard to spot either.

A flash of lavender caught Shining's eye, and it was obvious it was from a carapace.

" Changeling!!!!" The Captain shouted.

The thing turned it's head at the owner of the shout, fear evident in it's pony eyes.

It's appearance sent shivers up the unicorn's spine, especially with it's awfully familiar hair.

But questions could always come later.

Right now they need to catch that monster.

" Call for backup!" He ordered Stormy as he charged at the thing. The pegasus took off without a word, but he spared a glance at the captain.

Shining sensed Stormy's worried gaze.

" GO!" He yelled before following the changeling in an alleyway.

Stormy shot through the air, right towards the barracks.

---------

The changeling lead Shining Armor through numerous streets and Alleyways, occasionally looking back to check on it's pursuer.

Shining was beginning to tire, but he pushed on, knowing this was the only time he ever would get to catching one of the monsters.

Now that his eyes were locked onto the thing, he could notice differences between it and the ones at his wedding.

It was lavender, it had a mane and tail, and it had a cutiemark of a star and a sun.

It had no horn nor wings, and strangely no holes.

But to Shining Armor, they were all the same, no matter what color or what form.

He was sure to get more information once it was captured.

He lit his horn, preparing a shield spell. It wasn't for him though, it was for trapping the thing in.

Somehow it sensed his spell and started running in a zigzag motion, confusing the Captain's aim and making him growl under the strain of keeping the spell ready and the changeling's seemingly playful manner.

They kept at this, crossing a street and entering another crisscross of alleyways.

But this time, the changeling managed to enter a dead-end, probably focusing on it's zigzag motion more than the direction it was traveling.

It turned and looked at Shining Armor in fear, both practically gasping for breath at how long they were running at full speed.

Now that it was facing him and was perfectly still, he saw it, the last straw.

It had his sister's mane and eyes.

" How.... How dare you!" He huffed as he began treading closer.

It tensed.

" Not only do you kidnap my sister and hundreds of innocents, you have the audacity to mock her image as well!?" He stomped his hoof.

The changeling looked offended, but fear overrode her face.

" Giving me the silent treatment?" Shining Armor snarled.

" That wont last for long." His spell, that he had been maintaining the entire time finally was set free, heading straight for the changeling.

But it never hit.

Instead, a lavender beam met the spell, and it exploded into a bright light.

Both sides recovered fast, Shining Armor looking at the changeling with a frowed-surprised look, the changeling looking at the spot were the two beams met, which was marked by a burned patch of cement.

" LIGAYA!!!!"

Both turned to the voice, Only Shining Armor was hit by a paralyzing spell, instantly causing him to fall to the ground without so much as a scream.

But he was only unable to move, not knocked out, so he saw and heard everything with clarity.

He watched as his attaker, a male version of the previous changeling but with a purple unicorn horn.

He dashed at the girl changeling and they hugged wach other, staying in that position for a few seconds. Then they separated but his hooves were still on the other's shoulders.

" Are you alright, Ligaya?" He asked.

The girl nodded. " I'm fine, Galit. Just a little winded is all."

The male frowned. " What made them find out? Did you drop your disguise somehow?"

" Nothing like that, just the Patrol.... They interrogated everybody, and I panicked. Especially when they did the scan with three unicorns. I'm not a unicorn, so here we are. They revealed me." She said with a sad look on her face.

Then she looked at the other with a smile.

" But thanks for having my back."

The other smirked. " No prob, sis." He put his hoof to his mouth and whistled. Moments later something flew in their alley, and it was a girl changeling but with purple pegasi wings.

She hovered near the two.

" Damn, Ligaya! Are you okay girl!?" She looked at Shining Armor, whose face was emotionless but she could feel that id he wasn't paralysed then he would have pure hate written all over his muzzle.

" He gave you quite a chase. Sorry I didn't stay with you. Had to run with the crowd, make him think you're all alone." She turned back to the others.

" I'm fine, Ilog. It's okay, you were just-" Her face turned to a smirk. " Going with the flow."

The third thing had a poker face. " This is no time for puns, Ligaya."

Her face suddenly went slack, causing frowns to erupt on the others' muzzles.

The third ling blinked. " Let's get out of here. Scout said a big group of guards are headed this way."

" What about Uncle Armor?" The first one said, looking at the shocked-inside Shining Armor.

" Don't call him that!" The second one scolded.

" He's going to forget it anyway, Galit. Again, what about him? We can't just leave him here, especially with your spell! This alley is really hard to find, and your spell lasts a week! He could get hurt!"

A paralyzing spell that lasts for a week? How strong were these monsters?!

" What do you suggest we do? Disguise as civilians, carry him to the Main street and teleport immediately? " The second one said sarcastically.

" No way. I've already called Scout and Spy. They'll do that for us. Plus if they get found out they'll escape no matter what." The third one said, before grabbing the first one and putting the changeling on it's back.

" Now let's go!"

Both females erupted into lavender light, turning into an owl with a chick on it's back before flying away.

The second ling looked at the 'birds' before shifting his gaze at Shining Armor.

" You're stupid." Was all he said before shifting into an Owl himself, flying towards Shining Armor and slashing his cheek with his sharp talons.

The Captain wanted to scream in pain. Tears started to well in his eyes as he stared at the Owl.

The owl seemed to glare at him.

" That's for mom, since I know she won't do it." It said, before flying away.

Moments later of trying to bear the pain Shining armor heard flapping wings and saw two pegasi, both had lavender fur and the same style of the second one's mane.

The first had a spyglass with a star in the background as a cutiemark, while the other a paw print with a star on the paw pad.

" Geez, I knew Galit casts powerful spells but this is just overkill. " The first said as he began to pick up the Captain on one side, who felt immediate disgust at being in contact with one of the things.

The other followed. " He's named Galit for a reason, Spy. He represents our collective anger somehow."

They started to ascend over the buildings, and even as they began to fly to the direction of the Main street, Shining was waiting for both of them to just drop him on a fence spike or from a higher altitude.

Soon they landed on the tarmac, and he was deposited against a building just the side of the street.

They were immediately spotted.

" HALT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH OUR CAPTAIN!?" Stormy said from across the street, just noticing the trio.

Shining wanted to scream 'don't let them escape' but alas, he can't. He saw the first one grin at the question, irritating the Captain more and more, since his grin indicated he treated this all as a game od some sort.

" Should we allow ourselves to be captured?"

Like they couldn't be caught without them secretly giving consent to the Captors to be, right?

The other shook his head. " I'm sure it will be fun irritating the winner of the best brother of the year award over here, but I think we have something to report that couldn't be delayed for too long."

Their lack of answer and clear smiles made Stormy's group start to charge at them.

" Plus Shining here knows a lot. It wouldn't be fun anymore. " The other laughed before they both turned into owls, the flash of their transformation startling all.

The first on smiled as he flew near Shining's face.

" Catch us if you can! Oh wait, you can't move! HAHAHHA!"

And they shot through the sky, already fading dots by the time Stormy ordered a loud " FOLLOW THEM!".

--------

" How is the Hive, Summer?" Celestia asked a female unicorn changeling in a navy blue hood. Her cutiemark was a pencil drawing a familiar star, indicating she was a planner or artist of some sort. Her ever-present smirk confirmed the planner part.

They were in Celestia's office, which was why she was undisguised.

" After two months since we arrived at the place, it's been pretty calm. The hive's thriving. The Builders are having a blast customizing the place, both my siblings and our Aunts and Uncles from the other hive." She said with a small laugh.

Celestia smiled at the changeling. " Really? I hope I can visit sometime."

Summer nodded. " Mom would love that. Just teleport or something, I'm sure after that fiasco with Ligaya Uncle Armor's on high alert."

" Sadly, yes. Captain Armor has been morw on the paranoid side of things lately." The alicorn sighed.

" Don't tell me he still thinks changelings are all the same?" Summer asked. " Despite that obvious ponylike behaviour Ligaya, Galit and Ilog displayed? Even the twins'?" Her hoof supported her question as she looked at the Princess.

" Unfortunately, it seems so. I have a feeling he still didn't move on from the events of the invasion." The alicorn said sadly.

Summer sighed. " At least we have you on our side, Auntie Celly. I don't think Mom would have survived of she was hunted by her own second mother."

Celestia smiled at the nickname the young changeling called her. " I will never do that. Even if your brother Bandaid and his clutchmates didn't explain for her."

" Nice to know. " Summer smiled back. " Speaking of knowing, did you know that the Thestrals are also thriving with the hive?"

Celestia widened her eyes at that.

" You speak truly?"

Summer giggled. " Yes I speak truly. When Aunt Luna called the Thestrals back because Mom had sufficient guards to keep the hive safe and thought they were hogging important hive space, Mom objected and said the Thestrals could even live in the hive, since the place was originally YOUR training grounds. That reminded Aunt Luna that the remaining Thestrals did need a place to live since they still hid in the castle because of public opinion. So they all moved in one night, and since then the Hive consisted of pure changelings, Hybrid Changelings which are me and my fam, and pure Thestrals and the Hybrid ones. It also helped that this certain tree that produced the fruit that the Thestrals needed to eat in order to grow without being prone to deadly diseases blossomed because of the Lake's water, The Everfree's magic and the Love produced by our crystals. Which, as you can guess, solidified the Thestral's stay and revealed that the Batponies and the Changelings did live together."

" That must have been wonderful to discover for Twilight." Celestia said with a knowing smirk.

" Yeah, she almost exploded, but she did send my siblings and I on an excited-much spree, the Hivemind has it's side effects, ya know." Summer smirked right back.

Suddenly the door was hit with three powerful knocks, and immediately Summer erupted into a copy of Philomena, flying straight for Celestia's desk.

The alicorn allowed herself a giggle for the young changeling's antics before clearing her throat.

" Come in!"

The door opened and revealed it to be Luna.

" Sister." She greeted, then noticed the phoenix. It was strange, since Philomena was still in the observatory shedding her feathers for another rebirth, until she realized their resident changeling was nowhere to be found. She raised an eye-brow.

" Summer."

The changeling-phoenix chirped with a smile on her beak.

Celestia chuckled. " Hello, Luna. What brings you here?"

The night princess allowed herself inside, closing the door behind her. Summer flew from the desk to Luna, nuzzling her cheek, which the happy-to-be-an-aunt princess gladly accepted. It brought joy to Celestia's heart even as Summer flew back to the desk, allowing Luna to state her reason of being there.

" As you know, Captain Armor has sent his troops to patrol Ponyville." She started.

" Yes, we already warned the elements to stop visiting the Hive for the mean time."

" But we haven't warned Twilight that he's now planning to send search parties into the Everfree."

Celestia almost jumped out of her skin.

" What evidence led him there?" She asked.

Luna rolled her eyes. " The 'evidence' that led him there is the mere fact that The Everfree houses monsters and anomalies within it's mysterious land. While unknowingly he is right that it would be a perfect site for a changeling hive, no one has ever mapped the forest without dying besides Twilight's hive. He's going in blind."

" Personally I'm not worried about Uncle Armor finding us by chance," Summer stated while still in phoenix form in case somepony busted in, " but I am worried about the other ponies under his command. The Everfree is dangerous for any pony who doesn't at least know where they're going."

" Exactly my niece." Luna nodded.

" Summer, I have to talk to Twilight." Celestia ordered.

At those words Summer froze, seemingly staring into space. Then a few moments later she jumped off the desk and erupted into lavender flames, leaving Twilight's unicorn form in her place.

" What is it, Princess Celestia? Princess Luna? Summer said you have something to discuss with me?" Twilight asked, controlling Summer's body.

Luna cleared her throat, still surprised about the puppeteering thing.

" Your brother is launching a search party in the bowels of the Everfree."

Twilight immediately frowned. " He doesn't know the forest. A guide would be fake unless it was one of my friends, the give members or Zecora. They'll die by Timberwolf or any other of tge Everfree Monsters!"

" Which is exactly why I called you here, my student." Celestia started. " What do you plan to prevent this possible future?" She looked at Summer's/Twilight's eyes.

Twilight was silent for a moment, bwforw a voice made her jump a bit.

< What if we cause something to happen that will divert Uncle Shining's attention from the forest....? I know! Uncle 324 knows where the Other Hive is! Maybe he could make some kind of appearance, make the Patrol see him but far enough away to not get a bunch of shouts, then slowly lead them to the Other Hive. He could also bring Aunt 215 along or Uncle 18 as a 'hostage!' That's what the Other Hive lings are doing, right? >

Twilight's face erupted a smile. " That's brilliant, Summer! Excellent job!"

Luna raised an eyebrow. " What did Summer say?"

" She said that one of the changelings from the Other hive could lead the patrol there instead of Our's. He could pretend to be sneaking off 'back home' with another changeling to act as a hostage to further motivate the Patrol to following him!" Twilight said excitedly.

Celestia widened her eyes, then chuckled.

" If Summer still doesn't know what her cutiemark says her role is in the hive, then her intellect would surely help as a clue." She cupped her hooves and put her elbows on the desk.

" That's what we'll do then. You pick the right changelings for the job, and I'll report back to you anything Shining Armor reports to me." She smiled as Twilight did the same.

" Alright. I'll have to go then and have my friends ready once Shining steps foot in the forest."

Luna suddenly spoke up . " And also have that male version of Summer, Loki, wasn't it?"

Twilight snickered at the 'version' thing but nodded.

" Loki, have him infiltrate their patrol and 'spot' the chosen Changelings. They'll be too terrified or focused of the prospect of searching a mysterious and magical forest to notice even an undisguised ling."

" I'll do that too, Princess Luna." She looked at both of them and waved a hoof. " Good bye, until the next dire situation to discuss about!" She quipped before letting go of her control on Summer and changing her back into changeling form, jacket a bit ruffled.

Summer blinked then grinned. " This is going to be a fun year."

Luna spared her own smile. " Despite all this drama, then yes, I agree, my niece."

" Depending on your definition of fun...." Celestia playfully said with suspicion.

" Oh no! Look at the time! I got to go and continue spy on the Patrol for inside info! Bye Aunties!" Summer said 'nervously' as she laughed and turned into an owl before disappearing out the open window.

" And I as well, will continue my daily dose of Bluebull. Farewell sister." Luna hurriedly walked out the door.

Celestia smiled. " Farewell, Sister."

Then her words sank.

Celestia's face went slack.

" Wait, what?!"

A faint high hoof was heard behind the door as changeling and night princess ran to escape further questioning.