“Hey everypony, they’re back!!” shouted Pinkie to everyone in Sugar Cube Corner.
She looked out and noticed that Spike was coming back to the party along with Dragon Heart who earlier that day ran out from the party; reason completely unknown to anyone there. But after a nice, long, sweet and heart-felt talk with Spike, she felt a whole lot better.
“Welcome back squirt,” said Rainbow Dash to Dragon Heart, “Everything going okay with you?”
She answered with a sweet smile on her face, “Yes, I’m feeling a lot better… thanks to Spike.”
Spike just stood there beside her smiling feeling proud of himself.
“So that whole episode you had when you ran off,” stated Applejack, “what was that all about… you know, if you want to tell us.”
Dragon Heart didn’t quite know what to say, “Well…”
Suddenly, Spike stepped in for her, “Oh she was just going through the emotions, you know. She was having one of those relapses making remember about her past life, that’s all. But don’t worry, good ol’ Spike was there for her and helped her get over it.”
“Well that’s wonderful,” shouted Rarity excitedly. She suddenly went up to Spike and rubbed his little cheek with hers, “Ooh, you really are quite the charmer my wittle Spikey-Wikey.”
Dragon Heart couldn’t help but giggle a bit upon seeing this sight, “Spikey-Wikey? Aww, how cute.”
Spike just blushed and scratched his head, “Heh, heh, yeah well…”
“We’re all glad that you’re back and okay;” said Pinkie while hugging Dragon Heart, “we’re all very relieved!”
Dragon Heart then faced Twilight and her friends and told them, “Well, I just wanted to tell you guys that I’m really glad that I have you guys as my new friends; I really am a lucky Cha… I mean, pony.”
Fluttershy came over to her and gave her a nice comfortable hug and told her, “Does that make you feel any better?”
“Much better,” Dragon Heart replied, “Thanks Fluttershy.”
“Come on Dragon Heart,” said Spike guiding her with his arm, “I think I see a slice of cake with your name on it.”
They both walked off into the other room where most of the party food was; they were smiling and chatting a little too. Twilight turned to her friends wearing a smile of confidence.
“You see girls, it’s just as I thought; Spike had it all under control and everything turned out all right.”
“Well… yeah, of course,” said Rainbow hesitantly, “I-I wasn’t worried for a second.”
“I have to admit, I wasn’t quite sure how that was going to go,” said Rarity.
Applejack looked up at Twilight with curiosity, “You know Twi, you seemed awfully confident about that whole situation with Dragon Heart. Is there something you ain’t telling us?”
“Of course not, Applejack; what makes you say that?”
Pinkie suddenly appeared in front of her with a huge grin, “They’re in love, aren’t they?”
“I’m not saying a word.”
“They’re in love,” said Rarity, “it’s obviously not that hard to tell; just admit it darling.”
Twilight knew her friends already knew about those two being in love; how could they not.
“Oooh, I promised Spike that I wouldn’t tell any-pony about this until he was ready.”
“Well Twilight,” said Fluttershy a bit slyly, “technically you didn’t tell us, we found out ourselves.”
Twilight had a slight sigh of relief that Fluttershy was right and the fact that she didn’t break her promise, “Well, you do have a point.”
Rainbow had an amused look on her face, “I mean seriously, how can those two think that they can act like that in front of us and not make us think that they are in love with each other?”
Twilight looked over where Spike and Dragon Heart was continuing to hang out and talk to each other and couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
“Well… you know how kids are these days; they never want to fully admit something that they’re feeling even if it completely obvious.”
-----
While Dragon Heart was enjoying her time at her party with her new friends, her Changeling guardian, #186, was continuing to be held prisoner in a slimy cocoon deep within the Changeling nest. Chrysalis and her small team of Changeling soldiers had already left for Ponyville a few minutes ago and one of her top soldiers, #760, was ordered to stay behind and watch over #186 to make sure any attempts to escape was futile. #186 knew of a way to play mind games with #760’s mind, and he was going to use that to figure a way out of this.
“Well #760, I hope you feel proud of yourself; I sure hope everything you’ve done was all worth it,” said #186.
#760 had a lot of patience but was easily irritated by #186’s words.
“Keep your mouth shut, I’m only doing my duty by serving my queen.”
“Yeah, of course you are. And instead of letting you go along with her to make sure that her plan goes well, she has you stay here instead to watch over me.”
#760 turned away trying to ignore #186, “S-so what, she has her reasons.”
“Maybe… or, perhaps she doesn’t trust you either.” #186 sported a smirk.
#760 suddenly lost his cool and banged against the cocoon, “I said keep your mouth shut! Don’t make me do something that you’ll regret.”
“Save your threats,” said #186 nonchalantly, “you’re not allow to touch me until the queen’s return anyway.”
#760 looked at him with eyes of anger then sat back down trying to keep himself calm. Suddenly, #186 spoke again.
“You know, thanks to your father you’ve become a master of manipulation, deceit, and betrayal… everything that ponies would think of us. But tell me; are you really proud of having that talent?”
#760 didn’t even turn around to face him as he said, “My father had taught me everything I needed to know and he taught me well; I should be proud of what I can do.”
“But it hasn’t given you everything you wanted, has it?”
#760 hesitated in his movement for a second showing a sign of weakness.
“It has given me my loyalty and trust to the queen.”
“Really, are you sure that’s all you wanted?”
“Look, do yourself a favor and stay silent like the prisoner you are.”
#186 knew he was getting to him as he kept on going, “If I remember correctly you were trying to impress something… or better yet, someone; someone whom you thought would definitely deserve your love.”
“Be quiet!” yelled #760, “That has nothing to do with you! Besides how do you even know which one whom I thought that way about?!”
“You were in love with #457, weren’t you?”
#760 suddenly became silent realizing that #186 hit it right on the nose. He couldn’t say anything that would easily deny that fact.
“You were madly in love with her and you wanted to be with her till the end of your time, didn’t you?”
“Y-yeah, so what if I did?” #760 retorted.
“But she declined your offer and turned you down; that’s what made you furious towards her isn’t it? You couldn’t imagine why she wouldn’t fall for someone that is as cunning as you.”
“That’s all behind me; she means nothing to me now.”
“Oh really, then why is it that you wish for her to die?!” #186 shouted so suddenly, “Is it because you felt that she broke your heart; that she didn’t wish to be with you?! Or perhaps it’s because you recently found out that she fell in love with someone in Ponyville… instead of you… and this action of yours is like an act for revenge against her?!”
“Oh what do you know!” shouted #760, “Do you have any idea what it’s like to be rejected by the very one that you love; to have a major crush on someone only to have your heart crushed instead?!”
Tears started to flow from his eyes reminisced on that fact. #457 was actually one of the most beautiful Changelings he has ever seen, but his dark deceptive nature is what turned her off from him. She didn’t hate him; she just wasn’t interested in him. But she didn’t mind being friends; but that’s not how he saw it.
“Maybe I haven’t fallen in love yet,” said #186, “and maybe I don’t know what it’s like to have your heart rejected by someone you love; but I know #457, and she wouldn’t have said no without a reason.”
#760 scowled at him with tears still flowing from his eyes, “And if by a reason you mean because I’m too serious about my job, and that I’m basically being what my father taught me to be… then yes, that was her reason.”
“Look, I know you loathe her for turning you down, but she doesn’t feel the same way about you; plus allowing her to perish like this won’t change things, nor will it make you feel any better.”
#760 just sat there thinking about #186’s words. Maybe he was going about this the wrong way. Could it be that his father’s teachings has caused him to delve into such an act? And now a innocent Changeling was in danger of being extinct because of it.
“Well… it doesn’t matter now; doing anything outside the queen’s orders will just spell death for the both of us.”
“No it doesn’t,” said #186, “we can still do something. #457 is like a sister to me… and I would do anything to protect her!”
Suddenly a bright glow emitted from within #186’s cocoon prison and the cocoon burst open from the force of power coming from his horn. #760 stood there in pure shock.
“Wait, how did you…”
“It doesn’t matter,” #186 interrupted, “I’m going to try my best to stop Chrysalis; and you can try and stop me if you want but it won’t change a thing!”
#186 was definitely being bolder than any other Changeling he’s ever seen, “Are willingly going to do this for one Changeling?”
“Yes I am; and by the way, her name… is Dragon Heart!”
“Dragon Heart?” wondered #760.
“If you suddenly feel sorry for yourself this is your chance to change that. But the question is… are you brave enough to go against your queen to do it?”
-----
Most of the afternoon went by before Dragon Heart’s party had ended and every-pony there started to leave. Twilight and her friends agreed to stay behind and help clean up around the shop while Pinkie ordered Dragon Heart to take it easy; this was her party after all. They all said their goodbyes to Dragon Heart soon afterwards as they left and she went with Twilight and Spike back to the tree library for some rest.
“Ahhh, home sweet home!” shouted Spike as he stretched his arms in the doorway, “Time for some relaxation!”
Dragon Heart walked in while she had something on her mind, “Hey Spike, does your pink pony friend literally throw a party for every newcomer in Ponyville?”
“Fortunately she doesn’t get to every pony, but she does as much as she can.”
They both started to laugh together a bit until Twilight walked in; and she seemed to be fixed on something that was on her mind.
“Hey Dragon Heart, can I say something to you?”
Things got silent for a second, and then she answered, “Um… sure. What is it?”
“Well… I have a confession to make.”
“Uh-oh, watch out,” said Spike out of humor, “When Twilight confesses something, bad things might happen.”
Both Spike and Dragon Heart started to laugh and giggle at the joke. Twilight suddenly glared at Spike who automatically shut his mouth, “Um… *Ahem* please continue.”
“Anyway… I’m just going to give it to you straight.” Twilight took a huge breath and said, “I know your secret.”
Dragon Heart froze where she stood and had sweat rolling down her fur. She chuckled nervously and said, “O-oh… you mean… the love between me and Spike?”
Spike suddenly stood up, “Love, what love!? We have a love!?”
“No, not that secret,” Twilight stated, “however I knew about that already.”
Dragon Heart was wondering what the confession was. It couldn’t be…
“Dragon Heart… I know you’re a Changeling.”
Dragon Heart’s heart started to race rapidly and panic started to set in, “What! Y-you know; but how?!” She suddenly looked at Spike like she was betrayed.
“Hey don’t look at me,” shouted Spike out of panic, “I didn’t say anything!”
“It’s not Spike’s fault,” Twilight quickly said, “I found out last night. I hate to say it, but I kinda spied on you.”
“You what!?” Dragon Heart couldn’t help but wonder if she even had Twilight’s trust all along.
“It was actually to see if you were okay, but then I saw you talking to the other Changeling and well… the curious part of my brain took over and… I just couldn’t help but continue to secretly listen.”
Dragon Heart couldn’t believe that she told her this now after everything she went through, “So all this time since last night you knew I was a Changeling? But how come you didn’t rat me out on the others, the citizens, your friends; you could’ve told any-pony but… you didn’t.”
“I didn’t have to,” Twilight responded, “I heard everything that you and the other Changeling were saying; you didn’t give me any reason to do anything.”
“But… I am Changeling; you guys hate Changelings. You said so yourself.”
“I-It is… true that I hated what the Changelings did at my brother’s wedding, but you’re different. I sensed that there was something different about you the moment I saw you; even before I knew you were a Changeling. But now that I do know it only makes sense that you did come here for a reason… but what is it exactly.”
“To bring peace among ponies and Changelings again,” Dragon Heart responded.
“Again?” asked Twilight.
“Ponies and Changelings used to be at peace generations ago,” stated Spike, “and now she’s trying to come up of a way for that to happen again. Seems unreal but… I believe her.”
“Is this true Dragon Heart?” asked Twilight.
“Yeah it is; times are very tough for us Changelings and we are willing to do anything to continue our survival. After I was banished out of the nest I decided to set out and figure out a way that things can be as they were generations ago. Thanks to Spike, I truly believe that it is still possible; even though he’s a dragon and not a pony. And now that I know that you know my true self, I feel so much better!”
“But what about the others, when will you let them know?” asked Twilight.
“Well… perhaps… umm…”
Twilight came up to her and put a hoof on her shoulder, “You know you can’t hide like this forever. If you ever want your plan to work you have to reveal your true form to every-pony. Perhaps they could understand; and we could be right there with you.”
“Yeah right,” said Dragon Heart, “like it would happen that fast.”
Spike just shrugged his shoulders, “It could happen.”
Suddenly the front door of the library slammed open literally scaring all three members half-to-death; then Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo came rushing in… in a state of panic!
“Dragon Heart, you have to come with us quick!” shouted Scootaloo, “We have a major crusader crisis on our hooves!”
Dragon Heart stood up so fast she almost tripped herself over, “W-what, a crisis; of what kind?!”
“There’s no time to explain! You have to come now!”
Sweetie Belle looked at her and smiled awkwardly then nodded her head.
“Oh, um… okay!”
She looked over at Twilight and Spike and said, “Do you guys mind?”
Twilight smiled and nodded her head, “Sure, go ahead. You are a crusader now; do your crusading business.” Then she gave her a wink.
Dragon Heart nodded and went off towards the door. Suddenly Spike decided to come along with her.
“Um, mind if I tag along, girls?”
Scootaloo suddenly got in front of Spike and held up a hoof in front of his face.
“Sorry, Cutiemark Crusader business, meaning members only! Are you a crusader and a pony?”
“Umm, no; last time I checked I was a dragon.”
“Then you can’t come; no excuses!”
Then they all ran out and closed the door in Spike’s face.
“Hmph, rude much?”
-----
Dragon Heart followed Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle across town all the way to the clubhouse. She was wondering what had her new filly friends in such a tizzy as she entered through the door where Apple Bloom was waiting.
“Okay I’m here, so what’s the crisis?”
Apple Bloom slowly turned to Dragon Heart looking at her with a sly look.
“Well… this is not exactly a crisis, but more like… an interrogoration.”
Suddenly Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo closed the door behind her. They had the windows covered too; leaving only a dim light shining in the clubhouse.
“Actually Apple Bloom, It’s interrogation,” corrected Sweetie Belle.
“Um, what’s going on guys? Is everything okay?”
“Oh everything is fine,” said Apple Bloom.
“We just want to get some answers,” said Scootaloo up in Dragon Heart’s Face.
Dragon Heart started to get frightened a little, “Answers; answers for what? You guys are scaring me a bit.”
“I’m sorry Dragon Heart,” said Sweetie Belle suddenly, “It’s just that when you ran off from your party and Spike followed after you, we decided to sneak out the back way and follow too. Then we saw you talking to Spike about things and we just laid low and out of view while we heard everything that you told him about being a Changeling and your whole sad history and such; and we even saw your true form and everything. But it was all their idea and I am so sorry!”
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom just stood there with their mouths gaped open staring at Sweetie Belle.
“You guys… did what?!” shouted Dragon Heart.
“Sweetie Belle!” shouted Scootaloo, “You ruined our mysterious, tough, demeanor approach! She was supposed to confess everything!”
“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t handle doing this to her!”
“I can’t believe this!” said Dragon heart, “First Twilight, and now you guys! Is there any other pony here in Ponyville who knows who I am?”
“Wait, Twilight already knows about you?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Yes she does! But forget about that, you guys spied on Spike and me; how could you do that?!”
“We’re really sorry that that we spied on you, okay Dragon Heart,” said Apple Bloom literally begging for forgiveness, “And maybe the whole interro… gation thing was going a little overboard, but we thought that it might help you to confess more than you might have wanted.”
Dragon Heart looked at her like she was totally confused; after all their reason for doing this didn’t make sense at all.
“Why didn’t you tell us that you were a Changeling?” asked Scootaloo.
“Why do you think,” Dragon Heart retorted, “Do you guys even remember what you said when I asked you that question yesterday?”
They all stood there for a moment… and then it hit them, “Oh yeah!”
“Oh my gosh,” said Sweetie Belle, “We were only expressing how we felt during that invasion. But you’re not mean or evil!”
“Yeah,” said the other two fillies, “what she said!”
“But I was there,” cried Dragon Heart, “I was part of that whole conspiracy, I was just like the others.”
“But I’m sure you didn’t mean it;” stated Sweetie Belle, “you were only following orders, right?”
“But I still helped make you all feel miserable; doesn’t that count?”
“Who cares, you’re our friend;” said Scootaloo, “if you’d just told us the truth we could’ve handled it.”
“Oh really?”
Suddenly she dissipated her disguise and showed her true form in front of the other crusaders. They all jumped back in slight shock and gasped in unison.
“If I came up to you guys like this would I still be your friend, would you still accept me for who I was, would I still be considered a Cutiemark crusader… even though technically Changelings don’t have cutiemarks; nor can they earn them!?”
“We’re sorry,” said Sweetie Belle with regret in her voice, “Truth is at first glance we would probably scream and run away; especially me. But once we found out that you weren’t here to thwart us, of course we would’ve still become your friends; just in a different process”
“Sweetie Belle is right,” said Apple Bloom as she and Scootaloo approached Dragon Heart, “No matter how long it would have took, I’m sure we would still end up being your friends in the end.”
“It’s just a matter of how long we would be used to it,” stated Scootaloo.
“Not exactly helping with that quote,” exclaimed Applebloom.
“Well it’s true!”
“We’re tryin’ to make her feel better!”
“Well I’m tellin’ the truth!”
“Quit mockin’ me!”
“Why don’t ya' make me!”
“Guys, no fighting!” yelled Sweetie Belle.
Dragon Heart suddenly stopped feeling down and smiled while showing tears of happiness; she even started laughing. The crusaders then stopped fighting and looked at her laughing away.
“Um… did we make her feel better?” Scootaloo wondered
“Well, she is laughin’;” said Apple Bloom, “that’s a good sign.”
“Are you okay, Dragon Heart?” asked Sweetie belle.
Dragon Heart suddenly changed back to her disguised form; wiping tears away from her eyes.
“You guys are so amusing; I don’t know how you do it.”
“Umm… plenty of practice?” Scootaloo guessed.
“You guys really are the best friends I’ve ever had. Are you sure that it won’t be awkward for you guys knowing that I am a Changeling now.”
“Maybe for a little bit,” said Scootaloo, “but at least we all know about the real reason you’re here.”
“Yeah, you show those Changeling brethrens of yours that what used to be back then can still be possible today!” shouted Sweetie Belle.
“Thanks you guys. You know what, because of you guys accepting me for who I am, I think I’m finally ready to reveal myself to every-pony in Ponyville… umm, if you guys will be there with me.”
“Of course,” said Apple Bloom, “anything for our new friend!”
“Just don’t try and steal our love, okay?” stated Sweetie Belle.
They were all having a good laugh together as they came out of the clubhouse. Dragon Heart never thought she could feel anymore better than she already is. Spike knew about her secret and accepted her, Twilight knew her secret and accepted her, and even her new filly friends knew her secret and accepted her. Everything seemed to go well for the young Changeling as she and her friends strolled back onto the main streets of Ponyville… that was until a huge loud voice from a flying Pegasus blarred out; and what the Pegasus shouted made the crusaders, Dragon Heart (especially Dragon Heart), and everyone else in Ponyville stop frozen in their tracks with their hearts racing. It was one word that would easily spread fear…
“CHANGELINGS!!!”