“Honesty… Loyalty… Laughter… Kindness and Generosity.” Thorax recited to Cadence. They were in an unused room of the castle, so that Cadence could go over what the three had been learning with her.
“Good job Thorax. And the sixth one?” Cadence prompted, but Thorax hesitated, unable to think of it.
“Magic.” Pharynx finished for his brother, somewhat smugly. He was showing Apex a battle move in the corner of the room, but was clearly interested in making the two aware he was also listening.
“Thank you Pharynx.” Cadence smiled. “And we call these…?”
“The Elements of Harmony.” the three changelings said together.
“Miss Cadence?” Apex said quietly, trotting up to her. Cadence giggled.
“Yes, little one?”
“How come we call ‘em the El’men’s of Ha’mony if they use the Magic of Frien’ship?”
Cadence hesitated, then smiled. “Well, I suppose it’s because they go hoof in hoof. You can’t have harmony without friendship, and you can’t have friendship without harmony.”
“Is everything with you ponies about friendship and rainbows?” Pharynx asked, punching an imaginary enemy.
“Well, our magic tends to be strictly positive. You can of course use it for dark purposes, but you’d be corrupted, and due to the way most of us are raised, you’d be hard put to find a purely evil pony.”
“King Sombra.” Pharynx suggested.
“Sombra was actually a breed of creatures called an Umbrum.” Sunburst told them as he walked in. “Have you four been in here all afternoon?”
“Pretty much.” Pharynx replied
“Oh, I didn’t realize how late it had gotten.” Cadence said, looking at the clock. “Come on, before we’re late for dinner.”
Thorax scooped up Apex and joined his brother as they followed the ponies out of the room. They met up with Shining Armor in the dining room. Thorax smiled as he ate beside his brother and son with the ponies, laughing and talking casually.
After dinner, the three changelings went back to their room. As they got ready for bed, Thorax carried Apex to the bathroom to clean him up. As they headed back to their room, Thorax picked up a scent, and Apex could smell it too.
“P-Papa Thorax, tha’s no’ Avunculus-Pharynx’s scen’.” Apex whispered
“I know. Stay quiet sweetie.” Thorax instructed, placing Apex on his back as Pharynx came out, also smelling the unfamiliar scent.
“You two, behind me, now.” Pharynx ordered, and Thorax obeyed.
They carefully made their way down the hall. Pharynx tracked the scent to Shining’s office. Thorax held Apex close and pressed against the wall. As they held still outside the office, Sunburst snuck up behind them.
“What are you doing here?” Pharynx whispered
“Th-There was a changeling in the royal bedroom.” Sunburst whispered
“And you know this how?”
“I was walking by, I barely got away in time.” Sunburst breathed. Pharynx rolled his eyes, then peeked into Shining’s office. He quickly ducked back into the shadows.
“It’s Eaarax-eques and Clarica-discipula.” he whispered
“Wh-Wha’re they doin’ here?” Apex whispered
“They took Shining and Flurry Heart’s forms. They must have captured the real royals.” Pharynx murmured
“Wh-What do we do?” Thorax whimpered
“First, we get away from here.” Pharynx said, and he began to walk down the hall. They chased after him as quietly as possible.
“N-Now what?” Thorax asked as they reached the entrance hall. Sunburst bit his bottom lip.
“Well, clearly Cadence, Shining, and Flurry are gone… Pharynx, do you think Chrysalis would strike anywhere else?”
“Canterlot and Ponyville, definitely.” Pharynx replied at once. “They probably struck Canterlot first, but Ponyville may not have been reached yet. Mother sees Shining and Cadence as more of a threat than Twilight Sparkle.”
“Then you have to go there, and warn them.” Sunburst said
“Got it. We should be able to make it by dawn if we sneak onto the next train. Come on Thorax.” Pharynx said, turning to leave.
“An’ me too, righ’?” Apex asked, trotting after him.
“Absolutely not.” Pharynx turned around to face him. “You’re just a nymph, and this could be dangerous.”
“Bu’ i’s no’ like I can s’ay he’e ei’er!” Apex hissed
“Sunburst has a house, you two can hide there.” Pharynx retorted.
“‘M coming!”
“You’re staying.” Pharynx snapped
“Papa Thorax?” Apex looked to Thorax, who sighed.
“Apex… I don’t want you to get hurt… Pharynx and I will be fine, don’t worry.”
Apex huffed and crossed his forelegs, pouting.
“Take care of him, Sunburst, please.”
“Of course.” Sunburst assured them
Pharynx and Thorax nodded, then pushed open the doors to the castle and left. Sunburst beckoned for Apex to follow him. Apex did, stopping to watch the two changeling brothers fly off. He narrowed his eyes, then opened his mouth, tracking both the brothers and Sunburst. The twin's scents were fading, heading for the train station, and Sunburst’s signature scent of inkwells was getting fainter as he moved towards his house. Sunburst hadn't even realized Apex wasn't following him. The nymph smiled proudly and promptly rushed after the brothers, keeping to the shadows and hiding when one of them looked back.
They eventually reached the train station just as the train to Ponyville was leaving. Apex watched as his father figure and uncle made a run for it. Pharynx barreled towards the train, leaping up onto the roof with a graceful jump. Thorax, meanwhile, tried to follow but stumbled, his forelegs coming down on the edge of the roof but his hind legs dangling down. After seeing Thorax struggle to pull himself up, Pharynx rolled his eyes and pulled his brother onto the roof. The two of them then headed further down the roof of the train, clearly looking for a place to wait out the ride where they wouldn't be seen.
Apex, confident that the two were far enough away that they wouldn't see him, tore after the train as well. Rather than trying for the roof, the nymph leapt onto the platform at the back of the train and hunkered down there. He curled up against the doors to the platform and closed his eyes, sleeping through the rest of the train ride.
By dawn, they had arrived. Apex waited until the train stopped to leap off. He breathed a sigh of relief as he trotted out onto the station platform. Only to bump straight into a black, chitin covered creature. He looked up, face filled with dread.