//------------------------------//
// Too Little Too Late 
// Story: The Equestria Chronicles: Journey Through The Crystal Mountains 
// by Slippin_Sweetie 
//------------------------------//

"Pinkie, that's too much!"

"Aw, c'mon, Twilight, what's a snack before bedtime gonna hurt?"

"Pinkie, that's an entire strawberry cake you just dragged in here. No way we can eat all that!"

The mare shrugged cheerfully and began to dig in, nearly unhinging her jaw as she took down almost half of the cake.

"Hey, save some for the rest of us!" Rainbow Dash fluttered down from a beam on the ceiling, it wasn't a cloud, but it was close enough to the branches she napped on.

The girls were sprawled out in the living area of their suite, piles of pillows laid across the floor and couches with a large table in the middle, filled to the brim with all the food and drink they could desire. The girls tossed blankets over the semi-circle couch as each pony lounged back and chatted with one another.

Taking a small slice of cake for herself, Twilight wondered how she could even stomach it after eating so much earlier. But one of Pinkie's delicacies could not be ignored. After she took a small bite, she let out a yawn. She hoped the girls were ready to lay down soon.

"Hey, Applejack, you gonna let Rarity give you a facemask too?" Rainbow snickered behind a hoof, watching as the white unicorn painted herself with a green cleansing goo that apparently 'opened up her pores,' whatever that meant.

Applejack rolled her eyes as she carefully removed the bow from her mane, "No, thank you, I'd only get those if it's already part of a spa. But even then, I'm not the biggest fan. Ms. Pampered Muzzle Massage." 

Rarity turned over to Applejack, "My offer still stands, darlings."

"I think I'll give it a try," offered Cadance as she leaned in to allow the unicorn to apply the face mask.

"Me too!" Spike piped up from his spot on the couch.

The large doors would fly open as the police chief and his officers awkwardly stepped inside, "Uh…we apologize for disturbing you, Princess Cadance, Princess Twilight. But Prince Shining Armor wanted us to personally inform you that Trixie Lulamoon and Starlight Glimmer have been arrested and are in the station's holding cell."

Cadence looked at the officers as she quickly rose to her hooves, "You brought the entire department with you…?"

Twilight immediately shot up at the intrusion, primarily out of nerves. Her ears pricked up as the stallions spoke, then flew flat to her skull.

The police chief slowly looked around at his ponies before slowly nodding at the Princess, "Yes, your highness, it was a personal request by his royal highness, Shining Armor."

"He would have never sent the entire department; he would have come here himself to tell us the news!" Twilight immediately began towards the door, "My brother's in trouble, raise the alarm!"

"Is Shining in trouble?" Spike asked worriedly, running over to the crowd of ponies.

"Twilight, slow down! We don't know what's happening! Maybe he wanted to question them himself...?" Fluttershy offered, trying not to seem insensitive to Twilight's plight but also wanting to comfort Spike.

"I know my brother; he just wouldn't do that! Not unless there was something wrong." The alicorn reaffirmed, too determined and headstrong to hear anything else.

"Well, c'mon, where's this station you guys were at?!" Rainbow demanded of the police chief, "If Twilight's right, and she usually is, you guys just screwed up big time!"

The Police chief quickly raised his hooves defensively, "Your highness, everything has been secured; I know it seems a little strange, but Shining Armor and his guards stayed with the prisoners; perhaps it's just Prince Shining taking precautions."

"Or perhaps a Changeling disguised themself as my husband!" Shouted Cadance, "You were aware of the rumors, Chief Hayson!"

"Why would he take precautions by removing everypony in the building and leaving two criminals alone with no one but himself?! In what world does that make sense?" Twilight snapped, unable to control her anxiety.

The police chief seemed uneasy, "But why would a Changeling help two seemingly unimportant thieves?" he took a deep breath before turning to Rainbow Dash, "We need to get to the southern part of the city where the suspects were taken; let's move!"

"It doesn't matter why a changeling would help them; who cares? We need to get down there quick!" Rainbow Dash yelled, "I'll scout ahead!" 

Before she could zip off, Twilight grabbed her by the tail, "Wait... don't get too close; stay in the air. I don't want anypony getting hurt."

Dash rolled her eyes, "I'll be careful, I promise, Mom."

Twilight sighed and let the pegasus go, springing out the door ahead of them. Letting out an 'oof' in surprise, the purple alicorn looked behind her as Spike climbed onto her back, "C'mon, Twilight, let's go!"

The group quickly galloped through the castle and out into the street as the mob of ponies rapidly made their way over to the station, where Shining's Platoon quickly ran into them. 

Velvet Bristle looked at Cadance, "We were ambushed in the alley! Starlight Glimmer used a sleep spell on my platoon, and Shining Armor is missing!"

The Police chief shook his head and trembled, "B-but you came inside the department and escorted the prisoners!"

"What happened to Shining Armor? Where is he!?" ordered Cadance.

Gasping for breath as they came upon the scene, Twilight trotted toward Velvet Bristle, "What was the last thing you remember before you were attacked, and if you can, what did the place you were in look like?"

Velvet quickly straightened his posture as he looked Twilight in the eye, "Sir, we were chasing after Trixie and ran down an alley. She called out Starlight, but the damage was already done. The platoon was down, and Shining ordered me to cast Greater Restoration, but I blacked out. Me and my ponies remember waking up in the police department; the cell doors were open and the cart we apprehended was gone."

Chief Hayson slowly wobbled before toppling over, fainting as medical staff quickly rushed over to revive the police chief.

"But where is Shining Armor?" fretted Cadance, "She didn't take him… did… did she?"

"Princess, Shining Armor is strong. I have no doubt in my mind he's alright, but if Starlight and her lackeys dare defile our Prince, there will be Tartarus to pay!" Velvet replied.

"Shining's okay, right, Twilight?" Spike asked quietly.

"I'm sure he's okay, Spike," Fluttershy wrapped a hoof around the young drake, nuzzling him gently.

"Of course, Shining would fight til' the end, and I'm sure he gave as good as he got." Twilight nodded, trying to push the anxiety and fear for her brother away and just focus, "Let's go find him. I doubt they could take him hostage..."

A few police ponies helped the chief to his hooves as he shook his head, "Alright, I'm alright. Let's investigate the alley you were talking about."

"I think I know which alley you're looking for!" Rainbow yelled above the group, guiding the way.

It didn't take long for the group to move back to the alley; there were signs of a skirmish here, parts of the pavement had residue from the sleep spells, powdery magical substance, and the walls and pavement had burns from magical attacks. But no Shining Armor.

"Oh no... I hope he's okay..." Fluttershy whispered in horror, not liking how the odds were stacked.

"I'm sure he's trying to find his way home!" Pinkie piped up, trying to keep the group hopeful. "Or maybe he's chasing after the baddies!"

Twilight, breathing through her nose and out through her mouth before conjuring a tracing spell. Her horn glowed before a small string of magic began to swirl through the air.

It eventually landed on a dumpster in the corner of the alley; the lid cracked open just slightly.

Officer Velvet quickly pointed at the magic, "Over here!" the guards and officers rushed over to the dumpster and flew the lid off, "He's in here! Get me a medic! Trauma kit! Something to check his vitals, everything!"

"He's not… hurt, is he?" Spike asked quietly.

The unicorns quickly pulled Shining out of the dumpster, the prince fast asleep as a medic quickly examined him, "Everything's fine; he might be exhausted after using that Greater Restoration spell to fight the sleep spell. Not to mention straining himself fighting those ponies." 

Cadence quickly knelt down as she let out a sigh of relief, "At least he's going to be okay."

"The poor darling." Rarity sighed.

Twilight rushed towards the dumpster as they pulled him out. Kneeling down, Twilight performed her own diagnostic spells. Not that she didn't trust the medic's abilities, but just to be sure. 

"Sleeping spell?" Twilight cocked a brow. But it made sense. Twilight would admit herself that she wasn't very well versed in advanced combat magic; that's where her brother excelled, that and shields, "Huh, apparently even she knew not to mess with my brother... I guess we're just lucky she didn't attempt to do anything worse..."

Chief Hayson looked down to Shining Armor and then to Twilight, "That makes three suspects, and one of them disguised themselves as Shining to convince us to get you."

Officer Velvet shook his head, "Ponies can't disguise themselves like that, not with our magic. That was the work of a Changeling." 

Cadence slowly looked to Twilight and Velvet, "Is the Empire under threat of the Changeling menace once more?"

Looking up at Cadance, Twilight sighed, "I'm not sure; this is the first time I've seen another changeling since your wedding. I would hope not, but the evidence seems to infer at least one changeling was involved. And I doubt it was Chrysalis."

Hayson scratched his head, "It just doesn't make sense; why would a Changeling help these ponies? Wouldn't they disguise themselves as Shining to get closer to you two?" he'd turn to face Cadance and Twilight, "This all seems….rushed, a plan that was haphazardly put together."

Velvet nodded his head, "Chrysalis took her time and nearly took Canterlot with her deception. There wouldn't have been any room for error if that imposter was around Cadance or Twilight…."

Turning to Chief Hayson, the purple alicorn asked, "What would be the quickest way out of the Empire from your station, Chief?"

"What, are we gonna chase after them right now?" Rainbow asked.

"What about our expedition?" Pinkie asked, "I mean, I know she hurt your brother but isn't her running away a good thing?"

"Not if she forced my brother to tell her where we were going." Twilight sighed; rubbing her forehead, she turned to Cadance, "It's best we put the gates into the Empire on lockdown, at least until the morning."

Applejack shook her head, "She probably already knows where we're going; I don't have a doubt in my mind about that."

"Oh goodness, I really hope not..." Fluttershy looked down and her hooves, trying to focus on anything but the impending doom that seemed to hang over her.

"Don't worry; we'll be ready!" Pinkie smiled, wrapping a hoof around the pegasus.

Hayson looked over to Twilight, "All main roads lead in and out of the Empire, but judging by the fact they had a cart and can't take a train, we can easily find them."

Cadence nodded before slowly rising to her hooves, "Lock down the border. No one can enter or leave the city. I want patrols on every street corner and all wagons to be inspected and searched. This isn't a matter of one troublesome pony, but a possible Changeling invasion."

"Sir, should we…sound the alarm?" Velvet asked hesitantly.

Cadance paused, pondering for a moment, looking over to Twilight for her opinion. The purple alicorn mulled over it for a moment before closing her eyes and letting out a sigh.

"Yes... I think it will be necessary. It's best to get the citizens off the streets, so we lessen confusion." she nodded, looking her sister-in-law in the eye.

"I'll let the other stations know!" Rainbow flew off.

Velvet quickly turned to his platoon, "Alright, everypony, let's move out! We need to tell the patrols about the lockdown. Chief Hayson, get your officers to alert the train station; we are not allowing any trains in or out of the Empire. Keep everypony on all the incoming trains inside their cars. We are not allowing these criminals to escape!"

Hayson quickly barked at his officers, "Well, you heard the guardspony, get to work! I want pegasi to fly to the train station, I want earth ponies to clear the streets, and I want unicorns to join Velvet's patrols!"

The guardsponies and police officers quickly rushed out of the alleyway as whistles echoed through the streets. Minutes later, a loud alarm blared through the city, "This is a code yellow; the city is currently under lockdown! Return to your homes immediately; this is a code yellow; the city is currently under lockdown! Return to your homes immediately!"

Cadance turned to the medical ponies, who would quickly put Shining on a stretcher, "Please take Shining back to the castle and put him to bed," The medical staff promptly obeyed before trotting off toward the castle.

Twilight, Cadence, and the girls stepped into the street and watched as the hundreds of ponies quickly rushed to their homes as dozens of patrols scanned the streets. The sound of the blaring alarm and the clack of their hooves against the cement street and sidewalk were the only sounds present at the time. The bustling city streets were quickly emptied of ponies. Bazaars, wagons, and shops lay abandoned, their doors and wares open as if nothing had happened.

Fluttershy couldn't blame the crystal ponies for their fear, watching as they trotted into any available open door. They probably thought Sombra had come back or something just as horrible.

"Do you think they've done enough to catch 'em, Twilight?" Pinkie asked curiously, still hopping about the empty street. 

"No..." Twilight sighed, "Frankly, I'm almost certain they've escaped. We arrived and raised the alarm too late. I imagine they're outside the Empire's limits by now. At the very least, they can't sneak their way back in..."

Spike looked around before smirking to himself, "At least I can walk around the city without having a crowd around me…. it's kinda…creepy, though."

"Kinda.... spoooooky." Pinkie Pie jumped up over Spike, waving her hooves. Rainbow Dash snickered lightly as the young drake jumped up in fright.

Applejack looked around cautiously, "Yeah… it's strange having a big city like this so….empty and quiet…." 

"Yeah, a lil too empty..." Rainbow Dash shivered, "Hey, I'm no chicken, but maybe we should head toward the castle, or maybe the gates to check on the guards? Just in case?"

Cadance felt a shine crawl up her spine at the sight, "This doesn't bode well….should we inform Celestia and Luna about this? Have we lost control of the situation?" she'd look over to Twilight.

"It might be a good idea to move..." Twilight nodded before turning to Cadance, "I'll send her a letter immediately. Spike, you wouldn't happen to have any parchment, would you?"