//------------------------------//
// Chapter Six 
// Story: Shifted Crusaders 
// by Poisonberry 
//------------------------------//

“I wasn’t able to do anything, and I didn’t even realize it. I tried to tell you what happened, but the second I did she made me stop and forget. It was awful, I don’t remember what I did when she came out at the castle,” Sweetie Belle cried. “I remember that I was able to fight her for a bit when we were walking back to town, but I could barely focus on anything else.” 
“It’s okay,” Rarity cooed, letting the little filly snuggle closer to her. “I didn’t mean to get so angry with you, darling, I’ve just been so busy that I wasn’t spending any time with you. I was getting worked up all over again because of Nightmare Night, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t ignore you. It’s my fault much more than yours that you weren’t able to tell me.” 
“I kept you in the dark,” Sweetie mumbled, “I’m sorry.” 
“Sweetie Belle, you have nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one who neglected you when you needed me most, and I’m the one who got mad at you for a pointless reason. You didn’t do anything wrong, it’s just like before our first Sisterhooves Social,” Rarity reminded her. “I got mad at you for just trying to help out then, rejecting you when you tried to show me how much you loved me. I shouldn’t have gotten mad at you then, and I’m going to stop being mad at you now. I hope you can forgive me Sweetie.” 
Sweetie hugged her, feeling the comforting warmth of her fur. “I forgive you,” Sweetie Belle whispered in a sweet, soft voice, her breath barely stirred Rarity’s fur. Rarity fully embraced the moment, she had almost lost her sister, due to her own fault. The wound wouldn’t heal completely yet, it was her punishment. It would remain for a while, but Sweetie Belle forgiving her eased the burden of it. 
A melody rang out, it was clear and quiet. The subtle chiming rang out continuously, though neither pony was bothered by it. Both were not paying any attention to it, their grief and guilt were too strong. The world seemed to be at peace. There was nothing to interfere with the peace, even though there was plenty more work to be done. The infinite clicking didn’t cease, it was a perfect harmony. 


	~~~


“Is it just me, or has Starlight been more and more distracted every time we see her?” Smolder asked, tossing an unlit candle to Silverstream. 
“Two days ago she started to act strange, as if she was contemplating something,” Ocellus added. 
“Does anycreature know what she’s thinking about?” Sandbar asked, all of them shook their heads. “Has anycreature asked her?” They all shook their heads again. 
“She isn’t the only one acting weird, Sweetie Belle wasn’t as cheerful as she usually is yesterday,” Gallus pointed out. 
“I detected a sudden trace of fear coming from Apple Bloom right before she and Sweetie left the party,” Ocellus mentioned. 
“Yona saw Scootaloo fly,” Yona said. Everycreature turned to look at her. 
“You saw Scootaloo fly?” Gallus questioned, Yona nodded. 
“Scootaloo flew above Everfree Forest. Scootaloo carried other pony.” 
“So, something is definitely going on. There’s no way she would be able to fly while carrying another pony if she’s never done it before,” Smolder stated. 
“She has been practicing flying almost her whole life, right? It isn’t too far-fetched that her wings grew enough to enable her to fly,” Silverstream countered. 
“Some pegasi have been able to carry their parents, but their strength will usually decrease as they get older. Their strength is because of sudden magical bursts that become much less frequent the older they get,” Ocellus said. 
“The same thing happens to unicorns, too. You should ask Pinkie Pie about it, she said she was flown around by Pound Cake, and that Pumpkin Cake was using her magic like crazy,” Sandbar added. 
“So, Scootaloo fly because of magic burst?” Yona asked. 
“I doubt it,” Smolder answered, “I’m sure that something else is going on, there’ve been too many strange things happening lately.” Everycreature looked at one another, and one after another nodded. 
“Well, what should we do?” Silverstream asked, dumping out a bag of chicken feed. 
“Friends ask crusaders?” Yona suggested. 
“It’s either them or Starlight, so let’s go ask them,” Gallus decided. 


	~~~


“So you an’ Rarity already made up for it?” Apple Bloom asked, clearly confused. “She was screaming at ya last night, and all ya have to tell us is that you two made up this morning?” 
“Yes,” Sweetie Belle replied, “I told her about what happened to us. I, I wasn’t able to tell her before, I think Nightmare was controlling me.” 
“She controlled you?” Scootaloo stared at Sweetie, head poking out from their small attic. 
“Yes, she did, or I think she did. I couldn’t do the things I wanted to, like talk to Rarity, but she’s gone now,” Sweetie confirmed. 
“No wonder ya weren’t talking about what happened to you,” Apple Bloom said. 
“Do you know if you changed now?” Scootaloo asked, experimenting with her new changeling ability. 
“No, I don’t, and don’t change your form right now! The curtains are open and somepony could just walk in!” Sweetie Belle demanded, reaching for the curtains with her magic. 
“Sweetie Belle, your eyes are glowing,” Scootaloo exclaimed, dropping from the attic as Sweetie Belle blocked one window. 
“Huh?” Sweetie Belle turned to face them, eyes quickly dimming. 
“Your eyes were glowing, just now!” Scootaloo declared, practically jumping at her. “This has to mean that you changed too, right?” 
“My, my eyes were, glowing?” Sweetie Belle stuttered. 
“Yeah, they were glowing a bright green,” Scootaloo said. 
“Sweetie Belle, try closing that other curtain with your magic,” Apple Bloom instructed. Sweetie reached for the other curtains with her magic, and her eyes once again turned a bright green. 
“They did it again!” Scootaloo shouted, lighting their lantern. 
“Ah remember that yer eyes were glowing yellow everytime that smoke appeared,” Apple Bloom stated, “and everytime that smoke appeared we were in trouble. Do your eyes glow yellow when there’s danger?” 
“And green when you use your magic?” Scootaloo blurted out. 
“I, I don’t know. I didn’t know that my eyes were glowing, but I had used magic before, and my eyes didn’t glow. I think the first time my eyes should’ve turned a brighter green was when I flicked Apple Bloom with magic after she pulled that prank on you, Scoots,” Sweetie Belle concluded. 
“So, whatever’s changed in ya is growing?” Apple Bloom questioned. 
“I think so,” Sweetie replied. 
“I think the same thing has started to happen to me,” Scootaloo added, changing back into a changeling. “My horn is starting to form a second curve.” Sweetie and Apple Bloom both stared at Scootaloo’s horn, it seemed larger, and the tip of it had stopped curving inward, and was pointing a bit more outward. 
“That’s weird, so something is definitely cha-” Sweetie Belle started, and was interrupted by somepony knocking on the door. Scootaloo quickly changed back as Apple Bloom opened the door. 
“Will you three tell us what’s been going on?” Smolder confronted them. 
“We know that something is up, so don’t try avoiding the question,” Sandbar added. The crusaders quickly glanced at each other, fearing what would happen next.