//------------------------------//
// Shields Down 
// Story: Fall Of Equestria 
// by Pinkamena666 
//------------------------------//

	Rarity helped the mare onto a bed in the infirmary.
"There you go... whoever you are," said the white unicorn.
"Dradle," said the mare with a weak smile.
"Now, you just rest, okay?" said Fluttershy.
Dradle smiled as a loud whoosh sound was heard, follow by repetitive banging.
Rarity and Fluttershy looked at each other before taking off.



The Changeling army rammed into the shield repeatedly as Amante and Chrysalis hovered above them.
"They've got a shield!" growled the Changeling queen.
"How do we get through?" asked Amante, looking around.
Chrysalis grinned. "Oh, I have a way."



Twilight paced back and forth at the edge of the shield as all the guards got in position.
"Something just doesn't feel right," said Twilight.
Applejack trotted up to her. "Somethin' the matter?"
"I just have this bad feeling."
"About... what?"
"I'm not sure."



A crystal nurse stood beside Dradle's bed.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
Dradle smiled and nodded. "I'm good, thanks."
The nurse smiled back at her. "Great. Now, let me go get you something to help you sleep, okay?"
Dradle nodded. "A rest would be great."



Twilight turned around and scanned the crowd. Suddenly she saw some pony familiar.
"What the..." she asked.
"What?" asked AJ, looing where Twi was.
Twilight took off towards a mare. "Hey!"
The mare stopped and looked at her. "Wh-What?"
"What's your name?" asked Twilight, frantically.
"M-My name--"
"Your name!"
The mare gasped. "D-Dradle!"
Twilight gasped. "Oh, no..."



The nurse went back to Dradle's bed. "Okay, I have your..."
She stopped when she saw the bed was empty. "Hello? Dradle?"
She was suddenly pulled under the bed, her scream getting cut off.



Twilight and AJ took off towards the infirmary.
"What exactly's goin' on?" asked the farm mare.
"A Changeling took the form of a crystal pony and snuck in. We have to stop her."



The nurse got out from under the bed and sighed, her eyes flashing green as she left the infirmary, looking around. She made her way towards the castle just as Twilight ran passed. She burst into the infirmary and looked around. She ran up to a nurse.
"My friends brought in a mare just now. Where is she?"
"At the end," the nurse answered.
Twilight nodded and took off, looking at the end beds. "Not here."
Applejack looked around. "Where is she?"
Twilight dropped to the floor and looked under the beds, gasping when she saw the nurse.
"No!"
"What now?" asked Applejack.
"The nurse! It's that nurse!" She quickly got up and ran back outside, heading towards the castle.



The nurse went behind a bush and peered around, looking at a guard.
"H-Help!" she cried. "It hurts!" she fake-cried.
The nearest guard ran over to her. "Are you okay, ma'am?"
The nurse quickly lunged at the guard.



Twilight stood at the entrance to the castle and ran up to a guard.
"Have you seen a nurse come through here?"
The guard shook his head. "No. No nurses."
A guard suddenly rounded the corner and passed Twilight, entering the castle. The unicorn eyed him when suddenly there was a commotion.
"HELP!!! GUARD DOWN!!!" yelled a voice from where the guard came from.
Twilight gasped and stared at the guard. He looked over his shoulder and smiled before heading up the stairs.
"The guard!" yelled Twilight. "He's the Changeling!"
Applejack looked at the guard as did the guards at the entrance. The colt burst through the doors and into the royal chambers. Cadence and Shining Armor were on the balcony. They both turned around.
"Guard!" yelled Shining Armor, shocked. "Wh-What's wrong?"
"You're needed out front, sir."
Shining Armor nodded and gave Cadence a kiss on the cheek before running out of the room.
"What's the issue?" asked Cadence.
The guard grinned and began walking towards her. "The issue... is me."
He lunged at Cadence, turning into a Changeling. The princess gasped and tried to fly but the Changeling tackled her, wrapping it's forelegs around her. They fell off the balcony and hit the ground below. Twilight and AJ stopped at the stairs and looked back.
"CADENCE!!!" yelled Twilight, running back outside.
The princess groaned. "Ohhhh..." Her horn gave a light flash.
Twilight gasped and looked up as the shield began to lower. "No..."



Chrysalis chuckled. "READY YOURSELVES, MY CHILDREN!!! LEAVE NONE STANDING!!!"



The Changeling chirped happily and snarled at Twilight as two guards tackled it, preventing it from escaping.
"The shiled is down," said Twilight, watching it get lower and lower. "This so not good."
A guard helped Cadence up as Shining Armor came running out. "Sweetie!"
"I'm okay..." said the princess with a groan. She tried to raise the shilled but was too weak. "I'm... sorry..."
Shining pulled her gently into a hug. "It's okay..."
Twilight and AJ rejoined their friends. "It's time," said the unicorn. Get ready."



The shiled lowered and Chrysalis smiled.
"My children..." she said. "CHARGE!!!"