“Last stop! Crystal Empire Station!” The conductor shouted as the train began to slow down. “Last stop! Crystal Empire Station!”
As the train came to a stop, Derpy Hooves rose from her seat. As she exited the train, a grey crystal pony wearing armor greeted her. “Derpy Hooves?” The guard asked, looking down at her indifferently.
“Yeah!” Derpy said. “How did you know?”
The guard looked at the mare in front of him, immediately noticing two things. First was the fact that her eyes were looking in two completely different directions. Second was the beautiful mailbag with the royal seal of princess Celestia she was wearing. “Er. Lucky guess.” The guard said. “Please, follow me.”
“Wow. You must be a really good guesser!” Derpy said as she followed the stallion away from the train station.
“Prince Shining Armor has requested that he see you before you depart.” The guard said.
“Well, I guess that’s okay.” Derpy said. “Are we going to the palace?”
“No.” The guard said simply. “The prince wanted to meet with you somewhere a bit more plain. I’m not sure why though, since we have much more space and accommodations at the palace.”
“I’m okay with just about anything, really.” Derpy said.
After walking a couple of minutes into town, the guard opened the door for Derpy at what seemed to be a small ice cream shoppe. “Here we are.” The guard said, rolling his eyes. “Why the prince insisted on this place, I’ll never know.” He sighed as Derpy walked in ahead of him.
“Crystal Delights?” Derpy asked as she read the sign above the counter. “Sounds pretty good to me.”
“I will remain outside.” The guard said, closing the door behind Derpy.
“Oh, okay then.” Derpy said as she looked back at the door for a moment.
“Derpy, right?” A voice called out. Upon looking for the source, Derpy saw the unicorn stallion from the castle yesterday beckoning her over to a table with two ice cream sundaes on it. “I hope you like vanilla.” He said as Derpy took a seat across from him.
“Oh, I do.” Derpy said with a nod. “I’m just not sure if I’ll finish it. “I had a big breakfast.” She said with a smile as she sat down across from the white stallion.
“My name is Shining Armor.” The stallion said. “I’m sorry if I seemed a bit on edge yesterday. I’ve just been dealing with a lot of new stresses being a prince all of a sudden.” He sighed. “Not the least of which is the possibility of a threat to my kingdom.”
“It’s alright.” Derpy said. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that first impressions of somepony aren’t always right.”
“Well, I doubt my first impression of the thing you’re delivering that letter to is wrong.” Shining Armor said. “I’ve been having scouts map out the Badlands ever since I found out the hive was there. In fact, that’s why I called you here.”
“I thought you called me here for ice cream.” Derpy said before taking a bite of her sundae. “I mean, this is an ice cream place.”
“Well, yeah. I guess it is.” Shining Armor said. “Look, my point is that the Badlands are wide and vast. My men have been searching and mapping it for over a month and we haven’t even covered a quarter of it. We should be making more progress, but some of my scouts have yet to return.” He said, bowing his head. “I’m worried, but I can’t let the changelings go unnoticed.”
“Okay.” Derpy said. “But what does all of this have to do with me?”
“Princess Celestia is sending you to find the changelings.” Shining Armor said. “Somehow, she thinks that you’ll find them even though I’ve been throwing men out there for so long and came back with less than when I started.”
“Well when you say it like that, I don’t know why she thinks I can do it.” Derpy said. “But I’m happy to try.”
“I don’t know the princess’s full plan, but I’ve learned not to underestimate her instincts.” Shining said. “So I want to help you. I left a map with the guard that greeted you. He’ll be giving it to you on the way out.”
“Wow, thanks!” Derpy said. “I’m really grateful for your help, your majesty.”
“Please, my name is Shining Armor.” Shining said, scratching the back of his head. “I’m still not really used to the whole royalty thing.”
“Okay then, Shining Armor.” Derpy said with a smile as she finished off her sundae.
“Oof! C’mon!” Dinky groaned as she struggled against the door at the back of the caboose. “Oh, why did it have to lock behind me?” She asked as she rammed the door again, causing a crate to fall and spill clothes all over the floor.
“Hey! What was that?” She heard someone say from outside.
“Uh oh!” Dinky exclaimed as she hid herself in the pile of clothes.
“I think it came from the caboose.” Someone said as a silhouette appeared in the window on the door. Dinky managed to shift in such a way that she was completely covered except for one eye with which to keep watch.
“Please don’t find me.” Dinky thought. “I can’t be sent home yet!” Just as that thought ran through her head, the door opened up and revealed the conductor.
“Aw, shoot.” The conductor said, breathing a little sigh. “It was just a box of sweaters and junk falling over. Scratch must have stacked the luggage wrong again.” He said as he turned around and walked away, leaving the door open.
“Score!” Dinky thought as she got out from underneath the clothes and snuck out the door.
“Hey, did you see that pegasus with the weird eyes?” The conductor asked another rail worker, catching Dinky’s attention.
“Hm?” Dinky said, jumping into some nearby bushes and watching the two ponies carefully.
“Yeah.” The train engineer said. “And did you see that bag she had?”
“Yeah.” Responded the conductor. “The princess’s royal seal. That must have been the messenger we were warned about.”
“So what’ll we do?” The engineer asked. “We can’t just grab her.”
“It’s okay.” Said the conductor, holding up a hoof to silence his friend. “Her majesty has planned for everything.” He said before turning and walking away.
“I’ve got to follow him!” Dinky said under her breath as she started tailing the conductor through the streets.
A few times, she almost lost him in the city, but soon enough he stopped at a store called Crystal Delights. Dinky managed to hide herself in an alleyway before the train conductor looked around. “Excuse me, sir guard!” The conductor said, catching the guard’s attention.
“Yes, citizen?” The soldier asked. “What seems to be the matter.”
“A valuable watch of mine was just taken by a passing cutpurse!” He said. “He took off down that alleyway there! Please help me get my grandfather’s watch back!”
“Stand back, citizen.” The guard said, gently pushing the conductor aside. “I’ll return shortly with that criminal in tow.” He said as he galloped straight towards Dinky’s alley.
“Uh oh!” Dinky said as she hid herself underneath some thankfully well-sealed garbage bags.
“Reveal yourself and return what you stole!” The guard shouted as he entered the alley. Dinky could just see the soldier from where she was hiding.
“Sir, please wait!” The conductor called. “I have wonderful news!”
As the guard turned to face the voice, his face was suddenly covered in a green, slime-like substance and he fell to the ground. “MMPH!” He tried to yell as the conductor’s hoof came into Dinky’s field of vision.
“I seem to have found my watch, good sir.” The conductor said, his voice seeming to have a strange reverberating effect. After speaking, the hoof in front of Dinky’s face was briefly engulfed in a green light as it rapidly changed color from the conductor’s pale brown to the guard’s shining crystal grey. “And I’ve found some rather nice armor as well.” Said the guard’s voice.
The guard on the ground began struggling harder as another glob of green was affixed to his face. In a few seconds, the guard was still. As the fake guard began rummaging through his victim’s belongings, Dinky could just hear a dull buzzing sound before a black, hole riddled hoof landed in front of her as well. “No! Not them!” Dinky thought, remembering her encounter with changelings in Canterlot.
“Take this one back to the hive.” The false soldier said to the changeling. “And have them send someone else to fill the role of train conductor for the time being.
“Of course. For the Queen!” The changeling said as he effortlessly picked up the guard and carried him down a nearby sewer drain.
“Excellent.” The new guard said to himself. “All is going as the Queen predicted.” He said as he walked out of the alley and back to the ice cream shoppe. Once there, he resumed ‘his’ post at the door.
“What in Equestria was that all about?” Dinky said quietly as she came out of her hiding spot. “I’ve gotta tell somepony!” She gasped as she galloped out the opposite side of the alley.
“Thanks again for all the help, your maj- I mean Shining Armor.” Derpy corrected herself as she and Shining walked out of Crystal Delights.
“And thank you for your help too.” Shining said, looking very tired. “I didn’t know that there were so many different ways to make muffins.” He said, forcing a smile.
“Yeah. I can’t believe they didn’t have muffin ice cream on the menu.” Derpy said. “Oh well. Maybe you could share the recipes I gave you with the chef here. I think I gave you that one.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s in here somewhere.” Shining said as he thought about the stack of scrap paper filled with muffin recipes he now had in his saddlebag. “Anyways, I need to get back to the castle. Sergeant Drill Bit!” Shining said, turning to the guard at the door.
“Sir!” The soldier said, snapping off a perfect salute.
“Please give my friend here the map we discussed earlier so she can be on her way.” Shining said. “She has important business to attend to.”
“Yes, sir!” Drill Bit said as he reached into his saddlebag and produced a map. “Here you are, ma’am.” He said as Derpy took the map and placed it in her mailbag.
“Derpy, these maps aren’t completed yet.” Shining said. “They only show places that we’ve already looked. So all they’re really good for is keeping you from having to search cleared areas. Hopefully that will save you some time.”
“Thank you very much.” Derpy said. “This should be a big help. I guess I’ll see you when I get back, then.” She said as she trotted off, waving to Shining as she left.
Once he was sure she was out of earshot, Shining Armor turned to his guard. “Sergeant, ready your squad.” He said, seeming to catch the guard by surprise.
“Sir?”
“You have the other maps, right?” Shining asked.
“Of course, sir. But-”
“Good. Princess Celestia seems to think that Derpy can find the hive, and I’ve learned not to doubt her judgment.” Shining Armor said. “We’ll follow her there, and then make sure she gets back safely. Once she’s safe, we can make plans for the hive in case the princess’s peace treaty doesn’t go as planned.”
“Yes, sir.” Drill Bit said with a nod as he passed Shining a map and retrieved a squad roster for himself.
“Have your men ready at the gate in fifteen minutes.” Shining said. “I think she’ll be leaving on her delivery as soon as she can.” Shining Armor said as he walked away.
“Yes, sir.” Drill Bit said, glaring at Shining as his eyes briefly shifted to a solid blue color.
“Alright.” Derpy said as she pulled out her map. “So I just gotta go to the blank spots on the map. Sounds easy enough.” She said just before rolling the map open and gasping out loud. “Why isn’t it blank?” Derpy asked herself as she looked the map over.
Sure enough, the map was a completely filled in chart of the Badlands. However, there was one section just outside the Crystal Empire marked with an X. “Well it isn’t blank. But I guess X marks the spot.” Derpy said with a shrug as she walked toward the city gate.
“Alright, there she is.” Shining armor said as Derpy crossed the city limits. “Come on, men. Stay back, but don’t lose sight of her.” Shining said as he, Drill Bit, and three other crystal ponies moved to follow Derpy.
A short way past the city gates, a small purple foal came rushing up to Shining Armor. “Sir, please, you have to listen to me!” She said in a high-pitched voice. “I just saw something awful! It was- AH!” She yelled when she saw Drill Bit.
“Yes?” Shining Armor asked. “What is it?” He asked, raising his eyebrow at Dinky.
“Him! It’s him!” She yelled, pointing at Drill Bit.
“What?” Shining asked, turning to face his Sergeant. “What about him?”
“He’s not him!” Dinky said. “He’s a changeling!” The accusation garnered startled murmurs among the squad.
“A changeling?” Shining asked, looking at Drill Bit again. “That’s a serious accusation. What kind of proof do you have?”
“I saw him with my own two eyes!” Dinky said. “He was in an alleyway with the guard and then he put some green goop over his mouth! Then another changeling came and dragged the real guard into the sewer!”
All eyes were on Drill Bit now as he simply stood there, looking completely flabbergasted. “I- I have no idea what she’s talking about.” He said, shaking his head back and forth a little bit. “This must be some kind of sick joke.”
“I don’t want to start a witch hunt here.” Shining Armor said. “But these kinds of accusations must be taken seriously in these times.” He said, taking a few steps closer to the sergeant.
“You can’t honestly think that this is true.” Drill Bit said. “This is preposterous. I haven’t even been down any alleys on my patrols today.”
“Tell me then.” Shining said. “What is the third line of the crystal guard pledge?”
“To serve the crown with loyalty, to uphold the law and the truth.” Drill Bit said immediately as if reading from a script.
Shining thought for a few moments and sighed. “Only formally sworn guards know the pledge well enough to recite it so quickly.” Shining said. “I’m sorry, but we have important business to attend to.” He said as he and his squad walked past Dinky. On his way past, Drill Bit cast the foal a particularly nasty glare before turning up his nose and moving on.
“But… But I’m telling the truth.” Dinky said as she plopped down on her flank. “Wait a second!” She said, suddenly perking up. “They’re following mom! I’d better keep an eye on them and make sure that changeling doesn’t try anything funny.” She said as she took off after the group of guards. “Even if they don’t believe me now, he’ll slip up eventually.” Dinky said as she slowed down a bit, not wanting the guards to know they were being followed.