//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2: The Princess and the Party (part 1) 
// Story: Shattered Harmony Part 1 - A Fallen Star 
// by Phazon_Corrupted_Unicorn 
//------------------------------//

Midnight Star stood in the middle of a large street, dark shapes lining the edges and leading toward another, large shape. As he glanced around, trying to find any landmarks that he recognized, he noticed flashes of color that danced around the edge of his sight. He looked ahead and noticed about a dozen or so shapes, each one a pony, though their colors were obscured and hidden from him. The only two he could see clearly was Princess Celestia and his mother who stood side by side. Princess Celestia bore a look of pure hatred on her face and he could feel the anger washing over him from the group. He glanced at his mother to see a look of sorrow, one that almost made him cry it was so painful to see.

“Mother?” he asked, raising a hoof. He gasped as he saw his hoof, but it wasn't his hoof. It bore a few, small holes in the leg and, as a slight breeze blew down the street, he could feel the wind blowing through the holes and hear them whistle. He stared at his hoof in horror, then at his mother who had tears running down her cheeks.

“I'm sorry,” she said, “I should have told you sooner.”

“What are you--” he started to say, but was interrupted by other voices.

“Changelings almost ruined my brother's wedding. I'm not letting them ruin the lives of everypony ever again!”

Midnight Star cringed at the hatred and anger that flowed from the voice, only to hear another.

“Ah ain't lettin' any of mah kin anywhere near one of ya monsters!”

“You Changelings ruined what was going to be the best party in the history of parties!”

“How can you call yourselves ponies? You all wear chitin! What a foalish fashion sense. You'd never be accepted!”

“You hurt my friends during your little invasion and if you try it again, I'm going to make sure that you regret it!”

Midnight shrank away from the anger and hatred, feeling smaller and smaller. He finally got the courage to raise his head and look at his mother who still bore a look of sorrow. Then she changed. Her coat grew darker and her eyes grew more slit-like. She grinned and her mouth was lined with fangs that glistened with saliva. He shied away from her, scooting backward as his mother-now-monster crept closer.

“M-mother?” he asked, his voice shaking in fear.

“Mmm, how sweet is your fear!” the monster stated, then leaped at him. Midnight could only close his eyes and scream at the top of his lungs.

----------*----------*----------*----------

Midnight Star awoke, screaming at the top of his lungs as the image of his mother-turned-monster charging toward him still hung in front of his eyes. He spun to look at the doors as they glowed with a blue aura and thrown open. He threw the covers over his head, then peeked out from under them.

There, standing in the doorway, was the bat pony that he'd met the day before. Her eyes glowed with a soft blue light. She looked at him, then glanced around the room. She hurried over to him with a concerned look on her face.

“Your Highness, what happened?” she asked, her soft voice washing over him. He looked up at her and he felt the fear wash away.

“I-I just had a bad dream,” he stuttered and reached for the light. It flashed into existence and he froze, gazing at the hoof that had tapped the lantern.

Instead of his hoof, dark blue fur and short leg, was a dark gray and shiny leg extending from his body. He blinked, hoping it would change back, but when it didn't, he turned to look at the rest of his body, now with light shining on it. He quivered in fright as he looked down at his now shiny gray body. He looked up at the bat pony with a look of shock and fright.

She grinned down at him and raised a hoof, resting it on his own. “It's alright,” she said, “you need to know this anyways.”

He stared at her with a look of confusion as she removed her hoof and stepped away from him.

“This, you need to see,” she said, then closed her eyes. Midnight Star gasped as green flame erupted around her and engulfed her form. When it vanished, leaving an afterimage on his retinas, a pony still stood there, but instead of the light gray coat of fur there was now reflective gray, almost like armor, all over the her body. Luminescent green wings rose majestically from the her back and a horn, spiral in design, jutted from the her forehead. The eyes glowed a soft blue and as she opened her mouth, Midnight Star could see small fangs poking out. The moon embossed armor sat on her, fitting her like well-tailored clothes.

“We,” she said, gesturing to him and her, “are what Equestrians call Changelings.”

“But my mother isn't...” Midnight Star let the question hang in the air and she shook her head.

“Princess Luna, the Creator, is an Alicorn,” she replied.

“The Creator?” Midnight Star asked, curiosity apparent on his face.

She smiled then said, “that is a story for another time. By the way, I never introduced myself,” she bowed low to the ground, “my name is Shimmer Scales, your Highness, but please feel free to call me Shimmer.”

Midnight Star nodded his head and opened his mouth to ask a question when he felt concern flowing down the hallway. Both him and Shimmer Scales turned to look at the still-opened doors as Princess Luna came charging down the hallway. She stopped at the entrance to her chambers and looked with shock at the two ponies within.

“Midnight Star! A guard came and told me that you had awoken screaming,” she said, moving into the room. She glanced at Shimmer Scales with a surprised and curious look on her face. “You are--” she started to say.

Shimmer Scales gasped and wrapped herself in green flames again. When they vanished there stood the familiar Night Guard.

“Shimmer Scales?!” Princess Luna cried out in surprise, “I didn't know that-”

“-I was a Changeling?” Shimmer Scales interrupted. “Actually there are a few things that you don't know. Like how my entire battalion are Changelings? Or how it was curious that we were the first recruits into your Night Guard? We've been watching and waiting for your return, Creator,” she bowed low, until her nose almost touched the floor, “and we are willing, as we have always been, to risk our life and limb to serve you.”

Princess Luna nodded, then turned back to face the door as she heard the hooffalls of somepony running down the hall. They didn't have to wait too long before a Night Guard came into view and he paused just outside the room.

“Your, huff, Highness, huff, what's, huff, wrong?” he gasped out, his sides heaving.

“Nothing,” Princess Luna replied, “I'm sorry for disturbing your post.”

The Night Guard straightened up as he caught his breathe, then snapped a quick salute, “never be sorry for calling upon your guards, your Highness. You just ran out of Night Court in a hurry and we were worried about you.”

“Well, thank you for performing your job,” Princess Luna nodded to the guard, then turned back to Shimmer Scales. “I trust that you can watch over him while I finish Night Court?” she asked, then smiled as Shimmer Scales nodded. She turned without another word and walked out of the room, the Night Guard following her.

Shimmer Scales turned to look at the doorway, then she shouted, “Pinpoint, Iron Defense, Sharpshooter, Quick Strike!”

Midnight Star flinched at the noise, but found that he didn't just hear it with his ears. It seemed to echo through his mind, as if he had been standing in a large, empty room. He looked at Shimmer Scales.

“What was that?” he asked and she smiled.

“Telepathy,” she replied. She looked at him and explained, “Equestrians foalishly think of it as a hive mind, but we are quite capable of thinking for ourselves. We do not follow orders blindly and we still retain our will and emotions. Telepathy allows us to share feelings, thoughts, and orders silently, making it essential for many of the tasks we undertake.” She looked at the doorway as four bat ponies trotted up to them and saluted.

“Ma'am!” they all shouted. Shimmer Scales smiled and nodded, then gestured to Midnight Star.

“His Highness had a nightmare and found out the truth,” she stated, “I will spend the next hour or so until dawn teaching him. Guard the door and let no pony, shy of the Creator, enter.” They gave a quick salute, then turned and took up positions at either side of the door, closing it with their magic. Shimmer Scales turned and studied Midnight Star.

“Now then,” she said, smiling, “we'd best get on with your studies. There are several things that you need to know about being a Changeling and using your latent abilities, but many of them can wait for now. Right now, we need to work on your disguise.” She pulled two pillows over to the middle of the floor and sat down on one, gesturing for him to take the other.

Midnight Star sat down on the other and faced his teacher who, with a burst of green flame, turned back into her Changeling form.

“Changelings,” she began, her small fangs glistening in the soft light of the room, “are blessed with two fonts of magic. Each one is fueled by a different power. The first, common to other pony races, is Elemental. It allows the Changeling to mold and adapt the world to their needs. The second is our blessing. It is fueled by emotions. I'm sure that you've noticed two fonts when you reach for your magic?” she asked and Midnight nodded, “and one of them continues to grow larger in contrast to your other one which shrinks as you use magic?” Midnight nodded again, “that is because you are using the ambient emotions that flow throughout the castle to your benefit. You draw them into yourself and can use them to fuel your Changeling abilities. I have not met a single Unicorn, Pegasus, or Earth Pony that can detect emotions and so they can not sense you using emotions for your magic.”

She straightened on her pillow, “the first thing a Changeling learns how to do is to mimic other races. We do this by reading the emotions from our target. Our mimicry is perfect, even down to the voice, but we do NOT get their underlying thoughts, nor do we get their memories, making mimicry dangerous for anyling not trained in the art of infiltration. But,” she reached out with her magic and pulled over a picture from the wall, a picture of Midnight Star in his Alicorn form standing next to Princess Luna, “your disguise is perfect. You've born it from the beginning, thus you're not actually imitating anypony. You're merely living your life. The memories you have are the ones you made. But the first thing we need to do is to access your Emotion font.” She reached out a hoof and placed it on his shoulder and Midnight felt a small presence touch his mind. It was soft, almost like a cloud, and gentle like a feather as it lighted upon his conscience.

Reach inside and find your magic. The voice made him jump slightly and he looked at Shimmer Scales smiling at him. It's just me, telepathy will help me guide you. He nodded, then closed his eyes as he reached for his magic. He felt the familiar font, the one that Shimmer Scales had called his Elemental Font, then he looked around for his Emotion Font. It didn't take long before he found it and he felt something impede his progress. He pushed slightly forward and felt it let him pass through it. As he did, he gasped aloud.

His Emotion Font was enormous! It was easily several dozen times larger than his Elemental Font.

That is because you haven't used any of it, Shimmer Scales said, her voice echoing through his mind, a Changeling's Emotion Font shrinks like their Elemental one, as they use it. Unlike your Elemental Font, your Emotion Font will not increase unless you siphon emotions from around you, or even from an individual pony. Now grasp part of the font, just like you would with regular magic.

Midnight Star reached into the font, feeling like he was dipping his hooves into the ocean, and pulled out a large globule of magic. To his subconscious it felt warm, like his mother when he would curl up next to her and fall asleep. He pulled back out of the font and fed the magic up into his horn.

Now, picture the pony you want to imitate in your mind. Picture their mane, their coat color. Imagine how they walk and how they talk. Your magic will start to move up your horn, let it. You may not have used your Changeling abilities, but your body knows what to do.

Midnight held in his mind a picture of himself, his dark blue wings fluttering in the night sky as his mother would take him out flying after twilight. The feel of the cool evening breeze on his coat. As he focused on his other form, his magic beat softly like a small heartbeat, then started to slide upward toward the tip of his horn. He felt it collect there, then burst from the tip. He barely had time to pull himself out of his thoughts before a burst of green flame engulfed him, then vanished. He turned to look at a mirror that sat close to the bed and saw a familiar Alicorn colt staring back at him. He felt Shimmer Scales pull her conscience back from his and he turned to look at her, beaming.

“Well done, your Highness,” she said, then stood up and stretched. Midnight Star stood up as well and groaned as his muscles protested. He looked at the curtains that hung over the tall windows and saw that they had grown brighter, a sliver of sunlight peeking through the cracks in the curtains. He gasped and ran over to the curtains, tossing them open. Soft, morning light shone over the mountains, heralding the new day.

“It's dawn,” he stated and he heard Shimmer Scales giggle softly. He turned to look at her.

“Yep,” she said as she smiled at him, “new Changelings take longer to get the hang of imitating other ponies than trained ones. But, as you get more practice, you'll get faster.”

The Creator comes!

Both ponies turned to look at the doors as they swung open, revealing the four guards flanking Princess Luna. Midnight ran up to her and nuzzled her side.

“Look, mother! Look like I did!” he said, smiling up at her and receiving a smile in return. He felt something flow into him and refresh his Emotion Font, making him smile even wider.

“I see that, well done!” Princess Luna congratulated him, then turned to look at Shimmer Scales. “Lieutenant Scales,” she received a quick salute from the mare, “I am needed with the final preparations for the Coronation today and the Gala later tonight. If it is not too much trouble, I would ask that you watch Midnight Star. I suspect that he will get restless without me here.”

“It would be my honor, your Highness,” Shimmer Scales stated, and Princess Luna turned and walked away, back out the doors and down the hall. Shimmer Scales stood there with a look of awe on her face at the retreating figure, but looked at Midnight Star when she heard a low grumble from his direction. He smiled sheepishly at her and she smiled 
back. “I guess,” she said, “we should get some breakfast before we start the day, huh?”

Midnight Star nodded, then skipped out of the room and down the hall, pausing to make sure that Shimmer Scales was following, only to receive a smile at his antics.

----------*----------*----------*----------

They arrived at the kitchens after several minutes, each one passed by the sound of Midnight Star's stomach growling, and the two Changelings paused at the kitchen door. It was made of simple wood and decorated with scenes of chefs and caldrons bubbling.

Midnight Star pushed the door open with a hoof and caught a glimpse of an orange pony before he was bowled over, landing face down on the marble floor and a heavy weight on his back. He groaned and was surprised to hear three other ponies groan along with him.

“S-your Highness!” Shimmer Scales cried in alarm at the pile of ponies that obscured him from her view.

“Maybe,” somepony above him groaned, “we should be Cutie Mark Crusader Gravity Testers.”

“What would that look like as a Cutie Mark?” a second pony asked.

“I don't know but, --groan-- it sounds painful,” a third pony replied.

“It is,” Midnight Star stated, his voice muffled by the fact that he couldn't move his muzzle very much. He heard the three ponies gasp and the weight was removed from him, allowing him to struggle to his hooves and turn around.

Standing there, looking a little sheepish and blushing, were three ponies. The first one was an orange Pegasus with a plum colored mane. She rubbed the back of her head with a hoof and grinned embarrassingly at him.

“Sorry about that, we didn't see you there,” she said.

The middle one was an Earth Pony, her coat a soft yellow while her mane was the crisp red of an apple. She wore a red ribbon in her hair and she was blushing as she looked at him. Midnight Star felt small wisps of emotion rising from the Earth Pony and, as he drew them into himself, he found they tasted the same as the ones his mother gave off.

“Um, yeah,” she said, poking the floor with a hoof.

The last one was a white Unicorn with a puffy pink and purple mane. Though she bounced a little bit, she couldn't hide the small blush that was tinting her cheeks a soft pink as she smiled at him.

“Yeah, sorry about that,” she stated, beaming at him. He picked up a few wisps of emotion flowing from her as well and found that they tasted the same as the ones coming from the Earth Pony.

“It's alright,” Midnight Star said, smiling back at them. This response only seemed to cause the three ponies to blush even more, the Pegasus even looking away with a small blush on her cheeks.

“Applebloom!” a shout came from behind the door and the Earth Pony gasped, then turned around and pushed the door open with a hoof.

“Yeah, big sis?” she asked.

“Uh,” the speaker paused for a second, clearing not expecting the Earth Pony, Applebloom, to respond, “be, be careful! And don't get inta too much trouble.”

“Alright Applejack! Ah hear ya!” Applebloom replied, then turned back to the other two ponies. “Come on, ya'll! Let's go get our Cutie Marks!”

The Unicorn and Pegasus beamed, then smiled shyly at Midnight Star as they skirted around him and dashed off down the hallway.

“Ah,” sighed Shimmer Scales, stepping up to his side, “love is such a wonderful form of energy.” Midnight Star looked up at her and smiled.

“Yeah it is!” he replied, then pushed open the door to the kitchen as his stomach rumbled, reminding him why he came down here.

Beyond the door he saw the six or so familiar cooks bustling around the large kitchen and two mares that he didn't recognize. One of them was the orange Earth Pony that he'd spied when he'd first tried to enter the kitchen and the second was-.

He'd barely caught a glimpse of the wings and horn before he bowed low to the ground and he heard Shimmer Scales follow.

“Now looky here, sugarcube,” a thick drawl washed over him and a feeling of happiness and laughter tickled his nose, “ya'll ain't even been crowned and yer bein' treated like royalty!”

“Oh for goodness sake,” this second voice Midnight Star was able to pick up a slight Canterlot slang, regal and elegant, though soft. He heard the soft hooffalls of somepony moving toward him and felt the brush of soft fur on his head. He looked up, right into eyes of the deepest purple, ones that made the rarest amethysts seem dull in comparison. He gasped and ducked his head back down only to hear the softest of giggles from the mare. “My,” she said, “such courtesy for one so young. Tell me, who taught you these things?”

Midnight Star looked up at the mare, avoiding the eyes and taking in the full view. The mare had a lavender coat, with a dark purple and pink mane which framed her face on one side. A horn peeked out from underneath her bangs and he noticed the slight twitches of wings furled by her side, itching to be used. Perched on top of the mare's head was a stunning golden tiara, one that fit perfectly on her head. The tiara sparkled with light reflecting off the nine gems embedded into the maneband of the piece while a large, star-shaped gem of a deep purple color was embedded into the top.

“My mother, your Highness,” he said, dipping his head in another bow.

“Well,” the mare said, “your mother is very educated herself. I would love to meet her one day.”

Before Midnight could answer, his stomach grumbled, reminding him why he'd come to the kitchen in the first place. The orange mare chuckled, then placed a few apple snacks in a brown bag and walked over beside the purple Alicorn. Midnight reached out with his magic and pulled the bag toward him before biting down on it with his mouth.

“Fank you,” he said.

The orange mare chuckled again, “now, don't ya'll worry about it.” She turned to look outside, then back at him, “it's a nice day out, best to eat those snacks out in the fresh air.”

Midnight nodded, then turned and walked out the door as Shimmer Scales followed him. He turned down the hallway and headed toward one of his favorite spots, the gardens.

Had he waited just a few seconds outside the door, he would have heard the two mares look at each other with a curious glance.

“Did you see-?” the orange mare asked to the purple Alicorn, who nodded.

“Curious,” she replied.

----------*----------*----------*----------

Midnight headed for the gardens, Shimmer Scales walking beside him. He was several feet away from the garden's opening when he felt something. He paused and looked to Shimmer Scales, who had also paused with a smile on her face.

The feeling that was emanating from the garden was soft and gentle like a cloud, but warm and calming like his mother's side. He licked his lips as the taste of sugar overwhelmed him, caressing his senses and gently pulling him toward the source of the feeling.

He walked forward slowly, like he was in a dream, passing by the hedges that marked the edge of the gardens. He stepped under the shade of one of the many trees that dotted the gardens and stopped.

Sitting in the middle of the large clearing was the source of the feeling. It emanated from a soft yellow coated Pegasus who's mane was an equally soft pink color. She was humming to herself and several of the gardens' creatures were laying close to her with their eyes closed. Midnight noticed that her Cutie Mark was a trio of butterflies and he smiled, knowing that it fit her well, if the creatures surrounding her were any indication.

He stepped quietly toward the Pegasus, careful not to disturb any creature. He got within several hooves of the Pegasus when one of the creatures raised it's head and looked at him. The movement caused the Pegasus to pause and turn their head.

As the Pegasus did, Midnight felt his mouth hang open. The Pegasus who sat on the ground in front of him was like an angel. Her sapphire eyes reflected the sunlight and she wore a gentle smile. Her mane fell in front of one eye, giving her a timid look. The soft breeze that pervaded the gardens sent small ripples through her coat, making it dance and shimmer in the daylight.

“Oh,” she said, her voice as soft and calming as the feeling he'd followed, “I'm sorry. I didn't know anypony else came here but me.”

Midnight could only stand there, mouth agape, for a few seconds before Shimmer Scales fell to one knee and bowed her head.

“Our most sincere apologies, Bearer of Kindness,” she said with reverence in her voice, “we did not know you would be here.”

“Oh, um,” the Pegasus pony seemed shocked at the treatment she was receiving, “no, please. I'm sure we can share, I mean if you want that is.”

Midnight's muzzle flapped a few times before he found his voice. “To share these gardens with one as beautiful as yourself, kind angel,” he breathed, “would be the highlight of my day, nay my life.”

The statement only caused the Pegasus pony to blush hard, her cheeks alighting with rose red highlights, and she ducked farther behind her mane. “Oh, um, I'm afraid that I'm not really all that special,” she said, her voice starting to rise into a squeak, “if you want somepony special, you mind want to find Rainbow Dash, or even Rarity. She's much more beautiful than I am.”

Midnight strode calmly forward. “To find a pony more beautiful than you, I would have to venture into the very lands of Elysia to encounter those that would even have the smallest of chances to be your rival.” He smiled as he felt the feeling strengthen and his mind grew fuzzy with the amount that he was absorbing.

Shimmer Scales sighed, then strode up next to him. “What an honor to share this time of day with you, Bearer. Perhaps we might share some of our food with you? You see, Midnight Star was just about to have breakfast, having headed for the kitchens, when he was given some snacks by two other Bearers, an orange Earth Pony, bearing Honesty, who was tending to the needs of a purple Alicorn, who bore Magic,” she said, rapping Midnight on the back of the head with a wing. This seemed to cause him to blink in surprise then shake his head. He felt something grace atop his coat and his mind cleared, allowing him to think better. He glanced at her and felt the familiar touch of her telepathy.

It's a charm that my armor grants me. With it, I am incapable of being subjected to emotional magic. He nodded his thanks, then turned back to the yellow Pegasus, the Bearer of Kindness.

“Bearer,” Shimmer Scales asked, causing both the Pegasus and Midnight to look at her, “answer me a question. During the Canterlot invasion, is it true that you never harmed a Changeling, even though you and your friends had every reason to?”

The yellow Pegasus looked up at the castle and thought for a few seconds, then turned to look at the two of them.

“No,” she replied, “I never felt the need. I mean, it was horrible what they did, and how they did it. But I've been tending animals for a very long time and I understand that parents would do anything to help their kin. It's a natural instinct that everypony has deep within them.”

Shimmer Scales paused for a second, stunned. Then she slowly asked, “you mean to tell me that you don't consider Changelings monsters, or parasites?” The yellow Pegasus shook her head, then gasped.

“Oh, I'm sorry. I never introduced myself,” she stood up, causing the animals around her to move back to give her room, “my name is Fluttershy.”

“My name is Shimmer Scales, a member of the 312th battalion of the Night Guard” Shimmer stated, pointing at herself then at Midnight, “and this is His Highness, Midnight Star.”

Fluttershy smiled at the two of them, then bowed slightly to Midnight. “I'm honored,” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“But it is us who are honored, Bearer,” Midnight stated, his wings fluttering slightly.

Fluttershy gasped again. “I didn't know that there were any more Alicorns besides the Princesses and Twilight,” she said in awe.

Shimmer glanced at Midnight, then looked back at Fluttershy. “Bearer of Kindness,” she began slowly, “could we entrust you with a secret? One that would mean the ruin of many lives if it is ever revealed?”

Fluttershy nodded, then moved her hoof in a crossing motion over her heart, fluttered her wings, and pressed a hoof to her eye as she said, “cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

Shimmer smiled and nodded, “ah, the famous Pinkie Promise.” She nodded in satisfaction, then in a flash green flames enveloped her and swept off her Night Guard form to reveal her chitinous skin and her gossamer wings.

She nodded to Midnight, who looked at her in shock then nodded as well. He closed his eyes and focused, then his Alicorn form melted away with a blaze of green fire to reveal his Changeling form.

Fluttershy gasped and started to shake in fear. Shimmer looked at her with soft eyes. “Please,” she said, “don't be afraid. We were not part of the invasion, nor did we approve of such an action on Queen Chrysalis' part.” She walked over and placed a hoof on Fluttershy's mane, causing her to glance up at the Changeling. As they looked at each other, Fluttershy's face softened and she smiled slightly.

“We have been a part of the Royal Guard since Princess Luna returned to us,” Shimmer continued, “and we have sworn our life to protect Equestria from any threat. We would never harm anypony, especially when admiration and respect flow so easily from those around us.”

Fluttershy smiled and nodded in understanding, then Shimmer continued, “I have a request for you, Bearer. Midnight has just learned how to take the form of other ponies, but the only form that he has experience in taking is the one that Princess Luna created for him. My request is simple, let him practice taking your form.”

Fluttershy nodded, then smiled at Midnight. “What do you need me to do?” she asked shyly.

“Just act normal,” Shimmer replied, “he'll need to see you act fairly natural.”

Fluttershy nodded again, then turned back to the several animals that had gathered around her, trying to act normal but still skittish to any sound.

Midnight watched Fluttershy as he felt the touch of Shimmer's conscience on his own, establishing a link in their minds.

Watch her, Shimmer stated and Midnight nodded, see how every muscle moves, how the wind rustles each feather on her wings, how her coat ripples as she walks. Watch her eyes, piercing but soft, as they see the world. Notice how her mane and tail move as she does, flowing around her body and hiding part of her face from view.

Midnight focused on Fluttershy, watching each of the things that Shimmer suggested.

Then, she continued, once you've got a fairly perfect image in your head, reach for your Emotion font and bind the image to your body. Feel yourself become Fluttershy.

Midnight closed his eyes and reached for his Emotion font, pulling some of the magic that dwelt there and pressing it into the image of Fluttershy in his mind. With a rush of warmth, he felt his magic explode outward and he heard a yelp from Fluttershy. He opened his eyes and saw the two mares looking at him. Shimmer was smiling with happiness while Fluttershy was blushing behind her mane, which she'd decided to hide behind at that moment.

He smiled at the two of them. “Well,” he asked, “how do I look?”

Shimmer walked around him, examining him from all angles, and she had a curious look on her face when she stopped in front of him again.

“Well,” she said, a grin forming on her muzzle and she held a hoof to her mouth as she snickered, “you've got the main colors down, but you didn't quite make it.”

Midnight raised an eyebrow at her then, seeing a small pond off to one side, he walked over and peered at his reflection.

There, staring back at him, was Fluttershy. Or at least a young Fluttershy. As Midnight turned his head to one side, then to the other, he noticed something different. He looked back at Fluttershy, then at his reflection. Then it hit him.

“I'm a—” he started to say, shocked.

“Stallion,” whispered Fluttershy. He glanced at her and saw that her blush, which had previously only slightly colored her cheeks, now made her face blaze with color.

“Yes, well,” Shimmer stated, snickering as she spoke, “that will happen. Early practices have yielded the same results, but as you get used to using your abilities, you'll be able to take the form of anypony that you see, stallion or mare, and you'll be able to do it faster. In fact--” she started to say, but was interrupted by another voice coming from the gardens' entrance.

“Oh Fluttershy, darling!” a mare's voice rang out, startling Midnight and causing his disguise to vanish in a burst of green magic. He quickly pulled on his magic and focused on his Alicorn form, it returned to him in a flash of green flame. Shimmer nodded in approval then turned to look toward the entrance, a flash of green flame enveloping her and returning her to her Night Guard form.

“Generosity,” she whispered to Midnight.

“Rarity!” Fluttershy called, though her voice was barely loud enough for Midnight to hear it, him being a dozen or so hooves away from the two mares, “I'm over here!”

Midnight looked at Shimmer as a question rose to his lips, but before he could ask it an alabaster Unicorn strode around the corner.

“There you are, darling! We must get ready for the Coronation tonight, then the Gala right afterwards,” the mare stated.

Midnight stood there, stunned. The alabaster mare strode with purpose, but grace, almost like an angelic messenger from Elysia itself. Her mane was of a dark violet and expertly curled, while her sapphire eyes glanced around at everything, taking in every detail as they scanned the area. Her eyes fell on the two Changelings and she gasped.

“Oh my,” she stated, bowing slightly as she caught sight of Midnight's wings and horn, “I did not know of more royalty appearing at the Coronation. It's an honor to meet you, Prince-?” she raised her head slightly as she looked at him.

“Midnight Star,” Midnight replied.

“Prince Midnight Star, what an exquisite name! My name is Rarity, your Highness. Perhaps you are related to Princess Luna?” Rarity asked.

Midnight nodded, “she is my mother.” The statement caused Rarity to gasp and cover her mouth with a hoof.

“My word,” she said in shock, “I had no idea that the Princesses could have suitors, much less bear a foal. This is news indeed.” As Midnight watched her, he could almost see the gears turning in her head for a few seconds before she snapped back to the matter at hand. “Forgive me, your Highness,” she said, dipping her head, “if you don't have any clothes for the Coronation and Gala tonight, it would be my honor to create suitable attire for the occasion. Fluttershy, if you would please come with me so I can get your measurements. I think you've grown in the past few years and my calculations may be off.”

Midnight looked up at Shimmer, who nodded, then he turned to follow Rarity and Fluttershy out of the gardens. Shimmer fell back to allow Midnight to walk between the two mares, with Fluttershy on his right and Rarity on his left.

As they walked, Rarity kept looking at Midnight out of the corner of her eye. Finally, when they passed into the castle foyer and proceeded down one of the hallways, she sighed and looked over at him.

“Midnight,” she asked, causing him to look up at her, “who is your father?”

Midnight looked away, thinking, before answering, “I don't know.”

Fluttershy jumped as Shimmer chimed in. “A guard,” she said.

Rarity looked back at her, her eyes wide. “A guard?” she asked, “I would have thought it below the Princesses to have guard suitors. Would it not be more common to find a Prince to court?”

Shimmer smiled at the alabaster Unicorn. “Forgive me if I am mistaken,” she replied, “but did you not, several Galas ago, try to woo one Prince Blueblood?”

Rarity nodded, a look of disgust on her face.

“And do you not,” Shimmer continued, “come from Ponyville instead of Canterlot?”

Rarity nodded again.

“So then,” Shimmer smiled, “would it not be below Prince Blueblood to court you, or even for you to try and court him? Should you not be content to find a stallion within Ponyville that would be better suited?”

Rarity opened her mouth to say something, but Shimmer continued.

“It is quite common for nobles, royalty, and everypony else to court whomever they wish. To do so encourages the stability of the economy. Royalty court because they wish to maintain their line, while nobility court to increase their standings. Those not noble or royalty wish to court to better their living. We encourage courtships between all classes, though we find that many are content to court within their same class. This provides the society with a consistent class system, but one that is blurred at the lines.”

By this time they had turned down a corridor lined with a dozen doors. They were heading toward one of the doors on the left side, three doors down the hallway. As Midnight passed a door on his right, he caught a glimpse of a pink Earth Pony as well as a cerulean blue Pegasus huddled together, snickering slightly. He didn't have time to think about it before his attention was drawn back to Rarity as she pushed open one of the doors with her magic, a soft blue aura enveloping the doorhandles.

He stepped inside, following Rarity and Fluttershy and being followed by Shimmer, and gasped. Within the room were dozens of spools of fabric, each one a different color or shade. There were almost a dozen ponyquins spaced around the room, six of them bearing dresses. There was a platform to one side, wide enough to comfortably lay on and half a hoof tall. A desk sat close to the platform and a sewing machine sat on it, with a heap of fabric and a pincushion next to it.

Rarity smiled and sighed, Midnight felt a pulse of contentment and joy from her, then she trotted over to the sewing machine and pulled a pair of red glasses out from under the fabric, then placed them on her nose.

“Now then,” she said, turning to look at Fluttershy and Midnight, “let's begin!”

The next few hours were spent being examined by Rarity while having bits of fabric draped across Midnight. Rarity would occasionally take the pieces of fabric off, then sew a few of them together and have him try on the new product.

An hour into the session, a knock came from the door and Shimmer answered it, revealing a maid bearing a tray of tea and biscuits. Rarity paused long enough to have some tea with the rest of them, then pushed Fluttershy up onto the platform and had her try on one of the dresses from the ponyquins.

Midnight watched in amazement as Fluttershy went from being the shy mare that he'd met in the gardens to a mare that shown with confidence and courage as she wore a beautiful light green and sage dress that barely touched the ground.

Rarity worked a while longer, sewing a deep purple and dark blue vest for Midnight and lengthening Fluttershy's dress. Finally she looked up from the sewing machine and lifted Midnight's finished vest from her desk, Fluttershy's dress hung on a ponyquin already fixed.

“Well,” Rarity said, levitating it over to Midnight, “try it on!”

Midnight raised his hooves over his head and slid the vest on. It fit snugly around his barrel and holes had been added in just the right spot to allow for his wings to poke through comfortably. He raised his head to Rarity and beamed.

“How much?”

The question shocked Rarity, who recovered and smiled at him.

“Nonsense, your Highness,” she stated, “I couldn't dream of asking you to pay for it. Besides, I wanted to make it for you, and so I did. I refuse to charge you for it.” Midnight opened his mouth to protest, but Rarity shook her head, “I won't hear of it. It's a gift, one worthy of a prince.”

Midnight smiled at that, and he felt something warm flow from Rarity as she spoke. It warmed his whole body, like he'd drank some hot apple cider, but it also left him with a fuzzy feeling. He didn't have much time to revel in the feeling when a knock came from the door. Shimmer opened it to reveal a messenger pony dressed in a red shirt. He snapped to attention at the sight of Midnight and Shimmer.

“Yes, messenger?” asked Shimmer.

“I am to report to you, Lieutenant Shimmer, that Princess Luna and Princess Celestia are ready to begin the Coronation. You are to escort Prince Midnight Star, Lady Rarity, Bearer of the Element of Generosity, and Lady Fluttershy, Bearer of the Element of Kindness, to the south chapel, then report to the barracks to prepare for tonight's skirmish,” he stated then, as Shimmer nodded, turned away and trotted down the hallway.

Shimmer Scales turned to look at the two mares and Midnight in the room and nodded. While she'd been talking to the messenger, Rarity and Fluttershy had gotten their dresses on and Rarity was applying make up. She finished quickly and turned back to the door.

“Well,” Rarity said, and Shimmer stepped to one side as she held open the door for the two mares, “let us not keep Twilight waiting.”