A Cloud of Dust and Furry
The setting sun was shaded on the horizon made hazy by a cloud of dust kicked up by 400 hooves. An army was marching over the Equestrian Boarders, it had been 400 years since the last time a foreign army, other than the Changelings, had crossed into the peaceful land. The Equestrian National Guard looked in awe out of their spy glasses at what looked like a second sunrise. The polished sliver armor of the ponies was not merely the source of the radiance but the ponies themselves.
“Sir!” the unicorn sentry standing the top of the tower called down the hatch. “Sir! Sir!”
“Yes, private, What is it?” the gruff old stallion said climbing up the last of steps to the parapet.
“I think we are being invaded?”the young teal guardsmen said his ears twitching with nervousness.
“Let me see that,” the Sergeant said taking the privates binoculars in his own telekinetic aura and focusing it on the blinding wall of light.
“Should I send out the alarm?” the private asked.
“You need to contact Princess Celestia immediately,” the Sergeant ordered.
“I should tell her that we’re under attack,” the nervous enlistee unicorn asked levitating a quill and parchment.
“No,” he said focusing on the banner fluttering above the unexpected guests.
“But, what?” the private asked in confusion.
“Tell her to set out the china, her son is coming for a visit,” the sergeant said as he got a closer look at the iridescent purple flag a white snow flake stamped in the middle heralding the army of the Crystal Empire.
* * * *
“Mother!” Shining Armor called as he burst through the doors of the throne room. “Mother!”
The members of the startled court turned seeing the prince and bowed making way for the large white unicorn, dressed in his name sake, march up to the throne.
“Shining Armor, it is good to see you home,” Luna smiled, he paused and bowed. “I am sorry to say the Day Court as well as Night Court will be in recess as we have urgent business to discuss.”
The princess rose, the court again bowed, and then in a flash of blue light she and her nephew vanished only to reappear just outside Celestia’s apartments. Luna pushed the doors open with her magic and Shining rushed inside to see the weak depressed mare lying on her bed, bolt up and rush over to him.
“Shinning, I’m so happy to see you,” she said wrapping her forelegs and wings around him and holding her nephew close and trying unsuccessfully to prevent the tears from flowing.
“I am here mother,” he said hugging her back and running his hoof along her mane. “We will find Twily. We will get her back.”
“How is Cadence?” she asked.
“She is beside herself with worry for Twily,” he said releasing his embrace. “She sends her love. She would have come herself but…”
“What is it?” Celestia asked wiping her tears.
“I feel guilty about the timing but, she pregnant. You’re going to be a grandmother,” he said feeling guilty about his smile.
“You have no need to feel guilty. I think that is wonderful news,” Celestia said. “I only have one reservation. I don’t think we are going to call me grandmother.”
The solar monarch released her son and composed herself once more putting on the calm demeanor she was expected to wear in court.
“Crossing the border in full armor with 99 ponies under your command, your entrance was rather dramatic,” she said, “I firmly believe that you got that flair from my side of the family.”
“Do we have any leads on Twily?” he asked.
“Yes, we have. You aren’t going to like this but Chrysalis has her,” she said.
“I promise when we find her I’m going to squash that bug,” he anger obvious in his tone.
“Luna has spoken to Twilight on the dreamscape,” his mother explained. “You sister is alive. She said she was in the hive, somewhere in the desert. We have agents in the region now trying to find it’s location.”
“Do you have faith they’ll find her soon,” he asked.
“Yes, I have one particular in the field, with great skill and motivation. Her mission it to infiltrate the hive and find your sisters exact location,” Luna smiled.
“Shall I take the Guard?” he asked.
“You still hold the rank of Captain despite being the commander of a foreign force and you are a prince of this Equestria,” Celestia looked at Luna for agreement then acquiesced. “Shining you have to promise to contact me and your aunt before you go charging in.”
“Yes mother,” he agreed.
“One more thing,” she mentioned and he stopped his turn. “Stop through Ponyville and get your brother. He can keep us is contact and I know he must feel helpless sitting in that town.”
“Yes ma’ma,” he said saluting the monarch and his mother before trotting out the door to gather his forces.
* * * *
Trixie hid behind a stack of bolder watching the changelings in the distance. She had spent days traveling in the desert communities looking for signs of changelings. The creatures were particularly hard to track fortunately she had found some help.
“So you sure that’s them sugar cube,” Applejack asked wiping the sweat from her brow. The three had been following several as they pulled a wagon across the hard packed earth of the desert.
“When you are getting your flank kicked by somepony you tend to remember their face?” she said rubbing one of the spots where her bruises had almost healed.
“What do ya reckon is in that wagon? Or don’t I wana know,” Applejack asked.
“It could be more changelings or . . .” Trixie guessed alluding to what none of them wanted to think about, the wagon contained ponies, ponies being taken to feed upon.
“So do we just go take’em?” Rainbow Dash said her muscles tensing ready for a fight.
“No, no, we have to keep following them and remain out of sight,” Trixie said.
“That’s why we left Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy at home remember?” Applejack said.
“Yeah, they aren’t Pinkie isn’t exactly inconspicuous and Fluttershy isn’t really a fighter,” Dash agreed. “I just wish we could do something more than hide.”
“I know,” Applejack said peering around the rock to spot the two pegsus, “I’d like nothing more than to lasso those two and though I can’t believe I’m saying this but, Trixie is right.”
“So, you were with Twi, when they jumped her,” Rainbow asked. “The princess said you got pretty beat up trying to help her escape.”
“It was nothing Trixie, I wouldn’t do for another pony,” Trixie said averting eye contact with Rainbow.
“So, what were you to doing anyway?” Rainbow pressed.
“Sleeping, in my wagon,” Trixie said. “We were headed to Manehatten.”
“She has wings… she could have made it to Manehatten from Ponyville in a couple of days. It would take a week walking,” Rainbow reasoned.
“We, uh,” Trixie said trying to come up with what to say only in dodging Rainbow’s gaze locking eyes with Applejack, who as the element of honesty had an uncanny way of understanding immediately what was going on.
“You and Twi were jus enjoyin each other company,” Applejack interjected.
“Yes, Trixie and Twilight found comfort in our circumstance and decided to travel together to keep each other company,” Trixie recovered.
“Right,” Applejack agreed and Rainbow backed off.
“Trixie thinks she saw a water hole over there,” the unicorn said and crept out from behind the rocks for a moment to herself.
“Ow! What was that for?” Rainbow flinched as a hoof connected to the back of her head.
“They were traveling together,” Applejack said.
“Yeah, that what she said they were traveling together,” Rainbow confirmed, “What do you think she was lying?”
“No, Twi and Trixie were traveling to Manehatten together,” Applejack said.
“Oooooh,” the cyan mare said realizing what was going on, “Ohhhh? So the Great and Powerful Trixie and Twilight?”
“Yes, Sugarcube,” Applejack said.
“Well stranger things have happened,” Rainbow said not sounding impressed, “Fluttershy is kind of cozy with Discord.”
“You got that right darling,” the yellow mare said following the disguised changelings and the wagon they pulled. “We better keep moving we don’t want to lose our only real lead.”