Pink stared in utter disbelief at her friend, standing between them and the quickly growing imperial force ahead of them. She opened her mouth to ask what the hell was going on, but was cut off by a huge metal object soaring over head.
Twilight recognised it instantly. Vastly similar to the one used by her to get to and from Canterlotte, the carriage soared overhead, pulled by two strong palace guards. Though not made of gold, the small vehicle looked just as regal as it came to touch down on the ground in front of the large group of soldiers.
“Report?” Called the passenger of the carriage as he stepped off of the carriage, his silver armour glinted in the sunlight as he glanced around at the seemingly normal looking town. His horn glowed gently, and his helmet was surrounded by the same deep purple hew as it was slowly taken off and placed under his outstretched foreleg.
“All seems normal sir!” Barked a single soldier closest to the captain. His dark blue mane rippled in the soft summer breeze as Shining Armour took in the surroundings. His search was stopped dead however, as he heard a familiar voice.
“Big Brother!” The stallion Pegasus whirled around in search of his sister Twilight. He saw her, running from a cafe just at the side of the clearing. She looked happy to see him!
“Twily!” He called out in relief his heart feeling a thousand times lighter seeing her alive and well, he rushed to meet her and pulled her into a strong and loving hug. “Thank goodness you’re alright!” He pulled himself away from his sister and looked at her sternly. “What are you doing outside? Didn’t Princess Celestia warn you it was dangerous?”
Twilight blushed for a moment as she looked up at the captain backed by his many warriors. “Well, you see big brother... It’s all ok, it’s not dangerous anymore. In fact, besides last night, there never HAS been any danger!” She smiled at her brother, who looked back at her sceptically.
“I’m sorry Twilight, but I’m under orders. I’m not going to able to just take your word for it.”
“But I’m your sister!” Twilight cried astonished at the stallion’s words.
“Yes, but it’s not just me coming. The princess will be here any minute as well! She’s coming to ensure everypony is safe to stay in Ponnyville after that serge last night!” The rest of the group of friends approached the two conversing unicorns, and far behind them slowly followed the new visiting ponies. Each of them -besides the calm faced Flutt- looking out for an attack from the guards (which in their world were the evil pawns of the empress)
Shining Armour frowned suddenly, still only focusing on his sister meaning the odd phenomenon just ahead of him was still unnoticed. “The princess sent word first thing this morning! We were terrified when you didn’t respond, we thought whatever had come here last night had... had...” He couldn’t even finish the dark thought. But just beyond the group of friends, there came a cold voice that finished it for them.
“What? Killed her? Killed everypony here? Massacred them all? Please, stop me if I get it right!” Pink stood only a few feet away, the group between her and the captain parted clearing the way for either to approach the other. Both of the ponies stood in place however.
“P-Pinkie?” Armour asked confusedly as he stared at the pony before him. “What happened to you eye? It looks... wait...” He glanced to his left, and surely enough, there stood the smiling pink fluffy mane’d party pony he knew. His head snapped back to Pink, his frown turning from one of confusion to one of anger.
As the group of other worldly ponies came to a halt beside their leader, Shining armour let out a low growl of hatred. He lowered himself closer to the ground, ready to charge. Without a single command, his battalion of guards sprung into action, each rushing up to surround the group before them. Soon they were encircled by the guards. “Twilight...” The captain whispered. “Stay back, don’t try to help, this time we’re ready for them.”
“This time?” Pinkie let out loudly, almost braking the tense atmosphere completely. “How could there have been another time, if this is this time, you must mean there was another time, and this is there first time here, so there couldn’t have been another time!” The surrounding friends all nodded in agreement. Twilight looked up beseechingly at her brother, silently begging him to listen to Pinkie’s words.
Shining armour frowned as he looked at the group, then back at the group his stallions surrounded. His eyes wandered over each individual, one had a cat! The other looked bored! The pink one with the scar wasn’t even trying to look like Pinkie! And that one! He spotted the one posing as Twilight, He saw it’s horn and it all became clear.
He stood straight, whispered a quick command to the soldier by his left side, and began to move into the circle. Twilight and her friends tried to follow, but where blocked by the stallion who had been ordered to halt the group while Armour spoke to the others.
“Who is in charge here?!” He yelled angrily at the group of ponies. Pink, without falter or doubt stood forward to show she wasn’t afraid.
“I guess that would be me.” She said icily.
“Hmmm.” Armour raised a surprised eyebrow. “I’m surprised she isn’t the leader!” He pointed at Twi hatefully as he circled the group slowly. “After all, she’s the one posing as my sister, and my sister is the equal of a leader for her friends.” He came full circle and stopped in front of Pink. He leant down into the pink ponies face, she did the same to the stallion, challenging him all the more. “But wouldn’t know about friends now would you...” He looked the pony up and down slowly, finally he looked her in the eye as he spat out the final word. “Changeling!”
Pink didn’t look confused, she just stared straight back into Armours deep cerulean eyes defiantly. “I think you have us confused with somepony else big boy.” She said.
“Don’t even try it! Don’t even try to make me think you’re not one of those monsters!” He pulled away, walking back around the group in the opposite direction than before. “If you’re the leader, then have your unicorn release my sister and her friends!”
Twilight realised what her brother must be thinking, she jumped, trying to catch a glimpse of him from behind the broad shouldered guard in front. “Please! Big brother! They’re not changelings, and we’re not under any kind of spell!” Armour glanced over to his sister, he gave out a long sigh of frustration. He turned back to Pink once again.
“Well? Let her go! And the others!” Pink just stared back at him, but AJ soon made her voice heard.
“Ya’know, you should listen to your sister! We ain’t no changely... whatever’s! We’re just ponies.” She looked around at the surrounding armoured guards cautiously, “And If you were kind enough to tell yer boys to back off a little, I’m sure we could talk this out.”
“Now we know that’s never going to happen.” Said armour, striding away. “Even if by some miracle you’re not changelings. We are under orders to ascertain the situation, and quell it before it causes a single pony any more harm! You already nearly killed every unicorn in the kingdom with that little entrance of yours!” He whirled round in a heated fury.
“We- we didn’t mean to Armour.” Stammered Twi helplessly beside Pink. Twilight’s mind went haywire with thoughts, did Twi have a brother back in her world? She obviously did by the look on her face, so was he still alive? Had he died like so many had seemed to in their twisted world?
“Don’t call me that!” Armour said angrily. “Only my family call me that!” Twi’s face fell into misery.
Dashie looked terrified, she clung to little Mac for all her life. Even the cat looked terrified at all the staring faces, so it curled up closer and cowered beneath her foreleg. But even through her fear, she was able to give a terrified squeak of protest. “We don’t mean to hurt p-ponies! W-we just want to be safe! So we came here...” Shining Armour’s expression faltered for a moment at the honesty seeping through cyan mare’s words. He gave a short cough, unsure of what to say.
One of the guards (a Unicorn) Stood forward, his how was emitting a faint glimmer at its tip. Twilight recognised the symptoms of a messaging spell as wave upon wave of light pulsed down into the guards scull from his horn. “Captain Armour sir! The princess is inbound! One minute!” Armour gave a curt nod and the guard stood back in formation.
The captain looked back at the group before him, the two Pegasy, the two earth pony and the single unicorn. “Whatever you are...” He said shortly. “The princess will decide what’s best.” Twilight saw each of the pony’s faces fall, into terror as they heard the name that Armour shouted to his squad. “Take formation! Ensure the prisoner’s do not escape! Princess Celestia is coming!”