"Hi! Thanks so much for coming. Please step this way for a quick security check. Nothing to worry about. Hi! Thanks so much for coming. Please step this way for a quick security check. Nothing to worry about. Hi! Thanks so much for coming. Please step..."
Wearing a black dinner jacket, a dummy earpiece and a pair of dark glasses with glittering, fancy rims that rather undermined any imposing appearance they might have had, Pinkie Pie cheerfully welcomed the citizens of Ponyville as they filed wearily into the town hall. Her sunny disposition and ability to talk continuously for long periods without shortness of breath made her the ideal pony for the job.
Once the townsponies stepped over the threshold, Twilight Sparkle cast a magic spell over each of them, young and old, from head to hooves. It was the same spell she had used to unmask Spinnerette the night before. As Twilight cleared each entrant to the hall, she nodded to Spike, who marked their name off on a long parchment.
The crowded hall echoed with baby ponies crying, schoolfoals whining and adults murmuring. An emergency town meeting this early in the morning was unprecedented but the townsponies knew that when Princess Twilight Sparkle had an urgent message to deliver, it was unwise to second-guess her. Ponyville had faced her share of threats over the years and Twilight tended to be the pony who knew what to do.
As the last of the citizens finally entered, Rainbow Dash swiftly scanned the hall's surroundings to ensure nopony else was listening in, then flew inside to undergo Twilight's anti-disguise spell. Twilight then magically closed the doors and took her place at a long table at the front of the hall, along with her friends, Princess Luna and the town's mayor.
"Order, please. Order." Twilight telekinetically struck the wooden sound block before her with a gavel and raised her voice above the crowd's hubbub, which gradually died down. "Thank you all so very much for meeting here at such short notice. It's an early start and many of you had to wait in line a long time while I performed my security check. However, I believe these steps were all necessary for the safety of Ponyville and possibly for all of Equestria.
"Last night I found myself under attack by a changeling queen."
A collective gasp of horror rose from several adult ponies.
"She is now safely locked away in Tartarus. However, we have reason to believe that the changelings under her rule are still at large in or near Ponyville."
A cacophony of talking erupted, which Twilight quickly silenced with further blows of her gavel.
"For those of you who don't know, a changeling typically looks like this." Twilight directed her horn to the wall behind her and magically generated a luminous, three-dimensional, life-sized image of a changeling. It resembled the queen but was smaller, about the size of an adolescent pony, with blank blue eyes, a backward-curving horn and sharp fangs jutting from its upper jaw. Twilight rotated the image 360 degrees so that the audience could view the creature from all angles. Many ponies cried out in dismay at the horrific sight.
Twilight switched off her spell and turned back to her audience. "Oh, I haven't gotten to the scary part yet. It can also look like this."
"Whoa!" Applejack flailed her legs in surprise as Twilight magically lifted her into the air for all the gathering to see.
"Or this." Twilight set Applejack back down and immediately levitated a fearfully squealing Fluttershy. "Or this." The next subject was Rarity, who indignantly demanded Twilight put her down that instant.
"Or even ... this." With these words, Twilight Sparkle herself took to the air, flying in a few circles before landing back in her place.
"In short, as far as we can tell, a changeling can look like anything. Usually, it assumes the appearance and voice of a loved one, be they a special somepony, friend or family member. Then it feeds off the love you have, gradually growing stronger as you grow weaker. It can also produce a substance similar to spider silk, that can restrain ponies bodily. They may do so to the ponies whose places they take.
"We believe that if the changelings were strong enough to take us by force, they would have done so by now. It's more likely they'll try to weaken us first. Now, Princess Celestia has sent a message to Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadance. They are able to combine their mutual love into a force that can rout the changelings in one fell swoop. Until they arrive from the Crystal Empire, it's up to us to resist these invaders. Now I know some of you might be afraid, and with good reason, but I have every confidence that we can do this. Because each and every one of us also carries a powerful magic that we can use against them.
"The magic of friendship.
"Mares and gentlestallions, fillies and colts, over the next day or so I want you all to think about who your friends and loved ones really are, and what they really mean to you. Think of all your shared experiences, your laughter and tears, hopes and anxieties. Think of your friends' characters, all their little quirks, tics and mannerisms, everything that makes them them. Because no changeling can fake that. By talking with each other about our friendships and keeping those friendships foremost in our minds, we'll soon make any impostors expose their true selves, so that we can deal with them.
"If you have any suspicions, come to me. I have a magic spell that can uncover a changeling's disguise, the same spell I used on all of you as you arrived. Don't worry, it has no ill effects on ponies. Are there any questions?"
A pale yellow-coated earth pony mare raised a forehoof. "What if your friend is acting differently because they're just not feeling themselves? Like they're having a bad day or something? How can we tell the difference?"
Twilight smiled. "That's an important question, Golden Harvest. We don't want to turn our interactions into interrogations. So, what would you normally do with a friend who isn't acting themselves?"
"Talk with them?"
"Talk with them. Heart-to-heart. You'll soon figure out whether they're the real deal or not."
Amethyst Star, a pink unicorn mare with a young daughter beside her, spoke up. "If we do believe we're face to face with an impostor, how exactly can we bring them to you to decide? I'm not too eager to execute a citizen's arrest on one of those horrors." Several other ponies murmured in agreement.
"Just cry out 'Changeling!' Princess Luna and Rainbow Dash will be patrolling the skies. One of them will be sure to hear."
"And if I hear, you bet I'll help out too," chimed in Thunderlane, a dark-coated pegasus stallion with a blue-and-silver mohawk mane. A number of other stallions indicated likewise.
"But by the time help arrives, the changeling could take on a new disguise and escape," pointed out Amethyst Star.
"If that happens then too bad," answered Twilight. "Remember, my brother and his wife will ultimately take care of the changelings. The safety of Ponyville's citizens is our top priority for now. If you're not sure you're up to tackling a changeling, don't. We want no unnecessary heroics."
"Yeah, leave those to me," added Rainbow Dash proudly, not fully aware what her words conveyed in that context.
Cup Cake, a plump, pleasant earth mare with a mane like a swirl of pink icing, turned to her husband and twin foals, then looked pleadingly at Twilight. "Suppose one of us does fall victim to these creatures. Can the love they drain from us be restored?"
"Spreading love is Princess Cadance's magic specialty. She can cure any casualties."
Still somewhat uneasy but not quite afraid, the townsponies had no further questions, so Twilight closed the meeting, allowing the attendees to help themselves to the assorted apple-based confections that Applejack has rustled up for them.
Twilight approached her friends with a nervous, almost apologetic smile. "How do you all think that went down?"
"Like a tankard of fresh apple juice on a hot summer's day," replied Applejack in her distinctive, hospitable twang.
"Mmm-hmm," Twilight's other friends chorused.
"Your destiny as Princess of Friendship appears to suit you to the ground, Twilight Sparkle," added Princess Luna.
Twilight blushed. "Let's just hope it works."
"Sure it will," grinned Pinkie Pie, her mouth full of apple cobbler. "Remember, Shining Armor and Princess Cadance will be along soon to take care of everything."
Suddenly, Spike's face contorted into an anxious grimace. Reflexively, he placed a clawed forefoot to his mouth as an attack of nausea struck him. Turning protectively away from the ponies, he spewed out a tongue of flame, which quickly dissipated to reveal a rolled-up parchment bearing a royal seal. His method of receiving messages from Princess Celestia might have been efficient but it was not the most comfortable of sensations for him.
"Great! News of my brother and Cadance." Twilight telekinetically opened the scroll and lifted it to her eye level. As she silently read, her excitement melted into consternation. She released her magic hold on the parchment, letting it drop to the ground.
"What's wrong, Twilight?" Fluttershy voiced the collective concerns of her friends.
"They're not coming."
* * *
"Oh the dragon is the greatest creature everrrrr."
SLAM!
"With awesomeness that goes right through the rooooooof."
SLAM!
"And if you're dumb enough to try to cross oooooone."
SLAM!
"You better put on something fireprooooof."
With each out-of-tune line of his raucous, deafening song, the gargantuan reptile launched himself high into the air, then swooped down with a thunderous crash into the transparent dome surrounding the Crystal Empire. Despite his incredible mass, he absorbed the tremendous impact without harm. The barrier stayed intact but the dragon was unshaken in his determination to plunder what lay behind it.
For a thousand years, the Empire had lain dormant underground; her residents, the Crystal Ponies, in suspended animation, hidden from prying eyes. Then she had arisen and, with the help of Twilight Sparkle and her friends, including Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, the crystal ponies had activated their ancient artefact, the Crystal Heart, to obliterate the empire's tyrannical ruler, King Sombra, defeating him for the second and final time. Under Cadance's rule the revived empire had prospered, her glittering buildings standing as a testament to the power that lay within ponies.
Unfortunately, the great crystal structures had also attracted some altogether unwanted attention. Dragons rarely ventured into Equestria except in passing. However, this rogue had spotted the empire from afar during his wanderings and flew eagerly in, only to collide with the forcefield that Shining Armor and Cadance had erected just in time.
The dragon hammered at the barrier with ever-increasing forcefulness, hurled monstrous boulders, breathed blazing fire, to no avail. He tried to dig under it but the barrier penetrated the ground as well, completely encasing the realm. Growing ever more frustrated, the dragon intensified his onslaught until he felt something. Not a fracture, just a tiny yet clearly perceptible buckling in the barrier before firming up again. It was then he remembered talk among his elders about some ponies, the ones with horns, having some kind of freaky magic powers, and he guessed it was they who were responsible for this forcefield. Well, he doubted their power was inexhaustible, and that buckling, slight though it was, renewed his confidence. He continued his assault day and night, fortifying himself with gemstones from his hidden hoard, cheering every small yield in the barrier and making games to keep from getting bored and losing his focus. After a few rounds of heaving colossal boulders into the air and swatting them at the barrier with his tail, he was now dive-bombing and singing.
This was the terrifying sight that greeted the royal messenger, who promptly fled back to Canterlot to deliver the unfortunate news to Princess Celestia.
"Excuse me." Celestia's voice, despite its serenity, was loud and resonant enough to catch the attention of even a huge dragon. She hovered in mid-air, flanked by a platoon of royal pegasus guards. A detachment of unicorn guards waited on the ground nearby.
"Oh, hey babe, what's up? Listen, if it's about the noise I'm real sorry. For some reason these crazy ponies wont let me in!" The dragon noisily pounded his clawed fist into the forcefield in time with his last three words.
Judging by his voice and turn of phrase, the dragon seemed to be a very young adult. However, his enormous size—his upper jaw alone was bigger than Celestia—matched that of a much older reptile, for dragons continued to grow even after reaching maturity. This suggested that he was particularly prone to the greed that triggered growth spurts in his race. Powerful, ambitious and reckless: a highly volatile combination. "I am Princess Celestia, ruler of the realm of Equestria."
"Cool. Say, nice tattoo." The monster was peering at the radiant sun image that decorated both sides of Celestia's hindquarters, symbolising her governance of the Equestrian sun. "What's it mean? That the sun shines out of your——"
"Would you be good enough to tell me what business you have with the Crystal Empire?" Celestia was not naive but she felt it only polite to give the visitor the benefit of the doubt.
"Selling flowers. Whatta you think? There is some serious crystal booty in here and it's just what I need for my jewel hoard."
"I'm afraid those crystals are the property of the Crystal Empire. They form her buildings, her infrastructure. You may not take them."
"Huh? Oh, okay, sure."
Celestia arched her eyebrow at the dragon. A creature so potent and determined would not likely give up his plunder so easily. "Really?"
"Really. Leave the crystals alone. Got it."
Despite his ungrudging apparent concession, the dragon made no move to depart. Celestia waited for the inevitable catch, which came a few seconds later.
"After all, who needs crystals when you can have crystal ponies?" The dragon laughed out loud as Celestia fought to suppress her horror and rage. "I mean, can you begin to imagine the joy that surged through my heart when I saw them all galloping around in here in panic? Crystal. Ponies. Who would've dared to dream such a delicacy could even exist?"
Celestia barely managed to maintain her calm demeanour. "You will not prevail."
"What, against your magic bubble here?" He slammed his huge tail into the forcefield. "You don't believe that yourself, or you and your pony posse wouldn't have shown up."
"Even if you succeed in breaking through the forcefield, the empire is under the protection of the Crystal Heart, which——"
She was unable to continue over the dragon's outburst of laughter. Not scornful laughter—he was genuinely, uncontrollably tickled by Celestia's warning. "'The Crystal Heart'!" roared the dragon at last, repeatedly smashing his fist against the barrier in an attempt to regain his composure. "Oh, that kills me."
"Quite possibly," the princess replied soberly.
"Listen, sweetheart, your sparkly magic trinkets might help you in your little pony slap-fights but come on!" The reptile swept back and forth before Celestia, showing off his prodigious size and golden, armour-like scales.
"Are you really prepared to take that chance?"
"I'm a predator, sugarhoof. Every hunt carries some degree of risk. You pansy plant-eaters wouldn't understand."
"Understand this. I did not come here to threaten you. I came because I don't want your greed to cause any creature to suffer, including you. Please, leave now in peace."
The dragon's cocky smile had faded. He was fed up with this conversation and did not appreciate some sissy prey animal making veiled threats towards him. "Thanks for your concern but I'm good." He soared high into the air once more, ready to dive-bomb the top of the dome once more. As he plummeted towards his target, he saw Celestia hovering directly in his path, her horn pointed straight at him. The sight did nothing to slow him down. Nice try princess, he thought. If you think your dinky little horn can put a dent in my scales, then ...
A ball of blinding white light erupted and expanded around the tip of Celestia's horn. Sensing the princess was planning something more than mere impalement, the dragon veered to his left just as Celestia fired a beam of power at him. The beam struck a glancing but stinging blow against his solidly armoured haunch.
More affronted than physically hurt, the dragon wheeled around to face Celestia. "So, Princess Prissy-Pants wants to play rough, huh?" He surged forward and heaved a deluge of flame at Celestia, who generated a barrier for herself and her guards just in time. Even behind her forcefield, the ponies cringed at the scorching heat of the fire. "Bring it."
* * *
"So that's it. Until they see this dragon off, we have to deal with the changelings on our own." Twilight Sparkle gazed sullenly at the ground where the royal message lay, as a collective gasp arose from her friends.
"Princess Celestia and the royal guard are going hoof-to-toe against a fully-grown dragon?" exclaimed Pinkie Pie. "They could get roasted alive!"
"I can't imagine the strain Princess Cadance and Shining Armor must be feeling right now," added Rarity. "That forcefield simply has to hold."
"But what about the Crystal Heart? That'll take care of the dragon, right?" asked Spike with a hope he didn't entirely feel.
"Maybe," Applejack answered anxiously, "but who knows what kinda damage that monster could do in the meantime?"
Fluttershy pressed her forehooves against her cheeks in despair. "Those poor crystal ponies. And their poor little tiny cute little crystal sheep."
Decisively, Rainbow Dash rocketed several feet into the air. "We've gotta get to the Crystal Empire now! They need all the help they can get."
"Hmm?" Twilight, who had been staring at the dropped parchment during her friends' various reactions, snapped out of her reverie. Yet even as she spoke, she seemed half-hearted and unfocused. "Oh, no, no. Princess Celestia has instructed us to stay here and protect Ponyville from the changelings."
Twilight's distracted mood did not go unnoticed. Princess Luna walked gently towards her. "This must be a terrible blow to you, Twilight Sparkle."
"You have no idea," murmured Twilight.
"Is there anything we can do to lift your spirits?" asked Pinkie Pie.
"Yeah, we're here for you," added Rainbow Dash.
Twilight looked pensively at her friends. "Actually, I think I'd like to be alone for a while."
Unhappy but understanding, the ponies watched as Twilight Sparkle walked slowly towards her Friendship Castle home. Spike jogged until he caught up with her, then walked alongside her.
Twilight turned to the baby dragon and tried to sound as inoffensive as possible. "Alone alone, Spike. I admire and appreciate your devotion to helping me but I really need some time on my own right now. So, if you could just let me get to my castle?"
"Uh, Twilight, I kind of live here too."
"Oh. Right. That."