//------------------------------//
// Integration 
// Story: I'm Sorry it had to Come to This 
// by Bright Keys 
//------------------------------//

	Rainbow Dash took in the scene.
“So,” she said after a couple of moments, “I see Canterlot isn’t the only city to adopt Changeling integration laws.”
“Oh yeah, there’s changelings everywhere. It’s actually suuupppeeer fun!” Pinkie Pie shouted.
“A lot of changelings come here to gain Equestrian citizenship, seeing as in Canterlot it’s more expensive and there’s a lot more paperwork. Here, you say the Oath, live under surveillance and in a disguise for a few days, and then you’re given citizenship.” Twilight added, proud that she had helped come up with a way for the weakened changelings to easily find new lives.
“I’ve been working with a few to create dresses that change with their magic. So far they only change color, but I hope with time that we’ll be able to change the entire dress.” Rarity said, thinking of the countless possibilities of being able to create a dress that was actually two dresses.
“I’m just so surprised at how many there are here undisguised. I mean sure, it’s their choice whether or not they want to be disguised or not, but in Canterlot, disguised changelings are required to identify themselves somehow, which often results in changelings getting a lot of streets to themselves.” Rainbow stated, gawking at another couple.
“Well, you have to think. Canterlot was the focal point of the invasion. Any changelings here were either flung here in the explosion, or they wandered here after hearing the news that changelings were being offered citizenship.” Twilight reasoned.
“And what are the rules here for feeding? We both know what happens when they get enough love.” Rainbow Dash asked, raising an eyebrow.
“That’s up to the couple. A changeling is never alone here. They are told to go to Match Maker’s Meet-N-Greet. There they will, if they’re lucky, be able to find somepony to at least be their friend. They can survive off of friendship. Oftentimes, the pony tells the changeling when to stop.” Twilight replied.
“If only it were that easy in Canterlot.” Rainbow dash muttered.
“You have to give ponies time Rainbow. Ponyville is well aware of what the changelings did, but they’re familiar with acceptance and forgiveness. Compare that to Canterlot. A bustling city full of rich ponies.” Twilight stated, putting an arm around Rainbow’s neck and motioning with the other hoof at the city before them.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Rainbow Dash replied, sitting down, “it probably doesn’t help that I’m used to the Ponyville life as well.”
“Well, you’re back home now, and now you can help changelings get the lives they deserve!” Twilight smiled, “and maybe the guards up there will hear about you here and things might change up in the capital.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine darling!” Rarity assured. Rainbow stood up, shaking off Twilight’s hoof.
“Yeah! I am me after all!” she said, placing a hoof on her chest. As she held the pose, she felt a sudden gurgling. She’d had a light breakfast that day due to her excitement to return to Ponyville and see her friends, and she was starting to regret the decision.
“Could we… stop by somewhere?” Rainbow Dash asked, turning to the rest, “I’m not really supposed to make requests like this, but I’m kind of off hours.” She rolled her eyes over to Twilight Sparkle, who made no indication of disapproval of Rainbow’s request.
“Of course!” Twilight replied, “the more accustomed to the new changes in Ponyville, the more prepared you’ll be to defend it.”
“I was just thinking of going to Sugarcube Corner. Get something light enough to tide me over for a few hours.” Rainbow Dash stated.
“In all honesty, it was in my plans today to go get something to eat. I doubt any of us have had anything too substantial in excitement. That and I’ve gotten us all dinner reservations.” Twilight Sparkle explained as she started walking again.
Rainbow dash couldn’t help but gawk at the changelings that were practically everywhere. After a few minutes she had estimated that for every five or so ponies, there was at least one changeling. Each one seemed to sport a different rate of decay, as lack of a steady supply of love caused the effect seen in most changelings. Some were practically walking on stilts, while others had whole legs and wings. As the group walked along, Rainbow caught something out of the corner of her eye. A pony looked around suspiciously before entering an alleyway, before entering. That would have been odd enough, but the green flash that Rainbow spotted sparked her curiosity, and she broke away from the group, making her way over to two guards leaning against their spears making conversation.
“You two,” she stated. The two guards snapped to attention.
“What can we do for you captain?” One asked.
“I’ve spotted some suspicious activity in that alleyway. You two will block off all possible exits, ensuring that you are not seen.” The two guards nodded with a grunt of approval, marching to the back of the alley. The trap was set up, now Rainbow Dash just needed to catch her prey. 
Taking a deep breath, she lunged up into the air with a sweep of her now much more powerful wings. Despite the force of the take off, her heavy metal armor still threatened to drag her down to the earth. Her armor was meant to be heavier and more ornate than any of the other guards, and she whispered a thank you under her breath to Shining Armor, who had permitted her to leave her helm in Canterlot and have it sent to Twilight’s castle later. Right now the last thing she needed was the heavy, full-face helmet obscuring her vision and weighing her down even more.
Your armor is your best friend. The statement from Shining Armor rang through in her head. He had told her this after she complained about how it hindered her ability to fly. It might not be rational to give a pegasus a heavier set of armor, but it’s there to protect you and set you apart from the other guards.
Rainbow Dash set down on the shingle roof as gently as she could, making little noise. Below her, her fear were realized. Three changelings stood there, talking about something.
“Are the receptacles ready?” The one closest to the back of the alley asked.
“Very nearly. I’ve been sacrificing my own food for months now.” One of the two closest to the street half-whined. Rainbow Dash saw a glint out of the corner of her eye. The guards were in place, hiding behind some miscellaneous debris and using a shard of metal to signal to her.
“You can have all the love you want once we fill the receptacles and give them to Tankrii.” The changeling closest to the wall shot back. Rainbow Dash wasn’t entirely sure what they were talking about, but she didn’t like it. She stood to her full height and glared down at the changelings below them.
“You three have shown that you have intent to betray the agreement between changelings and Equestria!” She declared boldly, getting surprised glances from the three as their conversation was interrupted. The other two guards took this as the signal and leapt out from behind the barrels. In a moment the one closest to the wall was subdued by the first, and the two at the street fled. Rainbow Dash swooped down, allowing the armor to carry her down and land with impressive force in front of one. The other had not been so fortunate, as the other guard had overtaken him and arrested him.
“Conspiracy and resisting arrest. Surrender now kid, before somepony gets hurt.” Rainbow Dash said with a smirk as she stared down at the clearly terrified bug. His eyes darted back and forth, and his face lit up. With a flash of green magic, he disappeared, and Rainbow Dash looked back and saw him running towards… her friends. A new fire lit within her, she ran as fast as she could and took off, plowing straight into the changeling and tackling him to the ground just before he reached the five, hair-thin cracks appearing on his exoskeleton.
“Tankrii!” The changeling shouted up at the group. Applejack hid herself behind her hat. “Tankrii help! They’ve found us!”
“Ah… I don’t know who this is.” Applejack stated. Was that fear in her tone?
“Tankrii, c’mon.. you… you know me! I’m T’zackle!” The changeling, T’zackle shouted back up, the spark of hope that had appeared in his eyes rapidly fading.
“I’ve never seen this changeling before in my life.” Even with her face hidden, it was clear she was lying. Rainbow Dash shifted into a position of more leverage, and applied more pressure onto his back. The sound of cracking exoskeleton broke the heavy air.
“Who is this Tankrii, traitor?” She spat. The changeling simply pointed up at Applejack.
“You’re lying!” Rainbow Dash shouted.
“No! No I’m not I swear! You have things that can nullify a disguise. Use one on her!” T’zackle shouted in a panic. Still pinning him to the ground, Rainbow Dash looked at one of the guards who, after ensuring his quarry wouldn’t escape and was going to the prisons, decided to catch up to the rainbow-maned mare.
“Do you have a revealing stone on you?” Rainbow asked.
“I’m afraid that won’t be necessary.” Applejack said from behind her hat.
“Why?”
“I’m sorry, I really am. I’m sorry it had to come to this, that my plans were revealed prematurely.” Applejack lifted her hat. Instead of their normal green, her eyes more closely reflected that of a changeling queen's. Slowly, a green aura burned across her orange fur, and everywhere it touched revealed black exoskeleton.

T’zackle had been telling the truth all along.
Applejack was a changeling.