"C'mon Bonnie," Lyra cried, dragging a reluctant Bonbon through the Ponyville Market. "We promised Vinyl and Octavia we'd meet them at Sugarcube Corner today!"
"Yeah, two hours from now," Bonbon deadpanned.
Lyra facehooved.
"You Know how packed that place gets, right? If we don't get a good spot, Octavia's gonna have a fit!"
Bonbon groaned.
"Oh c'mon Lyra. Octavia's not that critical."
Lyra paused in her tugging to give her a bemused expression.
"Really Bons?"
"What?"
"Remember that one time your tail brushed up against her cello? It took an hour to get her to chill out."
Bonbon cringed at the memory.
"Okay, that was just one time though."
"You're right," Lyra sighed. "Cuz she's even worse when she's had a few drinks."
Both mares trembled.
"I still have flashbacks,"Lyra mumbled.
"Yeah," Bonbon agreed. "Who knew she could throw knives like that?"
The two exchanged a nervous laugh.
"Anyway," Lyra sighed. "Let's get moving. Maybe we can get some fresh muffins before Derpy gets to them."
Bonbon nodded and the two peacefully made there way towards Sugarcube Corner. Meanwhile, a tan Earth Pony mare watched them from the shadows. With a cold smile and hungry eyes, she fallowed them through the market, careful not to draw to much attention to herself.
Excellent....
***
Octavia was not a happy mare. She liked having things in some form of order. It was simple really. Wake up, have breakfast, brush teeth, clean herself up, grab her cello, and work on her music or preform. Some would consider such a life boring, but if Octavia wanted excitement, she could get plenty of it fallowing her sister to "work". Now she not only had to live with the fact that an army of bug-ponies want to capture her to do Celestia knows what to her, but she has to play host to her Changeling Bodyguard. In spite of this, the grey Earth Pony maintained an air of calm neutrality as she walked towards Sugarcube Corner, but to the white Unicorn and blue Pegasus tailing her, Octavia was a tempest of flames.
"What crawled up her plot?" Blue Vibe whispered.
Vinyl raised a brow at him.
"Really bro?"
Blue Vibe reared.
"What?"
Vinyl sighed.
"We're lucky Octy has plans today, otherwise she'd probably be pounding scotch right now."
This peaked Blue's interest.
"Hmmm, Miss Stuffy getting plastered? I'd pay bits ta see that!"
Vinyl chuckled a little.
"Yeah! Last time, she thought she was a Unicorn and spent an hour trying to levitate an apple! The whole time she looked like she had to take a leak!"
Blue burst out laughing. Just picturing it was comedy gold!
"Excuse me," Octavia said over her shoulder. "But if the two of you wish to return home in one piece later, would you kindly shut up?"
Reading the venom in her sister's tone, Vinyl tightly closed her muzzle, but Blue either didn't notice or didn't care. With a smirk, he flapped his wings and rose into a low glide just above Octavia.
"What's wrong? Time of the month or something?"
Octavia glared daggers at the faux Pegasus hovering over her.
"No, but if you don't back off I promise you will regret it."
Instead of fallowing her advice, he shrugged and landed next to her, walking in pace with her. Vinyl watched this in shocked aw. Though Octavia wasn't a particularly violent pony, she did have the skills necessary to do some serious damage if she needed to.
"Oh my, how frightening," Blue Vibe said dramatically. "A pretty mare with no combat experience threatened to hurt me! What ever will I do?"
Octavia glared at the Changeling's theatrics.
"Please, shut the buck up," she growled.
Blue reared back slightly and continued his performance.
"Such language! Why I don't know if my little heart can take it. But since you said please I guess I could indulge you."
As he said that, he flashed her an obnoxious smirk that made Octavia want to knock his teeth in.
"Thank you," she growled.
"But first!"
Before she could react, Blue put one of his wings over her back and pulled her close to him. Octavia's eyes shot wide with shock as she struggled in vane to get out of his iron grip.
"You need to chill."
As he said that, a soft vibration started to come out of his wing. At first, the strange sensation scared Octavia, but as the vibrations washed over her, she began to find them quite pleasant. Almost to the point of being therapeutic even. Slowly, the tension in her muscles started to fade away and a happy sigh slipped out of her muzzle.
"There ya go," he smiled, releasing a very pleased Octavia from his wing. "Better?"
"V-Very," she blushed. "Thank you."
"It was nothing," he smirked, bowing to the gray mare. "After all, what kind of guard would I be if I let my charge's head pop off?"
Octavia didn't quite know how to react to this. On one hoof, she was disgusted that a Changeling touched her in such an intimate manner, but on the other, she couldn't help but think of the fairytales her mother read to her when she was a filly and just how much like some of the Knights from those stories reminded her of the disguised creature kneeling before her. Plus, that thing he did with his wing was simply amazing!
"Besides," he continued, straitening himself. "All that anger was starting to make me sick."
Octavia just stared at him as she watched him walk towards Sugarcube Corner, completely flabbergasted by Blue's sudden shift from charming to indifferent. She also couldn't help staring at the set of headphones he had on his flank.
"Enjoying the view?" Vinyl smirked, closing the gap between them now that her sister was in better spirits.
Octavia flinched out of her trance and shot Vinyl a confused glare.
"What?" she shrugged. "He's a looker. All things considered."
Octavia groaned and fallowed her bodyguard, Vinyl not too far behind, a dorky grin plastered across the DJ's muzzle. Once they made it to the eatery, Blue Vibe held open the door for the two mares and with some reservations, they stepped inside. Sugarcube Corner was always packed, especially around breakfast and lunch time. A fact that made getting a table at the establishment very difficult if you didn't get there really early. Octavia considered herself to be a relatively patient mare most of the time, so the idea of waiting for a table didn't bother her to much, but the site of her friend Lyra waving her down from a table by one of the bakery's windows was a welcome turn of events.
"Yo! Lyre! Bons!" Vinyl cheered, catching the two mares in a hug. "Long time no see!"
"Hey, Vine!" Lyra cried, returning the white Unicorn's greeting with gusto.
"It's good to see you too," Bonbon gasped, Vinyl's bear-hug crushing the air from her lungs.
Smiling, Vinyl released the two ponies, one of which struggled to get air back into herself before acknowledging the two behind the DJ.
"Its good to see you again Octavia," Bonbon smiled.
"Likewise," Octavia said, a soft smile gracing her own muzzle.
It was then that she noticed the Pegasus stallion standing next to her.
"And you are?"
Blue smirked and strolled up to Bonbon, confidence pouring off of him.
"I'm Blue Vibe, and might I say it is a pleasure to meet you."
With that, he took one of Bonbon's forehooves into one of his own and gently kissed it. Bonbon blushed as he let her hoof slip out of his grasp and fall back to the ground.
"W-Wow," she gasped. "Never been greeted like that before. I'm Bonbon."
"Again, charmed," he smirked, bowing slightly.
This got Bonbon to blush a little brighter.
Lyra saw this and frowned.
"Hey pal!" she snapped, stepping in between Blue Vibe and Bonbon. "Hooves off my mare!"
Blue reared back and for a moment looked startled by Lyra's sudden show of hostility for a moment before his air of confidence returned. He smiled and lowered his head in a respectful bow.
"Sorry, where I'm from, that's just a greeting," he said, raising his head out of the bow. "I didn't mean to imply anything, ma'am."
"Oh," Lyra cringed, all aggression leaving her features. "Sorry."
Bonbon let out an annoyed groan and rolled her eyes at her Marefriend's antics.
"Seriously Lyra, you don't have to be so paranoid."
Lyra turned towards Bonbon and sighed.
"Hey, I can't help it. Your a catch!"
Bonbon giggled then gave her mare a nuzzle.
"Thanks Ly. Now come on, I think we've held everypony up long enough. I'm starving!"
Everypony except Blue cheered in agreement and took a seat with Bonbon and Lyra sitting on one side, Octavia and Vinyl sitting opposite with blue sitting at the head with the DJ at his right and the mint-green Unicorn. As the four mares talked, Blue scoped out their surroundings, taking note of every pony's actions and more importantly, if any of them gave off any of Queen Chrysalis's magic.
All clear for now, he thought, glancing down at his menu. Hopefully it'll stay that way.
Suddenly, he had the feeling he was being watched and looked up from his menu to see the four mares at the table staring at him expectantly.
"Yeah?"
"Didn't you hear me?" Bonbon asked, raising a brow.
Blue blinked.
Bonbon groaned.
"I asked you how you met Octavia and Vinyl?"
"Oh! Funny story actually. Last night, I was at Vinyl's show and-"
At that moment, the front door slammed open, drawing everyponie's attention. Standing at the doorway was a tan Earth Pony mare. Her tail was a long and strait violet curtain that trailed behind her like a ball gown. Her mane was in a similar form, covering the left side of her face. Her visible eye was icy blue and scanned the room with purpose. After a moment, her gaze locked with Blue's and a predatory grin crossed her muzzle. With the confident grace of a cat, the mare navigated her way through the crowded bakery, all the while still keeping her eye locked on Blue. It wasn't until she was standing by their table that anypony said anything.
"'Bout time you got here," Blue smiled.
The mare chuckled.
"Sorry, but even I can't keep up with your insane speed."
"True, true," Blue shrugged with a smirk.
The four mares looked back and forth between the two ponies as the conversation progressed until Lyra lost her patience.
"Okay, who the buck is this?!"
Everypony, including the mystery mare stared at Lyra, with the new pony and Blue Vibe not giving the Unicorn a look of shock.
"I take it you haven't told her yet," the mare said, raising a brow.
Blue chuckled awkwardly.
"No, not yet. But I guess now's as good a time as any."
With that, he turned towards Vinyl.
"You can do a noise bubble spell right?"
"Yeah?"
"Do it."
The flatness of the usually whimsical Changeling's tone halted any potential questions or protests from the DJ. With a gulp, she cast the spell, encasing them in a red dome of energy.
Blue vibe let out a sigh.
"Good. Now everypony listen carefully to what I have to say. Right now, a Changeling Queen named Chrysalis is targeting the most popular musicians in equestria. The plan is to replace or brainwash them and use the love from their fans to increase the strength of her hive. If successful, she would have an army strong enough to take over Equestria and most of the surrounding nations in a matter of days."
Bonbon and Lyra swallowed hard, terrified at the idea of being at the mercy of the same monsters that attacked Canterlot.
"To counter this," Blue continued. "Princess Celestia called my team and I to act as bodyguards. I'm currently in charge of protecting Octavia while my second in command Rose Thorn, will be guarding Lyra Heartstrings."
As he said this, he gestured towards the tan mare across from himself. Bonbon gave Rose Thorn a hard glare.
"Are ya sure she can do the job?"
Blue Vibe chuckled.
"Trust me, there's no better Changeling to have on your side."
This got the two mares to bolt to their hooves.
"She's a Changeling?!" Lyra cried,
"Yep," Blue Vibe said casually. "I'm one too. I'd show you, but I think you understand."
Trembling, the two mares looked at Vinyl and Octavia in disbelief.
"Did you know about this?!" Lyra screamed.
The two sighed and nodded.
"And you didn't tell us?!" Bonbon cried, pointing at Octavia.
Octavia was about to argue, but Blue interrupted her.
"Actually, They didn't find out until this morning and trust me, you two are getting eased into this situation way better then these two."
As he said this, he nodded towards Octavia and Vinyl.
They looked away awkwardly, remembering the battle and interrogation that took place this morning.
"And don't worry. Believe it or not, We're different from Chrysalis and her swarm."
"How so?" Lyra asked, easing herself back into her seat.
"For starters," Rose Thorn said, startling everypony. "We aren't part of a colony and have the ability to think for ourselves."
"Is that rare for Changelings?" Bonbon asked taking her seat as well.
"Not exactly," she shrugged. "You see, there are two types of Changelings. There are Colony Changelings that live in hives and are linked to their Queens. Then there are Solitary Changelings like Blue Vibe and I who have personalities and free will. In fact, Solitary Changeling society is almost the same as what you ponies enjoy."
"You also don't need to worry about us turning you into 'love slaves' or anything like that," Blue said, sounding almost board. "Solitaries like us don't need to eat emotions that often and generally don't like to take it without permission."
"Besides," Rose Thorn grimaced. "Love is such a bland emotion. I can't understand what the Clones like about it so much."
Blue shrugged.
"Wait," Lyra said, holding up a hoof. "If you guys don't eat love then what do you eat?"
Blue Vibe and Rose Thorn looked at each other, shrugged and turned to Lyra.
"Well," Blue started. "I'm not particularly picky, but I like confidence."
"And I like lust," Thorn hissed, licking her lips.
Lyra gulped.
Both of them sighed.
"Can you two chill out," Blue said wearily. "Fear isn't exactly our cup of tea."
Thorn nodded.
"Sorry!" the two of them said quickly.
Both the Changelings and sisters let out an annoyed sigh.
"How about we drop the subject for now and just focus on getting something to eat," Blue said, looking at his menu.
Vinyl nodded and with a loud pop, dispelled the sound bubble.
The rest of the morning meeting more or less shifted back to normal, though Bonbon and Lyra did seemed eerily interested in Blue and Thorn's eating habits.
"What?" Blue asked, swallowing a mouthful of muffin. "Is there something on my face?"
"No," Bonbon said, still staring at him. "I just didn't know you guys ate normal food."
Blue shrugged before going back to devouring his muffin. Thorn barely touched her doughnut. Instead, she stared at a gradually uncomfortable looking Lyra.
"Can I help you?" Lyra asked, leaning away from Thorn's gaze.
Thorn smiled and with an impish tone whispered, "How often do the two of you bang?"
This got three of the mares to choke and spew their drinks across the table. Blue face hoofed, groaning what sounded like a curse in some unknown language. Lyra's face turned as red as a cherry as her brain processed what she said and tried to find the right response. All that came out was an incoherent sputtering of random words.
Thorn casually leaned back in her seat, seeming to enjoy the effect her question had on the mare.
"What the buck?" Bonbon growled. "That's none of your Celestia damned business!"
Thorn looked at Bonbon and licked her lips.
"So, not often I take it. Explains the temper. Take my word for it, if the two of you don't get to it soon someponie's gonna lose it."
Bonbon glared at her to which Thorn simply smiled.
"Or maybe somepony can't satisfy the other."
"THAT'S IT!" Bonbon growled, jumping to her hooves and bolting towards the tan mare. "YOU! ME! OUTSIDE! NOW!"
Thorn kept smiling, completely unfazed by Bonbon's fury.
"Very well," she said, gracefully rising out of her chair. "I could use a good workout."
With that, Bonbon stomped out of the bakery, slamming the door open as she made her exit. Rose Thorn moved to fallow but was stopped by a call from Blue Vibe.
"Yes boss?"
"Rose Thorn," he said, tone flat and face serious. "I forbid you from killing her. Understood? You may do whatever you want with her, but you are not to kill her."
Rose Thorn nodded and fallowed Bonbon out of the bakery. The remaining four members of the party left some bits and fallowed the previous two. What they saw when they stepped out shocked them. Bonbon was on her hind legs, letting loose a barrage of punches that were easily blocked or dodged by an almost board looking Thorn. After a minute, Bonbon fell back onto all fours and turned around to buck her, but Thorn countered with a buck of her own, sending the candy maker flying face-first into the dirt. Bonbon stood back up, spat out a mouthful of dirt, and with a furious snarl, bolted towards Thorn. Thorn looked at the incoming mare with disinterest before she side-stepped her and grabbed one of her hind legs with her long tail. With a sigh, Thorn lifted her tail, raising Bonbon five feet into the air before quickly slamming her into the ground. The crowed slowly forming around the two fighters cringed at the display of power. Lyra moved to try and save her mare but Blue stopped her with one of his wings.
"Don't," he said, not looking away from the fight. "If you get involved you'll just get hit in the crossfire."
Lyra was about to argue, but then she saw Bonbon get back up, crick her neck, and bolt towards Thorn again. This time the candy maker dove into a slide below Thorn and landed a powerful two legged hind-leg buck to the gut, sending the Changeling three feet into the air. Thorn gasped as she landed on her hooves four feet away, struggling to get some air back into her lungs as Bonbon charged again to keep the pressure on. Before the Changeling could get her bearings, Bonbon tackled her in the face with her shoulder, knocking her back another foot.
"GOT YA!" Bonbon cried, as she grabbed her dazed opponent's foreleg.
In one fluid motion, she hooked the foreleg over her shoulder and flipped Thorn over her back into the ground. While Thorn was still down, Bonbon took the limb she was still holding and locked it behind Thorn's back, effectively pinning the Changeling to the ground.
"Now take back what you said," Bonbon growled.
Thorn just grinned.
"Why? I've already won."
Before Bonbon could say or do anything, Thorn's tail wrapped around Bonbon's barrel and pulled her off of her. Bonbon tried to free herself from the surprisingly strong curtain of hair, but again found herself slammed into the earth. With a groan, Bonbon rolled onto her back, no longer able to move her body. Thorn let go of the battered Earth Pony mare and walked up to her, a satisfied smirk graced her muzzle as she looked down at her.
"D....Damn it," Bonbon groaned.
Rose Thorn's eyes became half lidded as she lowered her head, face only an inch away from her own. As she did, her mane fell over, making a thick curtain around their heads that cut off the outside world.
"That was the most fun I've had in a long time," Thorn said, voice coming out a little husky. "Thank you."
"S-Sure," Bonbon stammered, a blush forming on her face.
With an evil smile, Thorn planted her lips against Bonbon's. Caught off guard by the sudden show of affection, Bonbon's eyes widened as Thorn pulled her face back. At the same time Bonbon felt something get pulled out of her, scaring the living daylights out of her while also giving her a strange sense of satisfaction.
Thorn licked her lips and said, "And thanks for the meal."
Bonbon's face turned apple red as Thorn stepped back to give her some space. Lyra, seeing that the fight was over, bolted towards her marefriend, worriedly checking her for any serious injuries. After a quick scanning spell, Lyra found that aside from a few scratches and bruises Bonbon was fine. A little dazed, but fine. As she helped her marefriend get to her hooves, Thorn strolled up to the pair.
"So, do you two have a guest room or do I sleep on the couch."