Ever wonder what some ponies hide from their friends? Well the CMC did, and it nearly cost them their friends due to alot of hurtful gossip that was driven by both Diamond Tiara's ruthless badgering, and their desperate search for a cutie mark. But there was one secret that was uncovered that could of cost them more than just their friends and family. It could of cost them their lives. Everypony in town knew Vinyl Scratch as one of Equestria's top Dubstep artists and DJs, what they didn't know was something that was deemed a national secret, and highly classified. The only one that knew about it was the Princess of the sun and ruling monarch, PRincess Celestia. Not even her sister Luna, nor the Elements of Harmony, knew the truth to Vinyl's past. News of the 3 Fillies gossip column had reached Celestia's ears before Twilight could run damage control. Most of the gossip actually amused the Princess, that was until she spotted the name Vinyl Scratch under a title aptly named ' Vinyl Scratch DJ or Secret Weapon'.
Even after the debacle had been handle in most regards, Celestia secretly made a trip to Ponyville without informing her Guards. She came upon Sweet Apple Acres to a very surprised Applejack.
"Uh, What's the reasonin' for a visit Princess?", AJ was undoubtedly nervous about was going on.
"I must speak with your sister and her 2 friends", She responded.
"Their in the Clubhouse, just past the south orchard", She aptly pointed the Princess in the direction she needed to go.
"Thank you, Applejack, and do not worry dear their not in any major trouble." And that was the truth, at least part of it at least. She just needed to see how much they might of uncovered, and to determine if there was a security breach back in Royal Guard.
As Celestia flew in the direction of the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse, she couldn't help but smile a small bit. It had only been 100 years ago that this farm had barely been started. And all because of her kindness towards the Apple Families difficult travels. They had been settlers in search of fertile land after all, just like their earth pony fore bearers centuries ago during the times of the 3 tribes.
As soon as she spotted her destination, she landed softly in front of the front door, and knocked on it three times. She was met by a trio of voices, a squeky high pitched voice of a small unicorn could be heard telling one of the others to be quiet. Then came a hushed silence before hearing, " Um, whose out there?"
"Princess Celestia, my little ponies.", The door flung open and all three of the fillies were scrambling to apologize for not recognizing who it was at the door.
"We're sorry we didn't recognize you right away Princess, then again, what are you doing here exactly?", Scootaloo asked out of both fear and curiousity. What was the Princess doing here and why did she seem so concerned. This didn't have to do with the School paper did it? Oh ponyfeathers, it did have to do with that! The same thought immidiately popped into the three fillies heads at the same time.
"This has to do with your little gossip column," Celestia stated, " for i need to know how you came across a certain piece of information regarding Ms Scratch." Celestia could be blunt about something and still radiate a calmness to it. It was one of her more endearing qualities Luna had mused about more then once.
"All we found out was that she used to be a prominent figure in the Equestrian Military. Sweetie had overheard some strange pony a few days ago comment about ' She's the best at her trade, and I'm not talking about her side gig as a traveling DJ,' which seemed odd since the pony he told it to slapped him, and replied in a posh accent ' lies'. That was it." Scootaloo looked her friends before turning back to see a sad, yet stern look come across the Princess' face. She knew who the other pony was. And it wasn't going to be easy to convince her that her room mate wasn't just a DJ, but an elite Sniper that often operated alone and in deep cover when she was deployed.
Celestia decide that this one one secret that the CMC would have to adhere too no matter what. What she was about to tell them she decided to do in front of her prized student, Twilight. And it was one of Equestria's most guarded secrets that she felt obligated to tell Twilight. She knew she could count on her friend and student to make sure nopony else knew about these. And if it had ever come out to the public, she'd rather Twilight hear it from her first before anypony else.
"I must ask you to accompany me to Twilight's castle for something," The princess spoke softly to the three little fillies basking in her radiance.
"Ok," All three of them chimed in at the same time.
As they left the farm, Applejack was inside baking Pies for Pinkie and Spike to pick up. It didn't take her long to poke her out the window and watch Celestia fly off with the CMC nestled on her back. I wonder what that was all for, she thought to herself. What Applejack didnt know was that they were heading to Twilight's Castle. It was important that this matter was handled with the utmost care. That and Celestia didn't want Vinyls' life to be put in extreme danger because of what she was about to tell Twilight. She had to make Twi understand that this couldn't be repeated to anypony outside of the five of them. It was extremely important that Vinyl's girlfriend also not be told, in the off chance that she was ever kidnapped or threatened by one of their many enemies.
As soon as they arrived the castle, Celestia and Twilight promptly escorted the three fillies inside. They didn't know how much trouble they had really gotten themselves into until Celestia explained to them why she was hear. She was quite humored with the article 'Celestia just like us' and a picture of herself enjoying some cake. But what really got to her was the article titled 'Vinyl Scratch DJ or Secret weapon'. Scootaloo was the first to realize just how much trouble they were in.
"Your article could of put Ms. Scratch in serious danger young ones", Celestia told them very sternly. She had every right to be. Twilight was also about to find out why she hadn't heard of the Changlings since her brother's wedding night. And that was over 3 or more years ago from her perspective.
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Three Years, One week after Shining Armor's wedding night.
She had been so close. So close to victory, and it all disappeared in a flash because of her own over confidence. She realized it as she and her Invasion force were hurtled away from Canterlot and back towards the Badlands. But she didn't know somepony had been dispatched to follow her.
Chrysalis' and the remainder of her invasion force landed hard against the rocky floor of the Badlands after being expelled from Canterlot by Shining' and Cadences' forcefield. What she still didn't realize was that she was now being hunted, per Celestia's personal orders to an elite operative. Chrysalis at first heard what sounded like a far off crack of thunder, but it was day out with no storm clouds visible in the sky. That's when she watched one of her changeling guards strike the ground with a hard thud, and not get back up. Another pair of thunderous cracks and two more of her soldiers dropped to the rocky floor. She could feel fear grip her emotionless heart for the first time in ages. She ordered her remaining forces to run until they got close to the Hive.
None of them made it. More thunder cracks, and more of the Changeling army hit the ground, permanently. The rocky outcrops of the Badlands made for perfect sniper cover. Chrysalis felt something impact both of her back hooves. The Queen was finding it hard to walk, seeing that both of her hind quarter's had been torn in half by magically laced rifle rounds. She tried to drag herself to the border of her Hive's territory, but she never made it that far. She felt the next pair of bullets rip through her back carapace and then her neck.
As Queen Chrysalis tried to scream out for help, all that came out was a gurgling noise as she realized she was coughing up blood and chitinous fragments. The Assassin walked calmly by her dying corpse, and towards the entrance of the Changeling Hive. She set down a cone-shaped device and began the trek back to Canterlot. Her the range of her magic, she could set it off from a safe distance and get back home in time for dinner. As soon as the assassin was out of range, Chrysalis watched her precious hive disappear in the wake of a nuclear blast wave, ,right before the last strands of life drained from her.
Celestia never told her operative where these kinds of weapons had originated from, just that they for her use, and her use alone. No pony else knew of their existence.