> The Pony and the Hurt Changeling
>  by Ugly-Duckling123
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1 The Airship
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been a few days now, Fluttershy and her friends Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash have been sight-seeing around Equestria, their home.

So far they've been to Canterlot to enjoy the high life for a few days, with the help of Twilight's cloud walking spell visited Fluttershy's and Rainbow's home town Cloudsdale, and at the moment were airshiping to Appleloosa to visit Applejack's family and the buffalo tribe. They had gotten a letter a few days before they started the trip that Applejack's cousin Braeburn was marring the daughter of Chief Thunder Hooves, Little Strong Heart.

"It sure is nice of your cousin to invite all of us to the wedding Applejack," Twilight the self-opointed leader of the friends said smiling.

"Why shoot," Applejack said smiling back "He said it was the least he could do since it was us that finally got the two of them to stop fighting." she explained.

Fluttershy was looking out of the window, she never was one for big time events such as these, but was always excited when the chances came around. 

"Hey AJ do you think I can do a Sonic-Rainboom for them," Rainbow Dash asked hope gleaming in her eyes.

"Er... I don't know Sugarcube," Applejack said choosing her words carefully. "Braeburn said that they were going to do it under Buffalo  ceremonial ways since it's their princess tying the knot."

"Well either way I think it will be brilliant," Rarity said, weddings always made her so excited.

Outside the window Fluttershy saw some strange clouds in the sky.

"Um girls,"  she said in her quiet voice.

"I'm so nervouscited," Pinkie said trying to hold back on jumping around with excitement. "This is a great way to finish off the sight-seeing."

"Girls, I.... I thinks there's something out there," Fluttershy tried again getting more and more worried as the clouds were getting closer and closer.

"We weren't suppose to bring a gift of any sort were we?" Twilight asked not listening to Fluttershy.

"Twi," Applejack said staring at her blankly "Over half of my family lives in Appleloosa, and all the Apples that could make it are coming. I think they'll have enough gifts."

"GIRLS!" Fluttershy called out, falling silent when she saw everyone looking at her.

"Yes Fluttershy?" Twilight asked cocking her head a bit.

"Well..."

But before Fluttershy could even say anything the Balloon was popped with a loud 'BANG' from lightning, and the ship started to fall.

"AAAGGGGHHHH....." all six girls cried as they fell from the sky. 

Something knocked Fluttershy in the head, knocking her out, and because she now had no control over herself, and the basket was falling end over end, she found herself falling out the window.

"Fluttershy!" Her friends cried trying hard themselves not to get hurt.

Suddenly Twilight got an idea and using her magic copied one of her brothers shield spells and cast it around the basket, so when it landed, not that much harm was done to the ponies inside.





Over by the boarder to the Badlands, just on the other side of Macintosh Hills, a small knocked out yellow and pink Pegasus came crashing to the ground.

Buzzing could be heard all around then three bug-like looking pony's stepped forward and looked down at the pony.

"You think it's still alive," one of them said "The Queen wouldn't want it if it was dead."

"Maybe not," the one in the middle said "But she might want it because it's the Element of Kindness..." he hissed spitting after saying the element Fluttershy was embedded to, as if it was a swear word.

"But what would just one of those ponies be doing by herself flying over our territory boss?"  the one on the right asked as the one in the middle went over to see if Fluttershy was alright.

"You idiot," he said turning to the one who asked the question. "Theses stupid elements never go anywhere by themselves. If one of them is here, then the others must be somewhere else too. Now stop asking stupid questions and help me bring this pony back to the Hive." the leader said hoisting Fluttershy on his back and, spreading his transparent bug like wings flew back to the Hive to show Queen Chrysalis what they found while out scouting today. 
> Chapter 2 "Where am I?"
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash was the first one out flying up as high as she could to try and scout out the area.

"See her Dash?" Applejack's voice asked, coming out next.

"No," Rainbow said coming back down to help the others out of the balloon.

"Where are we?" Twilight asked looking around rubbing her head, now she knew what her brother meant about holing a shield spell that long gave a pony headaches.

They all looked around and saw buildings off to the distance. 

"Wherever we are I think going that way's the best option," Applejack said getting her and Fluttershy's saddle bags and waited for the others to be ready.

As they started walking Pinkie tapped Twilight on the shoulder.

Turning around Twilight saw the party pony's mane had gone flat a bit. "Some... Something wrong Pinkie?"  Twilight asked.

"Is Fluttershy going to be ok Twi?" Pinkie said tears in the base of her eyes.

Seeing how upset her friend was Twilight hugged her close. "I'm sure she is Pinkie. And as soon as we find somewhere to stop and or some help, we'll go out and find her." she promised mostly for herself than Pinkie.

"I agree, darling," Rarity said looking back to see what was wrong. "Fluttershy's a strong pony remember. Besides with that 'Stare' of hers what would possibly try and hurt her."





Chrysalis, the Queen of the Changelings, was on her throne thinking up of new schemes to take over Equestria, since the last one failed. All thanks to that stupid purple Unicorn Twilight Sparkle and her dumb friends.

A knock came to the door, that jolted Chrysalis out of her thinking mood.

"What is it?" she asked staring at the the leader of the three Changeling scouts that found Fluttershy. "Couldn't you see I was a little busy here thinking of new ways to take over this stupid kingdom?"



"My Queen, we have found one of the Elements of Harmony, just inside our borders," the Changeling said. "She was falling out of the sky, and seems to of been knocked out but..."

"Oh quit your babbling and just tell me which one it is Scout 121." Chrysalis said. Since there were over a thousand Changelings living at the Hive with more being born every day, Chrysalis didn't bother naming any of her children.

"The Element of Kindness, my Queen," the scout said bowing.

"And where is she now?" Chrysalis asked getting up and readjusting her crown.

"In the prisoner's ward of the Hive my Queen," the scout said letting Chrysalis pass before following her out the door.

*

In the prisoner's ward, lots of Changelings, young and slightly older, were standing in front of one of the doors trying to look at Fluttershy, who was just starting to wake up.

"Oh my head," she said rubbing her head not noticing the Changelings at the door at the moment, but feeling the pain of a broking right wing.

Suddenly her ears picked up when the Changelings started buzzing in their conversational ways. Turning her head to the door she saw at least fourteen Changelings all with their blue, hinted with green for the older ones, eyes.

"Eepp..." Fluttershy said backing herself into the furthest corner away from the door.

All of the sudden the Changelings ran away giving Fluttershy time to rest for a minute, before Chrysalis came to the door.

"Ah, so it's true," Chrysalis said grinning wickedly. "Nice to see you again Fluttershy, I hope the others are well... Like I care either way." she said loving the fear she was getting off of the small Pegasus.

"Where... Where..." Fluttershy was trying to ask.

"Where are you?" Chrysalis asked looking at Fluttershy with a 'well that's obvious look.' "Why you're inside the Changeling's Hive of course. And once you tell me where the others are, you won't be so lonely in here." Chrysalis said her fangs catching the light a bit.

"I... I'll never tell you where there are. I don't even know." Fluttershy said standing up looking at Chrysalis. "Our airship cashed and I got separated from them." 


"Very well," Chrysalis said shrugging off the matter. "If that is your dissension. Oh by the way, if you will allow it I can get one of my nurses to look at your wing and head for you." she said pointing out the broken wing. 

"Um..." Fluttershy said knowing not to trust her, but knowing her wing and head wouldn't get tended to any other way. "Yes please..." she said.

"Hold on just a second my dear," Chrysalis said to Fluttershy then turning down the 'corridor' screamed "NURSE 516! COME HERE NOW!" 

Fluttershy was on the floor covering her ears and shivering with fear form the noise.

Suddenly a new Changeling came to the door bowing to Chrysalis. "Yes my Queen?" (it sounded like a) she buzzed.

"You Nurse 516 are to be this pony's nurse until she's better. Understand?" Chrysalis asked looking down at the Changeling.

"Of couse my Queen," the nurse said then looked into the cell. 

Then telepathically, Chrysalis added... 'And if she says anything about the other bearers, you are to tell me immediately.'


'Yes my Queen,' she answered opening the door to get closer to Fluttershy.

"Well I'll see you later Fluttershy," Chrysalis said leaving.

"Oh... Um... Ok," Fluttershy said turning to the Changeling in the cell with her.

Sensing the fear coming off of Fluttershy the nurse thought of what to do and quickly turned into a pony to comfort her patient.

"Hello Fluttershy," the nurse said. "If you'll let me, I can tend to your wing and head for you." the nurse said calmly getting Fluttershy feeling less afraid, even though it was a Changeling under that mask.

Not knowing what to say, Fluttershy just laid down and let the nurse do her surprisingly good and quick job of bandaging up Fluttershy's wing and head.





On the other side of Macintosh Hills, the rest of the group were just working out where they were.

"Hay this is Appleloosa," Applejack said smiling. "Look there's Sheriff Silver Stars, lets tell him what happened."

Quickly the group went over to the Sheriffs house and explained their story the best they could.

"So what we gonna do Sheriff?" Applejack asked taking her hat off and holding it to her chest.

"Well, from what is sounds like Applejack," Silver Stars said looking at his desked map of Equestria "You were flying over to us when the ship got hit, and walked over to us from around here right?" he pointed to a spot on the map.

"Yes..." Applejack confirmed.

"And Fluttershy was separated from you as you were falling, and you couldn't see her when you looked for her, right Rainbow Dash?" the Sheriff asked clarifying the information he got. 

"Do you think she wouldn't be here if I did find her Stars?" Rainbow asked annoyed a bit, between herself, Spike - Twilight's dragon, and Pinkie the Buffalo tribe was really her favorite.

"Rainbow..." her friends hissed glaring at her.

"It's alright ladies," Silver Stars said waving off the comment. "Rainbow can you, err and will you, tell me if you saw these when you flew up." he handed her a picture of some red hills, the tops slightly covered in snow.

"Yeah I saw them," Rainbow said handing the picture back. "What of it? How is this going to help us get Fluttershy back?"

"These are a picture of the Macintosh Hills," Silver Stars explained. "If when you landed, and you couldn't see Fluttershy, and she got separated from you while you were still in the air. That means, she came down on the other side of them."

"But that's next to the Badlands," Twilight said looking down at the map.

"So, we now know where she is, lets get her..." Rainbow said trying to flyaway to find herself being caught in Twilight's magical grip.

"Rainbow Mirrum Dash," Twilight said (using Rainbows almost full name) "Do you know what lives in the Badlands?"

"No... But I bet you're going to tell everypony aren't ya?" Rainbow said sighing.

"How about I give you a hint instead..." Twilight said.

"Oh I love guessing games," Pinkie said some color coming back to her mane.

"They're black, have transparent wings, and tried to ruin my brothers wedding..." Twilight said taking in deep breaths to calm herself down. "Any ideas any pony?" she said looking around the group all seeing the same expression.

"Changelings..." the girls said together just realizing how bad the task has become.
> Chapter 3 The Truth Comes Out
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back in the prison cell in the Hive, Nurse 516 had just finished dealing with Fluttershy's head and wing, and was turning to leave.

"Thank you," a voice said stopping the nurse in her tracks and turning around surprised.

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"Er... Thank you," Fluttershy said again getting up. "You know for fixing me up..." 

"You're welcome," the nurse said leaving, shutting the door behind her and going back down the 'corridor.' 

*

In the nursery of the Hive, Chrysalis was waiting for Nurse 516 to come back to her with news. 

"Anything to report then Nurse 516?" the Queen asked once the Changeling in question dropped her disguise. 

"Other than the fact that she let out fear all the way through when I tending her, no my Queen." Nurse 516 said bowing a sorry look on her face.

Hearing this, Chrysalis started thinking.

"Then you are to tend to her until she does say something," she said stamping her hoof making it clear.

"Yes my Queen." the nurse said, waiting for Chrysalis to go away before getting up again. 

In truth she lied to the Queen, about what she felt. Near the end of her tending to Fluttershy, the nurse could feel calmness and a slight hint of love coming from the pony.

Shaking off the news, Nurse 516 went around doing her work tending to the new larvae that were in the nursery.





In Appleloosa Fluttershy's friends were arguing on what to do.

"We need to go and rescue her," Rainbow Dash said her wings spread out in anger.

"If we don't go in there without a plan, we'll be captured too," Twilight said glaring at her multicolored freind.

"Twi, how do we know she's been caught?" Applejack asked.

"Why darling One would think that would be obvious," Rarity said stand next to Twilight. "Every pony knows Changelings are scavengers. They probably saw Fluttershy falling out of the sky and took her straight to Chrysalis."  

Pinkie, her hair now lost even more color and even more flat was staying out of the argument her eyes full of tears.

"If only my Pinkie Sense was working," she brawled out waterfalls of tears coming out of her eyes, stopping the two parties in their tracks as they turned and looked at her.

"Pinkie, this is not your fault," Twilight said coming over to hug her distraught friend. "None of us were listening to Fluttershy when she was trying to tell us about the storm." 

Then a new pony came into the office. "Hey Sheriff I was just out scouting for trouble when I saw a airship crash site... Oh hey AJ glad you can make it."

"Hey Braeburn," Applejack said to her cousin. "Congrats by the way, but we got a bit of a situation here."

Braeburn looked around not really listening. "Hey cuz aren't you missing some-pony?" he asked seeing there were only five there.

"That's what the situation is you half wit," Rainbow Dash said flying up nose to nose with him, anger burning in her eyes. "That cash site you 'say' you found was our ride over here. It got struck with lightning, Fluttershy fell out of the window, and now it seems she's in Changeling territory!" Rainbow Dash told the story pushing Braeburn down with every word.

"Err... Dash?" Twilight said stepping forward from the stunned group. "You.... You ok?"

"Does it look like it Twilight?" Rainbow said spinning around, then flying out the door.

"Shouldn't someone go with her Twi?" Applejack asked a little surprised at the way things had just gone. 

"No," Twilight said. "Hopefully she knows not to go after the Changelings on her own. Lets just give her some time to cool off. Then we'll try talking to her again."

*

Rainbow Dash wasn't one to show her feelings that much. So when she did show them, they came out in waves like the ones she had just had with her friends.

"It's not my fault though," Rainbow said to herself flying over Appleloosa to get to the Buffalo Village to see her friends there. "They don't know how close me and Fluttershy are." she said wiping tears away from her eyes so she could see. "We're like sisters." 

Finally seeing the village, Rainbow Dash decided to land just outside of it and walk in so not to surprise the Buffalo's too much.

She was giving lots of hello's and smiles from the Buffalo's themselves, but it was Thunder Hooves and Strong Heart who she felt like she needed to see.


"We welcome you back Rainbow Dash," Thunder Hooves said when seeing Rainbow was in front of him. Then seeing that it looked like she had been crying, he asked. "Is there something wrong?"

Not knowing where to begin Rainbow Dash asked the first question that came into her head. 

"Chief Thunder Hooves.... Do you know what Changelings are?" she asked hearing lots of gasps and silence behind her, but not really caring.

"They are parasitic beings that feed off of the love and emotions of others," Thunder Hooves said his eyes closed as though he was remembering something. "Why do you ask Rainbow Dash?"

"My friends and I think Fluttershy is in their land," Rainbow explained tears forming again. "But we can't agree on what to do to help her." 

"But that doesn't tell us if you're ok or not," Little Strong Heart, a small Buffalo wearing a headband with two feathers in it said getting Rainbow's attention.

Sighing Rainbow explained. "Fluttershy's my oldest friend. Before I met her and stood up for her against those bullies at Flight Camp, I had nopony." she said. "Then a few years later we both lost our parents when they were dealing with some out of controlled storm clouds, and even though she's the older one, I promised I would always protect her. She... " Rainbow said shivering "She's like a sister to me. And when ever she's in danger, I just what her back next to me, and I'm not happy until she's safe."

"We never knew you were that close to her Dash," a voice said causing Rainbow to spin around and see her friends, their eyes glistering with tears.

"Yeah, well none of you ever asked," Rainbow said rubbing her nose with her leg sniffing. "So made up a plan Twilight?" she asked.

> Chapter 4:   What's a 'Friend'?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Hive's prison cell, Fluttershy was having trouble sleeping. 

It wasn't that she couldn't get to sleep, she could do that easily. It was because she kept waking up due to nightmares, dreams of what she thinks the Changelings will do to her.

In the end, Fluttershy stopped trying to get to sleep and had a look around the room, trying to find and think of a way to get out of there.

Finding no hope around the 'bed' she went over to the door and looked around as far as she could. The bars, Fluttershy realized looked like it was made of the stuff that held Princess Cadence in place in Canterlot when Chrysalis was gloating over how she fooled everyone with her plan.

Looking around for something sharp to cut at the 'stuff' Fluttershy heard buzzing coming from down the corridor, and backed away from the door but keeping her eyes on it.

Coming from the left was a Changeling that look familiar, not that Fluttershy had much luck knowing, to her they all looked mostly the same.

"Is there something wrong Fluttershy?" it buzzed in a voice Fluttershy had heard earlier that day. 

"Er... No Nurse.... er..." Fluttershy tried to remember the Changeling's number.

"516," the nurse finished for her.

"Oh ok," Fluttershy said. "Er... why do you have numbers and not names like us?" Fluttershy asked looking to the Changeling seeing a surprised look on her face, as though this was the first time she had been asked that question. "Oh but if you don't want to tell me that's fine..." Fluttershy said looking away.

After a while, "We have numbers, because there are too many of us to give names to, or to remember names for," the nurse said. "Doesn't your colony have that problem?" she asked.

"Er... my colony?" Fluttershy asked coming closer to the door.

"Yeah, all those ponies that live in Equestria, do you know all of their names?" the nurse asked.

"Er... no," Fluttershy admitted. "I barely know half the names of the ponies that live in Ponyville. But Pinkie Pie knows...." Fluttershy cut herself off. Not because she was giving the enemy information, but because just saying Pinkie's name got her to thinking about her friends.

"Who's Pinkie Pie?" Nurse 516 asked.

"One of my friends," Fluttershy answered going back over to her bed.

....

"What's a 'friend'?" the Changeling asked. 

"You don't know what a friend is?" Fluttershy asked lifting her head off of her pillow.

....

"A friend is someone you can count on, who knows they can count on you as well. Someone will always make you feel better, who's always there by your side. And will come and save you no matter what the dangers that will await them." Fluttershy said tears forming in her eyes as she thought about her friends.

Nurse 516 was confused by the Element of Kindness's speech. At first, she was confident, happiness coming off of her. Then she was sad, depression being felt, and had tears in her eyes. 

"Then... Then where are your 'friends' now?" she asked.

"I... I don't know," Fluttershy said crying into her pillow.

Nurse 516 thought that was the time to leave.





Somewhere else in the Hive a Changeling the size a small filly or young colt, was cornered up against the wall surrounded by three of her same day born siblings, who were much bigger than her.

"Hey guys," the one in the middle said "I've just thought of a new game. It's called 'Squish the Runt'" he said charging up his horn with the Changeling's green magic and shot it just inches away from the smaller one's face.

"Yeah," the other two said laughing and charging their horns too.

"Workers 719, 720, and 721," someone called down the corridor. "What are you doing?" A solider Changeling came up to them not looking pleased.

"We were just taking care of the runt of our lot Solider 213," the leader (719) said turning his attention to the solider.

"That is not one of your jobs Worker 719," the solider said seeing the smaller Changeling. "Now get back to it, all of you." he said walking away.

"We'll get you later runt," 719 said turning to the smaller Changeling, and then walked away to do his jobs with the other two.

The small Changeling, even though having just been ordered to get back to work, went the other way, to the Hive's entrance and slipped outside.

After flying around for a few minutes she decided to land and have a little think.

"Why am I always picked on," she asked herself buzzing. "I can't help it if I'm small." she said tears in her blue eyes. "Well whatever it is, I'm definitely not going back." she said walking away from the Hive and the only home she's known.

Now being a young Changeling in a big would is not the wisest of choices. Mostly because young Changelings don't have that much control over there camouflage techniques, but also because it's a big world, and they don't know where any thing is.

After about ten minutes, the young Changeling started feeling rain drops on her head.

"Whats going on?" she asked herself. Then turning her head to the sound of thunder, she saw rocks falling down the mountain. Frozen in fear, the Changeling did nothing, and was hit by one of them and flown almost completely back to the Hive.

The scouts that were out at that moment, started flying back to the Hive mentally telling the solider to close the door as soon as the last scout was in.

"Wait!" the small Changeling said limping her way back, unable to fly due to her injured wing. "Wait for me! Please!" but she wasn't fast enough and the door shut seconds before she got there. Now she really was alone.





In the Buffalo Village, Rainbow Dash was looking up at the sky. 

"There's not suppose to be storms over here," the weather pony said staring at the clouds.

"You sure Rainbow?" Twilight asked looking up now too.

"Twi, I may be set to only do Ponyville, but all weather ponies are told of all weather planning all over Equestria." Rainbow said. "And there are not suppose to be any storm clouds here until two weeks on Wednesday." She said flying up to the cloud to try and beat it away nearly getting zapped with lightning.

After failing another two times, Rainbow came to rejoin her friends.

Twilight stepped forward now, using her magic aiming at the clouds. Scrunching her eyes in concentration, Twilight focused on trying to shrink the clouds compacting them and holding them in place until Rainbow could beat them to disappear. 

"That was strange," Twilight said rubbing her head a bit.

"Yeah, I hope it's a one off mistake," Rainbow said coming back down. "Now, what are we going to do about Fluttershy?" 

"No offense or anything Sugarcube," Applejack said. "But I think there a tiny bit more of a problem than finding a lost Fluttershy."

"You take that back Apple!" Rainbow said flaring her wings again.

"Actually I agree with her Rainbow Dash," Rarity said "Remember it was because on some lightning that our ship crashed in the first place."

Taking in deep breaths, Rainbow turned to the others. "And what do you think?" she asked strongly.

"Er..." was all Pinkie had to say.

"I think we should see to the weather first..." Twilight began before.

"Fine you do that. All of you do that," Rainbow Dash screamed hovering above them now. "But my best friend is out there somewhere captured by Changelings, and I'm not going to lose her because the idiots back in Cloudsdale have there dates wrong!" And with that Rainbow Dash flew off to the Macintosh Hills and the Badlands to get her friend back.





In her cell, Fluttershy's ears started to twitch.

"Rainbow?" she asked looking up and seeing around ten Changelings at the door again.

"Um..." she said not knowing what to say. "Can... Can I help you?" she asked.

"We want to learn about 'Friends' too please," a young female in the front said her eyes gleaming.

"None of you know what a friend is?" Fluttershy asked getting off of the bed to sit in front of the door, seeing all of them shake their heads.

"Well..." Fluttershy said thinking how best to but this. "There are four types of friends," she began "First there are just 'friends' who are ponies you like, and know. Then there are 'best friends' who are a little closer to you, as in you care about them a bit more. After that there are 'sibling friends' who are friends that feel like what a family should feel to you, these are normally friends you've known for a long time. Like me and Rain..." Fluttershy stopped herself sighing and looking away a bit.

"And the fourth 'friend'?" the child said cocking it's head to one side.

"Er... The fourth one is a boy or girl friend," Fluttershy answered blushing a bit. "You normally get these ones when you fall in love with someone." 

All the Changelings at the door could feel the love radiating off of Fluttershy as she talked about this 'friend'.

"Do you have one?" another Changeling asked a confused look on it's face.

"Er..." Fluttershy said. In truth she did have one but she wasn't about to say anything to these Changelings just in case any harm comes to him and his family.

The child in the front raised it's hoof and asked "Miss Fluttershy... How do you get friends?" 

This took a bit of time to answer. 

"Well, it can start with someone doing something nice to or for another someone." Fluttershy said smiling. "Rainbow Dash and I became friends because she stood up for me against some bullies and then I got my Cutie-Mark because of the race she did against them." she stopped again thinking of the memory made her remember that she wasn't with her friends. Slowly she went back over to her bed and pulled her blankets over her head and began to cry.

Feeling the sadness come off from the pony, the older Changelings said it was time to go, leaving Fluttershy alone.

After hearing the Changelings all go away Fluttershy poked her head out and saw a desert flower on her side of the door. Going over to it Fluttershy asked herself. "Why are they all wondering about friends all of the sudden?" she said putting the flower in her hair and going back to bed.
> Chapter 5 The Truth Comes Out take 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

All around the Hive, Changelings were talking about 'Friends' and that the pony in the prison cell was the one that started it off. So whenever any-ling wanted to find out more or to question her, they went down with small will not be missed gifts for taking up her time, and asked her.

Chrysalis was pleased by this. She wasn't pleased that her colony was giving a should be prisoner her Hive's treasures, or the fact the when they did this they weren't doing their work. No she was pleased by it because with each try, Fluttershy let slip something about her friends. And it would only be a matter of time before their whereabouts were told.

Fluttershy didn't have any questions to answer today, but she was being seen by Nurse 516 again so she could check on Fluttershy's injures. 

"Your head seems better," the nurse said taking that bandage off and seeing to the bump. Then she started to unwrap the ones to the Pegasus's wing.

Hoof steps were coming down the corridor and stopped at Fluttershy's door. Looking up Fluttershy could see it was Chrysalis at the door this time.

"Um..." Fluttershy said not knowing what to say.

"Nice to see you again Fluttershy," Chrysalis said grinning a bit. "Now about you teaching my Changelings about 'Friends'." she said.

"I'm sorry," Fluttershy said sitting up and looking Chrysalis in the eye. "It's just they said they didn't know what they were so I thought I'd tell them. I... I'll be happy to stop if it's putting them off their work...." Fluttershy said "And I'll give everything back." she said looking around her cell seeing gifts everywhere.

"It's quite alright," Chrysalis said sitting down. "Better they learn about them now then struggle with it later when their out there trying to con ponies." she said fangs bared. 

"What are... Ohmygoodness Ohmygoodness Ohmygoodness Ohmygoodness Ohmygoodness" Fluttershy said just realizing what she had been doing.

Without another word Chrysalis got up and went away again.

"Are you ok Fluttershy?" Nurse 516 asked just finishing unwrapping her wing.

"YOU!" Fluttershy said whipping her wing out of the nurses grip not caring about the pain. "You started this... If you hadn't asked me about my friends, their lives wouldn't be in danger!" she shouted so loud every-ling down the corridor could hear her.

"I... I didn't do anything," Nurse 516 said backing away. "I kept my mouth shut. Something you should have done!" she said buzzing her wings.

"Yeah right," Fluttershy said sounding like Rainbow Dash "And I bet you haven't been feeding off of my love for them either." she said her wings spread the best they could be.

"No I haven't!" Nurse 516 shouted back. "But if you don't trust me then fine. Here, fix yourself up!" she said before leaving the cell putting a small wedge in the door so it wouldn't shut completely, and stomped off down the corridor down to the nursery. 





Outside the small Changeling with the broken leg and wing was cowering under some rocks looking all around her for signs of scouts to tell if the entrance had been opened again yet. 

Seeing no scouting parties on the ground she looked up to the sky and saw something small but something fast coming her way. A few seconds later a loud 'BANG' was heard and a circle of the most beautiful thing the young Changeling had ever saw spread out across the sky, the thing that made it coming down to the ground a few miles away from her.

Once the dust had cleared, the Changeling saw it was one of those 'ponies' that her Queen tried to con last time she tried to take over Equestria. The other Pegasus pony, the one with the short temper, blue fur and colorful hair. 

Rainbow Dash looked around at her surroundings seeing nothing but sand, rocks and cacti.

"Alright you Changelings, I know you're out there!" she said stopping her hoof. "Give me back my friend, right now and I'll leave you alone!" 

Shocked by how loud the pony was the small Changeling tumbled out of her hiding spot and quivered with fear when Rainbow Dash turned to face her.

Rainbow's first thoughts when she saw the Changeling were to kill it, her second thoughts were 'If you kill it you won't find Fluttershy Dummy!' Finally her third thought, after looking at the small Changeling again was.

"You're hurt aren't ya?" she said in a softer, calmer voice getting down so she was eye level with the being. "Do... Do you want some help?"

The small Changeling lifted her head up a bit her wide eyes looking at Rainbow Dash.

"Meep..." she said.

"That your name? Meep?" Rainbow Dash asked gently straightening the Changeling's wing.

"What's a name?" she asked her eyes on Rainbow the best she could.

A bit shocked at the question, Rainbow answered her.

"It's what others call you, to tell you apart." she said turning to look at the Changelings leg. "My names Rainbow Dash." 

"Well then I'm Worker 727, but most of the others call me 'Runt'." the small Changeling said purple tears coming out of her eyes.

"What do you mean they call you 'Runt'" Rainbow Dash asked, stopping wrapping leaves around the Changeling's leg to keep it straight.

"I'm the smallest out of my same day siblings," the small Changeling said. "I... I couldn't take it any more, so I decided to runaway. But then storm clouds came into the sky, and I got hit with a rock. Before I could get back inside the Hive, they shut the door, not realizing I was out here." she said the purple tears still coming out of her eyes.

"But Kid surely you have friends to stand up to those bullies for you..." Rainbow said thinking that this Changeling was just like her make-shift little sister Scootaloo back home.

When all Rainbow got was a confused head to one side look, Rainbow under stood... "You don't have any friends do you?" she asked.

"I don't even know what it is. In the colony, it's every-ling for themselves. The bigger ones often getting the better stuff too." she said sniffing.

"Well, a friend is someone who will always be there to get you out of any trouble you might be in, and stick by you for ever." Rainbow said explaining her way of saying what friends are finishing up on the Changelings leg. "And consultations Meep... You've made your first friend." she said sticking her hoof out and shaking the Changelings. "Now lets get mine back." she said hoisting the small Changeling onto her back and taking off again looking for the Hives entrance.





Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie along with the Buffalo's and Braeburn, were all sat around the main camp fire wondering what to do.

"Great," Twilight said after a moment of silence. "Now we have two friends missing and possibly caught be the Changelings."

Applejack on the other hand was remembering the conversation Thunder Hooves had with Rainbow Dash.

"If ya'll not mind me asking Chief Thunder Hooves," she began "How did you know about Changelings anyway?"

All eyes except those of the older Buffalo's looked upon Thunder Hooves for an answer.

"It was many moons ago," Thunder Hooves said "Many... Many... Many... Many... Many.... Many... Many... Many ...."

"I think they get the idea Chief," a Buffalo to his left said tapping his chief on the shoulder to get him to stop.

"Yes, well... It was just after the tribe lost Little Strong Hearts mother," he said sighing. "We had completed our annual stampede across the lands for that year. After, I found a rather strange looking pony, who said she had not had anything to drink or had a meal in days. Being the chief, I bought her back to the village and we welcomed her like an honored guest." Thunder Hooves said looking out to the sky.

"And that pony was Chrysalis," Twilight asked.

"That is correct Miss Sparkle," Thunder Hooves said looking back at them. "Then later that night, just as we were going to sleep, swaps of the creatures came to the village and destroyed everything in their paths. We tried our best to fight them off and to protect our guest, not realizing she herself was controlling them, or going about our tents feeding herself on the love and glee the children showed for us. After a while I heard Strong Heart crying and went to see what was wrong, and saw Chrysalis standing over her, horn glowing that sickening green...."  He said firing himself up, calming down when the Buffalo on his left touched his shoulder.

"After we found her over the Princess," the one on the left said looking at the ponies and a shocked Strong Heart, "we forced her out of the village, and we found as soon as she was gone, the others were as well."

Strong Heart stepped forward. "Father, everyone" she said looking at her tribe, "Why have you not told me this?" 

"At the time, you were to young to say anything to my daughter," Thunder Hooves said. "And we had not had anything to do with those parasites since then."

"So when Rainbow's friend gets kidnapped by them," Strong Heart said tears slightly in her eyes "You think that's the time to tell me?" she asked eying everyone.

"We did it to protect you my daughter..." Thunder Hooves tried to say.

"NO!" Strong Heart said stomping her hoof, surprising every buffalo and pony present. "Please Father, I don't want any of these 'To protect you' excuses. Why did you not tell me about these things?"

When nothing came except a sigh, from her father, Little Strong Heart just turned around and ran away, Braeburn,Twilight and her friends, quick to follow her.





"STRONG HEART!" Braeburn called out after her as they left the gates to the village.

Little Strong Heart came to a stop letting the ponies catch up. 

"Wha.... Whatever you're planning on doing.... I'm coming too." Braeburn said panting a little. Then turning to his cousin. "What about you Cousin AJ?" he asked.

"Twi, even though I agree with we need to check the weather, I think I'm going to go and help Rainbow get Fluttershy back." she said putting her hat to her chest and looking Twilight in the eye.

"Ok Applejack," Twilight said seeing the determination in her friends eyes. "I'll try and find someway to get to the Princess to find out what's going on. Oh if only we hadn't left Spike back home..." 

And with that, the group went their separate ways, Applejack, Braeburn and Little Strong Heart heading for the Hills. Pinkie, Twilight and Rarity going back to Appleloosa.
> Chapter 6 Fluttershy's not so Great Escape
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After Fluttershy had did her best on re-bandaging her wing, she went over to the 'gifts' to see if any could help her get out and escape the cell and Hive.

Most of the gifts were rare desert flowers, but there were also strange looking blankets, stories written in an unknown language to Fluttershy, some jewels of some kind, and some thing that looked like it was suppose to be food, although she hadn't tried it yet and didn't feel like wanting to.

Sighing in slight defeat, Fluttershy went over to the door just to look out of it. As she got there Fluttershy saw.... it wasn't shut properly. Looking down the side of the door, Fluttershy found the wedge the nurse placed there, feeling guilty for what she said to her first Changeling 'friend'. Looking down both ways down the corridor, Fluttershy opened the door, and ran as fast as she could away from where she was not knowing where she was going, but knowing anywhere was better than where she just was. Except here...





Up in the sky over the Badlands, Rainbow Dash and Meep were looking for any sign that the Hive's doors were open. 

All the sudden they spotted a rock being rolled back revealing a tunnel of some sort, and ten Changelings, all wearing armor of some kind flew out of it causing Rainbow Dash to land behind a rock letting Meep off her back.

"I take it that's the entrance then Meep?" Rainbow Dash asked getting a nod in return.

"That the entrance to the Hive," Meep said looking around the rock. "There are normally four soldiers guarding each side, and there's a net work of tunnels that go on after that."

"Wait so if there are eight soldiers all together at the gate," Rainbow asked thinking, "How did you get out?" 

Smiling for the first time since Rainbow had found her Meep said, "Sometimes it's good to be small..."

"Rainbow Dash!" a voice called out behind them making Meep jump and shake with fear.

Turning around Rainbow Dash saw Applejack, Braeburn, and a rather upset looking Little Strong Heart running up to her.

It was Applejack that called out, but upon seeing Meep stopped in her tracks and looked questionably at Rainbow. 

Then thinking for a minute asked "What position did we both take, after our first Running of the Leaves?"

"Last," was all Rainbow said. Then turned to Strong Heart and asked. "What colored gem stones did you give Spike, the night me and Pinkie first came to your village?"

Little Strong Heart looked up at Rainbow Dash and answered "Turquoise." Then they all embraced in a hug of friendship and quiet laughter.

Breaking away, Rainbow then asked "Where are the others then AJ?" seeing her other friends weren't there.

"Back in Appleloosa, trying to work out what's wrong with the weather." Just as Applejack had said it puffy clouds made themselves at home in the sky cutting off the sun.

Meep had stopped shaking with fear and looked up to the beings in front of her. 

"Oh yeah," Rainbow said smiling. "Meep, this is Applejack, Braeburn, and Little Strong Heart... Guys this is Meep..."

Applejack looked from Rainbow to Meep and then back to Rainbow with a look in her eye saying 'Did you hit your head or something Dash?'

"I'm fine guys," Rainbow said placing Meep on her back. "And so is she... In my opinion she reminds me of Scootaloo." she said smiling.

"HEY YOU!" a louder voice called out above them. 

All looking up, they saw at least four Changeling Scouts hovering above them fangs bared and horns lit. Then seeing who was with them the leader said, "727 What are you doing here? You're suppose to be digging tunnels with your same day siblings."

"I slipped out of the Hive for some fresh air 121, and got shut out when you and your idiots shut the door to the Hive not noticing I was missing." Meep called up standing on Rainbow's back who had her wings flared her eye twitching slightly.

"That's disobeying orders 727," the leader said looking only at Meep. "That's three days in the holding cell, and four more for insulting us Scouts."

"Oh quit your punishing you parasite and give us back Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash said stomping her hoof.

Looking at the others Scout 121 smiled. He felt love coming from the Buffalo and the stallion, anger hinted slightly with determination and love from the Pegasus and slightly less anger, but as much determination from the Earth Pony. Then it hit him.

"Well, it seems you're not as worthless as the colony thought 727," the scout leader said grinning wickedly. "After all you've bought us two more Elements of Harmony," he pointed to Rainbow and Applejack "and a snack we can give the Queen..." he pointed to Braeburn and Strong Heart.

Then mentally addressing the others told them to only stun the ponies and Buffalo. 

As Rainbow was hit all she could her was Meep calling to her and a voice in the back of her head saying 'Well you'll be able to get inside now...'   before her world went black.





Fluttershy looked around herself and saw about seventy Changelings either hovering, standing in front of her, or clinging to the walls. She knew if she used her infamous 'Stare' on the Changelings she might have a chance of escaping. But she was too scared to preform it and just curled up and started crying.

Slowly the Changelings hovering above her came to the ground. But that didn't stop her. Chatter whispers and buzzing reached her ears. But that didn't stop her either. Then one of the smallest Changelings slowly came forward and tapped her on the leg, causing her to jump away in fright scaring the Changeling away to hide behind the bigger ones who glared at her.

"I'm sorry," Fluttershy said looking around for the child "I didn't mean to scare you... Please I... I just want to go home." she said tears in her eyes.

Being creatures that could feel emotions, all the Changeling felt that she was truly upset. Then one step forward. "Would it make us your friends if we helped you get out of the Hive?" it asked.

"Oh yes very much," Fluttershy said smiling. 

"She's not going anywhere!" Chrysalis's voice echoed though the room everyone jumping and bowing when she appeared at the front of the room blocking the door, horn flaring fangs bared.  "Besides Fluttershy, you wouldn't want to leave with out your friends now would you?" she asked smiling her wicked smile.

"My.... My friends?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yes... Loyalty and Honesty, I don't know their names I didn't pay that much attention at the Canterlot wedding." Chrysalis smiled sensing worry and confusion coming from Fluttershy. "My scouts also found the Buffalo Princess and some stupid stallion letting out love to each other. Don't want to leave them behind do you?"

Speechless, Fluttershy just sighed in defeat and looked away from Chrysalis tears in her eyes. 

"Take her back to her cell," Chrysalis said "And make sure she stays there understand?" she looked over the Changelings saw some of them nod in response, before she left. 

"Three down, three to go..." Chrysalis said to herself ginning her most evil smile.





Back in Appleloosa Twilight was with the Sheriff in his office trying to work out how to get a message to the Princess and ask about the weather.

While Rarity and Pinkie, even though they had their minds set elsewhere, were doing the best to help with the wedding planning.

Pinkie was going around helping the bakers to make their Apple apple treats, fritters, pies, turnovers, caramel apples, etc... and of course the wedding cake.

While Rarity was giving the designs measurements and mild instructions on how to make the dresses for Little Strong Heart and her brides maids (Rarity, Twilight, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash). Also making a dress for Applejack who was going to be Braeburn's Best Mare.

At one point, Pinkie came to see Rarity. 

"Rarity," she said in her deflated voice. "Do you think every pony's alright?" she asked.

This got Rarity to stop and look up seeing how upset Pinkie was. "I don't know Pinkie, but I'm sure their fine After all now Fluttershy's got Rainbow and Applejack to find her. And they're the two strongest out of all of us aren't they."

"I guess..." Pinkie said trying on her simple bridesmaids dress. 

Suddenly the windows flew open and gale force winds banged them against the walls. Using her magic, Rarity shut them (with a bit of difficulty). "Trust me dear. I think we're in a bit more danger here than they are there..."

*
In the Sheriff's office Twilight and Silver Stars were trying to work out where all this rouge weather was coming from. 

"The weather only seemed to start to go wrong when we came over to Appleloosa Silver Stars," Twilight said looking down at the map. "So the Pegasi must have a weather station somewhere over here as well."

"But the only main ponies in Appleloosa are Earth Ponies, Miss Sparkle," Silver Stars explained looking over the map as well.

At that moment one of the ponies came in her mane all pushed back and her face bright red from pushing against the wind.

"Sheriff, the weather's out of control..." she said "One moment it's sunny, next it's thunder and lightning, then it's cloudy, and now it's windy... What's wrong with the weather Sheriff?"

"I don't know Apple Bumpkin, but we're trying to work it out." Silver Stars said motioning to Twilight who hadn't see Apple Bumpkin come in.

"If it's true that there aren't any Pegasi consistently living in Appleloosa Silver Stars..." she said carrying on with the conversation they had just been having, "The closest Pegasi to it are in Las Pegasus." Twilight said looking to the left of Appleloosa on the map. Then thinking "How long does it normally take weather to get here Silver Stars?" 

"Around a week..." Silver Stars said wrapping a blanket around Apple Bumpkin to keep her warm. "Why Miss Sparkle, did you find something?"

"Well the last place we went to was Cloudsdale, and that's about a standard six to seven days airship away..." she said not looking up from the map. Then remembering what Rainbow had said about her and Fluttershy's parents asked. "I know you haven't been here that long Sheriff, but can you remember stuff like this ever happening before?"

"Around fifteen years ago," Silver Stars said straight away "The news papers said it was an out of controlled weather machine. Why?" 

"Because I think there might be another one, somewhere above Appleloosa." Twilight said looking out of the window now seeing large hail stones hitting the ground.

"Um... Twilight," Apple Bumpkin spoke up "How are we going to find out and or fix it, if no one here can fly?"

"I... I don't know..." was all Twilight had to say.
> Chapter 7 Thoughts and Purple Tears
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back at the Changeling's Hive, Meep was pacing around the holding cell, buzzing her wings in anger. 

First they yell at her for slipping out of the Hive and insulting the soldiers, then they stun her new friends and hold her back when they take them back to the Hive. After that she's placed in a separate holding cell when her friends were taking to the prison ward. 

Meep didn't know what the Queen wanted with these ponies, but she was not going to let her do it.  Even if it costs me my life. She thought looking down at the wrapped up leg Rainbow Dash had fixed.

At that moment the door opened reveling a solider Changeling.

"Ok Runt, your times up, the Queen said let you out early due to you bringing to her two more Elements." he explained. "Now get back to work..." he said walking away not seeing Meep head for the prisoners ward instead. 

* 

Down in the prisoners ward, every pony, except Braeburn and Strong Heart had a separate cell, and Fluttershy's was cleared out of the gifts.

Right now Rainbow Dash was pacing around hers, mumbling to herself. Applejack was bucking at the 'bars' trying to get them to break. Strong Heart and Braeburn were trying not to feel scared since this was their first time in dealing with Changelings. And Fluttershy was on her bed her pillow soaked in her tears, her eyes bright red and dry repeating that she was sorry to herself over and over again.

"Fluttershy this is nothing for you to be sorry for," Applejack said turning around to look towards Fluttershy.

"Yes it is," Fluttershy said her head down. "If I was louder you would have heard me telling you about the clouds," Fluttershy said hugging her pillow as if it were her teddy bear back home.

"She's got a point AJ," Rainbow said stopping her pacing to talk to her friends.

"I thought you were her friend Rainbow?" Applejack said trying her best to stare Rainbow Dash in the eye. "Besides if it's anyones fault it's the storm clouds fault for shooting us down..." Applejack said.

"Which is another way of saying it's Pegasus Pony's fault for making them so they can do it." Rainbow answered back her wings flared in anger at the cow-pony eyes squinting.

All of the sudden all the doors to the cells opened and they could hear slight buzzing.

Rainbow Dash was the first one to step out of her cell and looked around. "He... Hello?" she asked looking all over the place. Then looking up she saw...

"Meep! What are you doing here?" she asked flying up to meet her.

"Rescuing you lot of course..." Meep said smiling, as the others, except Fluttershy stepped out of their cells.

Rainbow went down and went to talk to her.

"Shy what wrong... Don't you want to be rescued?" she said putting her wing over her friend.

"I can't fly Dash, I broke my wing when I landed and it's not better yet." Fluttershy said showing Rainbow Dash her bandaged wing.

"Well it looks like some-pony was kind enough to bandage it up for you..." Rainbow Dash said looking at the wing conning Fluttershy to walk out of the cell she was in. 

"Only by Chrysalis's orders... Nurse 516... I think she was called." Fluttershy said.

"I know her," Meep said jumping up buzzing her wings, shocking Fluttershy a bit. "She takes care of me when I'm hurt after my same day siblings normally hurt me. Even though we don't have hearts of our own, she has and care for anyone who's hurt, it being an order or not. Oh I'm Meep by the way." she said sticking her holey hoof out to Fluttershy.

"But I thought Changelings didn't have names only had numbers," Fluttershy said taking the hoof timidly.

"That's because we don't have friends to give us any," Meep said buzzing onto Rainbow's back, rubbing herself into Rainbow's fur.

Seeing this Fluttershy whispered to Rainbow, "Um... Are you sure that's not Scootaloo?" 

"I'm sure Shy," Rainbow said as they started off down the corridor turning to Meep's commands. "After I flew over here to get you, I found her hurt up top after she was locked out of the Hive." Rainbow explained. "At first all my anger over losing you just wanted to yell at her, but after seeing she was hurt, I fixed her up, and became friends with her."

"You must never make friends with a Changeling. You shouldn't even tell them about friends." Fluttershy said stopping, looking slightly greyer than before, making the group all look at her confused.

"Are you alright Sugarcube?" Applejack asked coming over to Fluttershy as Rainbow was caring for a upset looking Meep.

"I'm fine Applejack," Fluttershy said whipping herself away. "Lets just get out of here..." she said taking the lead and started walking again.

"What was that about?" Little Strong Heart asked coming up next to Rainbow Dash to see if Meep was alright.

Some buzzing later and they turned to see another Changeling behind them.

"Nurse 516!" Meep cried and flew over to her crying her purple tears as she was hugged by the bigger Changeling.

"She has been telling us all about friends, and how to earn them." the nurse said coming up to the others walking along with them to keep them going, Meep still crying on her back. "Unfortunately every so often, she would let something slip about her friends," she said looking to Rainbow and Applejack. "Then at one point the Queen came and said she didn't care that Fluttershy was doing this, as it was teaching them how to get friends now, then them struggling to get them when they need to con ponies later." 

"Er... how much did she say," Applejack asked carefully, "About us and friends..."

Nurse 516 thought for a moment. "She said Pinkie Pie knows everyone in your colony that lives in Ponyville, she told us how she and Rainbow Dash became friend," Everyone except Meep who was still upset looked at Rainbow Dash, surprised to see no reaction. 

"She told the first lot of Changelings who came to her about the four types of friends, er... friends, best friends, sibling friend, and boy and girl friends, giving off love as she talked about that one..." shocking Applejack and Rainbow. "How you get friends by doing something nice to or for someone else. And that... A friend is someone you can count on, who knows they can count on you as well. Someone who will always make you feel better, who's always there by your side, and will come and save you no matter what the dangers that will await them."

After that everyone was quiet shocked by how much Fluttershy had said about friends to beings that take the forms of them to feed off your love for them.

"Wow... That's... That's more that I think she's talked in the last year," Rainbow Dash said trying to be supple about this news.

"Er just a guess here," Applejack piped up "But is Chrysalis planning to take over Equestria again soon?" 

"Yes, she is..." was all Nurse 516 had to say to get them going a bit faster catching up with Fluttershy who was looking down the corridor seeing no one there.

"Where is everyone?" Braeburn asked confusion on his face.

"Probably in the Speech Room," Nurse 516 said. "Around this time every day the Queen gives us speeches on what it means to be a Changeling and to talk about her plans if she has any..." she explained.

"So we won't  meet anyone until the gates?" Rainbow Dash asked hopefully.

"We shouldn't..." 

"Then lets go already!" Fluttershy said running down the corridor followed by the others.





In the Speech Room, all the Changelings were there but as they heard the same boring speech since the day they were pupa's none of them were really listening. Instead the ones who went to see Fluttershy and learn about friends were mentally talking to one another, since they were so young, their thoughts were not in the same waves as the older Changelings yet, so they knew they could do this without getting caught.

Up the front Chrysalis was saying...

"It is a Changeling's job to take the form of an idiots ponies love or 'friends' and feed off of their love for them so the Changelings can bring it back to the Hive to feed it's colony. Once you are big enough my children and the time is right..."

'When she has a plan...' one of the kids said to the other getting mental giggles from the others.

"...You will be sent out there to do just that!" Chrysalis said her wings buzzing. "We already have three of the Elements of Harmony, all we need is for the losers to tell us where the other three are, and we can start taking over Equestria...."

'Why is she so fussed over taking over Equestria?' another small Changeling said. 'I mean sure the Badlands are, well bad lands, but at least we don't get blown away by gigantic love bubbles here.'

'Yeah!' the others agreed some buzzing their wings realizing too late to stop them.

"Has anyone got something to say against my plans?" Chrysalis asked looking down over her subjects trying to see who wasn't listening to her. After not getting an answer right away she tried another tactic. "Those who tell me who was not listening to me will get a pot each of royal jelly..." Still nothing. Getting annoyed now, Chrysalis started buzzing her wings. "If no one comes forward or tells me who it was, then you are all going to the holding cells!"

"Er... I'd advise you not to do that my Queen," a Changeling up on stage with her in his armor said.

"And why is that Solider 213?" Chrysalis asked spinning around to him her horn bright green her fangs reflecting the green flames coming from the torches.

Bowing to so respect, the solider then said "They are all worker-lings, my Queen. If they are all in the holding cells, there won't be any Changelings to do the work around the Hive." he explained.

As Chrysalis looked from the solider to the workers and back thinking in her head what he said, her anger grew.

"AAAGGGHHHH!!!" she cried and stormed out of the room kicking a table to pieces that got in her way.

After a minute of every-ling looking at the door Chrysalis went out of Solider 213 said. "Well then... Back to work, all of you!" he said and headed out the door to see if his Queen was alright.

The five child Changelings were the last to get out. "So what are we going to do to help the ponies?" one of them asked.

'You can come and help me get them out of the Hive' they all heard in their heads.

'Who is this?' another asked.

'Meep. Er.... Worker 727, and I'd like some help,' the voice answered.

This got the five small Changelings to run down the corridor trying to find the Changeling in question.

'Where are you? Why do you need our help?' the first one asked.

'I'm by the gate with the ponies,' Meep said. 'But we can't get out without being seen by the soldiers.'

'So what do you want us to do about it?' the second one asked coming to a halt as they let some other Changelings cross the path before carrying on for the gate.

'Once you get here, make a distraction so we can get out,' Meep said. 'Two of the ponies will take care of the ones outside, but Fluttershy can't fly because of her wing.... We'll need as much time as we can to get ourselves out and away from the Hive.'

'And this will make us her friends?' a third Changeling added into the conversation.

'Yes. So are you coming to help. Please...' Meep asked.

'YEAH!' the five Changelings mentally cried and raced to the gate.





Down a bit from the gate Meep suddenly wrapped her hooves over her head.

"Aghhh" she said wincing. 

"Meep," Rainbow said coming over from looking around the wall spying on the soldiers. "You ok?"

"Too loud..." Meep said rubbing her head not noticing Rainbow by her side.

"What's going on?" Applejack asked Nurse 516 as Rainbow kept trying to calm Meep down. 

"Changelings can talk to other Changelings though the mind. But only to those around their stages." she explained. 

"And that's what Meep was just doing?" Applejack asked.

"By the looks of it," the nurse said. "Some of the Changelings her stage can be a little loud wither it's face to speak or telepathic speech." 

Suddenly Meep snapped out of it. "We're going to get help." she said smiling. 

"How?" Strong Heart asked.

"A hoof-full of small worker Changelings are going to come and distract the guards on this side of the gate, so we can make it out." Meep said. "Then all we have to do is take care of the ones on the other side, and the scouts, and make it across the Badlands and we'll be free." Meep said her smile getting bigger and bigger.

"Humph who said anything about 'We'?" Fluttershy said causing purple tears to come to Meep's eyes again.

"That's it." Rainbow Dash said going over to Fluttershy  pinning her down. "Shy You're acting just like you did when Discord but his spell on ya. A big fat jerk!" 

Everyone was shocked at this but said and did nothing. 

"And that is not the pony who I came here to find and save." Rainbow Dash continued. "So if you're going to continue shunning my friend, even though she is a Changeling, you can just make your way back to that cell we rescued you from and die there for all I care!" she said her eyes glittering with tears at the thought that she would lose her oldest friend, just by getting a new one.

This got Fluttershy to take a second look around herself and at Meep who was weeping into Applejack's chest purple tears rolling down her face.

To Applejack who wore a 'You should be ashamed of yourself' look on her face while trying to comfort a crying Meep.

To Strong Heart and Braeburn who weren't around when Discord struck, but still looked upset at her.

To Nurse 516. The first Changeling here to show her some kindness by fixing her wing and tending to her head, in a pony disguise to make her feel more comfortable. 

And then up to Rainbow, her oldest and most dearest friend. The one who had stuck up for her at Flight Camp, and stayed with her ever since. To the mix of anger and shame behind those magenta eyes and the frown that was on her face.

Realizing that Rainbow was right, Fluttershy said the two words every-pony knew would work... "I... I'm sorry." she said looking around at them all and focusing on Meep. "I... I guess I have been a bit of a jerk haven't I? Not really what the Element of Kindness should be is it?"

But Meep wasn't listening. instead she had her ears twitching and eyes half closed.

"They say they're as close as they can be, and are waiting for us to give them the signal to start." Meep explained looking to the ponies her smile returned a bit.

Looking around the corner again they all saw five reasonably same size Changelings as Meep lying in wait to cause trouble.

"Lets get this going then..."





Over in Appleloosa everyone was having trouble now. In some places it was all sun, in others rain came down in bucket loads flooding the orchards, other places it was so dry the ground dried up and started to show cracks and set fire to grass and bushes, and in the last corner of the city gale force winds were blowing the roofs off of the tops of houses and buildings. 

Scared and confused every-pony lied in wait in the town hall, and although everyone who was there, there was not much talking was being said.

Every so often the doors or windows would fly open and bang against the walls. It took ten ponies to close and latch them afterwards only for them to do it again in ten to fifteen minutes. 

Twilight was in a corner with Rarity and Pinkie Pie thinking of a way to stop the weather machine when none of them can fly to just switch it off.

"Twilight..." Rarity spoke up tapping her hoof against her chin thinking. "Why can't you do that 'Wingless Ponies Wing' spell so we can just go up there ourselves."

"I thought of that Rarity," Twilight said. "Remember how hard it was to do to just one pony. And their delicate remember. They'll shrivel up before the ponies I give them to can even reach the height of the machine, because of the weather it's making."

"This is the worst wedding ever..." Pinkie said her tail twitching telling her to jump to one side as a bit of the roof came falling down where she was just standing.

All sighing in agreement, the three friends rejoined the silence praying to Celestia and Luna that this will all be over soon.
> Chapter 8 The Great Escape
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A rather annoyed Queen Chrysalis was making her way down to the prisoners ward to try and get some information out of the ponies staying there in the hopes they will say where the other three are.

When she got there her mood only got worse.

"GUARDS!" she cried her yells shaking the walls of the corridor she was in collapsing some more somewhere else in the Hive. 

A few seconds later four Soldier Changelings in their black and green armor came out of nowhere and bowed to their Queen slight terror on each of their faces.

"Tell me you fools," Chrysalis said her horn green and her wings buzzing. "What... Do you see here...?" 

The soldiers got up from bowing and looked around the place indicated to see the cell doors open and the ponies that were in there missing.

"Er..." they all said thinking that this might be a trick question, but knowing their Queen especially when she's in one of these moods, wasn't one to play ticks.

"That's right..." Chrysalis said eying each of them. "NOTHING!" she screamed. "Now go and find them. And if it turns out any-ling is helping them kill those traders on the spot. UNDERSTAND!"

The soldiers nodded, bowed again and flew away mentally telling every-ling to be on the look out for the ponies, and any Changelings that might be helping them.





At the gate, just as Meep was about to give the signal to the other Changelings, all the bigger Changelings closed their eyes, their ears beginning to twitch as if listening to something.

After a few seconds they opened them again, the soldiers getting into battle poses, Nurse 516 looking scared.

"Things just got a lot tougher," she said looking around the group. "Chrysalis has found you missing from your cells and has told every-ling to work to stop you leaving."

'What are you waiting for 727' a voice of one of the other small Changelings asked in Meep's head.

'The Queen knows that the ponies are missing,' Meep said back looking round the corner to the group. 'We need a new plan' she said looking between the two groups. 'I've got it! Each of you take the form of one of the ponies.' she said sending pictures of the ponies to the other Changelings. 'Once you've done that you can lead them away from the gate pretending that your them, so we can get out.'

'RIGHT' they said having some difficulty changing, but did the best they could do and waved to Meep to show they were ready.

"What in tar-nation?" Applejack asked seeing a copy of herself across the way smiling back at her.

"Great idea Meep," Rainbow Dash said seeing her own 'twin'.

"It won't take long for them to work it out though," Meep said jumping up onto Rainbow's back. "So we'll need all the time we have..." 

Then looking at the other 'ponies' smirked and nodded.

Seeing this the five Changelings jumped out of their hiding place, caught the guards attention, and ran off down the tunnel, giving the real ponies time to run to the gate and slip out of the Hive.

Once on the other side, they only had a few seconds before they were stopped by the four soldiers on this side, who were having enough trouble already because of the weather.

"HALT!" all four of them cried all forced to land because of the winds.

They did stop actually, but it wasn't because they were told. The ponies stopped because they were shocked at how bad the weather had gotten.

Seeing there were kick-able clouds in the sky Rainbow spread her wings readying herself to take off.

"We said halt!" one of the soldiers said.

"Yeah well I didn't listen!" Rainbow said flying up into the sky and doing her best to deal with the weather, not realizing Meep was still on her back.

Choosing to ignore the blue Pegasus for the moment, the soldiers turned back to the group their horns sparking green. 

"Lookie here you Changelings," Applejack stepped forward, getting spear like weapons pointed at her. "We don't want no trouble, we just want to get back home." 

"You are prisoners of the Changelings," one of them said. "You are going no where."

"Oh please!" Nurse 516 cried out and looking the main guard in the eye. "Listen here 539! And you lot too," she said to the others. "Three of these ponies are three of the Elements of Harmony. If they wanted to they can but beating you until you're bleeding. But guess what.... There not. No! One of them is taking care of the weather for you..." she said pointing up to the sky to where Rainbow was clearing the clouds. "Applejack tried to reason with you to let us go..." pointing to Applejack who tipped the hat to the soldiers. "And even after all that Fluttershy has gone through in her stay, she told half the hive what friends are, and what they do for each other." Nurse 516 concluded pointing to Fluttershy who looked a bit scared as she hid behind her mane.

"So what are you saying Nurse 516?" the one on the far left asked drawing back his spear. 

"I'm saying 541," Nurse 516 said taking in a deep breath, "To move you big buggy butts out of the way so we can go!" sparks now coming out of her horn, her fangs bared.

After thinking it over the four soldiers let their spears drop and stepped aside. 

"We will give you as much time as we can." the supposed leader said retaking his place on the outside of the gate.

"Thank you boys," Nurse 516 said smiling at them. "Come on!" she said to the ponies and they all raced across the Badlands to the boarder line with Macintosh Hills. 

*

Up in the sky, Rainbow was having trouble clearing the clouds. If she wasn't getting soaked or blown about she was only just missing lightning. 

After her fifth near strike Meep lost her grip and fell off of her back.

"Heeelllpppp!" Meep called as she was falling too scared to open her wings.

"Meep!" Rainbow Dash yelled abandoning the weather to go after the small Changeling, just saving it before she hit the ground. everyone coming running to see of they were alright.

"You ok hon?" Applejack asked first.

"Uh huh," Meep said smiling clinging to Rainbow Dash as tight as she could. 

"See they let you go then," Rainbow said jokingly to the others. Then looking up said. "I've not seen anything like this since our parents... Have you Fluttershy?" she asked her friend.

"No," Fluttershy said looking around for some form of shelter.

Meep felt silly asking this but sensing the sadness she asked. "Rainbow Dash... What are 'parents'?" 

Pausing a bit to think Rainbow said. "They're the ponies that take care of you, who love you, and make sure no harm ever comes to." she said think about hers, Spectrum Dash and Firefly. "They are always their for you when you need them, who help you when you're in trouble..."

"Like Nurse 516?" Meep asked interrupting her looking at the nurse, but feeling more sadness coming from Rainbow.

"Yes," Rainbow said nodding wiping her eyes, but smiling at the two Changelings.

"Rainbow," Meep said knowing she was going where she shouldn't. "Where are your parents?" 

"Gone." Rainbow said in one word.

And before anyone could say another word they set off again towards the Hills.





Back in the Hive the five young Changelings dashed into a corridor, dropped their disguises and pretended to do their work, grinning to each other when the guards were confused that the ponies they were chasing had somehow vanished, and went away with worried looks.

'Worker 801 to 727,' the leader of the five said in his mind. 'Mission acomplished on this side of the gate, how about yours?'

'All clear on this side,' Meep's voice answered. 'Thank you for the help, the ponies said they will always remember you and what you did for them.'

The five looked at each other again their smiles even bigger and their wings buzzing. 
> Chapter 9 Just Like Us
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Appleloosa, ponies were getting a little short tempered with each other...

"Hey give that back that's mine."

"No it isn't it was clearly on my side of the table."

"Oh will you just shut up you two."

"Why don't you!"

A fight broke out between these four ponies with crowds either joining in or cheering them on. Stopping when Twilight shot Silver Stars gun.

"Ponies," she started. "Now is not the time to fight against one another. We need to work together to think of a plan to get to the weather machine that's causing this."

After some murmurers of agreement and 'I'm sorry's', every-pony turned to face Twilight to listen to her plans. 

"Now we have worked out that the weather machine came from Cloudsdale," she said using her magic to project a map of Equestria behind her. "and is somewhere between right over Appleloosa or above the Ghastly Gorge or Doge Junction." She said using a teaching stick to point to the appropriate places.

"I propose we split up and try to find it, so we can shut it off and STOP this weather!"

Cheers came after this, then one mare said. 

"But how are we going to shut it off?" 

"As soon as Rainbow Dash gets back from rescuing Fluttershy," Twilight said knowing that question would come "We will head out, and as soon as we find it, she will fly up and shut it off."

More cheers followed this, and the ponies started dividing themselves into groups waiting for Rainbow to come back so they could head out.

"You sure that's the right thing to do Twilight?" Rarity asked coming up to Twilight after she got down from the stage. "I mean I don't want to jinx anything, but what if she doesn't come back? Or what if something's wrong and she can't fly when she gets here? Or..." the frantic fashionestia asked only being stopped when a purple hoof shoved itself into her mouth.

"Rarity," Twilight said looking her friend in the eye, "You have to remember this is Rainbow Dash you're talking about. The Element of Loyalty, the pony who..."

"Never leaves her friends hanging. And the most awesome friend any-pony can have." a cocky voice at the back of the room next to the open doors said.

Every pony turned to see a smirking Rainbow Dash, a scared Fluttershy, a eye rolling Applejack, a calm but worried looking Strong Heart and Braeburn and two...

"Changelings!" Pinkie screeched and ran up to attack them casing Meep to scream and run behind Rainbow Dash covering her head with her hooves, and Rainbow to glare at her with her wings spread.

"Rainbow!" Twilight said running up to her friends, "What are you doing you know what they are."

"Yeah. I what they are," Rainbow Dash said  stepping aside to hold a scared Meep in her arms. "They're like us. They get scared and bullied, they work all day every day, some stand up for one another, in their own way they have family's and those who care and look after them. And you should know it was because of Meep and Nurse 516, along with some more smaller Changelings that we got out of the Hive at all!" 

All the ponies in the room just stared at the cyan blue Pegasus comforting the purple tear crying 'Meep', and looked away ashamed.

"But they took Fluttershy..." Pinkie said pointing a pallet knife to the Pegasus in question.

"Yeah but they didn't do anything to her," Rainbow spoke for her friend. "As I understand they only fixed her up and asked about friends..." she said looking to Fluttershy to confirm this getting a nod in return.

"Ya'll should be ashamed of yourselves," Applejack stepped forward looking mostly at her friends. "Didn't we learn not to judge covers when we met Zecora? Twi I know what they did at Shining Armour's wedding, but they were under orders remember. Get them alone, spend some time with them and you'll see there's not much difference between us." 

All through the two speeches, Twilight was thinking about what was said. Then when Applejack got around to Zecora she realized she was right. Sighing out of guilt Twilight walked up and bowed her head.

"I'm sorry, both of you." she said looking at the two Changelings seeing understanding in the bigger one but fear still lingering in the small ones eyes.

"Right. Now getting back to this dumb weather machine," Rainbow said snapping every-pony back to how they were before. "You should also know Twi, the Badlands are having some trouble as well, but it's not as bad as around here." she said as the doors were finally shut by some other ponies.

Turning to the map of Equestria that was still up, Twilight started to think.

"Ok so that doesn't rule out Dodge Junction, but that it's closer to Appleloosa."

"So what do we do Twilight?" Fluttershy asked speaking up.

"Rainbow, you take one group and look around Ghastly Gorge. Er..." Twilight said turning to...

"Nurse 516," she said.

"Can you turn into a Pegasus and take another group to look around Dodge Junction. The rest of us will stay here and search around Appleloosa." she said speaking up as she handed out the 'leaders'.

Rainbow Dash nodded and after giving Meep to Little Strong Heart and Fluttershy to look after called one of the groups and ran with them to Ghastly Gorge.

Nurse 516 changed into a light green Pegasus so she could be seen by the other ponies and then ran out with them and headed to Dodge Junction. 

Then the rest of the mares and stallions, ran out with Twilight to search every inch of sky over Appleloosa. Leaving Strong Heart, Braeburn, Fluttershy, and some foals in the town hall. 





In the Buffalo Village, every one was gathered in to a group trying to keep warm against the snow and wind, the older ones trying to keep the children happy and distracted by how cold it was.

But all Thunder Hooves could think of was Little Strong Heart and how up set she was.

Had he done the right thing in keeping the knowledge of  the Changelings away from her?

As though he knew what he was thinking Thunder Hooves' best friend Joe came over to him and said "She was going to find out someday Chief," 

"I know, but I didn't think it would be like this. And so close to her marriage as well." he sighed looking up into the sky.

"You know she's still with you Chief," Joe said changing the subject when he saw where his friend was looking at.

Everyone knew, that no matter what you are, when you passed away, the Princess of the Night, Luna would hang a new star up in the sky so they could look down on their friends and family, and in turn they could look up to them and remember and ask advice from them when it was needed.

At that moment both of them were looking up at where Nala's star was at night both thinking of Strong Heart's mother.

"I know," Thunder Hooves said thinking of his wife. "It is just she always knew what to do in things like this."

"You'll know what to do when it comes around to it Chief," Joe said returning to the group, leaving Thunder Hooves to his thoughts.
> Chapter 10 The Search and the Story
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Hive Chrysalis was more angry than normal.

She was getting sick of every-ling mumbling, talking, and whispering about 'friends' and trying to work out how the ponies escaped when the soldiers were given strict orders to catch them and kill any-ling that was helping them in the process. 

After she found the cells empty and told the Solider Changelings to find them, Chrysalis went to her private quarters and destroyed everything not attached to the walls in sight.

She had just finished and calmed down a bit, when a quick knock came to the door.

"Enter," she said seeing the four guards that came to her at the cells bow in front of her all looking worried. 

"Well?" Chrysalis asked her horn starting to turn green.

"We... We can't find the prisoners my Queen..." 

"We searched through the whole Hive..."

"No one seemed to of been helping them..."

"But their not here anymore..."

They all explained the story not getting up from their bows.

"Wrong answer!" Chrysalis said leaning forward eying each of them and then with a swish of her horn, Chrysalis took the lives of the four Changelings before her their lifeless bodies falling to the ground. 

Then straightening her crown and making sure she looked presentable, called out mentally... "All free cleaners are to come to my quarters, and ask no questions when they get here." With that she went back to the Hives prison ward to try and work out for herself, what happened to the ponies.





Up in the sky above Ghastly Gorge, Rainbow Dash was doing her best clearing the skies for the Earth Ponies to try and find the machine in question.

But they weren't having much luck.

After blowing away her sixteenth storm cloud and getting hit with lightning for the seventh time, Rainbow flew back down and ask if they found anything. 

"We can't find anything Rainbow Dash," one of them said as soon as Rainbow asked the question.

"We have to keep trying," another said nearly falling into the gorge because she was looking up instead of in front of her.

"No," Rainbow said looking at all of the cold tired faces in front of her. "You guys go back to Appleloosa, and get warm. I'll stay here and keep looking. If I can't find anything within half an hour I'll come back too..." and with that she took off to the air again and started looking above the cloud layers for the machine.



 

On the other side of Appleloosa, near Dodge Junction, things weren't going any better. Because Nurse 516 was not meant to leave the Hive, she was not taught any fighting skills or how to do the jobs of the ponies she was formed into at the moment.

It didn't help that she didn't know what kind of cloud was what, or when Chrysalis's voice rang in her head about 'cleaners to come to my quarters', nearly knocking her out of the sky.

It also did not help that Changelings were cold-blooded creatures and got weaker the colder it was. In the end Nurse 516 was so weak her disguise was stripped away from her and she started to fall out of the sky. 

Luckily a group of stallions aided by Pinkie and her Pinkie Sense caught the shivering Changeling and wrapped her up in blankets Rarity conjured up and, after admitting defeat, they all went back to Appleloosa to warm her up.





In Appleloosa, Applejack used a lasso which Twilight put a  'cloud catching' spell on to bring the clouds to the ground for the others to stomp out of existence. 

They had just done their tenth one when both parties came back with their news.

"You sure it wasn't by Dodge Junction?" Twilight asked first getting shaking heads in response as howling winds just deafened every-ponies ears. 

"AND RAINBOW'S STILL LOOKING OVER GHASTLY GORGE?" she asked the other one who nodded shivering against the cold. After saying they can get warm Twilight turned to her group and said. "WE'VE WORKED OUT IT'S EITHER OVER US OR GHASTLY GORGE!" 

But because of the winds it came out as ...

"We... out.. her ...ass... gorge," Making some ponies get confused looks and rub their ears to unblock them.

A few seconds and a 'BANG' followed by colored sky later, Rainbow Dash showed up and said she hadn't found anything in or over the Gorge.

"Which means it must be in Appleloosa," Twilight said looking up and searching the sky then seeing a rather odd looking shaped cloud said "Rainbow. Take a look at that one."

Looking up to see which one Twilight was pointing at, Rainbow kicked off and made her way into the could.





In the town hall Little Strong Heart was telling the children Buffalo stories to try and keep them happy and entertained.

"...Just as the Chief was about to stomp his hoof on the stallions neck, the tribes Princess dived out of the crowd and laid herself over him stopping the Chief just in time. 

She said looking into her father's eyes 'If you kill him, you're going to have to kill me too..." 

Many gasps came from the children at hearing this.

"Did he Miss Strong Heart?" one of them asked putting her hoof in the air. 

"What kind of story would it be if he did Dummy?" another said rolling his eyes.

"Hey! Don't call her a Dummy, Dummy..." a third one said in return.

"Why don't we let Strong Heart finish the story and find out?" Braeburn said cutting the kids off before a fight broke out.

"Sorry..." all three said looking up at the Buffalo Princess.

"It's ok," Strong Heart said trying to remember where she was "Oh yeah... Then the Chief said 'Daughter, step back.' 

'I won't. I love him Father....' the Princess said shocking the two tribes but most of all her father. 'Look around you. This is where the path of Hatred has brought us! This is the path I choose Father. What will yours be?'

The Chief stepped back, thinking about what his daughter had said looking at his tribe, then to the one the stallion was from. Everyone who heard her started to loosen their weapons waiting for the Chief's answer.  

'My daughter speaks with the wisdom beyond her years. We've all come here with anger in our hearts, but she comes with courage and understanding. From this day forward, if there is to be more killing, it will not start with me.' Then the Chief turned to one of his men and said 'Release him.'

But as the stallion and the Princess embraced at being together again, the leader of the stallion's tribe said. 'Now's our chance. Attack.'" 

Getting even more gasps and questions. All through the story Meep had been listening, feeling the emotions that came with the story. It almost felt like she was there, watching it all happen.

"One of the stallion's friends turned to his leader and said 'No.' 

'What was that?' 

'They let him go,' another said.

'They don't want to fight,' a third said dropping his weapon to the ground the rows behind him doing the same agreeing with them.

Unsure what to do, thinking the Buffalo's were tricking them the leader quickly picked one of the weapons and took aim.

The stallion first to realize jumped out of the Princesses arms and pushed the Chief out of the way, but was not fast enough to doge the shot himself. 

This shocked everyone the ponies on the ground quickly took the weapon away from their leader, and tied him up, while the Buffalo's on the hill swarmed around the stallion to see if he was alright.

"Was he?" all three of the children asked their eyes wide with wonder.

"Yes," Strong Heart said continuing with her story "But it came at a cost... 'A few days later as the ponies were packing up their airship to go home one of the stallions friends said they'll loose the wind if the did not go soon. But the stallion said for them to wait a few more minutes.

Suddenly out of the trees came the Princess and her whole village bearing gifts for the brave stallion that saved their Chief. The Chief himself actually came up and gave his thanks to the stallion, and said that they would always be brothers, giving the stallion his cloak.

The Princess said her good byes, knowing it was better for the stallion to go back to get the right medicine for his wounds. 

'Come with me?' he asked.

The Princess looked between the two tribes... The one she'd always know, and the one she had just met. Then to her father.

'You must choose your own path' he said smiling.

Then the Princess turned back to the stallion. 'I'm needed here,' she said.

'Then.. I'll stay here with you.' he said breathing deeply.

'No,' she said, 'You have to go back.'

'But I'll miss you,' he said holding her hoof.

'So will I' she replied. 'But no matter what happens, I'll always be with you. Forever...' 

After they said good bye, the stallion's friends took him onto the airship and slid off the mountain making them start heading home.

All of the Buffalo tribe watched it leave, knowing they would miss their new friends, but always remembering, as long as you let them live in your hearts by remembering them, and what they did... they will always be with you." 

As Little Strong Heart came to the end of her story, the doors flung open and everyone who went out earlier came back in, one of them carrying a wrapped up shivering Nurse 516 on his back.

Fluttershy and Meep ran over as they laid her on the ground and placed more blankets over her trying to warm her up.

Braeburn came up to his sister. "Find the machine sis?" he asked getting death glances from every-pony.

"Does it look like we found it Braeburn?" Apple Fritter said eying him the most pointing out the window to the mix between rain, hail, and now snow.

"Er..." Braeburn said looking around at the mares and stallions, all being given blankets and warm cider by Fluttershy.

As that was going on one of the children asked, "Miss Strong Heart... Was that a true story?"

"And if it was, who were they?" another said.

"Well, yes it is a true story," Little Strong Heart said rubbing the back of her head a bit. "But I don't know who they were. It's a very old story, I might gotten things wrong, but the base line is easy enough to remember."

Feeling something coming off of Little Strong Heart, Meep looked up, and had an idea.

"Braeburn, Little Strong Heart!" she buzzed up in the air to get noticed, "Please everyone Nurse 516 is ill, please let out your love for those you do so she can get better.... Please, she was the only 'friend' I had back in the Hive, I don't want to lose her." she said purple tears starting to roll down her cheeks as no one stepped forward.

Then Fluttershy stepped out of the crowd and went over to lie down in front of Nurse 516 and thought of all her animals back home, of her boyfriend, friends, new friends and what Nurse 516 did for her when she was in the Hive.

Slowly the warmth of Fluttershy's emotions made their way to the older Changeling, but it wasn't enough, so Strong Heart and Braeburn came up and joined in, shedding love for each other, and their family's and friends.

Slowly, one by one, the Appleloosains came forward and helped, thinking of the ones they loved, their friends and what they did for them. And slowly bit by tiny bit Nurse 516 began to shiver less and some black was coming back to her skin.

Then after ten minutes, Nurse 516 opened her eyes and smiled as Meep greeted her like a kitten and her mother. Then she looked up at all the ponies around her all smiling and sighing in relief. Turning her attention to Fluttershy, she only said two words... 

"Thank you," before closing her eyes again and going to sleep.
> Chapter 11 The Plan and the Machine
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, not a lot of ponies know this, but Changelings have very good senses of smell which help them to tell each other apart and to hunt down unsuspecting ponies.

Chrysalis, knowing she will never find the prisoners any other way, went down to the ward and began to breath in the air. 

She could smell the ponies, a child worker, and a nurse Changeling. Picking up the trail, Chrysalis made her way though the Hive following the trail the ponies went down, passing 801 and his friends.

Thinking quickly, and hoping it would get through, he tried calling Meep.





In the Appleloosa town hall almost everyone was sleeping or getting after being outside all day.

"Agghh..." Meep cried clutching her head scaring half the ponies "Too loud..." then she head what the voice had to say.

'801 to727, Chrysalis is picking up the trail of the ponies. And she looks mad...' 

After Meep came to again she saw every-pony looking at her worry on their faces waiting for an answer. But all Meep did was run outside to try and find Rainbow Dash and tell her what just happened.





Above the clouds Rainbow was fighting against the winds to get closer to the odd looking cloud to see what it was, smiling when she saw the Cloudsdale mark on the side of it and storm clouds come out from the base. 

Flying back down after getting her balance back, Rainbow was nearly knocked over by a small black something.

"Rainbow.... Rainbow.... She's coming Rainbow.... She coming..." Meep said hugging her friend shivering thanks to the cold.

"Whoa kid slow down, who's coming and," Rainbow Dash saw it was Meep "What are you doing out here? It's not safe for you."

"I... I had to tell you Rainbow..." Meep said shivering "801 just told me Chrysalis is picking up our trail.... And she looked mad..."

"That's one of the kids that helped us isn't it?" Rainbow asked putting Meep on her back shielding her with her wings from the cold.

"Yes."

"Rainbow, what's going on," Applejack asked when she made it back to her friends. "And why's Meep out here?"

"Meep says that one of the Changelings that helped us told her Chrysalis has picked up our trail and is really mad..." Rainbow said then to Twilight "I also found the machine, but I was nearly blown away as I got closer to it." she explained as she took Meep back inside and shut the door to warm her up.

"But you're the strongest flier in all of Equestria..." Pinkie said worried bouncing along in her usual way.

"Hey, I still am ok," Rainbow said rounding herself to Pinkie "It's just I've never had to deal with stuff as strong as this before. And if you didn't hear us Chrysalis might be coming so we might have bigger problems than the weather."

Rarity conjured up a blanket and gave it to Meep to warm her up a little, and then went over to join her friends in deciding what to do.

But instead of staying still and getting warm, Meep went to find Little Strong Heart finding her upstairs looking out of the window.

Little Strong Heart jumped slightly as she felt someone snuggle up next to her.

"Oh hi Meep," she said smiling looking out the window again.

"I liked the story Miss Strong Heart," Meep said looking up at her. "I felt all the emotions you gave off while telling it. You're a great story teller... Wish we had stories that good back at the Hive..." she said putting her head on her hooves and looking away. 

"Thank you," Little Strong Heart said not looking at her. Then sighing said "I just which I knew who they were. It feels like me and Braeburn are going though the same story as they did."

"What do you mean?" Meep asked looking up at her. 

"Well my tribe and his family weren't always that close as we are now." Little Strong Heart said going into the story of how the peace between the two tribes were settled and how she and Braeburn began to like each other.

"Won't your 'parents' know?" Meep asked cocking her head to one side a bit.

"My mother died when I was a baby," Little Strong Heart said "And after how my father kept the Changelings a secret from me, I don't want to trust him anymore."

"You don't mean that," Meep said backing away a bit scared.

"Yes I do Meep, my Father's the worst one their is,"

"LAIR" Meep cried, "You love him, I can feel it, and you know he loves you." 

"How do you know?" Little Strong Heart asked turning to Meep.

"Because I can feel it." Meep said "And you don't have to be a Changeling to do that." she said running back down stairs to try and find Rainbow Dash again knowing she was the only one who cared about her in this world, leaving Little Strong Heart to think.





Downstairs Twilight was in the back of the room pacing around as little as she could muttering to herself thinking how to get up to the machine, while Rainbow Dash was trying to think about of a way to stop Chrysalis.

Knowing not to butt in when their friends were like this the rest of the main six were sat around a table with a pack of cards they had found.

Meep was making her way towards them when they both said.

"What we need is more...." they said together...

"Pegasi to fight against the winds" Twilight said.

"Of us to confuse Chrysalis" Rainbow said.

Hearing different answers from each other Twilight and Rainbow started arguing with each other as quietly as they could because of the resting ponies.

Hearing what they said and thinking for a bit Meep buzzed with happiness as a idea came to her, and she rushed over there stopping in between the two ponies. 

"I can help, well Nurse 516 might be able to help," Meep said when she had their attention.

"How?" Rainbow said folding away her wings looking at the Changeling in front of her.

"Changelings can change more things than just themselves," Meep said looking around the room for something to demonstrate on. Then seeing an apple at the bar, pointed her horn at them, thought hard, and shot a ray of green light at it. After every-pony got their vision back, where the apple was, was now... an orange.

Shocked all the ponies who saw that went over to the bar to look at it. 

"The size of the stuff goes with the size of the Changeling though," Meep said looking down at the ground.

Suddenly the orange turned back into an apple.

"As does the time limit." 

"So wait," Applejack said looking between Meep and the apple trying to get all this into her head. "You're saying, you can make us Earth Ponies into Pegasi, to shut of that machine, and into us to confuse Chrysalis?"

"Well I can't," Meep said looking up at Applejack. "I'm too small. But I think Nurse 516 might." They all looked over to the other Changeling still asleep.

Suddenly Meep clutched her head again.

'801 to 727, Chrysalis is just leaving the hive... Repeat Chrysalis is just leaving the Hive'

Shaking her head Meep ran over to Nurse 516 and said when she woke up, "She's coming, She's coming to get us." Nurse 516 didn't need to ask what got Meep so worried to know who 'She' was.

Sheriff Silver Star on the other hoof, "Who's coming?" 

"Who do you think Dimbo" Rainbow said picking up Meep and heading for the door.

"Wait Rainbow," Twilight said "Where are you going?"

"To get some help," Rainbow replied, "Tell Nurse 516 the plan. We'll be back as soon as we can."

And with that they were out the door.





Rainbow Dash flew as fast as she could, while not trying to scare Meep over to the Buffalo Village.

When they got there Rainbow looked around, not seeing anyone she called out "Hello? Any one there?" After a few minutes and some walking, they found all of the tribe in a big cave most of them asleep, some telling stories, and others sharing what food they could save from their tents. 

They all looked up when Rainbow stopped in front of the opening.

Thunder Hooves came over to her first and welcomed her in. 

"It is good to see you again Rainbow Dash." he said bringing her up to the front of the cave, Meep under her wings.

"Thanks Chief, but we kinda need your help down in Appleloosa," Rainbow said speaking to the whole tribe. Then turning to look over her shoulder said "You can come out now..." 

Slowly, Meep raised her head up from Rainbow's back looked around and jumped to the ground, eyes wide with wonder and fear.

This got the Buffalo a little touchy.

"You dare bring that thing here Rainbow Dash?" Thunder Hooves asked speaking for the tribe pointing at Meep. "Where is it's colony, where is the queen who tried to take the love from my daughter?" He asked stopping when he saw Meep hide behind Rainbow covering her head with fear from the Chief, and Rainbow spread her wings in anger to protect her.

"I don't know what you're talking about Chief," she said looking annoyed stomping her hoof. "But I bet it has nothing to do with Meep. And if you had let me finish, we came here to ask for your help. Meep's been told by some of her friends that Chrysalis is hunting me and my friends down. One of them being Strong Heart..." she paused here to let the message sink in.

"What are we to do then Rainbow Dash," Thunder Hooves said backing off a bit.

"Well the first thing I think would be say sorry to Meep... But we don't have time for that." Rainbow said. "We need to get back to Appleloosa as quick as we can." With that she put Meep on her back, and flew out of the cave and back to the town.





When Rainbow, Meep and the Buffalo's made it back to the town hall, Nurse 516 had just about finished sorting out the plan.

The real mane six, Strong Heart, and Braeburn were on stage and called them over to ask what the next part of the plan was.

"Those who are Pegasi, will come with me in a few minutes to help shut of the weather machine." Rainbow ordered. The rest of you, will be given a different pony Chrysalis is hunting to confuse her, and will split up around the town and keep her distracted and make her mad enough that she will go away. If that does not work, then we will all work together to see her out of the town!" 

Cheers came after this, then Rainbow turned to Nurse 516, and asked "How long are your changing spells?"

"10 to 15 minutes, from when I put them on," she replied "So some are already part done."

"Alright every-pony," Rainbow called out again "Get out there and wait for the Queen. Changed-Pegasi come with me." with that she and all the 'Pegasi' went out the door and flew up to the clouds while the groups went to different places around Appleloosa.





Chrysalis was happy with herself. She could smell she was getting closer to the ponies as she got closer to the town that was in front of her.

Suddenly the sent trails split apart from each other. Not knowing where to go, Chrysalis decided to go to where it was strongest. The town hall not caring about the weather.

"I know your here little ponies..." Chrysalis called out looking around her. "Come out, come out where ever you are."

Suddenly an apple pie was thrown and hit the queen right in the back of the head. 

"Who DARES throw a pie at royalty!" she screamed buzzing her wings in anger.

"I dares..." a hat free Applejack stepped out.

At that moment as Chrysalis was charging up her horn, another pie hit her. 

"And if you ask me," a Rainbow Dash said "You're not worthy of being called royal."

"Enough of this," Chrysalis said shaking the pie off herself. "Where are those Changelings who helped you escape my Hive, so I can kill them?" 

"Like we'll tell you where they are," the 'Applejack' said picking up another pie in her hoof. While Chrysalis was looking at the fake one, the real Applejack, was prepping her lasso for the right time to strike, wishing to Celestia it would work.

After Chrysalis breathed in the air around her, she smiled, reveling her fangs and said. "You're not the real Elements of Honesty or Loyalty, whoever you are." shocking everyone who could hear her stopping the real Applejack in her tracks. "Sadly that means it wont make any difference then... WHEN I KILL YOU!" she screamed and shot her green magic towards the the two ponies who only just dodged the beams. 





Up in the sky, above the clouds, Rainbow Dash was leading the other ponies towards the machine.

"NEARLY THERE EVERY PONY!" she screamed moving her wings as hard as they would go but only inching her way to it. 

Everyone was working as hard as they could to help the true Pegasus get to the machine. At last Rainbow landed on the cloud holding the machine and digging her hooves in turned and said "EVERY-PONY, GET OUT OF THE SKY, YOU ONLY HAVE AT LEAST FIVE MINUTES BEFORE YOU TURN BACK TO EARTH PONIES!" she cried to the crowd above the over the howling winds. After every-pony was gone, Rainbow made her way into the clouds surrounding the the machine to shut it off.

The inside of the clouds, reminded Rainbow Dash of the types of weather that were around when Discord was in control. 

Over there it was rainy, down the line a bit it was windy, on the other side, it was snowing and all around the machine forks of lightning were striking every three seconds each time in different pattens. 

The once 'Most greatest flier in all of Equestria', now stood frozen in place remembering it was something like this that made her and Fluttershy lose their parents. 

~~*~~

"Um... Happy birthday Rainbow," a ten year old Fluttershy said holding out a blue box to her friend. 

"Yeah more presents!" a seven year old blue filly cried snatching the gift away and tearing at the paper.

"Rainbow Mirrum Dashery" her mother's voice said above her, causing the filly to look up. "You know not to go around snatching things. Even if they are for you. Now say you're sorry." Firefly said looking at her daughter.

Knowing she wouldn't be allowed to finish opening her gift until she did Rainbow got up and plodded over to Fluttershy and mumbled "I'm sorry for snatching the present away..." 

"That's ok Rainbow," Fluttershy said hiding behind her pink hair thinking it was her fault Firefly was mad at Rainbow.

With that settled Rainbow zoomed back to her present, while Spectrum and Firefly, welcomed Aurora and Orion into their kitchen and gave them refreshments, leaving the two filly's to to play the new game Rainbow had just got 'Battle Clouds'.

It was less than half an hour later when a messenger pony from the weather factory the grown ups all worked at came and said there were some out of control storm clouds and all Pegasi were asked to help deal with them.

"But it's our day off," Spectrum said to the pony at the door. "We took it so we could be with our daughter on her birthday."

"I... I know Mr Spectrum, Sir," the messenger pony said. "But I... I'm just handing out the message. The boss said he'll give all the Pegasi who help a week's vacation for helping with this problem." he said looking scared knowing Spectrum, one of the highest worker at the factory, and one of the strongest fliers who could easily, if he wanted, break his wings out of anger.

Hearing the fuss at the door, the other grown ups came out to see what the problem was.

After Spectrum had seen off the messenger, and told the parents what the fuss was about Orion said. "I told them not to do all the storm clouds at once. But would they listen?"

"Well it's doesn't matter wither they did or not Orion," Spectrum said pacing around thinking of the deal that could be given if they helped. "What matters now is how are we going to sort them out?"

After calling Nana Prism to look after the girls, and saying goodbye and to be good. The parents went off to sort out the storm clouds.

The next morning Nana Prism had some very unwelcoming news to give the girls.


~~*~~

Shaking her head to get rid of the memories, Rainbow Dash slowly and carefully made her way over to the machine. 

She felt like her favorite story book heroine, Dareing Do while inching ever closer to the 'STOP' button, feeling the weather trying to keep her away from it,nearly being hit with the lightning with every step.

Closing her eyes and reaching out her hoof, Rainbow pressed the button stopping the weather. But before she could celebrate six bolts of lightning hit her making  60,000 volts of electricity go though her. And because the clouds around the machine were breaking apart, dropping her out of the sky, unconscious.
> Chapter 12 Truth Comes Out  take 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back down on the ground the ponies disguises were starting to flicker.

Pies were now flying from every direction hitting Chrysalis every few seconds so she couldn't build up her magic. 

All at once, the pies stopped.

"Ha," Chrysalis said looking around shaking the pies off herself. "You think a few wimpy pies would stop the Queen of the Changelings?"

"We weren't trying to stop you Chrysalis," a rough voice said behind her. 

Turning around Chrysalis saw the entire Buffalo Tribe lined up and waiting to charge. With Applejack, Little Strong Heart and Braeburn in the front row next to Thunder Hooves.

"Ah so nice to see you again Chief Thunder Hooves," Chrysalis said grinning, showing her fangs. "Nice to see Wittle Strong Heart again..."

"You have no reason to be here parasite!" Thunder Hooves said digging his hoof into the ground in anger.

"Why I just came to wish the happy couple good hopes for the future," Chrysalis said back. "You know it's not the first time a Buffalo Princess fell for a pony. Is it?"

"And how would you know that story?" Little Strong Heart asked looking Chrysalis in the eye.

"My dear, I was there, I was out trying to feed my changelings, and felt the hint of love over the hatred." Chrysalis said looking at the reactions. "I'm surprised you haven't been told, my dear."

"Wha... What do you mean?" Strong Heart asked looking between her father, her tribe who were getting ready to charge, and Chrysalis.

"Do you know who that Princess was, my dear?" Chrysalis asked grinning even wider at the anger she was getting off of the tribe. "It was you're mother, Princess Nala. And if I recall correctly the stallion was some one called Johnny Smith..." She now looked at Applejack and Braeburn loving the shocked expressions on their faces.

"Who... Who's he?" Strong Heart asked looking at her friends.

"He's our uncle." Braeburn said first.

"He was invited to join a crew in a voyage to new lands to see what they were like." Applejack continued.

"When he came home though he was in bandages and no one told us anything about what happened except they made some new friends." Braeburn  finished.

"Chrysalis," Thunder Hooves said stomping his hoof. "I insist you stop infecting these children with your lies."

"How can I be lying when it's the truth Thunder Hooves." Chrysalis asked wickedly. "Let's see if the story ends the same, shall we?" She said charging her horn with green light. But before she could fire it at Thunder Hooves, Meep jumped out of the crowd and stood in front of her, her own horn sparking.

"Ah so I finally find the little runt who helped the ponies escape." Chrysalis said cutting off her magic to talk to the Changeling in front of her. "A bit small to be out here on your on aren't you?"

"Who says I'm on my own?" Meep said whistling. Suddenly, out of the shadows, and the skies came the five small Changelings and all who were taught about friends, came to stand behind Meep all of them sparking their horns, glaring at Chrysalis.

"You wimps get back over here now!" Chrysalis cried.

"Sorry Chrysalis," Meep spoke up again "But we're not listening to you any more. We decides that if being a Changeling means having no friends... We'd all rather be pony's." Buzzing of agreement came from those behind her.

"Oh... I see," Chrysalis said. "Well then... There's only one thing to do I suppose. KILL ALL OF YOU!" She cried as a green beam of energy came out of her horn and aimed to the Changelings. 

But when it was gone, no-ling was even hurt, for a violet bubble was around them all protecting them.

"What the?" Chrysalis asked then "Twilight Sparkle..."

"Miss me Chrysalis?" Twilight's voice came from the top of the buildings. "Sadly I didn't miss you, but..." Twilight said coming to the edge with her friends to be seen. "That might have something to do with you trying to hypnotize my brother, and imprisoning me and Cadence in the Canterlot Caves!"

Suddenly Pinkie's tail started twitching. Looking around to see what it was, she pulled Fluttershy aside.

"How's your wing Fluttershy?" Pinkie asked.

"Um... Ok I guess, why?" Fluttershy asked.

But before she could answer, Pinkie's tail started twitching again making Fluttershy look up.

"RAINBOW DASH!" she called getting everyone to look up and see the falling Rainbow.

Getting a wicked look in her eye and a smile across her face, Chrysalis flew up to catch Rainbow in her magic grip.

"Let her go Chrysalis," Twilight said to the Queen.

"You know, you should choose your words a bit more carefully Twilight Sparkle," Chrysalis said. "But as you wish..." she said loosening her hold on Rainbow a bit.

"NO!" everyone cried.

"Good." Chrysalis said getting hold of Rainbow again. "Now that I have your attention..." she turned to the Changelings "All of you back over there, or this Rainbow will never shine again."


'What shall we do 727?' one of the kids asked buzzing their wings in anger at the queen.

'We stay here,' Meep answered 'Friends stay together and stand up for other friends... No matter what the danger...'

'But she has the Element of Loyalty' another voice said sounding worried.

All the Changelings were buzzing their wings now wondering what to do, turning to Meep for an answer. 

"You do what you want!" Meep said to the Changelings behind her. "But I am not going to leave my friend. 'A friend is someone who's always there to get you out of trouble, who sticks with you forever..." She said quoting Rainbow while looking at her leg remembering what she did for her.

"Awe... What a lovely speech." Chrysalis said not really caring. "Well you heard her, get back over here." she told the others.

"That is NOT what she said," another small Changeling spoke up. "She said 'Do what we want'. And I want to stay."

"Me too," "Me too," "Me too," "Me too," "Me too,".... All though the crowd the Changelings were agreeing with Meep, and choosing to stay.

"Well then..." Chrysalis said holding out Rainbow Dash "Whoops..." she said as she let her go.

Being the only one with wings who wasn't in Twilight's protection bubble, Fluttershy took to the sky to save Rainbow Dash, flying faster than she had ever done before.

Without her knowing, a cone was starting to form in front of her, but all she cared about was getting to Rainbow Dash. Just as Rainbow was about to hit the ground, Fluttershy caught her and pulled up, giving off a 'BANG' and a circle of bright pink almost ripple across the sky, catching Chrysalis by surprise and throwing her all the way back to the Badlands, never to be seen again.
> Chapter 13 The End
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Fluttershy landed and looked up, everyone was looking at her mouths open blinking their eyes. 

"Wha... What just happened?" she asked backing away a bit.

"I think Fluttershy," Twilight said pointing Fluttershy's head to the sky "You just did your version of a Sonic-Rainboom." 

"I... I did that?" Fluttershy asked still holding Rainbow. "How... How can I? I was the weakest flyer in Flight Camp. How can I do a Sonic-Rainboom?"

"Strange things happen when your friends are in danger..." Rainbow said rubbing her head, grinning.

"RAINBOW!" Pinkie yelled coming up to hug her. "You're alright. Ouch..." she said as she got a shock from Rainbow Dash making her hair stand on end.

"Oh yeah, I may have got hit with a few lightning bolts up there."

"How many?" Twilight asked. 

"Six...Ouch" Rainbow said trying to flap her wings.

"But that's 60,000 volts of electricity isn't it?" Twilight asked. "How can you only have been unconscious and have a hurt wing?"

"Pegasi have their own limit of magic Twilight." Rainbow said. "We can stand some things..." 





While this was going on up on the tops of the buildings, down on the ground, as the Changelings were cheering for Fluttershy, and the leaving of the queen, Little Strong Heart pulled her father aside to ask him some questions.

"What else are you keeping from me Father?" she asked eyes slightly damp with tears. 

"You were going to be told someday, Little Strong Heart," Thunder Hooves said looking around at his people celebrating with the ponies and Changelings. "I just did not know how to tell you beyond that story." he said waiting for a response from his daughter. 

When it didn't come, he carried on.  

"I was never the one who did the talking Little Strong Heart," he said "That is why it seems I've been keeping secrets. Some were to protect you, while other would of been told to you when you were old enough. But you should know my Daughter, that when I say I care for you, you can believe me."

After a few minutes of silence, Thunder Hooves left his daughter to her thoughts.

All the sudden Meep came up buzzing her wings looking a bit annoyed.

"What was that for?" she asked. "I could feel his love and caring for you from over there." She pointed to where all the other Changelings were still celebrating. "He's your father, go after him. Can't you see he cares for you?" she asked.

"Please Meep, just go away," Strong Heart said as she turned and left the town to be by herself. 

Seeing his girlfriend run off looking upset, Braeburn excused himself from his friends and joined her, finding her at the apple orchid.





It was getting dark when either of them spoke up again.

"I wish my mother was here." Little Strong Heart said looking up at the stars. "At least then I would of heard the truth."

"But it was the truth Strong Heart," Braeburn said looking up as well. "And as you told the kids the story line's the same. And as long as they live in your hearts there always there. Right?" 

"But..."

"But nothing Strong Heart," Someone said behind them coming up to them. 

Turning around they saw Applejack coming to see if they were alright.

"You should be happy you still have one half of your parents with ya," Applejack said coming up to look at the stars now too. "Me and Mac and Apple Bloom, who's no older than Meep I recon, only have each other and Granny Smith. Why I'm even starting to forget their faces. And Apple Bloom didn't even have one day with them." she said taking of her hat and looking at it.

"You should be happy you still have someone there for you," she said gripping the rim of the hat tightly. "Especially when their gone. Parents do the things they do because they care about us. And as Meep said... You don't need powers to tell when someone cares about you."

Just then a shooting star went across the sky putting new thoughts into Little Strong Hearts head.

"I should say I'm sorry, shouldn't I," She asked getting nods from her friends as they got up with her and headed back to town.





The next day, planning for the wedding started up again. 

Applejack, and the town's ponies handled the food, Rarity did the decorations and the dresses, Fluttershy helped the Buffalo's set up the bonfire the bride and groom would need to walk around as part of the ceremony, Pinkie was party cannon shooting all over town (making some of the Changelings run and hide as they remembered it from the Royal Wedding), Rainbow was making a fuss that her wing was perfectly alright and that she can do a Sonic-Rainboom, and Twilight was over seeing that things went to plan.

Meep and her five friends were 'buzzing' with excitement and all the love and happiness that came from the ponies. 

"I think I'm going to like being friends with ponies 727." one of them said smiling.

"I told you, my names Meep," Meep said but still smiling that she finally had some friends of her own. 

"Sorry," he said "It's just so hard to remember, or get used to..."

"Where do we go when the ponies go home?" one of them asked on her left.

"What do you mean?" Meep asked turning to face the Changeling who asked the question.

"I heard them say this morning that tomorrow they'll be going home," he said eyes wide.

"But... But they said friends stick with you now matter what." Meep said purple tears leaking out of her eyes as she flew away to cry.

Then Rainbow Dash came up wanting to tell the kids some news, but when she saw Meep fly away got confused.

"Hey Kids," Rainbow called out getting their attention. "What's wrong with Meep?" she asked.

"What's wrong with her?" the one in the middle said buzzing his wings. "What's wrong with you and the other ponies?"

"What do you mean?" Rainbow asked taking a step back.

"You said friends were always by your side... Or something like that." One on the end said.

"And then we heard you this morning say something about 'Going home'," A third one said.

"And that's what I came over for, to tell you all that you five, Nurse 516 and Meep are coming with us home," Rainbow Dash said looking along the line. "But you know, if you don't want to..." she said heading off in the direction Meep flew off in, cursing that her wing was broken.

*

Meep was hiding in one of the one of the orchards apple trees crying harder than she had ever done, thinking her first friend, the Element of Loyalty at that, was leaving her. 

"Meep?" someone called putting a stop to Meep's tears. 

"Meep where are you?" that voice she knew that voice. 

Walking along the branch she was on, Meep looked down through the leaves to see Rainbow Dash looking around trying to find her.

"Meep please come out..." Rainbow said getting closer to the tree she was in.

Suddenly, 'Meep, Rainbow said they're going to take us with them,' one of her friends said.

'Yeah right,' Meep said pulling back and sniffing, catching Rainbow's ears.

"Meep I know you're here somewhere," she said "Please I need to tell you something,"

"Tell me you're leaving me?" Meep's voice said from the very top of the trees. 

"First of all, Meep." Rainbow said after cursing her wings again. "I'll never leave my friend, whether if their in trouble or not. Secondly can you come down so we can talk face to face?"

After a moment Meep came out of the tree and sat with her back to Rainbow Dash, who every time she tried to look at Meep, just got the cold shoulder. 

"Fine..." she finally said. "Look, Meep, I don't know what you heard or not, but I got the feeling you didn't hear everything." Rainbow said.

"I heard that you and the ponies are going home tomorrow..." Meep said rubbing her nose a bit.

"And...?" Rainbow asked.

"And what?" Meep asked turning around eyes full of tears. "You're leaving me! Aren't you!"

"Well if you want me to..." Rainbow said starting to get up.

"NO!" Meep said running up to her and rubbing her face into Rainbow's chest. "Please don't leave me Rainbow Dash." she said.

"Who ever said I was?" Rainbow Dash asked pushing Meep away a bit.

"Well..." Meep said looking away.

"You need to get all the facts before you assume things like this Meep." Rainbow said. "Yes my friends and I are going home, and we want you Nurse 516 and your friends to come with us."

"Really..." Meep asked rubbing her nose.

"Yeah," Rainbow said smiling. "But you know, if you don't want to come with us..." she said looking away still smiling.

"YES YES YES!" Meep cried flying up in the air and doing some back-flips expressing her happiness. Then coming back down bear hugged Rainbow. "Thank you Rainbow Dash."

And together they made it back up to the town.





That night, if seemed like Luna's moon shone the brightest it ever shone as everyone enjoyed the party for the newly weds. 

Twilight even sang her 'Loves in Bloom' for them as they did their first dance. 

After they had finished and were off the dance floor, Little Strong Heart went over to her farther to say sorry for how she acted the day before, and thank him for letting her marry Braeburn.

"You are welcome my daughter," Thunder Hooves said smiling.

The party went on all through the night, cheers, laughter, and love spreading everywhere. In the morning, the main six, along with Meep, Nurse 516 - now named Sugarcube - and the other five 'still to be named' children, were at the train station saying their goodbyes to the town.

"We'll be sure to be back soon," Twilight said smiling and shaking hooves with Silver Star, looking to her friends getting nods in return.

"You are welcome here whenever you'd like." he said stepping back as the train's door shut. "And thank you for all you did for the town this time too." he said as they looked out the window, as the train started moving.

* 

After fifteen minutes, and the other five Changelings were a sleep from parting all night, Meep went to find Rainbow at the rear of the train, thinking to herself.

And Meep didn't need her powers to know something was wrong.

Slowly she walked up and got onto Rainbow's back rubbing her head on her neck.

"Hey kid," Rainbow said in a i-don't-care kind of voice, still looking at the sky.

"What's wrong Rainbow Dash?" Meep asked thinking it would help.

"It's just, when I was up in the clouds to shut the machine off, and I saw the lightning," Rainbow explained "It... It reminded me of my parents. And how I... I lost them."

"Do... Do you want to talk about it?" Meep asked buzzing her wings a bit.

"No thanks kid," Rainbow said smiling "Besides, even if they are gone, I can always remember them. And I'll always be there for you." 

"It might be a bit difficult when she meets Scootaloo, Rainbow." Applejack said coming out to see them. 

"Well why can't I have two little sisters?" Rainbow asked opening her good wing at Applejack.

"I didn't say that you can't. Not that Scoot's is your sister. I'm only saying, don't get big headed with all the attention this time ok?" Applejack said going back in.

Feeling embarrassment coming off Rainbow, Meep asked.

"What's she talking about Rainbow?"

"It's a long story." was what she got.

"It's a long ride home..." Meep said trying to get her to talk.

Sighing a bit Rainbow started telling the story of Mare-Do-Well.

"It all started after I rescued a filly who fell down a well...."



The End