Twilight Sparkle jumped, leaving a streak of ink across her scroll, as Spike burped green fire. A rolled, stamped scroll landed on her desk. "URGENT" was written on a tag on the ribbon. Twilight tilted her head and used her magic to unravel it. Hovering it in front of her face, she read aloud to an anxious Spike, who looked over her shoulder.
"To all Princesses and mayors,
"To be released immediately: A changeling has been discovered in Manehattan. We have not been able to learn how long it's been here or how many others there are, but we have reason to believe there are more than just one. Be careful who you trust, and warn all citizens. A safe zone is being set up in Canterlot, with reinforced shields."
Twilight felt anxiety wrap itself around her chest. Spike noticed, and rolled up the scroll.
"What's our first step? Make a list!"
"Right. Thanks, Spike." Twilight cleared her desk and set out a new scroll. She held her pen in a purple aura and scribbled furiously.
"First: Deliver scroll to Mayor Mare. Second: Call a town meeting. Third: Screen all citizens. Um..."
"Okay, let's do that right now and figure the rest out later once we have more information."
"I'm sorry, Spike. I shouldn't be so unprepared. But now is not the time to be beating myself up. Let's go!" Spike jumped on Twilight's back as the alicorn spread her wings, and they flew down the halls at breakneck speeds, narrowly avoiding the crystal walls. She burst through the heavy doors and heard them bang loudly against the sides of the cavernous castle. From up above, nothing looked unusual, and Twilight could almost imagine that she had never received the scroll. But now was not the time for wishful thinking. She dived down until she was nearly at ground level, and skidded to a halt in front of the town hall. She leaped up the stairs and knocked on the door, louder than she intended to. Spike held the scroll tightly in his claws.
After a few seconds, Mayor Mare opened the door. She looked tired, and her gray mane was frizzy.
"It's late, Princess. What's the matter?"
"Did you receive the urgent message from Celestia the Royal Guard? Changelings are in Equestria! We need to call a town meeting now!"
"Well that's quite the alarmist viewpoint. One changeling does not an invasion make."
"You weren't in Canterlot when they swarmed Cadence and Shining Armor's wedding, so you don't know, but changelings can look and act like anypony. It might be nothing, but just to be safe we should gather everypony here so they can be screened. I know a spell that can reveal a changeling's true form."
Twilight thought she saw a flicker of some unreadable emotion in the mayor's eyes. But it was gone when the mayor replied with her usual smile, "If it's nothing, then there's no need to alarm anypony. Besides, it can wait until morning. Now if you'll excuse me..." she trailed off and started to close the door. Twilight stuck her hoof in the door and narrowed her eyes. Her horn glowed and a beam of magic shot straight at Mayor Mare. The tan earth pony turned and ran away from the door, but the beam clipped her tail and revealed dark gray underneath.