At the new castle in Ponyville, three fillies stood on a balcony overlooking the town. Behind them, a much older mare and a young, strapping stallion stood soaking in the view as well. All eyes were wide with awe at the magnificence and splendor of the town below. They could even see Sweet Apple Acres from where they stood.
"This… is… awesome!" the orange filly exclaimed.
"That's about the third time you've said that since we got up here, Scootaloo," the white filly stated.
"Well, she's right! You can't get this kinda spectacular sight-seeing opportunity from our ol' farm, can ya, Big Mac?" the elder mare asked the stallion.
"Nnn-ope!" he replied.
"As much as I'm enjoyin' the view, I still wish we coulda gone with Applejack and the others to the Crystal Empire. Every time they go somewhere, it feels like it takes 'em forever to get back," the yellow filly with a pink bow in her mane said, feeling a little glum.
"Aw, cheer up, Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo said excitedly, nudging her friend. "Maybe when they get back, they might help us set up an area for the Cutie Mark Crusaders to meet!" Apple Bloom's eyes instantly lit up.
"That's a great idea!" she said, her voice much more cheerful. "Whadda you think, Sweetie Bell?" she asked the white filly.
"Sounds like a plan to me!" Sweetie Bell said in a sing-song sort of tone.
"Then that settles it!" Apple Bloom said. "When they all get back, we're gonna ask them- what in the world of Equestria is that?"
"That's not what we're asking!" Sweetie Bell squeaked in protest, but Apple Bloom's expression caught her attention. She followed her gaze past the edge of town. There, in the distance, there was a large cloud of dust led by a black mass of… something.
"I can't tell what it is at all," Scootaloo said. Apple Bloom looked around the balcony and found what she was searching for; a telescope. With her big brother lifting her up, she peered through it and focused on the dust cloud. What it was created by made her heart race.
"CHANGELINGS!" she shouted.
"What?" the two fillies asked, panic consuming their minds. Just then, a Changeling soldier flew in front of the telescope, causing Apple Bloom to fall off of her brother's back. The soldier landed in front of them, hissing and snarling. Just as it pounced, Big Macintosh lashed out with his rear legs, bucking the Changeling over the balcony.
"We're lucky… that feller was just a scout," Granny Smith said as she ushered the fillies inside. "There'll be more comin', and I get the feelin' they're comin' here to the castle!"
"What makes you say that, Granny Smith?" Apple Bloom asked, her eyes filled with worry.
"They think that Princess Twilight and the others are still here," Granny said. "They're comin' for a whopper of a payback!"
"But since they're not here, can't we just tell them that and make them leave?" Sweetie Bell asked.
"And send them to the Crystal Empire after our sisters? Are you crazy?!" Scootaloo squawked.
"Oh, yeah… forgot about that," Sweetie Bell said sheepishly.
"Now I really wish Applejack was here," Apple Bloom whimpered. Big Mac held her close to him.
"Eeyup," he said quietly.
"You need to get to Ponyville, ASAP!" Blaze thundered frantically. "It's a matter of life and death!"
The mare with the orange-and-yellow mane didn't move. She had never seen a dragon before, but she had heard of their menacing power. This one, however… mesmerized her and her allies. Why was a dragon concerned about the wellbeing of a town such as Ponyville?
The dragon rolled his eyes and groaned. "I don't have time for this… look, Ponyville is in need of your protection, now! I'm not going to stand here, wasting precious flying time, telling you of how important this is!"
"Just why are you asking us to do this? Princess Twilight and her comrades can handle whatever danger there is," Spitfire said flatly. The dragon bent down over the mare, making her shrink back just a little.
"I've heard of your team's incompetence, Miss Spitfire. I know how quickly you put aside others' wellbeing for the sake of a mission… or, in some instances, a sporting event!" he thundered. Or was it the cloud they were standing on that thundered? Perhaps both… "However, now is not the time to continue demonstrating that ignorance! Now is the time for you and your Wonder Bolts to fly down to Ponyville as soon as physically possible!"
"Why, may I ask?" Spitfire said, her voice rising slightly. The dragon moved closer, his eyes locking with hers.
"Because, little miss Spitfire," he growled in a low voice, "the Changelings… have returned."
Spitfire stood with eyes wide for a moment before bellowing at the top of her lungs, "Wonder Bolts, move out! Changelings are attacking Ponyville! I repeat: Changelings are attacking Ponyville!" She then dashed between Blaze's legs, a small streak of flames trailing her. The dragon straightened up, and several ponies in blue-and-yellow zigzag attire embarked at top speed towards Ponyville. He nodded in satisfaction, then spread his enormous wings and took off towards his own destination, the clouds beneath him rippling from his takeoff.
"I'm going to have to talk to those ponies and straighten them out one of these days," he muttered to himself. "Their tunnel-vision priorities are a hazard to their kind." He sped on, hoping he hadn't wasted too much time.
The Crystal Empire.
A remarkable city indeed, where its pony citizens twinkled and shimmered in the sunlight. The city itself shone with a radiant glow, especially the castle itself. Today, however, the castle was even more radiant than usual. Not only were the Wielders of the Elements of Harmony in the Empire, but also was Spike, the empire's renowned hero.
Even Princess Cadence had high respects for the young dragon.
He sat in one of the special guest rooms, crunching on some jewels and gems that he'd been served. Normally, he would have devoured the whole thing in seconds. Today however, he was rather anxious. As young as he was, he still knew a small bit about what was going on that day. It was a happy day, no doubt, but out of respect, and hoping not to be a nuisance, he decided to sit this one out. As he crunched on another ruby, he continued to feel slightly worried, hoping nothing would go wrong…
Suddenly he felt an odd sensation in the back of his mind. He sat straight up, dropping the ruby beside him on the sofa. He ran over to the double-doors at the other end of the room, opening them wide to step onto the balcony. A few seconds later, one of the citizens noticed and pointed up to him, starting a commotion down below from the others. Spike absentmindedly waved to them, searching the skies. Something was coming. He couldn't tell what it was exactly, but he knew for sure that there was something approaching the kingdom. He couldn't be quite sure, but it seemed if the sensation he felt…
Was a warning.
A sixth sense, perhaps, but no, that wasn't quite it. Sixth senses are caused by one's own abilities. This one seemed to be coming from another sentience.
As he squinted his eyes, he scanned the horizon. Suddenly, something caught his eyes. Something… black. And large. And… well, no, it wasn't one single form, it was hundreds of… something. Spike ran back into the room, looking frantically for the telescope he packed in case his best friend Twilight needed it. He set it up with deft speed, and, placing a stool, hopped up to peer through the lens. His jaw dropped at the sight.
There, speeding towards the Crystal Empire, was a massive army of Changelings, with Chrysalis herself out in front. Spike wasted no time. He leapt off the stool, ran to the edge of the balcony, and yelled at the top of his lungs,
"CHANGELINGS!"
The crystal ponies stopped and looked at him in confusion for a moment before turning to look where he was pointing. Within seconds, they were scrambling for the cover of their homes. Spike let out a small sigh of relief, knowing he had aided in the protection of his admirers. He then hopped back onto the stool and peered through the telescope again.
"This can't be good," he said to himself. Then, something caught his eye. Something passed over the Changeling army, casting a shadow… a rather large shadow, in fact, over them. He saw some of them glance up and do a double-take. It seemed that whatever was over them…
Had frightened them.
Spike angled the telescope upwards, but a cloud blocked his view of whatever it was. All of a sudden he saw a flash coming from the Changeling horde. Fearing one of them had launched an attack, he quickly angled the telescope back down. What he saw instead made his jaw drop.
An explosion launched several of the Changelings into the air, their limbs flailing. Chrysalis turned around, a look of surprise and confusion on her face. Almost a second later, there was a flash of gold and silver, followed by another explosion. As Spike watched in bewilderment, the sound of the first explosion reached the empire, vibrating the floor beneath him. It sounded like thunder, but much more sharp and refined. A few short moments later, a guard burst into the room.
"Great Spike, what is happening? I heard a noise and got here as soon as I could… and did I hear correctly that you yelled 'Changelings!' to the citizens?" he asked.
"See for yourself," Spike said, somewhat distantly. He dismounted the stool so that the guard could peer through. Just as Spike's had, the guard's jaw dropped.
"What is going on out there?" he asked, bewildered.
"I have no idea, but I'm kinda liking where it's going," Spike admitted. He suddenly recognized the guard. "Hey, aren't you Flash Sentry?" The guard turned to look at the young dragon with eyes wide.
"You know me?" he asked.
"Well… in a way…" Spike said, remembering his journey to another world with Twilight. "Princess Cadence told us about you a while back." The guard raised an eyebrow.
"Why would she do that, I wonder?"
"Well, Twilight kinda has a…" Spike hesitated, wondering if he should mention it at a time like this, but decided it was now or never, with the impeding danger. "She kinda has a crush on you," he said sheepishly. The guard looked stunned.
"Princess Twilight… has a crush on me?" he asked. They stood in silence a moment, until the sound of another explosion shook the guard from his trance. They were getting closer. "I have to warn them!" he said, and bolted across the room. Before he left, he turned to Spike. "Not a word?" he asked.
"Not one word of that to her," Spike said sternly.
"You got it!" Flash nodded, and galloped down the hall.
Spike turned back to the battle. As he noticed how the army had gained ground, something else caught his attention. The cloud had moved, revealing the source of the attacks.
"I don't believe it," he said.
Princess Twilight Sparkle paced back and forth in the waiting room. She was very happy for her sister-in-law and her brother, but she had become very worried. Knowing how much of a target they were, being royalty and all, she couldn't help but to be concerned for their safety. The last thing she needed was for some guard to pop in and tell them they were under attack. Her friends were doing the best they could to calm her nerves, but no matter how reassuring they seemed, they could not get her to stop pacing.
"It's alright, Twilight dear, nothing will go wrong," Rarity said.
"You just gotta think positive, like me!" Pinkie Pie said as she hopped up and down in one place.
"Pinkie's right; we just need to be calm, think positive thoughts, and hope for the best," Fluttershy reassured in her usual quiet voice.
"It'll be alright, sugar cube," Applejack said, putting a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "I'm sure they'll both get through this just fine."
"Besides," Rainbow Dash said, landing in front of their friend, "what could possibly go wrong at this point in time?"
All of a sudden the doors to the waiting room burst open.
"Oh, no," Twilight thought to herself. "No, please not now…" Her ears perked up as she saw Flash Sentry gallop into the room. She could feel herself blushing slightly.
"Princess Twilight Sparkle, Your Highness," he said as he quickly bowed. "I regret to inform you that we are under attack!"
"Fantastic," the princess thought to herself. "The last thing I needed to hear."
"We're being attacked… by the Changelings," Flash added.
All eyes turned towards him, wide with fear. Before anyone could say anything, Pinkie looked to her left at her blue, rainbow-colored maned friend.
"Does that answer your question, Rainbow?"
Chrysalis stood with her head craned back, her subjects, cowering behind her. Never before had they been attacked by a dragon, especially not this way. And they were still trying to figure out what one was doing this far up north in frozen territory.
"This is where you turn around and high-tail it out of here, Changeling scum," the dragon growled, his voice rolling like thunder. "As you've seen, I won't pull my attacks with you." He raised a hand, and a ball of gold-and-silver flame ignited in his palm.
"I don't know who you are, or how you managed to learn about our attack, but will not stop us so easily," the Changeling queen said. "We will be victorious this day!"
"And just what has you so determined to win?" Blaze asked, the fireball still burning. "Your attempt to feed off of these rulers' love failed last time. Have you not learned your lesson?"
"Ah, but that was when their love was for each other; this time, their love reaches towards another!" the Changeling leader grinned. Blaze raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not entirely sure I follow you…" he said.
Chrysalis chuckled. "You mean you don't know? Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor…
Are with child!" she cackled.
Blaze's flame sputtered out. His eyes grew wide, and his jaw slacked down.
"Well, that's… that's… fantastic, really, uh…" he stammered.
"Especially for us!" Chrysalis exclaimed as she bolted for the dragon's legs. Blaze snapped out of his daze and slammed his fist into the ground. Chrysalis dodged it, flying right between the behemoth's legs. He leapt back, landing in front of the advancing queen. He spun sharply, his tail smacking her back into her army, the force and momentum knocking most of them down. Blaze inhaled deeply and breathed gold-and-silver flames around the horde, encircling them. He then turned and ran to the Crystal Empire, praying he wasn't too late.
"Where are the Wielders of the Elements?" the Changeling soldier snarled.
"How should I know? We just got here!" Spitfire growled as she kicked him away.
The Wonder Bolts arrived very quickly, mere moments after the attack began. Most of them had gathered around the five civilians already there, strengthening the defense.
"How did you guys know to come here?" Scootaloo shouted over the noise.
"Kid… you wouldn't believe me if I told you," the stallion said as he hurled a Changeling away from them.
"Well, thankfully you guys came either way; I don't think we would've lasted much longer without you!" Sweetie Bell shouted. She ducked as a Changeling sailed over her head, his helmet rolling to a stop in front of her.
"Despite the fact that we're here, some reinforcements wouldn't hurt!" Spitfire shouted as she was pinned to the ground.
"Or a miracle!" Apple Bloom shouted. All of a sudden, the Changelings simultaneously stopped. Their faces seemed distant, as if they suddenly became interested in another matter. Then, without warning, they took to the sky, flying at top speed back the way they came.
"What was that?" Apple Bloom asked as they watched the army retreat.
"That, little one, would be that miracle you were talkin' about," Granny Smith said, a Changeling helmet on her head.
"Where'd you get that?" Spitfire asked as she limped over.
"Never mind that; where are they going?" Scootaloo asked.
Meanwhile, in Canterlot, the same inexplicable phenomenon was occurring. All the Changelings suddenly froze, and then flew off into the sky.
"What was that all about?" the retiree asked.
"That, my friend, would be a miracle," Celestia said. She suddenly saw something out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see another horde, most likely the one from Ponyville, following the other.
"Where could they possibly be going?" the guard asked. Celestia's eyes grew wide in terror.
"Oh, no!" she nearly shouted as she took flight, following the hordes.
"Your Majesty, wait!" the guard shouted. He started to pursue her, but knew it would be useless, as old as he was. He turned back to the younger ones.
"Those of you who can still fly, follow Princess Celestia! Those who can't, report for medical treatment!" he bellowed. Several guards launched into the sky, pursuing their princess wherever she was going.
"Good luck," the retiree said.