Bon-Bon: Lyra, did you notice Fluttershy and Rarity acting strange today?

Lyra: No, but Twilight and Applejack seemed… off somehow. Like, distant maybe?

Bon-Bon: I wonder if its some kind of Harmony crisis.

Lyra: Maybe they’re just stressed. Or, ha! Maybe its Changelings!

Bon-Bon: Hahaha! Yeah, that’ll be the day!

[Pause]

Bon-Bon: Maybe I should contact-?

Lyra: Yeah… Yeah you do that.

Lyra: Nothing?

Bon-Bon: … I wish… Somepony answered, but it wasn’t who it should have been.

Lyra: Do they know that we-?
Bon-Bon: No. I mean, they might be suspicious but I gave no indication. What about you?
Lyra: B won’t answer no matter what I do. Usually I barely breathe and he’s there.
Bon-Bon: Okay. Not panicking. The Elements of Harmony, and possibly the entirety of Equestria’s security forces, have been compromised. We are the only two we know of that aren’t Changelings-
Lyra: Or worse…

Bon-Bon: What could possibly be worse?
Lyra: They could still be themselves but mind controlled?

Bon-Bon: … Yeah, I guess they could be… Darn. That is a lot worse. Any ideas?
Lyra: Cry?

Bon-Bon: Maybe something you aren’t already doing?
Lyra: Cry harder?
Bon-Bon: Lyra-
Lyra: Bon-Bon I’m really scared!
Bon-Bon: So am I! But if they replaced everypony in Equestria they wouldn’t have left us. This has got to be some kind of stealth insurgency plot; turn Equestria into a puppet state. That means most ponies should still be themselves. We have numbers. We’ve just got to find a way to rally them without being discovered…

Octavia: Bonnie.
Bon-Bon: Octavia. She checks out then?

Lyra: Her and Vinyl both.

Bon-Bon: Whatashame.
Octavia: Likewise. Is this all you’ve managed to gather?

Bon-Bon: Of course not. It’d be too suspicious to have everypony together, so we-
Octavia: Sent everypony away, to be prayed upon individually. You no longer have any indication they are or aren’t reliable. Possibly compromised any passcode distributed as well.
Raindrops: Oh no…
Octavia: Still haven’t taken any lessons from the past, Bonnie?
Bon-Bon: Hey! We saw something you didn’t!
Octavia: You acted first. I try to take a more informed approach. We no longer have that option.

Lyra: Stop it! Both of you! Whatever we’re up against; they took Spike! A baby! So unless you can clap your hooves and make it better-
Octavia: No qualms with targeting children… Given their selective approach it sounds like changeling tactics to me.

Bon-Bon: I thought so too, but Lyra brought up mind control as a possibility.

Octavia: I can’t think of anything capable of that on so specific a scale. Targeting some but not others. At least, nothing with a motive. But it is something we can test for. Even changelings have to sleep.

Bon-Bon: Nyx Eye… But that’s a fairly advanced spell. We don’t have time to-
Octavia: I think our DJ friend here can handle it, if she remembers how.

[Pause]

Octavia: Maybe after a quick refresher.

Octavia: Vinyl-… Vinyl if you-… If you could just slow down a tad-! I can’t see a thing when you zoom the vision around like that! … Oh haha. Very funny.

Lyra: It all just looks like a lot of dreamscape nonsense. How does Princess Luna actually go in there?

Octavia: Different spell, different properties, I imagine.

Bon-Bon: Even when she holds it still I can’t make out anything.
Lyra: It’s like watching one of those time-lapse videos, through a telescope, from a foot away. What are we even looking for?
Octavia: Bare in mind I’ve only read about how this works when changelings are involved. Not much opportunity to practice it.

Raindrops: Woah.
Bon-Bon: Everything went dark.
Lyra: Did it break?
Octavia: Changeling dreams. Inky, amorphous blobs that draw in anything healthy and absorb it. They can fool us in the real world, but they can’t hide the darkness in their hearts.

Lyra: So it is changelings. That’s a relief. [Pause] I mean, at least we can fight back without hurting the ones we’re trying to save. Right?
Octavia: I’m not so sure. We’re three against seven. And that’s being generous.
Raindrops: Don’t you mean five against seven?
Octavia: I’m not counting ponies that can’t defend themselves.
Raindrops: That’s… That’s fair.

Bon-Bon: So what do we do? Round up as many ponies as we can and rush them?
Octavia: Ponyville ponies? If this were Cloudsdale or Manehattan perhaps. But Ponyville has about the meekest residents in Equestria.
Lyra: What about Zecora?
Bon-Bon: This is the last time we need somepony to get lost in the Everfree Forest.
Raindrops: So what do we do?

Octavia: I’m afraid I don’t have the answer… The only way S.M.I.L.E. could have been compromised is if the Seeker Network was taken down. And if the changelings got that far… They must have the princesses as well. Which means they have control over the entirety of the EUP. Even CUE… Whatever course of action we take had better work… Because we may be Equestria’s last line of defense…

Lyra: Hey, Spike.

Spike?: What do you want?

Lyra: Oh Spike, you didn’t forget did you?

Spike?: Forget w-?
Lyra: I mean, that would be so out-of-character and suspicious if you didn’t remember. You look forward to it every week.

Spike?: Uh… No. I’ve just been really busy. Twilight’s been running me all around town.
Lyra: Oh mare. What a slave driver.
Spike?: I know, right? I’m kind of in a hurry so-
Lyra: Fortunately this never takes very long. You’ll be in and out without her ever knowing. Got some good ones for you this week.

Spike?: G-Good ones?

Lyra: Hmm? Oh yeah! Some great memes! Bon-Bon even made us some cupcakes!

Spike?: Oh boy. I look forward to those things.

Lyra: You sure do little buddy. You sure do.

Hissy McFit: Hiss! Stupid equestrians! You-ugh-… already lost!

Lyra: Funny, from where I sit upon the chest you’re locked in I’m feeling like this was a triumph. Don’t see your friends coming to look for you either.

Hissy McFit: Changelings don’t have- hiss-! friends!

Lyra: That kinda sounds like the problem, don’t it?

Hissy McFit: We don’t need friends! We control your country! We took every princess! And even if you somehow rescue them- hiss-! we’ll destroy Equestria!

Octavia: We hear your bluff, we’re just not sold on the tone alone. I mean, destroy Equestria? Really now.

Hissy McFit: If Queen Chrysalis sends the signal to the changelings posing as the princesses, they’ll declare war on every nation on the planet! Only- hiss-! they’ll make it look like Equestria is the one being attacked! The Equestrian Military will be split up and deployed immediately! By the time anyone in authority returns, it will be too late! Equestria will be doomed! Ha ha hiss-ha!

Bon-Bon: That’s quite a contingency…
Octavia: Stopping the changelings posing as the Elements of Harmony is no longer the priority.
Raindrops: So, we’re going to Canterlot to stop the imposer princesses?
Octavia: If we can even reach them. No doubt they’ve heightened security to limit their exposure to the public.
Lyra: I think I can take care of that.

Guard: As you can see ma’am, they won’t be causing you any more trouble.
Granny Smith?: Chained and muzzled? Now that’s what I like to see! Serves you harlots right! Attackin’ a poor old lady.
Guard: If you could just step this way, ma’am.
Granny Smith?: What?
Guard: We need to have you checked out by a physician and document any injuries for prosecution while they’re still fresh.
Granny Smith?: Well alright, but only so they can throw the book at you five harpies! I hope they make this quick. I need to get back to Sweet Apple Acres. Was just mindin’ my own business, shopping in the market, and the moment I round a corner- WAM! Clocked me like a tee-ball, they did. Is this going to take long? Well? Why did everypony stop?

Guard: Well you see, ma’am, when you walked through that magic disabling device it seems to have turned you into a changeling.

Hissy McFit: Oh… Could… Could I just go quietly and… non-violently? Thisss hasn’t been a great day for me…
Guard: I don’t see why not.
Hissy McFit: I really did get hit in the head. And then stuffed in a trunk. And that was just today. The other changelingsss in Ponyville were pretty mean too.
Guard: Why don’t you get your thoughts together and tell us all about it in a few minutes? [Pause] Send a detachment to Ponyville and arrest the Elements of Harmony. Lyra, you and your friends are cleared for the throne room. All of you, spread word around the castle and secure the parameter around the throne room. Balcony included. The rest of you, on us. We’re going to bring two royal changeling imposters into custody.

Lyra: Thanks for trusting us enough to prove our innocence.
Guard: Foalnapping was never your M.O.. Now, you understand we can’t imprison the Princesses without explicit evidence of their involvement. At best we can occupy the throne room and follow them against their will.
Lyra: Yeah. This is the hard part.

Luna?: Hard to imagine.
Celestia?: The guard is already gathered. We’ll just…?
Luna?: Captain! What is the meaning of this? You were given explicit orders! You are placing all of Equestria in danger!

Guard: I’m sorry, Princess Luna. This group arrived from Ponyville and urgently-
Lyra: Princess Celestia. Once upon a time you discovered an unattended stroller and took in a baby. You could not take care of her yourself, just as you cannot take care of every child in Equestria, but you gave her a roof and saw that she was attended to. When the time came, you insured that she was given the education that all ponies deserve. In a perfect world, that pony would have grown up to be somepony important.

Lyra: But that didn’t happen. She fell into a darkness and let it drive her to do horrible things. Yet, you never gave up on her. I know it was rarely easy. I know how frustrating it must have been. But you were always there. You always gave her a chance to be more than she was. Sometimes the right words didn’t come out, but in your heart… she was never second. I… I just wanted to thank you… Thank you for saving me.

Celestia?: Of course, my little pony. You were never a burden to me.

Lyra: There’s one thing I need to know, though. Something I have to make sure of. Princess Celestia… What is my name?

Celestia?: … Lyra.

Lyra: That might be what my parents would have called me, but you named me yourself-!
Luna?: This is ridiculous.
Lyra: My real name is Liora! You can check the royal archives! Princess Celestia made my birth certificate herself!
Luna?: Captain, you have not only endangered Equestria you have wasted precious time. We must mobilize the guard immediately. Our nation is being threatened by a foul plot!

Octavia: That wouldn’t happen to be all the planet’s nations declaring war on us in tandem, would it?
Luna?: Ah… I…
Guard: Princesses Celestia and Luna, you are hereby placed under the custody of the Equestrian Guard. Please come with us to holding.

[Pause]

Luna?: Did you think…
Bedbug: Our queen wouldn’t have sent her best?!

[Deep echo]

Bon-Bon: The door!
Raindrops: It won’t move!

[High-pitched siren]

Octavia: Look out!
[Thunderous Boom]
Lyra: Aaah-!

[Coughing]

Octavia: Vinyl! [Distant running] Vinyl, wake up! Wake up!

Ladybug: Fools! After you’re dealt with, we’ll just say you were the Changelings! Then, in an act of retaliation, we’ll personally march your entire military into our borders- into an insurmountable trap! You’ve only hastened your pitiful nation’s destruction!

Bon-Bon: Not if I can help it!

[Multiple lasers]

Bon-Bon: Lyra, they have me pinned down! What are we gonna do?!

Bedbug: Where do you think you’re going?!
Raindrops: N-no-
Bedbug: Don’t even think about moving, you dog!
Raindrops: Oh-oh… kay…
Ladybug: You move, dog, and you and your friends are dust.
Raindrops: I-I won’t-
Bedbug: Look at you. Spineless. Like a cowardly puppy!
Raindrops: I’m… I’m not…
Ladybug: Don’t worry, you mutt, you’ll be rewarded for your obedience.
Bedbug: Sure! It won’t even hurt-!

[Violent gust of wind]

Raindrops: I’M NOT A DOG!
Bedbug: Where did she-?!
Ladybug: Up there!
Raindrops: I’M A WONDERBOLT-!
Bedbug: Ooof-!
[Loud crash]

Ladybug: Rrrr-! I’ll fry you!
[Sparking electricity]
Lyra: No~!
Ladybug: Ugh-! Ah-!
Bon-Bon: Lyra!
Lyra: Help Raindrops!

Ladybug: Hah! You think you’ve won?! You think my back’s to the wall?! You’re not even in the same league as me!
Lyra: Ugh! OW!
Ladybug: The days of friendship and laughter are over! This is our time!
[Laser]
Lyra: Ug-!
Ladybug: And from the ashes of your burnt-out kingdom; a new hive. My hive!
Lyra: Gah-!
Ladybug: That’s right! I will be queen! And your descendants will be grain for my bread!
Lyra: Ah-!
[Thud]
Ladybug: But you don’t have to worry. You won’t live to see it!

[High-pitched siren]

Lyra: TODAY OCTAVIA!
Ladybug: Wha-?
[Klang]

Ladybug: Uh…
[Thud]

Octavia: [Panting] I liked that cello…
Lyra: [Pant] I thought it was a double bass.
Octavia: Don’t you get cheeky with me.

Bon-Bon: Are you sure you didn’t want to stay, especially with word that everypony is on their way back from the Changeling Kingdom? I’m sure Princess Celestia would have liked to hear your speech much more than an imposter.
Lyra: She knows where we stand. Besides, it’s better if the Elements don’t know about our involvement when we can help it. Plus, I kinda like the idea of Raindrops being celebrated as a big hero that saved all of Equestria.
Bon-Bon: Ha, she certainly deserves it after the courage she displayed.

[Pause]

Bon-Bon: Quite an eventful few days.
Lyra: Yeah. Feels like it was way longer. Ugh…
Bon-Bon: Is your side alright?
Lyra: No worse than Vinyl, probably. Did they get you any?
Bon-Bon: Just a little dusty from when they blew the pillar up.
Lyra: Lucky.

[Pause, Light breeze]

Lyra: B?
B: [Deep breathing]
Lyra: B! Where have you been?! All Tartarus was breaking loose in Ponyville and Canterlot! We needed your help and you were gone!
B: Where…? I… was in the Crystal Empire… FIGHTING A [omitted] VOLTRON DRAGON MADE OF CHANGELINGS! [Deep breathing]

Bon-Bon: Uh… How did that go?
B: Unsatisfactory.

The defeated changelings lie scattered around me, a paltry effort to stop my advance. But with my attention no longer focused on defending myself, I noticed the clouds in the sky had gathered and darkened. Thunder followed shortly. They were concealing their movements. I chanced a glance at the few injured bodies around me. Too Few. Their attacks, spread too far apart. They were merely a distraction. They had succeeded.

My gaze returned to the sky in time to find something massive ripping its way through the clouds in a dive with me as its heading. A dragon? Working for changelings? Impossible as it was I searched for its heart with my magic. Would that I could claim and constrict its beating, I could lay low the beast in moments.

Three, four, five times I grasped. But try as I might the spell could not find its mark. As precise as the power must be to succeed, it had never failed me so many times. An illusion? In desperation I fired a beam, but it made no contact. The dragon’s body split in half to avoid it, then rejoined. The realization hit me like a cart full of apples. This was no dragon, nor was it a trick.

I dove to avoid the deadly swipe of their talons, the gust from their lunge whipped about me and I could not resist the need to shut my eyes. Dust filled the air and the taste of dirt flooded my senses. I coughed in fits as I stood once more and batted the air around me.

When I caught my breath and chanced use of my sight, I found the monstrosity silhouetted against the moon, turning in for another swoop against me. A dragon made of changelings… Just when you think you’ve seen all they have, they throw a curve-ball… A [omitted] Voltron dragon made of changelings…