Lyra: I can’t believe you all liked that episode…

Blossomforth: What? It was good! Cocoon was there! He’s always great!
Lyra: Ugh! Cocoon is the worst villain in the show. Why does everycreature like him?
Blossomforth: He’s devious and sneaky and dangerous and… he looks cool! He doesn’t just fight the heroes, he tricks them!

Raindrops: The doppelgangers were pretty cool.

Lyra: The doppelgangers were pretty cool-
Blossomforth: Cocoon made them!
Lyra: How?! Where was this skill acquired? And why was it never used until now?! Nevermind how much of a waste it all was. That plot thread went no where!
Blossomforth: He needed to find the source of the heroes’ powers!
Lyra: Which never would have worked if the heroes were acting like themselves! The writers could have done anything to fill in that gap, but instead they introduced these six doubles and dumbed down even Twain and Jacob just so everything would “work out”. Just like always! Every time Cocoon shows up the heroes act like lunatics! [Pause] No offense.

Princess Luna: We shall not feign that no injury was incurred.

Lyra: Sorry…

Princess Luna: You are forgiven.

Raindrops: Did… you watch the episode, your highness?

Princess Luna: Indeed. We found the plot structure to be rather juvenile, but resigned that the objective was comedy. And in that regard, believe a moderate success was enjoyed.

Bon-Bon: Kinda weird not being the only adult in the room for a change…

Lyra: I mean, you’re going, right?

Raindrops: Oh absolutely! I can’t wait to see Princess Celestia on stage. And… Um…

Lyra: You’re leanin’ in kinda close there-
Raindrops: I’ll actually be there on official Wonderbolt business, watching over the Princess. Shhh~…

Lyra: Oh, okay.

Raindrops: I bet you’re so excited! This must be a big deal for you!

Lyra: Eh heh heh… Ah W-why would…? [Pause] Why would it be a big deal to me specifically?

Raindrops: Oh… I don’t know… I always got the impression that Princess Celestia meant a lot to you. She helped you or something, right?

Lyra: Yeah… Kinda…

Raindrops: You’re going to be there though for the play, aren’t you?

Lyra: Eh-I… Y-eah! Of course!

Raindrops: Oh good! I’ll try to find you so we can sit together. It’ll be nice to talk to Bon-Bon some more, too. I don’t think we get to talk enough these days.

Lyra: Welp! Here it is, Drops!
Raindrops: Please don’t call me that.

Lyra: Here it is, Rains!

Raindrops: Oh my. That’s disturbing.

Lyra: Yeah, definite changeling error. But thankfully it was just a reformed changeling trying to blend in. Funny enough, there was also an alicorn operating landing lights at the airport. Didn’t get a picture of that one, but another false alarm.

Raindrops: I see. Is this why you left so suddenly?

Bon-Bon/Lyra: No!

Bon-Bon: We were just-
Lyra: It was a-

Lyra: Contest!
Bon-Bon: Vaca- Yes! Contest!

Raindrops: Ah-kay. At first I thought maybe it was ‘cause of your birthday.

Bon-Bon: It was!
Lyra: Yes!
Bon-Bon: Birthday Contest!
Lyra: Grand prize!
Bon-Bon: All expenses paid!
Lyra: Just not for very long!
Bon-Bon/Lyra: Haha!

Raindrops: Oh… Ah-kay.

Lyra: Nice of Rarity to invite us over for a fashion show, eh Bon-Bon?

Bon-Bon: Why are you talking like that? And I didn’t think it was her fashion show. I thought she was just participating.

Lyra: No, you’re right. Strange that she had to leave early.

Bon-Bon: Did she and her friends say anything as they left?

Lyra: I heard Rainbow Dash say something to Applejack. Something about, “Fluttershy taking a level in Pinkie Pie.“

Bon-Bon: Hmm. Cryptic.

Lyra: Sorry we got separated in the crowd.

Bon-Bon: It’s alright. Raindrops was with me.

Raindrops: Raindrops is still with you.

Bon-Bon: And we’re delighted to have you!

Lyra: Yeah! You should’ve told us you’d be there!

Lyra: Wait wait wait wait. Wait. Back up. You were living in Cloudsdale long enough to spectate on Rainbow Dash’s entire competitive career?

Raindrops: Yes?

Lyra: How? I thought you grew up in Canterlot, like me.

Raindrops: I did.

Lyra: That’s impossible! You can’t be in two places at once!

Raindrops: I… wasn’t? We lived in Lower Canterlot till I was fifteen, then we moved to Cloudsdale to live with my grandmother.

Lyra: You were fifteen at Rainbow Dash’s first race?

Raindrops: Well, like eighteen by then.

Lyra: H… H-how old are you?

Raindrops: Thirty.
Lyra: You’re older than me?!
Raindrops: Nine.

[Pause]

Lyra: Y… You’re almost forty?! But… but you look like you’re twenty!

Raindrops: Oh, well thank you.

We won! Ya~y!

And here’s a picture of the main team!

Raindrops and B (not pictured) carried us through much of the early game. Blues (not pictured) and Vinyl did a lot of heavy lifting in the mid-game. Blossomforth and I were invaluable in the endgame. And Octavia maintained a strong presence throughout and participated in the most operations.

But overall MVP (and team leader) was Bon-Bon! She had a rough start and a number of early injuries, but by the last mission her accuracy was unparalleled. Her crack shots were the entire reason we won!

[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.

[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-!

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-!

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?

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.

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.

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…

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.

Lyra: Huh. Those clouds look sorta funny…

Raindrops: The picture is sideways. We’re in the middle of the vertical climb in a loop-de-loop.

Lyra: Woof. I never really thought about all the orientation-screwing those kinds of maneuvers must cause.

Blossomforth: You haven’t got a clue…