After a brief stopover at Dodge Junction, Dusk's journey led him to the city of Baltimare. As he trotted down the streets, he heard a commotion.

"Behold!" A blue colt of fifteen, wearing a dark blue cape, declared to a trio of Earth Pony onlookers. "I am the magnificent Trickster, master of magic!"

Curious, Dusk went over to watch.

"Witness my power!" Trickster made a rabbit appear out of thin air, then vanish just as quickly. It returned, then with a flash, was joined by two others. The trio glowed, then exploded into fireworks. It had all been an illusion.

"Whoa!" The audience gasped.

'Not bad.' Dusk thought. 'A little flashy, though.'

"And that's only the tip of the iceberg!" Trickster boasted. "Why, I once used my magic to down a rogue dragon!"

"No way!" A filly gasped.

"No way is right." Dusk stepped forward. "It's not possible for a single unicorn, no matter how powerful, to take down a dragon alone. It takes at least a dozen, working together, to do the deed."

"Who are you to denounce my power?" Trickster growled, advancing on Dusk. "I am the greatest unicorn in all of Equestria! And you are just a paltry travelling unicorn, no doubt from some hokey village in the middle of nowhere."

"Wrong on both counts." Dusk smirked, revealing his wings.

"Is that..." The filly gasped.

"Prince Dusk!" One of the colts cried.

"Awesome!" The other colt cheered.

"Yes, well..." Trickster said, flustered. "I'm still the greatest unicorn in all of Equestria. I took down that dragon like it was nothing! I was walking through the forest, when it came at me, spewing smoke and flames. I wasn't even scared. With one blast from my mighty horn, I-"

"Trickster!" A blue mare trotted up the street towards them. "What have I told you about making up stories? Which one was it this time, the dragon?"

"Mom, I..." Trickster mumbled.

"Bragging about things you haven't done can get you into a lot of trouble!" The mare admonished him. "I know that better then anypony!"

"Come on guys, let's go." The young colt snorted, leading his friends away.

"Mom!" Trickster groaned. "You chased away my audience!"

"I hope my son wasn't causing you too much trouble." The mare told Dusk.

"None at all, ma'am." Dusk smiled.

"Wait, you're..." The mare suddenly realised. "Prince Dusk! What an honor! I had the pleasure of meeting your mother a few years back!"

"You did?" Dusk asked.

"Indeed I did." The mare smiled. "I'm Trixie."

"Oh, yeah." Dusk nodded. "Mom told me about you once."

"Your mother taught me a valuable lesson." Trixie reminisced. "Before, I was a pompous, arrogant, braggart. But she helped me be better then that." She cast a dissaproving look at her son. "Unfortunately, such negative traits seem to be hereditary."

Trickster looked away huffily.

"So, what brings you here, young prince?" Trixie asked.

"Just travelling." Dusk shrugged. "Seeing Equestria, that sort of thing..."

"You must be famished." Trixie noted. "I was going to call Trickster in for lunch. You're quite welcome to join us."

Dusk's stomach growled.

"I think I will." He chuckled.

Trixie and Trickster led Dusk into their modest little house. A plate of daffodil and daisy sandwiches were placed on the living room table.

"Help yourself." Trixie smiled.

Dusk gratefully complied, eating until his hunger was sated.

"Thank you for your hospitality." He nodded.

"Think nothing of it." Trixie smiled. "Besides, it's not every day my home is host to royalty."

"Hmph." Trickster snorted. "What's the big deal? It's not like he's ever done anything amazing..."

"Be nice to our guest, son." Trixie admonished him.

"Yes, mom." Trickster mumbled.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Who could that be?" Trixie asked as she rose to answer.

A pair of unicorn royal guards were on the other side of the door.

"Can I help you?" She asked warily.

"Actually, we were hoping you could help us." One guard, Resolute, said. "We've received reports of Changelings in the city, and we need every able-bodied unicorn to help us track them."

"How about an alicorn?" Dusk stepped forward.

"Oh, well, if you insist, your highness." Resolute bowed.

"Me, too!" Trickster leapt up.

"Sorry, kid." The other guard, Bastion, chipped in. "Only ponies who are over eighteen are eligible."

"Typical!" Trickster sat back. "How am I supposed to prove my greatness now?"

"I'm afraid I can't join you." Trixie shook her head. "If there really are Changelings on the loose, I'd like to stay here, and watch over my son."

"As you wish." Resolute nodded.

"Good luck, Dusk." Trixie declared. "Tell your mom I said 'hi'."

"I will." Dusk nodded.

Before long, Dusk joined the others volunteers gathered by the royal guards, who were teaching them a spell to reveal a Changeling's true form. Dusk didn't need to learn it; Like his mother before him, Dusk had planned for almost any eventuality. A spell to root out Changelings was one of the first things he'd learned.

"From what we can tell, there are only a few Changelings." Resolute noted. "They may be outcasts or exiles, which makes them more dangerous then most. So watch your backs."

The group split up. Dusk elected to check out the park, deducing that the lush greenery would be the ideal place to hide a Changeling nest. Night had fallen by then, forcing Dusk to use his horn for illumination. As he walked, he heard a rustling noise in the bushes behind him. He kept walking, hearing the noise follow him. Then he turned around and leapt into the bushes.

"Gotcha!" He pinned the target to the ground.

"Ow!" The supposed Changeling groaned. "What was that for?"

"Trickster?" Dusk gasped. He quickly cast the Changeling-revealing spell to be sure. "What are you doing out here?"

"I snuck out to help." Trickster smirked. "Can't let you hog all the glory."

"Glory?!" Dusk groaned. "Kid, this is dangerous! And aren't you supposed to be with your mother?"

"Gave her the slip." Trickster smirked. "I cast an illusion of me in bed. She'll never know."

"Yes she will." Dusk barked. "Because I'm taking you back!"

Another rustling sound in the bushes caught their attention. The pair kneeled down, just in time to see a group of ponies pass by. The ponies looked around to see if they were being watched, then shifted into Changelings.

Trickster gulped.

"I didn't think they'd be so freaky-looking." He whispered.

"Shh." Dusk hushed him, silently adding that they should follow.

The Changelings went deeper into the trees, stopping at a group of shaggy-looking bushes. They pushed them aside to reveal crudely-built nests.

"Got 'em." Dusk smirked. "Let's take 'em."

"Just us?" Trickster trembled. "What about the others?"

"We've got to contain them now, before they leech off some love and get stronger." Dusk noted.

"I just realised, you were right." Trickster gulped. "This is dangerous. I'll stay here. Good luck!"

Sighing, Dusk stepped through the bush.

"Hold it right there, Changelings." He declared.

"Intruderrrr!" One of the Changeling hissed.

"Zzzztop him!" Another buzzed.

The Changelings charged. Dusk, having been taught defensive moves by his father and uncle, dodged one, then kicked another.

The Changelings quickly changed tactics; They changed into bigger, more powerful forms, such as a minotaur, and a manticore. Taking flight, Dusk once again dodged the attack, then used the revealing spell to force them back into their normal forms. He then dived down and tackled the lead Changeling, ramming him into a tree.

Two more Changelings attacked Dusk from behind; He quickly bucked them away. Another leapt at him, and they struggled. Dusk executed a judo throw, tossing the Changeling away.

Breathing heavily, Dusk looked around. He was sure he had missed one Changeling. Suddenly, a nearby bush revealed itself to be the missing Changeling, and leapt at him. Taken by surprise, Dusk was brought down quickly. The other Changelings Diamond Dogpiled him.

"You prinzzzze." The leader smirked as Dusk tried to break free. "Loved by many. I uzzze your fazzze, get plenty of love. Make me zzztrong!"

"No!" Dusk's horn lit up, but his head was held down by one of his captors, preventing him from aiming.

"Prepare to coccoon him." The lead Changeling ordered.

In that moment, there was a flash of light, and a blue dragon appeared before them.

"Rawwwr!" The dragon roared, in a voice that was very familar to Dusk.

"Dragon!" The changelings yelped.

In their fear, the Changelings loosened their grip on Dusk. With one big push, he broke free sending them flying. The Changelings tried to flee, but the dragon stepped in front of them. Using his magic, Dusk pulled out some rope and tied up the Changelings. The dragon faded away, revealing a gleeful Trickster.

"Nice work, kid." Dusk smiled. "Looks like you've got something real to brag about now."

"It was nothing." Trickster smirked. "Now, this other time, when I took on a pack of Timberwolves..."

"Don't push it." Dusk growled.

The rest of the patrol showed up, having been drawn by the illusionary dragon.

"What's going on?" Bastion asked.

"We found the Changelings, and their nest." Dusk declared.

"You did?" Bastion gasped, looking over at the bound shapeshifters. "Well, good work, your majesty."

"Don't just thank me." Dusk smiled. "My partner here helped."

"Trickster!" Trixie suddenly arrived, having also been drawn by the dragon illusion. "What do you think you're doing out here, mister?"

"How did you-" Trickster gulped.

"What, you think I can't see through my own son's illusions?" Trixie snarled. "How dare you disobey me! You are grounded for the rest of the year, mister!"

"Don't be too hard on him, miss Trixie." Dusk chuckled. "He was only trying to help. He saved me, as a matter of fact."

"He did?" Trixie gasped.

"He sure did." Dusk nodded. "If it weren't for him, one of those Changelings would be running around wearing my face right now."

"Oh, honey!" Trixie hugged her son. "I'm so proud of you!"

"Does this mean I'm not grounded?" Trickster asked hopefully.

"Nope." Trixie glared at him. "But I'm reducing it... to just a month."

"Great." Trickster groaned. "See ya around, princey."

"It was wonderful to meet you, Dusk." Trixie smiled. "You're something special, alright. Just like your mother."

As the Changelings were taken away, Dusk breathed a sigh of relief. He had come so close to losing everything, only to be saved by the most unlikely of ponies.

'Never underestimate anypony.' He thought. 'Even the flashy ones might surprise you.'

On that thought, Dusk travelled to the local guest house, for a well-deserved night's sleep. In the morning, he would continue on his travels, ready for his next adventure.