Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were in the middle of loading the barrels onto the catapult they had built behind the school when they noticed their despised nemesis and her crony approaching.

“Hey Blank Flanks!” Diamond Tiara called, sneering in contempt and bumping Silver Spoon for support. “What do you think you’re doing? Something stupid, I bet!”

“Yeah!” Silver Spoon added. “What is it?”

Sweetie blinked, looking at Diamond Tiara straight in the eye. “We’re almost done throwing the ‘Cutie-Mark-Remover Potion’ that Zecora taught us about into Ponyville’s water supply.”

Diamond Tiara opened and closed her mouth silently for a few moments before choking out, “Say what?”

“Yeah!” Scootaloo added, leaning against a barrel and rolling her hoof in explanation. “We tested it this morning at school and it worked just fine!”

Diamond Tiara glared at them. “That’s not true!”

Apple Bloom shrugged. “Then why doesn’t Silver Spoon here have a Cutie Mark anymore?”

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon glanced at the latter’s blank flank.

“Aaaah!” Silver Spoon gasped. “M-my cutie mark! It’s gone!”

Diamond Tiara stepped away from her, eyes wide and body trembling. “S-silver! Y-you’re a b-blan—”

“Don’t say it!” Silver Spoon hollered, holding her head in her hooves and falling down on the floor spasming. “I-I can feel myself changing! Save me!” She extended a pleading hoof to Diamond Tiara, who stepped away once more, her expression of horror growing more intense by the second.

“S-stay away!”

“Please! Diamond!”

“Stay away!” Diamond Tiara shouted again at her collapsed friend before turning around and galloping off. “I have to tell my daddy! We must find a cure!”

Silver Spoon slowly lowered her hoof. “B-but Diamond! What will I do without you?!”

A giggle escaped Apple Bloom’s mouth. It was followed by another before she broke out laughing, joined immediately by Sweetie, Scootaloo and Silver Spoon.

“That was awesome!” Scootaloo managed to gasp between laughs.

Silver Spoon stood up and dusted herself. “Thank you, thank you!”

“Ah have to tell you, Thysa,” Apple Bloom chuckled. “You got Silver Spoon’s whining just perfect! Ah almost thought you were her! If she didn’t hate us so much Ah might’ve even felt bad.”

“Speaking of which,” Scootaloo said hurriedly, “Here she comes!”

“Quickly! Turn into Diamond Tiara!” Sweetie urged. “Tell her we’re all friends now! I want to see her face!”

‘Silver Spoon’ was suddenly engulfed in green flames, and when they faded, a perfect replica of Diamond Tiara stood in her place.

“Tiara?!” Silver Spoon’s voice reached them. “Where are you?” the voice grew closer, and soon they could hear her hooves on the soft ground as she rounded the school house.

She stopped in front of the four fillies in front of them, apparently surprised at seeing Diamond Tiara helping Scootaloo load a catapult. “Um. What’s going on?”

Diamond Tiara sighed and walked up to Silver Spoon, solemnly placing a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “Silver Spoon. I have decided that the blank fl— I mean, the Crusaders are not our enemies anymore. In fact, I think they should be our best friends!”

Silver Spoon’s mouth slowly opened as she stared at Diamond Tiara in shock.

Scootaloo started sniggering, but was interrupted by an elbow from an equally amused Apple Bloom, while it was all Sweetie could do to not fall back laughing.

“R-really?”

Diamond Tiara nodded.

“Are you sure, Tiara?”

Diamond Tiara nodded again.

Silver Spoon closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “YES!”

“Say what?!” Apple Bloom cried, falling to the floor in shock.

“Oh, Diamond Tiara!” Silver Spoon giggled. “This is amazing! Thank you! I’ve been so afraid to ask you to lay off that I haven’t said anything but I’m so glad we’re done bullying them!”

She visibly relaxed, sitting on the floor and sighing in contentment. “I’m so glad that’s over.”

Diamond Tiara blinked. “Wait, are you a changeling?”

Silver Spoon raised an eyebrow. “What? No! Why would you ask that?”

The Crusaders and ‘Diamond Tiara’ looked at each other, silently trying to figure out what to do before Sweetie took a hesitant step forward. “Um… there’s something you should know…”

Sitting on an intricately designed garden chair on the balcony of her chambers, Celestia sipped a little bit of tea.

“So, explain to me this again, Twilight,” Princess Celestia said. “You’re saying that Changelings aren’t simply emotion-eaters?”

Twilight nodded. “They have a certain amount of empathic absorbance that, with the right motivation, can change their entire disposition. Take for example how Queen Chrysalis became increasingly less threatening and more of a prankster when exposed to Sweetie Belle for several hours. And from what Rarity tells me, when her older sister and herself were around, Chrysalis also had a much better disposition, if still influenced by the cruelty of their mother.”

Celestia pondered her student’s words. “So the best option is to maintain a steady, friendly relationship with the changelings to ensure they don’t become cruel again.”

“Please, sister,” Luna spoke up, rolling her eyes. “You know that Hidden Tale has changed ever since he came to your service. It’s obvious it’s been your influence, more than your orders.”

Celestia grimaced. “Fine, but after what happened, I’m not sure how your brother and sister-in-law will take it.”

Twilight nodded. “That is true, that’s why I want to take Acari with me to the Crystal Empire to make amends and to have Cadance meet a changeling that she’ll like.”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure Chrysalis will agree to that?”

Twilight nodded. “Acari and the others are still doing community service.” She looked out from the balcony at the distant town of Ponyville. “I think there’s a lot our species can do for each other, and with Rarity and Sweetie Belle helping Chrysalis, we can have a long-lasting peace.”

Celestia thought in silence about her student’s suggestion, before slowly nodding. “I see. I agree that peace is much preferable to another fight. Do as you must, Twilight. But be sure to write to Cadance about your visit.”

“I will, Princess!” Twilight grinned. “I can’t wait!” Her smile faded. “I uh, just remembered something else.”

“Oh?” Celestia blinked. “And what would that be?”

Hidden Tale looked down at the scroll he had received.

His eye twitched and he took a calming breath—just like Celestia had taught him—before reading it again, just to make sure.

Dear [REDACTED],

You are to go to the Town of Ponyville and report to Princess Purity (aka Rarity) in order to get to meet your daughters and get to know them better.

Phasmi has expressed a lot of interest in meeting you, and with the impending alliance of the Changeling Nation and Equestria, it would do wonders for us if you were in good standing with your family.

This is an order, [REDACTED].

~Princess Celestia

P.S. Twilight is right, this whole Redacted thing might have been overdoing on my part.

Hidden Tale groaned and slammed his face on his desk, sending several papers sprawling.

“Captain?” A sophisticated male voice called from outside. “Is everything okay?”

Hidden Tale shook his head, but sat back before sighing. “Come in.”

The door opened, letting the unicorn into his Captain’s office. “I heard a bump and—”

“It’s okay,” Hidden Tale waved a hoof. “I’ve just received new orders and I’m not too pleased about them.”

“Are we to mobilize?” The stallion asked immediately.

“Quell your enthusiasm, Blueblood,” Hidden Tale sighed. “It’s a solo mission.”

“Oh,” the Prince deflated.

“It shouldn’t take long,” Hidden Tale said, standing up. “And you still have your mission with the Gryphon Empire’s delegation.”

Blueblood rolled his eyes. “I should be done soon.”

“Well then,” Hidden Tale was engulfed in green flames, before he emerged as a simple, brown-coated earth pony. “I’ll be expecting your report by the time you come back, Lieutenant.”

Blueblood stood at attention and saluted. “Will do, sir!”

Hidden Tale nodded before stepping out of his office.

“And now… to meet the kids.”

Author's Notes:

You know the drill guys, first draft, no edits/editors on this one! And welcome back to the Three Sisters Universe!