Chapter nineteen

The changeling is lifted up on a stretcher and taken out of view to the coroner. The creature aroma wafts its way through the halls as it is cleared from the scene, and manages to clear some of the hall as well. Meanwhile the castles royal proprietors stand there looking at the guard and young Princess in front of them while Cadance taps her hoof as the two explain the little incident that occurred at Twilights house. After opening up with walking in and smelling a similar stench that was given off by the recently deceased foe, Flash tells his ‘boss’ (Shining) how he swept the house to locate the source. Twilight filling in the details, and constantly reminds her brother that she was okay and Flash was doing his job. Once the guard got to the part where they entered the master bed room, he breaks the news there was a changeling in the house.

“…he was just there?” Shining asks while holding his wives hoof.

“Yes…” Flash answers him, “we aren’t sure how long he was there for though.”

“Hmm,” the brother ponders thinking about what they just dealt with. He has seen that Flash can hold his own in a fight, now it’s just a question of where is the first changeling. “What happened after you walked in on him?”

Twilight steps up now to answer this bit, “Flash here is quite handy with a sword,” she starts off, forgoing the part where he got smacked with the door and lost it momentarily. “The changeling and he went back and forth at one another, soon enough though the fight carried outside on the balcony where Flash sliced its wing then kicked it off to the ground, breaking its neck on impact.”

“Oh my,” Cadance gasps, picturing the mangled twisted body of a changeling hitting the ground, “were either of you hurt?”

“Just a few scrapes here and there,” Flash answers her sincerely, “the body was collected that night, and the next morning when we went to Canterlot for Twilights lesson. Princess Celestia was informed on what happened the night before.”

“She ordered the body to be brought to Canterlot to be examined to try and find out where it came from in the first place,” Twilight adds on while the rest of the family takes it all in.

Finding out that a significant other was attacked by such a retched creature is enough to make some ponies faint at the very thought. Finding out that it was in their own home is even worse. Though Shining and Cadance know that Twilight dealt with changelings first hand when they were in Canterlot at their wedding, so they give her the benefit of the doubt and trust that she would have been fine.

The four leave the scene where the other changeling took its last breath and make their way to carry on with the rest of the day. While the two sisters in laws talk about what the eldest Princess said about the encounter, Shining says his own words to the guard responsible for his sister safety. “Well it’s nice to know that the changeling met its match,” he says, now curious about the actual attacker, “Was he really all that trained?”

“Perhaps, although he did carry a military grade weapon, and had some skill to match in a fight,” Flash answers him while they walk together, “considering the state of the changeling and the fact that it even look un kept. He was probably a scavenger. Even Celestia thinks the same.”

“That might be right,” Shining says. Putting another hoof on his shoulder, this time without a threat to follow. Something a little more welcoming, “thank you for protecting Twily, she may capable of holding her own, but in the end it’s good to have somepony watching over her.”

“It’s what I’m here for…” Sentry responses, getting a warm smile from the older sibling in return.

Both Cadance and Twilight though continue behind the two colts. “Have you heard anything about the body being studied?” the wife asks out of curiosity.

“Nothing yet… it got there by the night that we told her. I don’t know when they actually got to it… speaking of that though,” Twilight brings up checking her bag and pulling out a quill and scroll. “Celestia needs to know about the spy that was here, considering the rumors that you told me about earlier, are now confirmed. Plus I can check about the first body.”

“Good idea… I’m glad you two came up when you did,” Cadance says letting her send her letter while the older of the two Princesses moves up to her husband to find out what the plan is for the rest of the day.

Dipping her quill in an ink well in the bag she starts to write…

Dear Princess Celestia,

Considering the events that happened at my home earlier with the intruder. It is best that you know of this matter now. You probably have heard Cadance talk about some of the odd things going on in the Crystal Empire, rumors being Changelings… those are now confirmed. A spy was exposed here during our visit, impersonating a guard. Although he committed suicide before we could learn anything from him. It none the less is an event that needs attention, also seeing as the first body is being looked at. In that regards, is there any status change with the exam? Let me know your thoughts of this event, and what has happened.

Your Faithful student,

Princess Twilight Sparkle

After that’s written up. Twi proof reads it a few times over to make sure all is right, and uses her own magic to send it off to the Princess in a puff of smoke. Now turning her attention to the other three ponies there with her, walking in on them in the middle of talk about where to go for the evening. Desiring to put the event behind them more than anything in the back of their minds, so they can at least enjoy the visit with some degree of normalcy.

“Sandys’ Shell is always open at this time…” Shining brings up to his wife.

“Then again there is also The Lounge, Snows Peak, and of course how can we forget…” Cadance starts to grin while looking at her husband, “The Constellation…”

After hearing that name Shining Armor starts to go red in the face. Both of them do actually, considering what it is. Although only Twilight actually knows the significance behind the Restaurant, leaving Flash in the dark as they talk.

“How long has it been sense you two went there last?” Twilight asks the couple. Both husband and wife thinking back in to their memory bank.

“Ah… it’s been a while dear…” Shining ponders with a hoof to the edge of his chin as he tries to recall the memories of days past, “last year I believe.”

“Well…” Cadance asks raising an eye brow, “What do you think? Shall we?” none of them complain or suggest a different place to go, leaving the decision final. “It’s settled then… The Constellation, tonight… although I think you two should probably wash up first,” she points to her husband and Flash. Considering they still have a few blood smears on them from the fight and were sweating during the chase, the two are rather ripe for a scrub down.

“You can say that again,” Shining says, waving over one of the maids to them, “she will show you to your rooms so you both can get ready, we’ll leave in… about an hour and a half?”

“Sounds good, my dear,” Cadance kisses him on the lips passionately before letting the love birds that still have yet to spread their wings go to take care of their own business.

Having adjoining rooms brings the two even closer, more so then they may be comfortable with admitting to others at the moment. Although it doesn’t take long for them to get ready either. Having to wipe away the blood of another and his own is something that Flash doesn’t ever get used to. Even if it may technically be part of his job, it’s not the one part that he loves so much.

Looking in the mirror he can see where his head met the changelings hoof, and the bruise that it is starting to leave on him. ‘ah…’ he rubs it, ‘make a note to get something for this later on…’ he tells himself while slipping the helmet off and putting it on the sink.

Having the rest of the armor come off just as quick, Flash leaves it off to the side as he feels all the spots where he is a little sore from that encounter. Deciding to call it and take a bath to freshen up. The aching bones and joints would probably be thanking him right now if they could speak. Feeling the pain simmer away is comforting to no end as he slides lower and lower in to the tub, letting his head submerge for a few seconds as he holds his breath just so his ears can’t sense anything as they dull in the somewhat secluded environment of being submerged while the nice steaming water does wonders to sooth out his face after the hit. Coming out of the embrace though, Flash feels freshened and rejuvenated, almost leaping out of the tub and throwing a towel over his back to dry off.

Twilight though has just put on some perfume, and left it at that. Considering she isn’t the one that just dealt with another changeling this time. Just a few touch ups, and the Princess is ready to go. After finishing up Twi knocks on the door to Flashes room that connects to hers, waiting to see if he is ready to go meet the in laws for their arrangement.

“Flash… are you ready?” she asks, never hearing an answer. “Umm… are you in there?”

She puts her ear to the door, trying to listen in if there is any water running. Unbeknown to her though, he took a bath, and has already pulled the plug draining the tub. She knocks one more time, ‘he’s probably ready to go… I mean from what I’ve seen of Flash he’s one to be early,’ she turns the nob. It’s not locked after all, and lightly pushes the door ajar ever so slightly with a hoof. As it slides open though, she bites off a little more than she can chew. Just coming out of the bath room is Flash with the towel thrown over him as he dries off.

“Ahk,” Twilight coughs when she takes a look through the crack.

Getting trumped up by the colt in front of her eyes. She never has seen Flash without anything on, even though he is somewhat covered by a towel and for the most part many ponies don’t wear anything on a normal occasion anyway. This is something still new to her as she feels the heat rising under her coat. Something about seeing him like this is getting her blood flowing more so then any other occasion, and to other areas of her body she isn’t accustom to, particularly to her flanks as she can start to feel the heat radiating between her hind legs. ‘Settle yourself down now missy!’ Twilight yells at herself.

Maybe it’s the events of today from seeing the fight that got the blood pressure up, perhaps it’s the fact that they really have been getting closer and closer the more time they spent together, then again it could simply be that this is the most exposed that she has seen him.

Deep in Twilight another spark lights up. ‘Oh my.’ she pants, feeling the tinkling in her hind legs as they start to shake wildly under her and ignore her earlier command to level out, ‘What I would do if I could just have moment alone with… dear Celestia what am I thinking!’ she stumbles while backing up from the door. Falling flat on her flank as Twi now smacks herself a few times in the face with a hoof to get herself under control. Looking in the mirror she sees not only her smack mark, but also her flushed cheeks as she props herself up just to admire the sad alicorn in front of her. ‘It’s been so long sense… well, never at least,’ she thinks finally getting a grip, ‘I can do this… just walk over and knock,’ Twilight does exactly that as she steps off from in front of the mirror and to the door. Lifting one hoof and lightly tapping on the door,

“Flash…” she says softly, hiding the timidness in her voice. “Are you decent?”

“Yes Twilight, you can come in,” Flash replies after putting the armor back on over his coat to make himself presentable to the Princess.

Twi steps in, not showing any of her cards considering what she just saw and manages to keep her head on her shoulders as she walks in. “Well you freshened up a bit,” she says, silently cursing the fact that he’s covered now.

“Didn’t seem appropriate to go out on the town in a blood stained coat,” he sarcastically remarks to her on a whim.

The Princess chuckles, trying to keep it normal between them, and not fall apart when she recalls the image of him stepping out of the bath. Quickly putting it out of her mind to prevent her from leaping over the short distance between them and tackling him to the ground. “Let’s get going Flash, don’t want to keep my brother waiting,” she says. The guard holding the door open for her as they walk out for a night with the family.

____________________________

While on the way, Flash is filled in on some past info about the royal couple by Twily. The Constellation, is a quaint eatery on the out skirts of the Empire. Located away from the lights of the city, its main attraction is the large crystal glass window that makes up the ceiling to the dining area. Allowing for a view of the stars above, but what is even more spectacular, is the drawings on the crystal itself. Entire constellations are put on there to mark them and point others out for ponies to gaze upon as they light up the night sky, seeing at this is how it got its name. To add to the atmosphere, the crystal is cut and polished to almost magnify the sky bringing it closer like a large telescope, and as the crystal is enchanted with unicorn magic, it follows the night sky with the passage of time. Bringing about new groups of stars as the days or weeks in the year go by. Although for all its breathtaking nature in the attraction that it draws from new comers in the area, this isn’t why it holds a special place among Cadance and Shining armor.

“The Constellation is a lovely place to see in the Empire, not sure if you ever have gone?” Twi asks her guard.

Flash starts to shake his head, “I was tempted to while here, but honestly never got around to it.”

“This will be fun then, I’ve only been there on one other occasion,” Twilight recalls the experience a few years back. Looking out at the sky and up close to the stars like she would from time to time while at her home using her own telescope, it almost brings a tear to her eye to think how beautiful it was then. “Though my brother will always hold this place close to heart, seeing as it’s where he and Cadance had their first anniversary as a couple.”

“Ahh… I see,” Flash says as it all clicks now. Looking at the couple in front of him, the sweet looks on their faces and the playful teasing as they bump in to one another, all explained by this simple fact. “It will be nice for them to be here again, even if it is with guests,” he and Twi start to chuckle a bit before he asks something else. “When did you come though?”

“Yes it will be,” she says looking at her brother, “as for me, I came a few years ago on my own. Didn’t have another pony to go with at the time and just wanted to have an evening to myself after a rather long day here.”

“Something that every pony needs from time to time,” Flash leaves off with a grin, getting one in return as they enter the wonderful establishment. It’s apparent from the get go that the night is going to be great, just the aroma of the food, and the clear skies above give that warm welcome that after a day like this. The four of them are looking forward to.

Sitting down at the table that’s already there for them, the owners ready and waiting for royalty to stop by. It isn’t long before the waiter comes over to them. A young unicorn colt, dressed up as a butler would and ready to serve them as they may need. Bringing out a pen and pad, he levitates out four menus while another waiter pours them each a glass of water to wet their pallets. “I would like to welcome you all this evening to The Constellation,” the waiter greats them warmly, “it’s always a pleasure to have royalty stop by… especially after one of your last visits,” the colt beams, recalling the beautiful crystal necklace that Shining got for his wife, and the ensuing torrent of tears and kisses to follow.

The Princess remembers the colt from that night, he was there server as well then. “It’s a pleasure to be back,” Cadance says acknowledging him, “although this visit isn't for an anniversary, well not yet at least," she passes a wink off to her fellow princess at the tabel. Only to receive an half ill smirk…

And a hoof to the leg from under the table.

“It’s a pleasure as well. What’s on special sir?” Twily asks after a silent yelp escapes Cadance’s mouth.

“Yes, Princess. Tonight we have fresh picked pumpkin breaded and baked with garlic salt alongside sweet asparagus and rice. Which I personally must say is utterly, divine,” his eyes almost roll in to the back of his head for a moment, “however, may I take your drinks? Or will water be all for you tonight?” he asks, clicking his pen ready to go.

Twilight and Flash browse through the menu at the selection, while Shining and Cadance have already decided. Having been here on a few occasions by now, “I would like a glass of your White Rum, Hay fever,” Shining says, reciting it from memory, “over the rocks… and lime on the side… and for you dear?”

“Hmm I think I’ll stick to the virgin drinks for now. Just a glass of Sapphire Tea.”

“Cup of coffee for me please, black,” Flash says after eyeing the item. The waiter nods after writing their orders down, turning now to the lavender Princess.

“I’ll have a glass of Hay fever as well… though mine without the lime,” she says. The young colt taking the order and walking off to put it in, leaving Twilight to look over at her brother with a slightly astounded expression on his face. “What? I can take something a little harder than wine from time to time… I just can only have one glass.”

“I was about to ask the same thing your brother was…” Flash says as he almost hides behind the menu from the royal couple across from them. Leaning in trying to whisper to the princess next to him, “after all last time you told me you weren’t the heavy drinker.”

“Last time?” Shining’s ears perk up, wondering just how much the pony pair across from his has gotten to know one another sense the guards arrival in Pony Ville, “what do you mean last time?”

Twilight shoots her guard a look, as both their eyes widen. Both wondering if Shining has picked up on Cadance’s hawk like ears, and now how they are going to explain this one. “Awkward...” Flash mutters to her.

“Umm… are you going to fill me in?” Armor presses. Giving Twilight a moment to catch her breath.

“Last night Flash and I went out on the town-”

“You two went on… a date?” Shining cuts her off, turning to his wife to see the I know something you don’t look about her. Looking back only to see now both Twilight and Flashes face light up as they look at him and try to explain further.

“No!” they both say simultaneously, now looking at one another again and turning even redder.

“You see, considering that Flash is going to be staying for a while…” Twi starts.

“We thought it would be a good idea to get out of the house and get to…”

“…Know one another better. So we went out to eat…and then to a show…”

“Just to have a nice time, Sir” Flash says scratching the back of his head. Trying to act as formal as possible with his boss when it comes to the younger sibling.

“That’s all it was…”

“Nothing more…”

“Nothing less…” she finishes off now as they look away from one another.

Both too embarrassed to say anything more about it. That’s before though they hear a few giggles at the table. The two ponies in question look up and see both Shining and Cadance cracking up with one another at the two love birds going back and forth. Soon enough though, the colt comes back around with their drinks. Both Twi and Flash taking a gulp of theirs once they get it in hoof to calm their own minds. However, the former feels the burn of the drink as it slithers its way down her throat and lights up her stomach lining when it reaches, almost making her cough a bit from the singe.

‘I really shouldn’t have hit it like that,’ she regrets while her brother lightens the mood.

“Okay so let’s say it wasn’t a date, how was it though?” Shining asks them.

“It was wonderful, BBBFF,” Twilight smiles at him, “Flash is rather good with planning as it would seem.” She watches her guard simply smile off to the side as she complements him.

“Good, that means he’s trained well. So when’s the next one?” he follows up with as he takes a sip of his drink, getting Twily to cough up a bit as he now chuckles.

The waiter comes back and takes their entrée orders. Flash taking the special, as Shining goes for a dish of their Cream of broccoli soup, while Princess’s order a plate of their favorite baked pot pie. Twi going for what amounts to a fruit pie, and Cadance sticking to the vegetable. After their orders are put in though the conversation transitions to something a little more casual, seeing as the two ponies at the table have probably been embarrassed enough for one day, perhaps.

The talk of Celestia and Discord coming down with the kids to Pony Ville, after being brought up by Cadance, is tossed about while Shining starts to get an ear full of coming down himself. Seeing as it has been quite a while sense he came down to see the royal in laws, and for that matter, the rest of the girls. The older brother rests his head on one hoof while propping it up on the table, sipping his glass while the sister throws out every reason why he can come down. While Shining tries to make a point of why he has been busy.

“Why not when they come down as well?” Twi pesters him.

“I don’t even know when they are coming down… how can I plan for that?”

“Easy, it’s called talk to them and coordinate matters,” Twilight brings up, “you’re in the military? Plan something out.”

“I may be good at planning but a fair degree of what I do Twilight is making it up as I go,” Shining throws out.

A slight chuckle from the younger sister causes him to raise a single brow as he wonders what’s possibly funny about this, “So I hear that’s what the military’s good at…” Twi glances over to Sentry for a second as Shining’s wife speaks up.

“I don’t see why we can’t?” Cadance chimes in, not backing up her husband one bit, “after all I made it down, and I’m sure you can dear.”

“We’ll just have to see you two,” Shining says trying to save his skin with both his wife and sister. There are matters that he has to attend to thanks to the spy being found, but there’s a reason he has more than one Captain under him, and why he holds positional authority. “The changeling being found didn’t help that matter of getting some time to do so… so we’ll find out when the time comes,” Both Twilight and Cadance look at one another. Knowing full well that Shining Armor doesn’t take a lot of time off work when there is something like this going on in the kingdom, especially considering he had experienced the changeling spy first hand with the little brawl him and Flash had.

Never the less though, the mares and colts chat with one another respectively while their dinner comes out and they eat and talk. Considering the now well-known threat of changelings that have made their way in to the empire. The two colts try and figure out a way to identify the spies without making the process known to whoever they are under command of, considering even the captain isn’t sure if this is just an isolated incident, or if the issue goes deeper and deeper.

“He was trained as a soldier, and the blade that he had was similar to the one that was found at Princess Twilights,” Flash fills shining in while taking a bite out of the pumpkin slice,

“That he was, as for the blade that he carried, I wouldn’t know,” the brother answers while doing much the same with his own dish, “I never saw the one at her house. Then again there are the other sightings that have been sprouting up in the Crystal Empire… so this may not be a onetime thing.”

“Do you think they are linked to one another?” Flash asks him.

“Perhaps, the other cases of this… let’s just say some of the ponies that were being impersonated are in a similar position as yourself,” he pauses to recall the gravity of the situation. The look on Flashes face says it all, he didn’t know it was that bad.

“There were more in the Castle?” he whispers to the captain, making sure to keep it down so other patrons can’t hear it.

“This information hasn’t been tossed out that much, so keep it under wraps would you?” Shining answers, watching Flash nod at him before he continues, “Another guard here and there, those though were on the outer guard stations of the empire… this is the first one found in the castle. Although if they are communicating with one another, someone is telling them what to do higher up.”

“How can they be exposed without letting the pony that’s calling the shots in know?”

“…Probably the same way you did,” Shining toasts to him, tapping Flashes coffee glass, “before washing up, I dispatched a few guards to check Smiths home,” the look on the captains face turns grim from the details he was told as he fills Flash in, “his wife was found with her throat slashed, dead in the bath tub full of water… as for the young colt…well,” a single tear builds up in his eye as it is hastily wiped away, “Something’s are better left un-said,” Shining eats a spoon full of his soup and continues, “though most of the guards have family of some sort, consequently, we could check the families to find out who is who.”

Sentry thinks about this for a moment and it does make sense. Considering that the changelings deal with relatives in one way or another, they would be the ones to know when something is wrong with a loved one, or at least who they think is a loved one that is.

Twily cuts a piece out of her pot pie while the two colts talk, and takes a bite out of the dish. Tasting the lovely melody of flavor in her mouth as she swallows to continue her talk with Cadance. The two mares have been talking about planning to get together in Ponyville with every pony. Seeing as whether or not he likes, Shining will be there even if Cadance has to drag him away from the guard by his hind hooves kicking and screaming. Though the husband did have a point, finding out the guard was an imposter first hand will make it harder to get away, but it can be done.

“I don’t know of any plans when I get back home,” Twilight thinks, “other than meeting up with the girls that is… they all want to meet Flash, so I’m being roped in to that one.”

“Some pony is certainly going to get an earful when they see him,” she winks at her younger counterpart. Twi grinning in response, considering that she knew this the moment the idea of a get together was brought up.

“Isn’t that the truth… although I can bring up a get together for all of us to them when I see them then. I know they enjoyed seeing Rosebud and Havoc, and on top of that the kids would love to see Uncle Shiny, as would the girls.”

“And they will, don’t worry… he doesn’t have a choice in the matter,” Cadance starts to giggle, while her husband remains oblivious to their little conversation. Going in to what exactly to do when they come up, they could plan this out… or just make it up as they go. Which is usually what is done anyway when it comes time to see one another, it just makes it fun for them all when to you follow the path of Discord and see where that takes you.

As the plates are cleaned off, and stomachs are filled. It comes that time of the night where they decide to call it and head home. After a cold scowl from Shining for grabbing the bill first, Flash relinquishes it to the Captain, and they thank him for the meal. Heading out in to the nice crisp air of the Crystal Empire, and back to the castle for some shut eye.

Bearing in mind that she finished her whole glass though, Twilight is feeling rather ripe as she doesn’t even catch herself leaning on Flash for some support. Although she still isn’t to the point where she would turn around and tell Sentry a little more than she would feel comfortable with. Shining looks behind him to see the little sight, nudging his wife on the shoulder as she turns to see it as well. “Awe… they are so cute,” she whispers to him.

“That much I will admit…” Shining says to her surprise, “plus it’s nice to see that she will have somepony to help carry her home when she drinks too much,” both the husband and wife chuckle to themselves as they keep an eye on the two behind them.

Twilight has her eyes partially closed as she lets Flash guide her, allowing the guard to take notice of the married couple in front of them and the snickering that follows. Only looking off to the side at the Princess using him as a crutch with a smile on his face as they walk back to get some sleep before their trip back home the next day.