“Princess, there's a Changeling in the courtyard.”

The words, spoken low and solemn by the captain of the royal guard, were like a shot of adrenalin straight into Cadance's heart. Her blood seemed to have become carbonated as it thundered through her veins. Her eyes flew open and she rocketed out of bed, stumbling when her hooves hit the richly carpeted floor. She almost impaled the guard with her horn, and he wisely stepped back.

“Is it Chrysalis?” Cadance demanded, her wings standing straight out from her body. Every feather bristled with horror at the mention of the dreadful queen.

“No, Princess. Just a drone.”

“A...drone?” Behind her, Shining Armor was stirring, his horn igniting and casting blue light throughout their lavish chambers. Cadance glanced back at him, mirroring the wary expression on his face. A single drone was nowhere near as much trouble as its queen.

The problem was that the term “single drone” was an oxymoron.

“Search the grounds and sound the alarms,” Shining ordered, slipping out of bed and standing beside his wife. “There must be more.”

“It claims it came alone, Prince,” the guard replied.

Cadance blinked. “It...speaks?”

In her experience, drones did not speak. They were brainless extensions of Chrysalis, programmed to follow her every whim. The only Changelings with any free will at all were the hive guards, and the hunters...but she wasn't entirely sure that they could talk, either.

“Are you certain it's a drone?” she asked warily.

“The scholars have confirmed it,” the guard replied. “As you remember, we learned quite a bit about this species when—”

“I know, I know,” Cadance snapped, turning away so that her mane hid her face. She had no wish to talk about her wedding day, and the horrific events that had marred it.

Shining moved closer to her, pressing his flank against hers in comfort. She offered him a tired smile before turning her attention back to the guard. She couldn't actually recall the soldier's name right now, couldn't match a title to the steady brown eyes or the trim crimson horn. Some princess she was.

“Have your stallions subdued the Changeling?” Cadance asked.

“It didn't even try to fight, Princess.”

“Take me to it,” the alicorn said decisively.

“Cadance, are you sure you want to...” Shining asked quietly, trailing off. He was concerned for her. That was sweet, and normally it would be cause for her to wrap a wing around him and nestle into bed, lay her head against his shoulder and let him whisper into her mane...

But no. There was a threat to her people right now, and as their princess, she had to address it. So she ignored her husband and trotted after the guard. She caught sight of herself in a mirror on the way out into the corridor and grimaced. Mane tangled and awry, bags under her eyes, face pale under her coat. She hadn't thought to grab her crown, collar, or her shoes before she left, and she didn't want to seem vain by going back for them now. She would have to face her subjects barehoof.

“Cadance.” Shining again, right beside her. His brow was furrowed, something she'd tried to get him to stop doing because he'd have wrinkles before he knew it.

He was worried, she knew that. He didn't want her to have to face one of the creatures that still haunted her nightmares.

For some reason, that annoyed her.

“I'm fine, Shining,” Cadance muttered. He didn't reply.

The guard led them through the countless convoluted corridors that kept their private quarters...well, private. The whole time, the princess's mind was a storm of conflict.

Her crown was gone. Would anypony take that as a sign of weakness?

There was a speaking Changeling in the courtyard. Would it transform into somepony she couldn't bear to fight?

Shining Armor kept staring at her every thirty seconds. Didn't he believe that she was capable of looking after herself?

The palace was deserted at this hour of Luna's night, even with the unexpected and terrifying threat. Cadance was grateful for that.

“This is as far as I go, Princess.” The guard stopped abruptly, right in front of the great crystal doors that led outside. “I have to defend the palace, should the need arise.”

Shining lowered his head in deference. “Thank you, Claymore.”

So that was his name.

The doors swung open, under the control of a pair of stern-looking unicorn mares. Cadance stepped out, her prince beside her and trepidation rising in her throat. Pegasi hovered above, keeping watch over the whole situation, and unicorns stood on the wall surrounding the courtyard so that they could beam light down into it. A cluster of guards stood in the very center, surrounding something. Cadance swallowed hard.

The wings of the pegasi were extended and the horns of the unicorns were ignited, but despite how obviously on edge they were, they parted to allow their rulers a glimpse of what they were guarding.

Yes, it was a Changeling, exactly as she remembered. Cadance fought the urge to bury her face in Shining's mane. A drone. Just like the ones that attacked Canterlot—stunted gossamer wings, glassy blue bug eyes, frail, worm-eaten legs, a single curved horn. She tried to focus on the moss-like hair hanging around its face (braided in some parts—how...?) and not the huge fangs.

Shining Armor moved a little closer to her, so that she could lean on him without it being obvious. She was grateful.

Suddenly, the Changeling moved.

Cadance almost took flight screaming, but managed to bite her tongue at the last second. That didn't stop every other pony around her from reacting, though. Orders were shouted, horns glowed fiercely, and the two maids watching from a window on the third floor of the palace lost their nerve and ran. All because the monster had stood.

But before anypony could do anything, it had already fluidly dropped into another position. One foreleg bent, the other tucked beneath its body, head lowered and eyes closed. It took Cadance a moment to realize just what was going on.

The Changeling was bowing. To her.

Dead silence permeated the courtyard, broken only by the wingbeats of the pegasi and the princess's own hyperventilation. The beast took the opportunity to perform yet another shocking feat.

“Prince Shining Armor,” it said, “Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Queen Chrysalis of the Changeling Swarm sends her warmest regards.”

A/N: No one in the fandom seems to be able to agree on the spelling of Princess Cadence(ance?)'s name, so I've gone with the correct spelling of the actual word 'cadence.' Correct me if I'm wrong according to the majority.

A few other things traditionally taken care of at the beginning of a story: No, this is not a grimdark, nor is it a shipping story, though there may be elements of both later on. I have no idea whatsoever just how long this story is going to be. I'm extremely grateful if you read this, but I have to ask...would you mind commenting and telling me what you think? This is the first MLP:FiM story I have ever posted online, and the first story period I have ever written in the third person.

And ah, yes, a Changeling OC and blatant inclusion of headcanon. Aren't I original?