I hope Shining Armor and Princess Cadance don't think
it's too soon for me to come back
to the Crystal Empire for a visit,
but I just know Flurry Heart's grown so much already.
I wonder if I'll even recognize her.
She's the only baby they have, Twilight.
I think it'll be pretty easy to figure out who she is.
Hmm.
Sorry. I know you want to visit
your niece as much as possible,
and I'm excited to see Sunburst again.
I just don't wanna fall behind
on my friendship lessons back home.
Starlight, your work in Ponyville isn't going anywhere.
Besides, I think we all know
you can learn about friendship anywhere.
Right, Spike?
Spike? Who's "Spike"?
Pfft. Uh, you're Spike, Spike.
And why are you dressed like that?
Guys, you're blowing my cover!
How'd you even know it was me?
Because you're you... in a coat, hat and glasses.
Also, we're the only ones here.
Right.
Spike, why do you need a disguise?
Last time we came to the Crystal Empire,
there was a lot goin' on with
the new baby and the Crystalling,
but I still got mobbed in the street.
I wouldn't say mobbed.
And this is just a family visit.
I wouldn't want the presence
of Spike the Brave and Glorious
to turn it into some kind of circus.
We get it. The Crystal Ponies adore you.
He did save the Empire.
Twice But still, I don't think your presence
will turn our visit into a circus.
Not if I find the right disguise, it won't.
Uh, disguise or not, Spike,
I don't think you need to worry about being mobbed.
Nopony's here.
It's like a ghost town.
I've got a bad feeling about this.
Yeah, this is weird.
I guess I don't need the disguise after all.
It's Spike the Brave and Glorious!
He's come to save us yet again!
Spike! Spike! Spike! Spike!
Save you from what?
Yeah, what's going on?
Why was everypony hiding.
Oh, it sure looks like Princess Twilight and her pupil.
But how can we be sure?
We can't! Either one of them could be the...
you know!
What if this... isn't...
the real Spike?!
Everypony run!
Okay. Something strange is definitely going on.
Ya think?
Who goes there?
Um, you don't recognize the Princess of Friendship?
Of course we recognize her.
But that doesn't mean it's really her.
It's okay, guys. They're with me.
And any friend of Spike the Brave and Glorious
is a friend of the Crystal Empire, am I right?
Huh. It does look like him.
Well, it would, wouldn't it?
I'm sorry, but we'll need
to see some proof of identification.
We'll take care of things from here.
Oh, Candace, thank goodness!
What's going on?
We can explain, Twily...
if it really is you.
Sunshine, sunshine...
...ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!
It's okay, everypony!
It's her.
Of course, it's her! What's this all about?
A changeling's been spotted nearby.
A changeling?
That's not good.
No, it's not.
After Queen Chrysalis took my place at our wedding
and invaded Canterlot with her army of minions,
we're not taking any chances.
Changelings feed off love.
And ever since Flurry Heart's Crystalling,
the Empire is filled with more love than anywhere in Equestria!
It's possible they've come for the baby.
That's why we posted the extra guards, and why we're...
...checking everypony's identity.
I'm sorry for all of this.
Flurry Heart's really been looking forward to seeing you.
Oh, she's gotten so big.
Starlight and I will do
whatever we can to help protect her.
To be honest, having you here is already a big relief.
Hmm. The royal guards were wondering if Spike
the Brave and Glorious would like
to join in the search for the changeling.
Really?
Uh, I don't know if that's such a good idea, Spike.
It sounds dangerous.
Come on, Twilight, this is Spike
the Brave and Glorious you're talking to.
Have you ever known me to run from danger?
Um...
He'll be safe with our guards.
Or will your guards be safe with me?
Spike the Brave and Glorious,
you've faced the evil changelings before.
What can you tell us?
Oh, uh, well, they are changelings, so they can...
change.
You hear that? These monsters can look like
any of us, so be on guard, guards!
Even more than normal.
And they could be anywhere.
So we should cover as much ground as possible.
You, search that way!
And, you, search that way!
And... I'll... just search...
here, I guess. Not many places to hide...
Unless that rock is a changeling. Okay, rock.
How do I know you're really a rock?
Hmm. Not talkin', huh?
Well, you can't fool me! Uhh! Ow!
Help!
Okay. Maybe it's time Spike
the Brave and Glorious went back to, uh,
protect those guards
Just my reflection.
Just my imagination, I guess.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-changeling!
No, wait! Come back!
This is unexpected.
The ice is pretty slippery.
I wouldn't want you to get hurt because of me.
You... saved me?
It's okay. I know you don't wanna be friends.
Wait! I don't understand! Changelings are supposed to be evil...
right?
Evil? Oh, not me. All I've ever wanted is a friend.
From the moment I first split my egg in the nursery hive...
I was part of the attack
on Canterlot during the Royal Wedding,
but I'd never seen true friendship like that!
And I couldn't just steal it and feed on its love,
I wanted to share it!
After that,
I knew I couldn't live with my kind any more.
I set off looking for love to share, but...
But... what?
I'm starving! And there's so much love
in the Crystal Empire right now,
it's what drew me here!
It's driving me crazy!
That would be from the royal Crystalling.
It's pretty much a giant outpouring
of love for the new baby.
Oh, sorry! I'm just so hungry!
If I had a friend, maybe the love
we shared could sustain me,
but I don't think the crystal ponies wanna be friends.
What if I told you there was somepony
they respect and admire so much
that could convince them to give it a try?
If only that were true.
It is! I mean, I am! It's me, Spike!
Spike the Brave and Glorious?
I'm sure you've heard of me.
Nope. But I was raised by an evil queen. I'm Thorax.
I can't believe you want to help me.
Why? Hasn't anypony ever just been nice to you?
S-Sorry, sorry! Kindness like that kind of brings it out.
You still wanna be my friend?
Of course! And I am one hundred per cent sure
I can get the whole Crystal Empire
to be your friend too.
But... maybe I should just, uh, talk to them first.
What do you mean? Did you see the changeling?
Did you defeat the evil creature?
Defeating a Changeling would be great,
but do you know what would be glorious?
Defeating two changelings?
Defeating all the changelings?
Not having to fight the changeling at all!
Because I made friends with him.
Wow! For a second I thought you were serious!
Could you imagine? Friends with a changeling!
I am serious. He wants to be friends!
Not only are you Spike the Brave and Glorious,
you're also Spike the Hilarious!
I'm not joking! The changeling is nice.
I'm sorry, but I don't think it's funny.
The Changeling Queen Chrysalis kidnapped Cadance,
and cast a spell on me.
There's no such thing as a 'nice' changeling.
...You're right, Shining Armor. Sorry. That was a...
bad joke.
So? So? Uh, what did they say?
Uh, how many new friends do I have?
Well, it didn't go exactly the way I thought.
Uh, I understand. Well, thanks for trying.
I-I guess it's not surprising.
How can you expect ponies who looks like this...
to trust something that looks like this?
I think I might know.
Spike, if you're done searching for the changeling,
Starlight and I could use your help.
We're working on a protection spell for Flurry Heart,
and nopony takes notes like you.
Uh, actually, Twilight,
I, uh, wanted to introduce you to my friend,
uh... Uh, Crystal, uh... hoof! Crystalhoof!
My good friend, Crystalhoof.
Nice to meet you.
Oh. Well, it's, uh, nice to meet you, too.
How do you know Spike?
Oh, uh, Spike and I go way back.
To the Equestria Games! That's when we met.
We've been pen pals ever since.
Pen pals? Spike! You could have been
using my pen pall quill set!
Why didn't you tell me?
Well, I... I pretty much only write
to him when you and Starlight are...
studying.
I like to brag to all my friends about letters
from Spike the Brave and Glorious.
Yeah.
Well, I'm sure Starlight and I can manage,
if you want to spend time with your friend.
Great! Crystalhoof promised to take me around the city.
Oh, that was amazing!
I told ya.
Crystalhoof is nearly as entertaining as Spike himself!
This place is everything I've ever dreamed of!
But I can't keep pretending to be
a crystal pony forever, can I?
Relax, you're winning them over!
Pretty soon, nopony will care that you're a changeling!
Spike!
Twilight told me you were off with a friend.
And any friend of Spike the Brave
and Glorious is a friend of mine.
Oh, she's so beautiful!
There's so much love around her...!
I... I...!
I... ...so...
...sorry...! I can't...
...stop!
Spike! Get away from the changeling!
Wait, no! You don't understand!
This changeling replaced your friend
to get close to the baby!
What other explanation could there be?!
I...
...I don't know.
After it! Don't let the changeling escape!
I hope your friend is okay.
Yeah... me too.
Spike, you should go find Crystalhoof
while we hunt down the changeling.
I'm pretty sure he doesn't wanna see me...
Spread out! The changeling is probably still nearby!
Actually, I'm pretty sure he ran
as far away from here as possible.
...but I bet I know where!
Thorax! Hello? I just want to apologize!
I should have stood up for you...
Aw, come on, Thorax!
I know you're in here!
Leave me alone!
Little help?
Why do you think I would help you?
I'm an "evil changeling"!
Because you're my friend.
I just wish I had been there for you.
It's okay, I know it's hard.
Everyone in the Crystal Empire loves you.
I couldn't ask you to give that up for me.
You don't have to ask.
What are you gonna do?
What I should've done in the first place.
I know it's bad that there's a changeling around,
but is all this really necessary?
If there's one changeling,
there may well be a whole army on the way.
True. But Starlight has a point.
This is getting a little out of hand.
I understand, but I don't know what else we can do.
I do!
Spike! What are you doing?!
Get away from that thing!
No, he's not a 'thing'!
His name is Thorax, and he's my friend!
♫ Would you say I'm a hero ♫
♫ Glorious and brave ♫
♫ If I told something you wouldn't believe? ♫
♫ That sometimes I'm scared ♫
♫ And I can make mistakes ♫
♫ And I'm not so heroic, it seems ♫
♫ But if day can turn to night ♫
♫ And the darkness turn to light ♫
♫ Then why can't we imagine a changeling can change? ♫
♫ No two ponies are exactly the same ♫
♫ No two snowflakes ever match their design ♫
♫ And I thought I was strong ♫
♫ But I was nothing but wrong ♫
♫ When I forgot to be friendly and kind ♫
♫ But if day can turn to night ♫
♫ And the darkness turn to light ♫
♫ Then why can't we imagine a changeling can change? ♫
♫ Would you say I'm a hero ♫
♫ Glorious and brave ♫
♫ If I told something you wouldn't believe? ♫
♫ This changeling, it seems ♫
♫ Knows the real me ♫
♫ And would stay by my side 'til the end ♫
♫ So if day can turn to night ♫
♫ And the darkness turn to light ♫
♫ Then why can't we imagine ♫
♫ Just, why can't we imagine ♫
♫ Then why can't we imagine a changeling can change? ♫
Spike, I'm so proud of you.
You are?
Of course! You're a celebrity here in the Crystal Empire,
and you just risked all of it for a friend!
I can't imagine anything more brave than that.
As the Princess of Friendship,
I try to set an example for all of Equestria.
But today, it was Spike who taught me
that a new friend can come from anywhere.
I guess everypony still has things
to learn about friendship. Even me!
And if Spike says Thorax is his friend, then he's my friend too.
Thank you.
On behalf of the Crystal Empire,
I would like to extend my hoof in friendship,
and I'm sure all of my subjects are eager to do the same.
Welcome to the Crystal Empire, Thorax.
I'm sorry we didn't take the time to get to know you.
Maybe we can change that now.
That'd be so amazing! I want to know all about friendship
and maybe one day I can take
that knowledge back to the changeling kingdom!
If my kind learned how to create love for one another,
maybe they wouldn't have to take it from others!
To Spike the Brave and Glorious!
Looks like you were right after all.
Right about what?
Friendship lessons can happen anywhere.
Subtitles: MLPSubtitles
http://mlpsubtitles.com/
Transcript: OmegaBowser
Sync: OmegaBowser, Retropony
Check: Kawete, Nicoz