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Episode 133	The Times They Are A Changeling	Aired: August 20 2016
On board the train, Twilight is traveling back to thr Crystal Empire for a visit and hopes it's not too soon for Cadence and Shining Armor. Starlight Glimmer is along for the ride and is mostly focused on reading her book but stops to assure that things will be fine. Twilight notes that friendship lessons can be learned anywhere but find Spike in disguise and have to point out that it's unnecessary. Nevertheless, Spike doesn't want all the attention being drawn to him and picks out a different disguise. Once they arrive, they find the station seemingly empty, leaving them to wonder what's going on. Even when they get to the center of town, they find it just as vacant until Spike removes his disguise. The residents crowd him and carry him away before Twilight and Starlight ask what's going on. As a result, the crowd gets uneasy as they're unsure whether they're actually talking to Twilight or a copy. With that, the crowd scatters, leaving Spike to take a fall. They proceed only to find guards in their way that are just as uncertain. They'll need proof and eventually get it when Cadence and Twilight perform their childhood song. It still doesn't answer what's going on so Sunburst explains the bad news. Twilight and Starlight agree to watch over the baby while the guards take Spike to help search for the Changeling. As their search begins, the guards want to know what Spike can tell them about Changelings from past experience but Spike can only state the obvious. He gives the guards their tasks before deciding to search the land around him. Unfortunately, he finds a rock and thinks it might be a Changeling so he kicks it and goes deep underground, narrowly avoiding a deep crevasse. Spike gets nervous but proceeds only to find what appears to be his reflection in the rock. However, it proves not to as it performs differently. Sure enough, it's the Changeling and Spike runs away in fear but falls into the crevasse only to be caught by the Changeling. Surprisingly, the Changeling just wanted a friend not to be evil and shares his story. The Changeling came here for the love to feed on, hoping that being friends could satisfy his hunger but knows full well that the crystal ponies are probably not interested. Spike is willing to be that friend but the Changeling, revealed as Thorax, still can't help but inadvertantly lash out from hunger. Spike sets his plan in motion but the guards don't take him seriously at all no matter what he says. Shining Armor doesn't approve and considers all Changelings bad, leaving Spike to at least regret making such a statement. Spike breaks the news and Thorax isn't surprised but the change from pony and back gives Spike an idea. He takes Thorax to Twilight, whom wanted Spike's help but is willing to accept the unexpected friend's apperance. It's enough for Twilight to conclude that she and Starlight will likely manage on their own so they split off, leaving Thorax surprised at how well the plan worked. In fact, residents throughout get to know Thorax and have a great time. Even the guards approve but despite Thorax's fears, Spike assures that everyone won't even realize he's a Changeling after a while. The duo arrive where Twilight and Cadence are with the baby and when Thorax sees Bably Flurry Heart, his true nature starts to show and he reverts back to a Changeling. Fearing for Spike, Twilight grabs him away and Spike's answer is too much for the Changeling's feelings and it flies away. Shining Armor and the guards are now on high alert and start searching but Spike has a feeling he knows where Thorax went and heads back into the cave. After a brief search, Thorax reveals himself but is in no mood to see him. Spike shares regret and eventually regains Thorax's trust before setting off with the Changeling to make things right. Twilight and Starlight find the whole security process a bit too much for one Changeling but aren't happy to see Spike once again next to Thorax but this time Spike has a song to share. Even when the song is over, most of the crowd glares at Spike angrily but Twilight comes out to commend him for actually teaching everyone a lesson that a friend can come from anywhere. Twilight and the Changeling meet hooves before Cadence and the others approve and are willing to accept the Changeling as a friend of their own. Shining Amor apologizes for not getting to know Thorax sooner but is willing to make up for it and Thorax hopes that he can take what he learns here back to the nest to improve the others. It's just as Twilight had said earlier, friendship lessons can happen anywhere.