Twilight’s eyes blinked open to the sight of a ceiling, beeping monitor and what appeared to be a curtain around the bed she was in. Rubbing her eyes with her forehooves she noticed that she had an intravenous drip in the left. Her whole body felt weaker than before.
She looked over to see that there was an empty chair and a small bed side cabinet. On it was a vase full of her favourite flower, the Lavender, which filled the room with its scent. She winced as she tried her magic to lift the nearby Calender to no avail. Her magic must have been depleted or something she reasoned form the blast of the elemental blast.
The sound of flushing could be heard as she looking in that direction to watch as the door swung open. A mare walked out, older than most, but Twilight recognized her.
“Mum?” she asked. The mare looked up, the gloomy face instantly changed to happiness as she rushed to her side.
“Twilight!” she said, crying. “I thought you were never going to wake up”
As Twilight had the life hugged out of her by her now crying mum she tried to move, but found her body just refused. “How long was I out mum?”
“Twilight, you have been out for nearly a whole month”
“What!” Twilight shouted “A whole month, but how?”
“The doctors didn’t know. They said it was a magical induced coma” Velvet said. “Your brother was most hurt about this. Cadance especially, they put the wedding off until you got better”
“But that was a whole month ago? They shouldn’t have waited for me”
“Mum who are you talking to?” another voice said, walking into the curtained area was Evening Star. No hint of changeling remained on her at first glance. She looked like Twilight, but her coat was a light gray and her mane and Tail were a light green. “Twilight, are you awake?”
“Evening!” she replied as they hugged. Velvet had a tear in her eye. “But the changelings were purged; shouldn’t you have gone with them?”
“Yeah, turns out I'm not a real changeling anymore” she said, her Insect wings flicked out of hiding and buzzed,” I still have some traits but genetically speaking I'm mostly pony now. Something Celestia said to do with the whole ‘elements used to purge the changeling’ combined with my last casting of magic, I sort of became this true hybrid” she admitted. “Not that I care really. I mean sure it was cool, but now I'm welcomed here now, so long as I keep the magic up to hid the wings and saddle; but I have kept our little sisterly secret hidden. Cadance said it should be you to break it to the girls”
“That sounds like Cadance” Twilight said. She looked down, “What about the girls and Spike?”
“What about me Twilight?” came the male voice of spike, he had grown a bit since twilight had been asleep. On his shoulder was Peewee; in his claws was a tea tray with 4 cups and a pot. “Don’t think I'm that young I can’t look after myself”
“Besides, he was staying with me” Evening said. “Well mannered to. Not often I get to have decent company. He also helped me gather more intelligence of basic magic’s that isn’t related to changelings.” Spike blushed but put the tray on the cabinet.
“Spike can you let Celestia know I'm awake please. I need to have a few words with her, also let the girls know” she asked. Spike nodded and left with Peewee in tow.
“You mustn’t blame her for this” Velvet said taking a cup of tea in her TK field, it was a soft yellow colour. She tasted it before sticking her tongue out and casting a small flame spell under the cup to heat it up. Sipping it again she looked at Twilight. She was staring wide eyed at the small flame. “What? Where do you think you got your Pyrotechnical magic’s from; your father?”
“I didn’t know that you were-“
“-A star is a burning sphere of gas and flames. Hence why our family magic is tuned to fire” Velvet explained. “I was wondering when you would show signs of pyro magic instead of just plain magic. But from what I was told, that was quiet an impressive display of Pyro magic”
“Mum, the reason why was because the night Evening was taken, Celestia tried to kill her” Twilight said. Velvets face changed from happiness to anger, “And she also placed a magical barrier preventing me from accessing most of my magic potential”
“Pardon what did you just say?” Evening said. Her face showed anger and Evening was legitimately scared. Her mane at the tips began to turn into blue flames.
“Celestia didn’t abandon Evening in the wastelands like Amaryllis said. That was my out of control magic. She was trying to kill you. A nurse from back then informed me just before you captured me” Twilight explained.
“Twilight honey, I want you to stay quiet. I will speak to her about this” Velvet said storming out in anger, her mane flicking from blue fire to the normal hair. Muttering something like 'ill make sure she never messes with my daughters again that witch' in Germane
“What just happened” Evening said as Twilight just shook her head. “Also what did mum just say?”
“You will learn quickly around the family how to speak germane trust me”
“Twilight, Just so you know, you didn’t get off scot free” Evening said as her glamour fell away again. She revealed her saddle carapace still attached. “I may be part pony now, but a saddle carapace isn’t easily gotten rid off”
“What are you saying?” Twilight asked. She looked down as Evening took off the covers hiding her lower body. Twilight almost screamed, but stopped herself. Her waist had sections to it like when she was a drone, coloured a metallic purple. She ran a hoof over it and tapped it. It sounded hard but she felt the vibrations against it. “Is that what I think it is?”
“The saddle carapace that Amaryllis put on you; yeah it is. The docs said they can’t remove it as it’s literally replaced the skin in that area” evening said. “Sorry sis. But your part changeling, like me now”
“Don’t be, it’s not your fault. Besides we are more alike now anyway” she said. Evening looked up, wings buzzing softly. “So did I keep the wings to?”
“Yeah you did” Evening said.
“Well that’s new. Means I'm not restricted to magic only. I wonder if I could walk on clouds to”
Evening looked at Twilight with a curious eye; But both laughed it off.
~0~0~
The conversation that she wanted to have with Celestia never happened; the princess had sent a letter saying that she was deeply sorry for what she had done and regretted ever doing it. She knew that her mother probably had something to do with this.
Twilight’s response was neutral to say the least. The idea ran through her head to send an abusive letter back demanding to know why she did those things. She however restrained herself and stated that she would be finishing with her tutelage under her to begin her new research into Changelings instead of Friendship. Though she said that she would still send the occasional report about what she had discovered.
The results of that little exchange of letters lead into Luna appearing two days later in her parents’ house, or manor depending on who you talk to, whist she was busy trying to study up on what little she could have Spike or Evening find on ‘changelings’ in the main library.
“Princess Luna!” Twilight said when the princess landed in her room from the balcony.
Twilight was still recovering but was allowed to return to her family home where her mum and dad were looking after her. Her magic had since returned in full and was now a rich orange colour, but she had to undergo rigorous physiotherapy to put muscle mass back after the atrophy of sleeping for over a month.
It hadn’t taken as long as they had though originally, a week and she was walking again, compared to the doctors expectation of two months. Two days later running at full canter. The Doctors couldn’t explain it, but Evening has said that it might have been thanks to the Carapace she was now physically attached to. Changelings had enhanced internal recovery system, boosting their recovery times significantly compared to a pony, so the carapace would have its benefits.
“Twilight Sparkle; I am sorry I didn’t arrive sooner; Royal duties and all. I see what Celestia meant by the saddle remained behind after you went all inferno on the changeling queens sorry arse” She stated taking her crown off and placed it on the table. “Sorry gamer talk. Onto official business, I am here to offer you something that my sister could never provide”
“Pardon?”
“I read your letter about the possibility of researching the Changeling hive-”
“-hives; There are multiple. It was only Amaryllis’s hive that invaded” twilight corrected, her Wings buzzed in subtly annoyance. “According to Evening Star that is”
“Okay then, Hives. But I am interested in this as well. What you may not know is that there is a pony already part way through the research of his own. A bit Eccentric, but you will like him” she commented.
“Really, I never knew, as there isn’t a lot published on their race at all to be truthful” Twilight stated.
“Top secret; I knew about the threat of the changelings, but Celestia ignored my calls for concern. He has a laboratory located on the borders of the wastelands where he does his research. I have sent him a note about your potential arrival. He is quite happy to have you stay with him”
“Really?”
Luna nodded. The result was a hug form Twilight that made the alicorns wings flick up in surprise.
“Thank you so much”
“That is all right” Luna replied putting her crown back on. “I also noted that Evening Star might join you. He was quite eager to have you both considering what has happened”
“I cannot express at how happy and pleased I am about this”
“I can tell from how your wings are reacting” she said. Twilight looked back and blushed as they were a blur of light purple.
“Sorry, but I'm still learning how to control them” she admitted. The Princess giggled.
“It is quite alright. Also I saw that your friends will be arriving shortly to aid with the wedding proper this time” Luna said. She walked to the balcony and did a swan dive off and soared off, over the heads of her friends as they entered the front garden.
Twilight smirked. A lab to share with another interested academic, she couldn’t wait, but first to tell her friends.
“Twilight your friends are here” Velvet shouted.
“Coming mum” she replied.