Spiraling swaths of infinite pulsating colors gave way to ear-shattering sound and blackness peppered with streaks of light. 🌠
Kitzu could feel herself tumbling through the cold night air. It was exhilarating, like plunging into frigged waters. The streaks slowed to pinpoints of light as a feeling of weightlessness came over her. She gazed up at the stars caring little for her present situation mesmerized by the simplistic beauty of it. Nor was she entirely certain she wasn’t dead. She’d a feeling of euphoria about her as though she’d just been born a brand new being.
Gravity.
Kitzu felt herself being pulled by the ever-present force of gravity along with the increasing wind rushing past her. Well, at least she wasn’t in that damnable wormhole any longer. Instinct kicked in, and she flipped herself over and spread her wings, the cloak flapping in the wind. Her wings weren’t doing a lot of good, but at least she’d enough lift for a glide. Far below was Canterlot castle.
Kitzu tried a levitation spell on her wings to give herself more lift, but the effort was making her nauseous, and her magic was flickering like a candle in the wind. She needed help, and fast. She was coming in way too fast and she knew it. Without a rescue, she was going to end up as one big splatter mark. Should she try for one of the ponds she thought looking about. Most weren’t very big, or deep, and if the landing didn’t finish her, she’d likely drown. She looked to Luna’s tower, and to her delight and relief, she spotted Luna and Twilight out on the balcony. Placing her hopes and trust in the two, she maneuvered herself to aim for the balcony and used what little magic she’d left to light up her lamp pendant. She knew they likely couldn't hear her, but shouted, catch me, all the same. “Catch meeeeee!!!!”
A young alicorn Twilight had been inside arguing with Princess Luna when they heard the sound of a large explosion high over Canterlot. The city was on alert, and the two rushed out onto the veranda at the top of the big tower on which rested a large watchtower. “Look there!” Twilight called spotting a flickering light like a star falling. Both strained to see the falling object.
“Is that a pegasus?” Luna asked spotting Kitzu. When Kitzu lit up like a small sun, both knew they were dealing with something very unusual. “Twilight, stand back, it’s headed straight for us!”
“No, wait?!” Twilight called as Kitzu’s light began to flicker again. Down below pegasus guards had taken wing in an effort to intercept the oncoming missile. “We need to catch that pony! - I think they are in distress.”
“Alright,” Luna replied, and then both fired off a spell to catch and levitate. A moment later they’d safely delivered Kitzu to the veranda unharmed.
“I’m… I’m home.” Kitzu said weekly trying to stand. Her wings drooped, her hindquarters gave out, and everything in her stomach came forward. A moment later Kitzu collapsed completely and blacked out.
“Guards, fetch a doctor, quickly!” Luna ordered as three pegasus guards landed on the platform. “Hurry!”
“Grandmother, what’s wrong with her?” Twilight asked with both fear and concern in her tone.
“She’s used way too much of her magic getting here, and is dangerously low,” Luna replied. “Let’s get her inside.” Luna then lifted Kitzu up with a levitation spell. “Why are you lot still standing there?” Luna inquired of the guards. “Doctor! Now! Or I’ll have your hides on my wall by morning!”
“Yes, Princess.” The guards all said in unison and took off.
Luna then took Kitzu, baggage and all, back to one of the bedrooms followed by Twilight.
“Is there anything we can do?” Twilight asked as Luna set Kitzu on the bed.
“She needs magic. We need to find out who she is, and find a relative.” Luna explained.
“Looks like she has a VIP pass.” Twilight offered.
“Twilight, if you can get her cloak off, and clean her up, I’m going to go see what’s taking that doctor. I’ll need to get someone to clean up the veranda as well.” Luna offered, releasing her magical hold on Kitzu. Luna hesitated a moment sensing that the magical link between her, and this filly had lingered for a moment after cutting off the spell. Luna thought about it for only a moment and then left the bedroom.
When Luna returned a short time later Twilight had removed Kitzu’s cloak and saddlebags and hung them over a chair. Kitzumi was tucked into the bed, cleaned of the remnants of vomit, and twilight was caressing Kitzu with her magic. “Twilight?” Luna asked.
“She was shivering. - She calms down when I give her a little of my magic. - You did say she needed magic.”
“Yes, but it’s supposed to be a close relative.”
“She’s got a VIP pass that says her name is Nova Silvermane, and a guest of Auntie Tia.”
“Are you alright?” Luna was concerned for Twilight.
“I’m fine.”
“If you get to feeling light-headed I want you to put some distance between you and her.”
“Grandmother?”
“Your magic should not be able to soothe her like that.”
“How’s that? - Sorry, I took so long Princess Luna.” Offered a brown unicorn with a doctor's bag for a cutie mark, and a pair of black saddlebags over his shoulders. He had a dark curly mane, a floppy old brown fedora that nearly matched, and a ridiculously long scarf wrapped around his neck that dragged the floor. There were guards behind him. With a look from Luna, the guards stayed out in the corridor. “That is interesting...” he offered, looking at Twilight. He then went over to the bed levitating a chair in place and sat next to Twilight. “Princess Twilight, I’ll need you to stop for a moment.”
“Alright.” Twilight offered, shutting down her magic.
The doctor pulled out a test instrument and placed it on Kitzu. “Yes, her magic reserve is really low. - It’s usually very dangerous when it happens to a pony away from family.” He tried doing the same thing Twilight had done only to get shocked by feedback. “Well, she doesn’t like my magic. - No accounting for taste. - And she’s wearing two very powerful enchanted items. Do you have any idea who she is?”
“She has a VIP pass that says her name is Nova Silvermane, she has a moon medallion that looks like one of Grandmother’s medallions that she gives to trusted confidants, and a gemstone set in a pendant shaped like a lantern.” Twilight offered.
“A moon medallion?” Luna asked. She went over to the bed to inspect what Kitzu was wearing. “Why that looks like one of my old master keys.”
“Curious.” The doctor mused. “I might hazard a guess as to who she is. There is a new ambassador named Reynard Silvermane. - Princess, as your magic seems compatible, go ahead and keep doing what you were doing.”
“It’ll be alright?” Twilight asked.
“It’s an effect known as Mother’s Touch. When a foal pushes their limits too far, the mother is able to provide enough magic to stabilize them till they are better.” The doctor offered.
“But she’s not my foal?” Twilight protested.
“Of course not, she’s at least eight, and you are hardly old enough to have produced an eight-year-old.” The doctor offered. “Never the less, her magic doesn’t know the difference. - Princess Luna, perhaps you should give it a try? - Worst that can happen is she’ll just do the same to you she did to me.”
“She...” Luna said softly caressing Kitzu with her own magic. “It feels just like she is one of my own? - I’d felt it earlier, but dismissed it.”
“That would suggest that she is somehow a member of your family.” The doctor offered, getting up. “Normally one must either be the mother or a nurse mother.” He retrieved his instrument, placed it in his bag, and announced that Miss Nova should be fine so long as she was in their care. After which he excused himself adding that the young filly was a fox-type unicorn.
“But she’s...” Twilight began.
“Oh, she’s decidedly a fox type.” The doctor offered not realizing Twilight was about to say Alicorn. “Now if you’ll excuse me, and if you don’t mind I’d like to contact Ambassador Silvermane to let him know there is a filly here who may be part of his extended family. - And yours it would seem.”
“Yes, thank you.” Luna offered. She stopped what she was doing, and followed the doctor to the door. At the door, she kindly asked the guards to please leave her apartments. They were hesitant at first but soon felt the need to do as Princess Luna asked. Luna followed them out only to discover one of the unicorn captains along with a dozen of the guard coming in.
“Captain, what is the meaning of this? Why are you violating our apartment?”
“Orders mam.” The captain replied.
“Orders?” Luna asked.
“We have been ordered to take the pegasus into custody.”
“Pegasus? There’s no pegasus here.” The doctor scoffed, and then went around the guard, and out the door. The guards looked a bit puzzled by the doctor's honest report.
“But, but...” The captain stammered. “We were told to arrest the pony who breached the security.”
“On whose orders?” Luna asked getting right in the captain's face.
“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.”
“Cadence?” Luna asked genuinely surprised. Had Twilight been right? Was there something going on with Cadence? “She has no authority to give such an order!” Luna replied using the royal Canterlot voice right in the captain's face, their ears going back in fright. Luna’s next words came out sounding more like the quiet sort of threat Nightmare Moon might give. “Are you prepared to fight me for thy guest? - Go tell dear Cadence that she can go suck a swamp flower. - The pony in question is under our protection. Now get out, and see to it this never happens again.”
“Y-y-yes your highness.” The captain stammered backing away followed by the captain, and the guard rushing out the way they’d come in. Luna used her magic to slam the door behind them.
“Of all the nerve of that filly.” Luna spat out and returned to Twilight and Kitzu. “Granddaughter, we believe that we may owe thee an apology.”
“That’s alright,” Twilight said nervously. Luna had obviously been upset by something, and Twilight had no desire to push the issue.
“Dear Cadence just sent the guard to arrest Miss Nova.”
“Arrest her?”
“Who’s arresting who?” Kitzu muttered from the bed. “Why am I in the guest room?”
Luna looked at Kitzu somewhat critically. “Princess Cadence wants you arrested.”
“Why would Aunt Cadence want to have me arrested?” Kitzu tried to sit up, and immediately dropped back down overcome by vertigo.
“Don’t try to get up, you’ll just make yourself sick again,” Twilight ordered. “Aunt Cadence?”
“Mom?” Kitzu asked looking at Twilight. She then turned to look at Luna. “Muma?”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not your mother.” Twilight offered.
“I should be so lucky to have landed in the right dimension.” Kitzu offered, punctuating her words with a sigh.
“Dimension?” Luna asked taking a few steps forward.
“I was passing through a portal from one world to another when the wormhole between collapsed,” Kitzu explained. “I am Kitzumi Nova Nightfoal Silvermane. - In my world, I am your daughter.”
“My daughter?!” Twilight asked astonished.
“Yes, but you are both, kind of, my mom. Shared custody sort of thing, being you both married the same stallion.”
“But Princess Luna is my grandmother!?”
“Not in my world.” Kitzu objected. “Honestly. - Do I dare ask what’s going on in this world? - Why would Princess Cadence want to arrest me?”
“Cadence is set to marry the Armor colt...” Luna began. “And best not mention the name Nightfoal either. Mine is Moon, Twilight is a Sparkle.”
“There is an unknown threat, Shining Armor is maintaining a force shield over Canterlot, dear Cadence is being a bridezilla, and Twilight is convinced that Cadence is evil.” Kitzu offered.
“Up till now I just assumed Twilight was being a sore loser,” Luna admitted. “Bridezilla?”
“Same thing happened in my world. - Oh, we’re a little ahead of you. - Sore loser? Shining Armor and Twilight aren’t brother and sister?”
“I might just as well be his brother,” Twilight said with an air of bitterness. “No, he’s my cousin. - And Cadence – Cadence was my best friend. I go away to Ponyville, and find out second hand that the two are rushing to get married.”
“And Cadence doesn't have any time for you anymore does she?” Kitzu offered. “She can’t even seem to remember sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake either, can she?” Twilight gave Kitzu a blank stare. “Clap your hooves...” Kitzu brought up her forehooves to clap them. “I’ll have to owe you the shake.” Twilight leaned in and gave Kitzu a hug.
“So what happened?” Luna asked.
“Full-scale invasion of changelings.” Kitzu offered. “If this is the same thing, you’ve already been infiltrated, and the bridezilla to be is Queen Chrysalis.”
“And we are without any of our bat ponies,” Luna muttered.
“Bat ponies?” Twilight and Kitzu asked.
“The echolocation scrambles a changelings ability.” Luna offered. “My dear sister won’t let me have my Night Wing.”
“And there are too many variables to know for sure if this is indeed the same thing.” Kitzu offered. “The pattern might be the same.”
“I’ve a mind to just blast that captain anyway.” Luna offered. “The nerve of that captain coming in here and insisting on taking you into custody without first asking our leave, nor even knowing who it is they intend to arrest.”
“I have an idea.” Kitzu offered. “First off, Twilight do you know how to find the crystal caves under Canterlot?”
“Like the back of my hand,” Twilight replied.
“You’re not suggesting Twilight go down there?” Luna protested.
“Afraid she needs to, and by herself. Not without a way to know for sure who is, and isn’t a changeling. Assuming that is indeed what is going on here, Twilight will find the real Cadence in the caverns.” An idea struck Kitzu’s mind. “How does changeling magic work?”
“How do you mean?” Luna asked.
“I’ve three small lamps in my saddlebags, along with a couple of books, a diary of sorts, sunglasses, a bento, and some schoolwork. - I’d like to check the diary in a moment though I don’t think I’ve recovered enough to manage writing. - The lamps are what we need. They are the same as my pendant, and the crystals are a product of the tree of harmony. Their intended use is to be a ward against discordant energy.”
“Discordant?”
“They render dear Discord impotent, and I’m wondering if they might have a similar effect on changelings? - I dimly remember working on a side spell to unveil changelings, but I’m afraid I’m a little addled at the moment.”
“You don’t say,” Luna replied with a smile.
“There’s a trade-off with the stone in that it weakens the darker spectrum of alicorn magic as well.” Kitzu offered.
“Meaning if I use one I won’t be at full power,” Luna replied.
“They can amplify unicorn magic,” Kitzu added.
“So it negates the darker baser magic while amplifying the light and more refined magic.” Twilight observed.
“That’s about it,” Kitzu confirmed. “What I have in mind – Twilight I’d like you to take one. It’ll work as a light in the caves without having to do a thing, and may get you out of a jam. Misuse it, and the crystal will burn and shatter, but it will amplify your power. All you have to do is give it a little of your own, and you can expect a boost just like you’d get from a proper harmony stone. - Don’t let anyone see it when you leave. - I’m thinking that if you were to say, storm out of here in a huff...”
“I get your meaning,” Twilight replied fetching the bags with her magic.
“And you had in mind that I might try using one to see if it’ll out a changeling?” Luna surmised as Twilight dumped out the contents of the bags. Everything was as Kitzu had said, the small lanterns were wrapped in cloth bags, along with the addition of a small white box tied up with string, and Kitzu’s royal identification card. Princess Luna picked up the card and examined it.
“I’m really hoping that my grandparents, Twilight’s parents are not directly related to you, Princess Luna. Otherwise, things back home are going to get mighty awkward.”
“Wouldn't be the first time several mares from the same family married the same stallion.” Luna offered.
“Somehow I can’t see myself sharing a stallion with you,” Twilight replied picking up a lamp and tucking it under a wing. “No matter how much I love you.” She turned to look towards the door. “No time like the present.”
“You sure about this?” Luna asked.
“No, but then again, finding cadence locked away in the caverns would be a big relief. - Sort of.” Twilight headed for the door and whispered showtime as she left.
“Let’s see if we can’t make it a bit more convincing.” Luna offered, taking a lantern stashing it in her peytral, she then dropping the ID on the bed, and following after Twilight. The shouting started a short time later.
A few moments later saw Twilight talking back to Princess Celestia, and storming down the hall.
“Oh, just let her go. She’ll get over it.” Luna said with a sharp tone meant more for Celestia than any pony else.
“I’m surprised you are just going to let it go?” Celestia asked.
“You know full well if I don’t I risk the nightmare taking over.”
“Yes, I’m sorry. - So how is Night Light?”
“Busy I assume.” Hope is what Luna wanted to say, considering he hadn’t been around to check on her, his mother. It was Night Light and a group of his friends who’d faced Nightmare Moon in this world.
“So… I hear you have a guest?”
“Member of the Silvermane family. Poor thing overtaxed herself.” Luna offered. “She’s in one of my guest rooms resting. Would you like to meet her?”
“You’re going to let me?”
“Let you?”
“Well, I heard you drove out the guards when they came to investigate?”
“Come,” Luna said in that tone that says you don’t get a choice. Celestia gave Luna an odd look and followed when Luna led the way. They stopped outside Luna’s chambers where a group of guards minus the captain they’d been with had gathered. “You there, tell my sister why I drove out Captain Golden Bough.”
“With your Majesty's respect.” One of the men offered nervously. “The captain had orders from Princess Cadence to arrest the pony who’d violated Princess Luna’s quarters.”
“He what?” Princess Celestia said not quite sure she had heard correctly. Her brain had to take a moment to comprehend the audacity of the statement.
“Just for the record, my guest is a young flier who flew up to the top of the shield dome, and overexerted herself in the effort,” Luna informed them. She knew otherwise, but that’s what she wanted the guards to know. “Her family has been sent word that she’s here.” Luna then continued on.
“I dare say Cadence has gone entirely too far,” Celestia said in a low angry tone as she followed after Luna.
“I’ve got a mind to give her a good swift kick where she sits.” Luna offered as she entered her apartments. “I’d never penalize a filly for a mistake, and it’s just not like Cadence to do so either.”
“I’m sure it’s just stress.” Celestia offered.
Luna closed the door and led her sister to the room where Kitzu was. Kitzu had crawled out of the covers, and over to her books. She looked exhausted, the effort to get that far having worn her out.
“Kitzu, what are you doing?” Luna asked perplexed and concerned. She gathered Kitzu up with her magic and put her back in the bed. Celestia stood in her spot with jaw agape.
“I need my diary, I need to let them know I’m alright,” Kitzu explained.
“She’s an alicorn,” Celestia announced quietly.
“Yes, I figured that out,” Luna replied dryly. “She’s also my daughter from another world. - That loud crack was her teleporting in from a collapsing wormhole.” Luna couldn't help but smile seeing the bewildered look on Celestia’s face. Luna then took up the diary and flipped it to where a ribbon was marking a page. There was a line written in Kitzumi’s pen saying she was headed home early, followed by a line in Twilight’s pen warning not to use the portal followed by entreaties to answer. Another line explained that Discord was back and that he’d somehow managed to hijack the portal. He was presently in custody. More lines asking for a response followed by letters from several ponies that read like eulogies. Luna had turned pale. She quickly turned the pages till she’d found a blank page, took up Kitzu’s quill and wrote down that Princess Kitzu was safe and sound. Please reply as soon as you can.
“Muma… I mean Princess Luna?” Kitzu asked.
“You may call me Muma if that’s what’s natural to you. - A bunch of messages came in while you were stuck between.” Luna offered. “I’m just letting them know you are alive and well.”
“I’m not so sure about the well part, but don’t tell them. - Any idea how long?”
“How long have you been gone?” Luna asked looking at Kitzu. “Afraid I can’t really say. Long enough that they’ve...” Luna found she was getting choked up.
“That looks just like the book I gave Miss Shimmer,” Celestia commented.
“Do me a favor, dear sister… don’t say anything about this. Not a word to anyone. Please.” Luna implored. “This isn’t to leave this room. She’s just a young flier who overdid it.”
“Alright, but I should probably...”
“No. Tell no one anything other than she’s a young flier who overexerted herself.” Luna cautioned strongly.
“What should I say to Cadence?”
“The only thing Cadence needs is to be reminded of her place.” Luna cautioned. “I’ll tell her what she needs to know if and when I feel it’s appropriate.”
“Oh don’t tell me Twilight got to you?” Celestia protested.
“She apparently ordered the guards to arrest a young filly who doesn’t even have the strength to get out of bed. - Granted she couldn't have known who had crash-landed on my balcony, but still...” Not unless one of the pegasus guards had reported back to Cadence instead of their chain of command.
“I will definitely have to talk to Cadence about that.” Celestia offered. “If she was indeed responsible, she is way out of line.” Celestia let out a sigh. “Poor Twilight, she must feel so betrayed.”
“Book please?” Kitzu asked looking at Luna. Luna sighed, and slowly passed the diary over to Kitzu.
“You sure you wouldn't rather read one of your textbooks?” Luna asked.
“I’ve already memorized them. I only had them to follow along in the classes I was to be in.” Kitzu offered while taking the diary.
“She’s so much like Twilight.” Celestia offered. “Night Light turning out to be your son. I can’t help but wonder how I missed a male alicorn right under my nose.”
“Being reunited with him was all it took to dispel Nightmare Moon,” Luna said.
“Night Light Sparkle is Nachtlicht!?” Kitzu asked astonished. She couldn't help but wonder about her grandfather, but he didn’t have wings. If he had they were well hidden.
“Yes, dear,” Luna offered. “Twilight was born a pegasus. The horn started coming in when she was around four. - What about your Twilight?”
“Born a Unicorn,” Kitzu replied. “She used a transformation spell to get her wings. - I was born a pegasus.”
“I see,” Celestia said.
“She fixed the spell.” Kitzu offered. “I understand that in its original form it switched destinies.”
“I suppose one could say that,” Luna said quietly.
“I sure hope things get back to normal soon. - Miss Kitzu, will you...”
“Be staying long? Doesn’t look like I’m going anywhere for the time being.” Kitzu offered. “Whether or not I make it to the wedding is going to be kind of up in the air for now.”
“Are you going to need anything?” Luna asked.
“Is there a Miss Raspberry Pudding on staff?” Kitzumi asked.
“Not sure if there is or not,” Celestia replied.
“Well if there is, can you let her know there is a Kitzumi hime sama asking for her? - Mine was sort of a nanny to me.”
“She might just be a little filly herself at this point.” Luna offered.
“She might,” Kitzu replied taking up the diary in her hooves. “Or she might not.”
“Alright,” Luna replied. “Now, I think I’d like to have it out with Cadence. Time her attitude was put in check.”
“Think I better go with you.” Celestia offered, and the two left Kitzu alone with her diary.
Kitzu lay there wondering how things were going to turn out. Thought about reading the diary, but found she was just too worn out and settled down to sleep.
Kitzu woke up sometime later feeling a bit better. Well enough that she decided to have a look at the diary. She wasn’t sure if she even wanted to look, and sure enough, the first few lines following her last entry made her heart drop. Now she understood why some pony had been calling for her. If only she’d hesitated a moment longer. Ambassador Silvermane had indeed been right, but this had been a situation where ignoring the warning would have been better. Had she finished up the day, she’d still be in that world where Twilight was still a filly. Still safe. Still in contact with the ponies she knew. Right now she wasn’t feeling too safe, and she was helpless to do anything. Was she facing the Changeling invasion? Only time would tell. She just hoped everything would turn out the way they had in her own history.
Kitzu flipped back to the last entry. There’d been no reply. Kitzu then managed to drag the pen over to where she could get a hold of it with a hoof. Hi from Kitzumi, Kitzu wrote. She was having trouble making the pen stick fast, and her hoofpenship looked like a five-year-old’s scrawl. She then went back to read through the panicked entries followed by the letters telling her what a wonderful, brave, loving, helpful, adventurous, and on and so forth pony she had been and how much she was missed.
“Bucking Discord,” Kitzumi muttered marking the page she was at and putting the book down. She’d just read up to where Twilight had her filly and named her after Kitzu being she was identical. Twilight had sworn she would not let history repeat itself.
“Um, excuse me, miss...” said a gray pony in a maid’s outfit entering the bedroom. Kitzu looked them over and wondered if her magnetic sensing had gone off too. Kitzu’s head tilted one way, and then the other. Ever since her experience of having to go without sight for a week, Kitzu had been able to see the auras of living things quite well. It was annoying at first, but she soon became accustomed to it. She’d learned how to tune it out as well. This pony’s aura wasn’t tuning out. It was all mottled, and jumbled not matching the pony it belonged to.
“What?” Kitzu asked in a very terse tone straitening herself. Thanks to finding out what Discord had done, his irresponsible behavior being responsible for Kitzumi’s present circumstances, Kitzumi was feeling no love. She wondered if this odd pony might be a changeling. Kitzu’s hoof went to her lantern pendant but stopped. Supposing she could expose this pony for a changeling, what then? Kitzu was completely helpless… no not completely, Kitzu still had her wits. It was time to live up to the fox’s reputation.
“Whatever it is you want, you’ll not find it here.” Kitzu scolded.
“I um… I was told I’d find a loving little filly here?”
“Sorry, fresh out of love. Out of magic, out of love, and out of patience. Now unless you are here to help me get to the toilet go away or I’ll be forced to taunt you.”
“Taunt me?”
“Yes,” Kitzumi replied returning an impersonation of Discord’s best leer. “Love? Did you think love grew on trees? You pathetic excuse for a pony.”
“But I thought ponies were full of love?” The grey mare asked sounding confused, and even slightly alarmed.
“Ha! Someone told you wrong. Ponies are backbiting, tail pulling little shit pot hay burners who don’t care about anything but themselves. What little love there is, is only on the surface. Why if a changeling horde were to come to Canterlot, once they feed off the superficial love, they’d soon find they’d nothing left, and would face starvation. Starvation I tell you. Love is a rare and precious thing that requires nurturing, and you’ll find little nurturing around here. - Why are you still here? - Git!”
The changeling looked at Kitzu with a stunned expression, backed out, and ran off.
“You planning on treating me to that same vitriol? - Well, young filly?” Kitzu knew that voice to belong to Miss Raspberry Pudding.
“That depends, come here,” Kitzu called. She guarded her emotions.
“Well?” Miss Pudding asked entering the room. She was presently dressed in a guard uniform. Kitzu looked her over, let out a sigh of relief, and smiled.
“Did you happen to get a good look at her aura?” Kitzu allowed a wave of relief to overtake her. “It was all wonky.”
“It was kind of off, now that… I’ve noticed that with a number of ponies… you’re not saying?”
“Changelings. Twilight and Luna have already been alerted. - And I just hit upon a way to drive them off without having to do a thing. - But first… I kind of need to pee. Could you help me out? Please?
“But I?” Miss Pudding protested.
“You’ll have to spread the word one pony at a time, and I need your assistance right now.”
“You can’t do it yourself?”
“At the moment no. - I can barely lift a pen for Aiko Sama’s sake.”
“But I’m not good with foals?”
“You’re good with alicorn fox kits. - Now help me out of this bed, and to the little fillies room. - Please?”
“I swear, the fate of Equestria may hang in the balance, and I have to help you to the toilet?” Miss Pudding bemoaned while rolling her eyes.
“Can you levitate?”
“Not really, no.” Miss Pudding offered. Kitzu sighed and crawled to the edge of the bed.
“Just take hold of my scruff so I don’t fall. Alright?”
“Aren’t you a bit old for that?”
“Maybe so, but I doubt my ability to get out of bed on my own safely.”
“Alright, fine.” Miss Pudding relented took hold of Kitzu’s scruff in her mouth and lowered her off the bed. “There, wow!” Kitzu had started to sink to the floor the moment Miss Pudding let loose.
“I got it. - I think.” Kitzu offered staggering forward on wobbly legs.
“You do not. - You’re as wobbly as a newborn. - Here.” Miss Pudding took hold of Kitzu again and carried her to the toilet, which was fortunately in a small room attached to the bedroom.
“I think I can manage from here.” Kitzu offered once they’d reached the toilet. “At least it’s a sit-down and not a squat.”
“You got it?”
“Ya. Thank you.”
“I’ll just wait out in the room.”
“Just don’t abandon me here. OK?”
“I won’t.”
✴✨✴✨✴✨✴
Elsewhere, Luna is presently baiting Princess Cadence who is doing her best to give back as good as she gets without giving herself away. Which was proving difficult owing to a number of well-pointed jabs.
“Auntie Celestia!?” Cadence turned to Celestia trying her best to look like she was terribly unhappy, but it wasn’t working.
“My dear, you’re the one who keeps rising to the bait.” Celestia offered. Even Celestia had begun to doubt Cadence owing to several nonsensical answers she’d given.
“Dear Cadence strikes me as the sort who’d put her own children at risk for her own selfishness,” Luna said. “I’m not so sure I wish to support this marriage.”
“Now isn’t that going a bit far?” Celestia countered.
“No, I don’t think so.” Called out the voice of a white stallion with black markings that made him look more fox-like than a pony. “I’m Ambassador Silvermane. I am going on record that we are strongly opposed to any marriage to that pony.” Reynard stated with firm conviction. “We are so adamant in this that if this marriage were to go forward we would consider it an act of war.”
“Wait, what, but, now hold on?!” Celestia protested. Luna walked over to him, and in a hushed voice asked if he could confirm that Cadence was a changeling. He could.
“Why’s every pony so frowny?” Pinkie asked pumping herself up. She’d come to Canterlot along with Twilight, and their other friends from Ponyville. She wasn’t happy about the present turn of events and was determined to find some way to turn things around so every pony would be happy again. “Ooo, Princess Luna is that a lantern sticking out of your breastplate collar thingy? Is it a magic lantern, is it, is it, is it? Does it project images, or maybe there’s a jinn inside? Oh, I know, maybe it’s like the comic book, is there a ring that goes with it, is there?”
“Miss Pie now is not the time!” Princess Celestia ordered.
“In brightest day, and blackest night, no evil shall escape my light!” Pinkie said in a very loud voice followed by light bursting forth from the lantern, Luna was engulfed in light, rose into the air wings extended to maintain her balance, as a wave of magic flooding out from the lantern.
“Pinkie, you are amazing!” Luna shouted. Cadence was gone, and Chrysalis now stood in her place. Around the room stood several more changelings.
“No!” Chrysalis protested, leveled her horn at Luna, and attempted to blast her with everything she had. It had no effect.
“Sorry Chrissy, your number is up!” Luna shouted as another wave of magic washed over them.
“I found Cadence, the real Cadence!” Twilight shouted rushing into the room followed by a very bedraggled Cadence. Twilight was also glowing, wings extended, her lamp having answered the first.
“To me my Children!” Chrysalis shouted only to be blasted by Luna and knocked off her hoofing by yet a third more powerful wave of magic.
✴✨✴✨✴✨✴
Back to Kitzumi. Poor Kitzu had been sitting on the toilet when the first wave of magic flooded through lighting up her pendant, and the lamp that was still on her bed, three lamps in total. Kitzu let out a squawk as she began to rise up the magic of the stone now acting independently of her own.
“Miss Kitzu!” Raspberry called rushing in. Kitzu’s wings were extended to keep herself from tipping over. “Why are you hovering over the toilet like that?”
“It wasn’t my idea!” Kitzu protested. “It’s my pendant. A wide-area spell has been activated using one of my lamps.” Kitzu not having the energy, her lamps had not yet fully answered the first. Kitzu slowly dropped back down only to pop up once again as the magic from Twilight’s lamp passed through. This time it triggered an amplified magic pulse from Kitzu’s lamp, and pendant. “Aww come on! - Can’t a filly pee in peace!”
“There’s a lamp that was on the bed that popped up into the air too.” Pudding replied with a smile. Her smile dropped about the same time as Kitzu dropped back down. The sound of ponies running out in the outer corridor could be heard.
“I’m guessing that was the – do you mind!?” Kitzu was about to explain that either Twilight or Luna had probably triggered the changeling detection spell when a pony guard rushed in.
“There are changelings in the castle!” The guard exclaimed just as the fourth wave of magic swept through. This time the lamps didn’t react.
“I’m guessing that would be Twilight was successful with her mission.” Kitzu mused.
“That sounds a bit like maybe you had some foreknowledge of what’s been going on here.” Miss Pudding mused.
“Not my world, can’t hurt my timeline. - That and the changelings were supposed to be driven out anyway. At least they were in my world.”
“I see. - You came through a portal then?”
“Not exactly.”
“Not exactly?” Pudding asked confused.
“Bucking thing collapsed while I was passing through, and this is where I ended up. If Princess Twilight and Princess Luna hadn’t have caught me I’d be a splatter mark on the pavement.”
“Sweet Aiko-sama, you’re lucky to even be alive. And do watch the vulgarities, it’s unbecoming of a princess.”
“Um, don’t you mean Sweet Celestia, or something of that sort?” Asked the guard.
“Aiko-Sama is sort of a fox pony deity,” Kitzu explained.
“So you have an Aiko-Sama in your world too?” Miss Pudding asked.
“Oh yes, she’s a very nice pony.”
“You’ve met...”
“My moment of peace, if I may?” Kitzu asked. “Shy bladder and all.”
“Oh, right, right. Sorry about that.” Miss Pudding offered, turned, and herded the guard out as she went. “Call when you need me.”
✴✨✴✨✴✨✴
When Princess Luna returned sometime later, Kitzu was back in bed, and asleep again. “Princess.” Miss Pudding said getting up from the chair she’d been in.
“Relax.” Luna offered. “You are Miss Pudding I gather?”
“Yes, mam. I gather she knows my counterpart from where she’s from. - She’s comfortable with me despite my knowing nothing about kits.”
“Just out of curiosity, how old are you?”
“One hundred eighty-three.”
Luna stopped in her tracks to look Miss Pudding in the eyes.
“I was working in Household Staff, night shift, and transferred into the guard force when I’d the opportunity.”
“You’re…?”
“One hundred eighty-three. - I, um, lied on my application, no pony would believe me when I told them my age, so I made up an age they could believe. - Staffing thinks I’m twenty-nine.”
“A hundred and eighty-three?”
“Life expectancy for a fox pony is a thousand,” Kitzu announced opening her eyes. “Miss Pudding is practically a teenager. - I knew there was a possibility she’d be here.”
“Thousand?” Luna repeated.
“She’s not wrong.” Mrs Pudding offered.
“I see,” Luna said, and continued over to Kitzu’s side. “So how are we doing?”
“Hungry,” Kitzu replied.
“She succeeded in chasing away a changeling.” Pudding offered. “Convinced them there was no love to be found here.”
“You don’t say,” Luna said with a smile.
“And then wore myself out trying to use the toilet.”
“With my help. She’s terribly wobbly yet.” Miss Pudding offered as a group of ponies gathered out in the corridor. “I had some broth for you out on a cart, and a few other things. Probably cold now.”
“Is she awake?” Twilight asked entering. “Up for some visitors?”
“Muma.” Night Light said from the door. He looked as though he’d been through quite a bit. “Afraid I’d been waylaid. - Sorry I wasn’t more on the ball. - So who’s our guest?” Luna went over to him and gave him a hug.
“From the moment I realized something was wrong, I worried about you.” Luna offered.
“Can I meet her?” Asked a rather bedraggled Cadence. Shining Armor was by her side.
“I’d like to meet her too.” Ambassador Silvermane offered. “I mean, she is supposed to be my relative.”
“Ambassador, you go ahead.” Luna offered, exiting the room. “Let's keep it to no more than a couple at a time till she’s back on her feet.”
Reynard slowly entered the room and went over to Kitzu’s side. “So you are the mysterious Silvermane that shouldn't even exist?”
“Ya. - I’m an off worlder. - Got here by pure dumb luck.”
“She says she was passing through a portal when it collapsed.” Miss Pudding offered. She then went out to where she’d left the food cart to check on what she’d brought. When she’d been told Kitzumi Hime Sama, she had guessed that meant someone from the fox community, likely connected to one of the old families, and had prepared appropriately according to the sort of things a young fox pony on the mend might want to eat.
“You don’t say,” Reynard replied reaching out and caressing Kitzu’s mane. “Miss Kitzu, you remind me of my little filly.”
“So how is Nova?” Kitzu asked. “I’m assuming big sis is doing better than me at the moment? - It’s a time difference between worlds.”
“Kitzu?” Twilight asked looking at her. “Big Sis?”
“Ooo, I should be careful what I say, shouldn't I?” Kitzu teased with a wink. Twilight blushed, and Reynard laughed the moment he figured it out.
“What’d I just miss?” Luna asked poking her head in.
“It seems the Ambassador is our world’s counterpart for Miss Kitzu’s father.” Miss Pudding offered as she brought the cart in. Her keen ears hadn’t missed a thing. “If I’m not mistaken.”
“Oh really?” Luna asked as Cadence cautiously entered the room.
“Miss Kitzu...” Cadence began. “I really wanted to thank you. If you hadn’t shown up, I doubt any pony would have believed Twilight, and I’d still be down in that cave with the others.”
“I just wish I could have done more.” Kitzumi offered.
“You did plenty just by showing up.” Luna offered. “Your presence represented an unknown element that Chrysalis hadn’t accounted for, and it caused her to start making mistakes that were too blatant to ignore. And those lamps of yours made it possible to make short work of them.”
“Well for what it’s worth, I’m withdrawing my objection to the marriage. - Shining Armor to Cadence that is.” Twilight offered.
“About that… It wasn’t even me who proposed the whole idea of marriage. It was Chrysalis putting the whammy on Shining,” Cadence admitted. “I’m not sure I’m even ready for it.”
“He loves you.” Kitzu offered. “A great deal. It’s what made him such a juicy target. - You love him too don’t you?”
“Well don’t you?” Twilight asked with her head slightly tilted.
“If it’ll help, I’ll propose all over again.” Shining suggested followed by kneeling down. “Will you be my special some pony, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?”
“Let's not forget that the hall is already ready, and the public is expecting a wedding.” Luna prompted. “No pressure though.”
“Oh, no pressure at all.” Kitzu echoed as Pudding brought the cart over to the bed.
“I’ve heated up the broth. Let's see about getting you propped up.” Miss Pudding offered. She and Reynard propped her up on some pillows, and then he took over spoon-feeding her the broth as Kitzu was as yet unable to hang onto a spoon.
“Say, what say we take this out into the corridor so Miss Kitzu can eat in peace?” Twilight suggested, and proceeded to herd Cadence, and Shining Armor out the door.
“I hope she says yes,” Kitzu said watching them go.
“Broth?” Reynard prompted. Kitzu opened her mouth and looked at him to let him know she was ready. “Something tells me you’ve done this before.”
“Food please?”
✴✨✴✨✴✨✴
The next day saw Kitzu in a wheelchair being escorted by Miss Pudding. The two were headed for the dining hall for a luncheon, and Kitzu had her hair up in a bun to hide her horn and wore a pretty pink dress. Kitzu was wheeled in after the majority of the guests had seated so that she could go from the wheelchair to her chair at the table without being jostled. She was delighted that she would be able to sit next to Luna. Miss Pudding was presently dressed as a personal ladies' maid slash governess and pulled the wheelchair away once Kitzu was seated. The last to enter were the princesses and bridal party. The affair was a formal one, and as yet Kitzu was the only pony seated.
“I’d like to bid everyone here a warm welcome.” Princess Celestia announced standing by her seat. “I’m sure you are all aware of the difficulty that came up yesterday. A number of ponies have been victimized. Fortunately, the incursion was discovered and rectified. - It was this young flier here who had alerted us having managed to escape a fate worse than death. She’s still recovering and will be Princess Luna’s guest until she is well enough to go home. - Now, something you might not know about also came up, but I’m going to let Princess Cadence explain.” Celestia then sat down in her chair which was the signal for the rest to sit down. Cadence remained standing.
“Well this is going to be awkward,” Cadence announced. “You see, it was Queen Chrysalis who’d put it into Shining Armor’s head to ask me.” Cadence put a hoof on her chair to steady herself. “I’m a bit unsteady on my hooves as of yet myself. - What I’m telling you is that Shining Armor hadn’t actually proposed to me, he’d actually rather unwittingly proposed to the queen of the changelings.” She let that sink in for a moment. “Afraid I’d been waylaid, and held captive. - Not to worry though, he has rectified his oversight, and I have decided that I would be remiss to let him get away. - I’m saying yes. The wedding is on.” Her announcement was answered by applause.
Cadence took her seat, and then lunch was served.
“Here, let me help you with that.” Offered the pony sitting next to Kitzu.
“Thank you,” Kitzumi replied. She was still having difficulty hanging on to her tableware. She looked up at the white mare, an earth pony by all outward appearance. “Lady Aiko. I, um… thank you. - By any chance...” Kitzu dropped to a whisper. “Considering you weren’t sitting next to me a moment ago, any chance you’ve come from my homeworld to retrieve me?”
“Oh, so that’s what’s going on with you. - Afraid not.”
“There’s been no answer to my communications diary. I hope it’s not broken. - Some pony should have come for me by now.”
“And if they don’t what then?”
“When I’m back to full capacity, I’ll teleport home.”
“You can do that?”
“I can do that. - I’d have been home now if I hadn’t relied on a portal.”
“I see. - I gather you used up all your magic freeing yourself from a collapsed wormhole. - I suspected there was something else going on than what’s been told us.”
“Excuse me, Miss?” called a unicorn mare sitting next to Reynard Silvermane. “Young Miss… Kitzumi wasn’t it?”
“Oukitsune Kitzumi hime.” Lady Aiko offered. Kitzu smiled at Lady Aiko, and then looked across the table.
“I thought you were a Silvermane? - My mistake. - I thought you’d over-exerted yourself flying?”
“That was after she escaped.” Luna offered, hoping that would be the end of it. Luna raised an eyebrow on realizing that the earth pony next to Kitzu hadn’t been the pony who’d sat there when every pony sat down.
“This is Lady Aiko,” Kitzu informed Luna. “Lady Aiko, Princess Luna is my benefactor. I owe her a great deal. And um, Lady…?” Kitzu had no clue who the mare was who was so curious about her.
“Merope Pleides, my wife.” Reynard offered.
“Oh, Nova’s mother,” Kitzu said delightedly. “How is Nova?”
“With a foal sitter.” Mrs Silvermane offered. “How do you know my daughter?”
“I.. um, my second name is Nova, and I usually use the Silvermane name,” Kitzu explained. “Sometimes ponies mistake me for her.” This mare was being a bit combative, and Kitzu was wondering if perhaps she needed a good dose of her lamps. Unfortunately, her lamps were in her room, and all she had on her was the small pendant.
“She’s considerably younger.” Mrs. Silvermane countered.
“I can’t really help that.” Kitzu offered. Reynard put a hoof on his wife’s and whispered in her ear. After that, she stopped asking questions.
Meanwhile, Miss Pudding after seen that Kitzu was having difficulty with her cutlery, had retrieved some cutlery that had an enchantment on them that would make them a lot easier for Kitzumi to use.
“This is much better, thank you,” Kitzumi said with a smile for her.
“You alright?” Twilight asked Kitzu.
“I’m alright, just feeling like it’s going to be a while before I’m back to normal.”
✴✨✴✨✴✨✴
Later after lunch, Lady Aiko reappeared before Princess Luna. “Princess Luna, might I have a word concerning Miss Kitzumi?”
“You do seem to get around,” Luna replied just as Miss Pudding wheeled Kitzu into the room. It was a simple lounge area, back in a wing furthest from the public. An area that was generally off-limits to all but close family.
“Why are you hiding the fact that Miss Kitzu is an alicorn?”
“That was my idea.” Kitzu offered. Kitzu had a hunch that being Lady Aiko had shown a personal interest she might approach Princess Luna the first chance she could get her alone. “If ponies know, it’s only going to make things even more difficult than they are now. - Especially being I have every intention of going home just as soon as I’m able.”
“Why not come stay with me then?” Lady Aiko asked.
“Because this is my home,” Kitzu replied. “Even if it is the wrong world.”
“I see.” Lady Aiko replied.
“She’s in good hooves with us. You needn't concern yourself.” Princess Luna offered. “Also, in her homeworld my counterpart was, shall we say, a very close relative.”
“I see.” Lady Aiko replied with a smile. “Well then, I’ll leave her to your care.” And at that, she vanished. It wasn’t a normal teleport either, more like a mist blowing in the breeze.
“Well, she’s got some nerve.” Miss Pudding said under her breath.
“That was ‘The’ Lady Aiko. - Though I suspect that was nothing more than a projection.” Kitzu informed them. “No pop when she vanished.”
“I must say I was unaware that there were earth ponies who could do that kind of magic.” Luna offered.
“Oh, she’s no earth pony. She’s not even a pony so far as I know.” Kitzu offered. “What little I know about her would suggest she’s on par with Discord. - They are as different as night and day though.”
“Hey, squirt!” Called Rainbow Dash. Dash was followed by Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Cadence, Shining Armor, and Pinkie Pie. “Mighty gutsy of you… still though, those wings, and what are you hiding under that bun?” Rainbow reached out to muss up Kitzu’s bun only to collide with a horn. Rainbow let out a cry of pain.
“Satisfied?” Twilight asked in a scolding manner.
“What do you have hidden in there?” Rainbow asked nursing the bottom of her hoof.
“It’s a horn,” Kitzu admitted. She reached up to rub the area around her horn, the bun coming undone.
“An alicorn filly?” Applejack asked.
“And with all the prowess of a yearling,” Kitzu informed them.
“Don’t be too down on yourself, I’m sure it’s only temporary.” Luna offered.
“Look, I suspected something wasn’t quite on the up and up, but why are you keeping her being an alicorn a secret? - Ponies would want to know.”
“Because as soon as I’ve recovered I intend to go home,” Kitzu replied.
“Home? - Well, I can certainly understand that.” Rarity offered as Twilight rubbed the top of Kitzu’s head while applying a bit of magic. “Twilight, that spell you are using?”
“By any chance is there a nice quiet sunbeam I can lay in?” Kitzu asked.
“You aren’t ready for a nap already, you just got up a little while ago?” Twilight asked with a touch of concern in her tone.
“We are nocturnal ponies by nature.” Miss Pudding offered. “And I’ve no doubt breakfast wore her out.”
“But that was lunch, silly.” Pinkie quipped.
“Afraid it’s all relative,” Twilight responded.
“Relative indeed.” Rarity said softly still wondering how that particular spell might be working. Rarity went over to Kitzu, tried the spell, and got a nasty shock. Luna raised an eyebrow on realizing Rarity knew what the spell was.
“She’s a member of the Moon family.” Luna offered, going over to Kitzu, and demonstrating she could do the spell as well.
“You can do it as well?” Rarity asked. “Isn’t that the mother’s touch spell? - I thought a pony had to be either the mother or a wet nurse to be able to use that spell? - I… I only know about it because Mother was told by the midwife to be sure and get some volunteers to nurse Sweetie Belle so there would be plenty of mares to help her if she overtaxes her magic.”
“Seems Twilight, and I are both compatible. - The doctor didn’t think much of it, so I’m assuming it’s not unheard of,” Luna replied. “I’m up all night myself.” Luna let out a big yawn. “Twilight, go ahead and show your friends from Ponyville around, I’m going to go take a nap myself. - Miss Pudding, Kitzu, I know just the spot for you two.”
Princess Luna, Miss Pudding, and Kitzu went down the hall leaving Twilight and the others to watch them go.
“Well come on.” Twilight offered. “I’ll show you around a bit, then I want to see how Cadence is doing.”