//------------------------------// // Mother, May I? // Story: Things Change // by Goldengriffiness //------------------------------// Dear Princess Celestia, We found out what happened to Twilight. You’ll want to hear this yourself. Please come as soon as you can. -Spike P.S. I would just like to say right now that if the witness is mortally wounded, it. Is. Not. My. Fault. Celestia sighed tiredly. The moon had climbed into a sky of black velvet. The stars were flickering relief to Luna’s beautiful night. Blue magic flickered around Celestia’s great double doors, nudging them open. A dark blue form stepped in. “Sister.” “Hello, Luna.” A weak smile did its best to curve Celestia’s lips, but vanished just as quickly. “Somepony once told us—er, me, that frowning has ill-effects on one’s health.” Luna smiled. “We don’t suppose you might remember who it was?” A small, almost rueful laugh escaped Celestia. “I guess I'm proving myself a little hypocritical at the moment.” "When your day breaks, you’ll learn what has transpired. For now, sleep. You have some explaining to do when you awaken.” Leaning forward, Luna’s horn gently brushed her sister's. It pulsed ever so slightly, a gentle blue. The spell was tentative and gentle, and not until Tia nodded did it truly take effect. Violet eyes closed and, just as she fell, a blue aura surrounded her, gently depositing her on her bed. “Rest, my sister. As always, I shall watch the night.” ~…~ “Now listen up, folks. As much as ah’m upset with Trixie here, what would the princess say if'n she came while we was a’hootin’ an' hollering?” Applejack’s hoof was planted solidly on a rainbow tailtip. “Lemme at her!” Rainbow struggled, throwing all her weight forward in vain. “She just left Twilight with that...that monster and ran away!” Applejack sighed. “Listen here, sugarcube. I know you’re worried about Twi. We all are. But that don’t give us no excuse to go all crazy-like on Trixie here.” “Hmph. Speak for yourself, darling. She turned my hair green. Green! If I wasn’t so worried about Twilight…” Trixie was backed up as far as possible, bitterly regretting her ‘kindness.’ “Trixie doesn’t appreciate your wild accusations! The great and powerful Trixie couldn’t have helped if she wanted to!” “Ah’m plum disappointed that you have ta worry about whether or not you wanna help somepony. But that ain’t the point here.” Meanwhile, Rainbow had stopped tugging. Laughing obnoxiously instead, she pointed. “Hah! Either admit you’re not ‘great and powerful’ or admit you could'a done something!” “Um… Guys?” Fluttershy's voice was soft. Whatever else she said couldn’t be heard over the cacophony of Rainbow's taunting. “Guys, there’s somepony…” Now Trixie was yelling and Pinkie had taken to scolding her. The others joined into the clamor as well. “...knocking at the door…” “The Great and Powerful Trixie will not be spoken to like—” “You have no right to be a no-good meanie-weanie talky-no-walky—” “The horror that you inflicted upon my precious scalp—” “—don’t deserve to know anypony nearly as awesome as me!” “And then I said, like, a banana split? You must be loco in the—“ “Gosh darnit, y'all! Would yah all please be quiet so ah can think?!” “You totally need root beer floats! They are so much better! Oh, are we being quiet now? I guess I can fit that into my schedule…” “Ahem, may I come in?” Celestia’s familiar voice cut in. The occupants in the room froze, except for Fluttershy, who was busy shrinking closer to the floor. “I tried to tell you she was at the door…” “Holy horseapples,” Applejack muttered under her breath. “Ah’m comin’, Princess.” She paced towards the door with Rarity shortly behind, looking fretful. As soon as the princess was through the door, Rarity was all but swooning at her feet. “Oh, Princess! I am so sorry you had to witness such a blatant lack of decorum! As your humble servant, allow me to apologise from the deepest reaches of my heart. We all find ourselves rather stressed at Twilight’s unfortunate abduction… Still, that is no excuse!” Rarity only stopped talking when a hoof rested on her shoulder. Celestia had to suppress a sigh. “Do not fret about it, my little ponies. Now, before we continue, where is Spike?” “He, er, didn’t like to deal with all ah the yellin’ down here, princess. That, an' it’s still a bit early for him to be up. Twi always did say on most nights he's down with the sun but never up with it, if’n you catch my drift.” Celestia nodded. “It seems some things remain the same, even as ponies grow and change. He said something about a witness. I would like to speak to this pony, if it is a pony, first and foremost.” In the background, Trixie was shaking. They’re friends with the princess! No no no no… Each white hoof’s fall made a noise that echoed in the library. Golden slippers over hard wood. Celestia's shadow fell over the trembling blue form. “Is this her?” “Yes, princess.” What have they told her? ~…~ “Mother. Please, it isn't fair. I know she helped ruined your plans in Canterlot. I know you saved her from the Sun’s wrath. But—” Chrysalis cocked an eyebrow, shifting on her black skeletal throne. “Oh? Don’t you think I've done enough? I've brought her home. I'm giving her the opportunity to meet the creatures she scorns, not knowing she is among their number. I saved her from the Sun and she will be protected. I saved her from her friends. I saved her from the pain of discovering friendship isn't quite as strong as she believes. She can help me, or she can die as she would have died. Lost and alone.” “But she’s in pain. It isn't right… Let me do something.” “Does such a small matter truly bother you so, dear?” “Yes. It does.” A long black fore-hoof waved dismissively. “Very well. If you truly wish to help her, you know where the library is. Distract her while the pain lingers. I seem to remember the sun princess has infected her with an insatiable love for reading. As she did with me. After all, why bother doing research yourself when you can manipulate somepony else into doing it for you?” “Thank you, Mother.” “I grow tired of this conversation. Be gone.” A black head dipped to the granite floor. “Yes, Mother.” “Goodbye, my prince.” ~…~ The sickening swaying had stopped, but it still hurt. Her mind had started to drift and everything around her seemed miles away. Maybe it was her subconscious way of dealing with the pain. Maybe she was imagining it. Maybe whatever had happened really had been too much on her body. Fatal, even. Maybe the pain would stop soon. Shouldn't that scare her? By now, she was too incoherent to care. A voice spoke far, far away. “Hi… I know you don’t know me and have no reason to trust me.” She’d thank any distraction from the burning that was everywhere and nowhere all at once. “Er, I heard you like reading?” Did he expect an answer? For a moment, her thoughts sounded almost like herself again. “Well… I brought some books.” If I can’t open my eyes, how in Celestia’s name do you expect me to read? “I don’t know if you like the same stuff we do. I hope I chose well.” What? “In the shattered veil beyond a land where the lost remain forever, a ray of hope remained.” Is he…reading to me? She felt the words wash over her, soothing her, giving her something else to think about. “The light of hope was pure and good, but it challenged the darkness.” The pain was still there, but it wasn't everything anymore. "They say that at first the ponies fought over the light, and it continued until few ponies were left. Then there was only them and the darkness. But a little light remained, in the hearts of the children..."