One moment, Twilight fought Starlight in Cloudstale, and now, both them and Spike found themselves in the Everfree forest, surrounded by a group of ponies, painted with mud, pointing spears on them. Starlight was confused. But Twilight and Spike, they knew where they are, and the table that brought them here through the tunnel of time, wasn’t there.
“We are not changelings,” Twilight tried to explain her and her enemy to the ponies, “Just take us to Zecora, she will explain.”
“No need to call me,” A voice full of mercy and wisdom said behind the ponies, “After all, I am here.” The ponies cleared a path and an old zebra with golden earrings, her neck was covered by golden rings and her eyes were covered by a green mask, made by the same mud that was marking the ponies with spears.
“Zecora!” Twilight smiled, “I know you do not know me, but you must trust me I am from another timeline.”
“Silence, Changeling,” a pink mare with curly pink mane shouted at Twilight.
“That is enough Pinkie Pie,” Zecora calmed down the pink mare, “Let’s see if what she says is true, or a lie.” Zecora took a jar, filled with a green mud from her bag and she marked the unicorn, the alicorn, and the dragon. Soon enough the three newcomers glowed for a second.
“What is that?” Starlight asked Zecora, demanding answers, “What did you put on me?”
“They are not changelings,” Zecora told the other ponies and they put down their spears. Zecora then turned to the two ponies and dragon, “Please come with me, it is not safe here.”
Twilight, Starlight, and Spike followed Zecora to a village, filled with ponies. There were fillies, mares, and stallions, earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns. The village looked the same to the time that Twilight and Spike arrived there, all but one detail, some of the unicorns had their horns cut off. As the two mares walked in the village, following Zecora, Twilight turned to Starlight, “Do not even think of escaping.”
“Maybe you didn’t notice,” Starlight looked at Twilight with a glance of hatred, “But the table is gone, I have no place to go now.” The mares looked at each other, while Zecora explained the village again to Spike.
“When Chrysalis took over Canterlot, the ponies came to the Everfree forest, trying to escape. They came to me for help, and to let them die, I wouldn’t dare.” As they continued to speak, two dirty mares ran to the village. One was a blue pegasus with rainbow colored mane and the other was a white unicorn with a purple mane. The ponies again took their spears, ready to defend their village.
“Please, help us,” the pegasus cried, “We’re being chased by changelings.” Twilight knew who those ponies, and so did Zecora.
“The only changelings I see,” Zecora stood before the two mares, “Are those standing in front of me.” When Twilight thought she knew what would happen, a sinister laugh came out of the woods and. It sounded like a stallion was laughing behind a metal mask. And the source of the laughing came out of the woods as the Pegasus and the unicorn turned into changelings, it was a stallion made of gold, and two sharp blades came out of his front legs. One could mistake the stallion for a living armor, but the eyes could tell there is something under the gold, breathing. The eyes were red like blood and were surrounded by burned flesh, whatever was under the mask, he must be wounded badly. Soon enough, the figure was surrounded by an army of changelings, all waiting for his commend.
“General Eclipse,” Zecora gritted her teeth at the monster of a pony.
“Zecora,” the General smiled under his golden mask, “So good to see you again. Queen Chrysalis would enjoy torture you."
"Then why isn't she here?" Zecora asked Eclipse, "Why would she send her hunting dog, instead of fighting me."
"You will be sorry for mocking me zebra," General Eclipse raised his arm and the changeling swarm flew over the village, ready to take prisoners and lives. The ponies ran towards the fight, and Twilight was there to help, blasting changelings from left and right. Meanwhile, Zecora and Eclipse fought each other.
"How did you find us General?" Zecora asked as she dodged the blades of the General and threw a pink potion to the ground, and two vines burst out of the ground, ready to attack Eclipse. Eclipse jumped and avoided the vines and cut them down and landed in front of Zecora. Pinkie saw Zecora stood without a weapon and threw her spear. Zecora caught the spear and blocked Eclipse's blades.
"Do you really think I would not find you, I have eyes everywhere, including your pathetic excuse for a village." Eclipse broke the zebra's spear and golden claws were extracting from his left front hoof and he held Zecora by the neck. Twilight saw her friend at the monster's mercy and she ran towards her, but she was caught by Pinkie Pie. Twilight saw the General burst through the zebra's chest and his golden hoof was stained with her blood. Twilight tried to escape Pinkie's grasp, but it was for no use.
"We have to leave!" Pinkie told Twilight. Twilight agreed and Pinkie ordered the resistance to retreat. The ponies did as they were told and they fled the area. Twilight saw Starlight surrounded by changelings and she ran to save her. The changeling cornered the purple unicorn, ready to suck the love out of her, but Twilight didn't let them do that, she blasted them.
"Are you okay?" Twilight asked Starlight and help her get up on her legs. Starlight nodded and the ponies fled the area and followed Pinkie to a tunnel in the mountains.
The General looked at the chained ponies that he and his army captured, smiling behind his mask and proud fo his accomplishment, as two changelings came towards the general and bowed.
"Lutiented Phyrax," Eclipse told the changeling with the purple eyes, "Go to Canterlot and tell her grace that Zecora has been defeated and the resistance is on the run."
"But General," Phyrax asked, "What about the alicorn?"
"Leave her to me."