//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - Discussing An Apple. // Story: This is Home. // by Lucy_Marigold //------------------------------// ~Chapter 2 - Discussing An Apple.~ 11:37 PM, June 2, 2 S.E. Twilight felt off, thoughts of that day ever-present despite the few months and Deadly adventures that had elapsed since. She hadn’t slept in a week, visibly noticeable by the heavy bags that hung under her eyes. She just couldn’t understand what had happened. Staring in the mirror at herself, Twilight couldn’t understand what was going on. She couldn’t understand who she was anymore. Nopony held that answer for the one question that was buried in her mind.  What had really happened during that wedding? Something in Twilight had triggered that day, telling her to protect herself. And what happened when she did shield herself? Being pushed towards the back of it had never occurred before. Books were scaled high, blocking out the windows. She had been combing through every single account of changelings from the Canterlot Royal Library and The Crystal Empire's library but had yet to find anything. She stood in front of her chalkboard, notes and a miride of information pinned up. Just myths. Myths and ponylore.  She trotted out of her bedroom, lifting up the cup of tea that had sat abandoned nearby. With a yawn, she took another sip of her cold tea. Knock, knock, knock, knock. Four beats, one after another.  Who would be up at this hour? She thought, glancing at the door. Twilight opened the door, a magenta glow surrounded the doorknob as she did so. Applejack stood in the doorway. Twilight let out a loud sigh, forcefully making herself smile.”Hey AJ. What can I do for you?” “Do you have time to spare, Twi? There’s somethin’ I need ta talk to you about.” She responded. “I’ll go put the kettle on. Come in then.” She ushered the orange earth pony inside, moving towards the kitchen. She levitated the kettle up, filling it with water from the tap before setting it to boil. “What’s up, Applejack? You’re not normally away from the farm at these hours, are you?” Twilight asked, tossing her cold cup of tea aside as she began to rummage through her cabinets in search of some cakes she knew were here somewhere.  “Well, it’s kinda important.” Applejack had sat down at this point, running a hoof along the backside of her neck, an awkward expression on her face.  “Is something wrong?” Twilight paused, frowning as she spoke. “Not exactly. Look, Twi, forget the tea, just…” The orange mare sighed, glancing away. “Just sit down for a sec.”  The lavender unicorn sat down, concern lacing her face as AJ sighed again. “How do ah explain this? You know that me and Rainbow got thrown against yer shield with you?” “Well, of course. I was trying to figure that out myself. At first I thought it might have just been the magical force from it as a whole as I do recall Pinkie getting a blood nose but-” “Twilight, it’s ‘cause I’m a changeling.” Applejack stated.  “-it could have been something relating to the Elements-Wait, what did you just say?” Twilight paused her thought, glancing at her friend. “Ah… am a changeling.” She said again. Twilight’s eyes grew to the size of dinner plates, her mouth beginning to form a scream as AJ rushed forward, pressing a hoof against her muzzle. “Can ya be quiet, please?” The lavender mare slowly nodded her head as the hoof was slowly moved aside. The kettle whistled. She had shut her mouth as she poured two cups of tea, stepping aside to gather her thoughts. Applejack; her friend who sat by the table, now sipping on a cup of daisy tea in Twilight’s home, was a changeling.  Applejack was a changeling.  That would explain what had occured, even what she overheard her whisper that day. Twilight rattled her head, trying to think back to any other signs that could have alluded to it. The midnight sky hung in the view just outside the window, half of the curtains drawn. Spike was sleeping over at Rarity’s which she was mildly glad for. The orange mare took another sip of its cup, the clink of the teacup against the porcelain plate echoing through the silent treehouse for a few seconds. Quietly, Twilight slipped into the chair opposite that of the creature, levitating a lukewarm cup of daisy tea towards her lips. “So.” She muttered, taking a sip before placing the cup onto the table. “Do you mind telling me how long you’ve been… you know?” She awkwardly spat out a question that had been plaguing her. “All mah life, Twi. Although, I used ta be something else entirely. But before you go askin’, no I ain’t part of Chrysalis’ Hive and I don’t plan on it. She’s one changeling I never hope ta meet again. Ah ta heck with it.” With a shuffle, a cyclone of lavender flames enveloped AJ, revealing black chitin, a pointed horn and silky lavender wings. “Ya see, nothing like them Xenica changelings.” 09:59 AM, January 2nd, 984 C.E. The changeling continued up the mountainside, pausing to enter a cave and lay to rest. The trek to Canterlot had been painful, gruesome even. But if she was to truly seek help, she’d have to go to a power Queen Chrysalis couldn’t ignore, the Ruler of the Sun, the infamous Princess of ponykind, Princess Celestia. Alyssum pulled a small orb from the saddlebags she was carrying before breaking it open like an egg. She scooped out the almost solid-liquid, shaping it into a ball. She opened the nymph's mouth before squishing the pink substance down the youngling’s throat. It had to be enough. It was all she had. She repeated it with herself, only a small chuck left when she checked. She sealed it up, slipping back into her bag. Alyssum froze, staring out to the cave entrance. A silhouetted figure blocked the light streaming inside. “Who’s there?!” Alyssum yelped, hiding the young nymph behind her.  A changeling stepped forward, bruised, burnt, battered and bleeding. With a spiked mane and an even spiker horn, the changeling drone collapsed on the ground, beetle-like wings flying up. Dark crimson, armoured plating surrounds the battered changeling. A Libellua changeling.