Chapter 35:
To Where and Back Again Part One
“They’re back!” Twilight and Starlight both exclaimed in horror of what had just happened.
“Who’s back?” Sunset questioned being the only one of the three out of the loop.
“The changelings.” Twilight answered as she and Starlight turned to face her. “They are creatures back in Equestria who feed off of love and can disguise themselves to deceive others into thinking they are said ponies they think are by disguising as them. For example.” Twilight explained as she quickly drew an image of Celestia and Luna after pulling out a piece of paper. “These two ponies seem to be Celestia and Luna, right”
“Right?” Sunset answered unsure of what to make of it as Twilight drew on the paper.
“But should said ponies say anything that’s not like them to say or act.” She explained as she presented the image of changelings. “These are changelings in disguise.”
“Yeesh.” Sunset then got chills up her spine hearing that. “That’s creepy.”
“It is.” Twilight agreed. “Their last attack is one of the reasons why I became evil for a time-being since then.”
“Wait?” Sunset asked in surprise. “You used to be evil too?!”
“Yes, and I’m afraid that story is going to have to wait for another time.” She said as she and Starlight started racing towards the portal while carrying Spike. “We got to get back and save them.”
“Wait up!” Sunset called out as she raced after them. “I’m coming too! Princess Celestia was my mentor and if this means a chance to apologize and make it up for the way we last left things off I’m in!”
Starlight looked to Twilight if they should as she halts them both in front of the portal to let her catch up with them.
“Are sure risking her life like this is a good idea?” Starlight asked if they should allow her to come with them.
“You heard Princess Luna!” Twilight quickly answered with a sense of urgency. “We need all of the help we can get and we don’t have time for this! Let’s go! Hopefully they haven't gotten to my friends back home yet!” She then told them as she went through the portal first followed by Starlight and then Sunset.
The four arrived back in Equestria inside Twilight’s castle where all four now three ponies and a dragon all pile up on each other as they fell through.
“Girls! Girls!” Spike ran off ahead to search for the rest of the Mane Six. “Ah there you are! Listen, the changelings are back and they have Princess Celestia and Princess Luna!” Suddenly some hissing is heard from the hallways. “What the…! No NO! NOOO!” Spike screamed as his cries for help were drowned out by the changelings hissing much to the three girls horror.
“Too late!” Starlight exclaimed in shock realizing that the Mane Five and Spike have all just been captured by the changelings.
“Let’s find out what their plan is.” Twilight instructed the others as she tiptoed their way through the empty hallways in the castle. “But just to be safe.” She added as she turned off the portal. “Just so we don’t have the upcoming changeling invasion invade your world too.” She told a confused Sunset why she is doing this.
“Right.” Sunset understood with a nod as she and Starlight followed Twilight’s lead as they make their way to the castle throne room. Twilight motioned her hoof to stay quite as they peek through the doorway where the Mane Five and Spike are chatting amongst themselves.
Fluttershy is uncharacteristically resting her legs onto the table, Applejack is munching on a pear and then tossed it aside and Spike is drawing a crude image Fluttershy on her chair with crayon which is met with her slamming him into Pinkie’s chair who slams him back down to the ground which is met with mean laughs and smirks from Pinkie and Rarity.
“This is not like them.” Sunset whispered to Twilight as the watch as they place black stones onto the table.
“Is it ready?” Spike asked the others as he made his way to his seat.
“Just one more.” Applejack answered as she placed the fourth and final one onto the table which created strange magic which formed into a spear held up into support which formed an image of the changeling’s leader.
“Queen Chrysalis!” Twilight glared at her with contempt.
“Queen Chrysalis!” Starlight exclaimed in shock as Sunset gasps while having no idea who she is.
“Ugh. I can't take any of you seriously when you look like that.” Chrysalis groaned in disgust by her minion’s disguise.
“Oh, right.” Rarity spoke as she and the others shed their disguises off.
“Now it’s official!” Sunset said now seeing this is really bad.
“Much better. Now report!” Queen Chrysalis said now pleased.
“Everything here is going according to plan! We've replaced the five ponies and their dragon, and have taken control of the castle!” One of the changelings reported.
“Excellent.” Queen Chrysalis commended them. “And I've just received word that the princesses from Canterlot have successfully been replaced as well.” The changeling all laughed and cheered in victory as Twilight, Starlight, and Sunset give each other alarmed looks. “We thought too small last time. One ponynapped princess wasn't enough. With all the most beloved ponies of Equestria taken care of, nopony can stop us!” Chrysalis then declared. “And don’t forgot to take care of Princess Twilight Sparkle when she comes back.” Chrysalis also ordered them as a reminder to which Twilight glares at them thinking they’ll get away with this. “We’ll need her out of the way as well.” She added as she evilly laughed with her minions joining in on the laughs as Chrysalis ended the transmission as the three girls watch in horror of the scene. they had just witnessed
At that moment in her shock Starlight accidentally creaked the door opened which alarmed said changelings as they hissed in response and changed back into their previous appearances.
Twilight tried to teleport them away from the scene but for some reason her magic wasn’t working so she quickly dragged her friends with her away before they can be discovered.
Unfortunately said changeling leader appeared right in front of them smirking to cut off their escape as the changelings all cornered the trio.
“Attack!” Chrysalis commanded.
The changelings all dog-piled Twilight, Starlight, and Sunset before being flung off by Twilight punching and kicking them all off with her hooves and wings. She then spun around before grabbing and carrying both unicorns on her back. With all of her energy she charged down the hallway as fast as she can just when Queen Chrysalis sent a huge green fireball in their direction at an equally fast speed. Upon a brief glimpse from her corner she moved to quickly turn towards a nearby corner before bolting out of the building through the nearest window. Just after busting through shattered glass they were all forced a small distance ahead as a huge explosion occurred from behind. All three girls screamed as they came crashing down into the ground a safe distance from the castle.
When Twilight looks back after the trio all landed onto the ground she then gasped in horror of what she saw…
Her castle has exploded and is now up in flames. Once again her home has been destroyed.
The only changeling that survived the explosion is up in the air looking around for Twilight as Twilight magically creates a dead duplicate of herself for the sole changeling to find and grab her before taking off.
“Oh, look at what we have here. I better get her to Queen Chrysalis anyways even though she’s dead.” The changeling said to himself as he flew off ahead back to the changeling hive.
Once he was gone, Twilight who had her invisibility spell up cancelled as all three girls took deep breaths to calm themselves down of what just happened. They all got ambushed and had just barely escaped without magic.
“Okay.” Twilight spoke after regaining her composure with Cadance's deep-breathing exercise. “That should trick them and throw them off our trail.”
“Even under pressure you sure know how to think of something quick.” Sunset then spoke sounding impressed with what she had just did. “Good to see that you’re still able to outsmart your foes even when you’re reformed.”
“Well when you have past experience with being a villain and know how to think and act like one, you pick up a thing or too.” Twilight thought nothing of it as she focused on their task at hoof. “So now what other than making our way to the changeling hive.”
Starlight and Sunset both pondered as they think of who to turn as she turns to see Trixie’s wagon.
“I know somepony we can turn to for help, Trixie.” Starlight spoke up as she rushed up to said mare’s wagon.
“Just be careful.” Twilight reminded Starlight of Luna’s warning to which Starlight returned a knowing nod as she wakes Trixie up from her sleep inside.
“Who was that?” Sunset asked of the changeling’s leader.
“That was their leader, Queen Chrysalis.” Twilight answered before moving to explain more about her. “Before I became an alicorn, she and her changelings attempted to invade Canterlot and take over Equestria when the royal wedding was set to happen. Luckily, I was there to stop it before it even happened. But it came at a price as I turned to become the evil and villainous Midnight Sparkle vowing to revenge against my friends and family for hurting and betraying me in my pursuit of taking over Equestria.”
“What do you mean?” Sunset asked wondered what she meant by that while sounding intrigued to learn all of Twilight’s dark past.
“Simply put, I was the only one who saw that Chrysalis was pretending to be my foal-sitter and sister-in-law Princess Cadance but no pony bothered to take my concerns seriously so in an desperate attempt to stop her I burst into the room where the wedding rehearsal took place and flat out accused her of being evil to which I could have done a better job of presenting my case.” Twilight explained while briefly motioning her hoof with a shrug before seriously continuing. “Anyways after chasing her out of the room, my brother Shining Armor instead of thanking me yelled at me for flat out accusing her without any proof and passed it all off as wedding stress in pursuit of a perfect wedding that obviously wasn’t important to me in his words and then disowned and banned me from the wedding all together. Even my friends and even Princess Celestia walked out on me like I deserved it.” She the solemnly recalled the memory as Sunset looks very shocked and saddened by what she went through.
“Really? Wow! That’s rough!” Sunset commented feeling sympathetic for her. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I know and the worst part about she confirmed that my suspicions were right just when I was being to think I was truly wrong.” Twilight acknowledged as she recalls the memory. “Even after saving all of Equestria, I was so heartbroken I angrily called them out for it all and disowned them back all together, before running off to fake my death by engineering a train explosion that killed innocent ponies so I could become Midnight before embarking on a campaign to take over Equestria on my own.”
“Really?” Sunset asked in shock then amazement. “That’s really devious! Just like the stunt you just pulled on that changeling.” She then dropped her smile as Twilight frowns at the memory still not proud of it. “Sorry.” She quickly apologized.
“It’s okay.” Twilight assured her. “It has its ups and downs. Advantages and disadvantages.” She added as she turned to Starlight who is repeatedly knocking on her door to get her attention still.
“Trixie? Trixie, it's Starlight! Are you awake?” Starlight whispered.
“Of course, Princess Celestia... I'd love to perform for peanut butter crackers...” Trixie muttered in her sleep.
“Trixie, wake up!” Starlight immediately yelled to which alarmed her and triggered a firework explosion inside.
“Starlight? What time is it?” Trixie asked Starlight after coughing from the aftermath of the little explosion.
“It's late. But we need your help! It’s an emergency!” Starlight urgently told her.
“I have a whole list of things that are emergencies.” Trixie dismissed with a yawn. “We can go over it in the morning.“ She then closed the window to go back to sleep.
“No, Trixie, we're in danger!” Starlight called out again as she levitated Trixie outside.
“Okay, fine!” Trixie grumbled. “Aside from lack of sleep, how are we in danger?”
“I think the—!” Starlight first started to explain before remembering what Twilight and Luna told her as the former eyes her with a look to remind her of that. “What did you tell me never to tell another pony?”
“Starlight, if you woke me up to play guessing games…” Trixie grumbled evidently not in the mood for it.
“After we finished setting up for your first performance, what did you tell me to never tell another pony you said?” Starlight demanded as she held Trixie by her hooves.
“That even Trixie's made mistakes.” Trixie begrudgingly muttered with gritted teeth.
“Trixie, there's no time for this! What did you say?” Starlight again asked her to repeat it so she can hear her loud and clear to which she begrudgingly repeated for her sake.
“That even Trixie's made mistakes! Okay? Are you happy?!”
“Yes. Sorry.” Starlight quickly apologized. “I just had to make sure you weren't...” She then whispered. “…one of them!”
“One of who?”
“A changeling! They've taken Princess Celestia and Princess Luna!”
“What?! Are you sure?!” Trixie asked in alarm. “I mean, what do we—? We have to tell Twilight!”
“She already knows.” Said alicorn spoke up as she and Sunset approach them. “And she had just captured my friends as well almost capturing me too. Or in this case tried to kill me along with bringing my castle down with it.” She added as she pointed to the castle in flames with about everything inside being destroyed. Seeing and understanding now got Trixie heavily understanding the seriousness of their situation.
“Now that we have you. I think our best bet is to get to the Crystal Empire. Hopefully Cadance is still safe.“ Starlight proposed to everyone gathered.
“I’d hate to be a hope killer here, but since Chrysalis is after the most powerful ponies in Equestria since she has already captured the other princesses and my friends, it might be too late for that.” Twilight regretfully brought up.
“You’re right about that.” A familiar voice spoke up. “There's no help coming from the Crystal Empire.”
Said voice belonged to a changeling who emerged from the bush as Trixie shrieks as Starlight casts a force field around her to muffle her screams.
“Thorax?” Twilight and Starlight both spoke in unison.
“Yes.” He confirmed.
“Your wings look... different.” Twilight pointed out to his shiny wings to which he took notice of for the first time apparently.
“I guess they do.” Thorax didn’t think much of as Twilight, Starlight, and Sunset all flare their horns threateningly.
“How do we know you aren't some other changeling pretending to be Thorax?” Sunset approached Thorax treating him with caution as he backed up.
“Twilight and Starlight were there when they and Spike defended me to the ponies of the Crystal Empire.” Thorax recalled as he quickly explained himself. “Princess Twilight said…” He added as he transformed into Twilight. “As the Princess of Friendship, I should set an example for all of Equestria...”
“Okay, okay, I don’t need the whole speech.” Starlight politely interrupted as he acknowledges that he is telling the truth as Twilight nods at both her and Sunset to stand down as Thorax changes back into his changeling appearance.
“Trixie, this is Thorax.” Starlight told Trixie who was still backed up against her wagon.
“He's a reformed changeling. He's on our side. Understand?” Twilight told Sunset who is the only pony who still had her horn flared up ready to attack with her magic.
Sunset and Trixie both nod as they both cancel the flare of their horns and cease the use of the magic now they are sure they can trust him.
“Hi. It's a pleasure to...” Thorax tried to introduce himself to her with a hoof shake which is met with a nervous shrug.
“If Starlight says you're on our side, I believe her. But maybe just stay over there for now, okay?” Trixie nervously replied as Thorax complied with her wishes.
“Don’t worry, any friend of Twilight is a friend of mine.” Sunset assured him that she trusts him to which he smiles hearing that.
“So the changelings have already got Cadance along with the rest of her family.” Twilight asked Throax to which he nodded to confirm it.
“They took Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart! Sunburst sent me here to get your help, thankfully you managed to escape.” Thorax explained while looking relieved to see Twilight hasn’t been captured.
“Just barely. She just tried to have me, Starlight, and Sunset killed along with blowing up and burning down my castle.” She pointed to said castle which is burning down in flames.
“Sorry about that?” Thorax apologized.
“It will be okay.” Twilight doesn’t hold him accountable for Chrysalis’s actions as she looks on at her burning castle more annoyed than upset. “It’s not the first time somebody set my home on fire after destroying it.”
“What are going to do?” Starlight asked wanting to get back on track.
“Yeah, Twilight!” Trixie exclaimed as she got up into her face. “There is nopony else! Everypony with powerful magic is already gone!” Trixie further exclaimed seeing the situation is very bleak.
“You know whenever ponies talk about powerful magic, they always leave me out. If I weren't so evolved, I might decide to take it personally.” Discord calmly appeared and spoke up while knitting a bunny together with a ball of yarn. “Well, isn't this quite the combination of former villainous characters?” Discord smiled as she noticed Twilight without her friends. “Where are your friends?”
“First, how do we know that you're really you?” Starlight suspiciously asked him.
Discord took offense to that claim as he responded by snapping his fingers causing flowers to dance before wrapping their surroundings to his ideal chaotic fun land.
“Shall I continue?” Discord asked if they need more proof to back it up.
“Discord, listen to me. Chrysalis and the changelings are back.” Twilight explained to Discord seriously. “They've ponynapped all of the most powerful ponies in Equestria! Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Shining Armor, Flurry Heart...” As Twilight explains the situation to him he looks on with a bored expression complete with a bored yawn until he heard Twilight say. "...and along with my friends too, including Fluttershy."
Hearing that snapped Discord to full attention as he snapped the world back to normal before getting in Twilight’s face.
“They took Fluttershy?” Discord calmly yet angrily asked with a menacing expression.
“Yes!” Twilight calmly confirmed.
“Where?” Discord menacingly asked as his red eyes glowed with a look of pure rage that could kill someone if looks alone could kill.
“The Changeling Kingdom. With you on our side, We can…” Suddenly Twilight was cut off as Discord snapped his fingers towards their friends and family’s direction.
As soon as the rescue party disappeared Queen Chrysalis appeared above the flames before changing back into her true form revealing herself to be Midnight Sparkle in disguise who evilly smirks in their direction and that her plan is working perfectly as she looms and flies over the castle in flames.
Inside a forest every pony had traveling gear on their backs as Discord looks around trying to wonder where his best friend is.
“Odd. I was trying to take us right to Fluttershy, but there is no Fluttershy.” Discord expressed confusion as he literally eyes at the ground under a boulder he had just picked up before putting the boulder back.
“I think I have a pretty good idea where she might be...” Trixie shuddered as she shakes and points to the changeling hive in the distance.
“I'd hoped never to see that place again. Now what?” Thorax shuddered at his former home while asking Twilight of what they should do now that they have all arrived just outside of enemy territory who only looks on with calm anger at what Chrysalis has done.