//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 - Oh Celestia. // Story: This is Home. // by Lucy_Marigold //------------------------------// ~Chapter 7 - Oh Celestia.~ 12:00 PM, December 22, 127 C.E. The Xenica Hive. “Chrissy! Wait up!” The young lavender coloured changeling shouted, trotting swiftly after a lime sea green changeling.  “I said, quit it, Odonata. I don’t want your company.”  “Oh c’mon. Mother said we had to get along.” Odonata, the lavender changeling mumbled. “Look, Chrysalis, I know we’ve had our differences in the past.” “Is this the part where you remind me that we’re cousins or something?” Chrysalis sneered, turning into a larger passageway, halting at the entryway. A sprawling courtyard lay before them, other Xenica changelings going about their business whilst the two future queens talked below. The lavender changeling beside her laughed, placing a hoof against her cousin’s shoulder. “Pfft. As if. Honestly, you act so much like Aunty Leilani.” “By Vendalia! Don’t you dare compare me to that cow.” She said, laughing. “Don’t let Rhene hear you say that! She’ll have your head on a spike for it.” “Yeah, as if. Still friends with those ponies?” She whispered, nudging her cousin in the side playfully.  “You know how Celly gets. Mother says not to bother her too much. And, I quote, ‘Only for diplomatic reasons, Odonata. We wouldn’t want to upset her too much.’” Odonata raised a hoof and her head high, laughter echoing from the two future queens. “My mother said Aunt Lantana always had a tendency to befriend ponies. Mother thinks that they should just be for love. Honestly, I have no clue where she gets such ideas. Oh and Happy Birthday, cousin.” “Happy Birthday to you too, Chrysalis.” 10:25 PM, June 10, 2 S.E. The Golden Oaks Library. “Change-Changelings.” Spike said, eyes wide and a shaky claw pointed at Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “Spike! This isn’t what it looks like!” Twilight blurted out, waving her hooves in defence, locking the door behind him with her magic. Chrysalis stirred awake, letting loose a hiss as flames surrounded her, revealing that she was in fact not Chrysalis, rather just a drone. Applejack twirled around grasping Fake Chrysalis with a magenta aura. “How’d you find us, Xenica!?” Dash hissed, pinning the greenish changeling to the library floor.  “You can’t hide from the Queen forever! She has eyes everywhere! You won’t hear the end of this, traitors!” Fake Chrysalis growled, slipping out of Dash’s grasp before scrambling out the window before they could grab hold of her again. “Great. We let that Xenica get away.” Rainbow bristled, flicking her translucent wings in frustration. “And the cat’s outta the bag. Great. Just awesome!”  “Changelings!” Spike shouted again. “Spike, those changelings are Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Just take a deep breath for Celestia’s sake.” The lavender unicorn moved over to her number one assistant, placing a hoof on his shoulder as the baby dragon took a deep breath.  “T-They’re b-both..” Spike stuttered, still in disbelief. “Changelings, I know.” She sighed, raising a hoof to her head. “And so am I.” She said trailing off before dropping her disguise. It had come naturally, feeling like somepony had dropped a bucket of warm water on top of her. She could honestly say that she wasn’t used to it quite yet, let alone transforming back.  “I don’t understand.” He spoke softly, looking down at his feet with his claws on his head. “When did this happen?” He looked back up at Twilight with sad and confused eyes. Twilight started to grab Spike into a hug yet the baby dragon refused it, the look of betrayal on his face. “It’s a bit difficult to explain, Spike.” Dash landed beside Twilight, placing a hoof against her friend’s side before the mare moved forward. “C’mon, I’ll explain upstairs, okay?” Twilight ushered the baby dragon up the steps, a painful look of heartbreak still on her face. She opened the door as she eased him inside, leaving the door slightly ajar. “It’s still me! Just a little different…” “A little different? Twilight, you’re a-” “I know. I know. Just hear me out okay?” She tried to grab Spike into a hug once more, the baby dragon finally accepting it. They sat there in silence, hugging for a while. “Applejack and Dash are from extinct Hives. I guess I am too? It’s honestly still rather confusing.”  “You’re a different colour.” “Uh huh.” “And you have different wings and mane.” “Yep.” “How do I know you aren’t one of those other changelings then?” “You keep a poem you wrote to Rarity on the fifth book shelf behind my copy of ‘The Magic Chronicles.’” She stated without a second thought, forgoing all forms of mercy as another look of shock appeared on Spike’s face.  “Twilight! It is you!” The baby dragon grabbed her into another embrace, clinging tightly. After what felt like forever, he released her from his grasp as he frowned, looking up at her. “You gotta tell Princess Celestia about this.” “NO!” Twilight bristled, translucent wings flaring up behind her. “I can’t! And even if I wanted to, I have to ask AJ and Rainbow first. They’re… a lot older than I thought.” “What do you mean by that?” “Well, from what I’ve heard, it seems like they were alive long before I was a foal.” “Twilight, is it okay if we both crash here?! It’s getting pretty late!” Rainbow’s voice echoed from downstairs and through  “Sure! The guest room is all yours!” Twilight shouted out towards her friends in the other room, glancing back at Spike. “Why don’t you go take a bath while I get ready for bed.” “Yeah, okay Twilight.” 3:02 PM, June 12, 2 S.E. The Golden Oaks Library.  “Ah, girls, was mah cutie mark always like this?” “WHAT?!” A trio of voices screamed, Rainbow Dash falling from the ceiling and landing in a pile of books. The lavender changeling whipped her head around, surprise turning into annoyance as the red changeling transformed back into a blue pegasus. Applejack’s flank no longer had it’s trio of apples, rather a trio of diamonds?  “Could it just be a problem with your disguise? I know nymphs sometimes have disguise problems and stuff.” Dash questioned.  AJ let loose a snort of annoyance, frowning. “Are you comparin’ me ta a nymph?” All she got in return was a shrug. Rainbow spared a glance down to her own flank, seeing a trio of butterflies.  “It’s happening to me too!” The blue pegasus shot up, panicked. Twilight Sparkle became to pace around, transforming back and forth between her two forms, searching around the room for something. Her eyes wandered to the glass case that contained the Elements, realisation setting in.“ This is bad. This is very, very bad.“ “Oh Celestia, she’s gone crazy.” The red changeling stated.  “I’ve seen worst.” Applejack scoffed, setting herself down beside Rainbow Dash. “Last night when you were taking one of your seven-hour bubble baths, Spike, I got a special delivery from the princess. I cast the spell so I could find out what it was, but nothing seemed to happen. But now I know something did happen. The spell has changed the Elements of Harmony! That must be why everypony’s cutie marks are all wrong!” “So just cast a counter-spell to switch them back.” The baby dragon said, offering an idea. “Oh. There is no counter-spell!” She sat down on her haunches, sparing a desperate glance at her two friends. “Why don't you just use that memory spell you used to fix everypony when Discord was here?” “It's not their memories, Spike. It's their true selves that have been altered!” Twilight grumbled. “Zecora's cure for the cutie pox?” “That won't work either…” “Well,” Spike simply just sighed. “maybe it won't be so bad. Maybe our friends will grow to like their new lives.” “No, Spike. They're not who they are meant to be anymore. Their destinies are now changed, and it's all my fault.” Twilight said, swiftly pointing a hoof towards Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “I'd say she's handling things pretty well, considerin'.” “I've got it! I know what to do!” “You do?” Responded the trio, sharing glances. “I may not be able to remind the others of who they are, it might not affect changelings the same but I can show the others what they mean to all of us. They'll find the part of themselves that's been lost so they can help the friend they care about so much! Come on, guys!” “DON’T FORGET TO DISGUISE, TWILIGHT!” Dash screamed behind her as she rushed to the front door. 4:16 PM, June 12, 2 S.E. Back at The Golden Oak’s Library. After finally restoring everyone’s cutie marks with impromptu musical numbers and a little persuasion. Twilight beamed brightly, bathing in the emotions that her friends emitted. Maybe today was a good day to finally tell them?  The lavender mare trotted over to the centre of the library, an idea suddenly popping into her head. “‘A mark of one's destiny, singled out alone, fulfilled.’” She repeated, glancing at the notebook before glancing at her friends. “Wait a second, that's it! I understand now! I know how to fix the spell! ‘From all of us together, together we're friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end!’ There were flashes of multicoloured lights and the last thing Twilight heard was Fluttershy saying, “What happened?” ???? Peering around the space around her, Twilight Sparkle stumbled a bit. A magically charged field of magic floated around her, moats of pure energy flickering across her sight. “Hello? Where am I? What is this place?” “Congratulations, Twilight. I knew you could do it.” Princess Celestia appeared, trotting to greet the disguise changeling.  “Princess... I don't understand. What did I do?” “You did something today that's never been done before. Something even a great unicorn like Star Swirl the Bearded was not able to do, because he did not understand friendship like you do. The lessons you've learned here in Ponyville have taught you well. You have proven that you're ready, Twilight.” Celestia was smiling. “Ready? Ready for what?” She gulped. “But first tell me, how long were you going to wait until you finally told me?” “Tell you what?”  “I knew your mother, Twilight Sparkle. I had once said goodbye to a great friend of mine. Imagine my utter surprise when the daughter of that very friend became my protégé.” Celestia radiated sadness and love, Twilight could taste it. “You knew and you never told me?” “Of course I knew, Twilight. Normal fillies don’t climb ceilings just to get a book, remember? Listen,” She draped a wing over her student’s shoulder. Images of Twilight’s life flashed past as Celestia led her through. “I’ve watched you from the beginning, to see how you’d grow and how you’d change. I always knew your destiny was for greatness.” A mote of magic flew from Twilight’s chest, wrapping around her.  “I’m so proud of you, Twilight.” 5:01 PM, June 12, 2 S.E. The Golden Oak’s Library. A star descended from the sky, landing softly inside of the library as Twilight stepped forward, stumbling as she landed on the ground. She glanced at her friends who were wide eyed and staring at her.  “Twilight? You okay?” Applejack muttered, trotting over almost instantly as she helped the stumbling mare back  “Why, you've become an Alicorn. I didn't even know that was possible.” Rarity’s voice cut through the silence, startling everypony else. “WHAT?” Rainbow Dash and Twilight said in tandem.  “Wow... You look just like a princess!” Fluttershy remarked.  “That's because she is a princess. Or should I say a queen?” Celestia appeared in the library, trotting forward to stand before them. There was a hint of mischief and knowledge in the solar princess’ eyes as she smirked. Rainbow Dash and Applejack shared a wary glance. “Hold on a second!” Pinkie Pie let loose a long gasp. “Is there something you aren’t telling us, Twilight? Oh can I guess?!” Darting to be beside Twilight as she latched onto the mare’s wings. Oh Celestia, she had wings. Had something malfunctioned with her disguise? Panic coursed through her as she stumbled a little.  “I-” There was an audible gulp. She spared a look at AJ who simply nodded. “We-As in Rainbow Dash, Applejack and I-are, well… “ “Changelings. We’re changelings.” Dash bluntly finished for her, dispelling her disguise with Applejack following in tandem. “WHAT?!” Her three other friends screamed, startling her to the point of her own disguise vanishing.  “Surprise?” Twilight Sparkle smiled sheepishly.