//------------------------------// // *Alternative POV* Twilight works with Celestia // Story: Equestrian reformation // by Vladilen_pro //------------------------------// *Some explaining: Twilight Sparkle is the main character in this chapter and all events is seen from her point of view* *** I waved to Vlad and closed the door, sighing with relief. "You can come out, princess!" I said, trying to speak louder than usual. Celestia began to walk down the stairs from the second floor. "Thank you, Twilight. Are you sure Vlad didn't find out I was here?" Celestia asked with a little worry in her voice. "Yes, princess, I'm absolutely sure! But I had a worry that he would ask why he would have to write the letter not at the comfortable table on the second floor, but at this low table near the couch, but he didn't seem to be the least bit confused..." I said thoughtfully. Celestia laughed lightly. "Apparently, he doesn't care as much about the process as the result itself." Celestia said as she made her way all the way down the stairs. Spike sighed heavily and crossed his arms. "Do we really have to keep lying to him? I think he deserves to know the truth..." said Spike, staring at the floor. "Oh, Spike..." said Celestia, walking over to Spike and patting his head. "It's for his own good. You know what would happen if we let him go home right now, don't you?" "If we tell him the truth now, I don't think he'll be happy to hear it, Spike... We'll have to wait a little while. Just know it's a lie for good, it'll make you feel better, believe me. That's what I do too." I said with a slight smile. "Ah, okay... If it's a lie for the greater good..." said Spike, frowning slightly. "That's the spirit, Spike!" said Celestia cheerfully. "I promise that when circumstances are more favorable, we'll be sure to send him home. We'll just have to come to an agreement with Miss Claire." Spike looked at Celestia thoughtfully, and she smiled at him. "Whatever... I'm going to finish reading the comic book." Said Spike and walked off in the direction of the stairs. "He's very smart and understanding for his age, Twilight. It's a rare combination." said Celestia, putting her hoof on my shoulder. "You're right, princess... I'm glad I can rely on him." A slight creaking sound was heard from the second floor. It meant that Spike lay down in his basket and began to read his comic books. "So, shall we continue from where the sudden visitor interrupted us?" asked Celestia, going into the kitchen. Celestia pulled me out of my thoughts and it took me a couple of seconds to answer her. "Y-yes, of course!" I answered in a hurry and followed her. I sat across from Celestia and served her a hot cup of tea. "Thank you, Twilight." said Celestia, taking a sip of tea. "So, where were we...?" "Negotiation failure." I said sadly. "Yes, thanks for the reminder. I wish we could have organized this conversation sooner. Well, better late than never." Celestia set her mug of tea down on the table. "So, at this point, we still haven't managed to explain to Miss Claire that we have no intention of taking over Earth and have no evil intentions toward humanity at all..." Celestia paused, probably waiting for my response. "Yes, that's right, princess." with a little delay, I said. "Now, again, we have to think about how we can change her mind..." Celestia paused again, but, this time to think, not waiting for my answer. "Well, at least we were able to make a agreement for all the ponies to be returned to Equestria safely..." I said, trying to cheer Celestia up. "Oh, Twilight..." the expression on Celestia's face became threatening. "If my ponies were harmed in any way..." I heard a cracking sound. It was the cup that Celestia was holding in her magical aura. After a few seconds, the cup gave up, shattering into many small pieces. "Sorry, Twilight, but this is the only way I could express my thoughts without using bad words." Celestia said, tossing the shards into the garbage can. "It's okay princess, I respect your mindset on this case." I said, trying not to show my anxiety. (Don't make Celestia angry... EVER.) "Thank you, Twilight, your support is very important to me." Celestia said, taking a new cup and pouring tea into it. "But it would be very nice if we could come up with some kind of solution to our problem during our meeting..." "Have you no ideas at all, princess?" I asked, surprised that, for the first time in a long time, Celestia couldn't think of a solution to the problem. "No, Twilight, I really don't know what to do... All my ideas that were theoretically good, in practice failed... So... I have high hopes for you." Celestia looked at me hopefully. "I don't have any ideas at the moment either, princess..." I said sadly. Celestia sighed sadly. "We need to figure something out, Twilight... I can't let Vlad down. He has to get home." Celestia said hopelessly. (Oh, princess, I'd like to find a solution just as much...) Unexpectedly for myself, an interesting idea popped into my head. "Say, princess... What if we accept Miss Claire's offer?" I asked excitedly. Celestia looked at me in surprise. "Twilight... Are you ready to risk Vlad's life...?" said Celestia in a shocked voice. "Of course not! They're asking us to send him to them right now, aren't they?" "Yes..." Celestia answered with confusion in her voice. "But we don't trust them with Vlad's safety given all that Miss Claire said earlier, do we?" "Yeah..." Celestia said in an even more confused tone. "Twilight, I'm not quite sure where you're going with this..." "We can at least check on Miss Clare. If we fulfill our end of the deal, will she fulfill hers?" "But I still don't see how we can do it without risking Vlad's life..." Celestia was completely confused. "It's simple, princess. We don't need to send him to test Miss Claire's honesty, his clone can do that. And I know just the pony who we can go to with this request." I said with a victorious tone. Celestia's eyes widened in surprise. "Twilight... This is a great plan! I knew I could rely on you, and once again I am convinced of it!" Celestia came up to me and hugged me. "Oh, thank you, princess. I'm glad to help you." I said, hugging her back. "So who is this pony we can come to with this request?" asked Celestia, releasing me from hugging. "Trixie. Remember I told you about her performance in which she made a clone?" "Yes, I remember. But I didn't expect this spell to help us at all..." Celestia said thoughtfully. "It's okay, princess, it's impossible to know everything." I said in an encouraging tone. "Well, let's not waste any time then! Let's go visit Trixie." Celestia said as she left the kitchen. "Coming!" I said, putting the cups in the sink. Before we left, I checked on Spike. He was already asleep with a comic book on his face. I put the comics away and covered him with a blanket. "Thank you for keeping our secrets..." I whispered, not wanting to wake Spike. When I went back down to the first floor, Celestia was looking at some backpack. "Twilight, isn't that Vlad's backpack?" Celestia was unsure. I came closer and looked at the backpack. "Yes, it's definitely his backpack. Where did you find it?" "On the couch." Celestia said, pointing to that very couch. "Looks like Vlad forgot his backpack when he wrote the letter to you... We'd have to get it back." I said, taking the backpack from Celestia. "Wow, it's pretty heavy... What does Vlad carry in there...?" Celestia looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "But, of course, I'm not going to look inside... That's private information." I said confidently. "Right. Okay, let's go to Trixie. I hope she'll agree to help us." Celestia said as we left the library. "Oh, believe me, princess, I know how to convince her." I said with a confident tone. "Really? And what's that?" Celestia asked with interest. "You'll see, princess. But it's much easier than you might think. Now let's speed up, maybe Trixie's getting ready for bed already." I said, quickening my pace. With an accelerated walking pace, we made it to Trixie's wagon in just a couple of minutes. Wasting no time, I knocked on the door. Immediately some sounds were heard inside the wagon. "Great, she's awake." I said, turning to Celestia. As soon as I finished saying that, the wagon door opened, and Trixie herself stepped out. "Twilight Sparkle? What are you doing here?" Trixie asked with surprise. Then Trixie spotted Princess Celestia. "And even you are here, your highness?! Have Trixie done something wrong? She didn't mean to!" said Trixie frightened. "No no, Trixie, it's okay... We need your help!" Celestia calmed Trixie. Trixie gasped in surprise. "The mightiest wizard in Equestria needs help from Trixie?! Trixie can't believe it's really true!" "It's true. Are you willing to help us?" I asked, trying to get Trixie out of her surprise. "How can the great and powerful Trixie help?" asked Trixie, putting on her cape and hat. "We need one of your spells... A cloning spell." I said seriously. "The princess needs a cloning spell?" Trixie was surprised. "Trixie isn't sure she can clone a princess... It would be very difficult to clone an alicorn..." Trixie was a little upset. "No, Trixie, we don't need you to clone me..." said Celestia, stepping closer to Trixie. "We need you to clone someone else... I think that would be pretty easy for you." "Trixie doesn't know who we're talking about. Who is this mysterious creature?" asked Trixie with interest. "You know him... He helped you with your performance." I said, for some reason with a proud look. Trixie didn't understand anything for a few seconds, but then the surprise on her face let us know that she get it. "You want Trixie to clone Vlad again? But why? You want to see Trixie's mastery of magic again?" "We need you to clone him and send him to the human world." Celestia said softly. This time Trixie was even more surprised. "Trixie should send Vlad's clone to the human world...?" asked Trixie confusedly. "Trixie doesn't know... Maybe that's not a good idea..." "But Trixie, we need-" Celestia began to speak, but I interrupted her putting my hoof forward. "Trixie, you can't give it up... Just imagine, you could show how good you are at magic to all mankind! All of them will know that Trixie is almost the most powerful wizard in Equestria." I said, shifting my gaze from the night sky to Trixie. "Well, what do you think? Will you take that chance?" "Trixie has to admit... Twilight Sparkle can really be useful sometimes!" I just rolled my eyes. "Is that a 'Yes' or a 'No'?" I asked emotionlessly. "Of course Trixie agrees!" said Trixie, slamming the wagon door with her back leg. "Trixie is all ready!" "Great! Then let's not waste any time. I'll teleport us to Canterlot." Celestia said cheerfully. "Wait a minute, princess! We have to give Vlad his backpack back, remember?" I said, pointing to the backpack I'd put on the ground while we talked to Trixie. "Ah yes... Right, I completely forgot." said Celestia with a guilty tone. "By the way, Trixie forgot to say something!" said Trixie, getting our attention. "In order for Trixie to be able to perform the cloning spell, she had to see the original from which the clone would be made." "But you've already seen Vlad, and made a clone of him." I said with surprise. "Yes, it's true... But enough time has passed, and Trixie needs to refresh Vlad's image in her memory, or else... The clone might not look very much like the original..." Trixie said with a little worry in her voice. "Oh... I see. Then you'd better really look at him again. But, anyway, that's just another reason to go see Vlad." I said, pointing to his backpack again. "Let's go." Vlad's house was not far from Trixie's wagon. (Poor Vlad... He lives so close to Trixie...) "Twilight, what if he's asleep already?" Celestia asked with a little concern in her voice. "That's what we need, princess." I said confidently. "What?" Celestia was surprised. "You want to break into his house while he's sleeping?" "I wouldn't call it breaking in..." I tried to explain. "I'll tell you everything when we get there." A couple of minutes later we were already near the right house. There were no lights in the windows, which meant that the owner of the house was already asleep. "First, we need to find out where Vlad's bedroom is. Then it's up to you, Trixie," I said, pointing to Trixie. "You teleport inside, leave that backpack there, look at Vlad to refresh his image in your mind, and teleport back to us." "Trixie has to admit that Twilight Sparkle has come up with a very good plan..." said Trixie rather confusedly. "Thank you. Now, we have to look through the windows and find out where the bedroom is. Princess, you check the windows on the second floor, Trixie and I will check the windows on the first floor." I said, feeling a little weird as I ordered Princess Celestia what to do. "Got it!" said Celestia, spreading her wings and taking off. "Okay, Trixie, now we-" "Found it! The bedroom on the second floor. I can see Vlad sleeping." said Celestia, hovering near the window on the second floor. "The second floor... That might be a little uncomfortable for us..." I said thoughtfully. "Don't worry, my little ponies, I'll help!" said Celestia, lowering herself to the ground. "Hop on my back, I'll take you to the right place!" Trixie gave a squeak of joy. I rolled my eyes again. "Let's go. Our time is not infinite." I said, taking Trixie out of her state of surprise. We climbed onto Celestia's back and she lifted us up to the level of second floor. "Trixie never thought she could ride Princess Celestia!" said Trixie with genuine joy. Princess Celestia laughed lightly. "Trixie, focus! Hold the backpack, and teleport inside. Just do it as far away from the bed as possible, so Vlad doesn't wake up from the flash of your teleport." I said, passing Trixie the backpack. "Trixie will do everything in the best way! Watch and be amazed!" Trixie's horn glowed slightly, and the next moment, she was gone, and then she appeared... In midair, right above Vlad's bed. My heart immediately went chill when I saw Trixie about to fall on Vlad and ruin our operation. But Trixie didn't fall on Vlad, as she and the backpack were taken into the magical aura by Princess Celestia. I wiped cold drops of sweat from my forehead. "Thank you, princess... We were almost exposed." I said in a still trembling voice. "I think Trixie should practice with the teleport spell..." said Celestia, safely and silently placing Trixie on the floor. Next, Trixie acted as intended. She put the backpack near the wall and walked quietly over to the bed, looking at Vlad. It didn't take her more than a minute, and then she successfully teleported back onto Celestia's back. "Trixie has successfully completed her mission!" said Trixie proudly. "Now she can easily make a clone!" "Trixie, when we're done, please practice your teleportation spell." said Celestia as she lowered herself to the ground. "Ah yes, about that... Trixie's sorry about that, and she'll be perfecting her cloning spell all day tomorrow!" "Okay, Trixie. I'll check on your progress later." Celestia said with a chuckle. I had never seen Trixie look so surprised. "All right, my ponies, now we're off to Canterlot! Hold on tight, it might get a little shaky!" said Celestia cheerfully. Before I knew it, the three of us were in the portal room. The bright flash from the teleportation spell illuminated the area around us for a few seconds. "Thank you for choosing our transportation service, rate our work from one star to five stars." Celestia said jokingly. "Trixie is without a doubt very pleased with your service and rates it five stars!" Trixie smiled widely. "Thank you, your opinion is very important to us." Celestia said as Trixie and I dismounted from her back. "Trixie, summon the clone, while I turn on the portal." said Celestia as she approached the portal. "Trixie got it!" Celestia already had experience in turning on the portal, and it didn't take her more than thirty seconds. "The portal is ready!" Celestia said as she turned to face us. "How's it going with the clone, Trixie?" But instead of an answer to the question, we finally saw a clone. "Done! Trixie summoned a clone!" said Trixie, taking off her hat. There was an exact replica of Vlad standing in front of us, looking at me with a blank stare. I felt a little uncomfortable. "Why is he staring at me?" I said with a little concern in my voice. "Because you're the first one he's seen, Twilight Sparkle!" said Trixie, moving closer to the clone. "Can he talk, Trixie?" asked Celestia, also stepping closer to the clone. Suddenly, the clone turned his attention to Celestia, turning his head sharply. Celestia gasped in surprise. "Oh my! He scared me a little." Celestia said with a slight chuckle. "Yes, princess, he's shifting his attention a little... Unexpectedly." Trixie said, patting the clone on the back. "And about your second question... Unfortunately, no, Trixie hasn't yet learned to give clone a voice..." "Okay, it's not that important. Can you give him orders?" asked Celestia, this time moving a little away from the clone. "Of course! Look." Trixie's face tensed a little. We turned our attention to the clone. He turned his head to me again, and then started moving in my direction. "Trixie, are you sure it's safe?" I asked worriedly, stepping back little by little. "Trixie assures you it's perfectly safe! Now, Twilight Sparkle, stop moving and let me demonstrate clone control!" "O-okay..." my concern didn't go anywhere, but I still stopped walking backwards. The clone came close to me, and a drop of sweat rolled off my head. He extended his finger forward, and began to bring it close to my face. (He wants to poke my eye out?!) But it turned out to be much more gentle than I thought. He just booped my nose. "Trixie has full control of the clone!" said Trixie, taking off her hat again. "Great, Trixie! Then I think we're ready to send the clone through the portal. Give him your orders." Celestia said, pointing to the portal. "Got it!" said Trixie and began giving new commands to the clone. The clone began to move toward the portal, and stopped right next to it. Trixie looked at Celestia. Celestia simply nodded. Wasting no more time, Trixie sent the clone onward, and it disappeared into the portal. "Great! Can you still control him?" Celestia asked. "Yes, of course! Trixie controls his every move." Trixie said proudly. The three of us stood close to the portal, waiting for updates from Trixie on the status of the clone. "Huh? That's weird..." Trixie said with surprise. "What's the matter, Trixie?" I asked, having a bad feeling. "Trixie lost control of the clone much sooner than it should have disappeared... This could mean that some kind of force was applied to the clone, which led to him disappearing earlier than usual..." The expression on my face became worried. The expression on the princess's face became exactly the same. We looked at each other. "That's not good at all..." the princess and I said that at the same time.