//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Arrival // Story: Embracing The Changes // by -Key- //------------------------------// [A/N] Im very sorry if this fanfiction does not have a very good storyline or is bad grammatically, at the moment this has not been looked over by anyone but myself and only briefly by me (Not that longer would change much, Im not the best at my English class) I started writing this quite a while ago and would like more time to look over it however since season three is airing I felt it would be best to post now. Don't worry in further chapters I get more into the zone and my writing gets better, feel free to tell me about any errors you can find in the story as it will help me write better and make the story more enjoyable for others. Thanks in advance, Kripk3y. It was a late winter night, a crisp yet welcome breeze drifted through the town of Ponyville past the silent houses. Snow covered everything in sight and had a beautiful blue glow as the light from the stars above lit up the silent town, shops everywhere could be seen with their lights off as shafts of moonlight came through the windows and into their homes and lit the houses in a faint blue glow. All the ponies were asleep at this time of the night after a day of hard working in the soft white snow, all except for one unicorn that was. "Where is it, where is it?" Twilight repeated to herself as she rushed frantically around her small library. Every night that week the unicorn had been up late in her library whether it was practising a new spell or studying the stars, tonight however she was trying to surprise Celestia her mentor with new magic she had learned. She was eager at just the idea of showing her teacher just how much she had learnt over the past year in Ponyville. She thought back to the day when Celestia told her she had to come to Ponyville and make friends, back then the idea friends to her was just absurd, she would have preferred to stay in her library and read books, but now she couldn't imagine her life without them. She had been up all night searching for a book to help her with her magic, she felt like she had searched through every shelf in the entire library looking for the book, she was nearly having a breakdown just thinking that she had lost one of her precious books. She had been trying to master the ability to use certain types of magic without other unicorns being able to sense it. However without the help of her number one assistant she was stuck unable to find the book. "Aarrgg" She yelled in frustration wondering why it was that she could never find things when she needed them. Just as she finished complaining she heard a loud thump from the bedroom above the library. Twilight curiously walked up the stairs towards the bedroom to see what had happened, however before she got there, a tired looking Spike stumbled down the stairs bumping into Twilight sending her tumbling back down the stairs. "Sorry, sorry Twilight, I didn't see you there" Spike exclaimed with a worried look as he tried to help her up "Never mind" Twilight muttered cranky from staying up so late and rather annoyed at his carelessness "What was that noise upstairs?" she asked looking at him quizzically. "Oh, yeah" he said his face lighting up "I got a message from the Princess" "Oh!" she exclaimed, causing Spike wince at the noise "It must be important if she's sending it late at night" She quickly levitated the note, snatching out of Spike's hand wondering how she hadn't noticed it as he helped her up. Eager to see what it said she quickly broke the golden seal with her magic and unravelled it, the note wrote: Dear Twilight Sparkle - My faithful student I am writing to inform you that I will need you to accompany me at the castle. I shall send a carriage to pick you up and bring you at 12:00 o'clock tomorrow. I shall need your help with a few issues around the castle concerning a couple of different matters. My sincerest apologies calling you with such little notice. Princess Celestia "Well" asked Spike curiously trying to see the letter "What’s it say?" However Twilight wasn't listening, she just stood on the spot looking dumbstruck, starring at the letter. She sat there thinking. Why did the princess need her at the castle so urgently? Why was she sending letters in the middle of the night? What was wrong to need her so soon? What ha- her thoughts were suddenly cut off by a worried dragon "Twilight" Spike said in a concerned voice "I asked what the letter said" "Oh" she said sounding worried "It says is that I need to travel to the castle at 12:00 o'clock tomorrow" "Isn't that a bit short notice" he said "She usually gives you more time." "Oh my!" She practically yelled "I need to travel to the castle, tomorrow. How am I supposed to get ready on time!" Twilight started to frantically run around the room in a frenzy trying to organizing things. "I'll need to bring the right books, how will I choose by tomorrow. Aarrgg" she complained in a panicked voice looking frustrated "Oh, I know" she said to herself as her face lit up "I'll need a check list" "Spike!" She yelled out causing the purple dragon to jump back "I'll need your help if I'm gonna have everything ready by tomorrow!" "Umm.. Twilight" he said "I'm right behind you." "Good" she said lowering her voice "I'll need you to go and find my quill and paper if we're going to be organized by tomorrow." "Umm don't you think that it would be a better idea if we did the packing tomorrow" he said "You'll need your rest after being up so late, you don't want to fall asleep on front of the Princess tomorrow." "Tomorrow! Tomorrow!" she exclaimed "What if I forget something I can't just turn up without something. I need to be ready for anything! I don't even know why I'm going there yet. Now quickly grab my quill and paper before I forget something." "Fine" He grumbled in an exasperated voice giving up, there really was no point in arguing with Twilight when she was in this sort of state. He slowly wandered out of the room and into the study trying to find her quill and paper. When Twilight saw Spike come back from her desk, she quickly rushed forward and grabbed her things. "Now first I'll need the book Starswirl the Bearded's all things magic then I'll need this and that." Twilight continued to mumble to herself, writing down her checklist and ticking off her things as she packed them. Spike jumped as he heard Twilight suddenly yell from the other room to him "Spike, Where is sensing and recognizing spells." Spike let out an sigh as he went to Twilights room and took the book off her shelf, by the time he came back with the book Twilight was lying on the floor asleep. Finally she's fallen asleep Spike thought as he happily and walked off to go do something. The next day was a normal winter morning, snow covered the town, the shopkeepers were getting their shops set up and preparing for the rest of the day. Twilight sparkle happened to be sleeping when she got a knock on her door. "We are here for Twilight Sparkle" said a familiar voice. "Twilight!" yelled the voice from outside the door. Meanwhile inside Twilight had been woken by the loud voice outside. "Coming" Twilight yelled as she quickly ran to the door, she swung open the door to see a carriage waiting outside her door. Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" Twilight frantically said to no one in particular as she panicked at the sight of the guards waiting outside "I completely lost track of time how did I not wake up". "Luckily for you" Spike said looking proud of himself "I checked your list and packed everything for you" "Huh?" Twilight said swinging round shocked at his thoughtfulness, as she swung round she saw to the side of the doorway several bags stuffed full of books and clothes. "That's why you are my number one assistant" Twilight said affectionately to Spike giving him a hug. "Oh that's so sweet" said a voice from outside "Now where's my hug" "Huuh?" said Twilight as she swung round, I wonder who said that she thought. As she swung around she saw Shining Amour her brother standing outside waiting as he smiled at her. "Shining Amour!" she said jumping up and hugging him affectionately. "What are you doing here?" Oh, I heard the princess was bringing you up, so I decided to come and see you to the castle myself" he said happily squeezing her tightly. "After all, who would miss a chance to see a famous hero" He complimented making her blush and look away. "You and Cadence are the heroes now" she said making him blush "After all you did save all of Equestria from a changeling invasion" "Umm... Sir" said a young guard nervously "We should probably get going, we don't won't to keep the princesses waiting" "Oh yes, of course good point" said Shining Amour watching the other guard swell up with pride "Let's go Twi" "Okay, remember Spike" Twilight said as she walked towards the carriage "Tell the others where I have gone, and that I will keep all of you up to date with what's happening" " Oh and don't eat too much ice cream!" Twilight yelled back through the door in a worried voice making the guards wince. Twilight got onto the carriage with her brother and checked her bags to make sure she had everything she would need. Shining Armour looked curiously over at her things and smiled as her saw she had things for at least a hundred different situations ranging from healing to battle. "You never do change do you" he said smiling at her as they took off. The carriage ride to the palace was one of the most enjoyable times Twilight had with her brother, they spent the ride catching up on what had happened since Shining Amour's wedding. They spoke of what new morals about friendship she had learned and what Shining had been doing around the castle. "Well" Shining said "I'm a little bit upset because that Cadence has had me doing less work around the castle, because she doesn't want me to be getting into anymore trouble. "Ha-ha" Twilight laughed "It's not like there is going to be another big disaster anytime soon, I think we've both had our far share of those." They both sat together watching as the castle started to get closer and closer. By now they were flying over the city of Canterlot, watching as people gazed up from their work to see the carriage fly past. As Twilight looked back she saw one of the most beautiful sights she had ever seen in her life. She could see the whole of Equestria behind her continuing on until it stretched out of sight, she could see Ponyville and the Everfree forest, she could see beautiful green grass stretch out for as far as she could see with all sorts of plants and wildlife roaming across it, she could see groups of towns in the distance adding to the sight before her eyes. She slowly closed her eyes just thinking about the beauty of what she was watching. Twilight however was pulled out of her trance by a loud voice in her ear telling her to get up. Huh Twilight thought as hopped off the carriage we're here already. As Twilight looked around she saw that Shining Amour had started to walk up the stairs of the palace and was looking back at twilight expectingly, Twilight quickly teleported up to him in a flash of violet light appearing directly behind him. "Gaahhh" he yelled in a shocked voice causing a few of the other guards to smirk in amusement t him "don't do that to me, you scared me" "Hahaha" Twilight laughed "Sorry" "And when did you learn to do that so well anyway" he said curiously "I doubt I could have done that that well" "Oh" she said sheepishly "My magic has gotten much better since I moved to Ponyville and met all my friends" "Wow" he said looking shocked "well you better come inside I'm sure that everypony will be amazed at your big improvement, I might have to start practising my magic more if I don't want to get overtaken by you" Twilight looked at the ground blushing at the compliment as she walked through the palace. The second she looked around she realized something was wrong, every door she saw had guards, and wherever she went she saw that everypony had to show a pass to get through every door. "Huh what's with all the security" Twilight asked curiously as Shining Amour showed his pass. "Oh he said that's right, I forgot to give you this" he said handing Twilight her own pass "Well" he said starting to explain "Ever since the changeling invasion security has tightened up, and we've constantly been catching more and more changelings" "Oh my!" Twilight exclaimed "I thought that they all got blasted away by your spell!" "Sadly no only the visible ones got blasted, the others that had already taken form are still roaming. The odd thing is we know there's more but we suddenly stopped finding them" he said with a hint of curiosity in his voice "However I want to know what you and your friends have been up to, we got a bit distant after you moved, I don't want that to happen again" Twilight and her brother spent the rest of the time talking to each other telling tales of their adventures. "And then Fluttershy raced around and added the extra wing power needed to get the water to Cloudsdale" Twilight concluded looking at her brother smiling. She could see that he was clearly happy to see her again and she couldn't be happier at that moment. "Well we're here" he stated giving Twilight an expectant look "I believe that the Princess is expecting you, see you round" he said giving Twilight a loving hug. As he walked away Twilight could see him telling a guard to take his break, she smiled as she knocked on the door and pushed her way into the room. "Hello Twilight" said Celestia as Twilight ran forward to give her an affectionate hug. "Hello Celestia" replied Twilight affectionately, as she moved back however she noticed a some movement in the corner of her eye. A mare was standing in the corner of the room almost out of sight. "Oh, Hello Princess Luna" she said as she noticed who it was "I haven't seen you since nightmare night, how have you been" Luna realizing who was standing in the room approached and smiled shyly "Hello Twilight" she said in a small voice "We have been feeling better, since you taught us how to converse with our subjects, and we cannot thank thee enough for the kindness they have shown us" Twilight smiled blushing at the shy princess as she asked Princess Celestia "So what is it you have called me to the castle for" "Well" she replied "From the look of your bracelet I'm sure you've heard about the changeling problem, and that is the main reason I called you here. I would like you to help my sister hunt down some more leads on changelings that may be situated in the city, I believe that this will benefit you both. After all it is about time my sister here got out of her old room and started interacting with the public again" she ended looking pointedly at Luna. "But Cellestia" she said after a pause "We are fine up in the room, and we are certain that the people are happy if we stay in the room keeping to ourselves, not scaring them half out of their wits and scouring for changelings. Also We're sure thou remembers what happened last time we left the castle" "Well, I know that that's not true, and we both know that that won't happen again" she replied slightly irritated "Also I'm sure Twilight here would love your company wouldn't you Twilight" "Of course" Twilight replied happily looking over at Luna "It would be great fun to have someone helping me and talking to me" "Well that settles it" Celestia finished happily "You will help Twilight while I take over your duties at the castle tomorrow, now would you please show Twilight to the room she will be staying in, I have business to attend to" Twilight heard Luna giving a sigh as Celestia finished speaking, clearly disagreeing with leaving the castle. "Please follow us" Luna said shyly as she exited the room "We shall show you to the room you shall be staying in" "Of course Princess Luna" Twilight replied happily following. "We would ask that you call us Luna" she asked Twilight "We often grow tired of the formalities and we do not expect you to use them, after all you did save us from ourself, and taught us how we must speak to our subjects, we would hope that one day we could be called a friend" she said as they walked through the castle. "Oh I would gladly call you a friend" Twilight said blushing slightly "I don't know why I wouldn't be your friend" "Oh thank you so much Twilight" she said happily nearly bouncing with joy as she walked through the corridors. "Does every door have guards at them now" Twilight asked curiously as she showed her pass to a guard. "Unfortunately, yes it gets quite frustrating and we cannot stand having to stop at every door we go through, especially when this palace is so large, nothing like the old castle" she replied frustrated "Well here we are Twilight, this is your old room if we're correct, now we must remind you that Celestia would like to see you in the hall with us after breakfast" she said smiling at Twilight "See you then" As Twilight walked into the room she was bombarded with old memories of living in the castle and being Celestial's prize pupil. She remembered the time she spent teaching spike to speak and write, she remembered the time she hid in here from the mean fillies and colts. As all the memories of her old life in Canterlot came rushing back and she suddenly felt like she never wanted to leave she could see her and spike growing up together she could see her and Shining playing together however slowly while Twilight lay down in the bed she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.