"The two of you should try using your wings -- believe it or not, they actually do work," I told them.
"We've never flown before, so we're not sure how to work them properly," Trixie said with some apprehension.
"And it's still dark outside -- it's hard enough trying to fly during the daytime, but at night, it's even more dangerous," Twilight stated with some concern.
"Very well then. Allow me to shed some light," I said. I flew into the sky and searched for the Sun. Finding it, I gently raised it into the sky to call forward the day. I knew I was running the risk of angering Celestia, but I wanted to be able to easily see what I was facing. Twilight and Trixie were stunned by my display, their mouths agape and eyes as wide as saucers.
"What? You didn't think I could do that?" I asked them, grinning broadly. "You should see the look on your faces! Absolutely priceless!"
The two librarians looked at each other, and seeing their new appearances in daylight caused them to chuckle and laugh.
"Nightmare Trixie! You look awesome!" Twilight giggled.
"Nightmare Twilight! You look cute!" Trixie chuckled.
"Are you done foaling around, Michael?" asked a rather irritated Sun Goddess. "I don't recall asking you to raise my Sun for me, and it's too early to be bringing it up."
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I need to be able to see what I'm doing if I'm to repel the changeling army and their Queen," I explained.
"Understood, Michael. Truthfully, it was about time for me to raise it anyway, so thanks for sparing me that trouble," she smiled. "Why have you changed the appearance of my faithful students?"
"The plan is to scare the changelings out of their skins -- I figured three Alicorns would be sufficient to do that," I surmised.
"Well, if you don't mind, I would like to join you. I haven't had some fun like this in a long while, and I think I would like to see the look on Chrysalis' face when she sees four Alicorns," she chuckled.
"I am going to cast another spell to allow us to see the changelings through any disguise they may have taken, to dispel their illusions," I announced.
"Michael, there is no need to cast that spell on me as I can see through their disguises easily enough," Celestia averred.
The co-librarians tested their wings gingerly, but with a combination of telekinesis and flapping their wings, they found they could fly relatively well. The four of us took to the sky, flying over Ponyville and then toward the Everfree. I was able to see quite a bit of changeling activity and scanned for the Queen. Having located her, I descended to alight on the ground not far from her. To say she was surprised to see me was the height of understatement.
"Uh ... nice to meet you ... again?" the Queen asked fearfully. My guess is that she wasn't expecting to see me at all.
"I suppose you might remember what I told you last time I was here," I growled, glaring at her in disapproval.
"Well ... yes I did ... but my agents told me you had disappeared and were gone for a long time! I thought you were never going to return," she mused.
"You thought wrong, Chrysalis," I hissed, gritting my teeth. I darkened my gaze at her, narrowing my eyes to slits. "It is not my desire to kill you and your army -- I simply want you to remember that Ponyville, neigh, ALL of Equestria is under MY protection!"
"My subjects demand sustenance -- we will perish without it!"
"How did you and your kind manage to survive when there were only six or seven hours of daylight every day?" I asked.
"Nightmare Moon allowed us to feed on some of the ponies as long as we spared most of them," she replied, then covered her mouth with her fore-hooves when she realized too late what she had just confessed to.
"Well, she's not around anymore. There's a new boss here, and you're going to have to respect MY wishes, not those of one who has been banished," I growled.
"But then, who is the dark blue one there? She looks like Princess Nightmare Moon?" the Queen asked in puzzlement.
"THOU MUST DO AS HE SAYETH!!" came Nightmare Trixie's fake RCV outburst. I chuckled a little as Chrysalis flinched upon hearing this. I caught Celestia out of the corner of my eye stifling giggles as Nightmare Twilight made no such attempt to hide her amusement.
"I ... I guess that means ... we must seek sustenance elsewhere," the Queen said sadly. "You have no idea how many of us are going to die as a result of this, you know," she added sullenly.
"Am I supposed to have sympathy for those whose sole existence depends on siphoning the life force out of every living thing?" I asked in contempt.
"You see us as monsters? We judge you by our standards and see your kind destroying the planet!" she retorted.
"You leave my humanity out of the equation, Chrysalis. I'm not a human anymore, and I don't lay claim to my human home world," I stated angrily.
"What? You were a human? I wasn't addressing THAT issue! I was talking about THIS world! Celestia lets the ponies do as they please! Have you seen what has happened to this world? Nightmare Moon allowed us to keep the population under control, to maintain a sustainability to this world! Left unchecked, their numbers will overwhelm the ability of the planet to maintain equilibrium!" the Queen protested loudly.
"That's enough out of you, Chrysalis," Celestia stated sharply. "Michael, I recall urging restraint, but I believe I have rethought my opinion of the changelings. If you desire to exterminate them, you have my blessing."
"You spare us when it suits your needs -- yet you allow ... THIS ... agent of retribution to visit ruination upon our kind? What kind of leader are you?"
"You try my patience, Chrysalis. You'd better hurry before I unleash his full fury upon you and your army," Celestia said coldly.
"You haven't heard the last of this, Celestia. One day we WILL return, and we shall not spare you or your little ponies!"
"I'll be waiting for you, Chrysalis," I said, flashing an evil toothy grin. "I can't wait to try out some wicked spells to see how much damage they can do!"
"Don't make threats you can't back up, fledgling Prince!" she shouted at me as she and her army retreated further away.
"I don't make threats -- I make promises!" I shouted at her retreating form.
"Follow them to make sure they leave Equestria -- if they do not move quickly enough, give them an incentive to do so," the Solar Princess commanded.
Trixie, Twilight and I followed them as they flew off to the south, the shortest route out of Equestria. Once we were satisfied they were out, we landed on the ground. Chrysalis swore revenge and I told her that there would be more Alicorns to ensure they never returned, unless they had a serious death wish. The Queen simply glowered at me angrily, then turned around and flew further away. I wrapped my wings around Trixie and Twilight and teleported us back to Canterlot Castle to meet up with the Solar Princess. I then transformed the co-librarians back to their normal unicorn selves, though they wished they could go back to being Nightmarish every once in awhile. I assured Celestia that THIS time, the changelings won't return, or at least that's what I hoped.
"Michael, I would appreciate it if you would be kind enough to stay awhile longer -- there are certain questions I have for you and it has been some time since you were last here. I see a ring on your right fore-hoof? So you married Trixie in the other universe?"
"Trixie and I traveled around Equestria, performing a magic show for various ponies in quite a few towns and cities. We ran into trouble in Las Pegasus and that's where Trixie attacked me again, putting me in hospital for a few months," I explained.
"Perhaps I should have some words with her," Celestia mused. "Why did she attack you? I thought you two were happily married..."
I explained to the Sun Goddess in full detail what happened in Las Pegasus. I was surprised to see her register shock upon hearing some of the more painful details, then chortle a little when I talked about my encounter with Chocolate Sweetness, then disappointment about what happened when Trixie and I were in the pegasus' private suite in the Visage hotel.
"I'm sorry to hear she tried to kill you again. My advice would be for you to divorce her and stay here in my realm. I could always use somepony with your talents!" Celestia smiled.
"And you could marry ME!" Trixie chimed in cheerfully.
"Your offer is awfully tempting, Trixie -- I have been considering it, as your counterpart in the other universe seems to have very little in common with me. I was traveling with her because I wanted to see different parts of Equestria -- and I got to see quite a bit more than I bargained for. Truthfully, I believe I have seen enough that I figure it might be a good idea for me to find a place to settle down and raise a family. That also reminds me, Trixie -- your counterpart in the other universe is pregnant, carrying my foal. That's going to make things a bit more difficult."
Trixie opened her mouth to say something, but it appeared she couldn't find the words she wanted to say. She closed her mouth, then opened it again. "Um, Michael -- does that mean you're going to stay with her? Or will you come back here? I've been thinking about what you told me the last time you were here, and there's a part of me that wants to be with you," she said softly as a single tear trickled its way down her right cheek.
"You know, as an Alicorn, I will live for a very long time. Unless Celestia sees fit to bless you with such an honor, a marriage between the two of us would last a short time before you die of old age. Celestia's counterpart wanted me to stay in HER realm so I could provide her with a much needed break from her daily routine of holding Solar Court as well as raising and lowering her Sun. She offered me 70 years to be with Trixie before I would be requested to provide her with her ten year break."
"I suppose I might be tempted to provide Trixie with such an honor -- I need somepony to assist me with some of my duties, and I feel Trixie has a competent enough grasp of her magic abilities to capably and responsibly control that level of power. I would also see fit to delegate some of the more mundane tasks I routinely perform to her as well," the Sun Goddess mused.
"You'd be willing to do that for me?" Trixie asked in disbelief. "I am truly honored, Princess!"
"Princess Celestia, I would like to assist you as well. Would you see fit to bless me with such an honor as well?" Twilight asked.
"I know you two are quite responsible ponies. I believe I might be able to do that for both of you. Michael, would you be willing to assist me in fulfilling my faithful students' destiny? They have been an invaluable help to me and with your assistance, we can make their dreams a reality," the Solar Princess stated as she smiled at me.
"Trixie, Twilight -- what we are about to do for both of you is the highest honor a pony can receive. I sincerely hope the two of you will respect the amount of power that is about to be bestowed upon you and that you will use that power responsibly. One thing I would like to tell you is that what I did for you a little while ago when we scared off Chrysalis is that I actually transformed the two of you into Alicorns, even though I told you it was simply a glamour. That having been said, I saw that the two of you used your power responsibly and I will admit to being pleased by such a display. I ask that you do your best to assist your teacher with her needs and that you two set a positive example for your friends back in Ponyville," I stated solemnly.
The two unicorns bowed deeply as Celestia and I lit our horns and enveloped them with our auras. We used our magic to bestow additional magic power upon them, transforming them into full-fledged Alicorns. Their bodies increased in size somewhat as wings protruded from their backs and their horns grew considerably longer. Also given to them was a tremendously long lifespan. With our work finished, the Sun Goddess commanded the two new Princesses to rise, crowning Princess Trixie and Princess Twilight with new gold regalia. They beamed big broad smiles, thanking the two of us very humbly and deeply. Both of the two new Princesses approached me and gave me a quick kiss on the lips, which made me blush somewhat.
"Trixie, Twilight, I appreciate your gesture of affection. I'm afraid I must take my leave now as I have other business to attend to in the other universe. Please remember what I told you -- assist Celestia whenever and wherever possible. Tell Diane I said 'hey'."
"Please hurry back, Michael!" Trixie pleaded. I'll have to admit that as an Alicorn, she was even more beautiful than my wife and contemplated the possibility of transforming her -- but only for a moment when I realized what possible trouble she could cause.
"Michael, I too look forward to your timely return. There is still more I would like to discuss with you," Celestia offered softly.
"I will try to do so when I can, Celestia," I replied, offering a smile. I then lit my horn again and teleported back to Canterlot Castle in the other universe.