Twilight's Transmutation

by Epicburst

Chapter 12

Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash spent the next half-hour tearing Ponyville apart. They searched every alley, every house, and every cloud, but they still could not find the missing Pegasus. Fortunately for them,

"What . . .the hay . . . was that!" Applejack said, panting heavily.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash exchanged worried looks. "Come on AJ, I think that's where Fluttershy is." Applejack nodded and began trotting beside them, her legs trembling with every step.

"What's going on in there Twi'?" Rainbow Dash asked as they approached the burning forest.

The burning Everfree Forest looked a lot worse up close then it did from a distance. Creatures of all shapes and sizes were engulfed by flames. Timberwolves were exploding, huge flocks of birds flew through the air, and all of the other creatures were trying to escape, many of them failing.

Twilight wracked her brain. Was all of this Fluttershy's fault? Twilight sighed and turned towards her friends. "In the time with the Ancients, the creatures could use transmutation differently. One could create explosions, while another could control shadows." Twilight looked wearily into the eyes of her friends, looking for any kind of reassurance or hope, but finding none. "I think in this case, Fluttershy's emotions are being augmented by the energy inside her, and because of what she feels, it activates."

Rainbow Dash shook her head in defiance. "Fluttershy is the kindest mare I've ever met, she would never do something like this Twilight!" Rainbow Dash glared at her friend, daring her to say that she was wrong.

Twilight eventually found the courage to speak under Rainbow's cold, unforgiving gaze. "Her thought's are changing Rainbow, she clearly wanted something like this to happen, or else it wouldn't be happening."

Rainbow Dash sighed and looked towards the Everfree. She began to focus her vision, letting everything else fade to black until she saw what she was looking for. A yellow flame. "I can see her energy inside the forest! She's trapped, she needs help!"

Twilight tried to stop Rainbow, but she galloped into the burning forest, and was gone within seconds. Twilight turned to look at Applejack, who was walking back and forth slowly regaining her breath. At Applejack's nod, they both trotted into the burning forest.

Rainbow Dash was blind, nearly deaf thanks to the cracking of trees and paniking animals, and was choking, tripping, and cursing her way closer towards the yellow flame of energy that was cause of this mass destruction. How could she do this? Why would she do this? Thought's flooded Rainbow Dashes mind, distracting her from the task at hoof. As she staggered through the burning forest, she didn't notice the tree that was about to fall on top of her.

"AAAHH!"

Twilight and Applejack stopped when they heard the blood chilling scream.

"What the hay was that?" Applejack asked in between a violent bout of coughing.

Twilight knew they couldn't last much longer in here. The heat was unbearable, the smoke was suffocating, and she could hardly see. "That sounded like Rainbow Dash!" Twilight and Applejack trudged forward with renewed energy, desperate to find their eager friend. "Let's go!"

Twilight's and Applejack's progress was slow, thanks to the smoke. They decided that it was safer to move carefully then it was to move quickly, but eventually they made it to a clearing.

The clearing was small, cluttered with dead creatures, both big and small. To Twilight's right, there was a small stream, to Twilight's left was Fluttershy. She sat on her rump, using her wings to keep her upright , watching the destruction with her back towards them.

Applejack and Twilight stopped in their tracks, neither wanting to take the next step closer towards the clearly confused mare.

"Hello Twilight Sparkle, it's such a pleasure to see you." Fluttershy said with a surprising amount of venom and sarcasm that made Twilight cringe. "What brings you here?"

Twilight took the biggest breath she could and walked towards the yellow Pegasus. "I'm looking for Rainbow Dash, she was worried about you so she came to rescue you."

Twilight gasped when she saw Fluttershy tremble with rage.The flames grew higher and higher, engulfing everything in sight, including the oxygen. Twilight turned when she heard Applejack begin to choke.

"A-Applejack!" No matter what Twilight did, she knew she couldn't turn her back on Fluttershy in order to help her friend, the transmutation was only going to last a couple more minutes, she would just have to be strong.

"Why are you doing this!" Twilight pleaded, begging her to stop. "We just want to take you home where you belong!" Twilight started to feel dizzy, if she was going to end this, she had to end it quickly.

"That's what I thought at first too Twilight Sparkle," Fluttershy said, turning to face lavender unicorn. "until he helped me find the truth. He helped me to see what I really mean to you girls."

Only a couple more seconds! Twilight thought, formulating a plan to clear the burning forest. "What do you mean?"

Fluttershy just hovered in place, memories flooded her mind.

"What did you do to Rainbow Dash!" Twilight asked, her horn crackling with energy.

Fluttershy turned, her face contorting into one of pure rage.

"Why would you care about her? Don't you have better things to do with your life? I'd absolutely hate it if something happened to you."

Twilight took a step back from the slowly advancing pegasus. Turning towards Applejack, she lent her a hoof and helped her to her feet.

"Take this letter to Spike, tell him it's urgent." Twilight said, handing a scroll to Applejack.

Fluttershy's scowl deepened as she watched Applejack gallop away.

"Fine then, if you want to get Princesses involved, go ahead. This just means I need to kill you."

Twilight gasped as Fluttershy barreled towards her. Powering up her horn, Twilight braced herself to counter attack, until she saw the tendril. A black snake like object branched off of Fluttershy and came at her faster then Rainbow Dash performing a sonic rainboom. Quickly, Twilight managed to teleport herself on the other side of the crazed mare.

Gasping for breath, Twilight turned to face Fluttershy. As she turned, she saw another tendril rush towards her. Dodging to her left, Twilight powered her horn and began launching magic beams at the yellow mare.

Swaying from side to side, Fluttershy dodged the five beams.

"You are so predictable Twilight Sparkle." Twilight watched her as she began to scowl at the flames around her. "Don't you think it's a little bright out here?" Fluttershy hovered into the air and closed her eyes. Reopening them, Fluttershy released a wave of energy, cooling the burning forest. "Much better."

Twilight's mind began to analyze the situation. Isn't she afraid of the dark? What are those tendril things? Did she say that she wanted to kill me?!

Twilight performed a basic light spell, desperate to see the location of her attacker. What she got instead, was a thousand hungry eyes staring back at her, each with sets of black spikes.

Twilight gasped, there was nowhere for her to run, nowhere to hide, and now she was going to die.

"Goodbye Spike."

Rainbow Dash was sleeping soundly in her cloud house with Tank sleeping soundly on top of her. Rainbow Dash sighed softly. What could be better than this? No work, nopony needed her help with anything, and she already caught up with all of the Daring Do books, so now all she needed to do was nap.

Rainbow Dash slept for what felt like hours, her mind quickly racing to recall the dreams that she had as she began to wake up. The only bits she could remember were about racing Twilight and Applejack through the Everfree Forest, Rainbow Dash expertly cleared the bushes and fallen trees, leaving her competitors in her dust. Rainbow Dash smiled as she crossed the finish line, everypony was cheering, and Pinkie Pie was bringing the biggest cake at Sugarcube Corner. Sadly, before she could taste Pinkie Pie's masterpiece, the dream began to fade.

Sighing softly, Rainbow Dash tried to push Tank off of her. "C'mon Tank, time to wake up . . ." She grumbled, clearing the sleep out of her eyes. Rainbow Dash tried to stretch, but Tank was getting heavier and heavier. "Tank," Rainbow Dash grunted, trying to squirm her way out from under her pet. "T-tank you're crushing me!" Rainbow Dash began to panic as she found it getting increasingly difficult to breath. Gasping for breath, Rainbow Dash came to. Looking around, Rainbow Dash collected herself.

Looking around, she realized that the discomfort on her back wasn't Tank, but a burnt tree trunk. Straining, Rainbow Dash tried to pick herself up, but the effort was futile. Groaning, Rainbow Dash tried again and again, but to no avail. Rainbow Dash was prepared to give up until she heard hoofsteps coming towards her.

"H-Hello?" Rainbow Dash called desperately.

The hoofsteps increased their pace, and she saw Applejack come out behind a tree.

"Rainbow Dash!" Applejack said, not dropping the scroll in her mouth.

Together, Rainbow Dash and Applejack managed to push the trunk off of the cyan mare.

"Gee Rainbow, ya look terrible." Applejack said, looking her friend over with concern.

"What happened! Where's Twilight!" Rainbow Dash yelled. Applejack pointed back towards the way she came and Rainbow Dash galloped off.

Giving her wings an experimental flap, her left wing ached with pain, but it wasn't anything that she couldn't handle. Urging herself forward, she fought through the pain and began accelerating towards Twilight.

When Rainbow Dash made it to a huge clearing, she stopped to catch her breath. Urging herself to fly once again, her left wing began screaming in agony. She was about to take off again, until she heard somepony talking.

"- better."

Rainbow Dash gasped as she saw Fluttershy hovering over Twilight, glaring at her maliciously, but it was the sight underneath the crippled Pegasus pony that made her freeze in terror. A black shadow with eyes and mouths were oozing towards Twilight, slowly encasing her in their darkness. Without a second thought, Rainbow Dash flew towards her friend.

Faster! She begged, as she began barreling towards her friend. Faster! Her wings straining to carry her faster and faster. Almost there! Her muscles burned, begging for an end to the pain, but she pushed forward. Soon, a cone of air formed around her, breaking through, Rainbow Dash heard one of her favorite sounds. A Sonic Rainboom. Keeping herself as strait as possible, she braced herself, this did absolutely nothing; however, as she crashed into Twilight, just as a tendril would have pierced her heart.

DO IT! The voice screamed inside her head. Do it! Do it! Do it! Kill her! End her pathetic life! She is the one that did this to you and she must pay!

B-but . . . she's my friend . . . I could never hurt her. Fluttershy tried to picture a face with the voice. It sounded like a little colt, always whining about things, but this one was slightly different. Although it did sound like a whiny colt, it also carried a lot of authority, something Fluttershy couldn't dare challenge.

You can and you will!

Fluttershy stalked closer to Twilight, releasing even more of those dark, scary sheets. Fluttershy felt the shadow change it's shape, she knew what it wanted to do, but was powerless to stop.

Please! Don't do this! This isn't what I asked for!

You wanted strength, I gave you all the strength you could imagine. You wanted those persistent voices to go away, and I took them away. You wanted Twilight to pay for what she did, so I will make her pay. You wanted revenge on the griffon, so she will die. KILL. HER. NOW!

Fluttershy whimpered softly. She could not refuse its will. Focusing on the shadow, she decided to make Twilight's death quick. Closing her eyes, she obeyed. as she thrust five combined tendrils forward, all aiming to go right through Twilight's heart, she heard an explosion. Startled, Fluttershy branched the tendrils out in a desperate attempt to fend off her attacker.

SHLICK

Fluttershy quivered in fear, feeling her targets blood splash on her body. Opening one eye at a time, she sneaked a peak at what she had done. Twilight brutishly skid into a tree, a pained expression on her face.

"Fluttershy . . . why?" Somepony croaked hoarsely .

Thanks to the lack of light, Fluttershy had no idea what the pony was talking about, until her eye's adjusted she saw Rainbow Dash impaled with the five dissipating tendrils at her hip, stomach, wings, and left hind leg.

Fluttershy gasped as Rainbow Dash tried to move closer, but whimpered in pain and collapsed to the ground. Her blood spilling out on the forest floor.

VERY good Fluttershy! You should be proud.

B-but this isn't what I wanted . . .

Now, for the next step. I know how to get your legs back. If you want them, go back to your cottage and wait for my instructions.

But what about Dashie and Twilight?

They are just victims in this game Fluttershy. Go back to your cottage.

Fluttershy's eyes filled with tears, how could she do this? How did this even happen? Deciding she couldn't leave them there, Fluttershy flew over to Rainbow Dash. She was about to try to pick her up, until searing pain entered her wings.

I told you to go back to your cottage!

Fluttershy writhed on the ground, the feeling of hot knives twisting in her wings increasing with each second.

I . . . don't . . . want to! Fluttershy cried in between sobs. The pain violently increasing.

So be it.

The pain Fluttershy felt intensified, and she writhed weakly on the forest floor. The world around her was turning red, as her mind desperately clung to her last thought before she fainted. Was it worth it Fluttershy . . . to kill your friend and the first love?

Princess Luna was sitting in her throne room, admiring the change of scenery. She always liked the castle better at night. The usual red carpet was replaced by a dark purple one, with stars in the middle. The murals that depicted events throughout Equestian history shined in the moon light. For the first time in moons, Princess Luna relaxed.

"Princess Luna!" Yelled one of her guards, galloping into the throne room. "Urgent message from Ponyville."

Princess Luna straitened herself and raised a hoof at the guard, silently telling him to continue.

" The Everfree forest has been destroyed! When we went to investigate, we found three mares, one is in critical condition, and the other two have been checked into the hospital. All three of them are too unstable for transportation. The yellow mare fit your description, and we have put her under constant observation."

Princess Luna stood at her throne. How could this happen? The princess stepped down from her throne and walked towards the entrance of the castle. Noticing the guard was still following her, she bid him to continue.

"I am also supposed to tell you, it has returned."

Princess Luna gasped. "King Sombra is back?"

Realizing his mistake, the guard hastily shook his head and apologized. Waiting impatiently, Luna watched as her guard fumbled for the right scroll. Pulling out a scroll from out of his saddle bag, the guard waited for Luna to get into her chariot.

"A homunculus has been reported by Night Watch."

Princess Luna's expression darkened. None of this would have happen if she never overestimated her sisters protege. She couldn't help being responsible. How did you not see this coming? she mentally scolded herself as her chariot took off to Ponyville. Did I really force myself to believe that I was the only survivor? If Celestia figures out she'll banish me to the moon for twice as long!

Twilight groaned. It was almost unbearable how uncomfortable she was. She was laying on her back, and her hooves seemed as heavy as led. Her horn spiked with pain with every breath, her right hind leg was on fire, the top half of her body felt like it was being hugged by a windigo, while her lower half felt like it was in Tartarus. The worst part of it all was that Twilight kept hearing this terrible snoring sound, leaving Twilight awake the entire night.

Cracking open her eyes, Twilight realized that she was in a different room. Of course it was completely dark so she couldn't be completely sure, so Twilight just called it Pinkie Intuition and moved on. Now that that problem was solved, Twilight started focusing on the snoring. She knew that it was coming from somewhere close by, but she couldn't roll on her side due to the discomfort and lack of energy. Eventually, Twilight just gave up and settled for waking the loud pony up.

Twilight spent the next half hour trying and failing to wake the pony up. She tried asking nicely, yelling, and using her magic to throw things at the mysterious pony, but it just kept sleeping. Sighing in defeat, Twilight tried to cover her ears, but when she raised them, a string was pulled taught, and a bell rang. Moments later nurse Redheart was in the room with a small flashlight.

"Oh, hello Twilight, just let me go get the doctor and he will answer any questions you have."

Five minutes later, nurse Redheart returned with somepony that sounded like a young stallion. "Hello Twilight, my name is Doctor Sky, I bet you have some questions, don't you."

Twilight prickled with annoyance. Why is he talking to me like I am a little filly? "Yes, I do Doctor. What happened to me?"

nurse Redheart exchanged a look with Doctor Sky, and trotted out of the room. The doctor sighed quietly and began recapping what happened. "It appears that you and another pony have been in some kind of altercation. It was because of a brave mare that you're still alive."

The room spun. "How could I almost die? Who saved me? Where's Rainbow Dash? Where's Fluttershy? How did I get here? What time is it? What about my friends?"

Doctor Sky was baffled at the barrage of questions he was receiving, so he decided to answer the easiest two first. "It is currently 3:21 a.m miss Twilight, your friends are currently waiting for you downstairs, and as of two days ago, your pet dragon was the one that found you and dragged you here."

Is that obnoxious noise? Twilight looked around, but she still couldn't see through the darkness. Seeing Twilight look around, the doctor shone a flashlight towards her lap, revealing a curled up baby dragon, hugging a ragged, gray, stuffed toy.

Twilight smiled at the sight of her number one assistant sleeping soundly, he must have been exhausted after dragging her all the way from the Everfree Forest. Twilight's smile faded as she turned towards the doctor and saw shadows creeping in the beam. Startled, Twilight gripped the flashlight in her magic and, ignoring the piercing spike of pain stabbing through her brain, threw it across the room. The flashlight shattered into pieces, and the room plunged back into darkness. Twilight's breath was ragged, most of her energy being used in that simple spell, but she still had questions.

"Where . . . is . . . Rainbow?" She asked wearily, urging herself to stay awake.

The doctor smiled softly and placed a blanket over her. "Not right now, you need your rest miss Twilight, we will talk when you wake up." The doctor watched as within seconds, Twilight fell back asleep.

Fluttershy groaned weakly, her muscles felt like they were melting, and her coat was damp. Where am I? Fluttershy wondered, lifting her head centimeters off the ground before she grunted and gave up. Looking around, all she could see was the damp stone wall. Am I in a prison? Fluttershy sighed and tried her best to get comfortable.

Yes you are Fluttershy. All because you wanted to stay.

The voice in Fluttershy's head caused her to tremble. W-what do you want with me! She asked, tears threatening to flow down her cheek.

I want to save you, let me give you a fraction my power.

Fluttershy wanted to say no, but she wasn't even strong enough to lift her head, what else could she do?

O-Okay

Fluttershy felt energy pulse through her wings, her muscles instantly cooling. Rolling on her stomach, Fluttershy took flight, her wing beats stirring up all the dust in the dungeon.

Thank you.

Fluttershy was snapped out of her mental conversation when she heard the echoing hoofsteps. With every passing moment they grew louder and louder, echoing loudly off of the damp stone. Soon enough, Princess Luna stood on the outside of the dungeon, looking at Fluttershy tentatively.

"Fluttershy," Princess Luna began. "please explain to me what happened three days ago."

Three days?! Was I really out for three days?

" I . . . fell into the Everfree . . . and-"

Stop talking NOW! Yelled the voice inside Fluttershy's head.

Eeping softly, her wings stiffened and she lost altitude.Recovering quickly, Fluttershy rushed to think of an explanation to what happened next.

"What happened next Fluttershy?" Princess Luna asked patiently, sitting down on her rump, outside the cell.

Fluttershy sighed heavily, she couldn't beleave that she was about to lie to a princess, but what else could she do? This thing inside her mind threatened to destroy her for disobedience on numerous occasions.

"Then I . . .hit my head on a rock . . ." Fluttershy's voice quivered, becoming barily audible to the princess. Fluttershy began to back into the corner of her cell, hiding behind her mane.

Princess Luna's eyes bore deep into her, their gaze infinite and unforgiving. "Fluttershy, two of your friends could have died on that day, one of them is lucky to be alive right now. I will search mercilessly for the destroyers of the Elements of Harmony, and I will destroy them twice as fast as it took my sister to banish me to the moon. I will ask you this only one more time. What. Happened."

Princess Luna's mane flowed more violently with each enunciation. Fluttershy was torn, on one hoof, Fluttershy could tell the princess and she could get help, on the other hoof, the voice inside her would most certainly destroy her from the inside out.

"I-I don't remember."

Princess Luna glared at her for what felt like hours, but eventually, her anger ebbed. Huffing, Princess Luna had enough, and she left Fluttershy in the dark dungeons.

The voice inside her head sharpened her hearing. She could here Luna breathing heavily, trying to contain her anger. As Princess Luna climbed the stairs, Princess Celestia stopped her.

"What is going on here sister?" Princess Celestia asked.

Fluttershy could here Princess Luna gasp in suprise, she clearly didn't tell anything to her sister.

"Princess Celestia! Just interrogating a prisoner."

Fluttershy strained her hearing as much as she could, catching the last of the echoing footsteps.

Did you ever here of 'divide and conquer' Fluttershy?

Fluttershy nodded slowly, accepting her new mission.

I understand.

Twilight groaned, the uncomfortable pressure on her legs had subsided, along with the snoring. Her head still had a hot knife in it, and her upper half still felt like it was being hugged by a windigo, but their was something different, was she being watched?

Twilight opened her eyes, the hospital light's blinded her. Groaning softly, she raised a hoof to her eyes. Looking around, she found Spike sleeping with his eyes open, cradling Smarty Pants in his claws. Sighing softly, Twilight turned and rang the bell next to her bed. Hearing Spike jump, she laughed and turned her head to look at him.

"Hey Spike, have you been taking care of things?"

"Twilight!" Spike said, jumping off the chair and replacing it with Smarty Pants. Spike waddled over to Twilight's bedside and rubbed her hoof. "I'm so glad you're okay! You've been out for three days!" Spike continued to grace her with stories of the past three days. "- and Sweetie Belle tried to help me clean up! She set the entire place on fire!" Seeing Twilight's face, Spike elaborated more. "Don't worry, Rarity and I spent the entire day cleaning it up. The entire day!" Twilight smiled as her number one assistant fantasized about his crush. Twilight and Spike stopped talking as they heard hoofsteps running down the hall. Within seconds, Princess Luna barged into the room.

Twilight and Spike both jumped, startled at the intrusion. Princess Luna locked eyes with her, glaring with anger.

"Twilight Sparkle, we have placed your friend Fluttershy in custody." Princess Luna said bluntly, ignoring the gasps of shock, she continued. "Your friend Fluttershy has been possessed by the oldest living homunculus."