Celestia paced to the tallest tower, the element bearers sans Twilight trailing dispiritedly behind her. She could tell how little sleep they’d managed in the last week. Rarity had shrouded herself in a cloak, refusing to show her face at all.
“Luna should be here, though I am surprised she has not returned from her journey yet...” Celestia said, masking her concerns.
And there Luna stood in the middle of the balcony like a cold cement statue, glowing eyes staring at the distant moon.
“Ah hate to say it, but don't ya’ll find that a mite creepy?” Applejack murmured, withdrawn. “Is she all right, princess?”
“She’s merely in the dreamscape. Luna, sister, are you aware?”
“Not now, sister... We are busy, this is urgent.”
The ponies stared at the moon princess, confused—they had not seen a twitch from her.
“Have you found Twilight’s dreams? Is something wrong?”
“Yes... I do not know this magic. I need you, sister.”
“I don’t think she can hear us at all,” Rainbow muttered. The comment went ignored.
“Show me.” The younger ponies jumped when Celestia’s eyes glowed as white as Luna’s, making even her pure frost-white coat look grey in comparison.
“Of course.” The tower top vanished around them, causing the ponies to jump. Fluttershy hid behind Rainbow with a shrill squeak, eyes squeezing shut.
“Be calm, it’s merely a spell to show us where Luna’s mind is.” The projection flickered, and then it was shifting through blazes of pastel color. Fluttershy peeked out from behind Rainbow in wonder, Rarity sighed in awe,and Applejack screwed her eyes shut as though she couldn't take it.
“This is so pretty!” Pinkie squealed, but quickly dropped again.
“Ah don’t like it...”
“Oh my stars, I wish Twilight could see this with us...”
“It is lovely....”
“It’s like a constant rainboom!”
“It’s layers of Twilight’s consciousness. They should take shape soon after we get through her magi—oh, my.” Green fire sparked all around them, beautiful in a feral way. It ate away at the amethyst shades around them, making everything seem cold, dead and metallic.
“Princess, is that normal? Ah find it mighty creepy...”
“No, it certainly is not. Something’s wrong, but do not fear; we are in no danger.” Twilight, on the other hoof...
The color seemed to shred and spin like a kaleidoscope, forming walls, a floor—was that a bed? Like the moon in a pale sky, Luna was the first solid thing in sight.
“Oh my, aren’t we still in the palace?” Fluttershy squeaked, uncovering eyes she’d hidden away with her forehooves.
“Yes.” Celestia dipped her head. “All we are seeing is a projection from my sister. Don’t move too much, everypony. We are still on the topmost balcony of the tallest tower. Flying would also be unadvisable.”
“Hang on a darn second,” Applejack murmured, leaning down and peering towards Luna as the setting became increasingly clear. “How come Twi looks like a filly?”
Luna looked to her. “That is because she appeared as one in her own self conscious, either due to her distress or whatever magic was cast upon her. Do you know of this twisted magic, sister?”
Hearing Luna talking to somepony, the quivering filly peered out from Luna’s soft feathers. Her wide eyes didn’t seem catch on to any of the figures only viewing the dream. Instead, she looked at Luna and opened her mouth. Nothing came out and a sick tint of green flame flashed around her neck, causing her head to shake in a completely inaudible cough.
Luna looked on grimly. “Twilight, if you are inquiring as to who we are talking to, my sister and I are using an ability known as sightsharing. Are you aware of it?”
Twilight nodded vigorously, massaging her now sore throat with one small hoof.
“She brought your friends as well.” The dreamed-up palace was graced with a filly’s slight smile. Except for the new layer of magic that seemed to prevent her from speech, she had actually started to feel a little better.
This is my dream, isn’t it? Shouldn't I have some control? Twilight squeezed her eyes shut and focused with all her might until, with a pop, a large foal’s marker appeared out of nowhere. She wilted in slight embarrassment, but grabbed it anyway. She’d chosen this kind because it was especially made to be held in the mouth of foals. She had become painfully inadequate with simple mouthwriting since she had become accustomed to using her magic. Just as she was about to touch the marker to the floor, Luna stopped her with a gentle hoof.
“Twilight Sparkle, unlike in reality, any form of communication is treated the same in the dreamscape. Whatever spell was placed on you would cause you pain once more and prevent your attempt.”
Twilight looked wide-eyed at Luna. She was effectively gagged and she didn’t even know how.
“Ponyfeathers,” Applejack muttered, momentarily forgetting the presence of royalty. “Princess, can yah maybe tell ‘er what we’re saying, at least?”
Luna nodded. “Of course, Lady Applejack.”
They were there for a long time, Luna relaying messages and Rarity’s fervent apology. Even this distant communication helped Twilight.
Unfortunately, all the good will in the world could not stop her from waking up.
~...~
Twilight had had pleasanter mornings. She felt like she had the pleasure of waking up in the depths of an ocean. Pressure hammered her relentlessly from every side. Her hooves felt like they had been ripped to tatters. Two lines of agony flared across her back, and it felt like someone had recently drilled holes just behind her ears. She could feel magic, but it was not hers. Her magic wasn’t riddled with holes and blotches like she was sensing now.
Is that what she did to my magic?
Her head didn’t hurt anymore. At least, not much. Her ears twitched nervously. Down on her back, she felt the sensation of something else twitch with them. Something weak and fragile. The feeling of it—no, them—twitching through liquid was enough to make it feel like they were being crushed. Whatever they were.
Screaming into liquid made little sound. It only brought Twilight the less than pleasant realization that the liquid wasn’t just around her—it was in her mouth, ears and nose. Down her throat and in her lungs. Her mind raced with impossibilities—she should be drowning! How was she even alive?
Panicking, she shoved her hind legs forward as best she could and felt them hit a soft but firm surface in front of her.
“Fetch your mother.” The voice was like silk, but much more robotic and much, much colder. “Do not return here without her permission.”
“But…”
“Go. Now.”
The thump of retreating hooves was the only sound for a second, but it quickly faded.
Minutes full of hopeless struggling passed, and an icy voice chilled the room.
“I see our guest is less than impressed by our accommodations,” the familiar voice said, sounding bored. “Baetal, without aid, how long would it take her to crack through a hardened conversion cocoon?”
“Without an instinct for our magic, my Queen? I would give her three days at the least.”
Twilight could almost hear the smirk in the changeling queen’s voice. “My, Twilight Sparkle. You seem confused. Perhaps I should leave you in there to figure it out. After all, you do so seem to enjoy figuring questions out for yourself. Wouldn't that be the perfect reward for you gallivanting off to betray me in your sleep?”
Hoofbeats echoed as they approached, and a thump to her sick green prison sent it swinging nauseatingly from side to side. “Of course, your little accessory might just be thanks enough. I was going to wait for your strength to return. Now I won’t bother.”
Even through a sea of green, Twilight caught a glimpse of a twisted black horn shimmering like a sick emerald.
~...~
Far away, eight ponies were in various states of unease within Canterlot Castle’s throne room.
Rainbow paced from side to side, tail and wings twitching nonstop. Applejack shifted her weight constantly from hoof to hoof, back legs twitching like she wished she could just buck her problems away. Rarity stood unmoving, her stance drooping. She still blamed herself. Fluttershy stared miserably at her hooves. Pinkie looked tired, glancing between her friends helplessly like she didn’t know who to comfort or how to comfort them. The princesses only frowned, though beyond their almost indifferent masks, they were far from tranquil.
“I hate this.” Pinkie was the first to speak, mane and tail drooping as she stomped a foreleg. “I hate this I hate this I hate this! There’s just gotta be something we can do! There’s always something!”
“We have sent scouts to search the borders of Equestria and the badlands. That is the only unpopulated area we believe is both large and close enough to be hiding the changelings. I have requested that Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor join us, and they will be bringing two full legions of crystal ponies with them. Until both you and Canterlot are secure, I am afraid we must stay here. Chrysalis has shown us that the city is far from safe. Luna and I cannot abandon it for any length of time while it is in jeopardy, thus we cannot venture to look for Twilight ourselves.”
“Then let us go!” Rainbow huffed with flared wings, her respect for the princesses battling with her element and losing.
“No, you are more important to this kingdom than most. We need to ensure your safety.” Luna’s eyes softened. “The most important skill a leader can possess is the ability to delegate, difficult as it may be. But sometimes it is the only way, and it shows a pony’s strength beyond many things. I have faith that the five of you are some of the strongest ponies I will ever have the fortune of meeting. Do you disagree?”
The challenge caused Rainbow to drop onto her hindquarters, wings touching the floor in an uncharacteristic droop. “I hate this…”
“Any good pony would, Rainbow Dash,” Luna said, “but it is a necessity.”
Only Fluttershy noticed her quick glance to Celestia. Luna stepped forward determinedly. “We will find Twilight and we will protect our ponies. I swear it on my wings, my hooves, my horn. I swear it on my heart and upon this crown.” Her voice deepened and sharpened with the archaic oath. “We swear it on our moon and our sun. These foals will return Twilight Sparkle and abandon their idiotic attempt at conquest, or we will end them.”
Inside of the throne room, they did not see the setting moon flicker red.