//------------------------------// // Preparations // Story: Changeling Places // by Foals Errand //------------------------------// The morning after her talk with Rainbow Dash, Twilight was ready for the trip to the Crystal Empire. Her bags were packed, she’d created a foolproof tour schedule that would definitely impress the inspector, and she’d been rehearsing for her meeting with Cadence and Celestia. Everything was ready, and all that was left was to make sure the library ran smoothly in her absence. Standing just outside the library, Twilight was reviewing some last minute details for Spike. “Okay, Spike. We’re going to be gone for a few days. That means you’ll be running the library. Remember everything we rehearsed.” “Yes, Twilight.” Spike replied, nodding. “That’s great, my number 1 assistant. And remember to take your medicine.” Twilight stressed. Truth be told, she was very nervous about leaving Spike by himself. She’d already counted out the needed black opals, but there was always a chance that something could go wrong. “Whatever happens, you MUST take your medicine regularly.” “I will, Twilight.” “Ok. And if there’s no customers to the Library, just…bake a cake, or something.” The vaguest hint of genuine excitement flashed underneath Spike’s contact lenses. “Yes, Twilight!” “That’s my good dragon.” Twilight nodded. Before she could say anything else, Rainbow Dash was suddenly at her side, pulling on her foreleg. “Come ON, Twilight! We’re gonna miss our train!” Taking one last look at Spike, Twilight turned and ran with Rainbow Dash to the train station. ----------------------------- Elsewhere… ----------------------------- “Where should I begin?” The Changeling King asked. Twilight was still too stunned by the sudden insectlike appearance of her interrogator to respond. Her mouth moved, but no sound came out. Shining Armor sighed. He should’ve known Twilight would be shocked by this revelation. With that in mind, he transformed back into his original appearance. “I’m sorry. Is this better?” Twilight was still…unnerved by this shapeshifter taking her brother’s form, but she managed to shake her head clear and speak somewhat normally. “Uh…yeah…kinda. Er…so…what happened? What…changed, exactly?” Shining glanced down at the photo album. He still couldn’t look at the wedding picture for very long, so he quickly flipped the page back to the Grand Galloping Gala. “Well…These photos were taken in this…dimension as well. I think that everything that happened to you before the wedding is exactly the same as everything that happened to us. The wedding was where everything changed.” He sighed. “Ohhhhh-kay, but how does something going wrong at the wedding result in a Changeling-infested Equestria? And you…well…er…” “The term is ‘Converting’.” Shining Armor clarified. “And could you please not call it ‘infested’? I went to a lot of trouble to integrate the Changelings into Equestrian society fairly.” “I can imagine.” Twilight remarked. “It’d be difficult to integrate a species that invaded Canterlot.” “They…never got the chance to invade.” Shining corrected. “Not the way you might be thinking. Our wedding was…different from yours.” “How?” Twilight asked before she thought of something. “Wait…if you could see my memories, then maybe I could see yours? That might make things go a lot faster.” Shining’s expression became somber. “No. You don’t want to see what happened.” “Why?” Twilight asked. ---------------- ----------------- At the train station, Applejack and Fluttershy were waiting to see Rarity, Dash and Twilight off. Despite Rainbow’s worries, there was more than enough time for a few goodbyes before the train left the station. “See you girls soon. I promise I’ll keep Discord in line…” Fluttershy tried to ignore the loud one-draconequus-band performance that started the second she uttered that line. “…as much as I can.” “Ah hope y’all have a good time, you three! Don’tcha worry, we’ll hold down the fort just fine here.” Applejack reassured. “Oh, thank you Applejack. I won’t forget to get you some Crystal Empire delicacies while we’re there.” Rarity promised. Applejack just blinked. “Delica-what now? Ah just want to try some crystal apples…” Twilight shrugged off the farmpony’s confusion. “We’ll get you some, don’t worry. Just remember, we have some important business to take care of over there.” “No duh!” Rainbow laughed. “They’re up for the Equestria Games! It’s only the biggest sporting event in all of Equestria!” “Didn’t Cloudsdale host the Equestria Games one year?” Rarity asked. Rainbow suddenly looked downcast. “Yeah…Cloudsdale was SUPPOSED to host the games one year. I’ll never forget when we got the bad news…” ------------------ ------------------ Twilight’s eyes widened with horror. “Sh-sh-she killed Celestia?” Shining Armor nodded. “Yes. And because of our…overzealous…retaliation, we lost Cadence as well.” Twilight shook her head numbly. Celestia…dead? Her mentor, her ruler…the most important pony in her life? And Cadence? Her foalsitter, who had been there since she was a little filly? The first real friend she had ever made? Losing both of them…the idea made her feel queasy… Easy Twilight. The Celestia and Cadence you know are fine. They’re just… not here. Focus on something else. Come to think of it… “Hey…um, sorry to change the subject, but…there’s something I don’t get. Chrysalis attacked…my Celestia, when she had you under her control and was definitely at her strongest. Why didn’t she kill her then?” Shining winced, and Twilight immediately felt ashamed. “Oh…oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to…” “It’s alright…” Shining waved her off. “It’s…If I had to guess, I’d say that in your world, she knew that she had me under control, she knew her armies were just outside…she was confident and in control. She didn’t use her full power. ‘Our’ Chrysalis had just seen her plans fall apart, I wasn’t under her control, and she was cornered like an animal. Her desperation gave her the boost she needed to…to…” Shining swallowed, trying not to start crying again. Twilight tried to change the subject. “I take it I…she…your sister didn’t take it well…” “Would you?” Shining asked dryly. Twilight had to admit that no, she wouldn’t have. Celestia and Cadence…she cared about them so much, losing both of them would’ve devastated her. And this Twilight was her… but at the same time, she wasn’t. She wasn’t the kind of pony that would’ve hurt Fluttershy and Applejack, or hold a grudge against her brother for something a Changeling Queen did…was she? “What did she…um, do?” “At first? She just…yelled at me. Said it was all my fault for not recognizing Chrysalis, for not listening to her, for going overboard and getting Cadence killed…It didn’t help when I missed their funeral.” “You missed the funeral?” “I was too paralyzed to do anything for…weeks. Months, maybe. I lost two of the ponies I care the most about. Cadence was…she was everything to me…everything.” Shining couldn’t hold back a sniffle this time, tears forming in his eyes… -------------------------- --------------------------- Rainbow Dash sniffled at the memory of her childhood disappointment, her friends looking at her with concern. Eventually, she regained her composure and took to the skies once more, boldly proclaiming. “These Crystal Ponies lost a thousand years to an evil king’s curse! They’ve had enough bad news. No WAY we’re letting them experience the pain of losing out on these games!” Twilight discreetly rolled her eyes. The way Rainbow was talking, these ‘Games’ were more important than the Summer Sun Celebration. How could a bunch of ponies in dumb-looking shinglets throwing rocks and sticks around possibly compare to Celestia’s glory? Celestia…she couldn’t wait to see her again… “Of course we won’t, Rainbow.” Rarity reassured. “Princess Cadence is counting on us to give the Games Inspector a FABULOUS tour of the Crystal Empire. By the time we finish dazzling the Inspector, the Empire is guaranteed to host the Equestria Games. We’re not going to let Cadence and Shining down now, are we?” “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Pinkie had appeared out of nowhere, and was right in the middle of the group, posing like a grief stricken mare in a revenge movie. The other girls just stared at her, confused. Pinkie looked at each of them, her eyes wide with nervousness. “What? I answered her question! And I did it in a way that subverted expectations by doing it in a matter that makes no sense in the context! That’s funny, right? Somepony found it funny? Did I make somepony smile? Please?!” “Uhm…” Rarity blinked, before flashing a reassuring smile. “Of…course! That was quite amusing, Pinkie! Thank you very much.” Pinkie whooped with relief. “Thank goodness! I haven’t made enough ponies smile lately, I’m starting to go crazy. I can’t get enough smiles, I just can’t!” Fluttershy stared at the big bags under Pinkie Pie’s eyes. “That’s not good…” Rainbow Dash noticed them too. “Have you slept, Pinkie?” “Darling, the last time you had this mindset, things didn’t go very well…” “I can’t help it!” Pinkie seemed on the verge of tears. “I’m the element of Laughter! I gotta keep making ponies smile! It’s what I HAVE to do! See you girls later! Keep smiling!” And with that, Pinkie was gone. Her friends stared at her retreating form, more concerned than ever. “That doesn’t look good.” Rainbow Dash remarked. “You better keep an eye on her, too.” Twilight just scoffed. “It’s just Pinkie being Pinkie. Don’t worry about it.” Rainbow nodded in agreement. “Yeah, you’re probably right, Twilight.” Rarity gave the two of them an odd look. “Darling, Pinkie never acts like that. I wouldn’t be so flippant about it.” She turned to Fluttershy and Applejack. “Keep an eye on her. And you will write if anything happens?” Fluttershy smiled reassuringly. “Of course. I’ll invite her over later. Discord always knows how to cheer her up...” “Long as it don’t involve more pineapples in mah trees.” Applejack muttered. “But yeah, that pony needs watchin’.” “It’s probably nothing. She’ll be back to normal…well, her normal self in a day.” Twilight shrugged. The ‘all aboard’ whistle screamed for them to board. “Now c’mon. Trains about to pull out. Off to the Crystal Empire!” --------------------- ---------------------- Twilight’s expression contorted. “And then you…became their ruler? Just like that? After what their Queen did?” Shining Armor sighed. “Y-yeah. Twi…my sister had the same reaction. She…completely disowned me, did everything to sabotage what I tried to do. It only got worse.” Twilight shook her head. “Just…just why would you do that?” “Because I had to save SOMETHING!” Shining snapped, tears in his eyes. “I couldn’t save Celestia. I couldn’t save Cadence. My cutie mark, my entire life, I’m meant to save and protect! I could save an entire species, keep it from breeding another Chrysalis, I could fix things! I spoke to Luna, and she agreed with me, I – “ “But…but she killed Celestia! They tried to conquer Canterlot! Tried to brainwash you!” Shining raised an eyebrow. “Discord did much worse during his reign. Tartarus, he’s the reason the Changelings even exist! He cursed us all, tried to drive Equestria into ruin, drove you and your friends mad, and you freed him!” he retorted. “Under Celestia’s orders!” Twilight defended. There was a stalemate for a minute, before both ponies suddenly burst into laughter. They laughed for a full five minutes, Shining nearly falling off his chair. It was a while before they calmed down. “Aheheheh…I guess that makes us even, huh?” “Heeheeheehee…yeah. We get Discord, you get the Changelings.” Shining kept laughing, wiping the tears from his eyes. “Th-thank you. It’s been a while since me and…my sister shared any kind of laugh.” “No problem. I haven’t laughed in a while, either.” Twilight reassured him. Shining regained his breath. “I’m…sorry for dumping all this on you.” “It’s alright. I get it, I really do. You don’t have to justify yourself to me.” “I could never justify myself to her…” Shining muttered. “Besides, I imagine you’re more concerned with how to get back home.” Twilight’s expression immediately became serious. “Yeah…the other me threw me here so I would suffer for what she did.” Twilight found herself growling. “If she hurts my friends…” “I don’t think she will.” Shining tried to reassure. “She wants that life back, so she won’t do anything to jeorpardize it.” If Twilight heard him, she didn’t show it. “She said something about a theorem…I know I’ve read it before. Laytex…Latece…lutex…” Shining Armor had a flash of inspiration. “Lutece?” “Lutece! Thank you! Lutece’s theorem…yeah, that makes perfect sense! Lutece’s theorem dictated that alternate universes were created with every decision made or not made. Choose one thing in your dimension, and another gets created where you chose differently! But they could never cross those dimensions, or even prove they existed at all!” “Twilight Sparkle did.” “Yeah…” Twilight became more animated the more she thought. As animated as she could get with all the chains on her. “…she must’ve thought she was using a time travel spell, but stumbled onto a cross dimensions spell instead! A once-in-a-lifetime accident, but if I just get enough data, I can replicate it and get myself home!” Shining smiled, pleased at seeing his genius sister do what she did best. But then his face turned serious. “There’s a few problems, though. In this dimension, you’re a wanted criminal. A hated criminal. I can safely assure you that no matter what I tell the hivemind, the second you step outside you’ll get killed. And even they believe me, giving you freedom will give us both a lot of trouble we really don’t need.” Twilight’s face fell. “Oh…was she really that…” “Yes. But don’t worry.” Shining hurriedly assured. “I can bring you all the books you need. You just have to stay in custody until we can figure this out.” Twilight thought for a moment, and then sighed with resignation. “Okay…okay, I can do that. But…can I at least take off all these chains?” Shining nodded. “I’ll convince the guards you don’t need such numerous restraints. The horn ring stays on though…I’ll get a weaker one so you can still use telekinesis, but I really can’t take any chances. If someling smells your magic…” “Okay.” Twilight nodded reluctantly. “Fine. Just…get me those books as soon as possible. I don’t want to leave my friends hanging for too long.” “I will. We’ll get you home, I promise.” Shining stood up to leave. “The guards will return you to the cocoon. Don’t give them any trouble, and they’ll change your restraints. I’ll arrange everything…just wait until morning.” “Okay.” Twilight sighed with relief. Shining Armor stepped out of the interrogation room. The guards came up to him, concerned. “You were inside for a long time, sire. Is everything alright?” Shining Armor sighed. “Yes…and no.” That was truth enough. “Return her to the cocoon. And then we should discuss the restraints…I’m concerned that the excessive restraints will give her something to challenge us during her trial.” The Changeling guard blinked. “Are you certain about that, sire? We’ve seen how powerful she is…” “I’m certain. Don’t worry, she won’t escape. I’ll speak with you later.” Shining assured them. Both the guards shrugged and saluted their ruler. Shining Armor walked away, the gears in his head turning. The less ponies and Changelings knew about this, the better. A dangerous terrorist had finally been contained. While he could say that she would not threaten their Equestria again, the notion of her not being in custody would just cause unnessecary panic. He had to keep this as quiet as possible. He could keep his thoughts separate from the Hive Mind, Luna could handle official business, and his non-changeling guards could be trusted to keep a complicated secret. But there was one more thing. Several ponies and a dragon that needed to know about Twilight. He had to tell them what was going on as well…