//------------------------------// // Another Savior (Edited 2014-09-10 02:32 EST) // Story: CMC Changeling Protectors // by contodaslasganas //------------------------------// Meanwhile… Scootaloo raced out of the clubhouse at breakneck speeds— possibly even on par with Rainbow Dash’s take-off speed. Still, the orange pegasus had only one thought on her mind: Get help. Oh, but who can I get? Twilight, I have to get Twilight! She knows what to do about the changelings. In fact, she may even be close by! Fortunately for Scootaloo, she was spot on: Twilight was already at the scene of the action, hollering like crazy, ready to fire beam after beam of magic at the changelings… When she was knocked backward, the now-existent pain in her muzzle quickly escalating as she recovered. “Wha…” Scootaloo, scooter and all, had landed straight on Twilight’s muzzle. Fortunately, Scootaloo herself had not sustained any damage. “Twilight, is that you? I’m so sorry, Twilight! Come on, you have to get up! Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Silver Flame are all still stuck in the clubhouse! You have to save them from the changelings!” The purple mare shakily stood up, summoning a quick healing spell to repair her broken jaw. “What, they’re still in there?” “Yeah! Quick, you have to go help them!” “Alright then, let’s go save them!” Wait, Twilight pondered, who’s Silver Flame? No sooner had Twilight finished that thought when three changelings materialized in front of the duo, each creature licking its lips as they savored the fear emanating from their prey. The mare steadily pushed Scootaloo behind her. “You stay back while I take care of them, Scootaloo. In fact, get to the library and tell Spike to get the artifact ready. He’ll know what it means. Now, quickly, go!” “No, I’m staying here to help you!” the orange filly replied, finding a small stick on the ground and picking it up with her mouth. “Fee, I can fighf, foo!” “Scootaloo, don’t you ever listen?” Twilight knocked the stick out of her grip and concentrated for a second before a blinding light surrounded the pegasus. “What are you do— “Ah, my eyes!” As soon as Scootaloo regained her sight, she noticed she was already by Sugar Cube Corner, her scooter right beside her. “Oh, come on, Twilight, that’s not fair!” Scootaloo, knowing the purple unicorn could no longer hear her clamor, decided she might as well go over to the library and give Spike the message. Hmm… Maybe, if I hurry, I can get back before the fighting ends! With that thought in mind, she leaped onto her scooter and rode away as fast as her wings could propel her. Twilight was standing alone, small hoofprints and swirling smoke the only indication that any changelings had tried to attack her. I hate using that spell, Twilight thought as she softly touched her horn, feeling its immense warmth as a small cloud of smoke began to build up from the tip. Anyway, I’m not going to survive for much longer, not with my magic depleting this way. Well, might as well check if the potion works. Twilight pulled out a small purple— no, blue— no, wait, yellow? She pulled out a small vial filled with color-changing fluid and downed it in one gulp. Ah, Celestia, that’s spicy! She quickly gasped for air as her eyes watered at the vile taste. And nothing happened. And nothing still. Wait for it… Nothing yet. Oh, did I miscalcul— Suddenly, the purple mare felt her powers getting restored. Swirls of magic spread throughout her body and gave her a faint glow. She felt more powerful than ever. Soon, a small, eerie grin began to form on Twilight’s mouth, a sight that could scare even the deadliest creatures of Tartarus, perhaps even the Immortal Sisters that controlled the sun and the moon. “Who’s ready for Round Two?” “Twilight sent you?” “Yeah, she told me to tell you to… uh… to get the artifact ready. She said you would know what that meant.” Spike’s facial expression turned darker as his tone become much more serious. “I guess the time has come.” The dragon hurried over to a cluttered desk, taking a small golden key out of one of the drawers. He then began feeling around the floor for a latch. “I know it’s around here somewhere… A-ha! Here it is!” “What is?” Out of nowhere, a hidden trapdoor opened up, one that Scootaloo had never noticed in all her past visits. Spike stuck his hand in and pulled out a small gold-encrusted chest engraved with small caricatures of the summer sun. Using the key, he unlocked the container with a small click, a sharp yet warm light emanating from its interior. ”What… what’s in there?” “This,” Spike responded as he pulled out a small scroll from the case, dropping the chest back into the trapdoor and returning the key. “Okay, to do this, it’s best to be near the scene of the action. Thanks, Scootaloo, but I must be on my way.” “Wait, what are you going to do?” Scootaloo replied, wanting desperately to participate in some serious changeling-defeating action. “I’m going to transport myself to where Twilight is via dragon fire. It’s the fastest way to get there.” Spike stuffed the parchment into a small backpack and put it on his back. One large breath of air later and he was prepared to teleport. “Hey, Spike, take me with you, too!” Scootaloo ran towards Spike, scooter in hoof, and reached him at the exact moment the dragon let loose a flaming whirlpool around himself, the fire encompassing the pony as well. “Scootaloo, what are you doing? I only prepared enough fire to transport myself!” The library disappeared in a swirling haze, both pony and dragon feeling as if they were being squeezed into an impossibly small place… It was almost too much to bear. “Spike, heeeeeellllppp!” … Scootaloo slowly opened her eyelids and noticed the intense flame that had once engulfed her was no longer visible. After a couple seconds, she recognized a familiar grove of apple trees. “Spike, we’re at Sweet Apple Acres! Come on, the clubhouse is not too far fr–!” She suddenly spotted the small dragon lying unconscious on the floor a couple hoof’s lengths away from her. “Spike! Spike, are you okay?” Scootaloo shook him, screamed into his ears, did all she could do… But it was no use: he would not respond. Oh no, what should I do? Of course! Twilight should know what to do. Scootaloo picked the dragon up and set him down softly on his scooter, pushing it forwards as fast as she could in the direction of the action. Oh, please be okay, Spike! “Come on, we have to go!” Sweetie Belle ignored Apple Bloom as she stared back at the clubhouse, wishing with all her heart for her hero to be alright. Come on, Silver, just last a little longer. I’m sure Scootaloo’s gone to get help. “Sweetie Belle!” “Alright, let’s go, quickly!” The unicorn filly took a couple steps forward… Only to notice a couple changelings waiting for them. Without warning, one of them lunged forward, ready to strike at the two fillies. Sweetie Belle did what any pony in that situation would do. “EEEEEEEEK!” The changeling literally froze in the air, covering its sensitive ears while writhing in pain on the ground. The other changelings around the fillies had all followed suit, as if Sweetie’s shrill voice had ripped their eardrums to shreds. Wow, Sweetie’s scream can stop these changelings? Wonder if my scream can do that too… So caught up on her new discovery, Apple Bloom failed to notice the second changeling before them, which wasted no time in pouncing towards them, hooves up, fangs bared… SMACK! Something struck the changeling in the side with the force of a manticore. The impact sent the changeling towards the ground right next to the two fillies, whose astonished gazes shifted from the creature to the object that had led to their rescue: A scooter? “Scootaloo!” Both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom jumped forward towards their savior, hugging her as tightly as they could for a couple seconds: it would have lasted longer had not Twilight run up to them and pretty much pushed them away from the clubhouse. “Okay, you girls alright?” The three fillies nodded contently, recognizing how close they had been to becoming changeling food. “Good. Oh, and Scootaloo, did you tell Spike? Where is he?” “Well…” Scootaloo directed the purple mare towards a tree a little ways a way; peacefully underneath it lay a small dragon, unconscious but breathing. “Isn’t that great. Come on, Spike, now’s not the time to be sleeping!” No response arose from the dragon, at least until Twilight decided try something a little different. “Spike, quickly, Rarity’s getting attacked!” “What? I have to go save her. I have t–” A quick bop to the head stopped the dragon in his tracks, though this time he stayed conscious. “So, Spike, did you bring the artifact?” The dragon looked over to Twilight with a look of confusion, at least until he remembered the object in his backpack. “Yeah, I have it right here. You’re only supposed to use it in dire circumstances, Twilight. Those were the Princess’s exact words.” “I know. I plan to use it only as a last resort. Now, we’re going to get everypony together so we can use the Elements and blast all the changelings back to where they came from.” In the midst of all the chaos, the three fillies had forgotten all about the colt that had protected them in the clubhouse. Sweetie Belle scolded herself internally for having not told Twilight about him at the start. “But Silver Flame is still in the clubhouse, fighting the changelings!” Sweetie Belle imagined the horrific image of Silver Flame, injured and bleeding, life slowly dissipating from his body… She couldn’t control her trembling. No, we’re going to save him. “Silver Flame? There’s another foal in the clubhouse?” Twilight’s mind began to work overtime, debating whether she had enough magical energy to enter the clubhouse and take him out. She quickly decided against that course of action. “Don’t worry Sweetie Belle,” Twilight reassured her as she gathered the bearers together and began to charge the Elements. “Once we use these elements, all the changelings will be gone and Silver will be safe.” “No, Twilight, STOP! YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!” Unfortunately, the roar of the Elements reaching their maximum power was too loud, blocking any attempts that Sweetie Belle had to try to explain to the purple unicorn. If she uses the Elements, it will destroy him too. … No, I can’t let that happen. I WON’T LET IT HAPPEN! Without another thought, the unicorn filly entered the circle, and before the Bearers could levitate to shoot their attack, Sweetie Belle bucked Applejack’s necklace, hard. The piece of jewelry unclasped, but it failed to come off. Panicking even more, as only seconds separated Silver from life and death, Sweetie used her mouth to pry the Element off from the Bearer. The circle suddenly faltered, the colors disappearing into the background, the energy slowly fading way. As the other Bearers looked around in shock, Applejack shot a cold glance at the filly who now possessed her Element. “Y-You can’t use the Elements of Harmony or you’ll hurt Silver! He’s a changeling colt, and he saved our lives,” Sweetie motioned to the other two crusaders. “You have to save him! You just have to! Please save him!” The Bearers simply glared at the filly. Something doesn’t feel right… Why would she… Out of all the Bearers’s thoughts, however, Rainbow Dash's were the only ones given the privilege of being uttered. “Hey, what did you do that for? “Or are you actually a changeling?” “N-No! How could you say that? Of course I’m Sweetie Belle!” But still Rainbow Dash approached her, battle stance ready… “Cut it out, Rainbow! She’s telling the truth. Now… “Y’all heard her! We have to go save this Silver, and we can’t use the Elements of Harmony. Well, what’re y’all waitin’ for?” Applejack rapidly galloped towards the clubhouse and confronted a trio of changelings at the base of the tree. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie stared at her in amazement before following. Twilight, however, was still rooted in place, deep in her thoughts. A changeling? Helping out the crusaders? But I’ve never heard of a changeling helping anypony else other than their own kind! Maybe she is a changeling… The purple unicorn looked over at Sweetie Belle, then back to the five ponies who had set off to the base of the treehouse. But Applejack trusts her, and so do all of my friends. I won’t let them down: we will save Silver. Twilight checked her saddlebag and found one last potion. My last one. Oh, well, let’s make it count. Once again, her body began to feel the tingling sensation of magic flowing through, providing her once again with that eerie glow. “I’m coming, guys. Time to whoop some changeling flank!” A couple minutes later, Rarity and Fluttershy were down for the count. Twilight teleported them back to the tree where Spike and the crusaders were waiting. The other four were doing alright, but unfortunately, alright was not enough: they were making no progress towards the clubhouse, changeling after changeling materializing as if out of thin air. A-ha! They must be teleporting! Let’s try out this new spell, then! Twilight concentrated a substantial amount of magic on her horn. Let’s hope this works! An immense huge wave of magic stretched out from within her, expanding seemingly to no end. Now to test it. “Rarity, do you think you could pass me Spike’s backpack?” “Why, here you g— Wait. “My magic. I-It’s not working! Twilight, my magic isn’t working! Oh, Celestia, how horrible! What have those changelings done to me! No, this can’t be happening! Please tell me this isn’t hap—” “Rarity, there’s nothing to be worried about! I cast a spell to stop magic from being used in this area. Your magic will be fine when I let go of the spell.” … “Oh. Well, a little warning would have been nice. Now, I’m sorry, but I feel a… bit too… tired…” Rarity quickly fell asleep, unable to do much more. Oh, the joys of magical exhaustion. Fine one second, then horrible the next. But I’m running out of magic quickly. I have to go save Silver. Twilight charged directly towards the clubhouse, ramming into every changeling in her path. Luckily for her, they still had not noticed their magic was locked until it was too late. Wasting no time, she climbed the stairs two by two, and soon she came face to face with a scene quite grim: A changeling foal was tied up in the same green bind that she had seen around Sweetie Belle. But… I thought I canceled all magic out! Unless it’s… arcane magic? A larger changeling was on the floor, lying motionless and covered in what Twilight assumed was its blood. Another large changeling was almost already upon the foal, ready to strike the final blow. And strike he would have… had not Twilight rammed into him at full speed, sending him crashing to the opposite wall. Regrettably for those inside the clubhouse, the changeling’s body had left a huge, deep gash in the wall. A small cracking sound later proved Twilight’s suspicion. Twilight quickly levitated the foal wrapped in the bind and prepared to teleport… Only to find that she could not do it. Oh, right, I forgot, I can’t teleport either. The purple mare hurried back out the door and jumped— changeling foal and all— while trying her hardest to cushion him from the gravity of the fall. Still, the injured changeling would not back down without a fight: it galloped as fast as it could to reach the unicorn that had imparted such damage upon its body. The speed was still not enough, though, for at the last second, the roof of the clubhouse as well as the walls collapsed on top of the creature with a deafening thud, cutting off its advance. Twilight hurried over to her friends, all huddled around the tree as they saw the last of the changelings stop moving. Ok, time to assess the situation. Fluttershy and Rarity are out, so if more changelings show up, we may be in a bit of a bind. I’ve already used my last potion and my magic is slowly fading. Let’s hope that whoever sent these changelings has ch– And then Twilight’s horn tingled. The purple mare closed her eyes as if to focus her senses. Oh, no. Her eyes grew to the size of oranges, her face devoid of any expression. “Twilight, what’s wrong?” Apple Bloom had noticed the weird face the purple mare had made, and the unicorn quickly imparted her newfound information: “There’s a squad of around thirty changelings coming.” Drat, and we can’t use the Elements with Fluttershy and Rarity in this state. What else could possibly go wrong? Once again, fate chose to smite the poor unicorn as a distinct buzzing sound resonated from afar, slowly approaching and increasing in volume by the second. Oh, no, they’re aerial drones, the most powerful type of changelings. We’re doomed. In a matter of moments, the first dark speck was spotted, then a couple more, then a few more… In less than five seconds, a large cloud of possibly forty changelings arose from the depths of nowhere, filling everywhere. Instinctively, Twilight set up a barrier around her friends… Or so she thought, but she quickly came to realize it would not happen. Well, at least they can’t use magic eith— And the curve balls just kept coming as she noticed their horns emitting a small amount of light. No, they really are using arcane magic! Ugh! That means this magic-cancelling spell is useless against them! Opting instead to counter magic with magic, she let drop the cancellation barrier and put up a bright purple shield around her friends and the small changeling. And the attacks finally came. The entire shield vibrated profusely, unrelenting in it’s will to protect those below it… I’m out of options, at this rate, I’ll only be able to block a dozen or so attacks, maybe less. Twilight’s brain began to think, taking in everything around her, looking for something, anything that could possibly help them. And thank Celestia, her prayers were answered as she watched Scootaloo take out the scroll that Spike had brought. “Scootaloo!” “I didn’t mean to touch it, Twilight! Apple Bloom dared me to!” “Hey!” Apple Bloom gave the pegasus a mean stare, which she easily ignored. “Never mind that,” Twilight responded as three more attacks hit her shield. “Quickly, I need you to take that scroll and open it. Lay it on the floor and hold it open with your four hooves!” “Uh… like this?” Scootaloo had each of her hooves on one corner of the scroll, her stance making her a bit uncomfortable. “Yeah, now repeat after me: I, Scootaloo, call forth on the ancient magicks of Equestria…” “I, Scootaloo, call forth on the ancient magicks of Equestria…” “… and through my soul, I hereby access that life source that binds us all together…” “… and through my soul, I hereby access that life source that binds us all t-together…” The shield had begun to weaken, but that wasn’t what Scootaloo was looking at: the scroll underneath her had started to glow a bright golden yellow, a soothing warmth spreading through her body. “… to call upon the Immortal Sister who commands the sun!” “… to c-call upon the Immortal Sister who c-commands the sun!” “Now quickly, Scootaloo, get off the scroll.” “What?” “JUST GET OFF IT!” The orange pegasus leaped away from fright… And luckily at just the right time, for the scroll had levitated and started to spin as raw magic spewed from the ancient letters written on it. A swirling vortex encompassed the object as everypony struggled to make sense of the situation. … CRACK Oh, no, the shield’s shattering! The artifact’s spell is not yet complete! Having no other option, Twilight poured in some of her own life force into the shield. I can’t give out any more. If I do… Still, it was a risk she had to take to protect those she cared for. An explosion of golden light arose from the artifact, which had quite suddenly burned up into cinders. What was more astonishing, however, was what had replaced it: it was another pony, one of such grand stature that she radiated warmth and happiness, a pony equally known for her powerful magic and for her benevolence. … “PRINCESS CELESTIA!?”