//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2: Familial Ties 
// Story: An In-depth Study of the Origins of the Changeling Race 
// by Crystal Static 
//------------------------------//


Familial Ties




Shortly after her discoveries, Twilight finds herself knocking on the door to Celestia's private quarters.

"Hello there my faithful student"

"Can I come in Princess? This is important."

"I thought I told you that you did not need to use my title, although I am curious as to why you would come to my quarters at this late hour"

"I found a lead on the project you have me working on."

"Is that all? I am sure that you could have waited until the morning to update me on your progress."

"Yeah… About that… I need you to send a royal summons to one Trixie Lulamoon, otherwise I am not going to be able to make any more progress in this project."

"Oh? Care to elaborate on why you need her?"

"I cannot tell you until I have her permission, it is something sensitive that directly pertains to her. I wish I could share, but it is not my place to decide who should know."

"Very well Twilight, in the morning, after I raise the sun, I will personally go to deliver your summons and retrieve her."

"Thank you Princess, I wish I could explain more, but I cannot."

"Its okay Twilight, I am pretty sure this has something to do with a certain bearded unicorn that we are both familiar with, although I do not see how that is relevant to changelings."

"Err… Yeah… Well… I am just going to let you get back to sleeping… See you tomorrow… Tia."



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Asleep in her trailer, The Great and Powerful Trixie is dreaming of that one fateful night in Ponyville. Tossing and turning, she awakens with a loud scream, just before Celestia knocks on the door. Hearing the scream, Celestia forcibly enters the trailer.

"Are you okay?!"

"Yes, I am fine, just a tad groggy."

"Well I am glad you are alright, although I am curious as to why you were screaming."

"Just a nightmare…" - Trixie turns over and sees who she is talking to - "AHHHHHHH! P-P-Princess C-C-Celestia? W-What a-are you doing here?"

"I am here to deliver a Royal Summons to one Trixie Lulamoon, you are needed for something of vital importance to Equestria."

"W-W-What? You need me to save Equestria?"

"No, not to save it, but my student has been researching the origins of the changelings, and has discovered something quite interesting. She wouldn't say what it is, but she absolutely refused to disclose any information without your presence. Pack whatever you need for a stay at Canterlot Castle, I will be waiting outside until you are ready to go."

Celestia then leaves the trailer to wait for Trixie to pack, then the duo teleport to the throne room of Canterlot Castle.



{~~~~~~~~}



After arriving, Trixie is taken to a private room to meet Twilight. The Princess agrees to wait outside until they are finished.

"Twilight Sparkle! Why have you brought The Great and Powerful Trixie all the way to Canterlot against her will?!"

"Trixie, this is entirely for your benefit. I could have simply told the Princess that not only was StarSwirl the Bearded was one of your direct ancestors, but the Lulamoon family has direct ties to the origins of the changeling race. The only reason why I haven't told her yet is because it is your place to tell. She already knows about StarSwirl, but she is completely unaware of the ties to the changelings."

"What?! Trixie is a direct descendant of the StarSwirl the Bearded?"

"Yes, but that is not the important thing here, although the fact that you didn't already know you were a blood descendant of StarSwirl Lulamoon is surprising."

"Wait a second! How does Trixie know that you are not lying?"

"If you must know, I read it in one of StarSwirl's personal journals, in a small chapter where he was investigating the feeding habits of Changelings."

"Oh, that doesn't explain how Trixie's family is connected to the changelings though."

"I am aware. I am not sure how exactly, but one of your ancestors was probably the first changeling to exist, I need you to help with research. We need to figure out how and why one of your family was changed."

"Very well, although Trixie does not desire to work with you, she will. Trixie is a tad curious as to how my bloodline and the changelings are related."

"I also would like your permission to disclose anything we find to Princess Celestia."

"Hmmm… Trixie will allow you to tell the Princess, it is for the safety of Equestria after all."

"Okay then." - Twilight opens the door to the private room - "Princess, Trixie has agreed to help with the research on the origins of the Changelings, and she has granted you access to all information we may find."

"Thank you Twilight, now can you explain how Miss Lulamoon is relevant to the changelings?"

"Well… I found a chapter in an old StarSwirl journal in the archives, where he apparently met a changeling in the lower districts of Canterlot  when looking for information on how changelings feed. He wrote down bits of the conversation he had with said changeling, where she treated StarSwirl like royalty. Later on in the chapter, I discovered that the changelings are part of the Lulamoon bloodline. From what I gathered reading the passage, I think it is safe to say that the first changeling was originally an ancient unicorn of the Lulamoon family."

"That is indeed surprising, and I understand why you would be hesitant to share that information with me without the prior approval of Miss Lulamoon here. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go deal with some foolish nobles in the day court, good luck with your research."



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After the meeting with Celestia, Twilight and Trixie enter the Royal Archives to continue researching the changelings.

"Is everything alright Trixie?"

"No, Trixie is not alright."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

"Ha! Why would the Great and Powerful Trixie want to talk about her issues with somepony like you?" - Trixie attempts to hide the tears she is threatening to shed.

"Its okay Trixie, you can talk to me. I know we have had our differences in the past, but I am willing to overlook that if you need somepony to talk to or a shoulder to cry on."

"I am sorry Twilight, it is just that for so long I have been angry. At first I thought I was angry at you for running off that ursa when I couldn't, but then I realized that I wasn't angry at you, but at myself."

"Trixie, you do not have to be angry at anypony… Also, you stopped referring to yourself in the third pony."

"After the events of that one night, I haven't had a single good night's sleep from the nightmares. At first they were just me losing to the ursa, not just like being unable to stop it, where I was actively being eaten or mauled or crushed by it. And then later on the nightmares turned into me being a terrible pony for the things I have done, where you and Celestia start a ponyhunt for me and my actions."

"I think I understand Trixie, but why would anypony try to start a ponyhunt for you because of some bad judgment calls and a few mistakes? And if it will make you feel any better, I do not think any less of you for what happened. And if we can get over the past, I would even be willing to consider you a friend."

"Thank you Twilight, I would be honored to make amends with you, and hopefully one day I will be able to call you my friend. As for the referring to myself in the third-pony, it was just a defense mechanism that I used to help get over stage fright; eventually, I just started doing it all the time because it helped me cope with the negativity that I received from other ponies."