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// Home Again 
// Story: Outsider: A Time for Change 
// by Sillyponyme 
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	Twilight had spent a good two hours writing in her diary and it worried her. She had never had so much time to relax in the last three years. Chrysalis had always attacked within an hour of her relaxation time. Twilight pushed her diary under the bed and stepped outside her room. The hallways were never so quiet before; at least not this long. There wasn’t any movement in the least except for her own hoof steps as she walked down the hallway. Her steps echoed through the hallways if you could consider dirt tunnels hallways. Something was wrong and Twilight could feel it. She began sprinting toward the front when Rainbow Dash called out to her. “Twilight, you’ll want to come see this!” 

Twilight sprinted faster down the hallway and burst from the entrance ready to attack the queen. To Twilights surprise, there wasn’t an army waiting, just the queen holding a white flag in her magical grip. “Chrysalis, what is the meaning of this, you can’t seriously believe that we would believe that you surrender?” Twilight glared at the queen.

“Normally I would never surrender but as you can see, one of us needs to. I’ve lost far too many changelings and I’m sure that you can say the same about your mares and stallions. If I were to continue, I’d be wiped out, for as you can see, you outnumber me by a thousand to one. I guess you can call it a tactical surrender.” Chrysalis stood waiting for a response but none came. “I see, well just remember this Princess; if you attack me, imagine how dishonorable that will make you look. This is how I see it, you can believe me and not worry about it or you can worry yourself sick. I really don’t care either way.” With that said, Chrysalis dropped the flag and walked off.

“Twilight, what do we do, there is no way that she would possibly be surrender?” Rainbow stared at the queen as she walked away from them.

“We go back to Ponyville, if she has truly given up, her minions will have left but I do agree Rainbow Dash. Something doesn’t seem right. I want you to keep an eye out for her. I will do the same but don’t make yourself sick. Please, gather all the ponies around town hall, I wish to speak.” Rainbow nodded and ran into the tunnels to gather up all the ponies and bring them back to Ponyville.

Twilight arrived at town hall before anypony arrived and walked in. The only pony there was Mayor Mare and of course Rainbow Dash who just left. “Hello Mayor.”

“Princess Twilight, Rainbow Dash told me that you have an announcement. I take it the war is over?” Mayor Mare got her answer in the form of a look and gesture. Twilight looked at her, frowned a bit and then turned away. “Oh, I see.”

“Chrysalis says that she has given up but something isn’t right. As far as everypony is concerned, the war is over. I have Rainbow Dash and I keeping an eye on things. I want you to continue to do your job as you normally would. The last thing we need is for everypony to worry.” Mayor Mare nodded and left to her office.

Rainbow Dash opened the doors to the building and cleared her throat. “Twilight, we’re all ready for you.”

“Thank you Rainbow Dash, I’ll be out in a moment.” Twilight turned and smiled as she watched Rainbow leave for the second time. She inhaled deeply and then released the air in her lungs. “Here goes everything.” She walked out the door and stood behind the podium. In the crowd she noticed Crush looking around almost nervously. Perhaps it was because of all the strange faces or being in a new place. It could also be that he was hiding something and he was scared that somepony will figure him out. Regardless, Twilight needed to get started. “Welcome home everypony.” The crowd stayed silent. “I know that you’re all wondering why we have returned to Ponyville.” There were many nods seen and ‘uh huh’s’ heard. “Today Chrysalis came and we spoke. She has given up on the war.” Everypony gave confused looks and mumblings. “I realize that this is a shock to all of you, it was to Rainbow Dash and I as well, believe me.”

A unicorn reporter stepped up with a microphone in his magic grip. “How can you be so sure that she has given up, who is to say that she won’t strike once we are comfortable?” The crowd became loud and rowdy at the point being made by the reporter. He was right; the queen could attack at any moment and out of nowhere.

“Everypony please, calm down.” Twilight tried but the crowd was too loud. “QUIET!” The crowd turned to Twilight and settled down. Twilight could be very loud when she needed to be and this was one of those times. “Thank you, now as for your question. I assure you that you are safe. As soon as we are finished here, I will personally make sure that our homes, workplaces, and so on will be reinforced. I also have Rainbow Dash and myself looking out for any suspicious activity. If anything happens we will be ready and nopony will be hurt. I will also have Princess Celestia and Princess Luna’s help in keeping an eye out for Chrysalis. I am going to take every precaution to make sure that nothing happens to any of you. I personally believe that she was being truthful with the surrender but I know that many of you will not be so trusting and for good reason. All I ask of you is that you do not worry and go on about your days as usual. This war is over.” For the most part Twilight had said the honest truth but saying that Chrysalis was truthful, that was far from it and there was no way Chrysalis was going to just stop everything. Twilight knew that the queen was up to something and she would figure it out sooner or later. Nopony starts a war and then abruptly ends it.

“You know Chrysalis-” The reporter was cut off by a voice from above.

“Everypony, please leave, my sister and I must speak with Princess Twilight.” Celestia and her sister landed in front of the crowd. Nopony argued and left without a single groan. “Twilight, my sister and I are suspicious of this sudden surrender.”

“As am I but the last thing they need is to worry.” Twilight said defensively.

“We agree completely, there is no need to defend yourself. Now I take it that you have come up with ways to make sure that they are all safe?” Luna asked.

“I was just about to take care of things, after the meeting of course. While you two are here, I need you two to keep an eye out for Chrysalis. I already have Rainbow Dash and myself on it but we can only look out so much. Now before you ask, I didn’t ask the others because they all have their jobs to do which involve being inside or being surrounded by trees. Their views are obstructed by something except for Rainbow who is always in the sky as it is. The others just don’t have that ability. I will have Mayor Mare check up on Rainbow and have food brought to her. When Chrysalis attacked the first time, Rainbow was inside eating. I can bet that the Changeling Queen will take that advantage again. I can’t risk that but at the same time, I won’t let Rainbow take care of it all the time. Her and I will switch off at times which means that I will need some help. If one of you could come and check on the progress of the buildings and make sure that everything goes well; that would be wonderful.” Twilight explained and the two sisters nodded in agreement.

“I see that you have everything under control, well done. I will stop by tomorrow and help out where I can while Luna takes over Canterlot for me. Does that sound ok sister?” Luna nodded and then the three said their goodbyes.