//------------------------------// // One Gift for Four // Story: Outsider: The Vengeful Changeling // by Sillyponyme //------------------------------// Twilight had traveled all night back to her library; luckily she had been able to sleep most of the way. Once she reached the train station in Appleloosa, all she had to do was sit back and relax for the most part. There were a few things that had kept her awake longer then she had wanted. One of those things was Crush and how he had acted. He acted the way any normal pony would have reacted not that one would have to act that way to be normal, it was just one that wouldn’t surprise anypony. It scared her to think that Crush would go after Bloodlust without a clear head. Twilight couldn’t be sure why that worried her, that Crush, a Changeling would die because of enraged mind. Changelings couldn’t be trusted, not completely; even now she had kept an eye out for them. Sweetie Belles marriage to Crush didn’t make much of a difference in her eyes. Still, she didn’t want to see him dead. Crush really hadn’t been a bad Changeling and he was helping or at least that was how she was trying to see it. She couldn’t help but feel that Crush, regardless of what Twilight had said or done, wasn’t trying to get rid of her and take over. It was midnight before Twilight returned to the library and had she been awake enough, she would have felt a strange chill down her back but not from time freezing but from somepony watching her. She walked into the library and yawned loudly. “Spike, you awake?” Twilight asked through a large yawn. “I’ve been up waiting for you, Flash has as well. We’ve been worried sick, well he has.” Spike pointed to Flash who had fallen asleep on the couch. “He should worry; he is my guard after all.” Twilight saw a small smirk on Spike’s lips. “What?” “He wasn’t worried because of that; he was worried because he loves you.” Spike made a kissy face at Twilight. “Grow up Spike.” Twilight yawned and chuckled as she made her way upstairs. It had been a long day and she knew that once her head hit the pillow, she would be out like a light. Twilight woke later than normal that morning. She got up, brushed her mane and got ready as fast as possible. The smell of pancakes rose from the kitchen. “Good old Spike.” Twilight made her way downstairs and into the kitchen to find a surprise. It wasn’t Spike making breakfast but her guard. “Flash, you’re making breakfast?” Flash jumped when he heard Twilights voice. He turned around and smiled. “Princess, I was going to bring you breakfast in bed. You had such a long day yesterday and so I thought I would make this morning relaxing for you.” Twilight smiled and walked over to the table. “Don’t be silly, it wasn’t completely out of the ordinary. Ok it was a little but that’s because I went to Froud Valley. Staying up late was normal enough though. Thank you though Flash, that is very sweet of you.” Twilight sat down when somepony knocked on her door. “I got it!” Spike yelled from the other room as he ran toward the door. He opened it up and was shocked by what he had seen. “Twilight, could you come here?” Spike asked from the door. Twilight stood up from the table and walked into the other room. “Who is it Spike?” Twilight made her way toward the door. When she arrived, she smiled and then her eyes widened. “Zecora, what happened?” Twilight let her friend in and the two went over to the couch and sat down. Zecora limped the whole way, her body scratched up and bleeding or was bleeding. Bandages covered the worst scratches on her body and she now wore an eye patch. “Twilight, Trixie and I, we fought with Bloodlust but we weren’t strong enough. What can I say, we were out of practice. I suppose that even when you’re a natural at something, one must practice.” “Trixie, as in the blue mean hearted pony; the one that wants revenge and tried to throw me out of Ponyville?” Zecora nodded. “I don’t get it, why, wait, you didn’t rhyme.” “Trixie, I and two others have a gift. Trixie, one other, and I have been keeping our gift a secret. Long story short, we acted completely different then.” Zecora groaned and started to continue when Flash came out. “Flash Sentry, you’re here?” “Yes Zecora, I’m Twilights guard.” Flash walked up next to Twilight and smiled. “Good, she is going to need you, Equestria will need you. You have had the courage to practice your skills.” Zecora fainted on the couch. Twilight went over and checked for a pulse which with great relief she found. “Flash, what is she talking about?” Twilight turned and asked. “What haven’t you told me?” She was to say a bit miffed. “Trixie, Zecora and I have all been gifted with the outsiders’ power. That’s why Bloodlust went after them, they were in his way. Chances are, I’m next but I don’t intend to let him live.” Flash pulled out his sword. “Go, get as many guards as possible and search him out. Do not confront him, tell me where he is and I’ll go with you as backup. Nopony fights this Changeling alone.” Twilight ordered. Flash wanted to protest but Twilight wouldn’t let him. “No buts Flash, you do as I say is that understood?” Flash gave a hard nod and left but not before giving Twilight a quick peck on the cheek. Twilight blushed for a moment before she stood straight and focused. “Told you he liked you Twilight.” Spike pointed out. “Not…now.” Twilight felt the chill and started to teleport out of the room. Spike stood frozen and Twilight appeared to be the same way. Bloodlust entered the room behind Twilight, jumped on her and started to slice her neck when she disappeared. “What, no, how?” Bloodlust asked looking around the room confused and angry. “She can’t do that, she doesn’t have the gift.” He looked around the room some more but couldn’t find her anywhere. “AHHHHHHH! This isn’t OVER!” Bloodlust blinked upstairs, out the balcony and left Ponyville. Twilight appeared outside her home just as Bloodlust left. Her breathing was raspy and her throat hurt. She reached up with her hoof and felt her neck. She could feel a thick wet substance and knew that her neck had been sliced, at the very least scratched. “Guards!” Twilight yelled as loud as she could but it was like Fluttershy talking, quiet and unheard. Her blood ran down her neck, to her underside and down one of her fore hooves. “Somepony?” Twilight wobbled and then collapsed and blacked out as screams were heard getting closer.