Chapter Ten
Ponyville did not have anything much in the way of prisons. There was little need for them in their society. However, that is not to say there were none, just that the prison in question was last used about fifty or so years ago, when two ponies had gotten in a dispute over carpentering rights. They had ended up leveling town hall, and both ponies in question had been incarcerated for a day so they could cool their hooves. There was no sheriff in town, as the job was just taken by whatever strong upstanding citizen was needed at the time. Generally this pony would be an earth pony. Still, the place was not often used, or even remarked upon, unless it was needed.
So, after getting some directions to the little used building, Twilight was sure that the place would be decrepit. Surprisingly it was not. Sure there was a layer of dust in the room, which sort of resembled and old western jail, but the place was somewhat maintained. Twilight speculated that somepony must have been taking care of it in case it was needed. In the middle of the room was an old desk, which a single old looking clipboard on it. Clearly it was for incident reports. There were two adjoining cells, each with a cot, a sink and a hole in the ground. The guards led Wind Whistler into one, and Draggle into the other. The two guards stepped out and closed the doors, locked them, and then used their magic to banish the ropes.
Twilight looked at the two, her mind racing. She folded her wings and turned. “You two are going to have to stay here a while.”
“I must-” Wind Whistler started, but Twilight had already opened the door and trotted out with the guards. Wind Whistler’s only sign of her great disapproval was a slight frown.
“…oh this is going well.” Draggle sat down on the cot and grumbled. “I just love your plan, Wind Whistler.”
“…I had hoped she would be understanding…”
“Should we bust out?”
“…let us give her till tomorrow morning.” Wind Whistler said.
“That long?”
“I am thinking, oh say, one in the morning?”
Draggle cackled gently.
Twilight turned to her three guards, eyeing Shining Armor and his forces, and trying not to look like she was too suspicious of them. She nodded at the guards and smiled. “I need you three to go back to Canterlot and bring Princess Luna here, please.”
The three looked at each other. “Are you sure you are protected here, Princess?” The pegasus asked.
“I’m sure. I have my friends, and Shining Armor is here.” She grinned, hoping it didn’t look fake.
The guards nodded reluctantly, and the two unicorns headed for the train, the pegasus lifted off and flying. It would take them a bit to reach there, and unfortunately neither unicorn was skilled enough to use teleportation like Twilight could. As soon as they were out of earshot she turned to the others.
“This way girls…er, and guy.” She smiled at Big Mac, who nodded at her gently, “Follow me.” Twilight led her rather confused and puzzled friends to her library, which fortunately had a decent view of the prison. She sat, observing it through a window, as Spike leaped on her back.
“Hey, what’s happening?” He asked. Twilight suddenly turned her head and blasted him with a small. He eeped in shock and fell to the ground, more startled then anything else. Quick as a flash she cast the same spell on Rainbow, Fluttershy, Big Mac and Pinkie. As soon as she was finished she was met with a pair of angry, scared, confused and in the case of Pinky wide and mirthful, eyes each.
“What the hay Twilight!” Rainbow bellowed.
“Changelings.” She said, and the group as one gasped in realization and a bit of fear. Twilight looked out the window again, studying the prison. “That pegasus, Wind Whistler, told me that there were Changelings around. It made me think. Shining Armor never calls me anything other then Twili, and he doesn’t talk, or act, like he did today. I could chalk it up to stress…but when that alien mentioned Changelings…”
“What! Shining’s a Changeling! Then why don’t we go get him right now!” Rainbow asked, lifting into the air.
“Rainbow, you remember what happened when I charged into my brother’s wedding rehearsal, accusing Cadence of being evil?” Twilight asked. Rainbow sagged.
“Oh yeah…” She flapped. “But you were right!”
“But no one believed me, and I had no evidence. If I hadn’t escaped then the Changeling queen would have won. I am not making the same mistake. I want proof before I accuse Shining. If I’m wrong, then all is well. On the other hoof the aliens might be Changelings as well, trying to cast doubt and divide us. But Shining, or Changeling Shining, seemed very eager to cause them harm. If we just leave them there, there is a good chance he might try something…so…Pinkie?” Pinkie jumped up, grinning. “This is very very important, Pinkie. It might be vital to helping your new friends. If you fail, it could be very disastrous. I need you follow Shining, without him knowing you are there. You must not be caught. At all.”
Pinkie nodded. “You can count me, Twilight!”
Twilight nodded. “Rainbow, you and I will watch the jail from the skies. If Shining or the aliens try anything, we will know. Big Mac, Fluttershy, Spike, I need you three in reserve. Be around the general area, but don’t make it look like you are watching the place. Take turns. You got that?”
Rainbow zipped her, giving Twilight a friendly bump on the shoulder with her hoof. “You can count on me!”
Fluttershy nodded, hiding a bit in her mane, but Twilight didn’t think she would waver. Pinkie bounced out a window and vanished to spy on Shining. Big Mac just took a seat near Twilight’s window and looked at the jail with intense focus.
“Alright.” Twilight stood up. “Time to do this.
At first Rainbow Dash was excited. She was on a genuine, honest to Celestia stake out! There they were! Waiting and watching for the evil Changelings to make their move! Ready willing and able to fly into combat with the most evil creatures in Equestria! Soon they would be locked in deadly combat worthy of a Darning Do novel and…
Rainbow was about to go nuts!
No one had bothered to tell her how incredibly boring being on a stake out was. Usually the stories skipped past all the waiting and got right to the evil afoot. It was taking all of Rainbow’s willpower to not sleep…okay it took several harsh nudges from Twilight to get her to stop snoring. But it was sooooo boring! She had a feeling that she was driving poor Twilight insane as well with her constant twitching, because Twilight kept hissing at her to be quiet, or to stop, or to be still or of course to stop snoring. But Rainbow couldn’t help it! This was driving her nuts. So was Twilight, and she had a feeling she was driving Twilight insane as well.
Night was starting to fall. Luna must have been able to lower the sun, Celestia’s normal task, and raise the moon herself. Rainbow thought that was awesome, but it didn’t make the job any less boring. Rainbow was about ready to call it quits. This was stupid. But then she felt a sharp nudge on her side, and she jolted awake. Twilight frowned at her and pointed with a hoof. Rainbow peered over the cloud they had been resting on and blinked. Shining Armor was stealthy sneaking to the jail, his crystal guards following through the alleys and setting up positions near the jail, as if ready to charge in in case of trouble. Rainbow felt Twilight wrap her hoof around Rainbow’s neck, and a sudden tugging sensation, then a flash of light. She blinked as her world was suddenly dark. She might have cried out if Twilight handed stuffed her hoof in Rainbow’s mouth.
Slowly Rainbows eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she could see that they were in the jail, hiding on the other side of the desk. Twilight eased her down under the desk, till both of them were hidden. Rainbow peered over and saw that both prisoners had not noticed them. Even if the alien pegasus seemed to eye their corner, it wasn’t for long, and she raised no alarm either way. She simply stared into the darkness. Her expression sort of reminded Rainbow of Pinkie’s weird sister. Still, she hadn’t noticed them. Great! Everything seemed to be going smoothly.
Rainbow tensed as the door to the jail opened, and Shining Armor trotted in. Despite the sudden appearance of the prince, the alien pegasus simply turned her head and stared at Shining, as if he was of little to no importance at all. A slight tilt of her ears was the only indication she was paying any mind to Shining.
“So, you’re Wind Whistler.” Shining approached, slight unpleasant smirk on his face. “You don’t look like much. From what the witches keep saying I would have thought you’d be more…impressive.”
“Changeling, correct.” Wind Whistler studied Shining. “Truth be told I was expecting something a percentage more imposing myself. It appears we must both be disappointed.”
“Oh? I don’t scare you?” Shining’s horn began to glow green.
“Hardly.” Wind Whistler chuckled slightly. “Are you going to monologue now? Do tell me. I am afraid I am missing my popcorn.”
“Let’s skip it then.” Shining suddenly lifted Wind Whistler with his magic and slammed her against the wall. “I think Reeka is going to appreciate getting your head. After all, what are friends for.” He suddenly yelped as Draggle grabbed his tail and yanked him closer. She leaned forwards against the ball, eyes meeting his.
“Guess again, witches don’t have friends.” Draggle grinned, and lightning burst from her eyes, striking him right in the pupils, and sending him to the ground. Green light spread from his body, and all of a sudden there was a Changeling there.
Twilight darted from under the desk and leaped forwards. “NOW RAINBOW!” Rainbow cheered and changed the stunned Changeling, bucking him harshly. She looked to the side and noticed Twilight telekinetically break the locks on the alien’s cells and open them both as once. Draggle grabbed Twilight by the horn and yanked her forwards.
“You used us as bait.” She growled.
Twilight nodded. “I know. I’m sorry. It was wrong, but I had to make sure he was a Changeling.”
“If I had a coin for every time a pony said that to me-“
“You’d have an average of two gold, Draggle. Do settle down.” Wind Whistler frowned at Twilight. “I do no approve either, but I understand your reasoning.” She looked over Rainbow’s shoulder and tensed. “Look out!”
Rainbow turned as the Changeling attempted to latch its fangs on her shoulder. She growled and bucked it again, even harder this time, straight out the door. She leaped into the air and followed it outside, screaming. “CHANGELINGS! THE CRYSTAL PONIES ARE CHANGELINGS!” She grinned as Big Mac came bursting out of the library, charging for them as the crystal pony guards surrounded her, dropping their illusions and becoming Changelings. To her shock and horror more ponies slipped out the shadows, copies of the various faces around town, who dropped their illusions and then began to switch. Some became Rainbow. Others Twilight, and few even took the forms of the alien ponies. There had to be at least fifty of them.
Rainbow spread her wings and lowered her head, ready to charge as Big Mac tried to barrel to her position, knocking Changelings aside, but he wasn’t going to make it in time. The front line Changelings charged for Rainbow, intending to pummel her. All of a sudden wings blotted out the moon, and a white pegasus landed on a doppelganger of herself who was charging for Rainbow.
“Surprise, dumbbells! There’s only one of me! Gusty! The shape shifters are here!”
“CHARGE!” Rainbow lifted her head and looked around to see the aliens charging from around the jail, followed by Pinkie, who grinned at Rainbow.
“I brought frieeeeends!” She laughed and pulled out her party cannon from…somewhere, and blasted a gaggle of Changelings, startling the heck out of Fizzy, who turned her head to see what that was that just shot past her. She blinked at the sudden appearance of the cannon and tripped, rolling into another group of Changelings like a bowling ball. Two more attempted to tackle her, but the funny butterfly pony suddenly fluttered between them and Fizzy, turned her…her butt to them? What in Equestria was it thinking and-…oh apparently she could shot magic of some kind from her wings. That made more sense. Rainbow grinned in glee as the Utter Flutter striped away the illusions from the Changelings, revealing their true forms.
“Heck yeah! Nice going, Butterfly!” Rainbow hoof pumped the air.
“Morning Glory. Pleasure.” Morning Glory fluttered closer to Rainbow, stripping Changelings as she went. Rainbow looked behind her at the jail, and saw that Twilight had galloped out, shooting magic from her horn. Rainbow blinked when Wind Whistler emerged, with the human riding her. Then Rainbow remembered the human was technically a cripple. That made sense. Must be a pain in the tail, for everypony. Though the fact that she could shoot lighting out of her eyes, and thump Changelings with her newly returned staff as Wind Whistler charged around, adding her own headbutts, well it seemed effective enough.
Still, nopony would ever see Rainbow with a monkey on her back!
“Are you going to stare, or fight, Skinny?” The white unicorn from before, Gusty wasn’t it, was suddenly before her, snorting in derision.
“Bet I can kick more flank then you, sister!” Rainbow laughed.
“Oh you’re on, Toothpick Leg!”
“Put your hoof where your mouth is, Cubby!” Rainbow charged into the fray, bucking several newly revealed Changelings. “That’s three!”
Gusty turned her horn towards a gaggle of five and let loose with a gust of harsh wind, splatting them against a building. “Five!”
“Oh it is on!” Rainbow rushed forwards, bucking and stomping and flapping. She could never resist a challenge! It felt almost like Applejack was back…though Applejack was much better company.
The Changelings were starting to rise into the air, clearly intent on fleeing. Though they outnumbered the group, it was clear they were outmatched, and a few had even abandoned the swarm and were flying off, looks of panic on their snouts. At first Rainbow was certain it was all them…then the voice of Princess Luna echoed.
“FLEE, FIENDS!” Rainbow looked up to see the Princess diving downwards, accompanied by not only a squad of dark grey pegasi, but also a squad of her special bat winged night ponies. They tacked the swarm from mid air, and the Changelings scattered and fled.
“YEEEEHAW!” Rainbow hoof pumped again. “Fly back home, you little bugs!”
Surprise landed with Morning Glory, laughing so loud it almost remained Rainbow of Pinkie. The fact that Surprise apparently had almost the exact same Cutie Mark sort of scared Rainbow. Two of them?! Equestria was doomed. Rainbow noticed that the aliens were grouping together across from the Equestrians, and Rainbow darted over to Twilight’s side. She bowed as Luna landed and approached them, her forces following the Changelings to make sure they had left town.
For a moment, just like before, the two groups stood across from her, but Rainbow felt that she didn’t want to fight them anymore. Gusty was a jerk, but she could fight! And that butterfly pony was pretty cool!
Rainbow looked on worriedly as Luna stepped closer, closing the gap between her and the blue pegasus…Wind Whistler. Draggle, who was still on Wind Whistler’s back, gripped her mane, glaring at Luna. Wind Whistler simply studied Luna, as if mentally judging her.
Luna met the other ponies’ strangely soft pink eyes, then bowed her head, still totally graceful and princessy in the action. Luna raised her head and lifted her hoof.
“I, must apologies for my accusations from before.” Luna said. “I was not in my right mind a thousand years ago, and to me those times are very recent. I am willing to admit that things must have changed since then, despite what I saw with my own eyes. If a subject of Queen Majesty says that a Gloom Witch is a friend, then I should at least hear her out.”
Wind Whistler tilted her head. “Define not in your right mind.”
“The Nightmare is…was…a voice. It convinced me that as long as I let it in, I would no be alone. And I was…very lonely. Once I did let it in…I can only remember bits after that.” Luna sighed.
Fizzy had ducked behind Gusty and Wind Whistler, but now she peered over them. “R-really? So you were right Wind Whistler! She’s more like Scorpan!”
“Scorpan?” Luna asked.
“Your Nightmare spread to more then just Tirac.” Wind Whistler said, her voice gaining a small disapproving edge. “However…I understand. I myself was hasty. Draggle is a friend of mine.”
“To be fair, you’re not that far off.” Draggle shrugged. “I don’t remember Mama ever talking about pony eating, but she is evil. So’s my sister.”
Luna blinked. “I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. I chose it.” Draggle shrugged and sort of gestured at the ponies.
“Now, might I suggest that we put these debacles behind us, all of us, and focus on the matter at hand.” Wind Whistler gave a short nod at Luna. “There is far more at stake here then your actions, your Highness.”
“I agree.” Luna said.
“YIPPEEE!” Pinkie burst in between them, spewing confetti from…somewhere. “Now we can finally have that Welcome to Ponyville party! We can everyone over and there’ll be cake and streamers and pie and I even made some baked bads for Draggle!” She leaned in close to Wind Whistler and hissed. “It’s cause she doesn’t like sweets!”
Wind Whistler blinked. “…I am aware of her dietary needs, Pinkie Pie, but we must discuss the proceeding events. It could be vital to survival of both our dimensional planes.”
“Er…what?” Rainbow looked at Twilight, but Gusty rolled her eyes.
“She means we need to compare stories. Get on the same page. Do I need to speak in much smaller words?”
“As if the only reason you can understand her isn’t that you’ve grown up with her.” Draggle chuckled.
“Hey, you picked it up really fast…which doesn’t say much for Rainbutt’s brains.”
“It’s Rainbow!” Rainbow darted over to Gusty, who didn’t even blink. “I’m gonna-“
“Neither of you are helping.” Wind Whistler stepped between them. “Desist. Immediately.”
“Are you trying to impress everypony by throwing big words at us?” Rainbow asked. Wind Whistler blinked.
“No.” Wind Whistler seemed surprised. “It…is more a force of habit.”
“And ‘immediately’ isn’t THAT big a word…to anyone with a brain.” Gusty laughed.
“You are still not helping.” Wind Whistler gave Gusty a stern look.
Twilight approached and put a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder. “How about this. Pinkie, why don’t we hold on the big welcome party for later. When we aren’t in a crisis.”
“Oh…Okay! Hey! Best idea! We can discuss the whole invading Changelings things, and enjoy some of the cupcakes at the same time! I really don’t want them to go bad, unless they are bads, and this way we get two bushels of apples with one buck!” Pinkie grinned.
“…I’m kinda hungry.” Fizzy spoke up from somewhere behind Gusty. She peered over her friend’s back and smiled gently. “We’ve been wandering around that forest all day!”
Wind Whistler chuckled, giving Fizzy a brief affectionate smile. She looked at Pinkie. “That sounds acceptable.”
Twilight was glad that the aliens…the Ponylanders, didn’t have to deal with a Pinkie Welcome Party right off the bat. After returning to the library, which was now being guarded by several royal guards, Pinkie somehow managed to materialize the cupcakes and baked bads to the middle of the room, right beneath the huge horse head statue. The small group of ponies sat casually around the table, even Luna, and listened to both Wind Whistler and Surprise, who took turns telling their sides of the story.
“Still haven’t figured out why you led us here, Stoneback.” She shrugged at the Stoneback, who had been getting reacquainted with Fluttershy. The creature huffed at them, then tapped his claws three times.
“OOOOH! Charades!” Okay, three words?” Pinkie grinned. The Stoneback shook his head, tapped three times, and tapped Fluttershy, then Pinkie, then Twilight on the head. Pinkie smiled. “Three ponies?” The Stoneback nodded and reached a claw over his head, then drew it downwards. “Three…small ponies…three…”
Twilight flapped her wings. “THREE FOALS? You saw our missing fillies!” The Stoneback nodded vigorously. “Where are they?” The Stoneback pointed at the Ponylanders. Twilight gasped. “In their world?” Another vigorous nod.
“…you know you could have tried this before.” Draggle grumbled as the Stoneback turned to glare at her.
“So…” Twilight summarized. “At some point the CMC ran across the mirror, and being curious and…slightly reckless they took a ride over, and you saw them?” The Stoneback nodded, then mimed coming up from a burrow, and being kicked in the face by a filly. He then made little galloping motions with his claws, away from him. Wind Whistler frowned.
“You scared them, just like you scared the Furbobs. They ran…and you naturally assumed more ponies would help.” The Stoneback nodded.
“Then you grabbed us, we got pulled over, and then Reeka chased us off with the Changelings.”
“At some point two others must have crossed over. Ribbon mentioned another Applejack in her dream message.” Fizzy said, mouth covered with white icing.
“Dream what?” Twilight asked.
“Ribbon is one of our friends, she’s telepathic, but it’s spotty across dimensions. According to Fizzy she defiantly mentioned something about another Applejack, and when we told Pinkie about it she mentioned you have a friend with that name. The Changelings must have either chased them over to Dream Valley, or they followed your baby’s tracks.” Wind Whistler explained.
“That makes sense. Two of them are Applejack and Rarity’s sisters.”
“Oh man…poor Scootaloo…” Rainbow sighed, landing for a bit. “I should have gone with them!”
“You know what’s bothering me?” Draggle studied what could be a green muffin like object with a worm waving at her. She consumed it one bite, looking briefly pleased before continuing. “Reeka.”
“Not that your family issues aren’t tragic and all, bu-” Rainbow began, and Draggle cut her off.
“It’s not that. It’s all of this.” Draggle said.
“What do you mean?” Twilight asked, though Wind Whistler’s eyes started to widen slightly. “Hydia…would never approve of Reeka finding allies of any sort. Not unless there was something to be gained.”
“And after my little…whatever you want to call it, I don’t see Reeka going against her. She’s been following Mama’s orders like a puppy ever since. Why change now?”
“Unlikely, so Hydia must have something to do with this.”
“Don’t we already know this?” Rainbow asked impatiently.
“Witches don’t have friends, Rainbutt.” Draggle studied another baked bad. “We sometimes make allies, but we usually try and backstab the at some point. It was one of the first things she taught us, right up there with lying, stealing, and proper cauldron maintenance. So.” Another big bite. “What, exactly, is my family getting out this little arrangement with the Changelings? And how did she find them in the first place? They don’t exist in our world…do they Wind Whistler?”
“Not to my knowledge, though Paradise would know more…” Wind Whistler thought. “Still, that does not explain how they came over here in the first place, and why they are allies.”
“That is not all.” Luna said. “Arabus, the Cloud Demon, is the one behind the Crystal Empire’s siege. I would bet that is why the Changelings impersonated Shining Armor, because he is probably dealing with the demon.”
“WHAT? BULL!” Gusty stamped. “Arabus was sealed away in Bright Valley! After the Flutter Ponies took care of him!”
“Wait, Flutter Ponies?” Luna looked at Gusty. “They…helped you?”
“You’re looking a Flutter Pony right there, Princess.” Not even Gusty was so bold as to insult a princess to her face. She did point a hoof a Morning Glory, who nodded.
“She is a Flutter Pony?” Luna said. “I had never laid eyes on one…” She got up and studied Morning Glory. “I thought your kind would be…bigger…and had more wings. That is what they told us a thousand years ago.”
Morning Glory shrugged. “I wasn’t born then, so I don’t know. I do know that my kind were even more reclusive then, and our recent activism is new. In fact, I had a part in encouraging Queen Rosedust to aid the ponies.”
“So, will you help us free the Crystal Empire?” Luna asked.
“Why, naturally. Why wouldn’t I?” Morning Glory nodded. “I am only one Flutter Pony, but I would be pleased to help. Arabus can be badly damaged by my Utter Flutter, but if I am fast, and if I have help to wear him down, I think I can do it.”
“How much vital essence has Arabus absorbed?” Wind Whistler asked. “How much has he grown?”
“He’s covering the entire city.” Luna said, and Morning Glory gasped.
“But how? He was large before, but not as big as a city!”
“He absorbed the essences of several griffons and dragons, perhaps others. We don’t know the exact number. But your kind have vast magics at your disposal, right?” Luna seemed puzzled. Mostly by the fact that Morning Glory was now shaking.
“I…I’m just one Flutter Pony. I could defiantly do it if he were just human sized or even a couple of heads above a human’s height, but…” Morning Glory shook. “I’m not sure I can do it alone.”
“You’re not going to be alone! We’ll be there to help you!” Rainbow grinned. “Not going to let you have all the fun!”
“She has a point. Our pegasi can manipulate the weather in a way that Ponylander’s cannot, so you will not be totally alone in the air.” Luna snorted. “I will lead the attack myself. I cannot ask you to do this without risking myself as well.”
“And we should have a ground team to find the crystal ponies and Shining and Cadence.” Twilight said. “Just in case these witches show up with more Changelings. Shining is my brother, so I’ll go with them.”
“Alright, sounds like a battle plan!” Rainbow landed beside Morning Glory and gave her a surprise noogie, which made her eep like Fluttershy. “Don’t worry, you got me to watch your back!”
Gusty leaned over to Wind Whistler. “Please in the name of all that’s good in Dream Valley keep her safe.”
While the others were busy talking battle plans, Draggle slipped out of the door, nose sniffing. She knew something was around, lurking. It wasn’t that hard for her to recognize that smell. She had literally lived with it her whole life.
Draggle followed her nose, knowing what she would encounter here, and not looking forwards to it at all. But…she had to know, and maybe this time would be different. Maybe. She could hope.
Draggle found what she was looking for a few meters from the library, between two buildings and hiding behind a barrel.
“Wow, inspired hiding spot. Don’t have your Changelings for this?” Draggle peered over the barrel.
Reeka sneered and rose to her feet. “They’re idiots.”
“I noticed.”
“So are your new pony friends.” Draggle was amused that Reeka managed to use the exact same tone that Hydia did whenever she said the word pony, and friend.
“Very very true.” Draggle smiled and leaned against the wall. “Why are you doing this, Reeka? Are you always going to do what Mama tells you?”
Reeka bristled. “Call her Hydia, you don’t deserve to call her that!”
“Why not? She wants you to call her by her name. We only ever called her mother when we were mocking her.”
Reeka squinted at her sister. “Or you’d forget.”
“…yeah.”
The stared at each other for a good five minutes. Reeka frowned. “Why don’t you come back? You can bring those alicorn things to Hydia. She’ll probably be so grateful she’ll forget what’s happened. You know…you probably could have come back years ago. She got over it…I keep telling you that you could. Why don’t you?”
Draggle sighed. “I can’t.”
“Why not! What the hell do those beasts have that I don’t! We’re only a year apart. Hell, we didn’t even have separate rooms! We were always together, but you ran off. Why! What do they have that I don’t!”
“I-“
“So they’re nice, and bright and cheerful, but you and I aren’t supposed to like that kind of dribble. I know you don’t! I know you hate what they do, and you stick around them anyway! What could they possibly be giving you! You’re miserable with them, and you know that too!”
“I’m not miserable all the time.” Draggle said. “…and I’d be more miserable with our mother.”
“WHY! We’re your kind, not them! We’re your family, not them! Don’t you remember anything Hydia taught us!”
“Yes.” Draggle snarled. “And that’s why I’m not coming back. I may not like everything in the estate, but I…you remember what she always told us about our family? You remember the paintings?”
“Course I do, she’s been talking to them half the week! Can’t go into the portrait room without one of them bursting out and whispering.”
“I don’t’ want to be like them. Not anymore.” Draggle said, looking straight into Reeka’s eyes. “Do you?”
“Of course I do?”
“Really? Then why do you keep begging me to come back?”
“You’re my sister!”
“Is that really supposed to matter?”
“Only family matters!”
“Why?” Draggle sneered. “We’re supposed to be alone, but you said it yourself. We were always together. We fought, bickered, but we were always together. You didn’t face the phlume plant on your own. You didn’t wake up Ahgg on your own. You did nothing on your own…” She sneered. “Except leave me when I almost died, when I really needed you.”
Reeka sighed. “I wish I had been there. I wouldn’t have let that thing hurt you.”
“And why would you care?”
“…I care.”
“And so do the ponies.”
“What are you saying, Draggle?”
“I’m saying that we have a lot more in common with them then Mama admits. We never were nice to others, but we cared about each other. Even when I was trying to trick you to get the plume on your own, I didn’t want you to get hurt, and in the end we got it together. I don’t think we would have gotten it otherwise. The ponies do the same. Hell, some of them even bicker like we used to. I…the only difference is you insisted on fighting everyone else in the Valley, but think if we didn’t? If we had…friends, if Mama had friends, our Clan wouldn’t be dying.”
“Our Clan isn’t dying!”
“Reeka, there’s only you and Mama. Even if you be generous and count me, that’s only three witches. The only way we would be able to revive if would be if we both found husbands and started popping out more daughters. How likely do you think that is with Mama’s iso…iso…what is that word Wind Whistler uses…oh never mind, you know what I mean! If we’re always alone how can we make more witches?”
“So what? We could do what you just said! You could help us!”
“No, Reeka, dear, can’t you see?” Draggle sighed. When did Reeka get so stubborn? Or was she always this way, and Draggle hadn’t noticed. “The Valley is changing. The ponies changed it, and it’s not going back to the way it was. It can’t. Do you know why? It’s the thing Mama has been fighting against all along. Not the good or the light or the sugar, but friendship. The ponies can call on so many people. I’ve met some of them. They’d give their lives for the ponies, because they are friends, and they know the ponies would do the same. We thought we were strong alone, but we’re not. We’re weak. That’s why the ponies kept beating us.”
Reeka smiled, but it wasn’t a pleasant smile. “That blue pony brainwashed you well.”
“Mama brainwashed you better.”
“You really think that creature cares for you. Sad, really. She’s just using you. That’s was all she was ever trying to do.” Reeka said.
“No. You’re wrong.”
“You think they would ever truly care about you? They were just using you to get Hydia on their side.”
“Then why did they let me stay?”
“Because your magic is useful.” Reeka said.
“Ah, but I was horrible at magic back then. How would they know I would get decent? If they wanted a good spellcaster, they would have gone for you. They helped me, Reeka, because it was the right thing to do. I promise you that.”
“And I promise you this, Draggle.” Reeka stepped forwards. “If I have to slaughter every pony in both worlds, I will get you back.”
“If you slaughter even one pony in any world, you never will. I have a better idea. Come with me. Tell the others what’s going on. Help us, and we can both get out from under Mama’s thumb. You don’t have to be alone anymore.” She walked forwards a bit, leaned over, and for the first time in a while, hugged her sister around the neck.
For a moment Reeka tensed, then to Draggle’s joy she actually returned the gesture. For a moment Draggle thought Reeka was going to agree, that she would have her sister back.
“You know that you’re not the only one who knows how to channel lighting, right Draggle?”
Draggle shrieked as electricity tore through her body, channeled from Reeka’s hand straight through her. She mentally cursed herself for not thinking of this, and attempted to throw her own lighting at Reeka. Her own body’s jerking and twitching made that nearly impossible and her spell fizzled. She gasped and backed away as Reeka finally canceled the spell, still smirking.
Draggle suddenly grabbed her staff and swung it hard, sweeping Reeka off her feet. Putting her weight on her good leg Draggle pounced on her sister, her earlier affection melting away in favor of aggression. She dropped her stick and began to punch her sister, not aiming at anyplace in particular. She snarled suddenly as Reeka grabbed her hair and gave it a good yank, and the two rolled out into the street, punching, clawing, and kicking up a rather nicely formed dust cloud, which obscured them nicely save for an occasional flailing limb. It was…
Almost like coming home.
A few moments later Draggle found herself pinned on the ground, she wondered briefly how Reeka had gotten so good at fighting. Reeka lifted her hand, more electricity starting to form on her fingertips. Draggle glared upwards, but before she could respond to Reeka’s attack a rainbow blur slammed into Reeka’s side. She shrieked, rolled and landed on her feet. Reeka stood, glaring at Rainbow, who was now standing protectively between Draggle and her. Draggle could only stare at Reeka, wondering where exactly in the conversation she had gone wrong.
Draggle blinked as Gusty galloped past her, and the two ponies flung themselves at Reeka, who shot some more lightning at them, which both of the dodged. Reeka glared at Draggle, their eyes meeting briefly. Draggle struggled to come up with words, any words, but none came. She could only watch as Reeka fired more at Gusty and Rainbow, before suddenly pulling some sort of teleportation spell and vanishing.
“Are you okay? Who was that?” Twilight galloped up beside her, giving her a look of concern. Wind Whistler was behind her, giving Draggle that quietly sad look she got whenever Reeka showed up.
Draggle lifted herself to a sitting position, not meeting Twilight’s eyes. “That was my sister.”
“Oh!...I…” Twilight was taken aback. “She…”
“She’s evil.”
“Oh no, I’m sure that’s not true.” Twilight’s wings trembled a bit. “I mean, she’s your sister, right?”
“…not all sisters get along.” Wind Whistler sighed.
Twilight stared at the two, as if they just told her the sun didn’t need Celestia to move it. “Well, yes, but-“
“…we used to be close.” Draggle glared at the horizon, seeming to talk to herself.
Wind Whistler walked over and nuzzled her gently. She looked at Twilight and flicked her tail. “Would you be so kind as to give up some space?”
Twilight’s eyes were huge as they stared down at Wind Whistler and Draggle. She had only seen the end of the battle, and had not even recognized Draggle and Reeka as related. The look on Reeka’s face had been one of pure hate, and while Twilight was not an expert on human faces, she didn’t detect a single hint of family love in Reeka’s expressions. For a moment she was back at the wedding rehearsal, the time she accused the queen Changeling disguised as Cadence to be evil. She remembered her brother’s harsh words, and the feeling that her brother, her best foalhood friend, hated her now. Her heart went out to Draggle, but she knew she didn’t have the words, but Wind Whistler might. She nodded.
“I’ll make sure you aren’t disturbed.” Her horn flashed, and she teleported them, as well as herself, to her own bedroom. She flapped down to the door and exited, turning her head around. “Stay as long as you need to.” She exited, making sure to close the door gently.
Wind Whistler wrapped a foreleg around Draggle’s shoulder and leaned in close. Truth be told she didn’t know what to say, but she knew that she didn’t need to say much, or anything at all. Draggle said nothing either. She simply gripped Wind Whistler’s mane, leaning against the pegasus’ shoulder. She didn’t cry, but she shook, and Wind Whistler simply stayed there, letting Draggle lean on her, and waiting for her to regain composure.
“She hates me.” Draggle managed to choke out.
“If I could change it, I would.” Wind Whistler said gently.
“Thanks…”
“What is a friend for?”
On the Volcano of Gloom Hydia stared at her viewing pool, watching Wind Whistler comfort her daughter. She frowned, fists clenched. Damn pony. Damn wretched theif! As if the beast knew anything about witches, or anything about her daughters! Damn beasts!
“I’ll kill her. Slowly.” Hydia snarled. “one day…”
The shadow creature looked at her, yellow eyes hard. “The traitor?”
“The pony. Wind Whistler.” Hydia spat the words out like a curse.
“…don’t forget that the traitor will suffer as well. I will not tolerate the faithless.”
“Maybe.” Hydia dismissed the words almost as soon as they reached her ears. “The pony will suffer more.”
The shadow laughed. “As you wish…”