The sound of a flame wakes me up from a sound slumber. Cloud Kicker and I have been nocturnal for the last few days, the Vore are usually active during the day, so we hole up during the day, and search at night. Around Manehattan, it's been horrible. I've seen enough dead ponies to make me permanently nauseous. I light my horn and bring the rolled parchment to me. So, Princess Celestia has found me, at least with parchment.
Dear Princess Twilight,
I must first start off with news. First off, the bad news. The cities of Baltimare and Vanhoover have been overrun. Though we were able to battle them nearly to a standstill a few times. Your friends Rainbow Dash and Applejack have acted with bravery and distinction.
A new development caused me to attempt to summon you, Princess. And I was baffled at first as to your decision to chase after phantoms. As Princess Luna has informed you, as well as Rainbow Dash, your Nick is dead. But if you must insist on this unwise course, then do so. But a certain pegasus by the name of Lightning Dust was involved in the unsuccessful battle to win Baltimare back, a wondrous discovery was made. The enemy is susceptible to time displacement magic. It is an ability that was unique to Lightning Dust, but she is in the process of teaching unicorns how to do that magic. And so far, she has been successful. The spellforms will be sent to you as soon as possible.
We need you, Princess Twilight, your abilities and strength are badly needed for the war effort. Please, complete your task with haste and help Princess Luna and myself in trying to destroy this enemy to all of ponydom.
Yours,
Princess Celestia
I hear a low whistle from behind me, Cloud Kicker was reading over my shoulder.
"Time displacement…hmmm."
I look at her, "Lightning Dust is a magic user pegasus?"
She nods, "I found out after she joined the Canterlot Wonderbolts. I think there are about a dozen magic users among the pegasi in the guard. They are very rare. And if she can do bolts that are effective, I hope she is able to help in the effort."
I think for a moment, time displacement. That sounds different than what Starswirl did when it comes to messing with time. Let me see… I charge my horn, and after a moment, I fire a green bolt at a bush, which promptly disappears. I smile, and hear a gasp.
"You were just told about them, and you mastered them that quickly?" Cloud Kicker says incredulously.
I giggle, "I wish it were that easy, but I've been learning about time magic for quite a while, that was similar to another spell of Starswirl the Bearded. I don't know if it's the same spell that Lightning Dust is able to do, but it seems to do the same basic thing."
"Wow."
I chuckle, "How close are we to Manehattan, Cloud?"
"About ten or fifteen miles. We should make it tonight. Are you sure you can find Nick in all of this?"
I nod grimly, "I have to."
***Nick***
I walk with Twilight through a forest. She woke me up saying she had to teleport us away from the cave. And we need to stay away from the Vore. That much is certain. My wing is healing slowly. In the last month, with Twilight's healing magic, I can now flare out my injured wing, and even flap it. But I know I have to keep my flight muscles exercised. I work my wings slowly as we walk. Though most of our trip is spent in silence, I'm so glad to have Twilight with me.
"I will be happy to see Brygor again."
Twilight seems a bit distracted, "Yeah, the dragon you flew with."
"If Ponyville and Canterlot have been taken over, where do you think the Princesses have gone?"
She shrugs her wings, "I have no idea. That's why we are heading to Vanhoover, maybe we can find somepony to let us know what's going on."
I sigh, "I just want to get off my hooves."
She looks back at me sharply, "Your wing still needs to grow feathers in, love. You need to be patient."
I groan, "Twilight, I've never been known for patience."
Twilight stops us in a small clearing, she spreads a wing, "I don't need sleep as badly as you do, Nick. You still need to heal, rest now, love."
I don't want to sleep, "I'm good for a few more miles."
Twilight grimaces, "Nick, please. Just take a nap for a bit. I can help you fall asleep if you need it."
I sigh, when it comes to Twilight Sparkle, she gets what she wants. I get myself comfortable and close my eyes, I hear the chime of her magic and I fall into a dreamless sleep.
***Chrysalis***
Green flames wash over Twilight's body, revealing her true form. A quick push of magic into the sleeping pegasus ensures he won't awaken at an inopportune time. And true to her word, a portal appears in the clearing. The queen of the Vore from earlier steps through.
<I have been in communication with my children. You have been requesting a lot of new soldiers recently.>
"I told you that the ponies would fight back."
<And you also said that their magic would be easy to take.>
"You seriously think that the ponies would go quietly. Your first battles against the mages were complete victories. Providing food for your children in abundance."
<Yes, and they have changed tactics. One of those flying ponies used magic that decimated forces, and now the unicorns are using that kind of magic.>
"Queen, not enough of those magic users can be brought to bear. You haven't lost any cities you've taken. The ponies living there have been the source of food for a lot of your children. You are winning."
<But the cost is extremely high, Chrysalis!>
Chrysalis rolls her eyes, "I said the ponies would fight, I was defeated by them."
The Vore Queen steps forward aggressively, <Perhaps we should just take you, you have magic, you would be a good meal.>
Chrysalis suppresses a shudder, "I would be a meal, for a few of you. The ponies here are a feast for your entire brood. It won't be easy, but you will win this."
The queen looks at her a long time, <I will send additional soldiers. You need to complete our victory quickly, instead of playing with this pony.>
The queen of the changelings chuckles, "Ahh, but that pony is the key to victory, he is the love of Princess Twilight Sparkle."
<I want Canterlot taken.>
Chrysalis nods her head, "As you wish." She says to the Vore queen's back as she opens a portal back to her home. The portal closes and Chrysalis lets flames cover her body, revealing once again the shape of Twilight Sparkle, "I will get you Twilight. First Canterlot, and then Ponyville."
***
Cloud Kicker sits on her haunches at her ease. Twilight has been searching for days, she's finally found a cave that she said resonated with her. She's trotting around the cave, back and forth, her horn lit. After a long time, "Yes!"
Cloud stands up and moves over to Twilight, "What?"
Twilight's smile is huge, she's holding something in her magic.
Cloud brings her head close, but in the dark of the cave, she really can't make out what it is. She looks at Twilight, "What?"
"Proof!"
She narrows her eyes at the princess, "Of...what?"
"Nick is alive!"
Twilight intensifies the glow of her horn, creating a ball of light that floats off her horn and sticks to the ceiling of the cave, illuminating the cave in a soft glow, what Twilight is holding is now obvious, a singed brown feather.
"Nick is alive. Here is proof."
The blonde maned pegasus looks at Twilight, "Are you certain, it is just a feather."
Twilight tosses her head, "Of course I'm certain, he had to have preened this out, the base is too clean to have been lost any other way. He was conscious in this cave, for at least a few days. My resonance testing doesn't tell me much, but he wasn't alone here.
"Who was with him?"
Twilight looks bleak, "I'm not certain. I can detect another magic user, but the impression is too faint, if I didn't know better, I feel as though I was here, but I've never been here before." Her ears fall, her eyes shrink to pinpricks.
Cloud Kicker notices, "What?"
"There is only one way I could feel as though my magic is here, without me being here before."
Cloud Kicker puts two and two together, "Changelings?"
Twilight nods.
Cloud growls, "Could the changelings have anything to do with those creatures attacking us? The Vore?"
Twilight nods, "It's only logical, Cloud."
Cloud stands up, moving over to her saddle bags, she shrugs them on, "Which way did they go?"
Twilight lights her horn once again, "West, I've got a sniff of the magic of this changeling, I'll find it. And I'll break it to give me back my stallion."
Cloud smiles, "Just leave some for me."
Twilight extinguishes the light, "No promises on that Cloud."