//------------------------------//
// Chapter 76: Ponyville Ambush 
// Story: Secrets of the Everfree 
// by PaisleyPerson 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 76
Ponyville Ambush


“Are you sure you set it correctly?” Ditzy quite literally hovered over Time Turner as he fiddled with the dials and switches.
“Of course! Why do you ask?”
“Because the last time you were ‘absolutely sure’ you were taking me home, you actually dropped me off in Maretonia, a century too early.”
“Oh, I put it right in the end, didn’t I?”
“You left me there for a week, Doctor!”
“Well... fair enough. But look here. Ponyville, Art Life’s coordinates. This should land us just outside the front door.”
“Or what is left of the front door,” Shift interjected. “It has been all but removed.”
“What about the date?” Ditzy pressed.
“Today’s date and time, down to the second.”
“Are you sure?” Ditzy offered a half grin.
“Absolutely.”
“Really? Are you absolutely, positively, one hundred percent sure?”
“Of course I am! Don’t you trust me?”
“No.” Ditzy pointed to one digit on the screen that would have sent them careening a thousand years into the future. Time Turner flattened his ears in irritation and wordlessly corrected the typo. Ditzy triumphantly smiled. It was a good thing she’d convinced him to teach her how to fly the TARDIS.
“I better wait for you here,” Shining Armor spoke up. 
“You aren’t coming?” Charcoal exclaimed.
“I’ve already felt the shield’s signal weaken since I entered the TARDIS,” he sadly smiled. “I can’t risk it collapsing again by traveling through... what’d he call it... the time vortex? And besides, even if we make it to Ponyville, I won’t be able to transmit the spell across the country.”
“We’ll get the research and come right back, then,” Charcoal promised.
“Be careful. That’s an order,” Shining Armor grinned.
“Yes sir,” Charcoal playfully saluted back.
“See you soon, then.” Shining Armor nodded farewell before exiting the time machine.
“Someone explain to me how this thing works again?” High Tide looked around at the complex structure of the timeship control room, completely oblivious to Shining Armor’s departure.
“Well, you see-” Time Turner began.
“Not you,” High Tide cut him off. “The last time you explained it, I got a headache.”
“Oy!”
“Essentially,” Ditzy intervened, “he’ll type in when and where he wants the TARDIS to take us, the ship will rock a little bit, and when we open the door, we should be there.”
“Just like that?”
“You said you wanted the simplified version.”
“Alright, then. Everypony hang on!” Time Turner gleefully threw a lever before anyone had time to react. Charcoal’s stomach lurched as the ship began to sway beneath him, the console lights flashing and a dreadful squeaking grating against his ears. Bandit’s tiny claws dug into his back for traction, and Heckley’s grip on his neck tightened. Most ponies (Time Turner and Ditzy excluded) bumped into at least one other passenger before finding a hold on the safety railing or properly bracing themselves. 
“IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING THAT NOISE?” Glitter screamed over the horrid racket.
“ABSOLUTELY!” Time Turner whooped.
“YOU LEFT THE BRAKES ON AGAIN, DIDN’T YOU?” Ditzy accused. She never got a response, which meant she was probably correct.
When at last the awful lurching and screeching subsided, all of the passengers felt like they had just exited a roller coaster.
“Ugh,” Whirl Pool groaned, clutching her stomach.
“I feel sick,” River Rush concurred.
“Are all you ‘time lords’ such bad drivers?”
“Oy!”
“Don’t you have a test to pass before flying one of those things?” Trixie grunted.
“Of course there’s a pilot’s test,” Time Turner informed. “I failed it.”
“Let’s just see if it got us where we want to be,” Charcoal woozily stumbled for the door.
He expected to be blinded by the sunlight flooding Ponyville when they had originally passed by. After all, the pegasi had not been able to alter the weather since the invasion. Contrary to his prediction, however, the skies were gloomy, even dark.
“What’s going on?” he exclaimed. Spectrum was quick to join him, and gasped.
“Those are Everfree clouds! What are they doing in Ponyville?”
“Kindling’s power must be spreading quickly,” Fink wheezed, still leaning heavily on Shift.
“Then we don’t have time to lose,” Gilda determined.
“Where are we? Did the time machine work?” The hippocampi dragged themselves out onto the grass.
“This is Ponyville,” Glitter informed, taking in the familiar terrain.
“This is where Acrylic and Torchwood live?” Kelpie gasped. The excitement of visiting their friends’ hometown was evident in her voice, but the shock of what had become of the place was also present.
“There it is. Art Life,”  Trixie pointed just up the hill.
“Oh, my!” Cascade covered her mouth. The building was in ruins; the sign had been torn down, the windows smashed in, the roof sagging in more than one place, the door barely hanging onto its hinges, and worst of all, the once glorious mural displayed on the side was now scratched and smeared. Holes had been punched through a portion of the mountain range, changeling goo dripped from the entire left hemisphere, and scorch marks obstructed the pegasi herd. Charcoal’s heart sank. 
“Char... I’m so sorry,” Glitter gulped. Charcoal felt her hoof on his shoulder, but didn’t dare look at her for fear she’d notice his cheeks flush.
“Let’s... uh... let’s go see what’s salvageable, pack up and head back,” he coughed, leading the way into what remained of his home.
“Shouldn’t someone stay outside and watch for changelings?” Winter offered.
“No need,” Trixie shook her head and ignited her horn. A pale pink shield surrounded the group. “I can keep up a small shield for a little while,” she explained.
“Great,” Charcoal acknowledged, “but let’s hurry, anyway. No need to draw attention to ourselves.” Against his better judgment, Charcoal began shuffling up the hill for the wrecked remains of his home. Trixie was also on the move, and began taking the shield with her, prompting the others to keep pace. Time Turner rapidly turned back to close up his TARDIS and darted after them.
The house was dark, and the lanterns and candles had all been smashed, so Charcoal and Glitter took it upon themselves to illuminate the structure. Charcoal slowly but gingerly sidestepped the strewn art supplies, avoiding the pointed pencil tips and dodging shards of obliterated paint jars. The others cautiously followed in his hoofsteps as he picked his way to the back, though the two pegasi with shorter wingspans managed to avoid the ground altogether. They were a little worried about how the hippocampi would manage to work their way through the minefield, but agile Jet somehow managed to cross with ease The others did their best to follow her lead, and eventually, they all made it into the studio without so much as a scratch.
A bookshelf had been toppled in front of the hallway, which would make passage upstairs more difficult. They could climb over it, yes, but they needed the books that would be trapped beneath.
“Help me lift this up,” Charcoal requested, struggling against the wooden frame. The hippocampi mares tried to help, but they were low to the ground, and found it awkward to assist in the effort. Fortunately, gryphons were incredibly strong, allowing Gilda to raise it with ease. Even before the bookshelf had been completely moved, Time Turner eagerly snatched the closest book.
“Wow. Your parents were serious about this,” Ditzy commented, peering over his shoulder.
“Of course they were. It was their passion. We all have one,” Time Turner shrugged, flipping the page. “Ooh, look at that. They came quite close to the aponies, didn’t they? Missed them by that much.”
“What? When? Where?” Charcoal tried jumping over Cascade to peer at the book, but Time Turner snatched it away.
“Ah, ah! As a good friend of mine would say, spoilers.”
“But they could help!”
“Sorry, Charcoal, but I can’t give you information that could potentially change the future.”
“Ugh!”
“Guys, let’s just round up the books and get back to Tall Tale,” Glitter interrupted, almost a dozen books already tucked beneath her wings.
“There’ll be more upstairs,” Charcoal sighed, turning his back and leaping over the messy pile of books.
“I’ll come with you,” Time Turner offered, casually trotting after him. Charcoal ground his teeth, but said nothing, and permitted the earth pony/timelord/alien, whatever he was, to follow.
Charcoal cautiously cracked open the door to his parents’ partially-demolished bedroom, and finding it safe to enter, pushed a little harder. The additional force caused the door’s hinges to finally give way, and the entire door crashed to the door. Charcoal’s vision was suddenly clouded with the dust it kicked up, and he backed away, coughing.
“Well, that’s certainly one way to do it,” Time Turner commented. Unaffected by the dust, he was able to stride right in. Bandit and Heckley also dropped down and pressed ahead, leaving Charcoal to bring up the rear. The green pony grunted, but also entered. This room was in slightly better condition than downstairs, though the windows were still damaged a couple knick-knacks had been tipped over. At least the books had remained on the shelf.
“Look for a title that could relate to the bog sprites,” Time Turner directed. “We’ll take them all, but best separate them first.”
“Or we could just ask Heckley,” Charcoal rolled his eyes, moving to the bed where the snake had settled.
“Come again?” Time Turner put down his book and joined the colt.
“Heckley started keeping the house organized after Blaze got too big to do his chores without knocking everything over,” he explained. Then, turning to the snake, he asked, “Do you know if Mom and Dad had any books on bog sprites?” Heckley touched his tail to his chin for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. Finally, his beady eyes widened, his tail pointed upwards and he proudly hissed in an ‘ah-ha’ moment.
“Brilliant! Where is it?” Time Turner cheered. Heckley hissed again. “Downstairs, you say? Well, I hope the others haven’t packed it up already.”
“How do you know what he’s saying? Charcoal dubiously raised an eyebrow.
“I speak snake.”
“Fluttershy’s the only pony I know that can talk to animals,” Charcoal challenged.
“I speak all languages... well, that’s not entirely true. The TARDIS’ translation matrix translates for me. But I still understand what he’s saying.”
“I find that rather hard to believe.”
“Then let’s put it to the test, shall we? Come along, then, Heckley. Let’s go find that book!” With the snake curled around his neck, Time Turner charged back downstairs. Charcoal sighed. They’d just gotten upstairs. To make the trip worthwhile, he tucked a couple books under his wing before reluctantly heading back down.
“Now then, Heckley, what did you say the book was called?” Time Turner listened intently as the snake reached up to his ear and appeared to whisper something.
“Uh... what’s he doing?” Gilda uneasily ask.
“Time Turner claims to speak snake,” Charcoal informed, moving the books he’d removed to the table.
“But only animal talent ponies can understand snakes... or any animal, for that matter.”
“It has something to do with his TARDIS,” Ditzy shrugged. “But I’ve seen it before. It works, somehow. Occasionally, it even translates for me!”
“Everypony look for a book called ‘Mysteries of the Mist’,” Time Turner called.
“I’ve never seen that book before in my life,” Charcoal flatly said. Heckley indignantly hissed again.
“Oh, sorry, that’s the chapter in the book. Chapter 19, to be exact. The book is called ‘Equestrian Lore, Vol. II’,” he corrected.
“Do you remember that one, Char?” Kelpie piped. Charcoal sighed.
“Yes.”
“Hey, I think I do, too. We just packed it up,” Spectrum recalled, returning for a new batch of books.
“Go see if you can round it up for us, Heckley. And any other books you can think of that even reference bog sprites.” Heckley saluted before dutifully returning to the police box.
“But... he’s just a snake. He doesn’t even have legs. How’ll he manage-?” Time Turner furrowed his brow.
“Believe me, he’ll find a way,” Charcoal assured, retrieving the stack of books and heading out after his mother’s pet. 
“Alright then,” the time lord shrugged, returning to the task of collecting and delivering tomes. The others also returned to their work, gradually becoming accustomed to the pony’s odd behavior. The books and notes were gathered quickly and without incident, though Heckley disturbed them a few times in his search for certain volumes. Soon, just one more load of books was left upstairs in Acrylic and Torchwood’s bedroom, which Charcoal volunteered to retrieve. Everyone else was to wait in the TARDIS.
There were more books relevant to the topic than Charcoal estimated, and it was difficult to cram all of them under his wings. In his futile attempt to take them all in one trip, he filled his hooves with books, hence inhibiting his dexterity and resulting in the collapse of the entire shelf. 
“Blast,” he grunted, agitatedly placing his existing haul on the bed in three neat stacks while he replaced the rest. Even though the house was already wrecked, his parents’ lectures about picking up after himself continued to ring in his head.
At the bottom of the pile rested a glittery pink scrapbook, compliments of his aunt Pinkie Pie. She had been compiling pictures of all the growing families for years, some of the photos even dating back to before Acrylic was pregnant with Charcoal. Just a few years back, she had gifted a completed scrapbook to each family in their tight circle of friends. What stopped Charcoal in his tracks was the picture that had fallen out from amongst Pinkie’s stickers. It was his family. Acrylic, Torchwood, Charcoal, Lilac, Blaze, and even Heckley and Bandit, all posing together in front of a beautifully refinished Art Life. They were all so happy and... whole.
“Charcoal?” The thestral colt almost jumped at the sound of his name. 
“G-Glitter?! I thought you were all waiting in the TARDIS.” Charcoal hastily wiped away a tear before she could see it slide down his cheek.
“You were taking a while, and we just wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“Fine. Just knocked over the bookshelf,” he coughed, patting the books in emphasis.
“Hmm,” she nodded understandingly. In doing so, she accidentally eyed the discarded scrapbook behind him. “Is that from Pinkie Pie?” She began walking over.
“Wha-? Oh, uh, yeah. How’d you know?”
“Pink is just sort of her trademark,” Glitter shrugged with a giggle.
“Oh, right.” Charcoal hastily picked up the book and attempted to cram the picture back in without bending it. Glitter smiled when she noticed the level of care he took in handling the book.
“Why don’t you take it with us?” she suggested as he began to put it back on the shelf.
“What? Why’d I do that? We don’t need it- it would just be extra weight to haul around.”
“Time Turner has a space ship,” Glitter rolled her eyes. “It already towed eighteen ponies through the time vortex. I don’t think one extra book is going to make much of a difference. I’m sure no one will mind.”
“It’s just something else we don’t need,” he insisted, replacing it anyway. “And besides, I really don’t need the distraction.”
“Maybe it’s time you started accepting your family as a motivation instead of a distraction,” Glitter suggested. Charcoal hung his head, realizing she was probably right. But it was just so painful, knowing that if he failed, he’d never see his parents or brother again. Glitter read his thoughts. “I know they’d all be proud of you for getting this far. And you’re not alone. We’ve all lost friends and family to the changelings. My parents were in Fillydelphia when the changelings attacked. I can only assume they were captured, and possibly... mutated...” she choked on the word. “And I think about them every day. But I don’t let it become a distraction- in fact, it’s what drives me. I have to believe that we’ll see each other again. And even if by some chance we do fail, then at least I know I did my very best. That’s all any of us can do.”
“I-” Charcoal knew he wasn’t the only one who had lost family- he saw the pain in Spectrum’s eyes every time he looked at the pegasus. Trixie had gained many friends all over Equestria by now, many of them in Ponyville, now lost to the changelings. And just looking at a pastry reminded Charcoal of his friend Pound Cake, and all that he had lost. But no one ever talked about their losses, and this was the first time Glitter had even mentioned that her parents had been captured. Charcoal thought back to the prisoners in Chrysalis’ courtyard. Had he seen her parents there? He couldn’t be sure. Learning of this fact provided a much-needed wake-up call. “I-I’m sorry, Glitter. I didn’t know.”
“We’ve all lost someone,” she repeated again, a weak smile still tugging at her lips. She carefully removed the scrapbook once more. “So let’s remember them, okay?” Charcoal took the book in his hooves.
“Okay.” Charcoal thought she was just leaning forward to give him a consoling hug, but in the process, she also planted a friendly, if not motherly peck on his forehead. He blushed such a deep red that he could rival Big Mac. Fortunately, he was still locked in her embrace, so she didn’t notice.
“Hey, do you hear that?” Glitter let go as her ears began to twitch.
“Wha-?” Charcoal was in such a daze it was a miracle he was still standing, let alone listening.
“It’s Trixie,” Glitter determined, moving out into the hallway where the windows would face the police box. 
“What’s she saying?” Charcoal wondered, still coming to his senses. Glitter strained to hear.
“GET OUT OF THERE!” her mentor warned. Glitter gasped, and whipped around to the bedroom window opposite her. Baffled, Charcoal also turned around. His blood ran cold.
“Changelings!”
“Get the books!” Glitter swiped as many as she could, then proceeded to dart out of the building. Charcoal scooped up the remaining tomes and followed as fast as his legs would carry him.
“Hurry!” Gilda cried as the two sprinted down the hill. The TARDIS was surrounded by Trixie’s pink shield, so once they reached it, they’d be home free.
“Expand the shield!” Glitter pleaded.
“I can’t!” Trixie desperately cried. “I’m not strong enough! Just run!”
“You can make it!” Whirl Pool cheered.
“Almost there!” Current added. Indeed, the two were coming in far ahead of the changelings. 
“They’re gonna make it,” Winter sighed with relief, leaning slightly on Hawk. She frowned and glared down at him, though the stallion took no note. *THUD* Winter looked back to the shield, where dazed Glitter and Charcoal lay in a crumpled heap, books strewn about, all outside the shield! “GAH! They’re not going to make it!”
“What’s going on?” Glitter gasped, pressing against the shield.
“Why won’t your spell let us in?!” Charcoal cried, looking back to the rapidly approaching changelings.
“I don’t know! It’s designed to keep only changelings out!” Trixie gasped.
“Just take the shield down,” Ditzy advised.
“Wait! If the shield only keeps changelings out, then they must be changelings too!” Time Turner exclaimed.
“WHAT?!” Charcoal screeched. “Are you serious?”
“Trixie, it’s us!” Glitter pleaded.
“What’ve you done with our Charcoal and Glitter?” Jet Stream growled.
“Guys, it’s us! Let us in!” Charcoal turned back. The changelings were almost upon them!
“How can we be sure?” Gilda wondered.
“Say something only the real Charcoal or Glitter would know,” Spectrum suggested.
“No time!” Charcoal practically screamed, the changelings descending on them. “Just trust us. Please! You have to let us in!” He shut his eyes as it became evident that the nearest drone was bound to snatch him up. Instead, he felt himself surrounded by levitation magic, and was promptly yanked inside the TARDIS along with Glitter. River Rush slammed the door shut behind them.
“What about the books? We can’t let the changelings get that research!” Glitter exclaimed.
“Really? We were almost locked out and the books are what you’re worried about?” Charcoal grumbled.
“She’s got a point. Get that research back!” High Tide cried, in an almost war-like fashion. Gilda’s screech was indeed a battle cry, and she was the first to charge back out. The rest of the company, even the hippocampi, soon followed. Charcoal attempted to follow, but Time Turner held him back, placing his other hoof on Glitter’s shoulder.
“Nuh-uh. You two stay here until we figure out whether you’re really changelings,” he ordered, bringing out his sonic screwdriver and pointing it like a weapon.
“GAH!” Charcoal grunted, throwing his hooves up in exasperation. “Everyone else is out there! I should be too!”
“Not everyone,” Shift corrected. Fink was still leaning against him. “Changelings are virtually clones, aside from Fink. If I were to exit, another changeling could easily take my place and merely claim to be me. No one would know the difference.”
“I’m sure we’d realize there’d been a mistake,” Glitter assured.
“Not until it was too late.”
“In fact, any one of us could be replaced,” Time Turner realized. “How will we know who’s who?”
“Now you’re just paranoid,” Charcoal rolled his eyes. “The shield’s still up.” Though... it hadn’t worked so well last time. Charcoal pursed his lips. Perhaps Time Turner had a point. His thoughts were interrupted, though, when he had to dodge to avoid being clocked with one of the retrieved books someone had hurled to safety.
“Head’s up!” Whirl Pool also swung her tail to knock a book inside.
“Catch!” Cascade daintily threw a notepad, which landed a couple feet short of the TARDIS.
“I got it!” Kelpie declared, pouncing the book just before a changeling pounced her.
“HEY! Get off my sister, PUNK!” High Tide tackled the changeling headlong, giving Kelpie time to return the book. Meanwhile, Jet darted between the grappling ponies, scooping up an entire stack of books and zipping away before she could be caught.
“The hippocampi are creaming those guys!” Charcoal almost laughed, certainly never expecting the water ponies to put up such a fight against changelings. Finally, the changelings seemed to remember that they had a very sticky goo that could be used to their advantage. One of them used this asset to pin Jet’s tail. The mare flew forward, the stack balanced on her head crashing to the ground.
“GET THE BOOKS!” she cried, desperately yanking to free herself of the prison.
“I got it!” Glitter declared, sparking a flame from within the TARDIS to clear it away. Jet was back up in seconds.
“NEVERMIND!”
“What? I didn’t leave the TARDIS,” Glitter shrugged in response to Time Turner’s glare.
“And she’s helping,” Charcoal pointed out.
“Oh, fine, fine, do what you can from in here. But I’ve got my eye on you.” Time Turner’s expression informed them that he was still suspicious. Charcoal rolled his eyes yet again, but proceeded to turn his attention to the battlefield, and did what he could to help their comrades. (This proved very difficult, as the magical fire didn’t carry well between dimensions.) After an intense and uncertain fight, the ponies believed that they had retrieved all the missing books.
“RETREAT!” Winter boldly declared, sprinting back to the police box. Trixie used her shield spell again to ward them off as the ponies fell back. At last, with the small rebel force and their cargo aboard the ship, Time Turner began reentering coordinates.
“How did they even know we were here?” Hawk Stripe panted.
“And how come that spell wouldn’t let you guys in?”
“Maybe Shining Armor will have some answers. He created the spell, after all.”
“And he might know how to prove they’re who they say they are.”
“Do you guys really think we’re changelings?” Charcoal desperately turned to the faces around him, painfully noticing that they had left he and Glitter with a rather generous girth.
“Well...” Spectrum scratched his head.
“It would explain why the shield wouldn’t let you in,” River sheepishly shrugged.
“If you guys are changelings, then you better tell us what you’ve done with the real Charcoal and Glitter,” Winter threatened, zooming up and pressing his nose right against Char’s. “But if not,” he continued, backing off, “then sorry for doubting you, bro.”
“I’m telling you, it’s me! What do I have to do to get you to believe me?”
“Alright, alright,” Current cut in. “Let’s wait for Shining Armor. If he has a reasonable explanation, then we can assume you’re telling the truth. If not... well, we’ll work out what to do then.”
“In the meantime, I think Trixie should keep her shield trained on them, just in case,” Time Turner voiced.
“What?!” Charcoal indignantly gasped.
“If you’re telling the truth, then you have nothing to lose. If you aren’t, then the rest of us will still be safe. It’s just a precaution.”
“That’s outrageous! I-”
“Charcoal, it’s okay,” Glitter soothed. “It’s just for a little while. And I’m sure Shining Armor will get us sorted out.” Charcoal heaved a very long, heavy sigh.
“Fine.”
“For the record, I believe you, Charcoal,” Shift assured.
“As do I,” agreed Fink.
“Alright, you two. In the corner, away from the console,” Time Turner directed, still pushing buttons. 
“I’m sorry.” Trixie looked even more crushed by the order than the accused thestrals.
“It’s okay,” Glitter sadly smiled. “You were always like a second mother to me. And a mother has to do what’s best for her daughter.” Trixie’s eyes pooled with happy tears. Her words had already verified that it truly was Glitter Shine before her, but they still had to prove it to the others. Her horn began to glow, and a pink bubble surrounded the two ‘prisoners.’
“We’ll get this sorted,” Trixie promised, offering her hoof through the barrier.
“I know,” Glitter outstretched her own hoof and lined it up with Trixie’s. Charcoal sighed. He really wished his family was here. They’d know it was him; in fact, his mother would probably throw a fit at the mere suggestion of locking he and Glitter up before calming down and defending him, bringing out why Charcoal couldn’t possibly be a changeling clone. His father would try to provide answers as to why the shield had locked them out in the first place. Meanwhile, Lilac would want to share in this punishment, if just to curl up under his wing or sprawl on his back. Bandit would take up whichever spot she didn’t occupy. Charcoal smiled as he felt his long, furry companion nestle in his mane. Well, at least some things didn’t change.