“I’m surprised by how you’re acting.” Twilight spoke up after Spike had made lunch for the group. “From what you told us, I would think you’d be more uncomfortable around us.”
“Oh don’t be fooled.” Cicada told Twilight. “I’m still terrified on just being in this room. There are only three reasons I haven’t already left in fear.”
“And what would those be darling?” Rarity asked.
“The first is that none of you have tried killing me yet, which is a good sign. The second is that Pinkamena-”
“It’s Pinkie Pie!”
“Right… Anyway, Pinkie Pie looks different than she normally does, though she’s still mostly the same. The last reason is the young wyrm here.”
The ponies looked around before finally figuring out what Cicada meant.
“Um, you mean Spike, right?” Fluttershy asked.
“If that is his name, yes. I did not know of Twilight to own sentient monsters of any sort. And I would also think she wouldn’t have a wyrm, but more likely a wyvern or dragon instead.”
“But I am a dragon!” Spike exclaimed.
“And were you told this by your mother?”
“Yes! No. Well, sort of. Twilight was the one to hatch me, and she was told by Celestia.”
“Well, I guess neither of them knows the varieties of drakes. I, on the other hoof, have gotten the pleasure of meeting two of the different species in good circumstances.”
“How can you tell which he is?” Twilight asked. “I only knew about dragons.”
“Wyrms are the only group of drakes that are hatched without wings. The other two are usually already born with wings, though sometimes dragons are born without their wings.”
“But doesn’t that mean Spike could still be a dragon?” Pinkie asked, making Cicada flinch.
“Yes… if he had them now. Any dragon born without wings will have them within their first year of life, and I’m willing to bet Spike is much older than just one year.”
“I’m nine years old! Almost ten!”
“I prove my point. The only reason I can think that he wouldn’t have them yet is that it was Twilight who hatched him, and her magic might have affected him. If that’s the case, he’ll get them shortly before becoming an adult. And while there is a way he could grow them in now instead of waiting all those years, I wouldn’t try it. Unless, of course, one of you can cast an age spell.”
Twilight looked almost nervous before she spoke to Cicada. “I, actually think I know what you’re talking about. And I’ve actually seen both ways played out.”
“And did he have any wings?”
“No… but do you think a very powerful age spell might affect what happens.”
Cicada thought for a second. “I guess… if the magic were powerful enough it could make it so he wouldn’t grow any. Basically that would affect him enough that it might cause the mutation that most likely helped distinguish dragons and wyrms in the first place. In that case, he technically both.”
“Um, n-not to be rude, but could we maybe go back to talking about where you’re from? If you don’t mind that is.”
“Oh, yes. I’m afraid we did get off topic there. Was there anything any of you wanted to know?”
“Well, one question I have…” Twilight started. “Is that you said this other Twilight started her rule about seven years ago. If our time lines are matched up, that would mean she was only eleven when she started. Is that true?”
“Well, actually, no. She was sixteen. I guess that means that my dimension is a few years further.”
“Interesting…” Twilight said as she scribbled down on a notepad she had gotten.
“Oooo! Oooo! I have a question!”
“What about?”
“Well, now that I know you’re good, I can throw you a party. So I wanna know what kind of cake you want.”
“Uhh, well, I’m not really a fan of cake. But I do like pies. My favorites are pear and rhubarb.”
“Got it!” Pinkie said before zooming away.
“Should I be concerned?” Cicada asked.
“Pinkie can be a bit of a… hoof-ful sometimes, but I highly doubt she’ll do anything that you need to be concerned about.” Rarity answered.
“Hey!” Rainbow spoke up. “You got anything like the wonderbolts over there?”
“There’s an air patrol called that, making sure no changeling is doing anything suspicious.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Um, you said you were hit by the other Twilight right before going through your portal. Is it something that should be looked at?” Fluttershy asked.
Cicada hadn’t really thought about that. Now that she had been reminded of that, she realised it sort of stung around the area she had been hit, thought it felt more numb where she was actually hit.
“I don’t know, I haven’t checked yet.”
Cicada lifted the leg that was hiding the area where the spell had hit her. She hadn’t felt like looking at it yet, but first at the others reactions. Seeing them didn’t really make her any more eager to look at the damage.
Fluttershy had instantly turned away after seeing it. The rest just looked like they might be sick. Cicada quickly hid whatever was there again.
“Something tells me it’s pretty ugly.”
“Going to a doctor now would be best for that.” Twilight said. “Do you think you’d be fine going there?”
“I think so.” Cicada said, getting up. She felt a little dizzy as she did so, but it wasn’t too bad.
“Wait, doesn’t she need tah disguise herself or somethin’ if she wants to go outside?” Applejack asked.
“Do you think you can do that?” Twilight asked.
“I don’t think so. At most I’ll just be able to take the base form of a changeling right now.”
“Base form?” Twilight said, absent mindedly bringing her notebook closer to her.
“Before a changeling starts to learn how to disguise themselves as another species, they sort of take on a generic form of that species called a base form. Usually the first thing a changeling is ever able to change into is a base form for changelings. Normally we’ll disguise ourselves in changeling base form so that our enemy can’t tell us apart from each other. The thing is, we also normally stay as that because we can’t even tell each other apart when we’re disguised.”
“Interesting… I guess that’s why the changelings we fought couldn’t tell us from them when they were all disguised as us.”
“What do you mean, you fought changelings?” Cicada asked, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
“I… uh… well…” Twilight sputtered.
“Um… maybe we should just take you to the hospital to get that looked at now.” Fluttershy suggested.
“Yes, I’d like that.” Cicada replied.
“Spike, can you get a room ready while we’re out?” Twilight asked. “Cicada will need somewhere to stay until we figure out how to get her back.”
“On it Twilight!”
“Come on Lila!” Cicada called to her pet. “I hope to see you later Spike.”
“Thanks.” Spike said as he waved goodbye to the changeling.