> The Changeling's Chance > by EvilNaab > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight was heading towards to the small lake close to the Everfree forest, but she stopped and dropped the book which she was carrying with her magic. Looking at the creature who was staring right into it, Twilight took a few steps backward. Twilight was about to leave when the black creature's body changed into somepony's else who she knows. While she was walking closer as quietly as she could to the creature she saw something what made her stop few meter away from her. Tears were falling down from her face, it created waves in the calm lake. It distorted the reflection what would be beautiful. She reverted her body to it's original form then turned to Twilight who was having a surprised look on her face about seeing the creature so emotional. "You are happy to see me like this, aren't you." Chrysalis turned away heading back to the forest. A minute had to pass before Twilight realized what had happened, but before she could say anything to Chrysalis she disappeared in the forest. She came out here like always, when she wanted to be alone, have some free time from everypony else to read a book without any distraction, but after this and what Chrysalis said to her, Twilight lifted the book and decided to return to the library. On her way back to the library her thoughts were wrapped around Chrysalis, more precisely what and how she said it, the expression on her face and the overwhelming sadness behind it. Dash was following the purple mare with her eyes who passed by a couple of ponies who greeted her, but she remained in silent and kept walking. After a few seconds of stretching her body parts especially her wings Dash jumped down from the cloud and landed next to Twilight. "Hey Twi." When Twilight ignored her friend, Dash's ears dropped back, she was looking at the moving away purple unicorn then decided to follow her. A couple of times Dash raised her head to call out after her, but she didn't respond. "Twilight." Twilight entered the library, but closed the door with her magic before Dash could enter as well. Dash waited a couple of seconds facing with the door, then went inside after her. She closed the door behind herself as well, Twilight was already sitting on the couch staring in front of herself. It was the first time Dash has seen her friend, like this, so lost in her own thoughts so she decided to stay on her side when she would like to talk about it, since Spike was away with Rarity in Canterlot helping her out. Almost two hours passed before Twilight turned to Dash who was lying on the floor a few meters away. A small smile curved on Dash's face, but Twilight instead of returning it, tears left her eyes. With a couple of flaps of her wings Dash landed next to Twilight and hugged her with her left wing. "What's wrong Twi?" "I.." She wanted to continue, but her voice broke. Before Twilight would try to say something again Dash pulled her closer and tightened the hug, then whispered in her ear. "Shhh, take your time." They were holding that position for half an hour before Twilight finally could compose herself. She raised her head to look into her friend's eyes. "Thanks Dash." "Would you like to talk about it?" Twilight looked away and the smile disappeared from her face. Dash thought she won't say anything, but after a minute Twilight opened her mouth. "I don't know, I mean I don't know why did I react this way about what she said or how she was acting. I feel sorry for her, no matter what she did or how much she hurt Celestia." Dash tried to follow Twilight, but it didn't really make much sense to her. "Twi, who are you talking about?" Twilight turned back to look at Dash, because she wanted to see the reaction on her face. "Chrysalis." Dash smiled at Twilight who relieved after seeing her friend reaction, but on the other side she was still scared what she might think about it. "What are you going to do?" "What do you mean?" "Well I know you, you won't just sit here and keep dwelling on it. I mean Fluttershy could change Discord, maybe you are her solution." Dash turned her head away a little when she felt a blush coming over her face when the last word left her mouth. Even thought she tried to hide it, Twilight could see it and she let out a short laugh, but her smile faded along with the laugh. She looked away and Dash had a guess what's this all about. "Celestia?" "Yes." "She will support no matter what." She turned her head to face with Dash once again with a hopeful face. "You really think so?" "Twi, there is only way one for you to find out." Dash let go of her friend and stood up, she started to look for things in the desk, a minute later she returned to Twilight and placed them in front of her so she can write a letter to Celestia. Dash shot a last warm smile before she turned around and opened the door of the library, but Twilight's voice stopped her. "Please stay." Dash closed the door and returned to the same spot on the floor where she was before. An hour passed, then another and Twilight was still sitting in front of a blank sheet of paper. She put down the quill what she was holding the whole time with her magic then turned to Dash. "I'm sorry Dash, I can't, I'm really sorry for wasting your time." Dash stood up and shook her head. "I'm not the one who you let down with this decision." Dash knew these words might hurt Twilight's feelings, but she didn't want to sugar coat things. "Don't you think I know that?!" She raised her voice a bit more than usual what surprised even herself after it happened. "Dash, it's just, I don't know what should I tell Celestia about it, nor what am I prepared to do with this whole thing, the only thing I know that I'd like to help them." Without saying anything Dash walked to the door, opened it and stepped through, but turned back to look at Twilight before she would close the door. "There is only one way for you to find out." She left a warm smile behind then closed the door. Twilight took a deep breath then lifted the quill once again. Dipped it into the ink then levitated it above the paper and started it. Dear Princess Celestia Almost an hour passed when she finally put down the quill, she closed it and placed the seal on it. She was looking at it for a while before she prepared two different spells inside her mind, one which would send it right in front of Celestia and the other what would destroy it. Twilight was about to unleash one of them at the letter, but it disappeared before she could do it. Surprised yet scared look appeared on her face, because she knew exactly what happened and where the letter is, but she also felt herself relieved for some reason. Now it was only a matter of time, before the answer would arrive from Princess Celestia. She took a look outside the window, she could see the last few rays of the sun before it completely disappeared under the horizon. She was waiting anxiously for over an hour when the letter arrived on the table behind her. She turned around, but it was something what she would never expect, the letter's colour scared her, it was pitch black. She levitated the letter in front of herself, the seal belonged to Princess Luna what confused Twilight a little, but after a few seconds of hesitation she unfolded it. Dear Twilight Sparkle After reading your letter my sister decided to redirect it to me since we both knew that I have more experience being an outcast among everypony. Please don't be angry at her for doing it. What you would like to accomplish is noble, but you must know how dangerous it is. Celestia asked me to write in the letter, that she is proud of you and she will support you whatever you will decide, but before you would do anything please write a letter to her. Twilight, we know almost nothing about the changeling's, but even if you will change your entire look into a changeling's, you will never be able to connect to the telepathic field what connect them together. Maybe there is a solution, Chrysalis, you will need her permission to join her hive also accessing to the field, so even thought you would like to help, it's all up to Chrysalis and also you that how much you planned to sacrifice for this cause. Today's happenings still fresh, don't let those emotions corrupt you, don't rush into doing something what you would regret the next day, because when It happened to me, well... we both know history. Princess Luna Twilight rolled up the letter and put it down on the table. Laid down on the couch and placed the blanket over her body then closed her eyes. When she woke up and opened her eyes she was facing with the letter on the table. For a while she kept her eyes on it then got up to find somepony to talk to, a certain pony who already knew about what happened yesterday. When she couldn't find Dash around the sky above Ponyville with her eyes, she left the small town to Dash's usual practise area. From far away she could see a ponies' figure leaving a short rainbow trail behind herself. Dash landed on the ground minutes before Twilight would arrive to that spot. They were looking at each other the whole time while Twilight was moving closer to her, but when she stopped a few meters away Twilight turned away. "I'm sorry." "Twilight, you don't need to apologize about anything." A faint smile appeared on Twilight's face when she faced with Dash again, she stood up and moved forward to hug the pegasus. They were holding it for minutes when Twilight whispered into her ear. "Dash, I'd like to ask a favour." She closed her eyes for a couple of seconds while she took a few deep breaths from Twilight's intoxicating scent before she answered. "Whatever you want, Twi." Twilight pulled her head back so she can look into Dash's eyes, but before she could ask what she wanted, she lost inside Dash's eyes. She was staring right into them for a minute before she was finally able to shake it off. "Please help me to find Chrysalis." "Alright." Dash turned away opened her wings ready to lift her body from the ground, but Twilight's hoof on her back stopped her, Dash wanted to say that word like she is happy about it, but Twilight could feel some disappointment in her voice. "Dash," She turned around to face with Twilight, who changed her mind how she will continue this sentence. "be careful." After a small nod, Dash flew away towards the Everfree forest. Twilight was looking at Dash while she was flying away, after she disappeared from her sight, she decided to go back to the lake where she met with Chrysalis yesterday. She knew it has only a slight possibility that she will see her there once again, but she didn't want to go in the Everfree forest on her own. She spent hours laying on the grass next to the lake, looking at the forest where the changeling disappeared. It passed noon when she remembered back that they didn't really set a meeting point and time with Dash so she face hoofed herself. "That must've hurt." She removed the hoof from her face before she answered. "Yes it did." Dash laid down on the grass next to Twilight before looking at her and she could see the question emerging on her face. "No," A sad look appeared on Twilight's face and she was about to turn her head away when Dash continued. "but I did see plenty of changelings, maybe they would help us set up a meeting with her." After a smile came across Twilight's face, she jumped on the pegasus to hug her. By the force of it Dash had to roll on her back while Twilight was on her top wrapping both of her front hoof around Dash's neck and pushing her right cheek to Dash's left. "Thanks Dash, you are the best." Like every time when Dash inhaled Twilight's sweet scent she became weak, this time wasn't any different, her hooves felt heavy as she reached out to reciprocate the hug, but she did. "Thank you Twi." They were holding the hug for a minute, Twilight removed her hooves and Dash did the same, but a few seconds later. Twilight stepped back so Dash could get up, but she was still laying on the grass looking at the clear sky. She felt herself weak and her memory lost in that minute what she just experienced. "Dash?" After a deep breath, Dash sat up to look at Twilight. Dash stood up and turned to the forest, but took a look back at Twilight with a smile on her face. "Let's go." When she turned away the smile disappeared from her face, but she knew there is no turning back now and she headed towards the forest.