> The Queen's Revenge
>  by Listener
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Beginning of the End
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Come on, we don’t want anypony else to see us, now do we?” came a voice from the darkness.

“I said I was sorry, didn’t I? It’s not my fault that those ponies are everywhere at all times of the day,” another voice replied, irritated this time.

“Shh, come on, the big tree library is just ahead, let’s just be quiet until we have what we came for, alright?”

“Fine.”

In the middle of the night without Luna’s moon, the only light on the street was from a lone lamp post in the middle of the square, and in the distance shone a lone candle in the window of the two mysterious strangers’ final destination. 

The residence of Twilight Sparkle.

The door opened with a slight squeak, causing the two to freeze for a moment and pray to their Queen nopony heard anything. 

The snoring upstairs continued uninterrupted, and the two strangers breathed a sigh of relief. Their cover wasn’t blown. Continuing into the library, they stop in the center of the main room, the main foyer that houses all the books.

The bigger one looked over at the other. “Grab the books pertaining to the Queen’s interest, and only books that she specified.” 

Clearly that one was in charge. As the leader walked over to the window, he spoke, his voice low and cold.

“And then we go on to stage two of the project.”

“Stage two? I didn’t hear anything about stage two.”

“And you still haven’t. You’ll participate in it, but you won’t be able to tell anyone. Ever.”

“Ah, so the Queen is in direct control of this then?”

“Yes.”

All of a sudden, the room went black as the candle in the window got blown out.



//|b0d|\\



The baby dragon was still asleep. Good. That meant one last witness for this.

“Come on, we need to get the spell placed,” came the order, whispered, as they were directly next to the target.

“Okay, just let me get into position,” the second stranger said, moving to get a better place next to the bed. As this happened, his front leg brushed up against the purple dragon’s leg. 

“Woah!” came the muffled yell. The leader pushed the other off of the purple leg.

“Idiot! What happened to no touching?” the bigger one whispered tersely at the other.

“Sorry boss, but that was an accident. And that surge of emotion was just so intense!”

“Uh, AJ? Rainbow Dash? Why are you in my house in the middle of the night?”

Twilight, the resident of the library in a tree, Ponyville, had woken up to the two strangers, that Twilight identified as Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

“Oh, uh... Oh buck this. Tange, just convert.”

“Got it Reaj”

And in a flash of purple light, the two transformed into one of three more feared creatures in Equestria. 

Changelings.

“Wha? But, we banished you to the badlands! What are you doing here!” Twilight exclaimed sleepily, her mind still behind on the fact that they probably meant her harm, or just something as horrible.

“We’re here for you, my dear. Orders of the queen herself,” said Reaj.

“Me? Why?” 

“Because she sees it as your fault that she failed in her attempt to capture Equestria. She would’ve gotten us food, and shelter without any problem, and any bloodshed.”

“What are you talking about? What happened that day was completely in self defense of our country!” Twilight’s mind seemed to have finally caught up with the stream of information that her senses were sending.

“Spike!” 

“Restrain her!”

Tange’s horn, which was basically a counterpart of a unicorn’s horn lit up with a green aura as it surrounded Twilight, preventing her from moving. 

But she didn’t need to move to cast a spell. Or two.

“Could you hurry up with that sleep spell? I thought that those were your specialty!” Tange said to Reaj, no longer bothering to keep their voices down to whispers. It looked like the baby dragon, Spike apparently, wasn’t going to wake up anytime soon.

“They are, but she’s fighting back!” 

“Just drop the marker and let’s teleport back! The other’s will take care of her once we get there. We’re going to get caught if this keeps up!”

Indeed. The magic of the changeling called Tange, mixing with the magic of Twilight, made for quite a light show from the library windows, and Spike was beginning to wake up.

“Mmmh, Twi, please turn off the light. It’s midnight for pete’s sake.” Spike said, pulling his blanket over his head.

“Reaj, now!” 

“Hey, you don’t call the shots here! I do!” 

“Well, then, what are we going to do?”

“We’ll drop the beacon, and let the others take care of it.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Giving up on tranquilising Twilight, the changeling turned it’s attention to his saddlebag, pulling something out with the same green glow that all changeling’s have, and dropped it to the floor. 

With one final flash of a brilliant white light, all three of them teleported out. All that was left in the library was one purple and green baby dragon.

“Thanks, Twilight,” said Spike, snuggling down deeper into the blankets. He was completely unaware of all that had just transpired in the bedroom.

And no one would know where Twilight went in the middle of the night. Or, at least, that was plan, and a plan that would’ve gone perfectly, if there hadn’t been a wildcard in the deck. The wild card was Twilight, who had done something that nopony would’ve thought to do under extreme duress. But Twilight wasn’t just an normal unicorn, and had used one of the most simplest spells, and had managed to write four single words, ones that would change everything about that perfect plan, and a piece of paper on the other side of the room.

“The changelings have returned.” it said, although it wasn’t Twilight’s normally perfect writing, it was still identifiable as hers. 



//b0d\\


Meanwhile, at the Canterlot Castle


“Mind if I join you sister?”

“Of course, Tia. But shouldn’t thou be asleep?”

“Yes Luna, I should be. But It’s been awhile since we’ve just sat together and looked at your beautiful night sky together.”

“You never do that, unless something is wrong.”

“You wound me. But yes. I can’t shake a feeling that something terrible is happening.”

“Happening? Not happened?”

“No Luna, I fear that something is going to come and test this kingdom to it’s limits.”

“Then we will face that threat together, okay Tia? Now go get some sleep.”

“Love you too, Luna,” Celestia said, laughing and turning to return to her quarters.
	
	
	


> Where am I?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Twilight’s head felt like it was stuffed full of cotton. Everything was so loud. So bright. So disorientating.

“Is she awake?” Came a booming voice, from where Twilight couldn’t tell. It seemed to come from everywhere at once.

“She should be awake soon, my Queen.” Came another voice, this one a little less loud than the female one.

“Good. I’ve waited months upon months for this opportunity, and I don’t want to wait much longer.” Came the loud, booming voice again. Twilight’s ears instinctively flattened against her head. It wasn’t as loud, but it still made her cringe.

She squeezed her eyes tightly, trying to get control of the headache that was threatened to send her back under again.

‘Mmhh, what happened?’ The unbalanced pony thought. ‘What happened last night? The last thing I remember is coming home from Pinkie’s party...’

‘But... there’s something there, at the corner of my mind. Something else happened last night. But what?’

She let out a small gasp, as some of the feeling was starting to come back in her legs. Nothing but pins and needles for the moment.  

It hurt to think. There were simply too many variables to understand, too many things that might have happened, too many.

Too many... things vying for the attention of her chaotic mind. And she hadn’t even opened her eyes. What had happened? Where was she? Were her friends okay? Who, what, when, where, and, most importantly, why?

‘Just one thing at time Twilight. First thing first. Assess your surroundings.’

Twilight took a breath, held it, and opened her eyes. The breath exploded out of her.

She couldn’t see.

‘What? Why can’t I see anything! Come on, come on, what could have happened to cause this!?’ Twilight thought, beginning to panic. She needed her eyesight. How could she ever stand next to the Princess again if she couldn’t see?

Twilight blinked rapidly, trying to bring her eyesight back. She began to see flashes of light, and brief spurts of color. Her panic receded a little, but only to return as the booming voice spoke again.

“Ah, look, I do think she’s awake now. Twilight? You awake?” Came the loud, booming voice, bringing her out of her stupor.

“Ye-” Her voice cracked, and she was sent into a coughing fit, her dry throat getting a throb of pain with each cough.
“Oh, Twilight, what was that? I couldn’t hear you.” Said the voice. Twilight’s head was clearer now, and as such, she was able to tell three things about the voice.

One; she could tell that it was female.
Two; the voice was used to being in command. She could detect an undertone, akin to Luna’s Royal Canterlot voice.
And three; she knew that voice, even though she still couldn’t place it. Her mind was slowly clearing the fog that clouded it. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to make things make sense.

Flashes of memories flitted through her mind, never staying long enough to actually discern the importance of the memories.

 Black creatures...

Her house...

Applejack and Rainbow Dash were in her house late at night.

Are they okay? What happened?


“Twilight. Look at me.” Came the voice, this time, instead of from Twilight’s front, came from the right of her.

Swinging her head around, she did what was asked, well, demanded of her. Opening her eyes back up, she feared the worst. She was afraid of the possibility that she was still semi-blind.

She wasn’t. Everything was still blurry, with a fuzzy line on the edges of everything. But it was becoming clearer and clearer with each passing moment and every blink. Standing in front of her was something white.

And it moved. Her sight now recovered sufficiently enough to make out medium sized details, and as her sight traveled up the white legs, Twilight was surprised at the size of the pony. She only knew of one pony of that size, and that was the Princess.

Eyes reaching the torso of the pony, she saw that she had wings. Wings shaped surprisingly like the Princesses. Twilight began to have a suspicion. But what about those flashes of broken memories she kept on getting.

“What can’t I remember?”

Continuing on upwards, Twilight saw nothing of the golden necklace that signified Princess Celestia. Twilight seemed to visibly deflate. The sense that maybe she had been safe left her.

Reaching the mystery pegasus's head, she saw the familiar eyes of her mentor, but...
but that was impossible! There was no horn!

But....

But wait a moment.

There was a horn. Could it be?


“Prin-” Her voice cracked. Swallowing, she tried again.

“Princess? What happened? Why are-.” Once again, her voice cracked.

“Why are you here? Is that what you were about to ask?” The Princess said.

Twilight, not trusting her voice, merely nodded.

“That’s simple Twilight. I want my revenge. And you, the very pony behind my downfall, will help me achieve my goals.” The Princess said, her eyes glinting an evil green.

“Wha? Princess? Wh-” Twilight was actually speechless. What had happened!?

Twilight’s hair had started to stick out in several places, and that only seemed to give the Princess nothing but happiness, as her smile widened. And as such it served to fuel Twilight’s stress and paranoia, and her hair was sticking up in more and more places with more and more regularity.

“My dear Twilight, do you really think that I care about your little friendship reports? That I cared whenever you’ve done my little dirty work for me? Well, I suppose on some deep and buried level of my soul I do, but I’ve been alive for far too long to care about something like that.” She said, that evil glint never leaving her eyes.

Then she laughed. She actually laughed. Right in Twilight’s face.

Twilight finally snapped.





//|bod|\\



Thanks to Evilpresident for Pre-reading! He kept things from going everywhere but where I wanted.

Thanks to something888 for Pre-reading this also! 

Special thanks to ProtheanBrony for Proof-Reading this fic.
> Reactions May Vary
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	
“Why is there fog? I thought everypony knew that today was supposed to be overcast?” Came a disgruntled voice, it’s owner masked in the fog.

“I don’t know Dash. But can’t we just make it lighter? It shouldn’t be too hard to lift it up afterward.” Came a male voice, coming from the left of Rainbow Dash.

“That would work, except that this certain cloud has merged with all the other clouds, pulling them down as well. We’d need to split this one into about forty others, or more. I’m not sure how big this mess has gotten since I last looked. Give me a second, and I mean that literally.” Dash said, preparing to take off and get above the fog bank.

“Okay, Dash, but be careful. You of all ponies should know how dangerous fast flying can get in any view restricted environment.” Came a warning from Dash’s left again.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Don’t worry about it. I mean, I’m the best flier I know, so it shouldn’t be a problem.” Came the arrogant reply. Dash then proceeded to take off, at top speed, of course.


The only sound after that in the cool, dark morning was a deep sigh.


//b0d\\


Dash sped along, spiraling upwards. She was out of the fog, and was trying to get an estimate on the size of the fog bank. She might be lazy sometimes, but weather business was something that she took pride in, and she did it right.

She stopped, and looked downwards on Ponyville. Well, at least she thought it was Ponyville. She couldn’t see any of it!

“Woah. Somepony seriously screwed up this time.” She said, slightly in awe of the size of this screw up. The fog had completely covered all of the town, including a good part of Sweet Apple Acres.

And that was a lot of clouds.This was the biggest mistake of the month so far. Or had somepony purposely done this?

Dash groaned, the pieces of the puzzle fitting together in her mind. Starting her descent back into town, she got lost in thought, thinking of some of the pranks she could play with Pinkie in the fog. The size of the low-flung cloud made it obviously clear to her that it wasn’t going anywhere soon. May as well enjoy it while she cou-.

Her thoughts were interrupted by something running into her face.

Well, maybe she ran into it, but that was open for debate. But the fact was that she had crashed into Twilight’s library. Again.

Getting to her hooves, she trotted to the door on the balcony, the one that led into Twilight’s bedroom. Maybe she could find some refuge from the fog inside. But then she would have to explain to Twilight why she kept running into the tree.


Getting out of the fog won out over the eventual embarrassment. Pushing open the door, she quickly shut the door to stop the fog from spilling in.

“Twi? You in here? Sorry about crashing in like this, but have you seen outside? Somepony seriously messed up with cloud making 101. If I had to stay outside in that whiteness, I just might go crazy.”

She was rambling. Time to stop.

“So, yeah, sorry. Can I crash here until later? That should give the cloud... time... to...”
She faltered. Twilight hadn’t shown up yet.

“Twilight? You here?”  

No reply from Twilight, at least. But Dash did get a reply from Twilight’s assistant, who she had woken up with her talking.

“Rainbow Dash? What’s up? Why are you here at-” A pause as Spike checks the wall clock.
“-six o’clock? You know that no one’s up at that time. Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

“Um, yeah, except today was my day to lead the weather crew. We had scheduled a slightly cloudy day today, but somepony made the clouds too heavy. We’re going to let the clouds simmer in the sun, to try to get rid of that excess weight. It should make the clouds hotter, and therefore, lighter!”

“Wow... you sure know a lot about clouds, don’t you?” Spike said after a minute.

“Yeah, I guess I sorta do. But probably not as much as Twilight knows. Of course, Twilight seems to know a lot more than I do.” Shut up Dash...

“Speaking of which, where is she? She’s not in her bed.”

That got Spike’s attention. Sitting up, he looks up at Twilight’s bed. Upon seeing that Twilight was indeed not in her bed, he leans back down into his.

“Sorry Dash, but I guess she’s downstairs. If she’s there, she’s either asleep from studying all night, or she’s already up and eating breakfast.” Spike said sleepily.

“Thanks Spike, see you later. You know, when you wake up?”

Dash was speaking to the living dead, as Spike had already fallen back asleep.

She silently laughed to herself as she turned and headed for the stairs.

Creeping down the stairs, she called out softly.

“Twilight? You down here?” She whispered, then quietly scolded herself. “Why am I being quiet? There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

She stopped. She was talking to herself. That was never a good sign. Shaking her head to try to clear it, she continued down the stairs and into the main level of the library.

Speaking again, this time at a normal volume, she called Twilight’s name again.

No answer.

“Twilight? You here?”

Nothing. Not a sound.

Dash strained her ears. She couldn’t even hear any breathing.

Still, better check. Dash did a quick look through the library, which only confirmed her suspicions.

Twilight wasn’t in the library.

Time to leave then. Rainbow Dash just felt awkward staying in her friends house without her friend there. Starting towards the door, she stopped suddenly, her hoof half off the ground. She couldn’t been seen leaving Twilight’s house at six in the morning! But she had to leave, to do something. She would go stir crazy staying in the library with no-one except a sleeping baby dragon.

Well, this disaster had an easy fix. Time to go upstairs and leave via the balcony she came in through. No problem, right? Walking back up the stairs, she observed her surroundings. Things had changed when Twilight came to Ponyville. She couldn’t quite place it, but something had changed within the town. It seemed more.... alive.

But with that, of course, came the problems that arose with one of the most magically inclined unicorns, and the personal student of Celestia herself. Lots of problems, more that you would think, but she had also fixed some of her mistakes, along with all of her friends mistakes. Hell, the town probably would be quarantined or something by now if it weren’t for her.

Thinking about it, she shook her head. Nah, she was just being overly dramatic.

Arriving upstairs, she was assaulted by the sound of Spike’s snoring. Glancing at him briefly, her eyes wandered the perfectly clean room. Twilight had to be one of the most OCD ponies she knew. Everything had to be in place. Heck, she had checklists for her checklists sometimes it seemed.

And with that said, Dash’s eyes were almost immediately drawn to the only mess in the room. Everything on the desk was messy. Sighing, she shook her head, slightly amused. Twilight must of have left in a hurry if she had left this mess behind. Probably expected Spike to clean it up later. Walking over to see if she could get a clue on where she had gone, she saw that she had been writing something.

But, the was an spill across some of the page, and the notes were messed up. The bottom had escaped, but nothing was written on it.

“What were you doing Twi, and why did you leave in the middle of it?” Dash said, playing detective for the moment.

Deciphering the words still legible on the page, Dash’s expression began to drop.

“No... They can’t be. Spike! Wake up now!” Dash said, starting out as a whisper, but turning into a full on yell at the end.

“Wa? Dash? Did you find Twilight?” Spike said, falling out of bed, startled at Dash’s loud yelling.

“No, and that’s not the worst of it. Read this.” Dash demanded, pushing the piece of parchment at him.

“Dash, what is this? It’s a piece of paper with an ink spill on it. What about it?” He said, giving the cyan mare a questioning glance.

“Read what’s left. She said, her eyes convincing Spike that this wasn’t one of her pranks.

“Okay? Changl- have- retu.”  Spike said, pronouncing each word fragment with care.

“Fill in the blanks in your head.”

“Don’t know about the first one, but the last two sound like ‘have returned’. What’s the first word, and why does it have you so freaked out? Who's returned?"

“Changelings. Spike, I think she was trying to say changelings. We need to tell the Princess.”

Spike’s eyes had gone wide at Dash’s statement. Nodding quickly, he reached for a piece of paper, and wrote a quick note to the Princess.

Green light colored the fog outside the upper stories of the library that was also a tree.



//b0d\\


Celestia was was going through all the proposals that had arisen during her time at court. All those ponies requesting her permission to do this, asking for funding to do something else, or those just wanting a simple dispute settled. Those were the worst. Could they really not see the simple answer to their dispute? Or had the populace just become dependent on her, and now her sister again?

A puff of green smoke, almost out of her field of view, distracted her from the dull and boring requests. Turning to see a scroll falling out of the air, she caught it with a well practiced spell. Slitting the ribbon on it, she unfurled it, bringing it closer to her eyes to read it.

That was odd. It was from Spike. Not that Spike had never sent in a friendship report before, but he usually wasn’t up this early. She had just started to raise the sun, and it was still dawn.

Reading on, her face began to drop. Upon finishing the letter, she killed the telekinesis spell, and the scroll dropped to the floor near her feet, still open. Rising to her hooves, she went to the door and called through to the guards, her voice not betraying anything of her emotional turmoil.    
“Guards, go to Shining Armor’s residence and wake him if necessary. Tell him to come to my quarters immediately. I need to talk to him about a matter that he care deeply about. Do it as quickly as possible. Send your fastest runner.” She said, her voice wavering at the end.

“Of course, Princess. Right away.” The guard currently on duty said.

Princess Celestia waited at the door until the hoofsteps faded from the corridor. Walking slowly back to her place near the fire, she slowly lowered herself, until she was sitting. Grabbing the scroll with her magic again, she reread the letter. Even though she knew what it said, it still hurt.


Dear Princess,

This is Spike.

Twilight’s been taken

By changelings. Please help.

Please. We don’t know what to do.

-Spike/Rainbow Dash.




It seemed too formal for a cry for help, but it didn’t stop the pain. Twilight. Gone. The Princess had always been afraid of this. Not of Twilight being taken by Changelings, but being taken. Being her personal student, that made her a target.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Princess? I was told that I was to come as soon as possible. What’s wrong?” Shining’s voice came through the wood.

Princess Celestia raised her head and enveloped the door with her golden magic and opened them, ushering Shining Armor in with a nod of her head. The captain of the guards came and stood in front of Celestia, asking a question with his eyes.

“Shining. I don’t know how to tell you this, but-” Her throat seized up. Swallowing hard, she started again, before Shining Armor made up his own problem in his head.

“Your... sister has been taken. We don’t know where she is, but we do know who has her.”

Shining eyes had gone wide at the news.
“Who!? Who has Twilight? Princess, please, just tell me.” He said, frantic.

“The changelings have her. And we’re going to do everything in our power to get her back, unharmed.”

“She’d better be unharmed.” Shining growled, anger at the changelings who would dare take his sister growing.

“Shining, I would give up the crown to make sure she was safe. I promise you this. We will get her back.”

Shining Armor nodded, anger mixing with his grief. For the first time in a while, he was afraid. 



Truly afraid for his sister.







//b0d\\


A/N-
Well, that's that with this chapter.
Special thanks to:

ProtheanBrony-Proof-Reader

EvilPresident-Pre-Reader

Something888-Pre-Reader

And of course, Chaos2012 for this idea.








> Fears and Worries
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Celestia backed away slightly. She had expected a reaction from Twilight, but her getting up and yelling at her wasn’t the reaction she had wanted. She had hoped that Twilight’s spirit had already been broken, but it looked like she had some work to do.

        More fun to be had, breaking her spirit. Her will to survive. Her innocent faith in her friends was... delicious, but annoying. Celestia’s smile returned. She was going to enjoy this.

“Twilight, Twilight, Twilight. I thought you knew better than to challenge me, your teacher. I’ve taught you everything that you know.  But that doesn’t mean I taught you everything that I know!” 

Twilight only growled in response, to busy concentrating to answer. She was busy charging an offensive spell, a variation used against the changeling invasion. Only this time, instead of lots of little blasts, Twilight was preparing to send out a single, concentrated blast.

        
“You can’t win against me, I am the very embodiment of the sun! I’ve been alive far too long for a simple mare to defeat me.” Celestia said, walking around Twilight slowly, forcing Twilight to turn in a circle to keep her in view. 

“You. I don’t know why. I don’t know how. I don’t even care about the reasons and ways that I even got here. But you. I trusted you. You were like a second mother to me. But this. This is too much.”

Celestia stopped circling her, her eyes locking on to Twilight’s. She appeared to think for a minute. 

“I know you cared for me, and that’s what you have to watch out for Twilight. Ready for one last lesson in friendship? Only this time from me?” Celestia said, her voice starting out mother-like and caring, only to shift to a cold, uncaring voice at the end.

“Why would I listen to anything that you have to say? You’ve apparently lied to me my whole life!”

“Oh, you’ll listen to me, and you’ll listen well, my little pony. Your final lesson begins now.”

She began to walk towards Twilight, who was beginning to look a little unsure. Her horn dimmed a bit. The thing about offensive spells is that, in order to prevent harm to an innocent pony, the caster had to truly believe that their life depended on it.Twilight’s will was beginning to waver, and that caused the spell to weaken.

Twilight began to back up. Celestia took this opportunity and began to talk.

“This lesson goes against all the silly little friendship reports that you sent. The lesson is called ‘Not Everypony Is Who they Seem’.”

“You’ve got a certain mindset, that while is admirable in today’s society, is totally wrong and leaves you defenseless against ponies that would just like to use you. Like me.”

Twilight’s horn had almost gone out, but with those words, the lavender aura flaring back up, and sparks actually appearing at the tip.

“You just used me? All along? I just can’t believe it. You’re not acting like yourself.” Twilight said, glaring questionably at her ruler and mentor.

“You just don’t get it, do you? It’s all one big act. The sovereign and just ruler of Equestria doesn’t exist. It was all a facade, one that has lasted centuries. But I got too involved. Time to stop... this involvement.” She said, her eyes glinting green again. 

Twilight’s mind was working in over time, trying to figure out what she was hearing from her mentor. She knew the Princess. At least... she thought she did.

        But... she was missing something. Something important. She had seen something, something that didn’t make sense. 

        Something... green.

“Stay back! I mean it!” Twilight said, stopping her own retreat backwards. 

“Why Twilight? I thought we had an understanding. I teach, you listen. Isn’t how this works?”

“Yes. That was a deal I made with Princess Celestia. But you aren’t the Princess, are you?

Chrysalis.”

Twilight’s horn was glowing brighter than ever, and was getting ready to fire.

“Ah, she’s figured it out. I was wondering how quickly you could do it. If you could at all.” Chrysalis said, dropping the act immediately. 

“You won’t get away with this! My friends-” Twilight started shouting, only to be interrupted by Chrysalis.

“Your friends are currently just becoming aware of your plight. There’s not a unicorn in Equestria that could follow that transport spell. There’s not a pegasus flying above the clouds that could spot this hidden fortress. There’s not an earth pony alive that could possibly get in here with all the reinforcements that we’ve put up.”

She glared at Twilight. An evil, loathing glare.

“So get this through your pretty little head of yours. No one. Not your friends in Ponyville, not your brother the lucky groom, and most certainly not the Princess and her mixed up little sister. No one is going to see you alive. Ever. Again.” 

Twilight leveled her gaze and the Celestia imposter. Grunting, she prepared to let loose the spell that she had been holding.

“Go to Tartarus!”


Twilight screamed at Chrysalis, startling her. She hadn’t expected Twilight to completely lose it. She almost allowed herself to be hit by the blast that Twilight had thrown her way. Sidestepping the blast, she yelled to the guards posted outside of the door to come in and restrain Twilight.

The looming oak doors creaked as the two changelings outside pushed them open. With a dull thud they hit the walls behind them, and the two entered.

“Get her and show her to where she’ll be staying while she’s with us, won’t you?” Chrysalis said, trying to regain her composure. She had been knocked off balance when she had barely dodged the blast.

“Yes, my Queen.”

Reaj and Tange started after Twilight. She had used up all her magical energy with that one spell. She had put everything she had into it, not thinking ahead about what she would do afterwards....

        “Come on you. We’ve got a nice cell for you. All magic-proof and everything.” Reaj said, stalking towards Twilight from one direction, while Tange came from the other side. Only one direction to retreat, and that was backwards. 

Twilight backed up slowly, trying to think of something, anything, that would help get out of there. She drew a blank on every train of thought.

She bumped into a corner. Throwing a glance behind her, she saw that she had run out of room to go anywhere else. Nowhere left to run. Nowhere to hide. 

Maybe Chrysalis was right. Maybe there was no hope. 

Shivering, Twilight did what little she could, what with being physically exhausted, mentally strained, and magically drained.

        Twilight screamed at the top of her lungs.




//b0d\\




        Dash and Spike were still in the library ten minutes later, waiting for the letter from Celestia that would bring some order to the chaos that was raging there.

“How did this happen? How could nopony have seen this coming? I mean, we probably did sorta tick them off with the whole Canterlot wedding fiasco. We should have seen this coming, at least expect some sort of retaliation.” Dash was worrying constantly, hovering constantly  around the room.

“Dash, we’ve been over this. It’s noponies fault. How could we have seen this coming? It’s been several years since the wedding, and there hasn’t been a changeling sighting since then! Who’d have guessed that they would’ve waited this long?” Spike said, who in an odd change of roles, was trying to calm down Dash.

“The Princess! Twilight! Me!” Dash yelled. “ It’s our fault that Twilight is now gone, in the hooves of those... things! What are we going to do!?” Dash said, her sanity taking a leave of absence for the moment.

“Hold on Dash. How do you work out that this is your fault?” Spike said, coming over to the cyan mare.

“It is my fault Spike! I should’ve seen this one coming! I’m the one that should know about danger! I’m the one that knows danger. I live for the rush that I get on adventure. I’ve made some enemies in my past and dealt with them before. I should’ve seen this coming! All I’ve done since the royal wedding is screw around, hoping that-” She cut off. And then immediately started again.

“I’ve also read enough Daring Do that I should know that the enemy always waits for you to let your guard down. That’s exactly what they’ve done.”

“Dash, stop blam-” Spike tried to interrupt her self-blaming, but Rainbow Dash cut him off.

“-They wait until a dark night, and then take Twilight when she’s sleeping!” 

“Dash!” Spike yelled up at the flying pegasus, trying to get her attention.

“What Spike? What could be more important than finding Twilight!?” She yelled as she landed on the wooden floor with a dull thump.

“Calm down. You’re not going to find Twilight by blaming yourself. If anything, it’s my fault. I was here. Right there, just sleeping. I didn’t realize what was going on.” Spike said, his voice cracking at the end. 

Dash looked over to the baby dragon, who was looking down at the ground. Was he crying? Dash softly walked over to Spike, and nudged him with her wing. 

“Hey, hey, okay, I’ll admit that the blame game is getting us nowhere. But that doesn’t mean that we have to just sit here waiting, does it?” She said, trying to cheer him up while she was dying inside.

“Well, what can we do?” Spike asked, trying to wipe his eyes without Dash seeing*. Dash pretended not to see. 

“Well, I’m not sure. We could see if anything is out of place. Maybe they left a note?” Dash said in her normal boisterous voice, as if nothing was wrong. She was running out of ideas. Twilight was normally the one that came up with the plans. 

How was it, that in less than ten minutes, her whole life could be turned inside out?

“Maybe.” Spike said, unconvinced. “But why would th-”

Whatever Spike was going say, he never got to finish it, as a letter from Celestia had just come via the normal way.

“The Princess! What did she say?” Dash said before Spike could even open it.

“Give me a moment Dash!” Spike said, slitting the ribbon and unrolled it.

“Well!?” Dash said impatiently.
“Dash, give me a second!” He scans the letter, mouthing several of the words. “Okay, this is what she said.

“Spike. Gather Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy and get on the next train to Canterlot. We’ll meet you there. Please give those that haven’t heard this yet no cause for worry. Sincerely, Princess Celestia.” 

“Is that it? That’s all the Princess has to say? Gather your friends and come to Canterlot?”
Dash yelled in irritation.

“Do you have a better idea? The Princess is probably our best hope for getting Twilight back, wherever she is. Come on, I’ll grab Pinkie Pie and Rarity. They’re closer. Go get Applejack and Fluttershy. You have wings, and can get there faster than I can.” Spike said. He sounded serious. 

“Okay Spike, but you be careful, okay?”

“You too Dash.”

“Me? I’m always safe, Spike. No need to worry there. I’ll be back before you know it!” Dash said, trying to act normal.

With those words, she rushed out the window where Spike lost view of her in the fog. Dash flew up out of the fog and on towards Sweet Apple Acres.

Spike stood in the bedroom for a moment longer, looking around. It seemed impossible that just the night before Twilight had made dinner here. Had him help out with an experiment that nearly blew up. 

Put him to bed here.

Said that she loved him.

         Looking once more at the bedroom, Spike sniffled, trying not to cry. He had to be strong.


        Only last night...

                Everything changed.

“Twilight. We will find you. I promise.” 

And with those words, the number one assistant left the library.














A/N
Well, this is strange, A chapter that was simply a blast to write. 
It's up early, but I think that every other Friday thing is just going to become a deadline for a new chapter. 
Time for credits!

EvilPresident! Thanks for Pre-reading this and putting up with the stupidiness of my original!

Something888! A thank you for you is in order also! Thanks for the Pre-read!

And ProtheanBrony! He Pre-read this, so it's not full of grammartical grammar related problems!

Am I going to do this every time? 

Yes. Yes I am. These guys are awesome, and deserve the credit.



> Dont Piss Off the All Powerful Being
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Dash avoided the glare in her friends eyes. “I told you, I can't tell you what's going on. Even if I did, you wouldn't thank me.“

        And with those words, Dash ran off into the back of the train, trying to hide the tears in her eyes. With the door closed, everypony in the train got quiet, a rare occurrence with the ponies assembled.

        “Rarity, was it really necessary t’ push the poor girl like that?” Applejack said, adding a slight glare to the words for emphasis.

        “Well, I for one am simply dreading the loss of a work day! I mean, it's half a days ride there, and then half a days ride back. An. Entire. Day. Thats like a week! And that's not even counting the time spent in Canterlot!” Rarity whined.

        “Sugar cube, whatever is going on, it's got her in tears. That ought to be worth a trip to Canterlot, if only to find out what's hurting her.” AJ said in a distracted voice, trying to figure out what in the hay was going on.

        She knew Dash. She'd never break down over something simple. She was too tough, or at least she tried to act like it. Buck, she'd known Dash almost as long as Fluttershy had, and she'd only seen Dash break down on two occasions, both when her friends were in danger, or were missing.

        Once when they were in the Everfree forest she had let her guard down and had gotten hurt. She would've never made it out of the forest alive if it weren't for Dash. Apparently Dash was the only one who had noticed within an hour that AJ was missing. And later, when she still wasn't back, she had gone and searched for her.

        They had agreed to never speak of it again. Being the Element of Loyalty, she'd kept her promise, along with others.

And then there was the other time. Scootaloo had gone in for her flight test, the one that would've allowed her to get a job in the weather patrol. Rainbow Dash had absolutely freaked when she didn't come back the next day. Or the next. Or the next.

She still hadn't came back.


        Shaking her head to clear the thoughts that were clouding her mind, and of a stray thought that she really didn't want to even be thinking of as a possibility.

        “Yes, well. I don't see how a problem of Rainbow Dash's would involve us getting on a train and heading the capital at seven in the morning!”

        Applejack opened her mouth to tell Rarity off, but Pinkie beat her to it, in one of her rare, serious moments.

        “Of course it would be our problem Rarity. Dash is our friend, and if she's so upset the she's actually crying, which means that she's really sad, then we've got to see if there's anything that we can do to help her smile!” Pinkie said.

        Applejack nodded, glad that Pinkie was taking this seriously. Well, as serious a Pinkie Pie could ever be. Rarity actually was quiet. Opening her mouth to add to what Pinkie had said, Applejack was once again interrupted by Pinkie Pie.

        “Of course, usually I would try my ways of cheering somepony up but something tells me that they wouldn't cheer her up. I mean, usually a good party would make anypony smile, and in dire cases a song could also be used! Not that you need to be sad to enjoy a song.”

“Pinkie.”

        “And like I said, I don't think that the would cut it. My Pinkie-Sense has been going off all morning.”

“Pinkie.”

        “What?” Pinkie said, completely oblivious to the fact that she had been talking too much.

“Would ya mind giving me some time to talk to Rarity too?” Applejack said, smiling slightly.

        “Okay!”

        And with that, Pinkie went back to staring out the window, humming a song that everypony in Equestria knew, but nopony could explain why they all knew it.

        Turning back to Rarity, Applejack held a neutral expression, showing neither anger or any other emotion in her face.

        “Well, I don't know about you, but when a friend of mine is upset, I would drop everything and go to the extreme ends of the Earth to help them anyway I can. Canterlot isn't too far away. I'm upset about losing a day of work on the farm, but things happen.” Applejack said giving quite a speech, her poker face not extending to her tone of voice

Rarity had the decency to look ashamed, smiling sheepishly at AJ.

        “Looks like I've been outnumbered.” She started, getting a look from Applejack. “Don't get me wrong here. I know that I can be a bit... much. Sorry about before.”

        “Ah, t’aint nothing that we haven't dealt with 'fore. We've all just gotten used to your whining.” Applejack said teasingly.

        “It's not whining! It was complaining!” She replied, rolling her eyes at the old joke. “You know, that was funny, oh, the first fifty times...”

        “Sorry, just try'n to lighten the mood. Say, anypony seen Twilight?” Applejack said, voicing the question that they were all thinking.

“I haven't seen her since last night. Have you Pinkie?”

        “No I haven't. She came over to Sugar Cube Corner and picked up some cupcakes. Not sure what they were for.” She let out a loud gasp. “What if she was throwing a party and didn't invite us‽”


“I don't think so, Pinkie. This is Twilight that we're talking about.” Rarity said, shaking her head.

        “What? Twilight loves my parties! Well, I guess she loves other pony's parties, but I've never seen her attend a different pony's party before. Maybe while she lived in Canterlot?” Pinkie said in a rush, the time not affecting her at all.

        “That's not what I'm saying Pinkie. I'm just saying that Twilight isn't the type of mare to just throw a random party. Even if she did, do you really think that she wouldn't invite her friends?” Rarity said.

        Laughing, Pinkie shook her head. “Good point Rarity. Besides even if she did throw an awesomely awesome party, I would know. You ever hear the old saying?”

“Which old saying?” Applejack said, interested now.

        “Oh, the one that I've heard the tourist pony telling the tourists interested in the Ponyville Community. 'Everypony knows everypony and almost everything happening in Ponyville.' That one's always stuck with me. Sorta like all the stories and sayings my Grandma told me.”

“Pinkie, of all the things... Oh, forget it.” Rarity said, grinning.

        The contrast between her words and her tone of voice broke the tension in the moving train. Looking at each other, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity all burst out laughing, their earlier argument forgotten.



//|b0d|\\





        On the outside of the train, Dash rubbed at her eyes, which were wet with tears still threatening to overflow. Laughter floated out from inside.

“Sounds like they're having a good time.” She said to no one in particular.

        Would she ever laugh again if they couldn't find Twilight? Would any of them laugh for a long time? Ever since Twilight had come to Ponyville, Dash had met her best friends, when before she had only talked to Fluttershy, and even then only sometimes.

        What would happen if the glue that had brought them together disappeared entirely? Being the Element of Loyalty, could she handle her friends no longer being... friends?


Could Equestria make it without the Element of Magic?





Could Dash's friendship survive?





Could Dash take it?





//|b0d|\\







        Dear Princess Celestia,

        Hello again Princess. I know that my friendship report isn't due until next Monday, but I've been thinking about events in the past. You remember the incident involving the changelings? What if we were too harsh with them? What if we punished an entire species for the act of one? Studying the scant knowledge we have of them, it seems that changelings are born with a Queen controlling them, akin to the way that an ant's nest is set up. A Queen is in charge of an entire colony.
        But as with ants, perhaps there's more than one colony of changelings. Perhaps we've taken the action of essentially one, and judged the entirety of them by that? What if we were wrong?
        In the course of studying friendship, I've learned many things. I've learned about friends in general, the way that you can get through anything with your friends. I've made many friends, as well; but one lesson in particular sticks with me at the moment.
        Do you remember the letter I sent you a while ago about forgiveness? About how one of the most important parts of friendship is to remain friends throughout times of strife and anger?



        The letter ended quickly, and left the point open. Sighing, the sun Princess set the letter down gently, letting it slip from her magical grasp.

        It was an unfinished letter, sent by Spike, clearly meant to be finished later. Smiling for a moment, Celestia remembered a time when Twilight would have never left a letter unfinished. Twilight would have never left anything unfinished, for that matter. She had changed.

        Oh, she was still the mare that Celestia had chosen so many years ago from the magic school; still the same pony. She still loved to study, loved her books, and had a devotion to her friends rarely seen in all of Celestia's time on the planet.

That said, in many ways she was different from the pony that had left Canterlot all those years ago. She was removed in Canterlot, preferring to stay in the library and study. The only ponies whom could get her to open up were herself and her family. In Ponyville, she was thrust into a place where that wouldn't happen. She just couldn't remain a recluse. The citizens of Ponyville counted on one another for many things. Everypony in the town was friendly, as well. She couldn't think of a better place at which Twilight could have ended up.

        The time she spent in Ponyville was good for her. She loved Twilight as a student, and in many ways she thought of her as a daughter. Now she was gone. Taken by those vile creatures that Twilight was writing about.

        Celestia was angry.

        She was angry at herself for letting this happen. She was angry at the creatures that would dare take somepony as important as Twilight. She was angry at the universe for letting this happen. She knew her little ponies thought of her as a goddess, but that view was flawed. She wasn't. Her sister wasn't. She didn't know if there were such things as gods, but she knew that she and her sister weren't.

        If they were, things like this wouldn't happen.

If they were, things that required Twilight and her friends to be put in danger wouldn't happen.

        If they were, creatures like Discord and the changelings wouldn't even exist.

Twilight would still be here, safe.

        Sighing, Celestia rose. She needed to prepare herself for the inevitable: telling her friends what had transpired during the night.

She was fairly sure the news wouldn't kill them.



//|b0d|\\







        “Where's the Princess? Wasn't she supposed to be here by now?” Rarity asked, shifting her weight to her left side.

        Indeed, the Princess was late. A rare occurrence, as she raised the sun, and could never be late in her duties. But this one time she was late.

        “Weird.” Pinkie stated, and, of course adding, on to it. Gasping loudly, she continued: “Wait! Do you think that something happened to her? Like what if Celestia and Luna had an evil brother that was banished somewhere else, and he's back! And is getting his revenge on them!”

Running to Applejack, she grabbed her by the shoulders and started shaking.

        “What do we do? We don't have the elements of harmony to defeat him! What if he's immune to the elements of harmony?!”

        “Pinkie! It's okay! Nothing's happened to the Princess, 'kay?” Applejack said, shrugging Pinkie off and walking over to the table.

“What!? How can you be so sure?!” Pinkie said, stunned that Applejack was so certain.

        “ 'Cause she's right there.” Bowing slightly, she spoke to the Princess who had just walked in.

“Princess.”

        “There is no need for that, Applejack. There are more important matters to attend to at the moment.” She nodded at Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash, acknowledging them. “I'm sorry about having Spike and Rainbow Dash pull you out of bed at an early hour, but something has come to my attention, and needed an immediate response.” She paused for a moment, glancing around the room. “Where are Spike and Fluttershy?” She asked, puzzled.

        “We left Spike in the old nursery after he fell asleep on the ride over. Fluttershy stayed back at Ponyville to take care of some sick animals that she couldn't leave. You want me to go grab Spike right quick?” Applejack said.

        “No, Spike already knows what happened last night. Let him sleep. He is a baby dragon, after all.” She stopped, glancing at the four ponies that were half asleep in front of her. Sighing, she continued.

        “This matter does not involve you as the holders of the Elements of Harmony. It involves you as you as Twilight's friends.”

        There. It was out in the open.

“Twilight? Is she here? Is that why she's wasn't on the train?” Rarity asked.

        “She's not here Rarity. I would've found her already!” Pinkie said, bouncing up and down on her hooves.

        “Okay Pinkie.” Rarity replied. “Sorry Princess. Continue, please.”

        “Last night I received a letter from Spike and Rainbow Dash. From what I can tell, Rainbow crashed into Ponyville library.”

The ponies in the room shot a quick glance at Dash, who looked stricken.

        “I don't have any other way to say this. I'm sorry for my lack of tact, but there is simply no way to put this nicely.”

        Looking up from the ground, she made eye contact with them. First Dash, then Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack came next.

        “Last night, Twilight Sparkle was kidnapped. We are currently unaware of her location, or what is being done to her. All we know is who took her. The changelings have effectively declared war with Equestria. They have taken a citizen of this country, and if anything happens to Twilight, then nothing can save them.” She finished, watching the reactions of the ponies carefully.

        Silence filled the room. You could have heard a pin drop. Each and every face in the room wore the same expression. Shock. Horror. Worry.

        “What do you mean? Taken? As in, she's been kidnapped?” Rarity asked, hoping that she had misheard the Princess.

        “Exactly. All we have to go on is a note that Twilight managed to write out, presumably while it was happening.” Celestia said, bringing the note out, floating the golden-aura-encased parchment towards the group. Setting it down, Applejack went over to it and read it aloud.

        “But, Princess. This doesn't make any sense. The changelings haven't been seen in, well, years. Why would they pop up now?” Rarity asked.

        Rainbow Dash got up quickly, startling everypony.

“I'm sorry, I have to go. I'll be in the main hall if anypony needs me.”

        And with those words, Dash ran out of the room, turning the wrong way to go towards the main entrance. Pinkie stood up, and went to the door.

        “I'd better go and make sure she's okay.” Pinkie said. She had been quieter than usual and her normally curly hair was slightly straighter than normal. That was never a good sign. Going up to the door, she turned briefly. “Meet me us at the donut shop at the center of Canterlot later. Bye Rarity. Bye Applejack. Princess.”

Then she was gone.
        
        “Princess Celestia, what are we going to do? What can we do?” Applejack asked, worry seeping into her voice. Rarity's eyes asked the same question.

“We sure as hell will do what we can to find my little sister.” A new voice said.

        Whipping around, Applejack and Rarity found themselves facing Shining Armor, whose facial expression was one of pure determination.

“How do we accomplish that?”

        “You two aren't part of the Royal Guards, but seeing as you're my sis's best friends, I'll tell you everything that we know, which isn't much. We know the changelings have her, or at least had her. They will know where she's is.” He paused, taking a breath.

        “We think that this is an attempt at revenge, for the events that transpired at my wedding a few years ago.” Shining continued, only to get interrupted.

        “What do 'ya mean, revenge? They invaded. We were only defending Canterlot!” Applejack said, outraged.

        Shining looked at her.

        “Sorry ‘bout that.” Applejack said, looking down.

        “Yes, well. To answer your point, yes. Revenge. You have to remember that even though they were the aggressors, you still foiled their plot to overthrow the rulers of Equestria. They had to be angry for that, thus the want for revenge.”

“But the point remains. What else do we know?” He said, preparing to make a point.

        “Nothing. We know next to nothing. We know almost nothing about the changelings, themselves. We only have a vague idea of where their country is. We don't even have a way to get there if it's past the borders of Equestria.” He said, laying down their grim prospects in one fell swoop.

        “Now, things may seem a bit hopeless. We've got the best crime unicorns on their way to Ponyville to check it out. You know how changelings feed off of emotion? We figure that if we can lock on to the latent feelings in the area, and search for any latent disembodied emotions, we can at least find where they came from. Even if they teleported away we can get a tracer on the spell, especially if it was a long range spell.” He said, stopping to look at the two remaining mares sitting by the Princess.

        “Hold on a sec. You're saying that we can get a tracer on that long spell doo-hicky? I ain't an expert in magic, buck, I ain't even a unicorn, but couldn't we get a trace and just use that to teleport over there?” Applejack said, looking at Shining Armor.

        “Well, normally. Even Starswirl the Bearded was unable to perform a long-range teleportation spell without one key component: an object belonging to the place of interest. We'd need to have something from over there to even get there. If we get a magical lock-. No. Once we get a magical lock on it, we'll have to send over a scout force to grab something from there.”

        “I won't bore you with the details of a Royal Guard operation. I need some time to think. I'm sure you'll need some time also. Sorry to lay this on you and go, but I've got to go and break this to our parents. I'll come back later and ask you some questions."

        “You may go Shining Armor. I have one last thing to discuss with Rarity and Applejack,” Celestia said, giving him a nod.

        Nodding back, Shining walked back through the door that he had entered through. Turning towards Twilight's friends, Celestia broached the matter once more.

        “I know that this is going to be hard on you. It's going to be hard on all of us. We need to stay strong. For Twilight and perhaps the fate of all of Equestria, we must remain strong. Can I count on you to keep your friendship strong during these times of strife? I've seen many things in my time, but the worst thing to see is friendship die.” Celestia said, her voice becoming said towards the end.

Applejack and Rarity looked at each other, shocked.

        “Your highness, we came together because of Twilight, and we are all friends of Twilight. But we're going to remain friends no matter what.” Applejack said.

        Rarity came next. “I'm not usually one to have a serious serious moment, but this time I am. We won't let this hopefully temporary absence of Twilight tear us apart. If anything, it might make the bond between all of us stronger.”

        “Good. We could all us some cheering up. Why don't we head down to that donut shop and meet Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash there?” The Princess asked.

        The trio nodded. They knew that it would be a long time before donuts cheered them up, but it was the act, the simple mundane act of getting a donut that would help them slightly. Make them think that maybe, just maybe everything would be right in the world.

        If only for a little while.






//|b0d|\\





        



        “Hello Twilight. You ready to begin?” Chrysalis said, walking into the room that housed Twilight.

        “Go away.” Twilight said, cowering in the corner, holding her hoof to her head, where she had gotten a gaping wound, still seeping blood.

“Oh, what happened there?” She asked, sounding genuinely concerned about Twilight.

        “One of your goons threw me in here. Hit my head on the overhand.” Twilight spit out, attempting to avoid Chrysalis’s gaze.

        “Oh dear. I’ll have to talk to them about that. Anyway, that gash will heal right back up after the first transfusion.” 

        This got Twilight’s attention. Looking at Chrysalis, she wore a terrified face, but underlying that was a slight expression of curiosity.

        “I probably should explain that. We are going to make you one of us! Won’t that be wonderful? No more barriers to stop you from helping us. Why, that very ponies that you put so much trust into won’t accept you for who you for who you’ll become.”

Twilight jumped up, yelling.

        “You monster! Why would you do this! Why can’t you just leave us alone!? We were only protecting our country! Our way of life! Our freedom!”

        “The first transfusion is tomorrow. I’ll see you then.” Chrysalis said, ignoring Twilight’s outburst. 

        Turning around, she left the room, leaving a sobbing Twilight on the floor, gasping out a word over and over.

“Why.”

“Why!”

“Why!”


        













        









        




> Important Meetings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The door opened with a groan, alerting Twilight to the changeling’s presence. As quickly as she could she went to the corner and sat down. Just as she did every time, for the last four times.

“Up.” 

“No.” 

“Up. Do we have to come in and get you?” 

“Go away.”

“Last warning. Get up.”

“Go buck yourself.”

A sigh. “We’re coming in and getting you.” 

For the fifth time since her imprisonment Twilight tried to use her magic. She hoped for anything at all to happen.

Nothing happened. There wasn’t a spark. There wasn’t any aura to show that it was attempting to work. There wasn’t even that flare of magic deep inside Twilight that showed that she still had magic at all.

She wasn’t sure who she was anymore. If she wasn’t a unicorn, who was she? If she couldn’t do magic, could she be the element of magic anymore? If she wasn’t her, then who the hell was she?

Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed when the two changelings started to carry her to the chamber. She remembered going into the chamber, but she never remembered what happened there. She couldn’t remember getting back to her cell. All she knew of were the results.

Head slung forward with her mane obscuring her field of view, she let out a tear. Just a single tear, as that was all she could afford at the moment, no more.

She watched it, for the changelings carrying her had stopped for something, most likely a door. It fell, forming a perfect sphere, reflecting the light of the dark corridor and making it the brightest thing in it. Freefalling, it had found something to receive. Only to immediately give it back, like an unwanted gift. It kept giving light back to the area up until the very end, when it splattered against the cold and unwavering floor, flinging out bright flares of light, still giving its gift back until the very end. Like so many things that she had cared about, if only ever so briefly, it to passed. It had also died, now nothing more than a memory of the past.

Was that all she was to her friends? Something to use so that they themselves could shine brighter? Something that was to be forgotten as soon as it was gone, no longer able to reflect anything?

Was she already forgotten back home? Was she already considered dead; just a casualty of an unforeseen conflict? Was she something that had never really mattered in the end to her friends? Was she something that wasn’t seen as necessary, not even wanted to her mentors!?

Letting out a small gasp, Twilight felt the changelings start to drag her again, pulling on her upper half and leaving the lower half to scrape the ground. She could feel every bump, every crack, everything about the floor through her cold legs. She even wiped away the tear stain on the floor. Even the things she cared about disappeared in time. Sometimes they disappeared quickly, leaving a shallow mark on her soul. Other times though, they stayed. They lingered, leaving a mark on her that couldn’t be healed. They healed on the surface, but inside, they never healed.

Could she heal from this? She had been abused, tortured even. But Chrysalis was smart. She never had Twilight beaten. She was never physically struck, but every chance she got, Chrysalis was there, playing her mind games. Twilight wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to fully recover from this, or even if she was able to look at her friends the same way. Chrysalis had said things that seemed true, but Twilight knew her friends. She knew them.

Didn’t she?

Yes. She had to believe that she did know them.

For if she didn’t have that trust, then she was going to die, inside.

She lost her grip on consciousness and fell into the black.





---0---





Chrysalis entered the room, pleased to see that her workers had already gotten her into position. She didn’t usually come to Twilight’s... sessions. In fact, this was only her second trip to actually see it happen. The first time was to break Twilight’s will to fight even farther than the cell could. The second time she came was to see how the process worked.

And now she had a piece of information that she couldn’t wait until Twilight was fully recovered to tell her. It was time sensitive. It was so... mean that she almost couldn’t do it to the poor mare. Thinking about it, she smiled. She shouldn’t.

But... she did.

She was passed out on the table, the tube at the side of the bed ready for insertion. Once that happened, Twilight wouldn’t be able to tolerate anything, let alone hear something and actually comprehend it. Chrysalis was told that the procedure was... painful to say the least.

She smiled. This procedure that her top minds in the swarm had come up with served her purposes twofold. It hurt Twilight, yet didn’t kill her. A perfect combination for her revenge. The ending to this process, this perfect plan, would be absolutely delicious. Already the results of the transfusions could be seen. 

Twilight groaned, bringing Chrysalis out of her thinking stupor. Twilight must be coming around.

Indeed she was. On the table her head rolled with her eyes halfway open. The classic pose of the still sleepy. That would change shortly, as Twilight came around to her senses. Just in time for Chrysalis’ news.

“Twilight, good to see you again. I must say though, you appear to have changed since I last left you. You look good. Did you do something to your mane? Well, what’s left of it.”

Twilight flinched on the table. She knew how she looked. It scared her. Her eyes were wide open now. Chrysalis continued.

“And your coat! You must tell me what you did to coat! I swear, this process is more of a beauty one than of actual changing. That black sheen!”

Twilight whipped her head to the side, trying to do anything that would stop Chrysalis from seeing that she had won. She did it to hide the tears in her eyes.

Chrysalis saw it anyway. A slight smile flitted around her lips, threatening to bloom into a full smile of joy. She couldn’t allow that to happen though. Not yet, at least. She had one last thing to say. And it would break her. It would suffocate any hope left.

Lifting up her hoof, Chrysalis grabbed Twilight by the chin, forcing the lavender mare to look at her. Wrenching, Twilight tried desperately to look at something, anything that wasn’t the Queen’s face. It was no use. Twilight was weak from the months spent in her cell. Forced, she stared into Chrysalises eyes, her own showing the absolute terror that she felt. 

Chrysalis failed at keeping her elation down, and a smile appeared on her muzzle. 

“Happy twenty-sixth birthday Twilight.”

She nodded to the changeling in charge of the transfusion, giving the changeling permission to start. Bowing its head, it jammed the needle into Twilight’s foreleg, and another changeling doing the same to one of her back legs.

Twilight screamed.


---0---





Dash’s hoof slammed down on the table, startling the assembled group. The group had been at sugarcube corner for about five minutes and, according to Dash’s perspective, nothing was getting done.

“Why hasn’t anypony done anything to find Twilight?” 

Rarity and Applejack sighed. This was a question that they all had been wondering, but only Rainbow Dash had the audacity to ask the question. Several times.

“Dash, I have all the force I can afford to divert at the moment on this. If I could be out there searching for her constantly like you I would. But as much as I love my sister, and as much as it pains me, I can’t be out there all the time. I have my responsibility to the Princess and Canterlot.” Shining Armor said sadly.

“Can’t you, I don’t know, get a replacement? Do something! I’m sick and tired of the guards sitting on their butts and doing nothing! She’s been gone over a month now!” She yelled, losing her cool for a moment.

“She has been gone for one month, three weeks, and five days. Don’t you think I know this Dash? She’s my sister, and the more time that she’s gone, the higher the chance that we never see her again!”

A gasp came from the door. Rarity looked over at the door, where Spike had just entered. Ignoring the two ponies glaring daggers at each other. 

“Spike, I thought I told you to stay back at the boutique.” Rarity said in a disapproving, parently way.

“I know Rarity, but I was wondering if I could go to the library for a bit? It’s been awhile since it was open, and-” He started, only to be interrupted by Rarity again.
 
“Of course Spike! That’s a wonderful idea. Now, why don’t you and I go down to the library right now and get everything set up real quick. Wouldn’t that be lovely?” She said, trying to distract Spike from what he accidentally overheard.

“Sounds good Rarity.”

Standing up, she went to the entrance of the small confectionary and ushered Spike out the door before any more damage could be done. Turning around, she gave Dash and Shining a little piece of her mind before she left.

“I’ll be back in a little bit. I hope that you two have put your differences behind you. Twilight was a friend to all of us. Don’t you think for a single moment that her disappearance has affected us any less than it has on you.” 

With those words she swept out of the little shop in a way that only Rarity could.

An awkward moment followed her exit, with silence only enhancing it. The rest of the ponies in the bakery slowly returned back to their conservations, this time with hushed tones.

“I reckon she’s right girls. And Shining, of course. Twi being gone has been hard on us all. But getting at each other’s throats is not going to do anypony any good. We need to stick together if we’re going to have any chance at seeing her again.” Applejack said, breaking the group’s silence.

More silence followed, with Dash and Shining Armor finishing their stare down. Each one broke off and stared at the floor, both slightly ashamed at their outbursts. Shining was the first to apologize.

“Rarity and Applejack are right. We need to be organized, and fighting amongst each other isn’t going to help. I do have some good news, but they come with bad news also.”

Dash looked up at the news, surprised. “I thought we weren’t ‘privy’ to this information, or whatever the crap term your guard people use.” She said, ending with a sour tone.

This earned her another look from Shining. This time it wasn’t one of reproach. Instead, it was a look one would expect to see on Dash’s face, or maybe Pinkie’s, whenever they were out pranking.

“Dash, if you had let me get a word in at the beginning of this fiasco, I would’ve told you that I am also sick and tired of nothing getting done about this. So... against my better judgement, I’m going under the table. Maybe some ponies I know that aren’t restricted by all the by-laws and rules of the guard force could get something done.” A sly look had taken root on his face during his impromptu speech.

“Yeah! That’s more like it! What have we got?” Dash’s elation quickly made her forget their small tiff.

“I’ve got some-” Shining started, only to be interrupted by Applejack. It was her turn to argue her point. She started off this point by slamming her hoof on the table. It seemed to be the thing to do.

“Ah want to get Twi back as much as you guys, but sneaking around the government’s back? That’s not right. In fact, it’s just downright dishonest. Ah won’t take any part of this.”

“Even if the idea was the Princess’ herself?” Shining countered.

The news startled Applejack. “Well. If it was the Princess’ idea then it must be okay."

Dash wasn't done yet. "Okay then, but why has it taken this long to actually do anything?"

"Because as much as I want to, we can't just storm into other countries accusing them of harbouring changelings. That would just end up with us with more problems to take care of before we could find Twilight."

Dash nodded. "Okay then. I'll buy that."

Nodding, he starts to tell the pair the news. “I’ll tell you the good news first. I admit that we  haven’t done much for the past month, but we’ve been working on it.. But...” He aimed a look at Dash before at Applejack. “...But we have gotten something figured out. We have essentially figured out where she’s not.  She’s not in any of our allies’ countries, she’s not in Equestria, and she’s not in the dragon’s country.”

He stopped, sighed, and gave a sad look.

“Now for the bad news. We have two countries where the changelings may be hiding Twilly. One we can safely assume that they aren’t there, because of the heat. Zebrica is too hot for the changeling. They don’t have the body functions to sufficiently cool themselves down. The other place...” He swallowed hard. “The other place we cannot go. We have been expressly been banned from. We can’t go, on risk of death, maybe even an inter-racial war.”

“Where?” Dash said. The entirety of SugarCube Corner was quiet, listening in.

“The badlands. That’s the only viable place left that they could be.”

“The badlands? Where’s that?” A voice asked. It wasn’t Applejack or Dash.

Whirling around, they saw a mint green mare that they knew from around town.

“Well? Where is it?” Lyra asked.

“Lyra! You can’t be hearing this!” Dash hissed at her.

“Dash, no offense, but if you want a private conversation with somepony, don’t do it in the middle of town. Especially not in SugarCube Corner.”

“Okay. My fault. Now go!” Dash said, whispering still.

“I can go over there, or I can stay over here. Either way I’m going to hear this. Everypony in this place has overheard your conversation with Twi’s brother. Now, maybe we weren’t Twilight’s best friends like the elements of harmony were, but almost everypony in town is friends with her. And if there’s something that we could do to help her, then I’ll be damned before I just walk away!” Lyra said, giving quite a speech. 

Everypony in the place cheered loudly.

Shining Armor grinned. “Okay then. You can hear this too. But I can’t promise you'll be able to help. The badlands are where the tyrants, before Celestia’s and Luna’s time, sent the worst of the worst to be punished, making it one of the most dangerous places to be.”

“Sugarcube, if it’s where they sent the criminals back then, should they all be dead?” Applejack asked.

“Yes. That was their plan. One thing popped up the the Solar Tyrant wasn’t expecting. Love. Or, at least, some form of intimacy. All we know is that the recon team that was sent there about fifteen years ago didn’t come back.”

“Then what can we do?” Somepony asked the question that was on everypony’s mind.

Shining sighed deeply. “There is a thought that’s been floating around the barracks. Perhaps a small task force, maybe three to five ponies could, in theory, sneak in and retrieve a package. A pony package.”

“So... you need volunteers or what?” Dash asked. “ ‘Cause you don’t even need to ask me. I’m going.” The tone of her voice left no room for argument.

“Then we’d need another volunteer, two at the most. It will take some time to get supplies ready. Maybe a week at the most. Could you go through and get some ponies?” 

“Sure thing. We’ll have them ready by the time you get back.” Applejack said.

“Good. Remember, we want ponies that will get in, get out, and leave with no trace. No ponies with a personal vendetta allowed, okay?.”

“Oh. Don’t worry about that. We’ll get sneaky ponies. But if we have to bash some changeling heads...” Dash said, leaving it hanging.

“Then no pony could blame you for it. Just don’t go looking for it.”

“I won’t. But something tells me that they will.”

> Plan B? We Have One?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	        Twilight slept, peacefully for once.

She dreamt of home. She dreamt of her friends. Her family, neighbors, and her mentor. She dreamed that she was still in Ponyville, happy and safe. She took care of the library, helped Applejack with the farm, sometimes even helped Fluttershy. She had tea with Rarity, went to Pinkie's parties, and watched Rainbow Dash practice her tricks for the Wonderbolts.

Twilight's dreams were her refuge among the stormy hell that her life had become. Her daily routine now consisted of waking up, avoiding the mirror that adorned one of her cell walls, and hoping that they wouldn't come. Then she would cry herself to sleep.

She didn't even pray to Celestia any more. She wasn't sure who she believed in anymore. But... it had been too long for her to believe that she was remembered.

Two months. That's how long it had been since she had come to this... this hell. That led to two months of torture, pain, and transfusions.

Twilight shivered in her sleep, her dreams taking a darker turn. Everything in her dream faded to black, leaving her alone.

"Who are you! What have you done with Twilight?" A shout echoed from the darkness, causing Twilight to jump around.

"I am Twilight! Please, you must believe me!" She shouted, desperate.

"Why should I believe you? Changelings are nothing but liars!" Came an accusation, this time to the left of Twilight.

Swinging her head towards the sound, she answered. "I'm not a changeling! I'm me! I'm Twilight! You know me!" She yelled back.

"I knew Twilight. She's dead. She died at the hands of changelings like you!" This time it was a different voice.

"No! I'm not dead! I'm Twilight! I'm a unicorn! I'm-"

"A changeling! Have you seen yourself? You're not fooling anypony!"

The darkness around her morphed into mirrors. There were mirrors all around her. She could see herself completely.

What stared back scared her.

She had a dark purple sheen on her, but it wasn't the familiar gentle sheen. It was harsh, with a highlight reflecting purple. As the light faded from around the highlight it faded to black.

Her legs hadn't gone untouched either. They had sharpened, with slight groves becoming more pronounced each time she was subjected to the transfusion. Along the way, she had become slightly taller.

The tail... It had bonded, formed into one, long and broad strand, ending in a ragged edge. It had grown larger in the two months, as did her mane. She hadn't had access to anything to cut it with. Chrysalis didn't trust her with anything even remotely sharp after that first incident.

Her ears had grown sharper, and the angle of chin had grown sharper. When she growled, canines showed. The thing that struck Twilight the most was her horn.

It had been the first to change. Growing black, the holes that were prominent in a changeling mage had appeared.

Staring back at her from in the mirror was herself. She had become this. This... half-breed. This crossover of pony and changeling.

Twilight opened her mouth to scream.

---

Gasping, she woke up, struggling against a hoof in her mouth.

"Shh! Be quiet Twi! We're here!" Came a hissing voice as the hoof was removed.

"Waa? Who? What's going on?" She asked, blinking the tears from her eyes, trying to see who was there through the darkness.

"Shh! It's me! Hey, are you done with those guards yet?” A mare’s voice piped through her muddled vision. It sounded familiar.

A face came into view. One of many faces that Twilight had given up on seeing again.

"Rainbow! I can't believe this! I..." Twilight broke down, hugging her friend. Dash hugged her back.

Twilight felt strange. She felt stronger than she had in awhile.

“Easy, easy. We’re not out of the woods yet Twi.” She twisted her face away from Twilight. “Shining! Those guards?”

“Done. They’re tied up, and ready to be moved into here.” He said, walking into the small room, nearly hitting his horn on the overhang.

“Shining! I can’t believe this! I… I can’t believe that you’re here! Oh, big brother.” Twilight said. She was dumb-founded. “I thought that you weren’t coming. I thought…”

She was cut off with a hoof in her mouth. “Twily, we’ve got to be quiet. We snuck in here. Getting out is going to be harder.” He said, giving her a quick glance.

He couldn’t see where they had hurt her. She look physically fine. Except for maybe being a little malnourished and dehydrated, she checked out.

He smiled, and gave her a hug. “You thought that we weren’t coming, didn’t you?” He let go and faced her, giving her nose a small bop. “I will always, always, come and get you Twilight. No matter where you are.” He whispered, giving her one last hug before he became all business again.

“We need to get out of here, stat. We can’t expect the route we cleared to stay open for long. Twilight, can you walk?” He asked, concern flitting into his voice.

“Run too, if necessary.” She replied, her eyes flashing for a moment.

“Twi?”

“Yeah?”

“Did your eyes… just turn green?” Shining asked, wary.

In an instant, she was up against the wall, held there by a light blue foreleg.

“Shining! We never did the reveal spell!” Dash hissed at him.

“Rainbow, stand down! We don’t know yet!” Shining hissed back angrily.

“Shove it. I’m not one of your Canterlot guards.” She whispered back. “Are you Twilight? Don’t lie to me!” She asked Twilight, who was still lodged up against the wall.

“Yes! I’m Twilight! Dash, choking!” Twi said, scrabbling against Dash’s arms.

“Oh… Sorry.” Rainbow loosened the pressure on Twilight. “Shining, you still remember that spell?”

“Yeah. Give me a moment. It would help if you would let her down…” Shining said disapprovingly.

“Oops. Here you go.” She dropped Twilight to the floor. Sitting up, Twilight shot her a glance, one that conveyed all her feelings at the moment. “Hey, don’t give me that look. I really hope you’re Twilight, but I can’t take any chances. I’ve been hurt too much for that. I’ll apologize later.”

Twilight nodded. “Fine. I’ll remember that. So, this spell. Which one is it?” She asked, although she already suspected.

“It’s the changeling identification spell. The variant that you created. Stand still and all you’ll feel is a slight tickling, and maybe some-”

Twilight cut him off, blushing slightly. “I know the side affects of this particular version. It’s already been used on me before, so I know how it feels. And it is not funny Dash!” She whispered harshly to the pegasus next her, who was stifling a laugh.

On the outside, she showed nothing, her expression a poker face that rivaled Celestia’s. Her insides, however, were a completely different matter entirely. Despite hoping against hope in this matter, the time had come to face her worst fears.

She was a changeling. She was still her.

What does that make Twilight? Was she a changeling? Was she a pony? Or was she a pony in a changeling body?

Was she something to be feared?

Could she, after all this, just step back into the life she had once lived?

“Twilight, you okay? You got that far away look you get when you’re thinking hard.” Shining Armor asked. “I’m just going to do this quickly, and then we can go.”

His horn started to glow, charging up with mana.

“Wait.”

Her voice was flat, emotionless. It betrayed nothing.

“What? Twilight, please, just let me do this and we can go.” Shining asked, nearly pleading. He was this close to getting his sister back. What was she delaying for?

“Just… give me a moment. Please.” Twilight said, her voice still telling nothing of how she was feeling inside.

Did she really want to do this? Did she really have a choice in this matter anymore?

Come to think of it, did she really have any choice at all on where her life was headed since she was kidnapped?

Even if she didn’t do this, what was the alternative?

She sighed. She had no choice.

“Just a quick warning. Life throws random screwballs at ponies that don’t deserve it. We just have to take what life throws at us, right?”

“Of course. What are you talking about?” Dash asked, impatient.

“This.”

Twilight concentrated, letting her fake glamour fall away in a puff of green light. She stood there, exposed, with possibly two of the closest ponies she had in her life.

They just stood there, slightly stunned for the moment.

She just gave a grim smile.

“Yup. Life’s a bitch.”

She was going to say more, but was cut off by a magical glow encasing her body and throwing her against the wall.

“Who the hell are you!” Shining yelled, no longer caring about staying quiet.

“I’m Twi-” She said, pleadingly.

“Don’t give me that bullshit! Twilight isn’t a changeling!”

“They did something to me! Please! You must believe me!”

“Why should I!?” He yelled, getting up in her face. “Twilight was taken by changelings! Why should I believe a changeling who says she’s Twilight? Tell me!”

“Because I am! I am Twilight Sparkle, daughter of Twilight Velvet and Aurora Dawn. I am the-” She started, listing off everything, that a few months before, she thought made her her.

“No. You. Are. Not! You can’t be her!” Shining yelled, tears brimming in his eyes. He impressed each word with a slight pounding of Twilight into the floor.

Twilight started again. “I- I am the personal student of Equestria’s elder princess, Celestia. I am your LSBBF. We used to play in the park down the street from our first house, even after we moved across the city. You were away at camp whenever I passed my acceptance test to the magic academy. ‘Passed’ being a relative term.-”

“No! No, no no!” Shining yelled. He released the spell, dropping Twilight. “No, you can’t be… you can’t…” He said, his voice dropping throughout his monologue. He slumped against the wall, sliding to the ground.

Rainbow, who had been strangely quiet throughout this entire exchange, walked up to Twilight, offering a hoof up.

“And me? Who am I?” She asked softly.

“You’re Rainbow Dash. You’re the only pony to have pulled off a sonic-rainboom. You’re also the element of loyalty, and my best friend. You were always there for me throughout my stay in Ponyville. My confidant, you could say.”

“Alright. I don’t want to believe it, but you… you’re Twilight.” Rainbow Dash threw her arms around her friend, not caring about how she looked. “Celestia damn it, I’ve missed you Twilight.”

Twilight returned the hug. “I’ve missed you too Dash. Life hasn’t been exactly a picnic in this hell hole. Give me a moment, and then we can get out of this place. I need to fix my brother.”

“Okay Twi. Just remember to tone it down on the cussing back in Equestria, m-kay?”

“Okay Dash.” Twilight nodded. She hadn’t realized how much she had picked up from her guards until Dash had said something.

Walking over to her brother, she nudged him. “Shining, please. Believe me. I may be different, but I’m still me. I’m still your sister.” She said this, while dragging him up off the ground into a sitting position. He stared at her, looking at her sadly. “Please. Let’s go home. I miss mom. I miss dad.”

A hint of life behind those dull eyes.

“Shining. I missed you. Please don’t push me away.”

Shining moved and gave Twilight a hug, crying into his sister’s shoulder. He let it all out. He hadn’t cried since Twilight had disappeared. He let out all of his worries, his problems...

He had his sister back.

“I’m so sorry Twilie. I am so sorry. I love you. Nothing will ever change that.”

Twilight hugged him back. She didn’t cry. She couldn’t. She had cried enough the  last two months.

Shining stepped back abruptly and took a deep breath, getting his emotions under check.

“Okay. We need to leave here immediately. Once we are out of this compound, we can activate a transporter spell and be returned to Equestria post-haste.” He said, automatically switching into his Captain voice.

“Yeah, plus we probably have Lyra and Scootaloo worried sick by now. We sorta got sidetracked by this little reunion.” Dash said, getting in-between the two siblings.

“Lyra? And Scootaloo? You let a filly come out here!?” Twilight said in astonishment.

“Wasn’t our idea, trust me. She just came along. We didn’t even know she was there until we were past the point of no return.” Dash said.

There was a scuffling from outside, a noise that got the attention of everypony in the room.

“Shining…  You used the sleep spell that you learned when I was still in magic kindergarten, right?” Twilight asked, worry seeping into her voice.

“Yeah… Why?”

“The one that lasts for fifteen minutes?”

“Yes…? I’ll cast it again before we leave. They’re bound. The can’t go and warn anyone.

“Shining, you idiot!” Twilight said, startling both Dash and Shining Armor. “Changelings are a telepathic race! A hive mind! Which means…” She said quickly.

A low horn sounded, reverberating along the walls and corridors.

“They already know.” Finished Dash.

“We’re leaving. Now.”

----

“Lyra!”

“I know Scoots! I’m not deaf!”

“Where are they?”

“I don’t know… They should have come out already.”

“Maybe we should go in aft-”

“No. They told us to stay here. We’re plan B, remember?”

“Yeah…But!”

“No buts! Stay here. And stay quiet, will you! They can't see us because of my spell, but they can still hear us.”

“Okay, Lyra…”


---


“Run!” Shouted Dash, who, of course, was flying.

“I am running!” Shouted Twilight.

“Well then, run faster!”

“Quiet! Both of you! Next left!” Shining yelled back at them.

“No! They’re waiting! Keep going forward!” Shouted Twilight.

“How can you tell?” Asked Dash.

“Don’t question it now! Question it later! Back in Equestria!”

“Okay, fine! Straight!”

They ran past several turns, making a left, sometimes making a right, and rarely, if ever, going straight forward.

Everything was going smoothly, until they ran into a problem. A ‘T’ intersection, with changelings coming in from both sides.

“Shit! We’re screwed!” Shouted Twilight, scared, and definitely not for the first time that night.

“Which way Twilight? We can still make it!” Shining asked, remaining calm.

“Um… Either! They both lead to a stairwell that leads out.” Twi said, her breathing becoming erratic.

“Focus. We can make it. You hold them off from the left, and I’ll power through on the right. I’m going to use everything I’ve got to get us out of here. Dash, you might have to carry me out once all of the changelings are disposed.” Shining said, spouting off his plan.

“Got it boss. Twilight?”

Twilight sucked in a breath. “Yeah! Of course!” She said, giving a nervous laugh.

“Good. Let’s start!”

Twilight turned around, conscious of the others behind her, and faced the horde of changelings. She could do this. She could use her magic.

Except she couldn’t. She hadn’t been able to access her mana stores since the first transfusion.

She had to try. For her friend, and for her brother.

‘Where are you going Twilight?’

Twilight’s head shot up, glancing around. That voice in her head…

It was the Queen’s.

‘Why are you leaving us? We’re the only ones who truly understand you.’

“You dragged me here against my will.”

‘Ah, but we have done much to help you.’

“You put me through hell. Get out of my head.”

‘Very well. But we’ll speak very soon.’

Twilight thought for a moment. The Queen didn’t make promises she didn’t plan on fulfilling. She sounded confident.

A realization struck Twilight.

“This is a trap…” She said as it dawned on her. “Shining! Dash! This is all a trap! She knew we were coming!”

The changelings were almost upon her. Whirling around, she saw Dash and Shining Armor forging through the changelings, but slowly losing the battle.

They had risked their lives to come and save her.

And now? They were going to die because of her.

“No!” Twilight shouted. “This is not. The. End!”

She saw a changeling jump up and grab Dash, bringing her down. A couple more jumped on Shining, forcing him to the ground.

“No!” She yelled again.

Something inside her snapped.

Twilight blinked, and when she opened her eyes, they glowed a bright green. Magic flowed into her horn, charging it.

She ran forward, and using some precise spells, knocked the changelings back off of Dash and her brother.

She could almost laugh. She couldn’t reach her magic before because it was a different type of magic.

Changeling magic. Fundamentally the same, yet different enough that she hadn’t known about it.

“Hey Chrysalis! You know how you bragged that there wasn’t a unicorn alive that could teleport out of here?”

Shining Armor looked at his sister, wondering what had happened since he had last seen her. What had made her this way?

Rainbow Dash stared at Twilight. This… this wasn’t the mare that she had known. Twilight was different know, inside and out. But… Dash could learn to live with it. She could learn to like this Twilight.

‘Twilight, as Queen I am ordering you to stand down’

“Ordering me?” Twilight laughed. “Chrysalis? Watch me do the impossible. I’m leaving. Buh-bye, you-”
With those words, she grabbed Shining and Dash and literally forced the magic out. All of it. With a blinding flash, they vanished.

The only thing that filled the hallways after that was a sound. Only it wasn’t a sound of sorrow, anger, or despair.

It was one of joy.

---

A flash, followed by a thump.

“Lyra! They’re back! And they have Twilight!” Scootaloo shouted at the green mare.

“What are you talking about? I’m still blind from that flash.”

“They’re back! And they’ve rescued Twilight!”

“Lyra! The beacon!” Shining said weakly, about to pass out.

“But… you’re supposed to use it! I don’t have the magic reserves.”

“You’ll have enough! Drop it! Drop the beacon!”

“Okay! Here goes nothing!”

Lyra’s face contorted into a face of concentration, her horn glowing a brilliant amber.

This time, the air around the team swirled, picking up dust and speed as it rotated faster and faster. It connected at the top, forming a half a sphere, one containing all five ponies.

“Lyra, finish it!” Shouted Twilight.

“I- I can’t! I’m going to burn out!”

“Use my reserves!”

Placing her horn against Lyra, she gave the last of her magic to Lyra to finish off the spell.

Lightning crackling among the bowl of dust, a loud banging noise echoed around the empty plain. As the dust settled, it was clear that the five ponies were no longer there.


---

A loud bang echoed around Celestia’s bedchamber. A guard had opened the door with too much haste.

Celestia gasped, and sat straight up in bed having just been rudely awoken. She glared at the guard.

“I’m sorry, Princess. But under your direct orders I am here to tell you that-”

Celestia jumped out of bed, and bolted out of the door, leaving the guard there, slightly stunned.

“-they have… returned….” The guard finished lamely.

Celestia sprinted along the corridors, flinging doors open, not caring who she woke.

“The courtyard…” She whispered, still running.

Door after door, she ran. She ran past palace guards, past servants, and past her sister.

One last door. She flung it open.

Running her eyes over the group, she could see that they all were exhausted, several of them already asleep. The only ones still up were Rainbow and Twilight.

Twilight smiled on at the Princess.

“Princess. I’m back.” She said, with joy in her voice.

And with that, she fainted, both physically and magically exhausted.

A flash of green light filled the courtyard.

	
	

> Set Phasers to Stun? Screw That!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Twilight woke up, confused for a moment. There were stars. She hadn’t seen stars in two damn months. Thinking, she tried to remember what had happened.

Escape. That’s what had happened. She could nearly cry with happiness.

A thought occurred to her though. What if this was another one of the Queen’s tests? What if it was, and she failed? She’d be punished! She shrunk down.

She had tried to escape before.

Once.

She had never tried again. If the transfusions hurt, then the punishment was absolute hell. 

Chrysalis was a real bitch when it came to messing with Twilight’s head. Subtle mind games and tricks, all attempts of the Queen to break down her spirit and leave her hollow.

Like a tear, only there for a brief instant. Breaking at the slightest touch.

Twilight heard a gasp behind her. Turning, she saw Celestia there.

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight shouted. She was home! She was!

Wasn’t she? She suddenly remembered how she had gotten to the hive. Chrysalis had pretended to be Celestia. What if...

“Princess, what am I to you?” She asked. This would tell her.

“Depends on who you are.” Celestia said evenly.

“What do you mean? I’m Twilight!”

“You are a changeling. Where is Twilight?”

Twilight looked down at herself. She wasn’t Twilight, at least on the outside. She was that ...thing that she had become.

“Ah... damn.”

Dash decided this would be a good time to interrupt. “She is Twilight, Princess. She’s... been changed, but she is Twilight.”

Celestia was torn. Should she follow her heart, or her mind? What her mind was telling her was different from what she believed was right.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know that. And for the safety of the kingdom, I need to disarm you. If you are Twilight, then prove it and let me do this.” She said, charging up a sleep spell. Her horn lit up lightly.

Twilight was taken aback, and stepped back a little. This wasn’t how Celestia would’ve acted. Not the Celestia she knew.

“You’re not Celestia, are you! I admit, you almost had me Chrysalis, but that’s not the way Celestia would act!” Twilight yelled.

“Twilight! This is Celestia! Please calm down!” Dash cried.

“Calm down? Calm down! No! None of this is real! None of it is ever real!” She shouted at the two of them.

Celestia felt a slight anger rise in her. But she also felt a sadness even deeper. Even if this wasn’t Twilight, she was right. This wasn’t her.

But what if this was actually Twilight? She’d forever break her trust if she did this. If it wasn’t and she didn’t? She’d be letting in one of the most dangerous creatures in Equestria.

The anger won.

Twilight cast a spell at Celestia, a minor fire spell, one meant to be a major one. It came out minor because Twilight didn’t have the energy. Using all of her energy, she fainted again.

Celestia dodged the spell, anger surging. Being angry while spell-casting is never recommended, as it adds unintentional strength to the spell. A fire spell would be an inferno. A water spell would be a flood.

A sleep spell would become deadly.
 
Her horn lit up bright yellow, its level of luminosity rivaling the sun. She prepared to fire at the representative of the species that had taken her student.

“Wait!” A voice came, knocking out her out of her anger and thought driven stupor. It was too late though. The spell was out of Celestia’s control. It sped towards the unconcious Twilight.

“No!” Dash cried, kicking off from the dirt, flying as fast as she could to save her friend. She had just gone through hell and back, literally. She was not going to lose her again! Not now! Not ever again!

“Rainbow Dash!” Celestia called. Why would she risk her life for a changeling?

Speeding towards the dark purple mass, Dash angled her body to run into Twilight. There was no time for her to pick up Twilight . She needed to run into Twilight and use her momentum to push her friend out of the way.

Flying with all her might, Dash picked up speed at an incredible rate. Adrenaline kicked in. Everything seemed to slow down for Dash. She could see both the bolt and Twilight’s prone body on the ground. 

Not enough time! Not enough!

Dash bit back a sob. She wasn’t going to make it, and she knew it.

No! Not making it isn’t good enough!

She still saw the bolt. It got closer and closer.

What about her other friends? What about her parents?

She knew what she had to do.

But what about...?

No! 

Dash groaned. “Buck my life!”

She impacted into Twilight, pushing her best friend out of the way, Twilight skidding out of sight, seconds before the bolt impacted her.

She felt pain.

She felt agony. 

She felt the desperation of her soul.

She felt happiness.

She felt sadness.

She felt everything.

She felt nothing.

And then essentially, Rainbow Dash died, her body not far behind.

Celestia stared, shocked. She heard a gasp behind her. Turning, she saw a guard pony, just looking at her. She looked back at the group, four of the five still breathing. The fifth...

What had she done? She hadn’t... She didn’t...

“I... I... It... shouldn’t have been that powerful...” She started. She cut off, horrified at her own actions. She hadn’t thought. She had just wanted her student back.

The guard snapped out of it, rushing forwards to Dash’s body, rolling it over. He started compressions on her chest, trying to get her to breathe.

“Never perform magic when you’re emotionally impaired Princess!”

One, two, three, four.

Celestia watched, breathing shakily.

Five, six, seven, eight.

He looked up at Celestia. “Go get help.”

She hesitated.

“Now! She needs a magical jolt! Go get Burning Star!” It was no longer a princess to guard relationship. It was a pony keeping another one alive to a civilian.

“GO!”

Celestia started. It had been almost a decade since anyone had yelled at her.

It had been even longer since she had deserved it.

Tears started to brim in her eyes. Turning, she ran towards the only part of the castle that she avoided with a passion. The infirmary. Her magic was among the strongest in Equestria, rivaled by only a few in history. Only one unicorn had... did have enough magic to rival her in the past decade.

But for all her power, she could barely do healing magic. Hers was at the other end of the spectrum. Instead of helping individuals, her magic helped the entirety of her subjects. She couldn’t stand the place. Even if it wasn’t a time of tragedy, it had a bad history.

Contrary to popular belief, Equestria wasn’t always the safe place it was. War. Strife. Famine. Genocide. 

This castle had stood over it all. And the infirmary... 

Shaking her head, Celestia noticed the stares she was getting. The Princess. Running.

They were all wondering the same thing.

What had happened?

She couldn’t tell them. She kept running.The infirmary was on the other side of the castle. It hadn’t always taken this long to get there, had it.

She stopped. Concentrated.

And teleported there.


 ---





“Dammit Dash! Breathe!” The guard said, continuing with the CPR. “Where the hell is Celestia!”

“Here. And I have Burning Spokes.” Celestia said, teleporting with the doctor in time to hear the guard’s complaint.

Spokes looked around and zeroed in on Dash’s body on the ground. She gasped.

“Fighting Chance! What the hell happened here!?”

“Victim has had extreme magical shock. Probably enhanced by her being in the low-magic zone of the outer-lands.”

“Clear the area. How long since shock?”

“Four minutes.”

“Damn. We need to expel the magic, and then jump start with an magical jolt. It’s dangerous, but it’s all we’ve got.”

“Then do it.” Celestia said.

Spokes nodded and started to concentrate, her horn turning flame orange. Dash’s body turned orange tinted, the orange in her hair turning vibrant while the rest of her body mellowed to a dull orange tint.

Her body now floating above the ground, magic in it’s purest form began to exit her. It seeped from every pore, forming a bubble above the heads of everyone in the area, lighting it up.

It was cyan blue magic.

Once it was finished, the bubble dispersed with a flash, and the area was bathed in darkness again.

“Time?” Spokes asked.

“Six minutes.” Chance replied tersely.

“Damn. Clear the area!”

Setting Dash back on the ground gently, Chance waved back the crowd of servants that had amassed in the short amount of time.

Charging up her horn, Spokes transferred the magic to her hooves and put them on Dash’s chest. The spell let her get a reading on Dash’s vitals, and they weren’t good.

She needed a miracle.

“Clear!” She shouted, pushing down on Dash’s chest. Her body jolted as the magic coursed through it. Chest up in the air for a few seconds, it slid back to the ground slowly.

“Not enough. Increasing magic strength.”

Charging up her hooves again, she placed it on Dash’s chest again, angling it towards her heart. 

“Clear!” 

Dash’s body once again jumped in the air. Wings shooting straight out due to electrical impulses going crazy in her body. A gasp escaped Dash’s lips. Stepping back, Spokes urged Chance to do the same. She had heard what a magic reviving could do to an earth pony, let alone a pegasus. 

Sitting straight up, Dash’s eyes flew open. Opening her mouth a string a sounds came out of her mouth connecting into random words. Her wings shot straight out, flapping in every direction.

“What is going on Spokes?” Celestia asked. She was relieved that Rainbow Dash was alive, but this was just... weird.

“Our bodies are subjected to magic everyday. We have adapted to accept it, and it adapts to us. We had to drain Dash of her magic temporarily, otherwise the magical shock wouldn’t have worked. Her body is adapting to the magic again, and is running a self-check to make sure everything is still working.” Burning Spokes replied. “At least, that’s the most recent theory.”

“Oh.” 

During Spokes explanation, Dash’s body had finished its ‘self check’ and had slumped back to the ground. Her chest rose and feel, proving to the world that she was indeed alive.

“Get these ponies to the medical ward immediately. They looked half starved. Why weren’t they immediately brought there in the first place?” Spokes looked at Celestia for an answer.

“I...” 

“Doesn’t matter. I count three adults, one filly, and...” Spokes looked at Twilight’s body in confusion. She’d seen one of these before a long time ago. During the...

“Ah. So that’s why.” Everything clicked. She might not know the specifics, but she could guess what happened.

“I suggest that you teleport everyone there, if you want to avoid questions I think you’d want to avoid. Chance! Get back over here. I need you to secure a guard detail for the med ward number 9.” 

Fighting Chance nodded once before leaving the area.

Celestia looked down on the medic, surprised. “You’d help her?”

“I took an oath. Many call it the hypocritic oath, but I promised to help anything that needed medical attention. Including changelings.”

“I acted in haste earlier. I assume you heard of the expedition to the outer-lands?”

“Rumors.”

“Of course. They were looking for someone. If they brought back this one, then that means that it is important somehow. Please, keep it alive.”

“I can try my best. To be honest, the changeling looks worse off than the others. If the others were merely starving, and I say merely lightly, then she must be absolutely malnourished. I’d say that if she continued living in the conditions that she must have been living in to reach such a state, she would’ve died within a week.”

“What?”

“She’s close to dead. She’s probably going to be unconscious for a while, and without proper food for her, she’s not going to have the strenght to do anything.”

“Proper food?”

“She’s a changeling. She feeds on emotion as well as food. Now, can we teleport to the med ward now?”

“Of course.” Celestia said. Charging her horn again, she spread the magic out around the area, surrounding everyone there. With a blink, they teleported away, out of the eye of the public.

And, of course, as with anything private, there was an uninvited guest.


---




Shining woke with a start. Thanks to his military training, he instantly took stock of his surroundings. Bed. Walls. Medical gear.

“Hospital. Which means...” Shining slumped back into his bed, sighing in relief. “Lyra did it. We made it back with-”

He sat straight up, some machines next to him beeping and flat-lining in protest.

“Twilight!”

An intern heard the noise and entered the room. Seeing Shining trying to get off the bed, he rushed up to him and gently pushed him back into the bed. 

“Captain, you must stay in bed. You don’t have the energy to do anything besides heal.” The intern said, his name tag announcing him as Helping Hoof. Shining didn’t recognize him, which meant he was new.

“Are you giving me an order Private?” Shining asked, hoping to pull rank. He needed to explain to Celestia what had happened before things turned south. 

“I am. I have the authority, and you know it.” Helping Hoof said, raising an eyebrow.

Shining just sighed. He did indeed know that. “Fine. Just see if you can get the Princess down here for a meeting. Things need to be discussed, urgently.”

Helping nodded. “Of course. She has been waiting for one of you to wake up so she can discuss the, ah, company you brought back.”

“Of course. That’s the main reason--- wait, for one of us to wake up? How long have we been out?” Shining asked.

“Um...” Helping Hand shifted nervously, avoiding Shining’s eyes.

“Private. Tell me.”

“I wasn’t privy to your entry at MedCell 9, but as far as I know you’ve been unconscious for about four days. You overexerted yourself, drawing into your own magic stores. I have no idea what you did to do this, but you’ve impressed me by that alone.”

“What!? Four days!” Shining yelled, slightly startling the intern. The heart rate monitor next to the bed was getting louder and louder, the beeps coming at an increased rate. 

“Captain! Calm down! I don’t want to have to sedate you.”

“Okay. Okay. What’s happened to the others?” Shining said, taking deeps breaths, training kicking in again.

“Lyra’s coming around. For a civilian, she sure packs a punch, if she teleported all the way back here. Dash is okay. Well, okayish. She’s going to hurt like hell when she wakes up-”

“What happened to her?” Shining interrupted. 

“I’m not at liberty to say.”

“And-”

“Same with the changeling.”

Shining sighed. “Okay. Then what about Scoots?”

“Scootaloo is... well, Scootaloo is in a bad way. She’s in the ICU. She’s being given the best treatment in all of Equestria. But she might not make it.”

“Oh Celestia. This is my fault.” Shining whispered.

Helping Hoof gave a small smile, before walking out of the room. Once out of the room, he trotted over to the guard at the door. 

“I’ll take your post. Go and take a message to the Princess. Tell her that the silenced coffin is open.”

“Of course, Captain Strike.” the guard said, nodding and swiftly turning and exiting the building.

Strike assumed the guard’s position beside the door. He was stoic for a moment, and then smiled.


---




“Strike told you to tell me what?” Celestia asked, unsure if she had heard the guard correctly.

“Er, he said ‘The silent coffin is open’.” 

Celestia hid a smile. “I see. You are to go home. Tell no one. If you see a blue flare off the highest point in the city, go and retrieve the elements of harmony.”

“Princess!?”

“You have your orders. Go.”

The guard turned and ran out of the room. Celestia chuckled. Strike was a humorous pony, that much was certain. Teleporting down to the MedCell, she approached the Captain.

“Must you always send guards to me with the most confusing messages? What does ‘the silent coffin is open’ even mean?”

“Oh. It’s just something random that I thought of. Anyway, Captain Armor is awake inside. Asked for you.”

“I see. What did he ask?”

“He asked about his team mates, the changeling, and how long he was out. The news about Scootaloo hit him pretty hard.”

“I see. Is he okay?” Celestia asked.

“I have no idea Princess. That’d be a question to ask the professionals.”

“In your opinion.”

Strike sighed and looked at Celestia. “In my opinion, it may be best to give him some time off, just to relax. He’s been through hell, and he didn’t even achieve his goal. There’s no telling if he’s going to be okay or not.”

“I see. Well, let me talk to him. It wouldn’t hurt to get a messenger to go tell Cadence that Shining Armor is back.”

“Of course. I will get her myself.” Strike said with a small salute.

“Good. Give her my best.” Celestia answered with a small smile. She turned and entered the small room that housed the unicorn.

Shining turned from the window and looked to see who had entered.

“Princess!” He exclaimed, trying to get up. The equipment next to him threatened to set off the alarm. Shining gave a sheepish grin towards Celestia. “Um, I hope you understand if I don’t stand up.”

“Oh, I don’t mind. Now, could we skip the pleasantries? I know that it’s not very regal, but I need to know what happened.” Celestia asked.

Shining blinked. He had expected some time to prepare.

“We left Ponyville about a month ago, and once we were about a week in, we discovered a little follower. Scootaloo wanted to tag along because her hero was going. I’ll be honest, she’s seen things no little filly should see. And now she’s in the hospital! I should’ve just turned around then.” 

The heart rate monitor started to beep faster.

“Shining Armor. Never tell yourself that it is your fault. It was her choice. Anyway. I have it from good sources that she is going to make a full recovery.”

“Really?”

“Really. Now, what happened after that?”

“I’ll get to what happened in detail once the important parts are out of the way. Would it be alright to skip to the end?” Shining asked.

“Yes, of course you can. To be honest that’s the part that most interests me.”

Shining Armor took a shaky breath.

“I’ll be honest. I’m not quite sure what happened myself. We had finally found the changeling hive. We had decided as a team that it would be too dangerous to enter as a group, so me and Dash went in solo, leaving the marker back with Lyra and Scoots. We made it inside and found Twilight-”

Celestia stifled a gasp at this part.

“-and she looked terrible. She had bruises, but they looked self-inflicted. She was starving, and she-”

Shining cut off suddenly, ripping his gaze from Celestia.

“She was different! They took her, and they changed her. Into... them!” Shining suddenly yelled. Whipping his gaze back to the Princess, he continued. “She was one of them, but still Twilight! Don’t ask me how I know. I just do!”

“Shining Armor.”

Shining took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself.

“I’m sorry Princess. I’m sorry. She’s still her, on the inside. It’s just... the outside that’s different.”

“Can you be sure?”

“As sure as I can ever be about my little sister. Can I see her?”

“She’s being... held in a different part of the infirmary. When you are well enough to move, you may see her. I have one final question, though. Did she show you?”

“I- I’m sorry, what?”

“Did she show you what she was willingly?”

“Yes. She did.”

Celestia nodded once at the answer, before turning back to the door. 

“Thank you. I’ll be back later for a full debrief. But for now, I think there’s someone here to see you.”

Opening the door, a pink blur shot past her and stopped next to Shining’s bed.

“Shining Armor! I’ve missed you!” Cadence said, grabbing Shining’s hoof.

“I missed you too love.”

The Princess quietly shut the door. They needed some time to catch up.

“Nice timing Strike.”

“Always Princess. Always. Now, about Lyra?”

“She’s being reassigned. Top priority.”

“Details?”

“I’ll be discussing them with her at a later date, when she is fully awake. But for now, all you need to know is she has a tag to follow.”

	
	
	
	
	


> Missing Friends, Old and New
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Twilight slept. Her body slept while her mind whirled with thoughts of what had happened. 

‘If I’m dead, why does it hurt?’

It did hurt. Everything hurt. Her legs, her chest, her horn. It all hurt. But nothing hurt like the gaping hole in her heart.

‘If I’m free, why am I trapped?’

She was out of the hive, wasn’t she? She couldn’t feel her captors anymore. They were finally out of her head. Her mind was her own once again, yet she felt... empty. She was free, but in freedom had lost something she never knew she had, or even wanted.

‘If I can’t be me, who can?’

She wasn’t who she was anymore. She could never go back to being the simple mare that she was. Oh, how she wished she could. To never have been in that nightmare.

‘If...

If what? There could be no if. There only was. This was happening. There was no going back. 

‘When did my life go to hell?’

It went to hell the moment that the queen decided she wanted Twilight. That... That...

She slipped, back into the blackness.



---




Celestia stood over Twilight’s bed, watching her as she lay catatonic.

“Will she be okay?” She asked the doctor softly.

“We don’t know Princess. She’s just... given up, it seems. Her body is shutting down, and we’re only reading the barest of cognitive thoughts.”

“How do we help?” Celestia asked, looking over the changeling that she had become convinced was in fact her student.

“I... I honestly don’t know. We’ve only had a few cases like these, and even then they weren’t this severe, this... degenerative this quickly. The only thing we can suggest is gathering her loved ones. That seems to help, but I don’t know how much good it will do here.”

“How long?” Celestia asked the question she dreaded the answer to.

Haywick looks towards his unaware charge and sighed. “If she continues to get worse, we could lose her within... forty-eight hours.”

Celestia gave a small sigh. “That quickly?”

“Yes. I’m sorry Princess. If it’s any consolation, at least she’s her, with loved ones, instead of back there.”

Celestia nodded. “I’ll gather up her friends and family. They deserve to be here.”

Doctor Haywick nodded, and left the room, leaving Celestia alone in her thoughts. 

Her horn lit up, and she started to write a letter.


000




Spike ran into Sugarcube Corner, waving a letter above his head.

“Guys, guys.” He started, only to put his hands on his knees and pant hard. “Give... me... a... moment...”

Rarity and Pinkie waited for Spike to catch his breath.

“They... Twilight! They have Twilight up in Canterlot. Shining Armor and the others made it back.

“Let me read this letter Spike.”

Spike gave the letter to Rarity, who read it aloud to Pinkie.

        Dear Spike,

Shining Armor and the others were successful in their mission, but there were some... complications. 

I will explain more upon your arrival in Canterlot. Please bring Twilight’s friends, and Scootaloo’s parents.

                                                Celestia


“Is that it Rarity?” Pinkie asked.

“Yes. But they have Twilight, don’t they?”

“Well, that was Shining’s mission, but the Princess did say that there were complications, which could mean a lot of things. Com'on Rarity, we need to gather up the girls!” Pinkie said, grabbing Rarity and pulling her towards the door. “Spike!”

“Yeah?”

“Go grab Scootaloo’s mom! We’re catching the next train to Canterlot!”

“You got it Pinkie!”

“Rarity! First stop is Applejacks!”

“Pinkie, wouldn’t we go faster if we split up?” Rarity asked.

“Ohhh... Good point Rarity! Okay, I’ll grab Applejack! You go grab Fluttershy and meet us at the train station, okay?”

“Okay Pinkie.”

The ponies went their respective ways, some hope in their step that they hadn’t had in a long time.


000




“What in the hay are you doing Pinkie. You’ve just been jumping up and down there for the past three minutes.” Applejack said, her head bobbing up and down with Pinkie’s bounces.

“Oh, that. Well, I don’t really know, but it could be that I’m super excited!”

“About what?” Applejack asked. Pinkie still threw parties, but not as often. They had just had a birthday party for Rarity just the other day. They had missed Dash’s.

“Spike got a letter!” Pinkie said, still bouncing.

“Spike gets a lot of letters sugarcube.”

“Yeah, but this time it had news! The Princess wants us all in Canterlot!”

Applejack sucked in her breath. “Pinkie. What exactly did that letter say?”

“Oh! Shining Armor and Dashie are back with their group! And the Princess wants us in Canterlot!”

Applejack sighed. “And you didn’t tell me of this first why?”

“Welllllll, this dirt is really bouncy for some reason!”

Applejack resisted the strong urge to facehoof.

“Come on Pinkie. We have a train to catch.”


000




“Fluttershy dear, we’re going to Canterlot. The Princess has requested our presence.” 

Rarity was standing outside of Fluttershy’s cottage, while Fluttershy held the door open.

“Th-the Princess?”

“Yes dear. There has apparently been news with Twilight and the others.”

“Twilight? Give me a moment Rarity, I need to make sure that my animals will be okay with me leaving for a bit.” Fluttershy asked.

“Of course.”


000


“Tickets for five.” The teller said, pushing the tickets through the small hole in the window. “Have a nice trip.”

“Thank you.” Rarity said, taking the tickets in her magic and wading back through the crowd to her friends. “We have the caboose to ourselves.” She said, passing out the tickets to each of the girls and Spike.

“Have you had any more letters Spike?” Applejack asked, looking back at Spike who was riding on her back.

Spike sighed. “No I haven’t Applejack. I’ve been sitting here the whole time since the last time you asked.”

Applejack smiled sheepishly. “Sorry Spike. Ah’m just worried about Twilight and Dash.”

Pinkie gave Applejack a hug out of nowhere. “Don’t worry! I’m sure they’re fine, otherwise my Pinkie Sense would have gone off!”

Rarity smiled while rolling her eyes. “And besides, I’m sure if anything had happened, the Princess would have put it into the letter. She isn’t one for keeping secrets.”

“Thanks girls.”

The group nodded as one, as they all began to board the train.

In just a little bit, they would be reunited with their friends.

But they all worried deep down;

What if...?
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	

> Welcome Back Party
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The group entered the main hall of the castle, looking around in what looked like suppressed fear.

Fear of what they didn’t know.

Applejack and Rarity led the way, followed quickly by Fluttershy and a unusually mellowed Pinkie Pie, with Spike tagging along behind them. A guard quickly approached them.

“Elements. The Princess wished to speak with you in her private chambers immediately.” He said, nodding at them.

“Hold yer horses. We’re here to see Twilight!” Applejack said, stepping forward. 

The guard shook his head. “The Princess insisted that you talk to her first.”

Applejack opened her mouth to make a retort at the guard, but was stopped by a hoof on her side. “Hold it Applejack. If the Princess wants to see us, we can’t exactly say no, can we? Besides, Twilight may be there with her.”

Applejack nodded slowly. “Fine. But Ah Still want answers.” She said, glaring at the guard. The guard, however, remained impassive. “All I can tell you is that there is some things that the Princess will prefer to explain herself.”

Rarity gave a reassuring smile at Applejack, while Pinkie Pie bounced forward, popping in between the two at looking at the guard. 

“Well then, what are we waiting for? Lead the way Mr. Guard!” 

The guard, without another word, turned around and started heading deeper into the castle. The multicolor group of friends followed him without a word, glancing around them as they went.

Eventually, however, the group reached Celestia’s room and the  guard took his station on the left side of the door, the right side already having a guard there. “The Princess is inside, waiting for you.” He said, before assuming a blank stare.

 The five ponies looked at each other for a moment before they moved forward, opening the door and heading inside to the brightly lit room, with Celestia sitting in front of the fire, a pile of letters in front of her. 

She didn’t seem to hear them come in, as she was still reading a letter and didn’t acknowledge them.

Rarity cleared her throat softly. “Excuse me... Princess Celestia?”

Celestia started slightly at the sound, before lowering the letter and placing it on the pile.

“Ah, you’re here. I am sorry that I had to call you here with little explanation. I know that you have been worried about Twilight and Rainbow Dash, but they are here now, safe.” She said, with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Applejack nodded. “Ah’m assuming that you’re going ta explain now?” 

Celestia closed her eyes and nodded, breathing deeply before opening them again and addressing the group. “The mission to the badlands was an apparent success. Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash, Lyra, and the unexpected Scootaloo were able to reach the changeling’s hive and grab Twilight and bring her back.”

“They reappeared yesterday ago, each of them malnourished. Shining Armor is still in the hospital, and Scootaloo is... in the ER. The doctors are confident that she will recover fully, given time.”

Fluttershy gave a small whimper in the back of the room, where an unusually still Pinkie was comforting her.

“Rainbow Dash however, has made a full recovery, and is just finishing her final examinations before her release. She will be joining us shortly.”

Celestia paused slightly, trying to think of how to phrase what she knew she had to say.

Applejack shifted in her spot on the floor, uncomfortable with the silence, and with who was left to explain.

“Princess... what about Twilight?” She asked uncertainly.

Celestia sighed. “Twilight’s situation is... complicated. You are aware of how her time in the badlands may have changed her, yes?”

The five ponies slowly nodded. 

“Well... she changed more than we thought possible.”

“What I am telling you is going to be hard to believe, but we have tested this, both magically and non-magically. And for all purposes... this is Twilight.”

The group just waited, slightly confused where Celestia was heading with all this.

“But.. it also appears that she is a... changeling.” Celestia said the last word slowly, still unused the idea, but slowly learning to live with it.

As she looked at the element bearers, a shocked silence filled the air.

Pinkie was the first one to break the silence. “What do you mean? It’s still Twilight, isn’t it?”

She paused, and Celestia was silent.

“Right?”

Applejack stood up suddenly after about a minute of awkward silence.  “If it’s still Twi, Ah don’t care what form she’s in. She’s our friend!”

Rarity stood up next. “I for one must agree with Applejack. I simply don’t care what she looks like. She’s still Twilight, and always will be! I simply can’t imagine that she would let those brutes win!”

Pinkie Pie stood up with Fluttershy, both letting out two degrees of affirming shouts of agreement.

Celestia smiled sadly. “My thanks. But... there is even more troubling news that I must tell you. While she may be here in body...”

She sighs. “Twilight Sparkle appears to be in a self-induced coma. She is fine aside from that.”

Celestia stopped, taking a shaky breath, before letting it out in a slight rush.

“No. No she is not okay. She is in the hospital wasting away and there is nothing I can do about it!” Celestia said, her usually calm voice shaking with emotion. “For all the power of the sun, and there is nothing I can do to save her.”

She took a deep breath, and recollected herself. “That... is why you are here.”

The four ponies looked confused and upset at this news. Fluttershy was even hiding behind her mane.

“The doctors have given her less than... forty hours to live. I know that you all will... want to spend some time with her.”

Celestia broke off. “I am... sorry. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you to see Twilight. Rainbow Dash will meet you there.”

She said this, the group looking at each other and slowly left the room, but not before they saw Celestia started to cry.
	
	

> Sleeping Beauty
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The door to the room clicked open, a rainbow maned pegasus stepping through it slowly. Closing it ,  her eyes ran over the small room that was barely adorned with anything. A single window was on the far wall, and the bed in the center left only enough room for the equipment that Twilight needed to be on life support,the Doctor, and her with a little bit of room so they weren’t all up against each other.

Haywick looked up from the clipboard, studying her for a few minutes over his glasses before hooking the clipboard back on the bed. 

“Miss Dash. I assume you're here to say goodbye?” He asked softly, his eyes kind.

Rainbow tensed for a moment, before shaking her head. “No... Not to say goodbye, Doc. She’ll pull through.” She said, determination in her voice. 

Haywick nodded, casting a glance at the prone body of the undisguised Twilight. She was breathing shallowly through a breathing mask, IV’s going into her arms. The gentle beeping of the equipment was one of the only indicators that she still lived.

He nodded again, shortly this time. “Maybe that’s what she needs.” He said, quietly to himself, before looking back at Dash. “Okay, Miss Dash. I need to lay down some ground rules for you and your friends. First off, only one visitor at a time.”

Dash nodded. “Okay.”

He continued. “Second off, if anything changes, anything at all, you get the guard, and he’ll come find me.”

Dash nodded again.

The doctor looked at the monitors again, before nodding to himself. “Okay, Mrs. Dash. Be careful.” He said, before hanging the clipboard on the end of the bed, and walking out slowly. 

Dash watched him go, the door swinging shut behind him and clicking shut. 

She sighed softly, before she turned to Twilight, her eyes sad. 

“Oh, Twilight... what are we going to do with you?” She asked, walking over towards the bed, closing the short distance in a few steps. 

“First... you’re gone in the middle of the night.” She said, her eyes closing and remembering the night. 

“Then, we find out the changelings were involved... And then, we had to wait for a whole month!” She said, her eyes snapping open, a slight wetness apparent.”

Dash lay her forearm next to Twilight’s, leaning on the bed as she continued. “And then.. we find you, like this.” She whispered, her voice dropped to a nearly inaudible whisper. “If... if we hadn’t waited this long, you would’ve been okay!”

“This is my fault...” She said, her head hitting the mattress without any real force behind it. 

She stayed like that for a few moments, before she lifted her head up again, a determined look in her eyes. 

“But, we’ll fix this! You’re going to wake up, and we’ll fix this, just like we always do!” She said, her voice filled with hope and a slight edge of desperation. 

“You’re Twilight Sparkle, the best damn unicorn around at figuring stuff out. I’m sure that in that overly huge library a bookworm like you could find an answer to this!” She said, grinning softly. 

“But... We’ll fix this.” She said, her head drooping down again.

“Just like we always do.”

She stayed like that, her head resting on the mattress again, just remembering.

She stayed like that for about five minutes, before a knock came at the door and she jerked her head up, startled for a few seconds.

It opened up to reveal a very familiar group of ponies standing outside of it. Dash’s face lit up and she run out of the small room and into the larger one, giving the closest one of her friends a hug.

“Guys! Oh my gosh, I haven’t seen you guys in forever!” She said, smiling widely, her sadness temporarily forgotten. 

AJ chuckled slightly before she straightened her hat. Dash let go of her orange friend, smiling sheepishly. “Well, we’re happy to see ya too, sugarcube.” She said, smiling softly. “It was quite boring around Ponyville without ya there, pranking.”

Pinkie Pie looked over, letting out a soft yell of indignation. “Hey! I tried!”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Pinkie, most of the pranks revolved around pies to the face. You must vary it up a bit, as it were.” She said, sighing. “Now... I know that we’re all happy to see our friend safe and alive, but I can’t help but feel we have another one that needs our attention even more.” She said, bringing the mood down once most of the ponies were brought back to reality.

Fluttershy nodded. “Y-Yes...” She said, frowning. “We... We need to be strong, for Twilight.” She said, mostly to herself.

Dash looked around at her friends, happy to finally be back where she could actually talk to them, and be with them, but the reunion was bittersweet.

“The Doc said that only one visitor at a time is allowed, so most of us are going to have to wait out here.” She said. “And, we need to be careful. Doc said that if anything changes, we need to alert the guard, so they can tell him.”

The four nodded to Dash’s instructions. “Of course, Dash.” Pinkie said, her normally vibrant color slightly dulled.

“I was thinking, that...” Dash started off, hesitating before finishing her thought. “If Rarity goes first, we can go to the library and try to look up anything that could help. The doctors may have given up, but I’m not!” 

Rarity nods. “I would be willing to do that, for Twilight.” She said, looking towards the others with a questioning look.

AJ nodded, as did the other two. “It’s a good a plan as any, Ah suppose.” She admitted. “And once one of us others have finished, we can go grab Spike. He needs to be here as well.”

Dash nods. “Okay then, it’s settled. I’ll meet you in the library, Rarity.” Dash said, taking off out the door towards the library. 

The others looked after her, some still nodding as they watched her go. 

“Well, dears, I’ll take my turn to...” Rarity started before trailing off, going into the small room, the handle glowing a light blue as it closed softly.
	


> Twilight Sets
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------




Dash flipped through her book, sighing as she turned another page that was just a wall of text. She groaned, her head flopping down on the book with a dull thud as she sighed. 

“How many books are going to tell me the same thing?” She asked herself, looking at the single book she had already gone through. It had told her nothing she hadn’t already known about the changelings. The feed on emotion. They follow the Queen. Love is their preferred emotion.

Nothing new, nothing helpful.

She sighed again, her eyes focusing on the pages once again, restarting the passage.

-------

‘Now, while some may find this theory doubtful in terms of following every single fact we have, or rather, don’t know and have filled in the gaps with it, I have no doubt in my mind. Whenever we look at the evolutionary traits and aspects of the changelings (Fallax Equinae), one must admit that they make no sense. 


Why, for instance, have holes in their legs? It serves no purpose other than to add to their mysterious and terrifying aura. And since we’ve only recently discovered them in the badlands, we can cross off the idea of them having evolved to scare us. We can also cross this theory off because they feed on love; scaring ponies will serve them no purpose.


Another one: they have a mane-like fin which appears to be made of nothing more than spines and a thin membrane of skin-like material stretched between them, resembling a sail. I ask you another question: “Why?” Why do they have this trait to them? Is this to emulate ponies? Is this a base for their transformation? And on that interesting note, I fear I must point out two final things before making my point.


On the subject of transformations, I must ask the repetitive question once: Why do they have such a strong innate magic? All of them: the Queen, the sentient leaders, what we believe to be drones, even the youngest offspring are capable of transforming from what we are able to  tell, even though we have have yet to observe one.


And finally, the biggest conundrum: their dietary habits. They feed on emotion. They feed on love and happiness. Might they be able to feed on fear and hate as well? How, in everything that loves the sun, is this possible? Emotion is not even a real, tangible thing. Many have tried, and just as many have failed, to explain it beyond a simple wave of their hoof while saying “they just can”. 


There are too many variables, too many unknowns in this quest to explain this new species. And so, I have only one theory, only one explanation for the existence of changelings.


They did not evolve from a random creature; they look too much like a pony for that to be a coincidence. They did not evolve from ponies; that would be too much of an evolutionary jump.


Changelings had to have been made through magical means.’


-------

Dash’s eyes went wide at the last sentence, hoof quickly closing the book for a moment to check the title. It was What we know of Changelings by one Talented Tome. It was dated... nearly three hundred years before the start of the Celestial calendar!

“The... Discord Era?” Dash muttered to herself, wondering if that was relevant when suddenly someone cleared their throat. 

Snapping her head up from the book, she came muzzle-to-muzzle with a librarian that didn’t seem all too pleased by the pile of books on the table.

“Miss Dash, I must ask why you have a pile of books at a table in the library.” He said, backing up a bit.

Dash looked at the manila stallion for a moment, a confused expression on her face. “Uhhh, reading?” she stated obviously.

The librarian sighed. “I can see that. Allow me to rephrase. How did you get you in the library now? We’re closed for the day.”

Dash nodded. “I know...  But it was an emergency!” she defended. 

The librarian squinted at her through his glasses, before sighing. “I’m waiting to hear your amazing reason.” He said.

“Well...” Dash said, her brain stalling for a moment before she decided to just tell the truth to the stallion. “Twilight came back.” She said softly. “And we need to find out as much as we can about the changelings as soon as possible.” The words were spoken so softly the librarian almost missed them.

At hearing Twilight’s name though, the stallion’s face softened. “Ah... I should’ve known Twilight was behind this.” He said as he smiled softly, not understanding the situation behind it, but not pushing. “I’m Dewey Decimal. I’ve been working here from the time Twilight was old enough to come to the library by herself, always up in the corner in a book fort, reading from the time I unlocked the doors until I had to push her out.”

He smiled, reminiscing. 

Dash forced a smile at him. “Well, Dewey, I’m sorry, but I’m going to need to be in the library until I go through these books,” she said, gesturing to the pile she had yet to read. It was disappointingly small, only about five books.

Dewey shook his head. “No, it’s fine. Anything for one of Twilight’s projects.” He said, smiling. “I’ll be up front getting some work done since I’m here. Come find me if you need anything.” He said, turning around.

Dash nodded. “Thanks, Dewey. I’ll hurry up. And, a friend of mine should be stopping by soon to help me, is that okay?” She asked, unusually polite for the brash mare.

“Of course. I’ll let her in when I see her.” And with that, he was gone.

Dash’s smile quickly faded as she looked down at the book again. 

“Changelings were made, huh?” She muttered, writing something down on a spare piece of parchment. “I know that... But how do you unmake a changeling?” she asked herself, sighing as she turned the page again.

-------

Rarity entered the door to the medward slowly, her magic closing the door behind her as she moved across the small room to stand next to Twilight’s bed, before sighing softly.

“Oh Twilight... what are we going to do with you?” She asked in a low tone, looking at her friend’s new form. “Look at you...” She said, before forcing a smile and taking another look.

“Not to say that this isn’t anything somepony couldn’t pull off, Twilight. I mean... Your coat is such a dark shade of purple. I know a perfect color that would go with that. Maybe after you’re out of this...” She stopped, looking around as she wasn’t quite sure what to call where they were. “... rather drab hospital, we can go and I can make an absolutely stunning dress for you! Maybe a flowing yet form-fitting dress?” 

She lost herself for a moment, thinking about different color combinations, someway to make her friend simply stunning! “Maybe periwinkle grey, with some titan white to accent it?” She muttered to herself, before catching what she was doing and blushing a bit.

“Sorry, dear... But, on other news, Sweetie Belle is another year older! Pinkie threw her the best birthday party ever, according to the girls.” She said, trying to lighten the mood in her one sided conversation before sighing.

“Who am I kidding.” She said sadly. “Twilight, we need you. Things aren’t the same as they were. We’re all friends, but you were our... glue, as it were.” She went quiet for a minute, simply staying there by her friend, the only sounds being the equipment in the room, before speaking up again, determination in her voice. “Twilight, I heard that you’ve given up. I know that that can’t possibly be true.

“The Twilight I know would never give up. We faced Nightmare Moon when she was still a legend. We faced Discord, and won. We’ll get through this. We always get through these. I will go to the afterlife and pull you back with my my teeth if I have to, okay?” She said, her eyes determined, before they softened.

“Just please... hang on Twilight.” She said, slowly turning around and exiting.


-----------------


Fluttershy walked in softly, barely making any noise as she approached Twilight and sat down next to the bed, simply staring at her friend for a minute, taking in the changes. Even though she had been warned, it was completely different to see it for herself.

Her breath hitched slightly as she looked, laying her head down on the bed, her own hoof finding Twilight’s still one as she started to cry. She cried for a bit, no longer able to hold back her emotions that she had kept bottled up.

“Twilight, you gotta make it through, y-you gotta come home.” She said in between the slowing sobs. “E-Everyone’s started to drift apart, n-nothing is the same...” She said, looking up and looking at Twilight directly.

“I-I’m trying, but I can’t do this on my own...” She said, putting her head back down, her crying slowing until there were no more tears.


-------------------

Dash looked up from the third book as a familiar alabaster mare entered her little study room. “Rarity! Thank Celestia you’re here!” She said. “These books are soo boring!” She said, her head hitting the table again as she sighed deeply.

Rarity smiled a bit. “Rainbow, I believe this is the most you’ve read in a long time.” She teased. “Now, what have you found out?” She asked, moving around the table to stand by Dash, looking down at the list she had written out.

“I’ll be honest, I’ve learned almost nothing that we didn’t already know. Emotions, disguises, badlands...” She said, summarizing her hour and a half of research in three words. “Only useful information I found was in an old book from the Discordian era by...” She checked her list quickly. “Talented Tome.” She said, sighing.

Rarity took the book in question and flipped it open, skimming the first few pages. “What was different about his that wasn’t in the other books? Maybe we can condense what we need from what it tells us.” She proposed.

Dash shook her head. “No... That book was written whenever the changelings were first discovered. There’s nothing for sure about it. All he proposed was changelings didn’t evolve from anything, but that they were made. And get the kicker:” She said as Rarity stopped flipping through the book to look up at her.

“He said that Discord made the changelings.”

----------------

Pinkie walked in without any major confetti going off, surprisingly. She walked over to the bed with a spring in her step, but to anyone who knows her, it was obvious she was holding back a little, even with a sad smile playing on her lips.

“Hi Twilight! It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, and, well...” she said, thinking for a split second. “You missed a lot of parties, I’ll be honest,” she admitted, grabbing Twilight’s hoof and holding it for a while.

“Applejack said I’m not allowed to throw you any parties while you’re here, so you have to get better so I can throw you a ‘Welcome Back’ party! And maybe even a huge fantabulous party to make up for all the ones you missed!” She said, yelling in an excited voice. 

She smiled softly, squeezing the hoof she held. “You gotta get up, Twilight. I keep throwing parties, but it’s not the same without all of my friends there.” She said, before dropping it softly back to the bed, starting to walk away.

She stopped in the doorway, looking back. “I’ll be waiting for the chance to throw you a welcome home party, Twilight.” 

----------

Rarity looked at Dash for a few long moments. 

“What?” she finally managed to force out. “Discord made changelings?” she asked, looking at Dash, who shrugged.

“That’s what the guy thought,” she said flippantly, as she put the third book in the finished pile and grabbed the fourth one. “But that was over a thousand years ago, who knows what they’ve figured out since then.” 

“Are there no other books by the same author?” Rarity asked, finding and reading the passage for herself.

Dash shook her head. “No. I asked the librarian, but he said that they were ‘Lost to the times,’ whatever that means. Besides, there’s nothing else in the book besides what we know, and even then, thinking that Discord made them isn’t going to help anything. We know that changelings can be made. Twilight is...” she started, before trailing off and starting again. “We gotta figure out how to save one,” she finished.


----------------------

Applejack pushed the door open, taking off her hat and placing it on the bedpost as she walked up to Twilight’s side. 

“Howdy Twi. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” she said softly, looking down at her friend, smiling sadly.

“Things’ve been different since you’ve been gone, Twi. I catch Pinkie walking, or looking sad whenever she thinks nopony’s watching. Rarity’s thrown herself into her work. Fluttershy tries hard to keep everyone together, but... we’ve grown apart, I’ll be honest. But with you back, everything’s starting to look up.” She said. 

She sighed. “Things’ll get better. We just gotta give ‘em time, y’know? Things heal.” She said, looking and giving Twilight’s hoof a slight reassuring squeeze. 

“But we need you, Twi. In order for us to heal...” she looked down, closing her eyes for a bit before turning around and leaving, with only a solitary look behind her.

-------------------------

A few minutes later, the ECG monitor went disturbingly loud for a few moments, registering a rapid increase of Twilight’s heart rate with her body jumping a bit before it settled. And then, a long, drawn out whine filling the air.

The only other sound to be heard was the sudden sound of hooves on the ground and the door banging open as Doctor Haywick ran in, taking in the scene quickly.
 
“Nurse! Get me one milligram of epinephrine now!”
	
	

	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	


> The First Step to Healing is a Smile
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Twilight floated. She floated in a seemingly never ending void. She could no longer feel her limbs, and she felt as if she was just barely holding on.

What was she holding onto? She couldn’t remember. All that was left for her in her shattered mind was just bits and pieces of broken memories.

Did she even want to remember? It... it hurt.

She cringed a bit as she floated, pulling her limbs in closer to herself as she shook her head softly.

She didn’t want it to hurt.

She wanted it to stop.

Maybe if she... just let go...

It would end.





Celestia sat down heavily, looking down at the report that the doctor had given her less than an hour ago. She already knew what it said by heart, but it offered a small glimmer of hope. Somehow, miraculously, Twilight’s condition had stabilized. The Princess of the Sun knew that her student was in critical condition still, but she wasn’t getting worse.

She gave a small smile at that before letting out a sigh. There was still a long way to go.

She was disrupted from her musings by her door opening, a familiar dark blue mare walking in slowly.

“Sister,” Celestia greeted, forcing herself to bring another smile to her face.

“Celestia,” Luna replied, giving a courteous nod as she walked into the room and sat herself down next to her sister. “How fare thee?”

Celestia shook her head, before answering honestly. “I don’t know, Luna. I’m hoping for the best... but I know that I must prepare for the worst.”

Luna leaned against her sister comfortingly. “I know,” she said softly, “but I’m here for you now. Never forget that.” 

Celestia gave a true smile at that. “I suppose I can’t forget it with you here to remind me,” she said, lightening the mood a bit.

Luna chuckled a bit, before nuzzling her sister once more and getting serious.

“Sister, I didn’t come up here just to see how you were doing. I came up to tell you what I plan to do,” she said slowly, changing the subject suddenly.

Celestia looked down at her sister with guarded curiosity. 

Luna explained herself. “Sister, while I may not be able to dreamwalk with the Changelings, Twilight Sparkle was-... is... a pony; I can still sense her, dreaming in her coma. She was not strong enough for me to enter before, but it seems she has gotten some of her strength back,” she said before pausing to gauge her sister’s reaction.

Celestia wore a guarded expression, but Luna knew her sister well.

“I... do not know if I will be able to talk to her, but this will at least give us some idea of what she’s thinking about. If nothing else, I can try to manipulate away the bad memories and bring the good ones to the forefront of her dream,” Luna said, taking a breath. “I can remind her that her friends care for her,” she added.

Celestia nodded slowly, thinking. The silence stretched on for a bit before Luna found herself embraced in a hug.

“Thank you,” Celestia said, her façade breaking for a bit as she hugged the smaller Alicorn.

Luna jumped a bit at the sudden hug, before relaxing and hugging her back. “She is my friend too,” Luna gently reminded Celestia.

Celestia chuckled a bit, holding the hug. “Yes, yes she is.”





Twilight floated on. It was cold. So very cold.

She shivered in the dark. 

It had been warmer earlier, hadn’t it? A brief moment of warmth among the cold.

She had liked the warmth.

Where had it gone?

She shivered again slightly, before she felt warm again.

She stopped thinking for a moment, before she did something she hadn’t done in a while.

Twilight Sparkle smiled.








Luna walked into the medical ward that was holding Twilight, startling the Doctor that was in there looking at a clipboard. Looking up, the doctor’s eyes went wide and he hurriedly hung up it back on the bed and nodded his head respectfully towards the Princess.

“Doctor Haywick,” Luna replied with a nod of her own.

 “What brings you here, Princess Luna?” he asked, before looking back at Twilight. “On second thought, I might know the answer.”

She smiled sadly. “Indeed, Doctor,” She said, before pausing as a vibrant blue caught her eye from the corner of the room. “Loyalty?” Luna seemed confused seeing the pegasus on the other side of the room. “What is she doing here?”

Haywick chuckled at that as he nodded. “She’s certainly living up to her element, Princess. After Twilight... went into cardiac arrest and quite literally died for a minute, and Dash has refused to leave her side, only doing so when her other friends come to drag her away for food,” he said with a hint of cheeriness at the last part, although frowning thereafter at the mention of the earlier incident.

There was silence for a moment before Dash snored softly, causing Luna to give a small smile before she looked up at Doctor Haywick and spoke. “Look, Doctor, she is smiling!” Luna exclaimed as soon as she witnessed Twilight’s smile. It bought a moment of joy into the Princesses’ heart to see her smile, knowing Twilight had something worth smiling about.

Haywick shook his head. “Princess Luna, she’s in a coma, she can’t,” he stated, before looking at her and raising an eyebrow. “Or... she can!” he said, a mixture of dumbfoundedness and surprise written across his face. 

He shook his head. “I really shouldn’t be trying to apply regular medical practices to this particular case. Nothing about this is normal,” he muttered, before speaking louder to the clearly bemused princess. “Yes, well. That is most likely a good sign. If I had to guess, and I am completely guessing here, I would say that she’s probably responding to some internal stimuli. Which is good, because it shows she’s having higher brain functions.”

Luna gave him a quizzical look, tilting her head to the side slightly.

“It shows she is dreaming,” the doctor simplified. “Probably.”

Luna turned away from the good doctor and smiled again. “Of course she is, Doctor Haywick. Why would the sleeping not dream?” Luna quizzed.

Haywick thought about that question. “I... honestly wouldn’t know, Princess.” He answered. “We just assumed that those in coma’s don’t.”

“And, no one has thought to ask me, the princess that can dreamwalk?”

Haywick opened his mouth to respond, before closing it it with a shrug. “I didn’t really think to come to you to ask if our patients dream while comatose,” he said, giving a sheepish smile.

Princess Luna smiled back. “Relax, Doctor; I am merely teasing,” Luna said with a sly grin before her smile dropped a bit. “Do you have any idea of her mental state, Doctor?” she tentatively asked, looking back at Twilight whose smile had slipped a bit.

“Unfortunately no. Her smiling right there was the most emotion we’ve seen from her since she’s been admitted,” he said, rubbing the back of his head as he thought. “But from what I’ve heard — just rumors mind you — she’s literally been to hell and back. No one can go through that and be okay in the end. Twilight should be fine physically, but then again the mental anguish she’s had to endure at the clutches of Chrysalis… She might need extensive mental therapy. When she wakes up I’ll send in a psychologist to gauge her mental state when appropriate.”

The dark blue alicorn nodded slowly before breaking the silence that threatened to fall across the room. “Doctor Haywick, I am going to attempt to dreamwalk,” she started, “I have no idea how Twilight will react to my presence; I have never done this in this sort of situation before,” she explained.

Haywick nodded before speaking up. “If she were to have an adverse reaction, would there be any way for me to stop you?”

Luna nodded in affirmation. “Yes, all you would have to do is just shake me awake.” 

Haywick nodded, biting his lip for a moment. “Okay, Princess. I’m going to have to trust your knowledge in this one.”

“It is not misplaced, Doctor.” Luna said before taking a deep breath, her horn lighting up with a soft light blue aura. “Although you would have more confidence had you consulted me about your comatose patients in regards to dreaming. I will be a while, Doctor Haywick. You might wish to find a seat.” Luna closed her eyes, the glow on her horn intensifying with the act. With that, Princess Luna became still, the only movement of her body, now, was her breathing.

Haywick nodded to himself, watching the Princess for a moment before smiling softly. “Right. Chair.” He said to himself, before leaving to go find one quickly.





Princess Luna opened her eyes in Twilight’s dreamscape, prepared to see a broken landscape appear before her. What she saw instead surprised her.

There were no nightmares for her to ward off.

There were no memories playing through Twilight’s mind.

In fact, as far as Luna could tell, there was nothing at all on Twilight’s mind.

Luna had never, in all of her time as protector of dreams, seen this before.

It worried her.

She flapped her wings, moving around in the inky mindscape, keeping an eye out for anything that contrasted. For a while she just traveled in one way, nothing ever changing in the bleak mindscape until something strange caught her eye.
 
There, as a slight glimmer on the horizon, was Twilight.

Luna gasped, flapping her wings quickly to speed herself up. She flew towards her friend, until she had to stop as dread filled her heart.

Twilight Sparkle was gray.




 
	
	

> To Sleep, Perchance to Dream
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Luna gasped softly as she spotted Twilight, her wings flapping in an effort to reach the dreamless pony. The distance between the two of them closed quickly and soon the she floated in front of her friend, worry apparent in her eyes.

“Oh, Twilight… What happened to you?” Luna whispered as she looked over Twilight’s darkened form. Up close, she could see something strange happening.



	

“Her mind-form was flickering, something I had never seen before.” Luna said to the gathered party. Twilight’s friends were all in attendance, as were Shining Armor, and Princesses Cadence and Celestia, whose eyes grew wider at what Luna had said, worry staining their faces.

“Excuse me, Princess, but what exactly is a... ‘mind-form’?” Rarity asked, looking confused as she looked between the three Princess’ expressions.

The Princess of the Night looked to the white unicorn and then to the others, somewhat embarrassed. “My apologizes. It has been quite some time since I have spoken technically about any of this with anyone but my sister.” She explained, before thinking.

“A mind-form is quite complicated to explain, but I will simplify. In the waking world, I can look at you and see you, and the opposite is true, agreed?” She asked, looking around to see several nodding heads.

“You are you, and barring any advanced and forbidden magic, you will stay you. You will not look to drastically different. Now apply that to your dream. Everyone sees themselves differently, and your dreams will display how you see yourself. A pony who feels they are a mare  on the inside will see themselves as such in dreams regardless of their physical state, or a pony might see themselves taller, or perhaps a different color. It all depends.”

Rarity nodded, an understanding look coming over her face. “Thank you, Princess.” She said, thinking as Applejack interrupted.

“So, uh... how exactly is a flickering one bad?” AJ asked. “If your dreams show you how you see yourself, what about the times that I had half a mind about two things? Like when I was living in the city, but at the same time, missing home? It seems like it’d be common,” she pointed out.

Luna nodded thoughtfully as Celestia stepped in. “I can answer that one, since I’ve had personal experience as well as Luna,” she said as the darker alicorn yielded the floor. “Perhaps a better way to put it would be to say that your dreams show the real you. You can lie to others, but you can’t lie to yourself. I’ll bet that during your time in the city, your mind-form was still the farmer Applejack we all know today,” she answered as Luna nodded along.

“Another good example was whenever the Nightmare consumed me. Then, my mind-form was still myself, uncorrupted. That’s the only reason I wasn’t destroyed by the elements.”

Pinkie looked surprisingly thoughtful. “Then what about Discord?” she asked, before Dash waved a hoof in the air.
“This is interesting and all, I get it! But what about Twilight?” she asked, looking at Luna.

Luna sighed. “As I said, I have never seen this before. Her mind-form was changing between herself, and the changeling form we see today. My best guess is that Twilight is in battle with herself. She knows who she is, but when Chrysalis… changed her... part of her mind started telling her the opposite.”

She paused, before looking with worry in her eyes at those gathered. “Twilight is being torn apart, mentally. We may be able to heal her body, but healing her mind?” she said, explaining the bad news, “only she can do that.”



	

Luna looked at Twilight as she watched her form switch, the changes fluid along her body. One minute she would have a carapace on her chest and holes in her legs, but the next she would be full with a soft coat. Luna sat there baffled, as she could only look. 

After a few minutes of pondering, Luna looked around at the barren dreamscape, sadness on her face as she saw nothing in the æther. “Dreamless sleep…” She said softly. “Not even a whisper of faint memory in the distance,” she said, looking back at Twilight.

“What did they do to you?” Luna asked sadly as Twilight twitched softly, a pained noise escaping her. The dark alicorn’s eyes widened as she saw a floor form underneath Twilight, ghosts of walls forming around her, quickly solidifying.

Twilight let out a pained yell as she moved, grabbing her head as she writhed in pain. “N-No! I-I don’t want to remember! Y-You can’t make me!” She whispered before she screamed, her dream exploding out from her head, everything becoming detailed and solid as the blast passed through them.

Luna watched as the wave passed her, gasping in shock as she felt everything Twilight was feeling.

She was afraid.

She felt abandoned.

She was in pain.

That and a hundred different feelings passed through Luna in an instant, leaving Luna gasping for air at the sudden overload. One feeling, however, was stronger, and lingered, so strong that she could hear Twilight in her mind.

I am alone.



	

The group looked at Princess Luna, speechless after hearing what she said, before Celestia cleared her throat. 

“That is not to say, however, that we cannot help.” she said, as everyone looked up at her. “Twilight’s condition has stabilized, according to Doctor Haywick. He’s baffled as to how, but she has,” she told the group, holding a letter in front of her.

Cadence looked thoughtful before she spoke up. “I think I know how,” she said as everyone shifted their attention to her.

“How?” Applejack asked, though everyone was thinking it.

“Like it or not, Twilight is a Changeling. For now, at least.” Cadence said as she spoke. “We need to stop treating her like a pony.”

“Like hell we do!” Dash said loudly, angry at the comment. 

“Dash! Let her finish!” Shining said as he glared at the offending pony, who sat down and looked at her petulantly
.
“Thank you, Shining,” she said as she continued, “I don’t mean ‘treating’ as in our interaction with her; I mean treating her medically. Or, rather… nutritionally.” She said, saying the last part slowly as she thought of the words.

The group stared at her in confusion before Fluttershy made a soft noise of understanding. “Her food!” she said.

Cadence nodded. “Exactly!” she said, “Twilight is at least part changeling. And what do changelings eat?”

“Love!” Pinkie said, waving a hoof in the air.

“Right. And since she’s been here, she’s been getting it slowly. Not through love, for the most part, but through your friendship with her. You were helping her in more ways than one.” She said, smiling. “I didn’t want to say anything until my suspicion was confirmed, but now that Twilight’s on the mend?” She trailed off, sitting down with a smile on her face.

“So, she’ll wake up?” Rarity asked, hopeful.

Celestia stepped in as she answered. “We can only hope. It’s Twilight’s move now.” 



	

Luna sat down on the ground as she caught her breath, the feeling of being alone still racing through her system as she finally got a hold on herself, looking around for the first time. The room that she and Twilight were in now was open, large enough for five ponies to sleep comfortably, with a large wooden door in the front. The sound of water dripping echoed in the room as Luna looked at Twilight.

Twilight, still shifting in her form, was standing in the middle of the room defiantly as she waited, her breathing even as she stood there. Luna stood and watched as the dream unfolded.

After a few minutes, the door opened and two changelings stood there, looking at Twilight in surprise, seemingly surprised that Twilight was standing. 

Twilight didn’t even wait as she launched herself at them, knocking over one as she turned around and bucked the other, both of them hitting the floor with a thud. 

She didn’t waste any more time there, immediately sprinting through the rooms and corridors, fighting as if her life depended on it.

It did. 

Luna could only watch as Twilight slowly succumbed to the endless changeling drones, one finally getting a lucky punch in, knocking Twilight out.

The whole scene rippled, before Luna found herself in some sort of… well, she didn’t even have a word to describe it. A crude table with straps was in the center of the room, a light of some sort shining down on it and illuminating all the wires around it, and containers filled with who knows what. The scene rippled again, leaving the Princess gasping in horror.

She had seen many things in her time as the protector of dreams, but this was new.

Twilight lay on the table, strapped down as Chrysalis stood there, the Queen holding Twilight’s chin gently as she smiled. “Happy Twenty-Sixth birthday, Twilight.” She said, right before two needles were jammed into her. Luna winced and looked on in horror as Twilight screamed again, writhing as the Queen laughed before turning to leave.

Luna’s horn flared as her magic attempted to take control of the dream, to end it before any more horrors could be done only to find her spell failing. Hey eyes widened as she figured it out. “This… these… are memories?” She asked out loud, the scene rippling again, this time finding the pair back in the cell again, Twilight sitting in the corner, shaking.

Looking right at Luna. 

“Get out.” Twilight whispered, her voice low and devoid of any emotion.

Luna looked around, before realizing that Twilight was talking to herself.

“Get out! You aren’t real!” She said, shaking her head and closing her eyes tightly as she backed up.

“You can’t be real! You can’t be here!” She yelled, tears falling as she opened them again.

“You won’t come here. You wouldn’t. Who wants a broken pony?” She asked, before sobbing.

And with that, everything around Twilight faded, leaving both her and Luna floating in nothing once more.



	

The group looked a little more sullen at that, but they all nodded. Dash stood up. “Well, if we’re done here, I’m heading back.” She announced, before heading out of the room. The rest of her friends watched her leave, Applejack sighing.

“Waiting is hard for her. For all of us,” AJ said aloud, causing Celestia to nod. 

“When it comes to things that are important to us, waiting is hard. But, they’re worth the wait,” Celestia said, looking over at Luna, who nodded.

“That’s all we have, for now,” she said, before thinking. “You are welcome to remain in Canterlot Castle as long as needed, but my sister and I have duties to attend to.” She winced as she realized how heartless that sounded.

Celestia wrapped a wing around her sister for a moment, before dropping the hug and turning to Shining Armor. “Captain Armor, I have a task for you.” 

He nodded. “What is it Princess?” he asked, standing.

“Scootaloo is healed, and ready to be taken back to her parents in Ponyville. Since she has a habit of running off, why don’t you escort her?” she asked, smiling.

Shining smiled back. “Of course, Princess.”



	

Princess Luna floated in the æther, stunned at what she had just witnessed, her mind racing at what she had seen. She didn’t want to think of what would have happened if they hadn’t gotten to Twilight when they did.

A sob broke her from her stupor, as she looked at the still-crying Twilight, curled up as she hugged herself. With that scene, Luna broke down and reached out, holding the crying pony close as she comforted Twilight.

She held Twilight for a moment, before Princess Luna opened her mouth and started to sing.

“Little child
Be not afraid
Though storms whip harshly ‘gainst the glass
Hiding things even stranger
But there is no danger
I am here tonight’”

“Little child
Be not afraid
Though thunder explodes across the sky
Your friends stay by
Through low and high
Stay right by your side”

“And someday you’ll know
That dreams are just so
The same rain is but a memory
Through rivers and land
And forests and sand
There is no part of the world you can’t see
Until morning”

“Little child
Be not afraid
Though storm clouds mask Our beloved moon
Its candlelight beams
Carry pleasant dreams
Through the storm to you”

“Little child
Be not afraid
The wind blowing through the Everfree
Brings the fear that you feel
But you know it’s not real
Just shadows, nothing more
Now take a reprise
Dream your paradise
Where no nightmare ever reaches
Shadow bears of light
And when they unite
Its raw sight will see you speechless
Until sunrise”

“For you know
Once even I was a
Little foal
And I was afraid
But a gentle voice was always there
To sing back the tears
Wash away all my fears
And see me off to sleep
Well now I’m a grown mare
Every pony to care for
And I love every single one
When it’s dark and it’s late
I will hold you and wait
Till your dreams shine brighter than the sun”

“And tomorrow you’ll know
That dreams are just so
Where your fears are less than memory
With rivers and land
And forests and sand
And my best friends always near me
Until morning
And I’ll guard your dreams to the morning
And the rain will be gone in the morning
And I’ll still be here in the morning”
	
	
	

> Reunion Tour
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	...Beep ...

...Beep ...

...Beep ...

Twilight winced, her ears folding down as the repetitive noise assaulted her ears. She groaned softly as her eyes opened slowly, staring up at the ceiling.

She blinked, the light making her squint for a few seconds before she was able to take stock of her surroundings. Everything was blurry, for a moment, before she managed to bring everything into focus. Her breathing rose a little as she realized where she was.

She was in a bed, sunlight streaming from the window on the wall onto her bed, bringing warmth to the room. Her ears swiveled for a moment as she became aware of a repeating noise, the one that had woken her up in the first place. She shifted her head as the source came into view, the line bouncing up and down in time with the beeping.

‘A... heart rate monitor?’ She thought as she looked at the thing, slowly moving her vision down to look at her arm, an IV in place to give her fluids. ‘My head... Something is wrong... What am I missing?’

The sight of her purple arm brought a fresh bout of pain to her head, causing her to lean back into her pillow, staring at the ceiling for a moment as it subsided. She slowly lifted her head up again, trying to sit up. She managed to, her back against the wall as she looked further.

The room was empty for the most part, nothing furnishing it except for the bed and her medical equipment. Looking out the window only brought more confusion as she saw Canterlot.

“What...?” She asked, her ears flicking and demanding her attention as the door opened. She swiveled her head and glanced at the door, her eyes widening at the entering pony.

“Oh, Twilight, did you really think that you could escape me?” 

Twilight trembled as she looked up and saw the Queen, the large changeling’s mouth twisted up in some cruel manifestation of a smile.

“Twilight, it’s too late for escape. No matter where you go, who you hide behind, I will find you.” Chrysalis said as she walked to the foot of the bed, looking down at the fearful Unicorn as her horn flashed green, leaving Twilight to watch as her body changed into one of that of a changeling, a cruel laugh filling the air as Twilight saw the last of her body go up in a green flame.

Twilight did the only thing she could. 

She screamed, the heart rate monitor going crazy as everything faded to black.

---

“Get me a dose of propofol, now!” Doctor Haywick shouted, holding down Twilight gently to keep her from rolling off the bed, green and purple magic fighting as her body changed several times in rapid succession. The nurse ran out into the main room, bottle clanking as she tried to locate the sedative. 

Dash stood at the end of the bed, worry in her eyes as she watched her friend on the bed, the rapid beeping of the EKG not helping her mood as she watched the doctor. 

“Miss Dash! If you insist on being here, at least help me!” Haywick said as he looked back, still keeping Twilight on the bed being careful to make sure she didn’t rip her IV out. 

Dash nodded quickly, rushing over to the other side of the bed, taking over for the doctor as she gently held her down. “Doc, I thought you weren’t supposed to hold down a person having a seizure!” She yelled over the EKG.

“That’s right, but she’s not having a seizure! She’s having a nightmare!” He told her as he grabbed the propofol, preparing to give it to Twilight. As he did though, Twilight relaxed, her arms moving around as she grabbed Dash’s arm and gripped it as tight as she could.

Rainbow and Doctor Haywick could only watch as Twilight slowly opened her eyes, blinking back tears as she looked around. The heart rate monitor calmed down as Twilight’s heart rate slowed down. The pegasus was the first to break the silence.

“Twilight?” She asked softly, her voice breaking a little towards the end. Twilight’s ears swiveled towards her voice, the rest of her head slowly following as she blinked, trying to focus on her. 

“D-Dash?” She asked, her voice raspy and cracking as she looked at her, tears starting to fall. Dash nodded, slowly, a smile breaking out on her face as she looked back at her newly awakened friend.

“It’s me Twilight.” She said as Twilight broke down and started to cry leaning into Dash and hugging her, as tightly as she could.

Rainbow hugged her back, looking up at Doctor Haywick, gesturing her head towards the door. He nodded, before silently slipping out of the room, off to go find the princess.

Rainbow just kept hugging the weeping Twilight, stroking her back softly as she tried to calm her down. “You’re okay Twilight. We’re in Canterlot.” She said, Twilight pulling back and looking at the pegasus. “You’re home. And safe.” She said, smiling gently.

With a sniffle, Twilight started to rub her eyes free of the tears.

“This... This is real?” She asked, staring right at her, Dash surprised at the timidness of her voice.

“Of course this is real. I’m real as I’ve ever been.”  She said, trying to put on the show of her usual bravado.

Twilight looked at her for a moment, trying to understand the warm sensation she was feeling, before finally smiling softly at her multi-chromatic friend.

“This is real.” She said, nearly a whisper as the door opened behind her with a squeak. Twilight stiffened as she turned around quickly, fear suddenly in her eyes as she scooted back a bit, only to stop whenever she saw who had walked in, the warm feeling in her increasing until it was a pleasant glow inside of her. She smiled, the largest she had in a long time whenever her friends looked into the room, hopeful looks on their face, expanding into smiles of joy whenever they saw Twilight sitting on the bed, awake.

Pinkie Pie was the first into the room. “Twilight! You’re awake!” She said happily as she stood at the end of the bed. “That’s fantastic, now we can throw you your welcome back party!” She said quickly. “Applejack wouldn’t let me throw the party for you before, buuut-” She said as she leaned in with a fake dramatic whisper. “I did get you some balloons!” She pointed, obviously happy with herself.

Applejack came in next, smiling at her. “Maybe we oughta wait a bit longer, Pinkie.” She said, before she grinned at Twilight. “Glad to see you up, Twilight. Ya gave us all a scare.” 

Rarity soon joined Applejack, standing at the foot of the bed. “Twilight, you continue to amaze me with what you do. The doctors weren’t sure if...” She said, before trailing off for a moment. “But we all knew you’d wake up!” She said, tittering embarrassedly at what she had brought up. 

Twilight smiled gently, still leaning on Dash, now more out of necessity, weak from her time in the bed. “It’s good to see you guys too.” She said, her voice cracking again, dry. Fluttershy was quickly there with a glass of water, helping her drink it as she worried over her friend, looking her over.

“Are you okay, do you hurt? Can we get you anything?” She asked, concern written on her face.
Twilight looked around at her friends, new tears springing to her eyes. This time, however, they were tears of happiness.

She smiled, a happy noise escaping her. “I’m fine.” She said, lightly sniffling again.

“It’s good to be home.”


 
	

> Parent Teacher Conference
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Celestia looked over her sleeping student, a soft smile upon her face as she exited the hospital ward, leaving her in the care of the ever loyal pegasus in the room. Stifling a yawn, she turned to face her sister. 

“How is she?”

Celestia sighed softly. “Physically? She’s going to be fine. Especially once she’s fully awake and we can do some tests so we know how to best treat her,” she explained. “Mentally?” she gave a helpless shrug.

Luna nodded. “Sister, I can’t tell you what I saw in Twilight’s dreams and memories, but...” Luna paused as she thought for the right word. “I hate to put it like this, but she’s broken. You know your student better than I do, but I know her well enough to know this. She’ll push on, pretending nothing is wrong, but she is broken.”

That received a nod and a sad look from the solar princess. “Yes... I know that all too well. Twilight is going to face many challenges, none of which I could have foreseen, many of which even now I cannot guess.”

“She’s already faced the first and come out of it for the better. She knows her friends are there for her, no matter what she is.” 

That got a smile from Celestia. “Yes, I suppose so,” she said happily. “And tomorrow, her family is coming by.” She looked out the window that overlooked the gardens, the moon hanging in the sky.

Luna leaned against her sister softly for a moment, lending some of her comfort to Celestia.

“She will heal. Time has that strange habit, remember?” 

Celestia stiffened, but not from her sister's touch. “I learned that lesson long ago,” she said, the bit of worry in her voice causing Luna some confusion.

“Luna, has Discord’s statue always faced that way?””





Twilight fumbled with her spoon for a moment, her magic weakened by both her time spent in a coma, and the new changeling part of her affecting it. The soup in the spoon stayed there, much to her happiness. She quickly swallowed her soup, smiling at her achievement as the door opened quickly.

She jumped softly as she looked to the door and quickly recognized the ponies walking through it. 

“Mom! Dad!” She exclaimed happily, her soup being put on her bed stand by a helpful pegasus. A small patterning of feet was all the warning she had before a certain purple dragon heaved himself onto the bed and had her in a tight hug.

“Twilight!” Spike said, holding on tightly as he fought back tears. Twilight eyes filled with tears of her own as she held onto the small dragon, hugging tightly. It only took a few moments for her parents to rush to her side, soon enveloping the purple mare in a family hug.

Everyone there just took in the moment, finally reunited after so long. No one noticed as Dash silently exited the room, a small smile on her face. 

After a minute, the hug ended, leaving the three ponies, and dragon, looking at one another. It wasn’t until Twilight rubbed at her eyes that she softly said the only thing that came to mind. “Hey mom, dad. Long time no see?” She tried to lighten the mood.

It worked, her dad chuckling as he smiled, his eyes still wet from the hug. “We’re just glad you’re back,” softly saying all that needed to be said, before he, too, tried to lighten the mood. “We’re just sorry we missed your birthday.” 

Twilight stiffened slightly, her hooves tightening around Spike for a moment. Her eyes lit up in a soft panic for a moment before she relaxed and nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah. Knowing Pinkie, though, she’ll throw me a make-up party.” She said, chuckling and nuzzling Spike.

Her mother smiled softly at her as well, before giving a soft sniffle as she just looked at her daughter. Her eyes carried an undertone of the same emotion that Night Light’s did: worry for their daughter. There was another pause of silence before Spike buried himself deeper into her chest, his worried eyes hiding nothing as he looked up at her, his voice cracking slightly.

“I-I was so scared,” he muttered softly as he held her a little more tightly. “I woke up, you were gone... I thought we’d never see you again!” He finished, his voice louder now as he worked out his emotions. Twilight rubbed her eyes again to clear them before answering softly.

“It’s okay Spike. I’m back now, and I’m not going anyway anytime soon.” She said, determination in her voice as she looked up from Spike to her parents.

<You couldn’t stay before, why do you think you can now?>

Her eyes widened for a moment, before she closed them tightly and breathed deeply, trying to calm herself down. When she opened them, she saw her parents sharing a look between the two of them. She did her best the give them a reassuring smile despite her own uneasiness.

Deciding to move the conversation along before it stagnated, she asked a question that had been weighing on her mind. “How’s Shining?” she asks softly. To her great relief, Velvet’s smile didn’t waver.

“Shining is doing fine, Twilight. He was a bit shaken up and needed some time to recover all the magic he used out in the badlands, but he’s recovering,” she said happily, a chuckle from her mother surprising the daughter. “The doctor actually caught him trying to escape this morning.” 

Twilight laughed at that as well, Night Light nodding along. “He said he was trying to make his way here, actually. Wanted to see his little sister again,” he said looking proud. “At least we know that he’s feeling better; it’s only the doctor’s orders keeping him in bed. And knowing you, it’ll only be a matter of time before you’re up and about!” He said, sounding hopeful and confident.

A sudden voice from the doorway caused all four of them to jump slightly as the princess walked in slowly. “And I would like to talk to all of you about what happens after that.” She said as she smiled softly at the four of them. 

Twilight sat up a bit taller at the sight of the Princess, her mind racing as she tried to stand only to feel a soft pressure on her chest. Her father’s blue arm keeping her down as he looked worried. 

“Princess!” she said, a bit of panic in her voice as she remembered the last time she had seen her mentor. “I’m so sor-” was all she got out before a different hoof booped her on the nose, a white one this time. She blinked as she looked up at the smiling Princess whose eyes held an inner sadness.

“Twilight, we both were emotionally stressed that night, and I know that I said some things that I’m going to regret for as long as I live. If you want to talk about this later, I’ll be all ears,” she said, looking a bit sad. “Just know that you have absolutely nothing to be sorry about.” 

Despite her teacher’s calming words, Twilight’s ears drooped slightly as Spike gave her another tight hug. After a moment, Celestia continued. “For now, Twilight, I need to talk to your parents. We’ll be right back, I promise.” 

As she left the small medical room, Velvet and Night Light looking at each other for a moment as well. “We’ll be right back honey,” Velvet promised with a kiss to her daughter’s forehead.

As they made their way outside, they were greeted by the rare sight of a worn down Celestia. Ever since Twilight had become Celestia’s pupil, she had grown quite close to her entire family, and may have been the only people besides Luna to see her like this. 

Velvet sighed softly as she sat down with Celestia, knowing that the conversation they were about to have would not be a happy one.

“Well, Princess?” Night said softly, looking back at the now-closed door. “What happens next?” 

Celestia sighed before looking up. “She can’t go back to Ponyville. You know that right?” she said as she looked up at the pair. “There are more tests that have to be run. Physical examinations, mental evaluations, and more...” She trailed off as she looked down.

“You’re not turning our daughter into an experiment, Celestia!” Velvet said, her voice cutting as her husband put a hoof on her shoulder, looking at the white mare who flinched at the smaller mare’s words.

“You know she’s right, Velvet. Twilight is still Twilight, but she’s gone through something nobody should have to.” He said softly to her, before speaking to Celestia. “But this isn’t permanent, right?” He asks for confirmation. 

Her pause spoke more words than could be spoken, her mouth working for a moment before she managed to make a sound. “I can’t protect her in Ponyville.” she said softly. “This has taught me that much.” 

Velvet and Night Light looked at her, not sure what to say to that. Even being close with the Princess, this was the first time either of them had seen her look... helpless. She looked up at them, sadly. “I know it has been a while since you had your child living with you, but I think Twilight would feel better at her home,” she suggested. “I was hoping she could stay with you for the time being, whenever she’s released from the medical ward.”

Velvet smiled softly at the Princess, before she nodded. “Princess, that’s not even a question we have to think about. Of course she can live with us,” Velvet said as she looked at her husband, who also nodded at the solar diarch. 

Celestia smiled back at them, giving a hopeful look before sitting up taller, letting out a deep breath and regaining her royal presence. “Thank you, both of you.” She said with honesty in her voice. “And now I have to ask you if I can a moment to speak to Twilight privately.” 

Seeing that Velvet was looking like she was about to protest, Night Light leaned on his wife and nodded the Princess. “Of course, Princess. Just... don’t take to long?” 

Celestia nodded and smiled at them, standing from her seat and entering the medward. A muffled conversation later, Spike came wandering out and sat down next to his foster parents. 

Twilight looked up at her teacher with bated breath, before Celestia let out one last sigh and looked down at her beloved student. “Oh Twilight... There is so much to discuss and talk about, but something more important has come up,” she said as she shifted slightly.

Twilight, more confused than anything by what she had just heard, spoke up. “What’s so important, Princess?” She asked as she struggled herself into a more upright position, her soup sitting forgotten on the bedside table.

With a silent look, Celestia’s horn sparked and a card appeared in front of Twilight, who took it in her own magical grasp and started to read it. 

“I hate to show this to you so soon, and so suddenly, but... I have little choice in this matter. The letter is for you, and the spell on it would have forced its way to you eventually.” Celestia said as she seemed to glare at the letter. 

Twilight’s eyes could only widen as she read it the letter, which looked more like a monopoly card if she was being honest. It read: 


One Clue


To 


Twilight Sparke


At 4 o’clock


In the Garden


It was even complete with a monopoly-style man that looked exactly like...

“Discord?” Twilight asked, worry in her voice as she tried to get out of bed. “The others!”

Celestia stepped forward, placing a calming hoof on her students shoulder. “Relax, Twilight, Discord is still a statue. It just appears his seal is not as solid as we once thought.”

Twilight moved to throw the card away, tired of all the villains trying to mess with her life when Celestia continued, making her pause.

“Your friend, Rainbow Dash, found an interesting theory in one of the library’s old books. One by Talented Tome, I believe,” she said as she looked down. “One suggesting that maybe Discord helped make changelings.” 

“And if he’s offering me a hint...” she said as she flipped she card over to some new writing. “But it could be a trap-” she cut herself off as she read the card.


Note that I said Clue


Not Hint


Two totally different things


She rolled her eyes and sank back down into the bed, Celestia speaking up again.

“No one is going to force you to go,” she said softly, before Twilight shook her head.

“I’ll go. But if he thinks he’s just going to screw with my head, he’s wrong,” she said as she wrapped her blanket around herself.

“There’s nothing left to screw with...”