Spell gone wrong that isn't Twilight's fault but Celestia's instead
Twilight awakes in a foreign bed after a very rough Pinkie Pie party of drinking and partying. Things quickly go down hill when she finds out that she has some how swapped places with her teacher Celestia, and no pony seems indifferent about it including Princess Luna, who is adamant that she is her older sister.
When she approaches her former teacher about it, things might not be so easy as waiting the spell to run it's course.
Twilight’s head felt really fuzzy and was getting worse by the second due to the infernal rapping on her door. Groaning she looked out of her window to notice that it was either really late at night or really early. She turned in bed and covered her head with the sheets when a voice joined in with the rapping.
“Sis get up, you need to raise the sun! Come on Twili’ get up” Came the soft spoken voice of Luna. Twilight’s brain was still half asleep as she got out of bed. Half her sight was blocked by her bed hair as she looked around for the offending noise. Turning she noticed the door as a few more raps confirmed that it was the source of the early morning wake up call. Opening the door revealed a rather annoyed looking Luna. She noted in her still booting mind that, for some odd reason, she was taller than her but it was Luna. The princess of the night currently standing at the door, looking annoyed still refused to compute with her brain.
“Urgh, I feel like I had a bad night with all the alcohol i drank. What happened last night princess? Can’t you do it?” she asked her mind not yet fully with it.
“Princess; Ha nice one ‘Twili, what has gotten into you by the way? Come on, stop playing games and get ready” Luna said leaving her standing in the doorway confused.
Twilight’s brain finally got its required start up when she proceeded to look into the mirror mounted on the dressing cabinet. Brushing her mane with the brush she found on the top, she noticed that her horn was significantly longer and slender at the tip.
“What the hay?” She asked as she was now fully awake, “where am I?” she asked looking around to notice that she was now endowed with a pair of wings, “What happened last night?” she asked no-one in particular. She looked like a slightly larger version of herself but had her once straight mane and tail was significantly more wavy and seemingly flowing with a magical wind that wasn’t actually there. Last thing she remembered was Pinkie Pie, one of her late night parties and herself getting rather smashed on Applejacks’ family cider. Something coming in from Celestia via Spike and then blacking out.
Twilight continued to refuse what she was seeing, but looking at the attire that was presented before for her, she couldn't deny the facts that was presented before her, she was a princess and she was in charge of the sun.
She noted that the attire was very similar if not the same as Celestia's, meaning that it consisted of 4 slippers, a Crown and matching chest piece that was actually a form of necklace that appeared to be a chest plate. All pieces were made of a dark purple metal, a shade lighter than her own coat, with inlaid diamond on the main chest and a single one in the crown.
Taking the chest plate in her magic, she placed it on to find that it fitted nicely. the crown sat behind her new horn and helped keeping her mane out of her face. She slipped on the shoes which were exactly like Luna’s in design, a wrapped Fleur De Lis. She would get answers from her, hopefully, but the shoes were very comfy and she would have to get a set when she figured out what was going on. one thing that she didn't think about was how they were staying on her hooves but dismissed it as magic.
But first she had a sun to rise as was her duty so Luna had said abruptly in the doorway. Well it should have been Celestia she controlled the sun and her sister Luna the moon. She quickly decided, after a few minutes of wondering what she should do, that she needed to raise the sun as Celestia seemed to be either forgetting to do it, or something was wrong.
She concentrated and felt a small warm sphere. it was like trying to reach for something that was just out her hoof length. Concentrating on the sphere for a few moments her horn jerked to a point in the horizon, forcing her neck to crane down rather painfully, where the sun should have been. She struggled to move her neck back up, as she strained to do so she noticed that suns rays peaked over the forest. it was only then did she realise what she had just gone and done.
“I just forced the sun to rise.” Twilight said jaw agape, “Also why did I think Luna was my sister?” she asked herself admiring the sunrise she muttered a few ramblings under her breath as she headed towards the dining hall. Why this was happening she didn’t know, but after breakfast she would get answers. one way or another.
~0~0~
“Morning Spike, time to rise and shine” a white unicorn mare with a long light pink mane, a sun shaped cutie mark adorned her flank, with light purple eyes to offset the mane colour. She smirked at the sound of groans emitting from the basket that Spike was trying to get back to sleep. she knew that he was not one for the early mornings and liked to torment him about it when she got up earlier than him, on occasion.
“I hate how you are a morning person Celestia” Spike muttered getting up and noticing that the library was tidy as usual. But considering there had been a massive pile of books there last night before he had gone to bed from one of Celestia’s study nights. Now however there was no pile to be seen on the wooden floor.
“I know how much you wanted to spend the day with Rarity, so I cleaned up before sunrise” Celestia said, “Besides I promised I would go to the spa with Rainbow Dash today anyway” she said in her usual perky tone, “I won that bet. now she is going to come with me if she likes it or not”
“Thanks I guess” Spike said. He was about to continue, when he smelt breakfast. He didn't think that celestia could cook as he was the one to do so normally, thought the smell of fresh pancakes quickly flooded the young dragons mind making him drool slightly. “Smells so good” he muttered as though in a hypnotic trance, he walked into the kitchen to see that Celestia had cooked up a storm prior to waking him up. All along the main table was a pair of plates adorned with pancakes and a small jusg of syrup on next to each. Spike eyed on of the plates as Celestia turned and giggled at the sight of him sitting there, drooling at the sight before him
“Eat up. There is more than enough food here for the both of us to have seconds” she said with a smile. As they began to eat there was a knock at the door that interrupted their morning breakfast, Spike groaned however Celestia got up “I got it” she said walking out to open the door.
Opening it she saw her friend Applejack. The farmer in her usual stetson raised an eyebrow at Celestia, something was wrong, but the farmer couldn’t put her hoof on the matter. it was as though something seemed off or she was expecting somepony else to answer the door. Shaking it off, Celestia noticed the concern on the farmers face and spoke up.
“AJ, good to see you, come in. We were just having breakfast. Did you want something? Or has Apple Bloom gotten herself stuck in a freezer again?” she asked the farmer. Applejack responded. With a shake of her head she dismissed the idea that had brought on a bad memory of that incident.
“Naw sugar cube thanks for the offer though. Ah just came round making sure everything is fine with you, after that party Pinkie threw yesterday night.” AJ said, “You weren’t the most sober pony there. Buht good to see you’re okay. Ya got much planned for today?”
“No not really. meeting up with Rainbow and heading to the spa after she lost that bet last week” Celestia stated
“Ah tha’ bet. wondering when you would call that one in. Well best get back to it” AJ said tipping her hat
“Right then, thanks for coming though AJ” Celestia said closing the door and sitting down to finish breakfast. she looked over at Spike before speaking again, “I’ll take you to Rarity’s then head to the spa after finding Rainbow Dash. It’s Always nice to have a day off” she said as she admired her cooking.
This was going to be a good day off.
~0~0~
Twilight sat at the table with her older sister, Luna, to her left. Luna wore her usual attire but in a slightly more silver colour than the deep midnight blue than she normally wore.
“Much planned for today Twili?” Luna asked, taking up some toast
“Sort of, I might need to head to Ponyville” Twilight said looking at the windows.
“Surprise visits to Celestia then? Bet she would be happy to see you again” Luna said over her juice
“Yeah you could say that. Luckily I planned a day off for today” Twilight admitted “court can be very tedious at the best of times”
“By the way i have to ask, what was with you this morning? You’re hard to get out of bed I must admit, but normally it doesn’t take me thirty minutes to get you up and raise the moon” Luna admitted as a servant pony moved the empty dishes away from the table. Twilight and Luna both rose and began to walk through the castle.
“Sorry about that, but not everyone is an insomniac like you ‘Lulu” Twilight said. Noticing how her Luna’s face contorted at the comment ‘Lulu.
“What have I said about calling me ‘Lulu?” Luna asked as they stopped in front of one of the many stained glass windows; the one depicting the downfall of Nightmare Moon and the element bearers, however this one was off slightly.
“What have I said about calling me Twili?” she asked noticing the picture was slightly off as there were 2 white unicorns when she could have sworn one was purple at some point. Or was her mind playing tricks again.
“Touché; is there a problem ‘Twili? You seem to be losing yourself in thoughts a fair amount today. No wonder you wanted to head to Ponyville” Luna said. Twilight nodded.
“I best be off, otherwise my student might find out before I get there. Like last time. I must admit I hate royal receptions sometimes”
“Last time we had such a reception it was not particularly one I particularly like to remember” Luna said remembering the Nightmare night incident.
“Well I have a chariot waiting apparently. I must give credit where it’s due, Radar is very good at what he does. He even seems to know what I want well before I ask it of him” Twilight admitted to her older sister. Radar was a tan earth pony with spectacles that made him look like a nerd. His cutie mark was a radar dish, the reason was that he had an uncanny knack to be where you needed him most or even minutes prior. this little talent made him an excellent behind the scenes helper for a royal princess. “I best be off, otherwise the guards might get a little bit annoyed with me”
“Aye, that happens a lot lately. Good luck little sister and tell Celestia I said hi” Luna said as they parted ways.
Once twilight was out of hearing range Luna let out a massive breath of relief
“Next year, I’m going to be the one taking a day off and not you Celle” She said to no-pony in particular
~0~0~
“Celestia darling, how wonderful to see you again. Though I would have thought that you would be locked away in that library as usual, but seems that I am wrong yet again about you; Ah and I see why, Spike my dear a pleasure to see you again” Rarity said as Celestia walked into the boutique with Spike on her back.
“No problem Rarity. Besides, I promised Spike that he could have a day off and well today's that day. I’m sorry i can’t stay longer, I have a spa day with Rainbow dash” She said. Rarity raised a proverbial eyebrow
“I assume that Rainbow Dash didn’t like the spa that much. Or so she has told me”
“Well....I kind of let loose Pinkie Pie on her and said that if she wanted it to stop then she would have to come to the spa today” Celestia said. Both mares let out a laugh as Rainbow Dash landed at the front door to the boutique.
“Sup. Heard my name and decided to come and show you how awesome the Dash is” She said proudly. Only then did she notice the Cheeky grin on Celestia’s face “Oh” she said paling
“Yup, you are coming with me to the spa missy mush” Celestia said as she literally dragged Rainbow Dash out of the boutique with her literally kicking and screaming all the way down town.
“hmph, it would seem that she has quite a way with that stubborn mare” Rarity said as Applejack walked to the door. Not daring coming in as her hooves were muddy more than anything and she couldn’t stand a scolding by Rarity
“Well howdy Rarity, Ya ain't seen Twilight round here have ya? Been looking for her all day”
“Don’t you mean princess Twilight? Whatever would you be looking for her. You should really try Canterlot if you need her so badly and not around here”
“No i mean unicorn Twilight. You know, lavender mare, book worm, lives in the tree library in town, royal student to Celestia? Got drunk last night with Pinkie then played what appeared to be a massive game of chess combined with scrabble?” Applejack explained. The fashionista shook her head.
“Wasn’t that Celestia that did that last night? And since when did you get the names wrong? Celestia is Twilights student not the other way around” Rarity explained, leaving a perplexed Applejack standing there, “Did you hit your head last night or something like that?”
“Ugh never mind; if ya see her, let me know alright?” the farmer said, she turned around to leave as Rarity bid her goodbye.
“Of course I will. It’s not like she’s going to have a surprise visit to Ponyville today” Rarity said as Applejack walked toward the center of town, leaving Rarity to fuss over her designs at the boutique.
“Something is seriously wrong here; I know I have my facts right” she muttered to herself as she trudged back to the orchards, “but i know that i’m right, Twilight is my friend and Celestia is the princess so why is everypony acting so odd?”
~0~0~
“Oh that is so relaxing wouldn’t you agree RD?” Celestia asked as the two mares soaked in the sauna
“yeah I suppose so. Bad to time mention that I dye my mane and tail eh?” Rainbow said showing that her mane was indeed losing its colour and turning white in the sauna. Not that the mares cared, they were relaxing
“Ah, i always wondered that” Celestia said “I wonder, are clouds really comfy as you say they are; If so I would love to have one as a bed”
“Of course they are. Only way to sleep sometimes” Rainbow said as Aloe walks in
“Sorry to intervupt ladies, but Celestia, Princess Twilight is here and she vants to have a word with vou” she said with a slight French accent. Rainbow noted that Celestia seemed to simply lose all sense of conscious thought at the comment of her teacher wanting to speak to her.
~0~0~
Twilight stood outside the spa. She had asked Aloe to get Celestia as her conflicting thoughts were really getting on her nerves. Twilight watched as Celestia walked out. She was about the size of Rarity and thus Twilight was taller than her; a lot taller than her.
“Princess, I didn’t know that you were coming her. If I did then I would have organised something for you.” Celestia stammered. Only to have Twilight raises her hoof to speak; Like Celestia would to her when she ranted on about trivial things.
“I need to talk to you in private. I think you know exactly what is going on here” Twilight said as Celestia looked at her. She could tell that she was spooked about something or annoyed either or.
“But, nothing is going on here; this is how it always was supposed to be and today is our day off from our lives...opps” She let slip, “I can explain” she said as Twilight's face contorted with rage. She was right something had gone on last night.
“Then explain how I rounded up in a bedroom this morning with Luna rapping at my door claiming to be my sister! Or how I managed to raise the sun this morning” she demanded, making ponies around her look nervous
“To the library and I'll explain” Celestia said as they pair of them teleported away to the library They appeared in the centre of the main room. Twilight was still rather annoyed at how Celestia was acting towards her.
“Explain now” Twilight said stamping her foot sending a tremor Celestia gulped. Where she in any other position then she would have scolded Twilight then and there. But she couldn’t as she held the teachers role.
Like a cat admitting defeat Celestia sighed and began to explain what was going on “Last night, I evoked a powerful spell that encompassed all of Equestria. The basis was that the whole of Equestria would wake up to a new Princess for a day or so then go back to what it was. I choose you Twilight, as being my student I thought that you could perhaps do with a change of pace or scenery, to replace me for 2 days. Today and tomorrow, you would feel the lap of luxury of all that royalty has to offer, fine foods and drink, Special treatment and of course free reign over the castle, things that I take for granted daily. In exchange I would take your place as a simple unicorn and experience 2 days in the life of someone without privileges. The spell altered the minds of your friends and thought that I was you and you were me. Simply put I casted a very complex body swap. Wow, never knew I could say all that without breathing in” Celestia said as she finished up, “I was hoping that you wouldn’t notice anything out of the ordinary as your mind should have tried to make you think that this was real and how it always was. Not for anything longer than 2 days, after that you and I would switch again and no one would be any wiser as this would have seemed like a dream. But it looks like I was wrong on that level too” she concluded trailing off at the end of the sentence.
“So this was just a way for you to get to know my life better? A way that you could witness for yourself what I do daily?” Twilight said raising an eyebrow at the idea
“well...yes and no. I don’t know if you have noticed, but I think the spell MAY have gone wrong as you weren’t supposed to be drunk at the time of casting. I cannot be sure, but i have a feeling that it may have. Call it a gut feeling”
“So you and I have swapped places and now you’re telling me this might be permanent!” Twilight said, her voice quivering in tone
“Sort of yes” Celestia said “Don’t worry, Luna knows of this and she will help you out”
“With what might i ask?” Twilight asked looking rather dazed “my sister helps me out greatly while we rule over Equestria. what just happened?”
“Don’t you remember what i was just talking about? The whole 'i casted a body swap spell and i think that it has backfired on me?'” Celestia said, “it seems that the spell wasn’t cast correctly or something clashed with the spell. Now we are seeing the repercussions of it”
“Of course how could I have guessed. you try this on me and it backfires. Luna says hi by the way. Enjoy your time off then, i'm going to head back to Canterlot” Twilight said, her head fuzzy from conflicting magic
“Of course Twilight, let Luna know I said hi” Celestia said back.
Twilight disappeared in a puff of purple magic and vanished leaving Celestia standing there sighing.
“I think I may have made a very big mistake. I need to find that spell again. Where in the name of Twilight did I leave it...? Oh barn hay it was in canterlot and in the royal archives” Celestia said, only realising that her plans for two days off had just gone rather sour for her indeed.
“Let’s hope this ends after the 2 days otherwise this may be either very good or very bad for me” she muttered heading back to the spa.
Celestia paced as she had nothing better to do after Twilight coming down to say hello and wreaking her visit to the spa with Rainbow Dash.
"Why couldn't I have waited until the morning to cast that darned spell" she said "Now I have no idea what's going to happen as she was drunk at the same time as me casting the spell!?"
"Umm Celestia, are you okay?" Rainbow asked barging into her library through the window that she had left open for Owlowiscious...no Twilights library not hers, her memories were getting messed up real fast.
"No. Um. Yes I mean argh" she continued. She was still pacing around the wooden unicorn bust in the centre of the room, "This isn't supposed to happening like this"
"oh-kay" Rainbow replied beginning to sound board of Celestia pacing. She had yet to re-dye her mane so it was still a nice snowy white colour with slightly darker white showing where the colours changed when it was of rainbow colouration. Rainbow noted that for some odd reason, Celestia seemed to leave deep gouges in the wooden floor whenever she finished her lap around the bust.
"No you don't... nor can you understand the complexity of the conundrum that I am now stuck in!" she began, "LISTEN TO ME. IM NOW STARTING TO SOUND LIKE TWILIGHT!" she continued as Dash slowly flapped away from Celestia with a look of fear plastered on her face, "This isn't supposed to happen"
Celestia continued to pace in fear of what was happening to her at the present time.
"Okay Cele', Calm down your starting to freak me out here... look I'm going to get the girls and we talk this over okay?" Rainbow said, hovering overhead, however it fell on deaf ears as Celestia was now racing around gathering various books over differing genres to try and fix this problem she was having.
Dash left the freaking out mare to her devices and bolted out the window and towards the closest of her friend’s places; she didn't need to fly far as it was Sugar Cube Corner.
As she had left though Celestia shook her head only to displace a few strands of pink mane from her usually well groomed mane. She continued to pace only stopping when she tripped on an uneven floorboard and sent her somersaulting head first into a book shelf dislodging a book that landed neatly on her head like a jaunty fez. Celestia moaned in annoyance.
~0~0~
Twilight landed in the main courtyard to the welcoming Radar, who was being trailed by Luna with a look of concern. Twilights usual flowing mane was absent now and now hung limp in the wind, it was still ethereal but lacked the 'missing wind' that normally allowed the manes to wave in the air.
"Twili. You look frazzled, is everything okay?" Luna asked. The pony guards nodded to each other and proceed to leave them alone. Luna knew that an alicorns mane would droop like that if they were feeling unwell or depressed. "No. I mean argh. I think so or not" she began "Sis, Celestia says hi...oh and what's this about a massive spell that literally swapped me with my mentor!"
"Oh buck. You know?" Luna said, "How much did Celestia say then?" "Enough for me to know that you’re involved in the spell casting part of this problem. Everything seems okay in my eyes but I know everything is wrong at the same time. My mind is in complete chaos. All I need now is Discord popping out of stone or Chrysalis popping in for an invasion and my day would be complete" Twilight continued to rant as they walked towards the main courtyards, "I'm going to admit something. Last night I was drunk when she casted the spell. Or passed out from one to many ciders"
"Ah. That may be why the spell backfired when it was casted last night. It was supposed to be cast on ponies that were sober and willing to partake" Luna said, "but that was casted on two sober ponies. So I don't know how this is going to affect the spell. I was, after all, the one who created it"
Both alicorns walked into and sat in the morning gardens on a bench specifically designed for such. Swiftly both were surrounded by animals of various traits and descriptions. This included bears, badgers and flamingos to name a few. A pair of Robins perched themselves on Twilights crown and proceeded to chirp happily form their new perch; Twilight looked at the two and sighed happily.
"So what exactly am I supposed to be thinking right now?" Twilight asked, "As I'm so confused right now sis"
"Well. Perhaps you already are thinking the way she planned" Luna said as Twilight let her head fall into her crossed hooves in confusion, “Besides she wanted you to enjoy this, rather than over thinking it Twilight. Perhaps you need to relax a little bit more and go with the flow. So to speak”
"But I acted like her in the library not an hour or so ago, my memory is becoming real fuzzy in certain finer details of my life" she admitted as a light green bird with yellow ring around its neck fluttered down to the bird feeder that was in front of them and let out a shrill chirp of happiness, "I now know why Fluttershy wanted to come here during the gala two years ago"
"It is quite relaxing I know. You should see the night time animals coming out. Celestia thought it would be nice for me to have some animals I can admire that liked my night times" Luna said pointing out a Barn Owl and a Tawny Frogmouth sleeping in the trees next to one another, sleeping.
"I thought that I did that?" Twilight said, "After you returned when Celestia and the Elements removed the nightmare from your body. See what I mean I'm swapping my name with Celestia’s"
"All part of the spell Twilight” Luna commented “In a sense, you think that you did. But you didn't at the same time. It was Celestia, but she implanted her memories in you and vice versa" she continued sighing "It’s the very basis of the spell. After two days, you would awaken as though it a dream and like a bad sense of doing it all twice"
"So onto a different topic; the spell how is it cast exactly?" Twilight asked, sounding interested in the idea. Perhaps she could once this is all over coax her friends into trying it out with her.
Luna smiled at the idea of explaining her only contribution to alicorn magic "The ponies switching forms would need to be in the same room touching in some manner, be that horn to horn simply touching via hoof, the Caster, Me in this example, would proceed to cast the spell. Only a pony with control over a celestial body, or one with sufficient magic pools, would have the magic capable of casting it correctly" Luna stated looking to see Twilight smiling at her.
"You mentioned before that you actually created this spell?" Twilight asked eyes widening at the idea that she had created it. "Of course" Luna said smiling down at her.
"That's why I respect you sis" Twilight said yawning "Sorry, I did not get much sleep after Pinkie's party last night"
"And that's why I think the spell may have backfired. Your memories wouldn't be a straight swap over, but it seems that a few may have lingered or not transferred at all" Luna said to be interrupted by the sound of soft snoring at her side; looking down she sighed and smiled at the sight before her.
Twilight had fallen asleep on the bench, head in hooves and mane now flowing like it should
"Ah dearest sister you bring a smile to my face every time. You and your late night binges" Luna said as unicorn and winged unicorn walked towards them, Shining Armour and Princes Candace respectively.
"Aunt Luna. Aunt Twilight. Is she okay?" Candace asked looking at the sleeping Alicorn, a soft snore brought relief to the Alicorn “Or sleeping”
"Late night binge" Luna said “Too much alcohol and not enough sleep would do that to any-pony" "Ah. Princes I apologize for the interruption. But we got a situation" Shining said
"Pray tell Captain. What is the problem, and please keep it down. Princess Twilight is snoozing" Luna stated, resting her wing over Twilight's head.
"We have reports of changelings moving on the borders of Equestria. as Princess of the sun, Twilight needs to appoint some-pony to speak with them and get them to agree to stop their movements" Shining stated in a tone like that of a true military captain.
"And what, pray tell, cant you decide? Tis after all her only 2 days off in the last century or two" Luna said "2 days was all she asked for Captain, Can this at least wait?"
"I...must have missed the memo" Shining said, “but since the wedding we have been on thin ice, so to speak, with the changeling empire"
"Relax dear" Candace said, "If what Luna says is true. Can this not wait until Monday morning?"
"If you wish, I shall have a word with one of my own personal knights to have them sort this out" Luna said getting up. Prodding Twilight to receive only a moan in response, "Sis, you need to wake up. If you want to go to sleep, I'll have Shining Armour escort you to your chambers" Luna continued. Luna prodded her again only to hear a moan of annoyance. “Can’t I sleep here” She muttered back.
A small plume of green fire appeared before her and with a magical pop a scroll appeared. Twilight let the scroll hit the dirt as she got up off the bench and stretched. Taking it in her magic aura she unfurled it and read the hastily scribbled note. “Is it a friendship report from Celestia?” Luna asked
“No, it’s is not. Though I wish it was actually” Twilight said sighing, “seems like she has lost it again”
“What?” Shinning asked, “What do you mean ‘lost it’”
Twilight sighed and Luna realized what she meant
“This has happened before. When she thought that she was going to be ‘tardy’ due to a lack of Friendship report. She proceeded to enchant a ‘smarty pants’ doll”
Shinning gulped at the realization
“I had to cast a counter charm to remove the effects of the insanely powerful love charm on the populace” Twilight continued recounting that particular time in her head.
“So what are you going to do” Luna asked.
Twilight smirked and proceeded to ignite the parchment.
“Teaching her a lesson” she said happily while walking off leaving the others equally confused except for Luna who sighed in disappointment
“What was that about?” Candace asked, “That’s not the aunty I know and love”
“She’s having a rough day” Luna said flatly, “I shall go try and talk some sense into her. In the mean time, Shinning pass this onto my Captain-“handing him the parchment that she had summoned,”-and tell him to sort out this, Changeling, problem” “Thanks Luna” Shining stated taking it in his aura, “hopefully we can sort this out without the need of another massive shield”
“Hopefully. But firstly let me see if I cannot talk some sense into my sister” Luna admitted trotting after her older sister.
~0~0~
When Rainbow finally returned after re-dyeing her mane and tail with liquid rainbow with the gang back at the library, they all gasped at the sight before them. The whole library was in a massive mess with books strewn across the floor, pieces of parchment levitating in yellow auras stationed periodically around the room at eye level; with a confused Spike holding what appeared to be a rolled up newspaper in one claw and a book in the other. The book was held in such a way that it was like a shield.
"What happened?" Rainbow asked, though she may have known the answer when a beam of yellow shot out randomly and stuck a parchment incinerating it on the spot.
"It's Celestia, she's gone nuts again! This time, the princess hasn't responded to my letter for help!" Spike said, narrowly ducking past a pair of floating inkwells and quills.
"That doesn't sound like Celestia we know" Rarity complained
"Remember the Smarty Pants Incident?" Fluttershy noted as Rarity stopped and nodded.
"How can we not" Applejack said, remembering when she found said doll in her brothers room, on the bed pillow "Ah still dohnt think Big Mac recovered from tha' entirely" she said stepping over a pile of novels, “Has she said anything at all to any-pony?”
“She was fine at the Boutique” Rarity said picking up a couple of books off the floor, “she was at the spa with Rainbow” “Wait Rainbow, at the spa?” Fluttershy asked “That doesn't seem like you rainbow”
“I lost a bet okay!” Rainbow blasted back only to have Fluttershy cower, “Sorry ‘Shy”
“Its okay” Fluttershy replied
“Besides, I go to that sauna all the time anyway. Relaxes the muscles after a hard day flying” the cyan mare admitted as though it was a bad thing.
All 5 mares and baby dragon Ducked as a series of yellow beams incinerated a few more pieces of floating parchment to dust.
“Perhaps she needs a party to cheer her up?” Pinkie said hauling out her party cannon as Celestia’s head popped out like a meerkat from the stairwell.
“What? Pinkie stop don’t do that!” Celestia shouted racing towards the pink pony.
Pinkie ignored the shouting mare and slammed the firing mechanism with her hoof. With a deafening ‘Boom’ the cannon sent out its contents of cake, streamers and the like, all over the already messy library.
All ponies looked at the mare who had coped it all. Celestia stood in the center of the chaos, left eye twitching, as pink icing slid down her face.
“Ha-ha. Sorry Celestia” Pinkie giggled. Celestia however touched it with her hoof and tasted the icing. Her face lit up as the taste her mouth.
“Oh, you will be” she said in a slightly evil tone of voice.
“It was an accident Celestia. So don’t be mad” Fluttershy said as the yellow glow surrounded all the books on the floor and magically lifted them all.
With precision of a hawk with a sniper rifle, each book found its home within a few seconds, leaving a ground of confused mares standing there.
“Umm Celestia are you alright?” Applejack asked only to get a cake thrown into her face. Flicking it off her face, she saw Celestia cracking up laughing on the floor, “what the hay? Oh. You are going to get it now!” she replied throwing it back at her only to have missed her. The cake flew in an arc and caught Rarity on the flank as she tried to avoid it.
Pinkie raised the stakes with her cannon booming off again as she shouted “food fight!” and proceeded to aim the cannon at Celestia who was too busy laughing and avoiding flying cake to worry.
After an hour or so the whole gang was covered in pastry and laughing on the floor in a pile.
“You had us worried Celestia” Rainbow said
“I just needed something to lighten the mood up” the white unicorn replied getting up, “Sorry about freaking out like that” “What was that all about anyway Sugar-cube?” Applejack asked
“Princess Twilight interrupted our spa trip with a surprise visit to Ponyville as she wanted to speak to me about something. I was freaking out that she didn't tell me about it through scroll and I thought that it was something that I did wrong” Celestia lied as the whole group just laughed it off, “girls?”
“Oh you are so silly sometimes” Pinkie said, “group hug every-pony”
Celestia was then assaulted by the bodies of her friends in a group hug in the middle of the library floor, each one covered in various layers of cake, icing and muffins, a smile on each of their faces as they did.
The only one not involved was Spike, who had retreated to the kitchen prior to the wave of cakes flying around the library main floor, walked in with a bucket and mop. With a sigh he began the task of cleaning up the mess that they had made.
To be continued
A/n
Chapter 2 is now up and hopefully a lot better to read than my first one, which was to be honest was rushed as it was written as a thing of thoughts to paper. Chapter 1 was re-written/proofread so is much more coherent -so give it a re-read and continue with the story.
I have chapter 3 ready, just finalising and going over it with a fine tooth comb.
Princess Luna trudged through the main halls of Canterlot castle to try and find her sister Twilight. She was having no success with any servant she asked saying that they hadn’t seen her, or that they were told not to say where she was. Even Radar, her assistant, was tight lipped about the princess’s whereabouts.
Luna eventually decided that the best course of action would be to throw a castle wide search and was going too, had she not run into Twilight in the Hall of honour; Sitting with crown in hoof before the large stained glass window depicting the defeat of nightmare moon. Tears streaming down her face and onto the floor with a light dropping sound.
“you had me worried Sister” Luna said, walking up to her she noticed that she had been crying of all things, “you’ve been crying. What has gotten you so worked up?”
“I don’t know Luna” Twilight said. Luna had noted that she was holding her crown in her hoofs before her, “this was supposed to be a holiday for us both, or so Celestia had said. Yet as I was drunk at the time of you casting the spell, this may be permanent. Our minds got mixed up, she got some of my memories and I got some of hers. I can’t stand it”
“She said that?” Luna asked draping a wrong over her sister, “Great. Mental note to self, prank Celestia at first opportunity” Both princesses laughed at the comment as Twilight placed the crown back her head.
“Perhaps ‘Lulu I need to rest on this” Twilight stated, standing up she looked down at Luna, “Can I ask. What’s it like raising the moon?”
Luna raised an eyebrow at the ‘left field’ question that she had just been asked. Both Princesses walked back away from the ‘Hall of Honour’ and back into the main castle areas.
“It’s hard to explain. Perhaps you could describe what it was like to raise the sun?” Luna replied, she looked over to see Twilight oddly confused at the response, “well?”
“it was like I forcing a small ball of warmth up from the horizon” Twilight said, “that as well as it hurting my neck as my horn jerked to point at it”
“The celestial bodies tend to do that. Jerk you around like that” Luna admitted, “Though the moon and I have a sort of relationship. He doesn’t jerk with me and I play nice”
“You called the moon a he?” Twilight asked, “Tell me why you said that”
“Well when ‘Cele banished me to the moon for a thousand years, I got to get real close to my Celestial body. Quite literally” Luna admitted, “He kept me sort of sane while he helped me with Nightmare Moon”
“Helped you?” Twilight asked, remembering two memories that were odd. One of those memories were where she had banished her sister to the moon in the first place, the second was using the elements to defeat her two years ago in the decayed castle of the ‘celestial sisters’ in the Ever-free.
“Yes, for some reason when I arrived on the moon, He seemed to split me into 2 mares. Me, being full of regret and sorrow while he held nightmare moon on the dark side of, well himself” Luna commented sounding as though it was nothing, “the old mares tale of ‘colt in the moon’ is technically true in a roundabout sense. Try talking with the Sun at some time. You may be surprised as to what you can learn”
Both Princesses stopped in the middle of a T-junction in the halls that lead to Twilights chambers. A Colt with an eye patch walked up in full night guard attire as the princesses hugged each other. The Night Guard’s armour design was much the same as the royal guards. The most notable exception was the colouration; the armour being a deep navy blue colour in comparison to royal guards sandy yellow. The armour also looked a little more ‘demonic’ in appearance due to the slightly more spiky ends.
“Ahem” his semi coughed gaining the attention of the princesses, “Forgive the Intrusion, especially on your day off Princess Twilight, “but unfortunately we have need of a princess in the main court. A situation has arisen that needs one of your attentions as soon as possible”
“Twilight, get some rest as I shall deal with this matter. Captain please lead on” Luna said, giving Twilight a look of ‘you better or else’ as followed the captain down the halls.
Twilight let out a sigh, finally she was alone again. Walking up to the doors to Celestia’s chambers she noted that it was slightly ajar. Peering in she saw a familiar pink figure standing in the room it’s self. Composing herself for what was about to come she opened the door and tapped the Alicorn on the flank.
“Why are you in my chambers Cadance?” She asked. Cadance froze in place and turned her head around partially before sighing and relaxing again.
“Aunty Twilight. You spooked me. Sorry I should have waited outside for you” Cadance said, noticing the emotionless look on Twilights face, “I just want to check up on you after that outburst earlier”
“I have a lot on my mind at the moment Candace. Please skip the ‘aunty’ part” Twilight said, she sighed as she removed the crown and placed it on the drawer, “and if you don’t mind Cadance, I would like to spend some time alone”
Cadance was lost for words, but nodded and left her alone in her quarters.
Twilight took the chest piece off and crashed on the bed. Rolling on to her back she stared at the ceiling for the first time. Arrayed in a rich blue were constellations mapped out, some of which she recognised from Celestia telling her about when she was younger. But there was a group of 6 that she never recalled seeing in the night sky.
Wracking her brain to try and find the answer she couldn’t find anything. An image of Luna with a doughnut on her horn and two marks on the side of her face sprang to mind, but nothing important like the 6 new constellations pictured on the roof. Sighing in defeat she decided that it was time to try out talking with the sun of all things. Closing her eyes she tried to picture the same feeling that she felt that morning. Instead of finding the small warm sphere of energy, she felt a significantly larger sphere of magical warmth. She felt her horn jerk again but she resisted this time.
“No, stop jerking with my horn please I only want to talk with you” she said to no pony in particular. She felt the jerking subside and something entirely different instead. It was a voice literally inside her head
“Then speak young one” it deadpanned, it for some odd reason had a male English accent to it, “it has been quite a while since anyone has spoken to me”
“Wow, Luna was right. You can speak”
“And you are not Celestia. What has happened to her?” it replied getting annoyed, “Answer me lest you want to burn eternally at the heart of myself”
“I'm Twilight Sparkle. She implemented a spell that swapped us quite literally” Twilight replied
“Oh. My apologies for jerking with you this morning” it apologised “what then, shall we speak about. Seeing as we both have nothing better to do at this time, apart from the obvious burning or country ruling”
“Well there are these constellations on Celestia’s ceiling...” Twilight began to explain to the voice in her head.
~0~0~
Darkness descended on the town of Ponyville as Luna raised the moon that evening. Sitting on the grassy knoll on the outskirts of town was Celestia with her telescope out. She had a book at her side in her yellow TK field with a quill busy scratching her observations.
Oddly enough she found this relaxing and being further out of town meant that she didn’t get the light pollution she would in Ponyville or Canterlot. Though technically Luna would always remove the pollution on a nightly basis but tonight she didn’t need to.
She heard soft flaps of wings behind her. Glancing to her side she saw Luna appear beside her. Sighing she returned to her stargazing.
“’Lulu, Why are you here?” Celestia asked, noting in her book that Equestria Major constellation was three and a half degrees to the west than its normal position in the night’s sky, “don’t tell me. Problems in the castle”
“Yes there is a problem in the castle. Twilight freaking out is one thing, but when we have changelings on our borders” Luna began, “then yes. Yes we do have a problem”
“Twilight freaking out is not an issue that I can help you with” Celestia stated, she continued to spy through the telescope only to have Luna fly in front of it blocking the view, “you are blocking my view ‘Lulu”
“If this is the only way to get you to pay attention to what I have to say, then I shall block your view” Luna said, she continued to fly in front of the telescope every time Celestia moved it, “I am an insomniac as you know. I can keep this up all night if I need to”
“What exactly do you want from me then?” Celestia asked in defeat, she closed the book and turned to face the Alicorn. Luna had since landed in front of her and now sat cross-hooves on the grass.
“For starters did we not agree to not tell her about this?”
“Well yes”
“And did we both not agree that at the first sign of a backfire we would revert it the spell immediately to avoid any complications?”
“Again yes we did agree to that”
Luna cleared her throat “Then why pray-tell did you not come to Canterlot with her when you found out that she was drunk at the time of casting. Does thou not realise the repercussions of this spell as it has backfired?” she said in the Royal Canterlot voice, She toned it down after Celestia was blasted back into the telescope.
“’Lulu, I know full well what could have happened” Celestia said, “I experienced it first hoof. I had a mental breakdown earlier today”
“Then why didn’t you contact Twilight by Spike?” Luna said before she realised the stupidity of the comment “The note, her saying teaching you a lesson. Oh boy”
“Spike tried to send a letter, but Twilight didn’t respond. If it wasn’t for her friends I would more than likely be in Ponyville medical in a self induced magical coma!” Celestia stated as she began to pack up the gear that was now spread all over the place thanks to Luna’s outburst, “So yes I know that the spell has backfired. But right now, not my concern is it really?”
“Cele’ what are you saying?” Luna asked looking hurt
“At this very moment in time, I am not your sister; Twilight is. Now if you will excuse me princess but I need to get some sleep” Celestia said putting on the saddle bags.
“Celestia, Let me tell you this right now. Should you not be in Canterlot by tomorrow afternoon to help me fix this, then I will take matters into my own hooves”
“Is that a threat Luna?” Celestia asked only to get a glare from the nightly princess.
“That’s Princess Luna to you Celestia” She said firmly “You have been warned. You better come or I will fix this in such a way that you will regret” the princess of the night said taking off and leaving Celestia to sigh in defeat. As she walked back along the pathways of Ponyville, she could have sworn that she saw a flash of Blue and black dart out of her view.
Raising her walk up to a gait as she jumped to the side as the pursuer tried to jump her. She never glanced back as she burst into a run to try and avoid the wannabe kidnappers. Darting into a side street she breathed heavily, the telescopic gear in her saddlebags was heavy enough to weigh her down. Looking around the smell of fresh food scraps wafted past her nose, making her cringe at the idea.
Glaring around the dimly lit streets she looked up to see the sky darkening.
“We aren’t expecting rain tonight?” she said as a few drops began to fall onto the mare, “What the bucking hell is going on here!” she said fuming while casting a quick bubble shield spell over herself and her bags.
What she wasn't expecting was the hoof coming over her mouth, the jerking of her horn as something was slammed roughly down its length cutting her from her magic or the sickly sweet smell of a liquid that made her vision swim in confusion as stars began to appear in her field of view.
Within seconds, the Ex-princes of Equestria collapsed in a heap like a sack of potatoes on a cart.
Standing over her was a mare clad in black attire, soft green coloured tail jutting out of the back.
“Time for the revenge for my changelings my dear and sweet Celestia. Oh and don’t think I didn't know what you tried to pull, swapping places with your sweet little student. So naive of you to make yourself so vulnerable like this” she said. Hefting the unconscious mare onto her back, the Pegasus mare jumped into the night sky, taking with her the previous ruler of Canterlot
~0~0~
The next day
~0~0~
Twilight awoke again the fluffy bed that she had crashed onto the night before. After a lengthy talk with the sun, she looked up to see something that she hadn’t before, a small bell like object mounted on the wall.
Throwing the covers off her, she got up and stretched the kinks out of her wings and legs. With a few pops her wings flexed to their full glory again.
“Being an Alicorn has its perks I suppose. I could get used to the wings” She muttered as she craned her neck to remove anther kink out of it.
The small bell rang a few times softly and then stopped.
Twilight raised her eyebrow at it, but thought nothing of it at the time. walking up to her balcony and casting the doors aside with her magic she stepped out into the dusk of the day; the sun sitting neatly at the edge of the horizon casting a deep red colour across the landscape, eager to bask Equestria in his warm loving embrace.
Lowering her head this time, she aimed her horn and felt something subtly different. Instead of the jerking like the morning before, she felt a warm towel like thing wrap around her horn, sending warmth through her form. This caused her to jerk from her partially sleep deprived state into one of pure attentive in a split second.
Raising her head, horn still pointing at the sphere of warmth, she watched this time as the sun rose across the horizon, signalling a new day for Equestria.
“Thought you could use a pick me up” a voice said as Twilight giggled, recognising it as the actual sun.
“Thanks. But coffee would have been better”
“Ah phooey, nothing beats a jolt of pure solar energy. Celestia never asked for it. She was kind of a nuisance like that”
There was a knock at the door, followed by the sound of a colt’s voice twilight recognised as Shinning Armours. “Princess Twilight? We have a situation that needs your immediate attention”
“Shinning you may enter if you wish” Twilight said casually.
“I would not Princess Twilight. It is after all your quarters”
“Very well then, what is the problem?”
“It’s about my sister, Celestia”
“Ah” Twilight said softly, magically using a comb to remove any moulted wing feathers. “What is the problem this time? Wrong coding in the library or something a little more stupid?” she replied with a hint of sarcasm
“I... she has been taken. Last night after Luna paid her a visit, she was abducted shortly after. A Wall eye mare, Ditzy Doo, reported it late last night to the town guards, but the report didn’t come in till this morning”
Twilight dropped the brush onto the carpet and she was at the door before it hit the floor. Flinging it open with enough force to send shining armour sprawling into the opposite wall due to the wind speeds
“But who would do that!” Twilight demanded ‘Who would want to pony-nap Celestia. On second thought, don’t answer that” “We don’t know, but from the reports, it was a Pegasus that flew into the Everfree. I want permission to go after her myself. Well her friends as well, but that is beside the point.” Shining said firmly while dusting himself off.
“Granted, but I'm coming with you to bring her back here to Canterlot immediately. I will need to have a firm talking to her after this” twilight said as Shinning saluted before giggling as walking away. “What’s so funny captain?”
“Princess, your necklace is on upside down” he said trotting off to organise the search party. Twilight looked down and smirked
“So it is. Whoops” she said walking back to her room and closing the door. Sighing she picked the brush back up and proceeded to remove yet more feathers from her wings.
As she did though, a Piece of parchment floated into her field and as she continued to remove any offending feathers she wrote to Spike the following message
~-~-~
To Spike
Shining Armour and I will down to assist in the search for my student Celestia. She has been taken by an unknown Pegasus. Please gather her friends and wait for his arrival at the library, Luna will be attending only briefly as this is vital that we find her. The fate of Equestria may rest in us finding her as soon as we can Princess Twilight, Princess of the sun.
“Spiky would you please calm down, you’re going to give me an anxiety disorder” Rarity said rubbing the back of his head to try and calm the young dragon. He was breathing in and out of a brown paper bag that had the scent of muffins oddly enough as it was Ditzy that had handed him the bag.
The Wall eyed mare was busy eating said muffin in the corner of the room. She was happy enough to just sit there and eat in the face of the potential crisis.
Pinkie’s hair was deflated and she was having trouble keeping even a little bit happy at the present time, though she was being comforted by Fluttershy.
Applejack was the only one that had taken the whole ‘fate of Equestria’ in any sort of context or meaning; though the fact that both Shining Armour and both Princess Twilight and Luna were coming down meant that this is a big deal. She still had her doubts that Celestia was actually in any form of danger, but deep down, she was concerned.
The door swung open revealing Shining Armour, devoid of his armour, followed by Luna and Twilight, the latter devoid of most of her jewellery aside from the slippers.
“I still think that you should be coming Princess” Shining said in annoyance.
“All will be revealed in a minute captain” Luna commented, she looked amongst the gathered ponies “And all of your friends are here. Excellent”
“Give me a minute” Twilight said as her horn was bathed in a rich purple aura. The casted spell bathed the library in an eerily purple light “there now no pony can hear us”
“Ah’ forgive me for saying but what the hay is going on here?” Applejack asked as Luna tutted as her horn began to flash periodically.
Seconds later a blinding light of pure blue stunned all that were gathered.
“What the hay?” Applejack said “what’s going on here? Since when Twilight did you get so tall? Or wings for that fact” “They all remember yesterday yes?” Twilight said as Luna nodded in agreement at her statement.
“I was hoping that I could perform the full reverse, but with Cele’s capture and time running out. Who knows what could happen if she wasn’t here”
“Wait a second Twili’ what’s going on? And why did I think that Celestia was you and you her?” Shining asked shaking the confusion out of his head.
“Every-pony will you please sit down, for I am not going to repeat myself” Luna said.
Pinkie somehow pulled out a large beanbag and a bag of popcorn. Rarity on the other hoof summoned up her ‘sofa’ and allowed Shining to sit next to her; the others just sat on the floor; Though Rainbow Dash kept herself hovering instead of sitting.
“Right then, where to begin?” she asked casually
“How about what’s it like to be a princess for a day Twilight?” Pinkie said shoving a hooffull of popcorn into her mouth Twilight chuckled
“Well then, sounds like a beginning” Twilight said
~-~-~
“Rise and Shine. Time to get the buck up” a colts voice said slamming his holey hoof into the sleeping mare. She blinked a few times before looked up, bleary eyed at the creature before her.
Rich blue eyes, black Carapace, insect wings, Swiss cheese legs, bent proto-horn and fins at the back of head running down to the nape of the neck. Celestia’s eyes grew wide at the sight of the changeling before her.
“Trixie recommends that you get up lest you want to annoy them more so” a mare’s voice said from across the room. Celestia complied and got to her hooves
“Yeah that’s what I thought” it sneered walking out.
”Okay, where the buck am I now?” Celestia asked wincing in pain at the rough treatment she had been given.
“Trixie does not know the answer to that particular question” a Light blue mare with even light mane and tail replied, though she had twigs and leaves jutting out of the mane.
“Wait, your Trixie yeah?” Celestia asked
“Glad to see that your memory is as good as ever Celestia. Trixie does not approve of the situation that she finds herself in, but we are in this together now for the time being” she said walking to the thin membrane that separated them.
“I think I know where we are and if I'm correct then I know that Twilight will be coming” Celestia stated “Problem is the timeframe” “Why do you think that my dear?” another voice said from the other side of the membrane. Celestia looked to see another Mare flanked by a pair of changelings. Though for some reason, Chrysalis was the same size of them and not as large as she was during the invasion months prior. She actually looked younger than she did before as well. “Like it? Because this was the result of that little blast back that trollop Cadance and Shinning did” She said snarling.
“They shrank you?” Celestia asked
“Far form that actually. They basically shrank me in all of my power and title” she explained, the pair of changelings broke the membrane separating them from Trixie “now I need to rebuild my little empire” she said walking up to Trixie, fangs gleaming in the green light.
“What are you going to do to her?”
“Why feed on her of course. I am starved after I carried you away from your precious little town” Chrysalis said bluntly, burying her fangs into Trixie’s neck. A blood curdling scream came from the mare for the length of the feed until she passed out from the pain. Chrysalis backed up, wiping away some kind of pink liquid from her fangs. “Refreshing. Did you know what happens to ponies that I feed on multiple times without letting their emotions recharge?” Chrysalis asked Celestia. The white mare shook her head not knowing the answer.
“No? Shame, well to be honest, they first grow to love the lack of emotion. Then well, these two are prime examples” she said running her hoof over the flank of one of the colts “the body of your precious ponies goes comatose for days on end from constant feeding to try and replenish the lost emotions. We simply use this time to enhance them so to speak” she said waking through the barrier as though it was nothing. “Now since that you were foolish enough to swap forms with your student Twilight, you are now vulnerable to this process of feeding”
“I'm warning you Chrysalis, back off” Celestia said taking on a defensive posture.
“Oh how pathetic” Chrysalis said. The changelings either side of her, crash tackled Celestia to the ground, one biting into her neck, causing her to scream before trailing off. Her whole body didn’t respond to any of her commands as the Changelings got off her slumped form “Like the feeling, new addition I made to them since the Canterlot invasion, paralytic venom”
“You monster” Celestia stated; As her jaw went numb from the venom, She never felt the twin needle like punches into her neck, only the odd sensation of her body slowly and oddly going drunk. She heard some kind of soft singing from chrysalis Hush now, quiet no, time to rest your weary head
She never heard the end of the lullaby as her mind slipped into unconsciousness
~0~0~
“Wow, so Twilight, you get to rule for two days and Celestia becomes a no-pony for two days?” Pinkie asked bouncing at the end of the hour long Q and A following the story.
“Yeah basically” Twilight said, she didn’t have her torc or crown on, but kept the shoes on in case she needed them. Also they were so comfy.
“Well in any case, you can fly now, which is AWESOME!” Rainbow said, emphasizing on the awesome part.
“No it’s not ‘awesome’ Dash” Twilight stated, putting her hoof down hard onto the wood, causing it to buckle under the force. “Sorry but it’s not. If we don’t find Celestia before midnight tonight, Luna might not be able to reverse the effects. The Spell was botched enough as is”
“What do you mean botched?” Shining asked.
“Yah mean ta’ say that because of the first time we see you get drunk, no offence princess to you, but they casted the spell shortly after ah dropped you off?”
“My memories and Celestia’s never transferred over correctly. So yeah it was botched” Twilight admitted, she looked over at Ditzy who was still eating her muffin. The second one she had pulled out of nowhere “Ditzy, in which direction did you see this mare carry Celestia away?”
“Umm, from what I could see, it was heading in the direction of the place beyond the everfree?” Ditzy said. Twilight rolled her eyes. “That’s well over a Days flight from here. There is no way that we can reach her now” twilight said in defeated, slumping into the beanbag that pinkie had summoned up. “I'm now stuck like this”
“That might not be the case, remember the spell was supposed to revert after two days” Luna stated. She looked over at Twilight, who was being comforted by Shining Armour “It was a fail-safe...“
Twilight looked up at her and then thought about something for a minute. The idea struck her like a tonne of bricks. “Fail-safe, sister that’s it” Twilight said getting up and walking over to Luna.
“It is?” Luna said confused.
“Yes. Failsafe! As in my first and only spell that I created! The Failsafe spell, after Discords return to power, I created it to undo all magic in a certain area and change nature back to how it should be” Twilight said, her horn beginning to cast said spell.
“And if it doesn’t fix it?”
“Then we wait” Twilight said as the spell reached its pinnacle. In a shower of blinding purple light every pony was again blinded. After the light show finished up every pony blinked a few times to get the glare out of their eyes.
“So did it work?” Luna asked looking around; she was the only one standing up. Every-pony was casted into bookshelves, and thus, making a huge mess all over the place.
“Urgh; Pinkie Pie would you get of me please!” Rarity complained pushing the pinkie party pony off her. Pinkie apologized and giggled as she got to her hooves.
“Twilight?” Shining said next, his bubble shield had prevented most of the books falling onto him.
“Am I back to normal, please tell me I'm back to normal” Twilight asked, her magic casting aside the various volumes that had landed on top of her. She looked around and noticed that everything was now taller than before. Not by much but it was better than looking over ponies.
Rainbow sniggered and then burst out laughing alongside Pinkie Pie.
Luna tried to contain her own laughter as well as Rarity. Shining Armour was shocked and Fluttershy was giving them all a mean look.
“What happened?” Twilight asked
“Your fail-safe worked....sort of” Luna admitted “your you again yes....But you didn’t purge everything from yourself”
“What do you mean?” Twilight said. She looked down to see that she was now her natural size like before, however the light purple metal had shrunk with her. Looking to her sides she noticed that she still had the wings of a Pegasus, though the primaries were now a rich white colour instead of matching her own coat. Her tail and mane were still ethereal in nature and her horn longer and much more slender than it was before but still, her size had reverted.
“Sorry, but looks like your failsafe sort of worked” Luna said walking over to the dejected Alicorn.
“This still has the problem of where Celestia is at the moment” Shining stated
“Maybe” Twilight said slumping into the beanbag again “why can’t I just have two days off like was supposed to happen”
“I do not know. Anyway I am needed back at the castle” Luna said. In a flash of midnight blue she vanished.
“I'm hungry for some dandelion sandwich’s anypony else up for lunch?” Twilight asked
~0~0~
Twilight and the group left sweet apple acres full and content from the huge meal that the family had put on. Shinning had taken it upon himself to watch out for Twilight. Sure she was capable, but he was concerned. His mind was confused as well. Though he didn’t voice it, his mind still registered Celestia as his sister alongside Twilight, with Luna being the sole ruler of Equestria.
“Something is up Shining. I can tell by the way you’ve been looking at me” Twilight asked. Her friends had long since gone home to their various homes or jobs. “Don’t bother. I know what’s wrong, they know it, I know it and so do you”
“You do?” Shining asked
“Yeah. Celestia, you’re not the only one seeing her as a sister are you?” Twilight stated, she kept walking as Shining stopped in his tracks
“Wait how did you...” Shining asked stunned.
“Know?” Twilight said, looking back she pointed up towards the sun “he said so. I never lost the link to the sun that Celestia had. We share it now for some reason that he is not divulging”
“Share the link to the sun? You’re kidding me” Shining said laughing it up. Twilight gave him a death stare
“Nope; now the issue is that, he kind of messed with my fail-safe spell to actually do this” she said “Yeah this is permanent now. He linked us both to him; we share the Celestial bond that holds him here. Secondly he thought that Celestia could learn a little humility about ‘growing up’ with family”
“What?”
“Yeah, he was a being dick basically” Twilight said flatly
“No matter, I have my Twilight back. And that is all that matter to me at the moment”
“Nice to be back, sort of” Twilight said “BBBF”
“Yeah BLSFFF; Wait what’s that?” Shinning asked pointing out a figure staggering out of the forest edge with a second one shortly after. A beam of pure gold magic shot from the first into the forest, igniting parts of the foliage with flames.
Shining bolted towards the mares in trouble as a pair of changeling burst from the forest, one on fire screaming and the other pouncing towards the white one.
The white mare shrieked in terror as the Changeling bounced harmlessly off the shield thrown up by Shinning, who had intercepted the charging changeling.
Shining recognized one of them as Celestia, as for the other he didn't recognize her.
“Sup Tia” he said smiling at the pair.
Twilight ran up to the pair, recognizing one as Trixie and the other as Celestia
“Tia’!” Twilight exclaimed. Celestia gave a weak nod, as Twilight turned around. Her mouth twitched as her mane and tail ignited in pure flames.
“No-pony-harms-my-sister” she said in a tone that reverberated.
The two changelings raised an eyebrow at the Alicorn before them. As she began to create a massive Inferno around the two escapee mares and the one called Shining armour, they turned tail and fled in fear.
The last thing to go through their heads before the inferno caught up with them was ‘oh no not again’ before the pair were incinerated to pure ash and the intense pain shooting through the hive mind.
As the inferno died down, Twilight was panting heavily as Shining stoped his shield spell that had protected himself, Celestia and Trixie from the blow back.
“Okay, mental note, don’t piss you off” Celestia stated helping Trixie up off the ground. "So I'm in trouble now? even though i was kidnapped?"
"Yes and no. If you were to explain to everyone that has been affected then and only then i think we can forgive you. isn't that right Shinny?" Twilight stated looking at her brother who's expression of was a combination of awe and shock. "Besides, 'he' wants and explanation more than we do"
Celestia swiftly realized that the day off, had swiftly become something that she was now dreading the most.
Dawn once again encroached on the library of golden oaks, bringing with it a large amount of groaning from a particular white pony. Blinking the sun out of her eyes, Celestia, ex-ruler of Equestria, threw her blankets off and moaned as wing stiffness hit her hard. They had appeared shortly after Trixie and herself managed to escape the clutches of Chrysalis.
Taking into account what she had been through in the last two days she brushed her mane into her normal style of covering one eye with her pink mane. Steadying her breathing, she noticed that the primaries of her wings were now a deep amethyst like shade of purple. The sun’s rays penetrated her window, or more importantly her sister’s room.
Her mind was a mess of thoughts of confusion as she could hear Shining Armour, her brother, and Twilight talking loudly. Not loud enough that she could make out what was being said, more like general noise. Taking a few deep breaths she opened the door and headed silently downstairs to the base of the tree, bypassing the Guest portion of the tree which housed a snoring dead to the world Trixie, she smelt cooking. As she entered she could see that Twilight, now the same size as her or was it she was her size, glaring at her whilst Shinning had a large portion of pancake in his mouth, some syrup on the chin classically.
“Morning” Celestia commented quietly taking only the mug of brown fluid, coffee, and downing nearly half of it. “Listen I got to re-organise the library so we can talk later okay-“
“That can wait. Sit” Twilight stated firmly. Using her own magic to force Celestia into a seat magic then prevented the ex-princess from moving at all, unless you count the rocking. “Now then, I take it you know why you’re here?”
“Uh-“Celestia feigned innocence and it only lasted a fraction of a second before Twilight blew her lid.
“Do you have any idea the kind of disaster you have caused single handily? Not only did I not give you permission to swap us, but you did so whilst I was drunk. Not only that but this has not been the two days and guess what-“
“-what?”
“We are still royally messed with. Luna cast a reversion spell on my friends-“Twilight stated emphasizing that fact,”-and guess what; you’re stuck like that, permanently”
“What?!” Celestia stammered. “But no the spell should have worn off last night”
“I know because he doesn’t want you back on the throne, just yet” Twilight stated as Celestia mouth moved but no words came out. “And you can thank Princess Luna for that one. When I was doing the sun raising, today included actually because you were dead to the world, he stated you need to learn a few lessons of your own. So from now until the foreseeable future, you will be my sister, Twin to be precise. ‘Princess Celestia’ never existed and those who know are only the bearers of harmony and Princess Luna” “That, no you can’t do that!” Celestia shouted, almost crying.
“Wasn’t me who did it. I’m sorry to be this bearer of bad news” Twilight stated. “But look on the bright side, you get a massive holiday and you get that chance of a family as he stated you never had for a thousand years” Twilight explained as Celestia just sat there gormless, tears rolling down her face. “Now then, last we heard you were kidnapped by Changelings. What happened?”
Celestia took a moment to compose herself before Twilights magic faded and she took the cup in her hooves. “Well, after a brief meet and greet with Chrysalis who demonstrated the feeding process to me first hoof, I awoke with Trixie still out in the same cell-“ ________________________________________
“Urgh, mental note, send criminals to these things” Celestia muttered as her back felt exceptionally heavier than normal. Glancing back her wings had returned, but the primaries were purple now and she was still the same size with her mane still being a soft pink. “What? Is the spell unravelling? No matter. Trixie are you okay?”
‘Trixie wants fangs in neck again’ the blue mare muttered incoherently. Celestia walked over to the mare and jammed her hoof into Trixie’s midriff hard enough to snap her out of the love sick stupor she was in. “Warn us next time you jab your hoof into my stomach”
“We were fed upon, I don’t want a repeat” Celestia stated firmly.
“Trixie is in agreement, but has been here longer than you so Trixie has been fed upon a number of times already” the blue mare stated rubbing her neck. “These things are like vampires”
“I’ve met vampires before. They are better than these guys that’s for certain. Have you tried magic?” Celestia asked, Trixie shook her head before tapping the green goo attached to her horn. “Magic dampening goo. Classic I guess. We do this the hard way then”
“What are you thinking?” Trixie asked as Celestia ran a hoof over the hardened goo around her horns base. Walking over to Trixie, Celestia grabbed the mare and tapped the goo on her horn. “As much as this is erotic, what are you doing?”
“Testing the strength of the goo. Yours is brittle, hold still” Celestia stated. With a solid slam with her hoof at the base of Trixie’s horn, the brittle goo shattered and soft blue aura encapsulated Trixie’s horn quickly before fading. “There, your magic is back. Now we need a way out”
“Why are you helping Trixie?” the show mare asked as Celestia walked around the holding cell looking for something. “I don’t care if you have a grudge against my sister Twilight, but we need each other to get out of here. Now, can you cast a basic Pyromancy spell?” Celestia asked. The show mare nodded as Celestia stood to the side pointing at a wall. “This seems to be the weakest point, can you cast here?”
“Trixie will try” Trixie stated as small flame erupted from her horn which quickly became a small fireball. Celestia wasn’t worried about being singed as she was attuned to the sun. A massive ball of burning gasses, so a small flame wasn’t something to be worried about as her coat, she had learnt after a rouge fireball spell cast by twilight, caught her off guard once and she got off scot free. She shook her head to get the false memory out of it.
The ball of fire was sent in a small arc before crashing into the wall, setting it ablaze. In doing so, Celestia managed to melt the goo off her horn in the burning wall. She felt a massive spike jar her horn towards a direction before her entire body was flooded swiftly with restoring magic which she breathed in and out, letting a small amount of the magic to escape her mouth which was a soft golden colour.
“Thank you Trixie, now then. Let’s get back to ponyville” Celestia stated with confidence. ________________________________________
“So the sun actually powered you?” Shinning asked, Celestia nodded before pouring another cup of coffee and nodded. “Wow, would explain why Twilight can go inferno on you I suppose”
“To my understanding yes, we spent the next 3 hours evading the changelings, or what was left of them, out of the old Castle of mine and Luna’s before being chased into the Everfree by those two you vaporised” Celestia concluded. “I fear that with my escape Chrysalis will try and invade once more”
“Cadence is up north in the empire at this time” Shinning stated as a yawning Trixie walked in. “So triggering our love bond isn’t going to help”
“Trixie seems to think you speak to loud. The twins and your home. Joy” she muttered as Twilight shoved a mug of coffee into her mouth. Trixie reluctantly took a seat before letting her head audibly hit the hardwood table. “If it was a prench tower we did, Trixie is all up for it later”
“Be thankful I don’t kick you out on your flank Trixie, but I am glad to see you alive at least. You didn’t have much leaving the last time” Twilight stated as Trixie moaned before Spike walks in, holding a plate of fresh pancakes. Twilight giggled as Trixie’s ears seemed to hone into spikes entrance.
“Well, this is a surprise. I guess more pancakes needed?”
“I’ll help you Spike. The twins here need to talk alone Mrs Lulamoon” Shinning stated walking up to Trixie, using his magic to hoist the now ‘trying to sleep’ mare in his magic by the nape of her neck. She moaned in more annoyance than actually getting a free ride to the couch in the lounge area.
That left Celestia and Twilight alone. The pair staring at each other for a long time before Celestia broke the silence. “Twilight, I am so sorry about what has transpired. I wished only for the pair of us to have a day off-“
“-Celestia, shut it as I know what you did was with the best of intentions” Twilight replied with a look of scorn plastered across her face. “And I will be the first to admit that it was fun, whilst it lasted. But you should know by now, anything involving myself or the elements will turn into a mess. Now then, I am very angry and any trust I had in you is long since out the window. For the time being, I think you need to learn a very important lesson right now”
Celestia paled as twilight got up with a look of almost disgust on her face. What she never expected was the massive hug that came from twilight. “What-“
“Sisters should never be angry at one another” Twilight said almost crying. “I don’t care if this is part of the spell or not, but I was worried sick when you were taken”
The pair hugged for the longest of time before breaking it off and sighing.
“I still don’t have any trust and faith I ever had in you what-so-ever. You will need to prove otherwise. I have the most perfect idea how” Twilight commented putting her hoof to her chin.
“Why do I get the feeling I’m going to dread this” Celestia moaned. ________________________________________
The door to the manor house opened in Canterlot to a butler pony, he glanced down at the pair of Alicorns before sighing. “Welcome home Miss Sparkle, Miss Solar-Sparkle. Shall I inform your parents you are here?” he asked politely as the pair entered the house. Celestia, though her mind raced with false memories of a life she never had, stood in awe at the foyer of the house. Twilight looked over at Celestia who seemed to be going into a mode of ‘unable to compute’ before sighing a few times. “Something the matter Miss Solar-Sparkle?”
“No, just a headache is all” Celestia replied. Her last name, she always had one, but as princess she never needed it. More parts to the spell aligning she assumed.
“I understand, I shall fetch some medicine for you. Shall I also prepare some tea?”
“We will take it in the Reading room Mister Platter, thank you. Girls, you should have called!” a mare called as she walked into the main foyer, bother caught swiftly up in a hug by said mare. “Especially you Celestia Solar-Sparkle. Six months away and not a single letter. I should have the right mind to clip you around the ears for keeping me out of the loop. Not one letter! Twilight here at least sent one once a month-“
“Mum, she gets the idea, it was complicated, but I think Changelings had something to do with it?” Twilight stated nudging Celestia who blinked a few times before nodding sheepishly.
“Those creatures again, why can they not leave my family alone” Velvet Sparkle growled as the trio walked into the main reading room where a silver platter was on the table already with a hot pot of tea sitting there. “First the wedding and now six months without my Celestia. If I ever get my hooves on-“
“-Mum, I was actually in Fillidelphia, doing some traveling It was only in the last 2 weeks they got involved” Celestia stated as Twilight Velvet sighed.
“I knew you weren’t like Twilight. It would have been nice to let me know as I was worried sick” She mentioned as a stallion walked in, briefly nuzzling Twilight Velvet before joining the ladies on the cushions. “Guess who decided to show up dear”
“Celestia; you know your mother has been worried sick. Not only that but you missed the wedding-“
“I was there for Shinning and Cadences wedding ill have you know, I just owe-“Celestia cringed as Twilight glanced over at her quickly.
“Honey are you okay?” Velvet asked genuinely concerned as Celestia removed her hoofs off her temples.
“no-Yes, I mean I have no idea” Celestia stated. “If you don’t mind, Twilight can you come with to - my room as I think it’s a magic issue”
“Are you sure?” Twilight asked, concerned Celestia just nodded sheepishly.
“I think it was the changeling magic, sorry but I need to lie down”
“It’s okay, I’m sure Twilight can help” Twilight velvet said, “it is good to see you alive at least”
“Thanks mum” Celestia stated as she staggered out of the room with twilight close in tow. She made it not 10 feet out the door before passing out to the shock of all and rushing to her just as fast. ________________________________________
Light shone into the face of Celestia as she blinked a few times, voices coming back into hearing range as her mind raced. Changelings, her sister annihilating them, going home to Canterlot after six months of hightailing without telling her parents, but then there was ideas that she was a princess, one who ruled over the sun. But that was neigh impossible, sure she was an Alicorn, like her sister, but she wasn’t that important.
“Glad to see your awake” a voice called to her. Celestia at that point was looking around for the source of the voice. Seeing as it was Twilight, her head hung low with a sigh. “What happened back there?”
“What do you mean?” Celestia asked innocently. “I think I passed out a little”
Twilight raised an eyebrow, “No I meant when you said you were at the wedding with Cadence. Mum and dad wouldn’t have recognized you-“
“What wedding? I was in Fillidelphia for the last six months. You mean to tell me I missed big bro’s wedding?” Celestia asked seriously back to which twilight blinked a few times. “Twili, you okay? I mean it was obvious I wasn’t there”
“No it’s not that, but you mean to say you can’t remember being a princess?” Twilight asked with genuine shock. “Well I was a bit of a pompous brat before bailing, if that’s what you were meaning”
“No I meant, argh, this is stupid. A Body swap spell, 2 days off. Doesn't that ring any bells?”
“There’s such thing as a body swap spell? But then considering the amount of time you spent in the library, of course you would know”
‘She won’t remember a thing. Conflicting memories of her past life have been suppressed until her mind can fully recover’ a voice stated to Twilight who’s face dropped before sighing. ‘Better that that a thousand plus years of torturous memories’
“Who are you listening to-“
“-No pony. Listen when you are feeling better after that fainting spell of yours, mum and dad want to keep you here for a few days. I need to speak with Princess Luna-“
‘Mentor by the way’
“-our mentor about the changelings”
“Sure sis, and uh, thanks for saving me back in ponyville” Celestia said, “I know I can be grating and all, but you’re the best Twin a pony can ask for”
Twilight looked at Celestia who was previously sitting upright in her bed now threw the blankets back on before lying back down trying to recover from the fainting spell with sleep. Twilights mind raced with thoughts, problems and ideas, but legitimately Celestia thought that she was the nothing more than a twin to her, student of Luna with a subtle rebellion streak.
Closing the door softly she sighed before smirking. “Well, I guess having a day off does that to you I guess” she muttered before giggling and giving her mother a hug. “So, now that Celestia is finally sleeping off that fainting spell, want to go for a walk?”
“Of course, will you be staying at all?”
“For as long as it takes for Celestia to fully recover. Luna asked we keep the library down in ponyville working”
“I suppose that works to” twilight Velvet stated. “Celestia was never one to remain stationary for long. What did she mean back there with the whole ‘I was at the wedding?” Twilight velvet asked.
“Well, she was sort of. I think she was hiding a bit from you and dad, but not sure”
“She and Candance didn’t really see eye to eye did they?”
“An Alicorn of love meeting one who can theoretically control the sun, no wonder” Twilight stated as the pair laughed a little before walking out the front door and towards the park. "Did you want to hear a story?"
"About?"
"Well, It started when Celestia wanted two days off"