Equestria Girls: The Crystal Crown

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Crystal Thief
Chapter 2: Strange New World
Chapter 3: Face To Face

Chapter 1: The Crystal Thief

“Hey Twilight, did the Princess say why she wants us at the Crystal Palace?” Asked Rainbow Dash.

“No idea.” Twilight answered, not looking up from her book. “She just said that something important was happening and we should be-”

“Oh oh oh, it’s probably Shiny’s birthday, or his anniversary or the anniversary of his cutie mark or-”

“Pinkie, I think I’d know if Shining Armour was celebrating something.” Twilight giggled at the excitable party pony.

“Oh?” Pinkies grin hadn’t faded one bit.

“Well darling, he is Twilight’s brother, I’m fairly certain she would know when to throw him a party.” Rarity explained gently to Pinkie.

“Aww. Can we still throw a party?” Pinkie practically begged.

Twilight only smiled. “I’m sure the Princess wouldn’t say no to a party Pinkie Pie.”

Pinkie beamed and settled back into her train seat, already planning out a party and making invitations from a pile of colourful paper which had certainly not been there a few seconds ago.

“Anyway, I’m sorry Rainbow Dash but I really don’t know. The Princess said it was too important to put in a letter in case someone intercepted it.”

“Wait a moment dear.” Rarity piped up. “The Princess sends all your letters directly to Spike, how in Equestria is a letter supposed to be intercepted like that?” She questioned, nodding to the young dragon nuzzled against her side in a deep sleep.

Twilight merely shrugged.

“Attention passengers.” A voice rang out from the overhead speakers, jolting Fluttershy awake with a squeak. “We shall be making our stop at the Crystal Empire in approximately fifteen minutes, please depart at our next stop for the Crystal Empire and trains to Fillydelphia and Manehatten shall also be departing from this station.”

“Oh, w-we’re nearly there then?” Fluttershy whispered.

“Sure are sugarcube.” Applejack answered, stretching her legs out. “Ah tell y’all now, Ah won’t be sorry for an excuse to stretch mah legs. Wouldn’t ya think they’d have figured out how to make trains faster by now?”

“Well, we could’ve just flown.” Rainbow Dash grumbled.

“And leave us to suffer this boredom alone? Perish the thought dear!” Rarity declared while gently trying to shake Spike awake.

“Yeah, I guess we wouldn’t want you flying again Rarity.” Rainbow Dash smirked as the marble white unicorn flushed red.

“Low blow Dash.” Applejack admonished the athletic pegasus.

“Come on girls, let’s not fight. We’ll be in the Empire soon, if you’re still feeling aggressive you can settle it on the race-track.” Twilight said.

“Yeah, I guess.” Rainbow shrugged and stretched herself across the seat, laying her head in an annoyed Applejacks lap.

“Besides.” Rarity added, still trying to wake a seemingly comatose dragon. “It will be ever so nice to see everyone with no stress this time, no changelings, no evil tyrants and no misidentified games organisers; just us, them and a marvelous Empire to enjoy.”

********

“Stop in the name of Princess Mi Amore Cad- ack!” An armoured Crystal Pony was interrupted from his yell by a hand closing around his neck.

“Word of advice.” The owner of the hand spoke up as he hoisted the guard from the floor with no effort. “Attack your opponent, then yell.” As he spoke the figure swung the guard and slammed his face into the wall of black crystal behind him, making visible cracks in the surface. The Guard fell like a ragdoll and didn’t get back up.

The owner of the hand stood back and admired the wall, almost surprised that he had actually cracked solid Black Crystal. He wore a long, dark blue longcoat which hid his features completely, including a large hood covering his head.

He ignored the minor annoyance and took off at a run down the roughly carved hallways; the mineshaft was recent and it showed, while the wooden supports were new and looked secure there was no doubting that this was the work of ponies unsure of what they would find.

Oh my little ponies, if you only knew what you would find.

The figure suddenly pressed his back to the wall as he came to another branching hallway, unlike all the others this one had a slapdash attempt at a security barricade at the end of it and several Crystal Ponies in armour matching the earlier guard were waiting, including at least two with Fluglehorns to call for reinforcements.

Smart, but it won’t help much.

The figure unzipped a satchel that was swinging by his hip and pulled out what looked like a handful of ordinary zippers, exactly like one would see on a coat or jacket.

“Go play.” He whispered.

In an instant, the zips began coiling and squirming like snakes to escape his grip; he held them for only a moment longer before letting them go free, flying through the air like demented eels.
The guards had no time to react, after all, one does not exactly have a plan for “attacked by flying zippers” in most guard manuals. The zippers descended on them and melded themselves over the guards mouths, flesh and metal immediately merging into one as the zippers sealed themselves firmly shut.

In an instant their summoner sprinted up to the hopelessly confused guards, who in their confusion turned just in time to be met with a flurry of kicks and punches, dropping several of them to the floor unconscious in an instant. One of the guards with a Fluglehorn, unable to play it, settled for trying to brain his opponent with it but the hooded figure caught it mid swing and sent the guard flying back further down the corridor with a brutal kick to the muzzle.

The Figures assault was interrupted as he heard a loud ringing bell from behind him; one of the guards had avoided being knocked out and was now ringing the bell used by the ponies to indicate an evacuation, swinging it wildly in his mouth.

Even as he knocked the defiant guard unconscious it was clear that the message had been received, already guards were shouting and making their way to the source of the disturbance.

“Dammit.” The figure muttered. He ignored the guards for now and turned his attentions back to the security barricade, blasting the door into splinters with one strike.

“Oh but you are a wonder.” He whispered, in awe of what awaited him behind the door.

**********

“Um Twilight, you were sure we were here to “celebrate” something right?” Rainbow Dash asked as the six ponies and one dragon made their way to the source of the alarms they had been hearing since they exited the train.

“I don’t understand it, Princess Celestia didn’t say anything about an emergency in her letter!” Twilight called to her as they both flew toward the disturbance, Fluttershy flying just behind them.

“Ah don’ reckon the Princess had this in mind Twi! Ah reckon this kicked up just now!” Applejack shouted.

“It’s true!” Pinkie Pie suddenly stopped in front of Applejack and Rarity.

“Um, Pinkie how did you, you were behind us and-”

“You were totally right Applejack, I asked the guard up front why all the decorations for the party looked all nasty wasty and he started telling me they weren’t a party they were a “battalion” and then I kinda missed what he said next so I started trying to figure out if it was his birthday because if it was and no one remembered well that would just make anyone all mopey and-”

“Ah think we get the point sugarcube.” Applejack interrupted Pinkie.

“Twiley!”

The group turned back to the barricade to see Twilights older brother racing toward them, full plate armour in place. Despite the situation, he still immediately pulled Twilight into a hug before elaborating on the situation.

“What the hay is going on here?” Rainbow Dash demanded.

Shining Armour frowned. “Some archaeologists were doing some digs in the mines were King Sombra used to work his slaves.” Shining nodded at the scowls from the others as he mentioned the dreaded tyrant. “I know but they felt it was worth investigating the mines under the castle itself, apparently Sombra once had the slaves dig it for months then sealed it again. They thought he might have hidden something down there.”

“Let me guess, whatever was down there didn’t like being uncovered?” Rarity inquired with a raised eyebrow.

“I have don’t know if that’s what happened but what I do know is that something is down there attacking my people and it repels any attempts we make to get down there.” Shining scowled. “And it’s made demands.”

At this the group nodded to him to go on.

“Whatever is down there claims that it has enough magical power to destroy the support structures and possibly bring the whole mine down. There’s dozens of workers down there that couldn’t get out.” Shining said.

The others gasped.

“So what did it want?” Twilight asked frantically.

“It wants me and Cadence to go down there alone and face it.”

“Hah, no problem, how’s it expect to take on Twilights big brother and an Alicorn.” Rainbow Dash scoffed.

Twilight and the others shushed her.

“You can’t do that Shiny, it’s obviously a trap.” Twilight told him with pleading eyes.

Shining Armour sighed. “I know Twiley, but if we don’t go down there it’ll just kill the workers and probably start working it’s way up, and that puts even more ponies at risk.”

“Well at least let me go down instead of you!” Twilight begged.

“Sorry Twiley, it demanded me and Cadence. I need you and your friends to stay at the surface, if me and Cadence... don’t come out, you stop that thing okay? Destroy whatever comes out, seal the mine, blow the mine up, whatever you have to do just make sure it doesn’t get out, okay?” Shining Armour was stern now, clearly he would have it no other way.

Reluctantly Twilight nodded, Rainbow Dash even threw up a somewhat mocking salute.

“Wish me luck.”

The group could only watch as Shining Armour marched to the huge holes edge and began his descent down the rickety wooden steps that spiralled downwards.

**********

“Beautiful.”

The crown in his hands was elegantly carved from the finest crystal and smelted from pure platinum in many areas; as he held it in his hands it glowed and shifted, changing its size and shape to suit his own head.

The gemstones set around the sides of the crown were what truly grabbed his attention. Or rather, the lack of them.

“Let’s fix that shall we?” From his satchel the hooded figure pulled a handful of beautiful gems of various types that sparkled as though under the sunlight even in the near pitch black. First, a ruby the size of a bit, slotting into place just above the right ear.
Next a chunk of amethyst that seemed like it had been broken from a larger whole, it somehow fit perfectly into a gap just above the right eye.

Now came the fun ones; first a disc of black crystal emblazoned with a white crescent moon.

Next, an ugly orb of gemstones that seemed comprised of too many clashing colours and types to ever look presentable.

Finally a black piece of coal. Hardly impressive on its own but even as he watched it shifted and changed, alternating between a replica of the two other gems still in his hands.

“Surrender. Now.”

The figure scowled and whirled around, a smile coming to his face as he saw his opponent.

“Ah, your majesty, I have been waiting for a long time. Though I have to say, I asked for you AND your wife, where is she?”

“Ready to bring this whole cave down if need be!” Shining Armour scowled.

“Ah, the noble heroic sacrifice to stop a greater evil. I’d be impressed except I estimate this ceiling at best would give me a headache for a few weeks, so no, not particularly impressive Shining Armour.” The figures smirk was clear in his voice.

“Who are you? And for that matter what are you?” Shining Armour demanded.

The figure chuckled.

“I suppose it is fair my Prince.” Shining growled at the continued mockery. “My name isn’t really important but I suppose you can know it if you want to. Scorpan is the name, a pleasure to make your... I would say acquaintance but here it seems hostility is a better word.”

“Fine then, Scorpan, what are you after? Just put the crown down and we can negotiate, just let the workers go.”

Scorpan scratched the back of his neck, as if thinking but Shining Armour knew he was just taunting again.

“Oh! Those workers, right. Well, I’m not sure about the condition but if you’re interested in a burial then most of them are under about fifteen feet of Crystal down the hall.”

That did it; the sheer callousness and sadism in Scorpan’s voice set Shining Armour of, his horn illuminating and launching a bolt of light bigger than either of the two opponents.
Scorpan was ready; immediately he crossed his arms in front of his face, the sleeves of his coat slipping back to reveal two metal bracelets on his wrists, one embedded with a sapphire, the other a diamond. The two jewels illuminated, the light from them expanding to form a protective bubble around Scorpan; Shining Armours’ spell struck the bubble, which produced a deafening boom as the two collided but the bubble remained standing.

“You really think I don’t know how to dismantle a shield spell? Should have done your homework Scorpan.” Shining Armour scoffed, lighting his horn and focusing on the protective bubble.

A wave of agony shot through Shining Armour the instant he reached out with his magic, his attempts to cancel his spell not responding, almost as if his magic had been anchored to the protective bubble.

“Hardly.” Scorpan responded, a glass orb full of white smoke in his hand. “I was counting on it.” Scorpan lifted the orb above his head until it made contact with the protective bubble. Sparks flow as the glass and bubble made contact, renewed shouts came from the paralysed Shining Armour as a stream of light flew from his horn, flowing rapidly into the orb.

"Don't fret Shining Armour, I promise this is only temporary." He met the barely conscious stallions eyes. "Oh I know how it must seem but I promise I don't want to hurt you." Scorpan couldn't maintain his sincere tone any longer. "No, it's your wife who will truly suffer."

"C-Cadence..." Shining Armour managed to choke out before his body became translucent and was pulled along like a leaf caught in a storm, disappearing within the orb.

Scorpan grinned at the orb clutched in his hand, now glowing a dark blue.

"Now that I have my bargaining chip, let's go meet a Princess, hey Shining?" Scorpan smirked, well aware that Shining Armour could hear and see everything as he made his way back toward the main mineshaft.

*********

"This stinks, TwIlight how in the name of Celestia can you just sit there with your brother going down there like that?" Rainbow Dash demanded.

Twilight ignored the hot headed pegasus, eyes determinedly locked on the mineshaft entrance. She hadn’t let her eyes wander since Shining Armour had descended along with Cadence almost twenty minutes ago. The silence was unbearable.

“Ah to Tartarus with this, I’m going down there to whoop that things flank!” Rainbow Dash darted away before Applejack could grab her tail and shot straight downward into the depths of the mineshaft.
“No, Rainbow Dash wait!” Twilight yelled, taking off after the weather mare.

“Wait for me y’all, Rainbow Ah Ah’ma kick you flank for this!” Applejack shouted, taking off at a gallop after them.

“Oh, wait for me!” Pinkie called out, hopping off after her friends.

Rarity shook her head and facehoofed; she knew it was hopeless to call any of them back and resigned herself to doing what they had actually been told to do.

“Uh Rarity, s-shouldn’t we go after them?” Fluttershy asked in a barely audible tone.

“Yeah, we can’t just let them go down there, who knows what it might be?” Spike agreed, frantically bouncing on his feet in worry.

“They will be fine Spikey.” Rarity assured him, stroking his spines gently with a hoof. “They will be with Shining Armour and Cadence, not to mention they themselves are no pushovers. We shall do what we were ordered to and then we will think of the most appropriate punishment for Rainbow Dash.”

“Maybe we could force her to model for you?” Spike suggested, enjoying the feeling of Rarity’s hoof on his spines.

“Ooooh, how evil Spike! I like it.” Rarity giggled.

************

“Shining Armour? Shining Armour? Sweetie, please answer me.” Cadence was beginning to grow worried now; Shining Armour was a powerful warrior on his own but he never failed to answer her.

Especially not recently.

“‘Fraid not Princess, though I’m sure he’d answer if he were able.” Cadence glared down at the hooded figure emerging onto a balcony at least twenty feet below her, shouting up to her with barely constrained mirth.

“Stand and face me foul creature.” Cadence snarled, the figure made no move and simply leaned against the balcony, almost casual as it observed the hovering Alicorn.

“So tell me Princess, was it your block head of a husbands idea to go in first like an idiot or did you just want to test the waters in case you ruined your mane fighting me?”

“Don’t you dare talk about Shining Armour like that! If you have done anything to harm him foul beast I will make you beg for death!” Cadence’s voice was almost rivalling that of her Aunt Luna’s Royal Voice but she didn’t care, horrible images of a dead or horrifically wounded Shining Armour running through her head.

“Oh I assure you Princess, I’ve done no lasting damage.” He shrugged as he pulled out a glass orb full of a dark blue light. “It’s up to you whether or not that changes.”

Cadence gasped as she saw her husbands face glinting like a ghost in the swirling blue lights, his face was gaunt and his eyes seemed to be scrunched in pain.

“Your choice Princess, I can release your husband if you meet my demands or I can smash this orb right here.” He briefly looked at the orb as though struck by a sudden thought. “You know, come to think of it, I actually don’t know what smashing this would do. Why don’t we find out, it’s not like a hoity toity Princess was going to give in to my demands any-”

“Name them.” Cadence spat, voice full of anger but also acceptance.

“Excellent.” Scorpan smiled wickedly, holding up the orb again. “My demands are simple Princess; you teleport us to King Sombra’s throne room and then you take your husbands place inside this orb. One false move and I smash it and trust me,” He gestured to Cadence’s horn, “I’ll know if you try something to get this orb away from me.”

Cadence’s eyes widened.

“Please, I can take you to the throne room but I beg you, I can’t agree to be trapped in-”

“Well that is a shame Princess.” Scorpan was leering, enjoying her fear. “I know exactly what circumstances you’re under Princess; that doesn’t mean I’m going to change my demands, so make your choice.” He shook the orb over the edge of the balcony as he spoke, letting it slip to the tips of his fingers several times.

Cadence said nothing. The pink energy that gathered around them both was answer enough, both could feel the slight tugging feeling that accompanied teleportation.

**********

“Cadence! Cadence! Shiny!” Twilight called for her brother and sister as she dodged and weaved through the network of tunnels that made up the mine, following behind Rainbow Dash.

“Twilight, look!” Rainbow Dash yelled as she turned another corner. It only took Twilight a moment to turn the corner and see what she meant; in the centre of the room stood a figure in a dark blue hooded coat, his shape and the way he stood reminded Twilight vaguely of a monkey. Above him, Cadence was illuminating her horn, Twilight could recognise the tell tale signs of a teleportation spell.

“Stop him!” Twilight yelled and took off like a rocket toward the hooded figure.

Whether from surprise at her sudden appearance or Twilight doing something so reckless, the figure didn’t react in time and grunted in pain as Twilight slammed her front hooves into his ribs, lifting him off his feet and slamming him into the wall.

“Twilight, NO!” Cadence yelled but it was too late, the pink aura encased both herself and Scorpan, who grabbed at Twilights mane and held her in place, pulling her along.

Twilight had one last brief look at the mines, seeing Rainbow Dash speeding towards them, before the light became blinding for a moment before suddenly fading altogether.

Twilight realised they had appeared slightly off the ground because of her pinning Scorpan and at the same time realised she had stopped flapping her wings in surprise; she only had a second to register all of this before both she and Scorpan fell to the floor in a heap.

Scorpan recovered first and grabbed Twilight by the mane, slamming her muzzle into the ground twice before Twilight bucked with all her strength, throwing Scorpan off. Reacting quickly, she lit up her horn and grabbed Scorpan in an aura of purple light, sending him flying across the room, first into a large vase which smashed to pieces as Scorpan collided with it, then a violent launch across the room, Scorpan’s body leaving large cracks in the opposite wall as he slammed into it.

“Twilight, stop!” Cadence ordered. Twilight was surprised enough that she dropped Scorpan, who grabbed at the throne and used it to haul himself to his feet, clutching his sides in pain.

“Cadence, why? I can beat him, wait, why aren’t you stopping him?” Twilight only now realised the situation as it stood made no sense.

“Because she, ugh, listens better than you.” Scorpan grunted from the throne. “I’ve got to say, your brother was nowhere near as obnoxious.”

“What have you done with him?” Twilight demanded, making to advance again but stopped bya hoof on her shoulder.

Scorpan smirked as he held up a glass orb full of a dark blue light.

“Right in here little Twilight, your brother’s right in here, suffering.” Twilight gasped. “Oh yes, and if dear Cadence doesn’t take his place, well...” Scorpan mimed dropping the orb and stomping on it.

“Enough!” Cadence sounded defeated even as her eyes burned with hatred. “I’ll do what you want Scorpan, just let him out!” Scorpan smiled and held up another glass orb, this one full only of white smoke.

“How can we even trust him Cadence, he’s probably just going to keep Shining Armour as soon as he has you!” Twilight whirled on Scorpan. “And you, you can’t possibly think you’ll get away with this, Princess Celestia herself is going to be here and the Elements of Harmony. If need be I can take you myself! Do you really think you’ll escape?”

Scorpan’s smile turned downright demonic.

“Oh I’m well aware of that my dear Twilight. Could I brute force my way through this empire? Of course not. But I am no fool, so long as I hold your dear Princess you know you can’t afford to stop me, isn’t that right? Now Princess, kindly cast a spell at this orb, any spell will do. And no tricks.” He warned, nodding at the blue orb in his left hand.

“Cadence, don’t!” But it was too late; already the pure, glowing energy of Cadence’s magic was streaming into the orb, soon Cadence herself grew gaunt and exhausted, reminding Twilight horribly of when she had been drained saving the Crystal Empire. Now yet again their Princess was risking her own life for everypony else, as the process completed and Cadence was sucked into the orb, as though snapped up by a twister.

“Excellent. Now wasn’t that easy Twilight?” Scorpan asked as though he had just clean her library.

“I’ll kill you.” Twilight spat.

“Of that I have no doubt. But right now, you have other priorities.”

“What’re you-” Twilight stopped mid-question as her jaw dropped with horror; in one rapid movement the orb in Scorpan’s left hand shattered, a dazed and skeletal looking Shining Armour slung over his shoulders when the flash of light faded. Scorpan didn’t even pause as he heaved Shining Armour with all his might, sending him crashing through the windows of the crystal throne room.

Chapter 2: Strange New World

“Shining Armour!” Twilight screamed, taking off for the window immediately, zooming past Scorpan.

Before she had even reached the window however, a blaze of colour shot up past it, high into the sky.

Twilight had never been happier to see Rainbow Dash than she was then.

“Twilight, I got him.” Rainbow panted, struggling with the weight of a fully armoured Shining Armour. “Get that guy!”

Twilight turned herself to face Scorpan once again; though she still couldn’t see his face, all the swagger and confidence was gone from his body language, now he seemed scared.

“Don’t try it Sparkle, I still have your Princess.” He said, holding up the glowing orb.

Twilight simply smiled, infuriating Scorpan.

“Do you doubt that I’ll do it Twilight? Do you really think I won’t, that I don’t have the gall to-”

“Go right ahead.” Twilight leered, enjoying seeing this loathsome creature squirm. “I saw what you did with Shiny Scorpan; breaking that thing will just release Cadence. You were bluffing, and now you have no way of defending yourself.” Twilight flared her wings, illuminating her horn and began advancing toward Scorpan.

Scorpan took several steps back. “Don’t count on it Princess.” From his satchel he grabbed something and made to put it on his head, but before he could Twilight shot a jet of light from her horn which burned Scorpan’s hands, the crown he had been holding clattering away across the floor.

“And now what will you... do?” Twilight’s threat died in her mouth as both opponents eyes were drawn to the crown, now several feet to the side of them; the gems encrusted around it had lit up with an almost blinding glow of countless colours, sparks flying from it.

“You idiot!” Scorpan yelled, making a dash for the door.

Before he had gone more than a few steps a large dome of light flew from the crown, expanding outwards; Twilight braced herself, expecting to be knocked away but instead the dome passed over her and over Scorpan, who had failed to outrun it. The dome stopped just before the throne room doors, where Scorpan was now pounding on it, sending ripples along the surface but doing nothing to break it.

“W-W-What is, this?” Twilight tried to sound demanding but suddenly she was feeling no more anger or fear but simply felt sleepy.

“You’ve doomed us both you stupid-” Scorpan tried to snap but his legs buckled beneath him mid-sentence. As he fell his hood slipped, revealing his face for the first time.

Twilight was reminded slightly of a monkey that had lost most of its hair; Scorpan’s skin was bare, not covered by fur or scales, the only hair he had was on top of his head, a short crop of dark brown. His eyes Twilight noticed were mis-matched; the left eye was normal looking and a pleasant green that made her think of the forest trees. His right eye was yellow and slitted, almost like a snake and was very bloodshot, though she couldn’t say whether that was normal.

I can’t fall asleep Twilight was screaming at herself mentally but she could still feel exhaustion overtaking her. With a slight thump she saw Scorpan fully keel over, out cold.

“Maybe I can just... rest my eyes... he’s not... going anywhere... right?” Twilight whispered, delirious. Finally, the purple alicorn surrendered to the weight of her eyelids and slumped to the floor, asleep in an instant.

***********

“Twilight! Twilight! Get up, you’ll be late!”

Twilight struggled to sit up, her muscles aching. Stretching her arms above her head she swung her legs over the side of her bed, feet feeling good against the soft carpet.

Wait, WHAT!

Twilight held in a shriek as she shot from her bed to a mirror in her room, examining whatever had happened to her body.

She had somehow gone bald except for her mane, which was a frizzy mess, her skin was still the same colour as her coat. She reached a hand up to her temple to confirm that yes, her horn was gone, and no her reflection wasn’t lying about her wings being gone either.

She was no longer even a pony as far as she could tell; she stood on two legs and her hooves were deformed, too long and flat and her forelegs were ended in bizarre, multi digited hands, the kind that the monkeys and some other animals that Fluttershy owned had.

“What the hay are these even good for?” Twilight muttered, flexing the... she was pretty sure they were called fingers, which seemed so awkward and useless. What she wouldn’t give for her horn back.

Looking back into the mirror it suddenly clicked what she looked like.

“I look like Scorpan.”

With that realisation everything flooded back to Twilight; the attack on the Crystal Empire, the mysterious Scorpan, the capture of Shiny and Cadence, then some kind of magical bubble...

“And now I’m here.” She finished her thought out loud; what was going on? Where had Scorpan ended up, was he in this mysterious place too? If so, she should stop him as soon as possible.

“No time for dilly dallying, I need to stop him now.” Twilight quickly made to rush out of her room.

It only took a few seconds for her to realise that she had just heard her mother. She was in a completely unfamiliar world, didn’t look like herself and wasn’t even the same species anymore, and yet still she evidently had the same mother.

What in Equestria is going on here?

“Hey Twiley, do you need a lift to school? I can drop you off, I’m taking some stuff to Cadence’s place anyway.”

Twilight immediately sprinted into the hallway; standing there was another of these strange creatures, but it had white skin and... a very familiar hair colour of three different shades of blue.

“S-Shiny?” Twilight stammered.

“Last I checked.” Shining Armour replied, raising an eyebrow. “Anyway do you want a- woah, hey Twiley, calm down!” Shining Armour nearly fell backwards as he found himself pulled into a crushing hug by Twilight.

“Oh Shiny, I’m so glad you’re okay! Wait, did you say you’re moving stuff to Cadence’s house?” Twilight asked, eyes wide with hope.

“Umm, yeah... you tend to do that when you move in with someone Twiley.” Shining Armour grinned at his ever excitable sister.

“Let’s go! Can I see her, please!” Even though she had no idea where they were, Twilight knew she had to see Cadence; seeing Shining Armour alive and well had felt like a physical weight lifted from her shoulders.

Maybe this won’t be so bad. Twilight thought as she followed her BBBFF down stairs. I mean after all, what’s the worst Scorpan could be doing?

**********

“Ow, my head. Stupid filly, if I find her I’ll saw that blasted horn off.” Scorpan grumbled to himself as he picked himself off the floor, his head pounding.

“Hey Scorpan, what happened? You fall off the couch again you klutz?” The moment he heard the energetic, teasing voice, Scorpan froze, disbelieving his own ears.

“Well get up you dope.” He felt a pillow hit him lightly in the head. “We can’t be late again or Dad’ll flip out.” Scorpan only saw a pair of pink skinned feet move across the floor before the door slammed shut.

“Was that- no! No Scorpan, no spell can resurrect the dead.” He berated himself before hauling himself back to his feet. He noticed that his clothes had also changed, his blue longcoat had been replaced by a blue hooded sweatshirt and a pair of jeans.

Well, better than arriving naked. He decided before following the girl out of the room, which he could see now looked to be a living room.

“Scorpan, you’re late!” The yell made Scorpan flinch on instinct, the pre-emptive fear meaning it took a moment for him to fully register the voice.

“D-Dad?”

“Who else, now haul your lazy ass off to school. Looks like you didn’t even have time to wash again. Hey, can you help this slob look presentable?” A large man sitting at the dining table demanded of someone behind Scorpan.

Scorpan’s father was a rather slobbish fellow himself, a noticeable beer belly threatening to pop the buttons of his shirt along with a mop of greasy hair the same colour as his sons’

Like he ever needed to be dressed up for anything... No! Stop it you idiot, this isn’t your home, does this look like a castle to you? Scorpan mentally berated himself as he felt someone drag a comb through his hair from behind.

“Geez, what did you do to your hair this morning, wash it with with glue?” The brusher complained as she battled with Scorpan’s short but stubbornly uncombable hair.

“Oh shut it Firefly.” Scorpan snapped. His eyes widened in shock as he fully comprehended what he said, purely out of instinct.

“Well tsk tsk!” The girl behind him muttered teasingly. “Fine then, you can go looking like you were dragged through a hedge backwards, save Hoops and Dumbbell the trouble.”

Who?

“Or will you just cower until Big Mac saves you again?”

I repeat, who?

“Well, might as well get going, see you whenever Dad!” Firefly called over shoulder as she physically dragged Scorpan from the room.

Scorpan wasn’t fully aware of his feet dragging along the floor, eyes fixated on the teenaged girl tugging him along. There was no doubt it was her; sure she looked human but even looking at her all Scorpan could see was the energetic, constantly adventuring Pegasus he had been so proud to call his friend.

Tears threatened to leak out as he finally accepted that yes, in one way or another, this was indeed Firefly before him.

Oh Firefly. If you could see me now, the real you, would you still accept me? After everything I’ve done, would you still call yourself my friend. Is this you or some cruel trick? Could it be that I was wrong, that there is someway to bring you back?

Scorpan finally stopped letting Firefly drag him along and scrambled onto his own two feet; given the backpack on Firefly was carrying and the bus stop they were headed for, it seemed a fair guess that they were supposed to be going to a school.

Good, at least it’ll give me time to get my head on straight.

Scorpan stopped at the bus stop with Firefly. Even as he racked his brain for possible explanations for all this, he couldn’t stop himself staring, just to make sure she was real; same comforting pink hue, same light purple hair falling over her shoulders, the only thing that was different was... well, she certainly wasn’t a Pegasus anymore.

This is bizarre, what did that stupid mare do? How did I end up here? And where exactly is here?

Scorpan decided right there what his first course of action would be; Twilight Sparkle had been caught in the Crowns mysterious spell just as he had, it was possible that she had been sent to this strange world just as he had. Surely in this circumstance, the most sensible solution was to work together to get back home?

Scorpan snuck another look back at Firefly.

That’s assuming I want to leave of course.

************

In a large room, made entirely of crystal as was the rest of the palace, two beds had been erected in the centre; the two figures lying in the beds had remained utterly immobile since they had been moved from what was left of the throne room.

Around Twilight’s bed sat a bizarre collection of guests, five ponies, a baby dragon and even Princess Celestia herself were all sat, apprehensive and desperate for any sign of the Mare awakening.

Across from them lay the limp form of Scorpan, belts across his chest and arms pinning him in case he suddenly awoke; around his bed, a brown stallion poked at his body with what looked to the others like a glowing metal stick; whatever he was doing was evidently telling him something, as every now and then he would nod or give a quiet noise of acknowledgement.

“Ditzy, are you sure The Doctor knows what he’s doing?” Rainbow Dash asked the grey, wall eyed Pegasus who had been sat staring at the Doctor for the last hour.

“Hmm?” It took a moment for Ditzy to tear one of her eyes away from the Doctor. “Oh I’m so sure Dashie, the Doctor has seen all the wonders of the world and a lot of other neat things too and he always helps people! He’ll make Twilight all better soon.”

“It might not be that simple Ditzy.” The Doctor spoke for the first time in his distinctive Trottingham accent. “These two,” he nodded at Twilight and Scorpan, “are showing the exact same brain readings, the exact same vital signs, the same responses to outside stimuli like a jammy dodger and when I bring this thing,” he held up the crown that had been found with Scorpan and Twilight, “anywhere near them it starts humming and tries to poke your eye out.”

“Umm, why does it do that?” Ditzy asked, confused by the last description.

“I’m not sure; personally I think it’s trying to force it’s way onto someone elses head to make them join these two.”

“But then why does it poke you in the eye?”

“I’m not sure. I was thinking maybe it’s just not a very clever crown.” The Doctor shrugged.

“Please continue your work Doctor Whooves.” Celestia was barely paying their conversation any heed, never taking her attention off her sickly student.

Twilight, what has happened to you? Are you okay? Will you ever wake up? Please tell me you are not in any pain, that I have not put you in harms way...
“Sister, you summoned me?” All heads turned to the doorway, where Princess Luna stood in her full royal regalia, a concerned expression on her face quickly becoming one of confused upset as she spied the two beds.

“Indeed Luna.” Celestia beckoned her sister to join her at Twilights bedside with her wing. “Twilight is under the effects of an unknown spell, along with this creature.” Celestia nodded to Scorpan. “I believe you may be our best hope to awaken them.”

Luna looked puzzled for a moment but soon understood what Celestia was suggesting.

“Ah I see, you would suggest that I-”

“Yes indeed Luna.” Celestia had returned her gaze to her student. “I believe your dream wandering abilities will be most useful in this situation.”

Author's Note

Comments are magic people. Likes are appreciated, criticism and praise in comment form is adored.

Chapter 3: Face To Face

Twilight Sparkle had seen many things in her life that had seemed impossible; she had gone hoof to hoof with a mad goddess, battled the embodiment of chaos itself and saved an entire empire from an ancient tyrant.

After all of that, it would take more than this to surprise her, more than everypony suddenly not being everypony anymore and this bizarre... thing Shining Armour was driving. She guessed that it was the same as a chariot but must run off of magic instead of being pulled by ponies.

The house they pulled to was very expensive looking and the garden alone looked like it probably saw a lot of love and attention everyday to look as good as it did, roses of all colours growing in the garden along with countless other flowers she didn’t know.

It seems peaceful enough. She supposed. It’s not like when Discord changed Ponyville, everything still makes some sense and everypony acts like themselves. What the hay did Scorpan do, did he plan this?

“I’ll just drop the stuff in and then drop you off Twiley. Unless you want to see Cadence first?” Shining Armour asked as he parked.

Twilight jumped. She had been lost in her own thoughts as they leisurely drove along.

“Yes.” Twilight answered Shining Armour. “I mean, yeah, I’d love to see her.”

Shining Armour gave her an odd look but smiled again when he saw the genuine excitement in Twilights’ eyes.

Just please let her be the Cadence I know, Celestia knows I could use something else familiar right now.

**************

“Hey, what’s wrong with them? Why are they so upset?” Scorpan had so far been doing his best to ignore the loud and obnoxious occupants of the bus but the two girls two seats forward had been grabbing his attention; one, with purple and pink hair, was comforting her friend with a shock of blue and white hair though both of them had tears in their eyes.

Scorpan yelped as Firefly hit him.

“Keep it down. Do you really think anyone on here wants to be reminded of that?” Firefly hissed.

“Okay first, ouch. Second, what do you mean?” Scorpan whispered back.
Firefly made a visible effort not to groan in exasperation.

“Sometimes Scorpan I honestly wonder if you are that forgetful or just plain stupid.”

“Less berate the Scorpan more explain to the Scorpan please.” Scorpan snapped.

“Fine you dope, their friend is missing! Happy?” Firefly retorted, visibly upset.

Scorpan’s eyes widened.

“Wait, what do you mean missing?”

Firefly sighed sadly.

“How else does anyone go missing around here these days? They reckon she fell in with a bad crowd.” Firefly’s fists clenched as she spoke.

“Do you mean-”

“Yeah, they reckon she ended up involved with the Witchweed, and she was such a nic- Scorpan what the hell is the matter with you?” Firefly growled, for at the mention of Witchweed Scorpan had recoiled in his seat, mismatched eyes as wide as saucers.

“W-W-What did you just say?” Scorpan stammered out as he settled himself back down, well aware of the various stares he was getting.

“Witchweed. Come on Scorpan, even you can’t have forgotten about something as big as that and it’s not like it’s anything new, unfortunately.” Firefly shook her head as she continued to watch the two friends with a sympathetic look.

That isn’t possible. Scorpan forced himself to think. It’s a coincidence, you’re reading too much into it, so what if people stupid enough to fry their own brains exist in other worlds, that doesn’t mean anything.

He knew he was lying to himself. But it didn’t matter; if he had any say in this he’d be long gone before he had time to find out first hand.

The important thing is not to go looking for her. I’m many things but I’m not a fool.

“Earth to Scorpan, we’re here already, get your lazy butt off the bus!” Firefly rolled her eyes and hauled Scorpan to his feet.

“You know your first instinct doesn’t need to be to drag me behind you Firefly.” It still felt odd for that name to be coming from him so freely.

“Well it does when you seem like you forgot your feet this morning. I’ll see you later anyway, Spitfire looked ready to use my head for football practice last time I was late and I don’t plan to risk it, later!” Firefly ran off into the school before Scorpan could respond.

The school building was a garish yellow that stood out horribly from the pleasant green of the field behind it, where Scorpan could see some kids had set up improvised football goals and other activities for themselves.

“Hey freakshow!” Called a voice that just screamed “muscle headed moron” to Scorpan.

And lo and behold. Scorpan groaned in his head as he saw the two hulking figures blocking his path. Hoops and Dumbbell I guess then.

****************

“Twilight!” Twilight couldn’t help but smile as she heard the familiar voice of her friends. Even with their strange new appearances, it was so wonderful to see Rainbow Dash and Rarity, waiting for her by the sign which declared “Welcome to Equestria High”.

“Twilight come on!” Rainbow Dash continued, pulling on Twilights arm. “There’s a fight on the field and I can’t pass up an opportunity to see Hoops and Dumbbell get their butts handed to them!”

“With all due respect dear, how likely do you really think that is considering who they’re picking on even ignoring that the odds are in their favour?” Rarity asked with a roll of her eyes.

“Doesn’t matter, I’ll take any chance now hurry up! Applejack said that Scorpan actually fought back for once!”

“Wait, who?” Twilight demanded.

“Scorpan. You know, tall, weird eye, Firefly’s step-brother? Come on Twilight, you’re slow today.” Rainbow Dash responded without turning around only to be slammed out of the way by a sprinting Twilight. “Woah, what’s with her?”

Twilight muttered apologies as she zoomed past students, knocking books out of hands and barging people out of the way as she went. Before long she came to the edge of a large crowd that had formed near the school field.

“Hey Twilight, ya seen Rainbow Dash anywhere? Ah told her there was a scuffle goin’ on, figured she’d be wantin’ to see it.”
“On, her, way.” Twilight panted, out of breath from her run. “Can we get through the crowd in any way?”

“Surely can.” Applejack smirked. “Hey Big Mac!”

Twilight wheeled around, along with most of the crowd, to search for Applejacks big brother but was pulled back by Applejack with no sign of the larger apple sibling.

“Told ya Ah could get you upfront.” Applejack had indeed managed to push both of them to the front of the crowd in the confusion.

Twilight inhaled and narrowed her eyes as they landed on Scorpan; his yellow eye no longer seemed snake like but otherwise it was undoubtedly him. He had hisfists raised and his knees bent slightly in what seemed like a defensive pose while he was glaring at two large, jock looking boys with their own fists raised. They reminded Twilight distinctly of the Pegasus bullies who had taunted Rainbow Dash at the Best Young Flier competition.

“Come on freak, you gonna throw a punch or what?” The taller of the two jocks taunted.

“Yeah tell him Dumbbell!” The other sniggered.

Scorpan for his part looked more annoyed than intimidated. “I’ll let you decide which one of your faces I break first then.” As both jocks scoffed at the threat Scorpan’s fist lashed out, sinking his knuckles into Dumbbell’s face. There was a horrible crack as his nose broke.

“Hey get off my friend!” Hoops swung clumsily at Scorpan, who side stepped the jock’s punch and grabbed him by the wrist, twisting his arm painfully behind his back. Hoops yelped in pain and Scorpan brought his elbow down onto his head; Hoops crumpled to the floor and didn’t get up again.

Scorpan turned slowly to face the now silent crowd. Almost instantly his eyes found Twilight.

“You and me. We need to talk.”

****************

It appalled Twilight to see that the Equestria High Library was so empty but given the circumstances she wasn’t about to complain; she already had doubts about simply “talking” with Scorpan after everything she had seen him do but if either of them was overheard there would be awkward questions.

Scorpan led her to one of the library’s tables near the back of the room and sat down. Twilight took the seat opposite him, scowling at the mismatched eyes of Scorpan.

“Okay Twilight I know you are powerful but how the hell did you do this?” Scorpan whispered.

Twilight only scowled further.

“What do you mean what I did?” She hissed back. “It was your stupid crown thingy that hit us with that spell, why don’t you tell me what the hay is going on?”

“You really think I had anything to do with that?” Scorpan scoffed. “I’ve got no magic of my own Twilight, all I had is a bag of magic tricks, any magic sending us to who knows where is on you.”

Twilight didn’t respond instead thinking back to the moment where the crown had activated.

“Scorpan, what was that crown and what was it supposed to do?” She asked.

“None of your business.” Scorpan snapped immediately.

“Twilight crossed her arms and glared daggers at Scorpan.

“This isn’t the time to be petty Scorpan, you can bluff and swagger all you like but in the end you’re just as lost as me here, so pull your head out of the sand and tell me what the hay you were doing in the Crystal Empire!” Twilight slapped a hand over her mouth, realising she had raised her voice considerably. Scorpan quickly glanced around but still there seemed to be no one nearby to overhear them.

“Look Twilight this isn’t about being ‘petty’, trust me if I even told you why I did what I did you probably wouldn’t believe it anyway. Besides I need you to actually help me, what good does scaring you stupid do for me?” Scorpan retorted, raising an eyebrow as Twilight laughed mockingly.

“Me? ‘Scared’? Scorpan, I have faced down the Princess of the Night herself driven mad with power, I have been put through Tartarus by the living embodiment of chaos and lived to fight another day, risked everything I had to save my brother on his wedding day while stopping an invasion and then I was entrusted to save an entire empire from an ancient tyrant. I did all that long before I became an alicorn, so don’t you dare assume that I’m some weak filly scared of the Headless Horse and hiding under my pillow!” Twilight had raised her voice again and for the first time Scorpan’s face had changed; he looked somewhere between impressed and bemused.

Scorpan looked into the young girls eyes and saw the same determination and valor he had once seen so often in the eyes of Firefly. He sighed and hesitated before speaking again.

“Fine then. I still don’t think you’re going to be able to just sweep it away like you think you’re going to.” Twilight nodded for him to continue. “But you’ve earned the right to at least know why I did what I did.”

“Enlighten me.” Twilight deadpanned.

Scorpan visibly bit back a retort then continued.

“I think I need to start from the beginning for you to understand...”