Ruined Canterlot

“Are ya sure this is the right one.”

“I’m perfectly sure, what other ponies have such horrid hair?”

“Well, there was this one DJ I knew.”

“Is this her?”

“No.”

“Then shut up.”

These unknown voices kept in conversation as Trixie regained consciousness. She was still groggy from the strike to the head, and her vision was fuzzy.

“Looks like the blue one’s awake.” The second voice said.

Trixie slowly stood up only to be pulled down by a chain hooked to her back left hoof, causing her to fall back to the ground. She tried again trying to pull the chain off. Though because she wasn’t quite awake, she pulled the wrong way and the hook tore her leg. This caused her to come to her senses instantly.

“AGH! WHERE AM I!?”

“You’re in Canterlot castle, so be a be a good mare and be quiet.”

“The Great Trixie will not be quiet until she gets her explanation!”

A rough hoof was bashed into her face. Causing her snout to begin to bleed.

“I SAID BE QUIET!”

Trixie was quiet from then on.

About ten minutes passed when a door opened and two figures walked in. One tall and one short. The two guards stood at attention as soon as they heard the door open.

“SIR, PUFF, SIR” They shouted in unison.

“Inform me of the situation.”

The first one spoke “We found two unicorns walking in the slums. What seems like a showmare and her.”

“HER!? Are you certain?”

The second one spoke, “Positive sir, she matched the description perfectly. And, what ponies have such horrid hair?”

Trixie overheard the conversation clearly, but due to lack of light, she couldn’t see any of the four figures. The guards and the new figure, who seemed to be named Puff, continued to talk. About three or so minutes after they arrived, the fourth figure stepped into the light. It was a face she had seen before. A face from Ponyville.

“Trixie?” The face inquired.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Sweetie Belle, I’m Rarity’s sister.”

“Rarity?”

“You know, marshmallow coat, purple mane.”

“I don’t seem to recall. Who are you again?”

“My name is Sweetie Belle, lone crusader.”

“Crusader?”

“I don’t want to talk about it..”

“And why do I feel like I know you?”

“I’m from Ponyville. I live with my sister, Rarity.”

“And-”

“Just shhhh. I’m gonna help you out of here.”

A new deep voice, belonging to the changeling general, answered before Trixie could. “Oh are you now?”

Just then, a unicorn with an electric blue mane was thrown in the room. A grey earth pony quickly followed.

“We found some more ponies to use for the machine.” Another changeling walked in.

“Put them over here.” Puff pointed towards the hooks next to Trixie. “Now then,” He turned back to Sweetie Belle, “What is this, helping out of here?”

“I-err-erm..” Sweetie was having trouble answering the intimidating general.

“She wanted to use me as bait to lure out the remaining ponies in Canterlot.” Trixie answered for her.

“Is this true? If it is, then I’ll have to congratulate you Sweetie Belle. Seems like a fine idea, discluding the fact that we are a race of shapeshifters.”

Oops.. Trixie didn’t think that one through.

Just then, sounds of agony came from the door.

Sweetie looked up, “What’s that?”

“What!? There’s no way they could’ve found us!” Puff turned and knocked the door off its hinges, with teeth barred. He didn’t get very far as he was thrown back into the room by a burst of purple magic.

“BY ORDER OF CELESTIA, ALL CHANGELINGS IN THE VICINITY OF CANTERLOT MUST BE ELIMINATED!”

Trixie perked up, for she knew that voice. It was..

“TWILIGHT! SHE CAME FOR US!”

“Erm, Sweetie Belle. Could you unhook me, and perhaps those other ponies over there.”

“OH! Okay.”

As Sweetie Belle unhooked everyone, Puff got up. He seemed to have grown in size, being buffer and taller. He also had a crooked horn the size of a filly’s.

“You want fight fire with fire? I’ll give you fire!” Puff shot a burst of flame through the door. When the flame died out, he ran out ready to fight.

Screams rang out from the adjacent room as all the prisoner ponies in the room were freed.

“Where do we go?” Sweetie Belle asked.’

“I know, but first let’s introduce ourselves to these two. I’m Trixie Lulamoon, this young filly is Sweetie Belle, you are?”

“Name’s Vinyl Scratch.”

“You may call me Octavia.”

“Okay, this way. They have a friend of mine in this room.”

“Wait, what makes you think we’re going with you? How do we know you’re not a changeling?”

“Vinyl..”

“No, I want proof she’s not a changeling!”

“Well, my back left hoof is bleeding, and my snout is covered in dried blood. Changelings don’t bleed pony blood when transformed. And the filly, changelings can’t turn into young ponies.

“Seems well enough, and why should we follow you? Especially after the filly came in with the general, without getting thrown in.”

Sweetie spoke then, “Yeah, why should we follow you?”

“You should follow me because we want to get out alive, we have to have strength in numbers. Which means we all travel together, and trust each other.” Trixie was done with being Great and Powerful. She lost her hat, and her cape was torn to bits, and after getting kicked around by the guards she knew she couldn’t stand up to the changelings alone. “So, unless you have further questions. Please, follow me.”

Vinyl nodded, turned to Octavia and said, “I guess she’s right. You down Octy?”

Octavia nodded. “I guess I have no choice. Let’s go.”

The four trotted down the hall into the room that held Glistening Rainbow.

When they arrived, she was tied on all four hooves, and there was a hook around her horn. When the door opened she yelled out,

“I’M NOT GOING TO HELP WITH YOUR SPELL, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!”

Trixie and the others flinched at the sudden outburst. Without a word, Trixie began untying her, and used her magic to break the spell on the hook.

While working around her, Trixie noticed that Glistening Rainbow was blindfolded. She started to undo the knot in the back.

“NO! PLEASE!”

Trixie spoke up then. “I’m here to help you out, and eye for an eye you see. You save me and I save you.”

When the knot came undone, everyone in the room gasped.

“Oh my Celestia.” Octavia was the first to speak.

“An eye for an eye indeed.” Said Vinyl, earning a hoof from Octavia.

Sweetie Belle merely looked away.

When the blindfold came off, everyone in the room saw what had happened to Glistening Rainbow.

The General had cut out her left eye.