Could Be a...

Chapter 27 – By mind and body

A high pitched magical chime bounces to the room as Sparky rapidly blinks his eyes to the white stone floor he lays on. However, before his mind could uncover the reason he's been laying on the ground, or how long he's been laying on the ground..

"Sparky are you okay?" A crystal hoof comes to Sparky's side as the mare next to hims tries to bring the stallion to his hooves.

Sparky's mind still lays dormant from the magic as he just speaks up, "Why are you here?"

Starlight blinks too his comment as her voice takes on a more confused and quicker paced tone, "What am I doing here? What are you doing here? And where's Violet she never came to school today?"

The name snaps Sparky's mind back to it's panic as his wings flare out, "Violet!" Sparky gallops himself towards the window as he flings it open.

"Wait!" Starlight's horn sparks up as her magic wraps to Sparky's tail, "What's going on?"

The stallion struggles to the hold on his tail as he runs his voice up, "Changelings! The archives, I need to get over there."

"Sparky you're not making any sense." Starlight slowly starts to lower the hold to the stallion's tail as she tries to think over the comment, but the weaker hold brings Sparky out of the door as he pulls a little mane from his tail. Starlight only sees a glimpse of the stallion as she gallops towards the window, "Wait Sparky!?"

No answer comes from the stallion as she's just left to stare out over the city's empty sky.

Sparky's flight over the city of Canterlot is fueled by both fear, anger and determination. Every flap of the wing sends a chill of air over his heating body, below the young pegasus there trots hundreds of ponies just rolling on through their daily routine.

The flight has been held at the fastest speed the young pegasus has ever managed, but even as the castle's tall towers start to come into view he still feels as if he's not moving at all.

"HEY!"

The deep stallions voice a little behind him snaps Sparky's locked gaze as he turns to an armored pegasus flying a little behind him, "You are flying into restricted airspace, stop your flight!"

Sparky ignores the order for the moment as the castle's courtyard comes within a few flaps of himself, but he slowly starts to descend his flight as he comes down in front of the castle's lowered drawbridge.

Just as he sets his panting body to the ground the stallion behind him comes next to him, "What are you doing?"

Despite the stallion's commanding voice Sparky trots a little closer towards the courtyard's entrance until the unicorn in front blocks him.

"I asked you a question." The pegasus comes in front of Sparky as he holds his hard eyed gaze.

Sparky's voice is panting and his heart racing along with his mind with the thought of stopping being the wrong thing to do, "T-there are changelings in the Canterlot archives."

The words squint the pegasus's eyes a little more as he looks over the young stallion in front of him, "Son have you been experimenting with any moon dust lately?"

"YOU have to listen to me!" Sparky's own raised voice and hard tone strikes the young stallion as foreign as he just stares to the pegasus that now takes a step forward.

"I think you need to come with me."

Sparky swallows hard as he feels the warmth coming to his wings, however before he follow through with his unplanned attempt at being a hero a voice comes up.

"What's going on here?"

The two stallions turn to a slightly larger stallion as the unicorn at the gate speaks up, "Nothing sir, just a crazed pony."

Sparky looks over the older stallion as he takes a step closer, "There's changelings in the archives!"

The stallion just blinks to Sparky as he gives a little, "Hm..."

Sparky's comment has brought the pegasus's hoof over his back as he presses his wings down a little, "Don't worry sir, we'll take care of this."

A faint pained groan comes from Sparky as the magic to his wings is chased away from his body.

The larger stallion brings his hoof up as he rings his voice out, "Now now, there doesn't need to be any problem here."

"Sir?"

"If this young stallion believes there to be changelings in the archives we should prove him wrong." A faint chuckle comes up from the stallion as he continues, "Otherwise it will only be a matter of time before rumors of a conspiracy begin to spread."

The two younger guards just blink to the comment as the stallion beacons his hoof to Sparky, "I'll take him."

"But sir-..."

The stallion cuts the voice off as he looks over the young and shrimpy looking light orange stallion in front of him, "I don't believe i'll have a problem."

"Yes sir..." The hoof around Sparky's wings is removed as Sparky starts to bring himself a little closer to the large stallion on the bridge.

"Now, time to see these changelings right?" The stallion brings his trot up just as Sparky brings himself next to him. The slower trot is nerve racking to say the least, but Sparky doesn't break away from the unicorn knowing that if he did the whole castle would come alive.

The dome building starts to come into view down the slightly winding path, Sparky swallows to the building's sight as he turns to the large stallion.

But no emotion is shown to his face as his eyes just lock to the building, however Sparky's gaze turns the stallion's head as he speaks up, "Don't wander off now." The stallion's horn comes up with a faint blue glow as the door to the Canterlot archives comes open.

Sparky is the first to trot inside as he quickly runs his eyes around the inside of the building, but nothing but the smell of dust and the sight of old books or scrolls comes to his senses.

The sound of the door closing behind Sparky brings only the dim light of archives as the only source of light.

"I think you've seen enough." Sparky turns his head back to the smiling stallion as he notices the stallions darkening coat.

Sparky's eyes widen as he quickly snaps his wings into action as he shoots up towards the height of the dome building. The moment he moved a bolt of magic has rushed towards the floor where Sparky once stood.

The magic that has just slammed into the pony-less floor now brings a shriek from the sleek black and smaller sized changeling that now stands where the guard unicorn once stood. "EkkkRRR!"

The high pitched screech turns Sparky as he quickly flaps his wings hard towards the screaming changeling.

The boom of Sparky's orange magic throws the books and scrolls from the shelves where the changeling stood.

But the hard to aim bolt of magic missed it's target as the shining blue eyes of the changeling turns to Sparky with a smile. A sickening sound of flesh breaking runs through the room as the unicorn changeling arches it's back to reveal dark black bug like wings.

Before Sparky can muster another bolt of magic the changeling has lunged itself into dust filled air as it's fangs direct towards the light orange pegasus.

Sparky quickly and successfully dodges the poorly flying changing, but the miss of it's target does little to stop the nimble little bug pony as it quickly kicks it legs to the ceiling of the dome to jet itself faster towards Sparky.

The unforgiving bright blue eyes of the changeling pierce through Sparky's ability to drum up any concentration for a spell, instead Sparky just cocks his rear legs back.

"EeEekkkkrrRRR-Er..." The ear pounding shriek is cut from the dorm room as Sparky's hooves connect full force to the changeling's body.

Sparky's now pointed down wings lose their balance as he falls to the book cluttered ground. The changeling fares much worse as it's sent knocking into another tightly packed bookshelf, it's impact topples over most of the dusty items on it as the changeling is buried in a mound of scrolls, books and random objects.

Sparky just pants to the ceiling of the room as he lays where he landed, however with a faint groan he brings himself to his hooves as he scans the room. With no idea where to go in the maze of packed bookshelves he brings himself up again as he tries to look around the room for any hints as to where to go.

The young stallion brings himself to the middle of the room as he hover’s under the light rendering glass dome center.

However knowing that his friend couldn't even scream up to tell him anything starts to pound to Sparky’s head as he just looks around the room. Sparky continues to scan between the hallways of books as he turns himself, but just as he gets to the last row he notices something.

Opposite of the entrance down the corridor of bookshelves the young stallion's eyes lock to an indent in the wall.

Sparky's wings quickly start up as he rushes himself through the building, it only takes him a moment to adjust his flight as he angles himself down the straight shot staircase. However the moment he reaches the bottom of the stairs the stallion's wings lock as he slides to the hard stone ground he now crashes into.

A faint groan comes up from Sparky as a voice rings out to the room, "Tell me Sparky, when did you decide you where the hero?"

The sound of hooves echo to the room a little as the chime of magic holds to Sparky's wings, a faint feminine laugh comes up as a white coated and blond maned mare comes in front of Sparky, "...I mean really? You did not even bring somepony with you?"

The mare shakes her head as she clicks her tongue, "Very foolish." Her green eyes turn from Sparky as she nods.

From the nod of the mare the warmth of magic that has bound Sparky's wings now grows to his body as he is pulled to his hooves by the unicorn changeling that's standing against the entrance.

As Sparky's brought to his hooves he looks around the room, the room is dark with only a few lights, around the mostly empty area there sits hundreds of wooden crates stacked atop each other. However Sparky's eyes only roll around the room for a moment as he locks to the unmoved light purple mare that stands in the middle of the cleared area with green shining eyes.

"Violet!"

The word does nothing to Violet as the white mare trots in front of Sparky's eye sight, "Please don't speak."

A band of magic comes to Sparky's muzzle as the mare takes a deep breath, "Perfect... Now we're was I." Her trot directs to one of the stacks of crates as she carefully reads the labels on them.

Sparky watches in his forced silence as the mare's horn sparks up to pull one of the crates out from under the others, the tumble of the other heavy wooden boxes does little to change the mare's voice as she speaks up, "There we are...Pre-Celestia objects."

The mare's horn glows bright again as the box's lid is broke off of the top. Her head dips a little into the crate as the glow of her horn brings out an old silver looking crown. The crown has a faint green rim of tarnish around it and most of the what looked like colorful gems have fallen off, but despite it's desperate looking condition the mare's smile holds as she lets out a wicked little giggle, "Hello mother."

The mare gives a little sigh as she hoovers the crown a little ways in front of Violet. "I beat you are wondering why the changelings are not after the Elements of Harmony or the Heart Sombra so coveted." Her happy but regal tone holds as she trots away from where Violet stands, "...There's a simple answer really, sometimes there's just more important things than power."

The smile holds as she takes her spot off to the side of the changeling that still holds Sparky, "The crown however... You just have to know your history." As the words end her horn sparks up in a bright green glow as she speaks up, "Violet if you please."

Her words and horn have straightened Violet's posture as the light purple mare's horn starts up in a heavy blue glow.

Sparky watches the dirty crown on the ground quickly being wrapped in the blue magic as it just lays dormant to the ground. However the motionless crown only sparks Violet's horn up more as the ear pounding chime of magic starts to turn into a faint green color.

The crown now starts to wiggle a little as the few gems on it start to glow a little.

But Violet's magic is still not enough as the mare beside Sparky sparks her horn up, "More!" The words continue to deepen Violet's magic as her mane and tail begin to take on a duller color.

Sparky's eyes hold to his friend as he watches her body trembling from the magic to her horn, as the young stallion continues to listen to the ear pounding magic he closes his eyes as he just tries to focus on a spell.

The crown now begins to rattle as Violet's stance starts to falter, to the sound Sparky's wings flare up breaking the bound of magic as he turns towards the two changelings behind him with a hard and thunderous clap of his wings.

The white mare's smile fades from her face as the wall of orange magic is rushed to them, without question the magic slams into them as the two changelings are knocked to the ground.

Just as the mare falls to the ground Violet's magic stops and the green shine of her eyes are flushed from sight.

Violet quickly turns her head around the room as she struggles to stand, however as her panicked look to place herself comes to an end she stares to the light orange pegasus. As she looks over her friend her eyes lock to the sparks of orange magic that continue to zap between the stallion's feathers.

Sparky's voice is weak as he speaks up, "hi violet.."

Before Violet can take a step towards her friend the chime of magic that still runs in front of her now pops as the room takes on a sickly green glow.

"Ahh...I thought that magic was familiar, hello Violeta."

Violet and Sparky both turn there heads to the tall frail sickly looking pony in front of them. The light blue wings on her back look like nothing more than shreds of light blue bug skin, her coat's dull black is riddled with boils of shining dark green and her fangs have a faint slime to them that drip to the floor. However, her oval shaped eyes bring an uncanny fear to the two young ponies as they just stare to the thing from the stories they both heard.

The white mare slowly drags herself up from the wall behind Violet and Sparky as she speaks up, "Mother..."

Her words turn Chrysalis’s head as she looks over the white mare, "Mother?" The sickly green slime rolls from her teeth as she continues, "How dare you say that to me when you hid your beauty under that coat and mane!"

The mare is stunned to the words as she takes a step from the wall, "B-but."

"Why have you taken so long to bring me back to this world!" Chrysalis’s voice echos around the room as Violet starts to spark her horn up. However her horn does little to the dark mare as she turns her eyes to her with an unamused smile.

"We did not know how to bring you back." Before Chrysalis can bring her voice up her head comes back to the white mare that has continued to trot forward, "And why have you brought me back?"

The mare's voice is still weak as she leans to one side but she speaks up as she bows, "We wish the mother to lead us into freedom."

Chrysalis scoffs to the comment as she continues, "Then we must have the Elements of Harmony!"

"No. Celestia hunts us. Do you not see that our fighting only hurts our own?" The mare's words bring an angry response for the weak dark mare as she sways, "Equestria belongs to me! Our victory will bring our freedom!"

The white mare shakes her head as she speaks up, "We wish for your guidance in helping us blend in with the others."

For a moment no response comes from Chrysalis as she just blinks to the mare in front of her, "You would suggest our perfection to be tainted with inter breeding!? I see that my return should have come sooner!" Her eyes glow a brighter green as the other changeling quickly springs to it's hooves and wraps the mare in a magical hold, "Our revenge will be swift and clear."

Chrysalis turns her head to Violet as she sparks her jagged horn up, "Starting with my revenge."

Before Chrysalis can even manage a spell Violet has sent a bright blue bolt of magic crashing into her, "AH!!" Chrysalis’s weak body stammers to the frost that now has coated her side.

Violet's assault doesn't stops though as her horn sparks up again, however the bolt's magic is missed as the changeling holding the white mare lets go and charges into Violet.

As the magical hold over The Countess is lost he r horn sparks up as her body is clouded in the shine of her magic, her body disappears with a pop with the end of her teleportation spell, just as Sparky brings his wings up.

The room fills with the quick clash of orange magic to the the changeling's frame followed by a blue bolt of magic to Chrysalis’s body.

The dark mare falls to her front leg, but she doesn't stay down long as a wall of green magic stems from her horn as Violet, Sparky and the other changeling are all knocked to their backs, Chrysalis’s hold her sharp eyes to the light purple mare as she speaks up, "I will not be defeated again Vi-..."

The room's dim lighting is quickly chased away as a bright whitish blue light runs to the room, Violet and Sparky both squint their eyes to the dark mare in front of them as she screams out in a pained voice.

Just as the chime of magic reaches its apex the light purple mare closes her eyes as she tries to block out the bright magic.

"...Are you two okay?"

The slightly lispy voice snaps Violet's eyes open as she slowly picks herself up from the ground, all the while never taking her eyes off of the dark blue princess in front of her.

Luna shifts her head between where Sparky and Violet both stand from as she speaks up, "Your friend Starlight told us where to find you."

Violet doesn't spark her hooves up as she gives a simple nod, the light purple mare's mane has lost a little bit of it's color, her face and her coat is caked with dirt and dust along with a few cuts but the worst of her problems is in her body as she's left feeling completely drained. As the light purple mare brings her stance up Sparky comes to her side as she leans to him to get her balance.

Sparky's coat has fared no better on cuts and bruises, but the pegasus still has some of his strength.

Luna holds her eyes to the two ponies for the moment as she steps aside from the staircase, "Please go to the castle, we will make sure you two will be looked after while we sort this out."

Sparky nods to the comment as he directs Violet's trot up the stairs.

As the two young ponies move from her sight she turns to one of the guard ponies next to her, "Could you send a letter to our sister."

End of chapter 27