Change Up

The city of Vanhoover was pristine, to say the least. Set below a large crag just outside the city, it was sheltered from the sunrise in the east until the day was almost half over. Perhaps the most distinct feature of the city are the cherry trees that grow ever so tall, providing the city with sweet fruits from summer to late autumn.

But Princess Celestia was not here for the view. She was here for a more indispensable matter. There had been an urgent call for help on behalf of the Mayor, but no description of the problem had been given in the slightest way.

The Princess trotted off the train as it departed from the station. She carefully paced down from the boarding platform and brushed herself off. Then, she advanced to the Mayor's office, located in the bustling city square.

Celestia would have stopped to admire the elegance put into this great city--the two colossal stone fountains that sat directly in the center, the dazzling modern architecture of the buildings, even the sleek shape of the city made it seem perfect.

Too perfect.

In fact, so perfect that it seemed strange, strange enough for her to--

"Excuse me, are you Princess Celestia?"

Celestia turned to face the speaker, and they immediately put their hoof to their mouth. She had a frizzy periwinkle mane that stretched down over one of her eyes. Her body structure was gleaming Maya blue, and she had the image of an hourglass as her cutie mark.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. What a dumb ques--"

"No, no, don't be sorry. It's quite alright," replied the Princess. "Everybody makes mistakes," continued Celestia in a distinguished tone. She couldn't help but remember the letter she received from the Mayor. "What's wrong here? With the mayor, I mean."

"Oh, the Mayor. . .she's been acting quite strange lately," replied the filly. "My name's Minuette, by the way," continued the blue haired pony.

"Why, yes. How rude of me! I was in such a hurry that I didn't even ask your name. But please explain more," requested the Princess.

"Oh, sure. I was born on a cherry farm outside the city and--"

"No, about the Mayor."

"Oh. She hasn't come out of her office for days now. We've tried to persuade her to come out but she simply responds with 'go away' or 'I'm busy'. We don't know what to do." Minuette motioned toward the office. "She locked the door. We even tried the back and all the windows on the first floor. This city can't run itself."

The Princess nodded. "It certainly can't. It's been nice meeting you, Minuette,  but I must be going now."

Princess Celestia knocked on the Mayor's office. Sure enough, as Minutte had said, the response was;

"Go away."

The Princess had not given up so early. She was willing to try everything and anything she could, even if it involved breaking and entering.

"It's Princess Celestia," she said, hoping for a more luminous response than before.

"Why didn't you say so?" inquired the voice from inside. "Come right on in." There was a click, and the Princess opened the door.

She had just enough time to admire the exquisite room--expensive-looking paintings, elegant chairs, aesthetic designs on the chairs and desks--before she blacked out.

When she regained conciousness, she was tied to a chair behind a desk. Looking around, there was a tan pony tied up next to her, probably the Mayor. How could this be?

A silhouette emerged from the shadows in front of her. As he/she stepped into the light, Celestia could see that--wait, wasn't the Mayor right beside her a moment ago? She looked to her left. The Mayor was still there, so how could there be two Mayors? Unless. . .

Unfortunately, whatever Celestia was thinking that moment was exactly the truth. There was a plume of black smoke and where one Mayor was standing emerged a sleek, black-bodied alicorn.

Celestia instantly recognized this pegacorn.

Chrysalis.

The Queen of the Changelings.

"Why are you doing this?" demanded Celestia, squirming to get out of her ropes.

"If I put you out of the picture, Equestria will be in ruins with no leader, no hope, and no aid. As satisfying as that might be to watch, that's not going to happen," Chrysalis explained.

"So. . .what is going to happen?"

"This."

In the blink of an eye, Chrysalis transformed into a exact replica of Princess Celestia. "I will now move my army, and we will rule Equestria. You have ten hours until the invasion starts, and in two more, Equestria will be entirely under my control. It will be an entire new inauguration. And it will be 'your' fault. Oh, this is going to be so fun!" Chrysalis hastened for the door, quickly opened it, and then closed it again.

As soon as Celestia was sure she had gone, she used her magic to free herself from the ropes. Then, she darted for the door.

"Psst, hey asshole! You forgetting something?!" retorted a voice.

Then she remembered. "I'll let that little comment slide," she said to the Mayor as she used her magic to untie the authority.

And then she was gone.

Once Princess Celestia was back out in the city square, she was scanning the large crowds for one. . .specific. . .Jackpot. A Maya-blue pony with a blue mane. She quickly galloped towards Minutte, and said two simple words:

"Which way?"

"Saywhaaaa?"

"Which way did she go?"

"What now?"

"Chrysalis."

"Who?"

"Celestia."

"Well, you're standing right there, silly--" She stopped in mid-sentence. "How'd you just come out of there--" she motioned towards the Mayor's office--"if you just went over there?" She pointed to the train station, and they both caught a glimpse of gleaming mane and a sleek, lustrous pink body board the train.

Minutte understood completely. They both started galloping as fast as their hooves could carry them toward the train.

It was too late. The train had already departed from the station and was starting to gain speed. The next train was not arriving for another twenty minutes.

Celestia did what she could. As bad as she felt leaving Minutte there, she took off, gaining speed as she soared through the air. In the corner of her eye, she saw the train. It was fairly far away now, but it didn't matter. She wasn't going for the train.

She was going to warn the others.