Chapters My Name is Twilight Sparkle I live in Ponyville, Equestria I am the Element of Magic, the sixth Element of Harmony I am an ex- princess of Equestria I have been framed for a crime I didn’t commit I have no more friends I am locked in the dungeon of the Chrystal Empire I have no chance of escape, unless…
I don’t know how it happened or exactly what happened, all I know is that I’m innocent…I think. I don’t trust my brain anymore. I can’t trust anyone, not even myself. I have nothing.
It all started the day of…well I don’t know, it’s still a great blur. I woke and had breakfast with Spike, I went to the Everfree forest to overlook the renovation of the castle I was soon to move into, and when I got there I walked through the door that was now standing there, and everything went black.
I didn’t feel anything press against my face. I didn’t smell anything unusual. I don’t know what happened
I couldn’t hear or see anything. All I could feel was excoriating pain from my new wings. Then it stopped. My eyes fluttered…well not open, they were already open somehow. I could feel the cold air as it rushed by…it looked like I was in a flying carriage, but not the royal ones like I’m used to, a cold iron cage supported by two guards. It was hard to tell who they were, it was pitch black outside, Luna must have risen the moon really early…or a lot more time had passed then I thought.
I couldn’t tell where we were going at the time; it was the night after all. Soon I saw the familiar silhouette of Canterlot Castle, the white and purple spires clearly recognizable against the starry backdrop. I wondered why we were heading there; the guards wouldn’t respond to me.
The wind felt good and I decided to unfold my wings, I tried but something felt off. I looked down to inspect them, that is, if they were there, the extra limbs that I had earned weren’t protruding from my back like they should be, they were just gone! I was so confused and I kept trying desperately to find out what was going on.
“Please tell me something! Anything!” I would plead. But the flying guards stayed silent. I repeated my questions over and over again until finally we landed.
My fellow princesses Celestia and Luna greeted me at the gates, hard firm expressions on their faces. “Oh thank goodness you’re here! I don’t know what’s going on! Why am I in a cage? What happened?” I asked. They said nothing, turned around at the same time and walked back into the castle, my cage chariot followed without word.
Finally we arrived in the throne room, and the sun god spoke, “Twilight Sparkle you have been stripped of your princess hood on account of-“
“WHAT!” I yelled
“I will not tolerate her anymore. The despicable scum,” Luna muttered with a face that could kill. “Take her to the Dungeon! How dare she plot against us, trying to ruin my night and my sister’s sun.”
“What? Celestia, Luna, please!” I gasped. Just as the doors swung open to omit me to the Dungeon, Cadence walked in, and beside her my brother; Shining Armour.
I didn’t get to hear anything the four other royals said. I was dragged out of the room to quick. I didn’t try to struggle against the guards and metal bars. I was in complete shock. I couldn’t move I was so confused. I got thrown in a cell, not a normal cell, like most other prisoners, I got a magic proof cell. My magic couldn’t work in there.
I only was in the magic proof cell for a couple days I think. I had no way for my internal clock to orient day from night. I wasn’t starved, food came in every once in a while, but it was still lonely, and my mind was riddled with questions. Soon I was told some hopeful news. A female guard opened my door.
“You will have a trial in three hours’ time. Prepare yourself; you will be appointed an attorney of law.” She said. The nameless guard closed the door leaving me back in the darkness.
A couple of minutes later the door opened again, this time a Pegasus stallion walked in. “Hello, I am Gavel, I will be your attorney. I need you to tell me the truth of happened and why it did.”
“Hi, Twilight…oh wait, you probably know that already…” I said, blushing.
“I need to know what happened in detail,” he said getting right to the point.
“That’s the thing I don’t know. I really don’t? Isn’t there anything you know?”
“Well. This doesn’t really help your situation. I do know that you teamed up with Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings an-“
“I WHAT? No, no this isn’t happening. I never did that it hasn’t been two days this is just a dream. I will wake up soon…”
Author's Note
So this is the first chapter of my story, The princess is gone. I am seeing this through to the end, in fact I'm about halfway done already.
This is my first story, well, that I'm publishing anyway, so instructive criticism is welcome as always!
Dazzler Star of Team EnderRain
“The charges are high treason against the royal court and all of Equestria, as well as vandalism of property.” Celestia’s voice boomed. She was acting as the judge for today’s trial. Usually Luna did legalities, as it interested the moon god more, but today’s was a special case; the case of me, Twilight Sparkle.
“Does the accused admit to her crimes?” The sun god asked.
“The ‘accused’,” Said my attorney Gavel, putting air quotes around ‘accused’. “Can’t admit to anything, she didn’t do anything wrong. She can’t remember doing anything wrong.”
“She can’t remember, but I’m sure her horn can. We personally saw Twilight Sparkle use some spells we know by name. Let us check the last ones her horn used,” said Luna, finally speaking.
“I’m sure I didn’t do anything. Go ahead and check.” I said, letting my cocky side out a little. I immediately caught my mistake and who I was with, and why I was with them. “Oh my goodness I am so sorry!” I managed to slip out before the sisters both huffed over; Cadences and Shining Armour still observing from their shared podium to the left of Celestia’s.
My horn memory was thoroughly searched after that. It found that I had indeed preformed those spells that can be so harmful in the wrong hands. I had performed dark magic and I can’t remember any of it.
I was sent to the Chrystal Empire where they thought they could more adequately hold me while a punishment for my crimes was decided. The day finally came when I was to stand in front of the court and face my consequences.
Now that we have finally caught up; I’m here in the dungeon of the Crystal Empire.
Knock, knock, knock.
My cell door suddenly burst open and there were the royal foursome Cadence, Celestia, Luna and Shining Armour walked in. My cell was pretty spacious so it was no hard feat to accommodate us all. “Oh Twilght, I’m so sorry, but it’s for the best.” said Cadence. “I’m so sad and dissaponted this couldn’t work.”
“What?”
“Twilight Sparkle, you have been sentenced to exile. You will depart immediately, you will talk to no one, you will take nothing,” Said Shining Armour. “It is my duty as head of the Royal Guard and as Prince of the Cristal Empire to escort you to your destination.” He looked so sad, so very disappointed. Just like everypony else.
Once again I was in shock, frozen and incapable of speech. Shining gently picked me up and out me in the nearby wooden wagon. They had anticipated this would happen, that I would be devastated by the fact I had to leave.
We traveled for hours. I was still in the wagon and it was pulled by Shining Armour and the female guard from before. Finally we arrived in a swamp. It was cold and danky, I had been hooded the whole ride so I don’t know the particulars of where we are, but it was dark.
I could hear voices in the distances, but I didn’t see anything.
“This is where you get off, honey” said the mare guard.
“What? No this can’t be it…exile is always in a dessert, or far out in the ocean…or-“ I was cut off.
“Get out Twily. I have family to get back too.” Shining’s expression looked solemn and depressed, with a hint of anger as he and the other guard slowly towed away the wooden cart I had been pulled in.
I didn’t try and speak; I just sat down and cried. My body racked with sobs; Shining Armour, my B.B.B.F.F. had just dropped me off at a swamp where I was exiled. He didn’t even look back, he just trudged away. I couldn’t handle this on my own. Did my friends know what happened to me? Will I ever be forgiven? Am I really as innocent as I believe I am? Well, want to believe anyway….
The cart and guards were now out of sight, and I was just sitting here. I can hear the sound of rain not far off, I really ought to move. CRACK the rain had finally reached me. I didn’t want to move. I just sat there, out of tears and letting my purple coat get soaked through.
AN EX- PRINCESS
Princess Twilight Sparkle was tried in Canterlot yesterday, the decided punishment was exile.
After leaving Ponyville and most of Equestria in ruins our beloved Princess Celestia and Princess Luna finally cast the spell that got Twilight Sparkle in captivity and on her way to the Canterlot. It is rumored that the ex-princess was in cahoots with Chrysalis, queen of the Changelings.
“She says ‘I don’t know what happened, I don’t remember’, all day long, I think there might be some brain damage, but I’m a lawyer, not a doctor,” Says Gavel Wood, who was serving as the attorney to Twilight Sparkle on the day of her trial.
We don’t know many details to this story besides the fact that it is indeed Twilight Sparkle being exiled. We also don’t know her current whereabouts.
The royal sisters are hurriedly working to restore balance and find Queen Chrysalis for questioning.
For more interviews visit page two.
I threw the retched page down, the old ink starting to run from the rain still pounding down. I hadn’t succeeded in finding shelter yet, so I was freezing cold and soaked. I can’t believe this though. Some back washed old town’s paper believes that I did this. I may not have found proper shelter, but I had figured out where I was; The Swamp of New Horseleans. A.K.A The Changeling hangout. That’s right. They dropped me off where Queen Chrysalis supposedly lives, the same Chrysalis I supposedly teamed up with.
If the newspaper hadn’t been pulp before, it was now, the black and white lines distorting and blurring all into one mutual grey. I looked up at the dank trees around me, the marshy waters sitting not two hoofs from me. It all came crashing down right then. Where are my friends? What in Equestria had happened? Did I really do all this? The words swirled in my mind, I lay down and cried. I cried until the tears left me, leaving my body an empty husk of purple fur. I was gone. Everything I had ever known had disappeared. I will never see my friends or fami-no, I just remembered, they had disowned me. They had all turned their backs against my case, seeing me do all those things. Even in a world with magic some things are unbelievable. I will forever be unbelievable.
I heard a rustle, and even in my weakened state I knew that could not be good here in the swamp. I sat up. There it was again, just to my left, accompanying it this time was a grunt.
“We found you….”
“Who’s there?” I called out. They were clearly getting close. I could smell them, whatever or whomever this intruder was, they hadn’t bathed in weeks.
“You don’t recognize our voices?” Came the voice, significantly closer, and up higher in the air.
There was a flash of light and I was in the air, all around me was black. I could see faint circles of glowing blue orbs that had to be eyes, not just any eyes. Changeling eyes; they had found me.
I couldn’t hear my own voice over the loud sound of flapping insect wings as the horde of changelings past me around. The thousand small black creatures obstructed my view, but every once in a while I could see large purple spires topped with blue spheres with light holes lining the walls and dripping with green slime and the occasional cocoon scattered the crude building. We were heading for the changeling castle.
The horde of Changelings dived, taking me with them. We flew through an intricate series of tunnels, making countless turns and twists. Soon the horde spilt up and I was being carried by only two changelings. We landed in a large and considerably long room that had to be partially underground. I was completely deserted, except for the tall, blue maned , hole ridden queen.
“Ah, Twilight Sparkle…So nice to see you again.” Chrysalis’ voice played.
“I can’t say I think the same.” I replied, the words bursting from my tongue.
“Well, why ever not? I thought we were…partners.”
After Chrysalis said that last line I went completely catatonic, and she finally got fed up with me, I was escorted to a room in the castle. It’s not much, but it’s not a dungeon. There are draperies on the holes in the wall, and a bed too…well it’s more like an open slimy sack hanging down from the ceiling. I was about to climb into the green cocoon when my stomach growled and I realized that I hadn’t eaten in at least two days, being distracted by the disaster that had happened over the past week.
I knocked on the closed door that I figured had to be guarded, or else I would most likely be in the changeling dungeon. The door opened a couple seconds later “Yes,” the black creatures voice rasped.
“Um, I wouldn’t normally do this, but I haven’t eaten in two days, do you uh, have any food?” I perked up, hoping that it would help my case. They feed on love so I’m not sure that they have real food.
The changeling poked his head back out the door and I could hear him say “She said this would happen. It’s time.” He popped back in. “Follow us.”
“Okay thanks.”
We walked down the same corridors we took earlier to get to the room that I guess I am staying in. We arrived in the throne room from earlier too. There was a spread there, of real food. Pony food. Chrysalis and her advisors were sitting there at the table, but not partaking in any of the delicacies spread before them.
“Oh you’re back! Ready to talk,” asked Chrysalis, sitting at the head of the table, looking totally relaxed. “Please, go ahead and have some! I know that we can’t eat it.” She must have seen the way I was hungrily looking at the table.
I’m skeptical but I walk up to the wooden tale, parts of it burned by who knows what. There is one empty chair next to Chrysalis, I assumed it was for me and asked with a nod. She nodded back and I walked up and sat down, immediately a platter was served to me, upon it was a daisy sandwich, my favorite.
“So are you ready to talk?” The queen asked again.
“Well, I’m thoroughly confused about everything, and also, it depends on what you want to talk about” I replied, my mind racing with questions I knew I shouldn’t ask just yet.
“How have you taken you punishment…?”
“Well, it’s been tough, I’ve had no food or shelter, and I’m truly grateful to you for letting me stay here, but why exactly are you letting me?
“Well my dear, I thought we were partners, of course, I’m sure you don’t remember anything do you?”
“Uh, no. I was heading here to fill in the blanks, but I got here a little faster then I expected…”
“Yes, we changelings do fly pretty fast…but anyway. Yes I can help you out. You’re not allowed to go back anyway.” She drawled
“Yeah, but still, I have been known to come back from hard blows pretty well, dontcha think? It would seem unwise to tell me your plans” I said my head forming a plan.
“Oh my dear Twilight, my dear, vain princess Twilight Sparkle; You forget how powerful I am. Did you not personally see me take down Celestia? Invade the Cristal Empire? Get away without a scratch? Return to the vast kingdom I own? Oh Twilight. I’m a queen! Do you not realize that I can shoot down any attempt at your escape; do you not realize that I could bind your mind to serve me forever? Oh sweet me! I thought you were the smart princess!”
“Yes that does seem like you could do that, anyone who can attack Celestia must have guts and a lot of power and confidence. But again, I am also an alicorns, the princess of friendship, I have powers just the same as you, but I do believe we were discussing your plans for the future.” I was getting pretty desperate, trying to get back on subject. I didn’t want to make it seem like I was trying too hard, but I don’t want to be disrespectful.
“Ah well, there are two things that can happen. I can turn you loose and you can rot out in the swampland, or you can partner with me, and we can rule the world. We can even invite your friends if you like, think about it, they could become alicorns too, they can become like you. With our combined powers you and I can rule all of Equestria! We can crush Celestia and Luna and Cadence! We can be the most powerful beings alive. Of course, it’s you choice, and remember; I can always just kill you” She was clearly getting excited, right where I wanted her: anticipating me choosing her second offer.
“Well The second one does sound mighty tempting, and I really don’t feel like dying. I also really miss my friends. So where do we start?”
“Well, I do assume that you want to know more about what happened yes?” She drawled
“I figured that was implied.”
“You arrived at the castle and that’s when you blacked out correct?”
“Yes.” I said, waiting for an answer.
“Well, this is the easy part. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this for a while. The precious new princess all alone in a dark place; I had heard you were going to be there at the castle, and me, being the changeling I am had to take the chance. We snuck into the castle late at night. Got rid of the guards, and cast some protection spells so only you could come in. We booby trapped the door with knockout spells, and well, you knocked out… Anyway, we flew you back here, and we woke you up. That’s where the plan completely fell and all competence for your care was abandoned. You were in princess mode. Something must have triggered it back at the castle when we knocked you unconscious. I later found out that when we were flying, two of my changelings,” She glared to left, “Had decided to whisper evil plots in your ear, things like ‘kill the princesses,’ ‘you can raise the sun and moon by yourself’ and ‘you’re a princess aren’t you?’ They’ve been taken care of don’t worry, but as any sane person knows; a pony in their princess form is totally open to suggestion. A higher power takes over and the pony that was once in the body leaves for a bit, thus granting the higher power full access.”
“Wait, I never knew that…” I interrupted
“Oh, I know that’s why I’m explaining it to you.” I gave no response to this and she continued. “And being the totally open husk you were when you were asleep, decided to go and wreak havoc back in your country. You attempted murder on the all the princesses, including your brother, you nearly hijacked all of Canterlot, and well, you destroyed a couple cities, and well, you know the rest.”
“What?” I asked, totally astonished at this new found knowledge.
“I, being the great ruler I am, think you might need sometime alone to think. Bring her back to her room!” Were the final words I said before everything faded black.
I woke up in the slimy green sack that hung from the ceiling. It smelled putrid, but it was surprisingly comfortable and dry. The thing was totally enclosed except for a few breathing holes near the top. It took me a good four minutes to find where the opening was supposed to be, using only the faint glowing green light the bed cast off.
When I got out my door was open I heard a raspy voice “She’s up” It must have been one of the guards on post.
“Should we bring her out?” a second voice asked.
“Excuse me, but, what are you talking about?” I called out the door.
“Come on.” The first guard beckoned.
I was lead out to the now somewhat familiar corridor, though I’ve picked up that most of them look somewhat the same; they’re all covered in green slime and holes, with the occasional homeless changeling lurking on the floor. I could smell the room before I saw it. It wasn’t the same room we were in before, where I ate food… however long ago it was. Come to think of it I didn’t remember ever leaving that room. They must have drugged me or something. Or I went into that ‘Princess Mode’ thing again, but I don’t think so.
“SO MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY, ARE WE EXCITED?” A loud voice boomed, they must be planning something.
My Changeling guides suddenly got really excited scooping me up into the air, “Come one we’re gonna miss it!”
“Miss what?” I asked. Unsure of what was going on.
“You’ll see,” The other guard squealed; they were clearly excited. The rowdy crowed that I heard screaming earlier was getting louder, we were getting close.
“SHE’LL BE HERE SOON! ARE YOU READY?” The Crowed screamed in response. “THEN, MAY I PRESENT QUEEN CHYSALIS OF THE CHANGELINGS!” Was all I heard before the massive cavern that now surrounded me exploded with noise and movement. It was getting hard to breathe, I’m terribly claustrophobic, and the chaos of unfamiliar bodies changing shape and color and race was too much for me. I had to get out of this moshpit.
“WELL HELLO MY SUBJECTS!” Another round of loud screaming came up from those around me. I was still on the verge of passing out. The bodies were surrounding me on all sides and the loud buzzing of the wings above me finally pushed me over.
Somewhere to my left I heard a voice “Someone catch her!” And then it went black yet again. Somehow I could feel hooves lifting me up, passing me up to the stage…
My eye’s snapped open, standing there right above me was Queen Chrysalis, “Are you alright child?” She asked.
I got into a sitting position, “I think so, what happened?” I said, my eyes adjusting to the sudden light coming off of the faded brown and green walls accompanying thousands of pairs of glowing blue eyes.
“Oh child, I’m sorry, no one warned you how…excited we get here at the pit. You passed out; do you think you can stand? I’m truly sorry for this.”
“Yes, thank you…” I got up, and I saw the entire magnitude of the whole crowd, millions of them, flying in the air, sitting on top of each other on the ground, some clearly higher ranking changelings even had fancy balconies sticking out of walls, like at fancy plays. The changeling population was much greater than anyone had imagined, up to this point.
“Oh yes, there are many of us. “ The queen said, somehow reading my thoughts. “This is my family, my friends, advisors, equals to me. We are a great species aren’t we? Do you want to go back in the crowd for the duration of the…presentation?”
“I guess…It does seem like a great opportunity to see what you all do here…” I tentatively reached out my hoof to get off the expansive stage I was standing on…With hundreds of other changelings too.
“YOU HEARD HER! BRING HER DOWN!” I heard from the mob below. Suddenly I was wrenched up into the air looking skyward, thousands of hooves with holes supporting my back. I soon ended up on one of balconies, there was one other changeling there, a female it looked like. I was about to introduce myself when my ears nearly ruptured with the sound of squeals and the loud voice of the queen in front of me.
“WHO’S READY?” Boomed the queen; accompanied by another loud racket from the mob below, all the voices chiming in, all except for the changeling on the rising sitting next to me. “ALRIGHT THEN! I NEED A PONY, A CUTIEMARK, AND AN OCCUPATION!” Oh dear Celestia, she’s going to do improve…I hope this doesn’t turn out as bad as I think it will.
“SUNBUTT, A BUTT SUN, AND A STUPID PRINCESS” Piped up a voice from the crazed changelings under me.
“A MOST FAMOUS ONE TO DO, ALRIGHT HERE I GO!” Suddenly, a flash, a scream from some ponies in the mob, and there was Princess Celestia standing onstage, she talked. “What? Where am I? What is this…Why is there a dominate race of changelings here?” A great thunderous laugh from the crowd, accompanied by some whistles and screams. So this is what they do for fun…they all gather around and spend time like this, just hanging out and making fun of ponies.
Whatever this meeting was, it lasted for a long while, Chrysalis and other ponies doing impressions of famous ponies they knew about, they ended up doing all the princesses twice and my friends at least once each. They would pop up on stage and scream about how changelings rule and ponies suck and being confused about where they were. As slanderous as it was, it was somewhat beautiful in its own way; that these little things that I call monsters come together like this who knows how much and just spend time with each other.
It finally quieted down, the changeling mob started to disperse, getting thinner, some younger ones still onstage trying their best to change their appearance.
“Do you need a lift?” Asked the voice to my right, I was so startled I nearly fell off the rising we were sitting on.
“Oh! Yes please, that would be great…uh…Twilight Sparkle, you?” I asked, unsure of the introductory customs of changelings.
She sort of laughed. Clearly she was female, she didn’t sound like a lot of the others; her voice wasn’t as raspy and guttural as others I’ve heard. “I’m Ava, and I know who you are, everyone does. You’re a pretty big topic here you know, not all the time we get an ex-alicorn-pony-princess in the halls of the changeling palace.”
“I figured I might have been, not every day an ex-alicorn-pony-princess is exiled and flown off to the changeling palace you know.” I’m trying to keep it light conversation, maybe make a friend here, I’m failing I know.
“Well come on.” She rose into the air and picked me up, by then the crowd was totally gone so she just flew me down to the floor of the pit.
“Thank you, so, um, thanks….” Oh dear, awkward Twilight alert! Awkward Twilight alert!
“It’s cool. Here I’ll walk you to your room. Trust me, I know how you feel, I don’t really fit in here either. ..”
“I kinda picked that up, why weren’t you yelling with all the others?” I asked as we started walking.
“I don’t quite like it when they do that whole making-fun-of-ponies thing. It’s just not my style.”
“Oh, Hey, how old are you? I don't mean to pry, I just haven’t had much social interaction for the past weeks.” I wasn’t lying; my voice was getting raspy because of lack of use.
“I’m 19, your age.” We arrived at my door, it was still open, but clearly recognizable as mine, I had seen some of the other rooms walking up here and they were all dirty, with personal thing of their own in them. “I assumed you would be staying in one of these rooms, they reserve the nice ones for ponies. Mine is right over there.” She pointed down and across the wide hallway.
“For ponies?” I asked, getting slightly confused now.
“Oh yes, you aren’t the first pony who wandered here.” And with that Ava walked off.
Unknown Secrets of the Changeling Palace
What was Ava trying to say? It had been a full day and I was still standing here in my room, at a standstill of my hopefully new friends’ last words to me. I tried calling after her a couple times but she never looked back, she just entered into the room she had pointed to earlier and closed the door.
I might as well eat, I ask the guards, and they deliver just some simple pony food. I try to eat the sandwich in front of me, but after that episode with Ava; my stomach is upset. I have to go and talk to her. I get up and walked across the room to my closed door, there sitting under it was a piece of rough parchment, yellowed from age, clearly it’s been used and re-used many times. Sticking out from all the other faded messages was a note that said:
Midnight, 12:00 back left hoof corner of the pit.
-Ava Skyswirl
The note was indeed mysterious, almost overflowing me with questions. The most haunting thing so far though, was that the more I thought about it, the more Ava Skyswirl sounded like a familiar pony name. I had never met an Ava, I don't think so anyway…I climbed into the sack bed, thinking about things like ponies named Ava, and how I’ll get out of here.
I woke up to the sound of my name, and the rough vibrations of the sack bed shaking around. “I’m up! I’m up!” I called, the sack stopped shaking and opened up. The two changeling guards standing there.
“The Queen summons you.” One said.
I silently got up and followed the guards out into the hallway. We started walking through the corridors that end in the throne room, that by now I had memorized. Thanks to the holes in the walls I could tell that it was nighttime, I must have slept all day.
We arrived in the throne room, the large table covered in holes and green slime that was there at my last meeting with the queen was gone. In its place; a large black chair with spikes tipped with glowing blue orbs (much like the exterior of the castle) With Chrysalis atop the stool part. The Queen got up and walked over to us in the middle of the room. “Hello there, I see you got my summons. It’s time to discuss…things you’ll be doing here.”
“Like what kind of ‘things’?” I asked.
“Well, we can’t have a pony here forever. You need to be remedied…into something more like our kind. You have nowhere else to go anyways, but we’re running low on pony food…and we don’t exactly have deliverers knocking on our door. Besides; no one can do Twilight Sparkle like Twilight Sparkle. We were going to keep the pony you around for a while, but you know, minor details and complications. We’ll have to prepare something’s for the ritual. We’ll talk details after we make sure you can never leave. Dismissed.”
I was guided back to my room, judging by the color of the sky outside it was late. I used a simple spell all young unicorns learn in the beginning of their training. It tells you the time, the weather, the date, and where you are. It just now happened to be 11:30 at night, clear sky, humid, 68 degrees, and I was just outside the Swamp of New Horseleans.
Clearly Chrysalis wanted to change me into, well a changeling. I didn't know you could do that, it must take a lot of practice and power some kind of magic or potion or something! I just don’t want to be a changeling, oh I hope Ava has some ideas about it, something to help me.
Midnight rolled around and I was standing in the left backhoof corner of the Pit, waiting for Ava, when I heard a “Pssstt, Pssst…” A hoof appeared out of nowhere and I was pulled back into what looked like a solid wall seconds before, seemed to be as thins as paper, and soft as feathers, some kind of translucent portal. There were three changelings there when I popped out on the other side of the portal. It was a dank room, cold and dark, but large enough to fit at least ten ponies, it was made of the same smooth black rock as the rest of the castle.
“Welcome to the club,” an unfamiliar, male, clearly more pony than changeling voice said.
“Hi, I guess,” was my only answer.
“Twilight,” Ava’s voice came from the corner of the room, “These are some buddies of mine; Sunny Days,” She referred to the opposite corner of the room.
A small female “Hi,” was heard.
“And this is Cloud Chaser,” finished Ava.
“Hello, well, I would usually say nice to meet you, but given the circumstances…” I replied.
“Can I tell her already?” Cloud Chaser.
“No, I want to show her instead, now Twilight, you may want to sit down, this could come as a bit of a shock.” Answered Ava.
“Okay…” I sat down on the cold floor, looking expectantly up at the three.
“I’ll go first,” came Lucky Days’ voice from the corner, she walked up, a brief flash of light, and a sigh later, was a white female unicorn with a fiery red orange and yellow mane, standing in front of me. It felt like I knew her…from somewhere. Then Cloud Chaser got impatient, he walked up, stood next to Ava and Lucky days, and his changeling form turned into a grey Pegasus…with black hair. Ava changed last, and after she did, it all clicked. Standing in front of me were ponies that I knew, that I had talked to before. Sunny Days was a shopkeeper in PonyVille, Cloud Chaser worked with Rainbow Dash, and Ava...Ava was the nameless female guard that had left me here at this miserable Swamp.
“These were the forms we had before we sacrificed ourselves for the job. We were employed as spies, long ago. We were sent here to the changeling castle, under pretenses of banishment, like you. We were turned into changelings and left here to get our final assignments from Canterlot castle.” Explained Ava. “ Our job was to watch over you. Twilight, when you were born, your destiny was to save the world, not just to become a princess. It was prophesized long ago, back when King Lunar Eclipse and Queen Solar Flare ruled, that Chrysalis was going to gain much power; that she will soon attack, and it’s up to you to stop her.”
“But, I don’t understand, why was I exiled…?” I asked, totally confused, thoughts swirling through my brain, trying to fit the pieces together, but they just kept mashing up against each other. None of this made sense.
“Twilight, don’t you see? The whole thing was a set up, you were exiled on purpose! It was all part of the plan! The princesses saw the sings of Chrysalis’ attack, we were sent in to tell The old queen to come and get you. We made sure you were alone that day, we helped set the traps, just so that you wouldn’t cause so much damage, we were the ones who told you to kill the princesses who were already locked up and safe inside their castle, just so you could disappear and no one would think anything of it!” an impatient Cloud Chaser almost yelled.
So…so-you’re all in on this? This was a big elaborate trick to catch Chrysalis once and for all?” me in my dazed state asked.
“Yes. We couldn’t tell you because we knew you’d over think it, but it’s now or never.” Sunny Days said.
“Well, I guess we’ll need a plan, then won’t we?” I asked, finally coming out of the shocked stupor I was in moments ago.
“It’s all worked out. You need sleep first. It’ll take a while for the plan to kick in. You just go rest, and then meet us here, same time tomorrow.” were Ava’s words.
Author's Note
Okay, So when I say "Cloud Chaser" I really mean a grown up Rumble, sorry if there was any confusion, I switched their names because really bronies, Rumble?
It was midnight, and I was once again standing in the corner of the pit, about to get pulled through the portal. I was pulled in and there sat the same three changelings in their pony form as last night.
“Okay, so for the next two days, the queen will be preparing. It takes a lot of magic to change the whole DNA set up of something, especially a powerful one, like you and your former alicorns-ness,” explained Cloud Chaser.
“There is one crucial moment of weakness at the end of the ceremony, when the pony in question isn’t fully changed yet. It’s the hardest part to preform, or the pony won’t survive, and we know the old queen doesn’t want to kill you,” Ava continued. “We’ll be there, we’re some high up advisors, and some other ponies turned changelings as well, Yeah, there are more of us,” She must have seen the look I gave her.
“They aren’t spies like us though,” Sunny Days explained, “They just kind of ended up here, mostly old swamp ponies who wandered too far out of their trailer park.”
“We need to get to work, stop dawdling and explain, or I will,” Cloud Chaser said in an almost threatening tone.
“Yeah you’re right,” Ava said, “So, it’s almost impossible to kill Chrysalis, especially when she has that much power stored up, even in a weak spot. Our plan, since we know you’re not a super powerful alicorn anymore; is just to knock her out long enough to escape the changeling horde that will surely follow her and try and fix her, they’re fast see, so we’ll need lot’s magic to teleport us all outta here, we’ll need this.” Ava reached into a saddlebag that she had on, and produced the familiar red and black necklace I thought I had destroyed years ago, the eyes of the horse it portrayed glowing red with greed.
“Is that…?” I asked in shock and horror.
“The very one,” beamed Sunny Days, her pride clearly showing on her face. “It took forever to find it, it’s not every day you look for a piece of jewelry manufactured by Starswirl the Bearded you know. It’s not fully repaired, but it’s still pretty powerful, especially in the hands of a pony whose talent is literally doing magic.” She continued, her years as a sales pony must have caused a habit where she just rambled on about a certain product and how it would be great with the right pony.
Just as Sunny Days was coming to the end of her nonsensical ramble, Cloud Chaser cut in “You’ll have to use this, it’ll give you loads of power, During the ceremony, Chrysalis will have her eyes closed, she’ll go into a trance-like state and we’ll only hear muttering from her, trust me she’ll be out, and completely oblivious. You’ll have to magically conceal it until we give you the signal, then you have to put it on and strike her. She’ll be out and we changeling ponies here on the inside we’ll take over from there. Don’t wear the amulet for too long, you know the effects it has on ponies.” He said, becoming grave. “It’s crucial you do this, you will use the spell located at the back of the book hidden under and behind the desk in your room. Hopefully they haven’t searched your room yet…”
“What? Searched my room? Book? What?” I asked severely confused.
“It’ll all come together, don’t worry, we’re sorry you had to find out like this. We have to go, be prepared and get plenty of rest. See you in a couple days,” Ava consoled, somewhat motherly, but any comfort was welcome at this point. One by one I watched the three pony/changelings walk through the portal and back into the Pit. As soon as they were gone I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. Why was I here, why did it have to be me? Those ponies had just told me that my whole time here; and a lot of my life was just a lie. I felt the self-doubt start to set in, the pain and fear growing more intense; What if I can’t do it? I will let them all down. Those ponies are lying, the things they said can’t be true… all the voices swirled in my head, everything was closing in, I looked over next to me, only to see the glowing red eyes of that wretched necklace, it’s red aura getting brighter. I picked the thing up and somehow managed to cast a concealing spell on it and walked out through the portal. Then I collapsed, everything went numb.
“My my, what do we have here?” Was the first voice I had heard, “It seems our precious pony princess decided to go into an uncontrollable emotional fit. Well, we can fix that; you won’t be a pony princess for much longer.” It must have been much longer then I thought. I must have gone into the ‘princess mode’ that was explained to me just days ago. It was time for the ceremony.
My head snapped up, I was still in the pit, but I could see through the holes in the walls that it was light outside, and that there were millions of changelings here in the room. I was still laying down and Chrysalis’ voice that I had heard, it almost scared me that I misplaced the raspy echo that had a dark form of grace to it. “Welcome back,” the echo cooed. “EVERYONE BUT THE ADIVORS LEAVE, I APOLOGIZE MY FAMILY BUT I CANNOT PREFORM THE CEREMONY IN FRONT OF SO MANY EYES.” She suddenly boomed. Most of the changeling horde left and then there were only about a hundred or so in the room.
Up on the left hand side of the stage, I saw Ava sitting and fidgeting nervously, but keeping a cool face next to an unfamiliar changeling. To my right was Cloud Chaser the epitome of calm and collected, and in front of us was Sunny Days, chattering exitedly. Alone on stage was Chrysalis and I, she had had her throne carried into this room.
Chrysalis went and sat down in her throne; a small pillow was immediately carried out by a younger changeling subject and put down on the floor right in front of the large chair. “Please do sit,” the regal changeling said, referring to the chair. “The process takes a while, do get comfortable.”
I silently and tentatively walked over, risking a glance at Ava, she nodded back and I continued across the large stage and sat down on the bright red pillow. It was surprisingly soft and comfortable, seeing as they don’t really have what I would call a ‘bed’ here in the palace. The queen closed her green-blue eyes and started muttering, very low, extremely calculated. I sat there in front of her, staring at the crowd gathered before us. Soon my body started to ache; my whole being enclosed is a dark and claustrophobic feeling of agony. I started to scream and writhe on the large cushion, the only sound was my screams of torture and Chrysalis’ continual muttering.
All at once it started to ease up, the pain lessening, but still there. Out of nowhere I hear the voice of Cloud Chaser “NOW!” now what though? I remember I was supposed to do something; but what was it. Then I heard the voices of my friends, all here in the room crying ‘now’ simultaneously, the southern drawl of Applejack and the elegance of Rarity unmistakable, it must have been changelings encouraging me though. It all came rushing back. I was supposed to use some blasted spell with the amulet, but I never got the chance to look at it in the-who-knows-how-long-time I had been out. Then I realized, there must not have been a spell; that was part of the whole thing, those three wanted me to get overwhelmed. They had wanted to prep me. I whipped out the amulet and recited a simple stun-spell every unicorn learns in their early years of training.
There was a scream, a red flash, and a hoof on my shoulder, they were calling all the pony-turned changelings to me. I had to get them out of here. I thought of the first place that came to my mind and I felt my body, along with many others folding into space and time and then land on the wood floor in big heap.
It All Knits Together in the End
“Twilight…?” came the small dragons voice, “Changelings?” I could see that he was getting into a defensive position, readying the broom for battle.
“Spike! Oh thank goodness. I need to get to Canterlot castle, can you watch over these guys while I’m gone? Thanks buddy! I have to go!” The poor guy, I mean, I didn’t even explain things to him, but the Ava and the others needed help and I had to get to the castle and talk to Celestia.
The next time I opened my eyes; I was in the throne room of Canterlot castle, being embraced by my former mentor. It took me a few minutes to wiggle my way out of the mess of feathers fur, and hair. “Twilight, oh thank goodness you’re okay,” Celestia said, relieved.
“I think I deserve a long explanation, but first…I uh…kinda left Spike at the library with a bunch of changelings who used to be ponies….”
“I’ll take care of it, don’t worry, I have advisors already there and taking care of it, they will all be brought here, but there’s someponys’ that want to see you.” Just then the doors of the pearly white throne room opened and in burst all five of my friends, with Spike, Ava, Cloud Chaser, and Sunny Days.
“Twilight!” They all chorused my name.
“Ahm so glad you’re back sugarcube; we were so worried about you,” the drawl of Applejack’s warm voice first to speak away from the others.
“Wait, you guys were in on this?” I asked, confused but also a little relieved that they all knew that I didn’t try and ruin Equestria.
“Of course we were silly filly! What kind of friends would we be if we didn’t keep track of you?” The excited pink mare was bouncing my way, embracing me with surprising strength, “We’re just happy you’re back!”
“Thank you for keeping her safe, Ava, is it?” asked Rarity.
“Yes, but don’t thank me, thank these two; they tracked her down in the first place, got her to the palace okay,” Ava explained, referring to Cloud Chaser and Sunny Days, her blue eyes twinkling in her pony form.
“Oh it was nothing,” Cloud Chaser blushed at Rarity, looking away nervously.
“Now can we please get her wings back? It’s weird seeing her without them again…” the cyan Pegasus’ voice came from above. “I mean, I’m glad she’s back and all but still…”
“We’ve apprehended her, you’re highness,” was the voice that came from behind me, I turned around my big-brother-best-friend-forever was standing there, trying not to smile at me.
“Thank you Shining Armour, now take the rest of the day off and come and hug your sister,” Celestia ordered kindly.
“Twily!” He finally burst running over and hugging me, “I’m sorry, I had to make it seem real, I didn’t want to say goodbye but I knew you could do it.”
“We’re just happy you’re back,” Fluttershy said, right above and my brother and me.
“Thank you all so much, I just missed you all so much,” the tears already welling in my eyes; Sunny Days and Pinkie Pie standing off to the right a little and crying in sync with each other, soaking the floor in salty tears of joy.
“Well, I left Luna to go and Chrysalis, I better go help her out, you take as much time as you need and we’ll sort the rest out later after she’s imprisoned,” Celestia’s voice getting softer as she flew towards the swamp.
“Spike, I’m really sorry, but I had to get to the castle, sorry I left you…” I said, blushing as the purple dragon couldn’t hold his ‘cool dragon’ image anymore and ran up for a hug, his pruple and green scales cold against mu warm coat.
“It’s okay, I’m sorry you had to go-and-and-I-Just,” he burst into tears and buried his face in my mane.
“Awe, Spike. I love you. Now C’mon, who’s hungry?” I asked the rest of the group and started walking out of the castle with all of my friends and family, the new and the old accompanying me.
In the end; I got my wings back, Chrysalis was imprisoned and I’m still the only pony to ever have gotten out of the changeling castle still a pony. Ava, Cloud Chaser, Sunny Days and all the other pony-turned-changelings turned back into ponies and got their old lives back, Cloud Chaser flying with Rainbow Dash with the whether team, Ava Skyswirl serving as second in command to Shining Armour and Sunny Days happily selling her products in PonyVille. Ifinally got moved into the EverFree Castle and my friends all come and visit me regularly, lifes been great so far!
Author's Note
So I don’t know if I’ll do a prequel, or a sequel yet, but you never know with these perfect fairytale endings. Thanks for reading!
