Fortunas' Favor

That the transformations were getting easier, was a cause for concern. Molding flesh and bone to assume new identities carried the risk of forgetting the original. A series of photos stapled to a posterboard served as a reminder. There were front, side, rear, and aerial views of the same light pink unicorn mare. However, the reflection in the mirror was a different creature. A quick pass of the hooves along with an application of magic allowed for changes to color, mane and tail styling, eye-color, and facial features. Several seconds of effort allowed for more detailed shaping like height, bulk, aesthetic appeal, gender, and breed, though pegasi couldn't be mimiced yet, as the bone mass needed for the wings was not available. The alterations that were possible had helped tremendously in the fields of acting, since it was easier to get into character, and painting, since it was possible to self-model for paintings. "But when I can be anyone, who am I really?" The thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Who is it?" came the call.

"Toola, it's Cheerilee." She entered. "Oh, were you busy?"

A quick flurry of motion and Toola appeared to be her normal self. "I was just practicing."

Cheerilee trotted over and gave her wife a hug. "Decided to embrace your new talents, then?" Toola nodded. "It's definetly helped your career," she added.

"Still it worries me." Toola stated as the hug ended. "Is this how a Changeling feels? To not have a stable identity?"

"That's something that only a Changeling could answer," Cheerilee replied. "Why, do you think you're turning into one?"

"I don't know, maybe," Toola replied, examining one of her hooves.

"Then you should be swelling up like a balloon," Cheerilee replied with a chuckle. It took Toola a moment to catch her meaning, then she giggled as well. "See, You are the same wonderful pony I married."

"You'd love me no matter what?" Toola inquired as she got dressed.

"The reason I married you, is not because of your looks, or your wealth," Cheerilee answered. "I fell in love with you because of how you see the world. You had a sort of infectious enthusiasm, and I..." She rubbed her front hooves together. "I sort of envied that."

"So I made you feel special," Toola turned and gave Cheerilee another hug.

"Because of who you are," Cheerilee helped Toola tie her headscarf on. "It wouldn't matter to me if you were a stallion, a changeling, or a bitless wanderer. It's you that I was looking for in others, and it's you that I came to love. Even when you had to describe your feelings just now, you phrased it as a beautiful metaphor."

Once the scarf was secured, Toola nuzzled Cheerilee. "And you, dear wordsmith, make me feel safe and secure. And your voice is like music to my ears." Cheerilee patted the unicorns' shoulder. She was about to say something when there was another knock on the door. "Who is it?" Toola called out.

"Matrons. Miss Sparkle would like to meet with you," Replied a pony that had opened the door and peered in.

"Tell her we're coming," Cheerilee stated.

A short while later, Twilight, Toola and Cheerilee were seated in a private den. "Thank you for allowing me to visit on such short notice," Twilight began. "I just received the reports and package this morning by first class mail." She took a large binder from her saddlebag and placed it on the coffee table. The cover was embossed with the Official Emblem of Equestria. "I've already looked through the reports, and I think you'll be satisfied with the conclusions."

"What of the package?" Cheerilee prompted. "You know how important that is to our family."

"Yes, of course," Twilight presented an elongated cardboard box. "I wanted to clarify something with you first though." Toola took the box with her magic, then began opening it. "The spell matrix that was found in your cane bears a strong resemblance to Chaos magic. Because of this. the Office of the Cult-Finder General has opened an Epsilon level investigation on you."

"We're not Discordians, if that's what they're wondering." Toola replied as she took her familys' cane from the box.

"No, of course not," Twilight replied. "But channeling Chaos magic isn't something that unicorns can do easily. I'm one of the most accomplished unicorns in the Kingdom and I can only touch it enough to know what it feels like. We thought that the Discordians' abilities came from pledging a pact to him."

"So what do they wish to know?" Cheerilee wondered. "I could tell you the canes' history, but I'm not sure of the spells' origin."

"Do you know who would know the spells origin?" Twilight wondered. "Maybe your father knows, Toola."

"I could ask him, and submit that info to you later," Toola offered. She placed the cane next to her own custom cane. "All I know is that it's something that the family had for generations."

Twilight wrote that statement in a notebook. "If that's true, that alone will go a long way towards clearing your name. That you could have a spell like that for that long, and not attract the Cult-Finders' attention, means that you're likely not heretics."

"Not for that reason, anyways," Toola muttered.

"Pardon?"

Toola blushed. "Just that I've had something on my mind for a while. I think you might be able to help."

"You're a well-learned pony, Mrs Sparkle-Pie," Cheerilee stated.

"Well, I shouldn't brag, but I have studied a great many topics," Twilight replied. "And just for clarification, I'm not married yet. So just call me Miss Sparkle."

Cheerilee grinned. "Legalities aside, You and Pinkie are married as far as I'm concerned."

Twilight chuckled. "Yes, I suppose that we are married in spirit. I find that we finish each-others' statements on occasion," She waved a hoof. "So what sort of problem can I help you with?"

"Have you ever heard of anything where a pony loses their identity?" Toola asked.

"You mean like the Changelings' former method of feeding?" Twilight blinked. "They pledged  to give that up in exchange for citizenship."

Toola shook her head. "No, I mean like, you 're not sure if you're you, or somepony else."

Twilight rubbed her horn. "That sounds like what Pinkie went through with the Mirror Pool. Why, do you have a bunch of clones running around?"

"Why don't you show her?" Cheerilee prodded. "That might make things easier to understand."

Toola used her hooves and magic to transform herself into a duplicate of Twilight, causing the original to gasp. "That looks so realistic," She commented. "But the methodology is a little unnerving." She quickly wrote in her notepad. "I have some experience in shapeshifting magic, but it usually takes a lot more mana to force a change."

"While it is helpful in certain applications, I feel like I'm dabbling with something that could get me in trouble," Toola said as she resumed her normal appearance.

"I'm assuming that this is related to the Umbratara incident of five years ago?" Twilight tapped her chin in thought. "The official record states that he-it, had some kind of power over life."

Toola nodded. "The knowledge was imparted through a mental link that Smooze formed after I...drank some of its blood."

"The report said that you were attacked by a vampony," Twilight said as she took a manilla folder from her saddlebag. "There's even a picture of the ashes left behind after you burned it." She showed them a photograph.

Toola sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

Cheerilee turned to her spouse. "No Toola, you have a right to be heard. It's never going to get better if you cower in fear."

"Am I missing something?" Twilight asked. "I know the report doesn't detail everything, but Starsong provided the details on what happened with the three of you."

"She told you what she knows," Toola said. "But I've been afraid to share what I know."

"I have an idea," Twilight began. "There's a communion spell that I've used a few times with Pinkie, and some of my other friends." She looked to Cheerilee. "But I'd need permission from both of you before I use it."

"I don't know," Cheerilee began. "There are some things that I don't want known."

"I won't report anything without your approval." Twilight offered. "I don't need details about what you get up to in private." Cheerilee and Toola blushed.

"Then I'll let you do what you have to," Cheerilee said.

"I agree as well," Toola added.

Twilight lit her horn, then leaned forward to touch it to Toolas'. Both unicorns seemed to go into a trance.

Toola and Twilight found themselves in a swirling rainbow-colored vortex. "Okay, the first thing is to find a stable area here. Toola, focus on a place where you feel comfortable." The swirling mass of color faded away, replaced by the walls of a den. White and blue rugs were arrayed on a hardwood floor, a pair of plush, flower-patterned couches took up the center of the room, arranged in an 'L' around a large low oak coffee table. Set in one wall was a red brick fireplace. "That's good. One of the rooms of your mansion, I assume." Twilight said as she looked about.

"Oui," Toola replied. "One of many dens, but this one is special to me."

"Ok, let's start with that," Twilight began. "What makes this room significant?" An image of a pine tree appeared in one corner, along with several brightly wrapped presents. Several ponies ranging in age from foal to elder shimmered into view, placed about the room. Twilight took in the vista. "I'm assuming that these are your relatives." She pointed out three of the younger ponies. "This looks like you, Starsong and Cheerilee as fillies." She then indicated some of the other ponies. "I recognize your parents. Also your valet, Jasper." She stopped next to a large Diamond Dog.

"I don't remember when he joined the family." Toola replied. "But Papa says that he was found while I was still a foal."

Twilight moved over to the tree. "So this is the room where your family held Hearths' Warmth Day." She walked back around to the couches. "I admire the vivid detail that you're able to bring out, Pinkies' mindscape is just as bright. But I digress." She cleared her throat. "If I remember, you got your cutie mark by acting. Can you focus on that?" The room shimmered, replaced by the stage of a high school auditorium. One wall opened on an audience of silhouetted ponies with glowing white eyes. "That's good. I can easily pick out your anxiety from this night."

"Can I change it back now?" Toola asked.

"In a moment," Twilight replied. "We need to find the source of your fear. And to do that, we need to deal with uncomfortable situations."

"I understand." Toola replied.

"Let's see here," Twilight mused as she trotted around the stage. "The first thing I'd like to know, is what exactly happened that final night. Can you recreate the events?"

"I can try." Toola replied. There was a slow dissolve as the environment changed. The unicorns found themselves in a hallway the top of a set of steps.

"I noticed that you were rather hesitant to bring this memory up."  Twilight looked around. "Colors are heavily muted, details are washed out, the doorways blur out the rooms beyond...All in all, I'd say that this place, wherever it is, didn't have a strong presence."

"It was little more than a rest stop," Toola replied, her voice taking on a snarky tone. "We should have skipped it."

"Bear with me, please," Twilight held up a hoof. "Walk me through was happened." A replica of Toola appeared, then entered one of the rooms. Twilight followed it, then watched as it strode towards a pile of debris. As the replica began sifting through the debris, Twilight noticed an emaciated figure entering the room, then creeping up on the replica. When it was close enough, it whispered something in replicas' ear, then both figures turned and left the room. Twilight returned to the hall and found Toola alone. She was gazing at the ceiling while breathing rapidly. "Ok, So you remember that somepony else snuck up on you, but you weren't aware of them at the time."

"I don't want to remember." Toola whispered.

"Let me try something." Twilight surrounded herself and Toola with a purple aura, then forced the event to rewind. As it repeated, Twilight willed the replicas' to lose facial features, and their colors to fade away. She noted the decrease in Toola's panic as the event was blurred. "There we go, a memory fade. You can still remember, but it's like the event happened to somepony else."

"Thank you," Toola replied, as she brought herself to watch. They followed the figures down to the basement. "This is where the attack happened."

Twilight did a quick inspection of the basement. "It's little more than a pit dug into the earth. Except for some supports that hold the house up, there's nothing here." She paused in front of the simulacra. "And this one suddenly has a thin transparent tentacle that reaches up from the ground, and pierces his chest." There was a sudden sensation of falling, then the pair found themselves in a cave with the remains of a tower. "Whoa! Warn me next time, please." Twilight snapped."

"Desole," Toola replied.

"I forgive you." Twilight replied, as she began investigating. "According to the report, this is the tower of the fallen archmagus known as 'Si Mu Ze.'" She entered the tower, with Toola reluctantly following. Inside was a teal-colored equinoid, with several tendrils extending from its' shoulders. The tendrils arced then entered into various diminutive ponies. Twilight recognized depictions of vamponies, luquins, and a miniature Nightmare Moon, with her armor being formed from the end of a tendril. "Fascinating." Twilight offered. "You're showing me that all these things are physically connected to Si Mu Ze." She peered at one of the tendrils. "That he shared his blood with them." She turned to Toola. "You're worried about turning into him?"

Toola nodded. "He gave me the knowledge of how he did what he did. As you see here,  anypony that had his blood was an extension of him."

"But that's not the whole story," Twilight said as she left the tower. Toola was eager to follow. The scene dissolved back the Chateau room. "We know what he did, we know from old accounts how he treated ponies. I can see what scares you, you worry about turning into him. But there's more to it, isn't there?" A chalkboard appeared, with diagrams forming as Twilight spoke. "The particulars of blood magic mean that the blood ward can only be broken by the same blood that made it. That would be proof that the Roani are descended from the Sarmanetians. But in order to get your blood, Si Mu Ze had to get some of his through the ward. How was that possible?"

"I don't know." Toola lamented. "I just know how he could mold himself and others into different shapes. And that it was innate to his blood, and now mine."

"Innate to the blood?" Twilight wondered. "I've heard of linking certain magical abilities to one's family line, but to link it to blood involves a certain amount of disregard for ones own well-being."

"And it's not just the knowledge that makes it work," Toola added. " I can sense that Ember and Tempest have the same potential that I do." Replicas of the fillies mentioned appeared next to Toola.

"Two of your children." Twilight commented. "But how are they the only ones? The ritual that you were granted-" realization dawned on Twilight. "Those two were the pair that you gave birth too! Of course they would share your blood. The Princesses spell combines essences into physical forms. That's why the other foals don't have the ability, they didn't share blood with you." She took on a serious tone. "Which means that anypony descended from you will be afflicted."

"I don't plan on having anymore foals." Toola replied. "And the knowledge can go with me to the grave."

"Not that easy, I'm afraid," Twilight replied. "If Tempest or Ember, or any of their children figure out what they're capable of, what's to stop them from abusing this ability?"

"What should I do?" Toola asked. "I'm the only pony who could teach them responsibly, but this ability scares me."

"I know of a few books that would help." Twilight offered. "And I'll tell you one more thing."

"What's that?"

"You are nothing like 'Si Mu Ze. You have friends, you have a spouse that loves you, you have children who adore you, and you don't have a desire to lord over others."

Toola Roola smiled. "Thank you, that helps a lot."

"You are not alone, Toola Roola." An image of King Sombra appeared next to Twilight as she continued. "I too have an ability that I'm afraid to use. Abyssal Magic. Sometimes considered part of Alicorn Magic because of how similar the two are."

"I still feel like I might lose who I am." Toola said.

"That's actually less of a problem than you think," Twilight replied with a grin. "What you're experiencing is called 'Unstable Identity Syndrome.' It afflicts obsessive actors and shapeshifters. It usually clears up after some time spent reaffirming who you are."

"How long does that usually take?" Toola wondered.

Twilight smiled as she faded from view.

"As long as you need," Twilight said.

Cheerilee flicked an ear. "Pardon?"

"Oh, she was just telling me something," Toola replied. "I think we need to take a vacation."

Twilight glanced at a nearby clock. "That didn't take long at all."

"What all happened in there?" Cheerilee asked. "It was only a minute, but it looked like you two were dealing with something serious."

"You could say that I was helping her with some inner demons," Twilight replied.

"So anyways..." Cheerilee began, draping a foreleg around Toola. "You mentioned something about an investigation."

"I'm going to put a recommendation in my report." Twilight replied. "I can make a request for a particular constable, and if what I saw was accurate, you'll be in good hooves."

"Alright, So in the meantime, what shall we do?" Cheerilee asked.

"I hear that the Veldt is nice this time of year," Twilight replied. "The rainy season is almost over, and the dry season won't kick in until next month."

"I don't think we've ever been there," Toola said. "Maybe I should ask Zecora for some advice before we go."

"Maybe I can offer some help," Twilight smiled. "My mother comes from an embassy town in the Veldt, and I've been there several times myself."

"We could take the fillies too," Toola pondered. "It could be a fun trip, and they could learn a bit as well."

"It's always good to learn," Cheerilee added. "Maybe we could look into other places as well."

"I've got it!" Toola exclaimed. "We could go on a Grand Tour."

"You mean like the old Noble custom?" That's rather pricey. And you have to have Noble blood, don't you?" Cheerilee looked to Twilight.

"Actually, the reforms of 848 enabled non-noble ponies to participate, provided they had the wealth. And Nobles can sponsor a particularly prestigious pony, if they so choose."

"Something to look into," Cheerilee said. "What about these reports you had for us?"

"Oh yes, thank you for reminding me." Twilight spread the reports on the table.