Twilight stood there unable to believe her eyes or ears. Trixie was on her stage before them, horn glowing to match the aura around several props, signature hat and cloak, her wings where outstretched. Wait, wings? Since when did Trixe have wings? Twilight was about to ask Trixie herself when Pinkie Pie couldn't help but run as close as Trixie's guards would allow and cheer.

“Hi Trixie! It's nice to see you! I haven't seen you in soooo long! Not since you used that dark amulet to enslave Ponyville, challenged Twilight to a duel you cheated in using that same amulet, and threw my mouth in a magic trash can-”

“Umm, Pinkie,” Applejack cut off her friend. “That's why it's not nice to see her.”

“Oh Applejack, she said she was sorry.”

“Ya know sometimes sorry doesn't cut it Pinkie.”

“It's all in the past now,” Twilight said. “What are you doing here Trixie?”

“Trixie is ruling the Changelings. What does it look like?” Trixie answered.

“Okay,” Twilight said unsatisfied. “How?”

“Discord said he was going to play a game with you to try and make up for what he did and offered Trixie a role in his game. He said all Trixie had to do was oppose you and she could rule an empire, err, hive or something, whatever a Changeling kingdom is called.”

Twilight was confused by this. Discord planned the game? Why would Trixie oppose them if she felt bad about what she did? What other surprises did Discord have planned? At least she could have one of those answered now.

“Why are you opposing us? I thought you wanted to make up for what you did?”

“Trixie does, which is why Trixie took his offer. This is all a game right? So, nothing Trixie does here has any real world consequences. Besides this is my only chance to finally beat you, and Trixie doesn't see herself becoming an Alicorn Princess anytime soon in Equestria.”

Twilight stood unable to counter Trixie's argument. According to Discord this was only a fabricated world, and if it was only a game what harm was there in Trixie ruling the Changelings? Discord did say he got some of her friends to help, but if Trixie was one of them who where the others? How many others where there that could be involved? What where they going to be when they joined Discord's game? What happened to Spike? Twilight was going to ask but Trixie had other plans.

“Now if you'll hold still, Trixie needs to capture all of you!”

“What? Why?” Twilight shouted.

“Because, that's how Trixie wins the game. I've lost to you every time Twilight, but I won't lose this time! Changelings capture them!”

The Changelings rose into the sky and darted toward the six ponies. Each Changeling cloaking itself in emerald fire before dive bombing the heroes. Dash shouted to her friends.

“Let's take em!”

“Are ya insane?” Applejack yelled back “We need ta get outta here!”

“Everypony split up!” Twilight yelled. “There's a better chance of escaping that way! We'll meet up at our camp site, run!”

Back in the Twilight's basement Discord was laughing out of his chair.

“Huh what's funny?” Spike asked.

“Oh just Twilight breaking one of the most important game rules. And you wanted her to teach you? Ha! You're better off with me.”

As the group split up Pinkie went with Applejack and Rarity, Twilight with Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash disappeared completely down an alleyway.

The trio went east toward an exit only to cut off by a squad of Changelings while the horde closed in behind them. Trapped! Escape seemed impossible until.

“Quickly! Over here!” a stallion's voice shouted from a near by alleyway. The trio quickly complied seeing no other possible escape. As the three entered the alley they could see the stallion, a dark brown Earth Pony with a dull gray mane barely visible beneath a cloak. “Quickly to the end of the alley follow me!”

As the swarm of Changeling soldiers chased the ponies into the alley they faced only a dead end, their quarry nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile heading in the opposite direction Twilight the Cleric and Fluttershy the Druid where doing their best to stay ahead of an angry swarm of Trixie's soldiers. A nearby alley caught Twilight's attention. Twilight using her Divine Magic created a cloud of fog to hide her and Fluttershy from the oncoming swarm, after putting up the cloud she pulled Fluttershy into the alley and watched as the Changelings unknowingly passed by them. Twilight let out a sigh of relief only to jump at a voice coming from behind her.

“Hey you, over here,” the voice came from a young colt who looked barely ten with a tan mane and a light blue coat. “You're the travelers that got the queen all uppity ain't ya?”

Twilight was unsure if it was safe to answer, but it was just a child so... “Umm, yeah that's us. Why are you asking?”

“We got an underground resistance. The queen keeps her soldiers around to watch over us, but we still found a few places they don't know about. She imprisons anypony questions her rule and taxes us heavily. We can't pay the outrageous amount she wants from us, but you can help us! She's afraid of you for some reason, The older ponies have a plan for stoppen her, but can't do it and won't tell me. I'm sure they’ll tell you though! Follow me!”

Twilight was worried about following this “resistance member” anywhere, after all he could be a Changeling trap, but what if he wasn't? What if there really was a resistance? Was Trixie really that bad of a ruler for all her talk of redemption? No, she couldn't leave somepony in need even if it was risky.

“Alright, take us to your leader.”

Rainbow had no trouble escaping from the swarm. Than again; most fifth level rogues don't, especially not one as awesome as her, but if it boiled down to it she had a special ability to fall back on other than her maxed out ranks is flying with skill focus for good measure. A special ability that Discord didn't seem to mind, after all he even said she did good on creating her character right? But after today she would have to tell her friends, but what would they think? It was just a game, or was it now? It didn't feel like a game now that they became their characters, but most of them didn't do something so different. She thought about it. No, they're her friends, they'll understand. That settled it, she had to tell them, but how?

Under the town Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie where following the stallion who had confessed his name was Iron Smith, his profession made even more obvious by his mark which was a hammer striking an anvil. Applejack was nervous, something about this whole situation seemed off.

“So ahh, who are you again? Not you, your group ah mean,” Applejack asked.

The stallion spoke up. “We are a resistance fighting in the shadows against the tyrant queen. She taxes us too heavily to pay and has told us if we can't she'll tear down our town to build a statue in her honor.”

“How horrible,” Rarity said.

“She sounds like a real party pooper. How can she be so mean? I didn't see that amulet from before on her,” said Pinkie.

That does it, Applejack thought to herself. She's gone too far! It doesn't matter if this is real or not, it's still wrong. We need to stop her before she does anything worse.

Applejack couldn't take it anymore. “So, how can we help?”

Twilight and Fluttershy where following the colt that found them as he lead them to the tunnels under the town. As they entered the tunnels Twilight to ask for more information about the group who wanted their help.

“So, you're a resistance faction who plan on usurping Trixie due to her over taxation of your populace and inappropriate leadership over her governed domain?” That about sums it up right? Twilight thought to herself.

“Uhh, what?” the colt responded.

Oh, right. He's just a child.

“Umm, Twilight means to say,” Fluttershy said trying to help. “You want to stop Trixie because she's bad right?”

“Yeah that's it. Why didn't you say so in the first place?” The colt said looking to Twilight.

Twilight decided perhaps she should wait to ask her questions to the leadership of the resistance.

Rainbow was watching the town from the rooftops. For some reason the Changelings where only searching on the ground level. While it's true only her and Fluttershy could fly it still seemed strange they wouldn't even look on the rooftops. What ever the reason it didn't matter, she had to get back to her camp. Unfortunately that meant sneaking slowly away. Maybe she wasn't cut out for being a rogue?
Maybe if she asked nicely Discord would let her change her class? Nah. Rainbow knew she was many things but a quitter was not one of them, besides it was the one character Discord seemed to like and she had a pretty good idea why.

Applejack's group reached what seemed to be the innermost area of the tunnel system just in time to see Twilight and Fluttershy arrive with the colt who found them. As they looked round the room it looked like an office almost, with a desk and papers strewn about. The only things that stood out where the banner hanging in the background that read. “Freedom for all of Equis” and also “Sic Semper Tyrannis”,and several pictures of Trixe with negative graffiti all over them. Seemed these ponies really hated Trixie. If all they where told was true they had good reason to hate her, but there must be something more. Ponies don't just start rebellions over taxes and threats. Maybe they weren’t like ponies in Equestria? Even after Trixie enslaved Ponyville most ponies where willing to forgive her, but these ponies where looking for a take down and it didn't seem like they where willing to forgive and forget. Twilight's head filled with questions, but before she could ask any of them.

“Where's Rainbow Dash?” Rarity asked.

“Knowing Rainbow she's wait'n back at our camp already,” Applejack replied. “Probably outran the entire swarm and's wondering what's taking us so long.”

“Applejack's right,” said Twilight. “Rainbow can take care of herself.”

“Aww”, Pinkie groaned. “I played a Bard so I could celebrate with everypony when we made new friends. It won't be the same without Dashie.”

“Ahem, can I have your attention please?” The question came from a green coated orange maned mare who had just walked in from one of the tunnels. “I assume you're the ponies that got Trixie's attention?”

Twilight stepped forward “Yes, that's us.”

“Then allow me to introduce myself. I am Taxing Tribulation the mayor of Riverdale and leader of the resistance here. Please do not let my name fool you I am not a fan of heavy taxes, I'm just very capable under stress and am good at understanding legal processes. However we are not here to dwell on my name now are we? We're here to talk about overthrowing Trixie.”

Twilight had a bad feeling about where this conversation was going.

“And let me guess,” Rarity began “You want our help to do it correct?”

“Yes that's correct, we wouldn't be having this conversation otherwise.”

“And what makes you think we're gonna help you?” Applejack responded.

Twilight was caught off guard by her friend's response. “Applejack! How can you say that! Of course we're going to help them.”

“I think Applejack has a point Twilight,” added Rarity. “These ponies hide in underground tunnels and need to stay hidden to survive. So, they see ponies who get a reaction out of Trixie and just assume that they're willing to help overthrow her? It seems awfully suspicious to me.”

“What's gotten into you two!” Twilight yelled, These ponies need our help and you're willing to turn them down because they asked for it?”

Applejack still had doubts about them. It's true that it seemed kinda strange that they would come to them about it, but Trixie did recognize them and had them attacked in front of the town so it made sense the resistance ponies would look for them. “I'm sorry about that, just seemed strange.”

Rarity was still suspicious, but Twilight had a point. “Well, when you put it that way.”

“Good,” Twilight said satisfied to have convinced her friends to help. Turning back to the resistance leader she asked. “How can we help?”

“Here's what's going on, sense you all seem not to know somehow. Trixie rose to power about one thousand years ago and ever sense she has slowly marched across the land with her Changeling army. She is a great and powerful wizard who has thwarted any efforts to remove her from power either
with her magic or her army. But we believe we have figured out a way to stop her once and for all!” The mayor seemed like she was about to give a riling speech. “We have out about an artifact that when constructed will grant a single wish with no restrictions or backlash. The wish will happen exactly how the pony who uses it wants it too. Unfortunately,” the mayors mood seemed to drop. “We do not know where the pieces are.”

“Well that's just great,” said Applejack. “We'll look for the pieces all over without any clue as to where to look right?” The sarcasm in her voice was palpable.

“Well, I didn't say we where completely clueless. In the capital city of Trixonia there is a place called the Great Library. I believe that there you could find out where to look for the pieces.”

Twilight's eyes lit up “Did you say great library?”

Applejack's ears drooped “Did you say Trixonia?”

The mayor looked at them. “Yea and yes. The fastest way there is north where you came in. If you follow the path for about two weeks you'll arrive in Trixonia.”

“Two weeks!” Rarity yelled. “I couldn't leave Sweetie Belle alone at the boutique for that long! Celestia knows what she might do.”

“I'm sorry, but I don't know any faster ways there.”

“Don't worry Rarity,” Twilight said trying to comfort her. “I'm sure that Discord wouldn't let anything happen to her.”

Discord who was currently helping spike pick a race to play couldn't help but stop to clarify things. Time seemed to stop in the world around the six ponies including Rainbow who was currently crawling through a window onto a building.

“Ahem, some ponies have expressed concern for the well being of their homes and families. Allow me to say that on my honor as the spirit of chaos, nothing will happen to your friends and families outside my game. There, happy?”

“Err, Yes?” Rarity said with even more concern in her voice.

“Good, back to my story.”

Time returned to normal around the ponies and the mayor was standing there with a smile on her face.

“Are there any more questions? No? Get going down that tunnel over there,” she said pointing to one of the tunnels. It leads just past the north exit, you have to hurry.”

“Wait,” said Twilight. “I still have some questions.”

Twilight realized she wouldn't be able to ask them as her hosts preceded to shove her and her friends into the tunnels. Twilight couldn't help but wonder what had the resistance in such a rush to get them out? As soon as the five of them where out of earshot of their former hosts Applejack spoke up.

“So that was strange. They seemed happy until we started poking about em. I think they're hiding something.”

“Applejack, didn't you say earlier that it was suspicious how they where so open with us?” Rarity replied.

“You did too!”

“Well I stick by what I said. It was and is, but it makes more sense that they didn't tell us everything.”

“Rarity you're the kind of pony who hates being left out of the loop, and now you're okay with them not telling us everything? It only seems right with us helping them and all.”

“Hmm true, and they did seem rather intent on getting us out as fast as they could.”

Pinkie cut in. “I just hope I can use play my instruments soon. We've been rushing around like crazy sense we got here. I like rushing around and all, but I can't use my Bardic party stuff when I can't play. Maybe I can throw a “We escaped the Changelings” party when we find Dashie!”

“Might want to hold off on that one sugar-cube,” Applejack said with a concerned look. “We don't even know if Rainbow Dash escaped.”

“Don't worry,” said Twilight. “It is Rainbow Dash. When we where creating our characters she asked how to make the fastest flier possible. If she listened she should be able to leave any Changelings in the dust.”

“I'm gonna be left in the dust!” Rainbow said loud enough for only herself to hear. “There's no way they haven't made it out by now.” Rainbow Dash was currently hiding in the back of a cart on it's way to the north exit. “Where did they go anyway? I'm supposed to be the sneaky one. Stupid Changelings are watching all the exits. I'd fly out but there looking up now too. What am I gonna do?” She thought for a moment about her character, her class, and her race. “Oh, Celestia I can't believe I forgot about that!” Rainbow said remembering something important about her character. “I'll be out of here in no time.”

The group of five finally after what felt like an hour of trotting through the tunnel found the exit
at it's end. After leaving it through a trapdoor that was covered in shrubbery on the outside sped quickly to their camp outside of town. They weren't surprised to see Rainbow Dash waiting for them.

“What took you girls so long?” She said with a smug grin.

They were surprised when the heard Rainbow dash behind them.

“Sorry I took so long, how did you girls get away so fast I-,” she stopped mid sentence and stared.

Both Rainbow Dashes stared at each other, both saying at the same time.

“She's a Changeling!”

Twilight could already feel a headache on the way. “Today just wasn't crazy enough for Discord already, was it?”

Back in Twilight's basement, Discord for the second time today laughed himself out of his chair.

Author's Note

If you see any errors please tell me. Also I'm sorry if this chapter feels off or like an info dump or is paced to quickly. I've had a crazy writer's block for this one and have already corrected it at least three times. I promise better work in the future, and thank you for reading!