Chapters Six colourful ponies sat around a table in the basement of Twilight's castle. Various snacks, books, and paper covered most of the wooden surface with little areas open for dice to be rolled. Twilight sat patiently, her NPC finished two hours ago.
"Is anypony finished yet?" said Twilight breaking the silence.
"Almost done," replied Applejack.
Looking around the room she could see Applejack must be the only one. Rainbow Dash looked confused, Fluttershy looked like she wasn't having much better luck, Rarity was reading over her class again, and Pinkie was still snacking while waiting for her turn with one of the three Player's Handbooks.
"I still can't believe I'm here," Rainbow moaned. "Dungeons and Dragons is a nerd game, played by nerds. I should be out training! The next Wonderbolt tryouts are in two weeks! I don't have time to waste on things like this!"
"As opposed to sleeping in my orchard?" Applejack said with a smug look. "Besides this can be mighty fun, just give it a chance."
"Yeah Rainbow," Pinkie chimed in. "It can be super-duper fun with a capital F.U.N!"
"Fine,but this better be as fun as you keep saying it is."
"You gave books a chance and you didn't regret that," said Twilight. "Don't worry you won't regret this either."
After about an hour of dice rolling, rule checking, and snacking, The six where ready to start.
"Well that took longer than expected," Rarity said as she put the finishing touches on her character.
"We'd of been half an hour ago if somepony would of played something out of a Player's Handbook.” Applejack said with a rather annoyed look.
“I'm sorry I played something a bit more advanced than a fighter Applejack. Some of us like to put a bit of flavor and variety in our characters.”
“Ah may have played a fighter every time, but each one's been different. You play a different class the same way and call it different. Twilight's the only pony here that knows what you're play'n, and only because she read all of these before asking any of us to play.”
“Played the same? Why I-”
“Girls, girls, enough arguing,” Twilight cut in. “We're all done now and we can finally start.”
All of a sudden the monster manual's pages started flipping all by themselves. The pages stopped on the draconequus and everyone could see Discord dancing with the usually still painting of a dragon that was on the same page, “Start what?”
“Oh hey Discord, what do you want?”
“Now, now Twilight, I'm disappointed. I can't want to play a game with my friends?” Discord said as he popped out of the book and over to Fluttershy.
“No, er, well yes, but what is your motive? You always just want something for yourself, so let's not waste any time. What do you want?”
“Just what I said I wanted,” Discord said, now hugging Fluttershy. “I want to play a game with my friends.”
“Friends! You betrayed us for power and helped Tirek steal almost all of Equestria's magic, and now we're friends again?” yelled Rainbow
“Oh I'm past all of that, I forgive you”
“You forgive us?”
“Well yes, that's what friends do right? All but one of you couldn't stand being around me, so I took the better option. Now, I've forgiven you for being mean to me.”
“We couldn't stand being around ya,” Applejack began. “Because you didn't take reforming seriously.”
“You should know by now I don't do very well in the serious department.”
“Enough!” Twilight yelled “Discord, why do you want in our game?”
“Actually I would like to run it.”
“You? Run our game? Really?”
“Yes, give me a chance to prove I've reformed.”
“Do we even have a choice?”
“Well, I guess you could go all “Super Pony Sayian” on me, but other than that no.”
Rainbow looked confused “Super Pony What?”
“Don't you worry about it.” Turning back to Twilight. “I won't disappoint you, honest.”
“Oh fine,” Twilight said with a sigh. “What's the worst a chaos god can do right?”
“All let me see your Character Sheets, then we can begin.”
One by one they each handed Discord their characters. “Applejack the fighter and Fluttershy the Druid, never would have guessed. Pinkie Pie the Bard, fitting. Rarity the, umm, What is a Truenamer?”
Rarity answered, “It uses magic differently than other classes. Instead of casting spells like a Wizard it speaks words of power to alter the universe in ways that the caster desires.”
“Why would I allow something like that in my game? As chaotic as it sounds, it also sounds a bit powerful for my taste in players.”
“Well that's the description, but it's not as powerful as it sounds honestly.”
“Well we'll see won't we? Next is Twilight the Cleric. Never would have guessed that.”
“Well somepony had to,” Twilight replied. “Or else we wouldn't have any dedicated healers. It was going to be the NPC but, I'll play it to save time.”
“Fine, I just pegged you for a Wizard that's all. Last we have Rainbow Dash. Very good for your first time Rainbow Dash, I never would have guessed.”
Rainbow Dash wore a worried look on her face right before hearing “I mean a Rogue, I pegged you as more of a Ranger or Fighter,” Discord finished with a grin to rival the Cheshire Cat.
Rainbow let out a weak laugh. “Heh heh, well Twilight said we needed one, so why not, right?”
“Half of you played classes like you are in reality and almost all of you played the same race, but I don't think it'll be a problem. Now, sense everypony is ready. Let's begin,” Discord finished by crumpling up the sheets of paper with their characters on them and eating them.
“What in the hey did ya do that for,” Applejack yelled.
“Well you won't be needing them. Only I need the information on those sheets for this game. Besides, can you imagine how boring it would be to have to check a sheet of paper every time you did something to see what you got? My system is much better,” said Discord, and with a snap of his fingers every pony in the room blacked out.
“Ow,” was the first thing out of Twilight's mouth as she regained consciousness. “Where are we?” where the next. Followed by “what happened?”
She was answered by Discord as he appeared beside her. “Why you're in my game, couldn't you guess? As for what happened, I put all of you here.”
As the rest of her friends began waking up she asked, “well what do we do?”
“Why you adventure of course! But if I where to give a recommendation I would say to go to the nearby town.”
Twilight took a look around. They where in a huge open plain with mountains to the north and and a forest to the east, and sure enough to the south past a small wooded area was a riverside town. After she finished looking around she asked, “how do we get home?”
“There are many ways to do that actually. You could get a wishing gem, or defeat the evil queen, or even find a way that I haven't thought of yet. Oh before I forget I've enlisted the help of some your friends to help.”
“Our friends are helping you?”
“Well some of them. I couldn't get the help of any of the other princesses, but I got some ponies you know to help out.”
“How did you convince our friends to help you?”
“Are you joking? Most of them I asked jumped at the chance to be part of my game. It's amazing how much they care about you.”
“Okay fine,”Twilight looked at the the town. “Well girls it's about a day's walk from here. Let's get moving.”
Author's Note
My first attempt at writing. Please give my honest opinions on how to improve anything.
As the six walked to the town dusk approached, so they decided to set up camp in the wooded area not far from the settlement. The trees around them where in perfect rows, making it seem obvious the town planted the woods for use of lumber when they grew. Twilight could see the town from their camp, it looked about a three hour walk away. Why they planted the trees so far away from town she wasn't sure. As they sat around the fire they all noticed that they had taken on the appearance of their characters. Applejack was now in a suit of armor similar to the Royal Guard's and was carrying a large spear , also bearing similarities to the guard's. Aside from that however she looked just like she normally does, orange Earth Pony, hay colored mane, and her Cutie Mark was still the three apples it had always been. Pinkie Pie was wearing a green and pink outfit with many pockets and a jester's hat. Everything else was the same however, from her mane to her tail. Rainbow Dash was wearing a black cloak that covered her almost completely. She had a dagger at waist as well as many other tools used in her “profession.” Rarity wore a cloak similar to Rainbow Dash's, however her's was a bright red and was covered in gemstones forming various eye catching patterns. She was also carrying a short sword and a book in a strange language. Fluttershy's only possessions included a brown cloak and a small angry looking bunny which could have only been Angel. Twilight was in a white cloak with golden trim at her side was a mace and around her neck was a chain with Celestia circling the Sun on it. The only difference in her physical appearance besides her new garb was that she was no longer an Alicorn but a Unicorn. After they had finished their self inspections Discord decided to break the silence from his chair at the head of the game table looking down at the game mat, which now appeared to be a window into the world the six ponies where in.
“You know you're all boring,” was the first thing he said to the group.
Twilight spoke up looking for the source of the voice to no avail. “Boring? How are we boring?”
“You could have been anything! Twilight you could have been a Pegasus! Applejack you could have been a Unicorn! But no! Almost all of you decided to be who you already are!”
Twilight was about to speak up again, but he knew that Discord was right. They has nearly limitless ways to flesh out their characters, but once they became those characters the where pretty much exactly how they where in real life. Sure some aspects where different and some of her friends where better at playing different personalities than others, but they never did go far from who they where normally. Even Applejack who was surprisingly good at fleshing out a different back story for each character and who they where vices and all. They where still like Applejack in the end , honest, hardworking, and stubborn. Rarity was perhaps the worst offender of the characters are just like you accusation. While none of her characters where the same class (most of her characters where some odd obscure class nopony but Twilight had even heard of) she didn't even work on the personality of the characters she played. They seemed like Rarity with a different name. Given the classes she played and the odd abilities of each one they could have been the same class and nopony would have noticed, because nopony understood anything she played but her and Twilight.
“Well it turned out well and good this time,” Applejack stated. “Imagine if somepony played a Griffon or a Dragon, or worse in this case a Stallion.” Most of them shuddered at the thought of a gender swap.
“It would have been hilarious!” Discord said as he started laughing. “You know we just started, I would allow you to make some changes before we get too far.”
“You know,” Applejack replied. “Sometimes hilarious isn't what's best for everypony.”
“Oh whatever, you all just have no sense of imagination.”
Most of the argument's meaning was lost to Pinkie. She thought of herself “How could you not be you? If you weren’t you, who where you?” Nopony noticed the ear to ear grin on Rainbow Dash's face that arrived when the argument began.
Back around the table in Twilight's basement Discord was interrupted by the arrival of Twilight's number one assistant.
“I'm back! I brought the more snacks!” Spike announced as he backed a small cart full of junk food into the room already full of junk food.
“Why hello Spike! Glad you could join us!” Discord welcomed Spike into the room and grabbed a bag of chips off the cart. Not to be confused with helping Spike move the cart into the room.
“Hey Discord,” Spike said with his usual happy tone. “Where's Twilight?”
“Oh you know, getting into character. It's a very important aspect of these kind of games and she's taking very seriously.”
“Okay, so where is she?” Spike asked sounding slightly annoyed knowing not to trust anything Discord says at face value.
Discord sighed. “You're not just going to let this go are you?”
“Twilight said that when she finished with her game today she would teach me how to play.”
“ Well in that case,” Discord said pulling spike over to the game mat. “Look and see for yourself. Her and her friends are perfectly safe, for now.”
Spike looked into the mat/screen and sure enough his friends were safe.
“So,” Discord began. “You want in?”
“What?” Spike asked. “I don't know how play.”
“Not a problem my friend! You should know by now that uncle Discord has his ways,” Discord said with a grin wide enough to make the Cheshire Cat green with envy.
Back in Discord's game world our heroes where almost to the town after deciding not to sleep for the night because the town was close. Although morning had arrived it didn't feel like they had been walking all night. They got their first good look at the town. It was a decently sized town only slightly larger than Ponyville. There was a river along the Eastern side of the town the West of it was surrounded by a light wooded area and the North and South where open to large plains and farmland with a dirt road leading through the entire settlement. As they reached the entrance to the town they could see a sign that read “Riverdale.” Two guards where standing by each side of the road in the entrance. Rarity was the first to speak.
“So, this is the town we saw from our camp.”
“Looks like it,”Twilight answered. “Let's go in.”
As they approached the town the guards stopped them. They could see clearly now that both where Earth Ponies. One had a tan coat and brown mane ant tail and the other had a dark brown coat and bright yellow mane that clashed against the rest his coloring. Both guards wore what looked like some kind of light chain mail.
“Halt,” shouted the tan guardsman. “State your business in Riverdale.”
“Yeah! Whadd'ya want?” The brown guard yelled shortly after with what sounded like a very heavy Manehatten accent.
“We're new here,” Pinke answered. “We want to make friends in the town and go on adventures! Hey what are your names? Do you want to be friends with us?”
The brown guard spoke up. “Whoa, whoa, easy, slow down, chill-out. Youse said you where new here. What's the deal?”
The tan guard translated. “My partner means, are you just new to the town or the area entirely? We only stopped you because we don't recognize you. So where are you from?”
This time Twilight answered. “We're from err-somewhere far from here! Just passing through.”
The brown guard replied. “Well ya picked a bad time for both of those ya know. The Queen has been looking for outsiders like you girls, and she's scheduled for a visit today. Ya know, like here, today.”
“Okay,” Dash started. “Who is this queen?”
“Ya mean ya don't know?” the brown guard shouted looking a little more than panicked.
“Err, no,” Dash answered .
“How do ya outsiders not know of the Changling Queen?” The brown guard questioned.
“Ya answered yer own question,” Applejack said.
“Okay, okay enough,” The tan guard said finally able to speak over his partner. “You can enter the town, but keep your heads down.”
“Thank you,” Twilight spoke again. I think we do know her actually. Don't worry we’ll keep quiet.”
The inside of the Riverdale was nothing like Ponyville. Riverdale was darker in coloring. It didn't seen gloomy just darker. Instead of the pinks and whites of Ponyville where replaced with brown logs and gray stones. There was a market place as well as a lumber mill and a large building that appeared to be the town hall. Most of the townsfolk seemed to be crowded in the town square or along the side of the main road through the town. A loud buzzing could be heard from the direction of the town square. As our heroes approached they could see a fancy sky-carriage that was completely covered concealing the rider, but they had a pretty good idea who it was. The carriage was surrounded by undisguised Changlings on all sides.
“Well,” Applejack said. “Ten bits says it's Chrysalis.”
“You're on!” Pinkie answered.
“Ya sure?” Applejack replied.
“Yep, I'm feeling lucky!”
A Changling wearing a suit of armor announced to the crowd. “All bow before your queen!” As he shouted this the carriage unfolded into a stage. “The Great and Powerful Trixie!”
The mane six stood there mouths agape except for pinkie who was smiling, happy about winning ten bits.
Author's Note
Sorry it's a little uneventful. Needed to set up a few things and explain some stuff. If you see any problems let me know. Thanks for reading!
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The Great and Powerful Trixie! Changling Queen?
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?
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
“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
“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!
Twilight paced back and forth in front of the campfire the sun long since set and the changelings lost. Each Rainbow Dash sat tied up in on opposite ends of the fire staring at each other, each trying to give the other a worse death glare. The rest of the mane six sat patiently having already tried to figure out which Dash was the real one with no success.
"hmm,I think I know what to do," said Twilight.
"Well what are you waiting for?" Rarity asked. "What is it?"
"Yeah Twilight," Pinkie said. "I want to know who the real Dashie is!"
"Girls let me tell you it then and quit interrupting!" Twilight said annoyed. "So it's simple, we ask her about things only the real Rainbow Dash would know. Simple right? So," she said turning to face the two in question.
Twilight cleared her throat. "A-hem. So, what was the name of the professional stunt flying team you wanted to join?" Twilight was sure the real Rainbow Dash would have answered in a second, but both sat there staring at her.
Both simultaneously answered with. "The Wonderbolts!" Leaving Twilight stumped.
"H-how do you both know? Isn't one of you one of Discord's creations?"
"Hey! I am one hundred percent Rainbow Dash, and that means no Discord was involved in the making of this."
The other Dash laughed almost falling in the fire. "Yeah, Twilight, do you really think Discord could create somepony as awesome as me?"
Twilight was impressed at how accurately Discord could match Rainbow's arrogance, or perhaps the changeling was a real one who knew who Rainbow Dash was? Trixie was here, so actual changelings would make sense too.
"Umm, Twi," Came Applejack's voice from on her log near one of the Rainbows. "If you're a cleric, can't you do some of yer magic? A revealing spell, truth-telling spell, or something?"
Twilight thought for a moment. She hadn't played a cleric in a while, usually opting to play sorcerers, so her spells for once didn't come straight to mind.
"Zone of Truth! I can cast that and they can't lie!"
Rarity face-hooved. "You could have done that this whole time? Really now, we've been awake for hours trying to solve this and you could have just done that? I expected you of all ponies to know what your class and spells."
Twilight gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry, I don't play these often," she took a deep breath. "Alright, here we go."
Twilight focused on her casting. Being -in game terms- low level and therefore new to casting, it took some effort to cast. A feeling she was happy to know once again, as she could cast most spells with ease in the real world. It felt nice to have to place some effort into the spell.
A bright golden aura surrounded the camp encasing everyone in an aura of holy light.
"Now," Twilight spoke." I ask again, which one of you is the real Rainbow Dash?"
The Rainbow Dash to her right raised her hoof. "Me! I am!"
The now known fake Dash was sweating visibly. "What are you going to do with me?" Leaving them all stumped again.
"We could just let her go," Fluttershy quietly suggested.
"And have her replace another one of us later? Not a chance!" Applejack objected.
"Well what will you do to her then?" Rarity spoke up. "Kill her like some barbarian? We don't have many options here and letting her go seems like the best one."
"Can we keep her? Having a changeling would be super cool!" Pinkie added to the debate.
Twilight decided it was time to end the argument.
"Enough, we can't keep her, but we can't kill her. We have to let her go or leave her tied up. Lets take a vote. All in favor of letting her go?"
Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy and Twilight raised their hooves.
"In favor of leaving her tied up?"
Only Rainbow Dash and Applejack voted to leave her.
"Then it's settled," Twilight smiled. "Applejack, cut her ropes."
Applejack did as told and cut the ropes keeping the changeling bound, and also freed Rainbow Dash from her's. In an instant the changeling took to the sky, flying as fast as her wings could carry her.
"Ah hope you knew what you were doing Twilight," Applejack spoke. "Letting her go is mighty risky."
"I know it was risky, but what else could we have done? After all, killing is wrong especially on somepony who was helpless, and leaving her here could have doomed her."
With the business settled, the six of them decided to stay at the same camp would be foalish after letting an enemy go free, so they moved on pushing through the night toward Trixonia, treading deep into the woods along the road. After a while, something seemed off. There was a large camp in the middle of the road.
Twilight looked from a distance at the camp on the middle of the main road through the woods.
"Is it bandits?" Rainbow asked. "I'd love to beat down some bandits."
"I don't know," Twilight answered. "Could you check it out? You're the sneaky one."
With a salute rainbow dash started sneaking toward the camp. Eventually reaching the tents and looking inside. Several ponies scattered about, lightly armored and poorly armed. A few looked like they could hold their own, but if a party of heroes came through here, she knew those bandits would be out of luck. At least she hoped they were bandits.
Daring to peek further she slowly moved closer. There was a large tent in the middle of them. Seemed to be the best location for the bandit's leader, and the best loot.
After pondering for a moment, she decided what was the harm in taking a look? After all, what kind of rogue couldn't even sneak past some bandits?
Rainbow Dash moved behind a crate and looked to see if anypony was likely to spot her. She was in luck! No pony was looking her way yet, so she made a move for the big tent. After quietly scurrying through the camp, moving from crate to crate, she made it to the tent. She carefully opened the flap-door and looked inside.
Inside the tent was a minotaur, at least seven foot tall, clad in scale armor, and wielding an ax the size of a pony. He was too busy sharpening his weapon on a grindstone to notice her looking inside. She could also see a small open box with gold up to the brim. It was now or never.
While under the cover of the grindstone's noise she was able to sneak past him and reached the box. She started looking through it, but soon noticed something seemed off.
The Grindstone had stopped!
"What do you think you're doing little pony? Trying to steal from Iron Will?" He flexed a bit showing off his muscles. Looking away towards a mirror. "A foolish endeavor for I am...Iron Will! What do you think of that?"
As he looked back, he noticed that the Rainbow maned thief had already left, with a portion of his treasure.
"Arrgggh! No one steals from Iron Will! Especially not some little pony!" He ran out to his camp. "Find that thief!"
Back with the group, Rainbow Dash was getting a lecture from Twilight.
"I can't believe you actually stole from them!"
Rainbow smirked. "I know right? I forgot just how huge Iron Will is."
"I mean stealing from them! What if they weren't bandits?"
"Oh relax, none of this is even real right? Who cares if I steal stuff from some goons parked in the road. No pony was hurt. Now, are you going to help me count?"
The rest of her party seemed disappointed in her, minus Pinkie who was too focused on the thrill of adventure.
"Come on Twilight." Rainbow tried to calm her. "We didn't have any bits, now we do. We're saving the world right? We can't do that broke can we?"
"That doesn't make theft okay!" Twilight objected. "Don't steal things!"
As they were arguing a tree fell beside them, and looking over it was Iron Will, with a furious look in his eyes and several ponies at his back.
“She right, you DON'T steal form Iron Will!” He flexed again, this time keeping his eyes locked on Rainbow Dash. “I'm going to teach you little ponies a lesson!” He grabbed the axe from his back and stood towering over them.
“Wait!” Twilight shouted to the Minotaur. “There's no need for violence. We can give it all back.”
“I'm afraid that won't do, you've got more than just what you took from me. I think all of your possessions will do and we can call this even.”
Twilight backed up, looking to her friends. Rainbow and Applejack looked ready to fight, Fluttershy had already backed up quite a bit, Rarity was looking to Twilight for a sign on what to do, and Pinkie was playing a song on her lute.
She took a step forward. “We won't give everything we have!”
Iron Will grinned. “I was hoping you'd say that.”
Author's Note
I seriously apologize for the delay, and if it's not that great this time. I will ensure the next chapter arrives sooner, and has much more to it! I just noticed today was the one year mark since an update, and realized if I didn't start now I may let it die!
I won't let it die folks, and the story will get much better soon. With some action coming up.
