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                   To catch a changeling                   
                       -by Marklar-                        
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                   To catch a Changeling                   
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To catch a Changeling
Since becoming a princess one of the less notable changes to Twilights life, along with the occasional filly or colt asking for an autograph, where the rude awakenings she would often receive from Spike. He would pull at the sheets and shout, unable to hold his excitement. Most of the time, the news he brought did little to excite Twilight (most likely due to fact she had been woken up after a long night studying spells among other things) so Spike was left to revel in in his enthusiasm alone.
With the echo of a burp filling the room to its furthest corners, Spike scurried up the stairs screaming as loud as his little lungs would allow: “Twilight! Twilight! Twilight!” His cries where met with nothing more than the groan of the now awakening princess.
“What is it this time Spike?”  Twilight forced out the sentence as best she could give the circumstances. “Probably just another muffin shop opening” she thought to herself, wishing she could stay in today. If anything, her duties as princess had made her more of an introvert than ever. Her friends would often stop by but she rarely initiated in more than the blandest conversation with them. In fact, her friends had started to worry about her recently.
After a sigh, Twilight was ready for another day of playing princess, nothing more. And that’s just what she expected but she would be wrong… For today would be very different, which was secretly what she hoped for, but this was another kind of different.
Her thoughts of what the day might hold where interrupted, once again, by spike. “Twilight!”
“Spit it out spike, I don’t want to be here all day” Twilight said impatiently.
“Its Princess Celestia, she’s called for an urgent meeting of you and your friends.”
“Whatever for?” Asked Twilight, her voice peaking with intrigue.
“I don’t know, it doesn’t say on the letter.” It was strange for Celestia not to include a reason on one of her letters, especially one of this importance. However Twilight was too concerned to notice and started to pack anything she might need.
“Am I coming?” Asked Spike gingerly
“I don’t think so Spike, besides this could be dangerous and I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“Ok.” Spike was deflated. “When will you be back?” he wondered.
“If it didn’t say on the letter then who knows, it may be a while. Maybe you could look after Rarity’s cat” joked Twilight. Spike just shrugged it off and went into the other room.
After a swift goodbye Twilight was on her way to the train station where she was met with a familiar set of voices.
“Where are ya’ll rushin’ off to!” One of them said through their country accent. It was Applejack.
“Don’t be shy darling, after all, it’s been so long” Another exclaimed in a much more privileged tone. Twilight turned to see her five best friends Applejack, Rarity, Pinky Pie, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash.
She felt slightly more at ease once she saw their smiling faces but this bliss was shattered by the crude questions Rainbow Dash spared no time in asking.
“Why have you been so busy lately? I mean… I know you’re a princess and all but…” She was interrupted by a much softer, but just as stern voice.
“It’s okay Twilight, we understand, you’ve just been really occupied with all your studies to spend time with us.” Twilight could always count on Fluttershy to be the voice of reason when the others where clouded by their emotions.
“Umm I don’t know if you ponies remember but we have a TRAIN TO CATCH, YAAY.” Shouted Pinkey, enthusiastic as ever.
“Pinkies right ya’ll, we can talk on the train, it’s a long ride to Canterlot.” Approved Applejack. With no further ado they left for the train station with high hopes for what the princess might have in store for them.
There was lots of catching up done on the journey to Canterlot but the chatter had died down and most ponies where asleep now, except for Pinkie and Rarity, both of whom where exited at any excuse to go to Canterlot mainly for the grand architecture and upper class folk. Well at least that was the case for Rarity. Pinkie had a very humble, yet even more unlikely, vision of the theoretical ‘party’ she believed Celestia had in store for them, at least she hoped.
When they finally arrived at Canterlot, the group was some degree more tense. Even Pinkie was slightly drained (mainly due to her sleepless night of excitement). The group was met off the train by a special division of Celestias guard who where tasked with escorting them to Celestia.
“Can’t we at least do a bit of shopping?!” Rarity pleaded with the guard. “I saw a mare wearing a dress that was absolutely DEVINE!”
“Afraid not ma’am, Celestia made it very clear that we bring you to her as soon as you arrived” relayed the lead member of the team.
“Do you know why we’re here?” Pinkie asked before Rainbow Dash or Twilight had the chance.
“I’m afraid not, Celestia has kept the contents of your meeting under wraps, she been very secretive lately.” This time the response came from a less experienced, but still qualified member of the team.
“Well it’s about time we started moving, save the questions for Princess Celestia” Ordered the commander and the rest of the ponies followed suit, including a reluctant Rarity.
It wasn’t a long walk to the castle from the station and soon the open gardens, luscious with plants and wildlife, would be replaced by the pristine hallways of the castle.
“C’mon Fluttershy” Whispered Rainbow Dash Sharply. She had been stopping at nearly every shrub and tree conversing with the all of the wildlife.
“Oh. I’m not slowing the group down, am I?” Her face like an inspired Filly soon turned into one of embarrassment and fear.
“Na don’t be silly Fluttershy, Rainbows just being impatient is all.” Reassured Applejack, glaring at Rainbow dash. “You know how sensitive she is, or did you forget” she thought to herself, but not wanting to disturb the peace or make the group any more tense, she didn’t share that sentiment.
As they approached the gates to the castle the group fell silent with intimidation, they hadn’t entered the castle from this angle before. The lead guard shouted an order to the guards at the gate to open the door. Applejack tried to penetrate the height of the gates with her eyes and identify any of the figures at the top of the gate, but to no avail. The shade made by the gate made Rarity cold, so much so she was considering taking out a scarf she had packed upon receiving Celestia’s letter. “If only it went with my dress” She thought to herself. Not even considering the fact that she was the only pony to have dressed up at all.
With a tremendous screech that made one of Pinkies screams sound like Fluttershy’s whisper, the gates creaked open revealing a blinding beam of light that forced all the group to turn away, less their eyes be damaged by the intensity of the light. “Is it just me, or is the sun like, 20% bigger?” pondered Rainbow Dash. Twilight also noticed that, “but Celestia had never messed up the orbit before, at least not since the burning of ’74” she thought.
“Well it is brighter than…” Applejack was stopped before she could even finish her countryism. There stood Celestia, waiting in the gardens.
“Celestia!” exclaimed Twilight sounding more worried than exited. After bowing and the customary pleasantries, the group made their way indoors.
“Look at the décor!” screamed Rarity sounding more excited than a filly on hearth's warming eve. Looking at the recently renovated interior, and all of the royal insignia combined with all the extravagant patterns in the walls and doors sparked a thought of suspicion in Applejack as well as the guards.
“This was fancy, even for Celestia” she thought to herself.
Upon reaching the end of the hallway the group reached a small conference room. “You may leave us now guards” commanded Celestia more sternly than usual.
“Yes your majesty” the leader responded. Celestia then proceeded to shut the door behind them leaving only Twilight, her friends, and Celestia in the room.
“Now I suppose you’re all wondering why I’ve brought you here today.” Said Celestia through a pessimistic face”.
“FOR THE PARTY OF COURSE!!!” Expressed Pinkie, leaping about the room, causing temporary embarrassment for Twilight.
“I’m afraid the situation calls for anything but a party” the alicorn responded much to Pinkies dismay.
“What could it possibly be?” Asked Twilight, intrigued but trying to compose herself.
“You girls remembered the changeling attack at Shining Armours wedding don’t you”
“Yes” they all said simultaneously.
“Well, I’m afraid to say not all of the changelings where banished that day” Rainbow Dash pulled a face of disgust.
“Well where are they, we can find em’ for ya!” She wailed enthusiastically.
“Well that’s where things get complicated, I think a changeling might have recently assimilated with your group.” The girls let out a series of shocked sighs, with the exception of Fluttershy who screamed”.
“There’s no way!” Applejack denied.
“We would have noticed” Rarity added.
“That’s the problem with changelings, they’re extremely devious and chances are they would have observed one of you weeks, even months before making their move so as they can mimic your character” Celestia confirmed.
“Well… Um… What do we do know?” Asked Fluttershy, intimidated by the concept.
“There’s only one thing for it” beamed Twilight with her usual optimism.
“We test each other, on our cutie mark skills back in Ponyville!” Rainbow Dash demanded as competitively as if this was another sporting event of hers.
“Are you sure you want to go back to Pony…” Celestia was interrupted by a confrontational Applejack.
“What about our Elements of Harmony!” She said, starting to loose her temper at the at the thought of tackling such an issue as the one laced before them.
“SO THERES NO PARTY THEN?” Cried Pinkie, despairingly.
“I’m afraid not, but we have bigger things to worry about right now” said an impatient Twilight.
“Like what” Pinkie scoffed
“Like the changeling in our midst” Applejack added
“CHANGELING!?, It could be you, it could be me, it could even be…”
“Calm down Pinkie!” Twilight knew Pinkie’s eccentric and jokey personality would get in the way of such serious matters, it always did.
“What are we waiting for, we aren’t going to find out who the imposter is by just standing here chatting, I say we catch the next train back” Screamed a keen Rainbow Dash.
“Yes we must be going” Agreed Rarity.
“Oh…um… Goodbye princess” whispered Fluttershy.
“Goodbye Princess, I hope to see you again soon” Said Twilight, concurring with the rest.
“Oh, I won’t be too far away. I will be I Pony Ville soon after all, I’m just as anxious as you are to know who the changeling is”
“Well, goodbye for now, I guess” said Applejack through an awkward laugh.
The journey back to Ponyville was of a very different tone. Not only was it significantly less amusing with little banter, but not pony spoke. Pinkie wasn’t her usual bubbly self and was simply sat on her bunk offering suspicious glances to her Rarity who lay on the bunk beside her. She too wasn’t doing much, in fact, Pinkie thought she was asleep. “Rarity how could she fall asleep at a time like this? If that even is Rarity!” Pinkie was about to nudge her out of consciousness when finally spoke, relieving the awful silence that had befallen them since they boarded the train.
“Oh be serious darling, you couldn’t possibly suspect that I am the changeling. Could you?” Pinkie just gazed back, her eyebrows frowning to form an even more paranoid expression.
“Well for all we know you could be lying to us.” Scoffed a suspicious Rainbow dash who had been pacing back and forth the carriage impatiently for some time now.
“That’s exactly what the changeling would say” said Applejack from across the carriage, her voice muffled by the duvet she had just been dozing on. The very notion that Rainbow dash was the changeling infuriated her so much that she burst out with instant denial, her rational thoughts becoming engulfed in rage.
“OH SO THAT’S HOW IT IS, WELL IF I WAS THE CHANGELING WOULDN’T I HAVE BAILED ON YOU BY NOW, THAT WOULDN’T BE VERY LOYAL WOULD IT?!” Her shouting stirred Fluttershy who had been pleasantly staring out the winding seemingly oblivious to the whole situation.
“Can we um… stop fighting… please?” Her request was but a whisper and failed to penetrate the noise of Rainbow’s outburst. Fortunately for her Twilight was thinking exactly the same thing, and relayed this with a lot more confidence.
“GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! Please, we’re better than this.” This time the carriage fell silent making Twilight uncomfortable and she too stopped talking.
“Well how are we going to decide who the changeling is?” Applejack questioned.
“Well, um… I’m not the changeling.” Squeed Fluttershy, receiving pessimistic looks from all but Twilight who simply smiled, trying not to disturb the pony’s delicate feelings.
“Well it’s OBVIOSE, we test each other” said Rainbow Dash, who had calmed down slightly, though still offended by the accusations from the others.
“What kind of a test.” Hesitated Rarity, keen to avoid anything too gritty.
“Tests related to our special talents!” Exclaimed Applejack. “I can show ya’ll my bucking skills back at the farm.”
“NO WAY, any pony can be good at bucking and I’m sure a changeling can be too” Contested Rainbow.
“Well I’m not sure if you noticed sugarcube?” Growled Applejack, with an aggressive emphasis. “But changelings have wings, so looks like flying is out of the question too!” Rainbow Dash had had enough. Had enough of all the talking. The accusations. She rushed to the window, flipped the latch, and burst out the carriage into the air against the many protests of Twilight.
“Oh dear” Fluttershy thought to herself. The train had just emerged from a tunnel and was rushing across a viaduct which begged the question a Pinkies mind.
“Was it this just an outburst or had Rainbow been waiting for the perfect time to make her move?” The group of mares gathered around the window, with the exception of Rarity who found the height of the bridge nauseating.
“Well I guess she was the changeling…”  Muttered Twilight.
“Go get her Fluttershy!” Commanded Applejack.
“M m m Me?” Fluttershy squealed “I can’t catch Rainbow Dash”
“WAIT LOOK!” Screamed Pinkie. Rainbow had stopped accelerating up and away from the carriage and began to descend. She had already gained an extraordinary amount of height but was now plummeting down to earth as if she had been slung through the heavens by the infinite bounds of space.  Then there was a bright flash. Following, was nothing less than ripples of colour flowing through the sky. The colours of the rainbow. Suddenly Rainbow’s motivations had become clear. She wasn’t trying to escape, she was trying to prove her innocence. And she’d done a damn good job at that.
Having boarded the train at the next stop, Rainbow Dash strolled triumphantly through the carriage and with a high head, absolved from being the changeling.
“Well um… what can I say other than am’ sorry Rainbow Dash” Mumbled Applejack.
“DO IT AGAIN! DO IT AGAIN!” Screamed Pinkie who was clearly impressed by Rainbow’s display. In fact, the presence of the Rainboom had put everyone at ease, until they realised that there was now more pressure to perform.
“Your turn!” Insisted Rainbow, gesturing towards Applejack.
“You said it yourself, anyone can buck, what am I supposed to do?” Applejack questioned.
“Well tell us a truth about yourself” Said Rainbow with fire in her eyes. “That’s your element of harmony, right?”
“Like what…” she questioned.
“Well, I dunno think of something” inquired an impatient Rainbow Dash.
“Fine, a while back apple season wasn’t as good as it could have been so we needed more money for the farm and um… I made a little money on the side…”
“Yes go on…” requested Pinkie who could barely hold her excitement.
“There was this pony from Manehatten and um… let’s just say I ended up on the front of Mares Monthly magazine”
“W-what” Screeched Twilight, shocked that one purest friends (up until now) had partaken in such activities.
“Yeah, well how do we know this is true?” pursued Rainbow Dash.
“Well uh…” A very timid Rarity emerged from behind the bunk on which she had been on “I bought the issue!” She squealed in a somewhat embarrassed voice. Applejack blushed.
“Well I guess that’s settled, what about you Fluttershy” asked Twilight in a more optimistic tone.
“M m m Me?” Fluttershy immediately retreated to her bunk.
“Don’t be shy, just call on some of the bids you know.”
“But I um.” She whispered
“What’s the matter, you’re not the changeling are you?” Pressured Rainbow Dash. Without arguing further Fluttershy edged to the window and called.
“Hello um birdies, if you wouldn’t mind, please come over here and prove I’m not the um… changeling.” It didn’t take long for a small Starling to start flying along with the train and tweeting through the window. Fluttershy gestured to the bird with a nervous smile in the hope she would be relieved.
“Well, is that it?” Scoffed Rainbow Dash.
“What do you mean?” Fluttershy intrigued, barely composing herself.
“Is that all you got?” Rainbow continued.
“I DID MY BEST” Fluttershy wept, running deeper into the carriage to hide her shame. A second glance at the window showed a group of eight different birds of multiple varieties. An embarrassed Rainbow Dash followed Fluttershy into the carriage shouting “Wait! Wait, I didn’t see the rest of the birds, where are you Fluttershy” Her voice slowly merged with the heavy clunks of the train.
“Yep that’s definitely Fluttershy” Pinkie said joyfully, despite the circumstances.
“Applejack, Rarity could you come over here a second?” Questioned Twilight.
“Sure thing?” Applejack said, her voice peeking.
“No problem darling, I mean no problem” Said Rarity hesitant to trust Twilight.
“We’re going to go to the buffet cart and I want you two to bring Pinkie” Twilight commanded.
“And why is that” Asked both Applejack and Rarity in unison.
“Well if it’s the real Pinkie then she won’t be able to resist the cake, you know what she’s like when she’s hungry”
“Consider it done” spouted Rarity.
“Hey Pinkie we’re going to the Buffet cart if ya’all wanna come.” Said Applejack.
“DO I” Pinkie shrieked.
“I knew you’d want to come” Twilight delighted. The four of them exited the carriage through the furthest door and moved toward the buffet cart.
Upon opening the door the four of them where met with the most pleasant aroma from the exquisite collection of cakes and pastries sending Pinkie into a frenzy. “Outta my way” she squealed enthusiastically giving Twilight (the leader of the group) no time to move, so Pinkie simple squeezed through. The next sounds to be heard where a series of chomping’s and chewing’s belonging to Pinkie. There was an outcry as the more upper clash ponies witnessed Pinkie funnelling cake after cake into her mouth, engulfing the deserts section as if she where the smooze itself!
“You guys GOTTA try this” she squeed.
“Yep that’s definitely Pinkie” exclaimed Twilight, awkwardly. Applejack let out a chuckle until one of Rarity’s screams cut her laughter short.
“AAAAHHHH, Pinkie you buffoon, you got chocolate on my dress! Do you realise the magnitude of what you’ve just done. Never mind the changeling this could be the end of EQUESTRIA ITSELF!”
“Looks like you’re the real Rarity too!” Laughed Applejack through a warm apple pie she had bought from the cart.
“Stop laughing and HELP ME” Rarity pleaded but her panic over something so trivial in Applejacks eyes only furthered the comedic value, Applejack was soon on the floor in tears.
“Don’t Panic silly, we’ll be back at Ponyville in no time” Pinkie said having satisfied her cravings for cake.
When the train finally reached Ponyville, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie set out to re-group with Rainbow and Fluttershy on the platform. The train departed, oozing a disorientating smoke onto the platform, this soon cleared and offered the girls clear sight of their friends.
“There you are!” Said Rainbow Dash, always the first to speak. “We’ve been looking for you for ages” she spurted with her usual emphasis. Fluttershy nodded in agreement.
“We were just proving Pinkie’s and Rarity’s innocence!” Applejack gleamed
“A um… and Twilight, right” Fluttershy said her eyes widening in anticipation for the answer they all new was coming.
“Uhhh where is Twilight?” Asked Rainbow.
“I thought she went back to meet you!” Rarity squeaked.
“Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear!” Pinkie screamed, her breathes becoming significantly shorter.
“NOPONY PANIC!” Rarity pleaded, more for her own sanity than the others. There was a short but heavy silence in the air until it was interrupted by Applejack.
“Did we just let a changeling loose in Ponyville?”
“Celistia won’t be happy…” Fluttershy said in an emotional tone, “Looks like it’s the dungeon for all of us…”
“C’mon you guys, if I know Twilight, she’ll be at her castle!” said Pinkie, seemingly joyous as usual.
“But this isn’t Twilight we’re talking about” Reminded Rainbow Dash.
“It’s worth a try dontcha’ think” Argued Applejack.
“After all, it is are only lead…” Said Rarity, having recovered from her traumatizing experience on the train.
“Fine, we’ll have a look” submitted Rainbow Dash.
“Um… Um… are you sure?” Fluttershy emerged from her mane from which she had been hiding, “Can’t we just umm…”
“NO Fluttershy!” Boomed Rainbow Dash “We owe it to Twilight to catch this creep!”
“Amen” Echoed Appplejack.
“Well what are we waiting for” said Pinkie, anxious to catch the changeling.
“Game on!” said Rainbow, already spreading her wings in anticipation for the flight to come. The five of them departed from the station with haste, wasting no time on the approach to Twilights castle. Even Fluttershy showed added enthusiasm once the group gained momentum.
Upon arrival at Twilights castle they were stunned to find the doors had been broken into. “Guess she was in a rush” Pinkie said, activating her detective like ponysona.
“This can’t be right… ” Fluttershy said with conviction “We can’t go in there!”
“Quit being scared sugarcube.” Applejack said reassuringly.
The group moved cautiously into the castle. Light refracted off the crystalline structure creating disorientating reflections of the ponies.
“Applejack?” Asked Fluttershy in search of assistance. She had found herself surrounded by reflections reminiscent of the mirrors in the fun houses she used to go to when she was filly. She never did enjoy those visits…
“I can hear you. But I can’t see ya’.” Said Applejack, looking back at her friends making sure she herself hadn’t been separated. Much to her relief, she hadn’t.
“Stay where you are darling, we’ll find you!” Shouted Rarity in attempt to give Fluttershy a sense of security.
“FOUND HER!” Pinkie’s voice echoed throughout the castle, her high pitched tone nearly shattering not only the walls but the precariously hanging chandelier balanced on the ceiling. Dash looked over to pinkie only to find that she too, had gone.
“Uh… Pinkie?” She questioned. She flew over to where she had last seen the Earthpony to find that she had gone too.
“In here” said Pinkie, her voice seemingly hidden from within the crystal walls.
“They’re in the walls” Said Rainbow as she leaned forward cautiously and touched the wall with a hoof. Suddenly her leg was a rush with a sensation of which she had never felt before. The next thing she knew she was being propelled forward, through the crystal. With a yelp, she plummeted to the floor. This caught the attention of the others who soon followed.
“What is this place?” Asked Rarity.
“Probably a secret room!” Squealed Pinkie, “Castles have these all the time!”
“And HOW did you know this room was here?” Asked Applejack condescendingly.
“My Pinkie sense of course!” she replied. Pinkie moved towards the other side of the room and walked through another invisible door as if she had previous knowledge of it being there. Fluttershy felt a small spot of admiration for Pinkie’s bravery as the group followed her.
Pinkie lead the group down a spiral staircase unlike anything any of them had ever seen, there where jewels encrusted into the steps on which they stood. Rarity stopped for a moment and made a mental note to ask the real Twilight for “just a few.” There where only a few spirals until they reached the bottom where the jewel encrusted floor faded into a dingy squalor, especially when compared to the grand castle from which they had just came. The walls where filled with books, presumably the ones Twilight had managed to recover from the wreckage of the library. Some aged well while others where all but a crisp of ash black pages. And lying in the middle of this room, if it was worthy of such a title, was what very much looked like Twilight.
“Twi… Is that you” Dash asked. The pony jolted her head towards the group. Her eyes immediately turned from that of a broken mare to shimmering reflective pools, shiny enough to compete with the crystals of the castle above. She immediately started to cry.
“I thought… I thought I’d never get out!” She cried. Fluttershy and Pinkie exchanged looks of sympathy. But Dash didn’t buy it.
“If you’re the real Twilight then why don’t you cast one of your spells?” she said with little empathy.
“I… I can’t, I’m too weak, the changelings took all my magic when they captured me…” Twilight spluttered.
“Did she say changelingS?” Squealed Fluttershy, more nervous than ever.
“I bet that’s exactly what the changeling would say” Said Applejack, oblivious to Fluttershy’s insight.
“Please, you have to believe me! ” Said Twilight with little strength left. “Celestia, she…” Twilight was interrupted.
“I’m what?” Celestias voice pounded through the room. “I’m very proud of you girls for finding the changeling” she complimented.
“Aww shucks it was nothing really” Applejack blushed, brushing one hoof in front of the other. A life on the farm didn’t grant much recognition so acknowledgement from someone as prestigious as princess Celestia meant a lot to her.
“Well, they didn’t put up much of a fight” Assured Rainbow Dash. Rarity concurred.
“WAIT!” screamed Pinkie, the smaller room seemed to apply the pitch. “I know my friends when I see them, and that’s Twilight!” Rainbow exchanged a look of disbelief with Applejack.
“Uh that’s the changeling Pinkie, you know, the one we’ve been chasing this whole time!” Said an aggravated Applejack.
“Hold on” said an intrigued Rainbow Dash. “Are you sure Pinkie, one-hundred percent?”
“One-hundred percent” Pinkie continued.
“Then I’m with ya” Rainbow Dash said with conviction.
“But? But?” Continued Applejack
“Sometimes you have to trust your friends no matter what the odds” Said a coy voice belonging to Fluttershy, her cutie glowing in contrast to the dim lighting of the room.
“What do you mean” asked Celestia, her patience diminishing.
“I agree” Added Rarity, her cutie mark glowing too.
“You’re just going to let the changeling slip away like this?!” Continued Celestia, her horn glowing with rage.
“Fine, I guess we’re in this together” said Applejack with a little reluctance.
“My subjects, you’re making a mistake!” Celestia roared.
“I’m afraid we ain’t budging… Your highness” Said Applejack with a gulp. The group’s cutie marks grew lighter as they stood in resistance to the princess, in turn, Twilights grew brighter too as her strength returned. A crash came from up the stairs as what appeared to be Twilight Sparkle fell before Celestia. The creature showed its true form upon impact. It was the changeling.
“MOVE, NOW!” Celestia’s scream barely shacking even Fluttershy. The princess had had enough. Her horn glowing a sickly green, Celestia fired one of the books from the shelf into Pinkie but it was halted inches before her face, eliciting a bright purple glow.
“NO” A voice from behind the group rose. It was Twilight. Celestia rose in bright green glow, her eyes too, becoming green. A blast of green energy came from her horn, blinding the girls momentarily.
Once their vision was restored they were shocked by what they saw. “Chrysalis?” Applejacks jaw dropped and Rarity nearly fainted.
“I tried to tell you” said Twilight. Back to her usual self. Before they had time to gather their thoughts, Chrysalis had called what can only be compared to as a black ocean of changelings. They oozed from the staircase and soon surrounded the group. Twilight cast a spell around her friends to shield them. The changelings scratched and clawed savagely at the shield.
“Ouch!” Sustaining the shield was clearly taking a toll on Twilight. She was soon relieved when Chrysalis blasted the shield into oblivion and with it, sent the six ponies into the void. It was a teleportation spell.
It had been a while since the spell and Applejack was just starting to regain consciousness, “anypony there?” she groaned, unable to see after the blinding light cast by Chrysalis.
“AJ” A voice groaned from across what was becoming clear to be a changeling structure of some kind. As her vision cleared-up, Applejack could make out what appeared to be bars made of a solidified streams that had once run from the ceiling to the floor, pooling on the filthy ground below. Rarity’s senses where pre-occupied with the smell of a mix between body odour and decaying bio matter.
“What is this ghastly place?” Blurted Rarity through a hoof that was cover her snout.
“Some kind of changeling prison. I think” Said Twilight, now coming round.
“Whatever it is we need to find a way out!” Asserted Rainbow Dash, who had been trying her hardest to penetrate the thick stalagmite like structures that barricaded them in to no avail.
“Well I guess we know why Celestia was acting so funny” Applejack assured.
“And why the sun was so big!” Said Fluttershy, now too waking from the veil of unconsciousness that had befallen her.
“Can’t you just use your magic Twilight?” Asked Rarity, neglecting the efforts of Rainbow Dash.
“I’m afraid I’m too weak to do little more than simply lift this measly rock” Whimpered Twilight, casting the mineral out through the bars sending it cascading down an almost infinite pit that lay meters from the cage in which they had been contained. The mineral, illuminating its pitch black surroundings, left a bright trail leaving the group to ponder if their escape was even harder than first thought, even impossible…
“How does it look?” Wondered Pinkie, who had been one of the first to wake.
“Uhh, not good” Said Applejack, her up-beat accent turning somewhat hopeless.
“If we could just break a hole in the wall then Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and me could fly out and try to find out where we are!” Suggested Twilight but before a response could be made she heard a shout followed by a series of screams.
“What was that?” Fluttershy asked, her mane standing on end.
“HELP US!” The voices cried. Rainbow Dash saw three silhouettes screech past at an unrelenting seed. What followed them would send a shivers down the spines of the six mares.
Another silhouette. Twice. If not three times as big. Following the three figures that previously passed. They passed flying out of view. Next a roar, followed by an explosion of light. Waves of light illuminated walls and walls of dormant changelings and three bodies dropped. Falling pass the cell.
“Did you see what I just saw?” Asked Rarity, not really wanting an answer.
“I wish I hadn’t” Said Rainbow Dash.
“There must be thousands of them, MILLIONS!” Screamed Pinkie.
“Could it be Chrysalis’ INVASION?” Questioned Twilight. “Is that why Celestia had been replaced too?” she pondered to herself.
“What about the monster?” Whispered Fluttershy cautious not to alert any of the changelings.
A massive explosion followed by a monstrous ‘CRACK!’ illuminating the chasm with daylight. The sound itself boomed into the deepest depths of the cave unsettling the very rock on which the changeling fortress stood. The resulting shock dissolved the bars of the prison in which the girls had found themselves. “Look!” Exclaimed Applejack, her hoof pointing through the newly opened hole in the wall towards a series of scattered explosions in the distance, similar to the ones that had scared the cave, causing light to bleed through the resulting wound .
“It’s fighting the changelings?” Applejack muttered to herself, a confused look overcoming her face.
“Whatever it’s doing it’s its g-getting closer!” Squealed Fluttershy. And she was right! “What are we going to do?”
“Brace yourself girls!” Commanded Twilight who was mustering all of her strength for the defensive. The ominous figure was closing in on the girls as if it already knew they were there.
“Wait a minute!”  Rainbow Dash shouted. “Isn’t that…?”
A white alicorn plummeted towards the group’s newly broken cage, narrowly missing Pinkie, and smashing straight into the corner. Dust spewed into the air, clouding the room as chips of rock ricocheted out, away from the source of impact. Rarity coughed and spluttered and as the dust clouds dispersed, she could now make out a very familiar face…
“Celestia!” She cried immediately attracting Twilights attention, among that of the rest of the groups too. The alicorn didn’t respond.
“Is she ok?” Pinkie said, sounding worried for the first time in the past few days.
“I can’t tell, I’m going to have use a healing spell.” Said Twilight, also worried as to the alicorn’s condition.
“Um, Twilight” Rainbow Dash, said with a worried tone in her voice.
“Not right now Rainbow!” Twilight said.
“But the changelings are coming!” Applejack asserted, gazing into approaching horde of changelings. Twilight turned to look and felt her stomach twist in agony as her mind comprehend the swarm of savage, unrelenting drones closing in. She galloped over to the edge of the chasm calmly, her horn glowing.
“Ok girls” She said. “I know the odds are against us, I know it seems hopeless, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, there is still time” an emotional expression rising on her face. “You can fly, you can escape” she said through the tears now rolling down her cheeks. “But I won’t be coming with you.”
“Leave, are you kidding me!”
“I would never do that” The two pegasi said.
“Our strength lies in our unison, and I would rather fall in the company of my friends than to live faultlessly without them” Applejack asserted.
“Just know I can’t see a way out of this one.” Said Twilight, with even more conviction than her friends where used to seeing. “But it’s us and Celestia, or the whole of Equestria.”
“I’m with you Twilight!” Gleamed Applejack.
“Me too” Said Pinkie
“And me” Rarity added
“Don’t forget me” Fluttershy said, with much pride.
“Count me in!” Rainbow Dash finished. “It’s been good!” Rainbow flew out, accelerating to meet the horde of changelings. Her bright cyan coat was soon lost into the sea of black.
“WAIT!” Twilight screamed as the horde entered the range of her resistance spell. The changelings clumsily battered against the shield. “Get ready! It won’t hold for long” Twilight knew she was just buying time, they couldn’t possibly fend of this many changelings. They needed a miracle.
The bright purple wall of magic split as it was finally out strengthened by the changelings. The resulting impact fired Twilight across the room, she slid into the wall next to very angry looking Celestia. “Get back!” she cried with all her might sending a wave of powerful energy through the mass of changelings. The sunlight pouring through the abyss stopped as the sun eclipsed, not behind a moon but a portal Celestia had open. Her magic sliced through the horde, dropping the changelings like flies.
“Look out princess!” Warned Twilight. It was Chrysalis, having survived the magic blast, she was flying her elite guard towards the group.
Before she could reach the mares her guards where engulfed with a mystical aura and where shot forth into the portal. Twilight looked up as an unfathomable mass of changelings flowed to what must have been a portal to their own realm. The only exception was Chrysalis who was still shooting towards Celestia, she was mustering all her strength bearing the increasing load of stabilizing the portal. Chrysalis lunged in to attack, however Twilight obstructed her path with another spell. But Chrysalis was too strong and out matched Twilight with ease.
“Your mine now!” Chrysalis gloated to Celestia.
“I find your lack of faith in my subjects disturbing!” Responded Celestia with a knowing smile as Rainbow Dash plummeted into Chrysalis with such intense speed she had become subject the intense pull of the portal. However so had Rainbow Dash. Twilight leaped forward only to be met with resistance from Celestia.
“It’s too late” she said
“Can’t you just close the portal?” Rarity begged.
“That would mean releasing all the changelings again…”
“Hang on Rainbow” Said a timid voice from behind. Fluttershy leapt from behind the group before anypony could intervene and fired herself towards the void in search of her friend.
“FLUTTERSHY!!!” Rainbow said with complete shock that one of her most easily shaken friends had made such a bold move. Rainbow flew to meet Fluttershy who, in turn, was flying to her.
“Behind you!” Fluttershy shouted to compete with the screams of changelings. Rainbow Dash felt a claw on her shoulder as a changeling desperately clang on for dear life. This greatly impeded her ability to fly and she grew further and further away from Fluttershy who was pushing as hard as she could to keep up. Rainbow bucked with all her might until she landed a hoof on the chest of the changeling making a nasty crunching sound sending its flaccid body towards the portal. The buck gave Rainbow the push she needed and was within a hoofs reach of Fluttershy, this spurred her on too.  “Grab my mane!” Fluttershy said offering Rainbow a pink life line. Once together their combined wing power was enough to resist the pull of the portal and bring them back to Celestia.
“That was close!” said Rainbow Dash, wiping away the sweat from her forehead for the first time in a while. She looked up with the others to see a desperate looking Chrysalis’ last efforts to escape the inevitable, and just like that. She was gone. And with the last changelings purged from the Equestrian realm, Celestia closed the void.
With the portal gone, the sun remained un-eclipsed and lit the cavern like never before. “Let’s get out of here girls” Said Celestia as she cast one more spell taking them out of the cave and back to the princess’ castle. “I’m proud of you all!” she said, “especially you Fluttershy, and your ability to stand together in the face of adversity. Now you’ve all earned some time off” Celestia said, pulling a smile through her worn face.
“Hear that Rarity, you can go shopping now!” Mentioned Pinkie, oblivious to the fact of that what they had just overcome could have meant the end of Equestria.
“Perhaps not…” she said, keen to catch up on her beauty sleep.
“We should probably get back to Ponyville, it’s been a pretty tough day” Said a tired Twilight.
“Um Fluttershy…” Rainbow Dash requested, “can I talk to you a second?”
“Sure” She said, still blushing from Celestias’ complement.
“Thanks for um… Thanks for saving my life.” Rainbow said with as much warmth a she could.
“Oh, that, you did most of the work really.” She said, and the group burst into laughter.
Having arrived home and said goodbye to her friends Twilight returned to her home, but this time as a resident, not a prisoner. “SPIKE?” She said.
“Um Twilight, while you were gone, somepony broke in…”
“It’s ok Spike” She laughed. “He must still not know about the changelings! Ignorance is bliss” she thought to herself. Perhaps it wasn’t best to tell him that for the last three weeks he had been living with a changeling.
“What did Celestia want?” Spike asked.
“Just more another muffin shop…”
“Ooohhhh Where is it this time?!” He pondered with excitement.
Ignorance is bliss