Starlight Glimmer Returns

by TrixieLuvsMagic

Rating: everyone
Tags: Alternate Universe, Drama, Adventure
Length: 3461

(This is not based on the theories about the premiere of season 6) It was a month or two after Starlight Glimmer became Twilight's official student of friendship, but she was doubtful of her choice. She still wanted revenge, going back to her tricks.

It was a long while after Starlight Glimmer joined the Mane 6 in friendship, to help her go in a different direction. But when they take a little trip to the Crystal Empire, Starlight decided to question her fate. She later thinks it's time to go back to her old tricks. And she had an entire empire to do so, all she needed to do was figure out what to do with the rulers of the Crystal Empire, and Twilight Sparkle. She decides to revive the changelings and lead them to the most love-filled place in Equestria… And let their new given powers do the work for her, above all doing the last thing any pony would do no matter the situation: Making a deal with Chrysalis.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2016-02-27 05:40:41 UTC

The Crystal Changeling

Twilight Sparkle, her friends, and Starlight were hanging out on a train, a few miles away from the Crystal Empire. Twilight wanted to help Starlight on her journey to true friendship, so she decided to have a little fun with her friends, and show Starlight Glimmer the Crystal Empire! After the train came to a stop, they trotted outside and smiled. Starlight stared at the many crystal buildings and the shiny palace in awe.

"Whoa, this beautiful Empire is amazing. Never seen anything like it." Starlight grinned.

"We know! Twilight thought you would LOVE to see the Empire!" Pinkie shrieked and smiled, inches from Starlight's face. They walked down the road, seeing all the landmarks and crystal ponies waving and smiling at them. They always have taken a liking to visitors.

"I was thinking we would start at this museum, it's full of books and statues, and sculptures." Twilight Sparkle pointed at a tall, round-shaped building covered in banners of the Crystal Empire flag around the top, there were two crystal statues of their first ruler, Princess Amore, at the sides of the entrance. There were also several windows along the top sides.

Twilight and her friends paid their bit cost to roam around the museum, and they agreed to spend one hour around to check out the museum by themselves. Starlight Glimmer decided to see the Ancient Artifacts section. There was a few statues, some books as well, but in the middle there was a beautiful crystal brooch replica on a blank canvas. The brooch looked like of a small figure that somewhat resembled a pony with bug wings and webbed hair. There was a small book on top of a stand in front of it and Starlight opened it with her magic.

"The Crystal Changeling- a legend deep in the Crystal Empire. It combines alicorn magic, with changeling shape-shift magic, as well as several other powers. It is the most magical charm in the world, but was hidden away by Princess Celestia. In hopes of no pony ever discovering it's dangerous magic. Whoever is to find it, and has it in their possession, is granted with unspeakable, and powerful abilities. Only one pony has ever found it in it's past hidden location before it was hidden away somewhere else secret: Queen Chrysalis." Starlight kept reading.

"She had been corrupted by it's power, and tried to use it against Equestria, thinking that she could rule Equestria in peace and eternal magic for all, in place of Celestia. She was cursed to be a changeling forever, and was banished away to a distant land for all eternity." She paused.

"That's it? That's all there is? Seriously? Some history museum." Starlight put the book in it's original position and walked away, stopping to look at the brooch one last time. It didn't look so much like a fake one, but then she noticed a tiny riddle at the bottom of the canvas, written there in odd writing from an ancient pony language, so small almost nobody could read it. Starlight cast a spell with her horn and a magnifying glass appeared. She began to attempt translating the riddle:

"The ancient Crystal Changeling will continue to be guarded

If anybody is brave enough, the secret shall be regarded

The location will soon be revealed, for all to see

Equestria's past will fall, and all of it will flee

For this magic is powerful, no doubt worth to seek

Even an average unicorn, will want a peek

Let this spell be revealed, may this spell find out

The location of the Crystal Changeling whereabouts!"

She read the incantation aloud, and a magic aura flowed from the riddle, and surrounded the brooch, as it floated slowly right towards Starlight. It was a spell to show where the brooch is, and it was right there all along. Where no pony would think to look! It landed softly on her hoof, and she hid it in her new saddle bag on her back that Rarity made for her a few days ago when she made friends with Twilight and her friends.

"Perfect! A fine vessel to influence, soon that unicorn will join me in conquering all of Equestria!" A voice said aloud from a shelf not far from Starlight, it was trying to watch her, but still being quiet. The voice belonged to Queen Chrysalis, but she was disguised as Twilight Sparkle. She strutted towards Starlight for a few inches, but when she was close enough for Starlight to see her, she started walking normally, and she smiled not like an evil villain, but a normal pony.

"Hello, foal- I-I mean, hi Starlight." Chrysalis, disguised as Twilight, said hi to Starlight and started talking to her. Chrysalis grinned inside. Within a few hours, she'd side with her and Starlight would be under her control in no time at all...

Chrysalis Revealed

Chrysalis, disguised as Twilight Sparkle, glanced at the brooch in Starlight's saddle bag. She pretended to not know what it was, to keep up the charade and get close enough to Starlight to put her under Chrysalis's control.

"Starlight? What. Is. This? Is that some magical charm? Did you steal that?" She convincingly questioned, sounding suspicious of Starlight.

"What? N-no, it's not! It's-" Starlight was interrupted.

"No. That's not why." The fake Twilight grinned evil-y, and her eyes flashed green. Starlight backed away a few steps, and had a worried look on her face. Chrysalis zapped her face back to her real form, and started to cast Starlight under her hypnosis magic.

"Before you get all worked up, I think I can change your mind." Chrysalis smiled. Starlight fainted to the ground, and Chrysalis abandoned the scene moments before the real Mane 6 ran over to Starlight.

"Starlight, wake up! Starlight please wake up. Wake up!" Starlight heard a familiar voice, but it was all fuzzy at first. When her vision finally focused, she got up slowly, and saw the Mane 6 all staring at her.

"Huh? W-what happened?" Starlight rubbed her head.

"We were looking for you, and you just... passed out darling." Rarity said, worried.

"How long was I out?" Starlight asked.

"About ten minutes, sugar cube." Applejack replied.

"What happened to you, anyway?" Twilight asked Starlight.

"I was looking at a brooch, and then you walked in and... that's all I remember." Starlight rubbed her head again, she had a huge headache.

"Me?" Twilight was confused.

"Yeah." Starlight replied.

"What did the brooch look like?" Fluttershy questioned.

"Like this." Starlight, weakly, showed them a picture of the Crystal Changeling with a magical image by her horn.

"Starlight, why did you touch that? Not only you probably stole it, but it's cursed! Also, the queen of the changelings has been looking for this artifact, as well as a keeper of it's power for generations! How else do you think it got that name?" Twilight started to panic.

"She's right, you know?" Twilight's sister in law, Cadence, strutted in the room.

"Cadence! We're so glad you're here! Starlight might be in big trouble! Something, or someone gave her the Crystal Changeling, it's in her saddle bag!" Twilight shook Cadence, but she didn't answer. She just stood there, moments after, another Cadence ran in.

"Who stole the Crystal Changeling?!" She screamed, but then stopped in her tracks thinking there were two of her again.

"Which one is the real princess? Chrysalis isn't anywhere near the Crystal Empire!" Rarity questioned.

"Ah can't tell the difference!" Applejack acknowledged.

"Oh Rarity, now, that's where you're wrong!" One of the alicorns turned into Chrysalis, and she laughed. "Starlight? Ready when you are!" The Mane 6 whipped around to see Starlight, she was holding the brooch with her magic, and she appeared to be under Chrysalis's control. She willingly, trapped the ponies in a magic-proof cage, and laughed, holding them with her new magic by the brooch.

"You've done well, Starlight." Chrysalis laughed.

"I agree." Starlight said, almost slave-like.

"What did you do to her?!" Cadence said, banging the edge of the cage.

"I didn't do it... She made a deal with me willingly." As soon as Chrysalis said those last words, they knew something was wrong...

Moonlight Shadow

Chrysalis and Starlight smiled and laughed evil-y as the Mane 6 and Cadence sat, helpless, in the cage.

"What did you do to her?! She'd never even think of acting this way!" Fluttershy screamed, but to her dismay, Chrysalis just laughed.

"Poor, naive Fluttershy. The most idiotic of the group! You ponies would never stand a chance against my power. If you hadn't turned that village against my equality in the past, I might have been actually capable of making you just like those ponies, forever. Now, I get to have a little more fun, but this time, with a partner. And I can do so with all of Equestria! They will experience real peace and eternal power, but not until we get rid of all the princesses, and the bearers of harmony!" Starlight grinned.

"She's under my total control now, and I've made a few adjustments to my spells. Nothing can break the spell. Not even love!" Chrysalis laughed.

"Starlight, snap out of it! You can't be doing this so... Happily and willingly. What are you? A pony, or a changeling lackey?" Twilight panicked.

"I'm not Starlight Glimmer anymore..." Starlight walked slowly towards the cage, and surrounded herself with transformation magic, changing her appearance and power. Her coat changed from a slight shade of violet to midnight blue, her eyes became yellow and became similar to the eye style of Chrysalis, her mane turned black and yellow striped, and she grew changeling wings, which were also yellow. Her horn and cutie mark remained the same. The ponies in the cage gasped in horror as Starlight transformed into Queen Chrysalis's own magical apprentice: Moonlight Shadow.

"I was already so close to taking over Equestria alone, with my changelings, of course. Now with you all gone, the princesses gone, and my apprentice by my side, nothing can stop me!" Chrysalis laughed.

"What would you want with Starlight Glimmer anyway, you could easily steal the brooch from her and take over yourself!" Rarity shouted, enraged.

"Oh, her? The spell on her has my complete power over this mare. Plus, she's not bad of an apprentice. If she can turn herself into a half-changeling half-pony hybrid, she can obviously get rid of you, easily!" Chrysalis has no doubt, planned her takeover through well.  "Moonlight! time to pay Celestia and Luna a little visit, banish these foals so they know how it felt for me. By the time they find a way back, Equestria will already be mine!" Chrysalis laughed and had an evil grin on her face. Moonlight smiled and cast a spell that whisked them away to the very end of Equestria, where no pony would ever look for them, or find them, for years. And years, and years...

The mane 6 and Cadence woke up, finding themselves stranded in the middle of a dark, vacant, land. Probably hours away from their home, or the Crystal Empire.

"Is every pony all right?" Cadence questioned. All of them nodded in agreement.

"I can't believe this, it's over. Chrysalis won, Starlight is an evil servant to a changeling queen, and we've just been banished! It's over, she won..." Twilight said, depressingly laying on the dusty ground, and sobbing.

"Don't worry Twilight, we'll find a way out. You always find a way to help friendship win in the end." Applejack tried to comfort her, but failed. They continued wandering around, and wandering, and wandering around the land, trying to discover even the smallest way to find a way out. But the attempt was almost futile.

Magic Duel 2.0 and The Alicorn Stare Statue

Twilight Sparkle, Cadence, and Twilight's friends were hiding out in the Canterlot Gardens, trying to stay out of sight from the changeling guards so they can find a way to bring Starlight back. With her help, they might have a chance of beating Chrysalis.

"Girls, follow me. I think I just remembered a counter spell for the spell on Starlight." Cadence pushed a small area of the wall that had Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Twilight's cutie marks on it, so small you can almost not even see them. She led the Mane 6 into a hidden vault. "This," She said aloud, beholding the place, "Is the secret magical weapons and charms vault beneath Canterlot Castle. It's nearly able to enter from the inside of the palace, behind the throne, but it's a bit too easy for villains to enter through there. But this is a secret, emergency entrance only the princesses are allowed to know about." Cadence and the Mane 6 walk down a hall filled with jewels, charms, and amulets, of all shapes and sizes. At the end there is a small gold alicorn head statuette, that looks familiar to Princess Celestia.

"What is it?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"This, is the Alicorn Stare Statue. Made from pure magic and gold, similar to Fluttershy's stare. If a pony under any evil spell or curse looks straight into it's enchanted eyes for a full five seconds, it can break or remove whatever spell, curse, lust, etc. the pony is under. It's very powerful, and should only be used in a dire emergency." The eyes glowed a bright blue and flashed after being removed from it's stand, and they flashed back to normal quickly. "The eyes glow red when they have a proper gaze on it. We just need Starlight to stare straight into it's magic eyes for five seconds, and her powers, Chrysalis's mind control, all gone. She will return back to normal!" Cadence smiled.

"You sure this will work?" Twilight questioned.

"It will. Just make sure Starlight looks directly at it." Cadence replied. Twilight nodded, confident in Cadence's plan. Later, Twilight Sparkle, and her friends arrived inside the castle and demanded to see Chrysalis and Moonlight. Chrysalis saw the changeling guards at the door try to keep Twilight Sparkle out, but failed.

"Send them in." Chrysalis smiled evil-y. The changelings use their magic to open the doors and let them through.

"Chrysalis, I have an offer for you." twilight claimed.

"Go on." Moonlight raised an eyebrow.

"Moonlight Shadow, I challenge you to a magic duel. If you win, Chrysalis can rule Equestria for all eternity. But if I win, you will give me your brooch. Also, Chrysalis and her army will be forever banished and never set foot in Equestria again." Twilight declared. "Do we have a deal?" She raised out her hoof.

"Agreed." Moonlight bumped her hoof, and they shook on it.

"We will fight this evening." Twilight said.

Later that night, Twilight and Moonlight met in some sort of arena Chrysalis zapped up with magic. They stood across each other, confident looks on their faces. Every pony else was in the stands.

"Are we starting or not?" Moonlight groaned

"We will, but we do this on one condition: You cannot use your brooch." Twilight demanded.

"Fine." Moonlight takes her brooch and throws it to a changeling, who was brought along to hold it. "Choose your weapon. We each have one minute." Mounted by hooks on a large glass wall, were several weapons. An enchanted bow and arrow that can't kill, but temporarily stun. A flaming sword. Battle axes. Twilight chose her weapons: The bow and arrows, and a set of three small magic blades. The Alicorn Stare Statue was hidden in her saddle bag, where she put her weapons for an easy grab when she needed them.

"Ten...Nine..." Cadence had started to count down. "Eight...Seven...Six...Five...Four...Three...Two...One." Immediately, Moonlight and Twilight fight, and fight, and fight. When Moonlight is inches from Twilight's face, she pulls a risky stunt and yanks out the Statue. Moonlight starts to feel strange, and is zapped back to normal in less than a minute!

The Final Battle

"...What, happened? Where am I..." Starlight fell to the ground, but RD caught her.

"It worked! The spell is broken!" Twilight took the brooch and put it in her saddle bag.

"Wait a minute... I remember. CHRYSALIS! YOU WILL, PAY FOR THIS! You made me your lackey, your evil servant, your partner-in-crime. Well, I've had it. I was dragged into the dark by the curse you cast on the brooch, but I was a fool to trust you. And I'm never going down that path again!" Starlight was furious.

"Why you little-" Chrysalis was beginning to attack.

"NOW!" Twilight Sparkle signaled. Suddenly, all the Princesses were zapped next to the mane 6 and Starlight, and the changelings had vanished into thin air.

"How-how did you do that?!" Chrysalis demanded.

"Starlight is the most powerful unicorn in the world. She has what it takes. If you cared about her truly, you might know that!" Twilight shouted.

"You've been looking for power for generations, and before you have a fit, I think it's time that power, is GONE!" Starlight protested.

"Starlight, what are you doing?!" Before Twilight could try to stop her, Starlight Glimmer yanked the brooch from Twilight's bag, and threw it as hard as her magic horn could, on the ground. It shattered into a million shards and pieces, broken forever.

"How dumb are you?! Do you know what you just did? You just destroyed the most powerful magic charm in all of Equestria. It can't be restored! Ever!" Luna yelled at Starlight.

"I know. Why do you think I wrecked it?" Starlight laughed. Chrysalis, was furious. She summoned more changelings and they were surrounded. Twilight and Starlight nodded, and they zapped changelings, getting rid of them one by one, while the rest of the Mane 6 and princesses helped attack them. Chrysalis laughed evil-y as she summoned more changelings. After what seemed like hours, the changelings were defeated and destroyed. And harmony was sent back to Equestria once more.

Return to The New Equestria

Chrysalis and Moonlight Shadow approach Canterlot Castle. Chrysalis is disguised as Twilight, and Moonlight used a spell to make her temporarily return to her old form. The guards at the door to the Princesses's throne room stare at them, suspicious of them.

"We need to see Celestia and Luna. It's urgent." Chrysalis said, in a serious voice. The guards nodded to each other, and let them through. The doors slowly open with magic, and the two ponies walk in. Celestia and Luna are sitting upon their throne, signing papers. Luna glanced at them.

"Sister, I do not recall you inviting Twilight and Starlight Glimmer here. Why is she here?" Luna questioned.

"Oh, Twilight Sparkle! We were unaware that you were coming to visit Canterlot. But you are always welcome in the Castle." Celestia smiled.

"Thank you, Princess." Moonlight smiled, cheerfully.

"Indeed. Thanks...For making it so much easier to stay and imprison you!" Chrysalis and Moonlight turned to their old forms. Moonlight nodded to her and cast a bubble around the two alicorns. Luna tried to pop it, but failed.

"Don't bother, this bubble is magic-proof. And if either of you even try to pop it with magic, the space in there will just get smaller until you're crushed! Surrender to us, and I will not harm you. But I'd do it now before you run out of air if I were you." Moonlight grinned.

"We'd sooner set Tirek free then submit Equestria to you. And you, Starlight? You traitor! I will have you banished to the moon for this!" Celestia shouted.

"Save your breath if you ever wanna see the sun or moon, again. You'll be in here a while." Chrysalis laughed.

After what seemed like hours, Twilight, Cadence, and their friends finally made it back to Equestria, after hours of hiking, resting, and complaints about dirt from Rarity. But when they reached all the cities and towns of Equestria, they were horrified. The several nations of Equestria has been almost completely covered by green goop, and changelings were everywhere. Mind-controlled ponies were all over the place, making landmarks for Chrysalis and Moonlight, as well as changelings. Some has even grown changeling wings. Canterlot was no better, the castle windows that portrayed important events in Equestria were changed into several portraits of Chrysalis, and banners with changeling symbols on them were everywhere. The throne room had been decked out like some sort of cave, the princesses that ruled Equestria were trapped in a bubble still, helpless. And changeling servants as well as hypnotized ponies were all over the place. Chrysalis had put all of the land, under her will. And with the former Starlight Glimmer by her side, the Mane 6 and Cadence might be helpless to reverse it.