"No, I want to be on top." Muffins was upset her lover wanted to top her again. But she wasn't really sure why. "My turn!"

Rainbow Dash blinked a little at the alicorn's mood, it wasn't really dominance but more something else. "On second thoughts, I might just go to bed." The pegasus wasn't ready for the hoof that was flying at her.

Muffins stopped in shock, her leg having lashed out and she only stopped herself a moment from striking her best friend. "Dash…" She was speaking to a hole in the neat cloud house, the blue mare having flown out and was long gone. "What… what happened?"

The greatest flier in all Equestria hadn't flown away because her lover had almost struck her. Letting loose a snarl of rage she tore through three big rainclouds, causing them to dissipate and dump their water immediately.

Rainbow Dash was flying away because she had almost swung back, because she wanted to, she wanted to beat Muffins up and… "No…" There was more water in the air now as the pegasus just flew, away, tears streaming from her eyes.

Spreading big gray wings, Muffins glided from the cloud home, banking a little as she spiraled down, letting altitude become momentum and momentum become drag. Landing at the front door of the Castle of Friendship, the alicorn rapped on the wood.

"Go away!" The voice within sounded like Starry but she had never heard the mare so annoyed before.

The train pulled slowly into Canterlot station, very few ponies would ride this one, it had a special 'princess' carriage attached already as it carried Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends. But it was about to get a lot more royal.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight was up in a shot and flying toward the white alicorn. A tight hug was had before another alicorn, this one folding up a little parasol, trotted on and past her. "And Luna!" The dark princess was captured in Twilight's other wing as the hug extended.

"You will make me fat with all of this." Twisty broke the mood, barely, bringing up the rear. "How is my third favorite princess doing?"

Twilight was a little surprised by the third mare. She hadn't been keeping track of the Canterlot changelings but did know they had gained a queen recently. "Uh, Your Hig-" Twilight didn't get any further before Twisty lifted a dark, hole-filled hoof up, pressing it to her snout.

"Just Twisty will be fine, I am just a happy changeling with her two mares, about to visit some new friends." Twisty moved up beside Luna, giving the princess a nuzzle and getting one back.

A lot of jaws dropped. "M… mares?" Twilight found her tongue and her keen mind started putting two and one together and liked what it equaled. "Is this congratulations?"

Twisty stood inches taller and tilted her head. "Oh, it was nothing…"

"Nothing? This little filly, just a drone at the time, stood over us and protected us against Queen Vicious' brood when they attacked. We were helpless and she did everything she could to protect us and Equestria." Celestia was still proud of Twisty and made sure the changeling knew how proud she was at every chance.

"You were that other changeling queen when Ponyville was invaded?" Applejack was surprised, but she saw the glimmer in both princess' eyes when they looked to the changeling. Having just found love bloom herself she couldn't help but grin.

A rush of flames and there was a second Applejack. "Darn tootin' partner!" The second one had the orange mare's voice down just perfect and shocked the earth pony by stepping forward and kissing her on the snout.

AJ felt the butt of a joke but a wing pulling over her own back helped her push through it.

The changeling queen was back with a flash of more green fire and she bowed before Applejack. "My apologies if I offended."

"Well, shucks, I guess there was no harm done." AJ was surprised at the mare's humility and… fun. It seemed the queen was incapable of feeling or giving offense.

"Where is Rainbow Dash?" Celestia was looking about all of Twilight's friends and noticed the pegasus was missing.

"She said she would meet us there, she had some things she needed to take care of." Twilight felt a light push from Applejack and saw Gel was on her other side, staring first at Twisty and then leaning down and nuzzling the orange mare. It was a little shocking and the alicorn knew she was the only pony who had picked up on it. Apart from Twisty.

Gel felt an odd passion come over him as the queen, not his Queen, was looking at the mares he was friends with. Twisty gave him a surprisingly determined look for a moment then he saw her horn start to light up.

"Twisty, what are you doing?" Celestia stepped up beside the changeling and all the tension seemed to fade from the ponies.

"I… I don't know, I think I just had an odd little turn." Twisty dipped her head to Gel, who did likewise. They leaned in and rubbed cheeks. "Sorry, Prince Gel."

Gel sighed and closed his eyes. "What was that?"

Arriving in the Crystal Empire with no further incident, the royal ponies exited first. Celestia and Luna getting a little cheer from the crystal ponies present, Twilight too getting appreciative clops of hooves. But then Twisty exited the train and Gel followed her. The crowd, as one, went wide eyed at seeing a changeling queen in their empire.

Twisty wouldn't let the cool welcome stop her from waving at ponies and following the three princesses. They stopped short as Cadance and Shining seemed to appear from nowhere and greet the party.

"Aunts." The pink alicorn had a little bundle hugged in tight against her. "Twilight, Gel." She was working her way down the party and spotted Twisty who, by now, was starting to wilt. "Ah, Queen Twisty, first changeling queen of Canterlot hive." Even Celestia raised an eyebrow, the common ponies around actually gasping at the full title awarded to Twisty.

"Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Empress of the Crystal Empire, Wife of Shining Armor, Mother of Flurry Heart, Princess of Love," Twisty paused for breath, eyes never leaving Cadance's own, "and fellow victim of Queen Chrysalis." She lowered her head and bowed deeply to Cadance.

"Cadance will be fine." The empress was a little shocked at the last title. "I heard what she did to you, my husband knows this pain too." Cadance bowed back.

"And Twisty will be fine. Do you greet all your guests at the train station?"

"There is… an urgent matter. One I didn't wish to be left to chance. Please come with us, all of you."

A storm cloud began to gather over Canterlot, an odd event for sure since normally the pegasi kept the city clear of such inclement weather. Blueblood wobbled as he walked, leaving the room his mistress had kept him in for a whole night, visiting such things upon him that made him want to skip like a filly, if only he could.

"Need help, my prince?" Cherry seemed to always be ready to assist a patron, or so Blueblood found. "Your Mistress was very thorough."

Prince Blueblood chuckled and leaned against the mare, not putting too much weight on her. "She gave me everything I asked for, everything I needed too." Cherry could tell it was true by the happy smile the Prince wore, he never smiled like that when he arrived.

"Well, you just come over here, I have a sitting room and some tea for you." Cherry guided the stallion past where her desk was and into a side room that sported several couches and a tea set that looked like it could serve Princess Celestia herself.

"Your taste is exquisite." Blueblood found a couch to relax on, leaning into his magic to start preparing some tea. "I…" A sudden blur of anger at life, at Celestia and even at Cherry, poured over him and Blueblood's fury began to rise before he focused back on Mistress Sliv. Calmness, like an ocean of cool water on hot flesh, drew the anger away just in time for him to see the silver platter coming toward his face. "Cherry!" He held it steady in his magic, horrified that the mare would dream to break her good serving tray.

"You are a terrible pony and you should go!" Cherry's anger was in full swing, but the sound of smashing glass broke her attention away and to the front door.

"Please, calm down, I don't know what but… I think somepony is putting a spell on us." Blueblood plucked the pegasus from the floor and held her in his magic.

"Let go of me!" Cherry was bucking and kicking, trying to reach the prince with any of her hooves.

Wanting to cool her head, Rainbow Dash circled higher and higher, her lungs fighting at the thinner air to get enough oxygen to keep her wings pumping. She saw the thick storm clouds gathering and growing, she felt the thin air grow chilly-cold. Something was really wrong, every bone in her body told her that this wasn't how weather should act.

Then she saw it. It looked like a cross between a big pony and a serpent, spinning around in the storm clouds and looking more than a little ethereal. "What the buck…" It came naturally, the anger inside her growing as she got closer and instead of flying in to look she found her hooves extended to collide with the creature.

Flying right through it she saw its head turn to face her, the eyes looking bright red with hatred and anger. Every part of her fighter's instinct wanted her to charge it, to fight it. But Twilight had taught her some very, very good lessons. Rainbow Dash turned tail and a thundering crack sounded as she dove right through a rainboom. She dared not open her mouth, but if she did she would be screaming. She had to find Twilight.

"Those are most heinous clouds, Stripy Sister." Tree Hugger was standing in the clearing, watching the sky when the rainboom happened and a vapor trail streaked off to the north.

"A blue-winged friend seeks not her end, her friends to join and a new destiny to coin." Zecora felt the grip of fate and dire portents gripping her.

Tree leaned against the bigger mare's side. "Let's get inside, I totally don't want to be outside in this."

Both mares turned as one and walked to a little hut.

Zecora's eyes widened when she got in, she felt something really wrong flow over her. It was like a rush of burning, scalding liquid and it made her grow angry at everything around her. "Beheld, little friend I need it to be known, please gaze into me and render me stone."

From a hidden spot under the zebra's bed a chicken-like head poked out and the mythical creature flew up and landed on the shelf before Zecora. Beheld looked into her eyes and saw terror, but it wasn't of him. He gave a little cluck and got a nod back from her, seeing her bite down with her jaw, hard.

It was easy to let his power out, it wasn't so much 'pushing' as just 'no longer holding'. Beheld looked deep into the mare's eyes as he let his power work out and into her.

As the stone flowed over her, Zecora felt a wash of relaxation. She meditated as best she could and held a part of her consciousness back from the cold grip of stone. But it was gone, the alien rage that had burned in her.

Tree Hugger circled the stone statue of her friend. "I think we need a chat, sister. What scared you so much you would beg your new friend to do this? Seems a little far out." She curled up into a lotus position and felt the cockatrice curl up and around her neck, giving worried little clucks. "Relax little brother of stone, seek your friend, gift her with your touch."

Zecora felt the hippie mare's aura, the very essence of her being, swell and flare into an inferno. Locked into a meditative state, she was much more open to such sights. "Rage, anger, something made me want to fight and…" As Zecora imparted the information, she was oddly amused that she didn't feel the urge to rhyme like this.

"Sister of stone and stripes, I can, like, totally take a guess that what is causing those clouds is responsible." Tree reached her hoof up, comfortable in her meditation, petting the stone zebra's cheek.

Author's Note

Whoa, what is happening? STOP THE RIDE! I WANT TO GET OFF!

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