Interlude: “Commander”

Twilight Sparkle found herself suddenly freefalling through the sky, she registered this a moment after appearing and after a short panic she spread her wings and stopped her decent. While hovering in the air the alicorn looked around in confusion. Her confusion only grew when she saw the nearby town situated right beside a dark forest. Looking around more to get her bearing she confirmed that the town was indeed Ponyville based on where it was located but it looked so different.

Gliding down to the ground the mare still looked around in confusion as she trotted towards the town. All the buildings were made of stone and not wood like she was used to, the only part that was wood were the roofs. All the buildings were still painted all different colors as they always had been though so at least that was familiar though….the town wasn’t organized as it should be, the town was more tightly packed together and less haphazardly spread out as the streets and alleys were more straight then she was used to.

As she entered the town proper she got another surprise in the fact she didn’t recognize any of the ponies walking the streets when she knew everypony in the town, though more shocking was that there were Changelings walking the streets openly, some with saddle bags as if shopping, others in uniforms of the various shops she knew were in town and some just seemed to be enjoying the day alongside ponies. She heard laughter behind her and look, she had to step to the side as three foals and two changelings nymphs ran by laughing as they seemed to be playing a game of tag through the town.

This was so very confusing to the mare as she walked deeper into the town that looked so different. When she reached where Ponyville Market was located she was thankful to see it was right where it always had been running alongside the town square with the fountain in the middle; however that was where the familiarity ended as there were Changeling running small shop stalls. She looked around and saw the ponies around her were indeed aware of the changelings among them as they spoke to either the stall owners or chatted with them as they walked through the market.

“Hey Twilight, why you look so confused?” A southern accented voice said from a stall the alicorn was walking by and she smiled as she looked to speak to Applejack, happy to have somepony she knew to talk to.

However it wasn’t Applejack standing beside the apple cart but an older light yellow mare with a brown vest on and dark brown wide brimmed hat leaning against the cart looking at her with a bit of concern. Looking at the mare it took Twilight a few moments to recognize the light yellow mare with the red mane. “Applebloom?” Twilight asked uncertainly.

The mare looked over her shoulder and back at Twilight. “You feeling alright Twilight? You’re looking very confused.” Applebloom said as she stood up and walked over to the purple alicorn. It was then that Twilight noticed that on Applebloom’s hip was a large revolver. The mare followed Twilight’s gaze to the pistol and then looked back at the alicorn. “You ok? You are staring at Lil’ Mac like you’ve never seen it before.”

“Lil’ Mac?” Twilight said blinking in confusion as she looked from the pistol to the mare.

“Yeah, that’s what we called it remember?” Applebloom said with concern. “I think you need a break Twilight.” The mare said before turning back to the cart and calling out. “Hey Frynil I’m going to take a break, can you handle things here?”

Twilight looked at the cart and saw a Changeling make its way from a second cart loaded with apple and to the painted cart. “Sure thing boss, have a good break. “The changeling said in the slight hissing voice changelings had.

Applebloom nodded and turned back to Twilight. “Alright, lets head over to Gruphon’s and grab a drink.” The mare said as she started to walk away from the marketplace, the alicorn following behind her confusion only growing. That confusion double when they reached where the café was supposed to be and found another building there with a sigh that read “Gruphon’s Bar and Grill” With a another sign beside the door reading “No one under the age of 21 permitted”

Applebloom opened the door and the sounds of multiple ponies speaking while an unfamiliar SONG played in the background. Twilight followed the other mare into the bar and found it mostly empty with only a couple of ponies sitting at the bar itself however one of the largest tables had multiple ponies and changelings all wearing a dark green uniform sitting around it, having grabbed more chairs from other tables so they could all sit together as they talked and drank.

Applebloom made her way to a one of the booths and Twilight followed, taking a seat when Applebloom gestured for her to do so. Once she was seated the other mare went to the bar and spoke to the Changelings dressed in a white shirt and black vest with matching bowtie behind it and after a moment the changelings placed a pitcher of brown liquid and two glasses that Applebloom placed on her back before making her way back to the both.

Setting the tray down the mare took a seat across from Twilight and poured them both a glass of what Twilight realized was hard cider. “I know this ain’t Nightfall and all, but I think you just need a little drink to relax yourself.” The mare said as she placed the pitcher between them.

Twilight didn’t answer as she looked around in confusion at what was going on as this was supposed to be a café not a bar, Ponyville didn’t have any bars. As she looked around she noticed the wall beside them had several areas that looked like small holes had been repaired and painted over but if you looked closely you could see the holes, there were dozens of them all running in a line along the wall as if something was swept across it.

Applebloom followed the alicorn’s gaze once more and sighed as she saw the holes. “Gruphone did his best to cover up the damage but even with it mostly hidden a lot of us still remember that day.” The mare said running a hoof along the line of holes.

“What day?” Twilight asked looking at the other mare who was looking at the damage sadly.

The mare blinked and looked back at Twilight with some confusion. “You know, the day the Separatists tried to massacre everyone in the bar.” The mare said. “Don’t think they expected some of yer soldiers to be armed even while off duty or that Gruphon has a shotgun under the bar.” Applebloom said looking at Twilight with more concern.

“Twilight are you ok? You’ve been looking around like you don’t recognize your own town and I think you out of anyone would remember losing over a dozen EDF soldiers in your own town along with other town’s people unlucky enough to have been in the bar when those damn Separatists showed up.” Applebloom said, her voice had a slight edge to it as she spoke. She then took a closer look at the alicorn that sat across from her. “Say, why you hiding your scars and cybernetics, pulling another prank or something?”

Twilight blinked as she looked at herself confused. “Um…well….” She stammered not sure how to explain.

Applebloom looked at her with some suspicion now. “Commander what’s going on?” She asked and the alicorn didn’t say anything as her jaw worked wordlessly and Applebloom’s hoof moved to the piston on her hip. “If’n you’re a changelings trying to pull a prank you know what happens to those who impersonate EDF Officers and ah don’t think you want to go to Irongate, ah’ve heard stories about that place and if even half of them are to be believed it is not a pleasant place. So ah recommend you drop the disguise before ah report you, Ah think those soldiers over there would be most interested in hearing about someone pretending to be their leader.” She said gesturing to the group of uniform wearing changelings and ponies.

“I’m not a Changeling, I’m Twilight but…I think something has gone wrong.” Twilight said seeing the arm before her resting her hoof on the pistol as well as the fact several of the soldiers wore pistols as well. “I was doing an experiment in my lab and there was a bright flash and I wasn’t in my castle anymore.” She said. “I don’t know what’s going on.”

Applebloom went from looking suspicions to looking more annoyed. “Shoot, not another one.” She said and sighed shaking her head as she removed her hoof from her pistol. “Though this is the first time ah think it’s happened in reverse.” She said thoughtfully.

“What’s happened again?” Twilight asked now confused at why the mare seemed to believe her.

“Well…not sure how to tell you this Twilight…..but you are displaced.” The mare said sitting back in her seat. “Happens every once and a while, you’ll hear about someone, or an entire group of some ones just vanishing out of the blue. When the guard can find no evidence of what happened they call the EF to scan the area and they find left over energy of a “dimensional shift” as they call it. I believe that’s what’s happened to you though like ah said its usually our people going to other places not the other way around.”

Twilight looked at the farmer mare. “You seem to know a lot about what seems to have happened.”

“Shoot everyone does, it happens often enough the EDF sent out pamphlets explaining it as well as some basic survival tips for if’n it happens to you. It’s even taught in our schools these days.” Applebloom said with a chuckle. “At this point it’s just a part of life here in Equestria. The EDF usually gets those displaced back with in the week though it may have been longer for the missing as time works a bit funny when tunneling to other dimensions.” The old farmer said with a smiled as the alicorn across from her started at her with wide eyed confusion at how she can calmly talk about this subject as if it were the weather.

“Whelp after you finish yer cider we will head over to the EDF office her in town and inform ‘em what’s happened” Applebloom said sipping her drink. Twilight didn’t normally drink, not after being told how she acts when drunk but today she downed her glass in a few gulps casing Applebloom to whistle and tip her head back. “You either really like cider or you were needin’ a stiff drink.” She said.

“That last one.” Twilight said with a minor slur causing the mare across from her to laugh. “What’s so funny?”

“Just not used to seein’ you get even a buzz from one glass of cider, well not you personally, I mean our Twilight, come to think of it I wonder if’n she will come by to see you, can’t be everyday one gets to meet their counterpart.” The mare said before she downed her own cider and got to her hooves tossing some bits on the table. “Anyway lets git you to the EDF office so they can’t get this all sorted out as I’m sure you want to get back home as soon as possible.” The mare said heading for the door as the displaced alicorn followed her on hooves that were a bit unsteady.

Author's Note

think it would be interesting to follow PTS as she is in Soldier Series Equestria.

Thank you Admiral Q Ponyform for the idea