Chapter 1: It Starts With The Rivals
"What do you think it's about?" Rainbow Dash said quickly. She was flying as fast as she could, but slow enough so the mare below could keep up.
"Does it look like I know?" Applejack replied with sarcasm. "All she said was to meet her at the Tree of Harmony!"
"Then why wouldn't the others come?"
"Heck if I know! Maybe they're already there!"
*
The blue pegasus flew into the room unexpectedly where a bright red and orange light made her fall down to the ground. "Twilight!" She called out.
"Rainbow Dash!" A voice called back. Past the bright light, a purple pony walked forward. "Sorry if the light blinded you at first!" She helpped her pegasus friend up. That's when Applejack ran into the room.
"Twilight what's- Ah!" She had clearly not expected the sudden light either. "What in hay is that!" Twilight covered her eyes.
"It's your elements." She said calmly. Right before her horn began to emit a bright pink aura. "I usually don't fight against them, and I was hoping not to break them, but but no matter how hard I try, I can't fight them back!"
"But yer' the element of magic Twi!" Applejack shouted. Twilight shot a scared look back.
"You think I don't know that!" She yelled back.
"And you shouldn't be fighting them Twilight! They protect Equestria!" Rainbow Dash shouted, finding her way up to the alicorn. Twilight shot a pink blast at the two elements. A small light pink bubble surrounded the two elements. They still illuminated more of the large space past the bubble. "Why didn't you just do that to begin with!"
"Because now," Twilight lifted up two necklaces and put them on her two friends. "I can't get to them."
"Why would ya' wanna do that?" Applejack asked in an annoyed tone.
"I was hoping if they got to they're bearers they'd stop acting up and we could find out the source of the problem."
"Not a bad idea, but surely ya' told the princess about this?" Applejack stated, and Twilight nodded her head.
"Of course, but, it wasn't the elements that got me to tell her." Rainbow Dash and Applejack stared blankly. "It was the map." The two confused ponies suddenly became terrified.
"What happened?" Rainbow Dash squeaked before Applejack could say anything and the mare gave Rainbow Dash a hard glare.
"It was your seats. They just-they started to-"
"To what, Twilight!" Applejack yelled.
"They started to break! I knew something was up, so I sent a letter to Celestia! I told Spike to stay at the castle in case anything happens!"
"Like what?" Rainbow Dash scoffed. "They're the elements of harmony, they save Equestria, without them-"
"Many villains could escape," Twilight said sadly. Rainbow Dash gasped in realization. "Discord was released when the elements power had transferred to us, Nightmare Moon was released because Celestia wasn't in control of the elements because she had banished the other bearer!" Twilight started to prance in circles. "Don't you see what's happening, all of Equestria and beyond is doomed if the elements start acting normal again!" Twilight glared at her friends. "Can't you see-" Applejack stopped Twilight mid-sentence.
"Look Twi, we understand what's happening, but frankly, we're handling a lot better. You're a princess, and the element of magic, you've defeated tons of villains! Nightmare Moon, Discord, Queen Chrysalis...well actually you didn't really defeat her I guess." She shrugged. Twilight and Rainbow Dash both stared at their friend strangely. Applejack saw this. "What are yall' looking at? I'm just saying, technically, it was Cadence and Shining Armor," Twilight shook her head to signal Rainbow Dash something. But what? Twilight rolled her eyes but then looked back at her earth pony friend. "And ya kinda just shot her out of a window into oblivion who knows where she could've gone and-"
"Rainbow Dash," The cyan mare looked at the alicorn scared and curious at the same time. "Get behind me,"
"But Twilight it's Apple-" The rainbow maned pony tried to interupt, but Rainbow Dash trotted slowly behind her friend. Twilight turned to her friend and whispered,
"Trust me." Suddenly the alicorn sprung her wings up, intimidating Applejack. Applejack, stared at Twilight, confused.
"What's happen' here? What's going on?" She asked, sarcastically. Twilight's horn lit up more, and suddenly a pink bubble surrounded Rainbow Dash. But the farm-horse didn't see behind the princess's wings.
"Applejack?" Twilight asked, and Applejack looked at her cautiously. "Has any pony, I don't know, suspicious, dropped by the farm today?" The orange mare thought for a bit. She seemed to be thinking hard-"Remember Applejack, who was it?" Applejack closed her eyes in consentration.
"There was this little colt, he looked hungry and scared, I offered him an apple and, and-and..." She paused.
"And?" Twilight managed to say in utter fear. Applejack suddenly gripped her head in agony. She screamed in pain, and Twilight wanted to reach out, to help her friend, but her gut was screaming no. She let go of the spell that was holding Rainbow Dash and fell to the floor. The pegasus reached and helped her friend up.
"What happened?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I thought I might have enough energy to fight, protect you, and maintain the elements," She sighed. "I'm sorry Dash, I-I can't protect you." Rainbow clasped her hoof under the princess's chin.
"Huh, you obviously don't know me very well, because when it comes to fighting, I make it 20% cooler!" Twilight couldn't laugh, her other friend was lying on the floor, lifeless.
"Are you sure?" She asked, even if she was stone cold out, she'd wake up. "Even if she might be asleep it's Applejaaaaaahhh!" Her sentence turned into a scream and Rainbow Dash immediately jumped in front of her friend. That pony was *not* Applejack. This pony had black spots almost covering her body. All paleness in her eyes were now a light blue. On her back, Two strips of bug wings lie, but they were partially orange. A coal chipped horn rested upon her head in between her mane.
"Oh my Celestia, is that AJ?" Rainbow asked, flying up, preparing to give an air attack. Twilight's horn lit up again and Rainbow Dash jumped in front of her. "Okay, no. You are not going to be much use to us if you pass out okay? I only need you to do two things. Do you got it?" Twilight wobbled her head for a 'yes'. "Alright, just protect the elements, but most importantly, protect yourself." As Rainbow Dash flew up and around to fight their once friend, the alicorn slowly performed a small shield which protected her face, but that was useless. A loud ring echoed through the cave. Twilight and Rainbow Dash looked back up to the tree. "Rarity and Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash yelled. Twilight pulled away the small shield and forced her magic onto the other two. "It must mean they're in danger!" Rainbow Dash screamed, fighting against the changeling-pony hybrid. "Twilight what do we do?"
"We've got to help them you feather-brain..." Twilight thought to herself. Her eyes started to blink slower.
"Twilight! What do we do!?" Rainbow shrieked louder, scared and bossy at the same time.
"We've got to help-" Her vision went to a blur, and suddenly the world went dark.
"You can't stop the new queen! Haha! She's-" Twilight heard a demonic Applejack say before a punch to the mouth interrupted her.
"Twilight don't make me repeat my-" She had seen her, and she sounded terrified. "Twilight! Wake up! Twilight! TWILIGHT!"
Chapter 2: A Terrible Fashion Statement -Part 1
***TEN MINUTES EARLIER AT THE CAROUSEL BOUTIQUE...***
"Oh Rarity, are you sure you can't have any pony else do this for you?" Fluttershy gulped. Across the room was a beautiful white unicorn.
"Darling of course!" She said. "You have the grace and beauty of a literal angel." She scratched Fluttershy's chin.
"That's nice of you to say Rarity, i-it really is. B-But I seriously don't think you'd want a insecure and clumsy mare to pose for your outfits. Besides, remember what happened last time I posed for a camera, I ended up humiliating you, and myself." Fluttershy sighed, remembering the incident. Rarity chuckled.
"Oh darling, it was all just a happy accident. Besides, you are my good friend. It all worked out in the end anyway!"
"Yeah, but, oh, you know how I hate the spotlight." Fluttershy commented.
"Yes, but there will be no pony judging you." Rarity paused. "Well, except me." She joked.
"Okay, but you promise nothing bad will happen?"
"If one thing did, it would only be a terrible fashion statement." The two laughed. "Alright, try this on first, I want to see if it fits you." The unicorn lifted up a light blue saddlebag, with three dark blue gems as a pin.
'Uh, Rarity?" Fluttershy asked. "Isn't this your saddlebag?"
"Why yes it is darling, I'm thinking of starting a saddlebag sale as well, I love all types of clothing, even...bags." She rolled her eyes.
"Rarity," Fluttershy scolded. "Why?"
"Oh, I have no inspiration! I was hoping, something would inspire me, but nothing has so far, that's why I invited you over," She sighed at the last word. "But I still have nothing." Fluttershy started to laugh.
"Rarity, you are a brilliant pony, and you'll think of something, you could get inspiration from a butterfly and make an entire line of clothing!" Rarity gasped at her friend's comment.
"That's it! Butterflies! Fluttershy you're a gen-" But a sudden scream interrupted the unicorn. The two ponies within the boutique jumped at the sudden noise. They both turned to the door in a rush. Within only a second later, a figure charged through the door. This figure did not look normal. His eyes were contracted and his mane has a peculiar shade of turquoise. Glass wings shot through his back where blood ran downwards. Blood also fell upon his white mane and down his head from the chipped black horn. His blue fur coat had certain spots of black in it. The pony screeched, exhibiting pearly white fangs. "Is that a pony!?" Rarity screamed, her horn lighting up.
"That doesn't look like one, it looks like a," Fluttershy started, but the two gasped in realization.
"Changeling!" The changeling hybrid jumped at them, lashing it's teeth at Rarity.
"Fluttershy run!" Rarity screamed, as she shot a small laser at the enemy. Fluttershy nodded and started to run upstairs. Rarity grunted fighting against the once pony. It bit down on her hoof and with reflex, Rarity kicked it across the room. She flinched at her hoof staring at the figure lying at her door way. As soon as he was shot down, the changeling got back up and leaped forward again. Rarity repeated the same spell and ran upstairs, following Fluttershy. She pounded on her bedroom door, but all she got were sobs in return. "Fluttershy open the door! It's me!"
"You could be a changeling!" Fluttershy shot back quickly.
"If I am, I give you permission to kill me! Now open the door!" Rarity yelled. She could hear the changeling screeches from downstairs.
"Say something I know Rarity would say!" Fluttershy responded, terrified.
"Celestia goddammit, Fluttershy just open the door!"
"What were we just doing? What did you give me!?" The pegasus questioned angrily. Rarity's face turned red with frustration as a couple tears started to form in her eys. The changeling heard their shouting and was sprinting up the stairs.
"A-A saddle Fluttershy! A goddamn saddle!" She yelled, the changeling sprung forward, and the door swung open. Rarity ran inside, shutting the door immediately. She levitated random objects in her room and placed them upon the door. She stress fully grabbed everything, she struggled, trying to move her bed before Fluttershy stepped in.
"Rarity! Rarity! Stop!" She pulled her friend in for a hug. Rarity sobbed into her friend's shoulder.
"Wha-what's happening?!" She screamed into Fluttershy's fur. Fluttershy thought for a bit. She didn't know. She truly didn't. Her eyes began to tear up as well in fear and shock.
"I don't know Rarity..." Fluttershy spaced towards the door. The large thump against the door made them flinch every time he hurdled towards it, "I don't know.
