The Changeling Project

The Changeling Project

Chapter 2

“Trixie's Arrival”

[center“ We are not fit to attack!” Yelled a commander as he slammed his hoof onto the battle plans.
“ We have no choice!” Countered Celestia. “We attack them or they attack us!”
Celestia hated the atmosphere of this room. The only light came from her horn as she paced back and forth pondering her options. The other alicorns, Cadence and Luna, were gathering as much information as they could, taking apart the battle armour they retrieved. They found it charred and beat up about a kilometre away from Canterlot, no changelings in sight.

Not being able to find out anything new about the suit she turned to hear her sister having a controversial conversation with the commander.
“If we attack from the right we can cut off the changelings supplies...”
“No... That route is too heavily guarded.”
Luna decided to put a stop to this discussion. “We need more forces! We must call in all ponies who can combat against this menace!” Luna yelled.
Celestia's eyes widened and she stumbled backwards. “Phew you scared me! Let me give that some thought.”
Her thinking face suddenly became upbeat and happy. “Get Trixie on the phone!”

Trixie's eyes fluttered open as the wagon hit a crevice on the road. “Be more careful Alric” She sighed as Canterlot came into view.
She didn't know why Celestia had messaged her but it probably wasn't good considering the messenger said she needed “fighting skills.” An ear splitting boom broke the silence.
“Trixie there is a flying... THING above us!” Informed the driver.
Trixie stuck her head outside the nearest window. Her head was shadowed by an immense flying beast.
“Whaaaaaaaa?” Was all that escaped the unicorn's lips before the laser cannons shot down the bright balls of explosive light.
The wagon exploded into flaming sticks of wood as smoke erupted out of the impact zone. As the smoke cleared, Trixie was left tucked underneath her driver sustaining a force field above the couple. Trixie poked her driver's shoulder. His eyes didn't open . Trixie moved her eyesight downwards to see he was taking shallow breaths.
“How dare you mess with TRIXIE ” She screamed as she summoned another force field.
The shock of the blast destroyed the force field and sending the ponies flying. Rolling on the ground she opened her eyes to see another cannon moving into position to fire. Letting out a high pitched whistle from her lips she summoned the last of her energy to create her last forcefield. She tensed her body and shut her eyes in preparation for the blow, but it never came. Looking up she saw her pet ripping apart the flying beast.
“Yes..” She cheered under her breath. The Ursa major leapt onto the back of the metallic vessel and started to tear chunk and chunk of metal out of ship. Little jets burst out of the side of the bigger creature on their way to shoot at the giant bear. Several changelings leapt out of the ship on their way to finish Trixie. Little trails of fire burst out of barrels on their backs as they rocketed towards the blue pony. Trixie rolled out of the way as craters appeared beside her. She lowered her horn at the intruders as they rose from the smoking craters. Trixie charged a high powered blast at the height of the intruders. Letting the blast go she watched as her spell glanced harmlessly off of the nearest changelings. Behind the pane of glass Trixie saw the changeling's mouth smirk.
“Oh no you didn't” She screamed as her anger was at its peak.
Channelling her rage into the blast the magic attack shaded from teal into a dark red. Drops of over charged magic dripped to the ground leaving the ground charred. Blinding light exploded from Trixie's horn as changelings disintegrated along with their armour. Trixie swivelled around her horn and let loose another volley of blasts killing the remaining changelings.
“Get up!” Yelled Trixie. “NOW!”
Cannons shot shot after shot at the Ursa major as it grunted in effort, to provide cover for his master, Trixie. The blue unicorn whistled letting out an ear pinching sound. The Ursa looked up, hearing the sound, and retreated in the direction of Canterlot. Trixie unleashed small shots into the damaged area of the vessel forcing the ship back, away from Canterlot. Trixie started walking in the opposite direction lifting up her driver with magic and trotting towards Canterlot, her driver floating behind her.

Twilight awoke in the hospital wing to the sound of coughing.
“Who are you” She inquired at the pony causing the sound beside.
“Alric” He replied. “Trixie's driver”
“Wait did you just say Trixie?” Said the shocked unicorn.
“Yes have you heard of her?”Said the pleased earth pony. “There she is”
Trixie walked into the room in her wizard robes. She looked around the room and caught sight of Alric. A smile spread across her face as she saw her friend in good shape. As she galloped forward her gaze rose to catch Twilight's eyes. Her smile evaporated.
“And what do YOU want, Twilight?!.” She spat.
The purple unicorn wiped spit from her eyes. “Oh nothing, ya know, just healing from the fights YOU didn't fight!”
“Is that a challenge?!” Scorned the great and powerful Trixie.
Twilight's mouth was open as she was about to respond then Alric cut in. “STOP! You ponies are bickering about nothing.”
Then Rainbow Dash burst through the door. “Twilight! I've got the location to the changeling's base...”The plans fell from the pegasus' hooves as she saw the trio. “What's going on?”
“Nothing I was just leaving” Scoffed Trixie. She stormed out of the room leaving a small cloud of dust behind her.
“What was that about?” Puzzled Rainbow Dash.
“Oh nothing forget about it. Now give me those plans. We need to save Pinkie, Applejack and, Fluttershy.” Twilight grabbed the papers from the blue pony's hooves and spread them across the bed sheets.

Twilight strapped on her head armour. She glanced over at Rarity and Rainbow Dash both finished putting on their golden protection. Twilight started walking down the thousands of steppes leading away from Canterlot.
“Halt!” Said a voice from the marble stairs behind them.
Twilight swivelled her head towards the noise. Trixie and Alric were strapped in gleaming armour racing down the stairs toward them.
“We don't want you here. Go away!” Screamed Twilight Sparkle.
“I don't want to be here either but it's the princess' commands so I have to obey!” Trixie yelled back.
Twilight felt too tired to deal with Trixie at the moment so she decided to ask for the details later. She raced down the marble stairs towards her trapped friends, towards beating the changelings.

Twilight grunted in exasperation. A huge ball of steel was blocking the back entrance of the monstrous building. Looking up, all Twilight saw was a black mass rising through the clouds. To get to the building was a two day's journey one with virtually no talking. The chariot was moving much faster due to Alric driving, and the two fully grown dragons pulling. Now the group of five ponies couldn't get in because of the giant mass in the way.
Alric trotted up beside Twilight, she was trying her hardest to move the stone with a simple lifting spell. “Enchanted wood.” he murmured.
“What” Asked Twilight. “How do you know?”
“I really don't know, but I do know you won't move this with magic”
“Ummmm well than feel free to move it.”
Alric grasped the closest scrap and tugged. As the piece fell the ball imploded leaving an unorganized heap of metal. He slide a large, sturdy sheet from the pile and raised it. The metal was lifted from its resting place. Alric used up the last of his energy and tossed the metal to the side opening the way for the remaining ponies to get through.
“Awesome” said Rainbow Dash as she raced in front of the door. She pressed a button on the side of the door that caused the door to rocket upwards into the top of the door frame.
Rainbow jumped backwards, surprised. “Wow” She said, shocked.
After tentatively reaching in a hoof she decided the doorway was safe and strutted through it. The rest of the ponies followed through the passage. It lead to a dark room only lit by dark purple lights.
“Where are we?” Said scared Rarity.
Trixie summoned her light from her horn, illuminating the room. “Looks like we're in a prison room...” She said as she looked around at the surrounding cells.
The room was huge, holding hundreds of cells. Suddenly a white gas flowed from holes in the ground and ceiling.
“Look out!” Screamed Twilight.
She bounded forward and summoned a protective bubble around her friends. (and Trixie) The room quickly filled with the gas leaving the ponies in the bubble blind to what was happening on the outside of the shield.
As the gas retracted Twilight released her bubble of protection on the ponies. Alric swivelled around his head looking at a terrible. “Dear lord...”
Pleas and squeals sounded from the newly filled cells. As he swivelled his head he only saw lines and lines of orange, yellow and pink. In each individual cell was Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, And Applejack..
Twilight sounded desperate. “How will we know which ones is the real ones?!” She turned her head in circles looking at each cell.
“Help us! We're the real ones!” Squealed a mangled pony/changeling from a cell.
Rainbow dash looked upwards at the sound of some hissing. The ceiling was opening to reveal changelings, hundreds of changelings, all dressed in power armour. “We've got company!' She yelled.
Trixie was first to react. She conjured an illusion of a wall in front of the changelings. The black beings open fired on the wall, Trixie making them imagine the shots were bouncing off.
“Twilight, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, go ask some questions to the ponies that only the real one would know!” Yelled Trixie as she struggled to keep up the illusion. “And hurry! These things have anti magic precautions in effect!”
Twilight galloped around the room while Rainbow Dash and Rarity took off in other directions.

Celestia couldn't fall asleep. Booms and clangs of armour and weapons being created only added to her worried state. She had sent off only small group of mostly unskilled fighters to rescue a group of ponies and they could quite possibly die. She got up to retrieve a drink of water from the bathroom. She used the bathroom down the hall most often to show her subjects she was equal to them. As she walked down the vast halls she pondered about her battle strategies. Many too complex to initiate with her army. She needed Twilight and Trixie as commanders but the chance of them actually working together are so slim. Finally she reached the bathroom, the white tiles making echoes of sound underneath her hooves.
As she rounded the corner she saw Luna looking into the mirror. “What are you doing up at this hour dear sister?” Inquired the Princess.
Luna turned her body so she was looking at Celestia “Your sisterly love has fed me so much, sister” Returned her sister.
“Ummm... Sorry what?” asked Princess Celestia.
Luna disappeared into a cloud of smoke leaving Celestia coughing.”Luna are you there?”Asked Celestia clearing the smoke with some fan magic.
Queen Chrysalis stood in the spot of Luna an evil look on her face. “I have been acting Luna for 15 years and you never suspected it!” Now I am strong enough to defeat anypony!”
Celestia backed away shocked. The queen took some menacing steps forward, spittle foaming from her mouth, her eyes bloodshot. Her horn fizzled as prepared her blast of destruction. Celestia conjured her shield just in time to prevent the blast from ripping her to shreds.
“You think YOU are stronger than me!?” Screamed the now angered Celestia. “Well do I have a lesson for you!” She spat.
Celestia charged a blast. Chrysalis summoned a shield as Celestia's blast bounced of harmlessly.
“Yes I do think I'm stronger than you!” Scoffed the Queen.
Chrysalis summoned a charged a blast of magic. Chrysalis' horn fizzled as Celestia dove through the door out into the hallway. Flaming splinters from the bathroom were sent flying in all directions.
Thoughts raced through the Princess' head. If I can't beat her Canterlot will be destroyed before Twilight and Trixie even get back! There must be a way to beat her! I know. I'll have to use that!
Queen Chrysalis slowly emerged from the smoke a smirk across her face. “You're dead!”
She light her horn up in green light. She leaned in close to Celestia sparks from the magic falling onto Celestia.
SPARKS! She thought. I'll have to use the dark spark! But how will I get to it?
Suddenly a blast of white light knocked Chrysalis off her feet onto the ground beside Celestia “Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!” She spat at the direction of the blast.
Cadence galloped from the darkness, her horn smoking. “Celestia, run!”
Celestia teleported out of sight with a big bang. She reappeared in twilight's room, the vault in plain sight. Using magic she ripped of the door, it hit the ground with a clang. She quickly grabbed the dark, swirling globe of magic. Knowing what she must do she, pressed the dark spark onto her horn. Then every thing went dark.

Trixie couldn't hold on any more. The wall faded and the changeling's burst into the room. She looked over to see Alric rip into a cage grabbing Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy.
“We need your help to fight these things” He said to the trio. The ponies dashed into the centre of the vast room. The changelings landed in a circle around the group of ponies. Weapons charged as the ponies readied themselves.