The More Things Change

by Silver Butcher

Rating: everyone
Tags: Anthro, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Zecora, Other, Spike, Comedy, Cutie Mark Crusaders
Length: 4780

The Mane 6 leave Equestria for 10 years and come back to a different world

After coming back from a 10-year mission to catalog the complete globe and learn more about other countries. The Mane 6 Return to Ponyville, but not the one they remember. all their friends and families have all changed, some slightly, some drastically.

Published 2018-05-26 21:40:07 UTC
Last updated 2021-03-13 14:00:34 UTC

Prologue - before the Journey

Twilight looked over her list, she had been preparing for this journey for three months, but now that it was time to leave, she was starting to panic. all of her things had already been loaded onto the boat, along with all her friend's belongings. Starlight had packed up her room and the two had said their goodbye's that morning, Starlight had declined to go on the trip, opting to go on tour with Trixie instead. in fact, now that She was leaving, the Castle would be empty until she returned. She had managed to have all her jobs in town taken over, mostly by Amethyst Star who seemed thrilled to finally be asked to overlook things again.

The only thing that had caused her trouble was getting somepony to look after Spike while she was gone, Shining had offered, but after a short talk he and Cadence had decided that if he stayed there too long he might end up getting spoiled rotten by the Empire's citizens, her Parent's schedules where so busy now they didn't have the time to look after Spike, and with Starlight going on the road with Trixie, She'd been forced to look into other options, it had taken a long time, but she finally managed to find somepony to look after Spike, and they where technically in ponyville to.

"So how long am I staying with Zecora exactly?" Spike asked as Twilight walked him down the path that leads to Zecoras

"Its...its gonna be a while, we don't know how long it will take to Catalog the world's Geography, learn about other countries customs and cultures, and the various other jobs we'll have to do. But I'll make sure to write to you as often as I can." Twilight stopped and the Two looked ahead to Zecora, who was waiting for them. "Twilight Picked up Spike and gave him a Hug.

"I'll miss you." He said as they both cried into each other.

"I'll miss you too." Twilight said, after a minute Twilight put him down, and shook his hand "Goodbye Spike, I love you."

"I love you too Twilight...bye" Spike let go of her hand and walked over to Zecora who leaned down and offered him her hand.

"To finally have company makes me Glad, but the circumstances also make me rather Sad," Zecora said as Spike took her hand, she looked over at Twilight.

"So long my Friend, Letters you mustn't forget to Send." Twilight sniffed.

"I won't." With a final wave, She turned and made her way to the Castel where she and her Friends had all agreed to meet. Zecora leads Spike to what was now their hut.

"I had my hut fixed up, But I think you'll like it...yup." Spike wiped his eye's and giggled.

"Hey...you...you cheated on that one."

Applejack had said her fair well's to Applebloom and Granny Smith and was walking with Big Mac to Fluttershy's cottage.

"Any last words of wisdom?" She asked him.

"Nope."

"Anything you want to get off your chest before I leave?"

"Nope."

I know that Braeburn is moving down here...but even he can't pick up the slack of me not being here, so are you sure you can do this and Keep up with Applebucking duty?"

"Eeyup." Big Mac nodded and turned to her "I think well manage ok until you get back." Applejack looked back at Sweet Apple Acres.

"I'm gonna miss you."

"Me or the Farm?"

"What? Oh, um you...and the Farm." Applejack replied as they continued on their way to Fluttershy's cottage. most of the conversation between them being Applejack making sure everything was taken care of before she left.

"And you'll have to make sure Braeburn know's about the Fruitbat orchard."

"Eeyup."

"What about bats?" Fluttershy asked as she walked down the greet the two of them.

"Just talking about The Vampire Fruit bats," AJ said as Fluttershy gave Big Mac a hug.

"Thank you so much for agreeing to do this." She said.

"Eeyup."

"Alright, before we go, I need to say goodbye to all the animals." She turned to Fluttershy "Do you remember their names?"

"Eeyup."

"Do you remember their favorite food."

"Eeyup." Big Mac said as he followed her inside. Applejack waited outside for them, after several minutes the two finally walked out, at least Big mac walked out, Fluttershy was being hugged by Harry the Bear.

"I'll miss you too." She sobbed as she hugged him. Big Mac looked at Applejack and pointed to the two of them. AJ sighed and walked over the Fluttershy.

"Come on Fluttershy, we're gonna be late." she said as she tried to move Fluttershy, to no avail, "I know it sucks to say goodbye, but we're gonna be coming back."

"But it might take years!" Big Mac made an odd noise.

"Years!? You never said you might be gone for years!" AJ sighed

"I did't.want to.worry anypony," Applejack said, punctuating every other word with a tug at Fluttershy. "Were all. leaving things. behind!" She said as she finally won and pulled Fluttershy out of the crying bear's arms. "We've been planning this for months, out stuff is already packed and ready to go on the boat, it's too late to back out now." Applejack turned to Big Mac "Tell Granny and Applebloom not to worry about me, I'll be fine." Applejack helped Fluttershy stand on her hooves. "We'll be fine" she amended looking at Harry.

"Goodbye Harry, don't let Angel boss Big Mac around," Harry grunted and got up, a sparkle in his eye as he set off on his quest to keep Angel in check. Big Mac shook his sister's hand once more.

"So long bro."

"Happy trails." Big Mac replied as he turned and walked into the Cottage. Applejack threw her arm around Fluttershy and the two made their way to the Castel.

Rarity looked up at her Boutique as she locked the door, Sweetie had officially moved in with her parents the week before, and thanks to a little help from the apple's, would still be able to visit her friends regularly. Rarity sighed, she had said her tearful goodbye the week before. all her dresses and a multitude of fabrics and her mannequins had been put on the boat, she rubbers her hoof on the door when she somepony poked her, she looked over and found Pinkie right beside her, with Rainbow Dash floating overhead on a cloud. They seemed completely relaxed.

"Are you ready Rarity!" Pinkie squealed in excitement "We're gonna see the world." Rarity smiled.

"It's a good thing your coming, I suspect all the other's are in tears."

"Applejack doesn't cry," Rainbow said bluntly.

"Then I guess where three for three." Rarity smiled as she looked up at Rainbow.

"Odd, you seem a little red-eyed."

"Just said goodbye to the squirt, had to make it look emotional and all." Rainbow said as she lay on the cloud. "but all that aside, let's get moving, we got an awesome adventure ahead, and I got an epic book to write about it."

"Ooo. Am I gonna be in it?" Pinkie asked Rainbow chucked.

"uh, Duh! were all gonna be in it, and I'm gonna be the hero of the story."

"Rainbow, it's a 3-week boat ride to our first destination, what pray tell are you gonna be the hero of?"

"I dunno, I'll make it up as We go," she said as she got off her cloud and the three made their way to the Castel.

Twilight watched as all her friends showed up, all ready and rearing to go. Twilight cleared her throat as said.

"Alright, were about to do this...for real...there's no going back now, where about to expand Equestria's knowledge of the world outside its borders. Celestia has already sent a few carriages for us, once it arrives it's a twenty-minute flight to the boat, then a 3-week sail to our first destination." Twilight looked at her friends "This is gonna be a long and hard journey, but as long as we stick together, we can do this!" Twilight finished just as said carriages arrived, they all loaded up, and as they set off, they all took one last look at Ponyville, and with that their journy began.

Chapter 1- Welcome home

Twilight looked out in awe, what had once been the small town of Ponyville, had expanded greatly. Sugar Cube corner seemed to have taken ownership of several other shops across the town. everything was quiet, except for in the center of the town, Celestia had called ahead, and a lot of ponies had come to welcome the mane 6 home. They had returned nearly a month prior to this day but had been busy telling their finding to the other Princesses. But they had finally finished showing all the maps, the many different accounts of historical events from a multitude of countries, and other kinds of literature they had found had been sent to the Canterlot Library, a whole wing was in the process of being made in Twilight's name. This was only one of the many achievements they had achieved, but they were all ready to go home, Rarity was rubbing her neck.

"Oh, that stupid boat, none of those bed's where ever up to any sort of standers."

"You know, I remember a time...about three years ago I think...when you didn't seem to mind them so much," Rainbow Replied as she reminisced of the good old times.

"Those were..."

"Stop" Applejack interrupted "We just got home! Let's go home to our families. Have a nice time...then bitch at each other later." The two muttered but moved away from each other. Twilight walk in the front as they made their way down to the town, for the first time in 10 years they saw so many old friends, mixed with new faces. Pinkie was the first one to break away from the group when The Cakes got her attention

"Pinkie" Mr.Cake cried out once he saw her, She turned and was met with a hug from Mrs.Cake

"It's been so long!" Pinkie cried out as she hugged her friends/employers "How's Gummy? Are my sisters here? Do I still have a job?" She asked in rapid-fire succession as the Cake's dragged her off to celebrate with her family at Sugar Cube corner. Rainbow Dash was met with a surprise as well once she saw who the new Wonderbolt captain was.

"Scootaloo!? Is that you!?" Rainbow asked in absolute shock.

"Oh Yeah!" Scootaloo called out, striking a pose "Guess who could rival even you in flying speed!" Scootaloo cheered as she showed off her wingspan. "Come Dash! You, me, and quite a few old friends of yours have some catching up to do!" Rainbow took to the air, asking Scootaloo for the details on how she'd gotten to the rank of Captain. Applejack and Fluttershy's jaws hit the floor when they Saw Big Mac. He had a multitude of Bird's resting on his back.

"What the fuck bro?" Applejack asked in shock as she watched a few more land on him.

"Long story." Big Mac said as he and AJ made they way to Sweet Apple Acres. "Come on Fluttershy, your family is waiting at Sweet apple acres. Sorry to say but your cottage isn't exactly in the best of conditions."

"What happened?" Fluttershy asked.

"Long Story, but I wasn't there when it happened, you'll have to ask Discord."

"I've never heard you say so much in so little time," Applejack said in awe as the three made their way to Sweet apple acres. Rarity was meet with Sweetiebell, Who had a multitude of other ponies taking her picture.

"You look fabulous!" Rarity declared after getting a good look at her.

"I know! But we can talk about how great I look after we get you back to your Boutique, I think you'll find it's changed for the better." Rarity and Sweetie made their way to the Boutique, still swamped with paparazzi. Twilight was greeted by Shining armor, but she was getting less than delightful news.

"What do you mean they're in Africa!?" Twilight demanded

"Zecora had to go home, I asked Spike if he wanted to stay at the empire while she was gone, but Zecora didn't want to leave him behind, And Spike didn't want to be left behind either, "Shining replied

"When did this happen!?"

"They only left a few weeks ago, they'll be back in a week or two." Shining said as he threw his arm around Twilight. "but enough about that, Flurry's heart want to meet her aunt." Shining said as he leads Twilight to the Castel. Twilight looked at the Everfree Forest. "I'll see you when you get back" She whispered as she looked back up at her Castel.

Chapter 2- Everything changed.

Twilight sighed as she looked out the Window, after several hours of extensive partying, catching up, and other such things. Her Family had finally left. Once they left Twilight was finally able to do something she hadn't been able to do uninterrupted for over a year. She grabbed a book, sat down with a cup of tea, and read in silence. At first, it was nice, No Pinkie playing instruments above her, No Rainbow Dash asking her to proofread her ridiculous adventure novel. No pony to mess with her. No pony to talk to her. After 20 minutes Twilight sighed and placed her book down.

"I use to enjoy this, but now...It's just to quiet." Twilight put her book back and looked at her dusty castle. She ran her finger across a windowsill and looked at the thick layer of dust. "This place is a mess." Twilight lit her horn and began cleaning, but was interrupted when she saw her friends approaching the Castel. Twilight teleported down to meet with them. "Back so soon?" Twilight joked.

"Eh...turns out were might be stuck with you a while longer." Applejack said as she looked at Twilight "It's gonna take a while for Braeburn to gather up his belongings and move back to Appaloosa."

"And the Cake's have been using my old room as a giant pantry, But on the bright side!" Pinkie moved out of the way, as Gummy waddled onto the scene, he was no longer a baby, altho he still had no teeth."

"OH!Wow...he got big" Twilight said as she looked down at Gummy. "But...where are his teeth?"

"I'm gonna take him to the vet and get that check out," Fluttershy said as she scratched him back, He patted his back leg and gave a toothless smile "it's probably nothing." Rarity looked over Twilight's shoulder

"I'm just here to see my little Spikey-wike."

"Well...he's not here." Twilight sighed.

"What!?" They all asked at once.

"He's in Africa with Zecora," She said as she led the group inside "No idea when they'll be back, or why they're even there." Twilight sighed as she flopped on her couch, which was followed by a cloud of dust. Twilight cleaned it in a flash and a fit of coughing. "Everything's so dusty!" She complained as he Friends experienced similar problems. After sorting everything out with a few spell Twilight had everything dust free. Rainbow Yawned

"Scootaloo told me your sister's a pop star, is that right?" She asked Rarity

"Indeed, I personally can't wait to hear some of her music, altho, it seems a monster attack left my Boutique with no power or water." Rarity sighed "So I'll have to Join in asking to stay for a while."

"I'm gonna have to jump on that Bandwagon to," Rainbow said casually "My house seem's to just be straight up gone...So yeah."

"So we're all asking to stay? is that ok?" Fluttershy asked.

"Of course...this is a castle after all." Twilight yawned. "Starlight wasn't here either, apparently with her help, Trixie's gotten quite well known." Twilight looked around "And by the looks of it, Nopony has bothered with spring cleaning in a while." Twilight shook her head. "well, let's go, I'll show you to your rooms...and clean them for you." Twilight made her way up and individually showed and cleaned their rooms. Once they where all settle in Twilight walked back into her room and, with a quick spell, cleaned it of dust, and looked at her bed with a sigh. "I just want to nap." Twilight turned and faced the dusty hallway. "But this place isn't gonna clean itself." With that Twilight spent the next 3 hours making sure every room was dusted and cleaned.

Chapter 3- Paper Work

Twilight and Fluttershy looked at the damage in awe.

"What the hell did this?' Twilight asked as she looked at the damage. The Cottage had been cleanly cut in half, the Chimney had been knocked down, the part that had once had the door on it was now smashed flat, and the entire thing was slowly falling apart. Fluttershy walked over and entered what was left of her destroyed home, it was mostly empty save some broken china and three-fourths of a couch. Inside it, Big Mac was waiting for them

"So...I guess I have some explaining to do," he said awkwardly and as brick fell to the ground behind him, he looked back at it and sighed "Well...I don't know what happened." He said bluntly "I left for our Family reunion and left Spike in charge...Came back to this, Spike blames Discord, Discord blames Spike, neither will talk about what happened, on the bright side they have both agreed to pay for the damage, apparently whatever did this also prevented Discord form just snapping it fixed...but we needed you to sign some papers before we could bring a construction crew up here to fix it." Twilight squinted at him

"You're talking a lot. I've never heard you speak this long before." Big Mac looked at her.

"Ponies change Twilight. Ponies change." He said before turning back to Fluttershy "The Contractor will be arriving soon, once all the papers are signed it should only be 2 or 3 weeks before your Cottage is fixed" Twilight walked around the ruined cottage

"Spike did this?"

"I said Spike was here when it happened, don't know if he did it, Personally my bits are on Discord for doing it." Twilight ran her hand along the wall, Fluttershy and Big Mac walked over to her.

"Is something wrong?" Big Mac asked Fluttershy looked over at him.

"She just misses Spike," she said "His last letter was 5 years ago, and it did have much to say in it, just his usual weekly report, then he just stopped responding to letters. Big Mac nodded.

"Yeah, he doesn't talk to ponies much, and he's impossible to find when Crystal ponies come to town to see if he'll grant their wishes."

"What?"

"Don't ask, he hates it when he's asked about how that myth came about, but don't worry, he just...not very social anymore, tho he still shows up for Ogres & Oubliettes night."

"Listen, I know you want to see Spike, but where's my Angle?" Fluttershy demanded, crying a Little "I know he's..."

"I figure you would" Big Mac sighed "I can take you to his Grave, tho he did leave a little family behind," Big Mac said as the three walked away from the Ruins, Big Mac took them a tree not to far away from the mess, it had several sets of flowers, a Multitude of Bunnies around it, and A Fat Bear Sleeping happily next to it all.

"Harry?" Fluttershy asked in shock, wiping off her tears as the Bear Lazily opened its eye, looked at Fluttershy, closed it for a second, then shot straight up with its jaw open in shock.

"Oh my goodness, Harry you've gotten so...fluffy." She said politely as she walked to the Bear and the Grave Big Mac and Twilight decided to leave Fluttershy to grief and talk to her old bear friend.

"Sooo.." Twilight said awkwardly "What's Spike like now?" Big Mac though on this for a second then scratched his head.

"Last I heard some Snakepony was trying to get him to marry her, but that was like 2 weeks before he left for Africa with Zecora."

"Whoa!" Twilight said holding up her hands "You're just gonna say that and expect me to not have questions?"

"I Have no answers." Big Mac replied "Last Time I talked face to face with Spike was about 2 months ago during out last Guy's night, We got a new version of the Game and reset out characters so Now I'm an Assassin Spike's an Archer, and Discords a, you don't care about any of this do you?" Big Mac asked once he noticed the look on Twilight's face.

"What.Is.He.Like?" Twilight asked angrily "Is He still a Comic Book dork? Does he have Wings? Is He the Size of the cottage now? Did he turn into a miniature Zecora and speak in rhyme?"

"Yes, Yes, No, and Only sometimes." Big Mac Replied simply.

"Sometimes?"

"Spike is known to talk to the foals around Ponyville in Rymes, They all call him the Ghost of Everfree, what with the Cloak and his Lantern, I remember one time like three years ago He Overheard some kids were about to go into the Everfree and he..."

"Big Mac!" Twilight said irritably "Instead of randomly jumping for topic to topic, focus on one thing!"

"Sure I can...wait! Here come the Construction Ponies!" Big Mac waved and made his way over to a crew who had approached."

"Luna Fuck," Twilight said rubbing her temple "I already miss the old Big Mac."

Meanwhile.

Harry gave a series of growls as Fluttershy sat down and let the bunnies around the area inspect her.

"I see." Fluttershy nodded "I'm so sorry I missed all this Harry, but you can't let one bad break up ruin your Life!" Harry growled back and Fluttershy poked him, earing a giggle "Oh Really?" She asked, "You can deny it, but this belly gives it away." Harry tried something else and got a laugh out of Fluttershy who stared at him in silence, Harry gave a guilty smile "Really?" She asked, "That's your backup story?" Harry grumbled as Fluttershy got up "it's fine...but you are so going on a diet once the Cottage is back together." Harry Grumbled as he leaned over and picked up a Honey Pot. Before anything else could be said Bic Mac called for Fluttershy, "We'll talk later" She said as she got up and walked past Twilight, who was grumbling something about Rambling.

"Alright, boy's," Big Mac said, "This is Fluttershy, she owns the lands and the squashed house up there, witch funny enough, did have some Squashes inside it when I found it like this, And oh boy is that a heck of a story on its own..."

"Yeah, yeah," The Mare in front said as she passed Fluttershy a Pen and clipboard "If you'll just sign here...initial there...another signature there." And with that Fluttershy spent the next few hours signing a large amount of Paperwork, with Big Mac talking next to her, Twilight Left within the first 10 minutes.

Chapter 4 -A New Dawn

Rainbow Dash was on a mission to discover what had happened to her house and It ended almost immediately. Upon asking Derpy what had happened the Mare had simply told her that it had been given to a Windigo as a peace offering before merrily skipping away.

"What?" Rainbow demanded in confusion, she spent the next few hours trying to get more info past that and finally found it through a pony she regretted talking to the second he spoke.

"Oh I remember you, you were with the Princess the other day when she returned from her voyage.

"Yeah I'm the Element of Loyalty," Rainbow replied, "heard of me?"

"I've only heard of you from that Dragon," the way the colt said that made Rainbow clench her fists
"Don't break his nose," Rainbow thought as the pony proceeded to insult Spike.

"Honestly the stories that thing tells are obscured," The pony then put on a mocking tone "Come around children as I speak in rhyme for no reason and tell you pointless lies about how I saved the Crystal Empire," The pony scoffed. "A publicity stunt obviously, as if a dragon would put its grubby little fingers on the Crystal Heart and not try and eat it," Rainbow took a deep long breath and the Pony kept talking.

"Hey," She snapped cutting him off "I want to talk about the Windigo that took my house, not hear you talk smack about my old pal Spike, so Answer the question and stop spewing your venomous views at me or I'm going to knock you flat," The Pony rolled his eyes at Rainbow before simply saying.

"The Dragon ran into town with the Windigo chasing after him, he probably stole something from it, and after about 20 minutes of the thing freezing the town somepony convinced it to take your house and do something or another with it, The Dragon obviously jumped at this and claims he did it, that thing does nothing but spew lies and-" There was loud wack as Rainbow punched the colt and walked away.

"I did ask you to stop with the venomous nonsense," She said before walking away

"You sure?" Twilight asked as Rainbow finished giving Twilight a request.

"Positive,"

"It'll take ages to build you a new house from scratch, we could just-"

"Spike gave it to a Windigo, and I'm not about to freeze to death over whatever few personal items I left in it and forgot about, also no one seems to know where the Windigo took it and honestly that sounds like a bullshit task to undergo," Twilight was silent for a moment as she flipped to the next page of her book.

"Alright, I'll go to the mayor's office and have the request for a new cloud home to be built for you.

"Epic," Rainbow replied before flopping on the nearest chair, Twilight's eye twitched.

"You know, you flopping like that is why all the good chairs broke on the ship,"

"Your starting to sound like Rarity," Rainbow replied as she sank her weight into her seat. Twilight looked at her friend for a moment, then back at her book, then back to Rainbow.

"Isn't there something else you could go do?"

"Naw," Rainbow replied casually as she repositioned herself and swung her hooves over the armrest.

"Rainbow either sit right or don't sit in my chairs,"

Rainbow groaned as she flew through the air, with no home to go to, not a cloud in the sky, and Twilight actively refusing to just let her relax in a chair she was on the search for a comfortable napping place, so far most of her old spots were either gone or no longer usable, she had given up and was now just trying to get a better idea of what Ponyville looked like nowadays, she landed near the outskirts of the town and sat on a tree stump.

"Never thought I'd miss the ship," she groaned, "Least I had some hidey-holes to nap in, can't even sit in a chair without being gripped at," Rainbow was content to have a terrible day when an unknown voice spoke behind her.

"you seem tired and distressed, I know of a place you can rest," Rainbow looked to see who had spoken, only to find nopony was behind her, instead a small box had been set down behind her, she looked at it suspiciously before picking it up and opening it slowly, inside was a simple note telling her directions to walk and how long to walk in the direction, deciding she had nothing to lose out of this she slowly followed the note and ended up on the trail near Sweet apple acres, just before arriving she turned to a small bit of fence that had been broken and shoddily repaired, Rainbow flew over the fence and walked a little until arriving at her destination after walking into some bushes, only to find a tiny clearing with a hammock hidden away from the world.

"Alright...awesome, kind of sketchy though," Rainbow looked the hammock over and found another note in the same handwriting, all it said was look up and she did so, above her was a second hammock, with a familiar-looking dragon chilling in it.

Author's Note

Such a Cliche chapter name isn't it?