I Am NOT Twilight Sparkle!

Today was to be a celebration, for today Twilight Sparkle’s look alike, the poor human turned to alicorn, Zackery Johnson, was free from the mind controlled enslavement she has been in for the betterment of well over a week. The mare was free from her mental chains, no longer shackled to be what the now on the run queen of the changelings whims, and desires of spite and mental derangement were to be. And while there were tears of joy being shed from Twilight Sparkle, her friends, the two royal sisters, and the changeling and dragonling that the human-turned-pony actually called friend, the moment of jubilation was short lived.

After the mare was freed, thanks to the help of princess Cadence and her royal crystaller Sunburst, in utilizing the Crystal Heart, the party brought the mare into the empires castle where they got the mare food and drink. From her condition prior to being freed from her mind control, Zack wasn’t in poor condition, but she wasn’t in the best of physical health as well. Especially since she was put under a sleeping spell to prevent her from, possibly coercing other ponies to engage in, intimate activities because of her enslavement condition. So after eating her fill of food, which was enough to feed half the party as a whole, the mare was sated and satisfied. Even with some of her food combinations being on the strange side, something that the others would think that Pinkie Pie would cook up, and then eat like it was the most normal thing there was.

But after the now pale purple alicorn was filled with food, the happy moments started to slowly devolve. Once every pony has had their fill of food, they all made their way to a nice quite chamber, where they try to take things easy. And for a time it was going as planned.

It all started off to a good start, with the ponies catching Zack up on what’s been going on, aside from their searching for her to rescuing her. during this time Zack was also being introduced to not only Sunburst, who wanted to ask various questions about who the mare was, but refrained, to even meeting Cadence’s daughter Flurry Heart. Who seemed to have taken quite a shine to the mare. But as time went on the cheerful atmosphere started to turn south, when Zack noticed Pinkie’s not so poofy mane and tail, to the large scar on Celestia’s chest and neck, and all of the injuries that Thorax had. and seeing these three in such a state caused the mare to feel horrible.

“Celestia…Pinkie…” Zack said quietly as she looked towards the two, tears started to form in the mare’s eyes as she prostrated herself before the group. “I am SO sorry for hurting you. I…I was just—” both mares quickly made their way over to Zack, and brought the mare into a comforting hug.

“You were under the influence of your anger and grief, after learning what has happened to you…and unable to return to your world, and family.” Celestia said as she rubbed the mare’s back. “But trust me, I don’t blame you for what has happened.”

“Same Zacky!” Pinkie said as she decided to nuzzle the alicorn. “You were just hurting really badly, but now, things will start to get better. I promise!” the bubbly mare said as her mane and tail have returned to their natural poofy state.

“But I still hurt the two of you…” Zack said as she pulled away from the pair, and was looking at the massive burn scar she inflicted upon the elder princess. “And not only that…but…” Zack seemed to be choking on the words she wanted to say, but one of the ponies in the room seemed to have an idea about what she’s trying to say.

“…you killed Discord.”

Luna suddenly said, catching everypony off guard, and getting some shocked responses. Celestia was not as shocked as the rest of the party, but she still seemed uncomfortable with the prospect. Each of Twilight’s friends were all taken aback by this news, especially Fluttershy, but deep down they thought that this was what happened. It was just a hard topic to come to terms with, as any form of killing was virtually unheard of in Equestria. Zack remained silent for a moment longer, but eventually nodding her head in confirmation.

“I thought so. That black sphere we all saw, the one that carved out the landscape and turning it into a pitch black scar…that was all your doing, yes?” Zack only nodded as a very horrified expression now dominates her face, as brief flashes of the event crossed her mind.

“I’m not sure what I did exactly, but, all I wanted was for him to pay for what he did. Make him feel my pain…make him suffer…and that’s when…” Zack was interrupted in mid rambling as Celestia places a hoof on the mare, before gently patting and rubbing her back to comfort her. the pale purple pony looked up from the floor and to Celestia, who was giving her a reassuring smile.

“We can’t change the past Zack, the only thing we can do is move forward, and try to do better in the future.” Celestia says assuredly as she continues to try and calm the mare’s anxiety. After Celestia has managed to calmed down the mare, Zack wiped the tears from her eyes before looking to Thorax, who has been sitting close by her the whole time, both at the dining table and now.

“Thorax. I am happy to see that your still alive.” The changeling offered a small smile as he scooted over to the mare, and gave her a comforting pat on the back.

“If you didn’t stop them I certainly wouldn’t have survived…” Thorax then started to look a little dishearten as he slowly brough Zack into a hug, where he started to quietly sob. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I couldn’t save you.”

Zack wrapped her own legs and wings around the changeling returning the hug in kind. The mood of the room started to lift up, if ever slightly, as the group went back to talking and just trying to stay in high spirits. But the mood started to decline once more, as Zack looked down towards her belly bulge, and the memories of her time being with Chrysalis started to come flooding to her mind. The sudden flashes of conscious memories started to cause the alicorn great discomfort as she curls into herself, wing instinctively wrapping around her in a protective and sheltered manner, her tail tucking between her hindlegs. The sound of white noise started to fill the mares ears, as her breathing started to become labored and heavy, and clear vivid images of a dark room and bedding filled her vision…

“ZACK!” the mare snapped out of her panic attack by Thorax shaking her. “It’s alright, your safe here, you don’t need to be afraid anymore.”

“Thorax what happened? Why did she start to freak out?” Applejack asked as she, and the other ponies and Spike, scooted closer to Zack as she started to un-curl herself from her protective ‘bubble’.

“She must’ve been having some kind of panic attack.” Thorax said as he looked away from the group, and back towards the mare while continuing to rub up and down her back. “Zack just breath slowly, in and out.” The alicorn nodded as she started to take in slow steady breaths, before exhaling slowly.

“Thanks Thorax.” The mare said in a low tone once she felt more calm.

“Are you sure you’re okay Zack?” Twilight asked with concern as she looked at her look-a-like.

“Yeah. I’m fine now.” Twilight, as well as the others, didn’t seem all that convinced. But they decided to not press the issue to much, at least for the time being.

“Are you worried about your pregnancy?” Fluttershy asked with a worried tone as she brushes her mane out of her face.

Zack hesitated to speak as she places a hoof on her stomach, as the thought and prospect of childbirth, as well as being a parent. Sure in her, old life, she helped out in raising her little sister, but that’s about it! Also the thought of childbirth on its own, it honestly frightened her, would she have a safe pregnancy? And what about the child? Would it born right, would it be something like a pony, a changeling, or a hybrid…or some horrid amalgamation of the two. All of these thoughts bubbled in the mind of the mare as she sits there, looking down at her growing girth.

“…yes.” Zack eventually said after a moment of silence. “I’m not sure how this is going to go, and it doesn’t help that I know next to nothing how this whole thing works.”

“Oh that’s right. Princess Cadence said that you used to be a male creature, before being brought here to Equestria.” Sunburst said as he re-adjusts his glasses, to which Zack nodded her head. “It makes sense why you’d be nervous about this. I would too if I was turned into a mare, and had to go through pregnancy.”

“You need it worry about that Zack.” Luna said to reassure the mare. “Whenever you are do for delivery, you can rest assured that we will take care of it.”

“But should she really be having the baby?” Rainbow said rather brazenly which got her a lot of shocked looks from the natives of Equestria. “I mean, its going to be Chrysalis kid right. shouldn’t get rid of it.”

“Rainbow Dash!” Celestia said forcibly, making all of the none alicorns in the room flinch, as she looks at the cyan pegasus. “You should know that we have laws about this sort of stuff, and you should also know that we don’t abide for the termination of in-born children.” Rainbow’s ears folded against her head as she hung it down.

“But aunty, this is still Chrysalis’s child…” Cadence said as she holds her daughter close to her, while also looking slightly, bitter, as she stares at the pale purple alicorns stomach.

“Do the crimes of the parent become that of the child? Even one not yet born?” the group turned to look at Luna, as she places a hoof on Zack’s stomach, giving it a gentle rub. “Whether this child is of Chrysalis bloodline or not, we shouldn’t place the blame or consequences of her actions upon it.”

“But what if she doesn’t want the child?” Cadence said in regards to her aunts statement. “Even if she births it, what if Zack doesn’t want it?” That’s when Thorax spoke up.

“If Zack doesn’t want to care for the child, I’ll take care of it.” the changeling then looked at Zack. “That is if you want to take care of it?” Zack looked unsure on how to respond to the changelings words.

“…I…I don’t know what I should do.” Zack muttered as she lays down, starting to feel tired and exhausted. Celestia brushed some the mare’s mane out of her face, before stroking her head softly.

“I think we should call it a day for now, and let Zack get some actual rest. Then tomorrow we’ll head back to Canterlot, where we will help Zack, and continue to find a place for the changeling hive to live.”

“Wait. Why are you looking for a place for the hive?” Zack asked with confusion, but Thorax started to explain the hives situation

“When we came to rescue you, Chrysalis abandon the hive when she made her escape, and now the princesses are trying to find a better place for the changelings to live.”

“I…see.”

After Zack was told of the situation with the changelings, the mare we brought up to her hooves and escorted out of the room. Celestia, Thorax, and Twilight then lead Zack to where her guest room would be, while the rest of the group went off to do their own thing. as the quartet made their way through the halls of the castle, Zack started to look around and notice just how different everything looked, from how everything is made of crystals, and how the ponies that work in the castle have pristine and shiny they all looked, especially the eyes which also seem to have some kind of gem pattern on them. several minutes of trotting through glimmering corridors, the group came upon a corridor with evenly spaced out double-doors along each side of the hall, each one baring a pair of double doors that lead to the room behind them. the group stopped at a pair of double doors that Celestia opened with her magic, and ushered the pale purple alicorn inside. Once she was in the trio helped her towards, where Zack crawled into and got as comfortable as she could.

“Try to get some good sleep Zack, and don’t worry, if you ever need anything our rooms are right next to yours.”

Zack nodded as she started to drift off sleep, while the others made their way out of the room. As the three left Zack to sleep and recuperate, the trio stood in the hallway all looking at the door, concern evident in their eyes. But for Thorax, being a changeling he can see thing that others couldn’t, and its because of this ability that made him more worried and afraid. Which caught the attention of the two alicorns.

“Thorax…how is she?” Celestia asks the changeling whose kept an eye on the door, seeing the myriad of colors that emanating from the mare, all of which were colors of hurt or bad emotions.

“…she’s still hurt princess. Sadness, grief, fear, and other emotions, they’re all swelling from her like a busted faucet.”

“Is there anything we can do to help her?” Twilight asked with a touch of sadness lacing each word.

“I think the only we can do, is try and be there for her, and…well…try to make things better for her.”

“But after everything she has gone through ever since she got here, can we even do that?” Celestia slowly lets out a breath before speaking up.

“There’s only one way to find out.” The alicorn said as she starts trotting down the hall, Twilight and Thorax following her as they leave the guest quarters. “We’ll just have to try our best to do what we can for her, and help her adjust to her new life.”