I Am NOT Twilight Sparkle!

“You still hadn’t found Thorax?” Twilight asked Starlight as the unicorn trotted into the library.

“No. It’s like he just up and vanished yesterday.” Starlight said to the princess.

“Strange. For as long as I’ve gotten to know him, Thorax doesn’t seem to be the type of pony to leave abruptly without giving any pony notice beforehoof.” Twilight said mostly to herself as she rubs her chin with a hoof.

“Do you think he went to Canterlot to check up on the hive?”

“It’s possible, but with Spike gone I can’t write a message to Celestia. So I guess I’ll just teleport to the castle and check myself.”

“Alright. Say hi to the princess’s for me.” Twilight nodded before igniting her horn with magic, and vanishing in a flash of violet light.

After initiating the teleportation spell Twilight reappeared within Canterlot castle, just outside the main lobby that leads to the audience hall. once she was in the castle the princess of friendship started to trot through the halls of the castle, greeting guards and servants as she passes by them and getting returned gestures, some even greeted the mare as an old friend when she came by. After all the princess was a former resident of the castle, and was well-known by everypony that is employed in the castle. Aside from the ponies that work in the castle Twilight is also seeing a few changelings trotting about, but they all seemed to be a little nervous, which was understandable as Twilight knows that the changelings are still adjusting to living in Canterlot. As well as living alongside ponies.

“Oh actually!” Twilight quickly trotted over to the couple of changelings she was about to cross paths with. “Excuse me.” the changelings stopped in their tracks as the princess approached them.

“Is there something we can do for you princess?” the female of the pair asked as Twilight stopped a foot from them.

“I was wondering did Thorax stop by the hive at some point yesterday?” the two changelings thought for a second before giving the princess their answer.

“No actually. He hasn’t been by since the last time he came to hive, which was a few days ago.” The male of the two changelings said.

“Strange.”

“Are you looking for Thorax princess?” the female changeling asked.

“Yeah I asked him to grab some books for me while I was cleaning the library, but he just upped and disappeared.” Both the changelings looked incredibly concerned as the alicorn spoke. “Thank you for your time.”

“Not at all princess, we’ll see what we can find out where Thorax has gone on our end, perhaps his brother might know where he is.” The female changeling said before trotting off back the way she came from. the male changeling followed after her once he bid Twilight goodbye.

With the changelings on their way to find out if Thorax’s brother might know where he is, Twilight decided to head back home and hope that Thorax is just off doing his own thing. so the mare teleported back to her castle, and awaited for either the changelings to send her a message, or have the princess send her the message.

~~Elsewhere~~

The first day of camping went as well as Zack has expected as much from the pleasant games and overall activities that they all had, going through hikes and walks through the woods and enjoying the forest, and continuing to play around down by the river.

When it came down to the end of the day, everybody gathered around the fireplace and started to eat dinner while telling some campfire stories. Rainbow Dash decided to try an scare everybody with a scary story, but the only one that got scared of the story she told was Scootaloo, but after the story was told it was Zack’s turn to tell a story. So she decided to counter the weak scary story with a fantasy story, about races of mythology going on a quest to destroy an evil ring, however Zack didn’t get to much into the story as it was getting incredibly dark. The foals plus Spike were disappointed that the story would have to be told another time, but the kids eventually quiet their belly aching and went to bed.

The next day the ponies enjoyed a nice breakfast, while talking about the next part of their little camping trip. Which they forgot to go into full detail with Zack. the full camping trip was a trail walk, where the group will stop at key camping spots before reaching the end of the trail, which was at a place named Rainbow Spring. After breakfast everyone re-packed everything and started to make their way up a trail, heading to the second spot on this trip that they will stop at for the rest of the day.

“So your saying that its possible for me to fly!” Scootaloo practically screamed as she trots alongside Zack and the other kids.

“Yeah. from the books I’ve read about pegasi, your flying capability is not biological, its magical. I mean there’s a stallion in town that is as thick as a wagon full of bricks, and yet he can fly around on wings that looked no bigger than yours.” Zack said as she looks down to the filly.

“I think the only reason you can’t fly is because you have less magic than the majority of pegasi are born with.”

“But is that possible?” Rarity asked from Zack’s other side as the group made it to another clearing, and started to unpack their camping gear.

“I don’t see why not, but Scootaloo and her guardians should ask an actual doctor about this.”

“Well I know what I’m doing the moment we get back to Ponyville!” Scootaloo seemed to be over the moon with excitement as she hops around, her little wings buzz with excitement as she loudly talks about being able to fly, and do other pegasi things that she wasn’t unable to do. As the filly and the other kids run around the camp site, Zack and the others started to make camp again.

“Alright so what do you ya’ll want to do before lunch?” Applejack asked the group.

“Well if you girls are up for it, we could play a quick game of soccer.” Zack said as she trots off to the more open area of the clearing. “We got plenty of room for a sizable field, and we have enough people to make two teams, if the kids want to play.”

“I’m in!” all three fillies and Spike shouted in unison as they all rushed over to the group of adults.

“I’m in as well!” Rainbow said confidently as she puffs her chest out, the pegasus then turned to look over at Rarity who just sat down on a nearby log. “What about you Rarity? You gonna join in, or just tap out and watch from the side.”

“I think I’ll just watch for now darling.”

“I huh think I’ll also tap out to; you know to keep it equal on both teams.” Spike said before waddling over to the log that Rarity was sitting on, and hopped on to sit next to her. as the little dragon sat down next to Rarity, and two started to talk to one another, Zack raised a questionable brow before she trotted over to Applejack and Rainbow.

“Is it just me, or does it seem that Spike has a crush in Rarity?”

“Oh no, he does. And he’s not very good at hiding it.” Applejack said as she looks over to the duo, and when Zack does as well she saw that Spike seemed to be really flustered. “Ever since Spike and Twilight moved to Ponyville and they met Rarity, Spike has been head over hooves for her and pretty much does whatever she wants.”

“Yeah, he even allows himself to be used as a pin cushion.” Rainbow whispered.

“And Rarity has no idea about this?”

“As far as we know.” Applejack said, not really sounding sure herself on what the duos dynamic is.

“Well hopefully Rarity doesn’t take advantage of Spike’s crush, and realizes what’s going on, and explain things while letting him down. Gently.”

“Don’t worry, if that happens we’ll make sure that won’t happen.”

After giving the duo another cautious glance, Zack and the rest of the group started to get ready for their game of soccer, with the alicorn using her magic to mark of a nice sizable field and where the goals would be. Once everything was set-up, the ponies started their game with Zack sitting out for the first portion of the game, agreeing to swap out any one who was getting tired of playing and needed a break. Several minutes go by and so far Applejack and Apple Bloom are in the lead by one point, yet Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash were determine to not only even the score, but beat the apple siblings, although the alicorn’s attention was taken away from the game when something rustled the nearby bushes. The sudden noise caused everyone in the camp to stop what they were doing, and look over in the general direction in where the sound came from.

“Guys, are there any wild animals in these woods that would attack us?” Zack asked as she stood up from her spot on the log, horn faintly glowing with magic.

“There shouldn’t be.” Rainbow Dash said as she, and Applejack, trotted over to the boundary of the campsite. While the kids gathered around Rarity who was also in a stand-by position to act in case something does happen.

“There are wolves, bears, and some wild boars in these woods, but they normally leave folks alone. but they are wild critters, it’s hard to say what they’ll do.” Applejack said as her eyes scanned the line of trees near the path.

“I’ll go have a look, you two stay with Rarity and the kids, if it’s just a wild animal I should be able to scare them off.”

“Alright. But try not to do anything to crazy kay.” Rainbow remarked as she and Applejack trotted over to Rarity, and took the kids to one of the tents.

While everyone got a safer spot, Zack ignited her horn with magic and trotted into the woods, eyes scanning every nook and cranny of every tree and bush she passes by, while her ears pivot about to catch any sound that would be made. So far though the only things that Zack could hear was some birds, little animals running around in the underbrush, and branches and leaves being swayed in the light breeze. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary so far, no wild animals that would be a threat appear to be around, but the alicorn did feel as if there was something in the woods. Like something was watching her.

“Zack?” the alicorn jumped a little as the voice of Applejack broke the background noise of the forest.

“Woops sorry, didn’t mean to scare ya.”

“No it’s fine. Is everything alright?”

“Yeah RD and Rare’s got the kids held up in the tents, came to see how’s it going here.” Applejack said as she joined up with the alicorn.

“I haven’t seen any of the animals you said might be in the woods, but it’s weird. It feels like something is watching me.”

“Actually I think I know the feeling. Like something is eyeing ya up and down.”

“Yeah.” Zack said as she did one more scan of the area. “Why don’t we head on—”

Zack was cut off when something burst down from the trees, and tackled her to the ground causing the mare to cry out in pain. And it sounded like whatever hit Zack, also hit Applejack as the farmer let out her own cry of pain. The alicorn tried to wrestle whatever has her pinned to the ground, but the mare felt more bodies of whatever is assaulting her dogpile right on top of her. putting more effort into her release, Zack slowly got to her hooves and with a flair of magic she was able to force whatever was dogpiling her away, causing many grunts of pains to sound out as bodies hit the ground or nearby trees. And when the alicorn looked at what attacked her, the mare was surprised to see various stallions all around her, but what really surprised her was how all of them looked pale.

“Alright guys I don’t know who you are, but I’m going to give you one chance to back off and leave us alone.” Zack warned the stallions as she backed up to Applejack who was dusting herself off, and fixing her hat.

“Sorry but our queen has ordered us to bring you and the traitor to her.” one of the pegasi of the group said as he hobbled forward a few feet, but the alicorn was more concerned at what the stallion had just said.

“What do you mean by your queen?” Applejack asked as she stood by Zack’s side. The pegasus gave a small smile as his brown eyes shifted to a glowing green color, while his wings flared and his feathers bristle.

“I speak of none other than, Queen Chrysalis.”

The moment that stallion said the name ‘Chrysalis’, Zack’s entire body locked up, and an overwhelm sense of dread started to set in on her to the point where she was starting to shake in place. However the alicorn was quickly brought out of her little panic attack when something tackled her, again. But this time when she looked to see who it was, it turned to be Applejack who shoved her just as an earth pony stallion skid to a stop from across form them.

“Zack we need to get out of here, now!”

the farmer exclaimed as she again pushes Zack a bit, dodging another tackle from another stallion. A moment later Zack re-collected her senses and ignited her magic, teleporting her and Applejack back to the camp site, where they scared the Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and the kids.

“Whoa! What’s up guys?” Rainbow asked confusedly.

“No time, we need to get back to Ponyville, now!”

Before anyone could even say anything, Zack used her magic again and teleported everyone, and everything, in the campsite from the clearing directly into the throne room of Twilight’s Castle. Which caused everyone to flop around upon arrival, and the camping supplies and tents to crumble and scatter about. As everyone recovered from the sudden teleportation the doors to the throne room swung open, and a surprised looking Twilight and Starlight trotted in and looking at the group with worried looks.

“What in the world? what are you guys doing back so early, and why—”

“Me and Applejack just got jumped by at least half a dozen stallions on our trip, and they said they were sent by Chrysalis to take me to her!” Zack said in a panicky voice, her body still shivering slightly, but her explanation caused everyone in the room, aside from Applejack to all say ‘What!’ at once.

“What do you mean a group of stallions were sent by Chrysalis?” Starlight asked the alicorn.

“It’s just as it sounds Star, some stallions tried to jump Zack, and said they were going to haul her off to Chrysalis along with…wait!” the farmer stopped in her tracks as she looks around for just a second before looking at Twilight.

“Twi where’s Thorax?”

“Well ugh, he’s been missing since yesterday, he just upped and disappeared.” The moment that Twilight reached the end of explanation both Zack and Applejack looked at each other with very worried looks, and the rest of the ponies seemed to have noticed their panicked expressions.

“Girls what’s wrong.”

“They also said they were also sent to bring the traitor to Chrysalis.” Zack said in a slightly shaky voice as she gets to her hooves, and started to trot over to Twilight.

“Twilight, when EXACTLY did Thorax vanished?” the violet mare thought for a moment, and after a minute or so not just Twilight, but all of the ponies and Spike all quickly gained the same panicked and fearful look as Zack and Applejack.

“Oh no!”

~~Elsewhere~~

Thorax groaned as a massive headache pulsed in his head, causing the changeling to groan in pain as he starts to open his eyes. While Thorax was coming around, and the pain in his head Thorax noted that his surroundings were strange. The changeling found himself in what looked like a large hut made out of wood, and the ground was all un-even and it looked like there were large holes in it. but what caught the changeling off was that he was covered in green slime, practically gluing him to the floor. The only part of him that wasn’t covered in the green goo was his head.

“What the heck is going on?” Thorax asked as he tries to break out of the goo, but stopped when he heard a voice from behind him. a voice that caused him to freeze up.

“So you finally woke up Thorax, ‘bout time.” The changeling slowly look over his shoulder, and eyes dilated as he saw Chrysalis standing just a foot from him, a sinister smile gracing her muzzle.

“Now I have something to entertain me, until your friend joins us.”