The Return of The Changelingsby ThinkertenChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 1“Blizzard scale wake up” I say. “I need to go and pick up some things and I need you to watch the house for a while, is there anything you want while I’m out?” I ask, my half awakened assistant. “Yes, some fire aged rubies.” The small frost dragon replies. “Alright, I’ll see if I can find some while I’m out, but if and only if you clean up this mess you made in my work area, but do not touch my things or notes, this is important subject matter and the information is fragile” I say. “Yeah, yeah I heard you, clean up just don’t touch anything, don’t you have somewhere to be going?” Blizzard Scale replied. I pick my jacket out of the closet with my revised telekinesis spell that I’ve been working on. I button up the coat, fix the collar, open the door and start walking down the frost covered streets of Stalliongrad. As I walk I see the clouds rolling in, getting ready to unleash a snowstorm, that’s why I’m going, to pick up some last minute supplies, winters here get awful cold, but I’m used to it, in fact, I doubt anypony who has lived here for more then a year notices it anymore, they all just wear light jackets, it’s so easy to spot visitors because of how heavy they dress. Today seemed normal, the typical calm before a storm, normally everypony would be inside taking inventory and getting ready for another winter, but today was different there seemed to be lots of ponies out, actually I can’t recall the last time I wasn’t the only pony out here before a storm. Even stranger, I am one of the about one hundred and fifty unicorns in Stalliongrad, this city is primarily populated by earth ponies, It’s strange, as if every unicorn decided to come out today. Did I miss a memo? This all started about three days after that sonic rainboom in canterlot, which is when the royal wedding occurred. Maybe tourists decided to travel equestria after the ceremony. I just must be being paranoid about this whole thing; I’ve been so pre-occupied with my research I might just not have noticed, spending all my time indoors and what not. I reach my destination, the Stalliongrad supply depot, I trot in and speak to the clerk, “I need three bushels of green apples, ten quill pens, two ink wells, some wire to repair my epee, and any gemstones if you have any” The clerk looks at me and brings up all that I requested, “I have some opals here, will those work” he has a small paper bagful in his mouth and sets it on the counter along with all my other supplies. “Yes, these will do just fine” I reply. “That’s good, now I will need forty five bits and your name.” I undo my coat pocket and place the bits on the table all at once, in a perfect stack, every bit in line with the last. The clerk glares at me for this little stunt, probably shouldn’t be showing off anyway. He sweeps my money into the register with his hoof and asks again “Your name sir?” “Thinkerten” I reply “Thinkerten Stallionovich” the clerk bags my things and I walk out and start walking back to my home, across town. While I’m walking snow begins to lightly fall and the wind begins to stir up a little. It’s starting to get cold so I’d better make it home before it gets to dark to see. As I walk, I notice a small black figure dart across the street; it was only the size of a small filly or colt. The wind is starting to blow snow in my face, so I put on my goggles which I normally only use when performing magic experiments or making adjustments to my fencing gear. With my eyes clear of the snow, I use a cast light spell to see through the snow. The figure however was gone, it darted into an alleyway, but from what I could see, it was not the only one, six more followed it. As much as I wanted to I could not investigate those small creatures, but I had to get home, the temperature was dropping rapidly and this jacket, although being made out of the best materials available to fight the cold, and with my inner warmth enchantment still won’t be enough to fight off the cold of a winter night in Stalliongrad. I walk in the door of my house, put up my coat and put the bags on the table near my work area, and drop the bag of opals in front of Blizzard Scale, from the look on her face, I can easily tell that the small dragon was not impressed. “Is this it?” She scoffed. I looked at here with disdain and promptly retorted in a calm voice with a solid poker face “Blizzard who in equestria do you think you are, you know how hard it is to get gems here. And may I remind you that you are my personal dragon given to me as an egg by the Stalliongrad School of Magic Application and Research, and are here only to assist me with my studies, you are no Princess Celestia and will receive what I have to offer, no special gifts, so take them or leave them.” From the look on her face, I could clearly tell that I had won the argument. I went back to the kitchen to begin making dinner; I wanted something warm and filling to eat after being out in the cold. I got out my knives and started chopping apples for some turnovers. I made the dough the previous evening, so it should be ready for the apples. I pack the apples into the dough and start placing them in the oven. I head back to my study hall and begin writing down my findings of the effectiveness of charge magic. Typically unicorns produce and aura around their horn when they cast a spell, this is incredibly wasteful in the usage of magic energy, my hypothesis is that if all the magic is channeled through the horn instead of around it, anypony casting a spell will achieve the spell with more effectiveness and greater ease. My research is progressing very well and with a discovery like this, I will become well known, and maybe even receive a scholarship to Canterlot School of magic. Before I go to sleep I ask “Blizzard would you go outside and check to make sure all the windows are closed and that I didn’t leave anything outside that should be brought in.” “Can you not?” was the reply I got. “No, Blizzard Scale, I can’t. I’ll freeze if I go out there, I’m only a pony and I’m not meant for those temperatures, you can go outside, you’re a frost dragon, so go, now.” The dragon unwillingly walked outside and began throwing from what I could see a fit. I kept watching her flail here arms around and try to exhale ice storms. I found if rather comical to watch. I kept on watching and laughing under my breath until I heard a loud, DING! That means the turnovers are done, and not a moment too soon, I’m hungry. I trot down to the kitchen, open the oven and grab out the two turnovers I made. It’s times like this where I’m glad to be a unicorn, being able to control the world around me and interact with the world via magic is a beautiful thing. I hold the piping hot pastries in mid air and begin to eat one, the entire apple juice dribbling out is great, and also the tartness of the green apple combined with the sweetness of the dough is a wonderful combination. I begin to eat the second and I was just as delicious as the first. Such a great meal, and now I am ready to retire for the night. I begin trotting up the stairs to my bedroom when I realize I almost forgot to let Blizzard in. I rush to the door and open it so forcibly that the doorknob leaves a dent in the wall behind it. Blizzard walks in; looking not agitated, but scared. Which is strange because that dragon acts as brave as Joseph Stallion when he led the original one thousand ponies during the battle of Stalliongrad. She looked completely white, and all of the blue had faded, making her look like the very snow she was hatched in. I ran over to her, kneeled in front of her “What happened, what did you see?!” I asked, she replied, stuttering heavily. After about an hour of talking and listening it was beginning to sound like she had described the same black creatures that I had seen only hours ago. “Blizzard, go to sleep, get some rest, we’ll piece this together in the morning,” I said, trying not to sound commanding, but caring. I was never good at that. I stayed up into the wee hours attempting to make sense of everything that had happened. But eventually I fell into slumber on my living room floor. I awakened the next day; I cleared the sleep from my eyes and went to wake up blizzard scale. She was lying in her bed sleeping like nothing had happened, who knows, maybe nothing happened, after all I have been working really hard and I haven’t gotten around to sleeping much. I should still probably send a letter to Headmaster Graymane about these sightings. He may have insight to offer about this. “Blizzard scale, I need you to scribe something for me” my dragon assistant came quickly as I called. “I need you to take a letter,” I told her. “Alright, go for it” Blizzard said, quill at the ready. “Dear Headmaster Graymane, I am writing to inform you about a series of sightings that I have witnessed over the past day and a half. I have noticed an abundance of ponies wandering the streets, more then normal. I have also seen several, about six or seven strange black creatures darting between buildings. I have never seen these things before and I never get to see them for more than a few seconds. It seems that everypony and every creature tries to hide itself from me as when I look it’s there, but when I look back at it, they vanish. Please send insight and advice. Regards, Thinkerten Stallionovich Blizzard Scale threw the parchment up in the air and with a burst of frost exhaled from her maw sent the scroll off to my mentor. I paced around my house, and was awaiting a response. I put my hooves on the window, and just watched the snow fall down on to the city that I call home, I was wondering, what would become of everypony if I was right, and there was some kind of new creature to plague us, for once in my life I was actually hoping I was wrong about something. I flicked my tail around in though and went through all my books on Equestrian wild life. I decided to go and relax myself through more of my magic research. I picked up my goggles which had been resting on my horn all night, I guess I had forgotten to take them off I was so stressed. I placed them over my eyes and started practicing my charge magic. The spirals in my horn surged the same emerald green as my eyes and I began moving objects around the room. I decided to try something more advanced, like invisibility. With normal casting techniques this spell is extremely hard to perform, and ever only successfully been cast by allicons. I spread my hooves shoulder and flank width apart to stabilize myself. I begin charging my horn and right before I release the magic Blizzard rushes in and yells “Thinkerten!” her sudden interjection startles me and I release all the power in my horn and I get a strange tingling feeling in my entire body, starting in my horn, and working it’s way down to my hooves. I looked in the mirror and I saw nothing, the spell had succeeded, I was completely invisible. I trotted over to Blizzard scale and asked, “What’s the matter.” She jumped. “Where are you?!” she exclaimed. “I’m right in front of you.” I said. “The invisibility spell that I had been working on for months has finally succeeded, now what is it you needed to tell me?” Blizzard puffed out a cloud of snow and ice, and a scroll landed on the floor. The spell being a first time cast by anypony who isn’t an allicorn didn’t last for more then thirty seconds. My opacity slowly came back until I was slowly visible again. I picked up the scroll and undid the ribbon holding and opened the scroll and began to read. Dear Thinkerten, I thank you for expressing your concern about the safety and security of Stalliongrad. However I believe that based on the information you have sent me, you are experiencing minor hallucinations from excessive magic use. I would strongly advise that you temporarily reside from you work to allow yourself to recover and prepare for your exams. In an attempt to help you relax and clear your mind of these troubles enclosed in this letter you will find two tickets to Octavia’s grand Concerto. I know of your love for classical music and I believe that this would be the best way to unwind and forget of what you have seen. I certainly hope that this helps. Best Wishes, Headmaster Graymane “Well, that certainly clears up my suspicions” I said. “Come one Blizzard, were going to the concerto.” I grab my jacket and put the tickets in my pocket, jot down some last minute notes on the success of my invisibility spell and we head out the door. I look at the tickets and my heart soars with anticipation. I had always wanted to learn to play the cello, but I had been far too preoccupied with my studies and fencing to find the time to do it. Blizzard and I walk into the concert hall and present our tickets to the mare at the box office. She gives me a bizarre look, like a smile of anguish, and enjoyment at the same time, she says nothing to us, just stamps our tickets and hands them back. We walk past and as we leave, the mare’s eyes flash from crimson to a bizarre lime green color and then back again. I’ve never seen anypony with eyes that change color before. But oh well, I’m here at Octavia’s grand concerto, right? We find our seats and go sit down. I am anxious to hear the beautiful melodies played by Octavia’s cello; in fact, this is here premiere performance in Stalliongrad. I really hope I can get and autograph, or even strike up a conversation with her. Wouldn’t that be something, getting a one on one conversation with one of the best musicians in all of Equestria. I might just blush and giggle like a little school filly. The lights in the auditorium dim. The stage lights go on and Octavia walks on to the stage, her cello waiting for here in the center. She adjusts her bow tie, and grabs her cello, ready to play. She looked up at the audience, here amazing purple eyes glossed over everypony. Right before she looked back down at here music here eyes did exactly what the mares in the box office did. They flashed a vibrant green, in a pattern that looked like flames, then as quickly as they became green, they flashed back to purple. She began to play, the music was not at all what I expected, Octavia hit many sour notes and frequently included sharps and flats in the piece that even I knew weren’t there. I began to look closer, and I noticed here hooves were black on the bottom, the black slowly crept its way up her body, it even erases her treble clef cutie mark. Something very wrong is going on. “Blizzard we need to get the buck out of here now!” I whispered. A screeching C sharp pierced my eardrums, immediately bringing my attention back to the stage. The mare I though to be Octavia reverted to a form that I recognized all to well. Another one of those black figures. I grabbed Blizzard, threw her on my back and ran out the door. I went into a full on gallop to get home and away from whatever that…thing, was. I ran into the house and slammed the door shut. I grabbed every chair in my room at once with all my magic and piled them high against the door. All right, if Headmaster Graymane won’t acknowledge the threat, maybe the highest authority in Equestria will. “Blizzard quick grab a quill and get writing” I shouted at her. Dear Princess Celestia, I write to you in my hour of need, for all of Stalliongrad is in need you your help. My name is Thinkerten Stallionovich and I am a student of Stalliongrad School of Magic Application. I need your help; strange creatures have been appearing all over the city I call home. They look like small black fillies and they have the uncanny ability to take the form of anypony they choose. They are a dire threat and I request that the Elements of Harmony and their wielders be summoned to Stalliongrad immediately to combat this threat. Please help. Send Help, Thinkerten I stayed in the house, desperately awaiting the princess’s response, I galloped at full speed around the house making sure that all doors and windows were barricaded so that nothing except the princess’s message was getting in or out. That’s when the thought hit me, Stalliongrad hasn’t really been up to date with the rest of Equestria, and I wrote that letter in the old Equestrian dialect, I fear that the princess may not understand my message. I run to my desk to write another letter, only to realize that I forgot to get parchment from the depot when I was there. I slammed my head into my desk, put my hooves over my eyes and just began hoping that Celestia could still understand my writing. Chapter 2Meanwhile in Canterlot “Princess Celestia, a letter has arrived for you, it looks like it’s from Stalliongrad.” Said the courier as he rushed into the room. “Well, what are you waiting for? Let me see it.” Replied the princess. She picked up the letter from the courier’s saddlebag and he immediately rushed out to deliver more mail. She opened the letter and began to read. “Oh, that’s right I forgot, Stalliongrad still uses the old Equestrian dialect.” Celestia chuckled. She continued reading, when she stumbled across the description of the creatures she wasted no time with letters. She ran to the window and leaped off of the balcony, spread her magnificent wings and flew straight to Ponyville. She landed in the middle of the road and in an instant summoned Princess Luna to her side. The two sisters galloped full speed to Twilight’s library. Celestia knocked on the door so hard that the wood began to splinter. Spike answered the door. “Princess Celestia, what are you doing here?!” he asked “And why is Luna here, am I in trouble?” He said to the two allicorns. “Spike, we need to talk to Twilight, it’s of the utmost urgency.” The princess replied. “Please, don’t stand outside come in.” Spike said. The two princesses walked into the house. Twilight put the book she was reading down and rushed down to greet her royal guests. “Yes, Celestia, Luna, what can I do for you?” Twilight asked. “We need you to gather your friends and report to Canterlot hall, we need you to bring the elements of harmony, an old threat is here in Equestria and we need your help and everypony else.” The two princesses walked out of the library and took off back to Canterlot. “Spike, get ready, we have to go get everypony ready for Celestia’s task. I’ll bet it has to do with what happened at Shining Armor’s wedding.” Twilight said. Spike climbed on her back and they rode off down the block to Sugar Cube Corner. The door was wide open so they ran in with no hesitation. “Mr. Cake, where is Pinkie Pie?!” Twilight shouted. “Uh, she should be upstairs.” Before Mr. cake could finish his response Twilight was already half way up the stairs and running into Pinkie’s room. “Pinkie Pie, come on we need to get everypony, Celestia demands it, it’s important.” She said. “Woo, fun, we get to save Equestria again! It’ll be so much fun, let me get my party cannon!” Said the pink pony bouncing all over here room. As Pinkie Pie was wheeling out here party cannon a letter flew from Spike’s maw in a small burst of flame. “Oh, Twilight, you got a letter, open it! Open it!” Exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “I think it’s from the princess” Added Spike. Twilight opened the letter and it read only “Pack warm” The two ponies looked at each other and proceeded to grab two coats from Pinkie’s closet, they stuffed the coats in Twilight’s saddlebag and galloped out the door down to Carousel Boutique. They arrived, and Twilight knocked loudly on the door. “Who ever is it at this hour?” Rarity said from behind the door. “It us, Pinkie and Twilight.” Said Pinkie with glee. Rarity slipped her head out of the door and asked, “What is it you two need?” Twilight held up the letters from princess Celestia. The door to Carousel Boutique slammed shut, and moments later the door burst open. Before the two stood Rarity, in a bedazzled, fur-hemmed trench coat and a simply magnificent black silk hat, Spike’s jaw dropped. “Let us waste no time retrieving the others, the heat might shrink my coat.” Decreed the white unicorn. They galloped off to Sweet Apple Acres to retrieve the wielder of the element of honesty, Applejack. Rarity and Twilight galloped off, Pinkie Pie hopping right behind them. The reached the farm, running past Big Macintosh. They found the work pony doing her usual shift of apple bucking. “Well howdy yall, whacha need me for?” She asked after bucking the apples from the tree directly behind her. “Applejack, direly need your help, Equestira is once again in turmoil and we need you so we may wield the elements of harmony and save Equestira once more.” Said Rarity “Aw shucks, it seems like every gol darn week Equestria needs savin from somethin er other. I’ll go get my things” sighed Applejack. “Ooh, ooh, the letter said pack warm!” Pinkie blurted. Applejack went into the barn and returned in her burlap work jacket. “Oh, what a crime against fashion, but since we’re on such short notice, I guess it will have to do.” Rarity scoffed. “All right now we just need the two pegasi and were good to go!” Said Spike. The four of them galloped to Fluttershy’s tree house. “Fluttershy open up, we need your help, it’s me Twilight” She said, Fluttershy opened the door and Twilight showed her the letter. Fluttershy whistled and three birds brought her coat and placed it on her shoulders. “Thank you friends, all right now, the canary is in charge this time, no arguing” Fluttershy cooed to her animal housemates. “Um what exactly are we doing going to somewhere we have to dress this warmly?” asked Fluttershy. “I don’t know, all the Celestia said was to pack warm and meet Luna by the train station.” Twilight responded. “Well alright then, lets go get Rainbow Dash” Said Spike, still gazing upon Rarity and her fabulous winter wear. The five ponies galloped off to the park where Rainbow Dash could frequently be found sleeping. The five ran to the park to find the Cyan Pegasus slumbering in a tree. “Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie yelled. “What?” replied Rainbow Dash. “We need you help, the princess wants us to meet Luna at the train station to go and face a threat to Equestira, the letter also said to pack warm, I still don’t know where we’re going yet.” Said Twilight. “Alright, I’ll be back.” Replied Rainbow, the Pegasus took off and was back in a coat in ten seconds flat. “Alright, let’s go meet up with Luna and go see what we have to do.” Rainbow said. The six galloped flew and hopped down to the train station. Luna awaited them and when the six arrived, she presented them with the box containing the elements of harmony. “Don’t put them on yet, you must wait until we reach our destination.” Luna said. “Uh, no offense yer majesty, but where in the hoof are we goin anyway? That kinda seems like something worth knowin.” Applejack questioned. “We are going to the old Equestrian city of Stalliongrad, where the cry for help originated.” Answered Luna. “I know where that is, I’ve read about it my book on alternate and older casting techniques.” Twilight chipped in. “I even understand a good portion of the old Equestrian dialect that they still speak there.” She added. “That is correct Twilight Sparkle.” Luna said. “Now we must go at once to help the one who sent this call for the elements and a savior. The two earth ponies, two pegasi, two unicorns and allicorn boarded the train and set off for the source of the call for help. “How long is this trip going to take? sitting here is wrinkling my the train on my trench coat.” Rarity complained. The seven of them sat on the train watching the snow begin to fall as they approached their destination. “Fret not Rarity. For we have almost arrived” Luna replied. They could see the station up ahead, bustling with pony activity. “Hey looks like we’re here!” said Spike eager to get off the train. The train came to a halt at the station and the seven ponies and dragon got off and walked onto the outdoor train platform. “Golly, now I know why ya’ll told me to pack warm, I ain’t used to this here cold.” Applejack said through chattering teeth. “Luna, where are we anyway?” asked Rainbow dash. “We’re in the city of Stalliongrad, one of the oldest cities in Equestria.” Chapter 3The lunar princess spoke. “There sure are a lot of ponies here, more then I recall reading about., my book said the population of this city was quite small, and that it’s mostly earth ponies, there seem to be a lot of pegasi and unicorns about.” Twilight said. The eight of them walked through the station and into the city, all over there were massive buildings and bright red banners everywhere. All the signs were written in a bizarre language. “What kind of gobbeldy gook is that written on the signs?” Applejack asked. “That is the old Equestrian dialect.” Luna said. “Good thing I brought my translating book, it has all the concepts and translations for the language.” Twilight said. “Egghead” Rainbow coughed under her breath. “Can we go inside please, I’m very cold” Fluttershy said. “Yes, let us try to find the one who sent this letter.” Rarity said. “I can barley move, I should have stayed in Ponyville where it’s warm.” Spike said from Twilight’s back. The seven ponies trotted down the street, watching the snow fall and observing the nature of the city and the unusual abundance of ponies. “This letter was sent to us by another dragon, why don’t we check the school of magic to see which student sent this letter.” Spike said. “Good idea Spike.” Twilight said. They trotted to the center of town where the school was located, it’s massive domes and unique architecture made it a dead giveaway. They entered the school and began asking the scholars if they knew where the pony who sent the letter to them might live. They got blank stares and confused looks from all the ponies. “This pony must not have much of a social life.” Rainbow suggested. They continued their search until they ran into a unicorn dressed in a green cloak. “Excuse me sir, but can you look at this letter and tell us where the pony who sent it might live?” Rarity asked. The scholar turned and responded. “Ya ne govorya nova Equestirii yazik.” The pony then proceeded to read the letter and said. “Ya zniou gede Thinkerten Stallionovich zheveosh, ohn zhevoet ve ulitza dvatsit dva.” The main six stared, mouths wide open at what the pony had just said. “Spaceba za informatzia.” Luna thanked the pony for his time and information. “What did she say” asked Pinkie Pie, “I bet that’s fun to speak, how do you know how to do that, it’s so cool!” she continued. “That was the old Equestrian dialect, and I know it because it’s necessary for a princess to keep in contact with all her subjects.” Luna explained. “She said that this pony, Thinkerten lives on street number twenty two.” Luna said. “Well lets get going. I’m eager to meet a fellow scholar of magic.” Twilight said clapping her hooves together. They trotted off to go meet the writer of the distress letter, and as they walked off the unicorn in the green robe’s eyes glowed brightly and it sank back into the shadows. The eight of them trotted down street number twenty-two. There was only one house, with multiple stories and massive columns near the door. “I don’t think we should go in, maybe they don’t want to be bothered.” Fluttershy said. “Nope this is definitely the place, there’s a dragon living here, I can smell it, and the delicious gems they have in there.” Spike said, drool oozing from his maw. Twilight, eager to meet a fellow magic scholar, pushed open the door and trotted in and began to look around, followed by the other six. “Hello, anyone home?” Pinkie yelled. “Sorry Pinkie, I don’t think they can understand you, remember, Luna said that they only speak the old dialect here.” Rarity reminded the prancing pony. “Hang on, let me see what “hello” is in old Equestrian” Said Twilight going through her book on the language. “Stressvuche!” The purple unicorn said. The voice of a stallion rang down from up stairs. “Kto vwii?” “Well we know someone’s there, what in the hoof did he say though?” Applejack asked. “Who is it?” Luna answered. “Tell him we have the elements of harmony, I don’t want him to think were intruders.” Fluttershy said. Twilight began to flip through her book until she found the words. “Mwii eest eto elementi gramonii” She said. The voice answered back “Idyout sooda.” “He says to come here.” Luna translated. “Well lets not keep him waiting.” Rainbow Dash said as the cyan pegasus took off up the stairs. The others followed her. They reached an open room in which the owner of the voice stood. A tall gray unicorn stood before them, his jet black mane was a wreck and he had bags under his eyes, along with goggles resting on his horn and forehead. Upon seeing the Princess of the night he bowed his head and kneeled to the floor. “He looks like he hasn’t slept in days and those goggles look simply horrid, they don’t match his eyes at all.” Rarity whispered to Twilight. “Rarity I’m surprised at you, he obviously is extremely troubled and those goggles aren’t for fashion, they’re to protect his eyes from bright magic during experiments, you’ve seen me wear goggles like that before.” Twilight whispered back. “Fstavat” Luna said. The stallion stood back on all four hooves, he was actually taller then eveypony in the room. Spike looked over to his left and noticed a small blue figure in the room. He went to investigate, finding a frost dragon, exactly his size. He went to converse, being a dragon they could both converse the dragon language, thus elimination the language barrier between them. The mane six watched the dragons converse, and Luna converse with the stallion. All at the same time, effortlessly. “Gospadinya, ou tebya eyct kiniga obo nova Equestrii yazik?” The stallion asked Twilight. “Do you have a book on the new Equestian dialect?” Luna translated. “Yes, why, do you want to read it.” Twilight asked. Luna translated “Da, pacheemu tvwii hochet chitiaet?” Luna asked. “Da, ya hochu uchitza tvoiee yazik.” The stallion responded. “Yes, he wants to learn our language.” Luna translated again. Twilight pulled the book on the language from her saddle back and in a purple aura the book levitated towards the still stranger stallion. Halfway to him The magic aura changed from purple to a dark forest green as the stallion took the book under his magic control. “Bolshoia spaceba, menyay nado chac, pozhalista, delyat moya doma, vas dom.” He said as he walked into the next room over. “What in Equestria did he just say, I’m begennin ta think this ain’t even a real way of talkin’.” Applejack said with a confused and irritated look in her eye. “He said many thanks for the book and that he’ll need an hour with it to learn our language, and in the meantime to make yourselves at home.” Luna said. “Wow, learning a whole language in an hour, this guy is a REAL egghead, you might have found someone smarter then you Twilight, an egghead couple, just imagine it.” Rainbow teased at Twilight. “I think he’d be better off with you Rainbow Dash, considering you’re both complete slobs.” Rarity scoffed. “Well, he said make yourselves at home, so I’m going to look at his research if he has any.” Twilight said. She trotted off around the house and found what did indeed look like a laboratory of sorts. Notes strewn everywhere, drawings and diagrams galore, she found a book of notes labeled “Zarad Magii” she thumbed through her pocket translating guide and learned that it translated to “Charge magic” She began looking through the notes of this unknown stallion and realized from the anatomic diagrams that he was on to a major discovery that might change the history of magic as all unicorns know it. She continued reading and translating the notes of this seemingly brilliant stallion, his knowledge of magic would make him a prime candidate for Canterlot School of Magic. “What are you doing with my works?” asked a familiar voice in a language now understandable. “I was just looking through your notes, you’re smarter then your appearance leads others to believe.” Twilight said. “Thank you for what I hope was a compliment to my works and not an insult to my appearance.” The stallion said. “Not at all, I just wanted to let you know I think you belong at Canterlot School of Magic, I could get you in, I know the princess, but what I don’t know is your name.” Twilight said. “My name is Thinkerten, I already know your name Twilight, I heard the others talking to you, all I could understand was your name though.” Thinkerten said. “You speak new Equestrian now, Thinkerten, why don’t you come meet the other elements of harmony.” Twilight said. “Not now, I must go compose and clean myself first, that white unicorn looked upon me with disdain for my appearance, why do you not go and gather them to meet me while I make myself presentable to both the legendary elements of harmony and the lunar princess.” Thinkerten said as he trotted into his bathroom. Twilight shelved the book and put his notes back on the table. She admired his intelligence and was dumbstruck at how fast he had learned the language. She went back down to the living room and ran into Rarity and Rainbow Dash poking fun at her. The were joking about them as a couple, Twilight walked into the room and they realized that they had been caught. They went silent at her presence. “I am not interested in him, and you should grow up, we are here to help save Equestria, not gossip about whose special somepony is whose, now go get Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, Thinkerten now understands us and he wants to talk about his letter.” Twilight said. Rainbow Dash left to retrieve the others leaving only Luna and Rarity in the room. “Say Twilight, where is your new boyfriend anyway?” Rarity teased. “He’s cleaning himself because he said he noticed how YOU looked at him because of his appearance.” Twilight responded. “Well, he needed to wash up, he looked awful.” Rarity noted. Thinkerten walked into the living room moments after Rarity had finished her sentence. He stood before the main six and Luna, along with the two dragons. “Elements of Harmony, Princess Luna, I am filled with relief that you came, and first off I hope that you have found my city and home welcoming. But I have summoned you for a reason. I fear that this city may have been invaded by an unknown force. For you see I have seen an increase in the overall amount of ponies in the city and the ones that I know personally have disappeared. I think this might have something to do with what happened in Canterlot as this turn of events happened about three days after the rainbow explosion that took place during the royal wedding.” Thinkerten said, Luna’s face went blank with shock, she knew exactly what he was talking about and the main six all reacted in the exact same fashion. Thinkerten looked at everypony, the looks on their faces told him that they all knew the gravity of the situation and he didn’t, and this scared him greatly. “Luna, I need you to come with me and help confirm my suspicions.” Said Thinkerten, the two then walked out the door and before leaving Thinkerten said “The rest of you stay here and prepare yourselves for the imminent usage of the elements of harmony.” The door then shut and the two walked off down the street to confirm Thinkerten’s suspicions. Chapter 4They walked down the streets of Stalliongrad and observed the amount of ponies wandering the city aimlessly, as if they didn’t know what they were doing. A figure darted across the street and went into the alley. “I will handle this.” Said Luna, the Allicorn took flight and followed the figure. He assumed that the Princess of the Night would be able to hold her own, and so he trotted off. Thinkerten continued on his walk, making observations before returning home. “Admit it Twilight, you like him.” Rainbow said while fastening her necklace. “For the last time I do not!” Twilight yelled. “I just think he is an intelligent, capable stallion.” She added. After all, she was only here to do a job and save Equestria, not find a special somepony, she knew that, and only hoped that her friends would grow up and stop gossiping like school fillies. As the was examining her crown, she was thinking of the perfect rebuttal to the utterly crass and untrue statements of her friends. At least Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were nice and quite about the issue. She had it, the perfect response to their petty argument, use reverse psychology on them, if she can turn their argument around on them then maybe she could get them out of her mane. “I think I know why you two keep poking fun at me.” Twilight said with a clever grin on her face. “Yes Twilight and why is that?” Rarity said, looking to intercept what ever argument was thrown at her. “Well it’s because you are the one who really likes him and your just trying to cover it up.” The lavender unicorn decreed. “Ooh, ooh I know what she’s doing, she’s using reverse psychology on you Rarity!” Pinkie burst out. “Yeah, I don’t think it’s terribly hard to tell when someone’s trying to reverse and argument on you.” AppleJack added. “Twilight, if you like that stallion, just tell us, it’s ok.” Fluttershy cooed while fastening her necklace. “WHY DOES EVERYPONY THINK I LIKE THINKERTEN!” The purple unicorn was so enraged that her nostrils had flared. “All I know is that he is an intelligent and attractive stallion, and I don’t like him, what about that is so hard for you to understand?” She railed. “Well you are the only one who knew his name before you told us.” AppleJack said. “Yeah and in that same sentence you said he was attractive.” Added Rainbow Dash. “Ok, everypony, when he comes back, I’ll have him back me up on this, he and I are not interested in each other, I have seen his research and I think he’s smart, that’s it.” Twilight said. As Luna continued the chase, she watched the figure dart behind a corner. She followed it, the route it took was a dead end. “I have you now” The black allicorn said. “Wait, listen and hear my words, Nightmare Moon” replied the figure. “I am Nightmare Moon no longer.” Replied the Lunar Princess. Luna felt a strange adhesive on her hooves, and when she looked down to see that her hooves were glued to the ground by some sort of green slime. She looked into the shadows and saw a figure as tall as Celestia herself advance upon her. It opened it’s eyes, they were bright green, neon almost. “Hello Nightmare Moon, I barley recognized you in that form, so boring, so weak.” Said the figure, striding ever closer, speaking slowly, and clearly. “Halt your advance upon me.” Said Luna, unable to move. She used her horn to project light in the direction of the eyes that were confronting her. She looked down at the set of jet black of hooves in front of her, the light went straight through the holes in them, leaving shadows in the light. Luna looked up to see Queen Chrysalis staring her down. “We meet again, Nightmare Moon” Chrysalis said to Luna. “I told you, I no longer am Nightmare Moon, I am princess Luna.” The entrapped allicorn replied. “It’s sad really, giving up all that power, I don’t think I could do it, I really don’t.” The Changeling went on. “You see, you had enough power to rule Equestria with your sister, and now your just serving her, like a slave, not even that, a mere puppet. Why do you think that the Princess sent you instead of coming herself? She thinks you disposable, not a sister, not one of the two allicorns left in existence. No, a mere puppet, not a care weather you live or die.” Chrysalis continued while striding around Luna. She put her hoof up and nuzzled Luna’s chin, looked here in the eye and began to speak more. “You know it, she doesn’t love you. I mean, what kind of Princess banishes her own “sister” to the moon for one thousand years, and even worse she made you apologize for what she did. Now that doesn’t seem very fair do you not agree?” Said the changeling queen in a rather soft and almost caring voice. Luna began to speak “Yes, but” Chrysalis put a hoof to her mouth. “ah ah ah, it’s my turn to speak now, you just listen.” She said. “Now where was I, oh yes. You see Nightmare Moon, why is it you serve her? Hhm? Exactly, no answer, just a I though. Why do you not change back to your true form and have all the power you deserve and desire.” The words of the changeling were spoken well indeed, Luna began to grow in size and height, her small boots and chest plate fell from her body. Her mane became one with the night. “Nightmare Moon, has returned” Said the black allicorn, now full sized. “Wonderful, just perfect, now we can rule Equestria as sisters that never were!” Decreed Chrysalis. The two let out a sinister laugh that pierced the night air and was heard all across Stalliongrad. Thinkerten stopped dead in his tracks as he heard what sounded like laughter. His slow trot changed to a full on gallop to get home, as he was certain that something the gears of something terrible had just been set in motion. He raced back to his house and upon opening the door saw the mane six in a furious debate. “Be silent, all of you.” He projected his voice all across the room and in an instant everypony was quite. “Good thinkerten, your back. I need your help to settle a dispute with my friends.” Twilight said. “No time, I fear that our timetable for action has been accelerated.” Replied the gray stallion promptly while still shaking the snow from his black mane.
Chapter 1“Blizzard scale wake up” I say. “I need to go and pick up some things and I need you to watch the house for a while, is there anything you want while I’m out?” I ask, my half awakened assistant. “Yes, some fire aged rubies.” The small frost dragon replies. “Alright, I’ll see if I can find some while I’m out, but if and only if you clean up this mess you made in my work area, but do not touch my things or notes, this is important subject matter and the information is fragile” I say. “Yeah, yeah I heard you, clean up just don’t touch anything, don’t you have somewhere to be going?” Blizzard Scale replied. I pick my jacket out of the closet with my revised telekinesis spell that I’ve been working on. I button up the coat, fix the collar, open the door and start walking down the frost covered streets of Stalliongrad. As I walk I see the clouds rolling in, getting ready to unleash a snowstorm, that’s why I’m going, to pick up some last minute supplies, winters here get awful cold, but I’m used to it, in fact, I doubt anypony who has lived here for more then a year notices it anymore, they all just wear light jackets, it’s so easy to spot visitors because of how heavy they dress. Today seemed normal, the typical calm before a storm, normally everypony would be inside taking inventory and getting ready for another winter, but today was different there seemed to be lots of ponies out, actually I can’t recall the last time I wasn’t the only pony out here before a storm. Even stranger, I am one of the about one hundred and fifty unicorns in Stalliongrad, this city is primarily populated by earth ponies, It’s strange, as if every unicorn decided to come out today. Did I miss a memo? This all started about three days after that sonic rainboom in canterlot, which is when the royal wedding occurred. Maybe tourists decided to travel equestria after the ceremony. I just must be being paranoid about this whole thing; I’ve been so pre-occupied with my research I might just not have noticed, spending all my time indoors and what not. I reach my destination, the Stalliongrad supply depot, I trot in and speak to the clerk, “I need three bushels of green apples, ten quill pens, two ink wells, some wire to repair my epee, and any gemstones if you have any” The clerk looks at me and brings up all that I requested, “I have some opals here, will those work” he has a small paper bagful in his mouth and sets it on the counter along with all my other supplies. “Yes, these will do just fine” I reply. “That’s good, now I will need forty five bits and your name.” I undo my coat pocket and place the bits on the table all at once, in a perfect stack, every bit in line with the last. The clerk glares at me for this little stunt, probably shouldn’t be showing off anyway. He sweeps my money into the register with his hoof and asks again “Your name sir?” “Thinkerten” I reply “Thinkerten Stallionovich” the clerk bags my things and I walk out and start walking back to my home, across town. While I’m walking snow begins to lightly fall and the wind begins to stir up a little. It’s starting to get cold so I’d better make it home before it gets to dark to see. As I walk, I notice a small black figure dart across the street; it was only the size of a small filly or colt. The wind is starting to blow snow in my face, so I put on my goggles which I normally only use when performing magic experiments or making adjustments to my fencing gear. With my eyes clear of the snow, I use a cast light spell to see through the snow. The figure however was gone, it darted into an alleyway, but from what I could see, it was not the only one, six more followed it. As much as I wanted to I could not investigate those small creatures, but I had to get home, the temperature was dropping rapidly and this jacket, although being made out of the best materials available to fight the cold, and with my inner warmth enchantment still won’t be enough to fight off the cold of a winter night in Stalliongrad. I walk in the door of my house, put up my coat and put the bags on the table near my work area, and drop the bag of opals in front of Blizzard Scale, from the look on her face, I can easily tell that the small dragon was not impressed. “Is this it?” She scoffed. I looked at here with disdain and promptly retorted in a calm voice with a solid poker face “Blizzard who in equestria do you think you are, you know how hard it is to get gems here. And may I remind you that you are my personal dragon given to me as an egg by the Stalliongrad School of Magic Application and Research, and are here only to assist me with my studies, you are no Princess Celestia and will receive what I have to offer, no special gifts, so take them or leave them.” From the look on her face, I could clearly tell that I had won the argument. I went back to the kitchen to begin making dinner; I wanted something warm and filling to eat after being out in the cold. I got out my knives and started chopping apples for some turnovers. I made the dough the previous evening, so it should be ready for the apples. I pack the apples into the dough and start placing them in the oven. I head back to my study hall and begin writing down my findings of the effectiveness of charge magic. Typically unicorns produce and aura around their horn when they cast a spell, this is incredibly wasteful in the usage of magic energy, my hypothesis is that if all the magic is channeled through the horn instead of around it, anypony casting a spell will achieve the spell with more effectiveness and greater ease. My research is progressing very well and with a discovery like this, I will become well known, and maybe even receive a scholarship to Canterlot School of magic. Before I go to sleep I ask “Blizzard would you go outside and check to make sure all the windows are closed and that I didn’t leave anything outside that should be brought in.” “Can you not?” was the reply I got. “No, Blizzard Scale, I can’t. I’ll freeze if I go out there, I’m only a pony and I’m not meant for those temperatures, you can go outside, you’re a frost dragon, so go, now.” The dragon unwillingly walked outside and began throwing from what I could see a fit. I kept watching her flail here arms around and try to exhale ice storms. I found if rather comical to watch. I kept on watching and laughing under my breath until I heard a loud, DING! That means the turnovers are done, and not a moment too soon, I’m hungry. I trot down to the kitchen, open the oven and grab out the two turnovers I made. It’s times like this where I’m glad to be a unicorn, being able to control the world around me and interact with the world via magic is a beautiful thing. I hold the piping hot pastries in mid air and begin to eat one, the entire apple juice dribbling out is great, and also the tartness of the green apple combined with the sweetness of the dough is a wonderful combination. I begin to eat the second and I was just as delicious as the first. Such a great meal, and now I am ready to retire for the night. I begin trotting up the stairs to my bedroom when I realize I almost forgot to let Blizzard in. I rush to the door and open it so forcibly that the doorknob leaves a dent in the wall behind it. Blizzard walks in; looking not agitated, but scared. Which is strange because that dragon acts as brave as Joseph Stallion when he led the original one thousand ponies during the battle of Stalliongrad. She looked completely white, and all of the blue had faded, making her look like the very snow she was hatched in. I ran over to her, kneeled in front of her “What happened, what did you see?!” I asked, she replied, stuttering heavily. After about an hour of talking and listening it was beginning to sound like she had described the same black creatures that I had seen only hours ago. “Blizzard, go to sleep, get some rest, we’ll piece this together in the morning,” I said, trying not to sound commanding, but caring. I was never good at that. I stayed up into the wee hours attempting to make sense of everything that had happened. But eventually I fell into slumber on my living room floor. I awakened the next day; I cleared the sleep from my eyes and went to wake up blizzard scale. She was lying in her bed sleeping like nothing had happened, who knows, maybe nothing happened, after all I have been working really hard and I haven’t gotten around to sleeping much. I should still probably send a letter to Headmaster Graymane about these sightings. He may have insight to offer about this. “Blizzard scale, I need you to scribe something for me” my dragon assistant came quickly as I called. “I need you to take a letter,” I told her. “Alright, go for it” Blizzard said, quill at the ready. “Dear Headmaster Graymane, I am writing to inform you about a series of sightings that I have witnessed over the past day and a half. I have noticed an abundance of ponies wandering the streets, more then normal. I have also seen several, about six or seven strange black creatures darting between buildings. I have never seen these things before and I never get to see them for more than a few seconds. It seems that everypony and every creature tries to hide itself from me as when I look it’s there, but when I look back at it, they vanish. Please send insight and advice. Regards, Thinkerten Stallionovich Blizzard Scale threw the parchment up in the air and with a burst of frost exhaled from her maw sent the scroll off to my mentor. I paced around my house, and was awaiting a response. I put my hooves on the window, and just watched the snow fall down on to the city that I call home, I was wondering, what would become of everypony if I was right, and there was some kind of new creature to plague us, for once in my life I was actually hoping I was wrong about something. I flicked my tail around in though and went through all my books on Equestrian wild life. I decided to go and relax myself through more of my magic research. I picked up my goggles which had been resting on my horn all night, I guess I had forgotten to take them off I was so stressed. I placed them over my eyes and started practicing my charge magic. The spirals in my horn surged the same emerald green as my eyes and I began moving objects around the room. I decided to try something more advanced, like invisibility. With normal casting techniques this spell is extremely hard to perform, and ever only successfully been cast by allicons. I spread my hooves shoulder and flank width apart to stabilize myself. I begin charging my horn and right before I release the magic Blizzard rushes in and yells “Thinkerten!” her sudden interjection startles me and I release all the power in my horn and I get a strange tingling feeling in my entire body, starting in my horn, and working it’s way down to my hooves. I looked in the mirror and I saw nothing, the spell had succeeded, I was completely invisible. I trotted over to Blizzard scale and asked, “What’s the matter.” She jumped. “Where are you?!” she exclaimed. “I’m right in front of you.” I said. “The invisibility spell that I had been working on for months has finally succeeded, now what is it you needed to tell me?” Blizzard puffed out a cloud of snow and ice, and a scroll landed on the floor. The spell being a first time cast by anypony who isn’t an allicorn didn’t last for more then thirty seconds. My opacity slowly came back until I was slowly visible again. I picked up the scroll and undid the ribbon holding and opened the scroll and began to read. Dear Thinkerten, I thank you for expressing your concern about the safety and security of Stalliongrad. However I believe that based on the information you have sent me, you are experiencing minor hallucinations from excessive magic use. I would strongly advise that you temporarily reside from you work to allow yourself to recover and prepare for your exams. In an attempt to help you relax and clear your mind of these troubles enclosed in this letter you will find two tickets to Octavia’s grand Concerto. I know of your love for classical music and I believe that this would be the best way to unwind and forget of what you have seen. I certainly hope that this helps. Best Wishes, Headmaster Graymane “Well, that certainly clears up my suspicions” I said. “Come one Blizzard, were going to the concerto.” I grab my jacket and put the tickets in my pocket, jot down some last minute notes on the success of my invisibility spell and we head out the door. I look at the tickets and my heart soars with anticipation. I had always wanted to learn to play the cello, but I had been far too preoccupied with my studies and fencing to find the time to do it. Blizzard and I walk into the concert hall and present our tickets to the mare at the box office. She gives me a bizarre look, like a smile of anguish, and enjoyment at the same time, she says nothing to us, just stamps our tickets and hands them back. We walk past and as we leave, the mare’s eyes flash from crimson to a bizarre lime green color and then back again. I’ve never seen anypony with eyes that change color before. But oh well, I’m here at Octavia’s grand concerto, right? We find our seats and go sit down. I am anxious to hear the beautiful melodies played by Octavia’s cello; in fact, this is here premiere performance in Stalliongrad. I really hope I can get and autograph, or even strike up a conversation with her. Wouldn’t that be something, getting a one on one conversation with one of the best musicians in all of Equestria. I might just blush and giggle like a little school filly. The lights in the auditorium dim. The stage lights go on and Octavia walks on to the stage, her cello waiting for here in the center. She adjusts her bow tie, and grabs her cello, ready to play. She looked up at the audience, here amazing purple eyes glossed over everypony. Right before she looked back down at here music here eyes did exactly what the mares in the box office did. They flashed a vibrant green, in a pattern that looked like flames, then as quickly as they became green, they flashed back to purple. She began to play, the music was not at all what I expected, Octavia hit many sour notes and frequently included sharps and flats in the piece that even I knew weren’t there. I began to look closer, and I noticed here hooves were black on the bottom, the black slowly crept its way up her body, it even erases her treble clef cutie mark. Something very wrong is going on. “Blizzard we need to get the buck out of here now!” I whispered. A screeching C sharp pierced my eardrums, immediately bringing my attention back to the stage. The mare I though to be Octavia reverted to a form that I recognized all to well. Another one of those black figures. I grabbed Blizzard, threw her on my back and ran out the door. I went into a full on gallop to get home and away from whatever that…thing, was. I ran into the house and slammed the door shut. I grabbed every chair in my room at once with all my magic and piled them high against the door. All right, if Headmaster Graymane won’t acknowledge the threat, maybe the highest authority in Equestria will. “Blizzard quick grab a quill and get writing” I shouted at her. Dear Princess Celestia, I write to you in my hour of need, for all of Stalliongrad is in need you your help. My name is Thinkerten Stallionovich and I am a student of Stalliongrad School of Magic Application. I need your help; strange creatures have been appearing all over the city I call home. They look like small black fillies and they have the uncanny ability to take the form of anypony they choose. They are a dire threat and I request that the Elements of Harmony and their wielders be summoned to Stalliongrad immediately to combat this threat. Please help. Send Help, Thinkerten I stayed in the house, desperately awaiting the princess’s response, I galloped at full speed around the house making sure that all doors and windows were barricaded so that nothing except the princess’s message was getting in or out. That’s when the thought hit me, Stalliongrad hasn’t really been up to date with the rest of Equestria, and I wrote that letter in the old Equestrian dialect, I fear that the princess may not understand my message. I run to my desk to write another letter, only to realize that I forgot to get parchment from the depot when I was there. I slammed my head into my desk, put my hooves over my eyes and just began hoping that Celestia could still understand my writing.
Chapter 2Meanwhile in Canterlot “Princess Celestia, a letter has arrived for you, it looks like it’s from Stalliongrad.” Said the courier as he rushed into the room. “Well, what are you waiting for? Let me see it.” Replied the princess. She picked up the letter from the courier’s saddlebag and he immediately rushed out to deliver more mail. She opened the letter and began to read. “Oh, that’s right I forgot, Stalliongrad still uses the old Equestrian dialect.” Celestia chuckled. She continued reading, when she stumbled across the description of the creatures she wasted no time with letters. She ran to the window and leaped off of the balcony, spread her magnificent wings and flew straight to Ponyville. She landed in the middle of the road and in an instant summoned Princess Luna to her side. The two sisters galloped full speed to Twilight’s library. Celestia knocked on the door so hard that the wood began to splinter. Spike answered the door. “Princess Celestia, what are you doing here?!” he asked “And why is Luna here, am I in trouble?” He said to the two allicorns. “Spike, we need to talk to Twilight, it’s of the utmost urgency.” The princess replied. “Please, don’t stand outside come in.” Spike said. The two princesses walked into the house. Twilight put the book she was reading down and rushed down to greet her royal guests. “Yes, Celestia, Luna, what can I do for you?” Twilight asked. “We need you to gather your friends and report to Canterlot hall, we need you to bring the elements of harmony, an old threat is here in Equestria and we need your help and everypony else.” The two princesses walked out of the library and took off back to Canterlot. “Spike, get ready, we have to go get everypony ready for Celestia’s task. I’ll bet it has to do with what happened at Shining Armor’s wedding.” Twilight said. Spike climbed on her back and they rode off down the block to Sugar Cube Corner. The door was wide open so they ran in with no hesitation. “Mr. Cake, where is Pinkie Pie?!” Twilight shouted. “Uh, she should be upstairs.” Before Mr. cake could finish his response Twilight was already half way up the stairs and running into Pinkie’s room. “Pinkie Pie, come on we need to get everypony, Celestia demands it, it’s important.” She said. “Woo, fun, we get to save Equestria again! It’ll be so much fun, let me get my party cannon!” Said the pink pony bouncing all over here room. As Pinkie Pie was wheeling out here party cannon a letter flew from Spike’s maw in a small burst of flame. “Oh, Twilight, you got a letter, open it! Open it!” Exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “I think it’s from the princess” Added Spike. Twilight opened the letter and it read only “Pack warm” The two ponies looked at each other and proceeded to grab two coats from Pinkie’s closet, they stuffed the coats in Twilight’s saddlebag and galloped out the door down to Carousel Boutique. They arrived, and Twilight knocked loudly on the door. “Who ever is it at this hour?” Rarity said from behind the door. “It us, Pinkie and Twilight.” Said Pinkie with glee. Rarity slipped her head out of the door and asked, “What is it you two need?” Twilight held up the letters from princess Celestia. The door to Carousel Boutique slammed shut, and moments later the door burst open. Before the two stood Rarity, in a bedazzled, fur-hemmed trench coat and a simply magnificent black silk hat, Spike’s jaw dropped. “Let us waste no time retrieving the others, the heat might shrink my coat.” Decreed the white unicorn. They galloped off to Sweet Apple Acres to retrieve the wielder of the element of honesty, Applejack. Rarity and Twilight galloped off, Pinkie Pie hopping right behind them. The reached the farm, running past Big Macintosh. They found the work pony doing her usual shift of apple bucking. “Well howdy yall, whacha need me for?” She asked after bucking the apples from the tree directly behind her. “Applejack, direly need your help, Equestira is once again in turmoil and we need you so we may wield the elements of harmony and save Equestira once more.” Said Rarity “Aw shucks, it seems like every gol darn week Equestria needs savin from somethin er other. I’ll go get my things” sighed Applejack. “Ooh, ooh, the letter said pack warm!” Pinkie blurted. Applejack went into the barn and returned in her burlap work jacket. “Oh, what a crime against fashion, but since we’re on such short notice, I guess it will have to do.” Rarity scoffed. “All right now we just need the two pegasi and were good to go!” Said Spike. The four of them galloped to Fluttershy’s tree house. “Fluttershy open up, we need your help, it’s me Twilight” She said, Fluttershy opened the door and Twilight showed her the letter. Fluttershy whistled and three birds brought her coat and placed it on her shoulders. “Thank you friends, all right now, the canary is in charge this time, no arguing” Fluttershy cooed to her animal housemates. “Um what exactly are we doing going to somewhere we have to dress this warmly?” asked Fluttershy. “I don’t know, all the Celestia said was to pack warm and meet Luna by the train station.” Twilight responded. “Well alright then, lets go get Rainbow Dash” Said Spike, still gazing upon Rarity and her fabulous winter wear. The five ponies galloped off to the park where Rainbow Dash could frequently be found sleeping. The five ran to the park to find the Cyan Pegasus slumbering in a tree. “Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie yelled. “What?” replied Rainbow Dash. “We need you help, the princess wants us to meet Luna at the train station to go and face a threat to Equestira, the letter also said to pack warm, I still don’t know where we’re going yet.” Said Twilight. “Alright, I’ll be back.” Replied Rainbow, the Pegasus took off and was back in a coat in ten seconds flat. “Alright, let’s go meet up with Luna and go see what we have to do.” Rainbow said. The six galloped flew and hopped down to the train station. Luna awaited them and when the six arrived, she presented them with the box containing the elements of harmony. “Don’t put them on yet, you must wait until we reach our destination.” Luna said. “Uh, no offense yer majesty, but where in the hoof are we goin anyway? That kinda seems like something worth knowin.” Applejack questioned. “We are going to the old Equestrian city of Stalliongrad, where the cry for help originated.” Answered Luna. “I know where that is, I’ve read about it my book on alternate and older casting techniques.” Twilight chipped in. “I even understand a good portion of the old Equestrian dialect that they still speak there.” She added. “That is correct Twilight Sparkle.” Luna said. “Now we must go at once to help the one who sent this call for the elements and a savior. The two earth ponies, two pegasi, two unicorns and allicorn boarded the train and set off for the source of the call for help. “How long is this trip going to take? sitting here is wrinkling my the train on my trench coat.” Rarity complained. The seven of them sat on the train watching the snow begin to fall as they approached their destination. “Fret not Rarity. For we have almost arrived” Luna replied. They could see the station up ahead, bustling with pony activity. “Hey looks like we’re here!” said Spike eager to get off the train. The train came to a halt at the station and the seven ponies and dragon got off and walked onto the outdoor train platform. “Golly, now I know why ya’ll told me to pack warm, I ain’t used to this here cold.” Applejack said through chattering teeth. “Luna, where are we anyway?” asked Rainbow dash. “We’re in the city of Stalliongrad, one of the oldest cities in Equestria.”
Chapter 3The lunar princess spoke. “There sure are a lot of ponies here, more then I recall reading about., my book said the population of this city was quite small, and that it’s mostly earth ponies, there seem to be a lot of pegasi and unicorns about.” Twilight said. The eight of them walked through the station and into the city, all over there were massive buildings and bright red banners everywhere. All the signs were written in a bizarre language. “What kind of gobbeldy gook is that written on the signs?” Applejack asked. “That is the old Equestrian dialect.” Luna said. “Good thing I brought my translating book, it has all the concepts and translations for the language.” Twilight said. “Egghead” Rainbow coughed under her breath. “Can we go inside please, I’m very cold” Fluttershy said. “Yes, let us try to find the one who sent this letter.” Rarity said. “I can barley move, I should have stayed in Ponyville where it’s warm.” Spike said from Twilight’s back. The seven ponies trotted down the street, watching the snow fall and observing the nature of the city and the unusual abundance of ponies. “This letter was sent to us by another dragon, why don’t we check the school of magic to see which student sent this letter.” Spike said. “Good idea Spike.” Twilight said. They trotted to the center of town where the school was located, it’s massive domes and unique architecture made it a dead giveaway. They entered the school and began asking the scholars if they knew where the pony who sent the letter to them might live. They got blank stares and confused looks from all the ponies. “This pony must not have much of a social life.” Rainbow suggested. They continued their search until they ran into a unicorn dressed in a green cloak. “Excuse me sir, but can you look at this letter and tell us where the pony who sent it might live?” Rarity asked. The scholar turned and responded. “Ya ne govorya nova Equestirii yazik.” The pony then proceeded to read the letter and said. “Ya zniou gede Thinkerten Stallionovich zheveosh, ohn zhevoet ve ulitza dvatsit dva.” The main six stared, mouths wide open at what the pony had just said. “Spaceba za informatzia.” Luna thanked the pony for his time and information. “What did she say” asked Pinkie Pie, “I bet that’s fun to speak, how do you know how to do that, it’s so cool!” she continued. “That was the old Equestrian dialect, and I know it because it’s necessary for a princess to keep in contact with all her subjects.” Luna explained. “She said that this pony, Thinkerten lives on street number twenty two.” Luna said. “Well lets get going. I’m eager to meet a fellow scholar of magic.” Twilight said clapping her hooves together. They trotted off to go meet the writer of the distress letter, and as they walked off the unicorn in the green robe’s eyes glowed brightly and it sank back into the shadows. The eight of them trotted down street number twenty-two. There was only one house, with multiple stories and massive columns near the door. “I don’t think we should go in, maybe they don’t want to be bothered.” Fluttershy said. “Nope this is definitely the place, there’s a dragon living here, I can smell it, and the delicious gems they have in there.” Spike said, drool oozing from his maw. Twilight, eager to meet a fellow magic scholar, pushed open the door and trotted in and began to look around, followed by the other six. “Hello, anyone home?” Pinkie yelled. “Sorry Pinkie, I don’t think they can understand you, remember, Luna said that they only speak the old dialect here.” Rarity reminded the prancing pony. “Hang on, let me see what “hello” is in old Equestrian” Said Twilight going through her book on the language. “Stressvuche!” The purple unicorn said. The voice of a stallion rang down from up stairs. “Kto vwii?” “Well we know someone’s there, what in the hoof did he say though?” Applejack asked. “Who is it?” Luna answered. “Tell him we have the elements of harmony, I don’t want him to think were intruders.” Fluttershy said. Twilight began to flip through her book until she found the words. “Mwii eest eto elementi gramonii” She said. The voice answered back “Idyout sooda.” “He says to come here.” Luna translated. “Well lets not keep him waiting.” Rainbow Dash said as the cyan pegasus took off up the stairs. The others followed her. They reached an open room in which the owner of the voice stood. A tall gray unicorn stood before them, his jet black mane was a wreck and he had bags under his eyes, along with goggles resting on his horn and forehead. Upon seeing the Princess of the night he bowed his head and kneeled to the floor. “He looks like he hasn’t slept in days and those goggles look simply horrid, they don’t match his eyes at all.” Rarity whispered to Twilight. “Rarity I’m surprised at you, he obviously is extremely troubled and those goggles aren’t for fashion, they’re to protect his eyes from bright magic during experiments, you’ve seen me wear goggles like that before.” Twilight whispered back. “Fstavat” Luna said. The stallion stood back on all four hooves, he was actually taller then eveypony in the room. Spike looked over to his left and noticed a small blue figure in the room. He went to investigate, finding a frost dragon, exactly his size. He went to converse, being a dragon they could both converse the dragon language, thus elimination the language barrier between them. The mane six watched the dragons converse, and Luna converse with the stallion. All at the same time, effortlessly. “Gospadinya, ou tebya eyct kiniga obo nova Equestrii yazik?” The stallion asked Twilight. “Do you have a book on the new Equestian dialect?” Luna translated. “Yes, why, do you want to read it.” Twilight asked. Luna translated “Da, pacheemu tvwii hochet chitiaet?” Luna asked. “Da, ya hochu uchitza tvoiee yazik.” The stallion responded. “Yes, he wants to learn our language.” Luna translated again. Twilight pulled the book on the language from her saddle back and in a purple aura the book levitated towards the still stranger stallion. Halfway to him The magic aura changed from purple to a dark forest green as the stallion took the book under his magic control. “Bolshoia spaceba, menyay nado chac, pozhalista, delyat moya doma, vas dom.” He said as he walked into the next room over. “What in Equestria did he just say, I’m begennin ta think this ain’t even a real way of talkin’.” Applejack said with a confused and irritated look in her eye. “He said many thanks for the book and that he’ll need an hour with it to learn our language, and in the meantime to make yourselves at home.” Luna said. “Wow, learning a whole language in an hour, this guy is a REAL egghead, you might have found someone smarter then you Twilight, an egghead couple, just imagine it.” Rainbow teased at Twilight. “I think he’d be better off with you Rainbow Dash, considering you’re both complete slobs.” Rarity scoffed. “Well, he said make yourselves at home, so I’m going to look at his research if he has any.” Twilight said. She trotted off around the house and found what did indeed look like a laboratory of sorts. Notes strewn everywhere, drawings and diagrams galore, she found a book of notes labeled “Zarad Magii” she thumbed through her pocket translating guide and learned that it translated to “Charge magic” She began looking through the notes of this unknown stallion and realized from the anatomic diagrams that he was on to a major discovery that might change the history of magic as all unicorns know it. She continued reading and translating the notes of this seemingly brilliant stallion, his knowledge of magic would make him a prime candidate for Canterlot School of Magic. “What are you doing with my works?” asked a familiar voice in a language now understandable. “I was just looking through your notes, you’re smarter then your appearance leads others to believe.” Twilight said. “Thank you for what I hope was a compliment to my works and not an insult to my appearance.” The stallion said. “Not at all, I just wanted to let you know I think you belong at Canterlot School of Magic, I could get you in, I know the princess, but what I don’t know is your name.” Twilight said. “My name is Thinkerten, I already know your name Twilight, I heard the others talking to you, all I could understand was your name though.” Thinkerten said. “You speak new Equestrian now, Thinkerten, why don’t you come meet the other elements of harmony.” Twilight said. “Not now, I must go compose and clean myself first, that white unicorn looked upon me with disdain for my appearance, why do you not go and gather them to meet me while I make myself presentable to both the legendary elements of harmony and the lunar princess.” Thinkerten said as he trotted into his bathroom. Twilight shelved the book and put his notes back on the table. She admired his intelligence and was dumbstruck at how fast he had learned the language. She went back down to the living room and ran into Rarity and Rainbow Dash poking fun at her. The were joking about them as a couple, Twilight walked into the room and they realized that they had been caught. They went silent at her presence. “I am not interested in him, and you should grow up, we are here to help save Equestria, not gossip about whose special somepony is whose, now go get Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, Thinkerten now understands us and he wants to talk about his letter.” Twilight said. Rainbow Dash left to retrieve the others leaving only Luna and Rarity in the room. “Say Twilight, where is your new boyfriend anyway?” Rarity teased. “He’s cleaning himself because he said he noticed how YOU looked at him because of his appearance.” Twilight responded. “Well, he needed to wash up, he looked awful.” Rarity noted. Thinkerten walked into the living room moments after Rarity had finished her sentence. He stood before the main six and Luna, along with the two dragons. “Elements of Harmony, Princess Luna, I am filled with relief that you came, and first off I hope that you have found my city and home welcoming. But I have summoned you for a reason. I fear that this city may have been invaded by an unknown force. For you see I have seen an increase in the overall amount of ponies in the city and the ones that I know personally have disappeared. I think this might have something to do with what happened in Canterlot as this turn of events happened about three days after the rainbow explosion that took place during the royal wedding.” Thinkerten said, Luna’s face went blank with shock, she knew exactly what he was talking about and the main six all reacted in the exact same fashion. Thinkerten looked at everypony, the looks on their faces told him that they all knew the gravity of the situation and he didn’t, and this scared him greatly. “Luna, I need you to come with me and help confirm my suspicions.” Said Thinkerten, the two then walked out the door and before leaving Thinkerten said “The rest of you stay here and prepare yourselves for the imminent usage of the elements of harmony.” The door then shut and the two walked off down the street to confirm Thinkerten’s suspicions.
Chapter 4They walked down the streets of Stalliongrad and observed the amount of ponies wandering the city aimlessly, as if they didn’t know what they were doing. A figure darted across the street and went into the alley. “I will handle this.” Said Luna, the Allicorn took flight and followed the figure. He assumed that the Princess of the Night would be able to hold her own, and so he trotted off. Thinkerten continued on his walk, making observations before returning home. “Admit it Twilight, you like him.” Rainbow said while fastening her necklace. “For the last time I do not!” Twilight yelled. “I just think he is an intelligent, capable stallion.” She added. After all, she was only here to do a job and save Equestria, not find a special somepony, she knew that, and only hoped that her friends would grow up and stop gossiping like school fillies. As the was examining her crown, she was thinking of the perfect rebuttal to the utterly crass and untrue statements of her friends. At least Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were nice and quite about the issue. She had it, the perfect response to their petty argument, use reverse psychology on them, if she can turn their argument around on them then maybe she could get them out of her mane. “I think I know why you two keep poking fun at me.” Twilight said with a clever grin on her face. “Yes Twilight and why is that?” Rarity said, looking to intercept what ever argument was thrown at her. “Well it’s because you are the one who really likes him and your just trying to cover it up.” The lavender unicorn decreed. “Ooh, ooh I know what she’s doing, she’s using reverse psychology on you Rarity!” Pinkie burst out. “Yeah, I don’t think it’s terribly hard to tell when someone’s trying to reverse and argument on you.” AppleJack added. “Twilight, if you like that stallion, just tell us, it’s ok.” Fluttershy cooed while fastening her necklace. “WHY DOES EVERYPONY THINK I LIKE THINKERTEN!” The purple unicorn was so enraged that her nostrils had flared. “All I know is that he is an intelligent and attractive stallion, and I don’t like him, what about that is so hard for you to understand?” She railed. “Well you are the only one who knew his name before you told us.” AppleJack said. “Yeah and in that same sentence you said he was attractive.” Added Rainbow Dash. “Ok, everypony, when he comes back, I’ll have him back me up on this, he and I are not interested in each other, I have seen his research and I think he’s smart, that’s it.” Twilight said. As Luna continued the chase, she watched the figure dart behind a corner. She followed it, the route it took was a dead end. “I have you now” The black allicorn said. “Wait, listen and hear my words, Nightmare Moon” replied the figure. “I am Nightmare Moon no longer.” Replied the Lunar Princess. Luna felt a strange adhesive on her hooves, and when she looked down to see that her hooves were glued to the ground by some sort of green slime. She looked into the shadows and saw a figure as tall as Celestia herself advance upon her. It opened it’s eyes, they were bright green, neon almost. “Hello Nightmare Moon, I barley recognized you in that form, so boring, so weak.” Said the figure, striding ever closer, speaking slowly, and clearly. “Halt your advance upon me.” Said Luna, unable to move. She used her horn to project light in the direction of the eyes that were confronting her. She looked down at the set of jet black of hooves in front of her, the light went straight through the holes in them, leaving shadows in the light. Luna looked up to see Queen Chrysalis staring her down. “We meet again, Nightmare Moon” Chrysalis said to Luna. “I told you, I no longer am Nightmare Moon, I am princess Luna.” The entrapped allicorn replied. “It’s sad really, giving up all that power, I don’t think I could do it, I really don’t.” The Changeling went on. “You see, you had enough power to rule Equestria with your sister, and now your just serving her, like a slave, not even that, a mere puppet. Why do you think that the Princess sent you instead of coming herself? She thinks you disposable, not a sister, not one of the two allicorns left in existence. No, a mere puppet, not a care weather you live or die.” Chrysalis continued while striding around Luna. She put her hoof up and nuzzled Luna’s chin, looked here in the eye and began to speak more. “You know it, she doesn’t love you. I mean, what kind of Princess banishes her own “sister” to the moon for one thousand years, and even worse she made you apologize for what she did. Now that doesn’t seem very fair do you not agree?” Said the changeling queen in a rather soft and almost caring voice. Luna began to speak “Yes, but” Chrysalis put a hoof to her mouth. “ah ah ah, it’s my turn to speak now, you just listen.” She said. “Now where was I, oh yes. You see Nightmare Moon, why is it you serve her? Hhm? Exactly, no answer, just a I though. Why do you not change back to your true form and have all the power you deserve and desire.” The words of the changeling were spoken well indeed, Luna began to grow in size and height, her small boots and chest plate fell from her body. Her mane became one with the night. “Nightmare Moon, has returned” Said the black allicorn, now full sized. “Wonderful, just perfect, now we can rule Equestria as sisters that never were!” Decreed Chrysalis. The two let out a sinister laugh that pierced the night air and was heard all across Stalliongrad. Thinkerten stopped dead in his tracks as he heard what sounded like laughter. His slow trot changed to a full on gallop to get home, as he was certain that something the gears of something terrible had just been set in motion. He raced back to his house and upon opening the door saw the mane six in a furious debate. “Be silent, all of you.” He projected his voice all across the room and in an instant everypony was quite. “Good thinkerten, your back. I need your help to settle a dispute with my friends.” Twilight said. “No time, I fear that our timetable for action has been accelerated.” Replied the gray stallion promptly while still shaking the snow from his black mane.
