Intermission Sibling Highway

Once Carve and I are given back the spell by Twilight, we go back slightly earlier so that we can catch Pharynx when he does arrive.

“Now all we have to do now is find Pharynx and-”

I get interrupted when the portal opens over where my throne should be with Pharynx coming out of it. As I grab him with my magic, he teleports us to the location that Thorax would be overthrown in. He’s just around the corner, but we hear a crowd coming from the opposite direction. Then they stop right in front of him.

Um, hi?

Pharynx thumps my horn with his hoof, causing him to fall on the floor as I cover that spot with my hoof.

Recovering, I see one of the changelings approaching the former king. Thorax! Why did you let Correal go out like she did?!?

“I… I have to save him!” Pharynx whispers.

I pin him to the floor and cover his mouth. “No. you. will. not!”

Changelings, it was her decision, and I didn’t even know about what she did until Moph and Lace told me about it.

We trusted you way! We thought we’d find a better life with you! And you made a mistake that made us realize-

Pharynx breaks free twice, the second time when I try to levitate him again. Then he flies up to Thorax to thwart the argument going on around the corner.

Everyone stop!

The changelings murmur at Pharynx in confusion, some name dropping him.

“Damn it!” I whisper. Seriously, I’m starting to get tired losing him.

Is this any way to behave? Hm? Thorax had nothing to do with Correal. She was a sensitive soul anyway. Now if you all don’t mind, I will handle him from here, capiche?

The murmurs continue.

Carve comes closer to me. “They’re not listening? There’s hope left?”

Well, if you think you can take him off our hooves, then we’d like our queen back.

I see Pharynx nodding at the changelings, then soaring off with Thorax.

“Of course there isn’t,” I reply to Carve.

A hole opens up in front of us as we get swept up by the wind again. This time, the other me from this new timeline was ready for us to drop by.

This timeline’s me takes on my old form before I swayed Twilight at the Crystal Empire. “I knew someone would come,” she says.

“Whoa, this is crazy,” Carve remarks. “Both natural forms of Queen Chrysalis.”

This timeline’s me gets confused and points to me. “Wait, that’s me? Carve! Explain!”

I walk to the front of the throne before Carve can. “I’ll do it. I had to sway Twilight to my side where I come from. Were you abstained from that?”

The other me nods. “Time travel? That’s new. With how everything played out, Twilight was already impartial hearing how smoothly the transition went between me and Thorax. In fact, Thorax and I are actually on-”

Before the other me can finish, Carve teleports us to Twilight’s Castle. We appear to be in the library. Someone comes up behind us: Starlight Glimmer.

“Huh? Carve? Who’s with you?”

“Starlight! Can you take us to the map? We’re trying to stop Pharynx from messing with the past,” Carve explains.

“The past? I thought the map destroyed that scroll already. Where’d he get it from?”

Talk about deja vu. “From Canterlot of course. Carve caught him during an interview of mine.”

“Well say no more you two.” Starlight teleports us to the throne room.

Behind Pinkie Pie’s throne on the wall is the frame from the last timeline. Resting on the floor below is Spike. Twilight is sitting on her throne.

“Carve? It’s so good to see you!” Twilight jumps and hugs Carve. Then looks at me. “...you look familiar. Are you Queen Chrysalis? Last I remember she’s looked the same ever since the wedding.” I nod, then show Twilight the scroll. “Oh, so that explains it.”

“I can only deduce the same changes from last time happened: Thorax saves Carina and Kuma, Spitfire’s still superintendent. What else happened?” I ask.

“Well, obviously you never transformed. That’s all I can come up with.”

“I saw that already,” Carve replies. “Was I ever barred from Ponyville here? This timeline’s Chrysalis-”

“Of course not, Carve. Thorax trusting Chrysalis meant I had to at least give her a chance. And it paid off. Why would I ever-” Carve changes into Thorax and plays dead to stop Twilight short. “…oh, I see. I do remember in the news that Pharynx came out of nowhere and reasoned with the rest of the changelings before they could kill him. The map is probably going to hate this, but let’s take you earlier.”

Twilight supercharges the map so Chrysalis and I start flying into the portal above. On the other end, we find ourselves not too far off compared to last time.

I look around, confused. “Ponyville? Why would Twilight keep us here?” I spot Town Hall and see a bunch of random decorations: banners, a fireplace… In the distance, it looks like ponies are pulling out flowers. Who hates flowers? “Wait. Is that a welcoming committee?”

“Hm… that fireplace… Carve, the ponies trust you. Why don’t you go check things out. I’ll wait here on the balcony.”

“Okay.”

I zoom to the roundabout.

Is the banner even? …Are the- WHOA!! I skid to a stop in front of Spike, who is in front of the entrance to town hall and quickly sidesteps out of my way.

“Carve!” Twilight excitedly exclaims, flying down to greet and hug me. “You’ve come just in time! We’re here to meet Dra-”

“No time for that Twilight! I have something important to tell Spike.”

“Oh… okay.” Twilight flies back up to help Starlight with the banner.

“What is it Carve?” Spike asks.

I look around me before I know it’s safe to tell him. “Spike, there’s a chance Pharynx is on his way. Whatever you do, do not listen to him.”

Spike sure looks confused now after telling him my secret. “Um, are you okay, Carve? Why would Thorax’s brother drop by to tell me what to do? I’m actually busy setting up a visit with Dragon Lord Ember.”

“Because he’s trying to save his brother.”

Spike’s pupils shrink. “You mean Thorax is coming too?!?”

During me and Spike’s conversion, I hear hoofsteps. Well, so much for that. Hey Spike… Carve… I turn around to see Thorax waving in the background.

“I can’t believe I invited Ember and Thorax on the same day! What am I gonna do?!?”

“Ember? Who’s Ember?” Thorax asks Spike. Unfortunately, Chrysalis is teleported in, where we get sucked into the portal before I can hear the rest of the conversation.

On the other end, we land where Chrysalis’ throne should be. Instead, it’s exactly the way it was when Thorax was ruling.

“That’s weird,” I say.

Chrysalis lets her wings shake off the dirt accumulating on them. “Obviously, you don’t mean us descending, since that is becoming a trend.”

“Well it’s just that the previous two times, your throne room was intact.”

Chrysalis’ gasps, her pupils shrinking when she sees the place around her.