A Time of Twilight

"It turned out that, the changelings were full of amazing talents and she had some of them make me a
coat and hair extensions, converted to be my mane and tail. I asked her why she did all this for me and
she told me not to worry about it. She also wouldn't answer my questions of how she found me and when
I asked how I could ever repay her, she just said that she may need my help in the near future, but for
now nothing was necessary." His gruff voice paused for a moment as he prepared to continue on.

The four ponies in the room sat staring at him, hanging on his every word, A few of them seemed to
have a slight haze over their eyes. None of them made a sound as he continued, even the changeling
seemed enraptured.

"When I was recovered enough, I thanked the queen for her help and the attire, now including a traveling
cloak and a pair of black saddlebags. I set off to learn all that had happened in my absents from Equestria,
that was around five years ago. I traveled all over, seeing the new sights and studying up in the libraries,
learning and observing. I never brought attention to myself, only stopping to do the barest bit of work, to
earn enough bits to get by. Eventually I returned to the town I had been trapped beneath all those years,
a few simple inquiries brought me to the cemetery where I found her. A fire in me grew to find out what
had happened."

"It took over a year, but I eventually found out it was no accident and that a certain green unicorn, didn't
really exist. To say I was angry would be an understatement, I was soon consumed with the need for
revenge. I learned more of the subtleties of magic and with this knowledge was able to gain access to
more. The time finally came when she contacted me again, with a request to steal the elements and
keep them out of the way for her."

"Biding my time, I looked up all there was to know about the elements and came to Ponyville, till I
had all the angles covered. With this knowledge I planned to strike when she least expected, after her
victory. Then she changed things, brought you into the mix. I could never hurt an innocent, I'd never
be able to see her again then, sure she'd never forgive me. So I broke it off, I now realize she doesn't
want the elements out of the way, somehow she plans to use them and all of you and your friends
against Celestia."

"It was just all going perfectly till you showed up, it had to be you. Every time I catch a glimpse of you
from the corner of my eye, I turn thinking to see her again, but its not, I'll never see her again." He said
as he grew silent.

"But there is something bothering me still, how did she know I'd be there? how did she know about the
letter I got from the Princess?" Twilight said quietly.

"Cause I didn't write that letter." they all turned in surprise to the door where Princess Celestia had just
entered.

"Princess? What are you doing-?"

"CELESTIA!" everypony jumped and stared in shock as Reef shot up and charged the Princess, Rage
blazing in his eyes.

"REEF!" Recovering quickest, Twilight managed to catch him in a telekinetic grip.

"Let me go! she has to pay!" He struggled as if possessed.

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked, desperate to know what was happening.

"Your a clever pony, figure it out! do you really think she didn't know about the project, that something
so important wouldn't be known to her?" His horn began to glow as he fought Twilight's grip.

"She knew, but whats that got to do with anything." Twilight gritted as she fought to maintain control.

"Think! she didn't just know, she started it! she set it up! she ran it! it was all her! always leaving her
protege behind to keep an eye on us while she was gone!" he screamed, glaring ahead at the alicorn.

"Whats he talking about Twilight? I only arrived in time to hear your question" Princess Celestia asked in
bewilderment, "who is this?"

"His name,ugh! is er! Reef Ti." She gasped out, starting to lose the struggle.

Twilight saw the Princess go pale, eyes widening in shock as she looked at the Unicorn clawing his
way towards her. "It can't be." She whispered hoarsely.

"Yes it can! here I am now princess!" He spat the title out, "Look at me and see your dirty mistake out
for the whole world to see, no longer left rotting in the ground where you buried me!"

"But you were trapped, there was nothing we could do."

"Nothing you could do! you gave up! and you left her there alone! left her to rot away and die!"

"Joi Rah?"

"DON"T YOU SAY HERE NAME! Don't you ever taint her name again, by speaking them with your
lips! You all don't deserve to have met a pony like her, you all just left her to die along with me!"

"We didn't, we tried to make her get on with her life, but we couldn't get her away from you, she
wouldn't leave."

"Then why didn't you kill me! if there was no way out, why didn't you take away my misery and her
anchor? couldn't you see my pain, my torment! why wouldn't you release us?" Tears streamed down
his face now as he raged to be free.

"We couldn't, we couldn't understand what happened and couldn't predict what would happen if we
did anything, It could have caused a cataclysm, we just didn't know!"

"But you-"

"STOP! both of you!" they both turned and stared in surprise as Twilight stood panting and glaring
at both of them, "I don't know exactly happened back then but we have a more urgent problem, here
and now. My friends have been taken by changelings and we need to save them!"

Both of them stared at her then looked back at each other, slight embarrassment could be seen on
their faces. "But....." Reef started.

"No buts, what would Joi think right now if she was here? you assaulting the Princess, while three
innocent mares were in danger that you could help save." Twilight lectured.

Reef hung his head and was slowly settled to the ground, Twilight watched him warily, but he seemed
to not be planning another charge.

"Now Princess, what were you saying?"

Celestia stared in a moment in awe at how her student had took charge of the situation, "Oh, yes, I
was saying I didn't send a letter."

"You didn't? but Spike brought it to me, how...." Realization dawned in her eyes as they fell on the
captive changeling.

"What do we do now? and what are you doing here Princess?" AJ asked hesitantly.

"I came cause I saw Twilight was here and was hoping to finally find out everything that's going on."

"I think I can help you with that Princess." Twilight said and updated the Princess on all they had
learned so far.

"This is very troubling, I had hoped that what happened at the wedding would be enough, but this
has gone too far." Princess Celestia said in a contemplative voice.

"What should we do?" Twilight asked carefully.

"Twilight you and your friends, need to go get the others back, Reef, I really am sorry, but could
you please set aside our differences till this is over, I promise you your confrontation later. Now
though I think your the only pony that could get Twilight and her friends to the changeling realm
safely." Celestia carefully addressed the unicorn stallion, who had laid where he was silently, till
now.

Looking up, he slowly nodded. "Alright, but this isn't over."

"What are you gonna do Princess?" Dash asked anxiously.

"The queen can no longer be ignored, I'm going to gather my troops and drive her far away. I
didn't want it to come to this, but she forced my hoof and now we go to war."
_________________________________________________________________________________

Twilight glanced behind her again, even though she knew her friends were still there. But she
couldn't help but be nervous, they were sneaking down a corridor deep inside the mountain
where the changeling queen had made her hive. Being sure Dash, AJ and Reef, all wearing dull
traveling cloaks to hide their bright coats, were still following behind her, helped to quell some of
her anxiety.

Only four ponies to go and rescue their friends, she remembered the argument back at the library
as they tried their best to get Trixie to help. Unfortunately Trixie refused, "Trixie already got your
friend back and have done all Trixie agreed to. Besides the great and powerful Trixie does not go
on suicide missions!" After she stomped her hoof down nothing could get her to change her mind.

Twilight fervently hoped Trixie had been wrong, she really believed they had a good chance of
pulling this off, 'after all we've gotten this far, haven't we?' Twilight thought to herself. It was quite
an accomplishment, they had traveled almost halfway across Equestria, taking the train. They
got off in Dodge City and had to travel by hoof the rest of the way down to the badlands. Finally
reaching the mountain filled with changelings.

Close enough now to not be a strain on him, Reef shadow walked them into the chamber he had
stayed in. The corridors and rooms around it seemed deserted and Twilight was conflicted whether
she hoped or not, that the reason it was empty was cause the Princess had caused a distraction
with her arrival. Could Celestia have already assembled an army and be down here already? Twi
wasn't sure, but doubted it.

Most of the chambers they passed at first seemed to be living quarters, she was surprised at how
nice and comfortable they looked. She'd always imagined they lived in barren caves like bats, now
she realized how silly that had been, why wouldn't they live and enjoy things like ponies did? Just
because they were monsters to her, didn't mean they were. Despite herself, she began to feel
curious what changelings were really like, when they weren't attacking and terrorizing ponies.

The whole place seemed to be illuminated by green stuff that glowed, it was smeared all over the
ceilings. It was hard to tell if it was some kind of moss or something the changelings made, what
ever it was she decided she might not want to know the answer.

So she set aside her curiosity and concentrated on the task at hand. Lucky for them the changelings
constantly made buzzing noises here, giving them all plenty of time to find a hiding place, when one
of the few they saw down here came by. They were slowly making their way down, not sure where they
were headed, but Twi felt confident this was the right way. The room and corridors and chambers
became more basic, with little work crafted into them and the others agreed with Twi, that this was the
most likely place for a dungeon.

Finally they were rewarded with proof, that her assumptions were right. On both sides of the corridor
they had just reached were chambers with barred doors, about a third of the way down they found
rarity in a cell to the left. She had been stuck up on the wall by some green slime, more covered her
mouth. Not bothering with the lock, Twilight teleported in and cut off the slime with her glowing horn.

Landing on the floor, Twilight helped Rarity up and getting the rest of the slime off. Twilight shushed her
thank yous, quickly giving Rarity a update of the situation and conveying the urgency that they hurry
on. Determined now, they all hurried on till near the end they came upon Pinkie Pie. Her hair had gone
limp and she looked miserable, but as soon as she saw Twilight it poofed right up, popping her off the
wall, landing she bounced around happily. Twilight quickly was in and out of the cell with Pinkie. Relieved
as she got the slime off Pinkie's mouth, that the excitable pony seemed to comprehend the gravity of
the situation and stayed quiet except for joyful shouts under her breath.

In the next corridor they found a larger cell, that looked like it could hold an elephant. "That's funny, why
did they need to use such a big cell to hold Fluttershy?" Pinkie asked bouncing around the group.

"Doesn't matter, lets go get her." Twilight said looking at the far side of the room where she saw a
trembling yellow form up on the wall. So they could make their escape from inside, Twilight used her
magic to open the lock and they all went inside.

"Wow this was pretty easy," Dash said as they got all the slime off Fluttershy.

"It was, wasn't it?" Came a mocking voice from the door.