Heart Of The CHIMERA

As the sun began to rise on what must have been the third or fifth day—Chrislis lost count—she let out a rough yawn due to absolutely no sleep. When her henchman came in with their report, shaking under the weight of her tired glare, she didn’t even bother asking him for it. She could tell just by his presence and lack thereof what she wanted: they failed once again.

“M-my queen,” Rarity mumbled. Of course, it was not Rarity at all but a changeling in disguise.

“Can it,” she snapped, baring her fangs, before taking the appearance of Celestia again. “I don’t want excuses; I want my goddaughter and her little friends found. You,” she snapped back to the changeling who took on the appearance of Sombra, “has there been any success finding the chimera blood?”

“No, Your Highness, and without Luna—”

“Find it!” she barked, not letting one excuse arise. A knock at the door alerted them, and with it, the few changelings who weren’t disguised took on a different appearance before Celestia opened the door.

“Oh, uh, I’m sorry, am I interrupting?” Starlight nervously waved hello to the crowded office of the mayor.

“No, we were just wrapping up here,” Celestia smiled as best she could, but her eyes showed not only how tired she was, but her fury as well.

Starlight lowered her gaze, for a moment unsure of what to say, before perking back up again with what little she could muster. “I have now received said energy source and have already begun the extraction process. The first test is set on schedule, Miss Kang.”

“Finally, some good news,” she mumbled as she headed into the hallway. “I’ll be looking forward to your work, Mrs. Glimmer; don’t activate it until I get there. Now, why don’t you get back to—”

“That’s the thing, Mrs. Kang. While I am taking the necessary precautions, I don’t feel safe without an assistant. And considering I’m actually Twilight’s assistant, shouldn’t she be the one working on this?”

“I told you, my goddaughter is dealing with a family issue, and she gave you full power over the project. She trusts you; isn’t that what you wanted?” Celestia raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, but just a few days ago she didn’t even trust me to look at the Time Machine without her consent. I don’t know, I just feel safer if she—”

Celestia inhaled as she set a hoof on her head. “Look, Starlight, I know I’m not supposed to tell you this, but—” she rolled her eyes. “There is a reason why Twilight isn’t present. If I tell you, you have to promise me not to trust anyone with this information. It’s a matter of the utmost importance.”

“Uhh,” was all Starlight could muster.

“My sister escapes, and Twilight went after her without telling me. I have no connection with her.”

Starlight’s eyes grew three times the size as her mouth dropped open, only for Celestia to put a hoof over it.

“Yes, yes, I know. Let’s not make a scene. I trust my goddaughter to deal with it. And if she didn’t cancel the Time Machine, then I’m certain by the time she gets back, she’d be very proud of you for accomplishing it on your own.” Celestia assured her before removing her hoof and heading out the door.

“On my— but I need a—”

“Then I shall provide an assistant myself. I will not let Twilight’s future be ruined because of the past again.”

“Wow, Mrs. Kang, you really do care about the future.”

“You have no idea,” Celestia chuckled to herself, growing a conniving grin before easing it and turning back to the purple pony. “Alright, Starlight, now tell me, have you had any contact with Twilight at all? I want to find her and help catch my crazy sister in the process.”

“Oh, no, but there might be a clue or two at her old apartment. I know she doesn’t visit much, but that is where we stored her old design for the Time Machine. Maybe she left something there that could help you find her.”

“Hmm, great idea. Now, as for your assistant, Miss Shine can help you.”

Rarity stepped forward and gave Starlight a smile. “I may not be the most scientific girl out there, but I do know a thing or two about being careful. You wouldn’t believe how delicate your hands have to be when sewing.” She giggled.

“Haha, I guess that could work. I’ll just need you to sign some waivers; it’s not too much, just, uh, if you die from radioactive poisoning, you won’t sue me.” Starlight giggled.

“I see, I can do that, and with the right protective equipment, I’m certain it’s perfectly safe,” Rarity turned to Celestia for reassurance.

“Fifty-fifty,” the mayor replies, “Glad it is all settled,” the mayor replied before getting into her car and driving off, leaving the two girls. She never even bothered to take so much as a glance at both the real Rarity and Shining Armor and his wife, who were tied up in the back seat of her car, mouths taped shut.

…

With a creaking sound of the door, Celestia walked in alongside her captives.

She all but ignored their furious looks and gave the small apartment a once-over, finishing a layer of dust as she ran her hoof alongside the table.

Those that were chained waddled their way to the couch and sat down.

Finally, the queen acknowledged their presence with a question. “Do any of you need to use the bathroom?”

At first puzzled by this, the three raised an eyebrow before glaring down at her once more.

“What? I'm not senseless. It’s better you go in there instead of on the couch.” She rolled her eyes and headed over to them. Her face was neutral, but her eyes seemed almost melancholy as she swept through the place, searching for something. A soft tingle of one of their chains caught her attention, and she turned back to them, putting on the best smile she could muster.

“Sorry, Rarity, you must forgive me, but if I hadn’t set you and Shining up, I would have no pieces against Twilight.

She’ll soon discover you two are in my possession.”

Rarity tried to speak, but it was muffled by the duct tape over her mouth.

Despite it, Celestia acted as if she heard every word and continued searching through the house. “Yes, she’ll come to me to get you back, and sure, I’m not saying she will agree to work with me for your freedom; I’m no idiot. But it will keep her at bay.” She then began to go through the cabinets of the place, continuing the conversation.

“Don’t worry. I have no reason to harm you any further. Especially because if I did, then I wouldn’t be able to use you against her, now would I?” She cheerfully claimed as she searched the last of the cabinets.

With another grumble, this time from Shining, Celestia turned back to them.

“Oh, but I will, Shining. You see, what you don’t realize is that I know Twilight more than anyone. I even know her better than you, after all,” her lips began to twist into a smile, looking far more innocent than she actually was.

“I am the one who raised her.”

With a groan from Rarity again, Celestia answered her question.

“Anything really, something that could help track my little goddaughter down. I’m going to look upstairs; feel free to try to escape if you want. Make my day that much more interesting.” She giggled before heading upstairs.

She soon entered the old bedroom of Twilight, finding it set just as it always was. The only thing new was the laid dust that showed how long it had been since anyone had entered it.

There, in the back, was the only thing that hadn’t been dusty: the new place’s old Time Machine. Celestia could see her reflection in its crude shiny copper siding.

As she sat staring at it, a flashback emerged in her mind. One so vivid she could have sworn she smelled the shift in the air. The room set ablaze around her; the only thing in her hoof was the last bit of serum that would change her into a chimera forever. And the hopes and dreams she had of one day ending the war before it all began, now in her grasp.

With a blink of her eye, she returned back to the reality at hand, feeling the same rage in her stomach as before. With a sigh, she let it go before she returned to her task at hand. With more speed and frustration than before, she began ripping through the room. She rent through everything—the drawers, the desk—but found nothing useful. Finally, she turned to the old chest, giving it a kick open, not caring for the personal belongings any longer. She soon threw out Twilight’s old chemistry book right over her shoulder and ripped out the old radio without a second thought. Growing angrier by the second, she suddenly gasped, slowing down her fury in an instant.

Gently, she set down the radio as she blinked slowly at the object at the bottom of the box. With a steady hoof, she, even more gently than with the radio, picked up the object that caught her attention, pulling it out before her.

There, sitting in her hoof, was a pony doll that had seen better days. It had button eyes and a pony face, but it was definitely hanging on by its last string.

“Smarty Pants,” Celestia whispered as her eyes began to water. “Oh, Twilight,” she whispered, as she could see the small young filly in her mind.

…

Once again, with a blink of her eye, Celestia was now no longer in Twilight's space but in her memories.

…
With the sound of a pencil, young Starlight was working on a schematic of her plans when a pony dressed in glasses and a lab coat walked up to her.

The greatest arch-rival she had ever known, and soon her best friend, smiled and pointed out a flaw in the wiring schematic.

With another flash, she then saw Twilight bloody on the ground. With a scream, Starlight yelled out in horror as she crushed the bottle of the last of the serum in her hooves.

With another flash, though, she then stood as the mayor of Ponyville when Luna walked in with a letter.

“Celestia,” Luna uttered through a wavering lip as she held out the letter to her.

Taking a quick glance at the letter, Celestia’s eyes widened. Setting the paper down, she now stood in front of a door, shivering. As she reached for the handle, she stopped and took a deep breath, quickly shaking whatever fears were in her head away before entering.

There on the bed lay Twilight, a very young filly asking for her parents once again.

“Thank you, Doctor,” said Celestia with newfound confidence and strength, surprising even herself. "I'll take it from here." The doctor left, relieved not to have to tell the filly anything else. Twilight raised an eyebrow at the sight of the mayor. She did know her well enough; she was a friend of her mother's. Perhaps she knew where her parents were.

"Twilight Sparkle, do you remember me?" she asked almost pleadingly.

"Yes, Mrs. Kang. Do you know where Mommy is?" asked Twilight.

“Twilight,” Celestia walked over and sat on the bed in front of her. “How old are you now?”

“Me? Oh, uh… eleven. Why?”

The mayor smiled, but her lip quivered as she tried to hold back tears. “Wow, eleven! You really are a big girl. Even so, I have something to tell you—something that isn’t going to be easy to take, even if you were an adult.”

Twilight tilted her head, but Celestia softly grabbed her chin and made her look her in the eye. “Twilight, I am very sorry, but your family has been missing for months now. And the only one they found was you. You've been in a coma.”

“Huh?” Twilight said, not understanding the true nature of the situation. How could she understand, only being an eleven-year-old filly?

“As your godmother, I promise you we will never stop looking. But Twilight, you're going to have to come live with me now until we do find them. Is that alright?” she asked with a reassuring smile.

Twilight could only give a small nod as she slowly came to grips with the reality that her world had been shattered.

Celestia gave a weak but warm grin as she looked upon her greatest rival once more. "Alright, Twilight, once the doctor checks you over, I’ll take you home, okay?"

The young girl gave another nod as the memory once more faded to her in the car.

Celestia did what she could to watch the road, but every few seconds, she couldn’t help but glance at the rear seat to check on the young filly.

How odd it felt for Celestia to not only be in this position normally, but to know the person in the back seat from another timeline was her best friend, left her with an otherworldly eerie feeling. With a quick flash of her eyes, she soon spotted a grocery store. “Huh, I should probably buy her some dinner now. I’ve never really taken care of anyone before. What do you do with kids?” She thought in her mind, glancing over her shoulder once more. Twilight, however, never moved, instead watching the outside world pass her by.

With a soft blink, Celestia turned back to the road with a sigh as she turned the wheel, heading towards the store.

Celistia walked through the halls with a cart muttering to herself the entire time. “What do kids like. Cotton candy and sugar canes,” she said, sticking the objects in her cart. Oh oh, Dino nuggets, maybe, she thought. “Uhh,” she utters as she quickly tore open a nearby fridge and gathered said object. “I have no idea what I’m doing,” she internally groaned before her phone went off. Giving it a glance, it was Luna who gave her a list of coffee and frozen TV dinners.

“Uh, that might work. Kids like coffee, right? I mean, I always did,” she smiled wildly, unsure of herself. Giving the cart a push, only to stop when she noticed the child in question was not present. “Oh now, where did she go? I told her to stay by my side,” Celistia began to panic and search around high, about to call out her name when she froze mid-way thanks to finding Twilight standing by an old box of toys.

“Oh, oh yes, I suppose kids like toys,” Celistia muttered to herself as she approached the pile, finding her niece staring at the ugliest doll she ever laid eyes upon. With a quick cough clearing her throat, she took on a voice of calm and sternness, not wanting to show how nervous she actually was.

“Twilight, I specifically stated to stay close to me.”

The young filly turned around, lowering her head, but said nothing.

“Do you want a doll?” Celistia sighed, snatching the object up and handing it to her.

Twilight looked between her and the doll, as if contemplating it, before turning to the cart full of junk food and TV dinners.

“I don’t really eat any of that,” she mumbled barely audible.

“Speak up, Twilight. Now tell me what would you like to—”

“Sandwiches with dressing on the side. And a cookie for dessert. Donuts for breakfast, please.”

Celistia's eyes widened at the little girl's request, but soon gave a nod before smiling and handing her the doll. “If that’s what you want, kid. Hay, I know why don't we stop by your house and pick up a few of your old things.”

“I want my Time Machine, blueprints and my chemistry book,” the young lady replied as she wrapped her arms tighter around the doll.

The very mention of the device stuck Celistia like a cold chill. Your... your... she mumbled as she remembered who she was dealing with. Twilight might have been a child in this timeline, but she was still extremely intelligent and the fact that she was already putting together such a device at her young age astonished the mayor. But a giggle soon erupted from her mouth, and both of them.

“Oh sorry, it’s just that you always were way smarter than me,” Celistia chuckled.

“Come on, let’s get your salad and head over to your old house, okay.”

With a nod, and a tighter grip on the stuffed horse, the little girl made it clear she wasn’t going to leave without it, and seemed to silently thank Celistia for it. To which Celistia held no issue with.

…

The doll now sat in Celistia's joint once more. Every ounce of its small weight felt as heavy as a giant stone as she sat there staring down at it. Her mouth agaped.

It was quite the ugly doll. A grey doll with iron eyes and brown rope for twigs of hair; a stitch-patched on its butt from when Celistia had to re-sew it, the one time it fell apart in the snow. Despite having only button eyes, the doll seemed to stare into Celistia’s soul as if it could read her heart and all her sins. Celistia no... Chrislis... no Starlight burst into green flames taking on the appearance of the mare she once was so long ago.

She looked just like Starlight did now, only with a few wrinkles on her face and a grey strand in her hair. A look she guessed she would have if she truly aged correctly. Due to the Chimera blood running through her veins, she knew not of what she truly looked like. Still, and she closed her eyes, she begged that she could just turn the clock back and change things once more. Perhaps she couldn’t have become a Chimera; perhaps she shouldn’t have run through the Time Machine. Perhaps she should have just let the past be and look forward to what the future would hold.

“I’m sorry, Twilight, but I’ve come close to stopping here,” she said to the doll as if the young filly was in front of her once more. It said nothing; its silence reminding her of Twilight that first day.

Quiet as always I see, she snickers before something else caught her eye behind the doll. She lowers it in hopes to better see what it was.

Her eyes once again widened before growing clearer and narrowing in on the object as her lips once again curved. With a flash of fire, she took on the appearance of her true form. Chrislis... then slowly laid the doll before snatching the other object. There in the reflection of the photo, she could see herself standing right next to him.

“That’s it, Twilight. Once I save him, surely you’ll join me then,” she smiled nearly hissing her fangs at Twilight’s father.