This World We Made

Four of them stood around Applejack's kitchen table. One of them had her head poking in through an open window. A little dragon was stood on the table, rather than beside it. Starlight and Sunburst were the odd ones out, seated to the side, next to each other. Starlight was trying very hard not to look at him or think about him.

“So that's the plan. Tomorrow is the big day, and I don't think we'll have much time to talk after this gets started. Not until it's all over. So if anypony has anything to say, say it now.” Twilight scanned their faces as a resolute nod traveled through the room. She paused, looking at Starlight, “You've done so much already, and after what you've been through, nopony would blame you if–”

“I told you, Twi, I'm coming. That's final.” Silence filled the room, all eyes on her. Her skin was crawling. Why was everypony looking, had she said the wrong thing again? Just as panic started to take hold, Pinkie gave a shout.

“She said it! She called her Twi! Fluttershy, you owe me ten bits.” Fluttershy shook the house with her low growling, sparking a fit of laughter from Pinkie.

“I told you she'd cave eventually, Fluttershy,” came Spike’s contribution.

Starlight's cheeks burned, “Shut up! You're all a bad influence on me. Twilight is just a mouthful.” While the others laughed, she noticed Applejack giving her a hard stare. She stuck out her tongue and made a face, the way she had seen Pinkie Pie do it the other day. The farmpony rolled her eyes and looked away, but Starlight caught the smirk that tugged at her cheeks.

“Twilight darling,” Rarity spoke up, “You still haven't explained what exactly happens after this terrible idea.”

“Right, thank you Rarity. After that, it's very simple. We all go to the school, we tap into the Elements of Harmony, and we use the magic to power the spell–” Spike waggled the scroll for all to see, “– and then I can go back in time and fix the timeline, the way it's supposed to be.”

“And what happens to us?” Applejack asked.

“I… Don't know. I don't think there's a creature on the planet that could answer that, this is magic nopony was meant to wield. The only thing that makes sense is to put it back how it was before, no matter what happens.”

It was a chilling answer, and it soured the mood of the room. Applejack looked stern, Rarity nervous, while Pinkie chattered to Fluttershy.

“You said the Elements are gone, aren't they? Lost in the Everfree Forest,” Rarity pointed out, “How are we meant to use them?”

Twilight smiled at her, “The Elements themselves were only ever a tool. It's like Zecora said, the magic itself is friendship. We don't need the Elements themselves when everything they represent is right here. When we need it, it'll work.”

“Are you really willing to just bet on that?” Everypony looked at Sunburst. Starlight didn't.

“The Elements are something special. Sometimes I think they've got a mind of their own. Plus, Elements or no, I have faith in my friends.” Twilight's certainty was infectious.

That seemed to be enough to satisfy everypony, meeting adjourned. Twilight and her friends began to chat more casually. Spike wandered her way. He made her side table into a stool.

“I'm glad you're back,” He mumbled. Starlight caught movement from the corner of her eye, Sunburst glancing towards them, then politely looking away.

That was complicated, but… “I'm glad to be back. I'm sorry for ignoring you, it won't happen again.”

“Good, one of you is bad enough. Almost as bad as two Twilights. Two of you is worse.”

They shared a little giggle, “Don't worry Spike, it's just me in here.” Spike stood, glanced around the room, and before Starlight could react at all, he had stolen a hug at her shoulder and hopped away.

Starlight looked over at Sunburst, finally. He was looking her way again, couldn't help but eavesdrop on the conversation next to him. Hardly his fault, they hadn't made much of an effort for privacy. Their eyes briefly met, then both dropped to the floor.

“I'm–” “Sorry,” They both stammered out at once, looking back up again. Starlight managed a smile, and Sunburst gave an awkward chuckle, and neither of them seemed sure who should talk next, so neither of them did for a long moment.

“I shouldn't have said what I did, not in the state you were in,” Sunburst broke the silence.

Starlight shook her head right back, “I don't even know what to say, exactly. I'm not the Starlight you knew, I never really knew you, I'm sorry about that. I guess I'm also sorry I– she– I took you for granted, and I'm sorry you can't get the apology you deserve.”

Sunburst’s smile was sad, “Maybe when you get back home, you could reconnect with me– other me.”

“I'm not sure you would like me much, after everything I've done.”

Sunburst stretched a hoof between them, an offering, “My Starlight would never have mustered even half of an apology like that. Don't sell yourself short, okay?”

Starlight didn't have much to say to that, she just took his hoof in hers, accepting the comfort.

The shared warmth in the room was suddenly chilled by a slamming knock at the door, “Get out here! It's inspection time!” Everypony in the room froze. The changelings weren't supposed to be here until tomorrow. Starlight was sure that was on everypony's minds, but her thoughts were worse. She knew that voice.

The knock came again, “Come on! Out here now!” Under his breath, she could barely make out him muttering, “This is bad enough as is.” Applejack rushed to the door and opened it just a crack. Everypony scooted to one side, staying out of sight. “There you are, erm, Applejack. My queen has heard reports that you are harboring fugitives, conspiring treason against our beloved highness. You and your friends will come with me, or else, um, not good things will happen.”

“Nono, sir, I sure do think you're mistaken, cuz, uh–” Applejack made a token effort to fend him off, but the changeling simply shoved his way in.

Starlight recognized him as she stood there, slowly beginning to scan the room. Changelings looked a lot alike, but the way he carried himself was all nerves, a very un-changeling type of stance. He was unsurprised by the crowd of ponies in the room, right up until he saw Starlight and gasped. “You.”

“Me,” Starlight said back, almost like she was exhausted by the news, “Thorax? Is it you?”

In an instant he was on her, looming tall over her and glaring down. She shrank, her heartbeat doubling, mine racing with thoughts of the queen. “Don't you call me that! Don't you say that like you're so hopeful! I needed your help, and you abandoned me! You ran off and– you should be dead! How…” The Elements looked about as panicked as she felt. This was not part of the plan.

“I don't know how, there's a lot I can't explain, but I remember you, Thorax. You wanted to help! Well, we need your help now.”

He shook his head, “No way, you won't win me back with pretty words. What was it you said, after I let you in and you abandoned me? Once a changeling, always a changeling. No thank you, I'm keeping my head down, I'm just lucky she didn't do the same thing to me after your stunt!”

Starlight's hopes fell further. She looked around the room again, but the others had nothing to offer but shrugs and wary looks. This was her mess to clean up.

“I remember, and,” She breathed deep, “I'm sorry.”

His eyes flashed with anger and Starlight flinched away, but nothing followed but his voice, “Oh, well if you're sorry.”

Starlight steadied her stance, rising out of her defensive hunch, “I am sorry. I said a terrible thing. I did a terrible thing. You only wanted to help, and you didn't deserve the way I treated you.” She glanced at Twilight, suddenly aware of the double meaning, but she did her best to press on, “I can't go back and change what I've done, Celestia knows I can't, but I can still try to do what's right now. I don't care about the queen, I don't care about the throne or the changeling hive. They need Rainbow Dash back, and I'm going to help them, with or without you.”

Thorax was taken aback, caught off-guard by her. He looked over the ponies around her, “How can I trust you again?”

She shook her head, “You can't, but you can trust them. Even you should know who they are.”

He was silent, scowling for a long time after that. Nopony moved, barely breathed in case it prompted a change of heart. Then he nodded, “Fine, but we do this tonight.”

The apple cart rolled on through the night, bumping and clacking and carrying anything but apples. Starlight watched the silver glint of the dog whistle bounce against Twilight's chest. She wasn't sure who Winona was, but apparently the whistle worked just as well for Fluttershy, their cavalry. The rest of them were huddled in the cart as Thorax explained the plan.

The changeling hives were, according to Thorax, in a dire state. There had been an explosion in population shortly after Chrysalis captured the princesses, but the disasters in the moons that followed had done severe damage to their food source. Many of the ponies they captured simply died of malnutrition or lack of magic, and those that didn't were slowly wrung dry. Chrysalis kept the wellspring that was Cadance and the Crystal Heart to herself.

Changelings were starving, the hive was dying.

The plan was simple, there would be few guards on the lowest levels, where the waste was dumped. Rarity had scoffed, but Thorax had assured her she wouldn't be getting her hooves dirty at that point. They would take the cart all the way to the next level, where grubs and larvae were raised. There, they would retrieve whoever it was Thorax wanted safe, Starlight could only assume it was his child, and then ascend once again to what they called the love farm.

Before he was demoted to menial out-hive work, that's where Thorax was, tending to the ponies held there as best he could. Rainbow Dash was there and as safe as possible, he assured them, the pegasus was a prize to their queen.

Of course the plan wouldn't go without a hitch.

“What do you mean she's not here?” Thorax hissed. Their group stood behind him, feeling extremely exposed, and not only a little bit uncomfortable at seeing all the changeling grubs. Most of the young were in a sorry state, as if the food couldn't be spared even for them.

“It means what I said, she's not here. A guard came down and said Chrysalis wanted her. Do you think I would argue? Your treason is bad enough.” That was Pharynx, his brother, apparently. Starlight didn't realize they could have brothers.

“I have to try, you know I made a promise. I'll figure it out, just… Just please cover for me.”

Pharynx grunted and nodded, eyes on the ponies. Starlight glared right back. Thorax led them to another small side tunnel, barely large enough for any one of them single file. It burrowed and climbed and coasted in nonsensical patterns as they followed it. She felt claustrophobic, anxious, certain this was a trap or certain they would be caught. If it happened here, it was all over, for good this time.

Her fears didn't come true. They emerged onto a new floor. This one was sickeningly familiar, caught by the oozing green glow of the cocoons that held so many ponies. Thorax was right. Starlight hadn't even noticed when she was here before, hadn't paid any attention. Some floated and twitched, as if asleep. More, too many more, lay still, bodies at awkward angles. It was horror distilled.

She just stared. She didn't even know this pony, could never have known this pony, but it didn't matter. Her vision blurred and blackened at the edges, her breath coming in and out as desperate heaving puffs, barely able to get enough oxygen to stave off unconsciousness as she stared.

This was her fault. That was the thought that held her locked in place. Sure, Twilight's spell and all that, but it didn't matter, the excuse had worn thin. Starlight had started it. Whose fault could it be but hers? She tried to engrave the scene in her memory, like she could hold vigil for every pony who had suffered in this world she had made.

She went stiff when a wing settled itself over her shoulders. Twilight. She just kept staring.

“We'll fix this. Don't forget, that's what we're here for. One last thing and we can fix all of this.”

“What if we can't? What if it all happens again anyways?” It was barely a whisper.

The wing tugged at her, pulling her away with a surprising amount of force. She let it turn her around, and faced the group. All of them were concerned, sympathetic. Even Thorax somehow looked worried for her. It stung, like they'd forgotten it was all her fault.

“We'll stop it, Starlight. Together.” Twilight smiled, and that would have to be reassurance enough. Starlight had forgotten herself– they were here on a mission. She had to see it through. She breathed deep and tried to reign in her racing heart, then nodded. No more delaying, it was time to get Rainbow Dash.

Thorax led the way, picking tunnel after tunnel with sheer confidence. What scattered few changelings they saw were small and scarce, shying away from the group, as if the heroes of Equestria running through their hive was a common occurrence they knew better than to question. Maybe it was, Starlight had no clue what they got up to for fun.

They were getting close. They had to be, by the way Thorax kept speeding up, checking each crossroads before hurrying along. Her hopes were soaring right around the time she remembered– they owed Thorax, and Chrysalis had whatever he wanted. Well, problem for later, with the Elements assembled they would be a lot safer.

Even that tentative hope plummeted when they heard a shout at the next crossroad, “Thorax! You're not supposed to be anywhere near this level, what do you think you're doing exactly?”

A tall, stern changeling, strapped in armor, appeared from around the corner, “And… Ponies!? Those certainly don't smell like any changelings I know.”

The guard had his back to Thorax, so he never saw the bug mouth the word “Run” before leaping into a tackle atop the guard. They didn't need to be told twice. They ran.

It was chaos in seconds as they all took off in the direction they had already been walking. A horn sounded that echoed and vibrated through the whole structure of the hive. The buzzing of changeling wings seemed to come from every tunnel at once as they charged ahead. They took paths as a group, Twilight at the head making snap decision after snap decision, Starlight at the rear, starting to flag. Nopony noticed as she fell further and further back, and she never noticed the moment the group fell out of sight. She could hear hoofbeats and shouts echoing back to her as she blindly chose tunnels, but they only seemed to get further and further away.

She slowed to a stop, panting. She was lost and alone in the changeling hive again. The thought set her into a panic immediately, her already ragged breath struggling to calm down, her heart pounding at her chest like it was about to pop. The walls seemed to close in on her, the ponies inside their cocoons leering at her. She shut her eyes tight and thought of Twilight’s wing guiding her gently away. She forced her breath to calm, counting them out long and slow.

Panic wasn't an option, not this close to the end.

She put one hoof in front of another, and again. She was moving. She wasn't alone this time. Separated, but not alone. She forced herself to keep walking forward, choosing tunnels blindly. With dread in her stomach, she knew where she would end up again. It didn't matter, she could buy time for the others. She kept moving.

Her hooves carried her where she expected, like it was inevitable. Maybe it was. Destiny seemed funny lately. The room was quiet, and that dull green glow spilled out into the hall. She had no entourage of changelings chasing her down, and no amulet to fuel her magic. She stepped into the queen's chambers, fully herself, fully alone.

There, upon the throne, was Chrysalis.

Starlight froze as the weight of memory crashed into her. Those eyes, that face. Oh Celestia, what was she thinking? She couldn't do this! She didn't even have a plan, she'd just walked right in!

The scene hardly varied from first time. The changeling queen’s collection of princesses were arrayed around her, Twilight mysteriously absent. Eggs coated walls and floors around the room– no sign of any smashed ones. They had cleaned up since her last visit. Chrysalis herself looked more like she was perched upon the throne than resting in it. She was not anywhere near as ragged and emaciated as the handful of changelings they had seen around the hive, but of course she had her own personal supply of love. The only thing out of place was one dark blue changeling drone beside the throne, not one of the wriggling grubs but a nearly-grown juvenile looking very very frightened.

Was that who Thorax had been looking for? He had been rather cagey on the subject, which had frustrated Starlight, as if they could help find something they hadn't even known how to look for. Well, now she'd found it, and there was nothing she could do with that.

The queen rose from her throne, slurping magic from the Crystal Heart like it was water, “Now isn't this just a fascinating prize. I could have sworn I had your horn mounted on a wall somewhere. You'll have to explain that trick to me.”

“No trick, Chrysalis, you're just sloppy.” Confidence was all she had. She had to play it cool. The queen had underestimated her last time, and the extra hole in one wing was testament to that.

“Ha!” She barked, not a laugh, just that one syllable, “I'll make sure to be more thorough this time.” She took a step forward.

“Please, I'm not that stupid. Do you think I'd come unprepared a second time?” She had to bluff, she had to be believable. Her face wore all the smug arrogance she failed to feel in her heart. A well-timed rumbling of the hive supported her claim, and she had no idea what had caused it.

The queen hesitated a step, leaning back. This had to work. “I don't see that silly little trinket of yours.”

Starlight forced a laugh of her own, “Of course not! Some magical amulet was never going to work. I needed real magic, not cheap recycled stuff.” She gave a pointed look at the Crystal Heart. Rile her up enough to be believable, but not too much.

Chrysalis looked almost giddy, “Really? You've found a source of magic out in that wasteland? Do tell.”

“Won't just tell you, Chrysalis, I'm gonna show you,” She took a step forward, posturing, and watched Chrysalis fumble for a step back, “It’s not quite like love, but you're gonna love the taste.”

She was starting to feel the pressure as the seconds ticked by. There was only so long you could threaten before you lost credibility. Still, not a lot of options. In for a bit, in for a bushel.

“It's a magic you can't drain, a magic you can't ever stop. You're not even gonna see it coming.” She couldn't help it. Her eyes glanced to one of the far tunnels, hoping against hope. No such luck, and that was her one mistake.

“You're all talk,” snapped the queen, stalking towards her again. “I don't know what you're stalling for, but it won't be enough to save your hide!”

It was Starlight's turn to step back, though it wouldn't do much good. Chrysalis cleared three times the distance in just one step, nevermind her magic. Starlight’s heart dropped in her chest. She froze, trembling on the spot as the queen leered over her. The changeling’s horn went green and Starlight felt the magic envelope her and ever so slowly begin to crush inwards.

In an instant, it was hard to breathe, harder to think. Her body refused her fate on sheer instinct, kicking and writhing and gasping, greedily sucking in any spare oxygen it could get ahold of. Her horn lit, sparked, and went out as she tried to muster any mote of magic to her dimming will, the nausea that followed drowning her further in senseless sensation.

And suddenly, she could breathe, the magic falling away from her body as she pulled in gasping breaths. “Please,” she heard distantly, “It would be a waste to end one so stubborn and persistent as you so quickly.” There was a green haze at the edge of her vision as her body was carelessly tossed across the room, just like she remembered.

This time, she felt it. The twig-snap of her front leg twisting to an impossible angle echoed through the room as her mind blazed into white-hot, world-annihilating pain. “Watch closely now, Ocellus dear, you never would have learned a lesson like this from those sniveling cowards you called ‘parents.’ We’ll make a proper changeling of you yet!”

The Queen's horn, just barely in view, lit up again. The world hazed into green as Starlight was enveloped in magic. This was really it. She was going to die. Again. That didn't seem fair at all, not after all this, not after they'd gotten so close. Or maybe it was fair. Maybe it was poetic and tidy for things to end this way. Her body shuddered with silent acceptance. The whole world went white, but there was no pain, no more than her aching leg. In some far away place, Chrysalis screamed and sizzled, and Starlight realized what had just happened.

It had worked.

Oh sweet Celestia, her friends were here.

A bolt of rainbow zigzagged through the room, and suddenly there were hooves under her shoulders, pulling her aloft and racing back towards the tunnel.

“Don't watch too close, newbie, this is barely a quarter of my best.”

The world flashed by her. She saw Thorax racing out of the chamber, the blue juvenile following close behind. She saw Chrysalis, chitin charred and smoking, rising to her hooves. They entered the tunnel and the scene disappeared, turning into fluffy yellow as she was unceremoniously dropped onto Fluttershy. She couldn't stifle a yelp as a shock of pain coursed through her leg. Rainbow Dash landed beside her, panting.

“Normally I… Wouldn't even be winded,” The pegasus assured her between breaths, “I'll be… More gentle next time.”

Before anypony could enjoy the reunion, however, there was a shriek from the throne room. Chrysalis had recovered, and was issuing commands, “Get them, get them! You're not worth the magic I feed you unless you get them!”

Now they had truly done it. Twilight was already urging Fluttershy towards a massive hole in the wall of the hive, presumably Fluttershy’s initial entrance. They almost made it, too, could have leapt for it, but Fluttershy skidded to a halt. There was a flash of magic, pink and swirling green, and there was Princess Twilight Sparkle. A second one.