The moon shone through the trees, dotting the ground with bits of light.
An alicorn lay on the ground, hardly breathing. Her mane sparkled with a dark beauty, her body was a lighter blue. An image of the moon was covered by her wings. Her wing folded around something very small.
Another alicorn walked over to her, her coat a pearly white and her rainbow mane flowing gracefully. The new alicorn knelt beside the dark one.
“How is the foal, my sister?” The light one asked.
The dark alicorns eyes cracked open. “Two...” She rasped. She moved her wing, revealing two small fillies. One was the mothers copy, save her black mane. The other one was a deep orange with fiery red mane.
The white alicorn gaped. “Luna...” She murmured. “Twins? But the doctor said only one!”
Luna gazed up at her sister. “I know. I have no...” She paused taking a deep breath. “...explanation.”
She looked back at the foals. The dark one, should she take the kingdom back from the changelings, would come to raise the moon. The red one... What would she do? The sun was possible.
“Rest, Luna.” Said the white alicorn.
“Celestia,” Luna rasped. “Did you bring Twilight?”
Celestia nodded. “She is out gathering food so you may feed the twins.” The orange filly flew up to Celestia. Celestia jumped, then pushed the foal gently back to the ground.
A purple unicorn galloped to Luna’s side.
“Twins?” She blinked in surprise. “Oh, never mind, they need to be fed. Luna, eat these.” She set down a bundle of herbs. “If my book is correct, these herbs help with producing milk.” The unicorn frowned, deep in thought. “Have you named them?” She asked after Luna had eaten.
Luna sighed. “Ah, names. I had forgotten to name them!” Luna nuzzled the dark filly. “This one shall be named Dusk.” She said. Luna looked thoughtfully at the orange one. “This one shall be called Comet.”
She took a long, shuddering breath, and lay her head down, her chest heaving.
Twilight trotted over to Celestia.
“Princess, will she survive?” She asked.
Celestia shook her head. “You need not call me a princess anymore, Twilight. My kingdom was taken. I do not think she will survive.” Celestia said sadly.
Luna gasped once, twice, and was still. Celestia ran over to Luna. She lifted her head.
“She is... Gone.” She sobbed.
A young filly galloped through a field, her wild red mane streaming behind her.
“Wait, Comet!” Cried another filly who was running after her. “I can’t run that fast!”
Comet groaned. She slowed to a stop. “Dusk, you are so slow!”
Dusk ran to her sister’s side, panting. "Yeah, but you suck at magic," Dusk said, grinning.
“Dusk! Comet!” A voice called.
Dusk and Comet dashed toward the voice.
“Yes, Twilight?” They said.
“If anypony sees you they're going to be onto us like bees to honey!” She scolded.
Comet looked back at her wings, which were missing a few feathers from flying too hard with Rainbow Dash.
“Sorry Twilight.” Dusk said.
“Its okay, if you weren’t seen. Nopony likes the Alicorns anymore.”
“Why not?” Comet asked for the millionth time. “They used to rule Equestria!”
“I don’t know, Comet.” Twilight said. “AJ brought us some apples.”
Dusk looked suddenly alert. “She got a harvest?”
Twilight nodded. “Somehow, yes.”
“Yes!” Comet yelled. “I like apples a lot more than hay.”
“Me too!” Dusk said enthusiastically.
AppleJack trotted out of the house. “Twi? Where would you like me to put them apples? I left ‘em out back.” She said.
“Oh, I’ll get them, AppleJack.” Twilight nuzzled her friend. “Thank you for the food.”
“No problem!” AppleJack said.
Comet flew over AppleJack, eager to get her hooves on some apples. Dusk, content to stay on the ground, trotted into the house.
“What's been going on with you, Twi?” AppleJack asked.
“Ugh! I try so hard to find a spell to hide their wings but I can’t find anything!” Twilight cried.
“I’m sure you’ll find something.” AppleJack said. She looked around. “I better get home.” She said.
“Goodbye, AppleJack.” Twilight sighed. She walked inside to look through more books.
Comet munched contentedly on an apple. Dusk sat beside her, brushing her mane by levitating a brush.
Dusk was a master when it came to magic, but Comet was almost as fast a Rainbow in the clouds.
“How do you think Aunt Celestia was defeated?” Dusk said suddenly.
“Maybe it was Nightmare Moon.” Comet said.
Dusk glared. “Mom is gone, so it can’t be Nightmare.” She said angrily. “Maybe it was Discord!”
“Who?” Comet cocked her head, not knowing pony History very well.
“Twilight gave us a book on ponies like him. But hes not really a pony... I forget what he is.” Dusk shrugged. “Discord is the evil spirit of dis-harmony.”
“Huh. Who else is a possible candidate for defeating Celestia?”
“Uh... Sombra?” Dusk said, thinking.
“Twilight says he was turned to shadow.” Comet rolled her eyes.
“Girls!” Twilight's voice called from inside the house. The twins trotted inside.
Fluttershy was lying on the floor, sobbing. In front of her, a small bunny lay squirming on the floor.
“I’ve tried everything, Twilight!” Fluttershy sobbed. “I don’t even know what's wrong with him!”
“Dusk can heal Angel, I’m sure about it.” Twilight reassured her. Dusk trotted over to Angel.
“Rainbow is here, Comet. Go fly and race to your hearts content.”
“Yeah!” Comet dashed outside.
“Hey, kid.” Rainbow landed beside her with another pony. She was young, but older than Comet. She was orange, like Comet, but had pinker mane than hers.
“This is Scootaloo.” Rainbow said.
Scootaloo stared at Comet’s head, gaping. “You’re a-a-a...” She gulped. “Alicorn?”
“Got a problem with that?” Comet growled, her horn tingled with magic fueled by her annoyance.
Scootaloo shrank back, quivering. “N-n-no.” She said.
“Scoots, there’s no reason to be scared!” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “She’s not the Headless Horse!”
“I didn’t know there were any more Alicorns!” Scootaloo said.
“She’s Luna’s daughter.” Rainbow said.
“Huh?” Scootaloo looked at Comet, no longer shaking.
Fluttershy trotted out of the house with Angel riding on her back, a dark glint in her eyes that was not hers. Her smile was unnerving, as if she had found out a secret...
Fluttershy flew off.
“Did you notice anything unusual about Fluttershy?” Comet asked uneasily.
“Yeah...” Rainbow frowned. “She flew faster than she’s ever flown before! Speaking of flying, come on, Comet!” Rainbow took off with Scootaloo right behind her.
Comet shot after her, matching her speed and agility. She looked over the earth below her, enjoying the sight of a very tiny Twilight. The ground was covered in foliage and trees.
Wait... Twilight. Comet stopped and looked behind her. Twilight was coming out of the house with a pile of books. Comet looked back between the Twilights.
Twilight 2 dove into a bush. Another pony ran out the back. Fluttershy? Comet poked her head into the bush. Nopony was there! Twilight 2 had... changed into FLuttershy?
No, the idea was too bizarre. Comet shot toward Twilight 1.
“Have you heard of Ponies shapeshifting?” She asked, shaking.
“No... Changelings, though.” Twilight kept reading.
Comet thought. Why couldn't she leave the think to Twilight and Dusk? “I just saw a changeling!” Comet said.
Twilight dropped her drink. “D-d-did it see you?” She asked shakily.
“Yup, staring right at me.”
“We need to leave. NOW.” Twilight said. “Or you will be at the mercy of Chrysalis.”
With the combined effort of Twilight, Dusk, and Comet, they managed to give Twilight wings. They weren’t butterfly wings, like Rarity’s. They were, oddly, normal Pegasus wings.
They all flew off, fleeing from changelings.
“The Fluttershy who visited today must have been a changeling!” Twilight said.
“Uh, why are we running?” Comet asked, stopping.
“Because!” Twilight snapped.
“Thats not an answer.” Dusk said. “How did the changelings come to power?”
“That is a story for later.” Twilight said gravely. “Right now, I need to see Celestia.”
The three ponies landed, exhausted. A white Alicorn stepped into view, her expression reproachful.
“Celestia!” Twilight ran to her old mentor.
“Twilight!” Celestia wrapped her wing around Twilight. “And Dusk and Comet, I see.”
“H-hello.” Dusk said shyly.
“Celestia, changelings have seen them!” Twilight cried.
Celestia stiffened. “I have spoken with a powerful unicorn that says she knows you Twilight. She knows of a prophecy...
A pony of fire shall defeat the Changeling Queen.”
“Who is this unicorn?”
“Her name is Trixie.” Celestia said.
“Trixie?” Twilight said, shocked. “She... She can tell the future?”
“No. She is an ancestor of Starswirl the Bearded.” Celestia said, speaking in a low voice.. “But the prophecy... It must be Comet, surely not Dusk.”
“They’re young...They don’t even have their cutie marks!” Twilight said.
“Changeling incoming.” Comet said. She shot toward the mob of black Changelings.
“Comet!” Celestia cried. Everypony rushed after her. Every changeling had changed into Comet.
Everypony stared. One Comet fell to the ground, but leapt to her feet and tackled the nearest Comet. She fell to the ground again. She leapt to her feet yet again, smoking.
Dusk stepped back, nervous. So did Twilight. Celestia watched, her eyes twinkling with wonder.
Comet spread her flaming wings, and charged the changelings once again. The changelings scattered, again black with the usual holes in their bodies. Clearly surprised by her sudden and fiery transformation, the changelings fled.
Dusk yelped and ran into the forest. Comet landed back on the ground, her wings perfectly fine. Something shone on her flank.
Celestia smiled. Twilight stared at the young mare. She looked closer at Comet’s flank. Her cutie mark!
A pair of flaming wings shone on the alicorns flank. Comet saw Twilight staring and glanced back at her flank. She smiled with satisfaction.
The only things affected by Comet’s sudden fiery magic was the Changelings and her mane, which was smoking. She seemed unfazed by her magic.
“Comet,” Celestia said. “I would like to speak with you.”
Comet nodded and trotted after Celestia.
Dusk ran harder.
‘Wait...’ Dusk stopped. ‘You could flee to the city. To Chrysalis.’ said a voice in the back of her mind. Dusk turned, but hesitated. She was terrified at the prospect of encountering Comet again. Her wings... They were flaming! Dusk clenched her eyes shut, shaking. Not fire... No.
Fire...fire...fire... Why was it always fire? But... she couldn't betray her sister!
She couldn't face her sister again. Dusk was... Terrified.
"Did you know you could do that?" Celestia's voice was gentle, but somehow firm as well.
Comet sighed. "One day, when I was very young, I was flying by myself. I was trying to do a sonic rainboom, but I didn't know that I was too slow. I kept flying way up, and diving off the clouds. On my last dive, after I said this was my last one... My wings caught of fire. And also my mane... It is a little foggy." Comet looked at Celestia.
"Can you make this happen?" Celestia asked.
Comet spread her wings, and the fire sparked to life. She furled her wings, and the flame was gone.
"What about you mane?" Celestia asked.
"That tends to be a bit more destructive." Comet said.
"Ah. There is a Prophecy..."
Twilight ran into the small clearing. "We've got a problem." She said. "Two Rainbow Dashes and Scootaloos just showed up.
"Great." Comet said. She ran off.
Celestia galloped after her.
Chrysalis paced through the throne room. Something had to be done about these... Alicorns! They could destroy the kingdom she had worked so hard to capture.
Maybe she could use one. The dark one. Her spies reported her running from the scene of the fire. She was alone... No pony was around. The perfect time for abduction.
Chrysalis stopped pacing. "Guards!" She said. "Search all of the Everfree! If you find a dark alicorn, brine her here." The guards nodded and galloped away.
Dusk looked about herself, wondering which way she came. She flew above the trees in hopes to get her bearings.
Something was on top of her, pinning her down. She struggled but the hooves only pushed harder into her back. She looked back at the pony. She gasped and resisted the urge to scream at the sight of the changeling.The changeling hissed, then raised his head. It let out a horrible screech.
Many more changelings flew into the little clearing. The first changeling flew off her. Dusk had been captured.
Twilight cantered up beside Comet.
"Did your hear that?" She asked.
Comet nodded. "Yeah. No pony could have made such a noise.
They looked at each other. They were thinking the same thing; Changelings.
Chrysalis woke to the sound of the guards. Eagerly, she rushed out of the room.
A dark blue alicorn was standing in the throne room, her wings bound to her sides.
The alicorn was younger than Chrysalis expected, but she glared up at her with anger and defiance, but also fear. Chrysalis knew this pony would come in handy.
"I am Queen Chrysalis." She hissed. She was met by the continuous glare. "I would like to know your name."
"Dusk." The alicorn said.
Celestia returned from the forest after looking for Dusk.
"Do you think I scared her?" Comet asked. "Fire has always made her nervous."
Celestia nodded. "I search all of the forest. At least, where anypony would dare to go."
Nopony needed to say it. They were all thinking it. Dusk was captured by changelings.
"Why would I help you?" Dusk stared defiantly at Chrysalis, the fear was gone... Almost.
"If you don't, I will slay the remainder of your family. And leave you alive, alone."
"We need to get her back." Comet said.
"Chrysalis will surely try to recruit her."
"What do I get out of it?"
"You shall be taught magic until you cast spells in your sleep."
"No. This is wrong. Twilight would say not to."
Chrysalis's horn sparked into a furious free glow. "You'll change your mind soon enough."
Celetia flew to Canterlot with Comet and Twilight.
It wasn't that simple. Comet went ahead and snuck through the sewage. She was to find a way to the castle then return for the other two. Naturally, this didn't happen.
Seeing a small hole above, Comet peeked over. She saw Dusk, led by some changelings. Comet leapt from her hiding place and charged the changelings, unfurling her flaming wings. Dusk saw Comet, and her horn glowed, a soft blue.
Dusk yelled and she collapsed to the ground. Her horns magic glow slowly turned black, and it enveloped her body.
Comet plowed through the changelings and stood over Dusk. The dark glow faded, and Dusk got to her feet. She glared at Comet, and her horn glowed again. But instead of the soft blue, it was black. Comet took a step back. There was a bang, and Comet flew back, hitting a statue of Chrysalis. Comet stood, dazed.
"Dusk. It's me," Comet said angrily. Dusk spread her wings and lowered her head, then charged.