The Threat of Change

Panic rose within the purple unicorn and she reared up to turn and make a run for it but was stopped by Luna’s figure blocking the door.

“Chrysalis!”

“No! Twilight! Please! It’s still me! Luna!”

Without warning Luna dashed forward and Twilight felt a hoof slide over her body, pinning her against soft fur, and another over her muzzle as she tried to escape.

“MWAT RARE UUH NUING?” Twilight shouted, through a mouthful of dark blue fur.

Is Luna actually a changeling as well?! What are they going to do? Where are the real Princess Celestia and Princess Luna!?

Twilight panicked, thrashing around trying to free herself from whom she thought was a changeling disguise as Luna.

“Twilight, calm thy self. There is nothing to fear.”

Are you CRAZY?! You’re both changelings! Twilight thought, swapping glances between the monstrosity that faintly resembled Celestia and the Moon Princess who had quiet un-expectedly seized her. Her attempt to free herself had momentarily stopped at the supposed changeling’s words.

There was a flash of a lime green light out the corner of her eye as a wave of magic engulfed the changeling-Celestia and in its place, stood once again the perfect figure of the Sun Princess.

“Twilight, We’re going to release you now, but do not try to scream. The room is spelled to keep sound in – no one can hear you.”

That was it. Luna's poor choice of words broke the dam.

No one can hear me. I knew it! They’re changelings! They had come back for revenge!

She had to escape and warn everyone! As soon as the changeling Luna let her go…

She was in action before the fake-Luna even had a chance to stop her. Twilight rammed into the doors, expecting them to open by her magic but was thrown back when they refused to budge. She was trapped.

“Twilight, please! Let me explain! Luna, I told you not to bring her here, I said I would explain to her in a way that was less frightening! Now look what you’ve done!”

“What I’ve done? Sister, she wouldn’t have believed you if you had said you were cursed.”

"Luna, you of all ponies should know full well how understanding others can be..."

Her student had stopped banging on the doors and had turned around, their brief exchange of words had caught her attention.

“N-no you’re changelings! I have to find the real Princesses’! I have to-“

“We are the real Princesses’ Twilight Sparkle.”

“Please, you have to believe us. J-Just listen to what I have to say…”

As much as it pained her to do so, the threat of it indeed really being Chrysalis, Twilight lowered herself to stand on all fours, but the terror in her eyes and the shaking of her legs betrayed the brave and determined frown she tried to put on.

“I’m listening.”

“Do you remember what Chrysalis did to me on the day of the Changeling Invasion?”

“Assuming you are not Chrysalis herself!”

“Twilight! Do you remember?!”

“Y-Yes! Yes I remember! After you sent my friends and I to retrieve the Elements of Harmony we returned to find you trapped in some big… cocoon. But you were fine once Cadance and Shining Armor freed you!”

“We thought so as well,” Luna added, quickly glancing at her sister before resting her gaze upon Twilight once more. Her previous scowl had lessened and her eyelids lowered slightly as she looked away. Twilight felt uneasy. Surely they were lying, surely this is just a trick! Or was it?

“But as time went on something un-expected happened – this. We didn't think it was possible, but the Changeling Queen did something to me… it’s getting worse…

But you have to believe me, Twilight. It’s still me, the same Celestia who has watched over Equestria for more than a thousand years, the same who helped you through your studies in magic and in friendship and gave you advice when you needed it…

How else do I prove to you it is me?” Celestia lowered her head to level with Twilight, her ears flat against her fur and her eyes tainted with worry, and, Twilight saw, the tiniest spark of hope, something she could tell Celestia was clinging to.

“Cel-Celestia?”

Changelings could only take on the form of the one they copied, they did not have their personality, or their memories. When the Queen had acted as Cadance, Twilight easily sensed something was wrong by her behaviour and lack of recognising Twilight, here however the re-assuring, if stricken with concern, words of her mentor allowed her to see past the monster that had been there merely seconds ago and once again see the Princess who was at this moment in fact cowering at the foot of her bed. Every time Chrysalis had attempted to feign sadness, she had accidently let slip her anger beforehand, but that was not present here.

“H-how… I don’t understand…”

Twilight’s brave stance completely faltered and her legs felt weak. While Luna remained still, her sister got to her feet and took a step towards Twilight, hoping to comfort her, but realised she shouldn’t have been so shocked when her student took several cautious steps back. At this she retracted her hoof and settled it back down. Twilight was terrified of her and it chilled her heart to ice at the thought of it.

The frightened unicorn watched her cautiously, still not entirely convinced it was truly the Princess before her.

"Cast thy spell on Us."

Both Celestia and Twilight's attention was drawn to the blue mare who had suddenly spoken, breaking the fearful silence. In response to both their confused expressions, Luna elaborated, "it will prove to Miss Sparkle We are not a Changeling and thus ensure her she is not in danger."

Twilight hesitated, again, but when Celestia looked hopeful and Luna nodded to allow her to proceed, the faint glow around her horn brightened and shot towards the Night Princess. The spell faltered and broke upon contact, having no disguise spell to break, Twilight's magic shut off and faded away from Luna's body. At this Twilight smiled a toothy grin, it really was-

"Princess Luna! It really is you!"

"Of course it is."

"Then... I still don't understand... Why did you..."

"More than once have I caught my sister calm and comfort her subjects... Though I fear I may have caused you more strife than comfort, my actions held no ill intentions, We are sorry," Luna looked towards her hooves, shifting around uneasy. Twilight thought back briefly on how Luna had held her. Through the panic Twilight had thought Luna had siezed her to prevent Twilight from escaping so they could do... whatever it was Changelings do, but now she realised Luna had tried to calm her, to re-assure her not to fear and most of all to prevent Twilight from doing anything stupid. In her struggle, Luna's grip had loosened and had covered her mouth unintentionally. She looked away momentarily before returning her gaze on Luna and about to say something when Celestia interrupted her train of thought.

"I think I owe you an explanation..."

"Y-yes," Twilight's voice lowered as she looked upon Celestia. It was Celestia, but the image she had seen only moments ago still haunted her mind.

"As I said before, we fear Chrysalis may have spelled me - or the cocoon - while I was trapped in it. I-I fear... I fear I am becoming a Changeling."

The words hit Twilight like a tonne of bricks and what strength her limbs had before now vanished as she slid to the floor. Luna moved to Twilight's side quickly but in fear of her actions again being misinterpretted, she sat down but did not move otherwise. Celestia, ruler of Equestria, bringer of the Sun and mentor to Twilight Sparkle... a Changeling?

"N-no, this can't... No! You- I can fix this!"

A hopeful smile warmed Celestia's face but she knew her student couldn't do a thing. Twilight had said so herself.

"Twilight Sparkle, I appreciate your commitment but we fear there is nothing you can do - nothing any of us can do."

"But Ch-Changelings, they- Princess! How-," Twilight struggled to find words, to form a single question. Her usually organised thought train had de-railed and crashed, smoldering in a ruin of shocking realisation. Celestia however was more collected and was able to answer a few questions she knew Twilight would ask, or want to ask.

"It started several days ago... it's like a virus, a transformation. But along with my physical appearance, my... my magic is changing... I still have all my original powers... the sun, it still rises by my power but every day I am learning new abilties - Changeling magic. You already have seen one of them, the ability to disguise as another. While my appearance is changing, I can still magically alter my body to look like I once did... if only to hide the truth."

"But why hide it?"

"And risk having the same reaction you did but on a grander scale?" Luna asked, but Twilight had already regretted asking.

"Equestria is not ready for that, if they were to see this happening fear would break loose and no doubt believe the Changelings have retur-HNNNNN...GAH!"

"Celestia!"

"Sister!"

Celestia had dropped to the floor, clutching her ears with her hooves, scrunching her face up, twitching and shaking. Twilight and Luna were by her side in seconds, attempting to support the Princess while also trying to find a way to help her. Celestia was groaning in pain, and panic from mere minutes ago returned to Twilight.

"What's happening?!"

"Tia? Tia can you hear me?"

Celestia's disguise spell faltered, flickering between Changeling and Celestia until it switched to Changeling and stayed. When there was no response Luna stepped back and lowered her horn, pointing directly at Celestia as a dark blue swirl of magic swirled up her horn and swiftly leapt from her horn to her sister's forehead, sinking in and spreading until it completely faded. Twilight had moved clear of both of them, half in fright at Celestia's turn and half to remain out of Luna's way. Celestia had removed her hooves from her ears and her body and expression relaxed although her eyes remained shut. For several horrifying seconds Celestia didn't move, not even the gentle movements of breathing were present. Twilight dared to take a step forward but then moved no further. Luna was kneeling down in front of her sister, hooves extended to cradle her sister's head and breathed a sigh of relief as Celestia let out a sharp gasp and her breathing returned, awfully quickly as if she'd held her breath for too long. Luna smiled in a caring way but it vanished when Celestia laid her head back in her sister's hooves and several small tears escaped her now sealed eyes. The Princess focused on her sister's body, scanning it and desperately holding back a gasp as she locked onto Celestia's horn. Lowering her head next to Celestia's, she lifted a hoof to stroke her mane in a comforting manner.

Twilight however was shocked beyond belief. If the first shock of Celestia transforming into a Changeling wasn't enough, the Princess had just been in a state of utter pain and shock. Twilight's attention was drawn, like Luna's had, to Celestia's changeling form and finally onto her mentor's horn.

Like wounds re-opened, fur tore away in new places replaced with the shiny black skin, now covering her entire hind hooves and majority of her fore hooves. The biggest change was Celestia's horn, no longer was it the long, powerful point of a unicorn, but the jagged, twisted, blackened weapon of a Changeling.

~~~~~

Twilight had remained in her spot, not daring to move, ideas, theories, questions battling around in her mind. When Celestia was able to stand again, Luna had taken her out to the balcony in time to raise the sun, but with this last bit of effort drained from Celestia, Luna (literally) carried her back to the room and laid her on the bed. It was an awkward and worrying sight, although Celestia had managed to put her disguise spell back on, seeing her in such a weakened state scared Twilight.

"We will care for the royal duties today, my sister needs the rest..."

Luna had said while ushering Twilight outside, towards the balcony.

"My presence will be required elsewhere soon, but I shall share what I know with you.

The transformation is very magical and un-predictable, and each time their magic assaults her like you witnessed earlier, the transformation surges and changes a whole new portion of her body. No doubt you saw her horn, I fear what will become of her when the transformation completes itself."

"When it completes... What will happen to her?"

Luna seemed to hesitate, her brows furrowing slightly as if agitated, but it was more out of concern, Twilight noted.

"There are no records of Changeling transformations that end nicely."

"What do you mean?"

"The only record of it was Chrysalis herself."

"Chrysalis? You mean... she was once.. a normal pony?!"

"An alicorn, to be accurate."

"An... Ali- I thought you, Princess Celestia and Cadance were the only alicorns?"

Luna turned to face Twilight, a playful hint to her voice and she let out a short and amusing laugh before continuuing.

"Miss Sparkle, surely thy does not believe that."

"I-uh..."

Twilight's brief moment of confusion made Luna smile even more, more than likely Twilight would spend hours researching the history of Alicorns when she returned to Ponyville now that Luna had shared this bit of information.

"We were few, during the early years when earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi alike ventured to Equestria - and before that, we were responsible for the seasons, 'natural' catastrophes, and as we still are now, the day and the night. Of course this changed when pony kind came along... many of our powers were no longer required.

Has thou heard of a pony named Aerith before?"

"Aerith? Aerith.. I have heard.. stories, legends of a pony named Aerith. She was a beautiful mare with a silver coat and emerald green mane and tail and watched over the animals and flora as the Guardian of the Forests. She supposably brought the beginning of spring with them after Ventios claimed the land with winter. But that is all myth... isn't it?"

"Not quite - Twilight, are you aware of how Changelings came to be?"

"Uhh... I read from some books that there was an earthquake and a huge rift in the ground opened up, releasing them - the rift is now known as Ghastly Gorge... but other stories say they were created... Honestly Princess, I am not sure what is fact or fiction."

"They were created - during the Reign of Discord he thought it would be... what was the word he used....interesting to bring a plague to Equestria."

"He created them?"

"Yes. However creating a Queen was much more difficult and required a living soul - an Alicorn to be exact. And so he cast his terrible spell on Aerith and although at first she fought it, she resisted it, by the completion of the transformation she was merely the demon's puppet."

Twilight shuddered at the thought, there were few accounts of what happened during the reign of Discord but one could only imagine the demon at his worst. Chrysalis was once an Alicorn named Aerith - it should have shocked Twilight but after everything she had witnessed the night before, she wasn't expecting anything less than the world falling apart now. There was silence as Twilight thought over everything Luna had shared with her, dark secrets from long years past.

Chrysalis was an alicorn... She is- was Aerith, Guardian of the Forests and master of Spring. But.. she's not.. she can't be! That monster can't be Aerith! Luna said it turned her... changed her... What if- !

"Celestia!"

The Princess of the Night merely waited as the gears in Twilight's mind clicked into motion and the harsh reality dawned on her.

"It'll.. It'll change her.. wont it? Like it did with Aerith?"

Luna dipped her head slightly as if it were all she could muster in a nod.. Twilight's eyes widened and she looked back towards the bed that Celestia rested on. Her eyes watered but she held back any tears as she returned her gaze towards Luna, who despite everything still held a soft smile.

"There is still hope. I will return tonight and explain more then. The library is open to you as always."

Luna re-entered the room and for a few moments simply watched her sister, the serenity of the moment sinking in and bringing the tiniest smile to her face.

"Princess Luna, wait!"

"Yes, Miss Sparkle?"

"Please Princess, just 'Twilight' is fine. Hmm... If you don't mind me asking, what was that spell you cast earlier?"

Luna's smile grew and the playful touch to her voice returned momentarily, "If you insist- However We indeed insist you also refer to us as Luna, for everything you have done in the past for us, it is the least we can offer in return.

The pain she feels comes from the transformation as was explained earlier, what is more worrying however is her growing connection with the hive - that's why she couldn't hear us. To sever that connection I use that spell - it also numbs the pain, but at the same time usually puts her to sleep as well."

"Connection with the hive?"

There were rushed footsteps heard outside in the hall, coming closer.

"Time does not appear to be our ally, I have duties to attend to while my sister sleeps - tonight we will have time to speak."

There was a brief knock at the door and after Luna replied allowing them to enter, an ash coloured pegasus with a fiery red mane entered. He wore the armour of a high ranked Night Guard officer and despite his odd mane colouring, he still supported the bat wings they were known for and otherwise looked the part. He removed his helmet and sat it on the ground, his mane spiking back now that it was released from the helmet's grip. He bowed respectfully to Luna and regarded Twilight with a slight dip of his head.

"Princess Luna, is Princess Celestia well enough to be re-assigned to her duties?"

"We fear not Fire Storm, We will still be taking her place until she recovers."

Twilight wondered how long Luna had been taking over Celestia's duties, she had said the transformation started only a few days ago, but was Celestia ill before that? Could Alicorns even get sick? The slight dip in the stallion's head as if dissapointed or saddened, although barely noticeable, led her to believe this had been going on for long enough to worry about.

"Very well. Will..," the stallion paused and looked at Twilight expectantly.

"Twilight Sparkle"

"...Miss Sparkle be staying here?"

"She has permission to stay here, or return to her own quarters. Twilight," Luna turned her head to look at the unicorn, "you have your usual room, I assume you know where that is?"

Twilight nodded, but her quarters were not where she would be going. Luna turned back to the stallion.

"Commander, should you not be elsewhere?"

"Indeed, forgive me for going out of line, I only wished to see for myself"

"Wished to see what?"

"That Her Grace was well and on the road to recovery."

"My sister requires rest... where is Ink Scroll?"

"...Late."

Luna sighed and headed out the door with the black companion who issued brief orders to two of the guards and then left with Luna down the hall.

Twilight managed to collect herself and slowly - and cautiously - walked towards Celestia, stopping next to her bed.

"Please be okay..."

The unicorn nudged the handle of the door with her magic and walked outside, passing the two guards who had been stationed outside the doors, and heading in the direction of the library.

There will be something in there that can help... there has to be.