Chapter 1: A Canterlot Interrogation
As the last of several changelings fleeing the grounds of their failed invasion were captured and rushed to the cells of Canterlot Castle, Princess Luna nodded while heading towards the aforementioned castle. We are pleased... she thought to herself.
When she returned, Princess Luna discussed the matter at hoof with her sister and captain of the Royal Guard, Shining Armour.
"What use are they to us? They may not have known about the invasion until last minute, and even if they did, we would have no way of finding out that information anyway! Celestia, my intuition is telling me to send them away, not let them devour our resources." said Shining Armour resolutely.
The princess of the night responded to him instead. "Shining Armour, your inexperience is apparent, for you have overlooked the most simple, yet effective information extraction process known to pony. Likewise, these creatures depend on love to survive, they do not need our resources."
"I must agree, these changelings may be our only hope of defense against their own kind. I have singled out one particular changeling who was caught in the battle not fighting, but what rather appeared to be a hybrid of sorts, healing and defending with spells. She must be a very powerful magician to do so, and as such, may have been trained personally by Queen Chrysalis herself. Perhaps, she may be a valuable source of information all on her own, if we were to..." Princess Celestia trailed off.
Shining Armour's eyes widened as he realized what method the princesses were speaking of to get information out of the sole changeling, for it had been known many times to completely shatter a pony's spirit.
The stallion said sharply, "I'm sorry your majesties, I respect your decision, but I will not be one to take part in the action you plan to take against this innocent mare."
Princess Luna spoke up, "Shining Armour, you must understand, we do not take pleasure in this, but we must for the sake of Equestria."
And with this, the two princesses deftly trotted off, leaving a stunned Shining Armour to his thoughts.
Back at Golden Oaks Library...
Twilight Sparkle woke up to Spike waving a note in her face.
"Twilight, It's a letter from the princess!"
Twilight shook herself awake and quickly scanned the contents of the letter.
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
I require your immediate assistance with a very important matter here at Canterlot Castle. Details will be given when you arrive, do not delay.
- Princess Celestia
"I wonder what she wants me to do..." Twilight said confusedly.
Spike asked, "Well, what did the letter say?"
"Princess Celestia wants my help with something at Canterlot Castle, but she didn't tell me what it was she wanted my help with. And she wants me there as soon as possible. Sorry Spike, do you think you'd be all right here by yourself for a while? She didn't say how long I would be there for..."
Spike replied calmly, "Don't worry Twilight, I know you wouldn't do this unless you had to."
Twilight got up and pulled the purple dragon into a tight hug, then began her teleportation run to Canterlot.
The mare changeling sat quietly in the middle of the dim room, unsure of what to do in the situation at hoof. She knew that the princesses were interested in her, being isolated in a separate room from all of the other changelings, but wasn't sure why. What do they want from me? she wondered. After all, she wasn't the only one involved in the attack. Dear Chrysalis, it wasn't my choice, and I wasn't even in the actual fighting! Why me?
At that moment, a dark blue figure walked into the room, and the changeling recognized her as one of the princesses.
"Changeling, thou shall tell us thy name, or suffer the consequences." said Luna maliciously, from the entrance. The changeling remained silent, hoping that the other mare would leave. Luna took a slight step toward the changeling, prompting her to take a nervous step backwards toward the wall. The changeling let out a yelp as Luna suddenly leaped and pinned her to the ground, grinding her hardened hooves deep into the mare's shoulders.
Much unlike her usual self, Luna growled, "Make no mistake Changeling, we are not ponies to show mercy upon your kind! But it appears that you seem to be of some use to Celestia, not that it makes any difference." As she spoke the last words, she dug in her hooves even deeper.
The changeling gasped in pain and tried desperately to squirm away, before announcing through her agony, "I would never tell you anything..."
Luna quickly noted in her head, So it can speak. And it... she is a mare. Luna briskly stepped off the pony beneath her, then smirked mockingly.
"Brave words, little filly, but do you think we do not see how you quiver in fright, the way you try to hold your cries? You are weak, no matter what anypony tells you. Now unless you would like to feel true pain, telleth thy name!" Luna said ominously.
The poor mare was torn. She could either give in, which would give the ultimate representation of surrender, or she could refuse and suffer the consequences. Sighing, she made her decision. I might as well go down with a fight...
"Never..." murmured the changeling weakly, with a last bit of spite.
Luna let out a grim laugh and replied sadistically, "So be it, I will enjoy your suffering immensely..." as her horn lit up, and a solid glowing blade appeared in front of her hooves. The changeling's eyes widened, then immediately shut tight as Luna levitated it with her magic.
"Your wings look a little uneven. Let me help you with that."
As Twilight Sparkle finally arrived at the only castle carved into a mountain, Canterlot Castle, she knew that there was something strange happening, as royal guards were stationed all around the entrances of the massive acropolis. As she approached, one of the guards called out, "Halt! State your name and intention."
Unused to the procedure, Twilight hesitantly replied, "My name is Twilight Sparkle, student of Princess Celestia, and I was sent to assist her with a matter."
The guards immediately cleared a path, and Twilight heard a voice granting her admission.
When she stepped into the castle, she admired how the sun gleamed through the stainless windows, and three majestic halls extended in front of her, like an eternal trot to nowhere.
Her admiration of the grand building was interrupted as Princess Celestia called a quick greeting from a staircase to her right. "My student, I have a very important matter to discuss with you. Come, please." Celestia said, not as a request, but an order.
Twilight settled herself down in the private room along with Celestia. For a few heartbeats, they sat in silence, and then Celestia began quietly.
"Twilight, I wish not to cause you displeasure, but it is a matter we can not hide from no more. You must remember how the changelings attempted to invade only sunrises ago? It appears that a stroke of fortune has fallen upon us, for we have managed to capture quite a few of them while they were fleeing. Specifically, one of the changelings who played the role of magician during the battle."
Twilight Sparkle gave her head a shake. The only changeling magician that had been documented in any of the books in her library was Queen Chrysalis! Celestia saw how the unicorn opposite to her reacted, and a hint of doubt crept into her mind. Surely my student is not afraid?
"Indeed, it is quite astonishing, which is why we have reason to believe she may have been Queen Chrysalis's personal understudy. Luna is questioning her at the moment, but I doubt that she will speak, which is the part which requires your assistance. I had originally planned to extract knowledge from her by means of physical force, but her very spirit would be shattered by the end of it, and I can not have that."
Twilight replied thoughtfully, "I'm still not sure what you would like me to do in this whole situation, Princess Celestia."
Celestia's voice took on a cold tone. "From tomorrow, she shall abide by your rules in the library, and you are to tease her secrets out of her, one by one. Magic is not an option, do not question why. As for Spike, he shall reside with us in Canterlot for the time being."
Twilight Sparkle responded shakily, "There has to be another way besides that, Princess! That's so cruel!"
"There is no choice, my student. Either you take on this task or she dies." Celestia said with an air of finality. "You may leave now, I shall send her with you." Celestia's horn lit up, and Twilight felt herself losing consciousness as Celestia's teleportation spell engulfed her. In her last moments of awareness, she saw the dim figure of a dark mare levitating beside her.
As the changeling regained consciousness, she noticed two things. It was evening time in an unfamiliar environment that was cluttered with books, and there was a lavender coloured unicorn laying beside her. Now, what is this burning sensation on my wings? It hurts so much! she pondered mindlessly. She turned her head, then gasped in horror at the sight that greeted her; both of her wings were covered in deep, bloody slashes that almost severed them from her body. At that moment, her memories came back to her. That monster! She could have killed me... Taking a deep breath, the mare carefully used her hooves to lift herself up. Chrysalis never prepared me for anything like that... Will my magic still work with these injuries?
Steeling herself through the pain, the changeling attempted to call forth a healing spell. As she did, a dark aura surrounded her in an eerie glow, and when it finally dissipated, there were still some minor wounds, but it looked much better than before. The mare let out a sigh of relief. "That will have to do for the moment. Now, only one more thing to do..."
Twilight felt deep sympathy as she saw the dark-haired changeling mare jump at the first inspection of her wings, then drew in a surprised breath as she saw the changeling conjure what couldn't be anything else other than a healing spell. Dear Celestia, it's all true... A changeling magician, and a powerful one as well.
Twilight Sparkle almost fainted as she saw the mare transform before her eyes into a dark blue pegasus, reminding her of a certain blue alicorn... Oh right, she was probably so traumatized by Luna that she was the only pony the poor mare could think of! a spark of fury lit up as Twilight worked out the most likely solution. Doesn't she know that's she's forgetting something though?
As Twilight pulled herself up, the blue pegasus's ears twitched, and she instinctively turned around. Seeing the lavender mare staring at her, she knew that the unicorn had seen everything that happened. Her previous encounter with Princess Luna had shown her to take caution with unfamiliar ponies, such as the mare that stood before her... Reacting to the situation, the blue pegasus immediately leaped at Twilight Sparkle, catching her completely off guard and knocking her onto her side. She raised a glowing hoof over the struggling unicorn's throat and prepared herself to strike.
"Wait!" Twilight Sparkle begged urgently. She knew that the pegasus was in the dominant position, but she seemed to hesitate once she heard the mare beneath her speak.
The now-winged pony was having an inner conflict with herself. The queen would want me to! But I can't... Thinking on her hooves, she jabbed the unicorn underneath her in the stomach, wincing as she felt her hoof drive deeper than she expected to.
She bolted in a random direction hoping to find an exit, but then hesitated for a few moments. What if the other mare was actually hurt? Doubtfully, she turned back, and instantly regretted her poorly thought out option as she saw the unicorn hunched over on the floor with tears in her eyes. Dear Chrysalis, what have I done? she thought ruefully.
Reluctantly, she approached Twilight Sparkle and asked in a small voice, "Are you all right?"
The unicorn grimaced as she took a deep breath, and rasped, "I've been through worse, although not all times were intentional..."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wind you that hard."
Oh and I suppose that makes it all better? Twilight thought sarcastically. In actuality she reassured the changeling, "That's fine, but I really hope you don't try that again... So, what is your name? Mine's Twilight Sparkle."
"I would tell you, but I really must be taking my leave now, nice to meet you Twilight Sparkle." said the pegasus hurriedly.
"I'm afraid that's not happening. Firstly, I've seen the magics you are able to perform, even as a changeling. In fact, you are the second changeling in Equestrian history to be able to perform said magics to such a degree! Secondly..." Twilight hesitated, hating the fact that she would have to scare the changeling. I'll try to put some truth into it... she thought miserably. "Secondly, if you try to leave, then I have no choice but to send you back to Canterlot with the princesses. Princess Celestia said you must stay with me. And if you were thinking of leaving, I am also a magician, do you really think you can rival my magic?"
The pegasus gave an involuntary shudder at the thought of meeting her again... Then put on a confident face. "For the majority of my years at the hive, I specialized in the arts of offensive and defensive magic. Do you, a mere unicorn, actually believe that you could best me in battle?" she bluffed.
Twilight stood up and immediately called out the deceitful mare. "Save it, Celestia has already told me all I need to know about you. I would bet my bits that you can't even conjure the most basic spell of an offensive magician."
With her argument completely shut down, the mare just slumped over and said sadly, "Why are you doing this, Twilight Sparkle? Why not just put me out of my misery?"
Twilight was thrown by this statement. She definitely had not meant for things to go that far. Wait, it's not like that!" she protested. "What I meant to say, is that you are to stay here with me in the library, and it's not a choice... I'm sorry if it seems a little harsh, but you can stay in my room if you would like." she offered.
The would-be pegasus suddenly gave her an embarrassed glance, then looked away. "I would accept, Twilight Sparkle, but even in the hive, we would never sleep together unless..." she trailed off.
Twilight sighed and quickly corrected her before things got out of hoof. It was going to be a long night.
