My little Iris

Princess Twilight was studying furiously in the royal library. But this time, it was not simply for the enjoyment of learning. This time, she was researching anything and everything she could to save her friend, Rainbow Dash. Surrounding the desk Twilight sat in were a multitude of books, all related to magic in some form or another. Some about alteration, a few about the Aether, but most were about teleportation. Twilight herself was in a state. Her mane was matted, her crown misplaced, and large bags under her eyes. Occasionally, her head would slowly sag downward before immediately shooting right back up, normally followed by her roughly shaking her head, and another cup of coffee.  All because of what happened.

Roughly a month ago, she miscast a spell sending her friend who knows where. When Twilight realised what happened it was too late for her to react. ‘RAINBOW!’ she winced at the memory. ‘How!? How could that even happen!? A simple moustache spell shouldn’t be able to do that! How could I let that happen?’ she thought, tears forming. She snapped herself out of her self-depression and returned to the books.

There was a knocking at the door.

“Twi, you in here?“ Applejack asked, but to no reply.

“Twilight, darling? Are you there?” Rarity asked, but again, there was no response.

The next was the most shocking of all. “TWILIGHT! WE KNOW YOU’RE IN THERE!” Fluttershy shouted.

Twilight let out an exhausted sigh, stood up from her desk, and began walking towards the library entrance. Suddenly, the door was knocked on again, expect this time, it seemed that the ground was shaking with the door and the world had turned gray.

“MR. DEWITT!” Said a booming voice, which Twilight could only barely recognize as Pinkie’s. Twilight shook her head and the world was back to normal. She just stood there blinking for a few seconds before continuing on her path.

When Twilight reached the library’s entrance, she unlocked the door and poked her head out, finding her friends Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy (who had scared herself from her own outburst and was hiding behind Rarity). But strangely (or more so), no Pinkie Pie in sight.

“What do you want?” Twilight nearly shouted, tired from her research and angry at herself for what had happened.

“Twilight, just because you’re a Princess does not mean you can start being a rude.” Rarity scolded

“Sorry…it’s just I have been working my flank off trying to get rainbow back.” She apologized.

“That’s okay, but you need to take a break and get back to work.” Applejack said.

“WHAT?! BUT WHAT ABOUT RAINBOW DASH!? I CAN’T JUST ABANDON HER!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Sugarcube, we're not saying that. We’re saying that staying in a library twenty-four/seven isn’t healthy for ya’. When was the last time you slept?” Applejack asked.

“Umm…” Twilight said, shifting uncomfortably.

“I thought as much. If ya’ keep exhausting yourself like this, you won’t be able to fill in for the Princesses while they’re away, let alone find Rainbow. You just need to get some shut eye and you’ll feel better in the mornin’, okay sugarcube?”

Twilight paused for a moment, looking at her friend’s determined looks before responding with, “Okay, I’ll go to rest a bit, but just a small nap. Then I’m back to finding Rainbow Dash.” And so Twilight begrudgingly trudged to her room.

***************************************************

“So Twilight, can I call you Twilight?” Said a light-blue Stallion, looking at a purple mare in a straitjacket.

Twilight just looked confused. “I’m sorry…who are you?”

“I’m Doctor Mane, your Psychiatrist. Now tell me, what is it you remember?”

“I remember…” Twilight paused and began to think before her eyes widened in realization. “Rainbow Dash!”

“So you do remember. Your friend disappeared a year ago a-“

“A YEAR!?”

“-nd you had breakdown. Now tell me what happened to her.”

“I…I was testing a spell on-“

“Now we both know that’s a lie. Only unicorns can cast spells.” Dr. Mane said calmly.

“But, I’m an Alicorn! I’m a Princess!” Twilight was beginning to panic.

“Twilight, Alicorns don’t exist. Just look at yourself and you’ll see that.” He pointed to Twilight’s left.

Twilight immediately looked that way and saw a large full-body mirror, but she was not looking at the mirror, but rather, her reflection within. A purple earth pony. Before she could panic, Twilight’s thoughts were once again interrupted by Dr. Mane.

“Twilight, I need you listen. Tell me what the last thing you remember Rainbow Dash saying was.”

Twilight just continued looking at the mirror, thoughts of her friend that she’ll most likely never see again filling her mind as she still tried to respond, tears forming while doing so.

“She said…she said--“

“Twilight…” Came a distorted and hauntingly familiar voice.

She turned her head to the source of the voice, in front of her. It was a mare. A Pegasus. Light blue with a rainbow mane. It was covered in cuts and bruises. Her eyes and mouth produced an almost blinding amount of sickly yellow light. And it came closer.

“Tell me Twilight, what caused Rainbow Dash’s disappearance?” Dr. Mane asked, seemingly unaware of the new pony’s presence.

Twilight just continued to stare in terror at the Pegasus slowly walking towards her.

“Twiiiiillllliiiiigggghhhhtttt…….” Came Her voice, still slowly approaching.

“Tell me Twilight! Who did it?!” Dr. Mane queried loudly.

“Twiiiiiiiiiiilllllllllllllllliiiiiiiiiiigggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhttttt…………..” Came her friend’s voice, now next to her.

“TELL ME! WHO TOOK RAINBOW AWAY!?” Dr. Mane was shouting at her.

“TWIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHTTTTTTTT……..” Came Rainbow’s voice, Twilight now staring face to face with eyes of yellow light.

*********************************************************************

Princess Twilight awoke in a cold sweat to the sound of a gasp and banging on her door.

“Princess Twilight! You must wake up! You have a letter!” Said what she could only assume was a Royal Guard outside her door.

“I’m up, I’m up!” Twilight replied, rubbing her eyes, trying to remember what her dream was about and that it was about Rainbow Dash.

Finally awake enough to engage in basic motor functions, she got out of bed, walked to the door, and opened it to reveal a Royal Guard with a Scroll. Twilight took the scroll, mumbled a ‘Thank You’, and unfolded it.

Dear Princess of Equestria,

If you are reading this message, then a great catastrophe has befallen the changling race and we humbly ask for your aid. I know that you have reason to hate our species and we apologise for all we have done. We ask you to please help, to protect our home, and to help protect our race. We’ll we meet any and all demands you have so long as help is sent immediately.

Signed Queen Chrysalis.

Twilight looked at the scroll for almost a minute, shocked to say the least. The Queen of the Changelings asking for her help? The same mare that trapped her and her sister-in-law in a cave? The same Queen of the Changelings that tried to forcibly marry her brother? The same Queen of the Changelings that tried to conquer Equestria? Twilight briefly considered denying Chrysalis aid out of the spite that welled up in her throat, but then she remembered what she was asking.

The continuity of her race.

Twilight folded the paper before looking back up to the armoured stallion. “Guard, gather a squad and a chariot.”