I woke up to the sight of bright sunlight. It flowed through the window as if it was a soft breeze, and landed on me. I groaned as I stirred from my sleep. My movements were slowed, and the task of opening my eyes was exhausting. It was warm, too warm, I made a move to sit up past the stiff sheets I laid in.

For some unknown reason, my room seemed different. It wasn't mine. I could tell seemingly by the atmosphere and smell of the dusty drapes. Even though my eyes were still hazy and trying to adjust to the harsh light, I began to get an idea of my situation. The air was a lot drier than I remembered my room being, and it smelt like it had been just sitting there for ages.

I made an attempt to rub my eyes, but I found my hands to be unresponsive. I gave a frustrated groan and wiped my eyes with my wrist. Once I was done, I was able to see more clearly, and my senses started to return. Immediately I noticed that I everything felt off... The room, my bed, the smells, and my body, everything was wrong. My muscles for the first time of my life felt.. foreign, and unnatural. The feeling I had could be likened to wearing a full body suit of a thick heavy clothing. But it also felt like it was me.

Panic began to settle in, and even though I was laying in the bright sunlight I felt cold. Questions stormed my now sobering mind and worries of this being a kidnapping or hostage situation demanded attention. I decided to do a quick check to make sure I was physically alright, but when I did, the already evident chill in the room dropped to absolute zero. I had no hands, my stumpy arms were covered in a pearl white fur, and red hair hung down just at the corner of my vision.

It took a minute or so for my mind to kick in, and realize that I was holding my breath in fear. I wanted to run, I wanted to scream. In fact, I was about to scream, but as soon as I inhaled, I started to choke on the thick dust floating through the air. I ended up wheezing and coughing for a good two minutes.

Choking on the fuzz, my breathing became desperate and shallow. I placed my hand or limb on my chest to try to forcibly control my breathing. Collecting enough saliva to swallow I managed to wash down the little thing, much to my disgust. I tried calming myself physically, taking slow deep breaths to prevent hyperventilating. But I made sure to take precautions to avoid making the same mistake twice.

I was shaking. Desperately I looked around the dusty room from where I sat, and sought out any clues at to why I was here, or what had happened to my body. The room looked abandoned like it hadn't been used in years. Cloths and drapes covered over the furniture, and if not for the dust the wooden floor showed no signs of age.

While I was looking around a shimmer of light caught my eye. On the other side of the room a drape had slightly fallen down. Inspecting it from afar, I noticed what looked like a mirror stood there. Fear, and curiosity filled my soul. I just had to know, I needed to know, just what had been done to me. Because, I wasn't even sure if I was human anymore. I had to get over there for better or for worse.

"Okay let's just do this slowly." I mumbled, slowly sifting my new limbs around with unfamiliar muscles. Each movement brought a different sensation, one alien to me. And each one sent a shiver down my spine. My mind then turned to my voice, I had noticed a feminine tone in my voice when I spoke, and it freaked me the hell out. The whole situation only made me tenser. Waking up in an unfamiliar room, with a new voice and a different body, it all made me feel sick.

"Just a little more." I urged myself. I was leaning my head out to see the distance I was from the ground. The torrent of thoughts storming my mind proceeded to demand my attention. However, the logical part of my mind kicked in convincing me to focus on my goal rather than my situation. My goal of getting out of here.

I shifted out from under the bed sheets and found my legs to match my arms. I scooted back off the bed putting one leg on the ground. When I did, I felt my sense of pride return to me, and I opened my blabbering mouth in victory. "Ha! no prob...

THUMP

A loud thump echoed through the halls of the Canterlot castle and Celestia looked up from her throne in confusion. " What was that?"

She looked towards the direction she heard the sound, and with a hopeful gasp, her eyes glazed over. Each possibility painting its way in front of her eyes as to what it could be.

"Um, your highness..." A mare spoke up.

The voice of a job applicant reminded her where she was, and what she was doing. "Oh right, sorry, do continue Lillybreeze."

"..blem." I finished with a groan. I laid there on the ground motionless, waiting for the pain of falling on my face to pass. The nose area was especially sore, and I think it now stuck out a little further than before. It also seemed to be more sensitive to the scents around me. That is until the fuzzy cloud I kicked up from falling drifted down to my level, then the dust just ended up stinging my eyes and causing my nose to itch.

"Ah-Ah-AH-CHOO!" Another cloud...

"Ugh, maybe I spoke too soon." I groaned again as I rubbed my muzzle? My pride, and feeling of accomplishment, left as quickly as it had arrived. In a flash.

Once the pain died down, my quest to get to the other side continued. The mirror itself was too dusty to see my reflection clearly, especially from this distance. However, that could be fixed quite quickly with a little blow on the well-polished silver.

"Okay, right arm moves back. Left leg moves forward." I coached myself, taking one step at a time until I was able to carry a slight rhythm.

As I made my way around, the unfamiliar sounds of my limbs against the floor reminded me of hooves. They clopped against the ground in an endless drum beat.

Once I stumbled my way to the mirror, I took in a slow deep breath. I made sure to be careful not to breathe the dust in as easily as last time. Carefully working my new facial muscles, I did my best to blow away the fuzzy layer. Surprisingly enough I was able to make a circle with my lips successfully. The dust rolled into fuzz balls and floated off the mirror. Slowly, my reflection began to clear.

Once they were out of the way I could see the image of a whitish female horse still blowing at the mirror. Her head was covered with a crimson red hair making up her mane. Her eyes were blue, intense and terrified. To my horror, the reflection copied everything I did. That was what made it terrifying. Looking at my reflection kept drilling in the fact that somehow I was now a small horse. I wasn't even a normal horse, I was some creature that had cartoonish proportions. Proportions that I knew all too well.

The more I stared, the more I started to wish that I hadn't looked. If I didn't look then I'd have the pleasure of not knowing who’s body I was in. My reflection was none other than the OC Lauren Faust created after her making of My Little Pony. I was the small version, the same size as a normal pony. I knew this because my twelve-year-old sister was a Pegasister or Brony. She never stopped trying to show me stuff about that show. Whether it be canon or fan based, I knew it all.

One time, while I was sleeping at my computer, she tied me to my desk chair and forced me to watch the entire series as a prank. After that, I almost felt emotionally scarred. Scarred because, well the show was actually good, and I begrudgingly had to admit it was enjoyable to watch. However my pride as a man wouldn't have it, and I made sure that I never allowed myself to think otherwise. Nor did I actually admit what I thought to my sister. The explosion of things she would show me and force me to watch would be endless.

"This can't be happening...” I said in a low mumble. My voice was quaking with terror and sadness overwhelmed my senses. “God, what did I do to deserve such a punishment!?" I cried out. A small pang of guilt shooting through me at the sound of my sorrows. I continued to try to think of a plausible explanation for my predicament. Unfortunately, I couldn't come up with any explanation that I was willing to accept. Not only was I a female horse, but I was also some fictional cartoon character. One I knew next to nothing about, other than name, looks, and creator.

I stared at my reflection in shock; unable to move because of my mind's constant refusal to accept the reality I facing. My thoughts were rampant and uncoordinated. Each question I asked myself was worse than the last, until I got caught on one. One very important question in respects to my newfound situation.

"Am I stuck here?"

Again a pang of unexplainable guilt shot through me, and I found my emotional state to me lowering each second. My eyes started to water, and I began to quietly cry. In any other situation, I would have held it in, for the sake of my manly pride. But then again, I'm no longer a male. I looked down at my legs and my tears intensified.

"I'll miss ya buddy."

I watched as my tears dampened the floor. My pitiful whimpers just barely audible. The dust on the ground slowly found itself to be a paste like substance. And my chest began to ache.

"(Stop crying already! This attitude doesn't suit you.)" A feminine voice called out, it carried an air of age and authority. The unknown voice quickly shot me out of my daze of self-pity, and into a state of angered fear. I was shaking and at a loss for what to do.

"Who's there!.... show yourself!" I demanded.

I could feel her eyes roll. “(Really.. you couldn't come up with a line that hasn't been used to the point of cliche?)” The voice deadpanned.

Even though I was searching, nothing stood out as to show where the voice was coming from. So I started to look around the room, in hopes of catching the owner of the voice. Perhaps they knew what was going on and then I could get home.

“Come out coward!” I taunted, but only got silent disappointment.

"(You don't listen well do you.)" The voice was beginning to sound like whoever was speaking, had their arms crossed and their head shaking in minor amusement. At least I hoped it was amusement.

I was near the open closet at the rear end of the room when she last spoke. Peering into the wardrobe, I found nothing that hinted to anyone being there. It was completely emptied of anything. I made my way out of the closet, and gave up my search.

"Please, I just want to know what's going on. Why am I like this! And where are you!?" I begged. A silence hung in the room for several seconds as if she were pondering what to say.

"(Oh okay fine... I shall humor you; look to your left.)"

Having nothing else to go on, I did as I was told. Doing so, I found myself staring at my reflection in the mirror once again. The mare that I had now become, sat there in the mirror, and smiled. She carried an age to her, it was clear as day in her eyes. They seemed to be focused, a fire burned deep in the back of those eyes. And it terrified me.

"(Hello, my name is Lauren Faust, and who might you be?)" My reflection greeted, and gave a small wave with her hoof.

I would have stumbled back onto my rear, but I found that I no longer seemed to be in control of my body. Out of the corner of my vision, I could see my hoof was moving back and forth. My anxiety rose to an all-time high. Now I'm stuck in someone else's body, with them still in it!? The only reassurance that I've find today is that I'm not dead. That's always a good thing.

"It's A-Alex. Why can't I move?" I panicked in place, only able to move my mouth.

"(You really are a slow one aren't you? I'm currently controlling the body. Duh.)" Lauren deadpanned.

"B-but."

"(Relax Alexander, my control won't last for long. I need my rest, and you need your freedom.)"

"What do you mean I need my freedom?"

"(Several hundred years ago, no wait... Several thousand years ago, I was badly injured for the sake of Equestria. In order to save my life, I was sent through a magic mirror to another dimension. They had hoped that it would heal me. However, when I was sent through, a surge of energy caused the mirror to malfunction splitting my very being across to all realms.)”

She paused as I took this in and after a few seconds I motioned for her to continue.

"(So... Um because I've been divided so many times throughout everything, the only hope I had of seeing my kingdom or daughters again was by using... you as a toll? By doing this my existence wouldn't be comprised.)"

"So you risked me instead!" I raged. “What type of person sacrifices other people so they can benefit!?... Actually never mind, everyone does that.”

"(Aww, don't think so negatively Alex, there's many good people who look for others interests. Anyway, as to your question of whether I risked your life, no I didn't. That much I'm sure of... I believe, whole beings such as yourself are utterly unaffected by the jump.)”

I guess that explained some stuff but I still didn't get the majority of what Lauren was saying. I sat there trying to understand everything that had been dumped on me. In the end, it just made my head hurt.

"(Listen, I'm sorry I did this to you but after being gone for more than several thousand years, I was desperate.)"

"Whatever, let's just move on. What's done is done." I said dejectedly.

I felt our emotions fill with hope and she asked, "(Really, you forgive me?)"

"I wouldn't say that, but I'm not going to go out of my way to make things difficult." Really it's too much work.

The sense of hope and joy diminished for a moment, then she looked at me through the mirror. Her expression became more relaxed and a slight smile formed on her, no our lips.

"(Thank you anyway.)"

"Don't mention it." I seriously meant that. In no way did I want to think about this situation. If I did, I'd probably become furious at her. Already I found it difficult to withhold my burning rage. In the past I never got angry, but I guess today's a day of change.

This mare may have taken away my life on earth but she will never be able to take away my spirit. I'd find a way out of this no matter what happens. I had to find a way out of this for my sister because, even though she's mean to me at times, I need her. And whether or not she'd admit it she needed me.

That was a promise I hoped to keep. Now just how was I going to keep it? It's need to think about this.

"(Alex... Hey Alex!)"

"Huh, what is it?" Lauren's voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I saw that we were still in front of the mirror.

"(I've been trying to get your attention for a good four minutes now, I guess you dozed off. Anyway, soon I'll have to go back into this body's subconscious. When I'm there you shall have to be my substitute. Answering to my name, and dealing with my relationships.)"

"How many relationships are we talkin?"

“(Do not fret for at this point in time it will only be Celestia and Luna you will need to worry about. I'd prefer that we kept this knowledge of our being joined between us, but if all else fails we may have to tell my daughter's. Please be kind to them. Again don't tell anypony about us it would be most unfortunate for us to end up in a psych ward. Especially being since the ponies of this world see me as a god.)"

"O-Okay, I'll do my best."

After that, it was silent, and I figured she left to our subconscious. Quickly wiping a tear from my eyes, I took a good deep breath and let out my frustration.

It was about noon when Celestia was making her way through the castle. She was pondering over the mysterious bang throughout the ceiling of the royal court from this morning. It had been a minor proton of her day but somehow it seemed significant. She just couldn't put her hoof on what it was.

Passing through the halls, she would glance at the workers and give them her patented celestial smile of approval. She had become quite accustomed to doing so throughout those long years without Luna, and it seemed to stick.

Celestia passed by the Maid's room where they were cleaning the bedsheets, the Kitchen where the chef was making a gourmet three-course meal, the Dining Hall where her mother was stuffing her face, then... Celestia froze, not our of terror but our of a swell of emotions like joy, sadness, and most of all shock. Tears started to roll freely as she trembled in place.

"M-M-M-Mother." She managed to mumble through her sniffles. Doubt clutched at her heart, but unlike the other times she had imagined her return other objects she saw were in motion.

Like a statue, she stayed in the center of the hallway despite her will to run back. Her heart was beating painfully in her chest as if it wanted to run ahead of her. But still she was overwhelmed, slowly she managed to unfreeze. Her frozen stature becoming more active. Joy began to well up within her, so much so that she began having trouble with containing her composure. A goofy grin covered her face.

She turned back to the dining hall and when she made her way inside, she bolted for it, quickening her pace more and more the closer she got to her target.

"Mother!"

I had made my way downstairs tumbling and swearing all the way down. I was tripping all over my new hooves the entire way. Then, once I was on the main floor, I wandered the halls of this monumental castle, until I found a fridge.

I didn't care or know what anything was, so I ate the first thing I saw. It turned out to be nothing other than a classic slice of Apple pie. It was so good that I kept going back for seconds. On my fourth helping, I noticed a white Alicorn open the doors to the dining room I was in. She stared at me for a moment as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Mother!" She shouted, and then the next thing I knew, I was being tackled in a bone crushing hug by none other that Sunbutt herself.

"Mother I've missed you so much! Both Luna and I have been eagerly awaiting your return."

Celestia... let go...can't breathe!" I wheezed as my lungs got crushed.

It took a second for Celestia to register my pleas for air, and even when she understood she was reluctant to let go as if she was afraid I'd disappear. When she loosened her grip, I checked myself over to make sure she didn't actually break a bone, and thankfully nothing got damaged. Looking up, I saw Celestia staring at me with tears of joy.

"Is it really you, mom?" Her question was filed with so much emotion and I couldn't help but feel some intense sympathy for this mare.

I may have been in pain because of her, but I couldn't find it in myself to be mad at someone who seems so happy to see me. It just wasn't right. It also pained me at the same time, because I wasn't really who that joy was meant for. So hiding my sudden depression, I answered for my passenger.

"Yes, Celestia it's me." I said, giving a heartfelt smile.

That statement seemed to strike her to the very core, Celestia continued to stare at me as if she wasn't mentally present but instead was reminiscing over past events. After about twenty seconds I couldn't fight the urge anymore. With a swift motion, I trapped my hoof on her nose.

"BOOP!"

The tap on the nose seemed to bring her back to reality. And she wrinkled her nose in irritation. She stared at me with a confused expression.

"Heh, I'm glad to be back to reality.”

“Mom, forgive me but it's truly difficult to believe this is reality.”

To that I only gave a smile. Then I started to look around and ask a question that could either cause more joy or a lot of pain. Biting the bullet I asked, “So where's Luna? Asleep I suppose?”

At mentioning Luna, Tia’s eyes lit up, and she quickly made her way out of the Dining Hall. My only guess was to wake Luna. I shook my head at her response. It was like watching a child be told there's ice cream in the fridge.

Once the room was empty, I asked Lauren. "Was that good?"

I gave a small smile. Then turned back to the doors were running hoof steps could be heard.

"Hey Celestia wait up, I'm coming with you!"

As we quickly made our way to Luna's room; I was running at full speed through the halls. in an attempt to catch up with an eager alicorn. My footing was uncoordinated and every few moments I found myself beginning to stumble.

That didn't bother me though, instead the part I was struggling with was how noticeable I've become to those around. I was being watched by everypony there. The guards, staff members and regular citizens roaming the halls, they were all looking intently at me with wide eyes. From my viewpoint shock wonder and even a little fear was clearly evident on their faces.

The constant stares were beginning to make me feel a little on edge, mostly because being the centre of attention was never my thing. From past experiences, I knew the uneasiness would build in me, and then it would start to make me feel sick. So quickly looking for an answer as to why I was being watched I checked to see if there was anything on me or around me that was surprising. But through my fast effort, I couldn't figure out why everyone's focus seemed to be on me.

So with no answer coming to me, I bolted faster through the halls; hoping to escape their relentless glares. But, as I was running at high speed with little motor control, I soon found myself accidentally running into one of the maids. We fell to the ground faster than I had time to think, and the next thing I knew, I was on the ground. Fiddling with my hooves as I tried to get up.

After a couple of false and awkward starts, I eventually managed to lift myself up. But when I did, I came to the revaluation that Celestia continued on without me. She didn't notice me fall and now had left me in this giant labyrinth of halls without direction.

"I'm so sorry!!" My attention turned to the maid I had knocked over and she was shakingly getting up from the ground. I turned to look behind me to see if she was talking to someone there out of habit. But then when I turned my head back, the maid was bowing her head, and looking sincerely sorry for something that wasn't even her fault.

Her apology was quite unexpected and I soon found myself saying,"Sorry for what? It was completely my fault.” To this the maid's head twitched upwards in surprise, and I decided to take this opportunity to ask the question that had been gnawing at me for the past few minutes, “In fact, while I have you here, do you know why everybo-pony is staring at me?"

It was a straightforward and simple answer, but still the maid tensed up and gave me a nervous smile. You could almost hear the gears turning and finally after about ten seconds she answered,"W-well your majesty It's b-because you're an alicorn." The maid squeaked out. The way she bowed her head and shivered at my presence was kind of unsettling to me. I couldn't comprehend why she would seem to fear me, unless...

"Pardon my asking but do you know who I am?" I tried to ask in the nicest way possible; I didn't want to terrify her anymore.

My efforts unfortunately only worked to a halfway point, the maid although not overly frightened became slightly downcast. She probably thought it was a requirement to know all the rulers of Equestria, even the ones that have been gone for a millennia.

"I'm sorry your majesty, but I have never seen you before and I don't know your name." Her voice became worried as she said this, but it only drew my curiosity further.

"Then why are you scared of me?" I asked.

She flinched a little, and turned her head up to me with an almost desperate expression.".... I-It's because you're a princess! And I'm just a maid."

"So what."

"Huh?" Her surprised expression was priceless!

"I said, So what? I'm the same as you, a pony with normal feelings and emotions. The only difference between us is an occupation. Well, that and I have wings but even at that it's not a big difference. I serve the kingdom as a ruler and you support me with the jobs I can't do. Technically you make it so I can be a princess or authoritative figure so try not to be so downcast."

"..."

"So um.. anyway what's your name?" I asked.

As soon as I said this she seemed to sense my sincerity and she offered me a smile."It's Lillybreeze, I just started working at the palace today."

"Nice to meet you, Lilly, my name is Ale-um... Lauren Faust."

Lillybreeze seemed to cheer up at my casual introduction and finally stopped trembling."It's nice to meet you too Princess."

"Okay, I need to get going, but thanks for your help. I hope to see you around!" I called out as I started to make my way down the hall again. I quickly began to curse myself for losing Celestia though. Aimlessly I ventured through the halls of Canterlot's royal palace. I kept on passing by the same rooms and hallways as I tried to escape this labyrinth, but to no avail.

Ten minutes later, I was still looking for Luna's bedroom. With little results, I continued talking to myself figuring two heads wrestling better than one. But still that wouldn't give us the directions.

"Never!" I harshly whispered. I never knew why, but I had always felt like asking questions of others was just a burden to them. Since I was little, people never listened to me when I wanted to talk, so I eventually developed an uneasiness to the task.

Unfortunately I forgot the seemingly admin power she had over the body, and I suddenly found myself being controlled once again. Our hooves started to carry us to the closest guard ponies, and I was powerless to stop it.

My resistance efforts didn't stop the body's owner from doing whatever she pleased. But I got the satisfaction of having the guards look at us with confused stares as this strange alicorn fought with herself while she approached them."(Excuse me gentle colts could you direct me to the quarters of Princess Luna?)" Faust asked. She spoke in a soothing tone and knowing the not so sweet side of her made this just seem weird.

"Um..Sure thing your highness. Down the hall, to the left, and up the stairs." The guard answered as he pointed the way. Lauren gave a polite nod as we passed as if to say thanks as we continued on.

We had walked away about forty feet before Lauren turned our head to the left and started to talk to me. "(See now was that so hard?)" She mocked, and to that, my frustration flared. If I was able to its give her an angry scowl I would have; and I was certain she knew it.

"I would be there believe me, but someone kept on calling for me to help them out. Really it gets annoying; you should learn to think for yourself once in awhile."

Once I finally found the room, and caught up with Celestia. I spotted the sun princess harshly shaking her younger sister in an attempt to wake her. The moment I saw Luna fighting to stay in bed I felt my heart start to flutter. No doubt it was from Faust's reaction rather than mine. I felt a feeling of joy and relief wash over me almost from within. And to be honest, it was freaking the crap out of me.

I had to admit that type of sadness touched my heart. Spending time with your child while they are growing up is something special, and no parent should have to miss it... even if they are a mind snatching nutcase.

"Come on Luna! Wake up!" Tia commanded, but her sibling resisted the best she could.

"Leave me, alone sister! Thine actions art most annoying." At saying that, Tia’s face grew mischievous and her horn lit up as she started to magically drag Luna out of bed by her tail.

Once Luna realized what was happening, her eyes shot open in a panic. It was hard not to laugh at the sight. Especially when while Celestia slowly pulled her off; Luna was frantically clawing at the bed in an attempt to stay on. Then finally, the dark mare fell to the ground along with her fluffy comforter sheets. Her mane was a mess, lacking the usual ethereal look to it that the show often depicted. Her coat was fluffy and unbrushed, and to say the least, she looked adorable, especially because of her grumpy attitude.

"This better be good Tia" Luna warned sternly as she crossed her hooves.

"Oh trust me, Luna, it is." Even from a distance, the mischievous smile sun butt was giving her younger sibling was something that provoked a sence of worry. And the non-canon works that my sister Mya showed me, popped into my mind.

"Sister why art thou just sitting there looking smug."

“Because Lulu, we have an unexpected guest. Somepony who neither of us have seen in a very long time.”

Luna looked up at her sister in a perplexed manner .“But Tia, nopony has lived long enough to be considered unseen for a ‘long’ time.”

Celestia’s grin only grew wider, and I took that as my cue to finally reveal myself. I trotted quietly through the open doorway and stood directly behind the queen of the night.

"Hello, Luna." It was difficult to speak when Lauren was in control of the body's emotional state. I was doing everything to keep us from breaking down into tears.

Her fur immediately stiffened, and her body froze like stone at the sound of my voice. Her head slowly lowered and even though I was behind her, I could sense a shadow covering her eyes in sadness."I-Is that you Mother?"

"Um.. yeah" (Well she's in here :P)

Luna looked towards my direction with pained eyes, but she never met my gaze."M-Mom, I am so sorry." Tears began to well up at the corners of her eyes, and I felt my heart begin to feel pain at her despair.

"Sorry for what?" I asked, I didn't know if it was best to talk about it, but I figured the sooner we get past it the better.

Celestia’s eyes widened and she flinched forward as if to warn me not to go there, but before she could sign anything Luna reluctantly spoke up. "After you left I-I became a tyrant who tried to overthrow Equestria out of jealousy of Tia." She said as she hung her head with guilt. "I've failed mother, terribly. My actions hath caused great fear and hatred of myself among our subjects."

"Yeah... I can see how that could happen." I accidentally said, as I thought out loud about earth's history and similar situations. I remembered how most of history class was about that, monarchies that have come to an end from the people rebelling. At least that's what I remembered...

After I said that I noticed Luna visibly flinched as if I stuck her from the corner of my eye. It was at that moment that her crying went from quiet sobbing to a noticeable wail. My mistake was not watching what I said.

It was obvious that this emotional confrontation was doing a number on this body's owner, and thus me. Trying to keep it together, I tried to think of what I should say to fix my mistake. But, nothing was coming to my mind. I didn't know her; I didn't know how it felt to be in her position. All I am is an eighteen-year-old guy who got thrown into another world!

Stretching out ‘my’ hoof I began to speak, "Luna, I... (forgive you. I don't care what you did in my absence. All I've ever wanted during this time has been to see your faces again. I could never hate you.)" As I was speaking I suddenly found words that were not mine coming out of my mouth.

It was nice to see how much Lauren cared for her daughter's. I could feel the love she had for them in the heart we now shared, and I slowly began my journey to understanding her point of view.

"You forgive me?" Luna asked as she looked up. Her body was quaking as she struggled to control her sobbing.

A moment passed of silence, and I suddenly found myself back in control. Taking a deep breath to get a hold of this body's ever present desire to break into tears, I answered, "Yes."

"Why!?" Luna suddenly shouted. I stepped back in surprise, and I could see the pain growing within her expression as she looked at me.

“...What?” I asked as I tried to think of why she seemed to have reacted so differently than what I expected.

“I said, why would ye forgive me!? I've tried to throw over Equestria, I turned against mine sister, and I've killed many in my selfish ambitions!” She spoke again; this time growling in what looked like self hate as tears streamed down her face.

“That may be true, but look at yourself right now. The tears streaming down your face, the guilt, the desire to be shunned and rejected just so you can feel that you get what you deserve. Do you think that counts for nothing?” When I mentioned being shunned and rejected her eyes flinched open a slight bit and finally she looked at me in the eyes.

“How did you know?”

“Because to some extent everypony goes through those feelings, and they all need to learn that the past shouldn't be dwelt on. Instead we need to focus on the future and how we can make up for those mistakes.

Returning my attention to what was happening I noticed that Luna's expression of rage, pain, and sadness, seemed to dissolve, and the tears that had slowed flowed freely again. She began to fight to get out of her bed coverings; stumbling a few times, then she made her way over to me.

Tears of joy stained her dark coat."Thank you."

Once again I found myself embraced in a bone crushing hug. This time, though the strength put into it was twice that of Celestia's. She crushed me to the point that I started to sound like a giant squeaky toy as my wheezing be game high pitched. Is this going to become a trend? Thankfully she quickly let me go, and I was given the privilege of breathing again.

"Sorry. Too strong?"

"It's okay I'm just in a weakened state as you can see,” I said pointing out my small form in comparison with her. “I'm a little delicate with certain things." Saying that I was delicate was definitely a shot to my pride as a man, but if it made everyone else more aware of the pain they inflict on me I was more than willing to give it a go.

We ended up talking until it was time for Luna to raise the moon. Celestia made arrangements for me to sleep in the guest bedroom that she always had ready for twilight. Then after showing me the room and how to get to it she went off to bed.

I decided to stay up a little longer to talk with Luna, I guess I felt some kind of connection between our situations. Her being taken over by Nightmare moon and I being Faust's puppet. I just seemed to feel like she would be the one to understand what I'm going through.

We conversed about how life had been when it was just her and Celestia ruling Equestria. I couldn't help but get caught up with the fascinating mental images her story brought to my mind. Eventually, I no longer heard what she was saying but mentally I saw everything play out before my eyes. In fact, I got so caught up in her tale that I was caught daydreaming when she started to ask me something.

"Hmm? Sorry, what was that Luna?"

The night princess rolled her eyes in response to my daft response."I was asking thou about thy life in the other realm. Please mother, do tell of what wonders thou had the pleasure of witnessing."

Oh, this should be easy, I'm an expert! "You want to know about the other world?"

"Oh yes, mother please do tell." Luna happily smiled as she got into a more comfortable position. Cradling her head in her hooves much like a child or, in this case, filly, does when a parent decides to read them a story. She waited for me to begin.

"Well... I don't really know where to begin. What would you like to know?"

"What of that world's intelligent life?"

"Okay then, in the other world the top species of life is known as a Homosapien or human. They look like an ape without a tail, and most of their hair is visible on top of their heads much like how we have manes."

"Hmm...and what of their magic?"

"There's none."

"What? I do not understand."

"Humans have no magic, in their world, it is just a fantasy carried along with myths and legends."

"Then how do they survive? Conduct the weather, or change the seasons?"

"Well for your first point they are actually quite intelligent. Their eagerness to know about the world around them and where it came from drives their civilization onward. Humans have technology that makes Equestria look like the stone age. Vehicles that can fly fast enough to break the speed of sound. Space travel! Luna they have managed to land on the moon!"

"What! Mother is this true! Such advancements in a society where there's no magic, how can it be that they have accomplished such actions!?"

"With a lot of time and imagination."

"What of the weather?"

"That runs automatically through the way water is designed. The sun heats the top of the water slowly turning it into steam. Then because it becomes lighter than air it rises upwards. Once the water is collected high in the sky the floating water droplets collide getting bigger and heavier. Finally, after enough water is collected its weight pulls it back down to earth. At least, that's the water cycle there.

"Water cycle?"

"Yes, there are many cycles in that world like for example the day and night cycle. That's automatic as well."

"How did they make it so it is automatic for the sun to come up and the moon to do so at their proper times?"

"They didn't do anything over on the other side it's just the way the world works. The earth orbits the Sun and the moon orbits the earth.

"Oh, of course, the planet orbits the Sun."

Sensing her mood drop a little bit I decided to share a little bit more science with her. "Hey, Luna listen. The planet over there may revolve around the sun, but the sun is only a small star compared to those in the rest of the sky. And that's not all, billions of galaxies exist beyond what we can see in between the stars where we think it's dark. You move all of them here and Tia moves a small star. So please don't feel sad or less important."

"(Sniff) Okay" After a second of processing the information Luna suddenly looked up at me with wide eyes.

“What!”

A few hours of talking went by before I started to get sleepy. So saying my goodnights to Luna I made my way to my previously assigned bedroom. I found myself pondering my situation once again.

“Maybe it won't be so bad here I just hope I'll be able to do something about Mya.” Once my head hit the pillow everything went black. A faint whisper was heard at the door as I laid there asleep.

"Welcome, home and sweet dreams mother," Luna said peeking through the doorway, before resuming her nightly duties.

Looking around from where I was, I found myself in the middle of an unstable and ever-shifting world. The landscape was filled with buildings from Earth and Equestria, and it was quite disorienting to see the two realities merge together. However that was of little concern to me, nor was the fact I was at the moment a human dressed in a long black overcoat and a nicely fitted suit. The sight in front of me made all other details insignificant.

Ahead of me stood Lauren Faust at her full height and glory in a large courtyard. She was maybe six and a half feet tall, including the horn. Finally, I got to meet my kidnapper face to face. Both of us stared at each other in silence at our meeting for the first time, but neither of us knew what to say. I had many questions that have yet to be answered, but which was I to start out with?

"So... what now? Is that what it's like to dream with two minds in one body?"

My question seemed to snap Lauren out of a confused daze, and I could see her working out how to answer my question. "(No, dreams work this way all the time in this world.)"

"Oh." This was going to be hard to get used to. This dream felt real and it looked detailed enough to be mistakenly called reality as well.

Lauren slowly made her way over to where I was standing with her head hung low, and a sad expression still on her face. Immediately I knew what it was about. "(I'm still very sorry about this...)"

Even though I was furious with my being in Equestria, I couldn't help but understand Lauren’s situation and take pity on her. She would do anything to see her daughter's again as I will do anything to see my sister again. I was all she had left and now I couldn't stop thinking about how she's getting along without me. Mya was only twelve at this point and I really hoped she could manage until I got back.

I bent down until I was eye level with her lowered head and I waited for her to turn her gaze upwards to me. When she eventually did look up from the ground, I delivered the much-needed comfort that I've been purposely with holding.

"Lauren, I want you to know I'm not mad at you for what you did. I am however frustrated that I can't be there for my little sister right now. But I've taken the time to think this through and I realized that I am willing to do anything to go back home. Just as you were willing to do anything to go back home yourself. I understand your viewpoint to a certain degree, and I forgive you."

Tears started to appear at the corners of the alicorn's eyes and her lips started to tremble. The obvious question was then asked. "(...Why?)"

"Because everyone needs a second chance." My smile seemed to remind her of our conversation with luna from earlier today. She forgave Luna for turning on her sister and trying to take over the world. That type of forgiveness was something that touched my heart.

Lauren started to choke on her sad whimpers and silent words fought to escape her lips. "(T-Th-Th-ank you.)"

"Your welcome."

Rising up and standing tall, I looked about changing the scenery. I wanted to change the mood somehow. Closing my eyes, I thought hard about a picture, the image of a beautiful beach. Once I opened them I saw that rather than the entire image I thought about, it was still mixed in with buildings and houses from the MLP universe.

"Hmm neat."

"(What, the random background change?)" Lauren questioned looking perplexed.

"No, the fact that both you and I have control of only half the dream." I demonstrated my point by thinking of some other backgrounds. The world's that I brought in switched at a rapid pace and the only things that stayed the same was the cottages and buildings from the My Little Pony universe.

"The part that's not changing is your half of the dream."

"(Oh I guess that is quite interesting. Perhaps we should experiment and find out how the dreamscape works with two imaginations in one body.)" Lauren said wiping the tears out of her eyes.

"That's a good idea but, instead how about we have an imagination battle." A wide grin spread across my face at the idea. I may not bug her about forcing me here but I was still going to make sure she paid.

"(A what?)" She asked; her head tilting slightly.

"We can have a tournament to see who is more creative you or I. The winner of each night gets to make the decisions during the day." I explained, and I couldn't help but feel quite proud of my plan to get back at her. My passenger seemed to like the suggestion and her spirits quickly improved.

"(Challenge accepted! I have a millennium of experience on you, and I designed Equestria, what do you have?)" Faust gloated.

"I've been an anime nerd since I was thirteen so I've got about seven years of Japanese chaotic ideas stored up. I think it will be a pretty good match."

"(We shall see Alex, but not right now. Because we are going to be walking up soon)."

"How do you know that?"

“(The dreams here only seem to last fifteen minutes in this world. We have been here for ten minutes and five isn't nearly enough time for a battle.)"

"Fine." I grumbled. We spent the rest of the time making plans for our tournament. I suggested having discord as a judge but apparently Lauren doesn't feel safe letting the entity of chaos fiddle with her mental state. Jump scares were against the rules because of one of us got frightened enough then the dream would end. The final rule was if your opponent used an idea then you couldn't use the same one against them. Then we ran out of time.

Upon waking, I instantly got the sense that I wasn't alone in the room. Even though my eyes were shut the presence in the room was unsettling as the figure, or figures waited. I shifted my ears around and even stopped breathing for a brief moment in order to hear any signs of hostility. Once a minute or two had passed I slowly opened my eyes and sat up. Three figures stood in front of me, one was the maid I met yesterday, the other two were Colgate and Lyra.

Lyra was the pony who stood out to me because it was terrifying. I had only been here one day and she had been able to locate the only human within this dimension. Their watchful gaze and silent presence slowly became more and more disturbing as time went on. So taking their silence as a hint, I figured I was the one who was supposed to address them. I was royalty now after all. "Hello, what's up?"

"Princess Celestia has requested we attend to you, and your personal care. I am Minuette, this is Lyra and she is Lillybreeze. We are happy to meet you Miss..."

Unfortunately, I've never been much of a morning person so I wasn't completely sober in my thinking ability."Alex James Smith, nice to meet you."

Everypony seemed taken aback at my answer, and it wasn't until they tried to address my name with the title of princess did I realize my mistake.

"Oh shit!" I silently cursed.

"Actually, just call me Lauren, the other name I went by in some other dimension so it's irrelevant now." It kind of hurt realizing how true that statement was.

" Um.. anyway Celestia is waiting downstairs in the dining hall for you. Do you require any assistance before you leave? Perhaps one of us could brush your mane?"

"No, but thank you Lillybreeze."

"Your highness, I'd strongly suggest you comb your mane before going downstairs. Your hair is all over the place." Minuette tried to support her point by levitating a hand mirror over to me so I could see my drastic bed head. Why do they even have had mirrors?

"Hmm... I kinda like it. It gives a fun look to my appearance. What about you girls? Don't you think I look dashing?!" I gave a dramatic pose with my last comment, hoping to get a few laughs, but instead, it looked like that couldn't tell if it was a joke.

"You're right it does look good messy." Minuette quickly commented. She looked back to her co-workers for support but they didn't answer. Her answer and enthusiasm were obviously forced making her last statement a lie. So to fix that I narrowed my eyes at Minuette with a glare of disapproval. She seemed to shrink under my gaze.

"Listen Minuette, I'm not the type of person who likes being lied to. Just a moment ago you were arguing against my messy look but now that I've stated my acceptance to my appearance you suddenly changed your mind. Stick to what you believe and don't try to tickle my ears with empty words. That goes for you too."

The mares all nodded their heads in unison and a tinge of fear. However, it really bugged me that Colgate was so quick to suck up to me. I've always hated it when people did so in the past, so I always had some form of that speech ready, just in case. Thankfully it just came in handy.

"Well then, I best be off." Hopping down off the bed I started to make my way to the dining hall. I could hear the sigh of relief once I left the room.

"Hmm, I guess the ponies in this world are quite scared of authority. I'll have to remember that in the future." I began thinking about using my intimidating position to troll the servants. Unfortunately though my train of thought was interrupted by a sudden act of karma. I forgot that I was on the second floor and fell down the stairs. It was a spiral staircase too, so my poor self fell down like a rag doll hugging the far edge of the wall all the way down due to the law of centripetal force.

Once I reached the bottom of the stairs I laid limp on the floor wallowing in pain. I glanced up to see two guards ponies standing at the base of the stairs, they refused to acknowledge my situation or even look at me. Any person knows to help someone who had fallen down and got hurt, but these jerks didn't even bat an eye at my generally painful situation. Fifty-four stairs are quite painful when you have stupid wings and a horn!

Slowly pushing myself up I glanced at the guards; pushed his side a little and he fell over revealing the mandatory in Canterlot inscription. Stupid mannequins, I gave a quick snort, and started walking. Coming across the dining hall doors, I took a deep breath and pushed the doors wide. Celestia was at the far end of the room sipping a cup of tea, and reading the paper. She glanced up from her reading and gave me a glad smile. "I was beginning to worry your being here was another dream."

"Sorry Tia, you're stuck with me." I shrugged.

"Glad to hear it. Is there anything I can get you mother?"

"No thanks, I'm just here for conversation. How does your usual day go?" I started to make my way over to Celestia so I could hear her better, eventually sitting down beside her seat.

"Mother, please don't remind me of my duties they are hardly enjoyable enough while doing them."

"Okay then, make any new friends over the past years?'’

"A few, but I had become distant from others once I realized that the more ponies I get to know, the more I'll have to lose." Her mood saddened as she pondered the relationships she used to have.

"Well you got me Luna, Cadence, and Twilight now, so at least, you're not alone."

"Who told you about Twilight and Cadence?"

"Oh.. Um Luna did after you went to sleep." Oops...

Suddenly green fire came blazing through the window. I immediately ducked for cover, it's not every day you see a flame about the size of a football dance around the room. It found its place in front of Celestia materializing into a letter. The white alicorn glanced my direction and started to laugh."Oh, mother don't worry it's only a price of paper." Celestia teased shaking the letter around in her magical grip.

"I-it's not funny! That thing almost hit me!"

"Mother this spell can't hurt ponies even if it comes directly in contact with them."

I gave her an annoyed stare. “So.. what does it say?"

Dear Princess Celestia
Today I learned it's not good to jump to conclusions. You have to find out all the facts before saying somepony did something. If you don't, you could end up blaming somepony for something they never did. This could hurt their feelings. And it could make you feel really foolish. So from now on, I will make sure to always get all the facts.

From Pinkie Pie

"So.. is that a child writing you or something?" I knew who pinkie pie was obviously, but I wanted to make a point that had been nagging at me ever since my sister tied me to that desk chair and forced me to watch the entire series.

"What would make you think that Mom? Pinkie Pie is in her early twenties"

"It just seemed a bit like common knowledge for some-pony in their adult age." I stated as I stared straight with a deadpan expression.

At hearing that, Celestia gave me another one of her patented mischief grins. "Mother just because you have had the years to figure things out doesn't mean everypony else has had such time to do so."

"Whatever.. so... what's on the schedule today?" I said trying to change the subject to something that's not my age.

"Hmm... let me think, breakfast, then court, then lunch, then court once more until eight [2:00 PM] then I finish the paperwork to record all the political details throughout the day." When I heard that, I must say that I was surprised. And here I thought that Sun Butt just sat on her royal behind all day.

"Wow, you do that every day?"

She chuckled. " No, I only have this schedule on Sundays. Usually, I try to find a way to attend parties, make public appearances and travel abroad to get out of that routine."

"I can see why."

A little bell rang beside Celestia's teacup signaling breakfast was over. "I have to get going, do you want to come along or continue to readjust?" After I had just found out more details about her job, I must say I wasn't exactly eager to take part in it.

Thinking of an excuse I said,"I think I'll stay here to practice my magic. It's been years since I've done so, I don't even think I remember how to do it." To my relief she seemed satisfied with my answer. She got up and began walking to the doors.

"If you find you're having any trouble with magic just let me know and I'll teach you how. Or I could get you to learn from Twilight, although I don't know how she would react to the task of teaching you."
She said, and I couldn't help but warmly smile.

"Okay, thanks for the offer. I'll see what I can do first. See you later."

"The same to you mother." With that, Celestia walked out of the room to go to the royal court.

I had made my way up to the room that I woke up in the other day. The vivid memory of waking up as a pony and having my blood run cold made me grin. I had always been quiet and self-reserved back when I was home. But now I'm wandering around with someone else's body, I couldn't help but notice how rapidly I was becoming more open to joking around. It felt comfortable now for some reason.

"So how do I magic?" I said to myself looking at my reflection in the polished silver mirror. I had grabbed a book on the way up here that dealt with the subject. After all, I couldn't keep using Faust as a get out of jail free card all the time, could I?.

The basics of magic: page 1 the four areas
There are four key areas that need attention when conducting magic of any kind. Knowledge, love, visualization, and will. Knowledge helps the user to define what their goal is and how to achieve it. Love is the source of magic’s power, once you unify your heart with your horn then things are a case of will. Visualization and will go together as one, the controller must define a goal and visualize every step to achieve it.

I gave a pause from my reading, then I double checked what it said. "So what is saying is all I need to do is define a goal and will it to happen by love? If this is all that's required then magic will be easy." I shut the book and set it down on my bed.

Taking a few steps back, I started to imagine the book floating above the bed. I focused the emotions of my heart into the tip of my horn, and in a daydream-like state, I saw the book rise and spin around. Refocusing on reality, I found that that is exactly what was going on.

"So all that is really needed is the ability to visualize something happening?" I asked myself in surprise. But what I wasn't expecting was to get an answer, "Yes, that's about it." I turned; startled, to find princess Cadence in the doorway.

"...Hello." I said trying to be polite, but I couldn't shake the look of confusion of my face.

"Celestia told me I could find you here; It's very nice to meet you, Lauren. I've heard so much about you." Smiling, I made my way over to her. I was going to try to give a hoof shake but once I got in range, Cadence threw her hooves around my neck.

"Princesses don't shake hooves, Princesses gotta hug." Well to say the least, I fell over laughing when I heard that quote. Cadence fell down with me, and was now the one to have a confused look on her face. "Was it something I said?"

I sat there for a moment as I tried to get a hold of myself, but all that I was able to do was get it down to a few chuckles. "Sorry- sorry, that comment reminded me of a funny show I saw while I was away," I explained through my relentless snickering.

"Oh, okay." She smiled. Getting up, I did my best to dust myself off from the fuzz covered floor. " Sorry about the dust, I really let this place go." We laughed a little bit more before calming down. I made my way back into the room beside the bed.

"So what are you working on?"

"I'm trying to figure out magic."

"What do you mean?"

"The other world I was in didn't have magic, plus I was a different species. So I kind of forgot over time. Although after looking through this book it seems.. simple."

"What have you learned so far?"

"I've just read the introduction, but I've already mastered levitation from it. I bet I could grab hold off all the dust in this room and put it into one spot!"

Cadence gave me a skeptical look, "Well, you could try, but I doubt it. It takes years to master such multitasking."

"Bet ya ten bits I can do it." I nudged her side as I began to imagine the dust moving off the floor.

Celestia had the unfortunate duties of day court. Each nobel citizen demanding that their wants be satisfied like a rotten child demands of their parents. Currently, the headache she was dealing with was a noble pony by the name of Currency Driver. He was a banker who wanted the royal funds to go to a private pool within his home. To say the least, the selfish and ridiculous things ponies would come up with boggled her mind.

"So you see your highness, a pool within my residence would be a logical thing to do to care for my condition." That condition being he's too weak.

Rubbing her temples, Celestia began to wonder what other ludicrous things would arise within her court. Every day was torture dealing with these ponies who felt they deserved favor from royalty. At least, she knew nothing could be more ridiculous than that pony who claimed Celestia should seal Luna in the moon again for rejecting his request to tear down an orphanage for a recreation center.

Suddenly the doors to the throne room burst open and an off white alicorn accompanied by a pink alicorn frantically ran in. "Auntie! We need your help! Where can we put this!" Cadence quickly said pointing to a faint red glow being held in Faust's telekinesis.

"What is it?"

The crimson maned alicorn suddenly spoke up. "It's a dust bomb." She seemed to be under a lot of strain.

"A what?" Celestia turned her head in confusion.

"Auntie that speck is all the dust from her room collected into one spot. If she lets go then it will explode!"

Hope fluttered in the co-rulers chest; perhaps this stupid matter could get her out of day court.

"I'm sorry Currency but our meeting will have to be postponed." This got a grumble out of the noble but he was too cowardly to openly protest against the princess.

"Your highness, if I may so ask, who is that?" Currency stated pointing a hoof at the newest alicorn in Equestria.

"That, my little pony is my mother, Lauren Faust."

It took a couple seconds for the stallion to register what that meant and quickly he turned to Laurens direction. His eyes seemed to expand to unreal proportions and he slammed his face into the red carpet. He bowed so suddenly his head bounced on it a little bit and he became unconscious.

The pitiful sight of the noble who knocked himself out brought Laurens eyes to tears as she tried not to laugh. Cadence and Celestia quickly ran over in an attempt to calm the mare down before she lost her concentration. The mares laughter only grew as both princesses desperately tried to calm her down. Then Celestia tripped on Currency.

From the outside of the castle, the stain glass windows suddenly became black, and no light passed through for days.

Looking forward with steady determination I clapped my hands together much like one does when praying. The resulting hum emitted and crackling of electricity brought a wide grin to my face. Slamming my hands into the ground of the arena, the electricity that danced around my fingers dove into the foundation of the stage.

“Biggity bam!... Magic!” For a brief moment, I saw my opponent give a look of confusion. Then within the sparks a wall suddenly rose from the ground, protecting me from the incoming magic blasts that had been sent my way. Faust's missiles crashed into my wall and easily exploded my protective barrier causing It to come down on top of me with a loud crumbling sound.

As the dust cleared and I crawled out of the mountain of rubble, I began to see the form of a battle ready alicorn charging up a spell. Her silhouette was terrifying and the glow from her horn only grew. She fired some type of laser blast in my direction, and the heat radiating off of it could be felt from where I was. The dust quickly separated, almost fleeing from the red ball of death, and it's wake.

“(A wall? Come on kid can't you do better than that?)” The alicorn's taunts boomed in my mind as I tried to think of something to counter her attack before it reached me. So far nothing came to mind, and the heat was gradually increasing as the death ball got closer.

“(Awww the look of despair is so clear, I guess I win. You don't have the time!)” Faust continued to mock me hoping for me to accept defeat and allow her victory. But I wasn't ready to give in just yet.

“Shi Shi hokodan!”

A blast of ki shot out of my hands and the two red orbs met in the center of the arena. The result was a blast that swept me and my opponent off our feet and near the edges of the impossibly long stage. When I got up I noticed my opponent had decided to back up and put some distance between the two of us. She was waiting patiently holding the same stoic expression that Celestia was so accustomed to.

As we stared each other down a buzzer went off signaling the ten-minute mark had been reached. I smirked. "I think it's time to finish this Lauren."

"(Agreed, we are both on opposite sides of the stage whoever knocks the other off wins.)"

Lauren got into her respective attack stance ready to unleash her next attack. I responded by crouching down and cupping my hands together at my side. This time, I had the time to charge.

Lauren started some sort of spell that from my point of view was absorbing the elections from the elements around her. It began dissolving the stage, making it a pile of dust. As our power increased the used to be stage blew away in an unfeeling wind.

I was getting giddy, my next attack was something I had been wanting to experience for years now and if it worked it would win this night's tournament for sure.

"Ka-me-ha-ahhh!"

My moment of glory was short-lived as my back was singed with the stinging sensation of a magic blast. My opponent and I both looked the direction where the blast came from. And to our horror there stood Luna with an angry scowl at the creature that dared attack her mother. That creature being me. Her battle stance made my passenger's angry gaze look like a cat stretching in the morning. Luna was a different story from Lauren in every respect. She wore a look of pure rage, and even though this was a dream I could feel her power radiating off of her.

"Do not fret mother, I shall remove thy nightmare from thy dream." She ground her teeth saying those words as she tried to bore holes into me by her staring eyes.

Luna lurched her head forward and a beam of magic shot out. The diameter would have to be ten feet across and there was no way out for me. "Oh, crap baskets!" Was the last thing I said before I was so violently woken up by the sensation of my flesh burning.

I awoke with a sudden jolt and discovered myself to be in a cold sweat. That dream had just been a little too much for me to handle. A ghostly pain still spread through my body and my heartbeat remained rampant.

After two minutes of steadily controlled breathing, I managed to get myself calm enough to notice the feeling of drowsiness come upon me. As I flopped back down onto my pillow I heard a muffled groan of irritation. Snapping my head to my side, I saw Celestia cuddling a portion of my blankets. I jumped back in surprise of my visitor and accidentally knocked Luna off the other side of the bed. We both tumbled down to the floor with hollering shrieks.

Once Luna and I hit the floor she basically shot herself out of the dream realm and back into reality. Quickly she got into a defensive stance and readied herself for any possible attack. Luna held her position until she realized where she was, then she turned to face me.

I was just sitting on the ground with a stupid look on my face. When she saw me, she calmed down and sat beside me. Turning to face her I asked in a stern whisper. “What are you and Celestia doing in my bed?”

“We thought it good to catch up on old times.” The alicorns uncomfortable fidgeting and pouting face quickly began to subdue my rage.

“You both nearly gave me a heart attack.” I deadpanned.

“We art sorry mother, if thou wish Tia and I shall remain in our quarters.”

“Mother?...”

“Hmm?”

“What's wrong?” Luna looked at me with an intense expression of worry.

“It's nothing Luna. I just, I was just surprised. There's no need for you to change and stay in your portion of the castle. What makes you happy makes me happy.”

The night princess gave me a soft smile and leaned her head against my shoulder. “Thank th-you mom.”

After the moment had passed, Luna seemed to remember something and looked up at me. “For what reason did thouest wake? I made sure no nightmare entered thy dreams.” I sighed at her question. Her innocence was annoyingly something that made Luna impossible to stay mad at. Even if she did turn me into dust in the dream realm. Nuzzling my new daughter I began to think up an explanation for her question; one that wouldn't divert too far from the truth.

“ Well... In the other world that I was in, fighting with a friend or rival was done in such a way. The place we were in was a fighting arena for a tournament. Even if it had looked like an intense battle the other figure you saw in the dream was actually a friend of mine.”

Giving Luna a few seconds for my rushed explanation to sink in, she suddenly looked horrified. “Mother I'm so sorry I did not know thy nightmare was a dream!”

“It's fine, it's not like you actually killed him. I'll just finish my match some other time. Perhaps you could be the judge of who wins.”

“If I may so ask, what is the battle th-you have with the creature?”

“A battle of imagination. Both ponies and humans have come up with fictional attacks and abilities. Our battle was to see which imaginary attacks would best the other. Tonight the rule was that we were only allowed to attack with blasts.”

“It sounds quite simple, but how would you know what your friend would attack with?”

“Um.. because I've known him for a long time.” I began to feel my nerves rising, everyone knows the more a person lies the harder it is to keep it a secret. And I was always a bad at lying. Hoping to change the subject I searched the room for any form of a distraction. While doing so I glanced at the time. The clock showed it was nine twenty-two in the night.

At least showing to the clocks in this world. Normally on earth the proper timing would be six or so in the morning and one could see the light flickering over the mountaintops. However looking out the window one could see the vast darkness that enveloped the world.

“So, around what time do you two change shifts?” I decided to play dumb.

Luna followed my gaze to the window and got what I was getting at. She paused almost as if she was trying to think of a proper response.

“Would t-you like it to be day?”

I held in a chuckle at the sight of Luna's growing frustration with herself. Ever since I arrived and spoke with modern speech, Luna decided to begin her efforts to speak in the current form of equestrian again. It was a comical process.

“No, not necessarily the night is quite comfortable. I just wanted to know when the switch was. Every time I wake up it's already morning.”

“Oh, then it's when the clock says twelve.”

“So it's around three hours from now. What do you say about us heading to the kitchen? I kind of feel up to a late night snack."

Luna just gave me a small nod. We both got up and silently made our way to the door. Traveling on the tips of our hooves so as to not wake Celestia from her sleep. When we reached the door ‘my daughter’ looked to me with wide worried eyes.

“Magic is too loud we will have to use our hooves,” She warned.

I nodded in acknowledgment and stood ready to open the grand entrance. Right before I opened the gate separating me and my food; Luna quietly but sternly questioned my methods on the old door.

“How dost ye hope to open the door without it squeaking?”

“We open it really really fast.”

We reached a silent agreement and we both took our positions. Luna got the door lock, and I swung the tall wall as fast as it would open.

Both Luna and I cringed at the loud but fast shriek of the door’s hinges. Snapping our heads towards the other occupant in the room, we saw the noise we caused seemed to be of minor concern to Celestia as she slept. Really that mare can sleep well for someone who rules the world of the conscious.

As we walked down the hall on the main floor, I decided it would be best to make conversation and learn about my new friend slash daughter."So has anything interesting happened over the past few days during the night?"

"Nothing really, it would seem all the mischief happens during the day; such as the throne room's new paint job."

"It was a mistake! That noble knocked himself out bowing when he learned who I was. How was I supposed to keep my concentration while I was laughing?!"

Luna let out a chuckle as she continued to torment me with my past mistake."Sorry mother but it is humorous. The way cadence and Tia looked with a black coat, all I could see was their eyes."

"Whatever, let's just get something to eat," I grumbled earning another round of laughter from the princess.

Eventually, the doors to the kitchen became visible at the end of the hallway, and at seeing how distant it was, I quickened my pace. Luna, however, seemed content with her current speed. If we wanted to eat before daybreak is had to do something about that.

“Race ya.” I winked at ‘my’ daughter and started into a full gallop.

“Hey, that is not fair! Thouest started early!”

Soon, however, I found myself being overtaken by the dark mare. Her tall stature giving her an unfair advantage in running speeds.

“Awww... Damn your long legs!” I cursed at the dark mare venting my frustration. This body was supposed to be all powerful damn it.

Luna responded to my complaint by looking back at me and blowing a raspberry. “Too bad mother you lose!”

(Bang!)

Unfortunately, for Luna, her long legs were too much of an advantage. Her talking her focus off the race for a brief moment caused her to lose track of where she was going. She ended up ramming her face into the flat surface of the wall.

While I stifled a burst of laughter at Luna's unfortunate loss, however, my focus gradually became diverted from the dazed princess to the kitchen door. It was slightly ajar, and as far as I knew there was no pony making food or working during the night on meals. At least not at this hour.

While pushing the door open, I saw a flicker of green light illuminate the walls of the kitchen. The light was accompanied by a familiar sound of flames flowing upward and dancing through the air.

Preparing myself for any jump scares I slowly made my way to the door frame and waited. My preparedness, however, became a waste when I eventually let my guard down. I took another step into the royal kitchen only to bump into Lillybreeze making a hasty retreat. Her sudden appearance startled me to no end as I fell on my flank.When she laid eyes on me she skidded to a stop and dreaded fear covered her face. She'd been caught, by the queen of Equestria.

While I had my little stare down with my maid Luna managed to pick herself up from the hallway floor. She trotted over to my side overlooking what happened and continued to try reading into the situation.

“Luna if you don't mind could you go into the kitchen I need to talk with Lillybreeze for a moment.” My voice was stern and cold. It unintentionally drew, even more, fear from the mare in front of me.

‘My daughter’ stared at me for a moment in bewilderment then slowly she obeyed and made her way inside the kitchen door, closing it after her. Once I was alone with my subject I turned my attention back to Lillybreeze. Somehow she sank even more under my gaze. “It's okay, I’m not mad at you. I just want to talk.”

The maid looked up at me with pleading eyes then back to the kitchen door. At seeing her concern, my frustration spiked for a moment, and I punched the door. My actions earned a muffled cry of pain from the other side of the wall. I let out a sigh. “Let's continue this elsewhere.”

Taking in our surroundings, I looked for the closest place to talk privately. I walked into the dining hall while being followed by my hesitant maid. Once inside I locked the doors with my newfound magical ability so that there would be no interruptions. I felt kind of sad for the form of the poor mare shaking in fear.

“If it's alright with you could you drop your disguise, and tell me your real name?”

As soon as I stated my requests she began violently shaking in fear crouching down before me covering her head. “I-It's p-princess Adorilin.”

A flash of green flames covered the shivering mare. Revealing small changeling queen barely the size of myself. Her hair was more blue than green and the holes in her legs nearly ran all the way up to her knees.

“Hmm.. nice name. What brings you to Canterlot Ador-el-lin?” The changeling shuttered, then after a few false starts, she began to speak.

“I came to warn about my mother, Queen Chrysalis. She's coming soon to take over Canterlot but I don't know when. All I know is they have an army and they will destroy this kingdom if they get the chance.”

The princess continued to hide under her hooves shaking steadily as if waiting for me to deliver an execution. “So you've come to help in defiance of your mother? Why?”

“I was thrown out of my hive. Because I believed their plan would end in failure. I told them a hundred or so starving changelings vs three alicorns and the elements of harmony would only end in defeat. I thought that ponies and changelings could work together instead. So I was cast out for blasphemy against the Queen.”

The little changeling looked up at me with tear strained eyes. She suddenly grabbed hold of my hooves and wept bitterly with a sorrow that could not be faked. She had lost everything dear to her for trying to protect her people. I knew what it was like to lose everything you hold dear and so did my passenger.

“So, you lost everyone. All your loved ones cast you out and now you've come to try to prevent them from hurting themselves. How noble of you.” I placed my hoof on her head in a gesture to mimic a hug.

“I only have one more question. Was Lillybreeze a figure you made up or is the a mare somewhere incapacitated while you pretend to be her?

“I-I copied a mare from Appleloosa then changed up what I could to make it my own.” Adorilin put her head down in a shameful pout.

A smile grew on my face at hearing no one was hurt or kidnapped in the process of her coming to Canterlot. “Good to hear, as of now I consider you my subject and my friend.”

Adorilin stammered up in shock. “W-what, why?”

“Because, I can relate to losing everything you hold dear and having to leave behind those you care for. You have a good record with me and I would be honored if you'd consider me as a friend, not just a superior. If you ever have any problems just ask I'm always willing to listen.

“...Thank you.”

Later after saying our goodnights Adorilin put on her disguise once more and began to walk out the door. She stopped before making it all the way out and turned to face me.

“Does this mean that I'm still your maid?”

I have her a light chuckle. “Yeah for the sake of keeping your disguise believable I think we'll have to go with that. At least for now.”

“Okay..”

The proto Queen then returned to her room and I turned to the kitchen.

As I walked into the kitchen I saw an expectant Luna waiting for some type of explanation of what everything was about. Ignoring her I made my way to the cupboard looking for something to snack on. "So what would you like for breakfast? Or would it be considered dinner in your case?"

The night princess continued to stare me down for a few more seconds then she decided it was a futile effort. “I already got my food.”

"Alright, then it's just me. Wheat cereal, that's the second cupboard to the left." I said reminding myself where I found it last time.

"How dost thouest know where the food is? Normally I'd get my attendants to get us our meal."

"Well, when I arrived last week I was kinda hungry. I ended up clearing out the cupboards on the left side of the kitchen over there."

Luna gave me a slight grin and continued to eat her meal.

When day broke, I decided to take a walk through the halls of the castle and possibly figure out how to navigate through the endless corridors. The guards had begun to show me respect and now the castle staff viewed me as someone who was somewhat approachable. Especially since I got my carrying bag, it seemed to hide my wings well. So on walks like this, I put a couple of books in them to look somewhat normal and more like a unicorn.

Rounding a corner, I found myself bumping into a stallion. I fell to the ground whereas the stallion I hit dropped his drink on his white coat straining it red.

“Oh sorry,” I said rubbing the side of my head. “I didn't see ya there.”

“You should be sorry peasant!”

“Huh?”

Looking up in my confusion at the unknown figure, I saw to my dissatisfaction that it was none other than Prince Blueblood. I hadn't really met him yet but the impression I got from the show was that he was an asshat who was too proud of his title.

“Because of you, my jacket is stained.”

“So? Clean it.” I deadpanned. My lack of caring and begging for forgiveness seemed to bring the Prince to a new level of frustration. His brow narrowed and his small frown turned into a large scowl.

“So?... So!? Do you even know who I am! Such a low life as yourself couldn't even imagine your lack of importance in comparison to me! You should be bowing and kissing my hooves! I am Prince Blueblood of the royal family! And so help me I'll have Faust herself rain down Tartarus on you if you ever show me less respect than I deserve!”

When Blueblood finished his little rant. He was nearly pushing his face into mine, and his eyes bore into my own. The guards and castle staff who were present all froze. It was as if time had stopped while the staff waited to see if the young Prince would be vaporized on the spot. I myself couldn't help but laugh to myself at the last comment the Prince said.

“Tell me.” I stood back up. “Do you know who I am?”

Blueblood looked at me a moment before answering. “No.”

“Do you know where I am in the scale of power? Or how important I am to Equestria?”

“..No”

“Then tell me this, how does a colt like yourself simply just look at those around you and assume superiority over them. Here there was an accident between us; I apologized. You, however, took my apology as a sign of weakness and began to insult me for no reason. Well, no reason other than you feel you more important than me because of your royal position. If you treat your subjects like dirt just because they aren't of the same social status as you, then you don't deserve to call yourself a Prince.”

“How dare you lecture me! I know where I stand and it's at the top of the classes. I know all those who are of the same status. I know you're a lowlife because of the way you look. Your mane is as unkempt as the rest of you. When you make a name for yourself then you may speak with me.” The Prince turned to leave holding his head up in a haughty manner.

“Oh if you only knew.. then you'd be the one bowing to my hooves, and sucking up to me like a spoiled brat that wants something from his parents.” I muttered to myself.

“Silence!” The Prince unknown to me somehow heard my comment and lashed out in rage. The thought of him bowing to a commoner was bad enough, but begging like a child, he would not have it. He hit me on both cheeks causing my face to sting in pain and then he threw me to the ground.

“I'll never bow to those who are lesser than me! Never!”

At the sight of the young Prince hitting the Queen straight across the face, the castle staff began to quake with fear and run for safety. Never before had a pony heard about a pony being foolish enough to hit the Princesses let alone their ‘superior’. All those who dared to show such disrespect were severely punished. The air began to smell of dread.

I began to push myself up from the floor, wincing at the pain of the hoof marks on my jaw. My own anger building up. “You know I was thinking maybe.. just maybe, I could let you off with a warning.”

I was standing now and during my getting up my carrying bag fell off, exposing my wings for all to see. Once Blueblood saw the feathered appendages his face suddenly contorted to fear. I stood up on my hind hooves and my wings stretched out.

“But we're far past warnings, and it's time you learn your place!” Swiftly, I delivered a high kick to the prince's face. He rocketed him across the room and crashed into a painting on the wall. Dust and debris floated around the area, and his dazed form hung from the shrapnel that pierced his strained jacket.

Standing tall and spreading my wings in a way to impress, I began walking towards his hanging figure. “Prince Blueblood.” My voice was stern and demanded attention. Blueblood’s dazed face looked up at me. A newfound fear written on his face.

“You have looked down on me, insulted me, stricken me across the face, and threw me to the ground. Such actions to the Queen of Equestria is near treason. Any self-respecting man should know he brings great dishonor upon himself if he dares to even think of striking others! People like you who don't show any respect for others yet demand it of themselves are one of the reasons I began to lose faith in humanity!”

I was halfway to Blueblood at this point and my wrath-induced rant had caused me to be deprived of air. I was practically panting, I guess during my speech I had been so focused on the contents of it that I had forgotten to breathe. Quickly getting my panting under control, I regained my focus on Blueblood. The Prince gave me a weak but confused stare. One that he'd been wearing since my last word… humanity.

Realizing my mistake I did my best to ignore his questioning look as well as the castle staff that had remained close enough to watch. They all looked on to me with a single thought. What is humanity?

I gave a brief sigh of annoyance, and then stared up at the Prince. Hoping that if I ignored their questioning stares maybe they'd forget about it. “I'll pardon your error for now because you've been repaid for your crimes. But if I catch you treating any mare or anypony for that matter, like you have dealt with me, the results will be far worse than today. Is that understood.”

The Prince eagerly shook his head. “Yes, ma'am. I'll never do it again ma'am.”

“Good.” Satisfied, I turned to the castle staff who were understandably keeping their distance and called them to me.

“Somepony get him down. I'm going for a walk.” With that, I left the scene.

Trotting out of the castle, I left Blueblood with the castle staff. I couldn't help but feel a slight sense of glee as I thought back to how I dealt with him. That and I had managed to avoid the human explanation.

“Nah, I didn't give him brain damage. He already owned that right. I just repaid him for his inability to think. That idol of idiot worshippers had it coming sooner or later.”

“Agreed.”

While I made my way around outside of the palace I decided to really take in my surroundings and explore the majestic architecture of Canterlot. My attention turned to the little shops on the side streets, and to the vast sea of nobles parading through the city. Everyone didn't even seem to give me a second glance. It was a nice feeling, not being known. I knew it would have to end sometime, but I also knew I'd miss merely being perceived as a unicorn with an extra long horn.

Trotting around the gardens, I passed by discord and waved hello. I wished I could see how he'd react to my being here; well in this body at least. I told him about how my run in with Blueblood went, and a little bit about Adorilin. I hope it did a little too brighten up his day. Discord was always my favorite. However when bystanders started to stare at the crazy mare talking to statutes I weirdly waved goodbye and departed hoping to find something else to take up my time.

While in deep thought, I wandered aimlessly through the outer parts of the castle. For several hours, I was zigzagging around through the courtyards and little shops on the side.

Eventually, while walking through a nice garden with a stone pathway, I looked up and saw it. The Canterlot royal library; the very same one shown in episode one of the show. As soon as I recognized it I began running to the doors. Everything I could ever want to learn about magic was in there, and I'd be fairly irresponsible if I wasn't prepared for defending myself our my new nation, right? Yeah, that's the reason. In no way was I going to abuse this power to have fun.

After my short run to and hike up the stairs, I trotted up and tried pushing on the doors open with no success. Again and again, I tried to push open the door to no avail, then after five minutes of trying I gave up and sat down. Looking up at the door again I saw the sign on the left that said pull to open.

Getting up and pulling the door open as instructed, I found the library abandoned. It was exactly the same as it was after twilight left in episode one. Near the shelves on the far side of the room laid a present box skewered through by a dragon's tail. Books were littered along the floor and papers decorated the desks in a similar manner. It made me feel somewhat sad to see the state of the place. I liked libraries.

“I must say this is a little different than I thought it would be. I'd, at least, expect someone to visit the library after twilight left.” My partner didn't reply, she was probably just as lost for words as I was. So far since I came to Equestria I had been using Faust as a get out of jail free card when it came to magic. But now that I've got the library I can learn how to use this body while I have it.

“So I've mastered levitation magic, now I can build on it and learn harder stuff.”

“I've mastered it because it's easy now. You remember cadence still owes me ten bits because of it.”

“What do you mean? How many things?”

“What! That's insane nopony can do that!”

I suddenly felt pushed out of control as Faust regained her horn for a moment. Its faint red glow surrounded the rod, and before me, all the books papers and the present was put away at the same time without strain or a lack of order. I caught myself holding my breath as I was awestruck by the amount of concentration that must have taken. That was at least two hundred books!

Suddenly our horn lit up again throwing all the books and papers in the room so they would land in a random spot. “Alright I got this the first day I was here I did a high difficulty spell to clean our room this shouldn't be much different, it's just putting books away.”

Four hours, and my efforts to lift the books around me with the same precision as my passenger failed miserably. Even now, after all, this time, I was only able to lift thirty books and forty papers. It was something I had originally thought easy, but after my efforts, I had come to the sad realization that it was far more difficult than my expectations.

Each book being different sizes and materials forced my attention to be bound to each one as an individual thought. To say the least the mental strain on me caused my head to hurt. By the end of my session of trying to replicate Faust's demonstration, I was on the ground painting, holding tight to my aching head.

“I agree with stopping, but did well? I couldn't even do thirty percent of what you did, and we are using the same body.”

“Oh, ten books, great results. What results would that be?”

“Damn it all! Fine, I'll find out for myself what I'm getting out of this.”

“ Fine…”

Somehow our pep talk actually managed to change my mind about forgetting magic. Instead, with a new found determination, I decided that I was going to succeed in replicating my passengers ability. Yes, I was going to succeed even if it killed me.

But not today, my fatigue restricted me from any magical strain for the time being. So picking up a book on fire magic I began reading, to learn, and in hopes to find an answer that would speed up my quest to master levitation. I had a feeling I'd be coming here more often.

I'd keep this library clean, organized, and maintained. I was going to be the new librarian. My studying fire magic continued deep into the night, and then eventually sometime during the third hour of the moon's rising the calm relief of sleep took me.

Opening my eyes, I found myself once again in the dream realm. As always I was a human and Faust accompanied me in my dreams. But this dream was different somehow. Instead of the large stone arena, Lauren and I laid in reclining beach chairs. We sat overlooking the vast ocean while enjoying the shade of the palms.

“What's up Lauren? Why aren't we in the arena?” My passenger turned her focus away from the sea and gave me a smirk that said I really should have been able to figure it out.

“(I figured after that little session at the library we deserved some relaxation. Or would you rather fight?)”

I let out a quiet chuckle as I readjusted myself in my seat. “No, I'd rather enjoy this, thanks.” We sat on the beach enjoying the rhythmic creating of waves against the shorelines.

“Lauren.”

“(Yes?)”

“Thanks for being here for me.”

“(.. What do you mean?)”

“Well, it's just. I've lost everything, and through all of this, you've been there to help me out.”

“(Yeah but don't forget that I AM the reason you're here kid. I kind of feel a sense of responsibility for that.)”

“Heh, true. Is that why you let me have control of the body?”

“(W-what!?)” The ancient alicorn's eyes opened wide in shock.

“There's no denying it, I know you can claim this body at any time you want. You've done it before, and from what I've seen it doesn't take a lot of energy out of you.”

Lauren was shifting around on her seat in a nervous fashion. “(Well you see… the truth is...)”

I quickly interrupted her, “Hey, no more talk about truth or lies. Let's just enjoy the dream. With that I reclined back onto the beach chair, summoning up some Pina Coladas for the two of us.

Lauren looked at me her mouth open as if wanting to say something, but then she seemed to decide against it. She picked up her drink and took a small sip. Then after tasting the ambrosial beverage, Lauren began taking large gulps of the intoxicating drink.

Suddenly a loud pop was heard and it was accompanied by the rushing of wind. Upon seeing the dream walker, I felt a shiver crawl down my spine. “I hath come and thy mach shall be judged!” The night princess threw her front hooves into the air expressing her large amount of glee.

Luna took a few moments to realize the lack of an arena or any fighting for that matter. Spinning around, she faced her mother and I relaxing in beach chairs under the Palm trees. At seeing us like that, the mare gave Lauren a look of bewilderment.

“Mother aren't thouest going to have a duel with this creature?”

“Hey! That's human not creature get it right Moon Butt.” I retorted.

Much to my annoyance the short protest I gave went unacknowledged as Luna waited patiently for her mother to reply. I looked over to find the ancient mare sipping on her pina colada and holding up her hoof as if to say ‘a moment’. Apparently she liked those things. Swiftly swallowing her beverage, she regained the ability to speak.

“(Lulu, after the strain I put myself through at the Canterlot library I found it in my best interest to rest in a comfortable environment. So the beach it is!)”

Luna's spark of joy seemed to die out, and her tone of voice turned disappointed. “Oh, okay then, I won't disturb thy relaxation any further.” Luna feeling suddenly like an intruder turned to leave the dream. She opened a portal to exit out of and began walking towards it.

As she stepped one hoof through the portal, I couldn't hold myself back anymore. Luna's sad expression got to me, and I think it always would because it's the same one Mya has when she is sad.“Wait!” I cried out.

Luna paused for a moment before looking at me awkwardly. “For what?”

“Stay.”

“I'm sorry?”

“Stay.”

“Why? I'm not needed here. And why am I talking to you? You're nothing but a dream character.”

“You should stay because your mother is trying to relax. Leaving her after waiting all this time wouldn't help that. So stay, for her.” Then I turned my attention to a very confused Lauren. “When was the last time you took Luna to the beach?” I saw a spark light up in the eyes of the ancient mare at my question.

She looked to Luna for a moment, and then back to me. “(Thanks for reminding me.)” She gave me a small nod and then got up to join her daughter.

Not long after that, I sat and watched smiling at the scene that played before me. Lauren threw Luna into the ocean and then the two began to fight each other in a splash war. It was nice to let Lauren actually be with her kids rather than watching them through my eyes.

The next morning I awoke when I heard the sound of ringing bells and a large door slamming shut. As my consciousness wavered, my eyes gradually began to flutter open. This however instantly became a challenge as my eyelids forced themselves shut beckoning me for more sleep despite my mind's protests.

The stale air that smelt of paper and ink made itself known to my senses. A slight feeling of panic began to set in when I realized I wasn't in my bedroom. My upright position was enough evidence to distinguish that truth. Even though my mind was foggy and my vision was blurred.

I wiped the sleep from my eyes with my front hooves. Clawing at my eyelids until gradually my vision began to clear. While looking at my surroundings, my momentary fear began to subside as the memories of the previous day began to flood back into mind.

As I sat at a study desk on the second floor, my equine ears began to instinctively swivel around. They rotated around until the managed to catch the sound of hooves trotting along the first floor. To be honest, that was one of the things I was having the most difficulty with when it came to adjusting to my new situation. Sure I could handle a different world, different species, and even a different gender, but those ears... they just seemed to get under my skin more than anything else. Weird...

“Your highness! Are you here?” A familiar voice called out from the first floor. I looked up from my study table, and over the balcony only to find myself staring down at my three attendants, Lyra, Minuette, and Lillybreeze. They all looked around in hopes to find me while they carried snacks in their magic. They all looked like they had packed up for a picnic. A picnic that I was sure had enough food for one more, at least, they'd have to make it that way.

“Up here. The second floor.” I called out, my voice was still dry and had the occasional crack at certain points in my speech.

“Alright, be right up!” Lyra yelled.

I began to slide out of my chair and cautiously focused on getting to the ground. It took a few tries but once I was firmly on the floor, I stood straight and headed for the stairs to greet my visitors. Lillybreeze was the first one to reach the top of the staircase, and when she did she paused for a brief moment and then tackled me with a bone crushing hug. One of which I decided to return.

To my surprise tears started to collect in the corners of her eyes, and her form trembled in my embrace. She buried her head in my chest as her sobs of relief drenched my coat.

“I-I...We were so worried when we discovered that you weren't in your room. I thought somepony took you!” At this point I was slowly stroking her mane, I was hopelessly trying my best to comfort the small disguised Proto Queen. At seeing her sorry state, I began to feel a pang of guilt. I decided to make a mental note to let somepony know where I was when I went out. At least, during the time before the wedding, whenever it was going to be.

“I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I merely forgot to inform anyo-pony that I was here. In fact, how did you find me here?”

“We went and asked Princess Luna for any information of your whereabouts,” Minuette said while putting down a plate of trays at a nearby table.

Lyra walked up to me scratching the back of her head with a hoof. “Yeah, she kinda didn't enjoy Lilly shaking her awake for an interrogation. But at least, we found out where you were and are now able to have breakfast together.”

I nodded my head in response. Then I caught a whiff of the warm cinnamon buns waiting at the table. Insanely my mouth began to water, and the feeling of hunger made itself known to my senses. I let go of Lilly and stared intently at the mouth watering food. Finally, my stomach let out a loud growl, ordering me to feed it.

“So um... is it ready?” I asked briefly pointing to the food display.

“Mostly, we are just waiting for the coffee to brew at this point,” Lyra stated with a nod.

I clapped my hooves together in anticipation as I waited for the coffee to arrive. When it did, we made our way over to the small lounging area and grabbed our food. Lilly served the coffee to everyone and we enjoyed talking to one another. I found myself smiling softly as I looked at my cinnamon bun and my new friends.

It had taken a while but I think I was finally starting to like it in Equestria.

Before long silence filled the room when everypony ran out of things to discuss. After thirty seconds of silence, things were starting to get awkward, so I decided to try starting idle conversation for once.

“So, what plans do you gu-irls have for today?” I said. Then I took a sip of coffee to wash down a little of my breakfast.

Lillybreeze was the first to speak up, she stumbled over the start of her sentence a few times but eventually she got the words out. “I-I have no plans. My job is to be your maid, and everything that I've been directed to do has already been done. At this point in just waiting for your direction.” I nodded to her answer and then turned to my other visitors to hear what they had to say on the subject.

I Looked to Lyra and patently waited as finished chugging a mug of coffee. “Ahhh, that's good stuff.” She wiped her mouth. “Oh, right plans… well, Minuette and I are going to be helping out with a wedding rehearsal we're supposed to go to. We have to go within a minute or two, but we wanted to make sure we said hi.”

“Well, in any case, thanks for passing by,” I said taking a small bite out of my cinnamon bun. “Who's wedding is it?”

All of my attendants turned to stare at me in shock. “You mean nopony told you!” They all said in unison.

“Told me what?” As I looked at their dumbfounded expressions, I began to have a cooling sensation run through my veins as dread began to set in.

“Princess Cadence is getting married in three days!”

The room seemed to freeze as my initial shock overcame me. My coffee cup fell to the ground shattering as my concentration on the levitation spell all but disappeared. I felt as if my heart had stopped, my blood quickly went from mildly chill to ice cold, and the hair on the back of my neck stood tall. A few seconds passed as the tension in the room started to grow. My attendants all began to look at me with worried expressions. Lilly was the next one to speak up.

“Hey, Princess… you alright?” My statue like state yielded no response for my maid. But instead furthered her growing concern.

“I think we broke her” Lyra stated leaning into my line of sight and waving her hoof as to get my attention. She continued doing this until finally after thirty seconds had passed, I managed to pull myself out of my stupor.

“Th-three days?” I muttered. My voice was barely audible.

“I'm sorry what was that?”

“Three days?” I stated again. This time making sure everyone heard me clearly. My arms began to shake, and my neck struggled to keep my head up.

It was a beautiful morning in the streets of Canterlot. The sky was a nice hue of violet and the citizens trotted through the streets as if they had nothing to care for. Then suddenly out of nowhere a strange rumble was heard and the ground emitted a mild tremor. “Why didn't anyone tell me this sooner!?”

Everypony in Canterlot heard the outburst even a few in close by towns.

“Mommy the ground is shaking!”

“It is shaking! You're so smart Jerry.”

“It's Jericho you buck nugget!”

“Now there's no need for that language Jerry. Don't be grumpy like Jude over there.”

“Hey!”

“See, always grumpy.”

The group of mares in front of me nearly fell out of their seats as I accidentally assaulted their ears with the royal Canterlot voice. A faint ringing sang out as my ears felt numb. Apparently being the one using the said voice doesn't mean automatic immunity to its effects.

“Ugh, my head.” Minuette winced as her ears rang in pain.

We all just paused as we waited for the pain of my outburst to subside. Minuette, however, glanced up at the clock hanging over the door and her eyes went wide with surprise. “Hey Lyra, I think it's about time we head out.”

“What!?”

“I think it's time for us to go!” She shouted.

“....What!?”

Oh, this is just sad. I face hooved looking on at my two bickering friends. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of guilt for their condition. So in hopes of helping out with the situation, I decided to concentrate on my magic once again. It enveloped a quill and a sheet of paper and I carried them over to us I'm my telekinesis. I quickly scribbled Minuette’s question onto the front of the aged parchment.

As soon as I was done writing, I held the paper up for all to see. Lyra squinted at the lettering on the page for a moment then before long she let out a prolonged, ”Ooooohhh!” She looked over to Minuette and nodded in agreement. Getting up the pair headed to the door, both waving goodbye as they left the library.

Turning back to my maid she seemed to keep her eyes fixed firmly on me.

“Yes?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing... it's just what was that about? You looked shocked for sure but your emotions showed that it was more panicked and fearful. Why would you be scared of Cadence getting married?”

I gave a half-hearted chuckle to her question. “I'm not scared of Cadence getting married, in fact, I'm all for it. But...”

“But what?”

“I'm scared of the day she gets married, and how close it is.”

“Um... why?”

My mild smile disappeared and my face became one of complete seriousness. “Because that's when Chrysalis strikes.”

As the day got closer to ten in the morning human time the pedestrians got a small shock as they saw a small alicorn running through the streets along with a unicorn mare that was dressed in a maid uniform.

“So what you're saying is my mother's already here!?”

“Afraid so. I was waiting for a shield to appear in the sky before keeping a closer eye on Cadence but I forgot one thing about being in a bubble that encases the city.”

“What's that?”

“You can't see the edges.”

“So you didn't notice the purple hue to the sky?”

“Okay I don't get out much either, give me a break,” I grumbled.

“Fine, but how do you know for sure my mother changed into Cadence and is going to attack the day of the wedding?”

“Let's just say I've got a good source of intel.”

“...” Lilly's head dropped a little probably trying to figure out my source but to no avail. Her face contorted into frustrated frowns as she kept on coming up with empty conclusions.

“Listen carefully okay,” I said sternly in an attempt to get her attention.

“Hmm yeah?” Her head shot up looking at me with an intense stare.

“Stay out of this dispute between your mother and me.”

“What, why? I can help.”

“I need somepony to make sure the invasion doesn't happen, and on the off chance that I go missing I need you to make sure both Celestia and Luna are at the wedding. We'll need all the support we can get.”

Silence once again fell on us as we ran to the castle grounds. Lilly seemed to be wanting to say something but was having trouble getting her words out. Her inner turmoil was clearly shown on her face and it wasn't too long until she finally spoke up.

“A-Are you going to kill my mom?”

The question startled me and I nearly stumbled onto my face as my knees buckled for a second. In the time, I had spent here in Equestria I hadn't thought of that possibly. To say the least, I was hesitant to answer, but I really didn't know how bad things were going to get in the next few days. If it came down to it, I'd do what needed to be done.

“... I'll give her three chances to choose cohabitation with my subjects. But if she refuses to accept my treaty and still tries to harm my citizens, I'll do whatever is necessary to keep them safe. But I'll do everything in my power to avoid that outcome. ”

She looked at me with saddened eyes, and her head hung a little lower. “...Thank you.”

Upon arriving at the castle, I found myself panting. Running back from the library while talking does a number on one's lungs. As I slowed down to enter the palace I couldn't and the unsettling dread that I was already too late to save Cadence from being switched. Both of the guards at the entrance greeted me with a nod.

“Princess.”

“Princess.”

“Yes, hello. Um... sorry, could you help me out with something?” I said, looking to the guard on my right I waited for his response with minimal patience.

“I don't see why not, what do you need your highness?”

“Where is Princess Cadence?”

“I believe she is in the wedding chapel on the east wing of the castle.”

“Ok-gotta-go-thank-you-bye!”

Jumping up in the air I decided to take the opportunity to test out my control over the extra limbs. I fanned out my feathers and pushed my wings back. The result was me accelerating forwards through the large double doors at speeds that only left a blur in my wake.

The guards firmed their attention back to Lillybreeze with a questioning look on their faces. To which the newfound attention began to make her uneasy. Slowly she began to enter the castle gates walking backward with an awkward grin stretched across her muzzle.

“Yeah.. she gets like that... Cadence still owes her ten bits for a bet they made. Hmm... okay bye!” With that, the castle maid turned around and ran like there was no tomorrow into the premises.

My speeding form tore through the halls like sonic the hedgehog on speed. The vibrant dread that gripped at my guts continued to grow the closer I got to my destination, and it didn't show any signs of stopping. While rounding a corner, I found myself having to quickly side-step Prince asshat as he was berating another member of castle staff.

At seeing me appear with a face of determination plowing through the halls in his direction, the Prince nearly jumped out of his skin. The proud steed began prostrating himself in front of the servant chanting, “I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,!”

I chuckled at my passengers observation. “Yep, a little more discipline and we'll have him into a decent person yet”

Once I got to the end of the hallway I found myself to be going too fast to make the turn so in an attempt to think quickly I jumped up and used the wall. Running sideways along the top of the hall, I managed to get to thirty feet before gliding back down to the ground. Once my hooves touched the floor I skidded to a stop to find myself standing in front of the two large double doors of the wedding hall.

The door to the hall was slightly open, and from inside I could hear a feminine voice ordering around what I could only assume to be more servants. Most likely a wedding planner. I took a few more deep breaths as I tried to calm my rampant breathing and the burning in my chest. After a few moments of catching my breath, the voices from in the hall began to raise in anger, and I took the opportunity of the sound pollution to lean in against the door and make out a few words.

“My apologies Princess Cadence.” The pony whom I was assuming was the wedding planner, frantically tried to explain something but was quickly interrupted. By an all too familiar voice.

“It is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!”

“I'm so sorry Princess! I was unaware of those changed details.”

“Then you prove yourself useless for my purposes, your fired!”

“... Damn it.” I hung my head, as I silently cursed to myself. My mood dropped significantly and I started to feel guilty for not being there for Cadence earlier. Thoughts of my for knowledge and plausible chance of preventing this first encounter raced through my mind, and a weight of responsibly began to grow on my shoulders.

As I sat there contemplating my guilt, I was brought out of my melancholy at the sound of approaching hooves. I quickly stumbled away from the door and did my best to put on a calm demeanor. Even though the exterior expression I held was somewhat normal, my heart was racing extremely fast, and the pounding beat was the only sound I could hear clearly.

The large door opened to reveal a pink Alcorn being followed by an entourage of ponies. At seeing me, ‘Cadence’ paused for a moment and gave me a cold stare. “What do you want?”

“Oh um...”

My internal pleading yielded no results for ideas. In all my zeal for coming to protect Cadence from Chrysalis, I forgot to make up an excuse for coming to check on her in the first place!

And there was my salvation, I assumed the position of co-pilot as my passenger briefly became the driver. Once she took over our heart rate immediately slowed and Faust’s attitude became quite gleeful. Like a small foal-er-child prancing around in the joy of life.

“(I came to invite you to tea at lunch time.)” She spoke in almost in a sing-song tune, and we jumped around on the spot trying to make the ‘I'm joyful’ facade as convincing as possible.

“I'm busy” ‘Cadence’ harshly replied giving us the cold shoulder as she turned to leave. She didn't get too far though before a smaller alicorn blocked her way.

“(Aww.. but you promised we'd do something today!)” Lauren whined; stomping her hooves in a stationary trot as she threw a childish tantrum.

“I did?” ‘Cadence’ looked at us with a confused expression.

“(Yeah, and what happened to never going back on a promise.)” Faust pouted and gave Cadence the biggest puppy dog eyes this body could muster. She held her expression like that as her lip quivered.

After three or so seconds the fake princess gave in. “Oh, okay fine. But only thirty minutes. Where and when shall we meet?” Cadence said with an angry scowl.

Yes, success!

“(My room has a balcony with a nice view of Canterlot. We'll meet there when the clocks say six.)”

The fake alicorn nodded in agreement, and then we both made our separate ways. Her going to the left, and I, or this body to be more precise, to the right. As we got a little ways down the hall, I regained control of our motor functions and walked back to my room to prepare for my guest. But while I was walking I still couldn't get over my surprise of how well things went and decided to give my guide to life in Equestria a little praise.

“You haven't lied to me...have you?”

“Okay...Wait what!?”

As the hours passed, I managed to set up a nice spot on my balcony for my appointment with the scouting queen. I also wrote up a peace treaty for changelings and ponies and it was waiting patiently to be revealed from my book bag.

While I was getting ready, Lilly decided to stop by and gave me a few pointers on changelings and their culture. She also mixed up a brew of love in gel form diluted in hot water. Apparently it was the only type of tea that changelings liked. She looked over the treaty and gave me her strong approval. After that she left, so she wouldn't g risk bumping into her mother when she came.

She arrived while I was setting up some small snacks at the table. I heard the bedroom door open, and I turned around to see the pink pony princess wandering aimlessly through the room. From where I was, I was able to spot her mixed emotions of disgust and curiosity at seeing my room. It was probably too old of a style for her tastes.

“Hello. Are you here?” She called out to my empty room.

“Out here Cadence,” I called back as I trotted over to my balcony door so she could see me. When we made eye contact I called her over why my hoof, and then I walked back out of the door. Hesitantly she followed me onto the deck, but as soon as she walked through my french doors she paused. Her mouth slightly agape at the view.

I smiled at her awe. “Come on don't just stand there sit, sit.” My hoof motioned to the seat across from me.

The changeling in disguise hesitated for a few moments, but then finally she gave in to my gesture and sat down. Seeing that she was seated, I lifted the teapot up and poured her a cup of tea. ‘Cadence’ took the cup from my magic with her own and gave the cup a good sniff. As soon as she did get head shot up with wide eyes.

“What type of tea is this?” Her voice was quite urgent.

“Oh you know, just a little something made with a little love. I hope it's too your liking.” I said as I took a sip of my tea; to be honest, it was coffee.

“How did you get this?” Her tone was starting to become more serious and it held a slight tone of anger in it.

“A friend of mine, she said it was the only type of tea changelings like, so I got it to try making a good impression.” I stated.

“Good impression? You said we were friends.”

“Well yes, Cadence and I are friends, but you're not Cadence.”

She gave me a cautionary stare. “If you know that then why keep me here? Why not turn me into your oh so precious Princesses?”

I gave a sigh. Her mood was dropping fast. “Well the reason is, Chrysalis, I have a proposition for our two races. You see it's been brought to my attention that changelings have hit a rough patch when it came to acquiring food. So I thought that maybe I could make a treaty between us that allows a symbiotic relationship. So we could live together in harmony.” At this point, I pulled out my peace treaty and handed it to her. “Please read it over carefully and let me know if there is anything I left out.”

The queen snatched my work out from my magical aura, she then read it over giving it a quick inspection. After several seconds passed, she looked up at me with a blank stare. My work was then lifted up into the air and set it aflame. “Hey, I worked hard on that!” I wined.

“Do you think I would stoop so low as to sign a contract with my meal?” Her tone quickly turned darker as her frustration began to well up in her.

“I'm trying to keep the peace. I’d much rather have our races be friends rather than enemies.”

Chrysalis decided to stand and she started to make her way over to me. “Heh, you consider us equal don't you? Don't make me laugh! The only reason you're alive is because I permit it.” She was right up in my face now; the absent glow of her emerald eyes shining through her disguise like a flickering light.

“Please if we can't work something out then leave my kingdom alone. I'm trying to avoid a war.”

“But war is what we will get! I and my fellow changelings will devour this land until there's nothing left of it.”

“I can't allow you to do that. I must warn you, I'll treat you and your army with the same attitude and curtosity that you show my subjects and me.”

“Oh really? You are going to stop me?”

I nodded “If I'm forced to do so then, yes.”

“Fine, then I'll make sure you're not around to interfere!”

Suddenly her horn lit up and an evil scowl crossed her face. Green fire burst out of the floor below me and the flames licked at my legs with anxiousness. I tried to move, to get out of my impending doom, but for some reason, I couldn't. My body felt as if it was made of stone or iron, and I began to sink into the ground. The last thing I saw before darkness enveloped me was the satisfaction the imposter held in her face.

When I woke up, my mind was foggy and my memories were sluggish to return. I felt sick to my stomach, and the dark and damp area in which I now found myself didn't help. Blackness was all I could see.

“Oh hello, my dear little pony it's about time you got up.” A voice suddenly called. It sounded slightly flirtatious, but it also sounded like two people speaking simultaneously.

I have a half-hearted chuckle while I hung my head. “Yeah I've had a bad habit of sleeping in late since I arrived in Canterlot, so sorry about that.” A light suddenly shined, and before me, I saw hundreds of Cadences looking at me with a smug smile.

“So, imprisonment. I'll have to put that on the list of things I'll have to do to get back at you when I get out.”

Her smile only grew. “Imprisonment? Oh no you're too much of a threat to my plans, as are the Princesses. I just wanted to do this away from prying eyes.”

BLAST!

For a moment, I saw the roof of the cave illuminated in the changelings magic, and hundreds of crystal shards rained down on me. I froze, my passenger, however, pushed forward into control and had us try to cover our body with our wings. Several shards though still went through, and one large crystal impaled my leg. It was about as tall as a standard TV remote and it was as thick as a quarter. I screamed in pain as all this happened, and I saw blood begin to strain my white coat.

Clutching in as much of the searing pain as I could, I looked up to the changeling with tears threatening to make themselves known. “You just made a big mistake”

“What?”

I stared intently at the changeling with confidence. “Didn't anyone ever tell you there's one thing you never put in a trap, if you're smart, if you value your continued existence, if you have any plans on seeing tomorrow, there's one thing you never ever put into a trap.”

“Oh yeah, and what is that?” She scoffed.

“(Me.)”

BANG!!

Clutching in as much of the searing pain as she could, Lauren looked up to the changeling Queen with tears threatening to well up in her eyes. “You just made a big mistake,”

The way she spoke was in a tone full of confidence, and it held a sense of authority that the changeling Queen didn't expect.

Chrysalis just looked on at the alicorn in confusion, “What?”

The pony just stared intently at the changeling. A smug smile making its way onto her lips despite her pain. “Didn't anyone ever tell you there's one thing you never put in a trap, if you're smart, if you value your continued existence, if you have any plans on seeing tomorrow, there's one thing you never ever put into a trap.”

At hearing that, Chrysalis looked at the alicorn with a thoughtful gaze.“Oh yeah, and what is that?” She said smugly.

Lauren’s head shot up and she stared directly at the Queen. “(Me.)” Instantly the changeling began to feel uneasy. She couldn't help but notice something about the alicorn was different. Her eyes... they changed... before they were cheery and youthful, but now they were ancient and deadly. It just wasn't right...

The pony’s horn then began to light up bright red as she stared daggers at the Queen.

BANG!!

A thunderous shock wave rolled through the halls of the cave system. The force of the blast caused the thinner walls to shatter, and the roof above Lauren to began to fall. Each boulder that fell was larger than the last, and before the alicorn could react properly to the situation, she was buried. The Queen’s blast at the roof doing its job.

“Hmph! Shows her that you never underestimate the changeling race!” Chrysalis said as she gave the pile of rubble a thoughtful gaze. Then she lit up her horn and ignited the rocks on fire with her magic. Her hysterical laughter continued to echo throughout the caves as she returned to the surface.

“I win!”

It was April 21, 1001, the day of the wedding. Other than one mare, Twilight Sparkle, Shining Armor's little sister, Chrysalis had no problems fooling the ponies into believing her facade. Celestia herself didn't even question the changeling and her odd behavior. Even though she was selected to direct the wedding by Cadence herself, the solar Princess didn't show any signs of suspicion.

Instead, the white alicorn had been too preoccupied with going over her part. She even ended up shutting herself in her room to practice. After hearing that her mother had decided to ‘stay in the library’ it just seemed like the logical thing to do. Though it still confused Celestia a little as to why her mother would tell Cadence before herself or Luna, but she didn't dwell on it too much. Instead, she continued rehearsing till the hour of the event.

When it was time to start, Celestia couldn't help but feel pure joy for her niece as the pink alicorn made her way up the aisle. She even had trouble holding in a squee of delight as the wedding got underway. Cadence approached the groom with a giddy smile and joy was all that could be seen. Apparently she was also having trouble holding in her excitement as well.

When both the bride and the groom were standing side by side, Celestia gave the couple a warm smile and began the ceremony. “Mares and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor.”

The wedding was going splendidly, and Celestia only got happier and happier as she got closer and closer to officially bringing the two lovers together in matrimony. The white alicorn, in all her glee, felt shivers dance around her legs as finally after all these years she was now able to say this last sentence; and bring her niece a life of happiness. With a clear and joyful voice, Celestia cleared her throat and began making the announcement to make everything official.

“Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, it is my great pleasure to pronounce you…”

“Stop!” A voice called from the back of the hall. The guests and guards present all gasped in shock as they turned to see none other than, Twilight Sparkle, standing in the doorway. She looked over at Celestia with a serious expression on her face, one that yielded no arguments.

The interruption however, caused the changeling to scowl at the small unicorn, and she huffed in frustration. “Ugh! Why does she have to be so possessive of her brother!”

At hearing that Celestia to turned her head in surprise. Never before had Cadence shown such a short temper.

“I-I mean, why does she have to ruin my special day,” The changeling quickly said in an attempt to cover her error. She even shifted her tone and she ended up squeezing out a few tears.

“Because it's not your special day! It's mine!” A familiar voice rang through the wedding hall as Cadence, the real Cadence, stepped through the doorway. Once the crowd saw the two identical Princesses on either side odd the hall the ponies gasped in shock.

Even the changeling sputtered in shock at seeing Cadence. “What? But how did you escape my bridesmaids?

Twilight and Cadence had been in the caves for a day and a half, and while searching for a way out they stumbled across a red trail of droplets. Figuring that they may add well give it a try they followed the trail.

Once thirty minutes of running had passed, the mares came across an opening on the far side of the cave. They ran to the light, hoping it to be a source of salvation. But once they were near the cave’s entrance three mares walked out of the shadows. Minuette, Lyra Heartstrings, and Twinkleshine, all walked forward to the purple unicorn, and the pink alicorn, with an empty look in their eyes.

The sight of the three mares in a zombie like state made Twilight and Cadence feel quite uncomfortable, and they began to walk backwards in an attempt to keep their distance. Then as Cadance was backing up, her hoof landed on a bouquet of flowers. Quickly thinking she infused them with a weak want it need it spell, then she threw it away. The zombie guards immediately fell for the trick and dashed after the flowers. All of them saying in unison. “I want it!”

“Hmph. Clever. But you're still too late.” Chrysalis declared in a triumphant tone.

“I-I don't understand. How can there be two of 'em?”Applejack asked. Her confusion was shared with the rest of the audience.

Cadence took this opportunity to explain and she looked to the crowd of ponies with a pleading expression on her face. “She's a changeling. She takes the form of somepony you love and gains power by feeding off your love for them.”

The changeling just smirked as Cadence continued trying to get the crowd to understand. Chrysalis, figuring her cover was blown anyway, hunched over and was engulfed in emerald flames that shot out of the floor. They did well at obscuring her form from view as her disguise peeled off like dried paint, and she began to grow in size. Once the fire stopped they whipped away into nothingness leaving the Queen in its place.

Those attending gasped in shock at what they were seeing. This unknown creature stood easily as tall as Celestia, and her black insect body had three or four holes in each leg. Chrysalis laughed hysterically at the expressions on the crowd.

“Oh! You should see your faces! The utter shock, the damned confusion. Aww! This.. is... great!”

The Queen started to leave back and forth as she gave her explanation. “Yes, I am a changeling. The Queen to be in fact, and as Queen of the changelings, it is up to me to find food for my subjects. Equestria has more love than any place I've ever encountered. My fellow changelings will be able to devour so much of it that we will gain more power than we have ever dreamed of!”

“They'll never get the chance! Shining Armor's protection spell will keep them from ever even reaching us!” Cadence stated with confidence; slamming a hoof on the ground for emphasis.

Chrysalis chuckled a little bit at Cadence's comment and then smiled when a sly grin.“Oh, I doubt that. Isn't that right, dear?” The changeling then turned to look at Shining Armor, and allowed Cadence to see his distant his eyes were while he nodded in response.

“Mm-hmm.”

The pink alicorn looked on with worry to her fiance and his sorry state. She then turned back to the Queen and an angry scowl crossed her face. With a new sense of determination, she charged towards the Queen, but it didn't last.

“Ah, ah, ah. Don't want to go back to the caves, now do you?” Chrysalis warned as her horn glowed threateningly and Cadence was forced to stop in her tracks.

Satisfied with the alicorn’s reluctant obedience, the Queen continued her explanation; returning to the stage to use Shining as a prop of some sort. “Ever since I took your place, I've been feeding off Shining Armor's love for you. Every moment he grows weaker and so does his spell. Even now, my minions are chipping away at it.”

With a tilt of her head, Chrysalis directed the nobles attention to a large number of black dots banging against the shield that shining was sustaining. Once they saw this they began to shrink back in fear.

Glad that they understood that much, Chrysalis pushed on towards the punchline as she lifted Shining’s head with her hoof. “He may not be my husband, but he is under my total control now.”

Both Twilight and Cadance could barely believe what they were hearing as they both gave an involuntary gasp.

“And I'm sorry to say, unable to perform his duties as captain of the Royal Guard.”

“Not my Shining Armor!” Cadence pleaded hoping for some indication that this was all a ruse, but she knew it wasn't.

“Soon, my changeling army will break through. First, we take Canterlot. And then, all of Equestria!”

“No. You won't.” A regal voice cut through the Queen's speech with a serious tone.

From the side of the stage, Celestia returned to her previous post, standing directly in front of the insect. “You may have made it impossible for Shining Armor to perform his spell, but now that you have so foolishly revealed your true self” The two Royals lunged at each other locking horns. “I can protect my subjects from you!”

With that said, Celestia pulled away from the queen and flew high above the stage. She was determined to protect her own, and she wanted revenge for this bug's interference with her niece's wedding. Her horn started to glow a brilliant gold and she fired a beam of magic at the changeling. Chrysalis responded with her own beam and the two trails of magic collided at the middle. The resulting force of the collision blew back a few ponies and decorations as they both struggled to overpower one another.

“Ah...ah ugh Ahhh!” Chrysalis screamed as the golden beam neared her head. Then suddenly she glared up at the solar princess with a smirk. “Good acting right!?”

“What!?”

To the surprise of all who were present, Chrysalis’s beam of green magic suddenly shot forward, easily overpowering Celestia. The audience was forced to shield their eyes from the blinding flash, and then once it was gone the princess laid motionless on the ground. Her feathers burnt, fur charred, and a look of pain present on her face.

Luna, who had been told to stay out of the matter by Tia, shrieked at the sight of her older sister on the ground. She ran over as did the rest of the elements of harmony to see their dear Princess. Luna cradled Celestia's head in her hooves and she began to cry. “No, Tia, wake up. You got to wake up,” Tears rolled off of her cheeks as she wept for her sister. She was still breathing, but just barely.

“It's such a shame wasting potential food like this, To have to kill another alicorn in just so few days, it's so annoying,” Chrysalis said with a wide grin. “After all, you are the ones with the most substance.”

Luna's head shot up at hearing the phrase ‘kill another’. She looked pleadingly to the changeling. “Wait, what did you say?... Kill another alicorn? You don't mean... no... you didn't! You couldn't have!” Luna's pupils shrunk in the realization of who the Queen was referring to, and her anger began to flair.

“Yes, that runt with the red mane she was as easy to kill as stealing a foal.”

“Noooooo!!!” The lunar Princess suddenly found herself teleporting onto the red carpet with her head pointed at the changeling. A wave of power began to push the crowds up against the wall as Luna's rage built. “How dare you... How dare you kill my Mother!!!”

“Mother?”

Rapid beams of magic then began to fire from Luna's horn. Each bolt hitting their target with enough force to shake the room. She screamed and she wept for the parent she barely knew. Each time a magic bolt hit, Chrysalis was pushed back, and her shell would spiderweb with cracks.

“Dammit! That hurts!” Chrysalis yelled as she zapped Luna with a lightning spell. The alicorn was thrown across the room and into the wall, but she rose soon after with a look of pure hatred on her face. Her dragon like eyes glistened in her wrath, and she breathed heavily through her fangs.

A large blue ball of magic began to form above the alicorn’s head. She made sure to locate the insect through her blurry vision of tears, then she threw it with a mighty roar.“Die!!”

Cadence barely had time to levitate Shining off of the stage, and to the sidelines before the stage blew up. Debris flew through the room and thick black smoke loomed over the blast zone; all that could be heard was the sound of burning wood.

“Are you done?”

Much to Luna's frustration, the Queen emerged from the thick cloud with a bunch of wounds that seemed to be disappearing before her very eyes. The changeling smirked at her with a smug smile. “A good effort, but you can't kill me, not as long as I'm connected to shining over there. Though I must say I really didn't expect this much resistance to occur, your power seemed to continue to grow with your anger, well done, but how long can that hatred last before you fully return to being Nightmare Moon?”

To add emphasis to her point the changeling levitated a silver platter over to the night Princess. Once she saw her reflection Luna's eyes shrank in shock. She then looked down at herself to see that her coat had gone pure black and her mane is whisking around her head like a fine mist. The mirror showed that the portion of mane above her eyes had gotten messy and the rest of her mane whisked around as it had done all those years ago.

Her heart suddenly felt like it had turned to ice, and her will to fight quickly withered and died. She slumped down to the ground to begin sobbing; muttering to herself about failing her subjects and herself. She laid on the ground with her hooves over her head and a look of worry as she stared off into space.

Chrysalis looked down to the Princesses shivering form with a look of pity. “Such a weak creature... held captive by your emotions. I'll be sure you'll never feel anything ever again.”

The Queen then shot a powerful bolt at Luna but a small unicorn maid emerged from the crowd. She quickly jumped in front of the blast and took the blow. The maid winced in pain as she stumbled in place but she remained firm, and guarded the Princess. Looking up to the Queen she took on a pleading expression and she begged, “Please mother this isn't the way. We can live in harmony! Please call off the invasion before it's too late!”

A wave of flames engulfed the maid burning off the uniform and leaving a smaller changeling in its place. “It's me, Adorilin... your daughter. I've lived here for a while now, and I am proof that we can coexist. Please before she comes, please reconsider, and let our nation's join in piece!”

Chrysalis, however, wasn't convinced. Instead, she looked insulted and she scowled at the changeling. “You still have no faith in your mother? Instead, you still hold right to the side of the ponies? Ha ha ha! How typical of you, you're nothing but a disgrace that would side with her food rather than her own mother!” Chrysalis snapped.

“Mom please, this is for the good of our race!”

“No! Your fantasies have clouded your mind, and you are nothing but a poisonous opinion floating around my hive. It is obvious that just removing you from our home and the hivemind didn't teach you your lesson. It's time to make an example out of you!”

Chrysalis advanced towards Adorilin with an emotionless face, and the little proto Queen was suddenly compelled to retreat. She began walking back up the aisle towards the doors and her mother continued to loom over her with a condemning gaze.

“You betrayed our trust of secrecy by revealing our plans to our enemies.”

Zap

A lightning bolt shot out of the Queens horn and hit the smaller changeling. Her knees buckled in pain, and she struggled to continue her retreat.

“You blaspheme against my ability to succeed in conquering this nation.”

Zap

This time, Adorilin was thrown a few feet closer to the door. Her smoking figure was twitching and jumping around as tears started to fall from her face. She continued to crawl towards the doors with her back to her mother as she wept.

“And you have led so many of my changelings to believe I'm incapable of success!”

Zap

Adorilin cried in pain, as another electric bolt came in to strike her. It moved through her body and caused her twitching form to shake violently. Her cries of pain and sorrow rang out through the city, and nearly at the same time as she called for help the shield that surrounded Canterlot shattered like glass. Thus, the swarm of drones began their attack.

“Now sweetheart, goodnight.” Chrysalis’s horn then started to glow with a threatening hue of green and a wicked smile crossed her face. The Queen had almost backed Adorilin out the door at this point. The little changeling then turned her head behind her and watched with wide eyes as her mother didn't even second guess her intentions.

* ffffffffhhhhhhhooooooppppp bang!

Light, that was all that the proto Queen could see. Flames had suddenly shot into the wedding hall and they hung over her like a warm blanket as they rushed past. Instinctively she covered her head and shut her eyes as the roaring fire continued over her.

After three seconds the flames suddenly fell apart and vanished. Adorilin, still shaking, heard a strange clunk from a few inches away from her face. Opening her eyes, she saw the jar of love that she brought with her when she was kicked out of the hive. Lauren stood over her with a serious yet caring expression on her face.

“(Drink up, you'll need it.),” She told the changeling, who nodded vigorously in response.

The crowd of ponies was in shock. A pony was helping one of these bugs? Not only that, but she was a Princess going by her alicorn biology. Chrysalis in her charred state couldn't believe her eyes. In the doorway stood an off white alicorn with a crimson mane that flowed in an unfeeling wind. Her body was covered in sealed wounds and dirt. She was staring directly at her with a look of pure wrath.

“(She)” The mare looked to the teenage changeling, who was quickly gulping down her drink, then she turned back to Chrysalis. “(Is under my protection.)”

fffhhoooppphh “Ahhhh!”

“I offered you peace and a decent amount of love for your subjects to live. And this is your response? Destroying my city, attacking my subjects and hurting the people I love!!"

fffhhhoppp “Waaagh!”

“(Now your daughter has gone out of her way to try to save you from anguish and this is how you repay her!? By trying to kill her!?)”

ffhhophh bang!

“Just who in the hell do you think you are!?”

kkhhhaooopphh

The flames once again cleared and I stood over Chrysalis, who now laid on the ground panting, and she looked up at me with fear-stricken eyes. I got right up into her face and made sure she was looking into my eyes.

“Call off the invasion and no more harm will come to you.”

“W-Who are you?” She choked.

Lauren stood back up and flared her wings as she glared down at the changeling. “(The Queen of Eternity.)”

The look on Chrysalis’s face suddenly changed, and her eyes immediately shrunk to pinpricks. Her body began to violently shake in fear and her wings buzzed uncontrollably. “N-No it can't be-e... Not her! That's just a legend! You died three thousand years ago!” Chrysalis weakly began to shuffle back towards the stage as I walked forward.

“(Eternity has but one meaning does it not? I am Lauren Faust, and I exist as the ruler of Equestria forever. Nothing will change that, and I'll be damned if I let some fool like you try to take my precious subjects away from me.)” The venom in her voice was so thick that even the ponies who she was protecting started to get fearful.

The changeling backed up against the stage's stone stairs, and then once cornered, she threw her arm above her head in an attempt to protect herself. Still, though, Faust decided to get close to Chrysalis to make sure her attention was undivided. “(Leave now.)" A small flame emerged above Lauren’s horn. "(Or should we see how many times it's going to take.)"

The queen reared back at Lauren’s threat for a moment and then, she just sat in front of me, or us, still as a statue. Her eyes glazed over. Then after five seconds a small smirk returned to her face. Her horn lit up with a flash and I found myself not only back in control but also thrown back down the aisle. I landed about ten feet from the doors and the hysterical laughter of the changeling in front of me rang through my mind.

While I laid there and tried to make sense of what just happened a member of the crowd took a glance out the window. He shrieked at the sight he saw, and the rest of the nobles soon began to run out of the hall in a stampede that nearly flattened Adorilin. I, however, made sure to keep my eyes on the Queen as I stood up, but the distant buzzing noise coming from the window didn't go unnoticed. I also realized that the buzzing was growing louder.

The elements, Luna, and the rousing Celestia, all looked on in worry as a large number of drones suddenly burst through the windows and surrounded me. Some were in the air and others were on the ground, and from the other side, if the hall I could see Chrysalis slowly get up, her pupils were small dots and a crooked smile laid on her face. It really creeped me out. “Even if you are the same mare that is passed on in legends, that doesn't mean you'll be able to stop me!!”

Adorilin walked over to my side and gasped in shock at the sight before her. “Oh no, there's so many of them! I'll back you up.”

There was just something about the way the Proto Queen spoke that made it so I couldn't resist. “Aww, that's adorable.” I ruffled her mane as I walked forward. “You think they're a threat, well you just sit tight. Careful, though, first three rows are a splash zone.~”

“What do you mean by that?”

“hahaha!”

“Now my minions, attack!” Chrysalis ordered. The drones barely moved an inch before they all were encased in my magic. I was staining myself but I felt I needed to contribute to this battle other than in words. Chrysalis sat with her mouth agape. “No... that's just not possible...”

“You know something when you challenge someone to a fight maybe... just maybe you shouldn't fight someone who can blow shit up!”

BANG!

The whole room was suddenly in chaos as the drones were flung against the walls or through the windows. The blast caused a drone to fall against Chrysalis and it's horn scratched her face. But to my surprise, she wasn't healing at the same rate she was before. Instead, she clutched the side of her face with shock and then looked desperately around the room. She searched but the Changelings that remained were flailing around and crying in agony as my flash burn stung their nerves. It was hard to focus on anything over their chilling screams.

As she was looking a bright light began to shine from the other side of the room. Shining Armor and Cadence were floating in the air with their horns touching and a pink aura surrounded them. Their eyes opened and then a blast of love quickly expanded and covered the city. Afterward, they floated back down.

“What the heck was that for!?” I yelled; giving the couple an irritated gaze.

Cadence looked over to me with a sheepish expression.“We were trying to blast the Changelings away with love.”

“WHY!? They eat love!”

“I don't know... I thought it would work.”

I was about to get farther into my little rant towards Cadence but the sight of Chrysalis approaching from the corner of my eye stopped me. “Hmm... Thank you for the snack, Cadence, Shining. It's just what I needed. Now I can finish off what I started.”

The Queen turned to face me and I looked over to Cadence and pointed my hoof at the changeling.“See, now look at what you've done!”

“I'm sorry!”

A thick beam of magic shot me in the side of the head and I found myself tumbling towards the door, where Adorilin stood. The teenage changeling quickly caught me and tried to check for serious injuries, but she didn't know much about what she was looking for. From my half-lidded stare, I could see Chrysalis looking over the now healed drones. “Now my hatchlings, go feast on the ponies and grow stronger!”

They gave her a quick nod and retreated out the windows. Meanwhile, I once again found myself being struck by the changeling’s magic. Both Adorilin and I were flung into the hallway and my vision went dark.

When I came to, it could have been hours or mere moment's. I didn't know. I weakly looked up and found myself still in the hallway, Adorilin was knocked out beside me, and coming out of the wedding doors was Celestia? She looked normal, well except for the pinpricks of eyes.

“Hello mommy.”

My fear of the possibility of frightening fanfiction being a reality in this world got the better of me, and I found myself replicating the fire spell that Faust had been using.

fffhhoooppphh “Ahhhh! What's wrong with you!? You didn't even hesitate to burn your own daughter!”

At that moment, my memory fully returned to me and I glanced upwards to find the real Celestia struggling to stand. I felt both embarrassed and insulted that Chrysalis thought I would fall for that. To prove my point, I threw my arm up and pointed to the Solar Princess.

“She is literally right over there. How stupid do you think I am?”

Chrysalis, however, didn't answer, instead, she continued to flail around aimlessly as the flames danced around her. Just like the drones. I looked at her and watched, waiting for her to suddenly jump up and attack. But no, even after the flames died out she was crawled up into a ball as the pain continued to course through her body.

“Whatever, I'm done with this.” I turned to leave.

Glad to hear a response from my partner, I nodded in acknowledgment, “Okay.”

“Hey, Adorilin.” I called to her and shook her side in an attempt to wake her. It took a couple of tries but eventually her big eyes cracked open and she rose from her unconsciousness.

“Ugh...Yes?” She said, still half asleep. She was rubbing her eyes and blinking the blurriness from her eyes.

“When you gain control again head as far away from the city as possible then go down.”

“What do you mean?” The little Proto Queen was then encased in my magic as I held her up, headed into the wedding hall, and flung her out of the window high into the sky. “Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!”

Then, I turned my attention to Luna. She was still freaking out about having failed her subjects and allowed ‘her’ to return. She laid on the floor with her hooves covering her head and her eyes were almost distant and glazed over. That is until I made my way over to her and lifted her head up to look up. “Luna, look at me.” She managed to do so after a few attempts. “Whatever troubles you, please know that I'm here to help you. And we will work it out together. But right now I need your help can you do that for me?”

“Y-Yes mom.”

“Okay, all I want you to do is make sure Chrysalis doesn't move from that spot while I go over to the window.”

She looked unsure and she never met my gaze, but after a few seconds of internal debate, she nodded weakly and returned my soft smile. Taking this as an ‘okay’ from Luna I left her, and continued walking towards the windows. It was the first time I had looked out over Canterlot from a high place. It was such a sad sight. The masses of ponies being attacked numbered into the thousands, easily, and it was heartbreaking. As I leaned my head out the window and over the city I cleared my throat. “Those of the changeling swarm leave now! Flee the city! Because in just thirty seconds, judgment shall come!”

As soon as the Royal Canterlot voice echoed through the city and tremors shook the buildings; a third of the drones left quickly out of fear. The others noticed the warning but paid no attention to it because as far as their Queen had told them no pony could defeat them. Instead, they increased in their attack. I looked on saddened, “I guess that's their choice.” I mumbled. Then I turned back to look at the others in the room.

“Okay, Lauren, go ahead.”

I watched as the body's owner resumed control, and we started to float in the air. Our mane was flailing high above our head and it seemed like light was coming from our eyes. Lauren's horn lit up and a ball of white began to glow from it. For the first time since coming here, I could really feel the strain being put on our mana reserves. It felt like our body was being sucked dry of any moisture and the amount of energy was disappearing.

Then in an instant, the ball expanded through the city and it stopped at the border. A second layer began to retract from the edge and it turned everything white. All except for the changelings. Cloaked or not, each one began to glow bright red. The second layer shrunk into the size of a needle head, and then it suddenly expanded sweeping all the remaining drones out of the city.

The last thing I saw was the screaming form of the Queen as she and her kin were ejected into orbit. The air around Canterlot suddenly became a torrent of booms and bangs as each changeling broke the sound barrier. If that blast didn't knock those bugs to the other side of the planet, I had no idea what would. We fell to the ground and let the strain of fatigue bring us to sleep.

Beep

Beep

Beep

Beep

Lauren gave an inward chuckle at my comment and our eyes began to open. The hospital lights above me stung my eyes as our retina began to adjust. Then the feeling of sore aching muscles started to return to me. I winced in pain as my senses began rebooting, and for the first time since being in the caves, I felt just how bad off I really was.

I made an effort to sit up in my bed, and as I did, I noticed that I wasn't alone. Celestia laid in a bed next to me, and her heart monitor continued a steady beat. At seeing her heartbeat, I felt as if a heavy weight of worry was lifted off my shoulders, and I gave an involuntary sigh. Over on the other side of the room, Luna was sleeping on a couch near the window. A small smile crossed my face as I saw both daughters sleep peacefully.

“It all worked out, in the end, didn't it.”

“Still a shame that we managed to mess up the timeline this badly, though.”

“Butterfly effect, what's that again?”

“Hmm... I guess that makes sense. But why didn't the thing between Shining and Cadence work? It did in the show.”

“Heh, yeah I guess you're right that would be difficult.”

My passenger and I shared a small chuckle while we surveyed the room. I was about to mention something else to talk about, but then I heard the sound of hooves coming from the hallway. They got louder and louder until they stopped at the door. The handle began to turn, and the door creaked open revealing Cadence and Shining Armor. Cadence gave a brief pause at seeing me sit up and wave at them, then her eyes began to tear up. The pink Princess quickly ran over to me and wrapped me in a bone crushing hug.

“I was so worried!”

“Hey... Cadence, can't breathe... painful...”

“Oh my!” She quickly hopped off of me and stood at the side of my bed while giving me sheepish look. “I'm sorry.”

“It's no big deal. Celestia is the one to worry about when it comes to hugs. My spine nearly separated from my brain stem.”

This time, Shining stepped forward with a concerned look in his eyes. “... are you alright?”

“Guys that was sarcasm, she didn't actually hurt me. But it was a tiger grip that's for sure.” The duo smiled at me and we shared a comfortable sense of peace and quiet.

“Cadence!”

Well there goes that idea...

Luna was roused from her sleep as the elements of harmony came into the hospital room, well most of them. Pinkie just seemed to pop out of nowhere beside me and nibbled on a cupcake.

I decided to ignore the barrage of questions the pink mare was asking me and focused on Cadence's sunshine dance with Twilight. When it was over, I cleared my throat a little to regain the pink alicorn’s attention. Her eyes lit up and she motioned for the little unicorn to follow her.

“Twilight, I would like you to officially meet my great aunt, Lauren Faust.”

At hearing my new name the unicorn froze, she was as still as a statue and Cadence accidentally knocked her over as she tried to get her attention.

Sigh... “I've got a feeling that a whole lot more crazy is coming our way in the future,” I mumbled. All in all, I was starting to like it here in Equestria.

After the whole fiasco with Twilight, the group of mares decided that it would probably be best to take her someplace else, so the unicorn could calm down. Concerned for her well-being, Shining, and Cadence, followed the group of friends down the hall and they didn't return. So it was just Luna and I sitting here in silence as Celestia slept. That is until she was informed by a royal guard that there was paperwork for her to do, in light of recent events. So Luna had to leave.

Patiently I had to wait for Celestia to wake. It really wasn't that bad for the first few hours. After all, I had quite a few questions for my other half that needed to be addressed, but not long after that, I, along with my partner, started to get bored.

I tried to see if there was anything in our room that could be used for entertainment. But my room like most hospitals was bland and lacked an artistic flair. Thankfully, with a little searching, I found a bouncy ball in the nightstand next to me. I tried juggling it, but I soon found that my other half still found it boring to sit and watch. Which I could understand, who would want to watch someone else have fun while you are not able to do anything. So I stopped and tried to think of something else to do.

Throwing the ball against the wall, I watched as it hit and bounced back. Then it hit me, both literally and metaphorically. If I threw the ball at the wall and Lauren switched places with me then we could play a game of catch. I ran my idea past her and she happily agreed, then we let the match between Lauren and I begin. Soon after we started, our little game began to get more and more intense, and the ball was flying through the air at a rapid pace beating like a metronome. Little did we know the mate in the bed next to me was rousing from her slumber.

Celestia's perspective:

I awoke to the soft sound of knocking. It wasn't very loud but it was noticeable, and it only seemed to speed up with time. The constant rhythmic beat forced itself to become louder and louder as I returned to consciousness. Forcing my eyelids to open, I was met with a bright light above my head. The room that I seemed to be in was heavy with the scent of medicines. It didn't take a genius to figure out where I was, the last thing I saw was my mother floating in the air and removing all the changelings from Canterlot in one swift motion. To be honest, I had forgotten just how much she was out of my league, but at that moment, my wavering strength had allowed me to be susceptible to some interface from her spell.

Thus, why I am here, I must have fainted or become unresponsive to a degree for Luna to take me here. From the layout of the room, it was easy to tell that this was the Canterlot hospital and that constant banging probably meant that I am not alone.

Turning my head and adjusting my wings I managed to look at the figure behind me. It was my mom. She had an extremely bored expression on her face as she bounced a ball back and forth against the wall. It was actually quite amusing, and my efforts to stifle a giggle were met with poor results. She turned to look at me and gave a soft smile as the ball came and landed on her stomach.

“About time you woke up.” She joked as she tossed the ball over to me. “How are you feeling Celestia?”

I caught the ball with my magic and then pondered her question. Taking in all my senses, I found that I felt fine. In fact, I'd even say I was at one hundred percent at the moment. “I feel good. The doctors here are quite skilled when it comes to their craft so it only makes sense.”

“Heh, yeah they are. I can't even feel the pain in my wings.”

Curious about what she meant, I glanced down to her sides and found her wings to be thoroughly bandaged and covered. When I noticed the scratches and cuts that covered her body, I gave an involuntary gasp. When did this happen!?

“Your wings, when, how!? Who? Did it hurt?”

My mother's smile faltered for a moment then she gave a sad sigh. "I confronted Chrysalis a few days before the wedding. I offered her and her subjects a peace treaty so Changelings could be introduced in a positive light. At that meeting, I gave her a cup of love soaked tea and presented my offer. After reading it over she took me down into the caves below Canterlot. And in a rage caused the roof to collapse on top of me... (I'm just glad I spent all that time playing Tetris in that other world, otherwise I probably wouldn't have survived.)”

“Wow, that is quite a story Mother. Too bad I wasn't there to help out. Unfortunately, there's no possible way to see the future so we couldn't have seen this coming.”

For a moment, she didn't meet my gaze and her shoulders moved ever so slightly upward. “Yeah, no possible way...”

I decided not to press on that body language she just displayed, and instead moved on to another matter. I tossed the ball back to her and she caught it in her magical field. To both her and my surprise the medical equipment around her began going berserk.

It was barely even a moment before the doctor and a few nurses rushed in to see what's going on. As soon as they noticed mom's dumbstruck face as she sat there with the levitating ball the nurses rolled their eyes and left. From the hallway a loud ‘False alarm!’ rang through the corridors and the rushing doctors resumed their previous posts.

The doctor looked at me with a very vexed expression. “Mrs. Faust! I must insist that you cut that out this instant!” His British accent was thick and demanding. And as he spoke his arms would flail around aimlessly.

“Do you mean cut out my magic?”

“Yes! You have recently suffered from magical depletion! Such an act as this could damage your recovery! That and it is completely unfair for us to care for those who can heal themselves with magic!” Nodding with some understanding, I dropped the ball on the ground to which he quickly snatched it away. The doctor then proceeded to turn to the door but he still gave me a threatening stare as he left.

“What the heck was that all about?” I asked, Celestia just lifted her wings a little and gave me a small frown. It looked very similar to what a pony would do to shrug their shoulders.

“It's as strange to you as it is to me.”

Another half an hour passed, and out of boredom, I decided to try humming some fan music and see if Tia recognized any of them. She ended up calling me out on a few of them; each time becoming more and more perplexed at my knowledge. When she finally decided to ask me how I knew those songs I just said, “Because of reasons!” She gave a small chuckle at my strong enthusiasm, and with that, I was able to distract her from trying to get a proper answer out of me.

Well, that and I threw a pillow at her face. When it landed she stopped laughing almost immediately and she turned to me with the most wicked smile I had seen since coming to this world. “Oh, it is on!”

“Oh damn.”

The resulting war continued to play through until we were interrupted by the door opening. Both Celestia and I were in mid throw when it creaked open and we both slowly turned to see who had entered. Lillybreeze was in the doorway and she had a small smile on her face.

“Adorilin! It's been so long since I last saw you. Where have you been!?”

“Long time? It's only been three days. I just went back to the hive’s temporary camp to get my little sister, well her, and some others who stayed behind.”

“Oh? So when do we get to meet this little troublemaker?” I joked doing my best to keep a straight face, but I ended up flailing miserably. Adorilin, or Lilly at the moment, stepped to the side to show a little filly that was standing behind her. She was a unicorn with a cream colored coat and a blue mane, and there was a mischievous smile was stuck to her face, I also spotted a little twinkle in her eye.

Lillybreeze gestured over to the filly walking in and gave a slight head bow. “Mrs. Lauren Faust, Princess Celestia, I'd like to introduce you to my little sister Pennilia Alternate.” Then both changelings dropped their disguises with a fantastic glow of emerald.

Celestia just stared in shock her mouth opening and closing like a goldfish as she watched the seemingly normal ponies turn into those things that tried to take over her country not even four days ago! Her horn began to glow as she looked on with worry then she felt a pillow hit her in the face. Looking over to me with wide eyes, I gave her a reassuring smile and waved my hoof in a similar manner that I would move my hand to say put it down. “It's okay, they're with me.” Celestia gave me a confused stare and then she canceled her spell.

Meanwhile, the little changeling had snuck up beside my bed and appeared on the nightstand beside me. “Justice will be swift, justice will be painful, justice will be delicious!” Her little form all of a sudden jumped on me and she snuggled me with a hug.

I looked down at her with a small pout, “Oh that's not fair, that's not fair at all! How am I not supposed to love you when you give me those puppy dog eyes!”

The small changeling giggled at my comment and then she gained an evil grin, “You're going to love me!”

Both Adorilin and I burst out laughing as the Solar Princess stared in confusion. “Mother aren't they a threat?”

“No, remember... Oh yeah, you were out cold. Basically, Adorilin here tried to work with me to set up the treaty I was talking about earlier. It was only after, that I met with Chrysalis to see if she would accept our proposition.”

I picked up Pennilia and held her above my head. She threw her arms or like she was an airplane. “This little... Um, I guess I can't call you a filly.” I said giving a confused glance over to Adorilin, who gladly offered the answer I was looking for.

“We call those of her age a nymph.”

Smiling I gave her a small nod then I turned my attention back to the little one that was flailing her arms and calling herself a bird, “Well this little nymph being here is just collateral damage from our little attempt at peace.” As soon as the words left my mouth the small changeling gave me a grumpy stare.

“Hey! I didn't damage anything!”

This time, all three of us began laughing, and the only one left to be confused was Penny. I set her down on my lap and proceeded to stroke her mane. She enjoyed the attention for a few moments but then a thought seemed to come to her and her big eyes went from happy to inquisitive. Taking this as something I should pay attention to I paused and waited for her to say what was obviously on her mind. After a few seconds her mouth slowly opened and she asked the one question I had been dreading since I meet her. “Why did you send mommy away?”

The room froze, and the nymph stared at me with those big cat like eyes and proceeded to tilt her head to the side.

Even though her gaze was strong I didn't let myself falter. I took a deep breath and a saddened look came across my face. “Well, first off I didn't want to send her away. But...” I looked over to my good friend and previous maid for some help. She nodded to my silent plea and trotted over to the side of my bed.

“She sent mother away because she was protecting me from her.”

Pennilia turned her head to look at her older sister in confusion. “But why would she need to protect you from mom?”

Adorilin now looked sad, she turned to gave the ground as she continued her explanation, “Because, mom didn't agree with changelings and ponies living together.”

Immediately the child on my lap got an understanding expression on her face. And her questioning stare vanished, “Oh, so she was going to make an example out of you.”

Both Celestia and I were shocked, the little child in my lap spoke about her mother killing to teach as if she was talking about the weather. Had she been a little older I would have pressed onto the matter, but there's always the possibility at this age that she just didn't understand what she said. The nymph then turned to hop off of my lap but before jumping she eyed the ground with caution. After all, my bed was easily three times her height and with her standing on that it would make it four.

She continued to stare for a few more seconds before she gave a sad sigh and turned to face me with a sheepish look, “Um help...”

Once again us older ones gave way to her cuteness and smiled brightly as we giggled at her pouting face. Leaning forward, I lifted her into my hooves and proceeded to hand her over to her older sister. Unfortunately, while I was doing that one of the wires attached to me came undone and the heart monitor began going frantic. Adorilin quickly took her sister with her magic and placed her on the ground. And I fought with the wires trying to stop the deafening noise before the doctors took notice.

The room’s door clicked open, and thankfully before it moved anymore, an emerald flash of green flashed in the corner of my vision. The light reassured me that Adorilin was back to being Lillybreeze and I felt a sense of tension leave me. The doctor marched in with a frustrated scowl across his face, but it wasn't directed at me, instead for some reason it was aimed at Lilly. “Sorry but visiting hours are over.” The tone he used wasn't mean or anything, but his disapproving gaze really got under my skin. He walked forward and quickly got all the wires back into their intended places and then he turned back to the maid in the room. “It is immediate, go home or wait until after lunch,” He ordered.

“Aww, but I didn't get my revenge yet!” Pennilia squeaked.

The unexpected two-tone voice startled the doctor and he jumped out of fright. Looking down, he spotted the nymph at his hooves and time seemed to freeze between the two. Even from my distance, I could see the beads of sweat start to roll off of his face and the look of panic and fear make their way into his expression. He then turned his head up and with one great shout he ran out of the hospital room. Pennilia stared into open space that the stallion once occupied with a quizzical expression on her face. She turned to look at me her big eyes shining brightly as she asked with a small voice, “He knows I was joking... right?”

I gave her a sad sigh, and then turned towards Lilly, “You guys should probably go, you know before a large bunch of guards or something arrives.”

The teenage changeling nodded and then she picked up her sister. “Where should we go?”

“If it is just the two of you, I'd advise going back to the room you were given for your job at the palace. Hopefully, they won't look for you there. I'll see what I can do about officially welcoming you and your hive to Equestria.”

The duo nodded and then left, each making sure they were cloaked before leaving.

A few hours later our lunch came, and soon afterward Celestia was discharged. The guards who were informed of a changeling’s presence came to my room and asked me to reveal the ‘known criminal’ by description. But I waved them off and acted like I had no idea what they were talking about. I hoped they would be stupid enough to tell Celestia that I didn't acknowledge any changelings coming to visit and she'd catch my drift.

Eventually, the guards left and I was once again left to me and myself. I don't even know when, but at some point in the afternoon, I found myself staring off into the distance through the window. All the bustling activity it looked so inviting and so much more enjoyable than this drab old place. I had only one wish, and that was to leave this hospital.

Stretching my limbs out, I felt the sourness in my muscles and unsteady joints pop into place as they remembered movement. I had only been here for a few days yet it felt like an eternity. I knew I had to get out of here, I just had to. Otherwise, I'd probably end up like that barking pony at the hospital in Ponyville.

Fearful of such an outcome, I looked around for the power source of the machines that were hooked up to me. To my joy, I discovered that they were all connected to the same power outlet and a mischievous grin grew across my face; with one quick pop, my magic pulled them all out before the alarms could sound. Stripping myself of the wires and needles I threw the sheets off and jumped to the ground. It had been a little while since I got to walk so I stumbled a little, but I soon remembered my footing. Trotting over to the door I swung it open.“Door, boring not me.”

Slam!

My immediate reconsideration caused me to quickly turn around and look for somewhere else to exit. Spotting my target I ran to the widow and lifted the glass and stuck my head out, “Me!”

Meanwhile, the Doctors were escorting Princess Luna to her mother's room. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at the scene she now found herself in. The whole staff and company were talking about how ‘Mrs. Faust’ had been very cooperative with their treatments and has been very easy to care for. The guards followed the entourage of ponies to the largest room on the top floor. When Luna approached the room a soft glow of blue enveloped the door and it slowly swung open.

The smile on the Princess's face almost dropped immediately. The room was empty, and it had been for a little while. Bed sheets laid around the room and the machines were all unplugged. The only thing that remained untouched in the entire space was a solitary glass of milk on the table.

“W-Well it s-seems like she's not here right now...” The doctor said, with worry beginning to creep into his voice.

“And where might she be?” Luna replied; still looking stoically into the room.

“I-I-I’m afraid I don't know... your highness.” He squeaked.

Even though her face remained expressionless, Luna's coat visibly darkened and her mane began to flail violently. She looked down to the terrified physician with her glowing eyes and sneered at him through her new fangs.

“We entrusted her to your care; the long lost queen of Equestria, and my mother, and you lost her!

“We're sorry my Princess, we will get right on finding...”

“No. I and my guards will find her. Thouest hath proven to be incompetent and most unreliable.” The way Luna spoke was calm and collected, yet everypony in the room could feel the growing wrath of the Princess.

With a huff the Night Princess headed out in a silent fury. Unbeknownst to her, the likeness that she bore to her past self.

I had been walking on rooftops for a little while now; about three hours our so. The sky was clear and the day was vividly bright. The way the sunset streamed across the sky gave a sense of the clouds being a flame. I had only seen it happen twice on earth, and each time for no more than afew minutes. But still, nostalgia washed over me as I reminisced over my home world. It took Faust's calling my name in a worked tone to break me out of my trance. When I came back to reality I noticed I was crying.

(Are you okay?)

“Yeah... [Sniff] Yeah just thinking about home...” I said with a quiver in my voice. “I-I just need some time to myself, you can take over if you want.”

(...I understand. Just don't start thinking too negatively okay.)

“Yeah sure.”

Lauren's Perspective:

Alex’s sadness brought a heavy sense of guilt to my heart. If he only knew that I never needed him to get back here; and that it was only from mistake on my part. Then I'm sure he'd never forgive me. Thinking about it only made me feel worse and I gave a sad sigh. From where I was, I could see only one way to end this sadness along with Alex. I walked up to the edge and gave a glance down. The building I was on was easily five stories and high enough for my purposes.

Lauren... what are you doing?

I decided not to answer. Instead I fell forward off of the edge. “(I'm sorry Alex...)”

In response the human inside my head began to panic. The closer we got to the ground the more he'd scream and try to take control. He fought with me all the way down. That is until I reached ten feet from the ground. That's when I tore off the bandages around my sides and thrusted my wings downward. I shot through the air at speeds that could rival a jet as I flew through the city.

“(Aww yeah! I've been waiting for this for so long!)”

Your sick Faust, real sick!

“(Oh don't be such a baby.)”

You acted like you were going to kill us!

(Tehe my bad...)

The human’s change in mood had gone from depressed to fittingly angry in less than thirty seconds. It was a new record in my book, and I was up to some celebration.

“(Woohoo!)”

I swooped through the streets and alleyways with a newfound vigor. I felt young, and full of energy for the first time in years. It had been so long since I last flew, and this little outing was proving to be something I hadn't realized I needed. From below I watched as the citizens looked up in surprise as I sped through the streets. A mach cone was fluttering in and out of existence around me, and a wide spread grin covered my face. Little did I know that while I flew, I had begun to hum a tune to myself as I went through Canterlot.

Is that the how to train your Dragon theme?

“(Wha...)” Alex’s voice echoed in my head, and I finally realized that I was indeed humming the tune to the show. Embarrassment and anger flashed through me and my speed slowed while I harshly retorted to my cohabitor, “(Don't judge me peasant!)”

Ha!

Faust flew us around for quite a while. I must say, the freedom of flight is an indescribable feeling. Even though I was riding shotgun I felt the way the wind rushed past. The slight tilting or angling of a feather did so much that the thought of flying is a scary one for me. Back when I tried to fly through the castle, I hadn't realized that even though I could propel myself forward maintaining control was far more work. Even so the stress relief from flying was definitely something worth doing again.

When the sun started to hang over the horizon Lauren decided to land in an alleyway not too far from the castle. She said that if I was feeling up to it I could try flying, but I decided to stroll the streets instead. Shops lit up Canterlot worth a soft light, and elegant music could be heard playing from the fancy restaurants. It kinda reminded me of the atmosphere that Rome has at night.

The best part of walking through town at this time was that, because of the low lighting most ponies didn't notice my wings, and they treated me normally.

While I was walking through one of the bigger streets I noticed a commotion break out up ahead. A stallion was running from a mare with a purse in his mouth.

“Thief! Stop him!” She called. But nopony wanted to get their hooves dirty, and the royal guards were as always, useless. The perpetrator was heading my direction and I couldn't overcome the need to interfere.

“Fire?” I asked, already getting my magic ready.

(No Al, not for this situation, just switch with me.)

Disappointed, I grumbled, “Oh okay, but I get the next one.”

(Deal.)

“Great...” I once again switched with the old wizard, and she prepared to handle the thief in a better way than incineration.

Once Faust took control she began working on her spell. With such little distance between us now I was surprised to see her succeed. Steel bars shot out of the ground and the pony who stole the purse found himself running into the trap with no time to stop. Once he was inside the cage was made secure and a crowd of ponies began to applaud, or stomp.

I regained control and snatched the bag from the crook and handed it to the mare as she caught up. I didn't stop though. I still didn't like being in front of crowds so I tried to blend in with it and avoid attention as quickly as possible. Only, to bump into a very agitated Luna.

“Hehe hi Luna...”

The night Princess just stared at me with her lower eyelid twitching up and down. “Yes mother, hello... it's so nice to see that you are getting your rest and are recovering comfortably.”

The way she stretched her words was a clear indication of her frustration and as she took a step forward. I took a step back. Three more steps forward, and three more back until I high tailed it out of there.

“Get back here! Your going to the hospital!”

“No! Don't make me go to the boring place! I don't wanna go!” I begged, as I swerved through the crowds of ponies.

Some protested as I pushed past them but others stared in awe as two alicorns ram through the city. In my attempts to escape my coming doom I was turning sharp corners, diving through alleyways, and climbing walks to try to get away. But the one thing I didn't do was fly. Luna on the other hand could, and she uses every advantage she had to capture me. Even going so far as to materialize a giant sword in my way to block my exit.

“Hey no fair! That's not how you play tag!”

“This isn't a game mother; now come with me.” She said this as she swooped down and grabbed me via magic.

“Ow ow ow ow! At least don't drag me by my mane~” I wined as I endured the pain. Thankfully she listened and dragged me back by my legs instead... it still hurt.

After Luna dragged me to that damned place, I was finally discharged from the hospital after two days of tormenting boredom. The doctor made sure to give me a really long and boring speech about how dangerous it is to nearly expel all the magic in one's body before I left. But I don't think I needed that, nor did my partner.

The headache alone from when we did that during Cadence’s wedding was enough pain to drive a person mental. Just how much of a pony's body is run off of the stuff? Whatever it was, getting rid of it hurt.

When I got to the castle I didn't even bother to get cleaned up instead I just wanted to go to sleep. As I approached my bedroom I found, as usual, the two brats sleeping on my bed. Celestia seemed to be sleeping soundly, but Luna, she was tossing and turning. A look of discomfort was clear on her face and she laid in fear induced sweat. Her head turned from side to side and I couldn't help but notice she was mumbling in her sleep. Quietly, I made my way over to her and leaned down so I could hear her.

“No, Nightmare, no.” She moned

I reared back in surprise. Nightmare? As in Nightmare Moon?

“Hey, Lauren do you think she's still suffering from that incident she had?”

“Hmm...” I tried to think of what to do, then I remembered. “Oh yeah, the Tantibus! Are we able to dream walk like Luna?”

“So can we do it?”

“Eh that doesn't matter, one of my friends are suffering and I'll do what I can to change it.”

Even though I couldn't see my passenger, I could feel that she would be giving me a wide smile of approval.

I got onto the bed and after fiddling around, I found a stable spot to lay. Switching over I watched a Lauren charged up her horn and touched Luna's. Then my vision went white.

Luna suddenly found herself in a blank landscape. Everything was white for as far as the eye could see. This was no normal dream, it felt real, and purposely constructed. Like the dreams, she made for those who she needed to speak with in the past.

As the blue alicorn looked around for any sign of pretty much anything her gaze moved onto and froze at the figure behind her. Her fur stood on end and her breathing became rampant.

“Nightmare? No... you were destroyed by the elements!”

“A minor setback, but thanks to you little Luna I can return and make those ponies finally appreciate our night!” The large alicorn declared as she towered over the terrified Princess.

“Soon they will know they will learn to love it just like they love our sisters precious light!”

“No! I will get the elements to expel you once more and you'll never return.”

“I live inside you forever, nothing they do well separate you from who you are.”

Nightmare was standing tall looming over Lunas shivering form. She learned closer until their eyes were locked and she says in a saddened tone. “All those years back you agreed with me.”

Suddenly a bright flash shined across the dreamscape and in its place stood Lauren in her full hight.

“Hmm... So this is what's going on.” I said, mostly to myself but it was still loud enough for the duo to hear me.

As soon as Luna spotted me her eyes widened slightly and she bolted behind me.

Confused by her unusual behavior I turned around and patted her on the head. “Hey Luna, what's wrong?”

“Nightmare is back! She wants to corrupt me and bring back eternal night.” The Princess explained. Looking up, I spotted the mare in question

“Eternal night huh?”

“Yes! And nopony is going to stop me from making them finally appreciate it!”

“I looked at Luna and then back to Nightmare and gave a sigh.”

“Tell me why.”

Nightmare looked at me with a confused stare. “...What?”

“Why was it that you came up with the idea of eternal night in the first place.”

“So ponies would appreciate the night and the work we do!”

“So you want to be loved.” I deadpanned.

“I- ( sigh ) what's your point!”

“Do you think killing everypony on the planet would make them appreciate you, or even love you?”

“Uh, no... but I'm not trying to kill anypony.”

“Yes, you're not. But did you ever stop to realize that the day and the night are limited for a reason.”

Nightmare looked at me with irritated interest whereas Luna looked up to me with confusion.

“The day brings heat and nourishment for plants and animals yes?”

They both nodded.

“On the other hand, the night comes in at the right time so that the sun doesn't start to burn the surface and all those on it. The night brings a break from all the noise, and allows those ponies to rest as the planet begins to cool.”

“See! The ponies sleep through my night and they show no appreciation for all that we do!”

“Who doesn't?”

“W-what?” This time Nightmare was really confused and caught off guard. She had obviously been thinking that she had won this discussion but really she reminded me of Mya when she had her mind set on one thing.

“Who doesn't show appreciation?”

“The ponies!”

“What about the stargazers? What about those hopeless romantic's who wish to have a picnic under the stars? The nocturnal creatures, the citizens who are finally able to rest after becoming fatigued. What about me? Or Celestia? Do all of us not count?”

“Tia just pretends to care for me! If we weren't there then she wouldn't even bother to think of us!”

“It's that really true? Or is that what you've been telling yourself to remain enraged?”

“It's true!”

I sighed.“If it is, then please tell me if you don't recognize this song.” I said as I closed my eyes and food my best to remember. Thanks for showing me all this stuff, Mya.

A small gem appeared in front of Nightmare and she eyed it cautiously. Then she looked over to me and looked back and forth between the gem and I. Finally, her hoof extended and she touched it. To began to glow and a soft tinge of music could be heard. Then the lyrics came and I watched in silence to see how she'd react.

“Fate has been cruel and order unkind
How can I have sent you away?
The blame was my own; the punishment, yours
The harmony's silent today

But into the stillness I'll bring you a song
And I will your company keep
Till your tired eyes and my lullabies
Have carried you softly to sleep.~

When it finished Nightmare seemed shocked and frozen up. Her head lowered and I was no longer able to see her face; a few tears started to fall. And her body quaked with emotion. A good few seconds of quiet tears passed before she spoke again, but still, her words were shaky and full of regret.

“Why?... Why go through all this effort to get me to see the point of view that others have!? Why remind me of all those years that, that one song rang through the skies and held me company!? Wouldn't it be easier to destroy me?” She then looked up, her eyes were bloodshot from crying and treats stained her black coat.

“I'm telling you this because I care, and because now that you are both in this body I thought it would be best to work together instead of trying to remove half of my daughters heart.”

“Work together? Mother with all due respect thouest doth not know what it is like to share a body!”

“You'd be surprised.”

Again the two mares quizzically stared and tried to process the things I had been saying.

“Listen you two, when it comes to situations like this the sooner you are able to work together the better your lives will be. Nighty you must understand that if you want your subjects to love you then you must first love them.”

“Oh, and how do I do that!? I don't even know what love is!”

“Then ask. Because Love is kind, patient, honest, forgiving, and it does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury, and love never fails.”

“That's like the exact opposite of me!”

“Then you've got a lot of work ahead of you. Peo-ies can change, it just takes a little effort. Are you willing to put forth the effort to be happy?”

Luna and Nightmare looked towards each other than in a silent agreement they turned to me and gave a nod.

Then I left the dreamscape.

When morning came, I got the unfortunate privilege to wake up to the unpleasant sound of Celestia’s alarm clock. Like any good sibling, she had it set up on Luna's side of the bed. Whether it was to annoy her or not, I don't know, but It's constant ringing drew me out of my pleasant slumber.

My eyes slowly cracked open, and I took in a deep breath; filling my nose with the scent that the room had come to know. It was a smell of parchment and expensive woods, I took a moment to acknowledge how comforting that mix had become to be.

It had been maybe a month now since I ended up here, and at first the thought of being here was like a closing in space in which there was no return. My home was gone, my life was gone, and my very being was lost. But throughout all of that I managed to adjust. Little by little I got used to the feeling of this world. I knew I was going to miss it when I left, and all those I had come to know as friends, but the thought of my sister still lingered in my mind. I was worried about her and not a day went by that my heart didn't look back to the days past.

My thoughts wandered as I laid in the bed. Little did I know that as they did the image in front of my eyes was slowly growing dark. It wasn't until my vision faded to black and the constant ringing had become nothing that I noticed; I falling back to sleep!

The moment I realized that, my heart beat in an almost painful way. I'm sure that most people understand that feeling. Not wanting to have to wake myself up again, and the pang of hunger beginning to make itself known, I took a deep breath and flung my body into a sitting position.

I quickly found out that I shouldn't have done that. Having moved so quickly, my blood didn't have time to reach my head, and I soon found myself feeling woozy. Stars filled my vision and I had to support myself by holding my arms to the side on the bed.

Finally after a few moments I began to feel normal again. The alarm was still going, and from the center of the bed I looked out to find that neither princess was getting up.

Instead they were lying there peacefully completely oblivious to the constant ringing. Somehow seeing them like this seemed quite peaceful, and I couldn't help but wonder what those two were like when they were fillies. The thought made me smile and somehow I knew my co-pilot was smiling too.

I would have let them be, but they also needed to attend to their duties; so along with the sound of the alarm I softly shook ‘my’ two daughters. Celestia and Luna began to stir at the constant motion but they still ignored the endless ringing. Adjusting my sitting position, I sat up against the bed’s headboard and watched as the two ancient mares groaned and whimpered as they curled up in their sheets.

A few minutes passed of them whining and groaning. I had shut the alarm off, but they still refused to get up. From where I sat I heard a click at the door, it caught my attention, and then suddenly the doors of my room burst open. I gave a shout in fright, causing relentless laughter to drown out my hearing as Faust giggled away.

Looking towards the disturbance in the doors, I watched as thirty or more servants flooded into the room. “Your highnesses you must get up! The wedding is today!” One servant announced.

The two Princesses were practically swarmed by their maids; the poor alicorns didn't even get to fully wake up before they were dragged out of bed. Both of them made a loud thud as they fell onto the floor. Sets of one or two unicorns straightened them up in their magic, and their royal regalia was slapped onto them. I watched, horrified by the swarm. They tossed the two half asleep Princesses into two big chairs, then began their attack for brushing and makeup.

I was so thankful that I hadn't been singled out yet, and I had no intention of being part of this. So while the maids were distracted I scampered off the bed and I found a spot at the end of the room. Unfortunately for me, all the doors and windows seemed to be blocked by the vast number of makeup artists.

So I hid, hoping that I'd remain unseen. I was so confused, what was with this all of a sudden? Who's wedding was this big huge commotion over? I couldn't think of anyone I knew who was only engaged.

I was so focused on the unanswered questions that laid in my mind that I didn't even notice my three attendants push their way into the room. They had a large suitcase with pictures of hairbrushes and other makeup products with them, and as soon as I saw it, dread filled my heart.

I took a glance over to the group swarming over the solar and lunar Princesses, and my heart skipped a beat in fear. Outwardly I did my best to hide any sense of discomfort, but it still didn't stop the hair on my neck from standing up. Along with a very goofy looking changeling as she tried to hide her amusement. Then again my expression may have been too easy to read for her to need to taste my emotions.

To my relief when they opened the bag it was literally just a comb and a blow dryer. That, I could handle. But if there was any chance of me looking like Rarity when she gets all caked up in face products, I'd be running for the hills.

So sitting down at the desk that Lauren had introduced herself to me at, I willingly let Minuette do my hair, or mane; much to her enjoyment. It seemed that ever since I first met her, she was constantly glancing up to my messy hairdo. Perhaps this would make her happy. Still though what was this all for? Who's wedding were we getting ready for?

After a few minutes of pondering the question I gave up on trying to figure it out myself, and decided to ask Lyra in a hushed voice, “So who's... wedding is it today?”

Quickly making a mental note, I noticed that I'd need to practice whispering in this body. Because as soon as the question left my mouth a sense of tension hung in the air.

Not so much from my attendants, no, but from some of Celestia’s makeup ponies. They turned unanimously towards my direction and some glared at me harshly. It was as if they thought I was the most insensitive person on the planet.

One pony stepped forward, her face failing to hide any trace of disgust. “It's Cadence’s wedding day!” The pony said. Her tone was filled with disgust, and there was a sense of nobility in her voice that I noticed. Because the way she talked reminded me of a stuck up ass.

The room went silent. Those who had seen me, and have heard of me, turned in a fright as they waited for some type of judgment to occur. And I waited along with them in anticipation. Because at that moment, I could feel Lauren take control of our face, and it seemed almost out of reflex on her part. She turned to the pony and gave a shallow smile.

“(Thank you, young one).” She said.

Her answer was clear and sweet, but for some reason the others in the room refused to make eye contact. They vigorously continued to work; doing so as if they were trying to avoid getting noticed. Perhaps it was not so much the words she spoke but what she said with her eyes.

Someone needs a coffee. I teased, but got no response. Instead I found myself suddenly in control again. Turning back I looked at my reflection, Minuette had just finished doing my hair. I still preferred the other way; but at the same time I had to admit, she did a damn good job.

While I was looking in the mirror, Lyra brought over a white box with a crimson trim and set it on the table. Minuette and Lillybreeze went to open it, but when they did they gasped in surprise. Both stepped back with grins on their faces and I soon found myself lured in by my curiosity.

Confused about what seemed to shock them, I walked over to see what it was. When I looked in my nerves spiked and I was dreadfully hoping no one saw me blushing, because it was severely embarrassing.

Inside the box there was a chest plate with Faust’s cutie mark, a tiara to go with it, and a set of crystal shoes. You ever have one of those moments when you're dying inside but can't show it because everyone else doesn't see the whole picture. That's how it was for me at that moment. Looking over at Lillybreeze I could see a wide smug smirk stretching across her face again.

Well that struck a nerve, anger roared through us, and soon we started to argue. The two of us were spouting nonsense and insults at each other. A vast internal war within our mind, It must have looked odd from everyone else's perspective because I was fairly sure we had a blank stare into space right now.

Unfortunately I kept on forgetting that I was up against an experienced trickster, and often fell for her traps. In this instance she used the argument to keep my focus on her and not the outside world. Lifting the objects out of the box and putting it on she managed to slip everything into place as I continued to insist that we'd never wear it.

It took me a second to notice she had once again taken control and was prancing around as if to get back at me. I was both appalled, and severally impressed that she managed to do that. Inside however I was struggling with the thought, I wanted to rip off the stupid crown and toss it to the side. On the other hand, part of me knew that would only make things worse. It was clear that a lot of effort was put into making these things, and the more I inspected the new outfit the more guilt I felt for feeling ready to throw it aside.

I looked over to my three friends and gave them a warm smile, “Thank you all; please let the pony who made this know that I'm very happy with it.”

“Will do, Lauren.” Lyra said as she gave a salute before trotting, or pushing her way out of the room in search of the artist. Looking at myself now, I was pretty much done other than a few small things. As I sat there light erupted from the windows. It seemed that the two sleeping beauties were finally awake and tending to their roles. I smiled.

For some reason it seemed as if for a single moment everypony stopped making noise. And that's the time my stomach decided to growl in hunger. Honestly, why do things always work out like that? It's as if some idiot with no storytelling skill was in charge of these events. The ponies simultaneously turned to find the source of the sound, and they found me.

They took their time staring. All as if they had seen an anomaly for the first time. “What!? I missed dinner last night, okay...” I tried to defend myself from their relentless gaze but to no avail.

Lillybreeze tapped me on the shoulder, and asked if I wanted her to bring me my breakfast from the kitchens. I smiled and gave a quick nod. Little did I know how much I would have liked her to stay, because not even two minutes after she left, Pennilia rushed into the room in her base form. Her big cat like eyes looking at me and Celestia with a commanding expression.

“I'm bored!” She declared, and a moment of silence passed as all the servants paled.

“I-I-It's a Changeling! Run!” One maid shouted. Mass panic among the servants spread quickly and they all began to run around aimlessly as they screamed at the top of their lungs. The vast mob of chaos was so distracting that I almost didn't notice the nymph had ran up to me and bonked me on the nose with a jump.

“Tag you're it! Catch me if you can!” She taunted.

Now I know the proper thing to do would have been to calm down the servants and keep order in the castle, but... well I'm not one to resist a challenge, nor do I ever do the proper thing.

“Oh, it's on!” I exclaimed, and I found myself to be running out of the room after the little rascal with a stupid grin on my face.

As we were running through the halls and acting childish, Pennilia kept on finding odd places to hide. Behind the curtains, on the ceiling, under the couch, and on my head. I don't even know how she managed to pull that one off but somehow she made herself almost weightless.

Once the chase was on, but this time as we traveled through the halls the commotion we were causing didn't go unnoticed. Two guards came at us with their spears drawn and a slight look of fright in their eyes. “Stop right there!” They commanded me.

The nymph and I stopped as they said and I looked at the determination in the guards eye. Deciding to play dumb and I leaned against the wall with a nonchalant attitude. “Oh? Okay, so what's up?”

“Tell us what you have you done you beast!” The guard said as he moved the spear forward to try to intimidate me.

I looked around with a dumbfounded expression on my face. Finding no other people or ponies for them to be talking to. I turned back to them. “Are you talking to me?... You're talking to me?”

“Yes!” The guard answered, his friend closed in with his spear held ready. “Now Changeling, tell us what you have done with the Princess's mother!”

I couldn't get the look of ‘what the hell’ off my face, and I'm sure neither could my counterpart. “(I'm right here dipshit.)” She said. But It was safe to say that they didn't believe her.

Instead they tossed their spears against our neck. “Don't play games with us. Do you think we're blind? I can see you scheming with your associate.” The guard took a glance down to the whimpering nymph, and I couldn't help but feel quite indignant with his attitude.

Switching places again I began to say in a mocking tone. “Well you've caught us, playing tag with a child is obviously the most evil, horrible thing I could possibly do.”

My words were practically dripping with sarcasm, and with my attention focused on the two guards I didn't even notice the sound of hooves from behind me. The guards looked surprised, “Prince...” They muttered. Then there was a loud smack then everything went dark.

I was still able to hear for a short time, and while that was, a familiar voice commanded the guards to, “Throw the two changelings into the...” And that's when I truly passed out.

When I came to, the first thing I noticed was the humid stale air around me. I was laying on a thin layer of straw and I was in a small space. Looking around, I saw that It was a cell. The three walls were made out of stone and the last one iron bars. There was a small cot and a bucket in the corner and the nymph was laying on the bed. She was asleep.

From the far side of the halls I could hear a key undoing a lock, and it was followed by the shrieking sound of a squeaky door. I flinched in pain, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Pennilia jump as well despite being asleep.

I stood tall, and as the sound of approaching ponies became louder I began to wish I had a glass wall instead of iron bars. It would be hilarious. They came into view; It was the two guards from earlier and Celestia.“Princess, this is the prisoner we told you about. We believe she is a Changeling.” The soldier pointed to me and I gave a nonchalant wave. “Yo.”

“Quiet you!” One guard snapped as he smacked the bars with a small bat. Celestia had a shallow smile on her face. She knew it was me, it was obvious. Pacing back and forth in front of the cell she looked at me with a questioning glare. “So, you're impersonating my mother?”

Her stretching grin wobbled as she tried to keep up the act. My ears moved on their own again and planted themselves against my head. Panic began to build up as she kept staring at me with that ever darkening grin. “Celestia what are you doing?”

“Oh just my job of questioning the prisoners.” She answered, but there was a bit of a skip to her walk, and a look of glee as she spotted that the guards were buying every minute of her facade.

“You're really liking this aren't you?” I deadpanned.

Then, Celestia drew closer to the bar doors, and with a goofy expression on her face she said, “Oh come on I'm just having fun, what are you going to do ground me?” She taunted me, but this wasn't just a normal joke. This was a child testing the grounds with what their parents will let them get away with.

Now I was never much for reading the situation but boy did that send a shiver down my spine. Not because of what she said, but because of how Lauren took the disrespectful attitude. Anger that wasn't mine flared up. She was going to do something, I could feel it. Letting her take over, for my own sake; our horn lit up. It enveloped the end of Celestia’s muzzle sticking through the bars. A bright light appeared as quickly as it left.

The solar princess jumped back from the bars in a heavy and worried shock. “W-What did you do! What did you do!?”

Lauren's face stretched into a smug smirk, “(No cake for one thousand years.)” she said. And a look of complete horror planted itself onto Tia’s face.

Her knees buckled and a sense of despair loomed in the room. “Noooooooo!” She cried to the heavens. Personally I thought she was being a little too over dramatic. Her display reminded me of Spike when Rarity was kidnapped by Diamond dogs.

Immediately guards were at her side. “What is it princess, what's wrong?” but she gave no response she just cried. They turned their attention to me, “What have you done to her, you monster!?” Faust just ignored the commotion outside the cell and turned to face the wall. Curiosity was eating away at me though, so finally I took the risk and asked...

Clank!

Clanking metal could be heard as Tia was reaching for the bar doors. She was having her first tantrum in probably over several thousand years. “Mother please undo it! Please mom I'm begging you!” She pleaded with tears down her face, but Lauren and I stayed silent.

Some guards were holding her back and saying, “Princess she's a changeling!” but their false comfort was shot down as the solar princess turned to them with eyes bloodshot and filled with tears.

“She's my real mother!” Her declaration was clear, and all that heard it knew she was telling the truth. That's not too say the guards were fully competent. As soon as she those words left her mouth the guards grew fearful and those in charge shouted, “Guards we've got another one!” Then reinforcements flooded in and seized her.

“No you've got it wrong. Here, I'll prove it!” Her horn flared and a soldier shouted, “Quick use the forget me stick.”

Wack!

The next thing Celestia knew she was waking up in a small cell with a floor of dried grass and walls of carved stone. She looked to her side where I sat on my rear with my front hooves crossing over my chest. “Well way to go Sunass now we are both stuck in here.” I complained.

Celestia looked around with a bewildered expression.“I can't, I don't... Why didn't they believe me? I moved the sun to prove it.”

Well, with that ridiculous statement my frustration flared up, and I turned to her flailing my arms as I spoke. “We are in a frickin dungeon! They couldn't see squat if they wanted to!”

Raising my voice unfortunately got the attention of someone I had forgotten, and a rustle of stiff sheets sounded from the cot in the corner. Looking over to it both Tia and I spotted the cowering Pennilia. I gave a sigh and bowed my head slightly; turning my gaze upwards I made eye contact with ‘my’ daughter. “Your right... It's not your fault.”

The nymph was looking around the room and seeing that she was trapped she began to shiver and she squeaked,“I'm scared.” Now that would melt the heart of anyone who had one.

Both Tia and I, soon found ourselves at the nymphs sides with our closest wings draped over her. “It's alright Pennilia, everything is going to be okay.” I said hoping to offer some type of comfort.

While I was still speaking our ears were once again assaulted by the shrieking sound of the doors as they were swung open. The guards in the dungeon with us gave a little bow and said. “Sorry to disturb you your highness, but we thought this was something you needed to see. We have apprehended two changelings caught roaming the halls this morning and one more just a few minutes ago.”

I didn't see who they brought but I already had a fairly good idea of who it was. Grabbing the bars I drew my face against them and shouted. “Hey Luna, can you do me a favor and deck these morons in the face.”

From around the corner I heard the night Princess question herself trotting quietly as she approached.

“Mother?”

She looked at me with bewilderment and stepped forward. But a guard came with her and said, “May I need remind you that changelings can mimic almost anypony.”

With this seeded doubt she halted her approach; standing tall she looked at me and told me. “Say something that only my mother would say.”

That is always a tricky one but thankfully I had an ace up my sleeve, “Last night I visited your dream...” I didn't even have to finish my sentence when her eyes lit up, and she quickly turned to the guards to give commands.

“It's her. Release them.”

Again confusion crossed the faces of the guards and they began to protest, “But Princess, they're changelings.” Her unwavering stare though began to wear them down and fear could be seen in the faces of those she looked at. From where I was, I could hear as a few of the soldiers began to say amongst themselves, “She must be one too.”

So they moved to seize her, but as they tried to grab her, to throw her in with us; Luna's horn flared up. In an instant her body became a mist like cloud that they couldn't grab. Like a nimbus she flew around zig-zagging through the crowds and reforming at the far end of the dungeon.

However, she wasn't Luna anymore. Instead she was Nightmare in Luna's royal attire. Her black coat shined and her mane became transparent. Now as soon as they saw that she had turned into smoke just as she had done in times past, some began to worry. But when she spoke dread filled their hearts and that's when they realized they bucked up.

“How dare you! All of you know that the changelings who tried to attack Canterlot were blown away. Others helped us, one aided us in a battle against her own mother and saved our life. Now, who are you to start rounding up innocent ponies and throwing them into prison. These two are both my sister and mother, and even if there is changelings roaming the halls do you not think we know that? They are under our protection!” Nighty sneered.

Her anger was clear to see, and as she stepped forward all the guards shouted in unison, “We are infinitely sorry!” They began to prostrate themselves bowing low until her anger subsided. Then one soldier that was standing beside the door grabbed hold of one of the bars and swung the door open. To which Luna looked at Tia and I with a deadpan expression.

“The three of you, and not one decided to try the door?”

“It should have been locked.” We protested, as we all felt quite stupid.

After that awkward, and stupid turn of events, we left the cell. Being not as busy as everyone else is, I soon found myself alone wandering through the halls. To be honest I was extremely bored and my thoughts kept lingering on being thrown into the dungeon. Although it was mostly a waste of my time it also helped me to realize that waiting for things to calm down was just trouble waiting to happen.

So as I walked through the endless corridors, I decided that I would need to anounce the small remnant of changelings now residing in Canterlot; as citizens by my order. Hopefully that would be enough. My thoughts pondered through what I could do to keep mobs and panic at a minimum, but so far I wasn't coming up with anything good.

Just the uncertainty of the reaction alone filled my soul with dread, I didn't even notice myself walk straight into a group of servants until I was sitting on the floor. They were standing outside a large gold plated door and knocking furiously on it. Frustration was evident in their faces and some even fury.“Your highness you must get up it's nearly time for your cousin's wedding!” They continued to shout as they knocked, but there was still no response, and it looked like the group was getting tired.

Seeing this, I cleared my throat as I stood up, hoping to get their attention. Leaning in closer I asked, “Hey um, what's going on?” One of the servants turned to look at me, and they lowered their heads almost automatically.

“We are trying to get Prince Blueblood out of his room for the wedding your highness.” One said.

Damn it; it was him again, and of all times. Then it hit me... before I was sent down to that damn dungeon the last thing I heard was the guards uttering Prince. And that voice it was his. That stupid bastard! He whacked me on the head in the first place didn't he!? And now he's mysteriously locked himself in his room.

He was going to pay, and I knew just how I was going to get the little dumbass back. I walked over to the door and gave three hard knocks that echoed through the halls. “Blueblood it's me Lauren, open the door.” I warned. But still, there was not much of an answer, nothing more than a muffled sound of stacking? The group and I waited in silence for about a minute before my patience wore thin. I gave him a chance to come clean but now he'd have to suffer the payback scare.

Standing on my hind legs I punched the door splintering some wood and a shriek of fear was heard from inside. Hitting the door again I could hear as his crudely built barricade fell to the ground. Then once more, and a big hole blew out of the door, big enough to fit a basketball through. Again there was some very womanly screams for a colt, and being unable to resist, I stuck my face in the hole to look at him. “Here's Johnny!”

He was cowering in the corner whimpering in fear, muttering “I'm sorry.” Repeatedly as he made his way around the edge of his room. Then with a swift kick I knocked the door off its hinges. Blueblood had run into his bed and curled up under the sheets.

I looked at him with a bored stare; then walking through the doorway I went over and sat on the edge of the bed beside him.

The room was silent and those in the hall leaned their heads in to see what was going to happen. The shivering prince nearly jumped when my wing lifted the sheets from his head. He looked at me, dread filling his eyes. I then gave him a soft reassuring smile; well, that is until I couldn't hold it anymore. “Boy you should have seen your face! Pff..Haha!” I rolled off the bed in a fit of giggles.

The Prince was confused to say the least. He didn't know what to think. Here he thought I was going to kill him or something, but now I was acting like a child who pulled off a prank successfully.

When I finally calmed down, I sat up to face the bewildered Prince with a innocent smile. At least now his shivering fear seemed to be gone but my counterpart helped me notice his skepticism. Making no sudden movements, I got up and sat where I had before and looked towards the kid.

“I think that makes us even.” I grinned.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, after I figured out that you bonked me on the head, and damn near broke my skull. Then I woke up in a dungeon freaked out about what was happening, I think this little scare makes us even... Although I'll admit I probably went a little overboard...”

At my last comment the Prince instinctively had a look on his face that said ‘just a little?’ We looked towards the damaged door but he decided to keep silent about it.

“Listen Blueblood, I know you are a good pony, and although there was a mix up I understand you were just trying to do what's right.” I put my wing over his back in an attempt of a hug and continued. “However there's one thing that you, and the rest of the staff should know, and that is that a small remnant of changelings repented from their actions and I have taken them in.”

When I said that, he looked appalled and was going to protest, but I went on. “They're just like you and me, the thoughts and feelings you feel are the same. Some can be bad and some can be good, it all really is determined by what type of person we choose to be.” As I said this I stood up and began walking to the doorway.

“By the way, Cadence’s wedding is in a few hours don't be late okay.”

“...Okay.”

“Good.”

As I left, Lauren helped me reform the doors to their original state then we continued on. But this time I decided not to wander through the halls aimlessly. Instead I figured that it may be an idea to check up on the Royal Canterlot Library near the gardens. So, trotting through the halls and out the door I was met with the bright light of midday. I had to shield my eyes from the light, and wait for them to adjust before I could continue. When they did I was on my way.

While walking to the Library I decided to pass by the gardens and see Discord. Maybe tell him about the wedding and it's chaos with the changelings. But, as I looked up to his towering feature, Lauren asked me to switch with her. I didn't know why, but I also didn't see any reason to refuse her request. So, I stepped aside from control. When I did, our face went into a mischievous smirk in no time flat. She grabbed a permanent marker from well... somewhere, and began doodling.

When she was done, he was covered from head to toe in pictures of... you know what let's just say she drew things, inappropriate things that I'm not going to specify. But I was certain the pictures would piss off the draconequus at least to a certain degree. She gave me control again after admiring her handy work, and after quickly throwing the marker in the bushes; I set off to the library as originally planned.

As I walked inside the large book house, I was greeted with the calming scent of parchment and ink. It had come to be such a familiar scent that it felt almost like home, and to a degree I felt that those feelings weren't mine entirely. I was standing in the main lobby area; It was deserted as always.

As I was looking around, I heard a squeak from the doors behind me. My ears followed the sound, and I found myself turning my head that direction. When I did, I found Twilight Sparkle to be standing in the doorway with a surprised look on her face. She was dressed up in her best mare outfit. “Oh, hi... I didn't know anypony was in here.” She said.

To make a long story short, Twilight, and I, had a nice conversation. She seemed a little skittish at first, but I quickly found a common ground to break the ice. Our love of books. Now before I came to this world, I never really read books for fun. But damn, this medieval planet makes me feel like Super Kami Guru. We need TV!

Anyways, back on track. The purple unicorn soon calmed down, and through some hard work I got her to see me as a peer. While doing so, I got her something to drink, and gave her the present that spike got for Moondancer. She seemed surprised, but also genuinely grateful. Seeing that made my heart glad.

While we were talking we got on the subject of her life studying under Celestia's wing. It was really interesting to say the least; all the stories of how she'd sneak in here late at night to read made a smile grow across my face. Just imagining filly Twilight up at night somehow sparked a sense of nostalgia, and I couldn't understand why.

As the student spoke, her vivid description made the visualization of the filly Twilight all too easy to see. It was almost like a window had been opened to the past. However as I watched the scenery soon changed and the library was entirely different. The filly in the image had turned from purple to white. It didn't take long to understand the memory as the sense of nostalgia washed over me again. Apparently there was many similarities between the adorkable unicorn and the dorky ruler.

Soon I had noticed that my focus had delved into our own mind, and as I returned to reality I spotted Pinkie Pie pop through the doorway. “Hey Twilight! Fausty, it's time to go. The wedding is going to start!”

I for my part clenched my chest as my heart tried to burst out. Twilight looked at me and I waved off the pain silently saying I'm fine.

The question however came up in my mind of how she knew we were here... Wait this is Pinkie Pie, of course she would know where we were. Twilight helped me pack up the cups I had brought out, and we soon left together. Following after the bouncing form of pink. As we were walking down the roadway we still shared a few stories with each other. Twilight about her childhood, and I, or well, Lauren, was telling her about Tia as a child. I was certain sunbutt wasn't going to be happy about it but we didn't care.

As we came close to the castle we were broken out of our conversation by the sight of a pony is being dragged to the Royal Canterlot Hospital. From where I was I could hear the stallion as he said to anypony who would listen. “What happened!? Why is it different? The sky should be green right now.”

All who were present had the same thought, and I found myself saying. “Okay weird.” As they exited the scene.

We got to the castle and as we entered the wedding hall the ponies proceeded to their assigned posts. I had to say they really did a good job at restoring this place after the wreck it was the last time I saw it. They must have called in the guys from Ponyville. To be able to restore the town to normal as often as they do in the show they'd be able to fix this place easily in an afternoon.

Before I knew what was happening the wedding began, and I scrambled to find a seat. Shining armor got to his spot and looked down the aisle; music and flowers filled the room, and everypony’s attention turned to the bride. Cadence was walking with the music; almost dancing, her face shining in a brilliant smile. Even though there were so many ponies in attendance, she didn't notice one. Because her eyes were purely locked onto her love and as she stepped onto the stage to meet him.

Finally after all the waiting the two could now be married. Celestia teleported her cue cards away and thus began her part, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Shining Armor, and Princess Cadence.”

To be honest I kinda zoned out there for a few minutes or two, but when I came back to reality Tia was asking Shining and Cadence the final two questions. The two looked deep into each other's eyes and they smiled as she did. “Shining Armor, do you take Princess Cadence to be your lawfully wedded Wife.”

“I do.”

“Princess Cadence, do you take Shining Armor to be your lawfully wedded Husband.”

“I do.”

“Then by the power vested in me I pronounce you two Husband and Wife. You may kiss the bride.” Shining and Cadence almost lept for each other as they shared their first kiss. Confetti and sprinkles erupted from the ground and Pinkie Pie was almost jumping for joy. Tia lowered the sun just slightly and soon the two lovers were only seen as a silhouette in front of the sun set.

I hadn't noticed it but when Luna passed me a tissue I realized I had been crying. I don't know if it was me or if it was my other half, but the tears and sheer joy I felt was something that made all the troubles from earlier worth it.

The reception proceeded as it was shown in the show, and having Pinkie organize the event was definitely the right choice. Everyone had a blast, even Blueblood. The whole night was just one thing after another of fantastic partying.

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time; ready to see what was going to happen next. Ready to join in and get involved; but for me the highlight of the night was and always will be... When they brought out the cake; the look on Tia’s face when she saw her slice disintegrate as she bit into it was something I'll never forget.

*

It was dark. Night had fallen upon the castle, and I was sure now that I was the only one left. I was the last one to be hunted. As I entered a room on the South side of the castle, I strained to listen for any signs of... Them.

My heart was beating so hard and fast that it was almost impossible to hear anything else. My eyes were heavy with sleep deprivation and my body was physically fatigued.

Suddenly, I heard a sound from the vents. It sounded like claws against the sheet metal, and the sound was getting closer. My heart was in my throat. With a stifled gasp, I took my only option available and crawled under a desk.

I held my breath, listening, and hoping to remain undetected. To my discomfort, it had grown quiet, too quiet...

Kkrabang!

I flinched and nearly screamed out in surprise, as the vent cover that had been on the roof fell to the ground. Mangled and broken. My heart was racing. My twitching ears listened on, as the sound of something big crawled out of the vent. Breathing suddenly became difficult. Desperation forced me to move as far back under the desk as I could.

A thud on the carpet floor demanded my attention. Black armoured legs had dropped down in front of my desk. Slowly and fluidly they passed by me. To my surprise a shallow gasp made its way out of my mouth. Immediately my coat stood on end and I cursed myself internally for my stupidity.

It stopped as if to listen. Silence was all that could be heard. Moments felt like minutes and I soon found myself struggling to hold my breath. Thankfully after thirty seconds had passed the figure began moving away to other rooms. I heard the door open and then creek as it came close to closing.

When I could no longer hear the footsteps being taken I took the opportunity to gasp for some precious air. My lungs burned and my chest was sore from all the close encounters. Taking a chance, I moved as silently as I could; checking to see if the area was clear.

The room was empty. So getting up, I tried to flee from the other side of the room. When I opened the door I saw my exit blocked by a small figure down the hall. It hadn't noticed me. Quickly I shut the door and cursed myself as the click of the door broke the silence.

Running back to my previous hiding spot I tried to get a hold of my endless shivering. I peeked my head out just in time to see the door began to swing open. That was about the time my heart tried to leap out of my chest.

I winced in pain as I watched a small figure enter the room. It looked around the room hungrily as it searched out its prey. Every couple of seconds, I noticed it'd sniff the air. Hoping I hadn't been seen or sensed, I crawled back into my poor hiding spot. I had backed my way up against the wall. I was cornered.

Then that's when I heard it, the little thumping of hooves, they got louder and quicker. I was dead, I was certain of it. The figure rounded the corner. A smile growing ever wider as she flashed a toothy grin.

“Ah, Facehugger!” I yelped, hopelessly trying to get away from the little brat. But being backed against the wall I watched helplessly as Penilia lunged at me.

She latched onto my head and yelled out, “I got her!” in a proud manner. This got the attention of the others and I soon heard movement making its way over to us.

I was all in the shakes as I crawled out from under the desk. The little nymph decided to take this chance to get a free ride on top of my head. She clung to my horn like a joystick and I could feel her legs wrap around the back of my neck. When it came to those arriving, Adorilin was the first, then Tia, Luna, and eventually all the other participants of our little game were all there.

“I got her.” The small changeling announced again this time playing with my hair. I couldn't see her but I was sure she had that little expression of hers, a goofy face with a proud smile. She tended to show that when she was furiously happy with herself. I couldn't help but chuckle at her antics.

Stepping forward, Luna addressed the nymph. “Yes indeed you did little one, and we are all thankful that after these six whole days we can finally rest from this game of Hide and seek that my mother so suggested.”

When she said this I heard a little giggle from the small child on my head, and a blush of embarrassment flushed over me. I suggested the game, but I had no idea how long it would take. Feeling awkward I decided to try changing the subject.

“So is anybody else hungry?” I asked, and everyone nodded their heads eagerly.

It was about to seven O'clock earth time, and as a group, we had decided getting cleaned up before dinner would be a good idea. So each of us returned to our own rooms. I entered mine and shut the door from my window I could see the sun lowering and the moon taking its place. I guess our little game had bigger side effects than I had thought about.

I walked over to ‘my’ ensuite, it was a nice washroom with wood paneling and hidden in the wall. But I wished it had at least a doorknob on the outside. About a month ago I had invited cadence over for lunch she accepted and while we were talking she leaned against the wall and fell through the door. I felt so bad... I couldn't stop laughing.

Anyways, I stepped into the washroom and as I did I took a moment to look in the mirror. We had grown quite a bit over the past few months. If I had to guess I'd say we would be rivaling Cadence in height now. For me that only meant two things, one, I'm getting taller, and two, Cadence still owed me ten bits damn it.

Stepping into the shower, or I guess it was more like a sauna, I let Faust take control. Several minutes passed, and the only sound heard was that of running water. I was enjoying that sound, but then Lauren spoke up, and she seemed a little irritated.

“(You know, it has been almost four months since we got here Alex. Maybe if be an idea to learn how to wash yourself.)” She said.

This outburst was a little bit of a surprise to me, and I would have apologized properly or something different, but her irritated state began mixing with my own emotions. Feeling that way, I responded. “Hey, it's your body, not mine.”

As soon as the words left or mouth I felt regret, and a new emotion emerged from my co-pilot, anger. I was not unfamiliar with her sudden sparks of wrath but I still didn't like being the direction she was aiming those flames.

“(You really can't keep on using me as a get out of jail free card. I won't always be there to help you out.)” I could feel her gaze hardening as she said this, and to be honest it still freaked me out.

“Okay, okay, I get it. But it's still weird...” I tried to keep my words to a minimum in hopes of not triggering the pony. It took a few minutes, but eventually, she calmed down, and we got out of the shower.

Now came the cool part, I watched as Lauren’s horn began to glow and then suddenly the water was flung off of us like an explosion. The ancient mare smirked. She liked that one, and I could see why. In an instant, we were dry, clean, and ready to go.

Stepping out of the ensuite, I suddenly found myself flung back into control. I stumbled in surprise and nearly kissed the floor. “Hey warn me next time!” I hissed, to which I just heard chuckling. Rolling my eyes I left for dinner.

I got to the main dining hall after about ten minutes of walking. Seriously? Why was breakfast, lunch, and dinner so damn far from our bedrooms? Whatever the case, it was a stupid design choice.

I took a seat near the end of the table and watched as those who participated in our event flowed in. From the least to the greatest. Ponies and changelings. Something I had recently not thought possible. Just a few months ago ponies would scream bloody murder if somepony was acting odd. Now looking at them, it was like a large family had gotten together.

After all, when Shining and Cadence got back from their honeymoon; I made the decision to announce that I'd taken in some refugees of the changeling swarm, and have employed them as staff. The ponies were horrified. When I asked the changelings to return to their original form, the looks from those around had Lauren laughing so loud I couldn't hear. There was an anxious feeling in the air during the following days. Some left, but the majority decided to stay.

Things began to simmer down after a month or so. The ponies began to realize that nothing had changed except for about ten appearances, but other than that nothing. Their curiosity took hold, and one after another began to reopen the doors of friendship to those previously close. Now there's peace in the castle. Yes, many still harbored hurt feelings and an untrusting attitude, but for the most part, a family had been formed.

I felt a tap on my side as I thought about these past few months. It brought me back into reality, and looking down to my side I saw the little rascal was giving me the biggest puppy dog eyes I ever did see. Smiling, I grabbed her up and placed her on my lap. She seemed happy, but soon she was wiggling and fighting to get free. Confused, I let her go and she darted up to my head. She was almost purring as she played with my mane. Those who saw the event found themselves smiling, as did I. She was just too damn cute fit her own good.

Celestia made her way to a small stage at the end of the hall. Standing tall she announced. “My little ponies I am glad to announce that the big game is over!” The crowd erupted into a stomping of hooves and cries of joy. One was actually crying, and her makeup was smudging all over the place.

I let out a small laugh as Faust mentally banged her head against the wall.

Looking up from my seat I noticed Celestia patiently waiting. I had thought she was done, but once the crowd had calmed down she continued on. “It is also my great pleasure to announce the champion who ended the game, Penilia.”

Again roars of cheering and stomping filled the room and I held the nymph up like something you'd see in the Lion king. She giggled and laughed as I did so. Then Luna shot up and slammed her hoof on the table. “Surely something so noble deserves a reward!”

Tia only smiled at her sister's statement, but the crowd immediately became a chanting mob. “Re-ward, re-ward re-ward!” They stomped, all while looking to me.

I was beginning to feel my nerves rise up and my fear of attention slowly loomed on me like a blanket drifting down from above. Feeling myself growing anxious I called out to my co-pilot. Hey Lauren, want to do the honors? I asked, but there was no response. I was going to ask again, but I felt a gentle smile stretch across my lips. Realizing this I nearly yelped when I realized she had already taken over.

“What do you want Penilia?” The ancient mare asked.

The nymph looked down at us, confusion and fascination twinkling in her eye. She could see it, the change between Lauren and I. But instead of voicing that, she gave a chirp and squeaked.

“I want to go to school.”

It had been two weeks since Penilia asked to go to school. In that time, Adorilin and I have checked through almost all of the schools in Canterlot. But they couldn't be called schools in my opinion, rather it seemed more like it was just something to do for the rich. One school actually had a host club! So when Adorilin wasn't looking, I made sure to scratch that one off as quickly as I could.

As I looked for a school that would be appropriate, I began to discover that they’re two types of schools in Canterlot. One would be filled with the rich and snobbish, who have too much money to know what to do with. And the other schools would be run down and low on staff, the difference being that the children showed a better attitude.

Finally, I found a school that I was happy with. It was a run-down school that was not too far away from the castle. It was called Foalinkin high. Apparently, it used to be a high school, but then as the funds dwindled the school opened up to multiple grades and races to survive.

I decided to walk Penillia to the school for at least the first day. In order to keep myself hidden, I took my saddlebags to cover my wings and wore my hair up in a braided pigtail. Then to finish it off I got myself a navy blue beret from a nearby clothing store.

As for Penilia, she had decided to go as a normal pony today. At least what she'd probably look like as a pony that is... It had been awhile since I saw that form. Her coat was dark, like her shell, and her hair was still short, but she seemed to favor blue over green in that aspect. Her eyes, however, they kept their emerald tint, and she kept her little fangs. I couldn't place what it was but something about the fangs were just too cute.

Before I knew it, the two of us were walking through the front gate. We had arrived early. On time according to Lauren, but in my opinion, it was better to arrive in class and sit down then wait thirty minutes for class to start.

In my reluctance to leave, I double checked her supplies and belongings. Not a pencil went without her name on it. I could honestly say I was nervous, how would the kids treat her? Would she be able to make friends? Did I make the right decision? All these thoughts swarmed my mind, and as I left her my anxiety grew...

"Oh, you’re special alright," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

To that comment, the alicorn at the back of my mind suddenly became wrathful. She swiftly shifted into control, and we found ourselves face planting in the middle of the hallway. I groaned, wincing in pain. Making an effort to get back up before drawing too much attention; I heard at the back of my mind the sound of Lauren's voice saying.

Meanwhile, in classroom 221 on level B, the class of eighteen was silent. Everypony was sitting in their seats with their hooves meeting on their desks, and a smile on their faces. One student was peaking out the door keeping watch. With a gasp, the lookout turned to the classroom and exclaimed, “She's coming!”

Suddenly, the class was in an uproar. They were running around and yelling at each other as they threw balls of paper across the room. The classroom door opened slightly revealing a short blue-maned mare with a clipboard. At this sight, the class stopped, realizing that instead of a substitute teacher as they’d been expecting, it was just the school secretary.

“Hello class, I came to inform you that you’ll be having a new student transfer to your class today, and secondly...”

She stepped out of the doorway and a big gruff pony stepped through the door. One colt, who the students called C J, immediately paled. “Wait... If he’s here, then that means...” His voice trailed off as the realization hit him.

Desperately, he jumped out of his seat and ran towards the window. Flinging it open, he tried to escape through the window. Unfortunately for him, instead of being met with the sweet embrace of freedom, he was instead met with a strong kick to the face. The colt shot back into the room, bouncing along the ground until crashing into one of the desks.

From the window, a mare asked, “And where are you trying to run off to? C J...” She climbed into the classroom and the students sensed an aura of authority from her as she stared down the attempted escapee.

The colt was cowering on the ground, barely able to mutter the words, “Teacher..."

The children stared in fear, as a short pegasus with an off-white coat and a dark brown mane stepped in. She was wearing her braided hair up in a ponytail and wore a pair of aviators. She swaggered over to the teacher's desk and threw her back legs up atop the table. Tilting her glasses down, she stared at the class with a piercing gaze of her emerald green eyes. “Everybody, sit. Now.”

The sound of the students sitting in their seats was both simultaneous and the only thing that could be heard amongst the silence.

"Now, as you may have heard from Mrs. Greensberry. Today we have a new student..."

At that, the gruff pony in the doorway moved and ushered in a young foal. She had a big sweet smile on her face, and she stared at the class with full eyes. Eyes of wonder and excitement. For a second she stood there taking in the sight of the classroom.It was small and dark, with wood floors and cream colored walls. The air smelled like paper and fruit. And then she noticed the class itself. Ponies, griffons and a dragon. All were unique in such a wonderful way.

She looked like she was about to say something, but then she stopped herself. Contemplation showed on her face. The class noticed the silence, and that she looked as if she was debating something in her mind. A moment passed as she stared at the ground. Then taking in a deep breath, she looked up at the class erupting into green flames.

The class stood in fright and concern. The room began to shake slightly as a strong gust of wind pushed out from the flames. Then suddenly, as soon as they appeared, they had faded out to nothing. In her place was a small creature, one that resembled a pony but it wasn't. Her coat had become some sort of flexible shell, and her eyes became like that of a cat's. Her wings buzzed, and a small crown appeared on her head.

The class stared in both awe and a mild sense of fright. The small nymph was shaking, timid and lacking confidence about her reception. But with a deep breath, she looked at the class straight on, with determination prevalent in her eyes.

"Hello everyone, I am Penilia Alternate, and I am a changeling. Nice to meet you all." Her cute, yet exotic voice broke the silence and she stared at the class expectantly. A moment passed, and the nymph began to feel tension rise up within her. She observed the stillness of the crowd, then suddenly, the class erupted in cheers, whistles, and the occasional shouts of, "That was awesome!" A smile that glowed with relief appeared on her face. With the tension dissipating, she made her way to an empty seat.

By the time I had reached the gates, I was a nervous wreck. Not knowing how things were going to turn out, and with the events from the wedding so fresh in everyone's minds, I feared for the little nymph. My Co-pilot had tried to cheer me up, but her words couldn't keep me from my fears, and my doubts. So we just walked in in silence.

I stopped at the gate and looked up towards the early morning sun. The scent of mildew filled the air. Tension filled my stomach and my wings tensed up at my continuous fight with self-doubt. My thoughts became more desperate and the desire to tail the nymph welled up within me. I was going to turn back, but then Lauren took control.

I sighed in defeat, and damned her admin privileges..."What is it Lauren?"

I was taken aback at hearing those words. How did this come up? It was something so left field that at first, I didn't know how to respond. I know I felt the urge to refuse her offer. But then the memory of the wind in my face, and the freedom of flight shot back into my mind. It was an indescribable sensation, one that made it seem like any worries or pains could be left behind. I wanted to leave these worries behind...

As soon as I noticed Lauren had me, I felt a flash of frustration well up within me. Realizing that she had brought my spirits up so quickly as well was the final nail you might say. I sighed in defeat, she had caused my tense and somber mood to flee from me, and I couldn't help but feel bittersweet about the situation.

"Fine, you win Lauren... What's the first thing we need to do?"

"Yeah, I got that bit captain smartass. But what comes after that?"

She moved our arm so it was pointing towards the castle. "(Go that way, really fast. If anything gets in your way, turn.)"

I couldn't help but roll our eyes. That old mare would always be a pain in the ass, but she was always the type of friend that you could count on. With that said, I moved my wings out from under my saddlebags and proceeded to flap like the, oh so insightful instructor had said. Slowly, I began to beat them faster and faster. Soon I found that I was hovering above the main courtyard.

Then with a strong flap of our wings, we shot up into the sky. easily rising above most buildings, I looked towards my destination. Although I was doing the majority of the work, I could feel the minor moments when our wings would readjust to keep us stable. Undoubtedly Faust's doing. So, with the newfound confidence in knowing she was helping me, much like a parent helps a child learn to ride a bike; I sped off towards the castle.

It was nearly ten minutes after Lauren and Penilia had left the castle. Celestia had entered the throne room and was getting ready for day court. Before her laid a stack of papers that needed her approval.

“Approved.”

“Declined”

“Declined”

“Approved”

“...Declined.”

Boredom had already taken hold of the Princess and she found herself sighing in a mild state of melancholy. In her heart the Solar Princess begged for relief. Praying that somepony or something would save her from having to do this boring paperwork.

Suddenly, a royal guard burst through the doors. "News from Northern Equestria!"

Immediately Tia’s attention went to the guard as he ran up the hall. Promptly tossing the stack of papers to the side, she sat up and waited.

The guard stopped at the base of her throne. He was panting and struggling to keep his balance. Because he was clearly winded and in need of a Snickers, Celestia decided to keep from prompting the guard for information until after his wheezing died down.

Once the guard caught his breath he looked up at the Princess and said, "I am simply to tell you that It has returned."

Immediately Celestia recoiled in shock. She quickly grabbed her calendar and said. "Has it been twenty-seven years already?"

The soldier looked from side to side with both a confusion and worry on his face. Tia rolled her eyes at this, and gestured with her hoof as she spoke. "Find Princess Cadence and Shining Armor."

At her command, the soldier bowed, "Yes, Your Highness." Then turned and ran back up the hall, wheezing and panting as he left. The sun princess gave him a glance of concern, then after deciding the guard would be alright, began to write a letter.

"To my dearest Twilight, you must come to Canterlot at once."

I had been flying for a while now, and for the most part, I thought that I had gotten the hang of it. But there was one thing that I have yet to master... I was coming up to my bedroom balcony, attempting to do all that Lauren was telling me. She was very insistent that I learn to fly without using her as a crutch.

(Okay, slow down and angle our wings up.)

I did as I was told, and found myself gliding to my destination. Now as far as I was concerned I just needed to look to where I wanted to go. So, glancing down to the balcony I noticed something, something important.

“Hey um, Lauren...”

“Do you remember which way the balcony doors open?”

“While flying, are you nuts?”

“Maybe for you but..." I glanced down again noticing the relatively short balcony. Another thing I had noticed was that during my short discussion with my ‘teacher’ I had forgotten to keep our wings angled upwards. I was headed straight for the doors at a very uncomfortable speed. Panicking, I began my fruitless effort of trying to slow down. My arms and legs were flailing around as I got closer and closer to the door.

"This is gonna hurt isn’t it."

From inside the bedroom, my silhouette suddenly became visible against the frosted doors. My arms and legs were plastered up against the glass. After a second passed, my body disconnected from the doors and my face slowly slid down. I slumped to the ground with my muzzle leaning against the door. Suddenly, it clicked open, and I fell into my bedroom.

“(Oh hey, it opens inwards.)”

“Thank you for your insight, Faust.” I groaned.

From inside my bedroom, the sound of rustling bed sheets could be heard. Upon further inspection, I found it to be Luna. She was sitting up in bed, and rubbing her eyes. She had clearly just woken up. Once she regained her vision she looked around the room with tired eyes. “Mother is that you?”

From the ground came my pitiful reply of, “Yeah its me.”

Luna followed my voice until she spotted me at the doorway. Upon catching sight of me with my face on the ground and my ass in the air she put her hoof over her mouth to keep from laughing. Her efforts weren't helping. I didn't know if she knew this or not; but what I did know was that Sitting on my face was very uncomfortable. So doing myself a favour, I pulled my front hooves out from under me and pushed myself up.

I smiled a weak smile, and walked over to 'my' daughter. As she watched me make my way over she scooched over in order to make room on the bed. I accepted this as an invitation, and flopped backwards onto the mattress with an audible ‘oomph’. It felt so nice. Shifting around a little bit; I found myself getting more and more comfortable.

As I laid there, I noticed that my back ached slightly. I was very much like the back ache that you get after a long day of physical labor. Only one part remained vastly different. The wings, that was mostly because they were there but also because of the strange way they fanned out below me. It was comfortable to say the least, but still felt alien to me.

As I laid there, I found that I was beginning to relax for the first time in days. It was to the point that it felt like I could fall asleep at any moment... My eyes grew heavy, and slowly the sight of my bedroom ceiling grew dim. Darker and darker until my eyes had fully closed.

My much needed rest never came. Instead, a loud baning on the door woke us up. That had angered Lauren a little bit.

Regretfully, I pulled myself up and into a sitting position. Luna was doing much the same with an annoyed expression on her face. A second later, the door opened. It revealed a group of three royal guards. Seeing this, I looked over to Luna with a questioning look. The mare seemed confused for a moment but then realization came across her face. She turned to me with an angry pout as she blushed heavily. Throwing a pillow at me she stated, "Whatever it is you think I did here, I didn't."

"(Yeah yeah, sweetie, just keep it to your own bed will ya.)" Lauren waved a hoof as if to brush the situation off. This in turn, got Lulu to throw her arms downwards onto the bed in protest. Her eyes were wide and she exclaimed a dragged out wine,"Mom!~"

And that’s when we lost it. Both Lauren and I were laughing hysterically at the frustration and embarrassment on the young mare’s face... Well younger than my counterpart at least. She was blushing furiously, and her hair was hanging down past her face in a way that enabled her to pull a fluttershy and attempt to hide. It was adorable.Right after that, I found that I had been given the privilege to be in control again.

Suddenly with a loud, "Ahem." One of the guards stepped forward.

"I bring a message from Princess Celestia.”

I wiped a tear from my eye and turned my attention to the guard. He hesitated for a second but then he found his grounds and relayed the message. “She requests the presence of both Queen Faust, and Princess Luna in the throne room as soon as possible."

I nodded my head, signifying that I got the message, and the trio of guards retreated into the hallway. Once the doors had shut, Luna shot up and out of bed. She turned her mane ethereal and adorned herself with her regalia. I was impressed, in a mere thirty seconds she had gone from a cute ball of fur, to the Luna that the ponies know and love. Within a minute she was ready to go, and as soon as she was done she turned to leave. However, as she turned to leave she noticed a lacking presence... She turned back to me and found that during that time I had wrapped myself up in my bed sheets, and currently my head was the only thing visible.

“Mother! Will you get up already!”

“No.” I slid back into the bed sheets and proceeded to get comfortable. My body ached. I finally knew the amount of damage I was doing to our body; by stressing out over this school issue. I just wanted to go back to sleep.

“Mom! Get thine royal hindquarters out of that bed this instant!” Luna was trying to claw me out of the sheets.

"No." I retaliated by grabbing the comforter and slowly snaking it around myself. This made Lulu's job a whole lot harder because the sheets kept wrapping themselves back on me.

"Stop it."

"No."

"Stop, it!"

"Nnno."

"I said, Stop, It!"

"Phttth!"

"That's it, stopping it myself!" I suddenly found my fort being levitated and spun around in mid air. It was like someone had put me into a drying machine and turned the speed to high. Moment by moment I felt the sheets unravel. I was beginning to feel dizzy, also a little nauseous. When she had unraveled the whole thing I fell out and landed on the mattress.

“Yay, let’s do it again!” I joked as I bounced a little. Luna just looked at me. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, “Sometimes Mother, I think ye are the child.” She gave a halfhearted sigh, and walked out the door.

"Hey! Luna wait up!" I called as I got off the bed. She was supposed to be escorted to the throne room, but it seemed that upon her request they stood at the side. She was walking quite fast and I found myself almost breaking into a gallop to catch up with her. "Damn it slow down."

The Princess ignored my protests and began running. I followed suit and gave chase. "I said waiiit!"

We arrived at the throne room a minute or so later. Celestia decided to greet us and opening the throne room doors, but when she did... she opened the doors to the sight of Luna and I both panting on the ground. Well, her knees were buckled. I was on my back claiming how I could “feel my lungs trying to kill me.”

To see us in such a state didn't ‘noticeably faze Sunbutt, but soon her emotionless mask shifted to a deadpan that said 'I don't even want to ask.'

When the two of them finally dragged me up off the ground we made our way inside. Luna closed the doors, and I sat in awe of the throne room.

"Tia, why is it that you summoned us?" My attention was brought back to reality as Luna stepped forward to address her sister.

Celestia turned and made her way up the hall as she began to speak. "It is because there is a very important matter I must discuss with you two."

"And what is that?" I asked.

Celestia lowered her head slightly, then with a dramatic turn she flared her wings and stated. "The Crystal Empire. It's returned."

“...”

“...”

“... And?”

To my question, Luna stepped up.“Ah yes mother, the Empire formed many years after your disappearance. In fact it was founded one thousand years ago by Princess Amour, but it did not last. A tyrant emerged, and it was up to Tia and myself to stop him... You see, the Crystal Empire has been gone for a thousand years.”

“Question.”

“What is it Mother?”

“Is a thousand years your way of saying a very long time ago,... or did you guys just happen to have one really shit year?”

Instead of giving me an answer they both smirked and rolled their eyes. They turned to the windows and began a conversation amongst themselves. I kept waiting for them to give me an answer, but I eventually realised they weren’t going to give me one. So, being the gleaner of information I am, I walked over to their location and listened in.

"Should I go sister? I can be ready to leave shortly."

"No Lulu, Princess Cadence, and Shining Armor are already on their way. Twilight and the others will be joining them shortly."

"I am worried though sister. The Empire's magic is powerful. We cannot let it fall again."

Tia opened her mouth to speak, but stopped at the sound of someone clearing their throat. We all turned our heads to the location of the doors and there stood a little awkward unicorn. Luna took this as her cue to leave, after all this was a matter that would be best explained one on one. As she began to walk away Celestia tried to reassure her sibling.

"Trust me, little sister. When have I ever let you down?"

To that, Luna couldn't help but deadpan. She wore her unamused expression all the way down the hall. Twilight sidestepped the Princess and gave her a timid smile. A smile to which Luna gave a brief nod in acknowledgment, but couldn't help stewing over Tia's last comment. Deciding not to ask about it, Twilight looked down the hall to where Celestia and I were standing.

She continued down the hall, doing her best to keep the massive pile of supplies she was carrying from falling out. "You wanted to see me? To give me a test?" Lighting up her horn, Twilight took a few supplies out of her luggage. "I brought my own quills and plenty of paper to show my work."

She moved more stuff out but unfortunately due to a lack of concentration she couldn't keep control of everything she was holding. Papers and scrolls went across the ground, and the adorkable unicorn couldn't help but blush in embarrassment.

"Sorry, sorry!" She said, trying to roll a scroll back up. Apparently forgetting the thing on her head as she began rolling it with her nose. Deciding to help out I grabbed the scroll and rolled it up.

"This is a different kind of test... The Crystal Empire has returned." Once again the solar Princess tried to go for the theatrics with that statement, but instead of impressing her student it only seemed to worry her.

"The Crystal Empire? I'm sorry, I-I thought I'd studied.” Quickly, Twilight levitated a few of her books in front of herself, desperately trying to spark a memory. ”Ooh. I don't think there's anything in any of my books th..."

Seeing her student’s antics brought back a feeling of nostalgia to the solar Princess. She smiled and explained. "There wouldn't be... Few remember it ever existed at all."

‘Pfff, well that's not fair.” I muttered. My outburst was only met with a quick glance at my direction from both mares. Celestia continued on, and I began looking at my hoof to see if I was becoming invisible.

Tia walked over to the throne and removed a purple crystal from a glass jar. "Even my knowledge of the Empire is limited.”

Celestia set the crystal down in the middle of the hall and used some sort of spell to make a hologram of the Empire. “What I do know is that it contains a powerful magic."

Both Twilight and myself looked on with awe at the miniature city that appeared before us. My interest being more in the fact that they could do that more than my concern for the Empire.

Her sudden outbursts in my head caused me to recoil in shock and fear for a second. Seriously this mare was unpredictable. Then again, it was an important matter we were discussing. So, being a good Faust, I sat up and payed attention to Tia’s explanation. "One thousand years ago, King Sombra, a unicorn whose heart was black as night, took over the Crystal Empire."

I watched as the clean and bright empire suddenly turned to dirt and black crystals. The nation was fully corrupted with this new look until the blackness covered over the crystal tower, or castle... Whatever you want to call it. Once the peak was covered a black unicorn’s head appeared at the top. He seemed to stare right at me, and his head expanded like a balloon until it enveloped my vision.

Quickly fading, I next saw this pony standing on a balcony overlooking the slaves he’d captured.

Suddenly the image changed again. This time it was the silhouette of celestia and Luna turning the pony to shadow. “He was ultimately overthrown, turned to shadow, and banished to the ice of the arctic north.”

The look of ‘oh shit’ suddenly appeared on Sombra’s face as she said that, and I watched as the unicorn screamed as he was cast down for his thought crimes.

“Unfortunately before we banished him, he managed to put a curse upon the Empire. A curse that caused it to vanish into thin air.”

Suddenly the hologram cut out, and I found my head following the crystal upwards. “If the Empire is filled with hope and love, those things are reflected across all of Equestria.” she shot a beam at the crystal and it began to shine radiantly like a rainbow. But then her stance changed and her eyes began to smoke. “If hatred and fear take hold...” Her eyes turned green and her horn bubbled with dark magic. It looked weird in the show, but in real life it was just disturbing.

She shot a beam of that at the crystal and darkness emerged from it. It surrounded Twilight with pillars of obsidian colored crystal. And I found the unicorn growing worried at the sight of things.

I looked up towards Tia, and to my confusion she was still using dark magic. She was breathing heavily and let out an almost inaudible moan. I was confused, but the alicorn inside me wasn’t. From my perspective I was standing across the hall, then suddenly I was in the air kicking the solar Princess in the face.

“(No celestia! Just, say, no!)”

From the newly made crater a sore celestia emerged. She was sore and rubbing her neck but something told me there was no need to worry about it. She gave me a pout as she climbed out of the rubble. “That was unnecessary Mother.”

“(Say what you will, but dark magic is like playing with fire. Eventually you’re going to get burned.)”

Tia just huffed as she began walking towards the door on the way she blasted away the crystals encircling Twilight and continued on. Guessing she needed a moment, I turned to the purple unicorn and asked her, “Well as we were saying before this, will you help us protect it?”

“You want me to help protect an entire empire?”

From the other side of the hall Celestia cut in, "It is, as I said, a different kind of test. But one I'm certain you will pass." She was standing by the door and there was no signs of wear on her at all. This confused me a little so I decided to take a closer look. I began walking down the hall towards her, and I soon found Twilight walking with me.

"How do I begin?"

"By joining Princess Cadence and Shining Armor in the Crystal Empire."

"My brother is there?" Twilight beamed, she walked a little faster to reach her mentor. Upon reaching her Celestia answered. "He is. And your Ponyville friends will join you there as well. I have every confidence you will succeed. And when you do, I'll know you are ready to move on to the next level of your studies."

I stayed back as the two of them made their way out the door. However I was still able to see the figure of Luna just outside the door. She was practically grinding her teeth out of frustration. This, although unintentional startled the unicorn. I could see as she began to doubt herself.

"But what if I fail?"

"You won't."

"But what if..."

"You won't.But Twilight, in the end, it must be you and you alone who ultimately assists Princess Cadence and Shining Armor in doing what needs to be done to protect the Empire. Do you understand?"

As I watched the conversation between the two I felt a wing drape over me, I turned to see Luna giving me a soft smile. we looked on as Twilight puffed out her chest, determination prevalent on her face. "Mm-hmm!"

"Then go. There is no time to lose." With that Celestia closed the doors.

Tia began walking up the hall, worry and doubt filling her features. Luna began to follow her. "I do hope she will be okay, sister... as you know, it was during the fall of the crystal empire that Nightmare Moon came to be..."

“Yes, Sombra's dark magic is nothing to be trifled with.” Celestia confirmed.

"It would be worrisome if Twilight or any of the elements succumbed to the same fate as I."

Something about what they had just said didn't sit right with me. Sombra was the reason Nightmare Moon came to be? How can a pathetic villain such as shadow laughsalot succeed in doing anything? This news was both mindboggiling and upsetting.

"Damn it."

TO BE CONTINUED...