Changing Lanes 13

>You awaken to a throbbing pain in the back of your head.
>Most likely a residual pain from the blow to the head Twilight gave you.
>Slowly you climb out of bed and look to where Twilight is sleeping.
>Well, WAS sleeping.
>Once again you find her head buried in a book.
“Did you actually sleep at all, or just fake me out?”
>She turns to you, with a deer in the headlights look.
>“I slept. For a little bit”
“Uh huh. How long is a little bit?”
>“Six hours. Actually, I think it was closer to seven.”
>As you stretch, a thought comes to your mind.
“Wait, how long was I out?”
>Twi looks up at the clock and thinks.
>“I think almost nineteen hours.”
“Holy shit. You didn’t wake me at all?
>“No, you seemed like you needed the sleep. Besides, you’re still dreaming.”
“…….what?”
>Twilight’s body begins to twist and contort, and she shifts into a familiar form.
“Really? You can’t just let me get some peace for a little bit?”
>Nightmare Moon greets you with her familiar toothy grin.
>“It’s more fun to keep you on edge. Like this!”
>Instantly, she charges her magic and sends a blast of energy your way.
>As it hits you, you black out.
>“Anon, are you alright?”
>You slowly open your eyes again to see a concerned Twilight hovering over you.
“Never better. Assuming this isn’t another demented dream.”
>“…..how many have you had? You’ve been out like a light for ten hours.”
>As you sit up in bed, you try to think back.
“I dunno, maybe seven or eight. At least from what I can remember. Why did you wake me?”
>“Sister, are you okay? We heard screaming from all the way in the throne room.”
>That could explain it.
“I’m fine. I was startled by Twilight while I was sleeping, that’s all.”
>Celestia gives you both a queer look as the two of you grin nervously.
>“Right. Anyway, how are you feeling?”
>You scan the room, oddly seeing no sign of Nightmare Moon.
“Better. I don’t feel like I’m running on pure caffeine anymore.”
>Celestia doesn’t seem to be totally convinced by your answer.
>“Why don’t you take the night off and relax. You know, just to be safe.”
“Alright, I’ll take you up on that offer, thanks.”
>The white alicorn nods and exits the room in silence.
>You turn to Twilight, who lets out a nervous sigh.
“Do you think she’s starting to suspect something?”
>“The fact her and Luna are sisters and grew up together makes it almost guaranteed she’s starting to think something is up. The only variable in that equation is the fact Luna was locked away for a 1000 years.”
“Okay, I asked for a simple yes or no, not a math lesson.”
>You are met with a pillow to the face.
“Anyway, have you found ANYTHING? Or are we still just dead in the water?”
>Twilight’s face twists in frustration.
>“I’ve further narrowed down the section we need to look into one bookcase.”
“Hey, that sounds really good! What’s the problem?”
>“That’s makes still about seven hundred books to go though. And many of those will need a bit of translating, which will make it take longer.”
“Ugh. Why can’t someone just translate everything into another book and save the original?”
>“Probably because that would make it too easy.”
>You beat your head against the wall in anger.
“So in other words, with only you being able to translate, this has the chance to take a few months. Great.”
>“Well, you keep making me get sleep, so it makes it take longer.”
>An idea strikes you.
“There is one other person that could help us translate. Give me a few of your books.”
>“Um, okay. But where are you goi-”
>As you teleport in a flash, Twilight’s sentence is cut off.
>Finally, you’re getting used to this enough that you don’t feel disoriented when you arrive at your destination.
>Which in this case, is your home.
“Luna, you in here?”
>“….Anon?”
“Yes, what are you doing?”
>Luna walks out of your bedroom, hair disheveled and rubbing her eyes.
>“Well, we were trying to sleep. Until you startled us.”
>Now you feel bad, since she undoubtedly has gotten used to being nocturnal, doing it for….well, who knows how long.
“Er, sorry about that. I didn’t think.”
>“Fortunately, we still got some sleep, so we do not have an overwhelming urge to strangle you.”
>Okay then, she’s definitely not a morning person, either.
“Sorry again. But Twilight has narrowed down our search for a reversal spell.”
>“That’s good news. But surely you did not drop in just to inform us of that.”
>You pull out a couple books you had cradled in your wings.
“Well, they’re from an older section of the Archives. So they need a bit of translating.”
>Luna grabs a book and flips through it.
>“It doesn’t look too bad. Most of these books seem to be written only about 800 years ago.”
>You make a face as Luna continues.
>“We should be able to get through these books today after we finish getting some sleep. I am familiar with most of this since our language did not drastically change between when I was banished and when these were written.”
“Alrighty then, sounds like a plan. Thanks Luna.”
>She turns to you.
>“And how are you faring today?”
>You decide to lie so she doesn’t get too worried.
“Pretty good. Those meetings were hell, but I managed.”
>“That is a little surprising to us, to be truthful. The governor of Manehatten usually pushes us close to the brink. Rather arrogant, that one.”
“Heh, yeah.”
>The both of you stand there a bit in silence, looking around the room.
“So, I guess I’ll get going then. Why don’t you get some sleep?”
>“Yes, we shall. Thank you, Anon.”
>You find yourself a little confused.
“Why are you thanking me?”
>She smirks a little at your question.
>“The fact that unlike everyp0ny else here in Equestria, you don’t see me as royalty. You don’t sit there and suck up to me. You treat me like anyp0ny else, and we love that.”
“Yeah, I can see how all the ass-kissing gets annoying. That and the formal shit.”
>“And the politics, we assume?”
“Those don’t even need to be mentioned.”
>The two of you laugh.
“Well, Twilight is probably going insane back at the castle. I was in such a rush, I didn’t tell her when I was going before I teleported out. I’ll pop in at some point tonight.”
>“Goodbye Anon, see you later.”
>You once again focus and teleport, this time back to the castle.


>As the room comes into focus, you find Twilight looking at you, and not very happy.
“What?”
>“Couldn’t you at least tell me where you were going before just disappearing?”
“I was caught in the moment. I popped in to see Luna, gave her a couple of the books.”
>Twilight’s face lightens up.
>“That was a good idea. I feel stupid for not thinking she could help translate. How long did she estimate she’d be able to get through them?”
“By tonight, most likely. Apparently she’s been around for so long, the language was familiar to her.”
>“That’s great news. Did you happen to tell her anything that has gone on here?”
“No, I didn’t see any reason to make her worry. Actually, I haven’t even seen Nightmare Moon since I woke up.”
>“That’s….good?”
“Maybe. I doubt it. Probably just tired herself out fucking with my dreams.”
>The hit back to reality puts a damper on the mood of the room.
>“Well, I’ll get back to reading then. What are you going to do?”
“…..Shit. I don’t know. You’re busy, Luna’s sleeping, Rainbow is working. Maybe I’ll just wander around the castle.”
>“Alright then, but for the love of Celestia, don’t do anything crazy.”
“Great. Well, this will be boring.”
>You walk out of your chambers and walk along the desolate hallway.
>Despite it being early afternoon, there is no one around aside from the occasional guard.
>And it is deathly quiet.
>They really need to put more drapes and rugs in here, as the echoes of your steps ricochet around you.
>“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”
>You jump and turn to see Celestia standing several feet behind you.
“Uh, hey Celly. You scared the hell out of me.”
>She is silent as she slowly strides toward you.
“What, uh…..weren’t you going into the throne room?”
>Still no answer as she continues to approach.
>She looks downright pissed as she finally stops in front of you.
“…..okay. Are you screwing with me again?”
>Suddenly, she head butts you in the chest, her horn piercing past your ribs.
>Pain wracks you as you feel blood begin to run out of the wound, as Celestia backs out.
>“You aren’t my sister.”
“Wha…. Celestia, it’s….me.”
>The strength drains from you and you lose your balance, as everything grows dim in your line of sight.
>“Hahaha, morning sunshine!”
>Your vision flickers as Celestia disappears, as well as the pain.
“Fuck me. I’ve been dreaming? Again?”
>Hoofsteps begin to approach from behind, as Nightmare Moon makes her presence known.
>“Actually, no. I’m just getting better at fucking with your reality. Pretty convincing, isn’t it?”
>Gingerly, you get up, still remembering the intense pain you felt just a moment ago.
>“Are you ready to just let me take the reigns of this body? You don’t look so hot.”
“Shut up, you fucking whore. If you think you’re going to crack me just like that, you’re the delusional one.”
>Once again, Nightmare Moon just laughs at you.
>“Oh please. You’ve been easy to crack thus far. Not even three days, and already I’m further along breaking you than I was in a year with Luna!”
“Shut up.”
>“If only Luna knew how pathetic you were, she’d be ashamed of you. Being this fucking weak. Ha!”
>As your blood pressure rises, you start getting a headache.
>“You poor thing. Just going to tell me to shut up again? That’s pretty much all you can do, isn’t it? You can’t fight me, you’ll never win!”
“I SAID SHUT THE FUCK UP!”
>A dark wave of energy seems to erupt as you yell, your rage hitting a peak.
>The sound of breaking glass follows, as several of the stained glass windows along the hallway shatter.
>“Very good for a beginner. You’re staring to learn.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
>Nightmare points a hoof down the hallway, as it is littered with broken glass and other debris.
>“Finally you started accepting some of my magic. That’s why I’ve been pushing you. Helping you unlock that rage, that raw power, so when I take over, I‘m fully recharged!”
>Fear grips you as she continues to talk.
>You aren’t listening.
>You’re losing control.
>And there’s seemingly nothing you can do to fight back.