Changing Lanes 29

>Once you get within a few hundred feet of Twilight's home, you drastically slow your pace, watching for any sign of trouble.
>A familiar but odd, pungent smell lingers in the air.
>Ignoring it for now, you creep up to one of the windows to the Golden Oak library.
>Well, there's Twilight.
>And one freaky-ass pony in front of her.
>The black, shiny coat, green eyes, and bug-like wings tell you this is not a pony.
>Complete with a jagged horn and hooves that look like the aftermath of target practice, it's a complete package of ugly.
>But why is it not disguised as you?
>Or more importantly, why is Twilight seemingly so complacent and calm?
>She sits silently, as the changeling speaks to her.
>Whatever it is saying, you cannot hear.
>You try another window, with still no luck in audio.
>Damn, this place has pretty good windows.
>You consider what few options you have to try to get Twilight out of there as you continue to move quietly around the house.
>It is looking like you really should wait for Luna, and hopefully Celestia.
>But what if Luna has trouble at the castle and takes a while?
>Or worse, needs the help of another powerful ally, such as Twilight?
>You can't just sit here patiently while Twilight is trapped, can you?
>Finally, you figure out the smell that has gotten stronger, just as you spy your car sitting on the other side of the library.
>Burnt clutch.
>Fucking.
>Bastards.
>So not only have these changelings tried to take your friends away and dispose of you, now they steal your baby and can't even drive the fucking thing?!
>In a rage, you stand up, marching over to your parked car.
>Hopefully it still moves under its own power.
>You open the door, sliding into the driver's seat.
>Whoever or whatever stole it left the key in the ignition, fortunately.
>You twist the key, pumping the accelerator.
>With a roar, the engine comes to life, and you throw her into reverse and mash it.
>The door to Twilight's home opens, with the purple alicorn coming out in a frenzied rush followed by - you?
>Turning the steering wheel, you line up.
>You can't believe you are going to do this.
>But it's for Twilight.
>You only hope it works.
"Sorry girl, this hurts me more than you."
>You jam the shifter into first, mashing the gas and aiming for your wide-eyed doppelganger as the tires cry for mercy.
>Twilight leaps out of the way, while the changeling is caught like a deer in the headlights.
>A sickening cacophony of sounds erupts as steel meets flesh meets tree.
>Dazed, you gingerly climb out of the car, taking your keys with you.
>You don't dare to look at what is likely a gruesome mess at the front of the car.
>To both the changeling and the Superbird.
>"A-Anon?"
>You look up to see Twilight staring at you, her jaw on the ground.
"Yes, it's me. That wasn't."
>As you walk towards the purple pony, you stop as her expression changes from shock to frenzied rage.
>"You MONSTER!"
>Her horn glows as you quickly whirl around to run.
>Fuck.
>Before you can really get anywhere, you are thrown off your feet, slamming shoulder first into the driver's door of your car.
>You feel faint as intense pain wracks your entire right side.
>You turn your head slowly, to look back at Twilight, whose ears are pinned back like a dog on the attack.
>She suddenly stops, her attention directed towards something else.
>The car behind you sluggishly begins to move backwards, then comes to a standstill again.
>"I'm okay Twilight."
>Wait, how in the-
>Your thoughts are interrupted as the fake you leans over.
>It looks at you, flashing a devilish grin.
>"Bring him inside Twilight. Maybe we can learn something."
>You feel yourself lifted up abruptly, a fresh surge of pain erupting from your shoulder.
>Carried inside by what you assume was Twilight's magic, you are dropped to the floor, causing you to yelp in agony.
>The door slams once the three of you are inside, and as you attempt to sit upright, the fake you undergoes a metamorphosis.
>There is no sound as it warps and twists shape.
>Once again, the giant pony-insectoid hybrid stands in the room.
>It's at least as tall as Celestia, maybe even a bit taller.
>This is probably Chrysalis.
>You look over to Twilight, who seems oblivious to the monster in the room.
"Twilight, what the fuck?"
>She doesn't respond, as she seems as if she is staring off into space.
>"Quite amazing, is it not? Her mind is like putty in my hooves."
>You direct your attention back to Chrysalis, who steps towards you, grinning madly.
>"Well, once I got rid of some of her mind."
"Fuck you Chrysalis, what did you do to her?"
>Her smile grows even wider, bearing fangs.
>"So you already know who I am. I'm flattered."
>Arrogant fuck.
>"Dear Twilight hear isn't quite herself. I've learned from my past mistakes, and come up with a better idea for her."
>You say nothing as she continues to boast.
>"Normally I would just drain her of all energy, but this time, I figured, why not put her to good use and leave a little in the tank? Mind control is easy when there's no resistance."
>As she turns back to look at Twilight, the purple pony's eyes tinge a sickly green, before returning to their normal color.
"That's fucking sick."
>Chrysalis feigns disappointment as she leans down to look at you.
>"You know, you could be thankful that I let you live in the first place. How you escaped my allure in the castle was a mystery to me, unless you knew who I was already, or could see through my charade. But how is that possible?"
>You shrug, instantly regretting it as fresh pain seeps into you.
>It takes a moment for you to focus before you answer her.
"Maybe you need to get some more acting classes?"
>She leans in and looks you dead in the eyes, her bright green irises and slitted pupils studying you.
>Can she read your mind?
>See your thoughts?
>What the hell is she doing?
>Chrysalis abruptly pulls away, standing up straight again.
>"Ah well, it does not matter. I think this plan is working out much better than posing as you to drain Princess Luna. As long as my minion can imitate Luna long enough to where I may drain Celestia."
>You look back over to Twilight, who looks on the verge of drooling by this point of her vacant, motionless state.
"Why?"
>"Pardon?"
"What is the point of this? Do you just get a kick out of being an evil cunt?"
>She seems to take offense at this.
>"Evil?! My kind has been deprived, hungry, shunned for many years by all of Equestria, and here I am righting this wrong and I am the evil one?!"
"If the shoe fits..."
>She seems on the verge of striking you, but stops, her angry sneer replaced by a sly grin that probably means nothing good.
>"I think you've used up your usefulness. Like I said, you should be thankful I let you live this long."
"So you're going to kill me?"
>"No, but she is."
>Chrysalis points a swiss-cheesed hoof at Twilight.
>"Twilight, do as you see fit."
>Your stomach drops.
>Instantly, Twilight becomes animated, pacing towards you with horn aglow.
"Twilight, you need to snap out of this shit! You love me!"
>Her eyes glare at you, but are hollow within, a husk of her former self.
>No.
>It can't end like this.
>As she unleashes a burst of energy, you turn away, throwing your good arm up in instinctive defense.
>A radiating heat suffuses through you, as suddenly you hear Twilight yelp.
>As you turn back to look, she is in the midst of a flailing panic, sailing through the air and slamming into the wall of books opposite you.
>Books fall off the shelf, pelting her limp form.
>What the fuck was that?
>You don't have much time to think as a black hoof cracks you in the side of the head, and you fall over.
>"I don't know how you managed to do that, but this ends NOW!"
>You reach into your pocket as she snarls at you, baring her fans and focusing on only what you can assume to be your neck.
>Fuckers still suck blood here too, apparently.
>As she lunges, you pull your keys out, thrusting at her throat with all of your might, adrenaline driving your strike.
>You feel as if your arm is on fire as somehow, and you manage to penetrate through her chitinous hide.
>She suddenly screams, a sound unlike anything you've ever heard, as her whole body is enveloped in a slight blue haze.
>What in the fuck?
>You pull back on your makeshift weapon, blue smoke wisping from it and the wound left in Chrysalis's neck.
>Pushing her off with a foot, she ragdolls to the floor, silent.
>You try to get up, but fall back down, the room beginning to spin wildly.
>Your head, your arm, your whole body is nothing but a sea of fiery pain.
>Is this death?
>You hear the door burst open, and everything goes blank.

>An annoying electronic beeping is the first thing you sense.
>Your head seems to throb in unison with it.
>Slowly, you open your eyes, blinding light making it difficult to adjust as you stare upwards at a stark white ceiling.
>"Welcome back, Anonymous."
>You turn your head in the direction of the voice, and squint, trying to focus.
>The pastel colored flowing mane is a dead giveaway.
>Celestia.
"Good, at least everything worked out on Luna's end."
>Finally your eyes adjust enough to fully open them and look around.
>You already guessed you were in the hospital.
>Your right arm is bandaged up in a sling, while the continued pounding in your head informs you of not all is well up there, either.
>At least the bed you are in seems comfortable enough.
>It suddenly moves, slowly propping you up.
>"How do you feel?"
"Other than feeling like a train hit me, not too bad I guess."
>Celestia lightly grins.
>"You have been out of it for the past two days, it seems you took a good hit to the head."
>You flash back in your mind the last things you remember.
>Using your car as a battering ram.
>Being tossed like a ragdoll.
>The scuffle.
>Then the door opening, and....
>Blank.
"So when did you find me?"
>"Judging by the screams, I would say not long after your tangle with Chrysalis. Luna and I came through the door finding you, Chrysalis, and Twilight all out cold."
"Fun times. So I take it Luna is alright, but how did you two come so quickly?"
>Celestia smirks a bit, as if remembering a good joke.
>"By the time my sister arrived at the castle, I had dealt with the imposter that was left in her place. I may have been fooled once by one posing as Cadence, but I know my own sister."
"Where is she, anyway?"
>"Luna is presiding over the castle. She was here earlier today to check on you, but my sister was determined to do her duty today. She needs the distraction after the last few days, I would imagine."
"Is she... she's a little pissed at me, isn't she?"
>Celestia's voice emits an aura of sympathy.
>"I understand you wanted to help and had great concern for Twilight Sparkle's safety, but she asked you to stay put to prevent something like this from happening. It is fortunate the worst you seem to have come away with is a busted shoulder and mild concussion."
>She pauses.
>"What did happen in the library?"
>You would like to understand it yourself.
>Twilight apparently being hit by her own magic, your critical hit with your key, the haze.
"I... I can't really remember."
>If she senses you can remember, Celestia does not push the issue.
"So where is Twilight, anyway? She's okay, right?"
>The white alicorn looks down, as you feel your heart sink in response.
"What? Tell me!"
>She looks back up at you, trying her hardest to keep composure.
>"Twilight..... is not well, Anonymous. Chrysalis seems to have done something to her to make her believe she is not amongst friends, but enemies. Changelings. In her mind, everypony she sees is a changeling."
"What do you mean?"
>"Luna and I had to lock her in the castle's dungeon to keep her from causing harm to others. I'm sorry, Anonymous."
>You feel sick to your stomach as your mind tries to warp around this.
"Well fuck, just torture Chrysalis to give it up! I don't understand!"
>Celestia looks away from you, seeming to struggle to keep composure.
>"As of this moment, that is not possible, Anonymous. Whatever happened in the library has left the Changeling Queen very close to death. She is being tended to by the best doctors in a secure environment, but all we can do is wait."
>She turns back to you, a look of fierce determination.
>"Luna and I will do what we can in the meantime to find something, anything to break Twilight from this, but it will take time."
"Right. Of course."
>You lean back, staring up at the ceiling.
>The wind has been knocked out of you.
>Celestia's voice seems to stabilize somewhat as you hear her rise to your feet.
>"My apologies Anonymous, but I must go back to Canterlot and see what I can do. Please take care of yourself."
"Don't worry about me, I'll live."
>You hear her walk out of the room, leaving you alone with your thoughts.
>Closing your eyes, you do your best to shut out and escape the news.

"You always want to annoy me when I don't want you, where the hell are you now?"
>It is not long before you find yourself in the dreamscape.
>You're on a mission to find out what the hell happened at Twilight's, and there is only one pony that is available to talk to that witnessed the events.
>Nightmare Moon.
>But so far, no sign of her at all.
>You are really starting to get irritated.
>Tonight your dreamscape is that of Canterlot Castle.
>You have no idea why, but you don't bother messing with it.
>"Shut up and get in here!"
>You whip around to see a pair of turquoise eyes staring through the crack of a door slightly ajar.
>Obliging her, you walk in, closing the door behind you.
"What the hell is with you?"
>She glares at you, the dim room exaggerating the brightness of her eyes.
>"I was not jesting with you when I said it took a lot of effort to warn you. Some of us are trying to recoup."
>You hesitate before you respond.
"I guess I should thank you for the heads up on that."
>Nightmare Moon recoils a bit in shock.
>"Hey, I was trying to save my own ass. I don't want to be trapped inside somepony who is trapped under a spell."
>Bitch.
>"I assume you want to speak to me about what happened a couple of days ago, hm?"
>She sports a cocky grin, as if daring you to ask.
"More specifically, what the fuck did I do to Chrysalis? I expected to jab her enough to get her to step back, not leave her on the verge of death."
>She shrugs.
>"I suppose that's what happens when somepony untrained in magic uses it. Too much juice."
>You had a hunch, but this revelation still comes as a shock.
"Are you saying that was me using magic?!"
>"Yay you, what a break through, you did it!"
>Her sarcastic tone irks you more than it should.
>"Fuck you. How did this even happen? I mean, I haven't been able to do any magic physically, and now I practically fry the changeling queen from the inside out?"
>Once again, she shrugs.
>"To be fair, you were pumped up full of adrenaline. Most ponies get a sudden burst of strength with adrenaline, you decided to launch a full magical assault on the room."
"But how?"
>"Just because it's my magic, doesn't mean I know what it can do in the hooves of others. Nor could I imagine I would be playing second fiddle in a body like this."
>This just keeps getting weirder as the questions mount.
"Your magic?"
>"Well, our magic. That blue haze you saw? My personal color. Every pony able to wield magic seemingly has a color unique to them."
>She suddenly goes silent, as if listening for something.
"What is it?"
>"I should make myself scarce."
>"YOU WILL STAY!"
>A booming voice echoes, as if you are in a cavernous room.
>Suddenly, the room warps, as all doors and windows fade away, and the ceiling disappears, leaving an empty black void above you.
>As well as a one hundred foot tall Luna glaring angrily into the room.
"Oh shit."
>She suddenly morphs, a swirling blue haze flying into the room, retaking her normal size and form.
>Her fierce eyes makes you legitimately scared.
>"I told you to not talk to this.... thing, and you not only disregard my warning, you do it twice in a matter of days!"
>Nightmare Moon's expression goes from shock to anger.
>"Thing? Really, Luna? I thought we were closer than that."
>Luna doesn't even glance at her as she replies, just burrowing her eyes into you.
>"You will shut up. I have no inclination to speak with you. As for you Anonymous, why? Why do you continue to converse with this fiend? This very spirit that led me to a one thousand year exile?"
>Unsure how to answer you, you remain silent.
>"You have no reason to speak with her?"
>"He wanted to understand what happened in that purple mongrel's hommmph!"
>Nightmare Moon's jaw clamps shut, aided by Luna's glowing magic.
>"You are not Anonymous! I should vanquish you right here and now for leading him astray!"
"She didn't do anything, Luna. I disobeyed you on my own, and I'm sorry."
>Luna turns back to you, releasing Nightmare Moon.
>"I told you to stay put because I was worried harm may come to you. Not only did harm indeed come to you, but Twilight as well. She is now a prisoner in her own mind because of your foolish actions, Anonymous."
>You feel small as Luna's booming voice continues to echo, despite being her normal size.
>"To be fair Luna, the kid unleashed my magic for the first time. I believe everypony makes a mistake their first time casting mag-"
>"I KNOW HE CAST MAGIC, I COULD SENSE YOUR VILE STENCH ALL AROUND TWILIGHT'S HOME!"
>Your ears ring as Luna cranks up the volume.
>"By the way, you've had a thousand years and change to vanquish me and still haven't."
>Nightmare Moon smirks, while Luna stares daggers back towards her.
>"Why is that, Luna? Is there something between me and you that's important?"
>Silence befalls the room.
>After what seems like an eternity, Luna looks away from the black alicorn, back to you.
>If you didn't know any better, you would think she seems a bit shaken up.
>"I can hardly look upon you right now, Anonymous. You should feel fortunate you did not meet an untimely end. Or perhaps unfortunate if Twilight's mind cannot be fixed."
>She turns and walks away, a hole opening in the far wall.
"Luna, wait!"
>With a leap, she disappears into the inky black void.
>You feel weak as you are forced to sit on the floor.
>Nightmare Moon says nothing, not that you care anyway.
>For the first time since arriving in Equestria, you feel lost.
>Miserable.
>Alone.