Twilight's Strange Friends

Dear Princess Celestia,

Ever have days where things seem a bit off?

Take, for instance, how Rarity acted today.

She was a lot less fancy with her words, and her sentences lacked their grace and elegance, and her voice stayed at the same tone all throughout our conversations.

''Pinkie was even weirder. Actually, no, she wasn't weirder, which is precisely why things are so wierd! She barely talked, or did anything. She slowly snacked on a couple of cakes, but that was it. Pinkie Pie eating slowly?''

''Rainbow Dash also seemed off. She was apparently working all day. I mean, she's not always lazy, but at the same time she doesn't always do work. She usually does her various tricks and stunts.''

''Applejack seemed no different actually. I wonder why she was the only one. '' Fluttershy surprises me the most. There's nothing uncharacteristic about her, but her cottage is completely locked down, and it worries me because this mean she's frightened. But by what? She does live near the Everfree Forest. Did she find something there? Why didn't she go to Zecora, or to me for that matter?

That's only covering my friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Cake didn't have that kindness in their voice like they usually did.

''Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo didn't do anything today. Well, nothing too wild. Just stayed in their treehouse. Did they finally just run out of ideas? '' Can they run out of ideas?

''I know they've done a lot of stunts, but there must be more they can do. '' Mountain hiking, plant growing, lawn cutting, lemonade selling...

The list goes on and on.

Did they already do those things?

Maybe I should give them ideas...

Also, just so you can hear what I mean I have sent a tape record which I used during a snippet of my conversation with my friends while we were eating at the local restaurant.

Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

Audio Record 001

"So, Twilight, how has your reading been?" Rarity's voice asked, her voice sounding almost mechanic.

"Fine," Twilight's voice said.

"...Good," Pinkie Pie's voice droned.

"So," said Twilight's voice came, sounding awkward like it was trying to break the tension, "you all seem rather bored or unenthusiastic. Why is this?"

Multiple replies of work came, except from Applejack.

Twilight said, "I see." She sounded a bit confused.

Day 2

Dear Princess Celestia,

At some point yesterday I told them all how weird they were acting compared to their normal selves.

Well today they seem to be trying to hard to be them.

I know it sounds crazy, but they sound like they're faking themselves.

For what reason?

Applejack remains the same as she's always been.

Fluttershy still seems to be hiding.

Pinkie Pie is way too over-the-top crazy than she usually is, which is saying something.

Rainbow Dash now seems to obsessed with flying around, doing stunts, and shirking off work.

Rarity is still not speaking elegantly, but is instead speaking scientifically.

I asked them about the reason for this.

They then said, "We're just glad to be off work."

''But I'm not alone with thinking something's off. Applejack knows it too. When we were walking all alone from the salon Applejack asked me if I noticed anything different going on, to which I said yes.''

We want to confront them on that as well.

Something is up.

Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

Day 3

Dear Princess Celestia,

''You don't seem to be replying to any of my letters. Why?''

Though, I suppose that's not my greatest concern right now.

Applejack and I confronted them.

''They seemed really nervous, as if something was up. They tried to get away from the '' conversation as quickly as possible.

''If they had said something like, "We're just acting a bit different, that's all," I would've been less suspicious, but this... this is not something that I can just brush off.''

''So, I have made a plan to follow one of them home. I will watch them through the window.''

This may be stalking, but it needs to be done.

Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

Night of Day 3

Oh my, you!

Fluttershy's house went up in flames.

I was looking through Pinkie Pie's window, and then all of a sudden I heard Rarity screamed down the streets

"FLUTTERSHY'S HOUSE IS ON FIRE!"

Immediately, I left my position on the tree, fell down, and galloped off, despite my pain.

I was only there quick enough to see a body wrapped in white cloth being dragged into an ambulance.

Fluttershy...

Day 4

Dear Princess Celestia,

''You may not have been able to read my last note completely because it was covered in tears at the end. I noticed some drops on the paper, but still, I don't have time to waste just to rewrite the letter.''

I am continuing on my stakeout.

I have been watching Rarity this time.

''She hasn't done anything unusual. She just hummed to herself while she worked on a dress.''

The only peculiarity was when she went to go and get a glass of water, or at least, acted like she was going to.

She got the glass and everything, but instead of putting the glass under the tap she teleported, taking the glass along with her.

''I looked around myself. She didn't catch me and teleport behind me thankfully. '' After about thirty minutes she returned, looking particularly delighted. Her glass was still empty though.

''She hadn't drank anything recently now that I think about it. '' I suppose you don't usually think about someone drinking water, but still, this warrants attention.

Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle

Day 5

Dear Princess Celestia,

''I hadn't seen the Cutie Mark Crusaders for a while so I decided to go to their treehouse. Maybe I could've found out what was up with them. '' I couldn't open the door.

Something was keeping it tightly closed.

I could push it open only a bit, and I could've swore I saw something green when I pushed it hard enough to peer even the tiniest bit inside.

''Was there green glue covering the door? Ridiculous! They don't sell green glue. Maybe it was candy or something.''

''Though, why was it on the door, whatever it was? Did they have some sort of accident there? I literally couldn't teleport in to find anything out; my magic didn't work.''

''I alerted Rarity and Applejack. Applejack then said that sometimes Apple Bloom appeared in the house, but seemed really distant lately.''

Rarity just made up an excuse that she was at a camp that taught about fashion like how to sew and stuff.

Rarity's lying, I know it.

''Also, I left another tape recorder near the treehouse. Listen to this. It's weird. '' Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

Audio Record 002

For two minutes there is no sound. Then, for about thirty seconds there's a faint sound as if something was being muffled while speaking. Then, for the next two and a half minutes there is the faint sound of ragged breathing.

Day 6

Dear Princess Celestia,

''I visited Fluttershy in the hospital today. She was covered in white bandages, all of her burns covered. However, she muttered, "Monsters."''

''This is really getting creepy. I'm getting nervous. I'm losing sleep over this. I want to do another stakeout at Rarity's, but I'm not sure if that will get me anywhere this time either.''

''However, yesterday I told Applejack that the Cutie Mark Crusaders were trapped inside their tree house. She's really been trying to break it down, but it seems impossible, even for her.''

''I must have faith, though, and believe that Applejack will prevail. Meanwhile, I also need to figure out what is going on with my other friends.''

Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

Day 7

''Everything is chaos now! I'm hiding! Why aren't you responding!''

Applejack finally busted the door down, and we finally got to see what was in the building.

That green goop all over the place, I should've recognized it!

The Crusaders, my friends, besides Fluttershy and Applejack, were all covered in this green goop!

''Then, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie teleported in. It wasn't the real them, just the imposters I've been getting to know.''

''Applejack decided to stay behind and fight to help me out. How did Fluttershy find out about this?''

''I won't ever figure out. I'm hiding in my library. I'm sending what may be my last letter.''

Day ?

Dear Princess Celestia,

I really wished you responded in time.

''They found me. The changelings. I'm locked up now in a jail cell, but I managed to smuggle in a piece of paper.''

Wherever you are, I hope you can come in to save me.

Your faithful and trapped student, Twilight Sparkle.

"Princess Celestia" smirked as she got the last letter.

"So I win," she said.

She gazed out of a balcony and said, "I will rule..."

She then returned to her true form. "I, Queen Chrysalis..."