SEASON 1: THE ADVENTURES OF ALEX IN EQUESTRIA
Chapter 9: The Changeling Drex
IN AN UNKNOWN PLACE, FAR AWAY FROM EQUESTRIA (Third-person narration)
It all begins in a dark, cold, damp place, and I would even dare to say, terrifying; there was a unicorn, with lavender-colored fur, momentarily unconscious, although after a few seconds, it began to wake up. She began to open her eyes slowly and gently, but when she opened them completely, she realized she was in a cell with bars of a strange color, similar to black but even darker; her hooves were held by four individual shackles, which were attached to a wall, and she had a ring on her horn, the same color as the bars and the shackles.
-Twilight: (Where am I?) Hello? Hello?! Can anyone hear me?! Please, any pony, help me! - screamed the unicorn in search of help, when suddenly a door opened and let in some light, a strange figure entered and closed the door behind him, the figure proceeded to approach the cell where the unicorn was and looked her straight in the eyes, making her a little terrified - W-w-what are you?
The appearance of the figure was somewhat strange; it was similar to an alicorn since it had the shape of a pony, a horn, and wings, but it also had holes in its body, its wings and horn were different, and its eyes resembled those of an insect.
-Changeling: That's not the question you should be asking me, rather you should be asking "What are they going to do to me?"
-Twilight: What? Make me? - quickly distanced herself from the Changeling as fast as she could - What do you think you're going to do to me?! Why am I here?! What do you want from me?!
-Changeling: It's none of your business, it was an accident, and nothing else, in that order. They sent me to see if you were still alive, you were unconscious for three days.
-Twilight: Three days?!
-Changeling: Yes, I was starting to believe you were dead, after what Drex told us we thought your brain had exploded.
-Twilight: Drex?
-Changeling: Do all ponies always answer questions with more questions? Anyway, now that you're awake, you must come with me.
-Twilight: Not a chance I'm going with you
-Changeling: Oh, sorry, maybe I didn't express myself correctly, you're GOING to come with me.
Twilight just stayed silent while looking at him, her face showing how she was saying "no" with her eyes, although the Changeling didn't like that.
-Changeling: Too bad, I wanted to do this the easy way - his horn began to glow - but I see that all ponies are the same, they don't like to cooperate
Suddenly, the chains that held Twilight, as well as the ring on her horn, began to emit a greenish glow. The unicorn began to stagger until she fell to the ground, her eyes starting to close; apparently, the chains were draining her energy, little by little her eyes closed, until everything went dark for her.
-Changeling: Good, that's better.
The chains stopped glowing and the Changeling opened the cell door, using his magic, he levitated Twilight and took her out of there to take her outside that prison, he opened the door through which he entered and left with the unicorn.
MEANWHILE IN PONYVILLE
Things weren't any better in the town of Ponyville; this time we start in a hospital room, where the mane six (except Twilight) and the hawk Thunder were gathered around a bed, on which our protagonist, Alex Tools, lay resting. The human was unconscious after that "battle" they had against the Ursa Major and the fake Trixie, oh and by the way, the human has been unconscious for three days, his body was connected to several machines which helped to feed him, since the doctors didn't know when he would wake up.
-Fluttershy: Poor Alex, he's been in bed for three days, I hope he gets better soon.
-Applejack: I'm sure he will, sugarcube -she said, turning to look at her- I've seen him fight more than any other pony, and I'm sure he'll wake up soon.
-Rainbow Dash: But those were just minor pests, Applejack - the pegasus emphasized - this time she faced a major bear alone, those things are impossible to handle by yourself.
-Rarity: But he wasn't alone, dear - the unicorn clarified - he was with Twilight
-Alex: ... Twilight...
One could faintly hear as Alex began to murmur the name of that unicorn who saved him from the major bear.
-Pinkie Pie: She has mentioned Twilight's name 10 times since she fainted.
-Applejack: Are you seriously counting them?
-Pinkie Pie: Yeah, I got bored waiting for Alex to wake up, so I decided to count the times he whispers "Twilight" to entertain myself.
-Alex: ... Twilight...
-Pinkie Pie: Eleven
-Rarity: Dear, that was rude, we're not here to have fun, we came to see our friend.
-Pinkie Pie: I'm sorry, you're right Rarity
-Thunder: (Poor human, what could they be thinking right now?)
MEANWHILE IN THE HUMAN MIND
Everything was dark, there was nothing but infinite darkness, in that place only a strange figure could be seen, a Changeling to be precise, taking Twilight in a cell. It could be seen that the human was chasing them, but each time, the cage, as well as Twilight, moved further and further out of reach. When it disappeared from sight, the human fell to the ground on their knees and lowered their gaze.
-Alex: Twilight... I'm sorry... I wasn't strong enough to save you
... "Pathetic"... was what could be heard in the surroundings
-Alex: What? Who's there? - started looking in all directions -
... "You couldn't save her"...
-Alex: - quickly stood up - Show yourself, I'm not afraid of you.
He kept searching for the source of that voice until he finally came across a larger bear, the same one from that time, which was speaking to him.
-Major bear: You are weak, human... you couldn't protect her... you failed again...
-Alex: You, this is all your fault! - he said with an angry tone -
-Major bear: No, it's YOUR fault, if you had been stronger, the Changeling wouldn't have taken her.
Alex knew it was true, if he had held on longer, she wouldn't have intervened, and if she hadn't intervened, she wouldn't have been kidnapped.
-Alex: It's true... it's my fault that Twilight left... Why wasn't it me?
-Major bear: Just like a year ago, your weakness was to blame...
The human began to cry upon remembering that event, a year ago... it was the death of his mother.
-Major bear: You were... WEAK
-Alex: No!
BACK IN THE HOSPITAL
The girls remained around the bed, waiting for the human to wake up. Suddenly, the human jolted up and flew out of bed; upon touching the ground, they fell like a rag doll, still weak from that fight.
(Narration by Alex)
-Alex: Ouch! - when I fell to the ground, it felt like my bones had shattered -
The girls came up to me and helped me get up, I felt like my body was killing me as they carried me to the bed, once I was lying down I started to feel better.
-Alex: Phew... thanks, girls
-Applejack: See? I told you we should have tied him to the bed from the first day, I knew this would happen when he woke up.
-Rarity: Please Applejack, we all agreed that it was too much.
-Pinkie Pie: Besides the fact that the doctor opposed it
Suddenly, someone knocked on the room door and a rather familiar voice was heard.
-Trixie: Hello? Can the Great and Powerful Trixie come in now?
-Alex: "Trixie?!" - I tried to get up again, but I couldn't because of the various restraints holding my limbs to the bed -
-Applejack: See? Better safe than sorry.
-Rarity: Go ahead, dear
The door opened, and the first thing I saw was that unicorn who had destroyed all of Ponyville, only now she didn't have her cape or her hat.
-Rarity: Alex, we all want you to calm down and listen to Trixie
-Alex: Listen? The only thing I want to hear from her is the location where they hid Twilight, she and her Changeling friend.
-Rarity: That's the thing, dear, she had nothing to do with that incident.
-Alex: Wait, what?
-Trixie: Yes, as she said, I was also a victim, you see...
FLASHBACK (Trixie's Narration)
It was a spring afternoon, and the sun made the great and powerful Trixie look wonderful...
-Alex: - at that moment I interrupted her - Could you skip to the part that interests me?
Alright, alright, ahem...
A FEW HOURS LATER
After my show, I settled down to rest in my dressing room after astonishing the ponies of Ponyville with my incredible magical abilities. I remember taking off my hat and cape and leaving them on a coat rack in a corner. A few moments after that, I heard someone open the door to my wagon and run straight towards me. I couldn't see well what happened; it was too fast. By the time I realized it, I had already been captured. My hooves were tied, and I had a gag that prevented me from speaking. I tried to free myself with magic, but they had placed a strange black ring on my horn that prevented me from using my power.
After several hours of struggling and trying to call for help, a hawk flew in through a window of my course and freed me from my restraints. That hawk was the same one that is with you right now, human; after that, it made me follow it to the town, which was in ruins, where I found you lying on the ground. I decided to take you to the nearest hospital, and after that, the hawk went to find your friends. I decided to stay with you, but you wouldn't wake up.
END OF FLASHBACK
-Rainbow Dash: After that, we arrived and asked her to wait outside, we knew you would go crazy when you saw her.
-Alex: (They really know me well) Well... sorry Trixie, it wasn't my intention to act like that
-Trixie: Next time, think before you act, and to think I worried about you - leaves the room indignantly -
-Alex: Oh, I think that could have gone better.
-Applejack: I agree
They all nodded in unison, which reminded me of something.
-Alex: But wait, if she didn't take Twilight, then who did? And where to?
None of them answered me, that made me understand they had no idea.
-Alex: I understand...
At that moment, the first thing that crossed my mind was to go look for her, but after seeing my body crumble, I preferred to stay and rest. The girls tried to cheer me up, telling me that Princess Celestia had already sent guards to look for her, and although it made me feel a little better, I still felt bad for not being able to do anything.
After a while, a pony in a doctor's coat came in and asked the girls to leave. They obeyed and left, but not before saying goodbye to me (and also untie me). Once I was alone, I decided to rest a bit, and in the end, I ended up falling asleep.
MEANWHILE, IN THAT OTHER PLACE (Third-person narration)
This time we find ourselves in a kind of throne room, where two thrones hidden in the shadows could be seen. On one sat a dark silhouette in the shape of a pony, and on the other, a large crystal mirror. The thrones were for a king and a queen, although at first glance, it was not clear who was who; in front of the thrones stood a Changeling bowing.
-Drex: Your Majesty, did you summon me?
-Silhouette: That's right, Drex, we called you to discuss your recent failure.
-Mirror: How could you fail if we gave you the power to control the fourth strongest living thing in all of Equestria?!
-Silhouette: My king, calm down, remember what happens when you get angry.
The voice of the dark silhouette was quite strange, but not as much as that of the mirror; apparently, the one in it was the king and the silhouette the queen.
-Drex: I beg your pardon, my king, I let my guard down and-
At that moment, Drex was interrupted by a loud bang that came from the mirror.
-King: I told you clearly that you shouldn't trust the human, and you disobeyed me. I would have executed any other soldier the moment I received the news.
The king sounded very angry. Drex felt terrified, so he lowered his head while begging for mercy.
-King: Although, your unique ability is extremely useful to me, and being one of my best Changelings, it would be a waste to execute you.
At that moment, a door opened, light poured in, revealing that the silhouette was Chrysalis, the Changeling queen, although the person in the mirror could not be seen; through that door, a Changeling entered carrying a unicorn, that unicorn was Twilight.
-Changeling: Sir, I have brought the prisoner.
-King: Excellent, leave it next to Drex
The Changeling obeyed, after that it withdrew with a bow.
-King: Listen to me carefully, Drex, you have only one more chance. I want you to get rid of the unicorn you brought with you. Now it knows our location and is a danger to our plans. I'm sure you can handle a simple execution.
-Drex: I-I understand, my king - he charged her with his magic and left the throne room at great speed, apparently heading towards some kind of execution chamber -
-Queen Chrysalis: You've softened, Kris. A hundred years ago, you would have executed him without mercy.
-King "Kris": A hundred years ago, we had more soldiers trained to defend the empire, we had hundreds of them, but now due to diseases and lack of food, Generation Y has decreased significantly, and only 1% of Generation X is capable of fighting, the rest are still children. If I execute every good Changeling that fails us, we wouldn't have anyone capable of defending their brothers... *sighs* I'm not the same as before, alright? Just... I just want all of this to end.
-Queen Chrysalis: You know that's impossible, my king. The past has already defined us, and we can't do anything to remedy that. Until we have eliminated all the humans, we won't be able to live in peace. We can only move forward.
-King "Kris": Yes, it's true... we just have to move forward... (dragging the weight that the past left us)
MEANWHILE IN THE EXECUTION ROOM...
What do they say? He went where? Oh well...
MEANWHILE AT THE PONYVILLE HOSPITAL
It was already night, the moon had risen, and everyone was asleep, including the human, when suddenly something entered the room where Twilight was resting. It was so fast and silent that no one noticed anything. In a matter of seconds, Twilight had ended up in the human's arms without chains or that ring. Meanwhile, something was quickly moving away from the village; it was Drex, apparently preferring not to kill the unicorn.
-Drex's thought: "I'm sorry, my king, but no matter how evil he is, I swore not to kill any innocents again, and that human... tch, better forget about him"
Drex kept running back to the place he came from, leaving many mysteries behind him.
TO BE CONTINUED...