Author's Notes:

So yeah, real life, work, health, blah blah etc etc, you don't care about my stuff. You're all here for the story. So let's get on with it.

Also, I had a little stockpile of chapters kinda half finished, as well as a couple crossover chapters on backorder. so within the next few weeks expect a couple more updates.

The lot of us all continued to stare at Spike, the drake looking at all of us a bit unsure. “W-wait a minute. How can I be a royal heir? This kingdom and war were over a thousand years ago, wouldn’t the egg have hatched by then?”

Scratch and I both shook our heads. “Dragon eggs can take anywhere from three years to centuries to hatch. From what we know it's all dependant on the dragon and when the time is right. It's part of why dragons are so long lived that they are practically immortal.” Scratch said.

“It tends to tie into fate and events that may unfold in the future. For all we know, you were meant to hatch at Twilight's test all those years ago.” Said mare looked at me. “What? Just because I was a statue doesn't mean I couldn't see the giant t dragon crash through the roof. You were the talk of the castle for a good few weeks.” Twilight gave a slight blush at that.

Spike then shook his head. “This is a lot to take in.” He leaned back against the rubble pile of training dummies. “On one hand, it's awesome to know where I came from and who my parents were. But on the other it's heart wrenching to know i'll never be able to see them.” I walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. The drake looked at me with a somber expression.

“If it's any consolation, I know how you feel man. I was here for several months before getting sealed away. That was over fifteen hundred years ago. I may not know exactly how different time can be between Earth and here, but if it flows the same, that means that both my parents, my friends, anyone I knew from my old life are gone.” I said with a soft smile. “Does that make me sad? Of course. I loved my family and it hurts that I won't be able to see them again. Do I miss the friends I made in my starting time here? Of course. The dragons I knew may be around if they survived the war, but the ponies and those that were lost will always be around in my memories. The sadness will be there Spike. But you don't have to let it weigh you down.” I said. I then explained the story of how my great grandfather and his guild mates ended up on Earth. “And despite being heartbroken they would never see their friends and family again, the carried on, because they knew it's what their friends would want. Not to sit around and mope.” I said with a chuckle.

Spike sat for a bit and thought with a smile. “Thanks Connor.” He smiled and stood up. “You're right.” He then looked down and thought of something. “I'm gonna go for a walk. I need to think about something.”

Twilight gave a smile and placed a hand on her surrogate brother's shoulder. “Take your time Spike. Just try to be back by one. We need to pack for the train ride back to Ponyville.”

We all watched the drake wall off, a little bit more kick to his step. It was then that Chrysalis walked over to the group. “Apologies. There were a few drones who required my attention. Did I miss anything?” We all looked at each other before laughing. “What?” The changeling queen said, tilting her head.

After filling Chrysalis in on what she had missed she looked at where Spike had walked off. “A dragon prince. Interesting.” She then turned to the princesses. “Anyways, there is something I need to discuss with you two if you have time.” She said, a tone of concern in her voice.

At this Celestia and Luna looked to each other before looking back. “What is the problem Chrysalis?”

The changeling queen gave a sigh. “From what my drones have told me, all able bodied changelings took part in the assault. Meaning there were none left behind to defend the hive. All structures and rooms were completely destroyed, and all materials ransacked.”At this all our eyes widened. “Whoever did this either intended for us to take over victorious, or not survive at all.” She then looked at the princesses, clenching her fists as she seemed to steel her nerves. “It is the reason I now ask for your permission to set up a new hive within Equestria's borders.” She said, bracing herself for their probable rejection.

All those present looked at the queen with a shocked expression. “Chrysalis…” Celestia started before giving a smile. “You don't need to ask. After aiding us in the repairs, you and your changelings are welcome in our kingdom.”

Luna nodded. “And should any of our ponies give thee trouble. Let us know.” She said with a smile.

Chrysalis could only stare in shock at the two princesses. Here she was a foreign species who failed an invasion, and they were offering her sanctuary. The queen could only smile, tears threatening her eyes as she nodded. “Thank you. Thank you both.”

It was then that Applejack spoke. “Beg pardon your highnesses, but a lot of Equestria has been mapped and settled already. Where are y’all gonna find enough land for a changeling hive?”

The group all thought a bit before I looked to Celestia. “Hey Tia, whatever happened to your old castle?”

Celestia thought for a bit. “Unfortunately our old castle fell to ruins a thousand years ago due to some...troubles.” She said, Luna hanging her head softly.

I gave a sigh. “Alright out with it. Every time I ask you two about while I was gone Luna gets all mopey. Does it have to do with that Nightmare Moon thing?”

Luna nodded. “Twas just a year passed an eon ago. I had fallen into a depression that all our subjects played and revered our sister's day, while simply sleeping and ignoring our nights. In a fit of rage and sorrow, we unfortunately lost ourselves in the corruption, becoming the terror known as Nightmare Moon, plunging Equestria into eternal night.”

Celestia then continued. “With a heavy heart I had to use the elements of harmony, six gemstones with incredible power to banish my sister to the moon for a thousand years. It was only recently she was freed and cleansed by the same elements wielded by Twilight and her friends.”

Scratch and I could only stare in a bit of shock. I walked over to Luna, looking at her. The midnight alicorn seemed to almost shrink under my gaze, but gave a sudden eep as she found my arms suddenly wrapped around her. Scratch hopped off and hugged her head softly as well. “We are so sorry you had to go through that Luna. I wish we could have been there. We might have been able to help.” Scratch said nothing, simply hugging his friend.

Luna could only gape like a fish for a few moments. I chuckled at her reaction, guessing this was a pretty big issue for her and I just brushed it aside while giving her a hug. “B-But...Y-You...I tried to plunge Terra into eternal night and you hug me?” She stumbled out.

I rolled my eyes. “Yes. Like I said, if I had been free at the time I maybe could have helped convince you to come to your senses.” I then blinked and shrugged. “Or I could have been blasted to bits, who knows.”

At this I swear I almost saw a sweatdrop form on everyone's head like in an anime. I chuckled and smiled. “So then, now that the past is out of the way, I was gonna say if you two aren't using it, what about your old castle and the forest around it? Seemed despite the occasional monster, it was a pretty good spot.”

Twilight then spoke up. “Wait, you mean the ancient castle of the royal sisters? But that's in the Everfree forest. I can understand changelings being adaptable and battle ready, but the beasts there are just horrors and nightmares.” I blinked at her.

Fluttershy then spoke up, although it was still just a loud whisper. “Um actually, a lot of the creatures are just territorial. The only real bad creature is the hydra in Froggy Bottom Bog.”

I then scratched my head. “Really? The only thing that ever gave me trouble was a cockatrice but a good death glare makes em undo the petrif- ...wait did you say hydra?” I looked at Scratch then at Tia and Luna. “You sly mares, why didn't you tell me you kept Vita, Mortis, Tempus, and Locus.” I smiled brightly.

The princesses blinked and thought for a moment, thinking back through their memories before looking at each other in realization. “Ah yes, we recall now.” Luna said. “Thine pet. My sister and I had them relocated to a large bog within the forest after your sealing.”

At this the six mares all burst out with the same question. “THAT HYDRA IS YOUR PET?!?”

I blinked and chuckled. “yeah. The little guys were so cute when they were smaller, and always affectionate with trying to nip at me. Iron scales came in handy when his adult fangs started coming in and he was teething.” I smiled.

Scratch chuckled. “And having four serpentine heads chasing me was good aerial practice and play time for them.”

At this the girls blinked and looked at me in shock. “What?” They simply groaned and i turned back to the princesses. “So, since the castle is abandoned and no ponies really plan to settle the forest, why not give that area to the changelings?”

I watched the two seem to debate for a bit before nodding. “Very well. The changelings have the permission of the Equestrian diarchy to settle and develop the Everfree forest.”

Chrysalis then gave a smile. “The majority of changeling structures are built either underground or in cliff sides. There won't be much damage done to the forest itself.” She said. “Aside from the occasional sentry hill or aboveground structure. My children are used to hiding, but hopefully we can get them to live in the light with future generations.”

I smile and nod. “Well, with that out of the way, what's there to do in modern Canterlot?” At this Rarity’s eyes seemed to sparkle and widen farther than honestly possible.

Approximately three and a half hours later.

“Scratch?” I said, groaning as I was carrying several large shopping bags.

“Hmm?” The exceed said while floating next to me.

I groaned and looked at the group of mares in front of me. “If I ever ask what is there to do in a city while Rarity is around, please knock me unconscious.” I said, shifting my weight as another bag was added.

He gave a chuckle before glancing to the side. “Can’t make any promises. But try to hold off. I’m going to investigate something.” He said, taking a chance to slip off into a small crowd.

I almost wanted to give a dramatic ‘don’t leave me’ shout, but I was muzzled by the handles of a large bag being forcibly put in between my teeth. I gave a growl and dropped the bags. “Ladies!” I said, getting the attention of the mares in front of me. They stopped and looked. “While I appreciate the tour of the city’s shopping district, I meant something that would be interesting for me to enjoy, not be a packmule.” I then turned the side. “No offense sir.”

“None taken.” A rather burly mule said while pulling a cart loaded with several crates.

A few of them looked a bit sheepish at the realization that they had just been using me to lug bags around. “Not to mention half of you have magic. Couldn't you just use levitation to carry some?” I said, crossing my arms. Several bags then lifted up in an array of magenta, indigo, and light gold auras. I noticed a rather small bag being lifted in a shimmering baby blue aura, rolling my eyes a bit at Rarity’s actions. “You ladies enjoy your shopping trip. I’m going to go find out where Scratch ducked off to.”

The girls nodded and headed off to continue their shopping spree. I saw a few faces as I wandered the streets of Canterlot, a few nobles who were at the wedding, along with a few changelings. Granted I could practically smell the disgust coming from a few of those more uppity nobles whenever a changeling went by.

‘No good stuck up little….’ I thought to myself before shaking my head. I walked over to a changeling and tapped them on the shoulder. “Excuse me, have you seen a flying cat around?” I mentally chuckled, as a question like that would get me locked up in a nice padded room back home.

The changeling looked at me before blinking. “Ah, Liberator. You speak of your feline companion yes? I believe I saw him head down the third alleyway on the left two blocks back.” I blinked, still not used to changelings calling me that. When I asked Chrysalis about it, she said that because if Scratch and I hadn’t shown up, the changelings more than likely would have taken over and still been under the control of whoever was possessing her. I nodded in thanks before heading off in the direction the changeling described.

Once I got to the alley I blinked, the side path seeming a lot more shaded than the main street despite it being only eleven thirty. “Ordinarily, I’d be suspicious, but Scratch did head this way.” I said to myself, heading down the alleyway. As I walked the air seemed to get a bit chillier, the atmosphere taking a more gothic tone. Once I walked through the opposite side I stood there somewhat slack jawed.

On the opposite end of the alley, the world had taken a drastic shift. Instead of the bright sun, the moon hung overhead, lanterns were lit along the street sides as ponies walked the streets in attire that seemed a lot more modern and casual than the stuck up, aristocratic outfits of the Canterlot nobles I had passed on the way. Instead of dresses, suits, and what were no doubt designer brand and high cost blazers and vests, the ponies walking around me wore t-shirts, jackets, and jeans. For a moment my brain only ran it’s basic functions. ‘Heart beating? Check. Breathing? Check. Eyes?’ As my brain ran that one I rubbed my eyes, making sure I wasn’t seeing things. ‘Check strangely enough.’

It was then that I noticed something else different about the ponies walking the streets. Rather than normal feather wings, the pegasi had large leathery bat wings, tufted ears, and fangs visible poking over their lower lips. The unicorns were somewhat less noticeably different, their horns somewhat more pointed and sharper than the normally slightly blunted and softened horns of normal unicorns. They also had the tufted ears and fangs like the pegasi. The Earth ponies were almost indistinguishable if not for the tufted ears and fangs, but from what I could tell, their coats were a bit more shaggy and their muscles a bit more pronounced. “Just what in the heck is going on here?” I said aloud, causing a few ponies that were close to me to look towards me.

Several of the ponies just went on their way while a male unicorn and female pegasus walked over to me. “Let me guess, first time in the dark world?” The male said.

I blinked and looked at him. “Dark world?” I said, looking around. “Kinda fitting, but seriously, It was just day out what the heck happened? And why do you all look different?”

The female laughed softly. “You stepped through one of the doors. See, much like the royal sisters are day and night, so are ponies. Those of us with wings are known as Thestrals.”

The male nodded. “Those of us that are similar to normal unicorns are known as Kestrels, and the earth pony counterparts are Dires.” She said, gesturing at one of the earth ponies in the crowd.

I could only stare in shock. “And this world has just been a secret from most ponies over the years?” I said before spotting something in the crowd.

“Actually we aren’t a secret. Most ponies just don’t really know about us because think about it. In order to set up a door to this side, there has to be a spot of absolute darkness, and that’s what a lot of ponies and day creatures fear.”

I nodded. “Excuse me just a moment.” I said, slipping off to see if what I saw was what I actually saw. Once I made my way through part of the crowd I smirked. I then reached out and tugged hard, pulling on the tail sticking up from the barrel. Hanging from my hand upside down with a fish in his mouth was Scratch. I gave him a blank stare while he gave a slightly sheepish grin. I rolled my eyes and let him right himself in the air. “Alright, how long have you known about this place?”

He chuckled as he pulled the fish out of his mouth. “Just a little before our sealing away with heaven’s wrought iron. Though it wasn’t as developed as it is now, only a handful of each race was around.”

I looked at him. “And just how did you find out about this place and keep it from me?” I said with a bit of curiosity as I headed back over to the couple from before.

“Well I’m a cat. We like to explore places at night. Plus, who do you think taught you how to block your mind back when you were first Displaced?”

“Fair point.” We got back to the couple before I gave a facepalm. “And I completely forgot to introduce myself and ask for your names.” I held out my hand. “Connor. Connor Fortino.”

The kestral male smiled and shook my hand. “Dark Heart.” He smiled,

I then shook the thestral mare’s hand. “Moonstone.” She said.

I gave a smile. “And this is my buddy Scratch.” I said, gesturing to the exceed who had just finished off his fish.

Moonstone gave a soft laugh. “We know him. He comes through now and again, and is actually mentioned in some of the town’s old history books as a friend of Princess Luna’s.”

I gave a nod at her explanation. “I see. Well I guess it makes sense. Ponies from the day side would probably panic and lose their cool if you guys were out and about. Probably shout about a curse or something.” I said with a chuckle.

The others gave a laugh as well, Dark Heart smiling. “Well those of us that assist in the day side are part of Princess Luna’s guard detail. Most ponies just think it's a cosmetic enchantment on the armor so they don't freak out as much.”

“So is this like a mirror world where each location is like where it connects to? Or do the gateways simply connect to somewhere else on the planet?” I asked, noting how the city looked nothing like Canterlot.

Moonstone shook her head as we walked. “Closer to the second one. When we say Darkworld, we mean it more in the sense that our world is like the opposite of dayside. here a majority of plants, creatures, as well as most ponies are not good with the harsh daylight.” She began explaining. “Plants are relatively the same, but mostly they store extra energy from when the sun is out. Ponies and many of the creatures that exist here have stronger eyesight as well as heavier fur and, if no fur, sensitive skin. The sun beating down and causing health problems isn't very comfortable so over time our society adapted to a nocturnal lifestyle. And to properly answer your question, our country is on the opposite side of the planet where it is night time now.” She then blinked. “Well I say country but really we are like a second half of Equestria.” She said before stopping.

I looked and noticed the alleyway I had come out of. “I see. Thanks for all the information you two. it was great to learn about the world a bit more and how it's changed. However, Scratch and I have a train to catch soon if my judgement of time difference is correct.” I say with a smile, grabbing the Exceed. “We'll be sure to visit if there's any gates in Ponyville.” I said before heading back down the passage with Scratch in tow.

After a few minutes we re-emerged back out in Canterlot. I shielded my eyes a bit while getting used to the sun. “let's see...clock tower.” I turned and saw it was 12:30 pm. “Alright, guess we should head to the station then.” I then looked around. “Now where the heck is it?” I muttered before Scratch flew up.

The feline looked around before zipping back down. “Down this road and take a left, then head straight.” He said, sitting on my shoulder. “Shouldn't take us more than ten minutes to walk.” He said.

I then gave him a blank look. “And the reason you can't fly us there in two minutes is…?”

He gave a surprised look before sprouting his wings, lifting me up and gliding us through the air towards the station. “I honestly don't know. the thought hadn't even crossed my mind.”

I gave a chuckle. “Magic or no, seems cats are still lazy when they want to be.”

POV:Twilight Sparkle

I tapped my hoof as I looked at my friends. “Where are they? We told everyone to be at the station at twelve forty sharp to give us time to load onto the train as well as give the changelings time to get in disguise as well.” I said, gesturing to the crowd of ponies boarding the double decker train the princesses had requested for us.

Rainbow gave a chuckle. “Chill out Twilight, I'm sure they're just checking out the city still. I mean heck, even I'd want to explore a city like Canterlot after being locked in iron for fifteen hundred years.”

Rarity gave a nod. “Indeed dear. why it's only a wonder what fashions have changed since he was last free. His wardrobe, while it does have a rather dashing and wild charm, could use an update. Not to mention acclimatizing himself to how society is now as well.”

Pinkie Pie bounced around with a smile. “Besides, he's got kitty man to help guide him around and get him.” She stopped bouncing as her tail began jittering. “Twitchy tail!”

Those from Ponyville and who knew pinkie immediately moved for cover. An aquamarine mare with a lime green mane blinked curiously. “Twitchy what now?” The disguised Chrysalis said. Moments later there was a loud crash, a comedically human shaped hole in the roof and a small crater in the floor the result of the impact. I looked out with the others as the dust cleared, revealing none other than Connor. We all moved over. “Is he alright?” Chrysalis said, poking the human.

A few moments later he got up, giving a groan. He then raised a fist at the ceiling and shouted. “It was a joke you demented furball!” A moment later the winged feline flew down through the hole. “plus you made me damage the train station.” He then paused and looked around. “Wonder if our old PD coffers are still intact.”

“PD coffers?” I asked as I used my magic to help repair the floor.

“Property damage. Scratch and I occasionally completed bounties for local governments, and a chunk of the reward money would be set aside for any damage we may have caused in past or future missions.” He said, yanking the tail of said feline as they headed for the train. “Well then ladies, shall we be off? The start of our new adventure and Spikes training awaits.” He said, leading us all towards our car. Like it or not, I got the feeling things were about to get a lot more hectic for Ponyville.