[Prototype]/MLP
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Alex Awoke in Equestria for what he thought might have been the fourth time. He sent out a Ping and received several in return. Clad in the black and red Changeling form he'd grown to enjoy, he headed down a well-worn road.
A golden chariot flew overhead and he watched as a lavender unicorn leaned over the side. She waved to him, her familiar indigo mane waving in the breeze.
Alex ran after them on foot, easily keeping pace. As he ran, he remembered that at this point in the timeline, Changelings weren't widespread, so he focused and his body morphed into a pale blue-gray, dark-maned earth pony with a leather jacket with the same emblem he had in baseline.
He trotted into Ponyville as the chariot landed in the center of town.
The Equestrian Anchor thanked the guards, who took off, leaving Twilight and Spike alone in the center of town.
"Welcome back to Equestria, Alex," Twilight said with a smile, that Alex hesitantly returned, not quite used to the feeling of his face muscles stretching into a grin. "It's nice to see you in what seems to be more-or-less Baseline for us."
As she explained, the trio went around Ponyville, picking up the other girls.
A few hours later, they were seated at Sweet Apple Acres, chatting.
"So, Twilight, has Alex gone through initiation?" Rarity asked.
Alex blinked in confusion and arched an eyebrow.
"We usually let new Loopers take a crack at Nightmare Moon. She's easy enough to beat, and if you mess up, we have the Elements as backup." She hesitated, then asked, "You...wouldn't consume her, would you?"
A ripple of unease went around the group as they remembered what Alex Mercer was.
"No, I wouldn't. I only really do that in my home loop," Alex replied firmly and the mares around him relaxed.
"Alright, so we'll let you have a go at her," Twilight said cheerfully. "Got a plan in mind?"
Alex paused, then nodded.
-
"THE NIGHT WILL LAST FOREVER!" Nightmare Moon cackled, as the ponies before her cowered in fear.
All except for one.
Nightmare Moon frowned down at the gray stallion who watched her with a detached look on his face.
"Foal! Kneel before your-!" she snarled, before stopping as something touched her peytral. She looked down at the black and red substance in incomprehension. "Wha-?"
The substance expanded, covering her chest and forelegs and Nightmare Moon writhed as she felt it dig into her.
"No!" she screamed.
"Alex...?" Twilight asked nervously. She and the others had gone to free Celestia, who had been very confused when Twilight had pulled her from Nightmare Moon's trap. The Sun Diarch watched Alex carefully.
"Relax, everything is going as I planned," Alex said, voice tight, eyes closed as strands extended from him to bind Nightmare Moon.
The Nightmare's horn glowed as she attempted to flee, but the tendrils flicked it, disrupting her focus. and canceling the spell.
"Alright, here comes the tricky part..." Alex mused, brow furrowed in concentration. His entire body suddenly shifted to Changeling as he poured all his efforts into his task and the Mane 6 and Celestis were quick to calm the ponies who recoiled in horror.
Twilight watched Nightmare Moon carefully and blinked in surprise.
"I don't believe it..." Rarity muttered, her eyes, long used to spotting tiny changes in fabrics, being the second to spot the change.
Slowly, the dark coat of Nightmare Moon was changing to a light blue, same as Luna had been the first time the Nightmare had been cleansed from her all those eons ago.
Finally, Alex opened his eyes and nodded.
The tendrils flowed back into his body, leaving behind...two figures.
Twilight recognized them both.
"Luna...Nyx?" she called to them.
Luna's eyes fluttered open and she inhaled a huge breath of air. Celestia wasted no time in hurrying over to her and comforting her.
"What did you do?" Fluttershy asked Alex as Twilight went over to Nyx, who Pinged everyone to show she was Awake.
"Well, I was told the Nightmare was a parasite. I've had experience with them before," Alex said, idly stroking his right shoulder. "So I used my Blacklight to extract every trace of it from Luna. Once it had been about halfway removed, I met a very confused Nyx Sparkle. After telling her who I was and what I was doing, the rest went a lot easier."
"You...met Nyx? Inside...? What?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I can see the memories of people I consume-" Alex said, only for Applejack to frown.
"You said you weren't going to consume her!" the Farmpony said.
"I didn't, but I had to remove the parasite from Luna completely, and that meant from her mind as well," Alex replied patiently. "She's so incredibly lonely when she's not Awake," Alex said quietly.
Applejack looked like she wanted to press the issue, but a gentle hoof from Pinkie stopped her.
Nyx and Twilight walked over to them and Nyx smiled at Alex.
"Well, I can definitely say that was one of my more interesting Awakenings," she said with an amused grin. Alex grinned and nodded.
It was nice to be able to smile easily.
