The Elements, The Pegasus Twins and Thunderlane are going through Ponyville, hoping to find any of the foals.
Thunderlane looked to be in an especially bad mood, "Damn Soarin, what moron lets a foal run free during a Changeling invasion!?"
"Go easy on Soarin, he's a really nice stallion", Fluttershy argued.
"You're just saying that because you have a thing for him, despite his weird affliction for hitting on mares with coltfriends", Thunderlane bitterly stated.
Twilight looked a bit concerned on hearing that. Coupled with what she witnessed earlier she feels like perhaps Thunderlane isn't as over Rainbow Dash as she had thought.
"Thunderlane, we'll find Rumble, don't worry", Rainbow Dash assured.
"As well as the fillies, including my darling little sister", Rarity added.
"Then we'll give Chrysalis what she has coming to her", Cloudchaser stated, ready for a fight.
They continued on through town searching for the young foals.
Meanwhile the imposter Twilight and Rainbow had taken the foals to a prison area where the young foals are kept in a cell not too far from Chrysalis deep within a cave in the Everfree Forest.
"It was quite easy getting you young ones into my trap, foals are so easy to manipulate", Chrysalis taunted.
"Hey come in here and say that!" Apple Bloom shouted, looking like she wanted to fight.
Diamond Tiara spoke up, "Hey if you release me, I'll have my daddy fund your invasion, then you'll definatley take over!"
Suddenly she felt the glares of her cellmates as all the foals gave her a menacing stare, including Silver Spoon.
"What?", Diamond stated.
"Sit down before we kick your butt!" Scootaloo threatened.
Diamond sat down very bitter-like. Button then spoke up, "Can I at least get my video games?"
"Button is that all you can think about?" Apple Bloom asked.
"What's wrong with that? I need my video games! Otherwise I'll die of boredom!" Button replied. He turned to Chrysalis, "Well can I?"
Chrysalis snarled, "No."
"Aw, come on lady! I'm bored!" Button whined.
"Deal with it!" Chrysalis said.
Button whined some more, "But I haven't played in like two hours, I want my games."
Chrysalis started to grow irritated, perhaps taking this colt wasn't such a good idea, it's not like he's related to her enemies, "Look, I'll ask my Changelings to find you something, NOW STOP WHINING!"
Button sighed in relief, "Sweet, I'm good now."
Chrysalis face-hoofed, "What a brat."
Meanwhile Rumble is sitting down very down and gloomy. He wished that he was back with the others, and a part of him even wishes to be near Twilight. Although Twilight was a pain he still cared about her to an extent, and he feels guilty for telling her off the way he did.
Sweetie sat next to him, "We'll be fine, this isn't the first time Changelings attacked, I remember when they attacked at the wedding for Shining Armor and Cadance where me, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were the flower girls. In fact I think your brother was there for that one".
"I think so, I don't remember, I wasn't invited, I had to stay with Flitter and Cloudchaser", he looked to Sweetie Belle, "I bet you were a pretty flower girl".
Sweetie blushed, "I was ok, though the Changelings caused trouble, in the end we were just fine, so I think we'll be fine again".
"I hope so, I said some mean things to Twilight, I want to be able to say sorry to her", Rumble confessed.
"I'm sure you will", Sweetie said and nuzzled Rumble, "I know how you feel though, sometimes when I fight with Rarity I never like leaving things on a bad note, she goes on so many dangerous adventures, I don't know if I'll ever see her again. I don't want the last thing I say to her to be a bad thing".
Rumble hugged Sweetie close to him, he really enjoys her affection, which he cherishes because at one point he could never get this close to her, now here she is comforting him.
Apple Bloom noticed their affection and felt a bit jealous, she took it upon herself to approach Rumble and nuzzle next to him as well, to which Rumble held her close too.
Rumble was sandwiched between two fillies he loves a lot, in more ways than one.
Button also noticed this and turned to Scootaloo, "Need some comforting?"
Scootaloo raised her eyebrow, "A while ago you called Rumble smooth after hugging him, now you're hitting on me?"
"I like to explore", Button admitted.
Scootaloo glared, "I don't want you or anypony else near me", she went to a corner by herself to sulk over the situation.
Rumble noticed her bad mood and pitied her. He feels like he really blew his chances with her, and at this point wishes they could reconcile. He loves Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle very much, and still can't choose between them, though he wonders why not both? Actually why not all three? That would make the others pretty mad if he had three marefriends but he's started to relish the idea. It's not about having a bunch of girls to look cool, but the fact that he genuinely loves all three and would never be able to only pick one, he doesn't want to break the heart of the other two girls.
Now there are others like Babs and Dinky who have also shown interest, and he has been with them very intimately, he isn't too sure if he's that much interested in them either. He likes them but that has seemingly passed for him, he's starting to realize who he truly loves.
This also means he won't likely be giving a shot to ponies like Diamond Tiara, not that he liked her since she was a bully, though she can probably be reformed. There's also Silver Spoon, who he would have actually considered dating, she might also bully but when it comes to it she has morals and would never cross a personal line, Rumble believes she's a good filly in a bad crowd.
Doesn't matter, he's probably lost out, just because he has broken her trust. Ironically she broke his trust first, yet he feels just as guilty, because he still did it in the end. Scootaloo has invited him into the Crusaders and since then has had the most enjoyable time in his life. Granted he's been chased, bullied and stuck to a reckless pony, in the end it's only resulted in a friendship. Some things are worth struggling for, friendship was no exception, if anything it's the leading thing to fight for. He wouldn't trade all that away for anything.
Back with The Elements, they had searched all of Ponyville, no sign of the Foals.
"This is terrible, how are we going to find them?" Twilight asked.
"They're probably in the Everfree Forest for all we know", Rainbow said.
Thunderlane looked concerned, "The Everfree Forest? But that's where all those freaky monsters are!"
Twilight looked to the forest, her emotions conflicting. She knows the dangers but she cares more about rescuing the foals than anything else, "We have to, for the sake of the little ponies".
"Right, so should we just head in together or what?" Applejack asked.
Twilight thought a moment, "Let's do teams; Applejack and Rarity can cover one part of the forest, then a team of Flitter and Cloudchaser, then a team of Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, finally a team with myself, Thunderlane and Rainbow Dash".
Rainbow looked curious, "Three pony team?"
"We're uneven Rainbow Dash, one team needs to be three ponies, unless you wanna go with one of the other teams".
Rainbow shook her head, "No, I'm good, I can stick with you both".
Twilight had a brief intense stare, "Good...now let's get moving".
The groups split into their teams and entered the forest. Soon Trixie and Lightning arrived at the front of the forest.
"Time to kick some Changeling ass!" Lightning said and went inside.
"Lightning wait for me!" Trixie said and followed.
In the forest, Applejack and Rarity are still searching around, keeping an eye out for the foals and wary of any oncoming Changelings.
"I hope Sweetie Belle's ok, she's probably so scared right now", Rarity said, very worried for her little sister.
"I know that feeling, I'm worried fer Apple Bloom, but she's a strong little filly, plus Rumble's there, he's very protective of them fillies", Applejack said.
"Right, Rumble's the only colt I would trust near Sweetie Belle", Rarity said.
"Even though they both…you know, did it?" Applejack asked.
"I'm aware that they had…relations, though he also had relations with your sister too, and you obviously seem to care for him still", Rarity said.
"Ah mostly blame the spell Cadance cast for rushing his emotions, but ah get ya, truth be told I'd rather she had done that with Rumble, he loves her enough to take good care of her", Applejack said.
"That's why I can trust him with Sweetie, while I don't condone their sexual relations, sometimes things can't be helped. I'm just glad he did it because he loved my sister and not just for that cheap thrill", Rarity said.
"He seems to like them both though…ah guess he can't decide", Applejack said.
"Yes, he probably should take his time, it's nice to know he takes a relationship seriously, despite his many crushes", Rarity said.
"Yeah, ah know he used to have a crush on me for a while, not sure if it passed but he's a real charmer", Applejack said.
The two continued walking, then Applejack said something that really caught Rarity's interests, "Suppose he picks them both though?"
Rarity looked surprised at that idea, and was about to answer but then saw what she believed was her sister in the distance, "Sweetie Belle!?"
Applejack looked curious and turned around and saw Sweetie Belle as well, "Could that be her?"
"Ha, my sister escaped!" she saw Sweetie run off, "Sweetie Belle come back!" she ran after Sweetie Belle.
"Rarity wait!" Applejack called out, "That could be a Changeling!"
Rarity did not hear her, she kept running, so she ran after her.
"That mare, doesn't she know this place is dangerous enough?"
Rarity kept running and looked around, no sign of Sweetie Belle. "Huh? I thought I saw her go this way?" She then heard running behind her and turned around and saw Sweetie again, "Sweetie Belle darling, come back please!"
She kept running but no sign. Soon she heard Sweetie call out, "Can't catch me Rarity!"
Rarity groaned, "Sweetie Belle this isn't humorous! Let's go!"
Sweetie shook her head, "No way! I want to enjoy myself, I want to have fun like I used to, before they came along".
Rarity looked curious, "They? They who!?"
"Rumble and his lame friends that's who!" Sweetie Belle shouted.
"What? Thunderlane and company? I thought we were passed this Sweetie Belle, WAY past this!" Rarity asked.
She kept running and soon ran into an angry looking Sweetie Belle.
"Why would I be passed this Rumble thing?" Sweetie Belle asked, "You think I still liked being with Rumble!? After everything he put me through!? I took most of the blame for him getting hurt! I got hurt by Apple Bloom! He had sex with me! TWICE! And you did nothing because he was too cute!"
Rarity looked surprised, "Sweetie Belle, you know that's not true! We did do something!"
"Barely! You let him run away, and when he comes back you all jump all over him!" Sweetie said.
"This doesn't make sense!" Rarity shouted.
"Because you're shallow! I was right to dump you as my sister! I should have stayed with Applejack!" Sweetie ran away again.
Rarity followed her, "Sweetie come back!" But soon she ran into Applejack, "Oh Applejack, Thank Celestia, have you seen Sweetie Belle?"
"Ah got problems of mah own Rarity, gotta find mah sister", Applejack said, a bit rudely.
Rarity looked a bit displeased, "That's not very hurmous Applejack, did you see Sweetie Belle or not?"
"Who cares, she ain't mah sister", Applejack said.
Rarity looked surprised, "Applejack! That's not like you! You've always cared about Sweetie Belle!"
"Whatever, I'm off", Applejack said and left. Rarity grew frustrated.
"This is no way to talk to your marefriend Applejack!" Rarity shouted.
Applejack scoffed, "Marefriend? Why would ah want you as a marefriend? Ah need a decent pony mah life, not some prissy mare who thinks herself all high and mighty!"
Rarity looked hurt, "This…this isn't like you…you can't be Applejack, she would never say that to me".
Applejack started laughing evilly; soon Sweetie Belle appeared next to her. Soon Suri approached her, "Sorry darling, you're gonna be down one helper, Coco's come crawling back to me".
Coco appearned next to Suri, "Take me back Miss Polomare, Rarity is nowhere near your level".
Rarity was suddenly surrounded by evil laughter, getting dizzy and freaking out, "Stop it! This isn't real! None of you are real!"
She cowered down as the ponies laughed evilly, their eyes glowing green and they reverted back to Changelings.
They approached her, ready to capture her for their queen when one of them got rammed. They turned to see Applejack standing there angrily.
"Get away from my marefriend you ugly bunch of bastards!" Applejack shouted.
The Changelings growled and rushed at Applejack, ready to attack but she punched them all away and buck kicked them.
"This the best you got!?" Applejack asked, punching one away, then kicking another and even slamming a few.
Applejack heard one escape into the bushes, so she jumped at it and pummeled it, "This is fer messing with mah friends and ruining two weddings! Now where's mah sister!"
She tossed it out the bush to get a good look at it, but then noticed something strange. This creature didn't look like a Changeling at all.
"R-Rumble?" Applejack said.
There before her was a banged up Rumble, who was in tears, "Applejack…how could you…I thought you were my friend, you said you would never hurt me! How could you do this!?"
Applejack looked shocked, "Rumble, I swear ah didn't know! Please you gotta know that I'd never hurt you!"
"You hurt me Applejack! I loved you and you hurt me!" Rumble shouted.
"No, I'm sorry, I do love you! I swear I do!" Applejack said.
Suddenly Thunderlane, Flitter, Cloudchaser and Rainbow Dash stood near her.
"How could you Applejack, you were my best friend. Now you hurt Rumble!" Cloudchaser shouted.
"That's my little brother! Why would you hurt my brother!?" Thunderlane asked angrily.
"You're supposed to be my friend! My friends would never hurt my little buddy!" Rainbow shouted.
Flitter was too busy crying over this to say anything to Applejack.
Applejack shook her head, feeling very nervous. She should know it's not real but her mind can't help this emotion right now. "No! I didn't! I swear! Please understand I would never hurt him!"
She was in tears over this, and then things became worse when she saw Apple Bloom with Rumble.
"Yer no sister of mine, you hurt the only colt ah loved, yer horrible!"
Applejack looked liked she couldn't believe this, "But…Apple Bloom!"
During this Rarity approached her and hugged her, "Applejack, it's not real, it's the Changelings! They're trying to deceive you so you get your guard down! Don't let them get in your head!"
The 'friends' then turned into Changelings and looked ready to attack, but this time Rarity got into a fighting stance, "I'll teach you to toy with our emotions!"
As the Changelings rushed in, Rarity attacked each one with a martial arts attack and a few magic blasts, "Is that all you got!?"
The Changelings got ready for more and rushed in to continue.
With Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, they checked carefully through the forest.
"Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! Rumble! Anypony out there!?" Pinkie asked.
"I hope they're ok", Fluttershy said.
"Don't worry, I'm sure they're…huh?" Pinkie said and approached a strange site.
"Pinkie, where are you going?" Fluttershy asked.
They kept walking and saw Cheese Sandwich with Pinkie's sister Maud.
"Cheese? Maud? What are you doing out here?" Pinkie asked.
Cheese and Maud suddenly locked in a kiss, much to Pinkie's shock.
"Cheese! Why are you kissing my sister! You're supposed to be kissing me!" Pinkie shouted.
The two then ran off, with Pinkie following them, Fluttershy joining.
"Cheese! Come back! Was it something I did or said!? I can change!" Pinkie shouted.
"Pinkie! It's a trap! Don't fall for it!" Fluttershy warned, following her hyper pink friend.
With Trixie and Lightning, the two had been separated because Lighting got overzealous.
"That Lightning, I love her but she can drive me nuts sometimes", Trixie said.
"Oh, poor little Trixie", she heard and turned around. She encountered Twilight standing there with a smug smile.
"Twilight? I'm Glad I ran into you, maybe you can help; I need to find Lightning Dust," Trixie pleaded.
"Typical Trixie, can't handle anything herself, always needs somepony to bail her out", Twilight taunted.
Trixie looked disappointed, "That's very mean Twilight, if you're trying to work on your jokes I suggest you try something different".
"Yeah, you know a lot about jokes, considering you are one", Twilight said, upsetting Trixie.
"Twilight, this isn't funny! Please stop", tears were starting to form in her eyes.
"Poor Trixie, just a major failure aren't you?" Twilight continued to taunt, causing Trixie to cower in tears.
"Stop, please, I beg you", Trixie begged.
Meanwhile deeper in the forest, Lightning is beating up some Changelings, having a blast.
"Man this is fun, good stress reliever too", Lightning said. During the fight, she encountered Rainbow Dash, "Yo Dash, having fun kicking Changeling ass?" Rainbow just glared and flew off. Lightning followed her curiously, "Yo Dash, wait up!"
She kept going and found Rainbow Dash with The Wonderbolts, they had coroneted her.
"Welcome our newest Wonderbolt, Rainbow Dash!" Spitfire said.
Lightning Dust scratched her head, "Odd time to do this."
"Congrats Rainbow Dash, you proved to be a great flyer", Soarin said.
"Yeah, so much better than Lightning Dust, what a waste", Spitfire said.
Lightning looked upset at that, "Hey, I'm not a waste! You were just fine with how I did things!"
They continued talking, this time Fleetfoot spoke, "Yeah, she was a total failure, now she's forgotten and has faded into obscurity".
Lightning looked annoyed, "I'm right here!"
"Wonder if that Trixie girl is single now? I doubt she'd wanna be with some loser", Soarin said.
Lightning growled, "Hey! You stay away from my mare!"
She rushed in to get their attention but she got ambushed and attacked by some Changelings, but she wouldn't relent, "Get the hell of me you jackasses!" she started punching them all away.
Twilight, Rainbow and Thunderlane are staying together in this, not chancing separating in this forest, especially in this situation.
"Rumble! Girls!" Twilight shouted.
"Calling all Crusaders!" Thunderlane shouted.
No sign so far, they were getting worried.
"I hope they're ok, poor foals, I wish they were safe in my hooves", Twilight said.
"Same here, I'm worried about my brother, though he'll be brave for the girls", Thunderlane chuckled a bit, "Though to be honest those girls are tough too, Apple Bloom is the toughest, she always stood by my brother during hard times, and I love her for that, she really cares about my brother, though she has some tough competition. I just hope he can handle that well".
"Yes, it would be a shame if he hurt any of those girls", Twilight said very bitterly.
Thunderlane looked curious, "Feeling a bit stressed there Twi?"
Twilight glared, "You could say that", she kept walking. Thunderlane felt a bit nervous, what if she knows about him kissing Rainbow Dash?
Rainbow looked past every tree, every rock, hoping for a sign, "Damn, where could these kids be?"
They then saw what looked like The Crusaders running off.
"There they are!" Thunderlane said and rushed after the Crusaders with the mares following.
They then reached a crossroads, two paths and no idea which to take.
"I'll go this way!" Thunderlane said and went right.
"I'll take the left!" Rainbow said and flew.
Twilight groaned, "Could have made a plan…oh well at least they're not together", she then chose a path.
In Rainbow's path, she flew around, looking for any sign of the foals, but no luck, "Damn, did they go elsewhere?"
While searching, she head somepony approach from behind, then turned to see Twilight approach.
"Did you find them?" Twilight asked.
"No, no sign yet", Rainbow said.
"Keep looking, they should be around here", Twilight said.
As they walked, Rainbow asked, "Why did you come with me and not go with Thunderlane?"
"No reason, I just went with my instincts", Twilight said.
As Rainbow kept moving, Twilight started glaring angrily at Rainbow, while she was oblivious to that. Rainbow looked around for the foals, "Any sign of them Twilight?...Twilight?" she turned around and saw Twilight's glare, "What's with th-", Rainbow then got blasted by Twilight's magic to a tree.
Twilight approached her angrily, "I'll teach you to make a move on my stallion!" she started zapping again but Rainbow moved out the way.
"What the hell are you doing Twilight!?" Rainbow shouted, but got hit on the chest.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to teach you a lesson! I don't want you near Thunderlane or Rumble!" Twilight shouted and blasted Rainbow. Rainbow zig zagged and flew in for a punch to Twilight, and several more to knock her back.
Twilight rubbed her mouth a bit and threw a punch of her own and blasted Rainbow a bit, bit Rainbow kicked Twilight in the face, causing her to stumble.
"This isn't over Rainbow!" Twilight then flew away.
"Hey get back here!" Rainbow shouted and went after her.
Meanwhile with Thunderlane, he's looking around himself, "Man, I can't find them", he turned to Twilight, "Any luck?"
"No Thunder, not yet", Twilight said.
They kept looking around, nothing yet. This was frustrating, where were the foals they wondered.
"I hope I find Rumble, I don't wanna leave anything unresolved", Twilight said.
Thunderlane nodded, "I get that, things haven't been easy for him regarding us being a couple".
Twilight sighed, "I hate to ask now but…do you think we rushed things with us being a couple?"
Thunderlane looked curious, "Huh? How so?"
"I mean, we dated right after you broke up with Rainbow Dash, looking back that probably wasn't the greatest thing to do", Twilight said.
Thunderlane shrugged, "Not sure, I mean I don't regret dating you, I do like you, I like you a lot in fact".
"I know, and I like you a lot, I love you in fact, but I don't think I should have swooped in like that, there's a chance you and Rainbow could have made peace and maybe you could be with her", Twilight said.
Thunderlane looked confused, "Why are you saying this?"
"I saw you kiss Rainbow Dash", Twilight said, making Thunderlane feel very nervous.
"You…you saw that?" Thunderlane asked. Twilight nodded, causing Thunderlane to freak out, "I'm sorry Twilight, I swear I didn't know what came over me! It just happened! I promise I love you! I would never two tiem you, I know that feeling!"
"Thunderlane, it's fine, I'm not mad", Twilight said, really confusing Thunderlane.
"Huh? You aren't? But why?"
Twilight sighed, "Because it's my fault, I never really gave you time to get over Rainbow Dash, since she left almost afterwards it was hard to tell if you missed her, because she wasn't around enough for you to focus on. I moved in too fast, especially since you didn't break away from her because you didn't love her, but because you thought she didn't love you. I guess when she came back and confessed her love and apology it caused you to regain your old feelings".
Thunderlane looked surprised at this, "I…I don't know what to say…"
"You don't have anything to say, I'm not too happy you kissed her but maybe I wasn't right moving in on you like I did," Twilight sighed. "Worry about it later, we need to find the foals."
Thunderlane nodded, "Right…I'm really sorry though".
"I know, I forgive you", Twilight said, causing Thunderlane to feel a bit extra guilty over this. Twilight's being too nice about this.
Soon they flew a bit higher to get a bird's eye view of this situation, and suddenly Twilight got tackled out the sky by Rainbow Dash.
"What the hell!?" Thunderlane said and flew down.
The two mares crashed to the ground and Rainbow started pounding on Twilight, "Attacking me!? I'll teach you to do that!"
Twilight blocked the attacks, "Rainbow! What are you doing!?"
As Rainbow kept punching, Thunderlane pulled her off, "Rainbow, have you lost your mind!?"
Rainbow shoved Thunderlane away and kept fighting, but soon enough Thunderlane pulled Rainbow Dash away.
"Why are you attacking Twilight!?" Thunderlane shouted.
"She attacked me! Because she knows I still love you!" Rainbow shouted.
"Huh? She never did that, she was with me the whole time!" Thunderlane said.
Rainbow looked curious, "Huh? But she attacked me, I saw her!"
"Rainbow Dash, that was probably a Changeling", Thunderane said.
Rainbow looked surprised and shook her head, "No way, she knew magic!"
"That's not uncommon", Twilight said while getting up, "They feed off love through magic Rainbow".
Rainbow felt a bit foolish, "But…it just seemed so real".
Twilight glared a bit, "You think I would attack you over this!? Rainbow Dash I care about you! I want you as my friend! How could you think I would hurt you!?"
Rainbow noticed a few tears coming from Twilight's eyes. It wasn't the physical pain that hurt Twilight, it's the fact that Rainbow thinks Twilight would stoop that low.
"Twilight…I'm sorry", Rainbow said.
Twilight wiped her eyes, "Right, sorry, like for everything else!?"
"Huh? But Twilight I-"
Twilight held her hoof out, "Enough, let's just find the foals, I'll deal with this later".
Twilight resumed her search, Thunderlane looked surprised and Rainbow felt guilty.
Not wanting to dawdle, they continued their search, but while searching, they heard an evil laugh.
They followed it and reached a point in the forest where they found Foals in a cage, along with Chrysalis, who had an evil look in her eyes.
"Look who's here", Chrysalis said.
"Twilight! Rainbow Dash! Big Bro!" Rumble shouted.
"Save us!" Sweetie shouted.
"Rumble! I'm so happy you're ok!" Twilight said.
"Twilight…I'm sorry for being mean to you, I-", Rumble was interrupted by Twilight, "It's ok Rumble, I know you didn't mean what you said, but we'll talk later", she glared at Chrysalis, "Time to deal with this Queen".
Chrysalis stood her ground, "Right, you'll face me…and my army", Chrysalis said and gestured to her Changeling army approaching from behind.
The three ponies prepared for their battle against the Changeling Queen, this would be intense.