//------------------------------// // (7) Not Again // Story: Cold // by Script Singer //------------------------------// Twilight hadn't been the same since that day. She would hardly eat or sleep. It had been a few weeks since the incident but the time had not altered her thoughts. Thankfully, however, Shining Armor was okay and was back on his hooves within a few weeks after the funeral. She was still upset with him, wishing not to speak with him. Twilight walked down the halls of her castle alone. She walked into the throne room, staring at the empty thrones of her friends, though she was unable to look for more than a few seconds, and promptly shut the door, quickly moving into the next room. She opened the kitchen door and grabbed something from the cupboard to eat. She sat alone at the table, poking at her food's leftovers that had been left from the night before. She could hear the faint giggles of her friends from that last night they had together. Slamming her fork down, she left her seat and moved back into the throne room. She looked up and stared at the roots of the old Tree she lived in when she first moved to Ponyville. The memory gems hung from it like stars, each displaying moments of their past friendship. Tears began to form in her eyes as she watched the gems work their magic. Regretting coming back to that room, she moved into the library. But peace would not be found there. As soon as she opened the door, her eyes fell upon an old photo album of her adventures in Ponyville. Her mind couldn't take it anymore. She picked up the photo album and put it in an old box, along with other things from her adventures with her friends, and locked them into the basement, teleporting her friend's thrones into the basement as well. She then went into her room and sobbed into her pillow. Chrysalis slammed the door to her throne room shut, growling to herself in frustration. She was trying to process the fact that she had been almost able to finish her scheme, and had even killed the majority of the Elements, only to be foiled by the princesses. She sat at her throne to rest herself more comfortably. Thoughts would run through her mind of the events. She remembered back when Twilight and her friends first defeated her. Chrysalis thought small and poorly back then, she knew that they were out of the way now, but she still had to deal with the others. She knew Twilight would be done for soon and would be out of the way, thanks to the spell. She finally regained herself and walked around the throne room to help herself think of a way to get rid of the others. An image appeared in front of her, showing two of her spies. "Report?" she asked. "Everything seems to be going to plan, besides the attack from today. The Prince seems to still be the same." "Excellent." Chrysalis smiled. "Keep an eye on them until we receive word from the others." The image disappeared after they gave a nod with another image appearing, showing a changeling disguised as a pony at the funeral. "Are they still there?" Chrysalis asked. "They had just left with the Element. Should we intervene?" The changeling turned to look at Cadence holding Flurry Heart walking with Twilight back to the Castle. "No, we just need a little... distraction. For now, we wait. Then we will strike." Chrysalis watched them walk back into the castle. "I await your return. We're done here, for now." The image faded. Chrysalis walked over to a table with a small object shaped similar to a beetle sitting on top of it. She levitated it in front of her face to view it better. Her face grew a smile. After a few minutes, the changeling entered the room. "Is it ready yet?" he asked. "Do you have the final ingredient?" Chrysalis asked, levitating the small object in front of her. The small object glowed green. The changeling pulled out a piece of purple hair handing it to the Queen. Chrysalis ignited a small flame, causing it to turn to ash and float into the small object. Wings spread out from the object, allowing it to fly throughout the room, fast enough to hardly be able to see it. It shrunk smaller to the point that you wouldn't be able to see it and flew out of the hive. Chrysalis pulled up an image with her magic, showing the object flying toward Twilight's Castle. She smiled when it came into view, flying into the castle through an open window into Twilight's room, showing the young alicorn sobbing into her pillow. She handed the changeling a scroll. "Deliver this to Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. Now, is the time." The changeling took the scroll and flew out of the hive. She turned to the other changeling in the room. "Fly out and fetch her, you know what to do from there," she uttered glaring at the image. Twilight heard a knock on her door. "Come in." she sniffed, wiping her face. Shining Armor, Cadence, and Flurry Heart walked into the room. Flurry let out a giggle when she saw her aunt. "Hey Twilie, we just wanted to visit and come check how you're doing." Shining Armor uttered. "Flurry Heart misses you. You hardly come out of the castle anymore." Cadence added. Flurry Heart let out a whine, reaching towards her aunt. Noticing this, Twilight walked over to hold her niece. "I'm fine..." she lied, putting a fake smile on as she took Flurry Heart into her hooves. "We also came over to ask if you could watch Flurry Heart for a few days while we are out of town for some business?" "Sure..." Twilight muttered. Although she knew it would remind her of Flurry's last visit. Later that night, Twilight had Flurry Heart sleep in her nursery in the room next to her. She woke up hearing something banging against the wall, but went back to sleep, figuring it was just Flurry. But as she closed her eyes, she heard Flurry crying. She rushed out of her bed and ran into her room, finding the room in an absolute mess. She turned to her crib. "Flurry Heart?!" Twilight lifted the blanket, but her niece was nowhere to be found. The crying continued. Twilight turned to the window that was wide open and looked out. A changeling could be seen in the distance flying off with Flurry Heart. "Flurry Heart!" Twilight yelled. She flew after her and the changeling. She was not going to lose anypony again. She shot a blast of her magic toward the changeling. "Give her back!" Twilight yelled. The changeling dodged the attacks and continued flying, not even hesitating. They flew into a tall forest, leaving them unable to fly. Twilight landed on the ground. She heard a soft buzz and looked up to the branches of the trees, finding a swarm of changelings covering every branch within sight "Oh, crap..." Twilight muttered. Before she could properly react, the changelings pounced for her. Twilight ran as fast as she could, but they managed to grab her by the tail, pulling her back. She tripped from the friction and let out a grunt. Queen Chrysalis stepped in front of her as the alicorn struggled against the other changelings that held her down on the ground. Twilight glared at her captor when she noticed the new presence. The Queen, however, wasted no time with talk and her horn shot a blast at Twilight, knocking her out. Twilight opened her eyes, finding herself in the same pod her friends had been captive in. Flurry Heart was in another one next to her. She watched the foal being taken out as Chrysalis levitated her with her magic. Flurry Heart's coat glowed. Twilight's horn ignited without her even thinking about it and the pod melted into a green goo pile. Another blast flew out and hit Chrysalis, causing her to drop Flurry Heart. Twilight caught her with her magic before she hit the ground. She levitated her close to protect her as best as she could. Chrysalis glared at Twilight, her horn igniting like a flame. She fired yet another blast of magic toward her. Twilight threw Flurry Heart into the air to avoid her getting hit. She spread out her wings and caught herself in time, slightly unstable on her wings but able to stay in the air. She turned when she heard her aunt cry out in pain. "Twiwight!" Flurry called. She tried to fly to help her, but Chrysalis shot another bolt inches away from her. She flew back to safety, trying to figure out a way to get past the dangerous magic. Twilight slowly got up, her legs weak. Chrysalis shot another bolt, leaving Twilight sliding across the floor. Twilight managed to find enough strength to finally stand. She stared at Chrysalis as another beam hurtled toward her. Twilight spun back onto the ground. She looked up as Chrysalis walked toward her. The changeling's horn ignited once more. Twilight braced herself for the attack but felt nothing. She opened her eyes, finding her brother levitating a shield. "Twilight, what are you doing!?" he yelled. "You're going to get yourself killed!" Twilight stared at her brother with horror in her eyes. She watched as Chrysalis stuck her horn into his chest, dropping his body like a ragdoll. "Shining!" She yelled, running to his side. She picked him up into her arms, as she did with Flash. Tears fell from her eyes and onto his coat. "No... no... Shining Armor... please, not you too... I need you here..." Flurry Heart landed next to her. "Daddy...?" Shining Armor put his hoof to Twilight's face. "It's okay, Twilie..." he whispered. Chrysalis stepped in front of Twilight, finding that moment optimal to strike. Twilight glared at her. "I have had enough of this!." she yelled, lighting up her horn and running to attack. Twilight limped, carrying Shining Armor in a bubble with her magic, Flurry Heart flew beside her. She kept tripping over her hooves trying to bring him with her. "I won't leave you..." she muttered exhausted. The battle had left her injured more than the one before, and her body couldn't take it anymore. Twilight fell to the ground unable to keep up with the weight and pain. She shut her eyes as Shining Armor's leg lay on top of her. She panted, tired from the battle. She stared at her brother, watching his slow breaths, then shut her eyes once more. She could faintly hear Flurry calling her as she fell into the abyss.