//------------------------------// // Changelings in Ponyville // Story: Sweet Affection 2: Friends and Romance // by Masterob //------------------------------// The next morning, Rumble is making his way towards Sweetie Belle's home, hoping to walk with her to the castle. On the way there, he saw her making her way towards him, surprising the colt a bit. "Hey Rumble!" Sweetie Belle said as she trotted to him. "Oh, Sweetie Belle, I was on my way to your house," Rumble said. "I figured, you're coming to watch me and my lessons again right?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Of course, seeing you get better has been fun to watch," Rumble said. "You're so sweet, supportive too. I love that about you Rumble," Sweetie Belle said and kissed his cheek. Rumble blushed at that, "Thanks." Rumble looked aside, though started to remember when Scootaloo kissed him. Even if he didn't kiss her, he was still in a kiss with a filly that wasn't Sweetie Belle, that didn't seem right with him. "You know, I really like you Sweetie Belle." "I know, you're my coltfriend," Sweetie Belle said as if stating an obvious fact. "I am, and I'm really happy to be your coltfriend," Rumble said. Sweetie Belle turned to him with a smile, "I know you are, I can see it every time I'm with you." "Yeah...I really, really like you a lot Sweetie Belle," Rumble said. Sweetie Belle started to giggle, "Wow Rumble, you're really making it obvious aren't you? Did your 'date' with Scootaloo help you realize that?" Rumble blushed a little, "Yeah, it did, in many ways." Sweetie Belle turned to Rumble with a sly grin, "So did you two kiss?" "WHAT!?" Rumble shouted in disbelief. "Why would you ask me that!?" "Just curious," Sweetie Belle said in a sing-song tone. "Well, did you?" Rumble started to sweat, a lot, the fact that his marefriend ask such a question so randomly, though to make things worse, he knows that he did kiss her. If he told her that he did, she might get angry. But he can't tell her otherwise, because she might find out later and be even more angry. "Sweetie Belle, please listen to me, I-" Rumble's explanation was interrupted. "Let me guess, she kissed you, but you didn't like it because it wasn't me, I'm the only filly that matters to you right?" Sweetie Belle asked. Rumble was surprised, that was fairly accurate. He could only hope that she still believed that. "Yes...she kissed me, and I swear I didn't care for it." Sweetie Belle stared for a moment, making Rumble a little nervous, hoping she wasn't gonna be mad. Suddenly she simply nodded, "I know, don't worry I believe what you say." Rumble was amazed on how understanding she sounded, "Wow really? That's it?" "Yeah, I'm not mad or anything, not at you at least," Sweetie Belle said. Rumble sighed in relief, "That's good, I'm glad you understand, you're a really kind marefriend. You're the only one I care about kissing." "I know I am," Sweetie Belle said as she kept walking. "Let's just hurry to the castle." Rumble then started to wonder, "How long before your sister comes home? It feels like it's been a while." "Probably soon, depends on how long this Friendship Problem takes," Sweetie Belle answered. "I'm just a little worried about her, suppose another enemy tries to take over Equestria?" Rumble asked. Sweetie Belle became a little worried herself, she hadn't thought about that part. "I'm sure she'll be fine, Twilight's there and so are Thorax and The Changelings." "I guess you're right," Rumble said, though still looked a little worried. "I just hope she and the others come back soon. I kinda miss them." As Rumble thought about this, he felt Sweetie Belle nuzzling against him. "I know you're worried, because I worry too. She is my big sister after all. But she's handled worse and came back alright, she's much stronger than she looks after all," Sweetie Belle said. Rumble nodded, "Yeah, she's part of the Elements of Harmony." "I appreciate you worrying about her, you're so caring to do so. But like I said, she's pretty tough, so you don't need to worry too much," Sweetie Belle said. "Yeah, maybe it's from my brother. I think he misses her, he's probably worried about her as well," Rumble said. "They've gotten really close too, she said something about him knowing how to really keep her happy," Sweetie Belle said. "Keeping her happy?" Rumble asked, then blushed a little. "Um, I think I figured out why Flitter brings me to her house whenever Rarity comes over." Sweetie Belle looked curious, then the more she thought about it, the more she started to blush. "Let's just forget about this and hurry." "Right," Rumble said, the two galloping towards the castle. Also on the way there, Scootaloo is seen trotting to the castle, though not feeling too eager to go. Part of her wonders why she should even go, she's gonna feel too awkward around Rumble, even more around Sweetie Belle, plus she's feeling a little irritated and knows if she goes to the castle, she'll have to be around Trixie, and that won't help. "I wonder if I should just go back home, but I really don't have much to do there," Scootaloo said to herself. "But how's Rumble gonna feel when he sees me? I wish Rainbow Dash were here so I can ask her what to do. I could ask Starlight but I don't know how much she could even help." As she walked, she had no idea that three Changelings had spotted her. They could feel the love radiating off of her, even mixed with sadness. "This could be good for the Queen, this young filly is oozing with love, and it seems like she knows Starlight Glimmer. Plus it sounds like she has friends, which means more love for us to take," one Changeling said, then turned to one his allies. "Find the others and the queen, I'll keep an eye on things." The other Changeling nodded and flew off while the two Changelings secretly followed Scootaloo towards the castle. At the castle itself, Apple Bloom, Dinky and Tender Taps had already arrived, waiting in the teaching room with Starlight and Trixie. "Sweetie Belle should be here soon, then we can resume your magic lessons," Starlight said. "Um, any chance you could give me some solo practice though?" Dinky asked. "I feel like Sweetie Belle surpassed me and I want to catch up to her." "Huh? Um I guess I could give you a little something," Starlight said, looking through her lessons. "Or perhaps I can help you," Trixie offered with her usual confidence. "That's fine," Starlight said. "I think I found something, I do remember that you were having more trouble with teleportation than Sweetie Belle, I'll help you on that." "That sounds great," Dinky said, smiling a bit. As Starlight got started, Apple Bloom turned to Tender Taps, "Hey, how do you think it went with Rumble and Scootaloo?" "How what went?" Tender Taps asked. "You know, their date," Apple Bloom said. "Date? You mean Rumble spending time with Scootaloo?" Tender Taps asked. "I'm not sure if it should be called a date." "That's what they're calling it, anyway you think Rumble will start to like Scootaloo better or will he stay with Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom asked. Tender Taps furrowed his brow, "You're seriously asking that? Rumble is very happy with Sweetie Belle, they always think about each other and are practically stuck together." "But Rumble never really gave Scootaloo a chance until now," Apple Bloom said. "In a way, our plan to get Scootaloo her coltfriend may have worked out the way it was supposed to." "I can't see that happening, Scootaloo's a nice filly, she's really pretty too, but I don't see Rumble going with her when he already has Sweetie Belle," Tender Taps said. Apple Bloom looked curious, "Hey, am ah pretty too?" Tender Taps blushed, "What's with that question all of a sudden?" "Just wanna know, do you think I'm pretty too?" Apple Bloom asked. Tender Taps turned away with a blush, "Well, yeah you're pretty, can't deny that." Apple Bloom nuzzled next to Tender Taps, "Good, cause I've been thinking myself. Ah was hoping that the two of us could do something together sometime." Tender Taps chuckled a bit nervously, "Finally asking me out? That would be nice honestly." "Good, we'll set something up. Ah can't wait to be with you," Apple Bloom said, giving Tender Taps a flirty stare, to which the young colt turned bashfully turned away. "Same here," Tender Taps said with a nervous smile. Not too long later Sweetie Belle and Rumble had finally arrived, having been greeted by Trixie at the front door. "You really seem to like coming over," Rumble said. "Of course, I want to be a good friend to Starlight after all," Trixie said. "At least you have that good quality about you," Rumble said, much to Trixie's annoyance. "Just go inside," Trixie said, trotting into the room with Rumble and Sweetie Belle following. "Um, you think Scootaloo's here? What if things get awkward?" Rumble asked a bit nervously. "I'd like to know if she's here myself," Sweetie Belle said, a little annoyed. The two arrived in the room with Trixie getting everypony's attention. "The lovey-dovey foals are here." Sweetie Belle angrily blushed, "Trixie!" "Well you are," Trixie said with a sly grin. Rumble huffed a bit, "Why is she so annoying?" Starlight waved to the two foals, "Come on in, we'll start in a moment Sweetie Belle, I'm just helping Dinky with one little thing." "That's fine," Sweetie Belle said, trotting towards Dinky, though looking around. "Scootaloo's not here yet." Rumble also looked around, "Guess Scootaloo's coming later." He sat with Apple Bloom and Tender Taps, not really noticing the blush on the colt's face. Scootaloo was outside, thinking about if whether or not she really wanted to enter the castle. "I want to...but how am I gonna talk to Rumble after what happened?" Scootaloo wondered to herself. "Damn, what do I even do?" As Scootaloo was deciding, she suddenly started to feel weird. She shook her head a little to get her senses back but it didn't work too well, she just felt weirder and suddenly her eyes briefly glowed green. When she felt like herself, she heard what sounded like two ponies approaching. When she turned around though, it was actually two Changelings. "Huh? What are Changelings doing here?" Scootaloo asked. Since the two Changelings looked transformed, Scootaloo had no real reason to worry, but she was curious as to why there were there. "We were sent by King Thorax and Princess Twilight to speak with Starlight Glimmer," one Changeling said. "Thorax and Twilight? Is everything fine over there?" Scootaloo asked. "Uh yeah, they just wanted to send a message to let Starlight know that things were going super well," a Changeling said. Scootaloo stood there a moment, then nodded with a smile. "Sounds good to me, come on I'll bring you inside." As she turned around she felt a little dizzy. "Somehow I feel less energetic than when I came here." The Changelings let out a secret giggle as they followed Scootaloo into the castle. They arrived to see Starlight trying new spells to teach to Sweetie Belle and Dinky. "Good, you're both getting better," Starlight said, then noticed Scootaloo and The Changelings. "Looks like we have some guests." Scootaloo waved, "Hey Starlight, these are Changelings sent by Thorax and Twilight to check up on everypony here." "I see," Starlight said, approaching the two. "Hi, good to see you both. I'm Starlight Glimmer, a friend of Thorax." "Oh we know all about you Starlight Glimmer," a Changeling said. "How you defeated Queen Chrysalis and saved all of your friends." "Oh, I guess you already know me," Starlight said a bit sheepishly. "I assisted as well," Trixie boasted. "Myself and Starlight make quite a team I would say." "Yeah, we know you as well Trixie Lulamoon," the other Changeling said. "You have proved rather useful for Starlight." "Starlight and Trixie are pretty amazing, they along with Thorax and Discord managed to save all of Equestria," Tender Taps said. "But of course you two know that, I'm sure yer both happy to not have to have Chrysalis around, thanks to Starlight," Apple Bloom said. "It was nothing really," Starlight said. "Just doing my best to help others. So is there anything else you two needed." "No, you're all right where we want you," a Changeling said. With that the two activated some magic to seal all the entrances to the castle, keeping all the ponies inside. "Huh!? What's going on!?" Starlight asked. The foals all gathered near the two mares, both who looked ready for any sign of danger. "What's happening Starlight?" Tender Taps asked, trembling a little. Starlight glared at the two Changelings, "This better be a joke!" "It ain't a funny one if it is!" Apple Bloom said. "We're gonna destroy this castle and defeat the Elements of Harmony, and all others Queen Chrysalis considers an enemy," the Changeling said. Soon both of the Changelings revealed their actual forms, those being the original form of The Changelings. "What!?" Starlight shouted. "You're with Chrysalis!?" "But I thought all the Changelings turned good!" Tender Taps said. "Didn't all Changelings follow the idea of shared love?" "Thorax has no idea what he's doing, he's a weak ruler! Chrysalis always looked out for us, she knew how to get us what we truly needed!" the Changeling said. "If she knew how then why has your Kingdom had so much trouble? Thorax is ruling the way it's meant to be ruled, love can't be taken, it's suppose to be given," Starlight said. "Silence! You know not what you're speaking of! Soon more Changelings will come and we'll once again take over this village, then soon the rest of Equestria shall be ruled by Chrysalis and The Changelings!" the Changeling said. Sweetie Belle huddled near Rumble, "This is scaring me, what do we do now?" "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you Sweetie Belle," Rumble insisted. He put his wing over her hoping to calm her down, despite feeling a bit scared himself. Apple Bloom tried acting braver, "You won't win! Starlight will find a way to beat you! So will Twilight once she finds out what yer up to!" "Twilight!" Tender Taps said. "What if they got her too?" "Thorax is there with loyal Changelings, along with The Elements, she'll be fine," Starlight said. "Not for long, once Twilight hears of your capture and Chrysalis taking over this town, she'll come running to save you, then we'll capture her too, it's one big trap for her," the Changeling said. "For now, we'll start by taking these foals," the other Changeling said. "That little Pegasus emits quite a bit of love on her own, I'm curious as to how much power you other foals can give us." As the Changeling went toward the foals, Starlight blasted it with her magic. The other Changeling went to attack, but Trixie took this chance to attack with her own magic. "Start moving!" Starlight said, gesturing the foals away from the area. Starlight, Trixie and the foals rushed through the castle, hoping to quickly escape from the Changelings before they have a chance to notice. "So much for friendly Changelings!" Dinky complained. "It's only a few probably, I'm sure once Thorax finds out he'll handle it," Rumble insisted. "Still, how do we leave the castle!?" Apple Bloom asked. Starlight looked around as she ran through the castle, hoping to find a proper exit. "We'll find a way out, there's no way those two Changelings alone could have blocked a way to escape!" "That's where we come in!" a voice said. Soon more Changelings had appeared near the ponies, surprising each of them. "Oh crap there's more of them!" Dinky shouted. Starlight and Trixie blasted a few, then put up a barrier to stop some magic blasts. Sweetie Belle tried helping by using her own magic to attack, but it merely annoyed one Changeling as it flew in to attack her. "Sweetie Belle!" Rumble flew over and kicked the Changeling in the face, stumbling it as Starlight zapped it away. "Rumble!" Sweetie Belle said, hugging her coltfriend. "Thanks for helping me!" "There's still more!" Dinky said, seeing the other Changelings surround them. Starlight had an idea, it could cause some damage to the castle, but this was a little more important. "Everypony stand behind me!" As the ponies listened, Starlight charged up her magic and sent a powerful blast across the floor, creating a big hole at the end of the castle. "Run everypony!" Trixie shouted. They ran past the Changelings with Trixie and Starlight occasionally zapping a few to keep them away. As they got outside, Starlight quickly used her magic to cover the hole and leave the rest of the Changelings still inside the castle. "That was close!" Apple Bloom said. "But now the Changelings are inside the castle!" Rumble said. "Won't that cause some problems!?" "The only focus I have now is making sure you foals are safe, I'll handle the Changelings once I get you to a pony who can watch over you," Starlight said. "Our sisters are still with Throax though," Apple Bloom said. "We still have Thunderlane, he can keep us safe," Dinky said. "Right, let's get you over to him as soon as-" Starlight was interrupted when she was hit with a strong magic blast. The ponies turned their attention and saw one they didn't want to see. "It's Chrysalis!" Trixie shouted. The Changeling Queen made her way over to the foals, a sinister smile on her face. "It's been a while since I've seen you, Starlight and Trixie. This time you have young foals with you, how adorable." "You better not have hurt our sisters or their friends!" Apple Bloom shouted. "My, how worried you must be, it's so cute to see how much you care for your family, as I do for mine," Chrysalis said. "If you truly cared, you wouldn't have turned away Thorax for his ideas of love through friendship!" Trixie shouted. "Love through friendship?" Chrysalis said, then laughed it off. "Such a foolish idea, Friendship is for the weak after all." "It's proven otherwise to you before," Apple Bloom said. "That's enough out of you, I have more planning to do if I want to take over Equestria, though you and your little friends might prove useful to me if I want to trap Twilight," Chrysalis said. Soon some Changelings surrounded the group, the foals moving closer to Trixie as she prepared a spell to either fight them off or protect the foals. As The Changelings went to attack, Starlight had arrived in time attemtping to fight them off through some magic blasts. "You're proving to be real pain Starlight," Chrysalis said and tried to blast her, but Starlight stopped the beam with her own magic beam, the two sides struggling to overpower the other. Unfortunately many of the Changelings went to assist Chrysalis and helped her overpower Starlight, knocking her down yet again. "No Starlight!" Trixie shouted, then looked to the Changelings in worry. She wants to protect the foals but she knows she's not strong enough to do so, despite her claims she isn't the best when it comes to magic. "Grab them," Chrysalis said. Trixie went to attack, hoping that whatever she had planned would work. Unfortunately she was easily overpowered by a blast from Chrysalis as the foals were then captured by several Changelings. "No! Let me go!" Scootaloo shouted, struggling as one grabbed her. "Ah! Get off!" Dinky said as she was pulled into the air. Sweetie Belle did her best to hold onto Rumble, the young colt also trying to keep her safe but two of the Changelings pulled them apart and dragged them off. "No! Rumble!" Sweetie Belle shouted. "Sweetie Belle!" Rumble shouted as well as both were pulled away by the Changelings and each placed in a magical barrier. "Good, once The Elements learn of this, they'll desperately come to rescue these poor foals, but by then it would be too late," Chrysalis said with an evil laugh. "Soon Equestria will be mine!" Starlight struggled to get to Chrysalis, "Leave those foals alone!" She tried to zap Chrysalis again but the attack was blocked and Chrysalis had zapped her down. "I could destroy you right now, but I like the idea of you dreading your loss. So I'll spare you until I'm fully satisfied with this moment. Don't worry, I'll take good care of these young foals," Chrysalis said. Starlight glared, "Dammit Chrysalis! Why are you doing this!? Why not just take our Friendship!?" "If you're so eager for me to make friends I can easily find some, maybe Tirek, he seems like a good friend to have," Chrysalis said. Starlight's eyes widened, "No!" "Just a suggestion, good-bye for now Starlight Glimmer," Chrysalis said. With that, Chrysalis flew off with the foals trapped in their barriers. Starlight looked up and saw the pleading faces of the foals, leaving her feeling like a failure. She felt even more low when she saw how scared Tender Taps looked. She failed as a big sister to him, and a mentor to the rest of the foals. She needed Twilight, and needed her right away.