//------------------------------//
// Chapter 17: More Like Me? 
// Story: Help! I've Turned Into a Princess! 
// by ScorchingFlamesInc 
//------------------------------//

"WHAT?!?" Shining immediatly shifted into a defensive position. 

"Now wait just a minute." Twilight held up her hoof. "It says here that when Spike went over to the garden, he found the villains wandering in the garden. When he gathered the guards and attempted to back them in a corner... they didn't fight back! In fact, they were afraid! And when they were backed into a corner, they pleaded for mercy! They even claimed that they weren't Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow, but instead, they claimed that... they were creatures from another world... possessing... them..."

As the realization began to dawn on Twilight, her sentence slowed. Both her and Shining brought gazes to me.

I started to realize it too. Could they be humans in the same situation I was in?

"I don't get this," Shining said. "How did they even get out?!"

"That's a question we'll figure out later," Twilight replied. "Spike told me that they're holding the villains in a cell until they hear what I have to say. Cadance... I can call you that, right?"

"Knock yourself out," I shrugged.

"Those three villains may be very dangerous," Twilight explained. "But considering it's possible that they broke out after your arrival, along with the fact that only Shining, Spike, and I all know who you really are, their situation may be genuine. If it's alright with you, I request that you come to Canterlot and see this for yourself. Considering how you're in the situation they claim to be in, if what they say is true, you can have contact with those who are in the situation you're in. Plus, you can ask them about your home and confirm to us if what they're saying is true. It's your choice."

"But what if they're lying and attack me?!" I asked.

"Even if they know how to use magic, the guards restrained their magic. They can't hurt you."

I thought about it. It's my choice... on the one hoof, seeing my favorite villains in the flesh and living to tell the tale sounds awesome. But there was a part of me I'd never thought I'd feel on the subject of the villains being freed... worry.

Nevertheless, mainly because I wanted to, I said, "Well... as long as the kingdom remains safe... I guess I could see for myself. What do you think Shining?"

"I don't trust them, but you being in their supposed 'situation' may give confirmation," Shining responded. :And if they are like you, you have more genuine folks to bond with. So I say, if you want to go... feel free to go. I can handle things here. I've done it before."

"Then it's settled..." I began. "... I'm going."



Canterlot...



The chariot landed near what I assumed was the place that led to where the villains were being held. Was that small building the size of a shed always there?

I exited the chariot. Twilight followed. And Spike was waiting outside.

"Hey, Twilight and... do I call you Cadance?" he said.

"Yes, it's fine," I reply.

"Which cell are they being held in?" Twilight asked.

"The one with the most guards," Spike pointed into the doorway. "Want me to go in?"

"No thank you, Spike. You may resume to your usual duties."

Spike did a salute.

"Right away, your majesty!"

And then he opened his wings and flew off.

"Ready?" Twilight asked.

I nodded. "Mhm..."

And then she opened the door and we entered. Instead of a room, there was only a staircase that descended downward. 

"This staircase was added a few years ago as another pathway to a downstairs prison," Twilight explained. "We usually have guards here, but I guess Spike had them go down to the cell."

"I see..." I muttered.

We soon hit the hallway at the bottom of the staircase. We travelled down the hallway for a few more minutes.

And then we turned a corner... and saw at least six guards standing around a cell. Two of them came over and bowed.

"Your majesties..." one of them began. "Behind this cell are the three villains, which some call 'the Legion of Doom'. What is it that you plan to do with them, Princess Twilight?"

Ok, so they aren't confused as to why I'm here? Or they're probably hiding it.

"We're going to talk with them and go from there," Twilight replied. "We would like to see them."

The guards got up.

"Right away," the other guard said, before they parted, allowing room for us to look in the cell. Both Twilight and I stepped forward and looked inside.

And all three of them were there.

And they looked afraid. And unsure about their future.

Cozy Glow paced. Tirek and Chrysalis sat and stared at the ground. I noticed a ring on Tirek's finger and a ring on Chrysalis' horn. Were those magic inhibitor rings?

Chrysalis was the first to look up.

"Twilight!" she got up and ran to the cell, before the others followed suit. "Listen, I know you can't trust us, but please hear us out! We're not who you think we are!"

I looked over to Twilight, and then a guard.

"Let me in the cell," I ordered.

The guard looked at me like I was crazy, but then nodded. He went forward, Twilight and I backed away, and he opened the door. I slowly stepped inside, and heard the door close behind me. I noticed the guards shift into more battle-ready positions. Sure they have restrained magic, but they could still be physical.

"P-Princess Cadance?" Cozy stuttered. "W-what are you doing?"

"What are you three?" I asked.

"We-we're bipedal creatures from Earth!" Tirek answered. "We're called humans!"

"We don't know what happened!" Chrysalis said. "The three of us were just minding our own business, chillaxing at his house..." Chrysalis pointed at Cozy. 

His?! Is the possible human possessing Cozy a guy?! I guess I'm finally not alone...

"...and when we fell asleep, we woke up, here, surrounded by bits of rock!" Chrysalis finished.

"Very interesting..." I muttered.

"Wait... you believe us?" Tirek seemed genuinely taken aback by the fact that I'm not trying anything against him. And not because his plan was working... because he didn't expect any of us to listen to the fact that he may be in my situation. "But... why?"

For a second, because I briefly forgot the presence of guards, I said:

"Because I am one of you."