//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - The Not So Great Escape // Story: A Changing Perspective // by Dragrace //------------------------------// Okay, so things aren't looking so great for Jack. I mean, he's been there for an hour or so and has already been caught by Twilight Sparkle. Things couldn't get much worse, unless Celestia were to give him a visit as well. However, that was exactly what the unicorn had planned. "I thought all the changelings had been sent back to their hive after Queen Chrysalis had been banished from Canterlot!" the unicorn said. "I told you already, I'm NOT a changeling!" stated Jack, in his changeling form. "Clearly you are, and that spell should keep your changeling form until I can get this letter sent to Celestia about this situation." "If I was a changeling, then why aren't I working for Chrysalis?" "You aren't working for Chrysalis?" Twilight grunted a little. "Changelings are insects, and like all insects they are always completely obedient to their Queen. She probably sent you here to spy on us." Jack knew there was no way he was going to convince Twilight otherwise. He glanced around the room, the basement of the Tree-brary wasn't quite what he expected, it was a lot darker than he thought. Maybe it was just the magic pink bubble surrounding him that made things seem so strange. There were a couple metal tables, more than likely used for chemical experiments. There were even a couple bookshelves down there, although they didn't seem to get much use seeing as they were covered with webs. 'There has to be a way to get me out of here before Celestia comes... I don't even want to know what she'll do to me!' Jack thought to himself. 'Or maybe she might actually listen to my story, and help get everything sorted out' He had already missed his chance to manipulate her mind, Twilight's magic would definitely overpower his skills. If only he knew how to manipulate the mind anyways... >---< He sat there in silence, watching Twilight pace back and fourth over the wooden floors, at a pace that sounded almost like a clock ticking. Right in front of her, held upright by magic, was a book titled "Changeling Lifestyle" and had a grey spine. On the front there was a picture that looked almost identical to himself. "Says here that a changeling would never wander off on it's own, they tend to travel in groups to stay safe." Twilight said, breaking the awkward silence. "See? That means I'm not a normal changeling! Now can you please let me out of here?" Jack responded, getting quite annoyed not being able to move. "Not necessarily, you may have other friends here as well, and it could take us quite a while to find out who they are" Great. At this rate nopony would even get a chance to see him since they would all be suspicious. He thought about what would happen, a pony walks in to see, Twilight suspects them to be a changeling, blasts them with a spell sending them flying into the wall, just to slowly slide back down. More than likely they would be frustrated and get in a heated argument with Twilight, but eventually they would leave. When he finally snapped back to reality, Twilight had left, and there was no more magic bubble preventing him from moving. The first thing he decided to do was to check the door, which had obviously been locked. "Don't even think about trying to get out, buddy!" said a very familiar voice. "If you do I'll give you a buck so hard you may never wake up!" Oh my gosh. It was Rainbow Dash! It was Jack's favorite Pony... Ever! Oh he had so many questions to ask, so many things to talk about, he might even get an autograph! Oh wait... He was a changeling. 'Gah! That stupid wish got me what I wanted... but I can't do anything!' he thought. Wait a minute, he knew each character almost perfectly. Maybe he could convince Rainbow Dash that he was one of the mane 6, and Twilight had gone crazy with power or something. The plan sounded perfect, but who would he be? >---< A few minutes passed, and he still wasn't sure. He knew for certain he couldn't be Twilight, since she probably told Rainbow to guard the door, and she couldn't be Rainbow, because you can't really convince somepony they aren't who they really are. Did that make sense? Well it shouldn't matter, he planned to get out of there quickly and perhaps hide for a day or so, until things around town settled down. Thinking of who he should mimic, he decided to do Applejack. With the tingling sensation, he became the tan pony, with hat and all. "Gosh darn it why don't ya'll just go back ta sleep ya filthy insect!" Jack said, pretending to be Applejack. "You can't fool me that easily!" Came the response from Rainbow. "Ah ain't foolin' anypony now ya here! Twilight sent me to keep this here thang under control 'till she get's back!" he said. "Then why would she have me guard the door, and have you down there? You know Twilight only asks me for help if she really needs it. I am a busy pegasus after all!" "This darned thang keeps lookin' at ma hat funneh. You know what ah think of that?" Jack gives the wall a solid buck, and it sounded like a pretty convincing hit. "That's right! Y'all better not get back up now, ya hear?" There was some shuffling from the other side of the door, and the shadow appears to be moving. Maybe he had convinced Rainbow he really was Applejack. 'Or maybe I just completely blew what Applejack would say or do and he knows I'm a fake...' He quietly sobbed to himself. The door began to creek, and a hint of cyan could be seen through the small opening. "If you really are Applejack," came the voice of Rainbow Dash, "Then how did you get your cutie mark?" Oh man. That was an easy one, he remembered that episode well. "Well, ah was on ma way to the big city because ah didn't want to run the farm. While ah was in the city, I found thangs to be a little... overwhelming for ma taste. So one morning, ah noticed that ah didn't want to work in the big city, but instead ah wanted to be an ol' country gal just like Mac and Granny!" he said, finishing the shortened version of the story. That was what happened... right? And that is how Applejack speaks, right? There was a silence, and Jack could only hope Rainbow bought the whole thing. The door creaked some more, and more light began to poor into the room. "Did you really knock that thing out?" said Rainbow. "Of course ah did! Buckin' apples is just as easy as buckin' these here changelings." came Jacks response. The door opened slightly more. He wanted it to open just slightly more so he could make a run for it. "Can I see it? I must have been pretty awesome!" "Of course you can, sugarcube, it's knocked out at the bottom of the stairs if ya want to see it." The door opened slightly more. Freedom was beckoning as the light continued to expand. "Rainbow dash! What are you doing?" Came the voice of Twilight. Crap. Crap crap crap. Now may be my only chance! Quickly, Jack slammed face first into the door, knocking Rainbow Dash off balance. Twilight, slightly stunned by the sudden smashing door could only watch as Applejack, in this case the changeling ran right past her. Jumping over a few books spread across the floor, and dodging a small purple dragon carrying loads of books, Jack leaped right out of the open front door. He stopped for a brief second just outside the Tree-brary, and quickly decided to take a right. He had no idea where he was really going, all he knew was that he had to get away. Seconds after escaping the prison, he found himself unable to move again. He turned his head to see Twilight's horn glowing, her magic was easily able to stop the attempted escape. "You can't fool anypony, we all know who you really are," she said, as she hit Jack with another spell. Everything faded to black, and Jack fell into a deep sleep. >---< "...and then he tried to escape but I caught him just in time" Twilight finished. 'Was that about me?' Jack thought to himself, 'And just who is she talking to?' He looked around to see Rarity, Applejack, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Celestia all in a small circle around him. So Celestia really was that big when compared to normal ponies! He then noticed the shaking Fluttershy hiding among the legs of her friends. "Quite and interesting story, I must say" Celestia responded. "But one thing does strike me as a bit odd - Changelings aren't normally used to being other ponies, and this one was able to mimic you quite well. Perhaps he is telling the truth." He let out a sigh of relief. He knew Celestia would understand. "However, he may have just been around for a very long time, and learned many tricks from the ponies around him" Celestia continued. 'Darn, and I was so close too' He thought to himself. "Eww the creepy thing is awake!" Along with a little shriek. Obviously it had been Rarity talking, and Fluttershy shrieking. "Very well then." The Princess stated. "What shall we do with you?" "Let me go?" Jack responded. "Please?" "And continue to feed your Queen with the loves of those you deceive?" Twilight cut in, "I doubt that's going to happen!" "I think it's appropriate that we send you back to your colony, and keep you away from ponies" Celestia said. Her horn began to glow, and with a sudden flash of light Jack found himself in a very dark cave. Despite the darkness, he could see very well what was inside. The cave was filled with many black creatures, moving almost routinely, and well as groups of dark sacks splotched with large green lumps. There were stalagmites and stalactites throughout the caves. He had never seen the place before, but he knew just where he was. He was in the Changeling Hive.