Chapter 20
Twilight Sparkle
Twilight Sparkle led the way to the main ballroom. She kept a sign out for any flares from Flam, but none came. She hoped that they succeeded in finding Princess Luna.
"At least now we know where Cadance is," Applejack said.
"And your brother. He's ok Twilight, and he'll be back to normal once all of this is sorted out. Everything's going to work out," Rainbow Dash said.
Twilight slowed as they rounded the corner.
"Anypony else thing it's odd that we haven't seen any changelings yet?" she whispered. The door to the ballroom remained unguarded.
"A little," Applejack said.
"Maybe that big swarm we saw earlier was most of them, and Zecora got rid of them all," Rarity said.
"No, there has to be more changelings than that; something about this isn't right," Twilight said. "It almost seems too easy; like we're falling into a trap."
"Maybe Chrysalis had all of her hopes set on Shining Armor getting rid of you," Rainbow Dash said, "And so then she's sent the changelings off elsewhere."
"Maybe..." Twilight said. She waited a few seconds, but still no changelings appeared. "Ok, come on girls."
She quietly approached the door and pushed it open. Bracing herself for an immediate attack, Twilight took a timid step into the main ballroom.
It looked the same as it had before; cocoons everywhere, covering every inch of the ceiling, all of the energy pooling into the black silhouette of the ponyquin on the other side of the room.
"Let's get this over with," Applejack said.
"This place gives me the creeps," Rarity said, looking up at the cocoons. Twilight knew she was looking for Sweetie Belle.
"Let's not rush into anything girls; for all we know, this is still a trap," Twilight said, slowing down and walking carefully across the room. She kept an eye out for any sign of movement.
"Maybe Chrysalis and all of the changelings are dealing with Princess Luna," Rainbow Dash said.
"Or Discord," Pinkie Pie said.
"Or Princess Celestia," Fluttershy said quietly.
Twilight suddenly stopped in her tracks. She could feel the blood draining from her face and her legs go numb.
"Oh my God," she whispered. The others stopped and looked at her, some of them looking around her, trying to figure out what triggered her sudden horror.
"What is it Twi?" Applejack whispered.
Twilight's heart began to beat fast. She couldn't explain what had suddenly made it click in her head and why it hadn't earlier. She couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe how blind she had been when she first awoke, when she first studied the room and the cocoons. Nopony knew where Princess Celestia was, not even Princess Luna. Nopony had seen her since her fight with Chrysalis. Nopony knew what had happened to her.
But Twilight had seen her. She had looked her straight in the eyes and hadn't seen. She had been blind. So blind! How could she have been so blind! She knew there was something off about it, something so eerie and sinister that she couldn't put her hoof on it, but she had ignored it initially because she had had to free her friends from the pods. But she had seen Princess Celestia, in this very room.
She suddenly ran across the room, her friends following her. She came to a halting stop in front of the black silhouette, the unrecognizable face, with its big, twisted smile and wide open eyes.
"That's no ponyquin, no dummy that's absorbing all of the energy; it's Princess Celestia."
To be concluded...
(Link to part 3!: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/61721/The-Reception)