//------------------------------// // Let The Games Begin // Story: Mummy, there's a Changeling in my closet! // by TheHiveQueen //------------------------------// “Mummy, there's a changeling in my closet.” “Good to know, princess,” Dad said from behind his newspaper. Big Brother snorted into his cereal, causing the milk to splash up onto his face. “It's not funny. I bet you don't even know what a changeling is.” Big Brother Tom paused for a moment. He searched the inside of his head but found, surprisingly, very little. He looked back down at the cereal, hoping for an answer or inspiration of some sort. “Of course I do,” he lied. “I bet you don't though!” “Well, it's a thingy that does things. Things that change. Or it changes things. Yeah, that's it,” Sophia explained the best she could. Big Brother hadn't thought of that. He made a quick mental note but it was likely that it would soon be forgotten. “Do you know what a changeling is, Mum?” Mum had kept very quiet, still tired from last night. The lazy levels around this house were quite staggering Sophia had noticed. “Hmm? Oh, I'm not sure I do, darling.” “Well how would you suggest fighting a huge bug-thing? Or any bugs really.” “Guns. Lots of guns.” Tom popped up from his breakfast again. “Plasma rifles, rocket launchers and a lightsaber if you have one of those lying around.” He then leaned in and whispered: “I do.” Sophia ignored him as she so often did. “Well, there's some stuff in the shed but I wouldn't suggest using them on your toys,” Mum said. Toys? Oh come on, Mum. “Oh it's okay, I'm sure they won't mind. I'll fix them up if things go wrong,” Sophia reassured, still in disbelief at Mum's comment. Really? Was a huge bug in her closet that hard a thing to believe? *** “Night, princess. No playing with your toys now; go get some rest.” Mum closed the door. Right then. Sophia leaned over and looked at the things she'd stashed under the bed. She hadn't gone too excessive just yet. She didn't want to kill the poor thing – just keep it away from playtime! So the chainsaw and lawnmower had been left safely back in the shed. The insecticide, however? That was most certainly on the menu tonight. She held the dastardly can in her hand and rotated it slowly, looking at the labels. Oh yes. Oh yes indeed. Sophia wasn't too sure how well it held up against changelings (or whatever that thing was), but it did just fine on those pesky ants. It didn't matter: whatever happened, Spike would be there to protect her. Oh and screaming for Mum as a last resort. There was just no way that this queen bug was gonna win! She was holding all the cards! Well, at least she was when she played card games with Spike. His claws were so weak that she had to hold his cards too, as well as her own. Sophia brought out another can of the stuff and gave one to Spike to double their fire-power. “Okay, Spike. I want you to fire on sight. Show her no sympathy. Got that?” This is Comrade Spike and I hear you loud and clear. “Good thinking, Spike,” Sophia said, reaching for some sunglasses for him to wear as well as a cap. “Now you look the part, too.” *knock knock* “She's pretty polite now I think about it,” Sophia whispered to Spike. “Knocking and all.” She then raised her can and aimed at the door. A low-pitched laugh emanated from the closet's insides. It grew progressively louder, and less muffled, until it was a harsh, ear-piercing, cackle. “Well now child, it's time to face your fears!” Chrysalis screeched. She emerged fully from the closet, still in her changeling form, before stopping, and surveying her surroundings. The bedside lamp was on, allowing her to the see the child in plain sight. She was holding something and was perched happily at the furthest end of the bed. “Is this the best swarm you could assemble? I had expected something a little more–” she paused, having trouble finding the appropriate words “– well a little more, in fact. You do realise I was the one who breached Canterlot of all places. Your defences are nothing!” But Sophia wasn't fazed. She sprung upwards from the bed, landing on her two feet and holding the can outstretched in front of her. “Spike, FIRE!” she yelled. Pulling the trigger, she waved the can around wildly, directing the spray at the insect-thing's face. Queen Chrysalis watched on as the compressed gas didn't even make it to her. The particles fizzled out well before they could even reach her; she found herself laughing again, almost completely hidden by the spray. She even faked a few screeches of pain and jerking movements for fun. Sophia's own battle cries drowned out the laughter and she was ignorant to the fact that the insecticide hadn't made an impact. When the can was completely empty, she waited for the air to become clear again, and admired her work. Nothing. Oh. Well that didn't work, Spike chipped in from beside her. “I guess I should have got the extreme version,” Sophia said as she saw the spray disappear some way off from the still-laughing bug-monster. “My turn.” Chrysalis reared her head and aimed the black, twisted horn in Sophia's direction. It began to glow green as it drew energy from the changeling. “Quick, Spike. Think of something!” Sophia looked desperately at her trusted dragon who was still lazily reclining on the pillow, can in claw. Yeah, this is too heavy for me to lift. “Oh Spike, you're a genius!” Sophia exclaimed as she thought up a plan. She reached for the can and in one swift motion, hurled it at the changeling's head. Sophia had only intended to stun it, or even give it a bruise at the most. But the can struck the creature directly on the lowered horn and was impaled on it. With the can punctured, the high-pressurised gas inside was instantly released. Energised by the magic built up on the gangly horn, it exploded violently. The contents sprayed in the shocked queen's face and she reeled back as the toxic substance came into contact with her skins and eyes. The metal casing had vanished too: disintegrated completely via the energy from the magic horn. Sophia thought she'd throw the empty can at her too for good measure. It hit her square in the jaw and she yowled in pain, struggling to cope with all this damage at once in numerous places. It felt like acid on her skin, and her eyes started to go red and puffy. Sophia looked on at the mass destruction, now safely from the covers of her comfy bed. “You little brat! Insolent creature!” Chrysalis yelled between splutters as some of it got into her mouth. “Ssh, you'll wake up Mum!” Sophia shouted in disgust. She then put a hand by her mouth and whispered: “She has loads more of that stuff.” That did it for Chrysalis. Staggering back to the door, she gave more empty threats and curses to the little girl. She decided that when she returned to the hive, she'd probably kill off a few changelings to vent her rage. Then perhaps weaponise whatever had exploded in her face to use on hapless ponies. “I'll admit, you won this round. Saviour this victory, for it will be your last.” Chrysalis gave one last laugh before she shut the door, it trailing off into more splutters. “Yes! Playtime's back!” Sophia gave Spike a tight hug and began dancing up and down along on the bed in glee. Spike was perhaps a little more restrained in his victory dance. But Sophia knew that behind his stoic expression he was near-exploding with excitement. “Oh no you don't Spike, I'm still rescuing that princess from you!” She grabbed her torch and toys and went under the covers. “Right, now where were we? Ah, yes. Take this you foul be-” The covers were suddenly torn off and Sophia and Spike looked upwards in shock. “Enough is enough – some of us are trying to sleep! Give me the toys now. Oh and open the window! What did you spray in here?” Sophia scowled. Of all the nights she had to pick this one. Of all the nights!