//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 The Great Escape // Story: The Pony and the Hurt Changeling // by Ugly-Duckling123 //------------------------------// A rather annoyed Queen Chrysalis was making her way down to the prisoners ward to try and get some information out of the ponies staying there in the hopes they will say where the other three are. When she got there her mood only got worse. "GUARDS!" she cried her yells shaking the walls of the corridor she was in collapsing some more somewhere else in the Hive. A few seconds later four Soldier Changelings in their black and green armor came out of nowhere and bowed to their Queen slight terror on each of their faces. "Tell me you fools," Chrysalis said her horn green and her wings buzzing. "What... Do you see here...?" The soldiers got up from bowing and looked around the place indicated to see the cell doors open and the ponies that were in there missing. "Er..." they all said thinking that this might be a trick question, but knowing their Queen especially when she's in one of these moods, wasn't one to play ticks. "That's right..." Chrysalis said eying each of them. "NOTHING!" she screamed. "Now go and find them. And if it turns out any-ling is helping them kill those traders on the spot. UNDERSTAND!" The soldiers nodded, bowed again and flew away mentally telling every-ling to be on the look out for the ponies, and any Changelings that might be helping them. At the gate, just as Meep was about to give the signal to the other Changelings, all the bigger Changelings closed their eyes, their ears beginning to twitch as if listening to something. After a few seconds they opened them again, the soldiers getting into battle poses, Nurse 516 looking scared. "Things just got a lot tougher," she said looking around the group. "Chrysalis has found you missing from your cells and has told every-ling to work to stop you leaving." 'What are you waiting for 727' a voice of one of the other small Changelings asked in Meep's head. 'The Queen knows that the ponies are missing,' Meep said back looking round the corner to the group. 'We need a new plan' she said looking between the two groups. 'I've got it! Each of you take the form of one of the ponies.' she said sending pictures of the ponies to the other Changelings. 'Once you've done that you can lead them away from the gate pretending that your them, so we can get out.' 'RIGHT' they said having some difficulty changing, but did the best they could do and waved to Meep to show they were ready. "What in tar-nation?" Applejack asked seeing a copy of herself across the way smiling back at her. "Great idea Meep," Rainbow Dash said seeing her own 'twin'. "It won't take long for them to work it out though," Meep said jumping up onto Rainbow's back. "So we'll need all the time we have..." Then looking at the other 'ponies' smirked and nodded. Seeing this the five Changelings jumped out of their hiding place, caught the guards attention, and ran off down the tunnel, giving the real ponies time to run to the gate and slip out of the Hive. Once on the other side, they only had a few seconds before they were stopped by the four soldiers on this side, who were having enough trouble already because of the weather. "HALT!" all four of them cried all forced to land because of the winds. They did stop actually, but it wasn't because they were told. The ponies stopped because they were shocked at how bad the weather had gotten. Seeing there were kick-able clouds in the sky Rainbow spread her wings readying herself to take off. "We said halt!" one of the soldiers said. "Yeah well I didn't listen!" Rainbow said flying up into the sky and doing her best to deal with the weather, not realizing Meep was still on her back. Choosing to ignore the blue Pegasus for the moment, the soldiers turned back to the group their horns sparking green. "Lookie here you Changelings," Applejack stepped forward, getting spear like weapons pointed at her. "We don't want no trouble, we just want to get back home." "You are prisoners of the Changelings," one of them said. "You are going no where." "Oh please!" Nurse 516 cried out and looking the main guard in the eye. "Listen here 539! And you lot too," she said to the others. "Three of these ponies are three of the Elements of Harmony. If they wanted to they can but beating you until you're bleeding. But guess what.... There not. No! One of them is taking care of the weather for you..." she said pointing up to the sky to where Rainbow was clearing the clouds. "Applejack tried to reason with you to let us go..." pointing to Applejack who tipped the hat to the soldiers. "And even after all that Fluttershy has gone through in her stay, she told half the hive what friends are, and what they do for each other." Nurse 516 concluded pointing to Fluttershy who looked a bit scared as she hid behind her mane. "So what are you saying Nurse 516?" the one on the far left asked drawing back his spear. "I'm saying 541," Nurse 516 said taking in a deep breath, "To move you big buggy butts out of the way so we can go!" sparks now coming out of her horn, her fangs bared. After thinking it over the four soldiers let their spears drop and stepped aside. "We will give you as much time as we can." the supposed leader said retaking his place on the outside of the gate. "Thank you boys," Nurse 516 said smiling at them. "Come on!" she said to the ponies and they all raced across the Badlands to the boarder line with Macintosh Hills. * Up in the sky, Rainbow was having trouble clearing the clouds. If she wasn't getting soaked or blown about she was only just missing lightning. After her fifth near strike Meep lost her grip and fell off of her back. "Heeelllpppp!" Meep called as she was falling too scared to open her wings. "Meep!" Rainbow Dash yelled abandoning the weather to go after the small Changeling, just saving it before she hit the ground. everyone coming running to see of they were alright. "You ok hon?" Applejack asked first. "Uh huh," Meep said smiling clinging to Rainbow Dash as tight as she could. "See they let you go then," Rainbow said jokingly to the others. Then looking up said. "I've not seen anything like this since our parents... Have you Fluttershy?" she asked her friend. "No," Fluttershy said looking around for some form of shelter. Meep felt silly asking this but sensing the sadness she asked. "Rainbow Dash... What are 'parents'?" Pausing a bit to think Rainbow said. "They're the ponies that take care of you, who love you, and make sure no harm ever comes to." she said think about hers, Spectrum Dash and Firefly. "They are always their for you when you need them, who help you when you're in trouble..." "Like Nurse 516?" Meep asked interrupting her looking at the nurse, but feeling more sadness coming from Rainbow. "Yes," Rainbow said nodding wiping her eyes, but smiling at the two Changelings. "Rainbow," Meep said knowing she was going where she shouldn't. "Where are your parents?" "Gone." Rainbow said in one word. And before anyone could say another word they set off again towards the Hills. Back in the Hive the five young Changelings dashed into a corridor, dropped their disguises and pretended to do their work, grinning to each other when the guards were confused that the ponies they were chasing had somehow vanished, and went away with worried looks. 'Worker 801 to 727,' the leader of the five said in his mind. 'Mission acomplished on this side of the gate, how about yours?' 'All clear on this side,' Meep's voice answered. 'Thank you for the help, the ponies said they will always remember you and what you did for them.' The five looked at each other again their smiles even bigger and their wings buzzing.