“This is so stupid,” I said as Celestia and I ran down the tunnel. “We’re just making ourselves easier prey.”
“Stop complaining!” Celestia glared at me. As we rounded a corner Celestia suddenly stopped and I bumped into her. Looking past her I saw we had reached a dead end. “Strange, I could have sworn this lead to another tunnel.”
“Hey, they aren’t following us.” I looked back to see there were no changelings. “We should go back and help the others. We can get the bugs in a crossfire.” I shot Celestia a look, waiting for her response.
“No, we will stick to the plan.” Celestia shook her head. “The others can handle themselves.”
“Alright, drop the act,” I said. “You messed up Chrysalis.”
“Aw, what gave me away?” Celestia was enveloped by fire, when it subsided the changeling queen was in front of me.
“For a creature that feeds off of love you’re not particularly good at faking it. I would have expected Celestia to be overjoyed to see sister again.”
“Noted.” Chrysalis nodded.
“Also, Celestia is not a cold blooded killer. Even if she thought I was a changeling she would maybe rough me up but not shoot a laser through my chest.”
“Fair enough.”
“Finally, while the letter and that trail smelled like Celestia’s blood you did not. On that note, you were moving very efficiently for a malnourished pony with a cut on her leg.”
“Wow, I made a lot of mistakes.” Chrysalis shook her head. “I guess these months of feasting and relaxing have made me lose my touch.”
“Yeah, now take me to the real Celestia.”
“What makes you think she’s actually alive?”
“I highly doubt you kept some of her blood just in case you needed to write that letter.”
“Oh my, you’re quiet the detective.” Chrysalis smiled. “It’s unfortunate that won’t save you.”
“Save me? You’re the cornered one.”
“So forgetful.” Before I could react the changeling opened her mouth and let out that obnoxious screech.
“Agh!” I cried out as I gripped my ears. After a few more seconds I was smashed in the chest by a magic bolt that sent me flying through a wall. Recovering I quickly looked around. She had blasted me into a large cave.
“You wanted to see your precious ponies,” Chrysalis said as she entered the area. “Here you go.” She gestured towards the ceiling. Looking up I was surprised. Above up there were a bunch of green cocoons.
“What are those?”
“Those are the source of our endless food,” Chrysalis said. “Inside each of those cocoons is a pony, we then use magic to stimulate the part of the brain that causes love. After all, it did seem like a waste to kill all those ponies when they could serve a purpose.”
“Neat.” I then grew my wings and flew towards the ceiling.
“How about no,” Chrysalis said before firing a beam of magic at me. As soon as it made contact my wings disappeared. Falling and smashing into the ground I groaned.
“What happened?”
“You certainly are stupid.” Chrysalis came to stand over me. “I am the queen of changelings, it is a simple matter to control transformations.”
“That’s annoying.” Quickly turning my hand into a dragon head and prepared to shoot a fireball.
“Nope.” She transformed my hand back.
“Distraction!” I suddenly swept the changeling’s legs out from under her. Face planting, I took the chance to get up.
“That was clever,” Chrysalis said as she got up. “It won’t happen again.”
“Chrysalis.” I raised my fists. “I challenge thee to fisticuffs.”
Seriously?
I can’t use shape shifting. Besides, she has hooves this will be easy.
“Oh goody.” Chrysalis clapped her hooves together. “I’ve been dying to try this.”
“What?” She then began to transform. When she finished I was shocked. The changeling had turned into a female human. Sort of, she still had her old eyes and green hair. She was wearing a black outfit that clung to the body, likely for maneuverability.
“This should be fun.” She then cracked her knuckles.
“I’ve never beaten up a human female, I can add it to my resume.”
“Sounds good.” Chrysalis then charge at me. As I prepared to punch her she suddenly slid across the ground and between my legs.
“What the?” Before I could turn she hopped up and kicked me in the back, easily snapping it. “Argh!”
She’s strong.
Surprisingly.
“That can’t be all you’ve got.” The queen taunted as I healed.
“Lucky shot,” I said while getting up.
“We’ll see.” Chrysalis smirked. Growling I charged at her, swinging a fist at her face. With surprising speed she was able to duck before punching me in the stomach several times. Then she grabbed my neck and smashed my face into her knee.
“Ow.” I groaned, stumbling back a bit.
“This is just pathetic.”
“Shut up.” I growled. “Time to get serious.”
“Isn’t that what you said last time?”
“Shut up and fight.”
“Very well.” Chrysalis charged at me, as she attempted to swing her fist at me I managed to block. Smirking I head-butted her. Falling down she held her face, when she removed her hand I noticed she was bleeding.
“What now?” The changeling responded by suddenly sweeping my legs before hopping up.
“Nice hit,” She said before her eyes glowed and the blood stopped flowing from her forehead.
“Thank you,” I said as I got up. “Shall we continue?”
“I’m not convinced this tunnel ends,” Cadence said as they followed the cave. The three ponies had been walking for at least twenty minutes.
“I agree,” Shining Armor said. “We should go back so we can help Sean and the princess.”
“Are we sure that was Celestia?” Cadence asked. “She was acting strangely.”
“Sean did say she blasted him out of nowhere.” Shining nodded. “What if she’s a decoy, maybe the real one isn’t alive.”
“She was simply stressed.” Luna glared at the two. “My sister has had a lot to deal with.”
“I’m just saying, we shouldn’t-” Cadence began.
“SILENCE!” Luna interrupted her. “My sister is alive, we saw her.”
The three ponies continued in silence.
“I see something,” Cadence said, pointing ahead. “Light.” Quickly running towards it the three entered a larger cave, the light coming from a nearby hole.
“Well that’s unfortunate,” Luna said as they looked around. “There’s nopony here.” Then there were several hisses. Looking up their eye’s widened, there was an entire swarm of changelings clinging to the ceiling.
“This is not good,” Shining said simply.
“Argh!” I cried out as Chrysalis snapped my arm.
“This just isn’t your fight.”
“Shut it.” I said before attempting to punch her. She responded by leaping up and grabbing on my head in a makeshift hand stand. Twisting she was able to forcefully snap my neck. As I healed I glared at her.
How is she so much better? I’m not even convinced half of what she’s doing is physically possible.
It’s not.
Then how is she doing it?
She’s using her powers. Making acute changes to her body during combat.
That’s just not fair. I had to roll as she tried to crush my head.
Suck it up and figure out a way to win. If this is any indication it means the others are in danger.
Easier said than done.
“You’re boring me.” Chrysalis let out a fake yawn. “Stop resisting so I can end this.”
“Only if you answer a few questions.” I winced as I tried to get up.
What are you doing?
Stalling.
“Fine.” Chrysalis sighed returning to her changeling form. “What do you want?”
“You say that Celestia and the others are alive up there.” I pointed at the ceiling. “But how? I saw their bodies.”
“Simple changeling magic mixed with their DNA,” She said as if it were simple knowledge.
“Since when can changelings transform others?”
“Again, I’m the queen I have powers beyond others.”
“Fair enough.”
I may have a plan.
I’m listening.
I need to do a few more calculations, just stall a little longer.
“So, why did you suddenly want to draw us here?”
“It was mostly you, I heard what you did to the griffins.” Chrysalis came to stand over me. “I figured we’d get you before you got us. I grow tired of this.” She raised a hoof over my head.
Bob?
Wait for it. Then hisses filled the cave.
“There they are.” The changeling smiled as a swarm of changelings burst into the cave, being chased by Luna, Shiny, and Cadence. “What?” She scowled.
“Give up Chrysalis,” Luna said. “You’re changelings have been bested.”
“I suggest you give in.” The queen said before grabbing me by the throat. “Unless you’d like him.” She pointed at the ceiling. “And you’re sister to die.”
Now! Transform into this!
Can’t she-
Do it!
Shrugging I kicked Chrysalis in her face. She hissed in pain before dropping me. I quickly rolled away.
Gross! I’m going to be tasting bug for a week.
Just transform!
Luna smirked as the last changelings flew away.
“Give up Chrysalis,” she said. “You’re changelings have been bested.”
“I suggest you give in.” The queen said before grabbing Sean by the throat. “Unless you’d like him.” She pointed at the ceiling. “And you’re sister to die.”
“What?” Luna looked up in confusion. Her eyes snapped back when she heard a hiss. She watched as Sean rolled away from the changeling before he began to transform.
Sean growled as his face began to lengthen, Luna cringed as two more arms burst out of his ribs. Slamming his hands on the ground he began to grow, his body lengthening, creating a tail. He slowly turned green and grew two more legs. Suddenly several human’s began to burst from his sides, mostly just being heads and upper bodies. Sean roared before glaring at the changeling queen in front of him
“Why did he choose that form?” Cadence asked.
Why did you choose this form? I asked as I finished my change. What’s so great about Sirizan’s body?
Several limbs, superior mobility in this crammed space, and tongue weapon.
Fair enough.
“That’s was quiet the display for such a hideous form,” Chrysalis said.
“It may not be pretty, but it will get the job done.” My voice was creepy, since in this form it made it sound like there was a slight echo. I then brought a fist down on her.
“Maybe not.” Chrysalis appeared next to my fist. “How did you miss?”
“Stay still!” I attempted to hit her again. This time she dodged before flying over me, her horn glowed for a minute before she blasted me with a magic bolt. I felt my body begin to change back to my human form before quickly fixing itself. “What?”
What just happened?
Her magic isn’t able to flow fast enough to change this huge form.
This is going to be fun.
“So you found a way around my spell,” Chrysalis said as she hovered over me. “No matter, you will still lose.” She ducked as a bolt of blue magic flew past her head, turning to glare at its shooter she hissed at Luna.
“Come on you two, let’s get her!” Luna shouted before flying towards the changeling queen.
“Pest!” Chrysalis growled before letting out a screech. Just before Luna reached her an entire cloud of changelings burst from the walls and rammed into her.
“Luna!” I watched as she was smashed into a wall. Looking back at Chrysalis I growled. “You’re going down.”
“What will you do? Kill me with your, Agh!” She had to suddenly dodge as my tongue flew at her. “That’s just gross.”
While she was distracted I swung a green hand at her, managing to swat her out of the air. The changeling slammed into the ground.
“How did that feel?” I asked, lifting a hand to crush her. As it came down to kill her I was suddenly blasted by the swarm of changelings and sent flying. “Well that wasn’t fun. Those bugs can be strong.”
“Sean.” I looked to my right to see Luna limping towards me. “Where’s Celestia?”
“Up there.” I used one of my four hands to gesture at the ceiling. “In those cocoons I think.”
“So the earlier one was Chrysalis?”
“Yeah.” I got back up. “You save her and the others, I’ll handle the bugs.”
“Right.” Luna nodded. “Cadence, let’s go.” The two alicorns then took off towards the ceiling.
“Stop them!” Chrysalis shouted. The now familiar swarm of changelings began to rush towards them.
“Denied!” I shouted before shooting my tongue at them. I was able to snag around seven. “Blegh! Gross!”
Retracting my tongue I opted to crush another twelve with my hands. Sadly at least fifteen more made it past me. Just as they neared Luna and Cadence a magical shield blocked them off.
“Good work Shiny.” I nodded to the unicorn.
“You are all really getting on my nerves!” Chrysalis said before her horn began to spark. There was a loud clap before a shock went through my entire body.
“Agh!” When the shock vanished I fell to the ground, coughing in pain.
“Sean!” Shiny came to stand next to me. “Are you ok?”
“I’ll live,” I said as I got up. “Protect the girls.”
“Right.” Shiny ran off, his horn glowing as he strengthened the shield.
“Why did you lie to Shining?” Chrysalis asked as she landed in front of me. Attempting to lunge at her I ended up tipping and falling over. “You won’t live.”
“How do we open these things?” Luna asked as she flew around one of the cocoons. “There doesn’t seem to be any sort of opening.”
“I guess we just have to break them,” Cadence said, preparing to kick the nearest one open.
“Wait! We need to have some way to catch the ponies.”
“Hmm, we could get Shining to do that.”
“Good idea, where-” Luna was interrupted by a shriek of pain. Looking towards it she watched as the giant green beast fell to the ground coughing. “Sean!” Luna watched as Shining Armor ran to check on him, sighing in relief as he got back up and Shining ran towards them.
“Princess, how can I help?” The unicorn asked as he looked up at the alicorns.
“We need to free the ponies.” Cadence replied. “Can you cushion their fall?”
“Of course.”
“Alright let’s do it.” Luna nodded before kicking one of the cocoons. The green case smashed open and a large white body fell out of it. “Celestia!” Luna shot towards the figure and caught it. Landing the princess set her down, checking over her sister.
She was thin, her coat was dull and her mane was colorless and barely moving, there was a large gash along her side instead of her leg. To Luna’s relief she was breathing.
“Sister!” Luna hugged her unconscious sibling, crying.
“I’ll free the rest,” Cadence said quietly before taking off.
“What did you do to me?” I glared at Chrysalis as she smirked.
“A simple electrical charge, it is currently causing your muscles to spasm. Capturing you did teach me a lot.” She raised a hoof before jabbing it into my eye, causing me to cry out in pain. “Like how important this is.” Yanking out her blood soaked hoof she showed me a small gold gem.
“Give me that!” I shouted as I felt myself begin to disintegrate.
“No thanks,” She said, tossing it in the air before catching it.
“I’ll kill you!” Attempting to hit her with my tongue I was surprised as it fell off.
“You don’t look so good.” Chrysalis held the gem next to my good eye. “Goodbye.” She then dropped it and raised a hoof to crush it.
“That’s all of them,” Cadence said as she carried an unconscious Twilight to the ground. The changelings had captured a surprising number of citizens, at least fifty ponies.
“Good work.” Luna smiled.
“What’s going on?” A voice asked from behind them.
“Sister!” Luna ran up to Celestia and hugged her.
“Luna!” Celestia smiled. “Where are we?” The solar princess looked around the cave.
“We are in a changeling hive.” Luna explained. “You, the element bearers, and several others were brought here by them.” Luna raised her head. “Luckily we came to save you.”
“Interesting, so who is we?”
“Myself, Cadence, Shining Armor, and-” Luna’s eyes widened as she looked behind Celestia. “Sean!”
“What?” Celestia looked back to see a large green monster lying on the ground. They watched as Chrysalis dropped some kind of gold gem on the ground and stomped on it. The creature then began to quickly disintegrate. After a few seconds it was gone.
“That was too easy,” Chrysalis said as she laughed. “I wanted more from that human.”
“She killed him,” Luna said in disbelief.
“It’s on now!” Shining shouted before charging at the changeling. Chrysalis gave a bored look before hitting him with a green bolt that sent him flying.
“Shining!” Cadence ran to her husband. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah,” He said, weakly getting up.
“You fools can’t win,” Chrysalis said, smirking. “I have been feasting for months. Besides, what kind of force are you? A weak unicorn, an inexperienced fighter, and a malnourished alicorn, your only hope is Luna.”
“We will win.” Luna’s horn began to spark.
“If you want to fight.” Chrysalis chuckled. “Let’s go.”