//------------------------------// // Chapter 23 "Chrysalis" // Story: Equestria Guardians // by Jacoboby1 //------------------------------// Chapter 23 “Chrysalis” Or “Invasion of the Love Suckers” Late one afternoon, after the stalker incident, Twilight and Private were in his car on their way to his house. Twilight, naturally, was a bit nervous, but also rather excited. She had never been to Private’s house and wondered what it was like, but the prospect of meeting his parents had landed what felt like an entire migration’s worth of monarchs in her stomach. Private suddenly stopped at a corner, and sighed. “Twi, listen I’ve… kind of been keeping where I live from you for a while. Just... don’t freak out okay?” Twilight looked up ahead, and her eyes grew wide as she saw what neighborhood they were about to turn into. Canterlot Heights...where the rich of Canter City lived… “Private… You live… here?” Twilight asked, as they turned into the super affluent suburb. “Why… Oh. People would make a huge deal out of it, wouldn’t they?” “Yeah they would,” Private said with a sigh. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to think I was some rich snob or something. Wanted you to like me for me, ya know? Typical rich kid want?” “Uhm… It depends on the story,” Twilight said, running her fingers through her hair. “Some rich kids would go for the ‘screw the rules I’ve got money’ mentality… You don’t fit the ‘lonely rich kid’ trope, because you do have a sibling, and your parents are not distant and/or absentee…” “I guess but don’t worry, my parents are anything but rich stereotypes.” Private said as they drove down the street a little. They came into the driveway of well, by comparison to the rich mansions, a smaller more modest home. It still is bigger than Twilight’s place, having three stories, but it wasn’t gaudy or flashy but...homey. Private stopped the car, got out and opened Twilight’s door. Twilight got out, and looked up at the house. “Obviously not,” she said quietly, as she compared it to the other, more ostentatious, homes on the street. Twilight gulped as she stepped away from the car and took a deep breath. Private walked with Twilight up to the door, it was opened by...Private’s little brother Tailspin. “Hey bro!” He said, smiling at his big brother. “Hey Tailspin,” Private said, “Twi, this is my little brother Tailspin.” Tailspin smirked up at Twilight, “So you’re the super cute nerdy girl Private won’t shut up about-” “Can it, you twerp!” Private yelled, bonking his brother on the head. “And you’re the one that keeps freaking out Scootaloo,” Twilight observed with a smile, and she held out a hand for the boy to shake. “Nice to have a face to put with the name.” Tailspin rubbed his head, “Yeah, me too Twilight. C’mon in, Mom and Dad are waiting for you guys.” He said, and started walking off. “You aren’t staying?” Private asked. “Mom gave me an advance on my allowance to ‘make sure you give us four alone time’. I’m taking advantage of that and I’m going to help Scootaloo out with her homework.” Tailspin said with a grin. “Did she ask you to help?” Private said. “She was thinking it.” Tailspin said with a shrug, walking off. “My brother, he’s more persistent than Sonata during Taco Tuesday.” Private said with a sigh. “And Scootaloo’s determined to emulate Rainbow Dash… Even to the point of being a total tsundere,” Twilight said with a matching sigh. “He’ll be back soon enough, come on, let’s head inside.” Private said, holding the door for her. The interior was as modest as the outside was. No flashy statues or fountains or gaudy portraits, just simple decorations. Some nice pieces of artwork were on the walls, Twilight surmised that one of the family must be a collector due to the quality of the artwork. Standing there, were Private’s parents… The father was the spitting image of Private, tall, rather handsome with well kept brown hair that showed some signs of greying. He had Tailspin’s blue eyes and a very proper disposition. He wore a fine suit and had the posture to make it work. He wore a kind smile too, something Twilight was glad to see. Private’s mother was, frankly, beautiful. She had long hair that was the same shade as Tailspin’s. In fact she could see that Tailspin got a lot of his appearance from his mother. Save for the silver eyes she shared with Private. It looked like she had chosen her outfit specifically for this occasion. She wore a simple white blouse, and knee-length khaki skirt with stockings and sensible shoes. The outfit was of nice make, of course, but Twilight thought the whole ‘schoolgirl’ look may be a bit too enticing for her loving husband, but she could be wrong. She was the first to speak, walking up to Twilight and saying: “Welcome to our home Twilight Sparkle. I’m Sparrowheart Eye, the handsome man behind me is Irenius Eye. We’ve been eagerly awaiting to meet you.” “Nice to meet you both,” Twilight said with a slight curtsy. “Private… tends to live up to his name, and not talk much about his home life.” “Let me guess, he probably thought that you would think I was some horrid rich woman. Like Glory Sunset or something. Don’t worry, I actually grew up poor, so I can imagine how intimidating I must be.” She said in a friendly, jovial demeanor that Twilight wouldn’t find rare in a conversation with one of her friends. “We’re both glad to finally meet you,” Irenius said in a very polite manner as he came up. “I must say, you have earned quite a reputation at Canterlot High, Miss Sparkle. It is no wonder Preventus won’t stop singing your praises.” “Dad…” Private groaned, blushing in embarrassment. “I’m… not that big a deal, really. My sister, Sunset, is just as smart as I am, though she’s more of a kinesthetic learner,” Twilight said humbly, scuffing a foot. “Humble too?” Sparrow said, smiling. “Oh yeah, I think we are going to get along very well.” “Uh… Thank you?” Twilight said, with a sheepish smile. “Come all of you, dinner is already on the table.” Irenius said. ______________________________________________________ “Wow… I… I’m speechless… Everything is just so good! Me? I’m hopeless in the kitchen… Disastrously hopeless… I mean ‘call the fire department, she just burnt water’ hopeless…” Twilight said as she enjoyed dinner. “Well, I always enjoyed cooking as a hobby.” Irenius explained. “And when you have at least five siblings, you learn to help where you can.” Sparrow said, smiling as Twilight enjoyed the food. “Pro tip, if you want the best dinner ever, ask who’s cooking is the best…” Private whispered to his girlfriend, smirking. “What, they compete?” Twilight whispered back. “Eeyup.” Private said, chuckling at his impression of Big Mac. “So you end up with a huge spread, I take it?” Twilight asked again, still in a whisper. “Like, a whole table’s spread…” Private said with a laugh. “Are you two talking about our cooking contests?” Sparrow asked, rolling her eyes. “Renny just won’t admit defeat is all.” “You just wait, my dear, one of these days I will have victory.” Irenius said in a mock competitive voice. They both laughed at that. Twilight watched Irenius and Sparrow interact, a smile growing on her face. “I want us to be just like them,” she whispered to Private. “Happily in love, never losing it, and glad to show it.” Private smiled at that. “Yeah, I definitely want something like that,” He whispered back. “So, Twilight, tell us more about yourself,” Sparrow said. “I mean, a lot of it Private told us but, I’d like to hear it from you.” “Well… I’m originally from Maretropolis. I was tutored for most of my life, and this is my first time going to an actual school… I’ve just discovered that having friends is amazing…” Twilight said running her fingers through her hair nervously. “My father is Night Light, a fairly famous science fiction author, and my mother is Twilight Velvet…” “I thought you looked really familiar!” Sparrow said suddenly. “I can’t believe Night Light and Velvet’s daughter is dating my son. Oh if I could tell that to High School Velvet.” Twilight did a double-take and stared, surprised. “You knew my mom in high school?” “Yeah, Mom actually went to Canterlot High.” Private said. “Velvet was probably the only girl in school who could beat Glory academically.” Sparrow said with a smile. “I knew Mom took particular delight in taking down Glory Sunset,” Twilight said with a grin. “Sunset Shimmer is Glory’s daughter. Now she’s my adopted sister. Glory… should have never had a child. Anything else you want to know, you’d have to ask Sunset. It’s not my story to tell.” “Glad to see you helped stop Glory from hurting Sunset anymore.” Sparrow said. “She was an evil witch, even while in high school.” “Shame I couldn’t do anything about it.” Irenius said sadly. “I was too busy trying to earn my education up in Manehatten Private Academy.” “Think Crystal Prep but run by a bunch of people that think that even caviar is somehow not good enough for them.” Private said with a roll of his eyes. “Who would want to eat fish eggs, anyway? Ew,” Twilight said making a face. “I never could stand the stuff myself, never understood the appeal beyond it being expensive.” Irenius said, with an eye roll just like Private’s. “I wasted so much time trying to appeal to those cretins.” “You met Mom in high school, right Dad?” Private asked. Irenius smiled, “Yes, after my diaster blind date that your grandfather tried to set up. I took in a play that your mother was part of.” He then got that look on his face, Sparrow as well. That look that all couples get when they tell their love story. “He came by backstage, so enraptured by my performance he ran out and got me flowers.” Sparrow said, grinning. “Even if we were different in terms of social station, I fell in love.” Irenius said with his own grin. “Took me a couple years to finally spit it out to her, but I eventually came around.” “Asked me to marry him on a beautiful moonlit night.” Sparrow replied. “Oh Adamus was furious.” “That’s… your father, Mister Eye?” Twilight asked. “Adamus Eye, CEO of Eye Corp, an entrepreneur who doesn’t think of anything beyond his own reputation.” Private snipped, clearly showing no love or respect for his grandfather. “Practically ran Renny’s life from day one…” Sparrow said, shaking her head. “He even refused to acknowledge that Irenius was serious about marrying me.” “Refused to pay for the wedding,” Irenius said. “He practically cut me out of everything our family had made. So I had to buy the company out from under him in order to marry the woman I love, have two wonderful sons, and give them the comfortable life they deserve…” He smiled and laid a hand on his wife’s. “But in truth, even if I was penniless I still would’ve married you Sparrow…” “Renny…” Sparrow said with an adoring smile. “Love story for the ages right there.” Private said with a laugh. Twilight sighed, a smile on her face. “It really is,” she said, in all seriousness. “My parents didn’t meet in some grand romantic fashion… My grandfather hit my dad with a truck, and Mom nursed him back to health… And kind of fell in love with him as she did. She helped encourage him to follow his dreams as a writer, and well, the rest is history.” “I only hope you two will find happiness together someday.” Sparrow said, giggling. “Mom, I’m not marrying her tonight or anything…” Private said, blushing. “Can’t a mother dream that her son would end up with a sweet girl?” Sparrow said teasingly. “We… did sing The Dancing and the Dreaming together, a couple of days ago,” Twilight said blushing a bit. “It seems like it’d fit you two, too. It seems you’d do nearly anything to be with the one you love.” “A good policy to live by,” Irenius said. “Love can be a great and powerful thing, to allow you to perform acts you would never dream of. When you find the right one...love can be extraordinary…” __________________________________________________________ The two loving couples weren’t the only ones thinking on love. Granted...the Changelings had a far different idea of what love was...as they sat in a large underground cavern in the ruins of Equestria. It was varying shades of ichorous green, with tunnels going all over, and the occasional hanging globule forming a cocoon. Some globs held glowing mosses to light the caverns with an eerie green glow, and others held the dessicated remains of creatures. Black insects scuttled about, chittering and hissing at each other. At the center of the hive sat an insect far larger than all the others. It was as black as the others, but its eyes were not the faceted insectoid ones but more mamalian, with a double iris of two different shades of that dark sickly green. On its back was a shell of the same color as the hive, with bands circling its thorax, and tattered wings lying along its back. Lank teal hair formed a mane and tail, and a crooked horn jutted up from the creature’s forehead. She looked at her minions, her drones were barely scraping by. The few drops of love they had left was used to keep herself breathing. If they didn’t find love fast her entire species would be… “My queen!” One of her drones came buzzing over. “It has been a number of days since Drone 1183 has entered the portal. He has yet to return.” “That miserable little drone. Doesn’t he know his entire race is depending upon him?! We need to find a source of love, or else we’ll die out!” the queen of the hive buzzed, her distonal voice echoing in the hive’s confines. “We’ve been trapped down here for ages! And there’s no way we can get out, unless another one of those portals opens! How dare that drone not report!” “My Queen!” Another drone came buzzing in. “Another portal has opened up in the east cavern!” “Quickly! Have my personal guard meet me there! I am going to find that miserable little drone, and source of love so we may survive!” Chrysalis said, rising to her feet, and making her way to the east cavern. “I’m not about to let my species die because of one foolish drone…” _______________________________________________________ Winter had come early to Canter City this year, the snow gently falling upon the citizens. Everybody was looking forward to the holidays where hot chocolate, presents, and heartwarming family moments can occur. Pinkie was happily skipping along the street, Christmas items in her hands. “Christmas is the most awesomeriffic holiday there is! There’s carols, and parties, and cake, and parties, and gingerbread, and parties. Did I mention the Christmas parties? We have a big one at school riiiight before the break! The week before there’s this hyooge secret Santa thing for each grade, and everybody gets to exchange gifts at the party! I’m planning on making peppermint gingerbread cupcakes to bring for everybody! Then there’s the holiday itself! All the wonderful family traditions, and togetherness.” “I do, hope that this holiday lives up to all the effort we are putting into it.” Swarm said, following along with his own set of bags. As he did however, he spotted Shining Armor and Cadence looking into the window of a store. Shining grins, pulling out a small wrapped box and giving it to Cadence. Cadence gasps happily, and hugs Shining Armor lovingly. “What... are they doing Pinkie?” Swarm asked, pointing to them. “He just gave her a gift, silly,” Pinkie explained. “He probably gave her that neat charm bracelet she’s had her eye on for ages, now.” “She gave off so much love…” Swarm said, then looked to Pinkie. “I...I’d like to give you a present too Pinkie.” “Oh you don’t have to, Swarmie-Warmie!” Pinkie said beaming at him. “You’ve been such a huge help around the house, and at work. You even helped the Dazzlings settle into their new jobs! If anybody should be giving anybody a present, I should be giving you one to show you how much I appreciate all you’ve done!” “I guess, but I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for you Pinkie..” He said with a sweet smile. “Aww Swarmie, you’re such a-” Pinkie suddenly tenses up as she hears… BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG!! Time froze, and in the street people stopped in their tracks. The snow seemed to just hover mid air, the faces of the people at a nearby traffic light would look comical having been caught mid-action, and an eerie quiet fell upon the area with not even the wind blowing to break the silence. “One of those Witching hours?” Swarm said, looking around. “Yeah, guess you can move around cuz you were a buggy.” Pinkie said. “Just find a place to hide okay? I’ll take care of this!” “Be careful Pinkie.” Swarm said worriedly. “No worries Swarmie,” Pinkie said, summoning her cannon. “I got this baby.” She then ran out into the city, looking for the monster. Swarm gulped, something about this didn’t feel right… __________________________________________________ Something didn’t feel right. Chrysalis flailed a bit, trying to get used to her new bipedal gait, and stumbled forward, looking around this place in confusion. She brushed her hair out of her face with a hand, then took several moments to stare at the new appendage, wiggling the fingers for a few seconds. She then looked down. She was dressed in a filmy tattered black dress with a green sash around her waist, her wings having translated into a gauzy transparent blue cape. “Where are we?” she asked, as she looked around at the huge city surrounding her. “What have I become?” Slowly her drones began following her through the portal, they adopted humanoid shapes, they buzzed a little as they tried to get used to flying with their new limbs. Chrysalis looked around the city, and walked up to one of the frozen humans. She tentatively passed her hand through the human. “A protection spell?” She said. “My queen,” One of the drones said, “We looked to some of these creatures, turns out that none of us can touch them.” “But that can only mean…” Chrysalis then smiled, “So, Celestia perfected the Witching Spell, it’s all starting to make sense now.” “Your orders your highness?” the drone asked. “Find Drone 1183! He has been here on this miserable planet long enough, he will know a good place to hide. All of you proceed to look for him, I will try to establish a mind link with him. It will take some time considering this strange world seems to lack much magic…” “Yes my queen!” The drone said, and all six drones buzzed off into the city. Chrysalis went beneath a tree where she could be somewhat hidden. The last thing she needed was to be spotted by the denizens of this world, whenever this… spell wore off. She sat down, and began to meditate, trying to reestablish her dominance over Drone 1183. Obviously something went wrong, here, and that’s why he had not contacted her. As she did, her consciousness moved throughout the now still city. This city was populated with thousands of native inhabitants. She could sense love coming off them...just a handful of these humans could feed the hive for months! She had to find 1183! It didn’t take her too long, she sensed him in a city block not too far away, hiding in an alleyway, watching a...battle unfold between a native creature and a Chimera. She latched onto 1183’s mind. ___________________________________________________________ “GAAAAH!!!” Swarm screamed, falling to his knees as Pinkie fought off the large creature. He clutched his head, feeling his mind being invaded by...no it couldn’t be! “My queen!? You’re here?!” Swarm thought. ”Of course I’m here, you fool! When you did not report back, I had to do something! Why did you not tell us of these creatures?! They could keep us fed for ages!” “I was unable to contact you! I thought I was trapped here! These humans are amazing my queen! They give love ever so freely! Pinkie over there is a fine example…” ”And why haven’t you devoured her love, and brought it to me, yet? Did not more portals open up? Did you not even try to go back and to tell us of your good fortune?! This world is ripe for the picking, you fool!” “I...I can’t...if I devour all of her love...Pinkie would...die…” He thought and tried to resist her as hard as he could. Pinkie blasted the monster, and noticed Swarm being hunched over as the monster started disappearing. ”She is just one miserable human! Think of your species, Drone 1183! We are ALL about to die!” “Swarmie?” Pinkie asked. “What’s wrong?” “Pinkie...get back…” He groaned, trying hard to fight the control. “My queen! We don’t have to do this! There’s another way!” ”NO! There is NO OTHER WAY! You WILL obey me! You will eat that creature’s love! We will come and enslave every human here, and never starve again! Obey me, DRONE 1183!” “I WON’T! We don’t have to do this! I refuse because...because...I love Pinkie…” Swarm thinks. “Impossible! You are a drone! You have no other conscious thought but obeying me! Falling in love with a filthy creature rather than taking the love we need to survive! You are a disgrace! A deviant! I refuse to allow this!” “Swarmie! Please! Come back to me! What’s happening?!” Pinkie asked, grabbing Swarm’s shoulders and trying to snap him out of it. “YOU WILL OBEY!!!” Crysalis then sent a hard mind blast that Swarm could not counter. Swarm suddenly stopped moving...and slowly began changing into his true form before Pinkie’s eyes. He blinked his blue eyes...and hissed at Pinkie… “Swarmie?” Pinkie asked, looking at him, worriedly. “What are you doing?” Suddenly, Swarm lunged at her with an almost animal like instinct. He snapped his jaws at her as she pushed him back. He hissed and snarled at her...this wasn’t her Swarmie! Pinkie punched the creature that her Swarmie had turned into, sniffling. “I’m sorry,” she said mournfully, before bringing her cannon around, and blasting the hapless changeling into the nearest wall, knocking him unconscious. Pinkie then picked him up, and carried him back to her home. She wasn’t just going to leave him here. She then picked up her phone, “Twili? Yeah...we got a problem…” ___________________________________________________________ Swarm laid down in Pinkie’s basement, as Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow and Aj joined Pinkie in looking down on him. Twilight had used an immobilizing spell she had learned to keep the changeling in an unconscious state. “Let me get this straight… The guy you’ve been seeing is actually a monster from the other dimension you… just let go because he looked cute?!” Twilight asked, glaring at Pinkie.“And you’re only NOW telling us about it?!” “Well there was a lot of stuff goin’ on…” Pinkie said, guiltily. “And Swamie was real nervous about how you guys would handle the news.” “This... thing came through the portal?” Rarity said, looking down at Swarm. “Must’ve been when Nightmare came round, since that’s when Swarm ere showed up.” Aj said thoughtfully. “He’s not a thing!” Pinkie yelled. “Swamie is a good monster! He wouldn’t wanna hurt anybody!” “Pinkie he tried to attack you!” Rainbow yelled. “Pinkie...he was trying to hurt you…” Aj said. “Swarmie loves me and I love him! There shouldn’t be any question about it!” Pinkie yelled...small tears coming from her eyes. “Alright, everyone calm down for a moment…” Fluttershy said, putting a reassuring hand on Pinkie’s shoulder. “Swarm can’t have wanted to attack Pinkie…” “Then something must’ve changed his behavior.” Twilight said thoughtfully. “A spell or something?” “Swarmie... did say he had a queen or something….” Pinkie said, “Like he was a drone.” “Like a bee?” Aj asked. “Then his queen must be here. If he was a drone, like in some kind of insect hive, then the queen being here would alter his behavior because of the hive mind,” Twilight said, thoughtfully. “Like bees or ants, each one can act individually, but have some way to share any useful information they have with the rest of the hive to help keep the hive fed, and thriving.” “Maybe if we get the queen,” Fluttershy said. “We can distract her long enough for Swarm to get free again.” “Or we trounce her and free him permanently!” Rainbow said, smacking her fists together. “Before we do…” Aj said, pulling out her lasso. She kneeled down next to Swarm, and began tying the changeling up. “Aj…” Pinkie said. “It’s a precaution Pinkie, ain’t no way we’re gonna let Swarm jeopardize the plan.” Aj said. “Aj, ya know there’s-” Rainbow said. “Don’t you say it,” Aj said, glaring at Rainbow. “Swarm here is one of us. If Pinkie says he’s fine, then that’s all the reason Ah need tah look after him. Tah make sure that queen doesn’t hurt him or anybody else.” Rainbow, nodded. “You’re right.” “Mind you it would have been the most practical solution… And one Pinkie should have taken, when she first met a monster in the school’s hallways, instead of taking it home, and falling in love with it,” Twilight said with a huff. “However, this is the situation we have, and Swarm’s Pinkie’s beloved. So we have to save him, and everybody else too.” “I’m staying with Swarmie in case he wakes up…” Pinkie said, sitting beside Swarm, running her hand over his side. “Come on darlings, we have a bug to squash!” Rarity said, as the other five girls took off. ________________________________________________________________ “How long does this witching thing last?” Chrysalis asked, as she moved through the city. “If we can’t touch these pathetic humans we can’t cocoon them for transport back to the hive. We’ll have to wait for a portal back into our caves, so we can bring the entire hive here, then we’ll establish a new better hive, here in this land of plenty. These humans will exist only to feed me and my brood.” “What of 1183 my queen?” One of the five drones she brought with her asked. “That deviant will be destroyed for his transgression. He will have the chitin flayed from his body for daring to disobey me, let alone falling in love with our prey!” Chrysalis said looking disgusted. “How dare he do such a loathsome act! Love is food! We don’t allow ourselves to feel it!” Before she could say any more, an arrow barely hit her head, sticking itself in the wall. “You’ll have to get through us first!” Fluttershy yelled as the other four girls joined her, summoning their weapons. “What? Who are you? How dare you defy Queen Chrysalis!” she growled. “Get them, my loyal drones! Those fools shall be the first to feed us!” “Looks like we’re gonna have to do this the hard way!!” Rainbow yelled, zooming towards the queen...but then stops as...herself stands in her path. Rainbow stares at the doppelganger. “I...well this is new…” The other Rainbow suddenly summoned twin blades and wings of it’s own, and started slashing at Rainbow. Rainbow blocked the sword. “Look out guys! These things copy everything about us! Even our weapons!” The others soon found themselves facing doppelgangers. Twilight blocked a barrage of magic from her copy. Aj dodged and weaved boxer style around her clone’s blows. Fluttershy was barely able to duck from the arrows her duplicate was slinging. Rarity swung her whip, getting it entangled with that of her counterfeit. “My drones may not be able to perform strong feats of magic,” Chrysalis said. “But they are more than a match for each of you! Because they ARE you!” “This is going to be harder than we thought…” Twilight said, preparing for another barrage of magic. __________________________________________________________ Back in the basement, Swarm steadily comes too. He blinks his eyes…”Where...what happened…?” He felt Applejack’s ropes around his wrists and ankles. “I....no don’t tell me I…” “Yeah. Uhm… Sorry about the cannon, again,” Pinkie said smiling sheepishly at him. “Your queenie’s here, huh? She made you go all meanie, and try and attack me.” “...You should’ve let it finish me…” Swarm said sadly. “Pinkie, I’m a danger so long as I’m with you now. If Chrysalis takes control again...I couldn’t bear the thought of hurting you...take that cannon and aim for my head…” “No! Never ever! I love you, Swarmie! I couldn’t just…” Pinkie said, tears streaming down her face. “Just forget about me...live a normal life...because if I get free again...I’ll...do the natural changeling way of getting love...I’ll suck you dry and leave you a hollow husk…” Swarm said, tears falling down his eyes. “But I don’t want to do that...I can’t bare the thought of hurting you...because I love you so much…” “But… I love you too. I give my love to you so you don’t have to such me dry,” Pinkie said caressing his face, not caring if it was his insectoid one or not. She leaned forward, kissing him, freely giving her love to him so he wouldn’t have to take it from her. Swarm tried everything to halt it. He tried transforming into more and more repulsive forms to push her away...but it wasn’t enough...he couldn’t stop Pinkie’s love… He suddenly glowed pink...and was freed from Aj’s lasso. He slowly transformed back into his human form...he fell into Pinkie’s arms. “Swarmie…” Pinkie said, and then looked determined. “Now..to get that Queenie…” She got up, and was about to head out...before Swarm took her hand… “Have...an idea…” Swarm grinned...as his hair started turning….pink. __________________________________________________________ Twilight dodged another barrage of magic missiles from her counterpart, panting heavily, conserving her strength until she was sure her duplicate had weakened itself. Sure the copies were exact counterfeits, but she and her friends had something the simulacrums did not have. They had their training, which was sure to help them defeat these foes. “There’s no way you could win!” Chrysalis yelled. “When I destroy you my armies will cover this earth! They will suck every ounce of love fro-” Suddenly, cannon fire began raining down on all of the drones, sending them flying back. “WHAT!?” Chrysalis yelled. Everybody looked up and saw...two Pinkies standing on a small rooftop, each holding a Cannon of Laughter. They both giggled, “Sorry about that,” Pinkie #1 said. “Couldn’t letcha have your way Chryssie.” Pinkie #2 said. “... Wait… what?” Twilight said staring up at the dual Pinkies. “She let Swarm free, but he’s… fighting on our side?” “DRONE 1183! You WILL obey me!” Chrysalis yelled, pointing at the two Pinkies, trying to exert her mental control on him. “Uuuuum! NOPE!” They suddenly fired their barrage of cannons at Chrysalis. They then kept bouncing around the area so quickly that Chrysalis couldn’t get a good lock on Swarm. “Swarm can...copy Pinkie’s randomness?” Twilight said, blinking. “Guess it makes sense…” Aj said. “Guys! While those two have Queenie distracted! Let’s do the oldest trick when it comes to taking care of clones!” Rainbow said. Twilight, grinned. “Everybody! Attack each other’s clones quickly!” She ordered. Applejack nodded, remembering the lessons they had sparring against each other. She then promptly attacked Twilight’s copy, catching the changeling off-guard and knocking it out with her gauntlets. Twilight took Rainbow’s clone using her magic missile spell, with its target-seeking property, to take out the speedy changeling. Meanwhile Rainbow flew at Fluttershy’s doppelganger, dodging the changeling’s arrows to quickly take that one out. Last but not least, Fluttershy quickly took out Applejack’s duplicate her arrows having the advantage over the last clone’s gauntlets. Rarity held her clone in place as one of the Pinkie’s sniped it. “Thank you, darling,” Rarity called, waving to Pinkie, not caring which one had helped her. “ENOUGH OF THIS!!” Chrysalis yelled, launching a wave of green magic that sent everybody flying. Everyone groaned as they tried to get to their feet. Both Pinkies jumped down from the buildings, aiming their cannons. “It’s over Chrysalis!” They both said. “You can’t beat us!” “Even if my useless drones are destroyed, I can still destroy you! And without your friends to distract me...I know which one is which….” She then fired a blast...at the real Pinkie Pie, sending her flying into a building. “PINKIE!!” Swarm yelled, turning back into his default form, going to Pinkie’s side. “Pinkie, I’m so sorry…” “Hey, getting owwies kind of comes with being a guardian,” Pinkie said smiling weakly up at him. “Just give me a few minutes, and a half a dozen cupcakes, and I’ll be up and at ‘em.” “I wish I never came to this world...then you wouldn’t be…” Swarm said, about to cry, when Pinkie reached up to wipe away his tear. “You act like I’m dying,” Pinkie said chuckling. “I’m not, you know. But, I do know one thing. You can’t keep blaming yourself, and hiding...who you are...” Swarm...nodded, and stood, glaring at Chrysalis, as the guardians and drones alike groaned around her. “Leave... them... alone Chrysalis…” Swarm said standing firm, his hands glowing with a magic eerily similar to Chrysalis’. “... What… What is going on? You’re not supposed to have that kind of power…” Chrysalis said staring at Swarm in shock. “YOU WILL OBEY!!” She tried to reestablish control...only for the magic to bounce off. “What is this?!” “Your control won’t work, because something stronger is keeping my mind free.” Swarm said, his hands only glowing brighter. “You deviant! How are you doing this?!” Chrysalis demanded. “There is no way for you to have this kind of freedom, unless you became a…” “Maybe, but now I really don’t care. Because I’m not a drone anymore. I’m not your puppet to dance at your will. Why? Because Pinkie’s love freed me from your bondage long ago. I just couldn’t see it until now. Because when you tried to hurt Pinkie, I wasn’t Drone 1183, I was Swarm. I’m stopping your gluttony for love right here!” “You would trade your species for a human?!” Chrysalis yelled. “Our species is dying!” “Because of you!” Swarm yelled, pointing a finger at her. “Our species is dying because you refuse to see that love can be freely given! You refuse to let us evolve, grow and change! We’re only dying because parasites like you still breathe!” “You think this world will accept you?” Chrysalis yelled, her hands glowing with magic. “Pinkie did, and that’s all that matters.” Swarm said, preparing his magic. Queen and Drone then unleashed their magic against one another. Two streams of powerful magic fighting one another. Swarm managed to hold his ground, something that shocked the queen. “Impossible! No drone can wield magic! Where are you getting this power from!?” Chrysalis yelled. “I see Love as a gift! A power that cannot be defeated! What you see as food is about to be your undoing!!” Swarm yelled, pouring all of this new power into his beam. “You will fall before me! Here and now!” Chrysalis yelled. “I spent almost my entire life underground...locked and imprisoned in the identity that you forced upon me and all of my kind. But now, I’m going to break through that wall keeping my whole species down! I will break through to the heavens!!” “NO! Not on my watch Drone 1183!” She shouted, unleashing her full power on Swarm. Swarm faltered, trying to hold the tide back...and then Pinkie got up, and took his arm. Swarm looked at her. “You need love Swarmie? Well take all of it…” She said smiling, and began to glow pink, as all of her love flowed into Swarm. “FALL 1183!” Chrysalis yelled. “I….Am….SWARM!!!” Swarm yelled, and unleashed a magic so powerful, it sent Chrysalis flying into the sky. Chrysalis screamed as she went sailing away Team Rocket style. Swarm stood there in the destruction alongside Pinkie. The drones stood, looking at Swarm. “You are free now...go and find what I found in this world…” Swarm said to them. They all looked at each other, then looked toward the direction where Chrysalis went flying. “What if she survived?” asked one timidly. “Not after using so much power…” Swarm said, “She’ll be out for months and if you all find love you’ll be free too, she can’t control you then.” “In other words, Cadence has some work to do,” Pinkie said, giggling. The drones then began wandering away, looking to humans and adopting forms they liked. They then began to walk amongst the humans..just as Swarm did. Speaking of Swarm, he now fell against Pinkie, drained after what happened. “I gotcha, Swarmie,” Pinkie said holding him up. Swarm slowly began losing his default form...but the changeling form was different. He now sported eyes similar to Chrysalis’, along with a small tuft of teal hair. He blinked his now green eyes, “Pink...ie…?” “Whoa, Swarmie, you changed,” she said sounding awed. “I guess you became a… king?” Twilight said, looking at him. “I don’t know...this has never happened to a drone…” Swarm said, “But I feel...more whole…” “Who cares?” Rainbow said, coming up. “Swarm’s okay, Queenie’s gone, and so are the drones.” “Sunny’s going to hate that she missed this,” Twilight said with a sigh. “Gotta say though, ya did good out there Swarm,” Aj said, smiling down at the changeling. “Takes guts tah stand up gainst somebody puttin ya down.” “Right now though...I just wanna...nap…” Swarm said, closing his eyes and resting against Pinkie. “So, honey bug, darling?” Rarity asked, smiling. “He’s my Swarmie,” Pinkie said, petting the teal hair. “My little love bug…”