Scootaloo? Wake up. Scootaloo!
“Go away,” Scootaloo mumbled into her pillow.
This is important. You need to get up.
She raised her head and stared into the darkness with half-closed eyes. “Wha’ time is it?”
Just after midnight.
Without another word she flopped back onto her pillow.
Scootaloo, Discord hissed in frustration. You’re all getting on the train in a few hours. We don’t have time for this. He took a breath to calm himself and continued, I understand if you don’t want to help me. I already told you that it isn’t worth the risk. But if you’re going to anyway, you need to get up now.
Scootaloo groaned and pushed herself out of bed. “Why is it so important to do it now?”
I’ve found our first element.
“Here in Canterlot?”
No, a few miles north of Canterlot. It’ll be easier to find her now, since you’re already this close. Now get ready, there are a few things you need to collect.
*****
Scootaloo marched over the uneven ground for what seemed like hours. Her muscles ached and all she wanted was to lie down and sleep, but she kept walking deeper into the woods.
Skeletal trees blocked what little light there was. The only reason she wasn’t completely lost was that she had Discord whispering directions. Timber wolves howled in the distance, sending shivers down her spine. “What is anypony doing out here anyway? It’s so creepy.”
You’ll see. We’re almost there, so if you want to turn back, now’s the time to do it.
Scootaloo shook her head and picked up the pace. Thankfully, the trees finally thinned out in front of her, showing a dimly lit clearing. Scootaloo hopped one last root and ran, eager to be out of the dark.
The branches on either side of her shook, and changelings jumped down around her. She reared back, a surprised gasp caught in her throat, and turned to run. More changelings stood behind her, blocking her escape.
Easy Scootaloo. Stay calm.
“Stay calm? You... you knew they were here!”
They aren’t going to hurt you. Discord spoke a bit more loudly. Isn’t that right, Chrysalis?
For a few moments nothing moved, and then a familiar echoing voice answered, “Yes. Let the pony through.”
The changelings parted and nudged Scootaloo out into the clearing. A dozen more changelings stood around their queen, watching Scootaloo with hungry blue eyes.
The changeling queen sat at the center. She was built like one of the princesses, tall and slender with a crooked horn and wings. Her legs and wings had strange holes through them. She leaned awkwardly to her left with her right foreleg stretched carefully out to her side, wincing at every movement. “Discord said you were bringing a gift?”
“Uh...” Scootaloo backed away slightly from the changeling queen.
Your saddlebags.
“Oh, right.” Scootaloo reached back and pulled out the first aid kit Discord had told her to bring. With a nod from the queen, one of the changelings darted over and grabbed it. Scootaloo flinched from it, but it didn’t seem to care. It pulled out some bandages and the changelings went to work caring for their queen’s hurt leg.
“Uh, I’ll be right back,” Scootaloo whispered. The queen gave a dismissive nod and she backed into the cover of the trees.
“What they hay, Discord?” She asked in a harsh whisper. “Why didn’t you tell me who we were coming to see?”
You didn’t ask.
“And you didn’t think I’d want to know?”
I already told you the ponies you’d have to talk to are unpleasant.
Scootaloo threw a hoof up in frustration. “Oh yeah, she invaded Canterlot and tried to overthrow the princess, but she’s just ‘unpleasant’. Thanks for clearing that up.”
If you want to leave, then feel free. No one is going to force you to do this.
Scootaloo hesitated. “I... I’m just scared. You said you don’t want me taking any risks, and this seems like a pretty big one.”
I promise you, Scootaloo, you aren’t in any danger from her. After being thrown from Canterlot and losing her connection to Shining Armor, she’s got less power than me. She doesn’t even have enough to bandage her own leg.
“Oh. But still, why are we here? You can’t expect her to help us?”
Oh, but I do actually. For two reasons. The first is that she’s a changeling. Everything she does is about lying to ponies. She’s perfect for the opposite of Applejack, the Element of Honesty. Second, the defenses in Canterlot are pretty weak right now. If she’s busy helping us, it will give them time to get organized again.
“You think she’d try again?” Scootaloo whispered, glancing back into the clearing.
Without a doubt. If anything, she has more reason to attack now than before. She’s not the kind to take that kind of humiliation. She’ll want revenge. If we can keep her busy, we’ll not only have one of the elements, but we’ll be doing our part to protect Equestria.
Scootaloo swallowed nervously and stepped back out into the clearing, waiting for the changelings to finish. After another minute, they stepped away. The queen checked the bandages and nodded her approval. “So, I suppose Discord sent you about his absurd proposal?”
Scootaloo tried to talk, but the words stuck in her throat. Finally she just nodded.
“Perhaps introductions are in order?” The queen asked.
Oh, of course. Chrysie—
“Ahem,” the queen interrupted.
Bah. Chrysalis, this is Scootaloo. Scootaloo, this is Her Royal Highness, Queen Chrysalis, Ruler of the Changelings, etcetera etcetera.
“Uh... nice to meet you?” Scootaloo said.
“Charmed,” the queen replied without bothering to look at the filly.
Chrysalis here owes me a favor, and is going to help us.
The queen’s eyes flashed with anger, but it was gone so quickly Scootaloo might have imagined it. “Yes, I suppose I will.”
Wonderfull. Everypony will be awake in a few minutes. You two need to get back to Canterlot and catch the train.
“What? It took me hours to get out here!” Scootaloo said, eyes wide with panic.
“That will not be a problem,” Chrysalis said. “Let’s go.”
Scootaloo gasped when something grabbed her around the midsection and lifted her into the air. Dark branches whipped past her as she rose into the night. After a moment she caught her breath enough to scream.
*****
“Hey Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom said, walking into the clubhouse the next day. “Hey Sweetie... Oh, sorry, Ah thought you were someone else.”
Scootaloo waved from beside a white filly. “Hi Apple Bloom. I was just showing my new friend the clubhouse. She’s a blank flank too, I thought she might come crusading with us.”
The small white unicorn was no older than the crusaders. She had a curly blue mane and tail with matching eyes. She glanced at Apple Bloom with a bored pout.
“A new crusader? Pleased to meet’cha. Ah’m Apple Bloom,” she said, holding a hoof toward the white filly.
“Yeah, whatever,” the newcomer said, ignoring the outstretched hoof.
“Uh, she’s kind of shy. Not really comfortable meeting new ponies,” Scootaloo said.
“Oh,” Apple Bloom said, dropping her hoof and frowning. “Uh, what’s your name?”
“Chrys...” Scootaloo hesitated. “Chrys... uh, Crystal. Crystal Ball. Her parents are traveling fortune tellers.”
The white unicorn raised an eyebrow. “Traveling... uh yes, they’re traveling fortune tellers. Because that makes so much sense.”
“Um, okay?” Apple Bloom said. “Well, I’m glad to have you join us. Sweetie Belle will be here soon, and then we can go.”
“Sounds good,” Scootaloo said. Crystal didn’t respond, and after a few seconds of awkward silence, Apple Bloom excused herself to wait outside for Sweetie Belle.
“Crystal Ball?” the white filly asked. “Is that a normal pony name?”
“Well, you didn’t help much either. You could at least try being nice.”
Crystal Ball turned away with a dismissive snort. Scootaloo just sat down and rolled her eyes. It was going to be a very long day.
Just a short chapter today. The next one should be longer.
Chrysalis as one of the cmc? Brilliant!
*Squee*
Chrysalis as a small filly. nelson voice HA HA
and also i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/275/389/469.jpg
Oh my... The chapter name is perfect! The update deceived me! BTW, spelled deceit wrong.
This is awesome as always. But do you have a picture of the filly Chrysalis? I'm having trouble picturing it because it's so different.
I see so much... so much...
i2.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/009/217/1912-so-much-win.jpg
...Is that meant to be deceit?
Oh, uh, not to detract from the story. I like it. It's good. Chrysalis is gonna blow everything if she doesn't act more like a changeling should act!
Oh BUCK...
Haha oh Chrysalis.
Well, Crystal Ball is more of a normal pony name than 'Mirror Match'.
From all the stories with changelings in them, I get the impression that they aren't actually very good at lying.
OH SNAP....this is so not going to end well.
I mean just WOW, you know what they say about a certain road and this one is just starting to get a little bumpy.
I cannot wait to see who Discord and Scootaloo will recruit next because this is going to be some fun adventure to the Dark side.
Wha-Hey I recognize this! You finally finished it?
Yeah they do that. If you go in and edit the BBcode markup it works, or just press the italic button on here, which does it for you>>738844
...That could be a whole story on its own.
...That SHOULD be a whole story on its own!
WHY IS THIS NOT A WHOLE STORY ON ITS OWN?!
Seriously, you wanna talk about potential for a great comedy story...
I agree with Dusty that would be a brilliant story on it's own. But Chrysalis has joined team Chaos! Oh hoho! This will be good!
786889
Gah. I googled it to make sure and still misspelled it.
786894
Made with General Zoi's pony creator.
786969
Yeah, Chrysalis wasn't much of an actor in the show either. Mind control for the win?
And is Mirror Match an official fanon name, or did you just read Smoke and Mirrors too? If the latter, I vote it becomes official, Mirror is best Changeling.img692.imageshack.us/img692/9291/myponyfe.png
Man, this is so ridiculous a running gag. I love it. Every time Chrysalis has to go integrate into pony society her names just keep getting WORSE!
Clearly someone has been abusing the whole trading places thing too long to be original. Nice putting her on the spot like that, Discord!
787103
Thanks. That is a awesome pony disguse.
Called it.
787103 urge to throttle prissy pony rising
787103 I just read Smoke and Mirrors, yeah.
The other stories' changeling names haven't been much better, though. Except for 'Bon Bon' I guess.
786969 They are good at impersonating someone else. Not making someone up on the spot
Not to mention Scootaloo is horrible at lying on the spot. Ninja Alien Ironing Board Thieves anypony?
OMG!! SO FUCKING AWESOME! I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS CHAPTER!
And so far, your fulfilling my wish! Crystal Ball is the best crusader!
This is amazing.
One thing though. I'd like it if once, just once during this story, someone would question Discord on his decision to use Spike as the element of greed. I mean, there are so many greedy dragons out there that would be much easier to lure in.
He's intending to use the closest companion of one of his greatest enemies, and successfully manage to convince that dragon to not only give into his inner urges again, but willingly betray and stand against the pony who essentially raised him. How on earth he's going to pull that off, I look forward to reading.
Of course, if it doesn't end up being Spike, then you can just disregard this entire post.
788007
That is a very good point.
One that I will have way too much fun addressing.
786904 Never stopped her canon-wise.
786894 i think its like a discolored sweetie belle maybe not though
Pretty good so far, I look forward to seeing what happens next.
Oh boy, this is getting good! MORE MORE!
This just keep gettings better and better, one element down 5 to go.
I am quite enjoying the story, but I can't help but feel like perhaps this chapter was a little rushed. There were a couple errors here and there that I didn't notice in the last few.
Were you in a hurry to get this out?
Regardless, you've earned yourself a like and a fave, and I'll look forward to seeing more from you.
Can't wait for the next chapters.
i2.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/010/100/dis%20gon%20be%20good.gif
787150
What other names have you seen her have? I'd like a list, if only to laugh at it.
TAKE ALL THE MOUSTASHES!!!! TAKE THEM!!!
And this one too.
“Hey Scootaloo,” Applebloom said, walking into the clubhouse the next day. “Hey Sweetie... Oh, sorry, ah thought you were someone else.”
"ah thought you were someone else."
"someone else."
"someone"...
...I think somepony needs to add wordfilters to their word program to auto-change some words. Other than that, very enjoyable read so far! Off I go to read more chapters!
Goes to show that when you rely on mind control, your acting abilities might become rusty.
860363 So I'm not the only one who noticed :V?
Chrysalis, hey, it's called 'false backstory', something you figure out BEFORE becoming someone else.
As for the chapter, good times as usual. Still a lot to read...
*Knocks back a Coke in one go.*
Ok, ready, let's do this!
Cool! Scootaloo's a naughty pony!
Amazing guy of amazingness, how are yo doing this!? IT'S SOOO GOOD!? THQ)OTGATHP?IVQ#&
899355 pepsi for the win
Cap.
____________
Ah
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899355
860363
True. Heck for a race of shapeshifters, who rely on stealth and subterfuge to feed. Everytime we've seen them, other than Thorax, pre-pastel explosion monstrosity, have been utterly horrible at their jobs. Resorting to brute strength, show of force, and having absolutely no idea how to act like a pony.
Kinda sad when you think about it. They have one skill, but utterly fail at it beyond a superficial outward change. Then they get caught in a hack writing explosion, and get better at acting like a pony, but rarely ever change themselves ... when they could have turned into something so freaking awesome. Rather than an eyesore.
Also, Discord gathering allies to form Elements of Disharmony, to use teamwork to take down the Mane Six...hmm. I've recently seen this; an old ram seemed to think this would work for him too, except he only gathered four others.