Title:           AiE: Welcome To the Swarm [Part 18]
Author:          TheUnbr0ny
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/1yVWvnDW
First Edit:      Thursday 20th of September 2012 05:29:01 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Thursday 20th of September 2012 05:29:01 AM CDT

>You decide to ask Chrysalis about it first.
>However, you don’t want the changing to run off.
>Derp.
>You can just tell it to stay put.
>You do so and head back to the storage chamber for the Spirit Emerald.
 
“Chrysalis, we need to talk about something.”
 
>”What is it?”
 
“It’s about the mental locks you’ve put in place on the changelings.
 
>She frowns.
>”So you found out about that?”
 
“I was thinking testing unlocking the Problem Solving portion of their brains, starting with one drone to test. It might improve their performance in general.”
 
>She seems to mull it over for a bit before she answers.
>”I think you might have a point. Alright, you have my permission. Do some test and then tell me how it goes.”
>You nod and head off again.
>What kind of tests could you perform…
>What about a maze?
>You don’t have access to any mazes, but the ponies might.
>You remember the purple one being the de facto leader and decide you’d best take the drone and pay her a visit.
>A simple command is all it takes, and the drone meets you at the exit.
 
>Now at Ponyville.
>Find Purple Unicorn.
 
“You there, what was your name… Twittlelight Spickle?”
 
>She notices you and tenses.
>”No, it’s Twilight Sparkle. What do you want?”
 
“Right. I need access to a large maze. Hedge maze maybe?”
 
>”Why?”
>She’s confused.
 
“Testing something.”
 
>”Well, there is the one in Canterlot, but you’d have to ask Princess Celestia.”
>You sigh.
>More white horsie.
>Brilliant.
 
>Now in Canterlot.
>Enter Throne Room.
 
“Princess Celestia, I require use of the hedge maze here for a test. I’m going to attempt unblocking the problem solving center of this drone’s brain.”
 
>You wave a hoof dismissively.
 
“Long, complicated story.”
 
>She eyes you warily, but seems to understand that you can’t do any harm in a hedge maze.
>If anything, the Changeling might require you to go in after it.
>”Very well. Come with me.”
>She leads you and the drone to the entrance.
>You delve into the mind and shatter the lock on the Problem Solving portion of the drone’s brain.
>A sort of spark appears in its eyes.
 
“Now, use your new skills to navigate this maze to its center and return. No magic, no flying.”
 
>It nods and speeds off.
>You look around and see a tall statue of a slender being with a look of terror on its face.
 
“What’s this?”
 
>You ask.
>it’s an innocent enough question.
>”That… is Discord.”
 
“What? It isn’t a state of disharmony and unrest.”
 
>”That’s his name.” White Horsie explains.
>Oh.
 
“But what is he?”
 
>”A draconequus,” white horsie explains. “A combination of various creatures and embodiment of pure chaos.”
 
“So why’s it made of stone?”
 
>”He was sealed away by Twilight Sparkle and her friends some time ago.”
>Okay, that’s interesting.
>However, just looking at the statue seems to give White Horsie the creeps.
>You can feel something odd from her, something you wouldn’t expect.
>Fear.
>She’s trying to hide it, but doing a pitiful job if YOU can sense it of all changelings.
>You don’t say anything however.
>She leave you to await the drone.
>Curiosity and boredom are a bad combination, and the maze is large.
>You begin to circle the strange statue.
>You kind of want to touch it, a childish feeling you know.
>Still, it’s like a sort of Pandora’s box, a forbidden fruit.
>You think about what to do.