>You’re walking down a corridor.
>… No, you’re not sneaking around.
>You’re actually wandering around with permission.
>With an escort, of course.
>Two changeling mares lead you around.
>They’re showing you what’s what, surprisingly.
>Chrysalis is apparently true to her word and now she’s set a couple of her minions to, well, give you a proper tour.
>Which is a little exciting, somehow.
>Moving around without worrying about capture is pleasant.
>The two changelings and you have been to the library while they’ve helped you memorize the trip.
>You’re going to need another trip or two before you can really remember the route, though.
>Interestingly enough, they told you it’s not the only library here.
>There’s many more all around their home.
>For the sake of ’proper distribution of knowledge’ or something like that.
>Changelings are supposed to read and know things, obviously.
>Figures. They make a living off of infesting other societies.
>They should know how stuff is done in other places than their own.
>You’re currently heading for the “bath house”.
>The two mares walk in front of you, quietly leading the way.
>One has an air of professionalism about her.
>She only talks when it seems like she’s supposed to, and otherwise fulfills her queen’s orders without question.
>The other one…
>She’s constantly stealing glances at you.
>Apparently she thinks you’re super interesting.
>… Well, you ARE a human.
>You don’t pay her any mind and just try to memorize the twists and turns you make as you go from one place to another.
>Of course, that’s incredibly hard.
>The gray walls are all the same where-ever you go.
>After a little while, you arrive at a large pair of solid-looking doors.
>The baths.
>”Here it is.”
>The pro one talks.
“So I can just drop by here and take a bath whenever I like?”
>They had to have some reason to show you this.
>”Yes.”
>Cool.
“I guess I’ll have to thank Chrysalis for that.”
>And then the curious one steps forward.
>”So, if you need any help washing…”
>A disapproving glare from her colleague stops her.
>You look at her for a moment.
>What the hell was that supposed to mean?
“… I’ll keep that in mind.”
>She’s a bit weird.
>But who knows. Maybe you could make a companion besides Chrysalis.
>Although that makes you wonder…
>Would Chrysalis approve?
>Not that you value her opinion, but it would be a little annoying if she starts paying attention to and controlling whoever you interact with.
>She does seem to care a lot about keeping you hers.
>But this is one of her own minions…
>Fuck it, you have no idea.
“Where’s the way back from here?”
>The pro points with a hoof down the corridor you came from.
>Of course.
“Alright. Then… lead the way.”
>Without a word, the two changelings take point and you follow.
>You walk for a little while in absolute silence.
>Changelings don’t seem to be big on small-talk.
>Not with you, at least.
>Although-
>A bright, blinding light suddenly erupts right in front of the changelings.
>Jesus fucking dammit, your eyes!
>You cover then with your hands and practically curl up.
>For a moment you’re worried that they’ve been badly damaged.
>You don’t pay much attention when things get noisy, the pain being mixed with panic.
>”Hey! HEY!”
>A hoof pokes your head.
>You uncover your eyes.
>Well, you’re not blind.
>Looking around, it takes a moment before the colourful smudges in your vision fade.
>And you see…
>Rainbow Dash is hovering right in front of your face.
>”You okay there?”
>…
>Huh?
>You look around.
>The two changelings are unconscious on the floor while Applejack is tying them up.
>Twilight walks up to you.
>”I’m so sorry! I had to use it on those two, I didn’t mean to hurt you!”
>What. The. Fuck?
“No, I’m, uh, I’m fine.”
>”Oh thank goodness.”
She breathes a sigh of relief.
>”Oh, come on, Twilight. It’ll take more than a flash to hurt him.”
>Dash gives her a disappointed look.
>”I guess. Anyway, we have to hurry.”
>Dash hovers away with her flapping wings.
>Hurry?
“Hey, wait.”
>You’re still processing the whole situation!
>”What?”
>Twilight looks at you.
>You look back.
>She’s really there.
>Purple, horse-y, standing right in front of you.
“… Are you real?”
>Dash stops.
>Her head turns around to look at you.
>Twilight also stares.
>Then Dash breaks into a giggle.
>Twilight can’t resist smiling too.
>”Yes, I’m real.”
>”Twilight, I think Chrysalis messed with his head.”
>”Maybe. My brother had something similar done to him.”
“No, wait a minute!”
>You’re pretty sure Chrysalis didn’t wreck your brain!
>”No time for talking! Come on!”
>Twilight suddenly swivels around and starts galloping down the corridor.
>Goddammit, is this really happening?!
>Fuck.
>You force any confusion from your mind and just follow the three mares.
>Rounding a corner, you run into Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy.
>They each give you a quick smile before following Twilight who doesn’t slow down.
>”Hi!”
>”Pinkie, we need to be quiet!”
>Except the pink one.
>She happily hops along instead.
>With no time for proper re-introductions, you all hurry through the maze that is the changeling domain.
>Much like the time you were deceived, Twilight leads the way with confidence.
>… In the back of your head you still wonder if this’ll turn out to be another trick.
>You round several corners and burst through a door, running without pause.
>It would be pretty exhausting if the circumstances weren’t so… thrilling.
>But then, taking a left turn at a cross section, Twilight suddenly stops.
>The rest of you are quick to follow her example and avoid slamming into each other.
>Just ahead of Twilight is a patrol of two changelings.
>They stare.
>Then they start hissing menacingly.
>Applejack and Rainbow Dash are on them in a heartbeat.
>Twilight and Rarity step forward to lend a hoof with their magic.
>Fluttershy stays back while Pinkie Pie cheers.
>Merciless smackdown commences.
>With the patrol floored, you quickly continue on.
>A part of you feels a little sorry for those two changelings, though.
>A few doors along the narrow corridor suddenly burst open.
>Changelings literally pour out and run toward you.
>The noise of the fight apparently didn’t go unheard.
>”Hang on!”
>Twilight stops, concentrates, and her horn starts glowing brightly.
>Before you can wonder why you’re not RUNNING with all the snarling changelings charging at you, you’re blinded.
>Light and energy envelops you, your feet lose contact with the ground, and you’re flung into empty space.
>The sensation, being pretty damn scary, almost makes you scream in panic.
>But a fraction of a second later your body hits the floor as you’re thrown to the ground.
>What the hell, Twilight?!
>You pick yourself up and try to cope with a newfound dizziness.
>Looking around you see the rest of the group also standing up.
>But…
>The place is different.
>You’re in a hall now.
>”Twilight, where are we?”
>Applejack looks concerned.
>”I… I’m not sure.”
>Huh?
“Twilight, what did you just do?”
>The place is spacious and littered with tables and stools.
>”Wha- Oh, right. You haven’t tried it before, have you?”
>You give her the ‘duh’-look.
>Just answer the damn question.
>”Teleportation.”
>Oh.
>So that’s what it feels like.
>”Please, we should move on.”
>Rarity seems pretty focused now.
>Without more talk, the group sets into motion again.
>You exit the hall through a nearby door and enter the network of corridors again.
>Twilight then runs towards a nearby staircase, going down.
>”This way.”
>The others don’t question her and you choose to follow her lead as well.
>The stairs spiral downwards to a lower level with hard stone steps.
>Everyone’s hooves clop eerily in the empty space.
>You quietly worry about how far the echoes can travel in this place.
>Running along a new corridor, you pass a couple of side-passages for the sake of continuing straight on.
>Until a group of changelings appears ahead of you.
>Wordlessly, you all retreat and pick the nearest side-passage.
>Taking a few turns, you again find changelings ahead of you and are forced to take pick a new path.
>You turn a corner and spot more changelings further down the corridor.
>Goddammit, they’re everywhere!
>Retreat, take a new turn.
>The place seems more like a labyrinth than ever.
>… and you begin to get the feeling the changelings are MAKING you take the road you’re now on.
“Twilight, wait.”
>Twilight halts along with the others.
>You take a moment to catch your breath.
>The others do the same, you notice.
>”What is it?”
>Her purple eyes are full of worry.
“Where are we going?”
>She hesitates.
>”... Out.”
>Right, she has no fucking clue.
“We need to-“
>A screech suddenly comes from behind you.
>Every head turns to see a large group of menacing changelings coming towards you from further down the straight corridor.
>In the distance, their black bodies resemble a horrifying wave.
>Fucking hell.
>The ponies start running immediately.
>Given no time to think, you follow them.
>You continue through their domain, occasionally getting blocked by more changelings.
>You’re driven forward while forced to make certain turns.
>But then…
>You enter a great hall.
>One that you’ve been in before, you realize.
>Several doors line the walls.
>Long tapestries decorate the gloomy stone of said walls.
>The large gate that leads to the outside world!
>Although it’s closed shut.
>But as soon as you’re inside, you all stop dead in your tracks.
>Oh. Fucking. Shit.
>The place is stuffed to the brim with changelings.
>Standing along the walls and taking up most of the open floor, several more hovering above the ones standing.
>It’s a freakin’ trap.
>OF COURSE it’s that!
>You quickly twist around only to see the group from earlier having caught up with you and blocking your way back.
>Crap.
>Big fat load of steaming crap.
>Something large slowly makes its way through the innumerable changelings in the hall.
>You watch as all the changelings wait for the big one to make its appearance before acting.
>They move out of the way and allow Chrysalis to come forth.
>She stops in front of the Elements, who now don’t dare to move, and looks over the mares calmly.
>The satisfied look on her face is chilling.
>”Hello, ponies.”
>Nobody speaks.
>Yourself included.
>You absolutely dread whatever’s about to come next.
>”I see you tried to steal from me.”
>She locks eyes with Twilight.
>Twilight stares back pretty intensely.
>”No. We’re taking him back.”
>Her horn immediately starts glowing.
>But she doesn’t have time to teleport.
>Chrysalis’ horn fires a swift beam of energy which knocks Twilight off her hooves.
>The unicorn tumbles backwards painfully, colliding with Rainbow Dash.
>And then the entire changeling horde descends on you.
>Every changeling leaps forward, causing the gathering to swarm the ponies and you like a monstrous tide.
>In the brief moment you have, you bring your arms up as a panicky defense, as if you could somehow shield yourself from the black monsters.
>The six mares shriek in horror as they’re overwhelmed by changelings.
>… but they all pass by you.
>Every single one that comes close to you moves around you and leaves you in your spot.
>The six friends are goo’d up and carried away before you realize nothing’s happening to you.
>A good chunk of the gathered changelings depart with their prisoners, trotting out a single door with remarkable organization.
>You still stand with your arms up when it’s all done.
>Trying to calm your heavy breathing and hammering heart.
>Jesus fucking shit, you thought you were about to get mauled to death!
>But you’re completely untouched.
>What the hell?
>You lower your arms and your eyes find Chrysalis.
>She’s looking at the door the ponies disappeared through.
>Every remaining changeling has their eyes on you, though.
>”So…”
>Her green eyes move back to you.
>”This is a pleasant turn of events.”
>A grin takes shape across her face.
“Uh…”
>Several things are on your mind right now.
>Why’d everyone leave you?
>What the fuck are you talking about, Chrysalis?
>Where are the mares now?
>”Question? Do ask.”
>She sounds absolutely delighted.
“… Why?”
>She looks at you.
>Almost seeming puzzled.
>”Why it’s pleasant? Well, I just captured all of Celestia’s Element-bearers.”
>Her expression changes back into a gleeful one.
>”No annoying tricks this time. Nothing has saved them and they’re all mine.”
>She then looks away and taps her chin with a hoof.
>”Now, what to do with them…”
>Oh god…
>Her eyes focus on you again.
>”Don’t look so terrified. I know you wouldn’t want them to die.”
>Her expression becomes less overjoyed.
>”You still see them as your friends, don’t you?”
>Duh!
>They finally came you drag you out of here.
>They ACTUALLY came this time!
>The ponies you know so well and who care about you.
>And now they’re in Chrysalis’ hooves.
>Fuck.
>Chrysalis seems to scrutinize your face.
>”Hm… Well, I guess I’ll have to be merciful, then.”
>That hits you.
”Are you going to let them go?”
>She snorts.
>”Of course not! I’m keeping them in the dungeon.”
>Right.
>Doesn’t really surprise you.
>”Until I decide what to do with them.”
>… That sounded pretty ominous.
“And what would that be?”
>The look she gives you is sharp and angry.
>”I suppose you’ll want me to be kind, but I’m not going to forgive them for being about to steal you.”
“You stole me first.”
>”And I’m going to keep you. If they don’t like that, too bad.”
>Her tone is dangerous.
“Do you blame them?”
>You wonder if you’re pushing your luck.
>”Entirely. They should know better than to cross me.”
“But I’d be going home. Back to where I belong.”
>She narrows her eyes.
>”Your home is here.”
“Doesn’t feel like home.”
>An honest statement, really.
>Although it also feels rather daring right now.
>Chrysalis… smirks.
>”It will.”
>You don’t respond.
>Just raise an eyebrow.
>Is that supposed to mean something special?
>”It would be about time you made yourself at home.”
“Here?”
>That’s still a pretty damn alien thought!
>”Yes. Let yourself be comfortable here.”
>Good grief…
>She suddenly closes the distance between the two of you.
>Walks up to you and looks into your eyes.
>You almost take a step backwards out of caution.
>What is she going to do now?
>As she looks at you, her expression becomes soft and… alluring.
>Those emerald eyes nearly draw you in.
>”I can be good to you if you just let me.”
>Oh jeez, not this…
>And then her expression suddenly turns frighteningly hard, her voice becoming steely cold.
>”I’m not letting those mares have you.”
>She turns away and starts walking towards the door the seven of you came from.
>… Holy shit, that was scary.
>When she passes you, she gives you a brief look.
>”Come with me.”
>You don’t question her and follow her back.