>That moment in time seems to last an eternity.
>Chrissy pinning you down against the stone slab.
>The dark night sky bearing down on you two.
>And a pair of prying eyes catches the whole sight.
>In an instant, Chrissy, still in the guise of Cadenza, hops off of you and runs.
>Taking another exit, she rushes into the Labyrinth.
>This leaves you with the invader.
>It walks closer, coming into view.
>Purple mane.
>Pink coat.
>Wings.
>It's...Cadenza?
>But you just saw Chrissy run away.
>Oh...
>This is bad...
>"A-anon! What was, I..."
>She stammers at what she just saw.
>It makes sense.
>How could she process it?
>She saw HERSELF.
"Cadenza, wait-"
>"SHUT UP!"
>You have no idea how you're getting out of this one.
 
"Cadenza, listen to me."
>The panic in her voice rises.
>"WHAT WAS THAT THING?!? IT...It looked like...."
>Her eyes become wide with realization.
>You did the only thing you thought you could do.
>Lie.
"What thing?"
>"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT THING?!? It was on top of you!"
"I was lying on the bench, Cadenza..."
>"NO, it was holding you down! It looked like...me! I mean she...I...."
>You grab her shoulders, shaking her lightly.
"Cadenza, listen to yourself!"
>Come on, come on...
>"But...but I saw..."
"I don't know WHAT you saw, but it wasn't there."
>In what can be only described as hysterical, her mannerisms continue to degrade.
>"YES I WAS! I mean, she...I..."
"Listen to yourself!"
>It's working.
>To be honest, if everything she was saying weren't 100% true, she would sound crazy.
>"I..."
"Look, Cadenza-"
>"Cadance."
"...there wasn't anyone here."
>"..."
>Her silence confirms that your words have stuck with her.
 
>A few moments later, you're leading her out of the labyrinth.
>The pink mare simply looks to the floor, following your footsteps out.
>Right, straight, right, left, left, right...
>You didn't bother to change up the route.
>As you walk into the gardens, you look behind you.
>Cadenza's steps are lagging, and as she leaves the Labyrinth, she grinds to a halt.
>"...Anon."
"Hm?"
>"Promise me."
"...what?"
>Her downwards look changes to a piercing glare, tear filled eyes staring at you.
>"Promise me that I didn't see anything."
"Cadenza, you know-"
>"PROMISE ME."
"You didn't see anything!"
>She continues to gaze at you with an angered expression.
"Cadance, I promise."
>With that, the gaze fades, replaced with a happy grin.
>"Okay!"
>She wipes the tears away.
>Finally, it seems like she believes you.
>"I'm going home now, I'll see you tomorrow~"
>She trots off, heading back towards town.
>But before she's completely out of view, she yells.
>"YOU STILL OWE ME A TEA PARTY!"
 
>The next morning...
 
>*bbbbbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnngggggg*
>That school bell never ceases to be an annoyance.
>You trudge to school, jacket and backpack in tow.
>Last night was...
>Odd.
>To say the very least.
>You barely slept, worried about Chrissy.
>Her number one worry, her only fear.
>Being seen...
>It happened.
>What kind of friend were you?
>You let this happen by being careless!
>What if she never comes back to the Labyrinth?
>You messed up big time.
>And to top it all off, it was Cadenza who saw you two.
>Luckily, you managed to convince her that she was crazy and didn't see anything.
>She is just a filly after all.
>You may be just as young, but you were clever.
>Walking into school, you leave your bag with the others, and take a seat in the back.
>Everyone seems to be staring at your today...
>A few of the girls make glances and giggle.
>Except Cadenza.
>Weird.
>Today's lesson? Writing.
>Another easy one.
>You get your work done in half the time, considering you don't have to write with your teeth.
>Passing in the assignment, you sit back down to your desk.
>More doodles, you suppose.
>Lifting the desktop open, you grab your notebook.
>Flipping past your past drawings, you find a fresh piece of paper.
 
>A few minutes pass, and the bell rings once more.
>You didn't get much drawn
>It was more like staring at your pencil tip, hoping it would move on it's own.
>You leave your notebook on the desk, heading outside for recess.
>As you take a seat on a bench outside, Shining follows suit.
>"Hey Anon."
"Hey Shiny."
>"So, uh, is what everyp0ny saying true?"
>This gets your attention.
"What do you mean? What IS everyp0ny saying?"
>"Well, that you and Cadenza were in the Labyrinth last night."
>You freeze.
>How the heck could anyone know.
>"Ano~n!"
>Speak of the devil.
>"Hey, Cadance."
>Instead of a greeting returned, Shining recieves a glorious declaration.
>"Why yes, Shining, it IS true."
>She can't be...
>"I can't believe everyp0ny found out about it~"
>She grins, looking at you.
>To everyp0ny else, this was a cute smirk at her special somep0ny.
>To you, it was a look of victory.
"No, we weren't! I swear!"
>You try to convince the crowd, which wasn't working.
>"Anon, there's no need to be bashful!"
>She sits next to you on the bench, uncomfortably close.
>A flash of memory hits your mind.
>She's reminding you of Chrissy from last night.
 
"C...Chrissy?"
>She stops for a second, then gives you an angry look.
>"Cadance!"
>She smacks you in the back of the head.
>Definitely Cadance.
>And she's playing you like a fiddle.
"Look, we weren't at the gardens!"
>"I never said anything about the gardens~"
>Oh man, she's playing hardball.
>And everyone's buying it.
>P0nies stare at you two, giggling.
"Cadance, stop, tell them-"
>"Anon, listen to yourself!"
>That tone of voice.
>Those words.
>She's...mimicing you.
>From last night.
>Stupid girls.
>You stand up and walk back inside, not willing to deal with their jostling anymore.
>Swiping your backpack and jacket, you head for the front door.
>"ANON! School isn't over yet!"
"I'm already done."
>You toss the assignment on her desk and leave.
>Stupid girls, stupid school p0nies.
>Rushing away from the schoolhouse, you head into the castle.
>Up the steps, through the halls, and upstairs to your room.
>You slam the door shut, and fall onto the bed.
>The Labyrinth is no longer a safe haven.
>Chrissy could be in trouble right now as it is...
>Never again.
>You'll never put her in danger again.
 
>Meanwhile...
 
>*bbbbbbbrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnngggggggg*
>The schoolbell rings once more, to signal the end of the day.
>Your writing wasn't the best...but eventually your magic will work!
>Then Mi Amore Cadenza will never have to write with her teeth again!
>Haha!
>Writing is the last thing on your mind however.
>Anon has been pretty sneaky lately...
>And last night took the cake!
>You KNOW you saw something.
>It looked like...you!
>But YOU'RE you!
>No one's that pretty!
>Something's fishy.
>And you think you have an idea what it might have been...
>Anon left his notebook of silly doodles on his desk...
>As the other ponies leave, you can't help but sneak a peek.
>There's the drawing from the other day!
>That swiss cheese p0ny...
>Hmm...
>You take the drawing, and place the book in his desk.
>Leaving the school, you beeline straight for your home.
>You need to ask the smartest person in all of Equestria about this!
 
"Mommy! Mommy!"
>You run up to your mother, waving the drawing around.
"Look what I drew!"
>Your mom looks down at you.
>"Hello, Mi Amore! What have you got there?"
>She levitates the drawing out of your mouth and inspects it.
>"Oho! I never knew you liked ancient myths, my sweetie!"
>Ancient myths?
"Uh, yeah! I liked drawing the...uh..."
>"Changeling?"
"YEAH, changeling!"
>Feigning knowledge of what it's called!
>You're a smart one, Cadance, yes you are!
>But what's a changeling...?
>"Interesting creatures indeed, said to be able to take another p0ny's form!"
>You stand there speechless.
>"I personally liked the Windigo, from the old stories..."
>You jump up, snatching the picture in your teeth, and dash away.
"THANKS MOOOOOM!"
>You scream as you run out the door.
>Somep0ny's got some explaining to do.
 
>Returning to Anon...
 
>Your face has been buried in your pillow for the last few hours.
>Comfortable?
>Absolutely.
>Helpful?
>Not in the least.
>Chrissy still wracked your mind.
>Is she safe?
>You sure hope so.
>As you go to reach for an apple, you overhear something.
>"Is Anon here?"
>"Why yes, he's right upstairs!"
>Oh no.
>Who could possibly want to see you?
>Your door swings open.
>"Why hello there, Anon."
"Cadenza. Look, you need to-"
>She slams the door behind her.
>"CADANCE. And 'I' don't need to do ANYTHING."
>What...
>"You PROMISED me I saw nothing."
>She starts walking towards you.
"Cadance, I don't-"
>Cadenza pulls something out of her bag.
>Your drawing.
>How...
 
>"I knew I wasn't crazy...this CHANGELING of yours was impersonating me!"
>Ah crap, she knows, she knows!!!
"I can explain!"
>She puts a hoof on your chest, giving you a shove.
>"You don't NEED to explain. All you need to do is listen."
>What could she...
>"If you don't want your friend getting found out, you're going to do what I say, got it?"
>Wha...
>She can't be serious.
"Cadenza-"
>She stomps her hoof, shaking the room lightly.
>"CADANCE!"
>Best not say it wrong again.
"Okay, Cadance...I..."
>She's not kidding.
>But...Chrissy.
>You promised yourself...never again.
"Okay."
>With a smile, she steps back.
>"Okay, my special somep0ny..."
>Whatever it takes.
>She'll never be in danger again.
 
>Last night...
 
>A young changeling runs out of the labyrinth.
>Tears fill her eyes, as a light green flame overtakes her body.
>The pink coat of the mare she was mimicing disappeared.
>The wings she grew for the facade attempted to carry her away, but to no avail.
>Flight was out of her reach as the wings faded, leaving her black back bare once more.
>Her pink horn and purple mane, in a flash of green, returned to their original hues.
>Chrissy was Chrissy once more.
>And for now, she ran.
>She had been seen, by no other than the mare she was impersonating.
>She broke the first rule set upon her.
>The first thing taught to young changelings.
>Never.
>Be.
>Seen.
>She had been found, and it's all over now.
>Rushing back to her clutch, she passes by the sleeping changelings right to her parents.
>They sit on the throne.
>Awake, surprisingly.
>The mother notices her daughter's presence immediately.
>"My dear daughter!"
>She sits up from her throne to meet her daughter.
>Chrissy hugs her legs, and instead of being returned the favor, she only feels the familiar pull of her mother's magic.
>The light green glow extracted from her horn, flowing into her mother's.
>She only ever greeted her if she had this glow.
 
>Her father was much more sympathetic.
>"Chrysalis, my daughter, you look sad. Is something wrong?"
>With a sniffle, Chrissy runs to her father, recieving a hug as she gives one.
>"I...made a mistake..."
>Her father looks down to her.
>"Hm?"
>She shuffles a hoof, and looks up at him.
>"I've been hiding in plain sight...but...I got seen..."
>The changeling king gasps at this prospect.
>"You've been sneaking out to see p0nies?!? And you were seen?!?"
>Her mother, after indluging in the glow she extracted, returns to her throne.
>"As long as she's alive, it's quite alright."
>Chrissy begins to weep once more.
>"I'm sorry mommy, I'm sorry daddy..."
>Her father bends down to hug her once more.
>"It's okay, my dear. But NO MORE visiting the p0nies, okay?"
>It's at this point her mother interjects.
>"My king, don't you think that's a little harsh? We shouldn't limit her like this!"
>Looking up from the hug, he glares at the queen.
>"We are not going to allow our daughter to risk her own safety, and the safety of the hive!"
>The queen is clearly disgusted with him.
>"You are a weak fool, our daughter is plenty capable. Come here, Chrysalis."
 
>Chrissy walks to her mother.
>"Little one, where have you been going?"
>She looks down at the floor, ashamed.
>"Don't be ashamed, my dear. Tell me where you've been..."
>"C..Canterlot..."
>Her mother recoils.
>"My, that's where all this love has been coming from?"
>The king intervenes.
>"NO! We cannot allow her to-"
>"Quiet you old fool!"
>He sits down in his throne, letting the queen have her way.
>"My dear Chrysalis...whoever you have been getting this love from..."
>Chrissy seemed confused.
>She still did not understand this 'love'.
>"I need you to keep following them. Watch them from afar...but do not be seen..."
>The mother allows her horn to glow once more, the energy she had absorbed continuing to sustain her.
>"You need to do this for as long as you can, do you understand?"
>Chrissy thinks about it...and nods.
>"Yes Mommy."
>Chrissy would listen to her mother's orders.
>Watch from afar...do not be seen...
>For as long as she could.