Chapter 10: Twilight Velvet – Element of Passion

Velvet stared at the male Changeling in front of her. How could she have been so stupid? There had been more than enough indications that it hadn't been Night Light. She got up and bolted towards the door. “Spike!”

“I wouldn't do that, if I were you,” the Changeling said, calmly sitting down on the bed. “If you want to see your daughter again, that is.”

The novelist froze with her hand hovering above the doorknob. “You've got Twilight?”

“I do,” he said, examining his fingernails nonchalantly. His black skin, green eyes and curved horn gave him a menacing appearance despite the mundane action. “And I'm the only one who knows where she is.”

“What have you done to her?” Velvet growled.

He shrugged. “Nothing … yet and I won't have to, if you're a good little girl and do as I say.”

Quick steps could be heard from across the door as Spike approached the room. “Auntie! What's wrong?”

Velvet lowered her hand and slowly turned around. Imago was shaking his head and drawing a finger across his throat. She couldn't risk Twilight's safety. She had to find out where she was first. Until then there was no other choice but to play along. “N-nothing, Spike,” she said. “I thought I saw a spider. Never mind. You can go back to your room.”

There was a pause on the young dragon's end. “Auntie. I just wanna help, but I can't do that, if you don't talk to me.”

She wanted nothing more than to open the door and tell him to incinerate the intruder to ashes. “I'm sorry, Spike. I just need to be alone for now.”

Spike sighed heavily. “Alright. But I'm here for you, if you need me.”

Velvet closed her eyes. What a fine young dragon he had become, since he had come to Ponyville. “I know,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

She heard him retreat back to his own room and looked at the Changeling again. “Who are you?”

“You really ought to listen more carefully. I already told you my name is Imago. I'm kind of a celebrity in the hive. You see, I was born peculiar. Unlike my mother, Queen Chrysalis, and every other Changeling I thrive on hatred rather than love. And right now there's so much of it in Equestria, it's a veritable feast for me.”

“What do you mean?” If she was gonna be in his power, she might as well try to find out as much as she could.

“I've been impersonating your husband for about six months now,” he said with a grin. “How you hated each other. It's exactly the reason I initially chose to take his place. First pushing for military reforms and then that scandal? Every courtier in Canterlot hates his guts now. Glorious.”

Imago fired up his horn and changed into the form of a green unicorn stallion with a piece of parchment for a cutie mark. “Of course the only thing people hate more than a cheating husband is a nosy reporter. Unfortunately Celestia kept the story from breaking outside Canterlot, so I had to move around a bit to get some more people upset.”

Again he changed his form in a ball of green fire. This time he was a grey mare with blonde hair and distinctly crossed eyes. “For example this klutzy pegasus who messed up the automation in that Heavy Weather Factory.” He assumed a helpless expression. “I just don't know what went wrong.”

Once again he cast the spell and now a young Wonderbolt was saluting her with an evil grin. “Cadet Cloudspinner. It's an honour to fly with you and Ms. Rainbow Dash, your highness. Don't worry, I'll lead you safely through the safest part of this storm.” He laughed loudly. “How they hated that kid for leading your daughter straight into the eye of that hurricane.”

Changing back to his regular form with those insect-like wings and holes all over his body, he closed the distance between them and pushed Velvet's chin up with one finger. “But that's nothing compared to how they loathe you,” he said, licking his lips. He showed her a camera on the palm of his other hand. “Every whisper of contempt, every judging glance makes me stronger. Not even Celestia could defeat me now.”

“You're not gonna get away with this,” Velvet said between clenched teeth.

“Oh, but I will,” Imago whispered at her, pinching her nipple. “I'm gonna prove to everyone that I alone can poison even the loving and tolerant ponies of this town. They're gonna hate their Princess and they're gonna hate you. I'll manage what even my mother couldn't: Take over Equestria in one fell swoop. You and I are gonna have some fun now. Your self-loathing is such a delicious treat.”

* * *

It was just after dusk and Velvet was walking onto the Ponyville market place with unsteady legs. There were still a fair few of the residents about, packing up their stalls or simply enjoying a walk in the cool evening breeze. Juices were running down her inner thighs, although she desperately fought to keep them at bay. It was no use and everypony could see it with the blue pleated skirt, she was wearing, being so short. It was a mystery to Velvet how Imago had even come by this sailor outfit in the first place, but it must have been a middle schooler's uniform. The top was barely covering her chest and her mid rift was bare.

It didn't take long for everypony to stop what they were doing and start staring at her. “Can you believe this?” she heard a mare whisper. “Totally shameless.”

“They haven't seen anything yet,” Imago, who had once again taken the disguise of Night Light whispered in her ear. “Go on.”

Velvet was rooted to spot. “I can't,” she said meekly.

Imago's face hardened. “You might want to change that attitude or you know what happens to your daughter.” Then he let his hand glide into his pocket and pressed a switch.

A jolt ran through her body as the magically controlled vibrator in her pussy began to vibrate harder. The ponies around started to wonder where the buzzing sound was coming from. “Do it,” Imago commanded coldly.

Unsuccessfully trying to hold back the tears, Velvet began to loosen the ribbon on her chest and removed the top of the sailor uniform in which the Changeling Prince had forced her to dress. She wasn't wearing a bra. “Can you believe this?” she heard somepony say. “And while her daughter is still missing,” a male voice joined in.

Velvet undid the zipper of her skirt and let it fall to the ground. Then she pulled down her panties with shaky hands as a collective gasp escaped the crowd. Now everypony could clearly see the pink sex toy moving around in her pussy. It was precisely this moment that Imago turned the vibrator up to eleven.

The novelist doubled over from the surprise and fell to her knees. All those accusing eyes were on her and yet she couldn't hold it any longer, arching her back and cumming violently. Her mind was a white haze as she caught her breath. The vibrator had been squeezed out.

“Whore!” somepony shouted and the next thing she knew, Velvet was hit in the head by a rancid tomtato. “Get out of our town!” The cries of outrage increased as more and more vegetables started to fly in her direction.

“I'm sorry,” she whimpered, knowing that Imago was watching her and standing up was not an option. So she simply hung her head and accepted her fate.

“WHAT THE BUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?” Spike pushed his way through the crowd and took her in his arms, shielding Velvet from the incoming projectiles.

“Spike,” she said with tears in her eyes. “I'm sorry.”

“You've got nothing to apologize for,” he said and then shot a look of pure acid at who he believed to be Night Light. “Why are you just standing there, uncle? She's your wife! Help her.”

“She's only getting what she deserves,” Imago replied without emotion. “Don't tell me you don't want to take a shot at her yourself. After all she got you caught up in all of this.”

Spike growled back at him. “She hasn't done anything wrong and she believed in me. If it hadn't been for her, I would have never confessed to Rarity. She's my aunt and I'll always stay loyal to her no matter what. That's what family members do for each other.”

It was then that Velvet realized, the relentless barrage had stopped. Five other ponies had stepped up and formed a circle around her to shield her. As Spike draped his jacket around her, the red stallion spoke up. “Y'all should be ashamed of yourselves, treating Velvet like that.”

“But, Big Macintosh,” some stallion said in confusion. “She lied to us all, to you most of all.”

The large farmpony snorted. “And how do you know that? We had a fun afternoon together, no strings attached. Ah was the one who kissed her first and that is the honest truth. A truth you had known, had you bothered to ask instead of believing a stupid news article.”

“And that is nopony's business but theirs,” Aloe, who had also joined the circle spoke up just before her sister. “There is nothing wrong with a little pleasure generously given,” Lotus Blossom finished.

“YEAH!” Snowflake shouted. Now at that everypony took a definitive step back. “Showing others kindness and helping them overcome their problems is not a crime, whatever form that might take.”

Imago was clutching at his chest and breathing heavily. “How can you defend that slut? You're supposed to hate her.” Looking at him, Velvet realized that his disguise was starting to falter. Was he getting weaker, because her friends had spoken out on her behalf and were overcoming the hate? He glared at Thunderlane. “Don't tell me you actually like her?”

The dark pegasus stallion laughed out loud. “Are you kidding? I love my girls like that, not that I've ever met one quite like her. I should laugh at you for having such a great wife and not appreciating her,” he flexed his muscles and cracked his knuckles. “But I'll make an exception for you.” With that the Wonderbolt cadet launched himself forward and gave him a ringing right hook that sent him sprawling to the ground.

That had done it. The force of the impact itself had been enough to shatter the illusion and now all could see Night Light's real form. “He's a Changeling!” somepony shouted.

Thunderlane blinked, not fully comprehending what had just happened. But he immediately got his act back together and charged forward, followed by Snowflake and Big Mac. Together the three stallions probably could overpower him, but there was something else.

“Don't,” Velvet screamed. “He's got Twilight!”

* * *

“I don't like this,” General Battle Axe growled, looking across the barren field at the unmoving Changeling army. “Something feels off.”

“Agreed,” Pinkie Pie said, observing them through her binoculars. “But it's flat ground all around. They can't ambush us and they've literally been telegraphing every move they're about to make. If I didn't know any better, I'd say they don't even wanna fight us at all.”

“What do you mean, Captain,” Celestia said, addressing the pink mare with her new rank rather than by name. “You were the one to point out that they wanted to lure us into a trap.”

“That's just it,” she fumed. “They can't be this stupid. They've had ample opportunity to attack. I think we should go talk to them.”

Celestia looked across the field. Halfway between the two armies stood a party of Changelings, bearing two flags. One was the royal arms of Queen Chrysalis, the other a flag of truce. “Guess you're right.”

Five minutes later the Princess, General Battle Axe and the five Element Bearers had made their way to the meeting spot, where a waiting Chrysalis was tapping her hoof on the ground impatiently. “It's about time you showed your ugly muzzle around here, Celestia.”

Celestia glared back at her old enemy defiantly. “I'm here. What do you want?”

“Have you seen my good-for-nothing son?”

Celestia blinked. That hadn't been the opener she had expected. “Pardon?”

“My oldest son, Imago,” the Queen of the Changelings said angrily. “You remember him. He was with me, when we both attended the trade summit in the Griffon Kingdom.”

“That was a fun weekend,” Battle Axe grumbled sarcastically. “Never seen more armed guards at a trade conference.”

Celestia shook her head to gather her thoughts. “That's beside the point. Why have you invaded my country, Chrysalis?”

The queen raised an eyebrow. “Invaded?” she scoffed. “Honey, if I had invaded you, you'd know it, because your fat plot would be sprawled on the ground before me just like last time we met.” She sighed dramatically. “This is what I get for trying to be upfront and polite for once. I've tried asking your stupid subjects about my son, but they keep running away, whenever they see us. Now have you seen him or not?”

Celestia turned around and whispered to Battle Axe. “General, could it be that we mobilized our entire country's military force in response to a search party for a missing child?”

The General looked over his shoulder. From this distance it was clear that none of the Changelings were actually armed expect for Chrysalis' royal guard. “It would appear so, your highness.”

The Princess began to blush. “This is the most embarrassing thing since I accidentally raised the sun in the west after that Hearth's Warming Eve's party last year.”

“Now hang on just a darn minute,” Applejack cut in. “We got information that one of your agents has abducted Twilight and is holding her hostage right now.”

“Agent?” Chrysalis frowned. “I don't have any agents in … “ Her eyes went wide and she looked at the Princess of the Sun angrily, her fists shaking. “I told Imago no girls. Celestia, if your student has seduced my son and eloped with him, I swear I'll … “

The white alicorn groaned. Soldiers on both sides were starting to snicker now. “Maybe we should continue this discussion in private.”

A yelp from Rainbow Dash stopped the exchange. “Hey, what gives?” The cyan pegasus was being pulled around by her Element of Harmony and was now facing east. The necklace began to glow and before long a red beam of light was released from the gem, heading towards the east.

“What in tarnation?” Applejack cried out as the very same thing happened to her. One by one the Elements activated and flew off to somewhere.

“Well,” Pinkie Pie said gravely, when it was finally her turn and the blue stream of light flew off. “Wherever this war is gonna be decided, it's not gonna be here.”

* * *

At the same time Prince Shining Armor was standing on the balcony of the Crystal Castle in the far north, staring moodily across the evening sky.

“Shining,” a seductive voice called out behind him. “It's cold out there. Come back to bed.” It was his wife, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza or Cadence as she preferred to be called. The pink alicorn slung her arms around him from behind and nuzzled his neck.

Shining Armor didn't react.

“Something wrong?” she asked, sensing her husband's distress.

“I don't know,” he sighed. “Probably nothing. I just have this strange feeling that mom and Twiley are in trouble.”

Cadence turned his head around to her and looked into his eyes. “Your mother and little sister are two of the most resourceful mares I have ever met. I'm sure between the two of them there's nothing they can't handle.”

The stallion nodded. “I know. It's just … “

But Cadence sealed his lips with a finger. “If it'll put your mind at ease, we can always send them some help.”

He smiled at that. “I would like that. Thank you.”

Both of them fired up their horns and closed their eyes. Summoning the love they felt for each other from deep inside, their horns touched and a swirling vortex of blue and pink energy began to form above them. Fixing their eyes on the south, the magic burst forth from the couple and flew off into the general direction of Ponyville.

“Be safe, Twiley. Be safe, mom,” Shining whispered.

* * *

“Stand back, you foals!” the Changeling Prince roared as his horn blazed with green fire. Big Macintosh, Snowflake and Thunderlane were hurled back by the impact of his magical projectile. They tumbled to the ground and landed back in the dust next to Velvet.

Spike protectively drew himself up in front of his aunt. He was shaking in fear, but stood his ground, drawing in his breath. With a roar that must have shook the foundations of Canterlot he unleashed a burst of dragon fire that was unlike any other he had ever managed to muster up. The inferno could have burned the Everfree forest to cinders, but Imago simply yawned and caught the dragonfire with one hand stretched out before him.

“So boring,” he said. “I might have failed to turn this puny town against you, Velvet. But I've still stored so much energy that even if you all attacked me at once, you couldn't hope to defeat me.”

“Let's put that to the test then,” a yellow earth pony stallion said, stepping between Velvet and Imago. “You with me, honey?”

“Count on it,” a blue mare replied, standing by his side. “Any friend of Pinkie's is a friend of ours.” Mrs. Cake looked around the market place. “What Velvet does with a willing partner in bed is her business. Are we gonna let ourselves be swindled into hurting her by this guy?”

It seemed like, roused by Mr. and Mrs. Cake, the whole town was starting to shake off the spell that Imago had managed to put them under and soon they began to join them, some eagerly, some reluctantly, but they all came forth, forming a protective line between Velvet and the Changeling Prince.

“Muhahaha,” Imago laughed. “You don't get it, do you? You might refuse to hate her, but in doing so you hate me even more, making me more powerful than ever. You can't defeat HATE INCARNATE!” Firing up his horn and lifting up his hands, he summoned a giant ball of green fire and without a warning threw it at the townsponies.

The magical energy detonated at their hooves and they were thrown around like rag dolls. When, the dust settled, only Velvet and her six original defenders remained standing.

“You've meddled for long enough. Time to end this.” With that the Changeling prepared for another attack.

Nothing seemed to be able to stop him and Velvet closed her eyes as the magic hurled in her direction. “I'm sorry, Twilight,” she whispered. “I tried to save you.”

Just then something happened, a brilliant beam of multicoloured light came out of the sky and engulfed the six ponies plus one dragon. “What?” Imago growled as his attack was deflected by the rainbow of light.

“Hey, ah know this feeling,” Big Mac said in amazement, opening and closing his hands while standing in an orange glow. “Feels like mah sister.”

Thunderlane was giggling uncontrollably for some reason. “Hey, what's up with this blue light?”

Snowflake was looking up into the warm, pink glow that was giving him shelter. It was clear who he was thinking off.

Spike looked over at Aloe and Lotus with envy as the two startled spa workers murmured the name of their best customer. “Aw, nuts,” he muttered as he realized where the red beam around him had originated from. “I really am the new Rainbow Dash.”

Imago was clutching his chest again. “What is this warm, fuzzy feeling? It's sickening.”

“It's the Elements of Harmony,” Velvet realized in awe. “Then that must mean Twilight … “

Imago grimaced. “Looks like you've figured it out,” he said, holding one hand over the ground. After a brief rumbling noise two cocoons broke through the surface. One was holding an unconscious Night Light and in the other was …

“Twilight!” Velvet cried out. Finally she knew where she was. She had been here all along, in Ponyville. She had to give Imago credit. Nopony had thought to look for her here after her disappearance. Finally she could be saved. But there remained one obstacle.

Imago was placing a hand on Twilight's cocoon with a look that said here was his last ace. “Your Elements won't do you any good without hers. You still can't beat me.” He traced the outside of Twilight's prison almost lovingly. “You're daughter is very pretty. I think I'll keep her as my concubine, when I'm crowned King of Equestria.”

With that announcement something snapped inside Velvet. Just at the same moment as the combined blue and pink beam of magic from the far north burst out of the sky and engulfed her just like the Elements had done the others. It drew upon something primal so deep within her very being that Velvet didn't even notice the ground shaking beneath her. Her voice was not that of a soft-spoken romance novelist anymore, but the rumble of a wild tigress defending her cub. “Don't you bucking DARE LAY A HAND ON MY DAUGHTER!!!”

Imago suddenly recoiled from the spark of light that came from inside Twilight's prison. Velvet could hear her daughter's voice speak directly inside her mind and judging by the confused looks on the faces of the momentary Element Bearers, they heard it, too.

The magic contained in my Element can not simply be overcome by hate. As long as there are ponies who carry on the spirit of the Elements of Harmony, there will always be a way.

Loyalty.

Honesty.

Generosity.

Kindness.

Laughter.

When these Elements are present, a spark will ignite them. A different kind of spark, that spark is...

“...Passion,” Velvet finished and a brilliant beam of white light burst forth from the Princess of Magic and hit her mother. The writer could feel herself being lifted up into the air. Her shoulders burned as two wings sprouted on her back and the cool touch of gilded steel pressed in on her skin as she was encased in ancient armour much like the ones the pegasi of old wore before the unification.

Velvet opened her eyes to find herself hovering inches above the ground, a large, round shield strapped to her left arm and a golden lance in her right.

For the first time Imago seemed to become unsure of his victory and with a growl he shot another burst of his sickly green magic directly at her. Velvet moved on instinct and her hastily raised shield took the brunt of the assault. She could feel herself being pushed back by the sheer pressure of it and once again fear and self-loathing about her past actions threatened to overcome her.

But then she could feel the warm glow of true friendship and love steady her as six pairs of hands pressed on her back. A tear rolled down her cheek as she realized there was nothing to be afraid of. Her friends and her daughter were with her.

With a savage cry Twilight Velvet threw herself against the attack and angled her shield to deflect the blow. Her wings propelled her forward and she flew at her enemy with such speed that she barely had time to aim the lance. She swung.

Imago fell to the ground, howling in pain and Velvet stood over him, pressing the tip of her weapon against his throat. He gave her a look of defiance and prepared for another spell, but again he howled in pain as mere sparks came from his forehead. He felt atop his head and looked up at her in horror. “MY HORN! You cut off my horn!”

Velvet gave him a look of contempt. “That's right. Now you can never again use your powers to hurt others. Be grateful I didn't cut off another extremity that sprung to mind.” She pressed the lance closer to his throat, drawing a little blood. “I have every reason to kill you, but I won't. You're somepony's son and I bet even Queen Chrysalis, deep down in that shriveled black lump of coal she calls a heart, loves you. Maybe even enough to withdraw her army in exchange for your safe return.”

She looked over to Snowflake, Thunderlane and Big Mac. “Take him.”

“Where to?” Big Mac inquired, after the two Wonderbolt cadets had overpowered and secured him between the two of them.

“The basement of Sugarcube Corner,” Velvet said with a grin. “You ought to find everything you need to hold him there.” Then she turned her attention to the two cocoons. “Spike, see to your uncle,” she ordered and as the dragon got to work to claw him out, Velvet cut Twilight's prison open.

She caught her daughter in her arms. The purple mare coughed up some more of the green goo that was covering her and her eyes fluttered halfway open. “Mom?” she asked weakly.

“It's okay now, baby,” Velvet said with tears in her eyes and pressing her child against her chest. “Mommy's here now and everything's going to be fine.”

Author's Note

Before you get ready to sharpen the stakes and cut off my head for turning Velvet into an alicorn and an Element, read the epilogue. You'll find that I didn't really alter the status quo all that much.