What I Lost

     To think, just an hour ago, the streets of Canterlot were so bright and happy, but now, screams echoed through the streets of the city as the Changelings' grasp spread farther and farther. Terrorized civilians ran away in hope that they could be safe from the Changeling invasion. However, a cream-colored unicorn knew that this struggle for survival would bring the losses of many.

     The unicorn followed her family, trying to avoid sight of the Changelings. "Abelle! Hurry up! We don't want to get caught by those repulsive creatures!" Her brother called after her. Abelle quickened her pace to a gallop, and caught up with her older brother in no time. Their mother was just up ahead, carrying their yearling brother, Quicksilver.

     Abelle could hear chittering and hissing noises from behind them. She nervously glanced over her shoulder to be met by the sight of a swarm of Changelings. She gasped, and tried to run faster. Her brother looked down for a moment, and made his horn glow with a pale cerulean aura. "You help Mom and Quicksilver get out of here. I'll hold off the Changelings."

     "B-But, you'll get hurt, Icy Storm! What if they-" Icy Storm silenced her with a glare. "This is my choice, not your's. Now go!" Icy Storm spun around and shot a ray of magic at one of the Changelings. Where the Changeling was shot at grew ice crystals. The Changeling plummeted to the ground. Abelle whipped her head back, blinking hot tears from her eyes.

     Abelle soon caught up with her mother. For an older mare, she sure was fast. For a moment, Abelle was hopeful that she and her family would survive this disaster, but that little glimmer was put out when a trio of Changelings charged for them from the front. Abelle's mother took a sudden turn into a narrow alley, and Abelle had no choice but to follow.

     The alley turned out to be a dead end, to Abelle's horror. The Changelings landed on the ground, and slowly stalked up to them. Their long white fangs glistened in the low light as they smirked. Two of the Changelings went after her mother and Quicksilver, while the third one stayed to confront her. Abelle's horn glowed with a bright magenta aura as she prepared to blast the Changeling.

     She shot a ray from her horn, but her mother's sudden scream startled her, and she missed. One of the Changelings had Quicksilver by the tail. The little colt lashed put with his short hind legs, though it wasn't very effective. The other Changeling had pinned down her mother, but it clearly wasn't easy because she was thrashing around so much.

     Abelle's stomach tightened, and her gaze darted from her family to the Changelings over and over before she made her decision. "Wait! I'll join you, just don't hurt them!" The Changelings exchanged cold glances with each other before grinning sadistically. One Changeling left the alley, and the other two lifted Abelle into the air.

     Abelle looked at her mother before being carried away. Her eyes were filled with tears as she clutched Quicksilver tightly. Abelle forced an assuring smile, as if everything would be okay. But she knew that just wasn't so when the Changelings started carrying her away. They took her to a lamppost just outside of the alleyway. There was an ugly green colored chrysalis dangling from it.

     Abelle started kicking with her back legs purely out of instinct as they carried her closer and closer to it. They hovered over the chrysalis, and dropped her into it. One Changeling spit out disgusting green goop onto her horn, then sealed her into the chrysalis. Abelle tried using her magic in an attempt to escape, but the green slime seemed to have properties that blocked her from using magic

    Slime started pooling at the bottom of the space. When it touched Abelle's hoof, it burned like boiling oil on her skin. She tried climbing up the side to escape the fluid for as long as she could, but her hooves slipped on the side, and she fell right in. Abelle screamed as her lower back touched the fluid, slowly filling up above her stomach. Before it filled over her head, she took a deep breath, which was almost pointless because she screamed again right after some of it got into her eyes.

    Her eyes opened involuntarily, and couldn't see anything through the haze of her pain. Her back was the worst of it though. It felt as if someone was stabbing her from the inside, trying to get back to the outside. When she accidentally breathed some in, the pain of it all almost made her pass out. Her teeth felt like they were being tugged on by braces, and her scalp felt like it was on fire.

    But a small tremor ended this agony. The tremor knocked the chrysalis from the lamppost, and exploded open on impact with the hard, cold pavement. The fluid got out of her lungs and eyes, but everything looked hazy at first. When she regained her full vision, the Changelings were standing over her with large smirks on their faces. Abelle almost cried when she saw herself in the reflection of their eyes.

    Her coat was almost pitch black, and there were holes and crevices all over her body. Her horn was curved upward like a dagger, but it didn't look nearly as sharp as the fangs jutting from her mouth. Her mane was knarled and matted with holes scattered about in it. But her eyes is what really got her. Her light pink eyes were darkened to magenta, and they were horrifyingly dragon-like.

    The earth suddenly shook beneath her hooves, and a wall of light rapidly moved towards her. It didn't affect ponies, but the Changelings were repelled by it. When it got near Abelle, she expected to pass through it, but she was deeply mistaken. The wall hit her with such force that she was flung into the air. She was being forced away. Away from her family, her friends, her home. But what really brought tears to her eyes is who lied in a pool of blood in the middle of the street. Her brother that she never even got to say goodbye to.