PonyballzKai: Adventures In Equestria

"Oh, this is so strange. We're here and that's there, and I clearly meant for us to be there and not here." Discord was initially confused on how he hadn't managed to arrive inside the castle. Thorax attempted to explain, only to be interrupted each time by the draconequus. He ultimately had to wait till discord's magic outright failed as soon as he got just beyond the cliff for the lord of chaos to get the picture...

"I've been trying to tell you! Nothing other than changeling magic works here. Chrysalis' throne is carved from an ancient dark stone that soaks up outside magic the same way changelings soak up love. It's how she keeps the hive safe."

Starlight went to see for herself as she tested her own magic. Just like Discord's it fizzled out as soon as it crossed the threshold. This certainly threw a wrench in their plans. Trixie soon looked over to Starlight.

"So, uh, what kind of plan were you thinking?"

"Without magic, I have no idea. But nopony else is coming. So somepony better come up with something."

"Wait! I think I have one. You said this throne of hers absorbs magic, right? Well what about other sources of energy... what about ki?" Cyre questioned as he turned to Thorax.

"Uh..... what is Ki?"

"And that answers my question.... but just to be sure...." He created a ball of Ki in his hand and held it past the threshold, and it didn't fade away. This caused Cyre to smirk in victory.

"Alright then. My theory has proven correct then. Looks like we might be able to pull this off after all! Still, it'd be a good idea to destroy that throne. If those changelings I fought before got some kind of dark energy boost, then I'm betting this Queen has it to. You'll need all the help you can get."

Starlight Glimmer nodded in approval of his plan. "If we get into the hive and destroy it, can we get our magic back?"

"Uh-huh!"

Discord simply scoffed. "Well, that's a terrible plan. How are we even supposed to get to the hive?" Not one second later passed as Cyre grabbed all of them in his hands before taking off from the cliff and flying rapidly towards the hive. he stayed low enough so the changelings didn't spot them. He landed behind some rocks and stones that concealed them all as he dropped them on the ground. They shook themselves off and looked rater taken aback before waiting for an opening to get in the hive. Cyre sitting there before suggesting something to the others.

"Starlight....If these Changelings are as good as shapeshifters as they claim, they could become any one of us. Don't you think we should have a safeguard for that in place?"

"You're right Cyre... I hadn't thought of that quite yet! If we get separated, it might make sense to have a way to make sure we are who we say we are."

Discord, being discord, chose to give some input. "Oh! Like a secret code! How about if I say "we are" and you say "doomed"? Or you say "rescue" and I say..." Discord received a slap to the face from the Saiyan warrior, who was getting fed with Discord's pessimistic viewpoint. He ended up tripping over a rock in a dazed state, causing Trixie to laugh.

"How about if we say "klutzy" and you say "draconequus"?"

"Klutzy draconequus". Works for me."

"You have my vote."

"I'll definitely remember it."

Discord merely groaned silently as the quartet found an opening in the castle and went through it. As they all looked at the castle's internal workings, they saw the rock walls opening and closing randomly. Cyre was again intrigued, but it wasn't the time for an investigation. Trixie then turned to Thorax.

"Okay. I am definitely glad you came. I don't think we'd be able to find our way without you."

"You definitely wouldn't."

The rock wall that let them in had suddenly closed behind them.

"Um, where's the way out?"

"It's a changeling hive. It shifts and changes like we do, and we're the only ones who can navigate it. It's total chaos to non-changelings."

"Well, it's decent chaos. I don't know if I'd call it "total"."

All four of them continued to walk through the castle as Discord continued whining, much to the chagrin of everyone else.

"Are we sure that I'll get my magic back when we destroy this throne thingy?"

"If Thorax is right, then yes."

"Well, that's reassuring."

"And how are we supposed to destroy the throne when we find it?"

Starlight Glimmer: I... don't know.

"Uh.... standing right here guys. I can do that..." Cyre spoke to them. Of course, they pretty much ignored him as Discord and Trixie continued to argue.

"I don't suppose you brought any throne-destroying tools along with these useless sideshow props."

"Asks the Lord of Chaos who can't go for a walk without whining nonstop!"

"Yes, but when the throne is destroyed, I'll be able to rip the very fabric of reality to save our friends, while you'll still be a self-absorbed, below-average illusionist!"

"Self-absorbed?! Why, you...!"

Starlight Glimmer Ultimately put an abrupt end to the arguing. "Cut. It. Out! I'm just barely keeping it together, and it would be wonderful if you two could actually try to help instead of bickering like foals!"

Both Discord and Trixie ultimately agreed and did their best to cooperate, to which they asked Starlight what the real plan was.

"Don't ask me! I couldn't even handle giving advice at the Sunset Festival, and I had magic then! And the three of us are as good as useless! At least Thorax knows where we're going."

"Um, guys? I think we're lost."

"Oh, great. We might as well just sit here and wait for the changelings to soak up all of our love or whatever gross thing it is that they do. How often do you all get hungry?"

"Actually, I haven't been since I met Spike. And changelings are always hungry. We can never get enough love."

"Well, that's just super—"

"But you aren't hungry at all now?"

"Huh. Once I made a few friends, I guess I just sort of forgot about the whole feeding thing."

"Is that about the same time your wings changed?"

"I guess so."

After Thorax's and Starlight's little discussion, Discord simply yawned at it all. "While I would love to sit around chitchatting about feeding and not feeding, I have a Fluttershy to save!"

Unfortunately, his voice caused an echo. which in turn caused nearby changelings to hiss in anger.

Trixie admonished discord with a hushed tone. "Can you please lower your voice?! You're gonna get us all captured!"

"Oh, you keep saying that, but I haven't seen an actual changeling since we got into this hive."

as if the universe wanted to prove him wrong, there was distant humming that was quickly becoming less distant.

"W-What's that?"

"A changeling patrol!"

"This seems like one of those moments where we need a plan."

"What kind of plan?! We have no magic, and it's not like my illusions are gonna save us!"

"Don't worry guys, I have a plan. I'll just use instant transmission to get us to the throne room!"

"Wait.... You mean to tell me that you could've taken us there from the beginning?!?!? Why didn't we just do that instead of getting lost in here, and bringing Trixie unwanted attention?"

"I could have, yes. Since I can still sense energy, I can track where the others are in this place. Only one reason why I didn't just do that. It wouldn't have been as fun.... not much else. But I digress. Grab onto me before that squad gets here."

Without another word, the three of them grabbed onto Cyre. He then promptly put two fingers up to his forehead and focused. The four of them disappeared just as the changeling patrol came into view.

All four of them arrived in the throne room and looked around. The other three stayed planted where they were as Cyre stepped forward, staring directly at all the pods that hanged above the throne. At least, until he heard chuckling.

two little ponies, one children’s toy gone wrong, and a small little monkey, tail and all, all by themselves. Oh, how will I ever prevent this daring rescue?”

From between two of the pods, out crawled Queen Chrysalis. As she spoke, she rotated her head a good 180 degrees, which freaked out Trixie the most. She then landed right in front of the group, staring Cyre in the eye. Other changeling hissed as the poured into the room.

“Well, well, well. The Princess of Friendship's sole pupil, an untalented magician, and an alien. Honestly, I didn't think you all were worth replacing with one of my drones.”

“You won't get away with this!”

Queen Chrysalis merely chuckled as she looked at Starlight directly. “I already have. Nopony is coming to save you. Your little squad was it. And none here can rival my newfound power!”

“Hmph. That remain to be seen. In any case, I’m starting to understand why Thorax left this place....” Cyre mused, only to have Chrysalis right up in his face.

“Don't mention that traitor's name in my kingdom! He was a fool to leave and even more a fool to return! When I find him, he'll learn just what happens to those who betray the hive!”

Thorax the gave out a small whimper as Chrysalis spotted him hiding behind Discord.

“And it seems I don't have far to look, do I...”

She instantly raced toward him, only for the saiyan to block her path. “You want him? You go through me F-AAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!”
His sentence was interrupted by Chrysalis promptly punching him in his privates, before pulling back and doing it again, before finally punching him in the gut, sending him flying into a nearby wall, crashing into it. Cyre was out of action for the time being, due to the dirty tactics the Queen had pulled. However, this did give Starlight the distraction she needed to get to the throne and start whacking it. It failed though, and she was almost blasted away by the changeling Queen as she smirked.

“Very clever. And clearly Thorax revealed to you the secret of my throne. I can't have powerful ponies using their abilities against me. Even with your rather embarrassing little rescue attempt, everything has gone according to my plan.”

“What plan? Why did you do all this?!”

“So I could feed, of course! By replacing the most beloved figures in Equestria, my drones will be able to store all the love meant for them and return it here to me. Everypony will do as I command, and my subjects and I will feed on their love for generations!”

maniacal laughter followed by hissing made her plan abundantly clear to all that was present. Starlight was nearly backed into a corner, before remembering Thorax's wings, and how they got that way in the first place. A plan quickly formulated in her head as she smirked.

“What if you didn't have to?”

“Ridiculous! The hunger of changelings can never be satisfied!”

“Exactly! Thorax left the hive and made a friend. He shared love, and now he doesn't need to feed. You don't have to live your lives starving all the time!”

“You know nothing of the changelings or what it takes to be their queen! I decide what is best for my subjects, not some mewling grub!”

“I know what it's like to lead by fear and intimidation! And I know what it's like to want everypony to do what you say! But I was wrong. A real leader doesn't force her subjects to deny who they are! She celebrates what makes them unique and listens when one of them finds a better way!”

“The only thing Thorax has found is what happens to those who turn their back on the hive!”

Using dark magic, she grabbed Thorax and brought him in front of her. “Just as soon as I drain every last ounce of love from him and show my subjects what a real leader is!”

Thorax strained in the grip of the magic as his love was sucked out of him by the Queen. “I can feel the love inside me slipping away...! I can't hold onto it much longer...!”

Starlight Glimmer then stood up and shouted to Thorax. “Then don't! Sharing love is what made you different to begin with! You should share yours with Chrysalis! Give her all of it!”

Following her advice, he shared all of his love with her. With a flash, love magic blasts from his chest that sends Chrysalis flying into her throne, causing cracks to appear. Where Thorax once stood, there was now a cocoon. Starlight reached out and touched it, and a flash of bright light appeared, once it had dissipated, there stood thorax, but completely changed.

Starlight Glimmer than gestured to the rest of the Changelings. “This is what happens when you give love freely instead of taking it!”

With that, the other changelings didn’t hesitate, and they all transformed as they shared their love. This caused more cracks to form in the throne, which ultimately exploded so violently, the top of the castle was blown off completely. In the aftermath, everypony had been freed from their imprisonment.

Discord raced over to fluttershy and hugged her. “Fluttershy?”

“It's, um, good to see you, too.”

Twilight Sparkle got out of her pod to see Starlight standing above her. “Starlight? What happened?”

“We defeated the changelings with no magic at all, they found a new leader, and... they're all kinda... good now.”

Princess Luna walked over to Starlighr, along with the others. “Well done, Starlight Glimmer. It seems as though you've learned a great deal since we last spoke..... strange, I figured Cyre would have come along to—“

They were all interrupted by a huge explosion that set off in front of them. There stood Chrysalis, who sat there frighteningly calm, with a smile on her face.

“You’ve crushed my dreams for the second time.... I was going to rule with an iron fist. But now, my own changelings turn against me... follow a traitor.... this is now the second time I’ve been made such a fool of.”

Her eyes suddenly flashed red as a dark aura exploded around her. She now had veins popping in her head, and she also had a cold, furious glare directed towards the group.

“How dare you.... HOW DARE YOU MAGGOTS!!!!! I WILL NOT LET A SINGLE ONE OF YOU LEAVE HERE ALIVE!!!!! I WILL TORTURE YOU ALL SLOWLY!!!!!! YOU WILL RUE THE DAY YOU CROSSED MY PATH!!!!!!!!!!!”

The wind around them was blowing fiercely. Every single one of them was frozen in fear at the sight, even the princesses. None of them tried to run, it would’ve been pointless. Just as Chrysalis moved in to attack, another explosion erupted behind the group. From the dust, out came Cyre, who quickly landed in front of the group. Everyone in the group had changed their attitudes from fear to immediate hope and happiness.

“Cyre! I knew you’d come!!!” Luna had shouted to him.

“Just you wait Chrysalis! Cyre will kick your sorry flank all the way to next Tuesday!” Rainbow added on.

Cyre simply rolled his eyes and kept his focus on Chrysalis. “That was a dirty tactic you used in that throne room! If that’s how you intend to try and beat me, it won’t work. Now then..... why don’t we let our fists do the talking from here, huh?” Cyre smirked as he got into fighting stance, the same stance Goku had taken when he first fought Vegeta. Cyre’s aura flared to live as Chrysalis simply chuckled.

“If you wish to die so badly... so be it.”

TO BE CONCLUDED!