Imago

    Imago woke up in a dungeon. His head was pounding like it had been stomped on by a whole country. He had got to stop blacking out, he thought. There was one iron door and no windows. A torch was just beyond reach on the other side of the door. The room itself was very small, just room for him and a cot. There were five guards per cell door, positioned around them. Imago saw a few other changelings in cells. “Is anyone over there awake?”

“I am.”

“How long have you been here?”

“A few hours, I think. There are thirteen of us in here.”

“Have you contacted Queen Chrysalis?”

“Yes, she said she will try to peacefully negotiate our release, but that probably won’t work after recent events.”

“We need a plan B. How can we take out the guards?”

“Well, there are sixty-five guards in here and only thirteen changelings. There is one torch and we are underground with no idea where we are. I don’t have the slightest idea.”

“Can we use anything from in the cells?”

“I don’t think so, unless mattresses are weapons.”

“Which cell are you in?”

“This one over here.” He stuck his hoof out the cell door. “Where is yours?” Imago did the same. One of the guards noticed them sticking their hooves out of the bars and got suspicious.

      “Changeling,” He said pointing a hoof at Imago. “Why are you sticking your hoof out of your cell?”

      “It’s cramped in here.” It wasn’t even a lie.

      “Then why is that one doing it too?”

      “It’s cramped in there!” Imago was getting annoyed at this guard’s curiosity. “I hope the queen’s plan works.”

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      The whole city of Ponyville was looking for Spike. Twilight was worried that the changeling that was harassing people earlier hurt him. He couldn’t now though, because Big Macintosh gave him to the royal guard after everyone in the town gave him a kick in the head. After Spike’s fit, everyone gave him some time to cool down then went to go find him. When they went back into town they heard about the changeling and then everyone started looking for Spike, like they are now. No one has found a single clue as to where he is. Applejack was looking around Sweet Apple Acres with Twilight. “Twi, ah got to thinking and ah thought a somethin’.” Twilight was clearly in distress.

      “Yes?”

      “Well ah was talking to Lyra earlier and she said she saw Spike go into an alley, the same alley that the changeling walked out of seconds later.”

      “Applejack, what are you trying to say?” But Twilight knew exactly what she was trying to say.

      “Twi, ah think the Spike that we got from the changeling is the changeling.”

      “I know Applejack, I just don’t want to believe that the real Spike is still out there.” She started sobbing. Applejack put a comforting hoof around her.

      “Its okay sugarcube, from what ah’ve heard the changeling that came through here didn’t actually hurt the younger ponies. They said he only scared ‘em and if he was faking Spike he must’ve been the one to take ‘im, dontcha think? So that means he didn’t hurt Spike.” Twilight looked up from her sobs and said,

      “I guess so.”

      “And besides, sitting here crying won’t bring Spike back.”

      “You know what, you’re right!” Applejack was satisfied with that. “I’m going to write a well thought out note to the princess and have Spi-” She started to cry again. This was going to be a long day, Applejack thought.

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      Queen Chrysalis was sitting in a room with Princess Celestia, in Canterlot Castle, discussing the imprisoned changelings. “Why should I give you your changelings back?” Celestia asked.

      “Simple, I have two of your royal guards at my Hive. Give me my changelings and you can have them back.” Chrysalis looked down at Celestia’s hoof and grinned. It was bandaged and looked ridiculous without a hoofguard.

      “How do I know I’ll get them back?”

      “Bring them out.” Five changelings brought the two interlocked guards out from behind a door. Celestia gasped at their condition.

      “What did you do to them?!”

      “I am simply returning them in the condition that they were in when I received them. Now do you accept my offer?” Celestia was angry, but she didn’t let it show.

      “Yes, I do. Guards, bring the thirteen of them in.” A royal guard walked out to inform the guards of their release.

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      All of the changelings were awake now. They were desperate for escape. The second they saw a guard enter the room all of their attention was on him. The guards unlocked their cells. "The prin-" The changelings didn't even listen, they just charged him and blew through the door. To them, this was their only chance at escape. They hit guards as they ran through the halls. They ran into the room that Queen Chrysalis and Princess Celestia were talking in. All of them were confused.

      "My queen?" Imago wondered aloud.

      "Ah, there you are. Let's get back to the Hive." She stood up to leave.

      "Wait, you're releasing us?"

      "Yes, why do you think they opened the doors?" A royal guard rushed in from behind the changelings and tackled one.

      "Run Princess Celestia, they're attacking!" All of the other changelings defended the tackled one and beat up the guard.

      "Stop!" Princess Celestia shouted. The changelings continued beating the guard. Chrysalis looked at Celestia and smirked.

      "Children," They stopped and looked up at her. "Stop wasting your energy on him. We need to go." The changelings gathered around their queen and walked through the double doors to the throne room. "Goodbye, Celestia." Celestia just looked back with hate. The changeling queen was just about to open the doors to leave the whole castle, when something opened it from the other side.

      "But Shining, you said-" Cadence and Chrysalis just stared at each other. Shining was worried what might happen if he didn't do anything. He leaped at the queen only to be pounced on by three changelings. "Shining!" She broke the stare and pried the changelings off of him with magic. "Are you okay?" She asked.

      "Yes, I'm fine. What are you doing here?" He pointed at Chrysalis. Chrysalis hadn't stopped staring at the spot where Cadence's eyes had been. Abruptly, she spun around and tackled Cadence.

      "You ruined my whole invasion! Hundreds of my children are dead because of you!" Shining Armor ran over to help Cadence but was held down by the other thirteen changelings. "How could you do such a thing! You heartless monster!" Both Cadence and Chrysalis were crying. Chrysalis hit Cadence in the face once.

      "GET OFF OF HER!" Shining Armor used a shield like the one in Canterlot, but smaller, and blew the thirteen changelings in different directions. He ran over to Chrysalis and shot her off with magic, before tending to Cadence. "Honey, are you all right?" He gently asked with concern.

      "Yes, I'm okay." She replied between sobs. "I...I just didn't know we killed so many of them." She hugged him and cried into his shoulder.

      "Well, you did!" Chrysalis cut in, recovering from the shot. "All I did to you was ruin your pathetic wedding to feed my subjects and you and your husband kill seven-hundred-thirty-four of my children, just from the shield! Now we barely have enough food to survive!" She knew she shouldn't be telling them all of this, but she couldn't stop now. "At least five die every day just from malnutrition and it's all your fault!" Cadence was bawling, she couldn't take much more. "I have to cope with losing my children everyday and its all your fault!" Chrysalis was crying again, as well.

      "I'm so sorry! I didn't think that it would kill anyone! What can I do to make anything better?! Please tell me!" Shining Armor spoke before Chrysalis had the chance.

      "Cadence don't do this! She will probably take you back to the Hive and hurt you or even kill you!" She looked at him with watery eyes and smiled. "Shining I love you and I always will, but this is something that I need to do." She turned around to look at Chrysalis. "Okay, what do you need?"