Hivemind Control

Twilight's head was throbbing when next she woke. As she tried to move, she found that all of her joints were stiff, and as she opened her eyes, the dull grey-green light illuminated the room and told her that what had happened last night was not a dream.

"Hello?" she called out. Her voice was dry and scratchy, but it didn't echo off the walls as expected. When no immediate answer came, she tried to sit up. Other than stiffness and pain in her joints making her sluggish, there was nothing restraining her, something she found to be very odd. If she was their prisoner, shouldn't she be tied up or something?

She pushed herself up to a standing position. The walls were made of white bricks, the ceiling a collection of woven roots bound together under tension. She had been in a bed, which, despite the lack of a blanket, was very soft. The only other furniture in the room was a plush-looking chair with what looked to be a plush green fabric over it. At the far end of the room, there was an archway, leading out into what looked to be a hallway. There wasn't even a door, just an archway.

She wasn't looking this gift horse in the mouth. She was unrestrained, unguarded and uninterested in staying any longer. Her biggest hangup was that her friends and the princesses were still here. However, not knowing where they were, loitering around here was excessively dangerous. She'd rendezvous with Spike and lead the combined ranks of Equestria and her allies down onto this changeling hive and rescue them later. On her own, she didn't stand a chance. She would have to come back for them. They just had to hold out until she could.

As she reached the doorway, a pair of bidents crossed in front of her, barring her exit. Two armoured changelings held those bidents, blocking the door nonchalantly. They didn't seem to be particularly active, and likely wouldn't be unless she did something drastic. She tried to duck under the bidents, but they just moved along with her. She ducked even lower, then suddenly jumped, leaping over the shafts.

As she turned to sprint away, she suddenly found herself pinned to the wall by one of them, with the other walking over. The two of them grabbed her by the wings and dragged her back to her room, tossing her to the floor. "Why didn't you say anything?!" she scolded. They didn't answer, just disappeared from the doorframe, probably just taking their places in the hallway.

On closer inspection, what she'd thought was carpet was actually just moss. It was very springy and soft. The same material covered the chair. Come to think of it, the brick wall she'd collided with felt soft, too. Walking over to her own, she pressed her hoof against it. While not as hard and brittle as the clay bricks she was used to, they were still incredibly sturdy.

"Is she awake yet?" came a voice from outside the door.

"She tried to run off," confirmed one of the guards. "Are you ready for her now?"

Twilight turned toward the door and lowered her head. The moment the changeling here to collect her entered, she'd blast him with a spell and run. This time, she knew she'd be tackled, and that gave her the advantage. She knew right where to dodge.

As the changeling entered, a smug grin on his face, she fired. Rather, she grunted. No spell came out. She tried again, and still nothing. The third time wasn't the charm, either. She couldn't cast her spells.

"That's really cute," smiled the changeling. "Good for you, still trying to fight back. Your brother would be so proud."

Realizing that her spells wouldn't work, Twilight charged at him. If her horn couldn't cast spells, it was still pointy enough to hurt. Just as she was coming close, he spat something from his own horn that bound her front hooves together, tripping her.

"Feisty, feisty. And so very violent. I thought for sure that you'd try to talk your way out of this, first. You're clearly in over your head."

"I already tried talking," Twilight snarled, picking herself back up as best she could. "Your guards wouldn't speak."

"They were ordered not to," smiled the changeling. "Now, are you going to behave yourself, or do we need to bind your hooves and wings?"

Twilight narrowed her eyes. She didn't want to just drop to her knees and give them everything they wanted, but she was at their mercy. If she tried to run now, she'd never make it out. She sat back and held up her stuck-together hooves. "Are you going to let me go if I cooperate?"

With a chuckle, he severed the bindings that held her hooves together. "Now, I know you have some questions, like 'where are my friends?' and 'where are the princesses?' and 'how do I defeat you all and bust out of here with them?' All fair questions to have. Two of them, you'll even have answers to by the end of the day, if you're lucky. As for escape, if you do manage it, you'll just be captured and brought back. Any further questions that aren't going to be answered on the tour?"

"What tour?"

"I'm to show you around the place as soon as I deem you well enough. I do now dub thee well enough to walk around with my aid."

"How can I possibly know what answers are going to be given on the tour?"

The changeling clapped his hooves together. "You've won! You've come up with a question that I have no answer for! You're free to go!"

"R-really?"

"No!" he cackled slyly. "Ask your questions. Or don't. I'm only obligated to give you certain answers, anyway."

"Then why even bother giving me the option?" she spat, slumping down. "If you're allowed to refuse my questions, what's the point of asking?"

Without missing a beat, the changeling asked, "How many stallions have you had anal sex with in the past month?"

"I'm not answering that!" Twilight shouted, disgusted.

"Why not?"

"Because that's information only I need to know!"

"But I am allowed to know 'why not.' That's why you're allowed questions. Some of them have answers you can be given. I'm allowed to tell you the time, what you'll be having for lunch, my name, and a few other, marginally consequential things."

Twilight stood up and made her way to the door. "I think I'll save my questions for after the tour. Let's be on our way, changeling."

The changeling smirked and made his way into the hallway, keeping his eye on her at all times. "It's Cercus, by the way."