Hivemind Control

The next week was absolutely brutal for Twilight. She had shifted from sleeping at night to through the mornings. Carapace wouldn't let her move or talk, but he never complained about her snoring. It wasn't just for him, either. It turned out that Cercus had only selected Mandible to watch her during the day, but Chrysalis had taken that back to just afternoons and evenings, and assigned Carapace and another changeling to watch her in their own eight-hour shifts. The one that watched her at night, whose name she didn't ask for fear of a repeat of her first day being bound to the floor, didn't like her being allowed to sleep while he had to stand guard, and kept poking her with the butt of his spear whenever she looked too comfortable.

Chrysalis was no better. Twice, she had called Twilight to the throne room for entertainment. The first time, she'd had to pleasure herself in front of an audience of changelings, and then she was made to recite verse with half a dozen grapes in her mouth while wearing a saucy outfit. The second time, she thought was reasonable at first, as she just had to peel a zucchini to her preferred size. She didn't peel off very much, leaving most of it intact. This was something she came to regret as it was then shoved up her arsehole and sealed in place with changeling goo. She had to walk around like that for hours, at first just doing random chores for Chrysalis, but one of the court guards wanted to see her dance with it stuck up there, so she had to do that next.

She was very nearly at the point where she would go to Fluttershy and demand the wiggleworm toxin to end this torment and let her mind run blank. As horrible as that fate was, to be mindless and without critical thought; to ensure Equestria's defeat via complete loss of leadership, a smouldering ash of hope stayed her hoof. The ponies of Equestria needed her. Shining needed her. The princesses needed her. Her friends needed her.

But she needed Cercus. He could give her reprieve from this hell. He was the only changeling that would treat her with any dignity, and with him gone for so long, she was fighting a losing battle. If she had to put up with Chrysalis' tasks one more time...

"Good morning." Twilight's ears perked up. She sat up on the bed and turned to the door. There, dropping a large pack from his shoulders, was Cercus, looking right at her. "Did you miss me?"

"Cercus!" Twilight bolted to the door and tackled him, knocking him back a step. She squeezed him tightly and cried into his shoulder. "What took you so long?"

"I'll take that as a 'yes.'" With a soft chuckle, he walked her into his new bedroom, the one she'd shared with Shining. "That dragon friend of yours is quite the talker. Every time I tried to end a conversation, he'd just move right into the next topic of discussion."

Twilight looked up. "You're not going to hurt him, are you?"

"Probably not. We're not barbarians." He turned to look at Carapace. "Most of us are not barbarians," he rephrased. "There's a good chance he won't be harmed, and to demonstrate that, you can have this."

Reaching into his pack, he pulled out a small scroll addressed to Twilight. She took it, pulled it open and began reading.

Twilight

Cosmic Crash assures me that you're alright. The fact that the sun and moon are still circulating in the sky tells me all I need to know about that. I'm glad you're safe, and that you've found Celestia and Luna.

I don't understand why you don't just come back. I know you want to help the gryphons protect their holy site from the zebra armies, but surely you can do that more easily with the Equestrian army. Having all five of you might be a very powerful force to be reckoned with, but surely you must understand it's risky?

I'm not judging you or questioning your wisdom. If there is a reason you all have to be there, I understand. I wish I understood why, but I suppose it is best to defer to you. You're the smartest pony I know, and if anypony could figure out a way to make sure all of you come back safely, it's you.

Equestria stands shakily right now. Everypony knew that the other princesses had disappeared, but news of your leaving has caused an unexpected upheaval. I'm doing my very best to keep everypony calm, but I'm only one dragon. Equestria needs her princesses back.

I look forward to hearing of your casualty-free victorious defense.

Interim Princess Spike the Dragon

Twilight wiped a tear from her eye. Spike was doing his best, and all he asked in return was her safety. He truly was the best Equestria had to offer. It was just too bad that he wasn't enough.

"What's this about a Gryphon holy site?"

"I had to tell him something to explain where you are," replied Cercus. "Now, have you spoken with Mandible?"

"At length," Twilight nodded. "He's been the best of my caretakers while you were gone."

"He was supposed to be the only one," Cercus scowled.

"Orders from Chrysalis," answered Carapace. "It's my job right now."

"Actually, it's mine," replied Cercus. "You are dismissed, Carapace."

As soon as he was out of earshot, Twilight let loose. "He was horrible," she started, trying to avoid sitting down. "He was very rude, and he kept telling Chrysalis that I was acting up and being bad. I mostly slept when he was around because it was the only way to stay out of trouble. That, and the night shift chaperone kept hitting me. Mandible was okay, but he kept taking me to Chrysalis every few days, and yesterday, she shoved a fruit up my butt and the night shift guard was supposed to take it out so I could sleep but he wouldn't, and Carapace would have stuck my mouth shut and just le-- AH!!"

With a flash of his horn, the goo dispersed, and Twilight's colon shot the zucchini across the room. It bounced once on the bed, then fell to the ground, as did Twilight. "Thank you," she said, gasping for air. "Warn me next time?"