Project: Chrysalis

9. Paranoia

The long halls of Lab 28 were bathed in darkness, only periodically lit by fluorescent lamps above the floor. Ten ponies depended on this route as their last hope for survival. Somewhere at the end of this corridor was the fourth and final door. But before they saw the sun again, a final showdown would be had with a black mutant.

She infected their minds, seeding fear and nurturing it. Every encounter caused it to grow and grow. Hate, too, escalated, driving them forward for revenge.

Fluttershy was too concerned about aiding Rarity, what with her broken leg. Applejack was too angry to let her fear overtake her. Twilight's methodical mind stuck to the task at hand; getting out. Therefore Rainbow Dash was left to the terror that gripped her heart, alone.

She kept seeing the shadows, imagining in her mind the changeling slithering, crawling, creeping, or whatever means the monster used to move itself. Its large white fangs bearing down on the pegasus, and tearing her to shreds. It was quick and cautious, lying in wait. Rainbow Dash had watched tons of horror movies, and knew that at the end, only one or two survived. The cyan mare knew she would be next.

Meanwhile below the flier, Applejack and Antlion walked side by side, both having their weapons at the ready. The farmpony looked down and sighed. She then turned her head towards the tan stallion and addressed him in sincere tone.

"Um...Doc...Ah uh...Ah just wanna say Ah'm sorry. You were right...we should have gone this way in the first place. If we'd've listened to you, well..." She closed her eyes and stomped the ground. "That scientist would still be with us... Ah'm so sorry...Ah let my stubbornness get the best of me. Ah was playin' with my best friends' lives! Ah..." The normally tough pony began to cry. "Ah already lost Pinkie Pie...this is mah fault..."

Antlion didn't know how to respond. He was never very good at helping ponies cope with emotional problems. So he replied the only way he knew how. He thought it was the absolute worst way to respond.

"It'll be ok...as long as we stick together..." He then gave an awkward smile.

She wiped her eyes and smiled back. "You're right. Need to toughen up for now."

Applejack seemed to feel better at merely somepony saying something, thought Antlion. Thank goodness.

Behind the two, Fluttershy supported the incapacitated Rarity. Shortly before, the yellow pegasus splinted her leg with the crowbar she dropped when Chrysalis snatched her. Fluttershy thought the white unicorn wouldn't be able to wield it anyway.

The two slowly followed the rest of the group, silent and paranoid. Being strong for her friends, she vehemently fought the urged to cower and curl up into a ball. It was a battle she was winning...for now.

Scanning around the room, Fluttershy eventually fixed her eyes on Rarity. Looking at her eyes, she noticed there were fewer eyelashes. A couple seconds later, the implications of that formed in her mind. She examined all the evidence; Rarity was colder and "harder" than she normally was...her fur wasn't as warm or soft. No fake eyelashes. Something wasn't right...

With a loud gasp, the pegasus quickly jumped out from under the unicorn's foreleg. Timidly she began to protest.

"R....R....Ra...that's not Rarity!"

All eyes were on the pink-haired mare as she blurted out her accusation. Rarity was quick to object.

"W...What? How could you say something like that, Fluttershy?" The white pony's eyes began to water. "It's me. Your best friend Rarity! Please!"

Twilight sided with her. "Of course it's her. Fluttershy, why would you say something like that?"

"B...because her eyes...her eyelashes! The fake ones, I mean." The pegasus began cowering behind Twilight. "She always has them...and now she doesn't."

"I assure you, Fluttershy...I AM Rarity. My...eyelashes were...rubbed off when that terrible creature took me." Rarity began sobbing. "Please, everypony. It's really me."

"That's a hefty accusation, 'Shy. The eyelash thing seems pretty superficial to me..." Applejack added.

"Maybe um...yes...but when I was supporting her...I uh...Rarity seemed off. She was sort of cold and hard...she's Chrysalis!"

“‘Cold and hard'? Do you have any idea how silly that sounds? She was drug across the floor. It's filthy and cold. Rarity needs us right now after she almost died! She doesn't need you saying she's the changeling!" Twilight put her front leg around the white mare.

"No! You must believe me! She's..."

Fluttershy was cut off by the sound of screaming coming from down the hall. Everypony turned to see what was going on. A bloody stallion crawled forward, his body mangled and torn. He was missing his two back legs, and the skin on his back was gone.

"Help me! I need medical attention!"

"It's one of the scientists!" Applejack shouted. She overcame her initial revulsion at the grotesque state of the stallion, and rushed over to him. "Don't worry. We'll do all we can. Fluttershy! Get some gauze!"

Fluttershy began treating his wounds. Rainbow Dash looked at the broken pony and thought for a second.

"Wait a minute. Rarity, didn't you say...he got eaten?"

"Yes! It's her! Shoot him...her...it!" The white unicorn urged.

"No no! I'm real! SHE'S the imposter! I saw that poor mare devoured...alive! Shoot HER!" The stallion cried.

"Do it! It's not Rarity!" Fluttershy concurred, wrapping the injured pony's wounds.

"Fluttershy...why? Unless..." Rarity paused. "YOU'RE Chrysalis!"

"No! How could I be her? I never left anypony's sight!"

"Exactly! The perfect cover!" The accuser continued. "You always brought up the rear, and she could've snatched you up without even knowing...poor Fluttershy...YOU MONSTER!"

"You would've heard me scream! Especially Rainbow Dash

The cyan pegasus replied. "Of course! You've been here the whole time! But...maybe it is the stallion..."

"Please! Look at me!" The bandaged pony shouted. "I'm in terrible pain! Don't!"

"Well if it's not Fluttershy..." Celestia, heretofore silent, felt she needed to support one of the elements of harmony to regain SOME credibility.

"It's not me! Please! I'M Rarity!" The purple-maned pony pleaded. "You're not going to believe some pony you just met over one of your best friends, are you?"

"You gotta believe me! I SAW her being eaten!"

Applejack pointed her gun at the stallion. It's true; she'd never believe that stallion over Rarity. And she didn't want to even think about the idea that her dear friend had perished, and an imposter took her place for some sick purpose. In an adrenaline-fueled moment of rashness, the orange mare shot the stallion, blowing a large hole in his ribcage. He collapsed to the group, lying in an expanding puddle of blood.

Everypony was shocked, and dared not to say anything. They expected the dead pony to begin transforming, or the magical guise to wear off. Something to indicate it was Chrysalis. Nothing. About a minute later, they all realized he was real, and truly dead. Applejack began trembling, her eyes filling up with tears. "What have...I done?" She backed up, and in her dazed state, Fluttershy snatched the gun away from her.

The pegasus pointed it straight at Rarity and BAM! The white mare fell over, just like the first pony. Twilight shook herself from her disbelief and stared at Fluttershy. She grabbed the pegasus and swung her hoof, bashing the side of her head. "You bitch!! You killed Fluttershy! And now you killed Rarity!!"

Twilight was about to hit her again, but the yellow mare screamed through her tears. "No! I'm Fluttershy!!" She glanced at Rarity’s corpse. It began to rustle. "Look!"

The body twisted and convulsed, and then stopped. Suddenly four long black legs, like those of an insect, sprouted from her chest and abdomen, piercing through the magical disguise. Its mouth opened and fangs sprouted out as it bellowed a loud roar. Scurrying off, too quick and sudden to be stopped, two tentacles spontaneously formed from it, wrapping around the body of the dead scientist. Before leaving, it turned around, looking at the eight ponies with its eyes, no longer Rarity's azure color, but now cat-like green eyes. The eyes of a demon.

At first Chrysalis looked like she was about to speak, but then just ran off.

Everypony just stood there. Utter disbelief filled them all. The ones who could have maybe gotten a shot or two of lead or magic were too stunned to react. Twilight looked back at Fluttershy, her head bruised. The lavender mare gently set her down, and proceeded to bring her hooves up to her face. They had some blood on them.

Twilight then curled up, rocking back and forth. Her mind was now officially broken. She gave up. Applejack, throughout most of this ordeal very strong, shook in fear and sadness.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy joined the two in mental breakdown. Chrysalis had done it. She'd won. And now they only had to wait for her to finish the job.

Celestia retreated into the shadows to sob silently. Vixen, indifferent to the suffering of others, scoffed their actions in her head.

The two remaining scientists embraced, waiting for the end just like the four mares on the floor.

Antlion was horrified. Two more ponies were now deceased. He looked at his rifle, then at the mourning group, then down the hall. He couldn't endure anymore. He pointed his gun barrel at his face, and readied himself to pull the trigger.

A quick bullet was the better of the two options.