My Little Warhorse: Friendship is Broken - Cold

by MLPGal

Rating: teen
Tags: Changelings, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Other, Queen Chrysalis, Violence, Death, Alternate Universe, Sad, Main 6
Length: 6876

The changelings are back, and with them -- tragedy.

This story is a rewrite of my old story, Cold. My current editor and I agreed to update the story a bit, and there are going to be quite a few changes to the story anyway, so I figured I'd keep the old one for the memories, and keep the original to show how far I've come. Art drawn by my editor.

It has been a few years since Twilight and her friends gave the Elements of Harmony to the Tree. They have been through so many adventures together with and without the Elements. Twilight knew, that even without the Elements, she and her friends would be able to overcome whatever was thrown at them. Or so she thought…

In this version of the story of MLPFiM, seasons 1-6 happened except for anything past episode 15. I figured I would clarify the timeline in the show of where this takes place.

Published 2024-05-13 20:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2024-06-23 01:39:29 UTC

(1) Helping With Flurry Heart

Author's Note

(1) Helping With Flurry Heart

Twilight sat on the picnic blanket, laughing at Pinkie’s joke. It was an idyllic day, thanks--in part--to Rainbow’s hard work. The pets were playing not too far away, Winona and Gummy teaming up to chase the others while Owlicoius watched from above.

“No way!” AJ almost sounded scandalized, “He did not!”

“He did!” Pinkie responded with laughter. “Then he was all ‘You know, back in my day’ and started all over again.”

This started another round of laughter amongst the girls.

“TWILIGHT!” Spike called, running up to the group.

“Spike?” Twilight asked, concerned, he didn’t usually interrupt their weekly picnics.

“A-a letter came, came in for you.” Spike panted, skidding to a stop just outside the blanket. “It- it’s marked Urgent!” he held out said letter.

“Oh. Well, thank you, Spike!” Twilight accepted the letter and opened it, reading it quickly, before double taking and rereading it.

Dear Twilight,

I’m sorry to spring this on you, but Shining Armour and I were invited to the yearly Crystal Summit, and we have no one to watch Flurry on such short notice. Our usual sitter canceled on us. It will only be a few days, and we’ll come pick her up right after. Could you watch her?

Cadence

Twilight folded the note and poofed it away. “Spike, could you take a letter for me?” Spike nodded, already holding a quill and scroll.

Twilight cleared her throat as she responded to the letter, accepting. She turned to her friends. “Do you girls mind if we cut the picnic short?” she asked. “I need to get Flurry’s room cleaned up.”

“Sure, I gotta get back to the farm and get my daily chores done anyway,” Applejack replied to general assent from the others as well.

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

Later a knock on the door alerted Twilight to her sister and niece’s arrival. She opened the door for them with a wide grin, inviting Cadence inside for a moment.

“Thanks again for doing this, Twilight,” Cadence said. “I’m so sorry to drop this on you so suddenly.”

Twilight smiled waving a hoof. “Not at all,” she replied. “I love spending time with Flurry.”

Cadence smiled as she gave a soft giggle. “I know, I’ll be back tomorrow at the earliest.”

Twilight took the sleeping Flurry from her mother gently as the two said their goodbyes. As soon as the door closed, flurry stirred from her nap.

“Twiwight?” she asked sleepily.

“Yup!” Twilight responded, “You're staying with me for a little, while your mom and dad go to their summit.”

“Pinkie?” Flurry asks craning her head to look around the castle entry.

“No, Pinkie isn’t here right now, do you want to go and see her?”

“Yes!” Flurry cheers, now fully awake.

“OK! Let’s go visit Pinkie!” Twilight says grabbing Flurry’s baby-bag and heading out to Sugar Cube Corner. Luckily it wasn't very busy when they arrived so Mr. and Mrs. Cake were willing to let Pinkie attend the excitable foal for a few hours. As long as they took the twins with them to the park.

Flurry shrieked and giggled at Pinkie’s silly face beside Pound and Pumpkin Cake, the three foals were pretending that Pinkie and Twilight were giant monsters that were trying to catch them. The two had spent the last hour chasing the foals around the park, burning some of their endless toddler energy.

“Twilight!” Twilight turned to see Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo running up to her.

“Hello girls, is something wrong?”

The three kids skidded to a stop just in front of her, “No, we just noticed Flurry Heart was here! Are you looking after her?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Yeah Cadence and Shining Armour had to go to a summit and their normal sitter couldn't watch her, so they asked me.”

“Cool! Can we help?” Scootaloo offered.

Twilight raised an eyebrow at the threes’ ‘innocent’ smiles before chuckling good-naturedly. “I'm sure you three have more important things to be doing, besides it’s almost dinnertime.” she gently shooed the three off.

Eventually the three foals were sufficiently tuckered out, Twilight and Pinkie bid each other farewell and took their respective charges home. Twilight was surprised to find Fluttershy and Rainbow waiting at her door.

“Hay Twilight!” Rainbow called, waving. “Flutters and I figured that since Flurry is staying for a while we would come and hang out!” Fluttershy nodding.

“Hay girls! Why don't you come in and Spike and I will get dinner ready.”

RD and Fluttershy entertained Flurry while Twilight made dinner with Spike’s help. Rarity and Pinkie showed up after their respective shifts, Twilight’s dining room becoming lively with happy noises and AJ dropped off an apple pie from Granny Smith before joining the rest of the party in the dining room.

Spike yawned as they brought out the food and nearly fell asleep in his plate, Fluttershy cooed over the drake, taking him upstairs to his bed while Pinkie and RD snickered quietly to each other.

“I see the little guy’s growth spurt is still taking its toll on him,” AJ commented.

“Yeah, he's grown at least three inches in the last day, I swear!” Rainbow guffawed.

“He sure is growing fast.” Twilight sighed, “It feels like yesterday he was just my baby dragon.”

“Aww, It’s alright Twilight, the hardest part about watching our little ones grow up is when they start leaving the nest, and I’m sure that's a long way off still.” Rarity offered her condolences.

After pie, the six mares and one filly retire to the throne room. Each winding down for the night in their own ways, Twilight pulling down Flurry’s favorite stuffed toy, a green and orange snail named Whammy. She cooed and curled up with Fluttershy, while Rarity pulled out her needlepoint, and Pinkie and Rainbow snuck off together, giggling. Twilight and AJ chatting in low tones, ignoring the sounds of Pinkie and RD’s latest prank being set up. A sudden knock on the front door startled Twilight.

“Ah wonder who that could be?” AJ asked.

“Dunno, Cadence said she wouldn't be here until tomorrow at the earliest,” Twilight said, moving to answer the door. She had just opened the cracked door to the hall when a bucket of water fell on her, soaking her mane and tail.

RD and Pinkie burst into peals of laughter, each falling in place. Twilight began to grin, her horn lighting up with magenta magic. Flurry looked at her aunt confused while Rarity hid an amused smile behind her needlepoint. Suddenly Twilight’s magic flared and several water balloons appeared in flashes of teleportation, dropping onto the two laughing ponies.

The three of them stared at each other for a long moment before the silence is broken by Rarity’s quiet chuckling causing a chain reaction and soon all six ponies are laughing together.

Another knock at the door reminds Twilight of why she had gotten up in the first place, still laughing she opened the door to a very confused-looking Princess Cadence.

“Oh! Cadence! I didn't expect you back so early!” Twilight greeted her.

“Uh, Why are you wet?” Cadenza asked.

“It’s a long story, anyway are you here for Flurry? I thought the Summit was going to be much longer.”

“Oh, no! No, the Summit was canceled.” Cadenza said rubbing a pink hoof through her mane, “I hope I’m not interrupting?”

“Not at all! The girls were just visiting, we’re getting ready for bed in fact! Why don't you stay the night? It’s a long flight to the Empire, and it’s gotten pretty late I don't want you to be flying all night.”

“Oh that’s not necessary Twilight,” the Princess assured, “I’ll be alright, besides I left Shining Armour alone and we should be getting back to him.”

They arrived in the throne room and Flurry cooed and reached out to Cadenza, who picked her up. Saying her goodbyes and taking off into the night with the foal.

Strange… Twilight thought, something about the encounter was off, but she couldn't quite put her hoof on it. Cadence was probably just tired from traveling or something. Suddenly she grinned. “Don't even think about it Pinkie!”

“Aww come on!” Pinkie giggled, dropping her water balloon harmlessly to the entry floor.

(2) The Sleepover

Twilight and Pinkie return to the throne room, carrying every blanket and pillow in the castle.

“Since Cadence just picked Flurry up and we’re all here I thought we could have a sleepover!” Twilight smiled, bringing an old book titled ‘Slumber 101: Sleep Over’ and placing it on the table.

“Oh!” Rarity exclaimed, then noticing the time, “Well I don't see why not, do youuu Applejack?”

“Ah don't see no problem if you don't Rarity.” AJ snickered, the girls sharing a laugh as they began setting up the blankets and pillows, Twilight dismissing the Table so they have a comfortable space to sit around.

Once the throne room is set up comfortably, Twilight opens the book, revealing a checklist, most of the boxes checked off, and reads out a few options. “Let’s see here, S’mores, Makeovers, pillow fights, oh! Truth or Dare!”

“Oo! Oo! Me first! ME FIRST!” Pinkie cheered, waving her hooves in the air. “Twilight! Truth or Dare.”

“Truth,” Twilight replied with a giggle, putting her book away.

“What!” Pinkie began dramatically, “Is the most ridiculous thing you have said to somepony you liked?”

Twilight blushed, “Well…” she began, “I may or may not have had a liiiittle too much to drink on my last date with Flash and, well…”

“Yes? Go on.” Rarity said, all five of Twilight's friends sitting forward intently

“I may or may not have recited the whole dictionary… from memory… as a song.”

The following silence is quickly broken by all six ponies laughing uproariously.

“OK, OK my turn!” Twilight said, wiping a tear from her eye. “Rainbow! Truth or Dare?”

“Dare of course!” Rainbow puffed out her chest.

“I dare you to wear a frilly pink princess dress for the rest of the game!”

Rainbow’s jaw dropped, her eyes widening. “What!? No way!”

“You gotta, it's in the rules.” AJ chuckled as Pinkie gasped, disappearing in a blur of pink to retrieve said princess dress. Pinkie returned presenting Rainbow’s Dare Dress, a light pink full-length dress covered in lace, ribbons, and the all-important frills to the speedster. Rainbow grumbled good-naturedly, pulling the offending article of clothing over her head, Rarity helping her tie it up in the back and Twilight placing the finishing touch on Rainbow’s head.

AJ, no longer being able to contain her laughter, falls over in place, causing the others to join in, even Rainbow giving a chuckle. “Rarity did the same to me when we played last, Ah think it's even the same dress!”

“My turn now!” Rainbow declares, pointing at Rarity. “Rarity! Truth or Dare!”

“Oh, Dare, why not?” Rarity answered.

Rainbow grinned devilishly, “ I dare you to do the not my hooves challenge with me!”

“Well, I never!” Rarity exclaimed, placing a dramatic hoof on her chest. Twilight summoned Rarity’s makeup case and the fashionista pouted while taking off her makeup while Rainbow settled in behind her and Fluttershy held up the mirror.

Everypony laughed, some throwing out color suggestions, and in the end Rarity ended up with somewhat messy hot pink eyeshadow paired with a dark purple lipstick and far too much blush while Rainbow got a revenge treatment of the pink variety to match her new look.

“Applejack!~” Rarity sang, “Truth or Dare?”

“Ah, how’s about a Truth this time?” the cowpony answered.

“Who in this gathering is the fairest of them all?”

“Oh!” AJ spluttered, blushing. “Wh-why whou y’all ask somethin like that?”

“Ooh!” Pinkie called, the others chiming in, “Go on! Tell us!”

“Yeah!” RD called

“We’re all friends here are we not?” Rarity cajoled.

“Ohf fihne. Rainbow Dash.” AJ grumbled, her blush spreading all the way to the tips of her ears, said weather pony also blushing.

AJ called on Pinkie and from there, the game slowly devolved into their normal eating contest, Twilight summoning their usual snacks and the dreaded Punch Bowl to the room, Pinkie beating the Cookie Score with twenty at the same time, Usurping RD as the Cookie Queen.

Rarity challenged the Muffin Score, but Fluttershy’s Muffin Reign remained uncontested after she failed. AJ and RD grinned and picked up the Punch Bowl. Rarity sighed but accepted her punishment.

Then Twilight challenged the Frosting Score but even she couldn’t beat Pinkie’s legendary 200 cupcakes frosted in one minute and so got Punch’d as well. Eventually, the sweets ran out and Twilight grabbed her book, looking for what to do next when Pinkie, armed with a pillow, pounced on her declaring “Down with the Unicorn Queen!”

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

Pinkie giggled as she and Applejack hid behind the Earthpony Fortifications, readying their frontal assault on the Unicorn Base while their allies, the Pegasi, sneak behind enemy lines. The signal goes off and the two earth ponies charge with war cries, but the Unicorns are ready for them firing down with wild abandon. Any second now they’ll be hit from behind by the pegasi.

“Pew!” Fluttershy called, hitting Pinkie square on the back, causing her to fall where she was.

“I’ve been hit!” She yelled dramatically, starfishing on the floor. “Avenge me, General Applejack!”

“Your foolish plans were nothing compared to the might of the Unicorn Empire!” Twilight cackled, raising an armada of pillow soldiers, overwhelming the poor Earthpony general when RD divebombs from the sky blasting the pillow army away.

“Come on AJ! She may have gotten Fluttershy, but I’m still on your side!”

“What? How did she escape her bonds?” Rarity exclaimed, Fluttershy hovering over her shoulder, weapon readied. Suddenly a stray pillow soldier snuck up behind the two ponies striking Rainbow on the back of the head. Rainbow dramatically falls into AJ’s hooves, stroking her face before falling limp as AJ wails.

Fluttershy, seeing her friend fall brings her weapon down on Rarity’s horn, canceling her magic and flying to AJ’s side.

“Let’s do this,” she says gravely. The two then carve a warpath to the Unicorn Base through an endless horde of Pillow Soldiers, AJ is the first to fall, taking a hit for Fluttershy just as she reaches Rarity. The battle between the two mares is one that will be sung through the lands and when Rarity finally falls, Fluttershy rushes into the Unicorn Base to face the almighty Unicorn Queen when she’s surprised by Pinkie, risen from the dead (with a paper horn taped to her head) attacking from behind!

“AhHahahaha!” Twilight cackles, “Even with my lieutenant defeated you are no match for my revival magics!” then the other four mares, also with paper horns, surround Fluttershy.

“You can think that Unicorn Queen, but I know my Friends will never hurt me!” Fluttershy defiantly cries. Pinkie rushes forward! But before she can touch Fluttershy she knocks the paper horn off her head, then RD also charges but the same thing happens! Then AJ and even Rarity are de-paper-horned and the five friends stand against the evil Unicorn Queen at last. The five of them together wind back ready to throw when Twilight, in an act of desperation gathers ten pillows around herself, exploding them outward and hitting all five ponies at once, falling to the ground laughing with her friends, victorious.

“Pillow fight, check!” she giggles, summoning her book from where it had been buried within the mountain of pillows. “Next is, Makeovers!”

Rarity grinned evilly.

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

Spike wandered into the throne room, the girls’ epic pillow fight having woken him up, rubbing his eye only to get swept into the makeovers by Rarity. Twilight giggling as she put Rainbow’s mane in curlers and AJ mixing up a batch of Granny Smith’s famous mud mask.

“I never agreed to this,” Rainbow complained, crossing her hooves.

“I don't even know what’s going on.” Spike grumbles beside her.

“The dress was one thing but this is too much!” Rainbow waves her hooves around wildly, trying to remove the curlers, but Twilight had stuck them well, expecting this.

“Please, you’ll look beautiful Darling! Now hold still!” Rarity lightly scolds, lifting a brush filled with mud mask menacingly.

“NO!” Rainbow screeches, attempting to fly away but Pinkie lept on her back holding her down for Rarity. The girls and Spike sit around chatting while the mask sets, Rarity braiding AJ’s hair at least. When the curlers came out, Pinkie’s hair held the curl for a record-setting time of five whole seconds.

“Makeovers check!” Twilight said, teleporting her book back to the library.

“We should probably hit the hay now.” AJ, always the responsible one, said.

Everypony yawned and agreed, settling down for the night in their own sleeping areas.

“Goodnight everyone!” Twilight called, turning out the lights.

“Goodnight Twilight!” the girls chorused.

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

“What in the world happened here!?” Starlight screeched upon entering the throne room the next morning, waking Twilight and AJ.

“Starlight?” Twilight yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“Epic pillow war.” Pinkie sleep-mumbled. “Gotta defeat the evil Unicorn Queen.”

“That explains nothing.” Starlight deadpans.

“We had a sleepover last night,” AJ explains.

“Ah.”

(3) They're Back

“Well I think that wraps up this decade's Summit.” Celestia announced, finishing her cake.

“And a good summit it was, welcoming the Crystal Empire back into the alliance!” the Dragon Lord Torch boomed.

“Agreed.” Mayor Gruff, well, gruffed. “The new Empress and Prince Consort will have much work to do, but they’ve done so much already there’s no doubt in my mind that they will persevere.”

The Alliance leaders got up and began chatting amongst themselves, slowly moving out of the Manor. Cadence and Shining chatting idly with Torch as they reach the train station.

“It’s nice to see the Crystal Empire under friendly management again!” Torch boomed.

“We’re glad to see we have so many allies, and even ones that remember!” Cadence returned. Torch waved goodbye as he takes flight back toward the Dragonlands, leaving the parents to figure out their next steps. Cadence turned to her Husband, “Well that was rather successful.”

“Yes, it was.” he gave her a nuzzle, “Now to pick up Flurry from Twilight and go back home.”

“We’ll need to get home as soon as possible though, the Crystalling is in less than a week and there is still so much to be done.” Cadence worried.

“I’ll take the train directly to the Empire while you fly down to Ponyville, with some luck we should arrive within hours of each other.”

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

Twilight was making her lunch when the knock came. “Wonder who that could be?” she mumbled to herself as she went to answer the door. “Cadence?”

“Hi Twilight! How was Flurry?” Cadence beamed.

“Uh, what?”

“Where is Flurry? I thought she’d be here with you?”

“You, well, I, Cadence?” Twilight stammered.

“Yes?”

“You picked Flurry up already?”

“What? No I didn’t?”

“The night you dropped her off, you just appeared at my door and said the Summit had been canceled.”

Cadence stared at Twilight, horror growing between the sisters.

“Twilight,” she began. “That wasn’t me.”

Twilight took off toward town square, two days, it had been two days since Twilight let Flurry be foal-napped right out of her own house! Who knows what could have happened in that time! Hopefully it wasn't too late.

“Capitan! Gather the Guard!” Twilight shouted, skidding to a stop in the guardhouse.

Cadence ran on, Flurry was out there, in the hooves of. Of. She didn’t even want to think it. She wouldn’t let it happen. She breached the border of the Everfree, she had to find Flurry Heart.

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

Twilight had moved the base of operations to her throne room, maps and papers strewn about, covering every available surface. Cadence walked in, her hair messier than usual.

“Any luck yet?” she asked.

“No, we’ve covered all of the Everfree.” Twilight reported. “Cadence I-”

“No need for that Twilight, I don't blame you.” Cadence placed a comforting hoof on Twilight’s shoulder.

“But still!”

“We’re wasting time arguing like this, where to next?”

“To the west, there’s not much out there except open fields and Sweet Apple Acres, so it should be fast.”

“OK,” Cadence picked up a stray quill, circling an area on Twilight’s map. “I’ll take this area.”

“Be safe out there Cadence.” Twilight said as Cadence left again.

She didn’t have much downtime before another group of ponies returned from searching and it was back to assigning areas and sending out scouts, the town guard had pulled in the weather ponies, and Twilight’s friends were all out there, leading their own groups of searchers.

“I brought the next round of maps Twilight.” Starlight announced, dropping another stack of maps on the Table.

“Thanks Starlight.” Twilight said, then she stopped Starlight before she left again. “I want you to go check on Cadence. It’s been too long since her last check in, she’s here in this area.” Twilight levitated a map to Starlight with Cadence’s circle in stark black ink.

“That’s a huge area Twilight!” Starlight exclaimed. “I’d need a whole other search-and-rescue team to cover an area this size!”

“Luckily I have a spell for that.” Twilight levitated an open book to Starlight, “it’s a finding spell, unfortunately it only works if you’ve seen the pony in the last day or so.”

“You've been looking too haven't you?” Starlight realized.

“In any way I can without moving from here.” Twilight confirmed.

“OK, I’ll go check on Cadence.” Starlight took the spellbook, turning toward the door and looking it over, “You’ve been doing good Twilight.” she said by way of farewell. Twilight smiled and turned back to her piles of paper and books.

“Spike!”

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

“Capitan Horus, take the southern religion here with Lieutenant Grapes.”

“Yes, ma’am!” the captain salutes, running out of the throne room.

“Good and-” Twilight is cut off by the door slamming open.

“TWILIGHT!” Starlight is panting, horn sparking from overuse.

“Starlight? What is it? Where’s Cadence?”

“They- they’re back!” she panted, panic clear on her face.

“Whoa, take a breath, Starlight.” Twilight placed a calming hoof on her student’s shoulder. “Who’s back?”

“Cha-changelings!” Starlight nearly shouted, “I- I saw them take Cadence! There were so many of them!”

Twilight tried to not panic, taking a deep breath and letting it out. “Change of plans, Featherfall please go find my friends, the rest of you get the word out! Changelings have taken The Princess of Love and her daughter.” then quieter, “Spike, contact Celestia, I have a feeling that we’re going to need all the help we can get. You did good Starlight, now get some rest.”

It’s minutes later that Twilight and her friends are sitting in their thrones, pondering how they’re going to find where the Changelings have hidden Cadence and Flurry.

“Ah don like this one bit Twilight.” AJ stated, studying the magical map of the Table “what could the Changelin’s possibly wan?”

“They’ve been gone four years, Darling.” Rarity added. “Who knows how their motives have changed.”

“Maybe they wanna be friends!” Pinkie cheered.

“Or they want to drain us all.” RD grouched.

“The real question is how we’re going to find Cadence and Flurry.” Twilight pondered.

“Maybe I can help with that.” a suave voice said, scaring everyone but Fluttershy.

“Oh! Discord!” she greeted.

“Hello my dear Fluttershy and Friends.” the Draconequus, bowed, “I have the answers you seek, you need only ask and I, Discord, shall deliver!”

“You know where the Changelings are keeping Cadence and Flurry Heart?” Twilight asked.

“Indeed I do my dear! Their Hive” Discord indicated an area of the southern Badlands with a detached claw. “Here.”

“Lets go girls!” Twilight exclaimed, jumping up from her seat. The others followed, on a mission now that they knew where they were going.

“Thanks Discord.” Fluttershy said on her own way out.

“Ah, alone again, except for you.” Discord snaps his paw.

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

Twilight led the girls deeper into the Badlands, the harsh sun beating down and searing their eyes. They round a bend, the vista revealing the Changeling Hive, right where Discord said it would be. It’s many changing openings and dark coloration making for an intimidating sight.

“This is it, girls.’ she said, “lets go save Cadence and Flurry!”

“Yeah!”

Author's Note

Okay, I know there's not much that's super different atm, but do believe me, this will be very different from the original so bear with me everyone!

(4) The Interrogation

“No one is coming to rescue you, they don’t even know where you are” Queen Chrysalis purred, circling the two royals she had captured. “So you may as well just give me what I want.”

“You will never get the Elements of Harmony.” Shining Armour defiantly shouted from his bindings.

“Twilight will find us and stop you!” Cadence agreed, “She’s already looking for us!”

“‘Princess’ Twilight will never find you!” Chrysalis crowed, “Your pony magic doesn’t work in my Hive!” the interrogation was interrupted by a changeling soldier slamming open the door to Chrysalis’s throne room and rushing to his Queen’s side.

“WHAT!?” Chrysalis roared after a few hushed words, “Find and capture them! Immediately!”

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

“Dun-dun, dudun duuuun, dundapdooo.” Pinkie sang quietly under her breath, Fluttershy quietly giggling beside her as the six mares breached the entrance to the Changeling Hive. Changeling drones were everywhere, buzzing from pillar to hole to wall at seeming random, but was really just them following the hive’s natural pathways.

“Alright Pinkie, you have the best chances of navigating in here,” Twilight whispered. “You should lead us.”

“Sure thing Twilight!” Pinkie bounced, choosing a path that felt right and following it. As soon as she was out of sight, however, a distinct squeal rang out and by the time even Rainbow rounded the corner, there was no sign of Pinkie.

“This isn’t good,” Rainbow mentioned.

“Not good at all, darling.” Rarity agreed.

The girls pressed on, sticking as close together as possible. Without Pinkie guiding them with her pinkie-sense, they kept finding themselves at random exits. After what felt like hours and five missing friends, Twilight found herself alone, desperately tracing and retracing her steps trying to find the way deeper into the Hive.

Twilight scampered from pillar to shadow and back again, the ever-changing hallways and staircases and doorways only serving to confuse her. She turned yet another corner only to find yet another open exit, she groaned and stomped a hoof before turning around and retracing her steps yet again.

Another ten turns, and several minutes later Twilight finds herself right back where she started, again. She was about ready to give up and call on Princess Celestia when two black, chitinous, hooves wrapped around her midsection, causing her to squeak and lifting her off the ground.

“Lemme go!” Twilight screeched, horn sparking in an attempt to defend herself. Whatever enchantment the changelings had to prevent magic was still working however so it only left her with a headache and still within the grasp of her captor.

The Changeling soon deposited her on the ground in what looked like a throne room in front of Chrysalis herself.

“Finally.” The Queen sighed.

“Cadence!” Twilight called spotting her sister-in-law, “And Shining Armour too? Where’s Flurry?”

“She’s holding her somewhere else.” Pinkie accused, pointing a damning hoof at Chrysalis.

“Pinkie! Girls!” Twilight called, “What do you want Chrysalis?”

“What do I want?” Chrysalis asked, “I want the Elements of Harmony! I will finally be unstoppable!”

“Oh yeah?” AJ challenged.

“You’re never getting the Elements!” Rainbow crowed, “You don't know where they are!”

“Idiot ponies!” Chrysalis shouted, “You will be the ones to tell me!”

“No way!” Pinkie shouted.

“Preposterous!” Rarity agreed.

“Silence!” Chrysalis stomped a hoof, silencing the ponies, “Now that all the interlopers have been captured, nopony will be coming for you, your precious Princesses don't know where you are, your very freedom hinges on me, I want the Elements of Harmony and you are going to give them to me.”

“Discord knows where you are, it’s how we found you after all.” Fluttershy quietly states.

“Princess Celestia will find us!” Twilight states.

Chrysalis lets out a wordless screech, lifting Twilight in her toxic green magic. “You will tell me, this is my home, not even Celestia has enough power to challenge me here.” she hisses in her face before roughly throwing her into the other captives and storming out of the room.

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

“Sister.”

Celestia turned to find Princess Luna landing gently on the balcony.

“It’s late, you should be asleep.”

“Luna.” Celestia sighed.

“Don't ‘luna’ me Tia. We agreed, no more all-nighters.”

“I know, I’m worried.”

“About Princess Twilight?” Luna settled beside Celestia, looking up at the rising moon.

“And Cadence as well, who knows what’s happening out there.”

“We know where the Hive is at least.”

“Yes, and no other ponies have been captured.”

“We will do what we can, but the Changeling’s protective barrier is still active and just as annoying as I remember it.” Luna pouted, leaning against her sister’s side. Celestia chuckled lightly, lifting her brush from the railing and running it through Luna’s star-scattered locks.

“Tiaaa,” Luna whined, squirming under Celestia’s ministrations, managing to lose only a couple stars before escaping. “Go to bed, I will guard our little ponies tonight.”

“As you command, your highness.” Celestia mock bowed, letting her long hair brush the ground beside her hooves, a smile playing at her lips. Luna laughs as she lifts off Celestia’s balcony.

“Goodnight, sister.”

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

Fluttershy cried out as she was thrown into the wall once again by Chrysalis.

“Tell me where the Elements of Harmony are!” the Changeling Queen screams.

“No matter what you do to us.” Twilight coughed wetly, “We will never tell you where the Tree is.”

“The Tree?” Chrysalis purred, perking up. “And what exactly is this Tree?”

Twilight, realizing her mistake, clammed up as Chrysalis stalked toward her.

“My Queen.” a drone buzzed, interrupting the interrogation.

“What now?” Chrysalis groaned.

“The Night Lady is pressing on the barrier again.” the drone seemed almost apologetic.

Chrysalis sighed heavily, leaving the room with only a grumbled: “Keep an eye on the prisoners.”

Twilight and the others were grateful for the Night Lady, whoever she was, she was the only respite from Queen Chrysalis they could get. The changeling drone nervously checked the hall after Chrysalis left before beckoning a few of its fellows into the room. After a few buzzed words between them, they spread out between the ponies, the first changeling approaching Twilight herself.

“I mean no harm.” the changeling’s voice seemed masculine. “I mean to heal.”

“Oh, that’s kind of you.” Twilight accepted, allowing the changeling to bandage a small cut on her brow with a small amount of green jelly. She can hear Pinkie asking her changeling medic how it tastes.

“She’ll never give up, you know.” the kind Changeling whispered. “She’s stubborn like that.”

“We can't just give her the Elements, that’s not how it works,” Twilight informed him.

“But you must!”

“Even if we could we wont.” Twilight shook her head.

The changeling shook his head sadly, moving on to Twilight’s wings, the sticky jelly gluing her feathers together uncomfortably.

“It isn’t right.” he buzzed, “The way she treats you.”

“Who?” Twilight asked.

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

“Princess, the perimeter is complete, the Guard is ready to infiltrate the Changeling Hive at your command.”

“Thank you Captain.” Celestia stood from her throne, “You are dismissed until further notice.”

Luna’s cool blue magic sputtered out as the Captain left the hall, sighing tiredly.

“Any luck?”

“Nay, the barrier stands stronger than previous.”

“Thank you Luna, you should get some rest.”

Luna nodded, rising unsteadily and flaring her wings in an attempt to steady herself.

Celestia watched worriedly as Luna left the hall, before turning to the southern windows. This little used hall was the sisters’ seat of power during conflicts large and small with windows facing each cardinal direction near the top of Canterlot Castle, and the place they had ruled from the past three days.

“Hang in there Twilight, we’re coming.”

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

“I am losing my patience.” Chrysalis growled as she entered the ponies’ cell, “you will tell me where the Tree of Harmony is today.”

“And how exactly do you plan on making us tell you?” Cadence challenges, “It’s pretty clear that you aren’t willing to seriously hurt any of us, nor are you going to kill us.”

“And trying your ‘truth serum’ on us again is going to be less than helpful.” AJ added.

Chrysalis chuckled and tapped her hoof on the ground twice, summoning a few changeling drones. “Oh you’ll tell me.” the drones spread through the ponies, sticking them in place with a generous application of green jelly.

“I’m sorry.” the drone whispered to Twilight as he stuck her down, the same changeling that had been caring for her wounds.

“Because if you don't…” Chrysalis continued, tapping her hoof again once the ponies were all restrained. “I will kill your precious foal.”

The door opened.

Author's Note

Again, I wanna give a huge thanks to my editor, Ellie for helping me show this story some more love. You dah best, girlfriend!

(5) Escape and Rescue

“Because if you don't…” Chrysalis continued, tapping her hoof again once the ponies were all restrained. “I will kill your precious foal.”

The door opened allowing a changeling soldier carrying Flurry Heart into the room.

“Flurry!” Cadence called, causing Chrysalis to chuckle menacingly. The soldier offered the foal to the Queen who picked her up, causing her to whimper in fear.

“Let her go!” Shining Armour demanded as the rest of the ponies clamored to be heard.

“It’s OK Flurry, we’re right here!” Cadence tried to comfort her daughter.

“The only way you are getting her back is if you tell me what I want to know,” Chrysalis said, shaking Flurry slightly. Suddenly Twilight perked up and she gasped, she made eye contact with Pinkie who smiled and nodded before whispering in AJ’s ear who she happened to be beside.

Twilight released a calming breath and raised an eyebrow. “How do we know that’s really Flurry Heart?” she asked.

“What?” Cadence and Chrysalis intoned.

“Twilight!” Shining started, but was interrupted by AJ.

“Yeah, I’m not too sure I believe you Chrysalis, I mean.”

“It makes sense, Darling.” Rarity explained to the distressed parents, “I wouldn’t risk it with Pinkie in the room.”

Chrysalis sighed heavily rolling her eyes, turning into Cadence with a flare of green flames.

“What are you doing?” Cadence demanded.

“Proving this is your foal,” Cadenza stated boredly, indicated the crying Flurry. A changeling soldier approached their Queen, carrying what appeared to be a dagger made of the same dark stone as the walls of the Hive. Cadenza stuck out a hoof with an eye roll, allowing the soldier to cut her hoof and cause her to bleed green. She then roughly shoved baby Flurry at them.

Twilight’s eyes widened as the soldier brought the very sharp knife to bear against Flurry’s foreleg, making her squeal in fear then scream in pain as the dagger cut her.

“Enough!” Cadence screamed, “We believe you!”

“Finally.” Chrysalis groaned as she changed back into herself. “Now, where was I?” the soldier offered the dagger, glinting red and green in the dim lighting, up to Chrysalis, “Ah, right, killing your foal.”

“No!”

“Let her go Chrysalis!”

“Flurry!”

“Tell me where the Tree is!” Chrysalis screamed, “Your foal’s life hangs in the balance!”

“You can’t have the Elements!” Twilight screamed back.

“Then you forfeit your niece!” Chrysalis roars, roughly grabbing the dagger in her magic and plunging it toward Flurry’s chest.

“I’LL DO IT!” Shining shouts, halting the dagger’s descent a hairsbreadth away from his daughter’s skin.

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

“Are you sure you can do this Luna?” Celestia asks, concerned, eyeing the bags under Luna’s eyes.

“Yes Sister, we get our ponies back today,” Luna replies, determined.

Celestia turns toward the Changeling Hive in the near distance, Discord lazily floating beside the sisters. “As soon as the barrier falls, you will be able to affect the Hive with your Magic,” she tells him.

Discord chuckles. “You know, I always liked this side of you, Princess, why ever did you bury it?” he asks snapping his tail in anticipation

The Changeling deposits Shining roughly on the floor of the Everfree, not caring when the stallion stumbles.

“Well? Where is the Tree?” Chrysalis asks looking around expectantly as Shining takes a moment to orient himself.

“This way.” he sighs, spotting the Castle Ruins between the trees.

“I'm so sorry, Cadence.” Twilight cries hanging her head before the mother.

“None of us expected her ter do su’mn like that,” AJ added

“Oh, Twilight.” Cadence sighed, “You were only trying to do the right thing.”

“Mother Bird has fled the Nest.” the Pegasus Guard reports, landing swiftly beside the Sisters, kicking up a small amount of dust.

“Thank you,” Celestia dismissed the guard, turning to Luna beside her, “It is time, Sister.”

“Indeed, Sister, let us retrieve our ponies,” Luna stated, lighting her horn with all the power of the Night, her usually cool blue magic bleeding to the deepest black.

Shining brushed the last of the vines to the side, revealing the Tree of Harmony in all its glory.

“This is it,” he tells Chrysalis. “I don’t-”

“Finally!” Chrysalis interrupts, pushing past the Crystal Prince.

Twilight feels a few sparks of Magic bubbling along her horn, a sensation she hadn’t realized was missing.

“Do you feel that Twilight?” Rarity asks

“Yes, yes I do!” Twilight cheers, “Let’s get out of here Girls!”

Luna opened her eyes, whited out from the power she was wielding, and lifted into the sky, a war cry falling from her lips.

“Now!” Celestia cried, causing the line of ponies to fall upon the Hive.

“Well, things are about to get interesting!” Discord chuckles to himself, snapping a claw and disappearing in a spark of Chaos.

“No!” Chrysalis snarls, as the Tree disintegrates the Drones trying to remove the Elements from the Tree, “Tell me how to get the Elements, Pony”

“I don’t know how.” Shining sighs from his seat on a nearby boulder, shifting in his bindings, nopony tells you just how itchy Changeling Goop is.

The Changeling Queen Screeches wordlessly as she takes off, leaving the useless pony behind, perhaps she would tell the other prisoners she had simply killed him when he proved useless to her.

Twilight’s horn glowed a gentle Magenta as she guided her friends and Sister to the room where the Changelings were holding Flurry. “She should be just on the other side of this wall.”

Cadence lit up her own horn with clear blue magic, opening the wall to reveal her Daughter.

“Flurry!” she called, rushing in and scooping her into her hooves, “It’s OK, momma’s here, I've got you, baby.”

“Mama!” Flurry cried, clutching her mother tightly.

“Ah there you are!” Discord said, smoothly sliding into place beside Fluttershy, “And you have all our valuables, let’s get out of here this place gives me the Creepy Crawlies.”

“I agree with you Discord.” Pinkie nods seriously, “This way!” with that she bounces off in a seemingly random direction.

Discord sighs and simply snaps the whole group beside Princess Celestia.

“Twilight! Cadence!” Celestia notices them immediately. “How glad I am to see you safe!”

“Princess Celestia!”

“Auntie! You came for us!”

“Of course.” Celestia pulls the two Alicorns beneath her wings, “Let’s go home.”

Celestia lights her horn, shooting a bolt of golden Magic into the sky, Luna responding to the signal with a mighty cry as she throws her gathered power off in all directions. The gathered Guard retreating as the Changeling Barrier forcefully shatters with the force it slams back over the Hive with.

Changelings scatter from every opening of the Hive even as the Hive itself appears to melt.

Chrysalis halted far too quickly at the sight of her beloved Hive, Celestia’s, and that damned Night Princess’s auras just beginning to fade from the area, declaring without a doubt who was responsible for this disaster. She ground her teeth, growling as she dove into the goop, beginning to reform her Hive.

-*｡･.:༄*:･----✶-❦-♬----*｡･.:༄*:･-

Twilight and her friends returned to Ponyville, another victory notching their proverbial boots, all smiles and laughter. Cadence and Shining return home with Flurry, easily taking care of the changeling posing as Shining Armour, ready to plan for the upcoming Crystalling. All is well and the Sisters close the doors to the War Hall, leaving the furniture to collect dust once again.

Chrysalis however is stewing in her newly rebuilt chambers, glaring at the flashing images before her stopping on the tired, victorious smile of one pesky purple princess.

“Watch your back, ‘Princess of Friendship’” she hisses viciously, “I am not defeated and I will not back down until you and all of your friends are DEAD!” she ends with a scream, cracking the magical image.

Author's Note

Hey, if you hate me for injuring Flurry, blame my editor. It was her idea.