~ 7~

Suspicion Rises

The dungeon was dark, and moist. It looked like it hadn't been cleaned in centuries. The ponies walked down the stairs, careful not to slip of the slickness of them.

"We need to tell thou guard to clean these steps so no pony may slip and fall, yes?" Luna noted to her sister. Celestia just nodded.

"Oh, it's so dirty, and disgusting down here! Oh, eww! What is that horrible, grotesque, monstrous thing?!" Rarity screeched in horror.

"That's a mop," Said Shining Armor. Rarity blinked, then smiled sheepishly.

"I knew that..."

As the ponies continued walking, the brightly colored gang all looked around the dungeon.

"Dang, how far does this thing go? It feels like we've been walking for hours," Rainbow Dash asked.

"This dungeon is the biggest in all of Equestria. We contain evil geniuses down here that have tried to kidnap, kill, or even steal from any of the royal ponies. We had to make it big so we could contain them all." Shining Armor replied.

Pinkie Pie, in mid-air, flapped her wings and smiled.

"Hey! It's echoey down here! Echo! Echo! Echo!" Pinkie listened for her sound again. It soon bounced back at her, making her giggle with glee. "Hey, this is fun!" Pinkie said. "Hey, this is fun!" her echo bounced back at her. "Hey, I said that!" Pinkie said to her echo. "Hey, I said that!" The echo replied again. "No, I did!" Pinkie crossed her arms in annoyance. "No, I did!" "Stop copying me!" "Stop copying me!" "But you're copying me!" "But you're copying me!" "You have no right to speak to me in that tone," Pinkie growled. "You have no right to speak to me in that tone," the echo again bounced back at her. "Why, I oughta –" Pinkie was about to rear up and chase after that echo, until Twilight stopped her.

"Pinkie, please." Twilight glanced up at a special cage that was glowing with blue aura, surrounded by four guards.

When the princesses and Shining Armor approached, they all stepped out of the way to let them approach the prisoner.

The dark queen was still when they approached. Sprawled out on the floor, her bluish mane becoming more darker, and shorter for some reason.

"Chrysalis..." Celestia hissed the name. Hearing her name being spoken, Chrysalis lifted her head, to turn and glare at them. She chuckled darkly.

"I was wondering when you'd all come crawling for my advise," She smiled a dirty smile. "So, what seems to be the problem, my dear princesses?"

"You know what's the problem, you creep!" Rainbow snarled at her. "Since you're the only one with the freaky magic to change us back, then do it!" The cyan pony stomped her back hoof in anger.

"Settle down, RD," Applejack calmed the furious pony down. "We'll get our answers soon enough."

Chrysalis flicked her pointed ear, amused by Applejack's words.

"I'm afraid I can't do anything for you," She said, brushing her mane out of her eyes. "The only thing to break the spell is the Elements of Harmony. Haven't any of you thought of that?"

They all stared at her, astounded.

"Uh... I didn't think of that..." Pinkie Pie said, her wings drooping.

"None of us did." Rarity said, brushing her curled mane with her hoof.

"Twilight must've thought of it once in a while," Luna said, giving Twilight a strange look of distrust. Twilight, noticing Luna's suspicion, played along in character.

"Yes, I have thought about the Elements of Harmony," she admitted, "but I thought it was too simple and preposterous to actually work."

"Any'thang's worth changing us back, Twilight," Applejack reasoned with her. Twilight bowed her head.

"You're right, Applejack. I'm sorry."

"Oh, how cute. I'm sure your fans are rooting that you'll kiss." Chrysalis said in a sarcastic tone.

"Ew, gross!" Rainbow Dash said in disgust.

Twilight narrowed her eyes in anger at Chrysalis. The queen shrugged. The purple earth pony turned to the princesses.

"Princesses, if I may ask you, where are the Elements of Harmony?" Celestia blinked.

"I'm not sure... they were moved from their original hide-out... Luna? Do you might know where they are?"

Luna glared at Twilight, her mistrust for the pony rising up more and more.

"...No, sister..." Luna said slowly. "I have not a clue where they could be." They all turned to Chrysalis for answers.

"Well?" Rarity flattened her ears. Chrysalis sighed.

"Very well. When I was captured, and brought here, I quickly cast a spell to hide the Elements of Harmony and ensure that nopony would ever find them except me."

"Then where are they?" Celestia growled in fury. Chrysalis smirked.

"Oh, little Princess, I cannot just simply tell you where they are. I have to show you. For I am the only one who can find them." Celestia blinked, then huddled with her sister.

"Should we let her out to see where they are?" Celestia said.

"I think it's all a trap," Luna replied. "A well thought trap to cast these ponies in a bigger danger."

"If that may be true, then we'll be putting a risk to our subjects." Celestia agreed.

"And yet, thou ponies are in danger of loosing themselves to the unknown," Luna said. "Without them knowing of how to use their wings, horns, or strength, they could cause damage in Ponyville,"

"Also, Twilight wouldn't be able to be in the position of Magic without her horn, thus unable for them to defeat the dangers that threaten Equestria," Celestia noted.
"So what shall we do, sister?" Luna asked. Celestia sighed.

"We have to." The royal sisters turned to Chrysalis, who had been patiently waiting for a response. "Chrysalis," Celestia began, "we've decided to let you free of your prison in order to find the Elements of Harmony." Chrysalis smiled.

"But we are still chaining you up in magic so you may harm other ponies who are around you," Luna snarled. Chrysalis nodded.

"Very well."

The guard ponies took out the key, and their magic force field died down. Unlocking the gate, Shining Armor let Chrysalis out, the guard ponies immediately chaining the queen up in enchantment chains.

"Shall we go?" Chrysalis asked. Nopony responded, just giving her distrustful looks.

As they walked on, Fluttershy caught up to Applejack.

"Um, Applejack?" She asked in her quiet voice.

"What is it, sugarcube?" Applejack turned to her.

"I just think that I wouldn't mind being a unicorn is all. I mean, I really think something bad is going to happen."

"Yeah!" Pinkie Pie flew up to the both of them. "Something real fishy is going on here, I just know it!"

Twilight trotted nearby Chrysalis, glancing at the chained queen for a few moments. Chrysalis raised an eyebrow, as if asking a silent question. Twilight smiled threateningly, as if silently answering her question. Chrysalis smiled, satisfied. Twilight then trotted up with the others. Again, the only one who noticed it was Luna.

"Double the guards!" She said, a bit of fear and anger mixed in her voice. "Immediately!" Several guards came to Luna's command, Celestia not questioning it.

Luna walked a bit closer to Chrysalis, with angered eyes.

"I don't know what you're up to," She said to her, "but I'm going to make sure that it doesn't happen!"

Chrysalis smiled, and thought,

"It's not what I'm up to," She glanced at Luna, who was back next to her sister, "it's what Twilight's up to."