Cecil’s POV:

“Okay we’re at the park… now what?” Rarity asked.

“I heard somewhere that the best disguise is usually the most obvious.” I said.

Everyone heard a crunching. We turned around and saw Pinkie with a shovel, digging down. “Why are you guys standing there.” She asked.

“Um… we’re digging now?” I asked uncertainly.

“I don’t think It’s that simple…” Red said.

“I think… they’d be prepared for an attempt to dig into the hive…” I said. “I did see rock down there…”

“Well… maybe the only way to get down is magic. I mean… Sam did teleport us out. And I don’t see why he’d hide the entrance to us, so why wouldn’t he just walk us out?” Red asked.

“That does make sense.” I nodded.

“So I guess… I should try teleporting?” Red suggested reluctantly.

“It’s worth a shot.” I shrugged.

“Okay… I’ll be back in a moment. hopefully…” Red said quietly. His horn lit up and he disappeared shortly after.

“Now… do we just wait or should we try searching for an entrance up here?” I asked.

“I guess that would be better than just standin around.” Applejack nodded.

“Okay… so where are we going to start?” I asked.

“Well w-” Dash said before everyone was blinded by a bright flash.

When we opened our eyes, Red was standing there, panting heavily. “Okay… so… I have news…” He huffed.

“What is it?” I asked quickly.

“Found it…” Red said.

“You didn’t say it was good news…” Dash said.

“I didn’t say it was bad news either… I have no idea what news it is.” Red said.

“Anything else?” I asked.

“It’s kinda… deserted.” Red said.

“It’s… deserted…” I sighed.

“Well not entirely.” Red said quickly.

“Not… entirely?” I asked curiously. “Well… what did you find?”

“There were still a few changelings scurrying around but… it seemed uh… emptier…” Red said uncertainly.

“Okay… that’s… good?” I said.

“I guess… should we uh… all go or what?” Red asked.

“Sure… that’s what we came to do right?” I asked.

“Alright… Everyone grab onto me.” Red said.

We all grabbed Red. The area around us shifted immediately to a darker, less stable dirt tunnel. It was dug out into more of a hallway, except for that it seemed unfinished.

“We’re in then…” I said. “Where do we go from here?”

“I guess we should head for the uh… master bedroom.” Red said half-jokingly.

I shrugged, “It’s a good place to start.” I said.

“Everyone stay close.” Red said.

“I’m not scared of a couple changelings.” Dash chuckled, walking in front and continuing down the hall.

“Dash!” Red snapped, running after her and grabbing her.

“Now ain’t the time to get ahead of ourselves.” Applejack said sternly.

“Well I think Red is right. We should stick tog-” Fluttershy froze when everyone heard a loud and pained moan from the end of the hall.

I looked at everyone else before rushing close to the source of the sound. I burst into the room and saw I was in what looked like a prison with many cells lining the wall. I turned my head to what was now a whimpering in one of the far left cells. There was a woman lying down, curled up in a ball crying.

I slowly approached the cell and kneeled down, “Hello?” I said uncertainly.

The woman tensed up and looked up at me, staring in both terror and confusion. “Who… are you?” She asked.

“I’m Cecil.” I said.

“A… Are you… here to k… kill me?” She asked shakily.

“No.” I said.

A few moments later Red and the others ran into the room and looked at me. “What are… who are you?” Red asked, staring at the mysterious woman.

“I was taken… by something. I don’t know where I am… please help me…” The woman said weakly.

Fluttershy pushed past everyone and walked up to the cell. “Do you… know where the key is?” She asked.

The woman shook her head.

Applejack walked up to the cell door and stared at it.

“What are you d-” Fluttershy was cut off as Applejack grabbed the door and gently pulled it open.

Everyone stared at the door in confusion.

“It… was unlocked?” Dash asked uncertainly.

“This… doesn’t seem… normal.” I said.

“I… I can’t move… please help…” The woman said.

“We can’t just leave her here…” Fluttershy said.

I walked into the cell and motioned for Red to come help me pick her up.

Red walked in and was about to grab her when the cell door slammed shut, followed by a click as it locked.

“What… the…” I said as I rushed to the door.

Red’s horn lit up and he tried to teleport, only for it to fizzle out. “My magic… won’t work.” He said hesitantly.

“She knew we would… come back…” I said almost uncertainly.

“Look we’ll… find something to get the door open.” Applejack said, rushing out of the room.

“Yeah.” Dash and Rarity nodded, following quickly behind.

I looked back at the woman and kneeled down beside her. “Do you remember what they did to you?” I asked.

“N… no…” She shook her head.

“Has anyone else been in here?” I asked.

“I don’t know… I can’t remember…” She sobbed.

“Shh… shh…” I said comfortingly. “You’ll be alright… do you know your name?”

She sniffled and looked up at me. “My name’s Mary.” She said.

“Pinkie, Fluttershy, we need you out here.” Applejack shouted.

Fluttershy and Pinkie quickly ran out of the room.

I looked at Red. “Are… you thinking what I’m thinking?” I asked.

“What are you thinking?” Red asked.

“That this entire thing… may be a trap.” I said.

“You couldn’t have been more right.” Mary said in a little stronger tone.

I looked down at Mary.

Mary stood up and smiled as her skin shifted to a solid black color, her hair changing to a light blue. Both Red and I immediately recognized her. “Hello again.” She laughed.

I glared at her, “Now what are you going to do?” I questioned.

“Well first I need my audience.” She said, snapping her fingers. There was a scream from the other room and the others were dragged in by more changelings.

My eyes widened a little, “No…” I said quietly.

“C… Cecil…” Fluttershy said shakily. She let out a high pitched squeal as she was forced to the dirt floor.

“Fluttershy!” I said fearfully. “Don’t hurt them!”

“You mean like this?” One changeling said, hitting Dash in the face and forcing her to slam roughly back into the cell bars before sliding to the floor, clutching her face as blood ran from her nose.

“LEAVE HER ALONE YOU FUCKER!” Red screamed, reaching for the changeling through the bars.

I turned to Chrysalis, “You’re a fucking monster.” I said.

“Oh I’m just protecting my family. I let you go, but you decided to blab to everyone. Fortunately you gave me enough time to send Sam away on an errand. A shame he isn’t here to finish your plans.” She laughed.

“What are you going to do to us?” I asked again.

“Well what else would I do? I’m going to let you go.” She smiled.

“I have a hard time believing that.” I said.

“Oh well of course you would… you’re just so clever aren’t you?” She said, grabbing my cheek and pinching it. “So adorable…”

I swatted her hand away and stepped away from her, continuing to glare at her.

“You have one of two choices. You can either leave quietly… Or I can kill you and your friends.” She said sternly.

“You understand that if you killed any of them you’d be killing more than just us.” I said.

“What are you talking about? You wouldn’t be ‘dying’ necessarily…” She smirked, pointing outside of the cell. The changelings on the outside shapeshifted into Fluttershy, Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Red, and me. “He would never be able to tell the difference…”

“Yes but the elements would.” I said.

“Oh don’t you worry about those… Twilight is currently... ‘away’ ...from them right now. I don’t think she’ll notice.” She said.

I remained quiet.

“But of course I can’t let all of you go.” She said in a serious tone. Her horn lit up and Red was forced to his knees. She walked up to him and grabbed his hair, yanking his head back as she put a claw to his throat, staring intently at me.

I bit my lip, “Let them go.” I said.

“I already told you… they’re free to go. And so are you.” She said. The door to the cell creaked open slowly.

“Let him go!” Dash said frantically, struggling against the changeling holding her down.

“I’ll stay.” I said. “Just let everyone else go.”

“Sorry but I’ve already chosen. I needed either you or him.” She said.

“For what?” I asked.

“To prove a point…” She said. She dug her claw into his throat and quickly pulled it across. Red’s eyes widened as blood flowed down his chest. Chrysalis let go of him and watched Red fall to the floor, grabbing his neck as he started coughing up blood.

“You…” I mumbled.

“RED!” Dash screamed, tears streaming down her face.

Chrysalis walked up to me and stared at me. “If you ever come back here again… I will kill your wife and force you to watch as my changelings gut her, and have sex with her corpse.” She said.

Tears fell from my face as I looked down at Red. I watched as he crawled with what dwindling strength he had towards the bars. He reached through and grabbed Dash’s hand as she sobbed.

“R… Red…” Dash mumbled shakily.

“I… L...l...ove…” Red mumbled before coughing up more blood. His eyes closed and his body slowly went limp. Dash gripped his now lifeless hand and cried uncontrollably.

My eye twitched as I felt a surge of adrenalin hit me. I lunged towards her, my hand stopping mid-air just in front of her throat. My eyes wandered up and saw her magic was holding me in place.

“You’re so cute.” She laughed.

“I… will… kill… you…” I said through gritted teeth. I forced all my strength and saw my hand moving closer… and closer…

“Wh… What are…” Chrysalis said uncertainly.

Her magic flickered slightly as I started to get mere inches from her neck. I felt it break and my hand wrapped around her throat, squeezing it tightly. She stared wide eyed at me and grabbed my arm.

“C… Cecil…” Fluttershy stammered.

“W… What… are… you…” Chrysalis choked.

I looked down at my arm and saw… It wasn’t my arm. It was a white, skeletal form of what it used to be. “You are a monster… But you… you missed one important thing…” I said.

“W…. Wha…” Chrysalis mumbled.

“SO AM I!” I shouted, throwing her into the wall. She grunted loudly as her back hit it, falling to the floor and staring up at me in horror.

“Cecil stop!” Fluttershy said shakily.

“She needs… to die.” I stated.

“You’re… better than her…” Fluttershy said.

“No… no i’m not.” I said, kicking Chrysalis in the side. She fell to the floor and clenched it tightly.

I pushed her over onto her back and kneeled down, pressing my hands to her throat.

“Cecil… please…” Fluttershy said in a quiet, almost reluctant tone.

“I’m sorry Fluttershy…” I said to myself, my grip tightening more around Chrysalis.