The two looked out the view ports, wary of any danger. Their submarine was now resting in a large, empty metal room. There were little puddles of water everywhere, but aside from that it was empty. A raised platform, against a round sealed door, stood opposite them. Large, domed lights were built into all the walls, filling the chamber with their glow.

Octavia's hooves lightly tapped on the console as all the lights flickered off. “Don't tell anypony who we are,” she mumbled. “There's no knowing what kind of foul, evil tricks they'll use to make us talk.” She paused and looked to Vinyl, her eyes calm and cold. “If... they try torture, lie. Don't try to hide the truth. Just try lying and lying until eventually you can't hold the truth in any longer, and hope they won't believe the truth when they hear it.”

Vinyl paled. “I-I thought you said--”

“I'll get us out of this. But I don't know how hard it will be. Remember, your parents lives may depend on your silence.” The mare sighed. “For now though, we play along. Act as the good little hostages. Trust me, I promise I'll get us out of this.”

Vinyl slowly nodded. The large, round door opened and three ponies, with guns in their mouths, trotted out. They surrounded the submarine before one of them yelled out. “Come out! Now!”

Octavia sighed. “Here we go.”

The two slowly opened the latch, put their calmest faces on, and climbed out from the top of the vehicle. From there, they slowly made their way down the side, sliding down the slick metal. They were surrounded, but untouched. A blue maned pegasus smiled. “Surprised one of you didn't try to hide on the ship.”

Vinyl gulped nervously, though Octavia just stared with unwavering calmness. The pegasas slowly led them up the platform and through the metal door. Vinyl let out a gasp at the horror that filled the halls.

The walls were covered in a strange, thick black goo. Parts of it had solidified, giving it a strange, glossy appearance. It sent shivers down her spines as she thought back to all those alien movies she had seen in the past. Was it possible they had been abducted? Could Octavia save them from aliens?

The floor was, fortunately, clean of the substance, as was most of the roof. Every hall had the stuff coating the walls and, as they passed a few rooms, she could see that some of them were covered from top to bottom in the substance, with little white eggs nested about. She looked to Octavia. “W-what is this place?”

The earth pony just shook her head, her face slightly paler than usual. They were led through the ship and, just before the unicorn felt her nerves might snap, stopped outside another large, metal door. “Keep a civil tongue in your mouths,” one of the ponies said. “You are coming before our queen.”

The door opened and they gasped. The room was large enough to hold three of their submarines, easily. However, it was completely covered in the black gunk and, sitting on a throne of the stuff, was something quite like a pony. It was as large as one of the princesses, with a black carapace instead of a coat. It had both wings and a horn, though the wings were thin and clear, light blue. Holes were pierced all through the creature's hooves, horn and wings. Aside from the throne, all that were in the rooms were a few consoles run by a few miniature versions of the queen, and a large view port that allowed them to see outside into the ocean.

“A changeling vessel,” Octavia said softly, before biting her lip. “We're in far more trouble than I'd thought.”

“Why? How's this worse than normal pirates?”

“Oh ho!” The pony like creature said as it slowly stood up. “It's been so long since we've had... guests. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Chitin, pirate queen. You have trespassed in my waters, little ponies. What do you have to say for yourself?”

“These are the griffon lands,” Vinyl said quickly, before cringing at a glare from Octavia. “Sorry.”

“Ah yes. I will admit they do hold a... considerable force here. But do not allow that to confuse you. I am the ruler here. There are no griffons here to save you.” The ponies around them flashed for a moment, before appearing as miniature versions of the queen.

Vinyl gasped. “Wait, you're the creatures that invaded Canterlot! I saw it on--”

“Canterlot?” Chtin frowned and shook her head. “Queen Chrysalis performed that, not I. My methods are far... far more subtle. Not to mention effective.” She slowly licked her lips. “Before I am through with you, we will feast on a banquet unlike any before! Mwa ha ha ha ha!” The mare cackled and reared.

Vinyl gulped and looked to Octavia. “You got a plan, don't you?”

“I... I'm working on it.”

“There is no escape! Now, my children!” Chitin slammed a hoof down. “Go, make our guests... comfortable. They have a long journey ahead of them! Mwa ha ha ha!”

Vinyl gulped and shivered, her mind envisioning all the horrors and terrors that now awaited them.

------

“Would you like another daiquri?” a small changeling asked as he lightly shook a small metal mixer in his hooves.

“Hmmmm? Oh... yeah, in a few moments...” Vinyl purred, nuzzling into her pillow. She was now laying on her stomach on a delightful massage table, her back being kneaded by an adorable little changeling with a slightly larger fang. She called him Nibbles. Another changeling was gently fanning her with a fan while still another was feeding her fresh fruit from a bowl. “I swear you have magic hooves...”

“Mmmm hmmm, I get a lot of experience, miss Bluebell.”

“So, Inky, how are you doing?”

“I'm fine,” Octavia grumbled, resting on a full body pillow while her hooves were gently filed.

Soft music filled the room, one of the changelings playing a small harp. The notes gently tinkling into her ears, as if to massage her head from the inside. “I don't suppose you have a steam room?” Vinyl asked, gently nestling her pillow.

“No, but we can see what we can do,” the drink mixer said. “Is there anything else you'd like?”

The unicorn hummed for a moment, before grinning wickedly. She motioned one of the changelings over and whispered into his ear. After a few moments he nodded. He then slowly inched over to the dreary eyed Octavia, before changing forms in a flash. Photo Finish stood in his place now, or at least as close as the changeling could do with the description.

She started massaging the mare's back. “Your friend said this form would satisfy you best...” the now-mare said as she leaned in and gently nipped the earth pony's neck.

Octavia blushed and pulled away. “Stop! Hey, I'm not--” She froze in mid sentence and stared. It was all the opening the changeling needed, before she leaned in and kissed the earth pony on the mouth. For a second the agent went limp... before shoving the pony away, bright red. “I... am not interested in ANYTHING like that!” She glowered at Vinyl. “And YOU! That was a nasty...” She stared at Photo for a few moments, who had a happy, dreamy look on her face. “Stop that!”

“But your emotions taste so good...” Photo whined, giving soft little doe eyes. Almost immediately all the changelings in the room shifted into versions of the eccentric earth pony.

Octavia stared with wide eyed horror, her face bright red. One of them gently massaged her shoulders. “Miss Octavia, we can do anything you desire. Be anypony you want... all we want is a little love...” The pony gently nipped on her neck as the others moved in to gently massage her hooves.

Vinyl stared, mouth hanging open a bit and color flooding into her cheeks. Her little harmless prank was starting to look not quite so harmless. A small flare of jealousy filled her stomach as she realized Octavia might just give in to their little temptations. Though, a part of her admitted she wouldn't mind watching the show.

“EVERYPONY OUT!” Octavia finally screamed. “Or I'll buck every last one of you in the head!”

One of them raised a hoof. “Buck as in kick, or buck--”

“KICK! OUT!” she screamed before gripping the drink shaker and throwing it at the nearest one. The ponies yelped and ran. Vinyl tried to crawl out with them, but an angry, icy tone made her stop in mid step. “Not. You.”

The unicorn gulped nervously, before slowly walking back towards the mare and smiling. “Heh heh. That was kinda awesome, right? Like a dream come true?” She gulped and stared into the earth pony's eyes. Big mistake.

The mare just stared, her expression unreadable and eyes sharp enough to cut stone. “I-it was just a joke! Come on, I'm sorry. You gotta admit though, it was pretty hot. You'll have stories you can tell, too. I mean, how many ponies have an experience like that?” She shuffled nervously from hoof to hoof. She wished the mare would just say SOMETHING, anything. Yell, scream, threaten. Bop her on the nose with a rolled up newspaper. Instead, the mare just stared.

“Come on, I'm sorry. I was just being playful. I thought it would be funny, you know? Say something, please?”

“...”

“Listen, it'll never happen again. I promise. Please forgive me?”

“...”

Vinyl moved closer and reached out, booping the mare on her nose. “Boop! Heh heh... heh... Come on, please? I'm really, really-- eep!” She was gripped around the head and pulled in close, the other mare glaring into her eyes.

Octavia pushed in and kissed the unicorn, making the startled mare's mane stand on end as the agent held her there, lips together. Then her tongue reached out and slowly stroked along her lips, making her shiver. Then it ended and the earth pony pulled away, staring in silence.

Vinyl just stared, her mouth slowly falling open and unaware that her glasses now dangled from only one of her ears. “You.. it... h-how did you... what? Why would... how...”

She leaned in, her cold, empty expression never changing. “I'm one of the changelings.”

Vinyl stared for a few moments as realization dawned on her. “Wait... what?”

“She asked me to do this if you caused any problems. We switched on the walk out.”

“WHAT?!” Vinyl blinked and stared. “N-no way. But... hah!” She quickly tried to recover. “I-I knew it! I knew there was no way Octavia was that good a kisser, eh heh...” The unicorn struggled to keep her cool, her face bright red. “I'll give her props. As pranks go, that's a pretty awesome one.”

There was a small hint of a smile on the mare's lips. She leaned in and whispered. “So, you think I'm a good kisser?” She then trotted by, walking out the door.

Vinyl froze and stared for a few moments. The color drained from her face. “Wait... did you just... you can't have... HEY!” She shrieked and chased after her. “I-I was joking before! You kiss like a wet fish!”

“Mmmm hmm. I'm going to go get some of the hay sandwiches they mentioned and see if I can find a way for us to get out of here. Come along if you want.”

Vinyl huffed angrily, but trotted after the mare. She couldn't get the blush to leave her cheeks though, her thoughts keep fluttering back to that kiss. Sure, she'd made out with a few mares in her time, who hadn't? But she'd never imagined Octavia to be so... passionate during such an act. Especially as a prank. It was a bit jarring.

She couldn't help it. She couldn't wait to find out how else this 'agent' managed to surprise her.

------

The changelings were truly, truly wicked creatures. The two found that it was easy to get back to their ship, but leaving... that was near impossible. The creatures didn't stop them physically, they were far more subtle.

Just to get to the ship they had to weather a storm of sad, doe eyed changelings who just stared with trembly lips, asking if they did something wrong, why did they have to go, offering chocolates, fruits, anything they desired. Then when they finally got to the ship, they amped it up.

They'd take on the most adorable forms they could, kittens, puppies, fillies, anything and everything that could stare at them with big, wide, adorable eyes of pure sadness. They'd never been able to actually make it up the ship, no matter how they tried. There was just too much adorable impeding their way.

They were allowed their own private room, however, that were devoid of the black gunk that covered the ship. They had two soft beds that felt like clouds, but even those comforts were starting to wear thin. “How are we supposed to get out of this?” Vinyl whined into her pillow. “Why can't they just be mean, or snide, or try to fight us?”

“Because they feed on emotions, namely love. Affection, adoration, all those help them as well,” Octavia muttered. “If they just held us prisoner, they'd have nothing to feed on. So instead they have to use--”

“I know what they're doing! It's evil and unfair!” the DJ snapped. “It wouldn't be so bad, but I know they need us. Ugh, if it wasn't for my parents being in trouble I'd probably want to spend a week doing this. Why don't they just like, start a resort or something?”

“Oh, there are already a few hives that do that,” Octavia muttered.

Vinyl blinked a few times and stared. “Wait... what?”

“Plenty throughout Equestria. Small ones, but they're there,” Octavia mumbled.

“Wait, what? Since when?”

“We're not quite sure. An investigation started soon after Chrysalis appeared and tried taking over the kingdom. Once we knew what to look for, thanks to her assault, it really wasn't difficult to find the other hives spaced around our kingdom.” She paused for a moment. “There is a registry, but little to no attention is drawn to their race.”

“Isn't that kind of dangerous?” Vinyl asked nervously. “What if they try to take over?”

“They feed on positive emotions. They literally have to keep us happy if they wish to survive. Besides, their hives tend to be quite small and manageable, so the princess has been more than willing to offer them the same freedoms and rights as any other pony. So long as they don't try their own rebellion.”

Vinyl slammed her head against her pillow. It puffed. “Is it really okay telling me all this? Isn't it like... top secret?”

“Not necessarily. Technically the fact that changelings live in our kingdom is public knowledge. So long as you're willing to navigate the red tape required, and have the right access, you can even find out if a certain pony is a changeling. Very few ponies try, however.”

“Why?”

Octavia sighed. “Again, changelings feed off emotion. They can feel you, taste you. They know just what you're feeling, when you're feeling it. Namely, what keeps you happiest. So long as they help tend to your needs, you'd probably never notice they were feeding off you, and you were sleeping longer.” She paused and gave a dry chuckle. “I doubt many mares or stallions would try ruining their relationship with the pony who manages to always know how to keep them happy. I hear they make excellent lovers as well.”

Vinyl chuckled and rubbed her chin. “I could imagine why. Won't they kill a pony eventually though? I mean... eating too much?”

“Rarely. As far as I know, they can gorge themselves, but they'd have to be actively trying to kill a pony to get to that extreme. Usually a pony just gets very tired and they have to tend to them and pamper them a while until they recover. The worst problem we tend to have with them is theft, but the princess has been working to keep that under control. Their hive mentality tends to make it less of a problem, since they'll usually help each other and pull resources, rather than risk drawing attention to their hive by committing crimes.”

Vinyl nodded. “I... guess. So, what about these ones then? Why don't they do the same? Or do it in griffon lands?”

“Territory disputes, possibly? Maybe they're afraid of getting captured? Though, they could be a different breed of changeling. Perhaps they have always lived under the sea. This craft they have seems to be designed for them.”

“How do we get out then? They're just too... cute to fight. Maybe we could negotiate with their queen? Work out a trade? Offer to send ponies here?”

“I doubt many ponies would be willing to allow themselves to be captured, even if it was a basically free spa trip,” Octavia said dryly.

“At least if it's this hard to leave,” Vinyl muttered. “Maybe we could make a run for it?”

“Doubtful. They're feeding on us as we speak. If we leave the room, they'll know and we'll have a herd of kittens and puppies sitting on the ship, waiting for us.”

Vinyl sighed. “Well, they feed on love, right? Then... they have to understand it! If I tell them I'm doing this to save my parents, they--”

“Will happily turn us in to the doctors in return for a plethora of hostages.”

The DJ groaned and rolled onto her side. “There has to be SOMETHING we can do. We can't just wait here for us to be saved, they--” She sat up suddenly, eyes widening. “Wait. Maybe they can help us!”

“Excuse me?”

“Well, we have the coordinates, right? They have this nifty invisible ship and all. Why not have them help us grab whatever it is we're looking for?”

“And if the horn is there?”

“How will they know what it is? Besides, they seem like nice ponies. What's the wo--” Vinyl froze and shook her head. “Do you have a better idea?”

Octavia sighed. “We'll give it a shot. Maybe they could help.” She jumped off the bed and glared. “But let me do the talking. Understand?”

Vinyl nodded, a wide grin on her face. “Don't worry. I'll be on my best behavior.”

------

Getting the changelings to take them to their destination was easy. Though, during the slow trip to said destination, they couldn't help but notice more changelings were gathered along the halls towards their ship, as if waiting to pounce and adorify them if they tried making another break for it. Vinyl couldn't help but feel as if she was one of the luckiest hostages ever. But being a hostage, was still being a hostage. Even if their destination wasn't there, they had to return home eventually. Her parents still needed her.

It would, however, take a few hours to arrive at their destination, so she was allowing herself another delightful hooficure. She'd even decided to go all out for once, was using a rather hunky stallion as a pillow, while another fed her grapes. Finally, she had the cutest little mare tending to her hooves, making sure they were perfect. “You know, if you all moved to land, you could probably make a looooot of bits with your own little resort.”

“We don't need bits,” one of the creature's said. “All we need is you.” One of them began to gently stroke her mane, making her eyes close slightly.

“You'd have dozens, even hundreds of ponies coming for service like this, too. Especially if all they needed to give was a bit of affection.” She giggled softly, before chewing another grape.

Then suddenly she was on the floor, the bowl of grapes on her head, the changelings sprawled out, glasses tossed aside and her little cushion flown across the floor. Lights shown across the room, flickering red and white. A few seconds later she realized alarms were going off, pounding against her head like a hammer. “W-what?”

The changelings groaned and picked themselves up, before hissing. “Return to your room!” One of them yelled, as the three ran out.

She stared, then rolled her eyes. “Buck that.” She got to her hooves and galloped out, running down the halls and past scrambling changelings. The ship rocked on occasion, slamming her into the walls as she ran. She barely managed to make it to the main room, his sides aching and bruises over her cutie mark.

“What, what's going on?” She gripped the door frame as the ship shook again. Octavia was already in the room, staring through the view screen.

“We're under attack,” the earth pony said roughly. The ship shook again, though the mare barely moved, her hooves ground firmly into the ground and unmoving. Vinyl wished she could do that, but instead she had to hold onto the door frame to avoid flying into the wall.

“Who? Why? How?”

“It is impossible,” Chitin said angrily as she stared through the view port. “There is nothing out there! My children and I would feel it!” The ship rocked again, moments before the sound of tearing metal filled the air.

“Well, something is launching torpedos at us!” Octavia hissed, before pointing. “There!”

Vinyl squinted and, after a few moments, made out a small white blur in the distance. It only appeared for a moment, before two fast moving small blurs shot out, and the original blur disappeared. Moments later the ship rocked as the torpedos crashed into the hull.

“Impossible, how can they know we are here? Our vessel is invisible!” Chitin yelled, though there was an inkling of fear in her voice.

“The doctors,” Octavia said softly.

“Alicity again?” Vinyl asked nervously.

“No. Whoever it is must have tracked us here, and there is only one pony I could think with such resources. This is the work of Dr. Athruz.”

“What? How could--”

“We need to get to our ship,” Octavia said firmly.

“What? No!” Chitin howled angrily. “You'll--”

“Do you have anything capable of hitting a ship moving like that?” Octavia asked, just as angrily. The queen merely lowered her gaze. “That's what I thought. Our vessel is equipped to fight such things.”

“If... if I allow such a thing, you will return? Yes?” The ship rocked again, sending Vinyl and Chitin sprawling. The view screen cracked and water began leaking in from a small hole across the room.

“No.” Octavia stood firmly, never wavering as the vessel rocked.

“Then no, we--” Another shudder rocked the ship, making it veer to the right sharply.

Octavia leaped across the room and gripped the changeling by the chin, forcing her to look eye-to-eye. “You will take this vessel to the surface and leave fighting off this threat to me. You will lose us, but more importantly, you'll live. Unless you really want your hive to meet their deaths, crushed under the sea?”

Chitin gulped softly. “But... w-we need you. We need food and--”

Octavia sighed and smacked the creature across the face. “You'll need nothing if we all die here! Now do what I said if you want to see tomorrow!”

The creature stared, slowly lifting one of her hooves to her face. Then, with a shudder, she nodded. “Very... very well. You may leave.”

The ship rocked again, more violently than any of the previous ones and slammed Vinyl into the wall. She didn't even have time to gather her senses before she was dragged by her hoof through the halls.

Water was spilling in through a number of the rooms as the changelings worked as hard as they could to seal the leaks, spitting out black gunk that stemmed the tide. Unfortunately, it was only a temporary fix and more damage was happening by the moment. Only Octavia helping to support her kept the unicorn from toppling over with every sharp rock of the ship.

The hanger was soaking wet, the water nearly stomach deep as water spilled in from a dozen places. The two skipped the stairs, leaping over the railing as the door closed behind them. They landed in the water, just in time for another shudder to stir the water up, sending Vinyl spinning around, finally slamming her into the ground.

She laid there, dazed and choking as water filled her lungs. She tried to move, but her body rebelled and fought her making each gesture difficult. Then something gripped her withers and pulled her up, back into the fresh air. The unicorn coughed and gasped at the same time, trying to purge all the water from her system while simultaneously filling her lungs with air.

“Come on!” Octavia ordered, but didn't let go. She half dragged, half carried the mare to the vessel. “Go!”

The water sloshed around them from all sides, but Vinyl took a deep breath of precious air and gripped the ladder on the side of the submarine. She started climbing up, holding on with ever rock and shake to avoid being thrown off. She made it to the top and gripped the hatch, lifting it up.

Then the wall behind them exploded. Water shot into the room as she threw herself flat, barely managing to hold on through the initial torrent. Fortunately, the majority of the force hit their vessel, pushing it forward as it ground against the metal floor. It let up after a few moments and she quickly yanked the hatch up, revealing the inside. “Octavia, I got it! Come on!” She turned around to reach out a hoof to her friend, and froze.

Octavia was gone.

Vinyl turned and looked into the waters, scanning the rapidly filling room, but Octavia was nowhere in sight. “Come on you dang mare, where are you?”

The water already covered half their vessel, she didn't have much time. Then it clicked. Her horn glowed and the glasses sprang to life. The world turned dark, everything losing its color. Then she saw it. The bone-form of Octavia, limp in the water, near the back of the room. Vinyl didn't hesitate, jumping from the ship and paddling as fast as she could, grabbing the mare and drawing her to the surface.

“Come on, come on!” the unicorn yelled, shaking the mare. The water was freezing, already she could feel parts of her threatening to numb. But she refused to let go, shaking the mare while holding her above water.

Octavia started coughing and hacking, shaking her head for a few moments before she was released. “What... ahhh! Vinyl, let's go!”

“Yah think?!” the unicorn hissed as the two started swimming back to their vessel. The currents were strong, but they gradually made progress and pulled themselves into the ship. They fell in through the top, Vinyl crashing into the ground and Octavia only barely managing to close the top in time, though water puddles now covered the ground. She locked it before collapsing onto the ground besides the mare, groaning. Taking a well deserved break and panting for air.

“Thanks.”

Vinyl chuckled. “Think... nothing of it. It's what friends do. I... I don't think I ever want to go to the beach again.”

Octavia chuckled. “I gotta agree.” The ship rocked again, slamming them into each other. They groaned and unscrambled, though blushes filled their cheeks. “I... I need to get this ship going. Right.”

With sore, frozen muscles, they managed to crawl into their seats and lock in. The hum of the engines soon restarted and lights flickered on.

“So, what's the plan? We couldn't take on the giant tentacle ship, how are we going to fight this?” Vinyl asked.

“That thing snuck up on us. This ship doesn't have that advantage.” Octavia said cooly. The stony firmness had returned to her eyes as she pushed a button. A single torpedo shot out, blasting a final hole in the bay doors. They glided through it, quickly turned around.

The larger vessel was no longer hidden, three of its eight legs having been blown off. It was slowly surfacing, though torpedos continued to blast against its surface. The small, white blur appeared for a moment and Octavia pushed on the console. Their own torpedos shot out, intercepting the other vessel's and causing a large explosion between them.

The earth pony slowly began to grin. “Now we get to have some fun.”