Pinkie Pie

...And my sword is broken.
I stand, held by magic bands, in a burning field, surrounded on all sides by changelings. My friends and I have been separated by the massive force, and I can hear them fighting, occasionally glimpsing flashes of orange as Applejack beats one down with a hammer or flashes of purple as one of Twilight's giant spikeballs slams into one of them, but there are too many.
As I stand there, trapped, wondering why the changelings have stopped attacking me, I hear a sound that stops my heart.
Fluttershy screams as a changeling hits her with something. I hear laughing, and then more screaming as the changelings close in on her. Soon the screaming stops.
Tears come to my eyes.
Fluttershy, dead? No! It can't be! She... She can't die!
Then Rarity screams next, a long, loud scream that is choked off halfway through as a changeling arrow hits her in the neck.
Rarity! No!
I see Rainbow Dash fly straight up, then fly straight down again, a cone of air forming around her as she prepares for a Sonic Rainboom.
A burst of green magic streaks towards her and hits her in the head. I hear the crack as she hits the ground headfirst, followed by a scream of rage from Applejack. Changelings are tossed left and right as she tries to reach her friend's body.
And all the while, the ones around me are just watching and laughing, taunting me, and my sword lies broken in the dirt.
The next one to fall is Twilight, a changeling dodging her giant spikeballs and maneuvering around her until he strikes at her head, cleaving it in two.
Then Applejack bursts into the circle of changelings standing around me, her clothes and body almost as blood-soaked as her hammer.
"Pinkie Pie!" she yells before a changeling tackles her from behind. The rest fall upon her, and I am helpless to watch as they trap her with magic. Tears streak my face as they hover her over so we face each other. Applejack manages to get a few words out before they kill her.
"Pinkie, the Elements-"
I wake up with a start, my head pounding and my heart racing. Gummy's head perks up at my sudden movement, and I pet him until he goes back to sleep.
What an awful dream.
Then I hear the screaming.
I jump out of bed, pick up my sword, and rush out the door. Changelings have surrounded Ponyville, and I join Twilight and the others to confront them. Soon, we are separated, and a changeling sneaks up behind me and blasts me with magic...
...And my sword is broken.
I stand, held by magic bands, in a burning field, surrounded on all sides by changelings. My friends and I have been separated by the massive force, and I can hear them fighting, occasionally glimpsing flashes of orange as Applejack beats one down with a hammer or flashes of purple as one of Twilight's giant spikeballs slams into one of them, but there are too many.
As I stand there, trapped, wondering why the changelings have stopped attacking me, I hear a sound that stops my heart.
Fluttershy screams as a changeling hits her with something. I hear laughing, and then more screaming as the changelings close in on her. Soon the screaming stops.
Tears come to my eyes.
Fluttershy, dead? No! It can't be! She... She can't die!
Then Rarity screams next, a long, loud scream that is choked off halfway through as a changeling arrow hits her in the neck.
Rarity! No!
I see Rainbow Dash fly straight up, then fly straight down again, a cone of air forming around her as she prepares for a Sonic Rainboom.
A burst of green magic streaks towards her and hits her in the head. I hear the crack as she hits the ground headfirst, followed by a scream of rage from Applejack. Changelings are tossed left and right as she tries to reach her friend's body.
And all the while, the ones around me are just watching and laughing, taunting me, and my sword lies broken in the dirt.
The next one to fall is Twilight, a changeling dodging her giant spikeballs and maneuvering around her until he strikes at her head, cleaving it in two.
Then Applejack bursts into the circle of changelings standing around me, her clothes and body almost as blood-soaked as her hammer.
"Pinkie Pie!" she yells before a changeling tackles her from behind. The rest fall upon her, and I am helpless to watch as they trap her with magic. Tears streak my face as they hover her over so we face each other. Applejack manages to get a few words out before they kill her.
"Pinkie, the Elements-"
I wake up with a start, my head pounding and my heart racing. Gummy's head perks up at my sudden movement, and I pet him until he goes back to sleep.
What an awful dream.
Then I hear the screaming.
I jump out of bed, pick up my sword, and rush out the door. Changelings have surrounded Ponyville, and I join Twilight and the others to confront them. Soon, we are separated, and a changeling sneaks up behind me and blasts me with magic...
...And my sword is broken.
I stand, held by magic bands, in a burning field, surrounded on all sides by changelings. My friends and I have been separated by the massive force, and I can hear them fighting, occasionally glimpsing flashes of orange as Applejack beats one down with a hammer or flashes of purple as one of Twilight's giant spikeballs slams into one of them, but there are too many.
As I stand there, trapped, wondering why the changelings have stopped attacking me, I hear a sound that stops my heart.
Fluttershy screams as a changeling hits her with something. I hear laughing, and then more screaming as the changelings close in on her. Soon the screaming stops.
Tears come to my eyes.
Fluttershy, dead? No! It can't be! She... She can't die!
Then Rarity screams next, a long, loud scream that is choked off halfway through as a changeling arrow hits her in the neck.
Rarity! No!
I see Rainbow Dash fly straight up, then fly straight down again, a cone of air forming around her as she prepares for a Sonic Rainboom.
A burst of green magic streaks towards her and hits her in the head. I hear the crack as she hits the ground headfirst, followed by a scream of rage from Applejack. Changelings are tossed left and right as she tries to reach her friend's body.
And all the while, the ones around me are just watching and laughing, taunting me, and my sword lies broken in the dirt.
The next one to fall is Twilight, a changeling dodging her giant spikeballs and maneuvering around her until he strikes at her head, cleaving it in two.
Then Applejack bursts into the circle of changelings standing around me, her clothes and body almost as blood-soaked as her hammer.
"Pinkie Pie!" she yells before a changeling tackles her from behind. The rest fall upon her, and I am helpless to watch as they trap her with magic. Tears streak my face as they hover her over so we face each other. Applejack manages to get a few words out before they kill her.
"Pinkie, the Elements-"
I wake up with a start, my head pounding and my heart racing. Gummy's head perks up at my sudden movement, and I pet him until he goes back to sleep.
What an awful dream.
Then I hear the screaming.
I jump out of bed, pick up my sword, and rush out the door. Changelings have surrounded Ponyville, and I join Twilight and the others to confront them. Soon, we are separated, and a changeling sneaks up behind me and blasts me with magic...
...And my sword is broken.

Rainbow Dash

I turn another corner, heading deeper into the changeling hive, two drones following me. As I walk, I pass five cells. I avoid looking in them, but I can still hear them.
I can still hear my friends yelling at me.
"Why, Rainbow Dash? Why?"
"Rainbow Dash, I trusted you, and you, you... How could you!?"
"Ah can't believe you'd do somethin' like this, Rainbow!"
"Don't just walk away and leave your friends behind! Save us, Dashie!"
"Face it, girls. Rainbow Dash is a traitor."
The word 'traitor' echoes in my mind as I leave them behind. Soon, we come to the general.
"As agreed, Rainbow Dash." it says, holding out a large sack of gold.
I say nothing, tears streaming down my face as I take the bits and start off down a different tunnel. I take a left, then a right, then another left, then two rights...
I turn another corner, heading deeper into the changeling hive, two drones following me. As I walk, I pass five cells. I avoid looking in them, but I can still hear them.
I can still hear my friends yelling at me.
"Why, Rainbow Dash? Why?"
"Rainbow Dash, I trusted you, and you, you... How could you!?"
"Ah can't believe you'd do somethin' like this, Rainbow!"
"Don't just walk away and leave your friends behind! Save us, Dashie!"
"Face it, girls. Rainbow Dash is a traitor."
The word 'traitor' echoes in my mind as I leave them behind. Soon, we come to the general.
"As agreed, Rainbow Dash." it says, holding out a large sack of gold.
I say nothing, tears streaming down my face as I take the bits and start off down a different tunnel. I take a left, then a right, then another left, then two rights...
I turn another corner, heading deeper into the changeling hive, two drones following me. As I walk, I pass five cells. I avoid looking in them, but I can still hear them.
I can still hear my friends yelling at me.
"Why, Rainbow Dash? Why?"
"Rainbow Dash, I trusted you, and you, you... How could you!?"
"Ah can't believe you'd do somethin' like this, Rainbow!"
"Don't just walk away and leave your friends behind! Save us, Dashie!"
"Face it, girls. Rainbow Dash is a traitor."
The word 'traitor' echoes in my mind as I leave them behind. Soon, we come to the general.
"As agreed, Rainbow Dash." it says, holding out a large sack of gold.
I say nothing, tears streaming down my face as I take the bits and start off down a different tunnel. I take a left, then a right, then another left, then two rights...

Rarity

I dart towards Twilight to aid her as she fends off three changelings. She takes out one, but as she does so, two more attack her from behind.
"Help!"
I rush from Twilight to Fluttershy, the latter being positively swarmed by the things. She tries as hard as she can to fight, but they overwhelm her and she goes down. From behind me, I hear Twilight scream as a sword cuts through her side.
"Rarity! Help!"
I turn and run to help Pinkie Pie in her efforts to hold back a veritable storm of changelings. Twilight is dead now, a sword arcing through her neck ending her life. Fluttershy is bleeding all over from different cuts on her body, swaying back and forth, tipsy from loss of blood.
"Help!"
I turn and run to Applejack as she takes out another changeling. There's a horde of them around her, and it's all I can do to get to her. Fluttershy has collapsed now, changelings falling on top of her like wolves. There's no hope for her. Pinkie Pie has been slammed against a building and is now dazed, staggering to and fro while the changelings watch, laughing.
"Help!"
I go to Rainbow Dash's aid as she tries her best to deal with the ocean of changelings that has gathered below her. As I struggle to clear a path to her, the changelings cast a net of magic over her, trapping her and bringing her down to the ground. A rock dislodges itself from the building and hits Pinkie Pie on the head, cracking her skull and killing her instantly.
Applejack is under a pile of changelings, but I can still hear her struggling to break free.
Then they attack me.
My needles form a protective globe around me, and the changelings are stuck trying to pierce it. From outside, I can hear Rainbow Dash scream as they cut her to ribbons, I can hear the cries of exultation as Applejack goes down.
Then I hear a voice calling me. I dispel my globe and rush to help the owner of the voice...
I dart towards Twilight to aid her as she fends off three changelings. She takes out one, but as she does so, two more attack her from behind.
"Help!"
I rush from Twilight to Fluttershy, the latter being positively swarmed by the things. She tries as hard as she can to fight, but they overwhelm her and she goes down. From behind me, I hear Twilight scream as a sword cuts through her side.
"Rarity! Help!"
I turn and run to help Pinkie Pie in her efforts to hold back a veritable storm of changelings. Twilight is dead now, a sword arcing through her neck ending her life. Fluttershy is bleeding all over from different cuts on her body, swaying back and forth, tipsy from loss of blood.
"Help!"
I turn and run to Applejack as she takes out another changeling. There's a horde of them around her, and it's all I can do to get to her. Fluttershy has collapsed now, changelings falling on top of her like wolves. There's no hope for her. Pinkie Pie has been slammed against a building and is now dazed, staggering to and fro while the changelings watch, laughing.
"Help!"
I go to Rainbow Dash's aid as she tries her best to deal with the ocean of changelings that has gathered below her. As I struggle to clear a path to her, the changelings cast a net of magic over her, trapping her and bringing her down to the ground. A rock dislodges itself from the building and hits Pinkie Pie on the head, cracking her skull and killing her instantly.
Applejack is under a pile of changelings, but I can still hear her struggling to break free.
Then they attack me.
My needles form a protective globe around me, and the changelings are stuck trying to pierce it. From outside, I can hear Rainbow Dash scream as they cut her to ribbons, I can hear the cries of exultation as Applejack goes down.
Then I hear a voice calling me. I dispel my globe and rush to help the owner of the voice...
I dart towards Twilight to aid her as she fends off three changelings. She takes out one, but as she does so, two more attack her from behind.
"Help!"
I rush from Twilight to Fluttershy, the latter being positively swarmed by the things. She tries as hard as she can to fight, but they overwhelm her and she goes down. From behind me, I hear Twilight scream as a sword cuts through her side.
"Rarity! Help!"
I turn and run to help Pinkie Pie in her efforts to hold back a veritable storm of changelings. Twilight is dead now, a sword arcing through her neck ending her life. Fluttershy is bleeding all over from different cuts on her body, swaying back and forth, tipsy from loss of blood.
"Help!"
I turn and run to Applejack as she takes out another changeling. There's a horde of them around her, and it's all I can do to get to her. Fluttershy has collapsed now, changelings falling on top of her like wolves. There's no hope for her. Pinkie Pie has been slammed against a building and is now dazed, staggering to and fro while the changelings watch, laughing.
"Help!"
I go to Rainbow Dash's aid as she tries her best to deal with the ocean of changelings that has gathered below her. As I struggle to clear a path to her, the changelings cast a net of magic over her, trapping her and bringing her down to the ground. A rock dislodges itself from the building and hits Pinkie Pie on the head, cracking her skull and killing her instantly.
Applejack is under a pile of changelings, but I can still hear her struggling to break free.
Then they attack me.
My needles form a protective globe around me, and the changelings are stuck trying to pierce it. From outside, I can hear Rainbow Dash scream as they cut her to ribbons, I can hear the cries of exultation as Applejack goes down.
Then I hear a voice calling me. I dispel my globe and rush to help the owner of the voice...

Applejack

...And I stand alone, surrounded by changelings, the circle growing smaller and smaller by the minute as they inch closer and closer. Desperate and afraid, I call out for my friends.
"Twilight! Rainbow Dash! Rarity!"
Nothing. Ponyville is silent as the circle grows smaller and smaller...
"Pinkie Pie! Fluttershy! Anypony! Help me, please!"
Still nothing. I look around for any sign, any way, any chance to escape...
One of the changelings is smaller then the rest. Faking an attack at another changeling, I dart towards the small one and jump over it, escaping the circle and taking off down a side alley. After turning a couple times, I come across my friends standing in a square.
"Where were you guys?" I ask. "I was surrounded back there and I really needed your help!"
They say nothing.
Twilight's necklace glows, and a large ball of light appears and flies straight up into the air. Soon, the changelings come, surrounding the square, and still they say nothing and do nothing.
Then they start walking away, the circle parting as my friends abandon me to the changelings. Past the circle, I see Queen Chrysalis herself congratulation them. They walk off down a side alley...
...And I stand alone, surrounded by changelings, the circle growing smaller and smaller by the minute as they inch closer and closer. Desperate and afraid, I call out for my friends.
"Twilight! Rainbow Dash! Rarity!"
Nothing. Ponyville is silent as the circle grows smaller and smaller...
"Pinkie Pie! Fluttershy! Anypony! Help me, please!"
Still nothing. I look around for any sign, any way, any chance to escape...
One of the changelings is smaller then the rest. Faking an attack at another changeling, I dart towards the small one and jump over it, escaping the circle and taking off down a side alley. After turning a couple times, I come across my friends standing in a square.
"Where were you guys?" I ask. "I was surrounded back there and I really needed your help!"
They say nothing.
Twilight's necklace glows, and a large ball of light appears and flies straight up into the air. Soon, the changelings come, surrounding the square, and still they say nothing and do nothing.
Then they start walking away, the circle parting as my friends abandon me to the changelings. Past the circle, I see Queen Chrysalis herself congratulation them. They walk off down a side alley...
...And I stand alone, surrounded by changelings, the circle growing smaller and smaller by the minute as they inch closer and closer. Desperate and afraid, I call out for my friends.
"Twilight! Rainbow Dash! Rarity!"
Nothing. Ponyville is silent as the circle grows smaller and smaller...
"Pinkie Pie! Fluttershy! Anypony! Help me, please!"
Still nothing. I look around for any sign, any way, any chance to escape...
One of the changelings is smaller then the rest. Faking an attack at another changeling, I dart towards the small one and jump over it, escaping the circle and taking off down a side alley. After turning a couple times, I come across my friends standing in a square.
"Where were you guys?" I ask. "I was surrounded back there and I really needed your help!"
They say nothing.
Twilight's necklace glows, and a large ball of light appears and flies straight up into the air. Soon, the changelings come, surrounding the square, and still they say nothing and do nothing.
Then they start walking away, the circle parting as my friends abandon me to the changelings. Past the circle, I see Queen Chrysalis herself congratulation them. They walk off down a side alley...
...And I stand alone.

Twilight

I sit, trapped in a green cocoon suspended from the ceiling. Tears streak my face, partly out of sadness and partly from necessity.
I meditate, my necklace glowing softly as I cast my mind out beyond my body, seeing the room I am trapped in. I visualize myself leaving, and soon I am out in the corridor leading to the others' cells.
I enter Pinkie Pie's cell and once again look into her mind to see if it's changed at all.
...And my sword is broken.
The illusion remains constant, just as it has been ever since she was brought in.
I already know what the others are going through, but I check on them just in case.
I say nothing, a lone tear running down my cheek as I take the bits and start off down a different tunnel.
Pinkie Pie! Fluttershy! Anypony! Help me, please!
It would only take a second to dig it out with magic...
All the same.
Fresh tears run down my face as I face the horrors my friends are being put through.
It's just as well that I've started crying again, because Queen Chrysalis, along with Lyra, walk into the room where I'm being held captive.
"Is this one under control?" Chrysalis asks, gesturing to me with a look of contempt.
"Yes, my queen. Aside from a small abnormality when the spell was first cast, she's been even more responsive than the others. Soon we'll be able to put her to work." Lyra says.
"Would you change out of that idiotic form?" Chrysalis says. "It's repulsive even to look at.
"Of course, Your Majesty." the changeling says, returning to his true state.
"Much better. Now let me see the illusion she's under..."
I quickly return to my 'illusion' and return it to the state it was in when it was first cast...

...Celestia and Luna are dead.
The Elements of Harmony are destroyed.
My friends have all fallen.
All that's left is me, cowering before the changeling queen.
I am given a choice: Join or die like the rest.
My studies have not prepared me for this.
My precious friendship has gained me nothing.
I take the hand offered me and enter a new tutelage.
One of power, one of control, one of illusions and backstabbing and double-crossing...
I become a changeling.

In the back of my mind, I hear Chrysalis chuckle.
"Excellent. Soon she'll be ready for battle. Prepare the illusion needed, Tharnax."
"Right away, Your Highness."
As they leave, the illusion starts to overwhelm me. I quickly scan my mind and bring six memories to the forefront...

Standing up for yourself isn't the same as changing who you are. Now I know how to put my hoof down without being unpleasant or mean.

No matter where you go in life, you should never forget that you are the product of your home and your friends. And that is something always to be proud of, no matter what.

Yeah, I get it. I shouldn't knock something until I've tried it.

It's a tad easier to be proud when you come in first than it is when you finish further back. But there's no reason to hide when you don't do as well as you'd hoped. You can't run away from your problems. Better to run to your friends and family.

Sometimes our desire for responsibility can outrun our actual ability to handle it.

I'll tell you what we've learned, Discord: We've learned that friendship isn't always easy. But there's no doubt it's worth fighting for!

The illusion quickly fades as memories of my friends banish the fear and leave me clear-headed and sitting in my cocoon.
Now to find a way out of here.