Chapter XXX: Attack of the Changelings

Walker

"I don't what trick Vlad is up to, but it ends here," I tell the hunter as he smiles. "Why are you smiling" I ask him. The hunter says Vlad is not behind this. "You would never betray your source of income unless...," of course he's getting something out this. "What is your aim in all this hunter."

"I don't serve Vlad anymore. That creature that sent you the greeting is whom I working for. She has legions troops...," I laugh and tell I'm not afraid of bugs. "You should be warden. They have already...," three officers walk in the room.

"Did you send the reply to...," one of them raises he hand blasts me against the wall. "This is treason, I will execute you all!" they change into the bugs and begin covering me in some kind of slime. "You bugs won't get away with this. I will hunt you down until you are locked up for...," the cover my mouth with the slime.

They walk over and free Skulker, "Tell Chrysalis that warden has been neutralized," he says getting and waving goodbye to me.

Applejack

"Something's wrong?" Spike says worriedly. I ask him what he means? "I haven't received a message back from Twilight," Now that he brings it up we haven't anything from her yet. I tell him maybe she's just too busy to answer it. "This is Twilight we're talking about," the dragon says trying not to worry about his friend.

"Whatever is going on we can handle it," Scootaloo says flying around the room. Danny and Rainbow just shake their heads at the young pony. "I need a cool name that will strike fear into the hearts of evil doers." I tell her that she might want to go easy. "Are you kidding? I am taking advantage of this...wait I've got it the Knight Mare."

"Sounds too similar to Nightmare Moon," Trixie brings up. "Plus we don't know how long your 'powers' will...," She is cut off as Spike starts to cough.

"What is it?" Danny asks as a scroll appears before him. He unrolls it, "it's from Rarity," The dragon's eyes grow wide hearing the unicorn's name. "It says Twilight had been captured. Those birdbrains ambushed her." Scootaloo says that Spookaloo can take care of those bird brains. "I don't think so. With ghost blood in you they can easily track us down."

"It's not fair!" the little filly complains as she sits down. "I have these awesome...," she looks down and finds herself sinking into the floor. Danny grabs her and pulls to safety. He says involuntary phasing is a common problem for half ghosts.

"We need to send a signal to the others to let them know that Twilight's compromised," Danny says looking at Trixie. "I know you're not strongest with magic, but maybe something subtle a two word phrase?" Trixie says she might be able to do it. She closes her eyes and sends out a simple messages.

Jazz

"Do you think it's safe," Luna says examining the gold portal. I tell her we can send a probe in first. "brilliant idea, Jasmine," I tell her I have just the thing for the mission. I open up a secret drawer and take out one Vlad's disabled spycams. "Are those the devices the fiend uses to spy on thee?" I nod but we are going to use it our advantage. I remove a tiny transmitter and crushes it with my foot. "We have all the parts we need here." Tucker and Dr. Hooves come up and say they can have done in no time.

"Well don...," Celestia says before her knees buckles. I race to help her up. "Something is wrong," she says steadying herself. "We need to get this probe working at once." I ask her what she sensed. "I am not sure," I help her back on the couch and tell her to rest.

"What's going on?" Apple Bloom asks worriedly. I tell her we're not sure but we will make sure no one harms the princesses. "Is that the Vlad varmint?" I could see the fear in the two young ponies eyes. An idea comes to me. I ask her if she and Sweetie Belle guard Celestia. "You want us to protect her?" the yellow pony asks with wide eyes.

"You know if you do I am sure it would result in a cutie mark," their ears perk up and say they won't let me down. I attach two silver bracelets on their front hooves. "If you see anything come alert us." Sweetie Belle said I can count on them. "Good," I walk back to help the others.

Twilight Sparkle

"I have to esc...," I said struggling as the tendrils strengthened their grip on me. A voice tells me to relax. "Who said that?" A form emerges from the darkness. "I don't believe it! Starswirl the Bearded!" The wizard tells me he needs my help. "I would if I could," he tells me not to fear them tendrils as they just want to keep her safe. "...safe..." He nods and hold up my head.

"Those humans are not who you think the are," one one tendrils stroke my belly. I shudder at the feeling. "Relax Ms. Sparkle," the wizard says. "I need to you lure them into a trap for me." I feel the tentacles tighten around me making it hard to breathe. "It's the only way to save your friends," he tells me as I close my eyes and cast a spell.

"Thank you so much Twilight. I could not do it with out your help." Starswirl says as my eyes get heavy. I swear I saw his face morph before I sank into blackness.

Sam

"One of these doors must lead to the exit," I said opening a door and found another hallway. "How does these ponies...," I hear something. It sounded like a cry for help. I take out an ecto-pistol and follow the sound. Something is nagging me in the back of the skull to be ready for anything.

I race down the hall until I find a pair of glass doors. Thick vines covered them preventing anything from coming in. I blast the doors apart and walk inside. I find myself in a massive greenhouse. "Amazing," I said as I heard a voice tell someone to keep blasting. Not far were a couple unicorn guards firing at a massive Venus' Flytrap.

I see a form in the plant's jaws. It looked "DANI!" her arms and legs were ensnared and trying to keep the plant from closing in on her. "Hang on," I tell the ghost girl as I take an ice bomb from my pocket. "Stand back!" I tell the ponies as I throw it at the monster. It closes it's maw around Dani. A second later the plant shatters to pieces.

"SAM!" she calls out hugging me tight. I ask what's happening? "Vlad's altered these plants and...," she races over to a pair of leaves. "You think you can freeze it," she says as I take out another bomb. Blue energy freezes and breaks apart. "Shining," she race over to the unicorn prince. She kneels down and places an ear on his chest. "He's alive."

The other ponies rush to him and help him up. "Easy now," they tell him as he asks what happened. "That flower was trying smother you. If it weren't for the humans you would be a goner. " He looks up at me and smiles.

"It seems I have you to thank Sam," he says as I tell him it's all part of the job. He turns to Dani and asks her if she can sense if Vlad is still nearby? She closes her eyes and says his signal's faint. He must be on the other side of the castle. "Schynbald send a message to...," his horns begin to glow. "Scratch that, it's from...Twily," he seems unsure of something. "Buckler, apprehend the humans."

"What are you doing?" I demand to know as the unicorn shackles us. Armor says we are...enemies of Equestria. "Seriously after...," he winks twice at him. "I get it now. Come on Dani it's best if we go peacefully," I tell her as we are lead out to the hallway.

Rarity

"There has to be something here to help get Twilight back," I said looking at the massive rows of books. "Luna studied all kind of...," the door knob begins to glow as a bony hand reaches into the room. "Back you nasty things!" I blast them but it doesn't seem to do anything to them.

"You will come with us pony!" I glare at them angrily and tell him to call me 'Miss Rarity' the bone head says nothing but continue walking towards me. "Secure her!" one them of orders as I pick up a book and throw it at them.

"Oh come on!" I look at the book and notice a illumination spell. I cast the spell. The room fills with light burning the skeletons to dust. "That should keep them away," I say getting a message from Trixie. All it said was 'Twilight captured.' Those icky birds probably gave her to Vlad.

Once I am sure there are no more skeletons. I take out some parchment and send a note to Spike. Hopefully he'll get it and find me. I begin to feel strange, "that spell must have..." I see Sweetie Belle captured by that monster. "How did he..." I shake my mind free but the image won't go away. "No I have to..." I cast a freeze spell on my legs. "This way I can't...Sweetie...no," I try to move but the spell keeps me in place.