This chapter is short but it will give you info about what's coming...

After saying their merry goodnights, the group had gone their separate ways, promising to meet with each other again soon. Star had left the group early, flying home looking rather tired. Heartsy was left wondering, again, where she'd stay the night. Cuddlebuttons had immediately volunteered, insisting that there were plenty of rooms in his house to spare.

The ponies flew through the sky for what felt like hours. Heartsy wondered where in Equestria this mansion could be. Her heart lept in terror as she saw the city of Canterlot on the horizon. While the city below was peaceful against the setting sun, being here just a night after her escape made her very uneasy. This was apparently very noticeable as Cuddles asked, "Are you alright, my dear?"

"Uh... never better! I guess I'm just tired from all of today's festivities..." Heartsy replied.

"Not to worry, not to worry! We're here."

When Cuddles had implied extra rooms, Cuddlebuttons wasn't kidding in the least. Hidden away in an older district of the city sat the mansion. Exquisite. Elegant. Old-fashioned. Beautiful. All these words came to Heartsy's mind as she flew to its doors.

A fine red and gold carpet lined the stairs up to his family's incredible mansion. The main doors led into a magnificent entryway. Several hallways and doors led to handsomely decorated rooms. Heartsy's eyes grew huge as her jaw dropped; she'd never seen such finery before.

"Welcome to my humble abode!" He gestured inside.

"Cuddles, this place is gorgeous!" she said, still aghast.

"Why thank you! It's been in my family for generations. I trust you'll be comfortable here?"

Just then, a butler wearing a full suit and tie approached to offer the pair drinks.

"I'm sure this place will be plenty comfortable," she said a bit uneasily, giving the butler an awkward smile. Friendship was one thing, but living with such luxury was completely foreign to her.

"Excellent! Won't you please follow me?" Cuddlebuttons flew down a long corridor with Heartsy close behind. Soon, they approached a set of double doors with Cuddle's cutie mark on it. "Behold!" He said, opening the door.

The room held every sort of video game you could possibly imagine. Handheld, classic, and arcade machines galore. Board games also had their place, piled high on a self. Heartsy's jaw dropped yet again at the sight. Games were also foreign to her.

Chairs and tables surrounded an elaborate television setup. Sitting in a chair concentrating on a video game was none other than Shutterbug. The stallion had left the party a bit early in order to get his pictures developed.

"Heartsy! Fancy seeing you here! Quite literally! Have you seen this place?! It just begs to have its picture taken!" He snaps a picture of the pink pegasus's shocked face while Cuddles chuckled heartily, "I forgot to tell you, Shutterbug will also be staying here for a few days."

"It's true!" said Shutter brightly "I've been asked to document Canterlot's most decadent buildings. Other than Canterlot Castle, this is the finest there is!" However, I thought I'd take a break and enjoy some gaming. Care to join?"

"Uhh... sure!" Heartsy flew over and plopped herself onto the chair next to Shutterbug's. They were soon joined by Cuddles for an evening of games.

At first, Heartsy was terrified. She'd never so much as held a controller before! After a few rounds of losing terribly and slowly improving while hearing her newfound friends having fun, she began to relax. Soon, she was laughing along right beside them.

The game involved racing cars around a variety of fantastical tracks, including one in space where she kept falling off the road. Also there were turtle shells for some reason.

"Oh come on, that power-up should've hit you!" Heartsy laughed with a silly grin on her face. "Hah! You're too slow for me!" Replied Shutterbug. "Yes! Victory is mine!" Cuddles happily shouted as his character sped to the finish line in first place.

Soon after, the trio said their goodnights and parted ways. Sitting in a guest room that was equally as fancy as the rest of the mansion, Heartsy looked through her window at the stars above, thinking about the day's events. "Could this really be what I've been looking for this whole time? Everypony is so... wonderful!" Thinking about the love her friends shared made her stomach give a low rumble. Sighing, she looked around her room and spotted a mini fridge. "This pony really does offer his friends the best... but at least eating this is better than eating love" After finding a snack and putting her pajamas on, she crawled into the cloud-like bed and was fast asleep.

A dark spiral structure loomed above a barren wasteland. The Hive. It grew closer as the two changeling guards raced forward, eager to tell their Queen the good news. A hole appeared as they flew in, wings buzzing excitedly the closer they became.

Chrysalis, as usual, sat upon her mighty throne looking haughty. She turned her head at the sound of the wings and smirked. "Good! You're back! Tell me, have you found her?"

Pincar was the first to answer, "Yes my Queen! We found her in Ponyville!"

Next was Stinger, "I must admit, it was easier than I thought. That idiot didn't even change her tail!"

A maniacal laugh left the Queen's throat, "Excellent! Now, tell me more."

"Yes, my Queen! Well she was hanging around a group of ponies-"

"And a dragon!"

"She seemed to like these ponies for some reason..."

"And she didn't even feed, the whole time!"

The queen pondered, "After studying Canterlot to plan our attack, I have seen these things before. 'Friends' the ponies call each other. Bah. The thought of it makes me sick! But... This will make Heartsy even more easy to trick!"

"How so, My Queen?" Abelle pondered. She had been in the throne room, listening to the conversation from afar.

"You fool! Don't you see! If Heartsy has really made 'friends' with these ponies, then all we have to do is turn them against her! Or..." She paused for a minute to think. A truly wicked idea came to mind. "We turn her against them. All it will take is a little push... a little... convincing."

Looking unsure, Stinger asked, "Not to doubt you, you're Highness, but if Heartsy left before... she might not be easily convinced to come back."

To their surprise, she laughed again. "Oh don't you worry. I have something that will help with that. Now, I want you to show me what her friends look like."

The two cycled through Heartsy's friends, one nearly cracking his head on the roof when turning into Shaky. As they changed into the last ponies, Chrysalis nearly lept out of her throne.

"What?! How could this be?! I recognize that one! Where have I seen her before?" She buzzed around, pacing back and forth when it struck her.

"Ah...of course... This just keeps getting more and more fun."

"What does, my Queen?" Abelle inquired.

Annoyed yet happy, Chrysalis, "The plan, you idiot! I finally found Heartsy's true kryptonite! Guards! Tell me, do Heartsy's 'friends' know she's a changeling?"

Pincar replied, "No, my Queen! She was in disguise the whole time."

"Ah, excellent! Well, now we know the one thing that they don't. The thing that will truly bring her to submission. And again, if she does not or even if she will...I know just what to do to her." An evil grin spread on her face as she thought of it. "Now this! This is the perfect plan!"

Yes! There was a Mario Kart 8 game reference! Also next chapter is gonna be a big one!