“This is beautiful!” Flurry Heart cried, looking around Ponyville after flying down.
“Yeah… It's weird. I've never seen this much life in the world before…” Randy said.
“Mm, it smells nice too…” Flurry Heart sighed.
“It's flowers, I haven't smelled those in years.” Ashy Breeze whispered.
The group decided to split up for a few minutes to find the thing Flurry Heart needed to continue.
Ashy Breeze had flown far away, to the edge of town and stopped at a small cottage.
The door creaked and he entered.
The room was dark and wet but one simple green couch, or he knew it was when it was dry. The breezie hovered over it slightly before plopping down. Using his magic, he became his true form, but it wasn't a changeling.
Sweetie Belle awoke and found herself
With a rope around her neck, tied to a tree, horn covered in green goo.
The mare felt fear trickle in her and remembered.
The camp… Changelings must have taken the camp back to the villains. But why was she here? Why wasn't she with the rest?
“Good. You've woken up.” Snarled a voice.
The mare turned and saw Thorax, staring at her.
“You! Where’s Scootaloo and the rest of the camp?!” She cried.
“I didn't do anything with anypony else but you two… So…Are you okay?”
The unicorn narrowed her eyes.
The captain sighed and walked up to her.
“Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you or the flightless one. We're going to Ponyville and having a little chat with the alicorn child. Then, I won't have to worry about my life being ruined by her.” He said, holding the mare’s chin.
Sweetie Belle tore away in disgust. “Why do you think she'll ruin your life? She’s just a little kid. You have no idea if that wil-”
“I do have an idea! If it helps, I sent Scootaloo to get the rest of your camp, you welcome!” Thorax yelled.
“No… You're a changeling! You're evil!” The unicorn cried.
“How do you know I'm evil?!” Thorax growled.
“Because I had to be an orphan after changelings destroyed our town and my parents! Twelve years of fear a-and suffering made me know changelings are evil!” Sweetie finally yelled, it echoing around them.
Thorax face softened a bit.
Sweetie Belle saw him suddenly unsheathe a knife.
She gasped and instinctively backed into the tree.
The girl heard the rope cut and immediately ran.
“Wait!” Thorax yelled.
The unicorn kept running when she bumped into somepony.
Sweetie Belle saw the familiar orange coat and sighed with relief.
“Scootaloo…” She whispered, standing up.
But she met the pegasus's neon green eyes looking empty and staring through her.
“Scootaloo?” She whispered, touching the mare’s face.
There was no change in her vacant expression.
“You can't escape…” Thorax growled behind her.
Sweetie Belle turned slowly to face him.
“What have you done to her?!” Sweetie Belle cried.
Thorax looked confused then saw Scootaloo’s eyes that looked so empty and unchanging.
“I didn't do that…” He whispered, confused.
“”Likely story!” Sweetie Belle growled, trying to shield her friend from him.
“I-I wouldn't hurt anypony like that!” Thorax yelled in anger at the unicorn.
The mare stood her ground, though. “Ha! As if I'd believe you-”
“We are friends!” Thorax yelled back.
“Why do you keep thinking that-”
“Make them shut up.” Growled a familiar voice.
Sweetie Belle gave a cry as Scootaloo grabbed her and covered her mouth.
The unicorn turned to see her friend. Scootaloo looked forward still, not seeing her through the mind control.
“Leave Scootaloo alone!” Thorax yelled.
The mare watched in horror as Chrysalis flew between her and the changeling.
“Leave her alone? That girl may have been useless without the ability to fly before but now, she has proven she's quite strong and very easy to suck the love out of. Just one look at that element of loyalty and her whole being was mine to control. You really shouldn't have sent her off on her own, Captain.”
“No. She escaped me.” Thorax retaliated.
“Hm… I've known you since you were a child. You used to ramble on and on about friendship but when the Empire left, you finally snuffed that light out, so I thought. But I know now that you let nopony get in your way to destroy that princess.”
“So the only reason you would send her out is to save the ponies,” Chrysalis said, pointing the Scootaloo.
“And you kept the other girl to scare the brat into giving herself up.” The queen said, nodding to the furious Sweetie Belle.
“I-I just… But how?” Thorax whispered, trying to think of an excuse.
“Ha. I knew it! And nothing goes on in my kingdom without my knowledge.” The queen laughed.
“You, follow me and take the mare with you.” She growled to Scootaloo.
The girl let go of Sweetie Belle and then grabbed the rope still around her neck.
“Scootaloo… Please wake up….” Sweetie Belle whispered weakly, her frozen tear shattered on the ground.
Randy and Flurry Heart decided to stick together, as they always did. The two had become very good friends.
Flurry Heart gasped in wonder suddenly and pointed up at the giant castle in front of her.
“Look at it! It's like the Crystal Empire’s but… But a tree!” She squealed.
She pulled the huge doors open with Randy’s help and slipped in.
“Look at all this…” She breathed.
Randy went in and looked around. He turned to something and walked to it.
Flurry Heart hadn't noticed though and opened yet another set of doors.
It was a gorgeous throne room and she gasped, seeing a round table and seven thrones.
The alicorn walked up to the glowing table and touched it.
The table suddenly pulled up a hologram of the whole map of Equestria, covered in snow.
“Whoa…” She whispered.
The alicorn suddenly broke from her trance at a cough in the doorway.
“That throne isn't yours, my dear.” Said the voice.
Flurry Heart saw that she had sat down on a throne a pink star on it and turned to the door.
A creature was leaned against the door, looking at the girl.
“D-discord….” She choked out.
“Yes?” The draconequus whispered.
The girl was frozen in fear and was shaking a little.
“Do you think Equestria wants their princess to be an immature little kid?” Discord laughed for the first time in years and something hit Flurry Heart.
Princess. He knew she was going to have to rule and said the same thing Ashy Breeze said.
“No…” She growled, looking up.
“No! No! No! H-have you been lying to us?! You! You were Ashy Breeze, weren't you?!” She cried, it all rushing in.
“What are yo-” Discord stopped when he saw he was indeed caught.
“Fine… It's true. Ashy Breeze never existed, it was all me.”
“So that's why you didn't want me to come here! You didn't want me to find this castle!” The girl yelled, enraged.
“No! No! I just…. It's painful…”
Flurry Heart stuttered for a minute before going silent.
“Y-you're not lying?”
Discord sighed. “At first, I did as I was told. I had snuck out and disguised myself as a breezie and told Randy when they were setting up the trap-”
“Trap?!” The pony yelled.
“I'll get to it later! But I told Randy to find you and convince you to come with us without Applebloom because… Because…”
Flurry Heart narrowed her eyes then saw something he had been trying to hide.
“You gave her those scars!” She bellowed in anger, pointing at his eagle claw.
“The villains would kill me, they needed proof I would stay loyal and I've been doing their bidding since… A few days ago when I met you!” Discord struggled out.
“I don't want any help! I'm getting Randy and we're leaving!” Flurry Heart yelled, standing up and pushing past him.
“You're going to die without me!” Discord growled.
The girl stopped and turned.
“No matter how hard you try, they'll always find you and your loved ones.” The draconequus continued.
“I will protect the ponies I care for, no matter what.” The girl whispered.
“By hiding some more?!” Discord laughed, still angry.
“I am not hiding!” Flurry Heart screamed, her eyes turning pure white with rage.
The alicorn was about to snap when she heard a yell.
“Flurry Heart! There you are….” Randy trailed off at the sight of Discord.
“Er… I can explain all of this…” Discord whispered.
Randy slowly looked at Flurry Heart, mouth still open.
The girl just shook her head to say, “I can't explain this.”
“Listen, I'll prove I can help.” Discord said, still trying.
He used his magic to bring Flurry Heart’s scrapbook to him that she had read all the way there.
“Here, look here.” He said, opening it to a page with six glowing stones.
“Those are pretty… I guess…” Randy whispered. “But how does it help?”
“The elements of harmony. If we find their new bearers, we actually might have a chance.” Discord muttered.
“You're just now telling us this?! We could have used that information earlier!” Flurry Heart growled in anger.
“You alicorns…. You always do that!” Discord snarled.
The princess gasped.
“They're all gone now…”
They were silent for a moment before they heard a soft knock.
The princess turned and flew to the door.
“Wait!” Randy yelled, running to her.
Flurry Heart blushed as he slid in front of her.
“I'm not letting some villains take you away, you hear?” The yak asked.
“I… Thank you….” Flurry Heart whispered, feeling her heart swell. She thought she knew that feeling… But was she correct at what it was? So hard…
They heard the knock again, louder.
The two jumped before Randy opened it.
Flurry Heart gasped as Scootaloo fell into the room.
“Scootaloo! Oh my goodness!” The alicorn squeaked.
Scootaloo stood and looked into her eyes.
Her unnatural neon green eyes meet the princess’s sky blue.
“Are you… Okay?” Flurry Heart whispered, backing away a little, frightened.
Scootaloo stared at the girl, unblinking.
“Yes….” She said in a dull voice.
The alicorn bit her lip and Randy looked between them.
“Who is she?”
Flurry Heart lit up her horn, a little sad.
“She’s not my friend… Something’s wrong…” She was about to cast her spell when a screech filled her ears.
“NO!” Sweetie Belle sobbed, transporting herself in front of Scootaloo who still looked forward.
“Sweetie Belle?! W-what’s going on?” The alicorn cried.
Discord had just run in at the commotion and Sweetie Belle turned even paler than her already snow white coat.
“I-I don’t know what’s going on anymore…” She whispered.
Suddenly, Scootaloo walked swiftly past her.
“Scootaloo! No, don’t listen to her!” The unicorn cried, tackling her friend to the ground.
Flurry Heart gasped in surprise and Randy stepped in front of her, guarding her.
Sweetie Belle squeaked when Scootaloo threw her off. The unicorn slammed into the wall and felt herself leave conscious.
“What a brat. She ruined our surprise.” Laughed a dark voice.
Flurry Heart gasped and looked around with the others.
“Wh-” The alicorn started when Scootaloo grabbed her.
Flurry Heart gave a strangled cry as the pegasus covered her mouth.
“Flurry Heart!” Randy yelled when suddenly a cage surrounded him.
Discord tried to run also but dark crystal encased his claws.
Flurry Heart felt her horrors come true as the villains from her nightmares appeared.
“So good to finally see you, little princess.” Chrysalis hissed.