“Not quite, Spike.” Twilight grinned, “Just the size of one. We do need to be this small to fit in the hole, right Apple Bloom?”
“Yes ma’am.” The filly’s orange eyes were wide, as if she had no idea what had just happened.
“Augh!” Rainbow Dash unfolded her wings and flapped them, only going a bit off the ground, “How am I supposed to kick changeling tail like this?!”
“Quiet, Dash. I’ll bring the book so I can change us all back to normal when we get down the hole if there’s time.” Twilight’s horn began to glow as the book floated near her head.
“Why didn’t we just do this when we got to the forest, Twi?” Applejack gently placed her hat, now larger than her head, on a nearby table.
“If there is indeed a changeling watching the hole, it would certainly attack us while our backs are turned.” The unicorn thought for a moment, “Which might be the reason we can’t turn back to normal down there, so prepare for that.”
“Hate to break up the little party here, darlings, but shouldn’t we be on our way?” Rarity trotted past Twilight as a blue light emerged from her horn, holding the door open expectantly.
“Right. Come on girls, we have some changeling butt to kick.” Twilight glanced at Spike, “Hold down the fort, Spike.”
The dragon saluted as the seven ponies left, “You can count on me!” The door shut and he relaxed his muscles and trudged over to his bed, curling up and tossing the blanket over himself.
Outside, Apple Bloom was leading the older mares to the forest, “Come on guys! We might be too late!” She began to gallop.
“I’m coming, Sweetie!” Rarity shouted to the wind, beginning to gallop with the farmfilly.
They reached the edge of the forest when they slowed down, Apple Bloom skidded to a stop. “Alright, they went…uh…they went…” Her ears flattened. “This way!” She trudged forward, taking the winding route that Scootaloo had shown her. They reached the edge of the clearing, “Alright guys.” Apple Bloom’s voice dropped to a whisper, “There it is.”
“Good. Apple Bloom, I can’t ask you to go down there with us, you should go back to the farm.” Twilight moved past her, bumping her spellbook on Rainbow’s head.
“Watch where you’re swinging that thing.” The pegasus hissed angrily, rubbing her head with a hoof.
“I have to go. My friends are down there, Twilight.” Apple Bloom stared determinedly into the clearing.
“Oh no you don’t. Let the grownups do this, you need to go home.” Applejack pointed her hoof back down the trail.
“Fine.” The filly put her head down and slowly walked back the way they came, her tail dragging in the dirt.
“Let’s move out, then.” Twilight trotted into the open and immediately dove into the hole, shoving the book in first. She was followed by Rarity, who complained only once about getting dirty, then Rainbow Dash, then Pinkie Pie, then Applejack. Fluttershy made a soft whimpery noise before closing her eyes and sliding into the hole.
Twilight wriggled, the walls closing in around her, all she heard was the sound of dirt being shoved out of the way by her book and Fluttershy’s occasional whimpering. Suddenly, the book emerged from the tunnel. “We’re here.” She whispered softly.
“Be careful, you never know what could be waiting.” Rarity called from behind Twilight.
“Probably changelings.” Rainbow grunted, annoyed.
Twilight rolled her eyes and stood, shakily. She took a few steps forward before the ground slanted beneath her and she slipped. Something grabbed her, but her momentum pulled harder. There was a tug of war of force before all six ponies tumbled down the slope.
“Get in a circle. Now.” Twilight hissed, opening her book, “I can’t see the pages!” She gasped. Her horn produced a small glitter of light, she hoped it wouldn’t give them away. She had no idea what the cavern looked like.
Fluttershy screamed as the faces of angry changelings appeared. Rarity stood, a scowl plastered on her face, “Now you dirty scoundrels stay back. You hear me?! Back!” Her eyes focused on two small changelings that eyed her with the rest. The only difference was their eye colour. One had purple eyes and the other had green ones. “Sweetie…Scootaloo…”
“Are you crazy?” Rainbow Dash stood beside her, following her eyes. Her jaw dropped, “Squirt!” She turned in a circle, screaming, “What did you do to her?!”
“Like it?” A humming voice purred from somewhere in the darkness at the edge of the cavern. All the heads snapped to see two glowing golden eyes locked on them. “Care to light this corner? It’s so cold and dark.”
Carefully, with a suspicious glare, Twilight allowed the light to showcase the entire cavern. The golden eyed pony stood in the only tunnel besides the one that our heroes had entered in. The golden eyed pony gave a sharp toothed smile as the light danced off her blonde mane. She took a step forward.
“Derpy?!” Pinkie Pie looked incredulous, “But why? And what happened to your voice?!”
“I put on a show in public, Pinkie. It’s really not that hard to fool you idiots.” The pegasus mare’s smile widened and her eyes moved to opposite sides. “I just don’t know what went wrong!” Her classic voice echoed through the laughter of the changelings. Derpy’s eyes straightened and she set them in a glare. “What’s the book you have there?”
“What book?” Twilight moved slightly, “Maybe doing that thing with your eyes is making you blind.”
Derpy chuckled, “Changeling number 425.” A changeling flew in front of her and stood up straight, pride filling its chest. “Get me that book, do not harm the ponies.”
The changeling gave a curt nod and rushed at the mane six, its jaws wide open, showcasing its vicious fangs. It shoved Twilight over, holding its hoof on her as it grabbed the book. It released her, carrying the book like a loyal dog back to Derpy.
“Ooh, a spellbook. Is that why you’re so tiny? Like a group of little fillies?” The mare gave a dark chuckle. “Destroy the book.” She gave a pointed glance at Changeling 425. The changeling nodded and tore at the book with its fangs.
“No!” Twilight rushed forward, only to be tackled to the ground by a changeling. Suddenly, the light went out. The only thing lighting the cavern was the eyes of many changelings glowing in the darkness.
The book was taken from Changeling 425’s grasp and brought to Twilight’s face, torn and covered with green goo. “Oh no.” She wailed.
“Take them to the dungeon.” Derpy turned as changelings rushed to follow her orders. Hoofsteps were heard walking away down the tunnel as Derpy made a swift retreat to her quarters.