Post by romper on Nov 2, 2012 22:09:01 GMT -5
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"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
while loving someone deeply gives you courage." - Lao Tzu
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They're ready. The dream team, so to speak, are ready to embark on their epic quest to save Vinyl. Romper stomps his hoof, steadying his nerves, before giving a quick glance to all the other ponies. He's ready. They have only a few hours before Vinyl
Scratch becomes even more corpse-like than she already is. But they're never going to let that happen. Their chances of success are minimal, but... but he has to try. Romper inhales, closing his eyes a moment, then lets the breath out through his nose and
pushes the door to the hospital open, leaving his back hoof to keep the door propped for everyone. "A'right, fillies and gentlecolts, let's do this. Match Maker is waiting for us."
Match_Maker is suiting up. She's in her normal form... But beneath the surface, she's brimming with power. Power stolen from the false Skyheart. Power from her friends. She's going over various tactics in her head, and the map on the table is neatly marked
with the quickest route to the changeling Hive, with alternate routes and plans incase something goes awry. She stands ready, frowning as she waits for the others.
Marble is ready. He's got a helmet on, his saddlebags and... tongs... at the ready. Tongs. For taking artifacts off of changelings. "I wonder if a whole group of ponies is wise? Couldn't they just take our shapes and confuse us?"
Professor Comet Galaxy gives her peers a reassuring nod, following Romper's lead into Vinyl's room. She smiles politely at Match Maker, before trotting over to the bed of the sleeping DJ and letting out a soft sigh. "We have around four hours remaining,
if I remember correctly." Glancing at Marble, she hmms. "We'll split up if needed, but I think we are better working as a group," she says, her own saddlebags full of books on the subjects of changelings and curses, borrowed from Twilight. "Besides, we
are looking for Chrysalis. Other changelings are just decoration to us."
Marble fidgets, and soon returns to his fiance. "Darling..." He says quietly... then reaches into his saddlebags to leave a box of Fancy chocolates. And a single flower on top. Stargazer lily. "I'll get you back."
Comet's eyes glaze over with pity and adoration as the tender moment between Marble and the sleeping made holds for a few moments. "You will," she says, placing a wing on Marble's shoulder, before straightening up. "All of us will. We will get the Love
Locket back and save Vinyl Scratch." she declares. Standing tall, her eyes focus on each other pony in turn. "Are we agreed?" she asks in the strongest voice she can muster.
Match_Maker nods. "Alright. Now this is a tricky spell. I want everypony to stand next to each other." The large mare says as she powers up her transformation spell. "This should last a day at the most."
"Agreed!" says Romper, thumping a hoof against the ground! Yes. They'll get the locket and Vinyl will be saved. He stands in front of Match, nodding eagerly. "Okay. I've never turned into anything else before, so... hopefully this works and we don't all,
uhh, explode."
Marble's eyes go wide when he stands next to the other ponies. "Wait, what?" Marble does *not* want to explode!
Comet shuffles over between the stallions and braces herself. "Ready when you are, Match." she says bravely, though she's really not quite sure what to expect! Oh well, it most *certainly* won't hurt as much as that one time she attempted to fly into space
without oxygen or a rocket as a young filly... o.x
Match_Maker smiles as she unleashes the spell. Nothing like this has been done before, that she knows of... But it'll work. It HAS to. The magic settles into the ponies, finding the love they hold in their hearts... And wrapping it safe in a little
shieldcocoon even as their physical bodies run like wax, swiftly reforming into changelingified shapes.
Romper's form melts away under the power of the spell. Holes appear in his hooves and his eyes become pupilless and green. He is, just like Match Maker, a changeling; no longer a pegasus pony. It's a strange, unnerving feeling... but he swallows his fear,
his uncertainty, and his doubt. It's a necessary sacrifice to save Vinyl and her unborn foal. Thoughts of NightRaven keep him strong.
Marble looks at his body. He's a changeling. A changeling! "... O... o-oh dear. A-are we sure this will work... o-or are we going to die?" Marble is such a courageous soul.
Comet feels herself transform, even letting out a short gasp as she sees her normal self disintegrate into something she does not recognise. Stepping forward two, she looks at the other changelings. "Now... now what?"
Match_Maker takes a deep breath. "Now we go and get back Vinyl." she says. "Everypony form up behind me. I'll do the talking if need be. Or the fighting. I hope it doesn't come to that." she says, moving to lead them onwards.
"It'll work," Romper says to Marble, "Or else... well, yeah. We'll probably all die." He grimaces, then shrugs his shoulders. Romper falls into step with Match, moving behind her, trying to calm his nerves. It's okay. He told NightRaven he'd be careful,
though...
"How is this going to work? Will they really think we're changelings? I mean... changelings all look the same to *me.* Maybe there's some other way they identify each other?" Marble is just [BUY SOME APPLES] scared.
"Marble." says Comet, looking firmly at the bureaucrat. "Sometimes we must learn to trust. Trust each other, trust ourselves. And Vinyl trusts you. So now is a good time, perhaps, to be brave. For her. Like she told you, yes?" She stays motionless for a
moment or two, before heading for the door. "Come."
Match_Maker nods. "You'll smell like changelings too." she says. "And you'll be able to switch between two or three forms, or so. Your original, and one each of the other two races. Don't try to get too creative. The magic can't handle anything that's super-
complex." she murmurs, leading them onwards through thick and thin.
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "We're going to die."
<OOC> You say, "Yep."
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch says, "XDDD"
So that's what that smell was. Rich and minty, like a sweet lolly. The smell of changelings. Romper listens to Match Maker's warnings, nodding occasionally. "Just me with a horn, or with no wings. Got it. I'll try to remember." The idea of not having wings
appeals to him, on some level. He trots along, following, trying to focus his thoughts. Don't think of NightRaven. Think of the job ahead.
Marble supposes morphing into an alicorn would probably give him away. Not that he would do such a thing. "U... u-um... do changelings have bureaucracies?" Maybe Marble could blend in that way. Paperwork changeling. Now that would be kind of fun.
Comet giggles slightly at Marble's remark, before gently testing out the theory. She tries taking on a unicorn, her outer changeling spell morphing into a light teal, yellow-ish mane, and a little harp on her flanks. Yes, Comet Galaxy had successfully taken
on the mask of Lyra Heartstrings.
Match_Maker smiles. "That's perfect. Come on everypony. Follow me." she says, bravely setting out onto a new adventure, strutting along as if she ruled the whole world... Or at least, as if she knew exactly what she was doing.
Romper watches Comet change shape out of the corner of his eye. It kind of weird him out, but since everyone else is doing it... no. It would be bad to turn into somepony else, especially Vinyl. Or anypony else. He puts hoof before hoof, walking with the
others.
They walk and walk. The moon, frozen in the sky, gives no indication of how much time has passed. Navigating in the dark is hard, but Match seems -- kind of -- to know what she's doing. Soon they find a wide tunnel leading into the ground, a faint green
glow coming from within. It's the changeling hive. From the entrance, Romper can see... ... pits. Pits with thin bridges across them, stalacmites climbing up to the high ceiling, stalactites looming down like fangs, and columns of stone where the two have
met. It's a grim, eerie place. The occasional changeling skitters around, their green eyes forming little glowing orbs in the dim light.
Image: nelvakre.deviantart.com/art/Changeling-Hive-315907375
"... O... o-oh dear. We're going in there?" Marble says less than confidently. Well... for Vinyl he would. But he's definitely not feeling as brave as he did when confronting the queen. "Does she ever sleep? Maybe we could sneak in when she's sleeping."
Having turned back into her raw changeling form to fit in the Hive correctly, Comet strides along by the others until they reach their destination. She looks down at the pits, her heart giving way a little in her chest. "Oh my stars, that is... deep. And
small. Very small." The poor geeky little astronomer tries her hardest to put on a brave face, but she does not exactly make her claustrophobia widely known. And now it clutches at her, though she's not even in the tunnels themselves.
Match_Maker strides onwards, leading the 'changelings' deep into the hive. Only the most exacting of scrutiny would be able to pick out that they're not like other changelings. They're fresh and new! And hopefully, together, they'll be able to save Vinyl!
Romper follows Match Maker inside, trying to act... changeling-y. Like he belongs in the place. He puts hoof in front of hoof, clip-clopping deeper into the terrible place with the please-please-please-please-please-don't-be-bottomless-pits. He keeps an eye
open for the changeling queen, or the pits, or the amulet, or the pits, and his friends, and the pits. And anything else that might be pit shaped.
And possibly pits with changelings, queens, and friends in the pits. Marble is doing his best to blend in. He is resisting urges to fidget nervously, wondering if that'd give him away or initiate some sort of changeling mating rite. He does not want to be
here. He just needs to sneak up, take the locket, and fly the [BUY SOME APPLES] out of there.
Deeper in there is a brightness glowing in the rancid gloom, A dias, and upon which sits the Changeling Queen. Her honor guard around her, and her expression one ov brooding irritation. Her brows have lowered and her eyes glimmer with barely controlled rage.
But...her plans going awry were not a total loss. The queen reaches down to fondle the amulet about her neck, "mmmm...what delicious power this trinket holds..."
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch says, "MATING RITE. XDDDD"
<OOC> Match_Maker says, "What?"
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch says, "Read Marble's pose."
<OOC> You say, "Marble puts on a monacle. Suddenly, surrounded by changelings. "Hey, is that a sex monacle?" they ask in breathy tones."
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "XDDD"
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch says, "NO."
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "XXXXDDDDDDDDDD"
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch says, "He is MINE."
Comet huddles close to Marble as the four 'changelings' tread carefully through the gloom of the Hive. Every so often a stale breeze washes over the team, and Comet shivers and shudders with each one. The Pegasus mare is not often scared, but every fibre of
her being tells her that this is somewhere she truly does not belong.
Cold and dark and cramped Romper could handle. It's those blasted pits that has him on edge. Not even the risky infiltration to the changeling den could possibly be as scary as falling down one of those things. The group treads in. Everyone looks nervous.
Then the dias comes into view and Romper casually indicates with a holed hoof. "There," he offers to the others, whispering in a high pitched, worried tone. They might have to cross one of the bridges to get there and and and, you know? No. Just no.
Marble very nearly steps *into* one of the pits before he catches himself. He steps back worriedly. Then he sees the dais. "Don't suppose there's any way to sneak up on her."
Chrysalis the Changeling Queen broods upon her upraised seat, her throne in the grim world of despair. The locket about her neck shimmers and it's light seems to strengthen even the changeling guards who stand near her. Fitting in a way, that her honor
guard should have the distinction of feeding off the scraps from her personal table. The guards seem stronger then most, grown almost burly by comparison to the rest of her hive. The drones that flit about drink in what they can in passing, scuttering
about in the darkness. But it is Chyrsalis herself that reaps the full benefits of the bauble about her neck, her eyes glimmer with a power that dwarfs even what she possessed after feeding off Shining Armor. "Hmmm, I wonder why the sun has not risen?
Does Celestia think to lay siege to our hive? Believing the colder it grows here in the earth the more likely we are to be driven into the open? HA! HAHAHA! FOAL! AS IF WE COULD BE BESTED SO EASILY!?" The queen's outburst reverberates throughout the hive and her hoof comes down hard with a resounding slam that cracks the stone beneath it. Her laughter answered by the chittering cackles of her underlings, ringing through the hive chambers again and again,
beating upon the walls like an ocean wave upon a beach.
Comet jumps and very almost yelps with the cry of the Queen, before she dryly answers Marble's question with a quiet, "No." She looks around, pursing her lips. Her voice drops to a whisper. "What do you suppose we do now?" she asks, looking between
changelings. "She is not going to move, and we have no way of being stealthy..." It looks as if going right in to face her is the team's only option. Comet swallows.
Match_Maker frowns and leads her companions through the changelings in the Throne Room. She looks like a mare on a mission as she trots up towards the queen. She herself is still quite full of lovepower. And her friends are counting on her. She indicates
for her companions to get ready.
The voice of the queen, echoing through the chamber like distant thunder, cowers him into submission. The raw display of power -- cracking the stone with a thump of her hoof -- should be enough to send any sane pony running back the way that they came, back
towards the night and the safety of the open sky. The voice of reason in Romper's head implores him not to proceed with this course of action, but those murmurings are little more than a whisper now. Their course is set and he can't back out. With a
ruffle of changeling wings Romper swallows his fear, looking to the dias. They need to get that amulet and there's no other way. He nods to Comet, inhaling slightly. "I have a plan," he explains, taking in his breath and moving away from the group,
towards the queen. Marble Memory must be the one to do it. That's what Comet said, so no matter what happens, Marble has to get the amulet and Marble has to escape. Trot, trot. He approaches the bridge leading to the raised dias and his crippling fear of hights returns. Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down... holed hooves quiver and the firmament of bug-like changeling wings tremble as he trots across the
gap, toward the dias. How do you address a queen again? ... "Your Honour?" He dips his head low. "I am, uhh... ..." Think of a changling name, Romper! "... your faithful servant... and I, uh, bring word from the pony town! Um, yes. Word of their plans!
Important news, only for your ears, Your Honour. Extremely... secret stuff. Yes."
Chrysalis turns and scowls as one of her drones approaches unbidden, her brows knitting together in displeasure as her gloating is interrupted. She frowns and glances at one of her guards snapping out a question, "Guard! Did I not order -all- changelings to
follow me when we went after the lone mare and that little green...er...thing?" The guard flutters his wings nervously, "Y-yes highness!" The queen then asks another question of the nervous guard, "And did I, once returned to the hive order -any-
detachments sent to the community of Ponyville?" The guard actually cringes a bit, clearly seeing the anger building on the queens visage, "N-No majesty!" The Changling Queen's eyes slowly turn back to the bold drone before her, "Then my final question...
for any in my have who dare answer is this, 'Why is there now a drone before me, telling me he has information for my ears only, from an infiltration squad I never sent?' This is what your queen would like to know." From behind Chrysalis those dark tentacles of power that had appeared during the showdown in Ponyville rise and sway, hissing menacingly.
Comet looks at Romper and returns his nod, agreeing through her own advice that trust is the best policy here. So, she trusts him, and lets him go on ahead... Hearing what the Queen says in response, however, makes her gut drop with uncertainty. And all
the while, the other changelings wait nervously behind the throne room...
Match_Maker takes a deep breath. She's ready to fly into battle at a moment's notice. If need be, she'll tackle the queen directly, rip off the amulet, and throw it to Marble. Then at least THEY could run away. She approaches the Throone with any of her
companions that come with.
Romper has actually no idea if this plan has any chance of success. He lies as quickly as he can, saying the first thing that comes to his mind. "He doesn't know!" He jabs a hoof at the guard. "We... uhh... there were rumours that, um, one of your drones
was a turncoat, and can turn ponies into changelings!" He nods eagerly. "And given that the ponies are, well, industrious, Your Honour, the suspicion was that they would attempt to impersionate your closest guards, because, uhh, who would be stupid enough
to impersonate only a lowly drone?" Who indeed. Shiftyeyes. "Anyway, uhh, your guards have passed the test, so... ... yes." Winning smile, winning smile. "It's okay, it can wait." Suddenly, she looks away. At something. At nothing. It doesn't matter.
Romper siezes the moment; he leaps forward, teeth clomping on the locket, yanking it away, snapping the chain. He rears back his head, flinging it across the gap towards Marble. "MAAAAAAAARBLE! CATCH!" he yells, then breaks into a mad run away from the dias towards the bridge that leads back to the entrance, the locket flying high, high through the air towards Marble Memory...! "AND RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!"
Marble jumps up in the air flailing his hooves madly, missing the locket by a mile and it... falls into a pit. "Oh *no* you don't!" The pegasus dives into the pit after the locket, flapping his wings as hard as he can. He has to get that locket!
Comet lets out a high pitched gasp at the sudden action, before following Marble's lead down the pit, forgetting all about her claustrophobia for a second with the speed as she chases after the precious amulet. She wastes no time in looking back up for the
others, either... oh dear.
The Queen might have been furious at the group of pony invaders, she -might- have tried to crush them beneath her hooves, she -might- have sent all her army after them to capture them and reclaim the amulet. All these things she -might- have done. were it
not for the fact that she was suddenly a moment after the amulet is snatched tackled off her dais and sent sprawling, her limbs entwined with that of another large changeling. A noticably pudgy one. But the fat changeling's limbs were longer then the last
time it had been seen. And it's stomach slightly smaller. "Queen Chrysalis! I challenge you for leadership of this hive!" it was the changeling that had taken Red Velvet's place...and it seemed to have high aspirations, luckily for our heroes. It provided
a nice distraction for the moment. "Insolent whelp! How dare you challenge me?!"
But time is ticking, ticking... and in Ponyville General Hospital, a mare named Vinyl Scratch tosses and turns in a slumber cursed and scorned, laden with nightmares. There is nothing left of her cutie marks but a faint, off-white outline of what used to be.
..
Match_Maker is being quite the badass. Maybe she's not diving for the amulet, or taking on the queen herself, but she's taking on the Queen's so-called Elite Guard all on her lonesome, a whirling mass of fangs and claws that lash out at the others around
her. She's in her element, such as it is, and she ain't takin' guff from no changeling no more!
How long has he been there? Has he always been there? Was he following the whole time? WHo knows! But amoung the fighting is a cetain little unicorn colt. The boy squares off with a few changelings himself. THe changelings grin and hiss at the little boy!
"There isss only one of you and three of ussss! What can you do againsssst ussss, boy?" the colt grins softly and his brown irises shift from brown to gold, "On my own? Not much... that's why the three of you are going to beat each other up and your
friends as well." The changelings's eyes shift from blue to gold and they do a sthe colt says and start attacking each other and other changelings.
Marble is gaining on the locket, deep deep down into the hole.... closer... closer... closer. And he finally catches it and pulls it close to his chest. "I GOT IT!" Marble now tries very VERY hard to slow his descent. HArd to do in the hole. "N... n-no
nonoonononono!"
And there to grab the poor colt, using resistance in the air to slow herself is Comet, and she gently loops upward in order to fly back up the hole, Marble in tow. She pants, but she knows the race is long from over. "Ma... Marble," she says, breathless,
"We... need... t... to... run... When we... get to... the top."
the Queen struggles with her challenger, slashing at the rogue with her fangs and beating at it with her hooves, during one exchange the fighting changelings even begin using their horns, there is screaming and shouting, sounds of anger and pain before
Chrysalis uses her magic to fling the challenger off her, "Enough! Changelings! Unleash the might of the horde upon these intruders!" If any of the changelings had been holding back or waiting to see what would happen...this would get them moving.
Match_Maker's eyes widen. Wu-oh. That command generally empties out the Hive! She throws off her remaining assailants and zips in, grabbing the others and booking it for the exit. "TIME TO GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGO!" she shouts. "EVERYPONY OUT NOW!" she says
as a mass of changelings boil out from every chink of the Hive. Seeing the way their quarry flees, they begin to resin off the corridors ahead. "Everypony hang on!" she says, pouring on the speed. If need be, she'll fling the others on ahead of her and
stay behind.
NOAAAAAH HE'S FLYING! Match grabbed him and they're hoofing it. Not good, not good! He squeals and closes his eyes, just waiting for it all to be over, wings flapping uselessly.
With the changelings now fighting each other, Enigma makes his way about the battle. A CHangeling lands in front of him and hisses at him. The little colt jumps back but is quick to lock eyes with the changeling! Once again, the eyes of the boy and
changeling turns gold and the boy grins, "You don't want to fight me. You want to fight the changelings!" The changeling blinks then goes to start attacking its team mates! THe Bandit King grins then continues to go about using his talent on CHnagelings
he encounters to turn them against each other.
<OOC> Time jump back to the hospital...
Marble is sure to give Comet a quick hug before racing off, locket tightly held, for the exit. He doesn't even stop to help anypony. He has his priority. And it's just as well as about an hour later he is *at* that hospital, turning dangerously through the
halls and just as he steps into Vinyl's room, tosses it quickly toward her. Just has to touch!
The Locket falls gently on Vinyl's chest, almost spot-on where her heart is. Magic spills from it in an amethyst glow, pouring gently, calmly out around her and Marble, entwining the two with a silvery bond. The cutie marks effortlessly return, the mare's
tossing stops, and... a pair of bright magenta eyes flick open.
Vinyl_Scratch says, "So... what did I miss?"
fin
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Red Velvet as the Changeling Queen
Romper
Match Maker
Vinyl Scratch
Comet Galaxy
Marble Memory
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
while loving someone deeply gives you courage." - Lao Tzu
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They're ready. The dream team, so to speak, are ready to embark on their epic quest to save Vinyl. Romper stomps his hoof, steadying his nerves, before giving a quick glance to all the other ponies. He's ready. They have only a few hours before Vinyl
Scratch becomes even more corpse-like than she already is. But they're never going to let that happen. Their chances of success are minimal, but... but he has to try. Romper inhales, closing his eyes a moment, then lets the breath out through his nose and
pushes the door to the hospital open, leaving his back hoof to keep the door propped for everyone. "A'right, fillies and gentlecolts, let's do this. Match Maker is waiting for us."
Match_Maker is suiting up. She's in her normal form... But beneath the surface, she's brimming with power. Power stolen from the false Skyheart. Power from her friends. She's going over various tactics in her head, and the map on the table is neatly marked
with the quickest route to the changeling Hive, with alternate routes and plans incase something goes awry. She stands ready, frowning as she waits for the others.
Marble is ready. He's got a helmet on, his saddlebags and... tongs... at the ready. Tongs. For taking artifacts off of changelings. "I wonder if a whole group of ponies is wise? Couldn't they just take our shapes and confuse us?"
Professor Comet Galaxy gives her peers a reassuring nod, following Romper's lead into Vinyl's room. She smiles politely at Match Maker, before trotting over to the bed of the sleeping DJ and letting out a soft sigh. "We have around four hours remaining,
if I remember correctly." Glancing at Marble, she hmms. "We'll split up if needed, but I think we are better working as a group," she says, her own saddlebags full of books on the subjects of changelings and curses, borrowed from Twilight. "Besides, we
are looking for Chrysalis. Other changelings are just decoration to us."
Marble fidgets, and soon returns to his fiance. "Darling..." He says quietly... then reaches into his saddlebags to leave a box of Fancy chocolates. And a single flower on top. Stargazer lily. "I'll get you back."
Comet's eyes glaze over with pity and adoration as the tender moment between Marble and the sleeping made holds for a few moments. "You will," she says, placing a wing on Marble's shoulder, before straightening up. "All of us will. We will get the Love
Locket back and save Vinyl Scratch." she declares. Standing tall, her eyes focus on each other pony in turn. "Are we agreed?" she asks in the strongest voice she can muster.
Match_Maker nods. "Alright. Now this is a tricky spell. I want everypony to stand next to each other." The large mare says as she powers up her transformation spell. "This should last a day at the most."
"Agreed!" says Romper, thumping a hoof against the ground! Yes. They'll get the locket and Vinyl will be saved. He stands in front of Match, nodding eagerly. "Okay. I've never turned into anything else before, so... hopefully this works and we don't all,
uhh, explode."
Marble's eyes go wide when he stands next to the other ponies. "Wait, what?" Marble does *not* want to explode!
Comet shuffles over between the stallions and braces herself. "Ready when you are, Match." she says bravely, though she's really not quite sure what to expect! Oh well, it most *certainly* won't hurt as much as that one time she attempted to fly into space
without oxygen or a rocket as a young filly... o.x
Match_Maker smiles as she unleashes the spell. Nothing like this has been done before, that she knows of... But it'll work. It HAS to. The magic settles into the ponies, finding the love they hold in their hearts... And wrapping it safe in a little
shieldcocoon even as their physical bodies run like wax, swiftly reforming into changelingified shapes.
Romper's form melts away under the power of the spell. Holes appear in his hooves and his eyes become pupilless and green. He is, just like Match Maker, a changeling; no longer a pegasus pony. It's a strange, unnerving feeling... but he swallows his fear,
his uncertainty, and his doubt. It's a necessary sacrifice to save Vinyl and her unborn foal. Thoughts of NightRaven keep him strong.
Marble looks at his body. He's a changeling. A changeling! "... O... o-oh dear. A-are we sure this will work... o-or are we going to die?" Marble is such a courageous soul.
Comet feels herself transform, even letting out a short gasp as she sees her normal self disintegrate into something she does not recognise. Stepping forward two, she looks at the other changelings. "Now... now what?"
Match_Maker takes a deep breath. "Now we go and get back Vinyl." she says. "Everypony form up behind me. I'll do the talking if need be. Or the fighting. I hope it doesn't come to that." she says, moving to lead them onwards.
"It'll work," Romper says to Marble, "Or else... well, yeah. We'll probably all die." He grimaces, then shrugs his shoulders. Romper falls into step with Match, moving behind her, trying to calm his nerves. It's okay. He told NightRaven he'd be careful,
though...
"How is this going to work? Will they really think we're changelings? I mean... changelings all look the same to *me.* Maybe there's some other way they identify each other?" Marble is just [BUY SOME APPLES] scared.
"Marble." says Comet, looking firmly at the bureaucrat. "Sometimes we must learn to trust. Trust each other, trust ourselves. And Vinyl trusts you. So now is a good time, perhaps, to be brave. For her. Like she told you, yes?" She stays motionless for a
moment or two, before heading for the door. "Come."
Match_Maker nods. "You'll smell like changelings too." she says. "And you'll be able to switch between two or three forms, or so. Your original, and one each of the other two races. Don't try to get too creative. The magic can't handle anything that's super-
complex." she murmurs, leading them onwards through thick and thin.
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "We're going to die."
<OOC> You say, "Yep."
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch says, "XDDD"
So that's what that smell was. Rich and minty, like a sweet lolly. The smell of changelings. Romper listens to Match Maker's warnings, nodding occasionally. "Just me with a horn, or with no wings. Got it. I'll try to remember." The idea of not having wings
appeals to him, on some level. He trots along, following, trying to focus his thoughts. Don't think of NightRaven. Think of the job ahead.
Marble supposes morphing into an alicorn would probably give him away. Not that he would do such a thing. "U... u-um... do changelings have bureaucracies?" Maybe Marble could blend in that way. Paperwork changeling. Now that would be kind of fun.
Comet giggles slightly at Marble's remark, before gently testing out the theory. She tries taking on a unicorn, her outer changeling spell morphing into a light teal, yellow-ish mane, and a little harp on her flanks. Yes, Comet Galaxy had successfully taken
on the mask of Lyra Heartstrings.
Match_Maker smiles. "That's perfect. Come on everypony. Follow me." she says, bravely setting out onto a new adventure, strutting along as if she ruled the whole world... Or at least, as if she knew exactly what she was doing.
Romper watches Comet change shape out of the corner of his eye. It kind of weird him out, but since everyone else is doing it... no. It would be bad to turn into somepony else, especially Vinyl. Or anypony else. He puts hoof before hoof, walking with the
others.
They walk and walk. The moon, frozen in the sky, gives no indication of how much time has passed. Navigating in the dark is hard, but Match seems -- kind of -- to know what she's doing. Soon they find a wide tunnel leading into the ground, a faint green
glow coming from within. It's the changeling hive. From the entrance, Romper can see... ... pits. Pits with thin bridges across them, stalacmites climbing up to the high ceiling, stalactites looming down like fangs, and columns of stone where the two have
met. It's a grim, eerie place. The occasional changeling skitters around, their green eyes forming little glowing orbs in the dim light.
Image: nelvakre.deviantart.com/art/Changeling-Hive-315907375
"... O... o-oh dear. We're going in there?" Marble says less than confidently. Well... for Vinyl he would. But he's definitely not feeling as brave as he did when confronting the queen. "Does she ever sleep? Maybe we could sneak in when she's sleeping."
Having turned back into her raw changeling form to fit in the Hive correctly, Comet strides along by the others until they reach their destination. She looks down at the pits, her heart giving way a little in her chest. "Oh my stars, that is... deep. And
small. Very small." The poor geeky little astronomer tries her hardest to put on a brave face, but she does not exactly make her claustrophobia widely known. And now it clutches at her, though she's not even in the tunnels themselves.
Match_Maker strides onwards, leading the 'changelings' deep into the hive. Only the most exacting of scrutiny would be able to pick out that they're not like other changelings. They're fresh and new! And hopefully, together, they'll be able to save Vinyl!
Romper follows Match Maker inside, trying to act... changeling-y. Like he belongs in the place. He puts hoof in front of hoof, clip-clopping deeper into the terrible place with the please-please-please-please-please-don't-be-bottomless-pits. He keeps an eye
open for the changeling queen, or the pits, or the amulet, or the pits, and his friends, and the pits. And anything else that might be pit shaped.
And possibly pits with changelings, queens, and friends in the pits. Marble is doing his best to blend in. He is resisting urges to fidget nervously, wondering if that'd give him away or initiate some sort of changeling mating rite. He does not want to be
here. He just needs to sneak up, take the locket, and fly the [BUY SOME APPLES] out of there.
Deeper in there is a brightness glowing in the rancid gloom, A dias, and upon which sits the Changeling Queen. Her honor guard around her, and her expression one ov brooding irritation. Her brows have lowered and her eyes glimmer with barely controlled rage.
But...her plans going awry were not a total loss. The queen reaches down to fondle the amulet about her neck, "mmmm...what delicious power this trinket holds..."
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch says, "MATING RITE. XDDDD"
<OOC> Match_Maker says, "What?"
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch says, "Read Marble's pose."
<OOC> You say, "Marble puts on a monacle. Suddenly, surrounded by changelings. "Hey, is that a sex monacle?" they ask in breathy tones."
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "XDDD"
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch says, "NO."
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "XXXXDDDDDDDDDD"
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch says, "He is MINE."
Comet huddles close to Marble as the four 'changelings' tread carefully through the gloom of the Hive. Every so often a stale breeze washes over the team, and Comet shivers and shudders with each one. The Pegasus mare is not often scared, but every fibre of
her being tells her that this is somewhere she truly does not belong.
Cold and dark and cramped Romper could handle. It's those blasted pits that has him on edge. Not even the risky infiltration to the changeling den could possibly be as scary as falling down one of those things. The group treads in. Everyone looks nervous.
Then the dias comes into view and Romper casually indicates with a holed hoof. "There," he offers to the others, whispering in a high pitched, worried tone. They might have to cross one of the bridges to get there and and and, you know? No. Just no.
Marble very nearly steps *into* one of the pits before he catches himself. He steps back worriedly. Then he sees the dais. "Don't suppose there's any way to sneak up on her."
Chrysalis the Changeling Queen broods upon her upraised seat, her throne in the grim world of despair. The locket about her neck shimmers and it's light seems to strengthen even the changeling guards who stand near her. Fitting in a way, that her honor
guard should have the distinction of feeding off the scraps from her personal table. The guards seem stronger then most, grown almost burly by comparison to the rest of her hive. The drones that flit about drink in what they can in passing, scuttering
about in the darkness. But it is Chyrsalis herself that reaps the full benefits of the bauble about her neck, her eyes glimmer with a power that dwarfs even what she possessed after feeding off Shining Armor. "Hmmm, I wonder why the sun has not risen?
Does Celestia think to lay siege to our hive? Believing the colder it grows here in the earth the more likely we are to be driven into the open? HA! HAHAHA! FOAL! AS IF WE COULD BE BESTED SO EASILY!?" The queen's outburst reverberates throughout the hive and her hoof comes down hard with a resounding slam that cracks the stone beneath it. Her laughter answered by the chittering cackles of her underlings, ringing through the hive chambers again and again,
beating upon the walls like an ocean wave upon a beach.
Comet jumps and very almost yelps with the cry of the Queen, before she dryly answers Marble's question with a quiet, "No." She looks around, pursing her lips. Her voice drops to a whisper. "What do you suppose we do now?" she asks, looking between
changelings. "She is not going to move, and we have no way of being stealthy..." It looks as if going right in to face her is the team's only option. Comet swallows.
Match_Maker frowns and leads her companions through the changelings in the Throne Room. She looks like a mare on a mission as she trots up towards the queen. She herself is still quite full of lovepower. And her friends are counting on her. She indicates
for her companions to get ready.
The voice of the queen, echoing through the chamber like distant thunder, cowers him into submission. The raw display of power -- cracking the stone with a thump of her hoof -- should be enough to send any sane pony running back the way that they came, back
towards the night and the safety of the open sky. The voice of reason in Romper's head implores him not to proceed with this course of action, but those murmurings are little more than a whisper now. Their course is set and he can't back out. With a
ruffle of changeling wings Romper swallows his fear, looking to the dias. They need to get that amulet and there's no other way. He nods to Comet, inhaling slightly. "I have a plan," he explains, taking in his breath and moving away from the group,
towards the queen. Marble Memory must be the one to do it. That's what Comet said, so no matter what happens, Marble has to get the amulet and Marble has to escape. Trot, trot. He approaches the bridge leading to the raised dias and his crippling fear of hights returns. Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down... holed hooves quiver and the firmament of bug-like changeling wings tremble as he trots across the
gap, toward the dias. How do you address a queen again? ... "Your Honour?" He dips his head low. "I am, uhh... ..." Think of a changling name, Romper! "... your faithful servant... and I, uh, bring word from the pony town! Um, yes. Word of their plans!
Important news, only for your ears, Your Honour. Extremely... secret stuff. Yes."
Chrysalis turns and scowls as one of her drones approaches unbidden, her brows knitting together in displeasure as her gloating is interrupted. She frowns and glances at one of her guards snapping out a question, "Guard! Did I not order -all- changelings to
follow me when we went after the lone mare and that little green...er...thing?" The guard flutters his wings nervously, "Y-yes highness!" The queen then asks another question of the nervous guard, "And did I, once returned to the hive order -any-
detachments sent to the community of Ponyville?" The guard actually cringes a bit, clearly seeing the anger building on the queens visage, "N-No majesty!" The Changling Queen's eyes slowly turn back to the bold drone before her, "Then my final question...
for any in my have who dare answer is this, 'Why is there now a drone before me, telling me he has information for my ears only, from an infiltration squad I never sent?' This is what your queen would like to know." From behind Chrysalis those dark tentacles of power that had appeared during the showdown in Ponyville rise and sway, hissing menacingly.
Comet looks at Romper and returns his nod, agreeing through her own advice that trust is the best policy here. So, she trusts him, and lets him go on ahead... Hearing what the Queen says in response, however, makes her gut drop with uncertainty. And all
the while, the other changelings wait nervously behind the throne room...
Match_Maker takes a deep breath. She's ready to fly into battle at a moment's notice. If need be, she'll tackle the queen directly, rip off the amulet, and throw it to Marble. Then at least THEY could run away. She approaches the Throone with any of her
companions that come with.
Romper has actually no idea if this plan has any chance of success. He lies as quickly as he can, saying the first thing that comes to his mind. "He doesn't know!" He jabs a hoof at the guard. "We... uhh... there were rumours that, um, one of your drones
was a turncoat, and can turn ponies into changelings!" He nods eagerly. "And given that the ponies are, well, industrious, Your Honour, the suspicion was that they would attempt to impersionate your closest guards, because, uhh, who would be stupid enough
to impersonate only a lowly drone?" Who indeed. Shiftyeyes. "Anyway, uhh, your guards have passed the test, so... ... yes." Winning smile, winning smile. "It's okay, it can wait." Suddenly, she looks away. At something. At nothing. It doesn't matter.
Romper siezes the moment; he leaps forward, teeth clomping on the locket, yanking it away, snapping the chain. He rears back his head, flinging it across the gap towards Marble. "MAAAAAAAARBLE! CATCH!" he yells, then breaks into a mad run away from the dias towards the bridge that leads back to the entrance, the locket flying high, high through the air towards Marble Memory...! "AND RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!"
Marble jumps up in the air flailing his hooves madly, missing the locket by a mile and it... falls into a pit. "Oh *no* you don't!" The pegasus dives into the pit after the locket, flapping his wings as hard as he can. He has to get that locket!
Comet lets out a high pitched gasp at the sudden action, before following Marble's lead down the pit, forgetting all about her claustrophobia for a second with the speed as she chases after the precious amulet. She wastes no time in looking back up for the
others, either... oh dear.
The Queen might have been furious at the group of pony invaders, she -might- have tried to crush them beneath her hooves, she -might- have sent all her army after them to capture them and reclaim the amulet. All these things she -might- have done. were it
not for the fact that she was suddenly a moment after the amulet is snatched tackled off her dais and sent sprawling, her limbs entwined with that of another large changeling. A noticably pudgy one. But the fat changeling's limbs were longer then the last
time it had been seen. And it's stomach slightly smaller. "Queen Chrysalis! I challenge you for leadership of this hive!" it was the changeling that had taken Red Velvet's place...and it seemed to have high aspirations, luckily for our heroes. It provided
a nice distraction for the moment. "Insolent whelp! How dare you challenge me?!"
But time is ticking, ticking... and in Ponyville General Hospital, a mare named Vinyl Scratch tosses and turns in a slumber cursed and scorned, laden with nightmares. There is nothing left of her cutie marks but a faint, off-white outline of what used to be.
..
Match_Maker is being quite the badass. Maybe she's not diving for the amulet, or taking on the queen herself, but she's taking on the Queen's so-called Elite Guard all on her lonesome, a whirling mass of fangs and claws that lash out at the others around
her. She's in her element, such as it is, and she ain't takin' guff from no changeling no more!
How long has he been there? Has he always been there? Was he following the whole time? WHo knows! But amoung the fighting is a cetain little unicorn colt. The boy squares off with a few changelings himself. THe changelings grin and hiss at the little boy!
"There isss only one of you and three of ussss! What can you do againsssst ussss, boy?" the colt grins softly and his brown irises shift from brown to gold, "On my own? Not much... that's why the three of you are going to beat each other up and your
friends as well." The changelings's eyes shift from blue to gold and they do a sthe colt says and start attacking each other and other changelings.
Marble is gaining on the locket, deep deep down into the hole.... closer... closer... closer. And he finally catches it and pulls it close to his chest. "I GOT IT!" Marble now tries very VERY hard to slow his descent. HArd to do in the hole. "N... n-no
nonoonononono!"
And there to grab the poor colt, using resistance in the air to slow herself is Comet, and she gently loops upward in order to fly back up the hole, Marble in tow. She pants, but she knows the race is long from over. "Ma... Marble," she says, breathless,
"We... need... t... to... run... When we... get to... the top."
the Queen struggles with her challenger, slashing at the rogue with her fangs and beating at it with her hooves, during one exchange the fighting changelings even begin using their horns, there is screaming and shouting, sounds of anger and pain before
Chrysalis uses her magic to fling the challenger off her, "Enough! Changelings! Unleash the might of the horde upon these intruders!" If any of the changelings had been holding back or waiting to see what would happen...this would get them moving.
Match_Maker's eyes widen. Wu-oh. That command generally empties out the Hive! She throws off her remaining assailants and zips in, grabbing the others and booking it for the exit. "TIME TO GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGO!" she shouts. "EVERYPONY OUT NOW!" she says
as a mass of changelings boil out from every chink of the Hive. Seeing the way their quarry flees, they begin to resin off the corridors ahead. "Everypony hang on!" she says, pouring on the speed. If need be, she'll fling the others on ahead of her and
stay behind.
NOAAAAAH HE'S FLYING! Match grabbed him and they're hoofing it. Not good, not good! He squeals and closes his eyes, just waiting for it all to be over, wings flapping uselessly.
With the changelings now fighting each other, Enigma makes his way about the battle. A CHangeling lands in front of him and hisses at him. The little colt jumps back but is quick to lock eyes with the changeling! Once again, the eyes of the boy and
changeling turns gold and the boy grins, "You don't want to fight me. You want to fight the changelings!" The changeling blinks then goes to start attacking its team mates! THe Bandit King grins then continues to go about using his talent on CHnagelings
he encounters to turn them against each other.
<OOC> Time jump back to the hospital...
Marble is sure to give Comet a quick hug before racing off, locket tightly held, for the exit. He doesn't even stop to help anypony. He has his priority. And it's just as well as about an hour later he is *at* that hospital, turning dangerously through the
halls and just as he steps into Vinyl's room, tosses it quickly toward her. Just has to touch!
The Locket falls gently on Vinyl's chest, almost spot-on where her heart is. Magic spills from it in an amethyst glow, pouring gently, calmly out around her and Marble, entwining the two with a silvery bond. The cutie marks effortlessly return, the mare's
tossing stops, and... a pair of bright magenta eyes flick open.
Vinyl_Scratch says, "So... what did I miss?"
fin
-----
Red Velvet as the Changeling Queen
Romper
Match Maker
Vinyl Scratch
Comet Galaxy
Marble Memory