Hivemind Chapter 8 A Changeling in the Wind part 1

“Are you absolutely certain I didn’t hurt any of you?”

Applejack sighed. “For the last time, Fluttershy, the changelings were controlling you and using you as a living shield. There’s nothing for you to be sorry for.”

“I still would have felt bad if anything had happened to you because I was too weak to try to resist,” Fluttershy said, her eyes to the ground.

“Nonsense, Fluttershy,” said Rarity. “There’s nothing you could have done, and that’s that.”

“But Rainbow Dash broke out of her spell.”

“That’s ‘cause I’m awesome like that,” said Rainbow Dash.

“Weren’t putting up much of a fight before I got through to you, though,” said Applejack sternly. Then she smiled. “Only teasing,” she said. “Ya done good.”

Rainbow quickly tried to hide her relief. “I didn’t rough you up too badly, did I?”

“I’m fine, don’t worry about it,” said Applejack. “‘Sides, we don’t blame you any more than Fluttershy.”

“Or Pinkie Pie!” the pink pony chimed in.

“Or Pinkie Pie,” Applejack added.

“Yes!” said Pinkie Pie, pumping her hoof in the air.

“What’s that going on up ahead?” said Rarity, peering down Main Street.

A crowd of ponies was gathered around Town Hall, the group’s destination, seemingly waiting for something.

“Only one way to find out,” said Applejack.

They made their way to the back of the crowd and pressed themselves in among the townsponies.

“‘Scuse me,” said Applejack, tapping Roseluck, the florist, on the shoulder. “Do you know what this is all about?”

“You haven’t heard?” said Roseluck. “There’s a fake Twilight Sparkle on the loose.”

“You don’t say.”

“Oh, but I do!” said Daisy, who was standing next to her. “The clones have come to replace us all!”

“It’s everypony for herself!” cried Lily, breaking into her usual hysterics. Her panic rippled through the crowd, mingling with the already-present murmuring.

“The worst part is, they’re not that far off,” whispered Rainbow Dash.

At that moment, a loud bang shocked the surrounding ponies into silence, and diverted their attention to the steps of Town Hall. Standing there, next to Mayor Mare, was a Twilight Sparkle, who cleared her throat and began to speak.

“Thank you. Now, as I was saying, there is no need to panic…”

“Do you think that’s the fake Twilight?” whispered Fluttershy.

“It has to be,” said Rarity. “Listen to how she’s twisting the facts. Cloning spell, indeed. The real Twilight would have just told the truth.”

“Notice how she doesn’t want to mention us, neither,” said Applejack. “Probably doesn’t want to get everypony more worried than they are already. I’ve half a mind to go back and bring the other changelings here. I’d love to see how she explains that one.”

“Too bad your double isn’t here, Rarity,” said Rainbow, scanning the crowd. “That would save us the trip. Then again, she’s probably still on her picnic with ‘Spikey-Wikey’.”

Rainbow looked hastily in the other direction as Rarity shot a glare at her.

“I wonder why we haven’t seen Fluttershy’s double either,” said Applejack, changing the subject.

“I hope she’s been taking care of the animals this whole time,” said Fluttershy.

“Good thinking,” said Pinkie. “My double had better be taking care of Gummy right. He can be a hooffull if you don’t know when to give him a bath, or build him a pillow fort, or feed him his favorite dessert—it’s chocolate sprinkles—”

“Shh!” said Applejack. “The Mayor’s speaking.”

But the Mayor’s words about getting back to business as usual merely proved Applejack’s fears. She stomped on the ground in frustration as the ponies around them started to leave the square.

“She’s bought the whole thing, hook line and sinker. I hope we can convince her.”

“So why didn’t you speak up?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“I would have, but we don’t have proof here, and we don’t want to cause another ruckus.”

“Actually,” said Pinkie Pie, “I think it was more of a hubbub.”

“Whatever you want to call it, having half of Ponyville running around senseless doesn’t help us figure out who’s a changeling. Anyhow, here’s our chance to see the Mayor.”

She started walking toward Town Hall, but Pinkie pulled her back.

“Wait! You can’t go up there yet. That look-alike Twilight is still up there!”

Indeed, the fake Twilight Sparkle was still deep in conversation with the Mayor up on the steps of Town Hall.

“Do you think we should chance it?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“What do you think, Rarity?” asked Fluttershy.

There was no answer.

“Rarity?” called Applejack. “Now, where did that mare get to?”

“Maybe she followed the crowd back to the market?” suggested Fluttershy.

Pinkie Pie popped up in between them. “Quick, here comes Twilight!”

She ushered them into an empty tent next to the road. The fake Twilight passed as they watched, apparently lost in thought.

“When was the last time anypony saw Rarity?” whispered Applejack.

“I think it was when we were talking about her changeling clone,” said Rainbow Dash. “She got all quiet an upset after that, and—uh oh.”

“Tell me she didn’t,” said Applejack.

“Didn’t what?” asked Pinkie.

“She went to go rescue Spike from that changeling,” confirmed Rainbow Dash, slapping a hoof to her face.

“Oh, dear,” said Fluttershy. “She can’t go face them alone. It’s too dangerous.”

“She won’t be alone,” said Rainbow Dash. “I’ll go find her.”

Applejack poked her head out of the tent. “Looks like the coast is clear.”

“Alright,” said Rainbow Dash. She sped off along the road, leaving a rainbow contrail in her wake.

“Well,” said Applejack, “let’s go on inside and talk to the Mayor.”

Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie walked through the door to the Mayor’s office, causing the bell above the door to jingle and the secretary to look up.

“Can I help you?”

“We’d like to see the Mayor,” Applejack said.

“I’m afraid Mayor Mare is out at the moment” the secretary responded.

“Wasn’t she just here, though?”

The secretary frowned. “The Mayor’s schedule is rather full today. She is currently visiting the schoolhouse, but I doubt Miss Cheerliee would take kindly to you interrupting her lessons. If you want, you can leave a message, and I will give it to her when she returns.”

“Ah, nevermind,” said Applejack. She turned halfway around, than changed her mind. “On second thought, maybe I will leave her a message. Do you have paper?”

The secretary gestured to a pad on her desk. Applejack picked up a nearby pen, scrawled out a short message, and folded it in half, handing it to the secretary.

“Thank you kindly,” she said. “Well, we’ll not take up more of your time. Come on, girls.”

After they left the office, the secretary curiously picked up the note. It was folded, so it mustn’t be meant for her eyes, but surely it wouldn’t hurt to take a peek…

She gasped. There were only five words written there, but those five were enough to send shivers down her spine. Memories of terrifying bedtime stories burst unbidden to her mind, dormant since foalhood. She shakily raised a hoof to read the message again.

There are changelings in Ponyville.

***

“What do we do now?” asked Fluttershy.

“We go fetch her from the school, of course,” said Applejack.

“But that pony said—”

Applejack huffed. “Don’t you think this is a mite more important than not interrupting Miss Cheerilee’s class? Besides, I think Cheerliee might be interested to learn why Applebloom’s been missing since the wedding. ‘Held captive by changelings’ tends to be a good excuse.”

“I-I guess she has a right to know as well.”

“Then let’s get going!” said Pinkie.

It wasn’t long before they approached the schoolhouse.

“Once we get the Mayor to come with us, this whole situation ought to resolve itself nicely,” Applejack said.

“Yes,” agreed Fluttershy. “Then we can look for the Elements of Harmony in peace.”

A swooshing sound made the three of them look up to see a cyan pegasus fly out of the sky and land in front of them.

“Rainbow Dash!” exclaimed Fluttershy. “Did you find Rarity?”

The pegasus shuffled her hooves. “Ah, no. Not yet.”

“You mean she wasn’t at the—” Pinkie started, but Applejack held up a hoof to cut her off.

“Hold on,” Applejack said. “Answer me this: where did Rarity go that you had to look for her?”

“C’mon, Applejack, I just told you I couldn’t find—”

“Just answer the question. We were just talking about it before, after all.”

“Uh.” Rainbow Dash backed away. “To look for Twilight, right?”

“I thought so,” said Applejack, stepping forward and grabbing her front hoof. “The real Rainbow Dash would have known the answer to that.”

“Aha!” said Pinkie, as if she had arrived at the same conclusion independently. “Don’t even try to run, buster. Or fly.”

“I can explai—where the Hive did that come from?” the fake Rainbow Dash said, pushing the barrel of Pinkie’s party cannon out of her face.

“You a changeling. Admit it,” said Applejack.

“Alright,” said the fake Rainbow Dash. “You got me.”

Applejack shook her head. “Don’t try to deny—wait, what did you say?”

“I said you got me. You figured me out. I’m giving myself up.”

Applejack eyed her suspiciously. “And why would you do a thing like that?”

“Do you honestly think I could stand up to all three of you?” the changeling said. “But more to the point, I was getting tired of this facade anyway. You ponies don’t seem evil enough to justify this invasion.”

“What do you mean?” asked Fluttershy. “You think we’re evil?”

“You’ve got that a tad backwards, haven’t you?” said Applejack. “You come here and steal our identities, and you think we’re the evil ones?”

“I know, I know,” said the changeling. “It wasn’t my idea to do this, believe me. But you also have to look at it from our perspective.”

“Care to explain, then?” said Applejack.

The changeling took a deep breath. “Well, from the time we’re hatched, every changeling knows the story. It’s drilled through our collective heads over and over, shared between all the minds in the Hive. The story goes that long ago the ponies cursed the changelings and stole our ability to love. That is why from then on we have been unable to give each other love and had to persist on the love of others.”

“Oh, how horrible!” said Fluttershy.

“You believe that codswallop?” said Applejack.

“I know it sounds far fetched,” said Fluttershy, “but shouldn’t we at least hear her out before judging her?”

“Actually, Applejack’s right,” said the changeling, catching both ponies by surprise. “I don’t believe it either. And even if it were true, that was all a long time ago. We shouldn’t be taking it out on you ponies. That’s actually sort of why I am here. You see, I’m a changeling spy.”

“Yeah, I think we figured that one out,” said Applejack.

“No, no,” said the changeling. “I’m spying on the other changelings, the ones led by Princess Papilia.”

“Well, they’re a little tied up now,” said Pinkie Pie.

“Um,” said the changeling. “Actually, we broke out. I’m supposed to be looking for you.”

“You’re the same changeling as before?” said Applejack.

The changeling sighed. “I guess it would be difficult for you ponies to tell us apart when we’re changing appearances all the time. Yes, I’m the same changeling. I’m actually not even supposed to be in their group, but I replaced the changeling that was supposed to be Number 5 so that I could keep a closer eye on Princess Papilia’s contingent. I was supposed to make sure she didn’t go too far in carrying out the mission, that the ponies were treated well. But the more I see, the more I think just being here is a mistake. You see, I’m part of a group that rejects the Queen’s invasion plan, and wants to find a diplomatic solution. I had to keep quiet around the other changelings, but I actually want to help you.”

“I actually know a perfect way you can help us,” said Applejack.

“You do?”

“Yep. I still don’t think we can trust you, but if we deliver you to the Mayor, that will be all the proof we need that changelings are here in Ponyville.”

The color drained from Number 5’s face. “Y-you can’t do that!” she cried.

“Sure we can,” said Applejack. “Now, is there anything we can tie her up with?”

Fluttershy began to protest but Pinkie Pie shouted “I’m on it!” and pulled the cord on her party cannon. With a bang, streamers shot out and wrapped themselves around Number 5, the ends somehow tying themselves into a bow over the changeling’s mouth. Number 5 whimpered, unable to speak properly.

“Don’t worry,” said Pinkie Pie, patting Number 5 on the head. “We’ll let you out after we show you to the Mayor.”

“Alright,” said Applejack. “You two stay here and make sure she doesn’t escape again. I’ll go get the Mayor.”

Ignoring Number 5’s muffled cries, she walked down to the schoolhouse and entered. The changeling’s struggles grew more frantic.

“Actually,” said Pinkie, “could you try not to move around so you don’t rip the streamers? I still need them for Gummy’s next birthday. He’s turning two, you know. Just stay re-e-eally still.”

“Um, Pinkie?” said Fluttershy. “I don’t think she can breathe.”

“Oops,” said Pinkie, as what could be seen of the fake Rainbow Dash’s face started growing bluer than normal. “Sorry about that.”

She reached up and tugged down the bow, freeing the changeling’s face. Number 5 took a gulp of air, then blurted out “you’ve got to stop her! She’s in terrible danger!”

“Applejack is?” said Fluttershy. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, she just walked right into her trap.”

“Her trap?” asked Pinkie Pie. “Whose trap? Cheerilee’s?”

“No,” said Number 5. “Number 1’s.”

***

Twilight pulled back, her magic nearly spent. Though her spells had managed to dispatch several dozen timberwolves, the wooden monsters had just kept coming, and the ones that had been broken merely reassembled themselves to rejoin their brethren. Even Philomeena’s fiery aura had not managed to keep them back.

“THE EVERFREE WILL RECLAIM WHAT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM IT,” the trees rumbled.

Twilight bumped into Princess Luna, who looked similarly exhausted. The two of them had together backed up to the rubble of the burned-down cottage, and could go no further.

“We have never seen the Forest so enraged,” Luna said. “We must leave this place with much haste. Quickly, climb upon our back.”

She lowered herself close to the ground. Twilight hesitated for a second, but obliged when a timberwolf’s claws missed her by inches. She scrambled on top of Luna. With a mighty flap of the alicorn’s wings, they were airborne, barely escaping the jaws of the timberwolves that snapped at their hooves. They soon overtook the canopy of trees, Philomeena gliding along beside them.

Twilight looked back, catching a brief glimpse of the quickly dwindling clearing, which she could have sworn was filling back up with trees as she watched, but before she could get a better look, she was forced to turn back around to regain her balance.

“What was that about?” she asked Luna.

“The Everfree Forest possesses an ancient magic, as old and powerful as Harmony itself,” Luna responded. “Star Swirl’s spell was preventing the forest from entering the clearing, and it resented the loss of its freedom greatly.”

“Do you think that could happen to Ponyville? The earth ponies who founded it originally got the land by clearing a section of the forest.”

“Hmm,” said Luna. “I do not think so. Though the forest has grown wilder in the past thousand years, it is likely the unnaturalness of Star Swirl’s spell that drew its ire. If Ponyville has not been attacked already, it would seem the Everfree has already accepted its new borders.”

“That’s a relief,” said Twilight.

Princess Luna let out a strained groan. “We must land soon. It is after midday, and our wings are unused to carrying such a burden.”

She descended back through the treetops, practically collapsing onto the ground as she landed. Twilight quickly jumped off her back and caught her drooping head, laying it down gently.

“Thank you, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said. “We shall rest here until we are recovered.”

The alicorn closed her eyes and began to snore gently. Twilight held back a giggle.

“Sweet dreams, Princess.”

“That is ours to say,” Luna mumbled sleepily. “Wake us up for the moonrise.”

“Will do.”

Twilight looked around to see where they had landed. They were far enough away from the clearing that she hoped they would be safe from the timberwolves, but the forest held other dangers besides its resident xylofauna. She needn’t have worried, though, for through the trees she spotted a familiar light, coming from several firefly lanterns.

“Zecora!” she exclaimed, running toward the hollowed-out tree the zebra used as a home. “The real Zecora, this time!”

She knocked excitedly on the door, and waited. After a minute of waiting, though, she started to get disheartened. She knocked again, louder.

“No, don’t you be gone, too,” she pleaded.

“Not gone, but merely over here,” came a voice.

Zecora hobbled into view from the opposite direction as Princess Luna, limping on her foreleg.

“Zecora!” cried Twilight. Then she noticed her leg. “What happened?”

“Fluttershy has been captured by changelings, I fear,” said Zecora. She looked down at her leg. “One tried to attack when I peeked at their nest, but I made an escape, and now you know the rest.”

“You shouldn’t be walking on that leg,” said Twilight. “Come on, let’s get you inside.”

Twilight leaned herself up against Zecora’s injured side, supporting the zebra’s weight as they walked into the hut. Zecora slumped down onto a chair and grabbed some bandages and herbs that were hanging from the ceiling.

“Thank you for helping with my injury,” Zecora said as she tied the bandage around her leg. “Now what made you come here, seeking me?”

“It’s a long story.”

“If you have time to tell me, I have time to listen.
I’m not going anywhere in my condition.”

“Well,” Twilight began. “Actually, before I begin, do you think you can put up with one more guest? Princess Luna is trying to sleep out in the woods, but I think she’d be much more comfortable in a real bed.”

“The Princess of Night is out in the day? By all means, in my bed she can stay.”

Twilight hurried out, and returned with a half-asleep Luna, who mumbled a royal thanks to Zecora before flopping onto the bed and passing out. Philomeena perched atop the side of the bed and did the same.

Zecora seemed to take the appearance of a Princess of Equestria in her home rather well, staring at Luna with genuine interest rather than the fear and awe most ponies showed around her.

“I am curious more now than ever before
What events could have brought all of you to my door,” she said simply.

Over Princess Luna’s soft snoring, Twilight told Zecora everything. When she was finished, the zebra closed her eyes in thought.

“So not just Ponyville, but Canterlot too.
Even for changelings, this approach is quite new.”

“And the worst of it is,” said Twilight. “I don’t know what to do about it. They’re too strong now, even for me. And since Star Swirl the Bearded apparently lied about the Elements of Harmony being in Ponyville, all I have is this book.”

She pulled out Star Swirl and Clover’s journal, and placed it on Zecora’s table.

“And as much as I’d like to think I can just look up the answer,” she continued, “unless there’s a ‘set everything right’ spell in there, I don’t think it’s going to be much help.”

She set her head down on the table. “Probably wouldn’t have enough magic to cast it anyway.”

Zecora took a sip from the tea she had brewed while Twilight was busy telling her story.

“I could teach you my skills if you seek stronger magic,” she said.

“You could teach me magic?” Twilight said, swinging around to face the zebra. “But you’re…”

Zecora laughed and waved her hoof over her cup, causing the contents to swirl up in a spiral that hung in midair before sloshing back down. “A zebra without magic would certainly be tragic. But if things are as you say, there may yet be an easier way.”

“What do you mean?”

“Changelings eat love to fuel their powers. With no one to love them, they’ll fade within hours.”

“That’s right,” said Twilight. “The changelings in Canterlot were feeding on the ponies trapped in their Hivemind. But they can’t be doing the same thing here, can they? They haven’t replaced everypony yet, or they wouldn’t have been so afraid of being found out. We’ve got to figure out what their plans are and what they’re doing here in order to expose them and cut off their food source.”

Zecora frowned. “I might have a guess as to their true goals. They have stolen all of Ponyville’s—”

***

“Foals! Pay attention!” shouted Miss Cheerilee. “We have a very special guest here today. I would like you all to welcome Mayor Mare, the leader of our town. It is her efforts that keep Ponyville running smoothly.”

“Thank you, Miss Cheerilee,” said Mayor Mare, “for those kind words of introduction.”

She glanced around the room, meeting the gaze of several colts and fillies..

“And welcome, everyone, to what I hope will be a most instructive lesson, one for which Cheerilee will be assisting me. Miss Cheerilee, would you please dance for us?”

Cheerilee’s hooves began to tap against the floor, slowly at first but quickly increasing in tempo until she was doing a lively tap dance at the front of the room.

“This all feels kind of silly,” she commented.

“I know, I know,” said Mayor Mare. “Now, kindly jump out that window.”

Cheerilee stopped immediately. “I don’t understa—gah!” She clapped a hoof across her forehead in an unmistakable headache.

“That’s alright, dear,” said Mayor Mare. “Why don’t you just sit down.”

Cheerilee complied, wordlessly, and Mayor Mare addressed the class once more.

“The power to control. It is an important skill to learn, my little changelings, but before you use it you must first know its limits. As you saw, I could not make her do something completely reckless or against her nature, and indeed, attempting such an order can be enough to completely break one’s hold over a pony. On the other hand, something which merely requires a certain lack of inhibition, such as dancing in front of class—”

A colt in the front row snickered. Mayor Mare rounded on him immediately.

“Do you think this lesson is funny?” she asked, menacingly.

“N-no, ma’am.”

“Good,” said Mayor Mare, returning to the front of the room. “Because this is a very serious lesson indeed. As I was saying, making a pony act without inhibition is less dangerous, but the safest course of action, and the most important skill one can learn is to make a pony act normally. For example, I have ordered Miss Cheerilee to not listen to me unless I address her directly. This is a changeling’s most powerful arsenal outside of changing form, for even the best changelings make mistakes. Whereas modifying memory directly is of the highest caliber of magic, this type of hypnotic control is quite simple; even you lot should be able to pull it off with practice. And it is quite effective, for what pony would suspect they are being controlled if they are acting how they normally would?”

There was a knock on the door.

“Miss Cheerilee, would you get that for us please?” said the Mayor.

Cheerilee walked over to the door and let in an apologetic-looking Applejack.

“I don’t mean to interrupt,” Applejack said, “but I need to borrow the Mayor for a minute. It’s very important. You might want to hear as well.”

“Oh?” said the Mayor. “And what is so important for me to hear?”

Applejack beckoned them both closer, than whispered, “there are changelings in Ponyville, creatures that can disguise themselves as ponies and take their place. The girls and I thought that you should be the first to know so we can decide what to do.”

Mayor Mare raised an eyebrow.

“I know it’s hard to believe,” said Applejack. “That’s why we have proof. If you’ll just come outside…”

“There is no need for that,” said Mayor Mare. “I believe you. Please, come inside so we can talk about this.”

She walked back to the head of the classroom. Applejack followed hesitantly, glancing at the rows of students who were staring at her with wide eyes. She did a double take when she spotted Applebloom in her seat, staring with the same stunned expression as the rest of her classmates.

“A-Applebloom? What are you—?”

The Mayor cleared her throat.

“Sorry Mayor, I…” said Applejack. She glanced anxiously back at Applebloom. “Uh, do you really think it’s alright to talk about this in front of the children?”

“Oh, it’s fine,” said Mayor Mare. “They already know.”

Applejack swung around to face the class, whose eyes were glowing green in unison. A hissing sound escaped their collective throats.

“Land sakes!” exclaimed Applejack. She turned to the exit just in time to see Cheerilee slam the door in front of her, eyes trance-like and glowing green.

“Class,” Mayor Mare said, raising her voice, “I believe it is time for some hooves-on practice.”

“They’re all changelings?” Applejack said.

“Changeling foals,” corrected the fake Mayor. “But they are quick learners. They ought to have plenty enough magical proficiency for this.”

“So what?” said AJ, backing up from the advancing changelings. “You’re gonna put me back in that Hivemind thingy? We just got done explaining to you changelings how that won’t work anymore.”

“Oh, I know all about your propensity for escaping,” said the fake Mayor. “Which is why we will be using more… conventional means to subdue you. But first, a little sleepiness wouldn’t be amiss. Class?”

A dozen beams of lime energy shot out at Applejack’s head, and she found that she couldn’t move. Even keeping her eyes open was proving a mighty task.

“You won’t get away with this,” Applejack said, stifling a yawn. “Ah’ll…”

“We’ll save you, Applejack!” came a cheery voice from outside.

There was a loud bang as the door burst off its hinges into the room, followed by a cloud of confetti and smoke. Pinkie Pie stepped triumphantly in through the chaos, followed by a somewhat less triumphant Fluttershy. Applejack found herself suddenly wide awake once more, as the startled foals lost concentration on their spell.

“Are you alright?” asked Fluttershy.

“I am now, thanks to you two,” Applejack answered. She delivered a mighty kick to Cheerilee’s desk, knocking it into the changeling Mayor. “That’s what you get for impersonating the Mayor and stealing all of these foals.”

The changeling foals gasped as their mentor was thrown into the wall, but they recovered quickly and made to surround the ponies.

“No you don’t, you little varmints,” Applejack said, forcefully shoving the foals away to clear a path to the door, but her hoof was caught by Fluttershy’s before it could connect.

“Don’t hurt them!” the pegasus pleaded. “They’re just foals!”

“They’re changelings!” said Applejack, shaking herself free from Fluttershy’s grip. “Foals or not, these things are a menace. We need to get out of here right now and warn the town.”

“It still doesn’t feel right,” Fluttershy said, trying to fend off a filly that was ineffectually snapping its jaws at her.

“Then don’t think about it too hard. You can try to help Cheerilee out of here, I think they just have her under some kind of spell. Pinkie can help me clear a path, right Pinkie?”

The pink pony appeared at her side and nodded but a muffled voice behind her caught Applejack’s attention.

“Ffaff nrrrt mrrrrrrrrr!” the voice said loudly.

Applejack and Fluttershy spun around to see a green blob stuck to the side of Cheerilee’s overturned desk, curls of pink hair sticking out at odd angles.

“Hrmph,” said the non-trapped Pinkie. “Rule number one of engagement…”

With a flash of green fire, she returned to her Mayor Mare form, her voice changing to match.

“...Never take your eyes off of the enemy.”

Green flames wreathed a non-existent horn above her graying mane. There was a bright flash, and Applejack was trapped in a blob of green just like Pinkie Pie.

“Two down, one to go,” the changeling taunted, leering at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy bolted.

She made it as far as the row of bushes around the schoolhouse before being brought to earth by a shot of green magic that bound her hooves together with goo.

“Now, now, we can’t have you running off, dear,” said the changeling Mayor as she slowly walked to where Fluttershy had fallen. “You might go and warn some—hello, what do we have here?”

She had stumbled across Number 5, still wrapped up in colorful streamers.

“N-Number 1,” the changeling stammered. “I can explain!”

“You can explain how you were captured, against your will, in a bunch of easily torn crepe paper? Or perhaps you would rather explain how the ponies knew to rescue their friend? How they showed no surprise at the hatchlings being there?”

Number 5’s face blanched as Number 1 smiled above her.

“Oh, yes,” Number 1 said. “I think you can explain quite a lot.”