Anon's Prison Herd Continued (Ending is rushed)

Be Rust
>Be very pale white
>Well, you are covered in flour
>It's really giving you the sniffles
>This is not what you had in mind when Hill said his plan for you involved flour
>You thought he said 'flower'!
>Being covered in pretty daisies and lilacs would be so much better than this
*sniffle*
>Hopefully Vintl will hurry up and come back to her room...
>As soon as she does, you can jump out of this closet, scare her, and go clean yourself up
>At least this is a great way to get back at Anon!
>Him and his strong arms...
>Stupid sexy Anon
>He gives you such a short fuse...
>You shake your head to clear it
*snorkt*
>...Still no sign of Vintl
>You're lucky that her closet is so big
>It would stink to be stuck in a closet that is the right size for a breezie
>Her closet is absolutely /filled/ with dresses, too!
>You never would have suspected the mosquito-league champion to be such a fashionista!
>Then again... her best friend /is/ that scaredy-cat dragon Libele
>You don't often run into her but... yeah, every time you've seen her she has had cloth in her hands
>You peer out of the closet at her door
>The doorknob is too big for her to open by herself, so The Warden had a cat-flap installed for her
>...
*Sniffle*
>..
>.
>She only uses the flap if she's alone
>She said using it 'is. humiliating.!'...
>...
>..
*Snugft*
>.
>There!
>Finally!
>Vintl
>All alone
>She's using the flap, so that means there is no one there to open the door for her!
>You lick your lips in anticipation
>If she realizes the ruse, she'll beat your butt
>But if she falls for it...
>This will teach her not to bad-mouth you!
>You swing the closet door open and emit a ghastly groan
>Vintl whirls around to face you, crouching down and ready to fight
>"Rust.?"
>You moan and nod your head
"You've killed me, Vintl...."
>Her eyes go wide and she peers at you nervously
>"What.!? You're. dead.?"
>You moan again
>She's buying it!
>Your butt is safe!
>"How.?! How. did. you. die.? I. didn't. do. it.!"
>You take a step closer, groaning
"I drowned last night... The pit filled with water and I couldn't swim! WOOOOooOOooooOO~"
>That's only partly a lie
>You really can't swim
>You told her that once, back when you first showed up in the pit
>Vintl takes a nervous step away from you
>"What.?! No.! No. one. was. supposed. to. be. hurt.!"
*Sniffle*
>"I'm. sorry.! It. wasn't. supposed. to. happen. like. that.!"
*Snugft*
>The flour is really clogging you up
*Horkt-*
>That's better
>"I'm. sorry.!"
>Whoop, spoke too soon
>Sneeze...
>Coming...
>"Please. Rust., what. do. you. want.?!"
>Can't...
>Hold...
>It...
>"Rust.!"
>In!
>A mighty sneeze shakes you to your very core
>As you recover, Vintl screams
>"ECTOPLASM.! nnnnoooOOOOOOOO!"
>Vintl starts gibbering in her native language and darts for the cat-flap
>...Well
>That's one way to scare her
>Guess that's a job well done?
>Go team?
>Your butt is unkicked, and Vintl is scared silly...
>Yeah, that's a victory!
>It's been so long, you've forgotten what it feels like!
>This feels great!
*Sniffle*

Be Spinnerette
>Be at your mother's hive
>You're happy that her 'illness' was a false alarm!
>It's been so long since you were last here, but it feels like nothing has changed...
>...Is Anon missing you?
>Are the other girls missing you?
>You've been gone all day...
>"Young lady, are you listening to me at all?"
>You smile sheepishly up at your mother
"Yes mother, sorry"
>She sighs and frowns
>"This is why you haven't gotten your own hive yet. You need to reach out and take what you want! No one will help you except for family. I was hoping your time in prison would teach you that..."
>A pair of drones come in excitedly
>"Mommy! Sister! we had the most excellent  adventure!"
>Your mother rolls her eyes
>"Not now Bill and Ted, Mommy and Spinnerette are talking"
>The two drones look at the floor dejectedly
>"Awww... totally not radical..."
>Your mother looks back at you as the pair trudge out of the chamber
>"Back to the matter of you not having a hive yet-"
>You quickly interrupt your mother
>If she is allowed to build momentum in a conversation, you'll never get a word in
"About that, I'm working on it!"
>Your mother tilts her head
>"Oh?"
>You nod happily
"I'm in a herd!"
>Your mother raises an eyebrow and smiles
>"Really? I'm impressed! It isn't easy creating such a unique and convincing persona that you can trick an entire herd, well done!"
>You blush and kick at the floor weakly
"Actually... I'm not pretending to be someone else. I'm in a herd with people who know I'm a changeling"
>Your mother's mouth snaps shut with a small click
>She peers at you carefully
>"You... aren't lying.  Do you realize what this means? Once you start your hive, you'll be unstoppable! You'll be on par with the greatest Hive Queens of legend! I'm so proud!"
>You blush and nod, staring at the ground
>She...
>She actually said she was proud of you!


Be Anon
>Be waking up after a nice long night's sleep
>Spending the day in time out was easily the most relaxing thing you've done since coming to pony land
>You stretch and reach for a tupperware container marked 'breakfast'
>The Warden was really taking your punishment seriously
>Instead of letting you out for meals, she just had some meals prepared ahead of time and put into timeout with you
>Yum yum, cold waffles!
>Before you can really dig into your meal, a green will-o-the-wisp emerges from the ground in front of you, leaving a trail of sparkling green fire in it's wake
>You tear off a piece of waffle and watch with an eyebrow raised as the wisp splits in two
>The wisps coil around eachother and gently float back onto the ground
>As you chew, the wisps grow and morph
>After a moment, Co and Patty are 'standing' in front of you
>...A few inches from the ground, of course
>You give the spirits a friendly smile
"Hey there, how are my favorite minotaur progenitors doing?"
>Co crosses his arms angrily
>"The hell do you think you're doing?"
>You frown and tilt your head
"What?"
>Co leans down over you
>"We keep getting bothered by your herd, that's what!"
>Wait
>What?
"What is that supposed to mean?"
>How could your entire herd be bothering ghosts?...
>A cold chill spears down your spine
"Are they all right?!"
>Patty smiles assuringly
>"They are okay right now, just a little shaken up is all"
>Co nods, still frowning
>"All day yesterday, screaming! I couldn't watch my shows without /someone/ popping down to scream in my ear"
>You blink in confusion
"What? What do you mean?"
>Patty lies down, still hovering a few inches off the floor
>"Your special little lady friend Amber explained who they were. Your poor herd spent all of yesterday being scared half to death!"
>Co nods
>"That isn't just an expression you know! One of them stepped on me during my nap!"
>Patty sighs
>"Dear, we've been over this. It was an accident and she said she was sorry. Besides, she's much too small to have caused you any discomfort"
>Co frowns and crosses his arms
>"She stepped on my eye!"
>You stand, dropping your torn waffle
"Wait, go back, my girls have all been terrified? Why? What happened to them?"
>Patty sighs sadly
>"All sorts of nasty little things, dearie. Poor Amber had a sparkler, of all things, go off behind her!"
>You grit your teeth
>There is no way that was an accident
>Amber knows the difference between a sparkler and an incense stick...
>...And for all of your girls to be scared
>...On the one day you can't help them
>There is no way that is just a coincidence
>Someone planned this
>Someone who is going to have their ass royally handed to them on a gold platter, with courtesy and respect
>You glare into Co's eyes, searching for the one responsible
"Who did this to my girls?"
>Co frowns and shrugs
>"We don't know. Have any enemies?"
>You nod
"I beat Vladdy and Rust in the pit, and Bright Spear has been out to get me from day one... But they are all idiots. I'd guess that only Hill Stony would be smart enough to come up with a plan to scare my girls"
>Co nods
>"It would have taken more than one person, some of the scares happened simultaneously"
>You clench your fist
"You mean to tell me that I have my own injustice league?"
>Co shakes his head
"...My own Foot Clan?"
>Co shakes his head again
"...My own L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N.?"
>Co thinks for a few seconds, and then nods
>You glance back and forth between the two spirits
"We need to stop those bastards"
>You quickly stride over to the door and try the handle
>Damn, locked
>...You should have known
>The Warden really is taking your timeout seriously
"Hey! Whoever is on the other side, let me out!"
>...Silence
"I'm serious, my herd needs me!"
>...No response
"Don't make me break this door down!"
>...Damn, the guard is calling your bluff
>Patty sighs
>"Don't bother, dearie. That door is designed to hold minotaurs, you'll never get through"
>You kick the door experimentally a few times just to make sure
"Then how am I supposed to help my girls? It isn't like I can tunnel my way..."
>Wait a second
>Amber is a shaman
>In touch with the natural world and the elements
>She told you she uses spirits to make deals with the elements...
>You turn to Co and Patty
"I need your help"
>...
>..
>.
>..
>...
>Well, this is easy
"Thanks for getting this earth elemental to help"
>Patty smiles
>"Of course, dearie"
>Co nods
>"It's a shame that the timeout room's tile got so messed up... That was some nice tile"
>That... sounded a little intense
>Before you can comment, a sneeze forces itself upon you
>Patty frowns as you sniffle
>"Poor dear, is the dust getting to you?"
>You rub your nose and nod
"I guess so"
>It could be dust...or it could be earth elemental
>You did promise the elemental that you would 'absorb' it in payment for breaking you out of that room
>A deal which seems to be a win-win for you
>You have no idea what absorbing an earth elemental will do to you
>Patty said 'probably nothing, dearie'...
>...worst case scenario, Co is right and you 'turn into Sandman or The Thing, which would be neato'


Be Hill Stony the Science Pony
>Everything is wonderful!
>Nothing like proving your superiority to help you sleep!
>And that dream!
>/amazing/!
>Even though none of it was real, your body still tingles a little
>You smile and chuckle to yourself
>You can already tell that today will be a day long remembered!
>Another chuckle bursts from your lips
>Anon has been so thoroughly beaten!
>You can't wait to gloat about it right in his big dumb face

Be Spinnerette
>Almost home
>You can't wait to see Anon again!
>Did he miss you?
>...Maybe he missed you enough to give you a welcome-home kiss!
>The thought brings a fierce blush to your face
>You really can't wait to see Anon again!
>Maybe he'll even let you start your hive soon!
>You can't help but speed up a little
>Seeing your mother was great, and it was fun to see your old friends but...
>You miss your new family!


Be Anon
>A sigh of relief escapes your lips as sunlight breaks into your escape tunnel
>You were starting to get tired of pale green light and snorting earth elemental
>With a grunt, you heave yourself out of the tunnel...
>...Right into The Warden's office
>Co phases through the ground next to you and smirks
>"You have the worst luck. You should've turned left at albuquerque"
>You quickly scan the room for The Warden
>...Good, she isn't here
"Shut up, Co"
>Patty sighs
>"Boys, please try to get along"
>Co frowns
>"I didn't do anything"
>You finish pulling yourself out of the hole and look around the room
>The Warden may not be here, but she's bound to notice a big hole in her floor...
>While Co and Patty have a brief marital spat, you do your best to hide the hole
>Co and Patty kiss and make up as you crack open the office door, checking for any wandering guards or inmates
>The coast is clear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAYhNHhxN0A
>Time to move
>You duck out of the door and into the hall
>Co and Patty follow close behind and above
>Your cell is damn near on the opposite side of the prison
>The fastest route is through the mess hall, but carries the greatest risk of early discovery
>A detour through the pool or arcade could work...
>The visibility is poor in there, compared to the pool's glass walls...
>It's no contest, arcade is your best bet
>You dash down the hall, heading for the arcade
>Co swings down to fly by your ear
>"We'll go on ahead and meet you there"
>You nod
"I'll be right behind you, let my girls know I'm coming"
>Co and Patty pull ahead of you and dive into the ceiling and floor ahead of you, phasing into the building
>Just before disappearing, Co calls out to you
>"Phrasing!"
>You turn down another hall, the arcade visible at the opposite end
>With a mad dash, you're at the entrance and slightly out of breath
>You dive into the darkness of the arcade and look around
>There seems to be guards everywhere!
>Damnit, you can't be seen!
>The Warden will no doubt move or separate you all if you're caught now
>Time for stealth mode
>You carefully creep and crawl past groups of guards, ducking between arcade cabinets and under oversized prizes
>Inching your way between the rows of cabinets on your belly, the hair rises on the back of your neck
>Someone is watching you
>Your head snaps to the side to see who it is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls9JrR1-c8Y
>A pegasus in an orange jumpsuit blinks back at you, confused
>You both stare at eachother in silence for a few agonizingly slow seconds
>The pegasus's arcade cabinet blinks as her character dies
>The deadlock continues
>...
>..
>.
>You slowly raise your finger to your lips, and imploringly wink at the pony
>She just keeps staring at you
>...
>..
>.
https://youtu.be/Ii1tc493bZM?t=7
>You slowly face forward again and continue inching your way across the arcade aisle
>Ignoring the mare staring at your back the entire time

Be The Warden
>Be entering your office
>...Something isn't right
>Your desk isn't usually this far forward
>And why was your rug moved?
"Guard Naughty Spanking, I need you"
>The unicorn quickly enters your office, shutting the door behind himself
>"Warden, you have no idea how long I've waited to hear that! You know, spankings can be for good ponies too..."
>You stare at him blankly
"I wouldn't know about that. I need you to use your magic to move my desk back to its usual position"
>The stallion's over eager grin is quickly replaced by a blank stare, mirroring your own
>"...Yes Ma'am"
>He quickly moves your desk back by the wall
"Thank you, that will be all"
>He salutes, nervous under his deadpan expression
>"Yes Ma'am, thank you, Ma'am"
>He salutes sharply and leaves the office with more speed than is strictly necessary
>You step closer to the rug as he shuts the door
>Someone went through a lot of trouble to hide this part of the floor...
>Time to see exactly what it is someone is hiding!



Be Amber Ember
>Be with the rest of the herd
>Be very, very warm
>Poor Sandy and Vintl were so scared that they demanded that everyone hide under the blankets together
>...Honestly, you were still shaken enough that you really didn't mind
>The only problem was Libele
>Dragons are naturally very warm beings
>She hadn't talked about it but /something/ had clearly scared her out of her mind
>She was extremely jumpy, and anytime something rubbed against her the wrong way a little eddy of flame puffed out of her
>Of course... with so many girls hiding under thick blankets, it would be warm even if one of them wasn't a dragon!
>"H-Hello?"
>Was that?...
>Vintl, curled up tightly against your neck, shifts a little
>"That. sounded. like. Spinny.!"
>You take a deep, reassuring breath as everyone else holds theirs
"Hello? Spinnerette? Is that you?"
>"Yes, what's wrong? I could feel your fear from outside!"
>Everyone breathes a sigh of relief and Sandy carefully pokes her head out from under the blanket
>"Spinny! Get yerself aboard! Hurry! It isn't safe out there!"
>Everyone scoots to make room for Spinny, and she quickly takes a position between Feygl and Sandy
>"Please, what happened? Why are you all so scared?"
>Happy leans forward
>"Someone, or something, is out to get us!"
>Spinny frowns
>"What do you mean? Why is your fur shaved so weirdly?"
>Happy grimaces
>"It was the only way to get unstuck from my yoga mat..."
>Feygl wraps a supportive wing around Happy
>"Up until I met up with Amber, I thought a ghost was haunting me"
>Vintl raises a shaky hoof
>"Me. too."
>You nod
"We know they weren't actually ghosts because the only spiritual energy I can sense belongs to Co and Patty, my ancestors"
>Libele jumps as the blanket slides over her wings
>"S-Spinny, dear, can you tell us how Anon is doing? We haven't seen or heard from him since he was sent to time out"
>Spinny nods and screws her eyes shut, trying to sense Anon
>"I...I can sense him. He's angry. Really angry"
>You sigh in relief
"Good, that means that Co and Patty were able to reach him. Can you tell where he is?"
>Spinny shakes her head
>"Not exactly, but I-"
>Nearly everyone jumps as a pair of ghostly heads pop out of the bed, bathing everyone in green light
>Patty smiles sheepishly
>"Sorry for scaring you all, dearies!"
>Co grins
>"Good news, everyone! Anon is on his way"
>A ragged cheer goes up
>Anon is coming to save you all!

Be The Warden
>Time to move that rug...
>Grabbing the edge of the rug, you pull sharply
>What the-
>A hole?!
>WHO THE HAY DUG A HOLE IN YOUR-
>What's that?
>A note?...
>You drop into the hole to get a better look at the paper
>'This is not a hole'
>What?
>...Oh
>Well, that's a relief
>Having a giant hole in the middle of your office wouldn't be good at all
>For one, it would be a nasty trip hazard
>Secondly, it would mean someone was tunneling around under your prison which could be a potential escape attempt...
>...
>..
>.
>That clever son of a biscuit
>They almost had you!
>You grit your teeth and pull out your torch from your belt
>Time to see exactly how far this rabbit-hole goes...

Be Amber Ember
>Be poking your head out from under the covers
>Just like everyone else
>You glance down the row of female faces
>The entire herd is staring expectantly at the door
>Anon should be here any minute now...
>You face the door again
>...
>..
>.
>The doorknob just rattled!
>You, along with everyone else in the herd, stop breathing
>The door seems to open in slow motion, light from the hallway flooding into the room...
>...Outlining Anon in a glorious halo of brilliance!
>The herd moves as one, streaking out of the bed and into Anon
>As you reach him, you make a jarring realization
>That glorious halo surrounding him isn't just from the lights in the hall
>His body is a nexus of elemental energies, all fighting and dancing
>Anon stumbles back and falls under the pressure of his girls' group hug
"Are you okay, Anon?!"
>He chuckles warmly and nods
>"I'm fine, it takes more than a little tumble to take me down. How about you all? Is everyone okay? Roll call: Amber"
>You squeeze him a little tighter
"Here... I'm okay, just a little shaken up"
>Anon nods and smiles
>You're glad he wasn't hurt by the fall, but you were really asking about the elements raging in his body...
>"Vintl, good to see you. You okay?"
>The breezie rubs her face against Anon's eyebrow, hugging his nose tightly
>"I. thought. I. saw. a. ghost.!"
>Anon smiles warmly at her
>"Don't worry, you're fine now. Ghosts are pushovers"
>Co grumbles
>"Oi!"
>Anon smiles appologetically
>"Present company excepted, of course. Libele? Feygl?"
>Libele presses her head against the crook of Anon's neck
>"They... They were everywhere..."
>Feygl's wings tighten around the whole group
>"I'm okay. Someone had to be the brave one while you were slacking off"
>Anon affectionately squeezes the mass of girls
>"I'm sorry I wasn't around. Sandy, are you okay? You're shaking..."
>Sandy sniffles
>"I'm okay now, I've got you and Spinny to protect me from getting gobbled by seamonsters!"
>Anon smiles
>"Damn right! Wait, Spinny is back?"
>Spinnerette nods
>"Yes, and there's something I'd like to talk to you about... Whenever you're ready, I mean"
>Anon cranes his neck to look at the changeling that somehow ended up behind him
>"Sure thing, just let me finish role call. Happy, you here- Oh no, what happened to your coat?"
>The nurse bites her lip and starts sobbing into Anon's shoulder
>"Th-This is so embarassing... Couldn't get off my yoga mat and had to cut off the fur!"
>Anon strains his arm around Libele to get his hand close enough to Happy to stroke what was left of her mane
>"I'm so sorry, Happy... I'm sorry, everyone, I didn't protect you all like I should have"
>You smile at him
"It's okay... You're here now!"
>Anon nods
>"That's right, and I'm going to take down the bastard that did this to you all. Let's go into my cell for now, there's a few things I want to discuss"



Be Anon
>Be in your cell with your girls
>They are all crowded around you on the bed
"Alright girls, we're going to go kick some ass in a few minutes but first there are a few things I want to do. Vintl, you know how you can't cuss anymore?"
>Vintl nods sadly
>You beam her a grin
>Time to see if the placebo affect can overcome magic
"Well, you can't curse with words you already knew but maybe... Just maybe, you can say /new/ curses"
>Vintl tilts her head at you
>"What. do. you. mean.?"
>You raise your finger
"There is a human cuss that I haven't heard here yet, so I don't think it exists here. Come in close, I don't feel right saying it too loudly"
>Vintl frowns
>"You've. never. been. afraid. to. cuss. before...."
>You nod
"Yeah, because those words weren't this one. Come over please"
>Vintl smiles and nods happily
>"Okay.!"
>Once she settles on your shoulder, you lean your head over and cup your hand in front of your mouth to hide it from the other girls
>She leans in eagerly
>You whisper a gibberish word in her ear and pull away
"That word can be used anywhere in a sentence. Try it out!"
>Vintl screws her eyes shut in concentration
>"Faggot."
>She blinks in surprise and tries again
>"Fuck."
>You hide a smile and pretend to sigh
"Damn, looks like you can't say it... but it looks like you can use regular curses if you try saying that word instead!"
>Vintl beams and giggles
>"Fuck. fuck. fuckity. fuck. fuck.! Fuck. a. duck.! Bastard. son. of. a. bitch.! THIS. IS. FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC.!"
>Vintl jumps up off your shoulder and vigorously hugs your ear
>"Thank. you.!"
>You nod slowly, careful not to make her lose her grip
"My pleasure"
>You smile broadly at the rest of your girls
"I also made you all portraits!"
>You reach into your pocket to pull out the neatly folded pieces of paper...
>...But find nothing
>You must have dropped them during your escape
>Shit

Be The Warden
>Be carefully traveling through an underground tunnel
>You found some papers earlier, but couldn't really look at them in the cramped space and with your torch in your mouth
>Maybe they're a map that leads to burried treasure?
>...Probably not
>The last time you found a treasure map, you found Sandy's secret eyepatch stash
>You round a corner and squint down the tunnel
>That... looks like light!
>You're almost to the end of the tunnel!
>Breaking into a canter, you quickly make it to the opening
>It takes a few attempts, but you manage to pull yourself into the room above the tunnel
>...This looks like the timeout room
>You glance around
>Crayons, papers....
>You pull out the papers from earlier to confirm your suspicions
>...
>Curses!
>These works of art confirm that the worst-case scenario has happened!
>Anon tunneled out of timeout!
>That's it, you're upgrading him to Red status!
>You bang on the room's door
"Open up! Anon has escaped!"
>Someone shuffles around outside
>"Nice try, Anon! You can't fool me!"
>You don't have time for this!
>Anon needs to be punished!

Be Spinnerette
>Anon pulls his hands out of his pockets and sighs
>"Sorry girls, looks like I lost the pictures I drew for you all during my escape..."
>Feygl smiles warmly
>"It's okay, I'm sure they were great"
>Amber nods
>"And it's the thought that counts"
>Anon smiles weakly
>"Yeah... but still, sorry"
>...
>..
>.
>No one is speaking
>Now is the perfect time to ask Anon about your hive
>Your belly is instantly filled to the brim with butterflies
>And not the happy, pretty kind
>These are the kind of butterflies that could scoop up a pony and carry it away
>These butterflies simply did not appreciate being in your belly, and wanted out!
"H-Hey Anon?"
>Oh no
>Oh sweet hivemother, he's looking at you
>"Yeah, Spinny?"
>Your belly is doing flips
"I was hoping..."
>The butterflies /really/ don't like your belly flipping like that
>He smiles warmly at you
>"Yes?"
>You take a deep breath
>Here goes nothing!
"...Could I start a hive? They could help protect the herd and I really /really/ want one! You wouldn't have to worry, changelings reach maturity really quickly so it wouldn't take much work, and I can handle it all on my own if you want and..."
>The butterflies are frozen
>You feel cold
>Anon is just looking at you
>Oh please say something!
>Please say yes!
>Sandy wraps you in a wing, the physical contact surprising you and making you jump
>"Please Anon? Let her form a hive?"
>Anon takes a deep breath, nodding slowly
>"I... guess it would be alright. Especially if it will help keep everyone safe! But... This seems like a family decision... girls?"
>Feygl shrugs
>"Sure, why not"
>Happy nods slowly
>"While having a changeling hive around would normally make me really nervous... I trust you"
>Amber nods and smiles
>"Changelings produce numerous rare components for alchemy that I simply could not afford, I'm fine with it as long as I can get some samples every now and again"
>Libele smiles sweetly
>"I won't stop you from being happy"
>Vintl stamps her tiny hoof against Anon's shoulder
>"Don't. be. a. faggot., Anon."
>Anon lets out a chuckle
>"Well... I guess that settles it!"
>The butterflies are gone and forgotten in an instant and you rush at Anon
"Thank you thank you thank you! Thank you all!"
>Anon chuckles again, wrapping an arm around you
>Your body reflexively coats your mouth with pure love and emotion as you crane your neck to give Anon a big kiss
>Vintl recovers from being knocked off Anon's shoulder and starts cheering you on

Be Bright Spear
>Well
>This is quite lovely, actually
>Hill Stony organized a picnic for everyone to celebrate the victory over Anon
>You are thoroughly enjoying yourself
>Hill Stony may be a doody head, but he really knows how to organize a party
>you shoot him a glance
"How'd you even manage to get this stuff?"
>Hill smirks at your patronizingly
>"I pulled some favors, paid a few bribes, and made some of it myself"
>You raise an eyebrow
"Really? Never saw you as the cooking type"
>Hill snorts
>"Please, cooking is beneath me. I made the cider"
>Rust downs another massive swig
>"This stuff is great! More please!"
>Hill levitates a large jug over to Rust
>Rust takes the jug appreciatively
>"Thank you kindly!"
>Hill nods curtly
>"Of course. Today is a day to celebrate!"
>Everyone cheers, from Tick-Tick to Rust, a chorus of voices ring out proudly

Be Amber
>O-Oh no!
>What's happening?!
>The elements are /really/ boiling over in Anon now!
>It... It looks like they're...
>...merging?
>That isn't possible!
>It shouldn't be possible!
>Is it even possible?!
>The elements are supposed to cancel eachother out, not...
>Anon groans and pushes Spinny away
>"W-What's happening to me?"
>You try to swallow nervously, but your throat is dry
"The elements inside you... are... are..."
>Anon frowns in discomfort
>"...Are what? Damn, this feels /weird/..."
>You focus hard, trying to pick out the elements' individual movements... and failing
"They're... dancing? fusing? mating? I just don't know! I'm sorry!"
>Spinny's eyes go wide with fear
>"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you Anon! Are you okay? Please be okay!"
>Anon leans back with a grimace
>"I'm...fine, I think. I'm..."
>Anon groans and suddenly arches his back, falling off the bed...
>...And through the floor
>The gasps of surprise are drowned out by  the sound of tearing carpet
>Vintl quickly buzzes over and inspects the floor where Anon was swallowed up
>The carpet is torn, and the concrete underneath has countless little swirls and eddies, as if a river's surface had been petrified
>Vintl angrily paws at the floor
>"Fuck. you. floor!. Give. back. Anon.! NOW.!"
>Libele shakes her head slowly
>"That didn't just happen... /What/ just happened?"
>Co and Patty share a frown while Spinny begins to hyperventilate
>Feygl leans over to you
>"You can control the elements, do something!"
>Your mouth opens and closes wordlessly
>The raw elemental power growing and changing in Anon makes him shine like a lighthouse to your elementally-attuned eyes
>Despite the increasing number of rock layers between you and Anon, you can still clearly see him...
>...Falling...
>You need to save him!
>He's falling farther with every passing second!
>Shaking off your shock, you take a deep breath and try to block out the sounds of the other girls panicking
>Calling out to the elements for aid, you try to summon an earth elemental to catch Anon and bring him back to the surface...
>...
>..
>.
>It's no use! The elements aren't responding!
>You quickly try the other three elemental kingdoms, desparately searching for aid
>...to no avail
>No response from /any/ of the elemental kingdoms!
>It's almost as if every one of the infinite elementals are focused on something else
>You turn to Co and Patty
"Honorable ancestors, please do something! Save Anon!"
>Co starts to move, but stops himself quickly and shakes his head
>"Anon has too much of a head start, and he's falling too fast. We can't catch him"
>Patty frowns at her husband
>"He's... right, but he could have said it nicely!... sorry dears, but Anon is just too far gone. Don't worry though! The elements have him, and they don't seem to want to hurt him! Quite the opposite, really!"
>Patty beams a matronly smile around the room
>You bite your lip and turn your gaze back towards the distant beacon of Anon's falling form
>Everything will be alright
>You have to believe that
>The elements wouldn't hurt Anon!
>...right?

Be Anon
>You can see into forever.
>Each heartbeat is a wave crashing into shore.
>Skin... made of molten fire.
>You feel lighter than air...
>... and heavier than lead.
>Another natural cavern flashes by as you continue your descent.
>You're falling faster now.
>It's okay.
>You don't mind.
>While you did feel a twinge of pain early on, you don't feel any pain now.
>You continue to fall.
>Oh hey, this cavern is the size of the entire prison.
>And it's full of crystals.
>Must be a giant geode.
>It looks almost like you're flying through space.
>Neat.

Be Rust
>This party is GRATE!
>GRET?
>You take a breath and focus
>This party is G-R-E-A-T
>Great!
>That's the word
>You laugh raucously at your success at remembering a word and take another deep swig of cider
>As soon as you drain the mug, you toss it aside and reach for another
>You can't help but giggle into your new mug at how pretty the broken mug looks
>A mighty force suddenly takes your chest, and the prison's park reverberates with the sound of your belch
>Now THAT was great!
>You fall over laughing, spilling cider all over yourself and everything else in the immediate area
>Tick-Tick nearly drowns

Be Hill Stony
>That idiot it wasting your cider
>...No matter
>There is plenty to go around, even with that buffoon spilling half of it all
>You unwrap a hard candy and toss the wrapper onto a slowly growing loose pile of discarded wrappers
>You sigh with pleasure as the sweet treat hits your tongue
>What a glorious day!
>The sun is shining brightly, not a cloud in sight, the temperature is a /perfect/ twenty one degrees celsius, seventy degrees fahrenheit
>You couldn't have designed a better day for a party
>...Okay, that's not true
>You're sure you could find some way to improve this day
>After all, Celestia made today and nobody is perfect
>Except for you
>You're perfect
>You're beautiful
>You're the smartest unicorn who ever lived!

Be Anon
>As nice as this whole experience is, you must admit...
>The magma is a little toasty.
>And the scenery is a little more boring.
>Everything is bright orange down here.
>When will you stop falling?
>...Doesn't matter.
>The feeling of immense, overwhelming pressure is countered by the feeling that you're on the edge of space.
>Overall, a net neutral.
>Oh, are you slowing down?
>You are.

Be Vintl
>The girls are all huddled around the tear in the carpet, surrounding you
>You smack your hoof into the floor again, slowly deepening a small scratch in the cement
"Why. aren't. any. of. you. helping. me.?! This. would. be. a. hell. of. a. lot. easier. if. you. faggots. all. got. off. your. lazy. asses. and. helped. me. dig.!"
>You glare around at the traitors surrounding you
>Spinny continues to shake uselessly, while Sandy comforts her
>Libele is wrapping everyone in a big hug... when she should be putting her claws to good use for once and helping you dig!
>Feygl isn't helping at all either, but worst of all is Amber
>She still isn't using her powers to help Anon!
>Traitor!
>You growl and turn your attention back to the scratch
>If no one else is going to do anything to save Anon, it's all up to you!

Be Tick-Tick
>This party is pretty good
>Except for Rust
>Now you're soggy and sticky because of him!
>You try to wipe some of the excess cider out of your coat with a paper towel, not bothering to find a trash can or recycling bin for the messy paper
>It wouldn't be so bad if you could get drunk...
>Curse your ancestry!
>It can be so annoying that Dik-Diks don't drink!
>You sigh and shake yourself off
>You'll smell like apples for days...
>...Still, there are worse things to smell like
>And besides, an apple sounds good right about now anyway...
>Reaching for an apple, you drop the last paper towel on the ground

Be Amber Ember
>You can't see Anon anymore
>He's gone...
>But you know he's still alive
>He's okay
>The elements won't hurt him
>Vintl is still scratching away at the ground...
>You sigh shakily
>Doesn't she see it's useless to try digging?
>Anon is... or at least, /was/, falling through the earth as if there was nothing there
>Even with everyone helping, it'd take years to get even a tiny fraction of the way to Anon...
>You squeeze the girls sitting beside you
>Anon will come through, he'll make it
>He always does!

Be Anon
>At least things aren't orange anymore.
>It's all white-hot.
>And you're falling slower.
>Much slower.
>...are you stopping?
>...Yes, yes you are.
>The molten iron and nickel fall away underneath you, and you are gently lowered into an open area.
>As your feet touch the ground, the weight of the situation begins to hit you
>You just fell
>Through the planet
>And now you're in a room
>Made of blue and white crystals
>And there's an Alicorn
>Shit
>And here you thought between Sparkle and the wonder twins, you'd already met every alicorn
>She smiles reassuringly at you
>Why are Alicorns always female?
>She has the same coat as Sparkle, but her hair is all Luna...
>Except instead of stars, there are gems and flecks of precious metals flickering in her mane
>The Alicorn takes a step forward
>"Hello my child, this must all be rather... exciting"
>Whatever you were expecting her to say, it wasn't that
"Yes"
>Well, that was lame
"What happened to me?"
>Much better
>The Alicorn nods toward a large bowl shaped screen, which shows you standing beside the Alicorn
>You turn your head to try and find the camera...
>Flat crystal wall
>Lovely
>You turn back to the screen
>Wait...
>Something is definitely off about you...
>The Alicorn distracts you before your addled mind can catch the obvious difference
>"I have watched you for quite a long time. I used my children to summon you, my child. You have great potential"
>You smile politely
"Thank you?... Excuse me, but could you send me back to my girls please? Who are you, anyway?"
>The Alicorn tilts her head
>"All in due time, my child. First, I have a request to make of you. My name is Gaia. I already know your name, Anon"
>You tilt your head slightly
"Gaia? As in mother earth?"
>The Alicorn nods and smiles
>...Neat
"Alright... what's your request?"
>The Alicorn sighs as a series of images flash across the screen
>"I need a champion. I cannot leave this place. As Celestia and Luna control the Sun and Moon, I control the planet. I constructed this facility so that I could relax without dropping the world... but this facility can't run for more than a few seconds without me to power it. I need someone to walk the surface in my stead"
>You frown
"Does this mean I have to become a hippy?"
>Gaia giggles softly
>"No, you may act as you please in your free time"
>You nod
"So I can still eat meat and take showers?"
>Gaia nods again
"Alright... so what would my duties entail?"
>Gaia smiles softly
>"Protect my interests. Serve as my voice in court. That sort of thing. You will be granted the power to see that my will is done."
>You nod
"What do I get out of it?"
>Gaia smirks
>"There are many benefits to serving a god. I /am/ the planet. You will never want for wealth or food, and you'll be able to take care of Hill Stony however you please"
>You give her a toothy grin
"Alright... What have I got to lose? Sign me up"
>Gaia smiles
>"Good, I'm glad that you have agreed! Now go, my child, the power is already within you"
>You frown
"Wait, what do you mean the power is alre-"
>Before you can finish the sentence, you are rocketed upward through the crystal ceiling and into the core of the planet speeding toward the mantle and crust



Be Amber Ember
>Something isn't right
>...
>...Actually, something isn't... wrong?
>The elements feel...
>Complete?
>As if all this time, they've been missing a piece...
>...And now they're complete
>Whatever is going on down there with Anon must be related to this shift in the elements
>You're sure of it...
>And... there's something else
>You can see an elementally charged form speeding up through the rock
"Girls..."
>Everyone looks up at you, and even Vintl pauses her scratching to spare a glance at you
"Something is coming... Straight from under us! Everyone, back up!"
>After a momentary delay, the girls make a space around the tear in the carpet
>Vintl floats up to your shoulder and turns to peer cautiously at the floor
>"Is. Anon. coming. back.?"
>You bite your lip and shrug, almost throwing Vintl off
"I can't be sure, but if it is him then... He's changed"
>Happy bites her lip and Feygl clicks her beak
>Sandy furls and unfurls her wings nervously
>"What do you mean? He's still Anon, right?"
>Spinny tilts her head and then her expression brightens considerably
>"It's him! I can sense him!"
>Everyone quickly turns their attention back to the blemish on the floor with baited breath

Be Anon
>You're almost to the surface!
>Excellent!
>You can practically taste the fresh air
>It'll be one hell of a relief, especially after hitting that pocket of sulfur on the way up...
>You reach upward, eager to see real light again...
>And burst forth from the floor, into...
>The exact same room you came from!
>Glancing down, you notice the one tear in the carpet
>Gaia has great aim
>You float back down to let your feet touch the ground and your girls dogpile onto you
>As one, they shout your name crying or cheering
>Feygl moves her beak close to your ear, rubbing her head against yours affectionately
>"Are you okay Anon?"
>You nod, returning her rub and answering her question
>There are too many squeezing limbs for you to get enough oxygen to provide an audible answer
>The girls slowly let their death-grip hugs loosen and give you a few inches of space
>When you finally get enough room to breath again, Co swoops in and frowns
>"Seriously, Anon?"
>You frown and tilt your head
"What?"
>Co sighs
>"You know how to make an entrance, I'll give you that, but of all the elemental characters you could have turned into..."
>You blink in confusion
"What?"
>Libele gently squeezes your arm
>"You've... changed. A little. Kind of."
>Sandy nods
>"I like your new colors!"
>New colors?
>Wait, what?
"Wait, what?"
>Vintl hops up and down on your shoulder
>"You. may. look. different. but. we. all. still. love. you.!"
>You smile uncertainly at Vintl
"What are you all talking about?"
>Co points at you
>"You look like you walked straight out of the cartoons, kid"
>Wait...
>Gaia mentioned you had new powers
>And now you're colored differently?
>You try to get a look at yourself, but the layer of females prevents you from seeing anything to tip you off
"So... I look like a cartoon character?"
>Co nods
>"That's right, 'hero'"
>Hero...
"So that rules out sandman or clayface... Did I become Metamorpho? the Avatar? Firestorm?..."
>You take a nervous gulp
"...Aquaman?..."
>Co shakes his head again
>"No, no one that cool"
>You're lamer than Aquaman?
>aw...Damnit
>But who could possibly be lamer than Aquaman?
>Co starts to idly hum a tune
https://youtu.be/ZGegECwSiGY?t=10
>No
>Dear god no
"Did that bitch turn me into Captain Planet?!"
>Co smirks
>...Shit
>"By your powers combined..."
>You shake your head
"But doesn't... he... need the four elements to combine in order to appear?"
>Amber turns her head to stare at the floor
>"Well... actually... you've been absorbing the elements for a while now...remember?"
>Damn, she's right
>"But I only absorbed the elements right? Captain Planet needs the four elements... plus... 'heart'..."
>You turn to look at Spinny
>That bug loves you too much for your own good
>....oh well
>Maybe you can shave your head and pretend to be someone cool like the Silver Surfer
>Patty smiles at you
>"At least you're back in one piece, dearie"
>You nod
"Yeah... you're right"
>You pass your gaze around your herd
"Sorry for scaring you girls... but I'm fine, and I'm not mad at any of you. I am mad at Hill. You know,  I'd say it's long past time for me to pay him a visit..."

Be Hill Stony
>Be watching one of your spies retreat back into the prison's main building
>Apparently Anon escaped
>Good
>You're looking forward to gloating at that fool
>With a smile on your lips, you take a sip of milk
>You haven't touched the cider yet, you want your head clear when you cement your victory
>As you move to take a bite of cookie, you are interrupted by a thunderclap
>Startled by the sound, you drop your cookie and look up
>...
>..
>.
>What?
>Where did all those clouds come from?
>And... is that Anon?!
>Why is he silver now?
>"Hello, Hill"
>You gulp
>How is he flying?!
>He doesn't have wings!
>And there is no corona of magic...
>"So, what's new with you? I became an elemental demigod. That means I control the elements, and right now..."
>Your jaw drops open as you gawk at the flying human
>His eyes narrow
>"...You're experiencing the element of surprise"
>You lick your lips nervously
"How?"
>Anon grins
>"Gaia, mother earth herself chose me."
>He glances around at the detritious caused by the party
>"I'd pick up that trash if I were you"
>You glance around
>Your minions are all frozen with fear!
>Those IDIOTS!
"Come on, we can take him if we fight together!"
>Anon laughs
>"I don't think so"
>He claps his hands and another bolt of lightning crashes into the earth as the clouds release their payloads
>The rain instantly makes your mane cling to your skin uncomfortably
>As if he wasn't overpowered before...
>This is just unfair!
>"Sorry to rain on your parade, but you can't win"
>You turn desparately toward the main building
"Guards! Guards! Help! HELP!"
>You sigh in relief as a pair of guards run out of the building, rushing toward you
>You're saved!
>The guards slow and peer curiously, and a little fearfully, up at Anon
>The first guard steps forward
>"What's going on?"
>Anon floats down to the guards
>"These inmates hurt my girls. They're mine"
>The second guard nervously shakes his head
>"Sorry, they're our inmates! We can't let you hurt them!"
>Anon smiles
>"Your jurisdiction is this prison. Mine is the whole planet. I'd say I have authority here"
>The guards shuffle their hooves and share an uncertain glance
>Anon rubs his chin thoughtfully
>"Tell you what... Compromise: You can discipline the others, but their leader, Hill Stony, is mine. Deal? Good"
>Before the guards can offer a coherent response, Anon whirls around in the air to face you
>"I have a very... /special/ punishment in mind for you"
>You glance around desparately for help
>Your minions!
>They're gone!
>Traitors!
>They've all abandoned you while you were watching Anon interact with the guards!
>Wait, not all of them...
>Rust is passed out under a tree
>Fantastic
>You turn back towards Anon, mind racing
>OH SWEET LUNA HE'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU
>You stumble back in surprise
>This interaction is not going as you imagined

Be Anon
>This is fun!
>You can fly!
>You can summon lightning!
>The world just seems to open up to your will!
>And now you have Hill Stony at your mercy
>This'll be good
>You glance around
"All your allies Argon"
>...
>Damnit
>You must have inherited Planet's tendency to pun
>Oh well
>One of the guards clears his throat nervously
>"What will you do with this inmate?"
>You smile
"Barium"
>Hill's eyes go wide as you raise your arms and a shell of rock and dirt forms a bubble around him
>You lower your hands and the bubble starts to sink into the ground
>You turn and flash the guards a smile
"Don't worry, He'll survive.  I'll be sure to check up on him Periodically"
>With a flourish, you dive after the bubble and maneuver to lead it toward a small natural cavern under the prison...

Be Hill Stony
>Be in an underground cell made of solid stone
>It's been days since you were taken here
>DAYS!
>Days spent in pitch blackness without so much as a coloring book to entertain yourself with
>Anon will PAY for this!
>You'll come up with an escape plan and...
>A small bubble of green fire emerges from the ceiling of the cavern, throwing precious light into the cave as it descends to the cavern's floor
>You raise your nose haughtily as Anon and his bug step out of the fiery bubble
>Anon smiles as he surveys the numerous stalagmites and stalagtites
>"Damn Spinny, you didn't waste /any/ time!"
>The insect blushes
>"Sorry..."
>Anon's chuckle grates against your brain like nails on chalkboard
>"It's okay, I'm only teasing. They're ready?"
>Spinnerette nods, with a grin too wide to be natural
>"Yes! Well, almost. All they need is a pheromone signal..."
>Anon turns toward you and grins
>"Good evening, Hill. This will be one of the last times we get to see eachother, so I thought I should fill you in on current events. I have diplomatic immunity, and so do all of my girls. We have the option of leaving this prison soon and moving to the capital"
>That will... make your revenge more difficult
>No matter
>You'll have him, in time
>Anon walks up to your cell
>"...But we aren't leaving. We rather like it here, and Spinny already decided that this is where she wants to start her hive"
>You snarl at the silvery human
"Why are you bothering me with this?"
>Anon gives you a toothy grin
>"Because you're about to become part of the family. Spinny, do it"
>The bug screws her eyes shut and, after a few seconds, begins buzzing her wings
>Anon spreads his arms wide as the small spires of rock around the cavern begin to move and quake
>Your eyes go wide as they all begin to open at one end, unfolding like a mash paper
>Anon spins around, surveying the cavern
>"Good evening kids! I'm your daddy! This is your mommy, and this guy in the little room..."
>Anon turns to you, a glint in his eye
>"...Is 'Uncle Stony'"
>Buzzing fills the cavern as.... shapes like spiders with tails emerge from the stalag-no, eggs- that litter the cavern's floor, walls, and ceiling
>Anon's gaze softens as he looks at the vile brood and their queen
>"Awww... honey, they have your eyes!"
>Anon picks one of the flat larvae up and tickles its underside, spewing baby-babble at the weird monstrosity
>You reel back in horror as the thing glows with a sickly green light as it absorbs the love
>The things crawl, hop, and glide their way toward Anon
>He just laughs as they try to smother him
>"Kids, kids! Please! That tickles!"
>Spinnerette begins pulling orbs from a gooey pile in the far corner of the cavern, passing them to the bug-spawn
>The spiderling-like creatures bite into the orbs with overlarge fangs, noisily sucking out the contents
>They're...
>They're /feeding/...
>You glance nervously at the pile of orbs
>There are too many broodlings
>That pile can't possibly last more than a few days
>Dear Luna... What will happen to you when that pile runs out?

Be Anon
>D'aww!
>They're so cute!
>In a Cthulu-meets-Alien-meets-kittens kind of way
>You hug Spinny as you survey the many changeling larvae scrambling around the cavern
>You'll need to get Happy down here at some point to give them all check-ups
>But for now... You're happy to hug your bug with one arm and hold one of your buglets in the other
>Smiling warmly at the squirming being, it clicks in a decidedly giggly way
>You lean back against the cavern wall and watch as some of the faster eaters have already begun to play and tumble among their siblings
>D'aww!
>...Just look at those little legs scurry!
>And how gracefully they glide!
>You couldn't be more prou-
>OH SHIT!
>ONE OF THEM FELL!
>MAYDAY MAYDAY!
>BABY HAS BEEN DROPPED!
>PANIC!
>You move to rush over, but the broodling quickly flips itself back to its feet and begins scurrying back toward the wall to get back on the ceiling
>Spinny laughs softly
>"Don't worry dear... Changelings are bouncy. Thank you again! Thank you so much for letting me do this! I'm so happy!"
>Spinny presses herself against you tightly as you settle yourself back into your seat
>You grimace as the little broodling falls off the ceiling again
>Spinny rubs her head against your shoulder
>You turn and beam a grin at her, and she blushes and pulls her head away
>"Sorry..."
>You tilt your head, smiling
"For what?"
>Spinny smiles awkwardly
>"...I don't know. Thank you, I love you"
>You give her a squeeze
"I love you too... say, what do you want to name them?"
>Spinny tilts her head and bites her lip in thought
>"...I'm not sure. Why don't you start? I'll help when names pop into my head"
>You nod, turning back to see your failing acrobat land heavily on what you can only assume is his head
"Alright..."
>You point at the terrible tumbler
"Let's call our aspiring gymnist over there... 'Dennis'"
>Minutes turn to hours as you spend the day with Spinny, naming your children and occasionally accidentally renaming them as Hill tries to avoid drawing attention to himself
>As the day comes to a close, you give your cuddlebug a squeeze and consider what's next on the agenda...
>Today was Spinny's date day
>Tomorrow is another double date with Amber and Feygl
>You'll have to leave for a day after that so you can do 'captain planet' stuff...
>But you've promised to bring Vintl a souvenir from the capital, so she shouldn't be too upset that you've postponed her date day a little
>And the day after that?
>A picnic with all the girls: Amber Ember, Libele, Feygl, Spinny, Happy, Vintl, and Sandy
>You smile
>You've got a busy week ahead of you
>And you wouldn't have it any other way