Eternal Darkness

“Captain I have come to relieve you of your duties for the night shift!” Sergeant Iron Hoof declared with a salute of his hoof. Captain Brave Heart returned the salute with one of his own and nodded.

“Affirmative Sergeant.” Brave Heart responded before he lowered his hoof and proceeded to trot down the staircase leading to the ground floor. The night sky was overhead and his limbs ached from a long day of guarding the fortress. He could hear laughter and some of the other guards talking from within the fortress which he walked into, the door nearly wide open which brought annoyance to the captain.

“I thought I had made it perfectly clear that I wanted this door to always be shut.” Brave Heart spoke to three stallions seated at a table twenty hooves away. They went silent for a moment and their gaze met with the Captain’s.

“The door? We had closed it sir.”

Brave Heart rolled his eyes as he shut the door. “I don’t care who forgot to shut it, just keep it shut! Understood?” He spoke, raising his voice to get his point across. All three stallions nodded their heads before Brave Heart proceeded towards the staircase and descended down them.

Guards were climbing into their beds to go to sleep, many of them simply giving a nod to the captain as he passed by them towards his office. He would love to join them, however he had documents that needed to be filled out and prepared for delivery for tomorrow. A loud crash however stopped his progress and all of his fellow guards froze as they listened. An explosion sounded, followed by a bell, a bell that told the captain that they were under attack. “Attack, get that armor back on!” Brave Heart order before his soldiers kicked their sheets off and began to equip themselves once more. Brave Heart spread his wings and began to hover in place, his sword releasing with a tap of his left hoof. He then proceeded towards the staircase which he flew up but what he noticed sent a chill down his spine. It was dark and it was silent, the sounds of battle were not anywhere to be heard, the only sound coming from the darkness being a dark giggle as two eyes showed themselves within the void.

“Ugh Pinkie Pie gave me a headache today.” complained Applejack as she walked beside her brother down the road from Ponyville towards Sweet Apple Acres. Big Mac, a stallion with a red coat and a orange mane nodded as he walked beside his sister. “The bright side of it all though is that tomorrow is the last day and then I can come back and help at the farm.”

“That will be good.” Big Mac responded simply as he chewed his gum.

“Its not that I don’t like the gal, its just that she can’t keep her mouth shut.”

Big Macintosh leaned closer to his sister while he spoke. “Well atleast you helped her, many other ponies in the community with jobs much easier than ours did not even bother to help with the preparations at all. So at least you did something little sis.”

“Yeah you’re right; oh by the way the nightmarish mare showed up today.”

That sentence brought a laugh too Big Macintosh as the two turned a corner so that they were now directly beside the Everfree Forest. “Let me guess, Rainbow Dash?”

“You know it, turns out we need our papers renewed once more.”

A confused look showed on Big Macintosh’s face. “Did we or did we not get them papers renewed?”

Applejack shook her head. “Nah, we did last year but not this year. I guess thats another hundred and twenty bits down the drain and towards the corrupt bastards that own this town.”

Big Macintosh gave his little sister a look of annoyance. “Oh right, those ‘losers’.... happy?” Applejack asked before Big Macintosh chuckled and nodded.

Big Macintosh turned and spat his gum out to the left while Applejack examined the beautiful night sky. She could name a few of the constellations but many of the names were an enigma that she hoped to solve one day when she had free time to do so. “Hey.” Big Macintosh spoke, nudging his sister with his right foreleg to get her attention. Applejack turned her head in time to see a figure collide with a tree top, ruining its flight and causing it to plummet towards the ground.

The figure hit the ground and the sounds of a stallions screams of agony were heard through the night sky. Immediately Applejack and her brother rushed forward to find a stallion Pegasus, his coat brown and his mane gold. He was dressed in armor that told Applejack he was a guard but it confused her. Why would a guard be in the Everfree Forest? The question would hopefully soon be answered.

Applejack examined his wounds and noticed his wing was in a completely incorrect direction, it obviously being broken from the impact of his fall. His body was badly burned as though someone had temporarily lit him on fire, his coat burned away in many places and the tunic beneath his armor nearly gone. Her eyes met with his and his eyes widened as though surprised.

“The fortress! You must send for help, its under attack!” he shouted with haste before he began to cough violently from his injuries. “You! *cough*.... Must hurry!”

Applejack went to say something before she heard two other pairs of hooves approach. “What is going on?” demanded a female voice that Applejack immediately recognized. Out of all the ponies…. she thought with annoyance before she turned her head to see Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle galloping towards them.

“What the… What happened here?” questioned Rainbow Dash as she approached with Twilight Sparkle close behind, the baby dragon Applejack had met still sitting on the violet unicorns back.

“We saw him fall from the sky, he says that he is from the fortress.” Applejack responded as Rainbow Dash approached the injured guard. Rainbow examined him and her eyes widened with surprise.

“Swift, what happened?” Rainbow Dash asked, recognizing him immediately. She looked at him and then in the direction of the Everfree fortress, concern growing on her face.

The stallion, recognizing Rainbow Dash’s voice and turned his head so that he could see her. His eyes began to glimmer with hope before he jumped to his hooves and leaned closer to her, a hoof extended and pointing to her. “Rainbow Dash! You need to go to Ponyville and get the guard, the fortress is under attack!”

Rainbow Dash seemed to recoil at that, surprise showing in her eyes for a moment before she began to think. “Twilight, were you taught teleportation magic?” Rainbow Dash questioned before she turned to face Twilight. Twilight nodded, followed by tilting her head to the side and raising a brow.

“Yes, why?”

“Because I am heading to the fortress. I want you to teleport to the Ponyville guard headquarters and send them to the Everfree Fortress for reinforcements.”

Applejack couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Wait, you’re planning to go to the Everfree Fortress which may be under attack while we speak, alone? Do you know how crazy you are?” Applejack questioned, her question being ignored by the mare.

“Twilight I need you to get the guards and Applejack if you would be so kind, please take Swift here to the hospital.” Rainbow Dash requested before she spread her wings to fly.

“No!” Swift shouted, galloping towards Rainbow Dash in order to tackle her to the ground before she could take off, but he was too late. She flew up into the air at high speeds and in a matter of seconds she disappeared from view. “Come back!” he shouted before he succumbed to a coughing fit once more. “You *cough* gotta get the Ponyville guard to.. *cough cough* the fortress…” He pleaded before he began a coughing fit once more.

Applejack turned her attention to Twilight who now seemed to be thinking of a plan. “Applejack, I need you to take this stallion to the hospital. Rainbow Dash and the other guards may need those reinforcements and without them they could be overpowered. Spike, write a letter to Celestia telling her that the fortress is under attack. The Elements of Harmony cannot fall into somepony else’s hooves.” Twilight ordered before teleporting, leaving Applejack and Big Mac with the injured guard.

“Come on partner, lets get you some help.” Applejack suggested as she began to help him walk back to the road and towards Ponyville.

“They already are dead.” He whispered and Applejack sighed.

“You’re probably right.” She commented reluctantly.

Rainbow Dash’s hooves met with the stone ground of the fortress. It was quiet, the only sound being the leaves of the trees blowing in the wind around the fortress. She looked around to find no sign of combat or struggle, everything appeared normal. Why is there no damage to the walls or gate if this place was attacked? Also, why is no pony around?

Rainbow Dash heard a creak to her left, causing her to jump back and spread her wings, allowing her to fight in a heartbeat if necessary. However the noise had only been the half open door blowing in the wind. Rainbow Dash stared into the darkness, it being unnatural to her. There is no light inside, where are the torches and where are my fellow guards?

She proceeded slowly towards the door, her wings still extended in preparation. She raised her left hoof to pull the rest of the door open and allowing her to stare into the endless void of darkness. What are you doing Dashie… she asked herself mentally.

Proceeding forward into the darkness her heart rate began to increase. The door slammed behind her and she gasped in surprise, turning around immediately. Her breathing was fast and her eyes were taking longer than she wished to adapt to the darkness. A soft humming noise caught her attention before she proceeded towards its source. Turning to her left she came across the sight of a torch lit on the ground with the captain seated in front of it. His face was scarred and he seemed to be oblivious of her presence.

“Captain.” Dash whispered before she silently proceeded towards the captain who was only fifteen hooves away from her current position.

“Private…” Captain Brave Heart greeted in a way that didn’t feel right to Dash. His voice was calm and collected but spoke her rank in a venomous tone.

She stood there awkwardly for a moment before she moved closer so that she was only a hoof away from the captain. “Captain, where is everypony? Why are all the torches out?”

Captain Brave Heart smiled before he began to sing a song. “Click click close your eyes, the changelings are going to find you. Click click hide your kids, the changelings are going to find them. Click click never hide, the changelings will always find you…”

Rainbow Dash stared at her Captain for a long moment in confusion. She had heard the word Changeling before but she did not know what a changeling was or if it was even a thing that existed. “Changeling?” She questioned, causing Captain Brave Heart to immediately lurch forward so his face was close to hers. Rainbow Dash stepped back and for the first time noticed that his eyes were bright green and dimly glowing.

“Yes Dash, a Changeling…” He spoke before he sat back down and chuckled. “They were originally thought to be demons… demons that stole children in the dead of night. They are from the Badlands, a desert that is full of criminals and lacks a government. That song, it comes from the badlands. The Changelings feast on emotions and kill their victims slowly in order to prolong the pain and the emotions.” Captain Brave Heart explained before he raised his sword, it already released and ready for combat. His eyes reverted to their natural color and his face immediately filled with sadness and regret.

“Captain…”

“I am so sorry Rainbow Dash, I am so very sorry…. I suggest you follow my lead.” Brave Heart spoke before in a swift motion he cut his own throat, sending his blood gushing out all over the burning torch, extinguishing its flame and sending the two into darkness.

“Captain!”

Rainbow Dash rushed forward and began trying to save her commander. His blood began to dampen her hair and cover her face and armor. She forced her right foreleg to his throat in an attempt to stop the bleeding till a searing hot pain was felt in her side. She screamed in agony as something proceeded into her body till she tore herself away from the Captain, his sword’s tip now covered in a fresh layer of her blood.

She laid on the floor crying out in pain as her blood soaked her tunic around the wound and began to pool on the floor.

A giggle from the darkness behind her caused her to stop screaming and instead grit her teeth to listen. She very slowly turned her head to see over her shoulder and what she saw caused her heart rate to rise quickly. Piercing through the darkness were two green and blue eyes, their pupils similar to those of a cats and their visibility clearer than day from the way they glowed. What the fuck is that?

The Captain’s last breath ended with a gurgle while the pain in Dash’s side continued. She did not know how bad it was, she did not care though because these eyes were just staring into her own and she did not know what they belonged to.

“So, Rainbow Dash is it?” a female voice spoke in a sly tone. Its voice was unique because it sounded to Dash as though two voices spoke out of sync slightly; like the voice of a demonic entity. “I am so glad you decided to arrive.” It spoke before it made a rapid clicking noise as it approached.

Rainbow Dash jumped to her hooves despite the pain it brought to her side. She was lucky, the wound was in her right side and had hit a rib instead of her internal organs though  it still hurt more than anything else in Dash’s life. “Who are you?” Rainbow Dash demanded before jumping into the air and beginning to move her wings to hover in place. Her left armorclad forehoof collided with her right, releasing her sword from its locked position against her leg, allowing it to snap into place like a pocket knife.

The creature that owned the eyes chuckled darkly once more. “I the puppeteer, you the puppet.”

“Stay back!” Rainbow Dash warned, extending her right forehoof in the direction of the eyes in an attempt to intimidate the creature with her blade. It stopped for a moment before a cold feeling surrounded Rainbow Dash as its magical hold prevented her from moving. In a flash of motion Rainbow Dash was brought directly to its eyes so that they were only about a hoof and a half away from her own.

Rainbow Dash’s breathing increased as fear began to take hold of her. She couldn’t move to defend herself, she was at the complete mercy of whatever it was. “Now, Rainbow Dash I am going to ask you a few questions. You will answer these questions or I will make you answer them, understood?” the creature spoke, followed by Rainbow’s eyes filling with resistance. She spat at the creature and upon hearing it hit its face Rainbow Dash smiled.

“Fuck you.”

The creature did not seem phased by such a response and instead giggled. “Have it your way.” It spoke before Rainbow Dash felt the magical hold focus on her left wing. Slowly she began to feel the magic spread her wing out till the joints and bones stopped; however the hold kept bending. The Pegasus began to panic and attempted to escape but it was too late.

*Snap!*

Rainbow Dash screamed in anguish the moment she felt the bone snap in her wing. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she cried before she screamed once more as the creature bent her wing the other way, grinding the broken bones together so that Dash could hear and feel them at the same time. She breathed quickly in an effort to dull the pain slightly but it was futile, the pain just kept getting worse and worse.

The creature chuckled darkly which send a chill down Rainbow Dash’s back. “Question one, does anyone know you are here?”

Rainbow Dash hesitated, not wanting this creature to have an advantage over those who would hopefully arrive shortly. Do I tell it or…

Rainbow Dash’s thought was interrupted by her being thrown across the room. She screamed in terror, her broken wing preventing her from saving herself which gave her a feeling of helplessness that she had never felt before. She was falling and she could do nothing to stop it. She crashed into what she recognized as one of the tables which collapsed beneath her. She slid across the top and hit her head, her helmet preventing any injury but falling off in the process. She arose to her hooves only to feel the magical hold grip her hindlegs. She reached out in a desperate attempt to wrap her hooves around something, anything to prevent herself from being pulled away. Her adjusted eyes could make out a table leg which she wrapped her forelegs around.

She was quickly pulled away from the table, ripping the leg she had grabbed from it as she was thrown through the darkness. Rainbow Dash screamed in terror as she flew helplessly through the air once more. Her screams were cut short from her collision with the wall. Her darkened world spun upon hitting her head before she fell to the ground, hitting the solid floor with a loud clank of metal from her armor.

She looked up to find the eyes of whatever the creature was looking down at her from above. Whatever it was, Rainbow Dash could now see the general shape of it. It stood just as tall if not a little taller than Princess Celestia. Its body was thin, very thin and its horn was gnarled. It chuckled once more, causing Rainbow Dash to cover the rest of her body with her right wing in an effort to protect herself in case the creature threw something at her or decided to attack. “Question one, does anyone know you are here?”

Rainbow Dash, now fearing for her life answered quickly this time. “Yes!” she responded, fearful that if she even hesitated a fraction of a second that it would anger the creature.

“Question two, where are the Elements of Harmony?”

Rainbow Dash froze, she knew that this question would arise, why else would this creature be here?

“I repeat, where are the Elements of Harmony?” It repeated, its voice now filled with minor annoyance.

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and shook her head slowly, knowing that this was most likely where the creature would kill her. “I-I won’t tell you… Just kill me you monster!”

The creature kept its gaze before it began to laugh, not a short chuckle like the others had been but a laugh of genuine dark humor. “Oh no, I don’t have any intentions to kill you quite yet. You still have to tell me the location of the Elements of Harmony. If you won’t then I will simply have to dissect your mind till I find them.” The creature stated before its eyes illuminated brighter and its horn glowed a bright green. Rainbow Dash’s muscles tightened as she expected herself to be thrown once more but instead she was met with the sound of the door being busted down. She opened her eyes a moment later to see white balls of light fire into the room, illuminating the entire room and blinding her momentarily. The moment her vision cleared she wished she hadn’t been able to see.

Dead mutilated bodies of her fellow soldiers laid on the ground all across the room. Their eyes were lifeless and full of fear, as if they were frozen in time the moment they had died. Pegasi had their wings torn from their bodies while Unicorns no longer possessed their horns. Many had their throats slit like the Captain, some appearing to be intentional while the majority had been killed against their will, it being clear to Dash from the way their eyes were.

Her eyes turned to the creature that stood before her and she stared in fear at the monster. Like she had described before: Its body was tall, as tall as Princess Celestia herself however she had not been able to make out its holed legs. Its mane was long and holed like its legs had been. Colored dark cerulean and styled straight with a single strand of hair lazily hanging down across the right side of its face, its holed mane and tail simply added to its sinister appearance. It did not have a hide like that of a ponies, no it instead had thick black chitin over every inch of its body like a insect. Its wings were like those of a insects unlike the usual Pegasi.

It smiled at Rainbow Dash, its razor sharp fangs becoming visible before it quickly leaned forward. Rainbow Dash braced herself for pain but instead felt something warm with the consistency of shampoo spray all over her side and over the wound the captain had caused her.

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and looked in disgust at the creatures bright green vomit that was spread over the rest of her right side. “What the fuck…” Rainbow Dash began before the creature grabbed her in its magical field once more and threw her through the air.

She screamed in terror as the world spun before she collided with somepony, knocking them over and sending a fresh wave of pain through her wing and battered body. She gritted her teeth through the pain as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks before somepony turned her over. “Who are you?” A orange stallion with a black mane questioned. He was dressed in armor similar to hers but instead of a gold trim on the tunic it was silver, signifying that he was part of the Ponyville guard. He wore a officers helmet and his eyes were brown.

Rainbow Dash stumbled forward, pressing her front hooves against the officers chest before her eyes met with his.

Lieutenant Stone eyed the injured mare who had her hooves pressed against him with curiosity. She was injured badly with one of her wings broken and from the blood that currently was running down the side of her head he guessed that she had a head injury. “We have to get out of here!” she screamed in a full panic.

Clearly traumatized Lieutenant Stone noted before he pushed her off. “I am sorry, but we do not have time for this. Ms Sparkle, please see too this Pegasus.” Lieutenant Stone ordered before Twilight Sparkle approached, receiving a shocked look from the Pegasus.

“You need to listen to me!” She screamed, tears now running down her face and her eyes full of plead. Just as she finished the rest of the guards entered the room and Lieutenant Stone shook his head.

“We will speak of this after we slay the Changeling.” Stone stated before he proceeded to the front of his guards. He stood now, only twenty hooves across from the Changeling. He examined her and he knew immediately what type it was. “You are under arrest by order of Princess Celestia for the murder of over twenty five soldiers of Equestria. If you do not surrender yourself immediately we will be forced to take lethal action.” Stone announced, drawing his sword with his magic and pointing it towards the Changeling Queen. Why, why would this Changeling Queen be so far into Equestria? It lacks a crown…. meaning its a hiveless queen. But why in Celestia’s name would it come here for the Elements?

The Changeling queen stayed silent for a moment before it began to laugh. It laughed with genuine humor at everything the Lieutenant had said. Before Stone could proceed the orbs of light disappeared and the room immediately became dark once more. “Someone fire a light!” Stone ordered before he looked behind himself. One of his soldiers fired a flash of light, allowing Stone to see his soldiers but he froze for a moment. Standing with his soldiers were ponies made out of the shadows. Their eyes were blood red and their limbs were twisted. Spikes sprouted from their backs and their manes were made out of flames. His soldiers appeared to notice them as well. “Attack!” Stone screamed out, charging forward towards the monsters and stabbing his sword into the chest of one of them.

He then pulled his sword out with his magic and then proceeded towards another. He could barely see anything, the only thing telling what a monster was and what wasn’t being their blood red eyes. Another beast charged towards him, quickly meeting his sword as he sliced its head clean off. Blood covered the floor as more and more bodies began to fall. He slashed right and left, killing more and more of these vile creatures before there was only one remaining. The two of them were alone, none of his soldiers had survived and because of this he was livid. “You!” he shouted, pointing his sword to it before the creature spread its torn wings and showed its shadow blade.

It flew towards him at high speeds, its eyes burning with hatred as it neared him. He jumped to the side, dodging its blade and with a battle cry he stabbed the monster through its temple and out the other side of its skull. He chuckled with satisfaction as he looked at the dead figure still stuck on his blade. A green orb of light appeared above him, allowing him to see his surroundings and he froze.

Stuck on his blade was not a monster, but one of his Pegasi soldiers. “N-no…” he spoke before he looked around to see all of his soldiers dead, all of them having killed each other. He heard a loud buzzing noise behind him which caused him to turn around to find the Changeling queen hovering in the air, a smile on her face and her eyes glowing dimly. “Y-you…. you!” He screamed but before he could react something collided with his horn.

Twilight stared in shock as the Lieutenants horn was sliced off by a stray sword the Changeling had grabbed with her magic. Blood poured down his face as his screams of pure anguish filled the room. Rainbow Dash laid on her side beside Twilight, her eyes averted and her head shaking back and forth. “I-I warned him…” Dash whispered as tears ran down her face. Twilight ignored her, frozen in fear at what she had seen.

The Changeling queen lifted him up into the air, him being unable to save himself since his horn had been removed. She stopped moving him and held him in place the moment they were face to face, a smile on her face while the Lieutenant was panicking.

“No! Put me down! I don’t want to die! I can’t die here!” he screamed in terror before the Changeling queen pulled him closer and wrapped all four of her legs around him, razor sharp hairs used for climbing surfaces stabbing into him to hold him into place. She then leaned her head closer and began to inhale a green almost transparent smoke that seemed to form out of nothingness. After only eight seconds the Lieutenant was released and he fell to the ground, his eyes lifeless and his body still.

The Changeling queen laughed before she turned to Twilight. “As for you my little pony…” The Changeling spoke before its horn glowed. Twilight snapped out of her daze just in time to see the Changeling queen fire a ray of magic. Twilight gasped before in a half second she summoned up a barrier of magic around her and Rainbow Dash. The ray of magic hit the barrier instead of them, protecting them from the dangers that the magic held.

Twilight teleported herself out of the barrier, keeping it up to keep Rainbow Dash safe as she dealt with the Changeling. “You honestly think you can defeat me?” The Changeling laughed while Twilight’s horn lit up.

Twilight did not respond, instead she kept her horn ready in case she had to dodge another ray. She did because just as she readied her horn the Changeling fired yet another ray. Twilight gasped before she teleported across the room, causing the Changeling’s ray to hit the ground where she had once stood. The Changeling, as if knowing where she had teleported to turned quickly, readying another ray of magic as she was turning before firing it towards Twilight again. Twilight immediately retaliated with a ray of her own, causing the two rays of magic to collide. Twilight suddenly felt just how much more powerful the Changeling was as her ray began to falter under the Changeling’s superior power. Twilight dove out of the way in an effort to escape the ray of violent energy, screaming as it burned across her right side and then exploded behind her.

The force of explosion sent her sliding across the blood covered ground, soaking her coat in the fresh blood of the fallen guards. She grit her teeth in an effort to subdue the pain of her burns as she rose to her hooves, tears beginning to appear down her face from the pain. The Changeling laughed in sick pleasure which sent chills up Twilight’s spine. I can’t fight it! What in Celestia’s name should I do?

The Changeling fired another ray of magic, forcing Twilight to teleport out of harms way so that she was now beside Rainbow Dash once more who now was standing on her hooves weakly, her weight shifting from side to side as if dizzy; Twilight suspected that the head wound to Rainbow Dash’s head was the cause. Twilight noticed the Changeling charging up another ray of magic and immediately dived towards her barrier around Dash. The ray of magic missed her thankfully but the explosion did not. She screamed as the green flames licked her right side before she collided with Dash through the barrier.

Twilight, realizing she was on top of the Pegasus climbed off of her. “Sorry Rainbow Dash.” She apologized before noticing a green flame appear on the ground beside her. She gasped and turned her gaze to the Changeling outside her barrier who giggled darkly at Twilights fear and upcoming demise.

Suddenly before the Changeling could set the two ponies on fire a gold ray of powerful magic shot through the door to outside and collided with the Changeling. The Changeling screamed as it was blown through the air till it collided with the wall. The flame beside Twilight and Rainbow Dash faded and the door from outside was now in splinters. Hooves could be heard approaching, gathering Twilights attention and she smiled brightly.

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight exclaimed, dispelling her barrier and galloping up to her teacher. Celestia smiled lightly to her student before she examined her surroundings, finding the deceased guards stationed at the fortress as well as guards that wore the Ponyville armor. She closed her eyes and shook her head lightly at their deaths, wishing that she had arrived earlier to save them.

“Get you and the Private behind me Twilight and stay behind me.” Celestia ordered, her student hastily following the order and helping the injured Pegasus behind her teacher. The Changeling now was rising to her hooves, a savage growl originating from its throat. “Twilight, did this Changeling have a crown?”

Celestia did not receive an answer for a moment. “No Princess, it does not have a crown.” Good, that means that I won’t have to deal with any unwelcomed company.

The Changeling began to pace back and forth twenty hooves in front of Celestia, it keeping eye contact with her the entire time. She could not read its eyes but she knew what it was trying to do. Changeling Queen’s naturally had an ability to hypnotize any creature it stared at for merely five seconds but due to Celestia’s power and resistance its ability was useless.

The Changeling paused mid step before it blinked. “Interesting.” It whispered, Celestia being able to hear it due to the silence that was within the room.

“Who sent you here? I know your kind Changeling, you do not fear the Elements of Harmony like others do. You lack a crown and therefore you lack power so who sent you? Who is the mastermind behind all this death?” Celestia questioned firmly, taking two steps forward. The Changeling giggled darkly and brought a hoof to its mouth.

“I am the one in charge Celestia.” The Changeling replied, speaking her name in a tone so venomous it normally would be reserved for a lifelong enemy that one despised. This told Celestia that the Changeling had been influenced by someone, but who?

“What is your name?”

The Changeling smirked with a giggle. “I am Chrysalis.”

“That is not Changeling, who gave you this name?” Celestia questioned before the Changeling hissed and fired a ray of green magic. With a simple thought Celestia fired a ray of magic of her own, it immediately overpowering the Changeling’s and caused both rays of magic to hit the Changeling’s horn. The Changeling screamed as it fell back from the force, its body stiff for a full second.

Faster than anypony could see Celestia galloped forward. She stomped her hoof down on the Changeling’s chest and charged a ray of magic up that could incinerate this insect. The Changeling froze for a moment, fear showing in its facial features. “Tell me, who sent you or I will incinerate you!” demanded Celestia in her Canterlot voice. The Changeling looked from Celestia’s face to her horn before it giggled.

Its body began to fade into nothing more than a shadow on the ground. Celestia froze, recognizing this magic as the Changeling, now simply a shadow on the floor travelled across the room. There is absolutely no way… Its not possible.

Celestia noticed the Changeling stop at Twilight and the Private before it materialized once more. The Changeling hissed with fury as its horn glowed, stating its intent on killing Twilight. “No!” Celestia shouted before she fired a powerful blast of magic, managing to hit the Changeling before it could strike Twilight down. The Changeling screamed as the ray hit it, causing it to fall to the side from the force.

The moment before the Changeling hit the floor however it ignited and incinerated in a blink. To many they would have assumed that the Changeling had died but Celestia knew that it was simply a trick. The Changeling that she had just shot had not been real, the real one most likely had escaped already.

Twilight galloped up to Princess Celestia with a face irradiating excitement. “Princess Celestia you killed it!” She exclaimed but Celestia shook her head.

“No Twilight, it deceived me and escaped by making me think it was attempting to kill you. I should not have acted so hastily or I would have seen its deception.” Celestia then turned to Twilight, a question on mind.  “Twilight, did it ever find the Elements?”

Twilight shook her head, bringing relief to her which she expressed with a sigh. “Good.”

Celestia then approached the Pegasus who gave a bow but grimaced at the pain it brought. “What is your name?” Celestia questioned, examining her injured wing to know if it was serious or not.

“Rainbow Dash your majesty.”

“Twilight, get Rainbow Dash to the hospital immediately. I will be collecting the Elements of Harmony. You yourself should get help as well, those burns may get infected.” Celestia ordered, receiving a nod from her student before they teleported away, leaving Celestia to go collect the Elements and then get some soldiers here to collect the deceased.

“So let me get this straight. You spent two hours there, when it only should have taken twenty minutes. The reason why it took so long was due to you torturing your victims instead of simply killing them. Am I correct so far?” Nightmare Moon questioned, receiving a small nod from her Changeling daughter. “Then reinforcements arrived, you handled them quickly but then you wasted your time playing patty cake with a Unicorn till my sister arrived. She then proceeded to defeat you in how long was it?” She asked, knowing the answer but wanting her daughter to say it for her.

Chrysalis hesitated, causing Nightmare Moon to grow impatient though before she could speak Chrysalis did so. “A-about four minutes….”

“Four minutes…” Began Nightmare Moon, allowing it to brew in the atmosphere for a few moments. She examined her surroundings and purposely kept her gaze away from Chrysalis. They were in a old Changeling hive, one that had been burned out a few centuries ago by a settlement close by. She had found it shortly after finding Chrysalis and it had made a perfect home. She enjoyed the throne that was left over though she had modified it slightly to make it less… Changeling. She looked to her right to find Umbra looking straight at Chrysalis. She was unsure if Umbra was smiling or angry, it was hard to tell even for her when the whole cheek on the left side of Umbra’s face was missing.

Feeling that the silence had gone on long enough she proceeded. “Did you use your dark arts?” Chrysalis once more hesitated, annoying Nightmare. “Chrysalis, I asked you a question.” Nightmare Moon pressed, leaning forward slightly.

Chrysalis growled.

The atmosphere immediately changed. All seven of the Nightguards seemed to tense up, their yellow eyes immediately turning to Nightmare Moon. Chrysalis however had a look of absolute dread, knowing that she had made a mistake.

“What did you just do?” Nightmare Moon asked with a voice colder than ice.

“I-I…” was the only thing Chrysalis could say before Nightmare Moon, faster than Chrysalis could react raced forward and collided with Chrysalis. Chrysalis fell to the ground and immediately felt a hoof slam down on her throat. She looked up to her mothers eyes which now were glowing a bright white and full of anger.

“You little foal! I have given you everything throughout your life. All the love you could ask for and all the food you wished and this is how you thank me?” Nightmare Moon questioned sinisterly. Chrysalis tried to plead as tears began to roll down her face but she couldn’t, she was now suffocating from her mothers hoof on her throat. Nightmare Moon stepped off of Chrysalis after a few more moments, allowing her to gasp for air.

“You have been spoiled, something I should have noticed years ago. You have never had to search for your own food, you have never had to survive on your own. That needs to change my dear daughter. From this day forth you are exiled!”

“Exiled!?” Chrysalis screamed in shock and horror, immediately rising to her hooves in protest.

“Yes and if you come back before you prove to me that you have learned what it means to survive I’ll kill you.”

She began to cry. “But you can’t exile me! I’m your daughter!”

“Oh? I just did, take what you can and then get out of my sight!” Nightmare Moon growled before Chrysalis’ face changed to one of hatred.

“If I die?” Chrysalis asked, spitting the question out. Nightmare Moon chose to ignore it and chuckled lightly.

“Then you’re pathetic, If you want to earn a spot by my side Chrysalis and earn my respect you’ll have to survive. Otherwise you’re simply dust beneath my hoof.”

Chrysalis stayed silent before she turned around and began to leave, Nightmare Moon watching her go till she disappeared from sight around a corner that led up to the surface.

“My Princess.” Umbra said, her being the only one allowed to do so without being spoken to first due to her rank.

“Yes?”

“Do you believe Chrysalis will survive alone?”

Nightmare Moon thought for a moment as she began to walk away, Umbra following beside her. “I do not know in all honesty; nor do I honestly care. If she survives she will have my respect, if she dies then she was worthless.”

Umbra stayed silent for a moment as she thought. “My Princess what of Celestia? Surely Chrysalis used her Dark Arts. According to my knowledge only you and King Sombra knew Dark Arts.”

Nightmare Moon clenched her jaw for a moment with anger. Chrysalis you foolish foal. “Umbra I have a task for you.”

“Yes my Princess?”

“You are going to Equestria.” Nightmare Moon explained, receiving a dark smile from the one half of Umbra’s face that could smile.

“I will pack my things.” Umbra spoke before bowing and leaving Nightmare Moon’s side.