Love Isn't Fair

Chapters

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Part Nine
Part Ten
Part Eleven
Part Twelve
Part Thirteen
Part Fourteen
Part Fifteen
Part Sixteen
Part Seventeen
Part Five

Part One

Queen Chrysalis awoke in the forest, hungry and cold, just as she’d been for weeks. The smells of justly blooming flowers and the sounds of calm, though prosperous, birds chirping entered her ear, and brought the mare to lift her dizzy head. The children; her children, nearly each and every one of them had withered away and passed on to the next life. She and a few other barely lucky survivors were all that was left of the once full and populous changeling race.

Thanks to food depravity along with the burden of heavy sorrows, her very voice had broken, and she’d become unable to speak, not that there were any words that could properly explain her utter despair and grief. With every tiny movement came a crackled grunt from her dry lips, telling Chrysalis her time was all too close.

This is what happens when the beings known as changelings become so famished the way she and her kin did. It’d come to the point that her stomach could no longer growl. She couldn’t even hear it beg for food anymore. Her vision blurred with every watery blink, and she’d been running. For the longest time, the queen of the changelings and her remaining children had been running away from pursuers who wished to capture her and deliver the mare right to Princess Celestia herself. Chrysalis understood the alicorn of the sun wished nothing more than to dispose of her once and for all.

She never meant for things to turn out like this, to be despised and loathed by all. She could try all she wanted, plead her heart out for any type of forgiveness and attempt to explain that her doings were for nothing but the pointless hopes of keeping her loved ones safe and alive. However, to her, it would do no such good.

Queen Chrysalis was convinced she’d have no chance at redemption, no matter how hard she’d try, and is that such a crime? To hope for a mere chance at gaining friendship after trying to ensure protection of her children? The changelings were merely acting out as nature made them. True, to a degree, their actions were unjust, even criminal. Though when love is their only food supply, and without it, death would be the only outcome, they had little choice but to make a desperate attempt despite that becoming their ultimate downfall. Who could love something like a changeling freely, without fear, and without it needing to morph its body to steal the energy away? Very few.

If Chrysalis had the strength, she would’ve cried over her already fallen children that’d recently passed away, but there would never be enough tears for each of their deaths. So many had already been lost to fate’s cruel grip. Instead, she had no other option but to reflected upon her own looming day, a small comfort contained within that dark and fast approaching day being that hopefully, she’d be reunited with her dearly departed children.

They didn’t deserve to die like that, not to her, to slowly starve to death as their hunken corpses fell to the rough dirt one by one, right before her very eyes? She hadn’t a way to avoid witnessing such tragedies. All she could do was watch as nearly every one of them fell, all the while unable to do a thing about it. To her, there would never be a torture as horrible as that.

Her limbs felt like pure dead weight, too heavy to move as they held her firmly to the ground. She felt far too damaged to move, but she and her children needed a place to stay, somewhere safe to hide from the approaching storm. Thunder could be heard far off in the distance, but without a doubt in the queen’s head, it would reach them in no time at all. Her eyesight grew fuzzier, each blink weaker as her eyes threatened to remain closed, maybe even forever. Coughing with little strength left and still unable to form a simple word, she glanced around and sighed deeply at the three remaining changeling children that slept with skinny frames and shivering holed hooves. They had finally become scrawny enough that one could see their very rib cages quite clearly.

Sniffling and shaking her head, she painfully lifted her weakened body and just barely found the will to chant for them to get up as well. Each groaned in agony with every small step trotted, until finally, they all heard the sky roar as if in an uncontrollable rage. Chrysalis hurried her kin along side the bushes, feeling drops of liquid drip onto her mane and sensitive wings. She looked around hastily and quickened her pace along with the others. Soon, a moment of relief was gifted to her and the young ones she cared so much for.

They’d found shelter in a damp and foul smelling cave, almost too cramped for all four of them to fit in. She allowed her young ones to rest once more and observed them begin to form teary eyes. She gasped at the loud thunder outside and held her ringing ears thanks to the repeated thumps created by the downpour hitting the cave roof up above. Finding the ability to speak, she pleaded them, “Stay here, and I’ll be back with food... Perhaps I’ll find it from some forest animal, maybe... Either way, I won’t allow you, none of you to die... Not another.”

Their only feeble response was weak moans and desperate pleas for food and assistance. They had needs that she feared could not, nor would ever be satisfied again. Outside, gusts of powerful winds made from the dangerous storm blew her mane wildly and caused Chrysalis to sway in a crooked pattern. Her grunts of weakness became thoroughly muffled by the loud cracks of lightning and harsh slaps of water that intensely blocked her line of vision. She took one step at a time, blindly leading herself further into the fog of the Everfree Forest and without warning, Queen Chrysalis banged her head clear on a rock, not even noticing it was right in her path.

She immediately collapsed to the ground with all of her damp surroundings furiously spinning. Just before losing complete consciousness, a thought loomed through her mind. The image of her children, cold and alone, dying and whining for her help flashed before her pained eyes while she laid on the gravel, unable to lift her body, nor do anything to stop the world around her from whirling in ridiculous circles.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Two

One thing Chrysalis will never forget is the day she was nearly captured by the royal guards of Canterlot palace. She’d justly landed in the outskirts of Equestria that aligned the Everfree, adjusted herself to find extreme loss of energy, and heard a few of her children not too far off hurting and in desperate need of her care. She also detected the distinct voices of ponies charging in moments later.

She had some of her children with her, but many were never found. She instructed the ones she had to hide wherever they could to avoid being captured. As for herself, she made a run for it. In an attempt to grant the others more chance of escaping pursuers, she gave them almost all the remaining energy of love she could without causing too much pain upon herself, and left. There was never a moment where she caught herself able to relax after that. The soldiers chased her to the ends of the Everfree Forest and back, never allowing her majesty to savor a second’s rest.

The soldiers themselves were in a sour mood as well. Chasing after a suddenly infamous criminal like Chrysalis wasn’t easy. It didn’t help that she managed to avoid their patrols and scouts at every turn of a tree, or at the passing of each small pond, but what they did manage to find plenty of were other changelings, hungry and weak. Most of which teetered on the edge of death. Though no physical food seemed to have much of an effect on them, and the soldiers knew good and well what they fed on, they couldn’t find it within themselves to show any mercy for the scrawny and malnourished beings.

It seemed at every hour of the day, they called out for their lost queen, begging to be with their mother yet again. Many of the soldiers had hoped to use one of the captured changeling prisoners as a tracker to find their queen, but they flat out refused to help on every attempt, some being beaten to death by the careless guards. It seemed to the pursuers, Queen Chrysalis’s children put their loyalty above all else. Even their own lives.

Her majesty watched them from the shadows bludgeon the innocent creatures to death, all the while, her wanting to charge in and slaughter the royals the same way they did with her children, but there was nothing for it. She would’ve been captured, and all hope would’ve been lost then and there. So she resumed running, until finally, there were only thirteen of the changelings left including her. The twelve children met with their queen out of luck, some finding fortune to be found by the group, but as stated before, all except three died. Chrysalis did her best to care for them, struggled through hardships and put up with the dreadful knowledge that soon, her race would fall completely.

Meanwhile, in Canterlot, the guards returned to Celestia, reporting no captive prisoners. They cooperated and decided to tell her the truth of what happened. They informed her of their plot to use and abuse the children in the tryings of finding and apprehending Queen Chrysalis, only to fail. She didn’t like that one bit. All of the guards that day were resigned for search crimes, and were tried before finally being placed under forced retirement. Princess Celestia did want the queen captured, but she never gave the order to harm others, especially young and harmless children.

They really were harmless, too. Princess Celestia had known of the changelings and understood that in order for them to change their appearance, they needed love, but what’s more important is it needed to be freely provided. The children didn’t need to die such disgruntling deaths that day, but there was nothing she could’ve done at that point. What had been carried out was unchangeable, but she ensured every other guard in the castle of the fact that the only time changelings are of any danger is when they’re given enough energy to morph.

Unfortunately, since then, nopony ever found another kin of the queen again. That was because only the small group Chrysalis collected remained alive. Thirteen changelings still wandered the forest, and in only a few months, many would die from lack of food, the harsh weather, and from the torturous knowledge that in time, all of their kind would meet death in the very face. A hurtful fact like that was plenty enough to bring some of them to the ground and give up altogether.

It was this utter hopelessness that drained their energy, infecting them like a cancer. In the days right after the invasion, dozens died, followed by hundreds, and then thousands. Their loss was a gash so deep in their forces that an overwhelming hunger befell them that could never be sated. The hunger that settled in was thanks to love depravity, for when the blast hit, all the power they’d charged up was taken back, and left every member starved. While Chrysalis had enough strength to move on, the rest of her family did not. In time, she gave up on digging graves for the ones she looked after. Instead, to keep moving and waste no more time, she cried for those who could no longer carry on.

One thing she could never forget sounded near her position, where she’d slammed her head against the rock, and fell unconscious. The sounds of guards tromping through the woods in search for somepony. More than likely, they were the daily search squad looking for her. They always tried to use the same calming words on her, but she never believed them. This time, though, it was different. They used no such comfort claims and showed ruthless behavior towards Queen Chrysalis without warning.

“Is she close by?” one asked, his voice hushed.

“I think so...”

“Could that scent be...? I recognize it. It’s that putrid stench,” one of them yelled, eagerness sounding in his gruff voice. “She must be close!”

Queen Chrysalis rose to her hooves, thought hard about where the voices could be coming from, and guessed they were to the left. She swaggered to the right and was instantly detected by a mare commander dressed in gold and blue armor.

“Stop right there!” the mare shouted, her horn glowing a brilliant yellow as she prepped for her magic attack. “Turn yourself in this instant!”

Just before Chrysalis could reply, the mare fired at her, a bright flash of orange followed by a blazing inferno of fireballs exploded against the trees directly beside the changeling queen’s shocked face. She felt its intense heat as part of her mane got scolded, most of the greenery and bark having been disintegrated or turned to ash from the powerful blast. If that wasn’t a death-threat, Chrysalis didn’t know what was. Without any time to think, the mare took off, pacing herself every trot of the way. Where she planned to run to, she didn’t know. How she was going to escape was beyond her, but if anything, she wasn’t going to give up. Not without some kind of struggle.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Three

The sounds of clapping hooves followed her every turn. It seemed as though no route would lead her to sanctuary. Not now. It was do or die, escape or be captured, and there wasn’t a doubt within Chrysalis’s mind that if she was caught, all hope would definitely have been lost. For a split second, she thought about making a run for the cave where her children were. More than likely, they were probably losing even more vital life energy with every passing minute. She shook her head, dodged a tree and ran in the opposite direction.

The last she wanted for them was not only herself becoming a prisoner, but them as well. They were the last remaining members of the changeling bloodline, a dying race, and it was up to Chrysalis alone to keep them out of danger. Needless to say, bringing the guards to them was not the correct solution. Especially from what she had already seen. The way they abused her kind before was possibly the worst instance she’d experienced thus far.

The jungle’s green qualities began to twist as she entered parts that were most unfamiliar. She’d been to the silhouette sections before, but this was new. Different flora and wildlife took place of what was once a sunny and brightly lit ground. The scenery changed to dismal, grey and frightening fog that surrounded every bush and berry sprout rooting up from the dampened gravel. She ran along the plants, splashing purple liquid out of the plump fruits and rounded vigorously through the marsh.

Mud was kicked up and stuck to her hooves. Then, more water was slashed and splattered as hordes of guards hot on her trail ran right along where she’d passed. It seemed hopeless now, to keep going, but one thought remained. That was the memory of her children. They had to live, and they were counting on her. Failure wasn’t an option. However, it would unfortunately be the outcome.

She looked back quickly to see the many ponies dressed in armor and donning hateful eyes gaining on her, rage infuriated and desperate for nothing but her untimely demise. In that instant, she made her mind up and decided to try something she knew would fail, but so would simply running. At least this had a higher chance of succeeding. She spread her wings in a futile attempt to easily fly away, and felt an arrow pierce right through her backside, just near the rib cage.

Things seemed that they still wanted her alive at the very least, for another fireball spell would’ve conveniently killed her in the state she was in, but she figured there would be far worse reaching consequences than death. That was seen as a luxury to her by then. To live on and experience nothing but more despair and pain was her worst outcome.

Thinking about it, nothing came close than being the prisoner of the royal guards, and in that moment of falling through the air, she saw the light. All her most recent dreams regarding the pleasant hope of restarting and maybe keeping the changeling race alive and well diminished with that single arrow reaching so deep into her already wounded and weak body. She slammed to the murky ground while wailing in unfathomable pain, and watched the guards circle around her. Their devilish smiles instantly let her know they intended nothing but the utmost cruelty for her.

She hid her face, wet with tears cascading from her eyes, and asked, “W-what do you plan to do with me...?”

The unicorn that had fired the first fatal shot approached, her magic wielding the bow used to injure the mare. She looked around at her fellow loyalists and asked, “I’m not sure. We all know a good beating is in order, but I think the civilians still want their rightful revenge on her for nearly taking the city, along with heartlessly harming our own.”

Their smiles only grew more wicked, many eager to follow up on what the unicorn said and then some. All Princess Celestia had ordered them to do was bring the queen back to the palace alive. She never mentioned in what condition.

The chuckles and menacing snickers of the others weren’t at all reassuring to Chrysalis. Most had a hungry look in their eyes. Menacing, insidious glances upon her quivering form. It was then that she felt the first strike against the upper part of her skull. She cried out in pain, or at least tried to. The next hit was to her lower jaw, the force of the impact causing her to bite off part of the edge of her tongue. As her mouth filled with blood, another blow was directed to her back, this followed by more flurries of hitting hooves that left her spine an aching mess.

The brutal beating went on for far too long, each guard eager to vent their frustrations brought upon by not catching her in the beginning. As sweat and blood from open cuts seeped out slowly and slid down her forehead, one of the guards raised his hoof and knocked her unconscious with a well placed strike at the temple.

The last thing she saw before fainting with blackness overtaking her sights was pairs of blue and azure aura wrapping around her frame and lifting her up to carry her back to Canterlot; back to where it all began.

Regret was one feeling she hardly ever felt, but she had long since became familiar with the sense of sheer fear. Only now did she truly wish to turn back time and stop herself from ever even attempting such criminal acts, but more than that, she was sorry for her children who would be waiting for her return, only for her to never show.

Through the trip back and away from the forest, her majesty awoke many times only to nod off shortly after, her body swaying while suspended by the powerful grip of the commander, and her second in command.

Eventually, she caught a brief glance at the sky and saw nothing but darkened clouds. Soon, it began to rain, waking her momentarily, but not entirely. The amounts of lost power and energy was too much for her, and proved too great a challenge to fully awaken. So she remained in custody, every once in a while feeling the light touch of rainwater upon her black and blood stained coat.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Four

As chillingly cold water was dumped onto the mare, she shook awake, her body in a mass of bruises and bleeding points. Tears still fell fast from the ridiculously bothersome pain, and from unrelenting concern for her loved ones. Her bones felt shattered and her muscles pushed past the point of further use.

Questions surfaced quickly at that moment of being drenched. What do these ponies plan to do with her? And, of course, would she ever see her last three changeling children again? Suddenly, it felt like she’d been away from them for longer than what it’d really been. She could still recall their cries of hunger as their bodies began feeding on their very muscles despite how puny they’d already became. The last question on Queen Chrysalis’s mind, however, was spoken.

“W-where... am I?” she muttered, her words slurred. Her mouth felt like it was full of cotton, the metallic tang of blood tasted on her tongue. Her jaw felt too sore to move, and her teeth felt loosened, as if someone had hit her face repeatedly with a hammer. Though a hoof was a more likely source.

Her eyes were sore from all the sobbing she’d done on the way there, and sleepiness still remained, so it wasn’t very easy to simply adjust to the sunlight even though it was still incredibly cloudy above head. Soon, she recovered her senses and looked up after rubbing her eyelids for a few seconds only to find herself completely surrounded by the unicorns of Canterlot.

The nobles, the regular citizens, all of them had gathered, casting away social class and responsibilities just to observe her pathetic state. They circled all around her, their eyes hidden by shadows, and mouths keeping an unhappy expression. The air had an unsettling form of smoke looming around it, the kind that becomes red with color and brings all sorts of horrific thoughts to one’s mind. Chrysalis glanced up to the sky and watched drops of rain fall from the swirling clouds up above, shining with startling flashes of lightning that sounded every few minutes.

The clouds, too, were red. It was as though a pool of blood had been evaporated rather than crystal clear water. To Chrysalis, the sky itself was bleeding out, much like her numerous scrapes and cuts. Everything remained amazingly silent, as though the pony civilians waited for her majesty to speak before doing anything else, so with nothing to do, she spoke. It took a moment or two just for her to gather the thoughts she developed and formulate them into words, but when she did, she became almost sure her words would save her.

“I... I’m s-sorry.” Some ponies perked their heads up, giving her their attention while others kept the same intimidating stance. “We never meant to cause you such grief... I never intended this to happen. When we, the changelings, came here to Canterlot, it was a lawless act, and I understand that now... but back then, we just wanted food. What am I supposed to say?”

They all remained quiet, still tentatively listening to her speech. She looked around and resumed, “I care for each of my children with the same level of affection as a mother in this crowd does for her own fillies and colts. When you’re a mother, though, whose children feeds only on love, and you can’t give any of your own to them as a meal, it becomes tougher. It was a mistake to try and steal it. I know that now, but at that time, it was all we could think of.”

Low thunder broke her off for a minute, but it settles quickly. Queen Chrysalis rubbed the red fluid trailing a line down her chin away, and said, “Now look at us. There’s only four left! There’s me, and then my three remaining children who’re, by the way, dying with every hour wasted. I went out in one last attempt to maybe find some scraps of morsels in the Everfree Forest, and they’re expecting me to come back with love wherever I might’ve found it. Now... I fear the worst has passed.”

She attempted to restrain another tear from leaving her bruised eye, but it was a useless act. The thought of her children out there, cold, alone, and on the verge of death was too much to take. Just to make matters worse was the fact she wouldn’t even be with them when they died. What type of queen and mother was she? With tears running down her face, she looked down and asked the seemingly interested crowd, “Please... Have mercy on us.”

Through the masses, one feminine and recognizable voice told each to move out of her path. She crept through and into the clearing to see the broken mare lying on her aching stomach, and waited a bit before speaking.

“So, you think it best if we let you get away with this? You came to our home, took many of us captive, harmed the princess, almost caused a destabilization on our way of life, and you want to simply say sorry and leave?” She chuckled at the thought and continued, “I apologize, your majesty, but it doesn’t work like that with us.”

The queen quivered with fright and pleaded the commander, “Please, we’re no longer a th-”

A clear slap across the cheek was more than enough to shut her up. The commander rubbed her stinging hoof and looked around at the now smirking faces of the crowd. “And are we going to let this thing wiggle its way into our hearts, induce sympathy for her and make it believable that she’s innocent?”

All at once, the towns ponies chanted together, “NO!”

The commander resumed, “Then brothers and sisters, I implore each and every one of you, ignite your horns and allow her to feel the wrath of us all!”

They did as instructed. A spectrum ray illuminated the spot where the demonstration was being taken place, and up above in the high tower, Princess Celestia caught wind of the incident. Then, all magic failed.

Many ponies backed away from Queen Chrysalis and the commander whose back was facing the gliding alicorn. However, as she landed a few steps away from the two, the commander halted and turned around. Immediately bowing before her ruler, she began explaining, “Your highness, we’ve captured the changeling queen, as instructed. She’s weak and defenseless, perfect for execution whenever you give the word.”

The crowd was dismissed by Princess Celestia, and the commander was kindly relieved. “Why don’t you help yourself to some grade A cider within the palace. Your services are no longer needed.”

The tortured queen laid her head on the ground in relief. In that moment before the princess arrived, she thought her end was just upon her. Little did she know, it was just beginning.

The alicorn trotted up to her, lifted her chin with a hoof and instructed Queen Chrysalis, “Follow me. If you make a run for it, you die. Once we’re inside, I have several interrogations set in mind for you. I suggest you cooperate to the best of your abilities, lest you wish further harm upon yourself.”

It came as a surprise the princess intended more torture as compared to leisurely letting her go, but Queen Chrysalis understood then and there that the commander was right. These ponies weren’t going to let her live peacefully, not after what she and her young ones had done. Not by a long shot.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Six

Queen Chrysalis was quickly strapped and restrained in a position that wouldn’t let her lay down. Metal clamps securely fastened to her hind hooves spread them apart, making it impossible for her to lower her frame. The scar in which the arrow from before was removed faced the commander. She had just finished locking a pair of metal clamps attached to the floor along her front hooves, the cold metal sending shivers down the changeling’s spine.

To complete the bondage was a metal ring fitted around her neck with a chain going up to the ceiling, forcing her to stand upright or else she’d choke herself. As the commander stepped back to gaze at her work, she huffed with satisfaction.

“Look at you, Chrysalis...” She shook her head and chuckled at the sight. “Once a proud and sinful leader of a great race... Now you’ve been reduced to this.” The commander’s smug smile never left her face, a predatory glint in her eyes, the very same that stared at her in triumph at the moment Chrysalis was captured. The queen continued to stick with her vigil of silence, her head hung low so the mare couldn’t see the tear streaks on her cheeks.

“Still not talking?” the commander laughed, circling around her captive like a lion with its prey. “Well, the silent treatment won’t give you much mercy down here. Just makes my job a little interesting.”

Her magic glow snatched the chain attached to the cuff around the changeling’s neck and dragging it towards the mare so Chrysalis was forced to look her in the eyes as the cuff tightened against her throat. “You see, I like finding out how far I can push a pony until they start begging for mercy,” the commander whispered, pulling the chain closer so that Chrysalis’s face was only a few inches from hers. “I wonder how long you’ll last?”

Chrysalis didn’t answer, just staring blankly ahead as if the commander wasn’t even there. Huffing in annoyance, the commander shoved her face away in disgust. “Listen, I’ll make this easy for you. Tell us where the rest of your kind are, and we don’t need to continue this.” Out of the sheath on her side appeared a wickedly sharp dagger held by her aura. “But hold your tongue refusing to talk, and... Well, my only order was to keep you alive.” The blade caressed her neck slowly, not drawing a drop of blood as it pricked under her chin, forcing Chrysalis to lift her head resiliently. “That leaves me a lot of middle ground.”

The changeling queen just furrowed her brow, not daring to draw a breath or even gulp in fear of her throat being sliced. She didn’t trust this mare to keep her alive. After a few seconds of silence, the commander growled, drew the dagger back and focused more on her side. More specifically, the scar from that arrow wound. Grinning deviously, the mare moved the dagger’s tip to the still fresh scar.

“Our doctors managed to heal you up pretty good. Shame that their work will go to waste.” Without a moment’s hesitation, she drove the dagger point forward, the very summit digging into the flesh like butter. Chrysalis flinched and gritted her teeth hard, a groan rising in her throat she forced herself to hold back. The mare noticed her pained expression, pushing the blade in more to her reopened wound.

“Hurts a lot, doesn’t it?” the commander asked, twisting the knife handle in a quick motion. This time, Chrysalis’s eyes opened wide. Her tears gathering once again, burning her vision. Drool hung down her mouth as her body begged to just break forth and scream in agony, but she didn’t want her captor to get the satisfaction. She refused to let her win so easily.

“This can all end, if you just tell us where the brats are,” the commander said, twisting the dagger in deeper with slow speed, making each living second never ending torment. Building pain poured from her quickly bleeding wound, almost making Chrysalis woozy. “Not that it matter much, anyways. They’re probably dead by now. Just like the rest of your pathetic kind.”

Chrysalis drew in breaths through her nose, not trusting to open her mouth in case a scream broke forth. She glared at the commander with pure hatred for her and the rest of Canterlot's ponies that tortured her kind to the near extinction it had reached. The mare noticed her enraged look, glad to see she was finally getting some type of reaction from her majesty.

“They’re probably lost and abandoned in some dark cave, all alone without their precious queen,” the commander chuckled, twisting the dagger once more so that another tiny inch of the blade became embedded in Chrysalis. “Seconds tick by as their stomachs slowly eat themselves, their muscles too weak to move, their bodies rotting from the inside out. Can you imagine it? One of the slowest, most painful ways to die, really. Isn’t that how most of your race died, actually? Starvation is a hard way to go. Especially if you have to see the process repeated thousands upon thousands of times.”

The drips of blood and tears on the stone floor was the only sound heard, Chrysalis’s vision waning as the blood loss started to affect her mind. Her body slowly swayed in rhythm with the chains that rattling together. Seeing that her prisoner was not eliciting her wanted response, the commander's horn glowed brightly, nearly blinding the changeling. This was followed by a sharp, intense pain that exploded from her wound and traveled quickly down her back to crash into her brain like a tsunami, drowning all her thoughts except for the overwhelming anguish she was going through. The dagger currently digging into her side was buzzing as sparks flew from the handle, the commander apparently having started a lightning spell to shock Chrysalis back to attention.

“Awake now? Good, we’re not done yet,” the commander beamed in a gleeful tone as she started the spell up again, shocking Chrysalis as the sickly smell of burnt flesh filled the chamber. Chrysalis’s legs quivered and shook in their chains as her spine arched backwards. Her neck immediately raised back up as the lightning entered her system and caused her muscles to spasm. Just when she couldn’t take any more of the pain, the door opened, and the commander looked up to see somepony wearing what looked like a bird’s mask with a very long beak.

“Commander Static! How will you get her to talk if she’s dead?” The bird masked stallion contained a deep and muffled voice, a black and leather coat with blotches of blood stains, and a medical seal on the back of his attires where his cutie mark was, probably meaning it was just that. “It’s my turn with her, now if you don’t mind, I’d like to relieve her of this room and take her to the cell We've prepared for her.”

Commander Static grunted rudely and trotted away from Queen Chrysalis. She sat at the table across the room, looked at some documents and ordered, “Have her back within five hours. Do what you must to have her somewhat healed, and bring her back in perfect interrogating condition.”

The masked steed bowed, unhooked the restrained and instructed Chrysalis to follow him. As they trotted down further steps, Queen Chrysalis limping all the way, she found the strength to thank him for rescuing her at the last minute. He, however, didn’t feel up to returning kind words.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Seven

The doctor and Chrysalis were escorted just outside the cell that was suited for the mare by two hefty guards, one having a rather noticeable scar running down his grey, chiseled face. The other looked younger and less battle beaten, but well trained for this sort of task.

They stood watch at the exit and snarled at Chrysalis while she entered. Seems that the military was still having sore feelings about her. Upon her wounds being slightly treated, cotton balls began to litter the stony floor, the medical physician keeping up with his work.

Bumps, bruises and the gash at her right side made by both the arrow and dagger were cleaned well, the whole while, him saying nothing. Once his work was nearly complete, he finally stated, “You’re a very lucky mare, you know? Very lucky indeed.”

Chrysalis looked at him in with disbelief showing through her eyes. “How so?”

“Well,” he began while scrounging through his medical sack, “for starters, Commander Static could’ve simply melted your head down to a puddle, squeezed the information out of you while killing all the cells inside of your brain because of the process. She’s done it before, and it’s not the most pleasurable experience, I promise you this. Plus, a real hassle to clean up afterward.”

He pulled out a syringe, tapped the needle lightly and looked over at her widening eyes. Chrysalis blinked and asked, “What do you plan to do with that?”

“Make you numb...” He squirted some bright green liquid out and let it land on the floor. It glowed through the darkness with smoke rising from its edges. “It’s not toxic, I assure you. The chemical is a powerful anesthetic made from extracts of certain types of mushrooms found in the Everfree Swamps. It’s quite harmless to us ponies, but for you...”

He observed the transparency and smiled, making Chrysalis even more uncomfortable. “Please,” she begged, “I’d rather not be your test subject.”

The doctor sighed and claimed, “You don’t very well have much of a free choice in this matter, dear. Now, hold still. This should only sting for a second or two.”

As he neared her, Chrysalis backed away into the guards. They reacted with powerful grips, held her down forcibly to the floor and assisted the doctor with his experiment. Like a lab rat, the queen was injected with an unknown substance against her will. Once the fluids were launched into her bloodstream, the stinging of pain washed away quickly, and for the most part, it didn’t seem to have an instant side effect. However, what if it did? That was the question that made Chrysalis have a cold sweat in terror.

She was released, sinking calmly to the ground as she asked the doctor, “What if this stuff kills me?”

The stallion looked back, her question catching his attention and pondered the outcomes. “I hadn’t quite thought of that possibility...”

Queen Chrysalis sheepishly lifted her body back up and explained to him, “If I die now, my blood will be on your hooves.” She coughed from lack of water and voiced, “I need a drink... Please, my throat is so dry, I can barely speak.”

The scarred guard laughed. “Good, maybe you’ll lose your voice. Then you can’t annoy us with your frivolous needs!” He looked over at his friend and said, ”Go get her what she wants.”

As for the doctor, he held his chin in thought, then asked, “And some bats, if you don’t mind...”

Chrysalis glanced from the guards to the doctor, and with a curious, though weak voice, questioned, “Why bats?”

“You’ll find out...”

Soon after the one guard left, Chrysalis was shown into her cell, the iron barred gate closed and was locked up tight. She looked around her room and took in what little surroundings could be found. A hard floor for resting on, no window, bad smelling and a leaking roof with a rhythmic drip every three seconds.

Just to make matters worse, the guard returned with the bats, Celestia only knowing where he got them. They were given to the doctor which he went ahead and let them loose inside Chrysalis’s cell.

They flew in circles for a moment, frightening the queen and bringing her to gasp a bit before they finally rested above her, screeching and wrapping their wings around their hairy bodies. “What is the meaning of this?” Chrysalis asked, thoroughly startled by their sudden presence.

The doctor took it upon himself to explain his odd actions. “Bats love the darkness, correct? They like the sight of it, and your coat, plus you mossy mane makes you blend in with the shadows of your cell. Changelings feed off of love, and it’s been plenty of time for you to be on the verge of death. We can’t have you dying, not before your own execution that’s sure to come. Just as soon as you confess to where those last few subjects of yours are, Celestia will be overjoyed to bring you to your end.”

Chrysalis gulped at his cruel words, looked up at her only source of food, and wondered, “How will it be done?”

The doctor adjusted himself where he sat and said without much emotion, “You’ll be hanged. They talked awhile about decapitation, but despite Shining Armor’s argument, Celestia wouldn’t allow it. Too messy for the public to see, she said.”

“Who else was discussing my fate?”

“Oh, just the two alicorn princesses of Equestria and Shining Armor. That is, Princess Celestia, Princess Cadence and her husband.”

“That’s it?” Chrysalis asked. “The way my life ends is in the hooves of only three individuals?”

“Afraid so.” He looked away from what he was doing with the syringe and said, “Be happy for that. If it was up to the whole town, they’d want each of your limbs cut off very slowly. Your blood would be spilled all across the town, coating the streets with your guts.”

This made her majesty shiver and look away, not wanting to talk with him any further. She’d gotten enough answers along with ones she could’ve lived without. Just as the doctor said, small doses of love were beginning to be absorbed by Chrysalis, but it wasn’t enough to completely regenerate her strength.

After a couple of hours passed by, she still felt extraordinarily weak and in dire need. She thought about her loved ones, how they were probably gone by now, and wished to see them once more, at the very least, before they withered away completely.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Eight

Up at the highest tower of Canterlot, where a beautiful sun ignited the sky with orange began to set with prosperity floating all around the clear air, Luna awoke. She looked up from the balcony where she rested and muttered, “I saw her... she was right there... and I was so close.”

For all of the day’s time, she’d been asleep, attempting to reach somepony who she soon became sure was having one of the worst nightmares she could’ve ever thought possible to fabricate within one’s own mind. With hardly any luck, she shook her head, and peered out at the town of Ponyville. “I won’t give up... That mare needs my help. We won’t... ugh, I mean, I won’t let her down.”

Just as her head rested on the floor once more, the glass door behind her opened, and her sister entered. “Luna?” Princess Celestia asked, hoping to get her attention. “Have you been out here all day long?”

“We are sorry, but we... agh, I keep doing that. I’ll never get used to this new day and age’s style of speaking.”

Celestia walked up to her side with a smile, lowering her frame to rest with her fellow princess and said, “It’s okay. You can use the old way of speaking with me... After all, we still miss it sometimes as well.”

Luna smirked her way. “Thanks, but I prefer to get used to the norm of things.”

Celestia tugged Luna with her hoof, and with a calm voice, asked, “So, what are you doing out here? Sleeping?”

Luna looked onward. “Just passed through Ponyville, and there is somepony who’s going though the worst of dreams I’ve ever had the displeasure of looking into.” She looked Celestia in the eyes and continued, “Torture, interrogation, and it’s all been spurred on by her very own guilt.”

Celestia’s jaw hung ajar as she listened, but found the time to ask, “Do you know who it is?”

Luna shook her head. “I do not... She’s different, not like anypony I’ve ever tried to get in contact with through sleep. It’s challenging, but I’ll break through somehow.” For a few more seconds, Celestia and her sister sat with each other looking out at the setting sun. Luna smiled and said, “Quite the sunset you’ve made this day.”

Celestia seemed to miss her sister’s words and instead offered, “Perhaps... When I had your job as dream helper, or whatever you call it, I would often have this sort of trouble as well. In this case, if I couldn’t reach somepony, I’d simply bring them into my own dream.”

Luna blinked, brought her hoof up to her muzzle and said, “That... might work, but I’ve never really tried it.”

As Celestia stood, she reminded her sister, “There’s a lot you haven’t tried yet.”

Once the daytime princess left, Luna yawned and brought up her moon the same way she always did, but this time, she made it a little bit brighter for the being out there having such disturbing nightmares. Once her evening task was done there was her other service that had to be confronted. This time with her hoping what Celestia had offered would work.

Meanwhile, down below in the Canterlot cell, Queen Chrysalis watched idly at the working doctor. He seemed to be preoccupied with the chemical that was shot into her not too long ago. He turned his head so that the right glass eye could be seen, and asked, “Any nauseating sensations?”

“No.”

“Do you feel different at all except for the numbing?”

Chrysalis looked down to say once more, “No.”

He had one final question, but this time, the voice leaving his mouth was not his own. It was the same voice from before, when she was first brought into the interrogation room. The vision she experienced recently held an all too recognizable feel to it, and the emotions she witnessed were suddenly returning. “Does thine eyes hurt?”

She didn’t answer, but instead, looked at him with widening eyes. Her back was chilled from the sudden winds breezing against her wings and mane. As she turned around, hearing nothing but silence and smelling fresh pond water, she watched as the decaying stone bricks of her cell vanished along the middle point, and opened up a whole different setting.

She was now in a midnight field with blue grass, a starry sky, white glowing trees all around her, and crimson red bushes lining in a row to seemingly lead her along the way where she was apparently meant to go. Before walking the path laid out for her, she called out, “Hello? Doctor? Where’d you go?”

Nopony answered. Her voice echoed among the wildlife, eventually waking several fireflies. One lit itself up, and then another. In hardly any time at all, the changeling was surrounded by glowing insects freely giving their love to her. So much of it, in fact, that Chrysalis soon believed she’d be at full strength by the time her travel down the road ended.

She brushed her mane behind her ear, and realized it was no longer scorched. “What the...?” Her tongue slid between her teeth, and she found out not only had her mane returned to normal, but the part of her tongue that was bitten off was back, along with the numbing effects of the injection she had gotten having utterly vanished.

Despite being profoundly confused and curious as to why this was happening, she found herself much more interested with venturing down the road to where this hallucinatory place wanted her to travel.

Along the gravel road, Chrysalis trotted, the fireflies swarming in circles all around her and buzzing with contentment as they did. As for her, she began to contemplate the possibilities of where she was and how she’d gotten there, but the truth never occurred to her. Until she reached the end, Queen Chrysalis simply assumed it was the mysterious drug in her system making her see things within the cell. Regardless, once she approached her destination, all that was soon forgotten.

A murky pond with mystical shimmers created from the abnormally bright moonlight was what she found at the end of her journey. Calm waters without any ripples, so that it almost seemed solid, if it weren’t for one of the bugs flying over and landing itself in it, causing a small but very noticeable ring to form and expand, then bounce off the edges, only to disperse after a moment of Chrysalis watching.

She looked back up and saw somepony on the other end turned with her back facing Chrysalis. She stood perfectly still, almost as if petrified, that is, until the queen called out to her, “You’re the mare from before...” She trotted through the pond, disturbing its peaceful state. “Why do you look so much like Princess Celestia?” The mare didn’t answer. She merely shuffled a hoof on the dirt and resumed ignoring Queen Chrysalis. Thoroughly aggravated by the insulting behavior, Chrysalis demanded, “Tell me who you are!”

The mysterious being quickly turned Chrysalis’s way, and startled her back into the cell. The stone walls of grey and black came soaring through the sky and sealed her within. The bars ascended from the ground, and the water around her hooves evaporated into the sky, for the face she saw belonged to the bird masked stallion who’d been keeping watch of her. He stood beyond the gate, his eyes examining her closely.

“Who were you talking to, my dear?”

Chrysalis huffed, glanced from left to right, unsure as to how she would answer him. “I... think I need to see a psychologist...”

He giggled rudely and stated, “You’ll have no such thing. Now, come with me. Your next interrogations are ready to be carried out.”

The creaky bars keeping her sealed inside opened, and she left, but just as she turned to face the two guards, the doctor gripped her mane. “What is this?” She looked towards him. “Where’d the disintegrated locks go? Your hair was burnt when you came in here, now it’s as if you’ve been to the beauty salon.”

“What?” Chrysalis asked, feeling her mane calmly.

He let go and backed away. “And... your tongue... it’s...”

She stuck it out and looked at it. Where the piece was missing just a little while ago, a new slither was replaced. No scar line, not even a visible cut could be seen by either of them. Chrysalis gulped and said, “I honestly haven’t the slightest clue of what happened.”

The stallion nodded and said, “I think I do...” She watched him search through his bag and pull out a green bottle filled with the chemical. “This has healing properties... but those weren’t very potent when used on the average pony. Obviously, thanks to your physical attributes, you’ve accelerated the perks of it, and healed your tongue. As for your mane... Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll get the facts from you once you're dead and I can investigate your corpse. Hehe.”

Chrysalis scowled at him. “Can we get this over with?”

He looked up at her, tempted to slap that expression clear off her muzzle, but didn’t overreact. He knew Commander Static would take care of it for him, so leading the way, he and Chrysalis trotted back up the stairs, back to where the second round of pain and misery would commence.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Nine

Shadows crept all around them, and the only time light was able to comfort Chrysalis was when the two stepped near the dying candles that hung on the walls, but even then, it still felt dark, which in turn made Chrysalis feel more alone than ever. Sure, the doctor was right in front of her, but he wasn’t on her side, not like she’d hoped somepony would be.

It was clear to her by then, it was just her. Everypony else who resided within the castle proved to be nothing but genocidal maniacs driven by an uncontrollable hatred for the changelings. Where these emotions came from, she couldn’t figure out. They’d tell her it was for the invasion, but was what she did really worthy of such immoral punishments?

Something inside Chrysalis told her there was something more about their unquenchable rage. What she was going to do about it, she didn’t know. All she could do at this point was allow them to have their way and pray they’d show remorse for her eventually, even though that was nothing more than a wish that would never be granted.

The door creaked open, that same noise passing through Chrysalis’s ears as she was lead in and was brought to Commander Static. She sat looking over her papers, behaving as though she hardly noticed the two before her, and said, “You may leave, doctor. Thank you for escorting her.”

Before taking off, the bird masked stallion trotted behind the table towards her, stood a moment seemingly pondering which words he’d like to use, and asked her questions in a very low voice, so quiet that Chrysalis couldn’t even hear him. She just sat there, blinking with curiosity. Then, he moved away briefly, she stared at him, and he nodded.

Commander Static looked down at her work and said, “Very well, if this doesn’t work, then that will be our last resort. Are you sure she’s patched up?”

The doctor assured his colleague, “Just enough to live.” He looked back at the queen and said, “I wish I could say the same for her. That potion I gave her did much more than what it normally does to any normal pony. Her body must’ve accelerated the healing properties, making it heal her tongue, and her mane.”

Commander Static rolled her eyes and countered, “Doesn’t matter. After I’m done with her, those injuries will resemble bumps made from a light fall. Have the other ready in case I decide this session to be a waste of time. If physical pain won’t work...” She looked at the slightly shaking changeling and finished with a dark whisper, “Then we’ll try other methods, and see if that will work instead.”

With a bow, the doctor exited the room, leaving Queen Chrysalis alone with the bloodthirsty mare. Commander Static smiled wickedly at the downtrodden changeling queen, slowly circling around her with a smug expression. “So, here we are again,” Static chuckled, Chrysalis’s eyes keeping to the ground, her trying to avoid eye contact. “What, no witty remarks? I must say, you’re the most boring prisoner I’ve had to work with. And such a shame, too, since interrogating you should be the highlight of my career.”

Suddenly, magical bonds gripped Chrysalis’s legs and stomach, forcing her to the ground. She winced and sucked in her breath, the bonds stinging her where they touched and tugged. The faint laughter from Commander Static and glow from her horn showed that it was obviously her who was doing this.

“I didn’t want to use this yet, but considering how tough you’ve been, I decided it was necessary,” Static began, her eyes shining with malice glee at what was about to take place. “Now you’re going to find out why I’m called Commander Static.”

At first, Chrysalis felt no physical changes to herself, so when the slight shock sound resonated in her ears, her eyes went wide. The static began to build up, her brain feeling as if an electric current was running through it. Her eyeballs seemed to vibrate in their sockets, and her mouth started to get a faint metallic taste to it, but no blood.

Chrysalis couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t even think coherently as the static continued to grow in her mind. It had gathered up enough that the slight grunts she made couldn’t even be heard, though the commander seemed to be enjoying the show.

At this point, the pressure was so great that every twitch of her head or neck sent waves of pure agony resonating in her skull and making her brain go to mush. She felt her teeth chatter, though she wasn’t causing it. Really, she couldn’t control any part of her body. The mind shattering static was just too great, too painful to deal with in her current state. All Chrysalis wanted was for the pressure being placed on her forehead to stop, before her scalp popped like a balloon.

Was the commander seriously trying to kill her? Weren’t her orders clear? If this kept up much longer, Chrysalis wouldn’t be alive to admit where the remaining kids were, but despite her constant sureness of being close to death, Commander Static was able to steady her on the precipice of life, just barely keeping Chrysalis from falling off the edge.

After what felt like hours of torture, as the seconds ticked by, the static finally began to diminish, leaving her mind raw and in considerable amounts of pain. And there was Commander Static, a slight annoyed look on her face as she inspected her captive. “Weird, usually they’ll be screaming and begging for their mothers when I up the anty like that.” Static leaned closer picking Chrysalis’s chin up with a hoof to stare her in the eyes. “Why do you stay quiet?”

Chrysalis didn’t answer, her eyes fluttering from the mental abuse she was just put through. Shrugging, Static hoofed-punched the changeling, Chrysalis’s head smacking painfully with the floor. “Eh, not that it matters anyhow,” Static said, raising a foreleg and driving a hoof hard in Chrysalis’s side. “Eventually you’ll talk. Or die. Either way, I get paid, and I get a little fun out of it as well.”

What followed next was some old fashioned, physical one-on-one beating. A messy approach to get information, but a reliable one at that. Wanting to deal out a good wallop of pain to Chrysalis, Static aimed for the most sensitive regions. First was some bucking to the face, aiming for the snout and cheek and avoiding the skull region, since having her knocked unconscious was missing the point of torture.

When she managed to knock a fang out, Static smiled even wider, but unfortunately the effect of the beating was ruined, since Chrysalis didn’t so much as react in any shape or form except with the occasional wince of pain. Growling, Static redoubled her efforts, punching all along the changeling’s side, hoping for the satisfying crack of a broken rib. Still nothing, and Chrysalis continued to keep silent aside from the occasional groan from her thoroughly bleeding mouth.

“Damnit, what is wrong with you?!” Static yelled in the queen’s black and blue beaten face. Chrysalis just blinked slowly, one of her eyes swelling up from a knock to the face she’d just received. Huffing in annoyance, Static gave up her normal methods and glared at the door of the room.

As she shook her sweating head, the pony shouted, “That’s it, bring in one of her brats! If that doesn’t work, I give up!” Chrysalis quickly lifted her throbbing head to the mare in confusion. “If she doesn’t talk, inform Celestia there was nothing I could do, and that we’ve got two dead changelings on our hooves!”

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Ten

Slowly, a small, weak and scared changeling child stepped through the door, her eyes blindfolded and her horn cut clean off from her scalp. Definite blood stains remained, starting on her forehead, and sliding down her face, passed the eyes and onto her neck. She’d been bruised as well; all over her body, on her hooves and ribcage, puffy red blotches coated her ill treated body, but mostly around her cheeks and muzzle.

She was led in by one of the guards roughly holding her with his magic wrapping around the neck. He snarled, then released her by pushing the mare to the hard ground. Upon her hitting the floor, her mother shed a tear. It serenely slid down and dangled on her chin for a second, then landed on the terrain. Just when she thought there wasn’t any way to release anymore tears, this proved her wrong.

Chrysalis could do nothing but watch as her own child’s blinders were removed once she stood, and to the queen’s shock, she’d been missing her left eye. Chrysalis huffed briefly with her mouth opening and stared at her kin without any idea as to what she could say at this point.

It became suddenly silent in the dreary room. All that she and her kid heard was Commander Static trotting back and forth, inspecting the two changelings as they both gazed at each other. She came close behind the child and ordered the guard, “I have this now. You may leave us.”

He bowed, turned around and left without another word. As for Chrysalis, she felt compelled to approach her little wounded survivor and hug her tightly, maybe more than what would’ve been healthy for her, but she didn’t. Chrysalis remained staring in shock, unable to think very clearly.

The commander latched onto Queen Chrysalis’s young one, withdrew her dagger and brought it up to the changeling’s neck, poking it gently with the very tip. “I’ve had just about enough,” Static said coldly. “You know how long it’s been? A good few weeks since we found this one in the forest... Tell me, your majesty, can she talk?”

Chrysalis remained silent, determined not to speak a word.

“... Very well,” the commander said, her eyes closing slightly. “If you don’t talk, I’ll spill her blood before you.” This got the mother’s attention rather quickly. She looked into the eyes of her torturer, glanced down at the threatened filly and thought about it for a moment, not really able to piece the puzzle together. “Ugh,” Commander Static grunted. “Look, I don’t want to kill her, and you don’t want it to die, right? Are you even thinking about the high possibility that she could be the last of your kind?”

A brisk shiver ran through the mare’s spine, but still, she stayed quiet. It was true that time had passed by so much, her other three sons and daughters might’ve lost the battle my then, and that would mean this could be the very last of all her little ones. To know and understand the possibilities was becoming too great for her to handle.

The dagger seeped its summit into the filly’s coat allowing a line to slide down the sheath of the blade and drip on the floor. “Well?”

Chrysalis blinked, and silently whispered, “Her name is Coad... and she’s only four years old.”

Static kept the dagger where it was, looked down at the trembling filly and asked, “Can’t she speak? She makes verbal sounds during interrogation, but she doesn’t talk at all, or have you actually trained your children to resist our methods?”

Chrysalis shook her head. “It’s like you don’t know anything... She’s not a mute, she’s just too young to speak. She probably has no idea what’s going on.”

The dagger was removed and placed back in its holder. As for Commander Static, she couldn’t decide to believe this or not. “So we’ve been dealing with a literal infant, something that can’t even form a single word...”

Chrysalis looking into Coad’s single eye, gulped, and admitted, “Yes...”

“Well,” the mare said. “... When there’s nothing for it, you haven’t a choice but to turn towards the only possible resolvement. Tell me where the kids are, or this one dies.”

It’s tough, making a choice that only has one logical answer, and no alternative. If Chrysalis chose the three over the one, it’s still very likely the others had died by then, which meant if this one sitting before her died, she’d throw away everything she clenched to for hope. It was heartbreaking for her, to have no way out of deciding the fate of her loved ones like this, but just as Commander Static stated, there was nothing for it. “... They’re in a cave, just passed the pond where you found me...”

Static squinted her eyes and crept closer to Queen Chrysalis, looked into her teary eyes and threatened, “If you’re bluffing, and we find nothing, your child dies.”

With another nod of her head, Chrysalis lowered her sight to stare at the ground. As for Commander Static, she left the room with the child inside, and the queen crying, just as what was expected of her. As Coad slowly limped to her mother, Chrysalis wiped away some of her tears, held onto the only remaining bloodline child she’d seen in a very long time, and weeped along with the abused pony.

Meanwhile, Commander Static assembled her forces outside the front gate. Their target was simple, and each knew to kill the second they found what they were looking for. No mercy was to be shown. Nopony in the group cared if what they were doing was wrong. Nothing but eagerness for revenge could be sensed by them. No hope could be given to the children in the cave by their mother, either.

Eventually, the doctor would come to escort Chrysalis back to her cell, and to do the same with Coad. However, the very little time Queen Chrysalis got with her surviving kin was enough for her to find some sort of peace. To know at least one would live was enough to sate the worrying within her aching heart, if only for a brief time.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Eleven

Time seemed like an endless thing to Chrysalis. Waiting for the soldiers and royal guards to return and knowing her kid, maybe the last of her kind was just down the hall, and fearing the inevitable was close only made her feel that much colder. Shivers were understatements by then. Her body shook before the cage she was placed in, and the doctor did nothing but tie together what might soon be the circular beast that she’d be killed by.

A monster of its own form, round and coiling in all different directions; not roaring, but definitely keeping her in the frightened mood of things. The sound of dragons flying over her would appear like nothing compared to the instance she’d be in only a few hours from then, when her fate would hang in the balance of one pony.

Princess Celestia, the mare that rose and set both the sun and the moon each day and every night could have her way. To the queen, she knew good and well this judgement could be dismissed by her highness, but it wouldn’t. Princess Celestia wanted nothing more but the utter annihilation of all the changelings. Everypony across Equestria knew this, and welcomed her way of tyrannical thinking.

Her influence on her subjects showed corruption, and nopony chose to fight that. Nopony objected to the ideals she had finally placed within the land; her black and saturated land.

Chrysalis couldn’t take her eyes off the rope being held by the medical physician, nor could she deny the will to beg him for help. However, every word was ignored. Every plea for mercy, just as it had been since she was caught was cast aside for Celestia’s say so in the matter.

Just as she gave up, the doctor finished his work, held the tightly coiled thing up and dangled it before Chrysalis just to taunt her. His snickers, followed my a quick cough was indeed heard, unlike the kindness that didn’t exist.

“You know,” he began after clearing his throat. “I’ve heard from you... About how you’re sorry and wish to be let free. Honestly, if I could, I would show you the level of caring I find within my chest, but I can’t, for it’s completely flooded with eagerness... Eagerness to see you hung before the very crowd you nearly destroyed.” He placed the rope down, took a smell of the air and finished, “It’s wonderful to see Celestia acting so, very reasonable and in the favor of the public.”

Chrysalis scolded him with her anger revealing deep within her eyes, but he didn’t care. All he could do was adjust his mask, and turn the other cheek, content with her demise approaching fast.

“I will be killed, but what of my girl?”

He turned his head a bit, not directly at her, but focused on the words alone. He took his sweet time thinking and figuring out how one could answer such a sudden question. “... I am to remain silent of such things.”

Chrysalis jotted her frame up to grant him one of the most threatening glares she’d given since the invasion. He just stared, but she could see behind the mask that he was amazingly scared stiff. “What will become of her?”

Suddenly, a voice from behind the doctor cut his mumbles off. “Watch your tongue, your majesty...”

Princess Celestia herself had just arrived and stood next to the stallion, half angry looking and half benevolent as always. Even when she intended harm on such a now feeble and harmless race like the changelings, she still found the strength to keep a firm grasp of her enchanting appearance.

Queen Chrysalis gulped while still trying to keep her angered face the way it was. “And what do you want? Why am I gifted with your presence?”

The gate magically opened, and Chrysalis was allowed freedom to walk out, but refused thanks to fear of what might happen if and when she did. A couple of moments passed by, Celestia standing almost perfectly still were it not for her flowing mane and tail. “Come now, I promise not to harm you for now.”

Chrysalis slowly walked out, her head held low and her limp keeping a rhythm with every trot. She asked, “What do you want with me? I’ve told you where the others are, isn’t that enough?”

Unfortunately, her highness wouldn’t speak another word. Not until they walked down the hall and passed the final row of cells where they found a brick wall splattered in dried blood. Chrysalis dared not to pass by the mare she followed, but didn’t need to. The cell blocker behind them shut tight, and the two then became alone.

“My steeds and scouts have returned...”

Chrysalis blinked and said, “Then the deed... is done.”

At that moment, Celestia said something Chrysalis hadn’t anticipated. A shocking revelation that would leave her without the faintest understanding of what’s going on. “They found nothing...”

Chrysalis looked up and stared into the eyes of the princess. “W-what?”

“... They returned without the faintest clue where the others could be.” Celestia stayed standing, but Chrysalis lost her will and sat down with a thoroughly bewildered face. “They found the cave you talked about, but it was empty... Now, I give you one last chance. Tell me where they really are, and nothing bad will befall you or your kin. Not even the others that we find, you have my word.”

Chrysalis couldn’t figure out how to say it. She searched desperately for the path to tell the princess she hadn’t any idea where the other changelings could possibly be. All that left her lips was, “I don’t understand...”

Celestia shook her head and tried to reiterate, “It’s your final opportunity to allow your subjects the chance at completely escaping death, and you can’t tell me where they are?”

Chrysalis grew cold from the tired and weak feeling that’d been coursing through her frame for all this time. Squinting her eyes and standing, but keeping her head low enough to hide her displeased expression, she yelled, “I don’t know anything!”

Celestia kept her posture a humble, unshaken stance, and sighed. “I wish you’d simply tell us the truth.”

“I have been...” The queen raised her head and locked her vision with Celestia. As she stared deeply into the eyes of what she considered a tyrant, Chrysalis paused. Only for a minute, she show Celestia her honesty, but even then, her highness wasn’t buying it. “Listen,” Chrysalis said calmly. “I’ve told you the most recent location of where I left them. I wish they were there, so this can end, but I just don’t know...”

Celestia placed her hoof on Chrysalis’s lips to silence her. “It will be alright...”

For a moment, the mare couldn’t move. Those comforting words, the only ones she’d heard since being with Shining Armor paralyzed her. As the hoof was lowered and settled on the floor, Celestia turned around and instructed Chrysalis to follow.

Once more, they went through the hall, back to the cell, and Chrysalis was locked up. Nothing had changed. Celestia neither assured nor denied Chrysalis the safety of Coad, her daughter. Even as Celestia began to leave, Chrysalis asked, “What will happen to her?”

All she received in the form of a reply was Celestia halting her trot, standing in thought, and then walking off. Up the stairs, Chrysalis observed the ruler’s hooves disappear, and yet again, she was left in the room with the doctor who resumed his work on the rope. However, in the darker imaginings of the changeling’s mind, she knew Coad wasn’t getting out of this alive. Not by a long shot.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Twelve

Evening, once the sun began to set, and the land’s far off mountains were slowly set to glow, while preparations for the gallow stand had finally been completed. Everything was ready for the execution. Some even gathered around early in the town square for the promising show.

All the ponies were silently spreading rumors on whether their guardian ruler would hold true to her ways, some speaking about the filly they’d heard of being let go, and many denying those accusations while defending Celestia all the way, claiming she’d killed it herself.

Nopony knew for certain if Coad was finished off, and nopony ever would. Not until Chrysalis had left this world through death. This was either because Celestia didn’t want her to be happy even for a second while the moment of truth was upon the princess’s subjects, or for her to be placed in the position of being the messenger. The last thing anypony in the crowd wanted was to see her smiling for any reason.

Even if Celestia didn’t kill Coad, it wouldn’t make much difference other than to taunt Chrysalis. Celestia still wished dearly to maintain some of her dignity as a royal alicorn, even though this act of genocide left her with hardly any. To her, it was best if Chrysalis didn’t know what fate befell her last child.

Inside the cell she occupied, tears streamed down her face and passed over her closed cuts while stinging the fresh bruises made by the commander. The doctor had left a few hours prior, as ordered to help in the building process. Along with the rope, he took his medical bag and went on his way, not even glancing towards Chrysalis or saying a word to her.

Sniffling slightly at her memory, the queen scoffed at her treatment. Inside, she was shivering. She missed the sunlight, and wanted nothing but freedom. To smell the sweet air again, and be done with the worrisome complications that had rose rather quickly in the recent years of her life would be heaven to her.

Just as she was starting to remember her days before the invasion, a long, loud creak from up the stairs rang through the hall. Princess Celestia emerged from the shadows with a pair of intimidatingly large guards. In their mouths they held her shackles, but as her majesty’s cage was opened, Chrysalis struggled with them, trying desperately to escape from her fate.

One swift blow to her gut was all it took, forcing Chrysalis to her knees, admitting defeat. A rusty collar soon strangled her. The binds that held her hooves close prevented her trot to be without pain. Just as an extra measure, a muzzle was tightly fastened around her mouth, keeping her from breathing easily.

Celestia looked over the mare once more, this time with her being completely drained of any decent features. The wounds that plagued her body, head, hooves and very soul brought about a satire ugliness, both physically and mentally.

By that time, Chrysalis could no longer controlled her hatred she’d developed for the ponies with ease. Rescue would not need to come in the form of her being taken from this place, but instead, of every last being in Canterlot passing away by whatever means might be dished out.

She kept her cool, though; knowing full well they’d only be provoked by any sort of attitude, Chrysalis remained emotionless, all except for her eyes squinting, just barely. She was led out and into the red atmosphere, where the hordes of ponies cheered.

The setting that followed the gates she was guided from was best described as the gallow stand and a fine line blocking everypony from passing, guards lining along all sides of the walls keeping all the chanters at bay. What was usually stores and petty shops were quickly becoming posts for stallions, just in case something unexpected happened.

Torches on all corners of the stand lit the dim streets and faces of the celebrating crowd, and just beyond the circle of rope hanging from the top, Chrysalis could see the setting sun, which had soft pink rays of light that still waved to the land. Night was closer than anything. Even closer then Chrysalis thought.

Celestia reached the stage, pulled Chrysalis along by her chain and adjusted the changeling to keep behind the rope. However, before wrapping it around the mare’s neck, the princess made one last offer. “Tell me where they are, and all this will be avoided. You need not die like this...”

If she could, her majesty would reveal where they were, but because even the faintest clue of where they were located didn’t exist, she merely stood there, staring deeply into the alicorn’s eyes apologetically.

Celestia nodded solemnly, looked out at her subjects, and waited. As they all fell silent for their ruler, Celestia gulped, turned back towards Chrysalis and placed the rope around her neck while magically removing the collar. The hanging thread was soon constricted, and just like that, Chrysalis was placed over the trap door.

Celestia backed away from the front stage, but found it hard to hold back her own tears. “This day,” she started strong. “We send the guilty away. Permanent as it may be, it will let all know not to threaten our kingdom ever again... You have requested this to be done, and as much as you probably know, I disagree with whatever good may come of it. Still, the many that voted on public death has outweighed the few who disliked the notion.”

Clopping of hooves filled the air as she resumed. “It’s time... Chrysalis?” The queen raised her head to peer over. “You are charged with heartlessly assaulting Equestria and her citizens. In your defense, the ponies hereby find nothing to support your freedom. Discussions turned into full debates between myself and Cadence, along with the others you see before you. Believe it or not, I must disappointedly sentence you the rightful punishment... of death.”

The doctor trotted forward from behind a group of guardians, walked up and onto the stand, reached forward and grasped the lever. He waited along with all the other eager subjects of Canterlot to be given the signal, and end one’s life.

Just in the distance, her majesty spotted the final streak of light disappear behind the mountains. To cope with the noose tightening around her neck, she closed her eyes, lowered her head, and huffed what she was sure to be her final breath.

… And yet, nothing happened. Instead of the sudden sensation of weightlessness overcoming her frame, Chrysalis heard a gasp leave the doctor’s lips. “Wh-what in the world’s going on?!”

She opened her eyes and looked to the left. He stood transfixed, his line of sight locked dead with the sky over the range. As Chrysalis whipped her head in that direction, her jaw dropped at the sight.

Beginning from the very bottom stars, boundary points of azure lines touched each brightly lit point, beginning from the bottom of the jagged edges and reaching all the way, only to stop at the next star and circle around.

It slowly but definitely started to paint the picture of wings, sharp and highly notable. Everypony turned to see the marvel, though as beautiful it might’ve been, it remained just as frightening. Eventually, the first parts were formed clearly. Then, the ambient channel raced nearly to the middle, but stopped well before the center.

As it curved up, Celestia herself had to ask, “What’s going on?”

Rather quickly, the stars that were beginning to resemble dots lined each other up in the symbolic formation of an alicorn. In the heart of the phenomenon, one final, brilliantly blinding star shined the most. Unlike the others, though, that one moved statically. It came closer and closer to the land, until finally, it stopped gleaming so ferociously.

Chrysalis couldn’t contain herself once she realized just who this being was. Touching down right in front of her, an unannounced alicorn princess with a stellar mane stood before the baffled city as though nothing had happened. It was the very same princess she’d seen in the swamp vision just recently.

Celestia approached with an offended expression to question the interruptor. “What’s the meaning of this?!”

Chrysalis gazed at the blue being as she greeted Celestia with a quaint bow. “My name is Luna, but I am not here to speak with you...” She returned to Chrysalis, cleared her throat, and asked, “Are we welcomed?”

For the longest time, Chrysalis couldn’t say a word. Whoever this princess was, she didn’t appear to be acquainted with Celestia. Even though she looked like her, Luna had an odd glow about her, almost as if she didn’t belong in the world.

The queen said nothing. Petrification overtook her will to speak, but even then, she needn’t explain anything. Luna knew well enough what was occurring, even though she didn’t say so at first.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Thirteen

The wind howled as seconds ticked by, all the while, Luna staring at Chrysalis with a stern face. “Are we welcomed?” she asked again, as if Chrysalis owned the very streets.

“Uh,” her majesty began. “I don’t... Wouldn’t it be more of her choice?” She glanced at Celestia, worrying if she said the wrong thing, Celestia might order her guards to end the intrusion.

As Princess Celestia approached, she shifted Luna back by lightly pushing the mare with a hoof. “This is a violation against public execution, not to mention being an alicorn all together gives me every right to bring you in for questioning!”

Luna sighed, but said nothing. Chrysalis, on the other hoof, had one question looming within her confused mind. “Why... do you look so familiar?”

Luna looked over the changeling and mumbled, “So I have been breaking through, just not enough...”

Immediately, Celestia became outraged. “Enough!” she yelled. “I will not have you behaving like this. Guards, defend the point while I get Cadence.”

Luna merely rolled her eyes as ten stallions approached, all wielding sharp spears. Just as one charged in for a tackle, he slipped right through her unmoved body as though she were nothing more than an apparition of some sort.

Just as he did, everypony else, even Chrysalis, gasped while developing faces of both shock and bewilderment. The stallion that attacked shifted up to look at the mare while she glanced around at the others. “Anypony else wish for their faces to be planted dead on the wooden floor before them?”

Celestia passed through the circle and reached her hoof out. As she felt the tufts of fur along Luna’s chest, she kept a watchful eye on her, waiting to see if something would happen. Almost as soon as she opened her mouth to speak, Celestia’s grip became nothing more than a sinking feeling. She jotted back with a yipe to see the being before her purely translucent, invisible even.

“H-how is this possible?” Celestia asked.

Luna kept her frown worn, peered away from her highness and approached the changeling. As she did, her horn grew a dim glow, and one by one, all the mares, colts, fillies and even Princess Celestia vaporized into sand and dust. The winds quickly carried their ashy remains away, and in the distance, their tiny specks spread all across the sky, crafting the stars above.

Chrysalis, the abused, frightened queen of a dying race was the only one left within Luna’s presence. “What’s going on?” her majesty asked, desperate for any sort of answer.

Before revealing what was on her mind, Luna asked the mare, “Is this really how you see my sister?” Chrysalis opened her mouth, but no words would leave. “A tyrant devoid of mercy or leniency?”

Chrysalis gasped as she backed away slowly, but was choked by the rope that bound her. Luna made short work of that, though. Her hoof lead itself to her shoulder and halted her movements. As the princess's magic loosened the loop, she slipped it off with her own mouth only to guide Chrysalis away from it. The queen cautiously looked back at what was just thoroughly wrapped around her neck, glanced down, but soon had her head brought back up by the mare’s hoof so she could look into Luna’s eyes.

“I don’t understand,” Chrysalis said, her tears slowly running down her cheeks. “I thought I was done for... Who are you?”

Luna sat with the mare, now in utter darkness. The world around them had dissipated, and was replaced by a dreary void. Chrysalis didn’t very much care about that, though. What she wished for at that point, more than anything, was the reasoning behind the madness.

Princess Luna blinked a few times, looked down, and finally confessed, “You’re in a dream.”

Chrysalis couldn’t help but allow her eyes to widen as the truth settled itself into her thoughts, but even that was hard to accept. “Wh-what...?”

“It’s hard to cope with, I know.” Luna looked out into the blackness of space to witness the world form before the two. They were high above Equestria, gazing out at the ever expanding land. The sun peaked over the edge to begin a new day, and at that moment, Chrysalis had no choice but to accept the fact that her reality was a figment of her own imagination all along.

“But what are you doing here?” Chrysalis turned to her guest to listen attentively, almost a bit eager to learn how this lewd fallacy started.

“We sensed the–” Luna giggled slightly and apologized, “Sorry, I’m still getting used to the way ponies talk. I’ll explain that later. For now, you see, I sensed the world being built, for it is one of the jobs I am committed to as the princess of the night. My sister, Celestia, she lifts and lowers the sun while I shine the stars awake and bring about the moon. Along with that, I’ve been gifted with the ability of dream surfing, in a way.”

Chrysalis nodded. “We’ve never met... and that’s why you weren’t in the dream...”

“That is correct,” Luna assured. “And, for a long time, I’d been feeling you nod off, only to create fantasies of madness and horrors I wish to erase from my own mind. Such guilt is within your being, you’ve been dreaming nothing but punishments you alone see fit to be distributed to yourself. Why?”

Chrysalis remembered some of those earlier dreams from before she was captured in the one she and Luna were still in, and shook her discomforted head. “I haven’t a clue, your highness... Perhaps it was because what I did to the ponies of Canterlot...”

Luna finished, “Was so cruel of yourself, that you couldn’t cope with the hurt taking up all that space inside your heart?”

The changeling solemnly nodded, but kept her head held low. “I deserve what I dream...”

Luna quivered at this, and couldn’t help herself but to grasp Chrysalis tightly, almost enough to force a small but pleased squeal out. Once let go, Chrysalis returned her gaze to Luna’s, but kept a worried expression. “Stop that,” Luna said, her voice shaken. “You’ve been through enough, and don’t deserve such treatment.”

Chrysalis broke her line of sight while appearing angered. “And what of Celestia? What would she say to that?”

“If anything,” Luna countered. “I’ll make sure she understands your innocence. I’m her sister, after all.” The princess brought Luna’s stare back to her own. “I’m her sister. She’ll have no choice but to accept you. By coming with me to Canterlot, you’ll atone for your crimes by requesting forgiveness from Celestia. If she refuses...” She smiled, finally. “Well, I can assure you, that won’t happen.”

Chrysalis was still hesitant, and Luna saw this. But, as the royal alicorn came close, gliding her hooves towards the changeling’s horn and moving the scraggly strands of her mane out of the way, she gently pecked Chrysalis on the forehead in a peaceful fashion. The cuts and bruises withered, healing completely as they did.

Once Luna’s lips left, all she needed to do then was inform Chrysalis, “I’ll be sleeping by your side, and when you awaken, we’ll need to talk more. For now, try to realize your innocence, and drift away from this nightmare with me. I’ll be your guide for tonight.”

In only a matter of seconds, Chrysalis fell through with Luna, headed from the ground below with her new friend. Everything became dark again, and just as quickly as it started, the dream she’d been in for so long ended abruptly.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Fourteen

The sound of chirping birds and a waterfall in the distance was the first noises to enter the changeling’s mind. The second sense was sight. As Queen Chrysalis slowly but carefully lifted her weak frame–not to stand, but to just barely look up–she saw the boulder she’d struck her head painfully upon during the rainstorm. Shortly afterward, the dream commenced. It was no wonder at that point why her forehead felt like a spike was being hammered into it.

Once her senses stabilized, and she was able to smell and feel everything else around her, Chrysalis soon felt somepony tugging tightly to her side. It was a familiar being who’d saved her only minutes ago.

Princess Luna, the blue coated and sparkling maned mare she’d been seeing within peculiar visions and sidetracked experiences within her dreamscape laid right there, slumbering peacefully while tightly hugging the queen’s side.

“Princess?” Chrysalis asked in an attempt to stir her highness out of her slumber.

As her eyes opened ever so slightly, they gazed up at Chrysalis, and her body lifted to align with the mare she’d been with. For a moment, they both sat there, staring at one another. No smiling, but not frowning either. Just dull, transfixed glances towards one another, almost as if everything in the world meant nothing.

However, that would quickly come to an end, for the sudden memory of the queen’s loved ones soon shot through her mind, and just like that, Chrysalis was off, galloping for the cave, all the while chanting silently to herself, “Please be alright!”

Luna followed suit. Through the thick bushes and branches, passing along tall trees and trampling through fresh mud, the two ponies ran in search for their destination. It’d been so long since Chrysalis was at the cave, so without any actual clue as to whether her children were still alive, she assumed the worst. With the dreadful fear seeping into her now conscious mind, the changeling forced herself to strain herself harder than ever before.

She magically shifted hanging moss out of her way and leaped repeatedly over stumps and small ponds, all the while frantically whipping her head left and right, seeking out the only thing she truly needed to find. It was every bit recognizable thanks to the daylight, but even then, she couldn’t seem to find it right away.

“Oh, come on,” she whispered. “I couldn’t have gone that far away from it!”

Eventually, Luna caught up. As she ran next to Chrysalis, she reminded the mare, “If you lose me, there will be hardly any love for them! I’m the only one who could be used as a source for feeding right now!”

“Right,” Chrysalis nodded. “They only need a little, and then they’ll be able to live for at least a week, but we shall talk about that later. For now–” She skidded to a halt. The second she did, her majesty turned to the right, gave a tiny huff of relief, and resumed running, if only a bit slower. “Princess Luna! Over here!”

As Luna followed closely behind, she saw passed the leader’s mossy mane. Only a yard or two away was the cave entrance. If anything, the dark, gloomy silhouette brimming the edges was amazingly inviting to her. Nothing would please Luna more at that point but to see Chrysalis happily grasping her children in warm, loving embrace. The reality of the situation, however, was much more unfair.

At the entrance, Chrysalis stood perfectly still, Luna creeping up closely to her side. Within the darkness, one jagged shape could be seen to the left of the empty room. A boulder with what looked like beings on it was all that could be made out as the cave’s current residency.

Chrysalis was motionless, her mouth open, eyes looking around. Eventually, she trotted forward, hesitantly, as though not doing anything would be best. She flinched for a second when a drop of water fell from the roof, but panted, and return her focus to the children.

“... H-hello? Are you three… sleeping?”

No sound. No movement. By the time Chrysalis reached them to awaken one with a hoof, she already knew the truth. Chrysalis shook once… then turned the child over to lay him on his back. The grim, cold, blank face stared back at her, and Luna gasped.

The queen checked each one, paranoid they’d all gone. It wasn’t sinking in just then that this was the inevitable. They were already weak and broken before she’d left, and being inside that hellish nightmare for so long guaranteed their survival a meaningless token of hope.

She stood back up, her body shaking, and stormed out. Luna wasn’t able to break the stare she had on the queen’s deceased subjects. Their lifeless corpses, one limply leaning down and dropping to the rocky terrain, caused a new kind of misery she’d never felt before. She could only imagine how hurt Chrysalis truly was.

Several moments went by before Luna could leave, and during that morbidly rough event, she couldn’t help but wish this was all a dream. Into the daylight, she saw her new friend sitting in the distance, staring out at the murky swamp water, her tears creating rippling rings that bounced on the edges.

The princess cautiously approached, and sat side by side with Chrysalis, completely silent. She couldn’t find the right words anymore, for all her reassurance in the dream had lead them to even more heartache.

“Thank you…” Chrysalis said, but still looked into her reflection. “You’re the first to have ever showed me such kindness, but… you can go now.”

Luna huffed, a little insulted. “Why would I do that?”

The queen glanced over, but soon enough returned to the waters. “I have nothing left. You see, it’s my children that helps me just as much as I help them. I’m a bug, though. I provide love for them, and in return, they alter that love into a seed; a seed… that I give birth to. The love they give back is the future of the changeling race, and without children, I cannot reproduce.”

Luna’s mouth fell open, once more. “Y-you mean…”

Chrysalis nodded with a tear cascading along her nose. “I’m the only one left.”

Luna squinted her eyes, fighting back her own salty tears, but it was no use. She sighed, then fussed, “But this doesn’t make any sense!”

“What do you mean?” Chrysalis lifted her head to give Luna her attention. “Everything I have in this world is dead. How does that not make sense?”

For a moment, Luna had to think with Chrysalis looking at her, an annoyed expression showing. She thought, and thought until she had to look away, and finally asked, “There was another changeling in the dream, right?”

Chrysalis blinked, but remembered quickly. “Coad? She was there, yes… But, she’s been dead for far too long. What does she have to do with this?”

“Did you dream about anything else while you were there? Because more than once, I got pushed into somepony else’s dream. A changeling’s dream.” Luna placed her hoof on the queen’s shoulder. “I met her! She couldn’t speak, but I could hear her thoughts the same way I heard yours. She said her name… was coad.”

Chrysalis looked away, mumbled a bit, but confessed, “There was one instance when… I found myself in this enchanted garden… At least, I think it was a garden.” She looked up, her face becoming more animated, and asked, “Could that have been…”

“It was!” Luna stood immediately and grabbed Chrysalis up as well. “Don’t you see? Changelings are so much more different than ponies. I must’ve accidentally switched you into your daughter’s dream, and when I did, she became trapped in yours! Because you two hold a special, family bond, you were able to keep her within your nightmare!”

Chrysalis wiped her tears away, Luna doing the same, and asked, “Then, s-she’s still alive?”

Luna nodded frantically. “Yes! I have absolutely no doubt-”

Chrysalis stopped her with a hoof. With it resting on Luna’s lips, the queen revealed something that could change the situation altogether. “She was supposed to be executed.”

The stunned look Luna gave was anything but pleasing for her majesty. The hoof was lowered for her to ask, “You don’t know if she was actually killed? Because if she was…”

Chrysalis tilted her head. “What if she was?”

Luna turned around, unable to face her friend while saying this. “One of the reasons I came to you was because I feared you’d die in there… And, here’s the thing…” Chrysalis heard Luna gulp. “I-if you die in the dream, you could die in real life…”

Chrysalis stepped back. “What? H-how is that even possible?!”

Luna returned, facing forward and locking eyesight with the changeling. “It can trigger a heart attack! Especially when you can’t wake yourself up. The thought and life-like existence of death within one’s mind, if continued long enough has been known to bring some ponies to their fates. In other words…”

Chrysalis finished for Luna, “If Coad died in my dream, she would’ve died in real life… But, I can’t help but doubt Celestia would do that, even in my dream. I can’t help but to be honest when I say that she couldn’t have killed Coad. That’s just not how I see her. I can understand it if she killed me, but something about the other possibility doesn’t sound correct. Not in the least bit.”

Luna came close to say, “Then this search for your child will commence.” She looked around, then chanted as she began walking, “Coad? Coad!”

Soon enough, Chrysalis did the very same, seeking out her child with little, but strong hope. The thought of her other children, however, the three who died in the cave slowed her down some. Luckily for the changeling, though, Princess Luna was there to help keep spirits up.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Fifteen

Six hours in, evening time, and no hope was being seen for the two mares in search. Some sweat dripped off both their cheeks as they trotted along, trying hard to keep up the task at hoof. Even though they felt drained, neither was willing to give up so easily.

So long as there was a small amount of hope left, both the princess and the queen would keep searching regardless of their physical condition. Mosquitoes bit them every so often, only to be swatted away. Frogs bellowed close by, trees were passed, the hanging, grey moss being lifted from their path.

An owl hooted from a high up branch, and some pack wolves could be heard howling over by the mountains. Chrysalis felt a bit stunned to know their echoes could travel so far without fading, and if sound could live on for such a duration, then hopefully, so could her child.

Upon passing one last lifeless tree, Chrysalis leaned on it, and begged, “Please… I can’t keep going. Let’s take a minute to rest.”

Luna, feeling the same way, but having just a little more energy didn’t sound so exhausted, not like the changeling at all. “Very well… How long have we been at it now?”

“I don’t know.” Chrysalis looked down, huffed, and sank to the dry dirt. She was hardly in any condition to keep looking by then. Her mane was tattered and mud-stained. Cuts had been scratched on her hooves, going over the holes, and the infected looking gash on her head, just under the horn desperately needed tending to. For all she knew, Chrysalis might’ve had a concussion. “Don’t you have some sort of healing spell?”

Luna shook her head. “Unfortunately, no. That sort of magic required a lot of energy, and with feeding you what little love I’ve been able to muster…”

Chrysalis glanced up. “... Little?”

The princess brought herself down and hugged the mare tightly, confessing, “The things I’ve heard about you… The rumors, and frightening explanations… I’m trying to put those behind me, and I can see you’re sorry for what you’ve done. In my book, you’re no villain anymore, just somepony who made the wrong decision in life.”

Chrysalis buried her eyes onto Luna’s shoulder, and sobbed, “I was forced by life to do it. Before, I honestly didn’t want to, but I had to sound strong to my subjects… My children. During the attack, I know I looked like I was enjoying it, and maybe I was. Now?”

Luna gripped tighter. “I know… You need not explain any further.”

Chrysalis ignored her. “I wish I could take it all back. I was so foolish back then, to assault those ponies. W-what was I thinking?”

Luna loosened up and looked deep into the queen’s eyes. “You were trying your hardest to be a good mother. It’s not a crime to do that, and if Celestia thinks otherwise, as I already promised, I’ll set her straight.” Chrysalis still felt stiff in Luna’s hooves, and lowered her muzzle. It was quickly brought back up by Luna’s hoof, though. “I’ll protect you.”

For the very first time since Chrysalis and Luna met, the queen smiled. It was brief, and painful to pull off, but suited her majesty well. Luna stood back up and helped her friend do the same. Without much else to say, they both continued chanting. Only every so often did Chrysalis say something other than her child’s name, but one slip of hope took her by surprise.

“What if…”

Luna turned around from leading the search. “Hmm?”

Chrysalis took a deep breath, and asked, “What if we don’t find her, and all this seeking and looking proves to be nothing more than one, big waste of time?”

Luna turned herself all the way around, and said, “That won’t happen.”

“But, what if-”

Once again, this time more stern, Luna confidently stated, “That won’t happen, Chrysalis.” The changeling gulped. “We’ll find her. If you say your doubt of her being executed within the dream is strong, then she’s still out there... Somewhere. We just have to keep looking.”

Not waiting for a response, Luna kept up her pace, and began leaving Chrysalis behind. However, soon enough, Chrysalis caught up, smiling once again. “Thank you…”

The sun was starting to settle towards the right of them, and Luna looked around to make sure the coast was clear. Only a few, fairly distanced trees and bushes circled the two. Before them was a patch of grass, perfect for Luna’s enchantment.

“This only uses a fraction of my power,” the princess said. “So, unlike the healing spell, I think it’s safe to use. Not to mention, it’s sort of needed right now.”

Her horn flickered at the tip, soon shimmered down to the very base, and shot a quick ray of azure light at the ground. Chrysalis observed with confusion, but interest as well, and quickly recognized the patterns to be that of a map. Before them was the Everfree forest. All the sections they’d been through was blotched out with purple light while the rest was sky blue.

Luna cleared her throat, and pointed to a small, pink dot that stood out, some purple circling around it. The majority of the woods seemed to have been explored, but many parts still remained, yet to be traveled upon, and only a few spots behind them were missed.

Luna explained, “I believe our best bet is to go-”

Chrysalis cut her off. “Right.”

Luna curved her eyebrow in disbelief. “Why right? I was about to suggest we go left.”

The queen couldn’t be sure, but something about going in the opposite direction would be the better route. “Call it a mother’s instincts…”

They remained silent, looking at the map, thinking. After some time later, Luna nodded. “Very well.” While her magical manifestation was returned to its horn, she began walking. “I hope we find her… I’d hate it if we wound up going the wrong way.”

Once they went through the patches of greenery, and left the dimming area, Chrysalis questioned, “How do you think I feel?”

Another hour, and nothing was found. It was getting darker and darker with the sun coming so close to the ground. Through the tree leaves, Queen Chrysalis and Princess Luna viewed the shimmers that went right on by the spaces, the dusty fog around them creating transparent rays that they walked by, not even thinking about stopping, even for a moment more to catch their breath.

Over and over again, they cried out, almost in unison, “Coad!” That’s all one could hear by then, for their chanting had scared away all the birds and wildlife. Not even the crickets were out and about that afternoon. It’d become dead silence, all except their shouts for her majesty’s daughter.

Luna started to fall behind, as did Chrysalis, but each fought the strain of continuing, and kept up the search. Even when neither could barely see anymore, they kept trotting together. One leaned on the other, Luna and Chrysalis keeping one another elevated to walk as far as possible. Every five or ten minutes, either the princess or the queen blacked out with their motor functions on auto-pilot, until some point around the end of the woods, both collapsed.

They panted, held to each other, Chrysalis tearing up yet again, but quiet. So much serenity could be heard in the winds by then. Their chants for Coad had ended, and was immediately replaced by soothing silence…

But, something else could be heard. Not necessarily some thing, but a yawn. A young, nappy yawn that belonged to somepony Chrysalis knew, and loved dearly. Her worn out head lifted for her to ask aloud, “D-did you… hear that, Luna?”

The princess snapped herself out of the trance reluctantly, and asked, “Hear what, Chrysalis?”

The changeling stood back up, shaking a little, and said, “That voice… I know that voice!”

Almost instantly, she was off, racing for Coad with sudden inner strength. “It came from this way, I just know it!” Only a few steps away, through the bushes, and into a dome of vines, Chrysalis found her sweet, sleeping child. All this time, she’d been resting underneath a palm tree in the middle of a creek.

Water surrounded the miniature island, butterflies floated everywhere, and fruit hung from above by the scraggly vines. Somehow, Coad had found this sanctuary within the hellish world of the Everfree Forest. Such a place was able to keep her safe, guarded and fed for months on end, until the day her mother would find her.

Chrysalis stepped forward, into the water, and began kicking up beads of liquid while running right for the little filly. Luna entered, and was stunned to see the sight. Not the dome sanctuary, but Chrysalis hugging her child like she’d never let her go again, kissing her forehead repetitively, and crying all the while. Not because she was sad, but because most of her sorrows would finally be laid to rest.

Luna came to the small, single palm tree island, and grinned with glossy eyes. “I… suppose we should head to Canterlot, then?”

Chrysalis sniffled. “... I suppose this was unavoidable. As much as I’m going to hate confronting Princess Celestia, I know I’ll be fine.”

With the young filly under her mother’s loving care, all that was left to do was for Luna to bring her friend to the palace of Canterlot, and speak with her sister. It wouldn’t be easy for Chrysalis to return to the town she’d threatened, but at the same time, she knew and understood it was what had to be done.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Sixteen

It was late. Far too into Luna’s night for the three to venture any further, let alone to Canterlot. Chrysalis and Luna was thoroughly spent, and required rest above anything else. Just before leaving Coad’s sanctuary, though, they made sure to collect plenty of fruits for their starving stomachs. Neither had eaten in hours, not that Queen Chrysalis could.

For all that time searching, they passed by some berries and edible foods. Luna didn’t hesitate, wishing to retain whatever energy she could, but Chrysalis refused. Luna had lost count of exactly how many times she offered an apple or some grapes to the changeling along their route; Chrysalis simply wasn’t having it.

This was only because of the paranoia, and stress she was going through at the time. Regardless of her personal health, Chrysalis couldn’t eat, not without knowing if her child was dead or alive. It wasn’t until after finding Coad, while trotting along towards the exit of the jungle, and even after they set up camp, she was able to calm down and enjoy a few morsels, but Luna could tell she was still troubled.

With what minor magic she was able to muster after getting some nourishment into her system, Princess Luna took the liberty of bringing forth a bright fire within a clearing, a pair of low leveled tents, and got to work on her companion’s head injury. Not only did this provide her the chance to bond with the changeling more, but it also made it possible for Luna to ask, “Are you… alright?”

Coad, who’d been on her mother’s back the whole time, turned around and looked at Luna. She appeared nothing like in the dream. No cuts or bruises, no missing eyes, and for the most part, a well treated, blue mane. It matched her black coat well, and she looked like any normal changeling child, if only a bit more playful. She even had some of her mother’s hair in her mouth.

Luna smirked, giggled a bit, and said, “No, not you.”

Chrysalis turned her head around to kiss Coad once more, then returned her line of sight to Luna who was still healing her. Though she behaved happy when attending to Coad, Chrysalis was still hurting inside. “It’s my other children…”

Luna frowned, then took a deep breath. “I should’ve known… Of course you’re still pained by that loss. I would be, too…”

Chrysalis looked away, then muttered, “I don’t want to talk about it.” As she laid her head down on her hooves, Queen Chrysalis closed her eyes and said, “It’s been a long day. Let’s just get some rest.”

Even though Luna wished to provide her words of comfort, she reluctantly nodded, looked over her friend’s fully healed injury, and returned to her own bed to rest up for the upcoming travel. A few times during the night, Coad awoke to adjust herself, waking Chrysalis. That only happened a couple of times, though.

The remainder of the evening was filled with blank dreams. Both Chrysalis and Luna slept, sure. But, neither of them dreamed. It was bitter darkness, no nightmares or fallacies, but for her majesty, that was better than anything. It let her know she’d forgiven herself, and though the guilt of her past actions would never truly leave, they’d refrain from giving her such traumatic imaginings during the night for good.

The morning’s journey to Canterlot was quiet except for Coad. She kept jumping off her mother’s back to scurry around and play, only to be lifted back up and returned to where Chrysalis believed she’d be most safe. By the time they all reached the edge of town, Luna decided not to bring her new friend through the cities, but instead, lead them to the back entrance.

Only delegates and guards, princesses and royal blood ponies were allowed to use this special means of direct passage into the castle halls. It was the best way to avoid attention, and with it being so early in the day, most of the royal guards would be busy patrolling. As they entered, unavoidably, the two stallions keeping watch dropped their jaws once seeing who was trotting along the drawbridge.

“P-Princess Luna?”

“And Chrysalis!”

The princess raised a hoof, commanding them to lower their rising spears. “At ease. She’s a friend.”

The leading commander came closer. “How do we know this isn’t a trick?”

Luna rolled her eyes. “Because, does thou honestly think the queen herself would come unarmed, without soldiers, and with an infant?”

He looked from her to his lower ranking shield guard, then crept around her highness towards the changelings. Seeing the state Chrysalis was in, and knowing how weak she probably was, this would’ve odiously been the worst form of sneak attacking the changelings would’ve ever attempted. He sighed, “Well…”

Luna walked by, and Chrysalis followed, her head low, and her expression worried. Another thing that made it clear to them that this was no trick was Luna’s ability to magically open the door. Once it loudly creaked open to allow them entry, her highness explained, “Nopony but myself, guards, and my sister can do that. Now, we must be on our way…”

The leader watched them disappear into the inside darkness while his shield guard voiced, “Something about this… doesn’t sit well with me.”

The other closed the door, and said, “There’s nothing we can do.”

The castle innards were exactly as Queen Chrysalis remembered. Elegant, regal, and welcoming. Hardly anypony but unsuspecting maids and gentlecolts wandered the halls. None paid much mind to the two except when seeing Chrysalis. Though they were too busy with daily chores to wonder about her, a few did give second glances.

Her majesty came closer to Luna, low to the ground, just as she was when being directed in her dream by Celestia. “Mmh, they’re staring…”

Luna remained strong, walking tall with her head faced forward. “It’s alright. You’re a guest here. Nothing bad will happen to you.”

“But, I’m nervous.”

Luna looked over her shoulder. “I’m the same way. I’m scared, Chrysalis. Scared my sister will not meet eye to eye with me, but we must stay strong.”

They took one last turn down a wide hall, and came across intricately designed double doors ascending high above. Luna sighed, and placed her hoof on the surface, but waited a moment. While she did, Chrysalis snatched her child to place her on the floor. “Now, Coad. You need to be on your very best behavior for Princess Celestia. Okay?”

Luna stood still, and asked, “She can understand you?”

Chrysalis huffed. Getting to eye level, she said, “I believe she does. Even though she might not know what I’m saying, I think she can figure out what I’m telling her.”

Princess Luna smirked, then said, “Well… here we go.”

The doors slowly and silently slid to show Princess Celestia herself sitting at the throne, looking over a fairly sizable stack of papers, and appearing unaffected by them entering. Chrysalis hid behind Luna with her kid happily walking in between her mother’s hooves.

“Ah, Luna. Good. I was worried about you,” Celestia said, not looking away from her work. “Where were you?”

“Getting a friend, somepony you might know…”

Celestia looked up with a smile, but still hadn’t seen who Luna was talking about. She began walking over while asking, “Well, who is it? I’d be delighted to see an…” She stopped speaking momentarily, walked along the side of her sister at a distance, and soon enough, saw who Luna had brought. “Old… friend…”

It became awkwardly silent after that. Chrysalis sat behind Luna holding tightly to her child. Luna looked unmoved by all this, but Celestia was profoundly shocked to see the ruler of the changeling race within her walls of all places. “Sister,” Luna began. “You know Queen Chrysalis, right?”

Celestia nodded, her mouth open ajar. “Yes… but, what’s she doing here? Have I not told you about her infamous crimes?”

Luna motioned away from Chrysalis so Celestia could get a better look at her. A moment passed, Celestia taking in what she was seeing. She could plainly make out every scar, bump, mud stain and bruise on her majesty’s body. “What happened to her?” Celestia asked timidly.

Luna walked up to her sister, grabbed her hoof, and lead Princess Celestia to the back room to explain the situation in full. Chrysalis was left there with her child while the two sisters discussed, even argued about this. After only a few minutes, fifteen at most, Celestia and Luna returned from the door across the way.

The sun princess sat down before Chrysalis, looking at her child, and asked, “Is what Luna tells me true?”

“... Yes.”

She nodded, looked over at Luna, then back at Chrysalis to say, “Then, I must right the wrong I’ve done.”

The queen looked up hesitantly. “Huh?”

“... I’ve caused something unforgivable.” Celestia blinked a tear away, letting it slide down her cheek. “It wasn’t directly my fault, but with the scouts acting under my rule, it falls to my will. I never intended this to happen, but it did. So, I have a responsibility to uphold.”

Luna kept her posture. “And I shall do everything in my power to help as well.”

“You see, Chrysalis. If your story is true, then I am solely at fault for causing this… I don’t want to call it a genocide, but that’s exactly what it was.” She breathed, then continued. “Under my roof, you shall be considered an ally. I’m not sure how we’ll cope with the whole love thing, but I’ll find a way.”

Luna stood to come close and sat with the group. “I can help with this. I’ve already developed a certain liking towards Queen Chrysalis. With time, perhaps, so will some of the guards.”

Celestia agreed, “That would be helpful, but Chrysalis…”

The mare looked hopeful. “Y-yes?”

“You need to remember, this is only temporary… And, the citizens will no doubt be confused. That is why instead of delaying the inevitable, I’m going to confess this change of events tomorrow through my personal use of the equestrian tabloid.”

Chrysalis gulped, and asked, “But… are you sure that’s such a good idea?”

Celestia looked out at a nearby window, walked up to it and gazed outward at a few ponies walking along the streets. “They’ll understand. They trust my judgement, and when I inform them of what we, the ponies have done to you, no one will dispute nor argue my decision.”

Chrysalis looked at Luna, and then back at the approaching sister, and asked, “What do you need of me in return?”

Celestia shook her head. “You act as if you owe me for this. I have broken lives by being so foolish, to allow my ponies to hurt you so. It is I who owe you. Rest assured, those that did these unspeakable acts, and separated you from your kin, killed them in the process… Well, let’s just say, we kept records.”

Chrysalis asked, “... What will happen to them?”

Celestia looked down, and said, “We can’t go around executing, for that was outlawed so, very long ago. Many were stripped of their places when we found out about them beating and abusing those that they managed to find. Here I thought most had stopped such treatment, but according to you and my own sister, that isn’t the case.”

Luna chimed in, “Those that had been assigned to seek out any surviving changelings have undoubtedly been packing together over the months. We’ve been getting false reports claiming that no changelings were found. We know now that those were falsified, though, as we suspected all along.”

Celestia brought forth a parchment list, on it containing various names that were assigned to the Everfree Forest camps, and other areas. “All of these ponies will be brought back for questioning, and needless to say, will be placed through a magical lie detector test.”

Chrysalis blinked. “You think they’ve been secretly hunting down and killing my subjects? Keeping this from you? I thought that’s what you ordered!”

Celestia averted her head, and said, “I commanded them to bring changelings in. I never issued the order to assault, and I certainly would never have one of my supposedly loyal guards kill another, no matter the circumstances.”

Chrysalis became even more emotional, letting her tears escape. “Why…? What’s the purpose, Celestia? Was what I did really so horrible that they had to destroy all I had?!”

Celestia could barely fight her own building tears, and had to bite her bottom lip. “I… cannot excuse their behavior, and those who were in cahoots with the traitors will be punished. I'm unsure on what I'll be doing about that, but as for you… and Coad, was it?” Chrysalis nodded. "You two... s-should..."

She turned around, unable to keep herself together. Luna placed her hoof on the queen’s shoulder to direct her and the young one out of the throne room while saying, “Follow me to your room, please.”

Just before the three left Celestia, she had one last thing to say. “Chrysalis…” The changeling mother stopped before exiting through the double doors, faced her ear towards Princess Celestia and heard her say, “I’m sorry…” Shortly after, they left the alicorn to her work.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

Part Seventeen

For the next several days, the changeling mother would hear many tales about the recurring troubles that arose shortly after Celestia did what she promised to carry out. Not everypony felt at all safe with changelings being catered upon within the Canterlot palace walls, some even showed this regardless of the say so of others.

Most, after hearing word about the situation Chrysalis had gone through were willing to defend her, a surprising fact to the queen herself, but others remained willing to fight as well. The vast majority of the town along with neighboring cities and rural areas believed that with most of the changelings wiped out, they were no longer a threat. What they believed more of was that they wronged them indirectly, but no matter how anypony saw that, most agreed that this was a sin. One in which hardly nopony wanted to leave alone.

Still, Celestia received much controversy and backlash with nearly every interview and debate; some developed into full arguments only for her to assure them, “We have our eyes on the two, and there’s the thing. It’s only two. Not only are guards taking turns patrolling her room at every hour of the day and night, I have special unicorns keeping their magical eyes watching her with a spell. They can see every little thing she does. But honestly, we all know she’s not going to try anything at this point.”

Naturally, this still brought questions and fear amongst the ponies, but not so much that they would deny housing the hurt being and her only child. As stated before, not everyone was willing to welcome Chrysalis, or Coad, but Princess Celestia wasn’t about to let disagreement from some sway her judgement when most honestly didn’t mind the notion.

As for the guards that stood outside the door and occasionally came in to idly talk with Chrysalis, those weren’t really for the safety of others. Yes, that’s why they were assigned, but they were actually placed close to the queen in hopes of them developing a certain degree of liking, maybe even love for the changeling.

Along with their company were the night time bat ponies coming through the balcony window late in the evening, checking up on her majesty to see if everything was alright. They’d stay from time to time, and talked with her to see what was on her mind. Chrysalis thought this was Luna’s orders, but in truth, bat ponies were naturally attracted to her, and some confessed they socialized with her of their own accord.

But, the one that gave Chrysalis the most attention out of all others was Luna. Every morning along with each evening, the princess of the night would arrive, never being late, and always appearing happy to show up. Within only a month, Princess Luna became the queen’s closest friend, and Coad enjoyed her company as well. However, one day, Luna arrived to find Chrysalis less joyful than normal.

It’d been about a month of her taking residency within Canterlot, and with each passing day that went by, Chrysalis grew more and more uplifted. Only on rare occasions did she become saddened by the pile of losses in her life, and this day was one of them.

Luna knocked as the sun was going down, and entered with a smile. Queen Chrysalis, however, didn’t return the same expression. She’s been crying, and at that time, she was holding onto Coad while they young one slept. Luna walked up to the bed and asked, “Is… everything alright in here?”

Chrysalis shook her head. “Not exactly, Luna. It’s Coad… She’s been getting love, but…”

Luna blinked. “Yes?”

With a deep sigh, Chrysalis resumed, “Not from the right source… You see, I explained to you how changelings reproduce, right? Well… almost all her energy has been coming from me, and only me.”

Luna nodded. “She needs that energy to come from someone else… So that her love for you can become… uh…”

Chrysalis finished for her, “Fertilized, and then it’s transferred to me. Thusly, Luna, the cycle begins. She hasn’t been getting enough love from others to do so, yet. And, I fear she won’t, because so far, it’s almost unnatural love. It needs to be freely given, and I’m scared that these ponies, even your royal bat ponies won’t be able to love her the right way.”

Luna looked down at the slumbering filly. “They need to spend quality time with her…”

Chrysalis explained further, “It doesn’t need to be the kind of love that a couple make, just a sort of family bond, and I hate to say it, but I doubt the stallions that visit me throughout the day are going to be able to do that correctly.”

Luna just kept staring at Coad, thinking. After some time passed, Luna lifted the blanket from Chrysalis for a moment to join her. The princess pressed herself against the changeling’s back, leaned over her shoulders and lightly pecked Coad on the head, making her yawn.

Luna laid with her friend, hugging her tightly, and promised, “I’ll love her… With time, I’ll find ways to play with Coad, and bond. How’s that sound?”

Chrysalis looked into Luna’s glossy eyes, and smiled. The room stayed silent that night, and Luna felt it necessary to stay with Chrysalis the entire evening. The following day, she’d take her majesty’s kid out to the garden and devise ways to either entertain or play with the child, and over time, do exactly as she swore.

It wasn’t easy, and took much more than a month or two, but as the filly grew into a young adult, Luna was able to share her love with the changeling. It would be much more than a year before more changelings popped up, but the day would eventually come when Chrysalis could leave Canterlot’s safety. She always knew that was fast approaching, and accepted it long ago, but one thing she would always be was an ally to Princess Celestia, and a very dear friend of Princess Luna.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob

This story is complete, and I'd like to thank my readers for reading, and RainbowBob for editing. Don't forget to tell me what you thought of the story in the comments.

Part Five

The two walked through the empty city, Queen Chrysalis looking around warily at the dim buildings and wondering where everypony had gone. Moments before, it was filled with livelihood, ponies giving her smug looks and cursing her very name, but in only a matter of steps, the streets had become deserted, and much more bleaker than before.

As she passed by the cookery section of the town, irresistible smells of what was once distinct bakery goods was completely gone from the air, it’d seemed. A ghost town type of vibe had descended upon the place.

Last time she trotted along the gravel road morphed into Cadence’s body, she could enjoy the sweet, looming taste of biscuits and deli treats just from a quick whiff. Now, it felt bitter, barren and threatening, for it wasn’t the darkness of alleys she feared, but who lurked within them. Everypony in the town wished for their chance at personal revenge.

Why wouldn’t they? Queen Chrysalis posed a serious danger in her days of the Canterlot invasion. Even if she no longer had that same tyrannical attitude, the ponies she encountered seemed they would always view her in that light. Always a threat and monster of her kind.

“You’re not going to be shown any mercy,” Celestia said calmly, her voice monotone and without emotion. “Many here want nothing but the swiftest justice. If it was my choice, you’d be allowed to walk away freely, but it’s not.”

Queen Chrysalis nodded. “I understand.”

“I may be the ruler, but I cannot let my voice outweigh the citizens of Canterlot. This is a just decision they are all making as a group, for you and all your subjects tried very hard to not only deceive us, but ruin us as well. I can’t tell them they are restricted from hurting you, but at the same time, I feel two wrongs don’t make a right. Nevertheless, it’s not my call to make. They’ve spoken, true through hatred, but this is what they’ve chosen. Even with my power, I am at the end of my rope when the entire nation wants this so badly.”

Entering the palace, Chrysalis and Celestia passed by many stationary guards, all of which gave the queen affronted glances, so thanks to that, the queen hastened along sticking mostly to Princess Celestia’s side, hopeful that if they attacked, she would protect her. As foolish as it was, she knew more than likely, Celestia would allow it.

Chrysalis kept low to the floor, fear racing through her soul that at any moment, somepony would jump out of the corners and lash at her aiming to kill. There would be nothing stopping them, too, except maybe the fact that they might’ve wanted a proper and public death. After all, it wouldn’t be fair for just one to witness the event. Everyone in the city deserved to watch Queen Chrysalis meet her fate.

As she was shown through a hallway, dark without any real features except the purple painted walls, blood red carpet and a few doors on either side, she took the time to say something that had been on her mind. “What’s going to happen to me?”

Celestia slowed her pace, but kept moving. Instead of answering her prisoner’s question, she began giving orders to her. “You will only speak when spoken to. You will not ask questions, and if someone wants information from you, I highly recommend complying without hesitation. Is that understood?”

Chrysalis bit her bottom lip, felt yet another tear escape and answered, “Yes, ma’am.”

One last turn down jagged and circular stairs, and Chrysalis then knew good and well where she was headed. It wasn’t really a jail, but more of an interrogations center used for hardened individuals back in olden times, when harmony didn’t reign very freely.

Passing by many long lasting candles that illuminated the walls every three or four steps, she very much wished to speak, maybe plea for her life, and her children’s as well, but that would’ve been pointless. She couldn’t get herself out of this situation no matter how hard she’d try, so she followed the princess deep down in what felt like never ending stairs.

Finally, they touched the bottom. It must’ve been about fifteen or thirty minutes they were descending, but Chrysalis wanted it to last longer just to avoid the punishment that awaited her beyond the door in front of Princess Celestia.

As the doors opened slowly and creaked every inch of the way, Celestia walked in followed by the shivering changeling, but something felt different being within the room. A draft of summer’s brink and fond emotions swept through her mane that came from her right, and as she began to look in that direction, her eyes almost couldn’t believe what they were observing.

Sunlight, brilliantly bright and radiant shined through an archway opening where she was originally sure to see nothing but cold stone wall. Through the phenomenon, Queen Chrysalis could just barely make out what appeared to be the figure of a beautiful mare with a star coated mane and royal hoof shoes the kind Celestia wore. At first, her majesty couldn’t tell what she was chanting, but as the apparition turned around and faced Chrysalis, the words became clear.

“Where are thou? Can’t ye hear us?”

Queen Chrysalis closed her mouth to clear her throat and prepared to yell back at the mare, but just before she was able to, Celestia interfered. “Chrysalis...?”

She looked away, blinking with confusion, and asked, “D-did you hear that?”

The voice that answered her wasn’t Celestia’s. However, it was familiar. “Hear what?” The tone was unkind, and very aggressive. The Canterlot guard commander stood from a wooden table, squinted her eyes and said, “Great, Celestia... You not only brought me a fugitive, but a mad mare as well.”

“No, I saw something! It looked like a-”

Without a moment to stop herself, Chrysalis was grabbed by the commander and slammed against the wall next to the open door. “Didn’t Celestia inform you of the rules, scum?”

Chrysalis gulped, felt the side of the commander’s forearm press against her very bones and coughed a bit before wheezing, “I’m s-sorry...”

She was let go, fell straight to the hard floor and held her hurting neck. Celestia walked up next to her, not even glancing down and told the commander, “Do whatever you need to make her talk about the others. I remember her stating she had three left. Find out where they are in the quickest amount of time possible so I can deploy the other guards and be done with this.”

With that, the door shut, and Chrysalis was then alone with the interrogator. She giggled with glee, happy at the fact she’d received special alone time with the queen, and stated with a voice that could barely contain her excitement, “This should be exhilarating!”

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob