Chrysalis looked out at her kingdom from the balcony of her throne-room; the deepest despair etched across her face.
It was evening. Bodies of changelings littered the streets. Houses were but empty husks of their former glory. The once sheen black that coated everything from the bricks to the bodies of the changelings themselves was crumbling into dust.
Chrysalis looked down to see a young changeling walking among the bodies of his recently deceased friends. He appeared to be weak and not long for this world. The queen let out a quiet sigh as she fed what little power she could give to the youngling, knowing it wouldn’t be nearly enough. As his hive mind connection was severed, the young changeling took its last step and fell.
Tears fell from closed eyes.
"I am sorry, my children," the dying queen whispered. "I'm so sorry."
Chrysalis fell to her knees. She knew her time was coming--there was no escaping her inevitable fate.
/snap/
Another one of her children passed.
/snap/
/snap/
Each severed connection was like a blow to her soul.
The queen was defeated. There was nothing she could do, no love she could give.
Misty green eyes glared up at the mocking moon that, while dull and almost set, seemed to beat down on her. Chrysalis continued to stare at the celestial body as she dug through her memories; to a time when love shone like a crystal.
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Chrysalis gazed out over her kingdom from atop the balcony and let out a content sigh as she closed her eyes and relished in the love that permeated the air. Her kingdom was strong and her children well-fed. Her castle, garden and city flourished and shone beneath the bright yellow sun.
It was a good memory; one of many which Chrysalis remembered so fondly; for it was only the day before that the Crystal Empire had come to an agreement. It was this agreement that allowed Chrysalis access to the Crystal Heart to feed for a day and to give what she had received to her kingdom.
/knock knock/
The monarch turned at the sound, knowing all too well what it signalled. She didn't mind--in fact, this was the first time she looked forward to it.
Chrysalis retreated from the balcony, taking her seat upon her throne as the doors opened. For the first time, she greeted her children with a smile on her face.
"Come now, my little changelings," the queen cooed. "I have a gift for all of you."
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Blood hit the black marble as another connection was severed. This one was stronger than the others, or perhaps she was only getting weaker with each passing connection. Whatever the reason, this one brought Chrysalis the onset of a coughing fit.
It wouldn't be long now. It’s funny, she thought. How slow my death is. She wouldn't die until all her children had passed. Not until all the severed connections beat her into submission.
Chrysalis laughed.
Instead of lying down and waiting, the queen once again dug through her memories. However this time, instead of love, she found hatred.
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Tremors rattled the changeling queen's castle as the two royal sisters from the neighboring kingdom of Equestria--Celestia and Luna--were locked in a heated battle with Sombra; the king and ruler of the Crystal Empire.
Chrysalis remained in her castle, locked away in her room. Was she afraid? No, she was not. Chrysalis was ashamed; ashamed of being what she was; useless and powerless without the emotion called love. She would be fighting alongside the sisters under different circumstances, but the years that the Crystal Empire had languished under Sombra's rule had left Chrysalis without a source of love for her children.
She was powerful, yes; but her power was limited.
She could feed her entire kingdom, but not without killing them all in the process.
More tremors shook her kingdom. If she were to pour all her power into an attack, Chrysalis would still pale in comparison to the literal gods that were doing battle just beyond the outskirts of her lands. At no point other than now had she felt so powerless for her kingdom.
The kingdom continued to shake for what seemed like years to the queen, but was only mere hours in reality.
Silence fell.
Chrysalis' ears twitched and turned as she attempted to pick up any sound of the celestial war.
Nothing.
It was then that a deafening roar resounded throughout the three kingdoms. Chrysalis cried out in agony as she felt the energy that she so desperately needed being sapped away into nothingness. Thinking quickly, she severed her connection to the Crystal Empire; but the resulting backlash of power flung her against the walls of the castle.
Chrysalis slid down and remained on the cold hard floor for a few moments before standing. She was dumbstruck as to what had just happened. Although she hadn't seen it, she’d definitely felt it.
The Crystal Empire--along with the Crystal Heart--was gone.
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/snap/
Chrysalis had somehow limped her way to her throne and sat upon it before lowering her head and allowing herself the comfort of grieving of those lost to her.
/snap/
She convulsed as if she had taken a blow. More tears fell.
/snap/
The queen slid off her large throne to the floor and looked up at the black mirror staring down at her. The monarch's once green mane was now a dusty grey. Her carapace--once so radiant that it could even rival the sun--was dull and ashen. Yet the queen didn't notice, or didn't care, as all she could see were her eyes staring back at her.
Her eyes, although full of tears, were untainted and unbroken. Still as green and alive as they had been when she was first conceived by the first queen. Chrysalis doubted her eyes would remain the same after death, but she still revelled in the beauty and power they continued to emit.
She was still a queen.
/snap/
She would remain proud until her dying breath.
/snap/
Chrysalis pulled herself back up onto her throne with what little power remained to her and held her head up high. It was then that the sunrise crested the horizon and shone its mighty light into the throne-room.
Though she would never see it with eyes completely empty and blank, Chrysalis' carapace shone brightly for one last moment; before falling apart and signifying the end of a kingdom.
