From The Shadows

ALLIES (revised)

From The Shadows

by DeepThought

After casting all necessary spells on the small group of guards, Fire makes sure no one is watching them, before they enter the first cave. Darkness surrounds them and makes the invaders uncomfortable. Their breaths fasten.

Then the glow of Fire’s horn reveals its inside. Instantly the guards gasp. In the corners of the small stone cavern lay bones, skeletons of ponies. But also many half-rotten bodies cover the floor.

‘Somewhere the replaced persons have to be ‘stored’ after all,’ he reasons coldly, not flinching the slightest, even when the strong smell finally hits his sensitive nostrils. Worried he watches his companions, ‘Judging on the guard’s expressions they never were in an actual war. That’s troublesome. Especially considering Equestria’s current situation. Anyway, we wasted enough time...’

“Ok, everypony man, ehm, stallion up?”

‘Sounds weird.’

Hesitating, they turn in his direction, their morale obviously lowered. Some of them mutter something unintelligible, their ears flat on their heads. Their bodies tremble with fear.

‘Of course... They are about to piss their armor...’ Fire shakes his head in disbelief.

“It’s not like any moment we spend inactively my friend could die in this hell pit...” he snorts impatiently.

‘Also this might be a good opportunity to eliminate an enemy. This Chrysalis seems to be an troublemaker... On the other hand I don’t know HOW dependent her kind on their ruler is - I didn’t plan a genocide after all.'

‘Fortunately’, inpony screams, coming from the deep of the cave system, liberate the guards from their stupor. Still they seem slightly frightened, but they’re also determined to put an end to the creature’s pain.

‘What are they doing to you, my friend’ Fire asks himself worriedly, the tracking spell’s magic leading him into the darkness...

‘I’ll find you.’

His agony continues and slowly a small puddle of tears, saliva and green blood forms around his damaged form. Three times he passed out! Three times she forced him back to consciousness!

‘I don’t like to see my children suffering. But for the good of all us I have to...’ she rationalizes.

“KILL ME... Oh please... KILL ME!” he begs, sobbing.

‘How long can he endure this?' Chrysalis asks herself.

Another bolt hits him.

“Nothing to report, Mayor Void, Sir!” tells the leader of the outside waiting guards via magic ‘radio’, while his commander advances in the cave system, following the noises.

“Good, if you notice any changes inform me immediately. If you see the Queen alone stop her - if she has company observe them and wait for orders,” he whispers.

“Yes, Sir.”

They turn right at the next cross-way.

‘Not much more until we have to face them,’ tells the black stallion himself.

After a while of uneventful walking, the group enters a hallway that leads to what seems to be a huge cave. Then suddenly Fire signalizes his companions to stop, hushing their quiet, nervous talks. Casting a temporary sense-enhancing spell he can clearly detect several signs of life ahead of their path - even able to hear their hearts beating and the soft in and out of air, before it wears of again.

“Ok, everypony listen,” the alicorn says to the pegasi, “in the next cave wait our enemies. I don’t think they noticed us, yet, but I guess there are at least a dozen of them... We can’t risk to kill the changelings, nor their queen blindly, since the pony we want to free is a changeling too and a simple misunderstanding could mean his death. So the plan is...”

“Ok, this is pointless,” Chrysalis states calmly, while curiously watching the ‘interesting’ effects of hot metal on changeling carapace; it turns light blue before it falls of in small, fragile pieces. Her minions do their work well, but even despite the incredible amount of pain he has to be suffering the rogue changeling, surrounded by three more of his kind, including the queen and laying on a very uncomfortable stone plate, doesn’t reveal anything about the current position and plans of his friend.

‘He isn’t going to cooperate. I should prepare the mind probing sp...’

“FOR CELESTIA! FOR THE KINGDOM!” interrupts a loud voice her thoughts.

Several white-coated beings rush into the room, notices the queen through her peripheral vision. Then she ‘feels’ a potent magical presence enter.

‘Oh, buck you.’

‘Goodbye, advantage of surprise, by the way… Did they really have to shout out loud that crap?’

If not for the seriousness of the situation and the need to act quickly the annoyed Fire would stand there facehoofing. Resisting the urge to slap the guard’s commander at the back of his head, he follows the pegasi accelerating himself with swift wing motions, shielding his allies with his trademark red magic.

Next to an altar-like surface stands a changeling that - as indicated by the crown-like thing on its head, the neon green eyes and its different body structure - is the infamous Queen Chrysalis.

When he, finally, sees his friend’s motionless body laying in his own blood, a flame of anger consumes his heart.

‘IS HE DEAD? NO, THAT CAN’T BE!’

'That is Mayor Void? Why did noling tell me he was an ALPHA alicorn?' she nearly 'shouts' into the hive mind, 'He is nopony to mess around with.'

After overcoming the initial shock she quickly orders her guards to attack.

Disregarding the tortured changeling near her, she joins the fight.

'He doesn't have a value to us anymore. After all, Mr. Void definitely came here to prevent information from getting leaked. If the traitor gets killed, he succeeds. The idea of a friendship between a pony and a changeling is just ridiculous, very likely not more than a scheme to make my child loyal to this wicked creature.'

Suddenly Sole’s body is engulfed in a red, pulsating aura;

Fire sighs relieved, his friend is still alive - sadly, his condition is anything but stable.

As planned, a pegasus, the fastest of his eight companions, separates from the group of guards and darts towards the now marked changeling, the one he is supposed to save and not to kill.

Dodging his enemies aside, he succeeds, protected by several spells, the guard named Loyal Service grabs Sole and escapes back through the tunnels they came from.

‘Good. That was easier than expected. This could have turned into a hostage situation.’

The battle continues. Spears stab into carapace. Green balls of flame burn guards’ coats and flesh. Both sides have casualties.

The advantage of numbers is compensated by the ponies’ strength and ability to think for themselves, while the changelings’ power to change confuses the guards greatly. It is an even fight.

But two pairs of eyes, green and red, don’t stop to focus their counterpart, both determined to win. The two opponents circle each other, like hungry predators.

Then Fire leaps into the air and closes the gap between them. Now just a few feet separate them.

“Hello, your Majesty, a pleasure to meet you” mocks the black stallion.

“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Void.” she responds sarcastically.

“I wondered if I can ask you, fair lady, for a dance?”

“Of course, I can’t reject such a handsome stallion…” she answers through gritted teeth.

Both charge their horns, and point it at at their opponent. Two streams of magic meet between them, red and green, and illuminate the room. It’s brighter than the day.

Slowly, but steadily, Fire overpowers her and the background magic shakes the ground underneath them, filling the air with static electricity.

“NO! You will never defeat me!” she shouts out.

‘Yeah, not the most used villain phrase ever,’ thinks the ex human, before his magic hits her.

The Queen’s smoldering form is repulsed and falls to her knees. Awaiting her end she closes her eyes.

‘Is this my end?’

Unnoticed by the fighting ponies and changelings an ancient creature, an ursa mayor, is woken by the commotion in the nearby caves. Furiously it searches for its source.

Her end doesn’t come, not yet. A deep growling stops the battle and a huge beast colored like the night sky enters the room.

The last three remaining changelings, heavily wounded and not longer bothered by the royal guards, jump to their queens side and form a protective half-circle.

But their attempts are in vain. The beast’s strong claws slashes them into tiny, bloody pieces, while the panic-fueled pegasi guards flee.

Once again the enervated queen closes her eyes.

More than surprised Fire observes the violent scene in the cave’s corner. Filled with determination he grasps Chrysalis with his magic and drags her away from the beast’s wide-opened jaw. An audible clang echoes through the room, as its jaw closes merely inches from her face.

The ursa turns around, blocking the cave’s exit. Even angrier than before it eyes the two quadruped beings, its prey.

Disguising them with his magic, Fire stumbles deeper into the cave system.

Then he runs, Chrysalis flying by his side. After turning randomly at several cross-ways, the beast slowly looses their trail. Resigning it goes back to sleep.

Some time later:

Trying to break the awkward silence while they wander the endless cave tunnels, Fire asks, “I can’t imagine you being just a war-loving, peace- and harmony-despising tyrant. You seem too rational, too interested in your subjects well-being. What are your motives?”

“You’re just another obedient pet of Celestia. Why would you care?” she says, her voice dripping venom.

‘Huh, this seems to be a personal thing.’

“Believe me or not, I don’t hate you. Why should I? Relying on love as a primary source of food definitely has disadvantages, first of all to be dependent... Actually, I think I can understand your position quite well.”

“I doubt that,” she retorts.

“I don’t trust her, either, Chrysalis,” he tells her genuinely, “The changeling you caught, Sole, even helped me spot some of her spies. You can’t imagine how surprised I was to discover it,” after a moment being deep in thoughts he adds, “I assume you already tried the diplomatic way to solve your kind’s food problems?”

“More than once,” snorts the changeling queen, “And more than once she refused. I’ve seen so many of my children starve over the last thousand years. I will crush her for that.”

They walk a while in silence.

“Is it true that she controls the sun?”

“It is, sadly.”

“When I heard it first, I believed it was some kind of scheme to fool her subjects into submission. Could anyone else guide its path?”

Surprised she answers, “Well, probably... unlikely as it is, “ she spits out, “It’s her destiny. Just look at her cutie mark.”

“That leaves you in a very unfavorable situation... “ Fire reasons, ”Did you put any thought into what would happen if you succeeded? Your kind needs the ponies - the ponies need the sun, same goes for your allies the griphons.”

Puzzled, Chrysalis stops and turns to the black stallion.

“Don’t let your anger cloud your judgement,” he comments, seeing the realization striking the queen.

‘Did I just overlook such an obvious flaw in my plans?’ she asks herself.

“Why do you help me?”

“Because the life of a changeling is as important to me as the life of a pony. You might not know, probably you do, but originally I wasn’t an alicorn; I was a human, not even from this world... I don’t have a reason to favor one race.” he continues, “Chrysalis, your end would mean the end of your kind, if I’m not mistaken?”

“Yes,“ she says, bewildered.

“That’s why I didn’t kill you, after you tortured my friend.”

“Oh!”

‘Let’s hope this works.’

“Well, I have a proposal for you...”

“Ok, Chrysalis, please correct me if I am mistaken. All of this was told me by Sole: Your kind feeds on love, which includes platonic love as well, but not lust alone. No other emotion can sustain you.”

She nods.

“Not all of your children, just a relatively small number stealing love is necessary to generate the required amount for your people’s survival - which Celestia refuses.”

The queen growls approvingly.

“Since the attack on Canterlot, the security measures were increased and your population is slowly starving to death, but enslaving ponies is no option, either. You can’t take love by force. You have to rely on your disguises. Overthrowing the sun princess alone wouldn’t be wise, because without someone who raises the sun the foundation of your food source could easily vanish. One could argue that she wouldn’t ever risk the lifes of her ponies, but ultimately she’d be the per... pony who decides, the pony who has the power. As long as she is here in this world she is a threat to your reign. But I have a plan.”

‘Utilize her hate.’

“Enlighten me.”

“As you might have noticed I am what is called an alpha alicorn, a being gifted with enormous magical powers. Celestia was able to raise the moon. And I assume Luna would be able to raise the sun if not the incident with the Elements had weakened her magic. It is likely that I - with the help of an experienced mage, you Chrysalis - could achieve the same.”

“But...” the queen objects.

The black stallion explains further, “I know that changeling magic is different, but actually, since just an overpowered telekinesis spell is needed, it is about teaching me how to focus the right amount of energy, which you could do. There are even ancient records about large, skilled groups of unicorns, who have maintained the orbit of the celestial bodies.”

“Yes,” she says thoughtfully.

He continues, “The price of my cooperation is the independence of Liberty from Equestrian rule, the freedom of all ponies inside Equestria’s borders - no slavery! - and your assistance with the liberation of all other races...” he adds, “And good treatment for Twilight. Once we succeed you ascend the throne as Celestia. Liberty secretly provides all the technological support you need to achieve our goal. We will stage a fake, fatal defeat of the changelings’s forces to hide the truth from the public and replace all important positions in the state with changeling doppelgängers. The princesses, all of them, will be kept, strapped of their magic, at secret places. We will destroy the griphon’s morale from inside, after they defeated most of the Equestrian armies, by systematic demagogy. Disguised changelings will incite riots. They will find out about and make public the honorless behavior of their leaders and therefore cause civil unrest. If that’s not enough we have Liberty’s superior weaponry. Also the other conquered nations could be of great help. And...”

Twilight doesn't believe her eyes when HE enters the magic-proof cell.

"Oh, Fire did they capture you, too?" She rushes to his side.

“No, Princess. He is our ally,” says Chrysalis sadistically, standing behind the green, magical force field which blocks the cell’s exit.

The lavender mare’s eyes widen, “That’s not true, right Fire?”

Averting his gaze he answers, “It is, and I have my reasons.”

‘I won’t fall for her mind games. This is Fire, yes, I’m 100% sure about it, but he could be brainwashed like my BBBFF!’ Twilight argues with herself.

With a few steps back she enlarges the distance between them; her horn flashes in her trademark purple, engulfing Fire’s body. The black pony feels a strange sensation.

‘It’s a shame that these cells only block magic from affecting anything outside of them. But I’m sure she would never harm me. It’s ok for the moment.’

After the feeling dies down, he notices Twilight staring at him, disbelievingly.

'WHY? Eyes like stone...  This composed behavior. He's calm like the Princess, but without her motherly care - you can only see cold calculation,' she thinks.

"I'm disappointed of you. You are evil... You are a villain!"

"There's not only black and white, Twilight. The world is made of shades of grey. As alluring as it is I don't necessarily hate my enemies nor do I love my allies. I consider you my friend. I care for your well-being. That's why I'm here, that's why I make sure you don't get mistreated. Chrysalis might be my comrade and my goal is to overthrow Celestia, but not because I dislike her personally - she's simply too irrational, too focused on her own kind to be a really good leader, borderline racist... For example: Who in his right mind would allow a criminal that killed thousands of innocent ponies, griphons, minotaurs and several other species to come back without hesitation after she tried to overthrow him again? Who would allow Luna to come back?"

'I can't believe I had a crush on him...' she wails silently.

"She was reformed... The nightmare cor..."

Fire interrupts her, "That's foalish, Twilight. Things don't work like this. It's just propaganda, as is the so-called 'Power of Friendship'," he pauses for a moment, "Did you know that Celestia was aware of the disastrous situation in the Griphon Empire - uncounted sentient beings held as slaves - and she didn't act? I read the Royal Spies' records. Or that the changelings were starving to death and therefore forced to attack, despite their effort to achieve a diplomatic solution? You all practically live - at least  that's what the laws say - on her soil. She owns everything. She can give it, she can take it. She can pardon and condemn just as she wishes and she does."

"No, but I'm sure..."

"Your princess might be immortal, but not infallible. No-one is. That includes me. Therefore power needs to be shared and controlled.  Did you know she was spying on all of you, all citizens of Equestria, after the changeling incident?"

"No! BUT HOW DARE YOU INSULT THE PRINCESS! EVERYTHING SHE DOES HAS A REASON. SHE SIMPLY MOVES IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS WE CAN'T COMPREHEND. SHE'S THE KINDEST BEING I KNOW!" she bursts out.

"The way to hell is paved with good intentions. Don't put her on a pedestal."

And he leaves.