Chapters Chrysalis was exhausted; she had just escaped the Purgatory, where she had to fight flighing skulls with spines, run from claws coming out of the ground and defeat hell-lords. She just wanted to rest, but couldn’t, as she was in the everfree forest, practically hell in the form of a forest. She looked back at the toppled tree, and noticed that it has already withered away.
'Just how long was I in the Purgatory?' She asked herself. She looked up and took a leap to start flying... and fell on her stomach. She groaned as she checked why her wings were not responding, only to realize she didn't have her wings. Her eyes widened as she started to panic, a flightless changeling is a dead changeling. She checked her horn to see if it was still there, only to find that it was gone to. She started to hyperventilate; she didn't have her horn or wings, meaning she had no quick way to flee from danger or to defend herself.
'Okay, calm down Chrysalis, I need to calm down.' Chrysalis told herself over and over again, helping her to calm down. After she had calmed down, she got up and started to trot in the opposite direction of the fallen tree. She had no Idea where she was going, she only wanted to get out of the forest before something got her. Anytime she heard a rustle or any kind of noise, she would jump into a bush. She was surprised that most of the bushes could hide her entire body. She soon came across a decaying mass of bones; it was the skeleton of one of her changelings. She let a tear escape her eye, it was her job to protect them, but all she did was accelerate their demise.
She began to move past it, but keeping an eye in the spine. She was out of the Purgatory, but that didn't mean that the demons couldn't be in this dimension. Once the skeleton was out of sight, she looked forward again. She felt like she was in another form of the Purgatory. Not knowing where she was going, only following a path of an opened area. She saw movement in the woods, but thought nothing of it, as long as it was not coming for her, she was fine. She soon came across a light in the forest, thinking it was a way out, she ran to it. Upon reaching the light, she came upon the one place, after the Purgatory, she never wanted to see. Ponyville.
This was the home of the six ponies at the wedding, the Element of Harmony. They would most likely have a grudge against her, especially the purple one. She defeated her mentor, trapped her sister-in-law and hypnotized her brother. Not to mention almost taking over her home town, Canterlot. But she had nowhere else to go, so, slowly, she made her way in to the town. She came across a building that was a giant tree, she headed to it, hoping to seek shelter for the night. She headed to the door, finding to be unlocked and headed in.
It turned out to be a rather large library, she sighed in relive, she didn't have to deal with anyone till morning. She was about to look around for a comfortable place to sleep, until something hard hit the back of her head, knocking her out cold.
Chrysalis woke up to the sound of muffled voices. She did not know how long she was out, but she at least felt rejuvenated. She slowly opened her eyes, just as the voices stopped, she looked towards their source, and her eyes widened. Staring at her were the six ponies from the wedding, the Elements of Harmony. She was overcome with fear; they all seemed to look like they had a grudge, especially the purple one. She looked over them all, they all looked angry, except the yellow one, who had a look of sympathy.
"Why are you here?" Asked Twilight, she flared her wings to make herself look more intimidating.
'Whe-when did she get wings?!' Chrysalis thought. "I-I came from the forest." She tried to mask her fear, but failed to do so.
"Came from the forest huh!? Bull-crap!" Rainbow yelled, getting right into Chrysalis' face.
"I-I-It's true!" Chrysalis shuttered.
"Rainbow, you don't have to be so angry." Fluttershy said. Everypony looked at her, causing her to let out a 'eep' and to retreat under her mane.
"Fluttershy how could you say that? This is the same-same monster that trapped my sister in law, hypnotized my brother, trapped Celestia and tried to take over Equestria!" Twilight said.
"But-but Twilight, look at her. She has no way of defending herself; you shouldn't be so tough on her!" Fluttershy told Twilight, leaving the latter with a dropped jaw.
'Why is she defending me?' Chrysalis wondered.
"I, but, Fluttershy. Ugh, fine! But we still need to decide what to do with her." Twilight said.
"Can I at least take her with me to my home, until you decide. That is, if you're okay with that."
"Yes, Fluttershy, you can take her." Twilight said with a sigh. Fluttershy smiled and motioned for Chrysalis to follow. Chrysalis got up to follow her, she then saw that not only did she loose her horn and wings. But she lost her height as well, she was only a few inches shorter than the ponies. She sighed and followed Fluttershy, wherever she was going. They got outside and started to head out of the town.
"So, what's your name?" Fluttershy asked.
"Chrysalis." She said. She still wondered why Fluttershy was being so kind to her.
"That's a nice name, my name is Fluttershy." She said. Chrysalis smiled, at least this pony was nice enough to defend her from the others. Maybe there was hope for her in this new life.
Chrysalis followed Fluttershy to her cottage, they walked in silence. It was beginning to get awkward so Chrysalis broke the silence.
"Fluttershy?"
"Yes?"
"...Why were you defending me back their, from your friends?"
"Oh, well, I just thing that everypony deserves a second chance. No matter what they have done, if I can show them that you are not a bad pony, maybe then they will be nice to you." Fluttershy said with a smile.
"You... think I'm not evil?"
"Well, no." She said, as they walked in silence again, until it was Fluttershy that broke the silence. "Chrysalis, how did you survive the magical blast? What happened to your wings, horn and height? If-if you don't mind me asking." Chrysalis hesitated with her response, but decided it would be better to tell her.
"I... I didn't survive." She responded, causing Fluttershy to become confused. Chrysalis saw this and begun to explain. She explained how she did not live through the blast and how she awoke in the Purgatory. She then went on to explain how she battled the demons of the Purgatory, including how she had to kill the hell-lords. When she was done explaining, Fluttershy was shivering like a leaf.
"Th-that sounds l-like an awful place." She shuddered.
"It is." Chrysalis responded. "And I fear that if I die again, I will be sent there once more." Just then, Chrysalis felt Fluttershy wrap her hooves around her, bringing her into a hug.
"Then I won't l-let you go back there." She said. Chrysalis was shocked by her action. This brought tears to her eyes. She returned the hug.
"Thank you Fluttershy."
Fluttershy and Chrysalis soon made it back to the cottage... with sompony waiting.
"Well, it took you long enough." Discord said in an annoyed voice. "This rabbit of your won't leave me alone, and I don't know why. I was having the nicest dream." He said with a frown. Indeed, Fluttershy's rabbit, Angel Bunny, had been tugging on Discord's goat leg, but as soon as he saw Fluttershy, he stopped, ran up to her and slapped her.
'What a way to thank the pony that takes care of your needs.' Chrysalis thought.
"I know you were worried about me when I just left like that. But it was important." Fluttershy said. Just then, a bright flash momentarily blinded both her and Chrysalis, when they could see again, Discord was in front of them.
"Well, what do we have here?" He asked, picking Chrysalis up by her tail.
"H-hey!" She yelped.
"Well, if it isn't my old friend Chrysalis! How have you been doing? Hey, need any disguise's, cause I have one right here!" He said, snapping his fingers. In a bright flash, Chrysalis was wearing a clown suit, causing Fluttershy to yelp and hide behind her couch and the rabbit to commit a face paw. Discord was trying to suppress his laughter by holding his claw to his mouth. He eventually reached for Chrysalis' nose... and honked it, causing Chrysalis to growl in irritation.
Discord couldn't hold it in anymore, he dropped Chrysalis and fell to the ground rolling around in laughter.
"Damn Discord." Chrysalis hissed under her breath while taking the clown suit off.
"How-how is my favorite queen doing?" Discord asked, eventually calming down.
"Other then being dead for... who knows how long, fine." She responded, taking the last of the clown suit off, which disappeared in a flash. But Discord was now confused.
"Being dead? Dead to the world, or literally dead?"
"Literally dead, do you really thing I would be dead to the world?"
"... You went to the Purgatory, didn't you?"
"Yes, I'm surprised you even know what that is."
"Chrysalis, you are talking to Discord, of course I would know bout the Purgatory. Hell, I used to send ponies to the Purgatory... but I soon stopped as I saw that I was loosing ponies to make miserable."
"You're sick." Chrysalis said with disgust.
"I know, I use to be, but thanks to her," Discord snapped his paw and Fluttershy appeared in his arms. "I'm a new draconequus, ready to help a pony in need."
"Discord, if you don't mind, can you put me down?" Fluttershy asked, which Discord happily obliged by. He then went back to his couch, levitating Angel off in the process, seeing him laying in his "favorite spot". Seeing Discord go to the couch made Chrysalis realize something.
"Uh, Fluttershy, were will I be sleeping for tonight."
"Oh my, I completely forgot, I-I don't know where you will sleep." She responded
"Don't worry you two, I've got it." Discord said as he snapped his talons, causing a small bed to fall through the roof, said roof being repaired in another snap.
"Oh, thanks..."
"Your welcome, but thanks to you, I've been up for so long now, that I won't be able t-" Discord started, but fell asleep mid sentence. Chrysalis rolled her eyes and headed for the bed Discord produced. It was barely big enough for her, but was able to find a comfortable position to at least sleep in. Seeing that she was comfortable, Fluttershy began to walk to her bedroom.
"Goodnight Chrysalis." She said before she left.
"...Goodnight." She responded, with that, Chrysalis slowly drifted off to sleep.
Chrysalis opened slowly opened her eyes, no longer feeling the bed underneath her. She looked towards the ground and saw that she was laying on dirt. She picked herself up and got on her hooves.
"Wh-what?!" She asked in disbelief. She started to hear something screaming, she turned to the source... and her eyes shrunk. It was a hell-lord. Chrysalis was about to run, until she felt something latch on to her leg. She looked down and saw that it was a claw, she tried to shake it off in a panic, but more grabbed on, holding her still. The hell-lord was now next to her, it made its way to her front, and grabbed her.
Chrysalis awoke with a jump, she was panting. She looked around, seeing that she was back at the cottage. She slowly calmed down.
'It-it was just a dream.' She thought, she laid back down and, with a little apprehension, closed her eyes.
Chrysalis woke up to the sound of sompony knocking. She let a small yawn escape her lips and slowly got out of her bed.
"Fluttershy, we have decided what to do with her, we will be taking her to Canterlot." She heard, what she assumed was Twilight say. She went to the door to see what was happening, there she saw Twilight and her friends gathered at Fluttershy's door, talking to her. Upon seeing Chrysalis, Twilight turned her attention to her.
"Chrysalis, you are coming with us to Canterlot." She said, Chrysalis just nodded, having no choice but to accept. Now accompanying the six mares, the former changeling queen made her way to the train station. The trip was in silence, except for Twilight talking to her friends and Fluttershy talking with Chrysalis, which Twilight did not like. Once they got to the station they boarded the train and headed for Canterlot. Twilight was with Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash and Rarity while Fluttershy was with Chrysalis. At a point, Rainbow left her four friends and headed towards where Fluttershy and Chrysalis was.
"Hey Fluttershy." She said, gaining Fluttershy's and Chrysalis' attention.
"Oh, hi Rainbow Dash." Fluttershy responded, Chrysalis simply looked away.
"So when did you become friends with... her?" She said while pointing her hoof at Chrysalis.
"Oh. it happened last night, when she came home with me and told me... about... the... hell-lords."
"The what, speak up Fluttershy, I couldn't hear you."
"The... hell-lords."
"Hell-lords?" With that asked, Fluttershy begun to explain Chrysalis' fight in the purgatory. While she was doing so, Chrysalis decided to look out of the window of the train.
'I wonder what has happened to my changelings.' She thought, worried for them. 'Did they all starve off? Or did they find food themselves?' She then noticed something out in the distance, she squinted her eyes to try to make it out. What she saw shocked her, it was a spine from the purgatory. She rubbed her eyes and looked back to where the spine was, only to find that it was gone. Chrysalis just sat there staring at the location of the spine, she sighed. 'My mind must be playing tricks on me.' But she was still concerned, was she slowly going insane?
She looked back at Flutttershy and Rainbow, the latter with her jaw hanging open. She looked at Chrysalis.
"So... you fought monsters of pure evil, and won?" She asked, sounding astonished. Chrysalis slowly shook her head, unsure of what would happen next, suddenly, Rainbow's eyes lit up. "That is awesome!" She said, flying closer to Chrysalis, startling her. "Heh, I guess you aren't all that bad if you killed those hell-lord things." She said, causing Chrysalis to smile.
"Thanks." She simply said. As she turned back to look at the window, she was met with the face of an unforgettable pink mare.
"Hi!" She said with a wide smile. Chrysalis yelped and fell backwards into the floor. "Woops," Pinkie said. "Sorry Chrysalis, but I saw that you looked sad back here with Fluttershy and Rainbow, so I came back here to try and cheer you up. Here!" She said in a rapid succession, pulling a cupcake seemingly out of nowhere. Chrysalis just looked at the cupcake for a moment before slowly taking it out of here hoof. She held it in her hoof wondering if she should eat it or not, was it even safe to eat? She had no idea where it came from, Chrysalis looked back at the pink mare, her smile never facing. Finally with hesitation, she slowly took a bit out of the cupcake.
Her eyes widened at the taste, it was delicious. She then proceeded to devour the cupcake, though it did not technically feed her, it was great to eat.
"I knew you would like it!" Pinkie Pie said.
"It was delicious, thank you Pinkie Pie." She said.
"Girls," Twilight suddenly said, addressing Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Pinkie. "can I talk to you three for a second?" Se asked. After a moment, the four ponies made their way to the door the of room. "What are you three doing?!" She asked and an angered, but hushed tone.
"Making friends with Chrysalis, what does it look like." Rainbow said annoyed, knowing where this was going.
"But she is the enemy!" Twilight retorted.
"She isn't so bad when you get to know her." Fluttershy said.
"Yeah, she even killed some hell... Things." Rainbow said.
"Hell-lords." Fluttershy corrected.
"Yeah, those things. Do you really think somepony that would still be evil kill something that was evil like themselves?"
"Why are we whispering!?" Pinkie Pie said, not taking the situation seriously.
"Pinkie Pie, this is no time for your jokes!" Twilight said half heartedly. "And Rainbow, what if those hell-lords were trying to kill her? Maybe she killed them in self defense, and could still be evil! She may even be trying to convert you three to her side!"
"But Twilight..." Pinkie Pie said.
"No buts! She is evil! I'm only trying to save you guys!"
"You know Twilight..." Rainbow begun. "I think you're just scared."
"What!?" Twilight practically yelled, gaining looks from the other passengers on the train. She looked around herself and after seeing the attention she had brought herself' she smiled sheepishly and blushed with embarrassment. She then guickly returned to the situation at hoof. "What do you mean scared!?"
"You're to scared to admit that Chrysalis has changed. You just want to see her as evil still. Well I'm sorry Twilight, but I consider her as a friend now, so you will have to deal with it." Rainbow said as she trotted back to Chrysalis at her seat.
"I'm sorry Twilight, but I have to agree with Rainbow, please... please don't be mad." Fluttershy said as she made her way back as well.
"Twilight, you're just being a big meanie to Chrysalis." Pinkie Pie said as she hopped her way back to Chrysalis. Leaving Twilight with her mouth open and eyes widened. She could not believe what just happened, as she got ahold on the situation again, she gritted her teeth.
"That... that bitch! How dare she take my friends and turn them against me! I still have Rarity and Applejack on my side, but I must get rid of that changeling somehow, I know she is up to something."
Generosity, Honesty and Royalty
The train screeched to a halt as it neared the Canterlot train station. The ponies on board started to exit the train as new passengers got on. The Elements and Chrysalis where some of the last ones to get off, but upon exiting the train they, or mainly Chrysalis. The ponies of Canterlot began to whisper to one another.
"There's that monster."
"She's one of those changelings!"
"They caught her!"
"Didn't she have a horn and wings?"
Chrysalis simply kept her look towards the ground, not daring to look at any of them. She doubt any of these ponies would even think of giving her a second chance. But she knew the reason why she was here, not to be judged by the bystanders, but to be brought to the princesses. She was hoping that Celestia would have sympathy for her, she seemed to have some if Discord was out and about. Then again, he could have been threatened into being good. Meanwhile, Rarity and Applejack where having a conversation of their own, involving Chrysalis.
"Do you really think she is still evil?" Rarity whispered to Applejack.
"Ah don't know. Ah mean, she did attack Canterlot." Applejack replied back.
"But she did say she was doing it for the love, which feeds her changeling."
"So, Twilight's overreacting then?"
"Applejack, this is Twilight we are talking about, we have had multiple episodes of this. I don't mean to talk about it behind her back, but it is true."
"Hmm, Ah guess ya right, Ah could give her a second chance." Applejack said with a slight smile.
"As can I." However, Twilight had overheard them, and was not happy, she had lost two more of her best friends to that monster.
"It doesn't matter." She thought. "It's not up to them if she stays or not, it's up to the princess. And I know she will not be staying." She was confident that Princess Celestia will banish her, to where, she did not care, as long as she was gone and died off somewhere. Though her friends could not see it since she was in front of the group, she had a smug look on her face. However, something strange happen, why it happen, Twilight did not know.
A chill went down her spine.
Princess Celestia sat calmly in her throne, waiting patiently for her student, Twilight to arrive. She had been informed by her, via scroll, that the changeling queen will be brought to her. She didn't even realize she was still alive when a scouting team reported back with so many corpses of changelings, she had just assumed that she had suffered the same fate of her subjects. She felt horrible that so many had died, she could have done something to prevent it, but she didn't. But now she knew, she could atleast make sure this changeling does not become a victim of death. Just then, the doors opened, revealing Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and the changeling queen. She was surprised to see the lack of wings, horn and height on her.
They all bowed upon entering, except for Twilight and Chrysalis, the latter scared for her life.
"You all may stand." She said in a calm, soothing voice. And as instructed, the five ponies resumed their previous stance. Celestia then walked down from her throne, meeting Twilight halfway as she was heading to give her mentor a hug, which she happily accepted. "Twilight, it's good to see you again, all of you." She said, looking over the five other Elements, but when her gaze fell upon Chrysalis, the changeling quickly looked away, not daring to look at the monarch.
"So, this is the changeling queen." Celestia asked, causing Chrysalis to cringe at the mention of her presence.
"Yes, this is Chrysalis, the queen of changelings." Twilight responded, on the inside, she was a giddy little filly, this was the moment she had been waiting for. She would have been rid of this monster once and for all. Celestia then looked back at the queen, and proceeded towards her. Chrysalis' eyes shrunk, she wanted to back up, but her legs would not budge. Soon, Celestia was right in front of her, looking down upon her.
"Chrysalis," She begun, the changeling looked up at the solar princess. "if you don't mind me asking, but how did you survive the magical blast?" Chrysalis stood there for a moment, shocked at the question. She was about to answer, until Pinkie popped up between them, proceeding to explain.
"Well Chrysalis didn't survive, she died when landing, but she awoke in the purgatory where she had to fight floating spines and scary demons known as hell-lords, and the only way to kill one is to combine a part of them with a holy artifact and throw in the fire, after that she found herself on a bridge heading towards the light, but hundreds of hell lords rose from the clouds, but she was able to defeat them, and that's when she woke up!" Pinkie said, all in one breath, taking in a dramatic inhale. Celestia stood wide eyed, while Chrysalis stood with her mouth agape. She didn't remember telling Pinkie how she died, nor did she overhear the others tell her about it, how could she have known?
Celestia stood their a second longer, before she knew what to do.
"Well, I know what to do." Twilight eyes sparkled. "She will be given a second chance to redeem herself in ponyville."
"I knew you would make the right ch-wait WHAT!?"
"The purgatory was a chance for here to be redeemed, and she succeeded in that, so now is her chance to be redeemed in Equestria." Celestia explained. Twilight practically had fumes of steam shooting out from her ears, but what could she do? Argue with the ruler of Equestria? That was out of the question, so she did the only reasonable thing to do, bang her head against the nearby wall.
On the ride back to Ponyville, Twilightsat away from her former friends, feeling betrayed by everypony she has ever loved. She also had a horrible headache, smashing your head against the wall in anger is not the best of ideas.
"Twilight." She heard applejack call. She turned back to them, seeing all of them grouped together. "We were talkin', and we decided that for you to see that Chrysalis is no longer evil, and to help her with her redemption, that she spend the rest of the day with you." Twilight eyes widened, spend a day with... it!? That is the last thing she would have wanted!
"And if anything happens to her, Celestia will be informed." Rarity stated. Twilight groaned loudly, not caring about the attention she will bring herself.
"...Fine."
It was noon when they got back from Canter lot, the sky was coated with a beautiful shade of orange and red. How ever, the only thing not beautiful was Twilight's attitude. She angrily slammed the door of the library open, allowing herself and Chrysalis in. Betrayed by her friends and now being forced to spend the rest of the day with the changeling. It was official, Twilight was pissed off.
"Twilight..." Chrysalis started.
"What?!" Twilight asked angrily, turning to her, Chrysalis swore she saw her mane spark a little fire.
"I-I just want to let you know that, your friends, they still love and care about you. They haven't turned their backs on you."
"Yeah, sure, and I'm supposed to believe you?" Twilight remarked.
"I'm just trying to make you feel better."
"By talking about the ponies that betrayed me!?"
"They didn't betray you!"
"You probably did something to them!"
"I didn't do anything you ignorant alicorn!"
"SHUT UP!" Twilight yelled, flaring her horn and pinning the changeling queen to the wall by her hooves. Chrysalis gulped hard, she knew she had gone too far with this unstable pony. "You show your damn face in my home, hypnotize my friends and mentor and now you try to take control of me!? I mean, can anything else go wrong?!" Just as she finished her sentence, a roar was heard from outside. Chrysalis's pupils shrank, she recognized that roar, however, Twilight didn't and thought it was something Chrysalis was doing.
She was about to threaten Chrysalis, but she saw the fear in the changelings eyes.
"...What was that?" She asked, suddenly, there was the sound of crunching wood, Twilight and Chrysalis turned towards the door, and saw something stabbing it in an attempt to break in. Twilight charged her horn ready to fight anything that broke in, while Chrysalis back away from it. Finally, the door could no longer withstand the assault and fell apart. On the other side, a thick fog has washed over Ponyville, but that was not what worried Twilight, what worried her were the floating skulls and spines. Twilight was about to question the logic of this until they charged. Twilight shot into the crowd, destroying three of them, but they were to fast and quickly reached Twilight. She closed her eyes, not knowing what was going to happen next, but nothing did. She opened her eyes and saw that the spines had completely ignored her and went after Chrysalis instead, who was now running around the library in an attempt to not get stabbed.
"Was... was she telling the truth. Were my friends telling the truth too. But that means..." Realizations then dawned on Twilight. "I... I've been so stupid! My friends were telling the truth! She's... not evil, she was redeemed in the purgatory, and I've been making her redemption here so much harder. I have been an ignorant alicorn. But, that doesn't mean I should continue being one." Twilight charged her horn, ready to obliterate the spines. With one magical blast, she destroyed the one closest to Chrysalis, gaining all their attention. Chrysalis was shocked that Twilight had just saved her, and the spines now saw Twilight as their target for intervening.
With a roar, they all charged at her, but Twilight was already ahead of them, blasting into the crowd, taking out multiple spines at once. But like last time, they reached her quickly. They all started to take shots at her, stabbing her in the chest, legs and sides. She quickly charged her horn and generated a shield, throwing back all the spines surrounding her, but not harming them. The all recuperated and attacked again, but some of them went after the defenseless changeling again. Twilight saw this, and attempted to attack them, but a spine head-butted her, throwing off her concentration, which also left her open for attacks. The spines stabbed the alicorn repeatedly, who was starting to loose to much blood and become light headed. She thought she was going to die, until the sound of a splat alerted her.
She opened her eyes and saw that the spines had parts of an apple on them.
"Ya'll demons go back to the hell you belong to!" Twilight and Chrysalis looked towards the broken down door, and saw Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie Rarity and Fluttershy at the door. Twilight was happy to see them, but she couldn't show it with the amount of pain she was in. The spines left Twilight and Chrysalis alone and headed for the newcomers. Rainbow Dash, however, flew I front of the spines at high speeds, disorienting them. She then swooped in and took two of the spines heads clean off, and the spines themselves fell to the ground, motionless and quickly turned to dust.
As for the remaining spines, they aimed for Applejack, who was in the front. But thinking fast, she turned around, a bucked the closest ones across the room. As soon as the spines made contact with the wall, they shattered into pieces. There were now only three spines left, but they didn't seem to care in the slightest. As they were about to start stabbing Applejack, they were suddenly entangled in cloth, which was under the influence of Rarity. The spines were now just stabbing the air around them, in an attempt to free themselves, but they were all picked up by Pinkie, who ran over to her party canon (wherever that came from) and started to stuff them in. Miraculously, she somehow managed to stuff them all in the canon.
Now with a loaded canon, she aimed it at a nearby window and pulled the trigger, the canon fired, sending the spines to who knows where. With that accomplished, they were safe.. for now. Fluttershy was tending to Twilight and Chrysalis wounds. Chrysalis was already patched up, but Twilight had suffered the most damage and was still being aided. She looked towards Chrysalis... and smiled, and it was not some evil smile at all, it was a calm and happy smile. Chrysalis smiled back after a moment, seeing that Twilight and her were no longer enemies, but the moment was short lived as Chrysalis heard something outside.
Something mumbling in an ancient language.
"...No..."
The ponies, save for Twilight, went outside to investigate what was making the mumbling noise. Chrysalis ran outside with them, knowing that if she stayed in the house, she would be cornered.
"What is making that noise?" Rarity asked, trying to locate its source.
"A hell-lord." Chrysalis answered. The ponies eyes widened.
"Wait, I though you said that the hell-lords were only in the purgatory." Rainbow asked, confused as to why one was in ponyville.
"This one must have escaped tartarus, and is now most likely targeting me."
"I-is there a-anything we c-can do to s-stop it?" Fluttershy asked, shaking with fear.
"I... I don't know, the only way I killed them was with the holy artifacts. But without them or anything to burn or combine with, there may not be a way to stop it." Chrysalis was now beginning to loose all hope. She truly had no idea if there was an alternative way to kill a hell-lord, and if there is not, then she is doomed, so is all of the ponies in ponyville, and possibly beyond the borders of Equestria. The murmering was becoming louder as the hell-lord drew closer.
"G-guys!" Rainbow gained everyone's attention, she was pointing to a figure at the edge of the fog. When they saw what it was, they all gasped. Rarity fainted, the color drained from Fluttershy, Applejack and Rainbow tried their best not to show that they were scared, but failing horribly, Pinkie had ran back into the library to hide, and Chrysalis was backing away from the figure. The hell-lord was there, just looking at them through the fog, as if it was studying them. However, once it's sight locked onto Chrysalis, it disappeared into the fog, spines began to emerge instead, attack every living thing in sight. Ponies began to run and scream in terror, fleeing aimlessly in the fog. Rainbow and Applejack, seeing that other ponies were in danger, shook off their fear and started to combat the spines.
Chrysalis however. was looking all around her self, trying to locate the hell-lord before it was to late for her. Suddenly, just as in the purgatory, the visions came. The hell-lord came out of the fog in front of Chrysalis, in turn, Chrysalis disappeared into the fog opposite of the demon. She had no objective of combining or bringing anything to a fire, the only objective on her mind at the moment was to stay away from the hell-lord. She had to move out of the from the spines, either chasing other ponies, or taking a stab at her, dodge other ponies, or the hell-lord itself, which she usually choose to run in the opposite direction.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack were not having an easier time with the spines. They had to protect themselves and other ponies, and because of them doing so, many spines had begun to target them, trying to eliminate their biggest threat first before proceeding with their original plans. Fluttershy was doing what she did best, and that was hiding. She had dragged the unconscious Rarity with her to the nearest bush that could conceal both of them. Now she was watching the fight through a peephole she made in the bush. Thankfully, her shaking was not giving away her position, as the whole bush was shaking with her.
Soon Rarity was beginning to stir.
"Wha-what happe-" She was immediately shut up by Fluttershy by placing a hoof to her mouth. She pointed to the peephole, allowing Rarity to get up and witness what was happening, however, the only thing she witnessed was a spine popping up in front of their faces. They both let out a horrified scream, Rarity grabbed the nearest thing, a branch from the bush, and proceeded to whack the spine. "GET AWAY FROM ME YOU RUFFIAN!" With the magic influencing the branch, the spine was taking damage from, cracks had already appeared on the skull and were proceeding to get worse. Soon, the spine simply fell limp onto the ground, leaving behind a heavily breathing Rarity and a shaken Fluttershy. However, the other demons on the area saw one of their own fall, and made their way towards Rarity and Fluttershy.
Things were not looking good for anypony, Chrysalis was beginning to grow tired, the same with Rainbow Dash and Applejack, and Rarity was barely keeping the spines at bay. Rainbow and AJ were about to loose their battle, until a cloud of confetti appeared, blowing away all the spines. Pinkie Pire then came out of the fog with her party cannon and the Element of Harmony. Applejack and Rainbow had a look of relief on their faces. Back with Rarity and Fluttershy, a blast of magic destroyed all the spines near the two, looking to their right, they saw Twilight, holding their Elements of Harmony, her wearing her own. With the Elements, the six mares quickly regrouped. When Twilight saw Rainbow, Pinkie and Applejack return to the library, Twilight activated the Elements of Harmony. She mentally aimed at the hell-lord, as it started to gain on Chrysalis, she then opened her eyes, revealing that they were white with magic.
The Rainbow of Harmony shot out from her crown, making a corkscrew shape before shooting towards the demon. The hell-lord was hammered into the ground by the rainbow, it then erupted from the crater like a geyser, it then split off, connecting with every one of the spines. They each exploded into Rainbow particles, once all the spines were destroyed, a bright light consumed ponyville, washing away the fog. Soon, the light faded away, the sky were clear and there was no spine in sight. The six Elements landed gently on the ground looking at the crater made by the rainbow. Chrysalis sat by it, trying to catch her breath, she was at least happy that back at the wedding, she was not attacked by the Elements.
"Did we win?" Rainbow asked. Chrysalis, seeing that the threat was over, got up, and began to make her way back to her friends. But suddenly, the claw of the hell-lord shot up from the crater, grabbing Chrysalis. The six mares eyes widened as Chrysalis let out a terrified scream. The hell-lord pulled itself out of the ground and got into Chrysalis' face, it then let out a scream, her vision being filled with the demon screaming, the vision then ended with it deforming, Chrysalis just stood there, until she fell limp to the ground, her eyes completely white. The mares gasped, the hell-lord then seem to turn to smoke, entering Chrysalis' pupiless eyes. Once the process was over, her eyes closed as she slowly got up, facing away from the mares.
"...Chrysalis?" Fluttershy asked. The changeling just stood there a moment longer before turning towards them, her eyes as black as night. She had a devilish grin plastered ever her face as he let out an ear piecing shriek. The hell-lord now had her body, and the Elements did not know what to do.
Chrysalis awoke in a pitch black place, she could make out her legs on the ground, but she could not make out where she was. But, not far in front of her, there was a glowing orb, about as tall as her, on top if it was a goo-like purple substance. When she approached it, she could not believe what she saw. It was her friends, the Elements, but they were not inside the orb, it was like looking at them through a window, then it hit her.
"This... this is my soul, but, how... how is this possible?!" She could watch in disbelieve as the perspective of her outside body rise above the mares perspectives. She then saw a green glow appear in the top of the vision, she realized that her body was gaining back its original attributes, but she did not know how. But then she remembered what had happen before she fainted, the hell-lord had reached her. "It... it took over my body!" She yelled, as she sprinted towards her soul, only to be swatted away by the purple substance. As she recovered, she threw a murderous glare at it. "That must be the hell-lord, but why does it look like that?"
The substance then started to completely cover her soul, as it gained more control over her body. But, before it could completely cover it, a small bit if her soul escaped, and shot into Chrysalis. She suddenly felt power return to her, her wings sprouted from her back, and her horn appeared on her head. She was back to normal, but the hell-lord was not pleased. It started to launch projectiles at her. Thinking fast, she jumped into the air, using her regained wings to help her dodge the projectiles. She then started to fire back, firing green bolts of magic at it. It looked physically pained by her attack, suddenly tentacles shot out of it, latching into Chrysalis, she charged her horn and shot a concentrated beam at the tentacles. Once she cut through, they reeled back in pain, and disappeared back into the purple substance. A part of it launched itself off her soul, latching onto her, weighing her down to the ground.
It felt like she was melting as the substance burned her. She tried to shake it off, but no matter how hard she tried, it would not come off. Desperate, she charged her magic, and let off a magical blast, blowing off the substance. The hell-lord rippled with pain, it was loosing control of Chrysalis' body. It tried to keep itself together, but Chrysalis kept attacking it.
"I will not let you hurt my friends!" She yelled as she charged her horn, and shot a beam at the hell-lord. It let out a pained shriek as it slowly melted away, leaving her soul. She breathed heavily as she looked back at her soul, the vision in it wobbled, as the hell-lord last control over it, as her body fell, Chrysalis too, passed out.
Chrysalis woke up immediately, she saw she was laying on the dirt rode. Looking up, she saw the six mares, bruised, cut, and tired, the hell-lord must have done a number on them. She slowly got up, seeing her get up, the six tensed up, before realizing that she was once again in control. Fluttershy made the first move towards her, leaping up and tacking her into a hug.
"Oh, thank Celestia you are alright! I was so worried about you!" She said, tears welling up in her eyes. Once the shock of being tackled to the ground subsided, Chrysalis happily returned the hug, happy that her friends were alright.
Later
The moon had risen a while ago andPrincess Luna was pacing back and forward in the throne room. Twilight had sent a letter to Celestia and her about the hell-lord attack. Once she had read the letter, Celestia waisted no time traveling to the Gates of Tartarus, she was not even wearing her golden regalia. Luna was worried for her sister and the fact that a hell-lord had possibly escaped from Tartarus. If a hell-lord had escaped, what else could have escaped from there? She then heard the sounds of a magical teleport, turning around, she saw that Celestia had returned, but she had a troubled look on her face.
"What is wrong?" She asked, fearing she already knew the answer.
"There... was no breach." She stated. Luna inwardly sighed in relief, but now instead of worried, she was confused.
"But, then how was there a hell-lord in ponyville?" She asked.
"That's what I'm wondering myself Luna." She said, immediately letting out a yawn, covering it with her hoof. "Excuse me. Let's not worry about it, it's taken care of. It must have been part of the redemption for Chrysalis. Now if you will excuse me Luna, but I must get back to bed. Good night Luna." She said, giving Luna a hug.
"Good night sister." She returned the hug, then letting her sister return to her bed. She was still worried about the fact that a hell-lord was in ponyville, but decided to drop the matter."I shouldn't worry, the hell-lord is gone. It had not escaped from Tartarus... but... where did it come from?"
