"Well Chrysalis. Here we are." The said queen looked up at the royal throne, looking up to meet Celestia's pitying eyes. "I would have liked for us to meet in different circumstances, believe me... But you gave us no choice." A long pause filled the throne room, the only exception being the soft rattling of chains.
"Why didn't you kill me?" Green blood mixed with spit fell to the floor, staining the red carpet beneath her porous hooves. "Why did you bring me here all the way from the Badlands? Justice? Pride? Is that why you killed my entire hive?"
"Chrysalis. I did not like sending my army into your lands to kill your hive by any means, but you must understand that you are an international criminal." Celestia paused, sighing. "That being said, the Equestrian monarchy was not the only one involved in the extermination of your hive. Griffins, Minotaurs, and many other races we've forgotten for centuries have risen up and called for changeling blood to be spilled." Celestia seemed... sad. Or maybe it was the changeling's blood on her face giving her illusions. "As soon as your hive was expelled out of the castle, the other empires have noticed loved ones, politicians, and other important members of their societies disappearing. Your crimes here, and the crimes of replacing their figures with your race are unforgivable in their eyes." Celestia sighed once more, looking away. "I really wished to have this whole situation go in a more peaceful direction, but everyone seems to want revenge. I even a sent a courier with a message to offer making negotiations, but he was never heard from again."
Ah, yes. He was harvested and converted. Also one of the first ones to die. Chrysalis coughed, making more green spittle fly onto the carpet. Chrysalis looked to Luna, who was right beside her sister, who glared back.
"You will call back any more impersonators, scouts, soldiers, and any other type of drone you may have in any other empire, and we will see to it that they will be adopted by the other queens. If you do not comply, the other hives have offered their services in helping us find them, and the other nations have offered their services in exterminating them. The queen from Whitetail has offered integration to your remaining drones, and the king in the San Palomino desert has offered aid and help for reparations." The changeling arched a brow. "It seems now that your hive has revealed itself and your entire species, your whole race seems to want redemption." Luna continued, tone as cold as ice. "This says much about you, Changeling."
"The only thing that me and my sister are wondering is, why didn't you just ask for help?" Celestia asked, as she began to descend her throne. "Anything that can help your drones would be extremely helpful to their survival."
The former queen sighed, brushing a lock of her filthy mane out of her eyes with a chained hoof. She looked Celestia in the eye, trying to word her answer.
"Our hive was starving, just like all the others, even though they won't admit it. The last I heard, the hive near the griffin empire was the worst. The only thing keeping them at bay and doing what we did here is the fear of the whole griffin empire exterminating them in a matter of days. There is little to no love there, only hatred and blood lust." Chrysalis explained, her voice growing hoarse. "The only reason we put up such a fight was because love of a pony radiates off of them like heaters. You can feed a changeling for a day by simply sitting next to a love-stricken pony." Celestia's mane was moving like waves at a beach. It was almost comforting. "But that is one. Hives range in the millions. So many roles to be filled, and only about a fifth is to be used as infiltrators. And that fifth has to share with the hive." Chrysalis already felt weaker, as if talking about losing love would be her own death.
Celestia pondered this, and looked to the throne. Luna flew to her side, landing softly next to her sister.
"You have two options, queen. Be glad my sister has talked the other nations into this. Death by guillotine, or exile?" Luna stated.
Chrysalis pondered this for a moment. Her hive was gone, her name disgraced, all her plans stopped... She may as well accept her death. There was nothing left for her... The former queen narrowed her eyes. No! That's a coward's way of thinking! I have survived this, and if I simply kill myself then what does that say about me? That I was weak? I will survive... And I will rebuild my hive, and restore my name to it's full glory!
"I'm guessing you do not choose the easy way out?" Luna smiled. Chrysalis gave a determined look and nodded. "Then you will be healed to decent physical health, and then you shall exiled. Good luck, changeling." Two guards flanked the former queen, one from either side of the guard. The night guard to her right did a once-over on her chains, then nodded to the day guard to her left. "See to it she is escorted to the dungeons' medical bay, with at least twenty guards. Take no chances." As the guards snapped their salutes, the princess of the moon nodded once more and made her way back to the throne.
There may be hope for me yet...
=+=+=+=+=+=
As soon as the guards shut the door behind them, both sisters sighed. It had been a long and grueling grudge match with the representatives of each race. At least the stag kingdom still believed in negotiation. Although, the griffins and minotaurs have been more than persistent. Celestia looked to the soon-to-be exile's exit point. She felt sorry for the queen, a trait most found weak. What will she do in the world planned to be her future habitat? Luna looked over, seeing the sorrow in her sister's eyes.
"Fret not, Tia. She is a fighter. And the place chosen for her is no worse than the land she had lived in before. If Chrysalis has survived for this long on such meager conditions, then she will have more than enough to survive." Celestia gave a small smile, but it quickly turned back into a deep frown.
"I know Lulu, but... I just worry for her. Should we have told her where she will be exiled to?" Luna gave a stoic look, and mulled it over.
"Perhaps. But then again, how to explain it to her? She probably would have chosen death on the spot if we told her what she will be going up against. At least we will watch over her, we at least have that ability. Perhaps once she has learned to ask for help, instead of taking like a ruthless dictator, then we can talk to the other races. Maybe even the other monarchs of the changeling empires." Luna had a good point. Once Chrysalis has learned her lesson, she will be a little more reasonable.
"Do you think she will thank us for the whole experience, or hate us completely?" Luna frowned a bit.
"Perhaps both... maybe neither. Either way, she goes to the Capitol wasteland."
Author's Note
Please tell me if this is a good start. I want to at least make this a good read... Tell me if anything is wrong, spelling errors, etcetera. Thanks for taking the time to read.
For those of you who have read the original story from city of gold, this is pretty much a largely edited version of her parts, minor changes to her parts, but alot of stuff in the beginning. Hope this flows with the first chapter.
~~~
At last it was time, she could feel it. After a week of intensive care and love, and Chrysalis was ready to go. Where? She wasn't sure exactly. All she knew was that she would survive this... this exile... Just as she had done with so many other situations. Yes, she'd come marching right back with her head held high, and with an army behind her! She smiled deviously at her wishful thinking, rubbing her porous hooves together. From her cell, she could see the faint shadow of an alicorn. Ah, yes... Getting revenge after all this will be sweeter than the most potent of love...
"Today is the day, my dear changeling." Luna said aloud as she trotted to her cell. As she stopped, she looked the former queen in the eye. "Are you ready?"
"More ready than I shall ever be, princess." Chrysalis stood up, determined look on her onyx-colored features. She stood and waited for a pair of guards to put her legs in shackles, and was then escorted by a squad of both sides of the royal guard and the princess to the throne room.
=+=+=+=+=+=
An audience awaited the changeling. This one being comprised of several different races. From Minotaurs to zebras and everything in between. Basically all races capable of speech and rational thought were her for her sentencing. She recognized most, save for a few she didn't know, nor cared for at the moment. She was led right into the crowds' line of sight, with sorrowful looks and furious glares assaulted her. But all she could think about now was her soon-to-be revenge on all of them. Oh, yes. They made a mistake with letting her make a decision. Their weakness will cost them dearly.
Celestia was opposite of the crowd, on her throne, with Luna already at her side. Maybe that throne would look good in black... Her wings quivered in excitement. So what if she had to start all over again? It'll all be worth it, right? Indeed it will... She thought as the princess of the sun cleared her throat. The crowd behind the queen went silent, awaiting the choice.
"We are all here today to witness the exile of former queen, and international criminal, Chrysalis." Luna started, more than loud enough for everyone to hear. "Her crimes include impersonation of important political and military figures, after kidnapping and either murdering or converting them into her own artificial brood, adultery in the Zebra tribes, prostitution rings in the Equestrian Monarchy, and many other subjects that are too long and or too brutal to be stated in this throne room." The crowd muttered in agreement, eager to just get on with the accusations. "The choice was given to either be exiled to the Capitol Wasteland, or execution." Luna paused, as if for dramatic effect. "The accused has chosen to be exiled!" Many blew out a sigh of relief, while others growled in discontent. "Is this true, Chrysalis?" Everyone in the room was staring at the queen, she could feel it.
"That is true, princess." She replied simply. The crowd once again gave mixed reactions, some disappointed that their blood lust would not be sated today. The princesses looked to one another, and nodded.
"So be it, Changeling. The Capitol wasteland it is." The princesses horns were glowing brightly, causing many to look away or shield their eyes. "Any last words?" Contemplating her last words, she grinned as something dramatic came to mand.
"I'LL SEE YOU ALL IN TARTARUS!" She boomed as light enveloped her entire form. After a flash of blinding light, all that was left of the being was empty shackles and a large piece of singed carpet.
"May Faust be with you Changeling..." Celestia whispered as she stared at the singe mark.
=+=+=+=+=+=
As Chrysalis reached her destination, the land greeted her by her landing face first and making friction with cement for about a foot, then flopping her hooves to the ground, and she then proceeded to cuss violently to herself. As she picked herself up, she noticed a few things. There were wrecked buildings all around her. There was cement beneath her hooves. The air seemed... dirty. There were plenty of things that she didn't recognize, like the blackened husks that once looked to be part of a machine.
The Badlands... It had none of these features. If this is not the Badlands... Then, where am I?
So lost in her observations, she noticed a group of three bipedal creatures... dressed in black armor, with a... White talon on the breast, and carrying strange looking metal sticks... They weren't swords, but she could tell they were metal by the sheen. She then realized they spotted her. Oh, son of a-
=+=+=+=+=+=
Chrysalis was not a happy changeling. Not at all. Somehow with all the rubble of a nearby structure she was hidden, but her magic refused to work, and that meant no invisibility, no camouflage, and no love, or at least not for a while...
The three bipeds were still looking for her, pointing their metal tools this way and that, looking to capture, or kill her. It was always the fate of a changeling, with few exceptions.
"Come on out Diane and we'll consider giving you a painless death! You fucking coward! Come on!" Diane? Who in the buck is Diane?! Then her heart stopped. In her sights she saw two bipeds... But where was the third? She felt her tail being pulled, and snapped her head around, only to have her mouth covered by an invisible figure, surely the third biped, as she felt its cold digits spread around her mouth, preventing her from screaming.
She waited for death, or a drug to set in, as she clenched her eyes shut. After about five minutes, she dared to open her eyes, only to see a slight disfiguration where she thought her future captor was. For about five more minutes, she stared, awaiting the inevitable. She felt the invisible digits leave her lips hesitantly, and she kept quiet, now scared out of her mind. She then felt the digits scratching her behind her ears. It... thinks I'm an animal?
"Well, you're a sight for sore eyes... Name's Jett... But What to call you..." She heard a soft masculine voice whisper. Chrysalis blinked. Now realizing her odds of death were significantly lowered. So she did what every changeling that felt love during a companionship did. She played along, and nuzzled the limb scratching her. Besides, it felt kinda... nice...
=+=+=+=+=+=
Chrysalis had found a food source, and hopefully an ally.
From what she had learned, Jett was another nobody in this 'capital wasteland' working for 'the white talon'. It was much like the Badlands her hive used to be, except with a lot more ruins of an old world. Jett kept telling her that it was a better place, that buildings scraped the sky, and the technology could sustain life, and cure tons of things Chrysalis never even gave a second thought to. But then a magnificent and horrid flash consumed the world, giving birth to all that surrounded her. 'Truly a shame', he kept murmuring. Truly. As it also turned out, the strange sentient creature thought of her as a pet, and felt a steady trickle of affection coming from him. The queen was not planning to let the beast find out of her self-awareness just yet, so she used her native language of buzzing wings, grunts and stomping of her porous hooves against pavement. Though why he talked to her the whole trip was beyond her. Ponies seemed to do that to pets sometimes. Something to vent to? She found it weird.
Jett was a highly intelligent individual for his age, twenty if she remembered correctly, as he was a major supplier of chems to a small army of mercenaries, mostly jet, thus his name. Just like every other mercenary in the "White Talon," he wore black combat armour with a white talon stenciled onto the breast plate. The weird metal sticks they carried were called 'rifles', and apparently calling it a 'gun' was a bad thing, because that would earn you a slap in the back of the head.
Chrysalis pondered all this. If she was not careful, she was sure these beings would kill her without hesitation and even then she hadn't seen their weapons in use, but Jett was trustworthy enough... she hoped.
After their little encounter, Jett had turned off his strange device that made him mostly invisible, revealing his features. Slanted hazel eyes with bags under them, tan skin, red dyed hair (She could see black roots in his mane) and a signature melancholy look to go with it. Certain soldiers had that look. The Thousand mile stare, as the griffons called it. Jett was reliving horrid memories, she could taste it.
She brushed against his leg, bringing him back to reality. He looked down and chuckled a bit, then gave her a rub on the neck. She responded by buzzing her wings, then closed her eyes after several seconds. No one has ever done anything like that. Ever. Not even a brainwashed Minotaur would. She figured this was how dogs felt, and boy did it feel great.
Alas, he stopped, as all good things have to. After several minutes, they were joined by three other black-clad mercenaries, carrying long cylinders with what looked like two metal sticks coming out of the midsection.
"Where is she?" One said gruffly.
"Jett, you see her anywhere?"
"Nah, just rubble and some ammo for a sniper rifle." He emphasized his point by holding up a brass colored spike up for the others to see.
"That's the fifth time this month we've been mislead. You sure our contacts are working to track the bitch down?" The first spoke up again.
"You fucking ask them, you're the one who hired them." Jett put the spike into a back pocket, and slung his silver and white stick on his back. The first sighed, doing the same.
"Let's head home. Cook us up some Jet and some turbo for us wouldja?" The group headed in a certain direction, leading a straight path out of what Chrysalis assumed was once a small town.
"Twenty caps a-"
"Gah!? What the fuck is that thing?" A merc piped up, aiming a small L-shaped tool directly at her. Her eyes widened, and she looked to Jett, who slapped the weapon away and explained how he found 'it' with a lot more profanities than were clearly necessarily.
"Looks like a dog fucked a radroach and that crawled out..." A dog and a saywhothewhatnow-roach?
"HA! You'd know that wouldn't you Red? You stick your dick in just about anything that moves." Hehe... Wait.
"How many 'roaches you fuck yet?"
"Hey! Fuck all of you!"
"Not a snowball's chance in hell, friend. Not a chance." The group laughed hysterically, and this 'Red' character was obviously irritated, kicking loose pieces of pavement here and there. As the laughter died down, they walked towards their home, quickly letting the former queen into their little group as a pet, and she found herself letting out a sigh of relief that went unnoticed to the group.
She knew now, this was going to be like hanging out with a bunch of immature colts in a high school. Oh, how she was going to regret this decision.
=+=+=+=+=+=
"Hey! You done with the batch yet Jett?" The mercs, four in total, were laying about in a metal tunnel underground, with empty bottles and, crates, broken metal shelves, crappy-looking bedrolls... More or less what she expected in a guy cave from her experiences.
"Shut the fuck up or you'll get nothing! And we don't have any fixer for you either motherfucker!" Jett was hunched over some type of chemistry set, and Chrysalis watched everything with a new found curiosity. So many things to watch... She watched as the merc grabbed what looked like a breather with a cylinder on top of it. Curious, she sniffed at it. Jett noticed this and let her smell it, and she put her snout into the breathing apparatus of the strange item, she sniffed an odd smelling liquid, and her eyes widened to see all sorts of colorful shapes. She stood stock still, mouth agape, muttering inaudibly.
"Whoah! It can get high?!" Red exclaimed, sitting up on his bedroll.
"Haha! You took it well for a first-timer!" The group laughed as she began jumping around the room, chasing non-existent illusions. "Well, the batch is done, and from what Lady over here is doing, I have outdone myself with some of the strongest shit so far! Come n' get it boys, caps up front, no tabs with you assholes!"
...And then they got really, really high.
