Crimson

Chrysalis looked up to the golden plate of glass that hid the soldier's scarred face, seeing her own reflection staring back at her. Here it was, before her. The soldier that would be able to get this giant metal ship running again. She had it surrounded by some of her finest troops, it had placed its weapon on its back, and was now facing her entire race without support.

So why did she fear this single soul more than any other?

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Twilight's mind lingered on what she had seen in the medical ward, only moments ago. Nearly a hundred Changelings, all hooked up to different alien devices, even some with heart monitors that wavered in her presence. Needless to say, seeing several individuals almost die of literal fear of her had been enough cause for her pause. After walking for what seemed like an eternity through the hallways of the alien vessel, the three Changelings escorting her stood still, causing Twilight to stumble a bit on her hooves. She looked around to find any kind of hint as to where they were, but paused when she heard Five's voice from the open door to the right.

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"Here's how this is going to work," Five started, pointing at a table, "We're going to walk over to that table, sit down, and discuss this like civilized, intelligent creatures. Sound fair?"

The Changeling Queen paused for a moment before motioning to her guards to move aside.

"I already prefer you to that pony princess, Celestia," Queen Chrysalis spoke as she began to limp towards the table. "Though, to be honest, I'd prefer a knife in my back than having to deal with that Sun-bitch."

"Sounds like we've already got some common ground to start on," Five said casually.

Chrysalis smirked at the comment.

"I take it you haven't hit it off well with her, then?" she asked darkly.

"No, I'm pretty sure I hit her well enough. Left quite the bruise, if I'm the one to judge."

That made Chrysalis' heart almost seize.

When she had fought Princess Celestia, it had taken her almost every bit of strength her body could hold to only scorch the tip of her horn. The fact that this soldier had done physical harm to that kind of beast without even having magic was almost nightmarish. Queen Chrysalis pushed her fear aside as she neared her seat, and struggled to fit into the bench with the odd angle it seemed to be constructed at. When she sat down, it appears that Five had a similar problem, although it was more due to his sheer size.

"Damn bench," he whispered to himself as the metal began to groan underneath him. "So, you were saying something about extinction earlier. Care to explain?"

Chrysalis swallowed a lump in her throat as she felt her torso ache from the burns.

"Yes. We have recently failed a massive mission, where in only those in this ship survived. We were trying to gather enough food to make a large journey to the Frozen North."

"Why?"

In all honesty, Chrysalis was impressed. She had half-expected to hear him ask about anything related to what the ponies might have told him. To actually be able to hold a conversation with another being that didn't automatically accuse her of trying to bring forth the apocalypse was... different.

"My race is dying out fast. For a thousand years, we've been trying to scrape by in tunnels, underground cities, and even in plain sight, hiding amongst the populace through our special technique, which I believe you've seen."

Five nodded.

"So why are you dying out? Why hide?" he asked.

A scowl crawled its way onto the Queen's face.

"Because of hypocrisy and prejudice. Not once have we openly started conflict with any race, yet they attack us on sight. Especially the ponies," she spit out with disgust. "They wail on about how 'friendship is magic,' and how 'everyone should get along,' and go so far as to say, 'love and tolerate'. If they're so loving and caring, why are we starving to death!?"

Chrysalis looked up to find total silence in the room that seemed to focus on the waiting words of the Spartan.

"What do you eat?"

The Queen felt her heart rate increase as she thought about the possible reactions of the soldier.

"We feed on love."

Silence again.

"What?"

"On this world, magic is the main energy of all living things. There are a number of forms, such as light, dark, shadow, fear, dream, but the one our bodies need is love."

Again, silence.

"Magic?" Five deadpanned.

Chrysalis sighed in annoyance.

"Yes, magic."

Five leaned back in his seat as he groaned to himself.

"What shit-end of the galaxy did I end up in?"

"Excuse me?" Chrysalis spoke, offended by the remark.

"Of all the things I've seen in my life, all the death, destruction, and just flat-out terror, I would have never even thought about finding a world that had actual magic."

"Please, what do you know of terror?"

Five straightened up and leaned on his elbows as they met with the table's surface.

"You don't want to find out. Trust me."

The two glared at each other, trying to melt through the glass plane that separated their gazes to offer a challenge to the other. Neither spoke for a solid minute, the Changeling guards keeping their distance from both their Queen and the Spartan-IV, not wanting to provoke them. Outside the mess hall, however, a lavender alicorn began to panic in her own mind, as she contemplated the situation she was in.

'What do I do, what do I do!? She's the Queen of the Changelings! She tried to take over my brother's mind and ruin my sister-in-law's life! She invaded Canterlot and nearly wrecked the wedding! But if what everything she's said is true? Have we really been starving them? Did anypony ever give them a chance? Did... did we make them invade?'

"What about the rest of your forces?" Five's voice cut through the silence.

"What other forces?"

"Do you have any scouting teams out in the world? Other groups looking for some kind of magical convenience object that could save your kind? Anything?"

Chrysalis let her head drop as she felt the words clog her throat. Should she trust this soldier? This alien? He'd been reasonable so far. The Queen took in a deep breath before she spoke.

"I've already called back all scouting parties and agents to this forest months ago, when we failed."

"How many are coming?"

"... none. They're all here."