"Mockery!"

Jagged shards of stone exploded off of a crudely carved cavern wall.

"Injustice!"

Another series of shards burst from a second wall.

"Sheer. Dumb. LUCK!!!"

A final volley of stone erupted into a shower of dust as a lance of volatile green light impacted it with devastating force.

Queen Chrysalis stood still as a statue, her head lowered and her breathing shallow. The air around her swirled in agitation and her body shuddered in barely contained fury.

"Luck." She repeated, the single word echoing off of the stone walls. "We had them." She stated, slowly looking up. "We had everything. Their city, their home. We had Canterlot itself!" Her voice raised in volume. "The very capital of the Equestrian civilization, the crown jewel of pony pride, was ours!" She stamped the ground in rage. "And what happens?" She hissed, "We tripped at the finish line!"

The walls shook as the Changeling Queen unleashed a scream of frustration. A storm of energy impacted a far wall in rapid succession, leaving deep scars within the stone. A flurry of motion broke out as she whipped around, aimlessly beginning to pace around the room as a continuous slew of curses flew from her mouth. Changeling drones and warriors alike scrambled out of her way as she walked past. The last thing any one of them wanted was to be in the direct path of their queen's fury. Her anger was only ever matched by her hunger, and this day, both were at a critical level.

"How!?" She screamed. "How, how how how how HOW!? How did this happen to us!?"

Her horn lit up in anticipation of another magical barrage. She had replayed the scene over and over again in her head. Taking the form of Princess Cadance, she was able to deceive even that cow Celestia, the Solar Princess herself! Even after being exposed for what she was, she had finally garnered enough strength to not only challenge her, but beat her in one-on-one combat! After her first devastating defeat by Celestia, she had harbored more than a healthy amount of fear towards her. But that moment. That glorious, glorious look of horror in Celestia's eyes. Chrysalis had savored that look, that feeling. Finally, after years of hiding in shame, years of fear, years of planning, years of waiting... She had everything ready to be crushed under her hooves.

So what happened?

Cadance and Shining Armor had spewed out some drivel about using their 'love' to drive her back. What absolute rubbish. They were beaten. They were defeated. And then... She lost. Every changeling in the city sent flying away in a wave of light. Their queen tumbling with them, screaming in disbelief. It was ridiculous. She couldn't bring herself to believe such an absurdity. Love was no super-power. Love was nothing but a means to an end. A convenient tool. She should know. She exploited that very same tool for her plans.

"Celestia must have done something!" She hissed to herself. "She couldn't possibly allow such an event to occur. Her student beaten? Her kingdom invaded? No. She wouldn't have that." She nodded, reassuring herself. "Yes, yes she must've laid some kind of trap! Some spell. A safeguard." Her eyes narrowed, "I should've expected as much."

She walked out into the central cavern, the heart of the entire Changeling hive. Her jagged throne loomed above her, and her numerous children flew and skittered along every available space on the stone and earth walls, floor and ceiling. The place was bustling with activity as the drones were repairing the extensive damage to the hive's structure.

It had been several months since the incident in Canterlot. In those months, the changelings were not left idle. While they had a firm advantage in the initial assault, Celestia was not the ruler of Equestria because she sat on her royal flank all day. The Changeling Queen had greatly underestimated her proactive capabilities, as the next two months had proved.

A group of three drones approached her as she walked into the cavern, and they immediately bowed their heads in her presence. She nodded in recognition, only giving more than huff due to this group's seniority.

"My queen." One drone began, lifting its head, "We have returned from our scouting assignment."

"What news?" Chrysalis snapped. "Spit it out."

"Yes your majesty." Another of the group said. "We've scouted the entire perimeter of Canterlot, as close as we possibly could."

"And?" Chrysalis pressed, knowing what they were going to say next.

The lead scout sighed and looked away, "We have confirmed that the barrier placed continues to push out further, and has now extended to nearly a half-mile radius from Canterlot. All sides."

The latter drone finished. "Our disguises break immediately when we try to cross the field. Were it not for the cover of night we would've surely been discovered by now."

Chrysalis hissed and stamped her hooves. Another shot of green energy flew from her horn, slamming into a stone pillar across the room, causing it to topple over. Dozens of changeling workers flew and skittered out of the way of the crumbling stone.

"The Solar Witch is thorough. I'll give her that much." The queen muttered.

"Are there no holes in the barrier?" She pressed the scouts.

They all looked to one another and then back at their queen, shaking their heads. Chrysalis hissed and began pacing again.

After their failed assault on Canterlot, any future plans for an invasion were effectively ended by the amount of anti-illusory spells and wards that had been put into effect within the city and its surroundings. Save for brute force, the city was effectively untouchable. Something else was required for her plans to come to fruition.

She huffed and turned towards her throne, not even bothering to look back at the scouts, "That is all. Leave."

The trio of changeling drones quickly flew off as their queen made her way to her throne, her wings buzzing as they lifted her up. As she sat down and gazed upon the massive chamber of stone, she noticed that a significant portion of her drones and workers had left. No doubt for their next assignments. Good. She could use some time alone to gather her thoughts.

Her eyes drifted as aimlessly as her mind. There was no other choice but to look towards other options for the time being. The thought had crossed her mind to utilize the hive itself, but the risk involved with such a strategy could outweigh any possible reward. Her throne would give a sizable advantage, negating any and all non-changeling magic, but it would be of little use if not utilized properly. She couldn't just openly challenge Celestia to attack the hive. She would have to lure her here somehow. But even then, there were other threats to consider. The Elements of Harmony for one. Luna for another.

Chrysalis' brow furrowed at the thought of Luna. She hadn't been an active part in the invasion attempt. Chrysalis was thankful for that much, but that did little to answer for just how powerful Luna actually was. If she was anything close to the stories of Nightmare Moon...

She shook her head and focused her mind again. Luna's power could not be reliably determined at this point in time. There were more pressing issues at hand.

"PHARYNX!" She bellowed.

Not ten seconds later, a large changeling warrior landed on the ground near the throne with a heavy thud. His armor clattered against itself and the floor of the stone platform as he approached.

"Your highness!" He spoke, his voice raspy, "I have come as commanded!"

Chrysalis regarded him somewhat more highly than her previous company. He was not a high commander of her army, but he was reliable and fiercely loyal to her cause.

"I trust you're already aware of the issue at hoof?" She asked.

He gave a deep bow and rose to address her directly, "Yes my queen. Our attempts to invade the city are no longer viable."

Chrysalis nodded, "Precisely. I will have to resort to alternative strategies for the time being. In the meantime, I want you to take charge of our scouting regiment. You are to oversee any and all information regarding Equestria, especially Canterlot."

"Of course your majesty!" The commander replied, "It shall be done!"

The Queen waved him off. She knew he was good at what he did, and it was more than likely he'd be able to uncover some valuable information. As he turned to leave, however, he went still.

Chrysalis frowned, "What are you doing?" She asked, her tone annoyed. "You are dismissed! Do as you've been ordered!"

Pharynx didn't reply. Instead he remained unmoving, as if he was staring off into space at something that was not there. A moment passed, and the queen was beginning to get agitated.

"Pharynx." She snapped.

The warrior's eyes narrowed and his tongue flicked out of his mouth with a low hiss. Chrysalis suddenly got the sense that something was wrong. Very, very wrong.

"What are you-"

"Only a fool walks straight into the heart of the changeling hive!" Pharynx growled out to the open air.

He went low, as if he was about to pounce on his unseen foe, but he made no move to advance. His stance remained agitated, his wings imperceptibly vibrating against his chitinous carapace.

"What is the meaning of this?" The Queen hissed. "Who are you talking to!?"

She was cut short as a sudden stillness overtook the massive hive cavern. The activity from the hundreds of drones and workers came to an abrupt halt, and a dead silence filled the room. Her own eyes narrowed in turn, scanning every inch of the area. The sudden drop of motion in her children could only mean one thing.

A foreigner had entered her lair.

A darkened corner of the cavern caught her eye, and she focused intently upon it. There, a single spot of utter darkness, almost as if someone had taken a knife and sliced out a section of reality itself, began to grow. The more she stared into it, the more she felt the urge to look away, to shield her eyes. Her body shuddered at the mere sight of it, but she could not bring herself to turn her gaze. The dark spot continued to expand until it had formed into the shape of a nebulous doorway.

As her attention remained fixed upon it, her head began to pound with a dull throb. A pressure had begun to exert itself, not only on herself, but everything around her. Pharynx had also noticed, as he was still focused on the same area as his queen, and the other changelings had slowly begun to gather around the strange phenomenon.

As the dark doorway grew, so too did the feeling of foreboding within Chrysalis. It was not the sensation of fear or anxiety that one would normally feel in a threatening situation, but something more... Primal. An instinctual, gut reaction of a body being exposed to something wholly unnatural.

The doorway stopped growing. For a brief moment, nothing happened. Chrysalis watched in rapt attention as a form began to coalesce from within the darkened area. Its shape was tall, nearly impossible so. The very shadows themselves seemed to coalesce into a drape of shifting black fabric, robes as dark as a patch midnight that had never been cleared away. They clung tightly to a tall, lanky frame that was utterly concealed by their folds, save for the gaping hole that was the figure's hood. Even then, only two points of a hollow white light shown through the void, just as empty and lifeless as the abyss around them.

It regarded her in total stillness. She did likewise, but her eyes narrowed as her horn lit up in a green glow. The figure was completely and utterly silent, as it seemed to simply stare her down in response. It said nothing, it did not even acknowledge the changeling army that was amassing at the base of the stone throne.

The two regarded one another, and a battle of wills erupted. The Changeling Queen stared down the dark, towering being, refusing to back down from this invasion of her hive. Her gaze remained as hard as the very stone that the hive itself was carved out of. The stranger, for its part, did not react, did not even seem to regard her presence as even remotely threatening, simply choosing to continue to stare her down.

Movement suddenly stirred, just as disconcerting as the being that initiated it. The thing seemed to arch downwards, and Chrysalis couldn't help the shiver that ran down her body as it moved. Her eyes widened and her horn blazed as her muscles tightened. She was about to strike first, but her mind was racing so quickly with adrenaline that she could barely think to do so. It rose once more, and her breath hitched in her throat. Was that a... Bow?

The Queen of the Changelings did not lower her guard, nor did she allow her magic to fade in the presence of this... Intruder. The darkened being stood tall once again, and she noticed that the shadow that clung to the figure's body was more akin to smoke than fabric, the darkened mist rolling and shifting along its form. The two points of light flickered in their sockets as it addressed the Queen.

"Queen Chrysalis."

The entire hive erupted with an incoherent buzzing. Every drone and worker flew into a frenzied state of panic, flying around and into one another. The Queen herself was taken completely aback, her horn dimming for the moment. The sound that invaded her ears was like nothing she had ever experienced before. There were no words she could possibly describe what her ears had just registered, as they twitched and shuddered at the malfeasant sound. If cold had its own voice, if silence could whisper, it would sound something like this.

"Forgive my sudden intrusion, Queen Chrysalis." It said, and she braced herself as its voice once again assaulted her ears. Each word was slow, deliberate, and felt like its own echo. Like the very air was trying and failing miserably to prevent it from being heard. "I would speak with you."

The hive buzzed incoherently as the Changelings continued to writhe around. Chrysalis' own stomach churned in turn, but she maintained composure. She would not let this thing get to her. Not in front of her own people.

"What are you!?" Chrysalis shouted. At least, she thought she did. The moment she opened her mouth, her voice died in her throat, coming out more like an aggressive whisper than a demand. She was shaken. Badly.

Its head tilted ever so slightly to the side, regarding her, and her question, in what she thought was confusion.

"You may call me The Pilgrim... If you wish to name me." It answered. It was not answering her question directly, and that did not go unnoticed by Chrysalis. "But it is irrelevant. I come to you to present a proposal."

She huffed and stomped a hoof in the stone. Her face scrunched up in anger and her lips curled back to reveal her jagged teeth. "A proposal!?" She spat. "What madness is this? You invade the sanctity of the changeling hive and think to offer us proposals!?"

She was fully prepared to attack this thing, this 'Pilgrim', as it called itself. But she hesitated. Something was very, very off here, and she couldn't put her hoof on what that was. This was no mere creature that she was dealing with. It didn't take a genius to figure that much out.

The Pilgrim's gaze did not falter. Its two points of white light never left Chrysalis, and it spoke again. "Your anger is understandable." It stated. "You have suffered a terrible loss."

The buzzing from the hive increased, as did the frenzied motion of her people. She ignored their commotion for the moment, as her mind processed what this 'Pilgrim' had just uttered. Her eyes widened as her mouth gaped. What!? How could this thing possibly know?

"I am certain that you are acquainted with Princess Celestia."

The Pilgrim's mention of the name caused Chrysalis to hiss, "How do you know that witch?"

"I am a pilgrim, am I not?" It said. "I have frequented these spaces before. But my history is irrelevant. What matters is my proposal to you."

"And just what are you proposing?" Chrysalis spat, her eyes narrowing further. She didn't care about whatever it was offering. She wanted it out, immediately. Her hive, her own children, were being disturbed. Their very minds were in a panic, and she was feeling the strain. She wasn't sure how long she could stand it before she just started screaming.

"I can give you what you desire most." The Pilgrim said. It seemed to be looking at her directly, its white pinpoints of light never leaving their position.

"Oh, and what would that be?" She replied venomously.

The Pilgrim stood in silence for a few moments before it spoke, "I have seen your kind. I have seen the hunger that you carry with you. The desperation for food, for survival." The points of light flickered, "It is a fate that you do not deserve, and I am offering a way out."

Chrysalis' eyes went wide for a moment and she stood in silence, "And what of it?"

"I can ensure that you are satiated." It said. "For eternity, even. You will not need to look for food ever again. Your people will no longer hunger. A peace that not even Celestia can question."

Chrysalis frowned, and looked away in disgust. "And you believe that I want peace?" She chuckled darkly and looked back at him, "I want revenge. I will make Celestia kneel at my hooves. I will not stop until all of Equestria is brought under the might of the Changelings."

The Pilgrim stood still. "Love is not garnered through domination." He stated. "Celestia will be beneath you, do not mistake my intention."

"And how do you intend to make good on such an absurd statement?" Chrysalis challenged. "Canterlot is a fortress. My entire hive could not breach its walls."

"I know this." The Pilgrim said, and the room went quiet, the silence nearly oppressive. Chrysalis was almost certain that her heart would be audible if not for the incessant buzzing around her.

"So why should we care!?" Pharynx shouted, stepping in front of Chrysalis. He stomped the ground and hissed angrily. "Your proposal is a joke! It is a waste of the Queen's precious time, and you will leave here, immediately!"

Chrysalis nodded in agreement. "Pharynx is right. Your proposal is meaningless." She spat. "Leave us now, or face our combined wrath!"

Pharynx went stiff as he was lifted from the ground. Chrysalis looked at him in confusion as he began to hover above her, his body tense and unmoving. The distinct sound of chitin straining under pressure suddenly echoed throughout the room. She looked up at Pharynx and gasped in shock. His neck was being constricted by some invisible force, his face straining with pain and effort. A black mist began to take shape in front of him, coalescing into something entirely new.

The fog shifted, becoming more jagged in appearance, and Chrysalis stepped back in shock as she recognized the shape for what it was. It was a clawed hand, one that belonged to no creature in that she had ever witnessed. It was large enough to wrap around the changeling commander's head completely, which it was using to lift him up into the air. The arm that it was attached to slowly came into view as well, followed by the rest of the newcomer's body.

The Queen stared in disbelief and horror as a large creature materialized from thin air. It stood smaller in stature compared to The Pilgrim, but was far larger than she. Its form was thin, its arms long and ending in massive, clawed hands. The thing looked almost like a skeleton, with black, leathery skin pulled tightly across its lanky frame. The same black fabric that adorned The Pilgrim seemed to also adorn the creature, a ragged skirt that hung off of its thin pelvis, as well as a tattered veil that concealed its face, if it had any at all.

"Feral scum should watch its tongue." A new voice slithered from beneath the veil. The sound of it was far less grating than The Pilgrim's, but it still made Chrysalis wince. It was clearly female in origin, but its tone and pitch were so vastly different to anything the Queen had ever heard before. She sounded...detached. Like she was talking from a great distance. Every word she uttered was like the low hiss of a snake, or a whisper spoken directly into one's ear. The fact that she couldn't see the creature's mouth made her feel even worse about it.

The Pilgrim shifted slightly for the first time, his attention moving to the new presence in the room.

"Release him." It commanded. The creature hissed in contempt but relented, tossing the warrior aside like a sack of trash.

Pharynx tumbled to the floor with a crash. He gasped and coughed, massaging his throat with one hoof and propping himself up with the other.

Chrysalis stepped up to the edge of her platform, her eyes narrowing in rage, "How dare you-!" She was cut off by another sudden movement. Her attention snapped back to the Pilgrim as he stepped forwards.

"Forgive my general, Queen Chrysalis." He bowed, his voice a slow drawl. "She is... Overzealous at times."

Chrysalis watched as the creature stalked behind The Pilgrim, its body in a constant state of slouch, and its head bobbing up and down with each step, like a predator stalking its prey. With a deft leap it grabbed a jagged spike of stone and held fast to the ceiling. The queen could feel her gaze from beneath its tattered shawl, and her own eyes never left the thing as she responded to The Pilgrim.

"That thing is yours to command?" She asked, "You'd do well to keep it under control in my domain."

The Pilgrim's head gave a slight tilt. Not inquisitive, but rather, something more akin to a shrug. Before Chrysalis could blink, the creature was torn from the ceiling and slammed onto the ground in front of the Pilgrim's feet. Besides the initial sound of impact and a slight crack in the stone, the creature made no other sound, nor did it move to defend itself from the action.

"So I shall." The Pilgrim's response was cold and calculated, as if he were merely explaining the outcome of an experiment, rather than physically assaulting a sentient being. "Now, onto business." He began gliding slowly around the collapsed creature. It slowly rose, first onto all fours, and then back up into its normal hunch, its head still hanging limply.

"Despite her disposition, she should serve as an adequate demonstration of the forces I intend to offer you." The Pilgrim stated, gesturing towards the creature. Chrysalis watched in silent horror as its back popped and cracked audibly back into place. It rolled its shoulders, almost as if it was simply recovering from a muscle cramp rather than what she just witnessed.

"I already have a capable army." The Queen said, "I have no use for the likes of that... thing." She spat at the creature. The stone beneath its feet began to chip and splinter as it tightened its claws dug trenches in barely contained rage. She felt the urge to take a step back, to distance herself even further than the creature, but her body was rooted to the spot. She had to at least attempt to keep a strong facade.

"You have a capable army, yes." The Pilgrim stated, his eyes falling upon Pharynx, who had finally regained his footing. The commander looked up at him in anger, but did not make a move to approach him. "But as you said, they are incapable of breaching Canterlot's defenses. My forces have the necessary strength and ability to do so, and more. That is what I propose."

The Pilgrim stepped towards the throne once more. Chrysalis hissed and backed away, glaring at him all the way.

"Then why are you even bothering to negotiate?" Chrysalis hissed, her horn alight with green flames. "Why not just conquer the kingdom for yourself, if you are so powerful? If your armies are so great?"

The Pilgrim stopped. He stared at her for a moment before speaking.

"There is... A piece upon the board that prevents me from doing so directly." The Pilgrim's tone seemed to shift somewhat, Chrysalis noticed, as if he had taken on a darker mood. It was hard to tell, considering that his demeanor had been consistent and almost completely unreadable until this point.

"Your natural abilities for subterfuge make this easier than if I were to attempt to do it myself. This piece must be removed without realizing my own involvement." The Pilgrim continued.

Chrysalis' frown deepened, "And what is this 'piece' you speak of?"

"One like myself... In some regards. His presence in the equation makes things untenable. I cannot make any overt moves while he remains there." The Pilgrim stated, its pinpoints of light glancing towards the creature above, as if to make an example of it. "He would surely notice."

Chrysalis stared at him, her brow furrowing, "You are afraid of this... Individual." She stated. She wasn't sure how she came to that conclusion. She hadn't sensed anything that would imply the fact. But she felt like she was right. Something about this new piece of information had set her mind at ease. Perhaps it was the simple notion that this... Thing had a weakness after all?

A wave of something that stirred nausea and anxiety hit Chrysalis like a brick to the face. The air around her and The Pilgrim became thick with tension, and she could see her drones shivering and backing further away from the center of the room.

"You presume much." The Pilgrim said, and Chrysalis felt herself take a step backwards, as if the room was being stretched away from him, like the mere act of being in close proximity to him was pushing her away. "All that need be said is that the situation requires a lighter touch than what my abilities allow. You can break him more easily than you think."

The Queen took a moment to regain herself. She took a deep breath and returned her gaze to The Pilgrim, her eyes narrowed. She was still unsure as to how much of his words she could trust. The Pilgrim's intentions, as far as she could tell, were true enough, but his methods and motives were completely unknown to her. If he could be believed, then this was an opportunity that could not be passed up.

"Assuming I were to accept this...Proposal of yours," Chrysalis stated, "How do you expect this to work? Celestia's power alone surpasses that of my own, and you are asking me to not only challenge her, but another one like her as well? I will need far more than what you are proposing in that regard."

The Pilgrim stood silent, staring at Chrysalis. The air became still. She could hear her drones' incessant buzzing as their nerves were set more on edge the longer the silence went on.

"Once he is out of the picture, Celestia will no longer pose an obstacle." He stated. "I can assure you that. But as far as his removal, you must do the deed."

"And how am I to do that?" The Queen asked.

"I will advise your movements as needed. But you must act of your own volition." The Pilgrim answered.

Chrysalis eyed The Pilgrim suspiciously, "That's awfully convenient." She said. "What do you have to gain from this? You have yet to state that."

The Pilgrim shifted once more. "His removal benefits me greatly. I am allowed the satisfaction of knowing that, and you the satisfaction of Celestia's removal. Our mutual goal." He responded. Chrysalis could almost detect a note of finality to his words. She would not be receiving any more answers than what she had already gotten, she realized. It was to her benefit that she didn't have to ask, as the entire interaction with The Pilgrim had been mentally taxing. The sooner this conversation was over, the sooner her mind and her hive would find peace again.

"I am not asking for your trust. Only that you hear me." The Pilgrim continued, and the air seemed to settle around the two, the atmosphere returning to something far less oppressive. Chrysalis visibly relaxed, and her children began to settle. "We have a mutual interest, you and I."

The Pilgrim turned, beginning to walk... Glide, away. "When you have decided on a course of action," he said, "Call out to me, and I will hear you." He paused and looked over his shoulder. "My offer will remain open, until I decide to rescind it."

He returned to the darkness he emerged from, the shadows coalescing once again around his form, and disappeared entirely.

Chrysalis looked up at the ceiling. The creature had disappeared along with him. The buzzing of the hive had returned to its normal volume, and everything was as if The Pilgrim had never been there. It was surreal, and she had to wonder if he had ever been there in the first place.

"My queen!" Pharynx's shout brought her back to reality. "Are you alright!?" He ran to her side and she turned to meet him. The normally stoic warrior was visibly shaken, and his concern was not something he was trying to hide.

"Yes, yes." She reassured him. She waved her hoof in dismissal. "I'm fine."

Pharynx visibly relaxed. He gave her a nod of affirmation and stood by her side.

The Queen looked back to where The Pilgrim had disappeared from. His offer still rang clear in her head, and she was left with a difficult choice. Either she accepts it, and gain the power to take her revenge, or refuse, and live with the fact that she had passed up the opportunity.

The latter wasn't an option, really. But the question was how to utilize this new asset. She had no way of gauging the capabilities of this new force, aside from that... General, The Pilgrim had called it. Chrysalis shuddered as she recalled its rasping breath and wicked claws.

"Pharynx." She whispered, her gaze turning back towards her throne. "That thing. That 'General'. How many do you think you could've handled on your own?"

Pharynx frowned and looked down. He took a deep breath and looked back at the queen.

"None, my queen." He replied. "No form I can think to assume would give me any chance against that... Thing." He spat the word with obvious contempt.

"Truly?" She asked, "And an army of them?"

Pharynx remained uncharacteristically quiet for a long moment. His gaze also shifted towards where The Pilgrim and his general had vanished. "...With an army like that, I could probably take all of the planet." He answered, and he nodded in agreement with his own assessment, "I can't say that I would feel better having that thing at my flank, however." He added.

The Queen's brow furrowed as she mulled it over. It was a massive risk, putting her faith in The Pilgrim. If he had lied to her, she could be putting the fate of the entire changeling species into jeopardy. Surely though, if that thing had wished to destroy them, it could have done so. No. The risk was far outweighed by the reward. Celestia's defeat, and more importantly, Equestria's.

"Then it seems that Canterlot is within my grasp, once more." She stated, her lips curving into a wicked smile. Her eyes fell to the ground as her mind began to work. The universe itself had seemingly given her this chance, and she could almost taste the victory in the air. She was not about to waste such an opportunity.

Fading rays of golden sunlight filtered through the gaps between the winding spires of the Changeling hive, the last vestige of the day's light casting a contrastingly warm glow across the barren land that surrounded the structure. A nearby hill however, garnered little of this light, the rays finding themselves smothered by an oppressive outline.

"Why do we even need them?"

The Pilgrim stood atop the hill, staring directly at the setting sun with a pensive gaze. The light touched everything around him, but it did nothing to break through the formless abyss that lay beneath his hood. His white eyes were still visible, but even they devoured what light they could collect. The grass beneath his form had long-since shriveled away into nothing, the ground itself more lifeless than the rocky wasteland beneath him.

"They serve a purpose. Just as you do."

His companion was nearby, standing next to him at the apex of the mound. The creature had a far more tangible outline, and the sun's rays were more visible as they struggled to reach the dark leathery skin beneath the black mist that clung to her form.

"Even in service I am beyond those animals." She hissed, her formless eyes gazing at her master. "It has been too long since my feet have walked this Earth. They needed to reminded of the beasts they came from."

The Pilgrim didn't acknowledge her. His eyes remained focused on the sun. Despite the fact that it was setting, the golden ball of flame was far too bright to stare directly at. At the very least, it should be uncomfortable. But The Pilgrim paid no heed to such concerns.

"Is their hunger truly so different from your own, General? You might have some modicum of discipline, but many would look at your brothers and sisters as more feral than any beast." He stated. His voice carried no tone, nor inflection. He spoke as if he were merely stating facts.

The creature hissed again. Her head snapped in The Pilgrim's direction and she glowered at him from beneath her tattered veil, "We continue on due to your intervention, but we have still languished in a Void where time finds no purchase."

Her tone shifted somewhat as she turned back to the hive, her head bowing in reverence as her master continued to gaze into the sun, "Many of my kin have yet to... Level their need. Even still, I can command even the most desperate among us. If I must lower myself to work alongside these beasts to serve your needs, so be it, Master."

She waited for a response. When she didn't receive one, her body stiffened slightly. "But surely you could crush the boy yourself, without their help? What is the purpose of involving them, other than to toy with them? These Changelings will be of little help."

"He is not the same as he was." The Pilgrim answered. His eyes remained focused on the sunset. The sun had almost disappeared beyond the horizon. The light that touched his form grew dim. "I care little for a pyrrhic victory. He must be broken first."

"And these... Changelings will accomplish that?" She asked. "They are hardly a threat, Master. Surely you can break him without the involvement of these beasts?"

"They will not be the only ones to be used. More will come." The Pilgrim stated. His attention turned towards her at last. The setting sun finally disappeared over the horizon, casting the land into an ever increasing darkness, one that seemed to grow directly from The Pilgrim's form.

"I will see to it that those closest to him cause the most pain."

Author's Note

Well here we are. Don't have to wait a year for another chapter, so that's always something.

Again, I'll leave some contextual images below, do let me know if it adds anything or not. I always appreciate constructive feedback.

https://imgur.com/a/q622tSJ