The Corrupted Queen

It was a glorious evening in Canterlot, the coolness of an eastern breeze carried itself softly through the city, luring the ponies out of their homes to enjoy the sweet summer afternoon.  Near the castle is where the richest of ponies resided, but even with their posh lifestyles the ponies still liked to occasionally indulge in the open air, birds still chirped and the sun still shone, Princess Luna had not yet brought up the moon and stars, but the weather told the many ponies in Canterlot that the night was coming soon.

Nice evenings like this where very popular. Two fillies named Topaz Trickle and Moonstone where frolicking happily about, playing games such as tag, catch and hide and seek.  Moonstone giggled and laughed as her friend uncovered her from her hiding place.

However their happy faces where distorted with confusion as a young colt with a light purple coat and snowy white mane approached them.  Topaz instantly recognized him as a colt who was in the same class as her, but when the colt gave a timid smile, she offered him to join their game.  And so they three foals played cheerfully as the minuets ticked by, however, the mother of the fillies soon called them in, but Topaz paused before she ran back to her home, and looked to the colt, and she trotted over to him shyly.  The colt was not phased, he stood there, as if he expected something, and the filly hugged him,  her arms wrapping around him in a friendly embrace, a thank you with no words spoken.

Topaz, though was stricken with surprise as a bright white light shone in her face, she staggered back, squeaking.  It lasted only a second, but she was so close to the light that it hurt, she rubbed her eyes and looked to the colt.  She froze, but a sudden warmness relaxed her, she understood now, a creature the size of a pegasus mare smiled down at her, its head tilted and a smile on its face.  Its silver blue coat shimmered in the sun, a short gray mane that shot strait up like a zebras trembled in the breeze that continued.  Large and pupil less blue eyes stared into her.  Topaz smiled, a changeling!  The thing waited, its fly-like wings buzzing, the filly walked up to it, and raised her head as high as she could.  The changelings little horn glowed with a light green aura, it opened its mouth as a few green strands arose from the filly, it swirled around a bit and then rested into the things mouth, it swallowed the green stuff, and Topaz blinked, staggering a bit.  The filly soon regained her balance, smiled at the changeling, and then trotted away happily to her family.

The changeling, whose name was Da-Roh, felt content after his long day of feeding, he scratched and itch that was on his leg, relishing in his fullness, and yawned.  Through his eyes, most things had a green tint, the filly was more lime green, and the arguing ponies by the restaurant where an unpleasant gray, he cringed at the bad aura, and trotted off to a rotted wooden door on the side of the castle.  Another changeling joined him, Da-Fik, he buzzed a hello and entered the castle with him.

A tall figure overlooked the scene atop a small balcony, she smiled warmly, proud that all was going well for her subjects, she watched as the sun set, the wondrous colors of orange, pink, and yellow and the moon rose elegantly, the stars glimmering in the dark, a cool wind blew over her long and silky light aqua mane.  Her gleaming silver coat shimmered in the dark, her huge green-blue eyes stared into the distance, seeing her changelings scamper around, feeding on the sweet dreams of the ponies of Canterlot.  The plan is working perfectly.  She thought.  Her butterfly wings flapped, airing them out.  She took a deep breath, enjoying the night.

“Princess Chrysalis, I must ask you a question.” a voice asked from behind her.  She looked to see Princess Celestia staring down at the changelings feeding, green auras drifting through the streets.  The princesses pink mane floating in an imaginary wind.  “Why green?” she said, looking to Chrysalis calmly.  Chrysalis looked back to her feeding subjects and said

“Love is white, friendship is purple, happiness is yellow, kindness is pink, the list goes on.  When my subjects feed, they collect a variety of feelings, not just love, for some reason the mix always results in a shade of green.  Because love is white and hate is black, the darker the aura, the more negative feelings are mixed in, the more love, the lighter.  I know not why they are these colors, they just are.  Oh, and I must comment, the plan is working gloriously, it was quite ingenious of you to come up with it.”  Celestia blushed slightly, flattered.

“You paid a great role in it too, giving Luna the job to cleanse the ponies dreams of nightmares as to keep them happy in the morning, keeping your kind happy too.”

“What princess wouldn't want their subjects to be eating well?”

“You also where the one who found those crystal caverns where your kingdom lives, that is a mighty feat.”

“Ha, I cannot deny I have done much, but the magnificent plan of having my kingdom reside in yours, the changelings eating small amounts from each pony to keep them well too, you truly are a great ruler.” Chrysalis said shyly, Celestia bowed her head in respect, acknowledging the fine complement.  Chrysalis looked up to see a small changeling fly up to her, keeping his head low and his tail  between his legs.  It was Ni-Krah, one of Chrysalis's  most faithful subject.

“My Princessssss...I am here for the nightly progress report, all is well...”

“Can't you see that I am in the middle of speaking with Princess Celestia Ni-Krah?  Go back to the hive!”  Chrysalis snapped at the little changeling, he squeaked and buzzed away as quickly as fast as possible.  Celestia coughed, implying that that was a bit harsh.  The princess then turned towards Chrysalis, and said grimly,

“I am afraid to say that we are soon going to have to turn to phase two.”  Chrysalis turned her head sideways, curious,

“How soon?”

“A few days, a week at most.”

“So soon?” Chrysalis gasped, her kingdom has only lived here for a few years!

“I am afraid so, my subjects are already becoming a bit weak, our tactic is effective, but it cannot go on forever.  My subjects seem weary, and your numbers are growing, soon, my subjects will not be able to live under the constant feeding of your kind.”  Celestias voice morphed from concern to bitterness, and Chrysalis, who was very sensitive, felt offended when she spat out the last sentence.  Chrysalis, however, swallowed her negative thoughts.

“Than what is this phase two, all I know is that we will move to another location.”

“Well, your kingdom will have to move to the Crystal Empire, you see, and there you will stay in the castle, and your subjects will reside in a similar cavern under the castle.  Your assistance is needed there anyway, for there is only a few ponies there with any kind of authority, I cannot be there because I need to stay in Canterlot, and my sister...well...she isn't feeling to well.  You will be able to have the highest authority there, if it is not too much for you to handle with your changelings.”

“Not at all, my subjects are extremely easy to handle, we have a vague telepathy system, I am sure I can handle the crystal ponies just fine-but why do you need me to look after them anyway?”

“Well...you see there have been a number of reports of the ponies becoming...sick, sorta, they are becoming...you'll see it when you get there, it's hard to explain.”  Celestias head turned away from Chrysalis, and looked upon the shared kingdom.  There was an awkward silence, but it was broken by Chrysalis.

“I ought to go to the Crystal Caverns to rest, it is getting late.” she said and elegantly flew off, her wings reflecting many colors in the moonlight.  Celestia turned around to see her sister, Luna, her short blue mane emanating her youth.  Celestia smiled and walked side by side with her sister through the castle.

“Lost again?”

“I'm not yet used to this castle, sister.”

“The other one was far from Canterlot.”

“Could we take a vacation there sometime?”

“Sure, it can become our relaxation spot.”

Meanwhile Chrysalis was floating down to the wooden door, currently the only entrance to the Crystal Caverns however she planned to change that.  The alicorn swiftly opened the door, a fairy green aura around the knob as she opened it.  A wave of warm air flooded her, just right for my changelings she thought, oh how perfect the caverns where when she found them!  The door led to a dark corridor, as to ward off any curious ponies.  She stepped in and closed the door, darkness engulfed her, but she could see just fine when the torched lit by themselves.  The musky sent calmed her, and there was a distant drone of buzzing wings of her kind.

Chrysalis trotted through the hall, and proceeded to walk down a long flight of stairs going down, the torches reflected the crystals that where embedded in to the wall.  At the end of the stairs was another corridor, the walls where completely made of crystal now, shining brightly, there was no longer a need for torches.  Yet another door, this one was iron, and it had a single hole in the middle.  Chrysalis bent her head and placed her horn inside the hole, the door glowed magically, and it opened gracefully.

The princess raised her head high, her stature firm, the crystal caverns where revealed in all their glory.  The huge expanse was bustling with art collected from the species's travel, the crystals where carved sharp and smooth to allow light to bounce freely through the entire underground haven.  Changelings bustled about, but once seeing their ruler quickly bowed, their noses touching the floor.  Chrysalis silently walked through her temporary kingdom, each step graceful and with purpose, her subjects scooted out of the way, still bowing, as she walked by.

She walked through multiple rooms, each of which went silent in her glorious presence.  She made her way to the central area, the biggest room of them all.  On one side of the room was a stage with a large podium atop it.  She carefully glided up the small set of stairs to the stage, and up to the podium.  She was about to speak, but she then saw a particular changeling that went by the name of Hi-Soph.  He stared at her with great intensity, and a message from  him popped in to her mind;  Important. He spoke through her mind, she nodded her head towards him, and then spoke to the bowing crowd through telepathy,

Go on with your regular schedule. So the changelings went on with their nightly routine, and the bustle of talk and wings buzzing filled the caverns once again.  Hi-Soph stood once more, and trotted up the stairs to the Princess who stood rigid, not looking to the changeling.  Hi-Soph, his shiny blue coat shimmered with all the other changelings in the crystals light.  His gray mane and tail where longer than the others, showing his authority.

“What could possible be more important than my announcement, Hi-Soph?” she said coldly, she truly hated it when her subjects interrupted her.

“M-my apologies, Princess...y-you see,  I have to discuss something of great importance that was brought up in the latest High Meeting, you told me to inform you about it, am I not correct Your Highness?” he stuttered, but he made a good point.

“Ah yes, what is this important topic you wish to tell me?” Chrysalis replied, still not facing him, it was tradition that the princess/queen would not face her subjects unless it was necessary.

“Foals, Your Highness.”

“What about them?  I thought we had enough females to go around.”

“Foals as in...heirs to the throne.” he said nervously.  Chrysalis's eyes widened for a second, but soon she relaxed.

“Why would I need an heir?  I am an alicorn.”

“Y-yes, you are, but you are not immortal..you have a very large lifespan, but you can die of sickness, battle ect....”

“Indeed, but under the protection of the celestial sisters I am truly unstoppable.” she hissed, her eyes narrowing, Hi-Soph was taken aback by her sudden harshness.

“Y-yes you are i-indeed...b-but that might not always be the case.”

“Hm, I will think about, it, now be on your way.” she snapped.

“B-but..”

“SCRAM!” she yelled, snapping her head toward  Hi-Soph, forcing him into eye contact,  he screeched as a telepathic punishment scorched his mind, and he ran away as fast as his little legs could take him, tears forming in his eyes.  Chrysalis scowled at him from afar, he was always the weak one, a trait that was not favored, but he was good at politics.  A searing headache started to throb, and the changelings started to complain when they felt it too, the connection between Chrysalis and her subjects was far too much in her opinion, they could feel her pain, and she could feel theirs occasionally.  Some started to rub their heads and sit down.  Chrysalis didn't care though, it was time for a meeting, and she didn't feel like communicating to them telepathically.

“MEETING IN THE CENTER CAVERN!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, some of the changelings screamed when their headaches clashed with the loud message as it echoed through the caverns.  The changelings rushed to the center cavern, waves of them flooded in, hundreds of them.

Once the blue and gray creatures all where in the same room, fly wings fluttering and buzzing, some where very annoyed at her disturbing call and the headache they where all feeling.  However Princess Chrysalis didn't give a damn and continued to speak in the royal Canterlot voice she learned from the celestial sisters to the crowd.

“Subjects, I must inform you that in a few short days, we will be moving to the Crystal Empire in a few short days for phase two of the plan we arranged.”  she said regally, the crowd mumbled, complaints, probably.  Chrysalis flicked a strand of aqua mane from her face, and continued,

“You should probably all start packing up now, take only what you need, the rest will be burned at our departure, I don't want to hear any complaints, the celestial sisters have been extremely kind to us and you should feel grateful that we have a home at all.” Chrysalis stated curtly, lifting her head higher, the crowd was silent now.

“You may now disperse.” she grumbled, and the changelings scattered.  Chrysalis let out the breath she had been holding, that went better than expected. She thought.  The Princess turned to the door on the wall behind the podium.  She sighed and opened the silver door that led to her quarters.  The elegant bed with silk sheets, the finest painting, soft carpet and sweet smelling candles where all nice, but did not soothe her tenseness.  She grabbed a small  mirror and pressed the button on its golden frame.  Her face was now broadcast on every crystal in the caverns.  She smiled sweetly.

“Goodnight my changelings.” she cooed, she pushed the button once more and set the mirror down.  Chrysalis collapsed on the soft bed.  Her smiles and soothing voice was only a mask for the anxiousness she felt. It's only because we're moving, once we get to our new home, I bet the days will go by very quickly. She thought, wrapping up in soft blankets when she heard her guards stop at her door.  The darkness closing around her, drifting into a peaceful sleep.