The Changeling's Tale

So... You wish to know my story? Well, Maybe I can humor you. I warn you, however, the tale is not for the faint of heart. Still here? Very well, then let's begin our tale almost immediately after my defeat at the hands of Shining Armour and his little bride...

I coughed and blinked once or twice, rousing myself from pained unconsciousness. I found myself cratered in the mushy, swampy dirt that was the trademark of our homeland. Around me, my subjects ran to and fro frantically, much the opposite from what I'd expected- I'd thought I'd find them slumped, tired and defeated and lamenting their poor fortune. After a few moments of sitting there and being ignored, I decided to speak up.

"Hold there!" I called, and a particularly athletic-looking changeling stopped and looked at me obediently. I eyed him carefully before speaking again. "What goes on- Where are you going in such a hurry?" I asked, approaching him so that the noise of our kinsmen running about wouldn't drown out his response.

He spoke, and I was surprised to find that, rather than the usual insect-sounding rasp, his voice sounded rather more like my own and carried well over the noise surrounding us. "Chief Gray-Mane's lions, my Queen!" Upon our return from Equestria, we found them ransacking the castle and occupying the city!" He said, and I cursed under my breath. After a moment, I nodded gravely- our peace with the Pridelands had always been fragile, so it made sense that Gray-Mane would take advantage of our army's absence to attack the city.

I scowled, turning toward the city and gesturing for him to lead the way. "Give me your name and what you know of the situation." I commanded him as the faint sounds of battle started to whisper through the air. He spoke over his shoulder from in front of me as we walked, as if he had no care for showing royalty it's due respect.

"My name is Genesis, your Majesty." He said, but was interrupted before he could continue by the gasp I uttered as we crested a hill and caught a glimpse of my city- once a grand, multi-styled tribute to the nature of the changelings. Now, it was a smoking battlefield upon which the only grand thing was the scale of destruction that had been wreaked upon it.

I turned my gaze to Genesis in disbelief. "How... How could this have happened?" I asked him, staggering forward as the first wave of shock hit me, making my legs feel quite a bit like jelly.

The changeling placed a steadying hoof on my shoulder and bowed his head respectfully. "They struck quickly and en masse while you were in Canterlot." He paused, and the look in his violet eyes was a nervous one. "The Elder Council... They are planning to place responsibility for this attack on you, My Queen." He said, and I sucked in an angry breath.

I trained my gaze upon him, and I could tell from the reflection in his eyes that there was a sparking green fire burning in my own. "What was that, Genesis?" I asked, lowering my voice dangerously.

He surprised me then by smiling, rather than shrinking back in fear as I'd expected him to. "I am glad to see that the setback in Equestria did not affect the strength of your will, your Majesty." He said before turning to resume his walk toward the city, still speaking. "It's true, though. The elders wish to put blame for this catastrophe on you. They are fools to do so- we need our queen, now more than ever- but they are stubborn fools with a lot of power." He said, and I found myself nodding in agreement.

As we got closer to the city, the sounds of combat grew louder, and I was reminded of my earlier question. "So, how fares the battle in the city? Are we winning?" I asked, and he winced as if stung.

"Poorly." He admitted, a hint of frustration evident in his voice. "We've secured most of the city, but the castle remains occupied. I've heard tell that Gray-Mane himself may be here- noone else could be as stubborn." He said, and I felt a stir of excitement in my gut. If Gray-Mane was here, then all I had to do was kill him and my authority and right to the throne would be restored to the status of unquestionable.

Just as I finished that thought, we reached the edge of the city and what appeared to be the site of our primary camp. We were approached by the High-General- a favored nephew of mine and my elder sister's only son, named Cocoon- and two of the Elders.

Cocoon smiled at Genesis and me, though he clearly knew nothing of my companion, but the two elders maintained their infuriated expressions, focusing their intensely hateful gazed on me. I stared them down cooly, even giving them a sarcastic little smile. Cocoon was the first to break the silence.

"Your Highness, I'm glad we've found you." He said, and his words seemed genuine, though his two companions didn't seem to share his feelings. "The situation may seem dire, my Queen, but fear not- I have a plan." He assured me, and I smiled.

"That's always good to hear, Cocoon. Enlighten us- What is your plan?" I asked, and settled down so that he could speak.

Before he could, however, one of the elders pointed a hoof at Genesis, glaring. "Who are ye, peasant, and what business have ye here?" The ancient male demanded, and immediately a few guards approached, as if preparing to arrest my companion.

I waved the guards away, giving the elder my fiercest glare. "This is Genesis, my newest and most favored adviser." I spat, my eyes daring the elder to challenge my authority or judgment.

He did not, and after receiving a thankful gaze from Genesis, we returned our attention to Cocoon. He, at last, got to speak. "It's true, the Lions have a strong hold on the castle, as well as most of the districts directly adjacent to it. However, it is reasonable to assume that they do not know of the tunnels that run into the castle- our attacks have prevented them from having the leisure to explore the castle with any degree of thoroughness." He said, and we shared a smile as he and I reached the same idea he must have. He gestured to me, and I took over.

"Do you recall, dear elders, those unsightly steel statues you petitioned so hard to have removed? Beneath the castle rests the building blocks for a spell to turn said statues into defensive steel golems." I said, then paused to let the elders process that.

Obviously, they were enraged. "Why were we not told? Something of this magnitude must be known by the Council!" He shouted, and the three of us rolled our eyes at him.

Cocoon took over once more, scowling at the elders reprimandingly. "Anyway, if we could get you- and a few guards to cover you, of course- to the focus site, you could end this battle as quickly as it began, My Queen." He said, and as if to emphasize his words, one of the towers in the city crumbled.

I nodded, my face grim, and got up to stretch and loosen up for the ordeal ahead. As I did, Cocoon set about selecting a few trusted guards to accompany me and Genesis approached quietly. I trained my gaze upon him, and he smiled somewhat.

"I'd like permission to go with you, My Queen." He said simply, confidently, like he knew I wouldn't deny him what he wished.

Raising an eyebrow, I turned towards him fully and frowned. "Why do you want to come along, Adviser?" I asked, stressing the syllables in the title I'd bestowed upon him meaningfully.

He smiled cooly, and I couldn't help but admire his confidence as he spoke. "Well, my lady, I'm quite sure that the elders rather dislike me, and anyway, I much prefer the position of assistant to that of adviser- I haven't the experience to be the latter." He said eloquently, and I smiled- whatever this male had been before, he would be a valuable addition to the royal court.

I smiled at him and nodded. "Very well, from this moment on, you shall serve as my assistant." I said, then held up a hoof as he started to speak. "Be warned, Genesis, the job of being my assistant is not easy. The last one who had the job suffered from a nervous breakdown." I said darkly, and was surprised to be met with a nonchalant shrug.

Genesis just smiled and shook his head before leaving to get a drink of water- just as Cocoon approached. His face was grim, and I immediately felt on guard. When he spoke, his voice matched his expression. "The elders, regrettably, have pointed out a flaw in our plan that is, admittedly, rather critical." He grumbled, and I nodded at him to continue, decorating my face with a sympathetic frown, and he sighed heavily. "The spell and the golems are older than event he elders. We have no idea if we'll even be able to use them." He said, and I sighed.

I looked around in frustration, avoiding his gaze. "What then, did they suggest that we do instead?" I asked angrily, and he shrugged helplessly. I spat on the ground angrily. "To Tartarus with them. Gather your men, we are going." I commanded, and he nodded eagerly, hope returning to his face. As he left, I both lamented and celebrated the fact that our emotions changed as easily as our forms.

The assembled soldiers milled around nervously, and I could tell that going against the council did not sit well with these loyalist buffoons. Then I noticed Genesis, moving quietly amongst them, sharing conversations and putting them at ease. A fine addition, indeed.

A hoof tapped me on my shoulder, and I turned to see a stoic and determined Cocoon standing at my shoulder. "We are ready when you are, Queen Chrysalis." He said, and I gave him an equally determined nod. The stallion gave a signal to the men and we all turned and began our journey toward the caves.

One of the soldiers turned to face me, his face expressing the severest of annoyance. "This is it?" He asked, scowling at the entrance to the caves and then at me. "A sewer grate?" He spat, his tone incredulous, looking down at the hole at my feet.

I returned his scowl and nodded scornfully. "Yes, Soldier, a sewer grate. This is the quickest entrance, and the closest one to the castle." I said, and he grumbled quietly as he stepped back into line. I smiled, pleased that he hadn't made more of a fuss, and watched over them as they each climbed down. I took one last look around at my burning city before I climbed down after them, and sighed.

The sewer tunnels were dark and wet, and reeked of- well, sewage. Our little company moved through the tunnels in a small, dense knot, many of us having second thoughts about defending our homeland as we imagined what lurked with us in the dark tunnel. But, just as I was about to surrender and decide to turn back, the cobblestone around us gave way to ancient stone, worn smooth by the centuries. We proceeded a little further, and we found ourselves in an enormous circular room, obviously ancient, that was lit by an odd red light.

In the center of the room, a smaller circle rose about a foot out of the floor, and in the center of said circle, a black stone pillar rose into the shadow ceiling above- the light in the room appeared to be emanating from the strange glowing runes carved into almost every inch of the column. That, combined with the stench of ancient magic that pervaded every corner of the room, was enough to convince us we were in the right place.

I shared a glance with Cocoon and Genesis, and upon unspoken agreement, the three of us separated from the group and approached the pillar. Cocoon and I were visibly nervous, taking quick and jumpy steps and sweating slightly, but Genesis seemed quite calm- bored, almost.

As soon as all three of us had stepped into the circle, a flash of blinding white light stunned us just long enough for a barrier of barely transparent magical energy to surround us, cutting us off from our companions and trapping us on the large platform. Cocoon uttered a quiet yelp, and I tripped and nearly planted my face directly in the stone floor- only Genesis's hoof on my shoulder stopped me from eating a stone sandwich. I gave him a grateful smile, and he replied with a nervous nod- apparently, this was too much even for his cool demeanor to weather.

I steadied myself and examined the barrier carefully. I could tell the magic was powerful, but it's origin was obscure- though the energy was immense, it seemed to have no source, as if it was just... just there. Cocoon shouted something at the troops on the other side, but I could tell from the puzzled way they tilted their heads that they couldn't hear a word he was saying.

He sighed and turned to look at the pillar- and his eyes widened and he gave an excited yelp. "I recognize these symbols! They're in the same language as the Doppelganger tomes. But... that would mean that this pillar dates back to before the Changeling revolution! This spell predates our entire civilization!" He exclaimed, reaching a hoof hoof out to touch it, his expression awestruck. I quickly reached over and knocked his hoof away.

"There's no telling what sort of wards are on this thing, nephew. Can you translate it without touching it?" I asked, doing my best to sound kind and reprimanding at the same time. He smiled abashedly and turned back to the pillar, settling down next to it and narrowing his eyes in concentration. I watched him for a moment before putting a hoof on his shoulder. "-and Cocoon? Do try to hurry." I said, giving him my best 'no pressure, but this is ridiculously urgent' look. He nodded without looking at me, thus making my expression useless, and I sighed and went to sit next to Genesis, who gave me a smile that looked as nervous and weary as I felt.

I returned the smile, and he gestured toward the stone with a quick nod of his head. "What do you think of this thing? Back at the camp, you seemed pretty knowledgeable about it." He said, and I winced at the obvious jab.

I turned and gave him a stern glare, then sighed and sat back, rubbing the side of my neck with a forehoof. "I may have exaggerated my knowledge of it to convince the Elders to let us go easily." I admitted, slumping a little in embarrassment- then I sat straight back up irritatedly as he chuckled. I scowled at him. "I could have you hung for disrespecting your Queen like that." I said, shaking a hoof at him angrily.

He merely laughed again and shook his head, causing me to wonder if he had a death wish. "But you won't." He gloated, smiling confidently. I stomped a hoof in frustration and I glared at him- it crossed my mind that I could arrange an execution for him, just to pardon him at the last minute... give him a good scare. Then, I saw the knowing look in his dimly glowing violet eyes and heaved an internal sigh of defeat. He would see through it.

I'd just started to run through a list of clever jibes and comebacks when Cocoon cleared his throat and turned to face us. "Well," He began, his face darkened by a despairing frown. "it's all bad news. The spell calls for a sacrifice..." I lowered my ears and sighed, slapping a hoof against my forehead. Of course, ancient magic always means sacrifice. But he wasn't finished; "Of a Royal Life." He finished, his expression going from dark to completely black.

Lovely... I thought to myself, my heart sinking. When I said I'd die for my people, I never thought I'd really have to do it. I mused, looking down at my hooves and sighing heavily. I heard Cocoon muttering angrily, something about how there had to be another way. I felt a gentle foreleg wrapping around my shoulder and looked up at Genesis, who was smiling sympathetically and giving me the same look a salesman would. I wanted to push him away- the last thing I wanted to hear was his assurances that my death was for the good of our people.

But, before I could, he leaned closer to me and whispered in my ear. "He said that the spell called for a Royal Life. Not the Queen's Life, a Royal life." He said, then gestured meaningfully toward Cocoon. I gave him an incredulous look and started to protest, but he just shrugged and headed me off. "Like I said, milady, the Outlands need their queen right now. A general, even one of royal blood, can be replaced." He said simply, and I, much to my own displeasure, saw the logic in his words. AS much as it hurt my heart to consider it, my life was more valuable to the country in the long run than his.

I looked up and watched my nephew as he examined the pillar carefully, searching desperately for some detail that would change the meaning of the words and- though he didn't know it- save his own life. I sighed- it seemed so wrong to kill something so full of life, but there truly seemed to be no option that didn't leave me dead and my people without a good leader. I stumbled to my hooves, helped by Genesis, and approached the younger Changeling. (not that much younger, mind you- I was twenty-five, he twenty.)

I put a hoof on his shoulder, and smiled at him kindly. "Rest, Cocoon. There's only one viable option here." I said, trying to appear serene even as my heart cried out in anguish- something it should've done, suppressed by magic as my emotions were.

His face grayed slightly, (the closest thing to paled one can get with a face the color of black ink) and he gaped at me. "What? No, My Queen, we need you too much for you to give up your life for something like this." He protested, putting himself stoically between me and the pillar.

I almost sobbed then and there- again, an emotion I shouldn't have felt- because, even as I plotted to kill him, he did his very best to keep me alive. I knew he didn't know I was plotting his death, but I found his compassion and willingness to sacrifice our people's home for me touching anyway- the silly, sentimental creature that I was. I walked towards him and smiled gently, reassuringly.

I wrapped my forelegs around his neck and hugged him close, patting his back with a hoof while I tried to decide what to say. After awhile, I sighed and delivered what pathetic lines I'd managed to come up with, though my rebellious heart burned with each syllable. "Cocoon, you know I care for you, do you not?" I asked, and took a breath to continue as he nodded. "Then I hope you can forgive me for this, Nephew." I murmured into his ear, and reached out with my magic, feeling through his insides and searching for the right spot.

He didn't notice my horn glowing. "No, aunt Chrysalis, I can't! If you leave us now, we're doomed! My mother just doesn't have what it takes to be a good que-" His words strangled and choked off as I, with a small and painstakingly precise burst of magic, jerked his spinal cord loose from his brain. His body shuddered once, then twice, then Cocoon was still and dead in my arms.

It was a few moments before it hit me in full- something I had felt since my parents died. Raw emotion, not as strong as it would've been without my magical suppressants, but raw, pure, and wild nonetheless. I buried my face in his neck and sobbed quietly, my entire body shaking and my stomach feeling as if someone had dropped an anvil into it.  Around me, the room thrummed with magical power.  I was vaguely aware of the pillar's light brightening from a faint red to a deep and vibrant scarlet. The world rumbled and shook around me, but the only thought that ran through my mind was that I was a murderer- not just a murderer, but a kinslayer, worse than garbage. I nuzzled into my nephew's still warm neck and murmured through shaking sobs. "I'm sorry..."

I closed my eyes for a moment, content to sit in my misery. I don't remember much of what happened right after that, not until the trial anyway.

I scowled up at the Head Councilor as he stood and stared down at me from the pedestal that he and the other councilors were seated upon. His face was twisted with a mix of hatred and glee, and he gave me a sick smile. "Queen Chrysalis, Daughter of the Progenitor, step forward and face the Council." He commanded, and I gritted my teeth as I obeyed. He leered down at me, his teeth bared in evil satisfaction at my obedience.

I held his gaze, standing my ground fiercely. "For what reason have you called me here, ancient ones? What is so urgent that you chose to disrupt the reconstruction of our homes?" I demanded, raising my voice in frustration. Behind me, I heard many of my people murmuring in agreement, and heard some of them even leaving the chamber to protest this waste of time.

The Councilor slammed his hoof against the desk in front of him, and the crowd fell silent once more. "Chrysalis! Listen carefully, for the council has come to a decision." He commanded, and I eyed him with immense distaste as he smiled once more. "For dereliction of duty, failure to succeed in Equestria, and the murder of your own kin, this Council has elected to strip you of your title and powers, and exile you from the Outlands forever." He said, his calm and professional speech not hiding his glee at this turn of events, nor the venom with which he spat the charges.

The gathered Changelings burst into an uproar, some confused and angry at the Council, and some... some agreeing quite vehemently with the ancient fools. I sat there for a moment, dumbstruck by how monumentally unfair and cruel this was, before I regained my composure. I spat on the floor and glared up at the Council, noticing vaguely that the fire in my eyes had reignited itself once more. "What right have you to unseat me, and who would you have take my throne? One of you greedy old males?" I snarled, and I once again felt the crowd leaning in my favor- the fickle fools.

A quavering voice silenced them before they could grow too loud. "They operate under my right as your elder sister and the first heir to the throne, sister." The voice said, and I turned to face the source.

Before me, my small and frail older sister sat quietly, hurt in her eyes. "Crisalide." I said, trying to convey all my sorrow and apologies in the one word, though I knew it was in vain. She shook her head and avoided meeting my gaze with her own rose colored eyes. "I'm sorry, Crisalide. I'm so sorry. I had no choice." I said, and she shook her head again, this time more aggressively.

She looked up, and I recognized the glow in her eyes as the very same fire that burned in my own. "You had no choice?" She asked incredulously, her normally frail and soft voice uncharacteristically solid. "You had no choice?! You swore to protect my son with your life when he joined the military! Instead, you were the one to kill the boy!" She shouted, and I took a step back, spluttering as I tried to find the words to defend myself.

"No! I had to! HIs life had to be taken to save our city! The spell called for a Royal Life!" I protested, but then I blanched as Crisalide rounded on me once more, even more enraged than she'd already been.

"A Royal Life? You mean like your own, my beloved sister?" She spat, her face inches from mine. "When you took the throne, you swore you'd die for your people if you had to- and I'm fairly sure that my son made no such oath! It was your duty to die in his place!" She cried, before swinging a hoof feebly at my face. The blow glanced off my cheek harmlessly, and she growled in pure frustration.

AS much as the attack didn't hurt physically, it was the catalyst of an emotional breaking that I was sure echoed through the chamber like a gunshot. One of the elders found his voice while my heart was shattering. "Chrysalis, formerly Queen of the Changelings, you will be stripped of your possessions and the magical enhancements given you by your office. You will be banished to the eastern border of the Outlands, to Equestria." He said, and smirked as he finished, eliciting a gasp from the crowd.

I turned to look at Crisalide, pleading with my gaze. "You would banish me to the very country I just tried to destroy? Surely, sister, you see this is a death sentence?" I begged, and she gave me a cruel and angry smile.

"Indeed, dear sister, it is. Now, surrender the symbols of your office." She demanded, and her horn flashed- and my entire body felt as if it were aflame, inside and out. The world around me seemed to be warping and melting, then growing larger around me. Before blacking out, I lamented how weak and pathetic I must look as a whimpering, quivering mass on the ground.

I opened my eyes, and the first thing I registered was that I seemed to be two feet shorter and just smaller in general. My magic felt distant and weak, and my emotions- suppressed since my coronation by an enchantment- were running rampant, leaving my already ailing mind a tattered mess. I looked about through bleary and weaker eyes and found my sister standing over me, the hatred in her expression replaced with sadness and pity.

She helped me to my hooves, and I looked around once more. It was dark, now- I'd been laying on the floor for hours?- and everyone had left, save for Crisalide and myself. She looked down at me (Where I'd become smaller and frailer, she had undergone the opposite) and sighed. "you know, Chrysalis, I still care for you, even with all that's happened. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but the only thing that will make sure your supporters accept my rule is if you're gone." She said, and gave me a small, sad smile. "I still meant everything I said, though. I'll never forgive you, and if you return to the Outlands after today, you'll be executed." She said cooly, and I felt tears well up in my eyes- a sensation I wasn't used to. Crisalide nudged me, ushering me toward the door.

I went quietly,- all the fight had left me when Crisalide struckme- and our trip through the darkened streets was uneventful, save for a school child pointing and laughing at me- something that, for some reason, really really hurt. We reached the city gates, and I stared out at the expanse before me- a gray sanded desert where the only Oases were foul, bug ridden swamps. So this was it- they didn't even want me to make it to Equestria, they just wanted me out of the city before I died. I looked up at Crisalide, and was about to protest when she caught my expression and spoke first.

"Though it looks vast, I think you'll remember that this is the narrowest part of the Shadowsea, and it's only a day-and-a-half's walk to the edge of Equestria" She said, and my sense of doom lessened somewhat, though I still figured I was in for a bad time.

Crisalide gestured for me to go, and I turned to give her one last loving, sad look. "Goodbye, Cris... I'm sorry, and I care for you." I murmured before taking the first few steps and beginning my long journey.

I heard her voice, carried by the wind, as I left her and my entire life behind forever. "And I care for you, Chrysalis..."