"Broodmother...Broodmother..." Several of the young Changelings called out, as they shivered in a small huddle together. "Broodmother, we're so cold."
"I know you're cold young ones." Queen Chrysalis answered, walking into the cave area with some slightly damp and snow covered wood. "But we must endure."
After her defeat during her attempted invasion of Canterlot close to two years ago, Queen Chrysalis and her Changeling race has twiddled to less than a tenth of their population. The once proud Changeling Hive has been reduced to a small group of practically younglings, some veterans, and their Queen Chrysalis. To add insult to injury, knowing how weakened they've become, the Diamond Dogs were able to force the Changelings from their home, thus losing more of their kind. Now, huddled in a dank cave in the frozen outskirts near the Crystal Empire, Chrysalis did what she could to keep the spirits of her kind alive. They had to survive, at least one more night.
Placing the wood near the younglings, in a neat pile, Chrysalis ignited her horn to set the wood alight. The fire was small and clearly wasn't going to last the night. But it was warm and the younglings were able to huddle close to the fire to warm up. There were only a small group of four left of the younglings, they and Chrysalis were the only hope of the Changeling race.
"Now then young ones." Chrysalis sat between the group. "Are you excited for tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?" The younglings asked.
"Tomorrow is Hearth's Warming Day." Chrysalis smiled best she could. "A day where there is love a plenty for us to feed and live off of. Not as much as Hearts and Hooves Day but still there is plenty of love to go around."
"That's great!" One youngling cheered. "Let's wake the others and tell them the good news!"
"No!" Chrysalis snapped but then composed herself. "I mean, the adult have worked long and hard to help secure this cave, let them rest."
"Okay." The youngling smiled.
It was a lie, but how could she not lie. Chrysalis couldn't let the younglings see what became of their parents, their elders.
"Queen Chrysalis." A few younglings kept shivering by the fire. "We're still cold."
"Hmm if that's the case." Chrysalis nodded. "How about I tell you all a story to help warm you all up?"
"Yay a story!" They all cheered. "But which one?"
"How about the one where a Changeling saved Heart's Warming Day." Chrysalis smiled.
"A Changeling saved Hearth's Warming Day?" The younglings asked. "No way."
"It's true." Chrysalis replied. "Well more accurately, it's because of a Changeling that there was a Hearth's Warming Day."
Long ago, in lands who's names are long forgotten, there were three kingdoms; a kingdom of Pegasi, Unicorns, and Earth ponies. All these races lived in a state of harmony and for Changelings, it was an endless feast. The Unicorns used their magic to raise and lower the Sun and Moon, while the Pegasi controlled the weather to help the Earth ponies could grow their food, in exchange both the Unicorn and Pegasi demanded their own large share of the Earth ponies food. But this didn't bother us Changelings at first. We simply fed on the surrounding happiness and love. But those time were not to last. A blizzard---
"Like the one we're in now?" A youngling asked.
"Even worse." Chrysalis answered, continuing her story.
This blizzard was unlike any before; no matter how much they try, the Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth ponies were at each other's throats and the happiness soon dried up. Something had to be done.
"What did the Changelings do?" The younglings asked.
"Let's find out young ones." Chrysalis chuckled.
Now, seeing as how the three races were unable to live for much longer against each other, they agreed to a meeting to decide their fate. But the foolish leaders, Princess Platinum of the Unicorns, Commander Hurricane of the Pegasi, and Chancellor Puddinghead of the Earth ponies were all too stubborn and unwilling to care about the truth behind their worries and would rather blame each other. Us Changelings couldn't allow this. If we could not get them to work together, then we were going to separate them. Luckily, our most successful Changelings have already been entwined in the races affairs for years, disguised as the three races. Clover the Clever, adviser to Princess Platinum and student of Starswirl the bearded. Private Pansy, second in command to Commander Hurricane. And Smart Cookie, Vice-Chancellor to Puddinghead. All three Changelings hatched a plan, to convince their leaders to move to a place warmer and filled wiht love and happiness.
"So were the Changelings able to convince them?" Another youngling asked.
"Ye-" But Chrysalis was cut off by what she saw in front of her. Resting against her foreleg was a youngling but it was cold and not moving. "Y-yes. The Changelings were able to convince the leaders. Now it seems I must tell a tad softer, as one of us has fallen asleep."
"Should I wak-" A youngling asked.
"NO!" I-I mean we should let him rest, we all have a big day tomorrow." Chrysalis couldn't tell them the truth, so she had to finish.
Soon after, the three races went on to found a new community. The Unicrons made Unicorpia. Pegasi made Pegasopolis, and the Earth ponies made, well Earth. But the three rulers set down their flags in the same plot of land. So despite our best efforts, the three races continues their pointless struggles and of course the cold followed. Though we all knew the cold was caused by the Windigos, the other races refused to see the truth and continued blaming each other.
Taking a brief pause, Chrysalis saw that a few more of the younglings were curled up against her body, trying to keep warm. But their bodies were cold and motionless. Thankfully the remaining younglings didn't think anything of it. They assumed they were sleeping. Those poor younglings.
So eventually, the leaders, including the three Changeling advisers were all huddled in a cave, much like this one. Eventually, the leaders became frozen, leaving our Changelings were left to discuss the love and happiness they used to feed on. Their tales of love and happiness that used to flow from the hearts of the happy ponies, like a rare wine, the memories sent a new feeling into the Changelings. They felt a longing, not love, we can never feel true love, but a longing strong enough, you could call it love. This feeling gave the Changelings the strength to fight back. And with their combined magic, they pushed back the Windigos, banishing them to the far frozen North. After that, the races made up and settled on this new land together, later calling this new home of happiness, love and harmony Equestria. The love and happiness continued again and we fed. To celebrate this new age, the ponies named this holiday Hearth's Warming Day, where ponies of all races were to feel happiness and love to push back any Windigos that may return.
"And that's the story." Chrysalis said, holding back her tears as when curled up with the last awake youngling, but he was fading fast.
"And tomorrow we'll get to feed on that love?" The last youngling asked through a cute yawn. "I'm so cold and so tired."
"Hush now sweet one." Chrysalis hushed. "Sleep and I will keep you warm. Tomorrow we'll feed and the Changelings will live again."
With the last of the younglings now gone and cold, Chrysalis lost all hope. Her frozen tears broke through her eyes and shattered to the face of the lost younglings.
"We were so close." Chrysalis mumbled through her tears. "I will not leave them like this. We will all go together."
Chrysalis curled up with her frozen younglings and closed her eyes.
-----------The Following Morning-----------
That morning was amazing. Warm and comfy, foals, fillies, and colts of all ages woke up early to get at their gifts that Santa Hooves left for them. Some had Candy for breakfast, others had waffles and pancakes. But where were the Changelings? All throughout the morning, all was happy and there was no invasion. On the outskirts of the Empire, Shining Armor and several of his guards were scouting the area. They heard of reports of supposed Changelings hiding in the local caves and hidden areas for some unknown reason. Because of the recent blizzard, they couldn't further investigate. But now that the blizzard has cleared, Armor wanted to get this search over with and quickly.
"Come on boys." Armor shouted. "Let's find these Changelings and go home, maybe we'll be back by lunch."
"Yeah, so I can hear my kids complain they didn't get what they wanted." A guard laughed.
"You could've walked out in the blizzard if you wanted, mate." Another guard laughed.
"I second that." A third laughed. "Then I could hit on your wife."
"Not before she stabs ya in the balls first." The first guard laughed.
"Makes me glad I'm married to the Princess." Laughed Armor.
"Captain Armor!" A guard shouted, his eyes staring into the dark and cold day. "You must see this."
"Changelings?" Armor inquired.
"We're not sure." The guard answered catching his breath. "Just come see this sir."
In a short amount of time, Shining Armor, accompanied by several of his guards arrived at the cave entrance.
"I had no idea there was a cave so close to the Empire." Armor commented. "Have you searched it?"
"I have." The guard sounded more nervous. "And well....y-you have to see what I found."
Armor and his guard followed the guard into the cave, their combined horns created enough light to make it feel like daylight had entered the cave. They didn't get to far into the cave until they stumbled upon a shock.
"What is thi-?!" Armor stepped back. "It's a Changeling?!"
But it was too late, the Changeling was long dead and frozen. From the looks of it, it was a young Changeling that looks to have tried to walk out of the cave but died before reaching the entrance. Swallowing their courage, the ponies continued further in the cave. In the furthest end of the cave, Armor and his guards found the biggest shock. Queen Chrysalis, covered in more young changelings, as if they were trying to keep her warm. She was frozen looking, and covered in ice.
"Armor sir?" The guard asked as Armor walked close to the fallen Queen.
"We must get Cadance." Armor ordered. "Bring her here, it is of the highest importance."
The guard's saluted and ran off.
"Poor Chrysalis." Armor mumbled to himself. "To go out like this is so sad, even for one such as her."
It was only an hour before Princess Cadance was escorted into the cave. On the way there, she wasn't informed why Armor had to have her there, but when she saw Chrysalis, she knew why.
"Oh those poor Changelings." Cadance mourned as she walked into the cave. "I expected maybe several adults and a few younglings. But there's-"
"Only younglings." Armor answered. "We found one or two adults in the back but they were frozen long before these younger ones."
"Armor?" Cadance walked forward, her tone was sorrowful and full of regret. "What happened here?"
"It seems these Changelings may not have been planning an attack as we originally thought." Armor explained from what he could gather. "It seems they were stuck here by the blizzard and with nothing to eat and nothing to keep warm."
"And what about Chrysalis?" Cadance had to ask.
"She froze to death, with the rest of her kind." Armor's tone of voice sounded like a mix of regret and mono-toned. "She was a monster, but nopony deserves to die like this."
"I know." Cadance almost started crying. "But we can't leave her like this."
"Agreed." Armor nodded. "She may have been an enemy and a monster, but she deserves a proper burial. Men, begin to dig graves!"
"Sir!" The guards saluted and began digging.
"And what should we do with Chrysalis?" Armor asked Cadance, who was still hunched over the fallen Queen in mourning.
"We should bring her-" Cadance said but then to her almost scream, she felt the cold hoof of Chrysalis grab her hoof.
"N-n-n-n-no." Chrysalis's voice sounded like a cold, rusty breeze and her very slow and subtle movements made the sounds of cracking glass and ice. Held the closest to her chest, Chrysalis handed a small bundled wrap to Cadance. "P-p-p-ple-e-e-e-eas-s-s-s-s-se s-s-s-sa-v-v-v-ve m-m-m-my------" Was the last thing Chrysalsis said as she drew her last breath and fell into the cold, endless sleep.
Unwrapping a part of the bundle, Cadance found that she was holding a clear, dark green and black egg.
"An egg?!" Cadance said. "A Changeling egg."
"What is this?" Armor asked. "A chance to save the Changeling race?"
"A hope, Armor." Cadance answered, holding the egg close as if it were her own foal. "That the Changelings can be saved."
"Let's hope." Armor nodded.
