My Kingdom of Rubble

"You're going to pay for what you did!"

They never stopped shouting.

"Just line her up against a wall and kill her!"

A cacophony of voices, all screaming for blood.

"She isn't fit to be queen!"

It wasn't even her plan.

"I have the perfect punishment for her."

His eyes. His damned eyes. That smile, too. The visage of a schemer.

The voices hushed when he spoke, holding their breath.

"Exile her. Far to the north."

Riotous applause. Cheers. Laughter. Mocking her.

"I always liked you, Chrysalis."

"Come on, Chrysalis. Time to move."

Chrysalis tossed and turned on her destroyed mattress, this being the first time that she had a decent nap in the past year. She turned away from the man, who gently prodded her with the tip of his boot. She groaned, a sleepy "Five more minutes" escaping her. As she lay there, the man had a bored expression upon his face, obviously not caring for her post-nap antics. Continuing to gently kick her, she swung a hoof in his general direction. "Obey your queen and let me sleep."

"You are no queen of mine, but if we're going to get the hell out of this arctic shit-box, then we have to move," Ozzy spoke. Growing tired of her unwillingness to move, he bent over to grab one of her hooves. Lifting her up by her front hoof to where she was dangling mere inches from the ground, she wriggled in his grasp. "Stop, alright, I will get up!" Ozzy let his grip go, letting the queen fall to the floor, she shook herself awake. "Why must you disturb me? That was the most fulfilling nap I have had in months!" Rubbing her drowsy eyes as she spoke, she yearned to return to her poorly-maintained bed.

"Like I said, we're leaving. Gather up whatever personal possessions you wish, and say goodbye to this dump." He turned, giving the cave-turned-home a final inspection. "I've already gathered up as much of the Yeti meat as I can carry. That should last us until we find civilization." As he spoke, Chrysalis began to collect her things at a sluggish pace. Her crown, the picture, she could never let those go. She would not allow the decaying treasures of her glory days evaporate into nothingness in this dark cavern.

"Would you mind telling me exactly where we are heading? The nearest civilization would be the Crystal Empire, and I have attempted to infiltrate their city with... Little success." She pondered where she would carry her personal belongings, until Ozzy tossed a makeshift nap-sack towards her. The sack, she determined, was crudely fashioned from the skin of the deceased snow Yeti, something that she found only mildly unsettling.

"Well, seeing as how you're more acquainted with this area than I am, I was going to leave the 'where' part up to you. Where do you think we should head?" Ozzy awaited her answer, but was met with only a confused gawk. "What do you mean, 'where do I want to go'? I thought you had a plan." She stared at him incredulously, as he returned her fierce gaze. "I mean exactly what I said. You know more about this area than I do, and seeing as how you won't be accepted into this Crystal Empire, that means we have to leave this place. So I ask again, where do you want to go?"

Chrysalis was unsure of how to respond. Her first thoughts were to return to her hive and reclaim her throne, but her current physical condition would ensure that she would be obliterated. With memories of her home came the feeling of warmth and heat on her shell, and she settled with anywhere that had a desert climate. "I would appreciate heading to a more thawed-out area than this. Maybe where the Buffalo roam? What was that pony settlement, Appleloosa?" She pondered, hoping that Ozzy would agree with those terms.

"I agree with the warmer territory. Appleloosa it is," He said with a smirk, hiking up another Yeti skin bag over his shoulder. "Any idea how to get there without freezing to death?" He marched toward the mouth of the cave, noting that the storm had died down from its past aggression, but would still be a challenge to traverse. After pondering there options, Chrysalis spoke a single word:

"Trains."

Ozzy looked back at the Changeling, awaiting further elaboration. "The trains that deliver passengers and produce to the Crystal Empire from Appleloosa pass through a jewel formation that is not far from here. We prepare ourselves near the tracks, then as the train approaches, we leap onto one of the cars." A slight smile formed on her face, the idea appearing more and more doable the more that she envisioned it. "The back cars are normally where the passengers luggage is held. If we board there, then the only ponies passing through would be the ones running the locomotive, and that would just require hiding amongst the boxes and carts so as not to be spotted."

Ozzy nodded, the plan sounding as sound as they come. "Alright, I like it. Lead the way, Your Majesty." He gave a mock bow, allowing Chrysalis to walk past. As she did, she turned back toward the cave that had served as her home. With one final sigh, she turned and marched into the cold, Ozzy close behind.

Happy to be leaving that piss-hole of an abode.

Tell me about it. Hopefully wherever we end up has a decent bed.

So we're going to be boarding a train? Just like those old cowboy bandits?

Appears so. I trust Chrysalis, but I won't mind if I have to plug a couple of ponies.

You do that a lot, y'know?

Do what?

I mean you go back and forth between 'Oh, I want to be seen as the good guy!' and 'I don't give a fuck who I kill!'

But isn't that what makes an imperishable dynasty? I want to be a friend to the people, but at the same time, I will butcher them for so much as looking at me wrong.

And you call me a psychopath. You're just a hypocritical piece of shit.

Takes one to know one, jackass.

The sky had turned a dark gray by the time the pair had reached the jewel formation. The storm, whose blistering winds had penetrated them to their very core, had thankfully died down to a light breeze, as well as the snow now being reduced one or two snowflakes at a time. With night nearing, Ozzy and Chrysalis were growing weary as to what may lurk in the snow when the sun descends into the horizon, more-so now that they had abandoned their living arrangements.

To make matters worse, Chrysalis relayed a crucial detail of information concerning Snow Yetis to Ozzy. That information being that although the majority of the Yeti population hunted alone, some banded together and hunted in packs. With that in mind, Ozzy continued to scan around the corners of their current position, rifle gripped firmly in his hands. If a pack of Yetis were to set upon them, he would ensure that he would die kicking, screaming, and covered in one of the beasts' internal organs.

The pair had been sitting in their secured position, an elevated depression in the formation of the giant red jewels, for the past three hours, desperately awaiting the rumbling of an engine in the distance. The sounds that had reached them, however, had been that of roars of various beasts. Predators on the hunt were now reigning across the landscape, tearing at not only each other, but the poor creatures who had been foolish enough to venture out into the approaching night. Checking both ways down the tracks for what seemed like the twentieth time, Ozzy turned back to Chrysalis.

"How often did you say the trains come by? Every few hours or so?" His voice barely above a whisper, so as not to alarm any nearby predators. "That is what the norm seems to be, yes." She leaned back into the jewels, closely inspecting if the formation would be worth anything. "We've been here for almost four hours, and I have yet to see a goddamn train." Ozzy leaned back over the edge, checking for any signs of unnatural movement in the distance.

"Well, I apologize for not memorizing the schedule of the International Locomotive Industry!" She hissed at him, the sound of a Yeti chasing down some unlucky prey in the distance reminding her just how tense the situation was. She hoped that they would not meet the same fate. "It's alright. I just don't want to have to spend the night here. I haven't slept since I wound up in this place." He rubbed his face, momentarily taking his hand away from his rifle. The idea of staying awake through the night whilst surrounded by a plethora of lethal animals did not sit well with the Courier... At least, not again.

As the usual sounds of animals tearing at each other continued, a shrill whistle broke through the cacophonous bluster, followed by the fast rumbling of mechanized wheels blazing through their course. It was distant, but it gave every creature, including the pair nestled into the jewel formation, a moment of pause. Through many years, the animals in the frozen north had learned one thing: the giant, loud machines carried a bounty of screaming, delicious fresh food. The catch was boarding the giant machines and obtaining said food.

Across that frozen plain, innumerable Yetis and other northern predators charged at the train. Claws upon snow, teeth brought to bare, and anyone onboard that train would become an easy meal. That did not come to pass, though, as something peculiar began to take shape: a forcefield, purple and shimmering against the snow, surrounded the train from the inside out. The animals became curious, but did not halt their stampede.

As one starving Yeti charged toward the forcefield, however, he received an unpleasant surprise in the form of electricity charging through his bones. As he was struck, the Yeti was sent flying back towards the embankment of snow he leapt from. Undeterred, the Yetis' kin continually charged into the train in the hopes of knocking it loose from the track, sending it and the passengers inside into the snow.

Yeti after Yeti was sent flying into the snow, all of them still cringing from the electro-shock attack. After regaining their balance, the smart ones decided that the meal that awaited them aboard the locomotive was not worthy of their efforts, and scampered back into the wilderness. The foolhardy ones, however, attempted to give chase to the train once more, only for them to fall face first back into the snow. Their muscles were too frayed from the shock that they were unable to match the speed of the train, and went sulking back to their caves.

This forcefield worried Ozzy. If they even came close to that forcefield, they would more than likely be sent crashing onto the jagged formations. Added to the fact that the voltage used to incapacitate the Yetis would more than likely be fatal to him, Ozzy had little time to concoct a plan to board the train.

That was when he thought of it. Hopefully, she would be able to perform this feat, as their lives depended on it. Turning to Chrysalis, Ozzy spoke. "How good can you perform magic?" He asked, not caring for whispering as the train continued to draw closer. "Normally, I am capable of performing feats of magic that would rival the Sisters of Equestria. In my current state, however, I am unsure of how well I would fare." She looked away from Ozzy. "Why do you ask?"

Ozzy looked back to the train. Time was against them. "If you could either short out that forcefield just long enough for us to hop on the train, or create a forcefield around us to protect us from the electricity, we'd be in business." The rumbling grew closer. The pair would miss their chance if they lingered any longer. "I suppose the former would work. The caster of the forcefield aboard the train could potentially notice us, though." The train entered the jewel formation.

Now or never. Do it.

"Aw, fuck it! I'd rather deal with a pissed off passenger than spend the night out here!"

The next events occurred within seconds of each other. In one moment, Ozzy and Chrysalis were standing atop a rock depression with the train in sight. The next, Ozzy turned to see Chrysalis light up her horn, followed by a green glow surrounding them. A strange tingling feeling enveloped him, followed by the hard impact of landing atop a train car. The current from the purple forcefield was negated by the energy from Chrysalis' field, unable to conduct the current.

Their botched landing almost sent Ozzy over the edge, but Chrysalis was fast enough to reach her hoof out and catch him, saving him from injury or even death. Slowly crawling toward the back of the car, Ozzy let himself down onto the connecting platform. After Chrysalis was down, Ozzy opened the door to the caboose, hand on his hip just in case any pony needed silencing.

As he opened the door, there was a commotion inside. Boxes toppled, luggage came crashing to the floor, and something was scurrying about inside the cabin. Opening the door enough so that he could fit his head in, Ozzy peeked around to see who or what had caused the disturbance. He unsheathed Blood Nap, mentally steeling himself for whatever is ahead. As he scanned the room, he removed his sunglasses to allow his eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Another stowaway, perhaps?

A minute passed before Ozzy fully opened the door, utilizing the glow from Chrysalis' forcefield to catch the stowaway. As the car bounced about on the tracks, the pair stepped into the cabin, intent on catching the culprit. Ozzy shut the door behind them, the car apparently being sound-proofed as the silence was now deafening.

Chrysalis stepped forward, dropping the forcefield she had been casting, her eyes adjusting immediately to the dim atmosphere. Ozzy, however, had a more difficult time as he tiptoed past box after box, weary of startling whomever would be residing in there. The sound of their breathing perforated the quiet, neither of them daring to speak until they had found the other passenger. If they had been discovered as soon as they had boarded, their chances of success would rely on finding the witness.

Around boxes, in the rafters, under unused seats. Ozzy and Chrysalis had checked everywhere, anxiety creeping into them as the thought of the third passenger escaping and alerting the conductor invaded their thoughts. Ozzy was about to call it quits, until he heard something hit the ground directly to his left.

Looking down, he saw what appeared to be water hit the wooden floor. The droplet had dissipated into the plank, but Ozzy knew exactly where this culprit was hiding. Craning his head towards the ceiling, he found two oval eyes with green iris' staring right back at him. Whatever was hiding on the ceiling was panicking, if the erratic twitching of its tail was anything to go by. Ozzy, for his part, was not amused.

"Hey, Chrysalis. I found it," He called out, his voice breaking the silence.

Chrysalis, who was rummaging through a rather expansive makeup case, walked over to the Courier. He pointed toward the ceiling, indicating where this third passenger was hiding. As she looked up, finding those same round eyes staring back, the creature nearly lost its grip on the ceiling, but managed to catch itself before falling to the floor. Chrysalis was tempted to laugh at how foolish the creature looked, but settled instead for an uninterested stare.

Ozzy stood on his toes, reaching for the mystery passenger. Grabbing it by its tail, and using some force, Ozzy managed to pull the creature down, now holding it upside down in his grasp. Now with a decent view of it, the creature appeared close to a fire gecko, minus the dull color scheme. Ozzy noted that the color scheme it did portray, composed of purple and green, had no other advantages other than that of a potential sociability factor. Lifting it up to eye level, Ozzy spoke in a low tone, one which sent shivers down the other creatures young spine. "Alright. Who are you?"

Seconds passed, and the lizard did nothing. No words, no blinks, barely any breathing. Obviously, it was petrified of the odd duo, but even more so when this gigantic ape tore him down from the ceiling. Truly paralyzed with fear, the tiny purple lizard felt his head begin to swim, shortly before passing out. Ozzy groaned, gently laying the lizard down to the floor.

Good fuckin' job, you. You scared the poor thing to death!

Not the time right now, asshole.

Chrysalis stared at the lizard, who now lay unconscious on the floor. "You realize that this may have just escalated into a hostage situation, right?" She looked to him, a frown growing on her face. Ozzy gently kicked the lizard, irritated at the fact that everything that inhabited this world was apparently so easily frightened. As Ozzy kicked the lizard, a small book fell from an invisible pocket on the creatures body.

How the hell does that thing have built-in pockets?

Reaching down, Ozzy picked up the book and began inspecting it. The title struck him as a little childish, but estimating from the size of the lizard and its features, he determined that this was more than likely an infant, if not a toddler.

Chrysalis peered over to view the book. "What is this? Some sort of journal of this tiny salamander?" Ozzy quickly flipped through the book, glancing over the entries and words. "You wouldn't be wrong. This book is this little thing's journal," He replied, curiosity slowly forming within the both of them. "What does it say on the front? What is his name?" Ozzy flipped back to the cover, quickly reading the cover.

"The Journal of Spike the Dragon."

Dragon. You've got to be fucking kidding me.

So, we're now holding this 'dragon' hostage.

No, we're not. We're simply not allowing it to escape from this cabin until we reach our destination, and after that, we're going to coerce him into keeping our activities a secret.

Did I tell you that you make no fucking sense? First, it's "Let's be good guys!" followed by "I'll kill 'em all!" now followed by a goddamn hostage situation! You're supposed to be this brilliant strategist, and then you have no plan whatsoever! How did you manage to bring not only the Mojave, but THE FUCKING LEGION to heel when this is how you act?!

I have an answer for you.

Believe me, I would looooooove to hear it!

If I don't know what the hell I'm doing, then my enemies can't possibly anticipate my actions.

... You really are insane.

Tell me about it.