Prologue: A Liar

The changeling Hive exists beyond any cartography used by pony kind. In a vast wasteland, this grand mountain is the keep of Chrysalis and her loyal brood of emotion-stealing soldiers. Her grand regime keeps all of her followers subservient; there is no great corruption, no falling within the ranks, and no inner wars to be heard of. In this way, the Hive is almost a utopia. There can be no disorder when everyone is the same.

Hoofprints lead away from this peaceful mountain. A misshapen changeling hoof imprints itself into the dust with every step, leaving a withered changeling's tracks. It moves with a broken leg, and sees with a broken eye. It cannot fly with its broken wing. It looks up at you, as a starving child would look upon a crumb. Its neck twitches as it crooks his head.

Its throat quivers, and its voice cracks. "Do you want to hear a story? It’s the only one I know."