Nine hundred and sixty-eight ponies, thought Chrysalis. Is that really all that’s left? It had been about twelve hours since the...whatever it was, had struck, and Chrysalis was still trying to wrap her head around the scope of the disaster. As far as Chrysalis could tell that horrific double blast had laid waste to all of Equestria, and beyond. Canterlot had once had a population of around thirty thousand. Roughly three percent had survived, and towards the end, her changelings were doing nothing more than putting ponies who wouldn’t survive out of their misery.

“Your Majesty,” said a drone coming up to her. He looked terrible, traces of vomit were visible after he had emptied his stomach. “I’m sorry, but we just can’t take anymore. All that death, and worse. The ones that are still alive, but twisted--,” His face screwed up and Chrysalis could tell he was fighting down nausea. “We’ve been having to put them down...the screams...nothing should have to try to live like that, nothing,” he said, shuddering.

“It’s okay, you’ve done enough,” Chrysalis said, pulling the shaking drone close and feeding a little energy into him. “Tell the other teams to pull back in. I think we’ve done everything we can do today.” The drone recovered himself, standing on his own.

“Sorry, my Queen,” the drone said, dipping his head in thanks for her support. “I’ll get right on it.” The drone headed back out to call in the other groups, and Chrysalis decided to wait by the entrance to see how the scavenger groups had done. It was late by the time the last ones had returned. All of them were tired, drained, and showed the strain of the emotional storm of the past day, but they had done well. Several days worth of pony foods had been gathered, all of it preserved. The taint permeating magic didn’t seem to have poisoned canned or packed food, as compared what it had done to fresh foods, and thankfully the wells still seemed to be drawing clean, fresh water.

After her explosion at Rogue earlier, the ponies her drones had brought in were now receiving medical attention, food, and water, instead of being left to their own devices. As yet, all of them were too stunned by the day’s events to mount even a token resistance to being taken in by her changelings. In fact, most of the ponies had been pathetically grateful at being rescued, whether it was by a changeling or not.

Chrysalis frowned to herself, as she walked back toward the chamber she was using. “Taken in” was just a euphemism for capture and enslave, and while the ponies showed no signs of attempting escape, they outnumbered her changelings four to one. She needed to think of a way to get the ponies to accept their lot, for them to willingly accept the bonds she was going to have to place on them, because a pitched pony battle for freedom would be disastrous for all concerned. Acceptance and cooperation was the only way to ensure the survival of both pony and changeling.

The last words of Celestia’s majordomo echoed through her head. “Give them a symbol,” he had said. Chrysalis was arranging to have Celestia’s body lie in state, but that could only be a starting point. She had to find an enduring symbol for the ponies to rally around, preferably a symbol that the ponies recognized as coming from her. On top of that, she had to find a way to change her ‘lings from infiltrators and spies, into herders and farmers. It would come to her, it had to. Too many lives were depending on her to find the answers.

“Your Majesty?” asked a deferential voice to her left, just outside her chambers.

“Yes, Shifter?” Chrysalis said, turning her head to face another of her drones. “What is it?”

“I’ve done some checking, and the whatever it is seems to be filtering down through the rock,” said the infiltrator.

“I’m calling it the Taint, for now,” said Chrysalis. “How long do we have until it reaches us here?”

“I give it a bit over two days,” said Shifter, gesturing around, “After that, it will be all around us.”

“Right.” She paused. “We will deal with that in the morning. Go get some sleep.”

Shifter bowed her head and headed off toward a sleeping nest. Chrysalis watched the drone leave and realized her own head was nodding. She yawned deeply, mouth stretching wide. A nearby nest whispered its siren song to Chrysalis, and just this once, she gave in to its call. Staggering over to the nest, Chrysalis collapsed on it, and was asleep almost instantly.

The next morning Chrysalis had herself a meal of the ambient emotions coming from her...herd. She feasted off of the succulent love and compassion the ponies had for one another, usually a meal fit for a queen. But the accents of fear, despair, and sorrow interwoven in the emotions soured her repast.

After her distasteful breakfast, Chrysalis began pouring over maps. They had to move and soon. Chrysalis checked the spread of the Taint when she’d woken up. Shifter was right. By dinner time tomorrow these caves would be just as dangerous to ponies as the surface was.

“Your thoughts, my Queen?” asked Rogue, in a humble voice as she entered Chrysalis’s planning chamber.

Chrysalis glared at Rogue wondering how stupid her second-in-command thought she was. She could almost smell the betrayal and treachery coming off of Rogue. Rogue could mask her expressions and act with the best of them, but her emotions were an open book to Chrysalis, who had been raised in treachery and nursed on deceit. The changeling might as well have been holding up a sign that read, “Want to overthrow Chrysalis? Ask me how.” Another time, Chrysalis would have either crushed Rogue like a bug, or let Rogue strengthen herself through treachery and then bound the reprobate minion to her by crushing Rogue’s plot, yet allowing her to live. Chrysalis didn’t have time for such luxuries now.

“You and I need to have a discussion about your position in the hive,” said Chrysalis, a wicked grin stretched across her muzzle. “We will talk tonight, but in the meantime I have a task for you. I need you to lead the scavenging teams in finding every usable wagon, cart and conveyance you can.”

Rogue nodded, “I would be pleased to attend to you this evening. Also, by ‘every’ how many do you mean?”

“Two hundred would be nice,” Chrysalis said, ignoring the choked sound of surprise Rogue made at the number. “We need to be on the move by first light tomorrow, and I want to take as much stuff as we can with us. Ponies, pods, foodstuffs, and anything else we can take. So, while two hundred is the target number, more is better,” said Chrysalis, waving the changeling away. “Off you go, and I will see you tonight.”

Rogue bowed and left, calling to some other changelings as she did. Chrysalis made careful note of who were the first changelings Rogue called to. They would be the ones Rogue felt most comfortable with; hence, they would likely be her co-conspirators. Hopefully she would be able to avoid outright killing any of them, as she needed every hoof she could get. Chrysalis also made a mental note who Rogue avoided, and then went back to studying the map.

She needed to find someplace close to a settled area, that had caves or underground structures and that was not too far away. Ponyville was an eight hour train ride from Canterlot, or about a three day march. They could probably make that, with a little pushing. Ponyville was also a farming center and the home of Twilight’s friends. All of whom were powerful mares in their own right. If any of them had survived, her keeping Twilight alive could win them to her cause, and make her job of managing her ponies easier. Also, Ghastly Gorge was close to Ponyville and had ready made tunnels and caves. It was as close to ideal as Chrysalis could have hoped and she nodded in satisfaction at her choice. Now for the hard part of the day.

"Come with me,” she ordered four drones who had been busy with other tasks. “I’m going to speak to our ponies, and I want you four with me in case one of them tries something stupid.” The four nodded and fell into formation around their queen, looking protective as Chrysalis headed toward the area that had been walled off for the ponies. “You four,” she said, spotting another quartet who had been busy organizing their cache of salvaged foodstuffs, “go fetch the princesses and meet me at the ponies.” All four, nodded, set down their burdens and headed off to do their queen’s bidding. Chrysalis and her guards walked on, stopping a few minutes later at a wall of green resin.

With a flare of her magic Chrysalis parted the resin wall and stepped into the large chamber, guards flanking her. As she looked around Chrysalis could see the ponies huddled together in groups, some of them eating and drinking, some tending to the wounds of others with medical supplies and a great many were just staring into space. A day later still unable to comprehend the disaster that had come upon them.

“YOU!” snarled a voice from Chrysalis's left, and she whipped her head over to see a trio of Solar Guards approaching in dented, scorched armour. Between the three of them they had over a dozen wounds, one of them was limping and their leader was missing half his mane and his entire tail. None of which did a thing to lessen the pure, feral, menace Chrysalis felt coming off the stallions. She had never seen ponies so close to giving in to murderous, berserk rage and her guards began to move to intercept the trio of ponies, as they too tasted the emotions of the stallions approaching, but Chrysalis waved them back.

“It’s rude to not introduce yourself when in the presence of monarchy,” said Chrysalis, with a raised eyebrow and the voice of a teacher correcting an erring student, “In Celestia’s name I ask for yours, even as you have mine.” The politeness, the tone of voice, and especially the use of Celestia’s name, knocked the guards off their emotional stride and confused them for a moment. As Chrysalis knew it would.

“Radiant Shield, you murdering piece of—” began the lead guard, beginning to recover his righteous wrath.

“I have killed nopony,” said Chrysalis, smoothly interrupting what surely was the beginning of an epic string of vituperation, “and if you behave like civilized ponies, I will answer any questions you may have for me.” The guards blinked for a moment, still trying to shift from anger to civilized conversation.

“You say you didn’t kill Celestia,” began Radiant Shield, through gritted teeth. “Did you order it done, or cause any of this to happen?”

“No,” said Chrysalis, plainly. “Nor, to the best of my knowledge, did any of my drones have anything to do with it. Any other questions?”

“Yes, why?” asked Radiant Shield.

“Why what?” Chrysalis replied, growing a little worried as she felt Radiant Shield’s anger flare back into an inferno inside him..

“Why didn’t you kill Celestia?” demanded Radiant Shield, his voice rising in volume and anger as he continued. “Why did you rescue us? Why take care of us? Why aren’t we in pods, or chains, at the least? WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US?” He screamed the last directly into Chrysalis’s face.

“Your world, and all you know, has been ripped apart and tossed onto its head,” said Chrysalis, rising up to her full height and majesty over the stallion. “So, I will forgive your words and tone...this one time. But in the future, you will address me with the proper respect and deference I am due. Am I understood?” Radiant Shield blinked, ears flattening, as he realized what he had done, and how.

“My...my sincere apologies, Your Majesty,” Radiant Shield said, backing down and taking a couple of steps back. “I...we...it’s all been a little much to take. But my questions stand, Your Majesty.”

“Better,” said Chrysalis, nodding in approval. “In order. I did not kill Celestia because I respected her as a fellow leader and changelings prefer to capture, not kill. I ordered all of you rescued to curry favour with Celestia, before I knew of her condition. You aren’t in pods or chains because we need you active and mobile so we can move locations tomorrow. Finally, I’m taking care of you because you have something I need.”

“What would that be, Your Majesty?” asked Radiant, making sure he addressed Chrysalis properly.

“Edible emotions,’ Chrysalis said. “You likely are not aware of this, but the ponies in this cavern are the sum total of Canterlot’s survivors. Roughly three of every hundred ponies survived the blast, and I realized that if I did not act decisively, ponies will likely die out. And if ponies die out, the changeling race will starve to death.”

“So, we’re going to be livestock,” said Radiant Shield, in a bitter voice. “Slaves at best, product at worst.”

“Other changeling queens may take that position,” Chrysalis said, “but I will not be one of them. Yes, I could pod you all, or put you in chains, but I would rather ponies be my partners in survival. You keep us fed in emotions and we keep you safe, fed, and protected from the Taint. If we can help you grow and prosper it will help my changelings to grow and prosper as well.” A sound behind Chrysalis made her look back. It was her drones, carrying the body of Celestia in a sealed, glass sarcophagus and she waved them in.

“Hear me, Ponies!” Chrysalis shouted to the room, cutting of the wails of mourning that were beginning as the ponies spotted the body of their fallen ruler. “I was with Celestia when she died, and with her last breath she asked me to save her ponies. I’ve always preferred to honour last requests, and so, in her name, I will do my best to protect and preserve the ponies of Equestria.”

“And in turn, we keep you fed,” murmured Radiant, to Chrysalis.

“Exactly, we each have something the other needs to survive,” said Chrysalis, who then raised her voice again. “Ponies, you may have this day to mourn and decide on the disposition of Celestia’s body. Tell Radiant Shield here, of your wishes and I will honour them as best I can.”

“Me?” the guard pony asked, surprised. “Why?”

“Because I admire boldness,” Chrysalis said, with a grin. “You stood up and challenged me, face to face. Much like the last surviving Equestrian Princess did.”

“The last...” Radiant Shield’s voice tapered off as the other group of drones brought in Twilight Sparkle, safely resting in her pod. Radiant Shield’s eyes grew wide and he walked past Chrysalis as if she wasn’t even there, and laid a reverent hoof on the pod. Bowing his head over his princess, Chrysalis heard him pledge himself to Twilight Sparkle.

“Twilight has come, and my service begins. I will keep watch for her, in darkest night and in brightest day. I shall be the shield at her back, the sword at her side, her eyes and her ears, her strong hoof, her swift wing, her glowing horn. For Equestria, I will live and die at her command. I pledge my service to the Twilight Princess on this day, and for all the days to come,” said Radiant Shield in a clear voice that carried through the cavern, and as he finished his oath his eyes refocused on Chrysalis, and he held her gaze.

Chrysalis kept her face impassive, but inside she was quite impressed at the sudden change in the stallion. A few minutes ago he had been barely keeping himself together, but now he held her gaze with an unnerving calm. He offered neither challenge or defiance with his steady regard. Just wordlessly stating the fact that Twilight was now his princess, and he would do whatever it took to protect her. Chrysalis could feel a new strength and power flowing off the guardpony, and as she thought on that, she also realized that the entire cavern had gone silent.

The arrival of Celestia’s body had filled the cavern with sorrow and dark despair as the ponies were faced with the truth of Celestia’s death. But as Radiant Shield’s words had passed over his fellow ponies that despair was purged by a flare of new emotions. Hope, determination, even optimism and love were now filling the cavern as the ponies quietly began to come forward, paying their respects to their fallen princess and pledging loyalty to their new one.

“I will leave you for now,” said Chrysalis, to Radiant Shield. “But be aware that the Taint from the blast is working its way here. I plan to have us move overland to a safer place at dawn tomorrow, be ready.”

“And what of our princess?” asked Radiant Shield, gesturing toward Twilight Sparkle, that same calm look still in his eyes. “Is she going to be a podded hostage in exchange for our obedience?”

“Twilight’s wounds are terrible, and that pod is the only thing keeping her alive,” Chrysalis said. “The moment she can survive outside of it, and not be in agony, I will release her to you. We need each other too much for me to resort to hostages and threats. As I said earlier, we have to be partners in survival.” Chrysalis felt a tap on her side for attention, and a drone whispered to her that she was needed. “I have to go, but we will talk more on the road. Take care of our ponies, Radiant Shield,” Chrysalis said, leaving to deal with the million and one details involved in moving twelve hundred individuals in a single march.

The day passed swiftly for the changeling monarch as she made ready for the trip. Ponyville was a seven to eight hour train ride from Canterlot, but even if they could find a train large enough to carry twelve hundred individuals, plus cargo, it was more than likely that the tracks were out along the way. That left the three day march to Ponyville as the only option, plus a few more hours further south to the caves of Ghastly Gorge.

“You wanted to see me, Ma’am,” said Rogue, as she entered Chrysalis’s planning chamber. She nodded to the guards in the room.

“Yes, Rogue, I did,” Chrysalis replied, standing up from where she had been going over lists of supplies. “How many wagons were you able to find?”

“Two hundred ten wagons and forty carriages,” Rogue said, with a pleased smile. “All in various states of repair, but they should all be good for the trip.”

“Well done. One other question, Rogue. Exactly when were you planning on attempting to overthrow me?” Chrysalis asked, conversationally. She savoured the sensation of shock and sudden alarm that she felt shoot through her traitorous minion.

“I...I don’t know what you mean,” Rogue said, stammering in shock. She tried to take a step back but found herself held in place by the queen’s magic.

“Rogue, my dear. If things were different I would savour this moment,” said Chrysalis, smiling and showing some fang as she did so. “I do so love the moment of revelation. When my opponent realizes how easily I’m about to crush them and their plans. But alas, it is a less perfect world than it was a few days ago.”

“Please, please, Your Majesty,” Rogue begged, going to her knees. “Have mercy. I thought you were weak, and I was wrong. Please, don’t kill me. Allow me to live and serve your glory. Please.”

“As I said, it is a less perfect world, and so I do not have the luxury of allowing a traitor to prosper in my own hive. Which leaves me no choice but to—” Chrysalis paused, deliberately, to have one last savour of Rogue’s terror, “make use of you instead.” Rogue collapsed to the floor in relief.

“Thank you, Great Queen, for your mercy to this insignificant drone,” said Rogue, doing her best to not give Chrysalis even the slightest excuse to kill her.

“Don’t thank me yet, my treacherous little minion,” said Chrysalis, still smiling. “Come the morning you are going to set out on a personal mission from me.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” said Rogue, still groveling on the floor. “Whatever you wish your chastised slave to do, it will be done.”

“Good, because tomorrow I’m sending you north to the Crystal Empire,” said Chrysalis, as she began setting up a spell. “You will make contact with Shadowed Snows, who has been keeping watch on the Empire for me and find out if the Empire has suffered the same fate as Equestria. Then you will return to me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” was Rogue’s only response.

“And to make sure you accomplish my will—” began Chrysalis, and she unleashed her gathered power onto Rogue’s body, burning the word “Traitor” onto her chitin, “this will mark you so that other changelings will know what you are. If you return with the information I need about the Empire, I will remove the mark. Now get out of here and don’t let me see you again until you have completed your mission.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Rogue said, crawling from the chamber in utter submission.

Well, that went well. thought Chrysalis. One problem dealt with, and the ponies are starting to look to me as the one they need to depend on. Now, all we have to do is make a desperate sprint, through a devastated and poisoned land to a place of dubious safety. It almost seems too easy.

Author's Note

No, this shared world hasn't stopped being worked on. It just got put on the back burner for awhile. But then, Door Belle put up a couple of chapters of her part of the story and I realized I had to stir my lazy writer ass and catch up to her. Thus, Equestria: Destroyed is back into my writing rotation. Which I have had to go back to, because concentrating on one story at a time just wasn't cutting it.

As to Radiant Shield's oath. I had to write something that had to be dedicated to Twilight, yet still adaptable to Luna and Celestia. I think I hit the mark, or at least close to it.

Thanks to both Damaged and ChappedPenguinLips for their editorial inputs.

Next chapter: The March

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