The Hoovefilly's Tale

I am a rare alicorn. Born to an empire, I was going to be their princess when I came of age in three months.

That was the day when Equestria fell and the Crystal Heart was destroyed.

For six long months, we dug ourselves out. We buried the dead we could find. My horn started to grow back, but it would be years before it was full again. My mane and tail were clipped short to keep them out of my way, and my wing, broken, was kept pinned to my side as it slowly healed. We never found my father’s body, or many others within the Crystal Empire.

I thought my world was already shaken, with the death of my parents, then the changelings came and rounded us all up. Harnessed and chained, the changelings led us, the survivors, away from what was my city. My parents were dead. My mother had shielded me with her own body. My head hurt from where my horn had broken off when the world came down around us. My wing was held in a sling.

I was going nowhere, as I plodded along with the survivors. I kept my eyes downcast. It was better that way. I couldn’t look up and see the black clouds in the sky, or the broken buildings. Keeping my head down meant I was making myself invisible to my captors. I was yet another filly on their chain as they lead me with a bridle away from my home.

For days, we were taken, along what used to be the railway line, far from our home. We were broken, all of us. My people had their homes destroyed. Families were devastated. Mares crooned for their foals, fillies, colts, and stallions.

Food was whatever we found that was edible. I found an apple and gave it to a small foal who had lost her mother. No matter how hungry I was, the foal needed the apple more than I did. I gnawed on some dry grass, hoping it would sate my hunger.

It didn’t.

The changelings who kept guard over us, ignored our hunger. They prodded us forward, until we could no longer think. One hoof in front of the other, as we trod on, following the setting sun.

Finally, we were led to a corral and fresh hay. I waited until my people were fed, then ate from the dregs that were left. I looked over my people as best as I could, finally curling up against a fence post where I tried to get some sleep.

“How many fertile females did we find?”

“Ten of them upon first examination. Four with young foals. Two currently with foals. The remaining four, only one is entering heat. We will work through the herd as the rest arrive.”

“Which one?”

“The broken alicorn.”

I shuddered as I listened to the changelings discuss me.

“She should be bred immediately then. If we are to repopulate Equestria, we need as many foals as can be bred as fast as possible!”

I couldn’t follow their conversation for the life of me. The hive queen, Chrysalis, wanted as many ponies as her changelings could find, and sent them out to all corners of Equestria to bring us back.

I was nauseous. I hadn’t even had my first kiss yet. The palace was my home and a gilded cage. No stallion wanted to come close to me, after all, I was the princess, and if they hurt me, ‘daddy issues’ was the least of their worries. I had never been touched, and now these captors wanted to breed me.

My name is Princess Flurry Heart. These were my ponies. I had to fight for them!

We were herded into a series of ever narrowing fences. I was in the line, pushed and prodded by the changelings, as we ended going down a shut one by one.. Each one of us passed through a series of gates. I heard ponies in front of me screaming in pain, whimpering as one by one, a device was stuck to each pony’s right ear in turn. My eyes went wide as I realized a numbered tag was being given to each.

I dug my hooves in as my time neared. I did not want my ear notched and number and the “Wait! Wait!! I’m Princess Flurry Heart! These are my people! I demand to speak whoever’s in charge!”

“The little fillie has some fire!” I heard from behind me an instant before blinding hot flame hit my flank. I yelped and surged forward. “You are equinus 626 now.”

The harness I was in was tightened, and I was pulled forward to my fate. The sting to my ear was less than my flank had been, and my rear hooves did not want to work. I was pulled, and shoved into a tiny stall, barely big enough for me to stand in. I could not move as the sides pressed into my chest. My head was forced through bars at the front as the rear of the stall closed behind me.

I was trapped. Without my magic, there was nothing I could do.

I heard foals screaming for their mothers and I cried. Other ponies were shoved into stalls beside mine. Soon, there was a row of females, all about my age, in various states of emotional distress. I felt a tongue lap at my haunch and I startled.

“Wait? What are you doing?”

“Checking your fertility levels,” a voice said, as a discussion began behind me. I kicked out, slamming my hoof on the metal bars that held me tight. I couldn’t move enough to do any serious damage. “Now, now, 626. Acting out won’t do you any good. We’ve picked a champion stallion to inseminate you with.”

“N-no…” My eyes spun, my muscles bunched, and I fought against my restraints. I jumped, and freaked, and slammed into the bars holding me tight. I screamed my indignation and tried to buck my way out of my prison cage.

“Stop her!”

My Name is Princess Flurry Heart, and this is the story of how I survived.