The Man and The Moon

I take in a gasp of air as I open my eyes. I'm greeted with a black jagged roof, my body so drained that it won't move as my eyelids force themselves shut, I can hear raspy monotone voices, I can't make out what they're saying nor have the time to think on it before the sweet embrace of sleep takes me back into its clutches.

I am awoken yet again by a sudden cold sensation, as I jerk awake in response I realize that I'm in a sitting position against the wall and that someone had thrown water on me. My body, unallowed to recover its energy through rest, can't even muster the strength to lift my head. That's fine I suppose because someone decided to lift my head for me. With a tug at my hair, I'm face to face with who appears to be my interrogator.

"My you really do have beautiful blue eyes." Her voice was calm and smooth, oddly soothing but still leaving a sense of unease. With a chuckle, she continues. "You put on quite the show for my drones." Show? Drones?... All I remember was... That's right, we fell and were attacked but everything after is a blur. "But with how drained you seem, that was your first time, wasn't it? And with such ferocity too! I must say it was rather entertaining, though seeing one of my kin being blown to dust isn't something I'd want to experience again." She says as she pets the creature next to her before looking back at me with an expressionless face and in a somewhat disappointed voice, she continues. "But with the look on your face, you have no idea what I'm referring to, do you?"

"No... I really don't"

"Then I shall remind you." She gestures to one of the creatures who promptly places some-sort of device on the ground, after a few seconds of toying with it, a holographic image appears showing a crater that I can't make out just how big it is. "This, my dear was caused by you. You carried your princess into the air as you unleashed a miasma of death onto your griffon and traitorous assailants. Some of my drones were scouting in the bushes when you began your counter attack..." She hangs her head in mourning before raising it back with a look of determination. "I'm sure you've noticed by now but we've stripped you of all possessions and clothing, couldn't be too safe as we didn't have restraints that fit you."

"What is it that you want from me?" Finally having the strength to move my limbs to a certain degree, I adjust my position to be a little more comfortable.

"Straight to the point hm? I like that." After standing tall, puffing out her chest and clearing out her throat she says with a lording voice. "I am Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings! And I want to strike a deal with you."

"What would it entail?"

"Betrayal begets betrayal, I was betrayed, and so were you, we now have a common enemy. Celestia chose to leave you abandoned while her 'Scarlet Dawn' saved the sleeping Luna in your sted. Thorax, a changeling that I worked tirelessly to raise! Decided it'd be best if he betrayed his damn mother because some bitch with pretty eyes told him so!" She exclaimed louder than she most likely intended, probably from the sheer rage that she was emanating. After regaining her composer by taking a few deep breaths she continues as calmly as she started. "The ponies probably told you nothing but ill facts about myself, and while I admit I have done bad and even heinous things, I did it all for my hive. You see, every Changeling is my child, and as a mother, I only wanted what was best for them, Celestia and her armies threatened us. What is a mother to do when her children and their home is threatened? What would you do? Wouldn't you protect them?"

"Yes... I would."

"Then you understand!" She trots up and gently pats me on the head and in a soft and vulnerable voice she states, "I knew that you would." I wince and bring my hand up to my forehead as the pain I felt before returns with a vengeance. "Oh, you're in pain? Here, I have a spell for that. It'll soothe you." She closes her eyes and gently places her horn on my head and as her emerald glow comes into contact with me, I feel instant relief. A sigh escapes my lips as a rush of comfort passes through my body before she removes her horn. "If you ever wanted, I could teach you how to use your magic. It is different from other magic but they all have the same premise of utilizing it I'm sure that with time you'll be able to use it just as well or even better than Celestia herself. But I have a request of my own."

"And what would that be?"

"Train my children to fight with the weapons that you use."

"That would be difficult seeing as how they have hooves and mouths as opposed to hands."

"They can levitate objects, so please won't you consider it?"

"I'll consider it."

"Thank you."

"I'll have to show them how to make the weapons before I can show them how to use them."

"We're already figuring it out. With magic, we can tell how a piece of metal has been treated, and reverse engineer it, it won't take long for them to figure it out."

"Alright.." My eyelids are starting to feel heavy again, I lean back and forth trying to stay awake until I feel a cold limb press against my chest and guide me to a laying position.

"You need to rest for now. Recover your strength, take as long as you need." Chrysalis' emerald eyes and soft smile are the last things I see before sleep takes me once again.