Shadows in the Darkness

Chapter One: Influence of the Mind/ The Invitation/ Royal Problems

18 Years Later…

“Flurry Heart! Please pay attention to your mother and me! This is royal business after all! You shouldn’t just ignore it you know!” Shining Armor said.

“Yeah, I know, it’s a bid deal and stuff, blah, blah, blah, boring old stuff, politics, taxes, reform, complaints, the citizens, honestly I go through with you each and every time that we do this, I’m not a baby you know, I’m 18 years old, I’ve been an adult for a while now you know, and it’s not my first time in public either, I know how to keep quiet and keep my mouth shut and what to tell the press, trust me, I’ve got this, you really should have more faith in me,” Flurry said.

“Yes, we know, but you’re not home as often as you should be and sometimes we get worried about that, and you never seem to answer any of our questions to spend time with each other?” Cadence asked with a warm smile on her face trying to invite Flurry in so she’d be open enough to talk, but it never worked, not when she was younger and certainly not now when she was officially an adult. Flurry sighed casually turning away from her parents in the carriage.

“Yeah, well communication is a two-way street you know, maybe I’d want to talk more if I felt that I could actually trust me to do my own things and stuff and have my own freedom,” Flurry retorted back to her parents disdainfully.

“Don’t you dare mock your mother and me! We work very hard for you!”

“Yeah, I know, whatever, let’s just get this over with, shall we?”

Shining Armor looked like he wanted to say something, but Cadence stopped him before he could by simply saying these three words, “As you wish.”

And over the years Flurry secretly realized that mean “I love you.”

They got out of the carriage and walked out to the main forum in the throne room to receive their guests, this week was going to be a long one, and very boring too, this was a time for all citizens to directly bring their issues and complaints to the royals, and they would do their best to solve and fix them and guide and suggest advice, and this was yet another test to see how Flurry did. The first day was going to be the longest and hardest though, and she hated that.

The day went long and slow, ponies had business deals that needed to be inspected, land property management and financial disputes and art stuff too.

Flurry was bored out of her mind trying to stay awake and pay attention, but she managed to do so, and not all problems were solved, those that weren't would have to wait. That night she went to sleep tired and exhausted but glad to be done with the day, and that’s how it went for most of the week. It was the same boring problems every single day, for such a small empire they really had grown in the last twenty years or so, it was bigger than Ponyville and getting close to Canterlot levels of population, but that meant many problems and there was still plenty of growth left to go too. Every day was almost the same and Flurry had very little trouble with anything, she was smart and clever, she just didn’t really care for anypony else, not without a close and deep connection first, it’s why she didn’t have a pet for one reason. Her parents looked proud and impressed, but still worried for her, there had been rumors of changeling activity from the rebel queen, but they were unconfirmed, but Flurry knew for a fact that they were true, she just didn’t bother to tell her parents because Chrysalis was her only true friend, well, maybe her and Twilight and the main six. Towards the end of the week ponies started to die down, the first three days took all day to solve everything, and the fourth day was almost just as long, but the final day, well it was busy too, but easier than the rest. But the real twist came at the very end of the day with the very last pony. “Hello there, Citizen! May we have your name and what you wish to talk to us about?” Shining asked with a warm smile.

The pony in question was a mare with lime-green eyes and pitch-black hair with a coat black as the night sky, and her cutie mark was a green gem.

The pony smiled at the two and handed them a simple scroll, “This is what I would like to talk to you about, terms and conditions of your surrender.”

Shining Armor and Cadence looked surprised by this at first and had to resist laughing or chuckling at this, “Excuse me, is this a joke? Are you serious?”

“Perfectly, if you don’t surrender I can assure you that everything you love will be lost and destroyed, you will all burn and die and suffer my fury and wrath, you will beg for death, but all you will know is my misery and strife.”

“Miss, I don’t know what your problem is, but we do not accept threats and we are not intimidated by simple little ponies like you, now then if you have a serious issue or complaint we would be glad to have it, but we must ask you to leave.”

“You would ask a queen to leave?” the pony said with a smile.

“Queen? You’re not royalty, you’re nopony special, no offense.”

“None taken, but I assure you, I am royalty you naïve little pathetic fools.

But it makes sense why you would not recognize my true form, I've been hiding for years now, hidden in the darkness, a shadow of my former self and glory, an echo of the past, but now it’s time to finally reveal myself again,” the pony said with a smile as a flash of green light and flames went up around her and she transformed, and then with an evil laugh there stood in front of them Chrysalis, the rebel changeling queen, the one they had been searching for.

Cadence and Shining Armor immediately gasped with surprise as an alarm for guards went off as she chuckled and stood there deranged and crazy. She looked the same as always, after all, she was immortal, but one could tell that something was off by her, and not just by her appearance, it was just off, everything about her, her voice, her stance, her walk, her eyes, her form, all of it.

“Well hello there my little ponies! It’s been years since I’ve been here, I really would’ve liked to see Flurry’s birthday party, but I sadly didn’t get an invitation and it’s really insulting to think that you could forget about me after all this time, have the years made you foolish? Did you really think that I was dead? No, you were wrong in your assumptions if you thought that, I am immortal! It doesn’t matter how many times I fail because in the end I will succeed in the end.”

“You will never succeed and you coming here today will only ensure your demise! You’re outnumber a thousand to one, you’ll never leave this city!”

Chrysalis chuckled as guards started to circle around her, all of them, “Bring it on if you wish, but you'll regret it, do you honestly think that you can beat me this time? I’ve been planning this for years slowly setting the pieces into motion, my plan has already been set in motion and is already working before I came here to reveal myself, if the pieces were not set into motion I would never be so foolish to appear to you today much less demand you surrender, but trust me, you’ll be begging to sign that deal when my plan is done, you will beg for the sweet release of death, and when that time comes I will not grant it.”

“We will never beg or plead with you, and we do not make deals with criminals!”

“Too bad, but I already knew you were going to say that, and I know everything that you’re going to do, you’re all so predictable, that’s why I know there’s already seven or so snipers with crossbows aimed at my heart, but that’s also why I made sure that the snipers in question were replaced… by some of my army, if you don’t believe me simply tell them to shoot me and prove that I’m wrong and end my life once and for all, or are you too cowardly to do even that?”

Shining looked hesitant but motioned for the archers to shoot Chrysalis with non-lethal darts, but the darts were never fired. “As I said, you’re too predictable, you’re going to fail, it doesn’t matter what you try to do or think of, I’ve already anticipated every single action that might happen, and every scenario has me winning, you might as well give up now, but I know you never will, sad really.”

“How is it sad? You can’t predict or know everything,” Cadence said.

“True, but I anticipate the most likely scenarios, and I don’t know who will say what or what you might say, but I know the basics, do you honestly think that with years of research and waiting and planning that I made a mistake this time? This can only end in one way, with my enemies trapped in my kingdom, trapped as food in cold green crystal stone and with Starlight under eternal torture. All of you will have that pleasure too, the only way to avoid this is to join me, and just so you know, one of you has already betrayed the empire, this one, you’ve been telling me secrets about everypony I could wish for, and they’ll keep telling me no matter what you try to do to stop them, change your guard, enforce a patrol, it doesn’t matter what you do, I have ears and eyes everywhere, you cannot win, trust nopony, if you do, you’ll lose, and honestly I want this game to be fun and interesting, I want to see how smart you are, how predictable you become, a game is no fun if the enemy keeps making the same moves over again, if they do you can easily spot their weakness, me, I don’t make the same moves.”

“I’d disagree with that since this is yet another time you reveal yourself,” Shining said angrily ready to use his magic at an instant to fight her, but she made no moves to fight him, or anypony else actually, she hadn’t moved a single inch ever since she had started talking, her confidence had soared over the years, either that or her stupidity had grown, or possibly maybe it was both instead.

“Ah, but the same move can be made twice, but with different results, if one is strong fool the enemy to seem weak, and if you are weak, seem strong, I’ll make you guess which I am, but nevertheless thanks for the talk, it’s nice to see this old pathetic place again, but should you try to stop my escape I will kill anypony who gets in my way, if need be I will leave a trail of blood and destruction of this great and glorious pony empire in my wake, I will do whatever it takes to achieve victory and success, but I don't plan on getting captured or losing my life just yet, that is a worst case scenario which will not happen, I am sure of that.”

“Yeah, well your threats are meaningless, you have no power here, guards, get her!” Shining Armor screamed as a rush of guards ran at her and spells flashed at her too, but the spells seemed to be absorbed by her skin with no damage taken whatsoever and she laughed wickedly and she flew as such an incredible and amazing speed that the guards could barely keep up with her, but she didn’t make an attempt to escape at first, but instead slammed into the head of a guard fast as possible dead center, it knocked him completely unconscious and she then rammed her hoof into his chest and pulled out a jagged stone slamming into his heart and chest and into his head and used her hooves to crush his skull, the guards nearby slowly started to back away with fear. “Have no fear, after her!” Shining ordered and slowly with hesitation and some fear the guards advanced, Chrysalis smiled and slowly started to attack them one by one.

She laughed wickedly and her hooves were still covered with blood, the next two guards she killed, this time only bashing in their heads though, nothing else, after that she could only manage to kick them unconscious or severely injure their heads with her bare hooves, Shining Armor knew that with their numbers they could overtake the queen, but what if that was what she really wanted? With her speed and strength, she could take out many guards and they would need medical recovery, which could leave an attack open for an army if she had one, but she could probably last for hours at this, and Shining did not have time for that, besides, she said she already knew what they were going to do, why not play her game and give her small satisfaction and then turn the tables on her?

Shining smiled with this thought, yes, let her retreat and we can focus our efforts on finding and capturing the spy, if we can do that we can foil her plan!

“Guards! Stop, retreat, let Chrysalis pass!” Shining shouted.

Surprised the guards retreated and did as said leaving a pathway clear for her as she chuckled slightly. “You surprise me just a little, I expected the fight to go on much longer than this before you let me leave, but no matter, I accept your proposal, make no effort to follow me or I will kill whoever tries to do so, and should you wish to surrender simply sign that scroll, I’ll know, if you have no intentions to do so, burn it and I’ll know, good day Shining Armor and Cadence, goodbye to all of you, and I can’t wait to see your faces again, especially you Flurry Heart, you’re my favorite little princess, anyhow, until next time…”

She smiled as she finished talking and proudly walked the streets of the empire until she went out into the wild and went out of sight. “I want eight guards to see if they can trace her, but do NOT get to close to her or try to capture her, we don’t want to risk anymore damage or lives, I’ll also need to change all of your shifts, and to prevent a changeling spy we’re going to initiate a public password and more private measures for each squad, regiment, and leader of groups too. Furthermore nopony will leave this city unless granted permission by my family or the royal guard once they have been made sure that they are who they say that they are, and nopony can wander the city alone at night or day, always have at least one pony with you, preferably a royal guard, and identification is required for everypony, no exceptions, if they don’t have it then send them to jail until it is proven that they say who they are, if one is caught going outside the city line then send them to jail, offenses of the law still apply, but even more so, if you suspect suspicious activity report it to the royal guard or family, and ensure that there is a way for quick and easy identification, spread this message across the city, do it quickly, I want everypony to be informed of this situation and the consequences that will come if any law is broken,” Shining quickly said.

The guards nodded and eight went off for Chrysalis, the rest stayed behind making sure that the word was being spread out quickly.

“I can’t believe that this could happen,” Cadence said hugging Shining Armor.

“I know, how could we allow this to happen? I don’t know, but whatever the case this spy, they’ll pay for their crimes, they’ll regret the day they betrayed us.”

“Who do you think it is?” Cadence asked casually worried about his response.

“I don’t know and I don’t want to guess, but whoever they are they messed with the wrong family and friends and they are seriously messed up with their minds.”

“Agreed, I just we can find them quickly and put this whole thing over us.”

Flurry stared in silence, she knew this was coming, the plan was working, Chrysalis was going to make her parents pay for everything they did wrong, and she would finally have a friend, a lover, someone to rust, justice would be served.

She smiled at this thought and joined her parents in a fake hug, but she did not shed any tears unlike them, everything she did was just an act, fake, a lie.

But it wasn’t always this way, long ago she had been innocent, special, precious, alone, vulnerable, weak, pathetic, but then Chrysalis came along and fixed her up, she helped her to get stronger, better, faster, and she could never repay that effort or time, but she could try as hard as she could and give her love too.

She knew changelings needed love to feed, and she knew the lies that her parents spread about them, changelings weren’t supposed to be part of pony society, they were meant to be warriors, fighters, brave, loyal, strong, fast, but no, they got rid of that army in favor of weaker forces, if changelings had been around for the invasion of Tirek they could’ve defeated him, after all, they had magic, but they also protected that magic with a different set of laws of nature instead of the old regular boring ones. After all, how could Tirek take magic that functioned similar to his own? Both drained something, and both made the magic of ponies useless and not to mention that they had that protective ancient dark stone too.

But things weren’t always as they seemed, and many years ago Flurry could've turned out differently had Chrysalis not shown up to change things…

12 Years Ago,

Flurry Heart was wandering about the royal castle aimlessly trying to find and steal some cookies, but her parents quickly found her and smiled and told her that she couldn’t have anymore and decided to set her in the royal city’s park and gardens and kept a close eye on her, but not close enough to see her run away into a secret hedge maze and hopelessly get lost, she wandered in there for several minutes until she finally sat down and gave up in yet another dead end.

But then soon enough the voice ot Chrysalis whispered through the trees and bushes, “Child, tell me why you are crying, what reason do you have for this?”

“I’m lost and I can’t find my mommy and daddy and I just wanted a cookie, but they wouldn’t give me anymore, but who are you, where are you?” Flurry asked curiously, she had almost thought herself crazy at first, but then she quickly realized that all plant life couldn’t talk unless they were somehow magically enchanted to do so, and that was highly unlikely since that would surely upset some ponies, and yes, even from an early age Flurry was smart and clever and ambitious too, very much so. And she also knew not to trust strangers either too, but in this special circumstance she was willing to put aside a few things.

“I can help you child, you can trust me, I’ll take you to your mommy and daddy, but I need you to do something in return for me, first of all, you must never tell our parents who I am or my true name, not until I say so, secondly if they do ask just tell them whatever lie you want, preferably that you don’t know me, just a random stranger acting on the love and kindness of her heart, do you agree to this? If you don’t then I’m afraid that I can’t help you and won’t.”

“Uh, let me think about that for a moment okay?” Flurry said.

“Take all the time you need, it’s not like you’ll freeze out here to death.”

Flurry started to get nervous and scared at those words, but her logical mind knew better, too bad she was also a creature of emotion too, she wanted help, but why would a stranger request their identity be kept secret unless they were a criminal or ugly or crazy or something else equally terrible as that? There couldn’t be any other explanation, but who knew if or when another pony might show up, this could very well be her only chance to escape this maze.

“Uh, okay, I’ll accept your terms and conditions,” Flurry said.

Chrysalis smiled from within the bushes and a flash of green light and flames went up and there in front of Flurry stood the most horrifying and terrifying thing she had ever seen in her life before, how she managed to not run away in terror or why was still not known to her even many long years later. “Please don’t run away from me child, I mean you no harm, I’m here to help you,” Chrysalis said gently placing a hoof under Flurry’s chin and using her magic to reshape and slowly start to corrupt her mind, and it was very easy to do, regular adult ponies could take months, children never took more than a month depending on age, and for Flurry’s age of six, it didn’t even take days or hours, at least not the first attempt to get in, she would have to keep up this magical persuasion and pressure, a feat which wasn’t easy (but not because of the magic or skill or practice required, but because some were not patient enough to see good results, Chrysalis was), but well worth it in the long run. Flurry’s regular old blue eyes blurred lime-green for a few seconds before returning to normal again.

“Uh, okay, I trust you, what’s your name and what are you exactly? Flurry asked curiously anxious now to get to know this stranger more.

“You may call me Chrysalis, and I want to be your friend, I’m here to help you, should you ever feel troubled or afraid, if you ever need to get anything off your chest please come to me first, oh, and one more thing, I’m going to need to change for the ponies since they won’t like this form of mine since ponies can’t accept me for who I am, they refuse to let me in unless I change first, which I never will. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask,” she said with a warm smile turning into the pony she would later use in eighteen years.

“Wow, that’s incredible and amazing, how do you do that?” Flurry asked.

“Magic, we can replicate anything living or not, the only thing we can’t change is what’s inside of us, but mass and other things, yeah, we can do that much.”

“That is so cool! I wish I could do that, it would make for great pranks!”

“I suppose it would, and for many other various random skills and talents that you will soon learn about if you wish,” Chrysalis said still smiling warmly, her plan was working perfectly, and she was sure that it would for many long years to come, this was going to be even easier than she had initially guessed.

“I can’t wait to learn some more!” Flurry said with excitement in her voice now.

“And I cannot wait to teach you some more,” Chrysalis said with a warm smile slowly leading Flurry through the winding maze and out of it. And once she did she finally saw the worried faces of her parents and their voices. “Ah, here we go little one, stay safe and healthy and don’t wander off alone again.”

“I’ll try not to, thanks a lot, I can’t wait to see you again!” Flurry said.

“Neither can I,” Chrysalis said with a warm smile walking away as Flurry’s parents found her and hugged her wailing out their despair and worry but not their misery yet, that would come many years later, much later.

“Flurry! Where were you? We’ve been looking for you for hours!” Cadence said.

“I got lost in this big maze and a nice mare lead me out of it, she’s kind and smart and funny too, I want to see her again,” Flurry said with a warm smile.

Her parents looked slightly worried at this, “Who was she? What was her name?”

“Ruby Shores, you wouldn’t know her, she’s nopony important.”

“Well if we could meet her one day, we would like that,” Cadence said.

“Oh, trust me, you will, one day, one day…” Flurry said with a warm smile.

Present Day

“Flurry? Are you paying attention to me?” Cadence said waving a hoof in front of Flurry’s face rapidly trying to wake her up from her daydreams.

“Yes, I am paying attention to you,” she said with a lazy and heavy sigh.

“You said that we would need to get a detective for this case, expert, professional level, respectful, nice, whatever, you also said to get to the carriage too.”

Cadence blinked with slight surprise, “Uh, yes, that’s exactly what I said, more or less, so I have to wonder why you aren’t listening to me.”

“Oh, trust me, I am, I just don’t respect you as much anymore,” Flurry said scowling furiously as she slowly followed orders and went into the carriage.

Cadence sighed as they all got inside the carriage, “I wish that you could and would respect me and your father more, it’s so difficult to talk to you sometimes.”

“Well maybe I would feel more open to talking to you if you made me feel more welcome or maybe tried to ease up on the reigns of your protectiveness.”

“We try to honey, but you never seem to talk to us about what you want changed or what’s bothering you and if you only gave a little bit of effort and time…”

“Oh, I make my problems and issues with you exactly clear! But you never listen or try to fix them, you ignore me, and that’s why I don’t talk to you! I’m afraid of being ignored, so maybe if you try to listen to me then we wouldn’t be here!”

Cadence once again blinked with slight surprise, “Is that how you honestly feel about me?” she said with a few tears ready to drip down in pain and misery.

“Yes, it is, now then, please, leave me alone!” Flurry screamed out loudly.

Cadence started to cry sniffling away her tears, “As you wish…”

Flurry sighed as she turned away from her mother and father as they hugged each other and were now probably already talking about their feelings and what to do with her when they got back, but she didn’t care, she was thinking back to better times, a time when she had a friend and was cared for, listened to. A time where things were simpler, easier, a time where she had hope for the future.

10 Years Ago,

It was a cold, dark rainy day outside and Flurry had thought it a good idea to go outside and play despite the warnings of her parents, she got sick. She spent the next three weeks in bed or in the castle and security was ramped up then, it was only after she assured her parents on several occasions, no, many, no, numerous that she was fine, and yet they still worried about her and she was tired of it.

She wanted her own freedom to make choices and do stuff and buy things and whatnot, but they never trusted her to do so. She was very angry at them and wanted to run away so she waited until it was yet another dark, cold rainy day before she packed up all her things and stuff and went into the wild outside.

Things did not end very well for her, she quickly ran into thieves and monsters, but she was saved at the last minute by Chrysalis, and it was from then on that she hailed Chrysalis as not only her friend and teacher, but a hero too.

“Flurry, you know that you shouldn’t be out here alone, especially when it’s rainy outside, haven’t your parents ever told you that you can catch a cold out here?”

Flurry slowly and somberly nodded her head. “Well I don’t blame you for your adventurous spirit, but come, let’s find somewhere nice and warm and dry, I for one certainly wouldn’t want you to get sick or crush your spirit either.”

Flurry smiled at that thought, she liked Chrysalis for this, she was supportive and didn’t try to crush or kill her creative, innovative, and adventurous spirit, she supported her and asked questions, sure, but she always got straight to the point, she didn’t try to skirt around the issue and was always concerned about how she felt, but in the right way and manner, never anything more or less.

Chrysalis took her to a nearby cave that had once been inhabited by a chimera, but it had recently moved out back to its home in the jungle. “You know they say that home is where the heart is, but my heart is far away from my true home, and my love resides in my children, all of them, I only want the best for them, I wish I could make them see the error of their ways, but alas, they have all betrayed me, even the ones I thought I could start over with, no, I had to make a new generation, and they take years to train and raise, but when the time comes, you will have your own army of loyal soldiers ready to obey you and me Flurry, we will have an army, we will be in power able to do anything at all if you so wish it. But I think stories of glory and war and praise and other military and political and geographic boring old stuff and things can wait another day, you’re not old enough yet, but don’t worry, you’ll be ready one day very soon. I’m not like the ponies hiding information and saying that you’re ready when you’re not, I think you can be ready and slowly learn what you need over the next few years, and I hope that can make you happy, if not, oh well, too bad so sad.

But come by me and warm yourself by the fire, I have another story to tell today,”

Flurry smiled and cuddled up against Chrysalis which brought her a small little smile, “Long ago back in the ancient days, way before Equestria was even an empire, way before most things were ever even recorded, well, we were made. We were created to be the perfect army, something all would fear, we were made in a time of war and glory and blood, it truly was a magnificent time for out kind, we were not abused or forgotten, we were feared and respected but also loved too, we were soldiers, generals, leaders in the war, we were fast, strong, brilliant, clever, and easy to reproduce efficiently, we were indeed the perfect war machine and weapon of mass destruction, some questioned whether or not we should even be created, after all, how could one pony control a power so great as us?

Many tried to convince the alicorn king and queen to share this power, but they didn’t, when one has great power one is afraid to lose it even if sharing it would be better for a kingdom in the long run, but they didn’t, and soon everyone untied against them and destroyed their kingdom, and as a result our race soon became weak and vulnerable, we had massive numbers, but not massive power, we were completely eradicated and we were declared an extinct species, one that was too dangerous to ever recreate and anypony caught trying to do so was put in jail for life or killed. All evidence of us was removed, but not destroyed, alicorns had a better understanding of memory keeping and preserving history, but they feared that the power might get into the wrong hooves, and they were right. The secret of our species was kept secret for thousands of years being passed down only through select noble and royal families just in case war ever broke out again, but it never did. But then one day there was need for us again, the two leaders of your land, princess Celestia and Luna, wanted to break tradition and create an army to untie this land, they were very progressive of their kind since they wanted to help other empires and nations, something alicorns refrained from doing since they were a very rare species and didn’t wish to die or be harmed or have their private location exposed to more than was needed, your leaders ignored this and the advice of their parents too, and when the time came that they were old enough to do what they wanted they took the records of us and came to this land and created an army they intended to destroy should things ever be too much, and they warned us of that from the start, but they were also kind and merciful, they were pathetic and weak but generous too, they gave us a chance to live, and most of us gladly accepted it, but I refused because I knew the true origins of our race and I was the first queen in over ten thousand years, I was not going to disappoint my race by turning to the pony’s side unlike the rest of my brothers and sisters, but as a result I was hunted down and almost killed, but I somehow managed to survive, lucky you could call it, if you believe in such a thing, but you might as well call it chance or fate for all I care. But anyhow I managed to live on and breed in secret, I kept a tab on the ponies and we fed quietly taking only what we needed, the land and plant life withered away as we took their life force and love, but it was never enough to satisfy our hunger, our thirst for emotions. I made a plan, a brilliant wonderful plan to have my revenge, but my first one failed, and the second one did too, but you already know about those plans, but what you don’t know is my third plan, but that is the only thing I cannot and will not tell you no matter how many times you ask or how old you become, you just have to have faith and trust in me, I don’t want to risk the plan going wrong and you might not like it if I did tell you what it was. I’m doing this for your own good and safety and protection, nothing more or less, and I am doing it for myself too, I’m doing it for all of us, do you understand?”

Flurry quickly nodded with a warm smile on her face now. “Well, good, because I don’t want to explain it to you, good thing that I don’t have to either.”

“Well that was such a fun story, I wish I could’ve helped you out.”

“I’m sure that if you were alive that you would've,” Chrysalis said with a warm smile hugging flurry tightly as she looked outside the cave for a moment, “Well, what do you know, the rain finally decided to die down, I think that it’s time for you to go home, and yes, I know that you want to run away, but I have important things planned for us, stuff that will require you to stay at home, okay?”

“Uh, yeah, sure thing! Anything for you!” Flurry said with a small light little giggle as Chrysalis gave her one last final tight hug before sending her off.

“Good luck my little one, stay safe and healthy, I wish the best for you and me, after all, remember, big plans, I have that for us, but mostly for you…”

Flurry smiled and promised she would remember this as she ran back home to the castle and once again her parents endlessly fawned over her and protection too, and she was still tired of this, but yet she still had hope for the future too.

Present Day

The carriage arrived at the castle entrance and Flurry sighed as she went onside and quickly ran upstairs locking herself in her room, she didn’t want to talk to her parents anymore, she just wanted time to think to herself and reflect…

8 Years Ago,

“Flurry, you will begin training in dark magic with me tomorrow, there is no room for debate on this, I want you to be strong, fast, smart, clever, and while your parents would hide some darker elements of this kind of magic I will make no such attempt, I will show you all of it, I will hide nothing, and if you have any issues or concerns please don’t hesitate to ask or tell me so, okay?”

“I understand Chrysalis, and I can’t wait! I mean sure, survival training was fun and interesting, and so were your stories, myths, and legends too, and practice fighting, but real fighting, wow! I seriously can’t wait for that! I’ll so totally beat up those bullies in street and school and do right by the system!”

“Yes, you could, but thoughtless attacks are no true victory at all, and give you little satisfaction in the long run, true victory is making sure that your enemy is so broken that they never even bother trying to fight you again, you leave them so that there are no more fights, no more resistance, no way they can retaliate, you find their weaknesses, exploit them, lie if need be, then use that against them and then when the time is right you crush them under your hoof completely and utterly, I hope that with time and practice I can show you how to properly do this, but be warned, it will not be easy, and it will be a very long journey too.”

“I’m patient and ready and willing to do whatever you think is required.”

“Very well then, but there will not be any turning back from this point on and I will make sure that no matter what it takes or how long that you will complete your training, now then, are you ready to begin your lessons?”

“Yes, I am! I’m ready whenever you’re ready to start them!”

Chrysalis smiled and quickly knocked Flurry over with a wooden staff, “Lessons have already begun, now then get up and try to fight me back.”

Flurry groaned lightly but as she would soon discover the moans and growing pain would only start to grow worse as time went on. “Get up you’re just a pathetic little weakling, I’m not your friend anymore in these lessons, I am your enemy and I expect you to fight me with your words and body just as much, do you even understand any of this or is your brain just as small as your weak little body too? You’re worthless, pathetic, barely worth my time or effort at all.”

Flurry groaned and moaned and tried to get up with her hooves, but was quickly knocked down again, “The lessons will be in no particular order, but they will be repeated if you fail to learn them, lesson number one for you is this, if you have a power or strength or ability, use it, be creative, if an enemy is striking you down and won’t let you rise up try something else until something works.”

Flurry smiled at that advice, she had her wings, but when she tried to use them Chrysalis dealt so many bruises to them she was unable to fly. “Lesson number two, just because you have an ability or strength doesn’t mean that an enemy doesn’t know it, always count on an enemy knowing it even if they don’t that way you’re prepared for anything that they might throw at you or use against you too. If you don’t calculate this factor in then you’ll lose. Try using their strengths and weaknesses against them use a move to catch them by surprise.”

Flurry groaned and tried to think of a way to get up, but then realized what she had to do, she had to block the attack, or at least deflect it. She slowly got up and just before the strike came she used her hooves to deflect the strike, but she couldn’t completely block it, but what she didn’t expect was the sudden jab into her chest and hoof kick into her face. “Lesson number three, every single enemy that you will ever encounter is predictable to a certain measure, learn the patter that they have and use it against them, the more predictable that they are the better, the more chaotic they are the more you have to follow suit.”

Flurry groaned and stared angrily at Chrysalis, but over the next several hours she slowly learned more and more, and the same time was repeated day by day for many long years until she was a warrior that Chrysalis could be proud of.

Present Day

A knock came at the door and Flurry knew who it was going to be.

With a sigh, she got up and walked over and slowly opened the door for them, “Hello mom and dad, I don’t want to talk right now, but if you want to, go ahead, sure, I don’t care, I’ll listen to you and pay attention, but nothing more than that, don’t expect me to react to anything or answer your stupid questions either.”

“Look honey, we understand, we were your age once, and honestly we just want to help you, but we can’t do that until you let us in, and that’s why we decided that you will not be able to leave the castle without royal guards or us until we decide it is safe for you, or in other words, until further notice basically, this is not up for debate and we will not tolerate any attempts you make to leave without our permission or supervision, I hope that in time you’ll see that we only want the best for you and we hope that you can understand one day soon. Maybe you will, we hope that you do, until then stay safe and healthy, please,”

Flurry sighed but made no response to them and silently stared out the window, she had expected this, but that didn’t matter much at all really, she had other ways to contact Chrysalis, an untraceable and easy one at that too.

She waited until her parents left the room and without a word she locked the doors and drew all the curtains and walked into her closet and from a secret hiding spot in there she pulled out the amulet that Chrysalis had given her as a gift so many long years ago, but she didn’t have time to dwell on that memory just yet, she had news to report so instead she slowly opened it up.

“Hello there, Chrysalis, it’s exactly as you predicted, my parents are forcing me to be kept inside the castle, passwords are being created as we speak and so on and so forth, some guard schedules and shifts and routes are being changed, the usual, I’ll send you the details later, but you have no reason to fear.”

“Thanks for the news, but I have every reason to fear, I will not have my plans fail for a third time in a row, I will and must take every single possible precaution that I can, now then is there anything you don’t know my dear Flurry?”

“Well I know that they want a detective, but I don’t know who they’ll pick yet.”

“Ah, that is a slight problem, but no matter, we will find out soon enough, good work, keep it up, and remember that I am watching and that I love you.”

“I love you too, I can’t wait to talk to you some more,” Flurry said quickly closing the amulet and put it back in her secret hiding spot as she went back to her bad and lay down on the soft covers and remembered back to the day when she had first received it as a gift from Chrysalis so many long years ago…

6 Years Ago,

“I am indeed impressed at how well you have been training with me, truly your fighting skills and talent in dark magic is amazing and incredible.”

“Thank you, I am glad for your praise,” Flurry said heavily panting with a smile on her face after yet another hour-long training session that they had.

“Quiet, I’m not done yet, as I was saying I am impressed, but you still have a long way to go to get even close to my level, but still decent enough to protect yourself, and constant training is something one should always do no matter how good one thinks that they are, you get lazy if you stop practice.”

“Yes, I understand, thank you for reminding me of this lesson again.”

“Indeed, but I have a gift for you, should you ever get in danger or need help or wish to contact me this device will make it easier, and in return I can talk to you and help you and give you orders too,” Chrysalis said with a warm smile pulling out a green and black amulet attached to a necklace that she could wear around her neck. “To use it simply just open it, I have one of my own and I will see the signal of light and answer as soon as possible,” she said opening the amulet to reveal a ring of colors lighting up from an amulet around Chrysalis’s neck.

“Please be patient if I do not respond at first, if need be you can close the amulet to stop the signal or cancel the call as it were, but only if you wish to that is.”

“Ah, yes, I see, I understand, thanks for this gift, but can it be used for anything else or is it just a call device?” Flurry asked curiously staring at it closely.

“The device can also be used to track us or another pony if you wish, and it can summon loyal changelings to us if need be, but only if the situation is dire and dangerous enough to do so, which should be on very rare occasions mind you.”

“Ah, yes, I see, well thank you, I will use this to the best of my ability.”

“Indeed, and I trust you to the same with all your skills, talents, abilities, and gifts too, keep careful care and watch over this one though, please, it’s special to me and should be for you too, I don’t want you to lose it or for me to replace it.”

“I understand your concern, but don’t worry, I’ll take good care of it, trust me.”

“Don’t worry, I do, unlike your parents, but come, we still have time left in the day, let us continue to train and fight until you cannot stay any longer.”

Flurry silently nodded her head and continued to train expertly for the remainder of their short time together and then went back home just before the deep dark cold silence of night fell when it was too dangerous to be outside according to her parents, but the most dangerous things out here were very debatable now.

Present Day

Flurry sighed as she rolled over and tossed and turned in her bed, it was slightly hard to sleep these days, it was very rough and tough ever since she was little.

She had to secretly buy and take medication pills for a long time ever since she started complaining about her sleep issues and problems to her parents, but the dosage slowly had to be increased over the years and months and weeks, even days sometimes. She had taken what she needed tonight, but even that wasn’t going to help her solve all her problems or fix everything, oh well, she just had to live with and push through all the pain that she felt every single day.

And she, like Chrysalis, would do anything to make that pain go away.