Without Question

Without Question

Chapter Two - A New Allegiance

It had been a few hours since Silus was taken away to be healed.  His injuries varied from a few scratches and bruises to deep blade-inflicted gashes, as well as a few bullet wounds (though the Changelings were unaware of what guns and bullets were).  Using their magic, they managed to completely heal the smaller injuries and close up the severe ones.  It would take some time for those to repair themselves, but for now, the sages had done their jobs.  Silus was no longer at Death’s doorstep.

After the summoning, Queen Chrysalis had returned to her throne to rest while she awaited Silus’ return.  She had recovered some of her strength when Silus entered the grand atrium.  Now more aware than he was in his injured state, he was able to fully take in his surroundings.  The castle was truly enormous: a testament to the skill of Changeling masonry.  Its architecture reminded him of the Gothic cathedrals from the nations of his homeworld.  The great, black walls seemed to stretch upward endlessly towards dark sky.  Majestic flying buttresses cascaded down from the walls to the glistening black tiles of the floor.  The place was awe-inspiring, and he took a moment to rotate in place to look at it all.

A long, red velvet carpet lead from the massive oak doors of the castle all the way to Queen Chrysalis’ throne.  Along each side of the carpet were onyx statues placed at even intervals, also leading all the way to the throne.  As Silus leaned forward to observe the statues, he noticed each one of them was unique and resembled the creatures of this place.  The statues along the left side appeared to be males, while those on the right side were females.

“Ahem.”

Silus turned to look for the source of the voice.  It was the Queen, still sitting on her throne, with a guard standing on each side of her.  He assumed she wished to speak with him, and he obliged, slowly walking along the carpet to her.  Upon reaching the throne, which had great arches stretching out from its sides, he took a knee.  Chrysalis raised a brow.  He clearly knew authority and respected it when he saw it.  She already loved this attitude of his.

Silus wasn’t quite sure what to think.  Everything in this place was so strange.  The creatures were strange enough, but it astounded him at how they were capable of building such an Adonis of architecture.  And this Queen of theirs (or at least, he believed it to be their Queen) intrigued him.  He wasn’t sure what to think of her yet, but he kept his head bowed, one fist clenched over his heart, and his other fist firmly planted on the tiled floor.

Queen Chrysalis rose from her dark throne and slowly approached him.  She was just as intrigued by him as he was by her.  After circling him a few times, studying him, she returned to her throne.

“Rise,” she said sternly.

Silus rose to his feet and looked into the Queen’s eyes.  They were strong, despite how much stress had affected them.  A strand of her blue locks fell across her face, but she pulled it back over her ear, not breaking eye contact with the human.

“I assume you have many questions.  I will indulge but a few of them with what answers I can provide.  But I brought you here for a purpose, and my questions and desires supersede yours.  Are we clear?”

Silus nodded.

“Now then, ask.”

Silus wasn’t quite sure where to begin.  But this Queen seemed to be in a hurry, and it was not on his agenda to anger her.

“Your Highness,” he began, “where exactly am I, and why am I here?”

Chrysalis leaned back in her throne and crossed her hindlegs.

“You are in the black heart of the Changeling Empire, my home.  We are a nation at war with our rival, Equestria.  I will try to be brief with the history, as time is of the essence.  Years ago, I attempted to invade their land, the land of the ponies.”

Silus’ face showed slight confusion at this statement, and Chrysalis detected it.

“That obviously caught you off guard.  I assume such a thing is unheard of on your ‘Earth.’  You will come to understand what I mean soon.  As I was saying, my invasion failed.  My entire nation was humiliated and bitter, and we refused to take such defeat lying down.  Three years ago, I attacked yet again, with greater surprise than before on my side.  Though victory came to us early, it was hollow, and we were forced back home yet again.  But this time, it was different.  The leaders of Equestria, a pair of sister goddesses—“

Silus showed further confusion.  Sentient ponies?  Goddesses?  What was next?

“—decided to finish us off, permanently.  As the months dragged by, my cities burned, one by one, unable to resist the unbreakable Equestrian army.  They will arrive here, at my capitol, in less than three days.  With nowhere left to turn, I took a chance a spent nearly every ounce of my energy casting a spell.”

Silus was becoming less and less surprised by each statement.  Each thing was stranger than the last and it barely affected him at this point.  This couldn’t be a dream.  It was too real.  He didn’t remember ever falling asleep.  Silus figured he might as well accept the information being fed to him as facts.

“This spell was by far the riskiest I have ever casted in all my years.  It was meant to rip a random being from his or her dimension and transport them here.  Whether or not it was a true success is yet to be declared.  Now, tell me, Silus, who are you?  And make it quick.”

Silus cleared his throat and tried to gather his thoughts as best he could.

“Your Highness, on my world, I was a soldier.”

Chrysalis’ faded eyes seemed to brighten at hearing this.

“I served as an officer to my nation’s army.”

The Queen was confused as to why he stopped so abruptly.

“And?” she urged him.

“You requested that I make it quick, My Queen.”

Chrysalis was taken aback by this statement.  He did indeed obey her request.  Not only that, but he addressed her as “his Queen.”  It was odd, but certainly not unwelcome.

“I suppose I did, Silus.  It is good to hear that you have experience in the ways of war.  I have need of a…soldier like you.  Here is what I propose.”

Chrysalis knew that she was not giving this creature a choice.  She was merely hiding behind a veneer of reasonableness to ease him into her service.

“I wish for you to serve in the military of the Changeling Empire.  I believe you may be what we need to save our home and repel those foul Equestrians.  Therefore, if you aid me, I will reward you beyond your wildest dreams.  What do you say?”

No more than three seconds passed before Silus had already fallen to one knee again, taking the same stance as last time with one fist over his heart and another pressed to the floor.

“I need no reward.  I am at your command, My Queen.”

Chrysalis was shocked yet again.  She had not anticipated such a servile and humble nature out of this thing.  Not only had he denied her “generous” offer, he had also immediately expressed his desire to serve her.

“I…you…very well, then!  You will now be sworn in.  Do you, Silus, swear your undying loyalty to me, your Queen, and to your new home, the Changeling Empire?”

“Yes, My Queen.”

“Do you swear to fight to the death for your Queen and your new home?”

“Yes, My Queen.”

“And do you swear to obey my every command without question?”

“Yes, My Queen.”

“Then rise, Silus of the Changeling Empire.  You belong to me now, and never shall you leave my service.  Is this understood?”

“Yes, My Queen.  I am yours.”

Chrysalis grinned wider than she had ever done in the past three years.  Her youthful appearance was returning thanks to this new hope.  She only prayed that all of this would not be in vain.  She still questioned his past and his reasons for his servile nature, but for now she had a war to tend to.

“The Equestrian army draws near.  I will have a few of my subjects escort you to the front.  Opaque Ridge will soon be the site of a deciding battle in this war, and I want you there as soon as possible.  Leave my presence.”

Silus rose again, this time with four Changeling guards clad in obsidian chainmail at his sides.  They lead him to the gigantic doors of the castle, which were slowly opening.  He took a step out, and the heat of the summer sun touched his face.