A Devious Plot

"While I do appreciate the idea of building an army, I do not understand why it has to be here," Chrysalis growled, glaring at the Crystal Empire. Nightmare Moon gave her the location, though the feeling of love was great, and Chrysalis licked her fangs in hunger. "'The Crystal Empire has the most love than any other place in Equestria, my Queen,'" Chrysalis said, failing at an impression of Nightmare Moon. "'Go there and pose as a Crystal Pony, my Queen,'" Chrysalis muttered curses under her breath as she transformed. Her coat turned silver with a dark mane that was ebony with a midnight blue streak in it and her eyes turned teal. Her Cutie Mark was a black masquerade mask, which she found ironic. She was also a unicorn.

"Masquerade Mare, Mysterious Mare," Chrysalis shrugged. Nopony would suspect her of anything. Though she did need a name, she supposed. She walked easily into the Empire, nopony suspecting anything at all. How easy was it to sneak past the Empire Guard? Pitifully easy. Mostly because ponies were celebrating Flurry Heart, again. Chrysalis found it to be an abomination and an outrage. At the same time, however, she found the presence of the filly to be quite... tasteful. The love surrounding the filly was astounding as it was empowering. She fed on it easily despite the fact that it wasn't directed to her.

Shining Armor and Cadence were taking the filly for a stroll, all of the Crystal Ponies basking in the filly's presence. Brat. Chrysalis thought. "Are you alright?" Cadence asked and it took Chrysalis a second to realize the question was directed to her. Had she been openly glaring? She put on a fake smile, one that they bought.

"Only a tad bit jealous," she said, her scorn hidden and Cadence smiled brightly while Shining Armor looked the other way. Chrysalis, now Masquerade Mare, raised an eyebrow.

"Well, here you go," Cadence said, levitating the filly with her magic towards the Changeling Queen.

The closer the filly came, the more love Chrysalis devoured easily. The filly giggled and cooed as it hugged Chrysalis's face. "I don't believe we've properly met, who are you?" Cadence asked.

"Masquerade Mare, from Canterlot," she greeted with a false smile on her face. She wanted nothing more than to feed on the love of these three until they felt nothing for even each other. Cadence especially. Shining Armor, Cadence, Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, and Spike were the reasons why her Changelings turned on her. Afterwards she would go after Thorax, in front of all the Changelings, and if any dared to defy her again... they'd end up no differently than Thorax.

She knew she was a lovely mare in this form. Her mane was glossy and shiny, combed and tied in an elegant bun with strands falling just around and above her eyes. Her teal eyes glittered like diamonds. Before she realized what was happening, Cadence had strolled away, the filly and Crystal Ponies following her around like sheep and a shepherd.

"You seem... tired," Chrysalis said with a raised eyebrow, noting the bags underneath Shining Armor's eyes.

"It's just... fatherhood and Cadence..." the former Changeling Queen blinked with shock.

"I suppose I can imagine that fatherhood would be difficult, but you are still the Prince of the Crystal Empire. You of all ponies should have it easy," she said and Shining Armor's frown deepened.

"Not really. Cadence always leaves me with the baby when she goes to the spa. I mean, I should be happy, right? It's my daughter it's just... hard. It'd be one thing if she was just a unicorn, they always use their magic to play and do whatever comes to mind. But the wings are harder to keep track of and then she disappears nonstop," he said and she almost, emphasis on almost, felt pity for the exhausted tone in his voice.

"You should rest more," she said. After all, it would be no fun to gain victory that easily.

"I can't. With maintaining the Empire and the Royal Guard... the baby and Cadence... she... she got mad at me this morning and I don't know why," Masquerade Mare raised an eyebrow that looked sympathetic.

"Did she say why?" she asked.

"Something about how I never appreciate her and never pay her any attention... how am I supposed to when all she does is go to the spa and leave me with the baby? It's like she doesn't want to deal with Flurry Heart's premature magic," Shining Armor sighed heavily. Chrysalis could feel the exhaustion pouring off him in waves.

"I thought you loved her," she said, remembering how strong she had become after feeding off Shining Armor's love for her. Strong enough to take down Celestia herself.

"I do... but it feels like that spark is gone," she looked through his memories and sure enough, Cadence had single-hoofedly destroyed it. Well, not destroyed per say but more like-- "I love her but I don't think I'm in love with her anymore," Shining Armor said, bordering tears.

"Well, you'll always have a friend in me to confide in," she said as she bat her eyelashes.

"My problems shouldn't be your problems, I don't even know why I told you this," Shining Armor said quietly.

"Because during times like this you need a friend," Chrysalis said. "Plus, I feel like if you told your sister, she would blame you and jump to Cadence's defense," she said and Shining Armor sighed.

"I know Twilight would do that," Shining Armor said quietly.

"Though didn't she try to help you with the issue during your wedding and you all snubbed her or something?" Chrysalis asked and Shining Armor looked guilty.

"I never wanted to talk about that again. I was under Chrysalis's magic and we all turned on her like a pack of Timberwolves," Shining Armor sighed again.

"Between you and me, I think that'd be another reason why Twilight would take Cadence's side," he said sadly.

"If you're not happy then you shouldn't stay in a loveless marriage," the irony that it came from her.

"I can't give up on Flurry Heart though, or the Empire," Shining Armor said before he smiled, though it was sad. "Thanks for listening, I guess," he said as he scratched the back of his neck.

"That's what I'm here for," she said with a smile. "If you ever need a babysitter and Twilight isn't around, maybe to find that Spark again, then let me know. I just love fillies!" she said cheerfully and Shining Armor chuckled.

"I'll keep that in mind," he said with a nod. "Thanks again, um..." he looked sheepish.

"Masquerade Mare," she said and he nodded.

"Thanks, Masquerade," he said before walking away.

"Well, that certainly puts a change in plans then doesn't it?" Chrysalis hummed as she skipped away. Nightmare Moon's idea had been to take the place of the filly and put her into a slumber so that the dark Alicorn could feed off her love. That could still work, but all Chrysalis needed was a little more time. She had ideas of her own.

**********

"There's so much love around here, it's unsettling," Chrysalis said, now in her Changeling form, as she and Nightmare Moon wakled along the path that led to the Crystal Heart. The Changeling was dreaming of course, but Nightmare Moon had been able to replicate it. The Crystal Heart wasn't the real heart, not in her dream, but it felt like it.

"So Shining Armor is unhappy in his marriage because Cadence just loves the spa and only pays the filly attention when it suits her. That's pathetic," Nightmare Moon mused.

"I almost feel sorry for the brat," Chrysalis muttered before realizing something was... off. "Have you been crying?" the Changeling asked.

"Of course I have, I have a mixture of emotions in my chest and it is just horrible," Nightmare Moon said bluntly.

"Your answer was unexpected," Chrysalis admitted.

"I told you, I would never lie to you, my Queen," Nightmare Moon said.

"I was a Queen," Chrysalis muttered.

"And you will be again. You grow stronger with the love I feel for Luna," Chrysalis nodded.

"Yet you felt a strike to your heart not that long ago. Admittedly, it is surprising to feel such love and pain from a creature such as yourself," Chrysalis confessed.

"I may be a creature made by the Darkness, but I also came from Luna's envy. I suppose you could say the Darkness created me from her envy for her. It is complex, but simple. One does not spend a thousand years plotting and planning revenge and vengeance for nothing," Nightmare Moon said with a small smirk. "No matter, though. My Night will see things the way they really are. I know she will. She already does, but she suppresses it," Chrysalis felt the love wash over her like a tidal wave. Nightmare Moon's feelings weren't fake. They were as real as Shining Armor's had been for Cadence all those moons ago. At the same time, however, Nightmare Moon felt heartbreak.

"It hurts you to be shunned by her over Celestia," Chrysalis didn't ask because she knew.

"Very much so," Nightmare Moon confirmed. "No matter, though," the dark alicorn repeated. "I need you to do me a small favor, Masquerade Mare," Chrysalis rolled her eyes at the amusement in Nightmare Moon's voice. "Learn what you can about King Sombra, if you can at all. I know the wretched Crystal Cowards would rather forget than remember. It will be their downfall as it will be used to our advantage," Nightmare Moon grinned, baring her razor sharp teeth and her fangs. "The times, my Queen, they are a changeling," Chrysalis rolled her eyes.

"The plan remains the same to capture the filly and put her into a sleep so that you can feed off the energies of her dreams and I can take her place," Chrysalis said. "But at the same time, wouldn't it cause more discord between the two if the spark that Cadence single hoofedly squashed was reignited between Shining Armor and another mare?" Chrysalis asked with a bright grin.

"You can take the love out of the Changeling, but you can't take the Changeling out of the love," Nightmare Moon said.

"I don't believe you used that correctly," Chrysalis said.

"I believe I used it perfectly. If that is what you want, then we've got all the time in the world. I've waited a thousand years, what's a little more time?"