Darkness falls

Ch.03

I chuckled lightly as I galloped twards what was known as the Everfree forest. The Elements where tucked in a saddle pack I had stolen. Though the changelings where tied up they proved a great distraction.

"Speaking of changelings. Here I come Chrysalis. Daddy's home!"

Soon enough I found a large tree stump at least twenty feet wide. Its roots where quite large and actually kept the tree suspended off the ground making a large entrance. I steped around it sniffing. It was the musky scent of reptiles and insects. Such a welcoming scent. I steped in and slid down a rather large chute using my somewhat small wings to slow the fall making sure I didnt accidentally break my legs on the ground. Once I hit however I landed in webbing. It looked like something out of a horror movie about aliens. Then I saw one. A changeling unravled itself from its sleeping position in the wall blended perfectly. It leped down and hissed at me. I raised an eyebrow unamused. As if on a cue it stoped hissing and sat on its haunches before making a gesture for me to follow it. On the way through the caverns I felt the eyes of many changlings hiding in the shadows. It took at least seven minutes to reach the main chamber. I saw Chrysalis sitting on a throne made of hardened webbing. She also had webbing around her stomach and left hoof in a makeshift cast.

"Who dares have the nerve to enter the changeling queen's chambers unanounced?"

"Chrysalis. I would have thought you would have recognized your father. I mean how many black and red draconic ponies do you know?"

She sat up examining me properly for the first time. Her slitted green eyes looked me over before she got up and charged me. I wasnt expecting this. I also wasnt expecting the bone shattering hug I recieved either.

"OH DADDY!! IVE MISSED YOU SO!! Mean ol' Celestia's subjects blasted me out of their kingdom and made me hurt myself! .... and smush three changelings in the process. Oh you look so young! But your fur is so grey and the red is more pinkish!"

I forced myself off her chest and breathed in precious oxygen. "Chrysalis! ... I have been gone for thousands of years and had nothing to eat!"

"Oh you poor thing!"

She patted my head which pissed me off. Though the changelings in the room also kind of embarrased me. Chrysalis took notice of this and in an icy voice that made me proud declared "Leave us."

The changleings left without a word and very quickly which told me she had been something of a ruthless leader which I liked. She set me down and layed herself down next to me.

"So you are finally back! Im sooo glad you visited me first! The hive has been thriving here for thousands of years undetected until I revieled my race's existance to Canterlot. Unfortunately the 'Elements of Harmony' namely that Twilight Sparkle ruined everything!"

"There there Chrysy." I patted her back knowing the feeling of comming so close to success only to be removed in the end. "Soon I will wake Discord and Selene or Luna as she calls herself now will join us too."

"Aww do you really have to? You know Discord is so freakishly random and Nightmare Moon is nothing but an upstart." She took in my blank look. "The ponies have called her Nightmare Moon instead of Selene. The elements removed that part of her and retamed it. Luna is her kinder side."

I sighed. "great more work for me."

"You have me daddy!"

"Yes I know and Im not comforted too much by this. I must ensure total control first."

"Dont worry! We will help!"

I rolled my eyes. "First I need more energy. Where is Discord kept?"

"The castle guardens."

"Good there will be plenty of food there."

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Celestia was pacing in the throne room with a worried expression on her face. Luna and the six sat in silance waiting. Then Twilight steped forward and spoke.

"Princess do you have a way we can track him?"

"Not really no. We have to wait till he makes a move and ... thats usually when its too late."

"W-well he cant weaponize the elements right?"

"No. Thank heavens for that. Only you can use the elements."

"So we sit idle?"

"Yes! Thats all we CAN do!"

Twilight was startled by her teacher snapping.

"Sister."

"I- Im sorry Luna, Twilight. But that pony .. that demon simply wants to watch the world burn away. You see. A villain is somepony that does something bad but thinks they are doing good like Nightmare Moon. True evil is when they do bad and they are perfectly aware of it .. nay REVEL in it. He goes far beyond liking it. He LOVES his work. Only his brother ever saw something in him. What I will never know."

Twilight nodded sadly. "At least he isnt as powerful as back then right?"

"Leave it to my faithful student to find a silver lining in the clouds. Yes infact he is FAR weaker than what he used to be. That is why we only need the elements to seal him. But forbid it if he ever reached full power. Only his bother would be able to stop him and even then they are almost evenly matched."

Twilight smiled as she knew they had a good chance to seal away the abomination. Then Shining Armour burst in.

"Princesses! Changelings in the royal guardens!"

"What!"

"All the ponies that where there where converted!"

"How many!?"

"Thirteen."

"Lets go!"

The Princesses and the elements quickly left and went to the guardens. It was as Shining Armour predicted. Thirteen changelings stood at the entrance to the maze hissing at them.

"He must be after Discord!"

Twilight moaned. "Not again!"

Celestia and Luna leped in and delt with seven of the changelings. That left six for the elements. Twilight was easily finging one around with her magic but it kept coming back. Rainbow Dash was dealing with a copy of herself getting into a pretty violent brawl. Fluttershy .. well the five of the six and the changelings didnt know whether she was trying to be polite or fight. Pinkie Pie however was a total terror. She was making one of the changelings duck for cover as she fired her party cannon. AppleJack bucked a copy of herself and two Rarities where giving eachother fashion tips. Finally when the changelings where defeated they ran into the maze. Rainbow and Fluttershy where grounded however as a spell prevented them from flying. After about ten minutes of trecking they made it to the center. There stood Chrysalis and a healthier colored Major not to mention his horn grew some.

"Where not too late!"

"Correction Celestia. Did you miss me?"

The color returned to Discord as he slithered out of his shocked position. But as that happened a shocked look passed over thoes present save for Major and Chrysalis. Discord chuckled as he streched.

"Oh its so gooood to be out!"

"Enough boasting Discord its time to leave!"

"You never where much fun father."

"I dont care! You are the eldest and therefore you should be the most responsible!"

Major opened a portal that looked like a black hole. Discord sighed and walked through. Chrysalis followed suit. Major turned to the stunned girls.

"Heh ta ta!"

"No you dont!"

Celestia ramed into Major knocking him over and making one of the elements drop out of the saddle pack. Major didnt seem to notice as he bolted away from Celestia and through the portal. Before Celestia could react it closed.

"....... well at least we have the element of magic. It will double your power Twilight. He will strike again. We HAVE to be prepared."

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I stood at a podium looking over the assembled army of changelings before me. They where all buzzing so to speak. Eager for the upcoming battle.

"One more ... soon Selene."

To be continued