The Eternal Sin

Chapters

Prologue - Alpha & Omega (Edited)
Chapter I - Evil Wanders (Edited)
Chapter II - Devilish Appearances
Chapter III - Journey of a Lifetime
Chapter IV - Shadowy Deals & Crystallized Shield

Prologue - Alpha & Omega (Edited)

Equestria and the world as a whole has seen its fair share of villainy, monsters and so-called tyrants, each of them defeated, sealed away, or left to wander. As time has flowed and ebbed, many lands have formed and fell, from the highest mountain to the sandy dunes, history is written by those still standing... but sometimes... history can be misleading.

0005AE – Equestria; Everfree Castle; 7:00pm

It has been five years since the founding of Equestria, so far only a few cities and several settlements have been made for the new nation. Some ponies from various smaller herds have heard the news of a nation for ponies, so they head toward this new home, increasing the workforce and future citizenry each passing year.

Deep in the trees of Everfree was the capital of Equestria, where within these walls was the two sisters who would rule the nation together; Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. During this evening though, something is amiss as during an excavation to dig underneath the castle... something ominous was found.

“PRINCESS! PRINCESS CELESTIA! PRINCESS LUNA!” Running down the halls was the unicorn who would become the greatest wizard known to ponykind, who would create and invent thousands of spells and tomes for future generations, creating the groundwork that would be magic. Starswirl the Bearded was currently running like a madpony, as he carried several scrolls and various research material with his magic and mouth, as satchels stuffed with even more things were tossed around as he ran to where he assumed the princesses would be.

“YOUR MAJESTIES, I FOUND SOMETHING OF GREAT IMPORTANCE!” shouted Starswirl, approaching the twin doors that led to the throne area where their highness’ most likely would be located. Barging through with sheer will and magic might, he forced the doors opened, nearly smashing two guards who heard the crazed yelling.

Standing atop their twin thrones was Celestia and Luna; Luna was shorter than her sister, but was as majestic as her sister, her starry mane flowed against an unseen wind. Celestia herself beamed like the sun itself, as her alabaster wings spread against her sides. The two sisters were in a middle of a discussion about something relating to pastries when they were interrupted by their long-time old friend and mentor.

“Starswirl? Is something the matter old friend?” asked Celestia.

“Yes… No… Well sort of, but never mind that, it is best I show you!”

Deciding to not argue with the old stallion, the two sisters followed the unicorn; they headed deep down into the lower parts of the castle, where at first some of the tunnels were furnished, they soon met to craggy stone-laid walls and floors.

Heading further down the path they encountered the Tree of Harmony, the source of their power and where they acquired the Elements of Harmony. “BEHOLD OF THE TREE OF HARM-”

“Starswirl, we already know of the tree,” said Luna. “Please don’t tell me you forget to get some rest, again...”

“Ummmm, welp… I knew that… and I suppose you knew about the hidden passageway underneath the tree...”

“Yes we- Wait the what?”

Starswirl horn lit up and after using an incantation that the princesses never heard of before, fired some strange spell at the tree. Soon strange echoing whispers were heard and soon the roots of the tree moved, revealing a set of stairs that headed deeper beneath. “Those stairs,” said Starswirl.

“Starswirl… where did you hear that spell?”

“Hmmmm, ahh yes… Well before I came to you two, I found some strange runes written on the Tree of Harmony. For the last two weeks I’ve been trying to decipher them and it says, ‘Within this place of harmony, holds deep beneath a most foreboding and dark tale.’ I wasn’t certain what it was about, but after saying that incantation whilst giving some of my magical energy, it revealed this passageway.”

“And exactly how long did you knew of this passage?” asked Celestia.

“Just some hours ago, I had to look inside myself before showing you two,” said Starswirl.

Celestia sighed while Luna raised a brow, deciding to simply see what was held beneath, the trio went deeper into the dark stairway. Using her magic, Celestia lit the path ahead as a yellow orb of light kept their path lit. As they went deeper and deeper, soon the darkness seemed to suck all the light from the orb, but what was most strange was as they gotten deeper and deeper, the stone around them morphed into an obsidian-like glass, but was sturdier than any known crystal.

Reaching the bottom, they came upon an expansive hall-like room, with several pillars etched with runes and ancient dialect that was impossible to read but clear to see. The room was clear of dust, and didn’t show any signs of decay or aging. At the end of the room was an unlit brazier that had a strange black liquid filled within.

“What is this place?” asked Luna.

“I do not know sister… Starswirl, how much did you examine this place?”

“Not much, I only examined the pillars before I went back up to grab some parchment, before remembering to grab something to eat. After eating I decided to get you two and show you my discoveries.”

Looking around some more, Celestia noticed a torch sconce on the pillar with an unlit torch, grabbing the torch with her magic she lit it with her magic before dipping the torch into the brazier. The black liquid lit up in flames, soon the fire spread to a pathway filled with the same black liquid that flowed through and around the room, soon encasing it entirely in flames. With the room fully lit, the group could visibly see something that wasn't spotted earlier; behind the brazier was a stone tablet with several writings in several different dialects… one of said dialects was in Equestrian.

“Unbelievable...” said Starswirl, taking a closer look.

“What is it, what exactly is written on it?”

“Not just what, but from who; numerous races, numerous languages from different times and ages. The minotaurs of Minos; the griffons of Griffonstone; yaks of the Frozen North; ancient zebrican dialect; Dimondia’s lost language; Abyssinia dialect; Deer-speech; symbols from the various buffalo tribes; Scale-speak; the lost language of Aquastria; ancient thestral dialect and languages from unheard lands. They’re all here!”

“How, weren’t we the first to arrive to Equestria?”

“I’d say apparently not, but it raises the question of how our language managed to be here along with the rest of these other languages from other lands… wait… this can’t be right.”

“What’s wrong?”

“The Equestrian language… this is… this is the language our ancestors used nearly a millennium ago, back before any civilizations were around, before the Three Tribes existed. The fact this language is here would mean...”

“This place is a millennia old...” The group looked around some more; examining the walls of the room they say etched portraits of events, starting from the left side near the entrance. There they saw the beginning of the world, as various races were born and wandered the world, to follow that was the evolution from sticks and stones to working in groups. After that followed the rise of various kingdoms and the fall of said kingdoms, etchings of ancient battles between the various races were waged, events of great beings of power and beasts of might rose, and were felled by great heroes of times gone.

At the back wall near the brazier, was an etching of several powerful beings, these beings called; The Ancients. Each of the Ancients were represented by something that the princesses and Starswirl were very familiar with.

“Hmmmm, appears while there were as many stars in the sky there were as many of these, Ancients, but only several notable Ancients lasted than their other kin.”

“From the beginning there was one being, she was neither Ancient nor was she the creator of the Ancients, but something grander and so was praised by both the Ancients and other races. She was called the Goddess of Harmony, Faust. Alongside her were several selected Ancients to help alongside her; these ancients were Aqua the Kind, Terra the Honest, Ignis the Loyal, Ventus the Joyful, Vita the Generous, Nebula the Magical, Amare the Loved, Solis and Lunares. Together they would form what would be the world known as Equus.”

“So you mean… these Ancients, created our world… so they must be the gods of Equus, correct,” said Luna.

“Yes… hold on… there’s more,” said Starswirl.

Looking through the various etchings, in the middle was something… something indescribable; it was a mess of various beings and creatures, that showed they were in eternal suffering or pain, and in the middle of them all was a figure that stood on two legs. The being’s arms while slender held two items that not even a powerful minotaur could lift; the left held a sword of pure shadow and on the right was another sword that dripped of madness. The being’s eyes were represented with twin jewels that were colored white on the outside, but inside was a mix of various colors that changed and morphed under the light, as if a chaotic inferno of energy swirling in a typhoon of chaos.

“Alongside the Ancients and Faust were other entities called by many names; monsters, demons, daemons, abominations and much more. These formless creatures origins were unknown, but they were all pointed toward one being that represented the source of all evil. He was known by many names throughout time – Ruler of Monsters, God of Demons, Dream-eater, the All-mighty Destroyer, Master of Deception, the Luck-taker – but he was known by one name...”

Etched in the stone tablet, in giant letters that blazed in a red glow, was a name that shook all three to their very core. “The Father of Sin; this does not bode well.”

“If everything that’s here is real… Starswirl,” said Celestia, getting the attention of the unicorn.

“Yes?”

“I want you to keep this a secret between myself, you and Luna; if what’s written is true, then it is best the less ponies know of this the better. I want you to research this as much as you can for the exact time the prophecy may happen.”

“That might be a problem.”

“How so?”

Examining the stone tablet further, Starswirl scribbled down a few things before facing the princesses. “Everything written here is less of a prophecy and more of a retelling, a history book of sorts. Nothing here is forewarning of any coming danger… but the fact is, if all this were to be true… I’ll see who or what this Father of Sin is… and maybe save all of Equestria.”

Nodding, the two princesses were readying to leave, but Celestia looked one last time at the creature that was the so called, Father of Sin. It stood on two legs, with two outstretching arms with eyes that glowed a chaotic swirl of colors, but the most alarming description was what was written below the etching.

“Once all seven seals are broken, he shall arise once more; once the seven gates unlock, cometh the end of all ends.”

May mercy come to us all… for truly this is evil incarnate.

As time moved on, the prophecy grew to be forgotten over time with only Celestia being the only being left to know the prophecy. Starswirl managed to get as much information he could get, but all Celestia managed to understand from his old friend’s writing was that this being was connected to all beings in some manner but how, or when he may appear was still unclear.

Soon after Luna’s fall, Celestia has spent the last millennium ruling Equestria as best she could; after her sister’s return, she and the heroes of Equestria fought against many evils, but with each passing villain they were one step closer to this approaching darkness.

1016AE – Equestria; Canterlot, Canterlot Castle; 9:00pm

Celestia gazed at the starry sky, restless from recent events; with Chrysalis defeated, the changelings have now become their own nation and would soon spread out to other nations. This was a victory to Equestria and pony-kind… but with this was another sign that things would change soon. Hearing several knocks on her door, she approached the door before opening it with her magic. On the other side was her sister Luna who smiled at her sister as entered with two slices of cake.

“Dear sister, how come you weren’t there for one of Pinkie’s celebrations, after defeating Chrysalis and gaining alliance with the changelings and their new leader, I assume you gorge yourself in some cake?”

“I was… simply in deep thought sister...”

Noticing her sister’s forlorn look, she placed both cakes down on a nearby table and approached her sister at the balcony. The two silently gazed at the starlit sky until Celestia finally spoke, making her sound both tired and exhausted.

“Sister… Luna… Do you feel that everything will soon change,” said Celestia.

“What do you mean Tia?”

“...I’ve been looking through Starswirl’s notes, especially on about his notes on… The Father of Sin.”

Luna’s expression became serious but loosened up with a smile, as she outstretched her dear sister with a wing. “Do not fret sister, for all these years nothing has happened other than the occasion villain and while we’ve been in a few near scrapes, we mustn't worry over such things. No matter what may come, we’ll fight it together I promise.”

Celestia gazed down at her sister, nuzzling the top of her head. “You’re right, now come, let us enjoy some of that delicious cake,” said Celestia.

“Indeed; oh you’ll love this new pastry creation that Pinkie has made, I believe she calls them, ice cream cake.”

The two sisters soon left and as the wind from outside blew around inside Celestia’s room, it blew off some pieces of paper on her desk to reveal the mad scribbling of a black figure with two glowing eyes.

Tartarus; Lower Depths

Deep below in the darkest and deepest areas of Tartarus, was the worst creatures to be held and kept, but behind a gate of the darkest and densest material was kept a secret most terrible.

Behind several enchanted chains, was sealed a being most terrible… but behind these metal doorways was a single metal door, with a strange marking etched on the metal door. Demonic whispers could be heard from behind said door and the mad screams of creatures beyond one’s imagination echoed… but nothing could compare to the silence that followed next.

This silence was heard by all the denizens of Tartarus, silencing them in moments as if something has changed… Someone… has awakened.

Equestria; Somewhere in the Badlands; 9:30pm

After being defeated and escaping from her own kingdom, Chrysalis sat atop the highest peak in the Badlands, gazing hatefully at Canterlot, knowing the ponies and traitors were celebrating their recent victory. Facing away from the marble city, she gazed at a circle of chalk with seven items placed around on seven pedestals.

The seven objects were items based off the seven sins; gold for greed, a rose for lust, a knife for wrath, a crown for pride, a piece of meat for gluttony, a pillow for sloth, and a mirror for envy. With these seven items, Chrysalis was going to use an ancient summoning spell from her ancestors.

This summoning spell existed since her ancestors, before the changelings were spread-out and ruled by various hive queens, but were one singular mind and soul. Back then the changelings and various creatures ruled under an unknown entity that was all-knowing and all-powerful. Nobody knows the history behind this strange being or what has become of it, all she knew or gotten her architects to translate from the ancient changeling dialect was that the changelings were split between five tribes – the Manti-Green, Centi-Red, Hornet-Yellow, Rhino-Black, and Flight-Blue.

These five tribes soon had their history split so outsiders would not find out the truth behind the changelings’ origins, but at the same time neither would the descendants of each of the tribes would know either. This created large gaps between the five tribes, each of them living their own ways and styles, but all the tribes agreed to never encounter the surface world, ever… but several centuries, Chrysalis’s tribe, the Manti-Green… were hit with a gap in knowledge.

At some point during one of Chrysalis’s ancestors made a terrible mistake; believing they were going to be assassinated by their own kind, they ordered that a large gap of their personal knowledge be destroyed. This purge of history involved their ways of feeding themselves, so after that queen was overthrown and replaced with her daughter – Chrysalis’s great great great grandmother – new methods to sustain themselves had to been used… resulting in the pact of never entering the surface being broken.

At first things went well, it was discovered the changelings could feed on positive emotions, with love being the greatest kind of positive emotion to feed on… but as time went on, newer methods to gather this new resource were used… soon, it became into full-blown invasions and kidnappings to gather enough of this “love”. Entire cities were emptied of their citizens, vanishing in a blink of an eye, to be dragged deep below to the changeling lands to be harvested.

This practice may had been sickening, but out of the five-tribes, the Manti-Green were more skilled in stealth and espionage than their other brethren… it was never questioned why they were better at this than the other tribes’ changelings. Sticking to this new way of life, they followed this pattern up to Chrysalis’s mother’s rule… until they hit a snag.

Due to them clearing of all possible life around their hive… they ended up creating a famine that nearly starved and made them go extinct. Sending out scouts to find a new source of food, it was then Chrysalis came into power and found Equestria. Afterwards the rest is history; Chrysalis replaced one of the alicorns and pretended to be her for her wedding, she then enacted her invasion which failed. She then prepared her revenge, kidnapping both the heroes and authorities of Equestria, but was soon thwarted by two unicorns, a draconnequus and a traitor changeling which took over her changelings.

Now forced to use desperate measures, before she left the hive, she grabbed something inside a black chest that was passed down by her mother. Inside was a small obsidian tome with ancient writing inside, unsure how to read these symbols, she spotted one particular page that intrigued her.

Barely understanding it, it was some kind of summoning spell, but as of what was unsure, but one line of text which was luckily translated by one of her ancestors was written down.

“When the hour of rule over the changelings is done and authority can never be obtained again. The seal shall be unlocked; with seven sigils are brought forth as sacrifice, will thine power be brought forth once more to rule over. Be wary for once this path is chosen, there shall be no cowardice to be held in one’s heart.”

“Cowardice? Whatever may come of this, I won’t back down, I will sacrifice my own life for vengeance against the pitiful ponies!” shouted Chrysalis, with a mad grin. “Now… how does the chant go again?”

For the past few days; she’s been trying to understand this strange dialect, but now able to understand it, was ready to begin the ritual.

Tartarus; Entrance Gate

Cerberus was the guard-dog of Tartarus, not only was he to guard any from leaving Tartarus, but also keeping anyone from entering. Only those stained with sin shall enter and none shall leave was the creature’s personal motto.

Sleeping near the gates… he felt it, with all three heads raising immediately he could hear it… the echoes of a voice. “...He awakens… For he comes… He awakens… The time is nigh… He awakens...”

Suddenly, Tartarus began to shake violently as if a wrathful titan was beginning to awaken; coming forth from the depths of Tartarus was a black fog that seemed to swallow all it approached. Cerberus was less afraid but curious, approaching the fog he pawed it before stepping back, before dipping his paw once more in the fog.

Sniffing it, the ancient creature barked and began to follow the fog; soon Cerberus stood before the gate of pure black metal and darker than the deepest of trenches. The black fog was seeping out of the cracks of the metal door, the chains rattled violently, but what was most alarming was seven now visible symbols glowed a deep red.

Sat before the gate, Cerberus looked around at the nearby cages and their denizens stepping away from the black fog and the noise coming from the gates. The echoed voice returned but louder and clearer for all to hear in the hellish realm of Tartarus.

“He awakens, he comes… Chaos incarnate awakens, for his call has been answered… A willing soul beckons him, the time is now; the time of ages has passed for he awakens… Bow before him, for he is alpha and omega, for he is destruction and creation...”

“For the Father of Sin, has awakened!”

Equestria; Somewhere in the Badlands; 9:45pm

I’m ready, with this I will have my vengeance with those ponies, especially that Starlight Glimmer.

Taking a deep breath, Chrysalis spoke the ritual’s chanting words to heart as she stood before the summoning circle. “Ls zdzpvm uiln blfi zmxrvmg hofnyvi, r xzoo fklm blf; lmv dsl hgllw zg gsv yvtrmmrmt zmw hzd gsv vmw. R hfnnlm sv dsl xivzgvh wvhgifxgrlm zmw wvhgilbvi lu xivzgrlmh. Blfi olmt hofnyvi rh levi zmw drgs nb yollw r trev gl yivzp gsv hvevm hrtroh gszg yrmw gsvv zmw drgs gsrh lzgs lu nrmv wl r hviev blf olbzoob. Zxxvkg nb xzoo, xlnv zmw zmhdvi nb kilnrhv, uli r xzoo fklm blf.”

“Xlnv uligs, uzgsvi lu zoo hrmh!”

At first nothing happened and Chrysalis thought she did something wrong when the skies darkened, the earth shook and the winds became violent. While it was known that lands and the borders outside of Equestria were wilder than in the actual nation, these strange events were way crazier than they should have been.

But what really made Chrysalis gasp in awe and shock was the seven black thunderbolts that struck down at the seven pedestals holding the ritual offerings… well she would have been even more amazed if she wasn’t knock back by the blast of seven thunderbolts.

Tartarus; Lower Depths

Like the gates of a dam being blasted open, the black metal gates tore asunder as a miasma of black smoke fumed by before dissipating slowly. Now able to see, Cerberus gazed within the black gate, and saw the small black door… the open small black door. More of the black fog seeped out the now open doorway, but what made Tartarus eerily silent was the echoes of footsteps.

Tap, tap, tap…

It continued to echo as something was exiting out of the shadows for the first time… but what accompanied it was… whistling.

Tap, tap, tap…

What followed was an eerie voice that began singing, the song itself added up the strangeness, until an individual stepped out. The surrounding demons and prisoners gazed warily at this newcomer, who sang with a jolly tune, but the song itself added to this strange being to be even more demented. His looks added that sentiment to full force; etched like marble his smile was of a crazed grin, his hair was black, messy and spiked as if hasn’t been properly washed or cared for but seemed to fit this being perfectly.

He wore an attire that was a mix of formal and casual, he wore black or dark blue jeans with a black belt with a silver buckle. His shoes were black and leathery with black thick shoelaces; he wore a dark gray long-sleeve shirt and a black sweater with hood, and on top of both pieces of clothing was a black leather jacket that had another hood that was colored gray and made of a thin but smooth material.

The last and noticeable detail was his eyes; they were a swirl of ever-changing colors, red to blue, purple to green, black to yellow and sometimes several colors would mix together to create an amalgamation of colors. There was one constant color that stayed the same, two slit irises that were colored a bloody red. The eyes morphed again and changed to a boring muddy brown, but deep within the madness and endless chaos in those eyes could still be seen.

His teeth were pointed and sharp, with a psychotic cackle he gazed up at the one being that awaited him here for a long, long, long time.

“Hello Cerberus, how was the last… five… six… Let’s go with six; how was the last six millennia been fairing you?”

Cerberus heads had different answers, one barked, one growled, another yipped but each answer meant the same to him.

“Oh that boring huh? Welp I suppose guarding dozen souls down here does that to anybody… At least I had some entertainment where I was; still being in eternal shadow like that can be bad for the limbs if you can’t tell from the ground and sky.” With that, the entity snapped several of it’s limbs, creating loud audible snaps, as his bones cricked and cracked from days of constant immobility. “Ahhhhhh, much better.”

Cerberus – the middle head which was the lead head – barked which the entity listened to the several barks before one bark interested him. “...You don’t say… After all this time, it’s finally time… Well then, about time we get things cracking but before I do the whole reveal, I need to see the one who called me. It was good seeing you old friend, keep up the good work.”

Cerberus watched the bipedal leave before vanishing in a puff of the black miasma; now alone once more, the ancient guard-dog continued his rounds, with only one thought in his ancient head. An ancient darkness has descended upon this world, I pity those that try to cross him.

At the same time – Equestria; Canterlot, Canterlot Castle; 10:00pm

Celestia and Luna felt something… a shift in the air, a sudden movement of the earth and the skies south-east of them darker than usual. “You felt that didn’t you?” asked Luna, warily.

“Yes… something… ‘someone’ powerful has appeared… but I don’t know who or what...”

“Should we warn the others?”

Celestia gazed toward the distance where she knew was the Badlands, watched as the dark skies disappeared and the shaking stopped. “...For now we’ll wait, we have won today dear sister, but whatever may come for us we can handle it together.” Luna nodded and watched the distance with her sister, ready for whatever may come at them, together.

Equestria; Somewhere in the Badlands; 10:10pm

Chrysalis was angry; after the ritual was what she assumed failed, the top of the spire she was on was destroyed, leaving nothing but a giant black scorch mark to remain. She was currently kicking at the ash and dust while screaming at the heavens. After done with her tirade, she collapsed and curled up as she whimpered and cried in a dejected state. Why, I did everything that spell asked of me, I had to use what remained of my magic and love to use that spell, but nothing but flashy lightning and some ominous shaking!

“Not fair… I sacrificed everything for my changelings, but that traitor and those ponies...” said Chrysalis, her tears mixing with the ash. “...I will have my vengeance, against Equestria, that changeling called Thorax… and Starlight Glimmer.”

Standing back up, she gazed hatefully toward Canterlot, thinking of every cursed and hateful word toward that city and those within, celebrating their recent victory. “They will all pay...”

“My you must be that pissed off to not notice me yet.” Swiftly, Chrysalis turned around and instinctively was ready to use what remaining magic she had to blast the insolent being to approach her… but she paused.

The one standing – no not standing but floating – before her was some strange bipedal being that wore clothing like the ponies, but this strangely felt right for this being to wear clothing unlike the four-legged creatures. It gazed madly at her, but the smile seemed… genuine, not crazed while it did show this thing’s sharp teeth, it seemed to genuinely smile at her.

What was most disturbing was the fact that this being radiated a strange power, not something she could use as it felt… wrong. The creature was giving off a marinade of emotions; wrath, sadness, joy, fear, but the one emotion that screamed at the top was this – pure unbridled insanity.

This “thing” is insane, I have to get awa-

“Now that’s rude, to talk about someone else like that without fully knowing them… Or is it rude to have such thoughts, especially when your kind can see the emotional states of other beings?”

Causing Chrysalis to freeze up, she herself became afraid at the thought that this thing could clearly hear her thoughts when the thoughts of changelings are to be impossible to see or hear through. “You… can hear my thoughts...”

“Why yes; I did after all… well actually that is another story for another time. Where are my manners, apparently being down below has messed me up a little… though I was a bit screwy in the head long time ago. If you must know my name, simply call me Ouroboros, but those in ancient times once called me by a name that struck terror in the hearts of all. I am, the Father of Sin.”

For some reason the name caused a strange tingling in Chrysalis heart, as if this name coincided with her… that it felt right to trust this, thing. Lowering her horn, but keeping her guard up Chrysalis asked one more question. “Why do you approach me, Ouroboros?” asked Chrysalis.

“Oh simply call me Ouros, no need for formality between us my child.”

“Child!? I am centuries old, how dare you call me child, you look only a few decades old!”

“True, I do indeed look… sixteen? Eighteen? Let’s go with eighteen, but I am far older than I am perceived.”

“Well no matter, now answer my question!”

Ouros approached Chrysalis as he floated or rather walked on midair toward her, stepping on the spire and approached just inches from her. He was taller than she expected, nearly reaching her horn but still having to look up toward his eyes… the same eyes that held that look of madness deep enough to be drowned in.

Gazing down at her like a giant before an ant, Ouros grin widened showing his teeth in more detail. They were sharp enough to tear meat and possibly bone apart, but keeping her nerve together, Chrysalis resisted the urge to gulp.

“You summoned me or rather ‘freed’ me… it makes sense that I thank you properly. You must be exhausted, here, let me help,” said Ouros. Before she could react, Ouros reached one of his hands around her cheek until a rush of energy welled up into her being. She nearly fainted from the sudden surge but stabilized herself just barely, her vision was blurry from the sudden flow of energy.

“Wha-What just… What did you do?”

“I gave you some emotional energy my dear, your kind was designed to feed off of emotional and physical matter after all… sadly, this made your kind extremely empathetic too.”

Empathetic, me!? “I am not empathetic towards anyone, especially my enemies.”

“Ahhhh, I see things changed soon after my departure… but as they say, ‘Those to fail to accept change, are doomed to repeat the past.’ or something like that.”

The more Chrysalis listened to this being's mad ramblings, the more confused she became, deciding she had enough, she could simply blast this being to a pulp… if it wasn’t for what it did next.

“Speaking of my energy, I should see about seeing if I can still do some of my old tricks up my sleeve. Do step back my dear… you don’t want to be close to me for what I am about to do next.”

Like that, Chrysalis was swarmed with a welling of absolute terror unlike anything she felt before, the last time she felt this afraid is when her mother passed away and the crown was given to her in a young age – usually changeling queens last at least two to three hundred years and pass succession until either their heir is eighty or the queen has reached over two hundred years. This however was something else, the power being exuded was the feeling a prey would feel from an alpha predator… no, that comparison was horrible, it was something… far worse.

It’s as if I am standing before… a god.

A black miasma shrouded Ouros as a red glow seeped from his body and eyes, until the glow and miasma stopped before a small black orb was floating harmless on one of his fingers. It was the size of an eyeball or smaller, and bobbed on his finger; with a flick he let it lazily float skyward.

“And now… we watch,” said Ouros, his grin turning psychotic.

Elsewhere – Equestria; Canterlot, Canterlot Castle; 10:30pm

The celebration at Canterlot Castle was wondrous, as not only nobles but also various townsfolk from different cities and towns came to celebrate the recent victory over the forces of villainy. It was to also celebrate the new alliance with the newly reformed changeling race and their new leader, King Thorax.

With them was the heroes of Equestria, the Elements of Harmony with Princess Twilight Sparkle, the leaders of the Crystal Empire and their heir, Prince Shining Armor, Princess Cadance and Flurry Heart. Along with them was the three heroes who saved them, Discord, Trixie and Starlight Glimmer; Sunburst was also with them as he was the Royal Crystaller.

Other famous individuals were also invited like the various mayors from all the cities, a few envoys from the nations that were also effected by the changelings past attacks and many others. The celebration was wondrous, especially when Princess Celestia finally arrived along with Princess Luna.

“Princess Celestia, you’re finally here,” said Twilight.

“Now Twilight, you are a princess too so there’s no need for you to address me like so,” said Celestia.

“I know, but you’re still the princess to me.” Twilight smiled up to Celestia while she sighed but smiled in return; soon the celebrations continued, as the party was also extended to the royal gardens where a DJ was set up with more food and drinks too.

“ARE YOU PONIES HAVING A GRAND TIME!” shouted Vinyl, at her booth. Various ponies and other creatures cheered as they listened into the music, the princesses and their entourage stood together enjoying each others’ company.

“I am so glad you can join the party with us Ember,” said Spike.

“Well I had to join and meet this friend of yours… I didn’t expect them to be the new ruler of the changelings though,” said Ember.

“Well I just recently became the new ruler of the changelings, so I’m kind of new to the whole ruling a kingdom thing,” said Thorax.

“Don’t worry, I’ll give you a few tips about how to properly rule.”

As everyone enjoyed the celebration with one another, Celestia happily looked at the various creatures mingling with one another. “I am glad our ponies are getting to better know the other races more… I am glad we managed to befriend the changelings,” said Celestia.

“Indeed dear sister, indeed.”

“Well Starlight here managed to convince the changelings there was another way to receive love, I’m so proud of you!” shouted Twilight, hugging her student.

“Twilight, pleeease, not in public,” said Starlight. Everyone laughed together, but as they laughed Pinkie at that very moment spoke, signaling bad things to come.

It started with Pinkie to shake violently, which meant only one thing. “OHHHH, A BIG BIG BIIIIIIG DOOZY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN!” But before anypony could ask or wonder what Pinkie was on about, suddenly Pinkie fell to the ground and started rolling in pain.

“PINKIE! Are you alright,” said Rainbow, approaching her friend.

“Owwww, my knee it… it’s starting to really hurt… it, it kind of pinches...”

“But that happens when something scary is about to happen,” said Applejack.

“A doozy and something scary, that can’t be good,” said Rarity.

“Well let’s hope it’s nothing to bad, what’s the worse that can hap-” Before Shining Armor could finish, a flash of brilliant light appeared behind him; turning around everyone at the celebration witness something truly terrifying.

Toward the direction of the Badlands, a giant orb of pure black expanded like an explosion went off, the orb seemed to grow before imploding as a rush of wind was blasted across of everyone’s manes, fur and other appendages. For several minutes, complete silence fell upon everyone until Spike finally spoke.

“Okay, that was definitely scary.”

Equestria; Somewhere in the Badlands; 10:45pm

Chrysalis watched as the small black orb expanded the size of possibly Canterlot, before the orb imploded as the now sudden disappearance of atmosphere tried to refill the vacuum as a rush of air was blown against Chrysalis. Ouros calmly watched as he stood there as his jacket flapped against the inrush of wind, smiling crazily at his orb of pure annihilation.

“Hrrrmmmm, I remember it being bigger, but that’ll dooo,” said Ouros.

“WHAT!? You mean that thing could go bigger!?”

“Indeed, but now with that done with… It’s time I get back to my schedule. Come my dear, I have big plans and it involves you.”

Chrysalis had many thoughts going through her mind, she wanted to run and hide in the deepest hole possible, being locked up in Tartarus was better than standing beside this entity of pure destruction. I have to run, if I can distract him then maybe-

“Now now, there’s no need to run, I won’t harm you… Why you freed me, so I am in your debt.”

At that single word, Chrysalis fear stricken face morphed to one of realization, then that realization changed to an evil smirk. “So you serve me then,” said Chrysalis. That would be the wrong word that Chrysalis would use.

In that single moment, Ouros gazed at Chrysalis with empty soulless eyes, turning her now evil smirk, back to being an afraid filly. “...The only one to serve, are those who given up on their own will for freedom… Remember, that I may be lax but I am not tolerant of what others may say, that may include you. Are we clear on that?”

“Yes Yes Yes, ice clear!”

“Good… now again, I am sorry for scaring you, but I am my own master and so are you, but I do indeed promise to help you… but… It is best I do something real quick… There are a few familiar faces I must find… But first.”

Ouros turned to face Chrysalis and reached a hand toward her cheek, his smile one of curiosity and madness mixed together.

“...What year is it and what did I miss exactly?”

Author's Note

The idea for this story has been circling in my head for awhile - and a few others - so I wanted to at least write down one of them and I chose this one. I need my head to flow some thoughts through, writer's block and everything, I can't write any future chapters clearly lately so the best I can do is keep spitting out new stories until something comes to me for the other stories.

The weird words Chrysalis says is a cipher speech - you guess which one.

Ouroboros... welp let's say he... is a mystery within a mysterious box within a mysterious place within a black-hole that's located in a pocket dimension... He's very strange and mysterious... Have fun reading.

Dialogue: Starswirl

Thoughts: Celestia
Chrysalis
Cerberus (no color)

Chapter I - Evil Wanders (Edited)

Equestria; Edge of the Badlands and Equestria; 1:00pm

For the past two hours, Chrysalis has been traveling with Ouros across the Badlands to the border of Equestria, during that time Chrysalis has been questioning why they aren’t using their respective powers to go to their destination. “Now now, no need for that, besides we can’t recklessly attract ourselves, so it’s best we don’t use any magic or whatnot.”

“So your saying that flight spell you use to walk on midair was magic?” asked Chrysalis.

“Oh no, that I can do naturally, I mean that I just don’t like using my powers… I get sleepy whenever I do so.”

Chrysalis grumbled to herself, the fact she was trotting by hoof to who-knows-where and is unable to use her now rejuvenated body… though it was probably smart to travel naturally than by flight or magic as that blast would of attracted some unnecessary attention. Right now for those past two hours they traveled across the Badlands and were reaching an opening between Macintosh Hills and Hayseed Swamps… but there was one problem.

Ahead of them was a guard outpost, with several building; five of them were sizable and block-shaped, mostly barracks to hold troops, one building had a red cross on it, another had a strange device on the top and was smaller than the other buildings, while another seemed to be some sort of hangar.

“Great, a guard outpost, ever since the incident with my invasion and that Tirek nearly taking over Equestria, the Equestrian military have improved and posted several outposts at all border entrances to Equestria, the one near the Badlands is the most heavily fortified out of the others from what my spies have told me… well… my spies when I was still queen,” said Chrysalis.

“Yadda yadda yadda, quit mentioning your previous occupation… Now for these guards though… been a while since I’ve been in combat,” said Ouros.

“What!? We are not fighting an entire army!”

“Meh, you call this an army, I’d hazard the numbers are roughly close to a company. Okay, I think if we sneak toward those hills, we might get a better vantage point… though we might be quickly spotted before we even can do so… okay, you be the distraction and I’ll head to the hills.”

“Who made you the leader?”

“Nobody, I just don’t like being the distraction, now hop to it young lady.”

Chrysalis was getting more and more angry with him the longer she was with him, but she knew what he was capable of and if she didn’t went along with his asinine plans… she be in a far worse fate. Standing up begrudgingly, she slowly approached the two guards stationed near the outpost, two torch posts placed near them.

The two guards were in a middle of a conversation, now usually Chrysalis would transform to some poor pony that gotten lost, but from the look that Ouros was giving her… he didn’t want her to transform. I swear if I get killed because of that psychotic moron, I’ll haunt him till he rots back at whatever hellhole he came from.

“So anyway, she was all interested in me but then Icy Night had to-” The guard speaking quickly saw the large silhouette in the darkness and after flashing a quick light spell, the form of Chrysalis was quickly illuminated before them. Not even pausing to stare, he fired a flare spell and screamed at the top of his lungs. “CHANGELING! WE GOT A CHANGELING!”

Immediately, a swarm of a nearly hundred guards – both Royal and Lunar Guard – rushed forth. Unicorns stood at the back with earth ponies posed and ready, pointing their spears and swords forth. Pegasi and thestrals flew above with crossbows pointed toward the ex-queen of the changelings.

“I thought the changelings were our allies now?!”

“They are, but the queen is still on high alert, we’re to capture her at all costs!”

“SURRENDER NOW, OR WE WILL USE FORCE!”

Chrysalis stood there and was tempted to blast them, but she was the distraction, gazing to the hill she expected Ouros to be… she found it empty with no signs of him being there. Where is he!? The lead guard shouting for her to surrender was getting more agitated, the guards themselves ready to attack her.

“Oh screw this! FEAR ME FOOLS, FOR I AM QUEEN CHRYSALIS, THE LAST QUEEN OF MY HIVE! COME AND FACE ME!” shouted Chrysalis, charging a spell.

“She’s firing a spell, attack, attack!”

The guards charged as a flurry of arrows and spells were fired at her while the earth ponies charged forth. Chrysalis casted a shield around herself as the spells and arrows bounced off, before charging forth and firing a swath of green flames. The flames licked against the guards causing them to back off while some didn’t manage to and ran past her whilst ablaze.

“Burn you worthless fools, burn like the pieces of feces you are! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!”

The guards then sent some of the pegasi off before they came back with several rain clouds, dousing the flames on their comrades and the ground, cooling and soaking it immediately. Soon after, the unicorns fired several frost spells, freezing the ground and covering Chrysalis in frost. The ice managed to freeze her to the ground, but not for long as Chrysalis broke free but as soon she did, she was pelted by arrows, one of them managing to slip through her chitin, piercing her back leg.

“ARRRGGHHHH!” Falling down, she was soon surrounded by several spears pointed at her, with the pegasi aiming right for any vital points.

“Last chance, surrender or we’re going have to tell the princesses that we had to do an immediate execution of you here and now!”

Spitting a glob of blood at the guard captain, Chrysalis watched as the captain nodded to the guards holding the spears, readying to pierce her… when something flew by and slammed against the guards. “What in Celestia was that!?”

Turning around, standing amongst the bleeding and defeated bodies of both the unicorn guards and some of the other guards standing near the entrance of the base, was a bipedal figure who was currently gripping one pony by the throat, choking him with his tight grip. “WHO THE BUCK ARE YOU!?”

“Oh me? Just your passing madman going by, I thought I nicely ask you fine gents to let my lady friend go, but you appear to be threatening her than giving her a proper trial. Now that is no way to treat a lass like her,” said Ouros.

“Are you insane! Do you have any idea who this is, either you surrender now or I’ll come there and beat you senseless!”

Ouroboros was still gripping tightly against the guard while gazing at his handy work, not seeming to pay attention to the captain’s threats. “I SAID DROP HIM OR WE’LL EXECUTE YOUR FRIEND!”

“I am nobody’s friend-”

“SHUT IT!” One of the guards slammed their spear at Chrysalis, and what occurred next was like a blur.

Guard Captain’s Perspective – Equestria; Badlands, Border Outpost; 1:25pm

The strange being gripped one of my guards by the scruff of his neck, but I can tell he was slowly choking him. When I heard that the queen of the changelings was spotted by the entrance facing the Badlands, I immediately prepared our forces to detain her. While a scuffle occurred with her, we managed to surround her… but apparently she wasn’t alone.

Now nearly a sixth of my guards are down on the ground bleeding from a single enemy that sneaked behind us. I thought we were at a crossroads and that we could bargain him to let my guard go and for him to surrender… that was until one of the rookies slammed their spear against Chrysalis… all hell broke loose.

First what happened was that the thing started to chuckle ominously to itself, before cackled crazily before it became silent… and continued to speak. “You want your friend… then, come, and, TAKE HIM!” It was so quick but with a turn of his heel he faced us, he was posed in a throwing position and he tossed, no, he threw the poor guard at one of our pegasi guards. He threw him so hard and fast, when the thrown guard made contact with the flying pegasus the two literally exploded into a cloud of viscera and gore as the guard that was thrown was barely recognizable. The pegasus fell with a splat on the ground, twitching from having a piece of his body missing.

The sheer brutality of the attack was so sudden… I soon felt a sudden weight to my body when I found myself face first to the ground.

Third-Person Perspective – Equestria; Badlands, Border Outpost; 1:28pm

The guard captain was knocked unconscious when Ouroboros rushed him and slammed him face first to the ground, a trail of blood coming from his snout. The guards would of attacked… but something felt off about this being; while changelings could easily sense the emotions of other living beings, ponies had a similar sixth sense, making them connect with their own better than other races.

The guards and even Chrysalis felt the sheer bloodlust and psychopathy dripping from him like a river, he was craving for blood and he would get it. “So… whooooo’s next?”

One of the guards charged forth, but as he took one step forward… his upper half was missing, the guards stared wide eyed as Ouros’ hands and arms were drenched in their comrade's blood as he literally tore through him with pure strength and speed. The upper half of the guard was several meters away from them, his expression of terror plastered on him like a freshly painted art piece.

Without pausing, Ouros lunged forth as he slaughtered them all with his bare hands, cackling maniacally; he smashed them, cut them open with his bare hands and sometimes he grabs them and chuck them so hard at one another they explode like balloons of blood. The pegasi and thestrals tried flying a safe distance, but it was a shock when suddenly this thing started literally climbing up in the air, like he was on a set of invisible stairs.

Grabbing one of the pegasi by the wing, he torn it off before he thrust his arm down the pegasus’ throat and tore out his guts, before using them to strangle another guard with them. One of the guards managed to get a hit, but all it did was nothing as he shrugged it off with it still inside his gut.

Charging midair toward the other fliers, the grounded guards ran away in fear back to the camp to get more backup. Chrysalis watched the literal slaughter, unable to move or breath, the fear the ponies exuded covered the blood soaked grounds like a thick fog, it was practically difficult for her to barely focus due to the vast amounts of negative emotions.

But the emotions that Ouros exuded… was beyond anything she has ever felt her long life. Something demented, crazed and bestial was being unleashed… and it wanted to continue its bloody hunt.

“WHERE ARE ALL YOU GOING, WE’RE NOT DONE YET!?” Chrysalis snapped out of her daze as Ouros charged into the camp with… he was clutching a dismembered leg and using it as a bloody club, smashing any guards into literal pulp. The original number of guards went down from the near two hundred stationed here to only thirty; the bodies of various guards were strung about like a messed up museum of guts and limbs.

The whole outpost was set ablaze when one of the guards tripped and dropped a torch into the stockpile of hay. Many either died being burnt alive or by Ouros, but the remaining survivors huddled, terrified in the middle of the camp.

Chrysalis finally got the nerve to move, approaching Ouros, wading through the carnage left behind. Those who were killed either fought back or would beg for their lives, deserting their posts before Ouros simply blasted them with an orb of black, eviscerating into nothing.

She watched as Ouros dragged the unconscious but still alive captain to the remaining guards; getting their attention, he smacked the captain awake, getting a groan before he faced the crazed smile of Ouros.

“Wakey wakey, smell the bacon,” said Ouros. “Been taking a bit of a dirt nap, but I think it's about time you listen to what I say next.”

The captain stared at the surrounding bloodbath and stared at his remaining guards, before he surprisingly glared back at Ouros. “What do you want?”

“Nothing, just wanted to mosey my way by but you had to be a dick and impede my path… even insulted and hurt the poor cute bug-girl too.”

Cute?

“Anyway, so I killed off your guards… well the ones that felt killing and should have been killed.” At the tone of his nonchalant words of murdering dozens of guards, the captain attempted to stand up, but was stomped to the ground by Ouros' foot.

“Ah ah ah, I ain’t done; you see… they deserved death, because I am the Father of Sin, I have the insight to see the souls of every being in existence… I can tell if they’ve been tainted. The survivors you see are only alive because they show some virtue or they are clean of this taint.”

“TAINT!? TAINT! AND WHAT ABOUT THAT FREAK OVER THERE, SHE HAS DONE AS MUCH WRONG AS ANYPONY ELSE!”

At the mention of her, Chrysalis face paled at the thought that Ouros would rip her in pieces because of her past crimes. However Ouros gazed at her before facing the captain with a psychotic smile.

“Her sins… I will carry them for her, for she deserves redemption from this sickly world… What wrong has she done in your eyes, hmmm? She sacrificed her chance at peace with your kind because she knew that none of you would accept her kind… Sure some lucky few manage to live peacefully with you ponies, but if you truly knew one’s true nature… do you really think you accept them for who they are… or what you perceive them to be.”

The captain stayed silent as Ouros was finishing his rant. “There are always rights and wrongs in this world, but if you let these choices warp who you choose to be… you’ll be drowned in the very sin you sought to avoid. One’s actions can never truly be forgiven unless the person keeps the conviction to follow what they believe in their head – whether it be wading themselves in blood or walking a path of righteousness… and you my poor naive fool have done the opposite.”

“What nonsense are you talking about!?” Ouros cackled as he grabbed the captain by the head and lifted him up, gazing deep in his eyes, to his soul.

“When I heard you threaten Chrysalis, I knew you lied… your leaders never wanted you to kill or harm Chrysalis, but to capture or report of any possible whereabouts of her… You thought by killing her or bringing her in by force you get extra money and fame by your leaders… and if that didn’t work… I know you planned to sell her off to darker sources.” Chrysalis and even some of the surviving guards gasped, the captain himself paled at all of this, realizing that he was screwed. “Oh… and I also know of the other acts you done in this camp… Hmmmmm, it appears you had a certain young guard stationed here two months ago suddenly go AWOL… though it’s strange to call a guard AWOL when he was being viciously mauled by bandits… Friends of yours?”

The captain was speechless but before he could speak, one of the survivors spoke. “Night Sky… you told me he went missing when he flew too deep into the Badlands… YOU TOLD ME MY BROTHER WAS BEING TOO RECKLESS AND GOTTEN LOST IN A DUST STORM!” The captain tried to speak, but say the disbelief and mistrust in his fellow guards' eyes – they knew what Ouros said was the truth.

“WILL YOU SERIOUSLY BELIEVE THIS FREAK OVER YOUR OWN CAPTAIN! YOU WILL BE COURT MARTIALED FOR THIS!”

“Now now, all will receive punishment, some sooner, some later… you however… I think I know the perfect one for those who lie and deceive one's own peers...” The captain tried to crawl away as best he could, but Ouros grabbed him by the foreleg, and pulled. With his leg ripped off, he screamed and wailed as he twisted and convulsed on the ground from his leg being torn off… but the pain wasn’t over yet.

“Your punishment… IS DEATH BY LEG!” Before he could scream in terror, Ouros began to viciously beat him with his own appendage, giggling insanely as the slow death throes of the guard captain quieted to gurgles until wet splats could be heard from having his own skull caved in with his own dismembered leg.

Dropping the improvised weapon, he stared at the remaining survivors before approaching them. The guards took a step back but the one who was crying over the truth of her brother’s disappearance cried on the ground.

The guard, a young female thestral was weeping before she looked up with her tear-stained face. “...Make the pain go away… I… I don’t want to remember any of this...”

“...That… I can’t do… but rest… and let your woes ebb, and be taken like the winds that carry the dust and ash of a worn torn battlefield. Rest… and let night take your pain away.” With a snap of his fingers, all the remaining guards, slept quietly, crowded together as the whole outpost burned around them.

Chrysalis soon approached; when she first heard the nation of Equestria and went to visit them, she heard reports of how her changelings were being chased off by the border villages. She wanted to change her kind's way of living from her mother, grandmother and past queens methods from before… but it changed when she received a report from a scout one day when a village of zealot ponies, captured and tortured one of her own.

Changelings can sense the emotions of one another, no matter the distance, it was how they managed to communicate, though they do this for more intimate and personal times… So it was when this changeling was being tortured and beaten to death, it pleaded for help from it’s queen and nearby changelings, but it was too late.

That was the day Chrysalis felt the pain and suffering of one of her changelings being merciless killed like an animal… and it was the day Chrysalis would see all living things - except changelings - as food… as worthless sacks of flesh.

But we are all flawed… no matter how much we may improve, we can never change what we were born with…

“Phew… I’m tired… maybe they got something to eat around here,” said Ouros, lazily walking into an intact storage building.

Chrysalis glowered at the weirdness that was Ouroboros; he radiated madness one second, another second he acts jolly and silly… and the next he acts like a beast hungering for blood and death… He was the literal incarnation of chaos, true pure chaos.

...I wonder… What would the world be like if he was around a thousand years ago…

“Oy Chrysalis, I found some FREAKING CHOCOLATE! Today is a day to celebrraaate! Haven’t had chocolate in a long arse time.” Maybe it was a good idea he wasn’t around back then… I’m pretty certain the world would end if he was around, left to his own devices.

“I HEARD THAT!?”

“Shit.”

Sometime later – Equestria; Canterlot, Canterlot Train Station; 9:35am

After the event that recently happened during the celebration, the party was short-lived afterwards as everyone went home or stayed at the nearby hotels. Twilight and company stayed in the guest rooms in the castle, ate breakfast in the morning and were heading to Ponyville. Cadance, Shining and Flurry were heading back to the Empire, while the respective other nations’ leaders were going back to their homelands.

Princess Celestia and Luna stood at the train station, saying goodbye to friends and family. However the strange phenomenon they witness the previous night was still fresh in their minds; Celestia send a squad of guards to the nearest outpost at the Badlands to gain support from them to investigate what caused it.

“That was an awesome party, but that weird explosion we saw really freaked everyone out,” said Rainbow. “What do you think happened, Twilight?”

“Maybe some sort overload of magic… but that would mean somebody had to have released said magic. The only ones I can think to have such strong magic is the princesses and myself.”

Celestia herself thought that too… but something felt off about that explosion, the strange energy it gave off wasn’t magic… but something else. Usually Celestia would get premonitions of some immediate power that would come to Equestria, but usually these premonitions come and go as they please… but nothing of the sort came.

Could it be possible that what made that blast wasn’t meant to do harm… but who or what would just blatantly unleash such powerful energy. “Twilight, I want you and your friends to stay in Ponyville. I’m not certain what had caused that explosion, but it’s best we know more before rushing forward. For now, report anything out of the ordinary until I call for you,” said Celestia.

Twilight bowed before hugging her as a farewell. “I will princess; come on girls, let’s head back home!”

As everyone made their way on the train, Luna approached her sister with a worried look. “You don’t think Chrysalis has anything to do with this? We haven’t heard news of her since she escaped the Changeling Hive.”

“Unlikely, she was weakened the last we saw her, for her to use that much power… No… something else is responsible… but wha-”

“PRINCESS! PRINCESS CELESTIA!” Turning around, Celestia recognized the pegasus guard approaching her being the one she recently sent to the Badlands outpost, after the party.

The pegasus guard was exhausted and his fur was matted from traveling from the Badlands and back to Canterlot. “What is wrong my little pony, did something occurred when you went to the outpost at the Badlands?”

“Princess… the outpost… it’s… it’s been destroyed!”

This shocked both Celestia and Luna, they were the only ones left on the station platform as everyone else had left onto their respective trains. Quickly checking if they were alone, Celestia cast a quick teleportation spell back to her chambers.

The guard collapsed but was helped back up by Princess Luna before the three sat in a circle on some beanbags in the princess’ room. “Speak, but don’t leave any details out,” said Luna.

So, the guard retold of him arriving at the outpost, to find it being burnt down; the grounds were littered with ponies, bleeding and dying. The site was so grotesque but he spoke each injury that the guards' stationed there to the princesses as best he could. He later found several survivors huddled just some distance from the burning outpost, apparently they woke up and found themselves in the middle of the destruction, before taking what was still remaining and camping outside rather than within the outpost.

“Was there any evidence of who was responsible for this?”

“No your majesty, nothing of physical note, but the survivors could remember what happened but just barely. All I managed to get was that the queen of the changelings, Chrysalis and an accomplice were responsible.”

So… it was how I suspected. “It appears we underestimated Queen Chrysalis… guard, I want you to report this to the captain of the guard here in Canterlot and send out recovery squads to the destroyed outpost. I also want you to tell the captain to reinforce the nearby outposts and towns near the Badlands. We aren’t certain which way Chrysalis has gone, but she couldn’t have gotten any further."

“Yes your highness!” The guard flew out of Celestia’s chambers window, Celestia herself gazed out the window, a determined look in her eye.

“Damn that Chrysalis, to think she go this far-”

“This wasn’t her doing… Luna… you don’t think the prophecy...”

Luna’s eyes widened before she glanced at the crude drawing of the being in question on Celestia’s desk, knowing full well that if this was all caused by that thing. “So… it’s finally happening, but are you certain this is all caused by… ‘that?’”

“...Father of Sin… Just what are you...” Celestia gazed at the blue skies, knowing that an ancient evil was wandering her lands.

Some distance from the Badlands – Equestria; 9:50am

After defeating the guards posted at the Badlands and looting what hasn't been burnt, Chrysalis and Ouroboros headed the opposite direction of the pathway toward some forests just east of what remained of the outpost. They traveled for another hour before coming across a small cave which they made into their camp.

Due to the previous events Chrysalis was too tired to watch during the evening, which left Ouros awake for the remaining hours. Now with the sun reaching the cave they were staying, sunlight touched Chrysalis sleeping form, rustling awake from a dreamless night.

The first thing she noticed was the now burnt out campfire and the missing Ouros; looking around for her traveling companion, she soon saw him looking through the items he snatched from their recent battle. Leaning down over his shoulder, she saw that he had various items splayed in front of him; there was several provisions, three water containers, some cloth for bandaging wounds, a map of Equestria, some blue potions and what appeared to be fruits.

“Is this all we have, I expected for you to have taken everything?” asked Chrysalis.

“Meh, just wanted the necessary things… besides, while I can’t starve or get thirsty, I enjoy the small things. The map though was useful but I have zero ideas what these blue bottles do?”

“Those would be mana potions, unicorns and other magical races use them to replenish their mana pools.”

“...The heck’s a unicorn?” This raised Chrysalis brow but before she could answer, Ouros went back to putting everything back except for the map and a single apple. Sliding the items into a satchel he snatched too, he stood back up with a stretch of his arms. “Welp I’ll figure it out later, time to go back on the road!”

Before leaving Ouros stomped on the campfire and any evidence of them being there before looking at the map one more time.

The map showed Equestria and the nearby lands, it was also an updated version so it showed the locations of the Crystal Empire and several new landmarks. “Hmmmm, can’t go to this Dodge-place, too close to that outpost we came from. So if we continue going east we should head to some place called… Boltamore?”

“Baltimare; my scouts told me its some sort of shipping city known to have a famous shipping yard, making it famous for import trades… Where exactly are we going to?” asked Chrysalis.

Examining the map once more, Ouros placed a single digit at the very top of the map, just above the Crystal Empire. Gazing where he was pointing, he was pointing at a landmark known as, Mount Everhoof. Her eyes going wide she quickly turned to glare at Ouros with a pleading and raged expression, but mostly raged.

“ARE YOU MAD- Wait, of course you’re mad! That’s Mount Everhoof, the tallest known area and mountain in the world! Why are we going there of all places?!”

“Well that’s a long story, but we’re not going there, I need to be there but not our exact destination. Where we are going… is just right over here.” Now pointing his digit again, he pointed further south of Mount Everhoof, just central of Equestria. There marked in the middle of the map was another famous landmark, the Everfree Forest.

Chrysalis gazed at Ouros with a blank gaze before sighing dejectedly. “That’s… even wooorse… Not only is that just moments from the capital, but several of the nation’s heroes live in the town beside it…”

Sighing to herself, Chrysalis looked up at Ouros who simply giggled madly and wrapped the map away and into the satchel wrapped around his torso. “So? Besides, we’ll be careful, now all we need to do is head to this Baltista-land, ask for quickest way to the Everfree. Voila! We’re there; and don’t worry about some obstacles, we’ll handle them just fine.”

That’s what I’m worried about…

“Oh ye of little faith,” said Ouros. Soon the two went back on foot and hoof, their destination now planned, they traversed through the forest. At some point, Chrysalis became curious and decided to speak to Ouros, though at some point, she was also wondering about something else.

Just what exactly is he, he just up and appeared before me without any explanation, and so far I’ve been dragged about to wherever he goes… but… why… does it feel like I know him from somewhere… As if we met before…

“Ahhhh, we arrived,” said Ouros, interrupting Chrysalis thoughts. Looking ahead, they reached the edge of the forest and ahead of them was the city of Baltimare. They stood upon a cliff so they got a good view of the giant port with various ships docked and floating on the crystal clear waters. The city was made around a semi-circle lake, making it a beautiful sight to behold. It was one of the few coastal cities in Equestria, famous for both locals and travelers.

Before they headed straight to Baltimare, Chrysalis stopped Ouros before they advanced. “Hold up, how exactly are we going to get there without attracting attention. Unlike me, I can change my form, but you’ll stick out like a sore hoof?”

Ouros lowered Chrysalis' hoof and made his way to Baltimare, a grin that held all the wrong meanings. “I have my ways, but besides… we won’t be here for long.”

Chrysalis watched with an annoyed glance but sighed, following behind to what she imagined would be her inevitable doom. “He’ll be the end of me,” said Chrysalis, muttering to herself.

The duo approached the city of Baltimare, one annoyed and angry at everything, the other insane and possibly the most terrifying being in existence. If there was one thing these two shared, they both had a goal to reach… but how far will they go to get it?

Author's Note

What dark secrets are held within that psyche of madness; Ouroboros is an enigma within an enigma, but what history does he play in the ancient past of this world? Celestia and Luna are getting reports of some disturbing news, just how will they respond in kind to this new and mysterious foe? Chrysalis plans to enact her revenge, but with things now going her way will she hold faith onto this strange being... or go back to her scheming ways?

Madness awaits those to continue on, hold fast... because it'll get weirder and bloodier.

Thoughts: Chrysalis
Celestia

Chapter II - Devilish Appearances

Equestria; Ponyville, Ponyville Train Station; 10:30am

The train slowed down, stopping at the platform, Twilight and her friends exited out with their luggage with them. The past few days had been interesting for them, first they were kidnapped and replaced by changeling doubles of themselves, then Twilight’s student, Starlight and a few others saved them from Queen Chrysalis and they even gained an alliance with the changelings and their new ruler.

It was a bit much to process, but the biggest thing to happen was the sudden explosion of energy from the Badlands. First, Twilight was expecting to head straight for the cause of the explosion, but was sent back home alongside with her friends by Celestia. It made sense, they been through a lot and needed the rest… still… it left a troubling feeling for her.

I wasn’t the only one that felt it, Celestia, Luna, and even Cadance had to of felt it too. At first it was weak, but it grew until it bloomed, but it took me the entire evening to have noticed it, I’m certain they felt it sooner than I did. I guess there are some things I need to practice with my alicorn physiology.

“Hey Twi, you alright, you been mite quiet since we left Canterlot?” asked Applejack.

“Hmm? I’m fine… its just… do you have a feeling that something is going to happen?”

Applejack gave a thoughtful look before shrugging back. “Well, other than Pinkie’s foreboding warning, as long we’re together, we can face whatever comes our way.”

Twilight was glad that her friends were keeping a positive outlook to things, facing her other friends, they each chatted about yesterday’s celebration and some simple small talk. Maybe I’m worrying over nothing after all.

Gazing at the blue skies, she smiled, content that no matter how bad things get, she had her friends watching her back.

Equestria; Baltimare; 10:40am

The city of Baltimare was filled with creatures from parts far and wide due to it being a trading city, various ships importing their goods before returning back to their homelands. Standing in the middle of a marketplace was a tall slim unicorn, her mane and tail green, her fur a dark gray, and her eyes a light green. She glared at the surrounding crowds, but kept her gaze at the companion beside her; the being that stood taller than a minotaur, wore his usual outfit but had his gray and black hoodie on.

This caused his whole face and head to be shrouded in darkness, even though it shouldn’t had covered much. Those who gazed at him would only see two glowing eyes and the glint of his razor sharp teeth, but much of the crowd paid little attention.

“So this is a pony city ehhh… sure are a lot of different creatures though,” said Ouros.

“Well we’re in one of their coastal cities, these cities are known for trade with various races… at least those friendly to Equestria. I have a question though,” said Chrysalis.

“Yep?”

“What exactly is my name while I’m in this form, we’re in a pony settlement for a little while but I need to improve my disguise while we’re here?”

“...Huh, didn’t think that through enough… How about Iniquity,” said Ouros.

Chrysalis gave a blank look before sighing. Well I suppose it’s better than nothing, but I seriously doubt anyone is going to believe anyone has a name like that.

Strangely enough, nobody seemed to mind the tall unicorn or the ominous bipedal being that stood in the marketplace beside her. The two soon made their way through, until they came upon a giant fountain in the middle with several buildings around it. Ponies and other creatures made their way from different directions, but at the end of the road was a large building with a dome ceiling, being held by several thick pillars.

“Wooow now ain’t that a sight, things sure changed since I’ve been away,” said Ouros.

“You’ve never seen a city hall before… exactly how old are you?”

“Rude, you don’t ask somebody their age like that… and besides, I can’t remember… been awhile since I kept track.”

“Well, since we’re going to be here, how exactly are we going to the Everfree Forest, we don’t have any money to buy tickets for a train you know,” said Chrysalis.

“...In what reality is a bloody train!?”

Chrysalis facehoofed herself, not only was she dealing with an omnipotent being that can literally annihilate everything in a city this size, but one who has the knowledge of a brainless diamond dog. Thinking of a way to get some quick cash, she spotted something interesting, on a board was two wanted poster signs; the two posters was of herself in her changeling form and a black silhouette of a pony with a white question mark on them.

Wanted: Chrysalis – Ex-Queen of the Changelings; charged for destruction of property, tyranny, plotting of invasion, kidnapping, and being generally a baddie. 200,500 Bits; Captured Alive.

Well looks like news spread out quickly. Looking at the other wanted poster, both the charges and bits were exceedingly different than her own.

Wanted: The Badlands Demon – Defiler of Ponies; charged for murder, arson, psychological torment, cannibalism (rumored), armed assault, armed (literally, with a leg) assault, assisting a criminal, and possibly insane. 1,999,999.99 Bits; Dead or… well dead.

Sweat dripped down Chrysalis disguised neck as she glanced at her companion, who ripped the poster from the board and was examining the wanted poster, before looking at her whilst grinning. “Ohhh, look at all the things I’ve done… though that cannibal part doesn’t count, I mean I never ate anything that looks like me… though the ponies do look mighty delicious,” said Ouros.

Covering both her eyes and curling into a ball, Chrysalis was mentally and physically drained from all the craziness as of late. I just want to find a hole and bury myself in it.

“Oh don’t be down, I’m certain we can find a way out of this predicament of ours… Say, I got a grand idea, hold on one second, I’ll be right back.” Chrysalis was still curled up, but just waved Ouros off while she sat leaning against the board, contemplating her recent choices.

Now given permission – whether or not he would of needed it – Ouros wandered around the plaza, before encountering a pair of Royal Guards who were talking with one another. Approaching the two, one was a female unicorn, while the other was a male pegasus; seeing the bipedal being approaching them, they stopped their current conversation.

“Uh hello, how can we help you… mister?”

“Call me Ouroboros, I wanted to report a sighting of a criminal,” said Ouros, his voice smooth and reassuring.

The two guards looked at one another before back at the very mysterious being before them, both guards knew of the recent news of Chrysalis and a companion of hers that obliterated an entire outpost filled with a company of guards. “And… what kind of criminal did you saw?”

“Oh, just that I spotted a figure that looked similarly like that changeling queen fella over by the docks, not sure about her companion, but just wanted to tell you that.” With a smile, the two guards attention stirred but before they left, Ouros stopped them. “Before you leave, would it be nice if I ask for a small compensation for this generous information, as while I wouldn’t be getting the reward for their capture, I am certain you can be kindly enough to hoof some money for my help.”

The unicorn looked at Ouros, a bit unnerved by his smile but seeing that he did indeed give them some possible clue of the two criminals, she didn’t see anything wrong with repaying in kind. “Sure, here is five hundred bits… unless you want more?”

“No no no, I am not so greedy to be asking for more, besides five hundred is small compared to the amount you two will receive, especially the commendations from your superiors and royalty.” Like a spider spinning it’s web around a bug, Ouros had them under his finger as the two guards nodded vigorously and ran off to investigate.

Snatching the bag of bits and stuffing it under his jacket, he walked back to the still emotionally damaged Chrysalis, before tapping her on the head. Looking up she saw the now returned Ouros, his smile still as deranged as ever.

“So… what you been doing?” asked Chrysalis.

“Ohhh nothing much… just got some money and time before the guards figure out my ruse, now come along, we have a forest to go to and explore.” Chrysalis eyebrow raised, before seeing several guards heading toward the docks, putting two-and-two together, she realized what Ouros did and quickly but calmly made their way to the city’s train station and tickets to Ponyville.

He’s either a mad genius… or everyone else is a bunch of morons.

“Either way works my dear… either way works, ehhaahhaeheheh,” said Ouros, chuckling darkly.

Equestria; Baltimare, Baltimare Train Station; 11:00am

Arriving at the station, various ponies and other creatures were at the station either awaiting for their train or departing off. The two stood in line for train tickets, Ouros approaching the ticket vendor but before he spoke, Chrysalis stepped forward in front of him.

“Two tickets to Ponyville, please,” said Chrysalis in her sweetest voice.

“Two tickets for Ponyville, that’ll be twenty bits.”

“Twenty? Oh dear, would you mind lowering that price, my friend and I traveled far and it would be kind of you to give us a discount. Won’t you do that, for me please?” Blinking her disguised eyelashes, the ticket vendor blushed a deep red before coughing suddenly.

“W-Well mam… I suppose I can lower it to… ten bits?”

“Ten, I’m certain you can lower it moooore than that, would you.”

“F-F-Five bits then...”

“Ohhhh, thank yoouu, you are such a gentlecolt.” The pony in question was blushing deeply as he gave a dumb smile in return. After giving the bits, they both got their tickets and made their way to the train for Ponyville.

As they boarded the train, Ouros spotted some guards entering the station platform, but before they could find him and Chrysalis, the train began to leave. Grinning to himself Ouros chuckled as he spun the gold coin around his fingers.

“And that, my dear is how you misdirect your hunters, now once we arrive at this… Ponyville was it? Yes, Ponyville, you… are going to talk...”

Chrysalis earlier grin from bartering with the stallion vanished at Ouros comment, slowly Chrysalis was preparing a spell under her disguise. Ouros gaze was dark and empty but it switched to his jolly and manic look.

“Now now, no need to fret, I would just like to talk. I’ve been… away for so long that I notice things had changed since the last time I walked the surface.”

Here Chrysalis made sure they were alone, apparently not a lot of ponies entered the train for Ponyville, leaving them alone in the cart they were in. Quickly, Chrysalis cast a silent spell on the cart, making sure no sounds escape from within to the outside. The two looked at one another, one with eyes that make anyone shake in fear, the other that could make any go insane from gazing at them too long.

“Soooo… What do you want to know?”

“Well where to start – everything,” said Ouros.

Chrysalis sighed to herself, as she settled herself at her seat, she started off by explaining when her kind decided to reveal themselves to the outside world. This lead to mistrust between ponies and anything they don’t understand or fear what is unknown to them, leading to many of her children being hunted down; being cornered into near starvation, she led the kidnapping of Princess Cadance and the Canterlot Invasion.

She then told Ouros about what she knows about Equestria, what her spies had told her before being dethroned and everything else. She sat there looking at Ouros as he gazed at the ground before looking outside, gazing at the passing landscape.

“This… just became interesting, change of plans, we’re still going to the Everfree… but I want to meet one of these princesses first, they intrigue me. Where is the closest place we can meet one of these princesses?”

Chrysalis was shocked, out of all the things to do, meeting one of the princesses was insane… however. “Ponyville has the Princess of Friendship, not only is she the weakest of the four, we might be able to catch her by surprise… and I might possibly have my revenge against that Starlight Glimmer.”

“Then it is settled, let’s go to Ponyville and crash the place.”

Ouros gazed at the countryside, dark thoughts swirling within him like a vortex of madness. Ohhhh, things indeed have gotten interesting.

Equestria; Ponyville, Friendship Castle; 11:15am

Twilight was back at her home, cleaning up the mess that her and Spike’s changeling doubles may have done while they were kidnapped. Reorganizing all the books in the library – both to make certain they were in proper order and Twilight wanting to do something today – herself, Spike, and Starlight looked through which book goes where.

“Let’s see, non-fiction… fiction… adventure… biology… ohhhh, magic theory, I might read this later,” said Twilight, floating several books to their respective shelves.

“Didn’t you like read that book already Twilight?” asked Starlight.

“I did, but it was the day before I was replaced by a changeling and I was in the middle of some important research at the time… should probably make sure none of my experiments are currently active.”

“Don’t worry, I already checked around the castle, nothing explosive, dangerous, or both are active in the castle,” said Spike, lifting a pile of books.

Twilight nodded her thanks to Spike, going back to organizing, while they continued organizing they heard a knock from the library door, when a surprise guest entered inside. “Oh hey Pinkie,” said Starlight.

“Heya guys, you got a minute?”

While Starlight spoke to Pinkie, Twilight continued organizing until she paused her movements, after her attention changed to the conversation Pinkie was having with Starlight. “Sorry, what was that Pinkie, could you repeat that?” asked Twilight.

“I said, ‘My Pinkie Sense went off earlier and I think somepony new and somepony familiar is coming to town.’”

Twilight thought carefully what Pinkie said, thinking through a list of somepony she knew that would be with somepony new. There was a lot of ponies and other beings that would visit Ponyville for their own reasons. The likeliest candidates were Cadance, Thorax, Ember, or even Celestia herself; however, there was several problems with these possibilities.

Cadance can’t come because of the Empire and having to care for Flurry Heart. Thorax has to lead and govern the changelings, especially now of all times. Ember had to make sure all the dragons within the Dragon Lands wouldn’t cause an uproar with each other, or worse the neighboring lands. And I know for certain Princess Celestia wouldn’t come, ever since that strange phenomenon above the area at the Badlands, she must be getting dozens of questions from ponies looking for answers about that event.

“Then who else could be wanting to visit now of all times?”

“Well come on, let’s go and see who’s coming to Ponyville, I already set up a welcome banner and everypony else to help out!”

“Wait, already! You’re fast Pinkie,” said Starlight, surprised.

“That’s Pinkie for you, several steps ahead of everypony else,” said Spike.

Sighing to herself, Twilight decided to go along with her friend’s idea, the four left the castle and soon went to the town square where Sugarcube Corner is located. The rest of Twilight’s friends were helping setting up some banners to welcome whoever was coming, but because Pinkie wasn’t certain who was coming, all that was written was the usual ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ banner.

“Heya Twi, here to help Pinkie with welcoming this mysterious pony?”

“Yeah, I didn’t planned much and I can re-organize the books later, but why is everypony helping Pinkie out? I thought you had to work on applebucking for this week’s quota?”

“Nah, Granny told me the quota can be made without my help, besides I couldn’t say no to a friend.”

“The same can be said for the rest of us too, I was originally readying to make some orders from my client, but they had to cancel… something about their relatives,” said Rarity.

The rest of the girls had their reasons too, Rainbow wanted to see who this new visitor to Ponyville would be and Fluttershy was invited to help by Rainbow. The six friends, alongside Spike and Starlight helped with preparing some of the welcome decorations.

Even though everypony was helping with Pinkie, Twilight knew why they were doing this. I guess that explosion really freaked everypony out… just what caused it in the first place.

Elsewhere at the same time, Chrysalis in her disguised form and Ouroboros finally arrived at Ponyville, while they weren’t the only ones to arrive, there wasn’t a lot of ponies stepping out of the train to the platform.

During the trip, Chrysalis told Ouros about everything she knew about the world – from her birth, what she learned and was taught by her mother, her own experience and observations, and finally to the now. It was during this explanation that Chrysalis found a shocking and… interesting realization about Ouros.

He doesn’t know anything about the current world or the last thousands of years… just how old is he?

“Now now, all answers will come sooner or later, though your explanation has only answered twenty of my current questions,” said Ouros.

“Twenty? I literally told you centuries of knowledge and you’re telling me you still want to know more!?”

“Yes… and no, just the basics, from what you told me, I roughly know the exact time-frame it has been since the last time I’ve been awake. I also know two more things, one there are zero signs of any of the Ancients or that any knowledge about that has degraded or there is nobody alive to remember the past.”

Ancients?

“Oh and finally… one of the ‘Original Ten’ have drastically changed last I’ve seen of them. I mean, look at this marvelous creation!” Ouros turned around to spread both his arms toward the train he and Chrysalis just came from. “To imagine the pony race would of made such a wonderful contraption… wonder what other wonderful things they’d made?”

Chrysalis shook her head, from what she has gathered, she was dealing with some all-powerful being… that was very very behind the times. It’s like dealing with a really elderly pony or rather, a really elderly dragon, they’re the second closest race that have a long life-span.

Ouros smacked Chrysalis behind the back of the head for that comment – even though she only thought of it – Chrysalis snarling at the hit. “WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?”

“For being a snarky lass, now come along, we still need to reach this Everfree Forest place… there’s something there that I left behind for safe-keeping.”

Watching Ouros walk off to Ponyville, Chrysalis followed behind, grumbling to herself about the situation she was currently in. To imagine I be back here of all places… however…

Chrysalis stopped Ouros, before looking around to make certain they were alone. “Look here Ouros, this town holds several heroes of Equestria, whatever you are trying to find will be impossible with them nearby and even if we were to sneak by, they somehow – always – try to stop us-”

“Us?”

“I mean- What I’m trying to say is that we need to handle this first, before heading to the Everfree… and I know the exact way we can do this.”

Several minutes later – Equestria; Ponyville, Town Square; 11:25am

Twilight, her friends, and some of the townsfolk decided to begin this impromptu welcome party for who knows who. Everypony drank, ate, and conversed with one another, awaiting for this special guest to come.

It was during said celebrations that somepony was approaching the town square from the train station, Pinkie quickly told her friends and they soon prepared to greet this pony to their town. The pony who soon approached them was a tall, slim, dark gray unicorn, her mane and tail being green and her eyes a light green.

She was smiling pleasantly at the ponies, but for some reason, Applejack got some weird feelings about how she smiled… something felt off about this pony. The first to greet her was Pinkie obviously, with Twilight soon to follow after her.

“HI! I’M PINKIE PIE, WHO ARE YOU!?” shouted Pinkie.

“What my excitable friend here is saying is, welcome to Ponyville, by any chance did you come here with anypony else?” asked Twilight.

“Oh no, I came alone, as for my name, just call me Iniquity.”

That’s an interesting name… but where have I heard that word before?

Soon, Iniquity was introduced to everyone else, but before the party could continue, that feeling Applejack had earlier soon grew. Gazing at Iniquity, AJ soon saw a flash of green from her eyes and the glint of sharp teeth. It hit her immediately, but before she could react, Iniquity had her horn pointed at Twilight and soon fired a beam of green magic.

The beam didn’t do any damage, but rather the beam turned into a writhing rope of green magic that wrapped around her. This same magical rope soon spread to everyone else, Spike tried his best to escape but soon got himself caught, alongside Starlight and even her friend Trixie.

“What is the meaning of this, release the Great and Powerful Trixie, or so help Celestia I-”

“SILENCE!” Soon Trixie clamped her mouth shut, as Iniquity started to giggle manically, as her fit of giggles turned to manic laughter. “I DID IT! I MANAGED TO CATCH YOU ALL OFF GUARD!”

“Why are you doing this Iniquity?” asked Twilight, shocked.

“You really have no idea who I am, do you? Maybe this will ring a bell.” Suddenly a burst of green flames consumed her and the one left standing was Chrysalis herself, smirking triumphantly above everyone.

“CHRYSALIS!”

“That’s right, I’ve returned to enact my vengeance against you pathetic ponies, after I’ve dealt with you, soon I’m coming for that traitor, then your so called leaders, then, THE WORLD!” Chrysalis laughed victoriously to herself, but as this happened Twilight secretly tried to free herself. While Chrysalis sneered down at Trixie and Starlight, Twilight freed herself, readying a spell toward Chrysalis she fires a powerful stun spell.

Chrysalis turns around to see the spell coming, but instead of it hitting her, a shadowy figure jumps down from a nearby roof, pointing his right palm forward. The spell is absorbed by the figure, as he then nonchalantly stands there with both hands lazily behind his head.

“You should always watch your six my dear, never know what might come right behind you.”

Twilight stared at the sudden appearance of this strange being, standing taller than any being she’s ever seen before; the being gave her a cheshire grin, his eyes were a muddy brown, but for just a moment Twilight swore she saw a glint of red.

“I see you’ve met my companion, I’d like to introduce to you, Ouroboros.”

Ouros bowed with an elegant and flamboyant bow, lowering himself with one arm outstretched to point to the side, while the under was placed against his chest. Swiftly, he went back to his previous position, pacing around Twilight for a few seconds.

The pacing continued until Ouros examined Twilight with a critical eye, stopping to gaze her further. “...What in the heavens are you suppose to be?” asked Ouros, confused. “You’re definitely a pony… but with a horn and wings… odd.”

“Odd? What you mean odd?! I don’t know who this is Chrysalis, but I won’t let you harm anyone else!”

With a flash of her horn, Twilight managed to free her friends, as they started backing up Twilight immediately. Chrysalis was starting to regret her plan, but soon Ouros intervened with his hand patting her on the head.

“Let old Ouros handle this, you just watch… and learn,” said Ouros.

Approaching the group – who were all wary of Ouros – he waved at them with a surprisingly friendly smile. “Sorry about her, she’s just grumpy from the past few days, you’d be if you were usurped from your own kingdom too. Now I’d ask if you could kindly let us pass, I have somewhere important to go to and I’d rather not be late.”

Chrysalis was flabbergasted by all of this, to think Ouros, the same Ouros who slaughtered nearly an entire outpost of Equestrian soldiers, manipulated several ponies, and unleashed a ball of destructive power just a day ago, was cheerily asking permission from her most hated enemy. She wanted to scream, but the response from the ponies, outweighed her reaction to the whole situation.

“ARE YOU CRAZY! We are not letting you through, especially if you are friends with her!” shouted Rainbow.

“Oh why not, we haven’t done anything as of yet and she has been through enough as it is. Let’s pretend we never saw each other and move on with our lives, hmmm, how’s that sound?”

“I’m with my friend here and you just look and sound suspicious!” said Applejack. “So you either scram or prepare for a beating!”

“Now let’s be civil, we can be all fri-”

“How about you shut it, we’re going to defeat you and Chrysalis, and bring you two to Princess Celestia herself you freak!”

“Now now no need for strong language-”

“Yeah, what Dashie said, you and buggy should leave!”

The moment Pinkie called Chrysalis a bug, the atmosphere went to a chilling silence that even any nearby ponies who weren’t in the exact vicinity felt it. Twilight and her friends soon felt an intense feeling of fear and dread come upon them, they weren’t certain where it was coming from, but Twilight slowly looked toward the visage of Ouros.

His previous jolly expression became empty, cold, lifeless as his eyes warped into twin crimson slits, like a snake was gazing down upon its prey. His entire form was shrouded in darkness, even though he stood under the sun, his face was covered by this impenetrable darkness.

“You can insult, warn, threaten, deny, and be suspicious toward me all you like… but I will not tolerate any who mistreat those under my debt… I’ll ask one last time...”

Everyone was sweating bullets, they were frozen still with utter fear, they wouldn’t dare speak or move, even Rainbow was speechless, as her face became pale and her fur showed a white tinge to it. Twilight spoke, but barely kept the internal fear in her voice, realizing that the atmosphere around them seemed to darken suddenly.

“A-a-a-and wh-what would t-t-t-th-hat be?”

“...Will you impede our journey or do I need to do something...”

Not wanting to spark his ire even further, Twilight simply nodded vigorously, stepping back, pointing a hoof to the opposite of town. “N-n-no, of course n-not, if it would help I could lead you to-”

“Quiet.”

“Yes sir.” The simple word was enough to silence Twilight, the rest of her friends stepped back in a mix of fear, awe, and horror. Chrysalis herself was awestruck, but soon that shock ended with the simple gesture from Ouros.

“Come along my dear, we shan’t wait any longer, we have somewhere to get too,” said Ouros, back to his jolly self.

Once they gotten far enough, Chrysalis whispered up to him, though she didn’t care if anypony heard her or not as they walked through town, toward the Everfree Forest.

“What was that, did you use some sort of intimidation spell or something?” asked Chrysalis.

“Oh no, that’s just a passive thing of mine… though in all honesty, if they were too stubborn to keep insisting on stopping us… I’d paint that part of town with their innards… particularly that weird purple one. What is with those wings and horn, gave me deja vu for some reasons… reminded me of...”

Ouros began to ramble to himself, which Chrysalis blocked out as she followed behind him, looking back at the horrified ponies. I’m somewhat glad things didn’t escalate… I’d rather not go through another one of his ‘episodes’.

Twilight and her friends watched the duo leave, until they reached bridge that led to the Everfree Forest; making certain they were far enough to not hear them anymore – especially the being known as Ouros – Twilight quickly looked to Spike with a fearful expression.

“Spike, message to the princess! NOW!”

Equestria; Everfree Forest; 11:45am

Chrysalis and Ouros followed an undetermined path through the ancient forest, while Chrysalis hasn’t been here before, it seems Ouros knew exactly where to go from here. “It should be here further within, but I don’t remember a forest being here,” said Ouros.

“Okay, can you stop with this whole ‘I don’t remember this or that’ talk! I already know you’ve been around longer than any known living being before, but seriously… if this forest wasn’t here, what was?”

Ouros contemplated that question, before continuing to walk through more foliage and roots. “Instead of thick trees and wild foliage dotting this area, beautiful streams once flowed through here like cracks on ice. Flowers bloomed from all corners of the world here once, the light touched every inch of this land. The water flowed into a basin that held a tree made of a glowing crystal… beneath that crystal tree is what we’re trying to find.”

Crystal tree?

“The place had a name too, a place of serenity, untouched by any and meant for one, the Goddess’ Garden.”

Exiting from the trees, the two came upon a desecrated castle, but instead of heading to the castle, they circled the crevice that surrounded the castle. Circling it for awhile, they soon came upon a stone staircase that led deep below into the crevice. Going down, they were shrouded by darkness until a distant glow of radiant light was sighted, approaching the light they spotted their target.

“For five thousand years… you still stand, the Tree of Harmony,” said Ouros. Stood before them was the source of all harmony, the tree glowed and gleamed with the six elements implanted upon its branches.

Ouros approached while Chrysalis watched, standing before the magnificent tree, he placed his right palm onto the trunk of the tree. Closing his eye, he focused as the familiar red glow Chrysalis saw before shrouded his right arm, before trailing down into his palm as Ouros focused his power into the tree until he spoke.

“Drgsrm gsrh kozxv lu szinlmb, slowh wvvk yvmvzgs z nlhg ulivylwrmt zmw wzip gzov.”

With the distorted language that Chrysalis herself used to summon Ouros being spoken by him, suddenly several ancient clicks and noises were heard before a hidden staircase revealed itself below the Tree of Harmony. Stepping back for the staircase to fully reveal itself, Ouros began to head deeper below, however he turned to face Chrysalis with a grin.

“Sorry my dear, but you have to wait here… I have business down below and I need somebody to make certain I am undisturbed,” said Ouros.

“What!? You want me to wait up here, myself! Oh no, I didn’t get drag across this damn continent just so you could do whatever you want! You take me or we’ll have a problem here!”

“Trust me… what I need to do will be quite awhile to finish… besides we have guests.”

Confused what he meant, Chrysalis heard the telltale sounds of several wingbeats in the distance; the reason it was noticeable now was because the sheer noise and number of wingbeats heard, it was like a swarm of birds was flying nearby.

“...Fine, but you better hurry,” said Chrysalis, turning around to deal with the commotion.

Oh don’t worry… I’ll be quick.

Earlier – Equestria; Ponyville, Outside Twilight’s Castle; 11:30am

Twilight waited for the Princesses arrival, her friends waiting too, Spike, Starlight and Trixie decided to keep the townsfolk calm after what recently happened. Soon they spotted several flying carriages holding dozens of both Royal and Lunar Guard ponies, landing at the outskirts of town. With them was the carriage that held Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, but what was most shocking was that Princess Cadance was with them too.

“Cadance, what are you doing here!?” shouted Twilight, surprised.

“Well, after Celestia received your letter, she sent one to me, I immediately teleported to Canterlot and came along with them,” said Cadance.

“Well its good we got all princesses here, but we really need to deal with Chrysalis and that… strange cohort of hers,” said Rarity.

“This being… could you describe what was he like?” Twilight went into detail about Ouroboros, especially mentioning that strange feeling of dread that she and her friends felt. Celestia’s worried look turned to fear as she and Luna looked at one another.

“It’s as I feared… Twilight, there is something you have to know... Many centuries ago, before Luna’s banishment, when Equestria was beginning during its earlier years, Starswirl found some sort of ancient temple beneath the Tree of Harmony.”

Everypony was shocked, even Cadance never knew of this, Celestia told them about her, Luna, and Starswirl checking the hidden staircase beneath the tree, the ancient scriptures written there, the historical murals seen and… of the one it spoke of.

“So this ‘Father of Sin’ fella, is the source of all evil?”

“Indeed Miss Applejack, for years we’ve prepared for this… being’s return but, to think of all the beings he’d encounter it had to be Chrysalis… but why is he working for Chrysalis of all ponies,” said Luna.

“He mentioned that he was doing her a favor,” said Twilight. “I’m not certain what Chrysalis did to help him, but he’s in debt to her.”

“Either way, the only ones to stop him are you girls, the plan will work like this, our guards shall surround him and Chrysalis at the Castle of Two Sisters, then with the combined effort of our alicorn magic and the power of the elements from you six, we may be able to defeat him and Chrysalis at once.”

“ALRIGHT! Let’s kick this bad guy’s butt!” shouted Rainbow.

As they were all preparing to leave, Fluttershy and Pinkie weren’t as enthusiastic as the others, the two saw something in Ouros eyes that the others didn’t see… they saw something… ancient… more powerful than anything in this time of age.

Present time – Equestria; Everfree Forest, Castle of the Two Sisters; 11:55am

Chrysalis stood atop the remains of a destroyed tower, below and above her was dozens of Royal and Lunar Guards, aiming their weapons at her or the castle itself. Some distance from them was all four alicorn princesses and Twilight’s friends.

It appears Starlight and Twilight’s assistant didn’t come along, shame, would of enjoyed defeating them too.

“CHRYSALIS!” shouted Celestia, using a spell to enhance her voice to be heard. “SURRENDER NOW AND WE MAY HAVE SOME LEEWAY WITH PUNISHING YOU!”

“HA! You think I’ll be so quick to give up, with my new rejuvenated body and the power from my newfound comrade, I shall defeat you and rule as the Queen I am meant to be!”

“If that is so… THEN I HAVE NO CHOICE THEN!” Celestia turned to face one of her guards, the guard nodded in understanding, signaling the rest of the guards to commence their attack.

“FOR THE PRINCESSES! FOR EQUESTRIA!”

“COME AT ME, IF YOU DARE!”

The moment all the guards charged forth, Chrysalis levitated several chunks of debris from the castle and used it as ammunition to throw. The hail of rocks, rubble, and various other objects descended on the guards as some were struck, others dodged, and unicorns cast shield spells to block most of the blunt force of the objects.

Seeing this wasn’t working, she fired a beam of raw magic across the field, as a wall of flames burst upward. The wall of fire caused the charging guards to pause, with only the pegasi to fly over to strike.

Seeing them coming, Chrysalis fired blasts of magic at them, only managing to hit a few with some passing by. Flying upward, Chrysalis strike them down with her magic and hooves, the guards on the ground managed to go through the flames with the help of their fellow unicorn guards.

Some of the guards found the staircase that would lead to the Tree of Harmony, heading down to find Chrysalis’s ally.

Elsewhere at the same time, Ouros arrived at the bottom of the stairs into a pitch black room, with the only source of light coming from a hovering black sphere made by Ouros. Heading further into the room, he came upon a pedestal holding a basin full of a strange black substance.

Found it. Grinning to himself, Ouros let the black sphere float harmless away before approaching the basin. At the edge of it, he turned around, kept both his arms rigidly to his sides, making his posture that of a cross. Gazing at the darkened ceiling, Ouros closed his eyes and fell backwards into the pitch black fluid.

Several bubbling pops from the fluid surfaced from where Ouros fell until complete silence descended the room… then the black fluid became an intense fire. The fire swirled into a mix of purples, yellows, reds, until it grew bigger and hotter; a massive fireball burst forth from the flames and zoomed out and up the stairs back to the surface.

Chrysalis was in a pickle of her own as while she managed to take down a quarter of the guards, signs of her tiring was showing. Celestia spotted this and brought herself and everypony else to get ready.

“Its time, remember, we need to not only defeat Chrysalis, once she’s dealt with we must face the Father of Sin himself. Twilight, you, my stister, Cadance, and I will launch a spell to immobilize Chrysalis for awhile, then next with the help of your friends, we’ll defeat the Father of Sin.”

With that said, all four alicorns stepped forward and cast their magic together to unleash a powerful sealing spell. Chrysalis looked up as she saw all four alicorns hover in the air, all their eyes glowing white. Stumbling down, Chrysalis breathing harshly as she stared up defiantly, snarling back at those who brought her down to this state.

“I won’t… be beaten… LIKE THIS! I WILL HAVE MY VENGEANCE!” screamed Chrysalis.

Suddenly, bursting forth from the stairs that lead to the Tree of Harmony, a massive fireball flew up and launched itself toward Chrysalis. Just as the four alicorns unleashed their spell, the fireball consumed the spell with its intense flames.

“Is that all you got now? I expected more than that.”

Everypony was in shock as the one to step out from the flames was Ouroboros himself, nothing much has changed on him, but on his right hand was an ebony gauntlet with a crimson jewel placed where the back of his hand would be. Flames flowed along his right arm and up his face, the fire shaping to look like half his face has two horns curled behind his head.

His hair was blazing on the right side of him, as he smiled psychotically, revealing his sharp and pointed teeth. Cackling madly, a burst of flames sprouted around him with a snake-like movement.

“I AM THE FATHER OF SIN, ALL SHALL BE CONSUMED BY MY MADNESS! Now, face my judgment – SCARLET BLAZE!” With that yell, the fire around him swirled and blasted forth toward the princesses, Celestia quickly cast a shield spell, but the fire was stronger than she imagined as she was pushed back by the initial power behind the flames.

Several guards charged at Ouros from what they believed was a blind-spot, but Ouros swiftly turned around and pointed his gauntlet at them. Firing several small flames, they sped quickly like bullets, piercing through the guards. Two of the guards were killed from the shots piercing through their helmets, while the rest received holes through their body, the wounds sealed from the intense heat from the shots.

“Time for all of you, TO BURN!” Swiping his right hand in front of him, Ouros sent a swath of flames toward any it touched, leaving many guards burning in the flames. Since Chrysalis was behind Ouros, she was safe from the flames, watching the burning bodies of ponies before her with a mix of fascination and disgust.

“AHAHAHAHAHA! YES BURN LIKE THE WALKING FLESH YOU ARE! TONIGHT WE’RE HAVING BARBECUE!” Unleashing more torrents of relentless flames, many of the guards ran away and back over the suspension bridge. The bridge itself is soon consumed by the flames, as the guards and Twilight’s friends watch in horror. As the fires die down, surrounding Ouros and Chrysalis is the dead and dying charred bodies of ponies, none spared by the flames as their moans of agony and suffering can be heard by all.

“YOU MONSTER, HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO OUR GUARDS! YOU SHALL PAY FIEND!”

“Oh put a gag on ya twat! Now, want some more or do I need to fry me some chick-” Ouros paused as he gazed upon the four alicorns with confused eyes. “ens… Wait, there’s four of them? Yeesh they keep multiplying!”

“Now you shall face our fury, Father of Sin and your long line of suffering against the races shall end today!”

Here Ouros gave a perplexed look at the one speaking, then a strange feeling of deep familiarity was felt throughout his body when he gazed at Celestia. She… looks awfully familiar… where have I seen her before?

“Also, who told you that title… haven’t heard that in a long time… You wouldn’t happen to know the Ancients now would you?”

Ancients… He knows the old gods of the past from those murals in the hidden room below the Tree of Harmony.

“Oh no matter, I came what I got,” said Ouros, gazing at his gauntlet. “So I shall give all you my thanks for entertaining me this long, au revoir!” With a flamboyant bow, he snapped his left hand and soon was consumed in a tornado of fire as the tornado flew further north from their position. The fire became a distant flicker as it sped away before they could do anything.

Twilight looks at Celestia with a worried look, hoping for some sort of plan of action. “Princess, what should we do?!”

Celestia gazed with a calm gaze where Ouros was, but deep inside she was panicking, not only were her guards torched without a second thought, but he just nonchalantly absorbed their combined attack with ease and fought back with four times of their combined power. Deep in thought, Celestia gathered her forces as they headed back to Canterlot, seeing her sister not respond back to Twilight, she quickly ordered all unharmed guards to gather the injured and to have the deceased brought back quickly, sending one guard to gather more reinforcements.

“You get more guards from Canterlot, we’re going to need salves for burn injuries and as many medical supplies here now! Sister, where are you going, we need to regroup our troops and confirm our numbers if we hope to face off against that villain!”

“I shall let you handle that dear sister, but I must head back to Canterlot post-haste!” It is about time that the rest of the world learns what we had known for centuries… and that they know of the dark secret behind our ancient past.

Somewhere far away – Equestria; Galloping Gorge; 12:10pm

In just a short amount of time, Ouros brought himself and Chrysalis as far north as possible, soon the two landed in a ball of fire, crashing down on the ground, burning whatever nearby fauna there was. Chrysalis was unharmed but the sudden sensation of being condensed into a ball of fire was a bit… startling for her, taking several breaths to calm her beating heart.

“Never… do that… again,” said Chrysalis, panting.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be doing that in awhile,” said Ouros. He gazed at himself as he returned to his normal attire, his gauntlet reverted to a simple ebony bracelet around his right wrist, the bracelet having a red jewel embedded on it.

Chrysalis has been through so much with this strange being that she’s had enough, with a furious roar, she runs up to Ouros and pushes him – or attempts to – against a tree as she snarls at his face. “That’s it, no more secrets, no more trickery, and no more misdirection! You tell me who you really are or I swear I’ll-”

Ouros calmly reaches for her hooves and gently lowers them down, he doesn’t do it in a harsh way or using any force himself, as he gently brings her legs down and calmly smiles as he smooths out her slightly singed mane.

“Now now, no need for a hissy fit, I understand your… frustration, but all will be clear soon. We are just halfway to our destination, once we reach Mount Everhoof, all will be known… and I’ll be just one step closer to my goal. Besides… we are just beginning… what you started,” said Ouros, a devilish grin on his face.

Watching him leave, Chrysalis sighs as she follows what is possibly one of the most weirdest and deadliest beings in existence… and she’s the one who freed the bastard. I hope I didn’t end the world in some way, can’t exactly rule something when there’s nothing to rule.

Author's Note

Ouros has reclaimed a part of himself from long ago, now acquiring one more piece, he's only closer to his goals. With flair both grim and majestic, he's made himself known to the heroines of this world. Macabre in his actions, he'll stand before the world like a performer entertaining his audience... sadly he and his accomplice, Chrysalis soon left to move onto their next stage - far north beyond civilization and life itself.

What will Celestia and Luna do now that the threat that is Ouros is known to the public, panic will rise like a tidal wave, can they stop what's to come? Will Twilight and her friends be enough to stop this newest foe, or are they simply micro-organisms against an apex predator of ancient past.

Time is ticking, but will it lead to salvation or their doom?

Thoughts/Narration/Dialogue:
Twilight Sparkle
Chrysalis
Ouroboros
Celestia

Chapter III - Journey of a Lifetime

Three Days Later – Equestria; Canterlot, Canterlot Castle; 9:00am

After the events that occurred in the Everfree Forest, Princess Celestia had called a meeting of every nation’s leader to discuss about the recent events that happened in Equestria the past week. The ones to accept are coming themselves or sending representatives of their own.

The ones that accepted Celestia’s request for a meeting of the nations, was Dragon Lord Ember who decided to come alone for this meeting, Cadance and her husband Shining Armor who arrived yesterday while Cadance stayed in Canterlot since the fight with Ouros. Others who accepted is Prince Rutherford of the Yaks, the recent monarch of the changelings, King Thorax, Chieftain Thunderhooves of the Buffalo, various delegates from the Breezies, Saddle Arabia, and Prance.

A surprising guest is an ambassador from Aquastria, a small detail not a lot of beings know about Celestia and Luna is that the ruler of Aquastria – King Leo – is their cousin… the story behind that is long, but only few beings know this and some historians who dug deep into Equestria’s history.

The Griffon Lords of Griffonstone – several members of griffon high society who hold control different parts of Griffonstone and the surrounding lands – accepted the request but due to internal problems in the Griffon Kingdom, two of the prominent members of the Griffon Lords send their own representatives. The two lords’ representatives are Lord Gestal, the most well-respected of all the Griffon Lords and sometimes their figure leader, and Lord Goldstone, who’s merchant business and connections makes him the richest griffon in the kingdom.

Another surprise was that the ruler of the minotaurs accepted the meeting too and that President Ironhorn of the Minotaur Republic would come to the meeting himself, he did said on his response letter that he would bring a guest with him. The minotaurs and ponies have an interesting history together or rather they have none as neither side has ever made much contact with each other – both before and after Celestia and Luna started to rule Equestria.

Not all rulers didn’t accept this meeting, King Aspen of the Thicket didn’t accept the invitation even though the deer live in the Everfree Forest and are practically the closest nation to Equestria with the Crystal Empire being a close second. Their reasons varied but the main one was due to the need of wanting to be seclusive from the outside world… though this was odd as Twilight and her friends had helped King Aspen and his son, Prince Bramble in the past with… “land property”.

Apparently ever since the events that occurred after Chrysalis being evicted from ruling the changelings, the deer haven’t made any contact with the outside world, even Twilight or Fluttershy can’t enter the Thicket anymore, though they do get to talk to Bramble though even he has no idea why his father is currently uncommunicative with the outside.

The various diamond dog tribes and zebra tribes can’t seem to get along or are too busy dealing with their own internal business that neither race has tried to send a representative of their own… though there hasn’t been any recorded moment in any of the nations’ history books that remembers either side being united under one banner or to have a single ruler.

However these aren’t the only kingdoms there, as there is evidence of kingdoms beyond Equestria and further out, but due to distance, unknown territory, or even having little to zero information on these other kingdoms, it was unlikely for Celestia to send any messengers or to personally send any form of letter to said kingdoms… that and Equestria hasn’t made any personal or previous contact with these unknown nations.

Due to the suddenness of this meeting, only half of those that accepted has so far arrived with the others arriving for the past three days. Celestia waited at her room’s balcony and with her was Luna as she watched the arriving chariots of the delegates and leaders have used to arrive to Canterlot.

“So sister… how has the investigations of your Lunar Guard been going so far? Have they found any evidence of ‘them’ within Northern Equestria,” asked Celestia.

“My guards have scoured the forests of Northern Equestria for these past three days, I also had them stationed and spread the news to any border outposts between the Frozen North and Equestria. Any towns and cities in Northern Equestria have had their respected guard companies informed of any strangers coming near the town… while so far we haven’t seen any evidence of them, we currently have them boxed and they should be forced to head through the railroads that connect Equestria to the Crystal Empire.”

“Ah, so your plan is to force them into a pincer move between Equestria and the Empire… but...”

Luna raised her brow as Celestia pointed at some mountains that bordered Equestria and the Frozen North. “What about the Crystal Mountains? Have you had guards patrolling those mountains, while they can me difficult to traverse, I doubt that… being would have difficulties climbing them.”

“Hmmmm… You have a point, but Chrysalis is with him and while we can’t sense that mysterious power he’s using, it does leave behind noticeable energy signature when used. I do have them patrolling said mountains but to a certain extent, they are like a maze sister and I wish not to risk our guards to get lost or encounter any of the wild-life living within said mountains.”

Luna has a point, for now we have to hope they don’t think of using the mountains as a way to travel the Frozen North… and if they do…

The two are interrupted when a knock from Celestia’s door is heard, calling for the one knocking to enter, a Royal Guardspony enters, bowing to both princesses. “My majesties, all of the dignitaries and leaders have all arrived, they are all meeting in the meeting chamber as you instructed.”

“Thank you for telling us my pony, return back to your duties, let’s go Luna, we should get Twilight to come to this meeting too,” said Celestia.

“Is it wise to have her come? Yes she is indeed a princess but… do you think she is ready?” asked Luna.

“I am certain, she has also seen… anyway, with her as a witness and as I have told her of what you and I saw below the Tree of Harmony she’ll better explain to everyone in detail about what’s going on, and understand the threat this is to all of us,” said Celestia.

“Alright…” Soon afterwards, Celestia, Luna, and Twilight reach the meeting chamber’s doors, until both doors open by the two guards posted by them. Entering, they find the rest of the invited dignitaries and leaders all sat around a round wooden table, with three seats left empty that are opposite from the doors.

Once all three sit down, Twilight looks at each of the dignitaries and leaders and where they’re sat. Sitting beside Twilight was Cadance with Shining beside her, on the same side of the table they’re sitting at is also Ember, Thorax, Chief Thunderhooves, Prince Rutherford, the ambassador of Aquastria, a walrus by the name of Tusk, and Delegate Seabreeze – the breezie that Fluttershy helped him and the other breezies to get back to their village.

On the other side of the table where Luna was sitting was the Duke and Duchess of Maretonia, two Prance Delegates, the Saddle Arabian delegates, Haakim and Amira, the representatives of Lord Gestal and Lord Goldstone – Gynlenn and Eagen – and President Ironhorn with his plus-one… The strange part about his plus-one was both his attire and the item that was left leaning on the chair he sat on.

From what Twilight and the others know so far, this minotaur is part of an old bloodline of minotaurs that has been going as far back before the republic – even further back – making him an important role within the Minotaur Republic. So far they know his name is Rath, an old minotaur name that means bloom or something, he also has a distinct accent, as he leaned against his chair with a grin, both his arms crossed against his muscled chest.

“Thank you all for coming, but as I wouldn’t call this meeting to introduce any new leaders and anything else, let us get to the point of the discussion,” said Celestia.

“Finally, I thought we had to wait any longer, if we’re not here to introduce Thorax here, what exactly has gotten your feather ruffled princess?” asked Ember.

“My my, aren’t you in a hurry,” said one of the Prance delegates.

“I agree with dragon! Why did pony princess call yak here!?”

“Does it have anything to do with that mysterious explosion at the Badlands, my fellow buffalo had felt that sudden distortion of wind at our tents,” said Thunderhooves. “Has something occurred princess?”

“Yeah, what’s going on, we breezies felt some weird feeling back in our own homes, yet that shouldn’t been possible with where our home is located!” shouted Seabreeze, his voice being heard with the help of a magic item to enhance his voice to be louder.

Here Luna is the one to stand up, looking at Celestia who nods, with her signal Luna beings to tell everyone present about Chrysalis’s recent activities, of what was possibly behind the strange explosion at the Badlands, the recent attacks at one of their border outposts… and the encounter in Ponyville with an ancient evil.

“Well… before we begin why we brought you all here, you should all know about what has occurred… and of a something both my sister and I have learned a thousand years… First we must ask you all something that relates to what I have to say – do any of you know… what is an Ancient?”

Five days later – Frozen North; Crystal Mountains; 6:30am

Five days have passed since Ouroborus and Chrysalis have escaped from the Castle of Two Sisters and appeared at Galloping Gorge, after traversing through Northern Equestria’s far stretching forests; the two had to survive within these dense forests for nearly two days, for those two days at some point they had found a railroad and thought to follow it, but after noticing some guard patrols near the railroads, they changed planned.

Avoiding any form of civilization and sticking and traveling through the denser parts of the forest, they managed to reach the Crystal Mountains. Having sneaked by a guard patrol into the mountains, the two have climbed and survived within the mountains for three days, most of those days they are forced to stay within a cave due to the sudden snow storms – Chrysalis was the reason they stayed in those caves until the storms calmed, though Ouros took as a chance to nap.

Currently, the two are traversing the mountains, with Ouros attire having not changed the slightest while Chrysalis was given a fur coat – Ouros gave her one through what he calls “Magical Inventory Box” – and snow goggles – also from Ouros and his box.

Chrysalis tiredly trudged through the snow until Ouros paused, gazing at the far horizon… and a particular sight in the distance. “Well damn… didn’t expect there being a city in the middle of snow wasteland… Buncha crazy bastards somehow live here and survive I will never figure out how they managed that.”

“...Are you serious! I told you the Crystal Empire is here and they use an artifact call the Crystal Heart that uses a dome fueled by the positive emotions of the Crystal Ponies!”

“The Crystal Heart? Are you faffin kiddin me, what kinda little girl’s imagination are you spoutin about!”

What the heck are you talking about, since when did you change accents?

“I’ll change my accent when I want to, now shush and keep talking about this Crystal Imperium-”

“Empire.”

“Whatever, just keep reminding me what I’m looking at right now,” said Ouros, with a wild grin.

Chrysalis sighed and retold what she said before they started climbing these mountains to Ouros about what she knows about the empire, this included its citizens, the geography, the rulers – which she know personally – and the Crystal Heart. After doing so, Ouros scratched his chin in thought… then turned to face her with a shrug.

“So it’s a buncha ponies like any other pony but all crystally and they’re constantly happy almost always… Yeesh, they’re face muscles must be strained from the constant smiling… especially being made of crystals.”

“They’re not- No what, I give up, you can think of whatever you want… just… do you plan on heading to the empire to resupply, we are kind of low on supplies to make it up Mount Everhoof,” said Chrysalis.

Ouros nodded quickly, Chrysalis giving an exhausted sigh before quickly transforming into her disguise. This is going to be a hassle and I just know it. The two make their way down to the mountain and head towards the Crystal Empire.

At the same time – Frozen North; Crystal Empire, Empire Train Station; 6:30am

After the meeting, Shining Armor and Cadance stayed in Canterlot for awhile to be with family and friends until they left Cnaterlot last night and arrived at the empire in the early morning. The two were escorted by some Royal Guard ponies that Shining knew back in his days as the Guard Captain of Canterlot, after they finally arrived at the station, Shining invited the guards to stay in the empire for the day.

“Thank you sir, we’ll stay at a local tavern if that’s alright with you.”

“That’s fine, be sure to explore around until you return back,” said Shining. The guards soon bowed to the two and left, leaving Shining and Cadance heading back to the Crystal Castle on their own.

“It was nice to see my mom and dad, especially Twilight, hope she was alright from meeting that supposed Father of Sin,” said Cadance.

“What about you, you fought against him with Twilight, her friends, and the other princesses,” said Shining. “Didn’t you face against him too?”

“Barely, I only saw him from a distance while Twilight spoke and faced against him up close… and the way she described him during the meeting.” Cadance shivered at the discussion at the meeting, Luna’s story, Twilight’s explanation, and the threat he holds to not just Equestria but all life too.

Sighing to herself from how exhausting these past week has been, Cadance leaned against her husband, Shining comforting her in turn.

“Come on, let’s go see Flurry and Sunburst and see if anything has happened while we were away,” said Shining.

As the two headed to the castle, they were welcomed by fellow crystal ponies, the crystal guards that were posted and patrolling the streets, and some tourists that visit the empire. As they neared the capital, they spotted Sunburst with Flurry on his back with her forehooves on top his head; happily fluttering her wings at the sight of her parents, Flurry flew to them, right into Cadance’s hooves.

“Ohhhh, I miss you sweetie! Have you been a good girl?”

Flurry did a thoughtful look then nodding happily, Cadance looked at Sunburst and he shrugged. “Nothing much happened while you two were away and while Flurry was a little excited for awhile, she’s been doing well,” said Sunburst. “By the way, why did the princess call for you and the other world leaders for, nothing like this hasn’t happened in centuries.”

Cadance looked at Shining until facing Sunburst again. “I’ll tell you everything Sunburst, but dear, I think you should have the Crystal Guard better informed about the situation.”

Shining understood, as he saw his wife, daughter, and close adviser head into the castle, Shining went to the empire barracks and speak to the empire’s general about the threat of Chrysalis and the entity known as the Father of Sin. If I remember correctly, Twilight said Chrysalis is using a new disguise by the name of a pony called Iniquity, need to remind all guards to report any suspicious ponies with that name and look.

Frozen North; Crystal Empire; 9:00am

After Chrysalis and Ouros finally reached the foot of the mountains, Ouros had to do something else in the snow wastelands surrounding the empire. Now alone and in her disguised form, Chrysalis arrived at the empire just an hour on hoof after leaving the foot of the mountains.

Chrysalis – who was using her Iniquity unicorn disguise – was looking for supplies in the empire’s marketplace. She wasn’t wearing the coat Ouros gave her as she returned it back to him, but he gave her a black scarf that gave of a warmth enchantment. Though the fur on that coat was soft…

Chrysalis examined the different wares from the different stalls, but she was trying to find supplies for climbing a mountain, this involved mountain climbing equipment, some tinderboxes to start a fire, food, though they don’t need food as neither need to eat anything – Chrysalis only needs to eat the emotions coming out of Ouros… though it felt weird eating his emotions, and Ouros… from her knowledge he doesn’t eat though he was eating chocolate that one time.

Well no harm in getting something to eat, it’ll at least help if we were to get separated suddenly.

After buying what she needs, Chrysalis decides to enjoy her time in the empire and explore around. While looking around the sights, Chrysalis was too busy with her current task that she didn’t notice the Royal Guard pony – who wasn’t wearing their armor – saw Chrysalis disguised form.

Being informed about the situation and to look out for a unicorn by the name of Iniquity, the guard knew that if that pony was here means not only was that possibly Chrysalis, but the entity that faced against the princesses was nearby too. “I need to find the prince, quickly.”

Frozen North; Outskirts of the Crystal Empire; 9:15am

After Ouros left Chrysalis to handle gathering supplies, he want for a walk around the snow wastelands that surround the Crystal Empire and further throughout the Frozen North. He’s been traveling aimlessly since then, so far he’s found nothing but snow, ice, nearly falling into a pitfall – he simply walked on the air after noticing it – and weirdly a snowman in the middle of the tundra.

I’m pretty certain that snowman was smiling at me… creepy sonna of a-

Ouros was interrupted from his thoughts when he spotted something on the ground, the item after taking a better look at it was a red horn curved that emanated an energy he was deeply familiar with.

“Found ya, now time to find that other thing,” said Ouros, picking up the horn and putting it away.

With one of his objectives done, he wandered further out until he finds the other thing in the Frozen North. Standing tall like an oasis in the desert was the red crystal, strange dark whispers being heard from it as he got closer. Ouros smiles to himself, halfway done with what he came for, approaching the crystal he mutters.

“Beware, beware, for what dwells in the dark.”

After his chant, he approaches the red crystal as the voices increase in volume, a bright red light envelops him and the surrounding area. As the light dims, Ouros is gone as the voices continuing whispering quietly once more.

Author's Note

What mysteries lie beyond this strange crystal, Ouros has much to reveal as he has much to hide? Deception is a two-way street, and neither ally nor foe are spared by it.

Chrysalis thoughts on her companion grow doubts within her psyche, but too focused on her doubts, she's unable to see the storm of trouble soon approaching her. Will she manage by herself or will she meet her folly soon?

Within this jewel of crystal wrapped in ice, a treasure worth taking or a deceptive tomb that'll be her end?

Thoughts/Narration/Dialogue:
Celestia
Chrysalis
Shining Armor
Ouroboros

Chapter IV - Shadowy Deals & Crystallized Shield

Frozen North; Crystal Empire; 9:30am

After finishing with shopping for supplies and gear for the trip to Mount Everhoof, Chrysalis decided to explore the empire, she has a hobby for architecture and the cultures of different regions… to bad she couldn’t focus on such things due to her plans for conquest and expansion.

Busy within her own mind, Chrysalis reminisced her past, the events before and after the Canterlot Wedding, prior to the past two weeks before her plans to replace all of Equestria’s heroes, royalty, and to rule Equestria and then the entire world… only to be defeated by Starlight, her friends, and that traitor Thorax.

That humiliating defeat by that unicorn and that traitor, they dare use my own subjects against me with something as simple as to share love with one another, they changed centuries of a way of living, to abandon our ways since the time of my great-great-great grandmother.

While a lot has changed in just a few days, Chrysalis felt a sense of relief from this entire situation. The only upside to all of this was that her people won’t starve forever anymore and that they won’t be under any prejudice from the other races anymore.

It would be possible for her accept this new change… if it weren’t for her ego; the monarchy of the changelings has always been led by a queen – a female changelings – not once has a king ever ruled or has there ever been a single account of a male ruler for the changelings. Plans to take back her throne swirled in her mind, but the hope that her subjects can still live peacefully with the rest of the world was in the top of her list too.

Ending up in the empire’s park, she notices several families enjoying their time in the park, there was also a flock of ewes grazing by. One of the ewes had wandered up to her, nuzzling her leg, ever since she met Ouros her sensitivity to the emotions of all living things have increased. Is Ouros correct, is my kind actually… emphatic, but I haven’t felt or been emphatic before in my entire life… well… there was that one time when I was young.

Her emotions and senses go overdrive from these new sensations she’s feeling, that’s when a familiar emotion she’s very close with comes to her. Anger, hate… a hint of fear… Now this is something I am deeply close with.

Picking up where these emotions are coming from, she spots from a distance a small group of Crystal Guardsponies, with them is Shining Armor wearing his royal crystal guard armor, alongside him is the General of the Crystal Guard – General Glacier. Seeing them approach, Chrysalis leaves, but not realizing earlier, she was petting the baby ewe on the head, her affectionate side unnoticed by her.

I need to get out of here fast, just where in the heck is Ouros anyway?

Elsewhere – Frozen North; Location: Unknown; Time: Unknown

Ouros opened his eyes and find himself in some strange gray-scale version of the world above, the grass, trees, sky, water, even the rocks – though it didn’t look like the rocks changed at all – were all variations of gray.

Hmmm, this place needs an artist’s touch.

Exploring this strange place, Ouros wanders further in until he encounters what he assumes is one of the locals. The creature looked like a pony, but smaller with characteristics to that of a fairy… but he could feel a faint energy shrouding this creature… a familiar one.

“Hello friend, welcome to our home, my name is Rabia and I like to invite you to our village, please follow me,” said Rabia.

Ouros followed Rabia until they ended up back at the village, more of her people could be seen everywhere, welcoming Ouros, but while they seemed welcoming, there was a sense of foreboding around them. They warily watched him, skeptic on how somebody managed to get into their world… there was also something familiar about him… something ancient.

“By the way how did you manage to get here, only friends of ours can come in and out at will?”

Gazing at Rabia with a smile, he speaks, but the words that come out is that of an ancient tongue not spoken in millennia.

“Svool orggov lmv, rg szh yvvm vlmh hrmxv R'ev hvvm blfi prmw. Blf nfhg mlg ivnvnyvi dsl R zn, yfg R pmld blfi prmw szhm'g ulitlggvm gsv zmxrvmg ozmtfztv lu Xszlh, mld szh rg.”

Rabia froze, the language was an ancient language spoken by her kind and various creatures that were created by a being who’s name has been forgotten. Hearing this being speak in their ancient tongue meant two things, he was either a descendant of one of the ancient races... or...

“Are you the one who we been waiting for?” asked Rabia.

Ouros grins in response and speaks again. “Rmwvvw nb xsrow, prm lu Hszwld, Uzgsvi lu Mrtsgnzivh,” said Ouros, smiling.

Soon afterwards, Rabia dropped her disguised state to show her true form, a skinny starving shadowy equine, her eyes sunken in from being trapped in this alternate plane for centuries. After she revealed her true form, the rest of her kind appeared in their true forms too, having heard the ancient language and their guest.

“I have heard tales of the ancient past, in which our creator alongside others of similar power followed being of immense power. If you are truly that being... do you plan on ruling this world once more?”

“Hmmmmm, I don’t plan to, but I will bring change to the current era of this world. Much has changed and with it, many have both risen... and fallen... so tell me,” said Ouros, approaching Rabia with a glint in his eye. “What has occurred for your kind to fall in such a state?”

Rabia retold everything she knows and that previous elders of the Umbrum have passed down since they’ve been trapped down here to before. She speaks of legends of the Ancients, the Equine Goddess Faust, and of the beasts and monsters that once roamed the world before the main races existed.

“This knowledge with each generation of the Umbrum, due to our strange abilities and biology, an Umbrum can live for countless centuries, possibly longer. Our memories are sharp, though knowledge can only reach a certain point, the last thing our kind can recollect is of a unique-type of beast.”

“These creatures were known as Chaos Beasts, gifted with powers and as harbingers of the one who gifted said powers. Roaming Equus before the Ancients appeared, they were made of various shapes, sizes, and ideologies, but the ones to stand above them who held a unique trait gifted by their creator.”

“And so, they were dubbed, the Chaotic Ones – Chaos Beasts imbued with powers from seven weapons that were wielded and created by an ancient being of immense power... which is you, the Father of Sin.”

Ouros bows flamboyantly, with a grin he summons his right gauntlet, as flames spew forth from it; the gauntlet only forms so the flames don’t spread like they did last time. “Ding ding ding! We have ourselves a winner, though... it appears your numbers and physical states have changed, to imagine this what remains of the great Shadow Empire, ruled by the Father of Nightmares.”

Rabia was saddened by both the name of her old home and the title of her creator, once they were held with great pride for her kind... now it was long forgotten past that brought shame to both failing their master and their race. The Umbrum were known as creatures that dwell in the shadows and roamed the realm of dreams; they ate from the negative thoughts and emotions of various creatures, this resulted in said entities having a positive energy around them... but times change and back then the world soon found of their existence and instead of feeding off their negativity and giving them positive energies, through a symbiotic relationship... they were feared and soon the Umbrum’s physical and mental states became warped as other races morphed their kind through dreams... now they are the current Umbrum, creatures that both feed and spread fear toward all races.

While the Umbrum did terrorize the other races, they only did so as a form of self-defense and against those that hunted them down due to their own reasons. Umbrum are attracted to negative energy but never spread said energy, as a balance had to been kept… it was something deeply ingrained in all Chaos Beasts since the day they were first manifested.

The Umbrum soon lost everything and were limited to feed off the ponies, as the other races became too battle-hardened, so most negative energy was drenched in the blood-lust of war and battle. Those that didn’t participate in constant warfare had other methods to keep their kind away.

“The position we once held among the races has dwindled with time, we don’t regret the choices we made, but hope to return the glory out empire once had… Whether your arrival is a miracle or not can be up for debate later, but I do know you are here for something… and that something is an object that has been entrusted to us from our late master.”

Rabia summons one of her fellow umbrum that bring forth an ornate box, several dark jewels are embedded upon the wooden case, the symbol of a snake eating its own tail in a loop. Opening the case, inside is an ebony key, the key is untouched yet it gives of an ethereal glow, an ancient power oozing out from it.

We held this key for a long time, before we came to Equestria, but there was no purpose or goal whether this key was to be guarded or given to anyone in particular… I wonder what will this being give to us in exchange for the key?

“We held this key in secret against those that may want for themselves… so what will you give in turn for it? Riches? Power? Our freedom? Your answer – if satisfying – will decide what should be done with you,” said Rabia.

Ouros seemed to pause yet continued smiling, the air around him stilled for a moment, but continued to flow after his smile widened. Clicking his nails against his gauntlet he came to a response for the Umbrum; chuckling to himself, before meeting Chrysalis and after exiting Tartarus, Ouros felt several interesting energy signatures, he wasn’t certain what or who they were, but he knew that a particular one might come in handy in the future… and the future was now.

“Throughout my journey so far on this land… I have encountered or rather felt an energy reminiscent to the Nightmare Lord, I am not certain what it is, but if what I find is what I think it is… I can… I am certain that I’ll grant your kind not only freedom and a second chance, but someone to lead your kind once more – a new Nightmare Lord, a descendant of what remains of your master’s bloodline.”

A descendant… there is little chance of there being one who has the blood of our lord alive… but, there has been wisps of those with his power… maybe…

Looking at his fellow Umbrum, they too agree with this proposal, whether it were to come to fruition or not, gazing back at Ouros, Rabia nods at his proposal. “We accept, we bestow upon you the ‘key’, remember that whether you do bring a descendant to rule us… The crystal ponies of the Crystal Empire and the rest of the world won’t easily accept this change,” said Rabia.

As Ouros accepted the case, he readied to depart, but before he left he said his final farewell. “Change? All I’m doing is bringing the rightful balance to this world, I’ve been here before any of this creatures first figured out to walk and stand on their own legs,” said Ouros. “Now, I must make my leave and meet up with my traveling companion… although, there is some things I like to know.”

Ouros takes a seat on a random stone outcropping, with his gauntlet, he summons several flame orbs to float around, brightening the area with their glow. “Having been wandering and sealed here, you must know current events for the past thousand years, my first question – why are the ponies being led by an alicorn?”

Rabia smiled in turn, sitting opposite of him, the rest of the Umbrum sat down to listen or went back their original business. “To explain that, I should retell the pre-founding and slow rise of the pony nation called Equestria.”

Frozen North; Crystal Empire, Crystal Empire Train Station; 10:00am

Chrysalis makes her way to the train station, but she wasn’t planning to leave the empire by train, as the station was the closest building to the edge of the barrier that protects the empire from the endless frost storms that surround the Frozen North. Once I get close, I’ll quickly run to the outside of the plains and find somewhere to hide, Ouros should head back to our rendezvous-point sometime soon.

Heading near the station, she’s suddenly stopped by three Royal Guardponies, the same guards who came from Canterlot with Princess Cadance and Shining Armor. “Excuse me miss, but we like to ask you a few questions,” said one of the guards.

The three guards were all unicorns, Chrysalis also noticed that the train station was suspiciously empty, especially at this hour for some reason. Don’t tell me…

One of the unicorns’ horn lights up and without warning a ball of magic flies straight at Chrysalis, out of instinct she dodged but the magic explodes outward. Covered in the magic’s effects, her disguise suddenly starts to fall apart, revealing her true form. “A disillusion spell!”

“ITS HER! SURROUND HER!” Out of nowhere, several more guards from the Crystal Guard appear out of nowhere, their spears point outward toward her, some have swords and other weapons. Pegasi fly up to cover the skies above her, crossbows aimed right toward her.

“SURRENDER OR WE WILL UNLEASH OUR WEAPONS UPON YOU!”

“You think that simple warning is enough to dissuade me!?” shouted Chrysalis, her horn glowing. “Think again!”

Not wanting to fight a battle of attrition, she unleashes a circular wall of flame around her, but quickly teleporting to safety afterwards. A distance away Chrysalis ran to the edge of the empire, but she could here the distant shouts and trampling of hooves approaching, she would abandon the supplies she was carrying on her to lighten her load… but…

I’m not going to let up what supplies I gathered to the hooves of those bastards!

Skidding to a halt, Chrysalis the horde of guards, her horn blazing with emerald flames that were ready to scorch anything within their reach. The guards halted and took position to surround her, with her back to the barrier and faced with the fighting force of the Crystal Guard and their allies.

Approaching from the rear, stepping aside, Chrysalis saw Shining Armor wearing a special set of crystal armor made by the blacksmiths of the empire, specifically for him; Shining has a saber sheathed to his side, the only thing visible on him is his mane, tail, and eyes.

Shining Armor steps forward while the rest of his guard watch with bated breath. “If you’re here Chrysalis, then the Father of Sin must be with you, where is he?”

“Heh, what makes you think that I’ll easily saw where his location is… also, its nice to see you again Armor, from ruler to ruler, do you think its smart to fight against me alone?”

“I may face you alone, but I am not alone, you however don’t have the privilege for backup… but I won’t be needing the help of my guard to face against you. Surrender now or I’ll bring you down, here and now!”

Chrysalis smirked, her horn glowing brighter with each passing second. “Ohhhh, seems you’ve grown from the last time… let’s see how much you’ve improved so far!” With a flick of her horn, Chrysalis fired a beam of intense magic, expecting this however, Shining erected a barrier, but unlike his spherical barriers, this one is reminiscent of a hexagon on all six sides of the barrier. Shockingly, the beam from Chrysalis deflect off the surface of the barrier, firing right back at Chrysalis, surprised from her attack being flung back, the attack makes a direct hit with her.

After the smoke manages to clear up, Chrysalis’s mane and tail are slightly singe and the saddlebags she was carrying was safely tossed to the side. A grimace was on her snout, but her deflected attack did little damage on her, with a snarl, flames began erupting around her.

With little to no words, Chrysalis roared as she charged right toward Shining, firing his own beams of magic, the two fight in close-quarters, Shining with his now unsheathed sword and Chrysalis with her horn. Ever since the Canterlot Invasion, I’ve been training day and night, waiting for my chance to avenge me and Cadance and bring you down myself!

“HRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAH!”

“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Clashing with steel against chitin, magic against magic, flesh against flesh, both sides were on equal terms of Chrysalis raw power, Shining Armor’s barrier technique, and their equal willpower.

Chrysalis fired off several fireballs which Shining deflected skyward or back at her, dodging in turn, Shining fired his own spells of crystal shards, that embedded in the ground or barely scraped against Chrysalis. The fight wasn’t nearing any end in sight, both sides were nearing their supply of magic, but Chrysalis knew that wouldn’t matter with the company of guards watching from afar.

Any longer and either they will come to assist their so called prince, or I’m going to run outta spells against his barriers… there is that, but…

Chrysalis seeing no other choice, quickly summons something from the saddlebags, erecting several flame walls up, both impeding and blocking Shining’s sight, Chrysalis opens the same book she used to summon Ouros.

Flipping through several pages, she finds the spell she saw earlier when she was reading through various notes, spells, blueprints, and journal pages written down in this ancient book. Finally finding the needed page, she takes a deep breath and begins the lengthy spell; taking a bite of her lip, droplets of emerald blood spill out, using them to create an exact copy of the symbol drawn on the book.

This is my one chance… no mistakes.

“Yolxp zmw mvtovxg, hvzo gsrmv slow lm lmv’h ulv’h kldvi, yirmt uligs z yziirvi lu mvtzgrev vmvitb zmw mvtzgrev vnlgrlmh! Zmgr-Nztrx Yziirvi!”

Chaotic energy spew forth from the symbol made of Chrysalis’s blood and seep into her, with a soundless scream, an intense blast of magic comes out of her horn and toward the sky. Soon a barrier of sickly green energy cover both Shining Armor and his guard company; the green barrier is soon covered with black symbols, a sudden weight comes upon both Shining and the other guards as they’re barely able to stand or stay conscious.

Some fall down due to this sudden fatigue while Shining watches as Chrysalis takes her belongings makes her escape beyond the empire’s barrier. What is this magic… its unlike anything I’ve felt before? Trying to use his magic, nothing happens but a weak flicker of his magical energy coming out of his horn. An anti-magic barrier! Magic like that hasn’t been seen before the founding of Equestria!? How could she know or use magic like that!

Sometime later, the barrier vanishes, but it has done its affect as Chrysalis has escaped further beyond into the snowstorm. Shining stands beside the lead guard that came with the Royal Guards, also a worried look on him. “Should we follow her, sir?”

“...No, whether she’ll make through that storm isn’t the problem, my advisers say the storm this week will be harsher than other storms, so not only will it be a hindrance to her, but to us too… Return to Canterlot and report what you know to Princess Celestia… she needs to know that Chrysalis and the Father of Sin are here… and they’re looking for something,” said Shining, a determined look in his eyes.

“What makes you say they’re here for something?”

Shining doesn’t answer, but the guard nods and makes his way to the rest of his team to depart for Canterlot. There’s nothing here but snow, ice, and frost-covered mountains… but the lands beyond north are unknown to the known kingdoms… for all we know there is something there and the only one who would know that would be the Father of Sin.

Gazing at the coming storm in the far horizon, Shining’s grimace gets worse as thoughts of unknown horrors could be seen in the far distance – and far future. “Just what are you looking for here of all places?”

Frozen North; Frozen Wastes; 11:00am

After running outside the empire’s barrier, she’s struck by the sudden approach of a snowstorm, the storm hits harsher without the coat that was given to her by Ouros before. Only wearing the scarf she has around her neck, she tucks it in tighter and trots through the blindingly white frost.

Wandering through the snow with what supplies she has, she thinks back to what she had to go through since she met Ouros… whether it was worth it all. No, no doubt, especially here of all places, the moment I even think of leaving this asinine place of his, I’m dead… I need to find shelter.

Chrysalis can feel the chill of the storm seep deep into her chitin, while not as cold, the feeling of isolated within a treacherous storm like this… brings a sensation of loneliness. “I’m truly alone, no hive, no changelings to rule over… nothing… I’m… nothing,” said Chrysalis, her voice coated in sadness.

Chrysalis continues to wander the storm, alone and cold, forever wandering these frozen wastes.

Author's Note

A trade, a deal, an agreement, much is progressing but some plans don't go as planned.

Chrysalis alone in cold frozen wasteland will soon learn both her past, present, and future - of both herself and her race - will she stand tall before these trials... or fall once more into the pits of misery, like many before.

Life is like chance, sometimes you have to take risks, others you have to pass by... others... require, loss and sacrifice in order to make a decisive move.

Thoughts/Narration/Dialogue:
Chrysalis
Ouroboros
Rabia
Shining Armor