[Chrysalis POV]

I walked up to the six colorful ponies slowly, smirking as I wore Celestia's tiara as a trophy. Wearing it disgusted me, but not enough to keep me from using it as a tool to break the spirit of any of those grossly bright colored-ponies who saw it.

As I kept walking, I got the feeling I was being judged. A quick glance let me notice that I was being observed from one of the castle tower windows. I shrugged it off though. With the princesses, Cadence included, the special team I sent in to clear the place out shouldn’t even break a sweat with their assignment.

I stopped just short of the ponies in front of me, letting out a small chuckle as I saw how nervous I made them, except the lavender one. I found it quite amusing how her pupils were made into pinpricks as they glued themselves to Celestia's tiara. At this point, I could tell I didn’t need to say a word to these wastes of space before turning to walk away, saying only one thing to my subjects.

“Go for it.”

Just like that, total chaos inside. The ponies were putting up a fight, but it didn’t matter. It was clear the fight was only going downhill for the ponies, and with their spirits crushed and morale for pony kind as a species now reduced to that of rubble, it wouldn’t take long. Soon, all they held dear would only be of what it once was.

At this point, everything was going smoother than my prime years during the wars predating the start of the equestrian age of peace.

“Those were the days,” I said to myself as I listened to the sound of my success playing around me as ponies screamed and ran frantically.

Although they weren’t exactly good at paying attention to where they are going when running in a panic, it seems since they’ve almost tripped over me a few times, so I decided to continue my walk in the royal gardens. However, as I walked around there, something was itching at me, but what?

Then I realized that the team I sent into the castle still haven’t reported back to me. I was about to shrug it off and give it a few minutes more before reaching out to them with telepathy until I received a rather nice surprise, as I could feel the magic of Cell Unit Grey reach out to me. I was going to ask how they were enjoying themselves in the castle, which I was more than sure they'd made into their own playground by now until, I could hear her breathing was a bit off.

“Queen Chrysalis, we have a problem. We’ve encountered what seems like some sort of….prince? Either way, our magic is useless on him. We can’t even see five minutes into his memories. We need some backup,” she reported, sounding like she was struggling to complete her report before hearing her telepathic connection was broken, having lost consciousness or been sealed behind some barrier.

I took a moment to process several points of that report, such as the interesting development of some secret prince, likely indicating they’re a partner for either Celestia or Luna in a relationship or….something rather unheard of. Though, the bit about their magic having no effect on him was a red flag. Not because it means that would make him a hard piece to remove from the board of this game of war. No, there is more than one way to deal with a unique individual, and also because there have only been two types of beings where memory magic, let alone changeling magic in general, hasn't worked.

I took flight, having a feeling I knew where to start looking. Changeling magic has always had its own abilities, and its own set of rules that set it apart from pony magic. Memory magic lets the average changeling look back at recent memories, take the appearance and voice of an individual of their choosing, and use that to make their move on their prey. Due to this, a changeling can’t use it on another changeling. It would be pointless anyway. However, being the only changeling from our ancient days, I was experienced enough to train changelings I choose how to look back in a target's memory by years more than the average changeling could. So I decided I would do something interesting that I previously thought would have been even sacrilegious even to consider. I’ve had ponies abducted from a small town called Ponyville, erased their memories, made them into changelings, and trained them.

The magic needed to change the race of a pony to a changeling, let alone erase their entire memory, is great in quantity. A frustrating side effect, however, is they still kept their ridiculous colors. That was fine, though, in this case, because after training them into fighters on par with those in the wars of old in skill of magic, their colors being different from the normal changelings became a visual representation of their rank as my special operations unit. Better yet, since I made them out of ponies, it wouldn’t damage my hive in the slightest if I had to dispose of them.

So, after all I did to make them great magic users, it’s concerning if their magic isn't working on an individual since the only one that fit that criteria I’ve met was Discord. Last I checked, he was stone, and even if he wasn’t, he wouldn’t have any reason to help these pitiful creatures.

I was about to question if Discord was free and disguised in his usual pony form. Perhaps I would catch him in the middle of his usual antics of playing mind games again like he did many years ago, faking relationships with Celestia and Luna.

As I flew up to the window of one of the castle towers, I took note of how Special Unit Grey was unconscious, and the other three were just now sitting on the end of a bed. In Front of the window was a curious surprise confirming what Grey told me, seeing a mostly white Alicorn with blue stockings, sitting on a chair in front of the window with his back to me. As tempting as it would be to make my presence known and mess with him, he began to speak.

“So are your legs and horns made of swiss cheese or are they designed that way for a purpose?”

The insolence! Such mockery and disrespect boasted so boldly by this unwary fool.

I have come to know patience. I tolerate the first stance of resistance from my prey, while it is futile and annoying, it is only natural. Even their defiance and calls to prevail with false bravado and blind faith to be saved can be looked over by understanding their ignorance...

...but no insult is forgivable, nor my retaliation of offense granted warning.

So, while he was distracted, laughing at his own stupid joke, I slipped in through the open window and brutally stomped on his head with both rear hooves, knocking him out cold.

Before landing in the room, I almost regretted ending his punishment so quickly, but there would be time to educate him on where he stood and how far below my hooves that was. He had much to answer for and many questions to answer. Otherwise, from a quick look around, it was clear this room belonged to Luna.

“Usually, I’d say ponies are grass-eating pests, but either Celestia got creative for once and made that,” I say as I pointed a hoof at the alicorn before resting it on the floor again. “Or we found something rather special. As much as I’d love to learn of Celestia becoming less of a stick in the mud with her morals, I’m certain it’s the latter.”

Taking a shot at it, I attempted to get into his memory. I managed to look into his mind where memories should be stored, but it was just too blurry to make anything out, like trying to figure out what a canvas was supposed to display after fishing it out of a river.

That changed after a few brief moments, though, before the vision was tinted purple, and I was booted out faster than a cultist after it wandered into Celestia's throne room, leaving a sandy feeling on my horn. It sort of felt like it was just a warning shot or a magic defense spell of sorts.

“Alright, you four should be able to restrain him while he’s out cold, and I’d have to take a guess and say levitation magic can still work on him, just don’t use any changeling magic unless you wish for something unfortunate to happen when it backfires,” I informed them before healing the grey one so they can get back on their hooves.

“I am assigning you with the task of transporting him to special containment back at the hive home. I will be coming with you for the trip to make sure nothing goes wrong.” I instructed them. I know where dark magic makes its home, even if the message was a slap on the horn. Knowing Celestia got rid of any way for ponies to learn the art due to its risks, I knew she didn’t make this one, and if it wasn’t pony made and this quality, it’s a keeper of a rare find in my book.

[Twilight’s POV]

We lost the fight against the changelings. That’s the last thing I remember. I had to really fight to barely open my eyes for a quick glimpse. I managed to get a view of ponies by the dozen bound and being transported, myself included. Seems we were being taken into the underground dungeon under Canterlot Castle.

It was a while before I could barely open my eyes again for anything more, seeing the bound ponies all being shoved and stored in black and green pods on the walls of the cells, filled with some sort of green goo. As I was solved into one, my vision, already blurry as it was, now tinted green before the goo-like substance soaked into my coat, seeming to act like a sedative of sorts as my body was numbed by it and slowly was forced into a deep sleep.

[Shining Armor’s POV]

I slowly came to the waking world in what looked like a cage made to fit an Alicorn. My head was bursting in pain, and I could tell I was low on magic. Trying to stand up, I could feel every muscle in my body scream as they ached.

My horn had another odd feeling as well. Reaching up to feel it, there was a ring on the base of my horn from what I could feel. I attempted to pull the damn thing off, but no matter how much effort I could muster, it just wouldn’t budge. So I let my hooves fall back down. Looking around, I saw I was positioned beside Celestia's empty throne. Looking on the wall behind the throne, I saw three huge black and green goo-filled pods on it. From their arrangement, I had to guess they were meant to be displayed so that they could be seen over the throne. Looking closer, I realized I could barely make out that they had some familiar faces inside them. Luna, Celestia, and Cadence were all in the pods, their wings bound and their horns wearing a ring on them as well. That was when I heard a laugh behind me. Turning around, I found a changeling smirking as they stared at me like a zoo animal.

“Like your ring? Sadly for you, it’s not a wedding ring. It keeps you drained of magic so much that you can’t cast the most basic spells, but not entirely so that it doesn’t comatize you.” They teased, but I could tell that was the truth. “Thought I’d try teasing you myself, but you’re more a pet for our Queen. She isn’t back yet though, so don’t be surprised if you’re seen as free game until then.”

“Where is she?” I asked, surprised I still had to put some effort into talking at all, but if I’m gonna be stuck for a while, might as well find out what I can.

“Personally, I don’t really know the details. Something about overseeing a special transport of a pony she wanted to have in extra special containment back at the hive home in the wasteland. So it’ll be a few days at least till she's back.’

I’m surprised they told me that much. Probably thinks there’s no harm since I can’t do anything in my current predicament. Though I did have an idea who that pony might be, I thought it better to keep my maw shut. The changeling clearly either got bored or had something to do as he started to wander away. I took this time as a chance to get some much-needed rest. No telling what’ll happen once Chrysalis gets back.

[Cell Unit Blue POV]

I was walking alongside with the rest of my squad, Cell Red levitating the VIP. Very Important Prisoner, I mused to myself. We traveled across the border into the wasteland not too long ago, but we still have a long way to go.

Chrysalis was with us just like she said she would, being somewhat of a surprise since most of the time she changes her mind on a whim, but I guess with something she had a special interest in, she stuck to it for once. Though, there was something having me on edge.

See, Cell Red has a few flaws. While he’s a good fighter, one of his bigger shortcomings is that he’s easy to irritate and rather rash, not thinking things through before he acts. Usually, not a problem since we usually did special operation missions, but this was different, and it looked like something was eating at him, which it was getting him irritated, and that’s the part that worries me.Since he’s the one carrying the asset, there’s no telling what could happen if he does something rash, for Queen knows why.

I can also see that Cell White noticed as well, getting just as nervous as I am. Looking over to Grey, she didn’t notice she has still yet to stop her nonstop talking with our Queen like there was no tomorrow.

“I know Chrysalis said not to, but I’m itching to try again on our little prey,” Cell Red mumbled.

I was gonna advise against it but he acted too quickly, trying to look into their memory again, and as he did an arc of purple magic stuck Cell Red to the ground, causing him to drop the supposed prince he had in tow. I let out a groan as Red slowly got back up on his hooves.

“I warned you.” Chrysalis chuckled as she approached. “See, my little changelings, that purple magic you saw just now is known as dark magic. It’s as ancient as Discord himself, though Celestia saw to getting rid of any means of learning the art once pony kind started their era of peace,” she informed us before looking at me. “Cell Blue, before I continue, I’m interested in seeing if you can tell me what you think this could mean.”

“Well, normally one would either deduce that either Celestia granted him the knowledge to be able to do so, or Discord had a role to play in this,” I answered, assuming that’s the bit she wanted to hear. “Though, I suspect there’s something else to it, isn't there?”

“Precisely, there is. That brain is what I adore most about you, and there is definitely more to it. See, since Celestia only resorts to those annoying little stones she calls the elements of harmony, she’d never do such a thing as teach a pony dark magic, as amusing as it would be to see that happen. I’ve also met Discord. There’s really no reading him, ever, but I do know he wouldn’t do something such as teach dark magic to just any random poney. Not exactly his style, and last I checked, he’s currently stone anyway. Which begs the question, how did he acquire this magic? However, we ,unfortunately, can only learn it straight from the pony’s mouth, so to speak. See, he isn’t protecting himself when we try seeing into his memory. That is the darkness inside him not exactly appreciating us trying to prob its host..” She continued in great detail so the others could follow along.

“What do you mean the darkness inside him?” Cell White asked, showing she was picking up on the fact there was a bit of an implication Chrysalis left behind for them.

“Well, any living being that can conduct magic can use dark magic once they have the knowledge on how to do so,” Chrysalis continued, showing her interest in the subject and showing off how knowledgeable she was of it. “While it’s one of the strongest magic types to ever exist, just like all good things, there is a catch. In this case, a gamble of sorts. This gamble is highly stacked against you, though. See, the flow of dark magic is different from all other magics. Dark magic is, in a way, a living entity. Every time you use it, it gives you the temptation to rely on it more. This temptation gets stronger every time you do use it again until finally, you give in and do exactly what this dark devil wants, and you surrender your heart to it, to its darkness. Once that happens, there is no hope for you. Your being is no longer your own, and the darkness makes you into its vessel. A vessel of nearly unstoppable power, greed, and gluttony.”

There was a short silence until I spoke up once more.

“What you’re saying is that we pretty much have a living time bomb.”

“Exactly,” Chrysalis answered.“However, unlike what those ponies are willing to do, I can and will make this bomb into a beautiful resource. However, what that turns out being really will depend on the relationship between this wannabe prince and the darkness inside him. I could try Extracting what dark secrets I can from him, or try making him into ours. Lots of possibilities. However, the most amusing possibility I don’t think we’ll have to resort to just came to mind. Let's say pony kind did make a comeback and we get banished to the wastelands once more. Their peace will not last them much longer, cause if that happened, we won’t need anything like a large-scale plan for a takeover again. Because eventually and inevitably, their end will be caused by this very pony.”

She giggled.

[Cell Unit White POV]
I know that I don't have any memories of my life as a pony anymore, but I can’t help but feel bad for them. We are slowly yet effortlessly taking over their land from coast to coast, but it just feels kind of cruel that we’ve turned every pony into a living food farm.

Thoughts like these haven't’ stopped running through my head since we arrived at the home hive. It’s a dark, dry, underground structure, or more like a network of tunnel-connected rooms that one could easily get lost in unless one grew up here. Chrysalis had the captive prince stored in the special containment unit only she and members of my squad can open. After getting him in there, Chrysalis started heading back with the rest of my squad to head back to Equestria, leaving me to keep an eye on him, so I had plenty of time to think to myself.

I was inside the containment unit, so I decided to look over the prince to pass the time. The darkness kept us from putting a magic ring on his horn, but every other part of his body was restrained to the point he wouldn’t be able to move an inch out of place on his own. There were chains from the ceiling strapped and secured to his forehooves, keeping him suspended, and chains strapped to his rear hooves keeping his legs spread out for complete restrainment, along with straps around his barrel to keep his wings bound.

I couldn’t help but blush out of embarrassment, though, since this did make it so that his sheath and balls were on full display. It took a bit of willpower to start being able to ignore that, but once I did, I really could see how pitiful this made this young prince look.

I also couldn’t help but wonder. While Chrysalis did knock him out with a blow to the head, that alone shouldn’t have kept him out for this long. I started to wonder if she killed him by accident and if that wasn’t the case, what could possibly be wrong with him.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard a sharp gasp. Turning my attention to his face, just in time to see his eyelids look like they had a yellow glow fading out of existence, and then his body went limp again.

Guess I need to stay on my hooves.

[ Back to Spirit]

It felt like I’d been like this for days by now, trapped in this void of nothingness. A plain of non-existence. A gap between realities. Nothing but darkness. Sometimes, I’d think I’d see something, a silhouette in the darkness, but then it turned out to be nothing. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve lost it. I can’t even remember what happened before this. However, after a while, a ball of light made its appearance before slowly approaching me.

“Hello again, Spirit.” Harmony greeted me as she slowed to a stop beside me. “You really are a curious one managing to land here. I’m actually a bit surprised you still have your form.”

“What the hell does that mean? You really have a bad habit of starting out of context.”

“Right, my apologies. See, you managed to land in a place where lost hearts wander. You may have seen a few by now without realizing it. They’re difficult to notice and try to avoid being seen. After a lost heart is here long enough, they become blacker than the darkest void in their appearance.” Harmony explained, or somewhat explained.

“How does that even work for, fuck’s sake?” I spat out, pretty cranky, deciding to become a heavier drinker the moment this all blows over.

“Spirit, as you should know, those who have given their heart to darkness become vessels for that manifested darkness. However, the darkness physically can’t have a heart, so the heart usually gets rejected and ends up here. The vessel then becomes what is known as a heartless, and you, said heart, end up in this kingdom for lost hearts. You, somehow, ended up here by accident. The heart can be put back into the vessel as long as it’s not made into a heartless yet. However, considering how you weren’t originally from the world of pony, let alone originally from that body, I’m gathering there’s a catch for you specifically. Seems your heart can sometimes get knocked loose till you end up back here, but that’s why I came to get you back to where you belong.”

That much info was a lot to process at once, making me take a moment before speaking again. “That sounds…..as tedious as bloody hell.”

“It certainly is tedious.” she agreed. “On the other hand, oh, I meant hoof, back in the world of pony, since you got here, it’s been longer than you’d like to hear since you left it. So, I’m going to do you the favor and skip to the part you likely are waiting for the most and get you back”

Of course, I had more questions. More questions than needed to fill half of the books in Twilight’s library, but she was right. Better to hurry back than waste time. Keria would have my head for whatever her creative mind could think of for punishment if I made her wait too long.

Author's Note

Long chapter to try and cover all my mean time bases so I'm not levaing out as much as I used to, though not sure if I'm actually doing any better. Also, not sure if I jumped the gun on it ,but decided to have Harmony be a bit more casual with Spirit, but lets face it, it's not like they can just meet up willy nilly for tea time