“Stupid weak, pathetic pony bodies.” Chrysalis complained, tugging at the larger belly she had to create in order to fake a pregnancy.

She was using the Orange Apple disguise again, and she made sure that she looked identical to the first time she met Twilight Sparkle, only this time she had some extra weight on her midsection. In her estimation it was about the right amount considering she should be pregnant with triplets, though that was just a guess as she didn't actually care that much to check.

Weak, pathetic creatures. Chrysalis grumbled to herself, walking through the much less populated streets of Ponyville. The other mothers have to bear their progeny for months and then it takes years, no decades until they are useful!

Chrysalis stood a little straighter, a little prouder, thankful that she was not a member of this weaker, inferior race. I pity you simpletons, trotting around with bowling balls inside you. Chrysalis thought to herself, sneering at the odd pregnant pony that wandered through town.

Pushing such thoughts from her mind, Chrysalis continued towards the castle in the distance, ignoring the ponies who trotted around. It didn't take long for the determined changeling to reach the entrance to Castle Friendship, her earlier scouting having paid off in spades when she noticed everything seemed to be in order. After giving her body a slight shake and assuming the body language of a nervous, and excitable mare, Chrysalis sighed and raised her hand.

Her knock resounded throughout the inside of the castle, the crystal somehow carrying the sound far further then what would be normal. While she waited for a response, the disguised changeling tugged nervously on her clothes, doing her best to keep up appearances. When the door finally opened she looked down to find that it had not been a pony come to greet her, but rather a short, stocky little dragon.

“Hello miss, is there something I can help you with?” He asked, a grin on his face and an apron around his waist.

Chrysalis racked her brain to come up with a name for the dragon, only to remember that he was Twilight’s assistant and she didn't care enough to commit his name to memory. “Uh h-hi.” Chrysalis stuttered. “I um, was hoping to talk to Twilight, if she's here?”

The dragon’s eyes lit up. “Oh you must have been from this year’s festival! My name’s Spike, and Twilight isn't around right now, but she is in town.”

“Will she be back soon?” Chrysalis asked nervously, looking down at the drake.

“In a few minutes probably, she just went to pick up some groceries and stuff.” Spike smiled and pulled open the door. “You can come in if you’d like, I’m sure she wouldn't mind if you waited for her inside.”

“T-thanks.” Chrysalis muttered, stepping awkwardly through the door and into the crystal castle.

After the door clanged shut behind her the dragon walked out in front of her and motioned down the hall. “There’s a sitting room just down here, can I get you something to drink? Coffee, tea, juice?”

“Oh I wouldn't want to impose.” Chrysalis muttered, following behind the dragon as he walked down the hall.

“It's no problem at all. Besides, pregnant mares like you deserve a little pampering don't you think?” The dragon offered, pulling open a door for the disguised changeling and grinning up at her.

Chrysalis smiled faintly and nodded to the drake, before stepping into the room and sitting in an empty chair. “I guess so.”

“I’ll be right back.” Spike explained. “If you need anything I’ll be right down the hall to the left!”

“Thank you.” Chrysalis replied.

With a nod, the dragon left, leaving Chrysalis alone in the sitting room. A room which was fairly normal, Chrysalis decided, as it had a trio of high backed chairs sitting around a short table. The walls were mostly dominated by shelves containing books and nicknacks, while the large south facing window was covered by a some soft magenta curtains.

The result was a small room that felt larger than it was, and was quite comfortable, provided Chrysalis wasn't here for something important because as it stood right now she couldn't quite enjoy the amenities given the gravity of her situation. “Maybe one day…” She muttered to herself, before shaking her head.

“No, this isn't the time for such grandiose plans. I have an army to feed.” The disguised changeling muttered.

Standing up, the queen trotted over to the window and gazed out over the landscape, a hand landing on her stomach and rubbing it gently. Her thoughts drifted back to her young, to the many hungry mouths that were waiting for her to return successful. Her hand clutched at her shirt, nearly tearing the cheap fabric as her nails threatened to rend it asunder.

“Soon, all this will be mine, and mine alone.” Chrysalis whispered to herself, a grin growing across her face.

The idea was an enticing one, and the queen couldn't help but think back to the song she had burst into mere hours ago. It had been strangely good, fitting even, and she found herself humming the tune while she gazed out over the small town, imagining what she would do with each building. She imagined destroying entire blocks of homes in order to make room for her new hive, only to think better of it and contemplate the idea of taking over this garish castle for just such a purpose.

That brought a smile to her face and she tapped her foot in time to the beat of the song, her mind relishing the heavy string and percussion that filled the song with a sense of dread and foreboding. She had committed the song itself to memory of course, finding the odd melody to be as enticing and dark as herself, and the queen was determined to hear it again one day.

“My darlings my darlings.” She hummed, drumming her fingers on the ledge of the window as her other hand remained firmly on her bloated stomach.

“When my army is complete and on great wings you take flight! And all the world will turn tail and flee!” She sung, her voice slipping away from the one she had come up with for her disguise and returning to her more ‘normal’ voice.

Footsteps echoed down the hall behind her, the sound utterly ignored by the queen who continued to hum her song and sing louder, no longer able to keep her voice below a whisper. “We will taste Equestria’s very last breath. And with sword held high, our enemies we’ll bring death! And to the nation’s rulers we will kiss goodbye!”

Even the cracking of the door, and the pitter patter of small feet could not dissuade the queen from her song and she threw up her hands in victory, imagining the town before her rebuilt in her own image. “Their blood will flow like a dark and terrible stream. But that will only be the beginning of my dark and terrible scheme. For the world we create, will be the blank slate, from which I will bring forth my dream!”

The clatter of something metal was unheard by the queen, who continued to sing louder, and prouder as time went on, her horn alight with magic. “The world will bend, break and be mine! And on the love of all creatures we shall dine. This I do hereby solemnly vow, that the world will be my gift to thou.”

The slowly vanishing sound of clawed feet on crystal was drowned out by the music that had returned and Chrysalis’ voice and magic continued. “All that we need, is more of your father’s seed. From which I will bring, many, many more offspring. And your brothers and sisters will help us succeed!”

The crash of cymbals and the thump of a drum accented her last words, the queen throwing her arms into the air as she cackled triumphantly, a burning Ponyville laying before her mind’s eye. “Yes, this is perfect, the fools will know nothing until it's too late.”

“I don't think so Chrysalis!” An out of breath, yet defiant voice responded.

Chrysalis spun on her heel, her disguise falling away and revealing the changeling queen just beneath. “Fool! It is too late for your grandstanding, my victory is all but complete!”

“Not if I have anything to say about it!” Twilight snarled, her horn blazing with life as she conjured a glowing pair of purple shackles.

Chrysalis ducked to the side and rolled out of the way. “You may have caught me during a moment of weakness, but even this will not save you from your fate!”

The queen threw a bolt of simple green magic at her enemy, which narrowly missed the alicorn’s head and hit the wall, causing it to explode outwards. Erecting a quick shield, Twilight was surprised when Chrysalis didn't attack her and instead flew past her and out of the fresh hole in the wall, laughing maniacally all the while.

“Oh no you don't!” Twilight declared, gritting her teeth and launching after the queen and pumping her wings furiously.

Twilight flew out over the town, her eyes following the fleeing changeling queen closely as she zipped over the rooftops and made a beeline for the Everfree. Though Twilight was certain she could catch her in time, her worries were alleviated when she heard a titanic whoosh, and saw a rainbow trail pass her by. Grinning to herself, the alicorn pumped her wings harder, determined to keep up with her faster friend.

Ahead of them, Chrysalis felt the surge of righteous indignation and rolled left, narrowly dodging a rainbow blur that flew straight through an empty produce stand and out the other side, completely unharmed. “Augh, not the ridiculous Rainbow one, I would have rather dealt with the insane pink thing then you.” Chrysalis grumbled, her wings buzzing as she powered back into the air, knowing full well that wouldn't be enough to stop the pegasus.

Sure enough she was right, and within seconds she could feel that righteousness return with a vengeance, and now with a mix of hate and shame added to the mix. Snickering to herself, Chrysalis used her magic to toss another fruit stand at the pony behind her, not even looking if she hit before rolling to the right and zipping down a side street. Dodging random terrified ponies, the odd stand, and a cardboard cut out of Celestia who was advertising a sale on soup, Chrysalis barely kept ahead of her opponent.

Who was busy yelling obscenities at the fleeing changeling, expertly dodging and weaving through the random assortment of stuff that was continually getting launched at her. Including a terrified Scootaloo who had thrown open her arms and seemed to be enjoying her brief flight through the marketplace.

“Remember to stick the landing kid!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she passed the filly by.

Knowing full well that Scootaloo had a disturbing amount of practice getting thrown through the air by her scooter, the rainbow maned mare didn't bother sticking around, as she knew the kid would be unharmed. She had more important things on her mind, like a fleeing changeling who was making her way towards the Everfree, and had broken away from the town.

“Where did she go?” A voice from above her demanded.

“There, she's headed to the Everfree.” Rainbow Dash replied, knowing the voice of their resident alicorn well. “She's slower than usual, but we can't linger for long.”

“Right, the girls were right behind me, keep following her and we’ll catch up.” Twilight commanded before turning away.

“You don't have to tell me twice.” Rainbow Dash remarked with a smirk before flying over to where she had last seen the queen, and easily finding the trail left by the fleeing changeling. “I’ve got you now.”

Proceeding on hoof, the pegasus sprinted through the trees, bobbing and weaving around the tree branches with surprising grace. Within a minute she had managed to catch the odd glimpse of the changeling, and within five she had gotten close enough to hear the buzz of the changeling’s wings as she lifted off the ground and made a break for the treetops.

“Dumb move bug, I may be the second fastest on the ground but in the air I am queen!” Rainbow Dash declared triumphantly, running up the side of a tree and launching herself through the treetops with the help of her wings.

Within seconds she had caught up with the changeling, noticing that the creature’s mane was filled with sticks and leaves, as if she had stumbled and fell a few times during her mad dash. Rainbow Dash’s hoof came down and clipped the changeling’s side, sending her spinning and crying out in pain. The queen twisted to the side, putting her back to the forest, and her face to her opponent just in time to bob and weave out of the way of numerous punches.

Punches that were fast enough that she had to accept a few just to dodge the odd haymaker that would have knocked her onto her butt. Gritting her teeth, Chrysalis fired a trio of weak but fast bolts of magic, hoping to drive the pony back and give her the room she needed to escape. That wasn't meant to be though, as the pegasus somehow managed to twist her body in a way that enabled her to dodge all three, and leave her right leg in a position to kick her enemy directly in the chest.

Wind rushed out of the queen’s lungs and she felt her wings falter, her entire body plummeting to earth at a staggering speed. I haven't seen such skill in centuries, where did you find this pony Twilight? Chrysalis thought before turning her bones to rubber a second before she crashed through the canopy and hit the forest floor.

Her quick thinking saved her from too much damage, and she quickly reformed a second later, standing tall and looking around, hesitant for a follow up attack. When it didn't come, she spun around and continued on her way only to stop when the distinct crack, snap of teleportation signalled that she had received more opponents.

“Your stupid pony posse won't help you here!” Chrysalis declared, not even having to turn to know that the alicorn and her friends were right behind her.

Before they had a chance to say something suitably cliche, the queen used her magic to conjure a thick smoke that exploded from her body and obscured her fleeing form. The sound of coughing and panicked yells told the queen her gambit had worked, and she fled through the underbrush, evading the group.

Behind her, Twilight hacked viciously while bringing forth her magic, which she used to conjure a gale force wind, blowing away the smoke and revealing her five friends. “Are you girls okay?” She asked, looking around.

Fluttershy nodded. “It doesn't hurt, I think it was just a distraction.”

“Well let's go then, before she gets away!” Applejack yelled, the farm pony sprinting in the direction they saw the changeling run in.

“Right, let's go!” Twilight added, sprinting after her, and joining the rest of her friends.

Within seconds the trail ran cold, as the six ponies looked around the grove they had burst into, unable to find any indication of the queen’s passage. “What do we do Twilight?” Pinkie shouted, as she lifted up random rocks and searched under fallen leaves.

“I don't-” Twilight began, only to hear a crack followed by a thump and a curse from in the distance. “She's over there!”

Together the six ponies sprinted deeper into the forest, following the sound until they were able to catch up with the queen just in time for them to notice a slight rise to the ground beneath their hooves. A cave could be seen through the break of the trees, one that Chrysalis was sprinting directly for. “She's going for the cave!” Rarity pointed out.

“After her!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

All six ponies made a mad dash to the cave, each one stumbling up the steep hill and coming to a stop just outside. “Trap?” Applejack asked, looking at Twilight with eyebrow raised.

“Almost certainly but we made a mistake letting her get away last time. She's too dangerous to do that again. Be ready for anything.” Twilight commanded before taking the lead and running into the cave.

Behind her five sets of hooves clopped through stone cave, following close behind their entrepid leader.

“You’ll never win Twilight Sparkle! Victory will be mine!” A voice boomed from further into the cave.

“You’ll never win Chrysalis! No matter how many times we have to beat you, we will never give up!” Twilight shouted back.

“It matters little if you resist or not, my victory is assured!” Chrysalis shouted back before laughing menacingly, her voice echoing from seemingly everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

“T-twilight are you sure this is a good idea?” Fluttershy whispered, trotting beside her friend and looking around nervously.

“We have to.” Twilight declared, her horn glowing brightly and illuminating the area around them. “Come on.”

The purple alicorn turned a corner, only to come to a screeching halt when she noticed thousands of eyes looking up at her from the ground. Behind her, the rest of her friends came to a sudden stop, nearly bumping into one another as they all looked down at the eyes, speechless.

The only sound left was the echoes of Chrysalis’ laughter as she disappeared, somehow managing to slip past the six ponies during the confusion.

“What do we do now?” Pinkie Pie asked nervously, tugging on Twilight’s shirt.

“I don't know Pinkie Pie.” Twilight muttered, looking down at the mass of grubs shivering in fear before them. “I don't know.”

Author's Note

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