Prototype: A new world

"Hmm. So you're telling me that you have the power to siphon magic? Even Discord's highly unpredictable chaos magic?"

Mercer nodded, crossing his arms. "Seems so. I think what's happened is that I have adapted to it with how much I've been around it. But if this chaos magic is only really used by this Discord creature, I'm not sure how I've adapted nearly instantly. Guess you learn something new everyday."

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. She was intruiged, but also slightly concerned, which wasn't like her. She rarely ever felt fear, but just seeing Mercer's power herself and fighting him once reminded her of how strong he actually was. She'd never known someone as strong. And that fact...

Intimidated her. And she hated it.

"You are...a mystery to me, Mercer. First, you show up by some unknown means to what I can only assume was the princess's doing and now, you've somehow absorbed chaos magic from the god of chaos himself. I can say that I am at least glad that you're not an enemy. Such power can't go to waste."

Mercer scoffed, a slight grin present. He could feel her fear. It felt good.

"So, what's the plan?"

"We wait."

Now it was his time to raise an eyebrow. "Wait? Are you serious?"

She nodded. "Indeed I am. Now that we have Twilight Sparkle and Discord himself, the princesses will have no choice but to come and try to take them back. And that, my friend, is when we strike back."

He was slightly surprised at that last comment. "Friend, huh? Warming up to me already?"

She rolled her eyes, scoffing. "Don't push it, Mercer. The only reason why I treat you as well as I do is simply because you have been a great asset to me and you have saved my best guard. We may have not been trustworthy of each other at first for very understandable reasons, but you are slowly earning my trust. Keep at it and I may make you apart of my royal guard. But that is a very strong if and not when."

He smirked, turning around and stretching his arms. "I doubt that, seen as I'll be going home as soon as I can. Anyway, I'm going to go make sure Arisa hasn't killed them two yet. Still need those things alive. See ya."

Chrysalis rolled her eyes again and sat down on her throne, grinning to herself. "All is going to plan."

"I told you, I don't have the foggiest clue of what he is or where he came from!"

Another slap. Arisa was currently interrorgating Discord. She must have slapped him at least 10 times. It's not like he could do anything behind bars and with a magic dampener stopping him from regaining his magic. If he even could, that is. She still had no idea that he'd get it back after what Mercer did to him.

Twilight had passed out after the first 3 slaps. She stared at her unconcious body and snorted.

"Lightweight."

Discord grumbled, scratching his now red face. "That wasn't very nice. Sparkle here has done more than you'll ever do."

Arisa chuckled, sitting down and staring at the now beaten and tired god of chaos. "I don't care. I live to serve my queen. Nothing more, nothing less."

Discord grunted. "And I suppose she's happy that you and the other changelings kiss her..."

The door opened with force, Arisa and Discord snapping their heads to it. Mercer walked in, walking up to Arisa and smiling at her slightly. "You okay?"

She nodded, a smirk on her face. "Awh, worried about me?"

He scoffed, walking up to the bars. "You wish. Anyway, Discord, was it?"

Discord snarled, trying to grab the bars. "You're lucky that I don't have my magic, boy. Or I'd..."

Mercer shapeshifted his hand into its claw form and scratched Discord's face. Only lightly. Couldn't afford to do too much damage, after all. He needed these two alive.

Well, he needed Sparkle alive. Did he really need this thing alive?

"Or you'd what? Get your magic basically eaten by me again?"

This caused Discord to shut up, choosing instead to turn his back on Mercer and sit down. "I'm not telling you anything. There's nothing to tell."

Mercer sat down next to Arisa, turning his head to her as she turned her's to his. "Do we really need to keep this Discord guy alive? We only really need Twilight Sparkle."

Arisa shrugged. "It isn't up to me. Ask the queen. I don't care whether either of them live, honestly."

He was about to actually go and ask Chrysalis herself when the door opened again, revealing Chrysalis. She looked at Mercer and Arisa, ushering them to stand up. "Seems the princess's are on their way. Come, you two. We need to speak." She looked towards Discord. "And as for you."

She summoned a spell which instantly knocked him out, his body slumping next to Twilight's. Mercer coughed, getting her attention.

"Do we need this Discord alive? I could always consume him and get all the info that he isn't telling us. And not only that, I can feel myself slightly weakening. It seems whatever energy I got out of him early is already wearing off and I haven't consumed anything in a long while."

She shook her head at first, but then tapped her hoof to her chin in deep thought. "Hm. I did want him alive, but we only really need Twilight Sparkle. Do what you want with him. If you need to feed, I will not deny you that. Keep Twilight Sparkle alive, however. We need her. If we kill her as well, we may not be able to use her against the princess's. Me and Arisa will meet you in the throne room when you have done what you need to do."

Mercer nodded. "Thanks."

Chrysalis nodded back, her and Arisa walking out of the room. Mercer turned his attention to the sleeping Discord, grinning evily.

"Oh, this is going to be fun."

Luna and Celestia were very close. They could feel it.

The hive.

They hadn't come here for centuries. And back then, it was run by a changeling queen who actually treated her kind with respect and wasn't trying for world domination everytime that they came across her. Queen Kolari. She passed away about a 100 years ago. Strange how time flies.

Celestia suddenly winced and fell to her knees, causing Luna to look at her in concern and try to lift her up back to her hooves. "Sister! What is wrong?!"

The sun princesses breathed heavily, regaining her composure and standing up. She smiled at her little sister. "I'm okay, Lulu. But I felt something...awful. Like Discord was...cut off from his magic."

Luna's eyes widened. "How is that possible? Discord's chaos magic is stronger and more unpredictable than our own!"

Celestia nodded, dusting herself off. "I highly doubt Chrysalis would have the power to do such a thing. Maybe it has something to do with that other force that I felt?"

Luna nodded, walking forward. "Perhaps. Regardless, we need to move. Twilight Sparkle and the fate of Equestria depends on it."

The two sisters marched forward, a battalion of guards behind them. Threstrals and Celestia's sun guards.

"Come, my little ponies. It is time to get to the bottom of this.

And with that, they kept marching on towards the hive, anticipating what could come out of this whole ordeal.