The Curse Of Chrysalis

Chapter 2

The two had just returned to their room and used magic to fix the wall. “I don’t know Cory, maybe we should get out of here somehow and find our way to Ponyville to warn the ponies about all this.” Kris stated.

Cory snorted. “Yeah, good plan.” He said sarcastically before speaking in a weird tone. “‘Hey there, we’re humans that were summoned by Chrysalis to help her take over Equestria, but don’t worry, we’re not bad. By the way, neither is she, she just needs help turning back to normal.’ I’m sure that will go GRAND. Besides, we have NO idea where we are on the map OR where to go to GET to Ponyville.”

Kris sighed with a roll of his eyes. “Fine, you made your point.” He looked back to Cory. “So then what are we supposed to do? I doubt Chrysalis will take it well when we tell her we don’t intend on helping her take over Equestria.”

Cory sighed himself before laying on the bed and looking at the ceiling, thinking. “Hmm. Well, I do have one idea, but it’s a long shot.”

“Better than nothing.” Kris replied. “So what is it?”

Cory sat back up. “Well, we convince her to take time to make another attempt on Equestria. I have experience convincing higher authority to see my way of things, especially those with a similar personality to Chrysalis. I’ve done enough war games and played enough chess to be able to work my opponent to doing what I want. I just need her to listen to me, and I mean REALLY listen to me.”

Just after he said that, the door to the room opened and a changeling guard stepped in. “You two are finally awake. The queen wishes to see you now. All will be explained in her presence. Now let’s go.” The male changeling guard ordered.

“Here’s hoping it works.” Kris whispered to Cory before stepping forward to follow, Cory beside him.

They soon arrived at the throne room to see Chrysalis sitting on her throne with a smile. “Welcome creatures. I am queen Chrysalis, Queen of the changeling hive. Welcome to my home. Now, I’m sure you both are wondering what’s going on. It’s very simple. I used some powerful magic to pull you from your world to here so you might aid me in an endeavor. My poor hive and I feed on love and we are running very low. It would mean so much to us if you helped us take over a country so we might harvest love energy from those mean pony creatures that have denied us our sustenance.” Chrysalis stated trying to sound sweet and innocent.

“Have to give it to her, she really knows how to act.” Cory thought to himself. He stepped forward and bowed at the waist. “An honor to meet you, your majesty. My name is Cory, this is my brother in all but blood Kris. You say you need our help in taking over. In that case, I’m assuming you need soldiers or warriors of some kind?”

“Well we do have soldiers, but due to our lack of energy, I’m afraid we’re all so weak. We wouldn’t be able to launch a strong enough invasion. Plus there are three powerful creatures called alicorns we would have to deal with.” Chrysalis stated.

“Alicorns you say?” Kris asked.

“Indeed. The two princesses of the sun and moon, Celestia and Luna. And the third is their niece, Cadence. Don’t let their names or titles fool you. They are terrible creatures.”

Cory crossed his arms and lowered his head, looking to be thinking, but already knew what to do. He then looked up after a while. “I believe we can help, but I need a map, a number on enemy forces, as close as you can get, a number of your own forces, and the time it would take to get from here to there. Oh, and I also need to know what you have in terms of armor and weapons.”

“You’ve already seen our armor and weapons. They’re on my guards.” Chrysalis stated. “And if we had a good amount of love energy, our spell casters would be powerful, however as I said, our reserves are low. As for number...we have around two thousand soldiers. The equestrians I believe have about ten thousand or so.”

“Wow, you are seriously outnumbered.” Kris commented.

“I know.” Chrysalis replied almost snidely as she looked to the side but looked to the two again. “So that’s why I gathered my brightest minds to cast the spell that brought you both here. So you could help us. Now as for travel. It would take about two days to get from here to their main capital where the princesses live.” She then snapped her fingers and a guard approached the two with a rolled up map that showed the land. “Here you are. A map.”

Cory took the map, nodding to the guard in thanks before opening the map. He studied the map and sighed. “Based on what we’ve been told, and if this map is accurate, you have little to no chance. HOWEVER…” He added, cutting off any outburst. “I’ve fought in much worse situations and came out the victor. We both are strong in our own right, however, I was once a soldier myself, part of the toughest, meanest, and deadliest bastards on the face of our planet. Myself and Kris can train your troops to my standards and if you let me, I can make better armor and weapons. We do this right, when we make our move, the most you will lose is at MOST 500, no more. But in order to get your troops up to strength, training them, requiping them, and making the stratagems, that all will take time. But I can promise that the wait will be worth it.” He said, waiting for her response.

Chrysalis leaned back in her throne with a stern gaze. “I’m afraid time is something we don’t have. As I had stated, our reserves of love energy are low. Even more so due to what was needed for my casters to bring you two here. It required a great amount of power and love energy. If we do not act soon, the love energy we have left will be used up and we’ll be left with nothing.”

“You said you feed on love right? So why not feed on us? We have a LOT of love to give, I’m pretty sure we can spare a good portion.”

Chrysalis grinned a moment, but then gave a sorrowful look. “Are you sure? This is such a huge hive and there’s only the two of you. I’m not sure you would be able to provide enough love energy for the whole hive.”

“You won’t know if we don’t try. We’d be willing to help. That is why we were brought here after all right?” Kris asked.

Chrysalis smiled. “True.”

Cory then smirked. “Besides, this thick headed baboon doesn’t really know how to do much but love, so you got the equivalent of true spring water with him and filtered water with me.”

“HEY! Who you calling a baboon ya dumb ape?” Kris retorted.

“I don’t really need to open THAT can of worms. Point is, we’re willing. Just give it a chance.” Cory said.

Chrysalis hummed in thought. “Fine. But we don’t have much materials for making better weapons or armor given our location.”

“You let me worry about that, I’ve had to work with less before and got by. As long as you have a forge or at least something to contain a good bit of fire, I can work with it.”

“And what about you?” Chrysalis said looking to Kris. “You’ve been fairly silent through most of this.”

“Well your majesty, I am well trained in many forms of martial arts and could take on a hundred men easy. But when it comes to strategy for war and such, that’s where my friend here comes in. I’m not much of a strategist. He is.”

“Fair enough.” Chrysalis replied.

Cory then rolled up the map and put it in a pocket. “Well then, shall we now test how potent our love is then?”

“Yes, please do.” Chrysalis replied.

“You may need to help us with that. We know you feed on love, but how would you go about getting it? Do we just show we love you or do you have a way to draw it out?”

“Normally a changeling would take on and copy the form of a pony another was in love with. As the victim showed that love for the pony that was being imitated, they could draw on that love, then mezmerize them to draw out more of their love to drain them. The process can leave the victim drained if they are unwilling. However we’ve never had a willing one so we don’t know how it would affect you.” Chrysalis stated. “Try thinking of someone you love and focus on that thought. That should draw out the love of you so we might feed on it.”

Cory winced. “Ah, that might be a problem. For me at least, there’s no one back home I do love like that. However, I think I might have an idea that can work based on that.” He then looked at Chrysalis and the love could be sensed, just ready to burst out of it’s too small container.

Kris did the same and looked Chrysalis over.

Chrysalis raised a brow at first as the two were looking at her but then sensed the love in them. “How are you...I...do not understand.” She questioned.

“What?” Kris asked.

“How are you giving off this love energy just by looking at me?”

“Well, because you are the only one filling our thoughts. Whatever love you’re sensing is because of you.” Cory said.

Chrysalis actually blushed but looked away closing her eyes. “Hmph, well, that is a rather...interesting thing. Whatever.” With that, she took in the love she sensed from the two. As she did, they wouldn’t feel drained or weakened. She would also find out rather quickly that no matter how much she took, there was more to take its place. They were like bottomless pits of love. “So much love from just you two. Incredible.” Chrysalis said almost in awe. She smiled almost wickedly. “Thank you both for your contribution. Be sure to spread this to the rest of the hive.”

“Of course your majesty.” Kris said bowing.

Cory bowed as well. “With this, they should regain their strength. We can provide what they need, and once they are well again, we can begin training.”

“Excellent. You have my thanks.” Chrysalis said. “Now go, let us begin the work.”

“As you wish.” Kris replied with another bow with Cory.

Cory rose and looked to Kris. “Let’s go. We have a hive to help out.” He said before moving for the exit before stopping. “Oh, right. Almost forgot.” He gave love once more, but this time to the guards present. “Can’t have the queen’s personal guards starving, can we?”

Kris gave out some as well to help.

The guards all smiled as they took in the love almost with blissful smiles. “Thank you.” They said to the two.

Kris gave a wink. “No problem.” They continued from there to spread love throughout the hive.

After a few hours of this, an issue arose. Both Cory and Kris heard their stomachs growling. Cory never did get to making those enchiladas. Cory rubbed his belly before looking at a changeling nearby. “Excuse us, do you know if there’s any wildlife nearby?”

“I’m afraid not. Our hive is located in the middle of a wasteland. No life other than us around.” The guard stated.

Kris’s eyes widened at this. “We have to get out of here and find some food.” Kris whispered to Cory.

Cory nodded before looking at the changeling again. “I see, then I’m to assume that the nearest forest or any source of animals would be in Equestria?”

“Correct. The closest forest is the Everfree forest but that forest is dangerous and full of dangerous creatures.” The male changeling guard informed.

“I’m sure we can handle whatever dangers are there if we can get some food.”

“You….eat meat?” The changeling asked.

“Well these teeth ain’t for mashing potatoes.” Kris joked showing his teeth.

Cory nodded to the changeling. “We eat both meat and plants, but meat holds what we need to survive. We don’t need it constantly, but we do need it at least once a month. Though for this on, it’s more like once every three days.” He pointed at Kris.

“Okay, seriously, what’s with all the pokes at me lately?” Kris asked looking annoyed.

“We are in a different world with no tv, no video games, and no internet and you are questioning my choice of fun?”

Kris’s expression flattened. “Fair enough.”

The guard cut in. “I’m afraid if you want to go out to find any food, you’ll have to inform the queen.”

Cory looked to the guard and nodded. “Alright, we’ll go ahead and do that. Come on Kris.”

“Right.” Kris replied. They made their way back to the throne room to confront the queen. “Your majesty, forgive our intrusion but we have a request.” Kris stated.

“Very well, what is it?” Chrysalis asked.

“You see your majesty, we’re rather hungry and we could really use something to eat, however as we have learned, the nearest forest with anything we could eat is the Everfree. So with your permission, we’d like to head out to the forest to get something to eat.”

Chrysalis furrowed her brow suspiciously. “I suppose, but you will not be leaving without an escort. SILK!”

Another changeling guard came buzzing in. This one, a female changeling, seemed a bit meeker than the other guards. “Yes mam. You called your majesty?” She replied firmly with a salute.

“You are to escort these two to the Everfree Forest so they might get something to eat.”

“As you wish your majesty.” The mareling replied with another salute.

Cory eyed the mareling, liking what he saw before bowing to Chrysalis. “Thank you for your kindness.”

“Thank you.” Kris replied bowing.

“Go, find yourselves some food. It wouldn’t do to have my prize soldiers going hungry.” Chrysalis said with a smile.

The two humans and Silk bowed again before they left. Heading outside the hive, they saw that they were indeed surrounded by what could only be a wasteland as it was all just sand and dead trees. However, there was some sign of green far off in the distance a few miles away. They began their trek with Silk hovering along. “So Silk, you seem a bit younger than most of the other guards. May I ask how old you are?”

“Nineteen sir.” She replied firmly like she was a soldier answering a question from her superior.

“How long have you been a guard?” Cory asked.

“Since my nineteenth birthday sir, six months now.” Silk replied.

Cory smiled. “I see. I was taken in to be a soldier at fifteen. While most would have been horrified at me becoming a child soldier, it was still one of the better moments of my life.”

“I started training in martial arts when I was just a kid. It was a long and hard road but I turned out tough. I had to do all kinds of body toughening training and exercises. Walking over hot coals, lifting a boiling pot of water with just my wrists, punching sand, all kinds of things.” Kris stated.

“With all do respect sir, I don’t really care much. I am merely following my queens orders.” Silk said.

“Ouch, harsh. So you’re not interested in being friends?” Kris asked.

“I am merely following my queen’s orders.” Silk replied again.

“Maybe, but she never said you didn’t have to get to know us. And you got to punch sand? You were lucky, I was stuck punching ironwood trees till they fell over and had to move on to the next one.” Cory said looking at Kris at the end.

“Well I started out punching sand, then moved up from there all the way TO the iron wood trees myself like what you were doing.” Kris said. “And kicking boulders till they cracked.”

The two went on a bit comparing the grueling training they went through before they finally reached the edge of the wasteland and the green grass with a few sparse trees. From there, Silk led them further on till they reached a thick forest. “This is it, the Everfree Forest. Now remember, it’s dangerous so stay close so I can keep you safe.” Silk stated as she led them in.

“Were you not paying attention to the training we said we went through?” Kris said. “I’m sure whatever dangers there are, we can…” Kris continued before he stopped. They had entered the thicket of the forest as Kris was talking. Just before them though now was a pink mare with a poofy pink mane and tail. “PONY!” Kris called out with a big smile.

“HUMAN!” The pink mare also called out in joy. SOMEHOW they ended up in sync as the two hugged each other and jumped up and down in joy and excitement. Said mare was wearing a pink and white tank top with pink shorts.

Cory stared in disbelief with Silk at the sheer luck, though good or bad was up for debate, at encountering a pony, Pinkie Pie of all ponies. He then sighed and rubbed his face. “When it rains, it pours.”