A groan escaped from Ocellus as her eyes slowly fluttered opened. Her body ached almost she had participated in a wonderbolts marathon. As her eyes opened at first her sight was blinded by a harsh light. It made them shut almost as quickly as they opened; when she opened them again she brought her hoof up to cover them. Slowly, she sat up only to be gently pushed back down. Her back made contact with something very soft and comfortable. She heard a voice but her sense of sound had not returned to her. She looked around with her blurred vision; seeing multiple splotches of moving colors.

“......she.......up.” She heard a voice say; but, her hearing was so muffled that she couldn't tell who it was. It was then an annoying ringing sound was heard. It lasted for a few seconds and then stopped.

She heard a voice call her name, “Ocellus?” She recognized the voice.

To her left where the voice had come from she saw an orange splotch. Her eyes focused on the being and soon; she found herself staring back into the concerned face of her friend Smolder. She answered with her name, “Smolder?” She was then wrapped into the warm embrace of a very caring hug. The changeling could feel the relief the young dragoness was feeling. Along with a few other emotions.

Smolder spoke, “You're okay,” She sniffled which surprised Ocellus. Never before had she seen or heard her usually tough friend cry, “I'm so glad that you're okay.” She finished.

Ocellus asked, “Smolder,” She groaned a little from another wave of pain, “What happened?”

Smolder replied, “You don't remember do you?”

Ocellus shook her head in confusion before speaking again, “Remember what? Please, Smolder tell me.”

She was answered with silence; a silence the set an eerie feeling in the hospital room they occupied. Eventually, a sigh from the dragoness broke the silence. Smolder then walked over and pulled a nearby chair closer to the bed. She sat down and stared right at Ocellus.

She then asked, “Do you Remember the class trip?”

Ocellus thought for a moment; although the memory was vivid she did remember their class taking a trip. She nodded her head. Smolder then continued, “We had just left the Everfree forest; professor Applejack wanted to show us where her family had discovered the Zap apple trees. It was going well,” another silence came upon the two, “And then.....there was an earthquake.” Smolder finished.

Ocellus questioned, “Earthquake?” after a minute she gasped as the memory came rushing back to her.

She remembered her and her friends finding it hard to stand on their feet. The ground shook violently beneath them. Silverstream and Smolder both grabbed Yona. While Gallus grabbed Sandbar. She tried to also help by flying, but the ground opened up beneath her. She screamed as she fell into the ravine. Watching as the light fro above faded to black.

Ocellus spoke, “I remember but how did I get here?”

Smolder answered, “What I'm about to say may sound crazy. But, we found you back at the school. You were laying on the steps unconscious,” Smolder grew silent again, “That was four days ago.”

Ocellus released a small gasp when she heard that last part. Four days? She had been out of it for four complete days. Her mind had all but stopped working at the point. They were silent once more but the silence was broken again by the door opening. In stepped a nurse who was happy to see the young changeling was awake. She quickly left to go get the doctor on duty; while Smolder said a quick goodbye and left to go get the rest of their friends.

For the remainder of the Ocellus simply layed in bed. Her body ached all over; her throat felt dry. And, for some odd reason, she felt very, very, very sleepy. Even though she had been asleep for four days. Her friends came and visited her; the teachers from the school, and her family along with Thorax came and visited her. She was happy to seem them all. And, they were happy to see that she was well. Eventually, the sun had set and visiting hours had ended. Ocellus felt alone in the room but as the doctors said. She needs her rest so that her body could heal. Her mind began to drift back into the peaceful realm of sleep. She then felt a strange sensation; almost as if something was in the room with her. She looked around but saw nothing.

“Get up.”

Ocellus nearly screamed when she suddenly heard a voice off to her right. She sat up in bed and looked around. Where did that voice come from? The room was dark only illuminated by the light just outside in the hallway. She took in a deep breath and settled herself back down; she could feel herself growing tired once more. Her eyes started to shut and she could feel herself succumb to sleep.

“Get up!”

She shot up again the voice she heard before sounded a little louder. She began to shake a little in fear. Her eyes darted left to right scanning the room around her. She tried to find the pony or creature the voice had belonged too. But, there was no one else in the room. Why was she hearing this voice? What did it want?

“GET UP!”

Ocellus screamed, “Okay! Okay!” She got out of the bed inadvertently pulling the cords to her I.V out of her arm. She hissed a little in pain as she scanned the room again. Her mind raced with fear as she tried to figure out who or what was talking to her. She took in a deep breath and asked, “Okay, what do you need me to do now?” She asked for it.

It responded, “Go out into the hallway and take a left.”

Ocellus did as she was told; she walked out and took a left. She continued to follow the voice directions. Never questioning any of them; only doing what she was told by it. It eventually leads her outside. She was now standing in front of the hospital in Ponyville. She was a little confused by this; where was it leading her?

The voice commanded, “Fly.”

She did as she was told and opened her wings. She fluttered rapidly and took to the sky. Once airborne the voice told her to fly all the way to Canterlot. She was tempted to ignore the voice now. But, after another shout from it, she started to fly towards Canterlot. The wind felt cool against her exoskeleton. Her wings ached fro the distance she had traveled. Her body ached and pleaded for rest. But, the voice continued to make her go where it needed her to go. It did eventually tell her to land; thankfully it was near a water fountain. After getting a much-needed drink of water; she continued to follow the voice. It leads her through a large hedge maze; at first, she thought it was leading her in circles. It told her to turn left then right, go straight, go back, it told her every direction except for up and down. Eventually, she did reach her destination. Her destination was one she never thought she would ever see again. It was the statue of Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy glow. Each of them frozen in place for all eternity.

Ocellus focused her gaze on her former queen. Even in defeat, she refused to give up the fight; how as she was being blasted by the combined magics of Celestia, Luna, and Discord. She still lunged at them hissing a battle cry with fangs bared. She was a true monster and the very reason why the changeling race was looked down upon.

Ocellus chuckled before she spoke, “It's because of you I still sometimes get called a monster,” She stared up at Chrysalis as she walked closer, “Do you know how much it hurts being compared to you,” Ocellus could feel her anger rising, “The other week I got a note saying I should go back to the hive. The other-day.....well week also. Forget it! Some-creature filled my locker with bug spray.” She didn't notice but with each step. A patch of grass would burn underneath her hooves. She now stood directly in front of the statue. She finished, “But, the most recent one,” She paused as a tear rolled down her face, “Was how some colt told me how my “Outside” can always change. But, on the inside nothing changes; how I'm still a changeling! How I'm nothing but an emotional predator! HOW I AM STILL A LITTLE, EVIL, LOVE EATING, BUG!”

Ocellus screamed as her body began to heat up. She groaned in pain as she moved away from the statue. The heat, the heat, it was unbearable and it was only getting hotter. She felt something else; she felt a presence. A strong presence, a dark presence, she felt vengeance, tasted it. Her groaning soon turned to laughed; while she looked down at her hooves. She brought one of them up; her exoskeleton was turning pitch black. But, not through the way she was transformed before. No, this time her body was being changed by fire. She began to laugh hysterically; almost like she had lost all of her sanity. Her body becoming engulfed in flames. Her laughter echoed through the empty streets of Canterlot; almost like a sick and twisted battle cry. When it was all over it was no long Ocellus standing there. It was another creature with the body of a changeling. Its exoskeleton was charred black; along it's back two burnt wings had sprouted. While in the holes on its body fire danced. But, it was the creature's head that was truly terrifying. Unlike the rest of its body, it's skull was pale white; with a fire burning brightly all around it. The creature slowly lifted it's head while releasing a truly demonic screech.

Slowly it turned around and looked at the statue; it quickly walked up to it and placed its hoof upon its' base. The statue glowed brightly and one by one each of them was freed. They lay on the ground moaning a little from the pain and stiffness in their bodies. Chrysalis got to her hooves and shook her head. Trying her best to quickly regain her senses. She then looked out in front of her; coming face to face with the creature.

Chrysalis hissed threateningly, “Who are you?”

The creature lifted only one hoof at her. It spoke in a voice that belonged to a monster, “You,” the hiss it spoke with made Chrysalis back away a little in fear, “GUILTY!” It then opened it's mouth allowing a long chain to fall out. The chain wrapped itself around its body almost like a snake. Chrysalis tried to fly away but she felt hot metal wrap around her body. She screamed as she was violently pulled back down and into the creature's hold. It roared at her as it stared her in the eyes.

It spoke, “No more running!” It then reached to her back and ripped both of her wings off. It loved the sound of her scream. It was filled with nothing but pain; it felt her bite it's the shoulder. Only to hear another scream of pain. It then made her look into its eyes again. It spoke to her, “You have shed so much innocent blood,” Chrysalis was shaking in fear while tears started to fall from her eyes, “Your soul is stained by the blood of the innocent.” Fire swirled around inside the creature's eyes as it finished, “Feel their pain.”

Chrysalis felt it she felt it all. All the victims she drained the love out of. All the broken hearts; everything from physical and emotional attacks. The fire consumed her but not her body. Her very soul was being burned. Her eyes were black as coal; as she was slowly and painfully killed by her actions. The creature threw her body to the ground like a child does when bored with a toy. It turned to face the other two. Who looked at it with faces so white one would mistake them both for Blueblood.

Tierk tried to speak, “We...we.” He never got to finish for the creature had wrapped him in its chain. Only to burn him alive with it. Tierk screamed in pain as his entire body was reduced to ash.

Cozy glow screamed in terror as she looked at her former companions. Chrysalis was gone and now was Tierk. She looked at the creature who was slowly walking towards her. Out of instinct, she took flight. Only to scream in pain as something hot swiped her back. She fell hard to the ground; groaning and crying a little in pain. Until she gasped in horror; lying just in front of her were her wings. The creature now stood in front of her; it picked her up off the ground and roared at her.

Cozy glow begged, “Please, don't hurt me.”

The creature growled, “It's not me who you should be scared of,” A glow came from underneath Cozy. She looked down and her eyes with wide with pure terror, “Cozy glow,” It spoke as it lifted her higher, “GO........... TO HELL!” it threw her down into the portal. Cozy glow screamed as flames and hands wrapped around her body. She felt her flesh being burnt completely off; she screamed for her mommy and daddy. But, nothing was going to save her. The portal closed and the creature roared loudly in victory; before it spread its wings and took flight.

It flew all the way back to Ponyville; landing in front of the school. Twilight had already started to raise the sun. It groaned a little in pain as its body began to turn back into that of Ocellus. When the sun was fully raised. Ocellus lay passed out in the main hall of the school. Only to be discovered by a student who had woken up early. As she lay her eye's fluttered open once. As her eyes blinked fire danced inside her pupils. Whatever the creature was.....it was inside of her.

Author's Note

chapter 1 of a story I had a dream of for some reason. yeah, I know strange but anyway. leave a like and please leave a comment with some constructive criticism or advice. would like to improve my writing if I can.