Chapter 1: A queen's burden
It was a rainy night in the Everfree forest as former queen Chrysalis had stumbled into her cave with only a small saddlebag of food that could last her about 4 months, as soon as she stepped inside however. She set her saddlebag on a rock she always used as a table with a loud [thud], which echoed through the cave itself. "D-Damn it, this pain is unbearable." She groaned to herself as she held her side in pain. She wasn't bleeding there, but it was an illness that was causing her so much pain.
"If I am going to die like this, then I wish to be forgotten." She continued, speaking to merely herself.
"Not if I can help it my queen." Spoke somepony behind her, which made her turn around in confusion. But who she saw wasn't a mere pony, it was another changeling. She believed she was hallucinating, because all of her subjects had left her rule to live lives of peace and prosperity. And those who stayed loyal to her had since disappeared, gone without a trace.
"V-Villex?! I-Is that you!?" Chrysalis asked in shock, wondering if she was seeing anything other than the real former second in command of hers.
"Yes my queen, in the flesh. And I wish to reaffirm my rightful place under your rule, even if you're not keen on ruling over one subject." Villex spoke with pure honesty before bowing in honor in front of the ill former changeling queen, his loyalty had faltered before. But he never wished to abandon the only queen who has been watching over her kind for centuries, only to die alone and ill.
"I'm afraid I have given up my title of queen when you all left. And ever since, I have been in my own self-loathing and self-hatred for abusing my rule over you all. And-..." Was all Chrysalis could say before she fell to the ground on her side and puking up a green liquid like a volcanic eruption, her pain growing in the process. As soon as her pain ebbed, and her puking came to a stop, she wiped her mouth and coughed hard. "Ugh... That one hurt worse than the others, and was more intense than I could fathom."
_meanwhile in Canterlot_
Princess Celestia was leaning on her balcony feeling for any signs of danger or unusual energy spikes, until she felt somepony's magic start to flicker and fade. Which made her eyes shoot up in horror as she realized what was happening, and who she felt. "I-It can't be... Can it? She-She's not... She's... Dying? Oh mother of me." Was all Celestia could say before she rushed to her desk, and swiftly wrote a letter to the mane 6 with urgency. She hadn't always agreed to putting her differences with Chrysalis aside, but she felt like leaving her to die in pain would be dishonorable.
_Back with Chrysalis_
"My queen? Are you okay?"
Villex asked Chrysalis with worry on his face, remaining by her side. He was not used to seeing his queen in such pain and illness before he left. Yet his sworn duty was to keep her alive, even if it meant sacrificing himself for her.
"The Enophage has sadly been the worst struggle I have been going through since my rise to be queen, yet now I struggle to find reason not to join the well of souls."
Chrysalis said in sorrow, her head slowly leaning downward as she closed her eyes. She remembered her mother, the queen of the Changelings before her. And how she died in an act of bravery, and how powerless she felt to save the one pony who could have made life worth living for 2 more centuries.
"D'Var and the others knew that this scenario would happen, yet none of us would have assumed you of all ponies would be afflicted my queen."
Villex said in sorrow, knowing the danger of such a severe and unresearched illness. The thousands of Changelings affected, the deaths had in the old caves, and the friends and family lost over time.
For so long, he believed that his queen would never have to suffer such a condition. Nor did he wish it upon another Changeling, unless they abandoned her. But now that he had returned from what he felt like was a munity against his only worthy leader, he wished he was infected instead. So that way, his queen could not suffer. And his punishment would be served justly.
"For the many that abandoned your cause, I will remain loyal to you for all the time you have left my queen."
He said to her comfortingly, trying to give the soul he believed needed it most, a brighter sight before she died.
"Thank you Villex. I may have little time left, but I am proud to call you my first ever friend."
Chrysalis said as she raised her head to look at her second in command in the eyes, tears starting to form in her eyes. And a smile starting to form on her lips. Despite dying by an illness, she knew she did not have the choice to simply fake her death. As the Enophage had also affected her magic, forcing her into going in a more traditional form of survival. The way of ancient explorers, whom gave their lives to found magic and society as each Changeling knows today.
_Back in Canterlot_
"We had received your message princess Celestia, and want to save her as best we can."
Twilight Sparkle said to her former teacher, with a serious expression on her face, knowing the urgency of the matter. She still has certain distrust for the Changeling queen, after the incident at her brother's wedding. But when the royal leader of her land requested her and her friends to fine a way to heal her to full health, there was no time to argue or turn back. Regardless of who they were, all life was precious in her opinion.
Author's Note
There's more to come in this story of sorrow, loss, and struggle to climb the hill of redemption. Please stay tuned for future chapters yet to come, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
