Dark as Chitin

Chapter Music

“So, let me get this straight. You allied with a child and some washed-up old guy to overthrow what were debatably the strongest, wisest entities in Equestria at the time?” I crudely recounted the event that got Chrysalis in this mess as I walked through the caverns.

She scoffed in return. “You could only understand if you were there.”

“Oh no, I understand. I understand perfectly.” I teased.

“Your sarcasm isn’t very appreciated, colt. But I’ll let that slide.” Chrysalis sneered.

“Right, right. I’ve been wondering for a while, where exactly am I going? I’ve been walking for hours.”

“If I remember correctly, the diamond dogs I ‘hired’ connected these tunnels to several locations. One of them being the Everfree Forest, the Crystal Empire as you already know, and lastly Fillydelphia.”

“Fillydelphia, really?”

“Ugh, I know. Ponies seem to spread their influence wherever they can. And they said I was egotistical.”

I chuckled at this. “Anyway, I’m going on a limb and guessing I’m heading to the Everfree Forest.”

“Oh, what makes you say that?”

“Roots are becoming more abundant. That could only me that there are trees above. Trees are indicative of forests.”

“Clever colt. You must have acquired quite a bit of my knowledge from the hive mind during your incubation period. You’re correct, we are heading to the Everfree Forest. It is there where I’ll teach you everything about being a changeling, a true changeling. A hostile, unpredictable environment that will push you to the edge of life every day where certain skills are key to survival will be perfect for your upbringing.”

“Wow, I can’t wait,” I murmured.

Chrysalis laughed maniacally.

I had been walking for what felt like hours, and I learned quite a bit from my mother during that time. I still can’t get used to familial titles, I’m not sure why.

Changelings have the ability to transform into practically anything and mimic it. Transformation possibilities are heavily dependent on magic knowledge, control, and power. Altering size requires more magic. The more drastic the change in size, the more magic that was required. Mimicking the abilities of a creature is more complicated than mimicking its form because you actually need to understand the mechanisms behind its abilities to copy them.

It was even possible to breed with other species. Don’t ask. Let’s just say my mother had to do some fairly unsavory things to keep the species thriving.

I had to admit, the prospect of shapeshifting was really exciting. For the first time in a while, I felt a smile form across my muzzle. As I walked, I noticed several beams of light permeating the darkness of the caverns. “Looks like I’m getting close to the surface.”

“Good, carry on.”

“I’ve been curious. Where are the rest of the changelings, why am I alone?”

“I wouldn’t care if those traitors ended up in Tartarus,” Chrysalis snapped.

“Woah, where’s this animosity coming from?”

“They are of no consequence to us, so just forget about them,” Chrysalis reassured.

I figured that must have been a touchy subject for her. Brushing it aside, for now, I continued walking. After a short while, the cavern opened up to a moderately large ravine. And for the first time since being born, I saw light. It stung my eyes for a moment before my eyes adjusted. Everything looked so vivid.

“Good, you’ve made it. Your first task is to climb out of this ravine. Do try not to perish.”

“You’re kidding me, this ravine is way too steep.”

“That’s why I said climb,” Chrysalis chuckled.

Sometime later...

After 14 tries, several hours, and a sore flank, I managed to nearly climb out of the ravine. The trick was simple; dig my right forehoof in the side of the ravine along with my left hind hoof, then switch. Just a few more meters and I’m home free, or so I thought. One misstep was all it took before I was plummeting to my demise. Regardless of my anatomy, I was pretty sure a fall from this height would surely do some significant damage.

I was so shocked I couldn’t even scream. I was falling fast, so I had to think fast. I desperately racked my mind for a solution, but nothing came up. Was I going to die so soon after being born?

No, I can’t die. As I drew closer to the ground, a fire inside me began to burn hotter. 4 meters. I can’t die! 3 meters. My back hurts like hell! 2 meters. Please! 1 meter. The pain in my back reached its peak and vanished all at once. I shut my eyes tightly, bracing for impact, but it never came. In fact, it felt like I was suspended in the air, a light buzzing filling my ears.

Chrysalis spoke up. “Congratulations, you’ve learned how to fly. You may open your eyes now.”
I opened my eyes and instantly fell on my face. I shakingly stood up and rubbed my muzzle.

“I thought I was going to die.” I stammered.

“I will admit, you had me worried for a bit, but you pulled through. Well done, my little prince.”

“Right, thanks. But why didn’t you tell me I could fly earlier?”

“Because you couldn’t. You needed... stimulation. Most changelings take months to fly, let alone talk, yet you managed to do both in less than a day. I’m impressed,” Chrysalis confessed.

Dang, I’m like a prodigy or something. Looking over my shoulder to get a better look at my wings, I found that my wings appeared to be transparent and riddle with holes, similar to my legs. I willed them to move and they did. Strangely enough, the holes didn't seem to hinder their functionality. Being able to move them now felt like second nature whereas before it was almost nonexistent.

I put significantly more effort into my wings. Little by little, I won the battle against gravity. I was flying. Really flying. No tricks or gimmicks. Setting my sights at the top of the ravine, I took off with a burst of wind.