The hungry cries of her children rang out over the Dead Lands, or rather, the hungry cries of those who still had the strength to cry out rang out. Her venomous green eyes stared at the far off horizon, cursing that pathetic Princess and her beautiful lands full of love for perhaps the hundredth time.
She closed her eyes as a particularly anguished cry echoed. It saddened her greatly to hear them suffer, and the knowledge that that was all they were going to do, suffer from their hunger, would have been heartbreaking, if she had a heart to break. It was a blessed curse that none of her children could die of hunger, but they could very well feel the pain.
Queen Chrysalis flinched in memory of the failed invasion a week ago. The most frustrating part of all was that her own actions led to her failure. If she hadn’t sent that medling unicorn into the mine’s, she would not have found that insufferable Alicon, and they would not have escaped in time.
But, she thought to herself, there is no point in crying over spilt blood, is that how that old saying goes? Bah it doesn’t matter. The ruler of the Dead Lands rose to her rotten hooves and began to trot towards her personal chambers.
I must find a source of food for my people, but even if I do, they are too weak to move, much less attack, how can I hope to conquer that cursed Equestria if I have no subjects strong enough to invade? She bitterly asked herself.
Then a haunting laugh burst into her mind, followed quickly by a menacingly innocent voice answering her unspoken question. “Why don’t you simply create more of your ‘Subjects’, my dear?” The voice was terrifyingly familiar, but she could not remember the name of the creature that now spoke within her mind.
“How are you talking to me? Where are you hiding!” she cried out at him. The decayed horn atop her head glowing a sickly green, while light of the same color illuminated the dark room.
The voice laughed again, “Ahaha, oh my dear Chrysalis, I am far, far away, my body locked in an accursed prison, but my mind is allowed to wander freely, and I couldn’t help but hear your desperate question. Now, back to business…”
“Wait!” she called, “ How do I know you won’t simply free yourself from whatever level of tartarus you reside in and betray me?"
She could hear the grin in his voice, “Because my dear, you won’t be taking over Equestria.”
The queen eyes widened, “Then what will I be doing?” she asked softly.
“why, you will make Celestia’s love for her subject’s her down fall my dear. You see, her unending love for her precious ponies is a weakness. If you start to harm her little subjects, than her love for them will feed your little subjects, not to mention the fact that your kind can feed of something more, lets say, substantial, than a simple emotion.”
Chrysalis’ eyes, narrowed, “What are you talking about, love is the only nourishment we require.”
“Oh nononononoooo, you are mistaken, my little queen, you see, You and all your little ‘children’ can eat real food, or in this case, meat.”
“You… you can’t be suggesting what I think you are…” she gasped softly.
“Oh, I assure you I am. And,” he paused, his voice dropping slightly even though she was the only one in the room, not to mention the only one able to hear him. “I also know of that little trick of yours.”
“I have no idea wha-”
“Don’t play dumb with me, I can see your memories. I can tell that you know what I’m talking about, just think about it! You would have fresh Changlings to invade with, not to mention the fact that all the ponies you take have loved ones whose love for them will allow the rest of your subjects to regain their strength. It brilliant!”
Queen Chrysalis closed her eyes and slowly nodded, “Very well, I will try your plan, but I am not going to… eat them. All that would do is reduce our food supply, and I am not going to waste any of that.”
“Oh, very well. You don’t what your missing though, with a little seasoning and the right sauce, you can make the most delicious Pegasus ste-”
“You disgust me, I can’t believe you would actually eat them, ugh!” she shuddered. Then sighed and continued with the business at hand. “Alright, I agreed to your idea, but where shall I begin? I doubt they’re leaving their boarders unmanned after that whole fiasco at the wedding.”
“Why, my dear, you just have to go through the Everfree, it’s treeline end’s within Equestria’s boarders.” His voice suddenly became filled with malice, “And I know the perfect little town for you to start your little attack with…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the same time as this grim conversation, across the Everfree forest, in the small town of Ponyville, the residents just beginning their day. The clouds in the sky were being obliterated by a rainbow blur, a small, slightly unimpressive stall of sat in the town market, being run by a young orange mare and her little sister, while the bakery a couple streets away was as busy as ever. Two unicorns sat in front of the pink building, one white and the other lavender, idly chatting while they waited for their other friend to bring them their breakfast.
And down the old dirt road that lead to the Everfree itself, a small cottage was busy with life of all sizes. Animals just waking up were crying for food, others who had been fed already were zipping out the door, and a single Yellow Pegasus catered to all their needs while a small leering white bunny sat on her back, impatient for his master to finish with her chores.
None of them new of the deadly force steadily making it’s way through the forest to their small town, none of them new that soon, an adventure would begin that would change the fate of Equestria.
And all it took was a whisper in a desperate Queen’s ear, to think that he hadn’t thought of this before. Oh well, Discord laughed, might as well enjoy the show. And so, the spirit of chaos made himself comfortable, or as comfortable as he could be, trapped in a stone casing exactly shaped to fit ones body, and watched through his minds eye as the events he set in motion began on their track to the inevitable conclusion.
Him, as ruler of Equestria once more…
