And With The Dawn Of True Peace

Prince Blueblood paces inside his personal chambers within the Castle. Come on, come on. Where are they? Don't they know that I have a schedule to keep? As he finishes though, he hears a loud rapping on the door and opens it to find an enormous cloaked figure and a grey mare with an orange mane. "Excellent. Come in, come in." The two enter as Blueblood securely locks the door and draws the blinds.

"How do we know this isn't some trick to capture us?"

The mares glare is even but betrays a conniving and cruel mind. "He's right. Why shouldn't we just tear you apart now that we're inside the castle? Why would we trust somepony willing to betray thier nation for his own gain?"

Blueblood chuckles patiently. "Because, if you kill me, you'd both be defeated before you can get anywhere near the throne room. Maybe you'd be fine" he gestures to the mare "but him?" He points at the towering figure."If I can get 'Queen' Void to drop her guard though, we can overthrow her and I can take the throne since have the strongest claim. By the time they realise who helped me, we'll be in complete control." He smiles cruelly. "And if they still won't fall in line, I'm sure that you will make short work of any desenters. And if you can't, you know what will happen."

Finally having had enough, the cloaked figure grabs Blueblood by the throat with the cloak falling loose. "Are you threatening us, pony?! All I have to do is suck our your magic and you'll be completely helpless."

Blueblood smiles at the enraged Minotaur. "If I was looking to betray you to Void, Lord Tirek, then why would I have helped you break out of Tartarus? Wouldn't I have just left you there to rot?"

He turns to the mare as she gives him her own scathing look. "And why else would I have had my friends in the Royal Guard look the other way when you left your hive, Chrysalis?"

Green flames shimmer over the mare to reveal the familiar black and green visage. "And what do you plan to do with Twilight and her friends? They are formidable and that Princess in the Crystal Empire is still out there."

She spits out the two names like they're the foulest venom but Blueblood smiles. "They're Dreads my dear; sustained solely by 'her majesty.' Take out Void before they can stop us and they will cease to exist. Cadance will be too busy grieving her poor husband to oppose us until it’s too late. And if not, we will all burn in Tartarus together."

Tirek snarls as he drops Blueblood hard. "Believe me, if your plan gets me sent back to Tartarus, you will wish you had been banished to the Sun."

Blueblood hides a gulp. "Don't worry. If we lose, I'll ensure that there isn't enough left of me to banish." Seemingly satisfied by the pony's frayed nerves, the three get to work planning the attack.

Four days later, Canterlot Throne Room

Queen Void has just finished court for the day when a Guard enters. "Your Highness, Prince Blueblood is here to see you."

Void smiles happily. "Send him in."

To Blueblood's credit, he keeps a straight if respectful face and manages to keep his excitement from his eyes. "Queen Void, I have come to you with a message."

Void puts on a welcoming smile. "Go on."

"Your reign is over, Nightmare Moon. You can come out now."

As he speaks, a loud crack is heard as Chrysalis and Tirek dispel an invisibility enchantment and Void gasps in terror. "N-n-no, it can't be! You're in-"

Chrysalis cuts her off by blasting her clean through her throne and into the wall before Blueblood restrains her in an energy bubble. "Pathetic. This is the mighty being that felled the Princesses? I defeated Celestia without breaking a sweat whilst her royal highness can't even take a single hit."

Tirek looks over his creation with disdain. "You disappoint me, Penumbra. I created you to drive a wedge in my enemies and here you are working with them. I certainly appreciate what you did to them but your most recent actions disgust me."

Prince Blueblood rolls his eyes. "Can we stop talking and kill her now?"

"NOI need the power of an Alicorn." Before he can inhale her magic though, Tirek finds himself being blasted back by a lavender laser and Chrysalis is forced back as she blocks another.

"What the hay?!" Blueblood spins around only to pale when he sees the Element Bearers glaring at him.

"Having fun, Blueblood? You'd happily triple team your Queen but can't put your bits where your mouth is when you meet greater numbers?"

Snarling, Chrysalis launches at the six but gets knocked down by a light pink energy blast from Princess Cadance. "Nice to see you again, Chrysalis."

Tirek inhales but is hoofed in the back of the head by Void and blasted by the Elements of Harmony. "NO! NO! NOT AGAIN!" Within seconds, he is sent back to Tartarus.

"One down, two to go." Blueblood stands his ground bravely only to be immediately tackled by four Guards.

Void turns to the Changeling Queen with a smile. "And then, there was one."

Chrysalis slowly edges her way towards the throne room entrance just to run into a stern looking Shining Armour. "And where do you think you're going?"

She immediately fires at him but he returns it with his own beam. They stalemate until Chrysalis cackles maddeningly. "What's wrong, Shiny? Couldn't stand to let your poor beloved live without you so you sold your soul to the devil? Your parents must be sooooooo proud of you."

Much to her horror, and despite her using the same brute force tactic that previously defeated Celestia, she sees his beam start turning black as it easily pushes back her own beam and slams into her body. Already weakened from prolonged starvation, Queen Chrysalis is picked up and thrown across the throne room like a tissue in a hurricane. "H-how?!"

Shining Armour chuckles darkly. "Turns out that being a Dread lets us harness our darkness for our attacks."

Queen Chrysalis coughs weakly but suddenly smiles insanely as she flashes her horn. "TO ME MY CHILDREN!" I can still salvage this; with those idiots out of my way, I can summon my Changeling army and crush them like ants. There's no way they could fight so many. She happily waits a few moments, grinning arrogantly at a bored looking Shining Armour but nothing happens.

"What?" She searches the hive-mind but finds it inactive so she flares up. "WHERE ARE THEY?!"

Void walks over with her own smile. "It turns out that Nightmare once dealt with your great, great, great grandmother and her hive. She defeated them by releasing a special spell that didn't hurt them but instead put them all into temporary comas. Your children will be fine once they wake up back in thier hive. They merely followed your orders and won't be punished but you..."

Chrysalis tries to hide her instinctive fear at the Alicorn's hardened eyes. "You're a absolute monster. Brainwashing a groom for his wedding, trying to conquer Equestria twice now, forcing your Changelings to follow your orders even when it got some of them killed, attacking not one but now two rulers... You'll get what's coming to you."

Desperate and heavily outnumbered, Queen Chrysalis decides to pull off one final desperate move and fires into the ceiling before instantly teleporting to her hive. Once she does though, she reappears in the throne room with the collapsed ceiling landing harmlessly due to a protective bubble placed above thier heads. "Really, Chrysalis? You thought I had prepared for your attack but didn't place an anti-teleportation field around the room?" Exhausted, Chrysalis lets out one final scream of anger before passing out.

With the excitement over, Queen Void approaches Blueblood as he hangs his head in misery. "How, how could we lose to you? I had two of the strongest beings Equestria has ever seen on my side." Void cackles as Scootaloo takes control to recount the story.

[]Four days earlier

As the three villains plot thier coup, Scootaloo watches from within the dark shadows of the room. As Nightmare's creator, Tirek can sense Nightmare Moon and the presence of rogue magic but a "random" filly whose body has adapted to be able to become shadows at will without using any magic? Virtually undetectable, especially when she is wearing a magic restricting inhibitor ring.

Rainbow Dash had been hearing rumours of a certain prince planning to betray her and Nightmare and it turns out that Blueblood's "friends" in the Guard are either corrupt officers who can be bought for the correct number of bits or spies planted by Celestia in case something like this happened. Looks like she wasn't as ignorant as we thought. Just much too tolerant.

After the three conclude thier meeting and the villains teleport to Chrysalis' hive, Scootaloo allows herself to re-merge with Void as she waits patiently in the throne room. "Well, how'd it go?" The rumours were right. Blueblood has recruited Tirek and Chrysalis with her hive to help him betray us in exchange for power.

Nightmare chuckles; even before the rumours, they had always expected it from one of the only two remaining ponies with claim to the throne. "Well, we're going to have fun aren't we?"

Present

With the story finished, Blueblood cowers before the smiling Alicorn who separates into her two selves. "What in the name of sweet Celestia?!!!!"

Scootaloo sighs. For a wannabe usurper, this guy really needs to get out more often. It's more or less an open secret who I am. "Prince Blueblood; for your crimes against Equestria, we sentence you to life in prison."

The Prince looks somewhat relieved but Scootaloo's smile becomes cruel. "You'll spend the rest of your life rotting away in the darkest and most unclean cell in Equestria."

His eyes go wide with horror. "W-wait, we can talk about this. I-I'll do anything you ask of me."

Scootaloo nods to the Royal Guards who drag him away. "Please not there, anywhere but there. NO!" He is dragged through the side-door which closes behind him as the remaining ponies examine the throne room.

"What a mess." Cadance's eyes fall on her nemesis' still unconscious body. "What do we do with her though?"

Scootaloo chuckles lightly. "I have some ideas."

Six hours later, the Crystal Palace's Dungeon

Queen Chrysalis sits up with a groan and shakes her head, Whoa, what happened? The last thing I remember is- She inhales sharply and puts a hoof to her horn to find an inhibitor ring around it.

"Welcome to the Crystal Empire, Chrysalis."

Chrysalis most certainly did not jump at the sound of Queen Void's voice and will tear you apart if you claim otherwise. "And what do you plan on doing with me 'your majestic highness?' Go ahead, execute me and prove your true colours."

The monarch chuckles. "I plan on doing nothing."

Chrysalis looks at her incredulously. "Queen Void, Nightmare Moon, the usurper, is planning on doing nothing to one of her nation's greatest threats? Even as you stare her down in captivity after she failed to assassinate you?"

Void just returns the foul look with a righteous smile. "I said that I won't be doing anything to you." The door behind her opens and she turns to leave. "I said nothing about anypony else."

As Chrysalis takes that in for a moment, Princess Cadance and Shining Armour enter and glare at the Changeling Queen. "Good evening, Chrysalis. Before we get started, you'll be happy to know that your hive is back up and running no worse for wear."

Although easy to miss, a small sigh of relief visibly leaves the Queen but her hateful expression doesn't change. "It's a real honour, Cadance. How's the marriage? I see you found yourself a new husband. Get tired of your old one?"

The two co-rulers shake thier heads and look at Chrysalis forlornly. "Chrysalis, why do you hate us so much?"

The Queen just stares. "Did Void do something to your minds?! You two, more than anypony else, already know why I hate you and especially your beloved sister."

Shining Armour face-hoofs. "What we meant is that you've always shown disdain for ponykind as if they are nothing more than sustenance for you."

Chrysalis gives them a predatory smile. "The closest thing to compare it to would be a cat and a mouse. You ponies are little more than a food supply for us and that's all you'll ever be."

Cadance sighs. This is going nowhere. "And the reason why you attacked our wedding was to gather enough energy to defeat Princess Celestia and take over the country so you could create a never-ending food supply for your people."

Chrysalis looks at them with disdain. "Congratulations, you're both not as dense as I thought." They perk up at seeing something sad in her eye. "But more than anything else, it was to help my starving people. 'One final push, one final attack and we will never go hungry again' is what I told now." She looks down with shame. "Now look at us; sealed in our hive with 24/7-armed surveillance and only barely able to survive off of the ambient love passing across the Badlands from Yakyakistan. I guess you would call it rationing."

Before the two can press the subject, Chrysalis lies back down on her bed. "Now go away. I need to rest."

The two monarchs exchange a look before leaving; having accomplished nothing but learnt a lot. Once outside, they bump into Void. "Anything?"

Cadance shakes her head. "She's still her normal defiant self but we learnt something very important."

Void smiles curiously. "Oh?"

The next afternoon

After finishing thier daily duties, Cadance and Shining enter the dungeon to find Chrysalis sitting expectantly. "I know exactly what you are trying to do." An extremely arrogant smile adorns her face. "You're trying to make me see the error of my ways so you can reform me like you ponies did with Luna, that insane abomination and that ridiculous magician. The Lame and Useless Pixie? Well, you can forget it. As far as I'm concerned, I've done nothing but try to help my family survive."

Becoming frustrated, Shining steps forward to glare at the defiant Queen. "You don't think usurping a Princess, crashing a wedding and brainwashing me was wrong?"

Chrysalis returns his glare with a shrug and a grin. "A means to an end. If your mother was ill and dying with the only way to save her being to overthrow Celestia, wouldn't you at least try?"

The Dread shivers. "For a Queen who was so arrogant and sure of herself the last time I saw you, you've certainly mellowed out a lot."

The Changeling rolls her eyes. "Why waste energy when I need all the energy I can get for when my subjects inevitably break me out of here?" Her smirk returns. "And besides, you two are the only good entertainment so why bother tiring myself out when I can have so much more fun calmly ripping into you?"

The two royals exchange a weary look as the Queen once again laughs. They've only been here three minutes but it already feels more like a month. "Why won't you admit that what you did was wrong, Chrysalis? You claim to be a loving mother but look where it's put your family."

She looks at them angrily. "Do you seriously think that I believe anything I did was right?! I'm not stupid, Cadance. I said that it was justified, not correct." The sad look returns from the day before. "And you think I like what has happened to my family?! We're trapped in our hive and very, very, very slowly starving to death whilst any of my children who managed to escape are being hunted down and brought back to the hive if they aren't killed on the spot. I did what I had to do."

Before they can reply, Chrysalis stamps the ground hard enough to crack the stone. "Now leave me alone. I'm done speaking for today and you won't learn anything else from me. I intend to stay here until my family comes after me."

"And if they don't?" The Queen doesn't answer.

Outside, Void is once again waiting. "How'd it go?"

Shining Armour sighs. "She hides it well but she regrets what she did on some level. She doesn't regret the action but believes that she did what she had to do for her hive and knows that it wasn't right. She is refusing to speak anymore."

Void sighs; she really is a hard villain to work on.Hey Penumbra? I might have an idea.

Slightly surprised, Void allows her to take control. Well Scoots, we're all ready to hear it.

That night

As Queen Chrysalis tries to sleep on the rock-hard mattress, her ears perk up at the familiar sound of buzzing outside her window. Took them long enough. Looking outside, she sees her trusted drone Pharynx flying outside with two Praetorian Guards.

Seeing as the inhibitor blocks her from the hive-mind, Pharynx gestures for her to stand back before he blasts away the windows and Chrysalis takes flight outside just as the door slams open. "SHE'S ESCAPED! SOUND THE ALARM!"

Before the other Guard can react though, Chrysalis and her escort are already far in the distance. "Good work, Pharynx. Remind me to make you a Praetorian if we get through this." The Changeling in question nods before they concentrate on making it back to the hive.

The Badlands Hive, Throne Room

The five Changelings manage to reach the hive just before sun-break though they soon collapse as Chrysalis feels the inhibitor ring get shot off. "My Queen, you escaped!"

Chrysalis looks at Pharynx like he's an idiot. "Of course I did. You broke me out of prison last night!"

Pharynx doesn't respond as he stares over at the nearby figure of... himself. Wait, how are there two of him? That's not- Chrysalis bares her fangs and fires an energy blast that is stopped by a shield. "SHOW YOURSELVES!"

At once, all three "Changelings" drop thier disguises to reveal themselves as being Dreads. All black but with pink-red, purple-white and purple manes. Despite everything, Chrysalis can't help but be surprised. Why would Void send fillies after me? Maybe she's finally flipped her lid. She suddenly gains a very happy smile. But now, we never have to worry about starvation ever again. Three immortals filled to the brim with love and happiness. "Seize them!"

As her Changelings advance though, they are knocked back by a shock-wave as Void flies down through the main entrance. "Good morning, Queen Chrysalis. I take it you had a pleasant journey back." Chrysalis is just left wondering if Nightmare Moon really has snapped; she's talking about her prison escape in the same tone with which you'd talk about the weather.

Getting no response from the Queen, Void nods at Scootaloo who encases herself and the Crusaders in a forcefield just in case things get ugly. "What now, Void? Can't you see we're already dying without you busting out your own prisoners and then storming thier home?"

Nightmare chuckles pleasantly. "I orchestrated this since I felt you'd be more receptive in your own home."

Chrysalis stares at her. Yep, definitely lost it. "You thought that the safest place to talk to me was in my home, surrounded by my children?"

Void shakes her head. "If I needed to, I could burn this entire hive into ash and not even break a sweat but I would rather not have to." The Changelings that have been gathering in the room take a decidedly big step back. "And besides, like you said, you only do what you feel is best for your hive. Fighting one of the oldest beings in Equestria is a fight you know they can't win."

Finally having had enough, Chrysalis slams her hoof down on her throne. "Get out of my hive or we'll throw you out!"

Void just watches on serenely. "Direct and to the point then, Queen Chrysalis. Put simply, I have come to offer you a solution to your hive's starvation."

The Queen's eyes roll so hard that it looks painful. "Yeah and I'm Princess Luna."

Void chuckles. "There is a place where you can take your hive and you would never want for food again. Where you can have a chance to live in peace with the inhabitants for the rest of your lives."

Chrysalis sighs. Queen Void truly is a lost cause. "If there was such a place, we would have found it years ago. And believe me, we tried."

Void shows her a smile. "And what if the reason why you never found it is because it only came back into existence a year ago?"

Chrysalis looks confused for a moment. "You don't mean..." Void nods but Chrysalis laughs insanely. "Forget it, we're freaks of nature and they'd never accept us after what we did to thier beloved rulers. I've heard of the Pure Heart before but never realised it was real until I was captive in that cell and felt its energy rejuvenating me. We can't stay changed permanently and pose as migrants either because it would put too much of a strain on our bodies and kill us anyway."

With Chrysalis clearly defeated, Scootaloo allows her shield to drop as she approaches. "Isn't it at least worth a try? Because the only alternative is wasting away here until your species goes extinct."

Chrysalis' head snaps to her. "What do you know? You're little more than a nymph." Scootaloo smiles before merging back into Void and back out though Chrysalis looks impassive.

"I thought I’d heard rumours about a filly being Nightmare Moon's new host. Figures it would be the wannabe relative of that show-off." She finally sighs. "I guess I really have no choice, do I?" Void shakes her head and extends a hoof. "If this backfires, Void, then prepare for a real fight." Both Queens shake hooves as history is made.

Two months later

Queen Void teleports into the caverns under the Crystal Empire, once a hiding place for King Sombra but now the new thriving hive of Queen Chrysalis. As she walks, she sees Pinkie Pie manage to appear out of a nearby wall; squealing about a "two months since the Changelings came to the Crystal Empire" party and scaring the hay out of two nearby Drones. Dread or no Dread, Pinkie will always be Pinkie.

It isn't long before she reaches the "palace" in the middle which is in reality just a hollowed out side-cavern where Chrysalis takes her court. The first few weeks were hard for the Changelings; as predicted by the Queen, they received a passive at best welcome to the Empire though fortunately no-pony has tried to attack them.

Chrysalis gazes up from a mountain of paperwork to see the Equestrian ruler. "Ah, Queen Void." Though she retains her arrogant and over confident personality, the Queen has mellowed out very slightly over the last two months without having to worry about starvation and outside attacks.

Void bows her head respectfully. "Good morning, Queen Chrysalis. I trust that everything is going well?"

The Changeling Queen nods even whilst eyeing her stack of work still yet to be finished. "Indeed. My hive has never been healthier and the Crystal Ponies seem to have mostly accepted our presence. I've had to be extra careful not to let my children do anything wrong though. The last thing I want is for them to have an excuse to rally the entire Empire against us."

Void chuckles. "Isn't that what all parents want?"

Chrysalis manages a very small smile before Void speaks again. "So, can I offer you a celebratory lunch at the palace?"

Her counterpart shakes her head and gestures at the paperwork. "Sadly, no. As you can see, I have a lot of work to do today and this all needs to be done in time for Pinkie Pie's party. See you there."

Void nods with a smile and waves goodbye as she leaves to go the Crystal Palace. With all of Equestria's threats now either sealed away once again or reformed, most of the kingdom’s major issues have been resolved.