It'd been years since I'd last set hoof in this god-forsaken city. If I recalled correctly, the last time was when I'd posed as Cadance and tried to overthrow that whore Celestia. The absolute state of Canterlot was more atrocious than my hive had ever been in and at it's worst my home had been unfit for any creature to inhabit. Oh, how the mighty had fallen.
Whoever was running the place now clearly had no sense of decor... or any sense at all, to be honest. There were no guards standing watch, no walls to keep out unwanted visitors, no perceivable defenses whatsoever. Waltzing into the city was as easy as it had ever been, even moreso than when I had disguised myself as that prissy pink slut.
I glanced back at the decrepit firearm lying across my back. It was held in place by a sling that wrapped around my chest. It had definitely seen better days, the metal rusting over at some points and the iron sights off by a few inches. Things like these weapons started springing up recently. I'd managed to nick mine off a mare foolish enough to piss me off months ago.
I'd never forget how delicious she was, one of the best meals I'd ever had. After the magic failed I had to find another source of sustenance. Feeding on love was no longer an option, I'd no way to syphon it from anything. The flesh and blood of living creatures had proven to be both satisfying and filling, once I'd enough time to acclimate to a particular flavor of course.
Pre-Loss I'd already been perceived as a terrifying fiend, the creatures of the world horrified of the insect queen who'd drain you of all your love until you were a husk. In this brave new world I'd become a monster, the dark, lanky demon that caught any living thing, slit it's throat, and then devoured it's freshly slaughtered corpse.
How delightful was that? The fools had even managed to get all the details correct. I relished in the fear I brought to all who caught a glimpse of my daunting form. Majority of the time encounters were already determined the moment I was recognized, so many cowards too petrified to move at the mere sight of me.
Perhaps that's why Canterlot was essentially empty. Maybe there'd been news of my arrival,. Who cares, I had to get back to the reason I had come to the ravaged capital. Improper care of my gun had caused swift deterioration of it's parts and therefore it's performance. While I didn't need the thing, it'd helped me when I was in particularly sticky situations.
Even with my infamous reputation, some idiots still made an ill-informed effort to slay me. Most attacks be they up close or from afar, bounced off my hardened carapace like it was made of the strongest magic, but I think what had really caused it's transformation were all those wonderful meals I'd partaken of.
Even as a lumbering nigh invincible force, I was still opposed by fools. The weakest weapons could fill a coward with confidence, however when I drew my own weapon against those same peons... well, needless to say, there was no courage left in their pathetic little bodies after that.
Now I desired a new weapon, at least another one better suited for long engagements. I'd enough daggers in my saddlebags to fight off an entire army. I much preferred the silence and... intimacy of an edged weapon, but daggers were much less effective the greater the distance between me and my prey became.
While knives could be used after a scrap as a utensil and had multiple other uses, these new things called guns had an obvious advantage at range. The only problem? The blasted things were absurdly hard to come by, at least in a fairly decent condition. Most creatures I'd interrogated confessed they'd come across the weapons by chance or traded for them from mysterious travelers.
What I really wished for were a few of those... modifications. I'd only ever encountered those things a single time. That griffon had actually put up quite a fight... well, as much of a fight as any inferior being could against me. The concealed blades inside it's wings had literally been made a part of it's body.
I'd been especially careful to avoid it's sharp claws, even if they might not have been able to penetrate my carapace, I'd not cared enough to find out. Heh, I guess in the end, I did anyway. I'd managed to bite down hard on one of it's wings with my fangs when the jagged pieces of metal sprouted from within it's feathers.
Unfortunately for him, the metal had not been strong enough to pierce my glorious body. Fortunately for me, I'd found out just how tasty griffons were that night. As I tore into it's corpse I found the internals of it's wings to be very interesting. The pieces of metal had been... implanted into directly into it's appendages, the flesh and steel becoming one.
Whoever had done the job was clearly an amateur, but such a powerful defense measure would've normally saved the griffon's life. Too bad he'd ran into me. Now I sought more powerful firearms and the being who'd modified that griffon. It was so very unfortunate I couldn't just steal mods from a creature as simply as a gun.
The Info I'd gotten had to have been false. There's no way all that knockoff tech had come from this craphole of a city. Where to even start? The most obvious place would be the castle, but if I ran into that whore Celestia or her nothing little sister, I'd pitch a fit.
No... no, there was no way they were still alive, not with their home and populace falling into a state of decay like this. They would never let it come to this, not while they breathed. Still, there was one thing that had me on edge. I was so very dangerously close to Ponyville.
I'd heard enough about the "Hope of Equestria". It had to be that brat Twilight Sparkle and... and that worm Starlight Glimmer. They'd made the small town into a bastion of friendship and without proper preparation not even I would be able to breach the thriving town.
Just viewing it from afar was evidence enough that they'd left the rest of the world behind. I was certain the most advanced technology came from the mind of Twilight Sparkle. They'd created an impenetrable utopia, one that would never fall, even without magic.
I would show them the folly of their ways, I just needed a little time and lot more power. Nothing had changed, even if all the magic was gone, I would put this world under my hoof. I would make them all bow to me... or I would devour them... either was an acceptable end for the degenerates that had chosen to oppose me.
There was no point in checking the interior of any of the buildings in Canterlot, that would be a complete waste of my precious time. After three years there'd be nothing left with any value in a place like this. No, anything useful would be in the castle and that's where I'd be able to verify if my entire trip here would garner any benefit.
As I sauntered past the gates of what was once the center of the great nation of Equestria, I could see the massive doorway open and welcoming. A solitary unicorn mare stood at the entranceway fidgeting awkwardly.
She was light blue, though the luster of her coat was long gone, probably due to the harsh conditions of the current times. Her mane and tail were both darker blue and white and were horribly disheveled. Whoever was caring for this pony was either dead or absolutely cruel... I'd bet on the latter.
Drawing close to the pitiful mare revealed two interesting tidbits of information. First, she was terrified... but not of me. Whoever her handler was must've done unspeakable things to her. Second, this was obviously a trap. If this pony was truly a genuine welcome party, she would be a lot more presentable.
I towered over the mare, glaring down at her with all the ferocity of a bloodthirsty beast. She cowered under the weight of my presence, her meager frame trembling even more now that she'd realized the danger she was in. I could snap her like a twig if I so desired and there were few strong enough to save her from my wrath.
"Y- Your Highness, my Master welcomes you t- to his city," she was unable to meet my eyes, her fear growing with each passing second, though she did give a perfect bow. Good, at the first sign of disrespect I would tear her gullet from her neck.
Her Master, huh? Someone must've gotten a big head once Celestia and Luna lost their place. Well, what better way to establish my dominance than by dealing with this "Master" of her's?
She waited for me to reply, but I would not. I continued to stare down at her, refusing to make a sound. Sometimes, silence was so much more intimidating than any other approach.
"I- If it pleases you, Your Highness," she cringed possibly due to my lack of cooperation. "I will show yo-" I slammed a hoof into her chest forcing her onto her back with a yelp. A wide grin came to my lips as I pressed my hoof down on her throat, the sounds she began to make so familiar by this point.
"Convince me not to kill you," I hissed at the struggling pony, her eyes somehow wider than before as she fought for air.
"P- Please!" she managed to croak out. Impressive, I was pushing down hard enough she shouldn't be able to form any coherent words. Just as her eyes rolled into the back of her head and the convulsions started I reluctantly lifted my hoof.
The mare sputtered and coughed nearly vomiting as she flipped onto her stomach. I wasn't only being cruel. It had been a calculated tactic. Her so called "Master" didn't value her life at all. I could have crushed her windpipe and nothing would have even made an attempt to stop me.
"Get up!" I ordered. There was no point in killing her right now, I wasn't even hungry. She stood to shaking legs that could barely keep her up. This mare had more tenacity than I gave her credit for.
"T- Thank you, Your Highness," she attempted another bow, but this time she nearly fell over.
"Take me to your Master!" I ordered again, watching the mare struggle to remain standing.
"Of course, Y- Your Highness," she whirled around and stumbled forward as she led the way. As we entered the castle, the doors slowly closed behind us, sealing us within.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Canterlot Castle was in shambles. If I'd thought the exterior looked bad, the interior made the outside look like a daydream in comparison. The mare and I walked in silence as we gradually drew closer to our destination. We'd not come into contact with any other creatures since entering the castle which lead me to one obvious conclusion.
There was an ambush awaiting me within the throne room. If this mare was aware of that fact or not would determine whether I would simply slit her throat or keep her alive as I consumed her limb by limb.
"Your Highness," once we reached the large double doors that lead to the throne the mare spoke quietly. I stared at her, waiting for her to decide her own fate. "They're waiting inside."
They? I lifted a brow. Was that her attempt at a warning?
"They're going to try to kill you," she whispered without looking my way. That much was apparent, but she'd saved her skin, at least for the time being.
"Move," I looked at the double doors.
"Your Highness, I'm suppos-"
"Do you wish to die?" I asked her calmly.
"No, Your Hi-"
"THEN MOVE!" I snarled. She jumped out of the way, still too fearful to look at me. I pushed the doors open, waltzing in the room like I owned the place. I mean, I soon would, after all.
The throne room was pristine, it's condition rivaling that of the state it'd been in for the wedding that nearly changed everything. I'd never get over what occured that day. NEVER.
Today, though? Today what met my eyes was a pompous white unicorn that I'd encountered once before. He lounged on the throne like he'd not a care in the world. If foolish arrogance could piss me off, I might be beside myself right about now.
"So the former Queen of the Changelings thinks she can come into my kingdom and do whatever she pleases?" Blueblood, the distant nephew of Celestia and Luna was far too confident. This was going to be delightful.
I walked slowly toward the throne, taking in my surroundings. In the event of an almost certain surprise attack, I would not be caught off guard, though I was certain it wouldn't matter if I was anyway. Let's see what these ponies were made of... both figuratively and literally.
"You dare approach the King's throne unbidden?" he looked down at me in contempt. I continued undeterred, a toothy smirk on my face all the while. "Show this insect her proper place," he waved a hoof lazily my way.
The deafening blast of a firearm was instantly followed by a powerful impact slamming into my side. As the small piece of metal clattered to the marble floor below I realized I'd been so distracted by the arrogant unicorn that I'd taken my eyes off of all else. It mattered little, my shell was way too hard for such a weak projectile to even scratch it.
I glanced to my right, the direction the attack had come from. The earth pony that stared at me with stunned eyes held a long rifle in it's trembling hooves. The sadistic grin I gave him was enough to get him to drop his weapon and scurry away like a coward.
I'd remember his face. All who dared oppose the Queen would recompense with their life. Besides, I hadn't eaten a good earth pony in a few days.
As about twelve other ponies stepped out from their hiding spots, I spun in a circle glancing at all of them, the same bloodthirsty smile on my face. All of them were armed with weapons that looked to be in even worse condition than my own. I couldn't help but cackle in glee at their pathetic expressions. So much food! It was practically an all you can eat buffet.
Not only that, they were all so very terrified of me. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT, but there was one I needed to deal with immediately. Blueblood, while shaken at my sturdiness, still looked confident. That simply would not do. I stalked toward the throne that was now only a few yards away from me.
"You fools, I said to deal with this wretch!" he shouted at his followers as I inched closer to him. Another shot hit the floor in front of me. I glared up at the white pegasus on the balcony, her visage turning a sickly green as she fully comprehended her mistake.
She galloped out of the room in a hurry as well. I wasn't sure if she'd missed on purpose or if her aim was simply poor, but I would remember her face as well. Two would be tortured before being devoured tonight, I'd be sure to see to that.
My gleeful expression had morphed into a look of pure rage, apparently enough to dissuade any of the other ponies from trying to attack me. I turned my attention back to the root of the problem.
"Do I really have to deal with this filth myself?" Blueblood looked around at his lackeys. They averted their eyes, ashamed of themselves or just far too afraid. "Fine," he stood from his throne, a look of disgust on his face as he prepared to "show me my proper place".
I tried to keep my composure, but this situation was just far too hilarious. The irritation on Blueblood's face made it even funnier, his annoyance fueling my laughter and vice-versa.
"I defeated Celestia," I spoke once I had calmed down a bit. "you think you can take me?"
"Once a feral beast, always a feral beast," he would've looked down on me if he could've. Very well, I would revel in mutilating him.
"I'm curious, Blueblood... what do your insides look like?" I drew a long dagger from my saddlebags into my mouth as I lumbered at the arrogant prick, no more smiles to be found on me. To his credit, he stood his ground, though there was definitely doubt in his eyes.
"Your intimidation tactics will not work on the King of Canterlot," he snorted. Not even my weapon seemed to trouble him. "I've been made an invincible god, there is nothing you can do to harm me."
I lunged at the unicorn, attempting to plunge the blade of my dagger into his shoulder. He didn't move an inch, my blade breaking in two once I'd employed enough pressure. The only sign he'd taken damage were some droplets of blood from the point of impact. I looked up at the stallion, dropping the remaining part of my weapon from my mouth, a mischievous smile on my face.
Without hesitation he rammed into my snout with his shoulder sending me reeling backwards. The blow was more annoying than painful, but it did force me to shake the stars that came to my eyes. I hadn't expected retaliation so the attack had more of an effect than it should've.
He was modified, there was no question in my mind. It was probably some sort of steel plating within his skin, just beneath the coat. Could it cover his entire body? It didn't matter, I'd only used a dull blade. I possessed something so much more sharp.
"Not bad for such a wretched being," I chuckled. "You've managed to not only stand still, but you've run your mouth quite effectively as well," I cracked my neck. "Well done, "King of Canterlot"."
"I shall hang your corpse from the wall for your insubordination," he sneered.
"Black and red, " I tilted my head menacingly.
"What?" he narrowed his eyes.
"Your insides... I'm guessing they'll be mostly black, with a little red MIXED IN!" I roared as I lunged at him once again. This time I swung a hoof viciously for his chin. It was time to see which was harder, his skin or my carapace.
With a loud clang my swing easily dislocated his jaw. The guttural attempt at a scream followed by a look of utter shock and pain on his face brightened my day several notches. He was no fighter, he'd probably never been challenged before. He stood to his hind legs, fumbling with his hooves to try and reset his jaw.
I shoved him onto his back, standing over his body with a victorious smile.
"Now then, what was that big talk about "putting me in my proper place"?" I cackled in his face. He mumbled something in response, but it was obviously much harder for him to speak with his jaw hanging off of his face. "Hmmm? What was that?" I placed my ear up to his muzzle.
I heard a low click before an explosion hit me flush on the cheek. The blast was only powerful enough to force my head into the air, my body remaining firmly above the stallion. As the smoke of his last ditch effort to stop me cleared, I surveyed the faces of his devout that surrounded us.
What a fine gift he'd given me. They were absolutely stunned. My beautiful face was void of any damage, the blast not even strong enough to chip my shell. Such a drastically foolish mistake. They were all mine now, too afraid to move an inch and I'd do what I wished with them when the time came.
I looked down at the cowering unicorn, the tip of his horn open where his final attempt at stopping me had come from. A horn modification as well? They were here. Whoever had done the work for him was in the castle, of that I was certain.
"Who gave you this?" I flicked his horn with my hoof. Although his fear was evident now, he remained defiant, turning his head away.
"I- I can show you," the familiar voice of the blue mare came from behind me. "She's down in-" I lifted a hoof cutting her off.
"You will wait in silence!" I glared at the mare. She bowed obediently. I returned my attention to Blueblood, a glowing smile on my face. "It would seem you've outlived your usefulness, "King of Canterlot"," I mocked. He refused to look at me and I knew exactly why.
I pressed a hoof against his throat, putting all my weight on it. There was no give, whatever was inside of him was in his neck as well. Just as I'd thought, he really did believe he was invincible because of this hardened skin of his.
"This body of yours is valuable Blueblood, you've got some impressive things inside of you... I desire them... and I still haven't gotten an answer to my first question."
I placed the sharp end of my horn just above his eye. Even if his eyelids had the same material as the rest of his body, the skin covering his eyes would be far too thin to stop the second sharpest part of me.
"Orgif me," he shut his eyes as he pleaded, finally realizing the dire predicament he was in. I had to fight not to laugh at his stilted speech. If I was a truly cruel being I would've played with his hanging jaw.
I lifted my horn away, looking down at him with a satisfied grin on my face. I placed a gentle hoof on his chin, my smile turning kind, almost motherly. I jerked his face up to mine, the scream that came from him quite entertaining. His distressed face was inches from mine.
"I will show you grace, Blueblood," I wiggled his mouth this way and that, eliciting more painful sounds from his gullet. I let his head fell back down to the floor with a smack. "By granting you death." As his eyes widened in terror I snapped my maw onto his neck, my fangs piercing his flesh effortlessly.
There was some resistance... but only some. My teeth were the sharpest part of my body. The constant feeding of bone, flesh, and other materials must've had an effect on my teeth and mandibles. I could tear in two anything I could get inside my mouth and right now that was Blueblood's throat.
As my mouth slowly clamped down like a vice his panicked screams turned into wet gurgling sounds. The familiar taste of blood and meat was normal at this point, though his flesh didn't taste particularly good.
In seconds my maw was closed, the majority of his esophagus in my mouth. I lifted my head chewing the food with a wicked smirk, forcing him to witness me eating his flesh. His last moments of life were convulsions and tears and that fact made me giddy.
I swallowed with a contented sigh, wiping the blood away from my chin. So it wasn't blue, what a pointless name. If I'd more time I'd have taken my time with his torment, maybe stringing him up and separating him from his limbs piece by piece.
I had bigger fish to fry. I looked around the room with glee. I'd not seen such delicious fear in a long while, not to this degree, at least. I was particularly amazed none of them had fled. They'd obey any of my orders now, but two needed... discipline.
"Find the two ponies that ran away earlier and bring them back here or you will all end up like this garbage," I pointed at the bloodied body in front of myself. They all moved as one, running from the hall, though I was certain it was to obey my order.
I turned to the prostrating mare, trotting up to her with so much anticipation I nearly squealed. Her nose remained plastered to the floor. I could use obedience like her's... perhaps I would keep this one around for a bit.
"Let's go, now!" I growled.
"As you wish, Your Highness."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Canterlot's dungeons were dank and silent, our hoofsteps the only sound that echoed through the vast catacombs. It almost felt as pleasant as my home. The mare needed a torch to guide herself, but I could see everything with ease. What kind of Queen would I be if an environment so close to my hive's was hard to navigate?
"T- Thank you, Your Highness," she said as we traveled.
"Hmph?" I grunted, noticing that most of the cells were either empty or contained fresh bones and not much else.
"Blueblood was a monster," she continued guiding me without turning to speak, a smart decision. I didn't need her gratitude, it did nothing for me. In fact...
"I'm quite a monster myself," I stared holes into the back of her head. "I still haven't decided whether you're worth more as my pet or as my meal."
"Either would be better than the life I've been living," she didn't miss a beat, not even faltering for a second. "I would gladly serve the one who ended the tyrant that did such horrible things to me and my friends..." she grew quiet for a moment. "And honestly, death has never sounded that bad."
"Hmph," I grunted again. She was no fun. If she was no longer afraid, then what was the point?
"We're here, Your Highness," she stepped to the side, pointing her hoof at an especially large cell. I walked up to the bars, scanning the spacious area. Despite it's size there was only a single mattress in one corner of the room.
"Be quiet!" I ordered the mare. She bowed her head. A single pony laid on the dirty bed, snoring quietly. I smacked the metal bars, breaking the silence and causing the pony to stir. It yawned loudly, turning over and scratching it's mane with a hoof.
"What do you want, Blueblood?" Judging by the voice it was a mare. "I've told you thousands of times, if I don't get enough rest I-"
"I'm afraid "King" Blueblood met an... untimely demise," I snickered, licking a piece of him from between my teeth. "Get up, NOW!" I commanded, but she remained on the mattress.
"Why should I?" the mare was snarky. I grumbled at the fact that I might have to tolerate her attitude if she really was skilled enough to create tech.
"Because if you don't I'll tear you into itty-bitty pieces," I controlled my rage, but a measure of it slipped into my voice.
"PFFT! Do your worst, you think I really care about being dismembered?" her insolent tone was grating, but her words revealed more than she'd probably intended.
Just what had Blueblood done to these mares? I could venture a guess, but I'd rather not stew on such... unsavory thoughts. It's not like they were my exploits. I loved reflecting on my own debauchery. Sometimes contemplating my own horrendous deeds developed new and exciting ideas in me... ideas I would utilize later on.
Blueblood though... he must've had a way to keep these mares under his hoof that wasn't the threat of death. If I could figure out what that was then this would all be much easier.
"Look, I-"
"Sorry," she sighed as she got to her hooves. She'd interrupted me, an unforgivable act, but her sudden change in demeanor had caught me off guard. "You got rid of that monster... thanks." She kept her back to me.
Yet again, I couldn't care less about any gratitude. I only wanted-
"You're here to get tech, aren't you... you want me to change your body?" Still she faced the wall.
"Precisely," I smiled.
"Fine... there's only one thing I want in return," she slowly turned toward me.
"And what might that be?" I tilted my head. How she had the audacity to request anything was beyond me, but with so little information I'd humor her... for now. As she faced me I nearly fell over, her appearance all too familiar.
"Revenge."
Author's Note
So this prequel is going to be a pretty long story. I wrote a story for the Cyberpunk contest, but then I realized just how fun it was. That single chapter turned into a pretty ambitious project. While this one may not have had much Cyberpunk themes I still wanted to enter something and this is it. If someone enjoys it, it'll all be worth it.
