Fallout Equestria: The Ashlands Timeline

POV: Twilight Sparkle
Date: Sunday 11/6/2287
Canterlot

“Do you trust me, Equestria?”

The voice of Skyla over a sprite-bot behind her made Twilight jerk. She was so on edge flying up to Canterlot that she almost banked around and blasted the thing on instinct.

“Many of you do not, I am certain,” Skyla continued “I am the Crystal Princess, and the Crystal Empire under King Sombra was no friend of Equestria. But the ponies I lead are descendants of the resistance that opposed King Sombra. The internal strife we created was the reason that Equestria held Sombra off for as long as it did. Had it not been for us, Canterlot would have been caught unawares of the initial strike, and you would all be King Sombra’s slaves.”

“And now, as one of the only true alicorns left in existence,” Skyla continued. “It is my responsibility to return Equestria to glory and to preside over it to make certain past mistakes are not repeated. I will be the voice, heart, and soul of Equestria. But only together, together, can we hope to reach our full potential. The way it was before the war. Whole. Beautiful. Powerful. One Princess, One Equestria. Now and forever.”

Again, the voice ceased, and an anthem played.

“That's rare,” commented Gloomy. “She did a whole speech without squeaking or grunting once. I wonder what’s up with that...”

“She sounds sincere,” mused Twilight. “But she also sounds… I don’t know… Starlight-ish? Like she gauges her words to deceive. Still, it's worth speaking to her if we find a way.”

“Her sprite-bot network is pretty useful.” Gloomy shrugged.

“She helps Statera?” asked Twilight. “You didn’t mention that before.”

“Ah, horse apples,” grunted Gloomy. “I’m getting too relaxed around you.” Apparently that wasn’t information he had authorization to give. “It’s less helping one another and more that they can’t get in the way of one another without jeopardizing their own interests.”

“So Skyla has control of the Ministry of News then?” asked Twilight. “Is that why some of the sprite-bots look new, because she’s having more made?”

“No,” said Gloomy, but seemed to give up on hiding a bit from her. “Basically, the SHIE AI there uses real brains in partial stasis for processing. There are two sections, one that gathers data for news and controls sprite-bots, the other that controls a prototype robotic security system they were testing there. The former became sentient, allowing Nightmare and Skyla to hack in using dreams and psionics respectively, but neither can access or turn off the automated security bots. As for the new ones… Skyla discretely air dropped supplies to their warehouse, which the robots have used to make repairs.”

“So they still benefit from the security, while not drawing attention to it by being there,” nodded Twilight. “I won’t let anyone know you told me, but is there a reason you don’t want others to know she’s at least aware of Statera?”

“Right now Midnight and Trinity mostly ignore Skyla,” said Gloomy. “Even if they see crystal ponies exploring ruins, they’ll overlook them. They’re too busy concentrating on their enemy and won't waste troops or supplies on someone else. If it got out that Skyla involved herself to any extent, it’d become much harder for her scouts to move around because they’d see her as a potential threat or spy.”

“That makes sense,” nodded Twilight. “And honestly it’s nice to see that bats and crystals are on peaceful terms considering their past conflicts. If Statera starts trusting me, is there a chance they’d put me in contact with her too?”

“No,” said Gloomy. “We have an unofficial truce, but she doesn’t respond to communications until someone has something to offer her goals. Anyway, it’s smoldering up here, let’s dip down beneath the cloud cover.”

It was getting hot for Twilight, which meant it was even hotter for Gloomy. She often forgot that her alicorn physiology allowed her extra resistance to the elements. They dipped down beneath the clouds, Canterlot sprawling beneath them.

They stayed as high as they could safely, not wanting to be seen. Twilight spotted no pegaghouls, just a small number of ground-based ferals still wandering about. There was no odd activity, so she had high hopes that Stable 27 would be no more damaged than they left it, and Gloomy wouldn’t even need the laser pistol they’d brought from Holder. They landed atop a roof about 200 hoof steps from the cathedral’s main entrance.

“I guess it's up to you now,” sighed Twilight. “Once you’re done, we’ll go to the magic school and load Dinky’s research material to take back.”

She couldn’t go herself, since they’d be required to turn her in to Midnight. They wouldn’t question a bat dropping off Tranquil’s body though, especially since Stable 11 had called ahead and let them know it was coming. It was nice for the two stables to be back in contact.

“I’ll be back soon,” Gloomy nodded.

Gloomy leaned forward as if he might hug her, then seemed to catch himself as if thinking it wasn’t the time. He blushed instead and trotted off the roof. Pulling their cart behind him, Tranquil’s body inside, he headed towards the cathedral entrance.

But things had gone too well for this trip, so it was time for things to go awry. When he was half way there, a figure exited the cathedral on their way out. Twilight’s heart froze; was that Midnight herself? Or a Twilicorn?

It wasn’t either. After glancing back into the cathedral as if to check to be sure no one had followed her out, the pony’s form shimmered. In a burst of green changeling magic, the form dropped into one that Twilight found familiar. Large, black, seaweed like mane, and holes in places holes ought not be...

Chrysalis? But how and why was she here? She hadn't seen Gloomy yet, so Twilight hoped he had the good sense to duck behind another building and avoid detection. Thankfully that’s what he did, moving behind a half-collapsed wall and peering out.

He would have stayed until she left if not for what she did next. Chrysalis turned to open her saddlebags, pulling out a pelt, which she slipped onto her back like a cloak. It was very similar to Midnight’s Celestia-skin outfit. It was just Luna instead. She really hoped that Gloomy didn't...

“How dare you!” Gloomy shrieked from his hiding place. He rushed out, cart clamoring along the bumpy pavement behind him as if he’d forgotten it was there, and took a battle stance in front of Chrysalis, pointing his laser pistol at her.

Twilight sighed and swooped down behind him. What did he think he would do against a changeling queen by himself? It was done though, so maybe she’d at least get valuable information if they didn’t have a fight to the death.

“Oo ho ho,” Chrysalis’ response was nothing if not predictable. “Am I being ambushed? Did you not appreciate my fashion choice? And who’s this behind you?”

“Wait!” Twilight called to Gloomy. “Even with that gun, we aren’t equipped for a fight with her, please stand down.”

“This is Chrysalis!” Gloomy spit the words, seeming momentarily beyond reason. “It has to be! Nopony else would wear Nightmare’s pelt! This monster skinned her and left her somewhere to die!” At least he didn't slip that Nightmare was still alive.

Chrysalis narrowed her eyes, taking a few steps towards him, chitin creaking creepily as she moved. He stood his ground, wings flared and waving his gun.

“What are you doing here?” Twilight asked. If she couldn’t distract Gloomy from a fight, maybe she could distract Chrysalis. She simply had to get her into a monologue about evil plans; that shouldn't be too hard.

“Hello, Twilight,” Chrysalis glanced at Twilight with a wink. “Goodness, your horn looks terrible. It’s like a crackly chipped tooth on the top of your head.”

“You… wait, what?” Twilight asked. “How did you know to call me Twilight instead of Midnight?”

“Don’t you dare bucking ignore me!” shrieked Gloomy.

Chrysalis’ hoof moved so swiftly that Gloomy couldn’t have defended against the strike. But all she did was knock the gun away and then place one hoof against his nose.

“Boooooop!” Chrysalis giggled. Okay, this was getting less predictable.

“How dare you,” The random act snapped Gloomy out of the blind part of the rage, but he somehow grew angrier.

“Please, let me talk to her,” Twilight coaxed him aside. “Why don’t you check on Stable 27?”

“There’s no way I’m leaving you alone with her,” said Gloomy.

“Let Gloomy Shade be,” Chrysalis chuckled. “He’s only showing his formidable loyalty to his new friends at Statera.”

“Don’t you dare even…” Gloomy trailed off, then turned to Twilight. “Did you mention my full name?”

“You should also ask why I’m not surprised to see the alternate-timeline version of Midnight here,” smirked Chrysalis. “You ponies are soooo violent. Ready to talk instead of fight now?”

Gloomy went silent, looking unsure of where to go from there.

“Just tell us why you’re here, Chrysalis,” said Twilight.

“I was checking to confirm that the time anomaly vanished,” said Chrysalis. “Then that Stable 27 was in fact still here and allied with Her Divine Shadow. I confirmed both, but you’ll find I haven’t harmed a hair on their adorable little manes. Though I may have yanked a tail or two. I needed to make my Midnight impression convincing and I do love flinging ponies around by their tails.”

“Why didn’t you send one of your drones?” asked Twilight. “Why come yourself?”

“She doesn’t have any drones,” said Gloomy. “Remember what I said? Her own hive wouldn't have her back even if Trinity wasn't controlling them. Besides, look how starved she is. There's no way she has any real love in her life.”

Twilight paused and glanced at Gloomy. “Why would she be starving?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Gloomy said. “The holes in the legs, the crooked horn, that’s how changelings look when they’re starving, right?”

“But that’s how she’s always looked.” More confusion for Twilight.

“For your information,” Chrysalis’s expression waxed serious for a moment. “I am not being starved, I am starving myself in a way. I assure you, it’s quite intentional.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Gloomy sneered at Chrysalis. “Why would you do that?”

“For the same reason I wear this pelt,” Chrysalis took a step back as if to lessen the aggression of the situation. “As a reminder. When I atone and my children love me again, only then will I feast…” She suddenly snickered. “Okay that was a lie. I mean I do want to make my children love me, but I’m not starving myself as much as just shifting to look symbolically starved. Trust me, if you’d ever seen my unstarved form, your eyes would thank me.”

“But that makes no sense,” said Twilight. “I've seen you consume a massive amount of love energy and you still looked the same.”

“Perhaps malnourished would be a better word than starving,” said Chrysalis. “Stealing love keeps a changeling alive, but only being given it freely, without deception, provides real nourishment. Isn't it ironic that such a wonderful discovery, that we could nourish ourselves by simply loving one another, caused us to try and kill everything else? Sometimes I wonder if things would have worked out differently if Thorax had taken over the Hive instead of offering me the secret as a companion. He probably could have.”

“So you’re reformed?” Twilight tilted her head.

“Don’t say such asinine things,” Chrysalis growled as if the concept offended her. “I am as evil as ever, the rest of the world simply grew worse by comparison. I would have wiped pony-kind from the planet by now if I didn’t think it would make my children angrier at me than they already are.”

“Starve yourself all you like,” said Gloomy. “Starve yourself to death for all I care, but I won’t have you desecrating any part of the Goddess with your filthy body. If you want to make up for murdering her…”

“You have no idea how much I desecrated her body with mine,” Chrysalis licked her lips, but followed with an eye roll. “But please, drop the act. I know she’s still alive and hacking sprite-bots to talk to you as Watcher. I even know where the rest of her is, and I’d drag her out myself if I could without being devoured by the Nightmare Force infesting the Badlands.”

“H-how do you know all this?” Gloomy stammered. “I was told that not even most Statera members know Watcher’s identity.”

“Yet you told an off-worlder,” Chrysalis smirked. “She must be quite a beast in the sack. Nothing compared to me though, I’d wager. You haven’t fucked until you’ve had a proper succubus.”

“Watcher authorized me to… that doesn’t matter!” Gloomy said. “Stop beating around the bush and answer us!”

The conversation was getting away from Twilight. Things were coming to light faster than she could process, and it was giving her a headache. As wicked as Chrysalis was, Twilight wasn’t sure if she should admonish her or try more diplomacy.

“I could always show you,” Chrysalis opened her saddlebag again. “There are segments of it I watch every day; why don't you watch it with me today?”

Chrysalis retrieved a glowing orb of swirling colors. A memory sphere? Twilight had only seen the one Gloomy had when they first got here.

“There’s no way we’re plugging into that,” Gloomy shook his head. “You’ll murder us while we’re out.”

“Chrysalis,” Twilight wasn’t about to fall for such an easy ploy. “Even if I’m a different version, you should know that I won’t go for that.”

“You think I couldn’t take out a broke-horn without this?” smiled Chrysalis.

“You could,” admitted Twilight. “Though not as unscathed as you think, but with that you might do worse. You could have your sights set on mind-controlling me.”

“I could just replace you with myself,” Chrysalis’ grin widened. “Besides, your pipbuck has reasonable defenses against these things.”

“Why don’t you just tell me what’s on it?” Twilight asked.

“Because if I tell you,” said Chrysalis. “You’ll know what I did, but not how I felt.”

“This is insane,” Gloomy said. “Just give us the crystal and I’ll see if our friends can analyze it safely.”

“It stays with me,” Chrysalis growled at Gloomy, then amusement spread over her face again. “Speaking of your ‘friends’, did you know that the techniques they’ve used to maintain balance are the same ones I used to maintain chaos so nopony would pull ahead of anypony else during the war? You should ask for my advice if anything.”

“Shut up!” Gloomy shrieked.

“You are getting loud, soldier,” Watcher’s voice came from behind them.

Twilight turned to see one of the sprite-bots. From the scratch pattern she recognized, it was the same one that had followed them as they were approaching, playing Skyla’s message, making Twilight wonder if Watcher hadn’t been observing them at the time too.

“Watcher!” Gloomy turned to her. “We found her! She’d look different when starved, but this is Chrysalis!”

“Yes, I know what she looks like,” Watcher confirmed. “Honestly, if you’d seen her in her true form, you’d know it’s an improvement.”

“Cheeky bitch,” smirked Chrysalis, but it wasn’t like how she talked to them. It was almost like they were used to teasing one another.

“You know each another?” Twilight asked.

“That goes without saying, I think,” Watcher said. “But our relationship has… changed. Not because I like her, but because her assistance has been useful now that her goals have changed.” The bot turned to Chrysalis. “It was foalish to have them watch it without my word first though, they would have attacked you regardless of what you felt.”

“I knew it, she was trying to trick us!” Gloomy said.

“Not so, actually,” Watcher said. “Just being tactless as usual. I’ve seen the orb, and don’t mind you seeing it, so long as she promises to exclude my more explicit humiliation at her hooves.”

“Those parts are just for me, for special occasions,” purred Chrysalis, narrowing her eyes. “They aren’t part of my daily viewing.”

“How do we know you’re not a changeling?” Twilight asked Watcher. “We know that changelings can be inanimate objects, so surely they can be machines.”

“Gloomy Shade,” said Watcher. “When I first spoke to you, you were so scared that you fell down a cliff trying to get away from me. Then when Ovo showed up, you freaked out even more and literally prayed for your life to be spared like a frightened colt that had just been grabbed by the monster under his bed. I have to admit, I found it more amusing than I should have for you to pray to ‘me’ without realizing that the sprite-bot was me. Afterward, Ovo teleported you to Screwball, who threatened to roll a dice and give you that many sex changes if you...”

“Statera is based in Discordia?!” Twilight couldn’t help blurting that out, then shook her head, asking Gloomy. “Is that accurate?”

Gloomy’s muzzle hung open, but nodded slowly, turning away as he blushed brightly. She really did like that blush. “I was panicking… I wouldn’t normally have acted like that. Let’s not go into that story anymore, please.”

“It’s okay, Gloomy,” smiled Twilight. Honestly it sounded a little adorable.

“I assume that is satisfactory?” Watcher said. “I assure you, this has-been Queen doesn’t have a single minion to speak of that can do what you fear.”

“Oh, I think that was a burn,” Chrysalis chuckled. “Was that a burn? Regardless, I’ve helped her enough since our little world-ending tussle that she trusts me for this.”

“Only because it is in your own best interests,” said Watcher. “But sure, we’ll go with ‘trust’.”

They were clearly not on friendly terms, but at the very least, they had an understanding. Twilight got the impression that she was too important for Watcher to suggest she do this if there were real danger.

“Plug me into it,” said Twilight. Maybe it was a bad idea, but she needed to know.

“I still don’t like it,” sighed Gloomy. “But if that’s an order….”

“You two need to fuck,” Chrysalis said. “That’s my helpful advice for the day.”

“Or you could go buck yourself,” Gloomy growled.

“I would,” Chrysalis shrugged. “But I’ve learned the hard way that making clones of ponies never ends well.”

“Can you stop being a pervert?” snapped Twilight.

“I’m a changeling queen,” Chrysalis smirked. “My instinct is to make as many grubs as possible, and haven’t made a single one in centuries. So no, as pent up as I am, I literally can’t.”

“It is not an order for you, Gloomy,” said Watcher. “You probably would not react so constructively to what you witness, but it is information I believe Twilight wishes to possess.”

“I’ll opt out then,” sighed Gloomy. “But I really hope you’re sure about this.”

“Give me that,” Twilight glared at Chrysalis and reached for the sphere.

“Very well,” Chrysalis leaned forward, holding the sphere against her own horn and above Twilight's head.

Tuesday, 10/26/2077
Memory POV: Chrysalis
Hive Zero

Chrysalis loved it when a plan came together.

The Badlands were once the most desolate place in the world, but in a single day it had become the safest. Chrysalis had watched from a balcony as the explosions decorated the horizon, clouds of vibrant green and red hovering over destroyed cities, secondary explosions causing still more fireworks. It was beautiful.

“I know it's a great victory,” said a voice behind her. “But do you have to stand there and watch it? You barely came in for the last few days.”

Chrysalis turned to see Thorax. It was he who had discovered the secret that changelings needed to end their long suffering, and that had won him the honor of being her primary mate. He was loyal enough, but not gungho about the whole genocide thing.

“Hello, my love bug,” Chrysalis smirked. “Why don't you watch with me? Watch the other civilizations burn. Within weeks, we'll be the only intelligent race left on the planet. It will be ours by default.”

“You're underestimating their survival skills,” said Thorax, then sighed. “And it’s not the best world to take anymore.”

“All we have to do is wait for the radiation to clear,” shrugged Chrysalis. “Now that we have no one to oppose us, we have an eternity.”

“Honestly, I didn't think it'd go this far,” Thorax walked up beside her, the shadow of their regal antlered forms shimmering behind them at the distant explosions. “Or want it to.”

“Oh please,” Chrysalis scoffed. “Are you starting this again? You found one pony friend in Cloudsdale that taught you the secret of not needing to feed. Then she got dragged away to be experimented on by other ponies. That is what they are like, vicious races that turn on their own kind like it’s nothing.”

“I'm not defending them,” shrugged Thorax. “Just not comfortable.”

“Well...”

Chrysalis began to retort, but a sudden ear-splintering crack washed over them. It was less sound and more like a wave of magical disturbance, coming from some distant place above them.

“Oh rape me in 100 forms, what is that?” Thorax gasped as he looked up.

Chrysalis' eyes followed his, and stared in stunned silence. It took time to confirm it wasn't a hallucination, but the Moon had giant cracks in it. Several chunks pulled away as the whole thing glowed in what appeared to be Nightmare Moon's magical aura.

“She's gone mad,” smirked Chrysalis. “What exactly is she going to do? Throw it at her enemies? Oh this will be good.”

But as she watched, her glee ebbed. It took a long time for the chunks to get moving, but once they did, their target was unmistakable. They weren’t falling towards any of the targets Chrysalis thought they might.

'Activate the shields!' Chrysalis screamed over the hive link, drowning out the sounds of their celebration. 'Right now! We have incoming!'

“But what about the other hives?” Thorax asked. “We have the modified throne to energize a full shield, but the others are sitting ducks. I told you we needed to install shields on all hive structures even if they didn't know about us!”

“Shut up!” Chrysalis shoved Thorax away with her magic.

Thorax skidded across the floor, groaning as he rose back to his hooves, but not complaining further. He likely knew it would do no good.

But he was right. She'd spent so much time outfitting projects outside the Badlands that she hadn't outfitted her own hives with as much as she should have. She kept putting it off for fear that the energy signatures would draw more attention than the magic-nullifying throne.

“How could she know,” Chrysalis said aloud.

“Soma never returned,” said Thorax. “He was a spy in her top ranks.”

“Impossible,” said Chrysalis. “Our spies would kill themselves rather than provide information to an enemy.”

“That’s what they’re trained to do,” said Thorax. “And I have no doubt most of them would, but are you sure every single one has the nerve?”

“Shut. Up,” Chrysalis cut off the imminent 'I told you so' regarding her confidence in their spies.

She could only watch as the first impacts hit. Explosions rocked in the distance, large chunks of land wiped out. She didn't seem to have the exact positions of the hives or the ability to perform precision strikes, but thousands outside Hive Zero would still die.

She heard their brief screams through the magnified hive link installed in the tower. It was a chorus of her sudden failure. The other changelings were panicking as many of their hivemates died outside, but they maintained their positions and kept the shield raised. Eventually the magnified hive link gave out due to the interference, and they lost communication with the other hive locations entirely.

Hive Zero's shield glowed at full strength. Once at 100%, it must have been seen, as several chunks headed on a direct path toward them. The whole hive shook with the impacts, but the shield held as rocks shattered all around, leaving a hundred hooves of moonrock piled against the shield.

“When she can't hit us, she might come personally,” Thorax said, gritting his teeth from across the room. He wasn't willing to approach her when she was in a throwing mood.

“She better,” Chrysalis sneered. “Once she's within the magic nullification field, she'll be causing no further damage to anyone.”

As Nightmare approached, Chrysalis ordered her Hive to make it appear as if the energy shield died, before taking cover. Sure enough, Nightmare was drawn into the trap, charging in. Once she was well-within the magic null field, it was reactivated, and she crashed into the mud like the lowest of her kind. Not even pegasus flight magic worked within the field.

Chrysalis sat on her throne and waited. She gave the drones time to play with the one that killed so many of them should they wish, but ordered her brought to the throne room afterward. Soon enough, Nightmare was tossed onto the floor in front of her throne, wings and hooves tied and glaring up at her in unmitigated rage.

Nightmare started to speak, but flinched and turned away as soon as she looked up at Chrysalis as if the sparkling offended her. Chrysalis wasn’t too fond of her true form either, honestly.

“I suppose you must be proud,” said Chrysalis. “You're the only thing that went wrong with an otherwise perfect plan. I won't forgive you for that.”

“Do you think I care about your forgiveness?” Nightmare screamed. “Whoever you are, having murdered thousands of your subjects will allow me to die with a smile on my face.”

“I'm Queen Chrysalis,” Chrysalis growled. “And unfortunately for you, I'm not going to kill you.”

Nightmare Moon grew quiet, clenching her teeth. She probably didn’t know what the alternative to death was, but must have realized it wouldn't be pleasant.

“First, I'll have a go at you,” said Chrysalis. “Perhaps several. Then I'll skin you. Next, I'll seal your skinless body in a pod that will keep the skin from regenerating. There you will relive the memory of your own rape and skinning on repeat for as long as I can keep you alive. And I can keep you alive for a looooong time.”

“You can't be serious,” Nightmare glared at the floor, doing a poor job of hiding her fear. Chrysalis was an emotion eater after all, she could taste it.

“Only one way to find out,” Chrysalis sneered.

After relieving some stress. Chrysalis finished sealing Nightmare inside her pod. Now she only needed to cast the spell to make her relive her last memory forever. After that, she'd make a nice decoration for the throne room.

But she never got to cast that spell.

'We're under attack!' Out of nowhere, no less than a dozen reports came in from around the perimeter near the shield. 'They're inside the shield!'

'Who are they?' Chrysalis demanded. 'How did they get inside?'

'They're... shadows!' was the best answer of all the panicked cries. 'They're coming out of the moon rocks that fell in when we dropped the shield to let Nightmare in!

'But the null field!' Chrysalis said.

'They aren't using magic!' came the answer. 'They're just ripping us apart, we can't put a dent in them!'

'Retreat inside Hive Zero and close it off,' ordered Chrysalis.

Chrysalis hurried to the throne room to manage the defense there, but there was already one waiting for her.

It was Thorax, yet it wasn't. He stood there in front of the throne, but his bright colors had faded. Heavy black gas oozed from his mouth, his ears, his eyes, his everything, spreading across the floor beneath him.

“Trespasser,” said whatever had possessed Thorax. “... a very glittery one.”

“L-love bug?” Chrysalis stared.

“Larry,” it said. Not the most intimidating name for the leader of a sudden monster attack. “Why have you destroyed our home?”

“Destroyed your what?” Chrysalis grunted. “You mean the Moon? Nightmare did that, we are the target, not the perpetrator!”

“She destroyed it,” Larry said. “But you are the one that drove her to that madness, such madness that she overcame her possession by our kind to commit such an insane act. Now the Nightmare Force has lost much of their home, so your home will become ours. You are now the trespassers.”

'They're already inside!' a voice screamed over the hive link. 'They're infesting changelings... I don't know how… they lowered the shields too... it's...'

'All survivors flee,' Chrysalis gave the only order she could. 'Those that can use teleports, take as many uninfected changelings with you as you can. Head northward into the area around Holder, I didn’t see as many mega-spells hit that area. Stop for nothing.'

They followed the order, but there were already so many dead, with more minds blinking out every second. She hoped changelings at other hives knew to flee. Without proper shields, those hives that survived had likely already been overrun.

“I'm sorry Thorax,” Chrysalis sighed at the creature that had once been her mate. “Maybe I should have… listened a little bit.”

“Oh trust me, he's sorry too,” Larry grinned.

Chrysalis charged her horn, and he crouched as if ready to resist, but she didn't attack. She knew it was pointless, that his minions would be storming the throne room any second and she’d never have time to defeat him. Instead, she teleported away, something he likely didn’t expect.

The interference limited her range, so she teleported to the only place that sprang to mind. She flashed into existence in the chamber where she’d left Nightmare's pod.

As a final act of spite, she teleported Nightmare's pod into the vault, the most inaccessible place in the hive where they'd never find it. She'd at least deprive them of the other they wanted to catch. She draped Nightmare's pelt over her back, not wanting to leave a hint that the alicorn was here, and teleported again as far as she could.

They were gone. All gone.

Not all dead though, at least. Thousands of her children made it out of the Badlands from the many hives.

But gone all the same. They abandoned her. Their last words before disconnecting were enraged screams. They blamed her for the death of their friends and the destruction of the land they loved. They asked why we couldn't have let it be. It didn't help that the survivors were the ones that had fled first, before she ordered it, so also the least loyal. The few loyal ones left followed suit when the others had left en masse.

But regardless, they were right.

Now silence. For the first time since she could remember, the only voice in her head was her own. Words couldn't describe the loneliness she felt.

“Equestria!” a voice rattled over the radio she had nearby. “This is Midnight Sparkle on all frequencies. I have vital information that all must know about the real culprits behind this war!”

Chrysalis flicked the radio off in disgust. The NLR had in fact found out, and now they would spread it to friend and enemy alike for revenge. Her children would never be safe; ponies and everything else would hunt them wherever they went.

But if Thorax was right about ponies surviving, then she believed her children could too. Even if they hated her, she would never stop protecting them. One day... she would make them love her again.

Returning POV: Twilight Sparkle

“Why?” asked Twilight as her eyes cleared and she came to from the vision. “Why would you show me that?”

“At least I didn’t show you what I looked like,” chuckled Chrysalis. “I intentionally left out a memory of me walking past a mirror to protect you from that glittery horror.”

Twilight expected Chrysalis to try to prove she wasn't all that bad, not an open admission of guilt. Chrysalis went out of her way to confirm their worst suspicions that she started the Ceaseless Conflict with the express intent of genocide. Why?

She admitted that Chrysalis’ loneliness at the end made her feel sorry for the queen. But could even 200 years of that atone for the literal destruction of the world?

“Chrysalis,” said Twilight. “Take this conversation seriously. I mean it.”

“Well, I want to say something profound,” Chrysalis answered. “Something that would convince you of my positive intent in certain areas… but no. It was to distract your mental facilities so I could probe your mind for information. Like the bit about Kyo's hive.”

“What?” Twilight blinked. “How could you do that without me knowing when I’m on guard for it and also wearing a pipbuck!” Then again, if any creature could cut through that security, it was probably her.

“What have you done?” Gloomy shrieked. “What else did you find out? Tell me!”

“Oh don’t worry,” Chrysalis smirked. “I already knew everything there was to know about Statera, and a great many other groups too. I bet I know more about Miss Skyla than anyone in Statera, even what tongue motions she prefers while giving radio addresses.”

“Stop being dramatic,” Watcher cut her off. “And relax, I asked her to scan your mind, Paradox.”

“She’s not hiding anything of importance from you,” said Chrysalis, putting the sphere back into her saddlebag.

“W-wait, you were-” Gloomy looked like his mind might have broken at the idea that the two might have been working together.

Twilight found it even stranger after seeing the memory. It was clear that they had been enemies, had Chrysalis really done enough for Luna to make them work together after all that? Or was she insane from having been trapped skinless in a pod for 200 years? This had opened a floodgate of questions.

“What do you want?” Twilight clenched her teeth, moving a wing in front of Gloomy as a reminder to hold back. Whether Watcher had used Chrysalis on purpose or not, Twilight still had to make sure she wouldn’t reveal Kyo’s hive to anyone. Chrysalis would have every reason to try to take it as her own.

“Relax, I don’t intend to tell,” Chrysalis smirked. “Or take control of it unless they agree of their own free will.”

“And what do you want in return?” asked Gloomy. He was right. There had to be something.

“This is not conditional,” Chrysalis said. “On the contrary, I offer my help, and if you decline… it will have no negative repercussions for you.”

Was she sincerely offering to help? “With what?” Twilight tilted her head.

“Liar!” Gloomy shrieked so hard that Chrysalis had to wipe spittle from her face.

“Gloomy, stand down,” Watcher said. He twitched, but on her word took a few steps back, apparently willing to obey her no matter how little he understood.

“This can help,” Twilight said, trying to make the most of it, and actually feeling a bit better if friendship could be the answer to something finally. “Sometimes the only one that can fix a problem is the one that caused it.” She turned to Chrysalis. “What help do you offer?”

“That's for me to know, and you to enjoy,” smiled Chrysalis. “Allow me to come back and prove myself, or constantly wonder if I'm seconds from killing you as somepony else. Your choice.”

“You said it wasn't contingent on anything,” Gloomy reminded. “And now you threaten us?”

“Oh, but it’s not contingent on anything, I absolutely will not do that,” Chrysalis smirked. “But you don’t trust me and your fragile pony minds will constantly wonder if one of your loved ones is me. So accept my help or suffer from your own paranoia. Choose.”

“Watch yourself, Chrysalis,” Watcher warned her. “You’re overselling it by habit.”

“I’m not going to apologize for being myself,” Chrysalis laughed.

“We can't,” Gloomy shook his head.

“I apologize for this, loyal Gloomy,” Watcher countered. “I know you will not understand yet, but I’m ordering you to allow her to accompany you back to Holder.”

“W-what?” Gloomy asked.

“There are things you cannot know yet,” Watcher said. “If she wants to wear my flesh as a reminder of her sins, let her, but we need her help. I’m not asking you to forgive her; I will always despise her with my very being, but we cannot pick and choose our allies with Trinity about to steam-roll the Ashlands, nor with potentially worse dangers on the horizon.”

“Yes, Goddess,” sighed Gloomy, resigning to her order.

“So you’re in Hive Zero?” asked Twilight. “In the vault? That's why the Nightmare Force hasn't killed you?”

“Indeed,” said Watcher. “But I will ask Chrysalis not to reveal Hive Zero’s location as a sign of good faith, lest you risk your life in a retrieval attempt. Separated from their native environment for so long, the Nightmare Force have devolved into something far more feral over the years. They are just shadows eating flesh, attacking all on sight, even the dead. You would be reduced to bones long before arrival.”

“How would you know their nature if sealed inside your pod?” asked Twilight.

“They leave non-flesh alone,” said Watcher. “My sprite-bots can roam the Badlands and scout unmolested.”

“I see,” nodded Twilight. “The bots that both you and...” She paused, unsure how much she should say in front of Chrysalis, even if she was coming with them.

“That is all we will speak of for now,” said Watcher. “You will only provide Chrysalis with what information she must know to assist, but you will accept her assistance.”

“As you order,” Gloomy bowed low, failing to hide the fury on his face.

“Watcher?” asked Twilight. “I have a question, if you don't mind me asking about your actions during the mega-spell strikes.”

“You may ask,” Watcher said simply.

“Why the Moon?” asked Twilight. “I realize it's poetic since you represent night, but weren't you worried that the whole thing would come crashing down?”

“I am not proud of my rash actions,” said Watcher. “But if you must know, the reason was two-fold. First, all the NLR mega-spells had been either spent or destroyed in counter-attacks, which were actually not authorized by me, by the way. Second, my anger at my sister's death allowed me to break free of my possession. My anger was not only directed at the changelings, but at those who had possessed me, the Nightmare Force. I tore apart the section of the Moon where I knew their most powerful members resided.”

“Two genocides at once,” Chrysalis said. “I'd bitch about the morality of that, but it's not like I can judge a creature for attempting only two genocides during their life.”

“That's not something you should keep score of,” Gloomy glared at Chrysalis.

“When I did such, I did not realize the Nightmare Force could survive the impacts,” said Watcher.

“You were possessed?” asked Twilight. “I... why didn't you tell us?”

“Possessed?” Gloomy's eyes widened, as if the implication just hit him.

“Your version of me did not fully explain that?” asked Watcher. “I can not answer for certain, but she may not have known. I myself didn't realize the true nature of my condition until I broke free.”

“But when you’re brought back to full strength,” Twilight asked reluctantly. “Might the possession take hold again.”

“I cannot do so in my current condition,” said Watcher. “My plan, if I can be gotten out, is to have a soul crystal implanted while I am still in the pod, then use that gem to recreate my body outside of the pod.”

“So the soul gem only records you, then?” asked Twilight. “Not the possession…”

“I assume that to be correct,” said Watcher. “And to be honest, I do not know which of my former actions were caused by the possession. My mind is... cloudy. No more questions for now; this is not a comfortable subject.”

“I understand.” Twilight nodded.

But she had plenty to think about. Her idea to use a soul crystal was probably the only way to save her, but for that they’d need to get a recycler. The list of those they needed one for was growing.

“The good thing is,” Chrysalis said. “The remaining Nightmare Force in the Badlands are completely mad. While they are lethal to anyone in their immediate vicinity, they are no longer intelligent enough to engineer schemes like possessing ponies.”

Chrysalis' voice grated on Twilight. She wished they hadn't ended up with her as a team member, but she also wanted to trust Luna. For now, Twilight thought better than to talk directly to Chrysalis; she wasn't sure she could hold herself in otherwise.

“One more thing, Chrysalis,” Watcher added.

“Please, call me Chryssie,” Chrysalis smirked.

“Chrysalis,” Watcher ignored her quip and continued. “I would not advise walking into Holder looking like rotten swiss cheese wearing my pelt. Be careful who you reveal yourself to.”

“No,” Chrysalis smirked harder, which Twilight didn’t know could happen.

“What?” asked Watcher.

“I’ll help you, but I'm not acting as your minion,” said Chrysalis. “So I don’t have to follow your every whim. Given that, I will not hide who I am in this. If I work to save my children from Trinity, they will now know it is me that does it.”

“As you will, then,” Watcher sounded annoyed, but accepting. “There is no additional skin off my back if you get yourself killed.” The music clicked back on as the sprite-bot floated away again.

“Well then,” smirked Chrysalis. “It looks like the rotten swiss cheese joined your party.”