Eclipse Paralogue

Chapters

Burn On
Nightmare
Hunger
Nightfall
Harmony
Taking Flight

Burn On

"Give up, foolish child of mine."

Those were his last words to her, that he could remember anyways. Everything else was a blur after that. He could hear his daughters speak, but he never truly processed what they said. It hardly mattered. None of this ever truly mattered.

He had it all planned out. He would build power, drop out of that backwater world and find his foundation. His dear friend. All would be well after that, all had to be. She always knew how to proceed, how to survive. Surely...

Surely this would all be worth it.

Those were the thoughts that swarmed his head, numbing his vision and senses as his dragonic transformation collapsed under its own weight. Wisps of magic fell from him as he reverted to his humanoid state. Just like that the battle had concluded, he had lost.

He was too numb to process what his daughters were saying to him. Really, it was all such a waste. They ripped it all out from under him... could they not see that? Why did they insist on staying here, flapping their gums needlessly? He brushed them off, but something Alear said to him cut through the fog.

She told him to invoke it, his emblem. To utter the phrase he had repeated so many times when this ageless nightmare began so long ago. It was a foolish idea. Useless, really. Yet he entertained it. Had he the energy, he would have laughed.

"Fine," he murmured in defeat. "Burn on... Emblem of Foundations..."

The warmth he felt at those words was surreal. Even more so was looking up and seeing her. His emblem was before him once more, though he could not hear the words he could see her trying to utter. He found himself smiling. Even as the light shone over him and swallowed him up.

Yes, this was what he fought for. This was peace.

"You and I... Let us be on our way... once more..." he whispered, his body feeling lighter than a feather.

"Engage..."

Everything went black for him. He felt weightless, floating. Yet he was content. Content in the fact that he was finally free from his hell. From his loneliness. From his pain.

And then it all snapped back into focus, as a wave of pure magic washed over him. His eyes snapped open, and he saw stars.

It was... oddly beautiful. Unlike the purplish void he crossed after leaving his old prison, this void was blanketed by a sea of stars. He found himself breathless as he lost himself in the twinkling of lights, but a splotch of color shocked him from his musings. A large mass of blues and greens and browns and whites drifted from the horizon to the corner of his vision. One that looked... oddly familiar yet oh so alien.

Subconsciously, he knew the blues were the ocean. Yet the rest of it... he could not see his old home or his prison. No continent resembled Elyos, with its distinct ring-like shape and certainly no maps of his old...

He felt his chest tighten as it registered that he couldn't remember what his old home looked like. The geography could be accurate, but he couldn't know for sure. And it looked so far away...

A lone tear built up in his eye as the tornado of feelings finally broke through his facade. He traded one prison for another. And he didn't even know if the salvation he could see was really what he wanted. He had failed, utterly and wholly.

It was then that another detail stood up to him. A light brighter than any he had ever experienced flashed from behind the blue gemstone hanging above. This one being much more familiar to him. The blinding sun bore down on him, and illuminated the void he lay on to reveal a stark white surface.

Looking to his side, his dread and anguish took hold as he realised the white craters and dust seemed eerily familiar. He had always preferred the night, as his emblem was at its strongest in the dark. His only source of light was often the very moon itself. And now, he was stuck there.

He couldn't scream, he didn't have the energy. But he could cry. Part of him was grateful that nobody else could see it.

It was hours before he could bring himself to move. It was odd, he was so tired and worn moments ago thanks to that ill fated encounter with his surviving children. Yet in spite of that he felt no strain. No fatigue. He was healing, and it was at a rate he could not achieve without basking in human sacrifice. Pulling himself up and onto his feet was as effortless as could be.

He walked the surface, wanting nothing more than to find anything to distract himself from the dread crawling up his spine. His pacing was slow, and his senses were on alert. He did not fear attacks, for his skin could only be pierced with the refined weapons his spawn so foolishly turned on him, but he did not want to miss anything that could be of interest.

He wandered aimlessly for hours, and he had almost given up hope when an oddly familiar surge of magic washed over him. This time he could see it. It was a deep indigo mist, whipping up space dust as the sheer force almost knocked him from his feet.

With it came a pressure, and then a roar. Whatever it was, it was angry.

He felt a fire light beneath his feet, and despite the pressure pushing him he turned to march towards its source. There, finally. Something new, something different.

It did not take long to find the cloud of indigo and navy miasma, nor did it take long for another wave of mist and pressure to hit. Now he could see why. From the centre if the veritable maelstrom of magic came a beam of light that crashed against some kind of barrier. The barrier faded after the impact, yet it became clear to him that this wasn't a prison for him alone.

There was no roar after this blast however. As the mist gave way, he saw the creature from within collapse. It was odd. It looked like a horse with black fur, yet had wings and a horn. And it was trembling.

He couldn't hear what it was murmuring, but as it reared its head back its next words could be heard clearly.

"Damn you sister! I hate you!" The beast bellowed, its voice hoarse from overuse but loud enough to whip up moondust around her. He felt himself approaching despite his instincts screaming at him to hold his position. The creature was panting now, the faint glow around its horn fading away as it gave into sobs.

What was he doing... he had no experience with this nonsense. The closest beings to him were a long dead mage dragon and an empty ring. Both of which could handle emotions better than he could. Yet no one else was here for this... being.

No one would be its foundation, to keep it steady even in the harshest storms. It was lost and alone just like him. Bah, such sentimentality was beneath him.

Thats what he told himself as he took a seat at the edge of a crater close to the sobbing creature. The action was not as subtle as he would have liked, as its slitted feline eyes honed in on him and its whole body froze.

Their eyes met, and neither could look away. Neither could speak or move.

Author's Note

Ok. I introduce to you my current pet project. A weird crossover involving a small group of lost villains who have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I am hoping to do my vision justice with this, and I hope at least a few of yas enjoy what I am cooking up.

I have quite a bit of content planned, and along with this chapter I will be releasing two more chapters to set in motion my three main characters. There will be a shift in perspective, and my plan is to have said perspective rotate more or less in the order these chapters establish for the duration of the fic.

I hope you enjoy my project.

-Marlo

Nightmare

There were many things the Princess of the night hated. Even before she shrouded her form in dark magic to become the embodiment of nightmares she hated heat. As a filly she would refuse to leave the house while that ball of terror still hung in the sky, and thank Faust she earned her cutie mark controlling the moon instead.

Her hatred, along with quite a few of her feelings simply ceased to matter after her imprisonment. This fiendish hellscape robbed her of any heat coming from the ball of light that was once the bane of her existence.

It was odd, missing something she used to hate so much.

The magic those blasted elements imprisoned her was vexing. It took her a grand total of ten seconds after arriving to attempt escape, yet the spell would not give. Had it not been for the spell's unique properties, she would have blown her own horn off from the amount of force she fired at those damnable barriers.

Oh Faust, those barriers.

She hated barriers. That was another thing she could not stand. Yes, as Equestrias warmaster she saw the benefits to such magic but it always made conflicts drag on for so long. A fort was already hard to break, but one with barriers? The kinds of magic required to pierce those are as scarce as they are frustrating to work with. It didn't help that everything that was made for such situations simply didn't work on these blasted things.

It didn't matter what she did. Be it repeated blasts, erosion spells or even attempts to bypass the barrier entirely. Every failed attempt only added fuel to the inferno of rage burning in her chest and hooves.

Then there was that thing. The purple bipedal moonbeast that would not say a word. If it weren't for its apparent lack of hostility she would have reduced it to space dust. It did not speak, not that she gave it any reason to do so. It mattered not who shared her prison, only that she escaped.

Meeting it for the first time... it was the first time since dawning her new form that all the rage and resentment in her heart stilled. It did not give way to fear either, it was odd. It was all simply quiet. Of course, such peace would never last with the lunar monarch. No, the rage did inevitably return and so did her efforts in cracking the shell that bound her.

This time however there was a certain calm. The creature did not watch her, and instead turned its gaze to the barrier that only showed itself as she launched her spells. It too was observing it, though for what reason she couldn't tell.

They spent a long time like that, longer than either would care to keep track. She kicked up dust in a failed attempt to break free, while it sat and kept her company in silence. While physical exhaustion seemed to be impossible due to the odd magic binding her, mental exhaustion was very real and soon even she gave in.

She collapsed onto her stomach, tucking her hooves under her in an attempt to find some kind of comfort on the moon's rough surface. The beast's gaze lingered on where her magic met the now invisible barrier, only to turn to her moments later. She felt the embers within flicker with flame as she glared at it.

"What, did mine lightshow not entertain thee? Was it perhaps too far from thine face?" She growled out, finding it hard to keep civil. "Perhaps a closer demonstra-" she began, only to be cut off as the beast raised its hand.

"Do not threaten what you cannot hurt. Such futility is a waste of both time and energy" the beast replied, its tone dripping with disinterest. "That barrier... such magics are foreign to me. My blood boils at such an obstacle, but I must stay my hand for now it seems."

"Ha! Stay thy hand? Beast, thou cannot understand what that spell is, but we can. We know it is not insurmountable, for we once wielded it" she replied with a huff, turning her gaze up to the planet above. "It can be broken, just not from within. The Elements cannot contain more than one threat at once, not with the measly power mine sister could muster without me."

"You say it as if there are more threats it is containing. It also seems to be containing more than just one in this prison alone" the beast added, staring up into the void. "That explains you wasting precious time cracking at it. That does not explain why you simply refuse to take the time afforded to you to plan."

"It contains Discord, a god that would destroy our world if released. He is of greater importance than..." she trailed off and then snarled. "Of greater importance than us. And, Faust permit it, the enchantment holding us would fail soon. We only seek to hasten that process."

"You seek to weaken what is already doomed to fail. Why is this? This is valuable time you can spend to plan your counterattack" he repeated, his eyes moving back down to hers. "You will not be afforded that chance when you are released. Your... sister was it? She would be a fool to allow it. She too will likely use this time to gather a more permanent solution."

The beast's words stung deep. While she could argue her sister would potentially try to fix her as oppose to end her, he absolutely had a point. The worst case scenario, Celestia would find new wielders to potentially strip her of her magic or worse extend her prison sentence. Best case, she would simply leave her be and continue running the world as if she never existed. The mere thought of any of these possibilities made her eyes glow with rage.

She got to her hooves, turning to rant at the moon beast when something he had said rushed to the forefront of her mind. Her rage simmered down, and her head perked up as she mulled over the last few words exchanged.

"This prison was made to bind us, yet thou speakest as if it has ensnared thine self as well. Art... thou not native to the moon?"

His shoulders dropped slightly, and his mouth pressed to a thin line. It was clear to her that she had struck true with her words, and not wanting to lose momentum she pressed on.

"Perhaps it is not simply we who need plan our escape. Thine own plans must also be drafted. Perhaps we can... exchange notes?"

"... I know not what world awaits us when we leave this cursed prison. I... am not from here. That is not my home. I can help you, but I will need information" the bipedal creature replied slowly, and after a moment let out a soft hum. "Before any of that, perhaps introductions are in order."

"That is agreeable. Thou stand before Nightmare Moon, once princess of the moon and Diarch of the kingdom of Equestria. What is thy name, moon beast?"

"... Fell Dragon, not moon beast. My name is Lord Sombron. Once ruler of the kingdom of Elusia, sole Fell Dragon of this realm." For the first time in a while, the purple creature- no- dragon got to his feet. She stood her ground as he approached her, and she was pleased to find herself slightly taller than him. He nonetheless maintained his dispassionate stare. She could feel a spark of indignant rage at his nonchalance, but buried it deep inside. Best not blow this opportunity.

She flashed her fangs in her best attempts at an inviting smile, though perhaps it came off as more sinister. It was so much harder to appear personable in this form. Sure it was by design, but perhaps taking it on when she was locked away like this was unnecessary. Then again... she did feel powerful like this.

The two walked off to a smoother spot to rest, and a parley began in earnest. It started with drafting basic plans for storming the castle just from the princesses' memories, which turned into plans to infiltrate the nobility and undermine the guards. The talks slowly morphed away from that, more elaborating on her plans for after she won.

"That is easy" she boasted, puffing her chest ever so slightly. "We shall rip the sun's light away, granting mine subjects a full unobstructed view of the beautiful night sky. The magic inherent to ponies allows us to care for nature without it, and tis not but a blot to our otherwise perfect land."

He did not seem terribly impressed by her words, and while she felt indignant for it she would not allow herself to cut off his response.

"That... perhaps it would be wise to adjust. I know not how magic works here, but where I am from... magic is at its strongest with contrast. We of the Fell fought endlessly with Divine Dragons, each side benefiting from the existence of the other" Sombron explained, using a steady stream of magic to carve a small diagram into the moon's surface as a visual aid. "When the Divine grew too strong, the Fell rose to meet it. When the Fell grew too prominent, a Divine Dragons blade brought it low. It is by this natural balance I both found my rise and fall."

"... You mean to imply my moon is only as beautiful when it has competition in the sun?" He gave her the smallest of smirks, and continued sketching into the dirt.

"I mean distance makes the heart grow fond. They may admire your moon less if they see only that as opposed to more. Besides, we would have burned to ash had we been imprisoned in the sun. I say we have experienced firsthand which is superior." She couldn't hold it in, she laughed. Not a dignified giggle or a villainous cackle, but a full on gut busting guffaw. Part of her wanted to rub that fact in her sister's face when she returned.

After taking longer than intended to calm herself, she extended the same question to him.

He was at first silent on the topic, seemingly struggling to find the words. When he finally did speak, it was slower. His tone was more sombre than before, as if his words were laced with regret.

"At one time... my goal would have been to return home. Yet now... no, it is not my time. I was refused my return for a reason. There is something... here, that my emblem wants of me. Perhaps helping you may help me discover what that is" he murmured, his gaze as unfocused as his tone. After a moment of silence, he let out a sigh. "I will aid in your escape, perhaps even in the subdual of your sister. After that? We shall see."

She did not comment further. There was no need. The two fell into a comfortable silence. All that was left really was to wait.

And so they did just that. They waited. And waited some more. Hours turned to days, days to weeks and weeks to years.

She found the experience maddening. By the two year point everything simply began to bleed together, and while their interactions did wonders to preserve her sanity it was clear neither of them were faring well. That was when the fighting started.

It began as a simple offer to spar. The two would stand across from each other and juggle magic back and forth. While their magic was fundamentally different, it was still quite simple to keep pace in these spars. No, what became an issue is when the two started getting creative.

What started as small bruises and cuts from terrain turned into battle crazed grins and brutal wounds. It hardly mattered to the pair, as anything done healed up over the course of a nap. They did not grow hungry due to the prison containing them and could not run out of magic. It was perhaps for the best that they couldn't produce craters large enough to be visible, as that would tip Celestia off their hand too early.

Be it as it may, the two soon found a certain peace in beating the stuffing out of each other. For a time anyways. While they certainly gained a strong respect for eachother, even that small joy lost its lustre.

When fighting stopped being effective, she instead turned to debating with him. Arguments over the most mundane of topics, of which he was bored enough to entertain. Such conversations did a bit to fill the silence, but fell off fairly quicky. There weren't many things to be passionate about on this lump of rock, and the quiet resumed.

More years went on, and the seal was barely any worse for wear. But it was wearing out, ever so slightly. She took solace from that. He, meanwhile, took solace in long naps. Perhaps he was onto something...

She would of course try to find other ways to fill the time. Carving structures into the moon's surface, attempting to build siege weapons or carriages from stone. She made him a crown that would sit on his horns comfortably, but it broke fairly fast. Let it never be said that moon rock was durable.

Nightmare Moon would never admit it, but as she curled up beside the slumbering dragon she couldn't help but find solace in his presence. She may have lost her mind within the first decade had she faced this nightmarish imprisonment alone. She did, ultimately, give in to his solution and she too began to slumber.

As sleep became the main method of passing time, years became decades. Decades became centuries. And then, as the stars aligned....

Cyan eyes snapped open, and a slumbering dragon was shocked awake by the sound of mad cackling.

It was finally time. The damnable barrier fell.

Nightmare Moon had returned.

Author's Note

Ok, part 2 of 3. Please be gentle, this particular chapter was rough to make work. While I didnt show it as much here, its gonna be apparent fast just how bad that thousand year power nap messed em both up.

Anyways, thank you for reading.

Marlo

Hunger

(???, four hundred and fifty years before Nightmare Moon's escape)

There was buzzing in the hive. The drones echoed a single message from the tips of the emerald spires to the catacombs beneath.

We have been betrayed, the griffons betrayed us. The prince is dead.

Such news was shocking to the young princess. Surely mother would have taken precautions to avoid this? No, this had to be harmful gossip spread by a drone who misinterpreted something. Her brother couldn't be dead.

Those thoughts repeated in the back of her mind, private to the general cloud of echoing thoughts she could tap into at any time. Yet as the nymph approached the throne room of the Greatwood Hive, she could not stop her legs from shaking. When she entered and saw the cold look on her mothers usually warm face, the trembling worsened.

"M-mother, I hav-" she started, bowing her head hastily to the changeling matriarch. The woman did not move a muscle, but the sheer pressure sent through her mind's eye shut her up all the same. The cloud of thoughts silenced, as the queen demanded silence from all her subjects. The Queen was silent at first, turning to stare off at the large map pinned to the wall of her throne room. On it was hastily added red X marks where there were previously none.

"Our diplomats to the Kingdom of Griffonia have been executed. Our kind detected and purged. We have been betrayed, and this crime cannot remain unanswered." Her words were broadcasted to every ling in the hive, and was met with silence.

"The Greatwood Hive must march to war. We cannot stand for this injustice" she declared, stamping her hoof. From there, the Queen's words were spoken physically to address her daughter directly.

"You, Princess Chrysalis... I cannot march you off with me. I cannot lose another child. The hive must live on, and so I have a different task for you." The tone of finality in her mothers voice nearly floored the nymph. Live on? Lose another child? She spoke as if the conflict was already lost.

"M-mother! We cannot afford to delegate forces elsewhere if this is war! Let me fight. I am the strongest mage the hive has seen in centuries, I could-"

"I will not bury another child. We are outnumbered too drastically for your presence to affect our chances of victory. No, the hive must live on. If they know how to detect us, they know how to find us. This hive is as good as dead" the Queen hissed, and she leaned in to nuzzle her daughter. "Chryssie, my sweet Chryssie.... I need you to take a small team of drones. Fly off into equestrias borders. Connected to the Greatwood is what was once the Kingdom of Equestrias capital. That abandoned castle can be a good cover for if this conflict falls back to the Greatwood."

"But Mother, if they can track us here... they would be able to-"

"They would not risk provoking the ruler of Equestria. The Yaks of old burned to ash under her hoof, and if the Griffons are so foolish as to follow you they would suffer the same fate. Worry not, my daughter. You will be safe. Should we win this conflict, I will send a team to retrieve you. Should I fail...."

"... The hive must live on" she murmured, her voice hollow. Tears built up in her eyes as she held her mother close. That moment was not to last however. Time was of the essence.

She was shepharded out of the hive by a team of ten changelings. Four scouts, two nurses and six warriors. She was given enough supplies to last a few months separate from the hive, and her scouts knew the path to the castle by heart. Her mother had intended to use this abandoned fort as a stronghold to perhaps start gaining ground in Equestria, but it would have to serve this new purpose instead.

The trip lasted several days, and it became clear fast why this castle was never reclaimed by the Equestrian ponies. The magic that permeated the castle and its surrounding land influenced the Greatwood Forest, warping the wildlife and fauna to seem larger. More imposing. What was once a bastion of order twisted the life around it into vile chaos incarnate. If there was one silver lining, Chrysalis supposed, it would be that this was a splendid cover against the griffons.

The castle itself seemed oddly untouched by the rampant growths surrounding it. It was frankly unsettling to the changeling princess. It did not help that her distance excluded her from her mothers influence, preventing her from properly monitoring the war efforts. That was for the best, she supposed, as any closer would be putting her and the future of the hive at risk.

Chrysalis took her place on one of the old worn thrones as she mulled over her options. She had her drones fluttering about and taking proper stock of what hadn't given way to age while she plotted their next move. Setting up a permanent hive was unreasonable, as this was not a defendable position nor was it safe from the Sun Mares watchful eye. She needed to find alternative cover, and fast.

The hive would not survive otherwise.

It would be nearly five months before she received word of anything. In that time she had to resort to sending scouts as makeshift infiltrators to collect, but her servants were hungry all the same. As was she, but she needed to be strong for them.

One of her mothers old infiltrators, a one time praetor taking up the position of a solar guard, arrived at her doorstep to give the news. He knelt before her, he was panting heavily as the journey had been especially tedious. She patiently waited for him to calm his nerves.

"I bring news from the capitol. The griffons attacking the Elderwood succeeded, as they had turned the old hive into a military base. We only know this because of a series of letters sent from Griffonia and the Greatwood Forest proper. They suffered a coup, their king was slain by one of the princes who in turn slaughtered diplomats and nobles alike. The first letter was sent by the king's only other surviving child. The second... a declaration of war by the warlord himself."

She laughed openly and loudly at the news. It sounded like a bad joke. Declare war? On Equestria? With what, a worn warband that just blasted through a vicious forest that likely beat them black and blue before falling? Equestria may have been a faltering military force due to decades of peacetime but it was still a dangerous foe.

Her musings were cut off by the rest of the message. The sick joke finally reached its punchline, and it left a bitter taste in Chrysalis' mouth.

"The declaration was not met with an army, it was instead addressed directly by the princess herself. A small battalion including me followed, as to ensure her safety... It was... horrific. The warlord was a caster, a necromancer to boot. He had... he had made the corpse of the old queen his footrest before the throne... Celestia was willing to talk terms, but the moment she realised what foul magics he was using... well..." the changeling gulped, his hole covered legs trembling.

"Had she not shielded us, we would have suffered the same fate as that Griffon. She burnt the Greatwood Forest to ash, the roots burned for days bathing the newly formed desert in a sea of flames. The castle did not survive, crumbling away from the heat of and force she emitted. The griffons stationed there far enough to not incinerate instantly could not flee, the soot and ash weighed their wings and lungs while the heat robbed them of their strength. The warlord... the queen... everyling in that castle were gone... nolings body was even left to bury."

So that was it then. It was undoubtedly a victory, her mothers death was avenged though indirectly. Still, the princess couldn't help but scowl.

"Thank you. You have done us a great service. Go to the pods, get your fill before you return. I want you to get mothers spy network in order and have you all return here. I will be ascending, and need all the love I can get. Send the word, and then return." The infiltrator bowed and made his exit. She nearly collapsed onto her throne. She had to be strong though, for a little longer.

The hive would live, after all. She would see it happen as its new Queen.

She used her magic, weaving a cocoon of green crystal around the very throne in which she sat. Orders were telepathically sent out. They were to hunt her food. She would need it in the coming days.

The days blended together from within the cocoon. She lost access to the telepathic link, and the only way to know time had passed at all was from the clouds of love that were imbued into her shell. She lost her shape some ways into the process, yet she was painfully aware. She did not sleep, she did not speak. She simply was. What was startling more than anything else were the visions.

They started small at first. A flash of purple here, a glimmer of teal there. Then a voice. It was distant, muffled as if she was submerged in water. There were two distinct voices. One female and one male. Yet she couldn't make out what either were saying.

The visions grew clearer as she began to reform. The voices whispered of revenge, of regrets. Flashes of purple scales, a rumbling growl and pure white heat. She could not decipher any of it. She could hear the echoes of something else, but it was soft.

The visions gave way to a new vision. Of the full moon, bearing the face of a mare. The voices all fell silent, and the glow was nearly blinding. It was... beautiful. The image was clearer than anything her eyes were capable of, she could count the craters along the surface. It alone was not what made it beautiful. Changeling physiology allowed them to see emotions as wisps of color, and the moon... it was a rainbow cacophany of emotion. Love, hatred, sorrow, regret, excitement and determination all swirled along its surface, emanating from the oddly pony-like grey splotch.

The third voice spoke up once more. Its words now clear, and ever so familiar.

Find them.

She had no time to contemplate those words or who the voice belonged to as she was violently ejected from her shell. She blinked away the insulating slime in her eyes, her vision barely clearing up to see a pair of changelings staring owlishly at her. It was then her connection to the hive collective rushed back to her and she heard the frantic messages being sent out.

The Queen had awoken. The Queen had been reborn.

All hail Queen Chrysalis.

(???, four hundred years before Nightmare Moon's escape)

The following years were a quiet time for the budding changeling hive. With their new Queen, they migrated to the newly formed badlands and slowly built up a black spire as their new home. A vast tunnel network was painstakingly excavated from below, connecting to the old catacombs belonging to the previous Queens hive. The burial stones had not escaped the sun's flames, but the caves remained intact.

The hive from there had grown. Chrysalis had her few surviving lings help fill the nurseries, and from there her warriors split up into infiltrators to gather love and brood nurses to care for the hatchlings. She did not birth any royals, it was too soon to sate the significantly larger appetite of a royal larvae. Within the first five years she had a modest two hundred lings loyal to her, enough to begin the operations her mother had previously established. Within the thirty years she had her castle built her numbers had gone up by several magnitudes.

This gradual expansion eventually allowed her to begin reassembling her mothers vast information network. Spies were sent out for full time operations, one of which was dedicated exclusively to observing the everfree forest. While she did not care for the ruins she used as a temporary cover, the wildlife and fauna present there could prove useful to her. She knew how dangerous chimaera poison could be.

It was one of these spies that began sending her equestrian litterature. Books on myths, spells, historical accounts. All seemingly useless to the young Queen until she took a closer look. These historical accounts were all depictions of equestrian wartimes, the spells featured in these accounts at least once.

They were not simple commoner spells as she once assumed, they were repurposed weapons of war. These tools, if reverse engineered, could be used to bolster her force's defences and potentially prevent another slaughter. Not that she intended to make the mistake her mother made. Trust in the Griffons would be in short supply in her hive.

The interesting bits came from the myths. They were all tied to legendary figures and magic items. A few had gotten her interest. The Creation of Tartarus, a prison meant to contain the great evil Tyrek. The Ballad of Discord, the birthing conflict of the Elements of Harmony. The Elements themselves were never featured in these myths, only as the solutions to great evils. This was most prominent in the most recent tale. The Mare in the Moon.

That myth was one she was immediately smitten with. While the records from her mothers time were erased when the last hive fell, her memories lived on in her connection with her servants. It was in this goldmine of information that she was able to validate that myth. There was a time in her mothers youth when there were two alicorn princesses, where one exiled the other. Her visions she had so long ago now made sense. And that myth... that myth gave her a place to go with the name.

It was almost ironic. In four hundred years' time, in that old castle trapped within the Everfree... her temporary home while her mother was slain... would be the very place her vision would come to pass. On that note, her mothers memories were critical in understanding that. It seemed she was not alone in these visions.

Part of ascension was to become one with the Great Hivemind, if only briefly, where one's ancestor lings may impart wisdom in the form of visions. For her mother, it was to migrate from under the claw of the dragons to the Greatwood neighbouring Griffonia. In a time of great famine, the actions brought by such a vision bought her people centuries of stability and hope. For her, she would have to hope that her vision would do the same.

So find them she would. But first, she had to prepare.

Author's Note

There. The last of my three chapters. I thank you for taking the time to read my little pet project. Well, what I have released as of now. There is much more planned, and my hope is to see this project to its completion.

-Marlo

Nightfall

Sombron could not help but wince. Waking up from the cackling harpy that was Nightmare Moon was one thing, but the constant yammering did not help. Nor did the light show that came when she ripped a hole in reality, forming a portal to the very castle she once lived in. He brought a hand to block the light from his eyes.

"Why must your magic be so... disgustingly bright" he murmured, sending a glare to the excitable mare. He was ignored of course, as she flew behind him and pressed herself against his back to shove him towards her magic deathtrap.

"Go on! Let us leave this rusted cage!"

"This incessant use of force is as ridiculous as it is unnecessary" Sombron growled, yet he did not resist being shoved through the ring of light. Soon the light was behind him, and then it was gone.

The loud noises, it seems, had just begun. Much to his dismay.

"What in Faust's name did that useless mule do to my castle?!" Nightmare Moon roared, glaring around her erratically. Though he was indifferent, he nonetheless spared the room a glance now that he wasn’t blinded.

Truly it was a shame. The throne room was in shambles, coated in dust and cobwebs. The walls were cracked, and the thrones were worn away by age and neglect. Moon looked equal parts devastated and enraged.

The moon princess looked ready to explode, but was interrupted by the sound of hoofsteps. Both of them fell silent, glancing at each other. He was far less concerned than she looked, and he motioned for her to stay back.

Not waiting to see if she complied, he made his way to the source of the noise. He paused before the rotted wooden doors, and reached towards it to open it. He would soon realize his folly, as the door erupted into purple flame when his hand got too close.

He stared at his extended hand in confusion as the door was reduced to ash, revealing a stumbling and visibly nauseated figure. A strange quadruped, black like his cohort behind him but different. The fur had a strange sheen and texture, almost like it was some sort of armor. Regardless, the coloration and slitted eyes all but confirmed to him who it was.

"Ah, you must be her sister. That makes things... easier" Sombron declared, lowering his hand to approach the creature. He paused as he heard his ally gasp in shock behind him.

"What in Faust's name is that?!"

Now that was curious. He was wrong then. The creature collapsed at his feet, gasping for air. He took a moment to observe his surroundings, and something caught his attention. The ground beneath him was cracking, the door burned up with Fell magic. Ahh, that was the problem.

It had been thousands of years since he was at full power, and had failed to remember just how much that power affected his surroundings. He took a deep breath and pulled in, relieving his surroundings of the pressure his fell magic exerted. The creature began to sputter and cough, and the footsteps behind him confirmed the Nightmare herself came to investigate.

"Is this not your sister?"

"Do thine eyes truly lack so? To think my glorious fur could be compared to chitin. No you oaf, this is something else. This... insect is not- ''the moon princess started, glancing at the creature's odd wiry crown. "- Is not of Equestrian nobility."

The creature squirmed a bit, and tried to push itself to its hooves. It kept its head lowered however, not willing to potentially antagonize the fell dragon.

"I-I am a queen. Queen Chrysalis, Great Maelstrom. T-to think, Nightmare Moon was not working alone... I-" the creature stammered out, only to be cut off when Nightmare Moon let out a vicious cackle. Sombron felt her magic surround him as he was pulled away from the insect queen, the mare in question, instead wanting to take control of the conversation.

"Great Maelstrom, a fitting name for him. What is thy claim to queenhood, of what nation doest thou hail? And what is thy reason for coming here?" Nightmare moon purred, standing tall and looking down at the trembling mare. Sombron couldn't help but roll his eyes at the act.

"Queen of the changelings, ruling over the Wastelands. I have come by way of prophecy, in hopes of saving my people" the trembling mare squeaked out. Sombron almost found her cowering amusing, but he was quick to notice a few small details. The frequent glances at him, the trembling seeming to relax when she is distracted from him. The not so subtle hiding behind the curtain of hair that was her mane when she noticed him looking.

She wasn't fearful of Nightmare Moon, not one bit. No, she was scared of him. A younger Sombron might have found joy in such a reaction, but now... it didn't have the same spark. Such fear was pointless. Ever so pointless.

"Save thy kingdom? T’is quite the sizable request. What threat ails thine kingdom, that seeking such a dangerous princess as I seem fitting?"

"We... We face many threats. Hunger, the griffons to the south. Our biggest... the Sun Titan herself. She does not know of us, but we... we risk obliteration should that change."

Oh, now that changed things. Sombron originally intended on sitting this out and letting Moon take charge, but this was a good place to advise.

"Perhaps this is an opportunity. We are behind on the world's goings, this one may have the information we seek. As I said many times before, rushing to fight your sister is a fool's errand" he interjected, walking up to the tall mare's side. He turned to address Chrysalis. "We do not know of a Wasteland, nor are we up to date with Equestrias events. Last she was here, this castle was Equestrias capital city."

That reminder brought a scowl to the moon princesses snout. She turned to scoff, while the insect queen perked up at being addressed in a non hostile manner.

"If information will buy your cooperation, I can offer it. We changelings are experts at infiltration, and have been keeping close eyes on anything and everywhere outside of the capital city of Griffonia. We can be of use, of that I promise" the changeling chirped, her two toned voice becoming a bit more prominent as her head lifted slightly.

"To offer eyes on the inside... I will of course defer to your judgement Lady Moon, but this seems... practical" Sombron hummed, and after a moment stepped back to let the two resume negotiations. Taking her place as centre of attention once more, Moon let out a sigh.

"We are interested. We would like to negotiate details, but this situation is precarious. Perhaps a smaller deal is in order, until such a situation where we can properly negotiate terms?" The changeling gave a deep bow at her words, and the two newly released could hear a faint buzz.

"I shall provide anything you require to free up your time, and in return... I ask that the Great Maelstrom allow me to sample his emotions once more. I was not prepared before, and nearly drowned in it. He is, well..." she paused, seeming to struggle a bit. "I called him Great Maelstrom for a reason. His emotions and magic bled together, and I was suddenly a leaf in a storm. To think such a force of nature was locked away here..."

Was this what being flustered felt like? Bah, best forget that lest the malicious mare beside him catch on. Nightmare Moon seemed almost insulted at the request, but he cut in before she could protest.

"Your kind... you feed from emotions? I would agree to this, if nothing then out of curiosity. I recommend caution however, my kind are beings who generate malice from birth. We are... isolationist by nature because of it. Our instincts and emotions are dangerous, and I would rather not further expose a potential spymaster to such a... dangerous poison" he elaborated, and the pout he got from his associate made it all worth it. Next time she would best think twice before squealing in his ear first thing in the morning. The dark furred mare let out a huff and glared down at the changeling queen.

"We shall agree to such terms, but thy information comes first. We must learn three things to best proceed. Celestia's current military status is of great importance. Major advancements in weaponry she may be employing will aid us greatly. Lastly the status of the Elements of Harmony..." she trailed off, her scowl growing as she went through her checklist. "Our old weapons shall be my undoing, thus knowing its position is imperative."

"Well, mistress of the night, you will find that last question most satisfying" the queen chirped as she got into a more comfortable seated position. "All sources imply the Elements were last seen here. As far as we can tell, no major artifacts were moved from here to Canterlot directly since the transition."

"Canterlot? What would that mud hut of barbarous unicorns have to do with... ah, she built her new castle there didn't she. Urgh" Moon scoffed, snarling at the mental image. Trying and failing to hide her amusement, Chrysalis continued.

"There have been no major military movements since my mothers time, bar one. The Great Calamity saw Celestia reduce the Greatwood to ash. Since then, the sun titan has not moved an inch from her throne" she continued, her own expression briefly mirroring Moons at the mention of the Calamity. His compatriot seemed legitimately shocked, and something occurred to him.

"Ah, that explains it" he commented, and the dark mare's head snapped in his direction. "A good bit into our exile there was a portion that caught fire on the continent. It lasted a few days, but I thought nothing of it. That was during one of Lady Moons hibernations."

"And mentioning such a thing was beneath you becauuuuuse..." she trailed off, giving him a glare. It lacked any meaningful malice, and it did not take a changeling’s emotion sensing to see that.

"I only knew of the significance of the Equestrian nation. Given it was a distance away, I thought it below my notice. Should I have notified you of the daily cloud patterns?" He brought his hand up to stroke his chin, egged on by the visible amusement the changeling was displaying. "Ah yes, I believe the day of the burning the skies were clear above Equestria proper. There was a terrible storm above the dragon domains, which spilled over to-"

"If you continue that weather report I will boil you alive and feed you to my Thestrals" the moon princess growled, and Chrysalis had less than a second to force a neutral expression as her gaze shifted lest she face the other mare's wrath.

"If it helps, there has also been no military advancements since the burning. My kind has no meaningful records of what she had before my mother established spies in her ranks but she has maintained the same spear and spell approach since. As it turns out, centuries of peace makes wartime preparations unnecessary" the changeling added, and the scowl on Moon's face lessened. For a moment, that is.

"Do mine ears deceive me? That mule of a mare sat on her flank gorging on cake, and has depended on her damnable sun to keep threats at bay? To think that foal would use the banishment of her blood to enable such... foolishness" Moon growled, her slitted eyes narrowing into pinpricks. Perhaps responding to the shift in emotion, Chrysalis cut in.

"Well, she did burn my ancestral homeland to ash. She may be er... lazing on her flank but she is far from lacking in power. Most of her advancements have been in standardizing and organizing weather movements. Not to say it wasn't orderly before, but Cloudsdale has had more than its fair share of civil unrest to contend with so the crown took matters into its own hooves."

Sombron would have let this conversation continue, but time was of the essence. They needed to move.

"Perhaps we should adjourn. Lady Moon, I recall you displaying the ability to project your will during our imprisonment. Perhaps keeping an eye on the forest itself would prove beneficial. I will seek out a library, I require a book that is replaceable. Queen Chrysalis, I will be using my magic. It is best you follow, then report to her'' he called out, turning to leave the room posthaste.

Shuffling behind him was the only indication he was being followed. The changeling queen moved up to match his pace, seeming much more comfortable with the surrounding area than he felt.

"If we turn left here, we can reach the library. It is close to the throne room, from what my scouts could gather Great Maelstrom'' she chirped from beside him. He turned to raise an eyebrow at her, of which she either didn't notice or blatantly ignored. He nonetheless followed her instructions, and found himself at the library in mere moments.

He did not waste time or movement, ripping a random tome from a nearby shelf. He then turned to several wooden chairs and started breaking them down into wood. He could feel the changelings eyes on his back as he did so, but he would not break the silence over such a trivial matter.

He piled the wood at the centre of the library, and stood before it. He looked up in thought, only vaguely remembering the incantations. Not that he needed them anymore. He was at full power now... if he so chose, he could even create an emblem. Oh, now that sounded appealing...

Thoughts for later.

With a pulse of magic, the hand used to snap the wood erupted in purple flame, and with a swipe of his arm the makeshift pyre was lit. He let himself bask in the purple flames, and then brought the book into view. Using his still burning hand he carved sigils into the corners of the book. Dark signs marking his favored tome.

He chose to ignore the shocked gasp as he tossed the newly engraved tome into the pyre, its shell seemingly burning away. It was then he felt a barely noticeable jab from behind, less prominent than a mosquito bite. He simply let his magic unravel that much further, causing a gagging noise to sound behind him.

Now, that was curious.

He turned to glance at the changeling behind him, who had flopped to the floor and covered her face with her front legs. Any worry he might have felt was completely negated by the light squirming. He did not need to be an empath to feel her embarrassment. Finally the connection to his magic severed, and not long afterwards the purple flames behind him were visibly pulled down and seemingly extinguished.

He knelt down and collected his prize.

"Obscurité, my old friend" he murmured, staring down at the frankly ugly cover. Perhaps using the first book he could reach was a poor decision... bah, that could be rectified later.

"I uh, thank you Great Maelstrom. I believe my people will eat well with what you have generously given me" he heard the changeling queen stammer. Her tone was off, but he did not care to look more into it. "With your blessing, I may approach you for future... sessions. You are... dense. Not in a bad- not like-... Have a good night."

He would, of course, deny to the ends of the earth that he chuckled in that moment. A Fell Dragon did not chuckle.

That would be preposterous.

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

I do not necessarily have a set schedule for uploading, for now it is simply whenever I can spare the time. With that in mind, I intend on ensuring I post no less than once a month.

I hope you all have a wonderful day/night/whatever it may be.

Marlo

Harmony

There was a certain level of... dread? Dread sounded right. Dread, that came from silently waiting for a threat that may never come. Let it be known that Nightmare Moon handled dread like a proper princess. She was not, and would never be, nervously tapping her hooves into the stone floor or pacing sporadically. That would be preposterous. Blasphemous even.

Trying to convince the contemptible bug of that seemed to have been a foal's errand. Damn snake had corrupted her, and now she too saw her majesty as a foal to be mocked and teased. She wanted to be more angry at that, she really did. It was... hard to feel any rage or resentment towards anypony other than her sister though.

It is hard, it turns out, to stack up to a thousand years of imprisonment.

Nonetheless she gave an appropriate amount of glaring and scowling. And by that, she meant every time she heard a giggle. That changed real fast, when she felt her makeshift security slowly unravel in front of her.

The manticore she rattled up and sent out to guard had its thorn extracted. Sure, that was unsurprising. It likely got it out on its own. She made a note to reinsert it, but shortly after the illusion she left in the forest was forcibly dispelled. It felt like earth pony magic? She had little time to panic as she realized what was going on. Celestia had made her move.

"Queen Chrysalis. Gather Lord Sombron, his services are required. This castle shall not be defiled by Equestrian hooves" she growled, glaring daggers at the door.

The changeling did not wait around to figure out why, as within moments of her barking orders said purple dragon was being shoved into the room.

"What useless drivel could possibly be worth-"

"She has made her move. We must act fast, Lord Sombron. Art thou finished with this... ritual?" The dragon brought up an odd looking singed book and waved it slightly. Taking that as confirmation, she then turned to face the door.

"Time is of the essence. My magic has been suppressing the ghastly sun Celestia commands, and she has made her move. Stay here and guard the Elements while I seek my revenge" she commanded, stamping her hoof resolutely. She fully intended to bust through her own window to begin her attack, but a hand on her back stopped her. She turned, glaring daggers at Sombron.

"I do not advise this. Reconsider, as this is doomed to fail as is" he murmured, his cold gaze freezing her on the spot. Her temper spiked at his dismissive tone.

"Explain thyself, I will not suffer foolishness from my own inner council" she snarled, trying to maintain her calm. Every cell in her body screamed at her to ignore him, to fly off. Yet she could not.

"She is prepared for you. She would not address you so indirectly if she wasn't. She is not prepared for me. Allow me to go in your stead, protect the elements with Chrysalis." She glared at the window, finding herself unable to refute him. She bit back a growl, turning to blink away what was most definitely not tears.

"I cannot allow that, revenge is mine to claim. Thou would only kill what is mine to hurt" she hissed, and another security measure cut off.

"I... will not kill her. Only hurt. Maybe burn down that... mud hut was it?"

"Mud hut... Canterlot. Promise me, you wont kill her. I resent her but... I do not wish for mine own blood to be spilled..." she trailed off. Her temper flared, something inside loathing the weakness she felt. That rage spiked as another measure was shattered at her hooves.

"Just... just go. I shall stand vigil. Remind her how fragile her peace is and return posthaste. Go before I change my mind." She could hear footsteps as the dragon fled the castle, leaving her alone with the changeling. Oh, ok and the dread was back.

"Chrysalis... I know not if I will be resealed here. Nonetheless, it is not thy place to interfere. If falling to the Elements is fated, so be it. I know Sombron will survive my sister, and it is imperative he knows where to strike to break Celestia's control of the weapon. Should I fail... flee and report to him. The elements will not kill, less so a previous wielder. I will..."

"I understand, Lady Moon" Chrysalis murmured from behind her. "You both... seem quite cold on the outside, but its odd. I don't think that is all there is to it. I will make sure he knows what happens here, and if needed my hive will provide him shelter while we figure out how to best assist you."

Let it never be said that Nightmare Moon flinched at the feeling of her final defense being severed. No, this time she would gladly lop the blame on the insects careless words. Nonetheless, now was not the time for banter. She motioned for the changeling Queen to hide, and she paced back to sit upon her throne.

The next hour and a half honestly felt like a blur. The new Element Bearers arrived, though they seemed even less sure of themselves than she felt. Honestly she was envious of her sister. While she did bear a new menacing look, she was still herself. She adored cute things, and by Faust her sisters' new minions were adorable.

They were so terribly uncoordinated. The blue one was fast, but did terribly little before being repelled. She knew better than to willingly place herself under earth pony hooves, and the two unicorns seemed... well. Inexperienced was the gentlest way to put it. Peace really did take its toll on its champions, it would seem.

The effort, while inspiring, was honestly pitiful. Try as she might, however she couldn't simply kill them and be done with it. Call it foolish sentimentality, but part of her was still Luna the Dreamweaver. Killing her subjects, even ones so naive and ignorant felt... like a waste.

She couldn't really bring herself to do more than batter them around a bit, which to be fair was... perhaps not the best idea. She could not help that her heart wasn't in it, but still. Sombron was out there risking his hide while she was dragging her feet repelling a simple assault squad. No... no that wasn't what this was. It hardly looked so organized. Perhaps this was simply mercenaries? No, they lacked equipment. What in Faust's name was this farce?

She was honestly tempted to give the group pointers, and before her banishment she very well would have. Now it was different. She was no longer Equestrian nobility. Not in any true sense. She had no duty to these ponies, short of sparing them the grisly death she was more than equipped to deliver.

Things only got worse as the purple one rallied them all and actually manifested the elements. Nightmare Moon couldn't help but feel cheated. She had to lug around heavy gems, while the two pegasi and the pink earth pony got snazzy jewellery out of her old weapons.

She did always find it ironic that Equestrias chief war master got the Element of Kindness, something her sister ribbed her about relentlessly. She could almost be forgiven for letting her mind wander, as there was little she could do now that the group became enveloped in blinding light.

She could tell the changeling had fled, which was good. Best Sombron knew how stupid she was being. Perhaps after this imprisonment he could rub that in her face. Ooh, maybe she would get petrified like Discord. She tried to think of a pose, but nothing came to mind. Huh, this ensuing doom really was taking awhi-

"Are... are you ok? How did you get her- Oh-oh wow ok that's an Alicorn. Girls, I think we just... uncorrupted the unnamed sister?"

That was the blue one. Loyalty, if she recalled. She looked down and at herself. What in the... Oh Faust. Her enchantments, her armor. All of it shed away like a coat. She didn't even get to keep her flowy mane. She could feel her magic, but it was faint. This was quite possibly the most embarrassed she has ever felt. She had to hide it though, best not give them more reason to fire that ghastly beam at her again.

"Y-yes, the uh... corruption. Yes. I am purged of it. Though... I uh..." she trailed off, stunned at the sour look the orange one was sending her. Faust right, that one was the element of honesty. That made this trickier. "Listen, I cannot fight or cause issues. I have been neutralized. Now she can raise her sun in peace."

The orange ones glare lessened, and the ponies backed off to convene. Well, all but one. It seemed Laughter wished to speak. Well, she assumed it was speech. In some lost pony language. Her confusion must have shown, as Magic pulled her away by the tail while growling her name. The six mares talked away from her in hushed whispers. The orange one stood facing her, refusing to let her leave her line of sight.

She was the responsible one it seemed. Not that escape was in the cards for Luna. Faust, she had to use her real name now. She already missed the nightmare form. Attempting to get to her hooves proved a fool's errand, as her limbs almost immediately gave out on her. The yellow one, Kindness, immediately dashed to her side. She wordlessly let the mare inspect her.

"Fear comes naturally to you, yet you approach without it. Why is that, Element Bearer?" The mare's response was too soft to hear, but Luna wasn't bothered. The reasoning hardly mattered, and she could not bring herself to discourage it. "For what it is worth, I felt no joy bringing pain to Celestia's chosen. Thou art quite cute. I only dread what comes next."

She could see the confusion on the purple one's face, but before she could ask a loud explosion shook the castle. The group waited for the ground to settle beneath them, and suddenly four glares directed themselves towards Luna. Kindness and Laughter were too occupied staring at the direction the noise came from.

"Before anypony asks, no that was not me. I think." Her voice was somehow overlapped by that of Laughter's, a fact that any other time would have caused her to giggle.

Moments turned to seconds, which became minutes. The tension only rose as the girls became antsy, wanting nothing more than to investigate but being unwilling to leave her unattended. It was then that hoofsteps could be heard from down the hall.

Emerging from the entrance was Princess Celestia herself. With a big inflamed black eye and the biggest scowl Luna had ever seen on her face.

"Hello sister. I am happy to see, er... I am glad you are unhar- er... its nice weather we are having, is it not?"

"Luna... you have been back four hours and I am already sick of you."

The yellow one scurried away from her, and the six reconvened a good ways away from the pair. Quite a bit of restraint, given they were witnessing their sovereign ruler injured. Speaking of... Celestia's scowl remained unchanged as she slowly closed the distance. Luna wanted to give a scathing comment, but it all fell apart as the tall white mare collapsed all but a half step away from her. She felt her sister's neck and head rest on her back.

She could feel Celestia trembling. A knot formed in her gut.

"I missed you, my brat of a sister. Not a day went by where I didn't regret that night" her older sister hissed, and the trembling in her voice made Luna's eyes blur.

"Damn foolish Tia" she murmured as she buried her face into her sister's side. She barely registered the sounds of the Elements leaving them to give them privacy, too caught up in the sounds of her sister biting back sobs.

It was a good moment before either would speak, instead both mares simply holding each other close. The one to break the silence ended up being the eldest sister.

"I... am happy that this corruption was purged" Celestia muttered, and Luna could not respond. Suddenly it all made sense, this was not a bastardization caused by constant retellings. Celestia legitimately believed she could not have ever opposed her without being corrupted.

The realization tasted like ash, and her temper found itself rekindled ever so slightly.

"Celestia... I... before such a thing can be addressed... What has become of my friend? The one I... er... sent to damage Canterlot?" She could feel the scowl on Celestia's face.

"About that."

Luna's stomach dropped further.

Author's Note

I stand corrected. I might be continuing the three chapter per upload thing. It just... feels right. Whether those three be uploaded more than once a month is still up in the air but because of the way I am doing the POVs this just...

Idunno. It feels right.

Thank you as always for reading.

Marlo

Taking Flight

She did not wait for the Elements to get the upper hand to make her escape. She did not wish to risk her hive by being encased in stone along with Nightmare Moon. Perhaps it was cowardly, perhaps it was cold. Nonetheless she was a mare of her word, and she had her objective.

Tracking down the dragon was shockingly easy. From the moment he departed the castle he soaked his surroundings in that delicious purple magic fire. From what she could detect, the trail of flames and miasma led straight towards Canterlot. What was odd was when she spotted miasma clouds slowly descending from the sky. It seemed like...

Looking up, she felt her jaw slacken. A colossal dragon, if it could be called that, soaring overhead. The familiar tasting magic fell behind it like a trail of fog, not that it seemed to be moving forward anymore. No, it was flapping its wings to remain relatively in place. It took a bit for her to find out why.

Its long serpentine neck reared back, and with a flourish it unleashed a powerful beam of pure magic. This ray of death lit the sky purple as it carved its way towards what she could only assume was the Equestrian capital in the distance. She noticed a shimmer of blue as it connected, and in an anticlimactic fashion it seemed the beam was fully neutralized. That or it carved straight through Canterlot, she couldn't quite tell from this distance.

Nonetheless she found herself hiding near the beast, waiting for the Great Maelstrom to land before making a report.

It was a smart move in hindsight, as she was blinded by the sun itself impacting the dragon directly in the chest. No, not the sun.

The Sun Titan herself.

Chrysalis had no time to panic, as she had to reposition lest she get caught in one of Princess Celestia's impressive and deadly light displays. The titan was managing to leave the surrounding wildlife completely untouched, a level of restraint that shot a spike of frustration through the changeling queen. If only she had such consideration for her home.

Things became even more complicated, as while hunting for a safe spot to observe she was bombarded with frantic messages from her spies. Using magic she carved a small trench behind a particularly steep hill, using that cover to catch her breath.

Three voices echoed, and with a sigh she commanded silence. The first to be granted speech was her lead spy, who swiftly reported the Princesses movements towards the strange threat in the distance. She ordered him to remain on standby, and granted voice to her other two.

One was a scout keeping an eye on the fallen castle, which reported the unfortunate news of Nightmare Moon's defeat. She bit back a curse, and the ground around her rippled as an inhuman bellow sounded behind her followed by a crash.

She silenced the last one before it could speak, as a loud explosion demanded her attention. She peaked over her cover and let out a hiss, dodging to the left to avoid the colliding meteor of scales landing dangerously close to her. She was spared injury by pure luck, the colossal dragon carving a massive trench past her as it crashed. No doubt from one of the sun titans spells. She commanded silence as she quickly threw up a pony disguise.

Her timing was fortunate, as within moments Celestia landed beside the downed dragon. In a flash of purple light she could see Lord Sombron kneeling in the beasts place. While he didn't seem dangerously wounded, he had welts and burns along his visible torso and arms.

Celestia bore superficial wounds as well, some bruising forming under her white coat and the beginnings of a decent sized shiner over her left eye. The two stared each other down, magic and powerful emotion seeping off of them in waves. Chrysalis had never experienced so much at once... before she could get nauseous, she dulled her senses and spun to take cover behind the now mostly demolished hill.

"You have lost, vile creature. My powers have fully returned to me, your mistress has lost. Surrender, and I shall be merciful" she could hear from her cover. She glanced around in time to watch Sombron spit blood at the mare's front hoof.

"Such sentiments are useless. We are at a stalemate, and I have no desire to face mortal courts" the dragon grumbled, and Chrysalis couldn't help but scowl. There was too much respect in that flurry of emotion for her liking. "I will now leave this place. Following does naught but cause more destruction, something we would both rather avoid. It would be pointless for Lady Moon to return to a barren rock."

"You dare. It was not me who attempted the murder of hundreds. You are not in a position to argue. Nor will you be able to stop my sun from purging any cover you find" the sun titan bellowed, and the surrounding temperature spiked. It was then that Chrysalis realized she had little time to act. Maintaining her disguise as a unicorn mare, she teleported to his side.

The shocked face of Celestia was the last thing she saw before she enveloped both herself and the dragon in green light.

Her vision blurred, and it became clear fast just how taxing warping such a magically potent being was. She warped twice, once to the Everfree forest and once more to its outskirts bordering the Wastelands. She all but collapsed into the dragon's side after that, her transformation burning away into the wind.

Strong arms held her as she caught her breath, and she suddenly found her senses assaulted with an addictive scent. She barely registered that he was holding his forearm out to her, nor did she think of the consequences of biting the dragon holding her. Instead she sank her fangs in and simply ate.

The blood, in hindsight, tasted awful. There was a method to her madness however, as this was among the faster methods to quickly syphon emotions. Had she the time, an extraction pod or mere proximity feeding would have worked. Alas, she was at a deficit that required immediate action.

All of her senses sharpened at once as she once more felt overfull. Off of a mere nibble alone... Chrysalis gingerly pried her fangs from his forearm and used a fraction of the magic syphoned to heal his wound.

"I... apologise-" she started, only to be cut off with a stern look from the creature holding her.

"Apologies for taking what is offered to you are pointless. Are you recharged?"

"I can... I can perform a few more teleports. Enough to reach the hive. I may request one more feeding upon reaching safe ground. This time with less... nibbling" she murmured, licking the odd tasting blood from her fangs. She was not afforded a verbal reply, instead his hands simply adjusting to allow her freedom of movement. Getting to her hooves, she braced herself.

Two more flashes of light encompassed them, leaving them in her throne room. She watched as the anti magic field took hold of them, though something strange happened. The field actively syphoned and disrupted sources of non-changeling magic, yet when it washed over him it simply... slid off of his frame. No, that would be inaccurate. It fought to suppress his magic, yet it somehow resisted it. The exchange made him seem almost godlike, glowing in ethereal purple light. His red eyes shone through the shroud, and Chrysalis could feel her heartbeat spike.

His gaze did not meet hers, his focus squarely centred on his glowing hand. Almost without warning his palm erupted into flame, making it quite clear his magic was far from disrupted in any meaningful sense. This both pleased her immensely, and terrified her. He could be a protector to her people, but one misstep meant her greatest defense would not spare them his wrath.

When his eyes met hers, her heart stopped.

"Will this... drain effect, be constant here? While its detriment is... negligible, I find this cosmetic effect infuriatingly bright" he asked, his tone rather flat. It took a moment to remember that she could breath, and her ensuing statement did little to hide how flustered she felt.

"I did not anticipate this, as usually the Onyx Throne simply negates the usage of any non-changeling spellcraft. I know not if the glow will subside with time" she replied, her voice a pitch higher than she would have liked. Clearing her throat, she continued. "Should you wish, I could make arrangements for you to stay out of its field. It would put you in danger of scrying spells, but it would allow you better comfort."

The Fell Dragon paused, seeming to weigh his options only to seemingly settle for shaking his head.

"I would not impose so suddenly. Besides, my priority should be confirming the status of our ally. That requires enlisting your spy network. Name your price, Queen Chrysalis." She took a moment to mull over his words. After a pause she shook her head in turn.

"I would never demand favors for an action I already planned to take. Be it as it may, action this soon would only endanger us. My spies will maintain their positions, and notify me of anything done or said in passing. I cannot risk sending my scouts back to the old castle, as that is likely a royal guard hotspot as of now."

"So we must simply sit on our laurels and wait. Riveting" he groused, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling. "Perhaps it would be best to retire and lick my wounds."

"I have lodgings prepared for you. I had sent word the moment we all agreed to cooperate, though Lady Moon's room will remain unoccupied for now. I will guide you personally, and from there I will have a dedicated drone be your guide and serve as my speaker when I am not present" she replied, brushing past him to lead him out of the throne room. Their footsteps echoed through the halls of her castle as she led him through winding paths and oddly placed stairways.

He seemed to bristle as they turned the fifth left in a row. Whatever patience he had was wearing thin it seemed.

"Is there a reason this place is so haphazardly designed? It seems as much a detriment to its inhabitants than intruders." His words made her grin mischievously, and she made a show of flipping her mane as she gave her reply.

"This palace was designed to ensnare and confuse invaders. Anyone starting on the ground floor alone would find themselves trapped in the colosseum before long, and anyone attempting to storm the upper floors could potentially find themselves stuck walking in circles. I would not bother memorizing anything, as you lack the sense required to properly find your way" she explained, a certain smugness seeping into her words. "Without knowing where every ling was and where each deposit was placed, orienting oneself is nearly impossible. And while our invaders would struggle to tell up from down..."

"You would find the abnormality in seconds and stage ambushes to wear them down. The guide is necessary then" he murmured, his eyes scanning the strange architecture. "And the risk of being smoked out?"

"Handled by the anti magic field. The sheer resources required to smoke this castle without magic would cripple even the wealthy nation of Equestria. We will not have a repeat of The Greatwood."

The two walked in silence after that. They arrived at two heavy doors, which opened effortlessly with her magic. The room was well furnished, inspired by the information she gathered in Canterlots royal palace. Much like her own room she had everything crafted for optimal comfort. Magically heated cushions, a bed made of the best materials stolen bits could buy. It had a desk meant for pony height, which she made a note to fix posthaste. There hadn't been time to adjust for height.

She watched him enter, and with a smile closed the doors behind him. She needed not wait for the drone she assigned him, as her wordless command had long since reached them. Instead she made off towards her study.

She didn't quite realize just how tired she was until her flank hit the cushion at her desk. Her chin met wood as she all but collapsed, the adrenaline in her system finally dispersing. The tingly sensation leftover from feeding had not worn away however, leaving her to cover her face with her hooves and groan.

She felt a light buzz in the back of her head. A drone, whose report had been neglected prior was requesting the opportunity to speak. The news made her groan louder. There was no rest for the Queen, it seemed.

A new threat reared its ugly head, and it was right under their hooves.

Author's Note

That does it for my second set of chapters. This sets up the pieces for the next two to three sets, and I am honestly excited.

Thank you for reading

-Marlo