It was an afternoon morning where the weather was as perfect as one would want. A sunny day that wasn't so hot and blue skies with a few clouds floating around. For most it was the best time to relax and have a wonderful time, but for this changeling it meant something else to them. This day held a special place in their heart, a day they could never forget. Upon an old dirt road, They approached an old cemetery that was in a decrepit state. Headstones, monuments, and other symbols of the dead had either been filled with cracks due to erosion or nature itself was slowly enveloping them in its warm embrace. These changelings died from a time mostly forgotten, an age where changelings were independent, a time were while the hives fought one another for control of all of changeling lands.
It wasn't until Chrysalis united these hives that a resemblance of unity and order was established. Still, the war between themselves was the bloodiest in changeling history that has been slowly forgotten in this new age of peace and prosperity in these lands. She was one of the few that can remember those times, a proud soldier, serving her hive with distinction and loyalty that others could marvel at her determination. But she was young back then, hot headed and cocky, but as time went on she became much more sober, cold, and especially cynical. Passing through the many graves, her mind dreamed about the life she had before. She was not any ordinary changeling but a royal descendant of the Queens of Vraks.
The youngest of the three other siblings, her age meant she was too young inherit the throne, yet it didn't bother her much. She served the Queen, her older sister because she loved her dearly, someone she could look up to and especially one whose big shoes she would have to fill one day. It meant she wanted to prove herself amongst everyone especially her sister. Joining the Vraks military, this hot headed royal princess was never shy of the frontlines, wanting to lead romanticized charges with flair and skill that earned the respect of her superiors and fellow soldiers. She wanted to be treated the same as anyone else believing nothing should be given to you but to be earned. Earning promotion and awards, she always gave it her all for her sister and always did the best to spend time together as a family. But there are always dark events that turns everything around in the worst way possible.
The war with Chrysalis in her conquest of all the hives, Vraks was determined to fight to the bitter end which cost the changelings dearly and caused devastation that wasn't fully recovered until years later. While her sister governed, she would fight tooth and nail for her even as chrysalis forces tightened the noose around Vraks. She was determined to die fighting until the word came down that the war was over by the order of her queen, her sister. She couldn't understand why she would do this, her sister who was also just determined to fight to the end only to surrender and end her own life in the process. It filled her mind with both sadness and anger, unable to forgive her sister for betraying her and her people.
The years passed, fighting in countries far and wide and eventually joining Thorax's coup against Chrysalis. It should have filled her with happiness of defeating her most hated enemy yet it did little to calm her saddened heart. Becoming an advisor to others such as Exavia and Thorax, her priority of the prosperity and rebuilding her hive while admirable made it hard for others to work with her, especially that military mindset she carried with her. It wasn't until recently she received something important, something that filled her heart with mixed feelings once again. It is why she decided to pay this graveyard a visit, a place where her former comrade and friends had all passed away, a place for her to sit and think.
Finding an old bench, she sat down to give her legs some rest after the long walk she took to make it to this place. Staring at something for a moment, she pulled out an envelope from her military coat. It looked like a simple envelope but upon closer inspection, the front had been written in golden ink and bore a wax seal of Vraks. It was her sister's handwriting, her emblem, it was the Queen of Vraks letter. A few days ago she received it from an old friend, discovering it from one of Chrysalis vaults. The letter dated 971, the day Vraks fell and her sister's death, but what shocked her the most was that the letter was supposed to be sent to her but never got. This must have been one of Chrysalis cruel jokes, which made her defeat even more enjoyable but she still had mixed feelings about this. A part of her didn't want to read the context, no excuse or reason in the world could explain such an embarrassing defeat and betrayal, and yet part of her wanted to know, she hoped for something to ease the pain she's been carrying all these years. After some consideration, she opens the envelope and reads its contents.
Dear Sister
I hope you're doing alright, the war has been taking a toll on everyone and you work overtime fighting on the front but like ways you are a stubborn. I'm writing to you because I'm about to do something that you will think foolish of me for doing, maybe you will hate me for it. But, I want to make sure you understand why I'm doing this, especially as the War with Chrysalis is coming to its end. You and I know the truth, our supplies are running low, we're running out of ammunition and medical supplies, morale is at its lowest, and the enemy draws ever close to seizing Vraks. It's only a matter of time until Chrysalis wins and the fate of our people is sealed, so I've taken matters into my own hands to give you sister, a chance to protect our people. Take my words as you will , but whatever decision you make know that I will always love you no matter what.
When I started all of this, Chrysalis was a monster who cared only for herself and not for her people. I could not let her win, nor be under her hoove, so I took this opportunity with the other Changeling Hives to fight against Chrysalis. Even if we disliked one another, I hoped we could put our differences aside to take her down. I thought myself to be a much better leader than Chrysalis, one who was much kinder and cared for all changelings. I still remember during that meeting when I spoke of my plans, the faces of everyone were filled with fear and confusion . For all of Chrysalis arrogance and bravado, she is a ruthless leader and a skill commander, one you could not underestimate. Then out of the blue, you shouted to the top of your lungs “FOR THE QUEEN OF VRAKS”, and just like that everyone else started to believe and joined in the chant. Whenever I was down, you were always there to cheer me up, to give me that motivation to push that extra mile, I am grateful to have a sister like you, and feel sorry to betray your belief in me.
Chrysalis has sent an ultimatum, giving me two choices. I either surrender Vraks without further bloodshed, or she will wipe Vraks off the face of Equestria. I thought about it, fighting to the bitter end and making Chrysalis bleed further, but I can't do that to my people and especially to you. I've signed the ultimatum to her just a few hours ago, it's only a matter of time until they march into the city, and when that happens, please do not fight back, no more bloodshed. That leaves only one thing for me to do, my last act as Queen of Vraks. Knowing Chrysalis, she will want to parade me on the streets and have me serve her council for for eventual war with Equestria. I'm not going to give her that satisfaction, I can't work with someone like her. I think you know where I'm going with this sister, this is the last time you will hear from me. I've earned the bullet and so, i'm going to use it. I failed you as your queen and your sister, but please listen to my last request. Don't make the same mistakes I have made sister. Dont give up on our dream, dont give up on everyone. Goodbye sister, I love you.
From your sister
She were silent for much of the reading until the last part. Placing the letter back into there coat, she looked back at something they had stared for a considerable amount of time earlier. After a moment, she pulled a beaten up flask and took a sip of its contents, filled with hard yet sweet liqour and then spoke.
“I was at the frontlines at the time, holding a bunker emplacement against the enemy. There were only a handful of us and the enemy was in their hundred, yet we held on time and time again. I was determined to hold the line to the bitter end for you until I suddenly blacked out after a loud boom came from behind. I woke up in some makeshift hospital in the rear, badly wounded in the face from an artillery shell. Despite my wounds, I wasn't going to let this little flesh wound stop me, and tried to return to the front only for my subordinates to calm my nerves. But, it didn't matter in the end, all that sacrifice and blood we spilled only to be told by a runner that a declaration of surrender was signed, the war was over and we lost. You have no idea how I felt that day sister especially after learning how you ended your own life, at the time I thought it was cowardice, after all we stood side by side even during our darkest moments and promised to one another to never surrender, but hearing your suicide and the deal you made with our enemy, how could I ever forgive you.”
“I traveled the world after that, putting that rage and anger somewhere else, fighting everyone and anyone, pretending it was you. I returned home after I was given a chance of “redemption”. Chrysalis was planning her great war and needed all the best officers she could get, felt flattered she thought of me after I was her former enemy. Then I was given a much better offer by this strange changeling admiral who I think you would have liked, sister. She offered me a chance at the revenge I so desired, the chance to fight chrysalis and so I took it. I joined the thorax crusade and did what we failed to achieve before sister, win. I thought all that sadness and anger would float away but instead it grew heavy. The damage she did, the suffering of our people, the hole she left in my heart. I was starting to be like chrysalis later on, the way I acted for the sake of our hive and no one else, which I'll admit I made more enemies than friends.”
“When I received your letter, I'll admit you surprised me yet again. When I thought I knew what I wanted to do, you had to come in and mess with my mind a little bit more.”
Standing up from the bench, she approached the object while still holding on to that flask. It was a statue of a changeling which looked far more elaborate and detailed than the other gravestones. Below the base of the statue there was a little plaque that contained some written words.
“Would it matter if I read that letter, would it change what I thought of you after all this time sister?”
Looking back at the flask, they tipped it to the side allowing its contents to spill upon the ground. It was only after the last drop of booze left the flask that she kneeled to the ground. On closer inspection the plaque read “Queen of Vraks, 971 ALB”. Placing the flask in the statue's base, she looked up to her sister's face before tears started flowing tears.
“I was the wrong sister, about everything. Instead of learning the truth, I let my emotions get the best of me. I let Chrysalis mind games win, I thought of you, my sister as a tratior and a coward. But, I betrayed your wish sister, I did the opposite of what you wanted, if only made it worse. There's no way I could ever ask for your forgiveness. But, I know what I have to do.”
Rising up, she forced herself to give the biggest smile she could produce, the same kind of smile they always gave to her sister whenever they were filled with sadness.
“I won't let your dream be forgotten just like everyone else who sacrificed their life for this moment. I'm not just a changeling of one hive, but all the hives. Please, be there for me and shine the path whenever I'm lost.”
With a new sense of determination, and all those feelings of sadness of anger floating away, she prepared to make her departure back home before turn to the statue one last time
“Goodbye sister, I love you.”
With that, she departs back to Vraks filled with hope and determination, that old fire that had kept snuffed, now burning with passion. She had a lot of things to do and a lot of people to make up for, especially one sarcastic admiral. The future was still uncertain, and her time would only grow shorter. But, she wasn't going to let things like that stop her, for they was stubborn, just like there sister.
Author's Note
This is the first story I have ever written here in this place.
I never thought of myself as a good writter but I always wanted to do more than just sit around and do nothing.
When the contest opened up, I decided to take this opporunity and show what im captiable of.
Any feedback and suggestions would be wonderful
Thank you.
