Eclipsed Truth

Title: Eclipsed Truth
Chapter 10: A Queen’s Care

Deep in the Changeling Hive

The ruins of Chrysalis’s former hive were dark and quiet, their once-bustling corridors now abandoned by all but the most loyal of her followers. At the heart of the structure, hidden away in a secluded chamber, Eclipse lay unconscious upon a makeshift bed of silken cocoon threads.

Queen Chrysalis stood over her, her expression unreadable.

Eclipse had been asleep for hours, her body utterly drained from the outburst of magic she had unleashed against the Order. Even in her unconscious state, her breathing was shallow, her body frail.

The changeling queen clicked her tongue. “You are truly a mess, little alicorn.”

A buzzing of wings behind her signaled the arrival of the changeling spy who had stolen Eclipse from Canterlot. He bowed low, awaiting her command.

“What do you know of her condition?” Chrysalis asked without turning.

The spy hesitated. “I… gathered some reports before I retrieved her. The ponies discovered that she has severe trauma connected to bread. Apparently, it was the only thing they gave her in Tartarus—moldy, rotting, barely edible. She panics at the sight of it.”

Chrysalis’s expression darkened. “Tch. Fanatics and their games.”

Eclipse stirred weakly, her mane shifting slightly as her breathing quickened. Chrysalis sighed.

For a moment, she debated simply letting the ponies reclaim her. Why should she care?

But the Order had dared to march into her domain. They had attacked one of her own.

Even if Eclipse was not a changeling, they had made this her fight.

And if she was going to have an alicorn in her hive… she wasn’t going to let her be pathetic.

The Queen Tends to Her Charge

When Eclipse finally woke, she was met with the dim glow of enchanted blue flames flickering along the walls. The air was cool, but the surface beneath her was soft.

Her vision was blurry, her mind fogged with exhaustion. But the moment she shifted, she tensed.

She wasn’t in Canterlot.

Her ears flattened as she turned her head—only to see Queen Chrysalis sitting nearby, watching her with a raised brow.

Eclipse swallowed. “…Why am I still here?”

Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “Because you collapsed. I wasn’t going to let the Order scoop you up again like a lost puppy.”

Eclipse blinked slowly. She had expected cruelty. Indifference. Not… this.

Chrysalis stood, stepping closer with a predatory grace. “Now, I could have tossed you into a cell. Or left you for your dear mother to find.” Her gaze flickered down at Eclipse’s still-weak body. “But I am not in the habit of keeping broken things in my hive.”

Eclipse frowned. “I’m not—” She tried to sit up, only for her limbs to tremble violently.

She barely caught herself before falling, her breathing uneven.

Chrysalis let out a sharp, knowing chuckle. “Pathetic.”

Eclipse clenched her jaw, her pride stinging more than her body.

The Queen’s horn lit up, summoning a bowl filled with a thick, nutrient-rich broth. “Now, be a good little star and drink.”

Eclipse hesitated.

Chrysalis’s eyes narrowed. “Unless you want to starve again?”

Eclipse tensed at the word.

Her mind flashed—the moldy bread, the sickening taste, the empty pit in her stomach, the cruel laughter of the Order—

Her breathing quickened.

Chrysalis immediately caught the signs.

So. The spy had been right.

She exhaled through her nose, her expression neutral, before slowly levitating the bowl closer.

“You will eat properly here,” she said, her tone oddly… steady. “I am not feeding a corpse.”

Eclipse shakily took the bowl in her hooves, the warmth of it soothing her trembling limbs. She took a small sip—

And for the first time in a thousand years, she tasted something good.

Her lips parted slightly in surprise, but she said nothing.

Chrysalis merely smirked. “Good girl.”

Eclipse flushed slightly but continued eating in silence.

Meanwhile, in Canterlot—The Spy is Found

Pinkie Pie had many talents. Throwing parties. Baking. Spreading joy.

But she also had one skill that was often overlooked—

She noticed things.

So when she caught a pony acting just a little too suspicious in town, she followed them.

And, of course, when she saw them duck into a dark alley and shift into a changeling, she pounced.

“AHA!”

The spy barely had time to react before he was tackled to the ground by an ungodly amount of pink energy.

“Wh-wha—?!”

“YOU’RE A CHANGELING!” Pinkie declared.

“…Yes???”

Pinkie squinted at him. “AND YOU’RE SPYING!”

The changeling groaned. How had this happened…?

Moments later, he was dragged (somehow bound in party streamers) straight to the throne room, where Princess Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and the rest of the gang all stared down at him.

He gulped.

Luna stepped forward, her normally regal expression darkened. “Where. Is. My. Daughter?”

The spy shuddered. He did not get paid enough for this.

But he knew that lying wouldn’t work.

“…She’s in the hive,” he admitted.

Luna’s wings flared. “Then return her. Now.”

The spy hesitated. “…You don’t understand. Queen Chrysalis—”

“—Has taken her hostage? Yes, we figured,” Celestia said, her tone clipped. “Now take us to her.”

“No! That’s not what I meant!” the spy yelped. “Queen Chrysalis… protected her.”

The room fell silent.

Luna’s eyes narrowed. “Explain.”

The changeling swallowed hard. “She… she’s been tending to her. Personally.”

Twilight blinked in shock. “Wait, what?”

“She saw what the Order did to her,” the changeling muttered. “She heard it.” He shuddered. “And she was… not pleased.”

Celestia exchanged a glance with Luna.

This… complicated things.

Luna’s ears twitched slightly. “And… how is Eclipse?”

The changeling hesitated before answering. “She’s… healing. Slowly.” He sighed. “Queen Chrysalis made sure she was fed. She even avoided giving her bread after she learned about the trauma.”

Luna’s breath hitched slightly.

“…She’s actually taking care of her?” Fluttershy asked softly.

“…Yes.”

Luna took a slow breath, her mind racing.

This changed everything.

Chrysalis wasn’t holding Eclipse as a hostage.

She was protecting her.

Celestia pursed her lips. “Then we must go to her.”

The changeling gulped. “Uh. I really wouldn’t recommend just walking in there.”

Luna’s gaze hardened.

“I am reclaiming my daughter.”

The changeling sighed. This was above his pay grade.

“Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll take you there.”

Luna’s eyes gleamed with determination.

She would bring Eclipse home.

To Be Continued…