Love’s Powers Lost
Once upon a time, far away from the land of Equestria, there was a beautiful kingdom with a peaceful people that celebrated love above all else.
The Kingdom of Ceridwen spread over mountains, rivers, fields, and cities. It was a pleasant and beautiful land. Its people were as beautiful and pleasant as the country itself. They laughed by day and loved by night.
The Ceridwen ponies, in many ways, resembled little Alicorns. They had four legs, white fur, wings, and a single horn. However, their wings were a beautiful crystal with a nearly clear light shade of blue. Their horns were small and curved. Their mane oddly resembled a sea horse’s.
Queen Chrysalis ruled over the kingdom with the same love and warmth that her subjects gave her. As pleasant as a Ceridwen pony was to look at, it could not compare to their queen. She was as tall as an Alicorn, with long flowing blue hair. Her fur shined in sunlight, and her smile could warm the coldest heart.
She watched over and guided her people through good times and bad. She cared deeply for them all and basked in the love they provided. Everypony celebrated love in everything they did; from greeting every pony they met; to rejoicing in celebration each night. Love was their whole being.
The unfortunate side effect of so much love, was the vastly increasing population of their civilization. So many ponies were filling the Kingdom and consuming all the food they could grow. If the queen could not find a way to feed her people before the winter season, many of her subjects would starve in the cold.
The queen sought out the best minds in the land, and welcomed wise ponies far and wide that they may bring with them the solution to their problem.
“Your Majesty, the next wise pony has arrived,” her assistant informed her.
Queen Chrysalis, lay over the side of her throne, drooping. She had seen over a dozen ponies from across her kingdom and beyond, all of whom could offer no good solution to her worries. She looked up at the ceiling of her royal chamber. The stained glass refracted the sunlight shining through, into a rainbow that landed at her hooves. It was a small, but pleasant distraction for her, considering the day she had been having.
“Sigh. Very well, send them in, Harmony,” she replied to her assistant in a disinterested tone.
As the doors to the throne room opened, the pony stood, waiting in the shadow of the door. A cloak with a hood covered their face. As the pony approached the throne, the queen grew wary of a pony who would give such a discourtesy as to not reveal their face to the queen.
The hooded pony approached the throne and bowed.
“I do apologize for covering my face, your Majesty,” a soft and warm female voice spoke. “However, I was tragically disfigured many moons ago, and did not wish to frighten you.”
“I can assure you. You will not frighten me. Now reveal yourself to me,” the queen commanded.
The pony lowered her hood, to the immediate gasp of the queen. She was able to quickly recover. However she could not help but to continue to stare at the sight of the creature before her.
The pony was not a Ceridwen pony. She was not even a pony at all. Her fur was jet black. Her eyes were glazed over in a light blue. A hump could be seen in her back. But these were not the strangest features by far. What stood out most, were the holes that her body seemed to be covered in. Something appeared to have removed whole chunks of her flesh.
“What…are you?” the queen asked, continuing to stare at the creature’s peculiar features.
“I was a Cameloid…once,” she said, staring at the floor in shame. My name is Deidra.
The queen recognized the name. “I have heard of your kind,” she said. Your people come from the Far East deserts and can travel for many days with little food and water. You are a terribly long way away from home.”
Queen Chrysalis could see the Cameloid still attempting to bury her face in the ground to avoid being stared at. “I can see your discomfort," she said. "I will not force you to remain uncovered if you wish, however do not feel that there is any need. I shall not speak of it any further.”
“Thank you, your Majesty,” Deidra said, covering her face once again with the hood. “I have come to offer you a gift.”
Reaching into her cloak, she pulled out a small vile filled with a soft pink powder.
“As I am but a visitor to your land, with no means for me to pay for my stay, I offer instead this gift.”
The queen used her magic to retrieve the vial and examine it. “What is it that I am looking at?” she asked.
“In exchange for my stay, I bring the ability to feed your people…on love alone.”
The queen looked at the Cameloid in bewilderment. “I don’t understand,” she said. “How can anypony feed on love?”
“If you pour this into your water supply, the ponies that drink from it will receive the ability to absorb the energy produced by the power of love. Love will sustain them, love will enhance them.”
“Enhance them?” the queen asked, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean by enhance?”
Deidra smiled. “Love is the most powerful energy in the universe; much more powerful than simple hay and oats, I would wager. Your people will grow strong and powerful. They will gain abilities such as they have never known.”
“That is a bit hard to believe; that this little vial could be that powerful,” said the queen, eying the vial suspiciously. “How can I trust that this is not merely a poison that will slaughter my kind for your people to conquer?”
“Fear not, your Majesty. You may test it to your liking on anypony you wish. Place two grains of the powder in a glass of water and give it to them. You may watch as they grow strong and require no food at all.”
The queen contemplated how best to test this “gift”. She looked beyond the gift-giver toward the guard standing by the entrance. “Captain Sully!” she called out to the guard by the entrance. “Find me a volunteer who would be willing to try this supposed ‘cure for hunger.’” The guard immediately saluted, stepping forward himself as a volunteer.
“I offer myself for the good of the kingdom, your Majesty,” Captain Sully said, kneeling upon his approach to the throne.
“Excellent. If you volunteer, than I shall have both you and our gift-giver here be the test subjects for this.”
Deidra’s face momentarily slipped in surprise, but recovered before even the queen could notice. “O-Of course, your Majesty. I would be happy to share in this gift with you.”
The queen’s assistant took the lead and left to retrieve two glasses of water for the test. Upon her return, she offered the glasses to the queen, who carefully placed two grains in each glass. As the queen floated the glasses over to the pair of them, they each took a glass. As the Cameloid started drinking with no hesitation, the captain too drank.
“How do you feel, captain?” the queen asked, looking over the guard for any signs of change.
“I feel fine, your Majesty,” he replied. “I do not feel any different.”
Deidra quickly added, “The effects will not be immediate. It may be several days before the first effects appear, and several weeks before they fully develop.”
“I see,” the queen said, a little disappointed. “Very well, Captain, you are hereby limited to the castle, but are excused from duty.”
“But your Highness, I would much rather serve–”
“I know, captain. However, if this is a poison, I would rather you have been rewarded with a little time to relax.
“But I–”
“No buts, captain. You are dismissed,” the queen stomped her hoof with authority.
The captain quickly saluted and left the room. Another guard immediately entered after his departure, to keep watch over the queen.
“While this test is in progress, Deidra,” the queen said, looking back toward the Cameloid, “I would prefer that you remain with us. I will allow you to stay at the castle with us during the trial.”
Deidra softly smiled beneath the cloak. “Thank you, your Majesty. That is most generous of you. I promise, you will not be disappointed with your gift.” She bowed before the queen, before turning to leave for the evening.
Several days had past, with no ill-effects to the potion to either Captain Sully or Deidra. In fact Deidra started to look a little healthier. Her holes started shrinking, and her fur color was softening. Though she still kept her hood up most of the time, she was slowly more willing to pull it back, showing herself little by little.
The captain seemed happier as well. His meals steadily grew smaller and smaller as time progressed. He started to feel more energetic and even empowered. However, it was not until the end of the second month that something extraordinary happened.
“Your Majesty, I bring exciting news,” Captain Sully said, upon entering the throne room.
The queen watched the captain as he approached and could see the change in him. He looked ten years younger and twice as strong. She had never seen such a healthy and serene pony. She smiled at him as he knelt before her.
“You look positively amazing,” the queen said. “Is this the news you have brought me?”
“Actually, no, your Highness. I’ve discovered this morning, that I was capable of a most extraordinary ability. With your permission, would you allow the gift-giver Deidra to join us?”
The queen nodded. The captain turned towards the entrance doors to the throne room and nodded at the guard, who opened the doors, allowing the Cameloid entrance. Deidra walked in, but you would have not known it was her from first glance.
Her fur had turned a bright golden color. The holes covering her body were completely gone. She smiled as she entered, having discarded the cloak entirely. “Good day, your Highness. I trust you are happy with the results of my gift?”
The queen nodded again, her smile filled with excitement that such a gift was truly possible. She gestured to Captain Sully, who walked over to Deidra and stood next to her.
“Watch this, your Majesty,” he said, as his shape instantly altered itself to become an exact duplicate of Deidra. The queen was dumbfounded by this new ability. He quickly reverted to his original form.
“You have the ability to change yourself?” the queen finally got out after the initial shock.
Deidra smiled. “Changling abilities are one of the possible effects of the potion. In time you may find many new abilities your people may enjoy.”
“The potion has completely cured your disfigurement,” said the queen. “How come you have not taken this potion before now?”
Deidra had to think for a moment, before responding. “With my condition, it was difficult to find anypony who would be willing to share their love with me. I would have starved. But thanks to the warm loving kindness of your people, I was finally able to heal and join in their love. For that you have given me a most precious gift, Your Majesty. I thank you.” She bowed to the queen.
The queen was thrilled with such magical results from the potion. “I’m so pleased this worked so well,” she said. “Our food supplies for winter grow shorter by the day. Captain Sully, I hereby order this potion to be mixed with our waters, and share this marvelous gift with each and every pony in the kingdom!”
The captain saluted, before taking the vial of the mysterious pink powder from her. He left the room to carry out his orders.
Queen Chrysalis returned her gaze to the Cameloid. “On behalf of my people, Deidra, I thank you for saving us from a terrible fate. I would like to repay you with a life here in Ceridwen.
“Thank you for your generous offer, your Majesty,” said Deidra, “but I think it best for me to take my leave. I have spent many years in search of the potion that could cure me, and many more to find a people with enough love to share with me. I would like to return to my people and my home.”
The queen’s face displayed the warmth and compassion of understanding as she gazed at Deidra. “I understand,” she said, “but if you should ever need a place to stay, you need only ask,” the queen offered.
Deidra bowed before exiting the throne room. She made her way out of the palace and didn’t stop until she had left the walls of the city entirely. As she stepped out onto the grass beyond the city away from the ears of anypony, her face twisted into an evil grin that spread from ear to ear.
“Finally!” she quietly muttered. “Finally, I’m free of this retched curse, once and for all!”
Several months had passed. The Ceridwen ponies rejoiced at first with the gift of the traveler. They consumed their love for one another and played with their changeling abilities. They laughed and relaxed and stopped eating altogether.
No pony had noticed the slow change over time. Their happiness masked the ever-growing emptiness in their hearts. They had feasted on their love, draining it from them.
As the quantity of love dwindled, arguments and fights began breaking out regularly. The happiness that had masked their lack of love had worn away into emptiness and sorrow.
They began to feel hungry. They required new love to feast upon. Many tried to return to eating food, but it would taste like poison in their mouths. As they slowly starved, their bodies began to change. Their fur began to blacken. Their wings started fraying. Holes began forming all over. They would surely starve if they could not find more love soon.
"CAPTAIN SULLY!!!!!" Queen Chrysalis screamed, her voice carrying to all parts of the castle. Within a few moments, the captain hastily entered the chamber and ran up to her, kneeling upon his arrival. He panted heavily.
The captain no longer looked as healthy and energetic as he did when the trial testing had first completed. He too had succumbed to the loss of love and bore all the markings of the curse. Holes riddled his body.
“We’ve been deceived!” she hissed.
The queen’s beauty had gone as well. Her silken white fur had blackened. Her bright blue hair had turned to a ghostly green and had started to fray. Her demeanor showed no remaining love that once was the cornerstone of her beauty.
“So it would seem, your Majesty,” Captain Sully replied.
The princess got up from her throne and started to pace. “We need to undo the damage that Cameloid did to our people! We need to track her down and get the cure from her!”
“But your Highness,” the captain tried to rebut, raising his hoof in the air, “what if there is no cure?”
As her face spun around, it bore the expression of twin demons made of fire shooting from her eye sockets. “THERE IS A CURE!!!!!” she screamed. “That Cameloid was all too happy to take that potion and she left before any of this began to happen.”
The queen continued her pacing, increasing its speed. The captain’s eyes grew dizzy as he tried to follow her.
“This must have been a plot by her people! We must strike back! We must get the cure from them at ANY COST!!! Now assemble the troops! Go after those creatures and that traveler. Bring back the cure!”
Her rage sent shivers down the captain’s spine. “YES MAM!” he screamed back before retreating from the room.
Almost thirty more days had passed. The hunger in the streets hung like a dark storm cloud hovering over the heads of each and every pony in the kingdom.
“Guard!” the queen yelled angrily. “Has there been any word from the army dispatched to the Cameloid territories?
“No word yet, your Majesty,” Lieutenant Baker quietly answered, followed by ducking as a vase smashed directly where his head had been. He had received the same response each and every time he had to give his empty report. “It will take some time for them to reach the Far East Desert and return.”
The queen sighed, slumping over the side of her throne. She was so hungry she could barely think. Her stomach grumbled loudly enough to echo across the chamber.
“Lieutenant…” the queen attempted to soften up a bit as she sat up in the chair. “We need to be prepared for the possibility that they may not return with the cure; or even the Cameloid responsible. I want you to take a team and scout the far kingdoms for one with enough love for us to consume.”
“But your Majesty!” the Lieutenant cried in shock. “You can’t mean to suggest that we should feed on the love from other kingdoms?”
However, as he said that, his belly rumbled loudly.
“Your gut knows better than you do,” she noted. “I must protect my kingdom and its people. And I will do whatever that entails! Now get going!”
Lieutenant Baker hurried from the throne room to begin putting together a team.
The desert sun burnt the flesh of what remained of the army as they pushed forward into the Cameloid territories. The holes in their bodies had grown larger even faster, having no love to consume for miles. Many pony soldiers had perished during the journey through the desert.
“Sir!” one of the Lieutenant’s on the captain’s squad announced. “I think we’re there! I can see buildings just over that sand dune.
“Finally!” Captain Sully called back. He wiped the sweat from his brow and made the final push over the last sand hill. As they gazed upon the town, their eyes burnt with the nightmare before them.
They were dead. Every single Cameloid was dead. Every one of their furs had turned jet black and holes riddled their bodies. Even those bodies that had decayed to nothing but bones displayed holes in them.
“We need to keep moving!” the captain shouted to the line. “What happened here may not have happened to every town! Let’s rest for now and continue at first light.”
The ponies settled into the beds of the deceased Cameloids. In some cases, their bones needed to be removed from the bed before they could occupy it.
The following day, they rose early and headed for the adjacent town. But the result was the same. They moved on to the next, and the result was the same. They continued until they flew straight into the heart of the capital city. And the result was the same.
There was not a single Cameloid pony left alive.
“Oh Hay!” Captain Sully swore as he stared at the bones of the Cameloid king. “That Deidra must have been the last of her kind. If she does have a cure, she never shared it with her people.”
The captain sat on the stoop sweating from the heat. He sat thinking about what his next course of action should be.
A young private in the group started to panic. “This is what will become of us!” We’re all going to end up like them! Corpses in the sand! I won’t go that way! I WON’T!!!!
Before the captain could grab him to settle him down, the soldier transformed into a pony made entirely of brittle glass. He ran straight for the wall in the throne room.
“NO WAIT!!! Captain Sully shouted, but it was too late. The private shattered against the wall. Nothing but shards of broken glass remained.
“Let’s get back to the queen,” said the captain, “before we all go that mad.” The other soldiers nodded, staring at the shattered remains. Turning away from their lost friend and the remains of a dead civilization, they headed back with nothing more than the knowledge of their possible fate.
Queen Chrysalis no longer sat on her throne, but lay upon the floor of the throne room, weak from hunger. With the failure of the guards to find and bring back a cure, they needed to find a new food source and soon.
The chamber doors opened, and Lieutenant Baker entered completely unannounced. All sense of formality in the palace had long since ceased. The lieutenant walked straight up to the queen.
“I think we’ve found something,” he said, staring down at the queen on the floor.
She didn’t even lift her head, but merely gazed up at him. “What is it?”
“There’s a kingdom two days journey from here: Canterlot. They are a pony race that preaches love and friendship.”
The queen finally lifted her head. “Is the kingdom large enough?” There was a twinge of excitement in her voice.
“Yes. And there’s more. They are planning for a royal wedding.”
Queen Chrysalis opened her eyes wide and smiled. “With our changeling ability, we could sneak into the kingdom. If I could take the place of the bride…I could harness the love of the entire kingdom!”
The queen got up off the floor and walked over to a nearby mirror. As she stared at her disfigured self, she attempted to transform into her original form, but it wouldn’t work. It was the only shape she was unable to transform into. Instead, she simply imagined herself as she once looked, wearing a beautiful wedding dress.
“I always wanted to be a bride!” she said, laughing. Her smile was both crooked and evil.
"Thank you for seeing me, your Majesty," a beautiful Cameloid graciously bowed before Princess Celestia.
"Not at all," the princess replied, smiling warmly. "What can I do for you?"
"I have come to warn you of an impending danger to your kingdom," Deidra said.
The princess looked at her confused. "What danger do you speak of?" she asked.
Deidra looked into Princess Celestia's eyes deeply with concern. "You must secure the city of Canterlot, or it WILL fall!"
...To Be Continued...?
