Out of Control

You wake up in your new room.
You take a shower and go in search of your Queen. No chains, shackles or collars hold you, the guards seem to either way ignore you or angrily hiss as you when you bother them with questions.
You find Culex in the dining room, eating dinner, or breakfast, or whatever time of the day it is.
“Culex?” you ask her.
She just turns around and “Hmm?”'s you puzzled.
You take a portion from the food on the table and sit next to her “So...you're my daughter?” you ask her.
The young changeling princess nods slowly while munching on her food, watching you sharp all the time.
She really is.
You are a dad! Oh man, you are too young to be a father...what does a father say to his daughter?
You need a hat and a pipe! And a plain wallet! Just to look the part, you know...
Oh man, that's right, a father has to spend fatherly time with his daughterly daughter! There are so many things you can do! Together! As father and daughter!
You can go to musicals together, shopping, kids are creative! You can paint together! Or you can bake something in-
“Hey! Stop making funny faces, don't get any ideas. I know you live in Equestria, changelings don't work like that!” Culex interrupts your train of thoughts.
“What? But we can do so many things together! As fath-”
“The male usually gets drained until he dies after mating! I don't know why mother lets you live, she m-”
You suddenly get up “No, you're my daughter! Come, give daddy a hug sweetie.” with arms spread you step towards her.
“NO! Stop this! If the others see this-” you give your daughter a tight bear hug, ignoring Culex's struggling completely.
“Noooo! Let me go! Let me go or I'll-” you start swinging her left and right.
Still can't believe that that cute little changeling is your daughter...
Culex growls for a moment, then bites you in the neck. Her teeth don't do much damage but she is audibly sucking on you. Suddenly you become sleepy as hell, so sleepy you can't hold your daughter anymore.
Gently you put her down and stagger backwards to your chair, you fall on your ass and decide to take a quick nap right here and right now.

From now on all your daughters seem to avoid you, hmm, weird.
You go to Chrysalis chamber, after a knock she bids you inside.
“Chrysalis, can I ask you some questions?” you ask her.
“Of course you can.” she turns to you from whatever she was doing.
“How did I end up here? I still know what happened in the past three years, but I can't remember ANY details...”
“Oh, so Culex did that...” she mumbles to herself “Well, we simply blocked out some things that troubled you the most, it should come back to you over the course of a few years eventually. And to answer your question: I offered money for you, there are many greedy creatures. But actually your old girlfriend Gilda helped you out of your misery, you may want to thank her in the future. Though we lost track of her after she arrived in Equestria some time ago.”
“So...you kind of...bought me?”
“Why yes, bounty hunting is quite spread in the feral lands you know? But I'm sure you know that. Gilda wasn't after the money tough.”
“Still...thank you for what you did, I'm really grateful to you.” you rub the back of your neck embarrassed.
“Ah, think nothing of it, bits aren't that important to a changeling.” she rocks closer “What we value is LOVE.”
Now face to face, you just have to tilt your head a little and give her a kiss.
Chrysalis's eyes widen, she sure didn't expect that!
“I'll make sure to give you plenty.” you say to her.
“I don't think you understand Anon.” she says after snapping out of it “Love is not just some imaginary thing that gives you a warm feeling in your tummy, it's actually something powerful, something a changeling can absorb and use.”
“Absorb? Love? How is THAT possible?”
Your Queen walks on the balcony and you follow her, but there is nothing but darkness.
“Do you see anything?” she asks calm while leaning on the balustrade.
You answer her “No, I see only blackness.”
“Hmm, well. You may not see them, but there are a lot of changelings down there. They work and fly and sometimes use magic, but not often....Living in Ponyville, I am sure you've heard the phrase 'Friendship is Magic' once or twice, now didn't you?”
“Sure, Twilight was always talking about the magic of friendship, I never grasped that concept though.”
“What do you think is stronger than friendship? Much stronger?”
“Love? I guess?”
“That is correct Anon, that is correct. Ponies usually have only wings, horns or none of these, rendering them as pegasus, unicorn or earthpony while we changelings all have wings and horns. It is our biggest strength and yet our biggest weakness.” Chrysalis watches out into the darkness in melancholy.
“You seem pretty strong to me, I see no weaknesses.”
“Anon, you're such a flatterer. I mean, where unicorns only become tired when using magic, a changelings magic will simply become weaker until there is next to no effect at all. In order to be able to use stronger magic we need to feed on the love of other creatures, while for ponies, friendship is enough.”
“I see.”
“When we drain a creature of its love, it becomes tired. You experienced that first hoof yesterday when a few of my daughters visited...we can either stop and let the creature rest until it has recovered, or we can drain all of its love. Do you know what happens to somepony that has no love left?”
“What should happen? It's not like you need love for your survival, right?”
“Ah! You are wrong.” Chrysalis continues dreamily “Without love you will die. Have you ever heard of the broken-heart-syndrome? I guess not, but anyway, because of that ability of ours we changelings are frowned upon. In return we became more and more hostile to all the other races, over the millennia...well, you've seen it. There was once a time where changelings and ponies lived together in harmony, back then we we were not called 'changelings'.”
Chrysalis lets out a long sigh, she plays with a strand of her hair and dreamily looks out into the darkness.
Then you ask “And you want it to become like this again...”
She glances over to you with a smirk on her face “...yes, but it won't happen over night. I used you to force Celestia into negotiations...did you know that your vanishing led to the disbandment of the Elements of Harmony indirectly? You must have been quite important to some of them...”
“Do you know...how long I've been gone?”
Chrysalis turns her view back into the darkness, watching things you can't see “Do you really want to know that?” she asks disinterested.
“Heh, If you ask me like that, I guess not...was it very long?”
Her eyes wander over your body “For a mortal like you...yes.”
Mortal...
You forgot that these queens and pony princesses don't die naturally...if there is a way to obtain that too...?

“How did you get Celestia to listen?” you ask.
“Urgh, she thinks that you are the key to get the elements back together. Personally I think she is just desperate and has simply nothing left in her repertoire so she clutches at the last remaining straw. You.”
“Sounds like a lot of trouble for me.”
“Yes, she will probably turn your live into a living hell before she has to accept that it won't work. I've witnessed many of her elements form and disband again, but this one was doomed from the beginning I say. They didn't even form a band...”
“Do you have other news from Ponyville? From what you say, it feels like a lot happened during my absence...”
Chrysalis pouts “Ah. Sure. I don't think there is a place that is better infiltrated by changelings than Ponyville. Did you know that I tried to make you fall in love with that nurse at the beginning?”
“That was you?!” you had your suspicions...
“Well, not all of the time of course. But anyway, the griffons are gone. Their violent behavior made it impossible for them to stay together. They spread over all of Equestria. It's a political disaster for Celestia, heh, serves her right.”
You think for some time about your past in Ponnyville.
“Hm, I'm not so sure I want to go back to Ponyville. After all it wasn't that nice to live there, the only one I really miss is Pinkie Pie...but it feels like I've almost forgotten her.”
“Love fades over time if not maintained, it's a miracle that you feel anything for her after that long anyway. But you have no choice, I need you to go back. But you don't have to stay in Ponyville I guess...or rather, you can't. You will see what I mean.”

You chat with her a little more about nothing in particular before leaving.
Time flies by with the changelings draining you all the time. Time that is not spent with your Queen or eating is spent sleeping.
Sometimes you have to eat green goo, it tastes horrible but Chrysalis wishes it, so you do her the favor.
Before you know it a month has passed.

You put on your new clothes that Chrysalis ordered for you and go to her. Today is the big day.
Together with your Queen you will go to a city where an escort to Equestria awaits you. Chrysalis will accompany you, or rather, you will accompany her. She is set on having a talk with her old friend Celestia.
Two weeks later you arrive in Haven.

You are now Chrysalis.
The human looks good...considering what he's been through at least.
The vessel that will take you to Equestria is already waiting for you, you hate traveling on the surface, the ways of your empire are much more pleasant and fast. But you have to show them some goodwill...
You considered sending a delegation, but you can't let something THIS important be ruined because of the incompetence of one of your underlings...your people will rise again...it may take a dozen decades or two, and thousands of generations of changelings, but it will happen.
All you have to do is to make Celestia agree to a truce! And eventually peace will follow.
You've had enough of being treated like the scum of the earth, even diamond dogs are more welcome than you...everywhere.

The ship is one of Celestia's, her damn bluesuits are everywhere.
The vessel is at least as big as three casual buildings and the four masts reach even higher. Disgusting white and gold color schemes are all over the ship.
Bwah!
You prefer the colors of your race, but there is no space for personal tastes here.
And these bluesuits gave you a hard time more than once...but you have to swallow your pride, this is for your people, you can't be selfish now!
There comes the captain walking down the planks...Spitfire...damn her.
With your dozen of personal guards and the human you'd have no chance of winning against all these Wonderbolts if they decide to betray you, but the prize is worth the risk.
“Ah! Hello Spitfire, long time no see. How's the wing?” you greet her, a little too mockingly maybe...
“Chrysalis!” she answers sharp “You better keep your word, if you try anything we are prepared!”
“Now now, my dear. No need for threats, this might be the end of our conflict. Why don't you visit me once this is all over, I'm sure we can settle our differences.” you offer her.
Spitfire grimaces “NEVER! You killed too many of my friends! If it were for me, I'd kill you here and now! You can be happy that Celestia is weakened, or else she would have never agreed to this!”
You didn't expect such ferocity, but she is right, you killed more than a few of her comrades...but they tried the same...

After all changelings and Wonderbolts have boarded the ship, the anchor gets hoisted without delay.
The captain is all over the human as soon as you were shown your quarters, you let them, the human is under your influence anyway and only Celestia can undo that.

You are now Anonymous.
Haven got just out of sight and Spitfire asks you annoying questions.
You lean on the railing as she bothers you “Didn't you get my letter with the wanted poster? How did all this happen?” she asks puzzled.
You answer her calm “I was about to visit you in your academy, I wanted to take a nights rest in Vanhoover before continuing there, but got kidnapped by a griffon pirate. Captain Blackclaw.”
Spitfire bites her lower lip with a concerned look as she hears that name “Damn...I've been hunting that criminal for years...” she mutters to herself.
“So.” you say serious “I doubt that I am the only reason for Celestia to start negotiations with Queen Chrysalis, care to enlighten me?”
The bluesuit is looking around, like what she is about to say is a secret “Something is happening Anonymous, something big...the Elements of Harmony are disbanded, Discord vanished, War in the Feral Lands, Celestia is struggling with King Sombra's return and that's only the top of the mountain.”
The fiery pegasus is visibly troubled by something “Equestria stands at the verge of a civil war, things have been a lot rougher there than most of us are used to. It feels like we are about to lose everything we've fought for, peace, freedom, prosperity.”
“What do you mean with 'something big'? These are just some major things that tend to happen, even if they are all happening at the same time it doesn't have to mean anything. I think you ponies are way too superstitious in these regards. Also, the changelings may help, they are not as bad as you think, even if you have your...past...with them.”
Offended is an understatement for what Spitfire looks like right now “I think the CHANGELINGS have messed with your head a little too much!” she says with disgust, then she turns from you and marches off.

With such a fine ship, you reach the shores of Los Pegasus in just one and a half week.
The city looks like a copy of Cloudsdale, just bigger and with buildings underneath. You would love to go sightseeing, but there is no time for that, a train is waiting especially for your Queen, and you have to follow her!
Before you know it you already are in what was once Ponyville. You can't believe you once lived here...the buildings look out of shape, the color that once ruled this village has ebbed away and a less cheerful tint rules over it now. Barely any ponies are seen...
Then the deserted Ponyville shrinks in the distance again, the train goes straight for Canterlot...

You expected trumpets and fanfare, a red carpet and a greeting committee or at least a few screaming residents but the changelings all turned into ponies...boring.
The dozens of Bluesuits escort you and your Queen to the palace. Even Canterlot lost most of its prestige, what happened here?! Everyone looks...sad.
You pass the gates and are lead to the throne room, much like in Chrysalis's throne room stained-glass art covers the walls...there is a depiction of the maine six abandoning their elements...
Chrysalis reverts to her true form as you spy Celestia at the end of the room.
She sits on her throne, sunken deep and whispering to what looks like an adviser. Her face is barren of any kind emotion, with a sharp look she watches her arch-nemesis coming closer.
Your Queen looks rather confident, she watches every single one of the stained-glass windows as she walks through the long room. She grumbles displeased as you walk by a depiction of her defeat at some wedding.
You stop in front of Celestia and she stands up, her mane isn't flowing like it did at the party.
You knew it!
She's just a show-off!
Why does she call herself a princess anyway? Isn't she a monarch over a kingdom? Shouldn't she refer to herself as Queen?
Spitfire and her Bluesuits leave your side and align themselves with Celestia opposite to you. Chrysalis, you and her two changeling guards stand in front of them.
Celestia and Chrysalis stare at each other for an eternity, the alicorn has a grim look while Chrysalis keeps her cool with a smug grin.
Finally Celestia opens her mouth, you can see how every fiber in her body kicks up as she says the next words...“Welcome to Equestria.”

“Ah! Much appreciated. I brought you the human that you believe to be responsible as a sign of my good will.”
It goes you against the grain, but this is your roll in this political mess. If Chrysalis demands it, you happily oblige.
“I take it you indoctrinated him beyond hope? I have no use for one of your puppets Chrysalis.” Celestia looks at you with dismay, how dares she!
Chrysalis answers calm “Now now, if you want this to work you have to show me at least SOME will to oblige old sister, he-”
“DON'T DARE TO CALL ME THAT! You lost this right when you walked down THAT path.” the alicorn nods towards Chrysalis, what the hell are they talking about?!
Chrysalis rolls her eyes “Anyway, I didn't do much, you should have no trouble with him. Only a little courage added here and a few bad memories removed there, you know, being a slave doesn't do wonders for your self-esteem, now doesn't it? But as I recall you didn't invite me here to talk about some humans, am I right?”
Celestia magics you to her side greedily, Chrysalis's eyes follow you until you have solid ground under your feet again, then she continues “I want an embassy like the griffons, here in Canterlot. And a truce between our nations. I want peace. That is all I demand, isn't too much now isn't it?”
After a moment of deep thought and silence Celestia answers “And you shall have it, in return you will help me against King Sombra! He too has unexpected...allies...” Celestia says in defeat.
All the cockiness fades from the Changeling Queens's face, it's the first time you've seen her that serious “So my sources are right, your most faithful student turned her back on you...”

The two monarchs continue their negotiations as you get led out of the room by some of the Bluesuits, one of them is Soarin'.
“What happened, who is King Sombra?” you ask him.
He answers without much emotion “Don't worry, you'll get briefed.”

You get new clothes, white ones this time.
You stay in the barracks for the time being, getting many weird looks from the guards. A few days later you are to meet Celestia. You don't remember what she did, but you've slept an entire week after that, only getting up for eating or getting rid of eaten food...you feel forced thoughts leave.
When you asked, Celestia told you that she got rid of the changelings taint. Even though you don't really feel any changes, you'd still walk through fire for Chrysalis...
After that you get new teeth! Not natural ones though, some kind of dentist unicorn makes you some wallies.
Awesome!
Now you can bite again!
Fuck you soup! FUCK YOU!

You don't get to talk with Celestia properly for another week, during that time you explore Canterlot a bit, ask around, but aside from general problems everyone seems to have nothing new reaches you.
Then Celestia wants to talk with you.
You meet her in the throne room alone. She sits on her throne and has a stern look on her face when she starts “Anonymous, I have a request to make.”
You raise your chin and answer “And what if I refuse?”
“Don't strain my patience human! My nation is being devoured by a madpony!” guess you angered her...
“Is that so? And what could I do about it?! I'm just a human, I have no wings or magic, and also I don't see a reason why I should help you in any way at all! As I recall it was not YOU who freed me from slavery and...” sex-slavery, you don't say it...but yeah, you're not a slave anymore!
Celestia stands up, for a moment her hair flows again “THEN DO IT FOR YOUR FRIENDS!!!” she says in her stupid royal Canterlot voice.
You inhale deep and think hard, you take your time, you probably know what she wants anyway...
“What IS it that you want?” you finally ask her.
She calms down and falls back on her thrown, hair hanging limp like before.
“I need you to bring the Elements of Harmony back together, all except for Twilight Sparkle, she is beyond salvation at this point. It is all my fault...”
Damn right she is!
“I will provide you with what you need, but please bring them back. We know only the location of three of them, Rarity is in Manehattan, building a new life. Applejack now lives in Apple Loosa and Rainbow Dash lives in Cloudsdale again. The others, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are untraceable.”

This is a damn huge request, you knew she wanted something like that from you but hearing it makes it seem so much bigger. How could you accomplish something like this?!
“How am I supposed to pull this off exactly? It's not like I can just meet with them and all their afflictions just magically disappear. Why did the elements disband anyway? Weren't they friends?”
“They were, until you just disappeared! Pinkie Pie found the wanted poster you left carelessly at home and she went looking for you. She just disappeared. After that King Sombra ensnared my most faithful student Twilight Sparkle in secret.” Celestia looks down in defeat.
“Who the hell is Sombra?” you ask her.
“He is a master of dark magic, the only one who can use this cursed power to its full extent. And Twilight is his new student...”
“So he stole your student.” you look around, the throne room is almost empty, only two guards stand at the entrance on the far side of the room “Doesn't that mean that, even IF I manage to get the five back together, the Elements of Harmony are not going to be complete?”
“No, I will assume the missing role, the element of magic.” Celestia says confident “Then we will defeat King Sombra and free Twilight before she is lost to the darkness forever.”
Celestia doesn't look like she can assume any role at this point, she is visibly at the end of her strength, she isn't even sitting straight!”
Then you raise your voice “Celestia...why didn't you included me in the agreement you had with that griffon settlement? The one that kept them from mauling your little ponies? Was that too much? A single creature more?”
Celestia returns stern “Don't talk about things you don't understand human! You are not one of us, you are not even from this world!”
You answer calm “That is right, yet you want me to help you. If I really am to do this for you, you at least owe me an honest answer! Why didn't you offer me protection like everyone else?! You knew how violent griffons are!”
Her royal Canterlot voice kicks in “HOW DARE YOU?! HOW DARE YOU QUESTION MY JUDGEMENT?!”
You return in royal angry voice “I DARE BECAUSE I ALMOST DIED ALL THE TIME!!! I GOT HUMILIATED! I GOT CRIPPLED! I GOT FUCKED IN THE BUTT! I EVEN TRIED TO KEEP YOUR FUCKING ELEMENTS OUT OF ALL THIS CRAP! AND HERE I AM, WILLING TO DO AS YOU ASK AND YOU WON'T EVEN ANSWER ME ONE. SIMPLE. QUESTION!?!?! WHY?!”
Celestia clenches her eyes, then she leans back and slumps down even more on her throne and answers quietly “Because...I don't expect you to succeed.” her eyes become teary “And I feared you'd become violent, like the others ages ago. The griffons could have handled you then. I only wanted to protect them...”
Great, now you've made a monarch cry...
She must be very upset with her student gone and her elements strewn all over Equestria, her arch-nemesis now her ally, enemies on all sides...
Tears silently roll down her cheeks.
Knowing her reasons were noble, you can't really be that angry with her anymore. You want to calm her down, but she must hate you a damn lot, you'd probably make it worse.
After a while you speak to her “I can't do it on my own.”
The princess wipes a tear “What do you mean?”
“I know you don't expect me to make it, but if you want me to have at least a speck of hope of succeeding then I need help.” you say.
“Take what you want, I don't care anymore. Go to my chamberlain, he will give you full authority.” she says beaten while fighting with a lump in her throat.

You have a good nights rest.
The next day you've made up your mind, with that writing with Celestia's seal on it, you can do pretty much everything, you even have authority over the Wonderbolts!
Rad!
You should act quick though, before Celestia notices what she gave you...
The royal smith is currently adjusting some chainmail for you, you got a guard lance, a backpack full of useful stuff and some candy. Hell, you just have to show them that scrap of paper and they'd probably suck your dick if you'd demand it...
You wonder where Princess Luna is though, wasn't she supposed to rule this land with her sister together? Negotiations with the biggest enemy would at least demand her presence, right?
Every time you ask for her you only get sullen looks or you get ignored with a frown...then one tells you that she got imprisoned by King Sombra!
Why didn't Celestia tell you THAT?!
Whatever, you'll just get ready to get the elements back and then rescue Twilight eventually.
When you've put on the chainmail you go to visit Celestia before you head out.
Oh god, this shit is fucking heavy!
Your shoulder feel like they are about to fall off!
Holy shit, how do they wear that crap all day?

You find Celestia outside in a secluded garden, depressed and daydreaming.
“Princess?” you announce yourself.
She turns to you and almost smiles “Hello Anonymous. You look good.”
Her praise is more flattering than you'd like “Yeah, well. Golda isn't really my color but it'll do.”
Celestia smiles “I am sorry, I did you wrong with the griffons. But our little quarrel yesterday gave me hope, I think you may actually be able to bring them back...”
You lay your hand on her shoulder “I don't really have a choice if I want everything to become normal again, do I?”
“There is one more thing I want to tell you, please listen.” Celestia says “You do not know this, but during your absence Twilight became an alicorn, like me. Do not go north to the Crystal Empire, King Sombra defeated Princess Cadence and Shining Armor with the help of Twilight Sparkle and claimed it for himself again. She is much more powerful than you think.”
“I heard about your sister, maybe I ca-”
“No!” she cuts you off “Don't even think about that! We lost her when we tried to bring Twilight back and free the Crystal Empire again, but together with Twilight...they are too strong. I don't know why they haven't attacked me yet, even with Chrysalis I am no match for them.”
Okay, it's not that easy it seems.

You get some more tips from Celestia and bid her farewell.
Your first stop is Cloudsdale, for it is the next whereabout of an element. You take your stuff and make it to the Canterlot trainstation. On your way you see a new building getting erected.
The dark colors, the architechture, no doubt this is the new changeling embassy...
You just walk past it, politics are not one of your concerns, and board a train to Ponyville, Rainbow Dash should be easily convinced, she was a close friend after all...