Kingdom of the Windigos
Queen Chrysalis’s eyes slowly opened as she began to regain consciousness. She rose shakily to her hooves and checked herself, nothing was broken or injured in any way. Chrysalis shook herself and looked around her staring in shock as she realized that she was on top of a snow-covered mountains. When she calmed down she realized that she was utterly alone her subjects were nowhere in sight. This was not good. For without her to find food, her subjects would starve and the changelings would go extinct. Chrysalis looked at the raging sky lightning flashed through the air illuminating the snow that plummeted from the heavens.
“Okay, so flying is out of the question,” Chrysalis said to herself. Then she noticed a cave entrance behind her, it was dark, freezing, and the perfect place to put someone or something that has been captured.
“When I find whoever did this, I’m going to show them why love hurts!” Chrysalis shouted inwardly. As she headed into the caves Chrysalis swore that she felt herself being watched, she once more looked around her surroundings and still she saw no one. Unbeknownst to Chrysalis she really was being watched by the very storm that raged around her and so far, all was going according to his plan.
When the Changeling Queen walked into the cave an eerie light emanated from the ceiling, Chrysalis looked up and saw hundreds of icicles glowing with energy radiating a pale but bright light.
“Well whoever brought me definitely wants me to find them, the fool,” Chrysalis said. “But I would be a bigger fool if I didn’t see this for the trap that it was. Seriously, could they make it more obvious, the things I do for my subjects.”
Chrysalis trekked through the cave, as she got closer to the inner chamber she saw blocks of ice. However, what was strange about these ice blocks was that Chrysalis was picking up love energy from them. Feeling curious she went over the ice block and whipped away the excess snow and mist. Chrysalis’s jaw dropped open as she saw the frozen pony inside dressed in medieval clothing. She went to more blocks and saw ponies, unicorns, pegasi, horses, animals, and all other manner of creatures all frozen solid perfectly preserved and alive.
“It seems like my host has an interesting...taste in decorum, if I don’t destroy them I must find out how to get a hold of their decorator,” Chrysalis said begrudgingly admiring the work of her new enemy. Though Chrysalis was no fool, this was no idle threat but a full-blown promise that to underestimate this foe would get her killed. Taking another look at the frozen pony, she continued on her way.
As she followed the trail of icicles, Chrysalis began to see a light at the end of the tunnel, the entrance to the heart of the mountain. Chrysalis was just a few feet away from her destination when she suddenly stopped, all of her instincts told her to turn back as torrents of negative emotions radiated from the entrance, along with a powerful but neutral energy that felt very familiar to her.
“That’s odd,” Chrysalis said out loud, as she used her magic to examine the source of the negative energy. “This energy comes from two sources and only one of them is produced by something alive. In all my centuries as queen I’ve never felt hatred like this, this is not good,” Chrysalis said as she cut off the spell, she slumped near the cave wall in exhaustion from the exposure to the hatred.
It was a well-guarded secret of the Changelings that negative emotions were not only completely inedible to them but also very toxic and in Chrysalis’s case in more ways than one.
“You’re a clever one I’ll give you that,” Chrysalis said as she pushed herself up on the wall. “But I’m afraid you’ll need to do better than that if you want to defeat me.” Chrysalis regained her regal composure and walked into the mountains heart closing her eyes to the glare of the entrance’s light.
When the glare cleared, Chrysalis stood in a huge cave of ice and snow shaped into the form of a rotunda with walls that seemed to blur together. Upon looking at the walls, further Chrysalis realized that the walls were covered in a strange fog. Curious, Chrysalis walked over to the wall closest to her and touched it with her right hoof. The fog was thick and solid. No matter how hard Chrysalis pushed, she could not move the mist, she decided against using magic on it.
“What are you hiding my mysterious host?” Chrysalis asked herself. However, what truly caught Chrysalis’s attention was a huge pit in the middle of the chamber that radiated with a faded purple light. Chrysalis gasped in shock as recognized the power that this pit held.
“It can’t be, light from the Secretariat Comet,” Chrysalis said in disbelief but she would know it anywhere. The same power that she used in her second attempt to take over Equestria, the same light that Twilight Sparkle used to imprison her and her people there was no mistaking it. “How is this possible? The power of the comet is too powerful to be contained much less store. Just how powerful is my host?”
As if to answer her question, waves of dark energy drew Chrysalis from her thoughts and she looked up to see its source. On the roof of the cave were eight giant interconnected crossguards made of obsidian, with a huge cluster of fused obsidian that hung from the center point of the crossguards. A long blood red crystal protruded from the cluster, making the structure look like a sword poised to strike. Chrysalis did not find that comforting, but, her curiosity got the better of her and she flew up to the crystal structure to take a closer look. Careful, not to get too close she flew around the crystal cluster and admired herself in its reflective surface. However, it was crystal in the center of the cluster that fascinated Chrysalis out of the entire sculpture. Upon further inspection, Chrysalis realized that it wasn’t a crystal at all but a giant horn, but not just any horn, but King Sombra's, what was even more curious however, was a dark purple star at the center of the horn, an exact likeness of the Element of Magic, except it was colored a malignant purple/black with green, violet, and blue highlights.
As Chrysalis drew closer she saw a shadow writhing within the star, but before she could take a better look, a beam of dark energy shot out of the nearest obsidian crystal and struck Chrysalis causing her to plummet to the ground, she landed on the ice with a huge smack; the fall wasn’t long so the impact on the ice only left her a little shaken.
Chrysalis slowly rose to her hooves, anger contorting her face.
“Alright that does it! NO...MORE…GAMES! I demand that whoever captured me and my subjects to come forth this instant!” Chrysalis demanded oblivious to the dark cloud mass that descended from the top of the mountain and over the pit. Sensing someone was behind her Chrysalis turned around.
“How DARE you keep ME waiting, don’t you KNOW who I am! I am the Queen of the Changelings and I wi…wi…wi,” Chrysalis starred at the monstrous pillar of storm clouds before her unable to look away from the storms that seemed to pulse through its entire being. “Wiiilll be leaving now, sorry for the intrusion, BYE!”
As Chrysalis tried to make a break for the exit a wall of ice rose up out of the cave floor and sealed off the exit, she hit the ice wall with a thump as she failed to stop herself in time.
“Leaving so soon I won’t hear of it, after all what kind of host allows their guest to leave so soon after they arrive,” The Monster said.
Suddenly, an ice chair formed from the cave floor along with a dark blue chalice with a beverage that radiated a thick mist.
“Please, come and sit I IN….SIST!” The Monster proclaimed in menacing voice. A gust of wind blows from the creature’s form picks up Chrysalis and plops her into the chair.
Chrysalis sits in the chair and stares at the monster and for the first time in centuries sees a creature that she should truly fear. For it had no love, it had nothing to control or drain and to a changeling that made somepony a real threat to them. However, Chrysalis tried to regain her composure, after all, if somepony scarred you, don’t let them see you afraid.
“Aren’t you going to have your drink, it’s very good it can really take the edge off,” The Monster said still gazing down at Chrysalis.
“No thank you I don’t think that it would agree with me,” Chrysalis responded as she sat up in her chair.
“Ow well I guess it’s an acquired taste.” The Monster stared at the chalice and it melted back into the chair.
“Alright enough with the small talk, just who...or what are you and where are my subjects?” Chrysalis asked careful to avoid making the creature angry.
“I am Noreaster, King of the Windigos,” Noreaster said as the wind began to swirl around him.
“I’m sorry but I’ve never heard of you,” Chrysalis said.
“That is no surprise, I didn’t want to be heard of and those that did know about me became my…permanent guest in my kingdom. Although, they are so eager to greet new visitors they are always the first ones people see when they come here," Noreaster said with a cruel sneer. “
"Ow yes, your guest certainly gave me the warmest and most...unique reception I've ever had," Queen Chrysalis said as she smiled and laughed nervously, while discreetly looking for a way of escape.
"But that will all change very soon. After this year's Hearth Warming day everypony will know that we exist!!” Noreaster proclaimed his voice echoing throughout the cavern.
Chrysalis yelped in fright at the intensity of the booming voice. Even though it was below freezing in the cave Chrysalis started to sweat profusely.
"Oh I'm sorry my dear I didn't mean to startle you. However I would ask that you indulge me. Do you know the history between the Three Tribes and the Windigos?”
Queen Chrysalis regained her composure and spoke. “Yeah, yeah everypony knows that story,” Chrysalis said rolling her eyes. “Including the humiliating defeat that your kind suffered at the hands of the tribes, so clop to the chase I know you didn’t bring me here just to give me a history lesson.”
“Really, then why did I bring you here your highness?” Noreaster asked in a sarcastic voice.
“You want my help in getting revenge. I know somepony with a grudge when I see one, I am noponies fool,” Chrysalis said with an arrogant air.
“Is that so your highness? Because your failed "attempts" and I do use that term generously at trying to conquer Equestria have all shown me otherwise,” Noreaster said.
Chrysalis spluttered indignantly at this insult.
“HOW DARE… SILENCE!” Noreaster shouted drowning out Chrysalis’s rant with bolts of lightning that shot from his writhing mane, Chrysalis cowers in her chair beginning to comprehend the danger that this creature presented to her.
“I am the king of this domain the only reason you are still alive despite your impertinence is because I permit it. Am…I…Clear?!” Noreaster demanded as he lowered his head to look Chrysalis dead in her eyes. Chrysalis gulped and nodded not trusting herself to speak.
Noreaster raised his head and spoke. “You are correct I did have you brought here for my plans of revenge against Equestria. One that has been in the works for centuries, I require your power to aid in the crusade. When all's said and done Equestria will fall to its knees and the world will follow!” Noreaster said as fervor began to radiate through his entire being. Freezing winds burst from his body and swirled around the cave.
Chrysalis stared wide eyed at this monstrous display of power, it had only confirmed what Chrysalis suspected from the first moment this creature revealed itself that having the Windigos as allies would be even more hazardous than having them as enemies.
“At least I’d know where I stand with my enemies,” Chrysalis thought to herself as she collected herself and spoke.
“Wh...While that proposition does sound attractive I’m afraid I must decline, I really don’t play well with others. However, I will take my subjects and leave Equestria and not stand in your way when you do…whatever it is you’re going to do to Equestria,” Chrysalis said with her royal air.
Noreaster was silent for a moment and then the sound of thunder boomed from his mouth. It took Chrysalis only a moment to realize that Noreaster was laughing…at her. Her left eye began to twitch as something within her began to snap.
“What…is…so…funny?!” Chrysalis demanded in a deadly calm a snarl forming on her face.
The thunder within Noreaster stopped. As he lowered his head he began to shrink until he only a few feet taller than Chrysalis, he looked at her as if she was a very slow student that had to once again be taught a simple concept.
“You misunderstand me Chrysalis,” Noreaster said as he vanished from Chrysalis’s sight and reappeared behind the chair. “Your part in my plan is not optional.” Noreaster vanishes once more but this time into thin air. “Nor was it a request.” Though Chrysalis could not see Noreaster, she knew that he was still there. Suddenly, a chill ran throughout her entire body as she felt ice-cold breath next to her as Noreaster began to whisper in her left ear. “I will have your power Chrysalis.” Noreaster then appears in front of Chrysalis. “And I do intend to take it.”
That was the final straw for Chrysalis. Fury and anger rushed coursed through her body, somepony could kidnap her subjects, invade her kingdom, and even drive her from her conquest but nopony gave commands to her. Chrysalis floated up into the air till her eyes glowed with the energy of her power.
“You dare to make demands of me! I am not some common foal, I am Chrysalis Queen of the Changeling! If you think that I’m going to be ordered or defeated by a glorified puff of smoke, you have another thing coming!” Chrysalis fired a beam of energy from her horn. As the power beam approached Noreaster did nothing, in fact he looked rather amused as the beam hit him radiating a blinding flash, when the light cleared there was small crater where Noreaster stood.
Chrysalis let out an evil laugh gloating in her triumph, however, it was very short lived. Suddenly, out of nowhere a bolt of lightning soared towards Chrysalis and struck her down, hard, onto the ice floor. She spasmed as the electricity coursed through her, painfully raising her head she saw that her wings were in taters, nearly half of her body had second-degree burns some border lining on third degree. Her mane and tail where charred nearly to a crisp. Then when the spasming began to cease she raised her head and starred in shock. Noreaster stood in front her, restored to his normal height without so much as a scratch on him. A tendril extended itself from him until it was a few feet from Noreaster’s head. He then wagged it like a finger of disapproving parent. A tendril of clouds began to trail out of Noreaster’s mass and encircle itself around Chrysalis. She weakly raised her head.
“W…w…ait I…thought…you…ne…needed…me?” Chrysalis said in a weak and barely audible voice as she helplessly watched the cloud ring swirl faster and grow taller around her. Beneath Chrysalis the ice covering the energy from the Secretariat Comet, the purple light of the comet's energy began to seep through cracks.
“Me…need the help…of a glorified parasite, you truly are a fool Chrysalis. I said I need your power I never said I needed you to wield it,” Noreaster clarified with a smirk.
“No, No, NOOOOOOO!” Chrysalis screamed in terror as the cloud engulfed her. The comet's energy seeped into the cloud mass, warping Chrysalis into a gelatinous mass of green energy and magic. Then, the false element flew from its groove, hovered over Chrysalis and absorbed her into itself until there was a blinding flash. Then there was silence, the star fell to the scorched iced were Chrysalis once stood. Noreaster laughed in triumph as he levitated the star to his face to see a green light glowing emanating from bottom left point of the star.
"Well Sombra it seems like you finally have some company," Noreaster said addressing the writhing shadow at the top right point of the star, laughing at his joke. "Cooome forth my suubjectsss, it isss done."
Suddenly, millions of eyes appeared from the mist against the walls as the windigos manifested themselves and flew out of the fog with Cumulus, Nimbus, and Stratus who still carried the green pyramid and obsidian orb containing the Nightmare Force. As the windigos dispersed the fog began to clear, revealing the secret that they had hidden. Carved into the funnel like rotunda of the mountain were circular shelves all perfectly shaped and equally apart. On each, shelve were rows upon rows of the windigos trophies. The ones that Chrysalis saw were just poor victims of the windigos evil and there were many more throughout the mountain, these victims were not full of hate and were basically useless to them. However, the ones on the shelves were the windigos true prizes entire civilizations, tribes, ponies, and other creatures from different times and nations all with different cultures and languages but with one thing in common: hatred. The Ponies of Equestria were neither the first nor the last victims of the windigos and those that had not overcome their hatred or differences ended up as another frozen trophy. The Changelings were the latest additions.
Noreaster looked at four of his subjects and motioned for them to take the star to it's place on the horn of King Sombra, the four windigos swirled around the star and lifted it up into the air, placing it in the groove on King Sombra's horn.
“Addss a niiice tooouch to the caaave,” Noreaster said switching back to the windigo language.
The Windigos howled with laughter at the humiliation of Queen Chrysalis. Cumulus, Nimbus, and Stratus flew up to their king and presented the pyramid and the orb that contained the Nightmare Force. A funnel of wind formed under the containers as Noreaster took the objects from Stratus and held it like a giant hand.
“Yooou haaave aaall done weeell. Sooon eeeverything we haaave striiived fooor will coome tooo paaass. EEEverything shaaall belooong tooo the Windigooos!” Noreaster shouted with triumph.
The mountain shook as the windigos cheered.
“Nooow leeeave meee, III mussst feeed,” Noreaster commanded.
The windigos all inclined their heads as they vanished into thin air. Once Noreaster knew that he was alone, he glided around the rotunda looking over his captive as a restaurant patron looks over a menu. Then he stopped in front of the shelves with his newly acquired quarry and looked at the changelings dead in the eye. Even though Noreaster's victims were in stasis, they could still hear and see.
"You know, I've never had changeling hate before. I wonder how you taste." Noreaster's horn lit up an eerie electrified blue light as a dark liquid began to see out of the eyes of the changelings. As Noreaster opened his mouth, the black tears fazed through the icy prisons and flowed into Noreaster's gaping maw. Inwardly the changelings screamed as they felt as if their very souls were being violated and drained. When Noreaster had his fill, his horn dimmed and the tears vanished.
"Hmmm, your hatred is more unique than I thought it was. So much hatred but it all stems from the jealousy of never being able to experience the emotion that keeps you alive, so tragic," Noreaster taunted with mock sympathy. "Now onto business.
A rectangular block of ice flew out from Noreaster's body and floated before him in midair. His horn and eyes lit up with dark magic as a black fire consumed the ice making it melt revealing four pages and a journal thought to be lost to time each one protected by a magic barrier. With a gesture from Noreaster the pages and journal began to grow is size until they were big enough for the king to read. The first page had a picture of the Alicorn Amulet, the second page had a picture of a unicorn draining the essence of another pony, and using that essence for power. On the third page the picture was always changing from one thing to another, on the final page was the picture of the same structure that hung from the ceiling cave of the windigos lair, underneath each page was the writing of ancient Equestria. Noreaster looked at the pages until he saw the spells he was looking for.
“Ah here we go, the Spell of Essence Extraction and the Charm of Change,” Noreaster said switching to the Equestrian language so that the Nightmare force could understand him. He then brought the second and third pages in front of him along with the journal. Noreaster conjured up a wind and began to leaf through the book until he found the entry and notes he was looking for. Noreaster turned to the green pyramid.
“You can stop trying to escape your prison,” Noreaster said to the Nightmare Force as he levitated pyramid and sphere up to him. “I have big plans for you Nightmare Moon and good news for you, they involve making you whole again.” The Nightmare Force stopped struggling at the mention of the prospect.
“Ah I see I have your attention,” Noreaster said with a satisfied sneer. “Now my services are not free and believe me you will pay but you will finally get the chance to wreak your revenge. I’m afraid though the payment begins now, this will hurt a lot,” Noreaster said as he brought the pyramid, orb, and the second spell in front of him.
Noreaster’s eyes lit up with the dark magic as the pyramid and orb glowed with a blinding green light. The Nightmare Force let out a high-pitched wail as it felt as though it was being warped and twisted. Suddenly, the page with the third spell flew in front of the second one as Noreaster began the final stage. From each of the trophies that lined the shelves dark tears flowed from their being and into the pyramid and orb wrapping the items into a black cocoon. Unable to cry out the victims minds rang with their agony. Tendrils of energy from the power of the Secretariat Comet slithered up to the ice floor, phased through it, and fused with the cocoon . The comet’s light turned the cocoon from black to blood red, to a snowy white, and finally to a light purple. The tendrils then receded back into the pit and the cocoon cracked to reveal a pendent in the shape of a dark purple gem shield cutie mark that hung from a silver and platinum necklace, in the middle of the gem was a quadrilateral shaped hole.
Noreaster levitated the pendent up to his critical eyes to inspect his work, seeing that the Nightmare Force was intact and dormant Noreaster sneered to himself.
“It is done, soon my Elements of Destruction will be complete,” Noreaster said as he absorbed the necklace into himself for safe keeping.