//------------------------------// // Chapter XXIV // Story: I, Chrysalis // by Scarheart //------------------------------// Edited by Chapter 13, Kudzuhaiku, and TuxOKC. Taalia taught me the key to moving with a small force against superior numbers is to make your enemy believe you are in one place when you intend to strike at another place. The moment of the strike had to be perfect, the results exactly as expected. One must know one’s opponent and be prepared to act accordingly in the aftermath of the attack. The strike must be devastating, not only from a physical standpoint, but from a psychological one as well.         Strike hard, strike fast, and let the shadows be an extension of yourself.         Taalia was no fool. She carried fewer scars as my mentor than she earned in the years prior. She learned. She tested herself, pushing her limits. She in turn pressed those lessons into me in the most painful of ways. Blood flowed freely in those days. The queens of the land constantly bickered and battled with each other. Taalia went among them, making pacts at the behest of the queen she herself served.         A queen to this day I never knew the name of.         She was always referred to as ‘The Mistress’. Taalia adored her. I suspect perhaps this mysterious queen was her mother. Perhaps she was not. My recollections are of a daughter kept at a distance from a wary mother. One does not keep insanity close, no matter how deep the familial ties go.         I fought to keep the insanity she taught from scarring my mind. I hated Taalia. I escaped her and fled. I used the tactics she taught me to confuse her forces. She had always believed me a hard nosed student, a clever one! I used my lessons to great effect, I think. The centuries passed and I stayed three steps ahead of her. I dared not lay an egg during that time. My hive was growing as I took in the unwanted: orphans, the weak, feral changelings. It mattered not. They needed a queen and I needed an army.         I trained them.         I showed my changelings my way of waging war.         Death was not my mantra. I needed my prey alive. Emotions were a renewable resource. Death was a waste. It was better to harness the innate skills of our kind to their fullest abilities and enslave without letting our victims know they had become enslaved.         I molded my changelings, became a queen in my own right, growing into my role. I would not be the queen Taalia wanted me to be. She started by giving me those she herself thought were not worth her effort. My response was to mold a hive built on trust and loyalty, to be one body, with every changeling playing a vital role in keeping us strong and unshakable.         I have never considered myself a hero. Heroes are fools. I am a queen. I will always be a queen. I was born of a queen. Even as a slave, I kept myself firm to the beliefs my mother tried to teach me. Though her face faded from my memories, her lessons did not.         My mother saved me from Taalia.         I only wish I could remember her face. Would my daughter remember me if I were to fall? If my name were to ever reach her ears, would she remember it? If so, how would the syllables echo within her thoughts? How would she recall me if I were to become nothing more than a memory in her life?         Her rejection of me is my greatest fear.         Chrysalis dreamed. To some extent, she could dreamwalk. Of course, she was no mistress of dreams, as Luna was. No creature in the world had the prowess of the Night Princess when it came to the Dreamscape. At best, Chrysalis could enter the minds of her changelings through the Hive Mind as little more than a presence. She could not be seen or heard, but she could be felt.         This was how she molded changelings from outside of her hive as her own. It had taken years of stumbling through the process of creating a unique Hive Mind for her to discover how to bring them into the fold. She needed diversity, individual minds who could think for themselves as well as respond to her commands without hesitation. She needed loyal changelings, devoted to her and her goals while balancing their free will to dance along with her own.         In a way, it was a dance. Her mind led and she showed them the intricacies of her dance. Some of her changelings accepted and learned the steps while others stumbled. She accepted this and moved the changelings in her hive to positions which best suited them. The dance was gentle, a guiding hoof and stubborn will, like a stern mother who refused to accept her children were nothing more than monsters in the eyes of others.         She would be the monster the others would fear. Taalia had taught her well what it meant to be a true monster. Chrysalis played the role to perfection, her acting just that. Her dance needed a strong cast to support her and she molded a formidable one indeed.         All of her new additions were together, their minds gathered and clustered around her own, just as their physical forms were. They could feel her and she touched each and every one of them. Understandings were made and Chrysalis had a rough idea of the potential of each and every one of her new charges. She only wished her daughter was here to join, but there was a limit to the queen’s mental gifts. There needed to be close proximity for the mental link to happen.         As she worked her magic, Chrysalis became aware of another presence. It was urgent and also one she knew. Aeorix, her advisor and one of her oldest changelings pinged her through the Hive Mind. Why was he breaking the silence? The ponies could very well have the means to pick up changeling communications. Why had the blackout been violated?         The queen broke with deliberate gentleness from the young ones and centered her mind. She was still awake and she became much more aware of the pressing little bodies curled up against her own. Flexing out her thin wings, she brushed the tips over tiny backs. Her ears caught the sounds of sleepy little chirps in reply.          Her command was terse, yet tired. She was exhausted. Her magic reserves had plummeted in her efforts to restore the little ones.                  The queen’s eyes snapped open. “What!?” she hissed, her body becoming tense. Panic threatened to overcome her senses. Her tail swished upon the ground, then attempted to curl around the hatchlings and nymphs as though to cover them.          The voice echoing in her thoughts was almost frantic.                    Aeorix dropped his link, leaving Chrysalis alone in her wild thoughts and state of despair. “Atalanta!” she whimpered, sucking in air and closing her eyes. The queen looked over her swarm of little morsels and sighed in resolution. “Sleep, my children. Mother has something she needs to do. I will return for you.” Her horn glowed and a gentle sleeping spell fell over them like a quilted blanket. The majestic queen rose to her hooves, dislodging sleeping forms from her with a gentle touch while whispering soothing words into flicking little ears. The sleeping pile of love-filled changelings was peaceful and undisturbed. Hooves clung and muzzles nuzzled as bodies shifted and made themselves more comfortable. Chrysalis surrendered a soft smile before gliding away with a growing sense of purpose. Her mask shifted, became set to determination, and she emerged from the tent a queen going to war. “Guard them with your lives,” she commanded the same two guards that had been there earlier. Her tail snapped at the end of her command. Her wings flared out, buzzed, and she lifted off. Darting over the heads of the few startled ponies still up and about at this early hour of the morning, she went straight for the tent where Luna stayed. “To arms! To arms!” she cried as she approached. “Queen Taalia is attacking! Get your lazy horse flanks up and moving! Equestria is under attack! Princess Luna! Damn you! Where are you? Your ponies are in danger, Celestia!” She landed with a bounce and stormed towards Luna’s tent, her eyes aglow as she had amplified her voice. The effect of her voice over the camp was electric. Ponies fell out of their field tents, scrambling for their gear and weapons. Others blinked with owlish eyes from the flaps, trying to understand what was going on. Still others glared with open hostility at the brazen changeling telling them what they should do. Her ears caught more than a few unkind words hurled at her in spite. Most dismissed her words. As the thestral guards moved to block the queen, Princess Luna emerged, decked in her silver and black armor, her helmet tucked under a wing. It appeared as though she had slept in her armor. “Roust mine sister!” Luna commanded. A curt nod to Chrysalis indicated the queen should follow. The pair moved towards where the Princess of the Sun slept, Luna barking orders and sending her subordinates scrambling to waken the whole camp. Like a grumpy juggernaut, the camp came to grudging wakefulness as sergeants kicked and cursed their troops awake. Bellowing words echoed over the predawn sky. “Where?” Luna asked Chrysalis as the pair moved like swift predators on the prowl. “The fortress you kept me at. My daughter is in danger. Your Cadence is in danger. My changelings ran into Taalia’s force by chance.” She briefed the alicorn as best she could, given the information Aeorix had relayed. Luna’s eyes narrowed. “You have no reason to lie to me,” she mused, clucking her tongue. “Very well. I shall send my personal guard to the front to bolster the defenders.” Luna lifted her head. “Lieutenant Silent Moon!” A thestral mare, dark and dangerous appeared from the shadows. Her slitted golden eyes glittered in the gloom. “Take my guards. Go to Stonefast. Assist in the defense until relief arrives. Be swift! Be deadly!” “On my honor!” Starry Moon replied with a bow. She sprang into the air, keening for her fellow thestrals to join her. The dark sky was filled with deadly shadows as they went to do their duty. Chrysalis thought there was something familiar about the mare. Luna noticed this. “You have already met her brother, my friend.” Disapproval flecked the edges of her words as a reminder. The changeling grunted and gave a single nod. “He will be among the defenders, will he not?” “Indeed.” Celestia had already emerged from her quarters. Servants were busying themselves with strapping her into her armor as she smiled at Luna and Chrysalis as they approached her. The alicorn lifted her wings as buckles were fastened and straps were tightened. Her armor was white and gold, a stark contrast to her darker sister. Day and night. The dawn and the dusk, always meant to be in tandem with each other. “I have sent my thestrals,” Luna announced with pride. “They will bolster the lines and harry the enemy until the main body arrives to the field.” “Good,” Celestia said. “Where are our generals?” A straggling group of stallions struggling to put their own gear on stumbled through the camp, messengers and low ranking officers darting around them. Orders were given out and sleepy eyes belied the turning cogs between pony ears. One bay stallion was chugging down a large mug of steaming coffee, not even bothering with his armor. Chrysalis did not recognize this one from the haughty group that had snubbed her. “Can you ponies hold against them?” she asked, shifting her attention between the two alicorns. Chrysalis had dismissed the generals for the fools she believed them to be. “If your leadership is any indication, I have my doubts.” “Enough with your denouncements,” Luna snapped at her as she gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “It grows tiresome.” “She’s been after my daughter the moment she discovered I had a child,” Chrysalis told the sisters. Three more approaching ponies caught her eye, but she ignored them as a familiar ping touched her mind. “I think the addition of Mi Amore Cadenza has emboldened her to the point where she has decided to make her next move. My changelings are following with their own force to protect my daughter.” “Hive mind?” Celestia asked. Almighty and all powerful alicorn she was, sleep was still a beast to beat back with caffeine. An almighty yawn greeted Chrysalis, giving her an impressive view of the back of Celestia’s throat. “Very well. Let us proceed with all haste. Luna, join your thestrals if you please. I will bring up the bulk of the army. I want the countryside alerted. Have all militias mobilized.” She spoke to the generals and they nodded without question. Her armor was finally on now and she considered a wicked looking spiked mace being offered to her. “Heavy blunt weaponry. No blades. I do not think swords and spears can do much against Ravager armor. Chrysalis, would Taalia have regular changelings?” “She is not stupid. Of course she would have means to infiltrate and spy.” “I thought so. General Broken Bow, did you hear that?” she regarded the unarmored stallion who had drawn himself up next to her. “Already got my ponies prepped with the right tools,” he told her in an unexpected soft voice. It was the unarmored pony. Chrysalis studied him with a scrutinizing gaze. “We are ready to move. It will take us until tomorrow morning to get to Stonefast Keep.” “Get your ponies moving, general. You know what is at stake. Equestria is at war.” Pegasi were taking to the air. The sounds of their wings beating upon the air thrummed and could be felt from head to hoof. Chrysalis had to admit she was impressed. The flying ponies were moving the air with their wings through their magic. She wondered as to the purpose, casting a questioning look at the alicorns. Luna gave her a knowing smile and a cocked brow. The three ponies Chrysalis had seen approaching had stopped a few lengths away. They were looking at her with expectant eyes. “Report,” she said. Green fire engulfed them. As their disguises fell away, the trio bowed before their queen. “Aeorix moves at your command, my queen,” said a female changeling. “We have come to provide care for your children. We have brought enough love to keep them happy. We have missed you, my Queen.” She smiled adoringly up at Chrysalis. The queen returned it with one of her own. “I am pleased. What other news do you have?” Chrysalis ignored the cries of outrage from the generals. When one of them shouted ‘Seize them!’, she spun upon them with rage, her mane billowing about her neck and face. “You will not touch a hair on my changelings! Do so, and I will obliterate you on the spot!” Her eyes glowed with terrifying intent. “Let them be,” Celestia commanded. “How did they get past our detection spells?” Chrysalis snorted. Her unwavering glare brokered fear from the pony soldiers. “The spell matrix you use is primitive. It’s a good start, but you ponies need to understand changelings are probably the most adaptable creatures in the world.” Celestia and Luna shared concerned looks. “I see,” the white alicorn noted, narrowing her eyes. “I dearly hope my general staff is not so full of pride as to dismiss changelings so foolishly. What purpose do these changelings serve?” There was a sudden display of sputtering and excuses in response. “They are what you consider to be wet nurses,” Chrysalis answered. “Perfectly harmless and incapable of combat. Their only concern is for the new additions to my hive. They will watch over them while I am gone.” “Your hive must be nearby,” Luna mused, looking over the newcomers with narrowed eyes. “It has split in order to be more difficult to find,” Chrysalis gave a crooked smile to go with her words. “It is also easier to move when it is broken into smaller groups.” “Put General Broken Bow in overall command,” Luna suggested, her muzzle crinkling in disgust. “It would appear as though bloodlines are showing to make for poor leadership. If they can learn from him, then perhaps the nobility will learn to actually be noble.” She gave the three changelings a hard look. “I shall trust your voucher, friend Chrysalis,” Luna said to the queen. She snorted, adjusted her wings and tilted her head towards her sibling. “General Broken Bow, sister?” The alicorn’s armor rattled as she shook and settled herself into it. “Agreed,” Celestia assented. “Gentlecolts, if you wish to redeem yourselves, I would strongly suggest you do so by following the orders given to you. General Broken Bow?” “Yes, Highness?” “The army is yours. Do not disappoint me.” The stallion saluted and trotted off, the outrage of his peers ignored and muted by the presence of the princesses. “How are we going to get there?” Chrysalis asked, her tone brusque. She was worried about her daughter. Atalanta was in danger! “The fortress is a day’s flight away! It’ll be far too late for you to do anything.” “Not necessarily,” countered Luna, her voice calm and knowing. “My thestrals can move through shadows and be there before the sun rises. There are also other means. My sister and I are capable of teleporting a vanguard ahead of the main body. We will be able to readily aid the defenders within minutes. Come, stand next to me. We are taking my sister’s personal guard.” Chrysalis blinked. Teleportation? She was somewhat familiar with the magic, but had never experienced it herself. It was said to be very taxing on the caster. The ability to move a body or many bodies was a huge difference in the amount of magical energy required to pull off a feat. She shook her fear off and strode towards Luna, positioning herself at the alicorn’s side. Curiosity could wait. Atalanta needed her! “Let’s do this,” she said with a shiver. Luna nodded and lit the tip of her horn. Armored ponies had taken up a circle around the changeling queen and the alicorns, facing outwards, weapons at the ready. Celestia raised her voice to a commanding shout, “Be ready, my ponies! We may very well appear in the middle of the enemy!” Her ponies roared at her. Chrysalis felt whatever fears they had melt away at the presence of the alabaster alicorn. “Afraid?” Luna asked Chrysalis in a whisper. “I fear for my daughter,” replied the changeling. Luna’s eyes had gone blazing white. The changeling closed her eyes. She could feel the magic charging the air. Her body experienced an uplifting sensation followed by a rolling pulse. A sound like a loud popping thumped through her ears. It was not painful, but annoying. Chrysalis’ insides churned and she could not help but gasp at the sensations she felt. It was decided in her mind she hated it.         Taalia is the living embodiment of war and destruction. Her name is the old word for War. War. How I hate her. She took my mother. She makes many children into orphans. She causes many mothers to mourn the loss of sons and daughters. She can make or break a queen. Hives crumble, wither, and die beneath the lust of War. Or they are simply wiped off the face of the earth. War. Oh, Taalia, how I hate you, for you are War.         One day, this chase will end and and so with it my bloodthirsty War. Death may claim me, but the War will be over. Taalia must die. Creatures such as she should not exist. It is good War is terrible, lest I grow fond of her.         War. The ultimate failure of diplomacy.         Did I fail?         I wonder.