Oestridae set me down amidst a group of changelings gathered around the Ascension Lab’s entrance. I leaned against Oest as I considered my words to address my followers.
“For those of you who have any doubts about what we must do, what’s down there,” I pointed with a hoof at the opened aperture, “will remove any doubts. The plan was to spare Chrysalis, to demand concessions from her. I know now that the only way this ends is death. Or, something far worse than death.”
“You’d kill your Queen-mother? Your treachery knows no bounds!”
I looked over to the row of captives still bound up, now all of them were awake. The one who spoke up was one of the Praetorians that Oest originally took out.
I was too exhausted to muster the energy to be angry at the unnamed henchmen/henchling.
“And show these Praetorians just how their loyalty is ultimately rewarded. Show them just how kind and merciful their Queen is. My changelings, we will not have time for another meeting before the invasion, so I must leave it to you to spread the word of what you will see down there.”
I pushed off Oest and limped over to the exit of the vault. Oest tried to follow me out but I stopped him.
“Phasma–”
“I’ll be fine. Make sure these Praetorians are shown what’s down there, and if they still won’t stand with the hive, find a secure place to keep them. I’ll handle the paperwork side of their disappearance. A bit of good news I suppose, we just got five more names to put on vault guard duty.”
“You’ll never get away with this, traitor!!” The particularly stubborn Praetorian with the now staunched broken nose said.
I turned in the doorway to address our captives.
“Praetorians. I offer you a chance to fight for a just cause. The question isn’t whether you want to be a traitor or not, but instead whether you are loyal to the Queen, or to the hive itself. How can we be the traitors when we’re the ones fighting for the survival of the hive? Down there you’ll see just how far Chrysalis will hurt her subjects to fulfill her own ambitions.”
“Just what is down there?” A Lodge member asked.
“Chrysalis’s rewards for those closest to her.”
‘Experimenting on eggs and royals, that’s pretty damning evidence that Chrysalis’s ambitions are not necessarily the hive’s ambitions. If she would stoop so low as to mutilate the most dedicated changelings as well as the unborn young ones, who’s to say that she really cares for the hive?’
I left the vault as the Lodge members began the process of flying the still bound Praetorians down the shaft. Looking to my left, I saw God-Splitter was still wedged into the wall. A tug on the tethering-enchantment on its handle ripped it free, creating even more cracks in the abused wall.
I put the hefty head of the war hammer on my shoulder and started the long journey back to my warm bed, all the way at the top of the hive.
However, when I reached where the vault’s hallway meets the end of the main throughway of the lower hive, the sound of hooves on the hard ground made me freeze.
‘More guards?! Shit, if it’s Praetorians, this is very bad news–’
“–about what you’re going to do after. That’s the key.”
It was a feminine voice, one I had heard before.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a blur moving. As I spun on my hooves to see what, it seemed to vanish. Whatever it was, it was heading to the grate at the end of the great hallway.
The one that led to the sealed passage to the Underhive.
“.... Procho? Princess Procho, can you hear me?”
“–nothing.”
I heard the sound of the grate swinging shut with a clang, and the sound of hoofsteps ended.
“Hello?”
‘What was… That was her leaving on the expedition, wasn’t it? Is that it, I’m hearing the beginning of her journey? Why?’
“My Prince?”
I jumped at the sudden question from behind me, quickly spinning around and brandishing God-Splitter.
A changeling put his hooves up and backed up a few paces.
“Whoah, I did not mean to startle you, My Prince!”
‘Just a Lodge member…’
I lowered the hammer back onto my shoulder.
“My apologies. It’s been a long day. You’re the changeling on watch?”
“Yes, My Prince. Has the vault been breached?”
“Indeed it has. A Praetorian patrol found us all the way down here. What happened to our forward eyes and ears?”
Her ears lowered.
“I’m afraid the shifts just changed, My Prince. They must have snuck in through a small gap in our watch.”
“Then see to it that that gap is fixed. Discovery now would be… We cannot afford it. We....”
“I’ll see to it, My Prince.”
I rubbed my eyes, and restarted the journey back to the main hive spire, though not without stealing a glance back at the Underhive grate.
‘Why do I only hear her voice if there’s five of them trapped down there?’
The rest of the walk went by without note and when I finally arrived at my room, I fell asleep the moment my head hit my bed.
The darkness withdrew from my vision like inky black tentacles.
I was standing in a throne room that stood in stark contrast to the one near where I was sleeping.
It was a vaulted stone room, the walls had windows with real glass. Simple gold and red banners hung at several spots between the windows. At the far end from the door stood twin thrones, one blue and black, the other yellow and red.
Over the blue throne, a banner marked with the moon hung. Over the yellow, a sun banner.
Unlike the hive throne room, this one was half destroyed.
The gold throne was utterly demolished. The grand ceiling above me had collapsed, a starry night sky shining through. The walls were not in any better of a shape. The banners above the thrones were torn and tattered, some parts staying together by mere threads. A great gaping hole in the masonry stood between the banners and thrones, revealing a moon, one wreathed in a rippling black aura, similar to my first encounter with Nightmare Moon.
Speak of the not-devil, and she will begin to materialize right next to you as she enters your dreams. Yeah, that’s how that phrase goes.
“This is where it happened,” Nightmare Moon said after a moment of looking around, eventually settling her gaze on the hole in front of us.
“Where what happened?”
“Where Princess Luna cast off her allegiance to Princess Celestia, and became the greatest Alicorn of all, Nightmare Moon.”
“That sounds like one hell of an origin story.”
Nightmare broke her stare with the moon to look down at me.
“Hell? An archaic term, even by our standards. Thou art a curious one, Prince Phasma, but thou distracts us from our surroundings. This is the Castle of the Twin Sisters. Those are the thrones of Equestria.”
“No.”
“N– What?”
“The throne of Equestria resides in Canterlot.”
“Your distant kingdom once again falls short when it comes to information. This keep is the center of our great kingdom.”
“The capital is definitely Canterlot. Perhaps your sister moved it during your thousand year imprisonment?”
“... We shall see the validity of what thou say once We return, Prince Phasma. Nineteen days till Eternal Night. We have waited so long, yet only now doth the hours drag on. We take it that your army shall march upon Equestria on schedule, several moons from now?”
“About that…”
Her eyebrows furrowed as she squinted at me.
“We will be at Canterlot, the capital, the day you arrive back on Equus, having secured all the land south of that.”
“We do not believe We have heard thou correctly, thou claims to be months ahead of schedule?”
“The invasion of Equestria was always planned to reach Canterlot on the summer solstice. I originally lied about that in case you could not be trusted. We will join forces in the city, and take out Princess Celestia, your sister, and Queen Chrysalis, my mother.”
Nightmare leaned and sat down on her haunches.
“We did not expect such expedience on thy part. Thou continue to surprise us. What other secrets doth thou withhold?”
I scuffed a hoof on the ground.
‘Better start working on what comes after the invasion.’
“We should talk about our deal. You get the throne in Canterlot, and Equestria by extension.” She nodded. “We, my species, will need something in return. We need pony prisoners.”
“Pony prisoners?”
“The reason why we are invading in the first place. Your ascension to power is sure to cause some ponies to dissent, so instead of just offing them or putting them in prison, just hoof them over to us. They’ll never cause you problems ever again, and we get what we need.”
“And what is it that thou gets from these prisoners?”
“A sustainable food supply. We’re not eating them in the traditional sense, but we are… using them. We need magical energy, and we collect it in the forms of emotion.”
“... Most curious. This requirement of thine is easily accomplished. Now We know your reason for coveting the throne, yet We have neglected to share ours. That is, after all, why we started this conversation.”
She swept a hoof across the room, gesturing to the entire rubble-filled scenery.
“Nine hundred and ninety nine years ago, We crossed blades with our sister. For centuries, she had basked in the glory and adoration of our subjects, leaving me to dwell in the dark. For centuries, We endured our duty without thanks or rightful respect. Eventually, We decided that a change was in order. Our ponies did not appreciate the effort We put into carving the night sky, so We sought to correct this misunderstanding.
“Sister, of course, resisted. She had grown accustomed to the fame and admiration unrightfully bestowed upon her, and so she resisted change. We fought and when she learned she could not defeat me in combat, she used the Elements of Harmony to imprison me,.”
“The Elements of Harmony?”
“An ancient artifact of untold power. She should not have been able to wield them, yet she did.”
“Ah, a Deus Ex Machina. So she used this artifact then you’re suddenly imprisoned for a thousand years?"
“Our greatest weapon, turned against us. In days long past, the both of us wielded the Elements together. Then, sister dearest sealed my tomb using it!”
'Great, now I gotta be on the lookout for a Deus Ex Machina, as if I didn't have enough on my mind.'
“A thousand years on ice would make me want to kill whomever was responsible, that much is certain.”
“Indeed. We have been pondering on what thy story is. Prince Phasma, for what reason are we bringing an end to your forebearer?”
“Chrysalis… I never trusted her. An odd feeling at the back of my mind, always second guessing her words. Not that she was trustworthy to begin with, she loves mysterious threats and being unchallenged in her rule. But I constantly asked myself if we are immortal, then how come none of my siblings were around? With too many unanswered questions, I secured a pact with you, Nightmare Moon, as a backup plan, in case her tyranny would potentially be my end. Yesterday, every single one of my fears were validated.”
“We see thou art as ominous as thou claims thy mother to be.”
“Heh, it’s easier to show you rather than to describe it.”
With that, I changed the scenery. The Castle melted away, replaced by the cold hallway before the Ascension Chamber. Nightmare’s hooves clanged on the metal floor and she circled around, getting her bearings in the small hallway.
“Ah yes, a cold hallway. A perfectly reasonable motive for matricide.”
“I’m getting to that. This is one of the three most secure rooms in the entire kingdom. The other two are at either ends of the hallway. The one behind us is the storage and entrance to this place, and that door down there is why I am showing you this.”
As she sauntered over to the closed door, I hesitantly followed. Just because I had control over everything in my dreams did not mean I wanted to go back in there.
“I found out that some of my siblings rebelled, and were, quote, ‘reprocessed.’ I did not imagine what Chrysalis had been up to. How could anyone guess at what she did?”
“Thou already had our attention, Prince Phasma. Now, thou caught our interest.”
She pushed the door open and entered the glowing green chamber. I followed in after her, at a much slower pace. When I walked up next to her, I saw that her eyes were flicking between the different vats.
“These… art thine siblings? Their cadavers were used in an experiment of some sort?”
“Cadavers? They’re still alive, Nightmare Moon.”
“Impossible!” She scoffed, before getting closer to one of the Princesses. It was the red princess, the one who ceased to exist halfway down her barrel.
“We are experts at magic healing, any injury short of death can be fixed by a submergence in the magic-imbued liquid you see these royals are in. Furthermore, royals are apparently very hard to kill.”
“Thou art certain these ponies still live?”
“Not ponies, and yes, I know it for certain. I also know that they will never wake up. The one exception to our healing is trying to heal the brain...”
She broke her stare at the princess to stare at me instead.
“The brain?”
I pointed to the book sitting in the middle of the room.
“The oldest book we have. It was written thousands of years ago, and it details the process of Ascension. Lots of religious phrase this and medical terminology that, but the pictures were quite clear. Every single one of my siblings in here was lobotomized and used as a magical artifacts, for lack of a better term.”
'Battery would be more accurate, but electricity doesn't exist here.'
Nightmare’s jaw dropped, and slowly raised back up.
“Pony artificers have stayed well away from blood magic. Even our knowledge in this field is lacking...”
“This isn’t blood magic, it’s our magic. It’s hard to explain, and most knowledge was lost over time.”
“This is vile, Prince Phasma. Not even We are wont to stoop to such butchery! Our millennia on our moon was spent sleeping and waiting, but We have a chance at life once again. Thy kin are denied a chance at ever waking! We see why Queen Chrysalis must die, for she is worse than Princess Celestia!”
I turned around and pointed to the empty vat behind us.
“Which brings us to why I want her dead most of all.”
“... Thy intended tomb?”
“What else could it be?” I sighed, “One way or the other, royalty will die during this War For The Sun.”
Update
Oh boy.
Ah yeah
Oh shit I mean-
The brotherhood approves
When even Nightmare Moon is disgusted, you know Chrysalis is doing some evil shit.
But now Phasma has the Nightmare in his corner even more firmly... Good... Goood...
YeY!! another chapter!!
The shear cruelty of This version of Chrysalis, the cruelty to her own race. Pains me to even think about it.
All cards are open. Nightmaremoon knows the motivation and the price of the thrones capture. If Nightmaremoon stay true to her word she will have Phasmodias as ally and friend ( perhaps mate ones hes of age and willing ).
I wonder... Celestia get to share dungeon time or what will be her fate. Plans are often altered by events outside expectations.
Can there be possible be a way to avoid Equestrias downfall?
For ones the Storm King invasion force would be really useful right about now Thousands of expendable troops that are after blood and territory of there prey...
The Storm King has captured multible peaceful nations. Free them and the allys list grows. No one will stop the Changelings from taking the Yeti soldiers and leaders into custody
Boop the snoot... You know you want it
Perhaps Nightmare Moon can be tamed like that.
Lets grab some snacks and watch the events unfold...
camo.fimfiction.net/HGKOVNTrPh_dQIegq-4XQTTfq37sBPSPcGN3_7ZAMFg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fderpicdn.net%2Fimg%2Fview%2F2014%2F7%2F10%2F671941.gif
For the record, I am still shipping Nightmare Moon and Phasma! Make it happen!
What's the saying? "Better the devil you know.?" Well Chrysalis wanted to remain all mysterious, and Phasma slowly got to know bits and pieces of Nightmare Moon. Of course the scope of Chrysalis's crimes go above and beyond what even Nightmare Moon can stomach. Congrats Chrysalis, you made the dark side of the moon incarnate ill!
I wonder what's going on with Princess Procho. She in particular seems to be trying to reach Phasma. A subconscious effort, perhaps. Or maybe her very soul calling out to him. Phasma's abilities still haven't fully been explained, so something along these lines is possible
Regardless, I highly doubt Chrysalis is going to be surviving the Summer Solstice. She'll have Celestia to deal with, and Nightmare Moon, and Phasma, who is going to have a lot of righteous fury behind his efforts to protect himself and avenge his siblings.
I feel like this story is approaching the tipping point.
Thank you very much for the update!
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I'll take your boop, and raise you this:
10618574
I think Celestias cell would be like Loki's
qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-5c1a1ef0d714cf05db4101aba9af8f85
Like for royalty, etc
10618598
Burn it with FIREAAA
Until it dies...
A question
For example when there is AU version of character and they have a very different, or focused in one way personality , they are associated with a nickname, stereotype, etc
Like Tyranestia or Trollestia, etc
What this Chrysalis nickname would be?
Holy hot damn! Our Prince sure does know how to sell the scene. This story started a little low on my Faves list, but it is steadily climbing toward the top. Keep it up man! This is some good writing.
10618607
In the Throne room perhaps so she can see that Nightmaremoon rules and actualy is a capable and strikt leader
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Dr. Trager:
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We need an exorcist here!
10618617
I meant something similar to Tyranestia
Something similar to the original name.
like Tyraliss?
....Traitoraliss ?
something like that
10618611
I thought I was doing a very good job trying to make her personality not so one-way focused, especially since people were saying they loved her portrayal
Though you could make the argument that she is completely focused on the invasion, but that's not really a personality trait
This story is bloody awesome and it always brings joy/happiness to my day/night.
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Pure survivel instinct. She cant substain the Hive Weave love consumption without its Drones. She herself needs pure love to stay in top shape i guess. Also her Weave relay bodys need the high quality stuff i guess?
There is a lot of world ending events coming up in the future. Im hyped to see if your going for a new set of mane six, keeping the mane cast as they are or try for a new approach. But from all the possibel dangers i think Discord is the most problematic. Hus literally reality bending abilitys are why i think the mane6 cant be just trown away.
Great storyline
It's good to see Nightmare Moon still has heart enough to realize that robbing someone of life but not killing them is morally abhorrent and unjustifiable.
10618674
Discord ....hmmm
All Phasma has to do is to act like a human in a party or in a youtube video .....or on drugs.....it depends.
Some people decide to act more chaotic or crazy for many reasons.
Breaking free and unwinding for some time to be chaotic would be good for Phasma after he was acting stoic all the time
10618692
Because the least you can is murder em all No heart needed for murder. . .
10618713
That not the go happy have fun for everyone Discord. That the Celestia & Luna had to use the Elements villain that has fun twisting everyones mind for a quick laugh before forgetting they ever existed because they are mortal toys... For all we know he get the idea in his head that Chrysalis familie project is entertaining enough to do it to someone.
From all villain Discord is the most twisted and unpredictebel from em all.
10618713
Remember the story about the Wendigos and hearts warming eve? I could imagen hes havin fun in that kind of stuff. Also Luna/Nightmaremoon stoned him for 1000+ years! For all we know he murders ponys/Changelings dear to her to get revenge.
Aka Phasmodias...
-If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.
-You cant make a omlet without breaking some eggs... Changeling eggs have the most random taste...
so anyone else feeling the hype this chapter is bringing up for what I think is this story's 3rd act.
on related note to this chapter, nice to see Nightmare moon is okay with changelings eating emotions.
Did Nightmare Luna write the prologue?
I love the conversations with NMM so much
Is Chrysalis working for the benefit of the hive, or is the Hive working for the benefit of Chrysalis?
There is a world of difference between the two.
-------
"Providence"
Providence is a late Middle English/old french word originating from the Latin word providentia. Now-a-days, the word Providence is associated with divine protection, care, guardianship, and control exercised by a deity. The definition of the word implies divine power, frugal management, and/or...
plans for the future
Wonderful chapter. Especially that last line!
10618885
I try not to use Wikipedia, since the information has been known in some cases to be distorted. Most of the time I put a search in Google, see the general definition given, and then click through a couple sites to see what they say. Once I get the feeling I have a good picture of the character or myth, I pull what is relevant to the chapter, and place it into a short summary in the comments.
The end result is as you see.
Searching through the myths is fun, and helps me understand the theme of the chapter. By doing it this way, I inform myself as much as I do others.
There is so much going on, But one by one, the puzzle fall's into place slowly.
And soon the day of "Change" will be in the wing of the moon and prince.
I wonder if Luna will remember their pact, and the injustice being done to the changeling race by chrysalis. Maybe through her and phasma there can be peace down the line.
I'm gonna guess here that at some point peace will happen, chrysalis will die, Phasma and Luna will get together, phasma will step down as hive leader and let thorax take over as king. Maybe he'll even be able to save one of his siblings, the one still talking in the weave, and gain a sister.
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If we discount comics (where NMM is 'made of evil' variety) she is one of the more pleasent villains. Her motivations are simple and she has only harmed three ponies on screen; the guards in self defense. Her 'bad future' wasn't too bad at all; more authoritarian but all the ponies we saw were healthy and unharmed.
She is still Luna unless comics are cannon here.
10618885
The Pretorian guard were notorious for allowing for or themselves directly assassinating Roman emperors whom they were supposed to guard. (Probably around 12.)
10619029
I swear this is similar to a character names Alpheos in a game.
10619222
As such, my own guards would be named ¨No-Betrayal Dudes¨
10619029
Perhaps Luna will be able to dream-link him with his siblings. They would likely have gone insane if they're truly still "in there," but the more recent family members might be sane enough to hold a conversation with.
...Unless, like Luna/NMM, the pure solitude does nearly nothing to their minds and they stay near-perfectly sane for the duration...
10619029
¨I wonder if Luna will remember their pact, and the injustice being done to the changeling race by chrysalis.¨
What exactly do you mean by that? She was an ass to other royals, but to the common changelings she wasn't really ¨unjust¨.
Remember that the whole hive does not have much rescources, it's not like it had a lot of rescources and the Queen just kept it all. While true that she have more luxury, said luxury isn't really that much as we can see in the story.
I'm a bit worried that Nightmare Moon being so for the changelings is going to make the ponies further against them.
10619329
In previous chapters it's made known that if a changeling disappoints her they'll be thrown into the vats, shes rules entirely through fear and threatens death at a whim, and since it's okay in her mind to lobotomiz and dismember her own children and turn them into living batteries I really don't think it's in their best interest to keep her at the head. I dont recall exactly what the vats did but I doubt they come out as super changelings.
10619352
The example of Vlad would argue that rule through fear isn't a bad thing and can save a nation.
But... considering Chrysalis have ruled for centuries and have yet to save it, i'll give you that point.
10619357
Aye, but to my knowledge, Vlad loved his people and country dearly. Chrisi loves herself, cares for herself alone. Heck, I'm certain that half of the reason she wants the invasion is power and wealth alone.
10618570
Yeah yeah, ok Chancellor Palpatine, heh.
It's all got me wondering how Episode 1 will still unfold. NMM won't be there to screw with the Bearers because a changeling force will have already plowed through the town. The Bearers won't get together as a unit to counter NMM and become the Elements of Harmony. And down the line, well, no pony to stop the Baddie from destroying everything...
Sounds like one of those Bad Alternate Timelines from Glimglams time-shift scroll... Ugh.
10619532
Funny idea. In story like 'Off-the-Mark' there is only the end result wile the kinda ignore what Starlight Glimmer did IF this is even the reason for it ...
Anyway the main problem is that Discord cant be stopped with the Elements of Harmony. Also remember this?
Luna and Celestia know from the beginning they need to return the Elements of Harmony one day to the tree!
Nightmaremoon cant have forgotten this...
10619029
Why would Phasma step down from ruling the changelings? Even if he did, Thorax isn't a royal so why would he be given that position? Phasma by all rights should retain the throne and seems to understand what it takes to rule. Thorax has 0 experience ruling, and simply "having a good heart" does not a good leader make.
If nothing else, Thorax caused the changelings to gain that "cute" look caused by the Tree of Harmony. If having Phasma as leader can prevent changelings from looking like that then I'd go with Phasma.
10618951
It's funny how many thumbs that comment received, not sure why?
And I wonder what downvoter thought. The quote was causing an obvious association with the song.
10620194
The lyrics popped into my head while writing that line, too
10619950
My guess went along the basis of the story keeping to the series main events, for that to happen phasma would have to step down. Thorax would also be the ideal changeling to lead them (imo) into a era of peace since he is the most pony like and not prone to use lies and deceit, and even phasma's mindset is changed to some degree by the cutthroat politics that comes with having to contend with chrysalis.
It would also be a good excuse for phasma to be able to finally take a deep breath, relax and enjoy his second chance at life without having to worry about his mom scrubbing his brain, riping his limbs off and stuffing him into a freezer if he blinks wrong at her or having to prepare an invasion while only a few months old. The guy deserves/needs a break.
10620746
"You want me to... step down?"
"You deserve a break, Phas. Go relax on a beach, or go take strolls through parks or something!"
"Or, how about you go do those horrible things, while I play a four X game in real time."
"What's a 'four x game?'"
"Like crack cocaine, but more addictive."
10620746
I'm fairly sure the changelings can improve without immediately jumping into being culturally conquered by Equestria trough a weak leader.
Nah, Team Phasma here, or really team anyone else than Thorax.