Where are you going, little one, little one?
Turn around and you're just hatched,
Turn around and play a game,
Turn around and you're a changeling princess who will soon be Perfect!

Chrysalis had a happy childhood, er, grubhood. Raised in the hallowed tradition of changeling princesses, she studied hard, played pranks, and loved her siblings. It was all so... perfect! Then one day the illusions around which she had built her life were revealed, and everything came crashing down...

This story is an entry in FanofMostEverything's Imposing Sovereigns contest.

Edited by Nevina and original artwork by Mythee

Recent archaeological expeditions to far-flung corners of the Old Kingdoms have revealed a wealth of pre-Celestian artefacts, dating as far back as the Hearthfire Wars. These artefacts shed a light on an era we of contemporary Equestria really know very little about, and the stories they share range from the highest court intrigues to the humblest backwater folktales.

This account, found engraved in the wall of an old Pegasi garrison known as the Eastmarch, relates the final night of a condemned mare, in one of the last wars of the pre-Celestian era. It has been translated for the benefit of the modern reader.

Pre-read by the inimitable Admiral Biscuit.
And now with a reading from resident crooner Illya Leonov.

Reviewed by Seattle's Angels,13 January 2018

In the stars, a hundred years' journey away, the alicorns gather, to mourn, to mate, and to give birth to the new. They call to their sisters across the galaxies, and Celestia hears them.

Meanwhile, Dotted Line wants her to review tax rebate applications.

(2nd place out of 113 in the "No Regrets" write-off. Dotted Line is from "Whom the Princesses Would Destroy" by GhostOfHeraclitus. Picture by Earthsong9405 & AquaGalaxy, found by Georg. Reading by Super Trampoline. Russian translation by Doof Ex Machina.)

Zakia and her mother are harvesting food outside the walls of their village when an alarm cry sounds from the village wall. This time, it is not a predator that was spotted, but a flight of distant pegasi, heading right for their village, their intentions unknown.

Second-place finisher in the Everfree Northwest Iron Writer competition.

Whirring Cogs had a happy and near ideal life as a mechanic at the Cloudsdale weather factory. He had his best friend, a good social life, a job that he loved, and time to take joy in flying. While he enjoyed socializing with mares, he had no interest in complicating his life with a relationship, and lived contentedly as a single stallion. Then a mad changeling queen dared to make plans to wrest control of Equestria from the alicorn princesses. It's a pity that she was his queen, and Cogs the changeling had his perfect life ruined.

This is a prequel to my story - "Change of Life" - and explores the events that led up to the beginning of that story, before his fateful encounter with Lavender Dreams.

An interviewer asks Celestia about details of her life prior to her sister's banishment.

Cover art by maocha.

Celestia has to realize that there aren't as many absolutes as she thought.

Contribute to the TVTropes page! Reading by Agent Fluffy! Reading of the old version by Lotus Moon! Recommended by PresentPerfect!

Standing on the ruins of Chrysalis's fallen empire, newly-crowned King Thorax has a long overdue meeting with his former peers. Amidst their discussions, the reborn changelings are met by a coal nymph, forgotten in the hive's nursery. Scared and confused, the young drone shuts down towards all but Thorax, who consoles the nymph, and demonstrates the power of sharing love between changelings.

* Edited by Double R Forrest.
* Part of the Love Bug Continuity!
* Story artwork by Percy-McMurphy.

As the apocalypse descends, Celestia flies upwards to give it battle.

All mothers love their children, and all mothers feed their children. Princess Chrysalis and her mother are no different, except that to a changeling, "love" and "food" are the same thing.

Well... mostly.

This was the "Usurper Chrysalis" story in FOME's Imposing Sovereigns Contest.