//------------------------------// // Fading Starlight // Story: The End of the Eclipse // by Snorlaxkid //------------------------------// The rest of Chrysalis' introductions went about as well as could be expected. Applejack, while suspicious, was willing to give Chrysalis a chance, but only because Chrysalis was constantly under scrutiny. Pinkie Pie was willing to forgive Chrysalis almost immediately, a fact that actually caught the changeling off guard. Rainbow Dash was the most suspicious of the lot, and Chrysalis had the distinct feeling the pegasus would be keeping a watchful eye on her whenever possible. Rarity... well... "I think that went well, don't you?" Chrysalis asked Twilight as they walked away from the Carousel Boutique. The purple alicorn was shooting her a death glare. "She complimented your robe and you replied, and I quote: 'Thank you, but I find clothing a rather foolish and ridiculous notion. My chitin is more than enough for me.'" "So what?" "Rarity is a fashionista! Clothes are literally her livelihood!" "No wonder she's so upset, that must be the most soul crushing job I could possibly imagine." Chrysalis grinned as Twilight let out an exasperated groan. It felt good to be able to mess with the young princess like this. She could never do this when they were enemies. Or at least while she knew they were enemies. Chrysalis frowned for a moment. She had to remain focused, no time to get melancholy now if she wanted to avoid suspicion. Only one more friend to visit. ------------------------------------------ "Are you alright Chrysalis?" Twilight asked as they left Fluttershy's cabin. The sun was low in the sky as the two began the walk back to the castle. No, no Chrysalis was not alright. During the visit to Fluttershy, she offered them tea. Chrysalis would have declined, she couldn't even properly use such a drink anyway. However, she was supposed to be attempting to make a good impression, so, with some urging from Twilight, she accepted. Unfortunately, she hadn't been alerted ahead of time that Discord was within. The entire time they were there, Discord was giving Chrysalis a look that felt like it was boring through her like a drill. The draconequus had every reason to hold a grudge. She'd kidnapped the one pony in the world he cared about, and then made him nearly helpless to do anything to aid her. And she would have killed the pegasus too. Under different circumstances, that glare could easily have been the last thing she ever saw. "Nothing I won't recover from. I just wasn't expecting such... hostility while I was with you." "What? Discord? Honestly you should be happy he's around. He's the prime example that even a villain can be reformed." She paused before adding quickly, "No offense meant, I mean, pretty much everyone around here sees you as a villain being reformed." Chrysalis sighed. She deserved that reaction, of course. "It's fine. I just... I'm going for a walk tonight if that's alright. I could use the air after that." Of course, such a walk would give her time to decide what to do to get Starlight to take the rune. She could still feel it throbbing, wanting to be given to the correct pony. Starlight Glimmer was going to disappear, it was just a matter of time. ----------------------------- As the night wore on, Chrysalis could feel the rune throbbing harder and harder, until she pulled it from her robes. Once exposed to the open air, the rune seemed to go still. Was the throbbing her imagination? "You're growing a conscious, softy." Chrysalis chided herself, "And it's eating away at you." She glanced up at the sky, the pale sliver of moon giving only a small amount of light alongside the stars. "It's almost the new moon..." "Do you always talk out loud to yourself when you're alone? Ponies will think you're going nuts." Chrysalis nearly jumped as she heard Starlight's voice behind her. How long had she been there? Had she seen the rune? "Sorry, I didn't mean to spook you," Starlight continued, walking up beside the changeling queen, "Twilight told me you went for a walk, and I thought I'd come check up on you." She glanced over at Chrysalis' hand, spotting the rune. "Wait, what's that? Can I look at that?" Chrysalis felt a lump form in her throat. If Starlight took it and she or Twilight identified it, the jig was up. She'd be toast, and Celestia could be in danger. On the other hand, if she hid it, she might be able to get Starlight to take it later, but she'd look suspicious. Either choice was a hell of a gamble. "Yes, go ahead. It's an old rune, I just carry it these days as a good luck charm, though I doubt it works anymore." She reluctantly passed it to Starlight, who looked at it, her eyes practically gleaming in the darkness as she tried to get a good view of the etched carving. "You aren't kidding about this being old, this style... I don't think anypony has carved a rune like this for centuries!" She glanced at Chrysalis and back at the rune. "Do you think I could borrow this? I bet this was used in some kind of ritual, it honestly looks like something out of a fairy tale!" Chrysalis took a moment to gather her options before replying. "Go right ahead. It hasn't brought me much luck anyway, given what happened the moment I arrived." Starlight chuckled nervously at that. "Oh, right... Sorry again." The two went back to the castle together, Chrysalis immediately being pulled aside by Twilight. "So since you're staying here for a while..." Twilight said, leading her to a door Chrysalis hadn't even noticed before. "I thought you should have your own room while you stay. I uh... I didn't know exactly what you like, but I figured you would want something that reminded you of home. Or, your old home anyway. Sooooo we went with that. Hope you don't mind!" Twilight opened the door, leading into her room. The furnishings themselves were only light, likely picked up at the last minute. A simple bed, shelves even though Chrysalis didn't have anything to really put there, and a single lamp. However, it was the far wall that caught her attention. A mural, showing a twisted throne, in a dark complex of passages. Her throne. Her hive. Back before she was ousted. Chrysalis felt tears welling in her eyes as she looked around the room. Every wall shared the design. Her throne room, recreated in the form of art. "You made this? For me? How did you have time?" Chrysalis asked, feeling the tears beginning to flow freely down her face. "Well, it wasn't just me, really. I only dried the paint. When I suggested the idea of reminding you of home while you were unconscious, Starlight said she had the perfect idea and told me to get you out of here. I think this was her way of apologizing." Chrysalis felt sick. She placed a hand on the throne in the mural, remembering the bitter hatred she had felt the last time she was there. She was so angry about what she had lost, she had never considered what she could gain. And now she was letting that grudge cloud her judgement. Her mind was made up. She'd warn Starlight in the morning, and then... she wasn't sure what. Surely with their combined minds they could think of some way to separate the princesses. To repay Celestia. But that could wait for morning. The day had been long and emotional. Chrysalis needed her rest. ------------------------------------------------- Starlight's eyes slowly opened. She felt tired, unwell. She remembered waking up before dawn, because of a strange glow in her room. It was that rune she'd borrowed, wasn't it? She remembered approaching it and then... nothing. Then she was opening her eyes here. Where WAS here anyway? It was a cave dark, and cold. Glancing around, she saw in the darkness large gems, some seeming to reach up as if seeking freedom from the gloom. Starlight had never been here before. "My my, now this was much sooner than expected! I didn't even need you here for another four days! Then again, I believe changelings have a saying about gift horses..." "Celestia?" Starlight called out. Her voice felt so weak. She tried to muster magic, to at least light up her surroundings but even attempting only made her head hurt. "Oh come now, you keep up with the news enough to know that Celestia isn't even around right now. Solar Eclipse, is who you're dealing with of course!" The alicorn hybrid seemed to summon light out of thin air as she stepped into view. Any formal clothing was gone. Instead, she wore ceremonial armor, covering her body like a gilded frame in the sudden light. "Oh, and Twilight didn't tell you! Of course! You see, I'm not just Celestia and Luna like I let everyone think!" The alicorn laughed cruelly. That laugh... Starlight had heard it once in a nightmare... "You're... You're Daybreaker?" Starlight asked, her eyes widening as she made the connection, "No no, that's not possible. You were just a bad dream, Celestia would never-" Solar Eclipse grabbed Starlight by the throat with her left hand, lifting the unicorn off the ground. "Oh but Celestia did! To protect all of you even! Of course, not that any of you appreciated it when she came back not looking like her precious self! Just as she thought, you shunned her so easily, even though she'd sacrificed everything for you!" The alicorn tightened her grip on Starlight's throat, flames beginning to lap at her from the crazed mare's fingertips. "Not that it matters now, I'm in control of this body, and I'm never giving it back! Equestria is mine! And you, my little unicorn fool, are going to help me insure it stays that way for a long time." Starlight felt sick, she'd been foolish to trust Chrysalis, even for a moment. "D-Do whatever you want to me!" She said, false bravado in her voice, "I'll never help you as long as I'm alive!" The alicorn laughed again, drawing a small, black blade from her armor with , a dagger that had never been used before. "Oh Stalight, you foolish mare. I don't expect you to help me while you're alive. After all, your willpower would be useless to me if you would." The alicorn stabbed, Starlight feeling the blade pierce through her stomach. She let out a gasp, feeling the world start to spin, and her eyes feel heavy again. "Oh, and I'm going to let you in on a little secret since you won't be telling anyone. Chrysalis forgave you. She was going to try and save you, but now you've gone and made her a killer." Solar Eclipse pulled the blade to the side, tearing through flesh and organ before withdrawing it, and letting Starlight drop. As things began to fade to black, Starlight swore she could see Celestia and Luna reaching out to her. With the last of her strength she reached out, feeling them grasp her hand... and then everything was gone. ------------------------------------------ "Starlight's room is on fire!" Spike's shout of alarm caused Chrysalis to bolt upright. No, it couldn't be, there's no way the rune could've activated after only a single night. There's no way Solar Eclipse could have known Starlight had it. She sprinted out of her room, moving the fastest she'd ever felt herself move as she followed the smoke to the source before firing the first spell she could think of, the green, sickly slime that she used to capture ponies in the past being the perfect material to smother the flames. Nothing. The room was empty, aside from the now horribly charred furniture. There was no sign of Starlight. Chrysalis felt her legs growing weak as she heard Twilight and Spike approaching. "Oh Starlight," she thought, feeling tears well up in her eyes once more, "What have I done to you?"