//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Sequela // by FicFacFlac //------------------------------// The land stretches far and wide over the land of the changelings. There she was, the superior queen above all of them. Chrysalis, one of the most feared na respected changelings there were. She rules the race, not by force, but by sheer fear and the willingness for love. She decimates control over all the others. Not two before her, not one after. There is only one. She stares at the window, looking at the territory under her hooves. Reminiscing the past was like opening the old scar that shed blood to her skin. She shivers under the thought, but not more than that. Opening to mistakes is the way to learn, for not all would be for naught. She was reminded of the coup she created. Would not have Twilight found her lost niece, she had already captured the Crystal Empire. But was she ever to stop there? No, no she would not. What is an empire if it doesn’t grow? What is a ruler without the need to conquer? The two are universally impenetrable of rebuttal. Always together, not one without the other. She needs this to happen. To redeem and show herself- and many, many others- what she is really capable of. Let her charge her army into battle; for she would rather die on her feet than down on her knees. Just then had she realised the envoy entering her chambers. Turning to glare at him, he shoots up to muster his own words. He spoke, but to Chrysalis, he had only been mumbling. Thank goodness for the Hive. “My Queen, we have discovered Thorax’s quarters. Your orders await me to be commanded.” The grin never left her face for a split second. Finally, she has found her rival’s place. A nation wouldn’t be a nation without it’s problems. The best of which she had to handle. And Thorax was one of them. Bitter, cold and harsh memories flood her stream of thoughts, but she holds back the need to emphasise on such ruthless thinking. It’s never easy, being betrayed by what you perceive your own son. And nobody knows this better than Chrysalis. Thorax was one of her best diplomats- a powerhouse, if you might say so yourself. She treated him like a child in a candy store, begging for a penny. She gave ten times the amount. Things obviously didn’t go well for the two of them. At the risk of being hunted by the changelings, he became a rouge: like a robot disobeying it’s commands. She only needed to watch him that tears swell even the most powerful of figures, like herself. Slowly, one by one supported his cause- his ideology. She couldn’t take it anymore. Not only for the threat of all put civil war, and left-sided extremism gaining support during wartime, that she had already precipitated at thought. What she was really looking for was to find the lost son she had been acquired to give care; to teach a lesson she failed to teach him before. A thud was created, loud and clear as the rouge memories went into play. She can imagine it already. The amount of pressure when this happens will be to astronomical proportions. It doesn’t help him being in an alliance with her foes. But what more can she do to prevent it? Once this coup goes to work, all of the pieces must be placed together in the right moment, at the right location. She coughs slightly, trying to get out her words as she gagged ever so slowly. “Get the regiment ready. Portray themselves as regular civilians, and storm the building. Follow the battle plan, the one I gave them.” She continued, “I want this thing finished without a problem.” Rather than her usual, monotonous voice, it was something degrees higher than what it was before. Scarier, more intimidating. The changeling below her did nothing but nodded, thus sprinting off into the depths of the castle. Chrysalis only smirked even more. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Inside of the building, he was the one being pointed at with a gun up on his damn face. He didn’t like this. He would never want this, actually. All he wanted to do was to lead! To inspire! Create a new monarchy good enough for the people that believe his cause was one in great potency! Was this something that he, a living, breathing, manipulative being could not possibly achieve? Because somebody was too arrogant enough to not let go of the past? He sighed down on the fact, as he realises the truth between his own actions. He shouldn’t have the ability to react negatively to this. He knew this was coming the moment he set foot outside of the chains of Chrysalis. He knew he will be hunted. He knew he will be chased, ravage, and quite possibly; get plotted. What more can he really be surprised of? Actually, one. He faces the changeling in front of him, holding the gun without any empathy in his eyes. They go straight to No Man’s Land, stretching as far and as wide as the eye can even dream of seeing. This only added the magnitude of terror he experiences. Now he’s reminded of the reason why he exactly chose this road- salvation. “How did you find out?” He musters, although barely able to be heard from one’s point. Several other changelings, all of them holding his supporters hostage, tying them up to a post nearby, glanced at him. However, they had emotion this time. But not what he intended to feel. A fiery blaze of green light suddenly bursts outside the view of Thorax, and the flames continued to lick the floor beneath to form a circle. It dances and swirls, creating lines that intertwine with each other, like a light show, but deadlier. Then come the changelings. Or should they be called as ponies. The five of them trotted with smirks, lighting up the anger inside of Thorax. He remembers all five of them. Their faces, their words, their actions, and of course, their support for his community. He had just been betrayed. Then came the shots that echoed throughout the building, splashing red, thick blood all over the post.