//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - Weakened // Story: A Queen Imprisoned // by FakeWolf //------------------------------// It couldn’t have been more than a day before I had my first visitor, and it was not a visitor I had been expecting. A small pegasus meekly stepped into my chamber. Her long mane hid most of her face and she shivered in fright at the dark atmosphere of my abode. She possessed a sort of young, natural beauty about her that in my younger days I would’ve no doubt used to seduce stallions and drain their love. What was more she was not a Changeling, but a simple Pony.  I raised my head from its place on the ratted carpet of my cell, and the poor lamb that had entered my den gave a tiny squeak as my eyes settled onto her. “Why do you approach me, little Pony?” The little lamb spoke something in a voice far too soft and demure for my liking. I kept my unblinking eyes locked onto little pegasus “I cannot hear you little pony, why don’t you come closer so that I might hear you?” Dutifully, or perhaps bravely and more than anything foolishly, the little lamb took a few fearful steps closer to the bars that separated us, and this she spoke in a voice that differed vastly both vastly and barely at all. The voice she spoke with now was a practiced thing, something that was obviously repeated dozens of times in a mirror at home. It was louder, more forceful, but full of the shaking confidence that came from being too scared to act fearfully. The kind of voice that tried to force confidence and certainty into itself in the misguided pony belief that if they could speak with confidence it would scare away all their fears and she would suddenly find herself unafraid. In reality it did none of that and just made her sound hollow unsure, and a bit pathetic. “I wanted to know why you attacked Shining Armour...” I snorted, “Of all that I have done and that is what you ask about? Not why my Changelings attacked you Ponies? Not why we couldn’t peacefully roll over once you decided to put your collective hoof down?” I paused and gave the little pegasus- the little misguided lamb that had found its way here an unimpressed look. The Lamb shook her head and spoke up with a voice that wasn’t even trying to hide its fear. “N-no, I don’t want to ask about that…” “Then why ask about Shining Armour? And better yet, why should I tell you little Pony?” “Because I don’t see what you could’ve wanted by attacking him.” “So? I still see no reason to play your games little Pony, there is no reason why I should not send you away.” “You won’t.” The Lamb murmured. “And how would you presume to know that Little Pony?” There was a silence before the Lamb brewed up the courage to speak her answer “Because you’re lonely.” “...” “I... saw you on the parade through Canterlot and… you just looked so... lost.” “I do not know what you are talking about, little Pony. You do not know me.” “Why did you attack Shining Armour, Chrysalis?” Her voice had lost its shaking qualities. It was insistent. The voice of a concerned friend refusing to be sent away once you told them you wanted to be left alone, almost maternal in a way. It was unfamiliar to me in many ways. I turned a discerning eye to the Pony, staring down at her with all the disgust I could muster despite where I lay and the condition I was in. “Because, Fluttershy, if I had succeeded in my ploy against Shining Armour I would’ve finally beaten you Ponies.” I answered, and I should have been content to leave my answer like that. Unfortunately, for whatever reason my tongue sought to betray me and something else slipped out. “Alas, just like all the others over the past decade it failed.” The Pegasus was silent for a moment, I could see the confusion in her eyes as her gaze slowly turned to meet my own. After what felt like years of staring into her eyes they finally widened with the shock of understanding. A tiny gasp escaped the lamb, as if she’d just stumbled across the very worst answer she could've hoped for. “No!” “I will have my victory, Little Pony, and I will try and try again until you Ponies finally fail to stop me.” “B-but-” “But what? Do you wish to stop me, little Pony?” “Yes!” The Lamb squeaks with a terrifyingly amusing the voice, the fear that clung to her now combined with a horrid mix of desperation. A revolting cocktail of emotions that any Changeling would turn their nose away from and wish to be as far away from as they possibly could. I took my time to think of my answer, watching the shaking Lamb before me and taking in every minute detail I could about her before leaning in consipritaly. “How about this, little Pony? You take a step closer and I will whisper to you what I plan to do next. If you’re lucky you might even find a chance to stop me.” A laugh, a scoff, the emotions on my face calculated as to capture her interest as best as they possibly could. A face of smug, decitful arrogance. The Lamb took a moment to consider my offer, whether it was well-earned fear or simple hesitation I did not know and did not care to, because in the end, her naivety won and she took her steps closer to the enchanted bars of my cell. Slowly, with a predator's grace, I climbed to my hooves and lowered my head to her offered ear. There was a loud magical CRACK as the enchanted bars of my cell forced my ramming horn back from the gap between the bars it had attempted to force itself through. The power of the magical discharge was more than enough to send me sprawling backwards across the floor of the cell like a fly swatted out of the air. Through the ringing in my ears I heard the little lamb yelp in surprise, shock, and probably a more than healthy dollop of fear at the sudden noise that held a favourable comparison to thunder. When I opened my eyes I found the pegasus staring at me a safe distance away from the bars of my cell, her face plastered with one of the most adorable looks of naive betrayal I had ever laid eyes on, as if she had truly believed my intentions were honest and that she had not merely been another fool. The sound of a door being unlocked behind Fluttershy was enough to bring a smile to my face despite the mild pain that had blossomed throughout my body. The cadence of my laughing voice echoed throughout the room as the armoured guards that had no doubt been waiting just outside for something like this to happen piled into the cramped chamber, surrounding the lamb that had entered my domain and creating an additional wall of metal between her and the monster that dwelt here. Burned, weakened, with smoke rising from my horn and imprisoned where escape would be near-impossible even if I had the will to attempt such a feat, I laughed. As Pony guards continued to file into the room and shout for my silence, for my obedience, for me to bow and roll over and give into whatever wishes they demanded of me like the well-trained dog they no doubt thought I should strive to mimic. But still their fear permeated the room. Still, none dared to step so much as one hoof past the bars of my cell. No matter how they postured and waved their spears about, none were foolish enough to step closer or place their weapons within my reach. It wasn’t until their dear Princess arrived that her tin soldiers calmed down and left my chambers, to my annoyance and no doubt her own for having to sort this mess.  But the gambit had been played, and they would be unlikely to forget what had happened this day. Word would spread and it would only be so long until a Pony made a mistake. Even if today was not that day. It was safe to say I found it incredibly strange when Fluttershy returned to visit me less than half a day later. She stood away from my cell this time, and gave me a disapproving stare. “Why are you doing this?” she hissed through grit teeth and puffy eyes. Had she been scolded for venturing here? What a pleasant thought. “Because, little Pony,” I drawled, scowling at the Lamb before me, “if I did not do so I would lose more than I already have.” “And why do you have to win?” She screeched. Upset would’ve been an understatement when describing her. “Because little Pony, I have my pride, and that is all I have. You may be content to roll over at the slightest hint of resistance Fluttershy but I was a Queen. Your witch Celestia may have her own plans but I bend to no will but my own.” “So that means you have to die?” “It is only by your Princess’s interference that I still breathe Pony. I would have rather taken my last breath in the ruins of my hive than be brought here. If she does not kill me herself then I will find somepony else who will.”  The Lamb was rightfully silent for a moment, and I found myself preparing to settle for some rest once the impudent thing left. But like many of my plans, this one turned out to be another failure, as before my eyes could close I was once more inconvenienced by the Lamb’s voice. “But… why?” Oh pity, shimmering tears had formed in the foal’s eyes, “I want to understand you- I want to help you Chrysalis b-but… why do you really want to..." a gulp, "die?” “Pony,” I declared, “you are not a Changeling. Nor will you ever be. Do you know what it is to go months without eating? To have nothing to your name but your pride and your infamy? I have lost my Changelings, I have lost my Hive, I have not more than a week to live. I will not allow myself to be denied the rightful death I wish for, the one you Ponies selfishly horde away from me.” I had hoped the silence my words had brought would be of a more permanent or longer lasting kind, but as patterns show I was distrubed once more by the Lamb’s quiet voice, “What do you mean when you say you only have a week left to live?” “I will starve before the end of the second week. You Ponies have no love for me to feed on for my nourishment, and I would not take it even if you brought me whatever Pony twisted enough to be capable of loving me.” Another silence. Another interruption. “C-can I do anything?” “Will you grant me my death?” A long silence, “... No.” “Then you cannot, little Pony.” Blissful silence. “... H-how about a friend?” If this Pony had chosen to speak in riddles I did not approve of such a game. “Whatever are you talking about?” I hissed. “I was thinking that... maybe I could be your friend, I-if that's alright with you…” The… no doubt crazed Pony managed to say with the utmost gall I had ever witnessed, all while hiding behind her hair as if she was terribly afraid I’d say no- She wasn’t wrong to be afraid, ideas were already springing to my mind of how I might be able to reach over and strangle this- “Then you wouldn’t be so lonely.” her voice cut through my thoughts like a bell through silence. I was quick to respond this time, filling my voice with all the vitriol I felt for her at this current moment. “Once more you little Ponies believe friendship will be what will redeem the villain. Prove that everyone can be nice and that all anyone needs is a friend.” Silence. “I do not have friends, little Pony. Only subjects, enemies, and victims.” I hoped that would be the end of that. Against all reason, it wasn’t. “... Could you make me your subject, Queen Chrysalis?” More riddles? No, her emotions told me that for whatever reason this lamb was earnest in her question. It caught me by surprise. Never had I seen a Pony willingly offer to be my subject nor could I see why one would want to, especially now. Despite all the experience I possessed it pains me to say I was quite visibly flustered. “W-why would I do that? Why would you want that? What is your game Little Lamb?” I demanded, my eyes sharpening to an intense focus on the butter yellow pegasus as I slowly regained my footing. The Lamb had the audacity to give me a cheeky grin as she explained whatever her foolish ploy was. “If I’m your subject, you surely wouldn’t complain about me visiting you… and then maybe I can help you.” “And why would I agree to that impudent Pony?! Why would I want your help?” “Because you’re lonely. You could’ve scared me away if you really wanted to. Could’ve refused to talk to me. Could’ve demanded I leave. But you- you didn’t.” She paused for a moment, “you’re trying to make me scared… but you’re not putting your full effort behind it. You don’t want me to leave. Even after you attempted your… plan…” her gaze shimmers with emotion, and the aroma of fear that had cloaked her before like a thick fur coat evaporated away. The fear was still there, but now it was merely something thin underneath the variety of other emotions that were dappled across her like paint on canvas. “... because you were lonely.” She still wore that small, sly smile as she finished her explanation, her voice having spoken with confidence throughout the whole thing. Confidence she deserved, I decided. For all I wanted to deny it and call it the bravado of a foolish Pony... “So be it.” I scoffed, placing my head high and straightening my form into a position I had taken many times before. “I declare you, Fluttershy, a subject of the defunct Changeling throne. Do you swear to protect your kin, to feed your Hive, and serve your Queen until your end, no matter how long that may be?” I hoped she’d say no. That she’d pull the rug out from under me and reveal that this was all just an elaborate joke I could escape from. “I do.” She said instead, her face bright with victory, her voice solemn, and her emotions stilling. “With those words you have accepted this oath, and henceforth shall be forever bound to the Changeling throne with it.” The Lamb held that smile on her face as she spoke. “Thank you, Chrysalis.” “Thank you?” the words felt unfamiliar on my tongue as I rolled them around. How long had it been since someone had thanked me in such a way? Not in obedience, or solemn acceptance, not thanks made in acceptance of what was to be done and for whatever pitiful reassurance I had given the drone about to be sent off to their deaths. But thanks given in… thanks. Earnest. With nothing to gain and nothing to lose. And as those thoughts rolled around inside my head, I could understand why so many drones had thanked me for the reassurances I gave them before they perished. “I do not know why you thank me, Pony,” I said instead, “you are of a kind I hate. If I was able I would rip your head from your body I would do so without hesitation.” The Lamb checked the distance between herself and the bars of my cell before taking a deep breath. “... would you really?” “You think I would not, Pony?” The Pony was silent for a solemn moment before she brought her answer to light “I think you’d do it because you think you’d have to… not because you wanted to.” I didn’t respond immediately. Not after a minute, nor after a minute more. Millions of lies spun around my head as I stared at the impudent lamb before me, the Pony that dared to claim some semblance of understanding of me. A Pony that, at that very moment, for some strange and unknowable reason, I could not bring myself to lie to. My vision blurred. My eyes stung. Distantly, I could hear the sounds of sobs as my vision was engulfed in darkness. I only realised the sobs were my own and that the wetness of my face was due to my own tears when I finally sucked in an agonized breath to fill my empty lungs and clenched chest. The tears continued unabated by my second breath. And my third. And the forth. When, finally, after maybe hours or perhaps only a few scant minutes, but no matter what too long a time to be spent crying, my hacked breathing regained an approximation of regularity, I looked up to watch the Pony that had done this. Little to no fear still clung to her. Instead the blurry yellow and pink that sat before me was a mixing bowl of pain and regret and sympathy, sympathy! What Pony could have sympathy for a Changeling! What Pony could be so foolish- so downtrodden- so… so kind as to feel sympathy for the Queen of all Changelings! The very same being who had taken and lost so much from eachother- I broke down into another batch of grief filled sobs. My younger self would have called me foolish. Said that war with the Ponies should have been easy. That they were nothing more than food, prey, livestock to be toyed with at our leisure. Toys were meant to be fun! And nothing about this was fun by any sort of definition of the word! Ponies were difficult and stupid and foolhardy and it was at times like these I wish I had never crawled out of the Mother Tree or at the very least chosen to never deal with Ponies in my life because past me was an idiot! When my eyes blinked open again, I saw a yellow hoof at the very edge of the enchanted bars of my cell. “I know I shouldn’t be doing this.” Fluttershy began, “but… it’s the closest I can do instead of giving you a hug…” I just wanted something else to focus on to replace my own self-hate. My hoof inched over and met Fluttershy’s at the barrier between my cell and the outside world. “You Ponies are too sentimental for your own good.” I murmured through sniffles. She giggled like a naughty filly being told a crude joke, “If you say so, My Queen.” “You are having far too much fun with this.” I groused, but I could feel her good humour infecting me. “Do you wish for me to stop, My Queen?” “... No.” I admitted, steadying myself and pulling a hoof up to wipe away the lingering tears in my eyes “I will not stop my only known subject from enjoying herself.” She schooled herself, perhaps enjoying the company of a miserable Changeling Queen far too much than anypony or anyone reasonably should. Such a strange little Lamb that had wandered into my den. I took a deep breath.  “I expect you to keep this arrangement of ours a secret?” “Oh… um, I- I’ll try…” I quirked a brow at the her, or at least did my best to- grief did strange thing to your expressions, but otherwise relented. I could do nothing if she so chose to tell anypony. I had no real control over her anyway, even if she claimed to be a subject of mine. Perhaps it might even help earn me a swift death if she chose to tell somepony and they came to believe I was poisoning the Pegasus’ mind. “I have one more thing for you, Fluttershy.” I spoke instead, desperate to keep my thoughts from wandering. “What is it?” Her voice was quiet, but beneath it there was the keen interest of someone getting a hint as to what their birthday gifts might be.  “A tradition we must follow. Changelings are given a new name whenever they swear upon the throne. Not to replace their old one, but to represent whatever new oaths they have made alongside all their previous.” The Lamb slowly nodded her head. “You may not be a Changeling, but you have sworn an oath to the Changeling throne. As such I must give you a new name befitting your oath.” Another slow, respectful nod. I felt a sad smile creep across my face, Ponies I had told of this tradition before often questioned it’s necessity, never before had one sat quietly and listened, but then again perhaps that was all the Little Lamb felt she could do for me at the moment. Sit back and watch an old lady indulge herself with old traditions. “As such, I name you Little Lamb. The Little Lamb that was brave enough to walk into the wolf’s den and had the audacity to become a part of the pack.” Little Lamb was bashful at the praise, if it really was praise for not even I knew at this point, and with those final words the tradition was once more complete for what will likely be the final time. Maybe Changelings elsewhere will perform this old rite again, they would say the same words and hold it to the same meaning, but it was a tradition that required the Queen and for the Queen to give the name, and as such this would be the final time it was performed in full. We spoke more of things that held little consequence. She told me of her life as the previous Element of Kindness, she told me a bit about her friends but nothing I didn’t already know. We spent most of the time speaking of animals, and despite the lingering veil of fear that surrounded her I could sense the love she was giving off for her “animal friends”. “You have more fire in you than I expected.” She paused at the sudden shift in conversation. “My spies all described you as shy and cowardly, and you certainly played yourself to my expectations earlier. Barely able to speak to me.” “O-oh.” “Now I haven’t had any spies watching the Elements for a long time now. So… where does this fire come from?” “I… was a nurse.” I hummed non-committedly. “A-and long before that my friends were helping me.” “And this made you able to stare down the Changeling Queen?” “N-no… they helped but…”  I waited for her to pick back up after she trailed off, and when she did not the impatience that had doomed me before eventually got the better of me. “Well, what is it?” “I don’t think I should tell you.” “And why should you decide what is and what isn’t appropriate for your Queen, Pony?” “Because…” she hesitated, her eyes shifting around the room and unable to meet my gaze. “Spit it out, Little Lamb.” I pressed. Little Lamb answered. Her eyes unwilling to meet mine. We talked little for the rest of the day, and what was spoken of was soured by knowledge that shouldn't have been shared. Maybe I still was a fool, even if a smaller one.