//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 - Pt. 1 // Story: My little angel: Archangel Chronicles // by Hydreigon_Omega //------------------------------// Making a trip to the badlands would’ve been a death wish for any normal pony, the sheer distance between the changeling hive and the nearest pony civilization alone would’ve been enough to deter any potential tourists, but not Mael. While just the trip to the badlands’ outer regions would’ve taken even a skilled adventurer a few days, Mael saw the changeling hive come over the horizon after just a few hours of flying. Had it not been for the grueling training Mael had been put through when he was younger, he wouldn’t have been able to even consider traversing such conditions.  Landing on the dry and dusty ground below him, Mael gazed upon the changeling hive in the near distance. What once was a small structure in the distance, the size of a single bit, quickly grew into a towering structure that warned all creatures to stay away. When they were younger, Chryssi had told him about how large it was, but seeing it in person was a completely different feeling. The longer Mael thought about his past, the more he feared that Chrysalis no longer remembered him, but there was only one way to see if she would. When he entered the changeling hive, Mael found himself being spied on by many changeling drones and possibly even a few soldiers as well. The further Mael walked, the darker it got, soon Mael was barely able to see his hoof in front of his face. Using the power of his grace, Mael summoned a miniature sun to accompany him and light up his path. But it was at this moment that he saw just how many changelings there were. When he first entered he could make out the outlines of a few drones, but now he could see that there were over 200 changelings surrounding him. Paying no attention to how badly he was outnumbered, Mael just kept walking. The changelings made way for him, not out of respect, but because they had now lost the advantage of surprise. All except 1 changeling soldier. From the corner of Mael’s eye, he saw one jump out from the crowd and attempt to attack him. Mael didn’t flinch, infact, he was more scared of accidentally hurting the changelings rather than them hurting him.  The changeling bit down around Mael’s neck, snapping his fang clean off. Screeching in pain, the changeling soldier jumped off of Mael. Looking over where the changeling landed, Mael approached him, making the other changelings quickly scramble away from him. The changeling with the broken fang trembled while he hissed in a last ditch effort to scare the Sun Grace. Unintimidated by its actions, Mael gently pressed a hoof into the Changeling’s muzzle, silencing it. “Be well.” Mael commanded in a calm yet authoritative voice A faint pink glow surrounded the Changeling’s maw before dissipating. The changeling was briefly stunned by light, but when he finally had processed what had happened, he was filled with fear and curiosity. “Are you okay,” Mael asked, “How’s your fang?” “W- what?” “I ask how your fang is doing, I want to make sure it heals correctly.” The changeling briefly rubbed its tongue across its teeth, and to its amazement, the broken fang had completely regrown. “H- how?” “I have many talents, and healing magic is one of my strong suits.” Mael replied, “Listen, I harbor no ill intent to your kind, and I only wish to speak with your queen. Could you show me where she is?” The changeling looked like he was conflicted on if he should tell Mael the truth or not. But eventually, without saying a word, the changeling looked up at the ceiling. There was a hidden tunnel with a steep incline directly above Mael, the only way anyone could have noticed it was if they looked up. Nodding his head to the changeling, Mael flew up the tunnel’s entrance before it began too small for him to continue flying. If he wanted any chance to see Chrysalis again, Mael would have to climb the rest of the way. Boredom ran rampant through Chrysalis’s mind as she laid on her throne, just waiting for each and every uneventful day to end. There weren’t many things to do as a queen, but the few things that she could do endangered her responsibility of making sure her hive well-being. The thought of going on another feeding trip excited Chrysalis, but her rational side told her that she still had more than enough love stored up to last her hive through the month. But to her surprise, Chrysalis noticed something interesting in the changeling hivemind. A bulky unicorn stallion, hiding most of his features under a ragged cloak, marched through the hive unafraid of any of the changelings around him. After witnessing a short bout between him and one of her changeling soldiers, Chrysalis gave permission to the changeling soldier to show him the way to her. Maybe her day wasn’t going to be as boring as she thought. It had been a few minutes before Chrysalis saw the stallion’s head pop out of one of the hive's many entrances before he pulled himself the rest of the way out. The changeling’s guard stationed outside of that passageway took notice of him and attempted to prevent him from progressing further. But as soon as they were in position to defend, they receded after receiving direct orders from Chrysalis, through the hive mind, to let him proceed. “Come, and tell me who you are and what business you have with the changelings.” Chrysalis commanded in a firm voice, not yet realizing that it was her childhood friend wishing to meet with her. Mael approached Chrysalis calmly, not wishing to disrespect her on their first encounter in over 300 years, “I wish to seek an audience with you Queen Chrysalis.” “Give me one good reason why I should grant you that wish.” Chrysalis said, peering down at him from her throne “If you remembered who I was,” Mael said, “You would’ve been more than thrilled to grant my wish.” “Remember you?” Chrysalis scoffed, “Why should I spend my time remembering the names of ponies when their lives are a mere fraction of mine? All you ponies think that you’re always so special, just because you do this or that for those princesses of yours doesn’t make y…” Chrysalis slowed down her rant when she noticed that Mael started taking off his cloak. The moment Chrysalis saw Mael’s four alabaster wings, she had stopped herself completely to stare in disbelief. Various emotions, many of which she hadn’t felt in hundreds of years, flooded her mind as she recalled all the fond memories she had shared with Mael. “You’re alive?” Chrysalis asked in a shaky voice “Yes,” Mael replied, “I am.” Chrysalis couldn’t believe her eyes, she just couldn’t. For over 300 years, she believed that Celestia had given Mael over to the griffons to prevent an oncoming war, and in doing so, the griffons had the young solar prince executed. That had been one of the biggest reasons for why Chrysalis despised pony-kind. But now, Chrysalis saw with her own 2 eyes that Mael was alive and stood before him. “Very well, I will grant you my audience.” Chrysalis replied, “Come, there is a better place for us to speak.” Leading Mael down one of the many dark hallways of the changeling hive, Chrysalis walked to one of the few doors in the Hive. While the two armored changeling soldiers stared at Mael with suspicion and curiosity in their minds, their expression stayed never changing in the presence of their queen.  Inside the room was, to Mael’s surprise, a pretty normal looking bedroom. The only major difference was the building materials for the room and it’s items. Instead of using what most would consider normal materials, almost everything was made out of a polished black quartz. Green crystals lined the room, giving off a dim green light that was just bright enough for him to be able to see. As soon as the door closed behind Mael, there was no longer any reason for Chrysalis to keep her emotions behind a mask. Within a second, Chrysalis lost her composure, once she started letting out tears, there was nothing that could be done to stop it. There were so many different emotions behind those tears, no one could say that she was just crying tears of joy or sorrow. “You’re alive.” Chrysalis said as tears rolled down her face, “I thought you died all those years ago.” “Chrysalis, it’s going to be okay.” Mael said as he pulled her into a hug, removing what little barrier she had left that inhibited her tears, “It’s okay now…”