//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - Ele'e éd Makmaßé // Story: Darkside // by Black Butterfly //------------------------------// Chapter One - Nightmare’s Castle Back in the library, an impatient Chrysalis was resting on a pile of dirty cushions. She watched the last few grains of sand fall in a glowing green timepiece that was standing before her hooves.  “That’s another hour.” She pointed out before she looked over to the nearest window. No response. “Did you hear me, Twilight? Nothing changed. It seems like there is no daytime here, only night eternal. We shouldn’t waste any more time and do something.” Chrysalis noticed a rustling from somewhere behind herself, she got up and turned around. A glowing, purple horn poked up from behind a stack of books. “Did you find out anything useful? I’m sick of this place!”  The glow of Twilight’s horn faded, and she turned her face towards Chrysalis. “I did, actually.” She trotted around the wall of books and picked up a few with her magic along the way. “The history of this reality and ours have been identical up to the day of Nightmare Moon’s return.” Twilight flipped open a particular faux leather-bound book with a golden unicorn on the cover and showed it to Chrysalis. The magic aura around the book changed from purple to green when Chrysalis moved the book closer to her face. She began skimming through the pages. “Well, that’s interesting, but how will it be of any use to us? We need to know where Nightmare Moon is hiding so we can attack her together and find this world’s mirror. Unless you’d rather convince her with the magic of friendship.” Twilight frowned. “I actually would rather convince her of using the magic of friendship, but we’d need my friends for that.” She paused. “That and I have no clue where they are in this twisted reality, so it’s just us for now.” “One alicorn plus the Queen of Changelings against one alicorn and a bunch of pony guards. I think we have a chance. That is, if you let me feed on your love.” Twilight put her book down and deadpanned. “My love? What love? I don’t have a candy corn of love left for you to feed on, Chrysalis. Besides, I’m sure Nightmare Moon has an army of guards, not just a bunch, as you put it.” “I would have an army if it wasn’t for your pesky little friends and-,” Chrysalis held her breath for a moment, this wasn’t the right time to start another argument. ”But love feeding is more complex than you think. We’re not just magically pulling the emotions out of you ponies.” She lifted her snout a little and looked down at Twilight with squinted eyes. “It’s not like I have to explain anything to you. You may be important in this situation, but you’re nothing to me. I’ve defeated all of you princesses before.” “Right.” Twilight pushed herself past the books and made her way up to Chrysalis with a stern look. “Perhaps you should level with me anyway. If I was nothing to you, you’d be home by now, with me left behind.” Chrysalis opened her mouth to answer, but she just let out a tired hum and smiled. “I’m just clarifying that we’re not friends. I need you to return home, but you mean nothing to me. If you weren’t of any use to me right now, I could just shove you back into a pod. So what else did you find out?” Twilight just sighed and pulled over another book for Chrysalis and flipped it open. "The tourist guide speaks of Empress Nightmare Moon's ambitious plans to restore the crumbled ruins of the royal sisters to their former glory. This echoes my own experience with temporal magic gone awry, when a dystopian alternate future left the castle in similar disrepair." Her eyes lit up with curiosity. "It could be that we've stumbled upon another world running parallel to our own. If memory serves, we may find Nightmare reigning once more from the rebuilt spires of the castle in the Everfree Forest." Chrysalis pursed her lips thoughtfully. "True, you know more of such perplexing anomalies than most. There remains hope yet that we may return to from where we came." Her emerald eyes glinted with renewed resolve. With a flick of magical energy, her form shimmered in a flash of limelight. In the Queen's place now stood an olive-coated pegasus mare with a windswept orange mane. Twilight averted her gaze from the blinding display, slowly lowering her hoof once her eyes adjusted. "Chrysalis, wait a second before we proceed further," she implored with a weary sigh. "Hours of digging through these books took their toll, and though your healing spell helped me recover, I still feel exhausted. A short rest would do the both of us good." Her gaze turned inward, pondering her dilemma. "I also need a disguise to hide my wings. An alicorn would draw too much attraction." A smirk appeared on Chrysalis’ lips, almost like she’d expected Twilight to react the way she had. Chrysalis headed back to her pile of cushions, restoring her real form as she did. “You’re right, Twilight. Now that you mention it, my magic may have healed your wounds, but that’s about it. And if anypony sees you, they probably mistake you for the rogue version of yourself. Take a nap or whatever. I’ll weave you a disguise you in the meantime.”  “You’d do that for me?” Twilight asked with a tired smile. “And yes, I feel… pretty beat.” “So we can go home as soon as possible,” Chrysalis remarked as she turned towards a nearby box and dusted it off. “Perhaps I can find some fabric and use it with my silk to hide your wings… I could think of a spell to change up your mane a little as well, you know, since you’re a criminal in this world.” Twilight emitted a slight huff of irritation. "Can you please refrain from mentioning that?" Chrysalis' eyes glinted with bemused mischief. "And deny this myself the joy of seeing you in the role of the villain?" She tossed her mane playfully. "Perhaps in this topsy-turvy land, I've earned the label of heroine!" Not wanting to further indulge the changeling's peculiar sense of humor, Twilight turned her focus to more practical matters. Gathering a few musty cushions, she arranged them into a makeshift bed, eager to rest her weary mind and body for the night ahead. While Chrysalis' healing had been most welcome, exhaustion still lingered at the edges of her consciousness. A few hours respite would do much to refresh her for the challenges that yet remained. —— Thud!  A bundle of clothing landed near Twilight's slumbering form. "There, a disguise for when you awaken," said Chrysalis. Twilight slept on, undisturbed. Chrysalis frowned pensively. "How simple it could be to end you here and now. Alas, for my grander designs I require your magic still." She lifted a hoof, gazing down at the helpless alicorn. Her eyes fell upon the open guide beside Twilight, catching the insignia of Nightmare Moon emblazoned upon the cover. A sly smirk took shape. "Another alicorn's power might serve just as well, and if deliver this you to her…." She mused aloud. "Nightmare would take you, Twilight, even if you’re not the one foretold. With her aid I might seize not one but two worlds! I can seduce the mentally unstable princess by serving her the pony she’s looking for on a silver platter!" Casting a spell of enchanted slumber, Chrysalis insured Twilight would not soon awaken. “Sleep well, Twilight Sparkle!” Transforming once more, she slipped into the forest under shroud of night. Intrigue and opportunity called her to the ruined castle's shadows, where plans would unfold beneath the moon's pale glow. —— Twilight’s assumption was correct. After an hour of flight, Chrysalis could spot an unfamiliar castle towering over the forest. Built from black stone and lit up by large, bright orbs that floated between its towers.  As expected, the castle was heavily guarded by countless armored pegasi and unicorn guards. For Chrysalis, that was good news. She simply used her shape-shifting ability to copy the armor and fly right up to one of the many balconies.  As Chrysalis landed upon the balcony, two guards blocked her path with leveled spears. "Halt, who goes there?" challenged the first. But when her emerald gaze fell upon them, they seemed overcome by confusion. "Surely you recognize an officer of Her Majesty's Royal Guard?" Chrysalis hissed, frustration lacing her tone. Her eyes lit with glimmering magic, and the sorcery took hold. "Apologies, but we were just preparing for our evening patrol." said the second guard, blinking away the spell's effects. "Carry on, soldier, and keep watch over the castle in our stead." With a melodic chuckle and parting kiss blown upon the wind, Chrysalis continued on her way unaffected. Within the walls, any guards she passed offered brief salutes before returning to duties, her disguise holding fast. Wandering the halls and chambers, she pondered her predicament and potential paths forward. Betrayal of Twilight in exchange for Nightmare's power was one avenue, yet attempting to use a relic such as the Magical Mirror herself appealed more to her cunning nature. She’d have to decide; risk an alliance with Nightmare Moon or try to return to her world alone and leave Twilight behind and thus removing one of the pains in her behind. Only further exploration would reveal which course led smoothest to her victory. Chrysalis wandered the twisting halls until she came upon a finely-dressed mare pushing a gleaming trolley laden with arms and wealth. The pony paused at a massive ebony door, sealed with an ornate lock - clearly guarding something of great value within. As Chrysalis neared, she shape-shifted into a unicorn stallion of Nightmare's armored guard, she approached the maid. "Pardon the interruption, miss," Chrysalis spoke in a gruff tone. "An important matter regarding the Empress’s treasury." The maid tilted her head curiously. "Of course, sir. Let me just…." She pulled a ring of keys from her dress. "How may I assist with your task?" “Nightmare Moon sent me to check for an item…” Chrysalis, in her disguise as unicorn guard, conjured a little piece of paper. It was blank, but the maid wouldn’t know. Chrysalis pretended to read over it and then had it disintegrate in her magic aura. “A standing mirror with arcane properties.”  The maid stared at the guard; she looked puzzled. Chrysalis didn’t want to raise any suspicions, so she went on, “I was just told to check whether the item is in the vault, that’s all.”  There was a moment of silence before the maid cleared her throat. “I see… well, I can check the inventory list for you… just a moment.”  “Very well.” Chrysalis remained still until the door was pushed open. Little magical orbs that floated near the tall ceiling illuminated the room behind. It looked more like a cluttered flea market than a treasury, although there were a lot of shiny objects and trinkets on display and sitting on shelves. There were more carts like the one the maid had been pushing around and once the door was open, she pushed the cart inside. Chrysalis followed close behind. The maid walked over to a book near the door that was hanging on a chain on the wall and opened it up. She went through the pages carefully while Chrysalis’ emerald eyes searched the room for the mirror she was looking for. The amount of objects she was seeing impressed her. The magical energy of the many enchanted artifacts and treasures lingered in the air, it was both empowering and confusing. “I’m sorry, but there is no mention of a standing mirror.”  Chrysalis’ pony ears perked, and she peered over to the maid near the door. “There isn’t?” “No… we have an entry of a broken hoof mirror and there’s a vanity table with a mirror, but that’s about it. I am sorry.” The mare continued perusing the text, then closed its cover with a soft thud. "Will there be anything else, sir?" Pushing her cart deeper within, a curious eye kept to the disguised Chrysalis as she entered - but found the fake royal guard frozen, face ashen pale. "Sir?" The maid pressed, concern lacing her dulcet tone. When she received no reply, she wandered near, sparing a hoof upon Chrysalis' trembling form. "Pray, are you alright, sir?" Chrysalis swallowed, lifting a hoof to point a shaking digit toward the loathsome artifact upon the shelf. "That... skull..." Following her gaze, the maid spoke gently of how Nightmare Moon had engaged the dreaded Changeling Queen in fierce battle to protect Canterlot, emerging victorious from the fray. Tales of her sovereignty's fall sent icy talons through Chrysalis' heart. Yet outwardly she remained as calm as she can, steadying her baleful stare upon the hollow remains that told a twisted truth. "A grim memento, to be sure." She said at last. "Our Empress fights with fearsome skill." Chrysalis had a hard time taking her view away from the chitinous skull of the darkside version of herself, but she eventually did, and when she finally got her mind back together, she faced the maid and asked, “How was Queen Chrysalis defeated? I’ve not been around back then.” The maid looked back and forth between the skull and Chrysalis in stallion disguise. “I think she defeated her with fire magic and kept the chitinous skull as a testament for her victory. I haven’t been there either but as always the victorious tell the tale. It’s what I’ve been told. That’s all I know.”  This discovery changed everything. An alliance with her own murderer was not an option for Chrysalis. “Alright then. Well, thank you for your time. I will just report back that the requested mirror isn’t here,” Chrysalis said as her shaky hooves carried her towards the door.  “Have a good evening, sir! If there is anything else you need…” the maid’s voice faded into the background as Chrysalis made her way towards the nearest window. She’d had seen enough, if Nightmare wasn’t the pony to bet on, perhaps she’d be able to manipulate Twilight for her purposes after all. Chrysalis didn’t want to be anywhere near the castle right. The mirror wasn’t there anyway, hopefully Twilight had not left the library without her in the meantime. And so she flew back to Ponyville. —— For how long had she even been out? A few hours maybe. When she reached the library, she found Twilight sleeping still. She snuck back inside and piled up some cushions and laid down and watched the pony sleep. Chrysalis' hushed words found only slumbering ears. "Upon reflection, betraying you to Nightmare seems no longer wise."  Her eyes fell once more upon the sleeping mare. "To think this world's Nightmare Moon has slaughtered my subjects so and kept my head as a trophy. Truly there exists no love left in that dark heart, I’m better off feeding on you." A weary sigh escaped her. "I’m only telling you this because you’re asleep, but Luna and I used to get along. We have helped each other out in times of need long before her banishment. Is it my fault she has fallen to darkness after sharing her love with me? Our past encounters hold little meaning to this mare it seems. Perhaps she blamed my other self for her misery." Her body cried out for respite after the night's harrowing discoveries. "Confound those ponies, I shall never understand you. But for now, sleep claims me as it has you, Twilight. Perhaps tomorrow a wiser path shall present itself." Curling her regal form upon the cold stone floor, Chrysalis allowed her burdened thoughts to drift at last into merciful slumber. What solutions the new day's dawn may bring, only its full day moon could reveal.