The castle was silent. Absolutely silent.
The slow hollow creak of the rusting castle door and the gentle sound from her hooves making an impact on the cold, smooth crystal floors were the only familiar features when she entered. Except, they too ringed a little too loud, a little too eerie. Even for a pony who enjoys her time alone, everything seemed too empty to the point that it was unnerving.
Twilight turned left towards a corridor, searching for any signs of her roommates. She started opening multiple doors at a time with her magic in a frantic attempt to find any indication of an ounce of life. Every time she would be met with the same empty rooms. And every time she would grimace, the line of sweat and her nervous expression which she had tried so hard to mask were now on full display.
Even the very corridors she was in seemed to torment her. From their dark uncertainty with nothing but sharp shadows to accompany them without any sort of light to create them save for the cool glow of mist that blew below her. She could’ve sworn she installed some lanterns in this part of her home.
Twilight turned to retrace her steps then suddenly paused when a violet shriek pulled her in another direction.
Her eyes became wild hearing the voice and before she knew it she was running towards the scream; at a pace, she couldn’t fathom herself. Picking up more and more speed she seeped further into the abyss of a home she shouldn’t feel uncertain in.
All she could make out were the painful, torturous echoes. The sheer pain of the noise beckoned her to reach it faster, quicker, sooner.
She just couldn’t.
Twilight was running as fast as she could, striking her hooves harder and harder on the ground beneath her, which threatened it to shatter from the might of her pounding strides. Her breathing became rigid, each breath was taking all her power to summon. Oxygen. Something so simple, prevalent, and abundant seemed to be avoiding her like she was the plague. Something so easy to do, the act of breathing, was now taking her all her remaining energy. She could cast the most powerful spells ever created but now she’s struggling to be alive?
She could feel her momentum starting to fail as the suffocating feeling was completely immersing her body; causing her legs to become immobilized as if there were heavy bricks encasing them. Until her whole body gave in and she collapsed.
The screams, the loud screams, that had been so far away, were now punishing her. They were becoming banshees, berating her for her endless failures in not reaching them in time. All Twilight could do was shield her ears with her wings and wait until they were finished. Except now, they were slithering into her head, her very mind. Their voices became so loud, so close, and clear they could have well been originating inside her own being.
Twilight stayed, unwavering in her position. “Make it stop,” she weakly pleaded.
The sudden sound of someone approaching made her peer out of her protective stance. Hopeful for a brief moment, before that feeling too, was swept away. Her irises moved wildly as she recognized who was in front of her. And she wanted nothing more than to snap her neck and wipe her existence into oblivion.
Chrysalis licked her lips as if she was ready for a feast she spent hours preparing. “I reveled in this sight— hah, seeing you at my mercy brings me so much joy!”
Twilight groaned, too exhausted from the agony the screams caused her. They sucked out her strength to even reply.
“You really thought you had bested me?” Chrysalis sang, bringing her narrow head to bask in Twilight’s cowardice.
“Yes,” Twilight murmured earnestly. This was the third time now?
She raised an eyebrow and smiled. “My my, you are foolish indeed, and they call you the smart one? The wedding was a good effort. I commend you for seeing through my disguise when no one else had. But our latest conquest? You really have no excuse for that now. I would be ashamed to call you my Princess. It’s a good thing I’m not a pony then, huh? I don’t have to admit that the pony who swore to protect me completely failed in the most humiliating way possible!”
Twilight stared intently at the love-leeching monster, not protesting anything she said. She lay picturing and feeling the experience from her green, gooey enclosure. It made her tremble. It was suffocating. All she had was her gasping breath to stay alive and though she wasn’t awake she could hear it—the struggle and hopelessness of the whole ordeal.
The worst part though? Were the damn taunts from that stupid bug. She would rather have her frantic breathing drive her to insanity than have that grotesque monster mutter another word to her.
And now that very bug was standing right before her, perhaps considering whether or not to capture her or just end it right here and now. Twilight begged for the latter. She couldn’t go through all of it again.
“What do you want?” Twilight whispered, hoping that everything would end in an instant if she appeased her.
She smiled and shook her head. “I already have what I want. Starlight out of the way, the Princesses at my mercy, your idiotic friends gone.”
Twilight shook her head, grief wasn't registering in her head, she was too tired. “No. No. No,” she repeated carelessly, “What do you want from me?”
“What more can you offer me? Seeing you like this? Ah– love it. I love it!” Chrysalis said and clapped mockingly.
Twilight slumped and the humiliation was now deluding her core. She felt so small and helpless. Perhaps if she allowed the Queen to keep pestering her she’ll become bored and move on. Move on to bigger things like conquering Equestria or a parade around Canterlot. Anything. Anything at all, besides harassing a limp princess with no will to contest her enemy’s weak attempt to break her soul. Embarrassingly it was working.
Each time she had seen Chrysalis and each time she vanquished her, the evil, annoying demon would always come back. And each time her spirit would break. Little by little, until the next occasion.
“I think you’ll like me more if I was gone. Out of your sight, completely.”
She pondered the sentiment before shaking her head, “You don’t get to escape me that easily Princess Twilight Sparkle. Where’s the fun in that?” She really enunciated her title, hearing it was like a jab, a bitter reminder of how far from the image of the almighty alicorn, feared by anyone who dared catch her gaze.
Twilight chuckled, it was a hollow sound that lacked any merit of amusement she saw in Chrysalis’ resolve. “You’re so dumb.”
Oddly enough, she didn’t sneer at the statement. “Oh? You’re more interesting than I thought. It’s funny because you’re in no position to say that. Am I really the dumb one out of the two of us? Aren’t you the one to let everything slip under your hoof? You couldn’t tell that we were replacing everyone you hold so dear. Powerless and utterly stupid, Princess,” she snarled.
“That part may be true. But it's not over yet, Chrysalis. As long as I’m still breathing I am here and alive. It will be enough for Equestria to remain safe.” She whispered, a part of her believed it, even if it sounded wildly preposterous.
Chrysalis gave an uncharacteristic boisterous laugh, wiping a tear away before starting her counter, “You really are delusional…”
Twilight couldn’t catch the rest of Chrysalis’ dialogue as her ears were filled with the piercing howls of the souls of Equestria she failed to protect. Twilight finally closed her eyes, accepting the sensation of defeat. She could make out the sound of Chrysalis’ tormenting laughter so clearly.
The chortle from her enemy was the last thing she heard before her whole vision was filled with darkness and the cold floor she became so accustomed to falling away. She basked in the lunge, at least now, she was away from the terrors…
☆ ☆ ☆
Twilight shot up immediately. Her breathing was rigid as if they were coming out like she almost drowned and a cold sweat drenched her mane. She blinked away the fog that appeared when she awoke from every nightmare and concentrated on her breathing.
Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. Exhale, exhale, exhale–
It felt like an entirety of just trying to steady her breathing. All the self-regulation techniques flooded her mind. She needed something to cling onto reality. Thankfully they started becoming less like greedy panting and more substantial breaths. Smoothing out her mane and coat she started to feel a little calmer.
Until the slight rapping of her door startled her all over again.
“Uhm, Twilight? Are you okay?” A small voice asked, the hesitation revealed that they had been at her door for quite some time.
“W-we’re coming in!” Another voice said.
Twilight closed her eyes, she didn’t want to glance at her friends just yet. Taking a few more seconds to compose herself. When she looked at her new company she could feel that everything was going to pour out.
Starlight and Spike stood in her entranceway. Their eyes displayed nothing but concern for their friend. They made their way towards Twilight, taking gentle strides to her bed, careful to not startle her anymore.
“I’m fine,” she said, she surprised herself with how even and calm she sounded. Though her voice came out steady her body language clearly communicated that she was not in a state to have a conversation with them.
Spike crawled up and hugged her tightly. Placing his head firmly in the crook of Twilight’s arm.
Starlight gave her a sympathetic smile and offered her a glass of water, which she eagerly took, taking hungry gulps to soothe the sudden dryness in her throat.
Twilight nearly broke down at that moment, her composure was now almost failing her. Everything was falling apart and she didn’t know why.