Embers of Time: The Charred Past
Chapter 2: A Sister’s Past
“What name do you address me by? My name is Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings! I have never gone by any other moniker.” Chrysalis told Blaze Bringer, making him smile ever larger as she did.
“Of course you would believe that. After all, everything you once were remains with Luna. Except for some of your power and what I truly require from you.” Blaze Bringer answered Chrysalis, preparing the spell he needed as he also readied his mind for the approaching mental war.
“I have never even met the princess of the Night! Stop your foalish claims!” Chrysalis bellowed at Blaze Bringer, hoping to scare him to what she believe was sanity for the former alicorn.
“Quiet Chrysalis. I shall explain to you who you are, how you came to be this creature before me, and what I need from you. But first, I must silence you so as you don’t interrupt until I allow you to.” Blaze Bringer paced in front of Chrysalis as he temporarily sealed her voice with his powerful magic.
Chrysalis struggled for a few moments, but could make no noise of protest and was unable to physically fight against Blaze Bringer’s spell as well. Within approximately 10 minutes of beginning her struggle against this new spell, Chrysalis resigned herself to her fate of listening to Blaze Bringers blasphemous tale.
“All settled in are we? Well then, let’s begin.” Blaze Bringer began, knowing that every word brought him closer to what he sought; what he needed.
“Nightmare Moon was the entity created from Princess Luna’s rage and jealously at the love ponies gave to her sister and her sun over 1000 years ago. Nightmare Moon’s Magic was stronger than Celestia’s alone, and thus she was able to overpower her sister in brute magical force and engage an eternal night upon all of Equestria. History remembers that many tried to stop her, including Dawn Breaker, the first Element of Magic, and the Great Zuli Archer himself. None alone were equal to her though. So Celestia chose to wield the Elements of Harmony against Nightmare Moon with the help of the 5 Bearers Nightmare had not been able to get to, at last managing to deter her power by imprisoning her for many a long year in the moon. A thousand years to be precise.” Blaze Bringer paused, beginning to see the recognition spell flash within Chrysalis’ eyes.
“Two long years ago, Nightmare Moon returned to Equestria, empowered again without the full power of the Elements of Harmony to seal her power. Again, an eternal night was to be instilled into Equestria. Twilight Sparkle had other plans though.” Blaze Bringer smiled as he thought of the help the unicorn mare had unwillingly given him.
“She, along with her five new friends, journeyed forth to re-gather the 5 known Elements. Celestia had sealed away the Element of Magic so Nightmare Moon could never destroy the ability to wield the Elements again. Along their journey, Nightmare Moon tried many different methods to stop their progress. Applejack awakened Honesty with the Rockslide. Fluttershy demonstrated Kindness against the Manticore. Pinkie wielded Laughter against the Imagined Evil. Rarity showed Generosity to the Sea Serpent. And Rainbow Dash bonded with Loyalty against the Shadow Bolts. Each of the 5 Elements now lay awake within those ponies, only a single spark of Magic needed to fully wield their power. That is where Nightmare Moon again fully enters.” Blaze Bringer smiled as he now began to see fear grow in Chrysalis’ eyes as his spell and words took the effect he needed.
“Nightmare Moon returned again as Twilight foalishly ignored the Magic within her and attempted to awaken the distinct lacking of Magic within the conduits for the Elements. Nightmare Moon proved this by crushing the conduits before her very eyes. Unfortunately, Twilight’s friends sought her out and she at last realized where the Magic needed to fuel the Elements of Harmony truly lay dormant. As Twilight realized this, Celestia sent her the Element of Magic to allow her most faithful student to use the full power of the Elements against what was once her younger sister. As the Elements collided with Nightmare Moon, many believe the Elements destroyed her or sealed her forever within Luna. I am the only one who knows this to not be the case.” Blaze Bringer looked fully at Chrysalis as she slowly shook her head back and forth at his statements, now knowing he spoke only the truth she had never wished to know.
Blaze Bringer pointed at Chrysalis with his hoof, fully ready to make the statement he had spent much of his exiled life researching.
“YOU are Nightmare Moon Chrysalis. Or, to be more exact, you are what became of the entity formerly known as Nightmare Moon after the Elements of Harmony banished you from Equestria without Luna this time as they had attempted to do a 1000 years ago. Only the true balance of the Elements could succeed in doing that though. And, once removed from Equestria and separated from what once defined you, you adapted to whatever was around you once you regained consciousness. You awakened in the homeland of the Changelings, Farana. You adapted to your old size and shape with the features of a Changeling, much like how you once improved upon Luna’s appearance. As the Changelings truly needed a leader, you were accepted with little questioning or fighting.” Blaze Bringer smiled his most maniacal smile as he neared the end of his imposed silencing of Chrysalis.
“You still felt the need to destroy Equestria once you became Chrysalis, though your methods adapted to reflect the Changelings natural abilities. You returned, and have again been banished, though this time you came to me. And now, I remove your silence and shall tell you just what I require of you.” Blaze Bringer concluded, lessening only the spell he had used to silence Chrysalis during his tale.
***
Chrysalis breathed heavily for a few long moments before directing her gaze upon Blaze Bringer, now fully aware of just who he was by name alone.
“And just what exactly is it that you need from me in this shattered and separated form….brother?” Chrysalis spit at Blaze Bringer, causing him to coil back and laugh at her statement.