A strange room appeared in the middle of nowhere and with powerfully magic to test one's soul? And none suspected its existance there? Something didn't seem right for Chrysalis. She didn't like surprises that much was clear as her eyes widened and her eyes were perked on high alert. She had the eery feeling that around every corner there could be someone expecting her, wanting to ambush her and the rest that had followed her.
"How on Equestria has none noticed such a place? You'd think that with such magic radiating from its center that it would attract some attention... Even though none would see it, they would at least be able to sense its magic, such things can't be hidden easily from skilled sorcerers." In response a carefree laugh came from behind her. When she turned around to locate the source of random joy, well at least for her standards, she only saw Nousios laughing while looking up seemingly distracted. She looked at him with eyebrows tilted upwards in curiosity.
"Huh? Sorry if i don't get the joke... " she apologized sarcastically and Nousios continued to laugh as he pointed up with his hoof and said
"Sorry my Queen but i don't think we are on Equestria anymore just look at the sky! Technically since we supposedly entered a cave i should say ceiling but... just look and you'll see!"
It was as he said... looking up they all noticed that the walls surrounding them didn't converge forming the ceiling of the cave as they expected. For the first time since entering they felt silent chilling wind blowing at them they saw a darkness stretching to every corner of the "sky", devoid of stars or other form of light or life for that matter. As they gazed upon the abyssal "sky" they all knew one thing:This wasn't Equestria. But when you gaze into the abyss it gazes back into you. The nothingness of the "sky" promised them happiness of a quick death, its macabre silence offered them sweet oblivion hypnotizing them within its gaze and all but Nousios were affected. His carefree voice snapped them back to reality.
"Oh we are SO lucky to be in one of the planes amongst the Void arent we?" said Nousios giggling happily. Void... only hearing that word seemed to induce different thoughts and feelings to each of them. A frightful gasp was heard as Alianna was the first to react holding her hoof in her mouth often stuttering while speaking.
"But there could be monsters here! Demons, ghosts, and... and... Who knows what we might face!" her reaction was met with a murmuring sigh of disappointment by Mortain.
"Oh grow up already Alianna! We've faced many of their kind before! I don't see how they will be a problem to us now!" In reaction to his stubbornly fearless claim Jonaleth looked at him as his mouth formed a sarcastic grin.
"Oh the irony... If i recall correctly it was YOU who took that silly bet with Safana when you claimed you could survive into a Hydra's lair alive for a week with the Hydra still inside! You shouldn't lie about your fears even if you don't let them affect you, that's not bravery or loyalty... its recklessness." his words echoed through Mortain's mind as Jonaleth scolded him seriously. Safana sighed as she continued the story
"Well i didn't mind giving him that ruby i wagered! Though i wouldn't get noticed right away like you." she said snorting ironically.
"What would be challenging in that?" said Mortain but before anyone had time to continue Queen Chrysalis interrupted them with a small hint of annoyance stopping what she thought a meaningless conversation
"Don't you think its time we stopped fooling around a little and got back to reality? We will respond to the challenge i am sure just... just keep your eyes and ears alert."
She then proceeded to the edges of the room looking for something. Her horn glowed as she passed dripping some green magical essence upon them, combined with a spark the liquid upon the rocks lit with an enchanted green flame that shone clearly the path around them.They crossed the only entrance that wasn't sealed. The rest had ever shifting-chrome walls made out of magic that were hampering their efforts to even approach them. As they walked inside everyone wondered what kind of tests these rooms held. A wave of heat catches them unaware as they see spiraling formations of rocks pulsing with a fire-red glow and three gateways with darkness so thick that no light could breach. While they were inspecting their surroundings the air shifted in the center of the room as shillouette formed out of the very shadows of the room, but before they had time to realize what or how this happened the shillouette became clearer revealing a female changeling standing tall in front of them. She bears the crown of the changelings standing on her curly blue bleached mane draping over her obsidian scales, her cat shaped velvet eyes and her proud stance confirm her royal background. She slowly turns to Queen Chrysalis noticing the similar crown on her and speaks
"I am Amalthea one of the Queens of the changelings." she says as Chrysalis gives her a piercing gaze, she didn't like one bit that she was seeing one of the dead. The auras and emotions of the dead Queen were unreadable, not knowing what her intentions were was at least unsettling for Chrysalis. She needed to be in control, and right now she was out of her element.
Dorothea's quick eye caught wind of her expression and through intuition guessed her thoughts "Oh but you needn't worry about me... i am dead. But you are one of us aren't you? You are a Queen. You feel the power of love that the nations of this planet hold, as i did when i ruled. I was a Queen that strived to conquer a land big enough for the changelings to feed and live. It was easy at first, cities and villages alike fell one by one from within thanks to our best infiltrators. Bringing false sense of security into their minds my changelings started taking them down with silent blows. However the more i conquered the more attention was brought to me, infiltrating the enemy became harder and harder. The resistance might have been frail at first but as the time passed more and more rose up against us united in numbers and resolve, their forces increased in strength and efficiency. Before i was able to finish them off i was defeated in battle... stricken down by their furious judgment. It seems that the only thing you have to be afraid of when ambition takes over is... Retribution."
As soon as Dorothea stopped talking her form dissolved into thin air. From the gateways surrounding them the darkness stirs. Like within a bad dream evil shadows take shape into monsters and Queen Chrysalis grabs the short moment to warn her comrades
"Step away from those gateways! Whatever comes from there cant be friendly..."
Out of the blackness of the gateways emerged the forms of the wood-based canines all of them had heard so much about... the Timber Wolves. There was something peculiar about them though, their eyes were gleaming like blood stained orbs with unnatural fury and an aura of negative emotions like anger, spite, and hate radiated from their bodies.
A fleeting image of black hair dashed in front of Chrysalis as Mortain charged head-on, meanwhile with elegant, silent steps Natasha quickly places herself in the shadows. They each pick a target and with swift blows two of the wolves lay down on the floor their bodies dissolving into black ichor. Flying over her Jonaleth dives from above and stomps down a wolf, but instead of being knocked down the wolf crumbles down to ichor. Chrysalis' and Nousios' horns glowed as both of them launched jets of flames and magic that stormed the battlefield striking down more of their adversaries. While the battle continues Alianna rushes to aid her friends engulfing whatever wounds they have in a green glow as the blood draws itself back to their wounds. Nothing seems to interrupt the flow of the battle, but as more time passed even greater beasts appeared... soon blood-thirsty Minotaurs joined the fray and after them enraged Manticores. But the 6 of them didn't falter and used the wits and skills to overwhelm them.
For a moment the battle settled down and this gave them a moment of rest, but suddenly the ichor from the beasts animates and crawls like snakes to the center of the room. Spiraling into the empty space in the middle it takes shape:with smoking jet black feathers, ashen eyes and spiky claws the presence of a giant dark-purple phoenix manifests among them. The heat of the phoenix's black raging flames scattered the them around and his burning skin prevented them from focusing the beast down. To make things worse magic bounced off his skin. They needed to look for alternatives.
"Its no point trying conventional means! We have to restrict it somehow or we wont make it out alive!" says Alianna as she frantically channeled healing magic in green glowing tendrils trying to keep everyone's wounds in check. Queen Chrysalis eyes widen for a moment as an idea comes in mind
"That's it! Restriction! Nousios do you understand what this means?"
Like a comedic light bulb the same shine that was on her Queen's face lit up his. ""Of course! Unfortunately this spell is far too funny to do all by yourself my Queen. I will have to aid you in casting it."
"Jonaleth, Mortain, Natasha! you heard the plan! now keep that phoenix distracted!" and they nodded as Alianna stands in the back dodging flames and claws trying to keep them alive with her magic. It is a difficult task that is easier said than done but successful regardless. However... they seem to drive the phoenix into a berserking rage and he starts flapping swiftly its wings and claws hitting left and right with reckless blows! With a sharp pain on her back Natasha lies knocked down on the wall with Mortain and Jonaleth too far to help. The phoenix lies over her preparing his fiery breath but suddenly he stops as magical bars appear in cross shapes around him converting into a huge cage-sphere that tightens and forces him helpless upon the ground.
"You.. you did it my Queen! Thank you i thought i was about to be burned alive!" says Natasha as she gasps for breath
"None dies this day my dear and I will not abandon ANY of you." responds Queen Chrysalis gently giving her hoof to Natasha so she can stand up. A towering stream of murky smoke parting from the phoenix shift their attention once more, they notice that the phoenix shirks in size and livens up once again with sunset colored wings. A mourning chirp comes out of his mouth as Alianna softly bows before it gently placing the dying bird in her embrace. A sorrowful silence overwhelms them as they watch tears roll down Alianna's cheek, the bird gives her a last loving look before dispersing its essence flowing to Alianna's body.
"Incredible... the phoenix has willingly given you its essence. You can transform into the greatest symbol of rebirth, you should be honored!" says Nousios as he stood his jaw dropped in reaction to what he had seen.
While they try to settle down and think of the next step the dead Queen Dorothea re-emerges before them. "So... you survived the Retribution. But then again you are lot more capable Queen than i was. Strangest thing though, the more you fight, the more the forces of Retribution hunt you like restless beasts. There is never an end to Retribution... or is there?"
Leaving them with that enigmatic question her form disperses before any other word can be said. But it inst only her form that disappears. The room itself seems to be shifting before their eyes and slowly the streams of lava disappear, the black gateways closing with them. Out of nowhere strange compasses emerge and the ground changes into a map of what seems to be part of Equestria. "Journey" is the word that comes in Chrysalis' mind when she looks at the changed floor. Her eyes gleam at the though of their home and the hidden message behind the change in the room becomes apparent to her.
-"Gather around me my faithful i think i can get us back to our home. Stay close to me i am about to attempt it" and with that 5 hooves touch her back as each of her friends gives her a warm smile. She closes her eyes and concentrates her thoughts back to the their home and althought she doesn't really know what will happen she takes a deep breath trusting in her ability. Silver light spikes cover the 6 of them soon engulfing them in their glow. When they all open their eyes they are back amongst the suprised changelings of the hive and Chrysalis congratulates them giving each a wide smile her heart soaring with pride for her friends as she speaks
"You all performed exquisitely today my faithful but now it is time to rest until tomorrow comes. We have a lot to do" Chrysalis starts walking away looking tired yet her face spoke of her happiness. Just as she walks away Mortain's voice stops her for a moment
"We wont leave you alone no matter how many come after us!"
"We know the truth and that grants us justice!" continues Jonaleth
"We are prepared to even give our lives for you!" followed Natasha
"We wont be stopped by a couple of funny-looking demons!" says Nousios with his eternal smile shining upon him. Lastly Chrysalis hears Alianna's voice clear as the wind bearing a strange strength that she mustered within that moment
"No matter how great the retribution we will not abandon our Queen in fear of the future. We shall fight beside you no matter what forces we might face. Now go my Queen you need rest and time to think, we shall leave you to your thoughts". And as Queen Chrysalis was walking she turns back smilling to all of them within her tears. She always felt connected with the 5 of them but it was in moments like this while looking into their eyes that their bond was more visible than ever. She was proud to have them close and she wanted them to hear it
"I am grateful to have such devoted friends. You are all like family. You truly are the exemplars of our kind. Rest now... rest your mind in my heart..." and she withdrew to her quarters leaving them to return to their duties.
Tomorrow would bring another day... brighter and better. But nothing could go forth if she didn't account for her past actions. She had to explain herself, that she knew all too well and it would happen on her own terms unchained by old rivalries. With those thoughts she went to sleep. The next day... would bring the first great change to her. THAT she promised herself.