//------------------------------//
// Prologue 
// Story: A Venomous Queen & A Poisoned Princess 
// by Flikaline 
//------------------------------//


Prologue


It was about an hour before dawn and the zebra, Zecora, stood by the entrance to her hut in the Everfree Forest, enjoying the pleasant breeze on her face and waiting for her little niece, Zig-Zag, to return. She had gone to look for some potion ingredients for her aunt and had said that she wouldn’t go far. Zecora couldn’t help but feel a little worried, especially as she had only recently acquired the foal.

She went back inside her hut and readjusted a recently added picture of herself and Zig-Zag before getting back to work on a potion she was making. She did not notice the strange creatures landing outside her hut. She had just finished the potion she was working on and sealed the contents in a bottle when the door opened. 

Zecora turned her head towards the door, expecting to see her niece. She gasped when she saw the creatures on her doorstep which surged into her hut before she had a chance to react. She stared around at the horrid buzzing creatures that had invaded her home. The creatures made a gap in the doorway to allow the largest one of the group into the hut.

‘What is going on!’ Zecora demanded, ‘I thought such creatures from Equestria had long gone!’

‘Oh, do pardon the intrusion,’ the largest one began, causing a large amount of the group to snigger, ‘I’ve got a little job for you. I’m Chrysalis, queen of the changelings . . .’

‘I’ve heard about you a bit,’ Zecora snarled, ‘you’re nothing but an evil git!’

‘And would have succeeded in taking over Equestria if it weren’t for that princess,’ Chrysalis half said to herself. ‘Hoof over the recipe,’ she told one of the other changelings who hoofed her a piece of paper. ‘Here’s what I want you to make,’ she told the zebra with a nasty smile. Zecora was appalled.

‘I will do no such thing for you,’ the shocked zebra stuttered, ‘I could not make such an evil brew,’ She was interrupted by a giggle from Chrysalis. Zecora was disgusted. ‘You might as well let me be,’ she said firmly, ‘there’s nothing you can do to make me!’

‘Aunt Zecora, what’s going on?’

Zecora was horrified to see her little niece in the doorway. Chrysalis gave a cruel grin.

‘Grab her,’ the queen ordered. Two of the changelings lay hoof upon the frightened filly. Chrysalis turned back to Zecora, ‘Are you going to make the potion?’ Zecora stared at her. ‘Twist her leg back,’ Chrysalis told the two changelings. Zig-Zag yelled out in pain.

‘No! Stop it! Leave her alone!’ Zecora shouted, ‘I cannot bear to hear her groan!’

‘Well?’ Chrysalis asked through a chuckle, ‘are you going to make it or not?’

*

To Cadence,
With love from Twilight,
This drink is a present for you. I insist you drink it all yourself as I know how inclined you are to share so much with others.

Cadence finished reading the note and smiled, ‘Twilight you know me too well,’ she said to herself. She wondered how long Twilight Sparkle’s present had been there. It was nearly dawn. The princess hadn’t been able to sleep so she had got up. She looked back at the present. She was rather thirsty. And as there was no-pony around she wouldn’t be tempted to go against Twilight’s instructions and share it with anypony.

As the sun rose she swallowed the liquid. It did taste rather nice but she experienced a slight burning sensation in her throat as she swallowed. It was the thought that counted the most in any case.