THE CALL TO HARMONY
I
The wind howled across the snowy landscape of the Frozen North. The land was still save the ice and snow blown across the pure white surface. A lone figure trekked slowly along the ice a robe wrapped tightly around it's body and a hood hung down over its head. The wind whipped the loose cloth around the four legged form as it glanced up only for a moment to see where it was going, to make sure it was on the right path.
Behind the figure, like a finger stretched upwards to touch the heavens stood the Crystal Tower. Every so often the figure turned back as though to curse the very construction of such a thing. Warm breath clung to the air that escaped from the hood as the figure kept making progress. The chill wind impeding only so much before finally the figure stopped. A green glow came from beneath the hood and suddenly it charged ahead.
The cold and wind couldn't slow down the figure as it powered on, possessed to find whatever it was searching for. The beating of hooves filled the air as the surface snow was launched behind its path. The green glow from beneath the hood became stronger, reflecting off of the ground. Soon the figure dug it's hooves into the snow, an embankment quickly rushed downwards at its feet. Its breathing was hard, but it quickly moved its head side to side, looking for a shallow way down.
As though driven on by madness, not spotting a better way, the figure curled up into a ball and rolled down the embankment. It dropped a bit before hitting the soft snow below and rolling down to the solid ground, bits of snow and ice chasing after it from being disturbed. It then stood and carried on, determined to get to its goal. The wind was a bit more forgiving down here, it felt less biting than before. The figure took off again, running straight for the prize it sought in the freezing desert.
Minutes became an hour before the figure stopped again and lowered its head to a patch of snow. It began to dig at the ground a moment before it became frantic, as though it were attempting to bury itself beneath the cold surface. It continued to dig more and more, a pile of snow and ice building next to the hole it dug before finally a green glow produced itself from the hood once more. This time it was far more pronounced. It was far more noticeable. Like flame, the glow spilled out from the hood and melted the snow around what looked to be a red horn. It was then the figure finally spoke and pulled back the hood.
"Finally," Queen Chrysalis spoke a sneer rolling across her sinister visage. The flame like glow running down her face from her horn and eyes. She reached down and grabbed the horn with her mouth. Her eyes turned back to the top of the hole and leapt. Placing the horn back down on the ice, Chrysalis sat down for a moment and let out a huff.
"You have no idea the trouble I've gone to simply to find you," she said, eyes now down at the horn. "The once and terrible ruler of the Crystal Kingdom. You and I both have something in common too. Those ponies who tossed us both aside from what was so rightfully ours. Lucky for you, not all of you was destroyed. Also lucky for you some of my changelings have been following Cadence and her gang of cheerleaders so I knew just where to look for you. Don't get me wrong, it's not often I dirty my own hooves, but I had to see for myself. The mighty King Sombra reduced to this. Well, soon we shall see if you still have that fight left in you. Besides, what is a Queen without a king, hmm?"
Chrysalis grinned menacingly as she stood once more and picked the horn back up. She could still see the Crystal Tower over the embankment as her eyes narrowed. Setting the horn into the inside of the robe, she knelt a little as her wings made their way out from under the cloak and beat furiously against the air. She soared into the sky with the treasure she'd been seeking in this frozen tundra. Now, the next step of her plan could begin.
Dawn broke over Ponyville as Twilight Sparkle began to stir in her bed. She yawned and turned to her side to look out the window next to her bed. Another bright, blue day from the looks of things. A smile formed along her face as she rolled out of bed and onto the floor. Silently, she made her bed, making certain not to wake Spike who slumbered peacefully in his bed. From there she moved towards her mirror to brush her mane, the sink to brush her teeth and finally down into the library to brush up on her studies.
The sound of a gentle flapping came as Owlicious turned his head to look to Twilight. She smiled to him and pat him gently before coming to the book she'd left open in the middle of the night. The library was quiet save the gentle snoring of Spike and all was wonderful. At least until the large crash came which shook the library and caused Twilight such a terrible fright she clung to the book stand. Spike rolled over in his bed, sleep still in his eyes and gave a yawn.
"Morning already?" he asked lazily, arm hanging out of the blanket and dangling towards the floor.
"So it would seem," Twilight responded, the death grip she held on the book stand loosening as she slipped towards the door to figure out what had just happened. As it opened, her eyes turned upwards to the sound of wings flapping. The familiar rainbow tail caught her eyes, as she sighed and placed a hoof to her head. Rainbow Dash, in the mean time, struggled within the foliage of Twilight's home.
"Rainbow Dash, what on earth are you doing?" she asked with a huff before a better question came to her. "And what are you doing awake so early? The sun is barely up. I don't think I've ever seen you awake so soon."
Muffled sounds came from the tree before finally Rainbow freed herself from the grasp of some rather unruly twigs. "Sorry Twilight, I decided to get up extra early this morning to start practicing again for this year's Flyers Triathlon."
"The what now?" Twilight asked inquisitively.
"It's a big race that's hosted in Cloudsdale, but can be seen all over Equestria! The race starts in Cloudsdale then ends at the Crystal Empire! It's never been hosted before thanks to the Crystal Empire being under King Sombra's control, but after we took care of him, the games are on!"
"Sounds very exciting, but maybe you could try not to ram yourself into my tree?"
"Oh yeah, sorry. I was going after a stray cloud but I guess I was going just a teensy bit too fast."
Twilight smiled and shook her head before Rainbow fluttered down from the tree and floated just above the ground. She took this moment to pick twigs and other such stray bits out of her mane as Twilight walked back into the library. Rainbow Dash followed as the last bits of leaves were plucked out.
"So, what are you doing up so early?" Rainbow asked as she set herself down onto the ground and looked about the library.
Twilight smiled as she returned to the book stand and laid her eyes back down upon the text. "Last night I was looking up some more information on the Crystal Empire and about King Sombra to see just how he ruled over the crystal ponies for so long. Unfortunately there isn't much except for old pony-tales and myths."
"That sounds...incredibly boring," Rainbow Dash said, a look of defeat about her as though she'd expected something fun to be going on.
"You don't have to stay, ya know?" Twilight said with a bit of a smirk as Rainbow shrugged in response.
"I know, but no one else is up except for Fluttershy and Applejack and both of them are busy."
Twilight rolled her eyes a bit as she continued to read the book. Rainbow Dash in the mean time decided to flutter over to her and look over her shoulder. Twilight fumed a bit, flipping another page to continue, attempting to ignore the sound of Rainbow's wings flapping right next to her and the gaze of those magenta eyes peering around her.
"It's a little hard to concentrate," Twilight said, turning back to Rainbow Dash who just stared blankly at her. The sound of a yawn and feet coming down the stairs made Rainbow turn her attention back to Spike who scratched at his scales.
"Hey Spike, got anything amazing planned today?" Rainbow asked excitedly.
"Uh, chores?" Spike answered with a shrug as he collected a broom and dustpan that had been propped up next to the bottom of the stairs. Rainbow Dash gave out a huff before she settled back down next to Twilight.
A knock came from the door which nearly sent Twilight into a fit. Putting a hoof to her head, trying to calm herself down, she walked to the door and opened it. The next few moments were hazy to Twilight who was tackled to the floor by a pink blur she'd not seen coming. The excited squeals and jeers of Pinkie Pie erupted into the library as she bounced around. That was when Twilight noticed her other friends entering slowly. She noticed cake and presents being wheeled in as well as Pinkie took in a deep breath.
Oh a very happy birthday to you, yes you!
A very happy birthday to, it's true!
It's a very happy day cause it's a very happy birthday for you!
Pinkie grinned, quite pleased with herself and the song she'd sung, albeit short. Twilight blinked as she stared up from the floor at all of her friends gathering around with smiles on their faces. Her mind was drawing a total blank as a result of the sudden assault before it dawned on her. She'd gotten so terribly caught up in her work that she completely forgotten her own birthday! It all then made sense.
"I can't believe I forgot about it," Twilight said as she rolled back up to her hooves, slightly embarrassed.
"Well lucky for you, Pinkie Pie is here to remember for you!" Pinkie exclaimed as she rolled the lit cake next to Twilight. "Why don't you blow out the candles and make a wish!"
Twilight nodded and began to wonder just what she would wish for. Her mind swam at every wish she could possibly ever have before finally one came to her. With a smile, she blew out the candles as her friends cheered.
"So, what'd you wish for, Twilight?" Spike asked looking up to her.
"She can't say it!" Pinkie suddenly said. "Otherwise it'll never come true! All though, now the suspense is killing me a little. Twilight, what'd you wish for?! No wait, don't tell me! Oh, but I wanna know!"
"I wished for the same thing I wish every year," Twilight said with a smile as she looked back to her friends. "I wished that I could stay here in Ponyville with my best friends. That we could all stay together forever."
The group hugged one another before Pinkie broke away from the group and set a needle on a record player that had been brought in with everything. Music filled the air as the ponies danced and laughed. The day wasn't even over yet! At least according to Pinkie Pie who had the whole day lined up for them. It would be a day of fun and laughter, or so she guaranteed. A day that nothing in the world could sully.
Far from the laughter and merriment in Ponyville, deep in the shadows of the Forest of Leota stood the towering mansion Queen Chrysalis had claimed for her the center of her kingdom. Changelings flew about in the air, guarding the grounds of the small town below as the Queen herself flew towards the gates of the city. Landing before them, she glowered from beneath the hood of her cloak and continued on. The gates parted, allowing her to move through the town itself as a changeling in a helmet flew down to bow to her.
"Your Highness, it is good to see you back," he said as Chrysalis continued walking without a word. "Were you successful in retrieving the horn of Sombra? Shall I prepare the chambers below?"
"Go and do so," Chrysalis said flatly, still walking to the mansion. The guard bowed and quickly flew off ahead of her. Her green, scowling eyes turned to the inside of her cloak where the horn sat. She could feel it pressing hot against her from the pocket. A grin curled along her face, it felt like pure hatred hanging in her pocket.
The doors to the mansion opened wide, allowing her to step through. Within the foyer, her subjects lined up and bowed to her as she entered. The cloak's hood was thrown back, allowing her cyan hair to flow. She ascended the sprawling staircase at the end of the room before reaching the top and turning back to peer down to her loyal followers.
"Faithful subjects," she began, her voice echoing in the now still air. "We have lived long, trapped within this place with nowhere to feed. Today, however, no more will we be trapped to fend for ourselves. No more will we have to ambush stragglers traveling amongst the woods. We shall have a kingdom once more where we shall be able to feed for an eternity!"
The crowd roared in cheers as Chrysalis rose a hoof to continue.
"The light of love and friendship that now shines throughout Equestria shall be ours. The Crystal Empire shall fall to our might with the help of our new ally. We shall be unstoppable! We shall be strong again! We shall rule the whole of Equestria!"
The crowd cheered once more as Queen Chrysalis moved down the stairs and disappeared into a doorway, leaving her subjects to celebrate. She had no doubt in her mind, as she moved down the dimly lit stairwell, that they would be victorious. The climb downward ended in a doorway that opened for her.
Within stood a handful of changelings awaiting her arrival. The room glow a mixture of green and orange from torches that lined the wall and a mysterious green substance bubbling within a pit in the middle of the room. The changelings bowed to her as she made her way towards a small outcropping over the pit and stared down into the viscous fluid.
"Is it ready?" she asked to no one in particular.
"It is, my Queen, we are prepared to raise him."
"Of all the magics in all the forests, I come upon the best one of all," Queen Chrysalis grinned as she removed the cloak from around her body. She tossed it aside, getting the horn out from the pocket and floating it over the pit. Her grin widened, becoming feral as she dropped the horn towards the green fluid.
It tumbled through the air before hitting the sludge hard. Slowly it began to sink into the fluid and disappear from sight. Moments drug on as nothing happened. Chrysalis looked to her subjects who shrugged to her. Her green eyes turned back to the liquid before frowning. A low growl escaped her before stamping a hoof down onto the ground.
"This is ridiculous! " she shouted down into the pit. "You have got to be kidding me! I thought you all said that this goop had life regenerating powers!"
"W-We thought it did, y-your highness!" one of the changelings blurted out, quickly bowing down. "We even tested it in some of the creatures from the forest and they s-seemed fine!"
The changeling suddenly rose in the air as Chrysalis approached him. Her eyes brimming with fury. Turning him upside down she met him eye to eye and glared.
"Perhaps you should be the next test subject then."
Fear filled the eyes of the changeling before a rumbling came from below. The floor began to shake under their hooves as Chrysalis released the changeling, having him fall to the floor. Her eyes widened as the whole chamber started to shake. Below the green substance bubbled and churned violently before suddenly erupting into a geyser that nearly hit the ceiling.
Chrysalis and her subjects backed away as the fluid hit the floor around them, sizzling and glowing even brighter than before. Bits of the ceiling began to crumbled and collapse down into the chamber, making them scramble for safety. That was when a roar came from the geyser of fluid that pierced the sound of the rushing fluid.
Soon the geyser settled and all that was left above the pit was a cloud of smoke and shadow floating above the hole. From the shadow came a pair of eyes wreathed in pure power and hatred. The roar sounded again, shaking the chamber as a few changelings decided it was best to leave, rushing out the door. Chrysalis stood and looked back into the eyes, approaching them.
"Who dares summon King Sombra back from the nether?" a voice bellowed from the smoke, the eyes turning their attention to Chrysalis.
"It was I, Queen Chrysalis, ruler of the changeling horde," she stated firmly.
"Queen Chrysalis, of the changeling horde," the voice rumbled again. "You have brought great evil into your kingdom for what purpose?"
"The Crystal Empire," she replied.
A roar erupted again, shadowy tendrils curling and shuddering at the mere mention of that name.
"You dare speak the name of my empire," the voice shouted, the eyes glowing brighter and the shadows stretching outwards.
"I dare speak it, because I know you are no longer King of the Crystal Empire," she said, a brashness in her voice.
The voice roared once more as a metal hoof stepped from the shadows. The eyes took shape on the head of King Sombra who stepped from the milky umbra and formed himself on the plinth that sat over the pit. He moved slowly towards Chrysalis, a low rumbled emitting from his throat.
"You would incur my wrath then?" he asked as he continued towards Chrysalis, rage burning in his eyes.
"Only if it were steered towards our common enemy," Chrysalis said, not backing away from the unicorn unlike her subjects which were huddled together and pressed against the wall behind her. "Princess Cadence and her Prince Shining Armor occupy the Crystal Tower."
Sombra stopped and narrowed his eyes. "Proceed..."
"It was because of them and that insufferable Twilight Sparkle that I was forced here to rot with my subjects much the same as it was them that broke your body."
"You desire revenge?" Sombra asked, still standing as though he were prepared to fight.
"I desire their love, I desire their kingdom. Then I will desire revenge."
"The kingdom of the Crystal Empire is rightfully mine."
"Then by all means, please, go and take it seeing as that worked out so well before."
Sombra dashed forward towards Chrysalis and peered directly into her eyes, snarling. Chrysalis seemed unfazed by the sudden charge, however, staring right back into his own. His horn began to glow much the same as hers. The tension in the air ran thick as they stared one another down, preparing to go to blows.
"I could destroy you and your changelings," Sombra said in a low tone.
"Is that any way to treat someone who brought you back to life?" Chrysalis asked.
Sombra huffed and backed away. Turning back to the pit, he looked down into the green goop that was now dormant and still. His mind burned with the thought of consorting with another to take his precious empire back. But it burned no worse than the memory of how he was destroyed and ejected from what was rightfully his.
"Do you have a plan?" Sombra asked as he turned back to Chrysalis.
"I do," she said, a devilish grin forming on her face.
"Then let us hear it before I change my mind," Sombra said as he moved back to Chrysalis.
"Of course, your highness, right this way," she said, motioning to her changelings who'd taken cover a the notion the two of them were going to fight. They opened the doors for the two of them to climb the stairs back to the first floor of the mansion where Chrysalis would bring Sombra in on her grand scheme.
As afternoon trundled about in Ponyville, Twilight and her friends had just finished lunch and were on their way towards the spa. Rarity beamed at the chance to once again relax in a nice mud bath, explaining to Twilight that this would be her treat as a gift. The others walked along happily before the sound of a horn from Canterlot echoed into the valley below, interrupting them. They stopped and looked towards the castle in the distance.
"What was that?" Applejack asked moving up next to Twilight.
"I don't know, it sounded like the horn they sound when Princess Celestia leaves the castle," Twilight answered, a hoof on her chin trying to think about what it could mean.
"Maybe they're testing it!" Pinkie said, rubbing her head a bit. "You know, to make sure it still sounds like a horn!"
"What could possibly make it not sound like a horn if it's a horn to begin with?" Rainbow Dash asked, almost wishing she hadn't.
"Maybe it was replaced by a kazoo!" Pinkie answered as the group sat in silent judgment. "What? It could happen!"
Somewhere there was certainly going to be a lecture on the difference between a kazoo and a horn but Twilight was focused more on watching the gilded carriage of the Princess leaving Canterlot and heading their way. Twilight looked around quickly, trying to figure out just what the Princess could be doing coming all the way from Canterlot to here for.
"Maybe she's coming to wish you a happy birthday!" Pinkie exclaimed bouncing in place.
"Yes, I'm sure that's it," Twilight said, still some doubt lingering in her voice.
"Maybe she'll want to come with us and relax too," Rarity said with a smile. "Besides, Aloe and Lotus give the most amazing service in all of Equestria I'm certain."
The carriage was getting bigger as it approached, the sound of the pegasi wings beating against the wind could be heard.
"Maybe she's was hopin' she could come an' have dinner with us too, y'know, for yer birthday an' all," Applejack said.
"Or she wants to swim in the lake with us like we were gonna," Rainbow Dash added.
"Or she wanted to listen to my birds sing happy birthday to you," Fluttershy said before she blinked and hit herself in the head. "I ruined the surprise, sorry Twilight."
"It's okay Fluttershy, and you all might be right, but we'll just have to find out," Twilight said as the cart flew down to the road and touched down softly. It came to a gentle halt as Princess Celestia stepped down onto the ground. The group bowed as she approached, Twilight taking note of the particularly grim look on the Princess' face.
"Princess Celestia, what brings you here?" Twilight asked as she rose.
"Is it cause it's her birthday?" Pinkie asked excitedly, putting her hooves on Twilight's back to get a better view of Celestia.
"I'm afraid not," Celestia said in a dour voice. "While I certainly wish you a happy birthday, Twilight Sparkle, I'm afraid there are dark things brewing which simply need the attention of you and your friends."
"It we're needed then so be it, your highness," Twilight said, backed up by the agreement of her friends in the background.
"Then please, come to the library," Celestia said as she flew into the air and was off, the carriage following closely behind her. The six of them looked between one another, curious as to what could be so dire before they too headed for the library.
The door was open as Celestia hovered over a book within Twilight's library. The same book she'd been reading about the Crystal Empire. The six of them entered, all looking to Celestia silently as to what she could possibly have for them to do. With a sigh, Celestia turned to the group and looked to each of them.
"I do wish the timing could be better," she said. "however, we have had reports of a darkness from the Forest of Leota. The mansion which we imprisoned Queen Chrysalis has been broken out of and there is now a much darker presence that resides. King Sombra has returned and is stronger than he ever was before."
The group gasped as Twilight moved towards her teacher. "But how? I thought Cadence and the crystal ponies banished him forever."
"I am not sure," Celestia said as she looked down. "We only have scattered reports coming from that forest. It's an odd place with odd magic that we don't know much about. As far as we can tell Chrysalis has brought him back, possibly to take revenge on the Crystal Empire or even Canterlot."
"Oh...no," Fluttershy muttered as she sank to the floor, covering her head.
"You need us to go out to the forest and kick them back to where they belong, your highness?" Rainbow Dash asked, flying into the air.
"Yes, take the Elements of Harmony with you and see to it you stop them before they can reach the Crystal Empire! I shall stay here with Princess Luna to protect Canterlot. I have also warned Shining Armor and Princess Cadence of the danger."
"We won't let you down, your highness!" Twilight said as the others cheered in agreement, save for Fluttershy who remained curled up with teeth chattering.
"I know, you are my best pupil, Twilight Sparkle," Celestia said as she began to walk out of the library and boarded her carriage. "You and your friends can overcome anything together. I'm sorry again to interrupt your birthday. I shall see about making it up to you when you return."
With a wink and a smile, Celestia was off into the sky headed back to Canterlot. Twilight turned back to the inside of the library and grinned at her friends.
"All right!" Rainbow Dash squealed as she flew into the air. "Finally, some excitement!"
"I guess we should start gettin' ready for th' long haul then," Applejack said adjusting her hat. "Last time we headed that way things got downright ugly."
"But we still overcame," Twilight said puffing out her chest. "We'll do it again too, so long as we're together!"
"Um, b-but, Queen Chrysalis and King Sombra together is, well, really scary," Fluttershy said from the ball she'd rolled up into. "Not to mention all the changelings and the scary woods and...and-"
Fluttershy let out a squeak of fear before Twilight placed a hoof on her shoulder. "It's okay Fluttershy. I'm sure this will be different. We know the area better now and know what to look out for. It'll be just like going on a walk."
Fluttershy nodded in agreement and stood with the rest of them.
"Well then, I suppose we shall meet back here in an hour?" Rarity asked.
"Whee! This is gonna be super-tastical fun!" Pinkie exclaimed bouncing towards the door. The others followed suit as Twilight stayed in the library to prepare for their journey.
"I just hope we won't be too late," she said as Spike moved to her side to comfort her.
The city below the mansion was alive as the changelings gathered to hear their queen speak once more. The sound of wings on the wind beating traveled up to the balcony where Chrysalis and Sombra stood awaiting their congregation. Out among the crowd flew the black banners of the Changeling Horde. Emblazoned with green tattered wings they flew on the wind high above upon their posts. Soon, the crowd settled and thousands of changeling eyes were directed towards the balcony of the mansion.
Their queen soon appeared alongside Sombra. They were met with an uproar of changelings cheering and stamping on the ground. The banners were thrust upwards in the air as a salute before Chrysalis brought her hoof upwards and silenced the crowd.
"My loyal subjects," she began with a grin. "You are on the cusp of a new dawn for the Changeling Horde. We shall overtake the Crystal Empire and feed upon every last bit of happiness that those insipid ponies have in their bodies! They will fall to the might of the Changeling Horde and Kind Sombra's dark magic! Now, let me hear your battle cry calling on the wind!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and stamping.
"Let me see the banners fly before the storm begins!" she cried out as the banners were raised high in the air. "Destiny calls us my horde! As we have our shot at glory!"
The crowd continued to cheer as they rose into the air. The horde flew into the sky, prepared to set loose on the empire ahead of them. However, this was when things went a bit strange. Everything had frozen suddenly, as if time knocked off for a holiday. Only Chrysalis and Sombra were able to move, their eyes darting about, trying to find what was keeping the horde from moving.
That was when a cold breeze blew through the mansion. Only it wasn't coming from the outside, it was coming from inside. It chilled to the bone as Chrysalis and Sombra moved back into the mansion curiously. On the breeze then came a laughter, grim and sinister.
"What sorcery is this?" Sombra growled, his horn glowing with magic.
"Sorcery, you speak as though this is some mere parlor trick," a voice came on the wind.
"Who are you and why do you dare invade the kingdom of the Changeling Horde?" Chrysalis demanded, stamping a hoof on the ground.
"Who I am is not important, but I can say that if I so desired to invade your precious kingdom...well you can see it was not very difficult."
Darkness began to fill the inside of the mansion like water. Sombra snarled and fired into it, the pure concentrated power from his horn flying wildly into the darkness but being swallowed by it. It continued to move towards them, creeping along the floor to their hooves as they backed away.
"What do you want?" Chrysalis asked as she and Sombra moved slowly back towards a wall.
"Nothing but success for you and your new found friend," the voice said as two wisps of darkness swirled up and began to run along their skin. "You're both so adorable together that I couldn't bear it if you failed."
"And what would it matter to you? Who are you?" Sombra demanded again.
Out from the darkness he took shape. The legs of a goat and lizard, a slender brown body with the arm of a lion and the claw of an eagle. Two yellow eyes formed as the head of a pony came adorned by the horn of a goat and the antler of a deer. There before them, Discord stretched out his body, giving a bored yawn.
"Let's just say, there are some of us that would love the kind of chaos an invasion of the Crystal Empire would bring," he said with a twisted grin forming along his face. "I am Discord, the lord of chaos."
"The statue in Canterlot?" Chrysalis asked with brow quirked.
"Ex-statue thank you very much," he retorted. "How was it being a princess for about five minutes anyway? Was it everything you'd ever wanted?"
Chrysalis snarled as Sombra put his hoof out to calm her.
"What do you want, chaos god?" he asked as Chrysalis frowned from Discord sticking his tongue out at her.
"I thought I made that clear," he began, clearing his throat a bit. "You see, I've been oh so bored ever since Celestia freed me to make me her personal puppet. It's been very difficult to really stretch out the magic and the chaos that I love so dearly. That's when I overheard your return, King Sombra. Why seeing how worked up Celestia was, I thought the two of you had dated and you forgot to return a call or something.
That's when I got to thinking. What would I do with a powerful, evil dark ruler and a Changeling queen and her horde of minions. Oh, why I would get them to cause the greatest and most chaotic war the land had ever seen. But, there's a catch, which is where I come in. You see, I hear everything sweet Celestia says even when she doesn't think I'm around. Fortunately her all seeing eye isn't so all seeing when she's rushing around trying to get her own troops to fly over here and spy on you.
Your precious kingdom was about to be assaulted by her little student Twilight Sparkle and her little pony friends armed to the teeth with their Elements of Harmony. To think, you'd have lost this lovely mansion and all of this beautiful grim scenery were it not for me."
"What does it matter?" Chrysalis asked as she turned to point to her horde still stuck in mid flight. "With my arm and Sombra's magic, we could never lose."
Discord erupted in laughter pointing a claw directly at the two of them. "Oh, oh boy, the best part of that statement was how serious you sounded! As though you had an actual plan that wasn't just rushing right in and getting defeated by Mister and Missus Royal Couple of the Year."
"You have a better plan?" Sombra asked with some doubt.
"Of course my plan is better," Discord said wiping the tears out of his eyes. "Anything plan is better than the one Swiss cheese over here cooked up."
"Mind your tongue!" Chrysalis snapped as Discord calmed himself from laughing.
"Now now, temper temper. That sort of attitude will not get you anywhere, nor will it get you the best plan you've ever heard in your short pitiful existences. You know, the plan that doesn't end in the both of you wallowing in an eternal pit of swirling darkness until you're sick of one another."
"We are listening," Sombra said, eyeing Chrysalis who crossed her hooves and mumbled beneath her breath.
"You're going to stay right where you are, at least until Twilight Sparkle and the Harmony Squad gets here," Discord said as he snapped his fingers, opening a swirling purple portal behind him. "Let them believe this place is deserted, and when they finally do show up, they'll be yours for the taking, just the same as the Crystal Empire and all of Equestria."
"How do we do that?" Chrysalis asked as Discord began to step through the portal.
"You're the changeling, my dear," Discord said as the portal snapped shut suddenly like the maw of a hungry creature. Light from the torches and braziers of the mansion finally returned and the beating of wings outside signaled that the horde was unfrozen, albeit confused.
"Well?" Sombra asked as Chrysalis turned to step out onto the balcony. Stopping, she stared up to her changelings as they fluttered about confused before turning her gaze back to him.
"It would appear we have work to do."