//------------------------------// // Ghosts of the Past // Story: Rebirth // by stardust flare //------------------------------// Ghosts of the Past     The Queen paced back and forth in her private chambers, the room was exceptionally quiet. Things in the hive had been greatly different since the attack on Canterlot. The stillness in the room unnerved Chrysalis more than anything, normally there would be hundreds if not thousands of changelings buzzing about these halls. But instead of her beloved subjects all she could hear was silence, a dead dreary foreboding silence. Her hive would never be the same since Canterlot. Now every available drone must gather love, and with the new anti-changeling measures being used in every town, it was even harder than ever. After Shining Armor and Princess Cadance’s spell had shot her from the city, and a most ungrateful landing, she had found that only a third if not less of her Changelings had survived the flight from the city.                For the first time the Queen felt nearly completely alone, even her link to the few remaining drones provided her little comfort. Chrysalis opened the door to her chambers, the ancient hinges creaked, echoing through the void of a hive she now wandered. The hive reflected the decaying state of her race. The walls once polished smooth from the numerous Changelings moving along them, are now full of cracks and fissures. The honeycombs that her drones normally slept in were nearly completely gone, turning to dust without Changelings to maintain them. This scene did not help the queen’s mood; she paced through the halls, mumbling random thoughts to herself.                Upon entering the main chamber Chrysalis came upon a drone wandering, like herself, seemingly without a purpose. When the drone saw her approach it froze up into a salute. The Queen did not want this now, while each drone had their own personality when they were around her it was all work and no play. “Hello...” Chrysalis said to the drone but as normal she got no response. Breathing a heavy sigh she mentally told the drone to relax which it did without hesitation.                “Is... There something you need my queen,” he asked with an obviously male voice. Most drones were male after all, other than the Queen. the chances of a female drone was one in a hundred.                “Oh no nothing in particular, just plotting and scheming.” She looked down on him and smiled. “And what is it you are doing… um...?” She hesitated once she realized she did not know the drones name.                The drone having sensed her hesitation spoke up “Drone 5678 my Queen.”                “You don’t have a name other than Drone 5678?”                “No ma’am.”                “How dull I never noticed that before, well what is it you are doing Drone 5678?”                “My Queen I do not currently have any assignments. Do you have one for me?” He seemed to perk up a bit at the idea of something to do.                Chrysalis thought for a moment I could send him out to get more love, but I already have all the close towns as covered as I am willing to risk. And anything farther would be too much for a lone drone. “I am sorry but no I don’t have any orders for you.” She said with a frown                 Drone 5678 became very disappointed at not being able to serve his Queen, his wings drooped and he sat down on his haunches and faced the ground.                “But” the drone looked up at her. “I think it would be a good idea for you to think up a name for yourself.” He looked confused “Try to think up an original Changeling name for yourself try to find a name that describes who you are.”                “How does this help the Hive my Queen?”                “It does not. This is for you.” Well it does help by trying to get some personality down here.                Normally, Changelings that have names are special in some way such as the Queen. Names are normally given by the Queen as gifts, these gifts are treasured by Changelings as the highest of honors. But to be given the choice, no, the ability to choose one’s own name that was unheard of!                “Thh…THANK YOU MY QUEEN!” With that outburst Drone 5678 scampered off deeper into the hive to ponder ideas for a name.                With a small smile on her face the Queen turned and headed back to her chambers. ~~   Chrysalis now lying on her moss bed was deep in thought. I probably just made that little drone the happiest he’s been in ages, but we are still a soon to be dead race. But we were not always like this... We once ruled these lands like Celestia and her ponies do now. We were like them, we did not need to live in a hole and feed off emotion because real food was so scarce. In those days, 10,000 years ago, my changelings were free! ~~                               Puna wandered the forest, jumping from patch to patch of sunlight that breached through the trees. Her laughter could be faintly heard. But her small pink form was hard to miss. And with a few glances around she paused and giggled. Then with a flap of her large transparent wings she jumped into a nearby bush leaving behind a sprinkle of dust. There was an audible thud and out from the bush rolled several ponies who stopped in a cluttered heap on the path.                After the small group untangled themselves a yellow filly stood up. “How did you know we were there Puna?” She asked happily while dusting herself off. The others, a light green colt and red filly, also looked up in interest wanting to know how they were so simply bested in there hiding game. “Well” Puna said with a bit of smugness in her voice. “I have been playing this game for a long time, I obviously don’t look like my ten thousandth birthday is today do I?” She started to walk back down the path towards a castle, with her friends following. “I mean I have probably picked up a few tricks over the years.”                Giving a light hearted chuckle, the green colt trotted up to her. “And these tricks might be?”                “Trade secret.” Puna replied with a smile                “Aww c’mon,” all of her friends exclaimed at once.                “But here’s a hint, don’t all hide together. Hehe.”                The group rounded a corner in the path to come to a large gate. The gate was made of solid wood, intricately carved with images of animals and ponies living together in harmony. Surrounding the gate was a stone archway easily four ponies tall and made from a polished grey stone. With smooth edges and lines, one could not tell when one stone ended and when the next began. As the group neared the gates opened seemingly of their own accord. As they walk through the gates they were greeted by a slate colored mare who’s translucent wings were larger than most. Her face showed an aura of wisdom. “Hello little sister, did you have fun,” the mare asked.                Running up for a hug Puna embraced her sister “Of course Solana  we always have fun playing hide and seek.” With a tilt of her head she asked “Doesn’t everypony?” with that they both had a good laugh. ~~                “Things will never be like that again, it is almost as if we are cursed to be without happiness ever again.” The Queen frowned at the memories she still had of her sister Solana. The former Queen was much wiser than she, and probably always would be. After all this time even the most happy memories elude her.                Chrysalis curled up on her moss bed and closed her tear stained eyes for another night of restless, dreamless, near pointless sleep. Her light snoring was the only sound echoing through the hive of the Changelings that night. The constant buzzing that normally perforated the area around the hive now disturbingly absent. ~~                Drone 5678 was in a small outcove filled with honeycomb like structures similar to the rest of the hive, only in better condition. His little abode housed himself a few tattered books but little else. The green goo on the walls gave off a faint glow; though not enough to live with by pony standards, but he was not a pony. The Drone was skimming through his old books looking for something to name himself as his Queen had tasked him to. Most names that came to mind seemed too simple or they were taken by some famous pony and he did not want to copy.   Names he thought of included Pickles, Hooter, Woona, and so on. Despite him liking Hooter it failed to describe him, and in addition these books where not helping. Maybe I should have learned to read first. After deciding that he was getting nowhere he got up and headed through the tunnels to the surface. Upon leaving the tunnel entrance he was hit with a wave of heat almost like the air had become like a brick wall,  but with a few stumbling steps he had passed through it and was now overlooking the badlands. It was nothing great to look at, just endless miles of cracked dull earth with a hazy fog over it from the heat, the occasional bush or rock broke the unending flatness. But this forbidding place was theirs, this was home no matter how bad things got their Queen always found a way to keep them alive no matter what. So he would find a name that would make his Queen proud!   ~~             “THAT UNICORN! It was all her fault that the invasion failed!” Chrysalis paced around her chambers apparently trying to wear out the solid stone floor. “Everything fell apart due to her interfering …” she mumbled incoherently. Chrysalis trotted over to the corner of her darkened room, there sat a slightly cracked full length mirror, probably made for clothing stores and even with her royal stature she could still see all of herself easily. As she gazed into the reflective surface it became hazy and before she knew it Twilight appeared before her.  “YOU! WHY ARE YOU HERE! COME TO GLOAT!?”                “Cryssie what do I have to gloat about, the failure was all on you, everything that happened to your race was your fault.”                “NO! I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING I CAN FOR MY SUBJECTS! I have done more then you can ever know….” The Queen slumped down in front of her mirror tears forming in her eyes. “Oh right I could tell, the way you haphazardly assumed the identity of Cadance, without even taking the time to learn her mannerisms or personality. I mean for the love of Solana, the only reason you were able to fool Shining Armor was because you put him under a spell,” she chuckled mockingly. “What would you know!? All I have done was for the good of my race, for their safety, for their right to live!” Chrysalis shouted.                  “You have never cared about them have you? Ever since the loss of your sister...”  With a loud CRACK the queen’s hoof struck the mirror sending spider web like cracks across its polished surface. But when she looked up she no longer saw her perceived enemy but a smaller pink pony with gossamer wings looking back with a sad look on her face. But with a blink of the eyes she was gone.          “Forgive me Puna...I’m sorry...” Chrysalis started hearing knocking sounds at her doors, which echoed loudly in deathly silent chamber. “What is it...!”          Drone 5678 pushed open the ancient doors and peaked his head, weary of the tone in his queen’s voice. “Are you alright my Queen? I heard noises coming from your bed chambers.”          “I’m fine 5678, just...leave me be...” Reluctantly 5678 withdrew his head and left the forlorn queen as per her request. Chrysalis once again looked into the mirror, staring at her form in its distorted and cracked surface, how it drastically changed to adapt to their living conditions, how their once great race had fallen so low. But it wasn’t her fault - NO! It wasn’t her fault at all, her plan was flawless, it was perfect, there was only one hitch, one that she didn’t see coming! And that hitch was Twilight Sparkle! “You ruined my plan Twilight Sparkle...left my subjects weak and dying...all because of you...” A sinister smile started to form on her lips, as an idea started to form within her mind. “I’ll make you pay...I’ll drag you here kicking and screaming...and then...” Chrysalis’ smile widened as she thought more and more about her plan, till she burst out in a fit of wicked laughter which echoed through the empty hive. ~~ As 5678 walked away from his queen’s chambers he glanced back towards the door silently praying he could help his queen get through whatever trouble she was in. He was at least halfway down the hallway, going back and forth between his queen’s chambers and the entrance to the hall. 5678 didn’t want to disobey his Queen, but neither did he feel that she was alright like she had told him. “I should go back - No, you were told not to go back, she gave you an order!” 5678 thought for moment. “But...was it really an order...? She asked me to ‘leave her be,’ she didn’t outright tell me go away...” 5678 looked back at the ancient doors of the queen’s bedchambers, still pondering whether or not it was really a good idea to walk in yet again. Before he knew, 5678 found himself drifting towards that way, with each step he took he drew closer to the bedchambers. Something in his heart was telling him it was the right thing to do, to comfort his queen in these hard times. 5678 was just inches from the doorway, raising a hoof to the door, drawing it back, preparing to knock. But stopped. Though his heart was telling him to see to her, the part of him that was connected to the Hive Mind wouldn’t allow him to, on the chance that he may be disobeying an order. For the second time, 5678 reluctantly walked away, forcing himself to stare straight ahead. When he got to the entrance of the hall he took one last look behind him. “I hope you are alright, my Queen...” Just then the entire hive echoed with a chilling laughter, the majority of which originated from the queen’s bedchambers. 5678 recognized this laughter, how could he forget it, it belonged to his queen. “Hmm, I hope that was good laugh.” ~~ Drone 5678 was back in the hive’s living chambers, he had put his name search on hold for the moment. He was now caring for what was left of the hive, with all the other drones out gathering what little love they could he was all that was left behind to look after their home, and care for their queen.While he was not experienced like his brothers and sisters he was still very sad to always be left out they say as a drone lives among ponies that is how they grow, but he was never allowed to. While maintaining the hive and caring for the queen were always important jobs and any drone would be honored to do them, 5678 always felt like he was born to do something more. To  do something other drones could not but instead he’s stuck doing the last job the one thats left. Drone 5678 went to the other faded and crumbling honeycomb structures and found holes in them and patched them with a sticky green substance he can secrete through the holes in his hooves, and who says these holes are not functional. He repeated this simple process of upkeep for nearly six hours a drone or two would drop in on him to deposit what love they had gathered before returning to their mission without so much as a word.   Normally they would transfer the love energy directly to the queen for storage and distribution but seeing as she is not letting anything into her chambers they had to store it another way. This process was similar to fixing the honeycomb the goo secreted by Changelings can store energy, so by infusing it with the love you have gathered you can store it physically. But all the other drones are in such a hurry they just drop it in the halls and wait for me to put it somewhere safe. I wish they would be more careful with our lifeblood here.  He finished picking up the last mounds of solidified love he could find and headed back towards the queens chamber, there was a storeroom in the same hall it was the only thing near her chambers other than the hallway in. this is where he put the gathered love Where best but near the Queen. As he trotted about, with his horn lighting the way, 5678 listened for his queen in hopes that he could tell if she really was alright, but no sound came she was probably asleep now. After completing his task and storing the love in the storeroom he returned to his own little living area to get some sleep for himself. But no sooner had he drifted off to sleep that he was forced back to the waking world buy a loud shout, but 5678 was still alone in the hive, soon he realized it was the hive mind. His queen must need him! No sooner had he figured this out had the order came “Drone 5678 report to my chambers immediately!” Though sleepy he obeyed the command. “Yes, right away my queen!” By the time his reply was sent through the hive mind he was already on his hooves and trotting through the hive all vestiges of sleep forgotten. ~~ A few moments later 5678  was again standing in front of the ancient doors to his Queen's bed chamber. He was nervous to say the least, his Queen had been acting a bit odd since Canterlot, but she seemed back to her normal, confident self if the way she spoke the summon order proved anything.  But he had to follow it despite his nerves. So with a bit of effort 5678 used both hooves to push the large double doors open with a loud squeak and there before him stood his Queen her expression a smile of confidence and determination once more. As 5678 entered his wings buzzed with apprehension. He moved and stood in front of Chrysalis and did a hoof salute and stated, “Reporting my queen your orders?” “Drone have you still not found a name?” “No ma’am.” “I see, well, we shall put that aside for now. For you see I have figured out who is to blame for the failure at Canterlot and how to get revenge on her!” Her smile became slightly more evil at those words. “It was that filthy unicorn Twilight Sparkle!” When she said that name the venom in her voice was enough to kill a snake. “But my Queen...was it not your overconfidence that led to your sending Twilight to Cadence, and you're underestimating her and the captains love that defeated the invasion?” Chrysalis stood wide eyed at the little drone only Praetorians, here elite guards and commanders, Why would it or even could question her word, how did a drone a drone that has never left the hive do it? More so how dare he do it! “WHAT. WAS. THAT. DRONE!?” She put emphasis on each syllable of the word drone as to make her point clear, and the meaning of her statement was not lost on 5678.          He was now shaking in his figurative boots. What did he just say? Did he just question his Queens word? Oh this is bad. “Um …...Ummm..........” if 5678 could shift himself into something smaller he would have, but there was nothing smaller to copy, he was unable to form a cognitive response to give to his Queen. Her intense stare was nearly enough to make him shut down. Chrysalis however was very intune with the hive mind and she could sense the drones mind racing as he tried to figure out what was going on. She decided to let this go and mentally file this under “just forget it.” She put a hoof on the drone and lightened her stare in hopes to calm him while Chrysalis mentally assured him that nothing bad was going to happen. After a few minutes of this he visibly stopped shaking and turned to look at his Queen. “Never mind that, just know that I have a plan and you are coming with me because I need your help.” After all I need something to drag Twilight Sparkle back here once I’m done with her. ...haha! “Plan my queen?” “Yes we are going to Ponyville, and yes you get to finally get to leave the hive.” The drone’s excitement soared, all memories of his past transgression forgotten he hopped a bit as Chrysalis ushered him out of her chambers and off towards the hive entrance. She would get Twilight for what she did... this she swore.   ~~