//------------------------------//
// Nemeses 
// Story: Thing a Day 
// by Rennoc215 
//------------------------------//

Thing a Day: Nemesis

I am a queen. I outrank her. How did she beat me?

There she is, relishing the attention of an entire kingdom. With that kind of love, my changelings would never starve. And look at that smile she gives them. She loves them as much as they love her. Bleagh.

And the dress, oh. How it sparkles with the thousand daggerlike gems. Why waste such valuable materials on opulence? It makes more sense to put them towards public art, something to be enjoyed by everyone rather than no-one.

All the flash. So much pomp, always drawing attention to herself. At least she lacks some sense of guile. Why draw attention to yourself when you know you have enemies out there? The Cult of Nightmare, Changeling spies, and Sombra's minions all want her blood, yet there she goes, parading about with a false sense of security.

But I know her. She's empty, like me. She has no one to love who needs it. Unlike little helpless fillies, her husband is a hunk, and he has enough love to power a small city.

And it's this that has warped her heart into the little black thing it is. She shows compassion to everypony, yet I can see it in her eyes. She has nothing left to let her be herself. It even hurts me a little, since everything should have a purpose. She used to take joy in that purpose, but it has since left her.

And all the time I've spent watching her, I can see the gears in her mind turning. She's thinking, and hard. About me? Who could know. But this is what I feel she thinks:

"Could she be the one? My driving purpose, and somepony to give me a use? Nay, she's my worst enemy, the one hiding in the shadows, even though they are sombre's domain. And once we were friends. Are we Nemesis?"

But I'm just that smart. I'm the brilliant queen, trying to lead her beleaguered kin to a better life. But even with all my intelligence, I can still be thwarted, apparently.

And even after all my expense. I put so much time and planning into that invasion, and even then, there were still wildcards running amuck. Like that meddling fool, Twilight Sparkle.

And that had been the master plan. My crowning achievement, the queen in my chess game. The plan was foolproof. I would pretend to be her, slink into their trust, and then my children could come into the city, and we could feed. All given away by a meddling pawn.

Of course, in retrospect, my plan might not have made sense. Once I invaded Canterlot, and taken all of those ponies captive, what then? A nation's worth of soldiers would have descended, and killed us all. We would have died in the pursuit of food. A fitting, bitter fate.

Of course, she understood. That's why she cast me out with my children. She knows that she's my purpose. Even if it isn't, it gives her some sense of pity for me.

And with that in mind, I don't seem that crazy, do I? I'm trying to fulfill my purpose: To help the other changelings. She's the one living a lie, not the liar.

But it makes me wonder if she needs me. If I am there, solely for the fact that we are opposites. Did she spare me to spare herself?

After all, I'm the one keeping her moving, seeing as she worries whether or not I'm coming for revenge. Perhaps she'll let me be her worst enemy. Maybe I could slink in, gather her friendship, and then we would be true nemeses.

Maybe she's got more guile than I give her credit for. After all, I've been obsessing over her ever since my defeat. Perhaps she is a master at this game.

It's like a hidden blade, slashing across my throat, when she ignores my name. I know that she knows who I am, yet she never acknowledges it whenever an agent of mine addresses her in my name.

Well played, little princess. Well played.

Does she really ignore me, though? Sometimes, it's hard to tell, whether she's just ignoring me, or if she really doesn't see me. Either way, it's just as well.

That way, she won't see it when I'm ready, rising behind her, gathering my forces in her shadow. We're just waiting for the perfect moment to strike again.

But then again, I wonder. Does she need me? Am I the one who keeps her going? Maybe I am the worst of all her enemies, the one who keeps her looking.

Maybe we were once friends, but now, we are Nemeses.