//------------------------------// // Changeling Circumstances // Story: Psycho // by Bishibosh the Shaman //------------------------------// Psycho Chapter Seventeen Deep in the darkest parts of the world, a forbidden land for anypony to travel, a strange sight was said to be found. Many of the dark creatures residing in this dark land considered it an omen, a star that had fallen on them for their failure. Some considered it random chance. In the darkest part of the night, some even claimed to hear voices echo through the woods. None of the dark creatures were prepared for what was coming. Queen Chrysalis was a sorry sight. She not only had failed herself, but she failed her own children. The blasted ponies surely had enough love to spread, even if she wanted it all to her children. Her own lair was falling apart, not so much from age but rather rage! That damnable 'princess' she thought as she chucked some already broken furniture across her throne room, or rather what was left of it. She was so close... so close to getting what she needed, what her children needed. "What right do they have to deny us the right to eat!?" The changeling queen screamed across the echoed room. "I WILL have my vengeance on them... ALL OF THEM!" The queen stopped to breath for a moment, clearly speaking out of rage. She needed a moment to gather her thoughts, but every moment she took only reminded her of the plight that her race faced. She vented and steamed so much that she failed to notice the strange floating ball hovering into the room. The little ball, still unnoticed, unfolded into a floating screen and the face of a man floated behind the queen. "Vengeance eh babe? Sounds like you got some beef with the princesses." The voice spoke through the screen. Chrysalis shot around and charged her horn, but lost her focus at the strange magic before her. Before she got a chance to speak the man in the screen spoke again. "H-h-holy shit lady! Ha ha! Why the hell do you look like you got in a fight with a hole puncher!? Ha-ha-ha! HEY WILHELM! GET A LOAD OF THIS BABE! HOW MANY HOLES CAN A GUY FILL, EH!?" Chrysalis grew angry at the man, and charged her horn again to blast the strange screen. "Whoa now chika, I wouldn't do that if I were you. At least, not if you want your precious bugs to see tomorrow that is." "My... What have you done!? ANSWER ME!" "Oh, alright. But only because you got a cute voice" The man winked, but burst out laughing as he did it. "Oh god... couldn't keep a straight face... I'm sorry... but take a look out your window, you will see what I mean." Chrysalis obeyed, but upon reaching her neck from the window regretted it. She watched as her children were cornered by massive yellow constructs of some kind. She even noted a few bloodied corpses resting at the feet of a few of them. Her anger grew as she watched. "Why have you come, to enslave a dying race? Or just to kill us as we are and end our misery!" "Jeeze babe, cut back on the attitude. I'm here to make a... proposition to you. You see, There is this thing on this planet. This thing is really important for me to find, especially before any of your pony friends figure out where it is." "So you kill my people and expect me to submit?" "Well, not really. Yeah... pretty much. Submit or die, whichever. But I need some allies so I'm extending the olive branch so to speak. What do you say? Do we have a deal or do I kill every one of your precious bugs right before your eyes..." "Ugh..." Chrysalis felt as though she had no choice. "What do you want me to do..." "That's a good girl, now I understand you things can change into stuff right? Like other ponies and shit? That's what I need. See, there is this big city out in the snow. I tried to send scouts in but they can't get near without compromising their objective." "You want a changeling to get in this city." "Wow, smart and ugly. Why am I not surprised, anyways you may take special interest in this city cause a little birdy told me your ex 'fiancé' happens to be ruling there with his wife. Now what was that about revenge you were talking about?" Chrysalis fumed with anger at every word spoke to her, knowing that if she rejected his offer then her already few numbers would be nothing. She didn't even care about Shining Armor and that princess, not much anyways. She grunted as she spoke. "Yes... I can get one of my people in there..." "Perfect! Just what I wanted to hear, one of my agents will be with you shortly...Well, look at the time. Gotta go feed my horse! Butt Stallion! Come here girl!" The screen shot black as the ball shot out the window. Chrysalis watched in anger as the man just left. She was a Queen! How dare he treat her like such! She was just about the leave the room when her head rammed into a wall, or what she thought was a wall. She looked forward and saw nothing, well she saw 'something' but it was nothing. The air shimmered in front of her. She almost jumped when she heard a voice speak. "Queen Chrysalis, Caine Longshot. At your service." The man wearing the same yellow color as the constructs outside spoke. "I would say it's an honor, under different circumstances." "What!? Ah ain't lost! Ah know ma way 'round these woods like the bottom of ma hoof!" Applejack scolded at Rarity who was complaining. "I simply implied that maybe we should have somepony else lead us to them, I apologize if I hurt your pride" Rarity sternly spoke, eyeing Applejack. "Oh, you'll be apologizin once Ah find Rainbow and the others." "Um Applejack... I don't mean to... interrupt but..." Fluttershy spoke, to which Applejack replied with a sigh. "What is it sugar, you find somthin useful?" "Well... no, not really... it's just we passed that ship... three times..." Applejack took a moment to scan around her and there it was. The same ship they already explored and found nothing in. The farm pony sighed once again, she thought she would be getting used to doing it. She plopped down on the ground just to sit. "Great, well what now Applejack..." Rarity scoffed. "Ah don't know Rarity... I jus' don't know!" "Hey guys!" Pinkie shot from around a corner trying to earn her friends attention. "Pinkie, if it's another bug, rock, leaf, bird, or anything we are not looking for..." Applejack began. "What about hoof prints! Cause I found some!" The three ponies followed their energetic friend to the cart Krieg had pulled, next to it they found two sets of prints. It was as good lead as any they thought. The ponies followed the foot prints all the way to a thick brush line, but the air became think with a vile odor. Applejack was curious as to what could cause such a stink, so she peeked through the bush only to wish she hadn't. The landscape itself was painted in blood, human corpses laid strewn out and split on the ground. In the center of all the death, there he stood. Krieg, the psycho...