//------------------------------// // Queen Chrysalis's Story (Part Two) // Story: Villains United // by juststeph //------------------------------// The door opened and Chrysalis walked in. This surprised many of the creatures, as no one had really noticed that the changeling queen had been missing for the first half of their meeting. “Where were you?” Nightmare Moon asked, more to fill the awkward silence than caring. “Getting an annoying song out of my head,” Chrysalis muttered as she took her seat. “I should have taken my revenge against the pink one instead of Twilight.” “Revenge?” Trixie asked. Chrysalis nodded. “I tried to take the love from Equestria again. It really did not go as planned.” -- Like any leader, I learned from my defeat. My subjects still hungered for love, but I knew we could not invade Canterlot again. Equestria had other ponies on which to feed. I chose to send my subjects to Ponyville. It did make sense—a small town with little defense, but quite a few ponies. But I truly chose it because Twilight Sparkle lived there. I had a plan beyond simply feeding my subjects. My subjects captured and replaced most of the townsponies. They kept the ponies just outside Ponyville, where the hive could easily feed on them. I gave them strict instructions not to touch the Element bearers, but they managed to capture their sisters. While the ponies worried about their neighbors, I took their sisters to my kingdom. The sisters weren’t my target, only bait. I was able to lure Twilight and all of her friends to my kingdom with ease. I gave them a map to help them on their way, but of course I had them take the long way around—they needed to be tired and hurt by the time they arrived. I couldn’t face all six of them in top condition. Not when I was still weakened from my fight in Canterlot. I watched their journey, but unfortunately I couldn’t enjoy it as I had three little fillies to deal with. You can’t imagine how tempting it was to just kill them and be done with it. But I had to leave them alive for my plan to work. The ponies passed the cave troll too easily. I sent some of my changelings to make things a bit more difficult for them. They separated the ponies and finally made things more interesting to watch. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long. Their petty little friendship broke right through my changelings’ deception. Watching their sisters succeed made those little filly brats happy enough that they thought they could speak again. Luckily, it was time to feed. They thought the creature I fed on was cute. And I suppose it was, until I was done. They were quiet for a while then. Once the ponies reached my kingdom, I realized that I didn’t need their sisters alive anymore. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to dispose of them before I was interrupted by the Element Bearers. Twilight’s magic was stronger than I expected. I had simply wanted to drain her power and keep it for myself, making myself the strongest changeling to have ever lived. Not only to take the shape of a pony, but also the powerful magic of one. But on actually seeing Twilight’s magic, I feared that she may have been too strong for me to take it by force. So I threatened her friends. I could drain the life from each of them. I knew that these Elements constantly spouted their silly idea that friendship was important, so I knew that hurting Twilight’s friends would hurt her just as well. She accepted becoming my apprentice without fighting. Once I had her under my control, I knew it was a matter of time before I was able to drain her love and control her mind as well—just as I had done to her brother. It truly was a poetic revenge. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of telling Twilight this plan. I thought I still had the upper hoof—until somehow, she got a surge of powerful magic I could not have anticipated. Not only was I defeated, but so were my subjects. Once again, we were doomed to starve. Not for a while, as the love from the Ponyville ponies was enough to keep us sated for some time. But I do fear for them in the future. -- “Maybe you should quit trying,” Gilda muttered. “They beat you twice now?” “It does sound like you have a lot to lose,” Discord added. “Not a very good battle strategy, is it?” Chrysalis grumbled so low it sounded like a growl. Nightmare Moon frowned. “We are supposed to support each other in here,” she reminded the others. “We have a common enemy. We should not hate each other.” “We do, though,” Chrysalis said fiercely. “The only reason I haven’t fed on everypony here is because none of you have love to give. I wouldn’t doubt anyone else would turn on us in a moment.” The rest of the assorted creatures nodded and murmured their assents. Nightmare Moon simply sighed.