//------------------------------//
// Chapter I - The Betrayal 
// Story: The War-Maiden's Vengeance 
// by LilithChangeling 
//------------------------------//

While Equestria was the epicenter of harmony and love, there was a more sinister country.  To the West was an ominous land, filled with barren wastelands known as Novo, the land of the Changelings.  Yes, the same changelings responsible for the assault on Equestria's royal capital city, Canterlot.  While this was the only time these creatures have appeared in the Equine country, not all of them are malevolent.  While some changeling hives and their queens had honest and fair intentions, they were all overshadowed by the largest hive with a most tyrannous queen, and her name was Chrysalis.

When she decided to attack Equestria, there was no changeling more irate than a certain member of her own hive.  The rebel's name was Lilith.  Other than the Queen, she was the only changeling in all of Novo to possess Equine eyes, which were dark teal rimmed with cyan.  Many hive members have speculated that Chrysalis and the maiden were related in some way but it was disproved quickly.  But this did not mean our protagonist didn't possess great mental and physical strength.  But her patience with her Queen ran out as soon as Chrysalis arrived back from the failed attack on Canterlot.

"You were a fool to not heed my words."  Lilith scolded at Chrysalis.  Both of them had fire in their eyes, especially Chrysalis since her servant was being disrespectful but continued to listen.  "Granted, I did not expect the Royal Couple to stop you but you realize our blood was shed for no reason!"  She stomped her hoof down on the ornate black floor hard as her large black sycthe nearly got loose of it's restraints on her back.  She continued on, "We could have all perished by your recklessness, Chrysalis!  Those six mares were already able to defeat Discord, something that was damned impossible for us changelings to accomplish, but your greed for Love shrouded your vision of how many lives would've been lost."  She sat down and glared at the queen, looking directly into her eyes.

The monarch stood up on her hooves as she growls at Lilith, "How dare you speak to me like this you vile maiden.  I had a good reason to attack those creatures, and that was to expand Novo's boundaries."

Lilith rolled her eyes, obviously knowing Chrysalis was simply lying, but she decided to play by her little game, "But our country's twice the size of Equestria!  We don't have to expand, but we need to defend ourselves if we're actually going to be invaded by some great army.  But no, you keep wasting changelings' lives for your personal gain."

The queen's mouth was agape but after a few seconds, she got closer to Lilith, their faces barely inches away from each other, "True, our country's big, but I don't invade for my own gain.  We need to watch those other creatures besides those ponies."

Lilith resists the urge to punch her in the jaw for that and instead said, "To provoke more enemies?  Sure, spy on the Dragons of the North and the Griffons of the South, as if we need to sign more death warrants!"  She scoffed.

Chrysalis had enough of this disrespectful hatch-ling.  Her horn glowed an eerie green as she lifts up her servant.  The other changeling wass not afraid as she maintained eye contact with her.  Chrysalis said angrily, "You speak of treason and heresy, and I shall hear no more of it!"  With her magic, she attempted to throw the other changeling hard to the floor, but Lilith's magic countered allowing her to land on her hooves, "What's the matter Chrysalis?  Can't take criticism well?  No wonder how free speech is lacking here.  It's being squashed by a False Queen."  She taunted harshly as she spits on the floor right next to Chrysalis's hooves.

The queen was highly enraged by the rebellious worm as she yells, "THAT'S IT!  You're exiled and  banished from my hive!  And don't be comforted, Lilith, as soon as you're gone, I'll find where you are hiding and I shall kill you myself!"

The maiden simply grinned as and pulled her great black scythe off her back, "Sure, sure, Chrysalis, you can do that, but you'll have to catch me."

Soon after that, she extended her translucent wings and swiftly rose from the obsidian floor.  She flew into the dark corridors illuminated by green lights as she navigated through the large catacombs searching for an exit.  Chrysalis's guards already received news of Lilith's betrayal and attempted to pursue her, but fear was set into their hearts not wishing to risk their bodies being mangled and hacked by the angered changeling.

With little time wasted, she flew out of the dark hive into the wastelands of Novo.  As she flew, she thought to herself, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend ."  She changed direction and flew east to Equestria.

Chrysalis watched the young changeling fly high away from her hive.  Her anger subsided as her personal guard asked, "What are you going to do now, my Queen?"  She turned and faced him, "We are going to wait until the time to strike is when that traitor is at her weakest state.  But for now, send out small patrols to find her and bring her back here.  It won't matter whether she's dead or alive, as long as she's brought back here.  Understood?"  The guard nods and trots out of her chambers.  Chrysalis giggles hardheartedly, "Oh, when I get to have my revenge on you, I'll crush you and make you regret your treason." 

Unbeknownst to our hero, that split decision will cause drastic changes.  She will meet new allies that are priceless for her and will unite likely enemies other than just changelings and equines.  Lilith believes she started a small rebellion with a simple goal:  Killing Chrysalis.  But her role will be even more important than that, she shall be responsible for something greater than the tyrant's death, but I shall not reveal it, since it would ruin the surprise for you.