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// Like pawns on a board 
// Story: Casting a Shadow 
// by Ssendam the Masked 
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I stalked through my chambers, examining a pebble of protodermis. With a sigh, I pulled out a chisel and started etching away at it while my thoughts and plans flew through my mind. The summoning by Malideus had changed the board from two dimensional to three dimensional. And I had revealed a lot of me to him. Why? As a teenager, he would want complete and utter assurance that I could be trusted, and so I bared my heart to him. A weak minded person, with poor defences yet with so much power... should he decide to not be moved, then I would genuinely be sorry to reduce him to a babbling moron. But if he got in the way of my plan, a plan that had spent four thousand years gestating, then I would show him no mercy. 

After all, when a dog becomes rabid, you put it down.

I kept carving as I started speaking to myself, a habit I had picked up a long time ago in my cell. Considering the other worthless inmates of Tartarus, I had been one of maybe three sane beings there, the others being Tirek and Ymir. Those two... old ones, not like me. "Though I do sympathise with your plight, Malideus... I am forced to consider you naught but a pawn."

I examined the vague shape, that of his helmet. Pulling out a finer tool, I continued carving. "Truthfully, you have reawakened my sense of empathy, and I thank you for that. But your demonic form... it is something I do not pretend to understand, and I can not think of how to control you. That's why I needed some of myself there, to mould you into my weapon. Jarvis, though he may be strange, will make sure that your demonic side will, if not be controlled, will be manipulated by me. If not... well, I shall have to put you down, or move you to where your sacrifice will do the most good for me and you."

The piece done, I placed it on the board, examining the other pieces on the board. I picked up a fanged piece, turning it over. "Ah, poor, sweet Chrysalis... I will have use for you." That done, I replaced the piece on the board of Equestria, and examined my own piece. Out of vanity, I'd deemed myself the King of the board- the most important piece, but limited in movement. That was true enough- in this form I couldn't hide without shapeshifting into a smaller form, and my vanity would not allow that for very long.

Celestia and Luna I had deemed Queens- powerful, moving easily around the board, yet also grossly overestimating their importance. Chrysalis I'd deemed a Knight, moving erratically and seeming to teleport to places where she would strike unexpectedly. But at the same time, moving in patterns oh so predictable. But I think that it's time that she move in a different direction. 

I looked at the piece, and I didn't know whether I felt pity for her. Love was always a difficult matter to procure for her. Let's see how desperate she is for love. "On to Equestria, dear, sweet Chrysalis... on to Equestria."

Chuckling, I moved her into Equestria, and then I left. I gestured to a Rahkshi with a blue body and gold limbs. "You. I am giving you the designation: Mystique. Look after the base while I'm gone on this mission."
The newly christened Mystique nodded, command received. With that, I swept out, grabbing my Kakama and putting it on. With some reluctance, I left my Kraahkan behind. I wanted her to trust me.

I orientated myself for the wasteland that I'd seen Chrysalis in last and activated the mask. While the landscape blurred around me, I contemplated my plans. I wanted Chrysalis to go there... as a diplomat. Strange, but the changelings being there in a peaceful fashion would serve my plan better than if she came by force. If her changelings became accepted, then I could slip in my shapeshifting Rahkshi, should I need to take it by force.  Plus, if there was no need for shapeshifters to be checked, then my Rahkshi could indeed slip in through the cracks, and build me a base. 

Green came and went, to dull brown, then to tan. As soon as I saw that, I slowed down. I looked around, trying to find Chrysalis' hive. Then, I snorted. Changelings usually used their talents on their hives. With a mental flicker, I tracked for minds out here, in the desert. At first, all I found were a couple of minds that were too primitive to even be considered changelings. But then... I grinned. I'd detected the minds of the changelings, in a direction to the east of here. I gripped my staff and got walking, hoping not to overshoot the mark with my Kakama. 

After about an hour of walking, I had arrived. The Changeling hive was invisible to the normal eye, but I knew how to get it to appear. I simply probed out with my mind, delicately peeling away knowledge from a drone and finding the doorway. A short walk later, I had access. I examined the door. Powerful magical defences, watched on the other side, and quite durable besides. SO I did what any being would do in this situation.

I knocked on the door politely. 

After a few moments, the door opened, and a changeling drone looked at me warily. I spread my arms wide, and dropped my Staff of Shadows. I really did not want to be seen as hostile. 
"Take me to Queen Chrysalis."
Offering myself up like this was a risky move in theory, but in practise it was the best one I could make given the circumstances. Chrysalis had always been a more... straightforward person to manipulate. Though she'd possessed a mind equal to my own, and was a master of manipulation... she had loved me, for whatever reason. I hadn't felt an attraction, but maybe, if things were different...

I quashed those thoughts. not now, not ever. Anyway, the changeling led me through the hive. I noted with a bit of worry that the corridors had changed alignment slightly. Even so, I paid it no heed. It was as time was- things changed as the celestial spheres overhead moved around. The hive had always been a more organic construct, and a new design might have been ushered in many, many times. Whatever the case,  I was finally brought face to face with...

Hang on. 

This is not Queen Chrysalis. Certainly there was a resemblance; the cat-like eyes, the dull teal hair. But she was different from Chrysalis- leaner, willowy, and definitely younger. For a while, we stared at each other, both confused in an equal measure. I was the first to break the silence. "Queen Chrysalis, I presume."

For her part, Chrysalis raised an elegant eyebrow slightly. "And who, exactly, may you be, to know my name?" 

That clinched it; Chrysalis could always tell who I was, even if I was in one of my greatest disguises and had shielded my mind against all possible intrusion. I probed her mind, and came up blank. This impressed me slightly; this Queen had a different way, allowing her defences to be much stronger. "I knew a Queen Chrysalis, four thousand years ago. Be you named after her?" It had been a while, I realised, since I had needed to rely on not reading the mind of someone I was talking to. And I was enjoying it immensely.

The Changeling Queen nodded. "She is my ancestor, as she is the ancestor of all. I am her twentieth descendant. The Hive Mind does not recognise you." 

I bowed, just deep enough to convey a feeling of only respecting her position, not her power. "I am the one known as the Emperor of Shadows. Know you of one Teridax?"

Such a simple statement had undertones that any politically minded person would hear it: I knew your ancestor, and I hope you will be like her. She adjusted her position, acknowledging my power and respect. "Ah, yes, I hadn't recognised you. You have indeed changed much, Teridax. So much that I don't recognise you." 

Well, this wasn't good. By saying something seemingly innocuous like that, she'd conveyed another meaning to me: I will not be manipulated like my predecessor. Well, the Hivemind did have a long memory, so that was to be expected. I shrugged. "Four thousand years changes us all, doesn't it?" 

Change is good, but I hope you will assume that position in my heart. The Queen stood up, exerting her presence on me. "Well then, Emperor of Shadows. Shall we walk?" 

I carefully followed her, careful not to tread on any errant changelings that scampered around, after the Queen's needs. An invitation to walk with a powerful ruler was not one to take lightly. We walked up several stairs, not saying a word. Queen Chrysalis was the first to speak, slightly ahead of me. "So, Emperor, how does the Hive compare to its past?" 

I snorted. "It has changed in many ways, and I hope that they are all good." In truth, the place was a wreck, a hollow skeleton compared to its previous size. Time was when the Hive would dominate the desert, and the Changeling swarm was numbered in the millions. Now, only a couple of thousand remained. Maybe it was quality over quantity, but I seriously doubted it. 

Chrysalis sighed. "May I speak frankly?" 

That surprised me. "Naturally, oh Queen of Changelings."

Chrysalis sighed. "Though I enjoyed our game of hidden meanings, I am not really in the mood for it. Truthfully?" She turned to me, and her eyes were filled with sadness. 
"The Changelings are dying. We cannot supply enough love to support ourselves. Though we can eat more terrestial food and emotion... it does not fill us like love does. Besides, the land around us is unsuited for farming." 

"Teridax, we are preparing for a desperate war against Equestria." 

That wasn't good. Not only would the war lead to the senseless death of many changelings, it would also hinder my plans. That would simply not do. I would need to take quick action. "Good Queen Chrysalis," I began, to get her attention. When I had gotten it, I continued. "Are you sure that there is no other path, such as diplomacy?"

Chrysalis shook her head. "The Immortal Sun herself would never allow us to be forgiven." 

I shook my head. "I know her of old, and there is only one person that she will not forgive: me. You will have a chance. BEsides, she would be a fool not to take an ally as powerful, cunning, and intelligent as you are."

Chrysalis hummed. "Perhaps. But that seems unlikely." 

I examined my fingers. In my prison, I'd felt more than seen some events- like the sealing of Nightmare Moon, and her release. "Oh, I wouldn't be so sure of that." 

Chrysalis' curiosity was now, against her will, pequed. "Tell me more, Teridax." 

I nodded. I was carefully turning Chrysalis' opinion to mine. "Oh, only a rumour I have, but... have you seen the change in the moon?"

Chrysalis nodded. "Yes, I am aware of the change. Wasn't that due to the Dreamwalker herself being corrupted by your words?" She glared at me; not unjustifiably. "May I presume that you are corrupting me as you speak?" 

I shook my head; I was lying to her, but I was always a sincere liar. "No, I am not. And I have seen: Princess Luna was publicly forgiven by Celestia herself. Would you deny Celestia's own words?" It was crap with a grain of truth- Celestia had indeed forgiven Luna, though the ceremony had not exactly been public. Of course, Chrysalis the Younger would not know that. 

And she took the bait. Her green, cat-like eyes flickered briefly, weighing the pros and cons of going up to Celestia peacefully. Eventually, she sighed. "I'll consider it." 

That just about confirmed my thoughts and hopes. I bowed, deeply, to show both my respect for her and for her decision. "By your leave, I will return to my home." She nodded, distracted. As I left, I gave her one, last, piece of advice. "Assemble a small honour guard, and appear before Celestia in your base form. Oh, and don't mention me; I suspect that Celestia will likely not regard you if you mention that you have talked with me."

With that, I left. As soon as I was out of doors, I picked up my Staff of Shadows, and ran back to my base using the Kakama. Once I was there, I swept through to my throneroom. I then examined the board. 

"Other worlds, other humans... other pieces for the plan." I mused, pulling out more pebbles. I then moved them around, into vague positions that I knew not where. The Orb of Vision glowed briefly, and I, curious, walked over to it, replacing my Kakama on the rack for my Kraahkan. I then examined it. Someone was calling on my power. 

A mental smile broke out on my face. "More Pieces reveal themselves to me."