//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: Origins // Story: Once Upon A December // by ThePrinceOfTheNorth //------------------------------// Chapter 12: Origins Blackheart led Snowdrop through the long, twisting corridors. They passed through what seemed like an endless number of halls, and all the while Blackheart explained about her species and her Kingdom. Her people were a species of dragon known as Shadow Dragons, and were meant to bring darkness while their counterparts, the now extinct Light Dragons, were meant to bring light. In reality, their roles became reversed. While the Light Dragons did bring light, they struck fear into the hearts of others and enslaved them. The Shadow Dragons did bring darkness, but with it came a love and appriciation for them and it, and they protected others. In the end, this resulted in a massive war between the Tainted Light and the Loving Dark, a war which ended the Light Dragon race completely. Even the Light Dragon hatchlings had fought to defend their right for dominion over what they'd viewed as 'lesser' races. The God-Prince Winter himself had joined the fray, banishing the Light Dragons of his own creation from all existence, as had the Queens of two nearby Changeling Hives. Snowdrop was about to ask who they were when Blackheart stopped in front of a tall, frosted glass door. They had just climbed, or rather, flew up a long staircase, so Snowdrop assumed they were in the one of the many towers that she'd seen through the crystal roof of the throne room earlier, most likely the tallest one, located directly behind the throne. "I must warn you," said Blackheart, "I am expecting a visitor shortly, so I would ask you not to be alarmed at the fact that she is a Changeling Queen." Snowdrop nodded confidently. "It's okay. I already know three Changelings, two of which are Queens." Snowdrop recalled Midnight Blue, a pony she'd met nearly one thousand years prior. I wonder if she's still around... Blackheart pushed open the tall doors to reveal an extravagantly decorated room, complete with four post bed, a desk, dresser, armorie and various other things, all appearing to be antiques, as their gold finish and purple velvet uphostery was slightly worn. There were two other doors in the room. One led to a balcony, and the other led to a rather large bathroom. "What is this place," asked Snowdrop. "My Youth Room," said Blackheart, "For when I, well, regenerate. I stay in here until I cannot fin the bed, then I move into my Adult Room, which is in the Southern Tower." Snowdrop nodded as the buzzing of wings resonated through the air. Seconds later, a Changeling Queen landed on the balcony. Her chitin and carapace were pure white, and her mane and tail were a light, almost reflective blue. He wings were elegant in shape, and had an ice blue tint to them. Overall, she looked familliar, but Snowdrop just couldn't place it. "Snowdrop," said Blackheart, "This is Princess Crystal Shimmer of Diamond Shimmer Hive. She's Queen Crystalia's daughter, in case you haven't guessed." "Queen Crystalia," Snowdrop exclaimed, seeing the resemblance, "Oh, I see! It just that, from what I've heard, Queen Crystalia had black chitin and no caraspace." "Both are true," said Crystal Shimmer in a soft voice that fit her sleek beauty, "Celestia's intense love shanged her to what she looks like now, though I haven't seen her since Celestia died. Now that she's back, I do hope she'll visit the Hive, her subjects have missed her so." "As have Fate's," added Blackheart, "Or the few that remain, anyway." "What do you mean," asked Snowdrop. "Well," Blackheart began, "Queen Chrysalis attacked Canterlot may years ago, long before Crystalia replaced Celestia. Queen Fate and all of Onyx Gleam Hive went to aid Canterlot. They won the battle, but were ambushed on their return journey by Chrysalis and a few of her more powerful Changelings. The chose a good spot, and were able decimate Fate's army before plundering the Hive while Fate rallied her remaining forces. Crushed by her failure, she face Chrysalis one final time, and was banished from Equestria until quite recently. Oh, did she propose to that Elegance White yet? Those two were always so good together, despite Celestia and Luna's displeasure of on of their Captains, an Alicorn, no less, dating a Changeling Queen." "They're happily married now," said Snowdrop. "Wonderful," said Crystal Shimmer with a smile. "Anyway," said Blackheart, "Snowdrop, would you follow me to the balcony? I have something I want to show you." Snowdrop nodded and followed Blackheart out onto the balcony. The balcony itself was huge! It was so big that you could literally put a small house on it and it would fit. The view was spectacular. Below, a city of purple, red, black and white stretched to a tall black and silver wall that ran the length of the valley enterance. The castle was positioned at the mountain end of the valley, so as to give it a clear view of the lands before it as well as giving it a prominent place where it could bee seen for miles around. Beyond the wall lay snowy tundra, and just beyond that were green fields and forests, slightly lower in elevation. Snowdrop also saw, off in the distance, two extremely tall towers. One looked to be made of some clear crystal, and the other some type of black crystal. "Diamond Shimmer Hive and Onyx Gleam Hive," Blackheart said, pointing first to the semi-clear tower, and then to the black one, "Tallest and most elegant of all Changeling Capitals." "Wait, did you say captials?" "Indeed," said Blackheart. "Those towers are the main Hives, but there are also lesser hives that surround them, somewhat like a city. There are also hives scattered around the territory, but serve their Queen in the Main Hive. In essense, they are much like Equestria, a capital city with smaller settlements within the borders of it's territory. Of course, most Changelings in The Badlands are nowhere near this sophisticated, and only have one settlement per territory, the Main Hive." "It must be hard to manage," said Snowdrop. "Not at all," said Crystal Shimmer, who had joined them. "With the use of the Hive Mind, everyling is always well-behaved and does what is asked of them, that is, if they want to. Lesser Changelings have as much free-will as any Pony, otherwise the disguises don't work all too well." Snoedrop nodded. This was all so facinating! "Could you tell me more?" "Of course I can," Crystal Shimmer said, "And I would be delighted to, anyway." ~~~~~~~~ Somewhere In The Tundra Near Black Onyx Hive... Queen Fate, Queen Crystalia and Crystal Heart continued their trek. Ther trail they'd been following had ended hours ago, and they were now going on little more than the general direction they'd been going. The blizzard that had appeared a few hours earlier wasn't making it any easier, either. "ARE YOU SURE SHE'S STILL EVEN ALIVE," shouted Crystalia against the din of the wind and snow. "NO," replied Crystal, "BUT I HAVE TO BRING HER BACK EITHER WAY!" "WHATEVER YOU SAY, PRINCESS WINTER," said Fate sarcastically. Before they'd split up to look for the Shards, Crystal Heart had told the others who she really was and what had happened. None of them had been too suspicous, but Fate had made it a pointof honor to rub in the fact he was a she now. "CUT THE CRAP, FATE," said Crystal, "WE SHOULD TAKE COVER IN THAT CAVE UNTIL THE STORM PASSES!" Confused, Fate and Crystalia followed Crystal's hoof. Sure enough, there was a small cave enterance not too far away, just barely visible. As they drew nearer, they realized the reason they could see it was because there was a torch mounted outside. A spear lay against the snowbank that covered the rock, but otherwise they were the only one that appeared to be around. "SHOULD WE GO IN," asked Crystalia. "WE HAVE NO CHOICE," said Crystal, "IF WE STAY OUT HERE MUCH LONGER WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!" Together, the three mares entered the cavern. They instantly recognized the toolmarks on the walls, but they were worn with time. The wind, though still howling, was quiet enough for them to lower their voices. "Who do you think built this," asked Fate. "I don't know," said Crystalia, "It looks Changeling in origin, but as to who built it? I don't know. If I knew where we are, I might know who made this." "I'd know too, you know," said Fate, as they were both from the area. "Would you two lovebirds keep it down," said Crystal, "The cave continues inward. Come on, I feel in the mood to do some exploring." "What if there's something in there," asked Crystalia. "What if whatever that spear belongs to is out there and we just didn't see it because it saw us first," said Crystal. Crystalia and Fate looked at each other. After a second's hesitation, the galloped after Crystal Heart, who was already making her way deeper into the caverns. What none of them knew was that this was actually a Changeling Hive, and there were Changelings in it... ...and the Changelings knew Crystalia, Crystal and Fate were there.