//------------------------------// // Episode 20: The Power of FEAR! // Story: My Little Pony: The Entities of Emotion // by Michael_Ravencroft //------------------------------// Chrysalis stood there, tears streaming down her face as her slit green eyes shrank at what she beheld. Her hive was in ruins, completely destroyed, decimated beyond repair, but that wasn’t the worst part of it all. No, the worst, most horrifying thing she saw, was the bodies of her Changelings, her entire race lying dead all around her. The sight was enough to make the Queen of the Changelings retch, the wretched taste of bile tainting her sense of taste. She noticed something else; the entire area was engulfed in a pink fire and pink crystals that jutted out from the ground. Some of them were sharp, having skewered some of her subjects, their bodies hanging limply from them like some sort of macabre trophies. Chrysalis wandered the field of massacre, the yellow-green blood staining the ground upon which she treaded. It made the Changeling Queen shutter and wince each time her hoof stepped into a pool of Changeling blood. She could’ve flown over them, but there was an oppressive feeling in the air, her instincts telling the insectoid equine that if she were to take to the air she’d be spotted and killed immediately. So she pressed onward, silently apologizing for not being able to protect her subjects, and for having to step over their bodies. It wasn’t long before Chrysalis found the perpetrators of this heinous act of slaughter. She recognized them all too well, the giant violet beast with a violet crystal exoskeleton, stood among the bodies, towering over them, its claws and body were marked with the blood of her drones, the creature known as Predator. Standing upon her back was the Princess of Love, Mi Amore Cadenza. The Princesses’ gaze was fierce and sadistic, as if she was relishing the sight before her. Chrysalis gritted her fanged teeth in anger and fury, her horn was aglow with her green aura. She marched up to the killers, a mere ten feet of distance between them. “YOU TWO…! HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO MY SUBJECTS! YOU KILLED THEM ALL!” The two love wielders looked down at the Queen, barely regarding her as a threat. “Well, not all of them,” said Cadance. “There’s still one left,” corrected Predator. The beast opened one of its claws and revealed one lone Nurse Drone, Murmur, shivering in fear. Her light-pink eyes locked onto her Queen and she quickly tried to escape Predator’s grasp. But the creature would have none of that, as soon the drone began to move, Predator tightened her grasp around Murmur, trapping the weak little thing. “My Queen, please help me,” cried Murmur. “Don’t worry, I’ll save you, I swear,” proclaimed Chrysalis. “How sweet, you actually care about this insignificant thing,” said Predator. “I care about all my Changelings!!!” “If that’s true, then I guess you’ll save this one. C’mon Chrissy, show us how much you care about this drone of yours, save her,” said Cadance. Chrysalis watched as Predator began to close its fist around Murmur, audible cracks could be heard echoing in the silence. Queen Chrysalis fired multiple mana blasts from her horn, each blast struck Predator’s crystalized hide, and not one fazed the beast, in fact, they seemed amused. “Please…my Queen…help me…” The Changeling Queen’s body flared up with her green mana, she then charged straight for Predator and Cadance. Predator saw the attack coming, and with a swipe of her giant claw she swatted Chrysalis out of the air, sending her into a spiral as she crash landed, impacting hard into the ground. Chrysalis rose slowly, her body was cut up from the jagged edges of Predators claw, she tried to muster up the strength to fight again but just as she was about to fight again, it happened. “Time’s up,” spoke Predator. The beast tightened its fist, and just like that, Murmur was crushed completely. She opened her claw and showed the remains of the Changeling, barely anything was left; only the blood and small bits of its exoskeleton shell remained. But with one flare of violet energy the remains were quickly burned away. Chrysalis’ eyes were once again in tears, her body was shaking uncontrollably, she had just witnessed the death of one of her Changelings, and she was powerless to stop it. “Not again…please not again…” “You are nothing Chrysalis, nothing but a mere insect,” began Predator. “You’re race was doomed from the start, such a weak and pathetic species, escaping death by becoming lowly parasites,” finished Cadance. The thundering footsteps of Predator could be heard as she slowly approached the fearful Changeling Queen. Her giant muzzle was inches away from Chrysalis, the rows of razor sharp teeth glistening in the violet light. “I promised you that I’d devour you, and I keep my promises…” Predator opened its massive jaws; Chrysalis was paralyzed with fear, unable to move, unable to think. All that was left for her was terror and death… (Changeling Hive) Queen Chrysalis awoke with a start, letting out a loud terrified scream. Her body drenched in sweat, her mane matted, and her heart pounding in her chest. Chrysalis’ eyes darted around her chamber, there was nothing there, but that did not stop her, she hurriedly jumped out of the bed and burst through her doors. The Changeling Sentinels who stood guard watched as their Queen wore a panicked expression as she whipped her head around. “My Queen, what is the matter?! Did something happen,” asked the first sentinel. Chrysalis looked back at the Changeling Sentinel, her eyes still wide with fear. “Is the hive alright!!!? Are your fellow brothers and sisters still alive,” she asked frantic. The two Sentinels stared at their Queen, and then at each other. After a few seconds they decided to answer their Queen’s strange request, not that they had a choice in not answering. “The hive is fine my Queen,” answered the first Sentinel. “The others are also okay, some are resting as we speak,” said the second Sentinel. Queen Chrysalis released a sigh of relief, a pent up breath she had no idea she was holding. She began to slowly trot back towards her chamber, feeling foolish for panicking and showing fear in front of her guards. “My Queen, are you feeling well?” “I am fine, just a bad dream…in fact…the two of you are relieved of duty till tomorrow…” The two Sentinels looked flabbergasted at the order; it went against their purpose, their instinct. “This is a direct order from your Queen! Now GO!” With that said the two Sentinels, reluctantly, trotted away, leaving Chrysalis alone in her room. The chamber was sparsely furnished, nothing much, just her ornate bed, and a vanity mirror. Chrysalis trotted up to the mirror, examining her image. She looked straight into her reflection’s eyes, the very eyes that struck fear into the ponies she sought to rule over, were now filled with the same wide eyed terror she had seen in others. It sickened her, she hated being afraid. I thought I was stronger than this?! We became like this in order to become strong enough to fight against anything, to be above anyone! So why, Lily, why…? “You’re not weak because you’re afraid; you’re weak because you do not embrace its power!” Chrysalis’ head jerked from side to side, she scanned her entire room, but there was nothing there, no one. “Can it be that I’m finally losing my mind…?” “Quite the opposite actually…” “Who’s there, show yourself, NOW!!!” Chrysalis shouted. “As you wish.” Suddenly the room was filled with a blinding golden light. The light was powerful, overwhelming, it felt similar to that of Predator, but this light was not energized with love. This light radiated fear in its purest form. When the light finally died down Chrysalis was able to open her eyes. The room had become a vast blackness, the mirror and bed were still there, and the floor acted as a platform in the middle of the void. But that wasn’t the only thing she saw. Walking towards her from the void was a Changeling, one she had recognized that caused her to feel even more on edge. “It’s been awhile Chrysalis.” “Parallax, what do you want!? And where have you brought me!?” Chrysalis demanded. “Oh just to a place where we could have some privacy, especially after your little episode just now,” said Parallax. Chrysalis glared at the odd Changeling, she didn’t like this creature. He was unconnected to her Hive Mind, and he radiated with a strange power that somehow allowed him to go undetected and counter her own strength. As much she didn’t want to push Parallax, Chrysalis was in no mood to see him. “What do you want Parallax, state your business or I’ll throw you out of my hive personally?!” Parallax chuckled at the veiled threat. “Chrysalis, come now, we both know that you don’t have the strength or power to do that, not in your current condition.” Chrysalis gritted her teeth, as much as she didn’t want to admit it, he was right. Chrysalis was able to help the rest of her subjects by letting them take the majority of the love energy that Cadance left her hive before she and the creature known as “Predator” left the hive. As a result Chrysalis had become weaker, she didn’t know if it was out of sheer loyalty that one of her Changelings hadn’t tried to ascend to take control for themselves, or if one was just biding its time. Parallax would definitely fit that category right now. “But to answer your question, it’s not so much what I want, as what I’ve come to offer you,” said Parallax. “And what is it that you offer…?” “Power, real power,” Queen Chrysalis looked skeptical, but the Entity of Fear seemed to catch on to this, “I was once like you, afraid, a mere insect ready to be trampled, squashed, and killed. Fear was all I knew, until I decided to embrace that fear, make it my own, to wield it, to become it, and now I am FEAR incarnate, and all livings cower in my presence!” Chrysalis looked upon the Changeling skeptically, but her encounter with Predator a few months ago had taught her not to underestimate something just by their looks, her and her race were living proof of that. “What are you?” “Are you sure you want to know the answer to that?” “I know that you are not one my Changelings! You’re different from them, from me, so tell me what you are?!” Parallax smirked at this and bowed respectively to the Changeling Queen. “Be warned, my true form can be a little…intimidating.” A flash of yellow light shined before Chrysalis’ eyes, briefly blinding her. After a little bit, the Changeling Queen dared to open her eyes as soon as the light dimmed down, and she was suddenly wishing she hadn’t. She beheld a giant creature, insect like in appearance. It was yellow, with giant clear wings, its long body undulating as it walked around on its four legs. It wore a wicked smile, baring its dagger like fangs in a toothy grin, while its long slender fingers were intertwined in a contemplating gesture. The giant yellow insectoid stopped its hovering pacing, Parallax then stared directly at the Queen of the Changelings, both with curiosity and a hint of something else that she couldn’t quit read. “W-W-What are you…who are you…!” “Kckt, kckt, kckt. I am Parallax, the Entity of Fear,” he said. “‘Entity of Fear’….?” Chrysalis watched as this Entity of Fear floated around the platform. Could such a being exist, a living manifestation of fear itself? Such a thing was absurd, fear was an emotion, not a living thing, it resided in all things and it did not come from a single being. But then again, was such a thing absurd? An entity made up of fear energy, it would make sense. If Parallax was an Entity of Fear, it would then stand to reason that there could also be an Entity of Love as well. “Parallax, tell me, are there others like you? Perhaps, one that used love energy,” asked Chrysalis. “Yes, another entity, her name is Predator, the Entity of Love.” Parallax sniffed the air and then made a disgusted expression. “I see you’ve had a run in with her, the stink of her love energy lingers on you.” “Y-Yes…She almost killed my Changelings and myself…That monster nearly killed us all…” “You’re afraid of her, aren’t you?” Chrysalis looked straight up at Parallax, eyes narrowed in anger. “I am not afraid of her, or anything!” "DO NOT DENY WHAT IS CLEAR IN MY SIGHT!!!" The golden light of fear shined with a powerful intensity, Parallax opened his mouth revealing his razor sharp teeth and a strange symbol within his jaws that matched the one on his chest and wings. Chrysalis shrank away, falling to the floor and covering her face with her forelegs like a frightened filly. The light dimmed yet again, the Changeling Queen dared to peek at the Entity, he retreated back, no longer showing his fangs, but instead held his wicked smile. “What do you want with me…?” “I want you to be my host, Queen Chrysalis. With my power, you no longer need fear Predator; all will feel the terror of our light!” Parallax said with glee. “But why…my Changelings and I feed on love not fear, not just for power, but for nourishment,” said Chrysalis. “And therein lays the problem. You have the ability to take the form of almost any creature you choose, ‘pony’ or otherwise. You have to trick and hypnotize others into ‘loving’ you in order to gain your food. So much work and with such high risks of failure, that is why you are in the position you’re in now! Fear is so much easier to obtain, and so much more potent, with your abilities you can become that which they fear, and with my power you and your Changelings will be able to know what others fear! This is the opportunity of a lifetime Chrysalis, and all you have to do is admit you’re afraid…” Chrysalis didn’t know how to respond. Could this entity really do what he promised, was it possible for her and her Changelings to feed on fear rather than love. The more she thought about it the more it made sense, the ponies already feared them, and she had to admit, it took some work to trick Shining Armor into believing she was the real Princess Cadance, and it all came crashing down thanks to Twilight Sparkle! How was she supposed to know that that blasted unicorn mare would know all of Cadance’s quirks and personality traits, she never thought that obsessive mare would question everything about her and the validity of her brother’s marriage. Parallax did make another good point, they were feared, and they could easily take the form of something that another pony feared the most. Striking fear into another’s heart was much simpler and, in a way, much more fun. She stared up at the Entity of Fear, and then stared at her reflection in the vanity mirror. That’s when she saw something, her image changed, and not because of her magic. The form in the mirror rippled before solidifying into the image of a strange pony like being. Its body was softer, no exoskeleton or carapace, although it did have large butterfly wings, clear and shimmering with a rainbow of different colors. Her mane was golden and her coat was pink, she even sported pointed ears. This other being, staring at her with aquamarine eyes, had a saddened look upon her face. “Chrissy, what are you doing?” I…I have to do what is best for our subjects big sister… “But fear is not our way, remember what I said to you. ‘Love will save us.’” “Love will save us”!? Our people are on the brink of extinction yet again! I have done everything I can to see our survival through! I have stolen the love of others, harvested it from living beings, keeping them here to nourish us until they were bled dry and left emotionless husks of their former selves! The reflection went silent, its expression changing to one of disappointment. “Oh Chrissy, how could you?” I did it for all of them! You’re not here anymore and I’m sorry that I’m not you! “I never wanted you to be me, Chrissy. If it were up to me, you’d still be that carefree, spirited little filly. Enjoying your freedom and playing all the time.” I can’t be that filly anymore…I have to be strong, I have to be powerful, for them! “Chrissy –” NO! I am Queen Chrysalis! And I will not be weak, not anymore! Chrysalis looked down at the floor, biting her lip as she spoke, “I am afraid…Afraid of not being able to protect my Changelings, of losing everything all over again! Most importantly…” Chrysalis looked up at Parallax; he seemed to be waiting with baited breath for her to utter the truth. She narrowed her gaze once and bellowed aloud. “I FEAR MY OWN WEAKNESS!!!” The vanity mirror shattered at that moment, along with the image of Lily before her expression turned sorrowful. Parallax’s body immediately shrank down to where he was now a head or two taller than the Queen. His hands quickly shot out and grabbed the upper and lower jaws of Chrysalis, holding her mouth open and making the Changeling Queen stare in shock at what was happening. “Queen Chrysalis of Equestria, you have the ability to instill great fear!” The golden yellow aura of Parallax enveloped Chrysalis’ body, immediately the Entity of Fear pulled at her lower jaw, forcing it to widen. Chrysalis felt the pain of her jaw being stretched beyond its normal range, her eyes watered as the pain continued despite her protesting grunts and thrashing. At that moment, Parallax did the unthinkable. He dove, head first, into Chrysalis’ overly extended mouth. The Changeling Queen’s eyes bulged from her skull as she gagged and coughed having Parallax’s entire form slipped down her throat. New surges of pain wracked her body as she felt the Entity of Fear enter her body. Tears streamed from Chrysalis’ eyes as she prayed for the agony and horrifying event happening before her to stop. Soon the tail end of Parallax entered Chrysalis’ mouth, her jaws immediately returned to their normal state, as if what had happened was just nothing more than a terrifying illusion. Chrysalis coughed and sputtered, taking in deep gasping breathes of air. After about a minute or two the Changeling Queen was able to find her voice yet again. “P-P-Parallax, what in the name of creation were you trying to do to me!!? Where are you, tell me!!?” No response. “PARALLAX!!?” “I’m here Chrysalis, inside you. Now is the time to take your true form!” A new sensation began to overtake her. Her eyeballs shrink into the back of her skull, a wave of pain completely dulling all of her senses. Chrysalis screamed and shouted, what little part of her rational mind was able to wonder if her Changeling Sentinels could hear her screams of pain, and if they did, where were they? Did Parallax’s power keep them secluded; cut off from any prying eyes or ears? Was she doomed to be stuck in this eternal, never ending pain? Suddenly the Changeling Queen went silent. No more did she scream, no more did she move, and she just fell to the ground limp and seemingly lifeless. Then her body flinched, which was followed by a second spasm, and then a third, a fourth, and even a fifth. Chrysalis’ back started to arch upwards, as if something was trying to escape from within. A sizeable crack could be seen forming; it started at the base of Chrysalis’ horn and ran all the way to her tail. Golden light shined from the fissure, till it happened. A slender black and yellow arm burst forth from the crack, followed by a second. The two arms had long nimble claws that grabbed each end of the fissure and began to push it open. The two hands ripped open the body, shattering the remains of Chrysalis as if they were as fragile as glass. The room was bathed in golden light, warping the space, and in the next moment the room had returned to normal, no longer in the dark void. But what returned was not Chrysalis. What appeared in her place was something completely alien. The new creature had a pitch black exoskeleton, with glowing, yellow luminescent lines etched into its body, forming interact designs. Its lower body resembled an insect’s thorax, with six equine legs. Four large translucent wings flapped up and down, shimmering with the same golden light. Its upper half was different, upon her chest the lines converged to form the same symbol that was on Parallax’s chest. Her horn was still jagged as it once was, her hair long and colored the same, but her eyes were different. They were mostly yellow, with light green irises and black slit pupils. Upon her head was not the simple crown that she wore before, it was now made of the fear energy, with three spiked tips and the fear symbol at its center. Chrysalis took a moment to analyze her new form, her long slender arms and curved clawed fingers. On her forearms there were raised openings with something sharp stinking out of them, Chrysalis flexed her forearms and immediately two six foot long, scythe-like mantis blades appeared. Chrysalis grinned evilly at the sight of her transformation, a sharped toothed grin at that. Was the pain worth it, asked Parallax. “Indeed it was! I’ve never felt so powerful! I can feel the fear in all living things, their as plain to me as the sun in the sky,” proclaimed Chrysalis. I’m glad you approve. Thanks to our union, you’ll be able to convert your Changelings to feed off fear instead of love, all of Equestria, this entire world, will know what true fear is! “Heh, heh, how do we begin?!” You are connected to all your Changelings; no doubt they have sensed the change in you. Use that connection to convert them, let our power flow through them and evolve them into a higher form! Speak our oath, and let our united power flow! Chrysalis closed her eyes and summoned her newfound energy, connecting to the Hive Mind, allowing her consciousness to flow through all of her Changelings, allowing them to experience the same power she felt. It was then that the words to the oath appeared in her mind, and at the same time, Parallax and Chrysalis spoke their oath together. “In blackest day, in brightest night, Beware your fears made into light! Let those who try to stop my fright, Burn like my power – terror’s might!” The hive was bathed in the yellow light of fear, all the Changelings in the hive released simultaneous shrieks of pain filled fear as their bodies were infused with the yellow light. From outside, to all who even looked in the direction of the mountains, glimmers of golden light seemed to seep through cracks and cave openings of one particular mountain, no one knowing that Equestria was about to be invaded for a second time, by an army that literally wielded the power of fear. “From this day forward, they will fear us!” (The Crystal Empire, Sometime Later) It had been weeks since Predator had ran away, and Cadance was…worried. But she still couldn’t release the memories of the disguised Entity of Love, her mind still flashed with the images of what she intended, and her body still felt the warmth of the violet light of Love. It was a nice, albeit unwanted feeling at the moment. No one was more upset about this than Shining Armor, having almost witnessed his wife be manipulated and violated by the crystalline raptor. “I can’t believe she did that to you!” Shining Armor fumed. “Shining let it go, we…we need to start looking for her, it’s been four weeks now,” said Cadance. “As far as I’m concerned, she can stay gone! Cadance, she almost…she almost raped you for crying out loud!” Cadance winced upon hearing that word; she didn’t feel like that was the right word for it. Overwhelming, welcoming, enticing, pleasuring, passionate, and even a little wonderful, but…‘rape’ it didn’t feel like it at all. Predator wasn’t forcing herself onto her, but merely showing her affection in the only way she knew how, which apparently consisted of drowning her in the power of her light and bringing feelings to the forefront of her mind that she had suppressed for years now. “Please don’t use that word, Shining Armor. It didn’t feel like that.” “Well sorry, I don’t know any other word for what I saw!” “We still need to tell Aunt Celestia and Luna about this. The other Entities will want to know as well, and maybe they can even help her……Faust knows I haven’t been much help…” Shining Armor stopped his fuming and walked over to his wife, nuzzling her gently to offer his comfort. “You did everything you could; it’s not your fault she didn’t understand.” “‘There are no bad students, only bad teachers’. That’s what I was, I thought I was getting through to her, but I wasn’t. She didn’t understand, otherwise I don’t think Predator would’ve done that,” said Cadance. The unicorn stallion sighed, “Why do you keep trying to defend her?” “Because this is my fault! I should’ve seen this, I should’ve…I should’ve told you…” “Told me what?” he asked. The pink alicorn’s shoulders slumped, she had to tell him. “A few months back, when Predator was captured by the Changelings and I went to rescue her, after I got her out of there she was so…sad. She thought she had let me down; I hugged her, trying to be comforting. And…for some reason…I-I kissed her…” “Cadance…” “I don’t know why I did it!? It just felt right, like that was the only thing that would help calm her! But now…” Cadance lowered her head in shame, crying as she did so. “I’m the worst…you don’t deserve a weak mare like me…” To her surprise, Shining Armor brought the Princess of Love close, hugging tightly against him. “You’re not weak.” “Shining…?” “You told me about your abilities, and what effect they could have on you. You have so much love that sometimes it just comes out, and I understand that, trust me, sometimes I can’t believe I’m married to a mare as loving as you. But if there’s anything I know Cadance, it’s that you aren’t weak, it takes a strong mare to bare all the weight of love in Equestria as you do.” Cadance let herself sink further into Shining Armor’s embrace, feeling like the luckiest mare to have such an understanding stallion like him. “Thank you, Shining Armor.” “Anytime.” Suddenly a frantic knock rapped at the throne room doors. The Prince and Princess released each other, and stood up straight just in time for an Adamant Guard to swing the doors open and come galloping inside. “Your highnesses, we have a problem!” “What’s going on?” asked Shining Armor. “A changeling has appeared at the entrance to the city and is slowly making its way towards the Palace!” Both Cadance and Shining Armor’s eyes went wide from hearing the news; Changelings didn’t normally come this far north. The frigid temperatures were too much for them and prevent them from reaching the Empire all together. But then, they took a moment to register their Guard’s words. “Did you say ‘a changeling’? As in only one?” asked Cadance. “Yes ma’am!” “They usually don’t travel singularly; they usually travel in a swarm. Did you or any other Guards report seeing a massive swarm of them heading towards us?” Shining queried. “Um, no your highness, it’s just the one. Also it seems…injured and weak at the moment. It’s not even bothering with anypony in its path.” Cadance and Shining Armor glanced to each other, curious as to what was going on. The two of them exchanged a nod and proceeded to have the Guard take them to the Changeling. The three of them hurried down the Palace to the ground floor and proceeded to where the Changeling was. It didn’t take long before the Prince and Princess were at the sight of where the Changeling was, a crowd of crystal ponies had gathered, intrigued about seeing a Changeling but keeping a safe distance from it. Adamant Guards were slowly walking at the same pace as the small Changeling, ready to strike if it showed any sign of hostility. Cadance and Shining Armor made their way towards the lone Changeling and stood before it with their Guards flanking them. “That’s far enough,” ordered Shining Armor, his horn set aglow. The Changeling stopped, its legs were wobbly and its body trembled. Cadance couldn’t help but notice how different this one looked from the others. It was a light pink color, and it lacked the more intimidating and jagged features of the other Changelings. It seemed to be female from what she could tell, and for some reason it was covered in bruises and scratches, taking in ragged, raspy breaths of air. Cadance dared to walk closer to the little Changeling, despite the protests of her Guards and husband. “Are you alright?” “Please…you have to help us!?” The Changeling then collapsed onto the ground. The Princess of Love immediately rushed to the little one’s side and inspected it. Her breathing was irregular and her body had even more injuries than she previously thought. Cadance then lit up her horn and channeled her love magic into the Changeling’s body. “Cadance what are you doing!?” asked Shining Armor. “She’s going to die if I don’t do something!” Cadance shouted. “That’s a Changeling; she’s probably a spy sent by Chrysalis!” “Look at her Shining Armor! Look at her body closely, does it look like she got here easily and – Oh my gosh!” “What?!” Cadance gently moved the Changeling’s bangs away from her forehead, revealing a jagged stub where her horn once was, a few drips of light-green mana fluid oozed from the broken appendage. Shining Armor was definitely confused right now, not even a Changeling would willingly break off their own horn. “We need to get her to the Palace now!” Shining Armor nodded to Cadance and hurried to get the Guards to clear a path for them. She then turned her attention back to the pink Changeling. “It’s alright, you’re safe now. Can you tell me your name?” The Changeling slowly looked up at Cadance with its pink eyes spoke in a gentle and weak voice, “My name is Murmur…” (A few hours later) The western town of Appleloosa was under attack, all around settler ponies were running around, screaming in terror as they tried to run and hide from the Changelings that pursued them. The Changelings had changed from before. Their eyes glowed with yellow light, their horns were a little longer, and their features were more jagged. Queen Chrysalis, in her new form, wielding the power of the yellow light of Fear, strode leisurely through the town, feeling positively giddy as she watched her Changelings feast upon the fear the induced upon these settlers. In fact, she was so happy, she started to sing. “In the dark of night I was tossing and turning. And the nightmare I had was as bad as can be! It scared me out of my wits A changeling falling to bits Then I opened my eyes And the nightmare was…ME!!!” Frontier Royal Guards charged for the Queen, but with a wave of her clawed hand she produced a line of yellow construct demons. They snarled and roared at the incoming Guards, who quickly halted their advance and tried to run away from the beasts. “I was once the most beautiful bride in all of Canterlot. When the royals found me they made a mistake! My power made them my prey But two mares made it go all awry Beware my little ponies, The Queen is awake!” So powerful and strong were the Changelings becoming that their Queen’s song inspire them to join along. “IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT EVIL WILL FIND THEM! IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT JUST BEFORE DAWN!” The Changelings swarmed about the town, hunting down one pony after another, changing into the pony or creature they feared the most. The night echoed with their screams and it only added to the insane melody that Chrysalis sang to. “Revenge will be sweet When they kneel at my feet!” “IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT!” Some more Guards foolishly tried to attack her. Chrysalis channeled the yellow light of Fear to her hands and unleashed it in a wave of concussive force that sent the ten Guards flying into homes and buildings, shattering windows and busting down doors. “They’ll be gone! I can feel that my powers are drastically growing! How about a chimera and a hydra for a shrill!” Two Changeling drones morphed into a hydra and a chimera, causing a group of trapped ponies to let out a shrill in pure terror. “As the pieces fall into place I’ll see them fall in disgrace! So long, Princess Cadance! Farewell…” Chrysalis felt the thundering stampede of hooves striking the ground. She looked into the distance and saw that a herd of buffalo were heading towards Appleloosa, wearing war paint and looks of determination as they charged to come to the aid of their pony friends. The Queen of Fear chuckled mockingly at the incoming stampede, they weren’t backup. They were food. Chrysalis then directed her swarm with a wave of her clawed hands, like the conductor of an orchestra. “IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT TERROR WILL STRIKE THEM!” “Terrors the least I can do!” “IN DARK OF THE NIGHT EVIL WILL BREW.OOH!” “Soon they will feel that their nightmares are real.” “IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT –” “They’ll be through!” The swarm charged for the buffalo. The brave tribe did not back down, showing their fearlessness and strength in battle as they thundered towards the incoming swarm. The swarm then circled and surrounded them, becoming a black veil that blocked out everything in sight and effectively trapped the buffalo. “IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT EVIL WILL FIND THEM FIND THEM! OOH! IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT TERROR COMES TRUE! DOOM THEM!” Chrysalis watched and listened as the song of the Changelings mixed with now horror filled screams and shrieks of the proud and mighty buffalo tribe. When the swarm lifted, it showed the buffalos, all lying on the ground, eyes wide with terror as they flinched in a comatose state. The changelings all regrouped on their Queen, buzzing around as they awaited their Queen’s orders. Chrysalis never imagined how powerful fear was. Her Changelings all looked so healthy and strong, she could sense it. Although the transition from love to fear was a bit harsher than expected, they allowed their Queen to transform them. All except for one, she thought. “You needn’t worry about that one. Now that you have the power, you must take your vengeance.” “IN DARK OF THE NIGHT… IN THE DARK OF NIGHT… IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT…!” Chrysalis’ body flared with yellow light as she rose up into the air, giving an unspoken command to the swarm to follow. The Changelings all began to glow with the same light as they swarmed about their Queen, lighting the night sky like the sun. “Come my minions Rise for your master, Let your evil be shone! Find them now, Yes, fly ever faster!” The Changelings and Chrysalis all flew in a northerly direction, right for a kingdom that epitomized love and unity, where sat upon its throne was the alicorn Princess of Love. The swarm buzzed through the air as they flew with a speed that none of them could have flown at before, not even the cold seemed to faze them in the slightest. “THEY’LL BE DONE!” (Crystal Empire) The Changeling, Murmur, had been resting for some time now under Princess Cadance’s supervision. Guards were placed outside of the room, listening for anything strange as to clue them in if their Princess needed help. All the while, Cadance sat by Murmur’s bedside, her body covered in bandages for the wounds that didn’t heal right away from the infusion of love magic. Cadance didn’t particularly care for the Changelings, not after they almost stole her husband and took over Canterlot. But, this one Changeling, who braved the frigid temperatures, suffered numerous wounds, and even the loss of her horn, managed to get all the way to the Crystal Empire. Shining Armor had put the Guards on high alert, thinking Murmur was a spy, but what spy would be this hurt? Cadance figured that there were better ways for Chrysalis to sneak in a spy. For all her negative traits, she couldn’t deny the Queen did indeed love her Changelings, so Cadance couldn’t imagine that Chrysalis made one of her own go through such pain. Could…Could Predator have gone back to the Changeling Hive and attacked them? No…No she wouldn’t, even her state of mind, I know she wouldn’t go and… Just then, Murmur began to stir. She fidgeted and whimpered with a twinge of fear in her voice. Cadance lit up her horn once again, and bathed the Changeling in the nourishing glow of her love magic. It seemed to calm Murmur down a bit, as she began to slowly open her eyes. “W-Where am I…” “You’re in the Crystal Empire, more precisely, you’re in my Palace.” Murmur rested her tired eyes on Princess Cadance, “Your…highness…I-I seek your help.” “You said that before, help for what? Is your hive dying?” Murmur began to tear up, “They might as well have…They are not my people anymore…not after what they have become…!” “Shh, shh, it’s alright,” consoled Cadance, brushing Murmur’s cheek softly, “tell me what happened.” The pink Nurse Drone sniffled a bit, she knew she had to tell the Princess, otherwise there would be no chance of stopping her fellow Changelings, or reversing what has been done to them. “It all started a few days ago. I was tending to our eggs, doing whatever I could to make sure they survived. But…” ~~~ Murmur was busy rotating the eggs around, making sure none of them were too warm or too cold, and constantly checking for signs of disease. Ever since the unicorn known as Star Sapphire left their hive, the eggs had been losing their vitality. They were once the healthiest things and now they were worse off than before. Murmur had even volunteered to go out and gather love from the ponies. She lacked the, slightly, devious ability to hypnotize another, but Murmur believed that her usual pony disguise was good enough, the last time she ventured out it certainly caught the eye of many stallions and mares. Unfortunately, the Queen had forbid anyone from leaving the hive. It was just as well though, it took energy to hunt for love, and that was in very short supply. “A slow death…that’s all it is now,” whispered Murmur. She knew that at the rate things were going, either the eggs would die from lack of nourishment, or the older Changelings would first and leave the eggs unattended to which, in the end, they too would soon die. Suddenly, something rang out through the Hive Mind. A surge of energy that roared with a terrible strength and frightening power, she could feel something fill her, it was vile, sickening, and it tasted of fear. It rammed at her senses, trying to force its way into the very core of her body to take root. Murmur retched as the putrid taste of fear ignited her taste buds. She panted hard, both from throwing up the yellow bile and from the assault on her being from within. Hear me my Changelings. It was the Queen. I know what you are feeling is painful, and that this emotional energy goes against what we have been sustaining ourselves with for countless centuries, but that needs to change. We can no longer afford to hide our presence and die quietly in the shadows! We must rise up, my Changelings, rise and strike fear into the hearts of the ponies who have driven us to these desperate measures! “Stop feeding on love…Th-That’s ludicrous…! We have always lived on love, what are you doing!?” Let the power of Fear course through you, let it empower you, and give you strength as we rise up and instill great fear into all who have driven us to hide and die a dog’s death! We are the mighty Changeling race! And they will fear us, now and forever! “NO!!!” Murmur shouted in the nursery. She fell to the ground and began thrashing about, holding her head as her body trembled with pain. Murmur could feel the fear energy trying to change her, trying to corrupt her. Her eyes darted to one of the eggs and noticed that it was now had a yellow glow within it. “No…No little one! You mustn’t accept this power! It’s wrong, it’s vile, it’s – AAAHHHHH!!!” Murmur could feel something else, along with the overwhelming oppressiveness of the Hive Mind was another presence. It was older, stronger, and more terrifying than anything Murmur had ever seen or felt in her entire life. She could take it no more; she would not become an abomination! Murmur rose up to her hooves, stumbling as each movement only served to intensify the pain of her resistance. She walked up to one of the stone walls. The Nurse Drone panted as sweat poured down her body, staring wide eyed at the wall before her. With one long and powerful scream, Murmur drew back her head and slammed her horn into the wall. The pain from the act just doubled it, only now it was slightly more concentrated in her brain. The Changeling’s horn served as their way to use their magic, sense love energy, collect it, and also doubled as their connection to the Hive Mind. Murmur doubted that she’d have the energy to regenerate a vital part of her body, but it had to be done. The pink Changeling drew back again and slammed her horn into the wall a second time, noticing a light cracking sound when she did. Greater pain shot through her mind and body, a small trickle of lime-green mana fluid started to seep from the crack on her horn. As horrible as this was, it helped her, knowing that she hit it hard enough to make this happen meant that it only required one more good blow to sever it completely. Steeling herself one last time, Murmur went full force and smashed her head against the wall, snapping her horn off and sending it flying into the shadows of the cavernous nursery. Murmur stumbled back forth as she walked away from the wall, her vision blurred in and out, and she even saw double a couple of times. More of her lime-green essence dripped down her face, feeling woozy as the urge to retch started to rise again. Despite this, she had done it, her connection was severed. No longer did she hear the voice of her Queen or the strange presence. No more was her body wracked with pain from the fear energy, well, it was still in pain, but considering what she felt earlier, this current pain was more preferable, only slightly. The Nurse Drone made her way to one of the eggs, thinking that she could at least save one from the corruption spreading through its kin. “Murmur, out of all my Changelings, I thought you would welcome what I’ve done.” Murmur froze where she stood as a chill ran up her spine, or maybe that was shock from the loss of mana fluid. Either way, she slowly turned around and beheld the new form of her Queen, had she the strength and concentration to cringe or run away, she surely would have. But right now, she was being driven by a need to save the unborn Changelings. “M-My Queen…” “And you severed your own horn. Really Murmur, I understand it is a harsh transition, but if you had just bared with it you would’ve been rewarded with power and strength.” “N-Not this kind of p-power…it’s wrong, so very wrong…!” Chrysalis bent down and cupped Murmur’s chin in her hand. “Murmur, you were always one of my favorites, and yes, I mean that wholeheartedly. You reminded me of the days before all this, before we became what we are. You almost remind me of myself in my youth. I don’t wish to see you suffer; I know how much you care for these unborn. They will need your nurturing and caring to continue on, and I will need you close to me when the time comes that I may lay more.” “W-W-What are you s-s-saying…? I-I can’t…You’ve turned away from everything that we once were…! If Queen Lilianna saw what you have done she…she would be ashamed of you…!” Chrysalis removed her hand and, in that same motion, backhanded Murmur across her face, sending the Nurse Drone spiraling to the ground. She could taste some of her own blood in her mouth, along with the mana fluid that still dripped from the broken horn. “Don’t you DARE speak my sister’s name in my presence! If you wish to shun and stay stuck in the old ways then you can die with them!” ~~~ “And that’s when she cast me out of the hive…I traveled north, as much as I knew that I was probably going to die out there, I needed to find you Princess Cadance, you and your apprentice, Star Sapphire! You two are the only ones who can save my race now,” said Murmur with teary eyes. Cadance couldn’t believe what she was hearing, Chrysalis had converted her hive from feeding on love to feeding on fear instead, and what was this “other presence” that Murmur spoke of? Could it be one of the Negative Entities? Parallax is the Entity of Fear, but why would he side with Chrysalis? What does he stand to gain from this? “Murmur…I’m not sure of what I can do to help your race. And, on top of that, my apprentice and I are…estranged at that moment, I don’t know where she is, or if she’ll even come if knew how to contact her,” said Cadance solemnly. “Then…Then you must prepare yourselves, Princess Cadance. I know that my Queen – no…She is no longer my Queen, at least not the one I follow. Chrysalis will most likely invade the Crystal Empire.” Cadance looked to Murmur with a serious gaze, “When?!” “I do not know a specific time, but it was the one thing I was able to gleam from her mind when Ieas still connected. She intends revenge on you and your lifemate.” “Thank you Murmur, I don’t know what I can do save the other Changelings, but I won’t let Chrysalis win.” Murmur nodded to Cadance, she couldn’t really ask for more. And really, the Nurse Drone didn’t think that there wouldn’t be a way to avert the coming conflict at this point. Cadance however had to prepare for the inevitable, Love and Fear were about to go to war.