The cool afternoon breeze blew upon Chrysalis’s castle. Built into the rocky sides of Styx gorge south through the Appaloosan Mountain range and then on through the forest of Leota, the whole construction was a miracle of architecture. Shielding the changelings inside from rain, built on the crossroad of two other nations: the Dragonic Empire and the Equestrian Diarchy, the Changeling capitol thrived.
It went without saying that the sudden, ‘strange’ and ‘weird’ relationship of Princess Twilight Sparkle with the infamous… no… notorious Queen Chrysalis, did wonders to aid the two species in crossing the gap.
It was a little bit embarrassing to see Twilight wandering inside the castle’s maze-like corridors. Not having Spike hurt her, and more than just her orientation. She sighed, it would take her time to adapt, it was not too long ago that Chrysalis had finally relented and introduced her to her own subjects. Chrysalis had made her relationship with Twilight known, but she hadn’t yet made any official public appearances. When she did, some had been suspicious, others were happy that their Queen had finally found a mate.
The most genuine smiles were the ones of the hatchlings. The little ones had curiously approached the equally curious unicorn with hungry looks upon their faces. Just as Chrysalis’s heart had melted with Twilight’s love, so had the changelings slowly opened up.
But there were still things that Twilight wanted to ask. Things Chrysalis kept avoiding. But now, the last week before solidifying their bond, Twilight could wait no more. She needed to confront her about those moments, before she confronted the joint presence of changelings and ponies at the ceremony.
Chrysalis said that she would tell her. When that time did come, if she still wanted to know, she would give her the answer to the long overdue question: how she ascended to Queenhood, and how she gained her kingdom.
Each time Twilight asked Chrysalis turned her face around, hid her expression with her mane, and pleaded her to change the subject one way or another. After cornering her in a fight Chrysalis had looked Twilight with eyes ready to burst in tears.
She finally found it: the door that led to the throne room where Chrysalis resided during the day, handling the diverse political problems of the “Proteans”, as the changelings called themselves.
Chrysalis noticed her first and promptly urged the others to bow respectfully.
“You really shouldn’t do that. I get really embarrassed when that happens,” said Twilight, rubbing her neck and smiling awkwardly.
“They must learn to pay proper homage to their future Queen.” responded Chrysalis. At the sound of the word Twilight opened her mouth, she closed it, then opened it again.
They looked at each other, and after a minute Chrysalis understood. It was time.
“Leave us…” she said in a serious tone. The changelings sensed the heaviness of the situation and wasted no time exiting the room.
“It’s time, isn’t it?” She continued.
“Yes. You said that I would know in time. That I needed to be “ready.” I still don’t get it… What’s so terrifying about your ascension that stopped you from telling me? What is it Chrysalis?” Twilight was clearly worried. Why all the secrecy? What happened in the past? Twilight took Chrysalis’s hoof and held it towards her heart. Chrysalis turned away for a moment, closing her eyes tight. She realized she couldn’t turn away from Twilight.
“Twilight… it’s not important how I gained my kingdom. Right now my kingdom, is the kingdom that resides inside my heart. The kingdom that you made my love, my messiah.”
She leaned in closer rubbing her nose with Twilight. Still… Twilight did not budge with flattery. She was determined on finding out the root of the problem, and cut it off.
“However I said I would answer, and I will.” She sighed, her hoof brushing her teal mane to the side.
“By the time I gained my kingdom, by the time I ascended to the throne, I gained three things and lost one.” Twilight gulped… she could sense it, here goes.
“I gained the love of my subjects. They called me ‘Liberator’, for I freed them from their squabbles, united them in one kingdom.” She paused a bit.
“The ancient rulers of the changelings came. Metis the cunning and wise unifier of hearts. Proteus the overfather, unifier of souls. And Nousios the blind and fair, unifier of minds. They judged me capable of leading the changelings. To them i was the ‘Monarch of the Black Sanctuary’.” She smiled at her lover as she got ready to speak once again.
“The enemies I faced were many. As my kingdom came into being, as I waged war against all that would oppose the formation of a united Protean nation i gained my third title…”
“The Black Siren.” The moment she heard that title, Twilight finally figured out why Chrysalis couldn’t tell her this story. Why she couldn’t look at her while remembering those events.
She was ashamed.
Twilight still couldn’t understand what had happened. It wasn’t like Chrysalis to be ashamed. Even when she came to Ponyville she kept an air of dignity… Only now did Twilight understand that determination was Chrysalis’s way to mask her own shame.
“I am not proud of all the things I’ve done. My parents Amalthea and Abectrozeus didn’t teach me what they did so that I could twist them.”
Silence. Twilight waited and listened, this was a story that she was determined to hear, plus the way Chrysalis touched her chest with her hoof now…it seemed like she wanted to lay those memories to rest, to lift a burden off her shoulders. Twilight was more than willing to be there for her, and she wanted to show that. Coming closer she took Chrysalis’s hoof and placed it between her own, showing her that she was precious to her now. Chrysalis noded in understanding, and continued her tale.
“My mother was the lady of House Mirrorhoof, one of the twelve houses that formed the changeling nation. We were split, divided, fighting amongst ourselves. Each house had the ambition of uniting the rest, of defeating them. None, however, could gain a definite advantage to win victory. So I had to learn. Learn how to rule, to inspire, to devastate them all.”
There was a bitterness, combined with anger, in that voice. Twilight gulped, something had definitely incited anger in her marefriend. It was clear at that moment that she bore hatred towards her former enemies, it reminded Twilight of the Chrysalis at Canterlot. Nevertheless, she didn’t interrupt.
“And so I learned. My mother called Mirage Strike, a mare of infinite wisdom, one I would learn to call my teacher, my mentor, my guidance. I can tell you one thing Twilight… if I owe my parents the life I am living, I owe Mirage the quality of life that I am living.
“She taught me more than just magic. She taught me how to inspire, to lift the spirits of my brethren, to… to sing.” Chrysalis paused, her heart skipped a beat. Twilight spotted the water in her eyes shifting, but before she could confirm what she saw Chrysalis composed herself.
It seemed that she and Chrysalis had a lot more in common than she thought, was this why they were attracted to each other? Both model students, both with aspirations, plans to lead. Each was tutored by a great mentor, but Twilight guessed that Chrysalis’s tale didn’t exactly have a happy ending.
“Chrysalis…” said Twilight, but her lover raised her hoof, stopping her.
“I was just like you… eager to learn, to satisfy my peers, to live up to the challenge. I became a model student not for myself, but for the sake of a better future. I stayed at my parents’ meetings, learning the tricks of diplomacy. I learned how to take care of the hatchlings, I learned how to battle, how to defeat opponents superior to me. It’s then that I started losing myself. The one thing that I lost on my path to ruling. But you won’t understand… unless you see for yourself.”
Magic gathered on her horn, but it was different than a normal spell. Her magic didn’t gather around like a glow in her horn. Instead, it flew in spirals from the base of her horn. Soon, her form started turning black with a green outline. Twilight pulled back, hooves shaking slightly at what was going on. Admittedly this was something she didn’t expect…
She was scared.
“W-what are you doing? Stop!” She pleaded, but Chrysalis continued.
The spirals changed directions and formed an atom-like trajectory around her. Before she could marvel at the sight, a small wave of magic came from Chrysalis, changing everything in its path. Twilight cowered, covering her face with her hooved as she closed her eyes. When she opened them she wasn’t inside the castle anymore. Had Chrysalis teleported them somewhere else?
She seemed to be outside of Chrysalis’s castle, and it was burning. There were screams, and fire, the unmistakable clash of magic. There was a battle going on inside the castle... Though from what she saw the castle was smaller this time. Where she remembered embrasures, walls, and other facilities, there were none. It was now nighttime, and the stars had shifted too much from the places she remembered from her observations during her stay at the castle.
She would have said that she was transported back in time, but there was one thing that proved that claim outright wrong. Her own form was transparent, and she soon Chrysalis in a similar spirit-like form.
“Where are we, Chrysalis? Where did you take us?” She said as her curiosity overtook her. What kind of magic could do this?
“These are my memories, Twilight. You will see this first hand… and judge me accordingly.” The way she said it, it was like Chrysalis awaited a conviction.
There was a low buzz that rapidly intensified from where the east wall was supposed to be. From the sides of the gorge another, younger Chrysalis appeared in battlemage garb. Her eyes were glowing more than normal: they were like two raging fires promising destruction and pain. She flapped her wings to their limits as if she was driven by some madness to reach her goal in time. Her mane was at the mercy of the wind, and she was dirty all over with blood.
It dawned on Twilight: Chrysalis had just returned from a battle, and it seemed that her enemies had decided to maneuver around her troops and attack her stronghold. As if guessing her thoughts, Chrysalis responded.
“You needn’t worry about my victory Twilight, from the moment they attacked my home they sealed their fate. You should worry about one thing.”
“What is that?” She said, fearing the answer. As Chrysalis responded a flash of green ran through her eyes that made Twilight shiver.
“Retribution.”