Chapter 14: Royal Request
Chrysalis’s POV (Present tense)
Three hours after defeat
I woke up about an hour ago images of my failed conquest, all that I could feel for the result was anger. anger at Twilight Sparkle for being so observant, anger at Cadence and Shining Armor for throwing me out and killing or knocking out my subjects that were still inside without a window to go through. Anger at the royal guard for delaying my army’s advance so most could not help me against the couple, and anger at myself for my multiple mistakes that lead to all this.
I was with a small group of my subjects that were nearby and alive. They found me and brought me into a cave they found at the base of Canterlot Mountain, we were a weeks trot from the hive if we went without feeding but in our state that was impossible, our group was weary and would need to feed in two days to replenish the energy lost from healing from the fall. But once I reached the hive I will find a way to punish every single pony that was responsible all in one or two strikes, I will find a way to assassinate Celestia the ‘Goddess’ of the sun, and Luna the ‘Goddess’ of the moon, this time I would not fail.
Shadow Dancer (Marcus)
(Day after Changeling invasion)
It was about eight in the morning and I was a few hours away from being released from the hospital, but at the moment I ate a breakfast of oatmeal and eggs. The food was oddly good and did not seem like the make in a minute meals like I expected and tasted decent, it could just be that I was used to military infirmary food and not actual hospital food. Anyways that is all beside the point the thing is that I ate breakfast, waited for my release from the hospital, and looked at my stitches. They were red, looked ugly and would scar like my many other injuries before them but I would be fine given time.
My self inspection was cut short when I heard the door open and a nurse mare walked in. Apparently nobody told her that I ‘was’ an Alicorn, because once she saw me her eyes went wide and she quivered into a bow before shakingly getting up once more. I just sighed, “So anything new ma’am?”
The poor girl seemed close to fainting when I spoke but managed to answer, “E-E-Everything is taken care of y-you're free to go sir.”
“You know that just because I look like one of your rulers with the whole wing and horn deal doesn’t mean you must treat me like them.”
The poor mare quickly dashed off blushing and I heard the snickers of two mares closely follow. With another sigh I got up… Well attempted to then almost fell anyway, but it seemed that my legs were asleep and I still needed to recover my strength a bit more on top of that.
Well lets go forward an hour, by then I was able to get up and walk around with some discomfort, after getting up my first goal was to find Captain Shining Armor or just a superior officer and ask about when I could resume my duties, and I believe it was self explanatory what I would do from there. Well this would have happened if a sprinting pony hadn't grabbed my attention. The courier was a pegasus mare with a red mane, black fur, fiery orange eyes and long eyelashes with an infinite symbol as her cutie mark. She stopped in front of me and said, “You are Shadow Dancer correct?”
I nodded, “That would be correct, and you are?”
The mare smiled, it was not just a friendly smile but one that shouted ‘I have huge ass ego’ with a megaphone, “My name is Flame Wing and I’m a courier among other things like professional monster hunter, foal sitter, medic, puzzle solver….
I stopped her before she continued to drone on and I got annoyed by her better than thou attitude. “Ma’am, what do you want?”
That seemed to knock her out of her rant, and she paused for a moment before speaking, “Oh, the Princesses have requested to see you in the Canterlot Castle Laboratory today.” I nodded and left the mare behind before her attitude started to irritate me further, not bothering to apply the illusion spell.
After asking for directions I found the laboratory within an hour. There were two guards that were standing in front of the large door, “What is your name and why are you here?” The guard on the right asked.
“My name is Shadow Dancer and I was told the Princesses wanted to meet me,” I answered. The Guardsman Guardspony huffed and I felt a spell wash around me. The doors opened and the guards stood to the side to let me in. When I entered and my nose was assaulted by the smell of cleaning supplies and burnt rubber, oil, and plastic as ponies in lab coats walked around with one purpose or another in mind. I looked around and saw vials, paper, quills and many scientific doodads i could not name. My inspection of the area was cut short by a scientist walking towards me and saying, “Sir follow me please.”
I complied, as I figured that he was sent to fetch me for the two Princesses that awaited me. We walked through more hallways and experimental areas until we reached a metal door with a sign saying ‘authorized scientists only’ the scientist opened it with a glow of his horn and we entered. The room was more like an arena covered in scorch marks and scrapes along the floor and walls and the Princesses were in the middle of the room. My escort bowed. “I have brought this stallion here as you asked.”
Celestia looked at the Scientist, “ Thank you Live Test, you may leave and tell the others that we are not to be disturbed but for an emergency.”
The Stallion bowed again and left, closing the door behind him with a echoing bang. “So you two wanted me here for what exactly?” I asked.
Celestia was the first to speak, “We wanted to say that we have a prototype spell that we made to restore you back to your human form. We were going to test it after the wedding reception had ended but the circumstances changed. Keep in mind Marcus that it may not work as intended but hopefully, no adverse effects should come up but we make no guarantees. Tell us when you're ready and we’ll begin, any questions?”
“I have one question Princess. How will my stitches and other currently healing wounds be affected? I rather not bleed out minutes after being restored to my human form.”
The Princesses seemed to have thought the issue through before hand as Luna answered me without delay. We have considered that as well, which is why on top of the original spell we will cast an advanced healing spell to keep the wounds closed as thy body changes back into it’s natural form.”
I thought about what Luna and Celestia just told me for a minute before nodding, “Okay, I’m ready.”
The Princesses nodded and with a glow of their horns they shot two beams at my chest and my body erupted in pain. I got to feel each and every bone in my body break and reform to my human shape, my skin stretched and fur receded. I felt my toes and fingers form from what used to be hooves and my spine straightened to take a bipedal posture. I had never felt a physical pain worse than my transformation before or after that moment in time but fortunately the pain put me into a state of unconsciousness and my surroundings turned from a blur to black.