//------------------------------// // Chapter Eight: Chrysalis' First Vision // Story: Twilight's First Foals -- Episode I - The Hybrid Changelings // by One Universe One story //------------------------------// Twilight and Chrysalis had just reached the edge of the Everfree Forest when Chrysalis jumped back a bit. “Twilight, do you sense something?” Chrysalis asked. “No,” Twilight said. “Do you?” “Yes,” Chrysalis started, “but I don’t recognize the magic wave pattern, and I’ve learned most.” “Wait...,” Twilight said while swiveling her ears. “Something is nearby.” “You’re one-hundred percent correct, Twilight,” said a voice like Sombra’s. “Chrysalis, look out!” Twilight exclaimed Before rushing into Chrysalis and pushing her out of the way of a Dark Crystal stalactite that came from a Dark Void spell above them. “Thank you, Twilight,” said Chrysalis as she picked herself off the ground. “I can sense it’s only you and Chrysalis,” Sombra’s voice echoed, “so I’m going to propose a challenge. You two against me, in the Badlands. You bring your ‘Elements of Harmony’ and me, I’ll bring the Dark Heart. Spoils will be decided at the end of the battle. Deal?” Twilight looked at Chrysalis and they nodded at one another at the same time. “We accept,” said Twilight confidently. “See you at the Badlands,” Sombra’s voice echoed, laughing as it faded away. “Well, at least we now know he has the Dark Heart,” Chrysalis said. “Let’s go about this in a smart way, Chrysalis,” said Twilight as they started to go over several strategies to defeat Sombra. ~~~ Twilight and Chrysalis had just made it to the Badlands when another Dark Void appeared above them. This time it was Chrysalis who saved Twilight from a falling stalactite. “Thanks,” Twilight said as she picked herself up and brushed the dirt off her armour. “Don’t mention it,” said Chrysalis slightly blushing at the fact she was the one saving somepony else. “So, I guess you two have tried to come up with a plan to defeat me, hmm?” asked Sombra as he appeared out from behind a boulder. “I’ll tell you this: I’ve come up with a way to defeat you. So, what have you planned?” “Us?” Twilight asked as she looked at Chrysalis and nodded. “We’ll wing it!” Twilight then engaged her speed enhancement, rushed at Sombra, and activated her Light Sword weapon attachment. Before Sombra knew what hit him, he had a gash on his left side. Sombra laughed for a few seconds before he started talking. “You think a scratch is going to stop me?” he asked, laughing as the large gash mended itself. “Didn’t know I could heal myself, did you, Twilight?” “No, I knew,” Twilight said as she started to barrage Sombra with sword attacks. Sombra kept laughing as Twilight tried harder and harder to hurt him. “Keep this up and I’ll let you hurt you brother’s body,” Sombra laughed before Twilight paused her barrage of attacks. “My brother’s body?” Twilight asked, puzzled by what Sombra said. Sombra released a portion of his control over Shining’s mind. “Big... Brother... Best... Friends... Forever,” he said, fighting for control over his own body. Sombra then took back control and began laughing. “SHINING!” Twilight exclaimed. Sombra noticed a symbol appear on Twilight’s armour, the ‘Meta’ symbol to be exact. He started to laugh harder and summoned his scythe. But before he could use it, he was covered in injuries caused by Twilight’s Light Sword. The Dark Magic left Shining’s body, leaving him lying unconscious on the ground. Twilight pulled off her helmet and rushed over to her brother. “Shining?” Twilight asked trying to wake up her brother. “Shining, wake up! SHINING!” she yelled as tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Shining coughed a few times and then began to speak. “T-Twilight? Is that really you?” he asked. “Yes! Yes, it is,” Twilight replied wiping the tears from her eyes.. “T-Twilight, w-why are you w-wearing that s-stuff?” Shining asked trying to catch his breath. “Don’t worry about that,” Twilight said smiling. “Just tell me, does Sombra have Flash Sentry?” “Y-yes,” Shining said before coughing a few more times. “I-I t-think he p-plans on u-using him l-like he u-used me.” “Thank you, Shining,” Twilight said before putting her helmet back on. “M.I.L.I.S., one for evac.” “Co-ordinates?” asked M.I.L.I.S. “Scan for Beacon One,” said Twilight after she put a small transmitter on her brother’s armour. “Beacon One detected,” replied M.I.L.I.S. “Teleporting... now.” Shining disappeared in a ball of light that up and traveled Twilight's castle. When he arrived, he found himself on the floor in front of Princess Cadance. “Sh-Shining? I-is that you?” Cadance asked. “Y-yes?” Shining replied as he flattened his ears against his head. “Oh, thank the stars, you’re alright!” Cadance said as she looked up at the now early evening sky. Back in the Badlands, Twilight and Chrysalis were setting up camp for the night in a cave. “I wonder how my foals are doing,” said Chrysalis as she was preparing herself a place to sleep. “They’re alright,” said Meta through the speakers on Twilight’s armour. “I’ve been monitoring them by communicating with the terminal in Zecora’s hut.” “Thank you, Meta,” Chrysalis said as she lay down on some soft cave moss. “You know, for a little crystal of magic energy, you’re not half bad.” “Thank you, Chrysalis,” Meta said as her holographic body appeared next to Twilight. “It is my job to serve and please my Director and her-” “That’s enough, Meta,” Twilight snapped cutting Meta off. “I’ll take first watch.” “Thanks,” responded Chrysalis, yawning. “I could use some sleep.” “You could use some sleep?! Who did all the fighting?” asked Twilight angrily. “You did, but-” Chrysalis said while standing up rapidly and then subsequently fainting. On her way to the ground, she hit her horn on the side of the cave and it snapped in half. “Chrysalis!” Twilight exclaimed. ~~~ “Sombra, leave Nix alone, she’s not done a thing against you!” yelled Chrysalis. “Myx, Celestia's taught you all the Light Magic she knows. Help me save your father and sister.” “I’ll do my bessst, mother,” said Myx as his horn began to glow white. “How touching. Father sssaid you’d think I wasss under hisss control,” said Nix. “I don’t know what’sss worssse. Being thisss young and having almossst beaten my mother and older brother? Or thisss pathetic emotion called love you have for me?” “That 'pathetic emotion called love' is what created you. If I didn’t love Somber you wouldn’t have even been born!” Chrysalis yelled. “Yesss, that isss true. But that fact isss about to get you killed,” Nix said laughing in such a manner like her father as she summoned a smaller version of his scythe. “Nixxx, pleassse ssstop!” exclaimed Myx as he flattened his ears against his head. “I don’t want to hurt you!” “I sssaid ssstop calling me ‘Nixxx’!” yelled Nix as she grew to the size of Chrysalis, her mane turned black and began to flow, her eye's became dragon-like and violet in colour, and a violet mist coming from them. “From now on it’sss Mydnyght Nixxxusss!” “I will never call you that, Nixxx!” proclaimed Myx as he grew, also, to the size of Chrysalis, except his mane and tail turned white and began to flow; and his coat turned to a creme colour, his horn became blue, his eyes became dragon-like and crimson in colour, and a greenish-gold mist began to flow from them. Mydnyght Nixus charged at Chrysalis and Chrysalis blacked out. ~~~ “Chrysalis!” exclaimed Twilight as she was shaking Chrysalis trying to wake her up. “Wake up Chrysalis, it’s just a bad dream!” Chrysalis woke up and pushed Twilight away. “I’ve got to save her!.” she exclaimed as she stood up and tried to walk. “Ahh!” she yelled as her head started pounding because she snapped her horn. “Chrysalis, who are you trying to save?” asked Twilight as she rushed over to Chrysalis again. “Don’t try to walk, you’ll only end up hurting yourself.” “You don’t understand!”Chrysalis exclaimed, crying. “If I don’t get there in time she’ll be gone forever!” “Who? Who’ll be gone forever?” asked Twilight frantically. “NIX!” Chrysalis yelled as loud as she could before fainting again. ~~~ “Mother?” Nix wondered aloud as she turned to face a Southeast direction. “What is it Nix?” Zecora started. “I hope it’s not another of your tricks.” “I ssswear it’sss not, Missss Zecora,” Nix said as she turned to face the zebra. “I have thisss feeling mother called my name. And I’m worried about her.” “I’m worried about mother, too,” said Myx. “But I didn’t hear mother call my name, ssso if you asssk me, Missss Zecora, shhhe’sss jussst kidding.” “But I really did hear mother call my name!” exclaimed Nix. “Yeah, and I’m Dissscord,” commented Myx who then stuck his forked tongue out at Nix. “Missss Zecora!” Nix said pointing at Myx. “Please, stop arguing,” Zecora started. “Especially over such a little thing. If her mother’s call is what she heard, I will not doubt any word.” “Thank you, Missss Zecora,” Nix said as she walked closer to the zebra, “but could I asssk Missss Twilight if shhhe’sss alright?” Zecora looked down at the filly who was attempting to make a cute face but failing due to her eyes not being like that of your average foal. Zecora sighed and then began her rhyme, “Your effort was the best you could do. I’ll contact Twilight, just for you.” Nix jumped up and hugged Zecora causing her to blush a bit. Myx just face-hoofed and turned away. Zecora finished making the potion she had started then walked over to the computer terminal Twilight installed in the back of her hut to make the call. “M.I.L.I.S., I would like to call Twilight,” Zecora began. “Nix want’s to know if Chrysalis is alright.” “I’m sorry Zecora, but it appears as if Twilight is in a high interference area,” said the computer. “I would not be able to successfully hold the line open for more than five seconds.” “But I’ve gotta ssspeak to Missss Twilight!” Nix exclaimed as she hit the computer. “I muss! I mussst!” “Nix, please refrain from causing any further damage to my hardware,” said M.I.L.I.S. “Nix, go sit in a corner, you’re now in time out!” Zecora exclaimed. “And I don’t want to hear you cry or pout.” “Yesss, Misss Zecora,” Nix said as she walked over to a corner away from the computer, sat down, and started to silently cry. ~~~ “It took quite some time to brew,” Zecora said as she dipped a ladle in her cauldron and poured the liquid into two bowls, “but here is something I made for you two.” “Thank you, Missss Zecora,” said Myx as he walked over to one of the bowls and began to drink the brew. “Nix, come and eat,” Zecora began, “and when you’re done you can have a treat.” “Th-thank you, Missss Zecora,” said Nix as she stood up out of the corner, walked over to the other bowl, and also began to drink the brew. “Mmm. What’s this made of?” “Promise you won’t tell anypony?” asked Zecora outside her usual rhyming manner. “Umm…” the foals said looking at each other, puzzled by Zecora’s sudden change in speech pattern. “Why would we tell anypony, Missss Zecora?” asked Myx, curiously. “Just promise not to tell anypony!” Zecora exclaimed. “Yes, Ma’am!” the foals quickly responded out of fear. “It contains various types of powder Hydra meat, a selection of herbs from my garden, and Chaos Water.” said Zecora. “What’sss Chaosss Water, Missss Zecora?” asked Nix. “It’s a special enchanted water I get when I visit Discord in Chaosville,” said Zecora. “You’ve met the real Dissscord?!” asked Myx excitedly. “Yes,” said Zecora as she looked into her cauldron and started to brew another liquid, “and he’s quite the entertainer.” “Missss Zecora why aren’t you rhyming?” asked Nix politely. Zecora froze for a second then resumed brewing, “Oh! Um… No reason. Why? Am I committing treason?” “Alert! Highly powerful magical entity detected,” said M.I.L.I.S. “Where Is it?” Zecora said as she rushed over to the computer terminal. “Within y-ou,” M.I.L.I.S. said as Zecora punched the computer causing it to lose power. “Zecora!” the foals yelled, surprised by the zebra’s actions. Zecora became shrouded in a black mist that, when it had dissipated, left Sombra in her place. “Hello, son, daughter,” Sombra said as he looked at the two foals. “Sssombra!” the foals exclaimed, jumping back as they did. “That’s ‘Father’ to you two!” exclaimed Sombra as he summoned Dark Crystal Cages around the foals. “You’ll never be father to me!” exclaimed Myx as he trashed about in his cage. “I-I th-think I-I’d sss-sssooner h-him b-be-be f-father th-than b-be-be h-held in th-this c-cage f-forever,” Nix stuttered in fear, ears flat against her head. Myx stopper thrashing about and looked at his sister in shock. “Atta girl,” Sombra said as he dematerialized the cage around Nix. “Come here.” “Y-yes, f-father?” asked Nix as she slowly approached Sombra. “Would you like to be as powerful as me?” Sombra asked looking down at the young filly. “Um...,” Nix mumbled barely audible. “Speak up, dear, I haven’t got all evening,” said Sombra trying to rush the filly’s decision. “Y-yes,” Nix said trying to not upset Sombra. “You really want to become as powerful as your father?” Sombra asked again. “Y-yes, father,” Nix said, unsure of what might happen next. “Allow me to take control of you and we'll go somewhere where we can practice your magic skills," said Sombra as he turned amorphous around Zecora's body. "O-k-kay, father," Nix said nervously. Sombra left Zecora's body and went to Nix' body. This caused Zecora to fall to the floor unconscious. Zecora recovered from the experience just in time to see Sombra use his dark magic to turn them both into mist and fly off with Myx still in his cage. "This... is not... good," Zecora said before fainting again. ~~~ "Director, I've lost contact with Zecora's terminal," said Meta as her holographic body appeared next to the now asleep Changeling Queen. "Just before I lost contact, I received an alert from M.I.L.I.S. that Sombra was in the hut somewhere. I told her to stall on the alarm for a while, but she went ahead and alerted Zecora. However, I was able to pick up a final transmission from M.I.L.I.S. Zecora turned out to be used by Sombra to get at the foals." "How?" Twilight asked puzzled by Meta's report. "We were fighting him here not three hours ago!" "Apparently he's mastered a new dark magic thanks to the Dark Heart," said Meta as her holographic body looked down at Chrysalis. "So... Is there any chance she'll regrow her horn if we use a heal beam?" asked Twilight, concerned about Chrysalis' possible inability to transform. "Point two five percent," responded Meta as her holograph shook its head in dismay. "Um... At least there's a slim chance," said Twilight as she readied her armour. "Let's try... For her sake." "Alright, but we don't have a pipeline to command so it'll use all our- Alert! Dark Void detected!"exclaimed Meta as her holograph looked up to see a cage containing Myx fall to the cave floor and shatter. "Ouch," Myx said as he stood up and tried to straighten his now bent wing. "Misss Twilight! I'm ssso happy to sssee you," he said as he rushed to hug Twilight. "Sssombra took Nixxx, and sssent me through that thing. We've gotta ssstop him from corrupting Nixxx! And-" "Calm down, Myx," said Meta as her holograph walked over to him. "Start at the beginning and go from there a little at a time." "Well," Myx started, "We were having a ssstaring contessst when all of a sssudden..." ~~~ "... And then I arrived here through that thing," Myx said, concluding his long explanation of what happened at Zecora's. The time was now just before dawn. Chrysalis awoke at the end of Myx' explanation. "Is it as I fear, Myx?" Chrysalis said somberly. "Is your sister with Sombra?" "I... I'm sssorry, mother," Myx replied as he started to cry and rushed to hug his mother. "It's not your fault," said Chrysalis, hugging back, "you couldn't do a thing to stop him." "M-mother, what happened to your horn?" asked Myx as he wiped tears from his eyes. "Oh? Oh! Um...," Chrysalis said, now noticing her snapped horn. "I don't remember. It must have happened when I passed out earlier." "It did, Chrysalis," said Meta as Twilight walked closer to the two Changelings. "Twilight and I were about to attempt healing it when Myx appeared." "Yes, but that can wait till we get back to my castle," Twilight said. "We need to search the archives that Celestia sent me to make sure we don't have a way to successfully counter what will happen." "Shall I instruct M.I.L.I.S. to teleport us to the castle, Director?" asked Meta as her holograph looked at Twilight "Yes. Have her lock onto beacons two and three and my armour," Twilight said as she handed the two beacons to the Changelings. "Then have her ready to teleport us on my mark." "Yes, Director," said Meta in a sort of 'complaint' tone as her holograph glitched a bit. "Are you unhappy with such a simple task, Meta?" asked Twilight not noticing the glitch. "No director," Meta said, still in her 'complaint' tone and glitching. "Then why are you complaining?" asked Twilight slightly angered. "I... don't... know," Meta said as her voice fluctuated and the glitching of her holograph increased in pace. "M.-M.-M.I.L.-M.I.L.-M.I.L.I.S., t-t-tel-tel-teleport n-n-now." "Teleporting," responded M.I.L.I.S. as Twilight and the two Changelings turned into white balls that floated off to Twilight's castle. ~~~ "META!" Twilight yelled, aggravated. "META RESPOND!" "C-c-com-com-command a-a-ac-ac-acknowl-acknowl-acknowledged," said Meta, still fluctuating and glitching. "I-I-I'll n-n-not l-l-last m-m-much l-l-long-long-longer." "What are you talking about, Meta?" asked Twilight as Meta's crystal appeared in her hoof. "I-i-it's b-b-been a-a-a p-p-pleas-pleas-pleasure s-s-serv-serv-serving w-w-with y-y-you, D-D-Di-Di-Direct-Direct-Director," Meta said as her crystal started to darken. "F-f-fare-fare-farewell, D-D-Di-Di-Direct-Direct-Director." Meta's crystal faded to such a dark black that even light could not be reflected off it's surface. "NOOOOOO!" Twilight yelled looking up at the ceiling. "Twilight, what's all the yelling about asked Celestia as she entered Twilight's lab. "I just lost the foundation of my Mercenary Project," Twilight said tossing the crystal in a waste bin. "You did know they were only usable so long as they received magic energy... right?" asked Celestia as she picked the crystal out of the bin with her magic. Celestia brought the crystal closer to herself. When the crystal was about two feet away, a stream of magic energy began to flow from Celestia's horn to the crystal. Twilight watched in amazement as the crystal changed from a light absorbing black to light emitting white with a gray 'Meta' symbol on it. "How are you...?" Twilight mumbled inaudible to Celestia's ears but not to her eyes. "I'm simply restoring the magic energy the crystal had," Celestia stated simply. "Then why did-" "It changed colours because I'm putting Light Magic energy into it and not just any magic into it, which is why it was more gray than white earlier," Celestia said dumbfounding Twilight. "Light Magic is a magic type unique to alicorns and those of their figure." "What do you mean, 'unique to alicorns and those of their figure'?" asked Twilight as magic energy stopped flowing from Celestia's horn to the crystal. "What she means is that there is a possibility that Chrysalis Myx and Nix can use it," said Meta as her holograph appeared being cast from the crystal. "Provided their aura is of a corresponding type," Celestia added as she handed the crystal to Twilight using her magic. "How do you know if somepony's aura is of a corresponding type?" asked Twilight in wonder. "Why, with the Light Heart of course." Celestia replied.