Chrysalis, the queen of all the changelings, immediately put a hoof to her head as she was hit by a massive headache. "Ugh, I hate being a dragon." Chrysalis grunted, as even turning into a baby dragon was difficult, despite her being the most powerful out of all the changelings.
"Of course your majesty, now what was it that you wanted to discuss with me." Steelclaw asked Chrysalis, fully aware what she was in the Dragon Empire to discuss with him.
"Drop the formalities Steelclaw, it doesn't suit you." Chrysalis said to Steelclaw, placing a her hoof on the dragon's chin.
Steelclaw recoiled in disgust, knowing from personal experience how to deal with changelings, and role one was to never, under any circumstances. Allow them to distract you with their ability to know exactly how to turn you on.
"Yes, of course Chrysalis, what do you want? I thought that our plan for taking over Equestria was perfect, and was about ready to strike." Steelclaw asked Chrysalis, trying to get the true reasons for her surprise visit out of her.
"You are correct, my plan to infiltrate Equestria is practically foolproof. Nopony would expect that one of their princess was really the Changeling Queen in disguise." Chrysalis said more to herself, explaining her plan to turn into the niece of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Loving to hear herself speak, problem that Steelclaw had brought up to her multiple times.
"Ok, that still doesn't answer my question." Steelclaw aid to Chrysalis, his frustration toward the Queen of Deception.
"You dragons are even denser than I thought." Chrysalis mumbled to herself, before she answered. "If you really must know. I have come to insure that you will hold your side of the bargain." Chrysalis said her eyes flashing, making Steelclaw have to avert his eyes in order for him not to become under the changeling's mind control.
"I can assure you that I will hold my end of our deal. You will do care to remember that you are not the only one that has an army of warriors." Steelclaw said to the bug pony, his initiation at Chrysalis raising.
Chrysalis only chuckled at the King's failed attempt to intimidate her. "You really don't who you're dealing with, don't you." Chrysalis said to Steelclaw, as the shadows of the room morphing in the shapes of smaller changelings.
The changelings being from Chrysalis' most elite squad of changelings known simply as the Shadow Hive. A rare group of changelings that have the ability to literally melt into the shadows and feed off the love of others. Something that not even the queen could pull off, them all acting as the queen's personal spies all across the world. Their stealth unmatched, with them even being able to spy on Celestia herself without her knowledge.
The shadows then turned the physical forms of over a dozen small (about half the size of their Queen) changelings, circling the red dragon, like wolves circling a large bear. All of their horns glowing the same emerald green as their blank eyes and bug-like shell on their backs. Each one had a small band made out of polished steel that wrapped around one of their forelegs with a small emerald in the middle. The gem shined in the low lighting, like a green star in a cloudy night sky.
"You dare threaten me in my own kingdom!" Steelclaw yelled at Chrysalis, standing up on his hind legs, his head hitting the ceiling of the cave. Small chucks of rock filled with different colored gems falling to the ground.
"Oh course not, stand down my minions." Chrysalis said to Steelclaw, ordering her soldiers to stand down. The dozen or so changelings then retreated back into the shadows, warping back into part of the darkness once again. Leaving just like they entered.
"I'm just showing what you would be dealing with if you don't honor our deal." Chrysalis said, only a few inches from the King. Her olive-green eyes seeming to stare right through Steelclaw.
"What is it that you really want Chrysalis, gold, silver, or jewels? Because you in the richest Empire in the world." Steelclaw asked the black alicorn, making a crooked smile appear across her face.
"No, unlike you dragons I am not interested in any as simpleton as gold. Me, and the rest of my changelings crave something with a little more power." Chrysalis said turning away from Steelclaw, staring off into the shadows. Small silhouettes of ponies like creatures warping in and out of the darkness.
"What can be more power than the riches of the entire Dragon Empire?" Steelclaw asked a little sarcastically.
"Why love, of course." Chrysalis said turning back to face the giant dragon, as she continued. "As cheesy it may sound, love one of the most powerful forces in the world, especially when it comes to 'true love'. Only being match in power by the true friendship that powers the Elements of Harmony. We capture the love of others as food as use it to gain more power for ourselves." Chrysalis said, making Steelclaw's muscles tense up at the Queen's creepy monologue.
"You need not worry, you, or your kingdom. Your Empire may be filled with gold, silver, and gems, but it lacks love more than any other country I have been to." Chrysalis said making Steelclaw relax at the changeling's words.
"Equestria on the other hoof has more love than any other land I have even encountered, my changelings would be able to consume so much of it. Being able to become even more powerful than we had even been." Chrysalis continued, the same crooked smile reappearing to her face.
Steelclaw now convinced that the Queen of the Changelings wouldn't betray him began joining her in the planning process of taking over Equestria. "Then what is that you need from me Chrysalis?" Steelclaw asked the black bug pony, catching her attention. A little surprised that he had become to trust her so easily.
Chrysalis' crooked smile grew only larger as she knew that she had Steelclaw of Canterlot. While you and your dragon army take over the rest of Equestria." Chrysalis said to Steelclaw laying out her plan to return Equestria back into Changeling control.
"So you get to take over one city, while I have to take over the entire country on my own!" Steelclaw said enrage that he was the short end of the warring stick.
"Relax oh angerful one, your mission will by far more difficult than mine." Chrysalis said with a slight chuckle in her voice.
"What do you mean?" Steelclaw asked Chrysalis, making the changeling grunt to herself at the dragon's stupidity.
"I mean that you're part of the plan will be easy, as I will keep the forces of Equestria all concentrated as I invade Canterlot. Allowing you to invade the rest of the country with minimal resistance." Chrysalis said to Steelclaw, making him grin at the idea that she would take the bulk of the fighting for the country.
"Then you can count me and the entirely of my dragon army to help in our combined take over of Equestria." Steelclaw said to Chrysalis, making the changeling queen laugh internally to herself.
"Perfect I will put my part if the plan as soon as possible." Chrysalis said to Steelclaw beginning to leave, believing that their secret meeting was over.
"Not so fast your majesty." Steelclaw said, his massive tail blocking the changeling's path.
Chrysalis retreated backwards, toward the shadows, her shadow hive changelings ready to attack if need be.
"No need for alarm your majesty, I just have one condition." Steelclaw said to Chrysalis, making her relax a little bit.
"And what condition is that?" Chrysalis asked Steelclaw, motioning her changeling support to stand down.
"My one condition is that when we eventually will take over Equestria. I want to be the one that is in charge." Steelclaw said to Chrysalis, the dragon's words taking her by surprise.
Chrysalis then went into deep thought, placing her hole filled hoof to her chin, as she weighed the pros and cons of a dragon ruling over Equestria.
"Well... do you have an answer for me. You are either with me or you're against me. So which is it your majesty." Steelclaw asked Chrysalis in the most immediating way he possibly could. Knowing that she couldn't risk going to war with an army of dragons.
"I'm thinking." Chrysalis said bluntly, trying to buy herself a little more time. The shadows behind her growing in size as her changelings from the Shadow Hive ready themselves for battle if need be.
Knowing that their was no our choice Chrysalis grunted, before she gave Steelclaw her answer. "Fine... if we are able to take over Equestria then I will allow you to rule over the country." Chrysalis said agreeing to the red dragon's terms. Making Steelclaw grin to himself, his steak knife like teeth seemly to shine in the low lighting.
"However I have one condition of my own." Chrysalis said quickly, making her that she wasn't going to leave this meeting with the short end of the stick.
Steelclaw was at first suspicious as to what the changeling was going to propose, but then decised to just roll with it. "Yes, what is this one condition that you speak of?" Steelclaw asked Chrysalis, genuinely intrigued as to what the changeling would demand.
"My one condition is that if we are able to take over Equestria. Then you will only be able to rule over it if you and all of your dragon armies assist me and my changelings in the capture of the country. Is that understood." Chrysalis said to Steelclaw.
To the changeling's surprise, Steelclaw broke a crooked smile and responded. "Crystal your majesty, I will make sure that my army of dragons will be ready for the invasion of Equestria."
"Well then I believe that is the end of it, one of my spies will inform you and your armies when are invasion of Equestria is about to begin." Chrysalis said as she shapeshifted back into her dragon disguise.
"Of course, your majesty. I and my armies will be awaiting your word." Steelclaw to the now baby dragon, as the transformed Chrysalis left the small cave that they were using to have their secret meeting.
As Chrysalis walked up to the mouth of the crystal cave one of the her changelings from the Shadow Hive emerged from the shadows.
The changeling shared the same blank green eyes and shell as the rest, but unlike had a small metal staff attached to his side with an emerald gem attached to both ends of the staff.
"What is it that you want Zulu?" A disguised Chrysalis asked the leader of the Shadow Hive, and one of her most trusted lieutenants.
"I just wanted to ask you a question your majesty." Zulu said in a calm and collective voice, seeming to overshadow his beasty appearance.
"And what question is that?" Chrysalis asked Zulu, her small dragons legs not quite fit for talking and walking to a full-grown changeling.
"I, along with the rest of the hive, were just wondering if you really meant what you had promised to Steelclaw." Zulu asked Chrysalis, making the disguised changeling come to a complete halt.
"Are you questioning my actions Zulu?" Chrysalis said transforming back to her original form in a flash of green fire that consumed her body.
"Of course not your majesty, we were just wondering if after all of these years of planning were we really going to let a dragon like Steelclaw rule over Equestria. A place that we changelings deserve to rule over again." Zulu said to Chrysalis, making his queen relax.
"You need not worrying about Steelclaw. Have you forgotten about are secret weapon." Chrysalis said to Zulu, and the changeling immediately knew of what, or to be more accurate who, she was talking about.
"Right him... but can we truly trust him." Zulu said to his queen, not sure that her decisions were the best one's for her subjects. Though not questioning her directly.
"You need not worry about him... he has assisted our cause longer than I have even been alive." Chrysalis said to the smaller changeling. "I am sure that he would more than happy to enact his revenge on the princesses of Equestria." Chrysalis said as she transformed back her dragon disguise in a flash of green fire. As she walked out the crystal cave into the cool fall air.
"That is what I fear your majesty." Zulu said to himself, before he warped back into the shadows of the caves.
Back on the cliffs overlooking the migration grounds the two wingless dragon brothers, Theta and Sigma, were busying having fun watching the purple dragon try and epically fail at being a 'dragon'.
"Your little friend sure likes getting himself in terrible, doesn't he." Sigma said to his brother, Theta. After watching Spike get himself into even more trouble with a group of teenage dragons.
"He's not even really my friend Sig. He's more just some dragon that I escorted on the way to the migration." Theta said honesty to his brother.
"Then that makes even more then friends." Sigma said rather bluntly, and in need of clarification.
"What do you mean Sig?" Theta asked his brother.
Before Sigma could answer, however, the two brothers were interrupted by a young dragon with bright yellow scales running up to them with a message from King Steelclaw himself.
"Can we help you little one." Sigma asked the young dragon, slightly frustrated that this was the second time that his personal time with his brother had been interrupted.
"I am sorry to interrupt, but King as requested your presence." The young dragon said to the two brothers.
"Again, I guess I'll see you later Theta." Sigma said to his brother, thinking that the summoning was for his brother.
"You misinterpret my meaning, the King has requested the presence of you Sigma." The yellow said to the grayish-silver dragon.
"Me! Why would Steel... I mean his majesty what would he want to speak to me about?" Sigma asked the messenger dragon, surprised that Steelclaw would want to speak to him.
"I am not at liberties to discuss why, all I can say is that you are needed as soon as possible." The messenger dragon said.
"Well I guess I'll see you later bro." Theta said to Sigma, as his brother raised from his seated position.
"I guess so, Theta." Sigma said to his brother, as he followed the yellow dragon to the crystal caves.
"Your majesty, Sigma is here, and awaiting your command." The yellow dragon said to the King of the Dragon Empire, who was busy pacing back and forth in front of his golden throne.
"Yes, Yes, send him in." Steelclaw said, not looking the yellow dragon.
"Of course your majesty." The yellow dragon said retreating back to the grayish-silver dragon, that was waiting at the mouth of the cave. "He's all yours." The yellow said to Sigma, before running off into the distance.
"Hmm... typical." Sigma grunted to himself, before he entered the cave.
"You summoned me your majesty." Sigma said, bowing to his king.
"Yes... I have a certain matter that I need your expertise on." Steelclaw said to Sigma, who just happened to be the King's head advisor when it comes to military actions.
"Me... why would you need me. Aren't we currently at peace?" Sigma asked Steelclaw, becoming slightly suspicious of the large dragon's actions.
"You are correct, but that doesn't mean that our peace will remain." Steelclaw said to Sigma, his pacing coming to a halt.
"What do you mean your majesty, don't we already have an alliance with Equestria?" Sigma asked Steelclaw.
"Yes, yes we do. However, a certain acquaintance of mine has opened my mind to an interesting opportunity for the Empire." Steelclaw said, leaving a confused look on Sigma's face.
"Ok, and who is this acquaintance that you speak of?" Sigma asked Steelclaw.
"Why me, of course." Sigma heard from behind him, making him interesting shifted his attention from Steelclaw to that of a small black scaled dragon with blue reptilian eyes.
"Wait, you are the one that came up the idea to end the centuries long time of peace that the Dragon Empire as indured?" Sigma asked the small dragon, not aware that he was actually speaking to the Queen of the Changelings, Queen Chrysalis.
"Haven't the slightest idea who you are speaking to, don't you?" Chrysalis said to Sigma, using a rhetorical question.
"No, wait who are you?" Sigma asked the disguised changeling. Realization coming to him as the dragon's reptilian eyes flashed to that of olive-green eyes. The black dragon then erupted into green flames, leaving the towering frame of the changeling queen in its place.
Sigma retreated backwards, only for his path to be block by the even larger frame of his king. "Changeling..." Sigma only managed to mumble from his shock.
"It's Queen Chrysalis to you." Chrysalis demanded at the grayish-silver dragon. "So are you going assist us in this endeavor, or do we have to find a more persuasive way of making you work for us." Chrysalis said, as at least a dozen of the changelings from her Shadow Hive warped out of the shadows. Them circling the grayish-silver dragon.
Sigma knowing that he had no other choice but to go along with this madness sighed in defeat. "Fine, I will help you."
"Excellent, Zulu get your flank in here!" Chrysalis ordered at the leader of the Shadow Hive. One of her most trusted lieutenants than warped out of the shadows, not long afterwards.
"Yes your majesty, what orders do you have for me and my hive." Zulu said bowing to his queen.
"I want you to enact phase one of our master plan." Chrysalis said to the bowing changeling.
"Are you sure your majesty, the wedding is still over a month away?" Zulu asked his queen.
"Are you questioning my orders Zulu?" Chrysalis said to her lieutenant, making both of the dragons and the dozen or so changelings take a step back from the scene that was about to take place.
"Oh course not your majesty, me and my greatest warriors will enact phase one as soon as possible." Zulu said as he and the rest of the Shadow Hive changelings retreated back into the shadows of the cave to enact the first part of Chrysalis plan to take over Equestria.
"Oh Sig, what have you gotten yourself into." Sigma thought to himself, as the Queen of the Changelings transformed back into her dragon disguise. Using her small dragon wings to fly out of the cave heading toward the Hive of the Changelings.
Back in Canterlot, Moon Dancer's golden chariot had just landed in the city. The sun just about to set over the horizon.
"I can't thank you enough." Moon Dancer said to the two Pegasus guards that had pulled her chariot.
"No thanks necessary Miss Dancer, we are just following our orders." One of the guards said to Moon Dancer, making the grayish-yellow unicorn chuckle to herself.
"Of course, I will make sure to put in a good word for the princess on your behalf." Moon Dancer said to the two guards, making them both simply nod in response. Them both grateful at the mare's kindness.
Moon Dancer then trotted off, heading toward the white castle that towered over the city. "Hmm... that was strange. He first asks me to come to the Dragon Empire, and then cancels are meeting after he gets an unexpected guest." Moon Dancer thought to herself outloud.
Moon Dancer was so trapped in her thoughts that she didn't notice that she was about to run into another pony until it was too late.
"Um I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." Moon Dancer said, rubbing her head in pain.
"Oh, it's alright we all make mistakes." The pony that Moon Dancer had run into said in a warming voice. Moon Dancer's eyes readjusted from the impact to see a pink alicorn with a multi-colored mane standing above her. The alicorn's pink eyes the first thing that came into focus for her.
"Oh, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. I am so sorry for running into you." Moon Dancer apologized to the pink alicorn, scrambling to her hooves when she noticed that she had just ran into the two Princesses' adoptive niece.
"No apologies necessary, and please call me Cadence." Cadence said in her natural warm voice. "What's your name?" Cadence asked Moon Dancer.
"Moon Dancer, my name is Moon Dancer."
"Moon Dancer... what a lovely name." Cadence said to the grayish-yellow unicorn, the two ponies sharing a smile. "Well it was a pleasure to meet you, I hope that we will be able to meet again." Cadence said as the pink alicorn began to trot away.
"I do as well, your highness." Moon Dancer called out to the Princess of Love, her warm smile returning.
Cadence was busying humming to herself as she began to plan the last pieces of her wedding to her new fiance, Shining armor. Who just happened to be a captain of the Royal Guard, and Twilight Sparkle's older brother.
"Hmm... roses or lilies. Lilies or roses." Cadence said to herself, trying to decide which type of flowers she would use for her wedding. Her holding the two flowers with her sky blue magic.
"How about chrysanthemums." Cadence heard from behind her, assuming that it was her future husband.
"That's not funny Shining, this is our wedding, not a funeral." Cadence said turning around expecting to see her fiance. "Shining... who said that!?" Cadence said as the shadows of her room began to warp into the shapes of ponies.
The dozen shadow ponies warping into the forms of the changelings of the Shadow Hive, there to enact stage one of Chrysalis' plan. Get rid of the pink one.
"No need to be alarmed your majesty." One of the changelings said to the pink alicorn, as her horn glowed a sky blue color. The two flowers she was carrying plummeting to the ground with a small thud.
"There will be no need for that your majesty." Zulu said, warping out of the shadows behind the frightened alicorn. Him holding his metal staff with his emerald-green magic. He then used his magic to power the emerald gem on each end of his staff, a curved blade of green magic/fire coming out of each end.
Zulu then used the newly created double bladed spear to slash the pink alicorn across the face, red blood from Cadence coating the blade. Cadence let out a yelp of pain as she fell to the tile floor.
"Nightshade connect the Queen, and tell her that we got the package." Zulu said to one of his almost identical soldiers, placing the green blade of his staff to the alicorn's throat.
Nightshade then saluted his commanding officer and retreated into the shadows, using his ability of shadow travel to teleport all the way to the outskirts of Equestria. Where the hive of the changelings, a large cave big enough the entire changeling population with ease.
Nightshade reached the throne room of the hive, a giant room in the cave with a ceiling that went up a few hundred feet, in seconds. Nightshade stopped just before he could turn around the corner of the entrance to the throne room, when he heard his Queen talking to the hive secret weapon.
"I don't believe, I ever ask you for your option on this matter." Chrysalis said up to her secret weapon.
"No, but you would be best pruent that you discuss your plans with me beforehand."
"Watch your tongue, need I remind you that I am the one that wears the crown in this endeavor." Chrysalis barked back her walking weapon of destruction, trying to put him in his place.
"Please Chrysalis, you may be the one that wears the crown, but you and I both know that I am the one that truly runs things around here." Chrysalis' walking weapon said down to her, making the changeling recoiled back in fear. His one dead black eye seeming to burn through her soul.
"I don't mean to interrupt, but I have a message for you, your majesty." Nightshade said trotting up to his queen, doing his best not to make eye contact with the creature that she was talking to.
"Yes, what is it?" Chrysalis asked, shifting her attention to the changeling at her side.
"I am just to inform you that phase one is complete and we are ready to enact phase two on your command." Nightshade said to Chrysalis, the changeling's green eyes widening at Nightshade's words.
"Of course, I will be right with you." Chrysalis said to the changeling, him retreating back around the corner. "It was a pleasure, as always." Chrysalis said up to her walking weapon, before she followed Nightshade out of the throne room.
"He's always gives me the creeps." Nightshade to Chrysalis.
"You get used to his... unique ways in time." Chrysalis said to the changeling, showing a side of her that she normally kept hidden. "Now is what you tell me true." Chrysalis said to Nightshade, shifting the attention back to the matter at hoof.
"Yes your majesty, Commander Zulu, and the rest of my brethren have the pink one captured and awaiting your command." Nightshade said to his Queen, confirming her wishes.
"Excellent, you know how to shadow travel with a non-shadow changeling right?" Chrysalis said to Nightshade, getting a slight chuckle out of the changeling.
"Oh course your majesty, I wouldn't be that much of a Shadow Hive changeling if I couldn't." Nightshade said to Chrysalis, and faster than you say 'Sweet Celestia' the two changelings warped into the shadows and were back inside Cadence's room. Inside the castle of Canterlot.
The two changelings warped out of the shadows of Cadence's room and the first thing Chrysalis noticed was the bleeding alicorn on the ground, with the green blade of Zulu spear/staff/thing to her throat. Cadence's breathing both slow and irregular, she doing her best just to stay conscious.
"Your majesty, phase one complete. Get rid of the pink one. Just like you instructed." Zulu said when he noticed Chrysalis' presence.
"Not quite." Chrysalis said as her body erupted in green flames, her changeling body changing to the an exact copy of the pink alicorn that lay bleeding on the tile floor.
Cadence slowing turned her head in time to watch the changeling queen turn into herself. Doing her best to contain her shock and horror of what she had just witnessed.
"Now to finish what you had started." Chrysalis said, her voice now that of Cadence's. The real Cadence was then consumed in a circle of green fire, Zulu having to use his bug-like wings to fly off the injured alicorn in order to escape the blaze. The green fire magically teleported the real Cadence down in a makeshift prison for the pink alicorn for the time being.
"You know your majesty, you scare you sometimes." Zulu said to the disguised Chrysalis. A few of the other changelings nodding in a agreeance.
"I'll take that as a complement." Chrysalis said in her Cadence disguise. 'Now be gone, it will be difficult to trick Celestia without you all of you running interference, and damn near impossible with you all here." Chrysalis said dismissing all of the other changelings. All who smartly followed their Queen's orders and warped back into the shadows of the room.
"This is going to be fun." Chrysalis said to herself, as she stared into a full facing mirror inside the real Cadence's room, admiring her handywork. Her now pink eyes changing green one last time, as she left the room ready to Equestria into nothing more than a forever full course meal for her subjects.