//------------------------------//
// Old and New 
// Story: Chaotic Change 
// by Tau22 
//------------------------------//

The evening air was cool and calm. Not even a hint of a breeze threatened this equilibrium. It unsettled him, on some deep, subconscious level. His nature demanded that the scene required some pazazz! Something that would demand attention, like a few floating, bright... he mentally slapped himself.

Trying not be yourself was hard. Well, not being your old self, although... it was still so confusing. Nonetheless, his new self did possess just a smidge of a morally conscious mind. It was this smidge which had dragged him all the way to the very edge of Equestria, in search of an old... acquaintance? Was that how you called the victim of your manipulative, mischievous nature?

Disregarding such questions, the traveller continued his journey, shifting disguises as rapidly as another might shift outfits. Finally, there it was! A sizeable, unassuming hole in the side of a hill. The ambient magic and quite specific odour in the air left little doubt, however. This was the place.

On a whim, he became one with the dirt walls and descended into the earth. It didn't take long for him to pass the first oblivious guards. They had long since been stripped of manes or coats of fur. Instead, they were dressed in black chitin, each possessing accessories in the form of a horn and two sizeable, insectoid wings.
Not even their keen senses could detect him then, not unless he allowed it. The matter was best dealt with discreetly, attracting as little attention before the time was right. The punchline would be all the more exciting afterwards.

It was quite easy to locate the throne room. Throne may not have been technically correct, but the expansive chamber served much the same purpose. To give centre stage to the monarch. Resting on a large pillar of metal and assorted materials, an eye-catching figure oversaw her dominion. Unlike the countless drones under her command, she possessed a beautiful, dark green mane and a matching pair of piercing eyes.

As soon as the trickster crept closer, those eyes immediately fixated upon his possession. The Queen of the Changelings was not so easily deceived. Yet instead of outraged or panicked, her voice calm and collected:
"Long time no see, Discord."

Defeated at his game of subterfuge, the draconequus emerged from the ground in all of his mismatched, colourful glory. One couldn't tell where one animal ended and another began. He bowed slightly, tipping his horns as he did so, and spoke:
"Indeed, Queen Chrysalis. An eternity, to some."
"To most, I would wager. What brings you here?"
"I shall be frank, for I have other arrangements," and he still had to make the cucumber sandwiches, "firstly, I have come to... apologise."
"Whatever for?"

This caught him off-guard and he took a better look at his old 'accomplice'. Her facial expressions did not betray any trickery or concealed rage, though... this was the leader of the changelings. If anyone could hide emotion, it was her. Cautiously, he said:
"Well, we parted about as well as a head and body under a guillotine."

Chrysalis merely chuckled, though he did manage to spot the briefest flash of a bitter smile.

All those years ago... was it hundreds? Thousands? He could not recall. What he did remember was frustration, trickery and a foul deal. Then the rage when he fulfilled his promise... in his own way. The rage and vile hatred that kept plaguing his conscience in the present.

She finally replied:
"Ancient history. Much too long to hold a grudge, no matter how strong."
"Well that's one thing off my checklist," his tail made sure to jot it down, "apologies alone cannot undo my handiwork, though."
"That they cannot," she looked down at her hooves and their unnerving shape, "spit it out, you old snake," she chuckled, "I do actually have responsibilities other than enjoying my comfy chair here."
"Well, I suppose I could speed things up a bit," he seemed to speed through some more overly long sentences, to the point where he became unintelligible, before finally spewing forth a set off fateful words, "I've come to change you back."

Those two, predatory emerald eyes scanned his form, before the queen let out a long, heartfelt and all-the-more spine-chilling laughter. Discord pre-emptively removed his to avoid such an unpleasant sensation. It echoed throughout the tunnels of the hive, undoubtedly stirring her legions from rest for a few short moments. Chrysalis looked back at the fae snake who had played god and uttered:
"What's the matter, Discord? Have old deals left a sour taste in your mouth? Going soft these days?"
"Phrase it however you wish. I have studied loopholes within the binding rules of the fae and I do believe an amendment of sorts can be forged if..."
"Whatever for," the changeling stood up from her throe and looked down upon the mismatched mongrel, "I have all I could ever need. We do."
"What are you...?"

In the blink of an eye, the queen's form shifted dramatically to a fair creature Discord knew only too well. Oh, yes, the vibrant yellow coat, coupled with the pink, stylised mane. And then, the image was gone, like a spring romance, her voice was a wicked, perfectly audible whisper:
"Oh, at first, sure. We were distraught and furious. But then, the possibilities became so apparent. These forms, fickle, never fair. Yet power lies within there. Manipulation, deceit and lies. I think you know the thrill of such tools only so well. The tools that will let us enact our revenge."

Discord, despite his untouchable nature, recoiled as she advanced, and uttered:
"Do you not remember before? You were..."
"I know who and what I was, trickster," her eyes narrowed, "you killed her that day. You killed all of us. Now you come to undo your sin because of some semblance of conscience. Go let your sin drive you insane, for all I care, snake. Meanwhile, I'll be here. Stalking the shadows, as Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings. Who I was meant to be."

Discord looked into her eyes for a good while, before sighing. Too little, too late. It pained him to see that the holes in her legs no longer matched the hole in her heart. It had torn open into a chasm, one even his powers could never fill.

As the mismatched serpent whisked himself away from existence before her eyes, he could only hope that her increased hunger for revenge would not doom them all.

Deep down, he knew better.