//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Return of Queen Chrysalis // Story: Evil Returns // by Bolting Fire //------------------------------// "How may I have failed? The crystal ponies were weak. We, the Changelings, were a much more powerful army that could have defeated them. I could have took over the Crystal Empire. It's all Twilight's fault and even her friends, with them in the way of me conquering empires, we will remain weak against Celestia and her army. What will I do?" Queen Chrysalis sat in her throne room pondering at the question. "My dear queen, we may try to destroy some ponies in some parts of Equestria. This can weaken their forces. They may not have enough guards or individual ponies to stand against us for back up, " replied one of her minions. The such changeling was Chrysalis' main strategist, who has planned many attacks. He has much knowledge on formations that can succeed a battle. "That is a good plan, but what about the Elements of Harmony. They will always get in our way." "But my queen, we can also take out one of them. You know that if one element is not available or a claimer isn't convenient at the time of its use, the elements would be useless. It wouldn't be much powerful to wipe us out." Upon hearing her main strategist's plan, a smile has peeked out from the evil face of the queen. She commanded her fellow minion to follow her, to announce out her plan for the whole army. Twilight and her friends wouldn't know what's coming. The sun was out today without a single cloud in the sky. The Pegasus ponies have done a fantastic job on the weather today. Many ponies were outside either for a walk or to have some fun. Fillies were playing a game of their own. Birds also chirped a beautiful song, animals came and went to gather food or even have some fun themselves. Everything was just perfect as if in paradise or on vacation. Sugarcube Corner was as busy as ever with ponies getting any treats they liked. The sweet aroma can even be smelled from a mile away. For someponies, they were to be out of their minds to stay locked up in their homes. Twilight has gathered everything she needed to go accordingly to plan for the picnic she and her friends have planned. Muffins were freshly baked and kept in the basket with a cloth covering it. She has planned to meet up at the park with her friends in the afternoon. When Twilight arrived, she saw some of her friends there. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity were enjoying their early arrival. Rainbow Dash has her shades on and lying on a cloud she has kept from being kicked apart. Fluttershy and Rarity talked away on how their weekends were, Rarity announced that she have received many orders from Sapphire Shores and many other ponies, while Fluttershy talked on how she has saved a baby butterfly on her doorstep from death. How it had a bright luminous patterns on itself. Everypony's weekends were fabulous and carefree. "Hello everypony, how were your weekends?" Twilight asked. "Oh it was quite delightful! Thanks for asking, darling, " Rarity answered back. "I enjoyed how me and Rainbow Dash have went to her Wonderbolt practice," Fluttershy spoke gentlely. Rainbow Dash on the other hand didn't make a sound and didn't even bother to look down. Clearly she was asleep, probably dreaming on how she won a race against all the Wonderbolts. "Very nice, girls. Now we are just waiting for Pinkie Pie and Applejack to arrive," Twilight said. When the two ponies have came, the Mane 6 excluding Rainbow Dash, started to set up the picnic. As soon as everything was prepared, Fluttershy flew up to the spot Rainbow was sleeping on and woke her up. "What. What did I miss?" said Rainbow Dash immediately after waking from her deep sleep. "Nothing much, but the picnic has started. If you want some muffins, you better come down," Fluttershy gently spoke. They both flew down to their other friends. Each pony has taken a muffin and starting to eat it. When they were all done, instead of sitting around, Pinkie Pie has thought up a game to play. She introduced the idea of 'Hide N' Seek' and that Apple jack should count, they all agreed to play. Everypony separated to find a area to hide without being caught, but instantly when Rainbow Dash found a bush near the Everfree Forest to hide, she vanished. Not a trace of her disappearance was left behind at the bush. After a couple of minutes, Applejack has proceeded to find her friends. In a matter of a couple of minutes, she uncovered most of her friends except for one. Rainbow Dash. She searched low and high for her with the help of her friends, there was no such luck. "I believe Rainbow has went up to a cloud and slept on it while waiting for us to find her," Rarity spoke forth. "But there's no clouds around. The last one she was slept on was kicked apart afterwards," Applejack spoke out. "Ooooo, maybe Rainbow Dash went home to hide and forgot that we were playing 'Hide N' Seek' and there for she is at home taking care of Tank, sleeping away, getting a snack, or reading a Daring Do book," explained Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy then spoke in that she has checked Rainbow Dash's home and mostly everywhere in the sky. While the other ponied have said that they have checked everywhere on the ground. It was getting late and everypony just made a conclusion that Dash was somewhere enjoying the quietness and the darkness of the sky. At a such late hour, she must've just gave up and went home. Somewhere, a villainous laugh was made.