A Nightmare Come True

by ShadowSprint

Chapter 20

A soft fog surrounded the Crystal Empire, reflecting light off the sparkling gems holding the city together. From the center, the Crystal Castle rose out, topping off the city’s skyline. A majestic city protected by both the power of the Crystal Heart, and Princess Cadence. Though the ground fluffed with snow beneath the changelings’ hooves, the Crystal Empire remained warm, and sunny.

Tremor gazed out from his vantage point towards the great city. This northern-most region was the last hold-out for his queen to conquer. With this victory, Queen Chrysalis and Daybreaker would have no-pony to stand in their way. And with all the princesses out of commission, Chrysalis could finally place her full attention on dethroning that arrogant Daybreaker. However, despite the sheer number of changelings that Tremor had led to the city, this siege made him nervous.

Glancing back at his changelings, he saw nine Sun Flares taking up the rear of his unit. Something’s not right here. He thought, watching steam emanating from their ghostly bodies. Daybreaker had insisted on this being a joint mission. Either the possessed alicorn had no faith in the changeling army, or she was up to something. Placing a hoof over the shard from his queen’s throne, Tremor thanked Chrysalis for providing him with such a wonderful protection. Many of his soldiers though, did not have this luxury.

“Alright changelings!” Tremor announced, turning around to face his soldiers. Soldiers he’d been entrusted with after his tremendous success in Ponyville. “Our final major invasion has arrived! With the success of this mission, all four of the princesses will have been thrown from power! Our brothers, our sisters, will have free reign over this land!”

Tremor looked into the eyes of each changeling as he spoke. Many of them were freshly created thanks to Daybreaker. Some though, he recognized from years back, survivors from Thorax’s treacherous acts. “Never forget, that what we do, we do for the continuation of our species! We fight for our right to feed! We fight for our great queen, Queen Chrysalis!”

To this, his changeling army erupted in a roar of cheers. The loudest of the voices came from those who’d searched and survived with Tremor during the dark times. Though Daybreaker’s Sun Flares had ignited a sense of uneasiness throughout the camp, Tremor was still among friends (as Twilight would call them).

“Squad A! Follow me!” Tremor commanded, and a swarm of about twenty changelings detached from the main army. “The rest of you, hold off until you see our signal!”

Together, Tremor and his small squad guised themselves in various pony skins. For Tremor, he reverted back to his Brawny skin. It’d served him well enough in Ponyville, and it’d serve him fine here as well. Leading the way, Tremor raised his hoof, and motioned for his cast of survivors to follow him towards the entrance to the Crystal Empire.

As the group approached, a line of colts stood well-armed, guarding the entrance to the lavish city. Just from observation, the city appeared to have no barrier in place. Thank Chrysalis. Tremor thought. Dealing with another barrier would have slowed things down even further. He’d been aware that Cadence might be capable of one. If she was though, she must not have had the strength for it.

“Halt!” One of the colts demanded upon sight of Tremor and his group. “Identify yourselves!”

“Please . . .” Tremor begged. “Please, you have to help us! We’re from Ponyville! The train . . . Princess Twilight sent us on a train to evacuate! The changelings . . . they attacked it! A-And it derailed!”

The commanding officer glanced over his colts. Cadence had made him aware of an inbound train from Ponyville carrying civilians. However, he was not aware of any timetable for when the Friendship Express was due. Turning to one of the pegasi on watch with him, the soldier scribbled out a quick note and handed it to one of his comrades. “Go.”

Seeing the stuttering line of guards, Tremor looked back to his changelings. He needed to get them inside. “Please!” He tried again. “Some of us are injured!” This caught the soldier’s attention, and Tremor continued, “Others are starving! We’ve been on the run for so long . . . please, you can’t let us die out here!”

Tremor saw whom he assumed to be the captain of the guards stumbling between his soldiers, conflicted between letting them in. Cocking his head towards the others, Tremor whispered to his group. “Start making noise. Shouting. Crying. Anything . . . we have to get in there.”

At his words, the twenty other “ponies” began to cry out, growing rowdier with pleas for help, shaking hooves, and teary eyes. Tremor turned back to the guards and said, “Please . . . I have urgent news from Princess Twilight herself! Princess Cadence is in grave danger!”

At this, the captain relented. “Hurry up then! Get inside!” And the colt motioned for several of his soldiers to run out and help the survivors into the city.

Tremor accepted graciously, providing a warm, Brawny smile for the soldiers. “Thank you! Thank you so much!” He replied, following the others into the city.

The soldiers stuck close to Tremor and his changelings. Clearly, they didn’t quite trust the group of ponies they’d just let inside. No matter, as long as Tremor and his squad were led to Princess Cadence, he welcomed the little parade. It gave the changeling a chance to scope out the city, and get a good view of its inhabitants. The ponies of the Crystal Empire were by far some of the most elegant Tremor had seen. At heart, they still talked and behaved like any other pony he’d met. Their shimmering coat of fur though was just beautiful. He couldn’t help but wonder if the shimmer they had seen from afar was due to the gemstone-like buildings or the sparkling of the ponies here.

Reaching the enormous archways of the Crystal Castle, Tremor gazed up at the ivory white crystals that made up the castle’s walls. A splendid structure indeed, with how it carried up much higher into the sky than what he’d thought. Queen Chrysalis would like this kingdom. Even as they entered, Tremor began to secretly hope his queen would choose this city as her main base.

Princess Cadence rested in a throne of purple sapphire and amethyst. The room decorated with moonstone and quartz, opened up into a large ballroom-like arena. Surely the good princess hosted many-a party in this wonderful room.

Cadence’s eyes though waned from exhaustion. Without Shining Armor, she’d bore all of the responsibility that the two would usually share. Even when they entered, the princess had to force her head to properly greet the injured.

Along with the princess, an estimated twenty to twenty-five guards lined the walls of the Crystal Castle’s throne room. If this was to work, they had to use the element of surprise to their advantage.

“I’m told you’re all survivors from the Friendship Express. Are there any others? Should we send out some help?” Right down to business, the princess’ first thought was of those on the train.

Tremor merely shook his head as Cadence slowly stepped down from her throne, towards them. “No, I’m afraid not. When the changelings attacked, they derailed the train, and took every-pony they could.”

“Does Twilight know about this?”

Again, Tremor shook his head. “No.”

“Then we must inform her right away, and put together a search party . . .”

“Princess Cadence . . . we can’t do that.”

Stopping, Cadence looked at the group of survivors. All of them trembled at the mention of Ponyville. She suddenly felt as though something had happened. All she knew of was the train’s crash. But the atmosphere that had settled when these ponies arrive, somehow clued her in on something far more serious. “W-Why not?”

Tremor looked from the group of “ponies” back to the princess. He stumbled down onto the ground, forging an injury. As expected, Princess Cadence wasted no time in rushing to help him back up; despite her own fatigue. “Because my princess, Ponyville is gone.”

“W-What?”

“When the train left . . . we were already being overrun. Hundreds upon hundreds of changelings . . . there were just too many.”

“W-What of my husband . . . Shining Armor . . . and what about Twilight and her friends?” Cadence asked. Her body trembled as she stared down at the pony, almost begging him to tell her they were alright.

Tremor though, only shook his head. “While I can’t confirm it for myself, others on the train saw the changelings carry Twilight off . . . along with her friends . . . and the captain.”

Cadence paced back and forth. Her hooves clicking and clacking along the sparkling floor. “That cannot be. Why that just leaves us!”

“And . . .” Tremor explained, “the changelings are on their way here. They are coming for you.”

Cadence’s eyes opened wide. She knew what this meant. Daybreaker and Chrysalis were looking to finish them off, to finish off Equestria. “Guards!” She commanded, and when every guard in the room stood to attention, the princess ordered, “Prepare our soldiers! We need to be ready for war!” At once half of the soldiers in the room fled out into the city.

This was it. This was exactly what Tremor had been hoping for. Putting the princess in a panic. Now’s the time. Tremor moved slowly up to Cadence, keeping his limp with the false injury. Softly he whispered, “There was something Princess Twilight told me . . . something she wanted you to know.”

“What?” Cadence’s voice was almost at a whisper. “What is it?”

“The changelings . . . they’re already here.” Tremor finished. Cadence’s eyes widened in horror.

Using the princess’ momentary stupor, Tremor reverted his disguise. With his changeling body exposed, he jumped the princess, catching her off-guard. Wasting no time, he pressed a hoof to Cadence’s throat and began sucking out her love.

When the guards saw his action, one left for reinforcements while the others attacked. With Tremor’s group of twenty though, they easily over-powered the troops inside.

After rendering the princess unconscious, Tremor turned to his troops, “Quickly! The signal!”

One of his soldiers burst out from one of the windows, and using a special mixture Chrysalis had prepared for them, flew around the towering Crystal Castle, weaving a dark green mist around the skyscraper.

From outside the city, the changelings watching from beyond the gate saw the green cloud spindling around the castle, and they knew, it was time. “That’s the signal! Let’s go!” The commanding changeling cried out. Motioning for his brethren to follow, the legions of changelings swarmed into the Crystal Empire, overwhelming the guards and flooding into the city. The screams of the ponies quickly blew out with the wind.

---

Spike dug his claws into the side of a large, proud oak tree. The dragon had grown weary, and worried that he might be leading the two ponies astray. The commotion from the changelings hadn’t resulted in any injury or further losses, thanks Celestia. It did though send them in circles for a brief period in their attempt to escape the small squad of monsters. Now, Spike just wanted reassurance that they were going the right way.

When he reached the tip of the tree, Spike peered out over the forest. The sun had begun to set, spreading a soft, orange glow over Equestria. It’d be dark soon, but Spike could still see. From where he stood, he could see a vast sea of trees, along with the occasional bird swooping down in to their nest. Scanning the area, the dragon’s hopes suddenly leapt into the sky as in the distance, he saw a set of train tracks curling out and around a vast chasm in the earth. The Galloping Gorge! It just had to be the gorge! “We’re going the right way,” Spike whispered to himself. “Thank Celestia . . .”

The dragon had already started back down the tree, a plan formulating in his head. If they could make it out of the forest by nightfall, or at least to its edge, then they’d be in pretty good shape. It meant leaving cover, but if they stayed in the forest, it’d just end up taking them further away from Cadence. Spike was hoping they could stay hidden for most of the way, but that unfortunately no longer appeared to be the case.

Sliding down the tree trunk, Spike hopped off and patted himself free of twigs and leaves.

“Well how was it?” Maud asked.

“It’s looking great! If we can keep moving in that direction,” and Spike pointed towards the train tracks he’d seen. “Then we can probably be out of the forest by nightfall! And then, we follow the tracks to the Crystal Empire!”

“And then we’re safe.” Derpy breathed out.

“Then we rescue Pinkie Pie and the others.” Maud added.

“That’s right!” Spike said, and already eager to lead the way, beckoned the girls to follow. “Come on! What are we waiting for?!”

Derpy moved alongside Maud, starting to sweat from the constant travelling. The awkward way in which she had to walk with her wing and her limp, had made movement increasingly difficult. Still, she couldn’t complain. She wouldn’t complain, not at least until they reached the Crystal Empire, or until she met up with the doctor. I wonder where he’s at. I hope he’s alright.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get Pinkie Pie back soon.” Maud said.

Derpy looked over, and at first though the earth pony was speaking to her. But upon closer inspection, found Maud to be addressing a small rock held tightly in her hoof. Did she just talk to a rock? Derpy had found Maud to be a tad strange during the short time they’d spent together, immensely impressive, but still a bit strange. She became so lost in thought as to why Maud might be talking to a rock, that she failed to notice when Maud actually stared back.

“Is something wrong?” Maud asked her.

Derpy almost didn’t hear the pony, but when she looked up, realized what had happened. “S-Sorry. But . . . were you talking to that rock?” She asked, pointing at the thing. Maud’s only response was a nod of the head. “W-Why?”

“He’s my pet.”

Derpy knew some ponies to keep rather interesting, or exotic pets. Fluttershy for example, kept almost every animal imaginable in her home. Maybe though she was a bad example. After all, the more Derpy thought about it, the more she figured Fluttershy wasn’t actually keeping the animals as pets. The pegasus merely loved to help animals. Still though, a rock as a pet?

Derpy’s eyes caught up with Maud again and she realized she must’ve had a weird look on her face. Hopefully she hadn’t offended Maud. “What’s his name?”

“His name is Boulder. Do you want to hold him?”

“Uhh . . . sure.” Derpy said, and held out her good wing to catch the rock. She couldn’t exactly spare any other limbs at the moment.

When Maud placed the rock onto Derpy’s wing, the pegasus inspected it carefully. This was the rock she’d used to knock-out those changelings earlier.

“Boulder’s really worried about Pinkie Pie. He’s practically shaking.” Maud explained.

“He is?” Derpy asked, a bit shocked. When she saw Maud nodding, she wondered if maybe she was just missing something. Looking at the rock closer, Derpy certainly couldn’t see it moving. Unless one counted the bobbing of her wing as she walked, it appeared to be like any other rock. But then Derpy saw something. “What’s this?” She said, and nodded her head towards a small chip in Boulder’s side. “Something happen to him?”

“What?” Maud said, and her eyes opened up a touch wider than usual. Surprise perhaps? Or worry?

Taking the rock back, Maud closely studied Boulder, searching for what Derpy had pointed out.

“He has a chip in him.”

“Oh this,” Maud answered, relieved that nothing was really wrong with her pet. “I’m impressed you noticed. He’s had this for a long time.”

“R-Really?”

Nodding, Maud said, “When Pinkie and I were younger, we got into a fight with Boulder. Boulder ended up hitting Pinkie . . . and broke her jaw.”

“Oh,” Derpy said, “that explains it.” Then a moment of silence gave the pony time to fully comprehend what had just been said. She blinked her eyes open a couple times and whipped her head back over to look at Maud. “What?”

Maud though, ignored her, or didn’t hear her incredulous question. “It happened so long ago, I thought he’d have healed up. But it looks like he still has a scar.”

“W-What did you fight about?” Derpy asked, now quite interested in this story. She assumed rocks just didn’t fly into the air by themselves, even pet rocks. So, was it actually Maud and Pinkie who had fought?

“Rocks. We were fighting about rocks.”

“Hurry up you two!” Spike called out ahead of them. “I think I hear something!”

Derpy and Maud both turned towards the dragon and hurried along. Catching up with Spike, who’d stepped into a narrow space between two very large oaks, sat with his eyes staring up to the sky. When Derpy and Maud both entered the narrow space, their eyes floated up towards the treetops as well.

“What’d you hear?” Maud asked in a whisper.

“I’m . . . I’m not sure.” Spike replied. But the others didn’t need long to guess.

Overhead, the all-too familiar sound of buzzing carried down from the treetops. Twigs and leaves drizzled down from above as a group of changelings hovered overhead. Spike couldn’t help but wonder if they were the same ones Maud had beat up earlier. It didn’t sound as though there were many of them.

The changelings hovered around, almost scanning the forest for something. With day light almost gone, they would certainly have trouble.

Derpy’s eyes sat glued on the passing glimpses she got of the changelings, praying that they would just leave. Maud on the other hoof, only narrowed her eyes. These were the creatures that had taken her sister, had taken her friends. If they did come down, she’d be ready.

After another minute or two, the changelings grew weary of their fruitless search. Turning back, the swarm disappeared into the distance. No one moved from their hiding place between the trees, not until they were certain the changelings were gone.

“Do you think they’ll be back?” Derpy asked, when she finally stumbled out, tripping over her own hooves and hitting the ground hard.

“Not tonight . . .” Spiked said, and reached out to catch the pegasus. Fortunately, Maud had been next to her. Though Maud wasn’t able to catch the mare, she was right there to help her back up.

Seeing the exhaustion in the pegasus’ face, Spike said, “Why don’t we camp here for the night. It’s almost dark as it is . . . and we could use a good rest.” When the others agreed, Spike said, “Good. Let’s setup camp.” And with that they scrounged around for some wood and food, working towards as comfy a campsite as they could for the night.

---

Chrysalis sat in her room at the castle, eyeing the “statue” of Starlight Glimmer. She eyed the thing carefully from where she sat, carefully analyzing the angle at which the terrified expression had been glued onto the pony’s stone face. Biting her lip, Queen Chrysalis flung a cheap, plastic ring across the room. It spiraled through the air and landed perfectly around Starlight’s horn. With another point on the board, the queen’s subjects cheered as she took the lead in her game of ring toss with a fellow changeling.

Letting out a giggle, Chrysalis said, “I can’t believe we didn’t think of this sooner! Why, I haven’t been this entertained by a pony since . . . well ever!” At this, she burst out into laughter once more, watching the neon green ring dangle around Starlight’s face, catching in her open jaw.

As her opponent took to his turn, another changeling entered into the queen’s chambers. When Chrysalis saw him, she instantly lost interest in the chunk of rock. Eagerly watching her subject enter, Chrysalis asked, “Well, what news do you have from the Crystal Empire?”

When the others heard her ask, they grew silent and all eyes fell upon the messenger. Clearing his throat, the changeling stood tall and proud. “Tremor’s forces have successfully captured Princess Cadence. The invasion is already under way, if not already completed.”

“Perfect! Absolutely perfect!” Chrysalis announced, hopping onto her hooves and tossed a blue ring at Starlight. The ring bounced off her forehead, and the force of the throw actually managed to rock the unicorn statue back and forth. Chrysalis only chuckled at the sight, and turned back to her soldier. “With this, the last of the princesses have finally been overthrown!”

The changelings burst out into cheers and applause, celebrating with hoof bumps, and slaps on the back. Chrysalis watched her minions for only a moment, before turning back to the soldier. As much as she wished to partake in the festivities, one uncertainty stuck in her head. “What of the Sun Flares? What are they doing?”

“They haven’t budged. Been sitting right out side of the Crystal Empire for some time now.”

“Keep an eye on them,” Chrysalis said, “We wouldn’t want a certain some-pony ruining our fun.” The changeling nodded and Chrysalis dismissed him.

Those monsters could spell us trouble yet. Chrysalis thought to herself. Dropping back onto Luna’s former bed, the changeling queen spread herself out and rested her chin in her hoof. She needed to think. “This is getting too dangerous. Daybreaker will be looking to rid herself of us soon if we don’t act.” She whispered.

If only there’d be a sign that Daybreaker’s magic would be starting to wane! If what that four-eyed friend of Twilight’s . . . Moon Prancer, or whatever the hell her name was, said was true, then why hasn’t Daybreaker’s powers diminished? Wouldn’t the constant use of those Sun Flares drain her? Unless Celestia’s magic is prolonging her abilities. Even I hate to admit it, but she’s quite the powerhouse. Chrysalis sighed, and watched the others continue their ring toss game. She suddenly had lost the will to play.

Hoof-steps from the doorway made Chrysalis suddenly look up, and speak of the devil, Daybreaker stood at the entrance. The sneer that crawled over her face seemed to leak into her mane, causing the flames to crackle and pop, singeing the archway above the door. “Not the most civilized of creatures, are you?” she said, revolted.

Pulling herself up, Chrysalis stretched out. “Oh please, forgive their festivities. My changelings haven’t had this much to celebrate in quite some time. But maybe you haven’t heard.” Then stepping off the bed from where she’d just gotten comfortable, Chrysalis smiled at the alicorn and said, “The invasion at the Crystal Empire has been a grand success. It really is thanks to you that I have the legions of changelings that I do. Why, I’m sure my changelings are already in the process of dragging that Princess Cadence right to our hooves.” Stepping closer to her partner in crime, the queen said in an almost seductive tone, “All of Equestria is now our little playground.”

Daybreaker watched as each one of Chrysalis’ changelings stopped what they were doing, and watched her. The seven or so monstrosities that the good queen had associated herself with were gathering suspiciously together. Daybreaker couldn’t help but smile. “Things have gone much closer to plan than I originally intended. Why . . . it almost seemed like a waste to send out my Sun Flares with your army.”

Chrysalis felt the change in tone. Her ears perked up and she stopped about ten feet or so from the alicorn. Staying near her subjects, she said, “Yes, it certainly wasn’t necessary. My changelings had the entire thing under control.”

A strange smile spread across Daybreaker’s face. One that made Chrysalis’ hair stand on end. She dug her hooves into the ground, expecting an attack. The tension in the room carrying over to her subjects, as they even began hissing at Daybreaker. Something about the fiery mare’s visit wasn’t right.

“Why such the reaction Chrysalis? I thought for sure we were on the same side.” Then glancing over to the changelings that hissed and barred their teeth at her, Daybreaker shook her head in disdain. “Then again, your changelings are so vicious. Why would you be any different? Some-pony will need to control you, all of you.”

“W-What?”

“I can see now why Starlight reformed your pathetic swarm of bugs.” At this, even Chrysalis had started to hiss. Daybreaker could sense the blood boiling in the queen’s body. With the changelings having done the dirty work for her though, Daybreaker didn’t care. She’d gotten what she wanted. “Nothing but a group of disease ridden leeches. That’s what you are.”

Chrysalis backed away, towards her changelings. “You said we were partners.” She hissed, locking eyes with the alicorn, ready at a moment’s notice to attack.

“I did. But then the funniest thing happened. I heard whispers that you were plotting to turn against me.” Daybreaker waited for a response, but when she received only a glare, she continued. Stepping ever so closer to Chrysalis, she watched with some amusement as they backed away from her. “Oh yes Chrysalis. I know all about it. You and your little monsters were going to take my kingdom away from me, just as I ascended into power.”

Two Sun Flares drifted into the room, and Chrysalis watched them block the windows and the balcony. Obviously, they’d arrived to prevent any desperate escape attempts that the queen might try. Having stopped listening to Daybreaker’s incessant droning on about what she knew and how she knew it, Chrysalis used the alicorn’s monologuing to her advantage. Quickly charging up a beam of magic, Queen Chrysalis blasted Daybreaker with a powerful shot of her magic.

The alicorn easily dodged out of the way. Chrysalis however, used her brief cover to transform into a regular changeling. “You insolent little fools! Don’t think for a second that I didn’t see this coming!” Daybreaker shouted and fired off her own blast of fiery magic at Chrysalis and her minions. They spread out across the room, landing on the ceiling, the walls, and high up in the corners.

Daybreaker scanned around the room, searching for Chrysalis. “Impossible!” She cried out when all she could find were changelings in the room. “There’s no way she could’ve . . .” Then the alicorn stopped. She flicked her eyes around the room once more and then smiled. The oldest trick in the book. That’s what this was. “Eight little changelings, scattered in a room.” She said.

Chrysalis then watched from her corner as Daybreaker nodded at one of her Sun Flares. The ghostly figure hovered over to one of her minions and using its magic, scooped up the changeling. He scraped his hooves against the wall, desperately trying to grab onto to something. He kicked and wriggled, fighting the Sun Flare’s magic with everything he had.

Daybreaker’s magic though, won in the end and the helpless changeling was dragged over to the evil alicorn. Having him dropped in front of her, Daybreaker circled around the changeling, sizing him up. Chrysalis fought the temptation to leap down and rescue her subject. She had to stay hidden, had to wait for the perfect moment to attack.

“One changeling fell down . . .” and Daybreaker used her magic to lift the creature up by his neck. She stared into his eyes, her mane and tail both flicking fire across the room in excitement. She saw his fear, saw his body quivering in terror from her. “. . . and broke his neck.” With the flick of her magic, Daybreaker snapped the creature’s neck like a twig. His body instantly went limp, head twisted back against his wings. This wasn’t Chrysalis, of that Daybreaker was certain.

Looking up, she stared around the room, trying to gauge the reactions of the remaining changelings. “Shall we play again?” When none responded, Daybreaker hummed and said, “Seven little changelings, scattered in a room . . .”

At this, Chrysalis grit her teeth. She watched another of her subjects plucked out in the same manner. His terrified eyes locked with hers for but a moment. I’m a queen. A ruler far greater than Twilight, Celestia, and certainly greater than Daybreaker. Chrysalis said to herself, watching the changeling huddling up at Daybreaker’s hooves. And I will not stand for this!

Waiting until Daybreaker had lifted the changeling by his neck, Chrysalis fired off a green bolt of magic. Daybreaker dodged it, but by then, Chrysalis had already hit the ground behind the alicorn and charged her. Transforming back into her true form, Chrysalis turned and bucked the alicorn in the head, launching her across the room. At this, her minions flung themselves at Daybreaker, latching onto the alicorn’s hooves, and attempted to suck the love out of her.

The Sun Flares however, did not sit still. One of them used its magic and flung each changeling off of its master. The other one turned on Chrysalis and fired his own beam of fiery energy towards the queen. Chrysalis leapt to the side, but it was not enough. She turned in horror as the magma-like blast consumed her and then suddenly vanished. “W-What?” She questioned and then gazed down at the shard of throne she’d forgotten was around her neck.

Chrysalis laughed. “My turn!” She cried out, and using all of her energy, blasted the Sun Flare with a ball of magic of her own. The blast magic though, passed right on through Sun Flare and exploded into the wall behind it.

Before Chrysalis could respond, Daybreaker flew up from behind and tackled the queen into an adjacent wall. Rock and plaster collapsed onto them. Angrily pulling away, Daybreaker leaned in and tore the throne shard from Chrysalis’ neck using her teeth. She tossed it to the side and yelled down at the trembling queen. “You really think I’m that stupid?! Trying to suck my love and then thinking you can somehow pull one over me?! You obviously aren’t that bright Chrysalis!”

At her words, Daybreaker stretched out her mane and tail, trapping Chrysalis between walls of fire. The sound of broken windows and Daybreaker watched the remaining changelings flee from the castle. “Leave them!” She shouted at her Sun Flares, who were already starting to follow. “They’ll be back.” Then turning back to Chrysalis, Daybreaker laughed as the queen coughed and gagged. Sweat trickled down her brow, and her lungs heaved for air as the smoke suffocated the oxygen between them. “What’s the matter Chrysalis? Can’t take the heat?”

With how the wall had crumbled, large chunks of plaster and rock had made it difficult for Chrysalis to escape. Then when Daybreaker’s fire had spun up, the queen had found herself trapped. Her eyes burned, and her throat scratched as she stared up at the blurry figure before her. “M-My army will . . .”

“Your army will cease to exist after this!” Daybreaker shouted, and kicked the queen in her stomach, freeing her from under rubble, but also sending her rolling into the fire. She let out a scream of pain when her side brushed up against the blaze. Careening away, Chrysalis cradled her burn and glared back up at the alicorn.

“The reason I sent my Sun Flares with your insipid little army in the first place, was never to help them take the Crystal Empire.” Daybreaker couldn’t help but relish in the horror that had hit Chrysalis’ face. “The second your changelings have the Crystal Empire under control, my Sun Flares are going squash every last one of you, like the bugs that you are. Then, at long last, I will rule over Equestria.”

---

Spike warmed his clawed hands at the small fire he’d created. With Maud having pulled up a couple logs to sit on, the evening slowly ticked by. The moon having climbed up high overhead, animals could be heard in the distance, rumbling about. Their grunts and squeaks drifted over the crackling of the fire. Clearly, they’d been just as confused with all this day/night nonsense as well. Though at least, this time it felt like night. That or Spike was just exhausted from all the travelling the three of them had done by foot and hoof.

“How much farther is the Crystal Empire?” Derpy asked from her stump.

“I’m not sure.” Spike answered honestly. “We should be just south of the Galloping Gorge. Once we start following the tracks, hopefully it won’t take long.”

“Does that mean we lose our cover?” Maud asked calmly, adjacent to Derpy.

Spike sighed. “Yeah.” He hated the thought of being out in the open, but at this point they didn’t have much choice. Otherwise, they’d never reach Cadence. “Don’t worry though . . . we’ll figure something out.”

A cool breeze passed through darkness, sending shivers across the fire. Maud watched as Boulder tilted ever so slightly from the wind. Nodding at her rock’s apparent statement, Maud scooped up her pet and took a seat next to Derpy. The pegasus, who’d been favoring her bad wing since sitting down, looked up to Maud in a bit of surprise.

Setting Boulder down next to the pony, Maud looked into Derpy’s eyes. “Boulder’s taken a real liking to you.”

Derpy stopped. “H-He has?” She asked. When Maud nodded in response, Derpy felt a rather unexpected jolt of excitement. Boulder, Maud’s pet, liked her. Boulder likes me! Maud’s pet rock . . . likes me. Tilting her head down towards the rock Maud had placed between them, she carefully reached out and stroked his . . . his head? Still, maybe this meant she was getting closer to Maud. And for that, Derpy truly was happy.

“Weren’t you collecting rocks earlier?” Spike asked.

“Before?”

Remembering, Derpy added, “Yeah, those striped ones! You said they were really special.”

A lightbulb flickered on in Maud’s head. “You mean the hornfels?” She asked, and when the other two nodded, Maud reached over and yanked her satchel closer. Pulling out one of the hornfels, Maud said, “I’m collecting them for Pinkie Pie.” When she’d said her sister’s name, her head lowered a bit. “I hope she’s okay.”

Derpy bit her lip and reached out. Softly patting Maud on the back, she said, “I’m sure she’s fine. She’s so energetic after all. Pinkie’s probably bouncing all over the castle.”

Maud turned towards the pegasus. “You think so?”

Derpy only nodded in response. Spike of course, took the hint and added, “Of course! Besides, with the Twilight and the others, it’s not like she’s alone. I’m sure they’re just waiting for us.”

Maud sighed. “Thank you. I’m really glad I found you two.” She said, looking from the dragon to the pegasus. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“What are friends for!” Derpy said.

Maud smiled a small smile. Then picking up Boulder, she placed him in Derpy’s hooves. “Hold him please.” She said. Then without a word, Maud pulled out the rest of her hornfels and lined them up along-side each other in two distinct rows.

“W-What are you doing?” Spike asked.

“Hornfels have the ability to resonate when they are struck. Pinkie uses the hornfels to make lithophones for some of her parties.” Maud explained.

“And what’s a lithophone?” Derpy asked, holding Boulder close to her body so she wouldn’t drop him.

“It’s a musical instrument.” Maud answered.

“You mean . . . you can play music with those rocks?!”

Maud nodded.

“W-Would you play something for us?”

“I can,” Maud started, but then looked over to Spike who’d been watching them. “It wouldn’t be too loud, would it?”

A bit startled, Spike adjusted his seating. He hadn’t expected any-pony to be asking him permission to do anything. “No, I think you’re fine. Besides, I kind of want to hear you play too.”

Maud nodded and then dropping her hooves onto the rocks laid out before her, she began a rhythmic tapping. As her hooves moved from one stone to the next, a soft melodic sound reverberated from the rocks. Reminding the others of something akin to a xylophone, each tone played crisp and short. The percussion resonating into the air in a beat that was both relaxing and hypnotic.

The notes seemed to dance around the crackles of the fire, and for a few minutes, Maud’s concentration rested fully with the stones laid down in front of her. Both Derpy and Spike could not draw their attention away from the pony. Even the animals in the forest quieted to hear the strange music.

When finally, the beats came to an end, Derpy simply whispered, “Wow.”

“Yeah,” Spike added. “That was . . . good.”

Maud casually looked up to them and said, “I don’t normally play. But I’m glad you liked it.”

“Could you play them a bit longer?” Derpy asked.

“Really?”

Derpy and Spike both nodded at this. Satisfied with being the entertainment for the night, Maud obliged, playing her hornfel rocks once more. She spun up tunes on the fly, letting her music drift into the night, until her audience (Boulder included), had all fallen fast asleep.

Author's Note:

Sorry for the delay with this chapter! I got a little busy in the past week or so, and wasn't able to work on this quite as much as I wanted to. So I do apologize in making everyone wait.

I have to say though, I am thrilled with the comments that have come in, and the likes and views that have flooded through in the past couple weeks. Thank you all so much for all of the support! It really means a lot to me. I am also very thankful to a kind member on this site who pointed me in the direction of adding this story to various groups so that it would get noticed. I think that has been a tremendous help, and for that, I am very thankful.

Anyway, I hope everyone has enjoyed this chapter! It was a bit on the calmer side for Derpy, Maud, and Spike. I think they deserved that. :) But for Chrysalis, things have sure gone downhill. For this reason, I can't wait to start work on the next chapter. Thanks again everyone!