• Published 3rd Mar 2020
  • 1,262 Views, 24 Comments

Take Me Down To Babylon - Not Enough Coffee



Chrysalis and Celestia do battle in Tartarus. Chrysalis struggles against Celestia's might, yet she keeps fighting, her anger fueling her burning hatred for Celestia and all the ponies of Equestria. She demands she gets what she desires.

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This Flame Burning Deep Within

I stared directly into those eyes. Those perfect, little pony eyes. I hated them. There was not a single damn part of my body that didn’t seeth when I peered into them. Her gaze steeled as she returned my gaze, yet I went unfazed. I did not fear what was to come, I loved it instead. I worshiped it, I demanded it, I needed it.

I channeled my magic, and her in return. Here it comes, my destiny, my sweet desire. Casting a beam of arcane might I connected with one of her own, our magic struggling to overcome each other.

“Come on, Celestia! Show me something worth my time! There’s no going back now, so let it all out!” I screamed to her over the overwhelming cacophony that resinated from our arcane blasts.

She must have heard me, because it suddenly became much harder to overpower her pitiful attempt at blasting me. Good, good. This is what I craved, this is what I must obtain. This sensation, this deep fire burning within… it powered my desire to destroy, maim and kill.

I felt my horn vibrate with such fury it even took me by surprise. At that moment my beam started to push towards her, inch by delectable inch.

I saw her features weaken, her knees shaking from my unlimited power! Though, it was much too soon for this to end. This needed to last longer. I am not through picking the wings off this butterfly.

As my beam connected to her skull, I felt the power surging through me vanish within an instant. She was lying there on the ground pitifully. Though, unlike before, I saw her muster the will to slowly stand up again, her gaze even more steely than before.

Excellent, she knows this is far from over.

“What are you even—” She coughed, sputtering from the blow from before. Grunting, she got the pain out of her system. “What are you even seeking to gain her, Chrysalis! Your hive is gone, your race wiped from this world. Surrender now, and your sentence will be swift and easy.”

“Pfft. Please, princess, as if I’d ever allow myself to submit myself to you in any way.” I scoffed. “No, what we have going here in the pits of Tartarus… is something special.”

“You’re a twisted creature that should have never come into being…”

I felt my temper rising. “Don’t you see it! Don’t you understand! I loathe you! I hate every last bit of your being… Celestia, it is not within me to ever stop fighting you, here and now. And you know what, I know you feel it too. You want to squash me for the bug I am, and the best part is, I want you to. Come at me with everything you’ve got.”

I took a fighting stance.

“I’m prepared to end you, even if it costs me my life...”

I saw her sigh. “So be it.”

I didn’t even get the chance to blink before she charged me. Unprepared, I quickly dug my hooves into the dirt, our horns connecting with a resounding ‘thud’ as we began battle once more. She pushed hard against me, but I wasn’t about to let her take the upper hoof. I gritted my teeth, planting a hoof forward, pushing her back slightly.

“Y-You’re gonna—” A grunt forced its way out of me. “Have to try a little harder than that!”

Upon my demand, her resolve seemed to deepen, and I found myself on the defense once again. She slowly kept pushing me back, my hooves fighting to hold their ground. She was finally starting to take this seriously.

“I’m a, grrr, a queen! Stop toying with me!”

I got what I asked for. Her horn flared, mine starting to feel a white hot pain as it too was enveloped in her glowing radiance. The next second I found myself face first in the dirt, spitting out blood from my torn lip. I smiled and then looked up to see Celestia staring down at me, a sneer across her features.

“Is this truly what you want, Chrysalis?”

Of course it is…”

I stood up on shaking knees, struggling to find my center of balance. “Celestia, there is nothing more I crave than a feeling…”

She looked puzzled. “What do you mean?” Her words were to the point. I would expect nothing less from her.

“Changelings are attuned to the emotions of every creature in Equestria. Love, happiness, sadness, and for me… hatred!” I charged her this time, my horn aimed for her neck. I felt it sink it into flesh, warm, oozing blood trickling down it to meet my bloody lips. The mixture of our essence tasted divine, as I licked it from my face.

Suddenly, a force smashed down onto my neck, pushing my horn from its fleshy home and knocking me back down to the ground once more. Moaning in pain, I looked up again to see I missed my target, and only managed to hit the princess’ shoulder. Seemes her reflexes were quite well-honed for one her size.

“Even so, Chrysalis. Every creature has it within them to do good, yet despite knowing the taste of love you choose hatred.”

I struggled even more than before to get onto my hooves. I coughed up blood as I got up. I must have hit the ground harder than I thought. “Yes. And I would choose it every single time I’m given an opportunity.”

“But why?”

“Because it’s the only thing that makes me feel alive…”

I jumped back, shooting a few magical bolts in her direction. She dodged them effortlessly, her form beginning to cast a sphere of magical might around her. Her speed tripled, and I found myself being rammed into by her once more, sending me crashing into a nearby rock face.

The pain was almost too much for even one such as I to take, yet I stayed conscious. Despite how battered and bruised I was, I needed to keep going to get what I so desperately desired. Breaking myself free from the rubble around me, I landed ungracefully to the ground below, the taste of dirt becoming all too familiar to me.

“Have you even tried loving before, Chrysalis? Have you even given another path a fair chance?”

My throat found it hard to let the words out, but I managed to gargle, “I-I did in—” I coughed more blood than before. “I tried it more than once… a long t-time ago now.”

“And what caused you to abandon it? Even Discord has given up his chaotic ways in pursuit of love and companionship. If he can change then why can’t you, a changeling?”

“Because, princess, changelings don’t feel the same as any other species. W-we’re much closer to beasts than you realize.” I found myself standing tall once more as the burning fire within grew to a boiling point. “I, Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings have only felt true emotion from the hatred I have for you and all of your little ponies!”

To my displeasure, the princess sighed at my words. “So, it seems this is the way it has to be. Pity, I expected so much more from you.”

I have never felt more alive in my life. I was ready for it, I was ready for what was to come. Channeling my magic once more, I mimicked her and cast a sphere of magical energy around me. I laughed so hard that the noise around me faded away, and I was just me, a living being enjoying the moment.

She too casted the same spell as I, and we found ourselves being lifted from the ground. I let my laughter fade away, and we both stared at each other once again. I reaffirmed my resolve, and prepared myself for the coming moment. She, however, looked so sad. Shame, seems she would never understand what it truly meant to be me.

The next moment we flew at each other at speeds I couldn’t even register. As we clashed, a shockwave was sent out across Tartarus, debris flying around us as we pushed against one another once more. We were equal in this moment, but I demanded more.

I screamed, “Give me everything you’ve got, Celestia!”

Still, despite my demand, our powers struggled against one another. Until, I felt mine starting to wane under her pressure. Yes, it was small but noticeable. I was losing strength, probably from all the blows I took prior. It seems I would die here today the way I wanted and not some tortured existence as stone or imprisoned for the princess’ amusement.

Good.

A moment later my power flickered, and in the tiniest second of my life, I felt myself blasted down below, but it wasn’t rock that met me.

“AAAAAAARRRRGHHH!” I screamed in agony, experiencing the worst pain of my life.

I was starting to sink into the lava flow surrounding Tartarus. This was it, this was what I needed. Despite the blinding pain, I accepted it with open hooves. My chitin scorched, melting away from me. I felt my wings evaporate, and my guts beginning to ryth as an opening caused the lava to flow within me. The last thing I saw before losing consciousness and departing this world below the waves of molten rock was the princess looking down upon me in a look that could only be described as utter disappointment.

I guess you really will never understand.

Author's Note:

I wrote this short story to tackle the theme of all consuming hatred. I have experience hate in life, and in some sense, still do for certain individuals. The burning sensation deep within is something I wanted to write about, and I got the inspiration from seeing the image used for the cover art. This is different from my last three fics by a large margin, but I hope you guys can find enjoyment in it none the less.

This is unedited, so if there is any egregious mistakes, I'd love to know.

Thank you all again for reading my stories.

Comments ( 24 )

I liked it. Have a thumbs up!
:)

10114068
Ty, bud. It's different from what people would expect from me, so I hope it does moderately well.

gosh i just love delicious epic fight scenes

10114083
Same. It was cathartic to write after a long work day.

10114088
Dude, you're on a writing roll.

10114089
It's more or less an outlet for personal life issues. I am glad people are enjoying it. The kind words mean wonders to me.

That was deep...
I do not choose lightly which authors are worth following, but I think I chose wisely when I decided to follow you.
I liked it thumbs up, and I'm putting in my deep favorites.

10114116

I do not choose lightly which authors are worth following, but I think I chose wisely when I decided to follow you.

Dude, you're gonna make me blush. Thanks so much for the kind words. I try my best to write something worth people's time.

“Even so, Chrysalis. Every creature has it within them to do good, yet despite knowing the taste of love you choose hatred.”

To my displeasure, the princess sighed at my words. “So, it seems this is the way it has to be. Pity, I expected so much more from you.”

Uhh, just rewind nearer the beginning again...

“You’re a twisted creature that should have never come into being…”

On top of a throwaway line about changelings being wiped out and mentioning how Discord was able to change, then seriously ask Chrysalis why she can't if this is the case... I have to say, the portrayal of Celestia here seems pret-ty contradictory as the story progresses. I dunno, is it me here or what?

That was an interesting read! Fight scenes can be difficult to follow in writing, but you did a good job making it easy to keep track of everything going on.

Random question, but did a song inspire this story (or at least the title) at all?

10114266
I like to think she is conflicted and speaking from emotion. She clearly has her morals, but Chrysalis is testing it. The fact she looks down in disappointment at the end shows she's not okay with how it had to end.

She thinks Chrysalis is twisted, yet feels there was more to be done with her, but she was left with no choice but to end her.

It could have come off contradictory and forced. Different perspectives see differently from me. Thanks for reading all the same.

10114270
Scars on Broadway's Babylon. I wish there were more stories featuring the hell of Equestria. It's a cool setting that deserves exploration.

Also, thanks. Fights are pretty hard to write.

10114275

“What are you even seeking to gain her, Chrysalis! Your hive is gone, your race wiped from this world. Surrender now, and your sentence will be swift and easy.”

"I have already taken away everything and everyone you had. Surrender so I can kill you faster."
Celestia really knows how to make a sales pitch, doesn't she?

Comment posted by Perpetually Confused deleted Mar 4th, 2020

10115309
She was forced to pencil it in between swan wrangling and flower sniffing. She gave up her daily three hour guard boinking to deal with this bint, so forgive her for being dramatically cranky:trollestia:


10114266
Probably not

destroy, mame and kill.

maim*

“Yes. And I would choose it every single time I’m given an opportunity.”

"*given the opportunity" and remove the "i'm"

Now real talk. Did you take inspiration from one of my fics? I kid I kid. Seriously tho I've got a fic called "My Deathwish" that could be in the same universe as this one. In my headcanon in these kinds of fics changelings feel the emotions they consume in those fleeting moments. That desire is almost insatiable like a curse of sorts. I wonder what would happen if one delved more into this.

My fic never went too far because I wanted it to be an open idea others could use. If you want to we could do something together.

10116448
Thanks for the catch. And yeah, seems we both had a similar idea going there. I wanted to make the emotions of changelings mute, except for strong ones like hatred and malice. It made Chrysalis feel alive and willing to die feeling something other than nothing.

As for the collab thang. I'd be rather bad with that, honestly. I have a real full plate with work and helping friends with their projects. Though, sometime down the line working together would be pretty cool. I never really done too many collabs.

10116458
Well not nessecarily collab but if you'd like my help in brainstorming or anything I can do to help you further this that'd be nice. I mean I'm busy af too.

10116480
Gotcha. I am gonna head to bed, but if you want to hit me up on Discord, if you have one, you can pm me your number and what not on here.

Huk

Interesting idea, and well executed too. Kept me on my toes till the very end :pinkiegasp:.

Nicely done :ajsmug:.

10117166
Thanks. As I mentioned in my author's note, I was inspired by the anger I felt coming home from work the day I wrote this. I imagine Chrysalis, empowered by it and eventually consumed by the flame she kindled within. It was the one thing that made her feel alive, and when you work long hours, sometimes being reminded how to hate can make you feel present in your daily life.

That said, thanks for reading. Mucho Apprecio.

Huk

10117177

Oh, believe me, I know all about being empowered by anger. But, in my case, a few minutes of smashing things and screaming is enough to feel alive again :unsuresweetie:.

If Crissy was me, she would take it all out on her hive. Hmm, that could make a good comedy if well executed :trollestia:

10117218

Hmm, that could make a good comedy if well executed

True say. Though, I wouldn't be the one to tackle it. Right now I'm trying to brainstorm a longer fic to sink my teeth into. Something to push my limits once more like I did writing five one-shots back to back.

Huk

10117222

Yeah, I know what you mean. I have a few dozen ideas for one-shots on the list, but since I started rewriting one of my longer stories, I have no time to tackle anything else. Sucks... :applejackunsure:

Maybe someone else will do it, who knows :raritywink: Anyway, once again, thanks for the story, it was a good read :twilightsmile:

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