"Gather round, little nymphs," spoke the tall, beautiful changeling.
The horde of young changelings settled themselves on the spongy material of the castle and gazed wide-eyed at the princess who was speaking, a book held firmly in her magic.
Her name was Chrysalis, and she was next in line to the throne.
She opened the book with her magic and began to read.
"A thousand years ago, this world was a very beautiful place. Colourful ponies roamed across the air and the earth under the watchful gaze of a burning ball of light and hope known as the 'Sun'. Back then, every nocturne was split into two halves, day, and night. The Sun ruled over the day, while the accursed moon ruled over the night.
"The world they lived in was very beautiful, but the ponies who inhabited it, though they were beautiful on the outside, were very flawed. They shunned and disrespected anyone who did not look like them. They went on great hunts to kill griffons for sport, drove away zebras, destroyed traditional buffalo stampeding grounds, and perhaps worst of all, burned and pillaged changeling hives.
"However bad their behaviour towards unfamiliar creatures was, what they did to one another was far worse. Unicorns held themselves above earth ponies, and made slaves out of them. They considered the Pegasi to be brutes, and refused to provide them with magical assistance to create the weather. Pegasi were very proud, and demanded that the other two races pay them a tithe for protection. Often, the Pegasi went back on their word and attacked earth pony villages or unicorn castles.
"Earth ponies were the only ones capable of growing food. The other races often stole their crops, and so earth ponies would sneak up on other ponies and commit terrible atrocities, such as snapping horns and breaking wings, with their formidable strength to prevent it from happening again.
"The other species were no better. Changelings often snuck into griffon territory and drained the wild game the griffons preyed on of their energy. They would then take the corpse and use it for physical food. Griffons hunted changelings and used their chitin plates as armor and weapons. Forging chitin armor is a lost art, though some say that a certain line of unicorns can do it nowadays.
"Zebras were at constant war with the buffalo. Zebras were powerful herbalists and shamans, and enjoyed the act of poisoning buffalo lands so that the plants could not be eaten. Buffalo stampeded through zebra lands, destroying houses, trampling crops and snapping the bones of foals.
"One day, it happened. Ponies committed a terrible, terrible crime against the two alicorns, ponies with wings and horns, who claimed to bring the day and night. The lunar alicorn rose up, for reasons which have long been forgotten. She sought to make the ponies of the land suffer for their crimes, and shrouded the land in a night which has never ended. The solar alicorn disappeared without a trace.
"There was widespread chaos and panic when this occurred. Earth pony crops shrivelled up and died, and so all three of the pony races began to starve, driving them to steal from zebras and buffalo. The nocturnal predators who now roamed freely under the blue-black sky preyed on griffon chicks and changeling nymphs alike, causing their populations to slowly diminish, and leading them to break their truces with the ponies. Griffons invaded Pegasus cloud cities and tried to use them as hatcheries, while changelings swarmed around unicorn castles and converted them into hive centres.
"Zebras lost the art of growing herbs, and had to resort to fungi in order to survive. The ponies and buffalo weren't helping, stealing the limited produce and leaving the zebras to starve. Buffalo now had nothing to eat, as the fungi contained little to no nutrition, and there was not much. In their rage, they stampeded across the lands of the other species and destroyed villages, shattered chitin plates and destroyed griffon eggs.
"The land has since recovered from the event. Through pony and zebra magic, plants were recultivated to thrive on moonlight, and griffons have relearned how to hunt and survive, as have the changelings. Buffalo used stolen saplings to grow their food and now the races live in spiteful indifference to one another.
"The terrible truth of the matter is that nobody learned from their mistakes, and so the night has continued on forever, and probably will continue on forever.
"The shadowed alicorn who destroyed the world took on the name Nightmare Moon, and now she rules the land with an iron hoof. She is cruel, she is tyrannical and she is selfish, but above all, she is sad. Terribly, unbearably sad. And nobody knows why. Many petitioners have requested that she raise the sun, but she refuses, often violently."
Chrysalis closed the book and looked at the assembled nymphs. As painful as it was, she knew the last line of the book off by heart.
"And that, little children, is the story of what's known as the Cataclysm, the end of Diurnal Equestria and the beginning of Nocturnal Equestria," she said with finality.
"Are there any questions?" she asked with a sigh, her eyes losing their sparkle.
One nymph raised his hoof.
"Yes, Wasp?"
"Is there a way that we could see the sun?" asked Wasp.
"I wish, I really do. I don't think there is. But, you've given me an idea. I'm going to assign you all a project," said Chrysalis, addressing the nymphs.
"I'd like you to do some research on the sun, as much information as you can find. I'd then like for you to compile it into a report. Have it ready in a week."
Wasp raised his hoof once more. "What can we use to get the information?"
"You can use the library, the scrying pools if your guardian lets you and the Hivemind," answered the princess.
She asked the Hivemind for the time. "Alright, class dismissed."
The nymphs ran out of the classroom with cries of "See you tomorrow, Princess!".
Chrysalis closed the door and began to tidy up the room and straighten the cushions. She picked up the book and stared at the stylised picture of the moon and the sun.
A single tear rolled off of her face.
In an overgrown garden, some distance away from the castle of Nightmare Moon, was a stone statue. Vines, ivy and mould had all made a home on it. But through the plant life, one could just about make out the shape of a strange creature, standing proudly and grinning. The creature was like a serpentine patchwork quilt of other creatures.
Engraved at the base of the statue was a single, almost illegible word.
Discord
The stone began to crack.
Chrysalis fluffed up her cushion with a sigh, waiting for all of the nymphs to arrive. In hindsight, she wasn't sure why she had assigned them that project. It wasn't like they would find anything she hadn't already. Still, she supposed, it was good practice for them.
One by one, the little changelings all piled into the room. Each was carrying a scroll or a notepad with them. She noted how Wasp was attempting to use his magic to carry all of his quills and inkwells, as well as the report. She also noted how his report was twice the length of every other nymph's.
He'll make a fine scholar, she thought.
"Alright, pass me your reports, and we'll begin," said Chrysalis. A multitude of tiny horns sparked to life, and Chrysalis gently took each report into her own magical field.
"I'll read these tonight and grade you tomorrow," she said.
She waited for the wriggling nymphs to settle down, before beginning the day's lesson.
At the break, where every nymph would meet with a Collector for their lunch, Wasp hung around behind.
"Can I help you?" asked Chrysalis, lifting a glass of water to her mouth.
"Um...I think you should read my report now. I found something interesting, but I think I found it illegally..." Wasp was fidgeting with his hooves and glancing from side to side.
"Illegally?" asked Chrysalis, her eyes widening. "Wasp, what did you do?"
"I asked the Hivemind, but noling answered. So then I asked Mother, and she was like half asleep at the time. She told me that there were these things that could maybe stop Nightmare Moon. Then, she sort of panicked and tried to take the information back from me, so I, umm..."
"Yes?" pressed Chrysalis, sipping once more.
"I kinda sorta closed my mind off from her..."
Chrysalis spat out the water in a torrent of vapour mixed with changeling slime. Wasp shielded himself from the spray with a tiny wing.
"Wasp! That is highly, highly illegal! You could be executed, or exiled for that!"
"I know, but I thought it sounded important! I don't want to be ex-i...esee...sent away!" wailed the little changeling, tears beginning to form.
Chrysalis sighed and set down her drink. There wasn't anything she could do with him. "I'll read it during the break and I'll try and get Mother to see reason later. Your heart was in the right place, at least."
Wasp bowed hastily and bolted out the door.
Chrysalis found his report and opened it. She read through the usual drivel about how the sun was made of gases set on fire and sustained by magic, what it did, how it was moved and how everybody loved it. Nothing she hadn't seen before.
However, when she came to the middle of the report, something changed. Her first glimpse of something different from what she knew about.
According to Mother, there are powerful arti artu things which can stop Nightmare Moon from holding the moon in place and bring the sun again. Mother said that once a year, on a certain nocturne, the sun tries to rise all on its own, and Nightmare Moon has to supperess stop it. She's weakened at this stage, and things called the 'Elements of Harmony' could potenshully maybe have the power to stop her.
There are six Elements of Harmony. Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity and Loyalty. No one knows what the last one is, not even Mother.
Other stories tell of a cree creature called a Draconequus that had powerful magic. The Draconequus would toy around with the sun and moon to bring day and night all on his own. Some stories say that he was evil, others say he just liked to joke around. But all of the stories agree that he was dangerous if left unchek alone. He vannissh diissaa went away around the same time Nightmare Moon came and no one has seen him since.
The report proceeded as usual from there into a nicely structured conclusion.
Chrysalis gritted her teeth against each other and a fire lit in her eyes. How dare her mother deny her the information she craved?
The nymphs began to file back into the room. "Class dismissed early today," said Chrysalis.
The nymphs began to file out again except for Wasp. He cast a glance at Chrysalis and shrank back from the wild look in her eyes before following his classmates.
Chrysalis packed away her classroom supplies with a vengeance before stomping out. Changelings parted before her like a river around a rock. She walked through the green halls of the Hive centre until she reached the throne room.
The doors were made of solid mahogany wood, which was quite difficult to find in the wild. Entering without even allowing the guards to even check that she was not a drone disguised as the princess, she faced her mother, the Queen. The Queen was taller than Chrysalis, with a long, vibrant purple mane and a deep purple shell on her back. Her gossamer wings were lavender in colour.
The Queen glared at Chrysalis as the latter spat a blob of sickly green slime onto the floor. Watching guards gasped–this was a terrible gesture of disrespect.
"Well, it appears someling is less than amused," said the Queen, speaking condescendingly. "And frankly, so am I. I expect you to clean that up, you know. And I'd also like to know why one of your 'students'-” She spat the word as though it were a rotten piece of fruit "-has so blatantly defiled my mind and refused to abide by the law."
Chrysalis narrowed her eyes. "And I'd like to know why you have withheld vital information from me!" said Chrysalis dangerously.
The Queen gave a soft gasp and gestured for the guards to exit, which they did with a stiff salute. "He told you, didn't he? That stupid little grub! His punishment will only be made all the more severe as a result."
"No, it won't. I have power too, Mother. I have the right to withdraw punishment on anyling I choose. In fact, Wasp should be given an award for his bravery and honesty. He openly admitted to having broken the law, and he brought me a sliver of hope, which is more than you have ever accomplished. So, Mother, when exactly were you planning on telling me that there was a way for my dreams to come to fruition?" hissed Chrysalis, taking up an aggressive stance.
"You may have power, but you hold no authority over me. You are not the Queen yet. That little worm will be punished, and you have no say in the matter. As for the information, it has been passed from Queen to Queen for generations. Not from Queen to Princess. I however, had no intentions of telling you until the very last minute."
Chrysalis took a step back. "Why not? Do you not trust me?"
"As a matter of fact, I don't. If I were to tell you before fate did not force my hoof, who is to say that you would not wander off in pursuit of some old story meant for nymphs and elders?"
"Well, now you have destroyed all chances of me not departing. I will find the Elements of Harmony, and I will return the sun, and when I do, I'll return and laugh at you, the foolish old changeling who is too afraid of cobwebs to fly. I can and I will protect that nymph and provide him with a brighter future." Chrysalis made movements to exit.
"I forbid it," said the Queen. "You have already forsaken your duties enough when you insisted upon educating the nymphs, a job meant for teachers and nurses. I will not allow you to embark on a foolish quest which can only end in disaster. You have lived the sheltered life of a changeling princess. The world beyond the Hive is dark and cruel. All the love in Equestria cannot shield you from pain." The Queen spoke with hollow formality, as if repeating a message of tragedy.
"If I do not go, Mother, then who will stand up to Nightmare Moon? From the way you are speaking, it almost seems as if changelings are the only species who hold the knowledge of how to defeat her."
"Select few ancient dragons hold the secret. But other than those rare instances, only changelings are aware of the Elements of Harmony. And it is likely that Nightmare Moon too knows of these artefacts. Do you honestly believe that she has not prepared for this eventuality? I am telling you now that no good would come of your attempt to overthrow the tyrant."
"What of the Draconequus?" asked Chrysalis. "Could I not seek him out? From what the nymph informed me of, he held the power to raise the sun. Would finding him not be an easier alternative?"
"An admirable line of reasoning, but no one has seen the Draconequus since shortly before the rise of Nightmare Moon. What makes you think that you shall find him?"
"The ancient dragons, surely they know something about him," said Chrysalis, growing desperate.
"The Draconequus was much despised. I doubt that the dragons would be willing to speak about him. And, what makes you think that they would engage in conversation with a mere changeling? They'd sooner eat you."
"Mother, please just allow me to go! I shouldn't have to justify myself to you. It won't be long before you are too old and feeble to perform this duty, and then I will be tied down by the Hive and its workings. Now is the only chance I will ever have.
Please. Just grant me permission. It would make things far easier than the alternative of me just leaving as I please. I can take the unlawful nymph as companionship, and you can tell the public that he has been exiled," begged Chrysalis, bowing before her mother, something she despised doing.
The Queen appeared to be deep in thought, her brow furrowed. Finally, she gave a small sigh. "I'll allow it. Princess Chrysalis, I, Queen Lepidoptera, formally bestow upon you permission to seek out either the Elements of Harmony, or the Draconequus."
Chrysalis reared up on her hind legs and gave an un-princesslike victory cheer.
"On one condition," added the Queen.
Chrysalis lowered herself onto the floor once more and regarded her mother with suspicion.
"The nymph stays here," said the Queen.
"If this is so that you can punish him, then I refuse the condition," said Chrysalis.
"I withdraw his punishment. He acted for the good of the Princess. No, he must stay because the world outside is no place for a nymph. It is dark and dangerous and all around unsafe. Were he older, I would send him along as a member of your guard. But as it is, he is too young."
"I don't want a guard. I would prefer to travel alone. If Wasp must stay for his own well-being, then so be it. I love that nymph like a son. I want no harm to come to him while I am away. Clear?" said Chrysalis.
"Clear," agreed the Queen.
"I'll leave tomorrow. No sense in putting it off."
As Chrysalis exited and the guards entered, the Queen's eyes moistened, and she began to cry, her sobs echoing in the throne room as her guards rushed to her side.
The next morning great farewells were given to the Princess as she packed her saddlebags with travelling essentials. A few small feeding crystals, some grain and dried meat, a small dagger, and a seal which bore her Hive's emblem.
A great parade was held in her honour. All of the changelings in the Hive massed around the great doors, waving flags and throwing gifts at Chrysalis. At last, she reached the doors and slowly pushed them open. They swung closed behind her as the crowd gave one last cheer.
The world outside was dark and cold. The intricate tapestry formed by the millions of stars in the cloudless inky blue sky was a wonderful sight to behold. The full moon hung in the sky, cruel yet beautiful. Twisted stumps of greyed trees surrounded the changeling. Far off in the distance, she could just about make out the faint outline of the hideous spiked castle of Nightmare Moon.
She surveyed her surroundings once more, and grinned to herself.
Her quest had begun.
