My creation before it's going to be posted in the Twysalis prompt tag collab! After repeated questions Chrysalis finally confesses the way she ascended to the throne.
Because the group fell into inactivity hell and the stories/prompts technically ended this fic is cancelled.
((Story is writtern for the Twysalis prompt collab group.. Each story will use the prompts as titles.))War changes people. War equals loss, and loss scars the mind. After having gone through many obstacles Twilight and Chrysalis can finally allow themselves some time to enjoy their love. But before their eventual marriage there is one more thing that Chrysalis has to confess.
Queen Chrysalis has many titles: she is the Monarch of the Black Sanctuary, the Liberator... But among those titles there is one she wishes she had never gotten: the Black Siren. Now before their wedding the time and excuses have run out.
It's time to confess... and face the future together.
I am Ao the changeling. But Ao wasn’t always me… I was once trapped in the form of Tidal Rider, a blue pegasus stallion with a brown and black mane, i had a cutie mark of a white and blue wave with a wing upon it. I couldn’t return to my true parents. I had suffered a rare changeling psychosis called “Immersion”. I was so caught up in my experience of being a pony that I couldn’t hear the calls of my siblings, my mother, my father…
But she did.
She was the Queen of my kind, and her name was Chrysalis. She came to me, she freed me… Once I overcame my fears I saw my true form: insectoid wings, silver hair, heterochromic eyes:honey-brown and soft-sea green. I felt relieved. The true Tidal Rider was returned to his parents and I returned the love of his parents back to my Queen. A notion of equivalent exchange as we thought of it that time.
But changelings grew tired of this. We didn’t want to give our children away any more, we wanted to live in the light and so in order to fulfill that wish my… no, OUR Queen went to war.
She was willing to do this so that we could live as we deserved. In the end, we failed. Sensing an imminent war, Chrysalis secretly called Twilight Sparkle to her chambers to stop a full-scale war with Equestria. An orb was sent through Twilight’s assistant Spike. Acting like a map with its magic it guided her to our Kingdom’s gates south through the Appaloosan Mountain range and then on through the forest of Leota. From there I escorted her to my Queen.
I loved my Queen, I strove to become one of her top guards just for that reason. She had saved me, I owed her my life, and with that I would repay her. As the time passed I sensed bonding between Twilight and Chrysalis. I was a creature of empathy, I knew. I wanted our Queen to be happy, so I was happy for her.
A few days later, I woke up to see the world had changed for the worse. None remembered Chrysalis!
Absurd! Impossible! Inconceivable!
Why, I would find the one responsible and twist their necks a thousand times over! I tried to remind my fellow warriors of their Queen! We had a new Queen, her name was Foals Errand. As I reminded her of that Queen, warriors from my old Hive-Kingdom came to challenge us. They wished me to forget, it was the wish of the Queen they said! I wouldn’t believe that, and even if that had been true, I was due of an explanation!
Foals Errand agreed to help me… we went to the Equestrian Princesses to look for answers. They directed us towards the legend of the temple of Judgement, they said they would be there to witness the events, but they couldn’t interfere.
The Temple of Judgement, a place where all Queens were judged worthy to lead the changelings by the spirits of three ancient rulers:King Proteus the Overfather, Queen Metis the cunningly wise, and King Nousios the blindingly fair.
We fought to get there. And now… now we have come to get our Queen back.
I never thought I’d be fighting in the sacred temple of judgement, a holy place I had dreamt of visiting one day. To be here was an honor for me, but that didn’t matter. I couldn’t enjoy the glorious architecture, the marvelous magically suspended libra with its three edges, each standing for the soul, the body, the mind. Nor could I enjoy the grand statues of the ancient changeling rulers.
“Why did you come this far?”
Olive green mane, lavender eyes, and an ornate longsword: besides me was Foals Errand and other warriors I had called forth, friends and more. Behind us were Celestia, Luna, and Cadance with her husband Shining Armor. In front of me, however, was the TRUE Queen. She wore a mage’s battlegarb in teal. She was the Liberator, the Monarch of the Black Sanctuary, the Black Siren.
She was Queen Chrysalis.
I wanted to hear the reason why she had left us! As if she knew what I was thinking she spoke first.
“I wanted to be forgotten, I wanted you to live your lives without worrying about me, yet I should have known better…” she paused, looking down.
“The core of the Primal taint of the changelings resides within me. Until now it manifested itself as us feeding from love. But with my failure in Canterlot, it awakened. If I don’t seal myself it will consume all of the changelings, but even if you defeat me it will infect you like the parasite it is.”
Behind the tough composure, the fierce gaze she was giving me, she was masking something… pain. I could feel the taint of the changelings manifesting in all its evil greatness.
I told her the truth behind my presence here.
“I couldn’t just let you be forgotten. You did so much for us...”
She closed her eyes as she frowned, a shadow “grew” over her face and dark determination overcame her.
“I see… so you came here...” she paused, and I heard hoofsteps behind her.
She walked steadily from behind Chrysalis. I quickly recognized the unicorn dressed in purple battlegear, the stripe on her head, the star-shaped cutie mark on her shoulder.
Twilight Sparkle…
Suddenly, they both emanated a crimson red glow that pulsed around them like a taint. I knew this glow: it was the taint of the changelings in its most primal form. But it wasn’t just coming from them. It was coming from the soldiers behind them that were now stepping from the darkness. The veteran members of Chrysalis’s hive were present there.
“Impossible… you mean to tell me that the primal taint of the changelings has reached even the Element of Magic?” I gritted my teeth in anger.
“Ao… the couple you love so much doesn’t exist anymore. Right now I’m going to use all of our dark love’s might to beat you!” Her gaze was locked upon me.
“Twilight…” whispered Celestia, narrowing her eyes upon the sight of her former student, surrounded by this kind of magic.
“What a black cloud filled with sadness.” Said Luna, astute as ever, observing the heavy tone.
“This is intense, Twilight: I never thought you’d go this far.” Shining Armor was standing on guard next to his speechless wife, but neither he nor the princesses were going to be involved. This was a matter changelings had to resolve and the only thing they could do was push towards the resolution of it.
Chrysalis turned towards the Princesses
“I thought you knew why I kept myself locked in here. I wanted to keep this undying taint sealed forever! You said you’d be neutral.” there was a hint of anger on her words.
Celestia smiled awkwardly “I’m sorry. You see, in the end I had to give my support to the one who might have a chance of finding a way out of this.” She turned towards Luna, who closed her eyes for a bit and exhaled.
“I do feel sorry for this… but I am not willing to live in this world at the expense of others’ lives. When you took that decision I didn’t know any alternatives, that’s why I proposed to my sister that we remain neutral while we subtly fed the changelings.”
Foals Errand took the word next as she stepped next to me. She had aided me and the changelings, and we had finally arrived.
“Chrysalis… we’re not going to let that taint overcome us, or the world! But in order for us to have a chance we need you back! And if we have to fight about it, then SO BE IT!!!”
As the battle began, it was almost too fast paced for the spectators to follow. Commands were mentally sent from one to the other.
A changeling surrounded in a fire-red aura dashed across the battlefield, knocking everyone out of his path. One of Chrysalis and Twilight’s warriors with a curved blade poised to meet the blazing changeling. Gusts of wind pushed the opposing back. One of Chrysalis’ warriors came from behind me, but fortunately I had enough time to block him as I extended my hoof forming a hexagon barrier spell. I felt a hoof from my back and as I turned to see Foals Errand I was quickly teleported up and behind Chrysalis and Twilight, who covered their warriors with illusions and blasted spells respectively. I grabbed the chance and skydove at them while Foals Errand summoned a series of swords, launching the projectiles against them. Twilight noticed it in time, pushing Chrysalis to the side while shielding herself.
Chrysalis and Twilight jumped back. We didn’t have time to stop their next spell.
“I see… so it’s your friends that grant you power, right? But there are some things friends can’t change. Let’s show them, Twilight!”
All the brightness of the temple vanished for a moment and the crimson red glow in Twilight’s and Chrysalis’s bodies intensified. As quickly as it appeared it was gone, and big chunks of ice appeared around my comrade’s bodies. Foals Errand and I tried to reach them but they were covered so quickly.The ice didn’t break when I struck it, nor could fire melt it.
“That…” I turned to see Twilight, who was speaking
“... is what happens when you challenge our love! As for you Ao...” I gulped.
“IMPRISONMENT!!!” Before I knew what hit me silver ropes constricted my body. Everything went black and I found myself suspended in the void, unable to move. It was strange however… even here I could hear some voices, spirits talking to me. What trickery was this? I focused my thoughts on Foals Errand and, connected through the hive mind, I saw her. Even if I was this far, our bond couldn’t be shattered.
“Is this your intent?” she said as she clashed with Twilight in bladed combat, their gazes locked upon each other. “To prevent all of my options and make me surrender?” She gritted her teeth. “Even so, I’m going to advance!” Her body glowed and everyone retreated as a small wave of energy pushed them back. She took the time to gather energy that manifested as an orange glow around her body. I knew this spell: it was the “Call” and I mentally prepared for combat once again. If this worked…
She whispered internally her: “Thousands of trials besiege you, but your soul rises again and again… my noble champion! Break through your prison and come to me!” I saw it around me as I opened my eyes. The magic of the changelings, those who bonded close could perform the “Call of the Ally” to call upon their friends wherever they were. I felt the light pushing me forward and as my speed grew through the void I saw its’ edge break and I landed next to my Queen. We grabbed the chance of our enemies’ surprise and dashed at them, together.
“Our voices will be heard! Our wishes will be answered!” With joint hooves our flight was faster than ever. We shared magic, we shared strength. Right now our magic, our strikes, they were all made by one person. The veterans that stood before us couldn’t hold us back as our charge broke through.
“Let it be heard, the voice of the people!” Foals enhanced our charge with speeding runes while her conjured blades kept the others at bay. Our attack hit on the combined shield made by Chrysalis and Twilight. Curses! Just a little bit more! A swordfight ensued as the remaining combatants struggled for victory. Chrysalis and Twilight joined their hooves together, magic clashed and surged from them. I jumped in front of my Queen as a beam of dark crimson energy was launched against us. Conjuring five runes in pentagonal formation I cast the Quintet Wall spell. As it impacted it pushed me back, but I held my ground. When we raised our heads to see our opponents, Chrysalis and Twilight were casting that spell again!
“I can’t quench your fighting spirit, Foals Errand. I know that. If that’s the case then you’ll be the one imprisoned this time!” said Chrysalis as Twilight unleashed it. I watched in horror as in the blink of an eye what had hit me hit my Queen. What was there to do? Was there a solution? I closed my eyes…
“This is the end…,” I heard the voice of my Queen. I could guess that they were charging at me. I heard the same voices of the void whispering to me, and then it dawned upon me.
“I got it!” I said as I raised my sword, deflecting Twilight’s spell. But there was still Chrysalis, who was launching a blast. “Shield Wall!” I said slamming my fist to the ground as I knelt, standing against the brick wall that had risen from the stone beneath me.
“WHY!” Chrysalis raged as Twilight tried to hold her back by grabbing her arm. “WHY DO YOU PERSIST?”
“Incredible! He blocked it!” Said Shining Armor from the back, giving an impressed whistle.
“But that’s not all.” said Celestia.
“You noticed, sister?” Luna smiled at Celestia while Shining and Cadence looked at them quizzically.
“He has figured something out.” said Celestia, smiling.
I didn’t waste time responding to Chrysalis. “If the primal taint has awakened within you… then I take it upon myself to bear, it my Queen. I swore that I would give you the chance to be happy as you did!”
“Don’t… don’t sacrifice yourself for us!” pleaded Twilight as she held Chrysalis from attacking. She didn’t want her to snap and do something she would regret.
“Even though you did the same thing for us, you don’t want me to do this?” Twilight was taken aback, maybe a little guilty at the thought that she was claiming the glory of this sacrifice for herself. There was silence.
“I guess… I am the same way. I wouldn’t like to shift the blame, or burden, to anyone.” There was no answer to this. “Chrysalis, Twilight… there’s no need for you to sacrifice yourselves. Let us all bear this burden!”
“What? The core of this taint can only exist in one person!” Chrysalis responded, the attention of which I had. I knew this much at least.
“There’s a way out. When you imprisoned me in the void it became clear to me. The ancient rulers residing here would never allow such a taint to overcome us! As avatars of empathy they were trying to find a way to take in that taint, and neutralize it! If this is the case then with their help we can start undoing this! They were waiting for the love that could change this! And it is here!”
“That’s… impossible.”
“HEY EVERYONE! Who here is prepared to share in their burden?” I shouted, demanding an answer out of those surrounding me. The note of their answer was unanimous, so much that it halted Chrysalis and Twilight’s reactions by sheer surprise. Even the Equestrians joined in the chorus.
“My Queen… I am going to defeat you. And I’m going to prove to you that I’m right!” I clenched my hoof and started gathering my strength. Not physical, nor magical… I gathered the strength to live, to continue, to overcome my burdens. As I focused on avoiding direct confrontation with the rest of the warriors I whispered my wish. “Amidst despair and loss… a new Queen is born!” I focused my heart at this, and as I did an orange glow gathered around me. I raised my hoof, sending it up. A small glint of light at the end was a sign: my wish had been heard, and I smiled as Foals Errand descended, slamming on the ground next to me.
We wasted no time. We thundered forth, but this time it seemed as if the very magic of this place answered our wishes. Our eyes glowed, our hair flowed as magic surged around our auras. A sword of magic answered our call at our joined h. With one simultaneous swing, it reached the pair. There was no stopping this attack, and Chrysalis and Twilight’s attempts to block this proved to be in vain. As the force sent them to the walls I could grasp the awe of the warriors: both friends, who with the magic binding them gone were now free, and enemies.
Chrysalis shifted from her position and her aura swirled wildly in shades of crimson and black. There was something sickening shifting from her chest, like a jetblack rock. I understood, as did everyone, that this was the core she was talking about. She screamed wildly as the pain of it coming out overwhelmed her. As the crown fell from her head and rolled towards my hooves my instincts told me to pick it up. The “Taint Shard”, as I called it in my head, launched itself towards me and my Queen. Grabbing the crown tighter, I prayed.
“Ancestors, aid us!” I pleaded. The crown vibrated and glowed in response. Guided by a will of its own, the crown hovered in front of me. An insectoid figure quickly formed below it, shining with a fierce emerald glow, armed with a greatsword half its height. Three voices echoed from the figure and the statues around me.
“TAINT THAT WOULD CONSUME THE PROTEANS. BY LOVE YOUR HUNGER BE SATED, BY EMPATHY YOUR RAGING INFERNO BE DOUSED!”
The figure charged at the shard, its booming voice echoing in the halls.
“LET FORGIVENESS WASH AWAY THE SINS AND PAIN YOU HAVE CAUSED!” It struck the shard, whos’ will was staggered by the slash. The avatar of the changelings, Proteans as our ancestors called our race, struck again. But this time it took my form. It struck again with a different form, this time Queen Chrysalis was striking. The next was Twilight, the princesses, the hive that was present, all of them delivered a blow that split the shard to even smaller pieces. The pieces then rushed to those present, but the figure didn’t vanish.
The avatar of the Proteans restored all present to their full health and beckoned them forth. Its voice, however, was softer now.
“Listen children. The taint of evil cannot be destroyed completely. But it is now too small to actually force our species into extinction, or otherwise. It is now up to you to eventually see the end of this by accepting this Taint and turning it into something good. With forgiveness, resolve, and empathy all is possible. As you do, the Taint will split and one more step towards defeating it will be taken. When you have spread this message to all of Equestria, the Proteans will no longer need to feed upon love.”
There was a murmur of disbelief around Chrysalis as she spoke. “No longer needing to feed upon love? When will that moment come?”
“In due time. The Proteans are known for their perseverance. The ascension from the Abyss, the Armageddon's Exodus, and now… the Cleansing of the Taint. Sometimes we need to be reminded what we are capable dear Chrysalis. Go in peace, and spread forgiveness and love. Remember to be empathetic.”
With those words the avatar faded.
“The long journey is over…” was all I could think as the hive met their Queen again. As the two smaller ones became one once again.
We were granted the title of “Vanguards”, that equates to heroes for the changelings, leaders that took the initiative in crucial moments. All we wanted was the happiness of the changelings. Finally… we had the chance to make this dream a reality. The journey was going to be long… but we had each other, and so we feared nothing.
Two months ago, if you had told someone that Princess Twilight Sparkle and Queen Chrysalis would be together. they would have assumed you were talking nonsense.
It wasn’t often that you saw enemies coming together and shaking hooves, but the chances of fall in love were even fewer.
Loss is not always something that causes grief or sorrow.
Pioneers thrive in finding what is lost. Right now while Twilight entered the changeling kingdom she felt like one.
All the Princesses had been invited to sacred ground, that much Twilight had been told. Crossing the Macintosh hills and south into the Badlands she arrived at the jagged peaks of the “Spirit Wall”, as the changelings called it. There she was escorted through carefully concealed entrances to the interior. Her eyes widened and she gasped as she looked behind her. The mountains were no mountains at all! She saw a wall over a thousand hooves high towering behind her, stretching for miles, and miles left and right were dozens of changeling wizards, maintaining the illusion by feeding the wall with their magic.
The extent of this illusionary shield was something that even Shining Armor would be jealous of.
As if that wasn’t enough, she soon found the biggest tree she had ever seen. Nestled near a big river and roughly the size of Canterlot itself, the “Grand Olive” as the changelings called it extended its roots into the ground. The tendrils that made its roots were so big that some changelings even carved their own houses in them, and many of them housed a great amount of bees and butterflies that fed on the lush surroundings. It was hard to think that such a lush environment could exist in the Badlands.
It took Twilight half an hour to calm down from the amount of swarms existing there.
The royal quarters were built near the center of the tree, in one of the roots that led to its heart. Chrysalis and Twilight were standing in the master bedroom’s window, looking at the stars above.
But that wasn’t all! This place wasn’t even Chrysalis’s actual palace, or capital… or house for that matter.
“Wait, it’s not? I expected our love would warrant you taking me to your place by now! Bad Chrysalis!” She said, playfully tapping the side of Chrysalis’s face with her hoof, to which Chrysalis responded by faking a shameful frown.
“Do I have to spank your smexy bottoms to get you to take me there?” The two royals nuzzled after a mutual giggle.
“Mmmm I feel jealous. I bet as a Queen you had all those changelings courting you...” She nuzzled her darling, whose behavior was rubbing off on her, proven by the lewd smile that now adorned Twilight’s face. Time spent with Chrysalis was time both she and Twilight discovered kinky sides of themselves. A lot of this was often combined with giggling, singing, and of course… good red wine.
“Hmmm yes… let’s see. Know the arrow to the knee joke?” Chrysalis said casually as she rubbed her chin, looking up and trying to remember.
“Yea…”
“It started from my first suitor. The second one lost his “spear” before “le sexy time” was about to begin. Let’s just say that I don’t tolerate power hungry mongrels who don’t truly love me,” said Chrysalis, winking while smiling at Twilight’s gaping mouth and wide-eyed expression.
“Relax Twilight… You’re not like them.” Chrysalis shut Twilight’s lips with a kiss, and Twilight, though surprised, slowly submitted. It didn’t matter if Chrysalis sought to scare her with what she said. She was lost, drunk by the scent of danger and the allure of the Queen standing before her. They parted for a moment and Chrysalis spoke.
“I lost love, and I lost the fight with you. But I am glad I did, for if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have known the truth behind this wondrous emotion.” She took Twilight’s hoof, gently tugging her to their bed.
“I want to lose myself to you tonight, Twilight Sparkle, and I want to explore you thoroughly as well.” Deep breaths were exchanged as their muzzles moved together like dancing serpents, wanting to succumb to the need to wrestle in the arena of love.
“I love you…” said Twilight Sparkle beneath Chrysalis while gazing into her eyes.
“I love you too…” Chrysalis responded.
To win when you lose… that is the result of love.
And tomorrow the Badlands would experience it too.
The next morning found Chrysalis and Twilight talking in their quarters about the upcoming event. Chrysalis, wanting to keep it a surprise, had waited until the last moment to reveal this.
“So… the tree is the source of life in the Badlands?” Asked Twilight. She listened to Chrysalis’s words, making notes as they spoke, always asking questions like a young filly whose curiosity couldn’t be sated. Chrysalis smiled, more than eager to explain to the cute bookworm the how and why. She was lucky they weren’t interrupted by that wyrm of her’s Spike. The adorable little dragon had taken a journey to the Dragon Empire to learn more about his kin with no definite time to return.
“Yes… It’s over four millennia old. This was once the Tree of Harmony, the tree that supported the land. It gave three ponies the strength to draw its power with their song, giving the ponies around them the power of harmony and peace.”
“The Sirens…” Twilight gasped, the realization hitting her.
“Exactly… the Sirens, however, grew arrogant, wanting to keep all the power to themselves and not the undeserving races that squabbled around the tree. So they did. The “lesser” races, as they called them, became puppets to their songs, fighting amongst themselves for the eyes of their puppeteers...”
Twilight felt a chill run up her spine. She remembered how the whole village had fought over a simple doll when she had cast the “Want it, need it” spell. If she could do so much with a single spell, then what could the sirens have done if their real magic had been restored? Only now did she realize how lucky they were to have fought in the human world.
“Twilight?” asked Chrysalis, waving a hoof. “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing, I was just thinking how lucky me and the girls were to have defeated the Sirens in the human world… if it happened here…”
“The changelings would have stopped them.” Chrysalis broke her train of thought.
“You… you would?” Twilight cocked an eyebrow.
“If the sirens came to Equestria they would have come to our tree immediately. Why do you think the “Spirit Wall” was created?”
“I see… well it’s good to know despite the differences we had you would defend the land as well.” Chrysalis chuckled a bit.
“Well if you hadn’t taken care of Tirek you would be in big trouble for keeping him from us. But you didn’t know, and in the end you cancelled that out. Plus i fell in love with you stupid. So… shall I continue on the Sirens?”
“Oh right… sorry for interrupting.” Twilight gave an awkward smile.
“So, the Sirens twisted their powers, feeding on the conflict they once sought to prevent. They ruined their forms, marring their beautiful radiance. They would have twisted the tree too, had Starswirl the Bearded not banished them to another world. The Tree of Harmony was damaged, but not all was lost. Starswirl took a seed and planted it near Equestria. But the hole left here couldn’t be fixed. When we changelings encountered this place it was nothing more than a field of exploding mana and rampart arcane fires burning about. The Queen of the changelings at that time, Minerva, had the idea to drop the seed of an olive tree into the center. From it came the tree you see right now and every year the tree pulses with energy into the land, increasing its fertility and maintaining a hospitable environment for both flora and fauna...”
“But… the Badlands…”
“Eh-hem…” Chrysalis faked a cough at being interrupted. Twilight silenced herself, embarrassed a bit as Chrysalis plumped her cheeks.
“Bad Twily... pay attention! Anyway, as I was saying, ever since that moment we changelings prospered around it. However, sometime after its creation the energy well… destabilized. Or is it de-harmonized? Anyhow, to preserve the balance of the land here we devised a solution: we feed it every year our energy with our song.”
“The song of creation? I never really under-...” Twilight found herself suddenly moaning into Chrysalis’s kiss, which didn’t stop until she was quiet again.
Guess that’s one way to get her attention. Mmmm... Chrysalis licked her lips as their mouths parted ways.
She coughed a bit and Twilight shivered in response, getting back to reality. Before she had a chance to speak Chrysalis stood up.
“The song of creation is not something that can be described,Twilight, which is why you will find no description that does it justice. It is why you must experience it first-hoof. Come… it’s almost time.”
Chrysalis gently tugged Twilight’s hoof until she decided to follow her. As they trotted towards the center of the tree, she had the chance to think about what Chrysalis said. During their conversation Twilight had noticed a strange gleam in Chrysalis’s eyes. She had felt a mix of interest and fear… She didn’t know what it was but it worried her. There was something more about this event, something…
“Twilight!” The alicorn jerked her head only to spot the other Royals of Equestria, led by Cadence, who rushed to her as soon as she spotted her. Unfortunately due to his duties Shining Armor had to stay behind in the Crystal Empire. After “The Dance” as Chrysalis called it - she always turned away a bit embarrassed from the sight - Twilight hugged Cadance.
“How are you, Twilight? Haven’t seen you a lot outside, has Chrysalis been treating you right? Or do I need to loveblast her again?”
She was glad Chrysalis pretended not to hear that. Shaking her hooves she was trying to mutter an excuse. Fortunately she didn’t have to…
“Stop being such a tease, Cadance, ‘tis simply a matter of love.” Said Luna, laughing.
“Perhaps our two lovebirds are dripping so much honey that they simply thought we might slip and fall if they walked out of their home,” continued Celestia, making the couple blush.
“How much wine did you drink?” Chrysalis asked sharply. Celestia was the one to respond first.
“Please, Chrysalis, lighten up… I don’t need to drink wine to joke about my former student. I’ve seen her mind-control an entire village.” Chrysalis’s jaw dropped.
“You never told me that!”
“Well you’ve never told me how you became a Queen, either!” responded a flabbergasted Twilight.
“Touche…” said Chrysalis, shivering at the memory.
“Like you don’t have your fair share of chaos in your life, Celestia. Do I need the Discord issue, sister?” Luna rebutted.
“Discord issue?” Said Celestia, eyes constantly shifting left and right..
“Right… remember the time he gave you flowers? Wiiiinking?”
Chrysalis whistled, complimenting the Solar Monarch as Cadance tried to stifle her laughter.
“Don’t worry, I already have auntie on my shipping chart. I foresee marriage in six months tops.”
“Way to go, Big Sexy! Didn’t know you had it in you. Remind me to give you the new guide I got from Neighpon. Really could help you with Discord’s anatomy, being as flexible as the dragon ponies.”
Twilight did NOT want to hear any more of this.
“Don’t we have more important things to do? Like the ceremony?”
“Right, right. Follow me…” Though others might have been fooled, Twilight noticed the drastic tone shift as Chrysalis turned. A knife cut all talk as her look changed. She didn’t speak as she continued to their original destination, not waiting for more interruptions. There it was again, Twilight spotted that look in Chrysalis’s eyes, the cold, determined mare, that unquenchable fire burning.
The same look she had when she invaded Canterlot...
The royals followed Chrysalis in the maze of leaves, branches and structures that were built into this extraordinary tree. They followed the buzz of the gathering changelings: children, adults, and elderly alike flocking to the center, or “heart,” of the tree. Once they crossed the final set of branches they saw it: a two-part structure featuring an auditorium, and an orchestra. The sun was shining above, making it all look like a forest clearing. The tree rings formed the shape of a heart in the center. Chrysalis stopped and sighed.
“Please allow the guards to guide you to your seats.” Her eyes gleamed once more. “This is my dream.” Twilight instinctively put her hoof upon her, but she didn’t know what to say. She only received an understanding smile as the guards directed them to their seats.
Chrysalis slowly but steadily stepped towards the heart, looking down at her hooves. She felt the life of the tree, she heard its beat. This tree was older than the Princesses themselves, it was the achievement of the changelings. It showed their potential, their united strength, their power to change the world… to protect nature.
As Chrysalis made the final steps into the center, she took a deep breath. She turned to her changelings, tapping her hoof twice in the wood. There was silence.
“Life… is strength.” She stated simply.“This is not to be contested. It is simple enough. You live, you affect your world. It is the logic by which we’ve lived for hundreds of years now since we lost our strength to Tirek.” She paused.
“But is it what you want? Do you submit to the fate appointed to you? Do you accept this suffering willingly?” She took a deep breath, pumped her chest, and jerked her head up. She could hear the murmurs and the “no’s” to each of her questions. The answers she knew, but still wanted to hear.
“The time to change has come! It’s time to give back! To show the world that changelings can be strong, that we can contribute!” A thoughtful whisper was heard from the crowd.
“Yea! She’s right!” Whispers became voices.
“We are not Parasites!”
“Yeah!”
“We are not monsters!”
“Yes!” voices turned to shouting.
“We are the guardians of nature!”
“WE ARE CHANGELINGS!” The shouting turned into a rallying cry, echoing through the stadium. Several changelings started uniting their hooves, connecting one with another. For Chrysalis this moment was hers. She didn’t notice the Princesses, nor her love watching with interest, she didn’t hear their chat as they marvelled at her rallying speech. Once the changelings had completed this hoof-linking gesture and were in position, Chrysalis continued.
“My brothers, my sisters, my blood…”
The Queen’s pose invoked silence around her.
“SPEAK TO ME!!”
A chilling wind swept across the area and Twilight mimicked the other Princesses, grabbing herself in her seat firmly, expecting an explosion. The changelings’ eyes started as did Chrysalis’s. Chrysalis rose into the air without a single flap of her wings and stopped midair.
For a minute, as Chrysalis hovered, there was quiet, and then she heard it. The distant whisper, a soft voice in the wind, a light aura that caressed Twilight’s cheeks. Silence had overcome the Royals of Equestria as each noticed something different.
“Listen! The river…” Twilight heard Luna say. She focused a bit and heard the rush of the water that now had a steady rhythm.
“Look at the sky…” this time it was Celestia. Twilight noticed above the clearing clouds were hugging the sun without obscuring it.
“This is.. beautiful.” Cadance said, dumbfounded as she saw the branches move in tandem with the rise and fall of the volume the changelings’ song had. As they sung silver threads emerged from their hearts, offerings to Mother Equestria. Twilight noticed the wordless choir of nature that intensified around her. She heard the cymbals that thunder summoned, the drums the river beat, the violin and other cord instruments called forth by the movements of the tree’s branches, all while the wind played a godlike melody around them.
And inside all that Chrysalis, like a siren unmatched, an orchestrator of living music, led the way accepting their offerings. A steady beam built up from the center of her horn spiraling towards the sky and steadily the Queen became encompassed in its’ glow. Twilight had to admit Chrysalis was right: this event was mind-boggling and awe-inspiring at the same time.
But…
“Do you hear that?” Twilight said as she focused upon it. Cadance was to respond.
“What is it Twilight?”
“There’s something wrong…” Twilight noticed the beam lean slightly to the side and cut off a branch threatening to fall on the innocent. She fired a beam at it vaporizing it before it had the chance to hurt anyone. The river roared angrily as Chrysalis shook from her position, but remained there still singing, unmoving, unbending. She shook again, and re-established her control once more. The changelings were released from the magic, they looked bewildered as their Queen battled the instability.
Celestia rushed to them. The other Princesses promptly followed her.
“What happened? What’s going on?” Celestia asked one of the guards.
“We’ve offered all the energy that’s necessary. S-she’s unable to keep it together, she’s losing control! Oh by the maker what are we gonna do? If she can’t control it everything’s gonna blow up!” He responded, grabbing his head, his teeth chattering as he spoke.
Luna put a hoof on his shoulder. “Be calm changeling. Panic will not help. We shall figure this out. Right Tia?”
Celestia nodded. “Right. I’ll try to handle the storm. You see if you can handle the water, the moon should give you some control. Cadance, you take the changelings out of here. Twilight you…”
She turned only to see Twilight looking at Chrysalis intently. She was focused on her lips, trying to read what she was saying. They moved over and over in the same motion, saying the same thing again and again like a mantra to calm herself down. After a few seconds it hit her.
“This is her dream. To restore the land, to change the world. We cannot stop this, nopony can, she won’t allow it. We can only finish it.” She trotted towards her Queen, defiant against the rampant energies that her lover tried to harness.
“Twilight DON’T!” Cadance said, rushing after her, only to receive an arcane lightning bolt right in front of her hooves.
“Cadance NO!” Celestia and Luna held Cadance back, she struggled against them, trying to pry herself from their clamping hooves.
“We have to get those people to safety before this escalates further!” Celestia’s voice trembled.
“She’s my sister…” Cadance felt Celestia’s caress on her mane.
“And she’s like my daughter…” she responded.
“And my friend.” Luna chimed in. Celestia continued.
“We have to trust that she knows what she’s doing! There’s nothing else we can do right now! Cadance!” Cadance’s breath slowed and she calmed down. She nodded. She was released, and as the other two rushed to do their work, she spared one last glance before she did the same.
Whether it was dumb luck or sheer stupidity, Twilight’s gamble paid off. She had dodged death, but maybe this was something that was meant to be. This wasn’t something she had studied before, she didn’t know what to do…
She extended her hoof, and brought Chrysalis’s attention to her. Staring into Chrsyalis’s big, glowing eyes, she maintained that calm expression. Chrysalis was repeating the same thing over and over.
“This is my dream, I must do it. This is my dream, I must do it. This is my dream…” lost in her own words she barely felt Twilight’s feelings reach her. She stopped for a moment and turned her attention at the warmth grabbing her hoof, noticing the vague shape of Twilight.
“This is my dream Twilight, I must do it. I must succeed, I cannot fail. I…” a hoof gently pressed against her lips.
“You… don’t have to do it alone. Your dream is my dream. We share in the pain, the joy, the sorrow. That’s where our bond lies… our love.” For a few moments the rage of the magic around them was silenced.
“Okay…” Chrysalis paused, a small smile building up on her face, and as she said “I love you,” it was reflected in Twilight’s face. The two joined hooves, the glow in Chrysalis’s eyes being shared in Twilight’s own. Twilight felt a warmth unlike any other overwhelm her as she hovered together with Chrysalis above the tree’s heart.
The song which she heard before now came not just from her voice, but from her whole self. She couldn’t pinpoint it but she was now the voice, the instrument, and the player as well. She wanted comfort as much as she needed to give it.
“Hang on Chrysalis, we can do it.” She was unsure if her voice even made it past her ears as everything started blurring around her. She was looking for Chrsyalis among the information that her brain was getting.
“Hang on, Chrysalis!” She said, once again unsure if her love even heard her. Was she alone now? Alone in the buildup of arcane, her hooves going numb, confused from the multitude of emotions, feelings, and sensations. She spoke one last time, one last time before what she considered the point of no return.
“Hang on…” And there, amidst the storm that was her mind she heard it crystal clear.
Chrysalis.
“I’m alright, Twilight…” as everything went white Twilight felt Chrysalis’s hooves surround her as her wings draped over her own.
Chrysalis fluttered her eyes open and yawned groggily. Twilight shifted in her position, stretching a bit.
“Shhh!!!!”
“They’re waking up!”
As the couple woke up they were greeted by the changelings surrounding them, waiting with bated breath. They looked at each other, then at the changelings.
Once Chrysalis was allowed to focus the first thing she noticed was the air. Like golden dust pollen danced in the wind, the golden dust of the tree of peace dancing in the aether all around her. There was a cool wind blowing around them, not the currents of blistering heat that battered them from outside the badlands. Love, the herald of all rebirth granted the holy tree new blossoms.
Twilight took a deep breath seeking to cherish every scent, every new feeling. As she closed her eyes she felt the rays of the sun peeking through the leaves like small rays of hope. The musky scent of the tree brought an instinctive smile upon her. The smiles of the changelings were now the smiles of new friends expressing their gratitude in the simplest way possible. This place really felt like home.
As the two turned against each other their smiles mirrored in their faces the sign of gratitude that couldn’t be expressed by simple words.
A dream came true that day…
“Twilight? Chrysalis?” the couple heard Cadance’s voice. The crowd parted revealing the other Princesses of Equestria. Once they reached them the two lovers received a hearty hug by the Princess of love...
“Don’t you two ever scare us like that again!”
...followed by a hard double Cadance Bitchslap™. A joyous laugh echoed as everyone, changelings and alicorns alike joined in an embrace. The celebration followed lasted until late. They say the sun and moon cycle was thrown off by two hours each to extend the celebrations.
The cool afternoon breeze blew upon Chrysalis’s castle. Built into the rocky sides of Styx gorge south through the Appaloosan Mountain range and then on through the forest of Leota, the whole construction was a miracle of architecture. Shielding the changelings inside from rain, built on the crossroad of two other nations: the Dragonic Empire and the Equestrian Diarchy, the Changeling capitol thrived.
It went without saying that the sudden, ‘strange’ and ‘weird’ relationship of Princess Twilight Sparkle with the infamous… no… notorious Queen Chrysalis, did wonders to aid the two species in crossing the gap.
It was a little bit embarrassing to see Twilight wandering inside the castle’s maze-like corridors. Not having Spike hurt her, and more than just her orientation. She sighed, it would take her time to adapt, it was not too long ago that Chrysalis had finally relented and introduced her to her own subjects. Chrysalis had made her relationship with Twilight known, but she hadn’t yet made any official public appearances. When she did, some had been suspicious, others were happy that their Queen had finally found a mate.
The most genuine smiles were the ones of the hatchlings. The little ones had curiously approached the equally curious unicorn with hungry looks upon their faces. Just as Chrysalis’s heart had melted with Twilight’s love, so had the changelings slowly opened up.
But there were still things that Twilight wanted to ask. Things Chrysalis kept avoiding. But now, the last week before solidifying their bond, Twilight could wait no more. She needed to confront her about those moments, before she confronted the joint presence of changelings and ponies at the ceremony.
Chrysalis said that she would tell her. When that time did come, if she still wanted to know, she would give her the answer to the long overdue question: how she ascended to Queenhood, and how she gained her kingdom.
Each time Twilight asked Chrysalis turned her face around, hid her expression with her mane, and pleaded her to change the subject one way or another. After cornering her in a fight Chrysalis had looked Twilight with eyes ready to burst in tears.
She finally found it: the door that led to the throne room where Chrysalis resided during the day, handling the diverse political problems of the “Proteans”, as the changelings called themselves.
Chrysalis noticed her first and promptly urged the others to bow respectfully.
“You really shouldn’t do that. I get really embarrassed when that happens,” said Twilight, rubbing her neck and smiling awkwardly.
“They must learn to pay proper homage to their future Queen.” responded Chrysalis. At the sound of the word Twilight opened her mouth, she closed it, then opened it again.
They looked at each other, and after a minute Chrysalis understood. It was time.
“Leave us…” she said in a serious tone. The changelings sensed the heaviness of the situation and wasted no time exiting the room.
“It’s time, isn’t it?” She continued.
“Yes. You said that I would know in time. That I needed to be “ready.” I still don’t get it… What’s so terrifying about your ascension that stopped you from telling me? What is it Chrysalis?” Twilight was clearly worried. Why all the secrecy? What happened in the past? Twilight took Chrysalis’s hoof and held it towards her heart. Chrysalis turned away for a moment, closing her eyes tight. She realized she couldn’t turn away from Twilight.
“Twilight… it’s not important how I gained my kingdom. Right now my kingdom, is the kingdom that resides inside my heart. The kingdom that you made my love, my messiah.”
She leaned in closer rubbing her nose with Twilight. Still… Twilight did not budge with flattery. She was determined on finding out the root of the problem, and cut it off.
“However I said I would answer, and I will.” She sighed, her hoof brushing her teal mane to the side.
“By the time I gained my kingdom, by the time I ascended to the throne, I gained three things and lost one.” Twilight gulped… she could sense it, here goes.
“I gained the love of my subjects. They called me ‘Liberator’, for I freed them from their squabbles, united them in one kingdom.” She paused a bit.
“The ancient rulers of the changelings came. Metis the cunning and wise unifier of hearts. Proteus the overfather, unifier of souls. And Nousios the blind and fair, unifier of minds. They judged me capable of leading the changelings. To them i was the ‘Monarch of the Black Sanctuary’.” She smiled at her lover as she got ready to speak once again.
“The enemies I faced were many. As my kingdom came into being, as I waged war against all that would oppose the formation of a united Protean nation i gained my third title…”
“The Black Siren.” The moment she heard that title, Twilight finally figured out why Chrysalis couldn’t tell her this story. Why she couldn’t look at her while remembering those events.
She was ashamed.
Twilight still couldn’t understand what had happened. It wasn’t like Chrysalis to be ashamed. Even when she came to Ponyville she kept an air of dignity… Only now did Twilight understand that determination was Chrysalis’s way to mask her own shame.
“I am not proud of all the things I’ve done. My parents Amalthea and Abectrozeus didn’t teach me what they did so that I could twist them.”
Silence. Twilight waited and listened, this was a story that she was determined to hear, plus the way Chrysalis touched her chest with her hoof now…it seemed like she wanted to lay those memories to rest, to lift a burden off her shoulders. Twilight was more than willing to be there for her, and she wanted to show that. Coming closer she took Chrysalis’s hoof and placed it between her own, showing her that she was precious to her now. Chrysalis noded in understanding, and continued her tale.
“My mother was the lady of House Mirrorhoof, one of the twelve houses that formed the changeling nation. We were split, divided, fighting amongst ourselves. Each house had the ambition of uniting the rest, of defeating them. None, however, could gain a definite advantage to win victory. So I had to learn. Learn how to rule, to inspire, to devastate them all.”
There was a bitterness, combined with anger, in that voice. Twilight gulped, something had definitely incited anger in her marefriend. It was clear at that moment that she bore hatred towards her former enemies, it reminded Twilight of the Chrysalis at Canterlot. Nevertheless, she didn’t interrupt.
“And so I learned. My mother called Mirage Strike, a mare of infinite wisdom, one I would learn to call my teacher, my mentor, my guidance. I can tell you one thing Twilight… if I owe my parents the life I am living, I owe Mirage the quality of life that I am living.
“She taught me more than just magic. She taught me how to inspire, to lift the spirits of my brethren, to… to sing.” Chrysalis paused, her heart skipped a beat. Twilight spotted the water in her eyes shifting, but before she could confirm what she saw Chrysalis composed herself.
It seemed that she and Chrysalis had a lot more in common than she thought, was this why they were attracted to each other? Both model students, both with aspirations, plans to lead. Each was tutored by a great mentor, but Twilight guessed that Chrysalis’s tale didn’t exactly have a happy ending.
“Chrysalis…” said Twilight, but her lover raised her hoof, stopping her.
“I was just like you… eager to learn, to satisfy my peers, to live up to the challenge. I became a model student not for myself, but for the sake of a better future. I stayed at my parents’ meetings, learning the tricks of diplomacy. I learned how to take care of the hatchlings, I learned how to battle, how to defeat opponents superior to me. It’s then that I started losing myself. The one thing that I lost on my path to ruling. But you won’t understand… unless you see for yourself.”
Magic gathered on her horn, but it was different than a normal spell. Her magic didn’t gather around like a glow in her horn. Instead, it flew in spirals from the base of her horn. Soon, her form started turning black with a green outline. Twilight pulled back, hooves shaking slightly at what was going on. Admittedly this was something she didn’t expect…
She was scared.
“W-what are you doing? Stop!” She pleaded, but Chrysalis continued.
The spirals changed directions and formed an atom-like trajectory around her. Before she could marvel at the sight, a small wave of magic came from Chrysalis, changing everything in its path. Twilight cowered, covering her face with her hooved as she closed her eyes. When she opened them she wasn’t inside the castle anymore. Had Chrysalis teleported them somewhere else?
She seemed to be outside of Chrysalis’s castle, and it was burning. There were screams, and fire, the unmistakable clash of magic. There was a battle going on inside the castle... Though from what she saw the castle was smaller this time. Where she remembered embrasures, walls, and other facilities, there were none. It was now nighttime, and the stars had shifted too much from the places she remembered from her observations during her stay at the castle.
She would have said that she was transported back in time, but there was one thing that proved that claim outright wrong. Her own form was transparent, and she soon Chrysalis in a similar spirit-like form.
“Where are we, Chrysalis? Where did you take us?” She said as her curiosity overtook her. What kind of magic could do this?
“These are my memories, Twilight. You will see this first hand… and judge me accordingly.” The way she said it, it was like Chrysalis awaited a conviction.
There was a low buzz that rapidly intensified from where the east wall was supposed to be. From the sides of the gorge another, younger Chrysalis appeared in battlemage garb. Her eyes were glowing more than normal: they were like two raging fires promising destruction and pain. She flapped her wings to their limits as if she was driven by some madness to reach her goal in time. Her mane was at the mercy of the wind, and she was dirty all over with blood.
It dawned on Twilight: Chrysalis had just returned from a battle, and it seemed that her enemies had decided to maneuver around her troops and attack her stronghold. As if guessing her thoughts, Chrysalis responded.
“You needn’t worry about my victory Twilight, from the moment they attacked my home they sealed their fate. You should worry about one thing.”
“What is that?” She said, fearing the answer. As Chrysalis responded a flash of green ran through her eyes that made Twilight shiver.
Twilight never expected to see the memories of her beloved first hoof. It was truly amazing how she could do that, but now that she was she wasn’t sure it was as interesting or exciting as it first sounded to her. They weren’t pleasant, that’s for sure. In fact, Twilight wondered if she should stop altogether, to drop the question and let it be. But even she understood that doing so now would be disrespectful. Chrysalis had taken the first step and opened up, and she had to capitalize on that chance right now. She had an objective here, and she wouldn’t go back.
They walked inside the vision of her castle, burning from the raiders. The scene unfolded before them with the vision of the younger Chrysalis searching the ruins for the survivors, and Chrysalis took the chance to talk.
“If you are interested as to who did this, it was House Masquerade. The second biggest House after my own. It was inevitable for us to clash, this was war. One would be standing in the end and in this challenge there was only one measure of success:kill or be killed.”
“How did you know?” asked Twilight, looking at her. But Chrysalis wasn’t looking back, instead she pointed at one of the bleeding corpses ahead as her younger version picked up an emblem that resembled a theatre mask: half sad-half happy. It took nothing more than common deductive reasoning to understand that this was the sign that sealed the deal.
The vision of Chrysalis in front of them screamed: it was a scream that shook the walls of the castle around her. It lifted her mane as her magic responded to her emotions and surged through her eyes. Twilight backhoofed a bit with wide eyes, not expecting this reaction. She fell to Chrysalis, who with a look of shame tried to envelop her in a comforting hug. Twilight could notice that the remembrance of the events was causing her discomfort as well. She took her in instead and gently caressed her back.
“It’ll be okay my Chryssie… It’ll be okay. I promise.” The next scenes went on in relative silence. Twilight felt it herself… Chrysalis, young as she was then wouldn’t, couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Her eyes were frantically searching for the mirrors, the switches that hid the real Lord Abectrozeus and Mistress Amalthea, her parents. Though sight could have fooled her, touch confirmed it. The warm blood, the pitch-black eyes, the deep cuts… They were all there. After almost an eternity of respectful silence for her and her fellow warriors Chrysalis turned.
“The Lords of this House are dead… who do you pledge allegiance to?” The question was simple, yet loaded with emotions. Chrysalis was brewing a storm.
“Mistress Chrysalis!” answered the warriors, clenching their hooves and slamming them upon their chests proudly.
“House Masquerade has crossed us for the last time. They have disgraced our house! Laughed as they stabbed our backs, scorned our dreams of unity! They thwarted our peace treaties with other houses, black washed our name on our friends and empowered our enemies! But now… now Lord Cyclomatooth Masquerade has crossed the line!”
She slammed the emblem of the house on the ground and pounded it with rage, crushing it beneath her hoof.
“Are we not changelings as well? Do we not share the same ancestry? Did we not treat their prisoners with honor? Did we not spare their families? Did we not offer mercy to those who surrendered? Did we not offer them the chance to join us? To unite? To find a common ground? A compromise?”
There was an angry pacing back and forth. The young Chrysalis flipped her mane back as it mixed within her shaking anger. Twilight saw clearly the frustration, but there was something more. A faint shiver ran through her, intensifying as the younger Chrysalis continued her speech. The murmur of discontent was rising in volume. Bit by bit, as her own voice’s volume rose, so did their anger.
“There be no surer foes than those who bestow no thanks! Is it not clear anymore that they have earned our enmity? Our revenge? Are we not entitled to VENGEANCE at this point? ANSWER ME!”
Rhythmic screams of anger, hatred, and promises of blood were aired. Just as those warriors had been led to battles by Chrysalis’s order, so would they now be led to a battle of holy, no… DIVINE retribution. And there among them, their Mistress, soon to be Queen, was ready to reap the seeds of her work.
The rallying cry echoed through the devastated halls. Mistress Chrysalis couldn’t wait, the tired, the helpless would stay behind. The few, the angry, the willing, they rushed behind her as glowing horns left a green trail in the fading darkness, a mark of the upcoming destruction.
“What happened after that?” Asked Twilight, caught in the intensity of the moment. This experience was like a horror movie to her: she didn’t want to watch it but once it had started, she couldn’t unhook herself from watching.
Chrysalis smiled at her, but it was an ironic smile, the lines on her face bending into one only after great effort. The image burned in response to her magic, the flames consuming the image from her horn and expanding outwards, revealing a flaming battlefield and a stronghold much like the one Chrysalis had held. Chrysalis silently pointed to the highest tower where two figures, their magic roaring through the dawn sky.
Willing their spirits towards that spot, it was soon revealed that the fight was all but evenly matched. There was something different in Chrysalis’s eyes while she was fighting. They were wide-open, her characteristics were stretched and there were battlescars and bloody spots upon her face. The one she was fighting had a short, grey-black mane, purple eyes, lean composure and wore medium armor. He was missing one fang, from that and from the emblem shining upon the middle of his chestpiece, Twilight understood this was the one they called “Cyclomatooth”. His breath came in quick pants as he moved, trying to parry and dodge the blows and magic coming from Chrysalis. Terrified, Lord Cyclomatooth was frantically fending her off. Chrysalis was fighting like a possessed mare. The calamity she had beheld at her residence was gone. It now dawned upon Twilight that Chrysalis was merely holding back her rage.
And the most terrifying thing? Chrysalis, whose voice Twilight enjoyed hearing, was singing a wicked battlesong. With one powerful blast, Chrysalis sent Cyclomatooth skidding across the ground. Chrysalis, with a faint glow in her eyes, slowly approached him, her eye twitching in anger.
“W-who are you? WHAT ARE YOU? S-Siren! B-BLACK SIREN!” Cyclomatooth stuttered, terrified.
“What you made me… what you were taught in villainy, but I improved the instructions. I am stronger and faster. I am what you wished you could reach. I sing your doom… and like a puppet you play your part. WRIGGLE PUPPET! STRUGGLE TO GET FREE! AT THE BOTTOMLESS PIT OF DESPAIR DON’T EVEN THINK YOU CAN BE SAVED!”
There was a flow of magic and a loud scream that covered Chrysalis’s last blow as everything around her went dark for a moment. The next thing to be seen was the unconscious body of her enemy. Twilight couldn’t even think of it properly. Cyclomatooth was alive with a wooden stick inside him. He would die slowly and painfully from the pain and malnourishment or infection, rather than the injury. All the while watching his last fortress burning to nothing but dust. His followers would watch, and they would learn not to cross Chrysalis ever again.
With a wave of her hoof, Chrysalis reversed the magic and returned both her and Twilight to the position they were before.
“Do you understand now? What I did? What kind of monster I became to unite them all? What I lost that we could have peace? How I disappointed my parents? Why I couldn’t tell you?” There was a deathly silence as they looked into each other’s eyes.
“Don’t…” there was a low whisper Twilight could barely hear from Chrysalis.
“Excuse me?” Twilight asked.
“Don’t…” said Chrysalis giving in to the tears she had been holding throughout the confession.
“Don’t leave me…” Twilight couldn’t resist. How could she hold a grudge about all this that had happened in the past? Twilight gently hugged the exhausted Queen as she rested her head upon her shoulder, letting the tears go…
The war was over… this was a time for peace, and love.
The teal, silken covers of the royal bed shuffled as Twilight and Chrysalis waged a “legendary” tickle war. From the one side, Queen Chrysalis with the numerous tips of her diaphanous wings, the forked tip of her tongue, and her own magic-manipulated mane. From the other side, Princess Twilight Sparkle armed with a legion of pillow feathers levitating with magic, blowing raspberries, and a razor sharp mind. Each was struggling to gain the advantage over the other. The battle was relentless and the storm of giggles could be heard outside, making a lot of guards smile and blush at the thought of what was happening inside.
They were happy to hear such a fuss. As they say: a good day starts with a good morning.
As Chrysalis’s and Twilight’s fight died down, they rose up from the heart-shaped bed. Moving the semi-transparent curtains away Chrysalis went on to open the windows, letting the warm sunlight enter the room. Twilight stretched her legs and wings, absorbing the rays of the sun like a daisy. The morning breeze was inviting but regardless Chrysalis and Twilight stayed right there, with their right and left wings on each other’s backs, watching as the new day unfolded. As if Celestia knew that their marriage was coming soon, she did her best to honor both them and all the changelings with increasingly magnificent sunrises and sunsets. Luna did her best as well… every night she set up a romantic atmosphere in the sky hoping to invite the royal couple, among others, to chase after love. She had taken advice from Cadance who hoped to push the couple towards… “progeny creation”.
“So… about the wedding,” said Twilight, breaking the silence.
“The wedding preparations are right on schedule, Twilight. Six days from now, so if you please, don’t go down there today, okay? Let’s spend this day without you being worried about schedules, right?” Responded Chrysalis, closing her eyes and moving her own snout against her lover, sharing a short kiss. As they stood, each lost within the sight of the other Twilight surrendered to her request.
“Okay…” she sighed lightly and Chrysalis smiled widely. She wasn’t just happy because she had convinced Twilight, but that sigh of hers! Such a cute little noise!
Since Twilight didn’t have to check anything right then, she was a bit low on ideas. Well, not that her nerdy, perfectionist behavior didn’t serve a purpose other than the practical one. She enjoyed Chrysalis’s reactions at her own little kinks and tics, anything to keep that toothy smile going. Like Pinkie Pie said, “A smile a day keeps the grumpy-bug away!”. Then it hit her! An idea on how to make Chrysalis smile.
She took Chrysalis’s hoof with eyes widening as the idea visualized in her mind. She knew that Chrysalis liked to spend time with the hatchlings, so what better way to cheer her up other than to take a look at the hatcheries? Plus she had another idea that could spice things up.
“Wait, Twilight don’t pull so hard!” Said Chrysalis but Twilight was just giggling out of control.
“Come on Chryssie, let’s go to the hatcheries! I’ve got an idea!” Twilight was relentless, something she might have learned from Chrysalis. Right now, Chrysalis wasn’t sure she wanted this, knowing Twilight her idea was likely to be worth a million bits. However, that also meant it was equally dangerous.
Following her, Chrysalis soon found herself in the lower regions of the castle. Whether it was by sheer coincidence, focus, care, or guided by love and empathy, Twilight made no mistake on the corridors this time.
As they descended, they saw a crew of changelings constantly moving debris and cleaning dust from the corridors leading to the hatcheries. Thanks to the peace with Equestria, the birthrate of hatchlings had increased, new tunnels and rooms to house the young were built as the workers dug into the mountain to expand the castle. Everywhere they went the changelings bowed, only to be left with a smile. The trait most apparent to the changelings was empathy… empathy that could result in happy behavior becoming infectious.
At last the familiar glow of the changeling pods appeared before them. They looked like eggs filled with green liquid, inside which miniature changelings floated in fetal position. They had a fleshy core at their bottom that was connected with a umbilical cord to the changeling’s belly. From the core, fleshy tendrils hugged the rocky ground, absorbing the necessary minerals, trace elements from the mountain in order to form carapaces, sturdy bones and everything the baby changelings needed. From time to time the parents and the caretakers would refresh the love energy of the pod. As Twilight had learned love was an allegory for life to the changelings.
As they entered, the gazes of the changelings shifted towards them. The caretakers, the guards, and the parents that were there bowed in respect. Twilight and Chrysalis returned the gesture, wanting to show humility. There was a light whisper from the parents that stuck closer to their pods as she passed.
“At ease my changelings… you may continue your work.” Chrysalis said as slowly but steadily the changelings went back to their work. She turned to Twilight, who was still smiling, that idea of hers was surely going to be crazy, Chrysalis could tell. There was no way she hadn’t noticed the stray looks the changelings were giving her, not that Chrysalis could blame them. It was natural, especially for the parents to care about their babies so much. It was hard enough with the slow development of the pod having a 3 month gestation period inside the mare, it was even harder that the mare couldn’t transform during that period. So during the 9 month incubation, one was always there. Changeling parents were extremely paranoid, protective, and lashed out easily during those periods. Especially if a pod had more than one changeling in them.
“Alright, I think it’s time you told me what this idea of yours is, Twilight.” Chrysalis finally braved herself enough to break the awkward silence between them. Twilight’s face was unwavering as she turned to see her. She had a smile like no other and a spark in her eyes that betrayed a deviousness like no other’s, but when she spoke she was calm and collected.
“Well from what I understand it’s still a bit hard for changelings to accept us as a couple right? You said that we ponies aren’t naturally empathetic like you are.”
Chrysalis nodded in agreement.
“Yes… it’s another thing to be observant and spot the feelings of another, and another to be able to see them. We call them “Aurora Emotica”. Not to mention that when you have spent eons practicing magic that revolves around emotions, it kinda becomes natural and the magic seeps into the genetic code.”
Twilight never ceased to be impressed from what she learned about the changelings. There were so many things to know! As if she hadn’t scratched the surface of it! Regardless, she proceeded a bit more seriously to make her point, but nevertheless kept her smile.
“I look at the hatchlings all around and I want to feel like you do, I want to feel what it’s like to feed upon emotions like love. I want to see what you do, feel like you do…”
She stopped as Chrysalis turned a bit to the side, hiding part of her face with her mane. She didn’t have to explain to Twilight that there were things she wish she didn’t feel. Regardless, she continued.
“But that’s not all. I want you to feel like we do, to step down for a moment, to relax, to see things how we ponies do, to understand how we operate. I don’t just meant a transformation Chryssie… I want a total conversion of us to each others’ species.”
Chrysalis’s eyes widened and she just stood there, stupefied, with her mouth agape. Okay, this is flippin crazy! Thought Chrysalis. She just couldn’t speak.
“Yeah, I know it’s a surprise to you. But recently I’ve discovered a spell in your castle’s royal library that could do just that! Please Chryssie… Imagine it for a moment. It’s not just for us, the changelings and the ponies will learn from it too! I brought you here for a reason. I mean, you saw how they looked at me, right? They are afraid I’m a threat to their young, when I consider it unforgivable to even bat at them jokingly! But they are empathetic.” She paused for a moment, letting Chrysalis think.
Certainly this was a crazy enough idea, one that could have great effect on the understanding between changelings and ponies. It was an idea crafted with deviousness and care, wits and will, determination and resolve. A smile managed to creep onto Chrysalis’s face, soon to be reflected by another on Twilight’s face that only grew as Chrysalis’s did.
Twilight was the happiest mare in the world. Convincing Chrysalis to do anything was hard work, if anything her marefriend proved that she had unquenching determination. Twilight had to study her behavior closely to find a way to make arguments with her. Now this was important for her and since it paid off, she had to take advantage of the moment.
Twilight had proposed to Chrysalis that they switch species. One of her… less sane ideas for sure, but even a temporary transformation could do wonders for public relations. Empathy, while being a primary characteristic of the changelings, was not limited to them. The ponies would identify more with Chrysalis, they would be less hesitant or scared of her pony form. Humility wouldn’t go unnoticed either.
“Twilight… a little… air... Twilight!” Said Chrysalis, trying to pry herself free from Twilight’s hooves, which that were constricting her like a boa before swallowing his meal. Pulling the mental brakes on her marefriend’s hype train and bringing her back to reality was no easy task. At that moment, Twilight caught wind of her enthusiastic over-reaction and let out Chrysalis, who gasped in an attempt to get some air.
“I’m uhmm…” Chrysalis coughed a bit, and shook her head in an attempt to compose herself.
“I’d like a warning before you do things like that.” She also noticed her body betrayed her with small shakes and shivers. Maybe the prospect of the body change was subconsciously making her appreciate her current one.
Twilight’s cheeks turned red with a tingle of guilt in her stomach. There were small giggles all around the hatcheries. Even for a Princess of Magic, enthusiasm expressed itself in equal intensity.
Fortunately for her, Chrysalis was more than alright. Judging by her shy smile hiding behind her fangs Twilight guessed Chrysalis felt a bit flattered as well. Wanting to shake the fuzzy feeling of shyness, Chrysalis took the word.
“Alright, back to the point. I know you think you can do this with magic but there’s a problem: deep magic within our race forbids anyone to turn into a changeling. Only superficial transformations can bypass this, but this isn’t something we want, trust me. But don’t worry Twilight, there is a way. Come with me.” She smiled as she motioned Twilight to follow her. Once they were out of the hatcheries, she had all the space she wanted to make a long range teleportation spell. Turning around, Chrysalis offered Twilight her hoof, which she took with a knowing smile as both closed their eyes.
When Twilight opened her eyes, she was in the center of a giant gazebo-like structure. There were three paved roads coming from the edges of it, converging on the point Chrysalis and her were standing. Huge columns supported the structure, along with three changeling statues holding the roof with their horns. Each had an inscription on it.
The first statue depicted a bald, blindfolded changeling wearing a white toga. The bold form of the changeling, and his slightly bigger fangs, betrayed his male nature. He had a smaller set of wings below his normal ones like a moth, and held a folded scroll upon his left hoof. His inscription said “A healthy mind… - Nousios the Fair”.
Twilight had studied changeling history while she was with Chrysalis. Nousios was one of the three greatest kings of the changelings. In a time of deception, backstabbing, and civil war that plagued the changelings, Nousios was known for one thing: having his mind in the right place. Merely by watching a changeling he could tell a lot about them. Just like a detective formed a potential profile about his opponent, it also granted him the chance to pierce through lies, illusions, and such. With this ability he was able to shatter the opposition. He decided that as a backup to the monarch system there would be a chain of houses that would form each portion of the kingdom, twelve in total. With safety guaranteed even without succession, Nousios proceeded to make a cultural renaissance. Laws, education, medicine all flourished in an age of peace. It was not guaranteed that the changelings wouldn't squabble, but through this system it was ensured that hope would always shine through.
On his right, however, the changeling depicted seemed to have no holes or fangs to speak of. He had a semi-long, grey mane and beard. He wore gold and silver armor with a triangular red gem on the chestplate. On his back he had a dark blue cloak with golden trim. His hooves were placed upon a greatsword with its tip plunged on the base of the statue. Beneath his helmet his azure eyes were staring ahead. His inscription read “... within a healthy body… - Proteus the Overfather”.
To Twilight he looked exactly like the heroes of legend, from the novels Shining Armor used to read when he was younger, still aspiring to become a royal guard. While studying changeling history, Twilight learned that this was the first of the changelings to transform, but surprisingly he didn’t transform to other creatures. He could shift to stone, metals, water, air, fire, supposedly he could take the form of any material imaginable. He was said to have protected the changelings against the rampage of various forces like windigos, sirens, and others. However, the casualties were too high. The changelings, being a young race, had little defense. To aid them during the peak of his power, he scattered pieces of his body to the entirety of the changelings. His magic transferred to all changelings despite the fact that its overall effect had been lessened. Some of this history was myth to be sure, but the results were unquestionable, the actions of the ancient rulers or the changelings were still the same. Twilight knew all too well the romanticisation of history by biased historians.
One thing was sure by the form of this King: his was the time before the changelings fell, a time before their forms deteriorated to what they were now. As a testament to that the third statue was like a mix of what Proteus and Nousios looked like. The changeling that was depicted had small fangs, and a few holes upon her legs, but none in her mane or wings. She had a sun-golden mane and wore a white chiton with silver lining. There was a hidden smile behind her face and a sparkle in her soft sea green eyes. She bore the crown of the changelings, the same one that Chrysalis wore. Chrysalis had told Twilight that the crown adapted to the color scheme of the wearer, and on this changeling’s head it was silver with the gems on top being blood-red. Beneath her hooves the inscription read: “... and a heart in peace - Queen Metis the wisely cunning”.
Her’s was a tale of tragedy, as Twilight would learn in her studies of changeling history. It was believed that when she wore the crown the Overfather himself came to contact her and measure her abilities. Regardless, Metis became a Queen. At the time, the changeling kingdom was underground. Like every changeling she displayed her skills at an early age, bonding with friends and family like it was natural. This bond allowed the changelings to respond mentally to each others' needs no matter how far. She, however, possessed the skill on another level, bearing in her mind the thoughts of even a whole town! It was not to last... natural disaster struck and the changeling kingdom was besieged by the eruption of a volcano, which struck the foundations of the city. Between the sulfur-filled air, the lava, and all the chaos the changelings panicked and couldn't find a way out. Forcing herself to her limits, Queen Metis attained the ability to communicate with all of her subjects. This bond of a selfless heart guided the changelings to safety. It cost her life, but the gift she gave was not squandered. The crown was etched with her own magic, and this ability became hereditary for any worthy changeling King or Queen that could wear it for enough time. Those unable would be qualified "temporarily unworthy" until they could attain the necessary levels of empathy required to bear it.
This was the monument built in front of the temple of judgement. A place Twilight remembered all too well crossing two years ago, when Chrysalis had decided to seal herself for the good of the changelings. She remembered the wooden gates and the bronze inscription molded beneath the roof reading: “Judgement through Empathy”.
“Enjoying the view, Twilight?” Came the distant voice of Chrysalis in her mind. She shook herself back into attention and nodded at Chrysalis. Twilight noticed Chrysalis had a serious expression, she had folded her wings and was taking small steps in front of the grand statues as if not to disturb the spirits of the ancient rulers.
“I know you must have studied them, curious as you are, so I won’t bother explaining who is who. These Twilight… are the ones who judged me worthy to become a Queen. When demons threatened our race their magic protected us. When our bodies were tainted they kept our sanity. When we needed guidance we could call upon their wisdom. Yes… the legends, the stories about them are all true. These...” she paused for a moment as if to add dramatic effect.
“... are the changeling Gods, and they are the ones who can make this wish a reality.”
Twilight Sparkle couldn’t find words to describe this world. It was as if a poet had set free the beauty of the world with his imagination. She and Chrysalis were drifting from the boundless, dark blue ocean that was the sky, riding on two streams of energy, one purple and one teal. As Twilight looked up she saw the streams slowly fade as their hooves touched the ground.
She let go of Chrysalis, who watched amused as the alicorn inspected her surroundings. A soft wind brought to them the exotic scents of the flowers, that welcomed them like a luxurious round carpet forming a circle around them. They ranged from margaritas, to roses, to carnations and more. Twilight watched with excitement as every one of her hoofsteps rippled her colors, mainly that of her coat, all around her.
Twilight went to pick a red rose and checked Chrysalis to ask if it was okay. Chrysalis nodded with a smile, watching as Twilight’s flower changed to purple, livening up and spreading its leaves, sharing in the happiness of the mare that picked it. The more her smile brightened the more the rose pridefully reflected it.
The ground around Chrysalis’s hooves was covered with teal lilies, calmly showing their beauty. She watched as Twilight turned around, bringing the flower to her. She offered it, raising it to her level in two hooves.
“Purple rose? Clever little Twilight…” said Chrysalis, nuzzling Twilight’s snout with her own. Purple roses were a symbol of how enchanted the one giving it was with their mate.
“Well, you deserve it. I mean, the way changelings fascinate me each time I come here. There is a new thing every time to try out, to know. And now this world…” Twilight looked around. Beyond the circle of flowers, three paths filled with greenery were stretching out, positioned in a similar manner as the statues of the ancient changeling rulers. On the sides of each path, mountains of white granite and crystal reached for the sky in all kinds of shapes and curves, bending left and right as if they were drawn by Stablo Picasso. Huge pieces of land floated in the air, small islands defying gravity.
“It’s just so beautiful…” Twilight closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. This was totally crazy! The whole place was like the tales she heard as a filly about ‘Wonderland’, a place where all dreams could come true, where fantasy roamed wild, and where true magic existed.
“Now, now my little daydreamer!” Chrysalis smiled playfully as she started trotting again. “Don’t get too carried away or you’ll get lost in the spirit world. Stay close to me, don’t use too much magic, don’t try to fly too much either. Not all spirits are welcoming here.” Twilight only now realized that despite the beauty of this world, there was little sound to be heard, even from the supposed wind that blew across the flowers.
As Twilight followed, Chrysalis’s ears were perked all the way, as if she was looking for something, or watching out for something. At the same time she kept a calm face, which meant that whatever she was looking for she had a course of action ready.
Black tentacles slithered from the edges of the crystals around the pathway Twilight and Chrysalis were treading. Twilight blinked, thinking that she didn’t see well, but then it happened again. A shadow the size of a pony, with tentacles where the mane should have been, moved effortlessly inside the reflection. Its glowing white eyes looked at her for a moment before slithering to cover, without a flap of wings or magic, so Twilight concluded it was through mental prowess that it did so. Was this why Chrysalis had told her to not fly? The rules of the real world seemed to be a bit more… lax in this place.
She trotted closer to Chrysalis, who either didn’t notice, or wasn’t bothered by the strange shadows that were now gathering around them. Twilight poked Chrysalis, while simultaneously shying away from the narrowing pathway. She didn’t notice the pathway going down and into a dark cave until Chrysalis laid a hoof in front of her.
“Chrysalis…”
“Shhhh!!” Chrysalis raised a hoof in front of her mouth, motioning for her to be quiet, but that didn’t stop Twilight from gulping as the shadowy forms emerged out of the crystals. Shyly, the black figures shimmered as they crossed their crystalline refuge, and as they did Twilight noticed them gaining color, their features becoming more distinct and clear. They looked like a mix of changelings and ponies, and wore masks of different colors with different expressions painted on each of them. Curious, and attracted by the magic of the couple, their liquid semi-transparent forms slithered in the sea that was the aether of the spirit world. Their eyes wide open, never closing, watched the living couple in front of them with interest, tilting their heads to the side.
Faced with such a sight, even Twilight’s attention failed to stop her from bumping into Chrysalis.
“We’re here.” The Queen of the changelings turned to her mate and rubbed her neck, smiling awkwardly “Sorry Twi, forgot to tell you where we’re going. This is where Queen Metis lives in the spirit world.”
She made sure the two of them stood firmly on the ground. “Don’t mind the spirits, so long as you don’t harm them you’ll be fine. Just don’t make any rash movements. If need be I will defend you, trust me, okay?” The Queen held Twilight’s hoof to her own chest, looking deep into the young alicorn. Twilight smiled, unable to resist Chrysalis’s comforting eyes, and the steady warm beat of her chest. She took a deep breath, focusing on the positive emotions in her heart.
She nodded as she felt, no, heard something. A soft aura in the wind was felt, softly playing with it, dancing around the crystalline arrays echoing from the maw of the earth ahead, slowly rising each second. The spirits raised their heads, their ears fully perked as they listened and breathed the alien song that flowed through the air, filling everyone that heard it with a blissful serenity that calmed them as they held dearly the singer’s wish and exalted the life that was given to them.
The singer made her way out of the maw of the earth, her very essence calling to the world around her. Earth, stone, and sky started singing with her, endless love burned around them, embers shared the colors of ‘her’ eyes and shimmered in her sun-golden mane. Her pure white chiton flowed effortlessly around her body, the silver lining complimenting her grace.
All Twilight could say was swallowed up in an instant, and Chrysalis wasn’t much for words either. The couple was enveloped, immersed in the experience, basking in the glory of the ancient Queen. The tall changeling continued her enchanting song, honoring those who had come to her. Concluding her performance and leaving a profound nostalgia for her singing in their hearts Queen Metis spoke.
“Welcome to the spirit world, I am Queen Metis. What can I do for you?”
“Why can’t we race too, mom?” Came the question, and I felt my lungs get heavier.
I sighed. She looked at me with those teal eyes of hers and I was instantly filled with guilt.
“I know we did something wrong but that’s over now, isn’t it? You told me you are reformed.”
What should I say? What should I even tell her? I knew she felt the same way I did when I changed my ways. She longed to enjoy herself, to go out there and just... ugh!. I knew she wanted to do so much more than just enjoy a race.
She wanted to meet the other ponies. To learn from them, to hug them, to tell them how much she loves them, and how much she care about them.
But… not yet.
“Mom?” Her fluffy pink mane was less ‘poof-y’ than usual. I couldn’t escape her. I looked in the pond, and I saw another me. She would be welcome here. She would be loved here, and it would just take a second.
But I couldn’t lie anymore. I had promised not to lie, I had promised to be myself and stop being angry, being rash, being… me.
“Chryssie! Papi! Come on, breakfast is ready!” I heard Twilight’s voice. Papillion rushes to her. She doesn’t have holes in her, she is loved. It’s one thing I was glad she didn’t inherit as a hybrid changeling.
“Chrysalis?” I had not noticed Twilight as she came near me. “Are you alright?”
“She is better than me. Far more than I expected. Much, much better.”
Silence.
“I am a hindrance to her progress, to my race’s progress to goodness.”
“No…” She looked at me, her eyes full of compassion. “It is your own true honest love that helps her. You’ve learned so much since your reform.”
“Twilight, I raped your brother. What do I know about love?”
“You love me don’t you?”
“Of course I…”
“You had the time to make so many relationships, so many mistakes. You’ve learned more about real life than I’ll ever find in my books. When she leaves my side she is smarter, but when she leaves your side she is wiser.”
She put her hoof on mine. I was silent. I was happy.
“Through me she knows the world. Through you…” She paused for a second as she leaned on me and kissed me.
