Pact of Darkness
"Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last” laughed Nightmare Moon, standing imperiously on the balcony while a storm of magical blue smoke swirled around her, “From this moment forth, the night will last forever!”
"Seize her!” commanded Mayor Mare, taking charge, “Only she knows where the Princess is!”
Immediately, three white pegasi guards ascended as ordered to apprehend the rearing jet black alicorn.
"Stand back, you foals!” she laughed pitilessly as her eyes turned moonstone white and lightning flashed around her, swatting the guards away like flies. Then, before anypony could react, she had become subsumed within a swirling vortex of magical blue smoke and floated out through the door.
“Hah! That was too easy!” she cackled, preening herself at the ease with which she had overpowered Celestia and declared her supremacy to the terrified citizens of Ponyville. She would have far rather preferred the Summer Sun Celebration that year to have been taking place at Canterlot, so that she could have announced her arrival in front of a much larger audience, but she had successfully captured Celestia and that was the most important thing.
Suddenly she stopped; below her was a crowd of ponies all walking away from Ponyville. They were so far away that they could not possibly have seen her grand entrance. Her skin began to prickle with indignant rage that so many ponies had dared not to be in attendance to witness her return from captivity, and swiftly reverted back to her ethereal blue smoke form.
The happy party of ponies stopped sharply as a swirling blue vortex suddenly appeared in front of them, blocking their path. They all stood back and as the smoke subsided, the form of a solitary jet black alicorn materialised before them, whereupon those who were immediately nearest sprang forward to attack as one.
Nightmare Moon was momentarily surprised; these were not the docile and impressionable ponies like she had just terrorised, but some breed apart, altogether more focused and assertive. With detached indifference, she nonchalantly brought down lightning onto those who dared advance on her without even turning to look at them, just keeping her eyes fixed on their leader.
“Impressive” said the leader of the ponies without showing any particular deference. Then she turned to other members of the forming crowd who were massing to attack the interloper, “My children, let this pony talk.”
“You speak as a leader” observed Nightmare Moon, picking up on the authority in her voice and noting the immediate effect she had on her followers; such loyalty could be useful …
“Why were you not at the ceremony?” she demanded with contemptuous disdain.
“Our business is our own” replied the leader of the ponies, “I did not spare you an attack so you could dare to interrogate me. Who are you?”
“I am Nightmare Moon; returned from captivity in the moon to plunge Equestria into eternal night!”
The leader of the ponies pondered for a moment and then disappeared briefly into a flash of green flame to reappear as a strangely moth-eaten looking black pony-like creature with teal mane, strange chitinous plating and striking green eyes.
“Queen Chrysalis” she announced simply as the other ponies around her also revealed their true insectoid forms.
“Shapeshifters” acknowledged Nightmare Moon, a perceptible hint of admiration creeping out from behind her regal disdain.
“I think we may be able to form an alliance” purred Chrysalis, “You are an alicorn with great powers, I can see - I shouldn’t be surprised if you can control the moon as you claim. Such matters not to us, for we live off love and those ponies are full of it. If they are threatened, their love for each other seems to grow, providing richer pickings for us. As Queen of the changelings, it is my duty to see that my children are fed, and your plan serves us well.”
“I see” replied Nightmare Moon, weighing up the prospect of having a ready-made army to do her bidding, “It would serve my interests to see those sun loving ponies tormented as you sucked the love out of them; especially Celestia.”
“You know Celestia?” Chrysalis hissed like a cornered cockroach, her eyes widening threateningly.
“We have a score to settle” snarled Nightmare Moon, “She was the one who banished me to the moon!”
The two eyed each other up, calculating what each would gain from working with the other. The moonlight glinted wickedly in Nightmare Moon’s teal coloured eyes, highlighting the unnatural vertically slit pupils, while Chrysalis’ chitin glowed resplendently with a disturbingly unnatural translucence. If the only common denominator they shared was their dislike of Celestia, then the draw each felt towards the other under the truism of my enemy’s enemy is my friend generated an undeniable spark of mutual respect, which did not bode well for Equestria.
“What is your strength?” asked Nightmare Moon.
“I rule over a hive many, many times greater than the size of this scouting party. We make regular forays into the pony world to feed. That is where I have led my children tonight; to blend in with the ponies’ celebrations and allow them free reign to feast.”
Nightmare Moon surveyed the forest of inscrutable changeling faces surrounding them; yes, they would follow orders blindly; perfect.
“Tell me” she asked, ”Do you have the numbers to take Canterlot?”
If Chrysalis was startled with the suggestion, she chose not to show it. Certainly, she had never considered such an ambitious strategy before; she had been masterminding low level guerrilla style incursions, sneaking in small teams of changelings to mingle with ponies, especially during their regular festivities, so that they could feed. In this way, she had been maintaining the hive; never sending so many at once as to raise suspicion, but at the same time this approach had limited how many could be fed at once, and therefore ensured that the hive could not grow any bigger. However, that last comment had been a revelation – yes, she must be close to having the numbers for a full-scale assault; why had she not seen it before?
“I have things now to which I must attend” announced Nightmare Moon, suddenly sensing a magical disturbance centred around the lilac unicorn who had spoken up earlier, “I will see you again tomorrow, by which time the ponies will be in panic, realising that their precious sun has gone forever. Then we shall finalise our plans to subjugate and conquer all of Equestria!”
She shared a parting conspiratorial glance with her new ally, seeing the germ of possibility floating in the changeling Queen's eyes. Yes, she had set her on a path that could spell her triumph or underscore her downfall, but ultimately Nightmare Moon did not care, just as long as this changeling army prevailed long enough so she could see Celestia suffer for having banished her.
As soon as their newfound ally had flown off, the changeling horde started making frantic insectoid sounds that sounded somewhat akin to excited chattering.
“Yes, my children” crooned Chrysalis, “There will be great feasting for all the hive.”
Queen Chrysalis returned to the hive in high spirits to think over the possibilities her chance meeting had unlocked, and word soon spread about the strange alicorn and her bold new plans. After a few hours mulling over the possibilities of her new alliance, she got up wearing a broad smile on her face.
Her back ached, so she indulged herself in straightening up and stretched her tired legs, suddenly coming to appreciate the toll the last few hours had taken on her body. She would address the hive shortly, but first she needed a moment or two to clear her head in the chill night air.
Striding triumphantly through the hive, her changeling guards snapped to attention as she passed, the sound of insectoid chatter subduing in her presence. When she emerged out from the hive’s main entrance for a moment to marshal her thoughts, she looked around and noticed the tentative fingers of early dawn spreading their reach across the brightening sky. The sun was going to rise, just as it always did.
She was desolate; she had really dared to believe that the new day would have been marked by … nothing, just darkness. She berated herself for having been taken in so easily by the glib promises of this strange alicorn. It was all so fanciful, so improbable, yet it had been presented in such a way that it had seemed so believable. She turned on her heels and stormed back into the hive, brushing aside any and all changelings who got in her way as she headed towards her quarters and slammed the door behind her, alone with her shattered dreams.
When her door opened again much later, it was a less emotional and more calculating leader that emerged, one no longer content with drip-feeding the hive by leading small groups of changelings to feast among unsuspecting groups of revelling ponies, but one with a much grander vision.
Although she would not know why Nightmare Moon had failed to make good on her promise to stop the sun from rising, their brief meeting had already changed the course of Equestrian history. She had planted the seed of ambition and Chrysalis had been receptive to receiving it; instead of just keeping the hive ticking over, she could now envisage a future where they could all feed as often and as deeply as they chose.
Nightmare Moon had asked whether the hive had the numbers to take Canterlot. After drawing together the best data she had, she concluded that they were almost at that point, but not quite yet. To be sure of victory she would have to embark on a programme of boosting numbers and looking at some kind of subterfuge to give her access as the prelude to invasion.
There had been talk of a blossoming romance between that simpering pink goodie two-hooves Princess and the Captain of the Royal Guard. Her mind was made up; she would despatch spies to monitor events in Canterlot and see if there was likely to be a Royal wedding; the perfect opportunity to catch the ponies off their guard and feast on the richest and most delicious love. However, to be ready for such an event, she would have to ensure her numbers were up and instigate tough training regimes for all those mature enough to fight.
With mastery of numbers, highly trained fighters and the element of surprise, what could go wrong?
Chrysalis cackled and strode purposely from her quarters to put her audacious plans into motion, not knowing the effect it would be destined to have on her hive. And her.