Thread 65: Stories 31-45

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Maud"
~~~~
>Welcome to Not Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content does matter, but I want to check some numbers really quick. Hmm...pretty nice. Now for our main guest...MY SISTER MAUD!!!

"Hey Pinkie."

>So S-Anon's back! This might mean you're going to see some spotlight really soon. Are you excited?

"Hm."

>Oh my gosh, she's totally excited! This is going to be great! I hope you weren't too bored waiting.

"I made do."

>Sweet, that's our show for tonight. Have a fantastic night everypony!
Maud wakes up.

"...Time for breakfast."
chisels out a piece of wall and chews it. Crunch Crunch Crunch.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC
>SA
"18"
~~

>...What?

"Your ears keep flickering."

>Do they?

"Yeah, they do, it's creepy."

>...It's probably nothing.

"If you say so."

>...

"...Does it mean you want a little-"

>No, Eighteen.

"Drat! WORKING TO IT! I am working to it!"

>...probably nothing...

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>41
"SP"
'Guards'
~~~

>So, uh... no fight today?

Suckerpunch groaned, rolling his aching forelegs slowly to work out the kinks. All around him, the other guards, at least six others, joined him in a chorus of pain.

"Someone DID tell him we've been training, right?"

'I don't think he got the message.'

'Should we tell him? Isn't that little filly circumventing his captain authority?'

'Do YOU want to be the one to snitch on her?'

'She just will not shut up that her daddy is so rich and powerful and important. I swear to Celestia it's like someone took the high-school popular girl and armed her with a fucking rocket launcher.'

'Right? "Do you know who I am? Do you know who my daddy is?" She's just a brat."

"...She's fucking scary though."

'I do not want to be Glaive right now.'

>What happened?

"He bitched when she made us fight the dolls again, and said she was only bragging because she wasn't there when they attacked."

'So she just marches down in there and just... just goes to town on them with that thing. Just wipes them out with rocket after rocket after spear after icebomb after blades after tasers.'

'I swear I heard her get off on it.'

"Then she makes us ALL go through it again twice just because."

>Huh... sounds like fun.

'And a fuck you too, bug monster.'

"HEY!"

'And a fuck you too, bugfucker.'

>FUCK YOU!

"They're just grumpy... you guys want to get some food?"

'...I could eat.'

'Yeah, sure, why not.'

'You're paying?'

>Why not? Might be my last meal.

'You still on about that?'

'I swear she's probably forgotten about it by now with how much you fucking bitch on and on. It's been weeks.'

>...

"Guys, come on. She's really scared."

>M-maybe they're right? Maybe... maybe I'm so utterly inconsequential that she's just outright forgotten about me? Maybe she's just... going to ignore me? Maybe she doesn't even remember which one of us she ordered to do that, and we all look too alike to tell different? Maybe I can just pretend it all never happened?

"...Dare to dream?"

>I dream only of fire. Reality is an improvement.

"...So, food?"

>Food. You guys coming?

'...Eh, sure.'

'Why not.'

'Might as well put something in it before that thing tries to gut me.'

>Baby.

'Says the one crying in a corner most days.'

>Giant changeling Queen Vs toys.

'...Touché, but monster. Touché'

>...Maybe I am in the clear...

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>DT
"Spike"
~~~~
DT looks at her field of crates.
>The order came in...now it's time for the hard part.

Spike is in his room shuffling papers.
>Hey Spike...I need your help. It's something only you can allow.

"...slightly worried considering you're asking for help, but go ahead."

>...I'm giving each of the guards a robot.

"What!?! That's a major thing. There's no way I can-"

>They're consumer models, not military grade. I'm giving them to the guards to own and keep as private property. You know, like a free refrigerator.

"DT, I can't believe you. We fought these things and you want them in our military?"

>They're not Blueblood's robots. I bought these from a company that weren't related Fawntaine. Spike, we need to do this. Have the princesses done anything to help with the guard shortage?

"It's being worked on."

>Damn it, Spike. They need to step up their efforts to recruit. Our dream commercials are getting results. Hundred if not thousands of new ponies have enlisted and are on their way here for training, but we'd get even more if they were officially backed by the princesses, or endorsed by the guards. We need some patriotism. We need ponies to stand up for Equestria. If the royals can't even do that then at least get them to accept the robots.

"I don't think I really have the authority now. Pommel's the new captain."

>...what? How?

"He got nominated by the other guards"

>...that doesn't make sense. Why would the guards do that? I mean sure he hung out with us at the gun club, but that doesn't exactly-

"I don't know, but that's what happened. Now he has a month to reform the guards before they get replaced with robots."

>Whoa wait a month? Spike, training a new guard is at least six weeks of boot camp! I've finally made progress with the guards we already have and now she wants them completely replaced?

"How's that any different from what you're doing?"

>I want to supplement them with good equipment and tools! Get them self-sufficient to stand on their own hooves, not replace them completely!

"In her defense, they haven't been exactly useful."

>Yeah, but they're improving now that I'm working with them. That's not fair, she can't cast them aside like this! They're far from the best, but they've fought too! They don't deserve to be fucking discarded! Crap, I might as well stop the simulation training and move to actual 'field training.'

"It seems like they've let it be Pommel's problem now, so I don't think I can authorize your robots for official use."

>...So that's it? We're going to leave guards the way they are and not even help? Clap our hooves and pretend Pommel is enough to fix things by himself? We need numbers to make up, Spike, and they need every bit of our help to be effective. These robots will bolster our ranks until we can get the newbies ready. Equestria needs protection now. You and I both know it. Can they get their military budget raised at least? What's going on? The princesses should be putting in more effort into Equestria's defense than this! Can you really trust the adults to fix this because I sure don't.

He sighs
"...how are you?"

>What?

"Just please answer me."

>I'm fine.

"I heard you're still mad at AJ"

>Heck yeah I'm still mad! It's all Applejack's fucking fault. Oh, I'm afraid you'll get hurt. You can be armed to the teeth, but you're still going to get coddled like a baby. Do you really think I'm the type that need to be fucking protected!?! That's some condescending bullshit. Like the bulls should come to her and say, hey that's our shit. She can go ahead and act like this is for my own good, but this is really about her not wanting to feel guilty. I put in more than my fair share in her service to defend Equestria...and be totally badass while doing it of course. Then she tells me to stop and go home...what if the same thing happened to you? Spike, stop defending Equestria. You don't just turn it off, Spike. I think you know that.

"..."

>I never felt so helpless in my life. Getting hurt. Losing TBDRLIATU. Being immobilized in the hospital. Then she comes in and pulls away everything I've worked for with a simple word...and none of my friends were even there to defend me when I needed them the most.

"...DT...I want you to know that I did defend you and got pretty upset when she kicked you out. The way she handled it really was wrong."

>...Really?

"Yeah really."

>........oh.

Spike takes a moment to remember what Silver Spoon said about DT needing friends.
"...tell you what. I'll get Pommel to approve the free equipment and increase storage, so they can keep the robots, but you have to make me a deal."

>Fine what is it?

"I want you to meet with Twilight and take lessons with her."

>...What?

"You know what I said. You're a young and smart filly with a lot of potential. I think spending time with Twilight would be good for you. You can even use the equipment to repair your rocket launcher."

>...*hairflip* Hmph fine. If that's what it takes. I needed to take up an offer she made anyway.

"Can I see the specs of the robots?"

>Sure.
She unfolds a scroll that shows the features.

"......really?"

>Yeah really. Is something wrong?

"I was expecting something more...over the top."

>Are you going to get them approved or not?

"Yeah, I think I can get this in. Go ahead and give away your free fridges."

>...thank you.
She hugs Spike.

"...you're welcome."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

~NC addition~
"...you're not going to turn the guards into robosexuals are you?"

>...Wow Spike. Way to ruin the moment.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >Actarius
"JJ"
~~~~

>See? Told you.

"YOU TOLD ME NOTHING LIKE THIS! This is nothing like I expected!

>It's so cool man, you've got to look at this!

"NO! When you said you were going to show me things I didn't think you meant THIS!"

>I mean, it's freaking amazing! And look at how big it is!

"YES! OKAY! IT'S BIG! IT'S SO BIG! I'M FLOORED BY THE BIGNESS! NOW CAN WE STOP!?"

>What? No! This rides just starting?

"W-WHAT!? Are you trying to break me!? Are you going to leave me on the ground with my back shattered into a million pieces!?"

>Ahhh, you're being silly.

"LOOK AT THAT AND TELL ME THIS IS SAFE!"

>It's perfectly safe.

"IF YOU'RE A DRAGON, MAYBE!"

>JJ... Just relax.

"AHHHHH!"

>Just relaaaaax!

"AHHHHHHH!"

>Relax I said! You're gripping too tight, this is going to send me over the edge!

"AHHHHHHH!"

>...You do remember you can fly, right?

"...Oh, right...."

>...

"...Thanks for taking me riding a hot air balloon. It actually isn't this bad so high up."

>Anytime, buddy.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Applejack
~~~~

The first stop had been the shortest, the closest to her room and the one she tossed open the hardest.

>TWILIGHT! I NEED YOU TO...

Gone. Gone away and empty, and not so much as a note to tell where.

The next stop had been almost that long, but much of her power had left her when she tossed the next door open.

>CELESTIA HELP! AH'... FUCK!

Gone as well, not so much as a trace.

There was only one other...

>FLUTTERSHY! AH' NEED... NO!

Nothing there either.

Soon, her running turned to desperation.

>FORTY TWO!?... SHINING!? ANYONE!

But none. None of them that could hold her down, none of them who she knew and could calm her.

None of those close to Queen Chrysalis remained in Canterlot Castle.

And she had vanished to who knows where.

>...No...

She ran. She ran and ran and ran, off to find Twenty Nine wherever he was, off to find him and be the only thing that could stand between Chrysalis and his fate.

She did not know when she did it that she would be stirring the hornets nest this badly...

But she was never one to leave a job unfinished.

>...Fine... let's do this.

Her eyes turned hard, and she ran.

And ran... and ran... and ran....

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

~~~

She was an unstoppable force as she marched down the halls. A rolling ball of power that could not be stilled nor even slowed. Nothing dared stand in her way, and they were right to.

The voice in her head roared with every step as she searched out her prey, a feral bloodlust of one of a hunter boiling in her veins as haunting eyes sought out that which had disobeyed her.

~How dare she.~

That's what she heard in her head with every clop of her hoof against the ground.

~How dare she. How dare she, how dare she, how dare she.~

If she spoke of Forty One, who had disobeyed her, or Applejack, who had insulted her, even she did not know. All she knew is that someone had questioned her power, her might, and that they needed to be put in their place.

~How dare she.~

Her power ached as she at last sensed the one she wished to see destroyed, as she finally found that who had brought her such wrath and brought about the mockery of the idea that any could command her changelings lives save herself. Her word was final, and none shall deny her.

“M-majesty...”

Her prey was not alone. Her pathetic, whimpering little insubordinate subject had with her a great many others. Guards, it seemed, fresh from some batch of training. At least six of them, in total, besides the one clinging to her side.

~Kill her.~

“I-”

There was not time for words, for pleading of mercy and begging for life. There was none of that. She grasped her fiercely with the fires of her magic, her power, and hefted her before her.

“NO! WA-”

Her magic flared with it's might once more, grabbing hold of the stallion who had instantly tried to move towards her. He was frozen in place as if covered with ice. Mouth locked, unable to so much as twitch or bend. Eyes wide and flickering with terror as he was rendered helpless with but a thought.

~Kill him.~

...No, she would not kill him.

She would make him watch.

“You disobeyed me... for him.”

The changeling was already trying to speak, trying to mewl out some sad little pleading or begging for her life, no doubt. The defeat that slowly gained traction as she realized what was to come taking over her slowly, deliberately. The Queen held no mercy for her.

She looked over to the others, to the guards who stood shocked at her presence. She positively poured the power from her body, taking ample care to make sure each and every one of them felt her power, her might. Quickly, one reached out to grab the guard that had been with her little disobedient subject, the one she had frozen. He was pulled back, shuffled away from them in terror as the power sank into each and every one of them, instilling them with an unrivaled fear that not even the twisted foes they had fought not so long ago could match.

Not a one of them moved. Not a one of them tried to help the changeling she held in her grasp.

“You disobeyed me... my word... my law.”

~Kill her.~

She could taste the terror from her changeling, but strangely her sight found itself flickering back to those guards, those proud defenders of Equestria. Not a one of them dared to even try, to order her as futilely as it would have been. She wanted them to. Wanted them to try to order her to stop, just so she could rub it in their faces when they found how powerless they were, just so she could show them her unrivaled might.

~Kill her.~

But they did not. And to her dismay, Applejack was nowhere nearby. She reached out, but could not sense her. How she regretted this, that she could not parade this power before that damned wannabe alicorn. She was left alone to show her might only to these fools who started in horror as she slammed the changeling into the ground, and summoned a blade of emerald above her head.

“...This is your punishment.”

~Kill her kill her kill her KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER!~

The voice roared in her head even as she looked into those pleading begging eyes, those sad tear streaked cheeks puffing out as she desperately tried to beg, to plead for just one more chance, just one final chance to prove her worth and her loyalty and her love. She just wanted one more chance, it was plain to see. One more chance to make her mistake done right.

~No chances no chances no chances NO CHANCES KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER!~

Memories flashed in her head of a loyal changeling who had once fought endlessly to prove the greatness of her species, who had wanted nothing more than to prove her right when she said that changelings were the greatest. Memories of one who had before... always been loyal. Always, no matter what was asked of her..

...Had always been loyal.

~KILL HER KILL HER KILL HER!~

Her end.

It should have come right there. It should have been through the moment that blade came down. All that should have followed would be the smell of burning charred chitin and the stink of blood in the air. That should have been the end of it.

But the blade... carved nothing but the ground.

Nothing but the ground next to the crying mare's head.

Time froze, the world as a whole stopping in it's tracks as Chrysalis's mind reached speeds that even the concept of the passage of time itself could not match.

She had always been loyal. Always. A solider in her employ since the day she picked her up, the only disloyalty possible being her hiding her gender, for obvious reasons. She had been so very loyal besides.

But she had disobeyed her...

For him. For that stallion, that solider. That one right there... because she had fought him. She had fought him and grown attached to him. She had fought him in some stupid game...

...She fought him because of Applejack.

It hit her like a brick to the head, striking her over and over in the temple and leaving a throbbing ache behind.

Applejack encouraged Ten to become a reporter, and used her to hide information from her. Then she tried to take her 'into custody' to keep her away when the hammer came down, exactly when Ten would need her the most.

Applejack hired Forty Two and Seventy Seven for her, and used them to fight her enemies while bonding with that dragon joined to her hip. She tried to use Forty Two to train her guard, and when that didn't work she used Seventy Seven. Training against a changeling... and connecting them to Canterlot.

Applejack encouraged Twelve to stick to a job away from her, granted him boons so that he might keep the pony he was attached to, and circumvented her at every turn.

Example after example rang in her mind. Arana, someone in her 'guardianship', coincidentally meeting up with Jugglejack and forming a bond with him. Forcing Twenty Nine to Ponyville and keeping him there. Trying to steal Eighteen to work for Canterlot. Two finding her way to the Empire. Forty One, a loyal solider... disobeying her.

One by one, so subtly she had missed it, Applejack was turning them... or using them.

And now, here she stood, looking at the guard she had attached themselves too. A guard she had attempted to replace. A guard who was watching.

...no... waiting.

~...She's playing you...~

She felt so stupid, so utterly, utterly stupid. She riled her up right now, right when she no doubt knew that Forty One was not alone. She wanted them to see her kill Forty One, wanted them to spread the word of what was to come for any who disobeyed her... unless they came to Applejack. Just as she said, she would fight her, if they came to her. The answer had been right there the whole time, staring her in the face.

Oh, how she felt so completely, utterly, stupid.

She had so, so severely underestimated what Applejack was capable of. Thought the Element of Honesty unable to play the game of deception. And yet, she had proven herself to be quite skilled. She would spur her to weaken her own forces by removing a soldier, gain defectors in the rush of fear, and lose not a single thing in the meanwhile. So expertly played, she could hardly believe it even now, with all the answers looking her in the face. She had underestimated it all.

But... Applejack had so deeply underestimated her as well, and her ability to turn even the worst of events to her favor.

Applejack likely thought she had her all figured out...

~You do not know QUEEN CHRYSALIS!~

Flames from the green blade flickered over, lapping at the tip of Forty One's horn, the magic within it connecting to her and allowing a sound to reverberate in the head of the changeling, and nothing else.

~Do you want to live?~

She didn't need to listen to the words pouring back to hear her affirmative.

~Are you willing to do anything to prove your loyalty? No matter what it is I ask?~

Again, the cries of YES YES YES YES YES could not be heard by any save herself, and that was for the best.

~No matter how... painful?~

The lack of hesitation was all she needed, the positives that followed were just gravy.

It took more magic than she was used to to create the illusion she cast. To cover her body from hooftip to horntip in a wash of fire. It was painful to do, as it was designed to cast the opposite way her magic normally flowed, looking like a disguise being removed, rather than applied. It was painful, but she had to sell the look of casting off the veil, hiding away the blistering, searing rage that still boiled within her of being made such a fool of.

The magic finished, and they were not granted with a stoic look, a cocky smirk, or even a blank slate. No, the stunned, baffled guards looked to her and saw only... annoyance.

“Well, that didn't work.”

Muffled cries of bewilderment came from the changeling below, matched only by the mumbles coming from the guards in front of her.

“Really? She directly disobeys me to save that asshole, and you all just stand there? Ugh, fuck. At least that one guy threw a fucking pipe at me.”

She did not look mad, not at all. She looked annoyed, bored, like a waiter had just brought her the wrong meal.

“Ah well, this plan failed. Should have figured.”

And that was it, that was all. She took a malicious pleasure in watching them trying to figure it out, knowing full well she would give them nothing. She felt no shortage of glee as she watched their faces bathed in green light, utterly stupefied as the emerald flame consumed her and carried her away, away to a certain... special location.

One next to another, other certain special location

She poured on the magic as she landed, making sure it let out a bright, green flash. A signal for all to see.

Slowly, she lifted the changeling to her, and whispered in her ear.

“Anything I ask, yes?”

“...Y-yes, your majesty...”

At last allowed to speak, she could manage only a whisper.

And that was all she needed.

“Then do not fight back.”

Forty One's head threw back with a scream as green fire burned into her skull, Chrysalis using the full might of her magic to invade into a mind that did as told, and did not fight back.

In the blink of an eye, it was done, and Forty One was ever so gently put on the ground.

“...Majesty? What... where am I?... Where are the creatures?”

She grinned, almost malicious in her look, knowing full well what she meant. The creatures that had invaded Canterlot not too long ago, the creatures that had brought destruction and chaos. The creatures that she, herself, had been a part of the ones who defeated it.

The infected.

“Gone, long gone, actually. Long... long... long gone.”

“...What?”

She conjured a newspaper from somewhere of little note, proudly holding it up so that Forty One could look upon it.

“Here.”

It thankfully did not take her long to find the date.

“...WHAT!? B-b-b-b-but-”

She laughed, a chittering, amused laugh at the befuddled and confused look on her face, taking just a bit too much delight in her confusion as to the passage of time.

“Do you remember what I asked you, Forty One? When I gave you that device? I asked... 'are you willing to do anything I ask, even if your life may be in danger?”

“Of... of course majesty! And I was, but... but why? Why... why use my mind?”

“Why? Well... I needed you to disobey me.”

Forty One reeled back in shock, just as she knew she would.

“...What?! I-I would never-”

“Oh I know, I know. But you see... I had a test I needed to have done, and you were the only one available to it.”

“M-Majesty?”

“I needed you to disobey me and save that pony's life, instead of the Elements as I ordered. You know the one.”

“S-Suckerpunch!? WHY!? Why would you-”

She fully admitted to herself that everything she was about to say was pure bullshit.

That just made it all the more fun.

“Oh, it was quite a simple plan, and I suppose you've earned the right to be let in after losing a month of your life. Simply put, I would have you save him, disobeying me and putting your life 'in danger' from my wrath. From there, you go off to the guards and when they learn of your actions they respond better to changelings as a whole. This way, I could gauge how well changeling and pony would work together when I made my move to take over the guard.”

She made a show of looking off, as if she was wistfully remembering her own plan. On the inside, she was positively cackling.

“A-and?”

“Hm? Oh, it was a total failure. Both plans, I'm afraid. I was denied my plan of taking over the guard and as for you... They just stood there while I almost chopped your head clean from your shoulders. Well, all except for that one you saved, obviously, but I considered him a skewed result since ponies love themselves so much.”

“O-oh... oh... they didn't even try?”

She tsked, flicking her on the snout.

“Mmmm... I'm afraid not. Such a pity too. While obviously a princess or the like would have stepped up and saved you, I so hoped you saving one of their own would inspire something in them. Instead, it was simply another plan that has failed me. The only one who moved was the one you directly saved, as expected.”

“I... I'm so sorry...”

“Oh no no, nothing you did. You acted exactly as I wished. Exactly, obviously, due to the control needed to ensure you wouldn't hesitate too long and accidentally let him be taken. That would have thrown such a wrench into my plans. I had to place such a control on you...”

“W-what... what about the Elements?”

“Hm? Oh, yes... Thirteen was to take care of that, but unfortunate events not her fault prevented it. You were merely there to test the guard... nothing else.”

“Oh... oh...”

She gave her an almost patronizing pat on the head, perhaps just a bit of still remaining spite flowing through her at that moment.

“The mission has concluded, as it were, and I have none in the waiting for you at the moment, you have earned your rest. You may return to him now and show him your head remains attached, though he will likely reference events you no longer remember. My apologies, but the control method is quite... finicky. You naturally attempted to fight it, and it damaged any memories connected when I removed it.”

“Will... will I ever remember it?”

~Not a chance.~

“I'd say... likely not. But it is for the best, no reason to dwell on any failed missions... ask one of your Hive, they will fill you in on what has transpired, quite a bit went down at the end of it. After that, do as you please, you have certainly earned it.”

“T-thank you, Majesty.”

“Oh no, thank you... for your service to the Hive, now I shall-”

She put on a surprised face, so genuine looking even Shining would likely have been fooled. An act, nothing more, as she blinked in questioning wonder at what was before her.

“And just how long have you all been there?”

She knew exactly how long her Hive had been peering through the crack, of course. She wouldn't have come to this exact place and let out this exact level of fire if not for the intention of letting them all see her arrive. She knew their curiosity would make them look, they just couldn't stand it.

It was with no hidden mirth she watched as they jumped, clearly thinking they were to be punished. Instead, she merely laughed.

“Oh no no, by all means, it's fine if you listened in. It simply saves me the time of having to tell you about her failed mission, and why she has been avoiding you so long. This is fine. Oh, and I suppose this does put another fear to rest... that any will be able to disobey me without my knowledge.”

She smiled, wide and feral.

“Believe me when I say, if I am disobeyed... I will know. If I didn't know before even you did, that is.”

They seemed strangely... unbothered by that. No signs of shocking revelation, not gulps of worry, no fidgeting of horror. It was no different than she had said “I'm the Queen.” They weren't worried... at all. Should this worry her, she wondered? Had her grasp slipped so much that even directly stated, they didn't seem to care? Should she be fearful?

...No matter. She will deal with them if the time should come. Her stance has been reaffirmed, she has pulled away from the trap and left it unsprung, and she has outsmarted the oh so clever Applejack once again. Oh, her guards would go to her with words of course, but not with the words that she had played into the Alicorn's hoof. Rather, that she herself had been played, and she wouldn't even know how. She would steam with the knowledge her perfect plan had been just a facet of another perfect plan, and she just couldn't wait to subtly rub it in, as much as it was an utter lie.

Everything had gone off so easily, so perfectly. Applejack had been too slow to stop her, she would soon learn of her own ineffectiveness, and there was nothing she could do about it. She now knew her own limitations in affecting the lives of the changelings. She was victorious, and now all she needed to do was sit back, laugh in that stupid orange face, and enjoy her victory-

“Did someone just hear an explosion?”

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The darkness was something he was familiar with, intimately familiar with.

The Changeling known as number Zero Zero Seven had lived in darkness most of his life. Seedy nightlife towns where he got the love to fuel his Hive, hidden crevices where he spied on any who would possibly stumble upon their secrets, the spaces under the floorboards where he would rest and reside waiting for them to pass so that he may steal their wealth and weapons. He knew the darkness well.

Which is why it felt like an old cloak as he slunk around through the shadows of Canterlot's many buildings, slinking his way this and that as he narrowed in on his target.

It hadn't taken him long to find him, really. It seemed like he was even accepting of it, really. He knew that the priss could normally blend into a crowd, he wasn't this inept. Rather, he was likely at the end of his rope, and knowing that he could not stop what was to come.

Perhaps that was why, with a little coaxing from a rock tossed off to his side, the ling ducked into the nearest alleyway, and was finally out of sight.

But with Twenty Nine in there, he found himself... hesitating, just a moment. His hoof suddenly felt a bit less steady, a weird tingle in his foreleg to join it. He found himself less... sure.

Perhaps he should go and just confirm it with her Majesty first, and then finish him off. After all, she would want first take for revenge, no? He might anger her by taking away a chance to finally cut loose again. Nobody would miss Twenty Nine, nobody.

...No, he told himself. He had to do this now, and then his Majesty knew she did not need to hold his hoof for him to protect the integrity of the Hive. He could do this.

But he needed to do it quickly, his hoof was starting to shake again. Likely, he was having trouble containing all of the love-magic he had absorbed. It had been... quite a lot. But it was needed in case this all went south. She would understand.

He took just a moment to steel himself, just a moment of reassurance and began to make his move. One quick strike to the neck in a dark alley. None would question it, and it was untraceable. Just as any infiltrator worth his salt would. Just a bit of violence against a changeling, it would barely be investigated.

With that, he shot down.

He expected the cold slicing of a chitinous neck.

He did not expect pain.

“GAH!”

His back connected with a wall, just out of sight of any ponies down below. He had been struck so fast, he doubted even a pegasus would have noticed.

When he snapped back to reality, his assailant was gone.

...But not gone long enough.

He shot forwards, connecting with a body just as it phased into reality and sending them both shooting through the corners of the buildings, hugging it so closely that they appeared to be nothing but a trick of the light. After his revenge was sated when he felt the foe he faced crash against another wall, he snapped back, returning to the shadow and hiding away.

He did not even need to look to know whom he was fighting.

“You are interfering in official changeling business, Jetset.”

A glint was visible in the shadows, all he needed to see.

“You are acting threateningly to a creature in the employ of an Equestrian citizen, this is now my business.”

He decided not to comment on the 'creature' portion, and just focus in on the more important matters.

“He is a subject of my Queen first, and employee second.”

“He is serving one who directly oversees political business regarding Equestria and has been of, allegedly, substantial aide to her, which means you are now directly interfering with the progress of my Queen's kingdom, which supersedes all other matters.”

“This is a matter concerning the fact he broke one of her laws.”

“And he is currently on Equestrian soil, which means he only needs to follow the only laws that matter.”

“I'm fairly certain feeding a regicidal maniac is illegal in any state.”

“You assume we care about the freeloading Queen enough to consider her worth protecting over one actually benefitting us. Your Queen's orders are irrelevant next to mine.”

“You assume my Queen ordered it at all.”

“...Did she not?”

“She does not need to order me to deal with traitors. I am an infiltrator, this is my duty.”

“Then the matter is even more cut and dry. My second Queen has ordered me to prevent any attack on him, and following orders is tantamount. Simple as that.”

“Really going to do this?”

“Are you afraid?”

“Yeah, I am...”

There was a flash, and a clink of blades meeting.

“I'm afraid your princess is going to be mad at mine for beating you again. She so hates it when Celestia complains to her.”

“I don't think you have to worry about that.”

With another flash, it began.

All throughout Canterlot, ponies went about their daily lives. They shopped, the laughed, they talked, they lived. Not a single one of them heard the clashes that went on in the background. Not a one of them heard the grunts as two forces collided. Not a one of them saw the flashes of light as bodies vanished and magic clashed. Not a one of them felt the tremors when bodies hit the ground, only to snap back up and resume without missing a beat.

Not a one of them noticed when those two bodies fell beyond their sight, one on top of the other.

Only some of them heard the crack as a body hit the ground.

Above the fallen changeling, Jetset stood proud.

“You are weak today. Did you drain yourself too much in the earlier rumble?”

Seven choked, the hoof pressing down on his neck applying more pressure to close his windpipe. He frantically scraped at the hoof on top of him, finding his draining ability blocked by some strange magic atop it.

“Do not bother trying to feed off me, you will get as little from me as you did your bug princess.”

He tried to spit back a retort, but could not muster the air.

“I watched as she failed to feed you. She did not even concern herself with repairing the damage done. Why is that, do you think?”

He choked again, gagging painfully as his world started to spin. Smoothly, Jetset pulled another blade from his coat.

“I should imagine... It's because you're not worth the effort.”

He struck down, a blade poised right to Seven's left eye. He would not deal with this ever again.

“Really?”

Jetset froze, going still as those two hooves suddenly clamped on his own, and that gagging throe turned to a smile.

“I should imagine it's because unlike you, she trusts me to get the job done.”

He knew there was no chance to dodge or escape, just as the bug wanted. Instead, he turned to desperation, and fired with every single solitary scrap of magic he had, everything he could muster was brought down harshly on the changeling below him.

Mossy colored magic blocked every single drop of it and tore it away before sending him into the sky. A flash of light there for but a second, and gone away before any could notice.

Spinning in the air above the buildings in a painful arc, he was given no time to call upon his vanishing magic before the flying changeling was upon him, striking him again and again in the air. Power far beyond what Seven had previously held was being expended at a monstrous rate, and Jetset was given no respite to collect himself.

With a powerful smash, he was brought upon the ground, given only a moment to breath before a magical grip hefted him up, allowing the changeling to place a hoof on his chest, and begin to drain him once more.

“Hmm. Seems like I won yet again, Jetset.”

“Y-... you are mistaken. I achieved my orders.”

“Oh? Funny, it looks to me like I'm still standing and feeling pretty good right now. Tell me, when will the veil pull away, and I am revealed to be on the ground? That's normally how this goes.”

He looked around, quite cocky, before turning back to the Agent.

“No? Well then, looks like you are the one who is mistaken. Your mission is a failure, and your orders unfulfilled.”

“My orders... were not to defeat you...”

He barely groaned out the words as his body went limp, being drained once again to his dismay. Seven focused precious little on this, on his supposed 'victory', and instead to where he had seen his prey last.

...And to where there was no nothing but air.

“No...”

He had been fooled, utterly fooled. There was no telling when in the battle he had spirited Twenty Nine away, and to where. Jetset's teleportation was not enough to get him out of Canterlot, but a half-mile head start at the start of the fight would have been plenty to keep him from being caught for days, perhaps weeks if he played it right. Worse, now that he knew Applejack ordered his defense, Twenty Nine had someone to run to, someone to make her majesty look like a fool...

This was unacceptable.

“Where did you send him?”

Jetset, of course, did nothing but glare behind those glasses, jaw as rigid as his body was limp.

A blow struck him across the cheek, hard enough to leave a painful looking bruise.

“Where. Did. You. Send. Him.”

Another, longer glare, and that was that. He could take no more.

With a flick of his hoof, a green blade was produced, angling right at Jetset's jugular vein.

“This is a changeling matter, one of disobedience and treachery, not a pony matter. Do not risk further defending your Queen because of a changeling. Do not let yourself die to defend someone who never cared about you or your kind. You have many years of service left in you, Jetset, be wise and use them.”

“All that matters is achieving the mission, nothing else.”

“Tell me before I slit your throat!”

“We both know you aren't going to kill me.”

It was stated so flatly, so simply, so casually that it made him want to scream, it made him want to stab upwards just so he could laugh at his gurgling face, it made him want to end this and prove him wrong.

And yet, there he was, still looking, still waiting, the knife hovering right there where it always had, pressed against his neck without so much as twitching.

He never got a chance to contemplate this, to wonder aloud why he was, indeed, not killing Jetset. He was granted only a single moment to notice it.

And then it was taken away.

~~~~~

Applejack had been running.

She had been running more than she had ever run in her entire life.

No Celestia, no Twilight, not even Fluttershy.

She had unleashed the monster just when the keepers weren't around to reign in the leash. She had set off a firework right when the firefighters were on break.

Were they at the Empire? Out in the city? The forest? Who cares. One mile or a thousand, they might as well be on the moon. She couldn't stop her on her own, she knew. She could threaten her, confront her and even attack her, but alone she just was not a physical match for the Queen, she knew it. She needed someone who could fight her and knock some sense into that moronic head of hers. Or barring that, Shining Armor to chew her out for being an idiot in between enabling her idiocy. She searched high, she searched low, but she could not find them. Likely, she would have kept searching.

Were it not for a flash of green, so quick anyone not looking would have missed it.

Her hooves were thumping faster than her heart was, crashing against the ground in such rapid beats that she lost track of them and nearly stumbled several times. As expected, her mad dash caught the attention of several passerbys who couldn't help but notice the western-mare racing down the streets of Canterlot at a pace that could be called 'reckless' at best and 'frantic' otherwise.

But she paid them no mind. She focused in like a hawk, aiming for where she needed to be the most, aiming for that spot, that area where she found that power, and putting everything she had to just getting there.

When she saw them, she didn't even think. There simply was no time to. He had Jetset by the neck, and that was all that mattered.

She did not think, she just channeled every drop of magic she could into her hoof. Wild, uncontrolled power coursed through her like a river rapid, not so much as aimed as slightly directed the way she wanted it to be.

She was flying before she even knew it, moving so fast she couldn't even keep up with the blur around her. All she could do is hope her hoof was going the right way.

It was satisfying when she felt that connection, that cracking noise against her hoof in the brief moment before he was gone.

Jetset was carried with them as they both flung from the shadows, out into the open street in full view of all to see. The agent fell to the ground hard, but was otherwise unhurt. The same could not be said for the changeling on the end of her still blazing hoof. He bounced across the ground while she slowed to a halt, stone cracking beneath him with every shock. She knew Seven was durable, able even to take bullets and get right back up. She had no idea what her magical force was, but she very much doubted she was on the same level as a bullet. She did not even give a second's though to the matter to question exactly how much damage she had done. Realizing he would get up any second if she did not react faster, she took to the air again, and cocked her hoof back, preparing to pummel him once more.

In that brief span of a moment in the air, she noticed something. She noticed he did not get up, did not bounce back, did not even so much as twitch. In that second, she noticed he did not move at all.


It all moved too fast, too fast for her to fully process just what it was she was seeing, too fast for it to sink in that her torrential, unfocused magic had contained more power than she originally thought, there was just no time to put it all together.

Or to stop herself.

There was no time before the mere feet separating them blinked away, and her blow met it's mark.

She felt hooves crunch against chitin as uncontrolled magic poured into them, wildly flaring out of control as it connected and delivering a sickening snap as her full power landed and transferred into the body it touched.

But it was not Seven's shout of pain that filled her own ears, no... it was someone else's.

The owner of the body covering Seven's prone form.

The one who had blocked her blow, even at her full might.

She backed away, head craning upwards to the shoulder she had connected with, one that let loose rivets of green amidst the cracks she had left behind. The Queen who rose to her full height, seemingly ignoring the pain wracking her shoulder as her movements increased the gap of the cracks. The Queen who looked upon her... in rage.

Horrifying, unbridled rage that told her, unequivocally, that Chrysalis sought no more words, or talks. She had the power, and she was going to unleash it all.

“HIGHNESS!”

Applejack's head snapped from side to side as no fewer than twenty guards, each one looking like they had just come out of training flocked to her flanks, spears at the ready.

Chrysalis, quite simply put, did not even notice they were there, and Applejack was all too aware that she would not even need to try to wipe them out.

But they were not the only one to join in.

“My word!”

{WARNING! HOSTILITY DETECTED!}

They marched in unison into place, at least thirty of them. Some of them owned by the rich ponies who likewise took position at the back, several of whom helped Jetset to stand and kept him propped as he threatened to fall over, but most were quite clearly under the command of the mare standing at attention off to the side.

“How unfortunate for you, I was just unwrapping the latest models.”

Even with a host of cannons at the ready, Chrysalis could not tear her gaze away from the orange mare, and she knew full well why. None of those machines packed the force Celestia did, not even close, and she had beaten that back on her own as well. They would be useless.

But even they were not alone.

“Hey now!”

They literally rained from the sky, suited pegasi landing hard next to Applejack, only Dash not present to lead the other Wonderbolts.

“We starting a fight or something?”

She did not answer the silver maned mare, too focused in on the power gathering in front of her, the energy swelling behind the Queen's eyes. She was strong now, even without any sort of scanning magic she could just tell through intuition alone. She was as strong as she had been back at the wedding, every bit that strong. Applejack knew she couldn't match her.

But then, the formation was not done yet.

“WHAT IS THIS STRANGENESS!? Why art thou all gathered here? Are thou threatening mine kingdom!?”

Her spirits lifted, just a bit, when Luna landed next to her. The tide, she felt, had turned. Chrysalis was strong, likely stronger than Luna was, but together, so long as they stuck together, they could win if they all fought together. No matter how little Chrysalis seemed to care, how still so sure she looked she could defeat them all, there was a chance now. They could do this.

That hope made it all the more painful when another voice called out.

“MAJESTY!”

And she knew they did not speak of her.

They poured like ebony rain, landing down in perfect file beside their Queen, every single one of the changelings, her entire army, landing at the ready beside their clearly wounded and threatened Queen, a rallying force ready to take on any who would attack her. Strong, healthy and filled, a far cry from what they had been on the day of the invasion so very long ago.

They charged magic atop their horns, and in the blink of an eye Applejack knew the situation had gotten out of control. Chrysalis, alone, would have been a monstrous battle, but with all of them here... it was the throes of a war, an out of control siege that could likely see Canterlot consumed.

And in the middle of it all, was the Queen.

“Chrysalis, back off.”

She said the words before she had even the time to process them, to even think about what demanding something of her in that no-nonsense tone would illicit from the Queen. It was purely instinctual, a command to back down and fight no more, spoken to the worst possible one she could deliver such a command to. Silently, she wanted to kick herself for fooling herself to think the Queen would see reason on anything, anything at all, and knowing full well she might as well have signed the declaration of war herself.

But something... changed right there, with her army at her call. Something in the greater balance had shifted alright, but not as she expected. The moment Chrysalis's head jerked from side to side and before sweeping across the forces staring her down, Applejack knew something had changed. The moment she turned her head up and looked all around for something, searching with care, Applejack knew something had changed. When she slowly tilted her head down to look her in the face before growing coldly, eerily still, Applejack knew something had changed.

It changed so much... she did not recognize the one who spoke next.

“It... it appears there has been some kind of... misunderstanding.”


The voice she knew, it was the one who had laughed and cackled as she drove her mad, but she did not recognize the low tone it spoke. The face she knew, it was the one that ever held a flippant smirk upon her face, but she did not recognize the strained cheeks and shifty eyes. Chrysalis, she knew... but she did not recognize who was speaking right now, who seemed to shy back ever so slightly from the crowd.. The mare before her had changed, transformed into someone completely different, and not a single flick of magic was involved. She did not recognize her.

“I'm sure this was... unintentional. A bit of... confusion from what I said earlier, something that sounded more violent than it was, nothing else.”

She did not recognize the one who looked to her hive, and spoke smoothly to them.

“Would you all calm down? This was... a mistake, that is all. Nothing to fight about.”

Confusion was apparent, outright shock showing through on some of the less skilled ones, as they all lowered themselves out of their fighting stance, and stood slack.

She turned back, but not a one on Applejack's side had done the same.

“There's no need for that...”

Not a one moved. Not a single one.

“...Would you...”

Never, ever before had she heard what came next from Chrysalis before.

“Would you please ask them to stand down?”

Numb, absolutely numb from shock, Applejack robotically did so. Waving her hoof and telling the guards, Wonderbolts, various robots and citizens to relent. Slowly but surely, they did.

“... thank you...”

Two words, two little words, she never, ever expected to hear in her entire lifetime from that Queen.

“Just a misunderstanding, I'm sure... We can talk about this later, when you have time.”


Slowly, she motioned to the Hive, and she began to back away. And they all got to watch her. They all got to watch the limp in her step as she she turned around and nursed her obviously damaged shoulder, trying her best not to put any weight on it. They all got to watch Queen Chrysalis... bleed, and limp away.

And she watched her, every step, until her and every last changeling was gone, only a stream of green to show they had ever been there at all, only a stream of green to mark the defeat of the Changeling Queen.

“..W-w...”

She had to clear her throat, having grown so dry she could practically feel sandpaper on her tongue.

“Well, ya' heard her, it ain't a dang fight, get back ta' what yer' doin'.”

They did as she commanded, of course. Going back to mulling about their business and chattering amongst themselves. But there was a sense of... pride? She didn't know if that was the right word, but I certainly seemed to fit. A pride from the soldiers, at the very least, that they had stared down the entire Changeling force and come out smelling like roses. There was a touch of pride from Miss Coltsly as she touted the benefit to the robotic guardians who had stepped up, and likely secured quite a few sales in the meantime. The Wonderbolts as well couldn't help but brag, finally there for a conflict as if this washed away all their past absences. There was even a bit of patriotic pride from the citizens as well, that they had stood firm against the 'invaders'. There was pride as far as she could see, a victory for Canterlot.

There was not a doubt among them. They had won.

Applejack had won.

But she did not recognize the mare she had beaten.

~~~~

None of the drones spoke to her, obviously. None asked her if she was okay, knowing full well that bringing attention to her wound would be an insult. None had wondered what had happened to Seven, and why she had handed him off to be tended to. None of them questioned her, not even when she shuffled them back into the ballroom, and told them all to remain.

They didn't understand. Of course they didn't understand. They could have won, they knew it. They had defeated far bigger odds than this before. They had crushed the forces of Canterlot before, no problem. And now there was no shield to blow them away at the last moment. What reason was there to back down when Applejack had so clearly struck out against her?

Not a one of them knew.

And not a one of them dared to question her as she vanished in flame.

There was a corner of Canterlot castle. A room, never used and unknown to any. A place she had found by accident, and marveled at it's lack of use. It was nice, if a bit small, but she admired it. It was where she went when she wanted to be alone, and none had ever bothered her here.

Alone in the room, not a single soul. Not a peep, not a sound, not a thing. Alone in this room, she sought out a single spot, a sole point in the wall that seemed to stand out amidst a plain of identical natured ones without any discerning changes or areas of note. But this wall, this place, was special, she knew.

She knew it was special... when it seemed to muffle the words that rang in her head.

“It's not going to work...”

Over and over it played in her mind. Those guards, just sitting there, nothing but sitting there and waiting for it to happen while she killed Forty One.

The citizens, guards and royals, gathered against her with little provocation, little call to bring their forces against her, and waiting for the battle that was to come, waiting for the chance to finally attack and end it all in one glorious fight. Just waiting for the chance...

There was no change. After all this time... there was no change.

She had few allies, so few, in this whole land that she could have called upon, and none were there. When they were gone... she was left empty.

For the very first time it broke through to her that this place, this ballroom, was not a place to keep them safe... it was their prison.

This place was poison. This room was nothing but a large, comfy cell.

And every single citizen was their keeper.

She had been played, she had been outdone, and it had happened on a level she had never even imagined. She had been fooled, so easily even her own paranoid nature had missed it. So easily it seemed pathetic that she could not have seen it before. She was, simply put, defeated, confined and restrained, and she had never even known it.

“It's not going to work...”

This wall was special.

She knew it was special when her back touched it, and it granted her the support of the weight on her shoulders that felt too heavy to hold.

She knew it was special when she began to shake, and the wall didn't so much as register.

She knew it was special when those first few drops sank between her splayed hind legs, and vanished without a trace on the ground.

“It's not going to work...”

She knew if she was looked upon by her mother, she would be called weak, pathetic, useless. Her head would be taken from her shoulders in a desperate attempt to remove any last lingering thread of weakness. But she did not care... she could not think of her failure as a daughter. Of her besmirching the name of the changelings by letting herself be cowed by Applejack of all ponies.

She didn't even think of her defeat.

All she heard... were those words.

“It's going to happen... and I can't stop it.”

They were not spoken by any specter, or haunting, they were of her own mind, nothing else.

And she knew they were true.

All of her power, all of her might, all of her own ability could save only herself. Only herself.

She would lose her hive, one way or another.

They were not safe here.

This was not their home.

What was she to do?

...She had no answers.

And as she sat there, letting the tears fall as they may... none would come to her.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

~~~~~

They were fun and fancy free as they stepped through the portal, uncaring and laughing all the way. Three alicorns, two of white and one of pink, skipping all the way.

“Did you see that poor things face?”

“I told you, Shiny's fun to prank.”

“Oh indeed! His face was priceless!”

“Told you. Just pretend to be drunk and he fears no death itself, only the blarg.”

They laughed, just like a couple of high school fillies, no worries, just fun.

It pained the mare standing in the doorway that she would have to take that away from them.

“Uh... Celestia? Cadence?”

Every head snapped to the unsure, unsteady looking alicorn mare.

“Uh... somethin' happened....”

And thus, she began to tell the story.

~~~~~~~

Her magic was still, even now, unsteady and unstable, despite the time that had past, but somehow she had managed it. She had managed to teleport.

Teleport away... to the one who had hidden themselves from the world into a place she thought none would know of. And indeed, perhaps she would have, if not for the paranoia that one had caused in her life, one that had, at first, made her fear, hate and even despise. If she had not stumbled upon her as she attempted to hide away so many months ago, in a fit of fear to what she might do if left unchecked, it is doubtful she would ever be granted the sight before her.

The sight of the Queen looking up from her slouched sitting position, hair disheveled, cheeks sunken in, pale skin and a garish, horrifying looking wound on her shoulder that was three parts bruise and one part shattered skin.

To think... this had been the one who once upon a time captured her and chucked her into the very depths of Canterlot itself.

“Cadence...”

She croaked more than spoke, trying to sound intimidating and powerful even now. Likely, more out of a need not to be seen as weak than anything else. Too late, she knew too late for that.

“Chrysalis...”

The Queen did not know why she sounded as she did, almost frightened, or perhaps even a touch anxious. Smoothly, almost ethereally, Cadence walked to her, and softly took her place before the Queen, tenderly brushing the haggard hair from her eyes and looking her right into those burning emerald orbs with a gaze that held no judgement, no mockery for the weakness, not even pity. Only... concern.

“Did she hurt you?”

The concern, the honest and true concern for her, took her breath away. The way Cadence gingerly touched the wound and trailed her hoof all around it to check on the dried blood was enough to make her freeze, holding steady while the bits were gently brushed away.

“...She wasn't aiming for me.”

She could have lied, easily. She normally would have, and this would be so simple to turn in her favor. But it did not matter. She did not delude herself into thinking that Applejack attempted to crush her or bring her harm. She was aiming for the one who had hurt her agent, not anyone else. She had jumped in the way willingly, and there was no doubt about that.

Cadence let out a slow breath, magic sputtering a bit as it focused in, as if she still even now was having trouble with it. Still, she did her best to heal it. She tried.

“Why?”

“...Seven and Jetset were fighting, and Seven was winning.”

“Why?”

“I don't know.”

“So you fought Applejack?”

“No.”

The alicorn locked, simply froze, when she heard that voice. That defeated, beaten voice.

“...I didn't fight her...”

“No, you didn't, did you?”

“...It almost got bad... and it was because of me.”

Applejack had been vague as to what went down there, uncharacteristically so, but it was painfully obvious that there had been no real brawl of any sort. Applejack was untouched, and considering the severity of the wound... it was not her who had backed down.

Chrysalis, backing down... even just thinking about it seemed unnatural.

“Chrysalis...”

Her voice was just as gentle, almost as motherly, as Celestia's could get sometimes. It was as soft as a lucid dream, and every bit as enveloping.

“I know you don't want to say it, but I need you to be open with me... please?”

It was stunning to hear Cadence ask this of her. They had long, long, long since put any hostility between them to bed, long since buried any lingering resentment, long since cast out any fears, but it still moved her down to her very being when Cadence simply looked to her as someone besides a Queen, and spoke to her plainly. She did not demand honesty, not really. Only that she spoke at all. She did not fear deception.

“...Why did you give up?”

She was struck by the question, stricken down to her very core. “Give up.” She had given up, quit, bowed out and limped off licking her wounds. She had been dealt a blow, and not just the physical one.

But that seemed oddly... small next to what she had seen. Her hive on the brink of war... the flashes of the bodies of Chitania's hive on the ground, what may come if she proved unsuccessful were every bit as equal to the pride shattering blow she had been dealt. The truth this event had revealed was easily a thousand times worse than simply bleeding out.

It had not been so long ago that she cried in the presence of another. It had not been so long ago that someone, someone she knew, had seen her with tears streaking down her cheeks in a fit. It had not been so long ago... and she thought it never to happen again. Told her self it would never happen again. Promised...

Today had once more proved her wrong.

“It's not going to work.”

Those five words held more emotion than Cadence had ever heard from the changeling, more regret and desperation than she even thought her capable of, no matter how much things had changed. She simply never believed the Queen ever would be like this.

“It'll never work here, in this place.”

A shaking, featherlight hoof touched her chitinous cheek, glacially shifting her face until their eyes locked together.

Cadence had denied Shining ever time he mentioned it. Cast aside even the thought without a second glance. Rebuked him. Vetoed him. Whatever it was to be called. Every time he brought it up, she told him no, and he never once fought her on it. A simple word, and the fight was ended.

But, she thought to herself... that was the old Cadence. That was the lazy, out of touch, useless Cadence. That was the Cadence who needed others to be royalty in her place. The one who did not deserve her powers, or her crown. That was who she was.

Perhaps it was time to look at this... differently. To no longer see the one hive who had attacked her home, and the one who had sought to ruin her life. It was time to put away old grudges for good, and move on truly and completely.

“If that is so, then..."

It was time to finally be... Princess Cadenza Mi Amore.

"...It is time for a change....”

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Highly canon debatable
>Chrysalis
"Spike"
~~~
"Chrysalis, what are you doing with my source books?"

>I'm drafting up my own custom race, and Shiny locks his copies up from me.

"To be fair he hordes his books from everyone. No one has been allowed to touch his brass bound, autographed, limited editions. Not even himself, even had it warded to keep Sombra out of the case.'

>Well, yeah, so I swiped yours. Fuck you if you don't like it.

"Actually, you got me curious abnouyt this custom race."

>Well, you do have some tastes. Okay, so they're an insectoid race of shapeshifters who feed on emotions to grow stronger...

"Okay, sounds familiar but write what you know."

>They're always chaotic/evil with no hope of redemption and a barely functioning society because of this. It also operates on a strict caste system in which incompetent royals control everything while the working class suffers and starves.

"Uhhh..."

>They're also all hopelessly a stupid, deformed, and inbred. I call them Drow. What do you think?

"... It sounds kind of like-"

>Yes?

"And don't take this the wrong way, we're not friendly, but I am friends with many of your people and respect them..."

>Not sure what you're getting at but okay...

"It... It sounds like you made a horrible racial caricature of your own people."

>...

WHAP!!!

>You rotten son of a bitch! How dare you accuse my people of being stupid and inbred!

"I didn't mean that- Ow! I meant the shapeshifting insect- Yowch!!!"

>No, fuck you! I see how you view us changelings, and I don't have to take it! Get wrecked, lizard!

Woosh!!

"I-... I mean-... The hell?"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Daw
"Sunset"
'Past!Pommel'
-Dragon-
~Roc~

>Doo doo dee doo...oh neat, a Roc!

Daw smiles at the giant bird flapping around an absurdly large aviary.

"You've been up close and personal with a Roc?"

>Oh yeah! It was just a baby one, though. Its ma died fightin' a dragon that was chasin' Pom and me...long story.

"...how'd that work out?"

>...

=A FEW MONTHS EARLIER=

Pommel clings desperately to the back of a smaller Roc as it flaps away from a burning nest.

'GO YOU FUCKING OVERSIZED CHICKEN!'

~CAW!~

>It's not a chicken, it's a Roc!

'IT SURE FLIES LIKE ONE!'

>Don't shout so loud! We might get outta here without-

-YOU RETREAT IS MEANINGLESSSSSS! I WILL BURN ALL COWARDS!-

>'FUCK!'

~CAW!~

=BACK TO THE PRESENT!=

>...fuuuuun times.

~CAW!~

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC
>56
_____

>Goooooood mornin', /pa/! This is the 'ling with the bling here, Fifty-Six, hijackin' whatever used to go on here to say....go grab life by the plot! Take care!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >SA
"Twilight"
'Sunset'
[Spike]
~~~

>How do you keep shorting these things out? Seriously, they're hard to mine, they're expensive.

"Science has no pricetag, Shiny!"

>..

"...Okay, technically that has never been true at any point in history and, in fact, funding is one of the biggest hurdles for any scientific endeavor ever, but just because money does really matter doesn't mean money matters."

>...

"Unless you don't have money, in which case it doesn't matter because you're not doing it."

>Right... who the hell are you again?

'Sunset Shimmer... we... we know each other.'

>Do we?

'I was Celestia student.'

>Not ringing a bell...

'Says the guard who looks like literally everyone else if you put a helmet on him.'

>I do not!

With a perfect alley-oop, Spike tosses a spare Royal Guard helmet over to him, landing perfectly on his head.

He only needs to glance at his own reflection before he gives up.

>...Point taken. Nice to meet you?

'We've. Met. You brought me coffee once.'

>Just are not ringing a bell.

'I HAVE FUCKING BACON COLORED HAIR!'

>...The hell is bacon?

"Erm... human term, don't worry about it."

[Can we get back now? We've been here for like two hours.]

"We've been here exactly thirty one point thirteen minutes, you big baby. What's going to happen over the course of an hour?"

>Yeah, even the invasion took longer than that to happen.

"Except for you."

>Yeah, Crystal Empire misses all the fun. But I'm sure it'll be fine, what could-

[DON'T!]

>...Woo! Caught me, good. Almost slipped up there. But because I didn't say it, it didn't happen, right?

"'[...]'"

>...R-right?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC
~~~

'So, I notice that over there is, in fact, your wife, working really, really hard and fast and goddamn look at Cadence go. I apparently have a great many apologies to make.'

>Hm? Oh, hold up. Eighteen! You did it again!

*FWOOSH!*

>There you go champ!

'...Okay, so, SEVERAL questions...'

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________