"What in the world?"

I had anticipated my... I suppose 'palace' is most the most appropriate word, would have been discovered in my time imprisoned, and possibly ransacked by explorers, archaeologists, treasure hunters and so on, but I never expected it to have what I saw happen.

The entrance hall I had come into was well lit, far more so than how I had left it, making the changes that much easier to notice.

The once plain columns that held the ceiling had been carved into statues of my likeness in various poses, some with weapons, but each holding a hand out with flames in the palm.
The empty walls had murals and paintings of me.
But the most jarring was the twenty foot tall statue of me with arcs of coloured magic flying into and around my mask, which was held a few inches away from the statues face, which appeared to be uncarved.

When I'd finished taking in these details, I started hearing a loud droning and chattering, from the other side of the doorsat the opposite end of the hall.

Approaching the door cautiously, I opened it enough to look in and saw yet more art of me, but what drew my attention were the two hundred some black pony-like creatures with insect wings and jagged horns that were in there moving about with purpose, occasionally stopping to speak with another.

Stepping back, I pushed the doors open with as much strength as I could without ripping them off their hinges, sending several of the creatures rolling or skidding across the floor as the opening doors hit them.

Striding through them, I saw they all wore dumbstruck expressions, but a few were quick to snap out of it and either ran or flew off into other rooms.

Looking past them all I eyed the many doors and stairways before going to a large triangular door with no apparent means of opening it.

Before I got there one of the insect-ponies landed in front of me and hissed, showing its large fangs very clearly in what was probably an attempt at a threatening gesture.

I bitch-slapped the idiot.

It quickly fell to the side as small shard of its facial exo-skeleton broke away, causing a small trickle of metallic green ooze, which I assumed was its blood, to run down along its jaw.

Stepping over the whimpering creature I placed a palm on the door and sent a small pulse of Will into it.

A rumbling soon filled the room as the door slid upwards into the wall, revealing a descending stairwell.

It wasn't particularly deep, just enough so that the room at the bottom couldn't be sees from the top.

Stepping into the small rotunda, I looked around at the three life-size statues of me that I had made when I claimed this place.

One with it's hands in front of it, gripping an absent sword, the next with one hand out just a little and the other close to the chest, again with the weapons absent, and the third, standing aggressively, preparing to swing the black and gold sword in its right hand.

Sliding the blade up out of the statues grip, I placed the flat of the sword on the armoured part of my left arm and dragged it across, sending a small shower of sparks to fly in front of me before I placed it on my back.

Turning to go back out I stopped as one of the insect-ponies blocked my path, only this one was easily as tall as Princess Celestia and much more noticeable feminine features than the smaller ones.

I slowly started to reach or the blade when she whispered, "It's you," causing me to stop.

She stepped forward, looking almost fearful. "It's really you."

Narrowing my eyes, I asked, "What are you talking about?"

Clearly startled, she bowed, revealing the holes in her legs, and said, "We have waited, my lord," with her voice echoing on itself, now that she had stopped whispering.

Lowering my arm, I asked, "Lord?"

She looked up. "We have waited for over a thousand years for your return."

"Why?"

"To lead us."

"Why would you need me to- Oh, just stand up straight! It's ridiculous talking to you while you bow to me!"

Standing, she said, "Thank you, my lord."

"And address me as Jack or not at all."

"Yes, my-... Yes."

"Now then, who and what are you?"

"I am Chrysalis, queen of the Changelings and Ruler of the Badlands," she answered with a touch of pride.

"And where do I fit into your 'kingdom'?"

She lowered her head again, but thankfully didn't bow. "You are our deity. Our god. When a changeling returns with a large amount of love, we feed some of the power to the statue, and as a result, keep the lights that move around it from going out."

"Why would you and your kind see me as a god?"

"Because you can take the souls of others, just as we Changelings take the love of others. To us, yours is the ultimate power."

Again, my eyes narrowed, but this time I drew my blade and held its edge to Chrysalis' throat. "How did you know I can capture souls?"

Suddenly fearful, she quickly answered, "I was there when you killed the Forest Prince. I was young, but I remember when he threw me aside as you came to face him. I would not be alive, had you not been there."

Returning my blade to my back, I asked one last question. "And what makes you think your kind is of any use to me?"

"We can take on the appearance of anypony and anything. I, myself, once impersonated and replaced Princess Mi Amore Cadenza at her own wedding."

"Ah, yes. I caught glimpses of that little affair from my prison. I suppose I could use your skills," I said before stepping past and going back up the stairs, Chrysalis following soon after.

Reaching the top I looked out at the changelings who had ALL gathered, and a collective of gasps and hushed whispers spread out among them at the sight of me.

Looking out over them, I raised my voice so they all would hear. "I am Jack of Blades. I know you all know of me."

Many of them nodded in acknowledgement when I said this.

"When I was imprisoned by Princess Celestia of Equestria over a thousand years ago, I lost my weapons. I am certain that she would not have kept them together as a precaution. I am entrusting Chrysalis, your queen, to select the best and brightest among you to find them for me. Should you be one of those selected, you are under no circumstances to retrieve them, should you find one. You are to report back immediately and wait for me. That is all."

Gesturing for Chrysalis to follow, I headed to another descending stairway.

When we were alone, I told her, "I have no doubt Princess Sweet-tooth would have had my weapons sent to different nations, but send your very best to the capitol to infiltrate the Royal Archives, the Royal Treasury and any museums, in case she decided to keep a closer eye on them."

She nodded, saying, "of course. And what will you be doing in the mean time?"

Stopping before the colossal metal doors, I answered, "That is something you need not concern yourself with."

The instant I finished speaking, the doors cracked open with a loud echoing boom before only opening far enough for me to pass through into the pitch black beyond.

Looking to the stunned Changeling beside me, I said, "Do not follow me in there. When you have need of me, knock once," before disappearing into the darkness.

"I still don't get why we need to go to some back-wood town."

I suppressed the urge to face-hoof at the comment. While bringing my friends to Border-Town, I had endured questions ranging from why Princess Celestia thought it was urgent, what kind of animals are in the area, if the ponies there are friendly and whether they could have a unique style of clothing.

I didn't have the heart to tell them that we were visiting ruins just yet. I'd been to Border-Town once, back before Princess Celestia sent me to Ponyville.

"I've already said Princess Celestia wasn't clear. She just said that we are to check on the area and if we get into any trouble, we are to run away," I explained to my hovering friend.

Rainbow Dash blew a raspberry at that, saying, "Yeah right. There's no way I'd ever run away from ANYTHING."

"Rainbow, Ah Don' think the Princess woulda told us ta run fer no good reason," Applejack said, much to my relief.

"Oh, come on! It's not like the town was destroyed!"

"Actually, Rainbow," I interjected as we rounded the last bend and town came into view, "that's exactly the case."

The girls let out a collective gasp as they saw the overgrown remains of the town.

As we slowly made our way into the town, Rarity asked, "Twilight dear, I don't suppose you might know what happened here, would you?"

I sighed. "Not exactly, no. When I came here with the Princess years ago she wouldn't tell me everything that happened. Only that it was done by an individual she thought she knew."

"There ain't no way one pony did this kind o' damage," Applejack said, stopping to look at a semi-intact wall.

"I said much the same to Princess Celestia back then, but she insisted it was an individual."

Surprisingly slowly for her, Rainbow was hovering from building to building and asked, "Do you think Daring Do would be interested in this place?"

"No Rainbow, she wouldn't. There's nothing here. The only building still standing is the town... hall."

I was so shocked to see the huge pile of fresh rubble.

The girls gathered behind me.
In my shocked state, I wasn't sure which, but one of them asked, "That was it, wasn't it?"

I didn't say anything. I just started climbing over everything to look for clues.

Some of the rubble shifted and Pinkie stuck her head out and held out something in her hoof, asking, "Hey Twilight, doesn't this kinda, sorta, maybe look like the Alicorn Amulet Trixie had a while back?"

The second my magic touched it, I felt it the very same magic within this broken amulet, albeit MUCH weaker.

"Pinkie, I think this is, or rather WAS, the Alicorn Amulet."

Knowing it was somehow connected, I placed it in my saddlebags to take to Celestia, when we got back.

"Excuse me, um, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked, "Would you, um, happen to know what that statue is, over there?"

Looking to where she was pointing, I saw a large circular void in the debris with an unusual statue standing in the centre.

Climbing over to it, I squinted as I looked at the base, but it was too worn to read.

"I don't know, Fluttershy, but this," I said circling my hoof to gesture to the clear area, "is not normal. I think we should head back."

As the five others agreed we started to leave, but I stopped for a moment to look back at the strange statue, trying to figure out how it fit into all of this.

Shaking the thoughts from my head, I hurried to catch up with the girls as we started our journey home.

Author's Notes:

Okay, where do I go from here...
I've made a few half-hearted attempts at humour.
I thought I'd break away from the hive-mind thing people are so very fond of doing to changelings, just to be a little different.
I've added a character to Jack's past, and would appreciate name suggestions.
For a general idea of what I'm going for, he'll be an alicorn, with Blueblood's attitude of superiority and the power to control any and all plant-life.

What can we expect from the next chapter?
More on his past.
Beyond that I'mma just wing it.