My Duty As Captain

“Commence with the plans,” the queen said. I stood at her right side, keeping my stare determined and facing forward. The war council was being held, and the plans were all set on Canterlot, the capital of Equestria. I saw her motion with her hoof out of the corner of my eyes. “We will choose a changeling to get close to the inner workings of Canterlot. I want eyes inside, find a weakness.”

“My Queen,” one of the council members began to say. “Who would be such a good match that they-“

“Eakco.” I stay perfectly still as I hear my name called. The right to speak in such meetings is reserved for the council – Though I am captain of the guard, I must show no rank higher than my betters.

“Is that truly wise, My Queen? You put much faith in this single sol-“

“He is the captain of my guard,” the queen said firmly. “I trust him with my life daily at my right side. This much should be no struggle. Correct, Eakco?”

I nod softly. “Yes, My Queen.” It is a struggle, as it is every day, to call her this. I wish to call her far more than My Queen – But, because of my rank, I cannot. I am to be her servant. And she is to be my queen.

How I curse my rank at times like these.

“My Queen, a mere captain of the guard would be no match for a Canterlot alicorn!”

She stands. I keep my gaze forward, but rejoice as she comes into my sights fully. Her face is in wrath, but her beauty still shines for me. “He is my champion! He will be defense enough! He can infiltrate Canterlot easily.”

The member nods, bowing. “Pardon me any disrespects, My Queen. I meant no harm from my comment.”

“Then I suggest you leave my throne room now. Your queen wishes to retire.”

“As you wish, My Queen.”

The meeting is over. I still stand at duty, silent as a stone. I cannot speak. I cannot move. But I can think. Long ago, I learned how to keep my thoughts private from the hive – mind. Otherwise, the whole hive would learn my secret.

Our secret.

Why she trusts me so much. The pain and pressure of royalty was never enough to wipe her memories of our friendship. We were close, once. Warm. It was a strange closeness – I felt strange whenever I talked with her. Like I was full, despite the shortage of food the hive had run into then.

Yet we were changelings separated by fate. She was royalty, and I was a mere changeling worker. We were torn apart. But I had longed for that warmth again, still unknowing of what it truly was. I worked myself to the bone, and rose in status. I rose further than I ever thought possible. Became her right hoof stallion, the captain of her guard. I would protect her, always... I still longed for that warmth.

But we could not show our friendship - Our warmth. To do so would be a weakness – Something our foes could exploit. And so I kept my feelings distant. As I look into her eyes daily, I see no warmth, and believe she has forgotten. But I shall never forget, even if she has. I will always protect her and her warmth.

“Eakco.” I stand at attention as she says my name. “I assume you are ready to be deployed at once?”

“Yes, My Queen. Anything you wish of me.”

“… Why do you protect me so well, Eakco?”

I keep my face stoic. This is a test. I know it is. “Because, My Queen…” I bow to my knees, hanging my head low. “You are My Queen. I am your servant. Even if all of Equestria should become your enemy, I will protect you. That is my duty as your servant and captain.”

It is more than that. I will protect her so she can smile. So she can laugh. So she is safe. So her warmth is safe. It is my duty, not as a servant, but as a... friend.

“Rise, captain.” I do as she wishes, as I always have done. Looking into her olive eyes, I see a spark of remembrance. She remembers the toys. The playing. The running. The frivolousness of our childhood together, before we were separated. She remembers it all. I can feel the warmth of it all rise from her – Somehow, I begin to feel filled as I once had. Almost as though I am eating the love of two ponies, yet impossible, I know. Changelings cannot produce love – They can only feed off of it. Given enough of it, we can reproduce. We can thrive. Thus, I cannot love My Queen.

I can only serve her.

“I admire your sense of duty,” she says, the warmth from her tone gone. She speaks coldly now, causing me to resist a shiver as I feel her words wash over me. “Leave as soon as you are able.”

“Yes, My Queen.” My expression has not changed once, but my feelings have. I feel only the cold radiating off of her now. Nothing else.

She leaves, 2 guards following her. I glance at them, realizing the two were trained by me. I sigh in thanks at my luck – I know she will be safe while I am gone.

I begin to walk, thinking to myself. These plans for war unease me. I never thought fighting was a good thing – It felt counterproductive to finding love. It felt… evil. But I keep in mind what I tell myself each day. I shall do anything to keep her safe. “I’m willing to become evil,” I say softly to myself, “only so that she is safe.”

I walk into my room and don my disguise after discarding my traditional armor. It’s not much of a disguise– but, then again, what more does a changeling truly need, besides their nature? A simple scarf and air goggles completes the entire disguise. In a burst of green light, I change.

I smile to myself. It is time for me to go, now. I know that as I leave, I bring with me something not many changelings have since the food supply began to run low. With me is Hope. With me is that burning ember that things will turn out alright in the end.

So long as she is safe… then what happens no longer matters. For she is My Queen… and I will protect her.

That is my duty as her captain.

Author's Notes:

First chapter - Some of these are going to be really short, some really long. However I feel.

This one's a shorter one, guys.

Edited by DrakeFang.

My Duty As Changeling (Part One)

My name in Canterlot is much different, and over these 2 months, I’ve grown used to it. Echo Craft. Sailing is a passion of mine, and I study something called Echolocation at Canterlot University. It’s useful, seeing as I can disguise my hive mind as hearing buzzing in my mind from all the echoes.

I have to admit to myself… I prefer Canterlot to the Hive. My home is dark and brooding, and Canterlot is so full of love and happiness. I feel full of warmth here, but it isn’t the same warmth I feel from My Queen. She is a fire in my blood – This warmth is simply filling.

This is the love of strangers to me. This is ponies who do not know me whom I steal from. The warmth is obtained without warmth, and thus will never be fully filling. The strange thing is, it is all I have. A Changeling cannot love, and so we can only reach this half-warmth. So close, yet so far from what I felt with My Queen.

In Canterlot, I had much time to think. I enjoyed to walk around the parks near the castle – It was all open to the public. I was never allowed this close to the castle at my home, before I was captain. The castle was kept private from the public. Here, everypony is allowed to wander near the castle, and even on occasion inside the castle.

The… openness of Equestria startled me at first. Ponies greeted me on the streets, even if they just said hello. They smiled at me - rather, him. I knew they would never approve of me if they knew what I truly was. They will only ever love him. But this façade I was living, this lie… I found myself enjoying it thoroughly.

Wandering the parks as I always had around noon for the past 2 months, my mind wandered to what it always did. My Queen. My… friend. How I would do anything for her. How I built myself up in status to be by her side, always. How, even if these kind ponies around me turned against her, I would be by her side – I would turn against them.

As I walked in the parks, there came a small burst of bright laughter above me. I looked up to see two ponies sitting on a balcony. They were both laughing. Looking at them, I felt more full than walking around Canterlot normally. I knew the two must be a couple.

The male was uninteresting, but for his armor. I knew what the symbols on his armor meant – Strangely enough, their symbols matched ours. He was the captain of his guard as well. Despite this in common, I couldn’t care less about him. He was just another pony in the city.

The mare beside him, however… She was an Alicorn. Her wings were fluffy, and her stance was easy-going. Her eyes shone purple, almost like little purple stars. Her mane swirled around her beautifully, and her cutie mark – A strange thing that ponies had that displayed their talents to the world – was that of a heart.

I felt a blush rise to my face. This… mare… Her talent was obvious – An Alicorn of… Love. My heart filled with warmth – The same warmth as my Queen. I nearly collapsed, feeling myself almost in a content blaze of fire. I felt tears begin to rise to my eyes as I gazed at the alicorn in all her glory.

This was it. This is what my Hive is missing. I was in love – Not the way these foals think of it. I was surrounded by it, wallowing in it. This was true food, food for the gods – And something more. It was…

It was confusing and blissful and horribly wonderful all at the same time. I was scared, more scared than I had ever been in my life – I was terrified it would leave me the instant I turned away. I wanted to keep it, to hold that mare in my arms – I was IN love.

A Changeling’s hearing is far better than a normal pony’s. I heard the alicorn laugh, a bright chiming sound that made my heart skip a beat. “Shiny,” she said with a giggle. “You can stop joking around now. I really want to know, why are there so many guards?”

“I only care about protecting my fiancée,” the stallion said.

I expected the warmth in me to dim somewhat as he said that – That’s what ponies here call ‘a broken heart’. But, unexpectedly, the love only grew. I realized, this warmth came from HER love – She was truly in love with this stallion.

True Love. A fable. A myth. It was a tale for foals, for little changelings who had done good. They learned of the mythical ‘True Love’, that love that never ends, even in death. That love that keeps growing and growing until you’re so full, you never need anypony elses love but theirs. Theirs is enough.

The concept was almost foreign – And I was feeling it first hoof. I felt like collapsing in happiness.

“You see,” the stallion was saying, though I could barely process his words, “there’s been reports of… Creatures on the edge of Equestria stirring. Changelings.”

My ears perked up a bit at the mention of my race. “Changelings?” My heart fluttered as I heard her speak once more. “Do you think…”

“You are a Princess of Love, Cadance. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Aw, Shiny…” I avert my eyes as they kiss, giving the two a bit of privacy. My ears, however, still pick up what they say. “I can’t wait for the wedding, Shiny.”

“Me neither. It’s only a month, Candy.”

Another giggle. “Shiny, what did I tell you about that nickname?”

“You didn’t seem to mind it when I told you you tasted sweet.”

“SHINY!”

“It had only been a little nibble on your ear~”

“S-shiny, come on, stop teasing me like that.” She sounded angry, but her love for him was betrayed in her voice.

“Well, what else should I call you? Maybe ‘Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’,” he said with a bow. They both laughed and trotted inside.

I shook my head slightly, trying to pull my mind out of the fog it had been in. That was… indescribable. I had never felt such strong love from any other pony before. Nopony in all of Equestria could feel that, that indescribableness, unless they were a changeling.

I suddenly felt pride in my race, for the first time since I had come to Equestria. We were the only beings who could feel such emotion, such passion – I felt alive. My mind was buzzing as I ducked into an alleyway, almost laughing from the euphoria in my veins. I could only blame the Princess.

The buzzing got louder, however. I suddenly realized that it was time to check in – That’s why I walked into the alley.

I realized I had to report back to My Queen. I had to tell her about… about her.

I was… selfish, I realized. For an instant, only one, I wanted to keep the Princess a secret. I didn’t want anypony else to have her. I didn’t want some changeling coming along and stealing her beautiful love.

But then I thought of My Queen. I thought of my starving race, and I bowed my head. I must serve my kind – That thought had been ingrained into my very being. Without my kind, I am nothing. I had to report. It was my Duty as a Changeling.

So I sighed and nodded. Shutting my eyes, I opened my mind to the hive. Eakco, reporting from Canterlot…

Author's Notes:

Edited by DrakeFang

2 or 3 chapters left, if I planned this out right. It's a short one. ^^ I hope you all are enjoying it.

My Duty As Changeling (Part Two)

Eakco, reporting from Canterlot.

Eakco. I cannot resist a small smile as I hear My Queen’s voice. What have you to report, my captain?

‘My Captain’. The closest to a term of endearment I think I shall ever get. All is going well in Canterlot, My Queen, and I have valuable information. Living in Canterlot castle is an Alicorn of love.

Love, you say? There was a small pause. Go on~

Her full name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. She goes by Cadence, here. She is to be married soon, a month from now. She’s… My Queen, I think it is True Love.

He heard a silence suddenly. An aching, deafening silence. Then, softly, her voice. True love, you say? Another pause. She takes my silence as affirmation. Very well then… I know what we must do.

What are my orders, My Queen?

Imprison the Alicorn. My eyes widen, almost as though I had been told to kill My Queen herself. There are caverns beneath Canterlot, you said. Lead her there anyway you can. Knock her out and imprison her there.

What purpose will this serve, My Queen? My thoughts cannot properly convey my emotions. Sadness. Agony at the thought of having to harm that beautiful, innocent, lovely mare. She was so kind, so wonderful – And to My Queen, my kind, she was just another tool in our path to victory.

I will come to Canterlot through the caves. I gasped slightly. Her form will become mine. In a month’s time, I shall have that stallion of hers wrapped around my hoof – Truly, his ‘true love’ shall become his weakness. The day of the wedding, my army will be both inside and outside the gates. We will strike as soon as I have my ‘prince’.

Tears are falling freely from my eyes. She is to marry this pony. To feign love for him.

She has broken my heart.

Yes, My Queen. I will do as you command.

Good, My Captain. I shall see you tomorrow.

Unable to bear the buzzing anymore, I break the connection. I wipe away my tears, sighing. I knew just how to deceive the Alicorn, too. That’s the terrible part. Her kindness is to be her downfall. I lift my head, pushing up the goggles I always wear in this form. Goggles and my scarf. All just a disguise, a costume.

This is all I am to myself in this form. I’m a costume. I’m nothing here, just a fake. They don’t know this, however. They don’t know what I truly am, what’s beneath this skin I pretend is my own. They don’t know the beast behind the façade, how I’ve been deceiving everypony I pass on the streets.

I feel hideous, sickened with myself. But I nod and turn towards the castle. It is my duty to my race to imprison this mare of love. My kind need food – We are starving to death. We need love to survive – Even if these innocent ponies must suffer for it.

“She was going that way…”

I quickly gallop to where the Princess of Love is now eating lunch, alone. Her captain must have had business elsewhere. I am lucky – She is just about to stand when I call out for her. “P-Please, Princess!”

She spins quickly, her lovely mane spinning with her. Her eyes flood with concern and her guards quickly stand. “It’s alright. What’s wrong?”

I wince internally. Her kindness truly is her downfall. “P-Please, Princess, i-it’s my mother. S-she’s always been weakhearted, she followed my brother into the caverns-“

“Caverns?!” She quickly rushes to my side. Again, I instantly feel love well up inside me. I try to ignore it, but she simply overpowers me. I feel tears coming to my eyes – She mistakes my tears as concern for my family, whereas I know it is my own aching heart as I tear myself from her gaze. “Quickly, take me to her.” She turned to the guards. “I might be gone awhile. Please, tell Shining Armor where I’ve gone, and I don’t know how long I’ll be.”

The guards leave, albeit uncertainly. They do not wish to leave their Princesses side. I can understand how they feel – I would never want such a mare to be hurt. But instead, I must be the one to hurt her – To damage her heart. I quickly wipe away tears, a determined look on my face, hiding my tears inside. “Please, we must hurry.” As quick as I can, I run ahead.

I lead her down into the caverns, a well known route by me now. The Princesses were all made aware of said caverns – After all, enemies could come in under there. I had the feeling this Princess of Love had used it with Shining Armor for quite a different reason, seeing how private they were. I shook away such thoughts, focusing on the task at hoof.

I led her deep into the caves. She followed me blindly, but I could see the starts of concern in her eyes. Still, she wanted to help me find my poor mother and brother. “Are we close to them, do you think?”

I see an outcropping of crystal. She could be hidden there for days, with only one exit. She was so lost now, so deep in the trap, she would never be able to escape alone. “Actually, I think I see them,” I say, my voice betraying false happiness, relief.

“Where?” She trots into the little space, like a lemming to water for the sacrifice. I come up behind her, and I think she realizes now that this is a trap.

“I’m sorry, Princess.” I feel tears rolling down my face as I change form.

She turns – And, to my surprise, she does not recoil. Her eyes fill at first with confusion – Then with sorrow. Then with pain. But not once with anger – Never without love. “Are you a Changeling,” she asks me softly. All I can do is not, trying not to seem weak before her – Somehow that felt important, despite the tears betraying my failings. She stands, tall and proud. “Have you come to kill me?”

My heart skips a beat. She stands so determinedly – But I can see how she trembles. She knows she is trapped. “I… I could never kill you,” I whisper, breaking down. I feel more and more tears streaming down my face, feel myself turning into a sobbing mess. I shut my eyes, wishing beyond hope I did not have to do my duty – That I was not a Changeling, a monster, using ponies I felt such love from like this.

Not using ponies I… I loved like this.

I gasp as I feel a hoof on my shoulder. It is not a threatening hoof – It is a gentle touch, reassuring and calming. I look up at the Princess Cadence, and her eyes are filled with sympathy. She utters only two short, simple words.

“I’m sorry.”

I stand, feeling my tears beginning to dry. “No… I am.” I take a deep breath. “You are our prisoner, Princess… As much as I hate to… to hurt you like this… I must imprison you.”

“I can’t allow-“

I push her against the wall, my scarf coming undone. In one swift movement, it’s wrapped around her neck. I begin to suffocate her, my tears returning. She gasps, her eyes wide as she struggles to regain breath. Again and again, I simply whisper “I’m sorry” to her, wishing again and again that I did not have to do this for Queen and Kind.

She eventually goes limp in my hooves. I hold her gently, cradling her love, her beauty. I wrap my scarf around myself gently, using it to dry my tears. I rest her against the floor softly, pretending she is only asleep – I did not just suffocate her until she passed out. She would come to- She would wake up shortly.

I move away, and as a final touch, my horn glows. I see the ever familiar green – slime us changelings use grow around her hooves. I know she can melt it, but it will take time. I grow a wall, then, to block her exit. It is made of changeling slime, again, but it blends in – It matches the crystals around us.

I sigh, taking up my disguise once more – My costume. I wipe away my tears harshly, my heart feeling cold. I just injured love – Took her and strangled her and tricked her and lied to her. My heart feels as though it may never know love again…

And, suddenly, My Queen comes to mind. I don’t know why – It makes no logical sense. But I think of her – What I’ve done for her in the past, and what I still do for her. I feel… strange, as I think of her. Cold and warm and light-headed, but the most solid on my hooves I have felt in a long time.

I realize, finally – THIS is love. Not love I steal from a Princess – It is similar, yes, but it is mine. It is not this costume I wear, something to deceive or feign the act of love. It is true. It is pure. I am a Changeling and I feel love.

I realize my duty now, to My Queen and as a Changeling. It is my duty, not to weep over the loss of false love, stolen from a pony who does not think twice about how she pours it out – It is my duty to share what love I can, what love I can produce and use to feed.

I shut my eyes softly. Eakco, reporting. It is done, My Queen.

Author's Notes:

Didn't feel like really editing it. I don't think it's too bad, so yeah. Also, it's nearly 1 and I'm wide awake, so yay. =n=;

My Duty As Queen

Chaos. Absolute chaos. I should’ve known what would be our undoing – Love. That true love had ruined all our plans. Blew us back, our saving grace becoming the cause for our defeat. I soared through the air in pain… But I saw My Queen. She was crying as we were blown away, I could tell. Not from any pain this defeat caused – But because her people were starving, and this was her final hope. Her hope had been shattered, much like I had thought my love had been when she was to marry the Prince Armor.

Disoriented, I reached out for My Queen. I grabbed her. She was confused as she felt herself brought into a warm embrace. I held on tightly and screeched in pain as we made contact with a wall – We were not blown back so far as the Bad Lands. We were still inside Canterlot.

My Queen was safe – I had protected her from further harm by holding her as I had. She realizes this, and I think the blush staining her cheeks is simply a trick of light. I try and stand, but find myself unsteady on my hooves – The collision caused more damage than I thought. I glance at her. “Are you alright?”

“Y-Yes, Captain.”

“Good.” ‘Captain’ once more. I turn, looking out among the crowds from behind the wall. This hiding place will not last long – Guards are running around checking ID’s. I have a fake one, plus my disguise – But My Queen was not prepared. She did not think the plan would fail. “Soon we’ll be caught,” I whisper to her.

I hear a soft sob behind me. I turn to see My Queen, tears rolling down her face. She looks miserable – A wreak of a Changeling. Without a word, I embrace her again – I am protecting her still. Only, this time, not from a collision of any kind. I am protecting her from the pain around her, the pain of her failure. “Shh…” She cries in my hooves, uncaring for status now. Status means nothing to us now.

All of this chaos. All of this is because of what I am, what they see on the surface. None of them realize that the pony I was disguised as was the true me. The Changeling is the disguise – I have and always will be closer to a pony than a Changeling.

But they would never agree.

“How is this what we deserve,” I say softly in anger, but soothingly to My Queen, the mare I have loved and will always love. “Just because we are starving? Because we are misfortunate? They have not taken the time to know us, to know what we can do… We can do all they can.”

My face turns grim as I let her go. She looks at me and I cannot help but smile, even softly. She is too stubborn. She will never admit she loves me back. I couldn’t kid myself. I would live out the rest of my life, separated from the mare I loved with all my heart by fate. I would see her forever through a veil of aloofness, my heart aching to be more than just ‘her Captain’.

Worst of all, she might die here. She might be executed for her crimes.

My decision is a quick one, but a pure one. I would never regret it. “If this is what we deserve,” I say, speaking not only of how we are hunted, but how we are separated, “then I shall take it upon myself to defy it.”

My Queen is still crying, softly. “My Queen.” She does not respond in her sorrow. My heart aches at what is to become of her – But I know she will be safe. “… Chrysalis.” Her head snaps up, her eyes wide. Nopony is allowed to call her by name – It is considered rude. As for me… I taste the sweetness of her name one last time. “Chrysalis… Take these.”

She looks bewildered as I hand her my scarf and goggles. Out of a small, sewn in pocket of my scarf falls an ID card. She picks it up. “I lend you my disguise.” She starts to speak, but I hold my hoof to her lips. She looks surprised, but keeps her hold on my things. “Put them on and change form.”

She stares for a moment before nodding. She slips on the disguise, but does not change form. “What of you, Captain?”

“It will be alright,” I say softly. I shut my eyes as I change form, and I hear her gasp. I look at her as a mirror now, smiling. Her eyes reflect back the image of herself, but a smiling form. “We’re Changelings… Nopony will be able to notice the difference.”

She begins to protest, but I lean forward. She gasps slightly as I kiss her. It feels… strange. New. I close my eyes softly, savoring the first kiss – as far as I know – of Changeling kind. We have never ‘been in’ love, and thus have never felt the need for true kisses. Their loss.

I savor it, then leave her stunned. “Now change.”

She is too startled by the kiss to realize as she shifts forms to my pony identity. I hug her – Rather, myself – tightly, whispering. “I know you can be a good queen.”

Without another word, I ran.

I shut my eyes tightly, refusing to hear My Queen cry out for me. I feel tears rolling down my face as I charge straight into Canterlot. Her cry is soon drowned out by the shouts and yells of guards as they hear me. I remember my vow in the Caverns to spread love to my queen for all Changelings to feed on. I now realize what that meant to me. What my duty is now.

My duty now is of Queen. I am the Queen, and I must protect my race in the only way I can – By sacrificing myself for their survival, so they can continue to feed on whatever they can find. If Chrysalis dies, then the main source of Love and power in the Bad Lands would disappear. My race would perish. I could not let that happen – Not to her, and not to them.

I run, my tears cold on my face. The guards are following me, allowing… allowing ‘Eacko’ to escape. Allowing Chrysalis to escape. I cannot help but smile – These ponies are foals. They can’t tell us apart – That is their main failing. All they see is another Changeling, and a Changeling Queen, when it is not that at all. If only they could see what we truly where – A race, dying and in need of the truth. In need of the lessons these ponies all value; Love and friendship are the only things that can save us now.

I stop before Princess Luna and Prince Shining Armor. They appeared in a flash before me, without me realizing it. I still smile, though they do as well. They believe they have won – They have defeated the queen.

In the madness of the crowd, I see My Queen, fully disguised, watching me. Her eyes are filled with fear, but something else – Something that makes me smile brighter as I see it. She feels it from me, now. Her warmth. My warmth. Our warmth.

Our Love.

“Halt, Chrysalis,” Shining Armor says. I stop as he commands, grinning. Guards surround me. The crowd is pushed away. I smile as I am restrained, my thoughts only on her.

I am the Queen, I think as they push me to the ground, forcing me into cuffs and casting defenses on me. You are the Fugitive. We’re both sad Changelings, and we are always going to be separated by fate. They called you evil, but you’re not… If they have to call you evil…

“If you have to call us evil,” I shout, My Queen’s voice all I hear. “Then all my race is, for that is all we are – A race, trying to survive!”

“Quiet, Changeling scum!” A hoof comes down to my face. I gasp in pain, but still I grin. I grin, even as they beat me and hurt me – For I am Queen, and they cannot harm my love. They will NEVER harm the Love I now give to my subjects through the true Queen, My Chrysalis.

I have done my duty as Queen.

Author's Notes:

Sadness is coming.
Brace yourselves.

My Duty In Death

Dong. Dong. Dong.

Canterlot bells rang that day. I had grown used to them in the time I spent there. They became part of my daily life, simply a reminder of the time. It was nothing special – But today those chimes meant something more. They meant I had served my time. I had fulfilled my purpose.

Today is the day that I die.

The rope around my waist was anything but comfortable. It was in place to restrain me. Spells were cast on me so as to block my magic. I had to think to myself what a wonder my race was – Despite spells to control my magic, I retained my disguise. Changeling ‘magic’ is not magic at all. It is our way of life – These costumes are a part of us.

“Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings, Ruler of the Bad Lands,” the voice above said. Her voice was powerful, yet had some signs of kindness in them. She was soft, yet strong. I glance up to see Princess Celestia, the princess my Queen fought against. She looked sickly around the edges, but had otherwise recovered.

“You have committed acts of treason to Equestria, and have harmed my subjects. This is a crime I cannot allow, and you must be punished.” Celestia looked down at the queen. “Yet, this form of punishment is one I wish to avoid with all my heart. You have requested beheading, despite my offers of sanctuary in Canterlot prisons. Please, I ask you, reconsider this action.”

I look straight up to Celestia. She is regal, yet kind. She is not feared by her people – She is loved. It is a bizarre concept to me. Yet, I can understand love for your ruler. I have had it all my life, after all. A different kind of love. A personal warmth that fills my heart as I think of her, safe, able to feed my race at least another decade with what we can find. Without me, she would be the one standing here.

And I have no doubt how she would respond to the princess.

“If it’s all the same to you, Celestia,” I say, looking her straight in the eyes as I do, “I would never belittle myself to being trapped in your dungeons like a meager prisoner. You captured me, and I shall die by your hoof. It is as it has always been for my kind, and you would make a grave mistake to keep me locked away like a trophy.”

“Please, Chrysalis, we can negotia-“

“I wish not for petty negotiations. The Changeling empire will live long without me – For I know we can withstand the might of the Equestrian empire. We can stand strong on what remains.”

Celestia watched one moment longer. There was only silence in the square as the few ponies gathered to watch waited to see what would happen. I kept my gaze on the Princess. On my face was a small, half noticed smile. Celestia nodded softly, defeatedly. She detested this sort of thing, I could tell.

“Very well, Chrysalis. You have chosen your demise. But at your own hoof be it.” She turned her back. I have the faint idea that she does not enjoy death, even of her enemies. I find that strange, yet fitting for the pony race.

The ropes feel tighter now – Perhaps it’s simply my imagination. The royal guard walks up next to me, and I can sense beneath his skin disgust. I cannot tell if it is centered on me, or on the act he is about to commit.

It does not matter in the end, I suppose. We all die some day.

I close my eyes, sighing softly. I smile as I remember My Queen. My love. My Chrysalis. She can still warm my heart, even now on the execution block. I am full of love as I know I have saved her life, and furthermore, how she brightened mine. Nothing can change that – Not even death.

I hear the guard raise his scythe. I open my eyes once more, watching the crowd. Some are disgusted, ready to leave already. Some look grimly happy to see the Changeling scum die. But only one, I see, is crying at my imminent demise. A grey stallion, with goggles and a scarf has decided to watch. She decided to stay until the end.

Till death do us part. That’s the saying, right?

I smile. She came to say goodbye. I close my eyes, feeling tears of joy rolling down my face. The scythe comes down, and I can hear the whistle of the air as it decends.

“Goodbye, my lo-“

Slash.

Joyous tears linger on the execution block as regretful, sorrowful, bitter tears fall from the true queen’s eyes.

The job is done. The ponies leave. The body is cleared away with the blood. The true queen simply stands, sobbing at the block, knowing it was her place. She should have been the one to die. He should still be alive.

What she would only give to have him back.

“Goodbye,” she whispered to herself. “Goodbye, my… my love.”

Epilogue

Once upon a time, in a land far far away, there was a gloomy and destitute kingdom. It was the kingdom of the changelings, a race that fed on what others cherished. But that did not mean they did not cherish it – They simply needed it for survival, and could run out of it. And, in time, they did run out. They began to starve.

That is when their ways were lost. That is when we lost our ability to make love – It was when we became greedy and needy for more. In our search for more and more love, we lost what we once had. What we could obtain again, if only someone would try.

And somepony did.

His name was Eacko. And I loved him.

My name is Chrysalis. I am the Queen of the Changelings.

The Changelings thrive now. They thrive upon knowing they can feed themselves, they can love. I showed them this upon my return from Canterlot. They learned, in time, to love one another. But I learned that love comes with pain – The pain of loss of the one you truly love.

Eacko allowed himself to die in my place, so that I could save my race… So that I could be Queen, so that he would never have to see me die… But, oh, how I miss him. Even as I write this letter, I think of him.

And why do I write this letter, the reader might ask, whomever you may be?

Simple. I am dying.

I have n’er admitted my love till now. For, if I had, it could be used as a weakness. Ties with Pony kind have been strengthening, but one false move and they may attack. I wish they would not, for they remind me of my love. Their simple ways, their kindness…

I write this letter with faltering breath, but I must say this – If not for Eacko, I would not be queen. Even as he saved me from certain death, I had felt he condemned me. I had learned of love, and now would never have it in my grasp. I could n’er love again, not with him having stolen my heart away.

I remember staring at my crown, tears filling my eyes. I remember raising my hoof to throw it, thinking of all the pain it had caused. My race had been starving. My love died because of the crown. I could never rule, with my loves blood on my hooves.

I know you can be a good queen.

Those words saved my kingdom. Even beyond the grave, he reached out to me. His words echoed in my ears. He knew who I was, had spent every waking moment of his life thinking of me and what we could truly be. Who would know better than he?

I know you can be a good queen.

I held the crown, crying – But I held it nonetheless.

And now, that crown slips from my hooves to the next in line… I must say, I am relieved. It grew heavy as time went on – Isn’t that how it always works with crowns? Perhaps Celestia would know…

My love… I take my final breaths writing to you. You will never read this letter, for you are gone… But I wish… I hope…

As I lie, dying… I hope to see you again… simply to say...

Hello, my love.

-Chrysalis, his queen.

Author's Notes:

The end of a lovely, yet short tale. No edits on this one, I just couldn't wait to finish it. :) Enjoy it, everyone who stuck around.