I turned around and tried to seem enticed by her offer, but the look in her eyes...was that what I thought it was? Hopefully not. "T-together?" I asked, trying to seem excited and interested. "Yes, Rainbow Dash. We shall both rule this nation!" she replied, her voice rising with triumph and pride. I gave a dark smile in return. "Then why are we wasting time? First to the throne room of Celestia gets the bigger throne!" I gave a competative smirk and took off, Chrysalis following closely behind. Hopefully I could figure something out between now and when I got to the castle. Thoughts reeled through my head, clouding my perception of reality, until I nearly ran into a building. Had it not been for Chrysalis's shout, I would've become a rainbow-colored stain on the side of a brick house. We continued onward, my stomach lurching at the thought of what might happen. As we passed over Caterlot, I could hear the panicked voices of the mares and stallions below. I looked down to see several flying, black, insect-like ponies; changlings. They were wrapping up all the ponies in cacoons made of a gooey, bright green substance. I kept flying, trying to block out the crying and the screaming. "Aren't those screams just music to your ears, Rainbow Dash?" Chrysalis asked. "Yeah, music," I replied. As we neared the palace, I could see Princess Celestia and Princess Luna trying to fight off the changelings. Maybe they could defeat Chrysalis. Celestia hadn't been able to on her own, but with she and Luna working together, certainly they could pull it off! That, and the fact that Chrysalis had not been feeding off love, as far as I knew. I looked back at Chrysalis, who was smiling evily. My wings were starting to ache, but the adrenaline in my viens was pumping. I sped up, hoping to at least warn Celestia and Luna. But, just as I was mere yards away, it happened. All at once, every changeling within at least 50 feet, including Chrysalis, shot magic from their horns at the princesses. It was too much for them to handle. I knew I had to help, but I didn't know what to do. So, I did the only thing I could think of to stop it; I redirected the changelings's magic by flying into it. As soon as I hit the beam of bright green magic, I felt a burning sensation and everything went black.

---

I woke up in a beautiful canopied bed. Every part of my body ached and hurt. I couldn't even lift my head to see if I was wearing any casts or anything like that. "Uhhhhh..." I moaned in both pain and tiredness. I tried to roll over and get more comfortable, but everything hurt too much. I heard the door open, and the sound of hooves on the floor. "I see you are awake." said an emotionless, monotone voice. "Your presence is requested." I looked to see a gray stallion in golden, royal armor. Had I saved the princesses when I flew into the beam? Apparently I had. I tried my best to get up, but couldn't because of all the pain. "I see you have not yet healed. Allow me, miss." he told me, his voice still flat; devoid of all emotion. I felt the magic he used touch me, and a tingling sensation spread throughout me. After mere moments, it had come and gone. I felt no more pain, so it was obvious he had casted a healing spell. "Let us go, now." I got up and examined my wounds as I walked down the hallway. Gauze was wrapped around my legs here and there, but I saw no dried blood, and I guessed that whatever injuries the guaze had covered were gone. When I walked into the place room I saw Princess Celestia sitting in her throne, but Luna was nowhere to be seen. I shrugged it off. "Hello Rainbow Dash. How are you feeling? Did the guard heal your wounds?" the princess asked kindly. I nodded. "Yes, Princess Celestia." I replied respectfully, bowing. "Oh, no need to bow. You are royalty as well. Come, sit on your throne." she told me, gesturing to the throne next to her. I noticed that it looked no longer looked like Luna's throne; it was gold, with red on the cushion-y part, and a rainbow-colored lightning bolt on the crest and hoof-rests. I stood there, my mouth wide open. Last I checked, I wasn't a royal. "But Luna's throne is suppose to be there. And since when am I royalty?" I ask, walking forewards, and sitting in the throne. It felt quite comfortable, and I really didn't want to get up from it. "Oh, I'm still in this silly disguise, aren't I?" I stared at the princess for a moment before I saw her eyes flash green. She erupted in green flames, which disappeared and left Chrysalis in her place. I stared at her incredulously. "Oh, Rainbow, you didn't think that would stop my changelings and I from defeating your princess, did you?" she motioned for me to follow her. I did, and she led me to a large window. Outside, the streets were quiet and empty. Hanging from the side of buildings and the eaves of roofs, were bright green, gooey cacoons, each one holding at least one pony. "And of coarse, there are the princesses I mentioned a moment ago," she said, placing a hoof under my chin and turning my head towards the ceiling. Hanging from the ceiling were two large cacoons, and I knew who was inside. I turned to Chrysalis. "How could you?" I asked her. "My, my, have you already forgotten; you had a hoof in this too, my dear." she answered. "But you tricked me!" I protested. She rolled her eyes. "How else was I suppose to get both of the things I wanted?" I looked at her for a moment. "Both of the things you wanted? But, you only want the throne of Celestia. And you have it now." I told her. "Ah, but there's one more thing I want. But it seems I won't get it as easily as I thought. Until then, bye-bye, Dashie." she answered. I raised an eyebrow, both confused and alarmed. Then everything went black again.

---

I woke up once more. But this time, my sleeping arrangements weren't quite as accomodating; I was in a cell in the dungeon. I was laying on the cold, hard stone floor, in pain again. But not just because of my physical wounds. I was also wounded emotionally. Chrysalis had won, all the ponies would soon be her slaves, she was ruler of Equestria; it was all over. And all because of me.