THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: 10

The coursing winds of the Badlands only caused irritation to the mysterious mare whom actually attempted to trek through this vast desert. It was idiotic to say the least; seeing as she was alone with nopony to assist her. However the pony appeared to wear a cowl and a cloak in order to shield herself from the harsh winds as she carried something in particular in her hooves. It was a tiny little object also covered up in a sheet, and the mysterious mare glanced down at the object with her face shadowed by her cowl before hurrying on towards a particular rock pillar. She lowered the tiny object gently against the exterior of the rocky pillar before uncovering its face, revealing a tiny purple alicorn foal. The cloaked pony was revealed to be baring a frown as she regarded the sleeping foal.

The sleeping foal blinked a bit soon waking up from beneath its makeshift wrapping and then glanced up at the cloaked pony. It smiled widely at the pony before reaching out to her happily. "Momma! Momma! Momma!"

The cloaked pony gasped before shaking her head hurriedly yet nervously. She raised a hoof almost in the form of a gesture to tell the foal that she was incorrect. "N-No! No no no! Not momma. L-Listen, I'm sorry about all this trouble but you can't think like that about me. Nopony can ever find out I'm the one who created you."

The foal blinked at the pony not understanding one word she was saying.

The cloaked pony lowered her frame; covering the foal up further in her wrapping. "There are often caravans that pass through this area, I'll put a magical barrier around you to protect you from the harsh winds." The pony then glanced up before whining heavily and just sighing afterwords. "Oooooh; how did I mess this all up? I should've been more careful, should've made sure I knew all of the possible results! But now I've got you, an actual living breathing alicorn here. I never would've imagined things could've gotten this bad. Please. Try to live a normal life and DON'T go boasting about being an alicorn if you can in the future."

The baby alicorn's nose was scrunched up as it looked absolutely lost with a raised brow. It then smiled happily and closed its eyes before reaching out for the mare yet again, "Momma! Momma! Momma!"

The cloaked pony groaned heavily before pleading desperately. "N-No! PLEASE! I'm not your-....UGH...okay well technically I am. Fine fine fine! I guess you're too young to see me as anything else; I guess it's only logical." She began pacing back and forth in the sand repeatedly as if questioning what she should do about this situation, panicking in a sense. She then glanced back at the filly with wide paranoid eyes. What she eyed in particular was the fact the alicorn had already grown a thick mane. She gulped. "Are you serious? Obviously there's something off with the aging." She stomped her hooves angrily. "Ugh! Just how much worse can this situation get!? I...I didn't mean to do this. I just wanted to see how capable the magic was; I didn't expect to actually achieve something like this. This is why you shouldn't mess with forbidden magic schools! Ugh!"

The mare paused before placing a hoof over her face. "No no no you can't just sit here and constantly recite your mistakes again and again. You have to make the best of what you've done." She then made her way back over to the alicorn before covering her back up and sighing. "As I said, I'm sorry about this little one. You're probably going to be asked a lot of questions about your origins. You probably won't know how to answer them, and maybe you'll even be forced to be presented before me again someday. But stay strong, despite what you are, everypony's special. I know you'll find a good pony family, Equestria is an amazing place. And erhm; g-goodluck."

The filly then pushed off the sheet covering her face and half her torso as she reached back out for the mare with teary eyes. "Momma! Momma! Momma! Momma!" The baby alicorn was desperate in her attempts as she reached for the mare.

The cloaked mare backed away shaking her head. "N-No. As I said; I'm sorry but I'm not your mom. I-I'm not ready to be a mother yet. I don't know anything about raising a filly on my own. I'm sorry." She cast a spell on the filly as it put a glowing barrier around her as the mare then turned away swiftly before lowering her head guiltily and trotting off. "I'm sorry!...."

The filly then burst into tears; crying as the mysterious mare disappeared into the distant desert.

However watching the whole scenario unravel from afar would be another figure hidden atop the peak of a rocky ledge. It was none other than a looming changeling performing obvious recon for the hive. Its clear blue eyes locked onto both the departing mare whom soon summoned a portal ensuring her quick and easy escape; then over to the unguarded object near the dirt road. The wrapped baby creature who still whined and cried out to the already departed mare who'd left her there. This piqued the little black changeling's interest immensely as it didn't hesitate to flutter down towards the object with its insect like wings. As it touched upon the rocky surface, it trotted slowly over towards the foal from afar, closing the distance between them in a matter of seconds. It just eyed the little creature for some time in curiosity before tilting its head to the right. "Hm?"

The baby continued to cry immensely as it just wailed and wailed.

But the changeling's eyes only widened as it saw that the filly possessed a horn. But it wasn't that which astonished it the most, it was the fact it could also make out the shape of tiny fluttering wings from beneath the wrapping. This creature wasn't any ordinary foal; it was most definitely an alicorn! The changeling was at a loss for words and the steady rise in his excitement only became more apparent the longer he stood there trembling. An actual alicorn left unguarded!? How foolish was that mysterious mare who'd left!? The changeling could only guess the mare was obviously just desperate to get rid of it. Maybe this alicorn was unintentional and she'd hoped somehow taking it down to the Badlands would ensure it be taken somewhere far from central Equestria. The changeling grinned as it picked up the wrapped alicorn filly and smiled.

The foal alicorn blinked as it stared at the changeling with wide curious eyes.

Queen Chrysalis sat in her throne room bathed in candle light as she was accompanied by one other. It was a changeling royal guard who regarded his queen with worry. "My Queen; what are we to do? The meeting draws near. They won't give us the time of day after our stunt in Canterlot and your subjects are hungry. D-Do we have any plan of the sort?"

Queen Chrysalis leaned back on her throne as she wore a tired heavy frown with her cheek resting on one hoof.

The guard persisted, "My Queen?"

Queen Chrysalis however snapped at this point. "Yes yes yes! I'm aware of all the issues I must miraculously find a solution to you blasted fool! I am thinking! If you'd just be quiet for a good five minutes maybe I'd be able to come up with something!"

The guard flinched in reaction before lowering his head with a saddened expression. "Of course my Queen."

Queen Chrysalis's nose scrunched up guiltily as she just reacted in annoyance to him; she felt as if he were attempting to make her feel bad, and it was working. "Oh do forgive me my dear changeling; I am simply frustrated is all. These damned ponies have us bested in all parts of Equestria. We've been resorted to live only underground, if we dare even show our faces out there openly then we will just be forced back into the caverns of the deep. Our hive is dwindling, and this has taken quite a toll on my mind. Perhaps it is time we journey back across the seas to another land in an attempt to restore what our hive once was." She frowned.

The guard shook his head desperately, "N-No my Queen! We can still achieve victory over the ponies!"

Queen Chrysalis slumped back yet again with a heavy sigh before giving herself an amused smile and looking up. "I to would like to believe such a thing my dear changeling, but there is no way for us to best Twilight Sparkle and her friends as they are now."

The guard lowered his head yet again as the two remained there in silence, only comforted by the dwindling candle lights.

Queen Chrysalis glanced to her right to where she could see a large stained green glass window which allowed her to peer out at the distant constructs of her hive; hidden beneath the surface of this bitter world. Large pillar shaped constructs made-up of black carapace. The Queen bore a light scowl then as she glared as if lost in deep thoughts she couldn't manage to find peace from.

"MY QUEEN!" And suddenly bursting into the throne room would be a changeling accompanied by three other guards. The guards all had their weapons fastened on the changeling who encroached upon the throne cautiously; hugging an object to his chest as he did so. He bore a look of pure excitement. "I-I've found something of utter importance I believe would be of benefit to you! Do please give me the time to present to you this wonderful gift!" He nervously unveiled the mysterious object, showing the face of a unicorn foal.

Each of the changelings gasped; well besides Chrysalis herself who wore a bored expression. "Eh?"

The changeling guard beside Chrysalis snarled angrily, "How dare you bring that pony in here! The Queen's very throne room might I add! Get rid of it at once!"

The changeling holding onto the unicorn foal smirked slyly before commenting; "Heh, don't be so quick to judge you imbecile. I dare would not bring this creature here if it were nothing special. But it is indeed worthy of mention. BEHOLD!" And he rose the foal to the air with two hooves as the sheet covering it fell off and two tiny wings fluttered in the air as the foal began to cry and kick its hooves about momentarily. "An alicorn! It is indeed an actual alicorn I have found!"

Almost immediately all the guards fastened their lances on the alicorn foal, snapping at the changeling. "PUT IT DOWN!"

Another guard commented, "You brought an alicorn here!? Impossible! My Queen it must be a trap!"

Queen Chrysalis gasped in bewilderment as she immediately poofed over to the changeling and snatched the alicorn form his hooves, almost inspecting it to see if it truly were the real thing. "Quiet you idiots! It's just a child; no less than a child, a larva."

The guard near the throne shook his head in worry before approaching Chrysalis, "M-My Queen, you must be careful!"

Queen Chrysalis just stared at the foal who stared back at her with wide fascinated eyes. "Where did you find her?"

The changeling who'd brought her lowered his frame in the form of a bow and smiled. "I witnessed the act myself my Queen. She was abandoned by a mysterious mare who would have nothing more to do with her. This foal is truly an orphan."

Queen Chrysalis's look of astonishment slowly melted away as she soon began to smile, and that smile turned into a grin, before that grin turned into wild maniacal laughter and she closed her eyes and rose the foal to the air. "THIS! THIS IS GLORIOUS! To think one would be so foolish as to abandon an alicorn! Bahahahahaha! Do you realize what this means my precious subjects!? We've finally got something to use against the ponies! Something they will not so readily expect from us! This! This is the break we've been waiting for! With this little foal! We shall raise her to be the perfect weapon against the ponies of Equestria! She shall help us reign over the ponies with an iron hoof! Aha...AHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Queen Chrysalis cackled endlessly.

Her guards soon joined her in her laughter, cackling just as much.

The little foal just blinked looking down at Queen Chrysalis with wide eyes at first, before smiling and reaching out towards her happily. "Momma! Momma!" Queen Chrysalis could not hear the foal's words over her laughter. But the foal giggled playfully as it regarded Queen Chrysalis with grateful eyes and a happy expression, wanting to embrace her face. "Momma! Momma!"

It would indeed be a glorious time for the Hive, Queen Chrysalis was sure of it. Yes, wonderful times were truly ahead.

Queen Chrysalis had deep black bags underlining her eyes as she laid motionless on her bed. "Uuuuuugh...."

"Momma! Momma! Momma!" Bouncing atop a once sleeping Queen Chrysalis as she laid in that bed in her bedroom chambers would be the same foal from long ago, now significantly larger as she wore a cheery expression. "Wake up wake up wake up! It's time to play! You promised to play with me today! Play play play play play play play play play play play play!"

Queen Chrysalis's eyes snapped wide as she immediately rose with a cry of utter annoyance. "Gaaaaaah! Go play with one of the guards! I am not in the mood today! For the love of Equestria, PLEASE leave me alone!"

The filly gasped as she appeared horrified by the Queen's words, immediately teleporting the two of them out of bed with ease as Queen Chrysalis fell flat on her face on the cold marble floor, groaning heavily as if it were expected. The filly sat on top of her as she poked at the changeling queen. "Momma! You promised you'd play so we have to play! We're also going to read stoooories! And go flyyyying! And make sweeeeets! And feed the animaaaaals! And try on new clooooothes! Oh oh oh and momma! I got so many new spells I want to show you! Don't you want to see them!? Don't ya don't ya don't ya! OOOOOOH please momma I know you'll like them!" She then started bouncing atop the Queen again as she pressed her tiny hooves into the back of her head. "Please momma! Get up, up up up up up up! You promised me! You promised promised promised promised promised prom-"

Queen Chrysalis rose to all fours; crying, as she rose her head with an exhausted expression. "Okay okay...I'm up...."

The filly pressed her hooves against her own cheeks as she appeared ecstatic and gasped happily with a cheer. "HOORAY!"

Queen Chrysalis just trotted sluggishly out of her bedroom chamber's as the alicorn filly sat on her back.

Queen Chrysalis and the filly sat at a small circular table in a room which appeared to be made-up of pony architecture. The room was also made-up of childish posters and bookshelves stacked with books. There was a fridge filled with sweets and there were little stuffed animal dolls spread about all over the place. It was hard to imagine any of this was present in the hive. The Queen was silent as she just observed the filly eating as she herself bore tired eyes. The filly was speaking endlessly to her non-stop, but Queen Chrysalis blocked out all of the audio and simply thought to herself in the process. Day 366, I do not see how I've managed to last this long. It seems Yucca has managed to mature well. Then a spoonful of pudding flung into the Queen's face as it drizzled down onto her snout revealing her annoyed expression. For the most part. Queen Chrysalis then just observed the alicorn filly with curious eyes, leaning forward somewhat as she appeared to be contemplating something. How, how did it end up like this? Yucca was supposed to follow my guidance to the letter, but instead she has grown into this...this strange little abomination of an alicorn. My little abomination of an alicorn. To think one so young could be filled with such curiosity on the capabilities of magic.

Queen Chrysalis then observed as Yucca quickly finished the rest of her snack, still speaking to Chrysalis as she did so. The filly teleported all over her room and began taking out stacks and stacks of books, flipping through each page and pointing her tiny hoof at many passages and phrases. She seems to have a particular love for reading as well. Sweets and reading appear to be her greatest joys. Ugh, and tell me Yucca, where have you shoved everything I've taught you about the subjugation of ponies; hm? Queen Chrysalis sighed. No matter, it seems for the most part Yucca is still loyal to me and sees me wholeheartedly as her mother; the little pest. Queen Chrysalis wore an annoyed expression at first but as Yucca looked up at her and flashed her a cheerful smile, Queen Chrysalis found herself smiling back earnestly and lovingly. She then blushed deeply as she shook her head and almost immediately scowled to herself in annoyance. A-Anyways! I must continue to prepare Yucca for the future! She is still not ready. "Yucca..." Queen Chrysalis glared down upon the filly.

Yucca was still focused on a particular page in a book, "And the algorithm of the-" before she'd paused and immediately looked up at Queen Chrysalis happily. "Yep Momma!?" She bit her lower lip while earnestly waiting for Queen Chrysalis to reply.

Queen Chrysalis continued to glare at her. "Have you been practicing your telekinesis?"

The filly nodded hurriedly. "Mhm mhm!" She lifted Queen Chrysalis up who'd panicked for a second before being lowered back down into her seat with ease. "See?" She closed her eyes and tilted her head to the left with a soft smile.

Queen Chrysalis gulped before refocusing, "What about your transformations?" She regarded her with a serious glare yet again.

The filly began twiddling her hooves and fluttering towards the ceiling a bit, "Uuuuuh..."

Queen Chrysalis' glare intensified. "Yucca....."

The filly sighed before slumping midair and just crossing her hooves with a whimper. "Nooooo..."

Queen Chrysalis snapped, stomping her hoof. "AND WHY NOT!? THAT IS WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT!"

Yucca lowered herself onto the marble floor before pleading with the Queen. "B-But it's so confusing!"

Queen Chrysalis snarled, "You can get everything else so well but not something as simple as transformation!?"

Yucca then began bouncing around the entire room wildly while whining, "Nope nope nope nope nope!"

And Queen Chrysalis sighed, I think I'm starting to see why you were a stray in the first place. Next Chapter: The Final Countdown: 9 Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 41 Minutes