My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

A Changeling’s Lament

Chapter 8

Out with the Old…

Orochi sat on a chair in a dark room carving a potato when the Dark Knight appeared and walked though it.

“you just know how to cause trouble.” Aqua said. The knight stopped in his tracks and looked over to the human body. “you just can’t contain yourself. It like trouble is all you know.” the knight started to leave when Orochi tossed the knife into the wall in front of him.

“We’re talking to you, Tsylatac.” Tenebrae said. “you know, you didn’t have to do all that.”

“Although I am surprised to see that you were able to wound Requiem to near death.” Fulmen added.

Tsylatac pulled the knife out of the wall and flipped it in his hands. With a flick of his wrist, he threw it back to Orochi and walked off. “but I must ask; what was with the watch?” Glacies asked. Tsylatac ignored him and walked off. “always so mysterious. Never says anything more then a full sentence.”

Chrysalis hummed to herself as she gave herself a hoof-icure. She had taken over Canterlot in less then 2 days; less then 20 minutes with the actual invasion, so she deserves to look pretty. Unfortunately, the feeling from this little ‘look pretty’ deal is sending shivers down her spine.

“this feels… wrong.” she threw the nail file out the nearest window. “I’m not sure why Ponies think they need to look pretty.”

Not long after taking over Canterlot, Chrysalis and her forces quickly went to work turning the city into something more familiar to them. And Chrysalis, being the queen that she is, choose the best room in town for her own; Celestia’s own private quarters. She made a few… tweaks to it to make it more accommodating to Changelings. She still had some work to do, like getting most of the furniture out of there.

She started to use her magic to move a desk when a drawer fell out and landed on the floor. Curious, she put the desk down and grabbed the drawer. She noticed letters upon letters within them. She grabbed a few and read them.

‘Dear Princess Celestia,

I have learned a very valuable lesson about friendship: I was so afraid of being thought of as a showoff that I was hiding a part of who I am. My friends helped me realize that it's okay to be proud of your talents, and there are times when it's appropriate to show them off... Especially when you're standing up for your friends.’

‘Dear Princess Celestia,

When you first sent me to Ponyville, I didn't know anything about friendship. I met somepony tonight who was having the same problem - your sister, Princess Luna! She taught me that one of the best things you can do with friendship is to give it to others, and help them find it themselves! And I'm happy to report that all of Ponyville has learned that even though somepony seems a little intimidating, even scary, when you offer them your friendship, you'll discover a whole new pony underneath. And even if my Star Swirl the Bearded costume didn't go over, this still turned out to be the best Nightmare Night ever!’

‘Dear Princess Celestia,

Today I learned a great lesson about friendship. Well, you might think that it would feel good to get lots and lots of stuff, but it doesn't feel nearly as good as giving something special to somepony you really care about. But I learned that it truly is better to give than to receive, and that kindness and generosity are what lead to true friendship. And that's more valuable than anything in the world. Well... almost anything.’

‘Dear Princess Celestia,

Sometimes it can be hard for a shy pony like me to stand up for myself. When I first tried it, I didn't like the pony I became, but I learned that standing up for yourself isn't the same as changing who you are. Now I know how to put my hoof down without being unpleasant or mean.’

Chrysalis looked at them weirdly. “What are these things?” she grabbed the drawer and took another look, trying to fine what they are. She looked on the front and saw it. “Friendship Reports?” Chrysalis scoffed as she looked though the rest. “Why would Celestia be so focused on someone’s friendship status? It’s not like this is Mane-book or anything.”

The doors to the room opened wide and two Changelings walked in, dragging another behind them. “we have brought Mirror’s Edge, your highness.”

Chrysalis threw the drawer to the side, crashing it against the wall. “excellent. Leave him and wait outside.” the two bowed and left, closing the door behind them. Chrysalis walked over to Edge as smugly as she could. “Edge, Edge, Edge.” Edge sadly looked away, not wanting to look at anyone right now. “Thanks to you, Canterlot is ours and Equestria will soon fall. so, I must ask and ponder, why would you try to… what’s the expression the humans use… ‘off yourself’?”

Edge still looked away but closed his eyes. “why do you care?”

“I care because you are one of my top soldiers. It was thanks to you that I… we were able to take Canterlot.”

“whoop-de-doo.” Edge sadly said sarcastically.

Chrysalis didn’t need to be psychic to finally figure out the problem. “Oh. Is this because of that little yellow Pegasus? Fluttershy, I believe she was called? Don’t tell me you still love her even after she broke your heart?”

“It’s not just her. It’s all my friends. I betrayed them all and… and…”

Chrysalis rolled her eyes and sighed. “I don’t have time for this. Either you put all that behind you or else I’ll have to take drastic measures.” Edge ignored her. He wasn’t going to forget about it that easily. This was going to haunt him till he died. Chrysalis got angry. “fine. You leave me no choice. Guards!” the 2 Changelings who brought Edge walked back in. “it seems Edge is going to be a problem. Take him down to the dungeons and Purge him.”

That scared him. “no. no no no, not that!” Edge pleaded.

“you left me no choice, Edge. Time has come for you to join us once again.”

the 2 Changelings grabbed Edge and pulled him away. He struggled to get free but they had him tight. “No no no! anything but that! No.” Chrysalis turned and looked out the window.

Edge was strapped to a green crystal deep in the dungeons. “No. please, let me go! Please!” he pleaded. He didn’t want to be purged and the Changelings assigned to this didn’t want him to be either.

“Sorry, Edge, but you did give her no choice.” a sadistic Changeling said.

A scared Edge and thought back to Fluttershy and his friends. They were about to go away. A single tear fell down his face as it began.

“no. No. NO! AH!! AAAAAHHHHH!!!!! GGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Dinky depressingly sat in a corner, away from everyone. She was all alone in this mess; her mom was gone, her friends were gone, she believes that nobody else will comfort her. She’s all alone. All she had was the necklace with the golden ring her mom gave her.

Jax, meanwhile, sat in a corner as well. Not because she was sad but because she wasn’t keen on getting friendly with equines. She wasn’t going to get friendly any time soon.

Not long after Canterlot was taken over, everyone still trapped inside were sent into the dungeons till Chrysalis could think of something good to do with them.

“DIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!”

That loud yell put everyone on edge, leaving some to wonder who was the unlucky shlub. It also forced Dinky to run into Jax’s arms.

“I’m scared.” she shakingly said.

Jax kept her arms away from Dinky, not wanting to touch her at all. Though, she knows the feeling. She was scared too. Being separated from her friends, her weapons. Not being able to use her magic. She brought her wrists to her eyes and looked at the bracelets Chrysalis had forcibly put on her. She had never felt so helpless.

Eventually, a few Changelings came down from above and opened all the cell doors. “Come. Our queen wants to see you all.”

Jax was thrown into the gardens and landed in a pile of rubble. Chrysalis had ordered everypony to be taken to the town square. Jax believes she figured out why.

The entire city was decimated; you could hardly tell it was a city anymore, more like bombed out ruins. Every building was destroyed, the streets were cracked and cratered, trees and plants are lifeless, every animal had been silenced. It’s like a nuke had come down on the city.

“Damn.” Jax gasped. The ponies all whimpered at the devastated sight. To see the capital of the empire come down like this… they don’t even know if everyone who escaped are okay. Everypony had someone special in these dark times; lovers, significant others, children. Everypony but Dinky. Jax saw her sitting alone and felt sorry for her.

2 Shadow Creatures appeared from the ground and snarled at them, scaring everyone but Jax.

2 Changelings appeared from the sky. One cleared his throat. “May I present your new ruler, Empress Chrysalis.”

Begin Song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtlalymx848

Full of Unrest - Tales of Vesperia OST

A floating platform powered by those same crystals as in the caves and for the barrier shield, came floating down, Chrysalis on top of it.

“Citizens of Canterlot. I… am your new ruler. Celestia is dead. Your friends and family have abandoned you. And your beloved heroes, and those Elements of Harmony, are no more. There is a new order and it is my order. Serve me well and reap the benefits. Don’t and… well, you’ll be Purged.” the Changelings shivered in fear when they heard that, giving reason to believe that being Purged isn’t exactly pleasant.

A young earth pony filly grabbed a rock and tossed it at Chrysalis, hitting her in the head. The Shadow Creatures snarled and moved to attack him. “Hold!” she ordered. The Shadow Creatures listened and backed off. “there are always those who would reject a new rule. It’ll pass.”

“and what happens if we don’t want your rule?” a male unicorn asked.

Chrysalis‘ mouth sneered wide. “I’m glad you asked.” Leon and Fracture walked up to the crowd, dragging a badly injured honor guard behind them. The crowd gasped in fear and slowly backed up, everyone but Jax that is. “This guard continued to fight us even after Canterlot was sealed within. But, even the toughest have to rest.”

“what are you going to do to him?” Jax asked.

“Me? Oh, no no no. I’m not gonna do anything to him.”

“you’re not?” Jax asked in surprise. That was surprisingly kind.

“No. he is.” she pointed down to the opening.

A Changeling, holding himself in high regard, walked towards them, wearing some high society armor, slowly walked into view. Chrysalis evilly snickered as he walked in and the Ponies backed up in fear.

Dinky recognized the Changeling, even in all that armor. “Edge?” Mirror’s Edge stopped just a few feet away from the prisoner and waited. “Edge!” Dinky happily exclaimed. She ran over and hugged him. “oh, it’s so good to see you!” Edge just stood there, not moving a muscle. Dinky happily looked up at him and saw something that turned that smile into a expression of fear. Edge’s eyes were soulless and lifeless. Worse still, he doesn’t remember her. She let go and slowly back up in fear, trying to hold back some tears.

“I’m afraid he won’t be the same Changeling you know anymore, Dinky.” Chrysalis evilly snickered. “for you see, he was Purged. And he now follows my every order.” Edge’s glowed green for a moment. Dinky reached Jax and grabbed her leg out of fear. Jax didn’t stop her; she was afraid as well. “General Mirror’s Edge. Kill the guard.”

Edge’s horn glowed and pointed it at the guard. Mothers grabbed their kids and held them. A flash of green light followed as Edge killed the guard off-screen. Dinky cried and buried her face into Jax’s leg.

“Anyone who opposes me will face a fate far worse then what the guard had got.” Chrysalis declared. “I’m sure the family of Sun Frail will be saddened to hear that their husband and/or father was killed.” she turned to her guards and nodded. “from this moment on, you will work in the Crystal Caves down below Canterlot and mine them for us. Anyone who fails to do their duty will be killed in a matter worse then the guard.”

The guards circled the prisoners and lead them away. Jax looked back at Mirror’s Edge, not believing that he would do that. For a moment, she saw his eyes go back to their original color.