Vision swaying, drifting in and out of consciousness. My lifeless body was hung through the fangs of a Behemoth across my collar. Exhaustion. My exasperated breaths continued, praying not to lose focus as I witnessed the upcoming event - Chrysalis’ sovereignty over the school.

I glanced at Chaser beside his new Queen, sulking, his head hung low , possibly contemplating on his actions of the relatively recent past. We exchanged glances, and to his surprise, I was finally, fully conscious...  still experiencing fatigue, but nevertheless, awake. He gave a conscience effort to smile, bringing a glimmer of hope that even as captives, everything was going to be alright... as promised. There was no talking, just marching... marching as the oppressed swarm followed their queen, progressing towards the school’s compounds where awaited the victors of the war. The teachers.

They were still dominating.

Chrysalis stood patient and watched Silent Charge as he, without a scratch nor sweat, bulldozed his way through an entire squadron of her changelings. Watching the janitor, Omnius, she observed as the stallion balanced on his hinds, mercilessly jabbing, bucking left and right continuously at the changelings, flinging them to the battalion once shamelessly downing them. “Come on! Come get some!” Omnius begged for more.

 And finally, she watched over to her competitor for the school, Shadow Mark. His own style was a mixture of Charge’s technique as well as Omnius’, slipping through the slightest gaps of the entire crowd, dodging hits as he continuously moved in rhythm, using every part of his body as an extension to tactically counter his opponents.

From one changeling’s futile attempt at a forebuck, the robbed stallion wrapped his wing around the cavitied hoof, pulling the bug-like pony into a buck between the eyes. His tail wrapped around its hoof, using the body as a projectile to deflect an incoming opponent. Within the moment, a slight breeze flowed through his mane, his eyes casting a view upon a foreleg mere inches from his face. The changeling was grounded, his joint bent to its limits, restrained by Shadow Mark as he repeatedly bucked his left hoof into the changeling’s solar plexus. A double hindleg buck challenged the occupied elder pegasi. The principal didn’t want to, but there was no other choice. He ducked, bringing his constricted victim down with him, recovering with a roll... snapping the changeling’s right foreleg in the process.

With a quick flap of his wings, his recovery from the slight fall was anything but slow, gliding off the ground as he dove into two more, grasping them by their necks, knocked unconscious once slammed against the floor.

“ENOUGH!” Chrysalis’ voice boomed throughout the compound, halting to the fight. She had seen enough of how worthy her changeling grunts and Behemoths had proven. “You didn’t come here to dwindle my army’s numbers further, I’m sure of that. You must want the stallions I have here beside me, but I think you’re aware I won’t let them go without a fight.”

“Chaser, Graze!” The teachers, Charge, Shadow Mark and the janitor, Omnius exclaimed in astonished unison.

“Stand down, stallions,” Shadow Mark ordered, disarming himself of Omnius’ knife-wrench as a sign of peace towards Chrysalis. The remaining two relentlessly obeyed, watching in the background as the principal approached the queen and her hive. “Don’t be too hasty now, Chrysalis. What say you... a proposition?” he requested, calmly.

The cavitied queen simply rose a brow, curious as to what possibly the robed stallion could have offered but what she desired. “Go on...”

“Seventy four of your counted minions alive, including ten Behemoths in exchange for the student and the teacher, alive, of course... no tricks, nothing of those sorts, just a trade of hostages, and we shall be on our way,” the principal offered, metres away from the queen as both stood on the blackened, scorched courtyard.

With a smirk and motion of her head towards the teachers, a changeling marched midway of both groups. Without gesture nor command, a Behemoth trotted in grimace to the side of his queen. “I reject your offer,” Chrysalis said.

“What is she planning?” A confused Omnius questioned beside the suited teacher, both bewildered, focusing on the scene before them.

With a pause, Silent Charge had the answer. “Execution.”

The Behemoth’s horn glowed a lit of ghastly green, taking aim upon the defenseless example.

Disgusted by this act, Shadow Mark, alone, closed his eyes upon the firing of the spell, tightening his grip, hearing the agonizing, blood curdling screech of the changeling. Omnius and Chaser cringed at the act of treacherous betrayal as Silent Charge stood still, his expression stoic, watching the fallen, lifeless upon the concrete. To his final breath, the changeling was still faithful to his queen, basking under her cruel tyranny.

Silence. The remaining changelings honored their dead in complete, utter silence.

The clopping of hooves were abruptly heard, bringing with it the disruption of quietude. It was Shadow Mark. The stallion approached the breathless changeling, his body still warm, scarred from the Behemoth’s concentrated blast. He kneeled upon his haunches, shading the changeling’s body from the sun as he slowly swept his hoof over the departed’s face.

Upon hearing this, changelings among the swarm glanced at each other with wary looks, confused of their enemy’s motives to respect one of their kind. Their minds trailed on about ponies spitting on their graves for what they have done, but as for Shadow Mark? No, he laid the dead to rest, covering the minion with his robe, shielding him from the sun’s rays.

Chrysalis grunted, rolling her eyes at the principal’s motive. “Honorable notion... but a lost cause, nevertheless. As you can see, my swarm has no place for weakness, and this belief in... peace. We live by our own terminology Veni Vidi Vici, no more and nothing less. Once we conquer, we feed.”  

The principal shot a glare at the crowned changeling. “One day, your tyranny will fall at the hooves of your servants... I strongly suggest you change your ways of sovereignty before your faithful changelings have a change of appetite, Chrysalis,” Shadow Mark warned, returning to all his fours, trotting towards the mare.

“And I patiently await for it to come,” Chrysalis smugly challenged the stallion. “But, as of right now, I still have the upper hoof and we haven’t come to a conclusion, since well...” she paused, chuckling at the fallen changeling on the battlefield. “Hehehe, since that obviously didn’t work out... so, here is my one and only condition which you will obey at the stake of your colleagues.”

Shadow Mark nodded, understanding of what she had spoken of so far. “One. Every single student and teacher must bow down to me as their new Queen. Also, the school and all of its property shall be claimed under my possession... or two, I simply kill the teacher and the colt... so, what say you, Mr. Shadow Mark?” Chrysalis asked, explaining her terms and conditions as she repeated the formalities of the principal’s offer.

“DON’T DO IT!” Chaser shouted without hesitation. “THINK ABOUT THE STUDENTS!”

Joy sighed, his eyes focused on Shadow Mark as he trotted towards the changeling Queen. I guess the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

“Don’t... do it,” I whispered through exhaustion with a slow shake of my head. “We’d be fine, sir... just don’t do it... for the sake of the others... please,” I begged of the principal.

He trotted forward. “Don’t do it,” I pleaded, watching as the stallion progressed. “FOR THE SAKE OF ALL THE STUDENTS!” I shouted, tears flowing from my eyes, putting the stallion to a standstill. “DO NOT DO IT!”

With his head hung low, the finally brought himself to look at me, stallion to stallion. “Graze, you’re one of my students as well... it is my right to protect each and every one of you,” Shadow Mark said, looking up and towards the alicorn changeling as he lent out his hoof. “Maybe one day you’d forgive me.”

“NOOO!” I shouted, struggling at the Behemoth’s firm grasp.

Graze, calm down! You’re still fatigued, don’t wear yourself out! Joy advised, reminding me of my current status.

“I’m sorry, ” Shadow Mark apologized, grabbing the right hoof of Chrysalis as he knelt on his hindlegs, agreeing to the conditions of her contract. The school, as well as the will of hundreds of ponies were now in the possession of our new queen, Chrysalis... traded for the assurance of safety of two stallions.

 “All hail Queen Chrysalis,” the principal was the first to say with a hoof sashed across his chest to the superior in rank.

Without a query, Omnius and Silent Charge followed, bowing to their newly appointed queen. “All hail Queen Chrysalis,” alone the janitor said as the teacher beside him simply ignored protocol.

“Good. Now take them to the auditorium where the entire school can see the downfall of their beloved teachers... and make sure that incompetent brat is last,” she quickly snapped an order. I knew she couldn’t have been talking about me. “We have a little... surprise for all of you.”

Did she just call us incompetent? Joy asked.

I’m not sure what that means, but I definitely know the word after it Kill said, hovering beside as he glared at the cavitied queen.

“I don’t like the sound of this,”Omnius admitted, returning to his fours with Charge who still maintained his stoic expression.

“Me neither, I hate when Anarchy does that to us,” Silent replied, following the ways of a prisoner, allowing a Behemoth to blindfold him as others did to us. “Okay, this is new.”

Based on our ears alone, the five of us- Charge, Omnius, Chaser, Shadow Mark and myself - were guided towards the auditorium as we followed our beloved queen to where our surprise had patiently awaited.

---

The interior of the school was dead quiet. Save for our hooves beating against the wooden floor board,  not a sound nor a whisper could have been heard.

Talking was forbidden.

We were now at the similar, demeaning social rank of our enemies. Mere grunts.

---

Blinded and planted firmly upon our knees, it was apparent that we had arrived at our destination, each of us captive knowing that nothing good could have come out of this.

The glaring rays from the roof’s artificial lighting scorched our sensitive retinas as the blindfolds were roughly yanked from the side of our heads. We simultaneously grunted in pain, squinting and continuously blinking our eyes to regain proper visual coordination from the quick transition from dark to light.

Damn it! That’s the second time today! Kill complained.

Just hurry up and fix the visuals... Joy facehoof’d.

Dozens upon dozens of multi-colored blurs filled the area before us. We strained our eyes, hoping that what we had seen was all part of a nightmare.

 “Oh no...” Shadow Mark muttered under his breath.

Every single student that populated the school had been entranced by Chrysalis’ hypnotic spell. Their corneas were colored a hazy green as they stared into nothingness. Everypony including my friends.

“VINETION! PINKIE!” I yelled, spotting each by their original color schemes. And then, I saw her. My heart ached to see that one blonde, grey mare ripped free and stolen of her free will. “DITZY! DITZY, SNAP OUT OF IT!” I tried my best to escape and reach the mare, only to find myself restrained, my hooves bound together by some sort of weird goo. “DITZY! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!” I struggled again, pleading for a response from the mare.

What about Grim? Joy asked. He’s like... right there.

… eh. Kill shrugged.

“Tsk tsk tsk,”Chrysalis teased, lifting my head to her gaze, “is that your special somepony?” she asked. I looked away from her alien eyes, releasing myself from her grasp with a slight blush. “Oh, there is no need to doubt yourself, Graze... that is what they call you, right?” I ignored. “Oh come now... I can literally taste your love for the mare.” Gritting my teeth, I made a conscious effort to ignore the slender being with closed eyes. An abrupt sound and a green flash later, I found myself peering at the changeling queen once more, entranced by her looks... it was... Ditzy. “Am I more appealing in this state?” My gaze was now fixed on her. “Come, Graze, just one kiss...” she begged in a mocking tone. “Just one?”

You know... technically, that is Ditzy Kill stated, sharing glances with Joy, myself and at the mare who was puckering her lips.

NO! Both Joy and I quickly denied.

Fine, fine! Kill immediately backed off as he flew closer towards Joy. I have a better idea, just give me control for twenty seconds.

Why? I asked.

Just trust me. I hated it when Kill says that. You sure, man? This is an opportunity of a lifetime the little devil conscience tempted.

No I bemusedly responded.

Fine.

“Let me feed on your love,” Chrysalis seducingly whispered, closing her temporarily crossed eyes.

“Just one couldn’t hurt...” I agreed, mentally shrugging since my hooves were... well, you know, bind together.

Puckering my lips, I enclosed the distance between myself and the not-so secretly admired mare.

“Graze, how could you?!” Chaser barked at me, struggling from his spot. “If I could have moved, I would be bucking you upside the head, right now!” Taking advantage of Chrysalis’ closed eyes, I quickly winked at Chaser, playing out my little scheme.

As the mare drew closer, I had become rather offended by the stench of love leaking from her breath. On the spot, rocking back and forth, I had gained enough momentum to headbutt the unsuspecting mare.

POW! She stumbled backwards, losing concentration on her disguise, revealing her true identity once more... all at the cost of slight recoil. “Not a snowball’s chance in Tartarus!” I spat on the stage’s surface.  “Well, what do you know? Love really does stink!”

“Why, you worthless piece of shit!” Chrysalis hissed, slapping me with the back of her hoof. “I am going to enjoy every moment, watching your friends and teachers suffer... starting with you!” She pointed to Charge, the first in line.

“Who? Me?” The Physics teacher acted surprised. You can tell because he never looked surprised... maybe in the sarcastic way when I forgot that homework, but he was never, ever surprised. Ever. “Well, I’m waiting,” he smugly replied, challenging his newly appointed queen.

Chrysalis stomped her hooves in anger due to the low levels of disrespect she had received so far. “The queen does need a king after all.” She glared into the eyes of the larger pony as her horn glimmered with a phased transparent green. Deeper and deeper she dwelled into the mind of Mr. Charge, living his memories, unlocking secrets and--

“AAAAGGGHHHH!” Chrysalis screamed in agonizing pain. The immense mental pressure placed on her conscience caused tears to stream from her sudden bloodshot, red eyes. “AAAAGGGHHHHH! PLEASE STOP!” She fell onto the floor, uncontrollably trembling as she lost all sense and control of her body. In her twitches, she strained her eyes onto the restricted, alicorn sized stallion. “H-Wha- what was that?!” She whimpered, suffering from anxiety. “WHY DIDN’T MY SPELL WORK ON YOU?!”

Charge showed off a grin, chuckling with his answer, a quite simple one. “My heart has already been taken...” he paused, glaring at his assaulter, “and buried with.”

Chrysalis’ eyes widened to size of saucers, whispering to herself in sudden realization, “She’s... dead.” Charge nodded. “But that shouldn’t matter!” She exclaimed, still traumatized upon the floor. “What was that... horrid feeling?”

“Hatred. Pure hatred.” Charge replied. “I hate what you’re doing. I hate how you treat your subjects. I hate your existence, and just so that I make this abundantly clear,” Charge paused, inhaling deeply through his snout. “I. Hate. You.” 

Through the momentary silence, his ears randomly cocked up to the sound of, to what I heard, nothing. “Come on out, Anarchy,” he announced. “You can handle the rest.”

A stream of hellfire spawned on the auditorium’s stage with the sound of her name. The draconequus appeared, approaching the mentally tortured queen from ashed spot. Anarchy  was pissed. “I warned you... I gave you a second chance, and you take advantage of my good will?! I have half a mind to rip you to shreds!” The hybrid scolded, gripping the changeling by her neck with her sharpened talons ready to slash. “Do you know what’s worse than chaos?”
Chrysalis strained herself to shake her head. “Reality,” Anarchy answered. “The reality that I overlooked our past and still found a way to forgave you. No more of that. No holding back.”

“Anarchy, stop,” Shadow Mark warned. She ignored.

“The reality knowing that I am going to enjoy every second of this as each passing moment is only going to be more painful than the last.”

“Put her down, Anarchy!” Shadow Mark yelled. Gripping tighter on Chrysalis’ neck, the hybrid ignored as her claws poked into the changeling’s skin. With sufficient force upon the grip’s lock, a drop of blood, streamed down the queen’s neck, unto her chest and finally, splattered the floor. “Stop the madness right now!” Shadow Mark ordered.

“Do you know what the lion’s paw is about?” Anarchy questioned the gasping queen, whimpering a response. “It’s basically that wild bloodlust a lioness feels, willing to do anything to protect her cubs... even if it includes death... and I saw you hit Graze.”

“A-Anar-chy! Pl-ease!” Chrysalis begged for forgiveness, desperately grabbing onto the draconequus’ arms for mercy. “I’m sorr-y!”

“Yeah, me too.” Anarchy poked the mare’s neck with one of her sharpened talons, slightly scarring it at the side.

Holy shit... Kill and Joy awed in unison. She’s going to do it!

“I guess the other half of my mind won,” She said, dropping the changeling queen. Anarchy sighed, watching as Chrysalis flailed, gasping to refresh her lungs. “I don’t think I would be ever able to forgive myself if I ever turned out as something as horrible as you,” Anarchy walked away and paused in her tracks. “Get the fuck out of my sight,”  she ordered. Chrysalis paused, unable to think clearly as the machinations of her mind were still recovering from the lack of deprived air. “NOW!” Terrified and without hesitation, Chrysalis quickly nodded, teleporting herself and every other changeling within the vicinity.

With Chrysalis finally gone, Anarchy snapped her talons, undoing the damage Chrysalis had caused, reversing the hypnotic hex on the students. In a daze, mutters and mumbles filled the school’s auditorium, most students confused as to what was happening, others with slight head traumas.

Immediately, I rushed towards Ditzy with a quick flap of my wings as I tackled the mare with an embrace. “Ditzy, thank the princesses you’re safe!” I tightened the hug, nuzzling the mare’s coat.

“Graze, what has gotten into you?!” Ditzy shockingly exclaimed with a slight blush... and then, as I pulled away from the embrace, she noticed ‘it’. “OH MY GOSH! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE!?” She examined the perfect example to a street mobbed victim who had been repeatedly bucked in the face... or in my case, bubbles.

Ooooo somepony is in trouble! Kill laughed, hanging on my left shoulder.

Well, Ditzy’s pissed and you’re bucked... I guess everything is back to normal, Joy pointed out on my other shoulder.

“Graze! Listen to me when I’m talking to you!” Ditzy interrupted my inner conversation as she yanked my head back to focusing on her. “What happened to your face?”

This was going to be hard to explain. “Well... you see, erh...”

---

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? A BUBBLE CAUSED THAT?! Anarchy laughed, hearing Ditzy’s shout throughout the hall, overpowering the chatters of the confused crowd. STOP LYING AND GET BACK HERE!

HEY! VINETION, PINKIE... GRIM! HOW ARE YOU GUYS GOING?! The draconequus continued to watch as I purposely tried to evade the mare.

OH NO YOU DON’T! YOU MADE A PROMISE, GRAZE! GET BACK HERE! The Philosophy teacher finally bursted into a fit of laughter at the scene before her.

“Nice work there, Anarchy,” Chaser praised the draconequus as he simply passed by with Omnius following behind.

“We couldn’t have done it without ya,” the janitor smiled, exiting the stage as he left to enjoy the moment with the other baffled students.

Shadow Mark was the next. “I’m proud of you, Anarchy... not only for saving the school, but for saving our lives. Thank you,” Shadow Mark said, trotting off the stage as he joined his fellow members of staff.

All who was left, was no other pony than Silent Charge. He didn’t thank her, he didn’t approach her... he simply smiled, watching over the students as they interacted with their beloved teachers. In the slightest, it didn’t seem to bother her, she had already completed her deed. With that thought in mind, she proceeded to the stage’s exit, wanting to join her fellow members of staff.

“Wait.” Anarchy paused in her tracks, hearing Charge’s voice. “Why didn’t you hypnotize her?” he asked, curiosity getting the better of him. “Couldn’t it have been easier?”

The draconequus glanced at the stallion with a sigh. “Because she’d already been corrupted,” she answered. “Corrupted with power... corrupted with sin... she couldn’t possibly be any worse than she already was. It won’t have made any sense.”

“Hmph, it would have been much easier if we actually followed the backup plan,” Charge rolled his eyes.

“Yes, I know... but she needed to see what she’d caused... who she’d become. You can call what I did, a favor... a favor for an old friend. I promise, we won’t be seeing her around anytime soon.”

“Oh, I know,” Charge smiled, slowly trotting away from the scene.

“And by the way, Charge?” The suited teacher stopped mid in his tracks, hearing Anarchy’s voice once again. “My condolences.”

“...” Charge acknowledged the hybrid with a nod, and continued on his path.

---

Within the confinements of her throne room, the changeling queen sat upon her haunches, still driven with fear from today’s events. Servants tended to her every wish and wound as she trembled in paranoia, profusely sweating. The mind allowed no rest for the wicked as the scene from Charge’s thoughts repeated itself over, and over again. She was scarred for life.

“Forever watching... don’t look... or it will take you...” she continuously repeated.

Next Chapter: Chapter Ten: Physics! Estimated time remaining: 22 Minutes