------------ Melody’s Tale : Queen ------------

The pain was with her in the darkness. It lent the only definition she could see or make out. She stayed close to it, embraced it, made it her own. But she couldn’t stay in the dark forever. Dimly, she became aware of the world around her. The first thing she made out was the stone. Flat, grey, and unremarkable. The second thing she made out was the pain. It wasn’t just a presence, but it came from somewhere within her. Specifically, her arm. Then she remembered the clearing, and being discovered by Chrysalis.

How could she have been so foolish? Chrysalis was queen of the changelings, and the three of them had changeling blood in them. Of course she would see them coming. How could they ever have tried to blend in when Chrysalis could see each and every changeling in existence? Cursing her foolishness, Melody faded into and out of the blackness.

When at last she woke long enough to make sense of her surroundings, Melody was not alone. Chrysalis stood above her, her arms crossed awkwardly with one another. The stump of her right arm was grossly rounded and stopped right where her elbow should have been. But her left was normal, and the long, thin nail she had on her finger tapped idly at her other arm’s shoulder.

“You’re awake.” Chrysalis noted, almost as if she were bored. “And injured. I need your magic to be functional, so I’m going to allow you to heal yourself. Afterwards, you’re going to wear these shackles.” Chrysalis reached out to the wall above where Melody lay and lifted a dull grey pair of shackles off of a peg. She recognized the patterns etched into the cuffs as the same spell that locked her magic off when she and Verse had been captured in Nest. “If you disobey me, try to kill me, or otherwise resist, I’m going to kill your mother, and then your brother.”

“O-okay.” Melody groaned as she fought to sit up. Her arm throbbed painfully, robbing her of strength for a little, but she managed to fight through it and swing her legs off of the side. She was thankful they at least gave her a bed to sleep on, flat and hard as it was. “I won’t do anything.”

“Good. You’re learning. Now, go on, heal yourself.”

“Hnng…” Melody grunted as she fought to bring her magic to the fore. It was there, radiating outwards from her chest, but she couldn’t quite get it to focus on her right hand. “I can’t… Get balanced.”

“Well I cannot heal you. What do you suggest?” Chrysalis glowered down at her, but Melody cast a defiant glare up at the queen.

“Set the bone. That might… Aah… Work.”

“Hmm. Very well.” Chrysalis sighed and uncrossed her arms. She reached down to Lily’s broken arm, giving it a rough yank.

The darkness swallowed her once more. This time, the pain was much more intense, and as much as she tried to shy away from it, it followed her. It felt like ages before she awoke again, and this time, Chrysalis sat at the foot of her bed, holding a book open with her one hand. The sight of the queen so close made Melody scramble away. But that only intensified the pain.

“You sleep an awful lot.” Chrysalis sighed. “I’ve set your bone. Hurry up and heal yourself.”

“I don’t-“

“Quickly now, before your brother suffers more.” Chrysalis turned a page in the book with a bored look. Melody’s blood could have frozen.

“What have you done to Verse?”

“Nothing major.” Chrysalis sighed. “Not yet, anyways. But every hour you dawdle intensifies his suffering. To say nothing of your mother.” She closed the book and looked at Melody. Those eyes were the same she had seen in her nightmares time and time again. She shouldn’t be scared of them, but she was. The pain was still there, and quite a bit more intense than it had been previously. But Melody could feel her magic working. Chrysalis’ bored tone indicated she didn’t care what happened to her brother or her mother, but was close to the edge of something horrific. Melody couldn’t afford to wait any longer. Gritting her teeth, she forced her magic to work through the pain.

The break was bad, but not unfixable. She had fractured her forearm in three places, and snapped the bone of her pinky finger. Healing oneself was difficult to say the least, but not impossible. Melody just had to focus, and take it in stages. Stage one, she had to set the bones properly. Chrysalis appeared to lack compassion or even tenderness. If anything, she had worsened the break with the rough yank. Melody grunted as the bones were finally set in place. She breathed deeply, already covered with a flop sweat. The pain was constant, but didn’t throb to the point where she almost plunged into the darkness yet again. Finally conscious for the first time in who-knew-how-long, Melody could begin healing herself.

First thing’s first, the breaks. These were even and set, so all she had to do was accelerate the ossification. As the bones knit back together, she felt relief like a wave pass through her. Second stage completed, she moved onto the third and last. The fractures were long and thin, and some of them had splintered a little. These would be painful to fix, but not impossible now that she could think clearly. As the pain intensified, she gave small whimpering noises and began to cry. Chrysalis continued reading, flipping pages in her book without a care in the world.

At long last, it ended. Melody slumped against the bed, her chest rising and falling. The pain had subsided to nothing but a memory. She hesitantly flexed her fingers. The muscles felt tight and tired, but she wasn’t greeted with any grinding feeling, or any more pain. She would take it easy, but she could at least use magic.

“Alright.” She panted, slowly lifting herself up. “Give me the shackles.”

“Good girl.” Chrysalis set her book aside and passed the clinking metal contraption off to Melody. She grimaced as the cold iron clamped around her wrists, and the chilling sensation of losing her magic swept through her. She felt hollow, much like the holes covering Chrysalis’ legs and arms. She hated this feeling. If it were up to her, she’d just as soon never feel it again. But nothing was up to her anymore. The memory of the clearing came back, and she shuddered.

“My brother…”

“Was never actually in danger to begin with.” Chrysalis picked her book up and stood from the bed. “I had to bluff to get your magic back. Your mother, however… Well…” Chrysalis padded to the single door leading into the dull grey room. “That’s another story altogether. In fact, I think I’ll go see her now.”

The door closed with finality, and Melody let her tears return in force.

--------------

She lost track of the days and nights. Her room, if it could be called that, lacked a window. She had two rooms, one with her bed and nothing else, and a second that sported a simple toilet and sink. She couldn’t bathe, and could do little else than sleep. They fed her now and then, though she could only choke maybe half the gruel down before giving up on the rest. The water was a blessing, though. She slowly felt her mind return to normal thinking.

When she almost felt as if he would have gone crazy, Chrysalis returned. Melody stood up, deciding to face her nightmare on her feet. “Come with me.” Chrysalis said quietly, beckoning Melody forward. “I’m taking you to your brother.”

“Why…” Melody gazed into the queen’s sickening eyes, frowning intently.

“I have need of your skills.” Chrysalis waved her arm lazily. “I want you to bring some gods back to the world. Some old, old friends of the changelings.” Chrysalis turned to leave, beckoning Melody follow after her.

“You realize we’ll never go through with it.” Melody glowered after Chrysalis. The queen poked her head back into the room with a devious grin.

“I think I can persuade you.”

----------

Verse was alive and appeared well, albeit a little tired. When he saw Melody, though, a ghost of a smile passed his lips. He was glad to see her arm was fixed. She offered him an understanding look of shared pain. She had thought he was hurt this entire past… However long it had been. He was shackled as well, and they were surrounded. Chrysalis led them out of their chambers and into what Melody could guess was the main palace. The changelings were everywhere. Hordes of them milled about in the hallways, parting for the small entourage by climbing the walls and pillars everywhere. The chittering sound of their wings and claws set Melody on edge. The endless hum was like being trapped in the middle of a hive of bees. The droning set her ears aflame with discomfort. She wanted nothing else than to be away from them all.

Chrysalis continued up and out of the bowels of the castle. They finally passed windows, and Melody saw the sky was clear. Canterlot, spread out beneath them, was teeming with changelings. They filled the streets and houses as far as she could see, all of them with their eyes turned towards the castle. It was early in the morning, yet still marginally dark. Melody could pick out all of their eyes. Millions of them, it seemed. They would have had to disguise themselves as normal changelings to get remotely close to the palace, let alone Chrysalis. As she watched, though, several other changeligns emerged from the horde and fell into step around them. These were taller and more pronounced than the drones. Melody didn’t need to guess that they were the lieutenants. Changelings just like her mother.

“Follow me.” Chrysalis beckoned them along, mounting the stairs. Melody began to recognize parts of the castle as they continued upwards. Her legs were tired and her mind hurt with the droning, but she followed along wordlessly. Chrysalis had them, and she didn’t seem intent on letting them go any time soon. Still, she and Verse followed Chrysalis up and up. It wasn’t until they turned into the long hallway, though, that Melody realized she was leading them to the same room they had put Celestia and Luna to sleep in.

“Here we are.” Chrysalis opened the door and led both of them inside. The lieutenants followed. The sitting room was much the same. But heavy black curtains were drawn leading into the bedroom. Melody feared what lay beyond them. What had Chrysalis done to Celestia and Luna in their absence? Where was Lily? Chrysalis didn’t approach the curtains, though. She went out onto the balcony, and the lieutenants shoved both of them forward towards her.

“Look at that.” Chrysalis sighed, leaning against the balcony. “My horde. Aren’t they all beautiful?” She gestured lazily over the edge. Down below them, the changelings buzzed and thrummed. Melody grimaced when she realized that all of Canterlot was covered with them. As far as the city limits, the streets and buildings were choked with changelings. Clouds of the black, insectoid creatures buzzed through the sky on patrols, and milled about on the castle lawns as well. Melody could hardly make out the streets she was familiar with through the clouds of them. There had to be millions of them. Maybe even tens of millions. The Equestrian forces were more hopelessly outnumbered than they had previously thought.

“Why?” Melody looked over the horde with fright in her heart. “Why are you doing this?”

“I told you last time you were here, children.” Chrysalis smiled over her shoulder at them. “It’s a matter of survival. I need the love of Canterlot to live. And the horde is thriving off of the power you’ve given me. I’ve had to make more changelings just to handle the excess. With our numbers, we’ll live for eons. In all honesty, I owe it to you both. But.” Chrysalis’ smile darkened. “You didn’t follow up. Equestrian forces attempted to take Canterlot from me shortly after Celestia and Luna were put to sleep. As I told you, I executed the hostages I had. After that, it seemed Equestria lost its heart. But I still lost thirty thousand lives that day. Not to mention the changelings lost in the skirmish. I’d say that’s lost whatever standing you held with me. Now, you’re my prisoner. And you shall do as I say.”

“Or what?” Melody lifted her hands. “You’ve all but killed our mother, you’ve got our forces on the ropes, and you’re going to survive for what seems like forever. If you wanted, you could probably take the rest of Equestria. Hell, with sheer numbers, you’d likely take Featherhome and the Dragon Territories as well. The chimera would likely ally with you, or fall to your forces. In ten years’ time, you could swarm the Shadowlands. Chrysalis, you stand to conquer the world. What more could you want from us?”

“I told you,” Chrysalis righted herself and padded back into the sitting room. “I want you to bring some of my old friends back. Allies of the previous queen, and friends of the changelings. You say I could conquer the world in ten years.” She stopped at the curtain, glaring back at them. “I plan on conquering it in five.” Chrysalis threw the curtain aside. On the other side, Melody saw two things. One of them wanted to make her cry with relief.

The other made her and Verse both vomit on the spot.

“Verse… Melody…” Lily’s voice was weak and thin. She couldn’t even raise her head properly. Not that she could. Her neck was a ravaged stump of gory flesh that still oozed black, viscous blood down her front. One of her arms ended in a horrendous-looking stump. The other was bent, broken, and twisted into so many different angles Melody couldn’t even begin to comprehend what went where. She was missing a leg, as well. But this was laying on the floor a short distance away. What rested between the remainder of that leg and the ravaged remains of her other leg could hardly be told.

Melody almost fainted at the sight. Lily was alive, if one could call it that. Her blood spattered the carpet, stained her body, or continued to ooze from her wounds. She was cut, ravaged, broken, battered, bloody, and beat. Chrysalis had done unspeakable things to her. The queen smiled as she walked around behind Lily, curling her fingers into the matted locks of Lily’s hair. “Your mother has been suffering, as I promised her she would. But you can help her.” Chrysalis grinned evilly. “Bring three gods back, the three I say you should, and I’ll grant her death. A release. A mercy. It’s more than a vicious traitor like her deserves, and more than you two can give her right now.” Chrysalis grinned as she pulled Lily’s hair. With a rattling gasp, Lily stood on her one good leg, swaying from being so unbalanced. More of her blood spilled out onto the carpet, along with whatever was left inside Melody’s stomach.

“Okay!” Melody cried, tears coursing from her eyes. “We’ll do it! I swear we will! Just end it! End it now!”

“BRING THEM BACK!” Chrysalis roared. “BRING MY GODS BACK AND I’LL END IT! NOT BEFORE!” The lieutenants formed a half-circle around the two of them, pushing them into the bedroom. Melody sobbed as she stumbled forwards, feeling dizzy and uncoordinated. What little food she had had was gone, spilled on the carpet at the sight of her mother. Lily still gasped for breath, her bloody chest rising and falling. They had destroyed her completely. However long they had been here, Lily was suffering in the worst way imaginable. Melody didn’t have to look to know they had used her in every possible way.

But their one saving grace was Celestia and Luna. Around the two princesses was shining bubble. It lit the room with a warm glow, and inside, the two appeared untouched. Melody knew Chrysalis had tried to exact revenge on the princesses, but this shield had stopped them. The princesses were safe.

Lily was not.

“We… We need our hands.” Verse whimpered, holding his shackles up. Melody nodded, holding hers up as well.

“We need to use our magic to bring them back.”

“Know that if I die, the primes will go insane. Many more will suffer, much like your mother is right now.” Chrysalis’ tone was dark. “I doubt you’ll survive, either. These lieutenants will change into primes, and destroy both of you. Try anything, and I’ll drop her, letting her suffer on for however long the primes take.”

“We won’t defy you, Chrysalis.” Melody whispered. “Release our hands, and we’ll bring your gods back. We are yours to command. Just please, end our mother’s suffering.”

“Fine. Lieutenant. Unshackle them.” Chrysalis nodded to one of the changelings behind them. Melody offered her hands as the lieutenant undid the locks and pulled her cuffs off. She felt her magic again, blazing to life behind her sternum. She drew strength from it, energy. Verse was released as well.

Time stood still. They shared one look, one look only. Melody saw the fire in his eyes, and knew her own blazed similarly. Their mother was gone, as good as dead, but the plan remained. They were going to dethrone Chrysalis one way or another. And the two of them knew just how to accomplish that.

Melody whirled on the lieutenant. Her blast of magic ripped a fist-sized hole in his chest, and he went down fast as could be. Another lieutenant sprung at her, but she sheared him in half with a razor-thin line of her magic. The two halves slipped apart and landed with a sickening sound. Then the barrier went up. The other lieutenants were locked away. Verse and Melody were alone with Chrysalis. The queen barely lifted a muscle.

“Oh good job,” She muttered, dropping Lily. “Now she’ll suffer. Kill me if you want, but the primes will destroy that barrier and you two in less than a second.”

“We’re not killing you.” Verse slowly stepped forward, his hands glowing. Melody followed him. Chrysalis backed away from Lily’s body, letting her lay in the puddle of her own blood. “We’re replacing you.”

“What-“

“Mom,” Melody felt the tears come on again. She knelt in the puddle of sticky blood beneath her mother. Lily’s bloodshot eyes looked up at her, tears coursing down her face. “Relax. We’re going to give you peace.”

“Don’t you dare kill her-“

“Aah.” Verse stopped Chrysalis with one glowing hand. Chrysalis froze mid-step, her eyes wide. “We’re giving our mother some much-needed peace.”

“I still don’t get your plan. You gain nothing by killing her.” Chrysalis retreated, glaring at Verse angrily.

“Melody, do it.”

“Okay. Mom,” Melody leaned back over Lily, the tears still falling from her eyes. “I’m so sorry it had to be this way. I’m so sorry you had to suffer. I love you.” Melody gave her mother one last kiss on her dry, cracked lips. When she pulled away, her hand plunged downwards. With a hiss, she drove her hand straight through her mother’s heart. Lily jerked once and grew still. The light left her eyes, and she sagged into the carpet.

“I got it.” When Melody pulled her hand away, with it came an essence.

Lily’s essence.

“No.” Chrysalis’ eyes were wide. “You can’t. How could you? Only skilled changelings can-“

“We are skilled.” Verse cut her off, his hands still glowing. Chrysalis backed away, her wide eyes fearful. “And we are changelings.”

“NO!” Chrysalis roared. Her one hand opened and a brilliant bolt of green energy shot forth. Verse batted it away effortlessly. She cast another, and another. For each bolt she shot, Verse deflected it away and took two steps closer. Melody was just behind him, still carrying Lily’s essence in her hand. Verse was two feet in front of Chrysalis when he grabbed her one hand. Her magic died away, fizzling into non-existence. Verse pinned her against the wall, driving the wind from her lungs.

Outside, pandemonium erupted. Changelings screamed and pulsed forth. They flew up to the balcony and began beating on the barrier, but Verse’s magic was too strong. It held them at bay. Inside, it was just the five of them. Verse and Melody had Chrysalis pinned, while Celestia and Luna slumbered peacefully inside their own barrier.

Melody joined Verse’s side. Chrysalis was thrashing, but Verse kept her pinned as best he could.

“LET ME GO! RELEASE ME! I COMMAND IT!” Chrysalis was screaming hysterically. But her efforts were as a child’s. She couldn’t do a thing against Verse’s magic.

“Your soul is old and weak,” Melody said quietly. She cupped Lily’s essence in her hands, her tears still flowing fast and free. “You’ve lived for thousands of years, after becoming the next queen after your predecessor. Lily is young still. Barely even fifty years old. She’s kind and benevolent. Generous with everything she has. She’s more deserving to be queen than you ever were.”

“No!” Chrysalis grew still as she watched Melody raise the essence between them. “No, this can’t be! Anyone but her! She’ll ruin the horde! She’ll destroy us all!”

“She’ll make the horde, Chrysalis.” Verse growled.

“She’ll be a better queen than you ever were.” Melody dropped her tears into the essence. Verse lifted one of his hands to help cup the ephemeral orb beside her. Already, their hands were glowing. Chrysalis was frozen with fear. Melody and Verse met her eyes with their own.

”Chrysalis, your soul is forfeit. We relieve you.”

Their hands passed the essence into Chrysalis’ chest.

The light was blinding.