CHAPTER 1: NECESSITIES

The world was dark.

Wake up Chrysalis!

The words echoed in her mind.

Wake up! They repeated.

Chrysalis gasped, her eyes snapping wide as she leaned upward. She was young, no bigger than a little filly in pony size,  her green gangly mane in tatters as she took in a deep breath. She peered around curiously, her tiny body trembling as she did so. The black pegacorn struggled to her hooves, her tiny useless wings flapping voraciously, as if wishing to carry her off into the sky but unable to. Chrysalis coughed heavily, struggling to breathe, there was smoke spread about the entire area it seemed. As she winced trying to pertain what was happening, she realized there was also fire engulfing majority of the structures surrounding her. The black hive like kingdom was aflame, in ruins, and the smell was absolutely dreadful.

Her nose wrinkled as tears filled her eyes.

"W-What? What's going on?" She muttered in a frightened tone.

Chrysalis couldn't remember anything. As she gazed upward she noticed a broken balcony connected to large cocoon looking structure similar to a building. It was far up and she could assume she likely fell, how she survived such a drop she wasn't sure. She blinked a bit, wondering just how she got here, why was she here? The little changeling soon made her way deeper into the flaming kingdom, her memories failing her as she couldn't even remember what she was, or what was even happening. She couldn't even remember her family if she even had one, she was alone in this frightening new world, like a baby getting pulled from it's mother's womb, except lacking the comfort of the mother. As she trotted, her eyes grew wide with horror, surrounding her were the corpses of many changelings. Their green putrid blood spurted from the wounds of some, leaked from the others. They had tragic expressions as if they'd died with fear in their hearts.

They were slaughtered like defenseless animals. Chrysalis could feel the tears roll gently down her cheeks. She didn't even know these creatures, so why, why did she still feel connected to them in a sense. Maybe it was just the fact she was practically a filly being exposed to so much horrific violence. Maybe it was the fact she was one of them, and wasn't certain yet. She didn't question it, she merely let the tears come as she continued to trot. Who would do something like this?

She noticed some were clutching onto their young, even in death they held them close.

As her body trembled, she continued to cough and wince her eyes in discomfort. The smoke and fire wasn't making this any easier. She was just wandering along, not even sure where she'd end up. As she trotted she came to a steep drop, the edge of another destroyed cocoon like structure. Thankfully the smoke cleared around this area, allowing her to glimpse down at the scenery below, what she saw terrified her. The landscape, or more like the kingdom she was in, was in ruins, aflame, just like when she'd woken up, everything was destroyed for miles on end. The flaming kingdom bore similar colors to her, green and black, and the structures all seemed to be made of a thick substance, like the exterior of cicada's. She wasn't even sure why she felt this way, who were these things to her? As she looked down at her hooves, she could assume she was one of them, or something like them at least. This made her heart ache painfully, these were her fellows, slaughtered like this? Why then was she alive?

So many questions filled her mind.

"Ahahaha this is absolutely marvelous! The chaos, relish in it why don't you?!"

Chrysalis gasped, suddenly lowering her frame in response to a loud intimidating voice from below.

She peered down towards the origin of the voice. What she saw startled and confused her, standing there were three figures. One was a large hybrid looking creature, it bore the features of many different beings as if fused into one ultimate entity. He was cackling as his arms were spread in delight, he was frightening. The other two seemed more kind, they reminded Chrysalis of these creatures, except more beautiful, elegant, lovely. Ones mane was like a gorgeous rainbow, her coat a dazzling white, she had golden jewelry and what appeared to be the sun tattooed near her flank. The other had darker colors, a gorgeous blue mane that looked like it'd been sprinkled with the evening stars. Her coat was a darker shade of her mane, and she bore the marking of a crescent moon near her flank. Chrysalis continued to stare at the three creatures converse, they seemed just as powerful as they appeared strange to her.

The beautiful mares just gave the strange creature a intense look of discern as he smirked at them.

"Now now, don't look at me like that, you two started this you know, I'm just lending a hand."

The darker mare scowled at the creature as the white one held her back with a hoof. The white mare just sighed heavily before looking the creature in his eyes. "We take no pleasure in the genocide of these creatures Discord, you'd do best to remember that. This is simply a necessary evil, if these things, were to roam freely throughout the land, the consequences could be catastrophic!"

The mare stomped her hoof, "The very world of Equestria could be hurled into eternal disharmony!"

Chrysalis irked at the mare's words. Necessary evil, things, eternal disharmony? The little changeling looked back down at her hoof, as if inspecting it, curiously, desperately, was she really this horrific creature the mare described? Chrysalis's ears lowered somewhat, her expression sunk.

Am I really some evil creature?

The hybrid creature revealed as Discord just burst into laughter.

He suddenly summoned a floating throne and apple as he slithered atop of it, giving a smug smile towards the two mares and taking a bite out of his fruity delicacy. "Murder is murder Celestia, you'd do best to remember that. Instead of creating excuses how about you just accept it. This world is already in disarray, what is the point of fixing it, it's beautiful just the way it is!" He continued to laugh.

The darker mare snapped at him "Hold your tongue whelp! Or i'll-" Celestia sighed, nudging her and shaking her head. "It's fine Luna, don't let him trouble you."

Chrysalis blinked, continuing to stare and listen, so the white one is called a Celestia, the dark one is a Luna, and the scary one is a Discord? Hmmmmm, what funny names.

Luna looked at her sister with saddened eyes. "But dear sister, he shows no respect towards you."

Celestia smiled softly at her "It's fine sister, it's Discord, he knows no better, you know this."

Luna nodded in contempt "Yes yes, but still, he refuses to learn."

Discord just continued to smirk at them as Celestia winced at him, hatred fueling her eyes "I know, if he continues down this path, we might have to resort to drastic measures."

Discord cocked a brow to this, then chuckling looking at Celestia "Ha, is that a threat?"

CRACK!

Luna, Celestia, and Discord immediately looked in the direction of the sudden noise. Chrysalis shuddered as she noticed she'd stepped on a small fragment of the broken structure, as her eyes met theirs, fear overwhelmed her. Oh no! She let off a small yelp attempting to scurry backwards but slipped. She fell and tumbled all the way down hitting the hard ground below, landing right in front of the three powerful beings. She was no more than a few feet away from them. She gasped, as she realized she'd just cornered herself, she was trapped! She looked at them hesitantly before turning around scraping at the walls, trembling, attempting to escape and climb back up to safety. She hopped continuously, as if jumping would get her back up there, at this point she was trying anything. Celestia, Luna and Discord just stared at her curiously for a brief moment before gazing at each other. Eventually Luna took a step forward "I'll take care of it sister."

She set her sights on the young changeling, gritting her teeth, and somewhat snarling at it.

Luna's horn started to glow a vibrant black color as she was preparing to cast a fatal spell on the changeling.

Discord just continued to smirk as Celestia shook her head "Wait, stop sister!"

To this both Discord and Luna raised a brow at Celestia as the color from Luna's horn faded. "What is it?"

As Celestia looked at the little changeling attempting to cling to life, overwhelmed with fear as she constantly attempted to climb the wall. Her heart ached, and her expression sank dramatically.

She proclaimed "I want to take this one back to Canterlot."

Luna gasped "WHAT?!" as Discord just crossed his arms with a peek of interest "aha, so you've had a change of heart. A little late for that, isn't it Celestia?"

Celestia looked at them, as if pleading for them to understand "I realize your concerns, but I've been thinking. I don't want to have to resort to something such as this ever again. Just; hear me out, although there is much we do know about these creatures there is also much we don't know. Perhaps there is a way to fix them, change them, we have to at least try. This little one can be used for research purposes."

Discord smirked, eyeing the desperate changeling once more before giving Celestia a simple nod of approval "I admit, I see where you're coming from Celestia. Although I doubt these creatures will ever turn out the way you wish, it doesn't take the fun out of trying hm? Go on, take your pet, I do look forward to the results of your little science project."

Celestia looked at Discord with relief, as if happy he understood. "Thank you Discord," she then looked to Luna, desperately, pleadingly. Luna was a little more personal about these creatures. They attacked her subjects in the night, feeding off them like parasites, and impersonating them afterwords, she gritted her teeth in contemplation, wincing somewhat.

Luna sighed heavily as she looked up at Celestia with a worried expression "Sister, I trust your judgement. But are you certain you want to take one with us, to our very home?" She looked over at Chrysalis with disgust. "If it escapes, it can hurt somepony."

Tears filled Chrysalis's eyes, she lowered her head, Luna's words struck home.

Celestia also peered over at the frightened changeling, thinking for a brief moment before nodding at Luna. "Yes sister, I truly believe with enough effort we might be able to find out how to deal with them in a more passive sense. Please, just trust that I'll do the right thing."

Luna couldn't deny she disagreed with her sister. But she just nodded in contempt, trusting her decision.

Discord could care less, he moved over beside Celestia with a slight shrug.

Her decisions, her consequences, he smirked.

With this Celestia smiled "Good then, now come, let us capture the poor thing before it gives itself a heart attack." The three of them began their approach towards Chrysalis.

Chrysalis's eyes widened as she saw the three of them get closer and closer, she shook her head in defiance, pressing back against the wall, hugging it as if begging it for protection. No, please, I don't want to go with you all! The closer they got the smaller she seemed, she just gazed up at them as Celestia looked down at her, then nodding to Luna who sighed heavily before casting a spell on the changeling.

Chrysalis cried out "I didn't do anything wrong!"

Luna muttered "Now that's funny." Chrysalis blacked out.

As she awoke she found herself in a room of some sort, more like a prison cell. It was dark, dirty, and the floor & walls were made of concrete. Chrysalis's heart raced, she ran over to the bars of the cell and attempted to escape, her efforts were futile. She looked left and right, she couldn't pertain where the halls led, there was no telling where she was. Tears filled her eyes as she screamed "Hello!?" She paced back and forth before repeating "Hello?! Can, Can anyone hear me?....I, I need help!" There was no response, only the sound of her cries echoing down the hollow corridors. Chrysalis lowered her head solemnly, she looked at her hooves, small abnormal holes in them as she thought to herself what am I? She thought back on what Luna and Celestia said, referring to her kind, her, as some, thing.

She winced, as suddenly she heard the sound of ponies talking above.

Chrysalis gazed up at the ceiling, she could hear what sounded like a party or gathering of some sort. She stood on her back hooves and yelled "Hello!? Can any of you hear me? I'm trapped down here! Please help me!" She felt hopeful at first, but as she realized none of them could hear her, her expression sunk. She lowered her head, sighing heavily before just going to the corner of the cell curling up. She sniffled as she remained in the dark room, alone and confused, waiting.

Up above Celestia and Luna were tending to guests at a Canterlot ball. The many ponies gathered there were enjoying themselves, the sound was somewhat torturous to Chrysalis, deep inside she wanted to join them somewhat, but she knew that was impossible. As Princess Celestia was conversing with some of her guests she eyed Luna, muttering "Luna, have you seen Discord anywhere?" Luna shook her head approaching her sister "No, do you wish for me to go find him?" Celestia shook her head "No it's fine, he's probably just out and about causing trouble. Hopefully not too much."

Luna nodded in agreement, and continued to enjoy herself.

As Chrysalis remained alone in the darkness, sniffling, she heard the sound of light chuckling.

Her eyes widened as she called out "W-Who's there?"

Emerging from the darkness was none other than Discord, he smirked at the little changeling "Aha, now isn't this just tragic. Look at you, down here alone, locked up like some pitiful creature, meant to be hidden from the world. A living shame, a mistake, that needs to be fixed."

Chrysalis trembled, closing her eyes and covering her head with her hooves.

Discord laughed "Do not worry, I am not here to hurt you, in truth, I am here to give you praise."

Chrysalis looked at Discord curiously, puzzled by what he just said. "P-Praise?"

Discord nodded "Yes, praise, you see, Celestia doesn't see much in creatures such as us often. She sees what she calls disharmony, misbalance, mistakes that need to be corrected. I was the first you know, the first mistake she was willing to correct." Discord crossed his arms with a smile "It seems you've earned second place."

Chrysalis looked at him puzzled, confused "M-Mistake? T-Then I have a chance to prove I'm not bad?"

Discord smirked "Oh, you will try, but you will come to realize these ponies, they shun things such as us. You cannot earn their acceptance, you will only find chaos down such a path, chaos and grief. But it doesn't have to be all bad, you see i've come to accept what I am, be grateful for it, I have powers beyond their wildest dreams, it matters not what such primitive creatures think."

He shrugged "You will come to realize that with time, you will do what you must."

Chrysalis stood defiantly, stomping a hoof "N-No! I will prove that i'm not some monster!"

She snapped angrily "I can be just as normal as them!"

Discord's eyes widened, he grinned "Oh I like you, ohoho, you will prove to be fun indeed." He began to fade as he cackled humorously "Celestia has made a powerful enemy on this day, ahahaha. Farewell strange creature, I doubt i'll see you anytime soon. I have much chaos to ensue. I do wish you luck."

With that, the hybrid creature was gone.

Chrysalis gulped, nodding at she stared determined at the ground "I will prove to them, I'll prove to them all, I'm not just some monster. Just wait and see, I'll show them, i'll show them all." She looked up listening to the laughter of everypony above "I'm not some heartless thing, or evil, I'm just me." Next Chapter: Chapter 2: Preparation Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 54 Minutes