The Chrystal Heart Saga:
Sweet Hearts and Princesses
Summary: Dismayed by the price of royalty, a changeling princess turns her back on her heritage and unintentionally falls in love while trying to build a life for herself. Will she return to her people, or will this newfound independence make her turn her back on her species forever?
Pairings: Chrysalis/Shining Armor
A/N: This story takes place about 10 years before the Canterlot Wedding Episodes. It serves as a prequel to another story I have written called 'A Queen's Lament.' Though the two can be read as standalones they are connected. Just a quik fyi!
Prologue
Chrysalis did not want to be the Queen of Changelings.
At 16 cycles-old she did not want that responsibility or all those voices in her head. She could barely sort through her own emotions most days, so how was she supposed to handle the added weight of the hive mind? The queen was the Colony Mother and the Colony Mother lived to protect and provide for her changeling subjects.
The thing that truly upset the Changeling Princess was her title's rite of passage. A rite of passage she wanted no part in.
The changeling guard stared at his princess grimly. No changeling truly knew the time when the present highness would cease and merge with her offspring, but one could always tell when the time was near. And the past few months had disturbed the royal guards more than anything else in their lifespan. There was a reason changelings respected their monarchs so.
"My mother wished to see me," Chrysalis stated raising her teal colored head regally. Nodding at the dark colored pegacorn, the guard moved aside to allow her entrance.
Taking a deep breath, the Changeling Princess prepared herself for whatever her mother wished to speak to her about. As of late, Chrysalis had begun to notice the subtlest of oddities about Queen Imaga. Frankly, they unnerved the normally confident teen making her solemn and the tiniest bit fearful. She could tell that whatever was the matter she was right to be worried.
Using her abilities to open the door, Chrysalis' eyes brightened as her small gnarled horn became incandescent with her underdeveloped magic. Moving through the obsidian doors of her mother's chambers, the insect-like filly could barely contain her gasp as eyes much like ice in terms of color and feeling burned through her with faint familiarity.
The Queen's chambers were huge and elegantly furnished in hornet's obsidian. The door closed behind her and the adolescent was a bit surprised to find that her mother was not alone. A healer stood beside the queen's bed with a grave expression on her dark features as she monitored Imaga. The Princess did not like the nervous twitch of her wings and wished she knew what was going on.
"Chrysalis," her mother intoned in a hiss turned purr. Hair the color of chocolate fell over the Queen's shoulder complimenting her midnight blue colored body. The chitin that covered her mid-section was the same icy hue of her eyes. Sharp eves narrowed, studying their newest visitor. Imaga appeared to be the picture of royalty draped across her bed of silver colored silk, but Chrysalis wasn't so sure. As a changeling she was an expert in the many nuances and tastes of emotion. As a princess her mind was connected to her mother's in a way the others were not. Something was not right and the nervousness of the healer only made her more nervous.
The young Princess tried her best to appear unaffected by this frigid version of her highness. Standing the tiniest bit straighter, she puffed out her chest in an attempt to appear more confident. "Mother," She addressed, harlequin eyes alert with caution and concern.
The Queen tilted her head appearing thoughtful. Rising to stand on all fours, the leading monarch stood tall stretching her transparent like wings. Like all changelings, her teeth were fanged and her hooves were riddled with holes. But because she was royalty, the Queen was a taller and willowy pony. Like her daughter, her horn was long and gnarled.
"Do you realize how fortunate you are?" Her mother asked lazily. "Princess of such a voracious race... An adaptable race…" She strutted forward with a predatory gleam in her deadening eyes.
Chrysalis fought the urge to move backwards. "I am a-aware of our gifts, my Queen." She must have said something wrong because her mother's gaze turned murderous as she stopped her advance to glare at the filly in front of her. Her icy colored wings fluttered in anger creating an almost shrill buzzing.
"But you do not appreciate them… or me."
"M-mother?" This time she did stumble back disturbed by the iciness of the Queen's tone.
"She is my daughter!" The queen's head turned as she snarled to some invisible pony. "Chrysalis is young, but she is also capable." The pony being talked about was beyond uncomfortable. Who was she talking to?
Her mother continued. "Her thoughts are mine as are the rest of the hive…" And as if some great and horrible secret had been revealed to her, Imaga's expression went from shock, to hurt, to furious. "Yes… Yes… It all makes sense now!" She hissed, attention completely on Chrysalis. "You stupid girl! You are unfit to partake of our legacy! You will not usurp us!"
"Mother!" Chrysalis cried fearful for her life and her mother's health. The Queen was obviously insane! " That's not true! I would ne-"
The Princess was knocked onto the ground as her mother's body slammed into her, causing her to gasp in pain as she landed on her wings wrong. Despite their frail appearances, changelings were strong and just as durable thanks to their chitin armor. Groaning, the filly was trying to focus on the mare who attacked her instead of the discomforts of her wings.
The Queen's eyes glowed brightly, almost blending with the whites of her eyes. "You don't think I hear you whispering poison in my mind?" She screamed enraged that the filly beneath her would try to deny her guilt. "Insane Imaga, Insane Imaga… Plotting against me- trying to drive me mad? You insolent bitch, after all I sacrificed…"
Chrysalis had never been more afraid for her life at that moment. "Mother, what's the matter with you! I wouldn't!" She pleaded as the queen's hooves pinned her down, forcing her to stare up into unhinged eyes. Who was this mare atop of her and what happened to her stern and composed mother?
Her thoughts must have echoed within Imaga's mind, because suddenly the Queen was laughing madly as her gnarled horn began to charge with power. "Clever Chrysalis, Mommy's not here right now- You answer to our Queen now."
Chrysalis shuttered and grunted, twisting pitifully underneath the stronger pony. She could feel whatever ailed Imaga touching her mind as well, making her truly afraid. Her mother intended to kill her and there was nothing she could do to save herself. Just when she thought the queen would fry her with her magic, a whiz of magic streaked through the room.
A burst of blue lightening engulfed the unhinged Queen making her snap her head back in pain and surprise. Harlequin eyes widened in terror and relief as the monarch atop of her seized and reared as bright currents of magic ran through her making her clench her teeth. Slumping forward unconscious as the tingles of the bright magic faded, Chrysalis groaned at the added weight of her mother before using her own magic and hooves to push the fainted monarch off her.
The Changeling Princess lay there gasping as her heart raced loudly in her chest. Her confused filled gaze locked onto the hard expression of the royal healer whose horn was still smoking from the powerful immobility spell she'd cast.
Where was the guard, Chrysalis thought wildly moving into a sitting position as she wasn't in the right mindset to stand. "You've… killed her… you've killed my Mother."
"No, I brought her back to herself. She will wake momentarily." And just as the healer said Imaga began to stir, shakily rising to her hooves. Despite the relief for her mother's recovery, the Princess was still rooted by her fear.
The Queen's eyes now cleared of their delusions, stared at her flesh in sorrow. "Chrysalis," She sighed tiredly wanting to assure her daughter but weary of her fear-filled eyes. "We must talk." Imaga closed her eyes as she dipped deeper into the hive's mind.
Odonata's , the healer who saved Chrysalis' life, blue eyes glowed as she responded to her ruler's mind interacting with her own. "As you wish it, my Queen." She bowed in response to the other mare's request.
"Make no mistake, for I do not wish these things."
The healer nodded as she excused herself from her ruler. On her way out she shared a comforting glance with the princess.
Pushing through her hindquarters, the filly now stood on all four hooves. Her bright eyes regarded her mother with wariness and question. She opened her maw to speak but found she could not voice her thoughts.
"What you saw, unfortunately, is something quite common towards the end of a changeling queen's rule- A side effect of the hive mind."
"Side effect?" The Princess sank back down on her hindquarters as a wave of sickness washed over. "You can't be serious! But I've never heard of this before!" Chrysalis stuttered raking her brain for any insistences or recorded information of the hive's main source of communication hurting a changeling.
Imaga's smile was as sad as it was genial. Her flesh was always obsessed with knowledge. "No you wouldn't have as it is something that only affects the queen due to our extended lifespan." The Queen opened her maw to say more, but was interrupted by Odonata's return, who had another changeling in tow.
Chrysalis blinked as an adult changeling walked forward to kneel before her mother. She could feel the fear and determination rolling off the mare as her blue eyes were resigned with pride and the smallest hint of fear. Imaga's maw was drawn in a tight line as she regarded the brave soul in front of her.
"Kira Wynn, we thank you for your sacrifice. With your strength this Queen of the Changelings, as well the queens to come, will always pay tribute to your brood."
The mare rose with a serious expression on her face. "It is my honor to serve the hive and pay tribute to you your highness."
Chrysalis watched the exchange, for once completely unconcerned with formalities and the other's opinions of her un-royal behavior. Her brow was furrowed in confusion and when she realized what was to come, she did not want to see. Odonata must have sensed her intentions and quickly intercepted, holding her in place with her bright blue magic.
"See the hive's sacrifice for its queen!"
Imaga's eyes glowed brightly as did her twisted horn. Kira Wynn watched with wide eyes as the Queen's magic leaked forward surrounding her in blue fire. At first, the feel of the magic was slight and maybe even pleasant. But as the mystic energy increased, so did the pain.
Chrysalis wanted to close her eyes as the poor mare began to thrash and whimper as her mother's magic grew brighter and brighter. Before long the poor pony was screaming as her skin began to lose its dark hue due to the dark magic stealing her energy.
Imaga wanted to feel sorry for taking the young mare's life force to help her fight her own psychosis but the hive was more important than any one changeling, especially the guilty conscience of a queen. She could feel Kira's magic returning to her reserves pushing away the thoughts and paranoia that betrayed her true age. When she was done, the body of Kira Wynn was swallowed by the flames before slumping to the ground unceremoniously.
All that remained was the lifeless husk of one of her 'children.' She looked up to her flesh with a serious expression on her regal face. "What is to come you may not like but you must be brave. I had to do it as did my mother and her mother. You must complete your rite of passage, or more will have to sacrifice as Kira Wynn."
Tradition dictated that this transition was the price of royalty and a burden only a monarch should carry in return for her subjects' loyalty. Emotional blackmail to ensure the rite be completed and to teach the aspiring monarch the most imperative thing about their position: the hive is more important than any attachment. Only through this act could the future Queen's power reach maturation as centuries worth of knowledge was passed down once she absorbed her predecessor's magic.
Tonight, Imaga had informed her daughter of her fate as well as what she could expect once her reign was to draw to an end. The very thought of those unmentionables made her sick.
The distraught pegacorn barely missed colliding with a changeling soldier as she tore down another hall blinded by feelings of desperation and hopelessness. Her mother, Queen Imaga, was strong- is strong. She was not crazy and Chrysalis was not ready to be Queen.
Selfishly, she was not ready to sacrifice herself in the name of the changelings. Selfishly, she did not want to be responsible for the death of her mother.
Chrysalis had wasted no time fleeing from her mother's throne room. Fifteen minutes later, she found herself halted by the hive's royal guard.
"Your Princess demands that you stand down," She commanded with narrowed eyes.
The three changeling guards before her were grimly apologetic as they put their hooves down and maintained their defensive positions. "We're sorry, Princess, but the Queen demands it." The leader of the trio hovered a head above the others readying his magic to immobilize the future queen.
The adolescent pony could see the dark desert sky through the hive's main entryway. If she stayed here, there was no telling what she would be forced to do, or see. Chrysalis knew she was important to her mother, but she also knew the Queen's dedication to her race. What she did not understand was how her mother thought she was ready to be entrusted with such a major responsibility.
The changelings before her were experienced fighters and there was no way she would be able to take them on all by herself. One alone would be a hard-pressed victory but three was a sure path to defeat.
Studying her foe with shrewdness beyond her maturation, the changeling filly knew she had to act fast before more guards arrived. As she bared her fangs in determination and flattened her ears in a show of aggression, Chrysalis, for the moment, was glad she was a princess. It gave her an edge in the magic department that these changelings had no clue about. Launching herself at the hovering guard, the Princess let loose a bright blast of green magic that hit the floater head on blinding the others on impact. Crashing into the disoriented guard, the two were a mess of limbs as they hit the ground rolling and snarling atop of each other.
The other two guards had managed to see through spots in their vision only to see two changeling guards snapping and attacking each other.
Confused, the two nodded at each other deciding to wait for the victor.
Of the two fighting, one lunged forward with a growl knocking the other on its back with a strong stiff shoulder. Rolling with the fall the downed changeling drew its hind legs to its chest, retaliating by shooting its hooves into the other's chest when his attacker moved to follow-up.
Surprised by the force of the hit, the aggressor ignored the pain that shot through his body as he hit the hive's walls rolling onto his hooves once he touched the ground. Before he could attack, he was stunned by a blue bolt of magic that hit him right between the eyes causing his form to shift.
Green fire surrounded the recovering changeling as Chrysalis was revealed. A horrified look overcame the princess' face as her form changed. Harlequin eyes stared at her captor in a mix of shock and anger.
The changeling guard was already in an attack posture as he regarded his monarch with a smug grin. "Stand down, your Highness," he mocked to the ire of the teal haired filly.
With a scream of frustration, Chrysalis was ready to attack again, only for the other two guards to intervene taking her down like professional athletes. "Let me free!" She screamed thrashing wildly, bright eyes incensed by their nerve.
"Vadek, do something!" One grunted trying to hold down the desperate pony.
The Princess was a screaming mess as the guards tried to subdue her. The other guard known as Vadek stood tall as he used his glandular secretion sap to bind her hooves together. As an afterthought, he spat the odd colored goo to shut her mouth too. "Take her to her Majesty," he commanded with a hard gaze.
Nodding, the two used their magic to transport the still struggling filly thankful that they could at least move without her screaming despite the fight still in her. Electric blue eyes stared after the group until they disappeared around another corridor.
With a sigh, Vader closed his eyes as green magic washed over him revealing his true form.
Chrysalis winced as her magic's energizing effects wore off causing her to stumble a bit. That Vader had got in some hard hits and now she was feeling every one of them.
Lucky for her, changeling royalty could manipulate another's metamorphic abilities through intense concentrations of magic like that. Only no one had ever used it to change a form, just to drop one. All changelings were born of the Queen's magic, making it possible for her and her flesh to manipulate that magic. There was no way she could've beaten that guard in a straight fight as his position gave him rights to abilities she wasn't as nearly proficient in
Her heart continued to race in fear and anxiousness as she pushed herself towards the exit breaking into a gallop. The Changeling Princess knew she had to move fast as it would not be long before her spell wore off on the changeling guard as well.
She would have to watch her reserves as the manipulation spell had taken quite a lot out of her due to inexperience.
'Impressive… But you can't run forever.'
The sound of her mother's voice startled her as she leapt into the night's air finally free of the hive's winding tunnels and Emerald sapped city. Insect-like wings carried the filly off as she flew through the desert that surrounded her mountainous homeland.
*QUIERO***TU***AMOR*
Two days later, the Changeling Princess found herself an ocean away from her homeland and far enough so that she could not sense the hive's mind. Her mother's mind was quite a different story as only death could sever their connection to each other. In her haste to put distance between herself and her kind, the young filly had yet to consider what to do with herself. Where would she go? What was she going to do? Chrysalis hated not having a plan, but she knew before she decided anything she needed to find a safe place to simply breathe.
The Changeling Princess had bypassed the flashy city of Las Pegasus and followed the river further inland, firm in her belief that she needed to consider her situation before doing anything else.
Despite her outer display of determination, on the inside the changeling was reeling from an onslaught of emotions she did not know what to do with. Two days ago she was a revered princess… Now she was a renegade, dismayed by the steep price required.
Stumbling forward, the Princess' harlequin eyes had dulled with fatigue. Her magic reserves were fine for the moment, but her body needed rest. If she wanted to keep both her physical strength up as well as her magic, then she would have to stop and sleep.
Chrysalis had pushed her physical abilities about as far as she could. She had not stopped moving afraid that Imaga would dispatch the guard to bring her back. She had specifically chosen Equestria because of the continents high population of ponies. If a changeling guard did come after her, at least she would be in a place where she could easily blend in and evade if she chose.
The teal haired filly took the time to observe her surroundings: a lush green forest. The sun was setting, meaning that whatever predators lived in this forested area would soon be out in search of a meal. Despite her helplessness in regards to her predicament, Chrysalis did not feel she would find any relief in death. Magically inclined or not, one could not survive an unknown forest half-dead on their hooves. Fighting to keep her eyes open, the dark colored mare was overjoyed to find an uninhabited cave to spend the night.
Tripping towards the end of the hollow, Chrysalis managed to gather some dry vegetation to make a small fire with. Setting up the twigs and plants, she also searched around for some medium sized stones to surround the kindling. Satisfied, with her modest fireplace, she lowered her gnarled horn to the dry materials and lit the brush with a spark of green energy from her horn. With a tired sigh, the Changeling Princess lowered herself near the fire, graceful still despite her fatigue.
She was out before her head hit her forelegs.
A/N: Though "A Queen's Lament" is finished, this story has a few more chapters left. With that being said, feel free to comment on all you like and don't like!