Only a few more chapters left of this story!
Chrysalis growled as Aria towered over her, and the purple siren snarled in return.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right now…" She huffed. Chrysalis bared her fangs.
"As if you could kill me, whelp." Aria gained an amused smirk.
"Wanna bet~?" She asked, placing a hoof on her throat.
"Indeed I do." She answered before a blast of magic shot out of her horn and hit Aria directly in the face.
"Agh!" Aria backed up off of the changeling queen and rubbed her face with a foreleg. Shooting up, Chrysalis shakily stood on all fours, her head lowered defensively.
"My, my…are we going to make the same mistake as the other two sirens?" She said tauntingly, motioning to Adagio and Sonata, who were down for the count. Sonata had passed out minutes ago, but Adagio was watching the scene with a varying mix of emotions. Aria glanced at the golden siren for a moment before looking back at the queen.
"You underestimate me." She said, a growl accompanying her voice.
"Oh, do I? Let me see, who was the one so easily manipulated? Who was the one who abandoned her loved ones in a lust for power? Who's the one who fell so easily into my trap and then was tossed out to the curb? Oh yes, that was you." She said with the cockiest of grins. "I don't think I could underestimate you if I tried. You're just too predictable." Aria's rumbling growl became louder.
"That's enough outta you!" She snarled. "If you want a fight, then fine! Come and get it!"
"Oh my, this'll be fun~" Chrysalis grinned, stepping forward. She then stopped immediately, and a frown overcame her expression. "Wait…what's this?" She said before looking down and tapping her gemstone with a hoof. "Why can't I feel your hate? What did you do?!" Aria smirked.
"Because I'm not angry with you. I feel no negativity towards you or anyone here."
"But you are obviously angry! I should be able to feel it!" Aria chuckled and shook her head.
"You don't understand siren magic at all, do you?" She said. "It's not a free-for-all. You cannot feed if somepony is only angry at themselves." Chrysalis blinked in disbelief.
"At…themselves?"
"Yes. Everything here, this all happened because of me. Therefore, I am the only one to blame. If I'd never accepted your offer, none of this would've happened, and you'd still be in your hovel of a cave." She huffed. "And siren magic only works when there's a dispute. When disharmony is sown between two creatures. It can't come from one creature. So, your little gemstone there? It has no effect on me." Chrysalis seethed.
"Damn you!" She growled. "No matter, though. I can simply take you down with all the negativity I've already stored!" And, with that, a blast of magic shot from her horn in Aria's direction. The purple siren easily maneuvered out of the way and flew at Chrysalis, who responded by shifting back into a siren to match Aria's size. This time, it was Sonata. Chrysalis had figured that a creature was less likely to hit as hard when staring into the face of one they loved. This gave her an advantage in most cases, like when she'd faced off with Sonata. With a growl, Chrysalis flew directly at Aria as well, and they met halfway, ramming into each other at high speed. 'Sonata' began snapping at Aria as the purple siren began doing the same to her. Chrysalis was aiming anywhere she could to injure the siren, but Aria had a specific place in mind. If she could get at that one place, this fight would be over in less than a second, and the threat would be completely diminished.
Aria let out a snarl as she felt the siren impostor's fangs dig into her side, and she forcefully yanked herself away, which she regretted immediately when it ended with a tear in her flesh. With a huff, she glared at Chrysalis, who was hiding behind the face of her former mate. Chrysalis, however, was confused. How come her strategy wasn't working? Aria just kept going at her without hesitation, despite her looking like Sonata. Perhaps she didn't care about the blue siren as much as she thought. Either that, or she's probably the most sensible creature here. Too bad. She could've been a great asset in moving her plans along. She just had to ruin everything, didn't she?
Chrysalis snarled at Aria, who responded by snarling right back as she eyed the shape-shifter's gemstone. There. Quick as a whip, Aria darted forward, aiming towards Chrysalis' chest. But Chrysalis acted on the defensive and snapped at the purple siren when she got close enough. Aria maneuvered out of the way and flew directly behind Chrysalis. When the shape-shifter turned around, she was caught by surprise when Aria immediately lunged for the gemstone embedded in her chest. Adagio's eyes widened as she watched. Of course. Why didn't she think of it before?! The gem holds all of her artificial siren powers. If it were to be removed…
Adagio's eyes then flickered as she looked over and saw none other than a lone changeling just standing there and watching the two fighting as well. What was it doing? Why was it just standing there? And why was it so…small? Adagio growled softly. If that thing tried to make a move, then she'd show it the meaning of pain. With that in mind, she looked back towards the fight.
Chrysalis screeched at Aria as the purple siren snapped at her chest, the impostor using her forelegs to hold her at bay. No. She wouldn't end this way. She had to do something. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of her dear younglings on the ground, simply watching. She breathed a small sigh of relief.
"Child, help me!" She yelled. The little changeling lowered his ears slightly and looked around, making sure it was him that she was talking to. "Now! Blast her! Do something!" The changeling was torn. Should he be? Absolutely not. Loyalty to the brood always came first. But he was torn. Should he help his dear broodmother and, in the process, hurt his new friend? Should he not do anything and see how the fight unfolds and, in the process, either watch his broodmother loose or get a scolding and punishment after she wins? What should he do? He looked between the two. The broodmother had kept him in that cave for so long, and he was finally able to get a taste of freedom because of Aria. But broodmother had always protected him. Then again, so had Aria in the time he knew her. Even when she found him to be rather annoying. He took a few steps back. He didn't know who to choose. What to do. Chrysalis growled.
"You imbecile! Traitor! Will you not help your own leader?!" Okay, he knew now. Furrowing his brows slightly in anger, a small blast emitted from his horn. It shot straight out and hit Chrysalis in the side of her head. It wasn't much of a blast, but it sure was a surprising distraction as it gave Aria all the leeway she needed as she finally was able to reach and grab ahold of the gem, causing Chrysalis to shriek in pain as it was embedded in her skin. Quickly, she transformed back to her original form, the stone embedded in her chest now becoming a simple pendant around her neck. Unfortunately, it was still in Aria's mouth, and Chrysalis's eyes widened. "No! Release it!" She cried, shooting a blast from her horn at Aria's face. Aria tried to move out of the way, and she almost did, but her ear got caught in the fire, and it left a hole in it. She groaned slightly in pain before growling in fury at the changeling queen. Immediately, she ripped the trinket off of Chrysalis' neck like nothing and dropped it to the ground. It landed soundlessly in the grass below. Chrysalis was about to fly down to get it, but before she could, the little changeling was on top of it, standing over it protectively. Both Aria and Chrysalis landed on the ground and looked at the changeling.
"There, there, child. Now, do the right thing and hand that over to your broodmother~" She said soothingly and invitingly, as if she hadn't just yelled at him. Aria flew forward a bit.
"No, kid! Don't let her have it!" The changeling stood firm where he was.
"My dear youngling…" Chrysalis cooed, taking a few steps forward. "Do the right thing and hand over that trinket…" The little changeling put a hoof on the gemstone. Chrysalis immediately became a bit angry. "Don't you dare…"
"C'mon, kid. Do the right thing, here. Do you think what she's doing is going to be better for anypony?" Aria continued, coming closer. The two were only a few feet away from him. Chrysalis stepped even closer.
"You know you want to give it to me, so just do it now." Finally, the changeling growled and shook his head.
"No!" And, with that, he reared up before bringing both hooves down on the stone, smashing it to pieces.
"No! How could you?!" Chrysalis cried, lunging at the youngling, but Aria immediately got in her way.
"Don't. Touch. Him." She seethed. Chrysalis backed away. She could already feel her power and energy draining.
"You…this is all your fault! If it wasn't for you, I'd already have every creature wrapped around my hoof! You've ruined everything! I needed this! My changelings needed this! And now…now we have nothing!" After her small rant, Chrysalis exhaled shakily before slumping to the ground, her legs tucked under her and her head hung dejectedly as the last of her energy was drained from her. Aria's body morphed so that she was in pony form, and she slowly walked up to Chrysalis. She stopped when she was directly in front of her, and looked down at her slumped form.
"There's another way, you know. You don't have to bend others to get what you want…" She smirked slightly. "I've had to learn that the hard way…twice." Chrysalis growled and lifted her head to get eye level with Aria.
"There is no other way. We naturally feed off of love. That didn't work. We were cast out. So, we tried to feed of the negativity that everypony just seems to feel for us. Even…even that didn't work. There's no hope for our kind…" Aria was about to speak, but Chrysalis interrupted her. "Look, just leave!" She said with a snarl, tensing up. "Before I bash your sorry face in!" Aria took a small step back, her eyes widened slightly.
"Chrysalis, you don't need to be this way. The ponies in Equestria are very accepting for the most part. If you need to feed on love, then talk to Celestia. Tell her that you regret what you've done. Surely she'll accept you once you've proven you're capable of being good and coexisting. That's what she did for us. If that happens, then you and your changelings would be able to live among ponykind, and you can share in their love. It'd be abundant, and you'd never need to worry about anything again. You…and your subjects. What do you say?" Chrysalis blinked a few times before glaring at Aria.
"You wanna know what I say, siren?" She bared her fangs. "I say rot in tartarus!" She snarled, leaning forward. "There's no way I will accept defeat and live amongst lesser creatures like ponies! Have you forgotten that I still have my entire changeling army behind me?! They'll never side with you, either!" Chrysalis then blinked in surprise as she looked past Aria at what used to be a battle, and was now rows and rows of changelings and royals guards alike watching the scene play out. She growled. "Changelings, what are you doing?! Aid your queen! Attack!" The various changelings looked to one another in silence, some of them buzzing their wings slightly as if a small form of communication. When they did nothing, Chrysalis stood up shakily and glared at them. "Changelings, listen to me! Do as I say! I am your queen! Who has protected you all these years?! Who has given you love?! Shelter?! Protection?! Me! So, listen to me now, and kill these impudent sirens!" Again, there was nothing but silence, until one changeling out of the crowd stepped forward.
"My queen..." She began, dipping her head respectfully. "...the purple one is right. All we've ever done is trick others and use their emotions against them. Bending their wills. Why can't we just...live in harmony...and feed off love naturally instead of forcing it. Surely that would be easier, and there would hardly be call for bloodshed..." Chrysalis jerked her head back at the response.
"So that's it? You follow me through thick and thin, but a few words from a measly, mediocre siren, and you suddenly have a change of heart?!" Chrysalis took a couple steps back. "How could you betray me like this?!" Aria gave her a stern look.
"They're not trying to betray you. They're thinking about the good of the brood. You're just too arrogant and stubborn to see that!" She spat. Chrysalis snapped her head in Aria's direction and growled.
"You stay out of this! This doesn't concern you!"
"But it does concern me." A calm, steady voice came. All turned their heads to see none other than Princess Celestia limping towards them. When she was only about a foot away from Chrysalis, she looked her straight in the eyes. "Queen Chrysalis...by law, I'd have you locked away for all of the misdeeds you have committed against Equestria. But...I am willing to give you a second chance, as I have for Sunset, and as I have for the sirens. Our kinds can form a treaty. A peace between our races, if you will. We can live in harmony. All you have to do...is agree." Chrysalis blinked before furrowing her brows.
"Psht, as if I'd make a pact with ponies. I've had enough of Equestria...and I've had enough of you." And, with that, she spat on Celestia's face. Slightly disgruntled, Celestia wiped her face with her foreleg before once again looking calmly at Chrysalis.
"So be it. But the path your walking...you'll walk alone." Chrysalis rolled her eyes.
"I doubt that..." She looked to the number of changelings amassed. "Come, my changelings!" Not one moved, and it was completely silent. Chrysalis stamped her hoof against the ground. "Changelings, come!" Again, nothing. "Is there none of you who wish to be sensible?!" Silence. Tired of the lack of response, Chrysalis turned away angrily. "You'll regret this day, you traitorous imbeciles!" Then, they all watched as she suddenly took off without warning and ran off. Aria tried to go after her, but Celestia stopped her.
"It's useless to try to sway her...but I'm sure she'll come around...someday..." Aria sighed and looked as the former changeling queen disappeared into the distance.
"How long do you think it'll take for her to come back with a revenge plan...?" She asked. Celestia looked over to the crowd of soldiers and changelings and huffed.
"Well, without her precious army, it'd be difficult. I don't think she'll be back for a long time..." She then turned to Aria. "Thank you, by the way. We'd never have won this battle if it weren't for you. When you'd fallen to the clutches of greed and a hunger for power once again, I thought you were a good-for-nothing. I now see I was wrong. As long as you don't revert back to that again, then you and I will remain on good terms from here on out." Aria smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, princess. I'll try to be better...now that I see what's really important..." Celestia nodded.
"I sure hope so. I'll leave you to it, now. I need to round up my army and find somewhere for these displaced changelings to live." Aria dipped her head slightly as Celestia walked off, and nearly jumped when she felt a hoof on her shoulder. She whipped around, and her eyes widened when she saw Adagio there, in siren form. Aria immediately transformed back into a siren in case she tried to attack her again. But she didn't. She just stayed still and stared at Aria. And her eyes...they held so many emotions. Too many to count. Finally, the golden siren decided to speak.
"Y-you know, I...I thought I was mad at you. I thought I hated your guts and wanted you dead, but..." Her eyes began to slowly water. "...seeing you again...and after doing what you just did, I...I..." She sniffled slightly and wiped her eye with the foreleg that wasn't hanging at an odd angle. Aria didn't need to hear any more words as she suddenly lunged forward and wrapped her forelegs around Adagio in a tight embrace. Adagio exhaled shakily and put her good foreleg around her in turn. "...oh, I missed you so much..."
"I missed you too, Dagi..." She whispered. "You...and Sonat-" Aria's eyes suddenly snapped open wide, and she released Adagio and looked around rapidly. "Wait, where's Sonata?!" She asked, looking back at Adagio. The golden siren's eyes became downcast, and she turned her head. Aria looked in the same direction, and she saw none other that the blue siren, lying on her side limply. Aria gasped and darted towards her, Adagio following close behind. Aria came to rest next to her, and she nuzzled Sonata's muzzle in an attempt to get her to open her eyes. "Sonata, I'm back...please, Sonata, open your eyes...I'm here...and I'll never leave again..." She said, nuzzling her neck.
"She's...she's passed out. From either pain or lack of air. We need to get her medical treatment." Aria looked up at her.
"L-lack of air? What do you mean?"
"Chrysalis broke a few of her ribs. I'm afraid that maybe a few of them had been pressing on her lungs. Maybe even punctured them. I hope I'm wrong..." Aria whimpered and pulled Sonata close to her before resting her head over her neck.
"Oh...this is all my fault...I'm so sorry..." She whispered before looking up at Adagio. "Will we need Zecora again?"
"I'd say so..." Aria sighed.
"Okay. Can you stay with her?" She nodded.
"I won't leave her side."
"Good..." Aria said as she took off, going in the direction of the striped pony's home.
So, now that we're close to the end of the story, what do y'all think? Was it worth the ride? (Probably not, lol)
Extra
As Shining Armor ran towards the castle, he was stopped by Celestia as she landed in front of him. He dipped his head respectfully.
"Princess Celestia, I got here as soon as I could!" He panted. "Where's the battle?! Where's Chrysalis?! Do you need my shield?!" He asked as his horn began to glow. Celestia chuckled.
"Put that magic away, Shining. You're no longer needed. The threat has been neutralized." She said as she began walking away. Poor Shining Armor was left standing there awkwardly, fumbling for words.
"But...b-but I...traveled so far..." He whined, lowering his ears.
