A/N: Hey, readers! I have an update before the turn of the century came! *gasps* Shocking, right?! Please don't kill me.

Thanks to hirodachi for betaing!

As always, read and review! Enjoy!


"Never."

Pit's face contorted into a grotesque snarl, and he leapt at her, abandoning all weapons in order to choke the Equestrian princess. Twilight smacked at his face, a stinging red welt growing on the angel's cheek. She clawed at his hands, kicking hard at his abdomen, yet he remained persistent. The angel's eyes had gone from a sky-blue to a murderous mucus-green, fangs sprouting out of his mouth.

Ike let out an ungodly shriek, then wrapped his hands around Pit's waist, attempting to haul the brunette off Twilight, and the two Hylians ran to help Ike. Pit screeched, a blood-curdling noise, beating his wings against the three Smashers, raking Twilight's neck with his fingernails.

The angel was eventually pried off of Twilight, but he kept fighting against the two men restraining him. Twilight coughed, rubbing her scratched neck, while Zelda assessed her damage. Marth merely blinked, immune to the world.

And then Pit relaxed. He no longer struggled, but stood there with a malicious smirk adorning his baby face. Twilight was thoroughly creeped out, and shocked. Despite how violent these people were, she'd never expected attempted murder.

"What is your problem," Link shouted. "You know that people can die out here, Pit! It's not like the stages!"

Pit smirked at the blonde. "Oh, I know, precious. I wouldn't waste my time if they couldn't." Link inhaled sharply, stunned at the angel's harsh words.

"Pit, what is going on," Zelda asked, a mixture of emotions running across her face. "Why are you doing this?"

Pit glared at Twilight, the horrible green eyes stabbing at her soul. "She ruined everything for me…Cast me out, made me a joke of a ruler, hurt my subjects…"

Twilight blinked. "But…we haven't even met…"

Pit grinned. "You're so naive, little princess. You're failing as both a princess and a clever pony. And you're going to drag all your pathetic little friends down with you."

Twilight stood, glaring at Pit. "You're wrong! I've been doing all I can!"

"Oh, please!" Marth stood, rolling his eyes at Twilight. "You've been rather lax on this entire mission, haven't you? Oh, sure, you've 'looked for clues,' but really! Anyone who read anything about Equestria could have figured it out! You're just a dumb horse with nothing except magic going for you!"

Twilight reeled back in shock, friends protesting, Pit smirking his evil smirk. Marth yelled back, and the chaos grew in the room, everybody screaming to be heard. Pit was relishing this mounting fight.

Twilight's mind raced, looking for anything that might lead her to some conclusion. Mistress, a woman in a position of authority or control. Other terms for women in control: boss, queen, ruler… Hold on. An Equestrian villain…a female…Nightmare Moon…or…

"QUEEN CHRYSALIS!"

Everything ground to a halt, and stares locked themselves on her. Pit suddenly didn't look so confident.

"Huh?" Ike stated eloquently.

"Queen Chrysalis," Twilight repeated, smirking straight at Pit. "I figured it out. This 'Mistress' we've been hunting is actually the Changeling Queen Chrysalis! Which means…You must be her, not Pit!" She pointed accusingly at the angel.

Pit rolled his eyes. "Well, perhaps you're not so inept after all." Suddenly green flame engulfed him, blowing Link and Ike back into the wall, releasing their grip on the changeling.

What stood there was no longer Pit, but a very tall, very pissed, Queen Chrysalis. She was human, yes, but her black appendages were full of holes. She wore a long, swamp green evening dress that matched her hair, with light green chest armor over it. Knee-high black boots adorned her legs, and a small green tiara sat on her head. Two wispy, see-through wings protruded out of her back.

Zelda gasped in surprise, the other two male warriors got into a battle stance. Marth had tuned out of the world, receding into his own world of thought. Twilight, though triumphant, was surprised that Chrysalis revealed herself that easily. Then again, she hadn't exactly been hiding it that well, trusting the guise of Pit to cover everything for her.

Link growled. "Where in Hylia's name is Pit?!" He advanced threateningly towards Chrysalis.

Chrysalis cackled. "Your annoying little goody-goody angel is half dead, in a place you'll never find him." She turned back to the alicorn princess. "Give up, Twilight Sparkle. Your pathetic friendship has no power here. Only ruthlessness, strength, and skill as a warrior, all of which you lack."

"I'd beg to disagree," Twilight countered. "I've won in all the tournaments, and made many friends, and found all of them bound by the bonds of true friendship! And I'll win against you with the help of my friends here! I've beaten you before, and I'll do it again!"

Chrysalis smirked. "In a place such as this, where friendship is strong enough to feast upon, but weak enough to shatter when tested, I am queen. You are nothing out here, Twilight Sparkle. Here, there is nothing to save you from death, no items, no glowing lights, nothing. This is not a stage brawl, dear pony. This is life or death. And you will lose."

Ike charged Chrysalis, pissed off by her words, slashing wildly at the changeling. Chrysalis elegantly dodged the bluenette's attacks, revealing skill that had manifested since Twilight had saw the queen last. Link quickly jumped in, their warrior instincts taking over as they attempted to land a blow on Chrysalis.

Twilight didn't know what to do, internally panicking. On the one hand, she hated Chrysalis and everything she had put Twilight's friends through. On the other, she had never seen someone killed before. She knew death existed, but…she wasn't comfortable with actually killing something. Slowly she realized how truly terrifying her friends were. They were killers, forged in an environment where it was life or death every day, kill or be killed. The thought made Twilight slightly sick, and she took a step back, reeling with discomfort.

Chrysalis took advantage of Twilight's hesitation and grabbed her by the purple hair, throwing her at her friends. Twilight let out a surprised shriek as the two warriors dropped the fight to catch Twilight. Chrysalis cackled and escaped up the rickety ladder into the crawlspace, disappearing into the black above the ceiling. Link yelled and scrambled after her.

Twilight breathed heavily, stunned, while Ike held her up with his sturdy arms. Link eventually return, shaking his head and climbing down the ladder gloomily. Silenced reigned among the room of Smashers.

"Well," Marth said crankily. "That was messed up."