Princess Skyla awoke with yawn. She felt her soft, warm blanket on her, fluffy pillow under her head, but something was missing… But what? Skyla sat up, finding her room, as it always was. Pink crystal walls, pretty yellow curtains, all her favorite things, then she realized. It was so quiet . No sound was made. Not a peep from the foals of the kingdom outside. Not a glowing sound of the crystal heart a few doors down, not even a single clank of the guards uniforms. It felt so…. Empty and lifeless. The filly swung out of bed and ran to her shining mirror. She saw her changeling reflection and remembered everything. There was a knock at the door. It opened and a guard poked his head in. "Princess, the Queen wishes to see you." He said. "Do I have to go alone?" She shaked, recalling the talk from last night. "Get out now or we'll all be punished! The elder said. The filly trotted slowly out. She turned to look at her bedroom, but saw it was now had bare black walls, nothing in it. The girl backed away in shock, and bumped right into something. She turned to look up at a angry changeling and blushed in a grunted back, dragging her away down the corridor.
The guard and the princess walked down the halls in silence. "So… My room, how.. Did you see it do that?" The girl asked. There was a low grunt. "I'm guessing you did. How does it do that?" She asked, trying to look into the eyes of her companion who was looking straight ahead. A shrug told her to stop talking so she did. The guard grunted yet again a few minutes later, starting to annoy her now, at a elegant door, most likely another of the queen's. "Oh, well, thank-" She started to say, when she realized he was gone. "Really? What a bunch of cowards!" She groaned, walking through the door.
When she entered, she saw a long line of changelings in front of her, with the Queen pointing them out, if chosen, the changeling smirked at their fellow creatures. "Queen Chrysalis? What is this about?" Skyla asked. "Skyla! How did you sleep? Listen, today is a big day! So many things to do!" Chrysalis sighed. "Like what?" The filly asked. "Beginning your changeling training, finally starting your plan for revenge, and first up, choosing your main attendant." The Queen said, pulling Skyla closer. "An attendant?" The girl asked. "What a clueless pony you are! Don't tell me your mother never gave you some pony to be there by your side, who you trust the most, who will wait on your every need?" Chrysalis asked. "My parents didn't really believe in demanding ponies." Skyla said. "What a waste!" The Queen cried. "So, can I pick someone now?" Skyla said, hopping with excitement. "Of course! I've picked out some ruthless changeling that will help you with plans, and overall make you one of us." Her elder said, gesturing to the select few from earlier. Skyla scanned the line eagerly. She suddenly frowned at the end. "What wrong, child?" Chrysalis asked. "I just was hoping some one else would be here." She said. "Someone else?" Another changeling asked, raising his eyebrows. "May I pick someone not from the line?" Skyla asked. "Er, of course you can, dear, but wouldn't you prefer-" The Queen was cut off by the small thing beside her. "No, I'll pick him, thanks." Skyla butted in. Much to the queen's horror, the girl walked to the door, turned and said, "I'll bring him back for you." and left.
A few minutes later, the Queen was growling in anger. "That little brat! Who does she think she is? Leaving my choices like that!" She said, her fellow changelings trying to comfort her. "Yeah, who would she pick?" One servant asked. As if on cue, the door swung open and Skyla walked in, using her magic to pull a pegasus changeling along. To most, he was just another of them, no name, just a servant. To the Queen, it was another slave, but to the foal, he was the only friend she had here, to the little princess, he was an equal named Berry. The changelings snickered, and the Queen looked angry. "I've chosen my attendant!" Skyla announced, dropping Berry to the floor with a thud. "You are not having that as your slave." Chrysalis said, pointing to Berry. Skyla's eyes narrowed, her sweet smile turning to a evil smirk. "Oh, he's going to be my attendant, Chrissy, trust me about that!" She laughed. Berry edged away, having seen this happen before. The others took his lead, except for the Queen who chuckled. "So, dear, you finally want to have a go? Try me!" Skyla's grin broadened. "Oh, you've gotten yourself in big trouble." She said. She flew high in the air, her eyes turning a glowing green, her horn lit. She aimed at the Queen. The servants realizing how this girl could truly do something, ran to their ruler. "Fools." Skyla whispered. She fired not at the Queen, but at her rushing helpers. The changelings hoofs were covered in a green goo that they couldn't unstick themselves. The rigid child turned her glowing green eyes to the Queen. "Now you." She growled. The princess's eyes suddenly turned to the usual dark green. She gasped, closed her eyes, and fell. The other servants only watched with horror, trying to free themselves to catch the falling girl. Berry saw he wasn't glued to the ground and ran. He sprawled to the ground and the girl landed in his outstretched arms.
Breathing hard, Berry gave a genuine smile as the girl's eyes fluttered open. "Did I win?" She asked softly, sitting up and looking around. She saw her own subjects in the goo and gasped. "What happened?" The girl asked. "Skyla, you can have whatever you want if you can get that hatred on your enemies!" Chrysalis laughed, walking over and picking the filly up. "So.. He's my attendant now?" Skyla asked, pointing to Berry. "Of course! Now we can finally work on your revenge plan!" The Queen cried, pulling the girl away. "But you don't understand! I didn't-" She pleaded, but the Queen wasn't listening. Skyla looked back at the stuck changelings. "B- but what about them?" She said, looking up at the Queen. "Oh please! They don't matter!" Chrysalis waved the sight away. She turned her head to Berry, who looked utterly shocked still from being chosen as a royal attendant. "You! What are you gaping at? Show some respect for your princess! If you're going to be her helper, don't stare, you filth!" She said, walking out. "Yes! Do try, you.." Skyla started to growl, but she saw her only friend's shocked and almost, somehow, hurt face, and her own fell. "I.. I'm sorry.. I didn't mean it it's just.. Hard to be nice here, when all you're expected to be is-." She started, softly, helping Berry up. "Skyla! Where are you?" Chrysalis shouted from far away. "Oh well.. I got to go.. See you later, I suppose.." The filly said, turning to the door and sighing. After the girl was gone, Berry found his voice. "I understand.." He whispered.
Skyla ran down the hall to the sound of the queen's voice. "Sorry, um, might I ask you something? When can I be with my attendant?" She asked to the Queen. "When your need someone to do something for your plots, of course!" Chrysalis laughed, looking back at the glass orb from before. "Oh.. Yeah, of course.. When else?" Skyla asked, tentatively stepping towards the orb as well. "What do you mean? Maybe a traditional hoof massage.. Or perhaps some pony to command your army, the possibilities are endless!" The creature pondered. "What's that?" Skyla asked, pointing to the orb in front of her. "Ah! That is my gazing orb, child. I use it to watch my enemies, to see their strengths, weaknesses, everything I need to plot revenge on ponies I despise." Chrysalis said. "So, you can see any pony at all?" Skyla asked. "All you have to do is touch it, think of the pony you want to see and there they are." The Queen said. "Can I try it?" The filly asked. "So eager! But we have to work on your changing!" The elder said. "Okay.. Sure.." The girl sighed. "Oh come now, you shouldn't be so upset! You will begin your planning with your attendant tomorrow, okay?" Chrysalis said, pulling the little changeling with her.
"Now the first step to making your victim weak is seeing who they love and using it against them." The Queen instructed. The girl looked back to the orb in the doorway of the nearby room and sighed. "Skyla! Are you listening?" Chrysalis asked. "But of course, I just am wanting to do more then learn this!" Came through another sigh. "I know, that's why you're going to try it, not just sit here." The Queen said back. Skyla rose her head. "What do you mean?" She asked. The door opened and two changelings walked in, they were dragging with them a small figure. When the tiny thing looked up, Skyla realized it was only a little crystal filly about four by the looks of it. The changeling recognized her as one of the guard's children, she often saw the girl skipping around the palace even though it wasn't allowed for her to roam as she please, the brat had always followed Skyla around, asking her all sorts of questions, probably just to annoy me. Skyla thought. But when she looked down at the child, she didn't see the funny smile the girl had usually, only fear. She saw a flash of green light and groaned. "See? That what you need to stop doing, you can chose the pony's love one you will transform to, you can't right now.. I can't understand why though, you were just like a real changeling ruler in that room, what happened?" The Queen asked. "I don't know, I think it's only temporarily when it does that." Skyla flushed scarlet. Chrysalis groaned also. "Why is she here?" Skyla asked, pointing to the filly, who's love was transferring to the princess, even though she knew it wasn't her father, she still missed the sight of him. "This thing is going to help you grow strong, she's young and naive, fooled by anything, and that's why it's a start." The Queen replied. "B-but she's just a child! She's a living, breathing creature!" Skyla cried, drawing the filly slightly closer. "Do you think your parents cared that you were a child when they threw you in a dungeon?" Chrysalis asked. "They didn't know it was me!" The princess protested. "And yet! They wouldn't care, knowing that you were the enemy!" Chrysalis snapped. The room was silent. "I'm not their enemy." Skyla whispered. "You are though! Don't deny it, you want them to suffer! You're not the sweetness you always think you are, you're better than that." Chrysalis said. Suddenly the filly that Skyla had inched closer to backed away. "Please.. Don't hurt me! Please! I'm scared!" She cried. "You're afraid of me?!" Skyla asked. "Yes! Get away! Please just get away!" The girl sobbed, trembling. "You adore me! You basically worship the ground I walk on!" The small changeling sputtered. "No! No, no! I want my mommy and daddy! I'm going home!" The filly shouted in anger now, running to the exit. The realization sank in to Skyla, this pony really was afraid. The little crystal pony ran but the changeling princess swooped ahead landed in front of her. "I don't think so." Skyla growled. The girl gasped. "How DARE you! You think you're something special,huh? All you do is drool all over me, and trust me, it's annoying! You follow me around because you're nothing but a common pony that has nothing to do but love every, single, living thing you find!" The princess yelled. "W-who are you?!" The child cried. Skyla suddenly saw more than just one of the guards, she saw a pegasus crystal mare and then, to her surprise, herself, at least in pony form. As if selecting the image, she saw another flash of green. She looked down to see her very own pony pink fur on her hoofs. She looked back at the filly, who was shaking with fear. "Well? Do you recognize me now?" Skyla asked. "W-what have you done with her? Where's the princess?" The filly asked back. "You're looking at her." Skyla replied. The little girl's eyes wided and she fell in surprise. "You're the changeling girl who escaped? No, you can't be!" She sobbed. "So you're saying you don't like the new look?" Skyla said, pouting her lip in cruelty . "Go back to the way you were, princess! Your parents miss you! So does princess Twilight, she's been looking for you everywhere!" The girl cried back. "How? It's not that simple!" The changeling said. "I don't know! Make her do it!" The filly said, pointing to Chrysalis. "No.. I won't. I can't go back! Those stupid rulers can waste all their time, it makes them weaker, their love will grow, and I will finally be able to rule over them all!" Skyla laughed. "Even Fable?" The child asked softly. "What?" The changeling asked. "Even, Fable.. Your cousin. I always want to be like her because.. Because… You love her" The filly whispered. "I do?" Skyla said, in a hushed voice almost to herself. Suddenly a hard shove woke her from her trance. "Skyla doesn't care for any of those princesses." Chrysalis said to the filly. "Yes she does!" The filly protested. Skyla stood and at first felt strange, dizzy, wondering where she was, what she was doing. She felt Chrysalis's hole filled hoof on her shoulder. "All right, my princess?" The Queen asked. "I don't know.. I don't understand…" She gasped, looking at the filly. "All you need to know is that little brat is your enemy. She will only report you to the royals, and they'll come and destroy the only real home you ever had, and they'll take you away, to rot in that dungeon." Chrysalis whispered. "No! No, Skyla! Not one creature has a heart in this horrible place! Not one! None shall have a heart big enough to love you as much as-" The filly was interrupted. "Shut up… Shut up! Love is a lie for me! I only want love to get stronger, my enemies to get weaker! That's all I want it for!" Skyla cried. In sudden rage, she pushed the child away. "Fine.. Fine.. I really wanted you to change…" The filly gasped, struggling to get up. "I'll never change! I was born to be the princess of changelings, you little beast!" Skyla snarled. "You're not though! You were born to be the princess of the empire! Please, come back with me!" The filly sobbed. "Your love for me and your silly empire is making you weak! You can't get anywhere with love!" The princess said, smirking and walking towards the girl, still sprawled on the ground. "You're a monster, I wanted to think you were so, so much more then that!" The filly cried. Suddenly the girl's eyes rolled back and she passed out.
Skyla's fire vanished, she let out a gasp. "Is she… She couldn't be.." The changeling cried, holding the girl's limp body. "Okay! Good, She's still breathing!" Skyla exhaled. "How is that good?!" Chrysalis cried, walking to Skyla. "Er.. You know, she's another pony, and um… Well… I don't know, maybe for later?" Skyla whispered. "Oh, good! For a minute, I thought you were turning weak again." The Queen sighed. "No! No, of course not!" Skyla gasped. "Then stop asking if the ponies are alive or not! I definitely didn't want to keep those silly princesses alive when I had them underground, but I had no choice!" Chrysalis snarled. "Why didn't you?" Skyla asked. "How dare you!" The Queen screamed, encasing the child's neck with her thick green aura. The filly was trying to pray away the magic, choking out breath. "Get away from her! She doesn't know!" A voice yelled. Berry pushed past the guards, and to their horror, pushed the Queen. The small changeling gasped for air. Berry ran to her, but the filly ran past him. He turned and saw her trying to help Chrysalis up but she pushed the child away. "You little worm!" The Queen cried. "She didn't know we can't ask about that!" Berry started. "I'm so sorry.." Skyla whispered. "Just go to your room." Chrysalis sighed. "But-" The small changeling tried. "NOW! And don't come back until morning!" The Queen yelled. Skyla bit her lip and ran. Berry ran after her. "I wish…" Chrysalis sighed. "No.. Never Mind" she shook her head. "I want that stupid Cadence out of the picture! From Skyla's heart… And his…" She whispered.
Later, at night in Skyla's room, the filly was hyperventilating. She clutched her cobwebby hair and pulled. "My head…" She grunted. There was a sudden knock at the door. "Skyla? Are you ok?" Berry asked outside. "Go away!" She sobbed. "Skyla! What's going on?" Berry yelled, pounding on the door. "GO AWAY!" Skyla screamed. Berry stepped away, and left. "It's burning! Why is my chest burning?" Skyla asked herself. "I can't live like this! Light or dark? I need to decide… Light, but I can't… No pony wants me.. I chose dark then?" Skyla cried. She glanced at her mirror and gasped. Her dark green eyes turned a lighter shade. "Dark.. It's better… Yes, love is weakness.. I will never fight for light, for good, for love." She snarled. With her choice made, a long, jab sent her hurtling to the other side of the room. The princess let out a ear piercing scream in pain.
In the palace of crystal, princess Fable slept peacefully, when a sharp jab hit her as well. She awoke with a start. "What was that?" She yawned. The princess noticed the usual, loud, loving glow of the crystal heart was silent. The girl threw back her covers and landed softly and tiptoed out of her guest room. She paused before reaching the room storing the heart, right in front of her cousin's room, or at least, was her cousin's room, she had disappeared a few weeks ago, the child hadn't seen her since. The door was cracked open a bit, Fable peeked inside, she sighed, empty, just like yesterday. "Where are you?" She whispered to the air. After closing the door, Fable opened the next door and gave a terrified gasp. The heart, usually crystal clear, shining with love, but it was coal black, now looking like a dark stone. Fable walked forward, hesitating for a minute, but the filly felt a urge to touch it. She inched closer, a touched her small hoof to it. She suddenly saw a young stallion. She had never seen him before. He had a light blue coat, also a silvery white mane, it was almost slicked back except for two parts which were parted down his horn also slicked back to his ears. The handsome stallion vanished from her sight after a few minutes. Fable found herself hot and… Blushing? She shook herself and looked up, the heart was clear again, she stared to her own reflection. "Honey?" A voice softly said. Fable gasped, and turned to see princess Twilight Sparkle. "Mom!" She cried. "Why are you in here? Is something wrong?" The princess asked, walking closer to her daughter. "I saw the heart, and I touched it-" Fable started. "You touched it?" Twilight asked. "Yes.." The child said, nervous. "What did you see?" The mare asked. "A young stallion, why?" Her daughter asked. "Oh… Alright… Ok…" Twilight said. "Let's go back to bed, come on." The princess said. "C-can I stay for a little while? I feel connected to Skyla.. Is that weird, mom?" Fable asked. "No, not at all, sweetheart." Twilight whispered. The mare walked out. She gave a sigh. "My girl…Why? Why does this always happen to my loved ones?" She whispered.
Skyla was also thinking that night, why did that jab come? Suddenly, another sharper, longer pain hit her. "What is going on?" Skyla asked.
Chrysalis, still up, saw a bright light from her orb. "The crystal heart? But why is it glowing?" The changeling walked over. "My undoing.. In a child? Twilight Sparkle's daughter.. Cadance's niece… She must be eliminated… But in time.. Much time." Chrysalis sighed.
"Why do I feel so weak?" Fable asked. "My chest hurts…" She said. Backing away from the heart, Fable remembered something to get away from her pain. Magic school… A chance to finally master magic, like her mother, like her mother… That's what she wanted. Little did she know that her fate at the school wasn't for magic, it was for her companion, for her destiny.
"Those ponies…. are going… to know what I'm capable of…' Skyla wheezed. The filly panted and stumbled around, knocking things to the floor. "Stop it… STOP IT!" She cried, running to a wall and knocking into it. So many thoughts raced through her mind, debating, and demanding. Heal, hurt,
good, bad,
white, black,
cower, brave,
danger, safe,
laugh, cry,
darkness, light
The girl screamed and cried, when would the war end? "Pick a side." Both voices whispered. "Chose" Was the last word she heard before falling into a dreamless sleep.