Chapter 5

>You drum your fingers quickly, as the brew slowly boils.
>Chrysalis stares at you worriedly, back in her changeling form.
>Behind her, is a group of lesser changelings.
>They literally followed you home.
>Turns out, the city was infested with these creatures.
>Feeding on average ponies- they lived an… adapted lifestyle.
>The whine from the kettle catches your attention, as you slowly make your way to it.
>You were so used to waking up to that noise in the morning.
>You would run downstairs, to face your mother, always making some strange mixture in that kettle.
>You push the thoughts away as you pour the greenish-black liquid.
>You seal the warm mixture, and pocket the container.
>You push in several more vials, and take a single swig.
>There, that will keep the coughing down for a while.
“Chrys, you ready?”
>She still has that pitying look on her face.
>You want to wipe it off, you don’t need pity.
>Mother always said actions speak louder than words.
>”Anon, the- my people and I have been talking…”
“Your people? When did you grow that sentiment? Or that ego?”
>”Save it, Anon. If they want me to be their queen-“
>A spark of joy lights her face, before she covers it away, noticing your displeasure.
“What did you talk about?”
>”What we will do after this…”
>You raise a brow.
>You better be careful with your words, Chrysalis.
>”Issue.”
“And now you’re their leader, just-“ You snap your fingers. “-like that?”
>She nods.
>”Who else to lead but me?”
“Ignoring that, what’s the plan?”
>Chrysalis nods at a changeling, and he (?) steps up.
>”As far as the scouts could pick up, the rival queen is in the southern part of the slums.”
>You nod once.
“And?”
>The changeling hesitates for a moment, before continuing-
>”We also found out that the rival queen is the leader of the local crime group, having a monopoly over every resource over that area.”
>”Good thing that place is a shit-hole.” Chrysalis chimes in.
>You ignore her, as the changeling continues.
>”Our plan was to cause some civil unrest in the area, and spread her forces thin.”
“What’s our number?”
>”Around thirty or so willing men.”
“When are they available?”
>”As soon as the queen commands.”
>You turn to Chrysalis, who nods.
>The changeling watches you intently, before he proceeds.
>”As soon as her forces are spread thin, we can quickly round up the rogues and turn them under our queen’s cause.”
“Turn them?”
>”Yes, our queen has powerful… Scent.”
>You can’t help twitching at the word.
“Scent?”
>”We changelings work under pheromones. It would be hard for you to grasp the idea.”
>You shrug.
“Fine.”
>”And once we are done, we can march straight up to the rival queen, and eliminate her.”
>Chrysalis suddenly cuts to the front of you, blocking the changeling.
>”OR, we could go with my plan.”
>Both the changeling and you are focused on Chrysalis.
>What scheme was she up to now?
>”How about we march straight up to her base, and end her trouble right there?”
“Christie, I don’t think-“
>”No, you don’t. Look, if I’m as influential as they think, then why don’t we just remove all of the seriousness?”
>Before you can muster up an answer, the changeling pops in.
>”That… might work.”
“Christie-“
>”Look, you want that bitch gone, do you?”
>You stay silent.
>”I thought so.” Chrysalis turns to the changeling. “Commander, prepare the forces, we move out now.”
>The commander nods, before heading out.
“Christie, you sure about this?”
>The changeling queen looks surprised.
>”Anon, I thought you liked it better this way- faster to the point.”
“I’m just worried we’re walking into fire here.”
>And for once in the afternoon, she laughs, albeit a quick-lived one.
>Her solemn expression returns, and she comes to lean on your shoulder.
>”You alright?”
>That was the final blow.
>All floodgates opened, and you soon found yourself sobbing.
>Your tears wet the old wooden floor below.
>You wrap around her, and wipe your tears.
“It’s not fair, Christie.”
>She gently strokes your hair, sighing at the scene.
>”It never is.”
“We just got her back, Christie.”
>Chrysalis goes silent here, and pulls you close.
>”Anon…”
“Yeah?”
>A hoof slaps your face.
>You hold your burning cheek, looking surprised.
>”Man the hell up, we got trouble coming, and I can’t have you crying like a little filly.”
>You quickly wipe the tears, and face Chrysalis again.
>”Better?”
“Much.”
>”Now let us go visit someone.”

>You look around the dying neighborhood, packed to the brim with poor, sick ponies.
>The sight reminded you of your own condition, to which you took another swig on your drink.
>It was foul, but the stench drowned it all.
>Chrysalis is right next to you, marching in her full Changeling glory.
>A small crowd is behind you right now, and it grows larger as you progress.
>All sorts of ponies, starts following Chrysalis blindly.
>Many simply drop their work and follow a smell.
>You’re guessing it is the pheromones at work.
>Of course, more ponies that rally behind her, the smugger Chrysalis becomes.
>They all have this blank expression, eyes shooting forward.
>You try to ignore the stares coming from the normal ponyfolk and the stare from behind you.
>It was almost frightening.
>You look up to the rooftops to spot several changelings making haste, only to be pulled down by swarms of changelings from Chrysalis’ group.
>There are light thrashing, before you can see bluish-green liquid.
>There is a sound of chitin cracking-
>And you look away.
>After a few minutes of walking, you spot a mansion, which easily out-classed anything in this part of the city.
>You spot a blockade few more blocks ahead, several well-armed changelings converging upon it.
“Christie, this isn’t going to end well if we keep going.”
>”I know.”
>She pushes you into an alley, and quickly changes into a human.
>”Come on, let’s climb.”
>You hold on to the crack on the wall, and pull yourself up.
“So, what’s the plan?”
>”Easy enough, get me close so I can control them.”
“How are we getting down without being stabbed?”
>”We’ll improvise.”
>She gives a signal to the commander, and the swarm charges to the barricade.
>Your movements are fuelled by the war cry they let out, as you climb faster and faster.
>You feel the cold, flat roof, and hoist yourself up.
>You peek out to pull Christie up as well.
>”We make a good team.”
>You smile.
“We always do.”
>”Come on.”
>She begins running, and then jumping over to the next building.
>You can’t help but to feel the rush of excitement as you criss-cross through the roof tops.
>Soon enough, you’re right above the entrenched changelings, wildly batting away at Chrysalis’ forces.
>”How are we getting down?”
>You smirk.
“I got an idea.”
>You stand up, and look down again.
>Alright, just need to-
>No time to think, you’re already running.
>You push with your feet one last time against the edge, and you go off into the air.
>You sail through the air, ignoring the shouts from behind you.
>You aim your feet just right and-
>You feel the impact on your legs, soaring up quickly.
>You also hear a crack, a familiar sound.
>And then you are thrown frontward.
>You roll, to reduce the momentum on your body.
>You come to a stop tumbling into several bodies, and you quickly spring to your feet.
>You see several unconscious changelings in front of you.
>They must have cushioned your fall.
>You turn around to see a crushed changeling, slowly oozing out their distinctive blood.
>You look up, and before you can muster a call, Chrysalis makes a jump as well.
>She lands a clean shot, grabbing and letting a changeling absorb all of the impact.
>She smiles and proceeds to remove the spears placed over the crowd.
>You do the same, letting the changeling mob climb over and make their way to the mansion.
>The swarm splits by you, letting you move unscathed.
>Chrysalis is far ahead, back in her changeling form, leading the assault.
>You march slowly, wondering how was Canterlot infested with these creatures.
>Soon enough, the mansion erupts in fire, sending broken debris everywhere.
>This can’t be good.
>You join the changelings pouring in, and enter the besieged building.
>You can see each side, biting and clawing onto one another.
>No sign of Chrysalis and the other queen anywhere.
>You dart around, trying to avoid any fire or fight.
>You take a nearby stairs to the second floor, only to duck at an incoming magic bolt.
>Yep, they’re here.
>”You ruined everything!” the rival shouts.
>”Great, now you know how he felt.” Chrysalis erects a shield, blocking an attack.
>The rival grits her teeth, and fires a large bolt.
>Chrysalis easily side-steps, and dodges the attack.
>Which meant it was headed for you.
>You let out a small yelp and jump to the side, barely missing the bolt.
>Which easily blew a crater on the wall.
>You come into full view, the rival changeling queen staring at you.
>”There’s your boyfriend.”
>Chrysalis quickly turns to you, unaware of the bolt coming her way.
“Chrys! Behind you-“
>You are cut off and thrown to the floor, due to the explosion.
>Chrysalis falls to your side, limp.
>You cough and try to get to your feet, but a hoof presses you down.
>”Good thing you showed up, human.”
>She lets out a cackle, as the smoke steadily filled the room.
>”Looks like I get two things today- One, my only rival in this city is gone- and Two, you brought me all these changelings to control.”
>Another laugh.
>You begin to cough violently, not because of the smoke.
>You reach into your pocket to grab your container, but a hoof stops your hand.
>”Oh, but what’s this?”
>In a single sweep of her legs, she bats out the container.
>”The dying boyfriend? Oh, the drama-and I’d love to taste it, but I have my subjects to get to.”
>She kicks the container, and flies out of the room.
>You are left with the unconscious Chrysalis.
>You stagger to your feet, wading through the thick smoke.
>You cover your nose and mouth with your elbow, but your cough is already there.
>You fall to your knees, still in your coughing fit.
>You are given a single moment to draw a breath, before you go on coughing.
>Did it always hurt this much?
>You wipe your lips, clearing any fluids.
>You are crawling now, trying to reach Chrysalis.
>And then you finally see it.

>A red stain on your hand.

>You try to ignore it, and bite down any cough that is coming up.
>In this heat and condition, it feels like your throat is being ripped out.
>Was it Lung Rust?
>Doesn’t matter.
>You stand once more, and make a mad dash for the knocked out changeling queen.
>Dammit, Christie, wished you weren’t a heavy sleeper.
>You grab one of her forelegs, and slowly drag her to the nearest open window.
>A wooden pillar falls, covering the room in burning ash.
>Of course, some make it out to your mouth and nose.
>You gag and wipe the tears forming by your eyes.
>With a grunt, you lift Chrysalis, and begin to run.
>The window was getting closer now.
>You hunch a little, and try to cover Chrysalis as much as you can.
>To be fair, she was your size, maybe bigger.
>Heh- lose weight, Christie.
>You turn in the last moment, crashing back-first to the window.
>The glass shatters easily, as the flames cover the second floor.
>You get a breath of fresh air- even if it stank of sewage.
>The cooler air outside instantly brought relief to you, for a moment.
>And then, gravity kicked in.
>Likewise to the window, you land back-first.
>Whatever oxygen you had left, it was knocked out of you.
>You roll once on the damp ground, still wanting to protect her.
>Not sure why.
>Must be the pheromones getting to you.
>You slowly drag your head to face Chrysalis, still out.
>Just like her to sleep this one out.
>Don’t ever change, Chrysalis.
>You cough once, and turn to the skies.
>You are still gasping for air, as far as you can hear.
>You turn to her again.
>Not sure why.
>Maybe, just maybe-
>You were-
>Your eyes flutter, and everything slowly dims away.
>And then, darkness.