>The train ride so far has been...interesting.
>After explaining who you were and desperately reassuring them you're NOT here to kill them all they've been nice enough.
>One pony however...
>"Don't look at me like that you filthy cockroach".
>He's been quite an entertaining seat partner.
"I am not a cockroach, I don't see how you can make that accusation".
>"Don't play stupid with me you twit I know what that armor is made out of, and I know that crest on your beret. You're just as bad as the rest of the trash scuttling bugs in that shit hole".
>Alright now you're getting upset.
>You stand, letting your full 6 feet of height tower over the small pony.
"Well, see here's the thing tiny".
>You move your hand to the revolver.
>His expression slowly went from anger, to realization, to fear.
"Now, this right here is VERY dangerous. I would hate for it to go off while pointed at you, it's a terrible way to die".
>As you do this you nod your head towards the car door, hoping he gets the message.
>The small pony hmphs and leaves you alone in your car, a small time later the intercom crackles to life.
>"Next stop, Ponyville".
>Good, you're close.
>The clacking of tracks start to be further and further apart as the train begins to slow.
>You can make out Ponyville outside your window, its splash of color and life a far cry from your underground fortress.
>The center town hall towering in the center, it was where you spent your first days in pony presence.
>You crack a small smile as the train approaches the station, inching its way to a full stop.
>Getting up you slide you car door open, waiting for the others to depart before doing so yourself.
>You're getting a lot less terrified looks now, which is good.
>The pony from before is coming up to where you're standing, he throws you that same disgusted look.
>You make a point to move your left arm, revealing the revolver sitting snugly in its holster, making sure he sees it.
>Trotting by he mutters, "Watching you, bug lover".
"Now I'm scared, how will I ever live with myself".
>Chuckling you enter the center hallway and exit the train.
>Wiggling past all the ponies and all the weird looks you set off on the footpath to Ponyville's main section.
>Visiting Twilight first is in order, you would imagine she took the whole ordeal the worst.
>Wait...does she even know you're alive?
>This might be a bit more major than just a drop in to say hi.
>You approach the tree/library that served as your home for a while before you were hauled off to Canterlot.
>Rapping your knuckles against the oak wood door you wait patiently, avoiding the curious stares from the small populace passing by.
>Footsteps thump to the door as it opens up, revealing the little dragon assistant Twilight had.
>Steve? Stuart? Something with an S.
>"Spike who's at the door"?
>Ahh Spike yeah.
"Mind if I come in"?
>"Y-Yeah sure".
>Spike lets you walk into the library, immediately the smell of musty books begins the assault on your nostrils causing you to sneeze.
>"We're closing for the day in a bit but if you already know what book you're looking for we'd be happy to hel-".
>She freezes in place as you turn towards her.
"Hey there Twilight, it's been a while".
>Her pupils dilate as her mouth drops open.
>"A-Anonymous, how are you...HOW ARE YOU ALIVE"?
>Tears well up as she gallops into you, hugging you around your waist she starts sobbing into your armor.
>"I thought you were dead...I saw what she did...I...thought you were dead".
"Well, I am happy to say I'm not".
>Spike seizes an opportunity to bounce out, "I'll uhhh go make some tea yeah".
>Twilight finally lets you go and tries to settle down, her efforts are starting to be in vain.
"Here sit down, take a breath".
>She nods and sits on the couch, "I cant believe you're here! How did you survive? And what is-".
>The look of realization comes over her face, "That's changeling armor".
>Uh oh.
"Yeah...about that".
>"That crest, that's Chrysalis' crest".
"I sort of live with them".
>Her expression fails to change for what seems like an eternity.
>It isn't anything good.
>It's a look of alarm.
>An ear splitting crack resonates through the house as a massive force collides with your body.
>The familiar feeling of teleportation makes itself known as you come crashing down onto a stone floor.
>Rolling to a stop you grunt and try to get up.
>You're in the basement of the library.
>A purple aura grabs your arms and legs, pinning you to the floor.
>"Don't worry Anonymous, we'll get you back to normal, I have a purge spell that'll dispel anything Chrysalis has put on you".
"Twilight I'm not under any spells, this is stupid-".
>You're blinded by a purple light as a horrendous burning sensation runs rampant through every fiber of your being.
>Your screams make Twilight falter in her restraints.
>You try to get up, but it's too much.
>Knees buckling you slam to the floor again.
>Through your erratic screams you manage to yell.
"Twilight stop! I'm...not... fucking possessed"!
>"That's her talking Anonymous! We can still save you"!
>Gritting your teeth, stifling your own screams you pound your fist on the floor.
"I said STOP".
>A rush of green energy shoots from you, knocking Twilight off her hooves and sending her into the wall on the other side of the room.
>She isn't knocked out, you can make out her getting back up through your blurring vision.
>Light-headedness washes over you as you collapse on to the floor, the exhaustion hitting you like a train.
>Fighting the inevitable you try to stand again, only to fall to your knees.
>Looking straight forward you meet eyes with Twilight, her face spelling absolute shock.
>"How did you...".
>That was all you heard, before giving into your own body.
 ---------------------------------------------------------
 
>White.
>Everywhere, blinding in all directions.
>"You're a very interesting creature".
>What what.
>You spin around the vast abyss, searching for the source of the voice.
>You see no one, she speaks again, "Don't try, you can't see me".
>Alluring, almost like Chrysalis' voice.
"Chryssy this isn't very funny".
>A cackling laughter bounces off of invisible walls as the voice speaks again.
>"Chrysalis?! HAH! My sister will never so much as dream to be able to do the things I can do".
>Sister?
"Who are you, and Chrysalis doesn't have a sister, she would've told me".
>"Are you so sure about that? You know for her mate you know nothing about her".
>This is getting annoying.
"Show yourself, don't hide behind all this light".
>You go to draw your revolver, but it isn't anywhere on you, reaching behind you also find your rifle gone.
"Your weapons would be useless here anyway Anonymous, this isn't a physical plane".
"Then...where are we"?
>"Oh, you're still in the basement of that twit's house, however your soul is here with me. See anything with a magical connection to me I can summon here to this realm of mine".
>Connection? You have no connections to her.
"I have no connections to you".
>A slight giggle surrounds you as more invisible walls are reverberating everything said.
>"Ah but you do Anonymous, you seem to forget your little gift that was given to you".
>Realization finally hits.
"Vira...".
>"Oh that tone just oozes hatred, how can you hate something you've never seen? Never listened to? Never spoken to? Until now you didn't even know what I sounded like".
"I've heard and dealt with enough from you to not like you".
>She laughs again, it's echo caressing around those invisible walls.
>"So, you plan to fight me? Reicher is no force to sneer at, as you know. Along side that are my own troops, each one honed to kill without hesitation".
"As are mine".
>"Pah! I've seen your 'troops' whilst you all were skittering around the deserts, they look like my cooks".
>"However, showing my superiority to you was not the reason I had called you here. I want to make a deal with you".
>This can't be anything good.
"Out with it then".
>"Join me, become my knight and-".
"Fuck off".
>You can hear Vira's voice falter, "Excuse me"?
"I told you to fuck off, I'm not joining you no matter what shit you try to put down my throat".
>"Hmph, fine, I will not have mercy on you when you're under my hoof".
>Your vision goes black.
 -------------------------------------------------------
 
>Opening your eyes, you find yourself on the cold stone floor of Twilight's basement.
>Your rifle is digging into your back, making you roll to your side.
>Every muscle is in agony, you feel like you didn't sleep for a year.
>"You're awake".
>Moving your head to look up you see Twilight, looking into your eyes with a mix of fear, shock, and curiosity.
"Hey Twi...look I'm so-".
>"I know".
>You almost flinched from the coldness in her voice.
>"I've been doing some research into what happened last night, and I've to a conclusion".
>She doesn't wait to continue.
>"Chrysalis must've given you some of her powers, it is possible but there's only two accounts in history of it happening, besides yours of course but-".
"Chrysalis didn't give me any powers".
>"Wait what"?
>Against your body's pleas you get up into a sitting position.
"You said...earlier...you can purge magic right"?
>A look of worry comes over her face, "Well...yeah but wh-".
"Get this magic shit out of me".
>You're not wanting that bitch to have that kind of advantage over you, all she would have to do at battle was rip your soul to her...wherever the fuck that place was.
>"Anonymous I was trying to explain to you that trying to rid you of changeling magic would most likely render you unable to well...exist, ever, it's tied into your very being".
>...
"What"?
>"I can't put it any other way, you can't get rid of it".
>Sitting on the stone floor you rub your eyes, hoping that maybe this is just a shitty dream.
>"Listen...Anonymous...maybe Chrysalis can do something about it? She obviously knows more about changeling magic than I do".
>She may be right.
"Maybe...I dunno, I really just want this out. With this war coming I really don't need to let her have the ability to rip me into another plane of existence".
>"I see".
>Looking up you see her face, gazing at the floor with a pained light in her eyes.
>"I wont ask who put me into the wall earlier then, since it seems you're not all you".
>Tears form in her eyes, running down her muzzle leaving trails in their path.
>"Why...why can't you stay...".
"What"?
>"I know you're going to go back! I know what's going to happen! Celestia sent a letter ahead explaining this battle you're getting everypony into...".
>Sighing, you sit up.
"Twilight, I HAVE to do this, I have to defend my home, my family, my friends, everyone. Twilight if we don't push Vira back we're all going to be destroyed".
"As much as I'd like to stay here I simply can't. I want you to understand that, understand that I have a duty now and I need to fulfil it. It's no-".
>"Then leave...".
>...
"What"?
>"I said LEAVE!".
>You try to put a hand on her shoulder but she swipes it away with a hoof.
>"Go...go fight for the changelings that attacked us and killed so many ponies. Go be their little general, I'm sure they'll reward you after they exhausted your usefulness".
>Why is she so upset? You can understand not wanting to lose a friend but...
>"Didn't I say leave?! GO!".
>A flash of purple and you're standing outside the library, various ponies are throwing looks your way, apparently they heard the yelling.
>Raising your hand you go to knock on the door, but you can't bring yourself to do it.
>Lowering your hand you make your way to the train station.
>The ride back was...long.
>Seems you're not exactly welcome there anymore.
>As much as you don't want to admit it, you can understand her feelings towards this.
>But her overreaction was a bit out of line.
>The car door slides open as an older mare looks in, "Hello? Oh im sorry sonny, thought it was empty".
"Oh no it's okay, please have a seat".
>"Thank you dearie".
>Setting her bags on to the seat she hops up and sits.
>"I haven't seen anythin' quite like you, where did you come from"?
>Thankfully, the old mare's conversation and questions took things off your mind for the next few hours.
>Arriving at Canterlot you enter the gates back into the city.
>It's over opulent aesthetics weren't to your taste, you much preferred a more simple, cozy place.
>The streets were full of ponies doing their day-to-day things, most likely unaware of what's going to happen here soon.
>Maybe, with this war, we can prove we're not all bad.
>Maybe.
>The changelings really are a misunderstood bunch, though they do get a tad over zealous.
>They didn't exactly treat you too well when they found you.
>Chuckling at the memories of your arrival to the hive you nearly run into the gate guard to the castle.
"Oh sorry, just going to-".
>"Go right in Your Majesty".
>Moving to the side they open the castle gates so you can enter.
>Spotting your carriage you run over to tell the driver to wait a bit.
>Jogging up the steps and opening the front door, you see Celestia talking to some white coated stallion in some fancy gold armor.
>"Ah, Anonymous, didn't expect to see you so soon".
"Things...didn't exactly go well in Ponyville".
>Celestia nods as the guard bows and leaves, "I see, Twilight had written to me telling all of your...episode. I want to believe you mean us no harm Anon-".
"Are you saying I did that on purpose"?
>"I am not, just voicing my concerns".
"Uh huh".
>She still doesn't trust you, never really expected her to to be honest.
>Ironically more narrow minded than Luna, and she was locked up for a thousand years.
>Celestia manages to hide the scowl she almost let slip from your sarcasm.
>"Regardless, whatever magic you're learning you need to learn to control. It being Changeling magic I would imagine Chrysali-".
"Queen, Chrysalis".
>"Right, 'Queen' Chrysalis, I would imagine she would know how to prevent further instances of you losing your temper and letting your magic lash out".
"Well it isn't my magic so...".
>The weight of your brain finally clicking on almost staggers you.
>If she has her magic in your damn soul, can she see what you see? Hear what you hear?
"Celestia I need to leave, I will sending a letter when I get back to my bunker explaining why".
>Without waiting for a response, or bothering to hear what she had to say you rushed out of the castle and to your carriage.
>"Something wrong sir"?
>Clambering into the armored carriage you open the front hatch.
"We just need to get back to the bunker as fast as possible, I've been infused with Vira's magic apparently".
>Alarm washed over the driver's face as the yanked the throttle lever to full.
>"Ah! We must be fast then"!
>The force of the carriage accelerating nearly puts you on your ass as you scramble to get into the seat.
>Ripping through the streets of Canterlot, the driver deftly manoeuvres the carriage around ponies and obstacles.
>Before long you're tearing out of the front gates and onto the the Southern Badlands.
>The journey back to the bunker had taken half the time as the drive to Canterlot.
>The driver had chosen to ignore all bumps and potential hazards by just running them over.
>So when you two get to the steel door that closes your bunker from the badlands, your lower back felt like someone took a super sledge to it.
>Finally the carriage stops, as the steel door was opened you carefully get out.
>"Oh hello dear, we missed you".
>A peck from Chrysalis while she leans in, "Tomorrow we need to talk, war room, the other Commanders and Generals will be there".
"Alright, I need to talk to you right now though, in private, something has come up".
>Chrysalis senses the urgency in your voice, "You two, please lock up the carriage, make sure the entrance is closed, supposed to be a storm tonight".
>The both of you walk swiftly to your wing, Chrysalis enters behind you and shuts the door, "What is it love"?
"Is it possible to infuse someone's soul with your magic"?
>Chrysalis' mouth hang as she she tried to gather herself.
>"I-I...well yes but...how did...who do you think-".
"Vira, she had put me in this bright white room, offered to spare me if I joined her".
>Chrysalis' eyes harden, "She has done the unforgivable, she has stolen a part of your soul. This is very bad Anonymous, she can literally kill you at any time".
>...shit.
"It's that powerful isn't it"?
>The Queen nods, "There's a reason why the book was sealed away by our ancestors, but she has used it against us...".
>She paces the room, frantically muttering to herself.
>You try to make out what she is saying but you can't understand any of it at all.
>"Anonymous, we have things to do".
"Can't you just remove it and replace it with your magic? I'd much rather have you in trust of my life than her".
>Her eyes begin to warm at your words, "As touched as I am I can't, I do not know how to do the spell. But there's a bright side to this, we don't have to go to her to remove it".
"Oh? What do we do"?
>Chrysalis sits on the sofa, rubbing her temples.
>You join her, holding her close she continues.
>"The book cannot be moved, it cannot be destroyed, or even altered. The reverse spell is in the back, so we need to get to the book".
"Do you know where it is"?
>"Yes, it's at the bottom of Rocks Edge, in the tomb of my grandmother and grandfather".
"When are we leaving"?
>She looks to the grandfather clock in the corner, it's iron hands slowly moving while the stone pendulum swings back in forth in rhythm.
>"Tomorrow, dawn, we're setting this right before she can do any harm".
"Tomorrow it is then".