Heartfallen Ch. 2


                                            Ch. 2


                                            >The forest is positively idyllic.

                                            >The air is warm, and the breeze is cool.

                                            >The smell of flowers wafts occasionally past the nostrils.

                                            >The songs of birds and the buzzing of bees caress the ears.

                                            >The looming sunset dominates the horizon, and its golden glow illuminates the forest with gentle nostalgia.

                                            >The untrusting gaze of a monster meets the ravenous stare of a demon.

                                            A: “No.”

                                            >Queen Chrysalis’s face twists in confusion and frustration.

                                            C: “What?”

                                            >Anon turns away from her, closing his eyes and clenching his fists.

                                            A: “I can’t.”

                                            >Chrysalis’s frustration turns to intent curiosity.

                                            >She squints her eyes at him.

                                            C: “What’s wrong? You don’t have to be shy. You saved me, after all.”

                                            >Her voice is sweet and sincere, and she flutters her eyelashes as she looks up at Anon.

                                            A: “Don’t do this to me.”

                                            >Anon wants to scream. He knows what Chrysalis is, he knows what she can do.

                                            >He knows this is some kind of trick to eat him or something.

                                            >But standing here, looking at her…

                                            >It’s the eyes.

                                            >There’s something about her eyes.

                                            >Magic, maybe? She said she was out of energy, but how would Anon know if she’s telling the truth?

                                            >It has to be a spell.

                                            >But…

                                            >What if she’s not?

                                            >What if she really is just grateful that he saved her?

                                            >Anon wracks his brain, struggling to decide what he should do, when Chrysalis walks up beside him from behind, nuzzling his arm with her head.

                                            >Except it isn’t Chrysalis.

                                            A: “Twilight!?”

                                            T: “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Anon! Aren’t you happy to see me?”

                                            >Twilight smiles at him brightly, holding the book of plants she had given him.

                                            A: “How did you…”

                                            >Anon quickly jerks his head around to where Chrysalis had been laying before.

                                            >Of course, she isn’t there.

                                            >She’s nuzzling up to him right now.

                                            >’Damn’, Anon thinks to himself.

                                            A: “Chrysalis, stop.”

                                            T: “That’s ~Queen~ Chrysalis to you, thank you.”

                                            >With a haughty, dismissive tone, she looks down her nose at Anon.

                                            >A wave of sparkling green magic washes over her, changing her appearance from Twilight’s back to her own as she slowly walks a few paces away, waving her tail in Anon’s face as she goes.

                                            C: “I’m offended, Anon. You refuse to give me any love, but the moment you see that goody-goody princess’s face you want to jump all over her.”

                                            >She tosses the book at Anon, but he catches it in the air.

                                            >She scoffs and crosses her front hooves, sitting on her haunches.

                                            >Anon is livid at first, but then he realizes that this is exactly the kind of nonsense he should have expected.

                                            >He sighs, and sits down heavily on the soft ground.

                                            >Somehow, his head feels a lot clearer.

                                            >Like a fog has been lifted.

                                            A: “So what are you doing out here, anyway? Don’t you have a hive to rule or something?”

                                            >Chrysalis looks away, embarrassed, and squirms uncomfortably.

                                            >A tinge of sadness crosses her face, but is quickly hidden by her pride.

                                            C: “I was usurped by a nauseating worm of a changeling. Thorax.”

                                            >She utters the name with distinct venom.

                                            C: “He took everything from me. And those good-goody ponies are just as much to blame.”

                                            A: “Bummer. I was talking about those Diamond Dogs back there, though.”

                                            C: “I was attempting to establish a new hive. I found a beautiful cave, but those disgusting brutes snuck up on me and ran me out. They might have killed me.”

                                            >She looks straight at Anon with a calm, but vicious glare.

                                            C: “But then you saved me.”

                                            A: “You’re welcome.”

                                            C: “How do you know that annoying princess, human?”

                                            A: “How do you know that I know her?”

                                            >She huffs.

                                            C: “Your stupid book has her crest on it.”

                                            >Anon laughs. She’s got him there. He didn’t even think about it.

                                            >A wicked smirk crawls across Chrysalis’s face.

                                            C: “You miss her, don’t you?”

                                            >Anon looks at the sky, and thinks for a moment.

                                            >He does sort of miss the ponies. They were kind and friendly.

                                            >It would have been easier living amongst them than roughing it out here.

                                            >But it’s better this way.

                                            >Humans don’t belong in Equestria.

                                            >Anon smiles softly.

                                            A: “No.”

                                            >The smirk on Chrysalis’s face widens.

                                            C: “Don’t lie to me, human. I could feel it.”

                                            >Anon just stares at her.

                                            >He’s tired.

                                            >They exchange glares for a few silent moments.

                                            >Eventually Chrysalis clears her throat and speaks.

                                            C: “I have a proposition for you, human.”

                                            A: “Yeah?”

                                            C: “I hate to admit it, but my magic doesn’t work on you.”

                                            >She says this with an arrogant tone, looking down her nose at Anon again.

                                            >Anon raises an eyebrow.

                                            C: “But I need love, and there’s nobody else around except for those lumbering mud mutts.”

                                            >She takes a step closer to Anon.

                                            C: “I know how lonely it gets on your own. How lonely you must be.”

                                            >Another step.

                                            C: “Clearly it was fate…”

                                            >Another.

                                            C: “...that brought you to me.”

                                            >She’s standing right in front of Anon now, leaning her head down a bit to stay eye level with him as he sits on the dirt.

                                            >The passion in her eyes is palpable, a desperate need for affection hiding beneath a veneer of smug seductiveness.

                                            >Anon just looks at her with a bored expression.

                                            A: “And?”

                                            >She moves even closer and whispers softly,

                                            C: “Help me kill those filthy curs who took my cave.”

                                            >Anon laughs in her face.

                                            A: “Are you crazy?”

                                            C: “I saw how you killed one of them!”

                                            A: “Yeah, one. By surprise. I won’t have the element of surprise barging into their home base.”

                                            C: “But I…”

                                            A: “And I have no idea how many of them there are, or what kinda traps they’ve got set up.”

                                            C: “But you…”

                                            A: “And even if I did, why should I help you anyway?”

                                            >Chrysalis looks as if she’s about to explode, but calms herself down.

                                            C: “We can do it if we work together, human. I know those caves, and I know there are only seven mutts left.”

                                            A: “Uh huh.”

                                            C: “If we take the cave we’ll both have a cozy home. You can help me start a new hive.”

                                            A: “You want to live together?”

                                            C: “Yes. You can be my King. I’ll transform into whatever pony you like, you’ll give me your love, and we’ll have lots of little changelings to do my bidding in no time.”

                                            A: “So that’s what this is about.”

                                            C: “I need love, human. Your love.”

                                            >She tries to lean in close to Anon’s face, but he pushes her away.

                                            C: “You impotent little monkey! How dare you deny me!”

                                            >Chrysalis’s horn blazes with green magic, her eyes glow, and a burst of light slams into Anon’s face.


                                            >Anon blinks.

                                            >His mind feels weary.

                                            >His body is heavy.

                                            >He feels like he just woke up from a dream.

                                            >Anon blinks again. He tries to look around, but his gaze fixates on the most beautiful creature he’s ever seen, standing right before him.

                                            >She has smooth black chitin.

                                            >A bluish-green mane.

                                            >Eyes of fiery emerald…

                                            >He blinks. Something isn’t right.

                                            >Her eyes shine.

                                            >She smiles.

                                            >Her lips move, but her mouth makes no sound.

                                            >Blink. The meaning is clear.

                                            >She’s leaning in.

                                            >Closing her eyes.

                                            >Breathing on his face.

                                            >Blink. Her scent fills his nostrils.

                                            >She licks Anon’s cheek.

                                            >She stares into his eyes.

                                            >He stares into hers.

                                            >Anon can’t blink.

                                            >Like the unfathomable depths of an alien sea, her eyes pull him deeper and deeper in.

                                            >He doesn’t even notice at first when her lips brush against his own.

                                            >But as Chrysalis presses further into a kiss, he can feel something pulling, dragging, on his mind.


                                            >Chrysalis moans into Anon’s mouth as she tastes his love.

                                            >It’s been a long time since she’s fed.

                                            >And maybe it’s just the starvation talking, but this human’s love tastes really good.

                                            >Pony love is rich and sweet, but this love is light and savory, and unusually filling.

                                            >But why is it so hard to drain him?

                                            >Pony love flows like a steam, but this is more of a trickle.

                                            >He did resist her magic before, maybe he’s doing it again?

                                            >Must be because he’s some kind of monster.

                                            >Chrysalis smiles as she continues sucking out Anon’s love.

                                            >’I’ll just have to break him first.’ she thinks to herself.


                                            >Without thinking, Anon’s hand reaches into his pocket.

                                            >He grasps his knife, and suddenly feels the torpor lift from his mind and body.

                                            >Not entirely cognizant yet, he attempts to move, but is still held tight by a sparkling green glow.

                                            >His gaze also remains enthralled, eyes locked with the Changeling Queen as she continues to suck the love out of him.

                                            >Anon’s muscles strain against Chrysalis’s magic as he fails to turn away from her, or even close his eyes.

                                            >All he manages is to tighten his grip on the knife in his pocket.

                                            >Chrysalis seems to notice that he’s struggling, and stops draining his love, breaking their kiss.

                                            C: “Foolish beast. You could have lived like a King. At least until my babies hatch.”

                                            >Anon twists the knife around in his hand.

                                            C: “But then I suppose I’d have to drain you dry, regardless. A Queen’s duty is to feed her hive, after all.”

                                            >He manages to unfold the blade.

                                            C: “You know, I’m quite surprised you have so much love inside you. What, being a freakish ape monster and all.”

                                            >She licks her lips and grins. He tries to lift the knife.

                                            C: “I’m already almost full and I’ve barely started. Now I can get rid of those damned Diamond Dogs myself.”

                                            >With an evil look, she leans close again.

                                            C: “And then you’re going to help me start a wonderful new hive.”

                                            >Anon can’t lift the knife.

                                            C: “There’s no point in fighting, human. Just let me take care of you. Let me think for you. You’ll be happy. I promise.”

                                            >With all the strength he can muster in his current state Anon pushes down on the knife in his pocket, cutting through the fabric and into his own skin.


                                            >The pain jolts Anon back into his senses, but makes him let go of the knife.

                                            A: “FUCK!”

                                            >Anon howls.

                                            A: “God damnit!”

                                            >Chrysalis is so startled by her magical control suddenly snapping that she freezes for a moment, staring dumbfounded at Anon.

                                            >She tries to speak, but doesn’t get the chance.

                                            >A blinding rage overtakes Anon, and he swings his fist.

                                            >With a loud crack, the Queen of the Changelings is knocked to the ground.

                                            >Anon stands tall before her, looking down with eyes full of anger.

                                            >She lies in a crumpled ball of chitin, confusion, and tears.

                                            >She looks pathetic. Especially considering what she looked like moments ago.

                                            >He begins to lean down, reaching a hand towards her.

                                            >Chrysalis snarls and swats his hand away with her hoof.

                                            C: “Y-you hit me!”

                                            >She darts up as quickly as she can and backsteps a few paces away from Anon.

                                            A: “You were trying to eat me!”

                                            >She blushes, and looks away.

                                            C: “I…”

                                            A: “I saved you and you were gonna fucking eat me!”

                                            >Tears well up in her eyes, and with a flash of green she’s running away into the shadows of the forest.

                                            A: “Fuck…”

                                            >Anon looks around, trying to fully comprehend everything that just happened.

                                            >He shakes his head, and lets out a disappointed sigh.

                                            >Looking up, he notices that the sun has almost gone totally over the horizon.

                                            >The cool air creeps up his spine, and he shivers.

                                            >Then he winces in pain.

                                            >Blood trickles down his leg.

                                            A: “Shit.”

                                            >Anon bandages his self inflicted wound as best he can, cutting off a scrap of his shirt to wrap  around it.

                                            >He takes a few tentative steps, putting more weight on his injured leg each time, and decides he should be alright.

                                            >Sighing again, he places the knife in his other pocket, and quickly eats the rest of the blueberries he had gathered earlier.

                                            >He puts the mushrooms in a pocket on his backpack, but decides to leave the chestnuts.

                                            >Staring at their spiky shells, he can’t help but feel incredibly lonely.

                                            >Was everything she did an act?

                                            >Just trying to get close enough to drain his love?

                                            >He can see her eyes in his mind.

                                            >He can see her smile.

                                            >See her leaning in…

                                            >A pulse of soft pain echoes through his skull.

                                            >’No.’ He tells himself. ‘She messed up my mind.’

                                            >Anon shakes his head, trying to rid himself of his thoughts.

                                            A: “Ugh, need to get going.”

                                            >He’s exhausted already, but Anon puts his backpack on and begins making his way through the woods.

                                            >In the opposite direction of Chrysalis, of course.

                                            >Maybe it’s time to pay Ponyville a visit.

                                            >Aside from needing some medical attention, he really needs something to protect him against magic.

                                            >Twilight probably has something he can use.

                                            >Twilight.

                                            >Was Chrysalis right?

                                            >Does he miss her?

                                            A: “No.”

                                            >Anon shakes his head, mumbling to himself.

                                            A: “Damnit. I’m so stupid.”


                                            >From a nearby tree, a pair of green eyes silently watch Anon trudge through the forest.

                                            >Queen Chrysalis touches her face where Anon struck her, and her eyes widen.

                                            >What a fascinating beast, that human.

                                            >How did he break free of her magic?

                                            >Why is his love so potent, but so hard to get?

                                            >Her entire carapace quivers with excitement as she stalks her prey.

                                            >She can feel it.

                                            >She can ~taste~ it.

                                            >This beautiful monster, this cruel and generous human, he is the one.

                                            >She hastens her pace, careful not to let Anon get too far ahead, but always staying out of sight.

                                            >It really was fate.

                                            >She smiles.

                                            >‘This is only the beginning.’


                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~