Hive Queen

The Unicorn guard woke into darkness, damp air that smelled of rot and moss forcing him into consciousness. He barely remembered what had happenned... The Watchpost facing the Equestrian Badlands... He remembered opening the gate for a few weary travellers... Then, nothing... Just blackness.

"I see you are awake, sun-lover..." A sibillant voice spoke from behind him, and with dread in his heart he turned. His eyes widened in shock. The Changeling Queen! He was in a massive cavern illuminated by countless glowing egg-sacks...

"You may wonder why you are still alive... " The creature atop a glowing giant mushroom smiled, cocking her head. "I have spared you so that you can give out a message. Run off to your pityful Princesses... Tell them that since they deny us their love to devour, we will nurse on hatred... Since their affection is barred from us, we will grow strong on Malice..." The guard shakily started to back away, his training melting away under the predatory glare of the Changeling Queen... He ran, the sound of sibillant laughter and the beating of hundreds of insectoid wings echoing in his head, long after he had escaped the Badlands and the ivory towers of Canterlot were in his view."
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Enjoy this Chrysalis. I have second-guessed msyelf with this picture for a while now. Redrawing the background multiple times, but I think I am now satisfied with it. An exercise in lighting if nothing else for me. I hope you guys enjoyed it, it's kind of my pride and joy right now.