Poisoned Soul/Quill

Chrysalislover

So late last night, I finally finished writing a general summary of my OC’s overall story, from his humble beginning to the epic villain-protagonist he eventually becomes. I wanted to post it here, to share with anyone who is curious. This is also still technically a work in progress, as most people would say for their OCs, so hopefully any room for improvement will gradually be made in due time :)
 
Warning, long story is long.
 
Character Quick Facts  
Species: Unicorn (Quill); Unicorn-Changeling hybrid (Poisoned Soul)  
Gender: Male  
Talent(s): Reading and writing (mostly as Quill); studying Equestrian history (mostly as Quill)  
Home: Canterlot (place of birth); the Badlands (later)  
Strengths: Studious, hardworking (Quill); eternally loyal, brave (Poisoned Soul); persistent/determined (both)  
Flaws: Timid, reserved (Quill); reckless, battle-crazed/blood-thirsty (Poisoned Soul)
 
Physical Quick Facts  
Coat: Tannish brown  
Mane and tail color and style: Neutral brown, casually combed (Quill); neutral brown, unkempt, draped and tangled (Poison Soul)  
Eye Color: Gentle blue (Quill); venomous green (Poisoned Soul)  
Horn: Straight (Quill); crooked, twisted by Changeling magic (Poisoned Soul)  
Wings: None (Quill); Changeling-like wings, magically spawned from out of backside (Poisoned Soul)  
Cutie mark: White quill pen laid across a brown book (Quill)/white quill pen laid across a brown book, both engulfed by a green flame (Poisoned Soul)  
Magic aura: Gentle blue (Quill); venomous green (Poisoned Soul)
 
Birth and Childhood
 
Quill was born into a fairly successful and respected Canterlot unicorn family. He had a basic, uneventful upbringing, but was dearly loved and cared for by both his father and mother. At a usual age, he was enrolled in the Canterlot school, where he was taught basic education and simple magic. Through his education, Quill learned how to read rather quickly, and began spending his past time reading and writing simple books and stories. He didn’t have too many friends, but this didn’t bother him. He did make a few acquaintances, however, whom he treasured closely.
 
Discovering his Talent
 
Still a young colt, Quill began spending day after day in the dim corridors of the Grand Library of Canterlot. Surrounded by countless information, he soon discovered his interest in the history of Equestria and the lands beyond. With each passing day, he spent more and more time in the library’s history section, reading from when the library’s doors opened at dawn, to when he was forced to leave at dusk. He also began taking notes of the things he read, so that he could retain the knowledge. With this new-found passion, Quill began exhibiting exceptional performance in his history classes, even if the quality of his work remained average in most of his other courses. Every day, Quill felt that there was but one thing that was holding him back from true excellence in his studies: the closing of the Grand Library.
 
One day, around the age of ten, the young unicorn had an idea. When it came time for the library to close, he hid, until the very last of its staff members had departed for the night. Once a deathly silence fell upon the facility, Quill emerged. By little more than the blue light of his horn, he paged through chapter after chapter of Equestrian history. He read of eras of chaotic spirits; evil unicorn kings; wars that changed the kingdom’s history; and the many eras of peace and prosperity the land enjoyed during the reign of Princess Celestia. With each new chronicle he read, he added to his already impressive collection of historical notes and writings. After the long night had come to an end, and the first rays of dawn had crept over the eastern horizon, the young unicorn could continue no longer. He lay his head down upon the massive book he was currently reading, and fell asleep.
 
Soon, Quill opened his eyes to the sound of several voices. Still sitting at the same table he fell asleep at, he was now surrounded by several members of the library staff, and his parents. Having been gone all night, it was no surprise to his parents that they would find him here. However, neither they nor the library staffs were saying anything. Instead, they all seemed to be staring down at his flank. Quill looked to, and his blue eyes widened at the sight of what he beheld. Across his flank, he now saw what appeared to be a quill pen, laid across a history book. Both his parents and the library staffponies had seen plenty of the young unicorn to know that this was something new. At last, Quill had gained his cutie mark; he discovered his talent, of reading, studying and writing about Equestrian history.
 
The Unicorn Historian
 
Upon discovering his talent, Quill devoted even more of his life to reading, studying and writing about Equestria’s multifaceted history. He excelled in his history courses, and even began to show improved performance in other areas of his school life. Along with history, Quill’s interest in reading and writing led him to discover another interest: poetry. Soon, the poetic arts became one of his biggest hobbies, writing a variety of romantic and/or epic during his free time. Eventually, Quill’s skills and performance caught the attention of Princess Celestia. When Quill was about sixteen, he was approached one afternoon by Celestia, in the halls of the Grand Library. The princess said that she had been observing Quill’s dedication to the study and writing of her kingdom’s history, and wanted to offer him a chance to work as a historian for the Grand Library.
 
Without hesitation, Quill accepted Princess Celestia’s offer. Still rather young, he began his career as an entry-level historian, primarily working as an assistant and archivist to the libraries’ higher ranked historians. Despite this lower status, Quill enjoying his duties and finding himself surrounded everyday by that which he had already loved for so many years. As the years passed, Quill’s skills improved, as did his reputation among the Grand Library staffponies. By the age of eighteen, he gained the rank of an official historian for the library. With his talent and determination, Quill tirelessly researched and recorded excerpts and logs of Equestria’s deep history, for the library that had since become his new home over the years. Years came and went, and the young stallion happily saw himself working as a historian in the Grand Library for the rest of his days. However, little did he know that his life was soon about to change forever.
 
The Changeling Invasion
 
When Quill was twenty-one years old, the entire city of Canterlot was overjoyed about the upcoming wedding of Princess mi Amore Cadenza and Prince-to-be Shining Armor. Quill and the rest of his family were not among the special invites, but they would be able to watch the conclusion of the wedding ceremony from the chapel courtyard. Quill was happy enough about this, and on the day of the wedding, he and his parents went to the ceremony. However, not long after the reception began, this once beautiful day in Canterlot quickly spiraled into one of terror. Before Quill knew what was happening, he found himself being tormented by vicious creatures, the likes of which he had never seen before. They were vaguely pony-like in their appearance, but were covered in chitin-like flesh; had insect-like wings and eyes; and had teeth and claws that looked as if they could rend flesh. It wasn’t long before he found himself pinned by several of the vicious creatures, like everyone else around him. It was over for Quill. He knew that on this day, his short life would be brought to an end by these hostile creatures. As he still remained alive, however, something eventually caught his eye, up above.
 
Standing upon the chapel’s balcony, singing, stood a figure that was almost indescribable to Quill. She had eyes of venomous green, whose beauty seeped into his heart, setting it aflame. Her mane was draped and unkempt, emitting a luscious, cerulean-blue color and a silky appearance. Her figure was pony-like, the same size as Princess Celestia. Her physical form, however, was far gaunter than that of the Sun Princess, giving her a very lithe figure in Quill’s eyes. He noticed her legs, which were filled with pores, not unlike the legs of those that were holding him down. From the mare’s backside, she sported a pair of holed, insect-like wings, also akin to those of the monsters that were currently taking over Canterlot. Upon the creature’s head, emerging from her silky blue mane extended a horn. Unlike that of a normal unicorn, however, this horn had a very crooked and gnarled appearance. As the elegant creature continued singing, Quill saw her maw lined with pearly-white teeth, including four sinister-looking fangs positioned towards the front. Whatever the creature was, it was clearly a vicious predator.
 
Even if he could only catch a distant view of this wicked creature, Quill was already finding himself infatuated with her. Who was she? What was her name? Where did she come from? As the beautiful but imposing figure continued to stand upon the chapel balcony, all the countless enemies that had taken over the city gazed upon her, and bowed. Whoever she was, Quill deduced, she must be the leader of this invading species. At this point, even as his home city continued to be terrorized by its invaders, Quill merely looked upon this new-found dark angel of his heart, no longer caring about what happened to him. Before long, however, a powerful blast could be heard, and a barrage of pink light blurred Quill’s sights. In mere moments, the phenomena had passed. Quill looked about, and noticed that he was no longer being held down by the mysterious fiends. In fact, not a single one of them could be seen. He looked back up at the chapel balcony, and it too was devoid of the dark mare that had ensnared his heart.
 
Seeking the Queen
 
For days after the wedding, Quill went about seeking information on what had happen, information on the monsters that attacked the city, and the identity of the mare that had stolen his heart that day. Soon enough, he was able to piece everything together. The now-wedded Princess mi Amore Cadenza (Princess Cadence) had been kidnapped, and had her identity impersonated by the queen of the monsters that had attacked the city. The monsters were known as Changelings, and they have the ability to take the form of someone else so that they may gain power by feeding off the love for that individual (from friends, loved ones, etc.) As for the Changeling Queen, her true name was Queen Chrysalis, and she was the one whom Quill fell in love with, upon seeing her on the chapel balcony. However, Princess Cadance managed to escape her imprisonment and, with her fiance Shining Armor, used her love to repel Queen Chrysalis and her thralls back to their homeland: the distant Badlands to the south.
 
At last, Quill knew who it was he had seen, and where she may be now. As he continued his work in the Grand Library, he sought out more information on these so-called Changelings, and their radiant queen. Unfortunately, he never saw anything about them in the history books he had poured over countless times. He instead delved through books on monsters and Equestrian fauna, but found very little in them. Determined to find the Changelings, and more importantly Queen Chrysalis herself, Quill knew that there was only one choice. He had to travel to the Badlands.
 
The choice Quill was about to make was not one he could take lightly. Whether he found the Changeling Queen or died trying, he knew that he could never return to the life he was now about to turn his back on. After spending a few more days thinking things over, he made up his mind to depart. Before leaving, he took (stole, truthfully) several books from the Grand Library that he figured would be of use in his travels: a guide to offensive and defensive magic, and a guide to surviving in the wilderness. On a dark morning, before the sun had risen, Quill slipped out of his house. Just before leaving, he wrote a brief note to his parents, telling them that he may never see them again. He thanked them for everything, and said that he loved them very dearly. Quill set the note on a table, and departed.
 
For months, Quill headed south, across the lands of Equestria. Some nights were painful, as he missed his bed and family, and questioned what others back in Canterlot were thinking about him. Despite all his doubts and sorrow, he continued reassuring himself that he had to undergo this voyage. It wasn’t long before Quill began witnessing monsters and perils he never expected to encounter in his life. Initially, he had to avoid these dangers, sometimes barely escaping alive. Using the books that he brought with him, however, he was eventually able to teach himself how to survive and how to use his magic for combat and defense. Through his expedition across Equestria, Quill ended up traversing some of the kingdom’s most dangerous regions, including the mysterious Everfree Forest.
 
After many long months, Quill had finally reached Equestria’s southern frontier, beyond which lay the hostile Badlands, where it was rumored the Changelings lived. Gazing upon the rocky, desolate lands that lay ahead of him, he began the most dangerous part of his journey yet. From scorching days to frigid nights, and with little food and water, Quill was pushed to the limits as he wandered aimlessly across the Badlands’ desolate landscape for months on end. In this time, he learned additional survival and combat skills, in order to help him survive. One day, around dusk, Quill heard a strange noise, waking him just as he was about to fall asleep. He peered over the rocky crags, where he saw several Changelings, feasting upon the carcass of a Badland animal. Once they finished their meal, they flew off in a particular direction. Left with no other option, Quill decided to head in that same direction, in hopes that he would finally discover the whereabouts of Queen Chrysalis.
 
After several more months of travel, Quill’s instinct proved true. He began seeing more and more Changelings, residing in the cliffs and hills of the Badlands. Always staying out of their sight, he continued looking at them for hints on which direction to proceed. Within merely a few weeks, Quill found himself overlooking a vast lowland region. He scanned it, seeing that it was filled with Changeling hives. Further on, he saw what looked like a lone mountain, standing in the heart of the lowland. Further inspection, however, revealed that it was no mountain. It was a Changeling hive! Very carefully, Quill meandered down to the bottom of this vast depression of land and crept towards the towering hive, until he was close enough to stand in its shadow. Still remaining out of sight, he gazed up and saw a familiar figure emerging from the hive’s top balcony: it was Queen Chrysalis!
 
After years of searching, Quill, now about twenty-three years old, had at last found what he was searching for. Without being spotted by any of the Changelings outside, Quill managed to sneak into the royal hive through one of its cavernous entrances. Once inside, however, he was quickly discovered and captured by a swarm of Changelings. Upon being captured, Quill was first thrown into a dungeon-like cavern, where he feared he’d spend the rest of his days. Less than a day passed, before some Changelings came to the prison, and forced Quill to come with them. The young stallion was led up through the royal hive, until finding himself in what appeared to be a throne room of sorts. In the next instant, he looked ahead and saw Queen Chrysalis sitting upon her throne.
 
Never before being this close to her, Quill was now even more enamored by her wicked radiance. The Changelings forced Quill to the ground, and their queen demanded to know who he was and why he was trespassing on their domain. Quill quickly explained his story to the queen. He begged her not to kill him, promising that he would be more than honored to serve her, even to the death. The thought of having a pony in their ranks disgusted the Changelings, who were about to kill him themselves, before Chrysalis demanded that they halt their actions. Though the queen was not sure why a unicorn from Equestria would be so willing to serve her, she decided to give Quill a chance. She told him that he would have to prove himself before being seen as a valuable servant; that even then he would be merely viewed a means to her ends; and that, should he die in her service, his departure would be of no significance to her. Despite these rather cold-hearted terms, Quill gladly accepted. Thus began a new chapter in his life – a chapter that would change him forever.
 
Queen Chrysalis’ New Servant
 
Queen Chrysalis sent Quill to live in one of the royal hive’s lower living quarters. She declared to all her Changelings that he was there to serve her, hence was not allowed to be killed. The Changelings acknowledged their queen’s demand, but took note of the fact that they were only permitted not to kill him. Day after day, the Changelings beat Quill, until he had to painfully crawl back to his bed. In response to this, whenever he could, Quill honed his fighting skills so that he may be able to fight back. He learned more magical powers, and taught himself how to fight physically and hoof-to-hoof. Finally, one day, he killed one of his Changeling assailants. The rest still then beat him into submission, but that day was still a victory for him as he crawled back to his quarters in pain. The next day, he killed another. The process repeated itself, until one day he was able to kill two Changelings. Again, the daily experience continued until one day he was able to kill three, and so forth. On the nights when he couldn’t sleep, lying in his quarters in pain, Quill began to return to another old hobby of his: poetry. Using a few quills and some paper he managed to bring along when he set out on his journey, he would compose romantic writings about his gorgeous Queen Chrysalis, who had become his artistic muse.
 
Finally, a day came when Quill killed no less than five or six of the attacking Changelings. Queen Chrysalis heard of this, and decreed that Quill was to now accompany the warriors Changelings in their assault against Equestrian regions. Though Quill accepted this offer without hesitation, it proved difficult at first, for him to attack the very land that was once his home. Initially, he made little effort to attack the Equestrians, not harming a single one on his first foray against them. The Changelings noticed this, and punished Quill painfully for his poor service to their queen. Soon, Quill convinced himself that he was no longer part of the land he was forced to fight against. He was now a servant to Queen Chrysalis, an enemy of Equestria. Time passed, and Quill’s emotions became numb to the tasks he was asked to carry out. He began fighting ponies without hesitation, and even proved himself to be a formidable fighter against them.
 
Quill continued serving alongside the Changelings on the battlefields for almost two years. Having proved his mettle, the Changelings had him promoted to a squad leader of his respective swarm. It was the lowest rung of the leader hierarchy, but still a rank above the common thralls never the less. News of this promotion reached Queen Chrysalis’ ears, and she began to see just how loyal of a subject Quill sought to be. Why he was doing this, however, was still beyond her comprehension. As Quill’s servitude continued, and his reputation grew among the Changelings, it grew among the Equestrians as well. Rumors spread across the kingdom, of a unicorn that was seen fighting alongside the Changelings, ravaging towns and regions across Equestria’s frontiers. Eventually, Princess Celestia herself heard about this rouge unicorn. Recognizing the vague descriptions that were given of him, and looking back to Quill’s sudden disappearance years ago, she concluded that it had to be him among the Changeling swarms. With a heavy heart, she declared him a traitor and renegade, and ordered that he be stopped by any means necessary.
 
Birth of a Beast
 
After serving in the Changeling swarms for several years, Quill, now about twenty-five or twenty-six years of age, had gained a formidable reputation among the Changelings as a fierce squad leader, and among the Equestrians as a serious threat. Some Changelings even tried to kill Quill, seeing him as a threat to their own status, only to meet an untimely end at his hooves. Having lived among the Changelings for years now, Quill was becoming more and more like them. His civilized demeanor was slipping away, and in its place the void was being filled with the feral aggression that is common among Changelings. However, he managed to retain his passion for poetry, as he continued to occasionally write charming excerpts about his queen. Eventually, after a particularly successful raid by his squad, Quill was asked to be the general of his respective swarm. He gladly accepted the status, saying that he would prove with Equestrian blood that he was worthy of it.
 
As a swarm general, Quill continued to prove his fighting skills, and his fierce loyalty to Queen Chrysalis. She too noticed this, and one day called him to see her. She told him that she was well aware of his success in battle, and that he had truly proven himself a valuable servant, a feat she didn’t think he was capable of when he first pledged his allegiance to her years ago. She could see him becoming an even greater, more dedicated servant, but in order for this to happen, some changes needed to be made. Immediately, Quill knelt before his queen, and swore that he would make whatever changes were necessary. Trusting in Quill’s dedication, Chrysalis explained. She said that she would grant him some of her own powers, which would have a serious effect on him. He would acquire powers he could never acquire before, but it would come with a cost. He would no longer be a unicorn, but would instead be transformed into something vile; even she did not entirely know what that something might be. Quill hesitated for a moment, but accepted his queen’s offer once again.
 
The queen aimed her horn at Quill, and a sickly green light began to glow from it. In the next instant, a beam of the green light was fired directly at Quill, and began to engulf him. Quill instantly fell to the ground, writhing and screaming in agony as he felt Chrysalis’ power practically eating away at him. Over his scream, Chrysalis shouted that he must prove himself able to handle this power; and if he couldn’t, then he deserved to die right there in front of her. As Quill continued to roll and thrash in pain, he began to feel exceptional pain in various parts of his body. First he felt it in his horn; followed by an even worse pain in his back, as if a razor-sharp blade was cutting through it from within. After several more moments of suffering, the spell ended, and Quill lay deathly still upon the floor of his queen’s chamber. As he heard Chrysalis’ command for him to rise, Quill slowly got to his feet, his body still smoldering. He couldn’t see what happened to him, but something was different, he could feel it. His queen directed him to a mirror, and told him to look upon his new form.
 
Quill looked into the mirror, and stared in shock at the monster that stood before him. It had the same coat as he did, and the same mane and tail color. The main and tail, however, were drooping from his head and hindquarters, in a ragged and unkempt state. The creature’s eyes were now a venomous green, far different from the gentle blue that he would always see when he looked into mirrors in the past. A crooked horn stemmed from the beast’s head, not unlike the horn of the Changeling Queen; and a pair of ivory-white fangs protruded from its otherwise pony-like muzzle. Lastly, it had a pair of Changeling-like wings extending from its backside, though they were covered in blood and looked as if they had grown and burst from beneath the skin. Quill then looked and saw his queen reflected in the mirror, grinning wickedly at him. It was in this moment that he realized he was the beast in the mirror. Chrysalis’ plan was successful, yet, as she told him, her powers transformed him into something indescribable. Even his cutie mark had changed, as the image of a quill pen laid across a book was now accompanied by a green flame that engulfed both. Eventually acknowledging and accepting what he became, Quill vowed to his queen that he would prove himself to be her deadliest servant. He uttered his name, but Chrysalis immediately told him that he would no longer use such a title. She declared that the pony that once held that name was dead, now that his soul had been poisoned…
 
The Legacy of Poisoned Soul
 
Following Quill’s bestial transformation, all the Changelings took notice, many of them now instilled with fear of him. Though he knew of his physical transformation, Quill had yet to see how else his queen’s powers had changed him. He had no idea what sorts of powers he now had, or how this change might affect him even more in the future. Though he would never say it, he was afraid of himself. Following his transformation, Quill continued his duty of leading his Changeling swarm against Equestria, sometimes leading them on some of the most dangerous assaults their queen could ask of them. It was on the field of battle that he discovered some of the powers he was now capable of. He could shoot beams of green energy, far more powerful than what he could before; conjure green, searing-hot flames with which to incinerate his enemies; and more. He could also fly thanks to his wings, though this did not come as easily as he had hoped, hence continued to primarily fight on foot. Along with this transformation, Quill adopted a new name for himself, recalling his queen’s disgust for his former title. Inspired by what she said to him, he gave himself a name that would one day be respected by all Changelings and feared by all Equestrians: Poisoned Soul.
 
With his new powers and title, Poisoned Soul led his swarm with zeal and dedication, leaving nothing but ruin and destruction in his wake as few Equestrians had any chance of standing against him. He honed his powers and improved his flying skills all the while, making him even more of a force to be reckoned with. To the Equestrians, Poisoned Soul became a new face of terror for them. Many recognized him as Quill, the treacherous unicorn, yet couldn’t fathom how he was transformed now into such a monster. Soon enough, the princesses Celestia and Luna heard about Poisoned Soul. Realizing that he was the same Quill whom they decreed to be a traitor and enemy of Equestria, they emphasized his wickedness even more and ordered their troops to stop the beast if ever possible. As years passed, Poison Soul and his following swarm grew bolder, while those defending Equestria’s border regions from the Changelings grew even more afraid of the battle-hungry general. Sometimes, entire battalions of pony soldiers would flee rather than so much as gaze upon the savage, green eyes of their foe. The queen heard of all this, and was most pleased with the very creature she created.
 
Among Queen Chrysalis’ countless minions, there was but one who was more feared than Poisoned Soul. There was one exceptionally large Changeling, who went by the name Carapace. The veteran of countless battles, Carapace had gained the rank of supreme commander of Chrysalis’ entire force. His success showed, in the form of his unparalleled strength and countless cracks and scars across his chitin flesh. All of the swarm generals were ordered to obey him, including the reluctant Poisoned Soul. As Poisoned Soul rose so high in respect and fear, Carapace viewed him as a threat to his own power and status. One day, Carapace expressed these issues to Poisoned Soul, reminding the unicorn-Changeling beast that he would always have to kneel before his supreme commander, no matter how much respect he may achieve as a general. Unwavered by Carapace’s words, Poisoned Soul said that power and respect belongs to those who seize it, and went on to criticize Carapace for his often reckless and purely strength-driven strategies in war. Carapace would not stand for such an affront, and challenged Poisoned Soul to single combat to the death. Poisoned Soul accepted this offer with a straight face, but actually felt quite frightened inside. He would not turn down Carapace’s challenge, but had genuine doubt about whether or not he could prevail against Chrysalis’ supreme commander.
 
In several days, Poisoned Soul and Carapace met once again for their fated duel. A vast swarm of Changelings surrounded them to watch, and even Queen Chrysalis came to observe the battle from her balcony. Both the commander and young general made their final vows, that whoever lost this battle would no longer draw breath afterwards. With that, the battle began. Carapace clearly had the edge with his size and raw power, but Poisoned Soul refused to back down. Relying mostly on his speed and wit, he proved a greater challenge than the commander had anticipated. The conflict raged for hours, both combatants taking injuries, their blood mixing on the ground beneath their feet. Finally, the battle-weary Poisoned Soul found his chance, and dealt a final, mortal blow to Carapace. All, even the queen herself, watched in shock as their mighty commander fell to the ground with a crash. Still fueled with fury, Poisoned Soul leapt onto Carapace’s near-dead body and savagely mutilated his face before finally falling over, exhausted but alive and victorious. As he began to pass out, he could hear the Changelings screeching with joy, and praising their victorious general.
 
The Queen’s Champion
 
After awakening in his quarters within the royal hive, carried there by his fellow Changelings, Poisoned Soul was quickly summoned to Queen Chrysalis’ chambers. She told Poisoned Soul that she was highly impressed by his show of skills, though a bit frustrated that she had lost her most powerful servant. Contemplating the situation, she came up with the best solution. Since it was Poisoned Soul who slew Carapace, it was only fitting that he takes his place. He would be her new commander, leading all the swarms of the Badlands in their ongoing battle against Equestria. Kneeling before his queen, Poisoned Soul gladly accepted such a powerful offer. By now, ever since she had transformed him, Queen Chrysalis began to sense something more in Poisoned Soul. Perhaps he held stronger feelings for her, than merely loyalty and a desire to serve?
 
Now only thirty years old, Poisoned Soul was declared by Queen Chrysalis as supreme commander of the Changeling swarms. Along with giving him the rank, Chrysalis ordered a special suit of armor to be made, that would suit her new champion. Rumor has it that she ordered the suit to be forged in dragon fire, and tempered in the blood of Equestrian ponies. However it was made, the end result was a menacing suit, composed of blackened steel and accented by truly menacing designs. The day it was brought before Poisoned Soul, he proudly accepted and adorned himself in it. Once he had donned it, all of the Changelings looked upon him in both awe and terror. Clad in his new battle garments, he cried to the swarms that he would force Equestria to its knees in the name of their queen.
 
Many years went by, as Poisoned Soul mercilessly carried out his newly bestowed duties to his queen. Leading the Changelings through battle after battle, against not only the Equestrians but other nations as well, his terrifying reputation spread like wildfire across the lands. Countless soldiers fell to Poisoned Soul and his swarms; many chose to flee rather than face their inevitable doom; and some even challenged the beastly commander to single combat, only to see their challenge met with their own death. Be it through combat against his enemies, or on his own, the commander still continued to perfect his skills. At this rate, it seemed as if there was no one left who could possibly offer him a challenge, as many generals and commanders of other armies fell before him in battle. Though Poisoned Soul was by no means an expert at waging war, he strove to lead the Changelings with greater intellect than Carapace. Believing that the now deceased former commander relied too much on brute strength and mindless fury, Poisoned Soul emphasized the use of other tactics in tandem with pure might, such as deception and magic. Though the results of these new efforts showed in Poisoned Soul’s countless victories, the queen’s new champion was still a frequent victim of bloodlust himself. Like the Changeling commanders before him, there were times when he too achieved victory through sheer, crushing force and blind battle rage. Though his results were unquestionable, some questioned if Poisoned Soul really did introduce the more intellectual means of waging that he frequently boasted about.
 
Meanwhile, in Equestria, the very name Poisoned Soul invoked even greater terror in the hearts of ponies than it did when he was a successful general. Ponykind spoke of him in hushed tones, claiming that he was impossible to kill, and that he was practically a god on the battlefield. From the deserts of Appleloosa, to the icy tundra of the Crystal Empire, all feared the day Poisoned Soul, the queen’s champion, would descend upon them with his endless swarms and battle fury. Refusing to submit to this fear, however, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna condemned Poisoned Soul, and told their subjects that he was not invincible, nor divine, and that he would sooner or later pay dearly for his treachery and all the havoc he was bringing upon their beautiful kingdom. Luckily, as the royal sisters emphasized, years passed and Poisoned Soul still failed to press his forces passed the kingdom’s border lands. Whatever might the Changelings and their reckless commander now had, it still faltered against the full might of Equestria’s armies.
 
Captain of the Guard
 
Years passed. Equestria’s defenses held strong, but Poisoned Soul and his swarms continued to assail and terrorize ponykind. While many Changelings grew restless over the fact that their assaults were turning into a slow, grueling stalemate, Poisoned Soul cared little. To him, all that mattered was having the opportunity to fight and slaughter his enemies on the field of battle. On the contrary, the longer he was able to partake in such bloody endeavors, the better.
 
Though highly impressed by his success on the battlefield, Queen Chrysalis had a new task for her champion. When Poisoned Soul was about thirty-seven, Queen Chrysalis called him to her quarters, and said that she had a new duty for him. While Poisoned Soul could never bring himself to deny the wishes of the queen he loved so dearly, he was hesitant to relinquish his life as a commander, still living each day for the ecstasy of battle. Chrysalis ordered that Poisoned Soul accept her offer, telling him it was one she was sure he’d be glad to accept: captain of her praetorian (personal) guards.
 
Realizing that he was given a job of prestigious status, and one that allowed him to be close to his queen, Poisoned Soul gladly accepted the offer. Rather than leading his queen’s countless, lesser thralls to distant lands, he would lead her mighty praetorians through the corridors and chambers of the royal hive. This would not be the last he would see of the battlefield, however, for it was now his task to be at his queen’s side, whenever she herself wished to go to war. Poisoned Soul vowed to defend her to his last breath, and Chrysalis knew he spoke nothing but the truth. To accommodate Poisoned Soul’s new duty, the queen also ordered that his personal armor be better suited for the job. The blackened steel armor was once again handled by the greatest Changeling smiths. The end result was a suit of armor that was just as strong as it was before, only sleeker in form and decorated to emphasize the noble duties of the one who wore it.
 
Months passed, as Poisoned Soul proudly stood beside his queen and praetorian followers. Though thankful for being granted such a duty, he frequently missed the life as a warrior on the battlefield, a duty he had held for well over a decade. Truly, he relished the times when his queen wished to accompany her minions in battle. Not only could he once again experience the revelry of war, but he could do so while proudly defending the mare he loved. Through these occasional periods of direct combat, Poisoned Soul’s name continued to echo across the ranks of the Equestrian soldiers, and his aura still gripping the kingdom with fear. At the same time, like he did as a battlefield combatant, Poisoned Soul was quickly being feared within the royal hive. All the Changelings in the hive, even his fellow praetorians, feared his terrifying ruthlessness and steadfast dedication to his duties. Any subjects that he saw as a potential threat, either to him or to his queen, were dealt with painfully.
 
As Poison Soul’s royal guard duty continued over the years, it gave Queen Chrysalis more of a chance to investigate what it was that drove the stallion so zealously for all the years he had served her. Through a mixture of rumors, personal investigations and words uttered by Poisoned Soul himself, she began to finally realize the truth: he loved her. It was not only duty that drove him to achieve victory and death in her name, but also passion. Initially, Chrysalis was unsure what to think of this. While she reveled in Poisoned Soul’s dedication to her, whatever his reasons, she was unsure how to repay his feelings of passion. She frequently told herself that the feeling was not mutual. While it was true that she did not harbor feelings of love for Poisoned Soul, she began developing another feeling for him; one she could not entirely comprehend.
 
The Rise of a King
 
One night, Queen Chrysalis called Poisoned Soul to her quarters, to discuss something very important. Without pause, the guard captain obeyed. Upon reaching her quarters, Poisoned Soul could sense something was different about his queen this night. This was no ordinary meeting she had called for. After toying with his mind for some time, the Changeling Queen finally told Poisoned Soul that she knew about his feelings. She knew about the love he held for her, and that it carried him to one success after another just as efficiently as his undying loyalty. Poisoned Soul was speechless for a moment. Soon enough, however, he replied, saying that everything she spoke was the truth. Having received a confession from her subject, Chrysalis grinned. Tantalizingly, she began using her silver-tongued words, saying that she too had at last begun to feel something for him as well; something she never previously felt for any of her countless servants. It was no mere love; she had no place in her heart for such an emotion, even if her loyal subject did. However, she genuinely valued and respected Poisoned Soul. She knew that with his loyalty, love and powers, she could accomplish far more than she ever before thought possible.
 
Suddenly, both the queen and her servant were stricken with ecstasy. In moments, the two of them fell upon Chrysalis’ bed, and became entwined by the throes of passion. With force, Chrysalis dominated her subject, telling him she now had planned for him something far greater than he could ever dream. She was no longer in need of a loyal general, commander or royal guard. She demanded a king. One who would rule the Changelings at her side, yet still bend to her will whenever she demanded it. He would have power he never before imagined, but only because she willed it. He would be the Changelings’ king, yet still her subject. To Poisoned Soul, none of this was of concern. Ruling by his queen’s side would be to live a dram, even with her hooves ever on his throat. With ecstasy, he proudly accepted his queen’s offer, swearing that he would rule with power and force, while serving her with dedication and pride.
 
Soon, the day of Poisoned Soul’s coronation arrived. Barely over forty years old, having served his queen for nearly two decades, the stallion was at last given the chance to sit at her side; to lord over the very minions he led into battle for so many years. For his ceremony, countless Changelings watched as a twisted, blackened crown of onyx was placed upon his, and their queen proclaimed his sovereignty over all the swarms. In response, Poisoned Soul spoke as well. He vowed that he would rule with power, and that he would see all of Equestria tremble before the might of his queen.
 
Years passed, and Poisoned Soul ruled over the Changelings by his queen’s side. His reign was ruthless, but highly effective. Through both fear and awe, the Changelings obeyed his every command. He respected subjects that proved their worth through prowess in battle; and delivered cruel retribution upon those that displeased him. Beyond the Badlands, Poisoned Soul’s terrifying reputation continued to hang over Equestria like a shadow; a shadow that grew only darker now that the royal sisters and their subjects knew that their long-hated traitor had now become the king of the very forces he long led against them. Truly, the Changelings’ new king seemed unstoppable. However, despite all of the power Poisoned Soul displayed, he never forgot that it was his beloved queen who was truly pulling the strings.
 
Even from upon his throne, Poisoned Soul saw to it that the assault upon Equestria continued. By his orders, the swarms still assailed the pony kingdom’s frontier regions, as well as those of their neighboring lands. Other times, however, Poisoned Soul would take the duty of leading the largest swarms into battle himself. On these occasions, he was frequently accompanied by his queen, as well. Together, the two saw to it that entire forces knelt before their glory, or fell to the ravenous claws and teeth of their forces. Be it on the field of battle or in the royal hive, King Poisoned Soul still continued to vigorously train and hone his powers. Even as he began to grow older, he refused to let himself be surpassed in battle by any opponent.
 
Though Poisoned Soul saw to it that the Changelings’ continued their battles against Equestria, these mere assaults against their border territories, which he himself had partaken in for decades, did not satisfy him. He knew that his terrifying reputation continued to plague ponykind. The time had come. No longer would he launch strikes at Equestria that would frighten its inhabitants. He would unleash an all-out war; a symphony of blood and death that would echo across the shattered lands for all eternity…
 
The Changeling War
 
Months passed, and the Changeling assaults upon Equestria stilled. From deep within the Badlands, Queen Chrysalis and King Poisoned Soul prepared their swarms, for the greatest threat Equestria would ever face. Changelings from all the hives across the Badlands traveled to the royal hive, where their queen and king addressed them, and declared that Equestria would fall before the might of their invading force. Eventually, the day came when the swarms departed from the Badlands in mass. Their first target was the already battle-ravaged borderlands they had terrorized before. They fell this time like tall grass before a sharp scythe.
 
The Equestrians quickly retaliated in full force, and the kingdom became gripped in a bloody war, just as Poisoned Soul and Queen Chrysalis had hoped. For years, battle and slaughter engulfed the once beautiful kingdom. Entire cities fell before the Changeling swarms, and entire regions of the land were burned and devoured by them. However, few victories came easily for them, as the royal sisters and their mighty subjects defended their homeland with admirable courage and vigor. The conflict did not prove as easily as both Poisoned Soul and Queen Chrysalis had initially hoped, as both their swarms and the Equestrian battalions pushed back against one another in what became a long, devastating war of attrition.
 
Eventually, after further years of battle, the Changelings had reached the walls of Canterlot itself. Queen Chrysalis, driven by pride and arrogance, pushed for the utter destruction of the city, and Equestria itself: a feat she longed to achieve, since that fateful day decades ago. Poisoned Soul, however, was not as convinced. Years of battle had shown him that enemies, when forces into desperate situations, can retaliate with unexpected force. Sure enough, this proved true for the Equestrians as well. In their darkest hour, the royal sisters and their six champions came forth, leading the defenders of their beloved city against the Changeling swarms. Surprised by this show of gallantry, the Changelings were quickly thrown into disarray, and both Queen Chrysalis and Poisoned Soul watched as their swarms were cut down by the newly invigorated ponies. As they witnessed the tide of battle quickly turning against them, they ordered a retreat, and their chances to conquer Equestria’s royal capital were quickly dashed.
 
Very quickly, news spread across war-ravaged Equestria, of the Changeling defeat at Canterlot. Hearing this filled the Equestrian soldiers with fresh morale, and they began fighting back against their swarming invaders. In a matter of weeks, entire regions of the kingdom were reclaimed by their rightful inhabitants, and entire swarms of Changelings either fled in disorder, or were cut down in large swaths. In shock and sorrow, the Changeling Queen and her loyal king watched as their mighty endeavor was being crushed before their very eyes. Finally, after plaguing Equestria with war and bloodshed for nearly ten long years, the king and queen were forced to retreat.
 
The Death of Poisoned Soul
 
With haste, Queen Chrysalis and Poisoned Soul pulled their swarms out of Equestria, and back to the Badlands. Their efforts to conquer Equestria had failed. The royal sisters, however, were not finished with the queen and her warrior-king. They wanted to put an end to the Changeling swarms, to prevent their beloved homeland from ever again being ravaged by such a brutal war. Within weeks after the Changelings’ retreat from Equestria, they reassembling their primary forces, and marched upon the Badlands in route to the queen’s abode. As for the Changeling hives they encountered along the way, many of their inhabitants fled, while those that stood in opposition were quickly decimated.
 
Within a month of their retreat, Queen Chrysalis and Poisoned Soul soon found the Equestrian army marching upon the royal hive, the royal sisters themselves at the front lines. Even with their unrelenting ferocity in battle, the Changelings stood little chance against such a large and determined force. Soon, the sisters’ army was at their doorstep. The Changeling Queen stood ready to fight to her last breath, but Poisoned Soul refused. He pleaded with her, telling her to flee; to find a new home, where she could create a new kingdom that could one day challenge Equestria once more. Reluctant, Chrysalis saw the logic in his request. She and a swarm of her most powerful guards departed the royal hive through a secret passage, and fled. Some say she looked back but once, and shed a single tear…
 
With his queen fleeing to a safe haven, Poisoned Soul stood alone in the royal hive’s throne room, preparing to face the inevitable fate that awaited him. From below, he could hear the sounds of battle, as the Equestrian’s easily cut their way through the hive’s defenders. Soon, a large force of armed ponies stood facing him, at the threshold of the throne room. What happened next is of legend, the truth of which may never be truly known. Rumor has it that the Equestrians attacked the lone Changeling King, but Poisoned Soul fought back with an unparalleled wrath. Refusing to back down, he killed every Equestrian soldier that got anywhere near him, even as he continued to suffer blows and see his own blood spill at his hooves. It was said that he killed no less than a hundred troops, before delivering a terrifying cry and falling to the ground in death. Hard to believe it was over, the soldiers even stood in terror of his lifeless, bloodied corpse.
 
Thus was the end of Poisoned Soul; once a young unicorn, who for the sake of love and loyalty, became the greatest servant of the Changeling Queen, Chrysalis. Enraged not only by all the havoc and destruction he had wrought upon Equestria for so long, but by his initial treachery as well, Princess Luna had the beast’s head cut off, and displayed before all of Canterlot as a sign of their victory over such a hated foe. As for Queen Chrysalis, she fulfilled her servant’s desire, by finding a new land, where she began to raise a new Changeling kingdom. Never did she find another servant as dedicated as Poisoned Soul, nor did she ever forget him…
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