A few minutes earlier, somewhere on the other side of the Everfree Forest, atop a towering peak.
A black monster pony that looked like a pony but had holes in her hooves and mane was casting a spell with both forehooves raised. Eyes closed, she swayed her head as she explained to the soldiers behind her, "I'm going to summon a meteor from beyond the heavens and smash it beside Ponyville. When the crisis comes, those ponies will unite and unleash the power of love. Then I can lead everyone in stealing their emotions! Ohohoho~~~"
As she looked at the town in the distance, no larger than a needlepoint in her view, she could practically see her plan succeeding—and the ponies' despair after she robbed them of their friendship.
Her soldiers looked somewhat like horses, but they had translucent wings like Zerg and buzzed as they flew through the air. They were Changelings, horse-faced insects.
"Then, Queen, why not let the meteor hit the town itself?" an oblivious soldier asked, buzzing like a fly.
"Idiot! If even one pony gets accidentally crushed to death, that's a loss! Love is our food, and ponies are the tools that produce it. If you damage them, we'll have much less food in the future!"
Queen Chrysalis opened her large eyes to narrow slits and disdainfully berated the fool, exposing her sharp fangs.
"Oh, so that's how it is. As expected of the Queen—you're truly evil." The Changeling soldier suddenly understood, admiration showing on his face.
"Do you even need to say that? Ohohoho." Queen Chrysalis covered her mouth with one hoof and let out a haughty laugh.
However, she had forgotten that she was still casting her spell. Covering her mouth caused a slight mishap with the magic, and she put in far