He had been living remotely from anyone who could mean anything, or do anything, or help him. He liked it that way. The Everfree forest wasn’t a grand palace, nor was it a home, but it would do. There were plenty of small creatures to feed affection from so he would have the energy and resources to lay his eggs. The dense bush and thicket would make a great cover for his new sprawling hive.

However, there was still so much to be done. A hive is not built on eggs and twigs alone. Philia had walked the edges of the forest and was weaving his way inwards and out, looking for anything that might inspire his needs.

Little did he know, he wasn’t the only one who was searching.

Philia’s ears pricked at a rustling in the brush, turning his head in search of what was causing it. That’s when he spotted her. The changeling he once called Mother, the reason for his own pathetic existence, the one who made him the deeply-damaged changeling he was today. Queen Chrysalis.

And this time, he would not play nice. Filled with a new energy, a lust for blood, he decided that this was the perfect time to get his long-overdue revenge. He was going to take her down.

As he made his way out of the bushes where he lurked, the changeling queen suddenly stood alert. “Who goes there!” Her fierce glare morphed into a smug smile once she spotted him.

“Ah, Philia. My son. I see you’ve finally decided to show your face. What have you been doing other than running from yourself—“

Chrysalis suddenly lurched back with a surprised yelp as Philia shot a magical blast into her. Nursing the wound, she glared up at him. “What in Aphid’s name-“

“I’ve been waiting for this,” a sick grin spread across his face. “I have waited so long to see you pitiful and weakened like this. Oh, how the tables have turned. Now you know how I felt.”

“What are you talking about?” Chrysalis snapped. “On you go about your poor little feelings again!” She stood up, lighting her horn up defensively. “You are wasting my time.”

CRACK!

“AUGH!”

A gush of blood rushed out of Chrysalis’ forehead as her horn was snapped off in an instant. Wielding it in his magical grasp, Philia shoved her back and held it to her chest.

“I have ALWAYS been a waste of time to you! You have no idea what you have done to me!”

“Philia-“

He stabbed the horn into her chest as she cried out in pain. Rage painted his face as he slowly, agonizingly, dragged it down her torso.

“It hurts, doesn’t it? It feels like your heart is being ripped out! This is what you did to me, Chrysalis! And Swan Lake, and anyone else who stood in your way!”

“Stop!” Chrysalis began to cough up blood. “I…I did not raise you like this!”

“Are you hearing yourself?” He spat. “This is exactly how you raised me! You are a monster, and you have created a monster! Are you satisfied?”

Chrysalis grunted as he yanked the horn out of her, clutching the bleeding wound as she glared at him. “No…you…you have always been a pathetic excuse for an heir. I am…beyond disappointed in you, Philia.”

“Maybe you won’t be so disappointed when I finally take over Equestria,” Philia smirked. “Something which you failed at numerous times, I might add. They will all pay for denying me the life I always deserved! And I am starting with YOU!”

Chrysalis struggled to lift herself up, but found herself too weakened to move. Struggling to breathe, she glared up at him with hatred as she started to fade.

“You’ve always…found the easy way out.” She gasped. “You’re weak and you’re starting by pulling down…the strong. You couldn’t…save…Swan Lake, and you won’t save yourself.” She sneered. “Not like this.”

“That is ENOUGH out of you! I will hear no more!” With that, Philia stood over the weakened queen and went in for the kill.