Thread 57: Stories 1-15

https://archive.moe/mlp/thread/21405993/
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NC

>AJ
"Celestia
>...

>...

>...Hey Celly?

"...Oh no"

>Can ah look like that one day? Looks mighty powerful, and ah might need me a bokin' hammer sometimes

"Huh, maybe, depends, maybe not, oh hum"

>Ya don't know dontcha?

"Nnnnnnnnnnnope"

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NC
>Twilight
"Celestia"
~~

>Hey! Why don't I get any cool armor!? GYPPED! I'VE BEEN GYPPED!

"...Wouldn't that be Chipped?"

>...

"...Because changelings-"

>WOW! Okay, wow! WOW!

"What? Are you calling me racist? Because you do know where 'gypped' comes from, right?"

>...No? Where?

"..."

~~~~

"Okay, Twilight? I appreciate the racial sensitivity, but you should not be scrubbing your own mouth out with soap."

>UHCLEEEHN! AHM UHCLEEN!

"...Wish I had known I was getting a drama queen with my princess..."

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>Pinkie
"Chitania"
'RD'
~~~

>...Dash, really?

'It's called reconnaissance, Pinkie! We're reconni... recoo... we're spying on her!'

>I got that, Dashie, I'm just not sure what exactly the point of it is, or what we plan to do here?

'Follow her movements!'

>And then?

'If she acts up, we kick her tail in!'

>...Dashie, no. No Dashie no. We cannot fight the giant monster.

'We so can!'

>Look, Rainbow Dash, I know you have a problem learning lessons and having them stick-

'I DO NOT!'

>...anyway, I know SOME PONIES think you have that problem-

'Thank you!'

>-but I thought even you would learn after you kicked that dragon in the face.

'ONE TIME! THAT WAS ONE TIME!'

>How... how many times do you need to do it for it to be a problem?

'SHUT UP! THAT'S HOW MANY!'

"WILL YOU SHUT UP! THIS IS A LIBRARY!... Not that I care for anyone else, but *I* am trying to read, so SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

'YOU SHUT UP!'

"NO YOU!"

'YOU!'

"YOU!"

'YOOOOOOOOU!'

>...I feel like, in a another life, they could've been the best of friends...

"'YOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOU-"

>...For about three seconds, and then they kill each other.

"'YOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOU

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NC (Discussing a picture of Applejack using weapons and armor made out of branches, leaves and such)

>AJ
"Fluttershy"
'Celestia'
~~~~

"...That's bullshit. I'm the one who communes with nature and animals but she... that's just pure bullshit.2

>WELL AH'M THE ONE WHO REALLY WORKS THE EARTH OVER, CAN'T AH GET AN UPGRADE AT ALL? DON'T AH DESERVE IT? AH MEAN THE PIXIE-WHATJIMACALLIT-CUT IS NICE AN' ALL, BUT IT SURE WOULDN'T BEAT SOME ACTUAL EARTH POWERS FER ONCE

'...What, do wings and magical powers suddenly not count as an upgrade? What the shit?'

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>77
"88"
~~~~

>And... that's it.

He said it as easily as the sigh of relief that left him afterwards, and as final as the silence that hung heavy in the air. That's it, he said. That is it.

This brought nothing but confusion.

"...What's it?"

>That. It's it. All of it. Then after that you invaded, and then all of those events happened, we fought in the mushroom and here we are.

"That... that can't be it!"

>It's it. That's all of it.

"That can't be!"

>You were complaining it was too long a minute ago.

"But... but that can't be everything! There's so many questions I have! Why did Chrysalis go over to the Empire in the first place!? Why did she forgive Two!? Why was she working with Princess Twilight!? Are we still fighting with the guard!? What're we supposed to do next!? How did we get here!? THAT CAN'T BE IT!"

Gentle hooves pushed her back down, straining just a bit from her force.

>Well, I suppose that isn't everything everything, but it's all I know I'm afraid. If you want to know more, you'll have to ask them.

"I... I..."

Her mouth had gone dry, practically cracking with her throat.

"...I don't know them anymore..."

He flinched as the words rang deeply within him, echoing down into his deepest psyche as it dredged up memories from before.

"I thought if you just told me, I would understand, but... but I don't know who they are anymore. I don't know who... I don't even know who I am at this point. I almost killed them. I'm the reason it's here. Me. I could have stopped it, but instead I... I sent a monster to kill them."

He nodded, though he knew she could not see, letting the gentle rubbing of his hoof do the talking for him.

"I don't even know where I am anymore..."

>Do you wish to take her Majesty up on her offer? Go away somewhere?

"...Where would I go?"

>Anywhere you pleased, anywhere you would be comfortable. I know, likely, that you still hold some resentment or hate for her, but she will do what she can to make your life better, Sister. Any place you wished to be, she would see you there. And I would follow you the whole way, every step. I will not leave you ever again.

She choked, emotion filling her chest from his words.

"I... I don't have anywhere I want to go."

>Then do you want to go see our hive again?

She shuddered, terror flooding her every nerve.

"How can I ever look at them again... they have to hate me. They have to want me dead."

>I would never let them hurt you.

"...I can't see them... but I would hear the fear in their voices. I don't think I could take it, Seventy Seven. I don't...."

>Then... where will you go?

She rolled her head around, looking at nothing but the darkness that covered her vision.

"We're in a room, right?"

>Yes.

"A small room?"

>No bigger than a bedroom.

"...anywhere beyond this, there is someone who would... who should and has every right to... hate me. It's funny... I don't know where to look, anymore. Where can I run to, when I covered the world? Maybe... maybe I should just live in here-"

>No.

His grip tightened, noticeably and painfully.

>Never again, Sister. Never again will I let you fall into this isolation. The world is waiting for you, and you will meet it.

"...I do not want them to hate me..."

>They will not.

"How can you possibly know that?"

>Sister... I know very few things in this life. One thing I do know, however...

There was a fumbling sound, a rush of activity behind the door and out into the hallway. With her senses tuned as they were, she could hear every step, every noise...

Every very loud scream.

>Is our hive.

'WILL YOU STOP PUSHING!'

'I'm not pushing, he's pushing!'

'I'm you!'

'That trick only works once! One time, that's all I fall for it!'

'You fell for it five times!'

'SEMANTICS!'

'Stop stepping on the paper!'

'The paper is freaking everywhere! How can I not step on it!?'

[Just move in sync, guys.]

'SHUT IT PONYBREATH! YOU ARE SO PLAYING FACEPUNCH AFTER THIS!'

{This was your idea, I'll remind you.}



'That's what you said the last THREE times!'



'IT'S A STRAIGHT HALLWAY!'

{...He's got a point, Acty.}

[JJ? Seriously? I need you on my side for this.]

{...He's not THAT dumb!}

[Thanks. Glad you have my back. Okay! On three, one-]

'Wait, what're we doing on three?'

[Opening the door and saying surprise!]

'Why the fuck would we do that!?'

[It's to surprise them!]

'...So why the FUCK DID WE HAVE TO WRITE ALL OF THIS!?'

'What's the point if we're just going to say hi anyway!?'

'THIS IS SO STUPID!'

[...Well, you know, I actually wrote it, and you're supposed to- NEVERMIND! Look, just... you! Forty! I need you to-]

'BULLSHIT! You do not know my number!'

[Did I get it wrong?]

'You know what? Yes. You are wrong. I'm number... Blue.'

[Did you make that up so I would be wrong?]

'...Shut up.'

[Fine, BLUE, would you please-]

'I want to open the door!'

[...Fine, Twenty Eight, get ready to-]

'BULLSHIT!'

[...Get ready to open in THREE! TWO! ON-]

SLAM!

Like a tsunami, a giant roll of paper flooded into the room like waves of death, carrying with it a torrent of changelings tangled up in its innards... and one irate pony.

'I know, I opted out of that plan.'

[...You know what? Whatever. Surprise- Oh, nevermind... hi Seventy Seven!]

>...who the fuck are you?

"That's my line!"

[It's... it's me, Actarius- well, shoot, you probably don't remember me. I trained under you for a bit!]

>I haven't done that in a while.

[Yeah, was a bit ago. Uhhh, I got caught in the beartrap when you trained us?]

>Well, that narrows you down to about fifty.

[...You know what? I'm rolling with it. I'm one of those fifty.]

{Hi, sister!}

"Hi... you?"

{I'm over here.}

If it were possible, she would have given him a flat, annoyed look.

He would have to settle for feeling it, in his very soul.

{Oh, okay, she's blind. Hey, guys! She's blind! She can't see us!}

'WELL FUCK YOU TOO!'

'ALL THIS EFFORT, WASTED!'

'...Wait, she?'

After a very tense moment, everyone shrugged.

'Kind of cool.'

'So, wait, which one was she?'

"I'm Eighty Eight."

'...Who?'

'I have no idea who the fuck you are.'

"I threw knives."

'Wow, that's only, what, half the fucking infiltrators?'

'BE SPECIFIC!'

"The... one who died in the cave?"

'And now we're down to a half dozen others, congratulations!'

{Come on, guys, be nice.}

'She didn't even know who you were!'

{Sure she does! Hey, Eighty Eight, I'm the juggling one!}

"..."

{...Really?}

"Do you want the nice answer? That's not very memorable.'

{Ow... I just... ow... owwww... I hurt.}

[Want a hug?]

{...Yes. Yes I do. Hug me.}

[There there... juggling is totally awesome.]

"Who the fuck is he?"

>A guard, I think? ...Yeah, I don't know. He might've been a janitor for all I know.

[...ow...]

'Can we go now?'

[I... guess?]

'Good. See you in the ballroom, Eighty Eight!'

'Yep, we've got a corner for you to sleep and everything! Moved all our stuff for it!'

Something about this simple gesture... touched her, she admitted.

'Yeah, try not to be jealous of all our swag the Crimson Spirit brought us!'

"...H-he's real!? HE'S REAL!?"

'Yep! Later!'

Amidst the sound of all them shuffling out, she felt a strange pull in her chest.

"...My heart..."

Only after they were long gone did Seventy Seven regard the long papers.

>What is all that paper, anyway?

[Oh! Uh, well, I figured since you guys were out, it would be nice to have everyone write you a get well card!]

>A... a what?

"The fuck's a get well card?"

[...I'm just going to go.]

{I tried to warn you.}

[Yeah, this went way different in my head... bye, Seventy Seven! Get well soon!]

>Thank you, I guess?
She heard a shuffling of hooves, and then there was silence.

"...Who?"

>No idea. Jugglejack's coltfriend, maybe?

"Okay, sure, whatever... so, heard a lot of paper, what does it say?"

Magic lifted the corner of the very end of the long winding now, bringing it before Seventy Seven's eyes.

>...It's... from them...

"And?"

>..."Dear brother and other, don't die." "Dear Seventy Seven and Whoever, glad you aren't still in rubble. Sort of." "Dear Seventy Seven and other, you can borrow ping pong paddle but you can't have it, because it's mine." "Dear whoever, I know you didn't mean it with the mushroom, it's cool, I once almost burned down the ballroom, it happens."... it just goes on like that.

There was a sudden, familiar ringing in her head. Coupled together witht he fact her chest hurt... just a bit more than it had before.

"...Keep reading..."

>How much do you want me to read? There's a lot.

Underneath her gauze, her eyes began to sting, just a bit.

"...A-all of it..."

Warmth. That is the only word that Seventy Seven found he could describe the feeling in his face as he brought the note to his nose once more.

>"That dragon was cool, but next time make him punch the ponies." "I thought you looked cool with the red things." "Those spores made your butt look big, and also I am sorry for your loss and this was not added by someone else at all."....

She could not see what would come next in her life. She could not feel how she would live, sense where she would go. So for now...

She just listened.

>"I'm glad you're not dead..."

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>Luna
“Chrysalis”
____

>…are thou quite done yet?

“GAHAHAHAHAHAHA-”

>It’s been over twenty minutes, cretin. It ceased to be funny after the first two.

“SAYS YOU PFFFFHAHAHAHA!”

>…Maybe thou wouldst care to meet Mr. Empty Biscuit Container? We hear you and he are good friends.

“HAH! Always so serious, makes me wonder what the little pervert sees in you.”

>Surely it can’t be his fixation on rather large posteriors, and ours being one of the first he’s seen.

“HAH! Hahaha, wow… get over yourself, night horse. Your cake-filled ass is as far away from his first as I am from getting Shiny to give me a hoof massage.”

>…

“What, you thought he suddenly got this attraction to booty just because he saw you? Especially when I swing mine like a pendulum? Tch, please.”

>…Hmph, thou talk as if we had even a modicum of care in the first pl-

“But I suppose it’s worth noting that yours would be the first he’s stuck with for more than three seconds.”

>W-we still don’t-

“Yeah you do, otherwise you wouldn’t be dressed like you’re a present for a room full of horny stallions. Nice choice of ribbon, by the way. I’m guessing 56 picked it out?”

>Hm? Why yes, yes he did! We actually like it ourselves, it’s of a silken nature, really smooth, and we feel the colors accentuate our eyes like-ACK WAIT NO WE DIDN’T MEAN IT LIKE THAT THIS WHOLE OUTFIT IS COMPLETELY IRRATIONAL!

“Pffff, adorable.”

>SILENCE!

“So anyway, yeah, the ribbon’s fine, and you can give your moonpie ass a few shakes for him if you want, but no more than five times a day, you hear me? Five. No more. You’re also not to act out any lewd fantasies you might have, like no tying any mistletoe to your tail while glancing at him over your shoulder with a shy little “oops” or some shit like that. Keep it PG, hell, I’ll even allow a few PG-13 moments, but less than three of those a day, got me? Remember, anything further and we’re going to be having a very long, very intimate talk.”

>…We hate you.

“Good, I feed off that, too, HAH! Enjoy being 56’s present, night horse, I’d say he deserves it.”

>…

“Hm? What was that? Couldn’t make out a word through the teeth grinding.”

>We s-said… what does the little pervert l-like to eat?

“…Interesting question. Why do you want to know?”

>THOU KNOWS VERY WELL WHY!

“Not the faintest clue, darling, I assure you.”

>Rrrrrgh! …We… we wish to try our hoof at cooking….

“And the winner for ‘cutest filly’ goes to our very own Luna!”

>WE’LL KILL THEE!

“Goodness me, but then you wouldn’t find out his favorite dish! I think in exchange for such precious knowledge, you should be a tad nicer to me!”

>CHOKE ON A PHALLUS!

“And that? That right there? Totally the opposite of nice. Oh well, better luck next time, night horse. When you feel like being a courteous little filly, come find me! Too-da-loo!”

The Changeling Queen strode away, her pitched laughter bouncing throughout the halls and into the ears of a very embarrassed, very incensed Lunar Princess.

Then she sighed.

>…he deserves it. Just remember that… it’s for him.

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Non-canon
>Pinkie
"Rainbow Dash"
~~~~
>Welcome to Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time the content doesn't matter and the laughs sound like crickets. Now for our main guest...RAINBOW DASH!!!

"You bet it is."

>So Dashie, do you think anypony is going to call you out on the cronyism that got you the position?

"What?"

>And that's all the time we have!

"That was fast."

>Would you say that was an academy record?

"...what are you-"

>Never mind, you should just wake up and get back to work.

RD wakes up with her face on the desk.
"...what just happened?"

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>18
"???"
~~~

She assured herself of her own sanity as she walked down the hall. Which, she reasoned, meant this thing she was doing she was sane, because she wouldn't do something totally insane and still be able to tell herself it was sane, that just isn't how anything worked. Obviously.

So, thus, when she found a certain pony wandering the halls of crystal, she knew her sanity had been rewarded when she grabbed hold of him by the collar, and pulled him into the nearest broom closet.

"CHRYSALISISWEARSHINYSAYSIFYOUGLUEMETOTHECEILINGAGAIN-... Cadence?"

There was an awkward beat that past as she looked into bespectacled, blinking eyes, a beat that gave way to one even more uncomfortable when she realized that, yet again, she had taken on the form of a pink pony princess.

A FWOOSH of fire fixed that problem, at least,

>Glue you to the ceiling?

"Don't ask... but I do feel the need to ask why you pulled me at random into this broom closet. If it is for the reason my terrible romcoms say, this is going to get very awkward because I'm not-"

>HAH!

"...You could at least pretend to make me feel better."

She rolled her eyes playfully, lightly punching him in the chest.

>Yeah, no, I can't. Not with the new Shiny updates. Kind of set a new precedent.

"...Updates?"

Oh.
Fuck.

>Didn't tell you?

"He uh, he did not."

>...Well, okay, I'll skip some... unfortunate bits, and just get right to the good stuff!

And thus, she told her tale! A tale of new discoveries, of romance, and deceit, and of the shocking, stunning twist at the end that even now made others lose their minds in disbelief!

"... I don't believe you."

See?

>It's true! She actually said it! And meant it!

"...Cadence."

>Yes!

"Cadence. Just... pink princess?"

>YES!

"And you're SURE that she wasn't being mind controlled or-"

>YES! None of that!

From the look on his face, Eighteen was pretty sure the only thing she could have said to make him doubt more was "And also, you are the father."

"..CADENCE."

>Yes yes yes!

"Wow... uh... wow. That is... pretty big of her."

>Yeah, it is!

"I mean, really big of her."

>Uh huh!

"....Congratulations?"

>Thank you!

"So did you just want to tell me this to remind me of the fact that Shiny has better luck than me even when he's married, or-"

She swatted him in the nose, eliciting quite the irritated look.

>No! I need advice!

"...And.... and you chose... me......."

There was another beat.

And then he swatted her in the nose.

"Oh, okay, you're actually you, and not Chrysalis being a dick. This is... raising unfortunate questions."

>Yes! It's me, Poindexter!

"...You're sure?"

>I covered for you back at Partyland.

"Confirmed! So... this just got a little sad, I'm not going to lie."

>Look, just... help me out here! I need to ask Cadence to come along with me and Shiny on a date, but I'm not sure how to go about it! Any ideas.

Somehow, someway, he had found a way to look at her with a mixture of emotions ranging from disbelief, to shock, to horror, to humor, to sadness, and just a biiiiit of pity. The look on his face is one she would remember for all of time.

In her nightmares.

"You're asking... me... how to ask a married mare... to come on a date with you... and her husband... whom you wish to have sex with..."

>.........Well, when you put it like that....

His hoof reached up again, but he did not strike her, none of that. Not a blow to be had as he reached over.

He simply tapped her on the hoof as one would a very confused dog, and began to walk away.

"Good luck."

Without another word, he left.

Leaving her alone, and unsure.

>...THAT'S THE LAST TIME I COVER FOR YOU, JERK!

Well, more angry and insulted than that, but on the whole, alone and-

>AND YOU CAN FORGET ME DOING YOUR TAXES TOO!

...There was a sense of loneliness-

>AND I AM NOT A FUCKING DOG! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!? WHAT, ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE ME A BISCUIT NEXT!?

...Nevermind.

>JERK!

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>AJ
"AB"
~~~

"Hey, sis? Got a question."

>Ya' see these white hairs? Yer' givin' 'em ta' me. Ah' want ya' ta' know that, this here is all yer' fault.

"...Ah' don't see any-"

>They're there. On the inside. There are little gray hairs on the inside and Ah' feel them. Yer' doin' that ta' yer' sister, Applebloom.

"...R-right, uh... just was wonderin' when ya' were plannin' ta' go back ta' Canterlot. You've been down here fer' a while now, are ya' gonna go back?"

>...

"Aj?"

>...Think those trees need waterin'...

"Sis? You okay?"

>Probably need ta' look at that fence too.

"Yer' gonna-"

>Hm? Oh, sorry, can't talk right now, got a ton o' work ta' do. Ah'm not lettin' the fact Ah' got charred like crazy stop me from pullin' mah' weight, no ma'am!

"...Okay?"

With a nod, Applejack left to get to work.

"...Ah' might need ta' talk ta' someone about this..."

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>Idris
"Siegfried"
'Guard'

'Your highness, he's here.'

>Bring him.

The doors to the throne room opened, allowing the youngest son of the Gryphon King to enter, looking petulant as he walked forward and kneeled before the throne.

>Siegfried.

"Father, may I ask why I was pulled away from my morale-boosting operation?"

>You mean the carousing.

"...well yeah, the carousing, after all that's happened in the last year, I think we've a pressing need to carouse-"

>I don't disagree.

"-I mean for Hawk's sake the property damage alone was-wait, what?"

>I said I don't disagree with you, son. I think you were doing an admirable job of bring our people's spirits up out of the gutter they've been in. I've only taken you away from them due to the fact that-loathe as I am to admit it-I've no one else to accomplish something I desperately need done.

"...I'm listening."

Idris sighed and stood, looking down at his son.

>I need you to go to Equestria.

"Beg pardon?"

>We need someone there who can give us an appraisal of what the landscape looks like, if you know what I'm getting at.

"You...want me-ME, Siegfried- to go to pretty prancing pony land and act the spy?"

>I wouldn't call it spying, you are merely observing what is there, and hopefully impressing on the ponies that we have our...doubts, about their course of action.

"And you can't send anyone else?"

>Your brother is still injured, Hilda will not leave his side, I must stay here to rule, and-

"Mom would lose her shit."

>Yes. That. We had a friend of your mother's giving us irregular unofficial reports, but she stopped quite a while ago. Our ambassadors are seeing to their families and to the other noble families, and so the job must fall to you. You will take a bodyguard of four of my Immortals and travel to Canterlot. Be wary, be tactful, and for the sake of the Lion, the Eagle, and the Hawk, don't raise the ire of anything that could come back here lay us to waste. Understand?

"...yes father. I will make you proud."

>See that you do, son, our nation may depend on it.

With a nod, the young prince turned and walked from the room, four of Idris' guards following after him.

'Do you think he will succeed, your highness?'

>I can only hope that he will not fail.

'...didn't...didn't he try to bed the monster before she revealed herself.'

>...

'...'

>Oh Eagle above, we're all going to die.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Chitania
"???"
~~~

It was always a pleasure to know that one thing hadn't changed despite her newfound freedom of movement. That is to say, ponies still ran like crazy when she walked down the hall.

It was a feeling she honestly never really cared much for. Not that she hated it, of course, but they all felt too insignificant to really find pleasure in it. She gained no more pride from watching a guard bail to prevent being in her line of sight than she did a wild animal.

But nonetheless, it was something she had come to expect, so when she did finally come across one who walked quite brazenly in front of her and would not step aside, in fact seeming to move in tandem with her just to stay in her way, she felt it was quite... irritating. The seemingly innocuous unicorn mare with a grey coat and brown hair ignored her quite resounding stamping, seemingly oblivious to the massive figure in step behind her.

>Move.

Her single command was packed with as much power as a blow from her own hooves. It was dark, low and intimidating.

And about as effective as a particularly lax wind.

>I said move.

The unicorn continued to pay her no mind. If anything, she seemed to care even less.

>I SAID-

Her hoof froze in the air, just as the mare before her had frozen as well. Her instincts had nearly gotten the better of her, had she not caught herself she would likely have punched that mare right through the floor.

"Holding back, Chitania? That's so unlike you. Did you learn some new tricks out on the street?"

The voice that spoke to her was smooth, almost silken in texture, and not a hint of fear to be found in it.

"You know what they say, necessity is the worlds greatest teacher."

The mare turned, revealing a row of pearly white, smiling teeth.

As well as a distinct hue to her eyes.

>...You.

That smile was almost mocking as she trotted up to the taller changeling, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"Me? Whoever do you mean, oh Titan? Surely you do not to say I would know the great Chitania, Thunderbringer, Mountain Mover, Tower of Power, Landbreaker, or anything of the sort?"

Her lip bent backwards, flashing a single fang in a snarl.

>I have not gone by those names in an age, little one. Your mother saw to that.

The mare below her let out a chilling chitter of laughter, a musical note that sang with her in tandem with the fire that consumed her flesh, peeling away fur for black, strong chitin.

At last, for the first time since her arrival, the two Changeling Queens faced each other.

"Indeed, my mother did! And in case you were wondering, I am much, much more powerful than she was. As such, if I wish to make it even longer between the ages those names are spoken, the card is on the table to be played."

The Titan hissed, hooves already bracing themselves and readying her, should she choose to charge.

"Oh, by all means, test my mettle. I am the greatest Changeling Queen to have ever lived, Auntie Chitania, and I will not let a simple parlor trick fool me a second time. If I face you again, you're not running from this one."

As it to punctuate her point, flames danced atop her horn.

Unmoved, Chitania's snarl gave way to a subtle smirk.

>Running? Child, I am exactly where I wish to be.

She rose up, until she and Chrysalis were exactly level with their gaze.

"Oh? And why is here so special, of all places? Don't tell me you wish to be near the last of our species. Oh, Chitty Chitty, you should have told me you wanted a little get together, I would have bought a cake and got some party supplies."

She snorted, loud and obnoxiously.

>I am long past the point of playing babysitter, thank you.

"But you did it so well!"

>Yes, I did, and all that got me was you of all changelings living to this day. If I had seen my future, I would have likely left you to be eaten by the multitude of things you stumbled into.

Just as obnoxiously, Chrysalis scoffed right back.

"Like I needed you. My mother was the one who bested you, or did you forget that?"

>...

Chrysalis laughed once more, full and proud, at the silence of her response.

"I didn't think so."

>Why are you bothering to speak to me? I have more important things to look into now.

Another, louder laugh.

"If you had listened to me back when you arrived, I could have gotten you full access by now, but you just had to go and be a pain, didn't you?"

>As if I needed your help. Is that all you wanted?

"No."

Power.

More power than Chitania could ever remember feeling from any single point in her life.

Unlike the one in the drone she had grabbed, it was controlled, calculated, focused in its intensity. Focused all on a singular, solo entity.

The one who stood before her.

"I simply wanted to remind you of just who it is you are trifling with."

She had no retort to that declaration. She kept her expression solid, of course, but beneath it she could not help but wonder at just how much pure love was radiating off her 'niece'. The love source for such a thing... must be immeasurable...

>Is this supposed to impress me? I've stepped on fireflies who shone brighter.

The smile on the other Queen turned positively feral, unmistakably bright.

"Chitty Chitty Chitty... it's never a good idea to talk such smack to one so strong, when you are running so low."

Her gaze flickered down to her own body for just a moment, but it was there.

"Tell me, when was it last that you fed? Was it just before you charged into battle, and expended that impressive power? How many have you drained since then?"

Again, she said nothing, but the spark in her eyes was not as silent.

"None? Really? Well... certainly, your stamina is legendary, that you were able to last so long on so little is one of the things that those fools revered, was it not? I wonder how long you can last... before you need to feed."

The power radiating off her intensified, to the point where even the hallway itself became distorted from the energy.

"My hive is the last that remains, a testament to my lines longevity and strength. That you are defective to the point your own is down to you alone is of no concern to me. Play your games, read your books, chase your smoke, I don't care. Whatever you wish to do here, I will allow it... but I am QUEEN CHRYSALIS, Chitania, and I will prove my title if you decide to step out of line and seek one of MINE."

She stepped forwards, ripples of magic rolling out every time her hoof touched the floor.

"In your absence, I became the last Queen. Should you dare to challenge me again... I will be so once more."

In the face of that challenge, that barely contained fury, that determination...

Chitania smiled.

>Quite a bit of love there, wherever did you come across such a store?

The other Queen said nothing, only continuing to glare.

>Still, it is merely a blip compared to what I have faced in the past... oh, really, wipe that foolish look off your face. Is this supposed to impress me, little Chrysalis? Please. You are not worth the information I seek, and I would rather not have to deal with stomping this city to the earth once more just to reach it. I have done it before, and it was quite the pain. Besides, if I was after any, I would be far more concerned with the sun raiser and that damned white unicorn.

There was something... there, when she had said that. Underneath the surface, yet not quite making it to the top.

"Seeing as I bested both of those two already, fearing them over me is... unwise."

>Fear?

Never, in her life, had she felt more insulted.

>...I have no time for this.

She brushed past, her stocky frame slipping next to the other queen with surprising grace.

>I have more research to attend, and your annoyance is unhelpful.

They locked eyes for the longest time, until it was Chitania at last who turned away with a grunt.

A burning gaze bore into her back as she passed, never once leaving her.

"Before you go..."

She did not stop, or slow her steps, but she did listen.

"Tell me... how did you learn that technique anyway? Forcing memories on another is quite the impressive skill, and normally the secret to how to perform them is reserved for masters of the mind magics. And yet, you, who are distinctly... lacking in this regard somehow pulled it off. How?"

That, at least, slowed her.

>...

"I mean, I'm not impressed, since you used it wrong to an almost comical level. After all, dear Chitania, you're supposed to make the victim see THEIR worst memories, not yours. And even then, the alternative is supplanting those memories to feel like their own. Yet somehow, you failed on both fronts, badly. All you managed to do is distract your enemy, something you could have done with a false memory, but instead gave up vital information. Sloppy. Still, how did you learn the secret all the same? It's quite the mystery.

Chitania looked back to her, and within her eyes Chrysalis saw more hate, more anger, than she had ever dreamed possible.

>Variolus showed me.

And with that, she took her leave, as silent as if she had never been.

"...Interesting..."

With an almost flippant hum, Chrysalis turned away, and continued on as if nothing had happened.

"...Very interesting..."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CD like hell.

>Twilight
“Dash”
‘Pinkie’
[Fluttershy]
{Rarity}
-Spike-
_____

Four mares, each of them quite renowned in their own, right strode into one of Canterlot Castles many common rooms, this one already lit with a burning hearth and occupied by a none of other than Twilight herself.

She stood on the far side of a round table with a solemn expression, and standing next to her, his arms crossed and looking just as gaunt, was Spike.

For the ones just entering, it was like walking into a sea of dread.

{Oh dear, oh dear… those are certainly not the faces I was expecting to see….}

A sigh proceeded the purple alicorns words.

>Thank you all for coming on such short notice, girls, I know we’ve been rather spread out as of late….

Something of a weary grin lifted the corner of Dash’s mouth.

“Implying length means jack all when one of us calls? C’mon, egghead, you oughta know that when the signal goes up, we come a’chargin’.”

‘Party cannons locked and loaded!’

Fluttershy gave a tiny nod, the feathers of her right wing oddly changing into sticks of butter and then back again in the blink of an eye, so quick no one but her noticed.

[Wh-what’s the problem, Twilight? You seem worried...]

That much was obvious and so Twilight jerked her head at Spike who stepped forward until he could place his hands on the table.

He glanced about them all.

-We’ve got an apple missing from the orchard.-

Given the blatant obviousness of that coded statement, it was no surprise when eyes all around widened.

‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, back this fun bus on up… what do you mean she’s missing? How? When? Why?’

Twilight lifted a hoof to parlay the others incoming questions of the same varied nature.

>To be precise… it’s not that she’s missing in the sense of being fillynapped, but more in the sense of not wanting to come back….

Silence.

Then Rarity took an advancing step.

{What… what are you saying, dear…?}

“Yeah, the hell kinda bull is that? Not wanting to come back, what? That don’t sound like AJ to me!”

>That’s why we’re a little on edge. We know she went to visit her family after the infection got stomped out, and that’s fine-perfectly reasonable-but… that was a week ago, and she’s not answering any of our calls, she hasn’t made an attempt to reach back to us, hell, I can’t even sense her….

The smallest of “eeps” escaped Fluttershy, and on her muffled squeak an armada of winged cows sped past the window to her left.

-She’s essentially cut herself off at this point and that’s got us thinking that she’s… that she’s gone home, home.-

Instead of matching the aghast looks of her friends, Pinkie’s eyes narrowed and her gaze fell to the tiled floor.

‘This… this rings a bell somewhere in the ol’ noggin….’

>How do you mean, Pinkie?

‘You girls remember the last time AJ ran away and didn’t come back?’

It took a few seconds for the hinted memory to spring forth, and it was Dash who suddenly slammed a hoof on the table.

“Oh yeah! Back with that rodeo competition thing of hers!”

‘Exactly.’

Twilight blinked, glancing down at Spike.

>You don’t think she….

-No. She couldn’t… there was nothing riding on her shoulders with this- she even helped saved the day! I don’t get why she’d just want to up and leave!-

{The why doesn’t matter, Spikey! If our Applejack is lost for whatever reason then we must rush to her aid and-}

[She’s afraid.]

When the most unlikely of utterances cut across Rarity, they all turned to Fluttershy. She was standing rather awkwardly to them, but that was only to hide the fact that her right back leg had somehow managed to shapeshift into that of a chicken.

>Fluttershy…?

The yellow mare continued, her voice no less stronger but clearly heard.

[She’s afraid… of numerous things. I… I don’t know if you girls noticed but Applejack was always worried that she, um… that she didn’t belong here, as an alicorn, trying to fix Equestria. That’s mostly w-why she avoided her family, partly because she was busy, and partly because… because she didn’t want them to see her failing.]

Had they been drinking, that statement would have led to a group-wide spit-take.

“What in the world are you talkin’ bout, Flutters? Applejack, failing?”

{Preposterous!}

-She’s practically flipped Equestria back from the dark ages! Look, you want me to rattle off some of her achievements? Too late, here are just a few minor ones: she got Ponyville back on track, gave home to a race of creatures that by all rights shouldn’t be breathing anymore, brought regime back to Canterlot, inadvertently gave Shining a reason to give up shaving and--

An abrupt silence fell when Fluttershy’s mane and tail crystallized into diamond before their very eyes, only to crack away seconds later, revealing her usual fluff of pink hair.

She spoke as if the instance never occurred despite the mix of troubled and perplexed looks aimed her way.

[Yeah… WE know she’s not failing… but Applejack doesn’t know she’s not failing. She’s stubborn, we also know this. Having to deal with and solve problem after problem, it can take a toll on even the most reliable of ponies. To us, she’s m-making strides, but to her, whatever she solves only winds up being overshadowed by an even bigger mess, so her victory is short-lived and bittersweet.…]

Now standing normally, with all four legs as they should be, Fluttershy gave each of her gathered friends a despondent stare.

[This thing with the infection, it must’ve been the last straw… maybe she took it as a sign that she couldn’t save anything-]

The table splintered under the force of Spike’s gripping claws.

-BULLSHIT! She saved everything! I- what you’re saying makes no sense!-

[It does when you look at it though a very tired, very weary pair of apple glasses, Spike… I’m n-not saying that’s why, I’m just going by what I’ve s-seen. She’s scared… scared to die… scared to let others die… scared to think that she might be the only thing between them and dying.…]

A much larger crack split the table when Dash once more stuck it, gritting her teeth to the point of a snarl.

“That… that idiot! I can’t believe her! And I’m even more pissed off because that sounds exactly like something that’d cause her to leave!”

>…Spike, has Applejack been talking to you…?

This caused the dragon to blink, a series of memories flashing over his minds cape.

What he saw, or rather, what he failed to see, caused his stomach to drop.

-We… we actually haven’t been like we used to, ever since… ever since she, um….-

>Ever since she removed Diamond Tiara from the A-Team.

Silence reigned on Spike’s end, but his drawn expression suggested he’d been decked in the gut by one of Haymaker’s namesake punches.

>So she’s had no outlet….

There was some nervous scuffling from Pinkie; she seemed to be trembling, forcing a smile.

‘It… it does seem like life at Canterlot hasn’t been much of a party for AJ as of late, doesn’t it…?’

[We slipped. Again. W-we each have our separate things going on, and that’s okay… but how much would it cost us to stop by the office of the mare trapped in her chair signing documents… setting up meetings… settling debts… swallowing her pride to make deals with what once tried to kill us… fixing most of our fuck-ups… what’s stopping us from dropping by just to say hi?]

That swear word, said so casually by the most tenderest of pony’s, had all the impact of a lightning bolt to the ears, really driving home her point.

There wasn’t a need for any of them to agree with her. Their silence spoke louder and deeper than words ever could.

Applejack had been suffering.

For a very long time.

-Damn it….-

Something glinted in Spike’s eye.

It was a glint that the five mares gathered seemed to share.

But nothing came of it.

Rubbing under his nose, Spike glanced over at Twilight.

-Are you okay with leaving Vekky alone in your lab?-

Twilight answered almost before he could finish.

>She can have my lab. Rarity, are you working on anything pressing at the moment?

{Nothing that can’t be put on hold, darling. Can the ‘Bolts handle themselves alone for a moment, Rainbow dear?}

“As of this moment, Bulk’s in charge and I couldn’t care less. Pinkie, got any parties left to throw today?”

‘Not today, not tomorrow… not until I throw the one that really matters. Hey, Fluttershy, do your animals have a watcher?’

[D-Discord is surprisingly good with Angel. They’ll all be fine.]

Finally, Twilight turned to Spike.

>Spike, are you-

But he was already walking, heading towards the door with a glance back.

-Let’s go. We’ve got an apple to find.-

{After you, darling.}

As one, the others fell in step behind him and fairly soon, the common room on the second floor of Canterlot Castle was barren, with only a strong sense of purpose left behind.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

~~
>Hey, Papa?

"Are you ready to leave?"

>Actually, I did, I just came back.

"...Oh. That was fa-"

>And we are now at war.

"..."

>...

"..W-with?"

>...I think it would be faster to list who we aren't at war with.

"..."

>...

"...You, uh, you didn't say anything."

>Yeah...

"...Fuck."

>In my defense, it was an AMAZING party.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Soarin'
"Fleetfoot"
~~~~

He did not so much as open the door as temporarily make the door a fourth dimensional object, lost in time rather than in space. When it returned, it was little more than a loud noise heralding the pain that was to come.

Fleetfoot, from her perch atop a couch, could not even muster up a single fleck of a care as she looked over the popcorn bowl on her chest, lazily flopping her head back down when she saw him enter.

>Well, hey! Fleetfoot! Just who I wanted to see! In fact, I really, really wanted to see you! I wanted to see you really bad... FIVE HOURS AGO!

"Meh."

Angrily, he stomped over to her, standing in front of her personal film projector and blocking the dazzling action epic she was attempting to watch.

>Meh!? Meh! That's your answer, meh! You leave me out to dry, and your ONE ANSWER when I come in is MEH!

"Meeehhhh."

His eye started to twitch rapidly, gaining in speed the longer he looked at her.

>Okay, seriously!? I know I'm a pushover, I admit that! I apologized to YOU and Spitfire after you guys almost screwed us all over in the Equestrian Games qualifiers-

"Is that still happening?"

>WHO CARES!? Not me, that's for sure! ANYWAY! I was saying, yes, I normally accept some stupid crap, but this is going too far!

"Making you spend a day in a hospital is going too far?"

>Making me handle an entire visit by myself when those kids were promised WONDERBOLTS IS! WONERBOLTSSSS ESS! THERE IS AN S IN THERE! MORE THAN ONE!

"Meh."

The sound that left him would later be identified as a dire eel's mating call when it had a stuffy nose.

>What is wrong with you!?

"Who even cares? What's she going to do about it?"

>...WHAT!?

The mare shrugged, completely uncaring.

"You know how much paperwork I've done since that thing hit? Zero. Nada. None."

>It has to get done anyway!

"So let her handle it."

He was very, very close to unknowingly joining a certain apple family tradition.

>FLEETFOOT!

"Why'd you even go anyway? Was just a PR piece. If you didn't show, they'd just cancel it. No big deal."

>This is our JOB!

"See, that's what I thought, but apparently we've got to fight monsters or something too, so I figure we should only have to do one or the other."

>What is wrong with you!? Do you WANT to get fired!?

Someday, he truly did wish he would know what if felt like to laugh that loud, and that hard.

She looked like she as having fun.

He dearly missed that feeling.

"F-fire us!? Okay, okay... think about this. No, really, think about this. How bad, I have to ask you, HOW BAD would she look if, right now, Rainbow Jackass tried to cut us loose? How would she look if she literally, not just mostly, destroyed the ENTIRE WONDERBOLTS. And oh, OHHH, would I go and make sure EVERYONE knew it was all her fault this happened. I would sing it in the streets. See this? Right here? The ponies in this room right now? Are the ONLY senior Wonderbolt's left, and we've been through some crazy shit. Come on, are you really that worried?"

Suddenly, he wished he could watch someone punch a kitten, just to be in a less horrifying situation.

>She wouldn't fire me...

"Even better! She fires everyone BUT this one guy she saved and had intimate talks with! I beg of her to let that happen, because the tabloids would pay me until I am old and grey. We have job security like you would not believe, Soarin', and you're the only one who doesn't see it."

Boy, he wished he could refute that.

He also wished he could make pie form out of brussel sprouts, but he seldom got what he wanted.

>She... come on, she doesn't deserve this-

"Tell that to Spitfire."

Before today, Soarin would never have believed it was possible to physically see venom drip from words.

Learning, just another part of the job.

>Look, I know you and her were friends but-

"Save it. It happened, I'm dealing with it in my own way, you are free to deal with it in yours. She wanted this so badly she had to shove all of us aside to get it, fine, let her have it, and she gets to deal with this however she wants. She made her bed, lie in it. Maybe I'd be sympathetic if she hadn't called on her super special buddy to kick Spits into the cold, but as it is? Pfft... now, if you do not mind?"

He had realized that fighting her was pointless a while ago, but if anything synched it, well, it was probably that.

With a defeated breath, he decided to do as she had implicitly asked.

>She's trying to make things better, Fleet. So that we don't have to keep scrambling every time there's something bad going down. She's trying to actually make it our organization is an inspiration, not just... a sideshow. An airforce, not a circus act. She just wants us honest, and ready. She wants us to get better...

"...Yeah, well, tell me when the 'getting better' part starts. I keep waiting, but I don't hear that train coming down the tracks. Do you?"

There were few times in his life Soarin' would ever admit defeat.

This, sadly... was one of them.

Without another word, he was gone.

"...Didn't think so."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Rarity"
~~~~
>Welcome to Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time the content doesn't matter and the people working graveyard shift are trying to get a laugh. Now for our main guest...RARITY!!!

"Flattered to be here."

>Question time! Are we ever going to see you take on more responsibilities as a princess in the future?

"Well, I certainly hope-"

>That's all folks! Glad you were with us! Good night!

"But Pinkie, I didn't even-"

>Nope nope! I said good night! Also, you're drooling on your pillow.

Rarity wakes up and gasps.
"I AM DROOLING! HOW UNLADYLIKE!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________