Thread 23: Stories 31-45

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>Celestia
"Chrysalis"
-------------
Closing the door softly, Celestia spoke to her other companion for the night.

>She's finally gone to sleep, and it's as we thought, he didnt even put a scratch on her.

"Well that's great, it'd be a shame to have my new favorite drinking buddy stuck in the hospital."

Ignoring the frivolity, the princess of the sun continued.

>Unfortunately, i am unable to imagine how this will effect her mentality.

"Pfft, she'll be right back to making my hair look like it went through the weather factory by the morning as if nothing happened, just you wait.

>That is exactly what i'm worried about.

The earlier binge drinking still clouding her mind slightly, the changeling queen couldn't understand what was so bad about that.

"Excuse me?"

Not even glancing at the confused queen, Celestia explained.

>You may be enjoying this new side of Twilight, and only see it as her 'loosening up' as i believe you once put it.

>But to everybody that knew Twilight before this, we only see a mare hiding herself away from the world, slowly tearing herself to pieces over things she believes to be her fault.

Softly scoffing, Chrysalis' next words left her without much thought.

"Oh please, we've all done things we regret, she just needs to suck i-"

>DO. NOT. Attempt to lecture me about regrets. I have lived more lifetimes than your entire hive combined, done things that make her actions just a regular Tuesday and witnessed things that would put your deepest nightmares to shame.

Power and wings briefly flaring, her eyes looking at the changeling queen with a glare of molten steel, Celestia gave a reminder of just what Chrysalis was speaking with.

>If you think i am unaware of your refusal to help my former student, you are sadly mistaken.

Seeing the widened eyes, the monarch continued.

>The only reason i have not thrown you from this castle already, is because i do not believe your reasons, whatever they are, to be entirely selfish.

Chrysalis' legs refused to move as the golden monarch slowly advanced towards her.

>Were that to change, do not think for even the slightest moment that there is a single place in this world where you would be safe from me.

Glaring straight into slitted eyes, Celestia delivered her ultimatum.

>No hole would hide you, no shield would protect you and no words would save you from my fury. Are we clear?

Dry-swallowing, Chrysalis could only give softly spoken "Crystal."

>Good.

That said, Celestia relaxed her demeanor, leaving only an edge of her previous severity in her voice.

>Now, it is late and one of us has to raise the sun in a few hours, so i shall bid you farewell. Enjoy the rest of your night.

Not trusting herself to speak, the Queen of the changelings could only nod as Celestia brushed past her.

Chrysalis was glad that not many people roamed the halls this late, as it would likely be several minutes before her limbs would allow her to move without trembling.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Chrysalis
"Twilight"
'Mane-Iac'
~~~~~~

>HAH! Glorious! Look at that.

'INDEEEED, My villainous EMPRESS of DEMISE! We have managed to transform this entire room... into pink!'

"Omyigee! Why have you been keeping her from me? She is just a dooooll! And look at that hair, I'm not even gay and I'm thinking things when I look a that hair!"

'...What is 'gay'?'

>Wow, society is weird.... don't worry about it.

'ALREADY FORGOTTEN, IN THE NAME OF MAAAAADDDDDDNNEEEEEES!'

>You forget a lot of stuff like that.

'Is that a problem?'

>Nope!

"AW YEAH! C'mon girls! Let's go paint the town red 'fore my momma catches wind you know what I'm saying!?"

'Not at all.'

>Heh, you think your mom is flipping? Mine would have-

"Girl you gonna reminisce or are we gonna get our PARTY OOOOON!"

>...Oh! Right, yeah.

'Are you going to beat up more stallions?'

>Just the ones that try to take her home with them. Or you.

'Is that sweet or not?'

>I get to hit things and not feel bad about it and hang out with my crazybuddies, I'm golden regardless.

'THEN TO THE DAAAAAANCE'

"SHAKE IT!"
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>Dash
"Fluttershy"
'Rarity'
[Discord]
~~~~~

>I'm thinking, and here me out on this, giant bug zappers in all of the corners.

"RAINBOW DASH! Think of all the poor little birdies who will get caught in there by mistake."

'Really, darling, you are being a bit bitter about this, aren't you.'

>You don't know bitter. Wish she would just go in there an unmindmess her already.

[Did someone say mindmessing!?]

>"'NO!"'

[I'm wounded! Really! Straight through the heart.]

'...Who's heart is that?'

"Discord, it's not that we aren't happy you want to help, it's... well..."

>According to Cadence, this was caused by something called "Sparklejoule" research, and do not ask me what that is because it sounds ridiculous.

'It is.'

>But point is, she got her mind all tye-dyed and tangy looking into the science of love or something.

"Chaos magic would be the worst possible thing to use for something like that. It would only make it more chaotic."

>Yeah, she could finally complete her transformation and become totally like Rarity.

*WHAP!*

>OW!

'Thank you.'

[My pleasure! What was I going to do with this rubber halibut otherwise? But I see your point, so why the sulking?]

>Because a certain BUG MONSTER who will not be named-

"It's Chrysalis"

>-has the power to use her mind control to make her THINK she's fixed, and that should balance it out long enough for Twilight to actually fix it. It should only take a few seconds, and boom. Twi can handle it from there.

[Aren't you all worried when the guest comes to visit she's going to, say, take the towels with her?]

'Shining Armor informed us that memory taking is not in her abilities.... which is why when Celestia asked her for someone to plan a bachelor party, she picked Spike.... SPIKE.'

>Had NO idea who he was, but his name sounded 'guyish' and she didn't want to blow her cover.

'But, of course, she is as unhelpful as ever.'

>You'd swear she wants us to hate her or something.

[...]

"What's the matter?"

[Hmm? Oh, nothing at all. Just feeling a bit lightheaded.]

'Wait, why did your skin change- oh, 'light headed', I get it now.'

"Hee hee."

[Well, let us hope she comes to her senses soon, eh? Would hate to drive a wedge between you all and all of the happy memories you shared with her!]

>Which is none.

[Well... at the very least, she seems to be making some with Twilight.]

They had no time to ask before a hot-pink cart being dragged along by Mane-iac rushed past, the two royals in the back with far more wine than should be legal rolling by.

>...
"..."
'...Is she... keeping her that way? Deliberately!?'

>What. A. BITCH!

"I'm not surprised, but that is upsetting."

Unbeknownst to the other three, the chaos wielder sighed, and watched them race off.

[I suppose so...]
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>Flash
"Pennydrop"
*Bits of Flash

"Honestly, I have the patience to let you prove your worth and you go and GATE CRASH A ROYAL HEN NIGHT?!"

>AFFIRMA- No...Hey, I wasn't out to get that purple twerp, she jumped me I'm telling ya! Then she called her Princess friends and THEY jumped me, nearly lost Bitey too...

"Uh huh, and I'm meant to just believe this sugar-nuts? You know how much it cost me to replace that hunk of scrap on your foreleg?"

>Yeah? Don't you trust me at all? SUBJECT SHOWS HIGH DEGREES OF DOUB-Shhht!

"Computer, sub-routine 25A6"

>They hay was that meant t- tnaem taht saw yah yehtfsfsfsfsfsfs "Decided to keep your destruction on a more focused scale then? I also heard you were the one who released the giant bug bitch on all of Equestria. Not a single place was unscatched. Well, except for Ponyville, so what was that? control group?"

"....What was it you told me when you shoved the spanner into the wine bot- oh, keep that outta mind Penny... when we met?"

>I said, after the cat ha-MEMORY BLOCK..guhuh, I was not a rampaging zealous murderboning psycho with a shotgun and a chainsaw? That I could do proper normal guard pony work? Even if it meant.-ASSASSINATION, SABOTAGE, RECONNOITER- ..different work?

"Damn straight, I expect better of you Flash, no goin' after old contacts unless I call the shots, no matter how much crap they caused, I mean you coulda gone after Chrysallis since she was there but nah, that old meat and two veg wanted some kinda "visual stimulant" did they?

>Well...I...-TESTOSTERONE LEVELS RECORDED AT PEAK CAPACITY DURING ROYAL CONFRONTA-Shuuuuut it!

"Can it, and go practice that new saw of yours onna pillow factory or somethin', and don't come back till you learn how to take orders and behave like a good little cyborg, just like...before, I need a drink"

*Wreet woot*

>I'm goin', I'm going, sheesh
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>29
"MM"
'Trixie'
[Zecora]
{various}
~~~~

>...Okay, admit it. On three.

"You ready?"

'One...'

[Two...]

>"'[I would have wanted to do this anyway.]

[And that is the truth, I do say.]

>Good, now that we have come to terms with the fact within us all lies a child who wishes for the days of operatic glory... HIT IT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V92OBNsQgxU

The cart they all resided in began to shake...

And then took off into the sky, held aloft by a mass of stormclouds that rained lightning down as it took to the skies. In front of them, pegasi clad in armor of old beat their wings in a fervor, escalating them higher and higher into the air.

"How much did you have to pay those guys?"

>My dear, I will say this as simply as I can. The cost was nowhere near enough to not be worth every moment. HYAH!

'TO VICTORY!'

[RIIIIIIIIDDDDE!]

{These guys are crazy.}

{Shut it, it pays well.}

{...Is it just me, or are a bunch of lights going off around us?}

{Just roll with it.}

{But-}

{ROLL WITH IT!}

'TRIXIE'S EYES ARE LIKE FIRE, AND SHE DOES NOT CARE!'
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>Chitania
"Diamond Dogs"
{???}
~~~~~

>...You must be joking.

"What? It sounds reasonable to us."

>Your god I a giant gem in the sky?

"Yes, that is correct."

>THAT'S JUST A STAR!

"No no, one to left. Left of star. It's a giant gem."

>It's all stars!

"Gem."

>STARS!

"GEM!"

"It is gem, we held up our end of bargain, now bend over."

>...

"Right?.... Can I have the front?"

"I wanted the front!"

"We all want front, front is best!"

"Fine, we shall be reasonable! Pony who do you want to mount you, and who do you want in fro-"

~~~~

{You'll never have children.}

"...That was kind of obvious, don't you think?"

{Yeah, I guess, just didn't want to give you guys any false hope due to magic or something. You want to take them home in a jar? I put them all in a little jar.}

"...Yes."
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>TV
"NL"
'Twilight'
~~~~~

>...

"..."

'OMIGOOOOSH! You guys can't come in my room! No 'rents allowed in the sacred hall of the Twi! This is a no-grownup zone, uh-uh!'

>...I blame you.

"Me?"

>See what I said would happen? I said 'the minute she leaves something bad is going to happen.' Why didn't you let me keep my baby!?

"Because a several time savior of Equestria slash princess shouldn't be living with her parents?"

>MY BABY IS CUTTING OUT MAGAZINE PICTURES!

'Oh my gooooosh! Isn't he the hunkiest!?'

"...Oh dear, and I have no shotgun to hold."

>See!? I told you!

"Shiny needed it for Two!"

>Well, we have to go get a new one!

"I still have my vampire slaying whip."

'EW! Dad! Don't bring out whips in front of my boyfriend, he'll think I'm into that, and then I'll HAVE to let him try it or else he'll think I'm a frigged be-yotch!'

"Urge... to shoot... rising..."

'Oh oh oh! Mommy! Can we go shopping!? PLEEEEASE!?'

>...

"...You can't be serious."

>I never get to go shopping with her anymore!

'WOOT! Come on! I'll grab Crissy and we'll head to trot topic, there is a suit there I think Celestia would just DIIIIIEE for!'

"Does she mean that weird gothic outfit?...Do it."

>Doing it.

'MAREFRIEND!'

"And try not to hit her."

>Trying.

"WOOT WOOT!"
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>42
"18"
'Chrysalis'
[Twilight]
{Luna}
~~~~

>...Are you feeling... conflicted?

"Kind of?"

'WHOOOOOO! YOU BITCHES CAN'T CATCH ME!'

[AWWW, no fair girlfriend, you know I just did my hooves, I can't make the hoverbike go too fast!]

{GIVE ME BACK MY CROWN!}

[NO! We're styling!]

'AHAHAHAHAHAH!'

{CHRYSALIIIIIIIIISSSSSS!}

>...I mean, I like normal Twilight, but...

"But she's doing the thing she does with Shiny and Celestia."

>But with Twilight.

"Twilight who she does not like."

>But is currently riding on Spike's hoverbike with and stealing.

"...When is Shining Armor getting back anyway?"

>I have no idea. He's up to something with Sombra, but we haven't heard from him in a while.

"... Will he be mad at her?"

>I don't know. And that scares me.
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>SA
“Sombra”
'Pinkie Pie'

~~~~~~

The sound of countless roars echoed off the canyon walls as the three stared down at an incomprehensible of horrifying creatures.

>So... The Roaring River... how clever.

“I was not expecting this...”

>How many... things... are down there?

“Enough to make it appear like a flowing river apparently.”

>Pinkie I'm beginning to think that your family has some serious issues.

'You think this is bad? Granny Pie told me her Grand Pie had the Rock Farm set up inside an active volcano on an island surrounded by a mile of Piranha!'

>Piranha are fresh water fish Pinkie.

'Tell that to the pile of bones that made the sea wall!'

>And I just realized I'm trying to make sense out of the Pie Family.

“So how do we get a cross?”

'The bridge.'

>...I don't see anything.

“All I see is a rope.”

'Tight Rope Bridge.'

>“...”

'Hope you brought your unicycle Shiny.'

Shining's horn glows for a moment levitating a bright red unicycle off his back.

>... I am oddly prepared for this.
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>Fizzle
"Pennydrop"
~~~
"So, Mr. Fizzle, have you made your choices yet?"

>Yeah, I'd like to participate in the basic gene tonics and plasmids group...

"Alright, it's fairly stable, you will mostly be helping us test its affects on other species."

>I also want the basic augmentation package with cyber blades.

"Alright, we will only be able to augment one arm as you need at least one natural limb to project your plasmids."

>Got'cha, and... I'd like to sign up for the powered armor tests and the heavy weapons experiments.

"Feeling adventurous are we?"

>I told you: I want to be the strongest son of a bitch there ever was. Oh! And can I get some custom augments or tonics to make my spines red? Everyone makes fun of the pink.

"I'm sorry, we don't have anything like that."

>Damn. Well can I get the mother of Spike the Dragon engraved on my new handcannon being made?

"Princess Celestia or Twilight Sparkle?"

>Uhhh... Do you know?

"No one does."
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>Arana
"Applejack"
~~~~

>Boom?

"..."

>...DRAT!

"Why're ya' tryin' ta' blow me up anyway?"

>I'm not! I'm trying to blow up the paperwork! It's alive, alive I tell you! I go to the bathroom and it doubles!

"Ah've noticed that too."

>So, I figure, blow it up! I mean, at the very least, we'd have time between when I blew them up to when more arrived, right?

"...Ya'll are mah new favorite Changeling."

>YAY!... Wait, who was first before?

"Two."

>Oh! Her! I got into a hugging contest with her once. No idea who won, we realized at the end we were so caught up in the hugging we forgot to keep score. Lot's a ponies got hugged, though, so I guess they win?

"....HNNNNGNG!"

>APPLEJACK!

"HEART ATTACK!"

>Oh no! OH NO!... I know! I'll explode your heart, it can't attack you that way!

"Sug' Ah' was jok-AHAHAHHAAHAHAHS-S-STOOPP!AHAHAHAHHAHA!"

>That pressure point is around here somewhere!

"AHAHAHAHAHAMAKEITSTOOOOOP!"

*Creeeak*

"TIA HALPHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!""

...

*SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP!*

*SLAM!*

"YA' JERKAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

>Don't worry Applejack, I'll find it!

"WHYYYYWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
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>Luna
"Twilight"
'????'

>Stealing the royal crown, this doth be the last straw. I must put a stop to this madness.

Floating amidst the darkness, the moon princess scanned the myriad of dreamscapes to find one in particular. After some time the one she sought erupted into existance. One that shined exceptionally bright. And pink. Painfully bright pink. Luna turned towards this new world, intent on confronting the purple hellion in her own mind.

>Tis about time. I was beginning to wonder if she ever slept. Oh my, this is worse than we thought.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYc5BhDGO-U

The sights that greeted the lunar princess gave her pause as she was surrounded by blaring music and dancing ponies. Some rather lewdly. More disturbing was that most of the stallions seemed to copies of either Flash Sentry or Shining Armor.

>I knew there was something going on there.

"HEY MAREFRIEND! SO GLAD YA SHOWED UP. NOW WE CAN REALLY GET THIS PARTY STARTED!"

A purple unicorn only barely recognizable as Twilight under almost enough makeup to cover crazy

>Normally it wouldst be I that lacked proper volume control. Twilight Sparkle this has to stop. I while I would admit that it was amusing for a while, this facade grows tiresome and you friends grow worrisome.

"Oh ho ho, look achu girl, talkin all fancy. But this party can't stop, we just got started."

A server resembling Flash approached carrying a plate on his head with a cocktail drink on it.

'A drink for the lady?'

Reflexively, Luna took the glass from the plate, which the server then slipped into his mouth as it turned into a rose that was slipped into Twilight's mane behind her ear. As quickly as he appeared, the Flash Server vanished back into the crowd.

"An look at all these hunks walkin around, bitch you couldn't drag me away from this.

>Why are the all Flash? Did you even like him? I thought you turned him into a cyborg?

"Say wha? Like I could eva do a thing like that? Not that I'd mind havin a virile robo-cop at my beck and call"

Twilight feigns a swoon.

>Twilight this is serious, you must listen.

Twilights face grows darker
"I ain't gotta listen to shit sister."

>You can't keep living this frivolous fantasy.

The music begins to die down.
"Bet me. I'll stay here as long as I damn well please.

>Twilight, whether you like it or not, you have responsibilities you must see to, you have to...

Everything freezes and Luna finds herself unable to move or even speak. The bright colors are replaced with shadow.
"BULLSHIT! I. don't. have. shit. I am pretty little unicorn Twilight Sparkle with my pretty mane and sparkly hooves. And I like to have fun. No work, no responsibilities, no weapons, no cyborgs, no robots, no releasing killer changelings, no world ending inventions and no one gets hurt.

Twilight turns around, her back to the princess as the background continues to fade into nothing. Luna again finds herself able to move.
"And then everyone's happy."

Unfazed by this outburst, Luna makes one more forceful, albeit brash, attempt to bring Twilight into a more typical mindset.

>TWILIGHT SPARKLE, THIS IS NO BEHAVIOUR FOR A PRINCESS OF EQUESTRIA!

Twilight doesn't even turn around
"Get out."

In an instant Luna found herself lurching into wakefulness. For some time, she simply lie in thought before coming to a fairly simple conclusion.

>Yeah, didn't really work when Celestia tried to talk to me like that either.
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Non-canon
>AJ10
"Queen Gwendolyn"
'King Idris'
~~~
>Thanks for securing me an interview with your husband, your majesty!

"You're quite welcome, though it was actually he who wanted you."

>Uh, really? That's weird, I thought he was... You know.

"... I know."

Gwendolyn whispers

"I have Gilda on standby to secure your escape if need be. That's also why I suggested you leave your robot with her when my husband required you leave him."

10 nods and gulps

They enter the office of King Idris

'Ah, the two of you have made it at last! Wonderful.'

"Beloved... you're in a stran- I mean a good mood."

>Y-Your majesty, I'm Applejack Ten from the Hive Gazette-

'I know exactly who you are, my wife will not clamp her beak about the papers or articles you write... Also you should fire that Trenderhoof fellow, all his reports on Stalliongrad are pure rubbish. I don't care about the 'quaint lives of the peasants'.'

>Ah! Well, he's still bringing in more information than anyone else! ... With due respect. Anyway though, the interview!

'Did I say I invited you for an interview?'

>Uhhh...

Idris smiles

'Come with me, abomination, I want your help making a statement to the rest of the world...'

Gwendolyn gestures to Gilda and the Blueblood bot outside to be on standby

The group follow then king far from the castle to some large warehouses near some factories

'In light of the recent attack by one of your old Queens and watching Equestria and the Crystal Empire of all places militarize, it has made me uncomfortably aware of how vulnerable I have left my own people. .. .What are you staring for? Write this down, what else are you good for!'

>Oh! Right, sorry!

they walk inside the guarded warehouse and 10 realizes it's no warehouse, but a hangar for an airship under construction

'This is my statement to the rest of the world, and the question of my people if we are prepared to protect ourselves, the answer: yes, we are!'

>Ohhh... What is it?

'This is a Carp class airship-'

"Goldfish, dear."

'... Winnie, are we really going to do this here? Now? In front of our enemy?'

"Idris, the development team named it a 'Goldfish class airship'."

'Well I'm the king, I funded and authorized this project, why can't I call it what I want?'

"You don't want to do 'this now in front of 10', who I also remind you is a friend, not an enemy, and you're the one arguing like a spoiled child."

'Fine! whatever, it's a Goldfish! I swear, I should have just told you I was showing the little bug this so you wouldn't insist on following us here.'

>I will agree that Carp does sound better.

'See?! Anyway though, strike that arguement out and let's continue! Right now, they're crude, slipshod, and ugly even for prototypes, but they are using some of the best technology purely found within our Kingdoms! Three prop engines powered through combustion petrol, three gun points, one forward, two on starboard and port which can be fixed with anything from our new, Whirlwind Light Gatling Cannons, Dragon tongue Flamethrowers to Mercury Field Guns, and Echindna Light Flak Cannons. Built with lasting durability and brutal speed: when these go into full production, they will be the mainstay of our revive military alongside the Pyramidion!'

"Triangle, dear. It was dubbed The Triangle."

'... You are ruining our image, woman!'
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>AJ10
"Gwendy"

>Um, he does know how vulnerable airships are to a pegasi with a spiky helmet, right?

"We tried to tell him dear, his solution was to put more guns on it."

>But then wouldnt you need a bigger balloon to hold them?

"Yes."

>Which would make it a bigger target.

"Correct again."

>...More guns?

"More guns."

>...I'll just put "research still on-going" in the article.

"I knew there was a reason i liked you, i didnt even have to mention the bribe."

>What's a bribe?

".....I'm going to ask your queen if i can keep you, you're too adorable for the world to handle.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Chrysalis
“Spike”
{???}
~
The Queen just couldn't help but sigh to herself. Of course, he calls her into the room and doesn't show.

“Chrysalis, hi, how are you? You doing good?”

Oh, okay, she clarified to herself, he's sitting up on the chandelier with a bunch of lit candles... with a massive grin on his face. Well, that's not unsettling at all.

>Oooh, lizardo is finally trying to smooth talk me, eh? Sorry, not interested. But I am very interested in that thing in those tiny purple claws.

“Oh, this? This little thing? Yeah, figured you would be. Help me out with something real quick, did you know it was encrypted?”

>Of course. Twilight knew to fear my infiltration abilities. But it seems yours are even better, no? I'm impressed. Now, if you don't mind, hand it over so I can-

“Nnnnope.”

One blink. Two blink.

>Meh, alright. If you insist.

Her horn already had licks of flame touching upon it.

>Can't believe you forgot about this already. Might want to-

“Actually...”

The grin still on his face, he held up one of his arms.

“I didn't.”

There was some kind of blinking, glowing bracelet on it. Connected right to...

>Is that supposed to deter me from grabbing that?

“I should hope so, it's a charge strong enough to blow my hand clear off my wrist.”

>...Did... am I in opposite land? Is that what happened? The threat is “I'll mutilate myself?” well... oh no?

“Oh no, it seems you've got me. If only I had told Applejack I was coming to see you, but completely left the reason why totally vague! If I had done that, you would surely have a reason not to want to be seen here, in this room, with my hand blown off and classified files in your grasp. That would probably paint you in a bad light.”

Snap, snare one is sprung, he grinned to himself as the Queen's eyes darkened.

>Yes, I supposed that would make you seem quite the victim, no?

“I wonder what Applejack would say when she saw her favorite little dragon, bleeding out through a stump where his claw once was, and little old you just covered in dragon bits. You know, I think she'd be angry at you.”

>I get it. Fine, keep the file. You don't deliver, I don't deliver, those were the terms.

“Yeah, see, I thought about it for a bit and came to the conclusion that, yeah, I don't like those terms. Those terms suck. How about I toss you up a new deal, see how you feel about it?”

>...

“Great, how about this. Either you march right into that room and you apologize to Twilight and start working with her, ooooorrr, I start using this nifty little decoder stone I got off my good buddy Poindexter, and I start figuring out just what's under your hood. It'll take me weeks, no doubt, but I can crack it.”

Slowly, sparks of flame began to lick at her hair.

“You're mad now, but it's about to get worse. See this thing right here?”

He jumped up and skipped happily on the Chandelier, making it roll and revealing a strange orb attached to the other side.

“This thing is something Twilight used to record stuff when you first arrived to make sure you didn't brain-zotz Shiny anymore. It's blank, she wiped it out to prevent any leaks obviously, but it does make me wonder just what is in this folder...”

He hefted it in the air, feigning struggling with it.

“Pretty heavy, all sorts of stuff you said to Shiny or one of your guys could be in here!”

Slowly, the ground began to crack.

“Either you go apologize and start acting nice, or every one of your precious little secrets is getting revealed to the world. And I'm willing to do it, for her. Because, Chrysalis, that's the only way I can get to you. You're a cold, heartless bitch who will happily sacrifice everyone else to get what you want. Well, now you have nobody to throw under the bus but your own head, so what are you going to do now?”

He would swear a blood vessel in her brain was about to rupture. The last snare had been strung.

“So, please... won't you go help my frien-HEY!”

Furious green fire circled around his body, dragging him face to face with pure, undiluted rage burning from her eyes. Thankfully, his grip on the folder remained strong.

“G-Go ahead, one little scratch and you have all of Canterlot coming down on your head! You ready to face off with everyone at once on their turf, or are you going to do what I say?”

Smoke began to float from her teeth.

>Shiny will-

“Not be here in time. I'll have this cracked before he ever gets back.”

>It's MY FILE. Nothing in there affects anyone but ME!

“And she's MY BEST FRIEND! Guess we both have something on the line now. So do it, and I'll give it to you when she's fixed. I'll even ask Twilight to decipher it for you. Won't that be a twist? You enjoyed being so secretive with all of those tablets, now SHE gets to be the one who decides what you know and what you don't. This is your one chance, take it.”

The room got cold. Strange, considering all the licks of green flame sparking.

>...No.

Judging by the way his eyes narrowed right back, this wasn't the answer he wanted.

“I'm not bluffing.”

>It doesn't matter if you are. Right now, you have my information, and your deal is to fix the pony who took it and hid it from me in the first place. Do you think I'm stupid? Best case scenario, she takes out all the vital stuff and just hands me what I already know she knows. And then she reveals to you everything else anyway, just in case. Which means you'll always have this on me. You'll always have blackmail. I hate to admit it... you win. I can't get that out of you without more... direct means.

She smiled. Even from here, he could tell it was only partially genuine.

>So, my only option is... go ahead. You win, you can release all of the information you want, and I will have to deal with that fallout. I will have to eliminate those that try to use that information, and squash it where ever I can find. But in exchange...

Her grin finally turned feral.

>In exchange I've finally gained a Twilight I can spend time with and enjoy. At last, I can talk and be free in this damned castle without a touch of her retaliation. Oh, ohhh Spike, Spike Spike Spike, you win... but I've gained something quite fun in the process as well. You keep that file, you hug it close and do to it whatever you please, and while you're sitting there, on the ground, screaming up all the things you want to do to hurt me...

She brought him in as close as she could, whispering in his ear.

>I'll be dancing on the top of that hill with your best friend. And I will have a BALL. We are going to party, do each other's hair and talk about alllll the pretty boys she wants to fuck. And you are going to sit there and take it.

“...That's your plan? 'Yeah, you win, but I get to go party'?”

>The alternative is killing you and making it look like an accident.

“Or you could trust me.”

He might as well have said, “Or you could punch the moon out of orbit and feast on the cheese that rains out of the center.”

“Are you really going to let everyone suffer just to spite me?”

>Always about you, isn't it? Maybe they deserve spite too.

“...Fine, don't do it for me, don't do it for the file, don't do it for anyone else. Just do it for Shining Armor. Do it because his LSBFF is hurting. Do one good thing in your life FOR HIM. Are you really going to let him suffer like that?”

>He'll love his sister one way or the other.

“He'll be heartbroken every minute he can't help her!”

>Maybe he'll like the fact she's having fun now instead of sulking.

“She's not herself!”

>He wanted us to get along, we are!

“She has to face this or she'll never go back to normal!”

>Maybe I don't want her normal!

“YOU CAN'T LET HER STAY LIKE THIS!”

>SHE'S HAPPIER LIKE THIS!

“SHE'LL NEVER STOP PRETENDING IF YOU DON'T-”

Of all the words... of all the words he could have used...

Those were the only ones that could have made her eyes go wide, and all the life sapped from them.

“W-wait, I didn't mean it like-”

Too late. She was gone.

Just before the door slammed open, and every alicorn from Canterlot, Dash and Fluttershy all ran in.

The plan had been so perfect. So perfect. Everyone was outside waiting in case she tried to attack him. The 'bomb' on his wrist was nothing more than a little toy bracelet. The “Spy orb”, just a bauble. Every piece was in place to test her and let her make the right choice, or put her in place to be taken out if she chose wrong. He pushed her to get her to break... but...

“I just wanted her to make it right.”

{Ya' did sug'. Sometime's ya' just... can't help some folks.}

There would be time to dwell on her sympathetic, understanding tone later, he told himself. Right now, he needed to find Twilight.

Before Chrysalis found her first.

~~~
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