Thread 42: Stories 46-60

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>DT
"Applejack"
~~~~~~

An eerie sense of deja vu overtook the princess when her door slammed open. Only one other entered her room in such a manner, and this... did not bode well for the conversation to come.

Nonetheless, the filly hopped up onto the chair on the other side her her desk, idly laying TBDRLIATU across her lap and giving her a look that said she was only somewhat paying attention.

>You wanted to see me, princess?

She nodded sternly, moving her paperwork aside so she could give the filly her full attention.

“Ah've got some concerns about yer' attitude here lately.”

Despite her harsh look, the little pink filly seemed more interested in fiddling with her rocket launcher, which even from her position Applejack could see was still in a state of disrepair.

“Ah've been hearin' a lot here lately that ya' ain't bein' a team player.”

>Depends on the team.

The princess frowned, unamused with her bored tone.

“Ah've also been hearin' ya've been takin' some unnecessary risks.”

>None of them were 'unnecessary'.

“And finally... been hearin' a lot about how ya've been spendin' the fundin' Ah' gave ya'.”

>Spike's gun is upgraded and maintained by Twilight on her own dime, 77's knife is a knife with no special attachments, and the last one just punches things. The hoverboards all work, and there's nothing else that requires any real funding.

Applejack sighed, irritated.

“Ya'll just have an answer fer' everything, don't ya?”

>Which is good, isn't it? If I didn't have an answer, I'd make you mad.

“Ah'm mad now.”

>Well, then that's not my fault, is it?

Eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Ah'm considerin' takin' ya' off the team.”

The filly just scoffed, still not having looked up from her rocket launcher that even now she continued to repair.

>Oh, what a threat. You cripple the demolition portion of your A-team. Oh yeah, that'll look great, especially when said demolition expert is the reason nobody died to a giant carnival robot.

“And also the reason everyone almost died fallin' to the ground.”

She paused, just for a second, before resuming.

>That wasn't my fault, the plan worked fine until that stupid monster forced it to link up to the rest of the park to get energy. If that giant monster hadn't been there, everything would have been just fine.

“But it wasn't.”

>Well, what do you want me to do about that? Somehow predict chaos? Oh yeah, that worked out great for Flu-

“DON'T YOU DARE!”

She let out an involuntary, near inaudible *squeak* at the harsh tone and loud noise from hooves being slammed into the desk. Nonetheless, she regained her composure in no time.

“...Gimme one reason ya' deserve ta' still be on this team.”

Another, far more snooty, scoff.

>I have the most advanced and versatile weaponry, I've been around since the start, I fill a niche in demolition you can't easily fill with someone else, I have the best track record in taking down large opponents, I'm smarter than any of my team mates and I have the rocket designs to prove it, I'm rich as all hell, and oh yeah, I'm DIAMOND TIARA. Need more reasons? I have a lot.

Rather than irritate her, like DT expected, her response seemed to make the older mare almost... sad.

She seemed to gain another year or two right there to her face, slumping down in her chair and looking off to the side.

“Ah' messed up bad.”

>Yeah, I'd say calling me in here was a mistake.

The orange mare didn't respond, just continued looking off at the far wall.

“...Ya' know how old Ah' was when Ah' had to take over helpin' on the farm, Diamond Tiara?... Ah' was just a little bit younger than you are right now. Ah' was jus' this tiny little filly, and Ah' suddenly had the responsibility of the whole world put on mah' shoulders, felt like. All the hard work and long hours made me bout go crazy a time or two, but Ah' never did. Managed it all, kept the farm growin', helped raise mah' little sister ta' the crazy bundle she is now, even managed ta' keep mah' granny from workin' herself ta' death. Ah' managed it all...”

A tired, worn out breath left her.

“Ah' knew, better than most, what a filly yer' age could really handle. Lotta folks don't think ya' can, think yer' just gonna fall ta' pieces, but they don't know it. They don't know what it's really like, and just how hard you'll push yer'self when it really matters. Iffin' Ah' was bein' honest, Ah'd say it brought me back down ta' earth, gave me a real nice perspective on life. Used ta' be pretty cocky, thought Ah' could just run off whenever ah' felt like it and the whole world would have ta' let me, but that life burned it outta me, made me stronger for it. Guess that's why Ah' asked ya' ta' be on the team, really. When Ah' saw you that day, when Ah' went ta' visit Cheerilee and ask about ya', Ah' saw somethin'. Somethin' familiar. You blew 56 through that wall and ya' just kept walkin'. Ya' had a weapon even Twilight was havin' trouble figurin' out on yer' back, carryin' it like it was some kinda backpack, and ya' just kept firin' away. Ya' walked right through that demon infested hole without a care. Ah' saw a lot about you right there, Diamond Tiara, but at that point it was nothin' but destruction, somethin' Ah' needed ta' stop. But when...”

Her throat contracted, just a bit.

“...When that robot nearly took mah' sister, ya' stepped up. These things gave mah' guard one hell of a fight, and ya' just beat it solo. And after that' ya' just kept helpin', fightin', winning. Bout that time Ah' realized... Ah' couldn't stop what ya'll were becomin', just like me runnin' off ta' manehatten couldn't stop me from becomin' what Ah' was going to be. Ya'll had a whole mess o' potential, and it was just sittin' there in this arrogant, whiny, prissy little daddies princess. Ah' couldn't stop ya', but Ah' hoped Ah' could aim ya', point ya' in a direction that would help others, help ya' find the right way.”

Her gaze, at last, turned back. But not to the wide eyed filly staring at her, no, to the weapon of destruction sitting in her lap.

“But it don't matter where ya' aim a rocket, Diamond Tiara. It's gonna hit eventually, and it's gonna go off, and destruction's gonna be had. Ah' had just hoped it would be against the ones tryin' ta' wreck mah' home, but now... I'm startin' ta' worry the blast ain't just takin' them out...”

Hard, cold eyes bored into the far smaller ones.

“It's comin' right back, and tryin' ta' burn ya'll up with it.”

They sat there in silence, pink lips opening and closing like a beached fish as she tried to think up some kind of retort, some kind of comeback.

She couldn't.

“Hang up that thing, Diamond Tiara. Go back home, go spend some time with yer' dad, go ta' school, get an education, just do somethin'. This ain't the life for you. That thing ain't nothin' but a bunch o' metal and a pile o' gunpowder, it ain't worth the life it's takin' away.”

Before, there had been a coldness in her eyes, a chill with every passing word.

But at that final line, the coldness burned away. Replaced with something far more... intense.

>...So, am I to take it that this is the end of the A-team entirely? You are planning to make everyone retire and go back to non-combative jobs?

A little of the hardness in her eyes went away, replaced with a touch of confusion.

“What? No, Ah' just-”

>No? Why, that's odd. Because last time I checked, the other members of the team were someone who has been going through some... trouble recently, mentally I mean.

“She ain't that bad-”

>And of course, we can't forget dear Patchy. After all, with his traumatic past, is a life of fighting really better for him than it is for me?

“He knows what he's getting into-”

>And then there's Spike.

She had said the last word coldly, letting it roll off her tongue. At that, Applejack felt a chill go down her spine.

>Only a little older than me, isn't he? And my oh my, the things he's seen. The things we've been though, together. Do you suppose he still remembers the time he shot off Blueblood's horn? Hm... when's he starting school, again?

Her lip curled a bit in a frown.

“It ain't the same.”

The filly shot upwards, placing her hooves on Applejack's desk and using the chair behind her for balance.

>Like Tartarus it isn't the same! I offer just as much, if not more to this team than he does, I've got a better track record than he does! I've fought harder, against worse odds and done just fine! And don't you give me that 'oh, you need an education' load! Not only am I smarter than everyone in my class COMBINED, you know what I did the day after the assault? Do you!? I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL! That's right, I could still feel the bruises from the CYBORG THAT PUNCHED ME, and I went to school the next day. Now you tell me, right now, it isn't the same, you hypocrite.

Snidely, her lip curled back.

>Or do I have to take you out on dates to get preferential treatment too?

Took every single caring bone in Applejack's body not to reach over and smack her right across the head.

Flippantly, she pushed off the desk, hopping to the ground and balancing her rocket launcher on her back.

>TBDRLIATU is more than 'some metal and gunpowder', Applejack. He's powerful, a lot more so than you give him credit for. With him, even someone like me can take on a giant clown monster made of chaos magic. He doesn't just level whatever is in his way, he levels playing fields just as easily. Even if you don't want ME around anymore, you and I both know you want Sexy here to be on your side, and I'm the only one who can handle him. I'm making him stronger every day, and we both know that's something you want on YOUR side.

She gave a winning smile to the frowning, growling mare, striking a pose that displayed him proudly.

>So kick me off if you want. Go ahead, say I'm off the team, say I can't come back, say whateeeever you want. We both know full well that wouldn't be the end of it for me. I don't need your funding to make him more with every day, I don't need your approval before I take on whoever decides today is a nice day to blow up flying cities, I didn't need your okay when I started mixing together random chemicals just to see what they did so I could take out 56, I don't need it now.

The princess rose up, her eyes narrowing into a hard glare.

“Ah' could just as easily order ya' disarmed, ya' know. That firecracker may seem fancy, but how do ya' think it'd fair against all the rest of us? Ah'm likin' the odds of the side with four Alicorns ta' kick yer' rear in, and that ain't even countin' Shiny's crew. Chrysalis would probably do it iffin' ah' asked, just fer the laughs.”

Unbothered, she rolled her eyes and tossed her hair back.

>Come on, Applejack. You know better than that. Tell me, what happens when you try and stop a rocket? Even if you manage to pull it off... it's still going to blow up in your face.

They locked eyes, neither one budging an inch, neither one losing a hint of intensity.

Until, at last, one of them did.

>If it makes you feel any better, I only tried blowing up 56 because I was convinced he was 'invading' Ponyville, and everyone else was just to stupid to see it.

Gradually, the intense glare died down.

“Really?”

>Hey, I thought it was an act. Was sure nobody could be that stupid.

“...”

Reluctantly, very reluctantly, the orange mare sat back down.

“Ah' meant what ah' said. You could, someday, be one'a the best, Diamond Tiara. Iffin' ya' just dial the ego back a bit and let yer' team in, ya' could be somethin' really special. Ya' got the drive, the smarts and the guts. Ya' just need the sense. Take it from someone who nearly worked themselves ta' death. Holdin' the world on yer' shoulders... it's gonna wear you out fast. You could really help some ponies, and ya' ain't gotta do it with a firecracker.”

The filly seemed to ponder this. Seemed to mull over the words.

And then she just dismissively scoffed again.

>Could be? Pffft, I already am one of the best.

With that, she turned, and started to leave.

>Call me when you need me again, TBDRLIATU should be ready by the time the next big calamity hits.

The princess watched her, sadly knowing she couldn't stop her.

“Ah'm sorry.”

The pink filly froze, hoof touching the door, but not pushing.

“It's all mah' fault.”

A second past.

And then she laughed again.

>HAH! Please. You may want to take credit, but I'm the one who pulled the trigger. It's funny, if 56 hadn't rolled into town I don't know where I'd be, but that was Bug Queen, not you.

“Actually... Ah'm the one who pointed it out ta' Chrysalis when we were talkin' about her education system. Iffin' Ah' hadn't suggested it, she wouldn'a sent him down there.”

>...Huh.

The filly looked back briskly, an eyebrow cocked.

>Guess this one is all thanks to you. Good job.

She knew the words were sincere.

And yet, she felt the sting as the door closed, and she was alone.

“Yeah... real great work ah' did there...”
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>AJ
"Arana"
'???'
~~~~

The door creaked open slowly, allowing the skittering, slightly off kilter changeling to stumble into the office, looking quite... uneasy.

She shuffled up to the wall, placing each of her tiny legs against it, and got ready to climb.

Only to suddenly lose her grip, and fall straight backwards.

>ARANA!

To her surprise, a magical grip tried to encircle her and stop her fall.

Emphasis on 'try'.

>DANG IT!

"...Ow."

She rushed over, helping the changeling back to her hooves.

>Are ya'll okay!?

In fact, she looked nothing of the sort. She was slightly pale, sweating and looking generally unfocused.

"I-I'm fine, Applejack Prime, I just feel a little tired. Can you help me into my web?"

She grimaced at the tired, listless tone, before lifting her up, and instead moving her onto the couch.

>Don't think that's the best idea right now, Ara. Best ta' keep ya' on the ground fer the time bein'.

"I... i guess."

>What in tarnation did Twi do ta' ya' anyway?

"She just, uh... had to take some blood, and scan me with a bunch of machines... and stick me with needles."

An orange hoof worriedly went though her mane.

>Maybe we need ta' tell Twi ta back off fer a bit... what is that?

The spider-ling blinked in confusion for a second, before noticing where her pointed gaze was directed. Specifically, the collar she was now wearing around her neck, one with a tiny blinking red light on it.

"Oh, uh... she put this on me to tell her if I let out more pheromones, and when."

The concern in her eyes only grew.

"I-I'll be fine... just need a quick... nap..."

She fell asleep right there, no more provocation needed.

The concern in Applejacks eyes bled away, replaced with something... else.

>Iffin that bug monster is makin' her do all this fer nothin', ah'm gonna mount her head on mah wall.

Gently, she gave the little thing a gentle hug.

>Hang in there, sug. She'll figure this out.

Almost by instinct, all eight legs returned the grasp.

"Than...ss..."

So caught up in her worry, Applejack didn't even notice at all.

When the little collar on her neck changed from red... to green.

~~~~~~~

Elsewhere, tucked away amidst a flurry of machinery, beakers and other such devices of science, a curious pair of wide eyes stared at a floating ball of red, viscous substance.

'That... can't be right...'

Her breathless words went unanswered as she scanned it over, again and again, only to receive the same result.

Confused eyes flickered back and forth, between the misty red ball... and another one, almost exactly it's double if not for the slight difference in shade of color.

'...Well, this just got... confusing.'
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>Blueblood
"Vekir"

>Well, that went better than expected, a castle helper...well, that's a lot more than I deserve, I just need to rise to the...occasion...

"...you see nothing."

>Aren't you...?

"I am a potted plant, nothing more."

>A talking potted plant.

"You are having a delusion."

>An armored talking potted plant.

"Dangerous times require much portections."

>Riiiight...is there a reason you're an armored talking potted plant right now?

"No reason! Particularly not because I ran away from my brothers to stay in the beautiful city of white and also from the eeeeevil sibling of Zhetri Tuuhl who wants to take my shiny hair away."

>...right.

"Yes."

>Well...have fun with that.

"Have you read the book yet?"

>Not yet, I haven't had time.

"Let Vekir know if it is good."

>I'll give it to you when I'm done with it.

"Vekir cannot read...I know...I am a very smart potted plant."

>Riiiight...well, I'll be sure to recommend some very nice picture books for Vekir.

"Hurrah-I mean...plant noises! GOOD DAY!"

>...Morlocks are strange.
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>AJ
"???"
'???'
~~~~~

>Where the heck is that stallion...

She had come over to the Empire with the express purposes of delivering her request for the joint railway expansion right to him. This trip had not been made lightly, as she had quite a lot else she needed done, but it was important this particular legislation get done ASAP, and the risk of it ending up in that massive pile was too great to risk.

Only problem was, he wasn't in his office. Or the kitchen, or the game room, or... anywhere. As such, this 'short trip' was already taking up way too much time.

In her desperation, she went to his bedroom. That's when she heard.. 'it'.

'I can't believe we're really doing this!'

"Will you relax? You need to stop shifting and just let me do my thing."

'Oh, I can't help it! You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do this!'

"Well, then hold still!"

'Oh wow!'

"What?"

'Your muscles...'

"Heh, if you think they're impressive now, just wait till I put them to good use in just a second here."

'Oh ho ho! Well, don't push yourself too hard so fast, I don't want you to burn out right away.'

"Please, I have the stamina to keep this up till long after you can't handle it anymore."

'Quite the challenge! Well, since this is all so new to me, I hope you'll give me some leeway.'

"Naahhh, don't worry! Just relax, hold tight and let me handle it. Trust me, this is all about you. Cadence has given me plenty of practice... well maybe not 'plenty', but that's why you're here, isn't it?"

'Is she going to get mad?'

"Dunno. She SAID it wouldn't be a big deal, and that it was okay if it was YOU, but ehhhh, you know how it is."

'Oh?'

"But let's worry about that later. Right now, it's all about... THIS!"

'O-OH MY!'

She heard the grunting, and the shuffling after that.

"Impressed?"

'Very!'

"Well, the good part has not yet even BEGUN!"

'G-gentle! Be gentle here! New to this!'

"Oh no, if we're doing this I'm going all out right away."

'OH!'

"Get ready, because you are about to hit cloud nine-"

Unable to take it any longer, Applejack slammed the door open.

And came face to face with a sight she never thought she'd see. Two white faces, completely burning with a red hot, intense blush. They glanced at each other, embarrassed, before looking back at the cocked eyebrow of the one standing in the doorway.

>....Ya' know, Shiny, it ain't really 'wife-toss' iffin' she ain't married ta' ya'.

He tried to sputter out a reply, but couldn't manage. Held above him, legs kicking in the air uselessly, Celestia just sighed.

'Don't tell Cadence.'

"And ESPECIALLY not Chrysalis, I'd never hear the end of it."

>Pfft, what ya'll do behind closed doors ain't none o' mah Business. Shiny? Sign this, and get it back ta' me asap. And Ah' will see you later.

She tossed the paper onto the bed, and without another word she left.

'...You still in the mood?'

"You know what? Weidly, I am still fired up. You?"

'Yes. ROCK ME SHINY!'

"AAAAAAND-BOOM!"

'WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!'
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>HEADLINE FOR TOMORROW
>PRINCE SHINING ARMOR AND PRINCESS CELESTIA GET PHYSICAL!
>QUEEN CHRYSALIS CALLS BULLSHIT!
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>SA
"Chrysalis"
~~~~~

>Why are you reading that?

"It's not one of the 'bad' comics, it's an issue of Chitania's Crushers."

>Not what I asked.

"I'm trying to see what other powers they stole."

>...Oh?

"Yeah, according to 18, one of them could use Armadillidiidae's power."

>Armawhosaywhatnow?

"Armadillidiidae."

>...Speak Equestrian!

"I don't speak Equestrian, YOU all speak Changeling, you just don't know it."

>That sounds factually wrong.

"HAH! So arrogant."

>...which one did 18 fight... OH! You mean the stretchy one? I thought that was someone else?

"No, I'm talking about the ball. Armadillidiidae could make her skin hard and curled up into a little ball."

>Oh... that sounds useful.

"It was."

>Which is why you don't know it?

"Oh, I know it, I'm just not dumb enough to use it."

>Becaaaause?

"While on the surface it did no visible damage and made her seem invulnerable, I would like you to imagine her insides while someone who looks somewhat like me is curling into a ball."

>...Ah.

"Yep. Took her a while to realize it, and by that I mean it took her a bit to realize she had literally torn her organs apart. She realized it after she vomited up-"

>GOT IT!... Soooo, what are you finding?

"That this is all horribly inaccurate to Chitania's personality."

>...you don't say.

"I need to write a letter. She would have killed this guy, not waited for him to escape again."

>Heh, guess they based that one off my sister, eh?

"Or you."

Inwardly, he flinched.

>Yeah... sure, or me.

"...HAH!"

>What?

"They cancelled a crossover with power ponies! Said something about the place spontaneously catching fire before they could be printed."

>...

"...What? I wanted to see a dark and edgy Chitania, it would be closer to the real thing."

>...

"...Shut up."
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>Spike
"42"
'Sucker Punch'
-41-

>So if you see a little crystal thing running around, grab it.

"We think it might be tied to the traitor in the dungeon."

-Huh, that's a mindfuck.-

'Yeah, you'd think High Roller would have said something.'

>We're going to question him later now we gotta find that thing and see what 32 was using it for.

"And then ensure he no longer has it."

-Damn straight.-

'We'll keep an eye out.'

>...

"..."

'-...-'

>So...how long have you been here?

The four are just outside Twilight's lab, Sucker Punch still has his electrified hoof.

'...quiiiite a while. Any idea when Princess Sparkle will be able to examine this thing? Like...at all? I'm kind of getting hungry.'

>Not sure.

'...Ihateyoufuckingmuch.'
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~~~~

>Twilight? Luna has need of your science, and wonders if you could set aside some time to-

*Sound of a gun hammer clicking back*

>...I'll come back another time...
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>Vekir
"Winona"

>Hahaha, yes, Vekir has done it! Vekir has found the greatest of all hiding spots!

"You smell of death and mushrooms, strange creature, begone!"

>Hm? ...

"...I said begone-"

>EEEEEEEEE!

"MY EARS!"

>It is a fuzzy tunnel skulker!

"...I suddenly feel very insulted."

>Come forth fuzzy tunnel skulker, I shall reward you with the rubs to your vulnerable underbelly!

"Never, intruder!"

>Eek! Sshh! Sssh! Softly, or else my brothers may hear your cries!

"Good! Let them hear me! Evict yourself from beneath my napping pillow!"

>I MUST FLEE!

"Wha-NO! STOP! PUT THE PILLOW DOWN FIRST! AAAAAAH!"
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>Vekir
"Arana"

"..."

>...hello harmless spider.

"Hi...uhm..."

>Vekir. Morlock. Small one.

"Yeah, right, I know a Morlock, he helped get me out of the caves."

>My brother Rekulk!

"Yes! He's nice...and weird. Very very weird."

>He loves the trades, yes? Yes. Loooves the trades.

"What do you love?"

>Me? Vekir loves...new things.

"New things?"

>Yes! I like to see things I have not before! All of Vekir's life I have been in the cave, the tunnels, the dark. Now...now there is a world that I've never seen before! It is beautiful, and strange, and less likely to kill me than my home! I don't want to die as some farmer in a cave, I'd rather die an explorer out in the great and wonderful and strange and itty bitty bit more safe world!

"Well when you put it like that, loving new things sounds great!"

>It is!

"So...uh...is this new?"

Vekir looks at the spider changeling from where she hangs upside down in the changeling's webbing.

>Yes, very much so.

"Uhm...how'd you get up here?"

>Even Vekir does not know.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Fluttershy
"Chrysalis"
~~~~~~

"Iiiiinteresting."

The slow, creepy way she did that would always, ALWAYS bother Fluttershy, but she never said anything. Felt it would be imposing when said speaker was doing a favor, you know?

Still, she did wish she would at least not do the creepy voice when she was inside of her mind. Well, "inside" is probably the wrong way to put it, since she was not fully mind-diving as she did in Partyland, more like peering into her like head were a fishbowl, and her magic the limb sunk in through the top.

>Did you find it?

"Hmmm? Oh, of course, it's easy enough. So very..."

She squeaked in discomfort as a green flame licked against her skull. She felt something inside her head burn away, something that had been lodged in gone as if it never was.

"...Easy."

But once that momentary flare up of pain had left her, she felt so much more... clear.

>Thank you...

"Hnnn."

The Changeling released her, not a care in the world as she strutted back over to the couch and hopped down on it.

>Do you know why that keeps happening?

A curious, almost mocking eyebrow went up.

"It's simple, really. Those clones you reabsorbed went on adventures, did things, saw things, things that made them think and remember. When you try to re-absorb them, your mind does not know how to reconnect a mind so unlike it's own. So they remain, a voice in your head that wants to act like IT wants to react, with no care for yourself."

>I see...

Cautiously, the yellow mare crept up and joined her on the couch, to her surprise, the larger mare drew in her hind legs to make room.

And then immediately laid them right back, right on top of her.

>...

"...My couch."

>It's Shiny's couch.

"Claimed in the great war of "Shits I give" vs "the horrors of non-existence"."

>...Thanks again for helping me.

"As well you should."

>Do you think there's any way to stop them from messing with my mind?

"Yeah, stop absorbing them you dumbass."

>...Besides that.

"Why besides that? Just do that."

>I have to take them back, otherwise they're going to just keep running loose.

"Then figure out a way to wipe them out."

>You can't wipe out chaos magic.

"You can wipe out ANYTHING, so long as you figure out the right way.

>...That sounds unscientific.

"Like you'd know."

>Fair enough?

"Good..."

>...Not that I'm not happy you're helping, really, but aren't you a little worried the chaos magic is going to backfire on you again?

"Constantly, but I'm also worried you're going to change Canterlot into a crazy funtown. My hive lives there."

>...Fair enough.

"...I also SUPPOSE that I don't think you actually want to hurt me, so points there."

>O-oh.. oh no, of course not.

"Good."

>...

"...Did you just-"

>Sorry, you kind of kicked.

"..."

>...

"...Change my hoof back already."

>I'm trying. It's hard to change stuff back from jello.

"MINDZOTZ!"

>OW!

"OW!"

>...Sorry.

"You should be."

To her surprise, Chrysalis just laid her legs right back where they had been.

>...Seriously?

"Meh."

>I can't tell if this is just brave, silly or something else.

"...Meh."

>...Option C it is...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>SA
"Fluttershy"
~~~

>GAHHHHHHHH!

"Sorry!"

>GGAHHHHHHHHHH!

"Sorrrryyyy!"

>CHANGEITBACKCHANGEITBACKCHANGEITBAAAAAACKKKKK!

"I'm trying! I'm trying-"

*TWINKLE!*

>...

"...Whoops."

>AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

"It's not that big a deal really-"

>MY OnO FIGUUUURRRRES! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

"...OH! That's what you were worried about? I thought you wanted me to fix what I did to your face."

>Wait, what? What did you do to my...

"...Give me a second and I'll-"

>AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

"...I'll wait."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Dash
"Fluttershy"
~~~

"Um... Dash? I know you wanted to uh... 'whip them into shape', like you put it, but is this really the best way?"

>Listen, Fluttershy, these guys fell apart when the chaos hit and had no idea what to do. I ask you, what better way to train them for another possible outbreak than this? This is all perfectly sane.

"...You're just doing this because Lightning Dust ate your chocolates, aren't you?"

>SHE WILL LEARN, FLUTTERSHY! EVEN IF I HAVE TO SICK A DINOSAUR MADE OF PASTRIES ON HER, SHE WILL LEEEEEAAAAARRRNNNNN!

"..."

>...I mean, no. That is unrelated.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Twilight
“Chrysalis”
~~~~~~

Wonderful news, Twilight had said. She had, at last, unraveled the mystery of the pheromones!

Oh, she could not wait to rub it into all of their faces, to tell them exactly how right she had been and how stupid they all were for doubting her, but there would be time for that later. Right now, she just needed to know how to structure her “You suck” speech, and the only way to do that was with a-

“KA-BLAM! And the Queen arrives!”

>GAH! Stop slamming my doors! It rattles all of my equipment!

“So glue it down.”

>...

“Right, getting off topic. So, what is it? Blood coagulate? Infection based? Or does it just make him easier to track in a crowd? How much damage would it have done if I hadn't gotten it out of him in time?”

Nervously, she looked over to the two floating orbs behind her.

>Ummm... nothing.

“Oh? It would have taken longer to affect him?”

>Ah, no. It was doing as much affecting right then as it ever was.

“WHAT!? DAMN IT! I was too late!? What did it do!? Can we fix it!?”

>I'd say no, since-

A snarl of rage cut her off.

“FUCK! FUCKING LITTLE SKITTERING PIECE OF... I warned you! I warned all of you but of fucking COURSE you didn't listen to me because oooh, not like I was fucking there watching her EAT PONIES ALIVE-”

>CHRYSALIS!

“...”

>...I MEANT, there is nothing to fix, he's fine.

Rage instantly went away, replaced with abject confusion.

“...So what did it do!?”

>Nothing.

“...You can't be this easily fooled.”

>No, really. Turns out, her pheromone production? Directly tied to her body alterations. The only reason Sciderella could produce such strange combinations wasn't magic like you thought, or at least not that kind of magic, she just altered the body enough it produced new glands to make the stuff.

“So, what does it do!?”

>It doesn't do anything. The process must not have been perfect, not really surprising considering, because she just sprays them out completely reflexively. They're not even pheromones, they're just inert Endorphins. Specifically the ones found most prominently in the part of the brain that lets us feel 'love'. Her body produces them when she feels 'love...ish'? I guess? When she feels love, I mean.

“So... they make you love her?”

>Nope, like I said, totally inert. No magic, no means to react with other chemicals in the body, not possible to re-activate either. They're just, essentially, happy dust she spits out because her body is designed to spray out something and it's not hooked up all the way correctly. Easy fix, now that I know about it, actually. It's actually a good thing that we found these ones, since I can repair it enough she doesn't let out something dangerous by accident.

“Right... 'accident'.”

Openly ignoring that, Twilight began clapping her hooves excitedly.

>BUT! That is nowhere near the biggest discovery I made. Take a look at this!

Curious, Chrysalis did as told. Next to the ones she recognized from what she had pulled from Jugglejack were another set. Darker, the mist far 'thicker' looking, but from what she could 'feel' with her magic they seemed the same.

“...More pheromones? That's all? I mean, they're a little different colored, but what-”

>That's what I've discovered. That darker color? Means more of those specific endorphins are inside. For it to be that dark, it had to have been a deep, sincere feeling of love.

Involuntarily, Chrysalis shuddered.

“So, what? Skitters has a crush or something?”

>Nope, even more surprising. These? I got from INSIDE of Arana, her blood specifically. And with a little testing, you know what I've found?

Her mind began to whirl like the cogs in a clock, and she didn't like the conclusions she was coming to.

>That's right, the DNA doesn't totally match Arana's, but it's close enough to mean... these? Didn't come from Arana, they came from Sci-

“You're wrong.”

The harsh reprimand dampened the excitable joy Twilight had been feeling quite nicely.

>...What? No I'm not, I retested the DNA at least a half dozen times-

The Queen whirled on her, Furious eyes looking down with a harsh glare.

“Then you fucked up a half dozen times!”

>Chrysalis, wha-

A chitinous hoof shot up, cutting her off. The Changeling took several deep, calming breaths, and in a moment looked perfectly composed.

“It's not your fault, really. You don't know what Queens are really like. You don't know our history, or our way of doing things. Really, it's not your fault at all, and I understand.”

The words were more than a little patronizing, but Twilight let her continue.

“For you see, Twilight, in Sciderella's long, long life, I am quite sure she never felt this much love for ANYTHING. And yet, I am open to the possibility that just once, she felt this love. Perhaps Arana had proven herself by flaying an entire race by herself, or perhaps she discovered some new kind of acid that keeps you alive as merely bones, or perhaps even she just convinced Sciderella that she could eat a dragon whole or something, it is possible she had done something to earn that favor.”

What once was a thoughtful pondering melted into an amused look.

“However, if she had felt this love, at any point, someone was going to end up dead. It was either going to be Sciderella, or Arana. And, well, I watched the former die, and the latter, welllll, has not yet reached that point. So you see, this theory is wholly impossible.”

>...Well, that's what they are-

The slight composure she had regained left her just as quickly as it had come. Furiously, the black face pressed itself before the shocked lavender one.

“Are you not understanding me!? It's not possible! IT'S NOT FUCKING POSSIBLE!”

>Chrysalis, calm down!

She ignored her and ranted some more, angrily stomping about the room.

“No! Does she have you under some kind of mind control or something!? Are you really that easily fooled!?”

>What is your problem!?

“THINK ABOUT IT!”

>...

“...really THINK about it, if you're so smart. If she loved her that much, Arana would have known, and would have been able to ASCEND. There would not BE a fucking tiny spider monster because instead there would be a HUGE spider monster running around. And I know it was the real Sciderella, I watched her die, I watched her DIE. I made sure. What you're telling me, what you're implying is-”

>That Sciderella loved her, really loved her, but Arana didn't go through the process.

“Think about it.”

>But... she still protected her.

“Nooow you're seeing it.”

>Which means that... Sciderella would have to have loved her, even if she turned down her chance to be Queen.

“If she had really done that, if she had really turned her down, she would essentially be telling her mother she did not want to be Queen. There is no way, NO WAY, a Queen could love a child after that. To even imply that you did not wish the power, the control and the prestige of our kind would be an insult for which there is no forgiveness. The mere idea you could say no to being a Queen and live is impossible. Totally, utterly impossible. Not for any Queen, least of all Sciderella. She would only love her daughter if she had done some horrifying thing, something so dark and abhorrent even I shudder to think about the possibilities. If she had so much as hesitated, even for a moment, her love would have faltered. I can say this with absolute certainty.”

>...But she didn't.

The snarl deepened, and she pressed forward.

“You're wrong.”

Twilight's own stance grew harder, and she pressed right back.

>No, no I'm not. The proof is right here, she didn't. Her love kept going, even afterwards. She protected her daughter right up until the very end, even when she was going mad.

“There was clearly more to it!”

>Look at how much is in here, how thick it is. She had to have loved her like this for... years. Longer, maybe.

“Then obviously they aren't what you thought they were!”

>Chrysalis... I think you're wrong-

The sound she let out could only be described as a muted roar.

“...I am not wrong.”

Thoughtful, Twilight at last decided to try a different approach.

>...Chrysalis? How did your mother treat her hive?

“They're alive right now.”

>All of them?

“...Well, obviously not all she started with-”

>How many did she kill, herself?

“As if I would keep track of-”

>More than one?

“Well, obviously-”

>More than five?

“I don't know what you're getting at-”

>More than twenty?

“What is the matter with you!?”

>I understand, that's what.

Chrysalis faltered, just for a moment, just long enough for Twilight to press forward.

>I don't know your mother, I'm not going to pretend it. But I'm willing to bet, from what you've told me and what I can put together, that if another Queen looked at your hive, they would think your mother didn't love a single one of them.

“She didn't, they were minions.”

>... But she loved YOU. No matter how she treated everyone else, any other changeling or pony or what have you, she loved YOU, in the end. Because you were her daughter, and you were special.

There was a retort, Chrysalis was sure, but for some reason she just couldn't think of it.

>You're so... wrapped up in this picture of this big, horrifying monster you can't see it. And you know what? From what you and Arana described, you're probably right. She probably was a nightmare inducing, ugly, despicable creature who brought pain and death for fun. But... just for her, just for Arana, there was an exception. It doesn't mean she wasn't all those things you said, Chrysalis. It doesn't change the past or make her actions less horrible. It just means that... that wasn't all there was to her, nothing more.

She scoffed dismissively, but no longer held her gaze with Twilight's.

“...It's not possible. If she had refused the ascension, there is no way Sciderella would let her live.”

A soft, understanding hoof touched Chrysalis's own.

>Chrysalis...She did. Which means she loved Arana even though she was... like she is. She was everything Sciderella isn't, but that didn't change that she was her daughter. Maybe she wished Arana was different, maybe she resented her not being able to be the terror she wanted in a child, but... the proof is right here. She may have wanted something else, but she still cherished what she had. So maybe... maybe you shouldn't be so worried about where Arana came from, and try to see her for who she IS.

There was a heavy silence in the room. Were it not for the occasional deep breath and low growl, there would have been no sound at all besides the machines. Nothing but the sound of time passing by.

At last, Chrysalis pulled her hoof away, and furiously stomped towards the doorway.

“Keep her the hell away from my hive. You may be easily fooled by some pretty colors in a vial, but I'm not.”

Realizing the battle had been lost before it even begun, Twilight knew any further words on the matter would be pointless. And yet, there was one last thing niggling in her mind.

>Chrysalis...

To her credit, the Queen paused, listening to what would come next.

>...You said you knew for certain about how they would react. Does that mean when the time came with your mom, you... hesitated?

If she had not been boring her eyes into the Queen, if she had not been watching her so closely for any possible reaction, she would have missed the neigh imperceptible tremor that rocked down her body.

“...I was fast enough.”

Four words, and she was gone.

Alone, Twilight re-sealed the pheromones, deciding to keep them around for future reference. She worked to compose herself, a slight bit of happiness coming to the surface with the fact she could now go deliver some news the others would appreciate and give Arana a clean bill of health.

Still, even with this, the implications of Chrysalis's final words stuck with her, and she gave one last look to the red substance before she sealed it away.

>I guess... it wasn't just Sciderella who was full of surprises...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Fluttershy
"Cheerliee"
'???'
~~~~~

>...This was a dumb idea.

"I mean, it sounded good on paper, but..."

'BY THE FALLEN OF THE GREATS! MAKE IT STOP!'

'IT'S A CLOWN! NOT A SKIN EATING CLOWN, JUST A REGULAR NON-DAMNED CLOWN!...MAKE IT STOP!'

'WHY, HANDLER, WHY!? HOW HAVE WE DISPLEASED YOU!?'

'...We do keep trying to eat her kids.'

'YOU SHUT UP!'

>Do you want me to see if I can stop it?

"...Give it another minute."

*HONKAHONKAHONK!*

'MAKE IT STOOOOOP!'
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________