Thread 96: Stories 16-30

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>42
"?"
~~

>Blasted soldiers... at least they didn't engage, I suppose I'll be somewhat easy on them due to past trauma. But if they think I'm alright with Shatterhoof leaving the door to the weapons locker opened, ho hooo, they're getting a rude awakening. That was simply inexcusable-

"Heyyyy..."

The soldier ling came to a sudden, urgent stop at the easy and cautious voice, snapping into a stance without so much as a single thought passing through her head.

>Cadence. I apologize for the mishap with the rocket launchers, and I assure you that ever single one of them has been retrieved and accounted for.

Tiny curls of pink bobbed with her placating, easygoing smile that still had the barest hints of strain on it.

"Oh, it's fine, I know mistakes happen and I knew you'd clear it up. And no big deal, I suppose! He's wandered off, and he couldn't make it through the shield. He didn't even try, so he might not be bad at all!"

>That I have. However, I have also begun speaking with Spitfire on the matter of wider scale scouting partys to ensure his location is permanently known. I realize that this will be conflicting with international borders somewhat, so I ask that you move forwards with political talks to ensure a multinational cooperation on the matter. Any retaliation outside of an emergency situation is of course off the table, but it never hurts to prepare for the worst.

"Yep! Yep yep! Already on it. We're sending out messages to all of the neighboring countries."

>Excellent, you continue to prove their expectations wrong. Will that be all?

The smile upon light pink lips wavered, loosening just a bit into the makings of a frown.

"Ah... no."

Instantly, the soldier's stance shifted, becoming more rigid, harder, meaner. Prepared to do whatever it took to bring down whoever inspired such a state in her.

>Is something the matter? Tell me, you may do so in confidence, and I am more than willing to... be discreet in any dealings you wish of me, of course.

Within a second, she was panicking, and waving her foreleg back and forth so rapidly it threatened to tip her over at any moment.

"Oh no! No no no no, noooo, nothing like that. Please don't stealth punch anybody... is that a thing?"

>That is most definitely 'a thing'.

"Ah. Well, don't do that. Nope! I uh... I actually wanted to talk to you, about... you."

She tensed up once more and despite herself Cadence couldn't help but notice how adorable it was when her eyes did a little dart to the side in a lightning fast review of her past behavior.

>Have I done something unsatisfactory? If so I apologize, and ask that you inform me of it so I can correct the matter.

She should correct her, of course, to point out it was nothing she had done. But something more important weighed on her mind.

"...Why do you still talk like that to me? We're friends, Forty Two, you don't have to talk like Shiny expects the guards to talk to him."

>I...

Again, her eyes began to rapidly dart from side to side, going over what she said, and did. Reviewing with meticulous clarity every word and action she had ever done.

>...I don't know? It's... how I was taught to treat my superiors. To deviate from it goes against my nature.

"Oh... Forty Two..."

A gentle pink hoof rested on her shoulder, steadying her, holding her there.

"I'm not your superior... I'm your friend."

>...You can be both, can't you?

There was just a hint of pleading to her words, barely there to be noticed, but notice it Cadence did.

"Forty Two... I'm not really all that, you know, superior to you, especially in fighting."

A single ebony hoof rose up, dismissively shaking while still being careful not to disturb the one on her shoulder.

>Your hoof to hoof prowess is of little matter, your internal magical energy far outclasses me by several large magnitudes. An Alicorn is simply above what I am, combat wise, even if you are too bea... too kind to fully engage in such unpleasantness.

"Forty Two..."

>My manner of speech was supposed to be saved only for my Queen, and no one else... for she was the only one deserving of such. I have merely made a reassessment of that.

She was touched, of course. She knew that to a soldier like her the Queen was supposed to be the untouchable, the best. Even if she didn't always regard Chrysalis with complete respect and admiration, there was never any indication she had a hint of disloyalty in her body. There was very little Chrysalis could ask, and she would not do.

And now, she supposed Cadence had to finally accept that the same applied elsewhere, and it wasn't just Shining.

No matter how little she felt she deserved it.

>Is that all?

"...That's not what I wanted to talk to you about."

>Oh? My apologies, please continue.

Back Cadence went, from the somewhat somber, sympathetic eyes, to a more unsure, unsteady flickering of a gaze.

"Uhhhh... welllllll, it's aboooout... the campaign."

>Do you mean the game we played, or are you referring to some sort of expansion I should probably not be hearing about... in public...

"The first one."

>Ah. If you are requesting we do it again, I am as always eager to join in.

"Good to know! But no, not that."

>If it is in some regard to what went on in the game, I remind you that it is merely a game, and not a reflection of reality.

"Totally agree! But not that part either."

>Then I'm afraid I'm lost.

"It's aboooout... the innncident that we diiidd... when Poindexter put me in a spell."

>...Ah.

She had shifted.

Literally. Somehow, without her legs or body or wings or anything moving a single bit, she had shifted along the floor a mere inch away from Cadence's hoof, allowing it to drop to the floor. This random distortion of space and time did not go unnoticed, yet she had precious little time to dwell on it before Forty Two opened her mouth, and an endless stream poured forth.

>While it is true that during the campaign yourself and I were forced by circumstances to engage in what the dictionary by classification defines loosely as 'a kiss', I would like to assure you and any other otherwise interested parties that this was merely a circumstance brought on by a series of factors that does not accurately display normal behavior, and does not correlate to intended or needed behavior inside of a game regardless of the fact that the game is fictional and has no direct stance on life or what goes on within. Any actions partaken in these circumstances were results of unrepeatable circumstances that have no bearing on real life, and does not reflect a further need or desire to see them repeated. While I remain thankful I was in some way able to help a trusted friend in a time of her need, I must stress that if the situation had allowed for anyone else, I would have gladly stepped aside without quarrel. Yes, there was a kiss to be had, but it was physical, and that is all..

Cadence's eyes quite literally rolled in her head, trying to process all of that information. She swore she heard little squeaks and cracks going off within her mind.

Idly, the thought of Forty Two as a politician entered into her brain, and it scared her.

"...Uh huh... I was uh... actually curious about the... flare?"

>Ah... merely the games indication that the spell had been broken.

"No, no it wasn't."

There they went again, she thought. Left, right, left, right, darting back and forth and looking for something yet finding nothing at all.

>You must be mistaken.

"No, I'm not, I can read Sparklejoule residue when I see it, Forty Two."

>Uh...

"So... so it's really confusing me, because I know we talked about how you feel about Shiny-"

>P-PRO... ahem... that relationship is, and shall remain, professional, and I thank you for your understanding.

"Right, but, I can read Sparklejoule reside, and... it's really weird to me, so I was just wondering if-"

Again, the world distorted somehow when Cadence reached out to touch her. For again without moving, Forty Two shifted beyond her grasp. So taken off guard, Cadence's unfinished words merely rolled out in a low, dead whisper.

"...if you were thinking of Shiny..."

It was like a switch went off.

>YES! Ahaha! Yes! Yes that was it! I uh... well, obviously, I had to perform adequately, and we already talked about that part and youuuu know all about that part that part was easy and understandable so I just went with that and thought of Shiny like you said you got it of course you did you're smart enough to figure it out and so pree-eetttyy good at deducing things with sparkleloos and of course you would understand so yes it's that thing you said I was thinking of Shiny glad we got that all cleared up.

She realized there was no real reason to, Forty Two would never hurt her, but something about her was just unsettling enough that Cadence had to shift back an inch or two.

Forty Two, for all her soldier's training, for all her hardships, for all her work to make her self the most dead eyed, emotionless battle machine on the planet, lasted exactly two seconds staring at Cadence's wide eyes full of understanding, and dropped jaw full of shock before it happened.

>....I'M SORRY SO SORRY PLEASE FORGET IT-

She didn't know if the fire had been intentionally called or just a reflex, but before she could even blink, Forty Two was gone to who knows where.

"Oh dear Faust."

It hit her, like a brick to the face. Every bit as powerful, and leaving every bit the mark on her.

"Oh... dear."

It was true. Her strange, off kilter, completely random suspicion she hadn't even questioned all that much, was true.

"...In your FACE SHINY! I CAN DO IT TOO! IT'S NOT JUST YOU! WOOOO! WHO'S SEXY NOW!? WHO'S..."

Later, she would be thankful that she only managed one hoofpump before it hit her, and stopped her instinctive feelings of pride.

"OH CRAP FORTY TWO I'M SORRY COME BACK!"

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>Spike

>No…AJ…run. No…gotta save….DON”TPUNTMEGOTTASAVEHERNO!AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

For the third time this week, spike woke up screaming from a nightmare. The same nightmare.
Gasping for breath he collected himself and rolled out of the hammock he’d strung up in the tiny closet he had to call his own. Well, not as tiny since he got the subspace pocket with the lava tub. But still not spacious.

Splashing some of the lava on his face to wake himself up and banish the horrors of his sub conscious he stared into the mirror he’d hung on the wall. Right into his own eyes, his own, terrified, exhausted eyes.

He Sighed

>….three weeks. Three weeks of this. Dammit, can’t a drake catch a break and at least get some sleep!? Where’s Luna when you need her!?

He thought back to the images which were plaguing his mind.

Aj being chased. Being caught. He rushes to her defense. Batted away like nothing. A green blade shimmers….and plunges down

>“NO!” he screams at the top of his lungs as He slams his fist into the wall and begins to pant, eyes darting about wildly.

>no…

Granted that last part hadn’t happened. It was all a dream. No matter how real it felt, it was
just a dream…it hadn’t happened.

But that wasn’t the problem.

The problem was, it could have.

It could have, and he had been powerless to stop it.

Rubbing his face with his claw trying to clear away that last thought he glanced at the crack in the wall.

“Looks like I’ll need to get the mason in here. Again”

He sighed as he looked at it. Proof of his strength, yet at the same time a mockery. He was strong. He knew that. He would grow even stronger with time. He knew that.

…But he’d never be strong enough to stop Her.
He knew that too.

Her, the one who haunted his nightmares. Her, who could threaten all he loved with nigh impunity. Her, whose constant cackling mocked him and his pathetic ‘defense’ of those he loved nearly every time they met.

Her…

Chrysalis.

His eyes hardened.

…This could not be allowed to stand. Grabbing some spare paper and a quill from his ‘Twilight has a list emergency’ supplies and began to write.
Above the dragon’s tiny closet, a mismatched serpentine form looked down and cackled quietly to itself before snapping some popcorn into existence.

Another show was about to begin, and he did so love a good show.

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OOCO
>AJ
"SA"
'Chrysalis'
~~~~~

>...

"..."

'...HAH!'

>OH FUCK YA'LL!

"Chrysalis, I say this with no hyperbole, eat every single dick-"

'OKA-"

"-but mine."

'DAMN! He's onto me... but still, HAH!'

>How is this a teambuildin' exercise!?

"I had no idea you could backstab someone in shoops and snappers, I swear. This... it's just not possible."

'I made it possible, baby!'

"This was supposed to make friends!"

'Oh, it has. Me... and mr dice. We are best friends now.'

>BEST SIX OUTTA ELEVEN!

"Applejack, she's taken all of your money, your lasso, your horseshoes, and even your left tooth-"

>It was either that or the hat, and ain't no way Ah'm bettin' the hat.

'I didn't even want tooth and asked you to stop...'

"At this point, you have nothing left to bet just to equal all that you've lost, best case scenario is that you get back all your stuff, and you don't have anything to bet to even win that. It might be time to call it quits."

>....

'...dooo itt... give iiiinnnn...'

>...Ah' bet these here tickets fer' two ta' the apple fair.

'PFFT! HAH!'

>One of 'em is made out ta' Shiny.

'...'

>And Cadence or Eighteen ain't never gonna go near it, they hate these.

'...'

>And Ah'm bettin' these ta'... whoever loses.

'W-what?'

>That's right, whoever loses this here game? They get ta' walk away with tickets ta' go ta' a fair with Shiny. Who knows what'll happen?

'...I-I don't have to bet anything.'

>Nope, sure don't... but ya' gotta lose. Ta' me.

'...I could lose to-'

"Sitting this one out."

'....'

>That means ya'll better be ready ta' say "Applejack, ya' win", or Ah'm walkin' away with these, and havin' a ball with Shiny. What.. will... it... be?

'...nggh... nNnNGG... NNGGGHHH...'

>Choose.

'NNNNNNNNNGGHHHH-'

~~~~~

'THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!'

"Damn it, Applejack..."

Back in canterlot, Applejack kicks her hooves on her desk.

>Got rid o' the bug, and Ah' got ta' see 'er squirm... don't tell me ya'll are the best chestmaster round these parts.

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>Lavan
"Surfer Pony"
'Surfer Zebra'
~~~

>...That looks very interesting.

"Whoa, dude... you're like... on fire... whoooaaa, you need some major chillage."

'Yah mahn, ya' need ta' be jumpin' in da' water like ya' done got caught by her fadder holdin' both his daughters hind legs.'

>That sounds painful.

'It's an expression, mahn! Got ta' be respectful ta' the marefolk, or yer' only companion's gonna be da' waves and a whole bunch'a the special creme!'

>I see. So you say something to mean something else without saying the direct thing.

'Yah mahn!'

>And why are you on the boards?

"We're surfing duuuude, it's like... ridin' the waves, crashin' down all around, it's a like mundo amazing."

>...I would like to try.

"Tubular man! Get yourself a board and-"

He shifted, flickering along his length of flame. In front of him, the water froze in a long, thin strip, a sheet of ice eerily reminiscent of a surfboard.

Without waiting, he hoped on.

>...now what?

"Now my man? We wait to riiiiide the waves."

>...That sounds like fun. I shall make some.

"Duuude, you can't make the wave! They've got to be in nature!"

>Sure I can, watch.

'Now listen here ya' flamin' hotdog burner, what mah brudder means is dat-SWEET MAMA JAMMA DANCIN' IN THE MOON!'

"AHHHHHHH!"

A tsunami, easily fifty feet high, rolled down from the ocean.

When it had passed, he had but one thing to say.

>...That was very fun! But is that all there is to is?

Dangling on the cliff side, the pony and zebra nodded.

>Very fun, but I want something else. Good bye, and thank you very much.

Without another word, he left.

"...How do we keep ending up in these situations, man?"

'I done stepped on a voodoo makers hoof once, mahn. Blamin' it on that.'

"Ah... Do you see a way down?"

'...'

"...not radical."

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>Red
"Primrose"
'Brahmos'
-Cordyceps-

>YEEEEEEEESSSSS!

'Okay seriously, what is UP with him?!'

"This unit does not understand its jubilation."

-Book?-

'Mushroom, you're making us read 'Mycological Miracles', there is no way in hell he's happy about that.'

-Hurtful.-

>YES! YES! YES!

-Hurt ears.-

'We don't have those.'

-Exactly.-

>YEEEEEEEESSSSS! REVENGE SOON! COME BROTHER! ALL WILL DIIIIIEEEEE!

'...sooo, you wanna do something about this?'

"Aberrant file muted."

'Muchas gracias, robo-douche.'

-Resume reading!-

'Oh for fuck's sake...'

"The Puffcap Mushroom is notable for it's exceptionally bulbous cap..."

-Eeeeee.-

'Ugh...'

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Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Luna"
~~~~
>Welcome to Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content doesn't matter and exhaustion is suppose to kick in! Now for our main guest...PRINCESS LUNA!!!
Applause

"...hooray."

Pinkie grabs hold of Luna and shakes her violently.
>How could you do this to me!?!

"...do what?"

>You know exactly what! I thought we had something special! I thought our relationship meant something!

"...we have a relationship other than business?"

>I should have been the one who was taught dream stuff! I earned this spotlight and I'm not sharing it with...him!

"We...are quite confused. Is thou talking about-"

>I know you're watching. This is my dream turf! No downers while I'm around! You hear me!? One more thing. Princess Luna is mine! Back off if you don't want pie in your face! Oh and one more thing!
She glares at Luna and leans in really close to her face. Then smiles.
>...we're out of time! Glad you could be here with us!

Luna wakes up.
"...why is my bed floating down a river? ....Strange, isn't that the scariest cave in Equestria that's coming u-"

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>Spike
‘AJ’
Spike walked down the halls of Canterlot castle, making his way to a certain applemare’s office a large sheaf of papers in his claws.

Reaching the door, he knocked.

‘C’mon in!’ a beautiful, rustic voice called out as he entered the room.

‘Well howdy to you too spike. Knockin’ when you to come to yer own job? Worried I might be in here in mah underdrawers?’

she raised an eyebrow in just the way only she could.

>Heh, no nothing like that.

‘Ah see….HOPIN’ I was here in mah underdrawers then. Well, sorry to disappoint loverboy but yer still a might young fer all that. Not that rares ain’t made sure ah’m well equipped for the occasion…’

She waggled her eyebrows at him again

‘but patience is a virtue ‘n all that.’

He sighed. He was going to miss this.

>Not exactly. I’m afraid I’m here on official business.

‘As opposed to evr’y other day? Just drop that stack o’paper in the inbox as usual. We got plenty ahead of us.’

She replied idly waving a hoof to the box in question.
He could tell she had sensed something was wrong and was trying to diffuse whatever it was.

He couldn’t have that.

>Princess Applejack.

She sat up at the formality of his tone and looked up to see a stern expression on his face.

>I’m afraid I have to make an official, and personal request

Applejack fidgeted uncomfortably.

‘oh? Uh…what’s that?

He thumped the papers he’d carried down on her desk.

>I am requesting personal time off. A sabbatical. It has been made clear to me that I am…that I…dangit AJ, I’m just not up to snuff right now y’know?

He couldn’t keep the mask of formality up with her. She deserved to know more than that.

>I…I’ve been the next best thing to useless in a crisis here recently, and I need some time to focus on getting stronger if I want to protect anyone.

‘Aw spike…sugercube…c’mon now. You were a big help at that science facility where they were holdin’ 12. Don’t be so hard on yerself! ‘Sides which, I need muh dragon ‘round to help keep me sane! We’d all just go to pieces without you!’

>Flattering. Complete hogwash, but flattering.

‘It ain’t-‘

>AJ!

‘…’

>Look, I have a fair amount of vacation time built up and I am allowed to take a hiatus if I feel I am not adequate in my duties. You know the rules as well as I do. And I need this. Please.

‘Spike…’

>Please AJ…don’t make me wibble.

‘…now I almost want to say no just to see…’

wibble.

‘…’

Wibble wibble

‘….it..it’

Wibble wibble wibble

‘IT BURNS!’

WIBBLE

‘Alright! Alright! It’s approved! Yer relieved of all duties until ya feel able to resume yer post! Just please don’t ever do that again!’

He smiled broadly.

>Thanks AJ! Ok, I’ve got a lot to do in a short amount of time. I’ll catch back up with you later.
Bye!

He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and bolted for the door.

..Only to find it held firmly in place by telekinesis.

He looked over to her.

>uh, AJ?

‘Loverboy….hurry back ok? It weren’t no hogwash when ah said ah need muh dragon.’

He looked down for a moment, then nodded in response.
She released her hold on the door, and he was gone.

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Later ruled NC
>Spike

One thing ponies tend to forget about one spike the dragon: he gets paid.

In point of fact he collects no less than 7 separate paychecks.

The thing about getting 7 paychecks. They add up.

The thing about living in a castle with all meals provided. You don’t need to spend much.

Another thing they forget is that spike had some very rich friends. Friends who had parents. Parents who were willing to help manage your funds and invest them wisely, and lucratively.

One thing most ponies did not know about spike the dragon. He had exactly zero cash flow issues.

Granted he was no Diamond Tiara, no Filthy Rich, no he was not a mogul.

But he had enough. And he had friends. Friends who did favors.

And so it was through the powers of a sufficient amount of economic lubricant and the magic of friendship that spike stood before the entrance of what might best be described as a lair with a heavy bag slung over his shoulder.

Spike was, however, a civilized dragon and so unlike most lairs, his had a proper door.

Entering he looked around the large obsidian room lit by torchlight that seemingly served as the whole thing.

In one corner he had a bed.
In another, a fully equipped forge.
Further along the wall, shelves for many books.
There was also dragon class exercise equipment, a gem locker, a space to practice his jeet kun doe…pretty much anything he could desire to help him get stronger.

And the Pièce de résistance…a lava tub along the furthest wall from the entrance.

It bears mentioning that one Spike the dragon was now substantially less burdened by the root of all evil.

That was fine however, it was worth it.

Making his way to the shelves he opened the bag he was carrying pouring out a heap of tomes on draconic biology, smithing, metallurgy, and weapon designs both modern and ancient and began to load them in. Many of the tomes were rare, ancient even. Some one of a kind. But having been the assistant to twilight sparkle and the overall lack of interest in ancient and seemingly outdated techniques with the rise of modern weaponry allowed him some special privileges.

Ok fine, not THAT many privileges; a few he had to make copies of because the originals were simply too valuable. And yes his claw was cramping so fiercely it might be best to take a few days before he wrote anything again, but it didn’t matter.

What mattered was his goal.

Hanging up the bag he moved to the lava tub and got in. Then Dove beneath the surface and swam into an underground tunnel which went several feet straight back into the otherwise solid rock emerging into a smaller chamber with several desks and a chair that could roll between them.

There, he inhaled deeply.

>*BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPP*

Lo, it was a mighty belch. A belch to shake the heavens. Full of Thunder, Vigor, Flame, and
Garlic from that Neightalian place that actually used meat!

And from the flames of that burp he pulled a book. A book he had kept hidden and safe for months now, stored in the safest place he knew along with his honorable dragon membership card. Stored inside himself. He gazed at the only physical copy of the file of one Queen Chrysalis. Along with the partial cypher he’d been working on for months.

Seating himself at the writing desk which served as the only furniture in the tiny chamber he pulled out paper and quill. Cracked his knuckles and his neck.

>Time to go to work.

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>AJ
"SA"
~~~~

>So what in tarnation are ya' doin' now?

"Making a cake."

>... A cake?

"Yep."

>That's it?

"Uhhh huh!"

>Nothin' crazy 'bout it?

"Nope!"

>Huh... this seems weird. Like. Ah SHOULD be seein' somethin' crazy round here.

"Naahh, this is just me making a cake! Big old cake for all of my friends and loved ones to share, nothing weird!"

>...Huh.

"...N-no, no Applejack stop it."

>Stop what?

"Stop waiting for something to happen! I'm serious! I just want a cake! I just want to make a nice, easy cake, with nothing weird going on! You're going to make something weird happen if you keep giving it that look!"

>What look, thissun?

"STOP IT!"

>Heh, ya' dang silly horse, ain't nothin' gonna-

"NOOOOO!"

SPLAT!

>...

"..."

'Er, um...'

>...

'...O-oh, is it not Shiny's birthday? Well my surprise has just been totally ruined now! Hrmph! You try to pop out of a cake for a stallion, and it all just falls apart! I'll have you know stallions the world over would stab their own mothers for the chance to see me pop out of a-'

"Celly."

'...'

"Those cakes are supposed to be hollow."

'...Well this one is now.'

"Abloo bloo bloo..."

>That is literally the first time Ah've ever seen a mare pop outta a cake, and the stallion starts cryin'... second time... first time, uh, first time had some unfortunate truths for old Blondee.

'...'

>In hindsight, we should'a seen the signs.

"Abloooo!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >42
"Brain"
~~~~

>OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK BRAIN HELP!

"...What, me again? You keep putting me down and resurrecting me so often I technically qualify as an immortal by this point.

>BRAIN HELP!

"Okay! Okay... but you do realize I am literally just something you think up to talk to, right? We've had this conversation before. The only reason I exist is because changeling mind magic is unstable when you're unstable and you are very unstable."

>BRAIN HELP!

"Okay, this is less productive than usual."

>BRAIN HELP!

"Would love to, but you need to throw out some bait to catch the fish. What's up?"

>CADENCE KNOWS!

"About Shining? Yeah, knew about that already. What, did you repress that too?"

>CADENCE KNOWS!

"About the teleporting? Yeah, you're doing that a lot... where the hell are we? Or rather, where were we when I started asking this, because you keep jumping ahead leaps and bounds and by the time I finish this sentence, you'll probably be in another city entirely... that was supposed to be hyperbole, but I think I just saw a sign."

>CADENCE KNOWS!

"...oh... OH! Oh! Ohhhhh! OHHHH! The... the whole thing with you and-"

>YES!

"Ah."

>SHE'S GONNA THINK I WAS JUST TRYING TO SLEEP WITH HER!

"I really, really don't think-"

>SHE'S GONNA THINK THIS WAS ALL A BIG PLOT BECAUSE WE'RE CHANGELINGS AND WE PLOT WE'RE JUST TERRIBLE I SEE WHY EVERYONE HATES US NOW WE SUCK!

"...Needlessly racist to your own race."

>WE'RE THE WORST AND NOW SHE'S GOING TO THINK I'M THE WORST!

"Uhhh... uhhh... I can't... this is too much... yousdif maied meiasdjozi....."

>BRAIN HELP!

"..."

>BRAIN!?

"..."

>OH FUCK I KILLED BRAIN!

"..."

>BRAIN!

"..."

>THIS IS THE WORST DAY EVER!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>AJ
“???”
‘???’
_____

The walk to the ballroom was longer than she remembered it ever being, especially when she lost track at the fifteen-minute mark of a journey that usually took six at most.

Half of her thought she was crazy, driven mad by current events.

The other half, the admittedly calmer sounding portion, merely noted that somehow… someway… she had evolved. Somewhat.

Evolved into what, though, was the question.

And that troubling question lingered like a bad apple cider hangover as her hooves entered auto-pilot and guided her.

…Guided her right on past the ballroom, where the usual geyser of rambunctious noise could be heard from the other side of the oak doors, the byproduct of a bunch of changelings stuffed into a small space.

>Hm.

Now she truly had no idea where she was going, and to be honest, she didn’t really try to figure it out. Apparently, her body knew the destination fine enough so she let her legs lead.

>Hey there, ya’ little freak.

Her endearing greeting came out with a grin as a smaller changeling attempted to zoom past her in a black blur, without even the common decency to say “hi” first.

And Applejack was never the type to let bad manners slip, so she easily stopped him by nipping on the back of his neck and lifting the bundle off his hooves.

Hooves that continued to waggle about before realization hit that he’d been halted.

‘…Hwuh?’

>Gasha.

‘Oh. Oh, hey, applebooty! Ya’ seen the Night Guard Captain around lately?’

…Had she? Hawh. Asking her if she even remembered what the Lunar Captain looked like would have been a more accurate question. Not that she had a suitable answer to that either.

Her horn suddenly crackled with an orange magic all her own, and it didn’t take long for that same hue to envelope the little one in her maw.

Slowly… gently… very carefully, and with one eye closed in concentration, Applejack levitated him, noticing only slightly that she could sense the beat of his heart.

Actually feel it.

And it was a tranquil tempo. Not a trace of fear or apprehension resided in the carefree changeling as he flipped about, caught her in magical field.

Now… if only she could discern whether that stemmed from sincere belief in her abilities, or the fact that Fifty-Six hardly had another emotional switch besides ‘hyperactive awe’.

>…Heh.

With a soft ‘plop’, he landed on her back, instantly gripping hoof-fuls of her blonde mane.

‘That… was soooo cool! You rock, applebooty! I didn’t know ya’ could lift livin’ things yet!’

>Honestly? Neither did Ah’. Second time, Ah’ think.

She could physically feel his smile when he snuggled into the back of her neck.

‘Yeeeeah! I was applebooty’s second time!’

Ordinarily, Applejack would have told him to shut-up, or at the very least felt embarrassed and called him an idiot.

But, as her hooves once again started up, propelling the two of them toward the unknown, she could only smirk, giving her Stetson a firm tug.

>Darn right!

As Applejack soon discovered, Fifty-Six knew quite a bit about cosmetology. Nothing fancy, but enough to bring her mane into some stylish braids clasped together with the pins Jetset had gifted her.

‘You must be happy at the moment, applebooty!’

>Oh? An’ what makes ya’ think that, butt meister?

‘’Cuz you’re givin’ off mad amounts of love!’

That stunned the princess of paperwork to hear, almost to the point where she took back control of her hooves.

True, despite the looming perils that a barely floating economy and a flaming mouth and eyeball could present, she did feel… tranquil, at peace.

…Why?

Maybe because her neck, and subsequently, her head, was still in one piece?

Or maybe… because there always exists a calm before the storm?

Hawh, right.

Well, if that did happen to be the case, and that was an accurate explanation for her serenity despite a mounting sea of problems, then before the proverbial ‘storm’ hit, before everything was thrown into disarray the likes of which would make Discord applaud, there was one little niggling thought that clung to the back of her conscious.

And it had clung there, gnawing and biting and twisting and wrenching, for over a year.

‘Heeeey, applebooty?’

>Yeah, Five-Six?

‘What’re we doin’ where not-mom lives most the time?’

The honest answer was that Applejack had finally figured out what needed to be done. Even if it availed to nothing. Even if it was too late. Even if she was denied, rejected and threatened.

>There’s somethin’ Ah’ gotta do, sugar.

The hold on her hair intensified to a near painful level but otherwise, Fifty-Six remained silent.

So Applejack opened her mouth, shocking herself with her next words.

>She’s yer’ not-momma, Fifty-Six, she’s not gonna hurt ya’.

‘I know. Kill me, yeah, but not hurt me.’

>If she tries anythin’, Ah’ll jus’ pop a biscuit can.

His laughter was all the incentive she needed to continue walking.

Because it wasn’t just his laughter… no, it was laughter in general. Laughter was phenomenal, such an easy thing to bring about and end.

Everyone… pony, griffon, diamond dog… changeling… everyone was entitled to their right to laugh.

She snorted, wondering when Pinkie had infiltrated her mind.

And then she fumed, the grin turning to a snarl almost instantly, wondering why it had taken her so long to see what-

Riiiiight. Stubborn mare. Yeah.

>Ah’ve been a neglectful little idiot….

When she let out a somber ‘Hawh’, it was all but drowned out by an even louder, more vociferous ‘HA’. A strong ‘HA’. The type of ‘HA’ only a dominating female of the bug persuasion could give, possibly after making a sexual innuendo joke out of someone’s words.

Pumping her rear to give Fifty-Six a fun bump, she set off in that direction-

And quickly came face to face with the very being she sought.

It was a struggle not to laugh when she saw Chrysalis’s face slowly morph from that of sinister delight to one of confusion, possibly at first toward seeing Applejack in the Crystal Empire of all places, then doubling upon seeing what rode on her back.

Then the sneer was back.

“…Appleass, I swear to my mother, if you’re thinking about following in Lunaphile’s hoofsteps, I-”

>Will be wantin’ commemorative 1080p videos an’ a guest appearance? Sure. All ya’ gotta do is ask.

“…”

‘…’

>….

“HA!”

>Heh.

“So then, what brings the fledgling apple seed all the way out to the land of the free and the home of the best?”

>Best at bein’ annoyin’, Ah’ll give ya’ll that.

Before Chrysalis could retort, Fifty-Six popped up higher, standing on Applejack’s back to wave a foreleg sporadically.

‘Heya, not-mom!’

And an odd sensation of ‘third wheel’-ism swept over the apple princess when Chrysalis let out a faux girlish “squeeee” and reached forward to grab Fifty-Six by the cheeks.

“And a heya to you, my widdle schmoopie poopie pea-pie! MWAH!”

A kiss to the horn later and Fifty-Six was struggling to get out of his not-mom’s smothering embrace.

When she did eventually let go, he nearly tumbled off Applejack’s rear but she used her tail to give him balance while he sat there, pouting as he rubbed his violated horn.

‘Awww, not-mom, gross! You’re gonna give me cooties!’

“If you haven’t contracted any diseases from all the ass you’ve faceplanted, I think it’s pretty safe to say you won’t catch my cooties, idiot.”

‘Still!’

It was weird. Really, really… weird, when Applejack and Chrysalis rolled their eyes at the exact same time.

But the weirdness soon melted into something else when they smirked at each other.

Something… similar.

“Anyway, back to the apple in question… what’re you doing in my home?”

>Technically, Canterlot is yer’ home, bugs.

“HA! You mean that abusive hellhole of racists? A more accurate term would be prison.”

>Noted. But a home is still a home regardless of terms.

“And now I’ve found a better one. So why are you darkening my crystal abode with your presence?”

‘Hey, not-mom! Can I braid your hair, too?’

“Denied, kiddo. Last time I let one of you smaller ones near my mane, I had to cut out pieces of stuck marshmallow. Not again.”

‘Awwwww!’

>Ya’ sure? Lil’ fella seems tuh’ know what he’s doin’. He done braided mine an’ all, look.

“Huh. …Actually, not bad. So the pipsqueak has some skill aside from booty-plundering. Color me shocked….”

‘Yeah, so lemme do yours!’

“Seriously starting to consider i-”

‘I’ll take one thigh-snuggle as payment!’

“Annnnnd you lost me.”

‘RATS!’

>Ah’ like how his behavior from an’ outside view would prob’ly seem incestuous if it weren’t fer’ him jus’ bein’ so darn crazy.

“Yeah, but that’s about three-fourths my entire hive so the awe is lost on me, appleass. But really, why are you here? We’re quite stocked up on apples for the quarter, thanks.”

>Yer’ welcome. An’ Ah’ came to ask yer’ permission fer’ somethin’.

One might have thought Chrysalis had a tick by the way her left eye twitched.

Surely she hadn’t heard right….

Normally, from what the past had taught her, anything Applejack needed that required changeling assistance, particularly hers… she always had to fight to get the request out, almost as if being sodomized by a red hot poker.

“…Ha… haaaahahahahaHAHAHAHAHA!”

>…

‘What? What happened? What’s funny? I missed the joke!’

“The joke is appleass here! Her? Asking ME a favor? HA! Get the fuck outta here.”

That last line wasn’t a comedic ‘stop you’re slaying me’ type command, but more of a literal ‘I want you gone’ type command.

>Listen tuh’ me.

“And you’re still here! Wow, is all that wasted magic clogging your ears? That’s gotta be it, right? You poor thing, shall I show you the way out?”

>Ah’m tryin’ tuh’ help-

“And who said I needed your help? Better question, whoever said I wanted your help? Your help is not the normal standard that’s been a foundation for eons over. But I’ll tell you how you can help right now, though. Ready? Listen close now because I know how you bumpkins have a hard time understanding simple speech. Ahem! You can turn your overripened ass right around and beat tracks or I can-”

It happened so quickly that Chrysalis didn’t know she was nose-to-nose with the apple princess until a blink later, until she could feel the warmth of the hue of orange magic pressed against the back of her head, forcing her down.

The entire hall had gone deathly quiet.

There was no expression on the Queen of Changelings face. And yet, that somehow only managed to make her look deadlier.

“You… actually dare to-”

>Ah’m gonna make this quick ‘cause time is short an’ Ah’m not in the habit of fuckin’ things up twice. Ah’ now Ah’m stubborn as a dang mule, yeah, Ah’ am… but even Ah’ can see that nearly everyone’s been teachin’ me things lately, from Twi’ right on down tuh’ you. Ah’… fer’ the first time in a long while, Ah’m actually seein’ stuff, a lotta stuff, stuff that Ah’ never saw before… an’ ya’ know what’s sad…?

Her voice, on a steady decline into nothingness, jumped a few octaves.

>W-what’s sad… an upsettin’… an’… an’ pathetic is… it’s the same shit Ah’ shoulda’ seen a damn year ago!

Spike’s of magical energy during great moments of duress were not surprising in the slightest, so it shocked no one when Applejack’s horn ignited with a darker orange hue than before.

What did shock, however, was when the hold on the Changeling Queen increased ten-fold and she got yanked forwa-

CLINK!

>GNF!

“MMPH!”

The sound of teeth colliding was both hollow and painful to Fifty-Six, and while he did cringe, he certainly did not look away.

In fact, while Applejack and Chrysalis were seemingly frozen in time, glued together at the lips, the little changeling hopped down for a better view, slowly trotting around to the side.

‘…Whoa.’

As if Faust herself had deemed the accident by itself not enough punishment, the wait that followed was ten times worse.

Neither the princess nor the queen breathed, their eyes locked as if in some sort of mortal combat, daring the other to-

‘Y’all, uh… y’all seem kinda stuck so I’ll just… scootch on in here real quick annnnn’...’

Soft as a feather, the tip of a chitinous wing fit itself into the sliver of space unsealed by their lips and gave a slight twitch, separating them with a moist ‘POP’ that echoed up and down the deathly silent hallway.

A strand of glistening saliva, now the only connector between their mouths, was quickly broken as they stumbled in reverse.

>…

“…”

‘…’

Applejack reached towards her violated lips, touching them with a trembling hoof.

>Ah…aaaaa-

While directly across from her, Chrysalis looked as though having seen a ghost, slowly shaking her head side to side.

“Gnh…aaaaa-”

Fifty-Six didn’t know why he was blushing, or why he felt somewhat heated, but he did know one thing for certain.

‘That was awesome! Was that for a play or somethin’? Can y’all kiss again? This time without all the teeth bashing and-’

>AAAAAAAAAHHH!

“GAAAAAAAAAAHH!”

>AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-

>“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-”

The screaming, or ‘The Screamening’ as legend would later label it, lasted for the better of half of an hour.

Followed immediately by another half hour of spitting and garbled curses.

>F-fuckin’ nasty… Ah’ can’t-

“My tongue! Oh fuck my tongue feels like it’s melting out of my-”

>Don’t even know where yer’ mouth’s been an’-

“If th-this was some sort of-HRRK… s-some kind of trap to poison me, appleass….”

>’Cause Ah’d risk corrodin’ mah’ tastebuds jus’ tuh’ get back at ya’, right!

“L-liar… always scheming- BLECH! A-always planning something!”

>THAT’S YOU!

“NUH-UH THAT’S YOU!”

‘Can I start plannin’ how to get you two to kiss again?’

>“BE QUIET!”

‘Yes, ma’ams….’

>An’ you! How are y’all so fuckin’ blind that ya can’t see how yer’ the only one always doin’ the schemin’ and plannin’ and sneakin’ ‘round?!

“I’m alive today because of doing all that shit, you intolerant hick! Me and my hive! ALIVE! The last ones standing! Because I always have to be one step ahead of my enemies, out-planning their plans!”

>We’re not yer’ damn enemies, you hunk o’ moldy swiss cheese!

“YOU SURE AS FUCK DON’T ACT LIKE IT!”

>BECAUSE AH’M A STUBBORN FUCKING JACKASS!

“YOU….”

Chest puffed out and prepared to lash back with another yell, the sudden admission left Chrysalis looking like a rooster about to crow. One that slowly deflated, the biting retort in stock now without meaning.

“…”

She held the panting apple princess in her narrowed gaze, analyzing, assessing….

“So… you know that, huh?”

>Ah’ve always known it! Ah’ keep tellin’ y’all, Ah’m stubborn not stupid!

“No, you’re still stupid, just… not as stupid as before.”

She canted her head to the side a bit, still scrutinizing, the level of caution in her voice giving way to curiosity.

“And you… there aren’t, like… any plans to get rid of us? Me and my hive? Nothing like that?”

>Jus’ ‘cause a few guards in Canterlot are assholes doesn’t mean we want ya’ gone, you dumbass! Yer’ fuckin’ annoyin’! Yeah, ya’ are! Every time Ah’ talk wit’ y’all Ah’ get more pissed off than the last time, like right now! ‘Cept now, Ah’m pissed off at both of us fer’ bein’ so stupid! We don’t want y’all gone! Alright? We don’t! AH’ don’t!

“…If this is some sort of lie-”

>Fuck you, Ah’m the mare of honesty! An’ Ah’ mean it… Ah’ don’t want ya’ gone… That made more problems than it solved, it’s jus’… neither side tried very hard, things got outta hand… Fer’ change? Fer’ change… ya’ gotta put in the effort. An’ there was none on mah’ part.

She paused, for the first time since their kiss meeting the changeling queen’s eye to find her staring back, her expression akin to trying to parse a four-step algebraic equation.

“…Maybe… maaaaaybe there were times when I… you know, when I laughed? Maybe some of those weren’t really called for, or something….”

>We can maybe ‘til things keep gettin’ worse an’ we eventually screw up Equestria. We’re both in positions where we can make waves somethin’ unholy… we don’t need to be turnin’ the world upside-down.

“…HA! That sounds pretty damn entertaining to be hon-”

>…

“Didn’t say I was for it, just that it sounds funny, geez. Pull the apple outta your ass already.”

>No, Ah’… Ah’ agree.

“…Come again?”

>Ah’ agree, that did sound like somethin’ tuh’ see. But the normal response would be the look Ah’ jus’ gave ya. Inside, Ah’m laughin’.

“Then just laugh on the outside, idiot. Why hide it?”

>See, that’s the type of- alley-oop, Fifty-Six.

Pausing mid-sentence, that same orange hue from before surrounded the smaller changeling, who had been enthralled to watching them argue, and effortlessly placed him just on Applejack’s back.

‘Yeah! Third time!’

“…”

>Anyway, that’s the type of thing me an’ Twi’ keep tryin’ tuh’ beat into yer’ danged skull! We know how y’all act! Me an’ Twi an’ Celly an’ Shinin’ an’ the rest, we know how y’all act wit’ the laughs an’ the seemingly evil schemes an’ stuff… but they don’t! The guards an’ citizens- the others who don’t spend time wit’ y’all, they don’t know, an’ that’s why they get upset or afraid! They take it at face value an’ go up in arms, how could anyone blame ‘em fer’ thinkin’ of yer’ race as bug monsters? Ya’ can’t just start off in full bitch-mode, that’s how ya’ make enemies!

“Oh nooooes, the big bad Bug Queen makes enemies left and right? I care! Not.”

>Don’t lie. Please, jus’… don’t. Ah’ can tell. If ya’ didn’t, ya’ wouldn’t have clamored fer’ a home here in the Empire. Ah’m not sayin’ don’t be you, ‘cause if nobody likes you fer’ you then fuck ‘em, all Ah’m sayin’ is… ya’ gotta give ‘em somethin’ to go on. If ya want acceptance, ya gotta give ‘em somethin’ to accept, Chrysalis. Ah’ve seen ya’ be genuinely nice when ya’ wanna be. An’ that? That right there is what ya’ gotta show, to everyone, more’n once. An’ if after they see that bein’ a bonafide bitch is jus’ yer’ default mode to avoid bein’ hurt an’ overtaken as Queen they still give ya’ guff?

She felt it.

Truly… she felt it.

A warm, eclipsing weight like the whole of Equestria had just dropped into her very soul overcame Chrysalis when Applejack looked at her, those emerald orbs ablaze.

>Ah’ll come to yer’ side.

“…”

Seconds ticked by.

Minutes.

More minutes.

Even more minutes.

Fifty-Six had un-done the braids in Applejack’s hair and was now going for some sort of peacock-style.

And still, the wait continued. The staring went on. Silence reigned. Hearts barely beat.

“…You gave the little guy on your back some love. Intentional love. I felt it when I gave him some earlier.”

>Ah’ did.

“And… would you be willing to extend that to any of my hive? If they… like, if they needed it? You’d give them some?”

It was comical, how that simple question struck Applejack with more force than being made to wear a detonating collar.

But her answer was instantaneous, from the heart.

>Ah’ would. They’re citizens of Canterlot righ’ now, meanin’ they’re mah’ own flesh’n blood like everyone else. An’… Ah’m sorry it took me this long tuh’ see that….

A glance.

A glimmer of something that might have been misconstrued as a smirk.

An about-face full of queenly flair.

“Well, if you and all your country glory can admit when you’ve royally fucked up… I suppose I can admit I’ve been remiss here and there….”

And there was bitch-mode in full effect, meaning that was as good an apology and pledge to do better as Applejack was ever going to get.

She almost chuckled. That… was just Chrysalis. Chrysalis being Chrysalis.

“Go ahead.”

>Beg pardon…?

Chrysalis glanced back ever so slightly over her shoulder, just a glimmer of that haunting iris to be seen.

“I said… go ahead.”

>…Wit’ what?

“Whatever it is you need my permission on. Go. Ahead.”

>…Really?

“Really.”

>Yer’… yer’ not even gonna ask what it is Ah’-

“Nope.”

>…

“You look stumped, appleass. You can tell, right? You can see that I’m telling the truth and that… confuses you, doesn’t it? HA! You don’t have time to be caught up in hick-mode. After all, you’ve only got two days, Applejack.”

Her horn, just as notched and bent as ever, oozed a sickly green magic that shifted into a grand number ‘2’.

“Two days. That’s how long it’ll take to rebuild the Crystal Empire stadium. And then we’re gone, poof. You have two days to do whatever you needed my permission for and make me see something… different.”

Her chest hurt, and it took a few seconds for Applejack to realize she had stopped breathing at the first “Go ahead”.

>…Y’all know Ah’ can only do so much on mah’ own….

That sliver of iris glimmered. Though not with malice as the apple princess was expecting.

But with intrigue and- had she merely imagined it? That glint of hope…?

“If you’re trying then quite obviously I have to one-up you, show you how to try properly.”

…Hawh.

What a bitch.

Without another word, Applejack turned away as well, swinging Fifty-Six with her, and began to walk.

The conversation was over.

It was time to actually make a move.

>But before Ah’ go, one last thing.

“What, appleass?”

>Yer’ breath stinks.

“Come bite my ass, then, I’m sure that smells better.”

‘Ya know, I would be more than happy to-’

>“Be quiet, you!”

‘Yes, ma’ams….’

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________



_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the main room of his lair spike paused to consider the heap before him.

It was a pile of gems mostly. A pile of gems the size of himself to be specific. Each one extremely valuable on their own but all together, they were quite something. One might even say…a hoard.

Carefully, as though it were made of high voltage poisoned fire spike reached into a bag at his side, and withdrew a large flawless fire ruby. Dazzling to behold it was nearly, but not quite, the equal of the one he gave to rarity so long ago. Actually less than 3 years ago, but it felt like another lifetime somehow.

Gently, he placed it on top of the pile and he shut his eyes, inhaled deeply, and steeled his mind for what was to come, before breathing a single word he almost never allowed himself.

>m…mi…mine.

His pupils snapped to slits.

>mine. Mine. MIne. MIIIIIINE <hisssss>-NO!

His tongue shot out of his mouth and tasted the air like a snake before snapping back into his head as he clapped a claw over his mouth in shock.

> <pant> <pant> Maybe…maybe that’s too much for now. Maybe...maybe it’s time for another anonymous donation to the orphanage.

So saying he pulled a few of the lesser gems from the pile and began to make his to town. The overall value of the hoard was still higher now. Which was important. After all, he had to train himself. And besides, he was being careful. Twilight had been wrong to tell him no after his fight with Chitania, he was sure of that now. He could handle it. Just had to go slow. Everything was under control.

…He wasn’t irritable or slightly unstable! No! Just….fatigued. Yeah. Fatigued….

His friends all thought it was remarkable how the rest he was taking on his sabbatical was impacting his development.

They could swear he was growing a little each day.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________


>18
"SA"
'???'
~~~

>Mmmm..

"Well you look rather pleased with yourself."

She practically purred, looking out over the massive shimmering city of crystal she loved so. The air on the top of her tower flowed through her hair, so similar to his wife's as it rushed past. Her nostrils flared with every inhale, loving the scent as it came.

>I was worried he was going to break in...

"He didn't."

>No... no he didn't...

Though there was no shortage of insecurity to be found in his every step, somehow he managed to make his way beside her, just close enough his coat was just barely touching her own.

"...Wait... crap, Eighteen-"

>Mmmhmm.

She never looked away as the tingle of fire raced over her, revealing her chitinous form beneath silky smooth false fur. Yet, as always, her hair was the same.

The matter settled, he had nothing left to distract him from her notable warmth right next to his side, the tingling sensation as she unconsciously reached out for his love. Both physically, and metaphorically.

Far less unconsciously, perhaps even hyper aware of his every action, he leaned ever so slightly towards her.

She wasted no time, gave him no pause, before she too leaned against his more fully, more completely. His breath hitched, and his spine went rigid, but as the time passed and she didn't move an inch, it all bled away, and he found himself relaxing.

"...heh... just like the Tunnel of Love, isn't it?"

>Mmmhmmm...

She was lost in her own world, her own sensations. The feeling of her coat against unhidden chitin, the muscles that twitched beneath his fur and rubbed up against her plated skin, all of it was too much to bare, yet she could not get enough.

For once, he allowed himself to feel it as well. That thing he had pushed down that had been growing, yet he could not stop. He was a faithful stallion, he would never bring harm to his wife's heart if he could stop it, but this..

She said this was fine.

So... this must be fine.

"Eighteen..."

She turned to him, ever so slightly, her eyes connecting with his and sending shivers of sparks down her spine.

"I..."

She didn't need to ask. She didn't need to know. Perhaps, the stallion thought, that was why Cadence could care so little of the matter as she said. For if she just knew, if she just understood, and she did... there must be something else there.

>Mmmhmmm..

He, and only he, could be the only thing that would ever let her tear her eyes from her city, her beloved Empire of Crystal, the magical land of love where all was perfect, and all was amazing. Only he could match that.

Only he could make her move herself ever closer.

Only she could understand what he meant when he too closed in.

Only they... could-

SLAM!

'HOLYSHITSHINYIMESSEDUPMESSEDUPSOSTOPCUDDLINGEIGHTEENFORTWOSECONDSIMADEFORTYTWOGOCRAZYANDGOSOMEWHEREIDON'TKNOWWHEREBUTIT'SALLMYFAULTBECAUSEI'MATERRIBLEPONYWHOWOULDCHEERWHENHERPOORFREINDRUNSOFFINSHAMEI'MABADBADPONYI'MWORSTPRICNESSHELPYOUCANFUCKHerlaterwegotta...o...ind... ooo.........!'

>...

"...What was that about Forty Two?"

>Wait, what was that last part?

"...."

>Focus, right... right...

"..."

>You first?

"Please, after you."

>...

"Thank Faust it's cold up here."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Chrysalis
"???"
~~~~

Many, many things went through the changelings mind as she walked down the hall, to put it mildly.

Of course, the discussion had was weighing heavily within, as did the sudden determination from the princess that had been a constant for her this whole time she had been here. A constant foe, to be more precise.

But in this state, she allowed that niggling, wiggling thought to worm it's way into her head, the thought that perhaps, just perhaps, she had been in error on some matters. A hard thing for her to admit most days, but made quite bearable by the contents of this particular admission.

Perhaps she had been wrong, and Applejack simply wasn't clever enough or driven enough to pull off those corruption of her changelings as she once thought. Perhaps it had merely been coincidence that any she took a direct hoof in became, to put it mildly, usually a bit disloyal, and that those she kept from her touch remained stalwart and true.

Perhaps it had been mere coincidence, and she had jumped to conclusions based on Forty One's betrayal, after all. This, she could admit, anything that eased her mind from the niggling thought that Applejack had plans in place to gain her changelings loyalty and oust her as their Queen and leader were certainly welcome.

...But this brought forth other, just as unfortunate thoughts.

That this meant that, perhaps, these changelings had been disloyal of their own accord, and could not be pardoned for simply being in contact with one of a much grander intellect and skill.

This was an issue that would need correcting at some point. She would have to assert that she, indeed, was and forever shall be in charge, that they must come to her, first, for all matters, and none can save them if she so desires retribution. Not Applejack, not Celestia... not even Shining or Cadence.

If her plan is to be put forwards, she must choose those who will remain loyal and obedient to her calls after their ascension.


Mother had made it quite clear what had brought forth the downfall of the changelings, and one of the many reasons was that no one true Queen had emerged. Her mother had insisted that if only the hives were united in some way, they would be invincible, unstoppable. Seeing as it was her own ideals that lead to the last hive remaining, she took these words into heavy thought.

She, the one true Queen, had at last emerged as was foretold, but she emerged too late to gather them together. She was the greatest Queen who ever lived, and yet had none to prove it to but the stragglers of a dozen different hives and her own fellow broodmates from her mother.

Applejack's words soothed her, somewhat. The idea that at last there was no hidden foe behind her back, secretly seeking to undermine this was... pleasing. In fact, it was quite relishing to behold. She, even without admitting it, had enjoyed speaking to her on matters of their parents, and family. She enjoyed it, for so few truly understood. Perhaps, just perhaps, even if they are never to be as she is to Twilight or Pinkie or Fluttershy, they may at least be as she is with Dash. Not enemies, of course, but not the one they'd ring up for a wild night on the town either.

Perhaps, if the Element of Honesty spoke true, she could at last let her fears of betrayal go away, and relax...

And not a second too soon with this looming threat overhead.

It had occurred to her, obviously, that this had been a move based off the recent showing of that thing of flame and fire. Of course she had wondered if this was a play to keep the changelings within the boarders of Canterlot should that thing arrive. Why wouldn't it? Her changelings outclassed her entire army, easily. Even with their new training and machine aide, she felt no worries that if they were to clash again, she would once more be victorious.

Not that she had plans for that, of course, merely something she kept in mind.

But the idea that this was spurred on by a need to hide behind her betters was one she would shelve, for the moment at least. It would still be there, but perhaps it simply was unfortunate timing. For if she must accept that her own reasoning had been based on unfortunate timing regarding Applejack and her changelings, why not this as well?

It would change nothing. She would likely make a speech about how they needed to be more 'open' and 'friendly' and speak how they need to 'change their image' in Canterlot, as if it mattered at all. She'd give her stirring words, but the moment the call came to bring them to the Empire resounded, the choice would be simple. Canterlot is a work that would be very hard to fix, this is simpler, safer, and easier. Why spend months if not generations teaching Canterlot that indeed they are not monsters, when they may merely leave those who had shunned them for a year and live it up free and clear in the land of Love? Her changelings would come over here, to where they were free...

And at their most powerful.

Because, while their safety was paramount of course, it had not slipped her mind that they were indeed stronger here, where love literally radiated from the sky and ponies expressed it from their very beings. This place offered her all of the benefits, none of the hardships and work. This was, as bluntly put as can be, simpler. To be here, with Shining Armor, all of her friends, and...

>Blast.

Though she tried to shove it away, there it was again, forcing itself in and breaking her line of thought. Cadence.

More specifically, 'the incident'.

>Cease this.

But her mind disobeyed, the tricky little thing. She could not blame it, admittedly. She held it to such high standards, and held her control of it to such high standards, that when a thought entered into her mind and she could not explain it she either ignored it or forced it away with magical might.

But this one particular thought, of course, remained.

She remembered feeling so off, when she saw Forty Two kiss Cadence. Even now, she remembers being quite irritated that...

It wasn't her.

It made no sense, just a silly little game after all, but her need to control her emotions and mind kept trying to instinctively force her to look it over, even when she didn't want to. It was her own fault, naturally, she was just too good with the mind to let such an erroneous thing slip by.

And it still bothered her, to this day. She thought it gone, kept it hidden from all, but it still bothered her, to this day... which was admittedly the same day as when it had occurred, but still.

It still bothered her. And that bothered her. And the fact she was bothered by being bothered bothered her.

But, no matter, it would go away with time...

After all, the dreams stopped eventually, why wouldn't this thought too eventually-

>OW!... SON OF A BITCH!

"SORRYSORRYSORRYOHSHITCHRYSALISLISTENI-"

SMACK!

There were next to no ponies on the planet who had the guff to straight up slap a princess across the face, but she was no pony.

>Talk like normal does!

She dared her to correct her on that.

"...Okkkkaaayyyyyy, l-l-listen, um, I uh... I well, Forty Two well, I um.... there was a... sh... well I-"

There were next to no Queens in changeling history that wouldn't give another slap for that incoherent babbling, but she was one who understood worry, and shame, and regret, and fear.

And Cadence had all of those in spades.

>Forty... Two?

"She uhhhh... s-sheee... ran off... because I said something to her I shouldn't have said and now I'm really worried because she gets so panicy and I looked at her like she was a freak probably and-"

She'd hold her hoof for being sad. But this deserved a SMACK!

There were very, very few changelings in this world who's safety she considered of enough interest that the risking of such made her very, perhaps unreasonably angry, but of those very few her ever loyal, quite helpful Mi...

No, she was hardly a minion. Not even close. Forty Two was very, very high on her favored list, and the idea of anyone hurting her intentionally or no was one of the few things that made her quite irritated. She trusted exactly one changeling with her life, and that changeling was now apparently tearing off, and she needed answers.

>What do you mean, 'she ran off'? Which way?

"...I don't know...."

>What do you mean, you don't know!? Just point in the vague direction!

"I didn't see her... take of?"

>Fine, whatever, when did she do it?

"Uh... five minutes ago?"

>Good, good. She's still in the Empire. I'll just-

"She might not be..."

She was obviously, clearly holding something back, and nothing infuriated the Queen more.

>What do you mean, she might not be?

"...I don't know..."

It didn't slip by her at all that the princess looked away, emotions apparent on her face about as well hidden as charcoal in the snow.

>Cadence...

The intention, as she normally did, was for her voice to be low and growling, forceful, powerful and regal! A voice that would cull Luna herself into getting in line.

Yet, for the second time this day, her mind, and her body, betrayed her, and it came out soft as a downy pillow in the middle of a sea of feathers.

"Just... can you find her, please? And then... and then make her come talk to me so I can tell her it's okay?"

She was begging, of course she was begging, begging with the only other set of mares eyes that genuinely made her pause, and consider.

>...Of course I can.

There it was. The power, the determination, that's who she was.

That's the one that would make Cadence smile again.

"T-thanks."

Her horn came alight.

The flames consumed her.

She would find her wayward soldier, as asked.

And with her... she would find her own answers as well.

For what good is a Queen who cannot multitask?

Certainly not... the greatest Queen who ever lived.

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