Thread 63: Stories 61-75

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>Chrysalis
"JJ"
'Actarius'
~~~~

After how well this had gone the last time, the changeling known only as Jugglejack really, really hoped that incident in Partyland would be the last time he was on the hot-seat with his Queen.

Alas.

>You... moron.

Once more she had shed her aloof, carefree attitude that she held to so often, once more she had pulled away the face of an uncaring thrillseeker and revealed the snarling, fanged maw underneath.

Once more, Jugglejack, and Actarius as well, found themselves dangling under her magic.

>Do you have any idea what you've done?

Her silky smooth tone was betrayed the coldness beneath it, hidden about as well as a glacier beneath a felt blanket. Actarius struggled, hoping to get a word in, but found his mouth completely clamped shut, unable to get out so much as a squeak. Sadly, all the talking fell on Jugglejack.

"W-we were just trying to-"

>Oh, I know. I know exactly what you were doing.

A low puff escaped her nostrils, more smoke than air.

>And that's why I do not hate you... I merely pity your stupidity.

She began to pace, all the air of a disappointed boss surrounding her as she glared down at him.

>You thought "I'm going to help my hive, I'm going to cheer them up and give them back what they lost so they can be happy again, I'm going to help them out." And that's admirable, in a sense. Of course it was, just a bit.

She let out another slow breath, wisps of flames dancing before her tongue.

>And you probably didn't even think when you switched to your new 'tactic', did you? Noooo... you just said "Hey, this isn't working, let's just not mention stuff and see if that works!" and it did, so you paid it no mind. It was working, why question it? Why ask if there were any ramifications, and not just bask in your victory...

She spun towards him, her face instantly tellingly close to his.

>And that's why you don't know how bad you FUCKED UP.

Her magic grip intensified, choking him ever so slightly.

>You have no idea how STUPID that was! Thanks to you, I had to show my hoof! I had to reveal that I've manged to slip more legislation addendum's past her! She knows now! She's onto me, onto everything I've been doing for MONTHS! She now knows just how much I've done while she underestimated me every step of the way! She's going to find the others, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but she WILL find each and every one of them, and she will push back against me once more!

She abruptly released him, leaving him sputtering on the ground. Scared, but unhurt.

>If you morons had just come to me at the START, I could have helped you swindle those idiots in a way that wouldn't be caught!

Power began to swirl around her, lifting her hair ever so slightly.

>I am your QUEEN. I am the most powerful changeling on the face of this planet. If any know how to fool ponies, it's ME.

"W-we didn't want to fool them, just... we tried it the normal way first, but-"

>OBVIOUSLY! You IDIOT! Obviously that's what they would do! Why do you think I slipped in that damned amendment in the first place!?

Juggledjack, more than anything in the world, wished he could just use his magic and turn invisible, never to be seen again.

"I... You could have just let me go to prison-"

>If I had, and the bill was discovered later by those ponies who take their job really fucking seriously, then I would have to deal with the fallout of all of this AND the fact I let you be carted away without a word! You forced me into a corner and this is what happened!

It was rare to see a changeling cry.

...Not rare enough for Chrysalis's sake.

>...A part of me wishes you had done this for selfish reasons, to get your own stuff or to give money to that guy so he could get an apartment or something. I wish this was a simple cut and dry thing of you endangering my plans out of selfish stupidity.... but it's not.

With that, she dropped Actarius as well, and turned away from them both.

Tears still streaming from his eyes, Jugglejack bowed to her.

"I-I'm sorry, my Queen... I n-never thought it would... I didn't-..."

>You didn't know, I suppose... but you know what?

After a tense, thoughtful moment, harsh burning eyes turned to them both.

>I'm feeling unbelievably petty right now. You just inadvertently tossed a wrench into my engine at the worst possible time. I was mere minutes from enacting a plan that was already destined to be rocky, but would have been infinitely smoother without this hanging over my head. I will have to improvise, quickly, and all because you wanted to cheer up your fellows in the wake of a dark event. I would be remiss not to see the inherent benefit and applaud you for going so far out of your way, and not asking anything in return. This was a noble thing... but I am just so appallingly petty right now, I can't let it slide.

She pointed at the ballroom, or at least in it's general direction.

>Go get every single thing you two bought for yourselves, and give them to me right now.

They shared a baffled, confused look for a brief moment, more unsure than afraid.

Slowly, a tiny hoof full of items were placed before her.

Some juggling balls, and a bottle of fancy shampoo.

>...I said all of them.

They just stared at her, blank and waiting.

>...Really? You didn't even buy a damn sleeping bag?

'W-we... we only had ten bits left at the end, sooo...'

She was a petty, spiteful creature deep down. She held grudges longer than most, she was keen for revenge on every prank, she hated long after the time to hate has past, she admitted that, she was not afraid of that.

...But even she wasn't that petty.

>...I don't even want this stuff.

Magically, she shoved them right back.

>The next time you do a plan like this, run it by SOMEBODY, you idiot. Me, Forty Two, fuck I will even accept you asking fucking TWILIGHT, just somebody!


He nodded, still feeling like he had utterly betrayed his Queen.

>...Jugglejack?

Slowly, he at last looked her in the eye.

>...I am not mad at you, and I am not holding this against you. Just think next time, and ask someone.

That's it, those few words said completely without emotion or tone, blank and meaningless words.

And yet, every one of them meant the world to him.

>...AND YOU!

Furious, she pointed at Actarius, who immediately tried to will himself into shrinking into the size of an ant.

'U-uh... g-guess I should... probably find a new place to sleep?'

Horror struck Jugglejack like a mallet, but a derivative scoff offset that.

>I don't fucking care where you sleep. You just... stop talking him into stupid stuff. I know it's you! He wouldn't even leave the freaking ballroom before you arrived! He never did anything crazy! Stop talking him into crazy stuff!

'...Is... is that it?'

>What? I'm not legally allowed to punish you.

'...Oh, right. Keep forgetting that.'

>So... CUT THAT SHIT OUT!

'...Alright? Wasn't planned...'

>NO FUCKING EXCUSES!

{A-hem.}

She groaned, looking over her shoulder at the meek guard shuffling up from behind all of them.

{P-princess Applejack has requested your presence, Queen Chrysalis... she uh... she says it's urgent?}

Theatrically, she slapped a hoof to her face, and trotted off.

>You two go home, and try not to fuck up!

"Yes mom."

She froze, ears flickering back.

>...Come again?

"I-I said yes ma'am."

>Oh. Heard you wrong.

With that, she stomped off, mumbling under her breath the whole way.

"...So, we're not dead."

'Not dead.'

"And not going to jail."

'Don't gotta watch the soap.'

"...I don't think I would need the soap at all."

'Yeah, you seem like the type.'

"..."

'...H-hey, JJ?'

"Yeah?"

'I'm feeling a little... a LOT tense, could you...?'

"Right here? After THAT?"

'Please? Be a bro? I need this.'

"Oh... okaaayy..."

'...'

"...DADADDAADADADA!"

'TEE HEE!'

{You guys are weird.}

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>"Yes mom."

Oh dear god she does sound like his mom.

>I'm not mad, I'm just disappointing.
>You're grounded! Give me all your toys!
>YOU! I don't want you running around with Jugglejack and getting into trouble you little hooligan! Just because I let you crash on the couch doesn't mean I'll let you get away with anything!

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NC
>Chrysalis
"Random Changelings"
~~~

"Man, she's really been on a bender here recently, is it her time of the month again?"

"Dude, don't say that! UGH!"

"Just sayin', she's been wigging out-"

>ARE YOU ALL SMOKING!?

"EEP!"

>How dare you bring those into my hive! I do not spend all my time swindling rich ponies into giving Shiny lower rates so you can spend it on drugs!

"They're not drugs!"

>What does it say on the box!?

"...Okay, yeah, it says it's under the drug-"

>HAH!

"Alright, jeeze! Narc!"

>...What did you just call me?

"...U-uhhh..."

~~~

"Shouldn't a- done that."

>NO TALKING TO THE ONES IN THE TIME OUT FIRE!

"...Don't you mean corner?"

>The fire is surrounding a corner, yes, but that's not exactly the biggest draw here.

"OH DEAR HIVEMIND HELP!"

>That'll teach you to smoke!

"I'M SORRY!"

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'???'
~~~
>I feel like nobody appreciates me anymore I work and work and work and nobody cares!

'WELCOME TA' MAH LIFE!'

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 >Sucker Punch
"41"
'Soup Pony'
~~~~
>DT's training is just killer. I'm glad you want to relax with me while I'm off duty for a bit and visit my favorite soup place.

"You're going to have to show me your new moves later on."
Makes some mock punches in the air.

>She hasn't touched on close quarters combat much yet, so not much punching right now. She did mention something about power hooves though, so that might be-

'Sucker Punch! I haven't seen you in ages eh? Good to see you! Wait...aren't you the changeling who broke the windows to my shop? No soup for you!'

"Hey, that wasn't me! Just because I'm a changeling doesn't mean we're all the same! That could have been any changeling!"

'Sucker Punch I like you, but I have to let you know your friend I no like as much.'
The soup pony looks at 41
'So you're saying you're not the one who tried to steal candy from my little bambino?'

"...okay that MIGHT have been me, but plenty of changelings have-"

'and when my bambino didn't give up the candy, the changeling punched her in the face.'

"...Oh...ah...um."

>You know maybe I'll leave and come again another time.

'Please do.'
When they go outside.
>Did really break his windows and try to steal candy from a baby?

"In my defense, it was kind of heat of the moment and I was hungry. That kid must have loved that candy because it had a lot of love on it."

>...

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>Chitania
"Trolly Pony"
'Protipony'
~~~

>WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NO!?

"I mean, specifically, there is no possible way I'm letting you on this pull-trolley."

>I NEED TO GET TO THE WEST SIDE OF CANTERLOT, ASSHOLE!

"Fantastic, but no."

>WHY!?

"...Besides the bug monster thing?"

>YES!

"Well, for starters, there is no seat on here big enough for you. I mean that literally, you are fucking HUGE!"

'More ta' like!'

"...Is she brain damaged?"

>You're about to be fucking brain damaged if you don't let me on!

"Are you really going to attack me?"

>You know what!? I have put up with a LOT of bullshit in these past few days, and I am reaching my limit! If you don't shut the fuck up right now, and let me on, I very well might actually CALL UPON MY TITAN FORM AND WRECK YOU ALL!

"..."

>...

"...Why don't you just fly? That would be faster."

>...Oh... oh right... I can fly. I keep forgetting about that.

"..."

>...Fine, fuck you. Come on, we're leaving.

'YAY! We doin' bareback, or are ya' gonna hold me in the front?'

>Hold you in the front, obviously.

'Don't be too rough now!'

>No promises.

'Oh, okay! I'm pretty sturdy!'

>You damn well better be, I slam into the ground a lot.

'Fun!'

She picked her up, and in the next second was flying away.

"...I have the weirdest boner right now..."

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NC
>Sucker Punch
"41"

>Well now that you mention it, I did learn something new...

"Really? What?"

>We're going to need a lot of glass tables...

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Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Cheese"
~~~~
>Welcome to Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content doesn't matter and ponies long forgotten show up here. Now for our main guest...CHEESE SANDWICH!!!

"Hey hey hey!"

>How goes the repairs on Partyland?

"Pretty good! Once we-"

>You heard it right kids! Partyland, the happiest place in Equestria, is coming back bigger than ever! This is great news. Thanks for coming, Cheese!

"Aw, but I haven't been back in ages."

>I know, but hey at least you're about to get a novelty item.
Cheese wakes up.

"Hey, my talking big mouth bass finally came."

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CD

>Applejack
“Sunset”
____

With the other girls currently out handling their respective sides of things, that left Applejack and her recently acquired protégé alone, sitting opposite one another and each with a stack of papers to grind down.

Though, when a certain thought passed into Applejack’s mind, her writing hoof paused.

For a very long, very tense moment, she was frozen, seeing nothing, hearing nothing.

Then she glanced up at Sunset Shimmer. The more inexperienced mare was busily trying to sign documents left and right, diligent and focused even if glints of frustration were beginning to shine in her eyes.

A vice. She’d be needing one sooner or later.

>But that can wait.

“Hm?”

As if coming out of a trance, Sunset jerked, head snapping up to meet Applejack’s gaze.

“Did you say something? Sorry, I was just… these stupid papers… there’s barely any sense of formality here, I would swear some of these were done by foals with no grasp of basic sentence structure.”

>Eeeyup, ya start to see things aren’t as glitzed up as society would have y’all believe.

“Clearly.”

Another brief stretch of silence, during which Applejack set down her pen.

>Hey, Shimmers… y’all know what a Clown Princess is?

As before, Sunset Shimmer convulsed, this time without lifting her gaze from an annoyingly small-print invoice.

“A what? Clown Princess…? I… I’m not familiar with the term, but it sounds kind of like what the name suggests, a princess who acts like a clown.”

>That’d be the civilian meanin’, Shimmer. It’s actually a codename that very few know, includin’ those who sit in this room wit’ me.

And now both pens had stopped moving. Perhaps it was the covertness of the term that caused Sunset to return attention back to the apple princess.

She was intrigued, even if she tried to hide it by a mask of indifference.

“And, uh… why’s that? What does a Clown Princess mean?”

Applejack sighed.

>As yer’ now mah protégé, Ah feel it’s only natural that Ah start tuh’ share some things wit’ ya, things Ah normally wouldn’t. Things of a high-profile nature.

It was easy to spot the visible way in which Sunset swallowed, her hindlegs subconsciously crossing underneath the desk.

>Things that’ll stay ‘tween us.

It wasn’t a question by any stretch but that didn’t stop the other mare from nodding, quite eagerly at that.

>The codename Clown Princess… it refers to an single anomaly, somethin’ that shouldn’t be. Jus’ look at the words. A princess shouldn’t be a clown, they got rules an’ appearances to uphold, ya see? The codename in question was invented solely fer’ an anomalous mare….

It was on the tip of Sunset’s tongue to ask the obvious question, but she was saved the trouble when Applejack pulled a photo from her desk, staring at it for a few seconds before handing it over.

Sunset took it with far more thirst than she meant.

>This anomalous mare tuh' be precise. Screwloose.

Something of a shiver trickled down Sunset’ spine as she studied the manic looking pony sneering up at her.

“What… is she…?”

>Ah already told ya, keep up, Shimmer.

“Right… right, sorry… but what does she do? Why is she an anomaly?”

>When ‘Tia first came tuh’ me wit’ Screwloose’s folder, Ah thought she’d flipped her cake. That mare’s past is riddled wit’ enough dirt to ensure an indefinite lockdown… but then Ah went tuh’ meet her, get a gauge wit’ mah own eyes. An’ what Ah saw was somethin’ that made no sense.

Sunset laid the photo facedown on her desk.

“Then make it make sense, I want to know.”

>…Imagine Twi’. Fer’ all her ‘Twience’ and manic moments, we know she’ll always be fer’ our side, that whenever she crafts some dang mechanical monster, it’s fer’ our sakes. Wit’ the Clown Princess, she’d give a means to whichever side provided her the most fun… an’ then turn right ‘round an’ give the other side a better means jus’ to keep the fireworks goin’.

“…Then why is she not exiled? Why is this mare still active as I can only guess she is?”

>’Cause next to Twi’, Screwloose is the brightest mind in Equestria, an’ ya don’t snuff out a light jus’ ‘cause it flickers.

“You’re insane. I want you to know this, princess. You are insane.”

>Considerin’ half of what Ah’ve done since becomin’ princess, excusin’ a volatile mare would be the tamest thing under mah belt, Shimmers. Y’all wanted a second chance? Ah’ll give ya an honest tuh’ Faust reevaluation, it’s what Ah’d do fer’ anybody. ‘Cause iffin’ Ah remember correctly, yer’ light flickered pretty damn hard in the past, didn’t it? An’ did we snuff y’all out? No. Same rules apply fer’ our lil’ Clown Princess. We need all the allies we can get, an’ slowly but surely, we’re gainin’ ‘em.

“But… but can this mare be considered an alley?”

>Honestly, sometimes Ah'm not all too sure, heh. Her file is in mah drawer, though. The padlocked one. Feel free to peruse it in yer’ free time. Like me, yer’ gonna have tuh’ come to an answer on that on yer’ own.

“…”

>Y’all look troubled. Did Ah make a mistake by extendin’ this level of trust so quickly?

The answer was immediate.

“No! No… it’s just… no, you didn’t, princess. I’ll look into this… this Clown Princess, and discern for myself.”

>Good.

“One question, though?”

>It’s never jus’ one question ‘round here, Shimmer.

A rather roundabout way of giving permission but Sunset took it.

“She’s still locked up wherever she is, right? From the picture she was in a straightjacket. That’s still the case, yes?”

A wry smile cut through Applejack’s muzzle.

>Leeeet’s jus’ say she shouldn’t be showin’ up at yer’ bedside anytime soon.

“…great.”

>Better git’ on findin’ that vice quick, Shimmer.

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NC-addition

>“…Then why is she not exiled? Why is this mare still active as I can only guess she is?”
>>’Cause next to Twi’, Screwloose is the brightest mind in Equestria, an’ ya don’t snuff out a light jus’ ‘cause it flickers.

"...No, but you do, like, detain them and make sure they don't hurt anybody when they have a history of hurting anybody, and you make sure that light does start a fire with some untrustworthy individuals, and you make sure that light isn't used to forge new weapons that can wreak havoc on the land, and just a million other reasons why you don't let them out until you know they ARE on your side, or when you do let the out it's under the condition you can put them back if they turn on you. I mean, goddamn, even Discord got the Elements pointed at him, right? To be honest, I have no idea why I even mentioned exile, because one thing you do not want to do with a weaponmaker is put them in someone eles hooves.

>...Well, ah' give a second chance ta' anyone who asked-

"Oh, good, so she like... asked? And is now going to work for us or with us or be watched over by us in any sort of capacity?"

>...

"..."

>...This is makin' less sense the more Ah' think about it.

"NO FUCKING SHIT!"

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NC

"You'd let out one of the most unstable and dangerous ponies on the planet just to finally give that damn changeling a job!?"

>Yes.

"..."

>...Iffin' ya' had seen the shit Ah've seen with that little feller, ya'd understand.

"..."

>...Seen some shit, Shimmy. Seen some shit.

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>Spitfire
"Crystal Pegasi"
~~~~

>...Why.

"Safety!"

>...O-okay... okay... let's just... okay what? Explain this to me. EXPLAIN THIS!

"What? They're just some extra padding."

>YOU ARE WEARING WATER WINGS!

"...Technically they're called FLOATY wings!"

>...

"..."

>...

"...Because we're floating-"

>TAKE THEM OFF!

"But we're flying near a raincloud today!"

>...

"Taking them off, ma'am."

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>Pommel
"Daw"
'32'
[???]
~~~

>WHAT A GODDAMN UTTER GIANT FUCKING STEAMING PILE OF RANCID VOMIT SPEWING PUS FESTERING BOIL BUBBLING BLOOD SOAKED PILE OF PONY SHIT!

'...He has learned some rather colorful language since his departure.'

"He's learned from the best!"

The fact the many, many ponies they had carried had not woken up after they had dropped them off at the hospital had been nothing short of a miracle. Still, now that he was free of possibly leaving someone with permanent condition, Pommel had decided to go into full rant mode.

>A GIANT BRAWL! A giant brawl happens IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY, and nobody shows up! Nobody was even THERE except for fucking LAST ACT! What the fuck!? I have never been this pissed in my life! Someone could have gotten seriously injured when the changeling was SPIN KICKING HIS WAY THROUGH THE HALLS! This is so much bullshit!

"Why'd ya' call him that anyway?"

>....What!?

"That one guy, ya' call him Last Act, the hell does that mean?"

It was quite shocking to watch him go from absolute fury to utter confusion in half a second, but it was fairly impressive he could pull it off nonetheless.

>...Uh, it's just a nickname? Like when you call me Pom or I call you Jackie. It's just a thing we call him.

'Seems rather unwieldy for a nickname.'

>...huh, guess so?

"Well, what's it mean?"

>I don't know, it's just a nickname!

'She means, how did he get it?'

>I don't know! He's just... he's the last one, I guess? Maybe he did bad on the running segments of training, I don't know!

"Just sounds like an insult is all."

>It's not! It's just a nickname!

"..."

>...I think!

"...So, changin' the subject here, what's next?"

>Probably a whole lot of marching up to the princesses and bitching at them. Whooooole lot of bitching. I am going to be a bitch hurricane.

'...I'm not the only one who thinks 'bitch hurricane' is an amazing band name, right?'

"Heh, I have GOT to see this!"

>Oh, you're going to see it, I am just going to bitch so hard at them. I'm going to bitch like I've never bitched before. This is not okay! THIS IS NOT REMOTELY OKAY! This is so far from okay that okay has sent out search parties and shot flares into the sky, but this can't see shit! This is on another CONTINENT from okay! THIS IS BAD!

"Alright, we get it."

>It's just... look, superthreats are important, I'm glad they are there when shit goes south, but occasionally it's apparently a bunch of assholes with fucking robots shooting up the place because they're dumbasses! THIS IS IMPORTANT TOO!

'You need not convince us.'

>I AM RANTING!

[Yes, I could tell that clear from down the hall.]

All three heads snapped to the side, just in time to spot a slightly smirking changeling approaching them. Even after all this time, Pommel would recognize that eyepatch anywhere.

'Brother! How goes your day?'

[It was rather well until I learned you were in the midst of some sort of scuffle.]

'Not to worry, it was our fellow Seven who was the one taking the blows, I never even was scratched.'

[Oh? Is he alright?]

'I'd assume so, but I can't really bring myself to care, he's a bit of an asskissing prick.'

[...]

'...If it makes you feel any better, it's the prick part I take issue with now.'

[Fair enough. Pommel, nice to see you as well.]

Even now, he felt an odd chill at the voice. Those old training sessions were... lasting. memory wise.

>Hey, Seventy Seven.

[And who is your friend?]

>Oh, this is Daw. She's-

"We fucked."

[...]

>....

[...Alright then.]

"HA! I like this guy!"

>Sorry we can't talk, Seventy Seven, but we're kind of in a rush.

[Say no more, I am merely here to take over my shift looking after our dear sister, and I will be on my way. Tell me, Thirty Two, where did you stash her to hide away from the fighting?]

'...'

[Thirty Two?]

'......'

[...Is... is there a-]

'FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU'

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~~~~~~

Despite the seemingly aloof look on her face, Chrysalis was not looking forwards to this meeting. If anything, it unsettled her with just how many ways this could go wrong. As one who walked the tightrope of manipulation as often as she did, this one was... unique. This could, quite easily, go south.

It was rare that she merely opened a door rather than slammed it, but she felt the extra care was prudent. She had expected Applejack to face her alone as she always had, which is why she found herself annoyed by the sight of a glaring purple dragon face, and an almost curious other. She honestly had no idea who the other one was.

She recognized that look on the orange mare's face, though, that one she knew tellingly well by this point.

"I'd advise you tell the spectators to leave the room first.”

She positively poured the confidence into her voice, laying it on so thick it might as well have been a spell.

In response, she watched as Applejack's eyes nearly burst a blood vessel with rage, so much blood rushing to her face it turned her coat a shade of redish orange.

“...Ya' know what? She's right. Why don't ya'll go... have a bit of a walk.”

They would have argued, she could tell. Any other day, they would have said no, they were staying put.

But the sheer fire burning in her every syllable made that seem far, far less wise than it had a second ago. Even Spike looked quite nervous as he shuffled away, careful to avoid her line of sight as he slipped past the Queen's frame.

“You're doomed.”

She paid no mind to that, focusing instead on the mare who was looking at the alicorn in thought, questioning her without fear.

It was only after a thoughtful pause and a shrug that too made her way past, casting a thoughtful glance at the changeling Queen and looking over with her with a meticulous eye the whole way, before there came a time when Princess Applejack and Queen Chrysalis were, once again, alone.

“...Proceed.”

A tsunami of air flooded in Applejack's lungs as she drank deep of the precious bringer of life, filling her chest to the breaking point before she let it all out.

Violently.

Thank Celestia this room was soundproof.

“YOU SCUM SUCKING MUSH GARGLIN' SLOP BATHIN' WORM RIDDEN SICK DEVOURIN' MANURE EATIN' MILK CURLIN' EGG STEALIN' DIRT LICKIN' THICK HEADED COUCH LAZIN' SPACE TAKIN' SHRILL CACKLIN' TEETH GRINDIN' VOMIT SPEWIN' TWO TIMIN' LIE SPOUTIN' SELF DESTRUCTIVE HATE MAKIN' NO GOOD LOW DOWN UGLY ASS BUG MONSTER!”

She caught her breath after that, huffing slightly as the rush that left her all in a half a second of frenzies shouting struggled to return.

“...You done?”

“YOU STUPID FUCKIN' BUG MONSTER!”

She openly hurled whatever was closest, a paperweight of some kind, which Chrysalis easily dodged.

“YOU SLIPPED IN MORE!? YOU WENT BEHIND MAH' BACK AND SLIPPED IN MORE OF THIS GARBAGE INTA' MAH LAWS!?”

She just cut loose, tossing every single object within range and picking up any outside of it with shaky, unsteady magic.

“YOU ACTUALLY WENT FURTHER AFTER MAKIN' ME LOOK LIKE A GAL DANGED MORON AND YOU ACTUALLY PUT IN MORE!? YOU KEPT IT GOIN'!? HOW STUPID ARE YOU!? DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH!? IS THAT IT!? ARE YA' JUST TRYIN' TA' GET ME TA' SNAP FINALLY BREAK DOWN AND KILL YA'!? WELL!?”

Out of objects, she turned to her magic.

These were harder to dodge.

“AH'M SO SICK OF YOU! OF THE BACK STABBIN' LYIN' TWO TIMIN' CLOAK AND DAGGER CARRYIN' SECRET KEEPIN' LOAD OH HORSE SHIT YA' BRING WITH YOU! AND AH AM ABOUT TO-”

The air violently left her once more, but this time, not of her own choosing.

For a blast had nicked the side of Chrysalis's face, and she had had enough. She showed this point in her own special way.

The way that involved physically shoving the desk in front of the mare forwards until the orange back was pressed hard against the wall, and her chest felt the compression of the edge of the desk digging into it.

“Slipping in things? Altering your laws with amendments? Lied to you? Hid things away from you? You claim I did all of that, do you?”

She tried to retaliate with a blast, but the alicorn's magic just could not stand up to Chrysalis's own.

“Allow me to clarify the matter... you are correct.”

Where had once been burning, seething and red hot fury overtaking her every cell suddenly changed, transforming as if she had been the changeling and taken a new form on a whim. All brought about by the cold, yet powerful, smile upon Chrysalis's face.

“You, dear Applejack, are correct. Yes, I did. I slipped a little... 'extra' into a great many of your laws. I put in little paragraphs here or there that granted my changelings certain 'protections' of a sort. I did it all without your knowledge or consent, and I did it all without you ever catching on. Oh, and likely I would never have revealed these to you willingly if I had not been forced to in order to protect one of my own.”

Honesty.

Truly something that Applejack appreciated and demanded of others more than most, something she prided in herself more than most, something she truly admired as a concept and lauded as one of the most necessary things to have in any pony or other species.

And yet, hearing such brutal, open honesty coming from the Queen before her made it feel almost... perverse in it's use.

But the brutal honesty would not stop. Instead, it seemed the dam had broken, and Chrysalis was going to let it all out, and let it out she did.

“Oh, it was quite easy to do. You have certain patterns I do not know if even you noticed. If it's particularly long and regarding things like donations or schooling, you tend to shuffle it off to Spike. He, meanwhile, gets really bored quite easily and tends to look for certain key phrases. So long as it appears to be about granting equal rights and no indication of granting unicorns higher indemnities, and does not contain the word changeling, he pays no mind to it. Likewise, you tend to shuffle off any legislation regarding weaponry to him, and he's quite keen on self-armament. So long as little phrases like “background checks” and “willingness to fight for home country” are included, he pays them no mind.”

Every word was like a knife, cutting into her with a chilling precision, carving her away and exposing flaws she did not even realized she had.

“You, meanwhile love to tax the rich so they pay 'their fair share', and are quite soft on those struggling financially. I simply had to make use of this with the current... financial situation to add in several benefits. Oh sure, I had to change and reduce this severely with the... 'committee' approach you have taken of late, and the lack of sleepless nights have meant I have to play my game even smarter to stay one step ahead, but I feel I've managed it. And these? Are just a few of the many, many traits of yours I noticed and used to my advantage.”

She released her, letting the breath return to the alicorn's lungs and almost subconsciously pulling the desk back into position as she trotted back to where she had started.

“These are just some of my many, many skills, we both know. These are skills I used without any of the many magics I have at my disposal. I have powers of the mind, powers of transformation, powers of persuasion and... well, simply powers, to be blunt. I have more magic than even Celestia does, we both know this for a fact. I have proven it... decidedly.”

With that, she could take no more, and her still unsteady magic did nothing less than burned atop her head and nearly singed her stetson all the while. She gave no care to the fact that likely she could be overpowered, her mind instead filled with thoughts of attack, and little else.

Every bit as coldly as the feeling crawling all over her, she spoke to the Queen.

“Gimme one reason, one single solitary reason Ah' shouldn't toss you and yer' whole fuckin' hive out as far as ya' can fly just like ya' did at the weddin'.”

Green eyes locked with hers, infinite emotions sparking betwixt the two as hateful glare met stern glare, power cackling between them in electrical charges simply from the presence of far too much energy for the world to contain. Power of all kinds danced with little more than just a glance, just a look.

And then five words took it all away.

“Because I'm on your side.”

Five words that shocked her, offended her, disgusted her, any number of feelings centered around the distrust and outright distaste she felt at the mere insinuation they were ever of any kind on even the same playing field, let alone the same side.

And yet, Chrysalis continued.

“That's right, all of those things I mentioned are terrifying to you, I'm sure. But I do not hide that I am capable of these things from you, no. I've let you know since day one just what I'm capable of, and how far I'll go. But we both know that since day one, those powers have worked to your benefit just as much as mine. That law you are so irritated over is made to punish racist pricks, and nobody else."

She remained thoughtful, speaking as much to herself as it was to Applejack.

"I made sure it could not be abused in certain ways, only the ways it needed to be. All laws I've amended are like that. Nothing to ever make you weak or punish the unworthy, no, only those to deal with the hate my subjects must deal with. I have not sabotaged your forces, I have not swindled your money, I have not weakened your home, for as loathe as I am to admit it, and regardless of how long it may last, this is the home of my hive as well. I do not want to see it destroyed... and there are many here I must protect.”

Chrysalis hissed, watching as the realization spread across her face.

“This is why I turned my power against the machines. I turned my powers against Chitania. I used my powers to save Fluttershy. And then, in the darkest moment of your kind, when all hope seemed lost and the inevitable came... I chose to spare you all.”

There was no smile on her face as she barred her fangs to the confused and befuddled princess, disbelief obvious as she mentally denied the mere idea that Chrysalis had been in such a position anywhere but her own mind.

“You do not believe now, but it is the truth. A truth you may here from your dear friend, if you still will not believe. Our discovery, Twilight's and myself? That nifty little trick that saved the infected? That was not the first choice, no, it came later. No, Twilight started out quite... different. With my hive uninfected and you ponies on the brink, she revealed there was a way to stop the infection... but not save the infected. Fluttershy, Celestia, even you... the majority of the pony race wiped clean, and I would be the most powerful being in all the planet, with the hive ever loyal to my command. All I had to do in order to reign supreme was take her up on that offer. But instead I saved each and every one of you, at the cost of a certain... secret. Which I will leave to Twilight to tell you, or not. All you need to know is... I gave up a lot of power with that move.”

She let out a slightly resentful breath, huffing a bit as she considered just what it was she lost that day.

“Because at the end of the day, when all of the chips are down, I'm still on... well, not your side. Not you, no. But I'll defend the place my Hive lives in, I'll protect it and it's citizens regardless of their... nature. You know this as well as I do.”

While she was never one for the common habit in her family, Applejack positively wanted to spit.

“Ya'll only care about yer'self.”

She locked eyes with her once more, and the response was obvious before she even said it.

“Now that, we both know, is a lie.”

She wanted to refute that, but something held her tongue. A feeling she didn't quite understand.

But she was given no time to mull it over before she continued.

“Which is why I have a little... proposal to you.”

In that instant, the Queen was back, smoothly trotting from side to side and eying her like a hungry shark. Gone was any remorse or regret, and instead only that remained was the snake she knew her to be.

“There is one more power I didn't mention to you a second ago, isn't there? There is one more thing in my corner I can call upon. One more power that, once upon a time, brought Canterlot to it's knees.”

She paused mid step, being sure to slowly roll every word off her tongue.

“My hive.”

She rolled her head back, letting her hair cascade over her shoulders as she peered back to to the questioning mare.

“Were you impressed, when you heard Seven defeated Celestia's agent? You shouldn't be, Seven is hardly my best infiltrator. Were you impressed when that potato eating one managed to do so well against Twilight, lack of magic or no? You shouldn't have been, she's not very high up in my solider ranks.”

Aside from some standard bragging, Applejack saw no point to any of this. Not that she would ever question why Chrysalis would take time to brag about nothing.

“Why're ya' tellin' me this?”


“Because, dear Applejack, I realize you have a certain... problem which needs filling. What a coincidence, so do I. We both have problems I think, you'll find... fit together so well...”

She tried to keep her face blank, but there was no magic around that could disguise the excitement in her voice as she began to speak.

“Your subjects are currently undefended, open and dependent on those robots they purchase with their ridiculous amount of funds to stave off any attacks against their person, robot which I think Seven demonstrated are sorely insufficient. Twice now you've been invaded by someone besides us, and both times your guard have come up lacking. Sorely lacking, in the latter category. Meanwhile, mine fended off the robots without a care, and personally took on the entirety of beam-spewing infected to give you and Chitania a chance to charge. You personally, from the hoof-to-hoof brawl you engaged in, know they are all capable and excellent fighters, to say nothing of their abilities as information gatherers and interrogators. Any one of them would increase a guards efficiency a thousand fold, and I have the Empire to prove it. Just one guard would be a massive boost to your forces, a source of terror for your foes and criminals alike...”

White glinted in the light as her lips curled back, showing off her fanged maw with an absolutely brilliant smile.

“So what if you had all of them?”

A chill rolled down her spine at those words, as if an icy hoof had brushed down her back slowly all the way.

“...What are you getting at?”

She knew, of course, Chrysalis knew that she knew as easily as she herself knew she knew, but it seemed she was going to make her spell it out.

“Am I not clear? Just this once, in the interest of mutually beneficial goals, I am offering to lend my soldiers to fill in your vacant ranks. I am offering you a chance to regain your guard, and have them be far better than ever. And after all, were you not the one who decried they needed to work, needed to give back to Equestria? What better way, I ask you, than to finally put their unique skillset to use? We have such a rare opportunity, Applejack, a time of so low soldiers on your side and so many in wait on mine, now is the best time to make a little... change.”

“...Why now?”

The smirk widened as her eyes rolled back, a low hum escaping her throat as she tapped her chin with her hoof in a thoughtful gesture.

“The reason this came to me is quite... interesting. You see, while visiting a certain hive member of mine, I noticed quite an odd thing. Despite the fact that ponies have every reason to hate him as well, the simple act of him showing he was willing to protect them was sufficient for them to accept him. Slowly, I made the connection that not only was this not the first time, it was not even all that rare an occurrence. I wondered to myself, perhaps if this was so effective on such a small scale, a personal one, then just maybe this would work on a much... grander scale? Perhaps hearts can be won over yet. In fact, everything points to the fact it would. Forty Two, Seventy Seven, Fifty Five, even that idiot spud eating one gained a bit of appreciation with her actions. It works every time. Every time they rise to the challenge and defend.”

Why this made her shudder, Applejack had no clue. Every word was spoken with truth, and she knew it firsthand. Those others had found acceptance, it had been... frighteningly effective.

Still, she could not bat down the churning in her stomach at the thought of the majority of her forces being changelings.

“They'd never accept it.”

She scoffed, a hoof dismissively waving in the air.

“Not at first, but in time, would they have a choice? Would they have an option not to look to them for protection when mugged, or robbed, or threatened? They would go to those who protect them, and we both know there is very little that can make someone feel threatened when protected by a changeling.”

That chruning increased as she thought more of it, of all the voices who would point out the same thing to her that she now rolled around in her mind.”

“Yer' askin' me ta' force them ta' look ta' yer' kind ta' protect them.”

There was not even a hint of denial or doubletalk in the voice that followed.

“Yes, I am. I think you'll find we'd be able to comb every inch of Canterlot and clean it up. Be it through brute force, undercover agents or simple flying around until we spot trouble, it would be resolved in weeks. Perhaps days. And all the while, there will be very little that can stop them.”

Suspicion blossomed at the bluntness, and her eyes narrowed in on the still ever-smirking changeling who slinked in her way.

“...And Ah'm guessin' they'd still answer to you?”

She 'tsktsk'ed, shaking her head with mock regret.

“Oh ho, Applejack, don't look at it like that, think of this as a... joint effort on both our parts. Of course, the captain of said guard would have to be a changeling if only to prevent any... discrimination, and appointed to the position by myself of course as I know them better than anyone. But obviously they will follow your laws to the letter, and act just as any other species would in the position... well, not any other one, I doubt I'll allow any lazing about with so much to prove.”

“Ya' didn't answer mah' question.”

The eyes that locked with hers were almost... playful.

“Applejack, Applejack... at the end of the day, I am only their Queen.”

“...”

The queen trotted closer to the desk, long neck craning over it smoothly and slowly, until she was oh so close that Applejack could see nothing else in her line of view.

“Think about it. You have so little options right now. One, leave the guard in the shambles it is and just pray the problem goes away. Two, appoint someone you have no idea if they're capable as the captain and recruit whoever wasn't off-put by the invasion, all the while with the hope they are up to par and are not so easily corrupted. Three, look to certain... unverified individuals who could just as easily turn on you as I could, but lack our... storied and proven history. Or... you could look to me, as you have several other times, and I show you just what it is I and mine are capable of. In case you were somehow questioning it after Forty Two, Seventy Seven and so many others... we are capable of some amazing things.”

Out of the corner of her eyes, she watched as green light began to consume her, began to light up all around her and bask her in it's almost sinister looking glow.

“Think about it, Princess Applejack. You have an army waiting to assist you inside of this castle, one who has already proven to be your previous solider's betters. They are strong, dependable and in need of something to do, after all. You could let your fear of me corrupt your choices, or you could thank the fact that we remain allies in this, and do the thing that would bring us both the most benefit for the least amount of risk. It is your choice, and I advise you choose it wisely. I will return tomorrow, and I eagerly await your decision on the matter.”

And then she was gone. Gone away in a flash of fire and smoke, gone away with the last word said on the matter. Gone away to only Applejack... and her thoughts.

And as she mulled them, over the many positives a joint venture would have, over the thought of at last her ballroom freed and the changelings employed, and of the many negatives from public opinion to the sheer fact she would be granting Chrysalis a massive stake in her army... she found herself lost.

For the first time since she started this position, utterly, and truly, lost.

This was big. Far bigger than any other move she had ever made, and that most certainly included her deal with the giant devil. This was beyond her, and beyond any alicorn magic.

But... perhaps alicorn magic wasn't what she needed, right now.

“...Ah' think we need ta' have another princess meeting...”

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SINKING SHIP! OMAKE TIME!
NC
>7
"Slate"
~~~~~

>...So what's with the suit anyway?

"It's to show I am very charitable."

>How? It looks really expensive.

"Exactly."

>...Wait, what?

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