//------------------------------// // Back in the Forest // Story: Change of Heart // by Haillee //------------------------------// Chrysalis eyes peeked open to see tree surrounding her. She blinked and tried to stand but fell due her legs being much to weak. 'It must have all been a dream. ' She thought thinking over the events that seemed so real. 'I was in such desperate need of food I dreamt the whole thing. Oh, but was it a lovely dream.' She thought looking back at the ground and watched the breeze push the grass ever so slightly. She wanted to just start crying. She wished could doze off and dream again. She suddenly heard hoof steps coming toward her. But with no more power she layed there helpless. She closed her eyes readying for a hard arrest. But instead she felt a warm wet pair of lips on her cheeks. She looked up to find Trance standing over her. He held a stick carrying two buckets of water on his back. He slowly placed them next to Chrysalis. The kiss already took some effect as Chrysalis began to try and rise to her feet. She looked at him confused still airy on the even she last remembered. She remembered the crashing of doors and Trance standing over her. She remembered them being surrounded and Chrysalis did only what she could and blast off the last bit of magic she could muster. Then it was blackness. Trance saw her worry gaze as he looked at him and went to her side to comfort her. "Don't get up. You are still weak." He said helping her back down. He had run her into the forest trying to break free of the guard and eventually lost them. He had wondered back to that magical waterfall he first found a filly at and begun to work on fixing up the tent from long weathering. Every now and then making sure to give Chrysalis a hug or peek on the cheek. He had begun to worry she would not wake. The kiss in the dungeon seemed to work immediately, but this time it took several acts of kindness and love. Just to get her to open her eyes! As Trance sat beside her Chrysalis noted he was a lot bigger then he used to be. How old was he when she left? Do ponies grow faster than changelings? This made no sense, it been so long since she was... No! That was her past. But still Trance seemed he was in his teens now considering his size. How long was she locked up? And what has this stallion done? "Trance, where are your parents?" Chrysalis asked at last to break the silence. Trance who had his head snuggled over the back of the mare looked at her with tears on the ridge of his eyes. "They are back at home. I had to leave them behind." He said looking at the ground. Oh, how he missed them. But oh, how he loved her. Chrysalis just looked at him shocked to see him say that. He may look older but to her he was only a few year old, still a colt! Compared to her, he was infant like. And he left his family to save her? She felt a warm feeling inside that made her very happy. Then she felt something she hadn't felt in a very long time. Drums inside her chest beat softly. It only lasted a minute but it was enough to get Chrysalis head wrapped around the idea of a loved one. She leaned down and gave him a kiss right on the lips. A small light came from Trances flank. It stung for a moment but still felt amazing. Trance looked up at the mare and back at his flank. He saw his cutie mark of course a small glass bottle with a blue liquid inside but now in with the liquid was a bright pink heart. He stared shocked at this. He had heard of this happening before but it was rare. Chrysalis jumped at the sight overwhelmed by what she saw. She had never heard of a cutie mark changing! Trance however just looked at her and smiled happily as he ran and gave her a hug. She of course hugged back still confused she finally asked. "What just happened?" “I read about these, they are rare. Only when two creatures, that are a varied species, fall in love, this happens. It gives a mark to both.” He said as he smiled at her. Chrysalis looked at her own flank to find a small heart on it. She had never had a cutie mark! And this is the closes thing to one she will ever have. “I had always wanted a cutie mark. Never had one as a child.” Trance looked at her confused. “I thought changelings don’t get cutie marks?” He said smiling snuggling up close. “I wasn’t always a changeling. I was born a pony, a strange looking one but still a pony.” Chrysalis said as she replied to his affection. They just leaned up against each other as Chrysalis began to explain her past. Trance listened careful shocked by her pains of the past. He knew she couldn’t have been like the Princess said. “Your mom sounds like an awful pony.” “She was but I umm, once I used the spell I lost control for a bit. Desperate for affection of her, I am not fully sure what happened. I just woke up surrounded guards and her blood on my hooves. They took me to Celestia and I ran away. Stayed out of sight in the shadows for a long time. Till I learned control and what it took to feed me. Though I had met a nice stallion once or twice. I needed love I was drunk and went for it. Nothing stuck like you, but I eventually had several thousands. I was strange, it took one time with a stallion and then the changeling helped me produce a hive afterward. I was like a bee, felt weird but did what needed to be done.” “Sounds rough.” “Well, wasn’t easy. I know it sounds bad, but it really wasn’t that bad. I had children, before at least.” “Before?” “Well after Starlight and the others, I lost them. They hate me now. You’ve seen it, Thorax, he always was different. I thought if I could lead him right, but no. He betrayed me and turned all the others against me.” “Did you really try to drain him of his love?” Chrysalis sighed and looked at the ground. “Yes, you see I didn’t think changelings could care for ponies. And if I wanted to get him help and back to the hive I needed to drain him of the love he had. I didn’t think a thing that had to feed off love could love. Though I am beginning to see that’s not fully accurate.” “Yeah I get that. I guess it is just hard for me to separate emotions.” “You remember what you said about your grandmother protecting your house?” Chrysalis asked trying to catch his eyes. “Yes.” “Well it is true. I saw her, she came to me in my dreams on my first night there. She told me that she saw my intentions. She saw them before I even did. But she told me that I was to protect you. And I don’t ever plan on going back on that deal. I promise will never hurt you, or your family.” Trance looked at her smiling. He was very happy that she felt that way. Even more happy to know that she loved him as much as he loved her. Trance went in for another kiss, but didn’t plan to stop. They rolled around through the night smiling and laughing. Trance dozed off and Chrysalis rolled over and let him rest. She went over and began to drink some water. She looked at him as he smiled and realized, she had never been happier. She wanted this life to last forever. She walked back and sat beside him and watched the fluffy hearts float in the air. For once in her life she didn’t want to eat. She just wanted to sit in it and let him smile through the night. She then saw something leave her own body. A small green heart. The day after Trance snuck into town. He only bought one thing, an ax. He brought it home and held it in his muzzle as he chopped. He cut down tree after tree. Chrysalis used her magic and striped the tree and tuned them into planks of wood. They began to place them in a pile, and Chrysalis went to sit down. Trance went beside her and gave her a sweaty kiss. Chrysalis of course didn’t argue and gave it back. They looked at their day of demanding work and begun sleep. The next day Trance went back to town, this time he had to get nails. Lots of them. He begun at the hard ware but they ran out rather quickly. He went back to Chrysalis for some advice. “I know only one pony that would have the rest of the nails that you need.” Her horn began to glow as he was lift in the air. He was surrounded by a ball of light and then it disappeared. Chrysalis fell rubbing her horn. “Haven’t used that spell in decades.” Trance looked at himself to see what she did, only to realize, he wasn’t himself. “I’m a mare! What did you do?” “It is a disguising spell. It is easy for me to use it on myself, being the way I am. But on other ponies, does hurt a tad. No worries I can change you back.” She said as she saw his worried face. Trance however was lost in the pair of wings on his back. They worked! He had never had wings! And now he didn’t look like himself he could see his parents! He can visit them without worrying about being followed back to Chrysalis. He looked at her smiling overwhelmed with joy. “Thank you! Thank you so much! I can visit my parents! I don’t have to watch my back! This is amazing.” He said as he jumped on her with a hug. He gave her a big kiss. Chrysalis sat there for a moment unsure how she felt being kissed by a mare, but allowed it anyways due to his joy. “Just be careful, where as I can take it off anytime, it runs out in ten hours. So you have to be back by then.” Trance nodded and stood up and smiled. He ran back to town quickly getting the rest of the supplies. He then remembered. His parents were under watch. If he went to them talking about himself, he would shoot a red flag. A letter, yes. He could write them a letter. Dear Mom and Dad, I know you do not understand, but I promise you I am happy. I fell in love, And Chrysalis made me more happy then you can imagine. I know this now that both Chrysalis and I are meant to be. For more information, you can look un the book, An Extra Heart. It will explain. Just know that it is in the bottle on my cutie mark. She has one too. I am making us a heart. Please don’t come looking. Please don’t bring guards. They will only hurt her again. And you have no idea how much that would hurt me. I am safe, and so is she. Tell the Princess she will not harm anypony. I have her now, and she and I are as happy as ever. Love Trance. Yeah that will work. He rolled up the scroll and flew over to his house. For a pony that has never flown. He sucked. He hit every tree on the way there. But that didn’t discourage him too much. He just enjoyed being in the air. He saw why his parents liked it so much. He finally reached the house, he just stood there for a moment. He then walked up to the house and place the letter at the door. He went to leave but stopped at the sight of a pony in his path. He stared at her because she seemed see through. “How are you my dear Trance.” She said softly with a smile. Trance just stood terrified he looked down at himself yea he’s still a she. He looked back up at her and saw her beginning to laugh. “My dear I won’t say anything but I can see straight through that disguise that that pretty mare casted on you. Just glad to know you are safe. That mare always keeps her word.” She said. Trance looked puzzled and looked back toward the mare only to find she is gone. Where did she go? No matter that event startled him and he took off running back to Chrysalis. “Wait see through? Did she look old?” Chrysalis said as Trance paced worry all over his face. Chrysalis had changed him back once he got home. “Yea she looked like a old mare, though she dyes her hair.” He said he paced across the the length of the lake. “I know this mare, she is the pony that protects your house. She visited me in my sleep.” Chrysalis said as she began to lit her horn as various berries gathered from the bushes around her into a basket. “My grandma? Why was she talking to me? She never showed herself before!” “She probably wanted to just check on you. She seemed to care a lot about you, at least when I knew her.” “Ok but how do we know she won’t tell everypony about us?” “If she said what you said she said, she won’t. She wants to protect you and she tends to be somepony that is good at judging character.” This seemed to calm Trance because he final stopped pacing and began to work on building again. Trance worked long into the night until Chrysalis finally stopped him, making him eat, wash, and come to bed. The curled up close to each other and dozed off, leaving the day behind them. “Chrysalis, we need to talk!” Said a voice. Chrysalis looked up to find Luna beside her as she picked berries. “H-how did you find me.” She asked dropping the basket looking around for guards. “This is a dream, I found the blocked spell you were using to keep me out. You are getting sloppy. I demand to learn your location, perhaps we can take it easy upon you and lock you in a nicer cell.” Chrysalis looked around her in the forest, Luna can’t find her! Ha! She was safe. “Luna I am afraid I can’t do that. I have not been this happy since, well ever.” She said as she sat down smiling proud. “Perhaps your spell on the young stallion does not work in his sleep. I will find you through him.” “Oh Luna, I am sorry. It is not a spell. I have tried to tell you silly ponies but he really does care. In fact, he is the first pony I have met to care for a beast of a thing such as myself. Never once has he rose a hoof to hurt me. And frankly I like that.” “Chrysalis, I understand you don’t like imprisonment but-“ “But nothing. Talk to your sister, I have been either in prison or on the run my whole life. Even as a filly I was kept in a cage and now, now I am free. Yes, I am still on the run but, come on I have a stallion that loves me. And we plan to make a lovely home. I promise you I will harm nopony else. But I am not going to be left in a cell so I can painfully watch my horns and wings fall off! If at any point Trance does not wish to stay, which I very much doubt, I will send him home to his parents.” “What makes you think he wants to stay!” Luna shouted she was beginning to get rather angry at the beast. To this however Chrysalis just stood up. Turning herself to let Luna looked to find a small heart on her flank. “I got my cutie mark! I know I thought I would have gotten it as a filly. But I mean really! How is anypony supposed to find their talent if they are stuck in a house trapped by a witch.” Chrysalis stated, she looked at the mark and smiled. “Oh, it is not just me. Little Trance has gotten a heart on his mark as well! Right inside the potion bottle.” “Then why have your looks not changed?” “Look. I believe this conversation has gone on long enough. I have a lot to work hard today. And now it is time to get started.” Luna vanished as Chrysalis begun the blink her eyes. As she woke to lovely sign of her friend. He had already begun working. “How long have you been up?” Chrysalis asked as she begun to get up and dust off her coat. “Few hours, kept have intruders in my dreams. Didn’t want to say something that will get us caught.” “Princess Luna visited you too huh? What did she say?” She asked walking over and lifted a hammer and begun to help. “Just that she wanted to help me. Trying to find you. They all think I am under some spell.” “They are just ponies. They always have thought the worst of me. Stupid wedding.” “Huh?” “Never mind. What you say we finish this house and tomorrow I use that nifty spell and we go get a bed. That way tomorrow night we can have some fun.” Trance gave her a smile and got back to work. He didn’t have much anymore but, but what he had now. Was worth way more than anything of his past. And he couldn’t be prouder. He only wished his parents were as understanding of Chrysalis as he was. Then he could bring them out and live with them. But no pony ever listens now a day. After finally finishing the cabin Chrysalis and Trance curled together and layed down. They layed by the empty fireplace and dozed off. Morning came without another invasive dream. Chrysalis new spell work. She cast her spell and left Trance as a new looking stallion she had seen in Canterlot during the wedding. What was his name? Blue Blood? She went with a new looked as a mare she had seen in Manehatten, something along the lines of Suri? Oh well now more than ever I suppose. They most desperately wanted a bed. And Chrysalis really was hoping to look for other furniture as well. They took off from their home into town. They first bought a cart to help them through their day. They had come across a lot of money buried in the wood. They didn’t know why it was there but they were not going to turn it down. They bought a lovely large bed, a couch, and several kitchen appliances. They ran into Rarity on their way to get some electronics, and some lights. “You are pulling a cart? Huh, never thought I see the day where a clean freak prince would be trotting around ponyville and pulling a dusty wooden cart!” Trance just stood still the cart on his back as she inspected him. Chrysalis stepped in to try and help. “He is a nice stallion once you get to know him.” “Funny you would be the one to say that Suri! Who do you think you are coming back her to insult me!” “I am not insulting anyone. We just wanted some furniture. Ponyville has amazing wood work and rather unique designs.” “Never thought a high placed Prince would be in this small town. But where are my manners. I must introduce you to my shop. It has many lovely dresses and suits.” “N-no thank you. I am fine, we just wanted furniture.” Said Trance as he began to sweat. This mare knew both these ponies and that was about to get them caught. He tugged on Chrysalis signaling time for them to high tail it out of there. “Well Rarity as much fun as this meet up was we have a train to catch. This lovely Prince here was kind enough to help me today. And now we must go before he is late for his dinner. We are hoping to get a bath to get rid of all this nasty dirt by then.” Said Chrysalis as she pushed Trance back toward the train station. They walked to the train station and made sure that Rarity wasn’t following them before sneaking into the forest. Chrysalis released the spell from them and walked over to Trance. “Ok so we still need lamps for the house, but frankly I say only one should go. And honestly, I believe it should be you in that disguise I used the first time. It was silly of me to change it up so I could go with you. That stallion in Canterlot was a prince? He seemed to have no basic manners!” Trance however was still shaking a tad as he walked toward the house. Chrysalis looked at him and gave him a reassuring kiss. That made him seem to steady out. Chrysalis gave him a smile and looked begun continue walking toward the house. Once there, Chrysalis’s horn lit and the furniture begun to fly into the house. They layed out a lovely rug and arranged the furniture. They finished and begun to head off to bed. Chrysalis and Trance didn’t hesitate to get to work. Even after a long day of work, they made love. Months passed. Chrysalis had had a very long night. But she couldn’t be more happy. In her hooves she held a newborn filly. Trance sat at her side and they did nothing but smiled. The filly had a bright blue coat. Her holes in her hooves were small, and her wings that of a normal pegasus. Chrysalis still sweating from all the work. Trance just looked at her and the filly smiling. They were parents.