//------------------------------// // Chrysalis and the Pillar of Healing // Story: Random Ramblings // by PioneeringAuthor //------------------------------// “So you used to be the Changelin’ Queen? What’s it like inside one a those hives?” Mage Meadowbrook asked as she looked up at Chrysalis curiously. Chrysalis sighed and rolled her eyes. She was trying this whole friendship thing, really, but she was tired of Ponies asking her this. She’d had this same exact question over and over and over again. Why didn’t the Ponies just go visit the reformed hive headed by that ridiculous moose-like King Thorax, hmmmm? She knew that was rude, so she forced herself to not say it aloud. “They all were my loyal children and servants and did exactly as I said… until they got new ideas,” Chyrsalis remarked, “And we had a very gloomy, serious decor featuring many sharp carvings and plenty of green goo. Are you satisfied?” “Well… sounds like a cave in a swamp,” Mage Meadobrook remarked as she prepared something in a mortar with her pestle, “So, what did Princess Twilight say you should help me with?” Chyrsalis sighed and muttered, “She wanted me to learn old-fashioned healing and patience from you.” “Well she certainly sent ya to the right place,” Meadowbrook said with a smile. Chrysalis turned away and sighed again. Outside the window was the swampy village that Meadowbrook dwelled in, featuring plenty of pond scum, moss, and ponies buying and selling Meadowbrook’s healing supplies and mixes that she and her companions were dealing. Certainly, the setting did feel more like home to Chrysalis, but she still thought that Ponies were far too soft and casual. Then again… it wasn’t so bad, was it? Truly, she owed a great debt to the Ponies, even if she was too proud to admit it. She was on the verge of starvation when the Ponies found her deep in the dungeon of the hive, and she’d been nursed back to life by Fluttershy herself. Although she still wasn’t used to this whole FRIENDSHIP AND CUTENESS gig, she was willing to give it a try, since she had no other purpose in life and didn’t want to starve to death. Admittedly, it’d been an interesting journey. Did she enjoy it? … Well, maybe just a little. Maybe friendship wasn’t TOO bad. Sometimes. For hours she helped make pastes and potions and other herbal mixes, helping ponies alongside the Pillar of Healing, trying her best to not complain TOO much. When the sun set, she sighed in relief. “I am leaving now,” She said as she fluttered her dragonfly wings, “You don’t need me anymore, do you?” “No, that’s all right,” Meadowbrook said as she dried her forehead with a towel, “It’s been a very productive day! Thank ya kindly!” Chrysalis felt the friendship seeping off Meadowbrook like a disease, and it sickened Chrysalis… but also felt nice. With a conflicted look, Chrysalis turned away and began walking instead of flying. Noticing her pace, Meadowbrook looked away, biting her lip. Honestly, it was hard to be kind to someone who repeatedly refused it. Meadowbrook had no idea how Fluttershy and her friends could be so patient. Of course, the Pillar of Healing knew that sometimes… healing took a long, long time… and the poison of bitterness seeped deep down into the bones and took away a person’s joy, love, and health. Twilight knew what she was doing when she sent Chrysalis here. “Actually, I could really use some help cleanin’ up a bit!” Meadowbrook called, “Won’t take ya long!” With a mental cringe, Chrysalis turned around and nodded, trying to be as polite as she could be, but even the thought of reducing herself to a scullery maid made her angry. Nevertheless, she had no choice but to obey. “Very well,” she sighed as she plodded back to Meadowbrook. “Mind pickin’ up these benches with ya magic so I can sweep?” “Fine.” Chrysalis used her lime-colored magic to picked up the benches while Meadowbrook used her broom to sweep up all the trash into one pile in the middle of the yard. With another sigh, Chrysalis put down the benches and then grew impatient and finished the job for Meadowbrook by picking up the trash in her magic and throwing it all away in the can nearby. “There, done?” “Yes, but before ya go, I’d like to talk to ya,” Meadowbrook said with a smile, hoping Chrysalis would say yes. Well, Chrysalis was used to talking… but she hoped it wouldn’t be ANOTHER conversation about hive life before Thorax. Bleh. She had ENOUGH of those. Sitting at one of the benches, Chrysalis asked, “Very well. It would be interesting to know more about you.” “Okay, how about this: ya ask me a question, then I’ll ask, and we’ll take turns,” She suggested, sitting across from the former Changeling Queen. “Right…. What makes you enjoy the swamp? I figured Ponies preferred… prettier places,” Chrysalis began, trying to not be too blunt. “I know most Ponies might find it all scummy and smelly, but to me it’s home. I was born ‘round these parts, and love it. Besides, I find the beauty in this place,” Meadowbrook then turned around, gesturing to the trees and the plants, “The bees, the butterflies, the flowers, they’re all unique ‘round here. Can’t find anythin’ like ‘em in any other place. The sounds all blend together in a right gorgeous song that warms my heart and keeps me goin’ even in tough times.” Certainly, it was a fluffy, cutesy speech, but… as she followed where Meadowbrook was pointing, Chrysalis began to see what she saw. Really, all the disgusting frogs and annoying bugs did blend together with the birds into a soothing, homely song of simple times and relaxing days. “I… feel the same about… caves and webs and slime,” Chrysalis murmured, feeling a bit awkward about admitting that she had a soft side and wasn’t all edgy and serious, “It’s… comforting.” Meadowbrook turned back around, noting the sad, wistful look in the Changeling’s eyes, and an excited beat came to her heart. At last, she found a way in. “We all have somethin’ that makes us feel welcome. Don’t feel ashamed,” she encouraged her with a nod, “And I’ve been in caves before! They’re pretty different from the sunlight, open-air over here, but I can find the beauty in them, too.” “Yes… some can,” Chyrsalis allowed herself to relax with a toss of her mane, “Pinkie’s odd sister certainly enjoys them. She found some kind of underground paradise to live in… too colorful for me, but it is satisfying. Not the same as what I prefer, but nice enough.” “Oh I remember seeing that! Maud’s pretty bright, isn’t she?” Meadbowbrook said, “Oh, mind if I ask ya a question now?” “Go ahead,” Chrysalis said in a less grumpy tone as she propped an elbow on the bench and leaned her cheek against one of her hoof-like feet. “Tell me… what do ya think of Discord? I hear ya two get along real well.” “He is a… good friend, yes,” Chrysalis expected to cringe, but was surprised when she realized that she was okay with admitting that. It seemed that the Pony ways were finally getting to her, and she was eventually going to succumb. With a sigh, she rolled her eyes and said, “He is quite amusing.” “I did hear that ya two enjoy doin’ stuff together. What’s ya favorite thin’s to do?” “We both impersonate various Ponies and confuse everyone, but they catch on to that so we can’t do that too often.” “What do ya do when ya can’t do that?” “Chaos. Glorious CHAOS!” “Err, what sort of “chaos?” “Make it rain anything gooey or sticky, turn everything inanimate into cotton candy and let the children all get sugar rushes, make fruit come to life, anything really. At first I thought it was foalish but it’s really quite entertaining.” Chrysalis paused, realizing that she was even using Pony terms. She was being assimilated. Resistance was futile. It was happening. Into these thoughts came the sound of Meadowbrook’s laugh as she leaned back and put a hoof on the table to balance herself. “Ohhhhh I wish I could see some a that! It sounds fun, all right!... though, ha ha… messy, heh.” “Oh, Pinkie loves it, and so do the children… sometimes, and Rainbow Dash enjoys joining in our pranks,” Chyrsalis said with a smirk, “But Princess Twilight has to keep order, of course, and often spoils our fun. She at least gives us some room to be chaotic, though.” “Well, a bit of chaos is okay to keep thin’s interestin’,” Meadowbrook agreed as she blinked a tear of laughter out of her eyes, “So, any questions for me?” The questions continued past twilight, and into moonrise. Seeing how late it was, the two had to part, but Chrysalis did promise she’d help again tomorrow. Although she was too prideful to admit it out loud, she did enjoy the casual conversation, and found the old Pillar of Healing to be strangely soothing, like Fluttershy. She let down her guard and actually listened to one Meadowbrook’s stories of her childhood and how her mother taught her the trade of the healer. When she left, Chrysalis admitted to herself that… it was actually pretty nice in the swamp with the swamp ponies and their guardian healer. Yes, Chrysalis knew it was happening. After all this time, she couldn’t deny it anymore: she was learning friendship. The disease was finally getting to her, and… maybe it wasn’t really a disease.