What ensued was a show of unbridled brutality. Arms were broken, horns were snapped, wings were twisted, and with frightening efficiency, the angry mob was forced to retreat. Amidst the chaos, though, Rebound had managed to capture one prisoner - Filthy Rich. He was huddled in the corner on a badly injured hoof, with a very angry changeling baring her teeth at him. Echo had staggered up and limped over to him, despite Rebound's protests.
"What's your game, Filthy?"
"I'm not going to answer questions from you. You'll have to kill me."
"Suits me well enough." Echo reared back to run her horn through his throat, but Twilight stepped between them.
"No, Echo," she said, "I won't have any of this... killing... in my library."
Echo whipped around, letting out an exasperated groan. "Why, Twilight? Why are you defending that pile of filth?"
"Because, Echo, even though he may be a horrible pony, he's still a pony. Do you really want Scootaloo to see you acting like that?"
At that, Echo's eyes softened, and she looked around at the still scared filly who was cowering on the ground.
"You're right, Twilight," she said, "It's not right. It's the kind of thing changelings would do, but not ponies - and I'm not living with changelings anymore. We can't stay here, though... not with these ponies still acting the way they are."
Twilight paused and nodded her head at that. "We should get you out of Ponyville, for Scootaloo's sake. I'm sure Rebound will be more than willing to help me with my experiments," she glanced and smiled at the now-terrified changeling, "and I think I know someplace you'll be safe... but you might not like it."
"I already don't," Echo assured Twilight, "but it can't be worse than here."
* * *
The carriage to Canterlot rocketed through the sky. The Princesses, upon hearing of Ponyville's trouble, sent an expedited Royal carriage to pick up their friend's charge and bring her and her daughter safely to the castle. Twilight had repeatedly assured Echo that there was no safer place in all of Equestria than right under the Princesses' gazes.
"Thus were we delivered unto our doom." Chrysalis said, matter-of-factly. Echo was inclined to agree.
"Twilight wouldn't send us to be executed. Just don't cause any mayhem like before and I'm sure you'll be all right. We're almost there." She tucked Scootaloo's sleeping form under her foreleg.
The ride lasted only a few more minutes before the carriage pulled up to the gates of the castle. Echo put Scootaloo on her back before she and Chrysalis stepped off, thanked the guards that had carried them this far, and began to trot toward the enormous double doors. Chrysalis took it on herself to knock rather forcefully, and slowly, the gate opened.
"Oh," Chrysalis groaned as it became apparent who had been sent to greet them, "of course. Long time no see, Cadence."
"Not long enough, I promise you." The Princess turned around and started to walk off. "Please follow me. Celestia and Luna are waiting to see you."
"She's just mad because I got the first go at her hubby." Chrysalis cooed into Echo's ear, prompting a laugh.
After a little more walking, Cadence stopped outside another set of double doors. "Court is in session. When these doors open, you may enter. Try not to destroy anything." She sighed heavily and trotted off down the corridor. Echo was fairly sure that she stomped each hoof down with a bit more force than was natural.
As soon as Cadence was out of sight, Chrysalis said, "I wait for nopony," and promptly threw the doors open. The two guards adjacent to the door swung around and pointed their spears directly at her face. She smiled and looked past them at the Princesses and their terrified royal consults. "Pleasure to see you two again."
* * *
Echo had just sat quietly at the back of the room while the Princesses reprimanded Chrysalis. At every turn, Chrysalis took the opportunity to be indignant.
"You two may be Princesses, but I am a QUEEN. Don't forget that."
"You are not a queen here, Chrysalis," Luna stood up from her seat, "and you are expected to give due respect to the Throne of Equestria!"
"Or what?" Chrysalis blew a raspberry.
The room grew cold and dark as Luna began to flap her wings. Her voice boomed forth at a deafening volume, "Our gracious allowance of your continued stay in Equestria can be revoked with a moment's notice, and perhaps you can be sent to the moon, or the sun, until you feel you can be respectful!" Chrysalis held and unimpressed glare while Echo cowered in the corner, covering her still-sleeping filly. "I will not suffer this insolence any longer! Begone!"
Through the dark fog that had filled the room, a white hoof laid itself on Luna's shoulder. The room cleared almost instantly, and Luna sat back down, clenching her eyes shut.
"My sister is right, even if she has trouble controlling her temper. It is decidedly not regal behavior to speak to the leaders of another sovereign nation with such disdain. Wouldn't you agree, Chrysalis?"
Echo's mother scoffed. "I didn't exactly choose to come here today, you know."
The eldest sister smiled softly. "I know, but given the circumstances in Ponyville, Twilight and I both think having you three stay here is the safest choice for all of you. Believe it or not, Chrysalis, we want you to be safe."
"I can take care of myself."
"I'm quite sure, but would you decline our help?"
Chrysalis sighed and glanced over her shoulder at Echo and Scootaloo. "I suppose not," she sighed.
"Excellent. I will show you to your new quarters. Please, follow me." The Princess rose to her full height, Just a hair or two short of Chrysalis'. As she strode out of the room, Chrysalis turned to follow, and kicked the door shut behind her after Echo had left, leaving Luna alone.
* * *
Their quarters in the solar wing of the castle were spectacular. Each of them had a room to themselves that was 1000 Square Hooves of space divided into two stories. Echo could scarcely conceive of a single room having two stories, but there it was. Chrysalis, for her part, remained unimpressed, preferring rather to lay on her bed and complain about there not being enough green in the color schemes. Scootaloo was the polar opposite. She bounced from wall to wall in her room, happy to have space enough to practice flying.
It was really everything they'd dreamed, but Echo constantly fought with the feeling that they had just swept a problem under the rug. She knew somewhere deep inside that the only way she would feel at peace again would be to restore Ponyville to what it once was. Before I arrived. She kicked herself for thinking so negatively, trying to take everyone at face value and realize that she was, in fact, welcome. No amount of wishful thinking could override her gut feeling though, and so she just smiled wistfully as Scootaloo enjoyed her freedom. Celestia was just finishing up her introductions to the castle's accommodations.
"... so if you need anything, don't be afraid to ask any of the guards, and they will see to it your needs are met."
"Uh-huh. My hooves could use a filing." Chrysalis said, glancing passively at her forehooves.
"There's one more thing," Celestia ignored Chrysalis' demand, "somepony from Ponyville has been assigned to help rehabilitate you while Twilight works on the problem in Ponyville."
"Oh, fantastic. Who is it this time?" Chrysalis continued to examine her hooves.
Celestia simply smiled and stepped to the side, revealing a small, trembling yellow ball.
Chrysalis' head perked up and she stared at the new arrival. "What is that? A tribble?"
The princess smiled and nuzzled the trembling ball of yellow, prompting it to raise its head and peek from under a fluffy pink mane. Fluttershy squeaked and returned to her little ball.
"I see. So she's supposed to be in charge of me?" Chrysalis snickered a bit.
"Yes, Chrysalis. She is. I believe in you, Fluttershy."
The small pep-talk from the Princess was enough to bring Fluttershy to her hooves, though she still trembled.
"I... I'll try, Princess." She squeaked, barely audible.
"HEY FLUTTERSHY!" Scootaloo buzzed in front of her, inciting a yelp.
"H... h... hello, Scootaloo. Hi, Echo, and..." she yelped quietly, "... Chrysalis."
"Now, I'll leave you all to get comfortable," the Princess said happily as she turned around and nearly bounced out of the room, "so be good, okay?"
"Yes, Princess!" Scootaloo chimed, coming down to the ground and sitting with a proud smile.
Echo smiled and walked over to Fluttershy. "So, what shall we do first?"
Chrysalis smiled with mischief in her eyes, and ignited her horn, pulling all the blinds down and making the room dark.
"Mother!" Echo shouted. She ignited her own horn to illuminate the room, and Fluttershy screamed loudly. Chrysalis had planted her face mere inches from Fluttershy's and bared all of her fangs. There was a gentle thud, and the blinds all shot back up, flooding the room with light again. Fluttershy lay unconscious on the ground a few hooves in front of Chrysalis, who laughed maniacally.
"THAT is supposed to rehabilitate me! Can you believe it?"
This is going to be a long visit.