//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3:Rough First Day 
// Story: Chrysalis's college days 
// by MephileztheHam 
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There it was, Bravehills college and my oh my did it look preppy. Even from the air anypony could tell that this place was made for the prestigious families of Canterlot, or at least for ponies who shelled out enough bits for the entry fee. A plaza area holding several buildings stood in front of the entrance gate. Most likely all stores or cafes of some sort seeing as how ponies of all shapes and sizes left said buildings with bags and drinks. Typical that this place would have places to suck more bits out of your pocket. 

And there laying in the middle of the college grounds stood the main building. Why did I think it was the main building with all the classes inside? Well the giant dome roof and flags bearing the symbol of Bravehill gave it away. Anyways, I arrived and landed in front of the entrance gate, I had a feeling security wouldn't take kindly to some random pegasus diving in without verification. As I touched down I took note of my surroundings, students and their parents were seeing their kids off. There were hugs abound and family love in the air, it was invigorating just to be near these families and its a shame that I don't have the time to harvest it. 

I felt somewhat jealous of them, to have a family to see them off but at least mother left me a note with her love I suppose. Shaking my head of my inner ramblings I approached the front gate, and the tired looking security guard in his little booth. He had a coat of white but his mane was hidden under a skull cap. 

“Good afternoon, I would like to sign in for entrance please”, I asked nodding my head curtly. His response was less than hospitable as he glared at me, holding out a hoof outstretched towards me. Rolling my eyes at the guard I took out my card and placed it on his waiting hoof. With a grunt he brought it up to his face for a moment before looking back to me his glare softening a bit. 

“Well Miss Flare, welcome to Bravehills college, sorry about the mean look earlier, it's just that I had to deal with several fake entries earlier this morning and I couldn't handle another one”, the guard said sheepishly as he returned my card. 

“It is no problem, so I am free to head inside then?”, I tried my best not to yell at the buffoon, but there was no point in wasting energy with a rent a cop. He said nothing just simply nodding his head and pushing something in his booth with a click. Shortly after the front gate opened, as soon as it did I quickly trotted inside the college grounds. Once inside I was greeted with the sounds and sights of the college scene. It was chaotic to say the least, students roaming all over the plaza in droves going along their own objective, ponies chatting with friends and others simply running to gods knows where.

“Just like the hive, feels kind of like home in a way”, I thought to myself as I watched everypony scatter about their business. This reminds me just like the mornings in my old castle, everyling rushing to finish their tasks on time just to get ready for breakfast. Again that empty feeling sank in my gut as the memories of my old subject's faces flashed through my mind. I shook my head at those painful memories, pulling out the itinerary mother attached to the note at home. Skimming over my schedule I found that the first class of the day was biology101. And surprise surprise it's located in the main building like every other class here on the list, second floor room thirty two. 

I mentally thanked my mother for creating an easy traveling experience for me as I made my way to the main building. On the way there I passed by many ponies of varying shapes and sizes, but one thing was common among them. They all radiated positive feelings, it was sensory overload but it wasn't unpleasant to be sure. In fact I found myself feeling giddy all of a sudden from all of these positive emotions. It's not just love that feeds a changeling, positive emotions can quell the hunger but definitely not as much as love does. But it does have it's drawbacks, if there is a large influx of negative emotions it can affect me just as negatively making me drowsy and even get hurt from it, changelings have it harder than most. 

“Huh, now that isn't pompous or anything”, I grumbled, gazing up at the institute building and it's many marble columns. If its one thing Canterlot socialites know is that the best way to show off your wealthiness is with marble columns, what a eyesore. Pushing myself up the steep steps up I finally found myself inside of the building and in a lobby of sorts. A quaint long room filled with paintings and other college memorabilia. At the end of it rested a help desk flanked by staircases leading up, which at the moment was being swarmed by students most likely lost on their first day. I have to remember to thank mother for the itinerary, otherwise I would have spent more time just trying to get around like these fools. 

Moments passed and after navigating down the halls of Bravehills I finally arrived to room thirty two. 

“Ugh, I really hope that the walk to each class room isn't as tedious as this”, I grunted as I pushed passed a group of unicorns that chose to hold their conversation in front of the damn door. Once inside I  took note of the room, it was a medium sized auditorium circular shaped in build. All around the room stood booths containing seats that descended along side stairs to the middle of the room and in said middle rested a podium and some sort of stone pedestal. 

“Crowded, there has got to be a seat somewhe-ahah!”, spotting a an open spot in a booth with one seat remaining.  And it seems I wasn't the only one who took notice as that group form outside had come inside and their eyes were dead set on the lone seat. We all looked to each other for a split second and it turned into a mad dash with all of us pushing past each other. But I had the advantage over them, my wings! Flaring out my feathered appendages I took flight and glided over the group and landed safely on my new seat. The look on those unicorns was priceless, each of their faces contorted in anger and surprise.

“Better luck next time chaps! Maybe next time you will talk less and pay more attention”, I sang victoriously, flipping my mane obnoxiously as I did. The group just grumbled obscenities among other things before slinking off to a crowded booth and squeezing in. I chuckled at the sight, serves them right. 

“Serves them right I suppose, those idiots have been a nuisance ever since last semester, good job”, chuckled a voice to my right. Turning towards the origin I met my booth mate, a blue furred pegasus with a jet black mane and striking green eyes. Right in front of those eyes rested a pair of spectacles and he wore a light green overcoat that complimented those green orbs of his. I couldn't see his cutie mark due to his lower half being under the desk but I tried not to make it obvious I was looking. “Oh right, the names Page, Page Breakwatt”, the pegasus announced as held a hoof out towards me. 

“Nice to meet you, I'm Flare, charmed”, I greeted shaking his hoof daintily as I did. He smiled at me before returning his gaze to a notebook in front of him promptly picking up a pen in his mouth and jotting down something in it. 

“Habent sheen you here before, new shtudent?”, his voice muffled from the pen stuffed in his muzzle. 

“First year actually, folks sent me here to study my flank off, you?”, I asked my question, peering over his shoulder to see what he was writing. I saw a glimpse of my name but he blocked the rest of the writing with his hooves.

“Shecond year myshelf, working fer a mappin majer so I can get my profession as a Cartogriffer started, its....going well I supposh”, even with his voice obscured by his pen his tone said otherwise. Whatever his problems are they aren't my business and nor do I care frankly. I didn't come here to make friends with ponies and their issues. 

“Shame, most Cartographers are unsuccessful but I think you'll pull through”, I said sarcastically. Page just grunted, dropping his pen and squinting his eyes at me. 

“And whats that supposed to mean?”, his voice laced with annoyance as he crossed his hooves at me. I seem to have touched a nerve and I couldn't hold myself back from what I said next he was too easy to instigate. I could have explained that I wasn't talking about him with that remark, that it was a misunderstanding. But I hated it when others spoke to me like that, and one thing led to another. Lets just say that I ruined my first impression with Page. 

“Oh nothing at all, I don't question your skill but most Cartographers fail boorishly in your situation in fact I once knew stallion in a position just like yours, he took up janitor duties within the year”, as a matter of fact I did know such a stallion. He was a poor soul whom mother gave me as a target in my training years, what a foal he was. But that was besides the point, Page grimaced at me, flaring his nostrils as he did. He was too easy, I could have stopped my assault but I wanted to egg him on some more. “I suggest you switch your majors if your having trouble, it would be a shame if somepony as handsome as yourself would have to resort to cleaning the halls here”, I don't know why I kept egging him on, force of habit with Gynaephora I suppose. 

“Hah hah hah, your not the first pony to say something like that, I take it its polite to ridicule someone about their dreams where you come from or something?”, he was up in my face now, our muzzles inches apart. I just smirked at him, batting my eyelids at him as I propped my chin up with both of my hooves. 

“Kind of, you know Page, you are cute when your upset”, I cooed. Page's face turned a deep shade of red but he still kept his angry expression. With a huff he shook his head at me before returning to jotting down something on his notepad, albeit a bit more roughly now. I suddenly felt a little light headed and the cause was Page. He was practically seething negativity and it was making me feel a bit weak. The fact that I didn't feed on love lately made it much more draining than it would have if I fed. 

Whatever problems Page had they were some deep scarring ones if he reacted this badly to my teasing.

But alas my thoughts on Page's peculiar reaction were cut short at the sound of a door opening and slamming shut. Suddenly the auditorium was deadly quiet and not a soul made a sound. The only sound of somepony's hooves against the wooden floor echoed across the spacious room. I had to see what kind of teacher could command such control over this class that was as rowdy as a buffalo just moments ago. And there he was, a tall unicorn about five feet tall trotted with purpose towards the podium. His fur was the color of slate, cold and grey and yet his stylized mane was a flamboyant pink, his cutie mark obscured by the satchels he was carrying. 

The stallion ignored all the eyes on him, simply unpacking several items from his satchel onto the podium. One such item was a crystal ball which he placed onto the stone altar with great care. With a yawn he flicked his horn twice towards the altar, bathing it in a pink aura. In a flash the altar released a stream of light into the air as streams of magic energy seeped out of the crystal. Like a practiced artist he waved his horn like a baton weaving the magic with every wave, it was mesmerizing. 

But all too soon as he began so did it end with the end with the energy forming a shape. A perfect circle floated above the altar shimmering brightly in a pink hue. Looking over to Page I found him slack jawed, his mouth hanging open. Casting a quick glance to everypony around me I found the same dumbfounded look upon their faces. Bringing myself back to the stallion I found him chuckling in delight at the reaction he was getting, his just as pink eyes glistening with mischief.

Once again the room was silent as he eyed us all before coughing loudly. The way he cleared his throat was obnoxious as he ended the fiasco with a crack of his neck and composing his posture before he spoke.

“Welcome everypony to Biology101, I am your teacher Mr. Phylum and for those of you newcomers to Bravehills I expect you to be on your best behavior! This isn't like your namby pamby highschool! This is a prestigious academy for the best of the best! No pressure!”, I was expecting his voice to be falsetto but on the contrary it was deep and commanding. He certainly wasn't what I expected that was for sure. I pictured a stereotypical nerd teacher with thick glasses with a terrible lisp like in those comedy movies. But I rolled my eyes at his introduction nonetheless, it felt rehearsed and unnecessary. 

“Now before we begin, take out your biology101 book and turn to page three hundred and ninety six”, oh buck, I forgot the books at home. I started to panic, my eyes darting around at all of the other students hoping I could find solace in that someone else forgot as well. But I was the only one without a book, what a great way to start the year. Before I could curse my negligence anymore, a small whisper broke my trance.

“Here, we can share and stop panicking, at least act like you didn't bring it on purpose”, with that said Page pushed his book so that it rested between us. I muttered a quick thank you and turned the pages to what the teacher specified. What I saw surprised me, in big bold letters read, “Changeling Anatomy and Characteristics”.

“Now I am sure some of you are wondering about the reading material for today, well the reason for that is that Princess Celestia has wished for every student to learn about Changelings in precaution from the event four months ago”, I didn't look up from the book but I could tell from his tone that Phylum spoke with disdain, or was it anger? I was too focused on the various images floating near text, Changeling skeletons, organs, transformation characteristics. My eyes scanned for the date the book was created and right at the bottom of the page stated in small print said that it was published two months ago. My blood ran cold, someone has been researching our kind and from what I can see printed on this page, its scarily accurate. 

“Now for the rest of this hour I would like you all to read over this chapter, and feel free to ask questions regarding it, but do not expect this entire semester to be around the creatures”, with that said Phylum returned his attention to the floating magic sphere and began weaving its shape once more. The outcome was a very pink representation of a standard changeling drone rotating three dimensionally. “And no questions about Changeling sex habits, I have had quite enough of those questions today!”, the class laughed in response, all except me. 

“Who the buck did all this? Who could have researched us this fast?”, I thought hastily, flipping through to the beginning of the book to its index. Skimming the lines I came down to the Changeling section, and the author behind it. My lips curled into a snarl, my blood began to boil at the name printed on the page before me. Twilight Sparkle, the damn purple harlot who ruined everything. 

“Uh Flare? You okay? Your kinda freaking me out”, Page's voice in my ear brought me out of my rage and to the real world. I composed myself, taking deep breaths before I looked to the worried yet annoyed face of Page.

“Oh its nothing, I have a really bad stomach ache is all....”, I lied, flipping the book back to the changeling chapter. Page shook his head and went to reading and so did I. After what felt like a solid half hour I recounted what I had read. Twilight has covered the anatomy of our kind flawlessly but that wasn't impressive in the slightest, we aren't that much different on the inside compared to a pony. Although our blood is green instead of red however, anyways the tidbit that caught my attention was the section on love and emotion. 

From the way we can be invigorated by it and how we can also be hurt by it. I shudder to think about how she learned of this and how she tested it. Images of those scouts captured at the checkpoints being examined like animals flashed in my mind. However I couldn't continue reading this garbage, this entire chapter described my kind like some sort of animal, the gall of that purple foal. And it seemed everypony in the auditorium agreed with the idea, all of the students harbored looks of disgust and fear at the pages before them. All except Page who read on with a look of wonder upon his face, his eyes twinkling with interest.

Before I could question why, he sprang up on his hind legs holding his hoof straight up in the air. Phylum took notice and smiled, pointing at Page and nodding in silent acceptance for him to speak.

“Mr. Phylum, is all of this about Changelings true? I mean about all that stuff about them being violent and animalistic seems a bit biased in my opinion”, Page's asked, his question hanging in the air. The room was silent and all eyes were on Page, the tension was so thick you could cut  it with a knife. 

“Well that is a question I wasn't expecting! Ahem, well I don't think its biased at all and besides, the student of our fair Princess Celestia had seen these beasts firsthand and researched them alongside the princesses,”, Phylum explained quaintly. But Page wasn't buying it, his green eyes staring down Phylum's pink ones. 

“Even so, I find it odd that there aren't any passages here explaining sentience of any kind. Surely Changelings are intelligent, I mean they had a leader who spoke!”, Phylum just laughed at  Page, pinching the bridge of his muzzle as he did. 

“Every hive mind has a hierarchy , the chapter dictates that the queen of said hive has intelligence while her followers are nothing but mindless drones. Much like how a hive of ants work.”, I gritted my teeth at that comment. Comparing my kind to that of insects following pheromones trails, if I didn't have to hide I would have lynched him then and there. 

“Anyways, it is pointless to question the logic from the student of Princess Celestia herself, mister, er I hadn't caught your name?”, oh boy looks like Page just dug his own grave.

“Er, Page, Page Breakwatt sir”, at the mention of his name Phylum smiled a cruel smile. This isn't going to be pretty.

“Well well well, a Breakwatt gracing my presence”, Phylum bowed sarcastically. Murmurs were heard around the auditorium, what was going on?

“Mister Page, I believe you shouldn't harm your family's reputation any more than it already has, now sit down and shush, I don't need the opinions of a outcast questioning factual information in my class, do I make myself clear?”, all the color drained from Page's face as he slowly nodded and slunk back to his seat. As soon as he sat back down the class was in a uproar. Everpony laughing at what had just happened, tickle me paranoid but don't I think Page's family is held in high regard here in Canterlot. The laughter soon died down at the order of Phylum but I could hear the occasional jab at Page, the words were too barbaric to say out loud. Page looked devastated, his head sunk low and his ears flat against his head, a dead look in his eyes. 

Guilt, thats what I felt after that, I don't know why but I just felt bad about all of that. I wanted to ask him why everpony was treating him like pariah but I couldn't find the words. I never got the chance to as Phylum whistled and told us class was over. As soon as we got the dismissal Page stuffed his belongings into his satchel and bolted out of the auditorium. And just like that he was gone, leaving a trail of papers in his wake. One such paper caught my eye as I got up to leave, a crumpled piece of paper with my disguised name on it. 

There under my name was a sketch, a beautiful rendition of my face from my side. But halfway through it stopped abruptly and began again with a new drawing of much like the one above it. Except this one was of me bearing devil horns and fangs. This was most likely a before and after drawing when I teased him. And there it was again, the annoying pang of guilt in my gut. Pushing my thoughts away I folded the drawing and tucked it behind my left ear for safe keeping and went on my merry way.

Moments passed in a blur before I found myself seated in my next class, pre-algebra mathematics. The professor stationed inside was a unicorn mare, and she looked as unenthusiastic as I was, a frown on her face. Her fur was a vibrant teal while her mane was a slightly dark blue and her eyes were a dull brown. Her cutie mark was of course, a algebra equation of some sort how surprising. But besides that she was nothing special, I tuned out her voice as she spoke letting my mind wander.

Class went by in the blink of a eye as I  let myself sit with my mind on auto pilot. Allowing the droning of the teacher to go in one ear and out the other. I ignored everything except for the advice to review chapter 1 and chapter 2 for the pre-test on tuesday, whatever. Oh math, how I loath thee, let me count the ways in how I wish you were but a myth. I just hated math in any form, I for one think its useless pass the basics. Why have somepony search for imaginary numbers for equations that don't matter to begin with? I logged it as a class that the college makes you take so they can suck more bits out of you.

One hour passed when the teacher signaled class was over. I was overjoyed that the torture that was algebra was over, maybe a bit too much as I flew out the class room window. Several ponies all stared at the odd pegasus woohooing throughout the air space of Bravehills college.  I hummed a happy tune was I glided through the now darkening sky, ignoring the ever growing distant yells of the algebra professor. It wasn't long before I found myself back at the apartment and inside of my room. Locking the door behind me I found that the apartment was still in one piece.

“Squelch! I am home!”, announcing myself while I trudged over to the living room and plopped myself on it. A crash and a tumble echoed from somewhere in the apartment followed by of course, Squelch. I raised my eyebrow at his appearance, he was in his disguise and covered in sweat. His mane was a complete mess and he was panting heavily like he ran a marathon.

“What in tartarus have you been up to?”, I asked the exhausted changeling. He opened his mouth to speak but before he could speak the sound of somepony else approaching cut him short. 

“Oh Stoney, where are you? We haven't made it to round 2 yet!”, a feminine voice sang from somewhere within the apartment. And sure enough a mare had appeared seemingly out of nowhere next to Squelch and slumped her body against him. She looked especially ditzy, orange fur, green mane with blue highlights and a image of a microphone crossed over a treble cleft on her rump. Squelch's face turned to a shade akin to a tomato, blushing furiously  as he fiddled with his hooves. 

“You have some explaining to do Squelch”, I said flatly, doing my best at keeping a straight face at the two. Finally the mare noticed me but she still leaned on Squelch, nibbling his ear playfully apparently not caring that she was among prying eyes. 

“Who's this Stoney? Is this your sister that you told me all about?”, she asked, still biting his ear between words.

“Why yes it is, um, Flare meet Medley, Medley meet Flare”, Squelch said as he gestured his hooves between us. 

“Why hello Flare, I was just spending some quality time with your brother and we-mph!”, before she could finish her sentence Squelch silenced her with a hoof to the mouth. 

“Eheh, alright Medley I think you should be going, you wouldn't want to be late for rehearsal now would you? Go on!”, I watched as Squelch hurriedly shoved Medley off of him and towards the door. It was quite the scene to watch, I should have taken pictures. 

“Aw but Stoney, I think I can miss one rehearsal and be fine”, she cooed as she gave Squelch very obvious bedroom eyes. Squelch only sputtered in response, giving her a final shove out the door.

“I know darling but you gotta go, meet you tomorrow around the same time?”, Squelch was trying his best to say this calmly but his voice just shook with nervousness as she spoke. Medley smiled and nodded before planting a kiss upon Squelch's lips and disappeared down the hall. Closing the door, Squelch slowly turned towards me, removing his disguise as he turned. There was a awkward silence between us as we both waited for the other to speak first. Removing my disguise I cleared my throat and kept a smug grin.

“So I am gone for a few hours and you end up rutting some random mare hm? How did you even manage that Squelch?”, I teased, giggling loudly. Squelch once again did his best impression of a ripe tomato, glaring all the while.

“I was hungry alright? I needed some love to fill me up and besides I can't cook! What was I supposed to do?”, Squelch sputtered. 

“Understandable, but I am more curious as how you managed to seduce a mare of all things, I thought for sure you fancied stallions!”, I teased, enjoying the reactions of the flustered changeling. 

“I-I, oh buck you Chrysalis! I know how to get mares! And what the buck makes you think I like stallions?”, his voice raising with every word, oh he was just too easy. But alas all good things must come to an end and I believe Squelch has had enough.

“Calm down Squelch, I am only teasing, so your new love battery is that ditzy mare then?”, I questioned curiously. He nodded, rubbing his forehooves together nervously
.
“Y-Yeah, I met her at the local theater when you were at school and I was bored and hungry. She approached me first believe it or not, asked my name and I asked for hers and we just hit it off. She told me she was lonely and that she recently broke up with some stallion, she called me cute....and even I know when a mare is hinting at sharing a bed you know!”, he explained, defensively crossing his hooves across his chest.

“Well keep her around, I could use the unconditional love floating around you two to keep my energy up”, Squelch nodded once, his muzzle scrunched up in thought. Oh boy, there is his thinking face again, this should be good.

“She is cute though right? Beautiful even....”, Squelch sighed dreamily. Oh no, don't tell me he is falling for a target. 

“Squelch, it isn't safe to taking a liking to your food you know, keep it professional”, I said sternly. 

“Wait what? I have no idea what you are talking about? I never said she glowed like the sun or anything!”, Squelch lied terribly, his muzzle scrunched up, his eyes refusing to meet mine. I sighed, this is exactly what cannot happen to Squelch, I have to explain to him the right way.

“Squelch, listen to me, I am telling you to watch your feelings for your own good, Medley isn't attracted to you she is attracted to Stonewall, understand? I don't want you doing something stupid like revealing yourself to her or something. Just remember that alright?”, Squelch slowly nodded in agreement, but I could tell he had something else to add.

“But, what if she could fall in love with the real me? Is there no way for changelings to get love without forcing our way into their hearts? I mean I barely had to influence her at all to get her to like Stonewall”, his voice was barely above a whisper, his eyes gazing into mine as he desperately waited for an answer. I sighed, Squelch won't let this go.

“Truthfully, I don't think so, after what I learned today in college I can tell you that changeling reputation has already made a possibility like that impossible”, I muttered, remembering the changeling chapter in biology. He tilted his head at me in confusion with a eyebrow raised. “What do you mean by that?”

“You might want to sit yourself down for this one, cause it's going to be a doozy, Squelch”, and so he did, laying himself on the carpet, resting his head on his hooves. It is going to be a very, very long night.