//------------------------------// // Chapter 6:Recollections and a Visit from Mother // Story: Chrysalis's college days // by MephileztheHam //------------------------------// Three days later, Flare's apartment.... “Ah! Flare not so hard! Geeze I want it still attached to me!”, Page nearly yelled, biting down on his free hoof to silence himself. “Shut it you imbecile, I am not even doing it that hard!”, I yelled back as I continued my pulling. “Y-You are supposed to be gentle when you pull like that! Hell, even the book said that!”, Page cried out in discomfort, swatting the back of my head to prove his point. “Why you little! I have the power here and I can do this as I see fit! And besides look, its starting to come out, ugh it really is white in color”, I grimaced, continuing my ministrations despite my disgust. Before either of us could retort back to one another the sound of the apartment door caught our attention. Page and I froze, slowly we both turned towards the sound and met with the judging eyes of “Stonewall” and Medley. We were caught in the act and at the mercy of Squelch and Medley, well this is awkward. Squelch was the first to speak as he trotted over to us, a smug grin on his lips. “You guys really couldn't wait for us so you started without us huh? Is he aching for it that bad?”, Squelch mused smugly. Page's response was just a blush as well as glaring daggers in defense. I just giggled at the two while going for another pull. The stallion under me in question twitched, beads of sweat rolling down his face. “Stonewall is right, I am simply disappointed in you two! We told you to wait and you just went along and did it, and you still are! But I have one question Flare, why are you straddling him while doing that?”, Page and I looked at each other for a moment, both of us sporting embarrassed blushes. Its an awkward story actually. “I was itching down there for “it” pretty bad, I couldn't wait guys, sorry....”, Page whimpered, his blush intensifying to a shade of red I thought was impossible to achieve. “Yeah I understand that feeling bro....but I don't think that is the safest position to remove stitches, Flare. It looks like you guys are about to buck or something!”, Squelch stated bluntly. I tilted my head at his question, looking down at the stallion crushed beneath me. Wow this just makes things worse doesn't it? “Look, he was bitching on and on about how itchy his wound was getting and judging from this book on surgeries it states that surgical thread is enchanted to turn white when the wound is ready to heal without it. Of course the wimp wanted Medley here to remove the stitches but I simply could not withstand his complaining. So here I am holding him down trying to get this damn thing out!”, I explained all the while still tugging on the visible strand of thread. “Ugh you are so Impatient, here, get off of him and let me do my thing kay?”, before I could offer a retort Medley levitated me off Page and flung me onto the couch. The nerve, nopony handles me like that, nopony! “Now now let auntie Medley take care of those stitches huh? Wow this looks a lot better, its nearly sealed up, the wonders of healing enchantments huh?”, Medley mused as she gently but surely removed the stitches from the wound. Even from my angle from the couch the sight looked morbid, the thread twining its way through the scarred flesh, ugh how revolting. A few long sickening moments later the stitches were in a neat pile and thrown away, leaving Medley to apply new bandages over the wound. “As fun as it its to watch this horrid display I think its time for me to escort you to class shall we, milady?”, Page said in a forced noble accent while beckoning me with his bandaged hoof. I just laughed at his horrible attempt at being smooth, the draw back of his pain killers did make him a little loopy. “Oof my hoof still hurts though, I don't know what I would do without you guys, I probably wouldn't have made it to the hospital three days ago” And there was that guilty feeling I knew all to well. By the forlorn looks of Squelch and Medley I think its safe to say they felt the same. I shudder to think about what would have happened if Page hadn't knocked on my door. “That is in the past Page, don't worry about it okay? Lets just enjoy the day and head to class hm?”, I hopped off the couch and took gingerly his hoof in mine, being careful as to not to grip his bad hoof too hard. And before I could say anything else, Page planted his lips on my own. My eyes widened in surprise but I closed them, choosing to ease myself into the kiss. If this was any other stallion I would have chomped his lips off, but this one is special. Before I could deepen the kiss a single cough sounded behind us. My heart dropped, I forgot Medley and Squelch were still here! Oh buck, here we go. Reluctantly I pulled away from Page and turned to our audience. Medley's mouth hung open and Squelch was just smiling knowingly. I swear to the gods Squelch if you say a damn wor- “I bucking knew you two would get together eventually! Finally! I win the bet, pay up Medley!”, yelled a very happy Squelch, whom was bounding around Medley in circles. “Yeah yeah, take your bits you big lug”, scowled Medley as she held a big bag of bits to Squelch to which he snatched up eagerly. How much were they betting on us anyways? That bag's a little on the plump side. “Don't worry my little love bug, I am gunna take you to that restaurant you've been wanting to go to with this. You know, the one with those cakes you love so much~”, Medley instantly brightened up at the promise, pulling Squelch into a bone crushing hug. Now it was our turn at a little revenge, both Page and I coughing to get their attention. The two ignored us as their hug slowly turned into a makeout session. “Ugh for bucks sakes, lets go and wait outside, Page”, and with that said I dragged Page with me outside and closed the door behind us. Knowing how long they usually go at it it would most likely be a good ten minutes until their slobber fest would be done. And I base that off previous moments of boredom I spent laying in bed in the middle of some nights. Counting all of the seconds leading up until the noises stopped, I regret not asking mother for a apartment with two bedrooms, ugh. “Well they certainly are comfortable with each other to do that in front of us, or are they just exhibitionists? Either way their cute huh?”, Page blushed a little as he spoke. I sighed, nodding in agreement, yeah they are sickeningly quite, bleh. The next ten minutes was spent with idle chit chat about the weather until the shameless duo popped out of the apartment. “You done? Good, now lets get to class before it we are late!”, Medley and Page nodded in agreement and we were off, trotting at a moderate pace through the halls and out of the apartment. As we went along our way through Canterlot Page and Medley were talking about exams, while Squelch and I conversed about far more serious topics. “Soooo, you and Page huh? What happened to never fall in love with your food, little miss hypocrite?”, Squelch teased, wearing the most shit eating grin on his face. It took every ounce of my willpower to not strangle the idiot. Resorting instead to a very quick and painful jab to his ribs. “yeeowch, heh did I hit a nerve there princess?” I rolled my eyes at him and looked over to Page and Medley to make sure they were far ahead out of earshot. Satisfied that they wouldn't hear us I recounted my attachment to Page as well was the event of us actually deciding to become a couple not too long ago. And describing my strange instinct to protect him. Perhaps Squelch has had the same urges as I? “Well I am glad we are all in the same boat now, but that whole instinct thing? I haven't felt any urge like that with Medley, maybe you should ask your mother about this whole thing?”, I cringed at that idea, although I had the same thought I just fear mother's reaction. “I'll tell her about it in my next letter, as much as I hate asking for help I have to let her know. My emotions can be a danger to us both and I need some way of controlling myself.”, my thoughts flashed back to what happened Phylum, my most recent example of said emotional outbursts. “Like what happened to Phylum? I saw the aftermath when you left college that night, but you never told me what happened. He was like an entirely different pony, what did you do?”, he was right, I didn't. The main reason was because of the aftershock, it was like I blacked out and woke up with a unconscious Phylum by my side. It took me a few days but the memories came rushing back, and my little “chat” with Phylum? It wasn't pretty. It was a day after Page's attempted suicide and I was outside Phylum's office. The night was young, the sun had barely set and the college was void of life, save for the occasional janitor roaming the halls. I knocked on the door twice, after hearing a muffled “Come in”, I slipped inside. I knew he was expecting me, turns out Phylum has taken a liking to me, flirting every chance he got. So I took advantage of his lust to me and asked him to speak privately with me. Begrudgingly I asked for some extra credit and he obliged. And there he was, the pink haired bastard sitting at his desk. He wore a smile on his face when he looked up from his writing, dimming his magical hold on his papers for a moment. His eyes roamed my body from afar, a twinge of excitement in his pink orbs. Poor fool thinks this is going to go down like those cheap porno films where the student ruts the teacher for extra credit. Oh how wrong he was. “Ah hello Flare! It's a little late but I suppose you wanted to speak to me about that extra credit you asked of me earlier today?”, his voice was smooth and soft and his smile genuine, you wouldn't think that this stallion would harbor such a dark side. I said nothing, merely nodding as I approached his desk. “So, what did you want to do abou-hurk!”, I didn't let him finish as I dove at him like a cannonball. My hooves at his throat, my wings flared and a bestial growl erupted from my throat. To put it lightly, I wasn't myself. “W-what the buck are you doing Flare!? Get off of me this instant!”, Phylum shrieked between erratic breaths. I just growled, applying more pressure on his throat. He struggled like mad, punching his hooves against my sides. I was so full of adrenaline that I barely felt a thing, unlike poor Phylum right then and there. “Why?!”, that single word snapped me out of it, this wasn't the voice of a evil pony I was expecting, but of a quivering coward. Realizing I was this close to snapping his neck I let go, taking a few steps back from my coughing teacher. He coughed and coughed, doing his best to rub his throat, no doubt trying to ease his discomfort. All the while his gaze never left mine, a look of both anger and fear in his eyes. “Because of Page”, I plainly stated, barely holding myself from growling. Phylum's face scrunched into confusion, his eyes left mine to a spot on the floor then back. Slowly he stood up, wincing slightly, clearing his throat twice as he did. “What about that worthless waste of space? What, you a sympathizer for the Breakwatts? Did that runt whine about that blackmail and send you to kill me over it?”, Phylum's voice was calm but I could hear the shakiness in it, what a weakling. “You ruined his life, you bled him dry over a false promise and threw him away without a second thought! What did he bucking do to deserve that? Why should he suffer for a past mistake he didn't even take part of?”, I roared at him, not caring if a passerby heard me. Phylum tilted his head at my question and chuckled. That chuckling turned into laughter, well that wasn't the reaction I was expecting. “Why do you even care? It's none of your damn business flare, you know what? How about you get the buck out of here and I won't press charges? Wouldn't want your career to be over before it started, so there's the door!”, he crossed his arms as he said this. As if I was intimidated by getting expelled. If I wasn't so feral then, I probably would have backed down in fear of losing my chance at becoming queen again, but unluckily for Phylum I couldn't care less. “I don't bucking think so, you made it my business when you broke him. You don't have the right to treat somepony the way you did, Phylum!”, with a growl I lurched forward, causing him to flinch ever so slightly. “W-who the buck do you think you are!?”, he was going to regret asking that, and so did I. I closed my eyes and let the change happen. My fur fizzled away in waves as green flames washed over me, dissipating my disguise as it went. Feeling the last of the flames die out I opened my eyes to the most pleasing sight. There was the big bad stallion Phylum, cowering on the floor shaking like a leaf in the wind. His pupils were nothing but pin pricks, and do I see tears? “Q-Q-Queen Chrysalis? Oh my Celestia.”, I grinned at his reaction, being sure to flash my fangs over my lips. Phylum's horn glowed in his pink aura, don't tell me he is trying to attack me of all beings in this world? “Don't even try it, you will just die tired”, with a low growl I stepped forward until I was looming over him. The aura around his horn died down to nothing, instead resorting to shrinking into a ball as best he could. I smirked at this and used the same spell I used when Squelch got busy, sound proofing the room for this private moment. “Now tell me, my dear Phylum, why did you do it?”, I asked calmly, perhaps I could try the nice approach for now. Phylum muttered something between a cry and a pitiful whimper. I don't have time for this, buck being calm! I slammed him with my magic in full force, flinging him through the air. With a loud thud I pinned him against the wall. An instant later I bound him in my magic, willing green ethereal binds to form around his limbs and at the base of his horn. He was at my mercy, if he tried to break free I would snap his limbs apart. If he tried to use magic he would lose the part of himself that gives him purpose. In all terms and purposes, he was bucked beyond measure. And the look in his eyes told me he knew. “W-what do you want to know, Chrysalis?”, his voice barely above a whisper. “Now that is more like it, I am going to ask this only once. Tell me why you hate Page so much”, I squeezed his binds as I questioned him, eliciting in a pained grunt from the stallion. “I don't hate him, I hate his family, his damn bucking family!”, Phylum yelled angrily as he struggled. I stayed silent, there was more to this story and I want to hear every detail. I urged him to continue with another squeeze on his limbs. “Hng! That's it! Stop! No more!”, he had the gall to beg for mercy, after all he did? “Fool! Tell me everything!”, I roared, applying even more pressure leaving him to cry out in pain. “F-fine, you know the Breakwatts yes? Of his traitor father Alidade and all of that huh?”, I nodded, my curiosity piqued. “Yes, his father leaked information of Equestria's security around the borders, selling the nation's weaknesses to the highest bidder. What of it?”, what was he getting at? “He sold the secrets to a band of rebels vying to take revenge on Equestria for some war crimes. The ones he sold them to were Gryphons trying to bring back the old ways of their people, ways of war and tribal bullshit. The fools thought that if they attacked a few settlements in Equestria it would rally the people of their society that still followed the old ways. One of the towns they attacked was in Appleloosa, they murdered dozens in their raid. I used to live there at the time along with my wife....” I already had a good idea of how this ended but I let him continue. If reliving painful memories made him suffer then I would gladly let him finish. I sensed a well of emotions in him, he was holding something back, and it was about to burst out. “I was away on business when they attacked, I went back home as fast as I could when I had heard. There....there was a list of people found dead. Among the names I found my wife listed among those killed....because of Alidade my wife is dead!” Tears ran down Phylum's face freely as he screamed those last four words. All of the pain and sorrow he held deep inside flowed freely. I felt everything he did at that moment, all of the suffering, it was enough to cause a single tear to leave my eyes. I pushed those thoughts of pity to the back of my mind, I don't care what he went through, I want absolution for Page and nothing else. “And so you wanted revenge I suppose? With Alidade gone, Page's mother dead, how would you have gotten it? The answer I think you know well Phylum”, my words cold as ice as I spoke. “I tried to forget what had happened all those years ago, bury the pain. But when I saw Page, when I saw that name of his family printed on those student forms....I lost myself. It all came rushing back to me and I wanted satisfaction, I wanted Page to suffer because somepony had to pay for what Alidade did! Its not enough that he was executed, I did what was right, for my wife!” I scoffed at that, justifying simple revenge with the death of his wife. The stallion who caused this is long dead yet he refuses to let it go. He's just a fool who wanted others to suffer like he did, selfish bastard. “Your wife is dead, I get that. But Page is not his father and he sure as hell doesn't need all that has happened to him! The city was already against him and you made it worse with your blackmailing. Because of you he nearly killed himself, because of you he lost his one goal in life to bring his family's name out of the gutter! And I will make sure he gets that back.” I took a step forward, angling my horn against his forehead. “I will give you one chance, promise me you will explain to your superiors that Page's charges were false to get his place in Bravehill returned to him”, I explained, digging my horn into his skin to push my point across. No pun intended of course. “And I will let you go.” “Never! I don't care if that runt's life is made worse because of me! I wanted him to feel what I felt when my wife died, to feel the world take everything away from him! And you, little miss cheeselegs? I don't bucking care why you would waste your time with him, but I would gladly do it all again!” “Oh, very poor choice of words”, I growled and charged my horn in preparation for a very special spell just for Phylum. Phylum was begging now, apologizing for everything, saying he would turn a new leaf and try to make it up to Page. Too late, should have made that choice before that snarky insult. I grinned evilly as I released my charged energy, unleashing a torrent of green energy right into his mind. This spell is similar to what I used to indoctrinate ponies, like the one I used on Grunt during my last excursion for mother. Except the goal was not to make him a mindless slave, I had something far more sinister in mind. This particular spell delved in his memories, linking our minds together in a continuous melding process. Phylum screamed a blood curdling cry of pain, thrashing about against his bindings in seizure. And did I mention that it was extremely painful for the being that the spell was influencing? I relished in his screams but focused on my goal, his juicy center of his subconscious. I saw everything, every little memory, every emotion he ever lived and all of the things that made Phylum who he was. It is hard to explain the feeling of melding with somepony's mind, all I can say that it is both comforting and harrowing to take part in. Two beings sharing each others memories in one moment, but alas this was far from intimate, I kept my thoughts blocked and his wide open. From what I could see he was a model citizen who was prized as a professor by many. He had many friends and had a deep love for his deceased wife. And of course there was the anger for the Breakwatt family, for Page. But I didn't delve into his subconscious for a field trip, my goal was to do what every smart changeling learns to do, manipulation. His memories were like bubbles filled with experience and life, and I started popping the metaphorical figments. Starting with his hatred for Page, his family and every little thing he knew about them that affected him personally. Phylum once again screamed at the sensation of losing his memories. His personality? Gone, bad temper? Zilch, I wanted him to be a clean slate. Phylum was in pure agony, everything he held dear to himself was being erased completely. However I did leave the basic things intact, how to do his job, eat, sleep, bathe, his friends and all of that. He was nothing but a whimpering, quivering mess now. I doubt he even knew who he was now, nothing was left but his name and his profession. But I was wrong, he still held a shred of his life. “F-Floral, w-where are you?”, ah yes his wife, I can't have him remembering that little tidbit can I? The last thing that kept him who he was, my my he must have some strong memories of her if he can still stay resistant if not a little bit. I took those memories of Floral, they felt warm and loving, he truly cared for his wife even after death, perhaps it was the only thing that brightened up his days? And without any hesitation I wiped them away until there was nothing left of Floral. All the while Phylum screamed bloody murder as I forced him to watch as every moment he spent with her was erased right before his very eyes. He begged and begged for me to stop, but I didn't even give him a single drop of respite. After what must have been felt like an agonizing eternity for Phylum he was deathly quiet as the last of his memories for Floral faded away. Phylum looked hollow, his empty eyes gazing off in the distance. As cruel as it sounds I felt satisfied, I broke his will and destroyed all that made him who he was and I felt....good. But my job wasn't done, now all that was left was to create new memories for him, he was a clean slate after all. So I began repairing the holes in his memory, creating false moments of happiness to replace all of the bad ones. And finally I made a memory for Page, this particular memory would give Phylum a small purpose that he would strive to follow, a small goal if you will. Phylum will have the need to help Page in any way possible, and I added a little bit where he thinks he was on his way to the dean to fix what he had done. After all was said in done I cast a strong sleeping spell on Phylum, when he wakes up he will be a different stallion. He will be happy and submissive and he will be Page's new best friend. But as soon as the connection between our minds died out I blacked out. I woke up the next day with no recollection of the night before, I panicked when I found Phylum unconscious next to me. I had no idea what I did at that moment but I knew I did something horrible. I left the college and arrived home to a very elated Page, he told me that Phylum took back everything. All of the lies he told, the blackmail, it was just gone. Apparently he told the dean that he was mistaken and Page had not cheated. Needless to say Page was taken back into college, charges dropped and all. I was happy for him of course, but there was a heavy feeling in my gut and when the memories came back from that night....I was ashamed. That is correct, me of all changelings had felt bad for what I had done, that wasn't me that night, I was someling else entirely. “Wow, Cheeselegs? Seriously? Oh my bucking god that is a good one!”, Squelch's laughter brought me back to the present with us nearing the college. Have I been talking that long? But of course Squelch didn't find this one bit serious at all, no surprises there. “At least pretend you find this serious in some way you idiot!”, I growled, swatting his muzzle hard. “Ow, I do find it serious, just trying to lighten up the mood jeez. Look, I won't judge you on what you did, what happened was pretty bucked up but in the end Page is happy, Phylum is happy-ish and everything is alright.”, I tried to accept his words but I just couldn't. I used a spell that was entrusted to only the royal bloodline and it was never to be used lightly. If mother found out I would be ruined. “I broke him Squelch, you didn't see how empty he was when I did that to him. And when I saw the aftermath of what I had done, how I couldn't control myself....I'm scared Squelch.”, I muttered in the ghost of a whisper. I really am scared, what would happen if I lost control around Squelch, Medley and Page? A comforting hoof from Squelch broke me from my thoughts, a small smile on his lips. “Its going to be okay Chrysalis, just stay calm and when you finish class just write a letter to your mother about all of this okay? I know you don't want to lose your chance at being queen but personally I wouldn't like having a crazy leader, just sayin”, as much as I wanted to slap him for that comment, he was right. Being queen wouldn't matter if I couldn't find a way to control these instincts. Just have to be calm and in control, no problem right? We arrived to college soon after, Squelch said his goodbyes and left for his day job leaving us, the dynamic trio to ourselves. Medley went along her own way to her music classes and Page and I attended Biology class. As soon as we got inside I saw it was going to be like every other day here, crowded and barely any seats to share. We opted for a occupied table, but thankfully it had two seats free. Unfortunately our arrival had not gone unnoticed, Phylum had seen us and waved, a friendly smile instead of a angry scowl. Besides that, class went smoothly, twenty minutes remained in class and nothing had triggered my instincts. I kept repeating a mantra in my mind, “Just a few more moments, Just a few more moments”. But the universe has impeccable timing with its way of bucking things up “So Page, since when did you go from being Phylum's bitch to being his best pal huh? Do anything extra curricular in his office or something?”, one of the students jabbed a hoof into Page's side as he teased him. The pony in question was a blue furred earth pony with a green mohawk, sitting next to him was a just as blue pony with the same hair style albeit black and much smaller in size. They must be twins, but that wasn't the problem, he was touching Page, my Page! “Yeah, sucking up to the teacher can get ya in good standing if ya catch my meaning!”, the duo cackled at their own joke. Page just yawned in response and ignored them both. I however was struggling not to throw myself at them. There was that feeling again, the need to tear something apart and protect Page. I had to do something so I bit down on my hoof, hard. Thankfully the pain shocked me out of my urges, they were still there but much less now. “Um are you alright Flare? You look a little on edge?”, I snapped my eyes to Page's. Looking into his pools of green instantly calmed my feelings. The carnal instinct dying down until there was nothing left. That was way too close. “Y-yeah, just some nerves for the exams and all of that, heh”, Page just shook his head and kissed my cheek. If he had anything to say about me he kept it to himself. After what felt like an eternity class was dismissed and we left home. We arrived without incident and found Squelch and Medley had arrived before us. And as quick as we had arrived the trio had left me behind, apparently they were going out for some clubbing but I declined. I trusted those two to watch over Page, and it would save me from going batshit crazy if Page got heckled or something. Suddenly the sound of flames burning tore me from my thoughts. Sure enough when I turned to look to the coffee table there sat a letter in the center. It was still sizzling from the transit, little embers fizzling onto the wooden furnish. With a flip of my mane I levitated the still smoking letter to eye level, examining the for the tell tale signs of mothers handywork. There in oh so perfect cursive stood a single name at the top, Artiidaes. A letter from mother, and it didn't take her months to write back this time! With a giddy Squeak I tore open the envelope and perused its contents eagerly. “Dear Chryssy, I am oh so very happy to hear that your are progressively getting better in your studies! From what you have told me you are doing much than your sister. You know how she is, her mind more focused on mating instead of actually completing her tasks I assign to her. Can you believe she actually didn't write her last letter to me? She had her personal guard write a letter in her stead! The very nerve!” I rolled my eyes at that last part. An image of Gynaephora yelling orders to poor Shell to write above the sounds of her rutting unpleasantly popped in my head. Oh and speaking of Shell, did I mention that Squelch's brother is the guard Gynaephora chose as her personal assistant? You should have seen Squelch when he found out, he wasn't pleased at all. Seems like he and I have sibling issues, at least it gives us something else to converse with my underling about. With that thought I returned to reading. “I did find that the guard's name was Shell as he described himself in his missive. He is so much more pleasant to communicate with compared to your sister. Quite a shame he isn't my son, I would gladly exchange him for Gynny! Alas I jest, but I won't lie when I say that I considered it.” Now that is a enticing thought, but a mare can dream can't I? I chuckled at the very idea, I wouldn't mind having Shell as a sibling at all. A strong, intelligent and decisive changeling guard would give us better credibility than Gynaephora ever would. “Anyways I hope I have surprised you with how quickly I responded compared to my last letter. I apologize for that my dear, it has been quite hectic down here with planning and organizing our forces. Yes I did write “our” plans daughter, you aren't going crazy. For the final step of this plan I need both you and your sister, you are both essential for what I am bringing together. What I am about to write next, I know you will not like what I am proposing. I am planning to pursue diplomatic relations with Canterlot, specifically the princesses.” Wait a bucking second there, diplomacy? I reread that last line finding that wretched word there plain as day. She seriously can't be deciding diplomacy with those blasted ponies and the those damn princesses no less either! Has she lost her mind? “I already know what you are thinking and yes I mean it. Now this relates to my reasons for sending you out to Canterlot, daughter. Of course the main goal was for you to attend college, but to assist in my plans. You asked me in your last letter how turning the captains to our cause would help us. My plan is to use them to help ease our passage into Canterlot during the merchant guild meetings of this year. This way it wouldn't seem suspicious for a large group of ponies to travel to Canterlot, they would be assumed to be one of the merchant caravans.” So she intends to disguise a small army and herself as humble merchants and just march into the city unopposed. Clever, but I still don't understand how the whole diplomacy part comes into place. I went back to her writing, eager to see where she was going with this hair brained scheme of hers. “As you know, every year the merchant caravans consult with the princesses in their court discussing economics and such. Using the captains under our leash, we fake our credentials and easily make it inside the castle towards our goal. Then and only then will I reveal myself and leave my life in the mercy of the princesses.” I could hardly believe what I was reading. She will be executed on the spot! “No doubt you find my method crazy, but I believe that the princesses will listen to what I say if I come in peace. I take hope in the knowledge that they will not harm us if we relinquish ourselves, unlike changelings pony folk are much more understanding. Despite their hatred towards our kind due to your failure, which I understand your decision I do not agree with it, they will help us if I explain our plight. We lack the resources for surviving another few years, a decade at the most, we must put our trust in the princesses in this. Chrysalis, we cannot keep resorting to our old tactics, I know it is in our history but we must change or die and become history ourselves.” Perhaps mother is right, maybe we need to kill them with kindness instead of dominating them. If this plan succeeds we could coordinate an understanding with the ponies. Looking to my friends, Medley and Squelch, it gives a small twinge of hope that an alliance between our species can grow and prosper. Although Squelch is disguised, I am sure their love would stay strong if the truth comes out about his true self. But looking at it now, a world where we wouldn't have to disguise and deceive to survive....it will take time to adapt certainly. “At the end of this year, when I take to Canterlot I expect both you and Gynaephora to be by my side when I confront the princesses. Please trust me Chrysalis, I cannot do this without you. There is no need for fighting anymore, quell your hatred for Celestia and your allies if only for a moment. Our future is not to be written in lies and deceit, but in compassion and understanding! I know you will understand what is best for us.” Give up my hate and accept surrender, surely she doesn't think it can be that easy. Or can it? I find myself getting used to these ponies now, Page and Medley have changed my outlook in a way. Fine, I shall give mother the benefit of the doubt, hopefully I will leave to see the success. “In my heart I know you will understand what is best for us, if you are angry with me I understand, but please approach this with a open mind. Love, your mother, Artiidaes. Thoughts swam through my minds eye as I folded the letter close. Mother was serious, she really believes that diplomacy will fix everything. Perhaps it could work, but will they even give us a chance after what I did? Whatever happens, I trust in mother's judgement, even if I don't wholly agree quite yet. But if this can secure our species a brighter future, then I will stand by the notion of said future albeit cautiously. My only worry is Gynaephora, she will most likely refuse the idea entirely but who knows, maybe she will actually stop being such a fool for once. After what felt like hours of pacing and thinking I sat down and wrote my thoughts to mother. With pen in my magical grasp I began. “Mother, as insane as that plan sounds, I shall stand by you. I just hope we are successful, just call on me and I shall follow you my dear mother. My only worry is Gynaephora, she won't be on board on this as I am, and I fear her reaction. As much as as she is a fool, she is still the ever cunning ice queen. Anyways lets go onto less serious topics for now mother, we can always deliberate more on this in the future. We have many months before this year ends after all and I wish to ask of you a question” Gods damnit here we go, mother is going to flip when I tell her about Page and I. Here we go.... “I don't know how else to put this so I shall write it out bluntly, I have taken a liking to a certain stallion.” My heart raced, my cheeks flushed heatedly and my stomach felt like it had butterflies in it. I was about to reveal my crush to my mother of all changelings, how am I supposed to react in this situation? No matter what I write I can just imagine the outcome would end with mother scolding me or embarrassing me somehow. For bucks sake I am falling for my food! How will she react? But there is nopony or noling for that matter that I can talk to to find out if what I feel is genuine. “I feel a attachment, like I want to protect him and hurt any ho would harm him. Already I have acted upon these urges, manipulating and torturing a teacher that blackmailed his life to ruin. The stallion in question is Page, and those feelings I fear have always existed all the way to our first meeting somehow. Only when he tried to kill himself did those feelings become strong enough for me to notice. Yes that is right, he nearly ended himself from his losses and I fear what I would have done if he had gone through with it. I imagine the newspaper headlines would be of a rabid changeling slaughtering the faculty of Bravehills, I shudder to imagine it, anyways please write back asap.” With a nervous sigh I burnt the letter, watching the flames linger for a moment before sitting on the couch. Maybe I should have worded that differently? Will she disown me if she knows I am dating a pony and not a changeling? Would I even be banished? I wonder if someling else had ever had these problems, maybe there isn't any mention of it because those involved were banished, or worse! Before I could imagine a fate worse than banishment the coffee table burst into flames, a single letter lay emitting smoke. With a shaky breath I picked up the letter, slowly unfolded it and read. Only a single sentence was written “We need to talk, I shall be over in a moment” I gulped dryly, what does she mean by in a few moments, she is down in the citadel....isn't she? Knock, knock, knock, three solid thunks on the door made me jump. There is no way she is here, it must be Page and the others coming back home early, yes that must be it. But still I couldn't lose this sense of dread that hung over me as I made my way to the door. Slowly I opened the door and what I saw brought a huge weight down from my shoulders. There stood a pegasus mare, her fur was a striking red and she had quite a long white mane that went all the way down her neck. The most beautiful part of her were her eyes, a calming orange. “Yes? Do you need something? Because if your selling something I don't want any”, the mare merely smiled at me, oookay. I moved to close the door but was stopped when she placed a calm hoof against the door. I caught a glance at her cutie mark, a white star orbited by three balls of fire, one green, blue and orange. “Is that any way to greet your mother, Flare?”, I gasped, oh buck me. I tried to utter a greeting but I ended up tripping over my words and ended up saying, “Bwuh?” The mare just giggled as she pushed past me into the living room. I quickly closed the door and turned to my new guest. She looked around the room intently before plopping herself on the couch. A moment later she burst into orange flames and as the flames disappeared there sat my mother, a smug grin on her muzzle. “How did you, but you were-how!?”, mother giggled again as he facehooved. “Don't tell me you forgot about teleportation magic, dear?”, I groaned, indeed how could I forget I did send her a letter long distance with magic after all. “So you wanted to talk, mother?”, I asked, laying myself down on the carpet but never taking my eyes of off her. “Yes I did, and I am severely disappointed in you Chrysalis. You have fallen for a stallion, and a pony no less”, oh no, she is going to banish me and get rid of Page. Looking back on that moment I was really overreacting, but could you blame me? I was already on edge from my urges and just the notion of me never seeing Page again drove me over that said edge. “No! I will not have you take him away from me! I know he isn't a changeling and you must think I am crazy for even pursuing a relationship with the species we consider our food!”, I looked away from my mother and to my wringing hooves, I was in deep and I could only go deeper so I said it. “And I love him okay!? And not as a source for love but as a individual, I know that if I explain myself to him we could make this wor-” “Enough!”, I flinched at my mother's booming voice. My ears rang with that single word, even my head was pounding at the sheer volume of it. I kept my sight downwards, not willing to look my mother in the eyes. “For heavens sakes Chrysalis, enough with your rambling, what makes you think I would separate you two?”, I was dumbstruck, this had to be a joke. But when I looked up at her I saw no teasing look, no smug grin, just a motherly smile. “But, you aren't mad?”, mother shook her head, which confused me even further. Mother yelled at me for things much less serious than this. “Actually I am extremely furious, but not because of you falling for a stallion, honey”, she said in a calm voice. I shuddered at that, now that's more like the mother I know. I was just surprised she wasn't yelling her head off right now. “I just thought that yelling at each other would do nothing to solve our problems, wouldn't you agree?”, I nodded dumbly, how does she do that? “Although I am disappointed in you Chryssy, about your actions of late to be more precise. You said you have been having urges ever since you realized your feelings for Page?”, again I nodded. She brought a hoof under her chin and hummed thoughtfully. “Looking back on this whole thing I blame myself for this in a way. I should have told you about our....condition”, condition? What does she mean by a condition? “Good thing your sitting down for this one cause it is going to be a doozy. We of the royal blood line are much different compared to the commoners in our society, no? Well this condition that I speak of relates to our instincts, and for example, your own. You see, those of us in the royal blood line are quite possessive of our loved ones to a most homicidal degree, I heard that alicorns have the same problem but I've never seen it happen personally. An example is needed, remember how your father executed those bands of rebels way back when?” I nodded, I do in fact remember that situations, I was only five years old, a hatchling but I vaguely remember some sort of conflict. Something that had to do about disgruntled soldiers that didn't get enough pay or something. “Well he sentenced them over their war crimes against the changeling people, but in reality he was just jealous because all some of those rebels happened to be old suitors of mine before I met your father. When he found out he used their crimes as a scapegoat to, leveling the playing field as is how he put it. Oh he was such a charmer, taking me to a luxurious dinner the very same night as the sentence. He was such a romantic, oh how I miss him” Well that was unexpected, at least I wasn't the only one in our family to go insane for a moment or two. At least I'm not psychotic or anything, this is perfectly normal, well for our kind anyway. “Although I have felt the same urges I resisted enough for it to not be a problem in my case. Your father was always a bit headstrong, and you are your father's daughter but anyways lets go back to you shall we? This is your first love, and don't tell me it isn't because you first timers are the hardest to control. So you are perfectly fine, and I know what you did to your professor, Gynaephora had told me all about it.” “Wait a bucking second, Gynaephora told you? You had her spy on me!?”, I was outraged, how long has she been keeping tabs on me? “Please understand that I only enforced her spying after you told me you had been spending a lot of time with Page, I was afraid you would harm somepony and alert the populace to your presence. But I am impressed darling, you managed to control yourself enough to not kill Phylum during your episode and kept your tracks relatively unnoticed to all but Gynny.” “ I understand why you did it mother, I was a threat and I can push that behind me, for now. So, um, you aren't going to punish me for what I did to Phylum? For nearly revealing myself to the populace and all of that jazz?”, mother just raised an eyebrow at me and scoffed, as if the question was ridiculous to her. “You felt terrible after you incident with Phylum correct? Well don't be, he deserved every bit of what happened to him and I approve of it. Besides, I believe the guilt you harbor will be a good lesson for yourself. It will remind you of what you become when you lose yourself to your instincts. Use it to better yourself, but remember that these urges will never go away” Never go away huh? So I have to deal with homicidal feelings toward anypony that would even think of messing with Page? There has to be some sort of loop hole here! “Is there nothing I can do to lessen the drive? Like a cure or some sort of potion I can drink whenever I am around Page?”, my mother just burst into a fit of giggles when I finished my question. Okay did I say something funny? She rolled around the couch as she cackled for a good five minutes until she sobered up. She still wore a goofy grin however. “Oh my goodness I am so sorry daughter. Ahem, phew, I don't think your going to like the answer to that question. As far as I know there is no potion in the world that can cure you. Maybe the zebra's know of such a potion but I am afraid traveling to their lands is out of the question at the moment. The best way to calm that heat in your body is well, you are going to have to perform the horizontal shuffle and Page shall be your dance partner.” My face turned red instantly, oh she did not just say what I think she said. I haven't even considered going that far yet, Page and I have only been together for three days for gods sakes! “Hahah! Oh my the look on your face is priceless, oh my gods! Calm down daughter! I was merely jesting!”, I just growled at her, this was not the time for joke making. “Although mating would help you ease that urge of yours it is not a requirement. Just spend time with your coltfriend, embrace him, kiss him, basically become used to his presence. In time you will find it easy to suppress yourself around him and any dangers poised towards him won't bother you as much. But anyways that is all you need to know about this, do you have any questions?” I had a multitude actually, but I shall settle on just one. “Just one really, why are you okay with me loving a pony, mother? You said you always wanted me to land one rich and strong prince from the other kingdoms, so why aren't you yelling at me over that?”, mother smiled at me as she leaped off the couch and layed down to my eye level. “Because even though you are two different species, even though they are a source of food for us, means that you can't love each other? Heavens no! I believe that as long as your love is true anypony or anyling can love who they want, regardless of species or gender! I am proud you finally found that special somepony for yourself, frankly I am glad you did and didn't end up like Gynny, trouncing around with dozens of suitors!” Well butter my flank and call me a biscuit. She is perfectly okay with me and Page, well that is a relief, sort of. “And besides, I think it would be exciting for my future grandchildren to be hybrids!”, I face hooved at that comment. Yep, this is definitely my mother, quirks and all. For the next hour or so we talked about our past days, I recounted tales from my classes and her with her plans of diplomacy. I missed talking to her about trivial things and the mood was pleasant. But it didn't last for long as there was the sound of the door unlocking. Oh crap, Page and the others are back, I need mother too-oh. Mother had already stood up and was disguised, she gave me a smug smile that positively screamed arrogance. At least she is competent! Soon enough the three stooges stumbled inside, Squelch was holding a very tipsy looking Medley up from falling over. But Page and Squelch on the other hand looked pretty sober. “Geez Stonewall, how in Celestia's big flank did you even manage to down all of those ciders and not even be a little bit tipsy?”, Page asked, his voice holding an air of amazement as he questioned the smug guard. “Now that is a trade secret my friend, I did give Medley fair warning when she challenged me though! Ain't that right darling?”, Medley grumbled something incomprehensible, poor girl was drunk beyond reason. “Ahem!”, mother cleared her throat and caused the sober two to jump nearly a foot in the air. All eyes were on my mother, Page looked confused as hell but Squelch just smiled, oh great he knows too? Looks like I am going to have to chat with Squelch after all of this. “Er, hello? Who are you?”, Page asked while he fiddled with his hooves worriedly. I don't blame him for being nervous, he is unknowingly standing in the presence of one of the strongest leaders amongst the changeling nations. “Why hello there, you must be that strapping young colt that Flare has told me all about! I am her mother, Nova, charmed!”, she gave Page a quick hug to which he returned awkwardly. “Oh and get over here Stonewall, give momma a big hug!” Oh yeah I forgot that Squelch's disguise is also “Flare's” brother, one big dumb happy family, minus one Gynaephora of course. I smiled at the cute little moment that was happening before me, it was so cute I think I might have gotten diabetes from just the sight of them hugging. After that fiasco we all relaxed in the living room, Squelch made dinner for us all and Medley was finally sobering up. The rest of the night was spent well, mother poked us all with questions and a few of them I won't mention just because of how bucking embarrassing and uncouth they were. Alas, all good things must come to an end and mother said his good byes and left, leaving the rest of us to get ready for bed. Medley and Page were fast asleep, she in Squelch's bed and Page in mine. Oh yes, Page has moved in with me after the incident, apparently the owner of the apartment complex had heard of his falling out and kicked him out. Something about how he was only allowed to stay in the apartments if he managed to excel his studies, there was a bet going around the complex, one side against Page and the other betting for his success. The owner of the complex was actually betting for his success and he lost a lot of bits when word of his expulsion go out. Basically he got pissed and kicked him out, you should have seen his face when he learned Page got accepted back in college. Anyways that is old news, speaking of news Squelch and I were talking about mother. “So, your mom told you how you can control those urges of yours then?”, I nodded, taking a sip of the coffee he had graciously made for us. “Your mother really is a big help around here, and I am sorry for not telling you about her. I promise you I only found out about her when she sent Gynaephora to snoop around here. Imagine my surprise to find your sister acting all submissive and shit. I thought she was an imposter or something, perish the thought!”, a mare can dream though. “All in all I think we are gunna be okay, your mother is the best huh?”, just as he said that a letter fizzled into existence, Squelch unfolded it and read aloud. “That is because I am darling, oh and don't forget to brush your teeth before bed!”, Squelch and I just stared at each other wide eyed. “How does she do that?”, I muttered in disbelief. And sure enough another letter appeared. This time I read it aloud. “Because I know all, mwuahahaha!”, and yes she really did take the time to write the maniac laugh in there. “You know what? It is way too late to be thinking about how your mother does that thing. Frankly its creepy and I just want to sleep, agreed?”, with that said I trotted to the bedroom with Squelch by my side. For the first time in a long while I slept soundly, with Page nestled between my chest. This was bliss, nothing could possibly ruin this week. Two days later.... Friday, the last day of the week has finally arrived. I was sitting during my math class listening to the teacher drone on about equations or something. I didn't care about that today, I was all giddy for the plans I thought out for today. What was so exciting about today? Today is Grand Galloping Gala, but I know what your thinking, how did I even afford the tickets to such an event. The answer? I didn't, the college itself is hosting their own version of the Gala, something that the student body had created for those of us that didn't have a small fortune to spend willy nilly. I had it all planned out, I had even bought a summer dress for the occasion, Medley bought a ballroom dress for herself and I assume Page and Squelch got tuxedos. Speaking of Page, I hadn't seen him this morning. The last time I saw him was when he was going to get breakfast at a cafe or something like that. I notched it off as him being late, I mean its only been one hour and I would see him at Biology101 anyways. All of a sudden there was a banging noise. The entire class turned to the origin and we all found ourselves staring at “Stonewall” banging like a mad against the one of the windows. I excused myself from class and dashed outside, nearly galloping into Squelch. He was breathing heavily and he was covered in sweat. His pupils were dilated, he looked like he was high on adrenaline. “What the buck is wrong with you? This better be good, this counts as an absence you know!”, seriously, what is so gods be damned important that he had to interrupt class? “Page and Medley have been ponynapped!”, my heart dropped. “What!? Who!? When!?”, I felt my body grow hot, my heart began to race, I was losing control, and I was losing it fast. “I saw a bunch of the royal guard march to the apartment, they took them!”, oh gods not the royal guard, Page! Who could have done this, and why? Did they know about us? Did they figure us out after all this time? “The one leading the guards to our home, its Phylum! Chrysalis, I overheard him talking, he told them everything!” It was as if time itself froze, all of my senses were dulled out. Phylum? But how? I erased all trace of me from his mind. Who could have....that bucking bitch. I roared, stamping the ground leaving two indents and took off to the sky. Squelch followed close behind me just barely keeping up, she is going to pay, but first I needed to save my Medley and Page. I tore through the sky and flew with all of my might. There was nothing in all of Equestria that was going to stop me Or so I thought, what happened next....there was nothing I could have done that could have prepared me for it. Not even my enraged self could help me. It was the toughest fight I had ever been in and I nearly lost it all.