“I'm really gonna miss Pinkie Pie.” Rainbow Dash remarked, as she noticed the twitching of Chrysalis' eye.
Prince Blueblood glanced towards the colorful pegasus mare at his side, before shrugging “...I could take her or leave her.”
“Hey! What's that supposed to mean?” The pegasus asked, a touch defensive of her friend.
Blueblood shrugged “...She can be a bit much.”
Twilight decided to ignore these remarks in favor of looking for a way to defuse this situation. Glancing between her pink friend and the cadre of anxious seeming changelings with her and the, she suspected, very angry Changeling Queen, the young princess had to swallow down her own nervousness “So, uhm, like I said earlier, Pinkie does have some trouble-”
“Quiet.” Chrysalis tersely ordered, without looking towards Twilight.
“I- Chrysalis, please. I know-” Twilight began.
“I said...quiet.” Chrysalis coolly reiterated.
Without waiting for a response, the Changeling Queen took several steps forward, shaking the majority of the bits of confetti from her body. Twilight couldn't help but tense up, as Chrysalis stopped just in front of Pinkie Pie, worried that she might have to act to protect her friend.
“Alright. C'mon and chill already, it's not like you're the only one to-...” Rainbow Dash began, before noting the glare being sent her way by the Changeling Queen “...let me guess, you want me to stop talking, right?”
Chrysalis, her expression still stony, turned back to look down upon her subjects and the still grinning Pinkie Pie, before taking in a deep breath.
Exhaling slowly, the Changeling Queen closed her eyes before speaking “What exactly is going on here?”
“Isn't it obvious? It's a-” Pinkie started.
“Not you.” Chrysalis sharply cut-off the cheerful Earth pony. A moment later, she opened her eyes before casting her gaze over her changelings, and eventually leveling a hoof in the direction of the changeling that had yelled “Surprise!”.
“You there. What is this?” Chrysalis ordered, before gesturing with her hoof to the remaining bits of confetti.
The small group of changelings all turned their attention to the changeling singled-out, who quickly began fidgeting, clearly anxious. Glancing towards his fellow changelings for a few moments, only to note that they all seemed equally aware of their Queen's irritation and were all equally disinclined to speak up, he made a quiet gulping noise.
The changeling glanced from one side to the other, before looking back up to Chrysalis questioningly, evidently unsure how to answer. At this the Changeling Queen visibly took in another deep breath, before speaking in a calm tone “The one thing I will not be angry about is you trying to answer my question. Now...what is this?”
The changeling nodded quickly, before swallowing down his nervousness “Confetti?...For the party?”
“Party?” Chrysalis asked, to which the changeling and his comrades all nodded in response.
“Uh-huh, it's the super-awesome, Pinkie-” The pink pony began.
“Pinkie!” Twilight cut-in, worried that whatever magic was allowing the Changeling Queen to remain calm might be broken, if her friend got in a word “Pinkie Pie...maybe you should let Chrysalis finish speaking with her subjects first.”
“Okie-dokie-lokie.” Pinkie Pie happily chimed.
Chrysalis didn't seem to pay any mind as she began trotting forward, her subjects clearing a path for her, as she stepped out of the tunnel into a larger chamber. Alate and Cryptic soon followed, leading the remaining changelings to one side, as the ponies in the party trailed behind the Changeling Queen.
Twilight was surprised to note that it seemed to be one of the main chambers of the underground complex, an area that might be compared to the town square of a pony community. They had passed through it earlier on their little tour of hive, but the princess could have sworn that they were farther from it than this. Granted, she wasn't very used to navigating while underground, and Twilight was starting to suspect that the changelings deliberately arranged their tunnels in a misleading fashion. What Twilight was definitely sure of, was that when they passed through this chamber earlier, it hadn't been filled with streamers and balloons.
Pinkie Pie had been busy.
And it looked like Pinkie Pie had quite a bit of help along the way, if the hundreds of changelings flitting about were any indication. Some seemed to be flying about the upper levels of the chamber, still decorating, while others continued to fashion decorations from bits and pieces of fabric and paper. Some changelings seemed to be setting out what Twilight could only assume were food and beverages. And still others seemed to be haltingly working their way through a number of familiar pony party games, which Pinkie Pie had no doubt introduced to them.
Alate and Cryptic seemed to be in momentary awe, by the changes wrought by the pink pony, each of them turning about in the air to take in the sights of the chamber.
Rainbow Dash couldn't help but notice, before grinning up at them “Yeah, she does that...you don't really get all that used to it.”
“Pinkie Pie...you managed to do all of this in a couple of hours on your own?” Twilight asked, a bit amazed. She fully knew that Pinkie could work miracles when it came to arranging parties, but the chamber was enormous. And she couldn't even begin to guess where Pinkie had acquired the party supplies that was being put on display.
“Oh, no way, Twilight! I had lots of help!” Pinkie replied with a grin, as she wrapped a hoof around the changeling that Chrysalis had been questioning, demonstrating just who had been assisting the pink pony. For the changeling's part he didn't seem to be frantically trying to escape Pinkie's clutches, and instead merely looked a bit uncomfortable.
“Is that so?” Chrysalis asked, her eyes narrowing at the pink pony. The Changeling Queen didn't seem at all moved by Pinkie's celebratory accomplishments.
“Uh-huh!” Pinkie Pie replied with a chipper nod.
Chrysalis glanced towards the uncertain changeling at the pink pony's side, still wrapped up in Pinkie's companionable hug “Just how did-”
“Oh, oh, oh, I know!” Pinkie interjected, waving her hoof around to draw Chrysalis' attention. Pushing the changeling in her hooves forward “Cutter here was a really big help with making all the confetti! Like he's just super good at it! Like so good that I bet he would have like some sort of scissors Cutie Mark if he was a pony, to show how good he is at it! That would be so awesome, cause I know this one colt-”
“Enough.” Chrysalis interrupted.
“Oh, no! That wasn't nearly enough! I mean Cutter was a big help, but he couldn't do it all himself.” Pinkie Pie replied, misunderstanding the Changeling Queen's intent “Just about everyone really helped out a lot! Like Echo over there's been teaching me all kinds of neat party songs, and Amanita has this really cool glow-y stuff that we used to make this really neat banner. Probos has been super-helpful in helping with the party treats! Oh, oh, did you know that Pinch knows, like, every changeling here?!? He's really good at that thing that Twilight does, where it's all like 'You go here!' and 'You go there!' just like at the Winter Wrap-...There's Pinch! Hi Pinch!”
Pinkie Pie abruptly cut off her rambling in order to begin frantically waving her hoof at a changeling in the distance, presumably Pinch. After a few moments the distant changeling offered a hesitant wave back. Chrysalis slowly rose a hoof to begin massaging her brow, evidently trying to sooth away a growing headache.
Prince Blueblood took this opportunity to step forward “Yes, well, it certainly seems that you have been keeping busy, Lady Pinkie Pie. Though, I-”
“Really, really, busy!” Pinkie enthusiastically agreed.
“...-I was going to ask, what made you think this was a good idea?” Prince Blueblood finished in a tone that suggested he was starting to get a good idea as to what the answer to his question should be.
“Oh, I just wanted to be the best possible friend I could be for Chryssie, and all her changelings.” Pinkie replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
An awkward silence ensued, as most of the members of their party glanced between Chrysalis and the well-meaning, though seemingly oblivious, Pinkie Pie.
“...Anyone want to take that one?” Rainbow Dash asked aloud.
“Take what, Dashie?” Pinkie asked with a tilt of her head.
Twilight stepped forward “Pinkie, it's just...Chrysalis doesn't really seem to be a fan of parties...”
“Oh, I know that, Twilight.” Pinkie responded easily.
“...Really?” The princess asked, skepticism made evident, as she glanced about the large, party-filled cavern.
“Uh-huh.” Pinkie Pie nodded with a big smile.
“But...this is a party though, right?” Twilight pressed on.
“Yep.” The pink pony nodded again.
“If you know that Queen Chrysalis doesn't like parties, then why are you now throwing a party?” Blueblood interjected, his own patience wearing thin.
“Oh, this party isn't for Chryssie.” Pinkie responded.
“Come again?” Rainbow Dash chimed.
“How am I supposed supposed to come here again, Dashie? I haven't even left yet.” Pinkie pointed out.
“What I think Rainbow Dash means is...what do you mean this party isn't for Chrysalis?” Twilight clarified for her pegasus friend.
“Hm? Oh, that's easy. It's for her changelings, silly. Who else?” Pinkie replied with a laugh.
After a few moments, Blueblood made a rolling gesture with his hoof to prompt Pinkie Pie to continue. A few seconds later, the stallion sighed, as he realized that the pink pony wasn't getting the message “Explain yourself, please.”
“Well, obviously I'm throwing the party so that all of the changelings can have a lot of fun and stop worrying so much, which I was pretty sure would make Chryssie all happy and not worried.” Pinkie explained.
“What?” Chrysalis finally spoke-up, setting her hoof down to look in Pinkie's direction.
“Uh-huh. Cause, it's like you were super freaked-out, and I was all like, well maybe a party isn't the best thing to make her happy. Just like this one donkey I met. Cranky really didn't like parties either, but I still made friends with him, and that got me thinking that maybe I need something other than a party to cheer you up. But, I was all like, well I only really know how to throw parties, so I was all like, how can I use a party to cheer someone up that doesn't like parties?” Pinkie Pie continued to ramble, as everyone present struggled to follow along with the cascade of words coming from her mouth.
“And then it hit me like Gummy does when he forgets that he's not a bird. I'll throw a party to cheer up all the changelings and that'll make you super-happy and then we'd totally be friends! And then the changelings would all be happy that you're happy, and then we'd all be super-friends, and then I'm pretty sure we'd need some sort of secret base. Which is perfect, cause we already have one! Only it doesn't have to be secret anymore cause I've made friends with everyone here, so no one has to worry anymore. So maybe we should get like some sort of new secret base...like a treehouse!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed excitedly.
“...I barely caught any of that.” Rainbow Dash admitted.
“Oh, oh, oh, we can do another song!” Pinkie declared.
“What?” Blueblood demanded.
“Uh-huh! Just like before when I had to explain to all the changelings why I wanted to help Chryssie turn her frown upside-down! Oh, do you want to hear that song too? It was great!” Pinkie Pie immediately darted over to the changelings that were still watching from the sidelines.
The changelings quickly gathered around the pink pony, even as she began to adopt a pose to begin her song “Ooooohhhhhh, sometimes what you need is-”
“Stop.” Chrysalis quickly ordered, causing the gathered changelings to come up short, each of them stopping themselves before they could join in on Pinkie's song.
Cutter looked particularly abashed by how eager he had been to be a part of another musical number.
“So you don't want to hear the song?” Pinkie asked of the Changeling Queen.
“No.” Came Chrysalis' quick reply.
“Oh, OK then. You want to check out the party, instead?”
Chrysalis narrowed her eyes, as she gazed down upon the Earth pony. A moment later, she panned her gaze across the large chamber, the party supplies and decorations, and her changelings. Twilight couldn't help but note that many of the changelings had turned their attention towards their Queen, her arrival having been noted by nearly everyone present.
“...Fine.”
Twilight blinked.
She must have heard that wrong.
A loud gasp from Pinkie Pie drew Twilight's attention, as the pink pony sent a mixed look of hope and joy towards the Changeling Queen “Really?!”
“...I'm not going to repeat myself.” Chrysalis responded with a frown.
“But...party?” Pinkie hopefully asked.
The Changeling Queen gave an annoyed sigh, before giving a slow nod.
“We did it!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed at the top of her lungs, throwing her hooves into the air in exultation. The pink pony managed to startle a goodly number of the changelings in earshot, but they seemed to settle quickly. Some even seemed a bit pleased by this turn of events, as well.
Twilight was almost ready to smile at the sheer joy her pink friend was displaying.
Then Pinkie Pie wrapped Chrysalis in a friendly hug.
Chrysalis didn't seem to respond at first, she merely stared ahead, seemingly not acknowledging what was happening. Many of the onlooking changelings seemed to be displaying varying levels of worry at this turn of events. Alate and Cryptic were backing away, in anticipation for whatever might happen. Twilight found herself swallowing down her own worry.
“...Remove yourself, now.” Chrysalis quietly ordered.
“Not until you hug me back!” Pinkie cheerfully denied.
Twilight more felt the quiet growl the Changeling Queen gave off, rather than heard it.
“I will not repeat myself-” Chrysalis began, before being cut-off as a multi-colored blur flew past her.
A moment later, Rainbow Dash had yanked the pink Earth pony clear of the Changeling Queen, and was falling back to the floor with a grunt and a secure hold of Pinkie Pie.
“Dashie! I was talking to Chryssie...though I guess if you really wanted a hug too-” Pinkie complained to the polychromatic pegasus.
“Uh, Pinkie...” Rainbow Dash tried to stop her friend, even as she kept an eye on Chrysalis.
“-that's fine. But it's really kinda rude to just jump-in when me and Chryssie were having our first friendship hug.” Pinkie finished undeterred.
“We are not friends.” Chrysalis declared, even as she loomed over Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash.
“But...what about the-” Pinkie began.
“And you will never do that again.”
“But...I give all my friends hugs.” Pinkie hesitantly pointed out.
Chrysalis merely glared.
“You still don't want to be friends?” Pinkie asked of the Changeling Queen.
“No.”
“...Why not?” Pinkie pressed.
“Because I dislike you.” Chrysalis replied.
“...Oh.”
Without another word, Chrysalis marched past Pinkie and Rainbow Dash.
Much to the blue pegasus' relief.
“Well...that was a close one.” Rainbow Dash noted, even as she let go of Pinkie Pie from the hold she had her in.
Twilight soon cantered over, seeing the somewhat distraught expression on her pink friend's face “Pinkie?...Are you alright?”
A few seconds later, Pinkie recalled her usual chipper expression, picking herself up with a smile “Yep! Never better, Twilight.”
“I-...are you sure? I mean, Chrysalis...” Twilight hedged.
“Oh, don't worry, Twilight. I'll get her eventually.” Pinkie confidently replied.
“...And I'm just sure that will go over well.” Prince Blueblood noted.
A few minutes later...
The changelings that had been a part of Pinkie's welcoming group for Chrysalis dispersed fairly soon after having gotten their Queen's answer regarding the party. After quickly checking over Pinkie Pie, and receiving her assurances that everything was “absolutely-tootley, hunky-dory” the party of ponies soon trailed after Alate and Cryptic, who had in-turn followed Chrysalis.
“Pinkie! Will you knock it off already?!” Rainbow Dash requested of the pink pony, even as she tried to break out of Pinkie's grasp.
“Awwww, but just a few minutes ago you couldn't wait to get a Patented Pinkie Pony-Hug.” Pinkie pointed out.
“That's not-” Rainbow Dash began.
“Maybe she was simply jealous of the growing relationship between yourself and Queen Chrysalis?” Blueblood offered.
Pinkie let out a dramatic gasp, before turning to her pegasus friend “Dashie, is that true? Were you jealous of me and Chryssie?”
Rainbow Dash could only stare in disbelief at her friend, her jaw hanging slack.
“I think you have your answer right there, Lady Pinkie Pie.” Blueblood in a too-casual tone.
Twilight had to suppress her own amusement.
“It's true, isn't it?! Oh, Dashie, I'm so super-duper, double-fudge dipped, with sprinkles on-top sorry! You can have as many hugs as you want!” Pinkie dramatically declared, as she redoubled her hugging efforts.
“Gyah! Will you- come on Pinkie! Just-...look! Look at the thing over there!” Rainbow Dash suddenly declared as she jabbed a hoof in a direction, in the hopes of distracting Pinkie “See? What is that thing-...what am I looking at here?”
Rainbow Dash trailed off, as she realized that she had, in fact, been pointing at something noteworthy, however inadvertent it may have been.
There stood Chrysalis, speaking to a fairly large group of changelings. Not terribly odd in and of itself. It was more the fact that the large group of changelings seemed to be mainly comprised of...rather smaller than average changelings.
Small enough to be...
“Oh, my gosh! They're sooo~ooo cute!” Pinkie loudly declared, releasing her hold on Rainbow Dash to dart towards the young changelings.
Twilight couldn't really say she was surprised, when the small changelings scattered, some by hoof, others by wing. A small chorus of surprised yelps and buzzing wings ensued, as the changelings nymphs fled from Pinkie Pie, to seek shelter among the adult changelings present.
Chrysalis, in particular, as no small portion of the little ones crowded around, hid behind, or now clung to her form. The Changeling Queen had easily been swarmed by the young changelings, with some of the braver, more curious of the small changelings peeking out from safety to stare at Pinkie Pie.
“...Thank you, for that.” Chrysalis slowly said, as her eyes narrowed into a glare for the pink pony.
“You're welcome!” Pinkie replied, not picking up on the sarcasm.
At the sound of some barely suppressed snickering, the Changeling Queen cast her ire towards Rainbow Dash, even as a couple of dozen little changelings clung to her “...And just what is so funny?”
The pegasus couldn't hold it in anymore, and quickly hit the ground rolling in laughter. For a moment, Chrysalis rose a hoof as if she was going to march over, before stuttering to a halt, as she glanced down to the small changelings crowding around her hooves. The Changeling Queen seemed unable to decide whether or not it was worth trying to dislodge the little changelings, for the sake of putting an end to the pegasus' laughter.
“Oh my gosh! Bwahyaha- I never- I never thought I'd see that!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed between bouts of laughter “It's like- It's like-”
“Dash, you might want to take it-” Twilight tried to interrupt.
“Gyah!”
Rainbow Dash's laughter was quickly cut-off, as she was launched backwards by an expertly aimed glob of changeling goo.
“Dash! Are you OK?” Twilight asked, as she darted over to her friend, reaching out a hoof to assist. She had to quickly lean back and put up a small magical shield, as several droplets of slime were launched at her, when Rainbow Dash suddenly sat back up “Oh...ew.”
Rainbow Dash was covered from nose-tip to the tip of her tail in slime, her mane jutting out in an even wilder than usual manner, thanks to the gooey substance. Twilight visibly winced when the pegasus looked down at herself “Are you alright, Da-”
“I can't believe you just-...oh, you didn't. This is so uncool!” Rainbow Dash declared as she futilely tried to wipe the slime off. All this accomplished was smearing the viscous substance around and creating long, sticky strands of goo between her hooves and mane “This is- gyack!...I think some of it just went in my mouth...”
Twilight sighed.
The princess had to send her own glare towards the Changeling Queen “Was that really necessary?”
Chrysalis simply shrugged.
“You know, that might be misconstrued as some sort of an attack, on your part, Queen Chrysalis.” Blueblood calmly pointed out.
“I don't know what you're talking about. That is considered one of the highest compliments a changeling can give to a pony, and could not possibly be mistaken for an attack.” Chrysalis calmly replied, even as she slowly dabbed at her lip with a hoof. Twilight couldn't help but notice the small changeling nymph that had climbed atop the Changeling Queen's head.
“It rather seemed like an attack, my Queen.” A male changeling noted, even as he herded his own small group of curious changeling nymphs.
“Only to the untrained eye.” Chrysalis easily replied.
“Well...I suppose we'll have to take your word for it, Queen Chrysalis.” Blueblood remarked.
“My left hoof we have to! She-” Rainbow Dash began to climb to her hooves, but quickly faceplanted, slipping upon the pool of slime that had formed on the floor under her.
Ignoring the grumbling pegasus, Chrysalis turned her attention to the other adult changelings present “As I was saying-”
“That was amazing! How did you manage to spit that so far? Oh, can you teach me to do that?” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, suddenly at the Changeling Queen's side, causing all the little changelings to suddenly migrate to Chrysalis' other side.
Chrysalis had to take a moment to right her balance, as her center of gravity was shifted for her, before turning her attention back to the pink pony. Suddenly her horn was letting off it's own green glow, as she used her magic to jerk the pony into the air in front of her.
“Stop doing that.” Chrysalis snarled out.
“Doing what?” Pinkie asked, still held aloft by Chrysalis' magic.
“Scaring them.”
“Scaring them? What? I'm not...” This actually gave Pinkie Pie some pause, her upbeat attitude fading a bit. The Earth pony glanced at the little changelings once more, before looking up to Chrysalis “But...I'm not scary?”
Chrysalis didn't respond.
Pinkie's ears drooped a bit at this.
Twilight trotted over, earning some stares from the small changelings...They really were kind of cute, in a weird way, with their big, curious eyes...
“Pinkie- Could you please set her down, Chrysalis?” Twilight requested, to which the Changeling Queen acquiesced after a few moments of consideration “I don't think Chrysalis is saying that you're scary, Pinkie. They're just not...used to you, that's all. They don't know that you're...safe.”
“But I'd never hurt them!” Pinkie told Twilight. The pink pony quickly turned back towards Chrysalis “Honest! Cross My Heart, Hope to Fly, Stick a Cupcake in my Eye!”
Chrysalis gave a bemused look at the strange gestures that accompanied the odd promise.
“What was that?” The Changeling Queen flatly asked.
“A Pinkie Promise! And you never break a Pinkie Promise!” Pinkie declared firmly.
“She takes those pretty seriously.” Twilight elaborated for the Changeling Queen.
Pinkie, immediately taking note of Chrysalis' skepticism, darted off. A moment later, she reappeared holding a lumpy looking bag of flour, while standing up on her backhooves. Without any preamble, Pinkie Pie quickly emptied the bag's contents over her head.
Both Chrysalis and Twilight had to lean away from the ensuing cloud of flour.
“Ta-da!” Pinkie exclaimed, with a big smile and a goofy pose.
“...Pinkie, where did you get that bag of flour?” Twilight asked, unsure as to what her friend was trying to prove.
“Just a sec, Twilight...Ta-da!” Pinkie quickly resumed her pose.
There were several more moments of silence.
“...Am I supposed to respond in some way?” Chrysalis asked of Twilight, who just shrugged.
Suddenly, Pinkie Pie let out a great sneeze, dislodging a great deal of the flour and sending out a billowing cloud of the white powder. Caught at the epicenter, the pink pony went into a fit of sneezes, as the flour continued to agitate her nose, resulting in the pink mare falling to the floor.
Her sneezing abated just long enough, for Pinkie to spread her hooves out again and smile up at the, now, intrigued changeling nymphs “...Ta-da!”
There were several giggles.
Chrysalis let out another sigh.
The Changeling Queen turned to the other adult changelings “Take the little ones with...Pinkie Pie and show them this celebration...she's harmless.”
Pinkie Pie let out a cheer, which, rather than startling the young changelings, merely seemed to amuse them further.
A number of affirmations were given by the changelings, as they quickly began herding the nymphs, coaxing and scooting them along. One, presumably very brave, changeling went about collecting the small changeling that was still clinging to the top of Chrysalis' head.
“Does this mean the Queen is going to tell us some more stories?” An older male nymph asked of his caretaker.
“Oh, stories?! I love Chryssie's stories!” Pinkie excitedly declared.
One particularly bold nymph stepped forward and spoke up in a feminine voice “Queen Chrysalis tells the best stories! She does all the voices and knows all the songs!”
“She does voices too?!” Pinkie exclaimed.
Another smaller changeling leaned out from behind one of the caretaker changelings “She always tells us stories whenever there's a celebration.”
“I-...this might not be the best time to indulge in-” Chrysalis awkwardly began.
“Awwwww, but you gotta! It won't be a real party if you don't!” Pinkie pleaded.
Chrysalis frowned at this and began to worriedly glance from one side to the other, as she noted the expectant looks the little changelings were sending her way.
“Pleeeeaasssseee! I promise I'll be super-quiet!” Pinkie Pie offered.
“...Fine. One story.” Chrysalis finally relented, to the shared delight of Pinkie, the young changelings, and several of the older changelings.
Pinkie was about to loose another cheer, when Chrysalis interrupted “Just go already.”
“You got it, Chryssie!” Pinkie quickly agreed.
“Hey! Why am I the only one that got slimed?!” Rainbow Dash suddenly demanded, having been given some assistance in getting back on her hooves by Prince Blueblood. One could assume that the assistance rendered had been magical in nature, as the Pony Prince didn't have a bit of the changeling mess on him.
Chrysalis spared a glance for the pegasus “Because, she would enjoy it too much.”
Pinkie let out a giggle at this, as she started leading the way to the rest of the party “She's right, I would.”
Rainbow Dash frowned at this, not exactly satisfied with the answer.
"You know what?! You-" Rainbow Dash began.
"Dropped this." A pair of changeling voices sounded from behind her.
There were the twins, one of them proffering the Daring Doo novel from earlier, as they hovered just behind Rainbow Dash.
"Huh?"
Whether it was Alate or Cryptic, the one holding out the book tilted their head in confusion, as Rainbow Dash did the same "You dropped the Queen's gift to you...earlier?"
"Oh, uh, right." Rainbow Dash supplied.
The twins glanced towards one another, before focusing back upon the pegasus.
"You do still want it?"
"Is something wrong?"
"Uh, yeah?" Rainbow Dash replied with a bit of incredulity, as she gestured to her gooey-self, incidentally answering both questions at once.
Cryptic and Alate didn't seem to know how to respond to that, and simply continued to hover, with the novel in-hoof, expectantly, in front of the pegasus.
"Just...hang onto it, until I can get this gunk off me, or whatever." Rainbow Dash relented
"We can help with that."
"I don't think I've read this one." The one holding the book idly noted, while scanning the cover of the Daring Do book.
Twilight couldn't help but smile as she watched Pinkie Pie with the procession of little changelings. She still wasn't sure why Pinkie felt the need to cover herself with flour, but the pink party-pony seemed to know what she was doing. Her smile slipped a bit, as she noted a grumbling Rainbow Dash trudging off to the side with Prince Blueblood and the twins, presumably to get herself cleaned up.
Twilight was about to follow after, when Chrysalis took the chance to speak up “I would speak with you for a moment, Twilight Sparkle.”
The princess let her hoof hang in the air for a moment, before turning back towards Chrysalis. It took her a moment to realize that, somewhere along the way, they had gained a modicum of privacy; the many changelings and her friends having dispersed.
“Uhm, what is it?” Twilight asked.
“What exactly did you think I was going to do to your friends?” Chrysalis asked in a neutral tone.
“...I'm not sure I understand the question?” Twilight hesitantly replied.
“You thought I was going to hurt them, didn't you?” Chrysalis calmly accused.
Twilight stared for a few moments, before looking away “I- Well-...”
Swallowing down a bit of discomfort, Twilight turned back towards the Changeling Queen “I was...a bit worried that you might lose your temper.”
Chrysalis raised an eyebrow, at the careful response.
“I suppose it was unfair of me to just assume-” Twilight began.
“That's not an unfair thing to assume about me.” Chrysalis interrupted, giving Twilight some pause.
Noticing the confusion and surprise her answer had garnered, the Changeling Queen took in a small breath “Given our history, it's a reasonable concern...And, frankly, I was tempted.”
“You, what?” Twilight demanded, taken aback by this admission.
“More than once today, I've wanted to harm your little friends.” Chrysalis repeated.
Twilight didn't have a response.
“...So I suggest you keep a closer eye on them in the future. Especially around me.” Chrysalis suggested, before turning around, to follow in the direction Pinkie had gone earlier.
“Wait a minute!” Twilight suddenly demanded, galloping ahead of the Changeling Queen to block her path “You can't just say something like that and expect me to let you walk away!”
“Is there something you wanted me to say, instead?” Chrysalis asked.
“I-...I thought that you-” Twilight began.
“Didn't want to hurt anypony?” Chrysalis supplied, as she leaned in towards the princess.
Twilight fell quiet at this, before taking a cautious step back.
“You- I mean-...”
“Well, I don't. I don't want to harm any of you ponies, and I haven't wanted to for sometime now.” Chrysalis said in a sharp tone, before leaning back from Twilight. In a calmer tone “But...that hasn't stopped me from doing so before...So, do me the favor of staying on your guard.”
Twilight was finding it more and more difficult to guess at the Changeling Queen's motives. Chrysalis was truly proving herself difficult to predict.
“You're telling me that you want me to not trust you?” Twilight asked, with a touch of incredulity.
“You really shouldn't trust me to begin with. And I don't entirely trust myself, so why should I expect you too?” Chrysalis replied.
“...I guess you...shouldn't?” Twilight eventually supplied. She really didn't know how to take this.
Chrysalis simply nodded, before attempting to bypass Twilight once more.
“Wait!” Twilight again blocked the changeling's path, earning a look of mild consternation from her. Twilight swallowed, before looking up to Chrysalis.
“...Well?” Chrysalis irritably prompted.
“I...don't know what to think of you. That's the truth...” Twilight admitted. She briefly glanced to her own shifting hooves, before focusing back on the Changeling Queen “...but how bad do you think you really are?”
“I didn't think the invasion was a bad thing.” Chrysalis pointedly replied.
“But...why are you even telling me this?” Twilight asked.
Chrysalis didn't respond for some time, as she considered the young alicorn, struggling to come to some decision that Twilight could only guess at.
Chrysalis eventually sighed “We've wasted enough time...I have no desire to leave your pink friend unsupervised for too long.”
Twilight's ears drooped a bit, sensing that she wasn't going to get an answer from Chrysalis over this matter. She spent several long seconds watching Chrysalis, before she let out her own sigh and fell in alongside the Changeling Queen.
'What could have brought that on?'
Twilight didn't know what to make of this. The truth was, she had been afraid that the Changeling Queen might have done something. Chrysalis had surprised Twilight earlier, with the level of restraint she showed around Pinkie Pie, despite her clear frustration. Earlier Twilight had thought she had gained some sort insight on the mystery that was Chrysalis, that she'd gleaned a greater portion of the picture that made up the changeling. Twilight had been coming around to Princess Celestia's view that there was more to Chrysalis than simple cruelty. And then there was the whole thing with the little changelings...
Twilight didn't know what Chrysalis' words were meant to achieve and she didn't want to hazard any further guesses about Chrysalis, for fear that she might be proven wrong again.
But it almost seemed as if the Changeling Queen felt...guilty over something.
The silence was wearing too heavily over Twilight, with Chrysalis' words still occupying her thoughts. She wasn't normally given over to letting issues drop, but Chrysalis was, admittedly, a good deal more stubborn than Twilight was used to dealing with "...You know, Pinkie really is just about harmless. As strange as it seems, she actually is pretty good at taking care of children."
The Changeling Queen barely spared Twilight a glance, before pointedly casting her gaze over the busy cavern “I wouldn't exactly call all of this, harmless.”
“She means well.” Twilight supplied.
“That means very little to me.”
Twilight frowned at that response. It didn't seem like it was an out-of-character thing for Chrysalis to say, but the princess couldn't help but wonder what qualified as in-character for the Changeling Queen.
“Pinkie's not going to stop trying to be your friend, you know.”
“I can be patient.” Chrysalis replied.
“She can be pretty persistent.” Twilight quietly insisted, even as she wondered if it was a good idea for Pinkie Pie to pursue such a friendship.
“She can only have so many years left.” Chrysalis countered, without thought.
“What?” Twilight blurted out.
“I said, she-” Chrysalis began, before noticing that the princess was no longer at her side, but had halted several steps back. Chrysalis gave Twilight a curious look, that seemed to go unnoticed by Twilight “What is it?”
Shaken from whatever thought that had captured her mind, Twilight turned her attention back to Chrysalis “S-sorry, I just-...never mind. It's not important.”
The Changeling Queen didn't let up on her scrutiny, staring down Twilight, even as she continued trying not to give away her thoughts.
“...How long ago was it, that you became an alicorn?” Chrysalis quietly asked.
“Really, I'm fine, we-” Twilight began.
“Has anyone spoken to you, about what being an alicorn entails?” The Changeling Queen demanded.
When Twilight failed to give an answer, Chrysalis' expression visibly hardened, worrying the young princess. For several moments, the Changeling Queen seemed to consider Twilight, as if she were holding some manner of internal debate. Eventually, she turned her gaze off to the side, having evidently settled the issue in her mind.
“As I said, we should go find your friend.” Chrysalis said.
Twilight stood there dumbstruck for several seconds, before following after the Changeling Queen.