//------------------------------// // Chapter 17 // Story: Idyllic Interludes // by lollipopchica //------------------------------// That had been a year ago and all of her doctors, except Elytra, had been amazed at her survival. The mare should've died but fate had smiled upon her that day and not a day went by that Chrysalis didn't feel privileged to be with her husband and the beautiful little filly they had created. She barely remembered such a conversation. She was Chrystal Heart. An actress, a wife, a mother. Shining Armor was hers, and Gemma… Gemma was her pride and joy. The little girl brought so much love into her heart, Chrysalis thought she'd burst. As she lounged around in her backyard, she watched as her little girl gave chase to a butterfly. Two cups of lemonade rested near her lounge as did a smaller pair of sunglasses that matched the pair she had on. The sound of knocking from her front door pulled her from whatever reverie she found herself in. With a soft sigh, she pushed her sunglasses off her face "Gemma, baby, Mama's going to answer the door, okay." The little girl paused in her trouncing to wave in her mother's direction. With a coat the palest color of clouds and hair more cyan than turquoise, her coloring favored her father more. But the sharpness of her features was very much like her mother's. Even the shape of her eyes. They were dark right now, as all children's were, but as she grew they'd eventually take the color of her father's as well. Chrysalis wasn't worried about her going anywhere. Their backyard was gated off and there was no way the filly could climb it. Leaving the door open in case Gemma wanted to follow her, she took her time answering her guest. "Can I help you?" She asked as she opened the oak door. The messenger pony in front of her was jamming out to something as he bobbed his head in rhythm as he retrieved a telegram from his messenger bag wordlessly handing her the item. He unconsciously flexed his wings as he waited to see if she wanted to reply to her message. With a quick scribble of pen, and a fresh telegram form, she replied, paid a surcharge and handed him back the cards. With a grin, he took the items filed them away and took off. Chrysalis closed her door, and went back to her backyard. She halted in her steps as she saw her daughter and her husband wrestling in the grass. Gemma was crouched low to the ground making growling sounds that were more cute than scary while Shining Armor pretended to be scared, shaking in his hooves. Just when the filly decided to pounce, the stallion caught her in the air and tossed her up after he spun her around. Squealing in laughter, the little girl was deliriously happy. With a small smile, Chrysalis leaned against the door sill and watched as the two laughed and played. "Hey Chryssie!" She heard her sister Odonata call from inside. "Help me with this?" She shook her head and turned around. She could hear Jedzia as well as Zendaya rushed past her to join her friend outside. "Gem, Gem!" The little filly shouted. "Uncle Armor!" "Zendaya!" Chrysalis briefly cursed herself as she realized she forgot to lock her front door. No quiet evening tonight, she realized as she made her way to the kitchen. "So, have you heard from Kirai?" Came a familiar voice. "Kirai!" "Chryssie!" Life was perfect, she decided. And for the moment it was. FIN A/N: The epilogue that follows, follows the 'Idyllic' storyline   EPILOGUE Chrysalis couldn't help the smile on her face as she continued to sway around the ballroom with her husband to the sultry voice of Norah Jones. It was their wedding anniversary and all of their family and friends were there. “Two years ago if somepony would’ve asked me if I saw myself a wife and a mother, I would’ve laughed in their face.” Shining Armor smiled. “You’re amazing with kids.” “Says Daddy dearest…” Chrysalis rolled her eyes despite the mirth shining in their depths. “Gemma adores you…” She stole a quick kiss much to his surprised delight. “Just like her mom.” “Conceited much?” Chrysalis teased as they continued to dance to ‘the Nearness of You.’ “You can thank my wife.” He laughed. “I love you, Shining Armor.” Her dark features were suddenly serious as her eyes locked onto his. “I love my husband… my daughter… our life. I wouldn’t trade this for anything.” “Not even an Oscar win?” “Not even…” He kissed her full on the mouth losing himself in the euphoria that was all her. And just as suddenly as he was kissing her, he pulled away. Telling her all these horrible things about how they weren't real and he was married to Cadenza Mi Amore of all people. Chrysalis tilted her head in confusion, “What are you talking about?” “It’s time to go…” “Go? But…” She stepped away to really study him. Was he sick? He didn’t look- No scar. He looked like her Shining Armor, but something about him was off… Like she could feel that this was not the stallion she arrived with. “You’re not… my husband.” Her green eyes narrowed. “No… And you’re not my wife… I married Cadance, not you.” “Cadance?” Harlequin eyes shone bright with disbelief. “Is this is some kind of joke…” When he denied their daughter that's when she knew something was horribly wrong. What was going on? And why now was this happening? “I..uh… I need some air…” Chrysalis quickly moved away from him, moving as fast as she could without raising alarm. She ignored the various ponies who called for her attention until she was safely outside balcony doors. Her thoughts took her back to a period of a few years ago. She remembered waking in the hospital confused, upset and pregnant. As she assimilated into her daily routine and lifestyle she’d forgotten the initial feelings and memories she’d awoken with as they were replaced by events that had happened in this time stream. She believed what they had told her- that it had all been a dream induced by a serious lump to the head. With love and care from her family and friends she found her groove and never looked back as time unfolded. And now years later, here was this stallion she had distant memories of. “He’s right….” “Shining Armor?” What the hell was going on? She felt as if her reality was violently clashing with some other. “You’re not my Chryssie but you and her are one in the same.” “I don’t understand… This is real isn’t it?” She touched him as she studied the face she'd woken up to everyday for the past few years. This was her husband. Her lover. So why was he denying her? “Yes… I love you like I love her because you are her. But this is a reality wholly different from your own.” He stilled her searching hooves, pained by their impending farewell. Just that morning he'd made love to her knowing, somehow, that it would be the last time. “But how can I exist in a world that isn’t mine?” She wanted to cry. This was hers. “How could you not? Time and space are infinite and who’s to say yours is the only reality in existence?" He wanted to hold her, but knew that if he did he wouldn't be able to let her go. She had to go. That was just the way of things. She was quiet as it was slowly coming back to her. The infiltration, her engagement… her failure. “So all those things… I… I did that?” “Yeah, baby you did.” His heart bled for her as they spoke quietly to each other. “He’s come to…” “He doesn’t want to kill you love. He might not feel for you back home how I feel for you now, but I feel that he feels deeply for you. He's confused right now.” “I don’t want to go….” She cried as she began to grasp what he was purposing. “I can’t…” Already she felt herself buckling under the weight of her actions. “Yes you can…” He nuzzled her comfortingly. “And while things may be hard now, it won’t always be like this.” “There’s nothing for me there… I have no people… no crown… nothing…” “There’s Gemma…” His daughter no matter what reality. “But… I could stay with you and we could still be a family…. I could be her…” She remembered their conversation. “I am her.” And he wanted her too so desperately, but this had to end. Elytra had given him a gift and now was not the time to be selfish. “It’s time to go… Being a victim never did suit you.” “Shining…. Please.” “I love you too.” His kiss was sad. Moments later she went limp in his arms and he felt his heart break. He held her as he sank to the ground crying for the love he had lost. Somewhere, in an idyllic world, she was with him, but this place was no longer it.