Part of a series of companion fics to each of the "Fiendship is Magic" comics.
Fiendship is Magic #1 Fanfic (Sombra) : Sombra Omega
Fiendship is Magic #2 Fanfic (Tirek) : Madness for Power
Fiendship is Magic #3 Fanfic (Sirens) : Music Wars
Fiendship is Magic #4 Fanfic (Nightmare Moon): For the Love of a Nightmare
Queen Chrysalis is so very tired... No, not physically--that is just an act she puts on for her prison guards of course (and for Twilight Sparkle soon) as part of her plan for escape. Chrysalis is tired in a much deeper way. She is done with scavenging love, with being violently defeated, with being locked away with her people for centuries at a time. And she is even done with the seemingly merciful methods of persecution and incarceration forced upon her by 'the purple one'...Twilight Sparkle...the key to Equestria's prosperity and to its utter demise. The changeling Queen has figured it out, you see! It's Twilight! Princess Twilight is the enemy! And her horrible, unstoppable, inedible friendship!
Back in Canterlot, Celestia knows things can't go on like this for the ponies or the changelings, and she does her best to bring Twilight to an understanding of the true complexity of the situation and the best way in which the young princess can help (after all, a princess who assisted with Discord's reform can certainly work any miracles of friendship.)
Still, there are those who doubt and despise the true harmony Twilight and the Magic of Friendship could bring.... It seems like the changelings are everywhere and nowhere, and even Celestia is uneasy.
"I hope you've seen why you should stay away from me. My bones are lined with pain. I'm a skeleton with thoughts fading away..."
~Aviators, "Hollow"
Aviators Bandcamp
Loved both chapters. On Chrysalis, as much as Price and Cook want to make her out as a "monster", there's always going to be that need for her and her hive's survival that's going to be relatable. And in a show about friendship, fans are going to keep seeing the potential in how the Mane Six, specially Twilight, and Celestia as well will be open to the intention of helping them. Because that's just how the characters are. I really liked how you tackled that here and put emphasis on how it relates to Twilight's role as a princess and leader, and why Twilight is the better candidate for this approach than Celestia. You also kept Chrysalis pretty nasty, which is what I know Cook was aiming for, and is a take on the character I can personally appreciate. Chrysalis, while well meaning to her people and herself, is a rather hostile being when things come to the end of it I think.
The Discord chapter was hilarious and over the top Discord style. I also loved how Twilight helped show him the positive side to it all. A very creative take on his character in relation to this comic line.
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(Honestly, I’ve been so worried all day if people would like this one just because it’s the last one in the series and I always get a little anxiety about how new stories are going to go over anyway. It’s nice to hear a good word about it though, so thank you for that.) I agree, Chrysalis is in a complicated situation that I think really deserves more exploration either in the show or the comics. She’s not even just trying to get by herself by feeding her need for love, she has a whole race of people to look out for. And despite any selfishness or her more psychotic tendencies, she’s loyal enough to stick with them and noble enough to look out for their needs.
Thank you so much, I’m really glad you enjoyed it.
I’m glad you liked my take on Twilight’s role in this too. Writing this actually started making me think a lot about how FIM presents us with three distinct progressions of society—the villains, who basically live by survival of the fittest, Celestia (and Luna to an extent) who try to establish order but sometimes resort to harsh means to achieve their peaceful ends, and Twilight who keeps the nation stable in a much more enlightened/philosophical way with friendship and understanding above all else. I’m actually thinking about writing a sequel, multi-chapter story to this about Twilight’s efforts to help Chrysalis just to explore this idea (and also to explore that freaky tree—talking about a disturbing image lol).
Thanks, I’m happy you thought I captured Chrysalis’s personality well too. I think part of her issue is an extreme xenophobia—she seems to passionately hate non-changelings but especially the ponies, and with the comic it seems like all of that hate has suddenly focused on Twilight. It’s really disturbing how erratic she is about the whole thing. I think this was my favorite comic of the series.
XD And thank you. I was worried the Discord chapter might be a little too corny, but I couldn’t help myself. And I’m still completely confused about his cameo in the Tirek comic. I have a feeling we really might get some more Discord background this season (or at least I’m really hoping so).
Btw, I’m sorry I haven’t replied to your message yet.
The last like two weeks of my life have been insanity. I reply before the weekend’s out, I promise.
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'Katie Cook never disappoints'.
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Well. As they say. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Both chapters were a fun read, well done! I'm still holding out for some kind of redemption for Chrysalis. She can't be all bad...
6630807 Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed them
And I'd personally love to see some more Chrysalis in either the comics of the series--whether she wants to be reformed or just wants to steal all the love, she's a great character to explore.
Oooh, very nice!
6634218 Thank you!
THIS STORY IS AWESOME! HOW HAVE I NOT READ IT UNTIL NOW?
MOOOOAAAAR!
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I actually am considering writing a longer Chrysalis story in the future. She's just such a great character to work with, lol!
Thanks, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
6774623 do write more!