"HA! HAHAHAHAHA!" Chrysalis almost fell off her chair as she gripped her stomach, her entire body convulsing as she laughed almost madly.
When she finally quieted down and turned to look incredulously at Twilight; who much to her shock was only staring at her with a raised eyebrow. "You... You're actually serious, aren't you?"
Twilight nodded, "Completely."
Chrysalis turned to the little dragon, Spike, she finally remembered. "She's serious about this, isn't she?"
"Yep," he responded as he refilled both their glasses and added another vial of Love Poison to her, "Twilight isn't exactly the "kidding" type, if you haven't noticed."
She turned back to Twilight with a shocked look on her face. After several moments of simple silence, she finally found her voice again. "Why?"
Twilight chuckled. "You sure ask that question a lot."
"Because it makes no sense why you would do this!" Chrysalis practically screamed at her.
"It doesn't?" Twilight cocked her head to side ever so slightly, "And what exactly doesn't make sense about this? I am the Princess of Friendship, Bearer of the Element of Magic, Headmare of the School of Friendship. Is it truly so shocking that I would make an offer like this to you?"
Chrysalis' eyes narrowed. "You are trying to reform me."
"Well, there is a reason I called this offer a gamble, Chrysalis," Twilight said with a laugh.
"Explain."
"By accepting this offer, I will help you create a fake identity as my pupil. You will stay with me at my castle, and you will essentially be protected and hidden from the rest of the world; which by the way wants you either dead or imprisoned, last time I checked. So, I am basically offering you a permanent, safe sanctuary at my castle, which will be the last place anyone would think to look for you." Twilight explained with a somewhat smug expression, while Chrysalis couldn't help but grimace as she realized how tempting this offer actually was.
Ever since she had forced out of the hive, she had been on the run, never able to settle for more than a couple days before having to move on. The chance to be to actually settle down somewhat was certainly desirable, to say the least. However... "And what would I be expected to do?"
"As I said, you'll be my pupil, like Starlight" -Chrysalis hissed- "you know, you could see it as a chance to surpass her and beat her."
Chrysalis raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You would allow such conflict?"
"Conflicts sometimes become the closest of friendships," said Twilight with a simple shrug.
"I will never be friends with Starlight Glimmer," hissed Chrysalis.
"Perhaps you will, perhaps you won't; but we're getting off track, Chris. As I was saying, you'll be my pupil, like Starlight. That means you'll be doing friendship lessons like her." Twilight giggled at Chrysalis' expression. "It will be necessary to sell the act, Chris. I wouldn't take another pupil just to study magic with."
Something in her mind clicked. "So this is the gamble... You're betting that I'll slowly be reformed by the lessons, much like Discord was slowly reformed when he spent time with Fluttershy and you all, and I'm betting that I will remain unchanged while also growing in power and having a very easy access to all of Equestria's most important figures."
"Correct."
"But again. why? Why make this offer to me after everything that I've done?" She still couldn't wrap her head around what could drive the Princess to this length for her.
"Why did I make Starlight my pupil?" Twilight asked, "Why did Princess Celestia make so many exceptions for Discord, after all he's done, and still continues to put up with his antics?"
"Because you are all clearly too forgiving," Chrysalis responded.
"Ha, is that really what you think! Hahaha!" Twilight giggled at her response. At Chrysalis' confused expression, Twilight smiled, but it wasn't the sort of smile Chrysalis was used to seeing on the alicorn's face. "Let me put it this way: what do you, Starlight, and Discord all have in common?"
Chrysalis frowned, thinking about it. The answer came to her almost immediately, but she couldn't believe that it the right one. "Power. All three of us are rather powerful when compared to most creatures in this world."
Chrysalis fully expected her answer to be shot down, that it was going to be some heartthrob about them all being misunderstood or some other touchy, feely nonsense. However, much to her shock, Twilight grinned.
"Bingo. We make such generous exceptions because we recognize that dangerous enemies can become powerful friends. Basically, you are worth the heartache and costs if we can get you on our side."
Chrysalis frowned, not believing for a second that the sweet little pony she had faced off against several times would have such a plot.
Seeing her disbelief, Twilight chuckled to herself, "Don't believe me, huh? Well, let me give you an example, I know the perfect one. Trixie Lulamoon, a Unicorn I faced off against several times. Despite having a supposed talent for it according to, she quite frankly sucks at real magic and is only good with stage magic. Even now that she is getting tutored by Starlight, her magic is still honestly rather pathetic. I have given her multiple chances to reform herself, and she did, but I never helped her along that path. I didn't make her pupil, didn't go out of my way to try to bring her to my side. I only gave her the second chance when she asked for it, and that was it. Her reformation was purely based on her own efforts and struggles."
She paused, letting that little story sink into Chrysalis' brain, and then continued on: "Now, let us look at Starlight Glimmer, another Unicron who I faced off against multiple times. Her, I have forgiven rather serious crimes, I mean she almost ripped a rift in time and damaged the universe, and I responded by taking her as my pupil. I have been patient with her, worked tirelessly with her, and continuously forgiven her mistakes and helped her learn from them. And what did she do at the end of it? She beat you, helped your Thorax take over your hive, and saved me, my friends and family, and even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna from your clutches. That would never have happened had I simply abandoned her to her own fate, sent her off like I did Trixie with nothing but a few words of encouragement, or punished her."
"You say this, yet you continue to bristle up against Discord, if the rumors I've heard are correct," Chrysalis pointed out.
Twilight chuckled."True, though that is due to conflicting personalities, and because as someone who enjoys making plans for everything, he is quite the wrench to have to deal with."
"Oh?"
"Hmm, think about it like this: imagine you are playing a game of chess, but there is one piece that is completely random. How it moves, whose side it on, it's all random and completely impossible to predict."
"That would be annoying," Chrysalis conceded, "though I am surprised you would think of somecreature that way, as nothing but a piece on a game board."
"We all think of other creatures as well as ourselves as pieces, with the world our grand game board. The difference is somecreatures think of others as such subconsciously, whereas those like you and I are fully conscious about our colder outlook on the world," Twilight regarded Chyrsalis seriously, "I would not talk like this to Starlight or one of my friends. They wouldn't understand and would honestly probably be hurt if they discovered how I view them."
"And how do you view them?"
"As pieces with more value than the king of the game board. I would sooner lose the game before even risked losing one of them," Twilight continued to look a Chrysalis almost emotionlessly, "But with you, Chris, it is the exact opposite. Your lifestyle of deceit has left you afraid and paranoid of being deceived yourself. It is why I am being so blunt with you, and it's why I waited until now to make my move. Had I simply found you and made this offer, or if I tried to make it the same way I made my offer to Starlight, you would without a doubt refused."
"Probably true," Chrysalis admitted. The only reason she was so relaxed and not on edge was due to how much Twilight had done to free her. It proved she was sincere in this, something Twilight clearly knew she would need for there to be even a small chance for this to work.
"So, I ask you again, Chrysalis," Twilight got off her seat and walked over to her, extending a hoof, "will you accept my offer, and become my pupil?"
Chrysalis sighed. "Is this even a choice?"
"There's always at least two choices, Chris," Twilight said, then grinned as she continued, "but sometimes one of the choices isn't really an option."
"I suppose there is some truth to that," Chrysalis grumbled. Then, she shook Twilight's hoof. "Alright, I'll accept this gamble. I will warn you though, Twilight Sparkle, I will not be as easy to reform as Discord; it will take more than a shy little pegasus offering to be my friend to change my heart."
"Good, it would be a let down if the shell around your heart was so flimsy after all you've done," Twilight laughed as she retracted her hoof. "So, where should we start? I suppose we should come up with an identity for you. I have one planned, one which my friends and Celestia will buy anyways, but you'll to try a lot harder than when you were impersonating Princess Cadence, especially since everypony will be on high alert with your little breakout."
"True, though there a few ways we can reduce such suspicions, such as how I arrive," Chrysalis said. Then, she almost coyly asked, "So, how did you control those Timberwolves? I've heard of wizards being able to conjure them and bind them to areas to act as watchdogs, but I've never seen anycreature that was able to exert such a degree of control, ordering them around as if they were nothing more than common hounds."
Twilight chuckled, "And already, the pupil wants a magic lesson. Alright, but this something that is much easier to show instead of tell."
They walked through the Everfree, Spike sitting on Twilight's back, who in response could only roll her eyes. "Old habits die hard, I guess."
"Sorry Twilight, I'm just still getting used to this," Spike flexed his claws, "It's more than just the wings, everything just feels so much stronger! I wonder if I'll grow?"
"Hopefully not too big," Twilight grumbled, "and hopefully you don't get too hungry because of it! It took a week for my castle to recover itself from Ember's little wall-eating frenzy when she visited."
Chrysalis stared at her. "Recover? What do you mean your castle "recovered" itself? You make it sound like it's a living thing."
"It is, to some degree. I'm not entirely sure how alive it is yet, but it does heal itself when damaged and has gone through several changes, almost like it's growing." Twilight explained, but then suddenly stopped.
So suddenly, in fact, that Chrysalis, who had been walking directly behind her, crashed into her backside. "What?"
"Look," Twilight said as Chrysalis walked around to her left side.
Doing as she asked, Chrysalis looked ahead and saw it. A pair of glowing, solid lime green eyes staring at them from up in a tree.
Seeing that its hiding place had been discovered, the wild Timberwolf leaped from its hiding place and landed in the ground with a loud thump, the shockwave sending the leaves around it flying.
"Now, watch," Twilight said as she took a step forward. The Timberwolf eyed her cautiously; a fatal mistake.
Twilight opened her mouth and inhaled deeply. Chrysalis was, at first, confused about what she was doing, but then she saw what exactly it was and gasped, taking a cautious step back.
Lime green light erupted from the Timberwolf and seemed to be drawn towards Twilight. With a strange, honestly rather sinister sound that sent shivers up Chrysalis' spine, the Timberwolf finally fell apart as the last of its magic was sucked out and went down Twilight's throat, who closed her mouth and let out a sigh of content.
Chrysalis opened her mouth, but Spike spoke before she could voice the questions racing through her mind, "Wait, it isn't over."
Twilight then took a deep breath and then began to exhale slowly. The lime green light, now tinted with the same purple as her aura, rushed out and back into the pile of logs. The Timberwolf quickly resembled itself, and then bowed submissively towards Twilight.
"Pretty neat, huh?" She said as she turned to look at Chrysalis, a smile on her face. "I could, of course, simply keep the magic for myself, but eventually I would start physically changing, and I wouldn't have an excuse as to why. "
Chrysalis just stared at her. "Where... Where did you learn to do that, exactly?"
"Watching Tirek during his little feast," Twilight explained, "I was originally horrified at the power, but later, I came to realize the potential such an ability had if used for better purposes"
She then gestured to the Timberwolf, "This, however, was a very pleasant accident I had when I was testing the spell and seeing if I could release the magic I absorbed. I've tamed about seventeen of these Timberwolves, and they have been most helpful making the Everfree Forest a safer place for ponies to travel in."
"Now then, magic is fun an all, but I think it's time my friends met my newest pupil, wouldn't you agree, Chris?" Twilight said with a smile.
Despite her slight irritation at the nickname, Chrysalis returned the smile. It was becoming quickly apparent that it was going to be very much worth it to become the Princess' pupil, even if that did mean she would have to endure a few friendship lessons and hanging out with the other ponies, especially Starlight Glimmer.
Who knows, she might actually be able to enjoy herself a little.
"So, where is the Headmare, Professor Egghead?" Gallus asked curiously as he lazed in his seat. "No one's seen her at all today."
Rainbow Dash's left eye twitched slightly at the student's nickname for her. "Don't know. She said she had business to attend to, and that she would be back in a bit."
"Oh, is she on a friendship mission? Where'd she get to go to this time?" An excited Silverstream asked.
"No no, she isn't on a friendship mission!" Rainbow Dash hurriedly said to the excited hippogriff, "She said this was purely personal, and that she shouldn't be gone too long."
"What sort of business do you think she went out on?" Ocellus asked, head cocked slightly to the side in wonder.
"Again, I don't know. She didn't say much, just raced into the Everfree Forest."
"Maybe Headmare go to Zebra hut?" Yona wondered.
"Doubt it, she didn't go along any of the paths that would have taken her there," Rainbow Dash frowned as something occurred to her. "Actually, the path she took was the one to the Tr- You know what? Never mind. Curiosity can be both a blessing and a curse, and you shouldn't be nosing around in others affairs."
While the others all nodded at their teacher's advice, Gallus' eyes narrowed as that curiosity proved to be quite the curse indeed. What was down that path Twilight had taken, and why was it such a secret that even Professor Egghead, the Queen of Boasting, wanted to keep it a secret?
Suddenly, there was a buzzing sound that filled the classroom as a small purple gemstone high up on one of the walls began to brightly glow, and a familiar voice echoed throughout the classroom:
"This is Headmare Twilight Sparkle speaking: would all five teachers as well as Guidance Counselor Starlight please report to Friendship Castle Map Room after classes end. I repeat: all main staff members please report to the Map Room after classes end? Thank you."
"Hmph, guess she's back," Rainbow Dash muttered as her eyes flickered to the clock. There was about a quarter of class left.
"That was quick, wonder what she was doing?" Smolder asked.
"It isn't nice to pry into your other's private affairs," Rainbow Dash lightly scolded. "Now then, let's continue our lesson."
"Aye aye, Professor Egghead!" Gallus said with a lazy salute, the rest of the class giggling at the griffon's antics.
"Oh, and Gallus?" Rainbow Dash grinned. "I would like you to prepare a little presentation for tomorrow on when nicknames are appropriate and when they aren't, okay?"
The class' giggles erupted into laughter, while the griffon in question could only sigh in defeat.
"So, what's the egghead's big announcement?" Rainbow Dash asked as she lazed in her chair.
The other four of the five bearers who were currently present all sat in their chairs and were equally confused as to why Twilight had called them there.
"I have no idea," Starlight responded, "She left in such a hurry this morning I honestly thought she would have been gone a little longer."
"Yeah, did she tell any of y'all why she was going in' the Everfree Forest in the first place?" Applejack asked.
"Well, know she took Spike with her," Raidty said. "And yesterday he was talking about Twilight having to meet an old acquaintance."
"Wonder who's she talking about," Applejack considered, frowning, "and why in Equestria is she meeting them out in the Everfree? It ain't exactly a prime place for a picnic."
"Well, the path she was heading down was the one to the Tree of Harmony," Rainbow Dash pointed out.
"You don't think she showed this old acquaintance of hers the Tree, right? Ain't we supposed to keep that a secret?" Applejack said, frown deepening as confusion set in.
"True, Applejack, we are supposed to keep it a secret," a voice they all recognized said as a familiar Alicorn opened the main doors to the Map Room, "and I have decided to let her in on the secret."
"Twilight!" Pinkie Pie said excitedly. "So you went and met somepony, right? Are they moving to Ponyville? Should I start planning a party?"
"Now hold on for just a minute, Pinkie," Applejack said, before staring at Twilight. "Where the hay have you been all day, Sugarcube? And who exactly did you let on the Tree's location?"
"Now now, Darling, no need to get so aggressive with Twilight," Rarity said, Applejack rolling her eyes in response. "I sure she was getting to that part, right?"
"Correct, I am." Twilight said, stepping to the side, "Everypony, Starlight especially, I would like you to meet an old acquaintance of mine; one whom had recently decided to accept my offer to become my second pupil."
"Second pupil?!" Starlight's eyes widened at this revelation, wondering who it could be. She stared at the door as a figure slowly walked into the room.
She was, perhaps unsurprisingly, a unicorn. She looked to be around Twilight's age, maybe a couple years older; and she had an almost noble air around her. Her mane was a dark shade of cerulean and it was long and straight, yet lacked any sort of distinct style. Her coat was deep green color mixed with a hint of grey, and her cutie mark was a simple, yet elegant masquerade mask.
"Everpony, I would like to introduce you to Regalia, Regalia Alias."
She looked up, the hair covering her eyes falling away to reveal their bright green color. She smiled, but Starlight noticed that her eyes seemed to lack any real warmth to them at all. They were familiar to her, but she couldn't quite place where she recognized them.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, everpony," she said, her voice smooth and lacking any discernible emotions, "And please, there is no need to be formal, just call me Regalia."