“It boggles my mind how this ‘Detective Cobalt’ series has so many volumes,” Chrysalis used her magic to turn the pages of the book clutched in Twilight’s magic. The book was angled just right so the text and pictures were properly illuminated from the flames of the fireplace.
“You would think all his friends would know Cobalt’s identity by now. If I was his guardian, I would’ve figured him out ages ago.”
Chrysalis tightened the heavy maroon blanket they shared around their shoulders. “Yeah, right. You’d just be distracted since he’s cute.”
“No, I wouldn’t!”
Chrysalis glanced down at Twilight, one eyebrow raised.
“...Okay, maybe a little.”
The two shared a jovial laugh, snuggling closer to share the warmth of the fire, blanket, and each other. When the laughter finally died down, Twilight released a blissful sigh. “Thank you for helping to make this the best Hearth’s Warming Day ever, Chrysalis.”
“All I did was agree to attend the pink one’s insufferable party tonight. It’s nothing like the gifts your friends got you.”
“First of all, her name is Pinkie Pie. Second, it is a big deal to me. Stepping out of your comfort zone to take part in a celebration with my friends was one of the best gifts you could’ve given me. Besides, seeing the look on Pinkie’s face when you showed up for her party was a gift in itself. I think you made her year.”
“I’m just grateful I didn’t spend anymore time near her than I had to. I swear I’m a step closer to getting diabetic every second I’m near that pony. Her emotions are more saccharine than the white one’s—”
“—Rarity—”
“—Rarity’s novels that she loves to shove in my face,” Chrysalis finished.
“Don’t be like that. That was a very thoughtful gift from Rarity. Well, not my kind of taste, but I can appreciate the thought. That reminds me, there is one thing I would like to do before the night is over.”
“What would that…” Chrysalis trailed off, then grinned. “I was starting to wonder when you were going to give me your present.”
Twilight averted her eyes. “Present? What present?”
Chrysalis narrowed her eyes. “You can’t be serious.”
“Serious about what? I do have a great friendship speech about the importance of bonds and holiday spirit in mind.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“Whaaat? No, I’m totally telling the truth. I got a three hour seminar planned, just for you. I have a ton of activities prepared. Even homework!”
Chrysalis rolled her eyes, failing to contain her smirk. “You’re totally full of it. You can’t even keep a straight face!”
“My face is as straight as an arrow,” said Twilight, cheeks puffed in a pathetic attempt to look serious.
“Twilight,” Chrysalis shook her head sadly, “neither you, nor your face, are in the same dimension as ‘straight’. Now cut it out and give me the present already.”
“I told you, I don’t know what you’re—EEK! Okay, I’ll stop! I’ll stop!” Twilight screamed and laughed as Chrysalis attacked the crook of her neck with nibbles. “Just this one time I wanted to be the one who tricked you and made you feel silly.”
Chrysalis relented, wearing a wicked grin. “While I’m flattered you wish to get on my level, please leave it to the professionals. I could live without another oran—no, Applejack—rant about being a bad influence.”
“Well, as long as I’ve been around you, I had to have picked up some traits, for better or worse.” Twilight shrugged. “Anyway, yes, I wanted to give you your Hearth’s Warming present. Give me a second to grab it.”
Twilight channeled her magic, reaching outside the study room her and Chrysalis currently resided and into her own room. Once she found her target, she triggered the retrieval spell and summoned the object before them.
A velvet box dropped onto Twilight’s hooves. With a meek smile she presented it to Chrysalis. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Chrysalis.”
Mystified, Chrysalis accepted the gift and held it in her hooves. Twilight waited on pins and needles for Chrysalis to open the box. Her forehoof brushed the exterior as if she was lost in thought.
“How… are you not disappointed or upset?”
“Huh? Why would I feel that way?”
Chrysalis clasped her hoof over the box. “You have such strong feelings for me, but you must have noticed that I can’t return them.”
“Oh, Chrysalis…”
Twilight leaned into her, resting her forehoof on top of Chrysalis’ over the box.
“It still bothers you, doesn’t it? That you haven’t evolved yet?”
Chrysalis’ expression spoke volumes.
“Chrysalis, listen to me. I knew what I was getting into since the start. I understand now that all those weeks ago you made those advances to test the waters. To see if you were capable. I understand how important it is to you to feel strong. Complete.”
Chrysalis grimaced and looked away. “But that’s only half the story, right? It’s difficult to imagine what convinced you to stay with someone who is incapable of returning love. Not unless your guilt has played a significant role.”
“N-No…”
Twilight hesitated for a moment. When her voice returned, she sounded more confident. “I regret what I did, yes, but I’ve made my peace with it. That doesn’t mean I don’t think about it sometimes, but I have something far more important to me to worry about than a past I can’t change. This is all about you. Because you can change.”
Twilight straightened herself up and cupped Chrysalis’ cheeks so their eyes met. The sight of hopelessness in Chrysalis’ gaze made her eyes water. “Yes, it would be nice to see you evolve into a beautiful new you, but I know this isn’t something that can be solved with a spell or has a quick fix. You need time and support, both of which I’m more than happy to give you. However much you need to find the answers you seek.”
Chrysalis’ eyes glistened.
“Chrysalis,” Twilight braced herself, then smiled sweetly, “no matter what, even if for some reason you never evolve, it doesn’t change that you’ve evolved on the inside. I believe in you, so don’t give up.”
A familiar look passed behind Chrysalis’ gaze. Though she smiled, Twilight could find no warmth in it.
“Thank you, Twilight.”
Chrysalis was gone the next morning.
Twilight scoured the castle high and low. Guest rooms. Basement. Kitchen. Neither Spike nor Starlight had seen her. Days of scavenging a Ponyville gave no clues to Chrysalis’ whereabouts. After a week of tireless searching, Twilight had all but given up on her coming back.
Twilight lumbered to her own room, head low and bags under her eyes. With a listless shuffle she navigated towards her mattress. Instead of liven her up, Pinkie’s “Twilight’s Holiday Heartbreak Rebound” party had eaten away the remaining dregs of energy she had left. All she wanted to do now was go to bed and make another futile attempt to push the heartache behind her.
Her hoof had touched the bed when the moonlight’s glare off the dresser mirror across the room caught her eye. She hesitated, lingering on the string of photos lined along the mirror’s edges. She frowned, knowing what she had to do. What she had put off until now. With a groan Twilight walked over to the dresser.
At the top center was the picture of herself, Spike and Starlight in front of the castle, bearing wide grins. Chrysalis took the rear since she was the tallest, hilariously stoic among the bright atmosphere. Twilight took that picture off the mirror and placed it next to the velvet box atop the dresser.
Next to it was a picture of just Twilight and Chrysalis on a hill. Twilight had rarely been happier. With a hoof wrapped around Twilight’s shoulder, Chrysalis bore a nervous grin. One of the few times she gave a legitimate effort to smile for the camera. Twilight repeated the action and placed that photo next to the other.
The pictures and present. Remnants of a happier time which kept her from moving on.
She knew they needed to be gone from her life. Locked up. Destroyed. Something had to be done. Her horn sparked with magic. To do what, she didn’t know yet.
“Did I do something wrong…?” Twilight sniffled, glaring down the offending items. “What did I miss? Why couldn’t she talk to me?”
Twilight reached out with her hoof and cracked opened the velvet case. A longing sigh escaped. Magic ceased in her horn.
Just one more time. If I can see her one last time and talk things out…
Twilight closed the case and looked up at the mirror.
Icy emerald eyes stared back at her from behind.
With a gasp, Twilight spun around, ready to greet her vanished lover. One look at Chrysalis' expression wiped away whatever joy she had.
“C-Chrysalis…?”
Chrysalis’ horn flared with power.
Before Twilight realized what was going on, her legs, wings, and horn were constricted in thick, sickly green glowing rings. She fell to her side, staring up at Chrysalis with wide eyes. There was no love to be found in her gaze.
“Chrysalis?! W-what are you doing?” Twilight attempted to channel her magic, but whatever Chrysalis did to her horn rendered her magic useless. She struggled against the bindings, but quickly realized that they were an obstacle far above her physical strength.
“I warned you how dangerous your feelings would be,” the void of warmth in Chrysalis’ voice sent chills of dread through Twilight. “Time and again I cautioned you on the folly of your naivety. Told you that you would regret it, but here we are.”
“W-why would you—”
Another green ring materialized around Twilight’s muzzle and tightened it shut. All she could muster was a glare.
“I’m not in the mood for friendship speeches this time,” Chrysalis leered. She pressed a forehoof on Twilight’s chest, harsh glare burning holes in Twilight’s forehead.
“I’m sure you’re just burning to understand, even if the evidence is in front of your face. Typical Twilight,” Chrysalis tsked. “Newsflash: I’m going to kill you.”
Twilight's eyes went wide. Her breathing quickened.
“I'd planned on killing you since the beginning. All I needed was a chance to get away with it. However, the very day you invited me into the castle, I instead saw an opportunity to replace you. Once I've done that, I can finally exact my revenge on Equestria, all from a pony who everyone loves and trusts. Of course I will start on Starlight and that filthy traitor Thorax. Their torment will be a beautiful symphony to my ears.”
Everything that we did together. An entire year spent getting to know her. Was all that… a lie? No, the Chrysalis I know has to still be in there somewhere. I refuse to believe she would lie about everything for this long!
“But that's not what you really want to know, is it Twilight? Those months spent under your care? All those romantic endeavors we shared?” She narrowed her eyes, no mercy or regret to be found in her features. “I was famished. Just happened to give my chef a generous tip. That's all.”
The blow struck Twilight harder than any weapon could. For a moment, all she could do was gape at the stranger standing above her.
This whole time… she’s just been playing me? But... but I trusted her. Loved her. And all this time she had planned to betray me? How… how could she?
Power surged into Twilight’s horn. She clenched her jaw. The aura around her forehead grew so bright Twilight was sure she could overcome Chrysalis’ spell—until her magic died out, disobeying her orders.
Bitter tears spilled down Twilight's cheeks. She would have screamed in frustration but held herself back, not willing to give Chrysalis the satisfaction.
Dispirited, Twilight sank back against the hard crystal ground.
She’s giving up everything, all we had, just for some petty revenge?
“So, how does it feel to take a shot through your chest, hm? Hurts, doesn't it?” She glowered. Each word was punctuated with bitter hatred. “Oh, you have no idea how long I kept that in my saddlebag. Well, I'm sure you have some idea.”
Chrysalis’ horn sparked, brimming with magic.
“Don't worry, I won't make the same mistake you did. I'll make it quick, just to show how much I love you, Twilight.”
Love? I should’ve known you could never learn to love. I should’ve never let you in my life! I…
No. I won’t hold onto hatred like Chrysalis did, even if she’s going to kill me. I’m better than that.
Twilight fought the urge to shut her eyes and look away.
For all the mistakes I’ve made, things I’ve missed that led to this, I won’t turn away. I refuse to reject what I’ve cherished.
Her body tensed on reflex, braced for impact.
I refuse to be someone like you!
The magic in Chrysalis’ horn turned a brilliant green, reaching critical mass.
Only to suddenly cease.
Twilight blinked, then realized Chrysalis’ attention was no longer on her.
Chrysalis levitated the velvet box into her hooves. “Almost forgot about this. I bet whatever this Hearth’s Warming gift is, you worked hard to make it. It would be a shame if I destroyed it, wouldn't it?”
Twilight's answer was a furious snort and growl. Are you serious?! How long are you going to drag this out, you sadist?!
Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “Hate me all you want, but I let you have your way for a whole year. All I want is just a fraction of that time back. Is that so much to ask? Now let's see what pathetic trinket you got for me.” She cracked open the box.
Chrysalis’ smirk fell.
Platinum shimmered in Chrysalis’ transfixed stare. She picked up the chain in her magic and placed the box on the dresser. The heart-shaped locket dangled before her, emerald orbs beholding a matching stone cover. Absentmindedly she flipped open the locket.
Inside the locket was a photo taken some weeks prior. Chrysalis sat on a loveseat with Twilight leaning against her side, eyes closed and smile wide. Chrysalis had been caught lost in thought while staring down a glass of apple cider, smirking.
Chrysalis stared at the locket in awe, failing to recognize the stranger in the photo. Her expression gradually shifted from startled, to confusion, to utter contempt. Her heated gaze floated between Twilight and the locket, as if she couldn’t make up her mind who to murder first.
When the gaze finally stopped at Twilight, she readied herself for Chrysalis to attack or say something to drive another stake in her heart. Instead, she turned and moved toward the balcony window, horn flared with magic. Twilight barely managed to catch her mutterings.
“Looks like we’re at an impasse.”
The bindings on Twilight dissolved. Chrysalis’ horn was still active. Twilight knew what would happen next.
She scrambled onto her hooves and ignited her horn. A peculiar sight gave her pause when Chrysalis’ wings fluttered.
What are her wings doing? That’s not an attack Chrysalis could normally—
The realization struck her like a brick.
“Chrysalis, wait!”
Twilight whipped up a veil of magic to trap Chrysalis in a bubble. The barrier nearly enveloped Chrysalis when she vanished in a flash.
Trapped in the shield was the only part of Chrysalis she had left: the locket.
Twilight struggled to catch her breath, shaking with adrenaline. So much happened in that single moment she couldn’t process. Not right now anyway.
Still encased in magic, Twilight pulled the locket into her embrace. Tears flowed freely. Yet, for the first time in days, Twilight found the strength to smile.
Chrysalis’ wings had been glittering.
She made it.