//------------------------------// // 36 Dark Temptation // Story: Errant Finale // by Doug Graves //------------------------------// Queen Chrysalis grimaces; she’s drained as much of Shining Armor’s love as she feels is safe. At least, without the other ponies getting too suspicious of his weakened state. At least she has Sombra to thank for that, though she would have preferred if the unicorn was the one to have to keep up a shield all the time. Hopefully, with the crystals blasted off his horn, he will be able to help again. And soon; she can already feel her power waning. Good thing those fools are so trusting. Dark magic turning her like this? What a preposterous notion! Though if Sombra goes on the offense again, but without the goal of weakening and subjugating them? First off, that’s her job! And she’s not going to give up her prize so easily. But if the mad king does go all out, he could really do some damage. She’ll need to make sure his spirit stays on the outside. Wouldn’t want herself to get hit by one of those attacks. Still, while she has the chance, might as well see what this ‘Empire’ has to offer. She cuddles next to a somewhat comatose Shining Armor as her gaze travels from one spot, around in a circle, and then back to where she started. Lush green fields stretch from the end of the circular city up to the edge of her shield, dotted with the occasional tree or spire of garnet crystal. Most are divided into fields, with faint roads between the plots. A river flows from the mountains to the north, though the banks do not appear to line up with where they were a thousand years ago. An impressive bit of engineering and terraforming, to turn the barren wasteland of the Frozen North into a self-sustaining paradise. With any luck that Twilight Sparkle will succeed in her ‘quest’ to make a new Crystal Heart. Not so she is spared the duty of keeping this shield up, though that would be welcomed, but as a proof that her queendom will know no bounds! Imagine! Cities carved into the rocks of the inhospitable mountains by her changelings, a crystal heart powering the terraces along the slopes where the ponies could farm their food. Their homes, secure inside the mountain, the perfect breeding ground for ponies and changelings both. Truly, a virtuous cycle, and all would be in awe at their might! Move over, yaks, for the true masters of the north! Perhaps she could even construct her capital at the peak of Mount Everhoof! Just as Canterlot shines as a beacon in Equestria! Queen Chrysalis can practically taste the ponies' love and admiration at the thought of such an accomplishment, and she has to actively stop herself from draining the nearest source. She grimaces as she finds herself wishing that Twilight Sparkle speed on her mission. Her ears perk at the echoing sounds from down the corridor. They are distorted, barely able to be made out, but getting louder and louder. “Okay, I get why you’re here, but why does it have to be me?” “Let’s say it’s Applejack instead. What happens?” “...Okay, fine. She probably couldn’t say a word.” “And you know how much Rarity wanted to try her hoof at those crafts.” “Hey, there were some things that I wanted to try, too! I don’t see why she gets to call dibs.” “Maybe you could pass out flugelhorns and listen to Pinkie Pie practice." “Touché.” “How about Fluttershy?” Oh, that’s her name! “You foaling me? The only reason she stayed in the Empire was because she found out they had those tiny lamb foals.” “Ewes.” “Yeah, disgusting, I know.” Queen Chrysalis can practically hear the eye rolling. “You think Pinkie Pie would do better?” “Okay, you have a point. She sees one balloon at the Faire and she’s gone.” Fair? “Spike?” “Eww, gross, dude. I don’t even want to think about that.” “It doesn’t have to be eros.” “What?” Queen Chrysalis raises an eyebrow as Doug and Rainbow Dash walk out onto the balcony. Rainbow Dash stops in place, the briefest twitch of disgust on her muzzle, though she quickly regains her composure. Doug merely continues up to her and Shining Armor, folding his legs under him to sit down in a weird, upright position. “Hey, Shining Armor, Cadance,” Doug says as Rainbow Dash settles down next to him. The pegasus’ wary eye doesn’t leave her face. “You two doing okay?” “Better than I thought,” Queen Chrysalis says, tasting a bit of their emotions. Doug is calm with only a hint of panic. Much like when she met up with him a few months ago. She can’t tell, but he isn’t nearly as worried as she thinks he would be if he had told them. Or, perhaps, he got better at hiding his emotions. She’ll need to test him later. She turns to Rainbow Dash. Barely holding back contempt - ooh, there’s a new one, don’t see that on many ponies. Likely at the reminder of ‘Sombra’s magic’, but that inkling of whether or not she’s been figured out niggles the back of her mind. “What do you want?” Wait, that’s not what Cadance would have said. Queen Chrysalis clears her throat as Rainbow Dash grits her teeth. “I’m sorry. Is there anything I can help you with?” That seems to loosen up the mare. “Um, not really. We found some ancient book about this festival called the Crystal Faire. So unless you want to be out on the streets horrifying- I mean, helping with the festivities, then it’s probably best you stay here." Doug adds, “Twilight got a reply from Celestia; it included a healing spell she’s practicing right now.” Shining Armor’s ears perk at the mention, the unicorn wincing as he tries to maneuver his body to a sitting position. Queen Chrysalis rubs his ear, coaxing him to stay in his previous position. “It’s okay, love.” She drops down to nuzzle him, drawing an appreciative coo. “It’ll all be better, soon.” She nearly misses the angry glance from Rainbow Dash to Doug, and the brief shake of his head. She turns towards the pegasus. “Something wrong?” “Nothing,” she practically spits out, her throat rumbling as she scans the skies. “With me, that is.” She points up at not one but four dark clouds forming on the upper edge of the shield. They slowly, almost imperceptibly begin to spread out and cover the sun’s dying rays. “I think we’re all worried about that.” “Yes,” Cadance replies, her suspicions of the pegasus going up. She could just be worried, or she might have a bit more than an inkling that something isn’t right. She’ll need to be extra careful not to break character. After all, if she can make it through the week without any of them figuring out that her true form isn’t a result of Sombra’s magic, then she’ll at the very least have another shot at winning a contest against the ponies. And when she wins that, of fusing her changelings with the pony race. It’s not like the ponies stand a chance at defending Canterlot when her army invades. Some of the guards might be grizzled veterans of the skirmishes between the Griffons or the Dragons, but none are as hardened as her changelings. They grow up in the Badlands, for Faust’s sake! Much as she admires this crystal city, she would fear assaulting it if the ponies lived like Yaks. Instead, their pony hides, soft from years of easy living, will serve her changelings as dynamos of love energy. Should she somehow lose both? Faust forbid, but there are other countries. None as tantalizing as this fecund land, but such is the risk she takes. And the delay of any integrator who is with foal doesn’t trouble her, and none would take Celestia up on her offer to let them stay. She is the rightful queen, and they follow her orders and hers alone! With a loud pop Twilight Sparkle teleports next to them, flashing Doug and Rainbow Dash a grin. “Hey, everypony.” She settles down on the balcony, a worried look at her brother. “Doing okay, Shiny?” “Yeah,” he groans out. “Head hurts something fierce, same with the leg.” “I was afraid of that.” Twilight scowls as she looks at Rainbow Dash’s slapdash work. “I wanted to bring you inside the library and try this spell. I don’t think it’ll mend the bone, so we’ll need to splint it, but it should prevent infection and allow you to at least walk around.” “You want to take my Shiny from me?” Queen Chrysalis says, her voice wavering. Her magic feels light as it is; with her source of love gone, what will happen? “Just temporarily,” Twilight replies, her voice oddly even and controlled. “I’ll bring him back after I’m sure he’s ready, but I wanted to monitor him for a little while I continue doing research on the heart.” Twilight sighs. “I found some more mentions of it, but I don’t think I’ll be able to craft a new one that can absorb the same amount of love, and power the shield like you are. Not on such short notice.” “Oh,” Queen Chrysalis says, a little taken aback by the compliment. And the phrasing; does Twilight suspect that she is absorbing love? “I don’t-” “It’s okay,” Shining Armor says, wincing again as he twists to place a hoof on Chrysalis’ barrel. “I’ll be back before you know it.” “We thought we’d… keep you company,” Rainbow Dash says, snuggling next to Doug. “If you must,” Queen Chrysalis hesitantly says, withdrawing her hoof from Shining Armor’s back. Twilight levitates Shining Armor, then flies away to the library. They watch as Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie disperse themselves amongst the gathering crystal ponies. Each sets up a different stand or game, all of them marveling as a few of the crystal ponies spontaneously start glowing. Soon, dozens of sparkling mares and stallions are walking about, and more and more keep coming from every radian of the circular city. “So,” Doug says to Chrysalis, “liking the Crystal Empire so far?” Queen Chrysalis can feel Rainbow Dash’s shudder, as if she wants as little conversation as possible. Well, it makes sense; she’s the most physical of Doug’s mares, and probably can’t wait to get to something more physical with him. She’s also the most suspicious, besides Twilight Sparkle and her inquisitive nature. “It is certainly unique. Though a part of me wonders at the moniker. After all, how can one city be considered an Empire?” Queen Chrysalis taps a hoof against her chin. “Maybe they thought Crystal City wasn't pretentious enough.” Rainbow Dash snorts. “But yeah, it’s kinda like calling yourself an ‘Empress’ when you don’t really have an Empire.” Was that a jab at her? “Well, then maybe that needs to change. Especially if I have some sort of connection to this land.” Queen Chrysalis spreads a hoof, motioning to the mountains to the north. “Perhaps some expansion is needed.” She turns to look Rainbow Dash in the eye. “Could you see yourself pioneering out here? Expanding the borders of conquered land, subduing the Frozen North?” “It’s… an impressive idea, I guess, but not my cup of cider.” Rainbow Dash snuggles into Doug. Queen Chrysalis can feel their love more strongly. It would do, but she would prefer it be directed at her. Not only is it stronger, but easier to absorb, especially as she must continuously channel the shield. “I suppose not everypony is cut out for it,” Queen Chrysalis smirks. Stew on that. “But we all must find someplace to live.” Instead, the pegasus looks pensive. Like she completely missed the barb. “Is that what you want?” she asks, looking down at the crystal ponies. More and more are turning crystalline, sparkling brightly. “Of course,” Queen Chrysalis smoothly replies. “What do you want out of life, Rainbow Dash? Merely the record of fastest pegasus alive? Or did you ever want more?” Rainbow Dash tentatively pushes a hoof against her belly, the life growing inside there. What did she want?