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// Chapter 47: Apology 
// Story: The Life of Penumbra Heartbreak 
// by Unwhole Hole 
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Contrary to Twilight Luciferian’s original assessment, Chrysalis was not present at the meeting in the throne room. She had no reason to be present. She was aware that something was happening, and through Eternity’s babbling she had learned that Luciferian was back, at least marginally, and that Penumbra had been poisoned. More than that, though, she had no idea. Of the five ponies who had witnessed what had happened, one was mute, one never spoke, one was Luciferian, one was a pile of dust, one was Luciferian, and one was a pony who Chrysalis did not wish to speak to in the slightest. So rather than waste her time, she went to where she needed to be.
When Penumbra woke up, Chrysalis was there. Waiting. 
“Well, look at that. You’re not dead.”
“I’m not?” Penumbra actually seemed greatly confused at this and patted herself down- -only to realize that she was naked. She immediately covered herself with her hooves. “You stripped my clothes off. Please be gentle.” 
“Ugh, it wasn’t me. We had to check for holes. Congratulations, you’re hole-free. Except for the one you shove cake into I guess.”
“I have more holes than just my mouth.”
“And you no doubt shove cake into all of them. You couldn’t possibly get that fat otherwise.”
Penumbra sat up. She smacked her lips. “Well, that’s a funny taste.” 
“Salty?”
“No...sort of like metal. But with a hint of vanilla...and maybe some grape? Were you kissing me?”
“Trust me, princess. No one wants to kiss you. Because you’re ugly.”  
Penumbra suddenly stiffened. “I think my brain just caught up with itself.”
“Yeah. You are pretty slow.”
“This is no time for joking. Facet. NOW.”
Chrysalis's eyes narrowed. She was sitting across the room on a desk, with her legs folded under her. When she stood, she shapeshifted from her insect-like form to that of an adult mare. “You don’t want to see her.”	
“No, but I need to.”
“Are you going to do something stupid?”
“Why? Would you try to stop me?”
“Yes. ‘One of Thirteen’ my buggy rump, you’re not like the rest of us. I’m not going to let you do something you’ll regret.” 
“Thank you for your concern. You are a good friend.” Penumbra rolled off the bed and put her hooves on the floor. Immediately she collapsed into a heap. 
“You...can’t stand yet, can you?”
“I was poisoned. I will get there when I get there.”
“I can make sooooo many fat jokes right now.”
“Do it as you pull me to Facet. Also, get rid of that ridiculous form. You look cute as a little bug-thing. A teenager as an adult mare is creepy.” 
Chrysalis just rolled her eyes, grabbed one of Penumbra’s calves in her teeth, and began to pull. As she did, though, she resumed her normal form. That was not something she could often do. 

By the time they reached their destination, Penumbra had largely regained her ability to stand unassisted. The metallic taste in her mouth had faded, but somehow it had been replaced with an odd sensation that was similar to hunger or thirst but really neither. Penumbra had never known it before. She found herself missing that strange taste of metal, and wanting more.
When Chrysalis opened the door and Penumbra entered, she immediately found Facet- -as well as Burnt. They were cuddled together in the center of the floor. The instant the door opened, the two of them separated, with both blushing. It was clear that Facet had been crying.
Likewise, Facet was not in a good state. At all. Her body was covered with welts. At first Penumbra thought she had been beaten, but then she realized that the welts were the result of some kind of sting, as if Facet had been stung repeatedly by an exceedingly large and vicious insect. 
“Princess- -Lady Chrysalis- -”
Penumbra saw the fear in Facet’s eyes, but her own gaze dropped lower. She gasped when she saw the band of marks around Facet’s neck, because Penumbra knew some of them. They were part of inscriptions written down in one of Gxurab  Al’Hrabnaz’s omnibus work.
“What happened?” Penumbra took several steps forward, but Facet retreated in fear. “You’ve been cursed. Badly. I need to see it, if there’s something I can do- -”
“There is nothing you can do.”
“I can at least try- -”
“Why are you doing this?”
The room fell silent. Facet continued. “Why? I don’t understand.” 
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Do you…do you not remember?”
“That you tried to poison me?”
“That I DID poison you.”
“And yet I’m still here.”
Penumbra began walking toward Facet. Burnt attempted to intervene, but Chrysalis held her back, causing her to squeak in fear as the changeling touched her. 
Facet took a step back until her rump was against the wall. Her eyes grew wide as she saw that there is no way out. “I won’t apologize,” she said, her voice shaking. “What would it even do? You wouldn’t believe it anyway.”
“Why would you apologize?”
“Are you making fun of me? You don’t understand. Do you think I didn’t know it was wrong? Do you think it doesn’t make me want to sit down and give up whenever I think about it? Maybe I deserve to be sent back to the mines.”	
“As opposed to…?”
“What you’re about to do.”
Penumbra smiled. “This is the Crystal Empire. Power is everything. The ability to take as much of the world as you can and shape it how you want. I guess it’s true everywhere. That’s why alicorns rule Equestria. “
“What are you talking about?”
“I am a princess. I expect the ponies I trust most to betray me. You, Burnt, Chrysalis...you’ll all turn against me one day. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you, and it doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends.” 
Facet began to cry. “Why?” she asked. “Why do you have to be like this?”
Penumbra hugged her. “Because I’m the princess. And that’s the way I want to be.”