//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - Service with a Smile // Story: The Chrysalis Letters // by A bag of plums //------------------------------// “Welcome to the Metamorphosis Spa and Massage Parlor!” Aeon greeted as the glass double front doors swung open. He was wearing a smart black bow tie and his silver mane was slicked back with gel. It was one of their usual patrons, Pretty Flanks, and she did not look too pleased today. “Yes. Usual coat treatment for me…” She magicked her hat and coat over to a rack by the side of the lobby. “It got quite matted during the invasion. It has been a great annoyance even living with such a disaster on my back.” “Of course. It just so happens we have no other customers today, so we can get to your treatment immediately.” After receiving payment, Aeon noted down Pretty Flanks’ name and particulars in his ledger as Ruby Gleam and Golden Lily trotted out, both wearing starched white aprons and headbands to keep their manes out of the way. “Right this way, Miss,” Lily chirped, leading their charge toward one of the onsen rooms. The unicorn followed along behind them, walking down the corridors of black marble that were lined with rather nondescript pictures, most of them displaying views of Canterlot and picturesque beaches, none of them interesting enough to command anypony’s attention for very long. Flameless lanterns provided illumination, and the hoofsteps of all three were muffled by a plush red carpet underhoof. “Disgusting insects…” Pretty Flanks looked at her back, where residue of goo refused to remove themselves from her coat. “Why did they have to come bother us? They were doing fine on their own all this while. Now look at me… It is a shame they were thrust from Canterlot instead of being imprisoned and tried.” “That would certainly have produced a different outcome,” Ruby nodded, pushing open a pair of dark wooden doors to reveal another room, also constructed with black marble. A steaming, raised bath, made of the same material as the room, the size of a small pool dominated the center of the space, wafting perfumed steam all around. The room was softly lit with candles. “If you’ll just climb in, Miss,” Golden Lily gestured to the water. “We’ll get onto cleaning your coat and mane whenever you’re ready.” Pretty Flanks wasted no time mounting the steps and lowering herself into the onsen, settling down in the water with a happy sigh.  “I’m ever so glad this place was open today,” Pretty Flanks commented contentedly. “A lot of spas are closed because of the invasion. As if that’s a reason to deny paying customers basic services.” “So true, Miss Flanks.” Lily grabbed a roll of towels from a rack at the side and a wooden bucket. “Ponies are just finding an excuse to have a day off.” While Golden Lily began to use her magic to shampoo their customer’s coat with a lavender-scented wash, Ruby Gleam went over to the shelf on the side and took out three sticks of incense, placing them into a small ornate pot and lighting them skillfully with a match. Any client who came in for the Metamorphosis’ comforts would be treated to this special incense; it was practically advertised in the flyers that the spa used ‘exotic eastern aromatherapy’ to relax ponies and provide the perfect spa experience.  “Ahhh, this smell always helps to calm me down…” Pretty Flanks rested her head on the edge of the bath. “Helps take my mind off the changeling attack.” “We’re pleased that you’re enjoying it,” Lily purred as she scrubbed gently away at the goo that was ingrained in Pretty Flanks’ purple coat. Thanks to Lily’s ministrations and the sweet-smelling shampoo, the dried slime and dirt came out easily.  The air soon grew hazy with scented smoke, but neither Ruby Gleam nor Golden Lily seemed affected in the slightest. Pretty Flanks, on the other hoof, was so relaxed now that she was almost nodding off. Golden Lily finished washing their customer’s mane and used the bucket to gently pour warm water on her head, rinsing out the bubbles and bringing her back to the waking world. “Huh? Wha-?” Pretty Flanks snorted, swinging her head to and fro. “Oh. Yes, very nice work you’ve done on my coat. I couldn’t get it off on my own.” “Would you like to move on to your massage now, or do you want to stay and soak a bit longer?” Ruby Gleam stood by with a fluffy white bathrobe. “Should I stay or should I go?” the unicorn mused out loud. “I think I’ll stay another ten minutes or so. Your baths are really one of a kind.” “As you wish, Miss Flanks,” Golden Lily said gently. She stepped back away from the bath and glanced at Ruby. The pegasus smiled at her companion and went to tidy up the towels. Lily herself excused herself from the room, exiting into the hallway and trotting toward the massage room. This room was, like the previous one, lit with warm candles that reflected off the black marble walls. A pair of massage beds were placed next to one another, divided by a curtain should two different clients use the room at once. And seated at the far end of the room was a light pink unicorn with a windswept blue mane. She was tuning a large golden harp that was placed on top of a raised pedestal.  “Harpsy Chord,” Golden Lily inclined her head. “Our first client of the day will be here in about ten minutes.” “Excellent,” The pink unicorn did not take her eyes off her harp, plucking each string slowly to see if any were out of tune. “Have Silent Moon take over for Aeon. He knows what to bring.” “Of course,” Golden Lily bowed her head again and vacated the room. Any visitor to the Metamorphosis could tell you about the talented harp player who worked there, usually during massage sessions. Her harp playing was married with the deliciously soothing setting, the incense, and the talented hooves of the masseuses to create an atmosphere of utter and total relaxation. Everypony swore that by the time they left the massage rooms, they felt like an entirely new pony, as if a huge weight had been lifted from their shoulders.  Harpsy Chord smirked to herself in the solitude of the massage room. It was almost time for her performance. Her harp was tuned, her hooves ready, and Aeon would soon be along to do what he always did during her performances. Ruby Gleam entered about five minutes later, mentioning that Lily had stayed at their charge’s side to dry her with magic and get her into the robe. “Our customer, Pretty Flanks, has been complaining all about the changeling invasion and how disgusting they are.” Ruby Gleam rolled her eyes as she prepped the towels on the massage table. “Though I think the treatment has managed to calm her down a bit.” “Ah, so it’s her, is it?” Harpsy Chord said mildly. “I hear that she is a bit at odds with her husband. Though, I suspect we’ll hear it right from the horse’s mouth soon.” Ruby Gleam laughed at the fitting expression. Moments later, Golden Lily entered with a drowsy-looking Pretty Flanks. “Our customer is ready for her massage now,” Lily announced. “Good, good. If you’ll just step over this way, Miss Flanks, we’ll get you sorted out in no time at all…” The unicorn sprawled herself over the table, resting her right cheek against the cushioned surface, waiting for the other two ponies to get ready. Ruby Gleam flew up above the prone unicorn and dipped her hooves in a bowl of massage oil, ready to start her regimen. As she did so, Golden Lily trotted to the four corners of the room and lit more sticks of incense. The air began to grow opaque with the smoke, and to add the finishing touch, graceful, delicate harp music filled the air. The room had excellent acoustics and the harp’s song touched down ever so softly on Pretty Flanks’ ears. With Ruby firmly kneading at Pretty Flanks’ back and the incense and the harp player’s performance, it created a void of comfort that no pony, not even a princess, could have withstood. In no time at all, Pretty Flanks was fast asleep, dreaming pleasant dreams while her body was expertly worked over. “Miss Flanks?” Golden Lily said softly, gently poking the sleeping pony’s cheek. She poked harder, but still got no reaction. Lily grinned, then held open one of Pretty Flanks’ eyelids, peering into the eyeball within. Nothing. “It’s all good, she’s out like a light.” “Fantastic,” Ruby Gleam said, continuing her massage. “Never fails, that incense.” The door to the massage room inched open, revealing the pale face of Aeon. He held a dark notebook in his magical aura and there was a pen tucked behind his ear. “Ah, just in time, Aeon,” Harpsy Chord said with a nod. “We were just about to get started.” Aeon pulled a stool out from a half-hidden alcove in the wall and settled down in it, levitating the pen from behind his ear and putting the point to a fresh page in his notebook. Golden Lily took over playing the harp as Harpsy Chord left the instrument, stalking closer to the slumbering Pretty Flanks.  “It’s been a few weeks since we did this to her,” The harp player said to her fellows. “Let’s see if we’ll learn anything new.” Harpsy Chord got right in Pretty Flanks’ face and peeled back her eyelids with her hooves. Her horn lit up green and her eyes became emerald vortexes, swirling like whirlpools. Pretty Flanks’ mouth opened, working away as if trying to say something. “Speak,” Harpsy Chord commanded in a hypnotic voice that sounded like two ponies talking at once. “Tell me your secrets.” “Yes…” Pretty Flanks droned, her eyes gazing directly into the spiralling depths of Harpsy Chord’s own. “I will tell you my secrets…” And she did. For the following half an hour, Pretty Flanks spilled a torrid love affair that she had been having with her daughter’s piano teacher. Some of the details were already known to the spa staff, but some of the more recent events were quite juicy. Aeon’s pen raced across his notebook, recording everything with pinpoint accuracy. Throughout it all, Ruby Gleam continued to knead and rub down Pretty Flanks’ body, and by the time the whole story had been told, all the knots and aches in her body had been completely rubbed out.  “And that’s it? There is nothing else?” Harpsy Chord asked once Pretty Flanks’ story had ended.  “No… there’s nothing else…” The slumbering pony said in monotone. “Everything else… is common knowledge…” “You’ve done well,” The harp player intoned. “Now go back to sleep.” The green glow faded away. On command, the unicorn placed her head back on the massage table and drifted off to sleep in only a few seconds. “Juicy.” Aeon clipped the pen back on the board and smiled. “I wonder what her husband would think of this.” Lily snickered with a hoof to her mouth. “The piano teacher? Really?” Harpsy Chord retook her place on the harp. “Lily, go prepare the cocktail lounge. We’ll be done here shortly. Aeon, you may return to the front desk.” Golden Lily nodded and left the room with Aeon. Ruby hopped off of Pretty Flanks’ back and proceeded to wash her the massage oil from her hooves in the sink in the corner. Harpsy Chord slowly let her music dwindle away, the last fading note leaving the room in near silence. “Mm?” Pretty Flanks murmured, her eyelids twitching. “Your treatment has concluded, Miss Flanks,” Ruby Gleam told her as she began to stir. “I trust you had a pleasant time?” “I feel… incredible!” Pretty Flanks exclaimed as Ruby helped her off the massage table. “Like a completely new pony!” “Thank you for coming,” Harpsy Chord said gracefully, stepping down from her harp. “Would you like to enjoy a complimentary cocktail before you go?” A cocktail was always offered to each customer before they left. Any residual twinges from the massage room would be attributed to the liquor, and plus, it was a great perk to coming to the Metamorphosis. It also helped that the spa had a bar that rivaled many actual watering-holes in the city. Pretty Flanks gladly accepted the drink before leaving, feeling so much better than when she had first entered the spa. “Another happy pony leaving.” Golden Lily cantered in a loop. “Another bunch of happier spa attendees.” “So much positive emotion and goodwill,” Ruby Gleam noted, taking a deep breath. “I don’t think I’ll have to eat lunch after that.” Aeon cleared his throat from the front desk. “Hopefully that won’t be our only customer of the day, though I don’t know if many other ponies will feel like coming to the spa after… yesterday’s events. In any case, go prepare the rooms for our next guest. I’ll stay on lookout here.” But no other ponies did show up. Their day passed by slowly, and Golden Lily was on the verge of tearing her mane out with boredom by the time it came to close up shop for the day.  “About time,” Lily grumbled as they flipped the ‘open’ sign around to ‘closed’ and locked up the front doors. “I’m starving. Can’t wait to get me some dinner.” “We’re always hungry,” Aeon said plainly, locking up his ledger in the desk and picking up the box with the day’s earnings, ready to take it downstairs. “But you’re right, I could do with something to eat too. Come on.” Switching off the lights in the lobby, Golden Lily and Aeon trotted down into the depths of the Metamorphosis side by side. All the staff would be meeting in the dining room before being released for the night to do what they wanted to do. It was a spacious room dominated by a table and chairs, lit with more flameless lanterns. Silent Moon was already seated at the dark, polished oak table, drumming her hooves on the tabletop. She had been working behind the scenes today, washing towels and robes, as well as ministering to a member of the staff who hadn’t been so lucky during the changeling invasion. Moon watched as Lily and Aeon entered and took their seats. “Busy day?” Silent Moon asked. Golden Lily took off her headband and placed it on the table. “Nah, not really. We only got one customer. Pretty Flanks, you remember her?” “Oh, yeah. Purple coat, turquoise mane. Learn anything useful?”  “Oh, lots!” Aeon smirked. “It’ll make a fine addition to all the rest of her file.” “I don’t doubt that,” Ruby Gleam’s voice came as she entered, tugging off her apron and hairband. “Her little tryst with her daughter’s piano teacher is positively scandalous. I’d wager she would do anything to keep it quiet.” She plopped down in her seat and grinned mischievously. “And the teacher. After all, he’s married too!” There was a ripple of laughter around the table. “The things these ponies do for love...” Silent Moon smiled and brushed a hoof through her mane. “And the things we do for it,” Snowy Skies ambled into the room, pushing a trolley with a large steaming pot on top of it. "Dinner’s ready, by the way. Well, the first part of dinner, anyway.” “Ooh, is that snapper?” “And trout!” Snowy chirped, getting out bowls from underneath the trolley. “I know it’s not easy to get fish in Canterlot, but I thought everypony...” She winked. “Would like something hearty to pick ourselves up from yesterday’s… mishap.” Ruby made a weird sound in her throat. “Mishap is an understatement.” Golden Lily licked her muzzle hungrily. “I can’t wait to dig in! Who are we missing?”  At this, the doors to the dining room swung open, revealing a white unicorn with a blue and green mane.  All chatter ceased immediately.  “Mistress Spirit Wave,” Aeon greeted, standing up. Everypony else who was still seated followed suit. “Oh, sit back down,” Spirit Wave said, waving her hoof at them. “Snowy has worked very hard on this meal and I’m sure we’d all love to taste; it smells lovely, by the way,” She added. Snowy Skies’ cheeks turned slightly red at the compliment.  “Now, why don’t we just all be ourselves for this meal? Pony teeth aren’t exactly suited to eating meat, as we all know.” “Hear, hear!” Golden Lily cheered, just before she was engulfed in a flurry of green fire. One by one, all around the table columns of emerald flame shot up around each pony, hiding them for a second. When the flames died down, the table was surrounded by a pack of very different looking creatures. Blackened, vaguely equine creatures with holes in their legs and ragged, less refined manes that matched their previous forms. Only the owner of the spa, Spirit Wave, remained the same as she always had been.  Spirit Wave looked around the table, beholding the grinning changelings. Unlike the drones that had been seen during the invasion yesterday, these changelings were different. Whereas the drones had possessed solid blue eyes and fin-like manes that were black like the rest of their bodies, the changelings gathered around the dinner table had almost-pony like eyes, like Queen Chrysalis, slits for pupils and irises that matched their manes. They each stood about half a head taller than the average pony, and every one of them had been chosen from hundreds of others for this position. In fact, their existence was not a widely known fact, not even among Queen Chrysalis’s changeling swarm. There were six of them in total. Each had been specifically hoof-picked many years ago and blessed by ancient changeling magic to elevate and empower them, as well as to give them greater independent thought processes. Each had been infinitely grateful and pleased to have been chosen, and by royalty, no less! They now had but one duty: to serve the crown and those who were affiliated with it. Altogether it was not too different from what they had been doing before being chosen, but with this new position came more clandestine, secret missions. But more on that later. The five changelings that had revealed themselves set about ladling out hearty portions of the fish stew into bowls, chatting animatedly as they did so about the day’s events and the failed invasion that had taken place only the day before. Spirit Wave approached the pot of stew. “I’ll take one to Nahara, then I’ll join you,” she said. The changeling who had been Snowy Skies nodded and filled up a bowl for Spirit, who picked it up in her green magical field and left the dining room. The last member of the group of infiltrators, Nahara, had been unable to join them that night because of injuries she had incurred during the botched invasion. As the group’s eye in the castle, she had fled the scene when Chrysalis had revealed her true form and had galloped down to the spa to warn everyone else that the plan had gone awry. She had almost made it, broadcasting a telepathic alarm to her fellow infiltrators on the way back. However, with all the chaos that had ensued when the changeling drones had hit the scene, Nahara had been delayed, and had only just made it into the Metamorphosis when the love wave had hit, throwing the poor thing into a glass display. Not that the rest of them hadn’t been literally thrown for a loop when Chrysalis had been removed. But thanks to Nahara’s early warning, the rest of them had been able to don their armor in time and had not been as badly hurt from being thrown into walls or ceilings. “Chrysalis… you have a lot to answer for…” Spirit Wave muttered as she came to the end of a hallway and opened the door a crack, peeping inside. The light was still on. Good. “I’ve brought some dinner,” Spirit Wave said, quietly entering the room. It was wallpapered in beige in contrast to the black marble that made up the majority of the building, with three beds and a shelf full of medical supplies, some of pony origin and some of more foreign make.  Lying in the closest of the beds was another changeling, this one with a reddish-purple mane, matching eyes, and strips of bandages tied around her midsection. “How are you feeling?” Spirit set the bowl of stew down next to the bed and crouched down to examine the changeling’s injuries.  The injured changeling did not reply. She could not, for among her wounds was a missing tongue. However, this had not been inflicted during the previous day’s events. Nahara had been missing her tongue since many years ago, during a skirmish with some griffons. However, that only made her more perfect for her job as a spy in the castle. “I brought you some of Mava’s fish stew,” Spirit said, levitating the bowl over to Nahara. The changeling took the bowl, and after nodding her thanks, began to eat.  “Do you need me to change your bandages?” Spirit Wave asked gently. Nahara shook her head. The two of them sat there in silence for a while, the only sound being the bowl of stew being devoured.  Spirit Wave sat on one of the other beds, looking down at her hooves. A despondent look graced her face, and she only looked up once she heard the bowl being set aside. “I’ll take this back outside,” Spirit said as she picked up the now empty bowl. She turned to leave. “Mistress.” Spirit Wave turned around. Lying on the bed now was an off-white unicorn with a reddish-purple mane, named Dahlia, who worked in Canterlot Castle as a maid. “You shouldn’t change forms now, not when you’re still hurt,” Spirit Wave admonished. “Save your strength for recovering.” “I have strength enough to heal,” Dahlia replied. “I only wanted to ask, are you alright, mistress?” “What? Of course I am alright. Your warning saved us all.” “That is not what I am asking.” Spirit Wave didn’t answer immediately. “I’ll be fine,” the spa owner said at last. “Now, rest and recover. We need you back in the castle as soon as possible. This whole mess isn’t over yet.” Dahlia bowed her head respectfully. “As you command, mistress.” Spirit Wave left the room and trotted back to the dining room. The rest of the changelings were having a good time chowing down on that delicious stew, but in the end, food for them was but a hobby. It served them little sustenance, not like love. Love was what fueled them, what kept them going, what staved off their hunger. Food did not fill the void for them, but it still tasted good, provided they had enough love stored up to properly digest it. Pouring a bowl for herself, Spirit Wave set it down on the table before taking a few hoofsteps back. All eyes were on her as she disappeared in a flash of green fire.  What stood there now was something of an oddity. A changeling as tall as Princess Luna, almost a smaller scale version of Queen Chrysalis. When the green fire washed over her head, it uncovered an intelligent, if tired-looking face crowned with a filmy, purple mane done up in a practical ponytail, with one wayward lock hanging over the side of her muzzle, in the style of the changeling queen’s. “Welcome back, princess,” the other changelings murmured, bowing their heads. The changeling princess eyed them all. They were her most loyal soldiers, and it brought a small spark of pride to her heart to see them all assembled before her, waiting for her orders. She picked up her spoon and dipped it into the stew. After a few mouthfuls, she looked back up. The rest of them were done eating, so there was no point detaining them any longer. “If you are finished, you may go have the rest of your dinner,” she said in a buzzing, double toned voice that reverberated around the room before getting back to her stew.  The infiltrators bowed to her, then one by one they left the room, until only the changeling who had been Aeon was left. He stood there in silence. The princess noticed him and put down her spoon.  “I will take care of Nahara for you, Azal. I will not have you starve because you feel like you need to stay for her.” Azal seemed to hesitate, but then bowed his head. “You are most kind, Princess Psithyra.” And he, too, left the room. “No, not kind,” Psithyra said to herself once she was alone. “I simply do not want you to suffer from my sister’s actions.”