//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3 
// Story: Reformation for a bug 
// by secury 
//------------------------------//

Starlight sat at the table with Twilight, drinking apple cider from her cup. They talked at first about books, food, and oncoming Twilight's coronation. Then the conversation took a course about Starlight's first impression of Chrysalis. 

Meeting with Chrysalis left Starlight with mixed feelings of frustration and disappointment. Starlight wasn't very upset, she had no high expectations of the Chrysalis's reactions, but she wasn't cheerful either. She was fully expecting to Chrysalis act with bitterness and stubbornness but still secretly hoping for hints of some kind of appreciation. That was probably naive hope since it looked like that Chrysalis was now too full of anger to have any spare space for gratitude. Or Chrysalis just didn't want to give Starlight any hints that she, in fact, would need help from Starlight. 

Not that Starlight strictly needed Chrysalis gratitude for personal satisfaction but because it could provide some kind of information on how to reach Chrysalis. Some indication that Starlight was moving in the right direction. Right now it looked like Starlight would need to use a whip to make Chrysalis do anything at all. And some gratitude itself would be also nice since Starlight indeed freed Chrysalis's chitin-flank from stone. Her ungrateful chitin-flank apparently. 

Twilight looked rather bothersome at that point when the topic of Chrysalis came. Both friends waited in silence before Twilight finally said what she had in mind. "Are you really sure you want to deal with Chrysalis?" 

"Let me guess," Starlight said. "The moment you were excited for helping me passed and now you have second thoughts?" 

"It is possible that it's something like that," Twilight confirmed. "I am still wondering if what are you doing is the right thing to do."

Starlight stood silent for a moment before guessing what Twilight had in mind. "...are we going to have now a discussion if Chrysalis is worth saving?" Starlight asked. "I get the feeling we are going to have that discussion."

Twilight sighed. "I wouldn't say it like that, but basically yes."

"Well if that is the case," Starlight said. "Could we just skipped a few parts and get forward to the end where we both more or less agree that is Chrysalis is indeed worth saving?" Starlight asked with a hopeful smile. "I would like to keep my spirit uncrushed."

The reason  Starlight didn't want to discuss Chrysalis's reformation wasn't that there would be any doubt about Starlight's inner motivations. The real reason was that despite Starlight's inner drive to help Chrysalis it was actually hard for Starlight to trying to justify and defend Chrysalis's actions with anypony in open discussion. With havoc that Chrysalis caused it was really easy to argue that Chrysalis should be sealed in the stone forever.

At that comment, Twilight smiled a little but then again took a serious tone. "I understand your motivations and I always rooted for the idea that everypony deserves a second chance," Twilight said. "But Chrysalis...she is just horrible. Even what she did at Canterlot wedding pale in comparison with harm she caused when she came back with Cozy Glow and Tirek."

"That is true," Starlight agreed.

Twilight was trying to say something but now she just looked confused at Starlight, waiting what she says next.

"Chrysalis is horrible and I am not gonna deny it," Starlight said taking a deep breath. "Look, I get it. Nopony wants Chrysalis around. I bet my five bits that I soon will get 'Hey isn't that pony who released that monster from stone and yadda yadda yadda' type of looks. That is something I will just have to deal with it."

Starlight paused for a moment, sipping from her cup. "I am gonna level with you. I can see Chrysalis for what she is. Chrysalis is not some kind of lost and misguided soul. She is a cruel and uncaring jerk. She is a villain with big capital V," Starlight said. "I am not gonna say that I saw good in her at first sight or anything like that."

Starlight took another sip. Twilight was silently listening. "What I see right now is bad and I would consider that what’s underneath her is even worse. I except to finds out things about Chrysalis not to be exactly nicest."

"And you are still fine to try to help her?", Twilight asked.

Starlight nodded.

"Why?" Twilight asked.

"Because I was pretty massive jerk myself," Starlight responded. "But in the end, I don't think I turn out that bad."

"Oh common, that was completely different," Twilight said.

"Yeah, because I only almost destroyed Equestria thanks to my time travel shenanigans, right?" Starlight asked.

"But you didn't destroy Equestria," Twilight said.

"And Chrysalis didn't conquer Equestria," Starlight responded.

"Ok, I get that but tell why should you really do it?" Twilight asked.

"Because it is the right thing to do and somepony should do something about it?" Starlight shrugged. "I know it is not much but what should I tell you?"

Twilight sighed. "This is not an argument that I am gonna win, right?"

"Probably," Starlight said with a bright smile. "Look, if it makes you feel any better, then don't think that just because I took pity on Chrysalis, does mean that she is off the hook for the crimes she has done," Starlight said. "I will just have come with more appropriate punishment afterward. Something that will keep her in line but at the same time, it would be more dignified so she wouldn't turn back to evil ways at the first bump on the road."

"I guess that counts for something," Twilight partly agreed.

"But ultimately none of these things make me even for a moment to think that Chrysalis is not worth saving," Starlight said. "Besides it is a bit of late to pull the plug now. Chrysalis is at my mercy now and I won't give up on her just because turn her back into stone would a little more convenient then tried to reach her."

Twilight raised one of her eyebrows. "A little convenient?"

"Ok, from a practical view it would be a lot more convenient," Starlight said. "But that's not the point!"

Twilight reluctantly nodded. "I am not sure if I agree with it, but in any case, you have a lot of work to do." Twilight paused. "But how come you are so excited about it?" Twilight asked. "Reforming power-hungry tyrants doesn't strike me like some casual hobby to pass time and you can't know for sure that it would even work."

"I am delusional about it," Starlight said.

"That sounds sure sounds professional," Twilight giggled. "Does it helps?"

"Well, I guess some healthy dose of naivety is a requirement for this kind of job," Starlight said.

Twilight looked like she became more and more inclined to Starlight's idea, but she tried one last argument. "But what about that duel thing? I mean when she actually tried to beat you down and hurt you?" 

Starlight froze for a moment as a memory of her duel with Chrysalis struck her. Starlight would be lying if she told that is wasn't a traumatic experience. In fact, she was scared out of her mind at the moment when Chrysalis overpowered her. She was afraid that she was going to die. But over a short period of time Starlight was able to overcome the consequences of her encounter with Chrysalis and was able to forgive Chrysalis for that. Her previous experiences with stressful and challenging situations surely helped.

Starlight took a deep breath. "You don't have to worry about that. I already forgive Chrysalis for that. I wouldn't be much able to help her in the first place if my own grudge would holding me back."

Twilight was secretly proud of her former pupil for that kind of determination as she was able to forgive one of her worst enemies. 

"So you are going to help Chrysalis, despite me and everypony else thinking what are you doing is reckless and dangerous?" Twilight asked, amused.

"Well, that never stopped me before," Starlight smirked.

"You have answers for everything," Twilight said with a cheerful smile. "Out of curiosity, does Chrysalis appreciate your efforts?"

"Hell no!" Starlight said. "She wouldn't accept any helping hoof even if her life depends on it." Starlight paused to take another sip. "Which very well may be the case right now."

"Well if I can't stop from your self-destructive tendencies, then I wish you best of luck," Twilight said.

"And what about you?" Starlight asked. "I mean what are you gonna do about my efforts to help Chrysalis."

"Probably nothing," Twilight said. "What I mean is that I am not sure if I can ever forgive Chrysalis for her crimes." Twilight paused. "But I trust your instincts Starlight and I promise that I will not stand in your way and if you will succeed in reforming Chrysalis then I would truly happy for you."

"Thanks, Twilight," Starlight said. "I really appreciate it."

"Are you gonna see her soon?" Twilight asked. "Chrysalis I mean."

"Yeah I should check on her pretty soon," Starlight responded. "I should probably take some cupcakes with me."