Chrysalis loved the night.
She loved looking up into a sky of twinkling stars. It was one of the few things that brought her peace nowadays.
Next week she and Cadence would be starting their first day at a new school.
So far, she liked the Bay City that they had come to live in rather recently.
The city was beautiful with its cable cars and the Great Gold Bridge that stretched across a beautiful blue bay. The city rolled and splayed across the land with its unique dwellings and buildings. The great bridge was her favorite.
Ships came and went- Chrysalis liked to imagine herself aboard them leaving behind a past of misunderstanding and humiliation.
She found herself taking long walks away from her home to stand on this marvel of architecture and metals.
Baylot City High wasn’t quite as prestigious as Canterlot Academy, but it was still a good school.
Canterlot Academy was one of the best schools in Equestria. Their whole life had been there- friends, work, academic ambition- Everything.
Cadence was still furious with her. It hurt to know her sister loathed her the way she did now. But at this point, it didn’t matter.
Leaving Canterlot had been hard, but nowhere was far enough from that entitled horror, Regal Royale.
Her father could continue his work in this city while her mother would have to stay in Canterlot to continue her work with the Embassy. They weren’t too happy with her either.
She’d always been a spirited person, but she’d never been this rebellious.
“How could you hit your sister?” Her mother had fumed as she worked furiously to heal the damage with her magic.
She still cringed at the row they’d had after her parents conceded to her demands.
“I hope you don’t have any plans for the summer, because you’re grounded!” Justinian had looked so disappointed.
She really couldn’t blame them with the way her behavior was this summer.
Only Celestia knew the truth as to why she could no longer stay in Canterlot.
When she ran away, she hadn’t known what she hoped to accomplish, but somehow she’d made her way all the way to Ponyville.
The only calls she’d answered were those from her older cousin.
“What are you doing here?” Celestia screeched when she rushed forward to fuss over the other girl. Everyone had been searching for her for days.
Chrysalis stood alone in the municipal park she’d instructed her cousin to come to. How she made it to Ponyville, Celestia would never know.
She paused. “Who… are-“
“Like my new look?”
Celestia stopped as her eyes widened at the sight before her. “Oh… Chryssie…” Her hands flew to her mouth as she tried to comprehend this familiar stranger dressed in ratty jeans, a cropped tank and jacket.
“Beautiful now, aren’t I?” Was Chrysalis’ derisive smirk.
Celestia’s gaze took in the changes to the girl before her.
Dark skin seemed to shine in the light. Her midsection now took on a pearlescent hue as teal melted into chartreuse. Her features were much sharper making her appear willowy in stature. Even her teeth seemed sharper as rogue moonbeams shone on white fangs.
Sleek was the word that came to mind as Celestia really stared at her cousin.
“When… did this happen?” She squinted wary of the wind and the scent of rain.
“A couple weeks ago.”
“Wh-” The sky rumbled as scattered drops of rain began to fall. “Let’s go to my car!” She grabbed her hand as the two scampered to the shelter afforded to them by her creme colored beetle. Her skin even felt different.
“Now where did this happen?” Celestia tried again as she slammed her door shut just in time to avoid the bottom of the sky falling out.
“At that party.” Chrysalis shivered as she held herself.
“Is... this why you ran away?” Celestia turned to ask. “I don’t understand- Your mom’s a changeling!” She threw her hands up. “This can’t be that upsetting.” Chrysalis had been missing for three days. This was completely unlike her. Her aunt and uncle were freaking out, while her cousin was oddly sullen. “You said it happened at the party?”
Chrysalis nodded as she shifted uncomfortably.
“Did people see you?!”Celestia could feel her panic rising. Aunt Adelpha would be so upset if this leaked. The immigration agreement that allowed changelings here was much more accepted than it had been. But relations were still terse even on a good day.
“It was an accident! I didn’t break any laws on purpose!” Changelings that chose a life in Equestria were bound by strict laws that prohibited the use of their metamorphical abilities. While Pony people were tolerant of their changeling brethren, it didn’t mean they accepted all facets of their culture.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for it to come off that way…” Celestia’s tone was earnest as she calmed down. “Just- what happened?” She took a hand through damp, heavenly colored locks. “Will you tell me what happened, please?”
The halfling took a deep breath before turning to look defiantly out the window.
“Chryssie, I’m sorry. Whatever it is you can tell me.” Celestia encouraged.
Chrysalis chewed on her lip nervously before looking down as she fiddled with her fingers. “You promise you won’t say anything?”
“I promise I won’t betray your trust.” Celestia laid a gentle hand on the other, smiling at her genially.
Chrysalis sighed. ”Cadence asked me to talk to Regal. She’s got a thing for him and wanted to see if he liked her. At first I didn’t want to. I’ve been having these spells lately- Mom says they’re growing pains- and all I wanted was to go home. Cadence, of course,” she rolled her eyes, “didn’t want to. She was just so obsessed with furthering her crush. It made me sick, like physically sick.”
“What?”
“Talking to her…” She lifted her head to look at her cousin. “I just felt so overwhelmed and anxious. I realize now that it was her feelings I was picking up and not mine… At the time I thought I was having a panic attack or something.”
“You’re a latent empath?” If this didn’t seem so ominous it might’ve been cool, Celestia thought. “Is this like a second puberty for you?” Chrysalis shrugged as she looked out the windshield. “Has your mom not said anything to you about this?
“I doubt she even knows what to expect, honestly,” Chrysalis grumbled. “Halflings aren’t common.”
Celestia shook her head softly. “Right… What happened next?”
“I felt sick so I barricaded myself in the bathroom to calm down. It helped a little, but then shit got weird and when I turned to look in the mirror, Cadence was looking back at me.”
“You can… change forms?” The older girl guffawed.
“Yes…” Chrysalis winced still adjusting to her empathetic abilities.
“Does your Mom know?” She didn’t mean to seem so excitable. For the longest time no one in their family thought Chrysalis would have any magical ability, let alone changeling abilities.
“No… I freaked out cause I couldn’t change back!” Chrysalis shuttered as she recalled the feeling of awe-inspired terror that clouded her in that bathroom. “So I tried to sneak out but Regal saw me and thought I was Cadence. He started talking to me and offered me a drink.” Her tone darkened. “Everything is fuzzy after that.”
“Fuzzy?” Celestia’s eyes widened with understanding as her heart sank.
“When I woke up I was in a bedroom surrounded by that dick and his friends.” Angry tears gathered in cat shaped eyes.
“Chryssie… did…” Celestia’s voice was almost too soft to hear.
“I was naked and they were laughing at my body… Treating me like I was some freak.”
“Did he-“
“They couldn’t keep their hands off of me.” Her voice sounded far away, but she pushed on as she watched the rain continue to pour. “I could feel what they were doing and how it made it them feel and I couldn’t stop it.” Anger. “Everything was so mixed up and I couldn’t separate their pleasure from my own feelings… I felt so helpless and they just laughed.”
“Chryssie…”
“He bit me, that fuckin’ asshole…” The two were silent as one stewed in heartache and the other was seething. “I’m never going back to that school, Celestia.”
“He can’t get away with this!” The older girl thundered with angry tears in her eyes.
“I don’t care Celestia!” Her raw emotion stole the Alicorn’s breath. “He’s already had his way…” She straightened as she sniffled. “I’m the school slut now.”
“Don’t say that!” Celestia saw red as she griped the other’s shoulders. “You are no one’s plaything! If I ever see that creep I’ll kill him myself! You have to tell your parents! He can’t be allowed to-”
“Celestia stop it!” Chrysalis gripped her wrist. “If you say anything, I’ll deny it.” Her tone was firm despite its softness.
“Chryssie please!”
“He threatened to hurt Cadie if I said anything. If you want to help me… Convince my Dad to not let me or my sister go back to that school.”
“Chry-“
“Celie… please… You said I could count on you!” Her cousin was a mix of fury, sorrow. “You said that you wouldn’t tell! You promised! Please…” But then notes of protectiveness and compassion leaked through.
Celestia felt so defeated. “Does anyone else know?”
“Just Regal and whoever else was in the room…”
“You’re sure?”
Silence.
“Chrysalis.”
“Cadence said she walked in…” Celestia’s eyes were as round as saucers. “But she thinks… She thinks I wanted it.” Her bitterness was understandable.
‘What?! How!” Celestia could feel her heckles raise. “If Cadence thinks she can treat you like shit-“
“I don’t care if she hates me… I just need her away from that creep.”
“But… You’re her sister…“ She could never imagine turning her back on Luna.
“I don’t need her to love me Celestia…” Chrysalis’ voice was strong. “I can do it myself now.”
Celestia threw her arms around the other, hugging as tightly as she could. “I love you!” She whispered squeezing as she communicated everything she could to the girl that was basically like a younger sister.
Chrysalis sagged into her embrace burying her face as she gladly soaked in the comfort.
True to her word, Celestia had managed to convince her parents that Chrysalis had been hysterical about her newfound changeling abilities. She told them that students saw her changeling form and mocked her for it, causing her to be overcome with shame and confusion.
Her mother had been shocked, while her father had been oddly quiet about the situation.
Had she not run away, she doubt her parents would’ve bought it.
Inhaling one last breath of the salty air, Chrysalis checked her phone and decided to hurry back home. Her Dad was still upset with her even if he didn’t say it. Changeling senses don’t lie, she supposed rather sadly.
She’d started to jog to the nearest trolley stop, arriving just in time to see it pull off. Pushing herself into a sprint, she shouted at the cable car prompting the ponyman in charge to slow down just enough for her to grab a snow colored hand that was suspended before her.
“I got you!” The boy called as she reached out and grasped his hand.
Chartreuse eyes locked thankfully with cerulean.
“Thanks!” She smiled winded, once he had pulled her up.
“Don’t mention it,” he grinned melting into the bodies already abroad.