//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: Jumper // by lollipopchica //------------------------------// “Cadence hurry up! Mom will be here in like fifteen minutes!” Chrysalis knocked impatiently on her sister’s bedroom door. “Alright!” Came a muffled response. “Bug off!” Chrysalis growled at the attitude. “Stop talking to your boyfriend, Princess!” She didn’t care to think about the muttered insult she picked up from the prima donna tucked away in her room. Rolling her eyes, she hurried back downstairs to put the last few finishing touches on the family meal she and everyone else had been working on. Adelpha was finally coming home to be with her family. With her assistant finally trained up, she would only be required to work in the Canterlot every other week. Chrysalis wanted tonight to be perfect as she had seriously missed her mother. Mushroom steaks, lemon grilled asparagus, rice, salad and a lemonade cake were on the menu tonight. Her father threw her a chastising look over his shoulder as he worked on his salad. “Dad!” Chrysalis defended with raised hands, “she’s impossible!” Was a nice family dinner too much to ask for? Pinkie Pie and Maud Pie looked up from their tasks to see an annoyed Chrysalis stomp towards the oven to check on the mushroom steaks. Once Pinkie Pie found out Maud was helping someone in the kitchen, Pinkie begged to be let in on the action. Fluffle would’ve helped had she not recently made the basketball team. “I can’t believe you guys are sisters...” Pinkie Pie chirped bubbly as she was adding a few finishing decorative touches to the cake she and her sister had been working on. It had been a shock to come to the home and find that the new girls were related after all. Chrysalis had met Maud’s younger sister in her Home Economics class. Having the culinary arts genius as her partner made the teen feel much better in regards to her grades. Pinkie, like Maud, was nonplussed by her disposition. While Even though Chrysalis found Pinkie’s humor juvenile, she secretly liked her spunk and carefree attitude. Justinian gave the girl a weird look. It was almost as if she hadn’t known the two were sisters. “I could say the same about you.” Pinkie Pie was as similar to Maud as pink was to grey. “It’s just so funny.” Pinkie went on obliviously, “Why all the secrecy?” Justinian drizzled dressing and tossed the greens some more. “Secrecy?” “Yeah... Like no one-“ “Pinkie...” Maud stressed as she communicated with her sister in a way that didn’t need words. “I think the icing might not be sweet enough,” she shoved a giant spoonful in the other’s mouth and stared her down. Pinkie gulped it down and made a face. “Riiight... Secrecy.“ Justinian raised a brow, and Chrysalis fought the urge to face palm. “Maud why don’t you recite some of your poetry for my dad.” The darker teen quickly switched gears not wanting a fight. Maud’s expression brightened in its dreary way. “She’s really good. She’s the president of the school’s poetry club.” Justinian shrugged, “I’m all ears.” He encouraged politely. He’d ask about that comment later. “Rock. You are a rock. Gray. You are gray. Like a rock. Which you are. Rock.” Three sets of eyes stared at the girl. “...” “Oh... That’s-“ “Beautiful, Maud!” Pinkie gushed with a radiant smile. “She’s the prez for a reason, agreed?” Justinian and Chrysalis nodded dumbly. The older man cleared his throat as he took the bowl of salad to the dining room. “Thank you girls so much for your help! My wife is going to love this!” He called from the other room. “No problem!” Maud smirked. “You’re welcome! I love to cook.” Pinkie beamed. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner?” Justinian asked as he strolled back to grab the asparagus and rice. “We don’t want to intrude.” The eldest Pie declined politely. “Well at least take some with you.” As her father thanked her friend and her sister, she went upstairs for Cadence one more time. This time her door was wide open and Chrysalis noted her state of dress. Dressed in a pair of dark washed skinny jeans, a sleeveless decorative cropped top and torn jean jacket, Cadence looked like she was going out on the town and not downstairs for dinner. A pair of black redbottomed nike air maxes completed the look. “Where... are you going?” Chrysalis asked. “Why do you care?” Cadence responded over shoulder as she focused on her hair and makeup at her vanity. “Can you be civil for one second?” Chrysalis felt a migraine coming on. “If you must know, bug, I have a date with Shining Armor!” Her jaw tightened. “What about Mom?” She said instead. “They want to talk to you alone,” Cadence shrugged as she finished up her makeup. “They practically forced me to be scarce.” “Why didn’t anyone say anything to me?” Chrysalis felt as unsure as she looked. Cadence bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smirking as she took in her sister’s form in the mirror. “Maybe because they’re tired of your shit and didn’t want to deal with your ‘woe-is-me’ response to everything.” “Don’t you ever get tired of being a bitch?” Incensed eyes snapped onto the younger through the mirror. “That’s rich coming from you, bug. I’m not the one who ‘ran away’ and forced my family to relocate across the country because I couldn’t live up to being a.... well you know.” Satisfied at the other’s hurt expression in her vanity mirror, Cadence straightened and turned to face the seething teen. Chrysalis glared at her with a hate filled scowl. “I’d hate to hit you again, Cadie.” She flexed her hand, making the other shrink a little. “You should leave now.” Cadence huffed as she pushed past her sister, tossing her mane as she did so. “See you later,” the younger called out to her father as she hurried downstairs and out the door to meet her date. Shining Armor was leaning against his car which was parked beside the curb. “You ready?” He asked as he took in her appearance. “For you? Always.” When her mother finally announced her presence, Chrysalis had to force herself to interact. “M-mom!” She greeted with a strained smile. “Chryssie!” Her mother had grinned swallowing her eldest in a hug. Despite the whirring nature of her thoughts, Chrysalis still missed her mother and savored the contact. Justinian came up behind the two and engulfed them in a hug of his own. Dinner began well enough. Adelpha was genuinely impressed with the caliber of the food presented, gushing over the meal in clear delight. “Chryssie and her friends did most of the work,” Justinian smiled. “I can tell,” Adelpha laughed. “It’s edible.” Justinian shot his wife a dirty look. ‘You’ll pay for that later,’ he thought to which she gave him a suggestive look. “Can you not?” Chrysalis muttered with her gaze stuck on her plate. The lust in the air was smothering. The fairer of the two flushed and cleared his throat, while his wife simply shrugged it off with a smile. “How is everyone taking these new arrangements?” He asked hoping to contain his more ardent feelings. Adelpha took a sip of her wine and sighed. “About as well as can be expected. We’ve finally managed to create a center opened to assist all races in integrating into society here.” Justinian raised a brow. “Whose idea was that?” “Nympha’s. It’s 100% her baby, but I’ve agreed to be of service when I am present and only then. How’s the newest draft to Equestrian Order 786?” Justinian mulled over his words as he took another bite of his mushroom steak. Order 786 was a law that heavily tracked a changeling’s identity and physical location. Not only was it terribly invasive but it also forced a changeling to disclose their race to their employers, property owners and schools, as well as outlawing their natural magical abilities. Justinian and his team were fighting to revise the order and advocate for a changelings right to not physically assimilate into Equestrian culture. “It has its challenges.” “If you mean being completely discriminatory and ridiculous...” He gave his wife a look causing her to settle down. With a roll of her eyes, Adelpha focused her attention on her uncharacteristically silent daughter who stabbed around at her meal. “How’re you liking school?” “It’s okay.” “And these new friends?” “Why isn’t Cadence here?” The teen finally lifted her head and spoke to her parents. “Chryssie...” Her father sighed. “Your grandmother expressed an interest in spending holiday with you.” Her mother cut to the chase unflinchingly. “So she’s coming here?” “No...” Justinian spoke up. “We thought that with all the problems you’ve been having lately, maybe it’s time for you to meet people more like yourself.” “So you’re sending me to the Badlands.” Chrysalis’ expression became unreadable, but her mother was not fooled. “For a visit.” Justinian clarified sensing his eldest readying to argue. Thirty seconds later and the Halfling did not disappoint. “You’re sending me away!” She exploded as her fork clanked loudly against her plate. “We’re not sending you away.” Adelpha rolled her eyes at her daughter’s display. “With your recent abilities, I think it might be time for you to encounter a different perspective about the world. More specifically a changeling’s perspective.” There was no use in sugarcoating anything, so the changeling woman didn’t. “Shouldn’t Cadence be here too? I mean she is a Halfling, is she not? Why isn’t she getting this ‘eye opening opportunity’?” Sarcasm heavily coated her words. Justinian refrained from outwardly expressing his annoyance. Both of his daughters were dramatic, but Chrysalis seemed to spiral more than Cadence nowadays. “Cadence isn’t displaying the same adjustment concerns that you are.” “Adjustment concerns?” The teen balked, incensed by the projected calm both her parents emitted. “I’m not some client from your work, you know.” She hated this feeling of ‘being handled’ more than she did being overwhelmed by louder emotions. “There’s no denying that these past months have been a struggle for all of us, especially you.” Adelpha’s tone was patient which only riled the girl more. ‘I can’t believe this!’ The younger thought. ‘They really don’t want me here, no wonder Cadence was so smug.’ Before she could work through her own feelings of guilt and anger, she found herself violently standing and shaking. “Well, I’m sorry that I’m such an inconvenience to your perfectly constructed pony life. I didn’t ask for this either you know!” “So the fighting, the running away, and skipping school wasn’t done by you?” Justinian’s glare coupled with is harsh assessment had her sputtering in frustration. “Sometimes I can’t even recognize you underneath all that anger and rebelliousness!” “That’s not fair!” ‘I didn’t asked to be humiliated and degraded!’ “Enough with the theatrics!” Adelpha groaned. “Sit.” She stressed, grateful when Chrysalis flopped down in her seat with a scowl. “This isn’t a punishment.” She assured, knowing that her daughter was more hurt than she was angry. “It’s a chance for you to connect with more of your family. Changelings are a proud and misunderstood race. I don’t deny my heritage and we don’t pretend that Equestrians are the know all be all in this house!” Her tone was firm. “And yet you walk around looking like that!” Chrysalis sulked. “The Embassy is shrouded in mystery and a need to know basis, because the thought of something dark and strange is unsettling for the people of this land! You raised us to keep our origins to ourselves! How is that something to take pride in? Our school doesn’t even know who we are.” ‘No one does, really.’ “Not because we’re ashamed!” Justinian assured. “It’s to keep you girls safe! You already know this.” Adelpha sighed as she took a hand through her hair. “Your grandmother wants to spend time with you. I think you could learn a lot about yourself and your culture in a way that doesn’t ostracize you.” Silence. Projecting as much calm and comfort as she could, her mother continued. “I grew up in a place where I was the norm. I knew who and what I was and what I would one day be. There was no shame, no explanations, no reason to be someone else. I was just Adelpha.” “We want you to know that too.” Justinian reached out and grasped her hand. The teen neither rebuffed nor returned his gesture. She glared down at her half uneaten food. “Equestria is trying... but it’s only going to get harder for ‘lings.“ Order 786 spoke volumes. “Do I get a choice?” “You’re going to the Badlands.” ***** Cadenza Mi Amore was such a warm and easygoing spirit, Shining Armor thought with a goofy grin on his face. He’d only dropped her off half an hour or so ago. Tonight’s date had ended with a kiss and a few shy touches. He walked with his hand stuffed deeply into his pockets as he recalled the feel of her petal soft lips and the heat of her breath against his skin. She really was quite the catch. It’d been a while since he felt something warm like this for a girl. He sighed as he looked to the twinkling night sky. His feet carried him on his usual route to the Great Gold Bridge. While he had enjoyed his time with the beautiful teen, he found himself comparing her to his night-time friend. Nyx. Conversations with his mystery girl were brutal in their frankness and yet there was a playfulness that was hard to not fall victim to. She was so different from anyone else he’d met. Not just in looks but in attitude. She seemed to understand him in ways that didn’t require a justification. He could be and she often let him so long as he was honest. He’d hoped to find her on the bridge tonight, but not necessarily in the ailing state he had found her in. Her anger shone hotly in her eyes as she raged into the night. Tonight was different, and Shining Armor found he didn’t like seeing her this way- raw and confused. “My parents are sending me away.” She confessed. “They talk like they care so much about me and how I’m ‘adjusting’… As if they give a shit. I guess being the family fuck-up has its drawbacks. I can’t believe them!” She raged. “Family fuck-up?” “Yea...” Was her deprecatory laugh. “I run away, get into fights, make boys feel small. The list goes on. Not to mention I look like this...” “What’re you talking about?” ‘There’s nothing wrong with how you look,’ he thought. “A fuck up?” He said instead as he cleared his throat. “That’s not you...” “How the fuck do you know?” Her gaze was piercing. “I just do... You’re passionate and you care. That doesn’t sound like a fuck-up to me.” His sincerity cut through her anger causing her cheeks to burn. “I wasn’t always such an unruly child.” When his shoulder brushed hers, he felt her stiffen before relaxing. “W-what happened to you?” The way she cringed and shrunk away from any physical intimacy was concerning. “What do you think?” She whispered sounding as tired as her slouched form looked. “I don’t know what to think.” “Don’t be so naïve, Pony Boy,” she chuckled darkly. “Girls like me have to be taught, right?” Not wanting to accept what she alluded to, he instead stayed silent, resisting the urge to reach out and comfort her. She sniffled and continued much more quietly. “The only person I want to talk to about it would never believe me if I told them what really happened. My sister thinks I’m some kind of dumb slut... As if the last 16 years we haven’t been family.” She made a face. “She picks some stupid boy over me!” “Nyx…” He turned to stare at her. The concern in his gaze made her equally afraid and giddy. She wiped away angry tears and forced herself to swallow all the loathing and anger that had bubbled up from its cage. “So tell me about your date?” She looked on him with a spark of something bitter and curious. “Whaat?” He flushed, feeling anxious. “How...?” Were girls always so moody? “You have a smudge of pink lip gloss on your face and you smell like Britney Shear’s Furious.” Blues eyes widened considerably as he wiped harshly at his mouth. “You certainly are observant,” he muttered as she snickered. “I’m your goddess aren’t I?” Emerald eyes seemingly glowed in the night. He frowned. “I guess.” While he did have lip gloss on his mouth, he didn’t appreciate this abrupt change in subject. “Are you sur-“ “Drop it or I’ll leave.” Her expression was deathly serious. His gaze narrowed at her statement. Sometimes her attitude was refreshing, but now wasn’t one of those times. After a few tense seconds, Shining Armor deflated and turned to stare out into the bay. Inky waters sloshed and flowed. He thought they were friends, maybe he was too sentimental for his own good. Clearly his night-time companion had no such thoughts about him. “She’s a girl in my math class.” He sighed missing the flash of emotion on his companion’s face. “I think I ought to give her chance. She’s so easygoing it’s hard not to like her.” “I bet...” She muttered sulkily. “I have to go.” She announced, pushing away from the railing. “Wha-“ “Goodnight, Shining Armor.” Without another word, the changeling teen walked into the night without a backwards glance. Shining Armor stared after her wondering what he’d done wrong.