After lazily browsing her Netflix catalogue for the umpteenth time, Luna groaned as she tuned into whatever her sister was talking about on her facetime app.
“Home alone again?” Celestia tsk’d.
“Mom and Dad are getting ready for that Gifted School’s charity ball.” She shrugged.
“Where’s Athena?” Athena Angelica had been on the family’s payroll for years and served as the girls’ nanny once politics had taken their parents attention. The girls had known her since they were children.
Due to their political status, it wasn’t often that the royal family had the opportunity to spend time with everyone present.
Their mother Galixia, had been one of the leading minds of magical studies in Equestria. But once their grandfather had passed away, she begrudgingly halted her career in order to support her husband’s ascension of the throne.
Now Galixia threw herself into the world of philanthropy with magical studies being more of a hobby as opposed to a career.
Their father, Cosmos, currently occupied the country’s throne. While Celestia heavily favored her mother, Luna was a daddy’s girl through and through. While she understood the importance of her family’s work, she still couldn’t help the bouts of loneliness that swallowed her now that her sister was away at college.
“Angelica has her own life and things to do. I’m old enough to stay home alone, Celie.”
“I know,” Celestia conceded, “but I know how lonely it was when it was just the two of us. I can only imagine how you feel now.”
“I feel fine.” Luna rolled her eyes. “Besides, Chryssie will be here later today.”
“That’s right. She did say something about coming to Canterlot this weekend.”
“I miss her and Cadence at school,” the younger pouted. “It’s so boring now.”
“No one crazy enough to challenge you anymore?”
Luna grinned. Her rivalry with Chrysalis had been legendary in its intensity. When she was back in Canterlot, the changeling teen had been fond of both dancing and fencing. Ever since she left, Luna had no one to spar against or really hang out without consideration of her status.
While they still talked, something felt off and Luna wish she knew what was wrong.
“Not anymore.” She sighed.
“What time is she coming over?”
“Around three or something. She said something about a therapist.”
Celestia was quiet.
“You know anything about that?” Luna asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
Celestia chewed on her bottom lip. “Maybe it’s because of that fight she got into?”
“Maybe...” She agreed noncommittally.
After a few more minutes of casual chatter, the two girls said their goodbyes.
Flicking off the tv, Luna stood and stretched. “Guess I’ll tidy up,” she breathed looking around the place.
*******
Doctor Clayhoof’s office was almost as nice as her mother’s executive suite, but not nearly as big. Bookshelves lined the walls with journals and tomes of information. Despite the books and filling cabinet that lined the adjacent wall, the air of the space was very minimalistic and well kept.
The décor was modern and scarce. All that sat on the good doctor’s desk was an all-in-one PC, a single legal pad, and a small terrarium.
The changeling situated in a lounge chair across from her stood tall even for a changeling woman. A head and a half taller than Chrysalis herself, her silver hair fell in waves down her back, despite being pulled in to a ponytail.
She presented as a changeling and not a changeling masquerading as a pony person. Her dark chitin, shone in the light and from beneath her pressed and starched blouse, Chrysalis could catch a flash of jewelry. Her pale blue eyes studied the teen with a shrewdness that was unnerving. The fact that the teen couldn’t pick up any of her emotions made her even more uncomfortable.
“Why are you here today, Chrysalis?” Dr. Clayhoof opened cordially.
She swallowed before fidgeting. “I’ve been having problems blocking others out and it’s been affecting my relationships with my friends and family.”
“Anything else?”
“No, not really.”
“What about the other problems?”
“What other-”
“The ones you’re trying keep bottled up hoping they’ll go away?”
Her eyes widened and the therapist felt a sliver of sympathy.
“I’m handling that.” The doctor almost smirked at the way the girl raised her chin and deafened some of the feelings.
“Well I’m here to tell you that they won’t. You’re going to have to face them eventually. Until then, there’s not much I can do for you aside from some potions and medicine.”
“My mother said... she said you could help.”
“I can, but if you can’t deal with your emotions, how can you expect to deal with someone else’s?”
Chrysalis’ face fell as she turned over what Dr. Clayhoof was saying to her.
“There’s so much anger and loathing in you that it’s just pouring out of you. Pony people aren’t changelings but emotional energy is real. And you have so much of it. But it’s the kind that doesn’t feel nice. You can only shield yourself for so long. I don’t know what happened, and you don’t have to tell me,” She rushed ahead to calm the panic that stirred in the teen, “but I wouldn’t be very good at my job if I didn’t tell you that this hurt and sadness that you’re carrying around screaming to the world won’t make things easier for you.”
“How did...”
“I’m a changeling, Chrysalis... Honestly, you should know better than to ask.”
After explaining her options and writing her a prescription for her medication and giving her another slip for potions, Dr. Clayhoof ended their session leaving her with much to think over.
Exiting the Embassy she found her cousin coolly waiting for her outside.
With a sigh she hurried over and hopped into the SUV.
“How was your thing?” Luna asked conversationally as she kept her eyes on the road. Ever since she’d gotten her license, she drove whenever she got the chance much to her parents’ dismay.
Her family’s black Huntley S was a stylish and practical vehicle, too bad the teen drove it like a sports car.
“It was good,” Chrysalis managed as she stared out the window. She didn’t even comment on the other teen’s wild style of driving as they whipped around another corner before speeding up to make a light.
“Are those your meds?” Luna asked about the bag that lay at her feet.
Chrysalis shifted uncomfortably.
In the bag were a month’s worth of potion ingredients to help with her changeling senses as well as some meds to calm her down whenever she felt overwhelmed. “Yea... But I’m going to have online sessions so I don’t have to use this stuff all the time.”
Luna nodded as she guided the SUV smoothly around a corner this time. “I guess whatever happened at that party was pretty awful, huh?” She looked for a reaction out the corner of her eye and frowned when she watched the other tense, but otherwise remain silent. “Chryssie?”
“Yea...” Chrysalis exhaled violently. “Can we maybe not talk? I’m really tired. I haven’t been sleeping that well to be honest.”
Luna nodded, “yea, sure thing.” But what the other didn’t know was that Luna had a plan to find out whatever was bothering her.
Once they made it to the house, Chrysalis disappeared upstairs for an hour. After that, the day continued on well enough.
The duo spent time around the house, went out for boba tea and met up with some of their mutual friends from school. By the end of the day, things almost felt like old times again.
Celestia even stopped by for dinner.
Athena smiled at the girls warmly as she watched them argue over some fencing match that had happened during the previous year.
“It was epic!” Chrysalis was laughing as she and Luna recreated their competition winning move as a duo. “We massacred Crystal Prep!”
“And I massacred you!” Chrysalis smirked proudly.
“But I won the match!” Luna stood triumphantly.
Celestia snorted at the look on the changeling teen’s face. “It looked spectacular, but Alicorn sisters win wars, baby, not battles.”
Chrysalis rolled her eyes in jest. “Take me on hand-to-hand,” she grinned ferally.
Luna waved her away with a laugh, “you always were a sore loser.”
Athena shook her head and went to answer her phone. Galaxia and Cosmos would be home soon. “Celie isn’t it time for you to get back?”
“Oh yea!” The eldest hopped up from her spot off the sofa. “Lulu walk me out?” She asked after hugging and kissing everyone goodbye.
“Sure thing!”
Celestia gathered her coat and bag and threw more goodbyes over her shoulder as she and Luna exited the front door and walked to her car parked on the street.
“Don’t do it...” Celestia stood with her arms crossed as she spoke to the dark haired girl after loading up her car.
“Don’t do what?” Luna asked taking up the same stance.
“Whatever you’re planning,” Celestia’s gaze narrowed.
“I haven’t the faintest idea what you mean.”
Celestia sighed as she deflated. “Just... prepare yourself.”
“I will.”
Her sister’s smile was tight as she got in her car and drove away.
Luna stood there for a bit longer.
Alicorns were considered royalty for a reason.
While everyone was special and unique, Alicorns had certain abilities to back it up.
One of the reasons Luna went to the Gifted School over the summer was because she’d accidentally discovered one of hers when she fell into Celestia’s dream one night.
Tonight she would make a leap into Chrysalis’.