//------------------------------// // Interlude: Promises // Story: A Queen Imprisoned // by FakeWolf //------------------------------// “Umm, Your Majesty?” “Yes, Little Lamb?” “I wanted to ask you…” “There is little I won’t tell you at this point, Little Lamb. Ask your question.” “... You said Changelings get new names for themselves with each promise they make, right?” “Each bond we choose to forge is represented by a new name, yes. While you are not… incorrect in your wording, Little Lamb, there is more to it than only ‘promises’. Commitments, dedications, to both yourself and to all things. Names are how we choose to represent ourselves. The name of our disguise will tell us how that disguise is meant to act, but a name chosen outside of your disguise tells us how we are meant to act.” The yellow Pegasus gave a slow nod. “So… does that mean ‘Chrysalis’ means something? Did you have a name before that as well?” “... Yes, to both your questions, Little Lamb. ‘Chrysalis’ is but another bond, a name amongst many, and I hold names from both before and after I became known as ‘Chrysalis’.” “What… what does ‘Chrysalis’ mean then?” “It was meant to be… It was… It is my greatest failure.” “Greatest… failure?” “While I was ‘Chrysalis’ it was a promise made to my Hive and to my Changelings. We were weak, there were little of us… We were nymphs. ‘Chrysalis’ was my promise that I would do better for the Hive, make my Changelings into something better, to bring them into a golden age of prosperity… It would… be accurate to call that a failure.” “Do… you want me to call you something else then?” “No. I hold no other names that you could call me. None that would fit besides ‘Chrysalis’. Not even ‘Queen’ is right anymore. Only ‘Chrysalis’.” I could feel the great well of sadness within Little Lamb silently grow as my words sat between us. “You… did well, Little Lamb. Far better than me. You stuck by your promise, no matter how much it may have hurt you.” “I… It wasn’t anything special. I just couldn’t live with myself if I never found out.” “Did you find your answer, Little Lamb? While I may… tolerate you in particular, Little Lamb, I hold no love for Ponies.” “I… I’m really sorry but a part of me really, really, wants to blame you but… it wouldn’t be right. You already blame yourself for so much that was out of your control- and- and they knew it would be dangerous and that there were risks involved…” “Everyone believes themselves to be invincible Little Lamb, until they come across something that proves to them that they are not. No creature likes to recognise their mortality.” “I just… I miss them so much.” “I hold similar feelings, knowing I will never again see another one of my brood.” “Chrysalis… please, couldn’t you live? Wouldn’t Changelings miss you if you died as well?” “They… would miss me more than they should. But I did not raise my Hive to give into such feelings. If I… continue on like this I fear it will only result in what remains of my Hive wasting away. It is better for me to pass on and for them to stand on their own. They would do well to be rid of me.” “You wouldn’t do that though…” “I do not want to do that but… I believe I would anyway. The Changelings need a new leader. One with less pride in their heart.” “That doesn’t mean you have to die, you could just step down, couldn’t you?” “And how would that allow them to grow? To become independent of me and the ideals that I held and that led them to such rot? Any who would hold the ideas my Changelings need to survive would be the very same I would look over, those I would choose would blindly follow in my footsteps and continue to tread the path to ruination. They need to choose amongst themselves who to lead, and I need to disappear. I need to disappear in a way that leaves no mystery, lest they dedicate themselves to finding me.” “Couldn’t you tell them what not to do? Tell them of your mistakes and how to avoid them?” “And let them grow dependent on me once more? No. Nor do I believe you Ponies would allow it. If I live and the Changeling Kingdom begins anew the Ponies would insist on knowing who ruled them now. You would leverage my well-being in order to get your grubby mitts on that knowledge and push the ideals of Ponies onto Changelings.” “Ponies-” “Do you believe me wrong, Little Lamb? Do you not believe the Ponies would force my Changelings to conform to their ‘friendship’? Do you believe your Ponies would even be kind enough to give my Changelings a chance, or would they rather destroy all signs of Changelings and forget them as they have done before to all their other foes?” “Chrysalis… I… don’t think you’re being entirely fair on Ponies. Y-yes there would be some who’d rather never see a Changeling again, but I want to- I do believe that there are just as many if not more Ponies who if asked would give Changelings a chance and want to learn about them,” Fluttershy took a shaky breath, “and we can learn from them too Chrysalis. I-If the Changelings and Ponies could learn how to… co-exist, I’d think Ponies would learn not to judge things on first appearances a-and learn that someone that does bad things may not be bad but might just be in a bad place. I… I think we forget that, sometimes. And I think you do too.” … “Then, Little Lamb, does that make me blameless? Was I merely misunderstood when I fed your fellow Ponies, your friends, to my Hive? Did-” “CHRYSALIS!” Little Lamb shouted, her emotions burning hot as she fixed me with a powerful glare, “I know you are more mature than making such a childish tantrum. I know you regret your actions. I know that if you knew how this all turned out, that if you could do all this again, you would choose to avoid it. Whether or not I hold you responsible for Applejack or Rainbow Dash does NOT matter here. I am better than that, and I know you are too.” My mouth hung open for a moment, and I felt my nerves shuffle as I looked away from Little Lamb. Once my voice had returned to me, I spoke. “I... am sorry, Little Lamb. You are… not incorrect with your words. I am not a paragon of any virtue, nor do I wish to be. Your friend’s sacrifice was noble, and I should not belittle or mock it just to get a rise out of you.” “I… am willing to forgive you, Chrysalis, but only if you promise me something.” “I do not wish to hold your ire, Little Lamb.” “C-could you consider… choosing to live? I-I’m sure Celestia would at least hear you out, and I’d like to speak in favour of it- if you’ll let me. That is.” I placed a considering emerald eye onto Little Lamb. She spoke with… something. Determination. A strength of flame. “... Your delivery needs work, Little Lamb.” Little Lamb seemed to deflate at hearing my words, “but… I will… consider your idea. But I make no promises. I believe that my time is coming to an end. I will do my best to meet it with dignity. Whether it be now...” I sighed, and felt myself slump to the floor, “... or later.” A thought wormed its way into my mind. As I watched Little Lamb’s reaction to my words. A simple thought, stating a simple fact. A fact I was not in the mood to argue for all I wished it had not been brought to my attention. But… … I liked that I could make my subject smile this time.