//------------------------------// // Chapter 36 // Story: Jumper // by lollipopchica //------------------------------// The week carried on, and while Adelpha had promised to cut back on her work, her husband was crazy if he thought she’d simply quit. She continued to converse with the woman on her computer screen. “Offer her a deal.” “A what?!” Ichra’s expression was almost comical. “She can work for us or she can face the wrath of the Collective.” The Princess shrugged as she finished her make up. “My mother isn’t known for mercy or sentimentality.” Ichra shuttered as she thought about what the girl would be going back to. The Collective wasn’t an awful place but this inalienable freedom and frivolity that ponies believed in did not exist the same way there. Order, class and duty were life. The well-being of the hive was more important than any one person. Everyone contributed. And what Jade Trill had been involved in affected the Collective more than she knew. “You think she’d deal?” “If she’s as smart as she thinks, she will.” “Consider it done. And your husband?” “Don’t worry about Justinian, I’ll take care of him.” Cutting the transmission with her colleague, Adelpha continued her routine. Dressing professionally in a classic pant suit and crisp blouse, she mentally prepared herself to deal with the victim of her latest case. Just because she couldn’t deal with Jade Trill, personally, it didn’t mean she couldn’t be involved. She’d already made plans to see Jett Blaze and gauge the effects of his magical ordeal when Ichra had informed her of the news. The changeling princess had immediately contacted Coal Stone for a more inscrutable visit with the young man. The last thing she needed was for word to spread that the Changeling Ambassador had recently meet and surveyed a coma victim in today’s climate. Instead, she would appear benignly as a concerned friend of a friend. Adelpha had reviewed her notes from her interrogation once more before deciding she was ready to speak to the poor man stuck in the hospital. But before that, she had to pick up her daughter from school and try a less conventional approach in parenting. Two hours later, she was making small talk with her eldest daughter after having taken her to a followup appointment about her wrist. The two were supposed to have an early dinner, just the two of them to help with their relationship. Adelpha hoped to kill two birds with one stone. “Sweetie... Have you ever heard of a changeling den?” She asked once things had quieted between the two. Chrysalis’ mind conjured dark rooms filled with smoke and unscrupulous personalities. “They’re bad, right?” “They’re illegal, yes.” Adelpha took in the affluent neighborhood and the innocent looking apartment building. “This place- it’s a den.” “Really?” This was one of the nicest neighborhoods in the city. It didn’t look seedy at all. “What makes it so bad?” “Magic.” “Magic? Equestria is full of magic.” “Changeling magic to be exact,” her mother enlightened. “The power to influence a person’s perception of reality and memory shouldn’t be taken lightly, I agree.” The thought was intriguing. “Do you think I could ever do that?” So many of her problems could be solved with something like that. “Why would you want to?” Her mother gave her a look. “It just seems cool, I guess.” Chrysalis shrugged nonchalantly. “Yes and no. It takes a great deal of skill to do it well and leave little to no trace as magic is always traceable if you know what to look for. Most here don’t know how, which is why dens are so attractive. It can be life changing for those that seek their services.” “What’re we doing here?” Chrysalis asked skeptically. “I’m looking for someone.” “Why?” “She’s important to a case I’m working.” “Does Dad know about this?” “The dens?” Adelpha purposefully played obtuse. “No. You dragging me to work with you when we’re supposed to be spending ‘quality time’ together.” There was a note of disappointment in her tone. “We agreed to an abbreviated schedule and less responsibilities. Not unemployment.” Adelpha smoothed imaginary wrinkles out of her jacket. “Besides, I’m sharing something important with you.” Chrysalis snorted, “He’ll be mad when he finds out you’ve been keeping secrets.” Adelpha pursed her lips and kept her true thoughts to herself. Instead she took the opportunity to be honest with her ailing daughter. She made sure to hold her attention. “My work is important to me. My responsibility to my people is something I take very seriously. But knowing that these things have an impact on your life and how people treat you only make the stakes that much higher.” There was a tenderness in her expression that she rarely showed. “I hope you believe that there is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect you. Even if it doesn’t show in ways that are most obvious to you.” Chrysalis didn’t know what to say, so she stayed silent “You should let go of some of those inhibitions you’re clinging onto. It makes it so much harder to reach you,” Adelpha’s eyes were bright as her tone took on a velvety quality that made Chrysalis want to tell her everything. The teen felt her face heat up at the idea. Instead, she forced the feeling away and nodded mirroring that same strained smile. “This will only take a minute.” Adelpha informed before leaving the car. Chrysalis watched as she disappeared into the building. One minute turned to five, and five to ten. She scowled and stepped out the car to lean against the vehicle. Bundled in dark layers, she found she enjoyed the brisk gust of air that danced through the streets. She should’ve known that this was too good to be true. Was her mother correct in her assessment? Some part of her knew she was, but it felt hypocritical coming from Adelpha Regina. There was a passerby on the street but Chrysalis paid them no mind, choosing instead to focus on her ambivalent enmity towards her mother. She was vaguely aware of them attempting to flit down the street in a pair of ridiculous heels before giving up with a loud swear. “Hey, you mind if I use your phone to make a call?” “I don’t talk to strangers.” Chrysalis didn’t even look in the direction of the person talking to her. “What a pretty skin you’re wearing.” “Skin?” Turning, she was taken aback to see a young changeling woman with dark azure hair styled into an edgy pixie. There was something gamine about the petite woman with her prim trousers, contemporary blouse and pea coat. She reminded her of the actress from the movie ‘Pony Holiday.’ Her eyes twinkled with mischief, and there was an unnatural air of charm about her. “I didn’t mean to cause any offense. It’s not everyday a pony person looks so much like one of us.’ She gave a toothy grin. “You should leave.” She looked well to do, but something warned her that there was more to this act of innocence. “Why? We’re just talking.” Chrysalis gave her a suspicious look. The young woman clasped her hands in front of her. “Ah. Is it the whole I’m a changeling thing? Well you know what they say about ‘lings...” The girl’s laugh was demure. “No, I don’t.” Chrysalis challenged, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. The woman rose a brow in amusement. She leaned forward conspiratorially making her ill at ease. “Ya know, hide your kids, hide your wife, hide your husband ‘cause changelings are creatures that’ll steal ‘em away before the morn.” She rolled her eyes in annoyance and yet it didn’t dim her seemingly good nature. Chrysalis frowned. It was an old saying she’d become familiar with in her research for her school project. “You don’t believe that ‘propaganda’ do you?” The girl asked curiously as deep blue eyes studied her. The halfling wrapped her arms around herself and looked the other way, hoping the other would catch the hint. “You don’t seem like an arrogant pony type.” “Arrogant?!” Chrysalis snapped back, allowing herself to be drawn back in. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “In my experience, anyway, Pony people like to assume their way is the best way and that anything different is wrong. I just didn’t think you’d think like that,” The woman seemed contemplative. “I’m proud of my heritage and have nothing to be ashamed of. I may bend the rules but I don’t break them,” She smiled. “What’s your name, pretty girl?” Silence “My name’s Dahlia.” “I think you should leave.” This ‘Dahlia’ seemed personable in all the worst ways. Like a salesperson. “I live here, so unless you plan on leaving, you’re stuck with my beautiful self.” She announced somewhat giddily. Chrysalis huffed. “Come now... relax. I don’t bite. Unless maybe you’d like that.” Chrysalis sneered, “Well I do.” Dahlia tilted her head in silent question. “Bite...” Chrysalis flashed her own set of fangs in challenge. Dahlia laughed, “I knew you were too pretty to be a pony person.” She moved and leaned against the car with an air of confidence and entitlement. “What brings you here?” “I’m waiting for someone.” “Aren’t we always.... Who are you waiting for?” “That’s none of your business.” “Suspicious, much?” She smiled, “Well... if you ever remember or maybe you’d like to forget,” Chrysalis frowned. Dahlia bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. “You can always stop by another time. I was serious about the phone though. If you don’t trust me, can you text a response to someone for me?” Chrysalis looked at the affluent woman and commented her thoughts. “Unfortunately, my phone died.” She showed her dead device. “It’s just a message to my boyfriend to come by with my apartment key. I left it in his car. Innocent, I swear. I can’t get inside my home until I get that key.” Chrysalis thought it over. “And you promise you’ll leave?” “Yes!” “What’s his number?” Dahlia smiled broadly giving her the number and a message to send, being sure to emphasis this was a stranger’s cell. “Thanks a lot!” “Shouldn’t you leave now?” Dahlia giggled, “A deal is a deal. Perhaps I’ll see you around, Pretty Girl.” “You won’t!” She called after her. Chrysalis watched her step away and disappear into the building. Moments later, her mother came back out with an annoyed expression on her face. “Find who you were looking for?” Chrysalis asked pondering over her own meeting. “No...” Adelpha griped as they both got back into the car. “One more stop and then I promise I’ll buy you the fanciest fettucine plate this city can offer.”