//------------------------------// // A New Day // Story: An Opportunity of Change // by Tower of 0 //------------------------------// The morning Equestrian sun shines through the cracks of the curtains in his bedroom. Steadily rousing the man from his slumber. He stretches with a loud yawn. Today is his day. Something about today makes him feel like it's going to be special. He opens the curtains to his bedroom, then the window, and breathes in that fresh Ponyville morning air. He almost feels like breaking out into song, just almost. The house is all his this morning, considering he slept in a little. Derpy is off doing her mailmare duties, Fudge is at school, and Vinyl is on tour again. The human feels a little sad he didn't get up in time to make them breakfast. That mattered not, for in his bones he felt today was going to be a fantastic kind of day. There's no time to waste! He continues on with his morning routine. A shower, getting his clothes, some breakfast for sure, and lastly, brushing his teeth. There's a pep in his step that he really can't explain. He is the only one in the house at the moment. Derpy is off doing her mailmare duties and Fudge is at school. Just another average day in the life of Ponyville's sole human resident. "Morning, Justin!" Ponies greet him while walking the streets of the town. "Morning!" He always responds back, giving them a smile and wave. Justin fishes his keys from his pocket and starts flipping through them. He finds the key to the door of his shop and a satisfying click when the door unlocks. He steps inside the cool building and grins, it's time for his work day to begin. He goes through the motions, starting his mixing vats and organizing the flavors behind the counter. He smiles as he goes through his delivery order for this week and gets it into storage. Everything is set for today. He walks out to the front of the parlor and sets the bell on the door and flips the the sign to 'open.' Now work begins as his usual ponies come through, getting their usual flavors. Justin always did his service with a smile big enough to make Pinkie proud. Hours rush by and soon hits his slow period of the day. So he goes about restocking the front and checking the ice cream mixes. The the bell above door rings, signaling a customer walking in. So Justin made his way up to front and to his surprise, it's Princess Celestia. She has two of her guards on both her flanks. Celestia approaches the counter with such an elegance. This day just got better with a visit from a princess. "Greetings, Justin." Celestia bows, the human returns it in kind. "How may I help the Princess of Equestria this fine day?" He asks with with a smile. "Please, Celestia will do just fine." She requests of the human. "I was hoping you may be able to help us with something." "If it's ice cream, that's no problem." "No, something else. Do you have somewhere more private we can discuss this?" Justin raises a brow at the alicorn princess, but he nods and waves her to follow him. He guides the princess to his office in the back and offers her a seat. Celestia gladly accepts the offer and Justin sits across from her. He puts his hands together and looks at her. His curiosity is at it's peak now that she requested some privacy despite her guards basically keeping ponies out. He figures it must be serious if it's this. "So," he starts, leaning forward a bit in his seat, "what is this thing you need my help with?" Celestia is looking around the space before answering. "Well, we have gotten a certain prisoner on our hooves and I ask of you to see if you can reform them in a way." "Oookaaay, who is it?" Justin is still curious about what's going on. "We have Chrysalis in our custody and would like for you to go about showing her the magic of friendship." Justin shoots up in his chair, his eyes wide. "Why me though? What about Twilight and her friends?" "I have discussed this with them and they feel you're unique touch could her her more than the ponies who bested her." Justin is silent in thought for a moment. "We also feel you could be the one to get some sort of cooperation out of her, and help her adjust should she choose to be apart of Equestrian society." Justin brings his hand up to his chin and rubs it for another moment before nodding. "Sure, I'll give it a shot. Certainly can't refuse such a request from a Princess." "Well, you could, she'd just go back to the dungeons or be exiled." "Nope. Already made my decision!" Justin exclaims, hopping out of his chair and pointing to the ceiling. "Excellent, Luna will meet you outside your residence here in Ponyville with Chrysalis." "Wat." Justin dashes through the streets of Ponyville, rushing home after having closing the parlor up early due to Celestia's visit. He isn't intent on being and by Celestia he will not. His pace picks up when he hits an open path and runs faster than he ever will. Suddenly he's in front of his abode without much of explanation. He starts to look around him, a bit in confusion as he was just in the center of town. "Ah, Justin, it's a pleasure to see you again." Luna interrupted his search. "Luna! It's been too long." Justin gives the moon alicorn a wide grin and bows out of respect for her. "Likewise, but you don't have to bow before me." Luna let out a small chuckle as she watches him. "Sorry, sorry, course of habit since your sister won't tell me to stop." Justin's gaze turns to a restrained Chrysalis. "Welcome to Ponyville, Chyrsalis." The changeling queen just rolls her eyes at the human and grumbles. "Probably the warmest welcome she's ever going to get." Luna remarked. Now observing the changeling, Justin could see her legs were cuffed close to another, wings restrained to her sides, and a strange device attached to her horn that also doubles as a muzzle to keep her quiet. Luna has some guards near to keep eyes on Chrysalis, along with Luna herself. Justin makes his way over to Luna and she levitates a key up to him. "What's this?" Justin takes the key from the magical grasp. "The key to her restraints. For when she shows some progress." "Oh my dear Luna, the first step is to show her some trust." Justin remarks and starts his way to Chrysalis. Now that he is getting a better look at the changeling, he feels something is off about her now. Chrysalis seems smaller now than what he saw of her. She's also missing something, but he can't quite put a finger on it. Chrysalis' eyes go wide as the human approaches her, unsure of what's about to happen. Justin just gives her a smile and leans down, unlocking teh cuffs to her legs. They drop to the ground with a thunk. Luna is curiously watching the human as he scoops up the cuffs and hands them to the guards. Next he unlocks the wing restraints and hands them to the other guard, but that's it. That's all Justin does and he pockets the key. Luna has wide eyes and Chrysalis is dumbfounded at the casualness this human displays. "Are you... sure?" Luna asks. "What about the last one?" "I'll get that one once we're inside so I can have a word with my guest." Justin just smiles at her. "Of course, she wont go anywhere while you're here, and I'll make sure she doesn't try anything." Chrysalis is just staring at Justin at his point, her eyes wide. He just looks at her and smiles warm at her before going back to chatting with Luna. Luna continues to share her concerns with her friend only to be reassured over and over. Justin isn't backing out of this one despite some of Luna's warnings and concerns. The discussion stops when he raises a hand to Luna. "Relax, I know what I'm getting into, Luna. Your sister warned me and I intend to help in this way." Luna relents and gives him a single nod. "Very well, if you insist." He turns to Chrysalis and grins at her. "Right this way." Justin escorts the somewhat reluctant Chrysalis inside his home. Luna shortly leaving after the door closes. He does notice the changeling wince a little as she enters the house. He looks at her for the moment before he hears the sound of small hooves bounding across the house. "Dad!" Fudge excitedly yells as she bounds up to the human and jump on him in a hug. Chrysalis winces again. Despite him hugging back, he did hold her out in front of him. "Aren't you supposed to be at school?" "Heh, yeah. Then Princess Luna came to get me and brought me home so you didn't have to! She's so nice." Justin sets the filly back on the floor and muses at the thought. "Probably didn't think I'd rush home, huh." He looks at Chrysalis, who is which now drooling somewhat with some wide eyes. She practically looks like she's been starving for something. He figures it might be food. His gaze shifts down towards Fudge, who is just excitedly running around now. At this point he just shrugs and fishes the key back out of his pocket and turns to look at the changeling. "Alrighty, let's get that contraption of ya so we can get some ground rules in place." He walks to her and starts to unlock the final restraint. As soon as it's off her, Chrysalis lets out a hiss and jumps passed Justin and onto Fudge. "Those FOOLS! Letting me into a trove of love to feast on!" Fudge shrieks out in surprise but Justin's voice booms from behind. "EY! Get off my filly!" Chrysalis freezes as her demeanor changes to that of a scolded animal. She gets up off the filly and doesn't dare to meet the gaze of the human that stares at her. She can almost feel his eyes boring into her. The the lightbulb goes off in her head. Chrysalis forms an evil grin before turning around. "Well, then we'll see how you feel once you're under my control!" She snaps around to Justin and blasts him with some of her magic. Justin isn't phased at the mind control attempt and sternly looks at her. "What? How?! Nopony can resist that!" Chrysalis cries out. "You're right, No PONY. I'm a HUMAN." Justin just states as he starts his approach on her. "Now with that little outburst out of the way, there will be ground rules here." Chrysalis just stays quiet, watching the human. "First rule: There will be NO shapeshifting under my roof. I'm fine with shapeshifting outside of this house to protect yourself since you aren't liked." The changeling continues her stare. "Second: You are NOT to attack any other pony. The mares here included." She just nods a little bit, now shaking at his presence a little bit. "Third: Sharing is caring around here, you need love to feed, just ask and someone here will be more than happy to oblige. Are we clear?" Chrysalis rapidly nods her head. "Certainly, sir." "Please don't call me that. You are my guest and I will treat you well as long as you treat my house well. Celestia told me all I need about you and she will be checking in to see what kind of progress you'll be making while you're here." It was in that moment that Derpy enters the house to see the changeling in the living room. "Uh, hey. What's going on?" After all the explaining finishes, Derpy is nodding her head in understanding, well, sort of. She doesn't quite get it and just leaves it at 'Justin doing a thing for the Princesses' and leaves it at that. She's just wanting to get some food in her belly after the long day she's had. The week's only begun however, as Justin has his work laid out for him and Chrysalis.