//------------------------------// // Supercharge! // Story: An Opportunity of Change // by Tower of 0 //------------------------------// A few days pass by as Justin continues to figure out the method to add Zap Apples to his ice cream recipe. Luckily he isn't alone in his endeavor as Chrysalis helps him every step of the way. He writes down what works and what doesn't on two separate scrolls. Today, they feel, will be different. They get the mix into the freezer and now they've go to wait. Just then, the door chime goes off at the front of the shop. "I'll go get that, can you handle things back here for a minute?" Justin asks the changeling. Chrysalis just nods at him. With that Justin heads over to the sink and gives his hands a quick washing, then peers out the door at the newcomer. He takes care of them and comes to the back to help her clean up the mess they made. The hours tick by as Justin focuses in on busy work and making sure the rest of the store is clean and stocked. While Chrysalis does her best to help him where she can. A few ponies come in, give some short stares at the changeling, get their ice cream, then leave. While on downtime, Justin is in the office, writing down something on a piece of paper. "What're you working on?" Chrysalis asks as she enters. "The name of the new flavor we're on the verge of making. Some of these seem a little lame." Justin replies, scooting over so she can see what names he has down. "Hmm... how about this one?" Chrysalis points to one of the names with her hoof and he grins. "You read my mind." "Hey, Justin, ya in here?" Applejack's voice calls out from the front. The human gets out of his chair, followed by Chrysalis as he makes his way to the pony. "What's going on, AJ?" "I just wanted to see how close ya were to that new flavor, surgarcube." Applejack cheerfully says, making eye contact with the changeling. Chrysalis just waves, causing the farm pony to raise a brow. "I think we've got it down this time. Come back later today we should have something ready." Justin replies in a nonchalant manner, then noticing her gazing at the changeling behind him. "Has she been givin y'all any trouble?" Applejack asks in a hushed manner. "Quite the opposite, she's been a big help these past couple of days with the project." "I see." Applejack's manner soon turns into a cheery one and waves her hoof at the human. "Well, I'll be seein y'all later! Hope it goes well!" Justin just waves back and watches the farm pony leave the store. He then turns his attention to Chrysalis, who is now looking at the floor in shame, and walks up to her. He places a hand on her shoulder and she shifts her eyes to meet his. There's that smile again, his warm smile that helps her feel better. "Don't worry about AJ too much, she's just being cautious." "If you say so, I don't blame them for not trusting me." "Eh, don't let it get ya down." He gives her a small nudge with his elbow and the two continue doing chores. The hours tick on by and the duo having a good time whenever there wasn't another soul in the shop. The sun was starting to set as the evening comes, the last of the customers were taken care of. Chrysalis was busy cleaning up when the door chimes again, signaling another visitor. She didn't bother, knowing Justin was well on top of it, but more because she wasn't quite sure if they want her help. "Well howdy there!" It was Applejack's voice again off in the front. Justin does his best to greet the mare and bring her to the back room where Chrysalis is just sweeping the floor. She listens as the freezer door opens and the rolling of the latest batch is rolled out. She doesn't have to look at him to feel his excitement, it's in the air. Chrysalis ends up turning around when she hears her name and is offered a tasting spoon from the human. "C'mon, you get a taste of our labor too." He says with a smile. She just takes the spoon in her magic and takes a scoop along with the human. He is holding one of the other spoons full of the colorful treat out to Applejack. The farm pony takes the bite with the other two, the has a profound taste and sends a shock up their spines. The treat making the human's hair stand up on end. "Nailed it!" Justin cheers as he starts to get his hair back down. "That is some mighty fine work ya both did! What're ya'll gonna call it?" Applejack asks, looking at the human. Justin just looks at Chrysalis with a grin, wanting her to say it. "Zap Apple Supercharger." Chrysalis picks up on the hint. Justin gets Applejack situated away with his promised amount of the ice cream and gets the pony on her way. He heads into the back and catches Chrysalis putting away the rest of the ice cream. When the door shuts, he's behind he now. He then reaches out and softly pats her head. Chrysalis doesn't pull away this time, just letting it happen, and enjoying the moment. "Well, looks like you two are sharing a moment." A familiar voice calls out from behind. "Celestia!" Justin turns and gives her a quick bow. "I didn't hear you come in!" "It's quite alright, Justin. I'm just here to check up on the progress." Chrysalis was frozen in her place, averting her gaze from the princess. "She's been a load o help here the past couple of days. Even helped with creating a new seasonal ice cream." Justin grins and then leans in, keeping his voice low. "I think she enjoys working here in the shop don't tell her I said that." Celestia gives him a light giggle and looks over at Chrysalis with a small smile. "Well I'm glad he has been such an influence on you." Chrysalis doesn't say a word but nods a little in response. "Don't worry about her not saying anything to you, I'll get her out of that shell sooner or later." Justin states with a wave of his hand. "Will she only talk to you?" Celestia asks as she looks to the human. "For the most part, yeah. Usually when it's just the two of us, sometimes Fudge too." Celestia gives a gentle nod with her eyes closed, still smiling. The she opens them to look at the human. "How is your filly doing, by the way?" "She's doing great, definitely came a long way since her time with that Manehattan crew." He explains as he leads the princess back to the front. Chrysalis watches them go out for the moment before trotting over to the door to listen to them. "Oh! If you ever get the interest, I can get you some cake ice cream. Made here in house and always phenomenal." She heard him boast. "Thank you for the offer, I may have to take you up on it." Celestia chuckles before leaving for the night. It was later and the house was mostly quiet. Justin sits in his chair with a book in hand and a warm cup of tea at his side. He has an Equestrian record playing at a low volume so as to not to wake any of the other ponies in the house. Reading glasses are planted on his face as he read. He didn't really need them, but it helped complete the look. He takes a sip of the tea before flipping a page over in his book. The quiet sound of hooves were coming down the stairs. He looks up from his book, the room only lit up by a tall lamp behind his chair. He spies Chrysalis making his way over to him and stopping at his feet and sitting there. Justin takes off his glasses and sets them down with his book. "Mind if we.... talk for a while?" Chrysalis seems unsure as she asks. "I don't mind, was getting kinda bored reading that anyway." Justin says with a smile. "What'd you wanna talk about?" "I wanted to thank you, for earlier. I wasn't sure how to respond to her." "Celestia? She's hella nicer when she isn't dealing with a lot." Chrysalis just nods, causing Justin to smile at her. "You're welcome." "I also wanted to thank you for putting a lot of trust in me when nopony else would." Chrysalis is starting to look at the floor now. "I realize now you were only trying to help." Justin still smiles at her, reaching down to the changeling, and putting a finger under her chin to have her look at him. "You'll always be welcome. I put trust in you even knowing about your past." She smiles at him and sits up straight. "Can you tell me about when you arrived here?" "The first or second time?" Justin asks as he sits back in his chair. "The first time." Chrysalis replies with a smile towards him. "Okay, so here I was in my own world, minding my own business when a vortex opens up and..." Justin began to recall the tale of his first visit to Equestria. Chrysalis listens with intense focus for a majority of it until she starts to doze off. Soon curling on the floor and falling into a deep sleep. Justin finishes his tea and cleans up a bit before scooping the sleeping changeling off the floor and taking her to her room. The next morning comes and sunlight fills the empty bedroom. Cheerful chatter fills the downstairs as Justin, Derpy, Fudge, and Chysalis are all having breakfast. Juice is sloshed, jokes are told, and excellent food is eaten. Chrysalis is warming up a bit around them now and laughing at some the jokes being told this fine morning. After breakfast, everyone was helping clean up the mess. Justin and Chrysalis are well on their way to the ice cream shop for the day. When they finally arrive, the two spy a long line of ponies outside. Justin looks at the line a bit confused and pulls out watch to check the time. It isn't opening time just yet, so why are they out here? The line notice the two coming up and suddenly crowd around the two. Clambering with a whole lot questions about something. "Alright, everpony calm the hell down! Please!" Justin ends up yelling at the crowd. The crowd goes quiet, but whatever they were feeling was palpable. "What's gotten in to you all?" One of the ponies raises their hoof. "Has your shop been getting visits from Princess Celestia?" Justin groans a bit, figuring one of these ponies saw something. "I'm not at liberty to say that. Now, if you'd all please mind, I do have a business I'd like to open." The crowd makes a path to the door, kind of. Chrysalis sticks close to the human as he walks through the crowd with his keys now in hand. They manage to get inside and the changeling wastes no time in helping with setting up the store while ponies are coming in. They want to ask questions about the princess that the human isn't just answering at this point. Chrysalis is doing what she can while Justin deals with the ponies, unsure if she's going fast enough. The human is taking orders from the ponies that actually want to get some of the frozen dessert. It takes a while but the numbers are thinning with a few still wanting to ask questions. Chrysalis stays in the back for a breather while Justin shoos away the ponies not wanting to order. Justin comes into the back a spies the changeling over in her spot. "You doing okay?" "Yeah, just peachy!" Chrysalis replies, shooting up a bit. "Maybe a little hungry is all." "It has been a hot minute since ya fed, hasn't it?" Chrysalis just nods a little, now showing her exhaustion. "We'll get that taken care of then. Later tonight?" Justin walks over and pats her head a tad. "Sure." Chrysalis says a little unenthusiastically. Justin just gives her the same smile he always does and leaves her to rest. She watched him disappear back through the doorway to the front and listens to him talk to some customers. Chrysalis lets out a sigh and sinks into the seat, not really knowing what to do. She doesn't want to refuse him just offering to feed her, but she can't just survive on their food alone. She's conflicted with what she wants to do going against her very own nature.