//------------------------------// // Change of Opportunity // Story: An Opportunity of Change // by Tower of 0 //------------------------------// The rest of the day went on just fine until close. Chrysalis is helping clean up while Justin looks over remaining stock. Tomorrow was a big day for him as he is going to reveal the coming of the new Zap Apple favor of ice cream. All he needed to do was to get some advertising going and some posters up in the shop windows. Chrysalis watches the human run around the store in some excitement as he gets the adverts and poster orders ready. He closed the store a bit early and with scroll in hand, headed his way over to town hall. The changeling follows close behind him so as to not lose him. Justin opens the door to town hall and ducks as he steps in, both being met with a clerk pony who seems bored at this time. He spies the two standing there somewhat patently, looking up at the human. "Welcome to Ponyville Town Hall, how may I assist-" The stallion trails off once he see Chrysalis. "Don't worry about her, Parchment, she's not gonna hurt anypony." Justin says, the pony's name snapping him out of his trance. "Uh, right. Anyway, how may I assist you today?" Parchment asks, looking at the human. "Well, I was hoping you could get some prints ready in about a day or two." Justin explains, setting the scroll and a pouch of bits on the counter before the stallion. The stallion takes the scroll, looks it over, and nods. "We can do that, sir. Come back tomorrow and we should have a preview." Justin smiles and heads back out with Chrysalis tailing close behind. "What was that about?" She asks, trotting up to the human's side. "Oh, that? I'm preparing to reveal our new ice cream flavor once we get around to making more of it. I want things to be just right for our Zap Apple Supercharge flavor." "By advertising?" "And flyers!" Justin interjects, softly nudging the changeling. "Then the power of word of mouth will help it take off." Chrysalis nods a little. "I still don't understand." "Well, when you run a business, advertising helps bring in the crowds. Pleased crowds tell their friends and their friends come in. More customers means more bits to spend on the store." Justin explains as they continue their walk. "I don't get it." Chrysalis says as she continues her trot next to him. "Eh, forget about it then." Justin waves his hand. The two eventually came up to the school and stood outside for a time. He did end up closing up a little early to get some of his other errands done. Justin walks over to a nearby bench and takes a seat on it, thankfully these ponies made benches slightly larger for their own bodies. He makes himself a bit comfortable and smiles at the changeling. "You smile a lot." "A day without a smile is a day wasted is what I like to say." Justin beams at the changeling. Chrysalis climbs up onto the bench and takes a seat next to the human. The two make some idle chat while they wait for the filly. It doesn't seem like it was long when the bell on top of the school rings twice and a horde of school ponies come flooding out. Fudge finding Justin and the changeling in little time. he jumps on the human, giggling, and give him the biggest hug the young foal can muster. The trio are now on their way home. Fudge doing most of the talking while Justin is taking the time to get Chrysalis involved in a bit of it. She isn't having a lot of input, more confusion and absent nodding. The human gladly engages in the jokes and small talk the filly supplies. Chrysalis just observes, soaking in their mannerisms and tone. She can see that they have a strong bond. The three get through the door of the house in nick of time as Derpy is setting the table for dinner. Fudge and Justin waste no time in helping set the table with the changeling just watching. The human gets Chrysalis involved in helping and guides her on what they're doing. The changeling gets a quick grasp on the concept and finishes helping without him. He just smiles as he watches her some and goes to the oven to check on the food. Whatever Derpy started, it smells delicious and he can't wait. Justin just walks back to the table and takes a seat, across from him is Chrysalis, and to his sides are Derpy and Fudge. Most of them are waiting for the timer to go off while the changeling is sitting idle, just sort of glad to be part of something. The timer does end up going off and Derpy jumps up to get the food. After dinner, the unicorn foal is helping with cleaning up while Justin and Chrysalis are upstairs. "C'mon, you gotta eat somehow. I can't just let you starve" Justin tells her, having his hands on her shoulders. "But wha-" "No buts. you gotta feed." Chrysalis just sighs and powers up her horn. "Nice n' easy. No rush." Derpy and Fudge are finishing the dishes when they hear something. It sounds like an explosion followed by what sounds like wood breaking. By the time they look at the stairs, Chrysalis rushes by and out the front door. The two scramble up the stairs to see the door to her room off it's hinges and cracked in two up against the wall. On the floor is the human, groaning as he is regaining his functions. "Dad!" The unicorn filly cries as she rushes over to the downed human. "What happned?" Derpy asks as she floats up to them. "Chrysalis..." Justin groans as he sits up. "She panicked and for-" "I'll go get help!" Derpy exclaims before flying off. "No! Wait!" Justin says, but too late as the faithful pegasus is long gone. "Shit.." "Where are you going?" Fudges asks, watching her father rise to his feet." "To find Chrysalis." He mutters and starts to make his way down the stairs. Justin's mind races as he does the same through the dark streets of Ponyville. Having regained a his bearings, he uses his legs to carry him across the cobblestone paths. The small unicorn filly isn't having that much luck with keeping up, her legs are short and can't gallop fast enough to keep up. "Can you slow down at least?" Fudge cries, just wanting to keep up. Justin slows down enough for her to catch up, only to scoop her up into his arms and bolting off again. "No time, I need to make sure she's okay." "After she blasted you through a door and ran off?" Fudge asks with an incredulous look at him. "It was an accident. She scared herself and that was her defensive response." Chrysalis sits at the mouth of a cave deep in the Everfree, sobbing as she comes to terms with what just happened. Her fear is setting in, wiping away some of the tears and sniffling. It's only a matter of time until news gets to Twilight and her friends find her and send her back to the dungeons. OR banish her, she thinks she'd prefer the latter. A twig snaps nearby and her head snaps in the direction of the sound, only to be met with the familiar face. "Why've you come for me?" She asks, a little in bewilderment. "To make sure you're okay, and take you back home before Twi and her buds get here." Justin says as he comes out of the brush, Fudge tailing close behind. "You shouldn't be worried about me, especially after what I did." She looks to the ground now, not wanting to face him. "Hey now, everything's okay. You scared yourself, you didn't pace, and that happened." He is making his way to her with his hands up, getting close enough to kneel. "C'mon, look at me. I'm not mad." Chrysalis does turn her attention back to him, than that voice rings out. "Justin! Get away from her." That voice was definitely Twilight's, and the relief the human expressed turned to one of discomfort. He balled up his hands and started to stand up. Justin turned around to face them and noticed Derpy floating just nearby. All of them had the Elements equipped and ready to rumble if need be, except Pinkie. Pinkie is waving erratically at the human. He does return her waves but refuses to move. "No, I won't" "We were told what happened, she blasted ya through a door, sugarcube!" Applejacks states, stomping a hoof on the ground. "So stand aside and let us do our job!" "It was an accident!" Justin retorts. "She didn't pace herself, panicked, and had a magical surge!" "Darling, that's hardly an excuse when she ran away after sending you through a door!" Rarity chimes in. "She was scared how I'd react!" Justin spits out. "I refuse to leave her out here by herself. If you want to blast her, then you're gonna have to blast me too!" The two parties start to argue about the situation. The accusation of mind control being thrown out there due to his exposure to her. Chrysalis looks at the back of the human and how adamant he is about protecting her, almost like they're...friends. Then it hits her, maybe he considered her a friend, but has she taken the time to do the same? Maybe now's the time before they both get sent away. "ENOUGH!" Chrysalis commands as she teleports in front of Justin. Everyone goes quiet as all eyes are on her. "If his words won't convince you despite them being the truth, then mine should. What he claims is true, he was letting me feed on his love after starving myself for days. I should've listened and didn't, I grew fearful of his wrath after accidentily sending him flying through his door." Justin began to smile as he listens to her. "Despite the short amount of time I've been in his care, he was looked out and stuck up for me. Like..." Chrysalis chokes a bit on her words. "Like a friend, and I'm glad to call him one!" The area grows silent, Chrysalis breathing a bit heavy as she glares on at the six. They all stare at her with wide eyes, some of their expressions turning into ones of shame. Then, it happened, she started to glow bright before them and lift into the air. The changeling is confused and look back to Justin for an answer. "It's okay." He tells her. "You'll be fine, promise." With those words, she gives him the biggest smile she ever has and accepts the newfound warmth growing inside her. She glows brighter and a magical cocoon wraps itself around her before touching the ground again. There's silence as they watch on in awe. The cocoon starts to fade away and Chrysalis steps out looking different. No longer was she a gangly pegacorn with holes in her legs and sparkling wings. Now she has more color to her chitin, her mane and tail full of bright, and her eyes a breathtaking emerald green. She looks less intimidating now than ever, but she feels better, complete even. Justin gives out a long whistle. "Damn, Chryssy, I didn't see this coming." "Neither did I." She smiles and trots up to him, embracing the human in a hug. "Friend." "Do you know what this calls for?!" Pinkie starts getting excited. "A party?" Justin beats her to it. "A par- YEAH!" Pinkie shouts, getting all giddy. "Hmm.. I have an idea about that." Justin muses. The next day is filled with music, laughter, and excitement. Justin worked with Pinkie Pie to turn her Chrysalis-is-now-a-good-guy party and combined it with the new flavor reveal party. The party is being held at Sugar Cube Corner and there a lot of ponies there for it. Chrysalis is on a bit of edge, mostly nervous about being around so many ponies that seem enamored with her new look. Justin is off in the corner with some punch, keeping a watchful eye on her. "You should be proud of yourself." Celestia says, walking up to him. "Nah, she deserves this. I'm more proud of her if anything here." Justin says with a sigh of content. "She knows now she will always have a place in my home." "You were an excellent choice for the job." "So, what happens with her now?" He asks, turning his attention to the princess. "She does have a hive out there to teach the magic she has learned here today. Otherwise we will keep her in Canterlot until such a time." "What if she doen't want to return? Look at her, she seems pretty happy now among all these friendly faces." "There is more to this then she probably realizes." Celestia stares. "Well, make sure her letters get to me, aight? I'll be mighty upset if I don't know if she's doing well." Celestia chuckles a bit a nods at the human. She's going to keep her promise and goes back to the party at hand. Justin morphs into the crowd to start mingling with everyone there. Twilight, her friends, Derpy, Fudge, and any of the ponies that showed up for one reason or another.