//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 // Story: Tales of Equestria: Changing into Love // by Noratcat //------------------------------// The magic exploded into the night air as it collided. Cocoon watched with pleased eyes as her spell struck, but as the dust settled her eyes widened in shock as the truth was revealed: The ponies were still standing. It took her a moment to realize what had happened, but when it did, it only furthered her shock. Standing in place, with nary a scratch on her, was Chrysalis. The former queen stood there, eyes closed and horn ablaze with magic. Slowly she opened her eyes, seemingly awaiting for whatever oblivion awaited her. But thankfully, she found none of that. “What?” She asked herself. The more she thought about it, the more it dawned on her. This spell wasn’t meant to harm them, it was only for show. There was no force behind it. It made her wonder, was even a true spell? “Nicely done daughter, you managed to resist my attack. At least those endurance lessons paid off,” Cocoon noted with small disdain. Chrysalis paused. Her mother's words resonated within her, and she felt something rise. It wasn’t a foreign feeling, for it was something she had felt before, something she had pushed down, swallowing it as if it were bile. “Is that all you care about? Lessons?” Chrysalis rhetorically asked. Cocoon said nothing, remaining paused in her speech and movements. “What am I saying, of course, that’s all you care about. Ever since I was a grub you never cared about me. All you wanted was the perfect heir!” Chrysalis spat. “Bah! Without strength how can one lead?!” Cocoon spat. “Life isn’t all about being the strongest Mother!” Chrysalis spat back, “And it’s taken me until now to realize that!” The changeling reconsidered her words, “No, It’s something I’ve realized before, but every time I realized it I cast it aside, and every time I did that I heard your voice in my head.” Indeed she had felt this emotion twice. The first time was after she had lost her hive when Starlight offered her a better chance. Then there was another when she Tirek and Cozy Glow were in search of Grogar’s Bell. Each time, a single offer or chance presented itself, and that chance was friendship. Honestly, she had almost taken it, almost seen the benefits of an altered life. Maybe had she taken it she wouldn’t have wound up as a statue? But both times she rejected the notion, instead of pursuing revenge or seeking power. “Each time you prodded me, scolding me, calling me weak, but now I see how false that was!” Chrysalis declared. Staring back at Spring and Summer, she smiled, “Meeting these two opened my eyes, showed me that friendship and love isn’t a weakness, that it’s truly magic!” Summer was too bewildered to answer, but a single sentiment formed upon Spring’s face: a smile to match Chrysalis’s. “The magic of friendship?” Cocoon scoffed, “Do you truly believe such a foolish notion exists?” Years ago Chrysalis would have been afraid to answer, instead of going with whatever her mother deemed. Instead, Chrysalis stamped her hooves firmly and replied with the utmost certainty, “Yes, I do.” As the former queen looked upon her mother’s visage, her gaze grew fearful, for Cocoon’s all so familiar glare burned into her. “Very well daughter,” She recited in her cold and aged voice, “It seems you have chosen your lot,” magic burned upon the elderly changeling’s horn, burning brightly with the fury of a thousand suns, “It seems I have no choice...but...to...say...YOU PASSED!” Suddenly, Cocoon’s voice grew bright and cheerful, her tone jumping to a youthful tenor, and from her horn came no magic, but sparkles and what appeared to be confetti. Chrysalis could only stare blankly in front of her and said, “What?” “Whoo! I mean this was a gamble setting you free, but I think it finally paid off,” Cocoon continued cheerfully. This only further served to confuse Chrysalis, “Mother?” “Oh right, here I am still wearing this skin,” Suddenly in a flash, Cocoon’s form melted away, and as the light settled, in its place was an entirely different creature. All three parties present looked on and gaped in amazement. The creature in front of them was no longer the aged and frightening form of Cocoon, but instead, it was a creature of the purest white, like snow. The creature itself was indeed a pony, but with golden hooves and mane, yet there were platinum streaks within it. The creature held no cutie mark, and no horn, which brought the question of how this creature could cast magic. Then there were the wings. They were translucent and shaped akin to a butterfly’s. Staring at the trio with its sapphire eyes, the strange pony asked, “So? How do I look?” Chrysalis stood dumbfounded, barely able to find the urge to speak, “I-I-I” She stammered. “Right, this is all new to you. Well first off, you can thank me for casting that reincarnation spell on you,” The pony spoke. “You cast it?” Chrysalis asked, her voice growing all the more curious. “I can hear the wonder in your voice,” The pony noticed, “Well to be perfectly honest I took quite a gamble with you, I mean I probably could have gone with your friend Tirek or Cozy Glow, but something told me you were the right choice,” The pony explained, “To be perfectly truthful, I was half and half on you. I mean this could have gone either way, but to have you turn over a new leaf, well I certainly am glad this paid off.” “Excuse me? But who are you?” Spring asked. “Me? Well, you can call me a guardian of harmony, I keep a lookout for creatures who may hold a significant purpose for Equestria’s future,” The pony explained. Summer continued to stare at the pony in question, never saying a word, while Spring took a few cautious steps towards Chrysalis. “So? You were Chrysalis all along?” He asked. Chrysalis turned around to face him, holding her head down slightly in shame, “Yes...I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” Spring’s expression changed to one of hurt, but he put it away in his mental drawer and asked another question, “Did you mean what you said just now?” Chrysalis knew what he was talking about, “Yes! Look, I know I’m probably the last creature you want to listen to, but I meant every word,” Chrysalis insisted, “All the time I’ve spent with you and Summer, it’s been the few times I’ve felt true happiness, maybe even the only time,” The former queen of the changelings looked down as if in contemplation, but looked up with a look of certainty, “I’m ready, and now I know for certain that friendship is magic!” It was said certain actions spark certain reactions. And this moment applied. Suddenly, a great light emanated from Chrysalis’s chest. The light continued to spread, forming into a sphere upon her body. At first, she looked frightened but strangely found this change welcoming. She had seen this before, years ago when she lost her hive. Suddenly the light burst and Chrysalis was drowned in its entirety. Spring and Summer shielded her eyes, only opening them as the light died down. What they saw before surprised everyone, including Chrysalis. “Well look at you! This is an unforeseen development!” The strange pony declared. Chrysalis looked down at herself, and to her surprise, she did not see the altered state of a purified changeling, but instead, the pony shape of Crystal Hoof. The same horn with the two tiny ones flanking it, the same color, the same shape, only now there lay a cutie mark upon her flank: a crystal entwined in vines. “What? But, what happened? Why am I a pony?” Chrysalis asked herself, noting the softer tone in her Crystal Hoof form. “Beats me!” The strange pony exclaimed, “Frankly I thought you would turn all pretty like the other changelings, but go figure,” She shrugged, “Well now I must be off, a guardian’s work is never done!” The pony declared. Chrysalis turned around swiftly, “Wait!” But in a flash, the strange pony was gone. Summer who had remained silent throughout it all, finally found the urge to speak, “Was that? I think that was a Flutter Pony!” Spring looked at his sister with a curious glint, “A flutter pony?” “Yeah, like from those stories Mom used to tell us!” Summer said with remembrance. Chrysalis had heard tales of Flutter Ponies. Winged ponies who could cast magic without a horn, the fair equines as they were known. She had dismissed them as legends, but there could have been no explanation besides that. But it raised a bigger question as to why one would do this to her. “Crystal?” The new ponified Chrysalis looked to see Spring taking a few somewhat cautious steps towards her. “Spring,” She found herself saying. The pair of them looked at one another, their gaze long and- “Now hold on just a minute!” Summer interrupted loudly, standing between her brother and Chrysalis, “Are you serious?!” “What?” Spring said confusedly. “Don’t “what” me brother! How can you act as nothing happened?” Summer demanded, “Hasn’t it sunken in that we’ve been living with Queen Chrysalis all this time!?” Spring’s expression didn’t change, but Chrysalis took the moment to step forward, “Summer I-” She was then cut off as Summer thrust her face into hers. “Okay, what kind of game are you playing? Is this a new trick?” Summer demanded to know. “Trick? I don’t-” “I have to admit you were pretty clever, but now my brother and I are onto you now so don’t get-” “Summer that’s enough!” Spring pushed his sister out of the way, keeping a protective form near Chrysalis, “Leave her alone!” “What? You’re defending her?” Summer asked incredulously. “Look, it’s been a long night, so why don’t we head back to camp?” Spring suggested, or rather more like an order. “Okay, did something fry in your brain? We’ve been living with Chrysalis all this time!” “That’s not my name anymore!” Chrysalis suddenly exclaimed. Summer looked at the former changeling confusedly, but there was no uncertainty in Chrysalis’s eyes, “My name is Crystal Hoof!” Summer raised an eye, “You can stop that charade, we know who you really are.” “I know how I was, but I’m not that creature anymore. I’m no longer Queen Chrysalis,” Chrysalis, or rather, Crystal put a hoof to her chest, “Crystal Hoof was the name I gave myself, and Crystal Hoof is the name I want to keep!” Summer couldn’t believe what she was hearing, “Are you serious?” “Dead,” Crystal stated firmly. Shaking her head, Summer let out an exasperated sigh, “I just don’t get it,” “Just leave it alone Summer, you heard her, she’s not that kind of creature anymore,” Spring said defensively. “Says her!” Summer retorted. “I saw it in her eyes, and I heard it in her voice! She meant every word!” Spring said, defending Chrysalis all the while. Chrysalis could sense the tension in the air, and knew Summer would not back down. When she was a queen, she never diffused a situation, only demanded obedience, now was the time to be the very leader Starlight had once said she could become. “Summer, I know you and Spring have little reason to trust me, but I did mean every word I said,” Summer opened her mouth to speak, but Chrysalis interrupted, “I know I lied to you at first, but this was a new situation for me, if I had said anything I would have probably been sent off to Tartarus or worse. I know lying to you was wrong, but please I’ve changed, I no longer want revenge on my enemies, I just want to live my life as a pony,” Summer’s mouth closed, and she listened to Chrysalis well. Slowly the doubt was starting to vanish from her face, “For so long I rejected friendship, but spending time with you and Spring has shown me it’s not a weakness, I want to share that feeling, I want to experience it, and even if that means you no longer want me in your house, I’ll still live by it!” Spring flashed a proud smile towards the former changeling, “I know she lied to us, but in her hooves what would you have done Summer?” Summer silently agreed. She supposed if she was one of Equestria’s biggest enemies, she would want to remain incognito. Still, she couldn’t shake it off entirely, still found it strange her brother was so defensive of “not” Chrysalis, but she had her guesses as to why. “Ugh, fine, just let’s go back to camp before it gets too late,” Summer said trotting off with a shake of her head. Chrysalis looked uncertainly towards the vanishing mare. She knew simple words wouldn’t solve the betrayal Summer was certainly feeling. “Give her time,” Spring said reassuringly. Throughout the little reveal, Chrysalis had noticed Spring did not hold the same feelings of betrayal as his sister. He was different. “Thank you Spring, for everything,” Chrysalis stated, “But, how can you trust me so?” “Well, I just have a way of reading ponies, I’ve got more talents besides being a doctor,” The stallion boasted. “It’s more than that,” Chrysalis noted. “Oh?” “Let’s just say I have a way of reading ponies too.” Smiles formed upon both ponies' faces. Just like at the campsite, they closed in, this time with no interruptions, and at last, they let it all out. Their lips locked. They didn’t understand it at first, but they drew in and unleashed the depths of their passion via a simple kiss. As they broke away, they heard a solid grunt behind them. Summer stood there, tapping her hoof impatiently, “You two love birds coming? Or should I leave you out in the cold?” “We should go, I know when my sister is getting impatient,” Spring chuckled. Chrysalis smiled and uttered, “Lead the way, my King.” As he turned away to follow Summer, it became impossible to tell what was on Spring’s face. But Chrysalis could tell it was a grin. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the “King” comment, but she knew, and she knew that Summer was smiling at the kiss, even if it was an inward smile. Staring up at the moon, breaking through the clouds above, Chrysalis knew tonight was when Crystal Hoof’s life truly began. She was all pony now, the cutie mark on her flank told her that much.