//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: Compound Bonding 
// Story: Mechaniquus 
// by DougtheLoremaster 
//------------------------------//

Starlight stared in disbelief at the mare. The hologram that made up both her mane and tail seemed to be the indigo of her wife, but flowing highlights of her own seafoam green stripe. The fur was a blend of both a lavender and lilac hue. The receptors of her eyes were a rich blue-violet. Huh, she doesn’t look that bad, still…
“What are you doing, Chrysalis?”
“I…Don’t really know.”
Starlight blinked. That response had taken her by surprise. Frantically, her processor tried to process the situation and now, it was returning nothing but errors. Startled, she shouted back.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
Scanning her, for any sign of what was going on; Starlight noticed Chrysalis was nervous as she shouted back.
“I mean I don’t know! One moment I was talking to Twilight about disguising myself  and the next, I’m in this form and she informs me I am to call her mom and she would be back soon!”
Starlight looked down at the ground for a moment, deep in thought. Not a sound was made in the tent as she thought about the situation. Ok, so Twilight told her to do this. It was true, quite often Twilight and she had discussed having a filly of their own, but she never expected to suddenly have one, just like that; not to mention one that was fully grown. Even for a disguise this is overkill and she knows that.
Lost in thought, Starlight was well aware her wife was not given to flights of fancy, whether or not she would outright say it, Twilight always had a reason for her desires for other creatures. What would cause her to do this?
Breaking the silence, Chrysalis spoke up, clearly worried Starlight was mad. Looking at the Princess, she knew exactly how dangerous making her angry could be.
“Princess Starlight?”
Raising her head, Starlight took a deep breath, before smiling. So be it. I’ll trust her instincts.
“So, you’re my daughter now. Alright then, daughter of mine, what’s your name?”
“Erm, Twilight said Chrysi, Princess Starlight.”
Stamping her hoof down, Starlight shook her head dismissively.
“No, that will not do, at all.”
“I’m sorry-?”
Starlight nodded; interrupting her.
“You better be. If you are going to be my daughter, Chrysi, you will address me as Starlight, and only as Starlight. Have I made myself clear?”
“Yes, Starlight!”
Noticing the squeakiness of her voice, Starlight decided to alleviate her fears; if only to break the ice. In a strangely static-filled soft-spoken tone, she addressed her.
“Listen, Chrysalis. We both know what you see when you analyze my current state. The truth is, though I possess the ability to turn a being to ash; if I genuinely wanted to, nothing would stop me from doing so. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have already.”
“But what about earlier?”
Starlight sighed.
“I told you, it is hard seeing your face. Yes, I threatened you, and yes, I even charged up an attack. But I still knew you weren’t her. I wouldn’t have actually attacked you, still, she left a scar that won’t heal, and seeing your face brought it all back momentarily. I’ve had some time to vent my exhaust, so don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.”
An awkward silence followed, as Chrysalis in the guise of Chrysi, stared at the Princess; seeing the weary and nearly destroyed tone in her voice. Just as she was about to respond, however, a cheerful electronic voice called out to Starlight from the entrance.
“Hey honey, I’m home, do you mind helping me carry some of these packages?”
Startled, Starlight blinked and slowly stood up. Packages? Glancing at Chrysalis she simply said.
“Wait here.”
Walking outside, Starlight was greeted with Twilight surrounded by two dozen boxes; the contents of which could only be guessed at. Gesturing at the boxes, Twilight smiled sweetly at her.
“I could use a big strong Alicorn, to help me carry everything, know any?”
Starlight had started looking at the boxes; a charging mat, a full-sized personal database, a repair table, even a fridge, and four damaged cases of premium drinking oil.
“Twilight, why did you get all this?”
Ever-cheerful, Twilight laughed.
“Oh, I thought it would be nice to get some things for our new daughter.”
Nodding, Starlight then asked her, narrowing her eyes.
“Yeah, I wanted to ask you about that. Why did you do this?”
Twilight, who had been levitating the charging mat, replied flippantly.
“Oh, you know, for a disguise.”
Quick as a flash, Starlight pulled her closer to where no other pony could hear and whispered to her.
“Listen Twilight, I know you don’t do things at random. Tell me the truth, what’s going on?”
Twilight lowered her eyes, her voice filled with sorrow, scratchy like a particularly loved vinyl record.
“Starlight, she…Her world was attacked by the Smooze.”
Starlight’s eyes dimmed; feeling the fluid turn to ice in the tubes that were her arteries.
“What happened?”
Barely a whisper, Twilight answered her.
“They lost, she’s the only survivor.”
Still processing this, Starlight walked over to the boxes and her horn glowed; surrounding every package with her magic, causing them to rise off the ground as one. Before moving, she asked just one more question.
“How do you know?”
Twilight looked over to her and explained.
“She told me…While we were perfecting her transformation, she told me everything.”
Nodding, and without another word, Starlight marched into the tent with every box levitating behind her. Chrysalis stared at the sight, as Starlight silently set down and unpacked the contents of each box. The Princess never said a word as she hooked up the changing mat; placing it beside the other two. With Twilight watching, wings folded, from the entranceway and Chrysalis watching, Starlight set up each box's contents. Five awkwardly silent minutes later, Starlight turned and looked at Chrysalis, addressing her in a sudden manner, pointing at the charging mat.
“This is your new bed.”
Before a response could be made, she pointed at the database.
“This is your way to research the history of this world. Over there-”
Starlight pointed a wing at the miniature magically-infused dry ice fridge.
“That is yours. In it, you will store your oil. I don’t want it to go bad. After all, it takes a lot to snag some nowadays. The Overlord's guards are always on guard. Frankly, I'm surprised Twilight managed to steal this much for you. We can’t just buy you more. Enjoy it slowly.”
Suddenly she pointed a hoof at Chrysalis.
“Your name is Chrysi from here on out. And you are my daughter. You will refer to me and my wife; Twilight, as Mother.”
Running forward she grabbed Chrysi in a fierce hug, whispering softly.
“Welcome home, my daughter.”
At a loss, Chrysi looked over at Twilight, who just smiled lovingly at the sight, the LED’s of her ocular receptors a softer amethyst than usual. Chrysi closed her eyes and wrapped her hooves around Starlight; returning the hug.
"Thanks, mom."