On Tuesday night at Twilight Sparkle's castle, Chrysalis was allowed in the throne room to at least meet the entire pack, Sweetie Belle, Spike, and Discord. She was there for an official introduction and notice before Starlight would escort her by teleport to the Changeling Kingdom. She stood between Twilight's and Applejack's thrones.
Discord scrutinized Chrysalis' physical form. He hovered over the table and faced Chrysalis. "I've got my eye on you," he said as he stretched out and enlarged one of his yellow eyes before pulling it back.
"Duly noted," Chrysalis replied.
"Alright, get a move on," Rainbow urged her.
Starlight nodded, and the two disappeared. The powerful lilac unicorn soon returned alone.
"Okay, let's get started for real. We'll go ahead and discuss Chrysalis first," Rainbow began.
"Fine," Discord said. He folded his arms and with an annoyed look, he told the group, "I don't trust her."
"That's fair," Rainbow agreed. "We didn't trust you for awhile either."
Literal steam blew out through his ears as his face visibly reddened akin to the shade of a tomato, but he didn't deny it.
"Alright, this one's a bit complicated. Chrysalis wants to rule Equestria, and that's beyond what I'm willing to do for her. However, if we can teach her about the path required to do that, I think we've all got something to gain." Rainbow explained.
"Like what?" a skeptical Discord questioned her.
"Someone who cares about Equestria and could be a good leader either in or out of it to a smaller scale region," Rainbow admitted.
"That's how you think it's gonna end?" Applejack inquired.
"That or she'll become an expert actress or some other hobby," Rainbow remarked.
"Does she know that?" Pinkie asked.
"Not in those exact words, but I've made it no secret that I'm grooming her to learn about friendship, leadership, Equestria, and so on, from all of us," Rainbow said. "We need a springboard, and this is it. Her wings have already changed after just a few days. She figures a possible new reformed look would be different for her than the other changelings, due to her former position as their former queen."
"We have some understanding of what you mean Master," Rarity said carefully, "but perhaps you could tell us more? Is there even anything for the rest of us to do? With Scootaloo, we've known to visit the kingdoms and gather magic. This task is very different, and it strikes me as something mainly between you and Chrysalis or Twilight and Chrysalis. There is no potion to prepare."
"Let me start with telling y'all about some progress we made last night. She has accepted my friendship," Rainbow explained.
The other Awesomevs nodded.
"She has been peacefully in the presence of her former subjects at the hive for the Changeling Kingdom," the master continued.
"There really weren't any problems?" asked an intrigued Applejack.
"I suppose there was some tension when she used their Feelings Forum to speak," Fluttershy said, "but they were all patient. No one got hurt. She even helped us out for the magic we found there."
"I was there and can confirm," Starlight added.
"Me and Penny saw no problems with that either," Pinkie said.
"None of you think she did anything to the magic itself?" Discord asked them.
"Well, we certainly didn't see or sense anything like that," Rainbow remarked thoughtfully. "But maybe you could help us get a sense for it when we use it later tonight, for an expert second opinion."
"Very well," Discord agreed, with a hint of pride.
"What else, Master?" Twilight prodded Rainbow to continue on what was done.
"Yesterday, I gave her a dream of what it would really be like to rule Equestria based on what Starlight told me. She knows some stuff from that time she spent the day she spent with Celestia and Luna when she switched their cutie marks," Rainbow told them.
Starlight blushed but said nothing.
"How'd it go? How'd it go?" Pinkie wondered openly and eagerly, pushing for more information.
Rainbow projected the conversation from the previous night onto the table, so she wouldn't have to repeat everything herself.
"Well, she certainly seems sincere there to me," Fluttershy said gently, looking up in Discord's direction.
He tapped an eagle claw to his chin in quiet thought. He didn't disagree.
"Ruling Equestria can be boring and like a really lavish prison?" Pinkie scrunched up her nose as she asked the air with serious thought and mild disappointment.
The other mevs simply shrugged.
"The only one of us who knows anything of what that might be like is Twilight," Rarity reminded everyone.
They all looked at the alicorn princess with them.
With a sheepish look, Twilight told her friends, "I've never ruled a kingdom, unless you count the time the Tree of Harmony went all wild with the vines, but I can relate to the other part. That's definitely how I felt when I first got the castle and was twice not called upon for a map mission. I was still trying to get a grip on who I even wanted to be. And there was that time that Discord pretended to be sick, and Cadance told me that life in the Crystal Empire was predictable."
"Oh, right," Discord noted.
"What's next then?" Rarity wondered.
"Well," Rainbow said, "what we really need is to give Chrysalis things to do. Think on a small scale, odd job type of way. I need Chrysalis to experience ordinary pony life and find out what she likes and doesn't like. We can also find out what she's good at and not good at. So, Awesomevs, your part is a simple command. Find a short-term project you can supervise or help Chrysalis with."
"I suppose she could learn about basic apple bucking on the farm tomorrow afternoon," Applejack offered.
"You know," Starlight said, "it might be better if you wait until Friday. We've figured out that a given fledgling's magic is strongest on the day of their exchange. When Discord was without magic, we looked at it as our day to serve the pack."
"In that case, I can show her around at the sanctuary tomorrow instead," Fluttershy offered. "I'm sure I can give her something simple like feeding some of the animals."
More chatter passed through the room, and the mevs came up with options based on their own places of work where Chrysalis would be able to assist.
After that concluded, Rainbow said, "Let's talk about how our visit to the Changeling Kingdom went."
The others sat at attention and waited.
"This was very much not discrete after our stunt for Nightmare Night," she admitted with an embarrassed smile.
Her friends chuckled.
"We were greeted by the entire hive. They had an interest in our own shape-shifting magic so since I can't do that as pegasus, I was able to show them. Thorax was extremely accommodating. He flat out gave us everything we requested."
"So, we have changeling magic?" Rarity asked, eager and hopeful.
"Yes," Rainbow happily confirmed with a nod. "I admit, I even asked for Chrysalis' last night, but she made the point it's better for her to hold onto it for now. Still, let's move on. Rhezenda, bring out the screens and the transmitters. Put them all in the middle of the table."
Sweetie Belle nodded with a small smile.
"What are those?" Rarity asked with interest.
"You'll see. We're not done yet. Rhezenda, did you make the frame pictures?"
"Yes, Master," Sweetie answered proudly.
"Give me the crown, and let's take care of that now," Rainbow commanded.
In a few short minutes, frames to match the screens were on the table briefly before the physical essences were combined with Rainbow's magic to create ten physical cell phones.
"I'll pass them to you soon but first...Twilight, Starlight, did you find out what I wanted to know?" Rainbow asked them.
"Yes," Twilight answered with a smile. "I will be right back," she said.
Everyone waited several minutes, and from the door, four ponies entered. One was another Rainbow Dash, another was Sunset Shimmer, and then there were two Twilight Sparkles. One of them wore glasses and was a unicorn instead of an alicorn.
"Wow," said Sunset for the other two as she met the eyes of the others.
"Everyone," Twilight announced, "this is Sunset Shimmer, the other me, and the other Rainbow Dash from the human world."
Welcoming chatter shifted through the others at the table.
"We heard Equestria wanted to learn about cell phones," Human Twilight said.
Human Rainbow flew up to closely face her pony counterpart. "Hi," she greeted with a curious smile.
"Hello Awesome," Rainbow replied with a friendly wink. Her fangs peeked out as she spoke.
The other Rainbow blushed and chuckled. "For the record, I have not turned into a vampire over in our world. I don't think they're real over there." She looked at the cell phones on the table. "They've made the physical stuff," she said as she addressed her human world friends. She stood on the table and reached out with her hoof, then put the hoof to her face at remembering she didn't have hands in this world. She planted her hooves on the table and grabbed one of the phones awkwardly with a wing to lift it and show it to her two unicorn friends. The other visitors stood near Twilight's throne where the alicorn princess had already seated herself.
Sunset used unicorn magic to grab it from Human Rainbow and show to Human Twilight.
A lecture soon ensued as Twilight from the human world explained what cell phones were, how they worked, and answered Rainbow's questions that Starlight already gave her from the past Tuesday lesson.
Team Awesome learned about having a 'do not disturb' option and being able to leave voicemails. Human Twilight telekinetically gave Rainbow a small booklet full of advised features that Equestrian cell phones should have, such as being able to take pictures and use text messages. She advised that Rainbow eventually find a way to make styluses, small mechanical pen like items to help navigate through a phone, especially for ponies.
Once the lecture ended, and any lingering questions were answered, Human Twilight asked, "Can we stay and watch?"
"Certainly," Rainbow answered her.
Sweetie Belle laid out the ten phones separately spaced out on the table, seven above three.
Rainbow Dash's eyes switched to red-on-yellow and a whirlwind of red magic surrounded the cell phones as she specifically added the features based on Human Twilight's advice. Discord gave them a quick inspection before approving that they weren't tampered in any way by Chrysalis. Sweetie magically lifted the phones and found they were labeled by cutie mark. She passed each one to the appropriate mev and took three labeled with the Crusader cutie marks to herself. Rainbow had not explained at length how those would work, but Sweetie understood mev magic enough that they would not be as easily accessible as the other cell phones.
"Alright, Starlight, let's show them this thing in action," Rainbow suggested.
Starlight nodded and used her unicorn magic to call Rainbow, who demonstrated the call with enthusiasm to everyone at the table.
Applejack lifted hers with both hooves. "How are Pinkie and I supposed to use these until we get the stylus thing sorted? Getting our mouths or noses onto the buttons is mighty awkward."
"I'll have to find a proper material for the styluses. Until then, use your eyes to tap into the reserve magic," Rainbow instructed.
Applejack grew thoughtful and tried it. To everyone's interest and surprise, her eyes flashed red when she did. She could hold the phone steadily in place and pressed a button to call up Pinkie Pie.
Pinkie was already holding the phone with her mane, and her blue eyes flashed red to use magic to answer. "Wow, it worked!" she told everyone with a big, enthusiastic smile.
"Have we been able to use unicorn magic like that this whole time?" Applejack asked.
Rainbow Dash shook her head. "No. We are meeting very specific conditions to do this. Most of the time, one of our unicorn-magic-using members is enough—or myself—to perform the magic. The point of these phones, though, is for when we aren't together and trying to reach each other without having to teleport. Think of it as an extension of the summon magic."
"Oh okay," Applejack accepted that explanation.
"Girls, these are to be used for Team Awesome so don't go overboard. They're like a work phone," Rainbow informed her fledglings..
"How do the Awesome Crusaders' phones work?" Rarity inquired.
"They are for them to call any of us in case of an emergency or for me to call upon them myself," Rainbow explained.
"But I can't call Sweetie Belle?" Rarity wondered with a disappointed tone
"For pack business?" Rainbow checked.
Rarity blushed. "I was hoping for more beyond that."
"Think that on the night of our flexchanges. It needs to develop. For now, no, you can call her on pack business because one, she's your sister, and two, you helped me make the bond. The same will work for Apple Bloom and Applejack, but that won't be true for most of the other fledglings and the Crusaders," Rainbow told them. "We've got to have some limits and restrictions, and this factor makes them special."
"Understood, Master," Rarity said, both determined and satisfied.
"Wow, cell phones in Equestria," Human Rainbow Dash said with a pleased and impressed smile.
Sunset Shimmer chuckled. "I remember when you said you didn't think they had cell phones here."
"Thank you three very much for your help," Rainbow lifted into a hover and gave them a polite bow.
"No problem," Sunset replied. "It gave us a great excuse to stop by and help out our pony friends. I can't believe you all became vampires. Wow, I've missed a lot. Does Princess Celestia know?"
"She does," the alicorn Twilight assured Sunset.
With that, the human world visitors were soon sent back, and good-byes were made.
"Up next is Yakyakistan," Rainbow told her friends.
"Yay!" Pinkie declared from her seat. "This one's mine, right?!"
"Yes, Pinkie," Rainbow confirmed with a smile.
"Anyone else?" Starlight asked.
"Aaand...Rarity," Rainbow said.
"Oh, yes, certainly, Master. I would be happy to accompany you. That makes two trips for each of us then, doesn't it?" Rarity replied.
Sweetie Belle brought out her notes to be sure. "Starlight went to Griffonstone and the Changeling Kingdom. Fluttershy went to Griffonstone and the Changeling Kingdom."
Team Awesome's first and second fledglings smiled pleasantly and chuckled a little at having been assigned the same two places.
The unicorn filly continued. "Rarity went to the Dragonlands and will go to Yakyakistan. Applejack went to the Crystal Empire and the Dragonlands. Pinkie Pie went to the Changeling Kingdom and will go to Yakyakistan. Twilight went to Mount Aris and the Crystal Empire. And, Twilight played a big role in the Dragonlands. Starlight and Fluttershy also went with Master to Tartarus."
"Is it really just myself and Pinkie for this mission?" Rarity inquired. "I think it would be rather nice if we actually all go on this one together, especially given that it's the flower we seek."
Agreeable chatter ensued from the other fledglings.
Pinkie raised her hoof. "Yes! I don't mind at all, Master. It would make my trip feel special with so many of our friends there instead of a smaller group."
"I suppose we could try out the phones while we search the place," Rainbow considered aloud.
"Please Master," the other fledglings all said together at the same time.
Rainbow's whole body twitched, and she chuckled. "Okay, okay. We'll all go. This Saturday, in case we need to stay overnight. I've got a Wonderbolts show on Sunday so might have to teleport early. Everyone else can make it?"
"Pass," Discord declared from his perch. He smiled. "I like to hear how you all do without me," he noted with an interested grin.
"I'll pass too," Spike said. "Ten of you with the Crusaders to help out Rainbow Dash is more than enough assistance. It'll give us guys a chance to play Ogres and Oubliettes while you're gone. Well, I'll invite Chrysalis just in case, since you said you wanted stuff for her to do."
"Appreciated Spike," Rainbow told the young purple dragon. "Applejack, anything you can tell us about the flower now before we go?"
"I'll stop by Zecora's to borrow the book with the picture," Applejack offered.
Rainbow Dash picked up the phone and reminded Applejack it could take pictures and be sent by text to the other Awesomevs for pack business, thanks to the recommended features from Human Twilight.
"Well, I'll be," Applejack said with a smile. "I'll borrow the book and share pictures then. There might be extra pages with more info."
"Anything else on the agenda Rhezenda?" the master mev asked.
"Down the line," Sweetie Belle answered.
None of the Awesomevs had much to report that hadn't already been discussed, so the meeting concluded swiftly after.