//------------------------------// // 5 Three stories told from a Queen. |August 8. 2022| // Story: My lying pages. (Anthology Speed-writing!) // by PacifistDoodl3r //------------------------------// Slowly opening windows to let the air clear out done wonders to help get the two situated. Kites were drifting away over the town's skyline where howling wind carried specs of raindrops along with it. Although the weather disturbed the peaceful set up in the room; anything was better than feeling hot. The Castle shimmered throughout the hallways, still taking in the newly fresh air from a dark purple night sky which carried white specs of sugar from the heavens. This was an average spectacle of the night's enchantment made different from a distinct fluttering of wings. However, there she was, waiting for the princess on a pink fluffy pillow. “Are you finally ready for a… history lesson?” The bug queen pressed up her glasses, eyeing the princess. “I've been waiting for ten minutes.” “Actually, it's been six minutes. I keep a kitchen timer in most rooms. Although, it wouldn't hurt to make one last sweep of the house!” She chimed, closing the huge double door behind her with a magenta flicker of magic. “Twilight, you know we're both pretty busy and if I find out this is another waste of my time…” Chrysalis trailed off, facing towards the windows. “Please, forgive my stalling. I'll get on with it soon, just hold on.” Twilight replied, picking out ten books from high shelves before she placed them on the table. “I know they're somewhere in this pile, just give me a moment.” Twilight sucked in her teeth, proceeding to scan for the books. “I don't got all night… my babies are probably bored by now.” Chrysalis reminded Twilight, giving a short wave to attract her attention. “Okay, I understand, but you know how important this is for the Equestrian historians,” she gaped once two of the books were found, “and voilà! I just need to remember… ah, here.” The third book was floated over to Chrysalis as the front page presented itself. “This is all? I expected at least twenty books to fact check.” She sighed, turning a few pages with a green glow. “There's only three… well, if it goes smoothly, I'll ask you to do some more!” Twilight mused, clasping two hooves together. “If what goes smoothly? Honestly, do you think I'm going to do something terrible? What are you implying, ‘princess’?” She glared at Twilight. Brows were furrowed, teeth were shown, and she started holding back laughter. “Ha! Ah ha ha ha! Your face!” “Wh- I- I knew you were kidding…” Twilight rubbed her neck, sweeping her mane to the side. “Your majesty, I'd like to continue on with this.” The alicorn stretched her forelegs, scooting the other books closer to Chrysalis. “Alright, let's see here. I remember this perfectly well! Almost as if it were yesterday…” The Queen twirled her blue hair, wiping off the drops of rain water on her glasses. After she situated herself, clearing her throat and all that jazz, emerald eyes hovered across the book entry. “In the early years of Equestria, an Empire known as Trot formed. Inhabitants of the land were wealthy and flaunted a sense of superiority over others,” “Although it was well made aware that underlying factors played a key role into their downfall.” Chrysalis darted her eyes for a few paragraphs, “Here we go! Queen Chrysalis, a ferocious foe of the Equine populace and ruler of the changelings, sieged the Trot Empire.” She let out a long sigh, shaking her head. “Princess, bookmark this. Give me the next book.” “What's the magic word?” Twilight smiled, awaiting her response. “Fact checking. Now, if you'd kindly let me see the next one?” “Alright, here.” Defeated, the princess opened the next book for Chrysalis. “This one actually involved some of my ancestors! I can't believe you were there!” The book was slightly larger than the last one, having wear and tear along the spine. It had a lot of bookmarks and signs of vandalism from other creatures. “The great Zebra war.” Chrysalis read aloud, giving Twilight a puzzled look. “Your… ancestors? Were they a part of the backup reinforcements that the princess’ sent?” “Correct!” “I remember now, and I am a little regretful… my brutality was… surely uncalled for.” “Oh, that's totally alr-” “In an attempt to move the peaceful Zebra kind from the dangerous land of the Everfree Forest, a misunderstanding between the Earth Ponies and Zebras followed. A war broke out between the two nations, involving an altercation with manticores and the unicorns. Celestia sent in reinforcements- as we've mentioned- hoping to die down the battle. Unbeknownst to them a swarm of Changelings were circling the area, planning on trapping the Zebras and ponies inside their domain.” The Queen nodded in approval, admiring the illustrated art for the page. “It was a great plan, in theory, but these heathens were prepared… no thanks to sun butt.” Twilight was about to intercept Chrysalis’ remark, but she straightened up like a professional. The Queen closed the book after reading for a few more moments. “What this book could use is some context to why I decided to migrate to this location. You see, Twilight, not only did the view there had a pretty sunset… it was a burial ground for the first generation of changelings.” “I didn't know you were around for that long? How many generations of changelings are there?” Twilight leaned against the table, scratching her muzzle. “I've ruled over four. My kind predates Celestia and even myself. Bookmark this one too, I have quite the history lesson to tell you later.” Chrysalis used her magic to bring over the last book on the table. “Speaking of which. We saved the best for last that I'm certain only I can fill in the blanks.” She sarcastically remarked, hints of uncertainty crept within before reading whatever this was. This book was smaller than the other two, which vaguely told the origins of Alicorns and Changelings. It was pure black with an older flag of Equestria inscribed on it. “What's wrong?” Twilight asked cautiously as Chrysalis slowly looked through the history book with the look of fear in her eyes. Chrysalis was silent. Her ink black hooves trembled, causing her to lose the page she was on. She choked on her words, attempting to form a sentence, “In order to help with this one I have… I have to… remember my… mother.”