//------------------------------//
// Misplaced Malice 
// Story: Phantom Krystal: An Unstable Ruby 
// by Lifeblood_Wisp 
//------------------------------//

It was a cold and windy nightfall as Chrysalis traveled along the dark green grass. The sky turned from a nice orange to pitch black. From an outside perspective, one could’ve mistaken the changeling queen for a demon, as one could only see her green eyes and maybe make out her semi-green mane if one were close enough. She strode through the darkened landscape with swift movements that would’ve made it seem like she was a ghost. These movements mostly made possible through her antipathy toward her first target of investigation. She played back the memory of her chess game with Tirek, being able to recall every little detail, as if it were only moments ago.

"I went into the game expecting to lose, but I guess I was right."

“Oh that brutish bastard won’t be winning the next game I have planned.” Chrysalis mumbled to herself. In her lifetime, she was told many times, by friend and foe, that simply letting one’s anger rise was a weakness. She, however, saw it a different way. She felt that anger often comes from (or creates) a strong desire to be rid of something. Letting herself get angrier let be hellbent on doing exactly what she motivated herself to do. In this case, she felt VERY motivated to make Tirek feel at least some pain. His castle was the main focus of infiltration, and she felt it was very possible that Tirek told Arachnis something about the truth. Chrysalis felt he was too young to know such things about his origin. 

Finally, she reached Tirek’s castle, or so she thought it was. Wanting to make a grand entrance, she used magic to slam each front door open, cracking the walls of the hall, and making a very loud rumbled throughout the castle. She walked in, expecting to be seized by guards of some kind. She only saw the walls that used to be stained red were now painted hot pink. The statues of Tirek’s greatest victories were now sculptures of the filly that had control over the castle. “Cozy…” Chrysalis thought to herself. 

Though she was never privy to the takeover until now, she wasn’t surprised it could and did happen. Though Tirek would never admit it, he knew just as well as everyone else that Cozy could easily overpower him, solely because of her lengthy experience in magic. Chrysalis was more intrigued by why Cozy decided to do this. She knew not what could be gained from having a castle like Tirek’s. Tirek didn’t do much these days aside from be a tyrant to those he enslaved, and execute those whom he captured and saw as weak. At least that’s what he told Chrysalis. She truly didn’t know where he kept any slaves, or the remains on the ones who were felled. Nonetheless, she was about to get her answers. She forced open the throne room doors…

To see the pink filly being held by her throat by Tirek.

With them still not noticing her arrival, Chrysalis was now thrust into a situation she marked as more awkward than anything. She had just walked in on something she thought was very unlikely. She found it a bit suspicious, but nonetheless, she quickly thought up a plan to get the very best out of the scenario. She began with levitating Tirek off of Cozy and throwing him across the entire room, which finally got the attention of the two. “A pleasant surprise to see you, insect.” Cozy said humorously. As if she had not even heard what Cozy said, Chrysalis didn’t react at all. She only rushed toward Tirek, and in one swift spell, he had the inability to move. She stomped on his neck, nearly blocking off his entire airway. He struggled to get her off him, but the spell proved too much for him. 

Cozy knew that Chrysalis was a calculated changeling more often than not, so it took her by surprise that she simply charged at Tirek with reckless abandon. She smiled to humor the situation before her before happily trotting closer.  “Soooo. Wanna tell me what’s botherin ya Chrysie?” Cozy asked. “It’s nothing.” Chrysalis responded flatly. Cozy gave a smug smile. “Any reason you’re still choking the meathead then?”. Chrysalis quickly lifted her hoof, letting Tirek breathe again. He coughed just to catch his breath. “Just making sure he doesn’t. Get. Up.” She said with emphasis on the last bit of the sentence. “Lemme get this straight. I took over meathead’s castle, and you decide to help me instead of him. And you’re STILL gonna tell me nothing’s up between you too?”. Chrysalis just sighed. “Ok, something happened. Happy now?” 

“More curious than anything. Wanna tell your favorite filly what happened Chrysie?” Cozy charismatically asked. “It’s a personal thing.” She said in a low voice. “Ah I see. I mean, if someone told me how to raise my own child, I’d be pretty pissed too.” Chrysalis whipped her gaze to Cozy. “Especially if what they were saying was one-hundred percent correct. But I guess some just have to learn the hard way, don’t they Chrysie.” Cozy continued. Chrysalis’ jaw dropped at Cozy’s comment. To say the least, she was shocked. Shocked long enough for Tirek to lock her in a bear hug. He squeezed at Chrysalis, chuckling with every painful yell she let out. 

“Dammit Cozy, how did you figure out!?” She yelled. Cozy sat at her throne and laughed to herself. “My good friend Tirek here laid out all the details for me. He was a good dog for her princess. Your son is quite competent with magic, though I wish he would’ve cut his relationship with you and stood by me. A cold heart like yours clearly isn’t fit to parent a child. I, however, would’ve made a great replacement. I guess I have to resort to other methods now. Sooner or later, ‘Auntie Cozy’ will be in the picture.”. Each word that left Cozy’s mouth held a great deal charisma, evil and playfulness. Each sentence tore deeper into Chrysalis, and she let her anger run free in her mind. 

Tirek looked down at Chrysalis to see a green glow on her horn. The green light flashed in his eyes, blinding him. Chrysalis quickly scanned the room to find a display hammer decorating one of its walls. She levitated it and slammed it right into his chest. She had him right where she wanted him, and she capitalized on her opportunity. She lifted the hammer again, and slammed it on his chest once more. She continued her onslaught, not even bothering to stop at the sounds of cracks and the sight of blood pooling from his mouth. She didn’t stop until only a bloodied mess lay before her. Cozy clopped her hooves. “Well done Chrysalis. And to think it only took one good game of chess would prove me right.”

Chrysalis only turned her head back to Cozy. Her pupils diluted “About what…?”

"Hmmm. Something about you not being able to think straight when you're ‘ticked off’. You lost your cool, and it costed you. A lot more than you think. Huh…doesn’t that sound familiar.”

Chrysalis’ pupils reverted back to normal size, and it was then that she realized the full weight of what Cozy said. Her horn flared up like a wildfire. “I..didn’t mean for this to-“

“Oh we all make mistakes Chrysie. Just look at your son for a completely unrelated example. Anyway, I think I may be out of time here. I’ll see you…whenever.” Cozy turned and opened a magenta portal in front of her. Chrysalis lunged toward her in an attempt to stop her. The attempt was null. She was held in place by her magic. “Y’know, sometimes you just need to know your worth.” Cozy said. She entered her transport, and Chrysalis dropped to the ground as it closed before her. 

She looked to Tirek, who was still out cold from her assault. She frowned upon her work. She levitated the tyrant and teleported to the outside doors of the castle. She glanced at the castle one last time before walking away with Tirek levitated behind her.