//------------------------------// // S4 CH 13: Trade // Story: The Story of Twilight Glow // by Jeweled Pen //------------------------------// “… So, what are you reading now?” Chrysalis asked. “The same thing I was reading the last five times you asked,” Tirek said, flipping another page. “Either an oddly informative cook book, or the rather strange diary of a pony who has a strange desire to camp.” “What’s wrong with camping?” Chrysalis asked. “It is the sign of a diseased mind,” Tirek said. “Why would you desire to go out when you have a perfectly good home with amenities? Camping should only be done when there is no other choice. I would expect you, a self-proclaimed queen, to understand this.” Chrysalis sighed and just continued to rest her head on her hooves. Annoying. She counted the bars of her cell for the ten thousandth time before speaking once more. “So, what are you reading now?” Tirek gave a sigh. “Same as the last five times you asked. You do realize if you desired you could always ask the bard to have some reading material brought to you as well.” “I would sooner die of starvation than ask that PONY for ANYTHING!” Chrysalis roared, standing up on all four hooves. “I am a queen, I do not ‘ask’! I demand!” “I can see that,” Tirek said, not even glancing up from his book. “To imagine, the once great ‘Lord Tirek’ begging for reading material from mere ponies!” Chrysalis yelled. “It is that or sleep,” Tirek said dismissively. “There’s also a large distance between asking and begging. As for books, well, they can be fascinating.” A wicked grin formed on his lips before he closed his book and picked up a different one. “This one, for example, is about a strange magical realm where ponies and griffons have swapped their positions in lives, more or less. It gives a lot of insight into how ponies see griffons. It kept me entertained for hours.” He grinned even more when he saw her eyes latch hungrily onto it. “Tell me, ‘Queen’ Chrysalis. Can you ask?” “A queen NEVER asks,” Chrysalis said. Tirek shrugged and dropped it back onto the pile. “Very well.” He picked up his book again and opened it. After a few minutes she asked yet again. “What are you reading now?” Tirek gave a soft sigh. “Very well, queens do not ask. But perhaps we could make a trade. Queens trade, do they not?” Chrysalis’ eyes narrowed. “Perhaps. What is it you desired? You cannot have my magic!” Tirek gave a light snort and eyed her. As if she had much magic to give now. “No, what I desire is simple. The truth.” “From a changeling?” Chrysalis asked with a laugh. “That’s a valuable commodity indeed.” “This book is part of a three part series,” Tirek said. “And I have all three.” Chrysalis was silent for a long while before she finally spoke up once more. “Very well, truth then. For all three. What truth is it you desire to know? Because no, those bars do not make your muscles look big.” “That story you told the bard,” Tirek said. “About your origins. Is it true?” Chrysalis was silent for a long time before, finally, giving a sigh. “Parts of it, I suppose.” “Only parts of it?” Tirek asked. “Come now. There must be more to it than that.” “I am… not… certain," Chrysalis said gently. “Birthed from a dead tree in a cursed watering hole?” Tirek asked. “I’ve never heard of magic such as that.” Chrysalis glanced around before looking to him. “I will sate your curiosity, but only for your vow that these words never leave this prison. That obnoxious earth pony will never know. Agreed?” Tirek gave a light snort. “Very well, for as much as my word is worth, I give it.” “Good,” Chrysalis said. “I am truly uncertain. I know a spell, a very specific spell. I require a symbol of the creature, a piece of them such as a hair or a few drops of blood, and an image. With those three, I can use a tree and make copies of them.” “Oh?” Tirek asked. “Fascinating. I’ve never heard of such magic.” “Neither have I,” Chrysalis said. “Yet, it is a spell I know. The first spell I knew. I… often wondered if that was the true nature of my birth. If I was a copy, a poorly done one of something. One of these ponies. Perhaps one who could change their form. Or perhaps something else entirely, a spell done wrong. I will likely never know.” For the moment, the queen sounded sad, digging her head into her hooves. “The lands I awoke in were foul and twisted. The spring’s water was like poison to most creatures, but not me.” “And your first hive?” Tirek asked. “Did it spring from the tree with you?” Chrysalis cringed. “They… came later. I was confused, disoriented. The place I was in was… strange. I was nearly eaten by many of the plants there. By the creatures of the darkness. But… I did… eventually meet a creature that wasn’t quite so dangerous.” She licked her lips. “A most delicious creature. One that gave me my first taste of love and fed me so superbly.” “A pony?” Tirek asked. “Ha, no,” Chrysalis said. “Something else entirely. A kirin, a creature with scales and a multi-faceted horn. Entirely different from a disgusting pony.” Tirek gave a light snort. “Of course. From there?” “I killed them,” Chrysalis said with a prideful snort before rising up again, a grin on her lips. “They gave me love and I gorged upon it. As only a queen can. I was powerful, I was mighty. I was--” “Alone?” Tirek asked. Chrysalis froze and then collapsed once more. “Very well. The truth? It was an accident. I… did not understand. I was so hungry. For the first time I had a true meal. I don’t think the creature fully understood what I was doing. I certainly didn’t. Before long, they were gone and I was alone again. When the other kirin discovered what I had done, they were afraid of me. They drove me off. I… learned then. The importance of preserving one’s meals for later. Ensuring that I could feed a second time. I got better, though. With new strength I found new ways to gather love. To steal it. When I truly gorged, when I was at my fullest? My body glowing with the love of those I had drained and taken from? I created my first hive.” She gave a light chuckle. “That was… I was incredibly naive. I didn’t understand what I was doing. I thought they would be like me. Strong. Powerful. They were… not so.” Tirek nodded. “I see. They didn’t last long, I take it?” “No,” Chrysalis said. “Not even a few years. The first hive… starved. I was weak. Naive. I believed we would be powerful together. It was the smallest hive, only a dozen or so. But each and every one of them I had known. Had known me. Alas, there was not enough love to feed us all. The hive died, I continued. I learned from this mistake, however. Love is powerful, but must be carefully managed lest it run out. Preserved. The individual members of the hive do not matter, only the survival of the hive, and me as its queen, does. Most importantly, though… changelings do not love. We can feel many things. Hatred, anger, sadness, we can even… tolerate some things. But we do not love.” She gave a small smirk. “We do, however, learn.” “So that story you told the bard?” Tirek asked. “It is how I would like it to be remembered,” Chrysalis said. “A cursed tree in a tainted spring, born from the wounds inflicted by some great pony magician of the past. Is it not a fitting origin for an evil Queen such as I? Far better than a small changeling waking up inside a strange swamp and stumbling about in confusion like a drunk duck of some sort. Likely crafted from some failed spell.” “Perhaps,” Tirek said. He then picked up the books he had promised her and walked to the edge of his cage, reaching out to rest them on the ground and then sliding them over to her. “I prefer the cursed tree version as well.” “Oh?” Chrysalis asked. “After all,” Tirek said before walking back to his bed. “Queen of the Changelings should have a fitting story. Born from a cursed tree has a nicer ring to it. I would love to know more of that spell of yours, one day. Making copies of a creature must be incredibly useful.” “Less than you’d think,” Chrysalis said. “They can be delicate. And oddly prone to betrayal. You’d think most creatures would be loyal to their creator. But I suppose betrayal is something most creatures are prone to, are they not?” Tirek gave a soft sigh. “Isn’t that the truth?” he asked before reaching up to lightly adjust the medallion around his throat. “Ah, correct,” Chrysalis said. “Your brother betrayed you, didn’t he?” “So you heard?” Tirek asked. “I make it a habit to make notice of all creatures that can be useful as an ally or a dangerous foe to me, Lord Tirek,” Chrysalis said. “Besides, at one point I had considered you a possible target.” Tirek gave a light snort. “Ah, that would have been a waste of your time, Queen Chrysalis. There was little love between me and my family. Even in the off chance you did manage to defeat me, you would have starved.” Chrysalis gave a light snort. “Truly? Well, then perhaps it was wise I never tried you. Perhaps your brother or even father. Rulers are often loved by their people.” “Very well,” Tirek said with an amused chuckle. “If we ever do manage to leave this place, perhaps I will even aid you in attempting to dethrone my father. You could hardly be a worse king than that pathetic old fool.” “I take it you two never did get along, then?” Chrysalis asked. “Surely there must have been somebody in your home who loved you?” “I thought there was, once,” Tirek said. He motioned to his medallion. “My brother. But we both know how that ended.” “It seems you and I aren’t altogether that different then, Lord Tirek,” Chrysalis said before reaching out through the bars to slide the books towards herself. “Oh? And how so?” Tirek asked. “Neither of us ever needed anyone but ourselves,” Chrysalis said. “You believed you did and they cut your legs out from under you the moment they could. And I? Well… I created that which can never betray me.” Tirek gave another light chuckle. “I see. I cannot deny, there is some appeal in such magic. Had I been able to… create loyal subjects, perhaps in the end I wouldn’t have been found out by those princesses.” “Perhaps, when the time comes, I may be willing to create some minions for you,” Chrysalis said. “Assuming, of course, you could teach me that spell of yours. Being able to take the magic of others directly? Why, it sounds so very useful.” Tirek gave a low, rumbling laugh. “Thankfully, such things are impossible. Were they, I would have likely been murdered by her royal lunar tantrum maker long ago. Us centaurs are… not quite as powerful in the field of magic as the unicorns of this world, myself excluded. But absorbing the magical abilities of others is something we can do. It is quite difficult, however, and took me years to learn to wield.” “A shame, that,” Chrysalis said. “It must eat you up inside, knowing that the very ponies who you once wished to absorb power from are instead using your own powers to feed their own.” “Not particularly,” Tirek said. “If anything, I am impressed. Nightmare Moon has proved to be a far more powerful ruler than Celestia ever was. Were she to have ruled alone when I came here, perhaps I would have found her to be a comrade rather than another fool to eventually absorb.” “Oh? You would have allied with her?” Chrysalis asked. “For a time,” Tirek said before his grin grew. “Until, of course, I was strong enough to take her power for myself.” Chrysalis gave a light chuckle before nodding. “That is one of the things I find tolerable about you, Lord Tirek. You, at least, understand what truly matters. Power. Control. The ability to take whatever it is you desire.” “Indeed,” Tirek said before a finger stroked along his medallion. “I do wonder if, perhaps, I have been looking at things in the wrong way.” “Oh?” Chrysalis asked. “Love,” Tirek said. “I always believed it a foolish, pathetic emotion. Meaningless. But if you changelings are able to absorb it in such a manner and gain such incredible power? Perhaps it is worth considering as another tool.” “What, you wish to fall in love?” Chrysalis asked. “Don’t be ridiculous,” Tirek said before rolling his eyes. “The ponies are powerful. Far, far more powerful than they should be. Perhaps they, like your changelings, use ‘love’ as a fuel source. Perhaps that is where their great ‘power’ comes from.” Chrysalis paused, tapping a hoof on her chin. “Perhaps. The love Equestria once had was tremendous. It could have fed my hive for generations. Allowing us to search this world for a new power. In some cases love can be strong enough to even rival an alicorn’s power. Perhaps if you could find a way to tap into such things it would allow you to break these bonds holding you captive.” Tirek gave a small smirk before nodding. “Perhaps. Unless it is something else. It can apparently bend even the will of a dragon.” Chrysalis’ eyes went wide. “What? A dragon doesn’t have LOVE. Impossible!” “Perhaps,” Tirek said. “But a dragon only craves power and riches, as well. Yet the ponies have created one that seems to have… care for others and willingly gives away his riches.” Chrysalis gave a light shudder. “They are… far more formidable, then, than even I had dreamed.” “Indeed they are,” Tirek said. “But I am beginning to think that it will be… possible to find the source of their power.” “Oh?” Chrysalis asked. “And how is that?” “Twilight Glow,” Tirek said. “Her highness’ precious bard.” “Ugh,” Chrysalis said. “I loathe her. She acts so weak and pathetic. But that pony holds no mercy. Nothing more than an act.” “Indeed,” Tirek said. “She did manage to stop your invasion, single hoofed, did she not?” “She cheated!” Chrysalis said furiously. “She called for Nightmare Moon before I could absorb enough of her power.” “Exactly,” Tirek said, giving her a knowing smile. “I don’t get it,” Chrysalis said, staring at him in confusion. “A mere earth pony,” Tirek said. “Yet she had Nightmare Moon at her beck and call. Has managed to stop your invasion, bend a dragon to her whims, stop the chaos of Discord and bring an end to the Umbrum.” “Those are all Nightmare Moon’s doing,” Chrysalis said, though she sounded uncertain. “But are they truly?” Tirek asked. “After all, I’d imagine a changeling of all creatures must see the advantages of not being… open with your power.” Chrysalis opened her mouth to object, only to pause after a moment. “She… did disappear when I chased her into that room. No earth pony should have been able to do such. Not to mention she… oh. Oh that clever pony. Wait. MY HIVE! If she is truly so powerful, what does she desire of my hive? Does she believe she can turn them against me?! Impossible!” “Of course,” Tirek said. “Impossible, perhaps. But she doesn’t need to know that. More importantly… you may wish to start being more subtle with your distaste.” “Oh?” Chrysalis asked. “There is an opportunity here,” Tirek said. “If a pony like that is capable of bending the wills of others so well…” “She will not bend mine!” Chrysalis roared. “Yet, if she believes she has?” Tirek asked with a small smirk. “After all. Discord is out there, free to do as he pleases. While you and I…” “Are here,” Chrysalis said, a hoof tapping her chin. Slowly, a grin formed on her lips. “Oh, Lord Tirek. You truly are a clever one, aren’t you? Perhaps you are right. This… bard… may be the key after all. Should we eventually gain our freedom… perhaps the two of us should form an alliance of our own.” Tirek gave her a small smirk before looking back to his book. “Perhaps.” Though, despite his words… he still felt oddly uneasy. Not about Chrysalis, no. She was easily dealt with and didn’t frighten him. There certainly was a powerful magic here. If Chrysalis knew that dragon’s couldn’t feel love, well, she would be the one to know. There had to be an even greater threat from these ponies that even he didn’t yet recognize. One that even Discord feared. Beyond magic, power, love. He would discover it. Somehow. He would understand it. Eventually, he would even harness it. Though, a part of him feared that the cost of harnessing it would be far worse than he ever imagined. Would he have to learn to… ugh… actually care for these ponies? He’d already aided one once on a whim. Would that become… common?