//------------------------------// // Chapter Two: Chicane // Story: The Redemption of Chrysalis // by Fallen Prime //------------------------------// “...and I told them they had to clean the schoolhouse if they wanted extra credit!” Chrysalis narrated as she and Celestia made their way to the hospital. Celestia couldn’t help but laugh. “I hope you didn’t scare them too much when you revealed yourself.” “It was priceless, I tell you,” Chrysalis added. “Sweetie Belle’s shriek may prove to have lasting effects on my hearing, but their faces made it worth it.” “I know that look well,” Celestia informed her. “I used to be quite the trickster in my youth. Ponies used to think I didn’t take my position seriously. A few even suggested they were trading one Discord for another. I was never so cruel, though, and I always had my targets laughing with me in the end. I think Philomena got her mischievousness from me, not that I’m complaining.” “Your pet phoenix, I presume? How long have you had her?” “For centuries,” Celestia responded. “After I imprisoned Nightmare Moon, I became rather lonely, so I sought out a pet. I chose her specifically because of her longevity. Every time she dies, she rises anew from her ashes.” “A constant presence in your life,” Chrysalis deduced, “for when your only other long-lived companion was sealed away.” “I suppose,” Celestia agreed. “Though I never rationalized it as such, I felt the need for just one living thing in my life that I wouldn’t have to mourn the loss of. I’ve had other pony friends, of course, but they... well...” “The curse of immortality,” Chrysalis suggested. “It truly does bother me sometimes,” Celestia admitted. “The filly I met to whose family I loaned the land that would become Sweet Apple Acres... she’s an elderly mare now. And yet I look as if I haven’t aged a day. To think a pony so much younger than I can look to be my elder...” “This conversation has taken a rather somber turn,” Chrysalis noted. Celestia sighed. She’d found this discussion with the changeling queen, her first since their initial meeting, to be rather relaxing. It felt as if they were just two average ponies chatting casually with each other over how their days were. Then Philomena came into it, and all of a sudden she found herself dwelling on her extensive past. And here she thought Chrysalis had more cause to worry about making a good impression. “Sorry about that,” she apologized. “I haven’t been able to have a conversation like this in a long time. I just got a little carried away. You disguising yourself as my sister might have something to do with my being comfortable talking about these things.” “I’m still not comfortable showing my true face in public,” Chrysalis confessed. “Especially not here in Canterlot, where I’m more liable to be recognized.” “I can always put in a good word for you,” Celestia suggested. “My subjects would trust my endorsement. It might save you a lot of trouble in the long run.” “Perhaps,” Chrysalis agreed. “At any rate, it seems we’ve arrived.” Celestia looked up, and there stood the structure that housed the finest medical staff in Canterlot, if not all of Equestria. Somewhere within those white-painted brick walls, beyond those glass doors, lay the changeling for whom Chrysalis had come to the city. Before either had a chance to enter, they heard a voice bellowing from inside. “You shall! ‘Tis my sister’s order, and thus mine as well!” At that moment, Princess Luna came into view, still shouting at the staff as she backed out through the doors. Her words stopped in her throat, however, when she turned to see the disguised Chrysalis wearing her face. “Well,” Luna stated flatly. “This suddenly became extraordinarily awkward. Queen Chrysalis, I presume?” “Correct,” Chrysalis replied. “I’ve come to—” “I know quite well why you are here,” Luna interrupted. “I had just terminated a... heated discussion about your incapacitated subject. My niece awaits your arrival within.” She then turned to face her sister. “And yours as well. The doctors will not listen to her. Or to me, which I find incredibly insulting, as my authority is equal to yours!” “What’s going on in there?” Celestia demanded. “Cadance will explain when you rendezvous with her,” Luna replied. “For now, I want nothing more than to return to the castle and raise the moon.” She then proceeded to storm off without even a proper goodbye. “Quite the temper on her,” Chrysalis noted. “She can get rather passionate,” Celestia explained. “Now remove your disguise. We have a changeling to visit.” “What makes him different from any of the other patients here?” Princess Cadance shouted at the doctor in front of her. “The fact that he’s not a pony,” the doctor replied. “You’ve treated mules, griffons and minotaurs!” Cadance countered. “How is treating a changeling any different?” “Those species are at least partially mammalian,” the doctor answered. “We can actually accommodate their needs. We can’t and won’t do that for changelings.” Cadance groaned loudly. She was getting real tired of this doctor’s attitude. “He needs love more than anything else, and the last place I’d expect to be short on love is a hospital!” “Look, lady,” the doctor responded, “I already made my choice. I told your aunt the exact same thing. I’m not. Treating. A changeling. You want him taken care of? Go to a vet.” “Would you be able to say to my other aunt’s face that this whole thing isn’t about the invasion?” Cadance challenged. She was almost certain that was the primary reason this argument was even happening. “It’s not about that at all,” the doctor insisted, “but it’s not helping that this thing attacked the city. Or were you not there for that?” “Not there for—that was my wedding!” Cadance bellowed, much more forcefully than she intended. “Save your breath,” a voice ordered from across the hall. “I’ll handle this.” From behind the troublesome doctor, Princess Celestia and Queen Chrysalis stepped into view. “Now then,” Celestia began, locking eyes with the doctor. “What exactly is the problem with providing essential medical care for a critically injured changeling?” The doctor merely stammered, intimidated by the ruler’s cold stare. Cadance grinned smugly at the display. As much as she disliked exploiting her royal status in everyday life, she still appreciated her aunt sticking up for her and enforcing her orders. “I-I never said that there was anything wrong with—” “My sister and niece would beg to differ,” Celestia interrupted. “There is a sentient being lying in a coma in that room, and it is your job to care for him to the extent of your ability. Whether you like it or not, he is a patient in need, and you will treat him as such.” “Your aunt is terrifying when she’s angry,” Chrysalis whispered. “I know,” Cadance responded. “It’s kind of cool.” “Alright, fine!” the doctor relented. “I’ll put aside my bias against the changeling race and tend to this individual’s injuries. But I’m not going to allow him any visitors.” “I believe I earn the right to be an exception,” Chrysalis interjected. “Nopony asked you, changeling,” the doctor spat. “Enough!” Celestia demanded. “I respect your decision, doctor, but I have every right to decide what exceptions will be made. For his own safety, however, this room will be off-limits to all but the staff and those select visitors.” “Fine,” the doctor agreed. “I’m also not letting this thing suck the love out of me.” “You would deprive my subject of the nourishment he needs to survive!?” Chrysalis shouted. “Yes, as a matter of fact. I don’t know how that whole thing works, but I do know that if that thing in there doesn’t know when to stop, it’ll put my life at risk.” “I understand your concern,” Chrysalis replied bitterly. “You have so little love yourself that you would be bled dry in seconds. Not even enough for a proper meal!” “Easy, Chrysalis,” Celestia warned. “If he won’t, we’ll just have to find somepony who will. I can name several off the top of my head who might be willing if asked.” “You do that,” the doctor stated. “Now if it’s all the same to you, I have other patients to attend to, so I need you all away from this room.” “What happened to visitation rights?” Chrysalis demanded. “I didn’t say I was allowing it yet,” the doctor retorted. "Now if you’ll excuse me, I—” He was cut off, however, when Chrysalis levitated him off his hooves and embedded him into the nearest wall. The furious monarch held him in place with her magic, and he watched in abject terror as she approached, getting right in his face and staring him dead in the eye. “You will. Let me. See him.” Moments later, the three of them stood inside the hospital room the changeling was being held in. Chrysalis simply beamed with smug satisfaction. “That was kind of harsh,” Celestia scolded. “We’re here in the room, are we not?” Chrysalis asked rhetorically. “Besides, I hear no objections from Cadance.” “That stallion probably isn’t fit to carry a medical license,” Cadance suggested. “Though the thing with the wall was a bit much.” “I did what I needed to do,” Chrysalis declared. “The way he spoke to you, the co-ruler of all Equestria, was all the proof I needed that words would not sway him.” “They were working up to that point,” Celestia countered. “What worked was your intimidation and show of force.” “A stern look and harsh words are far different from slamming somepony into a wall,” Celestia stated. “It doesn’t matter now,” Chrysalis replied. “The point is that we’re here. One of my loyal subjects lies behind this curtain, and I’m not leaving here until I can at least identify him.” “How do you manage that?” Cadance asked. “Most changelings look exactly alike.” “And most of you ponies look alike to me,” Chrysalis retorted. “The difference is in the vomit-inducingly bright colors.” “That’s kind of racist, isn’t it?” Cadance asked. “What transpired outside was closer to racism,” Chrysalis replied. “At the very least, it was strong discrimination. Now can we stop arguing semantics and see my subject?” “My thoughts exactly,” Celestia interjected. “Chrysalis, as this changeling is your subject, I believe it’s only fair that you be the first to see him.” Chrysalis nodded, then reached for the curtain. However, her hoof stopped as it made contact. Suddenly she was all too aware of the kind of state the changeling could be in. His carapace clearly withstood the distance and crash to enough of a degree that he was still alive, but she suddenly wondered if she was ready to see one of her own in such a severely battered state. After a moment, she let out a sigh, attempting to steel herself for the sight she was about to behold. Without further ado, she pushed the curtain aside. The changeling, her faithful subject, lay unbandaged and exposed in the hospital bed. His entire body looked battered, but most of his right side was demolished. There were scars etching his exoskeleton and bones sticking out at odd angles. His right limbs were broken horribly, his right wing was torn to shreds, and there were cracks running along that side of his horn. Even his face looked worse for wear, a massive gash running through his eye and straight down to his chin. What made it worse, in her opinion, was that he was still recognizable. This mangled face still had a name. “Chicane...” Cadance watched on as Chrysalis examined the changeling body in the bed. Her own view of him was obscured by the queen’s massive form, but what she could see made her uneasy. “You know him?” Cadance asked. “My subjects’ thoughts once ran through my mind,” Chrysalis replied. “I knew them all, some of them better than they knew themselves.” “Who is he?” “One of my scouts,” Chrysalis answered. “Not one of the more successful ones, but certainly one of the more reliable ones. I’d summoned him from his post in Baltimare to participate in the invasion.” “He probably wishes he stayed behind,” Cadance remarked. “He won’t be mad at you, will he?” “I hope not,” Chrysalis stated. “I’ve done nothing to earn his anger before. Chicane was unwaveringly loyal to the hive. He would die for me if given the chance... and it brings me great sorrow to see how close he came.” “Do you mind if I take a look?” Cadance offered. Chrysalis’ only response was to step aside and allow her a fuller view. Cadance retched the moment she laid eyes on Chicane’s form. Nothing in that state of disrepair should reasonably still be alive. The disgust quickly gave way to pity, the poor soul clearly suffering physically more than anypony she ever knew. In the end, everything merged into guilt. It was her fault. She helped make this happen. Every shattered bone and scarring gash was caused by her and her force field. And now here he lay, untended in a hospital bed and left in the care of a doctor who’d sooner watch him die. The tears came against her will. This must have been a fate worse than death. He didn’t deserve it, nopony did. Everything about it was wrong. “...I’ll do it.” “I’m sorry?” Celestia replied. “He needs love,” Cadance explained. “Without love to feed on, he won’t last much longer. If the doctor won’t feed him, I will. In fact, it might be better for him to get out of this hospital if nopony wants to help him.” “I strongly appreciate the sentiment,” Chrysalis interjected, “but you don’t have to do this.” “Yes I do,” Cadance declared, her voice wavering. “It’s my fault he’s in this condition in the first place, not to mention all the other changelings who are dead or dying all over Equestria. I killed thousands of them. The least I can do is save one.” The room fell silent, save Chicane’s uneasy breathing. Cadance held eye contact with her aunt, tearful but determined. She wasn’t going to rest until she made sure this changeling was given proper care. After what felt like an eternity, Celestia sighed. “Very well. I’ll make the arrangements to bring some unused equipment into your home and release the changeling Chicane into your custody as soon as he’s bandaged up. Would it be easier for you to learn to use the equipment or to have some doctors and nurses check in on a regular basis?” “Why even bring him there?” Chrysalis inquired. “Wouldn’t it be easier to keep him here, in a safe environment?” “A safe but hostile one,” Cadance corrected her. “That doctor out there doesn’t care. I guarantee you he’ll only do the bare minimum to keep Chicane alive and kick him out as soon as he’s conscious. It’s not enough to feed him love. I want him in a place where he’ll be shown love.” Before she could say anything more, she was nearly overwhelmed by a sudden and tight hug from Chrysalis. Cadance was shocked at first, but eventually moved to return it. “Thank you,” Chrysalis stated. “This is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.” “Don’t be so selfish,” Cadance teased. “I’m doing it for him too.” Chrysalis felt rather relieved that the entire Royal Guard was aware of her; it meant she did not have to disguise herself for the stallions carrying the chariot that was sending her back to the Golden Oak Library. Back home. When the carriage touched down, Chrysalis dismounted immediately and waved it off. She entered the library with more force than she intended, delighted in this moment just to be alive. The sound of the door slamming into the wall alerted Twilight Sparkle, who had been reshelving a batch of returned books. “There you are, Chrysalis! I was wondering where you were. I thought you were just going down to Sweet Apple Acres for the afternoon.” “Looks like someone had a good day,” Spike added, calling down from the top of the ladder. Chrysalis simply smiled, one of the biggest and most genuine smiles she’d ever had. “There has never been a greater understatement.” “I’m sure my psychologist will be excited to hear that tomorrow,” Twilight stated, having quickly caught the smile virus spreading around the room. “You’ve told him about me?” Chrysalis asked. “He wants me to be completely open with him,” Twilight replied. “Plus, and I mean no offense by this, but you’re the main reason I’m seeing him in the first place, so Princess Celestia had already told him about you.” Chrysalis shrugged. “Fair enough.” “You haven’t been this happy since she let you stay here in Ponyville,” Spike noted. “What’s got you in such a good mood?” “Well,” Chrysalis began, “it started when Applejack suggested I meet her sister...” “I knew it!” Celestia shouted the next morning, telekinetically throwing her newspaper at the wall behind her. “I knew this would come back to bite her!” “Big sister?” Luna groaned, entirely ready to turn in for a good day’s sleep. “Is something troubling you?” “Look at this,” Celestia demanded, hovering the paper back off the floor and right into her sister’s face. “Tell me what’s wrong here.” “If I could see it, I would,” Luna retorted, which was Celestia’s cue to pull the paper further back. Luna enveloped it with her own magic and examined it for herself. Within seconds, her eyes widened in shock. “Queen Chrysalis? On the front page!?”