Chrysalis was afraid that her sister will slip to her Pinkie persona after waking up. Gladly, she was proven wrong, as Metamorphosis immediately picked up her act of tourist pony, Snapshot. Everypony focused at her, asking her various questions, or in Twilight's case, asking for forgiveness.
Chrysalis considered to leave discreetly, but she opted against it; her sister could need her.
Snapshot answered few questions and quite easily (too easily in Chrysalis opinion) forgave Twilight. She even said that it was her fault, because it was her who panicked in the first place. After few minutes of making acquaintances with "new" friends, Snapshot said that she have terrible headache and needs to rest somewhere. In effect, everypony offered her a place to stay. Chrysalis blinked, as once again her beliefs about ponies were challenged. She always believed that ponies were only concerned about families and small circles of friends, working together with anypony else only for material profit. Yet, neither Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity or Twilight mentioned anything about payment, like they really cared about stranger pony.
Chrysalis didn't want to acknowledge this, but she felt she could be a bit prejudiced about ponies; It was another crack in her perfect, simple vision of world.
"...so, thanks for offer everypony, but I think it would be best if I will stay in Fluttershy's place."
Chrysalis jerked, hearing that, it was unwelcome change of her plans.
"But..." She began, looking at her sister and Fluttershy.
Everypony turned their attention to tall unicorn. Chrysalis shut her mouth, and immediately tried to make a call to her sister. It took a few seconds for Metamorphosis to pick up the connection, during Chrysalis finished awkwardly, "...I thought I'm staying in your house."
Chrysalis instantly regretted connecting with her sister.
Chrysalis knew that her sister had to lost some skills in link management. Yet, she would never suspect that Metamorphosis would forget or wouldn't be able to tune out pain.
What Chrysalis felt was worse than any migraine she suffered. She could swear that veins of her head were full with small shards of ice and her head was going to pop from pressure inside. It was painful enough without mentioning that everything was flowing, light was too bright, and voices were crystal sharp and painful as such. She could barely make out what Fluttershy was saying to her. Chrysalis almost threw up from terrible sensation; she decided to disconnect immediately.
"Snapshot needs quiet place to rest. I hope you are not angry..." Fluttershy noticed pained Chrysalis pained scowl what she took as disappointment, so she quickly added. "Of course I can sleep on the ground and offer you a couch..."
"Yes, I see... NO! You won't sleep on the ground! I will just find some other place. I can even sleep in the forest, It wouldn't be the first time when I have to wing it." It was true, Chrysalis journey to Equestria was rough; she slept with her lings on simple rugs under a starry sky; only way to survive cold of the night was to pile up with other lings. She was sure that any place in Equestria was easier to survive than Transirebla Desert.
"Oh, I'm certain somepony will take you in. Ponyville is full of good ponies..." Fluttershy added helpfully, and nodded toward her friends. They seemed to understand it immediately. Chrysalis didn't want attention of these ponies, but she knew she had to play it cool, even if for her own safety.
"Well, I don't want to be burden..." Even if she tried to sound sure, her fear made her sound uncertain. It was welcomed with hearty guffaw of Rainbow Dash and Applejack. Chrysalis shoot them anxious glance.
"It seems that Shy really rubbed of on you, Charming." Applejack explained with wide smile.
"Yeah! I mean, woah, one moment you are awesome runner, next you are jerk, and then you are... well, like Fluttershy."
Fluttershy and Snapshot bid their farewells and left. It seemed that pain was taking better of Metamorphosis, as pained scowl was still attached to her face.
Something clicked in Chrysalis brain, as she focused on Applejack. She knew this pony from somewhere... Her eyes widened with sudden realization. She destroyed Applejack cart during her mad run toward library.
"Uh, do ya need something?" Applejack wasn't feeling comfortable with green unicorn focused on her. Especially if it seemed that she was afraid.
"I... destroyed you cart...?"
"Yup. Ya did." Applejack nodded.
"And you threw a rubbish on me!" chimed in Rarity "It wasn't easy to clean off it at such hurry..."
Chrysalis gulped. These ponies had any right to be angry. Applejack could even call guards on her for material losses. Her only hope was in minimizing anger, even if they hidden it well. She cursed that her magic was so low that she couldn't risk casting even simplest emotion detection spell. If other party was changelings, it would be easier too...
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to. Please, don't..."
"Don't worry ya head about it. Ah'm sure ya didn't, ya had other problems on your head." Applejack smiled, it seemed that this pony valued integrity. Chrysalis offered a small smile of gratitude, she never suspected it will be so easy. Naive ponies, she thought. Or maybe just kind...
"Don't worry, Ah'll let ya make up for it." Applejack added with slow nod.
Chrysalis smile fell.
"Make up...? How?"
"Ya will help me on farm. Ya know anything about apples?"
"Um... They are tasty?" Chrysalis answered hesitantly.
"Darn right they are! But Ah was asking; Do ya know anything about working on apple farm?"
Chrysalis knew many thing about agriculture. She knew what soil was perfect to what produce. She knew which products of her nation could be traded to which goods of their few trading partners. To improve commerce she even learned how to store and transport them. She knew how her subjects provided water for their farms without pegasi blessing of weather manipulation. She was aware how much it cost to produce a one sack of grain, one bushel of corn, or other goods of her kingdom. She set prices Crown was offering to farmers for their work.
But beside that, she didn't know first thing about farmers work. She probably couldn't distinguish apple from pear.
"I'm afraid that answer is no."
"Well, what about magic?"
"Such as?"
Applejack paused, mouthing word, and finally finished "Telekinesis, girl!"
"I'm no better than average pony."
"Shoot... Well, ya seem sturdy for unicorn, but... I think ya won't be useful."
Chrysalis blinked, surprised. She never excepted that Applejack could be a racist. She felt disappointed in Applejack, she seemed to be a good person... for a pony, Chrysalis added. She couldn't stop herself from asking, "What do you mean by that?"
"Ugh, don't be angry, but you are not farm pony, and you don't seem to be cut out for that..."
Chrysalis realized that she could bail out from paying out her damages on farm, but her pride took better of her. She had to prove something to that pony.
"Because I'm a unicorn?" She deadpanned.
Temperature in room dropped down a few degrees.
"Kind of. Don't get me wrong here, but unicorns usually aren't so tough as earth ponies or pegasi are. It just the way it is. If ya had magic like Twi here..."
It only irked Chrysalis further. Maybe it was that it seemed to her that ponies were caste driven society, with strict boundaries what race can do. Maybe it was mentioning Twilight Sparkle as someone better than her.
"So, you are racist." Celestia own sun couldn't heat atmosphere in the the room as these few simple words.
"Wait a darn tootin minute!" Applejack was obviously outraged by Chrysalis statement. Chrysalis noticed rage painted on Rainbow Dash face, and utter shock of rest of ponies and one dragon.
"No, you listen. You just said unicorns are not good enough to work on farm, just because they sport a horn! I may not bee such skilled magician like Twilight, but just show me what I need to do, and I will, in any way I can! I may not be as good at you, fine, but I'm not so retarded to not even pay off my debt! I don't want to get easy way out, because you think I can't manage!"
Applejack rage seemed to subdue slowly. After few seconds more, she slowly nodded her head.
"Alright. Ah can give ya a chance, just don't cry to me later about it."
"I won't."
Applejack spit on her hoof and extended it toward Chrysalis, who did the same. Two hooves bumped.
"Deal." Both ponies said at same time.
Applejack chuckled. Chrysalis arched her brow, confused by sudden improvement in mood of orange pony.
"Ya have spirit, I have to give ya that. Maybe ya will prove me wrong."
"Well... Thanks. You may not be racist, just practical... So I'm kind of... sorry?" Chrysalis finished sheepishly. She wasn't sure how she should play it off from this moment.
"Naaah, it's fine. Water under bridge. It doesn't mean Ah will go easy on ya, and Ah reckon ya wouldn't want it other way... I think Rarity want something from ya too."
White unicorn stepped in.
"Of course I want something! I want satisfaction!," she raised her hoof dramatically, "...or rather I would want if your reasons weren't right, darling. Still, crime is crime..."
"...Crime?" Chrysalis asked; she knew that pony laws and customs were different, but it seemed to be quite absurd; staining one's coat being a crime.
"Of course! To destroy masterwork of Aloe and Lotus is serious offense! To make me take a emergency bath is only slightly less serious crime."
Chrysalis noticed how Rainbow rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Aren't you exaggerating a bit?" Chrysalis asked to confirm her suspicions.
"No, I'm certain I'm not!"
"Rare, you are. Can't you just say what do you want from her? Just look like pro does it!" Rainbow Dash threw herself in conversation and turned to Chrysalis. "Yo, I want to beat you for things you said about my friends!"
"...Beat? Like in fight?" Chrysalis grinned. Blue pegasus was starting to play on her nerves with her brash behavior. Chrysalis was sure that smashing her face to dirt will calm her nerves.
"Yeah, If you want to. Race, fight, which one you prefer. You better not chose to fight with me. I have black belt in karate, kung-fu and few other martial arts." Chrysalis wasn't honestly sure if Rainbow was really such skilled fighter or just so full of herself. She saw how she fought and it seemed to be more of a improvisation than actual style.
"Rainbow, that is too much!" Twilight interjected.
"Fight, until one side gives up or is unconscious. Two seconds." Chrysalis stated in even cold voice.
"Seconds?" Rainbow tilted her head in misunderstanding.
"She meant a pony who is selected by a participant of the duel to observe and interfere when life is in danger or rules are broken." Twilight explained, strain of previous events still audible in her voice.
"So, something like judge? I call dibs on AJ!"
Chrysalis winced; AJ was her preferred choice. Rainbow Dash choice left her with Fluttershy, Rarity or Twilight.
Fluttershy was good pony in Chrysalis book, but she couldn't imagine how shy pony could be a good choice for such matter.
Rarity she didn't know, but she seemed to be shady type, and was wronged by Chrysalis.
...it meant she had to choose Twilight.
"Then I'm choosing Twilight as my second."
"When?"
Chrysalis hesitated. She wanted to beat Rainbow here and now, but she had to admit she was exhausted and her Love was running too low to give her any edge.
"Three days from today."
"Will do. It won't change a thing, I'm still gonna kick you sorry flank." Rainbow Dash bragged, smashing her forehooves together.
"We'll see." Chrysalis gave her mischievous smile, trying to plant worry in pegasus heart.
"Don't fool yourself." Rainbow Dash was practically butting in Chrysalis face.
Chrysalis opened her mouth to retort, but polite cough broke apart two opponents from each other. She turned her head to Rarity.
"Please, I understand you two have to... 'went off' as they say, but could I have you attention?"
"Yeah?" Rainbow answered for both of them.
"Charming, am I right?" Chrysalis nodded. "I think I found a way for you to pay for you crimes. You see..." Rarity raised her hoof dramatically.
Chrysalis sighed and realized she wasn't only one. It seemed that everypony one way or another showed their distaste for Rarity drama.
"To the point." Chrysalis suggested with unamused voice.
"Why yes, I would want to use as model. You see, I have order from Fancy Pants consort, Fleur De Lis. You are similar height and body build... well, you are more athletic than her, but it won't be a problem. And who knows, maybe even princess Cadance or Luna will be interested in these dresses?"
"So... You want me to wear clothes?" Chrysalis asked doubtfully.
"Yes, is it a problem? If you are not used to clothes, I understand, I will find another use for you..."
"Well, no, it's not the problem. It just doesn't seem to be hard..." Chrysalis voiced her doubt; it seemed to be too easy. She was sure there had to be some catch.
Rainbow guffaw broke her train of thoughts. Chrysalis noticed worried faces of Twilight and Applejack. Applejack even took down her hat.
"Okay, you are so screwed that I'm even sorry for you!"
"Rainbow!" Rarity fumed. Chrysalis yet again wanted to smack pegasus.
"Ugh, why everyli..." Chrysalis sneezed to hide her error "...sorry, why everypony seems to be afraid of this?"
"She tried to crush my organs into pulp!" Twilight zoned out and come down on Equs when she noticed horrified grimace of Chrysalis. Twilight smiled sheepishly. "Corset." She turned to hurt Rarity "Sorry... I know you didn't meant to..."
"Darling it was only corset..." Rarity tried to explain her actions but Rainbow Dash interrupted her, "She ripped half of my mane!"
"Darling, you are quite over dramatizing, and if you only brushed it more often, you wouldn't have so many terrible tangles..."
"Well, to be honest, ya made me to not move a muscle for few hours when ya were fussing about some details."
"AJ, but... It was worth it?" Rarity smiled faintly.
"Sure it was, sugarcube, still..."
Everypony broke into discussion about their dealing with Rarity wish to make everypony fabulous.
Chrysalis wasn't afraid to be a model; It couldn't be half bad as these ponies portrayed. They were pathetic ponies in her eyes but then she reminded herself who they really were. They were ponies who faced a crazy royalty, dragon, god of chaos, and fought their way through her subjects.
She recalled how they fought. It was like they were one, it was like they were changelings Insync, it was harmonious.
Twilight Sparkle mowing down changeling rag-tag army with stunning spells, Applejack bucking out anyling who tried to put down her purple friend. Rainbow Dash was recklessly dashing through small groups when Rarity style of fight could be considered a dance, dance in which partner after partner is biting the dust. Chrysalis was suspecting that Fluttershy could be trained in Zebrican martial art, Aikido, she knocked out few lings when seemingly avoiding the fight.
She shook her head; Those ponies were crazy.
They are afraid of their dressmaking friend but facing a danger of live and limb was no problem for them.
Chrysalis sighed, she knew she had to be on their good side.
"Rarity? Tell me when you will need my help, I'll gladly pay off my debts." Chrysalis tried to smile honestly.
"I want to finish this order as early is possible. Still, I have to consider you arrangements... What would you say, 5 days from now?"
"It's fine for me."
"Ugh, Ah don't wanna to be doubtful, but how are ya gonna to do it all? Fight, farm, posing..." asked Applejack.
Chrysalis realized how many obligations she gave to ponies around her.
...ponies who made her plans undone.
Ponies who were friends of her sister.
Chrysalis felt better when she put this in that perspective.
...but still some parts of her were rebelling. Some parts of her mind were even afraid that she will really befriend some ponies.
And yet again Chrysalis was asking herself if it wasn't the point of following her sister ideas.
"Tartarus if I know. If everything is done and said, I will excuse myself and make some place for me to stay."
Chrysalis wanted to say her goodbyes and leave; she had to talk with few lings and think about few things.
"You don't have to leave, you can stay here." She heard voice she hated so much.
Chrysalis turned to face Twilight. She seemed to have only good will in her eyes, even if her smile was strained and nervous. She wasn't such a wreck like hour ago, yet she still seemed to be broken in some way.
"It's great idea, Twi! Ah'm sure it will be better than my barn." Applejack happily agreed.
"No."
Everypony focused on Chrysalis. She knew she had to play it safe, yet wanted to hurt Twilight. She noticed Spike clinging to leg of hatred pony. Seeing his thankful and hoping eyes caused a small change in her heart; she found a new way to hurt Twilight.
"I appreciate the offer, but no. Forgive me to be straight, I don't trust you too much and we deserve some explanation for you actions." Chrysalis was straining to gave it neutral tone, yet it seemed that her friends were offended.
"Hey!," 'Who else than Rainbow Dash'; Chrysalis chuckled internally.
Twilight head turned down in shame.
"She is right, Rainbow. You all deserve some explanation. You too, I caused too much stress for you..." Twilight looked Chrysalis in eye. Chrysalis realized she saw eyes like that; she saw them in her lings. Broken, tired, kind of lifeless eyes of someone who was trapped in their own personal hell.
Chrysalis wanted to turned away her eyes, guilt was finding a way to her heart, yet these purple eyes were to captivating... and then she saw a small sparkle of hope deep inside them.
"You see... It's about what happened in Canterlot." Confessions are similar to avalanches; Chrysalis already knew how it will went, from small opening up to whole revelation. "When we were in Canterlot, before Invasion, I met few ponies from my school.... most of them were... well, they were all about me being Bearer of Harmony and such. All of them, except one pony. Moondancer. Do you know what she did say? 'Twilight! I'm so happy for you!" 'Why, because I'm Bearer?" I was kind of tired by then. You know, all that atmosphere and all of you ignoring my suspicions. Nevermind, it's fine girls, you were all worked up, and I... Well, I will better continue; she said 'No, of course no! You made friends. You know, I was always hoping I could reach you and be your friend, but hey, I'm so glad for you!'. She wanted to be my friend when I was closed for others, not considering friendship as something valuable. We talked for a bit. She was quite like Pinkie, maybe less..." Twilight gave strained chuckle "Pinkie, but you know what I mean. Friend to everpony. We promised to write to each other. ...I thought I made a first friend in Canterlot. You know, a friend who I rejected before. It doesn't matter now."
"Why it is?" Applejack asked, worry painted on her face.
"She is dead. Killed by a changeling. Not in Invasion. Later. Some of them survived in caves or such places..."
Chrysalis believed she skipped a beat. Changeling outright ignoring her orders? Of course it could be ling who did not get any update of orders. Still, even in original orders killing a pony was considered to be a last option. Could it be some of lings who decided to disobey their Queen? What purpose could serve killing a random pony? Chrysalis needed to know more; if it was one rebeling lings, they could plan something vile to Chrysalis and Metamorphosis plans..
"She wanted to be actor, you know? She went to AlTeRnation, one of the finest acting school in Equestria. Few days ago a changeling suddenly attacked her professor during lecture. Moondancer... she barged into fight. She bought enough time for her teacher and other students to escape. She... you know the rest. Changeling didn't survived too. Guards killed him on spot."
"These monsters..." Rainbow clenched her teeth.
"I- Princess Luna asked me if I wanted to help Equestria in research about changelings. Obviously I answered yes. You know, I saw them only as bugs, threat. Luna sent me reports of other researches. That pieces of shell?" She pointed with her hoof to small pile of shard of changeling shells "This is their skin. Yes, I have parts of their body. To study them. Ponies ripped their bodies apart to study them. For a while it didn't bothered me. You know, I thought they are just mindless bugs. But...", Twilight eyes glistened.
'They are not'; Chrysalis finished in her mind. 'Is it it what is hurting her?'
"They have names. Families. They had dreams and hopes. They are like other sentient races. I... read reports from Luna researches. Some of captured changelings lived here for over ten years. They are reports of mixed pairings with them! Ponies who lived with changelings, knowing what they are ...they are not monsters I wanted them to see. You know why I wanted them to be monsters?"
Everypony nodded in silence.
"We killed them. We killed hundreds of them. Not with our own hooves, but... Shining spell smashed many of them against walls, many of them didn't survived being thrown away. We found hundred of bodies. I have blood on my hooves. Blood of sentients." Tear escaped Twilight eye and dropped to the ground.. "They made me a murderer! I pity and hate them at the same time! They..."
"Sugarcube..." Applejack trotted softly to her friend. "Sometimes, ya have to kill someone who's threating ya family and friends."
"Applejack, what - what would you do if you family were starving and somepony around had abundance of food, and you were sure that they won't share? What would do if Apple Bloom was dying from hunger? Could you just say her that is the way it is? Be honest with me."
Applejack gulped and focused on floor below her.
"Ah... Ah reckon Ah would rob them. Raid their farm. Family and friends come first. Granny told stories what ponies can do when they starve..."
"Changelings did it for some reason. They are dying race. They are starving and fighting lost war. They believed that is their only chance. We doomed them."
Even Rainbow Dash seemed to be taken back by such statement, and she only asked, "But... they attacked us?"
"Their Queen decided it's only course of action what had any chance of success. If Princess Celestia and Luna asked you to kill some griffins to save everypony you know, would you do it?"
Rainbow Dash was silent. Chrysalis even more so, as even her mind was blank. That pony what she hated so much was crying both for her lost innocence and changelings she believed she doomed.
"We had every right to defend ourselves." Applejack objected.
"I know, Applejack!" Twilight snapped suddenly. "I know... sorry for my outburst. It is what it hurts me so much. Every side of conflict wanted good for their people. Everyone thought they have the right to do what they did. If only their Queen would tried to talk with us..."
"So, it's their Queen fault, big deal. Can't we just make peace with them?"
"It's more complicated... We have to deal with two different groups of changelings, one of them are Chrysalis soldiers, and they are not talking too much. Other group are changelings who were sent to Equestria by previous Queen to serve as their agents. She wished to contact Equestria and depending on our reaction either destroy or befriend us. There are hundred of them, maybe more. They broke their loyalty to Queen Chrysalis after she exiled her sister. Some of they even say that Chrysalis killed her own mother."
Chrysalis wanted to drop to her knees, she heard this lie thousands time before, but it was still hurting each time she heard it. She would never killed her mother! She loved her, yet Chrysalis was sometimes haunted by thought that death of her Mother was her fault. If she did not asked her to come visit father's grave... Chrysalis stopped her thoughts, she couldn't break down, not now, not here.
"Most of these 'old' changelings are considering themselves loyal to Equestria and Princesses. I even have a report of a changeling who was disguised as guard and fought against Chrysalis changelings. He freed his team and they were one of few units still fighting during Invasion. Few of them were the ones who informed that danger was coming to Canterlot. They couldn't specify anything, because they were killed by Chrysalis." Chrysalis noticed a change in Twilight's behavior. She became more focused and she stopped sobbing. It was like chance of sharing her knowledge make her calmer, more happy.
'Appleloosa Chase'; Chrysalis remembered how it went. In Appleloosa lived two Lurkers loyal to Equestria and they discovered that Chrysalis is coming. They tried to reach other changelings via mindlink but only thanks to Chrysalis own Lurkers communication couldn't be established. She wanted to spare them, but they tried different methods to inform Equestria. Chrysalis didn't had other choice to kill them and their pony friends.
"There may be few thousands of them around all of Equestria. They didn't contacted Princesses before, because they were afraid. How could they not? They were sent here to be spies and possible agents of destruction. Even more, they are broken in two major political groups. One group want to call Luna and Celestia their Queens. They want to be citizens of Equestria like ponies. Other group wants to live in system of their own design, direct democracy. ...anyway, about changelings of Chrysalis we know only tidbits. They are hungry, many of them are sick and their home is ever so often ravished by west Griffin Kingdoms."
"Darling, can't Princesses allow these lings who are loyal to Equestria to just live here and... well, reproduce?"
"...changelings don't breed like us. Yes, they have genders, but they are infertile. They have centralized system of breeding. There are special kind of changelings, Mothers. They hatch eggs, who were later given to chosen changelings."
"It's dreadful!" Rarirty seemed to be disgusted by mere thought. Chrysalis sighed, she saw other species way of breeding as inefficient, but not disgusting; maybe even more romantic some way, their children were in straight way fruit of love.
'Yeah, right, if most of them weren't knock ups or accidents.', added her cynical side of mind.
"It's quite smart solution to deal with overpopulation or irresponsible parents. They can't breed like us and it's not possible to transform normal ling into Mother without Queen or without special conditions. Queen Chrysalis is out of question, and where-about of younger Queen is unknown. Special conditions means that they would need to erect special buildings. Simply - not possible without contact with rest of their nation."
"Okay, so the Queen is problem. Can't we catch her and make her surrender, then offer them peace and place to stay.. somewhere?"
"It's not possible with current moods in Equestria. Too many ponies wants them dead. Princess Celestia sent to Griffin Kingdoms a question about changelings; they suggested a joint operation to solve the changeling problem once for all. Princess Luna said that Princess Celestia is seriously considering to re-establish Royal Army and take their offer. Things the Griffin ambassadors said... I don't know what to think."
"What do you mean, 'solve the changeling problem once for all'?" Rainbow Dash asked, suspicion audible in her voice.
"It's euphemism for 'Kill them all', darling."
"Sugarcube, what about Princess Luna?"
"Princess Luna wants to allow changelings who lived here citizenry, if they prove they weren't part of Chrysalis attack. About Chrysalis... she wants her dead. She believes that then it could be possible to make other changelings reasonable, and accept Princesses rule."
Chrysalis gulped. One princess wanted her species extinct, when the other wanted her dead and try her subjects to accept new rulers. Could she not realize it would start war at best and civil war at worst?
"Wait, it doesn't add up. Princess Celestia can't just simply want to kill every one of them..."
"Rainbow, I couldn't believe this too but then I looked in older history books. What do you know about Independence War in Griffin Kingdoms?"
Indepence War happened over seventy years ago and it gave The Swarm a few years of a breather. If not for this unexpected cease of fire, changelings would be probably extinct by now. Irony wasn't lost on Chrysalis; Celestia who wanted her subjects dead accidentally bought them a time.
"Ugh, not a bit, you know I'm not such egghead."
"She practically orchestrated a civil war there, because she was afraid that Griffin Kingdoms united under one king will be dangerous in ambitious claws. They outnumbers us 11 to 3. They can fit out more soldiers than we could. They have better sense of technology. If united kingdoms would decide to invade us... they would won someday, after long and terrible war. Celestia considered it all and she cause war because she wanted the best of Equestria. Sometimes best for Equestria means the worst for others. Did you know that Equestria is considered isolationist by other nations? We have only 18% of other races in our population when 31% population of Griffin Kingdoms is not-griffins and Euponia have 44% of ponies, 27% of griffins and 29% of others sapient races. Do you know why? Because Princess Celestia made it difficult to immigrate here. Yet again, for good reasons. She chooses who can come in and who not, she doesn't want problem stirrers here. Princess Celestia always want the best for us, but her ways are sometimes less than noble. Did you know that Windigoes..." Twilight seemed to be again breaking down; Chrysalis wondered what Princess Celestia did in past what could have such effect on her student.
Windigoes? If Chrysalis recalled correctly, they were considered to be extinct.
Could be it that Celestia made them extinct?
...could it be that changelings will be next?
Chrysalis hoped that it won't be the case.
"Okay, sugarcube, it doesn't matter what Princess Celestia does. What's is important, what do you think about it."
"I don't know. I hate and pity changelings. I hate them because what they did, they attacked us, they made me kill them! They killed Moondancer! But... they believed they had no other option, that it was their only way to be saved. I-I can imagine doing the same in their place; if Celestia would say that I need to kill some strangers to save everypony... I think I would follow her orders. I don't know. I want to blindly hate them, but I can't, I know too much about them. I would want to forgive them if I did not hate them so much for what they did. I'm torn apart and it's why I f-freaked out. I can't sleep because in my dreams I see me, crushing their heads with my hooves, and..." Twilight was outright crying, nothing could stop shaking in her voice and tears from her eyes. Applejack could only carefully hug her to provide some closure "Celestia... They-they are begging for mercy. They lift up their eyelids, and I see their fear in their dying eyes and I-... enjoy it in this dream for a moment!" Broken unicorn wailed. "And then I'm crying, I'm ashamed of myself, and I try to help them... Those who are still alive, but they use it to attack me, and then I see how we all die, Canterlot burning, b-but I know they did what they had to do... I-I understand them, and if I understand h-how I can hate them? How..."
Twilight was sobbing for a few long minutes, everypony was patiently waiting. Chrysalis couldn't make out her own emotions. Was it shame? Compassion? Guilt? Only thing she was sure of - she felt bad. She thought seeing Twilight Sparkle crying would give her satisfaction, but she was wrong; she felt pathetic instead. Everypony and everyling who was touched by her actions was hurt. She tried to reason that the mare in front of her was enemy, but she know the truth: the mare in her front was her enemy because she made her.
Twilight voice was cracking from exhaustion. "Other times I dream that anypony can be a changeling, and kill me suddenly, like Moondancer was killed! I dream that nowhere Is safe, that anypony face can suddenly change into insect-like head... Luna visited me in dreams, but this didn't helped! She turned into Chrysalis, she tried to fool me, to trap me in my dreams. I..." Twilight couldn't cry anymore. Applejack was slowly stroking sobbing pony along her back.
"Hey, Twi, it's okay. Ah had nightmares too, ya know? Ah... Ah was dreaming what could happen if they won. It wasn't pretty, Ah tell ya. But then... Apple Bloom told me what few changelings did with foals. They took them to safe place, and tried to calm them down. They promised that if this will be all over, there will be peace and everypony will be happy. Ya know, Apple Bloom is good judge of characters; she said these few who tried to calm down were kind to them, she said they even argued with other changelings to ensure safety of foals and ponies. Probably they didn't want to damage livestock, if ah think about it. Bloom said they were good ponies inside, just doing wrong things. Ah couldn't believe that. They were just bugponies, Ah get ya when ya wanted them to be monsters. So Ah told Apple Bloom that they tried to trick her." Applejack turned to her friends "Rarity, Rainbow, Ah'm sure Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo told ya the same story."
"Well, no... Sweetie didn't mention that..." Rarity slowly closed in. Rainbow Dash sighed, it was only answer Applejack could get.
"So ya know, one night Ah heard Apple Bloom wailing. Ah went to her and asked her what happened. She said Ah won't trust her. Ah managed to make her talk finally, and... she told me few details she omitted. Most of them are not important, not now. But... she told that one of these bugs, nurse Something-Someling suddenly bid her farewell and best wishes, ya know, all these things ya say to foals if ya are going to not see them for long time and moved closer to window. Apple Bloom said she had calm, sad eyes, and then love barrier washed away her. Window was gone, bug nurse was gone... or most of her gone. Apple Bloom saw blood. Blood on what left of window. Blood and some pieces of her wing. Apple Bloom took these pieces with her. Ah hated that nurse, ya know? She robbed Apple Bloom of innocence by dying or getting terrible wounded on her eyes. Apple Bloom was torn. She wanted that we would won, ya know, to be safe, free and all but she was afraid that this bug nurse was dead. Ah was enraged. How could she care about enemy? Then..." Applejack paused staring into darkness.
"H-how you dealt with it?" Twilight asked.
"I reminded myself what my Pa said. He was a guard, ya know. Farm needed extra money, so he enlisted. He was put on south frontier. There were sometimes small skirmishes of buffaloes or other bandits; Mild west wasn't always mild. Few of his friends died on his eyes and yet He told me that we should remember that our enemies, even if we have to kill them, they can be a decent ponies, buffaloes or griffins. That sometimes just people who any other day could be friends, have to kill each other, because world is just like that. My Pa maybe wasn't educated too much, but he was wise enough to somehow make sense of this mess. For years Ah couldn't understand that. But that one night, when Apple Bloom was crying, Ah understood." Applejack paused, like she had confession to make "We buried that few parts of that changeling. It calmed down Apple Bloom."
"Why... Why it can't be simple? Why there is such things.."
"Twi, world we living in is not perfect. That's the way it is." Applejack words were honest, and nothing else, and it made them even worse.
Words of Applejack were taking accusatory tone in Chrysalis mind. 'That sometimes just people who any other day could be friends, have to kill each other, because world is just like that.' No, world isn't just like that, it is like that because someponies, somelings, somegriffins made crap decisions, and Chrysalis was the one of them.
Yet again Chrysalis wondered if world wouldn't be better if she hadn't hatched.
She knew there was no point in such musings. She knew she screwed up and now she had to live with consequences. She wanted to surrender, to be taken, to be undone, but she couldn't do it to lings who were looking up for her or to her sister.
"I-it's not all." Twilight added quietly. "When I saw Snapshot bleeding from her head... I didn't stopped to check her pulse, I just took her in, and I was watching her bleed. Only when I heard Spike going downstairs I started to thinking again... I knew I had to dispose a corpse. I never questioned that she could be alive."
"Why Fluttershy?", Rainbow Dash asked.
"Because she knows animals which require meat. Because she lives far from Ponyville. Because I could force her to do what I wanted, broke her."
"What would you..." Rainbow tried to ask more questions, but she noticed Applejack glance.
"I don't know, Rainbow. Probably I wouldn't try to k-kill her..." Twilight guessed question what Rainbow wanted to ask. Applejack sighed. "Thanks to Charming I couldn't go so far." Small weary chuckle escaped her lips, and she turned her head to Chrysalis. "Charming... When I saw you... I was ready to try to hurt you. Maybe even..."
"I understand."
"Just like that?" Rainbow seemed to be unconvinced.
"Yes, I would probably do something like that too." 'Well, I did; Appleloosa Chase. Same idea, but better planed and executed.'
"Thank you, Charming. Thank you for stopping me. If you weren't there..."
'If I weren't in Equestria, all of that wouldn't happen.' Chrysalis thought sourly. Chrysalis was thinking how to answer when Twilight suddenly yawned.
"Sorry, girls... I think I'm exhausted. Thank you for listening, I feel slightly better." Twilight give them first happy, yet weary smile. "...maybe I will sleep today."
"Twilight, you neglected yourself. I hope I can encourage you to go to SPA with us." Rarity suggested.
"Well, I..." Twilight tried to oppose but Rainbow interrupted.
Chrysalis wanted to listen to the rest of conservation, but tug of tail distracted her. She turned to Spike who was tugging her tail.
"Yes, Spike?"
"Please, stay."
Chrysalis tilted her head quizzically. Spike didn't break his eye contact, she could see hope in his eyes.
"I couldn't make her to open up. You did. You stopped her when she went crazy, and... please, just stay. She needs everypony help."
Chrysalis considered situation yet again. On the one hoof, she couldn't say she like Twilight, she only stopped to hate her and living with someone researching changeling was tempting fate. On the other hoof, Spike seemed to start to like her, library was full of books and Twilight research could get Chrysalis a good understanding of current situation and it seemed to be a good gesture toward other Bearers and Twilight.
"Please?" Spike repeated his plead.
"Well... It wouldn't be my first time sleeping in library." Chrysalis gave him small smile.