//------------------------------// // Lesson Two: Watch your Step // Story: Intermediate Lessons // by dungeonguy88 //------------------------------// This was turning out to be one of the more awkward train rides Twilight had embarked upon. As it turned out, Rainbow Dash and Chrysalis had managed to avoid causing a scene on the way to the train station, despite tensions still running high between the two. In fact, getting to the train station had gone rather smoothly, all things considered. While Chrysalis had indeed disguised herself as a unicorn, she had taken a form that was entirely too eye-catching and exotic, for Twilight to believe the changeling would go unnoticed. Of course, Twilight had failed to account for the fact that, while Chrysalis' form was a bit conspicuous, the changeling was in the company of royalty and two national heroes. Nopony batted an eye at Chrysalis' strange eyes and coloration, when they could be ogling celebrities. So that had been a bit of a relief. It was when their party got themselves situated into their train car, a private one of course, that Twilght again found herself worrying. Here, sharing a confined space, was the rather temperamental Changeling Queen, the aggressively protective Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie, whose particular brand of friendliness did not seem to mesh well with Chrysalis' sensibilities. And Twilight had to be the one to rein them all in. Twilight loved her friends dearly, but she might have gone with some different ponies for this kind of endeavor if the choice had actually been in her hooves. A bit surprisingly, Prince Blueblood wasn't doing much to raise Twilight's blood pressure. He had taken to his own seat, next to Twilight's, and was touching up his mane in a mirror held in his telekinesis. As things were now, Chrysalis was reclining in her own seat, fortunately still disguised, and steadily munching her way through the container of brownies. She had been rather quick to lay claim to the chocolate-y sweets, after boarding, which had nearly lead to Pinkie Pie kicking off a song about the importance of sharing and caring. Chrysalis had been less than enthused, and suggested that she would be happy to share the brownies with whichever pony was the one to throw Pinkie Pie off the train. It took a few moments to explain to her Earth pony friend that Chrysalis' had no intention of sharing the treats, and that, no, Pinkie Pie would not be getting any even if she threw herself off the train. “I'm watching you.” And, of course, there was Rainbow Dash standing in the aisle, pointedly keeping an eye upon the changeling queen. Chrysalis turned one eye towards the rainbow-maned pegasus, as she collected another brownie from the container “Is that so?” “You're bucking right, that's so!” A moment later, Rainbow Dash had taken to hovering above the changeling, aggravated by the changeling's flippant manner. Placidly watching the irate Rainbow Dash, Chrysalis easily took another bite of brownie, before pointedly and slowly chewing and swallowing. A few seconds later, Chrysalis turned away from the agitated pony before commenting “Not surprising, I suppose. When you're me, you have to get used to ponies ogling you.” “O-ogling!?” “Of course, who could blame you, when I'm looking this good?” Chrysalis continued on, as if the antagonistic pegasus hadn't just shouted in outrage. And, to be fair, by most pony standards the form she had assumed did look rather...fetching. Long, thin legs, a curvaceous body, a glossy black coat, and a teal mane and tail, Chrysalis seemed to have set fairly high standards for her current disguise. The cat-like eyes certainly lent an exotic touch to the form the changeling had assumed. “Y-you wish I was ogling you! I wouldn't be caught dead looking at you, if I wasn't sure you were up to something!” Rainbow Dash shouted. Chrysalis turned back to the pegasus, with an easy smile “How fortunate. That saves me the trouble of explaining that, you just aren't my type.” “What's that supposed to mean?” Rainbow Dash asked, defensively. “Well, your legs are a bit...stubby.” Chrysalis supplied, as if she was trying to break it to the pegasus gently. “Stubby?!” “And you clearly dye your mane and tail. Very fake.” “I don't dye anything! They've always been this way!” “Also, you could stand to work on your manners.” Chrysalis continued, as she turned up her nose at the infuriated pegasus. Twilight had to sigh, as Chrysalis continued to tweak her friend's temper. “Guys!” Twilight called over to the two, before they could continue. Sliding down out of her own seat, as the two of them turned their attention to the purple princess. “I know everypony's feeling tense right now, but this isn't helping. I know neither of you are excited about sharing a car, but can't we all just relax and enjoy the rest of our train ride?” Twilight implored. Chrysalis merely rolled her eyes, before turning to look out the window, evidently choosing to simply ignore everypony. Which while not ideal, would serve as a fair enough solution for now, or so Twilight thought. Rainbow Dash was still glaring at the Changeling Queen, only turning away when Twilight prodded her with a hoof. Turning away from the target of her ire, Rainbow Dash just sighed “Whatever...and for the record, I've got ponies lining up around the block to stare at me!” “I know, Rainbow.” Twilight reassured with a nod. “And I don't dye anything! This is all-natural!” Rainbow Dash continued before heading back to her own seat. Twilight merely nodded again, with a smile, before heading back to her own seat. As she got comfortable again, she noticed Prince Blueblood leaning over towards her, as if to say something. “Well done. I had no idea you had experience dealing with children. Cadance would be impressed.” It took Twilight a moment before she chuckled at that; maybe foalsitting was something all alicorns had to go through at one point or another. A couple of seats back, Rainbow Dash was still keeping a careful eye on the changeling, still waiting for Chrysalis to try something. Rainbow Dash had to blink when, instead of the evil shapeshifter, she found herself glaring at a cupcake resting upon a bright pink hoof. “Cupcake?” Pinkie Pie offered with a grin, as if her friend hadn't been about to come to blows with the royal changeling. “Pinkie Pie, I-...actually, yeah. Thanks.” Ready to lament her friend's randomness once more, Rainbow Dash stopped when she realized that, yeah, she could kind of use a cupcake. Smiling as her friend took the first few bites into the cupcake, Pinkie Pie happily exclaimed “And don't worry Dashie! I think your stubby legs are cute.” “They aren't stubby!” Rainbow Dash shouted around her mouthful of cupcake. But by that point, Pinkie Pie was gleefully bouncing over towards the changeling queen. Furrowing her brow, the rainbow-maned pony then started looking over her front legs, as if to convince herself that they were perfectly average in size. Turning away from the window, taking in the sight of the smiling pink pony at her side, Chrysalis snapped the container of brownies shut before flatly asking “What?” “Just wondering if you're enjoying your brownies. Are they really good?” Pinkie asked. “...yes.” “That's great!” At this, Pinkie Pie propped her forelegs up on the seat “I mean, they looked really, really good! But you can't always tell, just by looking. I mean, I can, but that's cause I do a lot of baking. Cause I work in a bakery, so trust me when I say, I see a lot brownies. And those looked like some good brownies!” Chrysalis simply stared as the pink pony nattered on, seemingly about nothing. Twilight taking note of the situation, stepped out of her seat. “Uh, Pinkie?” But Pinkie Pie was not one to be deterred. “Well, that's what I do when I'm not planning parties. Oh, I plan some of the best parties around! Which works out great cause then I can bake stuff for my own parties! Isn't that smart?” “Pinkie, I think Chrysalis would rather-” Twilight attempted again to intervene. “Which means, I can totally make some awesome brownies for the party I'm planning for you! To celebrate how nice you are now! And we can have balloons and streamers, oh, and games! What kind of games do you like, Chryssie? Do you have special Changeling games?” “Leave, before I eat you.” Chrysalis said. Pulling out a small notepad and pen, from her curly pink mane, Pinkie Pie began jotting that down “Leave, before I eat you...Got it! Oh, is that like the changeling version of tag? That could be so fun! How do you play?” “Pinkie! Can I speak with you over here?” Twilight now was actively trying to nudge the pink pony away from the irritable changeling. “Just one more minute, Twilight. Just gotta jot down a few more things down for the party. Like Chryssie's favorite-” “There will be no party!” With a flare of green magic, Chrysalis was standing and glaring down upon the pink pony, in her true form “This isn't a game! We aren't having fun!” Pinkie flinched back from the sudden shouting, with her ears folding flat against her head “But, everyone deserves some fun. Especially, the new 'Nice' Chrys-” “And, I am not nice!” Chrysalis cut her off with another shout. “Chrysalis! You need to calm down, Pinkie was just-” Twilight quickly moved to defend the disappointed party pony. “What the buck is your problem?!” And now Rainbow Dash was back in the mix, hovering mere inches away from the Changeling Queen. “Excuse me?!” Chrysalis asked, not pleased to be dealing with the cyan pegasus once more. “That's right you better excuse yourself, changeling! Pinkie was just trying to be friendly, and you had to go and bite her head off!” “Hah! If I had bitten her head off, we would be having a very different conversation.” Chrysalis smugly countered. “Now, now. Let's all take a breath, perhaps we can-” Blueblood tried to assist Twilight in averting more fighting, before he was cutoff by identical glares from the Changeling Queen and Rainbow Dash. Turning back towards the changeling, Rainbow Dash accusingly pointed a hoof towards Chrysalis “I know you're scheming something, and I'm not letting you get away with it this time!” “Ah, yes! You caught onto my masterful plan to hurt the little feelings of that annoying little pink-thing. Well done!” “I'm alright! I mean we all-” Pinkie Pie also tried to get in a word, to try to stop this. “Arrg! I can't believe Princess Celestia would trust such an evil jerk, like you!” Rainbow Dash shouted back at Chrysalis. “Oh, is that so? Does it boggle your little pony mind?” “You're darn right it does! After all the crap you put everypony through, she still tries to give you a chance, and you still act like an evil, selfish nutjob! I bet that was your plan the whole time! Get in good with Princess Celestia, just so you could betray her, and take everything you wanted!” Chrysalis went worryingly quiet after that, though she was still visibly growing more furious, at the mare's accusations. Twilight recognized the brief moment as perhaps a chance to get in a word edgewise, though she was given some pause. Twilight had thought much the same about Chrysalis herself. And both Pinkie and Blueblood had recognized that this was a situation that they might just make worse, if they tried to intervene again. A moment later, Rainbow Dash set down in the aisle, though she didn't let up on the glare she was directing towards Chrysalis, even as the Changeling loomed over her. “Oh, so you've got this all figured out, little pony?” Twilight did not take Chrysalis' calm, even tone as a good sign “Such a brilliant scheme, putting myself in the position of choosing between the one being that I find even remotely enjoyable and doing my duty to my faithful subjects. Oh, and then refusing to choose between the two, for centuries. Looking for that proper balance between hurting my subjects and her's. Oh, what will it be this century? I think terrorizing some stupidly innocent little ponies. We'll save the love rationing and hiding ourselves from everypony for the next century. Gotta keep it fair.” “I- well...” Rainbow Dash tried to raise a point, before Chrysalis continued along. “After all, I can't choose to not hurt either changelings or ponies, so why not both?! Can't very well be loyal to everyone, so I might as well betray everyone.” Everypony gathered now was frowning at this summation of the situation, including Rainbow Dash. Still glaring down upon the pegasus, Chrysalis continued “So, was I being selfish? Certainly. Never was I being more selfish, than when I decided to try to compromise the trust that both my subjects and Celestia placed with me, for so long. The only thing less selfish was choosing to serve one over the other. Which I did. And I chose wrong. My changelings are in greater danger than ever, Celestia couldn't possibly trust me again, I was humiliated, all mere months before a solution would reveal itself, that my own actions may have jeopardized...So tell me how I've gotten everything I wanted, pony.” “I-...” Rainbow Dash tried to say something, anything, but Chrysalis had given the pegasus far too thorough an explanation for it not to give her something to think about. And what she thought, was that the situation struck a bit too close to home for Rainbow Dash, reminding her of that terrible day in the hedge maze, when they were first trying to thwart Discord. She hadn't really made the right choice either, when she had been forced to choose between competing loyalties. At Rainbow Dash's silence, Chrysalis started to turn back towards her seat “That's what I thought.” “Well, maybe if you didn't act like you enjoyed it all so much, maybe...” Rainbow Dash countered before trailing off, not sure where to go from there. It was still enough to make Chrysalis pause in her steps. “...okay. Everypony, I think-” Twilight began again, in as calm a voice as possible, before again being interrupted. At least this time, it wasn't because everypony was ignoring her, but due to the rather hesitant knock at their train car's door. “Uhm...food cart?” Everypony and changeling looked at the door, both in surprise and sudden worry. Prince Blueblood looked between everypony in their train car and the door, before quickly making a decision. “I'll go take care of it!” Blueblood started a quick canter towards the door, eager to escape the uncomfortable situation in the room. “Oh...me too!” Pinkie Pie quickly seconded the motion, cantering after the stallion, as Chrysalis once again assumed her chosen pony-form. Blueblood put on his best smile as he opened the door, revealing an uncomfortable looking mare with a food cart “And what can I do for such a wonderful and hardworking mare?” Pinkie Pie quickly popped up beside him, with a similarly radiant grin “Uh-huh! What he said!” “Well, I- the cart and...is everything alright?” The confused mare asked. Blueblood and Pinkie quickly exchanged glances before simultaneously plastering their grins back on, before Blueblood asked “Why? Whatever could possibly be wrong? A relaxing train ride, in the lap of luxury? Yep, everything's better when you're doing nothing and obscenely wealthy.” “What he said!” Pinkie Pie again backed Blueblood's words. “Well...was there some shouting?” The serving mare asked hesitantly. Blueblood's gaze quickly darted around as he thought about the situation, briefly looking back towards the other three passengers. Nodding to himself, as an idea occurred “Ah...yes. Well, perhaps we should talk out here. It's a very...sensitive issue.” “And I'll come too!” Pinkie Pie was soon nudging the mare out the door along with Blueblood, and paused just long enough to wink back to Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Chrysalis. Silence reigned over the train car, with everypony and changeling either too uncomfortable with the previous conversation or still trying to process how closely they may have come to having to explain...everything. “Well...that all could have gone worse.” Twilight observed. A couple of hours later... The party continued it's train ride in relative quiet, with most everypony either lost in their own thoughts and concerns or busy being Pinkie Pie. The pink pony did manage to get some faltering small talk started up here and there, but things tended to quickly return to relative quiet. Really, Twilight was all too happy to be taking her first steps off the train at the train station. Then things got a bit weird again. “Have faith in love, Princess Twilight! You can never give up on love!” This coming from the now weeping food-cart mare from before, as she embraced the bemused Twilight, eliciting bewildered stares from Chrysalis and Rainbow Dash. “Uhm...there, there?” Twilight attempted to calm the hysterical mare, while hesitantly patting the mare on the back. “And you don't need to worry about any sort of scandal getting out. Our lips are sealed!” The mare reassured Twilight, in an overly intense manner “Just promise, promise! That you won't give up on them!” Twilight stared at the mare, before following the mare's gaze to the equally confused Rainbow Dash and Chrysalis “...Ok?” Twilight had to catch herself, as the mare suddenly pulled her into another embrace. She was about to ask for help in escaping the mare, when the emotional food cart mare broke off the hug. Our young princess was almost ready to declare this strangeness over, before she noticed the mare approaching the pegasus and the disguised changeling. Eyes widening as she started to realize what was about to happen, Twilight reached a hoof out to stop the distressed pony and...too late. The crazy mare had just wrapped both Chrysalis and Rainbow Dash in a crushing embrace. Twilight let her hoof hang in the air, as she waited for one of the two to react to the...overt invasion of personal space. Blessedly, it seemed that those two were too shocked themselves, to really react to what was happening. “Love will find a way!” With that final declaration the mare, finally, left the group be. After about thirty seconds of silence amongst the group, Twilight asked the most pertinent question “What was that?” A moment later the three turned towards Blueblood and Pinkie Pie, the former of which was avoiding their collective gaze. The latter seemed all too pleased, considering what had just transpired. Realizing he wasn't going to get out of explaining that encounter to his traveling companions, Prince Blueblood rubbed the back of his head anxiously as he considered how to go about explaining what had happened. “Yes, well, you see...she was very concerned about all the shouting and...I've often found the best way to get someone to stop digging for a secret is to let them think they know what the secret is...” Chrysalis raised an eyebrow at this “Go on?” A little while ago... “So, you're telling me that, one of Princess Twilight's best friends has been secretly harboring romantic feelings for her?” Blueblood and Pinkie Pie nodded. “And just as she was about to declare her feelings towards the Princess, one of Princess Twilight's childhood friends showed up, to declare that she also was in love with the Princess?” Another nod followed. “And her childhood friend had only just gained the courage to reveal her feelings towards Princess Twilight, because she found out that she's dying of a terminal illness and felt that she had to tell the Princess?!” Blueblood and Pinkie Pie glanced towards one another, before again nodding. “Oh my goodness, that's terrible!” The mare with the food cart from before exclaimed. “Yes, yes. It is a terrible bit of business, isn't it? So you can imagine why tensions have been running a bit high. Very stressful for our newest Princess.” Blueblood explained. “Which is why everyone was shouting earlier! And why it's such a good thing that you couldn't hear what everypony was actually saying through the door!” Pinkie Pie quickly backed up the story with an incongruous smile. “It's just such a tragic turn of events, and so soon after her coronation...it's almost sounds like-...Oh, dear Celestia!” The mare exclaimed as a thought occurred to her. Blueblood blinked at the mare's outburst, before looking around the hallway, worried that somepony else may have overheard them “What?!" “This is just like what happened in 'Love Lost in the Gardens of Canterlot' when Ruby Rose confessed her feelings to Glass Slipper, and Morning Glory overheard them!” The mare explained with a mixture of worry and excitement. Blueblood simply froze as the distraught mare recounted the storyline from a very particular, and apparently popular, romance novel. “The What-Lost in the Gardens of Where?” Pinkie Pie asked, a bit bewildered. “It's only one of the greatest love stories of the decade! By Princess Purple Prose! How could you have not have heard of it?” The mare explained to the baffled pink pony. Blueblood quickly cut back into the conversation “Yes, well...that is an amazing coincidence isn't it? And just a coincidence. With no underlying subtext that connects the two events. But, of course, I think the important thing to remember is how that story ended, right?” The mare gasped, as she recalled how the story ended “You are so right! We can't let anypony find out about this! There would be a scandal!” “What kind of scandal?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Well...I can't say for sure, but the book ended with Canterlot in flames! With Glass Slipper leaping from the tallest tower, after Morning Glory and Ruby Rose slew one another in a duel for her hoof. We. Can't. Tell. Anypony!” The mare exclaimed, as she grabbed Pinkie Pie and looked the Earth pony in the eyes. “...I can't imagine anything less than that happening, if this were to get out.” Prince Blueblood decided to go along with that scenario. He hadn't really expected to run into one of his fans, when he had concocted that explanation for the shouting the mare overheard, but it seemed to be working. “You told her what?!” Twilight exclaimed, before quickly ducking her head as she realized her shouting had drawn the attention of other ponies. “Why would you tell her that?” Twilight asked Blueblood in a quieter tone. “I dare say, we had to tell her something.” Blueblood defended, even as he avoided making eye contact. “But...that?” Twilight asked again, in bewilderment. “As I said, she couldn't be counted upon to not snoop if she didn't think she had found out what was going on. And, it's been noted that it is easier for somepony to buy into a big lie, rather than a small one.” Twilight simply facehoofed “I don't even know if I can be angry. I can't even believe she bought that story!” “Too true...As if you would have any difficulty picking between the two of us in such a scenario.” Chrysalis remarked, as she pointedly glanced towards Rainbow Dash. “Totally...wait, what's that supposed to mean?!” Rainbow Dash demanded as she caught on to the implications of Chrysalis' remark. “Oh, I think it's quite obvious.” Chrysalis waved a hoof displaying her own form, before then gesturing towards the pegasus “There's tall, dark, sensuous and intelligent, and then...there's you.” “Hah! Like she would pick you over one of her best friends.” Rainbow Dash countered. “I do believe I explained just why she would.” Chrysalis explained with a smirk. “Oh, please. I've got way better chances of hooking up with Twilight, than you ever will!” Rainbow Dash said, as she crossed her forelegs. “Hm...well, there's a very simple way we can prove which of us she would find more appealing...” Chrysalis commented. After exchanging looks with one another, Rainbow Dash and Chrysalis turned towards Twilight expectantly. Staring in confusion at the two, before it dawned on her just what they were asking of her, Twilight quickly put her hoof down “No, no, no! Just- no! Why would you guys even think-” “Unsurprising.” Chrysalis exclaimed with a roll of her eyes. Pausing in her rant, Twilight glanced towards the disguised changeling “What's unsurprising?” “It's nothing. I should have known you would be unwilling to indulge a simple hypothetical.” Chrysalis answered casually. “Not that kind of hypothetical!” Twilight yelled at the changeling. “Geez, Twilight. Chill out. It's not like it's a big deal.” Rainbow Dash commented, as she rubbed her ears after Twilight's shout. “This kind of overreaction really does seem to be typical for her.” Chrysalis observed, to which Rainbow Dash nodded “I barely even touched on the subject of Celestia bringing some cake and a few guards to bed, and she fainted dead away.” “Heh, I could totally see that happening.” Rainbow Dash chuckled. “That is not the subject we need to be discussing just this minute. What Blueblood told that mare could come back to bite us all in the flanks, if we're not careful.” Twilight asserted to everypony, in the hopes of once more taking control of the direction of the conversation. Chrysalis simply rolled her eyes, as if to say 'Typical.' before she began to canter away, evidently expecting the others to follow. Rainbow Dash just shrugged as she followed and Blueblood simply adjusted his own saddlebags before following, as well. Pinkie Pie cantered over still smiling “Don't worry so much, Twilight. If you fall out of a tower you can fly now! So it'll all work out whoever you choose!” As Twilight watched her pink friend bounce after them “That's not the point, Pinkie!” After a couple of hours of travel in to the Badlands... “...and that is how I was able to capture and impersonate Celestia, for two weeks. And all it took was some cake, a cat, and two shockingly inept guardponies.” “Seriously?...wow. You always kind of figure that somepony like Princess Celestia is totally invincible.” Rainbow Dash observed. “Personally, I lay more blame with those particular guardponies.” Chrysalis continued “Subduing Celestia wasn't exactly a quiet affair, even with surprise. And they still thought she was simply playing with a particularly grumpy cat. Idiots.” It seemed that the Changeling Queen and Rainbow Dash had managed to find something to talk about that didn't result in them considering assaulting one another. It happened to be embarrassing stories about Princess Celestia. “Guys. I'm happy that you two are managing not to kill each other, now. But do you perhaps think we can talk about the matters at hoof. I mean, we haven't even talked about your changelings or how we're going to go about doing this.” Twilight requested, as she trailed behind Chrysalis. “Hm?...Yes, I suppose we should go over some ground rules...” Chrysalis agreed after a bit of consideration, though a moment later she seemed to reconsider “...though, I was planning on going into a bit of detail, about that time I caught Celestia with all those guardponies in her bed.” “N-nopony wants to hear about that!” Twilight quickly objected. “I could do without that imagery, as well. I've certainly suffered enough of it by now.” Blueblood quickly agreed, though his comments did cause Twilight to look over towards the stallion in brief confusion for a moment. “I wouldn't mind catching the details.” Rainbow Dash casually mentioned. “Rainbow Dash!” Twilight exclaimed in shock. “What? You don't get to hear about that kind of thing everyday. Especially about Princess Celestia.” Rainbow Dash defended. Chrysalis smirked, before continuing “And it wouldn't be fair to your little friend, if we were to go on without filling her in on all the juicy details. After all, we can't be selfish now, Twilight. And it involves cake, so the pink one will be able to enjoy the story, as well.” “There was cake too? In bed?! Princesses really do throw the best parties!” Pinkie Pie quickly declared. “Certainly the most memorable of parties.” Chrysalis added, before gesturing to the group with a hoof “And it seems that the votes are in, and it's 3-2 in favor of Celestia's Bedtime party story.” “Oh! Let me get my notepad out. I don't want to miss a single thing.” Pinkie Pie soon pulled out her notepad and pen from earlier. But before she could even work the cap off the pen, they floated out of her grasp. “Wait! Come back! I need you for juicy details!” Pinkie Pie soon followed her things over to where Twilight was standing, with the notepad and pen floating in her telekinesis. “Twilight? Did you want to take your own notes? Oh, are you going to have a test on Celestia's Bedtime party story?” Pinkie Pie asked obliviously. “No, Pinkie. I just-... I really don't think you really want to hear this kind of story, Pinkie.” Twilight tried to sway her friend. “Don't be silly. I like all kinds of stories, Twilight. Especially stories about parties! All kinds of parties!” Pinkie Pie assured. “No, I mean...do you know what kind of party she's talking about?” Twilight asked, hoping she wouldn't have to explain to much to her friend. “Uh, yeah! Chryssie's gonna tell us about Princesses Celestia's super se~xy party!” Pinkie Pie took the effort to punctuate the word “sexy” with a shake of her head and a come-hither look, leaving Twilight momentarily dazed from the shock. “I-...Pinkie Pie, do you know what sex is?” Twilight didn't know why she felt the need to ask that question, cause she couldn't think of an answer that wouldn't lead to an uncomfortable conversation. “Uh, duh! I know all about sex, Twilight. You know I grew up on a farm.” Pinkie Pie answered with a laugh, before bouncing after Chrysalis and Rainbow Dash with her notepad and pen. As Twilight tried to process this, Blueblood cantered over “A valiant effort, Twilight. Though, I suppose it was a foregone conclusion; I dare say, very few farm ponies are going to be shy about those kinds of details.” Twilight turned towards the stallion slowly “But, she grew up on a rock farm!” “Okay! That's it! I'm putting my hoof down!” Twilight shouted out to the group. As the others glanced over to the irate purple princess, Twilight stepped to the front of the group “I think that I was very understanding when you and Rainbow Dash were at each others throats. Telling that mare that I was trapped in some tragic love triangle, I can accept. Sharing embarrassing stories about my mentor, that was fine. But we've been traveling for half-a-day, and we haven't even talked about the peace mission that we're on!” As everypony looked on a bit surprised at this little rant, Twilight managed to rein herself in enough to lower her voice to regular speaking levels “...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout. I guess I'm a bit stressed out too. But can we please talk about the details of what we're doing a bit more? Like when are we going to reach the swarm? Who's going to be meeting us? That kind of thing?” Chrysalis seemed to consider Twilight for a moment, before shrugging “I don't really see much point in it now.” “Oh, really?” Twilight asked, unamused by Chrysalis' tone. “Indeed.” Chrysalis reconfirmed. “Okay...well, how about we tell some more stories about you and Princess Celestia then?” Twilight suggested, with a false innocence that would make a changeling proud. Chrysalis simply raised an eyebrow at Twilight, evidently unimpressed. “Rainbow Dash, how about I tell you a story about brussel sprouts?” Twilight asked the bemused pegasus. “Uh, sure. I guess.” Rainbow Dash reluctantly agreed. Glancing towards the Changeling Queen to gauge her reaction, Twilight was rather disappointed to note that Chrysalis seemed unmoved by the threat Twilight had brought to the table. Frowning, Twilight turned back around and started an easy canter forward “I think, you'll really like this one, Dash. It involves Chrysalis here, and-” “I would go no further, Princess Twilight.” Chrysalis called up to Twilight, in a rather neutral tone. “Oh, and why is that, Queen Chrysalis?” Twilight coyly asked, certain that she had finally managed to gain some modicum of control. “You are about to step on one of my changelings.” “What?” Twilight looked back down, to where she was about to set her hoof. She didn't see any changeling, just a large rock. A large rock that just opened it's eye, and blinked at her. “Gyaah!!” Twilight quickly backed away from the apparent rock, only now noting that it did seem rather oddly shaped. A moment later the rock seemed to stand up and, with a buzz of changeling wings, take to the air. A moment later it was wreathed in a green fire, causing the rocky texture of it's skin to turn into black carapace. With a quick motion, the revealed changeling flew past Twilight and the others, before stopping in front of the waiting Chrysalis and saluting. With a feminine voice, that possessed the same resonant quality as Chrysalis' “At the ready, your Grace.” Chrysalis nodded to the changeling “Excellent, we'll be-...” Chrysalis trailed off as she looked to the sides of the smaller changeling expectantly, which soon led to the changeling doing the same as her queen. “Shouldn't there be two of you?” Chrysalis asked her subject. “Affirmative, your Grace...Sister?” The smaller changeling called out in confusion. “Get it off! Get it off!” Another feminine, and distinctly changeling, voice shouted. Everypony turned to take in the sight of another changeling, still possessed of it's rocky camouflage, desperately struggling to escape the grip of the pink pony attached to it. “It's attacking me!” The changeling cried out, as it tried to escape Pinkie Pie. “It's alright! I grew up on a rock farm!” Pinkie Pie called out, as she futilely tried to reassure her new friend. As Chrysalis' subject went over to assist her fellow changeling in escaping the overly friendly Earth pony, the Changeling Queen turned towards Twilight “By the way...we've arrived.”