//------------------------------// // First customer // Story: Cupid Chrysalis // by Nightmare Darkness //------------------------------// The sun rose to greet Chrysalis with it sickly glow. She squinted and tossed the blanket over her head with her magic choosing to remain in the darkness. Boren knocked on the door and walked in. “Its is time to get up Your Highness.” he chided “Leave me be.” she ordered waving her hoof from the protection of her dark sanctum. Boren rolled his eyes grabbing the end of the blanket and with a quick jerking motion bared her to the cold air making her cringe and sit up grabbing the blanket with her magic. “Boren! I order you to go stack some books or something I need my rest!” she growled as Boren held fast tugging back against her. “But you have to eat!” he rebuddled. At the mention of sustenance her stomach gave its opinion. Releasing her magic he fell backward and crashed into the wall. She smiled at his expense. Getting out of bed she walked to the Bathroom and looked into the mirror and saw her mane was in going every which direction. Grumbling she picked up the brush with her magic and attacked it. After twenty minutes of brushing her mane into submission Boren had made her bed and met her downstairs as she walked down the stairs. Chrysalis looked in a mirror before she poened the door and walked out into her new home town. Openeing the door she was greeted by Bolt Shield. he began to bow but Boren cleared his throat. “Oh right, old habits.” he said chuckling. Her look didnt change if anything she looked unamused. “Come, we shall see what this town has to offer in terms of love.” she said cringing as she walked past him. Following her at a respectful distance Bolt eyes shifted all around looking for anyone to attack. Boren chuckled. “Relax “Bolt”” he said. Bolt looked down at the assistant. “We are in the enemies heart of equestria.” he said quietly. Boren shrugged. “They don't know us, unlike us pony culture is very accommodating to new ponies unless you do something to disrupt them. Like a wasps nest really.” Boren said casually. “Oh good Morning Heartstrings!” came a chipper voice as the group stopped. Chrysalis looked to see who the voice belonged to. Twilight was trotting over to her with a smile and her saddle bags over her back. Chrysalis stiffened and then after a moment smiled widely. “Why good morning Twilight. How are you today.” she said. Boren let out a muffled laugh but was crushed under the the quick glare of Chrysalis. “Where are you off to?” Twilight asked. “No where in particular Bolt, Boren, and I were planning on walking around the town to get better acquainted with it.” she said putting on her best smile as she tilted her head allowing a bang to fall out of place which she blew out of her face. “Oh well I'm not doing anything today if you want…” twilight began.Chrysalis mind rushed ‘what...oh no, no no no’ “NO.” she shrieked. Twilight looked at her oddly. “I meant no thank you, I tend to go at my own pace and that is why I have my companions with me. I dont mean to inconvenience you i'll manage. Thank you for the offer though.” she said placing a hoof on twilights shoulder. Twilight giggled covering her mouth as she did so. “Well if your looking for a place to grab a quick snack the clover cafe is always nice its a hotspot for couples. but if you ever need anything im just next door.” she said. “Likewise.” she smiled again as Twilight began to hum and trot away. When twilight was far enough she levitated Boren. “W-what are you doing?!” Boren exclaimed. Holding the hoof she touched twilight with out she began to use Boren as a rag. “I cant believe I touched her…” she said in disgust. Dropping boren when she was done with him he stood up and brushed himself off glaring over his shoulder at her. “Come, at least the purple Idiot gave me some good information.” she said walking Bolt and Boren looked at each other both shrugging. Chrysalis sighed. “The Cafe you idiots!” she said making both make a silent “oh” of understanding. The three of them walked around till the found the cafe it was quaint she thought. walking into the cafe she was greeted by a caramel coated, brown mane stallion who greeted them. “Table for three?” he asked. She looked at Bolt and Boren then back to the waiter. “Ill have a table on the patio they will be in a steat two tables away from me.” She said. The stallions looked at her and then Bolt and Boren who simply nodded. “Well ok... please follow me I'll seat you.” He took them to thieir seats and he gave her a menu which she didn't look at. Boren and Bolt took their menus and began to read the contents on what to order. “Bring me earl grey with the pot, I'll Be here for a while.” she said not really thinking about it. The stallion nodded and went to get her tea. Now she didn't pay attention to the happenings of her subjects and began to pay more attention to the goings ons of the town. There were two couples already at the Cafe and their affection for one another began to filter into her. ‘maybe this town wasn't so bad after all...’ she thought but it quickly turned sour as she spotted a rainbow streak in the sky. She spent the next hour enjoying nothing but her own solitude, till he saw the three fillies whom nearly assaulted her if not for the action of Bolt. But it wasn't the fillies who interested her, but a small shadow following after them. A small colt with a brown coat and a brown mane with a green pinwheel hat. “What do we have here?” she said as she sipped from her gear grey cup. The fillies were talking then Sweety Belle saw her. “Hey its Highness Heartstrings!” she announced making the other two look and smile. the ran up to her. Thankfully there was a small fence between them and her. ‘thank darkness for small respites.’ she thought. “Hiya Heartstrings! What chu doin all alone?” Apple bloom asked. “Im not alone I just like to sit alone.” she said gesturing a hoof to Bolt and Boren who were stuffing their faces with hay fries, causing them to paused for a moment and wave. “Oh, so what are you doing today?” Scotaloo asked. “Oh this and that, by the way.” she began to ask looking up for a moment as the little colt stopped and looked at her and dashed behind a bush. “Do you know any colts that say wear a pinwheel hat?” she asked. Apple bloom looked at the two others. Then realization came to her. “That would be Button Mash! Hes in our class. Why do you know him?” she asked. she shrugged “Not really.” They said as Sweety Belle looked behind them and shrugged. “What are you three doing today.” she asked hoping to drive the conversation to a quick end. “Oh were trying to get our cutie marks. We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” they all said at one and as if rehearsed placed all their flanks together to show them. “I...see. Well why not go now every chance you waist it's a moment you don't find them.” she said waving her hoofe for them to run along. “Shes right lets go Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Apple Bloom said excitedly as they began to run away. Button Mash began to run by them as she used her magic to lift him up. “Where do you think you are going?” she asked. The colt looked around in confusion then her. “W-who are you!” he asked as his eyes seem to shrink. Chrysalis smiled at the young colt. “To many I am nopony. But to you Button Mash I am your love counselor.” he simply looked at her slack jawed. She closed his mouth with her hoof and had him sit across from her he looked around uncomfortably. “I am Highness Heartstrings.” she introduced. He looked at her quickly then away again. “Would you care to eat something? What do you like?” she asked he was quiet for a moment. She waited sipping her tea calmly. “I like hay fries.” he said looking down. Chrysalis waved a waiter down and orderd some hayfries for him he ate slowly. “Sweety Belle.” she said suddenly and his face reddened. She could drink in the young colts love and admiration he had for her. “Its ok, you can talk to me. My cutie mark revolves around relationships.” she said standing showing him he looked at her now. “Why would you help me its hopeless she would never look at a colt like me…” he said seemingly already defeated looking down. “Nonsense, youngone. You just lack confidence. Ive seen many a stallion who are in the guard who suffer from the same fears you are having now.” she said smiling of course a lie but he didn't have to know. “Really?” he said looking up. “You bet.” she said giving a soft laugh. “Could you help me?” he said as his eyes widened in awe. “I don't see why not?” she said placing her cup down. “What do i need to do?” he asked sitting forward. “First you need to get close to her...why not join the cutie mark crusaders.” she suggested. “I-I tried but every time I see her I get flustered and I can't talk.” he said ashamed. Chrysalis ruffled his hat on his head with her magic. “Ill be the bridge, but you have to be with me when i introduce you.” she said. “But, what if they say no, what if, what if they don't like my games? Or my mane or.” he began to ramble. Her eye twitched and closed his mouth with her magic then he looked up to her. “Meet me at the large tree tomorrow at ten o’clock sharp.” she said as he looked at her. Ne nodded. She waved the waiter over and got his hayfries to go. “Your really nice, Highness.” he said. she scoffed at him “Pish posh, just bring your a game tomorrow. and you will be on your way to being able to call Sweety Bell your friend...then maybe one day your somepony.” she smiled. Button Mash beamed as she picked him and his take out and placed him onto the other side of the fence and he smiled waving a hoof as he walked away. “Who was that?” Boren asked. “Our first customer.” she said smiling. “Oh?” he asked. She looked at him with downed lids. “Pay the bills.” “Wait what! I thought you brought the money!” Boren said. Bolt walked over. “Bolt you pay.” Bolt looked confused. “I didn't bring my wallet.” then there was a clearing of a throat and all three of them looked to see the Waiter stallion with a not too impressed look on his face. “If you can't pay, we can always work something out…” he said smiling making all of them look at one another. Boren and Bolt were doing dishes in the back grumbling as they tended to their work. Boren walked a bunch of clean dishes to a clean dish rack then looked out to see Chrysalis. Chrysalis eyes were half lidded as she moved things as about with her magic, collecting menus then walked over to the front, putting the menus under the booth of the greeting table. The clover cafe’s uniform was tight on her and itchy. The door bell jangled out of her sight. “Welcome to the clover cafe…” she said looking up and was greeted by six ponies. “Oh Heartstrings! I see you found the clover cafe.” Twilight said as she was flanked by the rest of the mane six. Only one thing went through her mind. ‘ARE YOU BUCKING KIDDING ME!!!’ Her smile twitched along with her right eye. “Yes, it seems I did.”