//------------------------------// // Honesty by Magicman7997 // Story: Tainted Love: A Twysalis Prompt Tag Collab // by Foals Errand //------------------------------// By: Magicman7997 THREE MONTHS AFTER “REBIRTH” Twilight Sparkle sat on a small pile of cushions in a hastily constructed nursery. It was still a strange feeling, being a mother of two foals. She'd always dreamed of children, just most times those dreams included thoughts of a wedding, and a house, and a husband. Yet here she sat, nursing a young cyan pegasus with a rainbow colored mane, not in a house, but a chamber deep underground. Still, as she looked down at the youngling graciously accepting nourishment from her, she wouldn't have it any other way. She and Chryssy had been successful! Their cloning of the first two of her dearly departed friends went off without a hitch. After almost a month of sleepless hours pouring over data and countless more spent casting complex spells, they had done the (once) impossible. Two perfect copies of her old friends Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash now shared this new home with Twilight and her marefriend. They might not have the same memories as her old friends, but that was another problem for another time. For now, Twilight was ecstatic just to have them with her alive once more. “I don't remember a time, in the five plus years we've been together, that I've ever sensed this much joy radiating from you,” the hive queen said. Walking into the nursery as quietly as she could, Chryssy beheld the beautiful sight before her in a mix of unabashed hunger and deep contentment. “I'm beginning to think I should have just changed myself into a stallion in one of our nightly romps if this is what motherhood does for you,” she said, winking playfully. A blush crept across Twilight's muzzle. “I can't help it. I always dreamed of foals of my own, and now, it's real!” Twilight noticed that the little filly at her teat had stop nursing. Gently lifting her with her magic, she placed little Dashie in her crib. Within seconds, the young foal reached out with stubby forehooves to grasp a plush doll of her Auntie Cadance that sat in the crib. With the toy locked in a death hug, a small smile came across the filly's face. Not to be outdone, as if sensing her sister was finished with her feeding, young Pinkamena began to stir. Sensing the oncoming unhappiness from the foal that she helped create, Chrysalis strode gently to the side of her crib. Softly, the changeling queen reached over the rail and brought the pink earth pony into a warm embrace. Pinkie cooed at her mother's touch and a smile, a genuine smile of happiness came across Chryssy's face. “I think someone else does a pretty fantastic job at being a mom too you know,” Twilight said as Chrysalis walked towards her. “Of course, you've got a few more years experience and a heck of a lot more children under your belt too.” With all the eagerness of Cerberus with a new ball and the tenacity of a Diamond Dog protecting his gems, young Pinkie greedily suckled at Twilight's breast. Twilight gave a short gasp of pain as the foal latched on tightly to her. “Goodness, I didn't realize that your insatiable appetite was a genetic thing Pinkie. I knew you liked food, but...” Again, a small lance of pain shot through Twilight's body as the foal drank happily. “About the 'years more' experience thing,” Chryssy asked hesitantly. “It...it doesn't bother you that I have, um, bore so many children. Does it?” If it were possible to see the blush of embarrassment on her ebony face, Chryssy was sure she'd be positively glowing. “No, I've never really thought about it before,” Twilight answered quickly. “I mean it's a part of who you are. You're the progenitor of an entire race. I couldn't really hold that against you. Even if I wanted to.” With a soft flick of her wing, the lavender alicorn motioned for her love to come closer. When she arrived, Twilight gave her a soft kiss on the cheek and nuzzled into her, taking in her scent. “Never forget, I love you for you. All of you. What you are, what you have been, and what you will be. Nothing, not even Faust herself will change that.” Chrysalis couldn't remember the last time she had shed tears. She wasn't entirely sure it was even possible. But then, in this most serene of moments, she found herself unable to hold back the well springs that were in her eyes. A short sniffle later, and the feeling had passed. Happiness, the most fulfilling of all the emotions that she could consume, had found a home here. With her, her hive children, her marefriend, and now, her pony children as well. The moment was lost however when the skittering of footsteps crept into the room. “A thousand apologies your Highness. A surface pony is in the antechamber and says that she is here to see both her Majesty and the Zug'marshalproteca,” the drone prostrated himself to the floor as he finished his announcement. “We informed her that you were not receiving visitors, but she insisted that she be seen. She asked that we bring this as proof of her urgency,” the drone reached into a small pouch at his side. He withdrew and old weathered hair bow, one that was common for young fillies to wear. It's crimson color, long since faded and it's loops thread bare. “Shall I send her on her way by force your Majesty?” Recognizing the bow instantly, Twilight looked to Chrysalis. “We both need to be there for this. Can you go and meet with her first. I'll be up as soon as I'm done here.” Chrysalis simply nodded and turned her attention to the drone at her feet. “Rise, drone,” she commanded. As the drone found it's feet, it was instantly knocked back off them as Chrysalis struck him with a hoof to the head. “That, is for even CONSIDERING violence against a visitor. We have worked so hard to maintain peace with the surface ponies. And yet, your first thought was to 'send her on her way by force'? You still have much to learn. You will lead me to this pony and then you shall return to your post. Understood?” Quickly, the drone found his feet again and saluted his queen. “Yes my Queen. I apologize for my actions. I shall do better,” the drone spun on his hooves and led the way for his monarch. The pathways lead closer and closer to the surface. Finally, the drone stopped before a door and swung it open. Natural light poured into the hallway from the antechamber, so much so that Chrysalis was momentarily blinded. The feeling passed quickly and she followed the drone into the room. The antechamber was nearly the size of her own quarters. The major difference being that there was no furniture here. Just banners and tapestries depicting the entrance to the Hive below. Four other drone guards stood motionless in the room. Not the most pleasant of welcoming committees, but they did their job. If a visitor ever came, such as one did now, one drone would step through the entrance door to the hive and pass along the info to a messenger guard. Then it was a simple case of find the intended target and retrieve them. Efficient, safe (for the most part), and above all, it allowed Chryssy to control the situation. She couldn't be happier with how it all worked. The room's other occupant, turned as she heard the door open behind her. A young blond colored mare wearing a bright green bandanna around her neck stepped forward to meet with the brood queen. She was instantly stopped by dual halberds as two royal drone guards intercepted her. It was hard to discern expressions on a changeling's face, but somehow, the young mare knew they meant business. “Announcing her royal Highness, Broodmother, and Queen of the Hive, Chrysalis. All kneel in her glory,” the escorting drone dropped on his forehooves as he allowed Chrysalis to enter. As she came closer to the visitor, the guards slowly backed away and returned to their posts. With a careful sigh as if to steel herself for the conversation about to occur, Chryssy spoke. “AppleBloom It is good to see you again. I apologize for any unfair treatment you may have been given while waiting for me. Drones make excellent guards, though sometimes they can be a bit overzealous. I understand that you wish to speak with myself and Twilight?” “Good afternoon, yer Highness,” AppleBloom said through gritted teeth. “Yeah, Ah'm here to talk to you and Twilight about ma sister. Let's just get this over with before I say something Ah'll regret.” Chrysalis winced at the malice and anger she could sense radiating from the young AppleBloom. She had gotten used to the fact that not all of Equestria's ponies were going to be welcoming or civil to her and her children. But the fact that the young mare before her was so close to her own marefriend made it a bit of a bitter pill to swallow. “Twilight will be along shortly. She's finishing up a few things in the lab. Would you like to come with me? We can surely find someplace a little more comfortable than just this antechamber.” “If it's all the same to you, Ah think Ah'll stay right here. The less time Ah'm here, the better off Ah'll feel.” AppleBloom scuffed at the rocky floor with her hooves. She gazed all around the massive chamber trying to find something, anything to focus on rather than the bug queen before her. Chryssy's nerves grated a little at the mare's behavior, she might not be friendly, but she didn't have to be so openly hostile about it. “AppleBloom, I know that it might be difficult to believe, but I really have changed. I'm not the same being I was that day of the wedding. I realize now that force got us nowhere. I know I have a lot of making up to do, to everypony. But it's hard enough to do that as it is, let alone if ponies won't even give me a chance to make things up to them.” She hoped that her words might reach the young mare's sense of honor in that sentence. From what Twilight had told her about the Apple clan, they were a hard working and dedicated bunch that put family above all else. They believed in second chances, so long as the one who had done wrong was willing to put forth the effort to redeem themselves. AppleBloom sighed heavily, “Ah know. Ah should be givin ya a better shake than Ah am. But the truth is yer Highne...Chrysalis, a wolf can't change his skin. No matter how much he wants to. Ah know the princesses trust ya, and Ah know Twilight adores ya. As fer me, well, Ah'm not sure Ah can meet ya half way yet.” “So long as you're willing to meet me, that's what matters,” Chryssy replied as she extended her hoof towards AppleBloom “Please, can we, start over?” Reaching out, AppleBloom warily shook the queen's hoof. “Ah guess that'd be a start. I'm AppleBloom Apple.” “A pleasure AppleBloom I am Chrysalis. High Queen of the Hive.” “Glad to see you two making progress,” came the voice of Twilight from behind them. She crossed into the chamber and softly kissed Chryssy on the cheek. “They're asleep, though I'm not sure that Pinkie left me intact.” Twilight moved quickly to AppleBloom's side and swept her in a tight hug. “And you young lady, are growing up way too fast. Look at you. Quite the pretty filly! I wonder, how many young colts do you have chasing after you?” Bloom blushed at that but genuinely returned the hug. “It's great to see ya Twilight! Yer looking awfully fine yerself. As far as the colts go, well,” her blush deepening as thoughts of her young coltfriend flashed through her head. “Ah brought what ya asked for,” she said as she reached into her saddlebags. “Found as many of 'em as Ah could. Will it really work? Will Ah have her back, no foolin?” Twilight took the small package from Bloom's mouth. Carefully, she opened it, revealing ten of AJ's old red hair ties. Woven into each tie, were several pieces of blond mane and tail hair. Tears came unwarranted as Twilight looked at the ties. It was if she was holding a priceless magical artifact in her hooves. She was scared to breathe for fear that she might destroy them. Gently, and with a surgeons precision, she passed the package to Chrysalis who took it in her own magical field with the greatest of care.  “To answer your question AB, yes and no. The cloning has been successful so far. But we haven't perfected all of the process yet. I assure you, if everything goes as we've planned. We'll both get her back.” AppleBloom nearly tackled Twilight in a bone crushing hug. Tears rained down her muzzle as she held on to Twilight for dear life. “Oh thank ya Twilight! Thank ya ever so much! I've missed her so bad! I want ma sister back.” The tears that Twilight had been holding back sprang forth as she stroked AppleBloom's mane. “So do I AB. So do I."