//------------------------------// // 50th Special! // Story: Tainted Love: A Twysalis Prompt Tag Collab // by Foals Errand //------------------------------// Shiny moon If you told Twilight Sparkle she would fall in love with Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings, she would’ve had you sent to a mental institution to have your head checked for such a ridiculous idea. If you told Chrysalis she would fall in love with Twilight Sparkle, Celestia’s protege, bearer of the Element of Magic, newly crowned Princess of Equestria. She would’ve drained you of all your emotions and leave you for the vultures to eat. But alas, here they both were, cuddled together under a heap of blankets, near the fireplace to escape the cold. Whispering sweet nothings in each other’s ears and giggling like a pair of school fillies. The transition from pure unbridled hatred to love was a long and gruelling path. Having been blasted into the Everfree Forest by the power of love, ironically the same emotion she fed from, Chrysalis was weak and injured. Hating the fact that she was in this state, she was hostile towards anything that came too close to her. Being found by one of the ponies that led to her defeat only fueled her rage more. Twilight Sparkle had been looking for ingredients for a potion Zecora had asked her to help her make when she heard the pained groans of a pony. However, the idea of finding the Queen of the Changelings laying on the ground, bloody and bruised, had not crossed her thoughts. Twilight’s hoof stepping on a twig had alerted the changeling that she was no longer alone. When she saw Chrysalis’ staring at her, eyes filled with seething anger, Twilight felt a bit intimidated, scared even. Wouldn’t you be too? Seeing those slitted green eyes become even more horrifying, anypony would. The seething ire rolling of her in waves. Despite her disposition, Twilight knew she couldn’t leave her, she would surely die if left in this state. Enemy or no enemy, Twilight was one to help anypony in need no matter the circumstance. Ignoring the changeling’s protest and futile attempts to attack her, Twilight hoisted her onto her back. Being bigger and taller than her, Chrysalis’ hooves dragged against the ground. Needless to say, Chrysalis was beyond annoyed and furious. Not wanting to impose on Zecora, she decided she would take the changeling to her home. The glow from her teleporting had startled her friends who were helping tidy the place. When they saw the figure on Twilight’s back, they went instantly into attack stances. Twilight tried to appease their fears and said she would explain later. She had also told Spike to send a letter to Princess Celestia about her discovery. It was only a matter of moments before Princess Celestia arrived in her home. Explaining her actions to the Princess, Celestia wasn’t sure if she should be proud or wary of her student’s ability to forgive so easily. Deciding it was best if Chrysalis healed before going, she told Twilight that she was now her responsibility but if she had any trouble to contact her right away. Months passed, the first few were utter hell and torment. Chrysalis had been demanding and unreasonable at times. Sometimes she wouldn’t say a word to Twilight, other times she would give her ridiculous demands to go about doing. Twilight was nearing her wits end, until one day she heard soft sobs coming from the room Chrysalis was in. She slowly opened the door to see a distraught Chrysalis crying her heart out, trying her best to muffle the sounds but failing miserably. That’s when Twilight did something unexpected, something that no one had ever thought to do for the Queen out the kidness of their heart. Twilight had comforted her, held her as she sobbed. She cried even more, but not of sadness, but joy, happy that someone would do something so kind for her. The warmth coming from Twilight’s body had soothed her and she fell into deep slumber. After their little moment in the bedroom, Chrysalis had become somewhat easier to get along with. She no longer made outrageous demands such as taking the roof off the house cause it was too hot. She had also began trying her best to get along with Twilight’s friends. It was odd for the girls at first but they slowly warmed up to her - very slowly that is. For once in her life Chrysalis had felt happy, not the happy she felt whenever a new changeling was born, but she felt true happiness. And this was all because of a little purple unicorn who didn’t know when to mind her own business. Her happiness got the best of her and she did something out of the blue. She had kissed Twilight, straight on the lips. Realizing what she had done, she pulled away quickly; deathly afraid that she had ruined her once chance at a happy life. Her fears were appeased however, when Twilight nuzzled her neck gently, trying to calm her. Chrysalis then bowed her head to return Twilight’s gentle affection. It was then that Twilight whispered in her ears, saying she didn’t know what this was but she was willing to work it out with her. Tears of joy had poured from Chrysalis’ eyes at the statement. So what if it was frowned upon? So what if it was unusual for a changeling and pony to be together? None of these things mattered to the two lovers as long as they had each other. The Wraith Writer “Okay, let’s do the check list one more time,” Chrysalis said to Cadance, the former pacing nervously while the latter sat on her bed. Candace sighed. This would be the fifth time. “Alright, which tower is she in?” “The farthest one to the east,” Chrysalis replied, still pacing. “What’s the super secret password to get by the guards?” “Lady bugs.” “And when do you remove the disguise?” “Before kissing her or doing anything resembling a sexual advance.” Chrysalis blew out a breath. “It all seems so simple.” Cadance got off the bed and gave Chrysalis a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Trust me, love is never simple. But you can also trust me when I say it’s worth it. Now,” the pink alicorn glanced around even though they were alone “do you have what I asked for?” Chrysalis nodded and pulled a box of corndogs out from a bag. Cadance squeed and snatched the box from the changeling, holding it close like it was a precious artifact. “Like corndogs, I take it?” Chrysalis said. Cadance nodded. “I love them! But Shiny eats all the ones at home. Not these though. This box and me have a date with a Bucking Bad marathon.” the pink pony princess promptly dashed over to her couch, plopping down on it while magically heating up the corndogs. Chrysalis shook her head. “And I tried to impersonate her.” she muttered as she left the room, flashing green as she adopted Cadance’s form once more. “Twilight,” Cadance was calling her, but she didn’t feel like getting up. “Go ‘way,” Twilight mumbled, drawing the sheets tighter around her. “Twilight, wake up please, there’s something I have to tell you.” “Five more minutes.” “If I wait five more seconds I’ll explode.” Twilight’s ear twitched. That didn’t sound like Cadance… The purple pony princess propped herself up, rubbing sleep from her eyes and she yawned. Bleary-eyed she looked over to see Cadance standing near her bed, staring at her intently. “Cadance? You sound funny.” There was a flash green light and Cadance was suddenly replaced by Queen Chrysalis. Twilight bolted upright, scrambling to untangle herself from her sheets. She opened her mouth to shout in alarm. And suddenly found herself sucking on Chrysalis’ foreleg. “Shhhh,” Chrysalis said gently. “Please don’t scream.” Twilight nodded and Chrysalis extracted her now drool covered hoof from Twilight’s mouth. “Chrysalis, what in Tartarus are you doing in my room in the middle of the night!” Twilight hissed. She paused and smacked her lips. “And why do you taste like key lime pie?” Chrysalis didn’t answer right away, idly wiping her hoof clean on Twilight’s bed sheets. Once her hoof was clean, she placed it on the floor beside its twin, the pair shuffling nervously. “Twilight Sparkle, these past few weeks have been… strange for me.” Twilight quirked an eyebrow. “And…?” “And, well, these peace talks. They would have never happened if you had not given me a chance.” Chrysalis fluttered her wings nervously. “You had no reason to, after the things I had done to you, but I suppose not just any pony becomes a princess then.” Twilight rubbed her eyes tiredly. “Not to be rude, Chrysalis, but is there a point coming soon?” “That’s just it, you were never, aren’t ever, rude to me. The other ponies, the other princesses, they all eye me like they expect me to try and eat their hatchli- their foals.” Chrysalis sat back on her haunches, fore hooves pawing the marble floor. “But you never looked at me that way. You were always kind, pleasant. You were curious, you actually wanted to talk with me, and not just about how I was to answer for the invasion.” Chrysalis stared down at her hooves. “I… I don’t know how ponies usually do this, but if there’s any point at all to this…” Chrysalis took a breath and looked Twilight in the eyes, “I suppose that it’s that I love you.” Twilight held the changeling queen’s gaze, blinking a few times, but otherwise remaining still. Chrysalis blushed and looked away. “No, this… this is stupid. I shouldn’t have let Cadenza talk me into this. I’m sorry I woke you. I’ll just go-” Chrysalis was cut off as Twilight put a hoof to her lips. “Just relax, Chrysalis, it’s okay to be nervous. Confessing love is rarely easy, if ever.” Chrysalis blinked in surprise as Twilight removed her hoof. “You… have had experience with this?” Twilight shrugged, “Rarity loaned me a few of her romance novels.” she gave Chrysalis a smile. “And I’ll tell you this: The feeling is much better than they say it is.” “The feeling?” Chrysalis asked. The smile only grew. “The feeling when you know the other one feels it too.” Twilight craned her head up and caught Chrysalis’ lips in a surprise kiss. Startled, the changeling pulled back, but after a moment of staring into Twilight’s eyes, leaned back in. Lips and teeth parted and tongues danced as Twilight led them back to her bed, the two clumsily climbing in while trying to maintain their lip-lock. Once they were on the bed proper, Twilight broke the kiss and leaned back on the headboard, panting lightly. “Wow, that was much better than what the book described,” she murmured to herself. Chrysalis crawled closer. “Well then, I suppose you know what comes next then. Hmmm?” Chrysalis grinned. Twilight beamed. “You bet I do, I’ve been doing lots of research.” Chrysalis laughed as she gave Twilight a peck on the lips. “Oh I bet you have, silly, sexy Twilight.” Chrysalis wrapped her forelegs around Twilight, pulling her close. “Now let’s see how well all that studying pays off…” Then next morning found Twilight’s room a mess, with many chairs and assorted small objects strewn about the place. The mare herself was currently laying belly to belly with Chrysalis, the changeling sprawled on her back, tongue hanging out of her mouth while she snored the morning away. The peace and serenity of the scene was promptly shattered by one Mi Amore Cadenza as she all but kicked open the door and ran inside. Both Twilight and Chrysalis were jarred from their sleep by the loud intrusion and opened their eyes just in time to be blinded by the flash of a camera. Cadance pulled the developing photo out of the camera and waved it pointedly before the two startled lovers. “I’ll trust you’ll remember who to keep ion corndogs, you two horndogs, or this is going to be slipped under the door of a certain solar princess.” Candace glared at the two. “And just so we’re clear, say my name.” Chrysalis and Twilight exchanged identical ‘What-has-she-been-smoking’ looks. Cadance pouted. “Come on you guys, please.” Twilight raised an eyebrow and hesitantly said, “…Cadance?” Cadance smirked, “You’re godda-” She was cut off by a pair of guard tackling her to the ground. Thinking quickly, Chrysalis adopted Celestia’s form in a flash and cried, “This is an imposter who is clearly not Chrysalis, take her to the dungeons at once!” “Yes, Princess!” the guards cried in unison, hauling a now cuffed Cadance to her hooves and escorting her out of the room. “Wait, I’m not an imposter. She’s the imposter!” Cadance shouted, struggling in the grip of the guards. “That’s exactly what an imposter would say.” on of the guards said as he and his partner dragged the alicorn from the room. Once the door shut behind them, Chrysalis returned to her usual form. “What in Tartarus was that?” Twilight wondered aloud. “I blame network television,” Chrysalis said solemnly. “Yeah,” Twilight snuggled a little closer to Chrysalis. “We should probably go tell them she’s not an imposter.” “Yeah, we probably should.” Chrysalis paused. “Or we could have some more interspecies sex and then tell them she’s not an imposter.” Twilight shared an evil grin with Chrysalis. “Yeah, let’s do that.” Palaikai Chrysalis woke up with a start; it took her a few moments to register that she was still in the unfamiliar confines of Twilight's library, rather than the more comforting environs of the Hive's underground caverns and her green eyes blinked uncomprehendingly. Memories came flooding back to her in fitful bursts: banishment after the failed invasion of Canterlot, wandering the Everfree Forest, being rescued by the unicorn after she'd finally decided to give up. She pressed a hoof to her forehead, trying to staunch the flow of disjointed thoughts before they gave her a migraine. “Oh, you're finally awake,” said Twilight Sparkle, the concern evident in both her voice and her feelings. Hers was a compassionate soul, and it seemed that, despite her trepidation, she was fully-committed to helping the former queen recover her health. “You've been in and out of consciousness for the past few days now.” She levitated a bowl filled with water to the Changeling who took it gratefully. “You've been looking after me this whole time?” This surprised Chrysalis. She'd half-expected to have been tucked into a nook somewhere and forgotten about. “Yes,” replied Twilight. “Well,” she corrected herself quickly, “in between all the other craziness that happens around here on a daily basis. You missed the Breezie migration, by the way.” “Why?” the Changeling asked, cutting off the unicorn's babbling. “That's what you do when somepony is need,” Twilight explained as if it were obvious. Twilight Sparkle's empathy for all things was obvious – it shone so brightly it practically glowed – and while it wasn't love per se, Chrysalis found that it had almost the same effect on her, reviving her flagging energies to the point that she felt she could finally get out of bed. “So. What now?” she asked, getting unsteadily to her hooves while waving away the unicorn's offer of assistance. If she could not stand on her own four legs, what was the point of getting up at all? “Honestly? I hadn't thought this far ahead. I expected that you might still need more time before you would be up and about,” admitted Twilight with a faint smile tugging at her muzzle. “You're, ah, you're welcome to stay, unless you want to take the chance on returning to your Hive?” Chrysalis thought about it. It was an impossibility, of course; the Hive would continue without her, appointing a new ruler in her stead, and if she tried to go back to them, her life would be forfeit. Failure was not tolerated amongst her kind. She looked at the unicorn who had taken her in. It was unbelievable that somepony could be so kind, especially to what must've looked like a monster to her. “It,” the Changeling hesitated. “It wouldn't be a problem for me to stay? For a while, at least, until I figure out what to do?” “Of course not!” Twilight said brightly. “It's only me and Spike, here. Oh, and Owlowiscious, but he likes to keep to himself.” A phrase that Chrysalis had heard somewhere, but had never used once in her life, escaped her lips, “Thank you.” “You're welcome.” It was over dinner, many weeks later, that Chrysalis realised something had changed; at first, she thought the overwhelming feeling of desire radiating from Twilight Sparkle was directed toward her food – the mare loved to eat, and could usually be found attacking her meals with the same kind of gusto that she set about her enemies  – but she wasn't quite as enthusiastic for once and was actually remembering to use tissues rather than dabbing the sauce splashed around her face with more hayburgers. Despite herself, the former queen found it an endearing trait. Her species' method of ingesting food would probably look weird to outsiders also. Besides, there was something about her face when it was coated with crumbs and stained with ketchup … maybe it was the adorable way her cheeks puffed out? Maybe it was the expression of near-orgasmic bliss? “What?” asked the unicorn, her muzzle pausing around a bunch fries as she noticed the Changeling staring at her. At first, she'd been uncomfortable with Chrysalis sitting at the table with her, but over time, she'd come to accept it as normal. They were both eating, after all, just in very different ways. She still didn't fully understand how the Changeling's feeding process worked, but Chrysalis was looking better than ever, so she settled for simply assuming that whatever she was doing was working. Chrysalis groped around for a way to broach the subject and finally settled on, “How long?” “What do you mean?” Confusion wrinkled the unicorn's brow. The fries were forgotten. “When you first started taking care of me, you were doing it out of self-righteous concern for the well-being of another living creature, but now … it's different. The texture of your thoughts, the tenor of your feelings, they've changed,” explained Chrysalis. “There's something deeper there now.” Twilight blushed. It was impossible to keep secrets with this sort of company. Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and now Chrysalis, could all read her as easily as she might read a book. “Well, you can't spend this long looking after somepony and not develop an,” she searched for the right word, “interest in them.” “I'm just a curiosity to you, then?” asked Chrysalis with mock-hurt. “Yes,” replied Twilight, grinning slightly. Changelings, terrifying as they were to normal ponies, were fascinating and she'd tried to find out more about them while Chrysalis was living with her. Sadly, even Canterlot's libraries had precious few resources to offer, and most of it was based on rumour and innuendo. “My friends are still suspicious of your motives. They think that you're gonna attack Ponyville and I'm being coerced into helping you.” “You are no longer suspicious of me?” “I never was. Not since I found you, alone and near-death, in the forest.” “Maybe,” Chrysalis' hoof reached across the table, brushing against Twilight's own, “my feelings have changed also.” The feel of the warm fur was so different to that of the hardened shell of a Changeling, but it was not altogether unpleasant. “Have you ever been in love before, Twilight Sparkle?” The unicorn shook her head. “I … there was somepony I liked.” She hadn't thought about Flash Sentry in some time. They had gone on a couple of dates, but it hadn't worked out. He was intimidated by her status, and she was too much of a social recluse to handle the pressures and responsibilities that came with being part of a couple. “He wasn't right for me. Have you?” “Yes.” Chrysalis frowned, lost in a whirlpool of half-forgotten memories. “Or no. It's difficult to separate the moments of genuine love from all the times I've lied, manipulated and stolen what I needed.” “Are you lying to me now?” Twilight's mulberry eyes were moist, her body was tense and shaking as Chrysalis' holey foreleg traced her own. “Are you manipulating me to get what you want? Are you stealing from me?” “No, Twilight Sparkle, I am not. I love you.” “I love you, too, Chrysalis.” The food lay forgotten as the pair settled down to an entirely different meal. It may not have been as nutritious, but it was no less satisfying for that. bobbananaville It has been nine days since the invasion. Nine days since Chrysalis and her army had been blown back. It has been eight days since Twilight developed these alien feelings. They were like respect, except that they felt somehow more… intimate. Like friendship, but somehow more fantastic - in the sense that it felt like a fantasy rather than the more modern meaning. Perhaps they'd been borne from her studies of the changelings; countless attempts at diplomacy initiated by the changelings had been interpreted as aggression, she’d read, and over the centuries, changelings had been forced to learn the art of subterfuge. It seemed to Twilight that rather than an act of malice, the invasion was an act of courage - a queen going on the front lines and facing insurmountable odds for her starving children. It has been seven days since Twilight had recognized that she had a crush. She'd tried to deny it, but the fact of the matter was that she had trouble keeping her mind off of Chrysalis even when spending the day with Cadance and Shining Armor. The queen, for all of her wrongdoings, was a good pony (well, a good changeling), and her attempts to prevent casualties when she could have simply slaughtered ponies wholesale or even just killed Cadance made Twilight respect (she hadn’t the nerve to call it love yet) the Changeling all the more. Plus, the chitinous being was exotic - not that Twilight had any experience with more ‘normal’ romance, of course. It has been four days since Twilight had left for the Badlands with the goal of finding the defeated queen; who knew how far from a food supply Chrysalis was? Were she and her subjects starving out there, forced to cannibalize each other’s love? Could they even subsist on each others’ love? And how separated were the changeling from each other? Twilight was worried, and she was determined to find some way to keep her - them - alive. It has been half an hour since she found Chrysalis. “I love you, Chrysalis,” Twilight says. “You’ve risked so much for your people, and I can’t help but love you for being so selfless. I love you for not becoming the monster everypony believes you are. I love you for not giving in, for doing what you believed was necessary - what may well have been necessary.” The queen does not respond. Twilight doesn't know necromancy, after all. The lavender pony turns to the gathered changelings; they stare greedily at her, but abstain from feeding. “I don’t truly know you, Chryssi,” she says, not taking an eye off of the chitinous beings. “But I love you. “I’m done. Go ahead.” TheMusicalBoy93 Twilight stared at the small black shard, twirling it over and over in her purple aura. She sighed listlessly. The shard was a small piece of a changeling’s carapace that Twilight had scavenged from the warzone in front of the Canterlot Vault, after the battle at her brother’s wedding. She had hoped to perform some simple experiments on the miniscule sample, to try and gain a better understanding of changeling anatomy and physiology. Instead, all the shard offered were memories of the queen that nearly overthrew Equestria. That horrible, monstrous, despicable, sexy bug. Twilight grimaced at that last thought. She couldn’t understand what she saw in that monster. She foalnapped her best friend, locked her away in the Canterlot catacombs, and nearly succeeded in brainwashing her BBBFF. And yet, she couldn’t help but admire her. She was insane, that much she knew for sure. Queen Chrysalis was madder than fruit bat. But she did show intelligence. Brilliance, even. She had secreted her changelings into pony society over a course of many moons, gathering intelligence and love that could be used in secret combat and fuel the hive, respectively. Twilight remembered finding dozens of changeling drones in Ponyville alone, disguising themselves as multiple residents. She’d never realised how many ponies there were that seemed to be twins, until the changelings attacked the wedding ceremony. Such a brilliant mind, wasted on delusions of grandeur and an incessant desire to conquer. It made her heart ache. The lavender unicorn sighed and deposited the chitinous shard into her secret drawer. She needed to get out. “Spike!” Her ever faithful assistant poked his head round the door at the call of his name. “I’m going to go for a walk. You can close the library early, if you’d like, and go visit Rarity for the day.” The little dragon’s face lit up like a Hearth’s Warming tree at the proposal. “You really mean it?” “Yes, Spike. I think you deserve a rest, for all your hard work.” Twilight shook her head as the dragon rushed out the room in a cloud of heart shaped smoke. Someday Spike would either get over his little infatuation for the unicorn, or Rarity would put an end to it herself. But, Twilight was hardly in a position to judge; being in a very similar dinghy herself. She followed Spike out of the library and locked up before taking to the streets of Ponyville. Twilight kicked a small rock along the grassy trail as she wandered aimlessly through the Everfree Forest. Her lonely trek had possessed her shortly after she headed out, and her hooves took over her direction as her thoughts began to wander. She thought back to Shining Armour’s wedding, and the beautiful beast who almost destroyed it. She was loathe to admit it, but Twilight couldn’t help but be reminded of Princess Celestia when she thought of the changeling queen. Chrysalis was a strong leader, who looked out for her own. She would do anything for the safety and survival of her hive, much like Celestia would do anything for the wellbeing of her subjects. True, Celestia would probably draw the line at conquering a new land and enslaving the indigenous populace, but surely Chrysalis only attempted such an act as a last resort. She stopped walking as a sound of a snapping twig caught her attention. She lifted her gaze from the forest floor to see a small, black form only a few feet in front of her. Its four legs were full of holes. Its eyes were pale blue and devoid of pupils or noticeable emotion. Twilight didn’t need more than a brief glance to know she was looking at a changeling. But, judging by the size of it, this changeling couldn’t be more than a young foal. The changeling youngster looked at the unicorn with a gentle stare, as if probing her psyche with her eyes. “You’re sad,” the changeling stated. “You are longing for something.” It wasn’t a question. “Please. Come with me.” The youngling turned away from Twilight, slowly walking into a thick glade of trees. “Maybe my queen can help you.” Twilight silently swore at herself for perking her ears and falling in step behind the young changeling, a little too eagerly for her comfort. The silence was thick and tangible. Yet it felt comfortable to Twilight. Her wild, unruly thoughts had finally settled, and she was no longer thinking a million thoughts every second. She glanced every now and then at the young changeling who was leading her deeper and deeper into the Everfree. She had remained silent ever since they started walking together, and the anticipation of meeting her queen was starting to overwhelm her. After a while, a large formation of gnarled trees came into view among the forest foliage. It looked like somepony had taken several dozen trees and tied them up into a towering plait, almost making the tree look like a single plant altogether. The youngling placed her horn against the thick, rugged bark, emitting a low green glow from its tip. The green aura spread along the grain of the wood, forming a rounded door arch shape. The door slide down into the ground and the young changeling walked inside, followed swiftly by Twilight. They continued to walk in palpable silence, barring the ambient buzzing sounds that seemed to irradiate from the walls. Twilight looked up and found the walls were paved with hundreds of black bodies, thousands of pairs of cerulean eyes trained on her as the changeling hive members watched her vigilantly as she was lead down a long corridor by her youngling escort. Through the constantly shifting walls of crawling changelings, time was impossible to tell. There was no sunlight in this hive. Only a dim green glow from the changelings’ hides. After following the youngling for, what felt like, hours, Twilight found that the hallway soon opened up into a large hall, not unlike the conference hall back in Canterlot Castle. Stood in the centre was the tall changeling queen herself; Chrysalis. The youngling bowed at Chrysalis’ hooves, and Twilight followed her lead, out of well-bred etiquette. “You may stand,” Chrysalis stated, her voice sounding calm and comforting. The youngling nodded as she rose and silently excused herself, leaving the queen and unicorn alone. “Twilight Sparkle,” Chrysalis greeted her. “What a surprise that you would visit. Though whether it is a pleasant surprise or not is still to be determined.” Twilight tried not to grimace at those words. They seemed so passive aggressive, yet the unicorn couldn’t rightfully claim she blamed Chrysalis for being cautious. “I apologise to intrude, Your Highness.” Twilight bowed once more as a sign of respect. “But your subject-“ “Sensed your unrest, and thought it her duty to bring you to me,” Chrysalis finished her statement without question. “Yes, she made sure to notify me long before your arrival.” The changeling’s eyes seemed to probe Twilight, judging her. “I can say without doubt that I now agree with her judgement.” The queen slowly paced around Twilight in a spacious circle, never letting her eyes wander away from Twilight’s head. “I sense longing. Wistfulness. You feel something is missing in your life. Or you long for it to be a part of your life.” The changeling queen paused and stood straight before the silent unicorn. “Would it surprise you to learn I feel the same?” Twilight gasped at Chrysalis’ words, bringing her gaze to meet hers. The changeling showed no hint of emotion, at least perceivable to the naked eye, and looked as if she had never spoken. Twilight blinked, wondering if she had just been asked an entirely separate question, but her mind had tricked her into believing she had heard her say she felt the same. “I’m sorry?” Chrysalis didn’t react to Twilight’s dumbfounded response. “Does it surprise you to learn that changelings have the capacity to feel their own emotions?” Twilight blinked, stunned that Chrysalis was stood there before her, opening her heart out to her like an old friend. “Then,” Twilight’s mind spun into overdrive as the cogs and gears in her brain wracked themselves for a plausible answer to Chrysalis’ riddles. “Do you… do you know why I feel like this?” Twilight already knew, in her own mind, what the feeling in her heart was telling her. But she wanted the opinion of somepony, or somedrone, else, to cross reference. Chrysalis just stood there, unblinking. Under the bioluminescent glow of her hive, she looked more radiant than Luna’s moon. “You feel a connection to someone. You feel that you and this being could connect on an intimate level, if given the chance. But they are flawed. They do not think in the same way as you. They do not share in your interests, or desires. It saddens you to think of the path they have chosen. But still, you wish to join them on that path. You may not follow their every twist and turn along that path, but you wish to show them new alleyways and tunnels on the road to where they want to be. Yes, Twilight Sparkle. I know what you feel, all too well.” Twilight’s eyes bubbled with salty tears as Chrysalis seemed to read her heart like an open book. She took a tentative step forward. Chrysalis didn’t stop her, or shy away. “I… I-I know this is stupid,” she started, blinking back tears and swallowing air in an attempt to quench her rapidly drying throat. “But… how would you feel about meeting up with me sometime? F-for a coffee, perhaps?” Chrysalis lifted her eyes to her hive, as if looking to them for guidance at Twilight’s request. “You mean as a date?” She queried, meeting the unicorn’s gaze with a soothing smile. “Well… let’s try meeting on friendly terms, and see where it goes from there.” Twilight turned her face to the side in a vain attempt to cover her flushed cheeks. Chrysalis chuckled warmly before lifting her face with a hoof to lock eyes with her. “It would be my pleasure.” Magicman7997 “Wait, let me get this straight. You want ME to be the ambassador to the new Changeling collective? You do remember how this all worked out last time I saw Chrysalis and her brood don't you,” asked one very surprised Twilight Sparkle. She had been summoned to the Royal Court by her former mentor armed with only the knowledge that she was taking on a “new assignment in friendship”. Upon revelation of this new assignment, Twilight did the only thing she could think of. She looked at Celestia like she'd lost her damned mind. “I know you're more than up to the challenge,” the solar diarch replied. “You're own ascension to the Princess of Friendship, plus your magical abilities make you the perfect candidate. If the Changelings are serious about peace, then we must put our best effort forward to ensure it. Luna seemed adamant about giving Chrysalis and her children a chance, given that their need for aid was dire. I'm inclined to believe her too. If you would have seen how broken she looked Twilight, I'm sure you would have been as quick to help her as we have been.” Twilight was at war with herself. On the one hoof, she wasn't sure she could ever forgive the hive queen for what she had done to Shining Armor and Cadance. The wound was still too deep and too fresh for her to overlook. On the other, she didn't want to fail her former mentor either. If this was a way to help ensure further peace in Equestria, then it was her duty, no responsibility, to see it done. “I'd be honored Celestia. I'll begin preparations to leave for the new hive immediately.” She could still remember her first meeting with the hive queen. “Wait, you mean to tell me that Sun Butt chose YOU to be the ambassador?! What did I do to deserve this,” Chrysalis lamented. It seemed to take forever for the two of them to find any common ground. But, when Twilight revealed her research into a self sustaining magical food source, Chrysalis' anger was replaced with wonder. How any ling, let alone a pony of all things could produce such wonders made Chrysalis giddy beyond words. Her hive would live, not only would it live, but it would thrive. And there would be no need to become scavengers once again. At the prospect of all of this, Chryssy was ecstatic, and, if she was completely honest with herself, a little turned on. Through all of this, Chrysalis found more and more reasons to meet with the young princess. Their meetings went through the awkward phases of getting to know each other. Awkwardness gave way to genuine friendship. Friendship gave way to feelings that Chryssy had never had for any ling before. She could scarcely believe it, she was falling for this mare. Twilight was honored by the hive's council for her work in supplying them with and endless food source. With an honorary title and permanent residency secured in the hive, she could stop coming up with “official” reasons for her visits. Over the next few months, the two rulers became as thick as thieves. Sharing private moments with one another caused their infatuation only to grow. At last, after many dates, the two decided to officially become a couple. Before every drone and worker in the hive, the two swore their love for one another. The resulting roar was tremendous as every ling celebrated this momentous occasion. After all was said and done, Twilight mailed off an official report to Celestia on her duties as Ambassador to the hive. “Dear Princess Celestia...” “SHE DID WHAT?!?! Europa         Twilight remembered where they were; it was the first place Chryssy had taken her out on a date. It was a restaurant in Canterlot, one she hadn't been to in a long time since moving to Ponyville. The Prancing Princess was really quite lovely. Not extremely high class, not too down to earth, but a comfortable in-between. The two of them sat around a table, Twilight eating a delightfully seasoned platter of spaghetti and hayballs, Chrysalis enjoying her love... and a side of soy bacon. They got a few looks, but that was less of it being a pony and a changeling and more of it being a princess and a queen given that there were quite a few other changelings in their natural forms enjoying the taste of a meal. She really enjoyed herself. She and her marefriend talked excitedly about multiple things, Chryssy pretended to want to invade the Dragon Highlands, Twilight conjured glasses and gave a mini-lecture on quantum thermodynamics that had them both laughing. Eventually, they cleared away their meals and ordered desert. While they split a large chocolate sundae, Chrysalis began talking. "Oh, remember when... when I came back after the wedding? What was it, four years ago?" "Four years, three months, seven days," she corrected. She rolled her multi-irised eyes. "Yes, that. Remember that day?" "How can I forget? Tirek was going to kill us, but you... wow, I don't know how you did that." She shrugged. "Just hypnosis. Didn't hold on him too well, too much power, but it gave you enough time to open the box." Twilight smiled. "Thank you for that, by the way. I still need to repay you for that." Chrysalis shook her head. "No, no. You've done more than enough, talking the other princesses into allying with us." Twilight opened her mouth to protest, so in response Chrysalis levitated a spoon of ice cream and shoved it into her mouth. "I insist. And... and after the treatise you were so kind to me, no matter how much of a horsefly I was to you." She smirked. "Wasn't long before you worked up the nerve and asked me here." Twilight nodded, the memories rushing back. She swallowed the ice cream and removed the spoon. "I remember. You laughed in my face, and then you said yes." Chrysalis had the decency to look embarrassed. "I thought you were really going to turn me down." "No. You were just too cute." Chrysalis's horn pulsed, absorbing another scrap of love. "And your emotions are amazing. But that date was... it was fun. I found myself quite fond of you, you know. Very quickly. It's a shame I can't feed off my own love for you, or I'd be set for life. And after that first date, you invited me on another, and another, and another..." Chrysalis sighed, staring off into space. "Eventually I called you to my hive, and you weren't totally creeped out like other ponies were." "Oh right!" she said. "You showed me around, and then we went to your chambers..." Chrysalis licked her lips and gave her a sultry look. "Indeed. I didn't know you could scream like that." Twilight began to stammer, and in response Chryssy shoved more ice cream in her mouth. "Relax. It was that day... I'd known for a while you loved me, changeling and all that, but that was the day that I realized I loved you. Honestly, truly did." Chryssy took a deep breath, and then went on. "Twilight, you've done so much for me. You were the one who gave us a chance, who engineered the Consensual Feeding Act, orchestrated the mutual prisoner release. I can stay at this restaurant all night, just listing all you've done for me and my people, Twily." She reached up with a holed hoof and wiped away a tear. "Thank you, for everything." Twilight smiled back at her. "Chryssy, you don't need to thank me for doing the right thing. Anypony would've done it." "But that's just it! Not just anyling would've done it. You were the one who saw the good in us, the good in me, even when I myself didn't. You saved me, in so many ways." "It hasn't been one sided, you know," Twilight reminded her. "You saved us from Tirek, you spied on that rebel group, and you... you gave me somepony to love, to hold me on all those nights that I felt so alone." She reached around the sundae in between them and rested her hoof on Chryssy's relishing in the feeling of the warm, hard exoskeleton on her coat. "Thank you. Thank you." She pulled the foreleg away and used it to wipe her own eyes. Chrysalis looked back at her lovingly. "I know, Twilight, I know. You've given me so much of yourself, a-and I've given you so much of me. I don't want this to ever end." Her horn lit up, and Twilight heard the queen's saddlebags rustling. "Twilight, I love you with my whole heart, and I know you feel the same way." She pulled something out into Twilight's field of vision. It was a necklace made of fine green silk, and around the neck was a small sphere of amber and in that amber, figurines of herself and Chryssy embracing and kissing. Chrysalis got up and stood before her, holding out the necklace. She leaned back her head and exposed her thorax, an old instinct commanding her to let Twilight bite her head off if she so chose. The changeling's already double-toned voice grew shaky. "Will you make me the happiest worker in the world, and marry me?" Twilight's heart rose into her throat, then slammed down into her flanks. She couldn't breathe. It took her brain several moments to reset, to process the information, the request! When her mind finally got itself back together she stumbled out of her seat, dessert long forgotten, and took the necklace in her magic. She levitated it on and secured it behind her neck. She couldn't speak. Her breaths were quick. She closed her eyes - tearing up - and nodded. It was... it was all too much. She nodded, and nodded again and again, then when Chrysalis came in to embrace her she leaned up and captured her in a long kiss, tracing her tongue along her teeth, the sharp points of her fangs. Around them, the restaurant exploded into cheers and stomping hooves. Knight of Lycaeus Spike watched as Twilight wore a steadily deepening groove in the newly created castle, "Twilight", he said trying to catch her attention. Twilight was silent as she continued her pacing. Spike sighed, looking at the groove it was possible a bridge would be needed between the thrones and the door. "Okay Twilight", putting himself directly in her circling path. Twilight stopped when she noticed that she had bumped into a dragon who she just stared at mutely. "This needs to stop." Holding out a closed fist he began reciting a list. Raising the first finger, "One, this needs to stop. The groove is even worse than when you were messing with that time spell. This floor is crystal, harder than wood." as he led her out of the deep groove. A second finger was raised as they left the throne room, "Two, I know what's wrong. You need to deal with it." The third finger was raised in the hallway linking the throne room to the entrance hall, "Three, I don't agree with it but you should go for it anyway. You would be more sad if you don't." They entered the entrance hall when Spike raised his fourth finger, "Fourth, consequences shouldn't stop you. Yes, you care about rules but not if it's for something so important. Crystal Empire, Crystal Heart, and Sombra are good reminders for that." His hand was now open, "Lastly, we're at the door, so go." Spike pushed Twilight out the main door and placed a hand over a nearby ward. It wouldn't last against a determined Twilight but it would be a good delaying tactic for him to either come up with a better plan or to find a good hiding spot. But it also might ensure she that would deal with it. Twilight blinked, her mind had been distracted and she had allowed Spike to silently kick her out of their home. "Damn it, Spike!" Twilight sighed, she could go back in to deal with her pushy assistant and then go back to worrying or she would take Spike's advice and go for it. It wasn't the best idea, at least to her but Spike had agreed that she should at least take the chance. Another sigh and she lit her horn for a teleport to Canterlot, she had someone to see. Chrysalis sat in one of the guest rooms, she and what remained of the Hive arrived at the doorstep of Canterlot Castle a few months ago looking for whatever could be spared. After the failed wedding invasion it had taken Chrysalis almost a year to locate all the survivors of the Hive and with how powerful the blast had been it took some of them far. The following year was spent trying to build a new home but Changelings were welcomed nowhere. Canterlot was the last possible solution, her Hive greatly diminished had come here with a desperate plea for aid. In the few months since, the Equestrian Triarchy and the Crystal Empress had provided aid and were exploring options about establishing the Hive near Canterlot. Things hadn't been easy, the fear from the populace aside, Tirek's brief return had set things back slightly and what was even more puzzling was how the youngest Equestrian Princess who had been helpful in settling the Changelings and their Queen into the new changes had been more distant lately. She had noted that Twilight Sparkle had been a bit distant a first, helpful but distant but slowly she had spent more and moe time with Chrysalis. However for these past few weeks she had steadily attempted to avoid Chrysalis, so it was a surprise to find Twilight outside her room. "Hello Chrysalis", Twilight said quietly in the way of a greeting. "Twilight Sparkle, this is u-" Chrysalis stopped when she sensed something different. What she had sensed, could it be? Was this why Twilight had been avoiding her? Twilight gave a small smile, "You sensed it?" Chrysalis nodded. Twilight sighed, "It's true, it's been true for a while now but I thought it wasn't a good idea." "So why now?" "A certain young dragon gave me the push I needed. I'm still uncertain about this but yes I have fallen in love with you. Anonymoose “What do you mean, you’re leaving us?” “What do you think I mean, bug brain!” Chrysalis angrily tossed another black-lace dress across the room, onto the pile on her sleeping ring. “I’m leaving, I’ve had it with your jealousy!” “Our jealousy?” the voices screamed in unison. “We were not the ones who got knocked up by that… that harlot!” “By the Spinner’s ovipositor, you can’t help but bring that up, can you!” Chrysalis looked down at her swollen abdomen, ready to burst with egg. “It was an accident! You know that neither of us planned on this happening!” Chrysalis used her magic to open her drawers. She looked at the contents within in. How many nights had she degraded herself, wearing lingerie, socks, teddies and a variety of other naughty outfits… all in hopes that they would be able to have hatchlings together. She closed the draw again in disgust. “We have never had a problem with reproduction before… so it must be you!” Chrysalis scoffed. “Yeah, right! She didn’t seem to have any problem. If you were half the stallion she was—” Thousands of snarls echoed through the walls of the hive. The twelve changelings in Chrysalis’ bedroom screamed simultaneously, “We are literally ten-thousand times the stallion she is! Literally. We are ten-thousand strong… and she is a mare!” “Mare enough to give me this,” Chrysalis whispered, tenderly rubbing her abdomen. “You were nothing but a disgusting, fleshy little pony when we found you!” the changelings snarled. “We made you as you are today, beautiful and whole! We made you our Queen, and all We asked for in return was for you to bear us thousands of hatchlings!” “It’s not my fault you can’t get it—” “That’s never happened before,” the hive collectively muttered, a thousand chitinous faces ablush. Chrysalis sighed. “Look, Hivey… we’ve had some good times… great times, even! But… I think it’s time for both of us to move on.” Chrysalis looked down at her stomach. “I don’t want them to… I don’t want them to grow up in this kind of hivehold. Can’t you… can’t you just be happy for me? Can’t you be happy for the mare you once loved?” The faces of the hive turned away from Chrysalis, not wanting her to see the ichor running from their collective eyes. “We still love you, Chrysalis… We probably always will. If you wish to be with her… then We guess We can not stop you.” Chrysalis placed a gentle hoof on the two changelings closest to her. “Thank you. I know you will find someone else. You’re a wonderful collective hivemind. You’ll see, soon enough, that this is the right move… for the both of us.” She placed a chaste kiss on the forehead of each changeling in her room, before taking her leave. “Goodbye, Hivey.” “Honey,” Twilight Velvet called out to her husband, “there’s somepony at the door. Could you get it?” “I’ll get it, Mom,” Twilight Sparkle replied, putting down the rolling pin. “Oh, sweetie, you don’t need to do tha—” “Mom, I have servants waiting on me hoof-and-hoof at home,” Twilight replied, already trotting towards the door. “I love coming here because I get to do the little things for myself again. Oh, you don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve answered a door!” Twilight could hear her mother chuckling from the kitchen. I wonder who it could be, at this hour. Twilight opened the door, finding a cloaked figure standing before her. “Can… can I help you?” “Hi, Twilight,” a voice from beneath the cloak replied. A very distinct voice. A voice thick with its own reverb, as if two or more ponies were speaking at once. “Chrysalis!” Twilight hissed, lighting her horn. “I thought you got the point last time I blasted you! What are you doing here?” “I mean you no harm, Twilight… in fact, it is about the, uhh… events… of the Secretariat Comet that we have sought you out…” “What do you m—” Twilight gasped as Chrysalis removed the cloak, revealing a very swollen abdomen. “How‽” “Changeling biology.” “That doesn’t… wait!” Twilight turned around, and called out through the house. “Moooooooom! You can stop bugging me to give you grandfoals now!” Meanwhile, two hundred miles from Canterlot, a mare staggered into a bar for happy hour. She stepped through the door, slightly unnerved by the eyes of every stallion watching her as she crossed the floor to the bar. “Hey, Suds,” Berry Punch greeted her favorite griffon, “pour us a pint, would ya?” As Berry Punch gratefully accepted the mug of ale from the griffon, twelve stallions stood from their table, and walked towards her. “Hey, baby. You come here often?” lyra_lover777 Chrysalis sat, curled up in her wet cell. Water was dripping quietly from the ceiling. Pit pat. Pit pat. Chrysalis sighed as  she felt her eyes start to water. Chrysalis sucked in the tears, keeping a good composure. But then she realized no pony or changeling was around, and let it out, her tears pouring against the stone floor. Pit Pat. Pit Pat. After several minutes, Chrysalis's tears began to dry up. She sniffed and wiped her eyes, rolling onto her back as she looked up at the dripping ceiling. The water hit her muzzle with a Pit pat. Pit pat. Chrysalis rolled back onto her belly, groaning as her stomach rumbled. Suddenly she heard a sound, like hoofsteps, approaching her cell. They went pit pat. Pit pat. The owner of the hoofsteps was a lavender unicorn, who was trotting towards her cell slowly. Twilight stopped at the bars of the cell. Water dripped above her and hit her head with a pit pat. Pit pat. Twilight slid a tray with green goo on it under the bars of the cell. With each push, a noise sounding like rain emiited from the tray. Pit pat. Pit pat. Chrysalis slowly got up, her legs shaking, her body weak. Her hoofsteps as she approached the tray sounded through the dark hall. Pit pat. Pit pat. Chrysalis looked up into the eyes of Twilight, those beautiful purple irises digging into her soul. A feeling of warmth and happiness, the only other feeling besides depression, rushed through her heart, which went Pit pat. Pit pat. She looked at the curved body of Twilight, her luscious mane wet from the dripping ceiling. Chrysalis grabbed the tray and began to eat, the spoon hitting the tray with a pit pat. Pit pat. Chrysalis smiled up at Twilight as she pushed the now empty tray under the bars of the cell. And to her amazement, Twilight cracked a small smile before turning away, retreating around the corner. The sound of Chrysalis's hooves as she danced around in joy made a happy sound, a familiar sound. Pit pat. Pit pat. Pit pat. Ephraim Blue What a silly question Twilight had asked her. A very silly question indeed. ‘Do you love me?’ And even though that seemed to be the only question Twilight asked her nowadays, the answer was obvious. And even though the answer was obvious, Chrysalis couldn’t answer. She didn’t know why. She just never felt right answering that question. Not even when they first came to see each other, she didn’t admit her love then either. It was just too obvious. ‘Yes.’ That’s all it took. That’s all she had to say. And no matter how many times she told herself that, she couldn’t bring herself to admit it. Why did Twilight still ask her that question? The answer was too obvious, wasn’t it? She didn’t have to answer, did she? ‘Do you love me?’ The question haunted her. The question that she had never answered since the two of them first started seeing each other. The question that was so obvious, it didn’t need to be answered… Right? But it still haunted her. It haunted her sleep. She’d spent the last month of her time away from her swarm to spend with her love, Twilight. And every night, she’d slept perfectly fine, no worrying at any point during that wondrous month. Not tonight. Tonight was different. Tonight, no sleep came to her. Luna’s moon shone brightly into the room of her love. It cast the window’s shadow across the floor, along with the curtains that had been left open. Was that the reason she stayed up? Because of the light of the moon? No… That wasn’t it. She had spent over half the day out in Celestia’s sun. Was that the reason? Was it because Celestia’s sun had left some sort of imprint on her during the day? No… That wasn’t it either. Perhaps it was that stallion she drained the love out of earlier. Was he the reason? He was handsome, even for a royal guard. And a royal pain in the butt, that was even more certain. But was he the reason? He was bothering her to head to Sugar Cube Corner, even if only to ‘hang out’, so he said. No… She was certain that wasn’t it. But… If it wasn’t any of those reasons… What was it? She glanced over at Twilight, who had fallen asleep some time ago beside her. She looked cute while sleeping. Chrysalis smiled down at her, and bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Twilight shifted a bit after Chrysalis moved her lips away from the purple alicorn, but smiled in her sleep regardless. Chrysalis smiled as well, looking down at her lover. Then a thought struck her. Out of all those times that Chrysalis was asked that question, she never answered. Although the answer was obvious, she still hadn’t answered. Maybe that’s what kept her up… It seemed reasonable. Although, if the answer was obvious… Then why should she answer? Twilight already knows the answer and telling her would be pointless! Twilight stirred, causing Chrysalis to jump sudden movement. The purple alicorn looked up from the pillow her head rested on. “Chrysalis?” she called quietly. “What’re you doing up?” Chrysalis nervously smiled down upon the alicorn. “Nothing,” she lied. Should I tell her? She already knows, doesn’t she? “Chrysalis?” She looked down at Twilight. “Yes?” “You never answered my question… Just like every other day this past month…” Chrysalis gulped. “Won’t you please answer for me?” “Wh- Don’t you already know?” “Of course I do!” Twilight said, slightly offended. “I just want to hear it from you.” “Is… Is that the only reason?” Twilight shook her head, but also moved her entire body while still lying down on the bed. Why does she have to do that? She looks so cute! “I won’t say it to you unless you say it to me first.” Realization hit Chrysalis. Twilight never said it to her… Challenge accepted. “Alright then.” She nuzzled down and pecked Twilight’s cheeks with her lips. “I love you Twilight.” Twilight smiled back. “I love you too, Chrysalis.” Foals Errand Chrysalis carefully slunk into the Palace of Friendship. How foolish of you Twilight Sparkle, no spells to keep anyling out no guards even? A soft snore reached her ears and she grinned.That meddlesome dragon was asleep already, no need for a sleep spell tonight. Left, right, straight, right, right, left… here we are. In front of her was a crystal door with a very familiar mark carved into it. She carefully opened in stepping inside and closing it without a sound. Curled up in a large bed was her target. The pretty purple pony princess, Chrysalis climbed onto the bed and laid down next to her. “Hello Twilight, you would not believe the day I had. The council outvoted me again about requesting aide from Equestria. Maybe I just need to request asylum?” She ran her hoof through Twilight’s mane. Twilight breathed gently beside her. “How long has it been since I started coming to visit you like this? I’ve learned so much from you Twilight since the failed invasion.” Her horn glowed a dark green sipping at the love that Twilight always radiated. “You taught me that the sweetest love is from friendship and that it feeds us as well as romantic love.” Twilight mumbled. “Why can’t I come to you during the day? Why can’t I bring myself to see you face to face with your eyes wide open?” Chrysalis laid her head on the pillow looking at Twilight’s peaceful face. “...Why can’t I admit to you that…” “Chrysalis?” Chrysalis blinked Twilight was staring at her with a small smile. “You’re really bad at telling when a pony is pretending to sleep. Now get under the covers.” The changeling wiggled under the blanket as Twilight curled to her “Tomorrow we’ll go to Canterlot, you can request asylum for yourself and any changeling who will following you.” Twilight smiled at the started queen. “I’ll vouch for you.” “How do you know you can trust me?” Twilight seemed to consider then pressed her lips to Chrysalis’ “because I love you.” A tear trailed down Chrysalis’ cheek. “...I love you…” I was wrong friendship is wonderful, but true love. The taste, the feeling is indescribable.