//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: Sweet Hearts and Princesses // by lollipopchica //------------------------------// “Is it edible?” Delia stared at the ugly cake her newest hire had baked as she poked at it curiously. Chrysalis scowled at the skeptical looking earth pony. “I followed your recipe exactly!” She insisted obviously offended. “Doesn’t look like it…” Was the shop keeper’s hesitant remark. The changeling mare huffed as she folded her forelegs across her chest, settling down on her haunches. The strawberry lemonade cake was a summer special the citizens of Canterlot went crazy over. However, this particular cake looked like a strawberry threw up all over itself after being attacked by a deranged rainbow. “Oh don’t be that way,” Delia grinned as she moved to slice the tortured cake. “It’s the ugly ones that taste the best. C’mon.” The dark mare softened at the encouraging words. “Really?” She stood watching as her boss sliced her baby like the pro she was. She really had tried to make it look pretty but piping was something she had yet to master. “Really.” It was the changeling princess’ third day employed as a baker at Delia’s shop. So far she’d been able to pull her weight not only surprising herself and the shop owner, but also surprising the stallion who was becoming an integral part of her life. Thinking of said stallion, it was then that her employer mentioned her relationship with him. “I haven’t seen Shining Armor hanging around you lately. Everything alright?” Delia grabbed some napkins to serve the cake on. The changeling princess wouldn’t meet her gaze. “We’re on hiatus.” “Is that so?” The older mare grinned offering her a slice of her handiwork. Chrysalis accepted as a light blush fanned her cheeks. It was then that the jingle of the doorbell singled the arrival of a guest. The two looked over to see Shining Armor, his sister and Cadence. After the trio had been seated, the stallion politely excused himself to the bathroom in the back. To Delia’s amusement her worker excused herself as well. Those two were silly if they thought they were fooling anypony. They were probably snogging each other shamelessly in the back she thought sampling a piece of cake. “What time will you be home tonight?” The coal colored mare breathed between kisses. She didn’t know why they pretended not to notice each other in public, but it made for good fun. The stallion groaned against her mouth. “Be there at twelve. No duty tonight.” He pressed closer to her enjoying the reprieve as he wouldn’t see her again until much later. She grinned as they nuzzled each other before breaking apart. “See you then, blockhead.” *-*1111*-* Twilight didn’t know who her brother thought he was fooling, but she was neither deaf nor dumb. Either Shining Armor was bipolar or he was involved in something illegal. A little while ago, he was acting like a pony who’d lost his best friend. Now he was acting like a pony who’d just found residence in la-la-land. Her bother had always been somewhat observant, but now it seemed his thoughts were always preoccupied. Not an ominous preoccupied but just obviously distracted. Like the other day... “Uhh, Shining Armor… You do know that you just put your grimoire in the freezer... Don’t you?” Twilight stared at her brother oddly. Why would he put his spell book in the freezer? “Really?” The stallion blinked as if he were emerging from a dream. “Yea…” “Oops! Thanks Twiley!” He retrieved his grimoire only to put in the bread box. Or the day before that... “….” “Shining Armor… Did you hear a word I just said?” Asked Skylight Sparkle, the children’s mother. “Uhhh… yeah… I’ll be sure to take out the trash before I leave.” Her son walked as if he were in a daze. His eyes were half-lidded as a goofy grin graced his maw. “What?” Amethyst eyes were narrowed in confusion.” I asked if you could pick up some eggs and milk…” And then just last week... “Looks amazing, dear!” The mare of the house had spent all afternoon preparing the family’s favorite stew. Skylight smiled warmly at her husband. “Eat up, sweetie!” “Sweet Celestia! Sky Light,(wheezes) what did you put in this soup?!” “What’s wrong?!” His face was turning all shades of red. “It’s (gag) waay (cough) too (gag) ack(cough)!” “Shining Armor, which brand of tomato paste did you buy?” “The red one?” “Shining! That’s Muy Muy Caliente! Your poor father!” “Ma….ker!” “Astral!” Thinking back on it, her brother had been something of an uncharted island. Her father was still hoarse from the pepper incident. At first she thought maybe Chrystal had something to do with it, but she hadn’t truly been around the mare in what felt like weeks. Not that she was complaining, but she preferred to believe her brother was on drugs than to accept the fact that he missed the self-serving mare. Tonight she vowed to catch and confront him. Indigo eyes watched as her bedside clock slowly but surely made its way round. It’d be midnight soon and since Shining Armor’s detail was not assigned guard duty she knew that whatever he was involved in would probably happen when he thought everypony was asleep. Ten minutes later, her intuition did not disappoint. Placing her ear against the wall, she could hear muffled voices and light shuffling. “Gotcha!” She whispered to herself. Hopping off the bed as softly as she could, she carefully made her way to her bedroom door moving with all the grace of a zephyr. Her brother’s room was right beside hers so the walk to his door was done rather quickly. “…..” “……” “…..” What were they saying? She took a step forward and- CREEEEAAK! She halted with a wide eyed look on her face. Crap! Before her brother could catch on, she dashed forward and burst into his room. There was a flash of movement and the filly had to blink as she realized that the only thing she was staring at was her brother who was staring back wide-eyed sitting up in bed. “Twilight?” He squinted in the dark trying to make out his sister’s silhouette. “Shiny?” Her indigo eyes narrowed as she was sure he had been talking to somepony. She stepped into his room ready to demand answers when a chill ran up her spine, making her wary. She tilted her head at the expression on her brother’s face. “What’s… going on?” Twilight couldn’t shake the feeling of unease as a dormant sense was awakened by a primordial sense of self-preservation. Slowly the filly craned her neck around as she came face to face with an unholy manifestation of the night. Her tiny heart shuddered in her chest as her mouth fell open to scream. But before she could push the sound out of her throat she was quickly yanked into the creature’s warm embrace as a hoof firmly blocked the passage trapping her scream in her throat. The door slammed shut and Twilight realized there was more going on than she bargained for. Harlequin eyes shone brightly in the darkness as they bore deep into wide indigo irises. Chrysalis could taste both ponies fear and anxiousness as the situation sunk in. An ancient spell was in the process of being weaved when Shining Armor recovered from his stupor. What was Chrystal doing to his sister? The intense expression on shadowed features was mirrored by a look of pure captivation on Twilight’s part. But even more pressing than his mare friend hypnotizing his sister, there was the thought of what his parents would do to him if they walked in on all of this. The changeling magic delved deep into the filly’s mind touching and rearranging synapses to seamlessly blend Twilight’s perception to a reality of Chrysalis’ choosing. “You’re tired, Twilight” she murmured softly. Shining Armor stared on still at a lost for what to do. “Sooo… tired,” the filly yawned as she found herself drowning in pools of green. “Go back to bed and sleep…” Chrystal lulled. “In the morning you won’t remember a thing… just that you haven’t slept this good in ages.” “Just that… I haven’t sle…pt…. good… in…” The lavender colored filly was out like a light as Chrysalis held her sleeping form in her grasp. Harlequin eyes seemed to dim as they looked up from their latest prey to lock eyes with Shining Armor. “What did you do?” He managed, eyes still wide at the entire display. “I just gave her a faint suggestion.” He’d never seen a spell like that before. Frankly, he found it unnerving. “You brainwashed my sister?” She didn’t like the tone of his voice. “In blockhead terms...” Chrystal rolled her eyes as he hastened across the room and took the sleeping filly from her. She could taste his change in feeling and it bothered her. “Are you upset with me?” “I don’t know…” He was acting as if he didn’t know her. As if she’d done something so egregious that the very fabric of the universe would rip due to her transgression. “It was either that or…” She stopped when she realized he wasn’t listening. “Shining?” “Maybe you should go.” He stuttered holding tightly to his little sister. The mare stood there speechless. Was he kicking her out? She opened her mouth to speak but decided against as a name surfaced in her thoughts. “Right…” This was why she couldn’t be with him. Deep down inside, where it really mattered, she was nothing like him. There was nothing pure or noble about her and this was just the wake-up call she needed. “This was a mistake.” Part of him was screaming that he not let her walk away, but the other part was too freaked out to process what had just happened. He watched as she climbed out of his window and disappeared into the night.