//------------------------------// // Crystals by Knight of Lycaeus // Story: Tainted Love: A Twysalis Prompt Tag Collab // by Foals Errand //------------------------------// By Knight of Lycaeus The Hive was self-sufficient! We needed none to help us survive and yet the words of that orange apple pony are still bothering me! Why? Hard years are nothing to a lifetime of meager conditions and the very notion of family, ha! The Hive is not a family but our means to survive and every Hive operates on its own, it lives or dies on its own accord. I sighed. Yet why had I allowed myself to plea for help? Why would I do so? Was it for my own survival or the survival of the Hive or was I a coward for doing so? I wasn't sure anymore. Thoughts like these dogged me as the Princess led me through the streets escorted by one of the new guards. I thought it was bad enough when the personal guards of the Canterlot Princesses landed a few days ago but these new guards were very different. A sparkling appearance that seemed to reflect the light and light blue armour in a style I had never seen before. Those damn ponies look like some foolish fairy tale that some fools dreamed up with shining coat and antiqued armours. "Chrysalis, are you alright?" asked Twilight as she noticed Chrysalis trail behind. "Fine." was the clipped response, "Where are we going to?" "We're going to Rarity's. I had hoped to introduce you to her first but having you meet Applejack certainly helped. She may not like you but she has started accepting you. It helps the town be more at ease with you and the other Changelings." I gave a brief nod, most of the ponies were still skittish but not to the same degree as before. As for my Hive, some of them have been disappearing only to return with an abundance of positive emotions enough to cultivate into Nectar. Despite the Hive Mind I had little idea of where they went to find such a fine harvest. What also confused me was the Princess, she had been friendly even to me, me who was once her enemy and by all rights certainly had power over. She held the fate of the Hive and yet she didn't crush us or destroy us but she offered to spend time with me to work on obtaining the best possible outcome from our surrender. "Darling!" a voice called out breaking my train of thought. We turned to see a white unicorn sitting at an outdoor café. "Hello Twilight. It's certainly pleasant to see you." She turned to face me, "Hello Chrysalis, I trust Twilight's been a good host?" I merely nodded. The rather flamboyant unicorn was difficult to handle during the failed invasion; she seemed rather pushy once she started talking. Her talking! Her endless chatter was like the dull hum of the Hive Mind but far worse! "You seemed more at ease with Chrysalis than you had been a few days ago." Twilight said. "Ah, that darling was mere reluctance. What could I say, our only meeting was when the Changelings came charging in to ruin one of the most majestic weddings between the beautiful Princess and her dashing Knight." "Rarity" Twilight said in a low tone, "That was not a romance novel; that was my family." Rarity waved a hoof, "I know that my dear, I mean no offence. Still it before I knew what an opportunity there was to be made. Our dear friend Pinkie Pie has found that too." This got me curious perhaps an answer to the wandering drones and workers, "What would that be?" "Why, business of course! The very adaptability of their appearances works wonders for Pinkie's parties but also my own work. They capture a pony in a way no ponyquin could." "What?", was this the mysterious source of positive energy? "Opportunities such as these are positive examples of how Changelings and Ponies could co-exist." interjected a different voice. I turned to see that the Princess had added her thoughts to the matter. I was about to argue but they had a point, those had given us access to create more Nectar. The white pony looked startled, "Oh where are my manners? We started a conversation without proper introductions! I am Rarity, proprietor of Carousal Boutique and former Bearer of the Element of Generosity." Mentally I sighed, far too used to the formal introductions that signalled the start of a meeting of the Collective. "Chrysalis, Queen of the Outcasted Western Desert Ridge Hive." With that done the unicorn's eyes began darting all over me, "Well you do have a fine figure even without disguising yourself as Empress Cadance. Yes, without disguises, what a fine model you could be." "Why would I even consider the idea?", personally it seemed to be a waste of time. "As I stated earlier it is an excellent example of cooperation." Twilight answered, "These could help you and the Hive be granted permanent residency in Equestria." "Indeed and you be the star basking in the praise and adoration and my talents could help. The gems or crystals of cutie mark demonstrate my abilities to find gems but also how I bring out one's inner beauty. A crystal may be considered a mirror; it is reflective of one's self. In my work I merely bring it out and shine it for all the world to see." Again we were interrupted this time by a pair walking by looking for the talkative unicorn; it was that mismatched thing and the quiet pegasus. "Hello Twilight. Rarity good to see you. Oh and Chrysalis better being out and about than inside, hm?" Discord said. Wonderful I could feel an oncoming headache from hearing that mismatched thing, it was a close race between the flamboyant unicorn, the crazy pink pony, and that mad patchwork for who would drive me insane first. "We came to find you Rarity. You weren't home and today's our weekly get together." said the quiet pony. "Indeed, look here's last week's project!" Discord said waving a long purple object. "Is that supposed to be the worm from when Cadance and I went to fetch that flower?" Twilight asked. "Oh no! No worm but maybe a larva after hatching from its egg gathering all that it can to become a cocoon", as he said this the purple object inched around his body, "No Twilight this is knitted yarn. This is a leg." "A leg?" Why would he need a fake leg made of yarn? Discord gave a wide smile, "Of course. A pony needs legs or it falls like a domino or perhaps a card house" as he snapped in an oddly shaped house of mismatched items that looked doomed to fall. Rarity stood up to join the new arrivals, "Well I am running late so farewell for now. Oh and Chrysalis do consider my offer, it could be wondrous for us both." Rarity said as she followed the other two out. As she left I had to admit putting some thoughts about her idea but the lingering thoughts about the fear that most ponies still held for Changelings made me doubt it. However with how some of the Hive had returned maybe there could be some merit to it.