Chrysalis grumbled before rolling out of bed, her side smacking down onto the floor. Yawning, she got to her hooves and stumbled into the bathroom, staring at herself in the mirror.
Her mane was in a mess, tangles everywhere. She noticed that she seemed a little taller, and her horn also seemed to have grown over the night. Opening her mouth, she examined her shining fangs and teeth, her chompers appearing to be in tip-top condition. With a small smile to herself, she turned away from the mirror and entered the shower.
Peering at the taps, she gave each an equal turn with her magic. She jolted when the stream started off cold but it soon warmed up to an acceptable level, Chrysalis sighing while going for the shampoo bottle on the tiled floor. Slowly she started to work the knots out with a fine comb, humming a simple tune to herself.
A tapping at the door distracted her, and when she glanced down she spotted a nymphs gazing up at her in curiosity.
‘I thought they were all still asleep,’ she mused to herself, before opening the shower door.
The nymph, it’s tag stating that it was Reflection, reached out a hoof towards the water drops. It was then that Chrysalis realised that she hadn’t even given the nymphs a bath yet, noting it down on a mental list. Smiling down at Reflection, she beckoned the nymph in with a hoof. “Come on, it’s only water.”
Reflection hesitantly stepped into the cubical, her hooves splashing down into the puddle of water at the drain. Chrysalis shut the door and shifted to the side so that the stream would hit the child, Reflection standing still under the flow of water.
Slightly alarmed that the child didn’t like it, Chrysalis peered down with a furrowed brow.
Reflection, however, was far from panicked. Instead of a frown her face was locked in a grin, and slowly she started to move around so that the water massaged her back. With a grin to herself, Chrysalis returned to combing her mane. She wanted it long and flowing again, so that she could continue to show off its silkiness to Chalmers.
“Chrysalis?”
She looked down at Reflection’s question, the nymph looking up at her. Slowly, Reflection lifted a foreleg without falling over and tapped her own bald head, Chrysalis smiling down sadly.
“Sorry Reflection, you don’t have a mane.” The nymph lowered her head, Chrysalis sighing before spotting the child’s tail. “We can do your tail though.”
“Yes!” Reflection agreed with rapid nods of her head, Chrysalis chuckling at the sudden mood change. Levitating the shampoo bottle, Reflection watching with awe the entire time, she squeezed out a sizeable amount and lathered it into Reflection’s tail. The nymph herself tried to help by sitting down, rubbing in the soap with her hooves. Motioning for her to stand back up, Chrysalis started to run the comb through the dark grey hairs.
It took some force to get the many knots out, but soon Reflection’s tail was almost as flowing as her own mane. The nymph herself appeared overjoyed at the result, Chrysalis shaking her head while the child spun around in an attempt to catch her now-clean tail.
Finishing off her own hair, Chrysalis shut off the water and stood in the cubical for a few moments. Thanks to her chitin, most of the moisture flowed off while her mane and tail slowly dried. She stepped out and held the door open for Reflection, levitating a simple white towel from the rack with the intent of drying both of them.
Reflection however had other ideas, the nymph bolting from the room leaving wet hoof prints behind. Chrysalis shook her head and proceeded to dry herself, quickly finishing and hanging the towel back up. Trotting back into the bedroom, she saw that the rest of the nymphs were slowly waking up, a few wearing annoyed expressions and moisture marks on their faces.
Evidently Reflection had taken it upon herself to wake up the others, whether they wanted it or not.
Satisfied that they would be able to entertain themselves for a short while, Chrysalis opened the door and left the room with Chalmers’ room in mind. With the door shut behind her she moved on to the one to the left of hers, the barrier sliding open.
She frowned when she observed that it was empty, and briefly considered checking Platinum’s room.
‘No,’ Chrysalis thought to herself. ‘He wouldn’t even dare.’
Turning to instead walk down the corridor towards the living room and elevator, she trotted on her way with her mind turning away from the unpleasant thoughts. Passing the empty kitchen and recreational room, she guessed that no-one else was awake yet. Wondering what time it was, she pressed the elevator controls and waited for it to descend.
One quick ride to the command level later and she stepped out of the cylinder, the room still dark with the ‘windows’ turned off.
“Lights,” she called out, remembering that Chalmers had set the lights to turn on at a verbal command.
The scene that she was met with was a little disturbing, to say the least.
Sombra was slumped against Nigel’s command chair, an empty bottle clutched in his forehooves. Nigel likewise was slouched in his command chair, a lampshade on his head.
Chrysalis didn’t even know that they had lamps in the base, she sure hadn’t seen one.
Staring at the pair, she assumed that the meeting the previous night had gone smoother than expected. Both were still alive, so no major disagreements must have come up. Rolling her eyes and sighing, she took a brief moment to make sure her mane was tidy before softly trotting over towards Chalmers.
Side-stepping around the slumbering Sombra, Chrysalis tapped Nigel on the shoulder, earning a snort but no further response.
“Typical,” she muttered, before standing on her hind hooves and placing both forelegs on his shoulders. With a shake the zonked-out human spluttered before opening his eyes, Chrysalis beaming at him. “Good Morning!”
“Morning,” he mumbled back, looking towards her hooves on his shoulders. He shrugged before a hand went to the top of her head, Chrysalis sighing happily when it scratched her behind the ears. “You’re feeling quite chirpy, it seems.”
“I had a great shower,” she explained, before tilting her head so that the fingers reached a wider area. “I take it that your meeting with Sombra went well.”
“Hmm?” Nigel hummed, before the scratching stopped and his eyes widened. Glancing around the room, his gaze stopped when it settled upon the King. Chrysalis dropped back to the ground and slowly stepped back, giving Nigel room to leave the chair. The human threw off the lampshade, bent down, and carefully removed the empty bottle from Sombra’s hooves, before giving the unicorn a nudge in the flank.
Sombra frowned when something interrupted his dream; they always ended before the juicy parts. A second blow to his right flank roused him fully, and he raised a hoof to his head.
‘How much did I have to drink last night?’ he wondered while wincing, not having heavily indulged in alcohol since his teenage years. He opened his eyes, blinking away the sleep and looking around.
He was situated on a rather comfortable red cushion, beside a strange metal object. His fuzzy mind remembered that it was a chair belonging to the human pirate, and all of a sudden his full memories came rushing back to him. They had discussed their plans, he’d been offered a room, they’d finished a brandy bottle before starting on another, and that was all.
“Yo, rise and shine.”
A third thump against his flank prompted a glare towards the human standing beside him, Sombra spotting the changeling standing beside the Captain. The human’s metal boot made to swing again, before Sombra bared his teeth and shakily got to his hooves.
Waking up while being kicked by an alien pirate was not his idea of a good start to the morning.
“I’m up,” he growled, his pounding head not doing any help to his mood. “Cease your assault, if you were a subject of mine then I’d have you tortured and executed after the first one.”
“Someone’s cranky,” Chalmers smirked. “Hangover?”
“I never should have stayed for that second drink,” he lamented, answering the question.
“Relax, we’ll sort it out,” the human offered, pointing towards the metal room that travelled between floors. “Come down to breakfast, I’ll get you some coffee and then we’ll make the ultimate hangover cure.”
“A potion?” he inquired, orienting himself and slowly shambling towards the ‘lift’ doors.
“Better, a fatty, greasy fry-up that packs enough calories to floor an elephant, a treatment sent from the Gods.”
Sombra went to reply but his mind couldn’t find the words, so instead he let out a grumble and advanced towards the lift. Already the alliance was off to a bad start and he dreaded what was to come. A morning having to interact with low-lives and making nice with the human’s crew was not something he relished.
“Since when did you cook?” Sombra heard the changeling inquire, both it and the human opening the lift and entering.
“I’ve always cooked,” Chalmers responded, Sombra regretfully following them in. He suspected that the changeling and human were closer than just Captain and crew, going off the interactions he had observed between them. “To be honest, there hasn’t really been any need, has there?”
“No,” Chrysalis replied while the lift started to move down. “But I don’t trust you in the kitchen.”
“I’ve never done wrong before, I cooked noodles remember?”
“You got them out of a packet and added water.”
“And cheese, thank you very much. Besides, it’s more cooking then you’ve been doing.”
“I don’t eat solid food, why would I need to cook?”
‘Gods, kill me now,’ Sombra silently begged, the lovers’ quarrel continuing on behind him.
“It’d be nice if you tried to learn, a hobby would be good for you.”
“I’ve got ten nymphs to look after; the next few months are going to be a living Tartarus.”
“They’re not that bad.”
“You think flying is dangerous, just wait until they start getting magic surges.”
With a ding, the lift door opened and Sombra rushed out onto the metal floor.
‘Salvation!’ he thanked, his headache already dying down. While the two behind him continued to bicker, he went over his surroundings again. He was in what was called the ‘recreational room’, large chairs and couches arrayed around a large table. A chess set in the process of a game was sitting on a smaller table, and packs of cards were strewn around the area.
He stopped examining the area when the human and changeling passed him, both not acknowledging him while they continued down the corridor. He followed, remembering the route to the dining area. The turned left in the middle and were greeted with an empty room, the two finally stopping their arguing.
“Lazy, all of them,” Chalmers muttered, before cricking his neck and making his way into the kitchen. “I’ll get started on breakfast, Chrysalis could you please show the good King how to work the coffee machine?”
“Fine,” the changeling huffed while the human disappeared into the next room, Sombra raising an eye at her. She glared back at him, Sombra rolling his eyes at the creature. Her distaste with him was obvious, but her childish displays of raw emotion shattered the tough look she was seemingly going for. She gave up on trying to intimidate him and instead trotted over to a large rectangular device sitting on a table, the silver metal of the machine covered in buttons.
“This is the machine. You put your cup here,” she moved a plain white mug with her magic into a black slot. “You press the button for the drink you want, choose if you want milk or sugar and then it makes it. After it beeps then you remove the cup.”
“Fascinating, how does it work?” he asked trotting up to examine the device.
“I don’t know,” she snorted. “I don’t even think he knows. Just put a cup in and press a button, I’m not here to explain everything to you.”
She pressed a button marked ‘tea’ after her hostile response, the changeling forgoing milk and sugar. The machine hissed before a stream of liquid flowed into the cup, cutting off before a shirt beep sounded. A green magic field removed the cup from the slot and she stormed back to the table, leaving Sombra alone with the magical object.
Peering intently at it, he levitated a mug into the slot and pressed the button marked ‘coffee’. He watched in wonder while black liquid was dispensed into the cup, Sombra grinning as the scent of coffee greeted his nostrils.
He was so going to steal it once he had dispensed with his temporary ally.
Forgoing any additives, he removed the cup and trotted over to the opposite side of the table to the changeling, secretly proud of the fact that he had conquered the alien technology and made it bow to his whim. Pulling up a seat, he sat down and took a sip, the only thing bitterer than his drink was the look that Chrysalis was giving him.
“Can I help you?” he grumbled, the changeling narrowing her stare.
“You can help by leaving and never coming back,” she hissed, Sombra raising an eyebrow at her.
“You know, for a creature that I’ve never met before, or even heard about, you do seem to be rather hostile to me.” He took a sip of his drink, his mood improving while he watched her fume.
“You’re nothing but bad news,” she told him, before glancing to the kitchen doorway and leaning closer. “He doesn’t need anyone else fuelling his eccentricity, he’s bad enough already. Now you come along and talk about an evil alliance-“
“I never said evil,” he informed. “I merely am wishing to secure my own personal future, and having a powerful friend instead of a deadly enemy is preferable in my mind.” He also leaned forward, grinning at her. “I question just what your motives are and whether you can really accuse me of being immoral, considering that you yourself are seemingly profiting off his success.”
Chrysalis gave him a glare but didn’t say anything else, Sombra smirking before sitting back. There was silence while he sipped his drink, leaving him time to wonder if the human’s plan to get the Pegasi under their control would work.
Stardust shook her head while stepping out of the bathroom, the mare willing to bet that after the shower her silver mane rivalled Platinum’s.
Last night had been one of the most confusing of her life, but the fact that she had a private bathroom in her borrowed room made up for all of that. Not having to have to share with the rest of the knights in their barracks almost convinced her to switch sides and just join the insane human.
Almost.
Beginning the long task of putting on her armour, the process tedious without a squire, she wondered what was in store for today. Hopefully the meeting between the two leaders had gone well, she didn’t exactly want to trot out into a hostile town after all. It wasn’t that her faith in Sombra as a leader was lacking, he was a far better administrator than Platinum after all, but his diplomacy could use some work. While the public and most of the court saw him as a suave smooth-talker, behind closed doors he possessed a vicious mean streak.
After an utterly frustrating half-an-hour, she finally managed to get every single strap of her plate armour secured. In a way, the earth pony soldiers were lucky that they weren’t allowed to become knights, without magic the process would be agonising.
Subconsciously moving to ensure that her sword was in place before remembering that it had been taken away from her, Stardust placed her helmet on her back before stepping out of her room.
It was then that she realised that she really didn’t have any clue what to do.
An opening door saved her, Clover the Clever walking out of her room with a yawn. Stardust shifted uncomfortably in her armour, considering the circumstances of Clover’s fleeing of the city.
“Oh, Good Morning,” Clover greeted, showing no signs of unease. “You’re still here, um…”
“Knight Stardust.”
“Yes, I thought I remembered you,” Clover glanced around, before peering down the corridor. “Are you standing out here for a reason?”
Stardust took a few moments to answer, not really knowing what to say. “Uh, I actually don’t really know what I’m supposed to be doing.”
“Yeah, that seems pretty common in this place. Sombra hasn’t given you any orders?”
“King Sombra,” Stardust corrected, before shaking her head. “And no, I just woke up.”
“Well, we might as well get some breakfast,” Clover started to trot down the corridor. “Surprisingly, the food here isn’t that bad.” A shiver went down her spine, Stardust guessing what it was about.
“The chicken?” she guessed, following Clover as she had nothing better to do.
“That’s it,” the former advisor answered. “I don’t know what’s worse, knowing what chicken tastes like or the fact that it actually was pretty good.”
Stardust would never admit it, but secretly she echoed that opinion. To be honest, she would have asked for seconds if it wasn’t for the grisly fact, no matter the assurances that the chicken was only flavouring and not actual meat.
The two quickly found themselves at the dining room, the King sitting down nursing a steaming mug. The human’s changeling was sitting down opposite him, the strange creature’s eyes narrowed at Sombra. Clover gestured over towards a strange machine on the wall, Stardust giving the intently focused pair a final glance before following Clover.
“What’s going on between them?” she whispered, Clover levitating a mug into the strange machine.
“I don’t know,” Clover replied just as softly. “But I’m willing to bet that Chrysalis is still annoyed that you and Sombra are here.” A stream of tea started to pour into Clover’s mug, Stardust’s focus split between the device and the hushed conversation.
“I did notice that she was constantly watching me.”
Clover sighed, before pressing another two buttons on the machine. “With you, it’s probably something else.”
“Oh?” Stardust didn’t like the sound of that.
“You see,” Clover removed her mug, now full of tea, before replacing it with a new one. “As you could probably tell, Chrysalis and Chalmers have… a strange relationship. Tea?”
“Yes thank you.” Stardust tilted her head. “Well, I know that they’re obviously different species-“
“It’s nothing like that,” Clover continued, the second mug filling up quickly. “Have you ever know a mare and a stallion that obviously love each other, but neither one has said anything to the other even though both they and everyone else knows?”
“I can’t say that I have.”
“Well, that’s what you’ve got here. Except for the adopted children and the ‘take over the planet’ thing added into it. Sugar and milk?”
“Both, thank you. So, if that’s the case, then why am I a target?” Stardust glanced back, Sombra and Chrysalis still staring off unaware about the secret conversation.
“Well, the night the Commander rescued Platinum and me, he and Chrysalis had an argument. He went to the tavern, Platinum went with him and she kind of… seduced him.”
“Oh…” Stardust put the pieces together. “So they...?”
“They did.”
“The high and mighty Platinum-“
“Yes,” Clover hissed. “Look, drop it. It’s still a sore point between them. Anyway, to sum up, Chrysalis doesn’t really trust any mare around Chalmers. You’re good-looking so that makes you more of a target.”
“I’d never!” Stardust was shocked; she’d never even consider doing anything like that with a creature like him.
“It’d doesn’t matter,” Clover informed while gesturing her head to the now-full cup. Stardust removed it with her magic, the two starting to trot back towards the table. “It’s just how Chrysalis is, just don’t make any moves on the Commander and it’ll be fine.”
Stardust couldn’t fathom how anyone was supposed to function in a place as crazy as this. As if death-towers and flying monsters weren’t enough, there was also strange romances, the risk of a changeling attacking you if you looked at the human wrong, and machines that made you coffee seemingly out of nothing.
Both of them made their way to the table, sitting down next to each other in-between the two already present.
“So, where’s Chalmers?” Clover inquired, Sombra breaking the stare to tilt his head towards the kitchen.
“In the kitchen.”
“He’s cooking again?” Stardust murmured, looking towards the door and shifting on her seat. “Please tell me it’s not meat.”
No-one could honestly answer that concern, all four going back to their drinks with any rivalry put aside. Stardust looked behind her at hoofsteps and Captain Morning, the spy named Spyglass and Platinum joined them. Also present was the wheelchair-bound Sunflare, being pushed by Morning. The three newcomers able to walk pulled up chairs and spread themselves out, however Spyglass sat close to Sunflare while Morning oddly sat beside Sombra without a trace of hesitation.
“Nigel’s cooking again?” Morning inquired, the smell of grease wafting in from the kitchen.
“Unfortunately,” Clover replied, earning a nod from the pirate. A tense silence descended over the table, no one really wanting to start a conversation. It was broken when Chrysalis placed her empty mug back down on the metal table and left her chair, the changeling making to leave the room.
“I’m going to get the nymphs ready for breakfast,” she informed, Stardust shivering at the reminder of the small, infinitely curious creatures. With Chrysalis gone, Sombra’s attention unfortunately turned to her.
“A lot of help you were last night,” he told her, Stardust drawing back and avoiding his bloodshot gaze.
“I was ordered by you to not disturb your meeting, Lord.”
Sombra narrowed his eyes, but thankfully he didn’t seem to find a reason to punish her for his own mistakes. The others were looking at them, perhaps waiting for some entertainment.
“Everything you got, you deserve,” Platinum chipped in, Sombra smirking at her voice. “Traitor.”
“It’s more than what you have,” Sombra raised his nose. “Peasant.”
‘Ouch,’ Stardust mentally thought while wincing. The thing was that the lowly title was actually correct. In fact, Platinum was technically lower than a peasant considering the fact that she was a criminal of Equestria. The fuming Platinum looked like she was just about to leap off her chair to assault Sombra, but a clatter from the kitchen distracted them all.
Out of the doorway walked the Commander, a large metal plate heaped with food in his arms. They all stared at the piles of fried eggs, buttered toast, yet more eggs scrambled, pancakes and even a heap of muffins. With a grunt, the armoured human placed the bounty down in the middle, a further stack of plates following it.
“You… cooked all of that in a few minutes?” Sombra breathed out, Nigel giving a bow.
“I ensure you that I did, and in no way cheated by using any machinery of any sort.”
Looking at the spread, Stardust didn’t even care if he was lying. Almost as one, everyone at the table made to grab a plate and secure some food. Given that they were all unicorns they were able to use their magic to aid them, with the exception of Sunflare who had to use her hooves like an earth pony peasant. Evidently poison was no longer a concern, Sombra piling his plate high with a noticeable preference for the pancakes. It was strange for her to see the King mingling with commoners, although she assumed that he was doing it for the sake of the alliance.
Taking a bite of toast, she chewed and watched while the others around her commenced breakfast. All bickering was put on a halt while they ate, even Platinum was quite while daintily munching on a pancake slice.
A mass of chirps drew her attention to the corridor, a slightly less-grouchy Chrysalis leading a mass of nymphs into the room. The small creatures instantly ran under the table to flock around the human’s legs, a chorus of greetings and names accompanying them.
Returning to her breakfast, Stardust wondered just how this entire alliance would work out.
“Knight Stardust, a brief question.”
She was interrupted by the human addressing her directly, Chrysalis watching her closely from the Commander’s side. A glance to Sombra showed that he shared her confusion, and without knowing what else to do she swallowed her mouthful and placed her toast down.
“Yes?”
“Last night I was informed by the King that you know a number of healing spells.”
“I do,” she answered, not sure where this was going.
“Can you, say, reattach a horn?”
She glanced over to Sunflare, the former knight suddenly very interested in the conversation.
“I can’t,” she apologised, Sunflare lowering her head. “That’s very advanced magic-“
“I can perform such a spell as long as you still have the horn,” the King spoke up, before giving Nigel a grin. “Of course, such a service would require some compensation in return.”
“What do you want?” the human inquired, Sombra gesturing towards the shiny coffee machine.
“Simple, I wish for your magical drink-maker.”
Silence descended over the room, everyone waiting for an answer. Stardust watched the human glanced from the machine and to Sunflare. The hornless unicorn stared pleadingly at him, her hooves nervously tapping together.
“On two conditions,” Chalmers sighed, giving in. “First I want you to heal her leg as well, and second I want you to wake a pegasus up from a coma.”
“A pegasus?” Sombra leaned forward, pushing his plate to the side. “This pegasus wouldn’t happen to be the way you were planning to contact them, is it?”
“It is,” the Commander told him, Sombra leaning back to mull over the proposal.
“I accept those conditions,” he agreed with a nod. “Although I insist that the meeting with the pegasi be done at my castle, if they even accept.”
“Fine,” Chalmers finished, taking a bite of toast before lifting up one of the nymphs into his lap and patting its head. “We’ll conduct the deal after breakfast.”
“Thank you,” Sunflare acknowledged, to both Chalmers and Sombra.
“Do not thank me yet,” Sombra told the injured unicorn. “Such a spell is complex, and carries risks.”
Sunflare’s gaze didn’t wavier. “I’m willing to take those risks, if it gets my horn back.”
Sombra merely nodded, and they all returned to their meals unsure of what to expect out of the day.
“Hold her still.”
Nigel nodded at Sombra’s command and held Sunflare down on the metal table, for some reason the mare having to be awake for the spell. Granted, he wasn’t an expert on magical horse spells, but to him it just seemed like a hindrance. He tried to give Sunflare an encouraging smile, but he just ended up grinning like a fool.
His attention was drawn to the horn, Sombra levitating the broken half back towards the bandage-covered base. Another flick of magic and the bandages were removed, revealing the sealed stump.
“It’s been fused,” Sombra observed. “That means that the pain will be increased-“
“Just do it,” Sunflare ordered, clamping her eyes shut.
“As you wish.”
With those words Sombra forced the horn onto the base, a green glow surrounding the cut and producing a sizzling sound. Sunflare to her credit didn’t scream or yell, she merely grunted while her eyes began to water. Her forelegs twitched and she shuddered, Nigel removing a hand to hold her head in place so Sombra was uninterrupted.
It was only a minute later when the glow cut off, but he bet that it had felt like years to the now-panting Sunflare.
“You can release her,” the King advised, his own brow sweating with exertion. “It appears that the spell was a success, however she won’t be able to use magic for at least another week.”
“Good enough,” Sunflare huffed out, her teary eyes slowly opening while Nigel let go of her. She sat up and held both forelegs to her head, Sombra having already taken care of the injured leg before the more complex spell. “I still don’t see why we had to do this on the very table we ate at only an hour ago.”
“You and Chrissy are never going to let that go, are you?” He rolled his eyes while Sombra smirked. “All I do is forget to build a medical room into the underground base, and everyone gets upset.”
“Well, I mean it’s sort of an essential-“
“The dining room table was good enough,” he interrupted her. “You’ve got your horn back, Sombra’s got his coffee machine, and I get the ridicule.”
“Nigel, what’s wrong now?”
All three looked to the left, Chrysalis walking back into the dining room.
“Nothing,” he grumbled, however Chrysalis narrowed her eyes at him. She wasn’t about to let him off that easily.
“It’s your own fault that you didn’t build an area to do this, so you had to use the table we eat off.”
“You don’t need to eat off it,” he muttered, Chrysalis raising an eyebrow. The changeling thankfully dropped it, her face morphing into an expression of worry while she examined Sunflare.
“It looks good as new,” she complemented, before tilting her head to the door. “You want some help?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Sunflare left the table, wincing when her hooves hit the floor. Chrysalis allowed her to rest her newly-healed leg on her while she lead Sunflare out of the dining room and towards the bedrooms.
“I assume you want me to attend to this pegasus?”
Nigel turned at Sombra’s query, before deciding that now was as good a time as any.
“Sure, we may as well get this over with.” He left the dining room and headed towards the elevator, Sombra following behind. The King so far had been surprisingly cooperative, but he knew that Sombra was secretly plotting against him. He could still see the hate in the stallion’s eyes whenever they talked, and he was willing to bet that only the promise of immense power was keeping Sombra in line.
Passing the recreational room, a pony split off from the group lounging around with a card game in progress. The plate armour was a solid giveaway to who the owner was, Sombra’s knight joining them both while Nigel nodded to Platinum, Clover and Spyglass.
“It went as expected?”
“Your king held up his side of the bargain,” he told her, Sombra not adding anything. The knight moved beside her Lord, all three stepping into the elevator. Pressing the control to take them to the ground floor, he tapped his foot on the floor while they waited to ascend. He had a few things he had to do today, and he’d have to spend most of it in the command chair.
Chrysalis had been moody lately and grouchy at breakfast, so he hoped to find the time to take her out to dinner without the nymphs to cheer her up. That meant that he’d have to sort this business with the pegasus out soon however, and hopefully Sombra would be able to continue his successful magical healing.
The door opened and they quickly moved out into the main lobby, the main doors sliding back and exposing them to the street. Setting a course directly for the apothecary in charge of the intended messenger, Nigel payed none of the staring townsponies any mind. Sombra followed his example, where’s Stardust glanced around at the murmuring peasants through her helmet.
Given the town’s small size, they reached their destination without issue. They had passed a few Equestrian guards sleeping on the side of the paths, however, the soldiers obviously having enjoyed their free drinks a little too much.
“Morons,” Sombra muttered when they walked into the Healer’s store, Nigel nudging a sleeping unicorn aside with his foot to clear their path. The doorbell jingled, the sound of hooves approaching from the back room. The Healer walked out with a grin but it faltered when he set eyes on who his visitors were.
“Good Morning,” Chalmers greeted, not noticing the stallion’s unease. “We’re here for the pegasus.”
“He still hasn’t woken up,” the Healer informed, Nigel gesturing down towards Sombra.
“I know, that’s why I brought someone along who can possibly help.”
The Healer paused, before speaking again. “You brought the King of Equestria to heal a single pegasus soldier?”
“I came here of my own accord,” Sombra interrupted, narrowing his eyes at the Healer. “I myself wish to have a few words with this pegasus. Does he, by any chance, have wounds from magical bolts?”
“He does,” the Healer answered. “Although they’ve healed up and are starting to scar nicely.”
“Good,” Sombra murmured, before looking up at Chalmers. “I will do the talking.”
“You want to fill me in on anything?” he asked, Sombra shaking his head.
“It is nothing of your concern, I won’t kill him.”
“Okay,” Nigel shrugged and let it drop, turning back towards the Healer. “So, the patient…?”
“Oh, this way,” the Healer snapped out of his daze, leading them to the back room. On the bed with a chain around his neck was the pegasus, the pony having been stripped of his armour and weapons. Looking over the brown fur, Nigel noticed that the wounds were indeed healing. Metal shoes clacked on the wood, Sombra trotting over to sneer at the captive.
“What a pathetic assassin,” the King taunted, Nigel raising an eyebrow at that. It seemed like the two certainly had prior history. Still, that didn’t change their overall objective.
“It’s all in the past,” he reminded. “He’s our most likely chance of getting a likely response from the Pegasi, so let’s wake him up and get a move on with the plan.”
“Good luck with that,” the Healer scoffed, watching from the doorway with Stardust. Sombra took a second to shoot the pony with a glare, before lowering his horn and focusing. Nigel watched on as once again it glowed, a stream of magic flowing from Sombra’s horn to the pegasus.
The effect was immediate, the injured pony spluttering while his wings and limbs twitched. Sombra smiled in victory while his magic cut out, the Healer left awestruck.
“H-how…?”
“I’m rather gifted with magic,” Sombra informed him, obviously relishing the feeling of superiority. “Something you won’t really understand.”
“Where am I?”
Any further boasting was put aside while all four stared at the pegasus. His eyes opened and he peered around, jolting back when he spotted them. The clinking of his chain prompted him to check it with a hoof, and when he realised that he was trapped he began to panic.
“No! Stay back!” Chalmers grinned at the overreaction, although Sombra wasn’t helping by glaring at the pegasus. He reached out with an armoured hand and placed it on the pegasus’ shoulder.
“Relax friend, we won’t kill you as long as you do what we want.” The panicking pony moved his eyes from the hand back to Nigel’s face, being met with a grin. “Besides, if I had wanted to kill you then I wouldn’t have saved your life before, would I?”
The prisoner took a few deep breaths before the words seemed to register.
“Saved me? How long have I…?”
“You’ve been in a deep sleep for a number of days,” the Healer informed from the doorway. You were brought here by the Captain-“
“It’s ‘Commander’ now,” Nigel corrected, before looking back down at the pony while keeping his hand in place. “Anyway, pretty much you’re still breathing because of me. You’re awake because of Sombra’s intervention.” At the mention of Sombra’s name, the pegasus gulped and tried to avoid the King’s gaze. “Now, we are actually going to release you, but we have a task that we wish for you to carry out.”
“Release?” the pegasus murmured, before glancing up hopefully. “What is it?”
“You are to carry a message to your leader.” Sombra backed up his words by nodding his head, Stardust trotting over and producing a scroll that had stored in her armour. The Knight levitated it over to the pegasus while Nigel gestured for the Healer to undo the chain. With a clatter the restraint was removed from the soldier’s neck, the pegasus holding onto the scroll with his hooves. Stardust gave him a bag from the nearby bench, the small saddlebag soon hosting the message.
“This message is very important,” Nigel stressed, watching to make sure the pegasus secured the bag properly. “If your leader accepts our proposal, then it means that your race will benefit greatly from what’s to come.”
“As much as I despise you,” Sombra added. “The human has made a good point, and all of us stand to profit from his plan. Inform Hurricane that I swear on my honour that we wish him no ill will if he agrees to the meeting.” With that, all three of them re-joined the Healer at the door, watching to see what the pegasus would do.
The soldier stared at the bag in his hooves before sighing and placing it around his neck. He tested his wings with a few flaps before leaving the bed. Stumbling a bit before he found his balance, he winced when his stomach growled.
“I’ll do it,” he told them, before rubbing the back of his head and smiling nervously. “But, could I possibly bother you for some food and water before I leave?”
Sombra’s grin never wavered while he watched his soldiers haul the wagon that contained his new, shiny, magical drink-maker. The soldiers themselves weren’t as enthusiastic, all of them wincing at the sunlight while they prepared to leave the pirate town.
“All we have to do is wait for a reply.”
He glanced towards the human, Chalmers leaning up against the wall of a house. Two of the imposing metal bipeds were on either side of him, their weapons pointing towards the ground. They were a reminder that the human was far from vulnerable, so he had to play his cards right in the future if he wanted to get ahead of the biped.
“And if they say no?”
“Then we will have to go ahead without them,” Chalmers answered. “It really wouldn’t be a major issue, but the more pawns we have the better.”
“Indeed,” Sombra agreed. ‘But do not think yourself not a pawn, human.’ Both glanced up, spotting the pegasus messenger flying away from the town and out towards the sea. Their message was on its way, and he’d have to hurry if he wanted to properly prepare. “I must depart to prepare for the arrival of the pegasi, I suggest you do the same.”
“I can handle myself,” Chalmers told him, Sombra narrowing his eyes. The reminder that he was trotting away with a magical machine eased the pain of having to work with the creature, and with a final nod he began to move.
“Good, you can never trust those hot-blooded egotists.”
Without even considering the hypocrisy of his statement, Sombra led his guards outside of the town. Smiling to himself, he levitated a mug over towards the machine on the wagon and inserted it. Using his magic to press the button for more coffee, he waited until it was full before bringing the cup back to himself. Taking a sip while he trotted, his grin increased.
Overall, the meeting had gone better than expected.
“Prick,” Nigel muttered under his breath, watching while Sombra trotted away. With the King gone, he could commence with his day in peace. He turned and headed to the docks, a certain task that needed to be done pressing upon his mind. Townsponies passed him without incident, the ponies having learnt that if they left him alone then he would leave them alone. He still nodded politely to the ones he passed, the town fairly quiet at the moment. The farmers had already left to tend to their fields, and the market area was one the only side of town.
Activity picked up as he neared the docks, drunken crewmembers sloppily saluting while he passed. He grinned at them, they didn’t really do much but by golly they at least lived up to the ‘drunken pirate’ stereotype and provided endless entertainment.
“No, you useless landlubber! Put it on deck three!” The less-than melodious shouts from Morning brought a smile to his face, and Chalmers turned around the corner of the tavern to approach her ship. The smaller wooden sloop beside it was nothing compared to the metal-plated vessel, even larger than the griffon battleship that it once was.
The massive energy cannon that served as the main gun dominated the foredeck, pirates avoiding the large weapon while it sat in its turret. Two smaller turrets sat on each side, all of them carrying a twin-linked pulse laser. While normally a light weapon, the fast-firing light guns would no doubt devastate a wooden vessel.
The ship’s gangplank was lowered onto the dock, pirates hauling boxes and barrels onto the military vessel. He spotted Morning at the top, the mare standing on the deck directing the placement of every piece of cargo.
Making his way towards her, Nigel stepped around two stallions hauling up a barrel of grog. Morning smiled when she noticed him approach, the Captain stepping to the side when he stepped upon the deck.
“How goes it all?” he inquired, Morning rolling her eyes in response.
“It would be going a lot better if everyone wasn’t drunk off their rumps,” she told him. “Let me tell you, things are going to be very different under my command.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“I’m suggesting that you spend so much time with your machines that you forget what it’s like to manage a crew of scumbags.”
“I assure you Captain,” he replied with a chuckle. “Most of my closest friends are scumbags.” Morning chuckled with him, the mare surprisingly having a very warm and uplifting laugh. It wasn’t obvious from her harsh behaviour, but he could tell that inside the shell lay a very caring pony. Both stepped to the left while a group of cargo-laden crew moved past them, heading down a flight of steps to the lower decks. “Preparing for a trip?”
“I was thinking about going out for a few weeks to test everything and hopefully get some plunder. The crew are happy with free food, booze, and entertainment, but some gold never hurts when keeping pirates in check.”
“You have my permission,” he granted, Morning nodding in thanks. “However, could you possibly hold off a few days? I’d much prefer to have you on station for the arrival of the Pegasi in case things go south.”
“I can do that,” she acknowledged. “I’m still learning everything anyway, but I’ve got the basics down.” As she told him that, her smile waivered and she tilted her head. “On that topic, does the ship really need a main gun that looks like it could destroy a city? I’d prefer to capture ships that are intact.”
“Relax,” he informed her. “You probably haven’t gotten to it yet, but you can change the intensity of the plasma blast from your command console. There’s always the risk of fire, but you should be able to force surrenders just by firing a warning shot anyway. Besides, it can’t hurt to pack a weapon that can get a ship of the line off of your back.”
“I guess,” she agreed, turning to glare down towards the dock where three pirates were attempting to sneak off to the tavern. “You three, don’t even try it or I’ll test the ship’s weapons on you!” The sneaky trio evidently valued their lives over drink and whores, quickly returning to aid in the transfer of supplies.
“A little harsh,” Nigel commented, earning a huff from Morning.
“You need to be firm with this lot, they’ve gotten lazy.” She sighed before looking back up at him. “So, do you need anything or did you just want to see how it was all going?”
Her question reminded him of his true purpose, although dropping in for a chat was quite relaxing. “Actually, I came by to do some tweaks on the ship’s AI.”
“Is there something wrong with Sea Biscuit?”
He couldn’t help but laugh at the name, quickly recovering to shake his head. “No, nothing wrong. I just wanted to put in some more routines. Standard stuff really, it will… uh, improve the RAM doohickie."
Nigel wasn’t very good with computers.
“Okay.” Thankfully Morning bought it, the mare obviously less familiar with technology. “I’d help, well, try to help, but I’ve still got to watch these lubbers.”
“Not an issue, I understand.”
“Well, you know where everything is, I’ll let you get to it.” She gave a final nod before storming back over to the gangplank, her eyes narrowing down at something on the docks. “Dry Dock, you better not be drinking from that barrel!”
Regretting not being able to stay and just enjoy the chaos, Chalmers headed towards the command room. His boots clanked on the metal deck, the dull metal coated to stop glare and resist the heat from the sun. He passed few crew, all of the ponies working on hauling goods from the dock onto the ship.
Reaching the command room door, he entered the cooled room and stood next to the captain’s chair. Designed for Morning, it was a little small for him but he also avoided it out of respect for her. Instead of sitting down he removed his helmet from his waist and attached it. Screens came to life and he connected the inbuilt computer to the ship’s AI.
Taking a few moments to figure out precisely what he wanted, he started the long process of uploading all of the emergency measures to the computer, and hiding their existence from Morning should she ever feel the need to explore the computer more thoroughly.
The pink dragon toy stood no chance, a black hoof coming down to batter it away.
Reflection sighed and rolled over, her brethren continuing to play behind her. Briefly she glanced up at Chrysalis, the adult reading a book while she lay on the bed. Looking back down at her own hooves, she tried to entertain herself by tracing the lines on the metal floor but it was pointless. The day itself had been dull, having spent most of it in the bedroom. She wanted to go outside or even up the moving room to the ‘command room’. Mostly, she wanted to see Nigel, or the adults with fur that she had learned were called ‘ponies’.
Shaking her head and getting to her hooves, she ambled over towards her own bed and clambered atop it. Taking a few moments to bounce on the mattress, she spread her wings and began to buzz them. Chrysalis had stopped telling them not to try to fly earlier that day, and they still continued despite the numerous bumps that some had received.
Standing on the edge, she increased the speed of the buzzing before jumping off.
Surprising herself, she managed to fly across the room before her excitement was interrupted by hard contact with the wall. Bouncing off it and landing on her back with a wince, she grimaced when she heard the sound of a turning page.
“Reflection, are you alright?”
“Yes,” she replied, righting herself and shaking her head. Determined to not give up, Reflection dodged her brothers and sisters in her journey back towards the bed. A snicker from her left drew her attention, Reflection turning her head to spot two of her sisters laughing at her. She narrowed her eyes at Swissy and Holey, the two glaring back from their spot next to each other. It was no secret that she was out to get constant attention from Nigel, the food provider, and some of her siblings didn’t like that. She didn’t care, unlike them she wasn’t content with just lounging around waiting for food.
Climbing back onto her bed, she once again prepared to take flight.
The door sliding open changed her plans however, Reflection grinning while Nigel walked in. Hurrying to the other side of the bed, she buzzed and leapt off, angling towards him. Intending on showing off her flying skills, she planned to do a nice loop of the room to upstage the others who were flocking around his legs.
Unfortunately for her, she just ended up smacking into his helmet.
Flinging her hooves around to get a grip, she started to slide off the smooth metal. Looking down, her eyes widened when she saw just how far down the floor was. Desperately scrambling for a hoof-hold, she closed her eyes and braced when she felt herself start to slip.
“What a welcome.”
She breathed out a sigh of relief when two hands grabbed her around the torso, Reflection letting go while Nigel held her out in front of him. She glanced down at her dangling hind hooves before back at him, just able to see her own face in the reflective black mirror.
Reflection still couldn’t work out why Nigel wore the funny hat he called a ‘helmet’ on his head. Was he trying to look like what she was, with a hard black shell?
“Geez, you’re getting big.”
Something about the sentence irked her. It was true, she was taller and bigger, but something was telling her that she was supposed to be a little offended. Brushing it off as nonsense, she instead decided to make up for her flying mistake.
“Sorry,” she apologised, having gotten used to having to say the word.
“It’s okay,” he replied. “We all make mistakes. I’m just thankful that you didn’t hurt yourself badly.”
“Are you joking?” Reflection turned her head, Chrysalis speaking up from the bed. “They’ve been flying around, crashing into walls all day only to get back up and try it again. I think their chitin is starting to harden.”
She found herself pulled towards Nigel’s chest, and she snuggled against the cool metal. Another thing she couldn’t work out was why he wore it, it wasn’t chitin and his hands were covered with soft stuff. She guessed that once again it was to blend in with them; she couldn’t see it being for anything else.
Now that he was holding her, she really noticed that she was indeed bigger. She figured that she could finally wrap her forelegs around his neck fully, so she gave it a try. It worked, and she nuzzled his neck while silently gloating to herself.
With a slight jolt she pulled away, looking down she noticed that Nigel had sat down on Chrysalis’ bed. She frowned when he placed her on his lap, all of the other nymphs jumping or flying up to crowd around him. They all pushed for a spot on him, all the while Chrysalis was laughing.
“They must be really hungry.”
“I know. Slow down, there’s room for everyone.”
Reflection didn’t think so, Shade and Buzz sitting down next to her and stealing her attention. She watched with jealously while they received pats and ear-scratches, all of them repeating Nigel’s name while jostling for position. A warm feeling in her chest increased when a hand finally moved to her head, Reflection nuzzling up into it while it scratched. Lately she hadn’t even noticed when they were being fed, Nigel emitting it whenever he was near. It was so constant that she had gotten used to the pleasant feeling, and she was starting to feel less and less hungry during each feeding.
“So, Chrissy,” Nigel started talking again, Reflection listening in while she sat next to her brothers. “I was thinking that maybe you… wanted to get something to eat tonight? I know that you don’t really need to eat anything but-“
“I’d love to go out,” Chrysalis interrupted, closing her book. “I don’t know, maybe I will try something. What’s the occasion?”
“Oh, I just thought that it’d be nice, and I am going to be away tomorrow to meet the Pegasi.”
Reflection glanced up at him, frowning. Something didn’t feel right, like he was worried about something. It was a small feeling, but it was still there. Chrysalis seemed to sense it too, the adult placing a hoof on his shoulder.
“Is something wrong?”
“Nothing at all,” Nigel told her. “It’s just been a long day, I guess. Anyway, I was thinking that we leave the nymphs with some entertainment and try one of the cafes that open for dinner. We’ll have the dinner to ourselves, Morning’s still working on the ship and the others were all going to the tavern instead.”
“Even Platinum?” Chrysalis asked. Reflection remembered that the name belonged to the silver pony, the one that for some reason seemed to like and hate Nigel at the same time if her emotions were anything to go off.
“I’m surprised as well,” Nigel answered. “But she has been getting along better with the others. Clover won’t be going with them though.”
“Why?”
“Well, I remembered that she liked the nymphs, so I asked her to babysit them tonight.”
“She said yes?”
“Of course,” Nigel confirmed, Reflection cooing when he used a finger to scratch her under her chin. “She seems to enjoy them, and she herself said she’s really not one for bars. With her here we can enjoy ourselves without worrying about widespread devastation,” he chuckled. “Or any more major flying accidents.”
Reflection tried to give him a glare, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. A knock at the door drew her attention, a familiar presence on the other side.
“Right on time,” Nigel murmured to Chrysalis before looking at the door. “Come in.”
The door opened and in walked Clover, Reflection smiling at the green pony. A few of her siblings rushed off the bed to meet the newcomer, a pile of objects on the pony’s back.
“Thanks for doing this, Clover,” Chrysalis acknowledged, Clover nodding and smiling at her.
“Oh, it’s fine. I didn’t have much to do tonight so when Nigel mentioned that he wanted to get some dinner with you I offered to foalsit.” Clover tilted her head towards her back. “I brought some children’s books that I managed to find in the town. Let me tell you, getting actual books was a chore. I doubt that many of the adults in this town can read let alone the foals.”
“Well, it looks like you’re prepared,” Nigel replied. Reflection found herself lifted up and placed down on the floor, soon followed by the others that had stayed on the bed. “We’ll try to be back soon, good luck and thanks once again.”
“It’s no problem,” Clover told him, Chrysalis and Nigel leaving the bed and walking towards the door. Reflection tried to follow them but found herself unable to move. Glancing down at her legs, she saw a green glow surrounding them. A look towards Clover confirmed that the pony was the source of the problem, the horn on her head glowing. Immobilised, Reflection could do nothing but watch while the door shut behind Nigel and Chrysalis, all chances of following them disappearing along with them.
“Come on,” Clover spoke, Reflection watching the glow die out. “We’ll have plenty of fun here.”
Turning back to the pony, Reflection watched while Clover sat down on the floor. The other nymphs flocked around her, Clover opening one of the books in her lap. They all stared at awe at the colourful picture on the page, Reflection huffing before finding a spot and sitting down.
“Now,” Clover continued. “There once was a young colt who lived by the sea…”
Reflection found herself losing attention, a new thought rising in her head. If Clover had a horn and could make stuff glow, did that mean that she herself could?
Focusing hard, Reflection began to try and feel something in her horn, all the while the oblivious Clover continued to read to everyone else.
Chrysalis nervously ran a hoof over the red table cloth, shifting in her wooden chair while she tried to find something to say. Here she was with Nigel, waiting for their order at a snug little café by the seaside, and she couldn’t think of a single interesting thing to talk about.
So far, it wasn’t off to the best start.
Her past as a simple drone was boring, he already knew all about her, he also knew about the nymphs and the only other thing Chrysalis could think of talking about was him. Given his previous hesitation to talk about his past, she doubted that she’d get far with that line of inquiry. She desperately hoped that he would start the conversation, and to calm her nerves she took a sip of water from her glass.
“So, Chrissy, how’s everything been going?”
She silently cursed, Chalmers starting to talk but it still focused on her. What was she supposed to tell him that he didn’t already know?
“It’s been… good,” she tried, wincing at her terrible idea. “The nymphs are starting to settle down, and they’re learning more words quickly. Swissy, Reflection and Keith can even say complete sentences now.”
“They do seem to be terrific learners,” Nigel agreed, taking a sip of his water while looking around to inside of the empty café. “No issues?”
“Well,” she began, relaxing a little. “There’s been some fighting, but nothing out of the ordinary. Reflection is still trying to hog all of the attention.”
“She takes after her old man,” Nigel joked, Chrysalis unable to help but smile at that. To be honest, Reflection did seem to act a little like him. It wasn’t a bad thing, but she had neglected to tell Nigel that the attention-seeking was the cause of most of the fights. Still, at least they were talking now, and he seemed to be having a good time. It was starting to go well, maybe tonight would be the night to tell him about everything.
“I heard that Morning was planning to go out.” She took a sip of her drink after the comment, right now she was trying to keep the conversation rolling. “She seems to really like that ship.”
“It’s a nice one, so I’m glad that she enjoys it. And yes, she is planning to go for a voyage after the meeting.” He chuckled, finishing off his glass. “You can tell she’s meant for the pirate life, you should have seen her on the deck. I can tell you right now that she won’t be having any trouble with the crew, no matter how rowdy they get.”
Chrysalis smiled and nodded, finishing her drink as well. It was right about then that a young mare with a pink coat trotted up to them with two menus on her back. The pony placed them down on the table before retrieving a piece of parchment from her apron pocket, setting it next to the menus while readying a pencil in her mouth.
Nigel hummed and picked up his menu, Chrysalis watching him before glancing at her own. She’d never been one for solid food, not seeing the point of eating it unless it was an emergency. Changelings possessed the capacity to digest it, but the amount they had to eat to even gain a fraction of the energy that a love-filled kiss provided wasn’t worth it. Still, it was a dinner so she guessed it couldn’t hurt to eat some for the pleasure of it.
The menu itself didn’t have many words, mainly pictures. It was good for her, the little literacy she knew had been picked up on the ship so her reading skills weren’t anything to brag about. Still, she could make out most of the words and this combined with the pictures helped her get an idea of what to order. Nigel beat her to it, however.
“I’ll have the number three, the pumpkin soup. Then I’ll have the vegetable omelette for the main and for dessert… the apple pie, thank you.”
Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. A three course meal was pretty expensive, not something that was an everyday thing. Then again, he didn’t lack money and she wasn’t going to complain.
“I’ll also have the pumpkin soup,” she began. “Then the vegetable pie and then I’ll have to apple pie as well.”
“A lot of pastry,” Nigel observed with a grin, waiting for the waitress to finish writing down their order. “Don’t you go and get all fat, you hear?”
She snorted at his warning, but smiled anyway. Nigel was only teasing, and she knew that she’d been getting slender over the last few days. Granted, her hips were a little large, but she was fine with her figure. Besides, it was only a small amount of pastry anyway; it wasn’t like she was eating pies left, right and centre.
“You’re one to talk,” she teased back. “Remember how much you ate at breakfast?”
Nigel placed a hand on his chest. “I’m a growing planetary dictator, I need my vitamins and minerals.”
Chrysalis shook her head at the response, the waitress nodding towards them.
“Sorry to interrupt, but what would you like to drink?”
“Just a glass of wine for me,” Nigel asked. “Whatever you’ve got.”
“The same for me,” Chrysalis added, the waitress writing down the orders before heading back to the kitchen.
“I didn’t know that you drank,” Nigel commented, Chrysalis rolling her eyes.
“Well, I don’t really, but from what I’ve heard it affects changelings just like ponies. The reason I tend to not drink is because I never really go out to taverns, and when I used to have to I always got something like water instead. I guess that I’ve never really had the need to before.”
“So what’s changed?”
“Well,” she began, trying to find the words. “You’re taking me out to dinner, so I might as well live a little.” She grinned, hiding her nervousness behind the façade. “Besides, I think I can trust you to not take advantage of me.”
“Ouch,” he replied, Chrysalis realising what she had just said. Her eyes widened and she waved her hooves at him.
“No, oh no I didn’t mean to bring that up again! Sorry, I don’t know why I said that-“
“It’s okay,” he reassured while holding a hand out in front of him. “I get it, it was just a slip-up. I have them all the time, relax.”
Following his advice, she took a deep breath of air. The door jingled behind them and she turned when two pairs of ponies walked in, the four newcomers finding a large table and waiting for a waitress. Aside from a few glances and murmurs, they paid little attention to them and Chrysalis was relieved for the brief distraction.
Turning back to Nigel, who was examining the four ponies, she tried to get some conversation going about him while they waited for their starters.
“I was thinking,” she began, tapping a hoof on the table. “You seem to not really be concerned about being found. Wouldn’t the people you work for get a little upset that you’re using their stuff to take over a planet?”
“Are you kidding?” Nigel answered with a chuckle. “Hell, they’d find it hilarious. I mean, one man taking over an entire backwater planet? Golden! The fact that the suit alone preforms this well is likely to get me off any charges that anyone could possibly level.”
“Oh,” she glanced to the kitchen, not sure about how to proceed. “So nothing will happen to you?”
“Nah,” he brushed off. “I’ll probably get a lecture from the Assistant Director, then I’ll be free to leave and return to business as usual.” He rubbed a hand through his hair. “About that, well, I was thinking about you and what would happen.”
She perked up at this, was he about to do all of the hard work for her? “Yes?”
“I was thinking that maybe you’d… I don’t know, want to stick with me for a while.” He started to tap his fingers on the table. “You know, give the nymphs a good father figure and all that while they grow up.”
And there it was, back to the nymphs. She deflated a little at his words, he had been so close to telling her that he wanted her to come along because he wanted to be with her, not because of the nymphs. Still, it was probably as good as she was going to get, so she struggled to give him a smile.
“I’d love that,” she told him. “What’s it like up above the sky?”
“Boring once you get used to it,” he muttered, before grinning at her. “But for a first-timer like you? It’d be amazing, plain and simple. It will blow your mind and shatter everything you believed about the heavens.”
Now when he put it like that, she wasn’t too sure about the idea. However, taking him up on the offer was probably the closet she’d get to staying with him. It wasn’t like he’d stay here forever, if she thought like that then she would be in for a big disappointment. So, instead of dwelling on it, she instead smiled again and nodded.
“Great,” he replied, before sniffing the air. “And our soup is just about… done.”
Right on time, the waitress walked back out of the kitchen with a large tray on her back. Chrysalis was quite impressed at the mare’s ability to balance it perfectly on her back, the pony not spilling a single drop of wine. Setting it down carefully, the waitress expertly placed their bowls and glasses in front of them.
“Thank you,” Nigel acknowledged, the waitress bowing before looking at them both.
“As soon as you’re finished, I’ll be back to prepare you for the second course.”
“Thanks,” Chrysalis waited, not even noticing the waitress leave as she was too busy with taking a sniff of her soup. It smelt great, and she bet that it would taste just as amazing. She looked up when a wine glass clinked against her own, Nigel nodding his head.
“Let’s begin, shall we?”
Taking a sip of the wine, a slight oaken flavour to it, Chrysalis nodded and used her magic to lift her soup-laden spoon to her mouth.
She hadn’t noticed it thanks to the regular occurrence, but she was already receiving an even larger and tastier meal of a different sort.
Clover jolted awake, blinking her eyes against the light.
She found herself lying on Chrysalis’ bed, a number of books spread out around her. The noise of soft snoring reached her ears, and she smiled when she saw that all of the nymphs were sound asleep in their own beds. Now she remembered that after stories, playtime, and more stories, they ten had all gone to bed of their own accord. They had even wished her goodnight, something that had made her night.
Rubbing her eyes, she turned her head towards the opening door. Chalmers walked through, holding a sleeping Chrysalis in his arms. Clover left the bed and watched while he laid the sleeping changeling down on the bed and proceeded to tuck her in.
“She’s had a bit to drink,” he told her; patting the smiling Chrysalis on the head once she was snuggly under the covers. “Still, it was a good night so I can’t fault her. Sorry for coming back so late, we got a little caught up.” He laughed softly, before whispering. “Don’t tell her that I said this, but she ordering a second helping of the apple pie probably didn’t help things time-wise.”
Clover couldn’t help but giggle at that, Nigel stepping past her to head over towards the nymphs. She watched while he bent down to kiss each one of the forehead, before he gestured for her to follow him out of the room. Doing as asked, she flicked the light switch off after she had left, Nigel shutting the door and holding out a hand. She met it with a hoof, Chalmers shaking it.
“Thanks for watching them,” he thanked, letting go. “I think that the time alone with just me was really great for Chrysalis, she’s been so caught up with the nymphs lately.”
“I’m happy to watch them anytime,” she informed him with a smile. “They’re really great, a few even were reading along with me. I’m glad you two had a nice night.”
“Thanks Clover. Well, it’s getting late and I don’t want to hold you up any more.”
“Bed does sound nice,” she agreed, trotting over to her room’s door. She stopped after opening it, turning her head to smile at him again. “Goodnight.”
“Night,” he answered, before heading for his own room.
Clover entered her room and shut the door, overall it had been a decent night for all it seemed.
“Yes, tear out another strand!”
“No- ouch! Not my beautiful mane!”
Platinum smiled while she watched her guards pluck another mass of mane from Sombra’s head. The ex-king was bound to a table, five armoured guards following her every order. Sombra’s tail was completely gone and his mane was just about to go as well, over half having been torn off already. A mass of black hair was heaped at the feet of the torture table, Platinum enjoying the spectacle from her throne.
“Drink!” she commanded, immediately being furnished with a glass of chilled sparkling wine. The large, buff stallion that passed it to her with his magic was rewarded with a kiss, before he re-joined her army of hot, buff stallions that were lazily sprawled around the throne room.
Above her in a cage attached to the ceiling was the naked human, Chalmers gibbering like a monkey while he watched the torture below him.
She grinned, closed her eyes and took a sip of wine when Sombra let out another pain-filled scream.
Best. Day. Ever.
A chill ran down her spine and the wine in her mouth disappeared, Platinum opening her eyes to be met with not her throne room but a solid wall of darkness. Finding herself on all four hooves, she spun around franticly while she sought the wonderful experience that had vanished.
“No!” She called out into the blackness. “This is not my dream!”
“Please, don’t be afraid.”
Platinum went ridged when the soft, feminine voice called out from behind her. She turned around slowly, coming face-to-face with a very unexpected sight.
A pony, almost twice as tall as her, stood before her in silver armour. The intruder’s blue mane sparkled silver like the stars, a long horn on the forehead.
“Who… what?”
“I am Luna,” the pony introduced, the voice of a teenage filly not matching the appearance. “Hello, Platinum Evergleam.”
“You know my name,” Platinum muttered, before taking a step back. “How?”
“I’m in your dream, I know all about you,” Luna answered, before her face scrunched. “Did you really… with the bipedal thing…?”
“You aren’t supposed to know that!” Platinum defended, taking another step back. “Stay away! I want my old dream back so go back to where you came from!”
Luna’s ears folded flat, before she seemed to take some deep breaths. Platinum found herself fixed with a determined gaze, unable to move while Luna approached her.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” the intruder reassured. Platinum’s eyes widened when a pair of wings unfurled to pat her on the head. “My sister and I just want to help all ponies, so don’t be scared.”
“H-help?” Platinum stammered, unable to look away. “How?”
“You want your crown back?” Luna asked, Platinum managing to nod her head. “I know you do, I see you dream about it a lot!” the cheerful announcement was followed by an uneasy frown. “Although, we can’t let you torture all of those ponies. My sister thinks that it’s not wise for me to ask you this, but me and Tia need your help.”
“You need my help?” Platinum repeated, still trying to process what was going on. “What can I possibly do?”
Luna sighed, her wings folding back while she turned her head. Platinum nearly jumped out of her skin when a picture of Equestria formed out of coloured swirls.
“The thing that Tia called a ‘human’ is a threat to the world,” Luna informed, staring sadly at the picture. “Our parents saw the threat that he presents, so they sent us here to help you defeat him.” Platinum watched while the magic dream-picture replayed Nigel’s attack on Canterlot, metal triangles dropping fire and explosions onto the city. “Already he has harmed ponies and other creatures because of his own selfish thoughts.”
“Stop Nigel…” Platinum muttered, Luna tilting her head.
“Nigel?”
“That is his name,” Platinum told her. “Commander Nigel M Chalmers.” She shook her head, realising what the mare was asking of her. “Defeat him? There’s no way. Even if you and this ‘Tia’ could fight him and his machines, why? He’s… he’s strange but if you get to know him he’s not that bad.”
This was true, at least in her opinion. Granted, she dreamed about keeping him in a cage in like an animal, but she had to admit that she didn’t outright hate him. Still, if this ‘Luna’ was giving her a change to take back her country and crown…
“We’re willing to help you, and in return you will share the title of Princess with us until the end of your days.”
“Share?” All thoughts about morality and betrayal were shoved aside. “What’s the point of sharing power with you?”
“We won’t do much,” Luna answered. “We’ll just advise you and wear crowns. Please accept, I really want to be a Princess!”
This statement prompted Platinum to question Luna’s metal maturity. It was like she was switching from cunning dream stalker to dreaming child as their conversation continued.
“Why do you have both wings and a horn?” Platinum inquired, hoping to throw Luna off-balance.
“I’m an alicorn,” Luna announced happily. “We’re all three types of ponies at the same time!”
“Even mud ponies?”
“Yes,” Luna replied, her smile wavering. “We are Earth ponies as well. With me and Tia with you, we’ll unite all three tribes once again, just like how it’s supposed to be.”
“I still fail to see why I should,” Platinum turned away with a huff. “I don’t see much in it for me.”
Luna dashed around to face her again, the alicorn bending down to eye-level.
“We’ll make you better with magic, and we’ll teach you spells to help prepare for our plan.”
“Teach me spells and improve my magic?”
The offer was incredibly tempting for Platinum. She’d never been too good at magic, and her family saw it as an embarrassment. All through her early life, she’d been regarded as a terrible unicorn and it was only her royal blood that kept her out of reach of the dangers that that brought. Also included was new spells, no doubt powerful ones. If this Luna could uphold her end of the bargain, then she’d finally be the perfect unicorn.
That however raised a big question: could she betray the one that had rescued her, sheltered her and even shared intimacy with her?
The thoughts of sitting back in her throne, wearing her crown made that decision easy.
“I accept,” she told Luna, before tilting her head. “But how will you teach me in time, without alerting Nigel? I can’t leave the town.”
“We have that planned,” Luna told her, starting to trot in a circle. “Dreams are part of my special talent. Did you know that time passes much more slowly when you’re dreaming? That means that you can dream for an hour, but only five minutes passes in the world!”
“…Yes?” To be honest, Platinum already knew that. Anyone who dreamed and remembered it would know that. Luna didn’t seem fazed, instead she sat down on the floor in front of her.
“You’re right, so that means that we teach you now!”
“Teach me in a dream?”
“That’s right, three spells that you’ll remember when you wake up. Help us and you get to keep them, as well as getting to be a princess again.”
Platinum once again ran over the offer. Recalling that since Sombra and Nigel were buddy-buddies now, that pretty much threw her hopes of ruling Canterlot again out of the window. Adding to that was the fact that Nigel was the person responsible for all of her problems in the past; he was the one that made this mess. So what if she betrayed his trust? He needed to learn that no-one messes with Platinum Evergleam and gets away with it.
“Okay,” she agreed while sitting down in front of Luna. “Where do we start?”