“How old are you exactly?”
This question jerked Chrysalis' attention from the ongoing 'celebration' that her changelings were attempting, to the young princess at her side. Given a brief pause, as she processed Twilight's question, the Changeling Queen gave an expectant look towards the alicorn.
After several seconds of this, Twilight could only assume that Chrysalis was looking for some clarification “I mean, I understand that you are over 1000 years old. That's perfectly clear. But, how long have you been alive exactly?”
Chrysalis continued to give some sort of...look towards Twilight, that she couldn't quite dissect.
She tried clearing her throat, as this wore on, before glancing behind her. Half-expecting to find whatever was garnering Chrysalis' attention, she found nothing more interesting than her own wings, twitching from her growing nervousness. Those didn't seem to warrant the attention the Changeling Queen was directing in this direction.
Turning back towards the changeling, Twilight sent back her own questioning look.
Eventually, Chrysalis let out an exasperated sigh, before shaking her head, in apparent disbelief. She soon focused back upon Twilight “So, I can only assume that Celestia has taught you, literally, nothing about tact or etiquette?”
“What?” Twilight blurted out, thrown by the apparent change of topics.
“I'm starting to understand why you've been studying friendship, of all things, these last few years. Before then, did you just blunder from one social function to the next?” Chrysalis asked of Twilight.
“I didn't blunder from anything. Just what is it you're talking about? Did I say something wrong?” Twilight demanded, not understanding where all of this was coming from.
“So, you aren't even familiar with the notion that it could be construed as rude, to bluntly ask someone their age like that?” Chrysalis prodded, in a somewhat condescending manner.
“I-...Oh. Oh!” Twilight was actually familiar with the notion.
It just never occurred to her to take such a thing into account, when interacting with others...which rather nicely explained Mayor Mare's sour reaction that one time...
“Sorry! Sorry. I wasn't thinking. I didn't know that sort of thing was offensive to changelings, and-” Twilight began to apologize, realizing her error.
“I don't know why you're apologizing. I didn't find the question offensive.” Chrysalis swiftly interrupted.
Twilight couldn't help but blink in confusion at this “But, you-”
“I never said I was offended. I just find it shocking, that Celestia could have instilled such poor manners into one of her students, that they could be so forward.” The Changeling Queen calmly clarified.
It took Twilight a moment to realize that Chrysalis was once again messing with her.
Clearly noticing the annoyed look Twilight sent her, but obviously unmoved by it, the changeling tilted her head towards the princess “This is what I look like when I'm 'shocked'...for the record.”
Her 'shocked' look, could easily be mistaken for smug amusement.
“Nevermind.” Twilight replied, shaking her own head in exasperation.
“Now you decide to let a topic go...If you must know, and assuming my count isn't off, I'm 1237 years old.” Chrysalis abruptly supplied, startling Twilight a bit “Now, why exactly do you want to know?”
“1237 years...” Twilight muttered aloud, somehow astounded by the number. Academically, she knew that it wasn't much older than what she already knew to be the Changeling Queen's age. But, having an exact number somehow made it seem more real, made it apparent just how much Chrysalis had seen come and go. Twilight had to take a moment to clear her throat, before speaking again “And...you used to be just another regular changeling?”
Chrysalis furrowed her brow, as the princess seemed to ignore her own query, in favor of this new line of questioning.
Twilight found herself anxious, and soon found herself mistaking the Changeling Queen's silence for a desire for elaboration on the question “Your M-...Manti, mentioned it to me earlier. Before the situation...deteriorated.”
“Mentioned what exactly?” Chrysalis asked, now genuinely desiring a bit of clarity.
Twilight ducked her head a bit, under the changeling's obvious scrutiny “That you were a young...drone, when she took you in. That seemed to imply that you could have lived a normal life, for a changeling, if she hadn't...”
“I could have...” Chrysalis slowly agreed, as it became increasingly obvious to her what direction the young princess wanted to lead this conversation. It seemed, that she had spoken too soon when she had teased Twilight over finally being ready let to let an issue go. Given Twilight's faltering response, to Chrysalis earlier off-hoofed remarks concerning her friend's limited lifespan, it wasn't hard to connect the dots.
A quiet seemed to reign over the two of them, that was only broken by the ongoing sounds of the party happening in the other parts of the cavern. Twilight seemed caught at an impasse, as she struggled to articulate the questions that Chrysalis knew she wanted to ask.
Chrysalis decided against going easy on her “Was there something else you wanted to ask?”
She wasn't going to abide the young princess' indecision lightly. Either Twilight could, ideally, drop the subject, or she could stand her ground and speak her mind.
“Oh...Uhm, how old is your mother?” Twilight asked, after being startled from her thoughts by Chrysalis' prodding.
The Changeling Queen had to briefly scrutinize the purple alicorn, a bit vexed by the question. It wasn't quite a change of the subject, but it obviously wasn't key to what she believed was plaguing Twilight's thoughts.
Chrysalis briefly considered not answering, but couldn't see how that would help the situation “I'm not sure exactly. Her reign extended to before the founding of Equestria...She is, perhaps, some good 600 to 700 years older than myself.”
Twilight was visibly surprised, by the calmly delivered response “Wait. She's only 700 years older than you?”
“...And?” Chrysalis replied, not understanding the confusion.
“I-...She just seems so much older than you. By that accounting wouldn't that make you...middle-aged? Or even past that?” Twilight asked, her mind obviously taken by this mystery.
“There is no 'middle-age' for a Changeling Queen. A Queen does not age, as her subjects do.” Chrysalis authoritatively declared, shooting down that notion firmly.
“But, that doesn't explain how she can seem so elderly. She seemed ancient.” Twilight pointed out.
“She is ancient.” Chrysalis reminded, before shaking her head at this turn of events. There was some small relief in the fact that the young princess was distracted from her earlier thoughts, but still she didn't care to go into this topic with any depth. Focusing back upon Twilight, Chrysalis began with a gesture of her hoof “However she appears, has very little to do with her actual age, and more to do with her choices. Now-”
“Choices?...You mean making you her successor?” Twilight asked, recalling the elderly former queen's words on the matter.
“Yes. That.” Came Chrysalis' terse reply. She was ready to end this conversation and walkaway, but she could already see the question forming on Twilight's lips “What you are seeing, in my mother, are signs of starvation. Not aging.”
“...Starvation?” Twilight prompted.
“Essentially. Her body lacks the energy it needs to maintain itself...so some parts are simply no longer maintained.” Chrysalis explained.
Twilight furrowed her brow at this explanation. It didn't sound so different from what happened to any other creature that was starved of nourishment, but “If she is starving, couldn't she become healthy again by...feeding?”
Chrysalis closed her eyes, before answering “No. Any significant amount of damage due to starvation, is usually irreversible. Our body's ability to retain love, or energy, or whatever you wish to call it becomes...compromised. All that can be done, is the staving off of any further damage. Keeping any more of our bodies from rotting, even as they remain a part of us.”
Twilight briefly swallowed down her discomfort “And, this-...this is what it means for a changeling to starve?”
“Watching and feeling, as our own bodies steadily die all around us? Yes, that is what starvation means to a changeling.” Came Chrysalis' frank response.
Twilight had no words for that, and couldn't help but stare in horror, at that answer.
“You might see then, how we can be so callous about the harm our feeding inflicts upon ponies...Given the options.” Chrysalis continued with a deceptively casual tone.
“I had no idea...” Twilight admitted, not sure of what else she could say to that.
Chrysalis offered no response.
That was a horrifying thought, one that she couldn't even imagine having to approach. Even without going into the details of the process, it seemed like it would no doubt be a terrifying and painful process to undergo. There were many things, concerning the divide between changelings and ponies, that Twilight had yet to glean any answers upon. But this certainly explained why the changelings didn't seem too broken up about having to harm others in their feeding process.
She honestly had to wonder, if she wouldn't make the same choice, in their position. She liked to think her principles and ideals would hold out. But Twilight couldn't help but doubt that she could accept that fate for herself. Or for those she cared about...
It certainly made it easier, for her to stick to her decision to help the changelings find their way to the Crystal Empire.
Her gaze had to wander towards the busier parts of the large chamber, taking in the sights of Pinkie's celebration. She could easily see the faltering attempts of the changelings, as they tried to work their way through the new party-games that Pinkie had introduced to them. There was the quiet rumble of hundreds of changeling voices, echoing throughout the chamber. Off in the distance, she caught a distinctive flash of bright pink, as Pinkie Pie successfully frolicked and played with the young changelings.
That spurred on a sudden thought in her mind.
“That always happens to a Queen, when she raises her successor?” Twilight suddenly asked, causing Chrysalis' attention to snap towards her. It seemed the Changeling Queen had been doing much the same as Twilight, thoughtfully watching as her subjects went about this party.
Chrysalis tilted her head at this, before nodding “It is the usual fate of a Queen, yes.”
“And, that's why Manti is so-...” Twilight paused, as she tried to find the right word to use.
“Decrepit?” Chrysalis easily supplied.
“...Uhm, yes. That.” Twilight agreed, a bit thrown by the word choice.
Chrysalis simply gave another nod, as an answer.
“...She saw something in you...that made her willing to choose to go through that...” Twilight said, more to herself than anyone else.
Chrysalis furrowed her brow at this, not sure why Twilight seemed so in awe by that thought. She didn't get a chance to give voice to her thoughts, before the princess spoke again.
“What was it?” Twilight suddenly asked, looking up to meet Chrysalis' gaze as she did so.
“...Why are you asking me this?”
And then, the reality of what she was asking Chrysalis set-in, and of why she felt the need to ask such a question of the Changeling Queen. It also suddenly occurred to Twilight, that this might be a profoundly inappropriate thing to ask anyone “I-I'm sorry. That was...really, really thoughtless. You obviously don't have to answer-”
“If I answer, I shall expect you to answer a question of my own.” Chrysalis abruptly interjected.
Twilight stared for a moment, before glancing from side-to-side “Uhm...well, sure. That seems fair.”
“My mother asked me a question. To pick from one of two choices. Rather than accepting either choice, I told her I would instead create my own choice.” Chrysalis succinctly relayed.
“What were the choices?” Twilight asked the obvious question.
“...Whether I would be willing to sacrifice a few changelings, to guarantee the safety of the entire swarm, or if I would risk the whole of the swarm for the two changelings instead...assuming, I was in her position and had to make that choice.” Chrysalis elaborated, in what Twilight thought must have been a forcibly neutral voice.
Twilight couldn't help but notice the change from 'a few changelings' to 'two changelings' and quickly gave voice to that thought “Two changelings? Who were they?”
“...It was a hypothetical. Simple as that.”
Twilight took this to be another issue that Chrysalis wasn't going to providing anymore answers on. Twilight found herself nibbling at the inside of her cheek, before looking back towards the Changeling Queen “And...what was the choice you made?”
“That I would be strong enough to not need to make that choice...Now, I have a question for you, Twilight Sparkle.” Chrysalis declared, keeping the young princess from ruminating on the Changeling Queen's answer for too long.
“Well, that's fair. What did you want to ask me?” Twilight quickly acquiesced, curious now.
“Why did you choose to become an alicorn?” Chrysalis asked, without preamble.
“What?”
“Even if Celestia failed to speak with you about it as in-depth as she should have, I can't understand how you could have so many doubts, that you think to turn to me for answers. Did you not think about it at all before choosing-”
“I didn't choose to become an alicorn.” Twilight suddenly interrupted.
Briefly surprised by this, Chrysalis soon narrowed her gaze “What do you mean?”
“I mean...it just sort of happened.” Twilight replied.
“That is not the kind of thing that just happens, Twilight Sparkle.” Chrysalis exclaimed.
“Well, it kind of did. It was my...destiny, I suppose.” Came the princess' response.
“Destiny? Is that the line that Celestia used to convince you to-”
“Princess Celestia didn't convince me of anything, Chrysalis.” Twilight patiently corrected again.
This seemed to give the Changeling Queen some pause, as she was forced to parse apart the implications of that reply “You're telling me that she did not speak with you about it at all before letting it happen? That she didn't give you a choice in the matter?”
Twilight blinked, as she took note of Chrysalis' steadily growing ire “I-...well, I'm not sure that she knew-”
“Of course, she knew. How could you not realize that by now?” Came Chrysalis' sharp reply.
“Why is this making you so upset? This-” Twilight began, genuinely unsettled by the changeling's reaction.
“Because, you should have been given the opportunity to refuse.” Came the angry assertion.
“...Why would I have-” Twilight hesitantly began.
“That is what this whole conversation has really been about, hasn't it? You, just now realizing what it means to be an alicorn, realizing how you are going to be different now. How you are going to outlive every-” Chrysalis abruptly halted her tirade there. She took a moment to take a calming breath, her eyes briefly closing, before focusing back upon Twilight “You should have been the one to choose, not her.”
The young princess couldn't help but let her mouth hang open, as Chrysalis displayed what could only be described as open concern...for her. She couldn't have guessed that the Changeling Queen would have reacted so strongly to these revelations. Or that these feelings would overcome any leftover animosity she held towards Twilight, and Chrysalis' own prickly nature. Though, perhaps she should have seen it coming...
Twilight could surmise that Chrysalis had gone through a not so different ordeal. How life-altering was it, to go from being a mere mortal of a changeling, to the thousand year-old Queen that stood before Twilight right now?
The young princess' mind shook at the parallels, that she saw between herself and Chrysalis.
“Would you have refused, Chrysalis?” Twilight suddenly found herself asking.
“What?” Came the quick reply.
“I...I am scared, by a lot of what's changing about my life.” Twilight admitted. She quickly turned her gaze down to her hooves, as she struggled not to think about some of those changes “But...I don't think I would have refused, even if I had known everything. Not knowing, that if I accepted, I could...help.”
“That-” Chrysalis began, but was halted as Twilight suddenly turned her gaze back up, to meet her own.
“Manti spoke with you about it first, and gave you the opportunity to say 'no', didn't she? Did you even consider turning her down, knowing what you could do if you accepted?” Twilight suddenly pressed.
Chrysalis visibly struggled with the question. Particularly, as there was no real point in even giving voice to an answer. The mere fact that Chrysalis was standing here, some 1200 years later, was answer enough. In the end, she merely scowled before turning her own gaze to the side “That does not excuse Celestia's inaction, in any of this.”
Twilight didn't deny that.
Honestly, she didn't know how she felt about things right now, about how she felt about her ascension. Part of her wanted to simply believe that Princess Celestia held a great deal of faith in Twilight, or that on some level, perhaps the choice still remained with Twilight. The events surrounding her becoming an alicorn were kind of vague and confusing.
On the other hoof, Chrysalis has an undeniable point. One that was reinforced by the fact that, the Changeling Queen had proven to be the first to speak with Twilight about the issue in a frank manner. Indeed, more than anyone else so far, Chrysalis seemed to understand what Twilight was dealing with...
“...Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me now?” Chrysalis asked with a gesture of her hoof, bewildered by this turn.
“I-I don't really know...I just kind of feel like I should.” Twilight hesitantly admitted.
Chrysalis gave a skeptical look at that, one that showed she didn't find that a satisfactory answer.
Twilight swallowed down at that, as her hooves shifted of their own accord “Just...thank you, for being concerned.”
This seemed to throw Chrysalis for a few moments, as the Changeling Queen became visibly uncomfortable. Nearly as uncomfortable as Twilight was right now.
“You are not my concern.” Chrysalis declared, even as her gaze trailed off to the side. She didn't turn her gaze back towards Twilight when she next spoke, and if anything seemed to be consciously avoiding doing so “If anything, this should be Celestia's concern. If anything, you should be speaking with her about this, not me. So...do us both a favor and bother her with it instead.”
Twilight eventually gave a nod at that, deciding against poking at the issue. Clearly, Chrysalis was quite done with the topic. There was still more that the young princess wanted to speak of, but it didn't seem...fair to the changeling, to press Chrysalis for these answers.
How in the world, had it come to the point where Chrysalis was the one most capable of empathizing with her issues, at this moment?
Twilight's attention was soon pulled back to Chrysalis, as the changeling took in a deep breath.
Letting it out as a heavy sigh, the Changeling Queen seemed to take a moment to settle her thoughts before speaking “Before we go any further, before you come to a decision about my changelings, I need to-”
“I already came to a decision.”
“What?” Chrysalis blurted out.
“I've already decided that I should help.” Twilight clarified.
“W-when?” The Changeling Queen uncharacteristically stuttered, evidently floored by this.
“I realized it just a little while ago, but forgot to mention it. Back in the library-” The princess began to explain.
“The library?” Chrysalis interrupted, with a raised eyebrow.
“Huh? Yes, I-...” Twilight stopped when she took note of the look the changeling was sending her “It wasn't just because you showed me the library!”
For Chrysalis' part, she merely glanced to the side a bit innocently “So, it did play some part though, then?”
“I-...maybe.” Twilight conceded, after realizing that even she didn't believe that the trip to the library had failed to have an impact on her thoughts. The young princess cleared her throat, to regain Chrysalis' attention “Uhm...thank you, though. For showing me, I mean.”
“...Right.”
“...I couldn't help but notice-” Twilight began after a moment.
She was stopped by the sound of Chrysalis' hoof knocking on the floor, as the Changeling Queen spoke up “Focus.”
“Oh, right.” Twilight replied a bit sheepishly. Any questions she might have about the library's contents could wait till later “Like I said, I came to the decision just a little bit before you and Rainbow Dash rejoined me and Prince Blueblood.”
“What was it that made the decision for you?” Chrysalis asked.
Twilight had to consider that question for a few moments, though it didn't surprise her “It wasn't just one thing. After seeing everything here, I don't want to see ponies and changelings keep being afraid of one another, if I can help it. I don't want to even think about any changelings having to worry about...starving, not when there's a way that they might not have to. And, I want to learn more about the changelings. To meet them and find out what's special about them. And...”
Twilight paused, before meeting Chrysalis' gaze “...I really want Princess Celestia to be right about you.”
“...And what if she is wrong?” Chrysalis asked, in what Twilight was sure was forced neutrality.
“I don't think she is. Not entirely.”
“She's been wrong before, about me.”
“...If she was that wrong about you, would you be pointing that out to me?” Twilight countered.
Chrysalis turned her gaze to the side, momentarily stymied by that argument "You need to-"
The Changeling Queen's response was cut-short, by the 'thwack' of the rubber ball that suddenly bounced off of her face. Twilight couldn't help but follow the arc of the blue-striped yellow ball, as it sailed through the air, only to bounce off of a profoundly pink head.
“Great return, Chryssie! That was a good one!” Came Pinkie Pie's enthusiastic encouragement, as she proceeded to bounce the ball off of own her head several times. At some point, Pinkie had somehow managed to clean off the copious amounts of flour she had poured over herself, and now had a large cadre of changeling nymphs with her. The cute, little changelings seemed to enjoy watching the pink mare's adroit handling of the ball, happily watching it's regular bounces off of her head, as they hovered and stood around her.
Chrysalis shook her head, as she blinked away her own surprise from the sudden intrusion, and seemed ready to loose an irritated rant towards the pink pony.
“This one is really funny, Queen Chrysalis!” The light, echoing voice of a changeling nymph happily called out, leading to Chrysalis abruptly biting her tongue.
“Hey, thanks! You guys are really funny too!” Came Pinkie's happy acknowledgment. Letting the rubber ball drop down to her nose, and balancing it in place briefly, she then launched the ball towards the gathering of young changelings “Here! You guys try now!”
There was a brief yelp of surprise from one of the changeling nymphs, that quickly lead into the sound of the ball being bounced back into the air. Quickly overcoming their surprise, the little changelings were soon gleefully bouncing the ball back and forth, to Pinkie's own delight “Oh, wow! You guys are naturals at this!”
The Queen and the Princess couldn't help but watch for a few moments, before their attention was called by one of the changeling nymphs “Does Queen Chrysalis want to try?”
This was quickly met by a chorus of little changeling voices echoing the sentiment, as they brought the ball to a rest on the floor. Soon they, along with Pinkie Pie, were all sending hopeful looks up towards Chrysalis.
Twilight couldn't help but note again, how much the young changelings seemed to adore Chrysalis. Nor could she disregard the fact that, despite the Changeling Queen's prideful nature, she seemed loath to disappoint them. That is, if the way Chrysalis was now standing stock-still as she tried to decide whether or not to indulge their pleas, was any indication.
Chrysalis' own gaze briefly narrowed, in annoyance for Twilight's pink friend, before smoothing over into neutrality. Holding up a hole-filled hoof to forestall the changeling nymphs pleas, Chrysalis seemed intent on regaining a bit of her dignity “I'm afraid, now is not a good time for such...frivolity. There are still things that must be discussed-”
“Awwwww! You two haven't even joined the party yet! How much more stuff can you have to discuss?” Pinkie Pie pleaded and prodded, gaining the nymphs' attention, before their collective hopeful gaze again turned towards the royal duo.
Chrysalis briefly frowned at this.
“Please, please, please! If you two don't come now, you'll never get a chance to see the whole party!” Pinkie Pie argued.
The Changeling Queen seemed to be more moved by the little changelings than anything Pinkie Pie actually said, and eventually turned towards Twilight expectantly. The princess briefly considered saying something, before she simply smiled and shrugged helplessly.
Chrysalis lowered her head, appearing to finally have given-in, before nodding towards the little changelings “...Very well.”
This was met by a chorus of cheers, lead by an endless optimistic pink pony.
“I knew we shouldn't have left her unsupervised...” Chrysalis muttered to Twilight, as they followed Pinkie Pie to join with the rest of the party.
Meanwhile...
“Well, I dare say you have everything in-order, Lady Rainbow Dash.” Prince Blueblood noted.
“Tch, yeah. Things are just going great.” The pegasus griped, as the twins continued with their efforts to clean away the changeling goo. If she wasn't so grossed out by the stuff, she might have thought it was kinda cool, the way they were doing it. All Alate and Cryptic seemed to be doing was making their horns glow at the stuff, but everywhere they passed, the sticky stuff seemed to just slip away. Little wisps of light seemed to lift away from her, as the goo turned watery and dripped off.
She was still wet and kind of smelled funny.
But, whatever, it was progress.
Blueblood clearly picked up on the sarcasm, but simply shrugged and decided to disregard it “In that case, I shall leave you to finish getting cleaned up. I find myself suspecting, that your pink friend could do with some proper supervision.”
“Whatever.” Rainbow Dash remarked, even as the prince departed. He hadn't really been that big of a help anyway, what with the way he kept trying to avoid getting any of the goo on himself. Sure, it was gross, but it wasn't like the stuff was that bad.
“Whoa! What the- Just what the buck are you doing?!” She suddenly exclaimed, as her attention was torn from the retreating form of the stallion, and given over entirely to the changeling that was sifting their way through her mane. Without warning, one of the twins had decided to start mucking about with her hair. Which kind of ranked right up there with touching her wings or handling her hooves; those were all no-fly zones.
Fortunately, whichever of the twins it was, came to an abrupt stop at Rainbow Dash's exclamation. Rejoining with their sister, they shared a questioning look with one another, before they both shot perplexed looks towards the pegasus.
“What's wrong?” Said one twin.
“There's still stuff in there.” Came the other, right afterward.
“Yeah, your hooves poking about in my mane!” Rainbow Dash remarked, managing to reply to both changelings at once, even as she ran her own hoof through her mane. This was ill-advised, as there was still quite a bit of goo left in there. Rather than returning her polychromatic mane to it's normal awesome state, all this did was result in a sort of sideways cow-lick.
The twins again shared a look with one another, before one of them, Cryptic, responded “Is that a problem for ponies?”
“It is for me.” Came Dash's slightly defensive response.
“...Is it really sensitive?” Alate innocently asked.
“What? No. I just don't want folks poking around there.” Rainbow Dash tried to explain. She didn't know why she was protective of her hooves or her mane or whatever, but she was.
“...Is it sexual in nature?” Cryptic asked, now plainly curious.
“...What.” Was Rainbow Dash's slow reply.
“Like, part of your mating rituals? Alate thinks it would more involve your wings, but I think your mane would prove more likely to catch the attention of another pony.” Cryptic explained in a matter-of-fact tone.
The pegasus could only stare, unable to formulate a response to that.
“...I still think the wings play a part in-” Alate began.
“Okay. I'm going to stop you right there.” Rainbow Dash interrupted.
Both focused their attention back on the pony, evidently hoping for answers.
She briefly considered trying to correct them, but realized, no, she didn't think she was up for that. Rainbow Dash rose a hoof up to rub the back of her head, only to be reminded of the slimy mess that was her mane.
Making a face, as she felt the strands of goo hanging from her hoof, Rainbow Dash shook away any lingering embarrassment she might have had “Alright, there's nothing sexy about my mane, okay? So, let's just get this over with!”
With that, the pegasus promptly sat down, and leaned her head towards the two changelings. After only a few moments of hesitation the twins quietly went back to work.
“...Wouldn't even have to be doing this, if Chrysalis wasn't such a jerk all the time...” Rainbow Dash audibly muttered, causing a brief pause in their task.
Sensing that she had managed to offend their sensibilities again, Rainbow Dash couldn't help but roll her eyes “Look. I know you two think she's just super-great and all that, but you gotta admit we wouldn't be doing this right now, if she was just a little nicer to-”
“Queen Chrysalis is nice to us.” Cut-in one of the twins.
“Huh?” Came Rainbow Dash's own response, as she turned her head back up to look at the duo. Sweeping her hoof through her mane, she was briefly pleased to note that her hair felt more like she'd just come out of rainstorm now, rather than just climbed out of a vat of gelatin.
“She listened to you, earlier. When you...defended us?” Alate pointed out.
“But she still-” Rainbow Dash began to argue.
“And the punishment she gave wasn't too bad to begin with.” Cryptic interrupted, and after a moment of thought added “She also reduced the punishment after you apologized to her too.”
“But, she said that my apologizing didn't matter, that she was punishing the two of you just the same.” Rainbow Dash reminded, a shade of guilt entering her tone.
The two changelings seemed to take a moment to consider this, as they watched Rainbow Dash glance down towards her hooves, still a bit ashamed that she was getting off without any sort of real punishment.
“We're pretty sure she listened to you.”
It was impossible to really tell which of the twins had spoken up, but Rainbow Dash could guess that whichever one did, it was the other that responded now “Not that, Queen Chrysalis isn't normally considerate of us. She's usually more so than most other changelings.”
“...Huh?” Came the same reply from the pegasus, though for different reasons this time. Glancing between the two changelings “Wait...what's that supposed to mean?”
The two glanced towards one another, before focusing back on Rainbow Dash “What part is confusing you?”
“The part where she treats you better than others do.”
Cryptic tilted her head at this, while Alate took the lead “How is that confusing?”
“Well, doesn't that mean that there are others that are treating you worse? I mean, there isn't anyone but changelings here, so how exactly is she more considerate?” Rainbow Dash clarified, even as she reined in a bit of aggravation.
“She doesn't treat us as if we're weird.” Cryptic answered.
“She always has something for us to do.” Alate added, a moment later.
“Queen Chrysalis finds us a place where our weirdness helps.” Cryptic summed up.
“Wait, are you saying that the other changelings-...what? Don't like you or something?” Rainbow Dash demanded.
The twins shared another glance, before Cryptic answered “Not really. They just...avoid us.”
“Because they find us weird.” Alate reminded, to which Cryptic nodded.
“They ignore you? Wait, I don't get it, how are you guys so much weirder than any other changeling? You guys seem alright, to me.”
The two didn't even glance at one another this time, before simultaneously shrugging “Twins are always weird.”
“So, that's it?” The pegasus asked again, clearly not satisfied with the answer.
“We just...get along better with each other, instead of others. It's just a bit...harder, understanding other changelings. It doesn't come natural to us.” Alate tried to explain, unable to properly describe what set them apart from other changelings.
Rainbow Dash furrowed her brow at this “So, none of the other changelings want to hang out with you guys? Just because you're twins?”
The duo seemed to hesitate, before Cryptic shrugged “I guess, that's kind of why.”
Alate nodded “That's why Queen Chrysalis let's us work on the surface instead.”
Rainbow Dash frowned at this, as the implications sank in. The two changelings didn't seem at all bothered by any of this, and seemed to merely accept it as part of life. If anything, they seemed to find it strange, that she found it strange “So...do you guys have any friends? I mean, aside from Chrysalis?”
“It's easier for us just to work together, instead.” Came the practical reply, from Cryptic.
“Cause...we are weird.” They both said at the same time.
“...Well, screw that!” Rainbow Dash angrily exclaimed, startling the twins. Shaking her still wet mane out of her eyes, she stomped over towards the duo, causing them to start backing away. Before they could get far, she wrapped one hoof around each of them “If everyone's going to be stupid about it, then I'll be your friend!”
“...What?” They both chimed, not needing to glance towards one another to be in-sync. They both shared in a look of confusion, surprise, and mild discomfort at this turn of events.
“I said, I'm your friend now!” Rainbow Dash angrily reiterated.
“But-” Alate began.
“That's the whole reason we're here, isn't it?” Rainbow Dash reminded, before looking between the two of them again. She had to admit to herself, it did feel kind of weird, their carapaces. It was an unfamiliar sensation, but she refused to let it bother her though.
“You...want to be our friend?” Cryptic hesitantly asked.
“No. I am your friend. You're not getting any say in this.”
“But, why?” Alate asked.
“Because...I don't know. That's just how this is gonna be, alright? This is probably one of those things I'm not gonna be able to explain to you guys. So, you're just gonna have to deal with it.” Rainbow Dash authoritatively explained, in a somewhat calmer voice.
After several seconds, Alate shrugged towards her sister, before speaking up “Okay...we'll be your friend.”
“Great, then-”
“But, we need to do something first.” Cryptic interrupted.
“Huh? What is it?”
The twins squirmed out from Rainbow Dash's grip, before they looked towards one another again, doing their usual silent conversation trick. Though this time it seemed to wear on a bit longer than usual. Long enough, that Rainbow Dash was considering poking one of them, to see if she could get some sort of response.
She didn't need to, as Cryptic suddenly spoke to her sister “You're the faster flyer. You should get it.”
“Yeah, but you're the one that organizes all of our stuff. You'll find it faster.” Alate countered.
“Uh, what are you guys talking about?” Rainbow Dash asked.
They glanced towards her as one, before replying “One of us needs to go get you something.”
Blinking at the simultaneous response, Rainbow Dash ran another hoof through her mane “Uh, what? You guys don't need to do that. That's not really how being friends works, you know? You don't-”
“She needs to go get it.” Alate firmly declared, earning a frown of annoyance from her twin.
“...Fine.” Cryptic conceded taking to the air and turning away from them, prepared to dart off.
“And, since she's our friend, you might want to show her your collection too.” Alate offered, to Cryptic's back, causing her twin to halt in mid-air.
“...You think?” Cryptic asked.
“Uh...I don't know what's going on, guys. But, sure, I'll check out your collection, or whatever.” Rainbow Dash offered.
“Oh...well, that's good.” Cryptic nodded, before darting away quickly by wing.
Alate made a movement, that Rainbow Dash was fairly sure was the changeling equivalent of a roll of her eyes. It was kind of hard to tell with changeling eyes, but the knowing smirk on Alate's face kind of gave it away.
“And stop making faces!” Cryptic's voice echoed back, earning a slightly chagrined look from Alate.
...Okay. They were definitely pretty weird. Still, Rainbow Dash wasn't backing away on this decision, not after having come along this far.
“So, uh...what exactly is it you guys want to show me?” Rainbow Dash asked Alate, hoping to pass the time till Cryptic returned.
“It's something we think you'll like.” Alate told her.
“Huh...And this collection of her's?”
“It's just something she gets the, uh...infiltrators to help her with, when they go out on their trips. It's kinda silly, but she likes it.” Alate explained.
Rainbow Dash had to tilt her head at this. Alate seemed a lot more normal, with her sister not at her side. She had to wonder if perhaps Cryptic would seem the same way; without their constant 'looks' and strange way of speaking over and around one another.
She was about to give voice to that thought, when the sound of approaching changeling wings drew her attention.
“Found it.” Cryptic declared, as she set down the small box she had in her hooves on the cavern floor.
“Told you. I knew you would find it easily.” Alate crowed.
“If you paid any attention to my system, you could have found them too.” Cryptic primly responded, before opening the lid of the small box, and retrieving an item.
It looked to be an old pair of flight-goggles.
Without preamble, Cryptic set the eye-wear down at Rainbow Dash's hooves “Here.”
The pegasus slowly looked over the old pair of goggles, noting the obvious wear-and-tear they had suffered, before glancing back towards the twins “Uh...thanks.”
“I knew she would like them.” Alate noted with a smile.
“Yeah...been needing a new pair of goggles for a while now...” Rainbow Dash politely said, as she used a hoof to lift them up by the strap. They even smelled kind of bad. Like old sweat.
It seemed to be Cryptic that took note of her lack of enthusiasm first “They were Grandfather Glimmer Wing's.”
“What?” This got the pegasus' attention.
“We weren't sure where the rest of his stuff was. But you like the Wonderbolts, right?” Cryptic asked.
“Uh, yeah! Are you saying I can really have these?” Rainbow Dash asked, as she began looking the goggles over with new found respect and awe. Suddenly they seemed much, much cooler to her now, with every bit of wear-and-tear now telling a story of awesome, high-flying stunts, in her mind.
“We're not using them for anything.” Alate easily pointed out.
“And you do like them, right?” Cryptic asked.
“Again, yeah! This is awesome! He actually wore these, right? When he was flying with the Wonderbolts?” Rainbow Dash excitedly asked, as she looked through the old, dirty lens.
The twins both nodded.
“Sweet!”
“So...you want to see my collection now?” Cryptic hopefully asked.
“Huh? Oh, right. Sure.” Rainbow Dash agreed easily, after being reminded of Cryptic's collection. Slipping the goggles over her head so that they rested around her neck, Rainbow Dash happily trotted over “So, what exactly is it that you collect, anyway?”
Before Cryptic could answer, Alate spoke-up “She collects pony-pictures.”
“They aren't just pony-pictures...” Cryptic irritably corrected, before lifting the cover to her little box. A moment later, a small black-and-white photo of some pony Rainbow Dash didn't recognize floated out, held in Cryptic's magic “...they are pony-photographs.”
“There's not that much of a difference.” Alate argued, with a gesture of her hoof.
“Is too.” Came the, not exactly compelling, argument from Cryptic.
“It's cool. Photographs are pretty awesome, I guess.” Rainbow Dash cut-in, diffusing what she assumed would have been an argument, before it could form. Leaning over to try to get a look into Cryptic's box now “So, let's see them all.”
“All of them?” Cryptic asked eagerly, the normally more reserved of the two twins almost giddy, at getting a chance to show off her collection.
“Yeah, sure, that's why we're here right? How many you got? 10? 20 photos?” Rainbow Dash easily agreed.
“97.” Cryptic proudly informed her.
“Oh...Great.”