//------------------------------// // Life by Fuzzyfurvert // Story: Magic of Love: A Twidance Prompt Collab // by ArguingPizza //------------------------------// by Fuzzyfurvert My Little Dynamite: Book Two Part Five It was warm and bright when she woke up.  Jade and emerald colored eyes blinking numbly at the pink fur and fluff that surrounded her as she lay on her side in some large, plush bed.  She remained still, letting her breathing continue in the steady rhythm from her sleep.  The inner edges of the holes in her chitin, along her legs, were sore and felt raw and chaffed.  Otherwise, Chrysalis felt surprisingly refreshed and rested in a way she hadn’t since the last time Monarca had slept over in her Princess’ bed. Chrysalis could taste magic in the air.  Everything was coated with the ethereal residue of it.  Under the magic she could taste the emotions of those who cast it.  Desperation.  Anger.  Fear.  Pride.  Loss.  And something else that she couldn’t place.  It had a hauntingly familiar quality to it, like something she hadn’t tasted in ages, but nothing more than the vague feeling sparked in her memory. As she search her mind, other memories, just as ancient, but unbidden and ones she had thought long since lost, arose.  Light filled hours spent in a room that was decorated in pink fluffy things.  Years spent as a filly in a huge palace surrounded by snow where she would gaze at paintings of places that were located to the far south where everything was lush and green all year.  Months spent in dim rooms, drilling spells in her head, into her horn until she could cast them without thinking about them.  Days locked in the darkness whenever she failed one of her father’s tests. “I know you are awake, my little Crystal.  You can stop pretending.” The voice was deep and thick, rumbling against her back like distant thunder.  It was just as she remembered it: rich and warm with a caring tone that promised support and unconditional love.  She’d learned the basics of deception from that voice.  She learned how honey drew you in and concealed the iron underneath.  Her father had always been a fine teacher. Chrysalis curled her legs against herself, focusing on the sore feeling in the openings in her chitin.  “I liked it better when you were just another one of the voices in my head.” “I was never just a voice in your head.  You know that, Crystal.” “I prefer Chrysalis now.”  She wound herself into a tighter fetal position, her throat plates constricting and her breath growing a little ragged.  “I had things under control.  I didn’t you to interfer.” “I beg to differ, Crystal.”  He chuckled, the tiny barbs in his tone slowly revealing themselves.  “You were dillydallying.  Playing overly long with those lesser ponies.  I taught you better than to disobey me.” Chrysalis shuddered, tensing when she felt someone draw the blanket covering her up higher onto her shoulder.  She didn’t look up, but she could sense that no one was in the room except the two of them.  “You taught me to take what I want from this world and buck the rest.”  She swallowed with some difficulty and took a calming breath.  “I-I don’t want you.  I don’t want th-this.  What I want, you can’t give me.  So, I guess you can tell what category that puts you in.” A broad, heavy hoof touched her shoulder.  It smelled like smoke to her.  “I think you may want to re-think that.  I can give my little Crystal what she wants.  Join with me, as is your duty and birthright.  Let us be a family again, Crystal, and I will give you everything you have fought for for so long.  I’ll even return to you all that which you’ve lost.” As he spoke, the hoof drifted up her neck, brushing aside her web-like mane until he reached her ear.  He rubbed her there, like he was soothing the bad dreams from a filly.  “I can give you the world and your priestess.  I can make you not just my own little Princess again, but I can make you Princess to the entire world, Crystal.  Join me, do as I bid you to and it will all be yours.” Despite herself, Chrysalis relaxed under the gentle massage and the waves of the deep voice as it washed over her.  My father is dead.  Killed by his greed and hubris when he challenged a goddess.  I can remember feeling him become no more.  I can remember it!  She forced her body tighter into the safe coil of limbs and torso, all but her eyes and ears below the blanket that covered her. Across from the bed, in the bright light that was streaming in from above, she could see a simple end table.  It was made from the stained wood of sub-arctic pines—she was sure of it—and on top was a filly’s toy, a dolly with golden hair and a blue dress.  I used to have one just like it.  I called her…  Chrysalis closed her eyes, fighting for the memory.  It was so close, but it kept eluding her.  Her eyes snapped back open and she looked around the room as best she could without moving her head for fear of seeing the pony that stood behind her. Toys, keepsakes from her first dozen or so birthdays littered the dresser and the large vanity table.  Jars that she knew held make up stood at attention like soldiers in front of the mirror there.  Just like I left them… Chrysalis shuddered again.  It felt so much like home, so much like the place she had left and vowed out of her father’s hearing, that she would never return to.  It’s all a lie...right?  It can’t be him...it can’t be here!  I-I...I checked.  There was nothing left, not even a coin or a brick, just holes in the ground and fresh snow!  The Empire is gone.  Right? “I know what you’re thinking, Crystal.  You’re wondering if I’m telling the truth.  You remember my training—and I will be the first to admit it was harsh and I was hard on you—and you are wondering if it will be like that again.”  The voice got closer and the hoof at her ear dropped to her shoulder and tugged gently at her.  “Well, I promise you, it won’t be.  I want you at my side, Crystal.  I want us to be a family again, just like old times.  I know things...didn’t...go according to plan, but I know we can overcome it.  This time...this time, my little sweetling, those abominations won’t stop us.  They can try, but no matter what, I know that this time, we will prevail.” It will be different...right?  Chrysalis shook her head, biting her lip to hold back the whimpers that were trying to escape her.  He...he isn’t just a dream.  This isn’t just in my mind, right? The hoof tugged at her incessantly, growing firmer with pull.  “This time they won’t catch me by surprise.  I’ve learned from my mistakes.  I’ve become stronger while in my exile.  Stronger than they can even fathom.  No longer will you need to slink in the shadows to get close to the priestess.  I will just give her to you on a silver platter.”  The hoof grabbed her and yanked her around onto her back.  Above her, her father, Sombra the Black smiled, his teeth gleaming white amid his inky coat.  “I’ll even let her keep most of her limbs.” Chrysalis pulled away, backing away as far as the pillow would allow her from the apparition.  His eyes were the same carnelian she remembered, but now they were surrounded by a sickly green glow.  His mane was wild as ever, but now it seemed to wave in a wind only it felt, the dark hair becoming like smoke as it flowed away from Sombra.  He leaned closer and then paused, looking up as if he heard something. “Oh good.”  He looked back at her, his eyes gleaming.  “Come my little Crystal, I want you to see this.” “S-see what?” “The fireworks are just about to start.”     Several hours previous: “Helm, report.”  Celestia blinked the residual magic of the Corona’s transport gate out of her eyes, turning to look out the portside windows at the grey and white mountain range outside.  Tiny blots of bright color color peeked out from some of the distant ledges and crannies, Minotauran tribal kits flying in the air.  “At least it looks like we are on course.  What do you think, Luna?” The night Princess took a deep breath and held it for a moment.  “Yes...I can feel that we are much closer now.”  Luna sighed, joining Celestia a moment later.  “We are still a far ways off though, and in the middle of foreign airspace, I might add.” “I had word sent to the Collective’s elder council before we left.  It should reach them before news of our passing through does.” “And what if we should run into the Collective’s airforce out here?”  Luna raised an eyebrow.  “I realize the need for haste, believe me, but we run the risk of an international incident, Tia.  An experimental airship suddenly appearing where conventional wisdom says it cannot and it’s loaded with canons.” “Unloaded canons.”  Celestia shrugged, scanning the horizon for any signs of threat.  “Not that they will care about that at the start.  I’m hoping that the secret airbase that they are rumored to have out here is just a rumor.”  She clicked her tongue and looked back over her shoulder.  “Helm!  Where’s my report?” “Sorry ma’am!”  The pegasus pony at the helm saluted smartly.  “I just got word back from the engine room.  There was a small fire, but it is now contained.  The lead engineer isn’t sure when the gate generator will be useable again, as of yet.” “What about the standard aether engine?”  Celestia turned around fully, stepping over to the helm to glance over the multitude of gauges and dials that displayed the condition of the Corona’s systems. “Operating within optimal conditions, ma’am.” “I see.”  Celestia nodded to herself.  “Get Navigation to pinpoint our location, then I want this ship on a course my sister sets at full speed.”  She tapped a hoof against one of the pressure gauges and watched the needle move slowly away from the red end.  “How far do you think we have yet to go yet?” “Leagues, easily.”  Luna gestured with her horn.  “That way...a day’s flight by our wings.  A few hours at worst with the Corona.  I think.” “She’s as fast an airship as any Equestria has ever produced, Luna.  We’ll be there before this Sombra can muster forces enough to face us.” “About that…”  Luna frowned, looking back at her sister with a steady stare.  “Might we speak in private?  There are things we must discuss.”   The older Princess nodded and led the way to the captain's chamber.  There was barely room for the two of them and the small bed and table inside.  As soon as her wheeled harness crossed the threshold, she closed the door and her magic sealed them in a hemisphere of privacy.   Celestia raised an eyebrow.  “Was the door not private enough?” “Not if I want full disclosure from you.”  Luna deadpanned and rustled her feathers, getting comfortable as the little space allowed.  “I want to know why you were so gung ho to come after Sombra you would risk an international incident that could throw the country into a war with the Minotauran Collective.” “If this Sombra is as bad as you recall, the war would come anyway if he were allowed to gain a hoofhold on the north.  We’ve been allied with the Minotaurs for generations now, I’m sure things may get tense, but would be smoothed over.”  Celestia took a seat on the floor, facing her sister.  “I believe my actions thus far have been logical.” “Oh drop the act, Tia, you are talking to me, not some noble or pack of reporters!”  Luna rolled her eyes.  “Yes, yes, I know Sombra is a threat like no other.  Better than you do.  We cannot under estimate him, sister.  But I know you too.  The Flaming Sword of Equestria does not go storming into battle half cocked.  You plan, you prepare, you stack the deck.  And yet, here we are about to charge into the dragon’s den without so much as checking the color of the scales on the ground!” The younger Princess sneered.  “Tell me what has you in a vise.  I know you like your secrets, Tia, but I need to be in on them this time.  Hesitation or mistrust might end us against this threat.” Celestia scowled, her eyes on her hooves for a long moment.  When she looked up, Luna could see a touch of fear in those lavender irises.  “Lulu...I’m worried.  Things are coming together in a way I wasn’t prepared for and I fear I may have been complacent in this situation.” “What do you mean?”  “Well...lots of things...disseperate things going back centuries are all coming together.  Connections I only suspected are suddenly becoming clear, Lulu.”  Celestia hung her head.  “There are times...when Chrysalis is stable.  She’s a wonderful mare when she is...but then there are other times and she goes to some place...else.  I-I just wonder if in those times when she wasn’t stable, did she set these things up?  Did she manipulate me, and if so, was it intentional?  Or was it her madness?  I sent Cadance out based on rumors I picked up from my informants...but was that all from her, Lulu?” “Oh sweet Goddesses, Tia...are you serious?  I knew you liked the bug, but this?”  Luna slumped in her harness.  “You think is some mistake of yours that needs to be corrected?  Unless you taught her how to break the seal, then there is none of your fault for Sombra’s release here.  Rest your soul on that, at least.  But what does the changeling have to do with this anyway?” “I’ve suspected, since you told me about Sombra that he might be her father.”  Celestia was silent for a time.  “I don’t claim to know any details...but I remember from before, in the Everfree when she was simply competing for your place, hearing her sometimes speak of her father in hushed tones.  She was scared of him like nothing I’ve ever known, Luna.” “And now he is back.” “Yes.”  Celestia wiped her eye with the edge of her hoof.  “And I’ve lost contact with Chrysalis.  She hasn’t been seen in any of her regular haunts.  I was concerned she might go do something to Cadance..but now I’m terrified to think she released Sombra and he has her again.” Celestia snorted, smirking up at Luna.  “She’s not a pony, technically.  But trust me, she’s all mare.”