//------------------------------// // You Asked for It // Story: Two-Sided Prequel II: Who You Work For // by FerociousCreation //------------------------------// Who you Work for Ch. 17 Coco almost began to cry. “Did... you just say that everything we don't spend-” “-Will be yours to keep,” Chrysalis replied with a friendly smile. “Must you always ask questions? You have asked four questions since we started flying, and it has not been three minutes.” With a heart filled with emotion, Coco quickly scrambled from her seat and embraced the queen with a tight squeeze. Something warm tapped Queen Chrysalis' shoulder. They were tears of joy and they were coming from her friend. “T-th-thank y-you!” Coco cried as she continued to maintain her hold on the changeling. “Heh, I should be thanking you, my dear,” the queen replied. Coco didn't want to look up at Chrysalis because of the tears that ran down her face but did so anyway. Slowing down her joyful sobbing, Coco asked, “Why should you be thanking me?” “Because you gave us a chance. You looked at me and the other changelings with no hate, nor disgust. Not only have you proven your worth as a hard worker, but you have shown that you can be a great friend. I can never place a price on our friendship. You...” Chrysalis' throat hurt from her own emotions. “You... are special to me and the hive. You are the first pony to accept us with smiles and not leers and bared teeth.” “I just think others should be given a chance, even if...” Chrysalis raised a brow. “Even if what?” Looking away, Coco replied, “...if they had already done something wrong.” Chrysalis nodded without another word. Removing herself from the changeling, Coco went back to her original seat and looked back at Chrysalis and Sea More. Sea More looked happier than he did before, probably because of the event that had just happened. The queen just smiled back at the pony. It made Coco happy considering how her choice lead to a great reward. As the mare looked at the sack of treasure, she wondered where it all came from. “So, how did you end up with all of this?” Coco gestured to the bag of gold and gems. Chrysalis answered, “We have no need for money because all we desire is love. Love is the only thing that keeps us alive.” Her eyes stared down at the sack. “Throughout hundreds of years, we have accumulated treasure primarily from dragon dens that were abandoned. Dragons love their treasure, but cannot hold it all when they travel. Basically, we have collected the scraps of what a dragon had left behind only to use it in case we have to buy something from the other races of Equestria.” Rubbing her chin, Coco said, “But you said 'primarily.' What other methods did you use to obtain treasure?” “Only a few instances were treasure stolen, and all of the accounts of theft were done on a changeling's accord, not by me ordering them to do so.” “Why would they steal if a changeling has no use for money?” “Just pure greed. You cannot deny that that sack full of gold pleases you.” “I could not disagree with that.” Just the thought of wondering what was inside the bag made Coco want to begin counting it all, starting with how many gems were in it. “However,” Chrysalis continued, “when a changeling would do the act of theft, whatever was taken was immediately confiscated. No changeling should do anything to their heart's desire unless assists the hive. The changeling race is in my hooves, and I cannot allow my kind to be swayed by the distractions of the world.” “Understandable.” Clearing his throat, Sea More asked, “So, are we going to get to the part where you ask questions about me?” “Hush!” Coco barked with teeth wielding grin. “I ask the questions around here.” “Yeah,” Chrysalis replied with a similar smile as the pony. “She asks the questions. So shut up.” Sea More did not look pleased with how the two mares were acting toward him but kept quiet so that he may not anger his leader. “Besides,” Coco continued, “I have one more question for you Chrysalis specifically.” “Ask away,” the queen responded. Remembering the night before last, the pony thought about the time when she was in the pool with the other changelings and feeding the children. She remembered the parent who scolded their child and mentioned a particular changeling. “Left Wing...” the pony said softly. In an instant, Queen Chrysalis' attitude changed dramatically. Her face burned with anger. Coco hesitated to ask her question but did so anyway. “Who was Left Wing? Was he your husband?” Letting out a loud sigh, Chrysalis calmed herself down and answered, “Yes, he was my husband. He was a lying sweet talker that only wanted what he desired, not caring about others... not even his daughter...” “And his daughter was Beauty Fly, your daughter as well, right?” “Yes...” It didn't take any effort for Coco to see that her questions were affecting her friend's mood. “That's all I will ask you, Chrysalis.” “Thank you,” Chrysalis responded as she looked down at the floor. Now looking at Sea More, Coco began to think about the questions to ask him. But the more she thought about what to ask Sea More, other questions came to mind. Coco wanted to learn more about the hive and how they live. “So...” the pony said as she tried to come up with a question. Sea More adjusted himself, eager to answer Coco's question. “How do changelings absorb love?” Chrysalis and Sea More looked at the mare with interest. They expected her to ask a question, such as who was Sea More's father, or where does Sea More's mother live. Instead, it was a question that would better increase her knowledge in the ways of changelings. “Well,” Sea More spoke, “changelings absorb love by the amount of care and effort that was put into something. For example, when we absorb love from a piece of art, if the artist put a lot of care into it, the more we can consume. If we absorb love from a pony, such as yourself, it varies on how much care is directed toward us. If somepony were to be affectionate toward us, the more we can absorb. If somepony were to have hatred toward us, little to nothing can be taken. And even if we can absorb love from one who has bitter intentions against us, it tastes sour or bitter. “Interesting... How is love stored into something and how does it become food?” “Think of us changelings more like insects than pony,” Chrysalis replied. “The best way I can explain it is how bees react to those who get near their hive.” “I don't like bees...” Coco shivered. “Neither do we...” Sea More replied. “Shut up!” Chrysalis barked at him. “I am the one answering this question.” I didn't know it was a contest to answer my questions, Coco thought. “So, bees. Now let's say two ponies are near a hive of bees. One of them hears the bees and remains calm. The other panics and begins to hyperventilate, letting out a lot of adrenalin and carbon dioxide. Because of the one who is worried about the bees, the insects are able to smell them and track them down. So now the two of them begin to run and both run opposite directions. The one who is more worried is chased by more bees. As the panicked pony is running, she jumps into a body of water and hided underneath the surface. Because of her act, they can no longer pursue because of a barrier of water and a loss of where the scent went.” “How does your example of bees relate to changelings?” “Because love has a particular scent. If you were to picture it the way we see it, love is like a pink haze that wisps off of something. If somepony is directing love toward us, the scent moves at us and we don't have to use magic to absorb the love out of a pony. All a changeling needs to do is inhale and take in the love from there.” The statement, “we don't have to use magic to absorb the love out of a pony,” make Coco shiver. “You can take love out of a pony by force?” Coco asked. “Yes we can,” Chrysalis spoke in a deep tone. “However, by doing so, the love is almost more bitter than sweet because we are stealing the emotion that feeds us.” “I thought you said changelings who steal do it out of pure greed...” “I never said stealing is done out of greed.” The queen was not snide with her response toward Coco. “Sometimes we have to use force. But like I said, by using force, the love is usually bitter.” Coco wondered what it would be like if a changeling were to have the love sucked out of her. “Can you steal a little bit of love out of me, just to know what it feels like?” Her statement made Chrysalis uneasy. “Are you sure? It will create immense discomfort...” “I've been thrown off of a balcony and trampled by children. I think I can handle it.” “Very well.” Getting up from her seat, the queen went over to her friend. She gingerly touched Coco's face and rubbed her hoof on her cheek. Blushing, the mare looked at Sea More so that she may not look at Chrysalis' calm stare. In an instant, Coco felt her eyes widen, her neck stiffen upwards, and her mouth left wide open. She found herself unable to move. The only thing Coco was able to do was to stare at Chrysalis' harsh stare. Coco felt her energy being sapped from her. She also felt something else. Something she did not expect. Coco felt her happiness fading from her. All of the good memories of her past life began to become a blur. Soon, Coco could not remember anything about herself. She felt lost. “Come forward,” Chrysalis' spoke. No longer in control, the mare moved by the sound of her voice. The pony got up and stood in the small space of the wagon. “Do you see that changeling?” Chrysalis gestured to Sea More. Coco nodded. “Go to him. Embrace him. Love him. Give him everything.” “M-my queen! I think you have done quite enough!” But it was no use. Sea More watched as Coco Pommel climbed up to him. Her pupils and irises were now one color: dark-green. Leaning in to kiss him, the pony slowly closed her eyes. Sea More froze as her arms went around his torso. Then a rush of love coursed through him as the mare's lips lightly touched his neck. He inhaled quickly to suck that pink haze that wafted off of Coco. It was a flavor of love Sea More had not yet tasted before. “H...hugh?” Lifting her head, Coco looked at Sea More and he looked back. Noticing her hold on Sea More, Coco quickly scrambled away and back onto her seat. Shivering, the mare scooted to the corner of the wagon and stared into it. “Are you alright, my friend?” Chrysalis asked. Very slowly did Coco turn her head. Her cheeks were red and her eyes were filled with tears. “No... I am not... That was... a terrible and embarrassing experience.” On her own accord, the queen moved herself to Coco's side and came close to her. Like a magnet, the pony leaned over to her friend and rested her head onto Chrysalis' shoulder. “That is just one way how us changelings can sap love from-” “I don't want to know anymore. No more... please...” “You asked for it. You said-” “I know what I said!” Coco yelled. “I just... no more questions from me right now, okay. Chrysalis held her friend. “I understand.”