//------------------------------//
// Shock by Cytotoxin 
// Story: Tainted Love: A Twysalis Prompt Tag Collab 
// by Foals Errand 
//------------------------------//

by Cytotoxin

"...What?" - she just asked the same thing a second ago. Try as she might, Twilight simply couldn`t envision anything else to say. The revelation was unsettling. Profoundly wrong, even. It violated common sense, many axioms of magic, and most importantly - her personal feelings on the matter. Yet, she wasn`t exactly keen on flatly denying princess Celestia out of hoof.

"I`m sorry to dump this on you, Twilight, but you had to know the score." - white alicorn proffered apologetically - "It`s highly likely you might end up dealing with her again in the future, and you have to know just what exactly you`re going up against." She shuffled her hoof on the ground sheepishly, casting a wary glance behind herself, where a black form of dimensions comparable to her own slept on the bed fitfully, hooves wrapped in bandages almost all the way to the barrel.

Twilight considered the sleeping form critically. "So. What you are telling me is that changelings do not exist?" - she proffered after a few awkward moments of silence - "That the invasion we had to stave off was really just one being of immense power experiencing a maddening fit of jealousy?" Her eyebrow twitched when Celestia nodded and sighed.

"It`s one of the most profound talents of Chrysalis - an ability to manifest many lesser forms of herself to distribute the labor and attention." - she proffered quietly, shaking her head - "After the Time of Madness, she was the force that rebuilt Equestria. In many ways, she is similar to Luna, but affected far more subtly and deeply then Luna was. I`m afraid my both of siblings are... less then stable. At times, I wonder if I`m not mad myself."

Twilight rubbed her chin as she reconsidered the facts. One of the sticking hairs went limp and merged with her hairdo, but the other stubbornly remained as her consideration hit a snag. "Alright. I can accept that Chrysalis is actually your elder sister. I can accept that, in ways similar to Luna`s, she also fell from grace and resents ponykind for not showing her appropriate attention." - she mused - "But why now? Why haven`t we heard about her for so long there is no mention of her in history whatsoever? Luna is featured in some old books, at least, but this is literally the first time I have heard about Chrysalis at all."

Celestia shook her head. "As a firstborn, Chrysalis experienced and suffered many things that me and Luna avoided simply by the virtue of her experiencing them and passing the knowledge on to us to avoid making same mistakes. All of it bore a mark on her body. To put it really simple, Twilight, until very recently Chrysalis refused to believe ponies could actually find any appreciation for her. Back in old times, when we took charge of the country... It seemed too convenient. Three tribes, three sisters to represent them. None of them wanted to be represented by Chrysalis, though. Unlike Luna, she had voluntarily elected to fade from public`s eye, intent to continue her labors in secrecy. When Luna went mad, Chrysalis withdrew from the land entirely, working her magic on the less hospitable areas to make them habitable for ponies in the future. It is by her labor that we are the primary economic power of the world." - she explained.

"So... how does benevolent deity turn into a wedding-crasher, if you don`t mind me asking?" - asked Twilight a bit more acerbically then she originally intended to. Celestia`s smile turned bitter and pained. "Cadence." - she proffered simply, - "Cadence is the reason. Chrysalis have had long ago sapped herself - she needs love to survive. As she is, well... the best option we could work out is to use me as a conduit. I am the pinnacle of Equestrian society, love flows to me from all corners of Equestria... and then, through my sisterly love for her, powers Chrysalis. Unfortunately, Chrysalis wanted more."

"And so, she tried to supplement your love with that of my brother?" - inquired lavender unicorn, glaring at the slumbering form - "Forgive me, princess, but I find it hard to have any sympathy for her. With her talents, she could be beloved by whole of Equestria on par with you."

Celestia`s head dipped low. "The truth... is far more sordid then that, Twilight." - she offered softly - "It was not your brother`s love she coveted." She paused to collect herself, then lowered her body on the rug, settling down comfortably - "What I am going to tell you now, Twilight, should NEVER be revealed to Cadence or your brother. If you are unable or unwilling to keep this a secret from them, tell me now."

Frowning, Twilight raised her hoof in a traditional Pinkie promise. "I have trust in you, princess. If you think they shouldn`t know, I will trust your judgment. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." - she intoned gravely, wincing as the hoof poked her eyelid unpleasantly.

"Cadence is a... preplanned alicorn." - proffered Celestia uneasily, - "Her conception is not a labor of two ponies in love, but rather a chore of two alicorns and magic far beyond what equinity is capable of. To put it really simply, after we realized that the only way to heal Chrysalis to a better state is to have somepony love her, we... created a pony to love her. Cadence was designed from the ground up to be an alicorn of love, capable of passively adsorbing the love throughout the land and outputting it into a single lover with utmost efficiency."

Hair toinged out again. "Wait, wait... WHAT?!" - exclaimed Twilight incredulously - "You mean to tell me Cadence is a golem?" Celestia shook her head. "Equimunculus?" Another shake. "Sustained apparition?" Yet another shake. "....You actually magistructed a living pony?" - she proffered finally, her voice an almost equal mix of fearful and reverent as she received a curt nod - "...This is incredible. And insanel But..."

Celestia raised her hoof. "The rest is rather simple. Cadence have had been posited to the public as an orphan who was born alicorn by some twist of fate. Obviously, no one thought it strange when I adopted her as my niece. She grew up like a normal pony... except a princess. I personally thought she`s doing quite well." - she proffered - "If it wasn`t for your brother, I think the plan would have went through without a hitch."

"Shining Armor? What did he do?" - inquired Twilight cautiously. A thought occurred to her suddenly, making her hop up and pace around Celestia - "Oh, no... no, no no no... He... he lured Cadence away from Chrysalis, didn`t he?" Another curt nod almost sent her fleeing th room. Twilight plopped down resolutely, and started doing breathing exercises Cadence taught her. "In, out, in, out, in, out... I`m calm. i`m calm!" - she called out, visibly wrestling down her nervousness.

Celestia nodded thoughtfully, musing - "You are right. Ever since Cadence became old enough to understand the matters of heart, she`s been with Chrysalis most of the time. She knows her as Arbor Shade - a stallion a year older then her, with special talent in global agriculture. For years, they were good friends, and we`ve done everything possible to nudge them on the road of romance... Until your brother happened. I don`t know how, but he managed to steal the attentions of Cadence away from Arbor Shade. There wasn`t much I could do without actually hurting your brother`s career or reputation, and try as he might, Arbor Shade just couldn`t regain the relationship. As silly as it sounds, the most powerful of alicorns have had been friendzoned. Chrysalis... didn`t take it well."

Twilight winced. "That`s... an understatement. So what exactly did she want to do?" - she inquired thickly, glancing on the recumbent mass of blackness and bandages with newfound apprehension and a smidgen of pity. She supposed there was more justification to Chrysalis then it was from the first glance. Not exactly like she was innocent, not at all, but in the same time... there was a reason to it all, now.

Celestia shrugged, offering - "To the best of my understanding, she just wanted to disrupt the wedding. To crash it so badly it wouldn`t be considered again for quite a while, if not abandoned altogether. All of it is moot, now, however. Cadence will be happy with your brother, I suppose. As for Chrysalis... I don`t know, Twilight. I don`t know. I`m not sure if I want to try again, and I`m not sure Chrysalis would even care to try again either. But... This, I can tell you. One way or another, sooner or later, I wil find someone who will love her. I owe her that much."

Taking a deep breath, Twilight began speaking. Her voice cracked, but even so, she managed to spit out - "Well, then, how about me?" Celestia quirked her brow. "You? I don`t think even you can make yourself love on command, Twilight Sparkle." - she replied cautiously - "Besides, I am not sure if Chrysalis wants another attempt so soon  to begin with."

Twilight`s lip quirked a little. "Maybe not. But I`d like to try." - she proffered back, her voice suddenly hoarse and dry , - "I`m... not the best at meeting ponies, princess, and Chrysalis definitely knows and remembers much of what I`m interested in. It wold be nice to talk to someone who can actually understand what I`m saying... besides you, of course. And, well... if what we saw at the wedding was a fit of jealous rage, and not the regular attitude, then I guess she must be rather nice casually. I`d probably.... probably shouldn`t think about how I`d interrput the ceremony if I were in her place. If she can let go of her grudge, then maybe I can learn to love her in time."