Cupid Chrysalis

by Nightmare Darkness


Letters

Highness Heartstrings had gotten up and went for a walk early in the morning which was quickly becoming a habit since moving to ponyville. Most ponies caused her to feel nauseous at how sickly happy they were, but that was how things were. She would grin and bear it for her people. She approached her home which was looking more and more dilapidated. She made a mental note to have Boren begin to do gardening duties but then thought she should hire somepony instead because she needed Boren for many other tasks. She was making her way back home and saw Spike, Twilight's dragon slave leaving the library. It was odd considering dragons always loved to sleep as much as they could, Boren was no different. Spike saw her and waved a greeting before carrying on. Highness smiled forcefully as she waved.

Approaching her door Highness saw her mailbox now had its red flag up indicating she had mail. Her green magical aura enveloped the mouth of the mailbox and opened it. She pulled out several sealed letters addressed to her from several cities and places throughout Equestria as her leaders set up a network to keep her informed on her subjects well-being and proper assimilation into daily pony life. She began to sift through them as she opened the door and read. The smell of food in the kitchen meant Boren was awake and cooking.

“How was your morning walk, Your Highness?” Boren asked looking over his shoulder as he lifted up a hot tea kettle and cup with a ball of herbs. Highness found her place behind her desk and began to opening her letters and reading the contents as she levitated her glasses to her muzzle and mindlessly poured a cup of tea. She finished all of the letters except one that had been sent from the crystal empire. She hesitated but as soon as she was about to open it a hard knock on her door. She rolled her eyes and sighed in frustration, she had so much to do.

“Boren answer it.” She ordered and he walked from the kitchen in a blue apron with writing saying ‘I make great BBQ’. Opening the door a very uncomfortable and fidgeting Rainbow Dash looked left and right before pushing past Boren.

“Yea sure...just come on in.” He said with a half lidded expression. Rainbow Dash looked around as she was looking for something in particular which Highness knew all too well.

“Can I help you Rainbow.” She said placing a paper over her stack of letters.

“Yea…” she said rubbing the back of her neck looking anywhere but Highness Heartstrings. She raised her eyebrow waiting for Rainbow to elaborate on the reason for her visit. Rainbow didn't broach the subject so she would.

“So a fan of the wonderbolts?” She said leaning back into her chair making it creaked. Rainbow looked at her then and nodded looking slightly irritated.

“Yea so what?” She said defensively. Highness didn't want to have to deal with this harsh attitude not to mention she had so much to do.

“Why did you come here Rainbow Dash, I have alot to do, I am a busy pony.” Her green eyes flashed behind her glasses and Rainbow glared at Highness.

“I dropped something. Maybe you have seen it?” She inquired. Placing a hoof on her chin Highness Heartstrings feigned a thought.

“Oh I have no idea what you're talking about.” she said sarcastically. Rainbow could be seen being over frustrated with her.

“Oh you know! My picture of Soren!” She said as her cheeks flushed red with a mixture of emotions Chrysalis herself could taste. She instinctively licked her lips causing Rainbow to back up embarrassed and unnerved.

“So safe to say you came here yesterday to talk to me about how you could get to know Soren?” Highness asked genuinely surprised.

“No...yea...I don't know I just don't get stallions.” She said crossing her forehooves.

“They are easy to understand, yet not. Same could be said of us as mares. But truly I don't know how to help you Rainbow. I'm only a unicorn.” Highness said with a shrug.

“You have magic. Maybe…” Rainbow began and stopped as the look on Highness Heartstrings face showed disapproval.

“Love...real love cannot be found in a bottle of potion nor a book. Forced love is delusion Rainbow, if your feeling for him are genuine they will reach him...if you put forth the obvious signs…” she said placing her hoof on her desk.

“Stallions need an obvious sign that you like them. Some are thicker than others. I don't know enough about Soren as a stallion to say what he is.” She said lifting her hoof and canting it to the side to emphasise the point. Rainbow seemed to struggle with the explanation.

“Keep doing Awesome things and when you see him drop obvious hints that you like him when you see him.” She said and she had the dawn of realization spark in her eyes. Highness Heartstrings magic aura opened the drawer and lifted the picture out and floated it to her where she took it in hoof.

“I hope that helps.” She said and Rainbow got up from her couch and went to the door looking over her shoulder.

“Thanks Highness. You're not such a bad pony I guess.” she said opening the the door and closing it behind herself.

“She's a bit hot tempered.” Boren said stepping from the kitchen. Chrysalis waved her hoof and sighed.

“She's stubborn and brash. But like everything in this country, she longs for love in a way.” She said lifting the paper that she has used to cover her letters and lifted the envelope addressed to her from the Crystal Empire. As she read it her frown became a scowl and put them letter down.

“Boren pack our things and get the Capitan. We're going to the Crystal Empire.” She ordered. Boren stumbled over his feet as he looked at her shocked.

“Your Highness...is that wise? Shining Armor and Cadence…” he began before she glared at him shutting him up.

“One of our kind is locked up and a youngling at that.” she said as her magic enveloped the letters and saddlebag as she began to pack papers, ink and feathers for writing as she would need to write along the way there. In a matter of moments they were packed and leaving out through her door. She saw Bolt Shield standing there waiting for her a stoic guardly focus on his muzzle. She didn't trust anypony but he was reliable.

“We are going to the Crystal Empire.” She ordered. He looked unsure but simply nodded in understanding.



They all began to head to the train station as Highness Heartstrings took point leading them and walked up the platform and paid for three tickets and walked into the train platform. She instinctively scanned the platform and found it empty except for Spike, Twilight, and company. Who all looked at her and she looked at them her eyes shrunk to pin pricks. Why were they here? Where were they going? And over all...WHY NOW!

“Highness? What are you doing here? You going somewhere?” Twilight asked with a smile. Boren looked up at Chrysalis with a smirk. Highness Heartstrings saw this and glared at him. She gained her composure and smiled.

“Yes as it seems I have matters to attend to in the Crystal Empire.” She said with a gesture of her hoof.

“Oh that's where we're going!” Pinkie said excitedly clapping her forehooves. Bolt Shield and Boren looked at one another not liking where this was going.

“That's right, some news of a Changeling bein found.” Applejack said. Twilight nodded and looked concerned for a moment.

“We need to see if Chrysalis is planning another attack in Equestria, also this is a good chance to study changeling abilities, habits, and anatomy.” Twilight said slightly excited.

“You plan on dissecting him.” She said as her eyes flashed dangerously. Twilight didn't register the change in tone in her voice but Applejack did causing her to look at her closely.

“No not at all just like, study his body and ask him questions.” She said.

“We didn't say nothin about it being a boy. Why are you goin to the Crystal Empire again?” Applejack said. Chrysalis looked a the earth pony and met her eye as her insides were twisting with emotions of terror at being found out and rage at the thought of any harm coming to her subject.

“I tend to think of anything as him or her. Don't think I would consider a Changeling anything different than another living thing. I have a friend in the Crystal Empire who asked me to come.” She said to Applejack who didn't seem to completely buy it.

“Why are they commin?” She said indicating Bolt Shield and Boren. Highness pointed to Boren.

“My assistant,” then she pointed to Bolt Shield and continued.

“A little brother who's overprotective.” she said causing Bolt's eyes to widen a moment as Boren stifled a laugh and Bolt Shield punched him in the shoulder causing him to rub his shoulder still chuckling.

“What?” Boren said in ignorance. The Train whistle blew and soon it pulled into the station and a few ponies disembarked and then Highness and her company found seats. Bolt Shield sat across from Highness and Boren sat with his back to Highness in the one booth over. Twilight approached her.

“Mind if we sit with you guys?” She asked. In some way Chrysalis envisioned a random encounter of her somehow being struck by lightning killing her, because that was something she hoped for in this exact moment. She smiled.

“No please, the more the merrier.” She said as Applejack found a spot beside Bolt Shield. As the others found their places.

“So where are you from originally?” Twilight asked and Highness's ears drooped with a half lidded expression. ‘This was going to be a long train ride.’