Futa Chrysalis and Twilight Sparkle Fight Crime
“I’m just saying,” Twilight Sparkle was saying, “I don’t need you fighting my battles for me. I’m not some prince locked in a tower who needs rescuing.”
“Are you sure?” Chrysalis ran her tongue over her fangs. “Maybe it runs in the family.” She could not fathom why Twilight was upset. Princess Cadence, curse her name, had been out of control. There was no telling what she would have done to Twilight if Chrysalis hadn't stepped in.
“Very funny.” Twilight stared straight ahead as she marched down the shadowy alleyway. If anything had been so unfortunate as to get in her way—a careless pony, say, or a brick wall—the force of her glare would have been enough to shove it aside. “This is the sort of thing I’m talking about. You don’t take me seriously at all.”
Chrysalis rolled her eyes, although she made sure to stay back, out of Twilight’s line of sight. There were other benefits to trailing behind, as well. “Of course I take you seriously.”
“No you don’t. You think I’m cute.”
“That's because you are cute.”
Twilight turned her glare on Chrysalis. “Was it cute when I exposed your plans to Celestia herself? Was it cute when I led my friends against your legions?”
“Honestly? Yes.” Chrysalis smiled at the memories. “You are adorable when you’re angry.”
Twilight huffed. “I don’t know why I bother.”
This was going even better than Chrysalis had dared hope. Her hooks were obviously deep into Twilight’s heart, or the unicorn wouldn’t put so much stock in Chrysalis’s opinion. What's more, all this anger could be redirected in so many useful ways. Also it was unspeakably cute.
Something wasn’t right. “Hold,” Chrysalis said. “This is not the way back to the palace.” She hadn’t known that Canterlot even had dingy back alleyways like these. "I have had enough surprises for one day." The sun was low in the sky, and she had an urgent appointment with that wonderful featherbed in the chambers Twilight had arranged for her. There were benefits to befriending Princess Celestia's favored apprentice. All sorts of benefits.
"It's a shortcut," Twilight said with more force than was strictly necessary. Her jaw was clenched harder than... well, harder than certain things Chrysalis could name.
"Of course." Chrysalis cast her eyes over the crumbling brick walls that pressed in close on either side. Closer than they had minutes ago, in fact. The shadows made it difficult to see more than vague silhouettes. "Is this a shortcut you have traveled before?"
"Not as such," said Twilight. "But I'm sure it—"
"Well well well." A bulky pegasus slid out of a narrow doorframe and set herself in their path. "What do we have here?" she said with a leer. "Two little ponies, all by themselves." Half a dozen other ponies appeared from the shadows beside the ringleader. Chrysalis glanced behind, to find another band of ruffians blocking their return path. Of course.
Twilight stiffened and shifted her weight forward. Chrysalis knew a fighting stance when she saw one. It was too dark to see her face, but Chrysalis could imagine the way Twilight's brow furrowed. "Get out of our way. Now." So cute.
"Bruiser, have a word with them," said the ringleader.
An earth pony nearly as tall as Chrysalis stepped forward. "Didn't your mama tell you it's dangerous to go alone at night?" In the dim light, only his eyes were clearly visible. "Alright, girls, let's see those saddlebags."
"You're kidding." Chrysalis grinned a fanged grin. "Do you poor fools have any idea who I am?" With a thought, she wreathed her twisted horn in glowing magic, bathing the alleyway in sickly green light. For the first time, Chrysalis clearly saw the ponies surrounding her... and they got a good look at her.
"Celestia's beard!" Bruiser stumbled back. "What is that supposed to be?"
"Who cares?" shouted the ringleader. "Get her!"
The thugs surged forward. Twilight launched a flurry of magical blasts, knocking three of the attackers off their hooves, and then they were too close for anything but hoof-to-hoof fighting.
Bruiser led the charge. Chrysalis bulled forward, slamming him with her chest and knocking the pony to the ground with sheer momentum. The impact shook her, and the light from her horn winked out. A hoof flashed out from the darkness and struck her foreleg in the knee. Chrysalis stumbled and hissed in pain. She launched a bolt of raw magical force at her attacker. The magic briefly illuminated a unicorn with a rather comical look of dread on her face before striking with enough force to fell the Princess of the Sun herself.
A dark blur darted forward as another pony leaped at her in a flying tackle. Chrysalis tried to duck aside, but the ache in her knee slowed her. She staggered to one side as the pony slammed into her shoulder and latched on. Chrysalis heard yet another pony charging in from behind. She bucked, hard. Chrysalis felt her hooves connect with something soft and warm, and she heard the pony fall.
Magenta light filled the alleyway for half a heartbeat, and a pair of thugs went soaring through the air on the edge of Chrysalis's vision.
The pony clinging to her started flailing at Chrysalis's face. There was little force behind the blows, but it was distracting. Chrysalis sent her will into her shoulder, which faded into nothingness. Her foe found himself holding onto thin air and tumbled to the ground. Chrysalis kicked his side while her shoulder reformed. The pony tried to rise, so she kicked him again, harder. After a moment's thought, she struck him once more for good measure.
Chrysalis paused. The melee had come to a stop. She couldn't see or hear any sign of—no, wait! Something was moving to her side. She bared her fangs and leaped at the silhouette, snarling. She grabbed the pony and bore it to the ground under her greater weight. Chrysalis drew back a hoof to strike just before a magenta bolt lit the scene. Chrysalis found herself looming over Twilight Sparkle. She just had time to stop her punch before the bolt struck her squarely in the chest and flung her backwards.
Eventually the world stopped spinning. Chrysalis found herself sprawled on the cracked, grimy flagstones, with Twilight Sparkle standing over her. "Um. Sorry about that." The light from her horn illuminated a face that wasn't sorry at all.
Chrysalis clambered upright. "A shortcut, you said." Writhing and unconscious ponies lay about them.
Twilight had the grace to look abashed. "I don't understand, though. This is Canterlot. We don't have crime. The princess wouldn't—"
She broke off as one of the ruffians staggered to her hooves and dashed away. Twilight fired a burst of magic. It missed, but its light illuminated the ringleader as she rounded a corner.
Twilight galloped after her. "Come on!"
Chrysalis blinked. "Why?"
Twilight stopped and cast an exasperated glance over her shoulder. "Because we can't let a criminal get away! I'm going after her. Are you coming or not?" Her hoof tapped on the flagstones.
"No. I'm already quite tired enough, and you're bluffing. You're not foolish enough to wander through these streets alone."
Twilight stiffened. "I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself." She spun and stalked after the fleeing ruffian.
Alone, Chrysalis glowered at nothing in particular. Twilight was rapidly becoming less cute and more annoying. Chrysalis's chest still ached where the magical attack had struck her. She turned to leave... and realized she had no idea where she was or how to get to the palace.
With a muffled curse, Chrysalis realized Twilight was her only way out of here. That didn't mean she had to show herself, however. She transformed herself into a small, buzzing insect and flew off in pursuit. She quickly caught up to Twilight, who was cantering along to the guidance of a tracking spell, and landed on the unicorn's back.
Soon enough, Twilight stood before a dilapidated warehouse. The thin beam of her tracking spell pointed squarely at its sagging doors, bound shut with a length of chipped iron chain. Chrysalis knew this sort of hideout well; she had spent her share of time in dens like these before she was able to replace Cadence. Twilight crept forward with catlike tread until she reached a boarded-up window. She leaned close and peered through a knothole. Chrysalis succumbed to curiosity and flew up to Twilight's ear to get a better view.
The light inside was just barely enough to see the ringleader cringing away from some giant beast. The enormous thing stood on two legs and rose to twice the height of a pony, but the shadows obscured any further detail.
"—couldn't stop them," the ruffian was saying. "I don't know what that monster was, but it fought like nothing I've ever seen, and the unicorn was just as bad. I barely got away."
"Iron Will is disappointed in you, Footpad," came the monster's booming voice. "Iron Will taught you better than that. If they resist, give them your fist!"
"I don't have fists," said Footpad.
"Right," Twilight muttered to herself. "I've seen enough." She went to the warehouse doors. A jerk of her magic snapped the chain in two. She threw the doors open and charged inside.
The monster stomped forward, into the brighter darkness near the door. Chrysalis could make out the hulking silhouette of a minotaur. "What's this?" he bellowed. "Iron Will was not expecting visitors."
"That's her!" shrieked Footpad. "That's the unicorn!" She retreated as quick as her legs could carry her.
"That's right," said Twilight. "Now, I suggest you come quietly. Your little reign of terror is over."
Iron Will stomped the ground and snorted. "Iron Will doesn't think so. If they fight back, you must attack!" He lowered his horns and charged.
Twilight surrounded herself with a spherical shield. She must have learned the spell from her brother, Chrysalis reflected, before Iron Will slammed into the barrier. The magic shattered into a thousand glimmering shards under the force of the attack, but the impact staggered him enough that Twilight was able to scramble out of the way.
Iron Will swung with a meaty fist. Twilight teleported away in a flash of wizardry, pulling her miniature passenger along with her. Disoriented, Chrysalis glanced around. She realized they were directly behind Iron Will just as Twilight bucked the minotaur in the back of the knee. His leg collapsed under him, and he fell to his hands and knees.
Twilight marched around to stand by Iron Will's head. "I'm not enjoying this," she said. "Are you done?"
"If you fall to their flurry," Iron Will growled, "show them your fury!" He lunged.
Twilight sent a bolt of magic into his face. Iron Will reeled, flailed briefly, and collapsed.
"Really," said Twilight, "this is silly. I defeated Nightmare Moon, I defeated Discord, and I defeated the changeling queen. I think I can beat some two-bit criminal."
That was too much. Green light filled the warehouse, and Chrysalis stood before them in all her glory. "You defeated me? I think I'd remember that."
"Hey!" Twilight pointed an accusing hoof. "What are you doing here? This is my fight!"
Chrysalis rolled her eyes. "First you ask me to come, then you get mad when I do." Iron Will roared and rose up. Chrysalis felled him with a casual uppercut. "Make up your mind."
"If you wanted to be part of this, that would be fine." Iron Will tried to roll to his feet, but Twilight conjured a magical wall in front of him. He slammed into it face-first and fell once more. "What's not fine is you skulking along invisible or whatever!" Twilight ground her teeth.
"You're grasping at straws. Let's talk about this in the morning, when we're not tired and frustrated." Chrysalis zapped Iron Will with a bolt of emerald energy.
"Wait," said Twilight. "Was he even attacking you, that time?"
"I don't know. Probably."
Twilight shrugged. "Fine. Whatever. We'll deal with this tomorrow." She trotted out the open door. Chrysalis followed close behind.
In the warehouse, all was silent for several minutes. Then Iron Will pulled himself into a sitting position. "When you face defeat," he said, "then you... oh, dang. Wow, they really did a number on Iron Will." He leaned back against a wall. "Footpad? Iron Will needs help."
More silence. He was alone in the darkness.
"Oh," said Iron Will. "Dang."