Chrysalis awoke in an unfamiliar place. This, however, had become the norm for the last year. Ever since she and her changelings had been ejected from Canterlot, they had wandered across the land, seeking for somewhere, anywhere to live. Everywhere they went, they were met with hostility and violence. Even when they tried to disguise themselves, they were driven away as soon as the ponies realized who they really were. Sometimes, they even came across groups of other changelings who had settled down in an area and begun to live there. However, Chrysalis herself was often driven from these settlements, the changelings there claiming that she was the source of their current troubles. Scattered and homeless, the changelings travelling with Chrysalis often went to live in these settlements. But on Chrysalis travelled, until one day, she found herself quite alone. Onwards still, she journeyed, seeking a home, company, and perhaps, while she might not be entitled to happiness, a little contentment at least. She walked clear across Equestria, until she found herself in the pine forests north of Vanhoover. There, with winter setting in and nowhere to stay, she collapsed. The last thing she felt was snow drifting gently down to land on her as she lay on the cold ground.
But now she was here. Somewhere…warm. And soft. Chrysalis opened her eyes and slowly looked around. She was lying in a bed, in a small, cozy room. A fire burned in a hearth next to the bed. The room was dome shaped, without windows, but it had a door across from the bed. There was a glass on a table next to the bed. Chrysalis tried to pick it up but found that she could barely move her hooves. She tried to lift it with her magic, but only succeeded in knocking it over. The glass fell to the floor with a clink, and the water inside spilled out.
At the sound of the glass hitting the floor, the door opened and a young mare walked in. She was an earth pony with a pale honey-colored coat and a light green mane and tail. When Chrysalis saw her, she struggled to get up. The pony hurried to her bedside.
“Shh, shh,” she said. “Try not to move. You’re weak and you need to rest.”
“Wh- who are …” Chrysalis managed.
“My name is Eden. I’m a friend. I found you laying in the snow and brought you here to get you warm. I think that you were out there all night. Just stay here and I’ll be back with some soup.” With that, the strange pony picked up the glass on the floor and left.
Chrysalis tried to get up, but soon realized that Eden was right. She was far too weak to move much. She lay back and contemplated what was happening. She had thought that she was going to die out there, alone in the snow. But this strange pony had found her, brought her into her home and cared for her. But why would she do that? Everypony had heard the news. About Canterlot, The wedding, her attack and defeat, and her exile. Even this…Eden…must have heard about her…right? But then, if she did know who she was, why would she help her?
Her reverie was cut short by the door reopening and Eden entering bearing a tray, upon which was a bowl of soup. She set the tray down on the bedside table, next to Chrysalis and picked up a spoon.
“Alright, now let’s see if we can get some food into you,” she said. She held the spoon full of soup up to Chrysalis’ mouth. Chrysalis hesitated. Was this pony to be trusted? She sill didn’t know why she was helping her. But the soup smelled good, and Chrysalis realized that she was starving. She opened her mouth and allowed Eden to pour the soup in. A rich broth, salty and delicious met her tongue. She swallowed, and felt the hot soup slide into her stomach.
Eden stood by her patiently and calmly fed her the soup until it was all gone. When the bowl was empty, Chrysalis lay back upon her pillows. Her belly was more full than it had been in months. Eden picked up the bowl and spoon and returned them to the tray. She stood next to Chrysalis and told her “I know that you must have many questions, and I will do my best to answer them, but right now you need sleep. We will talk again in the morning.” With that, she blew out the candle on the bedside table, picked up the tray, and walked to the door.
“Th- thank you,” Chrysalis stuttered. Eden turned around and smiled at Chrysalis.
“I knew that you would like the soup,” she stated. “It’s made with love.” With that, she walked out, closing the door behind her.
The next morning, Chrysalis awoke to Eden opening her door and bringing in another bowl of soup.
“Good morning,” Eden told Chysalis, smiling at her. “I brought you breakfast. I don’t think that you’re well enough to have any solid food right now, so I made you some more soup. Drink up!” Eden again fed Chrysalis the soup. Chrysalis greedily drank every spoonful until the bowl was empty and her stomach was full again. When she was done, Eden put the bowl back on the tray. Then, sitting down on the floor next to the bed, she said to Chrysalis “I know that you have questions. Ask me them, and I will do my best to answer you.”
Chrysalis thought about all of the confusing things that had happened. A single word floated into her head. “Why?” she asked.
“Why would I help you, Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings?” Eden replied. She shrugged. “You were hurt, and you needed help. It’s as simple as that.”
“But…why if you know who I am and what I’ve done, why would you help me?” Chrysalis asked.
Eden frowned. “I believe that everypony deserves a chance at redemption. And not just one chance, but many. We all stumble and fall, we all make mistakes from time to time. But the important thing is that we keep on trying until we get it right. But death…death is final. As far as we know, there can be no return from death. Therefore, it is important that we live as best we can, to our fullest extent. I know that you thought that you could conquer Equestria, and bring about a new golden age for the changelings, but perhaps you never considered the alternatives.” Chrysalis frowned. Alternatives? she thought. How could there have been any alternatives?
“I know you are wondering about that,” Eden said. “You feel like you had no choice, that, had you tried anything else, you would have been driven back. And perhaps that is true. Ponies and changelings have not often seen eye to eye. But I know that we two races do have the ability to live together in peace. Our races can help each other enormously, and bring about happiness and harmony for many. Many people do not understand me when I say this, and for that I live alone.” Eden looked sad when she said this. “But when I saw you, lying there in the snow, I knew that this was it. This was my opportunity to help you. And, in doing so, I could help everyone, changeling and pony alike.”
“But what if-” Chrysalis began.
“What if you wait until your strength is back and just attack me?” Eden finished. She shrugged. “Well, that certainly is a possibility, I won’t lie. But I don’t think that you would do that. And it’s a risk I must take. At any rate, there is no way that I could simply leave you to die. And now that you are here, in my home, I could not possibly turn you back out, into the snow and cold. Now rest,” she said, getting up and taking the tray over to the door. “You’re stil recovering. We will talk again later.” With that, she left, leaving Chrysalis alone in the room with only her thoughts for company.
Why would this pony help her? Chrysalis was still confused. Everywhere else they had gone, they had been turned away. Nopony had wanted anything to do with them. They were chased out, and warned in no uncertain terms never to return. But here, this pony, had taken her in and saved her. And not just because she was in the snow, but because she was the Queen of the Changelings. For some reason, Eden had been happy when she had found her, Chrysalis could tell. But what did she have planned? Why had she wanted to help her? She had said that she hoped that ponies and changelings could work together in peace. But that could never happen, could it? For as long as Chrysalis could remember, ponies and changelings had never gotten along.
Chrysalis felt her eyelids getting heavy as she lay back in the bed. This Eden certainly was a mystery. But, for now, there wasn’t much that she could do. For the time being, she would just wait and see what a nice nap would bring.
