Chapter 6 - Day 1: Sunny Day Crystals

Chrysalis took Cadence’s seat as she made use of her disguise with flawless ease. She then continues on with the long drabble of ponies before her, looking worried or bored as the morning line for a royal request was underway. She glances around seeing the bright and shining crystals assisted by the sunlight. With that, the whole of the throne room was brightly lit.

Chrysalis inwardly groans as she heard the requests, the pleas, the decisions and any kingdom concerns. But outside, they saw their pink alicorn princess, smiling down, nodding in agreement or shaking her head no. She was perfectly acting out how Cadence would act that she didn’t even think of what is happening around her.

‘I have to admit, Cadence has complete control… unlike me and the buzzing noises...’ She told herself as she focuses more on her side of the world. All the while not noticing her mouth continues to run and responds to the tuned out voices of ponies.

‘Well, I suppose some of my harvesters have taken some of the ambient love around here...’ She thought as she gave out a yawn, which instantly snapped her out of her trance. This caused the many ponies to gasp at her. Realizing her mistake Chrysalis coughed to avert her mistake.

“I’m sorry my little ponies, please, continue.” She blushes while saying that as she looks down to the pony before her only to do a double take on the pony before her. She recalled a stallion but now it was a mare. Chrysalis made a note to think to herself about that.

‘Did I just subconsciously answer a few of them?’ She asked nopony in particular as she continues to look on to the ponies giving out their concerns. ‘More like whines and please of favor to me.’ Chrysalis thought as she looks at the line of ponies, seated and waiting for their turn.

‘This is going to be a long day...’

After finishing her duty, wasting her time through it all she was feeling frustrated as she retreats back into the royal chambers. “Curse you Cadence!” Chrysalis spoke out in the privacy of ‘her’ room. “I knew there was something wrong when I agreed to this...” She complained some as she looks out into the window, glancing at the mountain nearest to the Crystal Empire.

As she made her way to the open window, she glance to the side her image, of Cadence, the Alicorn of love still smiling warmly to no pony in particular with eyes that shine with purpose and with a goal. This caused the Changeling queen to glance at the mirror before her that was the cause of the image. She looks at it wanting to frown yet the image stayed strong and proud.

Chrysalis growled inwardly as the image refused to change before her and in her green flame of magic, did she dispel her illusion spell only to find that her right eye was persistent to look like Cadence’s. “You’re joking with me?! I only casted a simple Illusion spell and that is not yet using my own transformation spell and this eye refuses to shape-shift!” She called out in anger as she stares at herself with that one eye. She focused once again her magic and dispelled her illusion spell. The green fire passing through her head and finally she was glancing at her full visage.

“GAH! If an eye problem can be such a big problem, I may have lost my mind somewhere between here and the Badlands!” She roared in anger but she calmed herself down, her right hoof motion in and out as she inhale and exhale with the gesture. “Calm down Chrysalis, you’ll lose that visage and your youth if you stay angry.” She told herself as she inwardly counted from one to ten.

As she returns her focus she looks outside, with her magic she locked her door and her own horn glows her venomous green aura as she commences connecting with the hive in a massive mind link.

“My minions, what is the status with the love supply?” She asked within her mental capacity. Quickly many answered with rough translation and buzzing like bees but the response she got was, the love is ample, and they have no need to take victims as their own love reserves. They now have reserves and even their back-up supplies have back-ups.

Chrysalis found herself slowly smiling with joy at the news. Her hive is finally free of their starvation and hunger crisis. She nods and sent an order through the link that they must remain vigilant but staying cautious about the pony civilization she was in. As soon as the connection was cut she looks to herself in the mirror and with the joy building up inside her she smiles wide and clapped her front hooves in glee. "Yes! The whole exchange was worth it after all!" She cheered giggling a bit as she soon relaxes slowly easing in both her clapping and her giggling, until it dawned to her.

"WHAT was THAT!?" She panics as she glances to the mirror seeing her image yet she cannot deny that she just did something different. "I-i clapped my hooves?" She asked to nopony while her hooves were shaking. She looks at them imagining an invisible print on them. She glances at the mirror as she shook her head. "Calm yourself Chrysalis, there is no need to panic when you have the high life and the best means of survival now. There should be no problem anymore..." She assured herself as her hoof went back to the exercise like it was natural. When her mind was clear she glance back to her mirror.

Her same image looked back at her. She looks back with now a frown. "Either these ponies are getting to me or I'm losing it." She spoke to herself as her magic flares to life, the green flame washing over her form and once again the image of Cadence dawns the mirror. "Whatever, I shall stay in-character and my kingdom shall survive thanks to Cadence..." She tells herself as her sinister smile grows on her face. "We can slip in their towns and kingdoms with ease." She said as she made her exit with a curt smirk though her right eye, shown a glint of worry.

___

Shining Armor was just busy in his quarters, getting the paperwork done as the sky turned orange for the evening. He was working through everything and the new arrangements were cleared through even with his wife and her letter for a special change. He sighs as he knows her command was near absolute, again. The notion of female dominance was in the air. "And this is why males stick to guard duty." He told himself as he too remembers his time having to work up the courage to take the job as to save what little male oriented jobs there are. Since society was filled with males, it was annoying.

Shining could not help but sigh out his grievance but he cannot deny it was eye candy for many of his fellow stallions, mares being basically everywhere. He shakes his head as he tries not to think too much about it. He glances down once more at the papers. Finishing the papers within the next hour, he glances back at Cadence’s request.

It says, ‘The northern section of the kingdom be given to some new recruits by the name of Bright Side and North Star. Shining Armor raised a brow at as he checks both names in the given Soldier roster. Quickly as he scanned it, he saw each soldier the day they enlisted and their current rank. True to the roster, there were two new additions, just this morning.

“Strange, cadence never spoke to me first about that, and now she requested two new soldiers in?” He spoke out as he glanced out the window. He thought hard on what that could mean but he sighs, gave up half-way as he looked to the north.

“Nothing ever happens here…” He told himself as he wraps up the paperwork for any of the soldiers to deliver to the sergeants as he made his way home. True he was a prince but then he never did deny the few who joins him.

Once he was out, he was met by two familiar Crystal Ponies who had been familiar with Shining since taking the position of Prince. “Need company, Prince Armor?” asked the aqua blue crystal pony over the slight shimmer of his own armor.

“More like another guys’ night.” The other, more cobalt Crystal pony added with his green mane showing through his armor.

“Guidance and Snow Flash…” Shining greeted the two as all three saluted one another. “Good to see you both, how’s the married life Snow Flash?” Shining started the small talk as he took to making his way, the other two following.

“You know me, having the love of your life, a mare waiting for you, the warm bed… It’s fantastic...” The Cobalt stallion responded waving his hooves a bit. “But the downside if the needs of the mare and the mood swings of a pregnant one…” He sighs in half complaint while glancing out the distance, a single tear dropping down in his sorrow.

“Please, the Prince already knows all that drama, heck even me, and I already have a family to feed… even before the whole trap for a thousand years.” Guidance responded as they took a turn, instantly the two Crystal stallions look at Shining.

“Uh… sir, why are we going north? The Castle is the other turn?” Snow Flash responded as Shining didn’t look back.

“I’m going to check on two new recruits…” Shining told them as he made his way to the north gate, the lone area being the backdoor of the Crystal Empire. Shining was worried to a degree about this area being called such. Since they live up north, flat areas all around, he knew this can be a problem for attack.

“Two new recruits? You mean the ones taking tonight’s gate duty?” Guidance asked as they made their way to the supposed gate. Once there two crystal ponies, both in their shimmering armors, spears held close and their vigilance set to stare outside the castle.

Once Shining made his presence known, rather, the three stallion making their way and the hard clops of their hooves against the floor, the two turn around and saluted with swift and precise transition.

“SIR!” The two announced in unison, hooves up in salute.

The three stallions saluted back. “At ease Bright Side, North Star.” Shining called back as all five put down their hooves. Shining looks over the two stallions, seeing Bright Side having a slight tinge of blue and white while North star had a small tinge of red and baby blue over his shimmering coat. “Anything you can report?” Shining asked them both as the two stallions glance at one another.

“Sir, nothing to report. All is clear here.” Bright side answered with a gruff or rasped tone. Shining and his escorts look in wonder to both of them. “Sorry sir had an argument with my wife…” He said nervously as Shining nods knowing how an argument can end up… the stallion loosing.

“No outside movement detected sir.” North Star responded after the explanation. Shining glances at the both of them. His mind thinking on why Cadence would request two recruits to take up this position.

“Carry on then.” He announced as he salutes to both recruits. The two returned the salute and returned to their position, staying vigilant. Shining Armor and his escorts left making their way back to the path back to the castle until Shining stops.

“Guidance, Snow Flash, keep an eye on those two.” Shining suddenly spoke which made the two flinch.

“Sir, we just met them? They haven’t done anything wrong?” Snow Flash was the first to answer. “I have to agree with him sir. The two were in no means that in need of us.” Guidance added.

“No, but they clearly did not get their act right and rubbing me the wrong way.” Shining answered as he looks back.

“Then what’s the problem?” the two stallions asking.

“Their positions were wrong, they were inside the walls, facing outside, they should be facing inside or at each other, and furthermore, they are the only two at the gate, with no nearby patrols…” Shining Armor ever the soldier saw the flaw.

His escorts were raising their brows, now noticing how there was a near distinct lack of patrols… “You don’t mean?” Guidance responding.

“No, not yet enough proof but, it seems to be looking like it.” Shining Armor responds as he narrows his eyes with suspicion growing concerning the two recruits.

___

Back with the recruits, the two finally sigh in relief as they were now alone.

“That was a close one.” Bright Side spoke in whisper. “Come on, get in!” He hissed a bit as the darkness outside shifted, moving towards them until it revealed a few Changelings that now took typical and more obvious Crystal citizen forms.

“Close one Herekt” North Star responded as the Changelings quickly vanish into the kingdom, their mission to gather more ambient love.

“Tell me about it, I forgot to fix my voice…” Bright Side, who is actually, Herekt, sighs as he fixes a voice like any pony. “Hope that Shining Armor doesn’t notice…” And quickly the two Changelings in disguise return to their position, their fellows got in and now off to gather love for a bit.

____

Shining has just returned to the castle, the doubt still in his thoughts, as his face was scrunched in an annoyed face. He made his way to the dining room which was already set up for him and Cadence, as the chefs and the castle hooves were dashing about to get the food in right now. Shining took his seat on the table, a seat similar to Cadence’s spot, the only two chairs of the table’s width while the table was actually long, fitting another 20 more seats.

Shining smiles seeing Cadence seated. He kisses her cheek which Cadence herself smiles and returning it. Shining was uneasy still but he relaxes and forgets about it as the food rolls in.

___

Chrysalis smiles as she sees Shining Armor. At first she can tell he was troubled but when they locked in each other’s eyes, she can feel the love flowing towards her. Her smile grew as finally Shining took his seat beside her and the food finally on the table which caused her to look on.

They start to eat and the recap of the day begins, which made Chrysalis look on to Shining Armor with worry, not really knowing what Cadence would truly speak until her own lips moved, not knowing why.

“Shiny, how was your day?” She asked with a warm smiling, her eyes were at Shining Armor while her horn glows in her magical aura to take a platter of the food presented.

When the question came up, she can see Shining Armor sighs, heavily, the fatigue, though not an emotion was seeping out of him and she can tell. “It was just the boring drabble, again the word usual tends to be the most used word.” He grumbled which made Chrysalis stop abruptly.

“Why would you say that?” Chrysalis asked not finding the conversation interesting now but inwardly groaning as she has to keep the façade or risk having her killed on the spot.

“Just a lot more paperwork and training the patrols is all.” He told her as he took his meal and made sure to eat slowly. But he could not remove his eyes from hers either.

“Well it might not compare to mine yet I appreciated today, there were seats for our subjects and our seat had cushions… Was that your doing?” She asked, her lips moving about, trying to think of more things to talk about as she smiles warmly.

“Well… I did have to take your position when you were gone explaining with Princess Celestia about land disputes.” Shining replies with a smile as he took a spoon full of his food and chewing lightly as he made sure to keep the conversation when she asks.

“Thank you Shiny, I can happily say that I like the new arrangement.” She said leaning over to him kissing his cheek lightly. Chrysalis felt like smiling, not about the kiss but the love that is returned to her from Shining Armor.

Shining smiles back while he rubs his cheek. “Does that mean I get something back?” He said filled with hope.
Chrysalis smiles inwardly about the answer of no, but somehow, deep in her she stopped as her mind buzzed a moment. She wanted to grunt and growl but then her thoughts returned with a new idea.

“Not today, maybe on our Anniversary… I’ll consider adding more to it…” She spoke in a happy and distant tone to give Shiny to think about. Though not the effect Chrysalis had, but the idea of keeping him hopeful might just increase her odds of teasing the stallion more.

“I hope so.” Shining spoke with a mix of annoyed, intrigue and interest as the two royal ponies face their meal as they ate, only two more days once tomorrow comes for their anniversary and a surprise of their lives.

Author's Note

Another Chapter for this small story. I just hope the downvote(s) are not about my grammar, sentence structure and word choice. I do have plans to have these edited in the future or revised.

Chapter 7 might be short if I plan to condense the two days.