Okay let's get back into the story shall we XD

Like I warned (Quite healthily) in the last chapter, this one is going to have quite a bit of Twibashing.

And by Twibashing, I mean…well, you'll see.

I'll try to keep Twilight in character as much as I can…but please forgive me if I sway a little overboard.

Begin!

We All Have Secrets

It took all my acting experience to hold back the snarl that threatened to escape my muzzle.

"Do you mind explaining why you've chosen to break into my room?" I asked quietly, anger soft yet white hot in my tone.

Twilight blinked up at me and cocked an eyebrow in amusement.

"Because, as I've just explained, I needed to talk to you," she answered slowly, as if I were a foal.

"And you couldn't have done this without violating my privacy?" I growled angrily, although given through what her emotions were telling me, she didn't notice it.

"I needed to get you on your own," she explained dismissively. "You're always somewhere with Richard except for a little after seven in the evening."

Now it was my turn to blink.

"Has she been stalking me?" I thought incredulously. "Impossible, I would've sensed her. The arrogance she gives off makes it impossible not to!"

"You've been following us around?" I asked suspiciously.

"Of course I have," she confirmed idly. "How else was I supposed to learn how you two operate in an average day?"

I had no idea how to respond to that. She freely admitted to stalking my lovely Richie and I, and yet had done so without a care in the world. How she did it without my noticing was…interesting. The sheer amount of magical shielding she used must have been astronomical.

"Anyway enough of that," she dismissed suddenly, a notebook floating just below her muzzle. "I need to ask you some questions, and I think it'd be in your best interest to answer them truthfully."

"Oh? And why should I do that?" I scoffed mockingly.

To my dismay however, the unicorn merely smirked and levitated a small scroll from the small bag by her side.

"I believe this will persuade you," she chuckled mirthfully, passing me the note.

I cocked an eyebrow skeptically but took it from her and read it carefully.

My Dear Subject

If this note has been shown to you, then it means that you've evidently given a lack of care towards my student and the questions she's yet to ask.

If this is the case, then please allow me to explain why this is against not only your best interests, but also the interests of our race.

You may already know of this from the young human, but our race…is dying out. The male population has dwindled within the last few centuries, as has their ability to create any successful offspring. However there is a light in the darkness.

Richard, as you will most certainly know by now, has the ability to help save our race. You have been classed as his closest friend and by this, confidant. All we wish to know is everything you know about him.

His life, his childhood, his troubles. Anything you know and can tell us.

Why you may ask. Well, it is because we do not only wish him to save our race, but also be happy in doing so.

From what little interaction my sister and I have had with him, it has become increasingly obvious that he despises us for trapping him here against his wishes. This is understandable of course, but we truly wish for him to be comfortable with us, for we do this with no malice or ill intent.

We are merely trying to keep our race alive.

If you were to help us do this, we would gift you a favour. This could be from bits to a powerful position, as well as more base pleasures, not including ourselves of course.

If you were to still decide against this however, we will not be responsible for whatever turn your personal life may suddenly take. From what we have learned, there is only one hotel in all of Canterlot in which you stay. Possibly because it is the closest to young Richard.

Please also be aware that Richard's house as well as his permit are well within our control to do with as we please.

We beg of you though, this does not need to be.

Help us, convince him that saving a race is a noble thing, and convince him that I am not some heartless demon. Inform me of whatever you can concerning his life, and be rewarded.

Richard will never know, you have my word as co ruler of Equestria.

Kind Regards.

Princess Celestia.

I re-read the letter several times just to make sure that I was reading it correctly.

"So the prissy princess steps up her game eh?" I pondered. "She's far more intelligent than I ever gave her credit for. Yet she's still blind to one little thing, and it's going to cost her."

I dropped the letter and closed my eyes, scrunching my muzzle and thus giving the impression of intense thought.

For I had a plan…a good plan, hopefully. But it would require three things in order to work.

Twilights complete belief in what I was about to say would be the first.

Revealing myself to Richie would be the second…and through this would lead to the third and final part of my plan.

With the plan thoroughly set in my mind, I opened my eyes and glared at the unicorn opposite me.

She had the most ire inducing smirk I'd ever seen.

"Are you ready to answer some questions now?" she asked, a rather noticeable amount of smugness in her tone.

"No."

She blinked in shock at my simple refusal, her mouth hanging open just a bit.

"What did you say?"

"No," I repeated, much to my hidden joy as her expression twisted into a sort of frantic disbelief.

"B-But you have to!" she cried hysterically. "Princess Celestia is your ruler, she asked you to help her and so you must!"

"This mare is clearly not able to handle anyone going against her precious princess," I noted mentally.

I'd guessed as much already, but her hysteria now confirmed it for me personally.

"I don't particularly care if she's the Queen of Equis, I'm not doing anything that bitch asks."

At this…she kind of went into a meltdown.

"How dare you!" she yelled angrily. "The princess is not a bitch! She is our most beloved ruler and has protected us all her life! You are her subject and as such must do as she commands!"

"Whoa…"

Twilight was breathing quite heavily at this point, her cheeks red and eyes wide with something close to insanity.

"Are you done child?" I asked quietly, picking up a sudden amount of nervousness from the purple unicorn.

"I-I am not a child," she rebuffed.

"No?" I chirped blandly, slowly rising to my forms fullest height, which to be honest sort of towered over the pathetic lap dog. "You break and enter into my only home, expect me to give you what you want and then demand it when I don't."

"I-I-I."

"Well then, let me comply with this and tell you exactly what Richard thinks…about you."

At this, her eyes seemed to shine with held back curiosity.

And yet I could feel the budding amount of obsession within her emotions.

Obsession towards MY Richie, mine, not hers!

"Do you want to really know what Richard thinks about you?" I asked teasingly, smirking at the sudden spike of desperation.

"Y-Yes please," she stammered nervously. "It would help the princess if I knew what he thought of me."

"That has got to be the most pathetic lie I've ever heard."

"Well…if you really want to know," I began, leaning down so that my face was just above her own. "Richard…despises you."

Her eyes widened in surprise, shock and a certain mix of anger and sadness pulsating around her.

"Wha-"

"He thinks that you're nothing more than an apathetic little lap dog whose only purpose in life is to run around for her mistress."

I stopped for a few moments so as to take in the glorious amount of emotions flowing around her.

"The fact that you chose to lie and mess with his feelings only made him hate you more," I continued conversationally. "Oh and asking to experiment on him, not a clever idea."

"He…hates me?" she whimpered quietly. "I-I never meant to-"

"Oh course he hates you," I laughed maliciously. "You dogged him for weeks and asked him if he'd be up for experimentation every time."

The tearful unicorn dropped her notebook, her head soon following as she gazed at the ground sadly.

Not that it stayed that way mind you.

I swiftly grasped her muzzle and forcibly raised it, so that her eyes were locked onto mine.

She yelped in pain but was quickly silenced when I squeezed my hoof tightly.

"Two things are going to happen now," I whispered dangerously. "The first is a confession; the second is something you should really do as quickly as you can."

I let go of her muzzle roughly and stepped back a few paces, though my eyes were still locked onto hers.

"I love Richard," I stated, much to the sudden shock of the unicorn. "I love him so much and will do anything for him. So when our precious princess asks me to betray him…it bothers me…a lot."

"You…love him?"

Mhmm…her jealously was delicious.

"Yes," I breathed happily, absentmindedly staring off into space. "I do love him…so much."

I quickly snapped back to reality and narrowed my eyes at the quietly seething mare.

"I will never betray him to anyone, let alone that bitch. So run back to your mistress you pathetic little filly. Run…and make sure to tell Celestia that the next time she tries to blackmail me, she should really make sure she knows how to do it."

"B-But you know what'll happen if you do!" she exclaimed frantically. "You lose everything!"

"No I won't," I laughed loudly. "If Celestia truly went along with her threat then she'd not only deprive Richard's only friend of a home, but also alienate him further from her little project. Heck if she did anything to either of us, do you really believe that he'd still do anything for her?"

Twilight opened and closed her mouth several times, but from what I could sense, managed to eventually understand the obvious flaw in her mentor's blackmail.

"Like I said," I finished mockingly. "Make sure that she actually knows how to threaten me before she tries again."

I pointed to towards the door and glared at her dangerously, my intent pretty obvious as she made to move past me.

"And Twilight."

She stopped walking and looked up at me warily, her eyes wet and lips trembling.

"Ohhh, her mentor is not going to be happy when she gets back."

"What?" she asked cautiously.

"When you do go to Celestia and tell her my…choice," I began quietly. "Perhaps you could ask her to be more honest with what she wants, instead of carefully trying to word it into a…innocent request."

The unicorn raised an eyebrow in confusion, but I cut across her before she could revert to twenty questions.

"The letter is screaming it at me," I explained mirthfully. "She wants him to be comfortable with her, yet why does she wish to know about his childhood and past troubles? If she truly wanted him to be comfortable with her, then she would ask for what he liked now, not in the past."

Before she could possibly pull out that fucking notebook again, I opened the door magically and pretty much threw her out, before slamming it behind her and re-locking it.

"And that's phase one complete!" I thought cheerfully.

With a bit of luck it would all go to plan now. Twilight should have been absolutely convinced with my refusal, and thus would immediately go and tattle on me to Celestia.

Thus leading up to the next part of my plan.

"But before that comes to pass, I think I could use a shower."

And so I did.

After changing back into my true self and having a pretty lengthy wash, I swiftly made my way out of the shower, slipped over, cursed in four different languages, dried myself and changed back.

"You have the grace of a cow sometimes Chrysalis," I mocked silently.

After making doubly sure that I looked nothing less than perfect, I quickly left my room, locked it behind me and trotted out of the hotel, making sure to give a friendly wave to the receptionist on my way out.

The distance to Richie's house was a mere ten minutes at a slow pace. I used this time to both recollect on his undeniable love not a little over an hour ago, as well as magically scan the area for any of Celestia's possible spies.

The magic I used was complicated, yet efficient and neigh undetectable.

T'was through this that I swiftly discovered a pegasus silently following me not a few metres above where I was walking.

"She's really stepping up her game now," I thought, annoyance bubbling up with other...various emotions. "I could kill the pegasus, but it'd be a foolish move. I'm not yet ready to leave this place…not without Richie. But how to get rid of the pony?"

I had no doubt that the pegasus could be potentially trained in various arts, such as eavesdropping and stealth. Fortunately however…Celestia's letter had just given me another excuse to flirt a little more with her patience.

For if she knew I had refused, then why should I not input a soundproofing spell or two?

You know, in the case that I suspected more of Twilight's stalking and spying.

T'was a simple spell. A foal could learn it given the right amount of time.

I arrived at Richie's house a few minutes later and knocked on the door. I was instantly greeted with the sound of my lovely human falling from his couch, as he usually did whenever he took a short nap.

It's been quite a bit of time; I know a few of his…traits, so to speak.

The door opened a few moments later, revealing a rather flustered, half naked Richie for my eyes to feast upon.

And that grin…Mhmm.

"You came sooner than I imagined you would," he chuckled happily, delight and a few licks of love flowing around him.

I always smiled at the love he held…I couldn't help it.

It was always aimed at me after all.

And the taste…Mhmm, delicious.

"Aww, did I wake the lickle foal up?" I drawled teasingly, prompting him into rolling his eyes in mock irritation.

"Yeah you bloody did," he bit mirthfully. "Maybe you should get me some warm milk, oh and a dummy too."

I couldn't help the giggle that flew from my muzzle, but seeing as how it caused him to laugh along with me…I couldn't bring myself to care.

Without waiting for any approval, I quickly trotted past the amused human, making sure to nudge his hip with my flank as I did so.

Then once the door was closed and we were both inside his living room…I swiftly lit up my horn and cast a very powerful and sadly noticeable soundproofing spell.

The results were clear enough. It stopped others from listening in with either their ears or magic, or both combined. It also planted a nice little trap for anyone foolish enough to try and remove it, simultaneously giving the user time to escape.

Richard merely cocked a curious eyebrow at my little display.

"So…do you mind telling me what that was all about?" he asked dryly.

I grinned sheepishly and sat down on one of his sofas, Richard soon following as he sat down beside me.

His skin felt so soft…and warm.

"It's just to make sure that we aren't…overheard," I answered honestly.

Before he could possibly cock that eyebrow any higher, I quickly levitated Celestia's letter out of my mane and passed it over to him.

He took it gingerly and regarded me with a sort of bemused frown, before turning his attention to the letter.

Mhmm…the anger, the irritation…the aggravation.

Delicious.

"She…she actually tried to blackmail you with this?" he asked bewilderedly, turning his attention back onto me, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Yep, although it's not a very good one," I said sarcastically.

"Damn right it's not," he agreed amusedly. "If she ever did anything to you, let alone me, then I'd never comply with her little project ever again."

He looked back at the letter and read it once more, confusion filling my feelers to the brim.

"Why does she want to know about my childhood?" he asked, a puzzled expression adorning that gorgeous face.

"I don't have a clue," I answered truthfully. "Has she…how does she act around you?"

He put the letter down on his coffee table before gazing at me contemplatively.

"Well…now that you bring it up, she's actually a little bit funny around me," he said thoughtfully.

Now that grabbed my attention.

"Funny in what way?" I asked innocently.

"Well she's sometimes a little bit…personal with her questions," he began slowly. "I mean when she and Luna all but begged me to stay and save your race, she was very…adamant about it. More so than her sister actually."

He broke from his explanation and pursed his lips in thought. I could feel a very unusual amount of nostalgia emanating from him all of a sudden.

But it went away as quickly as it came, exactly as Richie seemed to snap out of his thoughts.

"And apart from a few times when she tried to hug me, unsuccessfully mind you, she's pretty much been…normal I suppose."

"She tried to hug him, wants to know everything there is to know about him, and may have wanted him to stay for more than just the obvious reason…Holy shit, does she like him?!"

I could feel a very large and very angry jealous monster growling within me.

"She trapped him in an ultimatum not just to keep him for her project, but to also keep him close at hoof. Oh it's all starting to make sense now."

I had no idea what could have possibly made Celestia like Richie as she now obviously did.

She blackmailed him, set Sparkle on a quest to follow the two of us everywhere, trapped him in Equestria against his will and unknown to Richie, had sent her beloved ponies to spy on him.

Celestia liked Richie, there was nothing else I could think of that it could possibly be.

It was far too complicated to simply make him into her friend…no, no it was simple. Celestia for whatever reason I had yet to comprehend, had a crush on my sweet little human.

"But she will NEVER HAVE HIM!"

"Well growing up was an absolute mess anyway," Richie said with finality. "It's better off if no one knows."

Okay now I was curious…in fact I don't think that my baby had ever told me about his past.

"How bad was it?" I inquired innocently.

"You really don't wanna know," he sighed dismissively.

To my surprise…I could feel a wave of pain, regret and sorrow begin to flow all around him.

Such emotions were rare in pony populated areas, which was actually a rather nice thing considering how depressive a changeling could become upon feeling them.

Even then I could feel myself becoming slightly upset.

And yet…it was genuine…and it surprised me.

I wasn't upset from his emotions per say, but rather from the fact that he was feeling them.

"Tell me," I pleaded softly.

He looked down at me as I crawled my way onto him, resting my head against his warm chest, my hooves splayed over his legs comfortably.

"It's not a pretty tale," he warned tiredly. "I know I've never shown much of a reason for you to believe so, but I wasn't the most innocent of humans back on Earth."

"I can take it," I confided confidently, although I have to admit that I was slightly anxious.

Richie sighed and rubbed his face wearily, but I could feel the acceptance, I knew he was going to tell me.

Because along with acceptance was trust…he trusted me implicitly.

"My mom abandoned me when I was thirteen," he began sadly. "There was no warning, she just took off one night and never came back."

I nuzzled his chest soothingly as I heard this, feeling immensely sorry for my only friend. He smiled a sad smile and stroked my face lovingly.

I'm not sure if he even realized it.

"I had a little sister called Emily," he continued. "She was seven when mom went and I was too young to look after her, so we were put in an orphanage. It wasn't too bad, unless you added in the barely liveable rooms and perverted janitor."

I could feel a rather large spike of fury suddenly flow around him, but he continued talking before I could offer any words of comfort.

"We both went to the same school you know. Emily followed me around everywhere, like a lost puppy."

He chuckled and shook his head slowly, a wave of misery building ever so slightly.

"I didn't blame her though, in fact I was happy because she got picked on a lot whenever I wasn't there. And when I was there…well, they didn't pick on her very much after I was through with them."

"His childhood sounds so…tough, like a changeling's in some respect."

"I had to grow up quickly, I had no choice really," he continued seriously. "I was always looking after Emily, making sure she finished her homework, had something to eat…even some of my own food if she had less."

I couldn't help but admire how protective he sounded with his sister. He sounded more like a father than an actual brother…but I suppose that's what he became when he was forced to grow up swiftly.

"Then of course that fucking doctor came out of nowhere," he snarled angrily. "He had some DNA results that proved that I wasn't related to Emily, that she wasn't my blood or real sister."

And just as the anger came…it disappeared, only to be replaced with such…sadness.

"I didn't care and neither did Emily," he explained tiredly. "But someone wanted to adopt her and…and I had little say in the matter."

Tears began to creep into the corners of his eyes. I lifted my muzzle and kissed them away, not really caring how it might have looked.

He felt grateful though...and kissed the top of my muzzle thankfully before he continued.

"I-I tried to stop them. I tried so hard, I fought and hit and screamed…and so did Emily. We didn't want to be separated…but they were grown men and I was only sixteen. I never stood a chance and the next thing I knew…she was gone and I was on my own."

"Oh…baby I'm so sorry."

"Richie I-"

I stopped…I had no idea what to say.

"I got into all sorts of trouble after that," he muttered regretfully. "There was this gang I joined that…did all sorts of nasty stuff. Muggings, robbing from nearby stores and houses…even some really dangerous gang wars. I didn't care though…I'd lost the only reason, the only purpose I had left to be good, to be normal."

A crooked smile suddenly adorned his lips, yet the bitter emotions behind it was anything but happy.

"I was in that gang for years," he chuckled inordinately. "We never did get caught doing anything either…and I suppose I never would have until I found her again."

"Found who?" I asked curiously.

"Emily."

I smiled widely at this, it was good news…right?

But judging from the horrible waves of emotion I was feeling…

"I was a little over twenty two by then and she was sixteen," he explained quietly. "I almost didn't recognise her at first…but she recognised me. I couldn't believe it when she jumped on me and shouted my name, but it was her…it was my little Emily."

Happiness mixed with sadness…a beautiful yet terrible combination.

"Do you know what the first thing was that she did?" he asked rhetorically. "She begged me to take her away from her foster parents. She BEGGED me Chrissy!"

I nodded sympathetically and nuzzled him, trying to soothe the rage that was rapidly growing.

"Her faster father was a perverted little bastard," he growled furiously. "She was crying and pleading with me not to let him touch her again…So I made sure that he never could."

Ohh…he sounded sexy and tortured all at once.

If his tale wasn't so dark, I might have taken him then and there…but I wouldn't. He needed me then, my baby needed me to comfort him.

"I got a few mates from the gang and waited in an alleyway outside of a gas station where he worked," he said, a rather malicious looking smirk on his face. "When he eventually left and locked up…I walked right up to him and asked if he knew where Emily was…and he told me that the little slut was probably waiting for his cock back at home."

I didn't move, I didn't speak. I merely looked up at my beloved Richie…and understood what had needed to be done.

"I dragged him into that alleyway and beat the ever living shit out of him," he laughed briefly. "My buddies held him down after they had got a few hits in. He was begging for mercy at this point, but all I did was ask him how far he'd gone with Emily."

"Oh please don't say-"

"He'd done far more than simply touch her…and he'd done it when she was only fourteen years old."

Silence permeated the room.

Richard's rage was powerful…as was mine.

Rape is something that even I don't tolerate. I never forced a stallion to have sex with me, they always took me into their bed and rutted me silly.

It's not my fault that they find me disgusting when they or I finish.

"So I made sure he suffered before I killed him," he growled, cutting me off from my thoughts. "I tore his skeggy little trackies to pieces and cut his fucking dick off…and only when he was crying and pleading like a fucking rat did I kill him and help my friends bury his rotting corpse."

He wasn't lying…or exaggerating.

Richie had killed someone…and yet…so have I.

I killed to stay hidden, he had killed to rid his little sister of a horrible child molester.

"We've both done what's needed to be done…Oh Richie, we're more alike than I could have ever thought."

"His body was never found and even when they labelled me as a suspect, they couldn't convict me because they had no proof. Emily was sent back to an orphanage and after a load of legal work I had to go through…I adopted her."

"So…it was a happy enough end after all of that struggling?" I asked hopefully, only to rapidly lose said hope at the tears slowly trickling down his face.

"Sorry Chrissy…but…no, no it wasn't."

He closed his eyes in order to try and quell the tears…but sadly failed.

"Emily was so traumatised after all she'd been through," he choked bitterly. "I'd done so much for her Chrissy. Left the gang, changed my lifestyle, got two jobs to help buy a better home for the both of us…Damnit I'd done so much Chrissy!"

"I know sweetie, I know."

I didn't know…but I had to say something.

"I came back from work with some Chinese for dinner…it was her favourite you know," he half chuckled, half cried. "But when she wouldn't come down from her room, I went up to go and check if she was okay…only to find her crying quietly, her wrists covered in blood.

I put a hoof to my mouth in shock…real shock.

"Oh Richie I'm so sorry," I breathed wretchedly. "Did she…"

"Died in the hospital," he croaked miserably. "She just lost too much blood…and I was too slow, or the ambulance was…I don't know."

"Baby…my little baby…Oh I'm so sorry for everything you've gone through my love…I'm so sorry."

"There was a funeral for her you know," he continued dejectedly. "I was on my way there when all of a sudden I found myself in Twilight's library. She told me that she had no idea how to send me back and so sent me to Celestia for help…then everything you know now started and I'm trapped here, when all I want is just a moment with my baby sister…just a moment."

"I'm sorry Richie," I apologised gently. "I…I wish I could help you."

I did as well…I wish I knew how to help him go back and mourn for his sister.

Then once he had…I would've brought him back with me...to stay with me for the rest of our lives.

"It's not your fault Chrissy," he dismissed softly, stroking my face tenderly as he did so. "I just blame all of them. Twilight for playing with my feelings, Celestia for trapping me here against my will…and all of those fucking snobs who look at me as if they fucking know me."

He suddenly looked down at me and smiled ever so…beautifully.

"But you've been my rock here Chrissy," he admitted sweetly. "You've always been there for me…the only one I can trust in this world."

Without so much as a warning, he leaned down and pressed his lips on my own.

I was…shocked, surprised…everything really.

But I returned it, softly, gently, lovingly.

And even when he pulled back, we stayed connected. My hooves wrapped around his neck, his arms around my midsection, squeezing me with such a gentle tightness.

"I love you so much Chrissy," he breathed, nervousness and slight fright tickling my feelers. "I don't think I could ever thank you enough for all you've done for me."

And yet…he had no need to be so scared.

"I love you too," I purred happily, true, honest tears trickling down my face.

I hadn't cried in so long.

Richie made to kiss me again…but I stopped him, a hoof pressing against his mouth as I left his embrace and moved backwards.

I couldn't do it…not without showing him the real me and knowing…just knowing that he still loved me for me.

"W-What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

There was that fear again…fear of hurting me emotionally.

"I…I need to show you something," I explained, fear of my own flooding my senses for what I was about to do.

"Show me what?" he asked, reaching out to touch my face tenderly.

I leaned into it…for what could possibly have been the last time.

"Richard," I began, startling him by using his proper name. "My name…is Chrysalis, and I have lied to you about myself."

He looked so confused…so worried for me.

It was enough to make me nearly cry again.

"Chrysalis?" he repeated confusedly.

I lowered my gaze to the floor and closed my eyes…not willing to meet his once I did what I did.

"My name is Chrysalis…and I'm Queen of the changeling race."

And with that…I let go of my disguise and revealed myself to him.

Author's Note

Well...how about that cliffhanger XD

Sorry for the long wait, but I've had a bit of everything stopping me recently.

But hey, it's up and so there you go :)

Cya next time.