Madame Butterfly

Chrysalis

“W-wait...” The Great and Powerful Trixie stammered. “S-stop... there's a rock digging into my flank.” Her voice could barely be heard above a whisper. “Ohh, I don't feel so good,” she moaned.

Chrysalis stood up, the 'Great and Powerful' Trixie trembling between her hooves, and stepped back. She'd almost... she'd almost... it wouldn't have been the first time someone had loved her to (their) death. Sometimes that was necessary. Necessary, appropriate and kind of good fun, but out here in the wilderness there was nopony else. She had to ration her Trixie, because if she feasted now she'd starve before getting back to Equestria and whatever remained of her swarm.

Returning home was out of the question.

She extended a foreleg, and pulled a still-shaky Trixie back onto her hooves.

Or rather, returning home was exactly what she had to do, because Equestria and its adorable, adoring ponies were her home now.

Her new home. Being where the heart is, naturally.

So what if it was a bit more of a fixer-upper than she'd originally intended. It was still better than-

-but that was not even to be thought of. “Are you all right?” She asked, concern feigned to perfection.

“Ah, Trixie is feeling a little drained,” Trixie admitted, her face almost as pale as her mane.“Healing your injuries must've been – Trixie means, was – very powerful magic.” At this, Trixie attempted to rear to her full height, which only led to some staggering about. Chrysalis supported her with a bit of subtle telekinesis. “Not that Trixie isn't used to very powerful magic, but... thank you,” said Trixie, somewhat to the changeling's surprise. She had not thought the braggart unicorn would notice the sliver of magic. She would have to be more cautious in future. “Perhaps we should not have attempted...” Trixie trailed off, and a cocksure grin replaced her hesitant expression. “It was fun though.”

Of course it was 'fun', Chrysalis thought. You just lay there whilst I... but she could hardly complain. She'd drained the unicorn right off her hooves.

“I'm sorry I didn't...” Trixie said, her body curling around itself in a futile attempt to hide her radiant blushing.

“Next time,” Chrysalis dismissed it. “For which I shall arrange a bed.”

“Or at least a couch,” Trixie yawned, “or maybe just clear the rocks away,” she mumbled. Chrysalis trotted over, and nuzzled the sleepy pony. Trixie smiled as their lips met. “You taste of me,” she murmured. “Well, of course you do...” and her eyes slid closed into sleep.

Chrysalis licked her lips. Moisture was not to be wasted in the desert, for even a changeling could not live by love alone. Besides, this moisture had Trixie's love in it, and the adorable blue unicorn was delicious.

Quietly, she surveyed the road, and the wreckage of Trixie's wagon. Then she set to work.

CHANGELINGCHANGELINGCHANGELINGCHANGELINGCHANGELING

Sinisteed

My name is Sinisteed. I am immune. Besides the trueponies, I am the only survivor in Canterlot.

How the buck am I going to get my carapace out of this one?

He'd stayed in the throneroom, though Queen Chrysalis had sent the rest of his brood away. Strictly speaking, she'd ordered them to: 'Go! Feed!'

Since he'd already fed, he'd had the strength of will remaining to interpolate that to 'stay now and feed on the Elements later'. Not for nothing had he (mildly) misinterpreted his Queen's commands, but the Elements were a powerful source of love – especially if he wore the Rainbow's form, and that chance was worth some risk to pursue.

Besides... and it had been difficult even to think this, but besides... the Queen was keeping secrets. Which was a Queenly prerogative of course... but she was also acting weird. Which was perfectly normal – up to a point. Queens shouldn't get too weird. How weird was too weird was for other Queens to decide; however... however, in Equestria, there were no other Queens to decide. Even coming to Equestria was in and of itself weird...

Then the wave had come, and gone, and he'd been the only changeling to survive it. Not even Queen Chrysalis had survived it – or, if she had, she was now far from Canterlot. She'd been defeated, and that was very important.

“Guardponies!” Shining Armor shouted. “Princess Celestia's been-” he glanced up at the sticky cocoon dangling from the throneroom's ceiling, that contained Celestia. “Been gooped,” he finished, somewhat weakly. “Get her down from there!”

It was possible to construct an argument that the trueponies beloved Celestia was a Queen – with the key word in that sentence being 'beloved'. The adoration of an entire nation would clearly endow a changeling Queen (or an Alicorn pony, if that was even possible) with the vast powers Celestia was reputed to wield. Self-styling oneself 'Princess' – i.e. less-than-Queen – was weird, though, and although Queens were allowed to be weird he wasn't sure they were allowed to be humble.

It would be most simple if Celestia herself were a canny changeling Queen merely imponysonating an Alicorn pony. Sinisteed had seen no sign of this, however, and in any case if it were true then where was her swarm? Absence of swarm wasn't necessarily a strike against a Queen, but... well... It made one nervous if a Queen didn't look after her things when you were considering becoming one of her things.

Although, come to think of it, Celestia's royal guardponies were suspiciously identical...

It was all purely academic discourse anyway, since Celestia had clearly been bested by Queen Chrysalis, and trial-by-combat was the only means for one Queen to depose another. A quorum of Queens could do things differently, but, again, here in Equestria...

“You, Guardpony!” Shining Armor snapped. Then Cadance nuzzled the guard-captain, and he calmed.

Sinistreed looked down. His hooves were white, and – he fluffed them – he had pegasus wings. Apparently, he'd shifted himself into the form of one of Celestia's minions when Queen Chrysalis and her plans had gone west.

“Guardpony,” Shining said again. “Quit cowering behind me, and help the Princess!”

He had not been cowering! He'd been nibbling on the edges of Shining's and Cadance's love – and then the wave had happened.

“Yessir!” Sinisteed snapped, and sprung into the air. The issue of whose orders, precisely, he ought to be following had become rather confused, since now Queen Chrysalis had clearly been defeated. Defeated by the very ponies she'd been feeding from and imponysonating no less, which was rather humiliating for any changeling, let alone a Queen. Plus, even if she wasn't a changeling (Queen Chrysalis had been imponysonating her), Cadance had channelled the power of love to defeat Chrysalis. That raised fascinating questions about what the prerequisite qualifications for becoming Queen of the Swarm actually were. On the other hoof, Chrysalis was apparently still Queen, since Princess Mi Amore Cadenza hadn't claimed that title (self-styled Princess, must be a pony thing). Nor had she kept the swarm around to proclaim her dominion over it, Chrysalis, Celestia, and all of Equestria.

These questions were far from his academic musings about Celestia, since - unlike the rest of the swarm - he'd been immune to the wave. He alone hadn't been banished by Princess Cadanza. So if she were an acceptable aspirant Queen, then it'd been she that'd rejected the swarm (not the other way around, although the idea of a swarm rejecting a Queen was literally unthinkable)... which gave Sinisteed a problem. Because if she were an aspirant Queen, a 'Princess' (a useful word, implying the possibility of Queenship without outright stating it) in more than name, then... then... Cadance was his Queen now.

The logic was inescapable, which was troubling, since Sinisteed knew he'd survived the wave only by the chance of his immunity, and it was readily apparent either Changeling Queen Cadenza or Alicorn Princess Mi Amore could crush him like a bug.

“Perhaps if we bucked it,” one of the pegasus guardponies surrounding Celestia's cocoon suggested as Sinisteed buzzed up. He was careful to keep any sign of the troubling thoughts whirling inside his head from the dullwitted guardpegasi face he wore.

“Buck the Princess in the face?” Replied another guardspegasi. “Are you mad?”

It was clear they were all aflutter. Besides, since Celestia was dangling from her hindhooves, it'd be more like bucking her in the p-

“Maybe if we could get a unicorn up here, they could do some, I don't know-” said another.

“Cutting magic?” Said the first.

“Or you could summon the royal beautician and try hoof-varnish remover,” Sinisteed whispered. Acetone might work. In fact, there were lots of things that might work. Most of them would dissolve pony flesh. Whether this would result in a freed pony-princess-god, or a Celestia sized puddle of ick, he preferred not to speculate. Some of the more energetic possibilities would leave a smoking crater a mile wide where Canterlot once stood, and the mountain that shared the city's name scattered from here to Ponyville. Some ponies would call that overkill. Anychangeling of the siegebrood would say there's no such thing - only 'open fire' and 'time to reload'.

“It's royal jelly,” he said, much louder. Royal jelly was what you'd use to breed a Queen – or contain one. It absorbed love. Put love and a changeling grub into it, and you got a Queen. Imprison a beloved Queen into it, and the love pouring into her would stick in the gummy outer layers. It was delicious, and for the usurping Queen's taste-buds only. Such a shame Queen Chrysalis wasn't around to eat Celestia's jelly. “You have to eat it,” he said, and took a big bite.

“What in Nightmare's name are you doing!?” Shining Armor shouted, and Cadance dug her horn into his ribs.

“Not since Aunty Luna came back, remember?” She hissed. Most ponies couldn't have heard that, but a love-flushed changeling could, no problem. Besides, it was quiet at the moment. The pegasi guards feathered wingbeats were a lot quieter than a changeling's buzzing, and their mouths had been gummed together by jelly.

Sinisteed's fangs cut through it easily. “Eating the Princess out, Sir,” he called back.

Cadance nickered. A moment later, Shining Armor got it. “You mind that manure, mare!” He snapped. “Uh, stallion.”

“Oh, behave,” Cadance said, smiling at her fiancée. “Aunty Celly wouldn't mind a little innocent innuendo. Besides, it seems to be working.” She paused, looking up at the guardspegasi, most of them with their mouths stickily gummed together. “Although maybe I ought to go and help them.”

“Are you sure you want to be eating that stuff?” Shining Armor said, wrapping a forehoof around his fiancée. He paused. “Are you sure my guardpegasi should be eating that stuff?”

“In the service of their Princess,” she said, smirking back at him. “Besides, they do seem to be enjoying it.”

"Yes," Shining Armor said, looking up. "True. It's like sticky apple toffee, or something. Half of them are getting stuck into it and the other half have got their faces stuck in it. But I don't like the way the new kid's eating his way towards Princess Celestia's..." he blushed, "well, towards the royal posterior. It's a little, well..."

With a bark of laughter at her fiancée's discomfiture and a double wham of displaced air, Cadance leapt into the air, and flew up to circle her aunt.

Sinisteed felt Cadance's feathers brush his back, before she settled in opposite him and began to eat, her face distorted and coloured by the translucent jelly. She was certainly acting like a Queen. And she was munching her way through the royal jelly as fast and with as much enjoyment as he was. Even during Celestia's brief confinement, the love all her little ponies felt for her had greatly enriched the goopy stuff. On the other hoof, the fact that Celestia hadn't yet busted out suggested her godlike powers were merely channelling the love her subjects felt for her... exactly like a changeling Queen would've. Really, both these Alicorns were acting a bit like Queens - sometimes, anyway.

He still didn't know which, if either, of them was his new Queen. He did know if he revealed himself injudiciously (say, whilst somepony was watching) they wouldn't hesitate to crush him underhoof. Queen Chrysalis wouldn't have. Celestia or Cadance might make with the stepping and the scrunching anyway, simply because he was a changeling.

Yet, if he didn't still belong to maybe-Queen Chrysalis, he owed one of them his obedience.

It wasn't just the orange pony's beating that was the cause of his headache.

Something hard clacked against his fangs, and he realised his face was half inside the translucent royal jelly, fang-to-tooth with Princess Cadance. Huh? He was sure he hadn't eaten that far through Celestia's prison, and- sweet love nectar, her tongue was in his mouth!!!

Sliding down and down and down through his mouth (she had a surprisingly long tongue), she, who might possibly be his Queen, and who tasted just like royal jelly. Then the strand of royal jelly snapped, and Celestia's cocoon crashed to the throneroom floor.

He and Cadance leapt apart. Had it just been the jelly? Had it really been her-

“What're you unicorns waiting for!” Shining Armor shouted. “Get in there and get your Princess out of there.” He paused. “Um, darling?” He said, much more calmly. “Would you mind coming down here for a moment?”

“Aww,” Cadance replied, “miss me already, honey?” She asked, fluttering down to him and planting a sticky kiss on the tip of his horn that made the guard captain blush, before landing beside him.

“You too, soldier,” he said to Sinisteed. “Now!”

Sinisteed got down fast.

“Now-”

“Sinisteed. Sir!” Sinisteed braced and shouted, before his mind caught up with his body. It was because Shining Armor was standing next to Princess Cadance, looking just like a Captain of a changeling's Queensguard should look. “Uh, sorry sir,” he continued. “It's Steed, sir.” He thought fast: Sinister, well, no; Sinistrous, unlucky; Sinistral, he wasn't left-hoofed... “Sinical Steed.” He paused. “From the-”

“-latin, yes,” Shining Armor replied, “of or pertaining to a sinusoidal function.” He grinned. “Now don't go wobbly on me, soldier.” he said, and Cadance chuckled. “Interestingly, unrelated to 'cynical', meaning 'distrustful one who exploits the standards of others for their own gain,” Shining continued. “Now, Sinical, would you mind explaining to me just why your wavey tongue was doing it's oscillating in my fiancée’s mouth?”

CHANGELINGCHANGELINGCHANGELINGCHANGELINGCHANGELING

Chrysalis

Chrysalis trotted down the track, the ruined axle of her bodged trap squealing with every revolution. She'd salvaged it from Trixie's shattered caravan, the chassis of which appeared to be quite well constructed - the rear half of it had survived the crash. The superstructure, however, had apparently been designed by an infant, and been reduced to kindling by her impact. Still, that had been fortunate, because if she'd hit something sturdy, it might've been beyond even Trixie's narcissism to heal her. The ruggedness of construction was explained by the crudely mouth-and-chisel carved words on the piece of wood she was using as a draw-bar: 'Haycart Proudly Ponyfactured by Wheel Wright', it read.

With what little purple drapery had survived she'd lashed together some shade for Trixie, but there hadn't been enough for both of them, and Celestia's sun beat down relentlessly. It wasn't that she liked the blue unicorn or anything, simply that with Trixie's love she could endure Celestia's burning vengeance. Without it, she'd likely never make it to Gemstowne.

The one map that'd survived slightly showed Gemstowne only as a flyspeck, but it was so large-scale it showed Ponyville as a flyspeck. Along with the rest of Equestria, and only a tiny sliver of these Western Outlands. Everything worth having on that map should've been hers, which did not include this Godforsaken place. Not that she blamed Celestia for that. Chrysalis would've cheerfully made the same decision if she had all Equestria laid before her hooves. Anyway, Trixie would've surely had other more detailed maps, and would hopefully be able to remember something of them when she woke. Until then, Chrysalis followed the road. At least there were deep wheelruts and recent hoofprints, so Gemstowne – or sometown – actually did lie this way.

A nice pony town, filled with nice but lonely ponies, who were all missing the beloved ponies they'd left behind in Equestria. That was what she was hoping Gemstowne would be. Not that she expected to get it: 'Wherever storms are beaten back, wherever beasts are cowed, where sun and moon follow their track, where ponies live unbowed.'[1] That was the authoritative source on the boundaries of Equestria, drawn in the hopes and minds and happiness of ponies. Such a town would drag Equestria behind it, and with Equestria... Celestia.

Chrysalis knew she wasn't in any shape for round two. Yet gradually, Trixie's love was healing her, and then, well...

Do you love yourself as Shining loved m-

Chrysalis shook her head. The barren desert was getting to her. Still, the question remained: Did Trixie love herself as much as Shining Armor had loved Mi Amore Cadenza? Just how far did she need to fear Celestia? How far did she need to fear Shining Armor and Cadance?

I should've killed that mule when I had the chance, she thought. Both of them.

“Yesss. Gems. Gems!” A voice rasped, jolting Chrysalis out of her reverie.

“I don't think those are gems, Rover” another muttered, much more quietly. “I think it's just a sparkly cloak.”

“Yesss, Fido,” the first voice replied, and a distinctly more frustrated tone to its rasp. “A sparkly cloak encrusted with precious gems!” As far as Chrysalis had been able to tell, there were no gems on Trixie's cloak. “And I told you to call me 'boss'!”

“Ohhh... yes, Rover,” this 'Fido' replied.

The voice that apparently belonged to 'Rover' sighed. Fido clearly didn't understand the proper importance of titles, Queen Chrysalis of the Changeling Swarm thought.

“I-” Rover cut off. “I mean, we, should have it. Diamond Dogs are meant to have all the gems. And we shall also have the mares.”

Excellent. Lonely ponies – or something – desperate to shower a beautiful mare with their adoration. With these new sources of love, Trixie could be dispensed with. Meaning consumed as desired, and Chrysalis was still very hungry. Although she wasn't sensing any love from the owner of these voices yet... and anyway it might be a good idea to keep the blue pony and her narcissism around in case Celestia showed up...

“More workhorses,” Fido agreed.

“Yes... for pulling,” rasped Rover. “Let's get those... ponies.”

Wait, what?

Creatures erupted from the rocks. Creatures with thick, ape-like forearms and withered, almost vestigial, rear legs. Creatures with matted grey fur and beady yellow eyes. Creatures whose forms practically screamed their malevolence, not pretty quadrupeds like ponies, but vile beasts.

Not so vile as her and her changelings, of course, but still.

“Pony will come with us now,” the raspy one – 'Rover' – said. Of them all, it was his eyes that gleamed with a wicked, low cunning. It amused her that these 'beasts' used the same hierarchy as Celestia's beloved ponies. The leader had the most ornate trappings: A topaz dangled from this 'Rover's' aquamarine-studded collar, as Celestia had her torc and crown. Chrysalis had to credit the Alicorn with better taste than this dog. Her stylish purple diamonds and finely worked gold were legendary – as was her obscene wealth, naturally. “Pony will not make trouble.”

“Well, I can certainly see why you would want the attentions of a fabulous mare like me,” Chrysalis preened, “but are you sure you deserve them? Your fur is matted and,” she sniffed, “you smell like wet dog.”

“We are dogs,” Fido muttered helpfully. “Diamond Dogs.”

“Oh,” said Chrysalis. “Well, have you ever heard of bathing? Or soap?”

“Heard of soap, yes,” Rover rasped, “use soap, no. Special pony soap expensive, would have to sell gems. Diamond Dogs love gems...” He trailed off, drooling.

“Besides, ponies will smell no better after weeks in mine,” Fido muttered.

“Yes,” Rover agreed. “Ponies not in position to complain. So ponies will not complain.”

“But... our lovely coats will be ruined. Don't you want us to be lovely?” Chrysalis purred, batting her eyelashes at the doggies.

“Dogs don't care if ponies are lovely,” Rover growled. “Diamond Dogs not love ponies. Diamond Dogs love diamonds – and other gems!”

“So... you could never love me?” Chrysalis asked. “Even if I were a 'Diamond Dog'?”

“Pony cannot be dog,” Fido said.

If only you knew.

“Anyway: No,” said Rover, “and no. Diamond Dogs not love unless you're gemstone. Preferably diamond.”

This was followed by some sniggering, from him and his companions.

Chrysalis considered the matter. She'd never disguised herself as an inanimate thing before. Not that it was impossible, just that most ponies didn't love their things enough to sustain a changeling. Besides, replacing a thing meant being used as a thing. No moving, no eating, no drinking, no breathing – whilst you were being watched, that was. She had a feeling these Diamond Dogs wouldn't take their eyes off a pony-sized diamond for hours, perhaps days at a time.

No, she decided, she would not transform into a gem for these dogs. What if they decided to facet her?

So much for being adored by the poor lonely Diamond Dogs.

“The Great and Powerful Trixies will perform-” hack-cough, “-then the Trixies will be on their way to Gemstowne.” Trixie said, and staggered against Chrysalis. Chrysalis was surprised the little blue unicorn had even found the strength to stand.

“Unmolested,” Chrysalis added.

“Ohhh... there is also a hat,” said Fido.

“And it's brimming with gems... gems!” Rover crowed.

Trixie's eyes slid upwards. Chrysalis had to admit her hat was very fine, but it was no more than fabric and glitterstars - and she could see that Trixie knew it. She wondered if Trixie had drunk enough, or at all. There wasn't much water left.

“Ponies are very welcome in Gemstowne,” Rover said, his voice rasping. “Ponies can be put to work with rest of pony population – in Diamond Dog mine!” Rover paused, and Chrysalis didn't like the way his eyes roved Trixie's flanks - or her own. “Ponies work if ponies want to eat.” It looked like Trixie very much did. She was salivating at the mere mention of food.

"Trixie's been hungry for weeks," Trixie whispered. "Trixie can't remember when she last had a good meal. Trixie thinks it was Hoofington, but maybe not. Maybe Trixie just dreamed that. Trixie's memories are like dreams now, like hallucinations. Hallucinations from the life of another pony, a happy pony. That pony might've been Trixie, before Ponyville, but, maybe not... Trixie just cannot be sure anymore..."

Chrysalis didn't know what this feeling she felt now was. She'd never felt it before.

“Pony already looks underfed,” Fido murmured, and Chrysalis felt a flash of concern in his tone.

Ah. That was it. Concern. She was worried about Trixie - because Trixie was her only source of food out here, obviously. Of course, there was always the Diamond Dogs... so why was she still worrying about the unicorn again?

“Otherwise, pony can be eaten,” Rover continued. “Blue pony not look well-fed, but probably still tasty. Dogs not find good meats in desert or canyons.”

Trixie blanched, and Chrysalis thought the little blue unicorn looked sick. Then Trixie vomited the little of the precious food she'd eaten all over both their hooves. “The Great and Powerful-” hack, cough, “-Trixie will delight and amaze you with her magics!” Trixie said. “Then the Trixies will be on their way.” She paused. “After you have given them their due: Food, water and directions to the nearest friendly pony town.”

“Equestria that way. Very large, cannot miss. Follow rising sun raised by pony-goddess Celestia.” Fido pointed, and paused. “Ponies not know this?”

Trixie, of course, did know this - or so Chrysalis assumed.

“Diamond Dogs neither delighted nor amazed with magic,” Rover said. “Unless you use it to hunt gems better than dogs... then we hunt you, and you hunt gems for us.”

“I- I can't do that...” Trixie whispered, then brightened. “So you don't have to hunt me. I mean, us. Do you?”

“Stupid blue pony! If you don't find gems for mine, you work in mine!” Rover replied. “If you don't work in mine, you are eaten!”

“Dig?” Whispered Trixie. “You want me – us – to dig? For our lives? For the rest of our lives?”

“Could ensure period is short,” Rover growled under his breath, and licked his muzzle, fangs gleaming.

“Or could pull wagon,” Fido offered, glaring sidelong at Rover. “If ponies not dig, ponies pull wagons. Precious pony pedis are preserved.”

Trixie's mind expertly repressed Rover's threat. “But- but- I... haven't had a hoofercure since Fillydelphia...” Trixie stammered instead, and trailed off, examining a forehoof in dejection.

“Then you can dig. Quietly, without whining. We do not want whining,” Fido said. He seemed to be trembling. So did the other dogs.

“Ponies who whine pull wagons,” Rover said. “Harnesses are custom fitted. Comfortable and do not chafe. Made of light materials. Cleaned regularly, will not stain pretty pony coat-”

“No causes for whining,” Fido broke in.

“Yes,” Rover agreed. “Also, pulling uses bit.” Rover said happily, having produced harness, bridle and bit from somewhere and approaching the two Trixies. “Bit prevents whining – until pony is broken by minework. Eventually pony stops trying to complain. Hope replaced by despair. Pony forgets how to love.”

“Forgets... how to love?” Chrysalis said. If Rover, Fido, and the dig-dogs had been a little smarter, they might've noticed the danger in her tone.

“Yes...” Rover said.

“Anypony?” Chrysalis asked.

“Anypony but gems,” Rover replied, “always love gems...”

Chrysalis nodded. She was going to kill them.

CHANGELINGCHANGELINGCHANGELINGCHANGELINGCHANGELING

Chapter Bibliography

[1] Prancypants, P., 2012, 'The Flight of the Alicorn', Chapter V. 'Last Supper' 2nd edition, fimfiction.net