Chapters It was a dark stormy night, lightning flashed across the dark sky, violent rain lashed the trees, punishing the trees of the Everfree and churning the ground into oceans of mud. Any sane pony would be indoors on such a miserable night. Many were, and had been for hours, safely barricaded against the incessant storm. Only the desperate or unfortunate would find themselves walking in this weather.
One such lonely creature found herself meandering along the edges of the forest, stumbling along under the sheer force of the pounding rain. Her gossamer wings were closed against her chitinous body, too weak to fly. She was almost too weak to walk. This pitiful creature, once so proud and mighty had indeed fallen as low as any being could fall. She had once held Canterlot itself in the palm of her hand, to look at her now, a shambling ruin of her former self.
She shivered and screamed in terror as another bolt of lightning lit up the dark night sky, she threw herself to the muddy quagmire of the ground in an attempt to hide from the peals of rolling thunder. Shakily she got to her hooves, using a hand to steady herself against a gnarled old tree. Her once fine clothes, now ripped and torn, as disheveled as the creature wearing them were plastered to her thin body, the rain long since soaking them to her skin.
Blinded by the torrential rain she stumbled on her hooves through the forest. She had given up wiping the rain from her eyes, even if she could see where she was going she had no idea where she was, or indeed how she had gotten here, wherever here was. She didn't know how long she had been aimlessly roaming this forest, it seemed never ending. Days and nights merged into one another. She only knew one from the other because one was light and the other dark.
She managed to find a brief respite under the branches of a particularly old gnarled looking tree, it's canopy of leaves sheltering her shivering form from the worst of the rain, although by this time it was a futile effort. Huddling against the rough bark she screamed again as more lightning danced across the night sky. Cowering against the tree she tried to take stock of her situation. It didn't take her long to sum up her lot. It was hopeless. As hopeless as trying to outrun the fury of the skies. Try as she might she just couldn't remember.
She tried to remember, she really did. The harder she tried to remember, well, anything at all, the less she could recall. She couldn't remember where she was from, she couldn't remember what she was, or what her name was. Did she even have a name? She didn't know how long she had been wandering, or where she was going to.
She only knew three things, she was alone in the world, she was terrified of the flashes and loud bangs and she was hungry. Painfully hungry. Why was she hungry? She had eaten, but still she was hungry. Why? She couldn't understand it. She had consumed small animals that she had managed to overpower, and had eaten the fruit from the trees, but no matter what she had tried, the damned hunger wouldn't leave her. She had stopped eating the animals and fruit, she couldn't remember when. What was the point if they weren't feeding her? What then did she need to consume? Like everything else she didn't know, or couldn't remember, or maybe it was both?
She slumped down to sit on the forest floor, her back resting against the tree. The muddy ground was drier here. She closed her eyes, trying to remember her dreams. Even when she slept she knew no peace, her dreams were hounded all the while. One word kept coming back to her. Canterlot.
What was so special about Canterlot? Did she live there? Had something happened there? Why was this word the only thing she could remember? Canterlot. Always Canterlot. Every time she dreamed she dreamed of Canterlot. She couldn't remember ever going there, but she must have, to know its name. The thought made her laugh. How could she know the name of a place she couldn't remember ever going to when she didn't even know her own name? She had been certain long ago that she would find her answers in this Canterlot place, and had decided to find it. That was when she had first realised the hopelessness of her situation. Even if she knew where she was now, she had no idea where this Canterlot was.
This was where Chrysalis found herself on this cold dark miserable night, cowering under a tree in the Everfree Forest from the primal fury of a thunderstorm. The former Queen of the Changelings had truly hit rock bottom indeed. She didn't know what a thunderstorm was, but she knew enough to be utterly terrified of the flashes and loud bangs overhead. One such burst of lightning flashed almost directly above her, striking the tree and igniting it in a pillar of flame. Once more she screamed, though it came out as little more than a hoarse shriek from her tortured throat. Scrabbling to her hooves she ran blindly through the trees, paying no heed to her destination, she just wanted to be as far away from her burning shelter as she could manage.
She burst from the trees, the ground opening up into a clearing. In the distance she could see a small dwelling, it's lights shining bright in the darkness from its windows. In her panic Chrysalis ran towards it, the thunder and lightning giving life to her tired legs. Onwards she ran, fear of the night outweighing the fear of what manner of thing she’d find inside. Her breath came in ragged bursts, stars began to explode at the edge of her vision as fatigue began to get the better of her. In the darkness she couldn't tell how close she was to the cottage, only that the lights were getting nearer. Without realising it she ran headfirst into the heavy wooden door, colliding with it with a loud thudding noise.
Pain bloomed across her forehead and the base of her horn as Chrysalis staggered backwards, and fell to her knees. Exhausted from her run, she fell face first in the path before the door, half starved and beyond tired her vision swam blurred across her eyes. She saw the door open, the light from within blinding her tired eyes, the silhouette of a tall something with wings stood before her. ‘It's an angel…’ Thought Chrysalis as she finally blacked out, unconsciousness claiming her at last.
Seated safely inside her cottage, clad in pink pyjamas and a fluffy yellow fleece robe Fluttershy sipped her rose tea. Her critters had been securely bedded down before the scheduled thunderstorm had begun. She was glad to be indoors tonight, it was, as Applejack would have called it, a ‘doozy’ of a storm. Every so often one was necessary, although Fluttershy had to admit, the weather Pegasi had really outdone themselves this time. Still, plenty of warning had been given, and everypony was safely prepared. Or so the shy pegasus thought anyway.
The last thing she was expecting on a night such as this was to hear a loud thud impacting her front door. Fluttershy had no idea what to expect as she went to investigate the noise. There was absolutely no way anypony would be foolhardy enough to venture out in this weather surely? Fluttershy had almost been tempted to ignore it and go back to her tea and duvet on her sofa, but a twinge of curiosity and been sparked, and she found herself nervously holding the latch of her door.
Pulling the heavy wooden door inwards she opened it, peering out into the dark night, the light from her kitchen spilling out onto her garden path. She didn't see anything at first until she glanced down at the ground, and saw the unconscious body of one she hadn't seen in months, since the failed invasion of Canterlot. There, lying prone scarred and battered was Chrysalis herself.
“Oh my…” Fluttershy was wracked with indecision, what in Equestria should she do? On one hand Changelings were public enemies, and this was the worst of the lot, but on the other she simply couldn't leave the poor thing outside in this storm, Fluttershy could obviously see the Changeling was in a very bad way. Making her mind up Fluttershy rushed out into the rain and as gently as she could gathered Chrysalis up in her arms and carried her into her cottage.
Kicking her door shut behind her Fluttershy spread her wings and gently flew up her stairs to the spare room, taking care not to disturb Chrysalis any more than absolutely necessary, although it didn't seem she was going to wake up any time soon. Nudging open the spare room door Fluttershy carefully laid her cargo on her old table while she got the spare bed ready for her. She noticed the steady drip of rainwater from Chrysalis’ sodden clothes, and after making sure she wasn't going to roll off the table Fluttershy quickly went to the airing cupboard and retrieved a change of clothes and a bath robe for her guest. Picking up a pair of sturdy scissors Fluttershy flew back up to the spare room.
Fighting back a furious blush at what she was about to do, Fluttershy ran the scissors up the arms and front of Chrysalis’ still dripping filthy shirt and then down the legs of her ripped muddy jeans. Slipping the scissors into a pocket of her own robe Fluttershy gently pulled off the ruined dirty clothes and proceeded to dump them unceremoniously in her waste bin. Now faced with a naked sleeping Chrysalis Fluttershy blushed a fierce red so bright she thought she might spontaneously combust. She knew she shouldn't look too much but if she wanted to dress her guest in the robe it couldn't be helped.
Chrysalis really did have a nice body, her naturally slim frame was gaunt from months of under nourishment, she was almost painfully thin now, Fluttershy could clearly see her bones of her hips and ribs through her hard chitinous skin. Scars criss crossed her body, in particular a nasty looking one that ran down the left side of her face, down her neck and almost to her breasts. Fluttershy checked her hooves over, carefully wiping the dirt and mud away from the hard surface and sensitive inner areas. They looked cracked and chipped in places, but otherwise not too worse for wear. Tenderly she placed a kiss on each hoof, then another on Chrysalis’ forehead at the base of her horn before threading her slender arms through the arms of the bath robe. Wrapping it around her narrow waist she tied it off and carried her to the waiting bed. Once she was placed with her head on the soft pillow Fluttershy bought the duvet up to her chin, then turned out the light and went to her own room.
A sudden thought struck her as Fluttershy settled into her own bed. ‘What in the wide world of Equestria are my friends going to think?’ She would have to tell them of course, they would inevitably find out anyway, and she would much rather be upfront with her friends. She could hear the many arguments in her head even now, and Fluttershy had to admit it to herself that maybe this wasn't her best idea, but if she had to she would petition Celestia and Luna personally to take care of her charge. As she drifted off to an uneasy sleep she shook the thought from her head, tomorrow will bring what tomorrow will bring, and any bridges that needed to be crossed would be crossed as and when it was necessary.
The bright sunlight of morning shone through the curtains into the second bedroom of the little cottage. The storm had passed in the early hours of the night, leaving what promised to be a beautiful day in its wake. Golden rays illuminated the small room, revealing the peaceful form of the still sleeping Chrysalis, her gentle snores the only sounds to be heard. Fluttershy sat beside the bed, maintaining her silent vigil over her guest. She had awoken from her slumber at three a.m., and had been unable to return to sleep, worried as she was over Chrysalis’ condition. So, fully awake Fluttershy had decided to sit with her, to be there for her when she finally woke up.
Carefully Fluttershy placed the back of her hand on Chrysalis’ forehead just below her horn, checking her temperature. The pegasus was a little concerned she might have a fever, for she felt warm to the touch, before chiding herself that she didn't know what was normal for a Changeling. Gently she brushed a stray strand of lank blue grey mane hair from Chrysalis’ face, marvelling at how silky and smooth it felt despite the dirt in it. Indeed given the odour coming from the bed Fluttershy made a mental note to get Chrys in her bathtub at the earliest opportunity, then again, she assumed bathing was a luxury that had been unavailable to her in the five months since the attack on Canterlot.
Fluttershy hastily withdrew her hand as Chrysalis began to stir in the bed, her eyelids fluttered a couple of times before opening fully, an unmistakable look of panic in her luminous green eyes as they darted around the bedroom, taking in her surroundings before growing wide in fear as they settled on the butter yellow pegasus seated in front of her. Fluttershy did her best to give a reassuring smile despite her own feelings of unease. The silence between them was palpable, the only sound was Chrysalis’ rapid breaths beneath the duvet.
“Um…hello..” Fluttershy finally managed the greeting, if only to break the silence.
“W – who a – are you?” Chrysalis whispered in a frightened tone, wondering what was happening to her.
“My name is Fluttershy. You're in my cottage, I found you outside in the storm last night.” She tried another smile, in an attempt to put her guest at ease.
“Flu-tter-shy…Fluttershy…I like it, I think..” Chrysalis rolled the name around, as if trying it out to see if she liked it, before asking, “a – and w – who am I?” Her wide green eyes looked expectantly at Fluttershy, who was taken aback by the unexpected question.
“You don't know your name?” Fluttershy was met with an uncertain shake of the head, and she noticed a look of sadness had replaced the outright fear in Chrysalis’ eyes.
"Your name is Chrysalis…um, you really don't remember?”
She shook her head once more, before thinking over the name this Fluttershy had given her. “Chry-sa-lis…I don't like it, it doesn't sound very nice.” She sat up in the bed, letting the duvet drop from where she had been holding it, almost like it was a shield, before voicing a thought that had struck her. “Am I nice?” She asked innocently.
“Well, um, I don't, er, that is, I'm not really, um…” Fluttershy flailed about, unsure as to how best to answer, she didn't want to upset her guest, but couldn't see a way out of it, before saying as quietly and diplomatically as possible, “I don't think my friends would think so…”
Chrysalis perked her ears up at the mention of the word ‘friends’, she cocked her head to one side in thought. “Friends…what are friends? Do I have friends?” She asked, a hopeful tone in her voice.
“Oh, um, well not really…sorry.” Chrysalis flattened her ears against her head and her green eyes lost some of their luminescence at Fluttershy's words, she didn't like how this felt, not at all. Noticing her reaction Fluttershy rushed to cover her slip, “but, if you like I can be your friend, if that's ok with you.”
“Really, you will?” A tentative smile played over Chrysalis’ lips, which grew wider as Fluttershy nodded enthusiastically, making her smile even more, baring her fangs in a wide grin. “T – thank you Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy beamed a warm smile of her own at Chrysalis, a tender loving feeling spreading through her as she blushed fiercely. She loved seeing this more vulnerable side of the Changeling Queen, she wondered if anypony had ever seen it before. Suddenly a woozy dizzy feeling made Fluttershy’s head swim momentarily, as she shook her head gently to clear the disorientation she saw Chrysalis’ horn glow with a soft green light, which shimmered down her body. Just as suddenly as it came the feeling passed, leaving Fluttershy feeling drained but otherwise unhurt.
Chrysalis scrabbled around on the bed in panic, alarmed and confused at what just happened. Whatever it was she felt energised, nourished for the first time in a long while, but it had also weakened her new friend, who had been kind enough to look after her. “W – what was that? What did I do? I didn't mean to do it! Fluttershy I'm sorry, I'm sorry I hurt you, I'm sorry!”
“Chrys, it's okay, you didn't do anything wrong, I'm okay really.” Fluttershy stood and extended her hand to Chrysalis, who stopped fretting long enough to take it in her own, allowing Fluttershy to lead her from the bed. “Come with me downstairs, you'll be more comfortable on the sofa, come on, it's alright, really it is.”
Chrysalis looked ashamed at her hooves, tears at the corners of her eyes, which had lost their shine. “I'm sorry…” She mumbled through sniffled sobs.
Fluttershy held her hand firmly, not letting go. With her other hand she nudged her chin to lift her gaze upward to see her as she placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “Chrys, it's okay. Come downstairs, I'll tell you what I think just happened.” Chrysalis nodded with a hesitant smile as she let her friend guide her down the stairs. Fluttershy walked slowly with her hand in hand still, draping a wing over Chrys’ shoulder holding her close, as she was still rather shaky on her hooves.
Safely down the stairs Fluttershy asked Chrys to wait for her on the sofa, which she obeyed immediately, seating herself like a school filly awaiting detention by a particularly stern teacher, whilst Fluttershy went to the kitchen to prepare some tea.
Nervously Chrysalis pulled the borrowed bathrobe tighter around her slim body, noticing for the first time she was naked underneath it. She assumed Fluttershy had dressed her in it after she found her in the ‘storm’, whatever that was that the flashes and bangs were called? Storms? Chrysalis decided she didn't like these ‘storms’ very much. Looking around the room she couldn't help but feel lost and confused by what she saw. This ‘sofa’ as Fluttershy had named it was comfortable to sit on, it was nice and soft, it reminded her of her host, to whom she kept throwing glances over her shoulder to make sure she was still there. Her attention however was caught by this large rectangular shaped flat thing in the corner of the room. Cautiously Chrysalis walked over to it and ran a hand over the front, it felt smooth and cold to the touch. What was it? She found a series of little buttons near the bottom, and touching the largest she recoiled in terror as the thing came to life. Moving pictures flashed across the screen and a cacophonous noise erupted from it at an unreal volume. For a moment Chrysalis thought the storm had returned, and she staggered and fell backwards over herself as she scrambled to hide behind the sofa she had been sat on moments before. What had she done? Had she angered it, whatever ‘it’ was? Desperately Chrysalis brought her hands to her ears and squeezed her eyes shut to try and block out the awful noise.
“What the hay?...” Fluttershy came hurrying into the living room, spilling tea as she assessed what had happened in her absence. The television was turned on, blaring out sine Celestia-awful rock music at an unfeasible volume, and poor Chrys was trembling behind the sofa.
“I'm sorry! Please, make it go away!” Came a terrified whimper from the vicinity of the sofa.
“Rainbow Dash!” Stomping a hoof in frustration Fluttershy reached for the nearby remote control and silenced the television, and made a mental note to skin her annoying friend alive the next chance she got. Fluttershy had asked her many times not to watch that infernal rock channel on her t.v. Huffing a sigh, she resigned herself to calming her new friend. Trotting behind the sofa Fluttershy hunkered down to Chrysalis’ level and nudged her shoulder gently. “Hey you…”
Chrysalis cracked open her green eyes and looked at Fluttershy, wiping tears from her cheeks. “I – is it gone?” She asked timidly, not wanting to leave her sanctuary.
Fluttershy gave her a smile, immediately putting Chrysalis at ease. “It's gone. It can't hurt you, I'll make sure of that, come on, come here.” Reaching out her arms Fluttershy gently tugged Chrysalis to her hooves and guided her back to the sofa, this time sitting beside her and pulling her into a tight hug. Leaning back into the seat Fluttershy was pleasantly surprised when Chrysalis rested her head on her shoulder while wrapping her arms around her waist.
For a moment Fluttershy was lost in the contact, she was getting that warm fuzzy feeling in her belly again, it crept up on her unannounced and it wasn't entirely unwelcome, although she did feel slightly guilty about it. She was attracted to Chrysalis of course, but she couldn't help feel like she was taking advantage of her, especially in the condition she was in right now, which was far from her best. A more pressing concern was the worrying thought of what her friends would say when they found out that one of Equestria's most wanted was under her roof. Fluttershy supposed she should have reported her last night, but something stayed her hand, that this was clearly a different Chrysalis than the one who had lead the invasion of Canterlot. This Chrysalis was in no fit state to be judged, and Fluttershy couldn't help but feel a little responsible for her.
Without thinking Fluttershy lent her head and placed a loving kiss on the tip of Chrysalis’ horn, which began to glow faintly, it's magic beginning to absorb the emotion flowing from the caring pegasus. Seeing what was going to happen Fluttershy braced herself against the feeling of nausea that blossomed in her head, but didn't attempt to pull away from the embrace, instead allowing Chrysalis to take in the magical force.
Chrysalis felt what had happened, recognised it as the same thing that had happened upstairs. Her head shot up from Fluttershy’s shoulder, panic written across her face. “I – I did it again! I didn't mean to do it! What did I do?”
Fluttershy simply reached up and stroked Chrysalis’ silky hair, calming the distressed Changeling. Sitting up straight, she held her hands on their knees. Briefly Fluttershy wondered what to tell her, before deciding that the truth was preferable to any lie, no matter how small. Blue eyes met green as Fluttershy took a deep breath. “Chrys, we’re different, I'm a Pony, and, um, you…you're a Changeling.”
Chrysalis cocked her head to one side again, not understanding what her friend had said. “A – a Changeling? What's a Changeling?”
“You are. When you are stronger you are able to alter your appearance to look like anypony or anything else. This,” Fluttershy indicated Chrysalis herself, “is what you actually look like. What you were just doing, and what you did earlier upstairs, was feeding…”
“I was…feeding? Like, ‘eating’ feeding?” Fluttershy was a little alarmed at how revulsed Chrysalis looked, “and…and what was I feeding on, was it, you?”
Hesitantly Fluttershy nodded, “you, and your kind, live off positive emotions, like joy, pleasure…or, love.” Fluttershy made no attempt to hide her furious blush that lit up her cheeks.
“I - I'm sorry! I didn't know, you, you must think I'm awful…”
"Hey, no I don't, you're just different to me that's all. You aren't awful Chrys, not at all.”
“R – really?”
“Really.” Fluttershy reached up and gently wiped away the glistening tears that threatened to pour down Chrys’ face, before catching a strong odour, which reminded her earlier she was going to offer the Changeling a bath. Still holding Chrys’ hand Fluttershy stood, beckoning her to follow. “Come on, we need to get you a nice hot bath.”
“A bath? What's…a bath?”
Fluttershy let out a delightful giggle, “I'll show you, come on back upstairs.”
Leading her by the hand back upstairs Fluttershy pushed open the bathroom door and let Chrysalis enter ahead of her. She showed her to the large rectangular bathtub that took up the majority of the far wall, told her to take off the bathrobe and sit inside it. Doing as she was told, Chrysalis sat naked in the bath, unsure of what was going to happen next but Fluttershy seemed to know what she was doing. She watched as Fluttershy turned these weird little things at the end of the bath.
Chrysalis then proceeded to scream at the top of her lungs and scrambled to get out of the bath as the heated water poured out of the taps, splashing her chitinous skin. “AAAAGH! The wet! From up there! In the dark!...”
Immediately Fluttershy was at her side, hands on her shoulders to calm her down. “Chrys, Chrys, it's okay, I'm here, it can't hurt you, I'm here…”
Steadying her breathing as the heated water began filling up the bath Chrysalis turned a pleading glance to the yellow pegasus beside her. “Stay with me, please?”
“Of course I will, for as long as you need.”
The telephone rang in the living room, it's summons going unanswered as Fluttershy concentrated on cleaning the lived in dirt from Chrysalis’ body, mane and tail. If it was important they'd always ring back…
Fluttershy's answering machine began to record a message, "hey Fluttershy it's Twilight. You didn't show up to help with the reshelving earlier, now you aren't answering your phone. I'll nip over later, make sure you're okay. See you in a bit, Twi..."
When It Was Ours
Applejack was sweating. For once it wasn’t from bucking apples in the orchards. Today she was sweating for an entirely different reason. She was being bullied, for want of a better word, and surprisingly it was Twilight who was busy doing the bullying, although in all fairness her longtime marefriend Rainbow Dash had been doing her fair share too. Merciless bullies, the both of them. This particular torment had been going on for the better part of two hours, and the poor farmer was, at the moment at least, powerless to do anything about it. Taking off her stetson Applejack fanned herself before wiping a sinewy forearm across her forehead, lest anymore sweat reach her denim shirt. Placing her hat back on her straw blonde head she nervously cast her eyes down at the table in front of her, and where were sat her tormentors Rainbow and Twilight, looking at her like hungry predators. Picking up her cards from the table she saw once again they had betrayed her. Casting a quick glance at the table told her the damage, Twilight was jealously nursing a growing pile of bits, Rainbow had a moderate little pile of her own left and Applejack's own stash of bits was dwindling very quickly. Time to cut her losses, again. Her shoulders sagged as she threw her cards onto the table.
“Ah’m out, ah fold…” she muttered with venom, as though it was the cards fault she was losing. Reaching for her coffee she took a mouthful as she watched the fight now playing out in front of her.
Rainbow smirked at her hand before tossing a handful of bits into the pot, confident of the full house of two aces and three kings she held. Brushing a lock of her untidy prismatic hair out of her cerise eyes she stared daggers at her remaining would-be victim. “Ready to lose Twi? The Rainbow train’s rollin’ now!”
Twilight Sparkle simply flashed her a smug smile in response as she casually placed her bits in the pit to match Rainbow’s, and in a calm tone befitting royalty just said, “you know, I think I'll call Dashie, let's see ‘em.”
Rainbow happily spread her five cards on the table, showing her aces and kings, and was starting her victory jig as Twilight cut her off with her royal flush. “Sorry to derail your train Rainbow.” Rainbow came to a halt mid jig, her eyes wide and mouth agape, her anticipated comeback scuppered before it had started. Sitting back in her chair she pulled a passable impression of a deflated Pinkie as she leant over to Applejack, and in a very audible whisper asked;
“Babe, how is she doing this, to us of all Ponies?”
Applejack flashed Rainbow an easy smile, “don't ask me sugarcube, ah reckon ‘Miss Ah Ain’t Never Played Before Newbie Princess’,” the farmer made quotation marks as she said the title, “over there is hustlin’ us good an’ proper.” She said with a smirk and a wink to Twilight, whose faint blush spoke volumes. “Ah told you so…” She added in a sing song voice.
Twilight made a show of inspecting her large pile of bits, trying to ignore her blush. “I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about Applejack, no idea at all…besides, I believe that is five rounds to me!” Picking up the pile of bits in the pit and by her side in her lavender bubble of magic Twilight separated them into three equal smaller piles and sent one each to Applejack and Rainbow and kept one for herself. “Had enough for today ladies?”
Applejack and Rainbow both nodded as they put away their bits in their respective purses, Rainbow was still muttering under her breath about being hustled and how unfair it was. After packing away the bits and cards, Applejack put them back under her hat for safe keeping, the three friends took their coffees to the six armchairs surrounding a little table by the large window that overlooked Ponyville. They had all agreed before the view from there was quite stunning, given the castles dominant height over the rural town. Today the view was especially pleasant, given the cloudless sky and beautiful summer sun following the storm from the night before.
Each of the comfy armchairs were decorated with the friend’s respective cutie marks, and as Applejack sat in hers the farmer quickly pulled Rainbow onto her lap, wrapping her arms around her waist, pulling her pegasus marefriend onto a crushing hug as she placed a kiss on the back of her neck, making her wings twitch involuntarily. Rainbow squirmed a little trying to escape to no avail.
“AJ, I thought we agreed no sappy stuff in front of other Ponies?” Rainbow attempted her weak protest, but melted into the embrace anyway.
“Shucks sugar, ain't mah fault ah find you irresistible.” Applejack teased with a grin over Rainbow’s shoulder at Twilight, who herself looked amused at Rainbows half hearted escape attempt. Giving up Dash shrugged turned and wrapped her cyan arms around Applejacks neck, resting her head on her shoulder.
Twilight smiled at the couple, before taking a sip of her coffee and deciding some teasing was in order. “D’aww you two make such a lovely couple, when's the wedding day?”
“Ah can't rightly say, we haven't discussed it much, although I was hoping for a Hearth’s Warming Day wedding, how about you hon?” Applejack said straight faced over Rainbows spluttered “whaaa?” before the pegasus realised a second too late she was being played. Sticking her tongue out at Twilight, who like Applejack erupted in a fit of giggles, she planted a kiss on the sniggering farmers freckled cheek before murmuring “I’d go along with that,” which instantly silenced the giggles.
Applejack raised an eyebrow at her, “really?”
“Yeah, it'd be awesome, just like us!” Rainbow nuzzled her partner, who was sat dumbstruck, her green eyes wide at what she had just heard.
“We’ll…get back to you on that Twi.” Applejack’s blush lit up her freckles as she returned Rainbows nuzzle.
“Okay, you can have it here in the castle if you like, the ballroom is big enough. I'll keep the Hearth’s Warming slot open for you.” Twilight sat back in her own armchair, crossed her legs and finished off her drink. “You know, I'm really glad you two decided to stop by earlier, we don't get enough times like this anymore, just hanging out having a laugh. Reminds me of the old days back in the library. We should do this every Sunday, just the six of us get together for a catch up.”
Applejack nodded as Rainbow cut in, “yeah, it's nice to get together when Equestria isn't being threatened for once,” smiling at her marefriend she added, “touch wood,” she added as she bopped Applejack on the nose.
Applejack stuck out her tongue in response, “you're lucky ah love you sugarcube.”
Twilight Sparkle sat there in silence, enjoying the banter between the couple, thinking how lucky she was to have her friends around her. Thinking of her friends reminded her that Fluttershy should have been round earlier that day to help her with the reshelving of the new Ponyville town library in the castle. She frowned slightly, wondering what could have held up the yellow pegasus, probably something with her animals. Still, while she didn't mind her friend not turning up, it was unlike her not to at least call and let Twilight know something had come up. Maybe she should ring her, just to make sure everything was okay.
"You guys mind if I go call Fluttershy? She was supposed to come over earlier, I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
"Sure thing Twi, we'll be just fine."
“Okay, you kids behave while I'm gone.”
Applejack and Rainbow both gave her an exaggerated eye-roll and a smirk, “yes ‘Mom’ we’ll be good…mostly.”
Twilight answered with a raised eyebrow that she hoped communicated ‘you will in my castle’, before getting up and making her way over to the telephone on the far wall of the castle’s games room, which was mounted next to the dart board that Rainbow insisted they had to have, although painful experience had taught them all to be extra careful when Pinkie Pie played. Applejack still had the holes in her hat from the last time they had played and Pinkie had needed double top for the win. Shuddering at the thought of Pinkie’s dart massacre Twilight picked up the receiver and dialed Fluttershy’s number and waited while the dial tone rang and rang with no answer. Eventually her answering machine kicked in, inviting her to leave a message, which she did.
“Hey Fluttershy it's Twilight. You didn't show up to help with the reshelving earlier, now you aren't answering your phone. I'll nip over later, make sure you're okay. See you in a bit, Twi..."
Hanging up the telephone Twilight frowned as she walked back over to Applejack and Rainbow, who were presently occupied in a tickling war in the armchair, with Applejack looking like she was winning, judging from the squeals of laughter coming from the pegasus. True, Applejack was attacking the base of Dash’s wings, which Twilight knew from her brief experience with her own wings were a particularly ticklish area. Noticing Twilights frown the farmer ceased her assault on her marefriend and nudged Rainbow to do the same, which she did while breathing heavily through halting giggles.
“What's up Twi?” Applejack enquired while bringing her own breathing under control.
“I don't know girls, Fluttershy isn't answering her phone, and she didn’t show up earlier. I think I might nip over to her place and see if she’s alright.” Twilight bit her bottom lip in concern, her thoughts straying to Fluttershy’s well being, hoping she was okay.
“Sure thing Twi, need me and AJ to come with?” Rainbows tone suggested she wanted to do anything of the kind, especially as she was eyeing up the shiny new pool table with a lust that Twilight reserved for her oldest and most priceless books.
“No it's alright, I'll just teleport over, see if she's okay and teleport back, I shouldn't be more than fifteen minutes. You two have fun,’ Twilight corrected herself almost instantly, as she read Rainbows mind, “clean” fun, I meant, Dashie.”
“Spoilsport.” Rainbow sniggered to herself at the thought of the surprise she had left for her timid friend. “Hey Twi, ask Fluttershy if she turned on her TV yet can ya?”
Twilight looked at Rainbow’s laughing face and cogs began to turn in her head, big shiny oiled cogs and gears. She grinned in spite of herself, “you've pranked her, haven't you?”
Rainbow shrugged, putting on her best ‘innocent face’. “Um, maybe?” She offered with a giggle.
Shaking her head, Twilight backed up so there was nothing too near to her, then began to charge up her magic, igniting her horn in a lavender aura as she concentrated precisely on Fluttershy’s cottage, specifically the small stone path that lead to her front door, brought the image to her minds eye and imagined herself occupying that exact spot in space. Channeling her raw power she thought of the words of activation for the spell and the familiar sensation of being squeezed through a narrow pipe overcame the princess as she disappeared from the castle games room with a bright flash of purple light, leaving behind her a slight smell of ozone in the air.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like some rose tea Chrys?” Fluttershy poured herself a cup from her teapot as Chrysalis looked on and shook her head uncertainly. Taking a delicate sip she relished the sweet taste with a smile.
Seeing Fluttershy enjoy the drink Chrysalis picked up her cup and offered it to Fluttershy who gladly filled it for her.
“So, um, Chrys how are you feeling? Remember anything about yourself at all?” Fluttershy asked between sips of her tea.
Chrysalis shook her head sadly, placing her teacup on the table as she started to cry, warm salty tears glistening in her dark green eyes. “I – I’m s – sorry Fluttershy, I j – just can't r – remember anything…” A couple of tears splashed onto the little coffee table, staining the hardwood surface as she tried to hide behind her turquoise hair.
Twilight reappeared on the path outside Fluttershy's cottage in an identical flash of purple light, swaying slightly as she fought against the nausea caused by the teleportation. Gathering herself the princess knocked on the wooden door to announce her presence before opening it and letting herself inside.
She and her close friends had long ago come to an agreement between themselves that they could enter each other's houses. Sometimes Twilight was grateful they were all that close with each other.
“Hey, it's alright sweetie, c’mere.” Fluttershy pulled Chrysalis into a tight hug which almost instantly cheered the Changeling up. Fluttershy gave her a gentle nuzzle, drying her tears with the back of her hand. Fluttershy was so focused on comforting Chrysalis she didn't hear the knock on her front door, nor did she notice when the door was pushed open.
Opening the door of Fluttershy’s cottage Twilight Sparkle suddenly came to regret being that close with her friends, especially with one yellow pegasus.
Twilight’s eyes took in the scene before her, but her brain refused to process the information. She blinked three times, shook her head twice and looked again, but the scene remained unchanged. There was no way this was real.
No way.
No way at all.
No way under Celestia's sun was this real.
But it was. It just, was.
Fluttershy was having tea and hugging with HER. The one pony, no, the one ‘thing’ she hoped to never see again. Chrysalis. The very thought of her name bought a wave of bile to Twilight’s throat, and it was only through a supreme act of willpower the bile was swallowed back down.
The pegasus did notice however the sudden intake of breath and the outburst of incoherent muttering coming from the vicinity of the door. Casting a glance at the now open door Fluttershy froze, her pupils dilating in panic, one word running through her mind.
“Twilight!”
