Kingdom of Loving: Fear and Loving in the Crystal Empire

Chapter 10: The Conversations in the Darkness

The darkness beneath the crystal-rich earth was no obstacle for a creature born into it. Winding earthen tunnels gave way to stone caverns, shaped by decades of acidic chewing and reshaping, while resinous compound gave support and shape to structures that could have been architecturally pleasing to look at, if they were not a sickly black and glowing green. All through the depths buzzed the song, a constant hum that flowed like the air itself.

What she had done was absolutely unforgivable. What she had done brand her in the eyes of every pony she knew. She cared little for what it meant for her. Her core felt hollow, and in the end she didn’t care if what she was about to do would be the end of her. Nothing could matter now except one outcome.

Nymphaedra stepped into the grand central cavern of the hive and glanced around herself. There were changelings flitting about, clambering up stony walls and stalactites above, disappearing into holes and crevices with the chitter of a busily efficient colony. Her eyes settled on a small cluster ahead. One shape among them was larger and more prominent in the murk.

“Mother,” she intoned as she came within speaking distance, even though a verbal cue was little more than a formality. She, being the daughter of a queen, shared the same ability as her mother - the link to every mind that buzzed through the hive, knowing its presence, its consciousness, its directive.

The tall shape of black and green turned away from the small cluster of changelings, which dispersed upon her attention realigning. Much like Nymphaedra, she was a lithe thing of blackness, although her gossamer flesh was green-tinged. She was also much taller than her daughter, easily aspiring to the stature of an alicorn.

“Ah, you return, child. So soon?” the tall queen purred in a voice that was as multitudinous as her hive.

“Yes. And I have something to to tell you.”

Chrysalis turned her grand awareness to the form in front of her, and Nymphaedra braced for what she knew was coming. Like the thousandfold legs that crawled and crept throughout the hive the queen’s conscious mind washed over her. She knew of her daughter’s anxiousness, she knew of her urgency.

“Say it, my daughter, my beloved. Nothing will bring you harm here.”

“My queen, I’ve been revealed,” Nymphaedra said, flinching both inwardly and literally. She knew it would not be something that would please Chrysalis. “But it was not my doing. One of them, the unicorn. She discovered my secret. But she also has offered to help us.”

The queen took a long-legged stride forward, bringing her dangerously close to the smaller, nascent royal changeling. “Help us? In what way?” Her curiosity sounded piqued.

“She has offered to arrange a meeting between the princess of the Crystal Kingdom and your excellency.”

Reaching out one of her long-fingered and wickedly-clawed hands, Chrysalis caressed Nymphaedra’s cheek. She did not lift her gaze from its stern place on the floor in front of her. It was not out of some royal decree or element of respect, she merely hoped that her mother would not see the streaks that still ran down her chitinous muzzle.

“This is most fortunate news,” Chrysalis clicked. Nymphaedra did look up at her mother at that.

“Mother?” she asked, voice trembling with a foolish hope.

“The time has come for us to reveal ourselves to the ponies above. No more hiding. No more shadows. If they will listen, I will gladly take audience with their ruler.”

Nymphaedra’s heart dared to rise slightly from the crushing depths it had plunged into when Twilight had learned everything. If her mother was sincere and could manage to make peace between the changelings and the ponies of the Crystal Kingdom, everything would be better. Everything might not be fine, but at least she could do one good thing in all of this. Even if she was a monster, maybe she could make Twilight happy.

Twilight sat at the breakfast table, although it had to be after midnight now. One elbow was resting on the table while her hand held up her cheek. In the other she cradled a lukewarm mug of coffee that sat undisturbed from when it was placed there. Her eyes were red and puffy and tired, but she couldn’t sleep. Not now. She wasn’t sure she ever would be able to again.

After the initial sickening sensation had worn off Twi felt drained. The rushing high she’d been on was now a pit and she felt like it she would never stop falling. Cadance moved over to her side and put a soft hand on her shoulder.

“I’m so sorry, Twilight,” she said soothingly, rubbing.

“Less than a day,” Twi’s throat creaked. “Or maybe a day. I don’t know. My first kiss. A girlfriend. And she’s a lie. Just one big...”

Cadance shushed the harsh words with a hug. “Twilight, dear, it isn’t your fault.”

“How is it not?” she snorted, shifting in the embrace like she wanted to be out of it, but she was too frightened to let go of the last shreds of affection that still grounded her.

“You didn’t choose to lie about who you were. You didn’t choose to deceive us.”

“But I was stupid enough to listen.”

“Twilight Sparkle,” Cadance said in a more affirming tone. “You are not stupid. You are the most intelligent young mare I have ever met. Since the moment you first came to the Crystal Kingdom you have made amazing strides to accept ponies for who they are, and that includes yourself. You have done nothing but grow and learn.

“The saddest thing that I can tell you is that not every pony who says they love you means it. They don’t always say it with love in their hearts, or even if they think they do, they may not believe it as fully as they need to to make it true.”

Twilight sniffled and looked at Cadance, who was kneeling in front of her with her hands on her knee now.

“But you, Twilight, understand more about love than ponies I’ve seen living here for years. In a day you’ve made more progress than some have in a decade. If I had an ounce of your courage I’d walk into Celestia’s halls myself and tell her that we’re no different and that we still love her all the same.

“And you still don’t know if Sunset - Nymphaedra - is telling the truth, but you don’t have any reason to doubt her, do you?”

Twilight took a lengthy moment of silence to weigh it mentally, but she was so very tired. She shook her head.

“Then maybe, what she thought she was doing, was protecting you.”

Twilight’s hand slid away from her mug of coffee and rose to her neck. The star-shaped pendant still hung there. She’d gotten used to its weight and presence against her collar. If she’d remembered it was there when Sunset had first told her she might’ve just ripped it off and thrown it in her face. Now, she fingered it delicately, her throat starting to tighten again.

“You should get some sleep. A big day tomorrow, my brave, brave sister.”