Author's Note
I know it's a day late and a dollar short, but here's my Halloween special!
Nightmare Night
Chrysalis was confused, to say the least. She and her changelings had almost conquered Canterlot and yet Marnthian - her most- well... only advisor - had been able to live among the ponies of a town - undisguised of all things!
He had apparently been living with... a Zey-bruh? What was that? More importantly, why was it willingly giving him love and had not turned him over to the guards by now? Why weren’t the guards trying to arrest him at all?
She groaned and put her head between her hooves. All these questions with no answers were making the Hive hurt and she didn’t have an advisor to ask.
“Maybe it would be best to seek the answers from Marnthian himself?” A changeling asked from the Hive.
Chrysalis focused on him. Such a changeling would be a great stand-in until Marnthian was rescued! She called him to the throne room. When he arrived she said, “You are my temporary advisor for now. What was that thought you had?”
“That we should get our answers from Marnthian. I doubt we shall learn them just sitting in the caves thinking about the questions,” The changeling said, stoic like his several thousand siblings.
.... How smart was this changeling?! Chrysalis gave him an awed look. “Okay, you’re not a temporary advisor. You’re....” She tapped her chin in thought, her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth.
“Your second advisor?” The changeling asked.
Chrysalis gave him a toothy grin and nodded. “Yes, my second advisor! .... What were we talking about again?”
“Visiting Marnthian, my Queen.”
“Right!” She called eighteen other changelings to the throne room as she stepped down from her throne, giving it a loving stroke. Her mother had used her own chitin for the black throne, killing herself as she tore her heart out for Chrysalis’ own crown. Chrysalis knew that her mother hadn’t done it out of love for her, but she cherished the gifts from her very first day out of the egg.
“Our queen,” said a chorus of voices, making Chrysalis not-jump as she turned to see eighteen changelings bowing at the bottom of the steps.
Why had she called them? Oh yes, rescuing Marnthian from the zey-bruh! “Rise, we fly to-” She pulled the letter Marnthian had sent her over in her magic and read, “Pony-vile.” She tossed the letter over her shoulder and continued, “to free Marnthian from his captivity!”
Ugh! Why was flying taking so long? Chrysalis looked over to her second advisor and asked, “Are we there yet?”
“Almost. The coordinates he gave us are only three minutes away now,” The changeling said, his voice a bit strained. Chrysalis could agree with him on how tiring flying was. Too bad teleporting wasted precious love-magic, otherwise she would have had them there in a flash.
Well, at least she could continue to enhance her vision. She looked down at the trees they had been flying over and said, “I spy with my slitted eye... something... brown.”
“Tree,” One of the changelings to her left said.
She gave him a little glare, but looked down again. “I spy with my slitted eye something-”
“Tree,” Another changeling said, this time from her right.
Chrysalis gave that changeling a glare as well before sighing and looking over at her second advisor. “Are we there yet?”
“Two more minutes, Gwarn, just two more until Marnthian is watching over her again,” He muttered, pulling ahead slightly.
After what felt like hours to Chrysalis, they finally landed in front of what looked to be a witchdoctor’s hut. Or what she thought a witchdoctor’s hut would look like at least.
“Ah, what do my eyes perceive? Why Queen Chrysalis and her busy bees. What brings my lover’s queen, so far out into the Everfree’s darker green?”
Chrysalis’s ears perked up and swiveled to the open door a second before her head turned enough from her to see a strange pony standing beside Marnthian. The pony had a striped coat of grey and darker grey, her mane and tail were also striped.
Chrysalis tilted her head in confusion. “What happened to you? Did a potion blow up in your face and give you stripes?”
She chuckled lightly. “No no no, nothing so extreme. I am no ordinary pony, despite what it seems. I am a zebra of stripes, and it is a typical stereotype.”
“Oh, oka- wait...” Chrysalis summoned Marnthian’s letter again and looked through it. “That’s how you say that?” She shrugged and tossed the letter to one of the changelings behind her. “Anyways, we’re here to rescue Marnthian.”
Marn sighed and shook his head. “I told you in my letter that I was okay and that I talked with Celestia and Luna to clear up a few things,” He said, his left foreleg twitching. “I got them to give up on trying to capture changelings, so I invited you here to participate in a pony holiday.”
“.... So... afterwards I can rescue you?” Marnthian’s shaking hoof suddenly shot up and met his face.
“I do not believe a rescue is in order, but perhaps we may speak of this once we reach the town border. The celebrations are to begin soon, and the foals are looking forward to the legend of the princess of the moon.”
Chrysalis clapped her hooves together and smiled. “Neat! Is there going to be cake?” She stopped suddenly and thought a little. “I hope I don’t have to bake.”
Nineteen more hooves met faces.
A long walk later, Chrysalis stared at the ponies and the decorations they were putting up. Most of the decorations had a dark color of some sort, but then there were the... orange things that some ponies were cutting and then putting candles into. “What’s all this?”
“The ponies call it Nightmare Night, a fun celebration of mare that once filled all with fright. In the memory of the mare in the moon, who we all hope will provide us a boon,” Zecora said.
“Huh....” Chrysalis looked around, a thoughtful expression on her face as she took in the spider tosses, the catapults, the apple bobbing, the face painting.... It all looked fun, but what was the point of it all? “So... what’s the story behind this?”
“If you wish to hear the tale, then you shall have to wait as well. The offerings are not until tonight, why not enjoy the festivities to relieve your spite?”
Chrysalis pouted, but turned to go join everypony. “‘M not spiteful,” She muttered to herself.
Later when Marnthian found her, Chrysalis had been banned from doing anything. “Stupid ponies and their shoddy building. How is it my fault those three knocked down everything with that catapult? They even destroyed the catapult I gave them!”
“Zecora is about to start her tale, my queen,” Marnthian said, gesturing to the edge of the Everfree.
Chrysalis nodded and followed him to where the foals were gathering around the zebra.
A green glowing fog slowly spread around them as they headed into the forest, almost reminding Chrysalis of changeling magic. But that was shoved aside when she caught sight of a certain purple mare in a pointy, blue hat with bells hanging from the edge and a star-studded cloak. A growl made its way up into her throat as she glared at the pony who glanced uncertainly in her direction.
Chrysalis huffed and looked away, a green blush making its way onto her cheeks as she muttered, “Stupid sexy Twilight!”
She was so absorbed in trying to not continuing to stare at the mare that shook her flank in her face that she completely missed the entire story, only catching the ending as a green version of Nightmare Moon dove straight at the group. Acting on instinct, Chrysalis shot a hasty fireball at the apparition only for it to pass right through and strike a tree on the edge of the clearing. There’s no way that high-pitched scream of terror came from her. Nope, it was one of the fillies... who were laughing.
“Okay, I get the why of the holiday. It’s here so children can be scared,” Chrysalis said before turning to Marnthian. “You can come back to the hive whenever you want, I’ll just have to get used to Second Advisor giving me advice.” She called the other changelings to her and said, “Back to the hive!”
A minute into the flight, though, Chrysalis became bored again. “Are we there yet?”
Chrysalis stood on her hind legs, a spear going through the holes in her forelegs holding her upright. She was standing in the middle of the training circle being held by several changelings while a larger one - this one almost a tenth the size of the enormous room they were in - was pulling back his hoof to strike.
“The first step to working out your problems is healthy communication,” Chrysalis said calmly, grinning like a madmare as the hoof came down towards her. She dodged the sweeping blow and the behemoth hit the other changelings. “Hey, that was very rude.” She quickly charged a spell, making sure it wasn’t powerful enough to actually kill the giant. “I was talking to Second Advisor!” Chrysalis let her spell loose and hit the behemoth’s chest, sending him flying into the far wall of the cavern.
She took of after the giant only to freeze when she was about to hit him, her eyes widened as she turned to look over at Second Advisor. “Hey, Second Advisor.”
He sighed and asked, “What?”
“I can fly.”
The changeling’s hoof met his face. “Goddammit, Chrysalis...”
Chrysalis’ ears caught the sound of a pegasus flying through the caves and she turned towards the tunnel it was coming from. “Who could that be?”
A grey mare with a yellow mane and tail came into the cavern wearing saddle bags and a little blue hat with a gold button on the front. “Hello there, Mrs. Queen Chrysalis!” The mare said cheerfully with a wave.
Chrysalis smiled and landed, walking over to where Second Advisor was. “Hello there, Derpy, anything for me today?”
The grey mare nodded and dug out a letter from her bag and held it out to the Queen. “It’s from Mar- ouch!” Derpy jumped as a small burn mark appeared on her flank. “I mean.... It’s from Marnthian and Zecora.”
“Thank you Derpy, though you might want to do something about that burn. You’ve had it every time you mentioned Marnthian,” Chrysalis said as she opened the letter.
My Queen,
I write this to inform you of a new arrival in town. It is a bipedal being with only a mane and wearing clothes. He just appeared out of nowhere in the middle of town last week, landing on three mares everypony calls ‘the flower sisters’.
Apparently tomorrow - the last Thursday in November - is a holiday for his kind, something called Thanksgiving. I know things didn’t work out with Nightmare Night but this holiday seems to be nothing more than a feast of sorts and there is no indication that there will be any scaring involved.
Sincerely, Marnthian.
PS: Zecora is laying! .... Though she says the correct term is that she is ‘with child’. How she is I have no idea. She says I am now something called a ‘father’, but I don’t know what that means.
PPS: Do you know how nymphs are made?
Another holiday? It hasn’t even been a month since the last one and there’s another? Chrysalis smiled and turned to Second Advisor. “It seems there is a holiday tomorrow. Let’s go to Pony-vile and see what this one is about!”
The changeling sighed and shook his hanging head as he said, “Very well, my Queen.”
“Time is racing forward, until we arrive!” Chrysalis sang.
“Shut the hell up Chrysi, and I might surviiiiive,” Second Advisor sang in a deadpan.
“Second Advisor are we there yet?”
“No Chrysi, no we’re not.”
“How ‘bout now?”
“YES! WE ARE!” The changeling yelled, giving Chrysalis a death glare as they landed in front of Zecora’s hut. Said mare trotted out of her home and greeted the queen.
“Hello Chrysalis, is there something amiss?”
“Nope. I got Marnthian’s letter today and thought I could come and spend the night until tomorrow.”
“I do not mean to be rude, but that wasn’t new.” Zecora stated. “It was sent just the other day, perhaps it went the other way.”
Chrysalis blinked. “So I got it late.” Her face turned into a pout and she crossed her hooves in front of her chest. “Well isn’t that great.”
“There is no need to pout. Many things can be done when in doubt.” The Zebra tried to say to her.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Chrysalis perked up as a thought came to her. “I’m not too late for the party, am I?”
“No. In fact, we were just about to head over to Twilight’s castle,” Marnthian said as he came out the door to stand next to Zecora.
“There is no need to stay. Our friends are waiting, let us not delay.”
Chrysalis nodded and let the two take the lead, silently cursing Twilight for getting a castle and for being sexy. The trip to the castle was quiet, a welcome relief to Second Advisor as Chrysalis was stuck in her brooding.
“Everyone else should be arriving within the hour,” Zecora spoke again, looking at Chrysalis. “So please, don’t act sour.”
The Queen just huffed and looked away. “Why is Twilight the one that’s hosting this party? I thought that pink mare was the one who was the party planner.”
“This event is hosted by Royalty, so some traditions must be followed accordingly.”
Chrysalis growled and muttered, “Stupid Twilight. Gaining wings and becoming even more sexy....”
The group walked up the the gates of the crystal palace as they opened to reveal the purple perplexity the Queen wanted to... to.... She didn’t even know! The mare gave them an awkward smile and said, “Hello Zecora, Martin, Chrysalis. It’s... good to see you again?”
“Indeed it is, my dear friend. Can we please come in?” Zecora asked, politely.
“Yes, the feast will start in an hour and a half so everyone can have time to visit some.” Twilight moved aside and let the group walk in. “Cyrus and Discord are trying to do something in the dining room if you want to greet them.”
“As long as it gets me away from your sexy flank,” Chrysalis muttered, tearing her gaze from the mare’s tail and walking towards where voices were drifting from.
What she saw was a tall, hairless bipedal wearing ragged clothes talking with an abomination. “I… Don’t think that’s how it works. Thanksgiving is saying thanks for everything we have and to the brave people from my country…”
“So you’re basically giving thanks to your ancestors for having children?” The amalgam asked.
The hairless thing growled, “No, we’re thanking them because of their sacrifice in setting up for our lives.”
“Huh.... Your holidays are very confusing.”
“I’m guessing you two are Seerus and Dis-cord?” Chrysalis asked as she stepped into the room.
“Cyrus, not Seerus.” The ape said, “And you are?”
“I am Queen Chrysalis of the Changeling Hive.”
“Is that some kind of bug thing?” Cyrus asked.
“No no no, you have it all wrong, Cy,” Dis-cord said as he put an arm around the human’s shoulders. “Think more like aliens. Love-sucking aliens.”
“Ew, tell me it isn’t through tubes.” Cy pleaded.
Chrysalis smirked evilly and decided she liked Cyrus. “Not unless you consider your genitals to be tubes.”
He lept backwards. “Don’t touch me anywhere near there!”
Dis-cord rolled his eyes and said, “Changelings don’t need physical contact to be able to eat love. They use their horns to gather it from the air and a special sac in their head processes it to where they can use it for magic and living.”
“Oh… Still, I don’t want her sucking my love of pasta…” He narrowed his little eyes. “Nobody messes with that…”
“Please, we can’t take away your preferences. All we do is collect the love that is given off by others. There’s really no way we can harm someone, except in extreme cases,” Chrysalis explained.
“Oh...Kay… This is awkward…” He chuckled. “My name is Cyrus Vestige, Human of Earth… And yes, I’m male…”
Chrysalis’ eyes widened in shock and her jaw fell open. “H-human?” She squeaked out.
“Meh, nothing special about me. Just your average guy.” Cyrus said.
The awestruck Queen shook her head vigorously. “H-humans protected my ancestor from our enemy twenty-three thousand years ago when she crashed on a planet they called Earth. The planet was destroyed shortly after they repaired her ship and sent her back out into the galaxy.” Her eyes hardened as she decided to return that gesture. “Because of that, and the fact that you are the last of your kind, I and my Hive will protect you until the last changeling is dead.”
“Wow…” Cyrus stuttered, “Th-that’s very… Wow…”
“Well, at least we know how you arrived here, Cy,” Discord said. He snapped his claws and suddenly Cyrus was right next to Chrysalis, wearing a red shirt with white flowers on it and his arm across her shoulders.
A slightly smaller Discord was standing in front of them with a camera and said, “Say, ‘total annihilation!’” He snapped a picture and the camera turned into a postcard that had the words ‘happy holidays from the remnants of Earth!’ in the lower left corner.
“Um… This really is confusing to me. Can we focus on getting Thanksgiving going? These horses are missing out.” Cy said ignoring Discord’s shenanigans. “I’ll need a turkey, pumpkin pie, a lot of food, a few games, and the whole town of Conyville in Town Hall.”
Discord raised an eyebrow and asked, “What’s a turkey?”
“It’s a flightless bird that was on his planet,” Chrysalis said. “And the town’s name is Pony-vile, not Cony... something.”
“I thought it was a pun off of Smallville and all the other rejected names like Cloverville or Benchville…” Cyrus said shrugging, “And I’m not saying pony… Crap!”
“Heh, it isn’t any better than how you humans name your towns. Chrynthial crashed in a place called Humanville.”
“I heard of a place called Footville…” Cyrus chuckled, “Yeah, never said we were good at naming.”
“You know, I’m wondering what you would look like if you were a changeling,” Discord said, rubbing his chin with his lion paw.
“Don’t you dare!” Cyrus growled. “I like my fingers!”
“Actually, Chrynthial had a... humanoid, I think it was called, form before she crashed here. There are pictures of what she looked like in the Royal Hatchery,” Chrysalis said, an interested look on her face. “I am wondering what you would look like as well, now.”
“Okay… So?” Cyrus asked.
Discord snapped his claws and a blinding light came from Cyrus and a music started playing from his form as he started to slowly change into a changeling. His skin turned black as he hunched over, a carapace growing on his back. His fingers shrank until they were no more, fangs popped out of his forming muzzle, his black hair grew longer, holes appeared in his hooves and his clothes faded. See through wings appeared, and his body finally adjusted to an equine build.
“Oh fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudge!!!”
“Oh myyyyyy~,” Chrysalis purred as she looked Cyrus over, swinging her hips and slowly circling him as she got closer. “You aren’t a regular drone, that’s for sure.”
“What have you done Discord!?” Cyrus yelled.
Chrysalis hummed and took a quick step towards Cyrus, pressing her side against his and nuzzling him under his chin. “I’d say he made a changeling king~.”
Cyrus sighed, “You will regret this Q.”
“I seriously doubt anything you can do will make me regret this!” Discord said through his laughter.
“What about that mare named Buttersky? I wonder what would happen if she heard you were hurting a helpless creature such as myself~.”
Discord scoffed. “As long as I reverse this before the end of the day, Fluttershy won’t have a problem with letting me have some fun. Unlike a certain human who’s a complete stick in the mud every once in awhile.”
“Guess I better get used to being a… Four Legged being for the day. Discord, what was I supposed to do?” Cyrus questioned, nervously eyeing Chrysalis.
“Lay down and let me have my way with you?” The Queen asked nicely.
“Gah! No!” The ex-human said.
“You sure? There’s still half an hour before everyone gets here~....” She used her hind leg to pull his towards her, subtly trying to squeeze under him.
“Y-yes, I’m s-sure…” Cyrus gulped.
“Aw... Okay then,” Chrysalis said dejectedly, lowering her head and ears as she walked over to the table and flopped into one of the chairs.
“When are the others coming?” The Changeling King asked Discord.
“In twenty-eight minutes,” Discord answered, floating over to the table. “Apparently it’s going to be only those three foals, Twilight, Dash, Rarity, Spike, and obviously Zecora and Martin, so we’re just going to use this room for the celebration.”
“Eh, okay. Who exactly are they? I think I met Twilight and the foals, but the others are unknown to me.”
“Twilight’s friends, I believe you met Rainbow when she hit you after you got off of the flower sisters. Spike is the baby dragon that follows Twilight around and Rarity is a fashionista.”
“Ah, Skittles, my nemesis… I thought the lizards name was Tike…” Cyrus stated.
Chrysalis looked over at Cyrus and asked, “Would you sit next to me when dinner starts?”
Cyrus began to say no, but when the queen's lower lip trembled, he gave in. “Fine…”
She gave him a slight smile and turned her chair so she didn’t have to twist in order to talk with someone. “Zecora is a zebra and Marnthian is living with her. And I bought Second Advisor so he could advise me.”
“Cool name!” Cyrus said. “Hey, can I use magic in this form?”
“Yes, you can. But it will use up some of the love ener-” Chrysalis stopped. She could still feel his love of pasta coming from him.
“Cool!” He set to work trying to use his horn and failing, “Uh, gimme a minute.”
The Queen’s mind raced, trying to comprehend how that was possible. Sure, Discord could’ve just changed him physically into a changeling and left the insides... mostly the same, but.... Could he have actually made a changeling that could feed other changelings? She looked at Cyrus, who was still trying to get his magic to work.
If she played her cards right, she just might be able to get him to stay a changeling and-.... Chrysalis blushed at those thoughts and shook them away. No, it was too soon to think about that. No point in counting drones that haven’t hatched yet.
Cyrus looked towards Chrysalis, “Um, you okay?”
“Huh? Oh, yes, I am. J-just... thinking.”
“Kay.” Cyrus said as his horn lit up, “Bullseye! Well, eureka?”
Chrysalis’ eyes widened. Only changelings had the particular tint of green! He was actually a changeling! Her blush returned full force as she was given quite the show as he sat down. “I-I-I- Cy- Buh- D-Discord-”
“What?” A random apple slammed into the side of his face, an aura of green surrounding it. His face turned into a scowl, “That was my fault…”
The Queen thought quickly, pulling together a rough plan. “I could teach you how to use magic properly.” She gave him a small smile when he turned to look at her. “For a small price.”
“I’ll be losing this in a day, so that price isn’t worth short term power.” Cyrus said.
Chrysalis looked over at Discord, glancing at Cyrus pointedly. The amalgam winked at her and said, “I could make it to where you can switch back and forth, Cyrus.”
“That’d be… Cool… I’ll think about it.” Cyrus said, shrugging.
Chrysalis’ smile widened a bit and she said, “I could teach you to fly as well then, and how to change your appearance to anything you wish to be.”
“Okay, what’s the catch?”
“Nothing you’re thinking of, I’d wager.” She shook her head. “No, I just would like to... hang out I believe the term is called.”
“... Sure, I wouldn’t mind that.” Cyrus smirked.
Chrysalis nodded and looked around, spying a clock on one of the walls. “Looks like we have five minutes until they arrive.”
“-And Chrysalis is here as well,” Twilight said as she walked into the room followed by Rarity, Zecora, Martin, Gwarn, Rainbow Dash, Spike, Fluttershy, and three fillies. “Spike and I will be bringing out the food in twenty minutes.”
“Oh, I didn’t know Discord’s girlfriend was here!” Cyrus said evilly.
Fluttershy blushed and hid behind her mane.
“Sorry, it’s me, Cyrus. Discord changed me into a Changeling.”
Rainbow gave Cyrus a long scrutinizing stare before saying, “You know, that actually looks more natural on you.”
“You say natural, but I say freaky. Not like y’all are natural anyway...”
Rainbow glared at him. “Says the hairless ape.”
“Says the tiny winged pony with a rainbow mane.” Cyrus shot back.
“At least we don’t have to wear clothes to hide our-”
“Rainbow!” Rarity exclaimed.
“I don’t wear clothes because of that, I wear it because in my world it’s considered taboo. Plus it’s a habit.” Cyrus stated. “Plus, I look cooler with it.”
“Like you could ever look cool,” Rainbow scoffed, inspecting her hoof.
“Well, at least I don’t look like a little girl’s toy!” Cyrus shot back again, laughing.
Rainbow growled and glared back at Cyrus. “That’s ‘cause you are too ugly!”
Is she-? Yes, yes she is liking this back and forth, Chrysalis thought, a frown appearing on her face.
“We get it, you like each other! Just kiss already!” Spike said, giving them both a glare.
Both turned and glared, screaming, “No!” in unison.
“What is wrong with you?” Cyrus asked, “This isn’t a cheesy mo- book! We seriously dislike one another!”
Twilight snickered and said, “Doesn’t seem that way to us.”
Cyrus ignored the Alicorn and trotted away wobbly mumbling, “I’m not ugly…”
Chrysalis took this moment to throw her hoof over his shoulders as he passed by, making him stop suddenly as she said, “Of course you aren’t. She’s just trying to get under your chitin.”
He gave her a thankful smile, “Thanks… I’ll be back in a few, I’d like to… Mull this all over. That okay with you guys?”
The Queen gave Twilight a glare, causing the mare to rethink what she was going to say. “Yes, it is. We’ll wait until you get back to start.”
He nodded and wobbled away, but before leaving, he stated, “I’ll be back in a minute.” And with that, he was out.
Chrysalis turned her glare to Rainbow, making her wilt a little. “Don’t even think you have a chance with him. Don’t even try to deny it, I can feel the beginnings of a relationship building.”
“I- I have no idea what you’re talking about!” Rainbow defied weakly. “He’s a hairless ape.”
“I can’t tell if it’s platonic or romantic yet, but make no mistake.” Chrysalis flew up to press her forehead against Rainbow’s. “I am going to be the one to win his heart, not you, not Discord, not anyone else.”
Dash backed up, eyes wide. “Uh… Okay…”
Chrysalis sniffed and floated back to the ground, turning to Martin and Twilight. “So what was that about nymphs and how they’re made, Martin?”
The changeling blinked in confusion before realization dawned on him and he said, “I was just about to ask Twilight that.”
Twilight blushed and stammered, “I-I don’t think t-t-that’s a good subject for dinner.”
“Indeed, it is uncouth.” Rarity stated.
“Very well, I’ll just send a changeling to Manehattan to check out books pertaining to nymphs once I get back to the Hive,” Chrysalis said, walking back to her chair and sitting down. “I am curious as to how they are born as well.”
“Oh! I know!” Scootaloo said waving her right forehoof. She was about to say something, but Twilight used her magic to turn her lips into a zipper.
“No, Scootaloo. We aren’t talking about that right now,” Twilight said, her blush a bit deeper.
“Okay, maybe not a minute!” Cyrus returned, “Um… Something wrong?”
“Martin and I want to know where nymphs come from,” Chrysalis said, giving Cyrus a wide, innocent smile.
Cyrus’ eyes bugged out a bit, “What!?”
“Well, with changelings, the queen has to wait until she matures before she can start laying eggs-”
“No, stop, I get it! Let’s just get ready…”
“Yes! Spike, come help me with bringing the food out,” Twilight said loudly as she galloped out of the room.
Discord smirked and turned to Fluttershy saying, “You know, Fluttershy, we could give the-”
“Fluffer!” Fluttershy squeaked out from behind her mane, causing the draconequus to suddenly close his mouth.
“Wait, have you two been...!?” Rainbow’s right eye twitched, “What’s next, Spike and Rarity!?”
Rarity blushed and looked away as she said, “He’s ten years my younger. Even if he wasn’t....”
Cyrus burst out laughing as he sat down, “C’mon, take your seats!”
“I’m not even going to try and understand what’s going on…” Dash grumbled as she sat down, “I thought you trusted me ‘Shy…”
“Y-you never asked why he kept coming over to my house,” Fluttershy whispered, sitting next to the other pegasus.
“Oh yeah, that reminds me,” Applebloom said, turning to Rarity. “Why’d Applejack start spending the night at yer house last week?”
“Why, um… I…” The Unicorn started, then groaned. “I needed her help with a dress?”
Cyrus was on the ground, laughing like a five year old.
“Oh stop being so childish! Let’s just try and get through this meal with whatever dignity we have left!” The fashionista said, face red.
“It’s your own fault!” Cyrus said, trying to calm down. “Hope you two are happy!”
And with that, Cyrus received a smack to the face that sent him sprawling on the floor, still laughing. “You slap like a marshmallow!” He quickly got up and sat back down in his previous seat next to Chrysalis, unfazed by the mare he ticked off.
Chrysalis chuckled and said, “Your group of friends is certainly entertaining.”
“Agreed.” Cyrus nodded.
“I’ll show you entertaining!” Rainbow snarled.
“I’m flattered you think of me that way hothead, but I just don’t feel the same way. I’m sorry, but we can still be friends.” Cyrus teased. Rainbow growled as she lowered herself into a chair, not wanting to add to his fuel.
It was then that Twilight came back, platters and dishes of food in her magic. “Okay, I think we’re ready to eat,” She said as she set the food on the table and sat on Chrysalis’ other side.
“Okay, so just a quick summation to those who don’t know about what this holiday is about, and to those who didn’t listen to me the first time.” Cyrus started, “Thanksgiving in my world is a time of giving thanks to a group called the pilgrims who sacrificed themselves to start my country. There’s more to the story, but I won’t bore you all about those. And I’ll tell you about it later if you wanna know.”
“Pass.” Rainbow said simply.
“Let’s dig in then!” Discord exclaimed, raising a shovel with a smile.
“Indeed, let us not wait. Let’s eat the food that’s on our plate.” Zecora smiled, looking at everyone else around the room. She then politely asked Chrysalis to pass the bowl of salad.
As she was floating the salad over to the zebra, she noticed Twilight glance around her at Cyrus and felt a little rush of emotion from the mare. It surprised her so much that the salad suddenly met the ceiling, the bowl embedding itself next to the chandelier.
“Uhh Chrysalis, the bowl? I don’t think having it reach the ceiling was its intended goal.”
Chrysalis glanced between Twilight and Zecora a few times before giving the zebra an apologetic smile as she said, “Sorry, I was just... startled by something.” She gave Twilight a pointed look. Zecora accepted the brief apology, before looking up and noticing that the bowl had not moved from it’s position on the ceiling. And it’s contents were beginning to fall.
Onto Twilight’s head. Lettuce leaves, salad dressing and everything else. Before it hit her, though, Chrysalis lit her horn and aimed a fire spell inches above Twilight’s head, incinerating the salad before it could touch the mare. Now, only ash of what was once a healthy delicacy began to sprinkle around her like confetti.
.... Why did I do that? I wouldn’t have done... that.... Chrysalis’ eyes widened and she looked away from the mare, a blush erupting onto her face.
“Chrysalis… Care to explain why my mane is covered in ash and burnt cheese?” Twilight asked.
“‘Cause you’re too sexy without it,” She blurted out, covering her mouth with her hooves after.
“Guess we have another couple…” Rainbow blurted as well. “Why not hook up the crusaders with the dishes!?”
“Rainbow… are you drunk?”
“I’m not a drunk!” Dash yelled out, “Why does everypony say that!?” Twilight simply just face hoofed herself while Zecora was looking at both the Pegasus and Chrysalis.
“It may be one thing that you say, but I believe your vision is beginning to sway.” The Zebra said, noticing her eyes darting around the room every once in awhile.
“She’s getting jealous,” Chrysalis said with an evil smile. “Yes, I can sense it growing in you. Sour, yes, but oh so delicious.”
The cyan Pegasus just grumbled in response.
“Can we just eat?” Cyrus asked impatiently.
“Why yes, Let's.” Twilight replied, “Cyrus is right. We should go ahead and eat. But Chrysalis, I would like to have a word with you after dinner.”
Chrysalis growled and gave Twilight a petulant glare. “It’s your fault for shaking your flank in my face!”
Twilight just sighed as she returned to her meal, using a napkin she had to brush the ash and dust off of her. Sometime later, she looked towards Cyrus and politely asked him a question. “Cyrus, could you please pass the mashed potatoes?”
Cyrus’ face held back a grin as he levitated it over to her wobbly. It barely made it as he whispered, “Not today…” It was close enough to Twilight though that she obtained it anyways.
“Thank you.” She kindly told him, blushing slightly at his sense of humor. This though, caught Chrysalis’ attention.
Then she had a thought. Why not start one of those herd things that were popular in the larger cities? She wouldn’t need to choose between Cyrus or Twilight and Twilight’s crush would actually help them stay together. Chrysalis glanced between the two on either side of her, a smile forming on her face.
“Chrysalis?” Her attention was then returned to Zecora, Who was holding a basket of bread rolls in her hooves. “Would you like some of this?”
“No thank you. Unlike ponies - or humans - I don’t need to eat solid foods. Love and little bit of water are all I need,” Chrysalis said, her smile not leaving her face.
“Would that mean you still… Go?” Cyrus asked, “And what’s with the grin?”
“Not exactly. A changeling’s body is made so it uses everything that goes in it. Unless it’s solid food, then yes.” She lifted the cup next to her plate and took a sip. “You would probably run if I told you why I am grinning this early.”
“Then don’t tell me…” Cyrus said as he put some pumpkin pie on his plate and passed it to Applejack. “Want some?”
“Don’t mind if Ah do,” The farm mare said, taking a slice as well.
Chrysalis did a double take. When had she gotten here? Eh, she probably just missed her slipping in. “So Martin, I assume you an-”
“HOW’S THIS POSSIBLE!?” Applejack yelled, staring in horror at the piece of pie on her plate.
“What!?” Rainbow asked, a bit shocked.
Applejack glanced at her and then at Applebloom before bolting from the room, putting a pony-shaped hole in the door.
Rainbow stared off after the farmer, until she turned her attention to the fashionista. “She’s your bed friend, go after her.”
Rarity blushed but went after Applejack, her head held high as she took the rest of the pie with her.
“You’re completely right, Chrysi! They are amusing to watch,” Discord said through his laughter.
“I agree, this is most amusing.” Cyrus added.
“Ape…” Rainbow mumbled.
“Horse…” Cyrus grumbled back.
“Cyrus,” Twilight scolded.
“Twilight!” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle said, pointing at Scootaloo.
“Oh, Scootaloo!” The alicorn lit her horn and undid the spell.
The filly sighed in relief, “Finally~ I thought I wouldn’t get to eat at all!” After those words left her lips, the orange Pegasus started pigging out.
“Heh, hey Zecora, what color is squirt?” Rainbow said snickering. The Zebra glared at Dash and chose to ignore that statement. “Hey Twi, what do you think AJ was freakin out ‘bout?”
“I know why,” Discord said as he took a bite out of his fork. “She found out she likes pumpkin pie more than apple pie.”
Rainbow stared at Discord. “You’re joking, right? Please, I’ve been having a hard time coping with Rarijack, Fluttercord and a hairless ape coming to us with a new holiday!”
“It isn’t that bad.” Scootaloo said as she dug into a pie.
“Not bad? Not bad!? What are you talking about!? All of this, and it’s too close together my head hurts!” Rainbow groaned.
Chrysalis smirked and said, “That’s just because your brain is too small.”
The Pegasus growled, “Shut it bug…”
Chrysalis chuckled, sending shivers down the pegasus’ spine. “I’m an alien, not a bug.”
“An alien bug then! I don’t care-” She was cut off by a splash of water.
“Zip it maggot, I’m trying to enjoy this company.” Cyrus spat.
Rainbow was vibrating with anger - and an undercurrent of happiness - as the changed man started eating again.
“Why can’t I… Oh…” Cyrus glared at his food. “I can’t taste my food!”
“That’s because you’re a changeling, Cy,” Chrysalis said. “The taste buds are more for emotions, same with your nose.”
“Dang it Discord…” He mumbled as he sat back, “I can still enjoy the show I guess…”
“Don’t blame me, blame the fact that changelings eat emotions,” Discord said through a mouthful of stuffing.
“But you were the one that turned me into on-” Cyrus tried, but the Spirit of Chaos shoved a paper heart into his mouth.
“Try that instead.”
Rainbow started laughing while Cyrus fumed. He chewed a bit and raised an eyebrow, then his eyes widened.
“Wow! This is amazing! Is this what love tastes like!?” Cyrus asked after swallowing.
“Wait for it,” Chrysalis said, giving him a smile. A few seconds later his eyes widened further as his pupils grew to fill his eyes. Even though he wasn’t part of her hive, Chrysalis could still hear him giggling like a madmare in his mind. “And now he’ll miss most of the night.”
“What’s wrong with him?” Asked Sweetie Belle innocently.
“Nothing, really. Discord just forced him to eat pure love.”
“And that’s bad?” Rainbow asked.
“No, but every changeling say that eating pure love for the first time makes anyling go into a coma-like trance while they giggle in the Link for a few hours.”
“Well… If he’s out, I think this holiday is over. I’m out.” Rainbow said as she hovered away. “No point in this if there isn’t a ‘main guest’…” She stopped, flew over to the butter and used it to draw a mustache. She then stuck a bunch of sunflower seeds to the sticky substance.
Before she could fly away, though, he suddenly pulled her in for a hug, nuzzling her a lot and giggling. Dash’s face turned red and she tried to get away from his vicegrip.
Chrysalis chuckled, giving Rainbow a smile. “I should’ve warned you about that.”
Rainbow tried her hardest to escape. “Twilight… Little help...?”
“Oh, don’t worry. You actually helped him along. He’ll be back to normal within the hour.”
“B-but I don’t wanna be hugged by him! This is so uncool…” Rainbow squeaked.
“You don’t seem to mind my hugs,” Discord said, giving Rainbow a smirk.
Fluttershy glanced between the two for a moment before saying, “You... hug Rainbow Dash, too?”
“What!? I’ve never hugged him!” Rainbow said before being nuzzled again by the high human. “Buck!”
Fluttershy blushed. “Oh, okay... I thought you would want to.”
Discord chuckled and gave Fluttershy an indulgent smile as he said, “I wouldn’t mind that, as long as you were there as well.”
Rainbow sunk into Cyrus’ embrace, her face as red as Macintosh. “This is humiliating…”
“Well… We don’t seem to have gotten our Cutie Marks here, so…” Sweetie Belle said as she backed up out of the hole Applejack made, followed by Applebloom who dragged their last member. “I think we’ll make our exit…” And with that, they dashed off.
That’s interesting.... Fluttershy actually wants her to join... Chrysalis thought, giving the two pegasi curious looks. She lit her horn and teleported the rainbow maned mare onto Discord’s lap before saying, “And here I thought herds were only popular in the big cities.”
“Wha-…?” Rainbow yelped, jumping away from the Draconequus. “What the hay!?”
Chrysalis looked around, noticing that everyone was done eating. “Well, since everyone is done, I believe it’s time for me to return to my hive.” She stood and turned to Twilight. “Thank you for hosting this holiday.”
“N-no problem,” The alicorn squeaked out, having buried her head in her hooves to hide the blush on her face.
“I’m out, later guys!” Rainbow flew outside in a flash of colors as Cyrus woke up.
“My puppy!” He said, shaking his daze away, “I’ll take that shifting!”
“Don’t forget to stop by Fluttershy’s tonight!” Discord called after the fleeing mare.
“What?” Cyrus asked.
“Fluttershy wants Rainbow to join her and Discord,” Chrysalis explained as she walked towards the door. “Come Gwarn, we have a flight ahead of us and I don’t want to get back after dark.”
“Uh, okay, later!” Cyrus said. He turned to Discord, “I’d like that shifting power.”
Author's Note
BP: I hope you enjoy’d that!
MF: Yep! BronyParasite and I wrote most of this for the holiday with Frost doing Zecora’s lines for this chapter.
.... Please leave a comment?
BP: Yeah… And, we’re planning on doing another story about Martin and Cyrus... ‘Normal’ lives. Right Moon?
MF: Yep, it’s going to be on his account so go watch him for it!
BP: … Maybe someone can help with the cover art… Well, thank you for reading, Moon and Brony, signing off. Buh-Bye!!!
MF: Seriously, please comment.
BP: Dude, there’s a group for that.
