Author's Note

Queen Chrysalis' POV

The Homecoming; Worthy of a Queen: 2

”Pinkie Pie, are you taking me to the castle?” I inquired.

“For a Royal reception; that would be most appropriate!” she agreed.

“Of course, I am still a Queen; the castle seems as good a place as any!” I pondered.

As I look back, I notice that my body is glistering in a bright pink from the rubber of the balloon she threw on me, before we started out. Yet, my entire head is still black, glistering as if covered by a thick gel.

“Yes, dear Crizzy; you are still a Queen of the Changelings. You may not know the castle, but I know you know our Princess, since you have seen her before!” she prompted.

“If I come as your honoured guest, she will let me in? Even if I guess; there is a chance that she wouldn’t quite recognize me, when I look like this!” I put forth.

“Since I am going to present you as my friend, dear Crizzy; yes, she will invite you into her castle!” she prompted, staring at me with excitement each time she cast a glance my way.

“There is something in the way you are looking at me, which I can’t quite put a hoof on; yet, I think I am going to enjoy it, once I get used to it!” I pointed out.

“I intend to make that a promise, my dear Crizzy!” she proclaimed, with a fierce grin all over her face that seems to radiate well beyond her immediate form.

“I can’t quite believe it, I am just about to set hoof in a Royal castle other than my own!” I prompted, as we are trotting up towards the new crystalline structure of the castle in Ponyville.

“If you have seen one castle, you have seen them all. I know you have seen the castle in Canterlot, so this shouldn’t be all that different!” she teased me.

“That is exactly what I have been worrying about!” I prompted.

“We do in fact invite Changelings to our events; even if we rarely have the chance to make that a High Queen, such as yourself, or to a full-scale Royal wedding, you know!” she responded.

“Of course, this is Ponyville; not Canterlot! All kinds of critters are moving freely among you, Ponyfolk!” I suggested.

“Aside from the Donkeys and the Mules, we have the Cows, the Zebras and the eventual Sea Serpent. Every kind of Pony is getting along well in Ponyville. Lately, we have had a few new Changelings moving in!” she prompted proudly.

As we reach the gate, she is making a highly spirited knock on the door; as firmly as one could have expected from the small mare I have before me.

A moment later, the small dragon named Spike opens the door; stepping aside in order to permit his friend, Pinkie Pie enters with me in tow.

“Greetings, Pinkie Pie; who is your new friend, if I dare asking?” Spike added, as he closed the door behind me.

“Crizzy!” Pinkie Pie merely explained, using her practice of diminutive names she is applying to any Pony she is familiar with.

“Oh! Hiya, Crizzy!” Spike added, as he escorted us to the Royal throne room; where Princess Twilight Sparkle currently was standing.

“This is Spike, the Royal librarian and her Highness’ assistant. You never saw him at the wedding!” Pinkie Pie explained, quietly.

“Interesting style and decor!” I complimented, as I followed our escort to the princess.

“It is the latest in Equestrian Castle design!” Spike explained.

“Right this way; her Highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle is awaiting you, Pinkie and Crizzy!” Spike proclaimed, as he was walking down the last hall towards the Royal throne room in the castle of Friendship.

“Greetings, Pinkie Pie and Crizzy!” Twilight Sparkle responded, as the door swung open under the power of her Royal magic.

“Hiya, Twilight!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

“Greetings, Princess Twilight Sparkle!” I responded.

“How are you doing, Crizzy; and what do you think of my new castle?” she inquired.

“After the circumstances; I am doing quite well, thank you very much my dear Princess. I believe we have met before, at the Royal wedding at Canterlot; I was a very different mare at the time, if I could say so myself. From what little I have seen, I guess I should say that I am impressed!” I responded on the point, incapable of holding back the confession any longer.

“If Crizzy is her diminutive for Queen Chrysalis, then I believe you are quite correct; we did have quite the adventure back in the days, didn’t we? I am not sure as to how to react on your transformation, but you seem to take well to what she did to you. Thank you, Crizzy!” she responded.

“Yes, that was my name, back in the days. Yet, I can never go back to who or what I was back then; not just due to the original defeat, but also thanks to your friend Pinkie Pie and her trickery. If I had not known better, I could have sworn, Discord himself put her up to it, unless he had been there in person. Am I to fear for the lives and well-being of my former subjects, or are they safe from further plight?” I put forth.

“Thank you, Crizzy; I am something of a prankster and trickster from time to time, when I am not planning, throwing, or partaking in parties, or thinking of the parties. On that note, he is an alley of ours; since Fluttershy managed to convince him of the value of friendship, he even has a place at the Grand Galloping Gala, believe it or not!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

“With you as my guest, they certainly shouldn’t need to fear from me. However, I can not promise a complete safety or amnesty to all your remaining Changelings; but under certain provisions, I could offer sanctuary to all your followers. Of course, Pinkie Pie will have to pony up all the ingredients for several more potions, just like the one you have endured and suffered, or enjoyed this far, Cryzzy!” she pronounced.

“As your guest, I think I can convince my followers to accept that provision in exchange for sanctuary. I think I dare promise that I could increase my numbers a fair bit under these circumstances as well. When I explain to them, they are going to help you gathering ingredients to the best of their abilities as well!” I put forth.

“With your help in gathering the rest; the critical ingredient will require a special enchantment for my balloons to match, and I may need to ask Discord for help with one item as well!” Pinkie Pie pointed out.

“I am only too happy to help you, by enchanting the balloons for this purpose; even when it does take up some of my time and will be an effort on my part.

“Crizzy, if you think you can convince your followers to accept the offer; I am only too happy to help you out here. Twilly, your efforts will be appreciated, I can assure you as much. Now I just need the next Changeling, in order to get this concluded!” Pinkie Pie prompted.

“If you stand by your word, we may have the first few by the gate in as little as half an hour to an hour. I certainly would love to extend your offer to as many of my followers as you can make room for!” I pointed out with glee.

“Pinkie Pie, if you would please be so kind as to hoof me a few fresh balloons; and I can get the work on the way. In the meantime, please escort our new Guest to her suite; so that I may have the balloons ready at the first opportunity!” Twilight Sparkle declared.

“Right this way, Crizzy!” Pinkie Pie prompted, right after she had been pulling of half a dozen of blue balloons from her flank with a wide grin all over her face.

“Is that where your dreadfully wondrous balloon came from?” I inquired.

“As a matter of fact; this is where all my balloons came from, believe it or not!” she prompted.