Chapters Passion for your Brethren
"When your life has no meaning, find meaning in someone else's."
Statistically speaking, Chrysalis couldn't have been the only one in this situation. There were, after all, upward of six billion people on the planet, and even if only one in every million had similar views on intimacy... that was still six thousand people, who could probably coordinate over the internet, and factoring in time zones that would mean roughly, oh, let's say thirty groups just in Amareica alone? Actually that was probably an understatement.
Still, having your communal support and pleasure session--Chrysalis refused to call it an orgy, as that word implied a lack of respect the members had for each other--interrupted by the psychic projection of a brand new deity rambling on about magic and mutations... that was really rather stressful. Even with the soon-thereafter calming filter locking down on most of their minds, she could almost sense all the worry and confusion seeping through the minds of the Wholesome.
She had the same feelings herself, of course, as well as a good dose of existential horror. But like any good mother, she pushed it all aside for the moment; her children needed her to stay calm, collected, and soothe their fears. Which she did, in the best way she knew how. And if Thorax learned a special new way to help his boyfriend, well, that was just another lesson she taught.
Only after the session drew to a close, only after the Wholesome once more swore their lives to each other, only after her closest friends helped her clean up the mess and offered to stay so she could discuss the situation, only after she asked them for time to herself to think...
Only after the door was locked, the last car driven away five minutes ago, and Chrysalis sure she was alone...
Only then did she look skyward, clench her fists, and start screaming.
"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK YOU ALIEN TEENAGE SKANK YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST FUCK WITH THE WORLD AND WE'LL JUST SAY OH SHIT NEW PARADIGM LET'S BREAK OUT THE FUCKING BOOZE?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FUCKING DEAL WITH IN THE NEXT WEEK ALONE YOU DAMNED SUN-KISSED BITCH?! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME, YOU SUPER POWERED CUNT, I WANT A FUCKING ANSWER!"
Without warning, a little post-it note appeared above her, fluttering down toward her face. She snatched it out of the air with a snarl.
"...Currently busy keeping time from exploding, please hold complaints until next saturday?"
Chrysalis glared at the note, hands trembling as her rage grew and grew, burning under her skin like a fire.
....actually, now it was burning on her skin like a fire.
No, wait, that was just ordinary green fire---
"HOLY FUCKING SHIT I'M ON FIRE!"
The great Mother of the Wholesome dropped the post-it and flailed around her house, slapping herself all over as she tried to put out the flames rapidly enveloping her body. Even as she stumbled into the kitchen, she could feel her clothes burning off; her hands fumbled across the cabinets as the rising fire consumed her entire vision, finally managing to find the miniature fire extinguisher hidden beneath the sink. In her blinded panic she pointed it at her own naked body and ripped the cap off.
The impact of the pressurized mist slammed Chrysalis onto her well-toned rear end, skidding across the tile for half a foot before she stopped, coughing as she was surrounded by white poofiness. Yes, it wasn't harmful to humans, but instincts--and the punch to the gut she's just given herself--would not be subdued by simple logic. She hissed almost as loud as the canister itself as she stood, putting one hand on the counter and trying to regain her bearings.
"Okay. So... cursing out our new bacon-haired overlord results in spontaneous combustion." Chrysalis coughed, waving some of the mist away from her eyes. "Well, gee , I didn't know that!" Her green eyes glowered at the ceiling, the rage building up in her again. "Good golly gosh , I hope you can forgive me, oh Shimmering one!"
Then she noticed her hand was on fire again .
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA you know what, no." Chrysalis reached out for the sink and turned on the faucet. "I'm a mature woman, I can handle a little... burn?"
With a frown, she examined her arms. There didn't seem to be any burn marks, and... actually, the fire on her hand wasn't hurting as much. She blinked as the flames seemed to recede on their own, vanishing with a small puff.
The water from the sink and the hissing from the lost extingusher were the only sounds in the kitchen for a few seconds.
"OH WHAT THE FUCK. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS THIS BULLSHIT?!"
And instantly her hand was on fire again.
"What, do I burst into fire when I fucking swear?!" Chrysalis groaned. "Of course Sunset's a puritan with untaint ed ears! And I guess good golly gosh is a horrible set of words over in your ponyland, huh?"
She leaned against the counter, exhausted. "Fuck."
Her hand was suddenly extingushed.
Chrysalis stared at it.
"...Fuck," she said experimentally. "Fucking shit balls," she added after a moment. "Come on, Sunny, I'm swearing up a storm here," she demanded of the air. "Aren't you going to roast me?"
There was a distinct lack of response.
"Oh my fucking god," Chrysalis growled, shaking her fist at the lighting fixture. "At least be fucking consistent--!"
Her fist was on fire.
"...Okay. So it isn't swearing, but it happens when I swear. When do I swear? When I get... angry..."
She stared at her hand for a few moments, even as it once again extinguished herself.
"...Damn it. When I get angry. Of course I'd explode when I get mad." Chrysalis facepalmed, kneading her forehead like dough. "It's not Sunset, it's me. Minor physical mutations, my ass."
She was going to need to go to anger management courses, again. She was going to need to meditate--and figure out how she was going to tell Spinnerette how she accidentally incinerated the dress she'd made. Oh Tartarus, the Wholesome... she had to make sure they wouldn't freak out at this, if they weren't too busy freaking out at themselves...
Chrysalis slowly beat her head against her refrigerator. "I fucking hate magic."
"Sometimes what seems foolish is merely wisdom from outside normal circumstances."
"Triple-fudge strawberry fondue-style cheesecake sundae, extra whip."
Pinkie Pie gave a low whistle as her latest customer slumped into a chair. "Rough day?"
"Rough week, more like." Chrysalis let her hands drag down her face. "All day every day my children have been showing up, asking what this means for them, for us... showing off new talents and wondering where they should use them, or giving me new techniques they want approved for our next communal session."
"Oh, right. You're the leader of that orgy club."
The ebony-skinned woman glowered at the pink teenager as a decadent blend of ice cream and pastry was plunked in front of her. "As I have told you numerous times, miss Pie, the Wholesome is not an orgy club. We believe all people are born incomplete--"
"--and so you seek completion in each other, helping everyone in your group where they need help and providing help where you can," Pinkie rattled off casually. "And sex is only a part of that, yeah, you've told me. Seriously though, I don't know why you call yourselves the Wholesome when you have regular orgies."
"Calling ourselves the Swarm sends the wrong message," Chrysalis deadpanned, eating some of her ordered decadence. "And they're not orgies. They're communal pleasure and support sessions. Orgies are just about having sex with each other's bodies, what we do is quite a bit more intimate and personal."
She sighed, licking her fork clean. "Much more so, nowadays..."
"You want to talk about it?"
Chrysalis gave Pinkie a flat look. "I'm not going to tell you about more 'super-fun beddy-bye' techniques, Pinkie. Your parents made it all too clear what would happen if I did."
"Oh I'm not interested in that! Well, I am, but what's more important is how magic is affecting you personally, so I can wait until I hit official adulthood to learn more funfuns. Heck, I might even join your orgy club--"
"The Wholesome."
"--the Wholesome when I'm legal, but until then I'm just here to listen and maybe provide a new viewpoint on magical mishaps!" Pinkie leaned in closely. "I was near ground zero, you know. And actually kind of magical beforehand, but that's a secret."
The woman gave her a long look, before letting out a slow sigh. "Well... we've started to sense things, coming from each other. And from others. It's subtle for the most part, but when my children use their knowledge and skills to help others, the... gratitude, the joy, it's not just an abstract--they actually feel more powerful, in whatever way their tribe feels magic. In fact, an unofficial recruiting drive has started up because of that, not that I object of course but... there used to be only thirty of us, and now there's something like a hundred."
Pinkie whistled low. "More then tripling in a week? Wow, you've got to be running ragged."
"That's the thing. For most of us it's just power, but..." Chrysalis tapped her head. "Me, I hear things. Whenever my children are around, there's this... buzz. Sometimes words, but I... feel, what they're feeling. I know what they want me to say, and I can figure out what they need me to say. It doesn't work on others, just members of the Wholesome.... and I'm the only one that has it."
"Okay, that... is actually kind of freaky. I mean being freaky isn't a bad thing at all, and I should know given just how out there I can get in days where I get out there you know? But hearing the unheard whispers of the self even if the self is a self that has dedicated themselves to filling the selves of other selves via donation of themself sounds somewhat strange."
"Believe me, miss Pie, I'm well aware of the implications." Chrysalis hummed musingly as she slowly drained her spoon of its current contents. "Ooooooh, am I ever aware. I've got an ID PhD in biosociological science, and psychology is an important part of that. I'm being as careful as I can be with this... it's just..."
She stretched out her hands. "A hundred. A hundred, and more are still coming. If I try to tend to them all, I'll... fall into certain routines, manipulate them all into my own vision of perfection instead of their own, slowly descend into seeing them as nothing more than pawns... I'll become the tyrant that drove me to form the Wholesome in the first place. But I can't in good conscience turn away those who need me. I'm faced with two terrible options."
"Well, that's a conunderumum, alrighty." Pinkie tapped her chin. "...Have you told the rest of the Wholesome about this?"
"No. This new power... I know that there's something keeping most people from recognizing how magic has changed everything, but it's not affecting me. I know what this power can and can't do. I know what has fallen into my hands. If I told them, they might laugh it off or... worse."
"Well, what if you asked them to help you?"
Chrysalis blinked. "I... what?"
"What if you asked them to help you?" Pinkie repeated. "I mean, you say your whole thing is supporting each other where you need to be supported. I'm sure there are at least a few people in your orgy club--"
"It is not --"
"--that would be willing to learn how to do what you do, and if you're really as mentally connected to them as you say, you might even be able to give them part of your abilities. Grant part of yourself to them. I mean, magic's kind of metaphorisical like that, if you drift my catch."
Chrysalis blinked, not even noticing the flipfloped expression as the words of the pink teenager sunk in.
"...huh." She pursed her lips. "An actual hive mind... yes. Yes, I could... and if, handle it with care... make sure they know they can tell me when I'm being... yes."
She stood. "Pinkie, I need a box for my sundae, I have things to do and doctrines to forge."
"Alright! That'll bring your total up to seventy five ninety nine."
"...what?"
"Yeah. Custom order, plus box."
Chrysalis blinked twice, before facepalming. "I forgot to pay, didn't I?"
"Mmmmhmm, but don't worry." Pinkie grinned. "We take cash or credit."
"Listen to those who are wrong, so that you can know why they think they're right."
"Look, if ya'll're gonna help out on tha farm, Ah'd 'preciate it if ya stayed away from Bloom."
Chrysalis didn't frown, her time as a performer had taught her to keep her emotions hidden, but she did quirk an eyebrow. "Of course. Though... might I ask why?"
Applejack glowered at her. "Well gee, Ah don't know, maybe it's cause Ah think ya might corrupt her poor lil' mind with yer immoral ways?"
"And which ways are those?"
"Which--ya have orgies twice a month! And ya're willin' ta tell people bout yer..." The farmgirl gesticulated, her face turning pink.
"...Okay, seriously, they are not orgies. They are communal pleasure and support sessions." Chrysalis rolled her eyes. "And we do a lot more than that anyway." She turned to her children. "Why do people always think we're an orgy club?"
"You're an ex-pornstar," Thorax offered. "So, you know, associations and all that."
"I did that to pay my way through college. However!" She held up a hand to forestall Applejack's objection. "I can agree that miss Bloom is not ready to learn about that particular aspect of life. I'm sure she'd disagree, being a curious young lady, but as she has no need for physical pleasures, I see no reason to tease her with the knowledge of them."
Applejack huffed, but gave her a reluctant nod. "Ah guess that's as much as Ah can expect from ya'll. Come on, let's get ta gathering."
The gathered multitude spread out among the orchard, ladders and baskets carried every which way as they went. Chrysalis nodded in approval, taking her own ladder and propping it up to the closest tree.
"Now wait--wait just a cotton-pickin'--!"
"Do relax, miss Applejack." Chrysalis plucked an apple from a branch, examining it carefully before dropping it into a basket marked with green bands. "I am in perfect communion with many of my children. Any instructions you have for them, you can give to me."
The farm mare frowned, turning on her. "Is that why so many o' them have the same colors as ya?"
"No, actually. Dear Spinnerette found a way to manipulate her own chromelanin, and of course shared it with the rest of us." This next apple was half eaten, half rotten; into the red banded basket it went. "I'll admit, my children wear my colors to honor me, but I do not demand it of them."
Applejack paused, considering her words. She glanced about--a little too casually, in Chrysalis's opinion, but she was no actor, and a teen besides. "...Manipulate... chromelanin, ya say."
"Yes." The grand Mother peered at her, noting her unusually pale skin, and decided to take a gamble. "I'm not sure if it could be used to restore chromelanin, mind. It is a very recent bit of magic. But should you know anyone willing to... experiment..."
It was brief--probably less then a second--but she noticed the teenager glancing down at her peach-colored arms. Still, she shook herself and regained her composure quickly. "Ah ain't goin' ta join yer orgy cult just ta look normal."
"Oh, of course not. I wouldn't dream of suggesting it."
"Really? Ya dangle that fruit in front of me and expect me ta believe that?"
Chrysalis smiled down at her. "Well, certainly. After all, the Wholesome is all about completion of the self. And you, miss Applejack, are very complete."
"...what's that supposed ta mean?"
"Simply that you have found most of what you need already." A black hand gestured across the farm. "You have your purpose, you have your friends, you have your family. You might want for, oh, excitement, but somehow I expect your close ties to miss Shimmer will provide. You may, one day, want for a spouse, or children... but you do not want that now, and I doubt you would take what I offered. What little doubt and need you have, what little holes fill your heart, they are easily filled and mar you not one bit."
Applejack quirked an eyebrow in confusion. "Uh... thanks. Ah think..."
"Of course, just because I don't see the need to invite you doesn't mean I don't have the wish to help you," Chrysalis continued. "After all, it was an urge to help others that led me to found the Wholesome. That and... well. Suffice it to say that if you ever should need anything that I can provide, I'd be quite willing to give it to you."
"Uh-huh. So if'n Ah asked ya for a mansion--"
"That is a want. Not a need. At least, not in your case."
"Riiiiiiiiight." Applejack rolled her eyes. "And what would ya say Ah need, then?"
"You in particular? Hmm." Chrysalis held an apple up, examining it carefully. "You need... openness, actually. I'm not saying you're in any way prejudiced, but when you come across something strange, something that doesn't fit into your worldview, I think you try to push it out to arm's length."
The cowgirl scoffed. "That ain't true!"
"Oh? Who was it, then, who assumed I would fill Apple Bloom's ears with lascivious whispers?"
"Well, that--"
"And while I don't pay attention to high school politics that much, I did hear that you were grumbling over Twilight's 'false Crystal Prep gal pal' during one of your friendly get-togethers."
"How the hell did you--?!"
"Come to think of it, what was your first reaction to the world changing? Was it, in fact, acceptance?" Chrysalis glanced sidelong at her. "Or did you demand answers from miss Shimmer when you saw her next?"
Applejack was silent.
"...Fear of the unknown is intrinsic to humanity." The grand Mother dropped the apple she was holding. "That's why we have science. To make things known. To look at the void in our knowledge and wrestle it to the ground. To explore and define the shadows. What you feel isn't wrong, Applejack. How you react, perhaps... but even then, it's understandable."
"...Ah ain't going ta join yer... Wholesome."
Chrysalis smiled faintly. "I'm quite sure you never will."
"Public spectacles change minds; private talks change hearts."
The web metaphor wasn't... entirely accurate. It was more... like a series of apertures in an aquarium. Fish would swim through of their own accord, stray thoughts and emotions, and she would wrap them in her arms, for they were her children. She was the only one that could move through the apertures completely, speaking mind to mind with her most trusted followers, but they too had the ability to reach out and open, see into the minds of those who joined, watch the colorful thoughts swim by.
Joining had been adjusted, with those connected to her now able to extend to others, but only she allowed to bring them in to the higher circle. A center in an ever growing network, a constant flow of love magic and knowledge propelling her beyond the plebian--that thought was caught, brought forward, vivesected, and quietly set aside. She could not, she must not let herself think of others as pawns, even those who willingly served as such. Her mind relaxed, expanded... her children were spreading silently through society, unmarked and unheeded, which gave her some projects to work at.
"Um.... excuse me?"
Political unrest in Tauros... that would be a good place to extend her hand should they need help. And--aha, Gladmane had hired one of her daughters. Perhaps it was petty, searching through his files for some way to undermine him, but after how he had treated her and all the other sex workers under his domain, she couldn't help herself. And locally, well, locally to herself, Crystal Prep... she couldn't induct any teens, of course, that would be wrong, but Thorax was doing well in unraveling Abacus's mistakes--
"Miss Chrysalis? Your eyes are glowing."
Chrysalis blinked, retracting back into herself. "I do apologize, I was rather caught up in my own... thoughts." She reached down, patting a rabbit on the head. "So, now that we've fed and watered our little friends here, what should we do?"
"You don't want to get lost in your magic," Fluttershy advised. "That leads to getting punched in the the throat."
The tall woman blinked. "...what?"
The teen glanced away, running her fingers through her hair. "Long story."
"I see." Chrysalis composed herself. "And I thank you for worrying about me, but I assure you that I am doing quite fine."
Fluttershy quirked an eyebrow, but deigned not to reply directly. Instead, she carefully set down the new bedding for the rabbits. "...I, um. I've been wondering. Why did you decide to... help the animal shelter out today?"
"Well, I've been meaning to help for a long while. I do have a highly philanthropic streak, after all."
Fluttershy narrowed her eyes. "Really."
Chrysalis tittered, glancing around. "If you have a question to ask, it's best to ask it directly."
"Alright. I... highly suspect you decided to come today specifically because a friend of Sunset Shimmer, namely me, was on call." The teen put on a stern expression. "Am I wrong?"
"Hmm." Chrysalis took a moment to reassess the young lady in front of her. "That's not my only reason."
"But it is part of it."
"Yes." She clasped her hands together. "You have grown in confidence, haven't you? Lulu was worried about you before..."
"She...?" Fluttershy took a breath. "No. Don't try to change the subject. What do you want with Sunset?"
"Oh, not much. Comparing notes, assessing the situation..." Chrysalis gave an exaggerated glance around, before leaning in. "I've been thinking of starting a support group for people with... significant power."
"Really?"
"Yes! Actually, it quite good that I ran into you. You do know mister Discord, right?"
Fluttershy frowned. "I... don't think it would be a good idea to invite him to any support group. He's a little bit, um, melodramatic."
Chrysalis nodded. "Good point. Anyway, so my nefarious scheme is to gather people who have followers due to their amazing power, and form a self-help group where we can talk about things that we couldn't really talk about with our followers."
"And you're going through Sunset's friends to assess whether she would want to join."
"You are certainly an insightful young lady."
Fluttershy blushed, busying herself with a bag of cat food and a scoop. After a moment, she turned back to Chrysalis. "...I, um... want to ask you something."
"I should forewarn you," Chrysalis quipped with a small smirk, "that while I would be quite willing to advise you in your private affairs, I would be required to inform your parents that I did so. You're not of age yet--"
"Nonono! That's not--!" The teenager flushed. "I know all about that, I work with rabbits and Zephyr is really bad at hiding his porn--Eeep!" Her face went as pink as the hair she rapidly hid behind, quickly shuffling over to the cat cages and pouring food into their bowls.
The woman laughed, scooping up some cat food herself. "Relax, Fluttershy. I fully understand that not everyone is as comfortable talking about intimacy as I am. I was only making a joke, and if I upset you, I apologize."
"...mmkay."
"Now," she said gently, leaning down next to the teenager to feed another feline, "what is it you wanted to ask?"
"...w-well. Um." Fluttershy glanced up at her. "I... was just wondering, um. What is your aspect?"
Chrysalis rose an eyebrow. "You know, that's the first time anyone's asked me that."
"I mean... you can't be unicorn, no head gem, and... and you don't have hoof-fingers, and I've never seen you flying..."
"You know, I'm not entirely sure myself." Chrysalis leaned back, bringing a tiny green flame into existence. "I got this and telepathy with my children, and beyond that... well, I've noticed my limbs have gotten a little longer. And..."
She coughed. "I can't wear pants."
Fluttershy blinked. "What?"
"Pants. Or shirts. Anything with sleeves or legs..." She gestured at the holes in her gloves and stockings. "Nylon's resistant enough not to deteriorate completely, but I still get holes in there. I don't know why."
"Oh. Is that why you're... wearing those boots?"
"Mmmhmm. Got them at Cool Subject."
"They do fit you." Fluttershy tapped her fingers together. "I mean, your philosophy. Broken hearts made whole."
"I know, right?"
"...You know, mister Discord is kind of the expert in Aspects. If you like, he could... give you a once over," Fluttershy suggested. "I mean... to see if there's anything you missed, or any reason for... holey stockings."
"You know what?" Chrysalis smiled at her. "I might just take you up on that."
"Always lend a hand; if you lose it, take another's when offered.
"...and my visit with mister Discord certainly put a new light on things. As it turns out, I have a rather unique aspect--apparently my genetic matrix is in a form of flux, which has the side effect of producing some chemicals or other that can be rather destructive to fabrics if they build up. Apparently most clothing I purchase simply isn't breathable enough for it all to, ah, evaporate, at least around the limbs. Which is why, of course, I came to you for advice." Chrysalis smiled warmly, leaning down to look the teenager in the eyes (and shifting her arms just a touch). "I hear you are one of the most... skilled at working with unique clothing needs."
"And this has nothing to do with me being one of Sunset's inner circle."
"Must you be so suspicious?"
Rarity sighed. "Miss Chrysalis, just this week I have had to deal with no less than seven Shimmerists trying to beseech me for blessings. It's only Tuesday. I suspect I'll get more supplicants this afternoon." She narrowed her eyes. "I am very much aware that people might view me as a method of gaining her favor, and given the current level of power she has they would be entirely too willing to do anything for that."
"Are you suggesting that I would use to to further my own goals?"
"You are standing in a very provocative position that would fluster any girl above a 1.2 on the Can-say Scale, assuming they were not aware of such posing and the methodology therein, and as a clothing designer I am very much aware of that sort of pose and the way it works. And don't pretend you 'just happened' to end up standing like this, I saw you move your arms."
Chrysalis quirked an eyebrow. "Hmm. You are good. Okay, how about this: I can shapeshift."
Rarity rose a brow of her own. "Your genetic flux, I assume?"
"Mmmhmm. And even if I'm not available, my children can change their color. On. Command."
"...You're offering me a potentially infinitely versatile group of people to serve as models, in exchange for me making you some clothes."
"An artist's dream, isn't it?"
"It would be quite useful...." Rarity sighed. "Oh very well. But you are not to try to sway the conversation toward Sunset or any favors she could perform, am I quite clear?"
"Of course." She straightened up. "Should we start with measurements, then?"
The teenager rolled her eyes, nodding toward the mirrored stage. "Yes, yes. You'll actually be the first unique aspect I've worked with."
"Really now?"
"Mmhmm. Well, I assume you're unique." Rarity's picked up a sketch pad and lit her head gem, looking at the glow surrounding various tape measures as they levitated over. "Sunset did say that there were a few, although she couldn't tell me with certainty who ended up with what."
Chrysalis held out an arm. "I suppose you mean something more unique than Lulu's dream-scheme."
"Well, yes. Principal Luna's certainly talented there, but she's still a unicorn aspect." Rarity shrugged, noting down a few numbers. "You used to date her, didn't you?"
Something flashed briefly over Chrysalis's face. "...Well. That was before I started working for Gladmane."
"Ah." The tape measures lowered. "Yes, I can see how working for that... particular scumbag could sour a relationship. I don't know if you heard about the scandal--"
"Oh, believe me, I have. He actually approached the Wholesome, trying to leverage my former affiliation with him to get help."
"Really now?"
"Of course, I couldn't turn him away. We are all about completing the incomplete." A smile as dark as her skin formed on the woman's face. "And one thing Gladmane was lacking was empathy and humility. I'm sure he's learning a lot of that in his prison complex."
Rarity lowered the sketchpad she was holding. "The judge specifically sentenced him to a jail where most of his suspected victims reside."
"I'm quite surprised."
"Somehow, I think you knew that already."
"No, I mean I'm surprised you knew about that jail's reputation." Chrysalis examined her fingernails. "It's just... you seemed like such a high-standing young lady when I entered this store."
"Me, Pinkie, and Rainbow had a conversation about Las Pegasus a while back, which ended in us wondering what would happen if we got arrested for a night of wild debauchery. You really had to be there." Rarity cleared her throat. "Still, I quite agree that whoever arranged for those files to go public probably did the right thing. Some people should never have that much power..."
She trailed off, tapping her pencil idly on the sketchpad.
"...Tauros." Chrysalis nodded. "You're worried about Tauros."
"Who isn't these days? Tirek is a modern Fuhrer Lebensraum, only without the self-sabotaging stupidity." She frowned, biting her lip, then visibly sagged. "Don't tell anyone this, but... I asked Sunset if she could get him out of power."
"I take it she said no."
Rarity nodded. "Part of it was, well, the necessity of Sunset staying neutral in most global affairs, but... Well, she told me he had a unique aspect. That he could... literally, take somebody's magic. Make it his own." She shook her head. "That's bad enough with ordinary people, but if he got his hands on Sunset--"
Chrysalis hissed. "Yeah. That could be bad. Really bad."
"...I've been donating to the relief fund. It's not much, but... surviving the Crystal Crusaders, that's not easy." She stamped with a growl. "I wish there was something more I could do! I helped save the world three times before magic was commonplace, I--I just can't stand being over here, safe, while some tyrant is wrecking the other side of the world!"
"I know the feeling. I... well." Chrysalis took a breath. "I have a few of my children operating there. Eyes in enemy territory. And every morning I wake up, reach out, and hope none of them have...."
She trailed off.
"Oh dear lord." Rarity put down her pad, reaching out to her arm. "I... I didn't realize. I was just worried in abstract, but... you actually have people you care about out there."
"It's... a bit scary." Chrysalis barely acknowledged her touch. "I pretend that I know what I'm doing, for most of them. The ones that are directly connected to me know better, but... I didn't know it was going to get this bad when I sent them there."
"...Chrysalis. Look, if there's anything I can do--"
"Besides the relief fund? There isn't. There really, really isn't."
"Protect those who cannot adapt quickly; they might have a useful take later on."
The heels of her shoes clicked sharply as she marched across the tiled floor, her face a mask of piercing calm. Only the constant flicker of green flame from her head betrayed the endless, swirling rage that she felt.
"Whoa! Lady, you're on fire! Literally!"
"I am aware of that, Rainbow Dash."
"Wait, how did you...?" The blue teenager shot up, literally hovering after her. "You're Chrysalis, aren't you? The leader of the orgy cult--" She fluttered back a touch when the fire flared. "--not that I think it's just an orgy cult, it's just what people call it, which totally isn't fair to you guys."
Chrysalis nodded, not looking at her. "I am the mother of the Wholesome, yes."
"Wow. And here we are, running into each other at the airport. After you talked with all of Sunset's other friends. Weird, huh?"
"Entirely coincidence, I assure you. I don't really have much time to chat."
"Your flight leaving soon? I getcha. So, if you don't mind me asking, where are you headed?"
The woman stopped, turning to look at her with an annoyed frown. "...Tauros."
"Ooog." Dash winced. "Wow. You've got guts. Some of the shit I've heard Tirek is pulling..." She landed, putting her hand on the back of her neck. "Look, if you're going there, could you do me a favor and see if you can find somebody?"
Something in her voice, a faint waver, made Chrysalis drop her frown. "...A friend?"
"Friend of a friend. Vapor Trail, she transferred to Cloudsdale campus... she's really talented and all, but lately she's been off her game. Apparently she knew somebody named Sky Stinger--his family decided to take a trip overseas shortly before the Tauros situation got bad." Dash bit her lip. "Look, Vapor's basically the best of me blended with the best of Fluttershy--super athlete, super nice--and it's been eating at her for a while. I'm fine winning competitions, but not... not when she's like that. Anything you can find out--"
"Sky Stinger? Hmm." Chrysalis's eyes glowed for a moment or two. "Ah! Interesting. He was captured and had his down harvested, but I understand he broke out recently and is helping a resistance cell. I don't know about his family, but--"
"Hold up!" Rainbow Dash cried, giving her a look of astonishment. "How did you know that?!"
Chrysalis took a moment to examine the teenager, carefully considering what she knew of her. Eventually, she sighed. "Walk with me, miss Dash. Or hover, if you wish."
"Uh... okay?" Dash flicked into the air again, trailing after her as she moved. "So, about Sky Stinger--"
"You are aware of the Tauros relief fund, I hope?"
"Oh, yeah. Some Harmonists are sneaking care packages over the border, with food and... stuff that helps people."
The tall woman glanced sideways. "And how do you suppose they know where the packages are most needed? Or how to avoid being caught by Tauros border patrols? How did they become aware of the situation after Tirek clamped down on the media?"
"Um." Rainbow frowned. "Actually... that's a pretty good question. I mean, I guess I could say 'magic' or something, but--"
"Miss Dash, my children will feel their magic refreshed whenever positive feelings are directed at them. Most have learned to manipulate their chromelanin. The best of them are in direct mental contact with me, as well as milder mental contact with their own flocks."
The teenager screwed up her eyes. "So... if they're nice they can regain lost power, they have the ability to look like anyone of their aspect, and there's an undetectable intelligence... network... oh my gosh." She pointed at Chrysalis. "You're the one telling the Harmonists where to send their stuff!"
"Not alone, and not directly. My children are doing most of the work. We're also the ones helping refugees escape the border, informing various countries of the situation, and keeping Tirek from finding out about security leaks." She let out a slow breath. "It's... not as easy as it sounds, even with our advantages. Some of my children..."
Dash blinked, landing and walking as her voice trailed off. "They... oh. That's... rough." She reached up and awkwardly patted Chrysalis's shoulder. "If you need to talk or something--"
Another woman walked up. "The Dusk files, Mother." She glanced at the teenager even as she handed over a manilla folder. "I didn't know we were involving anyone else."
"She's not coming, we're just talking." Chrysalis nodded. "Thank you, Spinnerette. Can you please ensure that the others are ready?"
"...I still don't like this plan. There's too much that can go wrong."
"I don't like it either, but unless you can find a better solution..."
Spinnerette sighed, shaking her head. "No. Just... be careful." She stood there for a moment, then leaned in to give Chrysalis a quick peck on the cheek before marching briskly off.
"...Uh..." Rainbow Dash pointed. "What was that all about?"
"Miss Dash... you are going to stay here." The woman opened the folder, flipping through the papers carefully. "I want to make that clear--you are not going to get involved. The best thing you can do is help the Wholesome prepare for the fallout."
"What? What are you--is that a helicopter?!" cried Dash.
"Yes. Rated for travel across the ocean." Chrysalis snapped the folder shut with a grim smile. "Let's just say my visit isn't quite on Tirek's itenerary."
"Wait, I don't understand. What's going on here?"
Chrysalis turned to Dash, green fire rising from her exposed shoulders. "He had taken the magic of 'worthy' unicorn aspects and ripped the gems from the heads of those that weren't. He has set up routine harvest of pegasus down and slandered griffon aspects so much they can't walk the streets safely. He has rounded up earth aspects like cattle... and I don't want to break your mind with what happened to those few who had aspects like the geology club. I might not have been there personally, but my children were, and what they see, I see."
"Oh. But... I thought an army--"
"He has an army of his own! And worse, he has his magic absorbing abilities. Any assassin sent his way would be drained. Any infantry, simply batted away. I have sat by, watching him gain power from a distance... and organizing my own counter strike."
The helicopter's blades whirred to life, and Chrysalis turned. Her hair mixed with her fire, even as she strode into the wind. "Mark this day, Miss Dash. Today is the day of Tauros' liberation. Today is the day of the Wholesome's vengeance." She stepped into the cockpit and buckled in.
"Today... Tirek shall fall. "
"Do not force your answers, for the curious will ask on their own."
"Ah! Miss Sparkle, it is a pleasure to finally meet you." Chrysalis stood aside with a welcoming gesture. "Come in, please! I'm so glad that you came to visit, I have heard so much about your accomplishments, I do hope I can have you in my class one day."
Twilight Sparkle hesitantly stepped in, returning her warm smile with a weak grin of her own. "Um. I don't... You probably get asked this a lot, but, um. Everything's... clean, right?"
"Oh, don't worry. I use the most effective cleaning tools after every one of the Wholesome's communal support and pleasure sessions. And the last one was more than a week ago." She shut the door. "You're perfectly safe in this house."
"Yeah. I... So." Twilight straightened up, adjusting her glasses. "You're probably wondering why I'm here."
"A bit, yes." Chrysalis considered her living room, before sitting down primly on an armchair.
Twilight sat down across from her, moving aside a bell on the coffee table and putting down a thick binder. "Well. As you know, there's another world... the one where Sunset Shimmer originally came from. And everyone over there has... an alternate, over here." She cleared her throat. "I'm not sure the same is true in reverse, but from what I know there's another Twilight Sparkle, another Rainbow Dash... and another Celestia. The match up isn't entirely identical, though--the Celestia on the other side of the mirror is... well, she's been around for over a thousand years."
Chrysalis quirked a brow. "My word. That's quite a long time."
"Yes it is. It... it got me to wondering about how... the resonance translation effect works. So, I started digging through records--worldwide records, it was a bit hard to put together, but there's a definite pattern." Twilight flicked through some of the papers in the binder. "I... well, it might be best to call it reincarnation. Every time a Celestia on this side dies, another is born a couple of days later. I don't know if they share a soul, or anything--there's certainly not much correlation between regional origins or bloodlines--but... well, it got me curious, and I might have asked my alternate for a list of long-lived individuals."
"Oh dear. Was I on that list?"
Twilight shook her head. "No. Twilight--the other Twilight--she didn't know if.... Your alternate is a bit of a mystery, to be honest, and she didn't want to talk about it. But I did go down the list, and the pattern holds." Her gaze fell to the binder as she flipped through the papers. "Repeated Lunas. Repeated Discords, even though over there he was trapped in stone for a while. Repeated Sombras, even though over there he was in some... temporal dislocation lock?"
She looked up. "Repeated... Tireks."
Chrysalis leaned forward. "Ah. You want to know what happened in Tauros."
"It's kind of a big risk!" Twilight pointed out. "I mean, I don't know if it will happen any more, since Equestrian magic is now on Earth and that might affect the resonance thingy, and I certainly can't guarantee that the next repeat will be as blatantly monstrous, but if he's dead, we have to--"
"I think we need a couple of drinks." Chrysalis picked up the bell and rang it.
"What?"
"We'll probably be talking about this subject for a while, I don't want your throat getting parched. Oh, not alcoholic, of course, you're too young for that and I wouldn't want you to feel left out."
The teenager nodded. "I suppose tha-EEEP!"
"Ah!" Chrysalis turned to smile at the clean-shaven, muscular man who had just walked up behind her. "Hello there, dear one. Would you mind terribly getting me and my guest... hmm. Are the young folk still drinking lemonade these days?"
Twilight quavered behind her binder. "Th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th...."
"Oh my. You seem rather stressed." Chrysalis nodded. "Iced tea, dear one."
"Of course, Mother." The muscular man gave Twilight an odd look, earning a squeak of fright, before walking into the kitchen.
"Th-th-th-th-tha-th-th-th-tha-th-th..." She raised a quavering finger, barely pointing in the direction of the kitchen.
"Ut ut ut, miss Sparkle! You'll feel much better when you get some calming tea." Chrysalis smiled as the muscular man returned with two glasses. "Thank you, dear one. I am terribly sorry about our guest, she's just been under so much stress lately."
"If you say so."
"Now why don't you go back to your playroom? I promise, I'll be there just as soon as I'm done with this."
"Of course, Mother." The muscular man walked back down the hall, vanishing just as quickly as he arrived.
"Th-th-th-th-th-th-tha-tha-tha-tha-tha-tha-tha..."
"Miss Sparkle, please, drink your tea." Chrysalis nodded toward the glass, sipping her own. "As I told you before, you are perfectly safe in this house."
"That--that---" Twilight's eyes darted from the hall to the woman. "That--that--That was Tirek!"
"You're absolutely right, miss Sparkle. He was Tirek."
"No, I mean--that was Tirek! " Twilight whisper-shouted. "The ruler of Tauros, the, the modern day--and he--tea, I--clean shaven? Wait, you... was?"
Chrysalis rose an eyebrow as the teenager stared at the tea in front of her.
"...but... different color... chromelanin... Wholesome magic... telepathy. Oh sweet science." Twilight looked up in horror. "You mind raped him!"
"There's no need to be so crass, miss Sparkle." The woman put her glass down with a frown. "I assure you it was completely consensual."
"Consens--?!" Twilight gestured at the hall. "That?! He's... the beard--gone, and... butler, and... how is that even consensual?!"
Chrysalis shrugged. "He wanted my magic. I gave him my magic. The fact that it was laced with... shall we say, behavioral modification enchantments? Well." She smiled dryly. "I suppose we all have our kinks."
"You.... you can't... this is... how did you...?"
"Well, I won't deny it took some effort. I really must thank mister Pants at some point, his little stunt caused just enough chaos to put my deep-cover children just where they needed to be for this all to work." Chrysalis sipped her tea briefly. "As to the magics themselves, they were adapted from some spells I borrowed from Discord's Dusk files."
"Dusk... Sonata. The siren." Twilight sunk into her seat. "You... you planned this. Every step. You planned it all."
"It would be foolish to have no idea what to do when I got there."
Twilight looked up. "This is... this is wrong, you know. What you did, it's--"
"Miss Sparkle, let me stop you there." Chrysalis put down her glass. "I could say 'the ends justify the means,' you could say 'it's a violation of self to inhumane degree', and we could argue in circles till the cows come home. But the fact is, that's no longer relevant. What's relevant is simply that it has been done, and what you intend to do with the knowledge of my dear one."
"...Who else knows?"
"Hmm... Scorpan knows. Honestly, he was glad that I found an alternative to execution--Tirek might have been a monster, but he was still his brother. The Wholesome knows, this operation wouldn't have been possible without them--and given they joined me for completion, not many of them disapprove and those that do acknowledge its necessity. A few heads of state and secret agents from various countries... well, it would be hard to hide it, and quite frankly the situation was dealt with so cleanly they're willing to turn a blind eye. Mister Discord might very well suspect, given the files I took, but... well, given what his assistant did, and what Tirek did, I don't think he'll try to bring this up. Sunset Shimmer... I don't know if she knows, I don't understand how her vision of the world works, but somehow I suspect this is something too small for her to worry about."
Chrysalis brought her hands together. "You know, now."
Twilight looked at her. "Are you... are you going to wipe my memory or, or make me okay with this, or--"
"No, of course not! As I said before, what happened between me and Tirek, that was completely consensual." Chrysalis smiled gently. "You're perfectly safe in this house. And honestly, I see no need to. I won't even ask you to keep this secret."
"Wait... what?" The teenager gestured at the hall. "But--if this ever got out--"
"Let me spell this out for you, miss Sparkle. At the moment, the world thinks that the Wholesome, through blood and sweat and tears, managed to depose a modern day Fuhrer Lebensraum, freeing an entire country from his horrible reign. And that is completely true, and beyond that they don't really care about the details. Some people think we burned Tirek alive, others are suggesting it was a drawn out duel with epic laser spells, what matters is that to the public, we are heroes."
Chrysalis leaned back. "And to those in the know, well. To them, I'm the head of one of the most successful intelligence networks that they have ever seen. On the one hand, they can't know where my children are unless my children identify themselves, and I just so happen to have one of the most dangerous individuals this new world made at my beck and call. On the other, if they play nice I might be willing to give them information they couldn't get otherwise, and since I've only 'hurt' those who definitely violated human rights there's really no reason to try to provoke me."
She smirked at the teenager. "So go on, if you wish. Tell people how I... altered Tirek. Your friends might believe you--Sunset herself, if she's not already aware, might believe you. And the people up top? They'll make sure you sound like a conspiracy theorist, just to save their own asses. It helps that there are already conspiracy theorists claiming I 'mind raped' the man, that I've made him into a sex slave, trying all over the internet to get attention. And even if people do believe you... some will point at what Tirek did and say I was entirely justified."
Twilight gulped, staring at her with wide eyes. "...I... I guess... I guess I won't tell... anyone."
"That's an awfully kind gesture, miss Sparkle. Oh, don't worry, I don't intend to take over the world or anything like that." Chrysalis picked up her glass of tea. "Too much paperwork, and... well, such a blatant move paints a target on my back the size of the moon. I'd lose everything I worked so hard for, and honestly I have everything I could ever need."
"I just... I..." Twilight took a moment to straighten her glasses. Then, stiffly, she stood and picked up her binder. "Thank you for your time, miss Chrysalis. I should be going now."
"Do say hello to your brother for me."
The teenager paused, halfway to the door. "...How do you know Shining Armor?"
The woman smiled cryptically, swirling the tea in her glass. "Well... I think that's his story to tell."
Twilight stared at her for a few seconds. Then she shook her head, rushed for the door, and left.
Chrysalis chuckled to herself, draining the last of her tea. She took a moment to consider the glass in her hands.
"...I fucking love magic."
Author's Note
