Chrysalis Adopts a Cat!
By: Erudite Muffin
Queen of the changelings she was. Queen of a whole legion of loyal followers that would follow her every wish. She was Chrysalis, queen of an army that had invaded this land of sunshine and rainbows—quite literally sunshine and rainbows. There was no land better for her changelings.
Yesterday, she’d been on the precipice of a life’s crowning achievement. She’d nearly taken the heart of Equestria—Canterlot had been conquered, ruling princesses overthrown, and military routed.
And today, now, she was queen of nothing. She had been defeated. She had been defeated not by force of arms, not by goddesses—she’d actually defeated one, that’d been one of the bright spots of her day. No, she hadn’t even been done in by some two-bit heroic protagonist on a cliché prophetic journey of self-discovery. Oh no! She was defeated by love—LOVE of all things! She couldn’t believe it. She ate love. She ate it for breakfast. She ate it for lunch. She ate it for dinner for that matter too.
Her emotions couldn’t be put into words. How can you put into words the equivalent of a banana slapping you halfway across the planet? She’d certainly rocketed across the planet after being so. Or well, almost.
Most certainly, she and all of her precious minions had been slapped away by a banana. That blasted pink barrier, full of love, had shot her like a rocket to the moon. She might as well been stuffed into an over-sized party cannon powered by Celestia’s solar magic. It would have been less embarrassing at least.
Though, it was a good thing she had wings then. It was funny. A lot of people tended to dismiss her wings. Perhaps it was her dashing good looks. In any case, they were rather strong, despite their frail holed look. And while her army had been sent flying off into the distance, maybe to the moon, she’d been able to stop and right herself.
Oh yes, it had been a most expert and exquisite course of action. She definitely planned on landing in the Everfree forest—straight into that hydra’s pool. She heard mud baths were good for the skin, especially chitin. And all that gunk and filth too…
Yes. She most definitely planned to wake the beast from his noonday nap. Being buried under mud all night couldn’t be good for one’s body, especially when hardened. Not that his body couldn’t just explode through it like paper machete, all those muscles and claws and sharp teeth…
Yes. She most definitely had planned on running. There was nothing strange about that. It was a carefully devised redeployment tactic, a forward advancement that had led her straight to a refuge where she could rest and recover. And the times she had hidden in those hollowed out trees while the beast rampaged around was most definitely not cowering…
Yes. It had all been planned to come here. This quaint little town called Ponyville, according to the zebra she had met on the way and stayed with for the night. No queen would sleep on dirt after all. And this, Zecora she recalled, advised her on meeting one Twilight Sparkle for lodging. She’d have to look into that.
Food would have to come later. To be honest, she didn’t much feel in the mood for any. She did feel a bit queasy… A bit it of a stomach ache… It did hurt quite a bit actually…
OK. So maybe the banana had less slapped her than punched her in the gut. And maybe, just maybe, she had… regurgitated just a little...
In hindsight, perhaps vomiting the contents of her stomach onto the lead face of that hydra wasn’t such a good idea. Hmm… maybe that was why it kept chasing her all day.
So, now, after a short walk and an invigorating empty belly she found herself at one bridge crossing in the midst of this fair town. It had been a perfectly dandy adventure so far after the… misfortunes of yesterday. The early morning sun shined gently upon her currently dark gold coat, showering the water beneath with dazzling diamonds. The cool flowing breeze wafted softly on her fur and caressed her brilliant brown hair, rippling the liquid below. Her light golden eyes closed as she inhaled the clean tasting air on her tongue and opened with determination as she exhaled.
She was queen of the changelings! As if she was going to let one bad day get her down!
“Things are looking up!” she said, puffing with confidence as she stood tall and proud on the arched bridge, the way a proper queen should, revenge hot on her mind. Fantasies that ended with she and her hive ruling over this land full of bright pastel colored ponies, dining on scrumptious love at their every whim, whenever and wherever. She raised a hoof to take the first steps towards achieving her ambitions when she noticed a shadow growing under her.
She looked up.
From high above, she watched fall the unmistakable form of garbage in all its putrid and reeking gloriousness. Thankfully, she had managed to close her eyes in the nick of time. Not that she cared for small mercies when they were doled out as condolence prizes. Tremendous quantities assailed her form, bathing her in smelly, rotten and disgusting garbage that seeped into her poor coat making her tremble and shake with a disbelieving fury. Oh, she was far too much. Her fore hooves slowly reached up to her head, both of them wiping the filth away from her eyes, two large clumps flying away from her.
A grey coated mare flew down to hover in the air besides her not too far away a moment later. She looked sheepish and apologetic as she threw a hoof behind her head, rubbing her golden mane in embarrassment. Chrysalis frowned at the Pegasus, sides threatening to dig into the earth, her eyes wide in shock and simmering rage covered by how inundated in garbage she had become. She bored into the golden haired Pegasus, several more of the vile black garbage bags in her other hoof. The grey mare opened her mouth to speak, likely a word of sorry, until she noticed the large fleet of wooden vehicles soaring farther and farther away from her. The mare took one last look at the poor disguised changeling queen, even more apologetic, and blasted off.
Needless to say, she’d have rather been acquainted with the town’s preferred method of garbage removal a far less imitate way. She positively reeked. She nearly hurled vomit at the stench that propagated from her. Good thing she already had yesterday.
“This day can’t get any worse.”
It did.
A small monster leaped at her. She was knocked over at the sudden impact, more due to surprise than actual force. Her surprise quickly faded as she tumbled onto the wooden planks, grappling and tangling with her assailant and dodging its deadly claws until she gained the upper hoof. She breathed deeply, chest heaving after she had waged a veritable war upon a country. Victory was hers! Her hooves lay at every corner the devil, locking the figure from escaping. And with her eyes she saw the pinned form of an utter beast of a—cat?
She poured her vivid light golden eyes over her foe. She scrutinized the features of her opponent; small body, orange fur, green silted eyes, white furred underbelly, 4 paws with sharp claws, a ragged scrappy appearance and most definitely female. Yes. It was indeed a cat, a rather undignified one at that.
They stared at one another blankly, one pair of eyes upward and one downward. The disguised changeling queen felt the pricks of eyes upon her form. Chrysalis slowly turned her head upward to discern her surroundings, checking to see if any gazed upon her.
There were no less than several dozen, no doubt in the process of their usual morning routines. She failed to hide her red checks, flush with embarrassment. They had likely been watching ever since that strangely eyed mare had dropped that pile of garbage. Seen it fall from the sky, seen it splash her beautiful figure, seen her waging war against a cat, and now seen her see them. They all stared at her as she stared at them.
“Well then,” she called out, a tad shakily. “Carry on!” They all started up again, moving on, while she lay still and almost melting. She heard the cat meow and she turned her head to look at the wretched beast still prone on its back, pointing up at something. Not that she cared anyways, she reeked.
She glowered, grunting in annoyance. Mindless of the cat, she departed down the bridge off to its side, the pristine water looking absolutely delightful as she trotted down and to the bank, the goop leaving a trail as she did so. She was about to dive into the small gently flowing river when a hiss and several painful pricks met her, causing her to yelp as several light scratches bleed from her hooves. She brimmed with anger as she turned around to look at the vicious beast. Now seeing the little monster in her full glory, the cat being ragged was an understatement. It looked utterly horrid.
She glowered angrily at the feline. “What? What do you want!?”
She didn’t need this little monstrosity on top of everything else. The cat meowed, pawing up at her, the sharp long claws directing up high to her head. She stared upward, her eyes turning up. She groaned. There it was, rotting and dead, a whole fish impaled at the base of her horn. There was a dead fish impaled on her horn.
There.
Was.
A.
Fish.
On.
Her.
HORN!
Why did that Pegasus even have such a thing in her garbage? She roared, clenching her teeth in rage as she wrapped the filthy thing with her magic and removed it with a wet plop, tossing it at the cat that pounced on it vigorously. Stupid beast had clawed her for a disgusting salmon. And all those ponies had seen all of that with a delightful crown on her head.
Perfect!
She grunted angry, turning and diving into the river with not a care for how ungraceful it appeared. Graceful was the least she cared about right now. The river’s cold stung her rigid for several moments as she dipped under, drowning her whole body under the pristine water. She rubbed her hooves vigorously at her form, trying to cleanse away every taint of that horrid smell from the garbage— her horn receiving special attention. She winced, feel the water clash against her still lightly bleeding wounds. She rose, dragging herself out of the flowing stream.
The cat, it was still there—why was it still there?
The feline looked at her expectedly as it sat on its haunches and meowed happily as it waited by the river for her. At its utterly horrid appearance, its mangy fur, the scrawny figure, and its long untended claws, she took one scrutinizing glance at it and her wounds. She weighed her luck. Maybe the cat wasn’t riddled with rabies or any other highly infectious diseases, maybe ones that were innocuous to changelings?
She sighed. She moaned in despair.
She looked at the cat, who stared waiting her next move. “Don’t follow me!” she gritted out through strained teeth, every syllable laced with venom. She trotted off, not a glance behind, seeking to leave this place of detestation. There had to be at least a few medical professionals in this town, likely a veterinarian or two.
The cat followed.
==========@==========
“Well, the good news is that the cat doesn’t have rabies.”
Chrysalis relaxed, sighing in relief as she sat on the medical bed, staring at the rather large needle filled with liquid before her.
“The bad news is that it’s host to more than a dozen other infectious, virulent diseases.”
The disguised mare gaped, eyes and mouth wide in shock.
“Not to worry!” said the veterinarian smiling. “I’ve already gave the cat the standard purification and cleansing treatment. She looks and probably feels like a newborn kitten.”
“But wha—what about this!” the changeling queen said worried, showing her hooves that hosted 3 caking wounds to the white coated mare. “She scratched me with those vicious claws of hers.”
“You don’t need to worry about those claws, they’re gone now.”
“I’m not worried about those!”
“I’m afraid you’ve already been infected,” the brown eyed mare said, condolences on her face that belied the glee in her eyes. “Not to worry, I’ve already informed the local hospital earlier, their sending a special little package to take care of that. It should be here shortly.” The disguised queen didn’t like the look that mare gave her.
“Great!” the worried changeling said unconvinced. Perhaps this would be a good time to ask. “So, do you know where I can find one Twilight Sparkle? I need to speak to her about lodging in this town.”
“Not to worry, Ponyville always has a few new or empty houses for arrivals like you. She’s the one who manages the town’s excess housing for those new arrivals. She lives in the town’s library, big tree carved house, can’t miss it.”
The hidden changeling nodded as the doorbell rang. She called after the mare as she trotted to open the door. “What does she look like?”
“She’s a purple unicorn. Light purple eyes with a dark violet mane that has a pink and purple stripe running through it lengthwise from head down,” replied the light gold mare as she flung open the door and smiled in evil glee at a not so small brown package. “Thank you so much nurse Redheart!” The door slammed shut before the delivery pony had even opened her mouth.
Odd, that did sound quite—
That’s one big box…
Chrysalis smiled nervously as the mare trotted up to her with a happy gait, a devious grin adorning her lips as she removed the packing and all, revealing a rather uncomfortably enormous cardboard box.
“You’re in luck, Twilight Sparkle just arrived not more than an hour ago back from Canterlot,” hummed the jubilant mare happily.
The box was put in front of her as the veterinarian popped off the lid. She gazed downward at the thing. It was a syringe, a massive one as least as large as her leg if not more so. A shining and massive needle glinted dangerously in the light. Connected to it was a cylinder full of a softly glowing liquid that glowed sickly green. She surmised the fluid was enough to make her stomach burst. Not that the pulsating of the needle reassured her in any way.
What matter of weapon was this?
She turned her head back up to the grinning pony, frowning. She cringed instinctively back as two hooves readied the spear that was to impale her, a light squeeze splattering the ceiling above her.
“Now relax, this is only gonna hurt more if you don’t,” the light gold coated mare smiled soothingly. The armed mare advanced on her, instrument of her death in hand, only to stop with a curious look on her. “By the way, I didn’t want to mention it. As a veterinarian, I’ve been privy to a lot of deathly smells, but even the reek coming off of you makes me want to vomit. Do you mind if I ask—”
“Just get on with it!” roared the changeling queen. An answer would have to come over her dead body!
And sure enough, the veterinarian did.
==========@==========
She limped heavily along the dirt path, groaning in anguish, body utterly sore as she kept her eyes searching for Ponyville’s library. She winced as multitude of colorful houses ornamented her vision, the trees and foliage adorning her path as she passed by ponies moving through the road. She had almost reverted back to her true form at the sheer agony that was the plunging of that massive pike into her belly. She winced as she felt her abdomen shiver in protest at the thought of all that sickly green goo filled her. The irony was not lost on her as she glowered along at the whole event.
But the day was only just beginning. She went over her next objective. Find a mare named Twilight Sparkle. She lived in a tree that doubles as Ponyville library. What did she look like again?
Ugh. Damn that infernal death surgeon. All she remembered was the blade that skewered hr belly and the pain. Oh the pain! All because of that blasted cat! Like that one in front of her, yes most like—wait what?!
“Oh, not you again!” she hissed, the current bane of her existence, the source of her most recent suffering impeding the path in front of her. She trotted angrily up to the blight, a scowl on her face as she looked down upon its now cute form purring happily in front of her as it licked its paw. It gazed at her, fluffy and clean orange fur, adorable whiskers and those charming brilliant green diamonded orbs, those—what was she thinking?! She shook her head.
“I’ve had enough of you. Shoo you mangy beast!” The cat didn’t move as it continued to stare appreciatively at her. She clenched her eyes in rage. “Do you not know who I am? SHOO I say!”
She picked up a nearby branch, a soft green glow bathing it as she raised it above and swung it down intending to smite the devil. The cat expertly dodged. She screamed in rage as she tried to club the beast in vein, the impudence of this little fur ball inciting her anger to no end. Finally she threw the stick, intending to impale the monstrosity, the dull piece of wood colliding with one of the feline’s legs making her nemesis retreat into the foliage around out of sight.
Only now did she notice the stares she was receiving by ponies passing by. No doubt thinking she was crazy. “YYYEEESSS!?” she called out to them through gritted teeth, her anger flowing out of her every breath. Her eyes focused and followed on a pedestrian that approached her with a light trot. The hour glass marked stallion stared back as he passed by. “And what are you looking at!?” she yelled venomously, her gaze exuding hate enough to melt ice. The poor pony cringed, running off frightened to escape her wrath.
She puffed in satisfaction, hooves moving as she continued on, a strange yet familiar tingling not too far off. She couldn’t put her hoof on it.
But she knew for certain she was being watched.
She turned her head. Ponies, houses, trees, the foliage, the clear blue sky, the sun carrying out its daily arch, the faint sound of leaf and branch rustling, nothing—wait a second. She narrowed her eyes, her head slowly returning forward, speeding back not a moment later to see nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps she was being paranoid. Perhaps it was merely the wind.
Taking one last scrutinizing look, she turned her head, and carried on.
Not much later, it appeared in the distance, a great towering tree of oak at least 4 stories that oozed character from its very pores. Bright red double doors lay at its bottom center. A multitude of windows of different shapes and sizes littered its form. Balconies scattered among the heavy thick branches, a telescope at the very top most platform. Foliage and flowers adorned the entirely of its being. It even had a beehive on one side. It looked like a miniature pony emulation of the great towering hives that her people build right into the landscape. Her opinions of this mare grew a fair amount. She certainly had good taste. Not like the rest of these ponies and their completely artificial constructions. Even she had to admit that her rivals, the princesses of this land had rather good taste. Their choice of dwelling consisted of a capital build right into the very mountain it lay on after all.
She stopped by the double doors, obnoxiously bright red. This should be it. She tapped the door with her hoof, several loud thumps banging off it.
“Just a second!” uttered a voice, rushed and breathless.
Huh.
That was strange.
The voice sounded familiar.
What did that veterinarian say she looked like again? She stared forward, absently thinking even as the door swung open to reveal pitch blackness. The changeling queen trotted forward. It was something about pink? Or was it dark violet? Blast that witch and her pike. She shivered as the phantom pain assaulted her. Ugh. What was her coat again…? Ah! Purple. She had a purple coat. Yes… A purple coated unicorn. Light purple eyes with both a pink and dark violet stripe. She reached deep into the blackness, not caring that the door had swung shut ominously behind her as she stopped in pitch blackness.
She compiled image in her mind, feelings of familiarity washing over her. Just where had she seen such a pony before…? Wait! Wait a second—just arrived back from Canterlot—it couldn’t be!
It couldn’t be that damned—
“SSSUUURRRPPPRRRISSSEEE!”
Chrysalis leapt into the air like a cat, her fur bristling, her eyes widening as she screamed in surprise and shock at the sudden flashing brightness. It was like Celestia had thrown the sun itself into her eyes.
She quickly lowered herself into a defensive stance, hissing and snarling with nonexistent fang and claw, ready to take on the horde of the pastel colored vermin that appeared around her even as she winced from the brightness. Her eyes darted wildly around like a cornered cat, eyeing each and every pony that surrounded her, orbs settling on a band of 6 mares— Twilight Sparkle. The one who had foiled and ruined her plans! The one who had utterly annihilated everything she had worked for!
Of course!
She should have known it was too easy! They had set up an ambush for her. She knew it! Her luck couldn’t have possibly been that horrid. The hydra in that lake! That zebra! The garbage! They had humiliated her and stuck a fish on her horn! So that cat would assault her! To then lead her to that veterinarian who had stabbed her viciously in the belly with what was likely a poisonous cocktail that would surely kill her. And to make sure the job was finished, they oh so deliberately led her here into a trap to ensure her demise! That blasted cat was likely spying on her the whole time, reporting her movements! She hadn’t fooled any of them! They had all been watching her ever since she had entered town and reached that bridge!
It all made sense to her now!
Well, she wasn’t going to go down that easy! She was the queen of the changelings! And she was going to eliminate every pastel colored beast she—
Confetti exploded in her face.
…
Confetti just exploded in her face.
She stared blankly, stunned.
As it landed on her nose, her eyes caught sight of a banner that read “WELCOME TO PONYVILLE!”
A part of her was relieved. A part of her wanted to smack her own face for thinking such contrived and inane reasoning. Another part of her just wanted to explode at how things had really gone so wrong.
Ok—maybe her luck really had been that bad.
Chrysalis sighed annoyed as she eased herself. She regretted it not a moment later when a familiar orange cat tackled her, catching her off guard as it knocked her down as it meowed in victory. She scowled, gritting her teeth as she righted herself, throwing her hoofs in the cat to strike the bane. The fur ball leaped off, dashing and disappearing off into the crowd. That same tingling feeling entering her senses again. She could feel it scurry around the room. Just what was it again?
Around her, ponies around chuckled in amusement to her chagrin at the sight as they began to start the party in earnest. The mare known as Twillight Sparkle began to trot up to her as she recomposed herself. “Welcome to Ponyville!” said the jubilant purple mare excitedly, stopping before her. “We’d been told you’d be coming.” The purple pony laughed. “Well, less told than knew a new pony was—OH, by Celestia, what is that horrible smell!?” The purple mare lifted a hoof to her face, recoiling back in disgust.
She groaned—funny how she was doing a lot of that lately. In all the cities, towns, villages and dwellings of this land, she had to coincidentally be in the one with those same damn 6 ponies at the wedding—one Twillight Sparkle at that. UGH!
She sighed defeated. This was going to be absolutely fun.
==========@==========
“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh YES!” moaned the changeling queen as the hot steaming water washed over her figure, flowing in and around every nook and canny of her body. She hummed in delight as the reek slid down her onto the tiles and into the drain. She hadn’t even transformed—not that the bath was built to her natural regal proportions anyways. No. First and foremost, she was going to rid the horrid smell that seeped into her—a nice hot shower as a queen of her stature deserved. She closed her eyes, letting her mind go blank, basking in the wonderful feeling of finally being clean once more.
Things hadn’t exactly gone swimmingly during the quick late morning party, and though the party wasn’t fit for a changeling queen of her caliber, things had worked out well enough. She did acquire shelter, even if it paled in comparison to the luxury and opulence of Canterlot. It was a modest two storied house, but it did have a basement where she could plot and plan. She smiled wickedly. Yessssssss… Now she would be able to—
“Meow.”
…
Did I just hear a meow?
Her eyes widened as she listened carefully, ignoring the showerhead that sprayed her with the hot soothing liquid. A meow struck her ears again. No. She had not imagined it. It was that infernal cat again! How did that blight even get in here!? Her eye twitched, rage beginning to gush from her. She calmed herself. She would deal with that vermin as soon as she finished showering.
“Meow.”
“Meow.”
“Meow!” She shut her eyes.
“MEOW!” She plugged her ears with her hooves.
“MEOW!!” Her eyes trembled.
“MEOW!!!” Her eyes exploded open with rage.
THAT WAS IT! The shower could wait. She was going to utterly obliterate that demon plaguing her. She turned off the water, not yet even half-finished and still not cleansed of the taint. She wiped herself with a white towel vigorously and quickly as she maliciously dashed to the sound of this abomination. Out of the bathroom, down the steps, and turning round at the door at the base of the stairs, she entered the living room. There the orange mangy blight filled her eyes as it lay there on the soft couch, eyeing her lazily. How dare it stare at her like that? The arrogance! Breaking and enter at that! She was going to make it pay! That cat would rue the day it crossed her!
Chrysalis tossed the infected towel away, forgotten as she walked threateningly up to the diminutive soon to be victim, that same strange tingling poking at her senses once more. She paid it no mind, the last thing amongst her thoughts as the anger coursed through her. At her arrival, the cat yawned, leaping onto the ground to sit on its haunches in front of her on the rugged floor. It looked at her, an expectant look that told her it wanted food and perhaps a scratching to boot.
Her eyes narrowed in rage at the display as she lowered her head to look that cat eye to eye. “All right you insufferable mangy fur ball. I want you out of here! I want you gone! I want to never see one hair on your white little belly you whelp! Or so help me I will absolutely destroy you!”
The cat itched itself with a hind leg as it sat, staring blankly at her with lidded eyes, unafraid.
“Did you not hear me?! I said I wanted you GONE—OUT THAT DOOR!” She pointed a hoof at the door behind her, her limb shaking in utter contempt. Her eyes boiled over with rage as her teeth clenched hard. She nearly popped a vein.
The cat meowed, bored.
“AAAAAAARGH!” Chrysalis felt her face finally burst into a raging inferno of utter scorn. “DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO I AM!?!” she screamed as she rose to her full height, eldritch green fire consuming her form as she returned to her true state in all her divine intimidating majesty. “I AM CHRYSALIS, QUEEN OF THE CHANGELINGS!”
At the sight of her true figure, towering over her, covered with dark black chitin, two large fangs and equally sharp teeth accompanied by a wickedly jagged horn and those demonic silted emerald eyes, the cat did the only reasonable thing it could do. It yawned, scratching itself once more with its paw, a tired look that yelled, “Not impressed.”
The now revealed queen stared, eyes wide at the cat, which merely moved its body as if shrugging. She could see in the feline eyes an utter bored tiredness, orbs lidded as if saying, “I’ve seen better.”
The changeling queen snarled, hissing at the impudence of this calamity that had befallen her. She tilted her horn back as she darkly smiled in glee. Her horn lit, charging with a slickly green magical glow as she summoned up her little remaining energy to smite the demon. Her pupils shrunk to pin pricks in delight of the joy soon to come from the riddance of this pest ever more.
The bell rang.
Her eyes widened, magical energy dissipating as her head turned to the door.
…
The bell rang again.
She returned her eyes to the orange fur ball beneath her. Both looked at each other blankly.
“Don’t move.”
She trotted over to the mahogany door as she quickly returned to her assumed disguise. She inhaled and exhaled a deep breath, the spitting image of happiness returning to her once earth-ending rage.
She smiled as she swung open the door. “Hello, what can I do—” Her smile wavered as she saw a pair of alabaster royal guards, golden armored and forms oozing seriousness. They did not look happy. She sweated slightly, gulping mentally, hoping they hadn’t heard her tiny outburst. “What can I do for you good sirs?”
“Good afternoon ma’am. We’re—Oh, by Celestia, what is that smell?” cried one of the royal guards, a hoofing raised to cover his nose as he recoiled back. His fellow compatriot didn’t look any better.
“Oh I assure you fine gentle-ponies that it’s nothing.” said the disguised changeling through a gritted smile, predicament momentarily forgotten.
The guards coughed, working up their wills to withstand the foul stench. The guard on her left continued, a bit shakily. “Very well then. Are you the one named Honeydew?”
“Yes.” She didn’t like where this was going.
“You’ll have to come with us.”
She gaped, quickly recomposing herself. “Why?”
“I’m sorry ma’am, you may not have heard yet but a species of shape shifters called changelings have attacked the Capital Canterlot no later than yesterday. By royal decree of her highness Celestia, all new residents of every village, town, city, or other within 1 week must come in for questioning and testing to nearby designated locations such as Canterlot.”
She steadied herself. It was ok! FINE! This could manage this!
“Of course, naturally, birth and citizenship records, ID, social security, as well as any and all other forms of documentation must be brought along,” continued the guard stoically.
CELESTIA DAMN IT!
She nearly sweated bullets, not noticing that the cat that had pestered her so had trotted up next to her. What could she could? She was tired, low on magic, and even a twinge of hunger picked the worst moment to voice itself.
“And furthermore”—the guard on the right lifted a drawn picture of her, devilishly beautiful and a malicious laughing grin on her visage—“the leader, queen Chrysalis, the changeling who led the invasion of Canterlot is still at large. So I hope you understand and appreciate the severity of the situation and come with us ma’am. You’ll have to come with us to Canterlot immediately. ”
A tense silence stifled the air. Two guards stoically waiting for her reply, one disguised changeling queen calm but nerves cracking and threatening to break.
…
“Meow!”
They all stared at the cat that purred soothingly against the changeling’s leg, the cat’s green diamond orbs gazing from picture to disguised changeling queen. Chrysalis bored into the eyes of the cat, recognition beaming from them. Her eyes returned to the guards whose faces curled into smiles at the sight of the small and cute feline. It seemed they had a thing for cats. She could use this! She quickly returned a quick glance at the cat that had never ceased staring at her.
Unspoken words went between the two. In an instant, the little orange ball of fur jumped on her, hugging tightly on the head, as if never wanting to be separated from her ever again. She pretended to cringe, shying away from the guards.
“I’m sa-sa-sorry. B-but, Canterlot!? Why I’ve never been to a big city! Why I’ve lived in small villages all my life. Ponyvilles the largest settlement I’ve ever been too! Why Can-Can-Canterlot!? The home of the princesses themselves!? Oh—I’ll just die!” She whimpered, stepping back as the guards sighed.
“Ma’am. We assure you that this is all merely all formality,” said the guard to left kindly, holding out a compassionate hoof.
She cringed back even further, frowning even sadder if possible. The cat on her head leaned forward prominently connecting eyes with the royal guard.
And suddenly, the pony had an epiphany. “By Celestia,” he breathed as he stared into the features of the cat. “Swift Wing, there’s no way this pony could be a changeling,” he uttered hypnotized.
“What are you talking about?” asked his compatriot, skeptical, eye brow raised. “You can’t just say that all of a sudden and ignore protocol.”
“Awww, come on, there is no way this fine young mare could be a changeling, especially the monster queen herself”—Chrysalis's eye twitched—“I mean just look into the eyes of this little guy, there is no way a changeling could have a cat so adorable!” the royal guard said, looking as if he were about to die from cuteness. “Just look into this little guy’s eyes.”
The guard promptly picked up the cat with his hooves, shoving the cute little creature right into his comrades face. His fellow royal guard looked into those adorable green eyes, which widened and glistened as he stared into them. The cat’s form curling in on itself as its fur bristled. It was as if the cat had taken on a majestic quality, radiating sunshine pure distilled cuteness.
She meowed adorably as it tapped the guard’s muzzle right on the nose. It was as if Celestia herself descended from the heavens and told the guard then and there. And even knowing better, Chrysalis dare say she’d maybe been swayed herself.
“By Celestia. You're right!” said the guard, mind blown. “I’m terribly sorry ma’am. We’ll get out of your hair. You have a great day now!” He left, waving as he and his companion left without a single regret—utterly and totally convinced. She smiled in goodbye, a bit in disbelief that they had bought such a half-baked act, even waving a hoof at the two rapidly disappearing forms that waved back happily.
She slowly closed the door with her fore-hoof, staring and smiling blankly forward as the door closed with a small thump. Her head slowly met the felines which promptly shed all pretenses as it looked back up at her. The female looked smug as it licked itself on the paw and ran it through her head as if saying, “piece of cake”.
They watched one another for some time, in which neither said a word.
“I guess I was wrong about you.” said the changeling queen, and if possible, the cat’s smugness grew a thousand fold.
==========@==========
“All I need is this litter box then? You’re sure?”
“Oh yes. Cats are very hygienic,” said Fluttershy enthusiastically, showing to the changeling queen the various things she would need to take care of her cat—a litter box, kitty litter, brushes, a collar with a leash, some shampoo for a few rare baths as well as cat food—as they relaxed on the floor in the pony’s living room. The queen had expected taking care of a cat to be a bit more work. Knowing that orange feline, she wouldn’t need half the things here.
“Cats don’t need much too—just a little care and affection,” said the shy pegasus. “They make fantastic companions.” Her white bunny assistance who stood off to her side frowned as she uttered the words. A white leg kicked her in the hoof. Those cyan eyes looked down into the orbs of her bunny friend. Fluttershy smiled placating as she rubbed her hoof shyly. “Oh. Of course you’re the best a pony could ask for Angel. Can you be a dear and check on all our friends for me, and make sure they’re all ready to sleep after dinner tonight?” The bunny wasn’t convinced but seemed satisfied by the answer, nodded and ran off.
The pink haired pony continued on. “Of course, you’ll have to walk her.” She pointed at the collar and leash. Chrysalis peered past the mare to the stray that had so boldly imposed itself upon her. The cat lay upon a comfortable green couch snoozing and yawning every so often.
Chrysalis nearly snorted. “I don’t really think that’d go too well with my cat.” The mangy fur ball did what she wanted. Not that she could imagine herself doing something as mundane as walking a cat. “So, the litter box, all I have to do is just fill this box up with kitten litter? And put it down somewhere?”
Fluttershy nodded delightfully. “Oh, she’ll do all the work. You just need to bag and toss it out after.” The pony pointed a yellow hoof towards the shampoo. “And you don’t even need to bath her often either. Cats will keep themselves clean as long as you give them a good home. Maybe even as little as once every several months.”
The changeling queen nodded, her ears perking at the sound of creaking floor boards and the very slight dull thuds emanating from the stairs a ways from them. She turned her eyes to the sound, a white collared cat descending the wooden steps, coming into view slowly.
At the sight of her movements, Fluttershy turned for a quick glance. “Oh that’s just Opal. She’s Rarity’s cat. She’s here for the afternoon. Rarity absolutely can’t have any distractions, she’s really stressed. After doing the dresses for Princess Cadence’s wedding, she’d gotten so many orders for her dresses from all over”—the mare’s face turned a slight shade of red and practically squeaked—“she thought I’d do a good job.” The pony nearly hid her face with her hooves in embarrassment at the self-praise.
How did this shy pegasus manage to stand up to her ferocious changelings again?
The changeling queen looked blandly at the yellow pegasus. What was the pony expecting her to say? Good job? That Rarity’s dresses were great? They were alright. But—it wouldn’t hurt. She put on her best smile. “Oh, I’m sure they’re positively fabulous! Why, I’m sure they’re suited for a queen, not for someone like me who can’t afford a single dress.” Not that I would ever wear such things—ugh.
“I’m sure Rarity would love to make a dress for you if you ask,” murmured the shy pony softly. “She’s always has time for her friends.”
“Oh, there’s no need for that…” laughed the disguised queen. Perhaps this was fortuitous. What a boon it would be if she could worm her way into their trust, some of her greatest enemies. She smiled inwardly, devilish. Oh the possibilities!
She continued on discussing matters of cat care with the resident animal care taker, the events in the background unfolding in her eyes. The white furred cat plopped to the smooth wooden surface with an arrogant air. It had the most obnoxious purple ribbon on its head and a sickeningly pretentious opal encrusted collar. The cat held itself up with an air of regality, trotting conceitedly to her idling and purring orange feline, waiting right at the bottom of the green couch. There, the rather plump ball of fur stood awaiting some action that would not come as the resting orange feline lifted a lazy eyelid up and gazed down at the pompous cat. It rapidly closed shut, continuing to snooze contentedly.
The walking corpulence eyes narrowed. In one swift motion, Opal jumped onto the soft green mattress, parallel to one another, righting herself so both cats faced the same direction. Body in hand, the cat puffed itself up as weighing great profound judgment and sentence and promptly bumped her resting euphoric orange ball soundlessly off. The orange cat awoke with a painful thud, looking up at the white fur ball with shocked wide eyes and mouth gaping as it looked around, disbelieving what had happened. Eyes bored into one another—one demanding apology and one condescendingly saying no. A flick of disdain of a purple-ribbon head ended all attempts at diplomacy. That was all that was needed for the orange cat to pounce on the pretentious feline.
And the battle ensured.
“I see, and about that—” Her eyes left the shy mare in front of as war raged across the room behind. Her face shook with rage as the image of her cat bleeding from a light swipe of its face met her orbs.
“Oh Opal No!” shouted the pony next to her, running to stop the fight.
Chrysalis stared on, slowly walking toward her own victimized feline, plans already forming in her mind to spell the demise of her new nemesis. Her eyes shrunk to pin pricks at the sight of this white ball of fat. She was going to murder that cat! No one did that to someone that belonged to her. No one! Arriving to the wincing orange cat as it pawed at its wounds, they both looked into one another, silent agreement passing between the two.
Retribution would be swift.
“Ohhhhh! Oh… I’m so s-sorry,” cringed the poor butterfly marked mare as she met the changeling queen, head bowed in shame. “T-This is a-all my f-fault.” The pitiful mare teared up, sobs already leaving her.
Chrysalis put a hoof to the pony. “Oh, Fluttershy dear. None of this was your crime.”
“B-But it’s my entire fault…”
“No, it’s really not,” said the changeling faltly.
“It is!” cried the yellow pony, sobs and tears gushing from her.
“Fluttershy. Don’t cry,” said the changeling softly as she embraced the mare. “Now, if you would only tell me where Rarity lives, I’ll have all this straightened out perfectly…”
“…Really?”
“Mhm. And on second thought, I’ll take your advice about seeing her for those dresses.”
“Ok,” said Fluttershy quietly, wiping away her tears as she smiled softly, happiness already returning.
The disguised queen beamed a winning grin to the already recovering pony that belied the insidiousness raging through her to avenge the wrong upon her, and her cat.
==========@==========
“No. Not like that! Like this!” roared the regal changeling undisguised. Chrysalis snarled, baring her fangs and sharp teeth. Her blade like green orbs widening and pupils dilating to razor sharp diamond as dangerous hisses left her. The Cat snarled in return, hissing and throwing out its fangs, raising its body in a threatening posture, imitating her.
Chrysalis clapped her hole-ridden hooves in joy, smiling deviously and hissing in delight. The next time that blasted ball of fat—what was that name again—Opal, yes, Opal would rue the day she crossed her cat.
And that meant doing what she loved, plotting and planning. She had to admit, the basement of her new temporary dwelling wasn’t too bad of a substitute for her old lairs. This was good. Things hadn’t worked out lately. And perhaps she needed to get back to her roots, the very beginning. Start from the very bottom again—back to basics.
And that meant starting with the demise of a cat—scheming in this basement.
Nothing wrong with that, it was a perfectly fine place to start again.
The basement was a perfectly legitimate substitute for a new base of operations. The concrete floors and walls were very… very fine and… very concrete… The mishmash of scattered and worn cardboard boxes was quite the ornamentation. The wooden ceiling was quite… nice. And that light bulb dangling from the ceiling was quite luminous—a wonderful lightning implement!
It was just as good as Canterlot and all the luxury thereof. Just as good…
She sighed. Had she hit rock bottom?
Maybe revenge, especially on a dumb cat, wasn’t becoming of a queen of her level…
She looked at her feline, 3 wide and sharp wounds, red and freshly caked.
Oh who was she kidding? Of course it was! She was going to get revenge. No once crossed her! Not the pony princesses, not the ponies under their rule, or even a stupid cat. Excusing present company of course.
Chrysalis lifted a red cat collar, so graciously gifted to her by Fluttershy, enveloping it in a green levitating glow it, resting it in the air in front of her. She looked at the cat to the collar, and from the collar to the cat.
“Don’t suppose you’d mind?”
The cat meowed, shaking its head at the collar.
“Can’t picture it on you anyhow.” She tossed it away, behind her among some of the other doodads the previous resident had left behind.
“Alright, let me see.” She lifted a cat paw to her eyes, peeling back the fur. She had her suspicions. True enough, the once sharp claws that had slashed her were flat and blunt, gone and done with by that blasted veterinarian. No wonder her poor cat had lost to that sack of fat. Oh well, they’d grow back in time. And she could definitely use this. “You remember the plan?”
“Meow!” said the cat, nodding vigorously.
Chrysalis bent down, eying the caked wounds healing on furred cheek. She widened her mouth in front of it, a light spray of green liquid coating the wounds. In moments, the injury was fresh and bleeding again. “Excellent,” grinned the changeling. All it would take was a little anti-coagulant to make the image complete. Yes. That blasted mangy fur ball Opal would pay and pay dearly. It would rue the day it had crossed her.
“COME CAT!” She gestured a hoof out to the cat below her, the cat leaping onto it professionally. She held the cat high, next to her face with her holed hoof as she laughed manically, roaring evil bellows booming from her. Behind her, nonexistent thunder and imaginary lightning boomed and crackled madly behind them, the room darkening as if thunderous clouds blotted out the luminous artificial sun overhead. A maniacal joy overtook her as she threw back her head still roaring maniacally.
The orange feline quickly followed suit, imitating her actions, mouth wide and head thrown back but stopped after several moments to stare at the changeling queen as Chrysalis continued unabated.
Chrysalis stopped, feeling the eyes of her cat upon her. She turned her gaze to her partner in crime who stared at her, one eye raised and another squinting at her, as if to ask, “Evil cliché laugh? Are you serious?”
“What? You can’t finish scheming without an evil laugh.”
The cat was unconvinced.
“My mother taught me that.”
==========@==========
They both stopped by the purple door to the Carousel Boutique. The night was adolescent, the stars rising from slumber and the moon shining brightly down upon the world beneath. Cat and changeling looked at one another, nodding and smirking in recognition to each other of the plan to come. Ever so gently knocks rang from her hoofs as Chrysalis tapped the door softly, thuds breaching the calm quiet air of the early evening.
A few hoof steps approached the door. Clicks and clacks sounded and the creaking of the door followed to reveal a white coated unicorn, azure eyes and a mane that spoke meticulous. A tired but pleased expression adorned her. At the sight of her, she perked, orbs widening ever so slightly in recognition.
“Honey Dew?” said Rarity, tossing the door open. “Come in, darling. What brings you at this hour of the eve?” The diamond cutie marked mare stepped aside to let the surreptitious queen in. She had not a clue of an orange feline slipping in and right under her nose and tired eyes.
Chrysalis obliged, trotting in and taking in the sights of the mare’s home and place of business. Not impressed in the slightest. “Thank you Rarity. Fluttershy suggested I talk to you about some garments, something of a quality enough for a princess… or queen.”
Rarity pondered the thought as her hoof closed the door. “Hmm. I suppose I’m in need of a break.” She stepped up to the furtive queen, motioning towards the kitchen. “Come! I’ll brew us both some delightful coffee. Goodness knows I could use a cup. And I’m guessing you as well, if half of what I heard today had a hint of merit.” Rarity batted her eyes knowingly as she cantered ahead.
Chrysalis bristled a tad, flashing a quick strained smile as the pony ran ahead. As if she needed to be reminded again. Wonderful, these ponies were never going to live this down.
She grumbled as she walked forward, sparing a quick glance back. Her agent tip toed silently along the floor, seeking her target out. A small twinge crept on her face.
She passed by a small door onto her way into the kitchen, peering through the door leading to what she surmised was the mare’s workshop. Inside laid all manner of things—cloths, machinery, precious stones and diamonds, incomplete and complete projects—that were scattered arbitrarily and chaotically. The pony definitely was inundated with work. But what caught her disguised eyes was that fur-ball of a cat snoozing fat and plump on the bed. Her eyes momentarily narrowed. It was fitting that such a ball of fat would soon be eating just-desserts.
“Have a seat darling. I’ll have two delightful cups of coffee readied in just a moment!” the mare hummed as Chrysalis entered the immaculate kitchen.
Chrysalis nodded with a pleased smile that belied her insidiousness as she took a seat at a spotless table watching interested at the show in front of her. “So, I hear that business has picked up as of late because of the wedding.”
“The bride and the groom weren’t the only things on display you know. Every pony there saw my designs,” said the mare in joy as her magic went to work. Light blue glows springing up all around the kitchen of various objects—cups, coffee grinder, and a moderately sized bag of coffee beans—while the pony sung a tune under her breath. “I had thought after that changeling debacle, fashion would have been the last thing on any pony’s mind. But imagine my surprise when just after the wedding I already started getting offers by ponies from all corners of Esquestria!”
The mare could barely contain her glee, clopping her hoofs together in delight, as she popped open the zipped bag, bringing out dark, luscious and beautifully pungent beans that delighted the changeling queen’s olfactory sense. Her mouth began to water ever so slightly, though she quickly caught herself. A queen does not drool after all! Into the coffee grinder those beans went, the loud grinds of the machine a minor thought to the sheer orgasmic smell unleashed, hot wafting velvet goodness reaching her nose. She was never one for coffee, but this was coffee fit for a queen.
As the changeling ruler waited in anticipation, she couldn’t shake off a nagging curious thought. The pony here was one of the few that had seen her in all her regal majesty. “I heard that these changelings had a queen. What did you think of her—of this Queen Chrysalis?”
Not a moment later, a small ding signaled the finishing of the hot and delicious brew. Two cups led the vanguard of the mare approaching her, a thoughtful visage on her face as she composed her thoughts. She settled the steaming cups at opposite ends of the table as she seated herself, one for herself and one for the hidden changeling in front of her.
“Well…” began the purple hair curled mare as she took a sip.
“Well?”
“She did do some very despicable things. Namely kidnapping Princess Cadence, locking her away with little or no food considering how horrid she looked, violating Shining Armor mind, trying to conquer Canterlot and presumably the rest of Esquestria after. She caused anarchy and mayhem all over the city, injured many ponies and the list goes on.”
Chrysalis took a quiet sip of her own, trying to look unassuming.
“But…” The fashion designer took a thoughtful drink. “Even though it doesn’t exonerate her actions, I think I can understand her reasons at least. I believe she was doing it for her people at least. And with family of my own, I can understand why she was so antagonistic. Goodness knows how far I would be willing to go for my own sister.”
Chrysalis took a long drink of her own, honestly unsure how to respond. She was genuinely befuddled. She had expected a long of things, but certainly not sympathy or forgiveness for her invasion.
“So do you think she’s evil for the crimes she committed?”
“Oh heavens no! Where did you get that idea? ” Rarity chuckled. “I think the last thing a person such as her can be called is malicious.”
The disguised queen, a bit nervous, chuckled mirthlessly, “Nowhere—nowhere at all.”
“Though I have to say, she herself looked quite beautiful in an exotic kind of way.” Chrysalis perked ever so slightly at the compliment, struggling to conceal a blush threatening her cheeks as she drank once more the delicious brew. “Why, she was positively”—Chrysalis smiled with preemptive delight—“dreadful. Absolutely dreadful.”
The disguised queen spit her coffee all across the floor, coughing.
WHAT?!
Rarity promptly went to assist her, deeply concerned, “Honeydew? Are you alright dear?”
“Oh yes! PERFECT!”—she waved the pony off with a hoof—“Some coffee went down my throat the wrong way is all. Oh please—do continue.”
The pony levitated a towel to clean up the spill, “As I was saying. She certainly had a beauty to her. But her aesthetic sense was a complete wreck.”
My aesthetics are a complete wreck?! “In what way, do you mind if I ask?” replied the changeling with a strained smile, heavy ridges forming from the effort.
“Well as I was saying, she certainly had an exotic beauty but she had no fashion sense whatsoever,” stated the mare matter of fact. “The princess—Chrysalis I now know—criticized my designs scathingly. Why, as the chief architect and maker of the dresses for the wedding, I had been so concerned about whether I made a mistake or not that I hadn’t once stopped to consider that maybe the changeling queen had—and it all made sense once Chrysalis revealed herself.”
The disguised changeling raised the glass of the soothing liquid with her unnoticeable shaking hooves, trying to mask the anger forming on her lips.
“All the times I met with her, and how she wanted to change this and change that. To be honest, it was frustrating but I had kept quiet—despite my concerns and reservations about what she wanted—since she was the princess and it was going to be her big day after all.”
The white coated mare sighed in relief as she paid the supposed pony in front of her no mind, said pony’s lips glued to coffee mug.
“In hindsight I was worried over nothing,” laughed the element of generosity. “Why, it was obvious in reflection. I mean, you should have seen the armor her changelings wore—absolutely horrid. It was as if Chrysalis was trying to imitate the Royal Guard. If I were her, I’d make armor more suitable to accent their ferociousness and threatening image, something proper. Those double breasted plates and helmet? Ugh. They looked like they foals trying to play royal guard.”
What? That wasn’t true—well half true—she was trying to make a statement. Besides, her changelings loved the armor she designed. Of course, none but her commander’s wore it. But they would have been wearing it anyways even if she hadn’t forced it onto them. Everyone said it was too heavy for general use. And they had all told her they loved it! It wasn’t as if they were saying that! NO! She was the queen. Of course they wou—
DAMN IT!
Chrysalis drank the rest of the hot coffee in one go, slamming the cup not too softly onto the table, startling the pony in front of her. She looked none too happy, eye twitching ever so slightly.
“Are you ok, dear?”
“Fine. Rosy. Dandy. Perfect!” replied the queen. “I’m just perfect!”
“Well enough about that dreadful creature, let’s start talking about—”
"MrrrrrrrrryyyyyAAAAAAIH!"
Both heads turned to the sound, coming from Rarities workshop.
“Opal dear?” cried the pony, rushing towards her creative sanctuary, Chrysalis right on her tail.
They both ran into the workshop, standing side by side as they were met with a ghastly picture. The entire room looked as if a hurricane of epic proportions had swept through the place. It was a disaster zone. The limbs and heads of the mannequins lay scattered around, their victimized torsos lying murdered on the floor. Ripped cloths scattered around like the life blood of the tools and machinery that lay toppled and spilled everywhere. Plans and blueprints, the scribbling of ideas and bout of inspiration, all were shredded to pieces like confetti.
But worse of all were the dresses—a complete tragedy. Everything, from conceptual beginnings to lavish and luxurious finished works, all ruined. The effort of an entire days work, from morning to night save the short welcoming party earlier, obliterated.
Rarity gaped at the sight, words chokingly trying to spew out of her. She levitated one of her beloved dresses to her, the ghastly sight nearly bringing her to tears as the poor thing finally gave way to its innumerable puncture and claws marks, the pieces falling to the ground.
“Th-Th-This is—I can’t even—worst—I—im-imag-imagine—how—thing.” Rarity slumped to the floor too shocked to even stand, dazed and eyes wide. Her brain had shut down.
Chrysalis’s cat stood off to the side, pretending to cower as out of a pile of dresses popped a clawed paw. The next moment Opal shredded her way through the large tangled pile, popping out with a scowl to see the both of them looking at the feline. The cat’s eye widened, caught claw and paw and all in the scene of the crime. Mouth opening as if to speak, the Persian feline gaped shocked, looking down and side to side, then up once more to stare into the glazed eyes of her owner unable to formulate an explanation.
The delirious pony, for her part, was too much in a stupor to respond, head bowed and incoherent ramblings uttering under her breath.
Chrysalis put a hoof on the mare’s shoulder. “Oh Rarity, I’m so sorry! My cat followed me from home!”
Rarity looked up, eyes glazed over. “Huh?”
The orange conspirator walked over to her changeling queen mastermind’s side, looking despondent and diminutive. “It seemed they had a massive fight.”
Rarity looked at the cowering orange creature, claw marks from late afternoon still purposefully fresh. The cat meowed sorrowfully and apologetically. The pony shook from her stupor, disaster temporarily forgotten at the sight of the tiny red rivers flowing from what appeared to be 3 ghastly wounds.
“Oh, you poor thing!” she cried as she harried the cat with her hooves. “Let me have a look at you.” As she went over the mewing cat, she stumbled across her paws, claw-less and blunt. “Claw-less…” she uttered softly, eyes widening. “Claw-less… claws…”
Her eyes narrowed in realization. “OPAL!” she gritted through her teeth hotly. She rose to her 4 hooves, shaking like a volcano ready to burst. Her eye twitched heavily as she faced the changeling with a strained smile. “Honeydew, dear, I’m afraid we’ll have to continue another time.” The curls of her purple hair bounced as she rapidly shoved the disguised queen into the front of the boutique and out the door, dropping her own orange feline right on top of her back with a plop.
Chrysalis turned around to face the malice that oozed out of the pony’s every pore. “Sorry, but now is not a very good time anymore.” Rarity laughed mirthlessly slamming the door. “OOOPPPAAALLL!!!” cried the mare, the sounds of angry stamping trots echoing in the air.
Chrysalis looked down at her cat—they both grinned at one another.
Mission success!
==========@==========
They both walked the streets, the evening turning to midnight. The deep eve stood quiet under the watchful eye of the moon and the starlight raining from above Esquestria, save for the small thumps of the single changeling and the cat besides her. Not a pony crossed their sights, the cacophony of the bustling day gone save the few lights that shined golden yellow from vigilant houses, lights that flickered out one by one as peace and rest took hold over the quaint little town.
Chrysalis trudged along silently, eyes, body and all tired from a long day’s adventure. The euphoric feeling of victory had disappeared a while ago, replaced by a somber despondency as things began to sink into her. Small pangs of hunger began to make themselves known within her. As a changeling, it wasn’t anything unusual, but it was annoying nevertheless.
Trotting along, she stopped as the sole building still fully lit went pass her. She took a moment to take in the fact that it wasn’t an actual life size ginger bread house adorned with frosting and chocolate and a cupcake on top. Although food never took away the hunger and couldn’t be used as a substitute, it did do things for one palate and mood. And if nothing else, it did make a changeling feel full, if artificially at the most.
She sighed. She could use some cheering up. She looked at her companion.
“In the mood for sweets?”
“Meow,” nodded the cat, wounds caked a black red once more.
“Alright then.”
Maybe she could manipulate the pony into giving her some sweets with her tact and guile.
She yawned. Or maybe she could just do an IOU. Yes, on second thought that sounded a lot easier and much less tiring. Not that she wanted to tempt fate, not after things were going quite fine.
They both walked up the steps into the blinding yellow light, her eyes wincing from the sudden brightness. The sight of the shop didn’t surprise her, full of bright candy themed decorations as it was. How could she be? Whoever lived here seemed like they were trying very hard to make the walls and roofs out of sugar. She spied the emptiness, a paranoid feeling welling up within her. Stools and stands empty with only crumbs as silent vigils. She walked up to the counter, a shiny bell lying suspiciously on the wood table top. She took a scrutinizing glance around but the entire area was devoid of any save herself and her feline companion.
She tapped the bell. A soft ring echoed.
She waited several moments. Not an answer.
She tapped the bell once more. Not even an inkling of a response.
She took another suspicious discerning glance around, and turned around. Bit odd, but looks like there was no one ho—a pink head violated the space in front of her head. Why was there a pink head violating the space in front of her head?
Their noses almost touched, eyes staring at each other, for a moment...
The pink pony talked. “HI!”
Chrysalis yelled—not screamed, yelling was undignified, queens don’t scream after all—as she stumbled, tripping over herself as she backed up from the head that she had turned right into. She propped herself on the counter, heaving from lack of breath from the scream—no, yelling, she had done. Her cat looked on, amused as she calmed.
“How did you—I didn’t see anyone out there!”
“I was in the back—behind the house!” smiled the pink pony.
“Uh huh…” murmured the changeling queen unconvinced. She watched wearily as vibrant pink bounced up and down, around and over to behind the counter.
“Sooooo—WHACYA HERE FOR?!” beamed the pony in front of her.
“I am in need of food.”
“Welllllll… were pretty much out of everythiiinnngggggg…” replied Pinkie Pie down, until she perked up, joy lit in her eyes. “OH WAIT—almost forgot!”
She rushed back behind two double doors to the rear of the business, until she emerged not a second later, two cupcakes on a silver platter. She cantered over to the counter, a jubilant gait in her step as she laid her acquired goods down in front of both of them.
They were both a black chocolate, dark cerulean frosting swirled to a peak that was topped by a decorated and diamond green leaf that looked oddly like an eye... Behind that, small black half-crown adorned it.
She gazed suspiciously at the pony in front of her, pink face covered with a smile that never changed and never wavered. A phantom pain sprung up in her belly, familiar and not the pains of hunger as she was used to. Perhaps she was being paranoid.
“They’re on the house!” said the pink pony delighted.
“Really?”
“MHM! One for you—and your cat!”
She scrutinized the bouncing ball of pink in front of her. She literally was bouncing in front of her, her pupils flowing up and down in rhythm with the pony. Was this some kind of message to her—a warning?
“So they’re free, no strings attached?”
The pink ball laughed. “Oh course silly! They’re a gift.”
“But why?”
“Why not?” giggled the pony. “WESOLDOUTEVERYTHING!
"EVERYCAKETARTMUFFINBROWNIECUPECAKEANDCAKE—EVERYSUGARYSWEET!
"Everything but these two! So why not give them to our newest bested friends in the whole wide world!!!”
She was a bit speechless at the sheer energy coming off the pony. Perhaps living and working in a in what was very nearly sugar did that to a person.
“Ok…”
She backed away, slowly, turning and departing out the door without another word. Behind her, the levitated cupcakes followed wrapped with a soft green glow.
“Bye Honeydew!”
She looked back to see a pink hoof waving vigorously in the air. What had just happened?
In the moon-lit darkness, not a while later with not but a few windows left lit in the darkness, they stopped by a bench to rest and relax, a small momentary detour in their journey home. Chrysalis and her cat plopped on the bench, dull ungraceful thud characterizing her sitting and the cat jumping onto it without a care. She set the cat’s cupcake in front of the feline, while she held hers in her hoofs, fiddling the delicate dessert as she gazed morosely at it.
Now in the dead of night, the day over and with nothing else to distract her, not the ponies and not the pastel colored land around her, she could think clearly. It was time to take inventory and she didn’t like it one bit.
She stared blankly at the cupcake, that single silted green lead staring at her.
What was she doing? Here she was, dilly dallying and frolicking in trivial inanities. Yesterday, she had been at the top of the world, the apex of what she had ever achieved. She had it. HAD IT! Victory was hers. And moments later, it was lost, all because of a moment of presumptuous stupidity. Slapped away like a foal. And now she lay here after a moment of triumph against a cat—a damn cat! And she was proud of it?! Proud that she had won against a stupid animal. Had she fallen as low as to think such a petty victory be worth mention, so joyous of such an occasion while her changelings lay hurt and scattered, likely desperate for her return?
Yesterday, she had fought against Celestia, bringer of the day and co-ruler of Esquestria.
Today, she fought against Opal, bringer of fat, sovereign of the kitty box and cat.
And now after utter humiliation from the equivalent of a banana to a pony, barely any magic, and no course of action, she laid reveling in satirical mockeries where she should have been working hoof and fang to do… something, anything! Not this! Not feasting on a stupid cupcake!
She scowled in anger at herself. Stupid! Moronic! Idiotic!
She raised her cupcake, high and smashed it all over the floor, glowering with rage, only to regret it, as her belly rumbled at the sweet treat murdered by her. Wonderful, now she had even smashed her cupcake. She had to grudgingly admit, it did look somewhat… good.
She sighed heavily, useless anger evaporating. How was she going to pick herself up from this? How was she going to—
“Meow.”
She turned to the cat next to her. The feline pushed its own cupcake towards her, that strange tingling sensation again. Just what was it?
“Meow,” spoke the cat, comfortingly.
Chrysalis pushed it back. “Really, I’m fine”—the changeling pointed to her ruined cupcake—“I didn’t want it anyways.”
The cat pushed it towards her once more, swishing its head and body the other way, refusing the return.
“Look at me, taken pity on by a cat,” moaned the changeling queen softly, grunting in annoyance. She had to admit, it did look a bit appealing…
“Fine! But I’ll only take half,” comprised the disguised changeling quickly. She divided the cupcake in two with her magic, one half going to each of them.
She chewed hers slowly, as did the cat, both of them not speaking a word to one another as they ate in silence.
“Thanks,” murmured the changeling queen grudgingly, feeling her belly fill. It was strange. The annoying pangs of hunger really had gone.
Why it was as if—
Her eyes opened wide in recognition.
COULD IT BE!?
==========@==========
Chrysalis swung open her bedroom door, trotting in tiredly as she threw herself onto the mattress, planting her face down that would make a brick weep with envy. Her horn glowed soft green as two small clicks signaled the closing of the door and subsequent lock. The windows were shut tight and curtained. The room was secured. Except perhaps for a unicorn teleporting in or a pegasus crashing through the walls or an earth pony knocking the door down. Not likely—not that she cared for the slim possibilities anyways at the moment.
She released her form, sighing content as she relaxed fully on her bed. The soft sheets felt wonderful upon her chitin—even if they weren’t the silk she was accustomed to. She could even have almost ignored the weight that had jumped onto her back… almost.
She flipped herself over, staring at the form limp in the air surrounded by her trademark green glow. “What? What do you want now?”
“Meow,” replied the cat, pointing towards the bed and pillows.
“Oh.” She went over it for a moment. She sighed, why not. The cat would probably just annoy her anyways. And she wasn’t about to zap the cat to oblivion anymore. Funny how things change fast, like yesterday… She shook herself of the thought. “Alright then, come on.”
They both delved under the sheets, both heads resting on the pillows at the top of the bed. The cat purred comfortably as the orange ball snuggled into her form. She blushed ever so slightly as she inadvertently wrapped both of her holed fore hooves around the content mass.
“Uh… So, you’re a stray huh?” mumbled the changeling embarrassed. Why exactly was she snuggling with a cat again?
“Meow,” nodded the feline in agreement.
“And I’m guessing this is your first day here too.”
The furry head nodded yes.
“And I suppose you’ve been down on your luck too.”
“Meow,” replied the cat somberly.
Her feline bent her head up as it pawed at her legs, staring into her eyes. “Well, I can’t keep calling you cat forever. Not if we’re going to live together. Hmmm...”
“How about Daffodil?”
“Meow,” replied the cat, shaking its head.
“Daphne?”
“Meow.” Another no.
“Oleander?”
“Meow,” replied the cat dull and annoyed.
“Don’t look at me like that. I don’t see you coming up with anything,” replied the changeling grumbling. “Hmmm…”
“Pupa?”
“Meow!”
“Cocoon?”
“Meow!”
“Imago?” The cat gave her a funny at her funny look.
“MEOW!” Her cat hid her head in her paws.
“What? They’re perfectly good changeling names,” laughed the changeling queen. “Wanted to see if you’d like them, only an idiot would use such blatant names.” She scratched the chin of her feline with a holed hoof, the cat purring in pleasure. “Well, just what do you want then? I’m not about to call you some dainty name like Opalescence or Buttercup just to mask myself amongst these ponies.”
She snorted in amusement. It was funny. Just not this morning, she had fought a scrapple with this cat and now she was in bed with the mangy fur ball choosing a name for her. All because of a salmon, blast thing was nasty and gooey on her hor—
Salmon.
“Salmon… Sa…” mumbled the changeling. Her eyes widened in an epiphany. “…Sam!” Well, that wasn’t too bad, not bad at all. She looked at the cat snuggling her. “What do you think of Sam?”
The cat meowed happily.
“Alright, Sam it is!” Chrysalis said joyfully, feeling once more the unconditional love from her cat as she chewed delightfully on it. Sam wasn’t Shining Armor and the love she devoured couldn’t come close to the goddess defeating amounts he had unwillingly given her. Neither was it enough to fuel her ambitions. But the unconditional love this cat had for her true self and not merely a persona was delectable and savory in its own right, in ways even better than the love she had gained from Shining Armor. It had been a long time—she had nearly forgotten—but this cat had reminded her.
It was funny. All day along she had been eating from this little cute creature that had stuck by her even despite her attempts to destroy the scrappy feline. Chrysalis intensified her scratching, much to the cat’s delight.
Chrysalis blinked sleepily as she tucked herself in, Sam snuggling even deeper into her, the both of them already dozing off.
Tomorrow was a new day. She may not be able to do anything for her changelings in the short run, but first, she was going to scrounge up some bits. Then she was going to the spa—for relaxation purposes to come up some new schemes of course. Maybe visit that pony Fluttershy again about proper cat care—to keep her conspiring Sam in perfect condition for her conniving indubitably. Then talk to that mare Rarity about where to get her coffee—to aid her in her diabolical plots naturally. And then she would restart her ambitions plans to reconquer—on second thought, before that, her changelings had to answer a few questions about her artistic sense. And maybe she should—
Hmm… now that she thought about it, perhaps she could put the whole conquering thing on hold for a while. Take some time off the whole villain thing too. And perhaps she was worrying too much. She was sure her changelings were fine. They weren’t mindless drones incapable of independent thought. They could think for themselves and survive. Not to mention she did have a rather large to do list that a full time occupation of villainess left little time for.
Yes. She deserved a vacation. Villainy was so tiring. And she was queen of the changelings. Of course she was going to have a vacation! She couldn’t remember the last time she had one.
It was settled.
Chrysalis drifted to sleep happy. Tomorrow was shaping up to be perfect as it could be, though she hoped it wouldn’t start out with another pile of garbage dumped on her and a fish impaled on her head again.
Actually—now that she thought about it, it didn’t seem so bad at all.
