Chrysalis’ eyes scanned over the documents before her, reading each line with a calm expression on her face. Inside however, a storm loomed, itching to burst forward and vocalize her fury at what she was reading. The provider of the document stayed in her seat, hands folded in her lap as she awaited the CEO’s response to what she had given her. The changeling businesswoman finished reading and brought two fingers to her temple as she tried to assuage her developing headache. Opening her closed eyes, she peered at the woman across from her and sighed.

Cryptic Veil, or simply Veil as she preferred to be called, was a normal-looking woman for her young age. The white button top and black business pants she wore, along with the bob of blonde hair atop her head and fixed wire glasses gave every impression that miss Veil was just another member of the crew and here to earn her own wages. However, Veil served a much more useful aid to Chrysalis than just as another cog in her extensive machine of business. She was one of the so-called “watchdogs” within her business, a way for her to keep eyes on suspicious or concerning matters. It helped that she could use her changeling talents to completely mask her true heritage and be just another face in the office.

“And you can confirm this with one hundred percent 100% certainty? There’s no room for a misjudgment here at this level,” Chrysalis questioned.

“I can, ma’am. There is no doubt of it. I have voice recordings saved as well, if you wish to hear it.” Veil replied, patting her business briefcase beside her chair.

“You can save it, for now. This...this is a problem.” Chrysalis said before pressing a button on her desk telephone to page her secretary. “I want Mr. Moore in my office, pronto. There’s an urgent matter he needs to be here for.”

“Yes, Miss Chrysalis.” The intercom clicked off, and Chrysalis settled back in her chair as her mind raced with questions on what to do. There were plenty of options, but there were things to consider. Questions to ask, routes to ponder, weigh the risk of murder versus complete corporate ruin. By the time a few more minutes had passed, and Moore had arrived, the only prevailing element going through Chrysalis’ head was utter irritation.

“You called, Chrysalis?” Moore’s voice brought her from her thoughts as she glared up at him. Even if her anger wasn’t directed at him, enough showed to make the black-haired man pause in his approach. “...Miss Veil, why does our boss look ready to throttle me?”

“We have a problem, Moore. A genuine problem.” Chrysalis growled out before holding up the documents she’d been reading since Veil had first entered her office that morning. As he read, she continued speaking. “Miss Veil here is one of my watchdogs within headquarters. She works as secretary to the board, and is otherwise seen as your typical nine to fiver within company walls. However, it’s her efforts and others like her that help me keep my eyes and ears aware when trouble tries to brew.”

“So imagine my surprise this morning,” Chrysalis continued, getting up from her seat to walk to the window, “when Miss Veil informs me that my board, a gathering of members of this company who helped me reach the status I have today, have taken a liking to the idea of trying to knock me from my seat.” She stopped as her fists balled at her sides. “These fucking pricks, after all I’ve given, all I’ve sacrificed, the blood and tears I’ve put into making this business thrive. They think it's wise to fuck with the woman behind it all.”

Moore hurried through the rest of the printed evidence, and then raised his gaze up to the changeling CEO. “From the looks of it, they’re wanting a bigger cut of the pie than what they’ve been afforded. White-collar greed at its finest.”

Chrysalis grit her teeth as she tore her gaze from the window and her reflection to a nearby hanging photo, her eyes glaring at the depicted persons within. Each of the persons photographed were the offenders in question, having grown with her company as she had, and not once had they ever been so brazen in opposing her. Sure, there were times her ideas ran afoul of their thinking, but she was the head for a reason. She could think better, act better, be better than any of them, and now they wanted to take that away from her?

The photo’s glass framing suddenly cracked, Chrysalis’ horn glowing as the picture was broken and thrown into the nearby waste bin. Turning to Moore, she let a small part of her relish the brief fear that played on his face at seeing her anger. It was the same kind of fear she wanted to see on their faces, to make them feel powerless before her. Her boiling anger began to simmer as her thoughts sought out a plan of attack, to solve this dilemma before her. The snarl that had twisted her lips soothed itself, straightening to a mere frown as the CEO moved again.

“This won’t stand. Not in my business.” Chrysalis said as she returned to her desk, staying standing as she rested her hands on the flat surface. “We need them gone. If it were the entire board acting against me, we’d be up there now, confronting them. But they haven’t amassed enough power yet to get what they want. Others are resisting the call to rebel, which buys us time to act.”

“How do they plan to try and oust you? They’d need some means of legal reasoning to force the issue.” Moore questioned, gesturing at Chrysalis with a hand. “They can’t just shove you out.”

“Veil explained to me that these old husks think they can fudge some of the numbers, and use it as a bluff to try and get me to cop out of the company and be removed. They think by playing it under the radar, they’ll slip their plan in unnoticed and spring a trap. Unfortunately for them, they’re messing with the wrong woman.” Chrysalis replied. “Removing them right now would only be a small-term answer. Whatever elements instigated the rebellion would go to ground, and wait for another chance. They’d have patsies ready to fall back on to scapegoat for them. We need them to expose themselves.”

Moore frowned. “You can’t exactly charm them either, if they’re dead set against you. They don’t want to work with you,” he remarked, bringing a hand to his chin. Moore kept his thinking expression as he studied her, “You don’t think its racially charged, do you?”

“No,” Chrysalis said before turning her eyes up at Moore. A grin etched itself onto her lips, growing more wicked as the idea that slipped through her mind crystallized at his words. “They don’t want to work with me. You’re exactly right. But someone else, instead. Someone who had a reputation of being, quote, ‘my business rival’, wasn’t it?”

It took Moore a moment to process the direction Chrysalis was suggesting. Folding his arms over his chest, Moore glanced at Veil, then back to the grinning changeling. “What, you want me to be some kind of double agent?” he questioned.

“Precisely. You have the perfect cover:” Chrysalis explained as she gestured to him with her hand, “the ex-business owner, pinned beneath his new boss’ heel, looking to get out and have his own share of things again. You’ve been disgruntled, irritated with the way the big boss has been running what was once yours. You want it back, so you’d jump in on any plan to get her out of the way and get what’s yours.”

“This sounds like something out of a dollar store hardback.” Moore replied. “How do you know they’ll buy it? I’ve been at this post for some months now. Kinda hard to sell myself as being irritated when I’ve raised no objections, filed no formal complaints.” He paused and glanced aside. “Well, no public objections.”

“Exactly. You’ve been keeping it under wraps, like the shrewd businessman you want to be seen as.” Chrysalis continued, stepping out from behind her desk to approach him. Stopping in front of him, she nodded at Veil, who had looked on in silence the entire time. “Veil here can rummage up a couple of false documents, if they come sniffing for evidence on you being legit or not. All you have to do,” she placed her fingertip on his shoulder, “is be a good actor and lead them on. Egg them into showing their hand, and then when they do,” she pulled her finger back and squeezed her hand into a fist, “I’ll crush them.”

Moore looked at her fist, then back to the woman’s confident expression. “You’re downright vicious sometimes, Chrysalis. This is gambling my entire career, my livelihood, for you. You’re asking an awful lot of me.”

“Take some credit for yourself, Moore. I might have come up with the idea, but I can’t enact it without someone I think can pull it off. You’re the perfect way in.” Chrysalis replied before lowering her hand to rest it on her hip. “So, do you think you can do this?”

“It’s kinda outside the typical job of an advisor, isn’t it?” he questioned, making her raise an eyebrow at him. “Don’t you have like, an internal affairs division or something? Someone trained on things like this?”

Chrysalis shook her head. “That’s a no-go. That’d turn the whole situation into a mess of ‘he said she said’, let alone all the red tape we’d have to cut through. By that time, they’d have their scapegoats ready and it’d all be wasted effort. Plus, I don’t imagine they’re far off from trying to enact their plan. This has to be shut down, now.”

Moore sighed, running a hand through his hair. Seeing that he was still unsure, Chrysalis shook her head and looked aside. “I wouldn’t be asking you if I didn’t think you were capable, Moore. If you’re going to pussyfoot the whole ordeal, I guess I’ll just have to try the long game, and hope I can keep this company together, since I’m the one with the backbone to protect it.” Turning away, she walked back to her desk, counting down from five in her head until she reached one.

“I have plenty of backbone. This isn’t just your company, Chrysalis, CEO or not.” Moore stated, and the woman grinned in her mind before turning back to find Moore staring her down. “All I have to do is convince them I’m on their side. Isn’t that it?”

“Shouldn’t be that hard for you,” the changeling challenged. “Just be the stubborn prick I knew you were before I hired you on. They’ll take right to you. Oppose me some in meetings, offer ideas contrary to mine. It’ll lay the bait for them to sniff around and warm up to you.”

“Hardly difficult, you being the slave-driver you are.” Moore muttered. Chrysalis let the passive insult pass over her to focus on the issue at hand.

“Pull this off, and you get to keep your spot in the company and keep us all in business.”

Moore huffed at her. “That’s not my reason to do this. But fine, I’ll do it.” He said.

“Whatever reason you have, just don’t give yourself away. They need to think you’re on their side. That means siding with them on matters, so be ready for some creative debate. Veil will be our go between in case anything of import comes up.”

“That won’t be hard. Just argue with whatever you have to say. A normal day in the office.” Moore replied, making Chrysalis smirk.

“Exactly. We’ll just see how deep this goes, and lead them right into our web.” Chrysalis settled in her chair, leaning back as she steepled her hands. “And by the time they realize it, it’ll be too late.”

Chrysalis’ plan went into effect the very next day, beginning the weavings of her counter-offensive to the board’s hidden agenda. With Veil’s assistance as secretary, it took little convincing to include Moore’s presence in her meetings with the board members. He had every right to be present, being a consultant, she argued. From there, the cat and mouse game between herself and Moore played out, Moore questioning Chrysalis at turns both expected and unexpected: challenging policy ideas, offering solutions contrary to her own, siding with other board members over herself. If anything, the genuine frustration she expressed at his acting only told her of his commitment to the role, an impressive display for their purposes.

Over the next few weeks, Moore gathered intel on the board, figuring out who specifically was involving themselves in the plot to try and oust her and who was staying loyal to her. It gave a degree of satisfaction to Chrysalis that some had been steadfast in their refusal to act against her, assuring her that at least not all of her staff were corrupted. With Veil’s assistance, the trio had compiled together written evidence and even managed to acquire the original, true documents that the board members were trying to make use of.

Chrysalis had to give them credit for doing their homework: they were trying to do some things by the book, in terms of removing her. From their adjusted figures, it would look as if the CEO had squandered company funds for her own use. They would reveal the documents at a summit meeting where every board member would attend in person. From there, they’d call for a vote on whether to remove Chrysalis or not based on the false evidence, and gamble on convincing the remaining board members on the fence to side with them so they could place in one of their own and get their greedy claws on more money.

It was a little sad, if she were upfront about the matter. Not emotionally sad, per se; rather, it was sad that these corporate fools thought they could outsmart someone of her caliber. Using Moore had been the perfect tool to get into their little group; he had played his role well, playing up the idea that he was still the suffering ex-business owner who wanted payback at Chrysalis for her hostile takeover of his company. The board members who wanted her dethroned reasoned he could have his business back once she was gone, and restore the status quo as it was.

Fools, Chrysalis thought to herself as she settled into her chair for the summit meeting, I control the status quo now. And I don’t take kindly to interlopers who get in my way.

Looking around the table, there was a total of twelve board members, excluding herself as CEO. Moore was stationed between Sherry Fourberie and Paper Ruse, his hands folded on the table as he awaited the meeting to begin. He kept a stony expression on his face, eyes to the table and away from her. Beyond him, a few of the other spare board members conversed in quiet tones. To her right, Heavy Racket tapped his fingers on his arm, seeming impatient for the fireworks he was expecting to bring up. ‘If only he knew.’ Chrysalis thought to herself before clearing her throat.

“Let’s begin this meeting, shall we?” she called, grabbing everyone’s attention. “I realize these past few weeks have been a bit tenuous, to say the least. Such things happen when a company as big as ours has such a reach as we do. Of course, I am always willing to hear any concerns or questions pertaining to our success or our course. So—” Chrysalis paused to lean back in her seat, crossing one leg over the other as she relaxed, “—for what purpose have we called this meeting to order? Has a new venture arisen?”

There was quiet for a moment, glances shared between several members of the board before Heavy Racket took initiative to speak first.

“Well, Chrysalis, it actually has come to our attention that there is a...matter, that needs addressing.” Racket said, turning his body to face her. He was a portly-looking man, round in the face and especially in the gut. His business sense had earned him a healthy amount of pay in the past, the changeling was sure, but it seemed none of that effort went to bettering his physical self, only his wallet and palate. “Which we can do now, since we’re all gathered.”

“This sounds like a negative matter, Mr. Racket. Did something happen that I haven’t been told about?” she questioned. Feigning innocence was easy for a practiced businesswoman like her: a simple shift of the eyes, a change in tone and posture, and she would look every part the unknowing CEO they wanted her to be. It was almost too easy to do.

“There is something that’s happened, yes. But it directly involves you, Chrysalis.” Racket said. That was twice now that the fool had addressed her incorrectly; in every meeting before this, the heavyset man would always address her as Miss or Mrs., but now his arrogance seemed to give him false courage. Letting this subtle insult fly for now, Chrysalis allowed him to continue. “We have been seeing some inconsistencies in our records, and we have decided, as a whole, to address them.” Racket cleared his throat, and nodded at Soft Schmaltz.

The bleach-blonde woman adjusted her glasses, her wings giving a small flutter behind her. Despite being a thin figure in contrast with the larger people around her, Chrysalis respected Schmaltz’s ability to cut to the chase in any conversation; her negotiation skills, in the early years of the company, had secured some of the first ties of success for Chrysalis and her business. “We have been observing for a few months now that company profits have been on the rise, thanks to your efforts, ma’am. However, there are numbers here that are not adding up.” Soft gestured to one of the papers in her grasp and continued. “There are pockets, here and there, of money going missing. Unaccounted for in our system save for last crossing your hands.”

“Really now?” Chrysalis replied, evoking a nod from Soft. “No trace at all?”

“None, ma’am. We were quite...befuddled, ourselves.” Soft said. “As you know, we don’t allow for slip-ups in any department, especially when it comes to our company’s well-being.”

“And so we shouldn’t. But I find it very odd for it to be my name attached to such activities.” Chrysalis said. “I may be CEO, but I certainly wouldn’t try to sweep such a thing under the rug. When did you say these instances happened?”

“They began in August, ma’am, and continued through to only just two weeks ago.” Soft answered. “The sum total amount of the missing money is quite staggering. We’re talking of thousands upon thousands being moved aside, not just mere pocket change.”

“We looked into who has permissions to shift such amounts of money, of who would have the authority to access the accounts and make those changes. The only people with that access are in this room.” Paper Ruse picked up, his nasal tone cutting through the stale air left by Soft Schmaltz’s elaborating. “All of it ties back to you, Miss Chrysalis. And we have no choice but to act in the company’s best interests.”

“That sounds awfully accusing, Mr. Ruse.” Chrysalis fired back. She let her irritation, buried beneath her calm outward appearance, fuel her tone into a cold voice. “An empty accusation only undermines the efforts of this company to do right by its employees.” The changeling turned her gaze on the rest of the table: only Moore was willing to hold her stare, while others directed their gaze to either beyond her to the clock above her head, or at the table itself. “If there is legitimate proof of these accusations, and not just hearsay, then perhaps we can consider action.”

“But we do have proof, Chrysalis.” Racket spoke up, braving her anger once more with his lack of proper address. He held aloft a stapled set of papers in his grasp, waving them as he spoke. “And the proof all points to you.” He sat the sheets down and let them be passed to the waiting CEO, who snatched up the papers and gave her best scowl at the written lies she knew them to be. Racket continued as she pretended to read, instead listening to the man prattle on.

“I’ve been waiting an awful long while to say this. We’re sick of you lording yourself over us, Chrysalis. Acting all superior even though you’re expected to cooperate with us, because we follow the law. We stick with the way things should be,” he continued, standing up from his seat. Chrysalis spared him a glance, still scowling yet humored on the inside at this show of bravado. “It seems you’re no longer fit to lead this company. You make a grand show of everything, of making us all see how terrific a leader you are. But your own greed has finally caught up with you, and the bill comes due.”

Chrysalis kept quiet for a moment, flipping through the documents given to her before setting them on the table before her. ‘Just a little more,’ she reasoned with herself, pushing back the instinct to simply shove the man’s tie into his own gullet with her magic, ‘they’re almost exposed.’

“Is there anyone else who shares Mr. Racket’s sentiments? It’s best you come clean now, and address your grievances with me, since that appears to be today’s sole purpose.” Chrysalis asked.

The room had been filled with tension as thick as stone at Racket’s outspoken words, but the changeling’s question spurred some to life. Paper Ruse stood up like Racket had, and cleared his throat.

“I have kept quiet for many years, putting aside any conflict to try and resolve things in a fair fashion. But Mr. Racket speaks the truth.” Ruse said. “You are not a fitting leader for this company, Chrysalis, not anymore. The you you once were isn’t the woman we see in that seat any longer. Quite frankly, we all think it's best you just go quietly and let us handle things from here. Since you’ll be spending a bit of time in jail, after all.”

Sherry Fourberie finally spoke up, the quiet black-haired woman adjusting her glasses.“You’ve ran this company for too long with an iron fist. Too many rules, too much power afforded only to you. We work to keep this company in proper order, while you bask in all the glory and fame. The prestige doesn’t belong to only you. We all deserve a fair take. One woman can’t run an entire empire on her own.”

Chrysalis stayed put, maintaining a calm expression as she listened to each of the guilty parties prattle on. The hand she had gripping the chair was tight on the armrest, her fingers turning white with the pressure. When Sherry had finished speaking, Chrysalis glanced to the far end of the table, where Cryptic Veil was seated. The woman had been writing as per her station required, but brought her gaze up to see Chrysalis looking to her. With a silent nod from the CEO, Veil pulled her phone from her handbag and tapped on it while the changeling stood from her chair.

“I can see that you’re committed to your purpose, you four. By the silence of the rest of our table, I gather there are others who either agree with you, or are too afraid to speak for my side in fear of their own position being threatened. I won’t fault you for that; protecting one’s investments is something we all must do. I too, despite your accusations, care about this company.” Chrysalis brought her arms behind her back, her hands clasping onto one another as she looked to each of her accusers in turn. “I have since I first began this path with you, all those years ago. To believe that I would jeopardize that for my own personal gain, to threaten what I’ve taken pride in building for much of my career, is to assume much about me.”

Chrysalis’ eyes hardened as her next words came out cold and angry, making even Moore - a silent onlooker throughout the unfolding drama - pause at the intimidating aura she projected. Her full height put her well above the rest of the gathered members, but it was the expression on her face, fierce upon her otherwise beautiful features, that drove the point home.

“Unfortunately for you, you assumed wrong.”

The doors to the meeting room opened then, men and women garbed in official Canterlot Police Department attire entering. They filed into the room, blocking the single exit out of the area and causing some of the members at the table to look around in confusion. Chrysalis only offered a dark smile to Heavy Racket as he spoke up.

“Someone already called the police?” he questioned. Chrysalis only chuckled.

“Of course someone did. That someone, is me,” she told him, making him baulk in confusion while she turned to the gathered police force. “Do what you need to, ladies and gentlemen. I’m sure they won’t run now that they’re caught.”

“Caught? You’re the only one whose done any wrongdoing, Chrysalis!” Racket exclaimed. “They should be arresting you!”

“And they would be, if I had actually done anything wrong. But you see, Racket, you and your conspirators made a few mistakes in trying to stage this coup of yours. Costly mistakes.” Chrysalis replied. “The first, and most obvious, was leaving your personal signatures attached to falsified documents of your making. Perhaps the most incriminating part, since its by your own hand. I mean, really? Trying to alter records that I personally oversee and inspect? Fudging the numbers to try and make me out to be some sort of illegitimate CEO? Pathetic.” She walked away from her spot, continuing to speak as she circled the table in slow steps.

“Of course, when I heard that some of my own board members were trying to stage this ridiculous attempt, I knew I had to act. I could have accused you directly, but that would only make you cowards skitter like the cockroaches you are,” she bit out. “So I needed a more effective approach. And what better way to bring the bugs out than with a little honey?” Chrysalis came to a stop behind Moore, who was still seated. The changeling brought a hand down to rest on Moore’s shoulder, making him look to it, then at her as she pressed on.

“I can’t believe how easy it was to get you to open up to Moore here on what you were planning. I almost found it laughable how much you were willing to confess. Much of which has been documented, if you officers require it.” Chrysalis told the closest police member to her while across the table, Heavy Racket sputtered.

“Moore! What is this bullshit?!” he yelled. “You said you were helping us! We were going to help you!”

Moore, to his credit, stayed collected and calm despite the bellowing man across the table. Steepling his hands, he looked over at Racket and answered the reddening man.

“I did help you. I helped you seal your own fates, for trying to enact corporate espionage and fraud on the highest level. I am capable of many things, Racket. I moulded my own business from the ground up, and even though it's no longer in my hands, I’m still proud of what I helped make it become. But more than that, I’m a man of principle. Asking me to betray my employer for greed like yours, is despicable.”

“You would’ve had Frostfire back in your grasp! We had a deal!” Ruse hissed from his spot. The thin man looked to be sick from realizing the trap they were now in. “Why stick with her? She stole your company from you, for sun’s sake!”

“She didn’t steal it. I’m the one who signed it to her, after all. If anyone’s going to be faulted for giving the company to Chrysalis, its me. And to be quite frank, it's doing better in her hands than mine.” Moore’s commentary made the changeling give him a glance, momentarily surprised at the honest endorsement coming out of his mouth. This was...different. “But more importantly, you tried to have me breach my morals, my beliefs, just to line your pockets with more wealth. You tried to bribe me, and have me breach my loyalty, my own ethics, just for personal gain. You brought this on yourself.”

Chrysalis picked up after he finished speaking, bringing the attention back to her. “Moore provided me with all the evidence I needed to justify not only firing you, but to charge you with multiple violations of federal law. You have only yourselves to blame for this.”

“You bitch.” Soft Schmaltz cursed, making Chrysalis scoff.

“Better to be a bitch than scum like yourselves.” Chrysalis peered down at the scowling woman, and let her anger come out. It manifested in her horn sparking to life, her magic responding to her emotions as a sickly green aura surrounded her horn. The light in the room seemed to dim beneath her rage as she spoke. “I have done nothing but worked for this company, bringing it my blood, sweat, and tears to lift it from the bare bones it had in the beginning. When you offered help, to try and shape our policies, our success, I took you in and we worked together to make this company be what it is now. And you have the audacity to claim it is I who is corrupted? Not once have I stepped out of line, never have I brought harm upon my employees. And now, thanks to you, I will not only need to find new board members to replace your miserable asses, but be prepared to explain to the public why key members of my business are facing charges. You, in your greed, have only brought your own demise out.”

Chrysalis bared her teeth, and lifted her hand off of Moore’s shoulder to ball her fingers into a fist. “You have no idea what it means to a changeling to break a loyal code, one you swore when you took up your posts.” She pointed an accusing finger at Soft. “Know this; your names will forever be marked for this offense. No matter where you go, your foolishness will follow you. You were your own undoing. As long as I’m around, none of you will ever set foot in my businesses ever again.”

By the time she was done, Soft’s expression had become crestfallen, and the changeling knew she’d driven the point home. “Officers; take them away. I want them charged to the fullest extent of the law.” She instructed, her magic ebbing away as she regained control over her fury once more.

Having kept quiet throughout the unfolding drama, it took the gathered police officers a second to realize they were there to do their job, and moved at Chrysalis’ urging. Each of the rebelling board members went quietly, though Heavy Racket struggled for a moment as he glared fiery daggers at Chrysalis while he was being handcuffed. Chrysalis let his glare roll right off her shoulders, watching with satisfaction as each of the arrested frauds were escorted out of the boardroom.

Watching them depart, Chrysalis sighed to herself and turned to walk towards the untouched refreshments left on the table. Picking up a simple styrofoam cup and filling it with iced water, she sipped from the chilly drink before turning to regard the remaining board members, as well as Moore and Veil.

“Mr. Moore, Miss Veil. Thank you for your assistance in helping prevent what could have become a scandal the likes of which could have ruined this company,” she said, getting a nod from the two before she spoke onwards. “As for the rest of you; your willingness to stand by this company is not something I disregard easily. Your loyalty to me over the likes of Racket and his ilk is well enough. That being said, your silence is also something I take notice of, because you did not choose to stand up for what you believed. If it came down to a majority vote, and you had kept your voice from being heard, I could have been ousted on false pretenses, and you might very well have been next on the chopping block.”

The remaining members of the board kept quiet, a few only nodding at her words. “Let today be a lesson for all of you. I respect effort, and hard work has its merits. But loyalty is one of the founding elements of our success. We must all work together, you for me and I for you, if we’re to continue being the best. So step up your game people.” With that, Chrysalis turned and walked away from the table, heading for the exit. The rest of the gathered board took that as her concluding the meeting, and they conversed amongst themselves in quiet tones. Chrysalis paid it little heed, aiming to find her office and to smooth things over with a small drink.

“Chrysalis.” Moore’s voice from behind her gave the changeling pause for a second as she looked over her shoulder, seeing her suited advisor following after her.

“Don’t worry, Moore. You did your part plenty fine. If anything, I was actually a little impressed with that rebuke of Racket,” she replied as she resumed walking, “You might have a bit more bark to your bite than I thought.”

“I meant what I said. I don’t take kindly to underhandedness. I’m glad he’s gone along with the others,” Moore said. He continued to follow the changeling into her office, and closed the door behind him once they were both inside. “Will this cause you much trouble? This whole sudden vacuum of members?”

“Hardly,” Chrysalis reassured him. “I’ve had Thorax scouting for new potential members to be brought to the table, so to speak. Since he handles many of our evaluations, he has the most experience in picking a new roster. I’ll go off his recommendations, and see what we’ll work with from there.” She paused to retrieve a drink from the mini fridge she kept near her desk, and looked to him. “Thirsty?”

“No, but thank you.”

“Suit yourself,” she said, plucking out a small glass and a simple brandy for her own liking. She returned to her desk, but settled for perching herself on the side as she poured out her drink into her glass. “You could easily fit in on the board. You’ve already had experience at the executive level. You’ve got your wits about you, and your loyalty to the company’s very clear now after today’s little show. Does it appeal to you?”

Chrysalis looked to the listening man and gave an amused smirk at his surprised expression. “Just like that? What about the other responsibilities you gave me? The other companies?” he questioned.

“Still within your grasp and still under your leadership. It’s more of an...elevation of status, than anything,” she explained. “Of course, you’d still work under my direction. But it’s a nice, cozy position. I’d feel better knowing I’d have you in my pocket if similar foolish notions ever arose again.”

Moore took the weight of her words entirely on his shoulders, and slid into a nearby chair as he looked aside. “Can I think on it?” he asked.

“Of course. I’ll need time to consider the applicants Thorax will be bringing me too. It’s only fair,” she told him. The buxom woman crossed one leg over the other as she regarded him, watching as he seemed to be weighing the implications out. “Are you really that surprised, Moore?”

“A little. One year ago, we were rivals in business, trying to gun the other down over profits and contracts and reputation. Now, you’re sitting here offering me a seat on your board, and just...its weird. When did we become friends?” he asked, turning to look at her again.

“Hm. Friends, huh?” Chrysalis repeated, sipping from her glass before continuing. “Jumping the gun a little, aren’t you? I’ve just been a cooperative, open-minded boss to my employees” she remarked. “Making use of an effective, efficient member of my team.”

“Just saying, in the past, you’d be more inclined to ignore me and watch us all scurry around before lending a hand. Nowadays, you actually listen to my ideas, like with the whole company event awhile back. And even trusting me to help with this whole coup attempt,” Moore said. Chrysalis arched an eyebrow at this, but considered his words.

It was a fair estimate to say that, gradually, things had changed for her and her once rival in the business race of life. He’d gone from annoying thorn in her side, to useful tool, and then willing partner in handling some undesirables from her company. Their company, if she was being generous. His handling of some of her businesses had yielded a great deal of success as well, enabling growth at a steady rate that meant less worry for her own sake. Overall, her addition of Moore to her staff had yielded nothing but fruitful returns.

“...Well. Perhaps friends isn’t so distant a word as I thought,” Chrysalis replied, letting her voice be softer as Moore watched her. “What’s your point?”

“...Why did you trust me with such a risky plan?” he asked instead. “That could’ve gone south in a lot of different ways. What if I’d gone rogue and decided to rally against you? Be the vengeful person they thought I was?”

“You wouldn’t have done it,” she answered, being truthful to his question. “I know you better.”

“But if I had?”

“Then I’d have ruined you.” Her frank reply made him frown, but she only continued to smile. “I always have contingency plans ready, Moore. But you’re not the kind of guy to do that kind of sleazy business. That’s why I didn’t worry about it.”

“I could have though, is my point. You’d have been removed and facing public scrutiny on top of dealing with the police. Then you’d have all the questions from everyone else here thinking you’d gone off the deep end, and unable to come to us for help without looking like you’re looking for collaborators,” Moore insisted. “It would have gone all kinds of south on you.”

“I know it would, if I was that kind of simpleton to just let worms dig through my garden,” she retorted, getting up off the desk to walk around to his spot. “But I wouldn’t allow that to happen. I already had the real documentation of our records on hand. Even if you swore by their fake documents, I would prove you dead wrong in a heartbeat. Not to mention I could squeeze one of the other cowards to talk and expose the bad seeds,” she explained before coming to a stop beside him. “But I know you, Moore. By now, I think I know you plenty well.”

“Do you now?” he asked, only to tense as Chrysalis’ hand came to rest on his shoulder again, her fingertips lightly tapping against his neck as she flexed her fingers.

“Sure. You’re a diligent, intelligent worker. Smart, savvy with our business and keeping yourself above the plebians. But that’s just stating the obvious. You’re like me in a way,” she explained. “You and I may disagree on some matters, but we agree where it does matter. And when it comes to betraying your business for your own selfish greed, we both agree it’s a foolish sentiment. You’re loyal to your work, and by extension, to me.” She smiled with a wicked stare at his blue orbs, delighting as he stayed tensed from her light touch. “And I do appreciate loyalty, Moore. Quite a lot.”

“...So you’ve said,” he replied, making her chuckle.

“It’s an important trait to a changeling. There’s a saying we all share that you might’ve heard before,” she replied, releasing his shoulder but dragging her hand along his back as she moved around to his right. “It’s better to be behind a changeling than in front of one. Do you know why?”

“Pray tell?”

Chrysalis smirked. “Because if you’re behind a changeling, then you’re not in our way for us to make our path. Rather, you can follow us, and live a pleasant life of your own while we’re ahead. Besides,” she turned and walked away, hands folding behind her back and resting just above her sizable rear, “I think many a man would be happy getting to be behind me, don’t you think?”

“Sure. Whatever you say,” he replied, making Chrysalis look over her shoulder to see him looking away from her entirely. It was just too easy to fluster him, she knew.

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I imagine a nice little celebration is in mind for us cleaning house today,” Chrysalis said, getting his attention again. “There’s a little gala coming up at the end of the week. The bigwigs of Canterlot get together and flaunt a little wealth while donating to charity. I always make an appearance, but you could be my plus one this year. Give you a chance to meet and greet some of the other big bosses out there.”

“You wouldn’t want to take Thorax or Moondancer?” he questioned, only for Chrysalis to shake her head.

“Those two are a bit boring to take. They end up either shying off on their own, or occupy themselves elsewise. I’d like to have someone be proactive this year and actually keep pace with me. Think you’re up for it?”

It took Moore a moment to ponder on it. She gave him time; the offer had slipped from her before she’d really thought through it. But it was true: Moore would do better in such a setting than Moondancer or Thorax would.

“...Alright, what the hell. I’ve got nothing else going for me that weekend,” Moore relented. “I take it formal dress is recommended?”

“Absolutely,” Chrysalis replied, grinning at his acceptance. “Make sure you clean up for it. I have high standards these days, you know.”

“As high as the damn building,” Moore muttered, though Chrysalis overheard it and only smiled wider.

“Damn straight I do.”

Author's Note

Chrysalis confronts rogue elements in her empire and secures her throne once more, with a little assistance from Moore. He's proving to be quite the useful ally to the changeling. Makes you wonder just what she might have in store for him, huh?

Well, you're gonna find that out next week! It's the final chapter, so maybe you can guess what that means! Till next time!