Dark Alleys, Bright Hearts

I suddenly awaken, finding myself surrounded by grass. I sit up, glancing around, until I see Mark already standing.

He pats off his cloak, looking at a stitched tear through the front, “Shit... she actually did do it.”

I look at my own carapace and cloak, seeing a scar and stitching on them. I frown, “That she did.”

He sighs, “Well... we aren’t going to sink to her level, Chrysalis. Right?”

I nod, “We won’t. Unless if we have no other option, Celestia will be alive when we’re done.”

He smiles slightly, “Good. I don’t want another death on my hands.”

I step closer, shaking my head, “There is no death on your hands, Mark. I killed the guard, not you.”

He sighs, “I could have stopped you.”

I frown, “Mark, you had no fucking idea I was going to do that. You couldn’t have stopped me. So stop blaming yourself.”

He looks at me, “Well, I can’t blame you. I feel like you didn’t do it, so I’ll blame myself.”

I shake my head, “Mark... Chrysalis did that. And you know what? Fuck Chrysalis. Chrysalis is a bitch, a cunt of the highest order who brought her children to death. So, fuck her, I’m not going to be her anymore. As of now, Mark, my name will be Love. The proper me. The true me.”

He smiles, “Seriously? You’re changing your name permanently?”

I nod, “Sure, why not? I know I did what I did, and I’m never going to be able to take that back. That guard is dead, my children are dead, so many stallions are dead for no good reason. I was a fucking monster, and I will fully admit that. But now? Now, I don’t want to kill. My worst enemy, the one who deserves it the most, I’ll show her mercy. I’m not Chrysalis anymore.”

He nods, “Well... good job on coming to this realization, Love. Honestly, most wouldn’t. They’d continue on, thinking they’re right, never questioning themselves. The fact that you are actually thinking really makes me respect you more than I did before.”

I smile, “Well, that’s good to know. So, what’s our plan?”

He grins, “Well, I’m going to go find Kindness and tell her everything. Hopefully that will convince her to confront Twilight. I don’t know what you can do, though.”

I pause, “I think... I might go talk to Honesty. If anypony would hear me out, it would be her.”

He nods, “Sounds like a good idea. What say we meet back up at the tavern?”

I smile, “Sounds like a good idea.”

He grins, “Awesome.” He holds out his hand.

I look at it, “I don’t know what this is supposed to mean.”

He smirks, “Smack it.”

I raise my hoof, smacking his hand, “Like that?”

He nods, “Yeah. That’s called a ‘high five’. It’s used in a lot of situations.”

I smile, “I like it.” I hold up my hoof.

He smacks it, “Alright, now you’re learning. Let’s get going, though.”

I nod, spreading my wings and taking off.

I quickly orientate myself, and set off towards the nearby Apple acres. Quickly, I spot a shaking tree.

I land near the tree, seeing a familiar orange mare kicking another. The apples cascade down from the tree, and into the buckets under it.

I clear my throat, “Miss Applejack?”

She pauses, not even turning around to look at me, “Chrysalis.”

I nod, “Well, I prefer to go by Love now, but yes.”

She spins around, and glares at me, “Princess Celestia said you were dead.”

I nod, “She was correct, I think I was dead for a few seconds. I can’t say for certain.”

She frowns, “What are you doing here? If you try to hurt my family-“

I raise my hooves, “I mean no harm, Miss Applejack. Seriously, I am just here to talk.”

She shakes her head, “Why should I trust you?”

I shrug, “You have no reason to. And I’m not asking you to trust me. I don’t deserve your trust, I don’t deserve anything from you. But I request that you just listen to me.”

She pauses, “Fine.”

I nod, “Wonderful. You see, Miss Applejack, I just want to apologize for what I’ve done to you. The Canterlot Invasion was a terrible thing, and I’m sorry it ever happened, and that you were ever involved.”

She raises an eyebrow, “Why tell me this?”

I sigh, “Because, Miss Applejack, we’re similar in one important way. We both know that family can drive us to rash decisions.”

She pauses, “What’s the Invasion got to do with family?”

I shrug, “All Changelings are related. Every changeling there was my child, birthed and cared for by me. We were starving, and dying. So I did the only thing I could. My neighbor was rich with food, yet unwilling to share. So, I decided to take it by force.”

She frowns, “Celestia would have given you love willingly.”

I shake my head, “Miss Applejack... it’s sad to know that you truly believe that. You don’t know her like I do. You don’t know what she’s done. What she did to Mark.”

She raises an eyebrow, “Mark?”

I nod, “Yes. For millennia, Celestia and Luna have been kidnapping aliens from their homes, and have convinced them to breed with them. They then used these hybrid children to breed races so they may subjugate their enemies. Mark is simply the last in a long line.”

Applejack shakes her head, “I don’t believe you.”

I frown, “Miss Applejack, you are Honesty. Look in my eyes, and tell me that I’m lying.”

She pauses, before meeting my eyes.