Chrysalis Vs Hearth's Warming
Author's Note
My (admittedly rather late) Christmas fic is finally here! I had the idea of using this opportunity to revisit the Chrysalis and Fluttershy universe from my first two fics and had a bunch of fun writing this, so I hope everypony enjoys! And another huge thanks again to my friend for editing this!
Chrysalis Vs Hearth's Warming
Chrysalis glared at the piece of paper in front of her.
She had been focused on it for a while now, occasionally tilting it a little in case that made what was written on it clearer. She was sighing too. A lot. It was the sound she made when she wanted someone to say something but didn’t want to suggest it herself.
”Your majesty? What are you doing?” asked Thorax, finally breaking the silence as the other changelings around the table sighed in relief, likely still used to being punished when they spoke out of turn.
”Oh, I’m just trying to figure out what Fluttershy is talking about in this letter. Something about a “Hearth's Warming”? I’m still trying to understand what it means...”
”Maybe it’s some kind of pony expression!” suggested a changeling at the end of the table with an eager smile.
”I thought that at first as well...” mused their queen. “However, she says that preparations for it have gone on for a few weeks now! What does that mean? Is it important? Am I supposed to know what it is?”
”I don’t think any of us have heard of it before...” Thorax raised a hoof to his face in thought, the other changelings getting over their nerves to shout possible meanings.
”A battle!”
”Oh, oh! Maybe it’s a cake to offer to their sun queen!”
”Some kind of love sharing event maybe?”
”No, it’s definitely not that. I read about those in this book I found at Fluttershy’s before. I think those are called org-“
”Maybe another one of those gala things?”
”Oh Tartarus, I hope not.” Chrysalis groaned, many of the changelings present shuddering at the memories.
”Hmmm.... how about we ask our pony research expert?” Thorax thought aloud. “She’s had the position long enough that she must have picked up something by now...”
Chrysalis blinked, a smile quickly spreading over her face. “Yes, that’s it! Meeting over! I have important queen business now!” She shot upwards before dashing off without another word.
”Um, is this going to be one of those crazy days again?” a changeling shouted after her, the others sighing behind him as they attempted to resume their work.
—-
“Ocellus!” cried Chrysalis as she flew into another section of the hive, the younger blue changeling yelping in surprise at the sight of her.
”Y-your majesty!? Where did you- aren't you supposed to be in a meeting?”
”I was. But it’s fine. We already discussed everything important anyways. Besides, there's something I must ask!”
”S-sure? I would have preferred if you booked this in advance though...” Ocellus muttered.
”I'm queen, I can do what I want. Anyways, this is important! I need some assistance with pony related matters, and as you are the duly appointed pony research expert, you should surely have the knowledge I seek!”
”I certainly hope so! Is it something to do with Fluttershy your majesty? She’s the only pony that can get you so excited these days.”
”I am not excitable! I am cold and conniving!” Chrysalis objected with a scowl.
”If you say so, your majesty...” smirked the younger changeling, opening the first book she came across. “I don’t want to be here all day listing the times you weren’t, so I’m just going to ask what you wanted to know!”
”I liked you all better when you just did what I said without the sass. But that’s besides the point. What do you know about Hearth's Warming? Fluttershy mentioned it in her latest letter. Not that it’s important! I’m simply curious!”
“Aren’t you blushing though?” Ocellus asked with an innocent tilt of her head, her question met with a furious stare that hurriedly prompted her into action.
“Got it! I've found something!” Ocellus beamed, pointing to the definition in the thesaurus Fluttershy had gifted them during one of her first visits. “Hearth’s Warming! An annual celebration of pony unity! Celebrating the union of the three pony tribes long ago, where ponies celebrate and give gifts to those most important to each other.” she read aloud with a smile.
”If you told me that a few months ago I think I might have been sick.” stated the queen with a roll of her eyes. “Either that or plan an invasion...”
”Well I think it sounds wonderful! The activities listed here sound… a little strange, but still! They look fun! Maybe we could have this at the hive too?” the changeling asked with sparkling eyes.
"Next year, perhaps." Chrysalis chuckled. “Between everything we have this year I don’t think we would have the time to set up a new... well, any holiday really... we still have to be diplomatic and prepare for- wait.”
The queen paused, horror dawning on her face. “Does that mean I need to get Fluttershy a gift!?” she cried.
”Um...” the younger changeling thought to herself for a moment. “M-maybe?”
”What do you mean maybe!?” Chrysalis grabbed Ocellus by the shoulders and shook her wildly. “Doesn’t one of your books have the answer!? I need to know for sure! Oh Tartarus! Does Fluttershy expect a gift? Is that why she mentioned it!? What do I do!?”
”I-I-I...” was all the changeling managed to get out before the queen stopped shaking her like a rag doll. “Thank you. But I’m afraid I don’t know! Today was the first I’ve heard of this holiday so none of the books I’ve read before have mentioned it. And even if they did, it's not like books can solve everything!”
Elsewhere, Twilight Sparkle suddenly felt a shiver run down her spine.
”Then what do I do!?” Chrysalis hissed
”I guess you could always just... you know. Ask her?”
”No! That will seem too desperate! I can’t just ask Fluttershy if she wants a present! Then she’ll know it’s coming and she’ll think of me as a weak-minded Changeling that doesn’t deserve to rule her people!”
”What?” came the confused response from Ocellus, something that went ignored as Chrysalis continued to panic.
”What do pony couples even get each other!? Changelings don’t do gifts! Do I give her my everlasting love!? No, don't be stupid! She already has that! Oh what am I going to do!?” she cried dramatically, flopping onto a large leaf like it was a couch.
”Well... you could always just ask another pony for help?” suggested Ocellus, the
question bringing pause to the unfolding meltdown in front of her.
”Huh. That’s a good idea actually.” she admitted, tilting her head in thought. “But I haven't told anypony about our reformation yet! And nopony knows other than... ah.”
”Yay! Did you think of somepony?” asked the changeling as Chrysalis shot upwards.
”No time to talk! I need to get to Ponyville as soon as possible! Pharynx is in charge while I’m gone! Make sure they all behave, bye!” she shouted while flying away as fast as possible.
”Huh. Well I hope things go well for her!” Ocellus smiled.
”Oh thank you by the way.” Chrysalis poked her head back in. “I’m still working on the whole being nice thing. Anyways got to go!”
“No problem your majesty! Tell Fluttershy I said hi!” she waved.
—
Chrysalis groaned, leaning against the wall while catching her breath, her eyes narrowed as she shivered from the cold.
“Note to self,” she grumbled. “Ponies somehow perform even more musical numbers than normal during Hearth’s Warming.”
She had taken the form of a generic, normal looking pony this time, not wanting to go around talking like Tree Hugger again for what should be an easy task; she already had limited patience today. She took a deep breath and entered the post office, only to instantly groan at the massive queue she was met with.
”Second note to self. Ponies form even more queues during the holiday.” she muttered under her breath, hissing as she impatiently waited her turn. She got some odd looks at first, but ponies had made stranger sounds when under holiday stress.
After many long, painfully slow minutes, she finally made it to the front, the cross-eyed pegasus manning the counter looking up with a letter in her mouth before gently placing it on the table in front of her.
”Heya! Welcome to Ponyville mail carriers! How may I help you today?” she beamed.
”Derpy. It’s me.”
”Oh hey Mimi! You look different!”
“What? No! It’s me!”
”You already said that silly!"
“No! Ugh!” groaned the changeling, earning several confused, annoyed glares from the ponies that had slowly gathered behind her. “It’s me. “
Derpy tilted her head. “But didn’t I already say that?”
Chrysalis slammed her head into the counter.
”I suppose I brought this on myself for writing my name on that letter...” she grumbled, Derpy’s eyes suddenly widening in recognition.
”Oh, I get it! Break time!” she shouted, the crowd of ponies behind Chrysalis groaning and collapsing under the weight of their parcels. “Meet me out back.” whispered the pegasus before slowly sliding under the counter, Chrysalis left wondering just what she had gotten herself into.
—
“I’m here!” cried the pegasus as she slammed open the back door, gliding into the cold where Chrysalis sat in wait. “Sorry about that Chrysalis! I didn’t recognize you! Did you do something with your mane?”
”Yes.” Chrysalis stared. “and also everything else.”
“Well no wonder I didn’t recognise you! Silly Chrysalis!” she laughed and smiled, oblivious to the death glare she was at the receiving end of.
”What took you so long anyways? I’ve been waiting out here for five minutes!”
Derpy smiled, putting a hoof in her bag and pulling out what she had been looking for with an apologetic smile. ”Muffin?”
”That's what took you so long to come out?” questioned Chrysalis with a raise of her eyebrow.
”Yeah I sorta forgot where I’d put them... anyways, what did you need me for? I only started work twenty minutes ago, you should have come then!”
“I would have been here sooner but I had to get through a whole musical number...” grumbled the Changeling while munching on her muffin. “But that’s besides the point! I require urgent assistance with a matter of great importance!”
”Ohhhhhhhh sounds exciting!” Derpy exclaimed while munching on a muffin of her own. “Coco?”
”Oh yes that would be lovely.” Chrysalis took a sip of the cup that had been slid over. “You see, I have recently been made aware of the pony event you call “Hearth’s Warming”, along with the tradition of exchanging gifts. So therefore, it has become my highest priority to-“
”Oh my gosh you want me to help pick you a gift for Fluttershy!” squealed Derpy.
Chrysalis glared in annoyance. “Yes. I would have preferred to have announced that myself, but whatever. Anyways, it so happens that I am unsure what exactly ponies consider “gifts.””
”Oh that’s easy!” exclaimed the pegasus. “You just have to give her something important that she will appreciate!”
”So.... I could give her rulership of the Changeling hive?" Chrysalis asked with a tilt of her head.
“That’s not really how it works? I usually give ponies something physical…" Derpy frowned, before biting into another chunk of her muffin and smiling.
"... so I should have it written down in paper?"
”You’re thinking about this the wrong way!” Derpy made some vague motions with her hooves. “It doesn’t just have to be something valuable! Think! What does Fluttershy like the most?”
"Um... she likes pets?"
”Yes! That’s good!” Derpy grinned.
"I could give her a Changeling then!” cried Chrysalis, clapping her hooves together triumphantly.
”... this might be harder than I thought.” admitted the pegasus after a small pause.
“What’s wrong with that!? Mandible is being annoying lately anyways! It’s perfect!”
”I’m no expert, but it also sounds super unethical.”
“But I’m queen!” whined the Changeling. “Don’t I get to decide what is and isn’t ethical?”
“I suppose… but Fluttershy’s probably more concerned with what Celestia’s ethics are…”
“Curses! You’re right!” Chrysalis crossed her forelegs. “Stupid Celestia! Why does she have to be so… nice!?”
Derpy patted her on the back. “There, there. You still have options! Nopony knows Fluttershy better than you!”
The changeling grumbled.
“You just need more examples, that’s all! Like I got the Doc a dematerialisation circuit!” the pegasus expressed in pride.
“I don’t know what that is. Why would I get Fluttershy one of those?” Chrysalis asked, confused.
“Oh… um… let me try this again!” Derpy smiled. “I don’t know what it is either! But the Doc’s been looking for one for a while now, so I got it for him!”
“How did you get one if you didn’t know what it was?” Chrysalis raised her eyebrow, taking a sip of her coco.
“I have my ways." the pegasus squinted mysteriously. “Oh and if you see a bearded pony looking for one, it has nothing to do with me.”
“Right…” Chrysalis frowned. “What does this have to do with Fluttershy though?”
“I’ve already told you! You just need to get her something you know she will like! Something linked to animals, nature, being quiet, or those weird books she has me deliver to her!”
“I suppose that’s easy enough…” the changeling narrowed her eyes. “But I don’t know where to start! I haven’t given a gift before in my life!”
“Well I would love to help more, but I don’t think I can keep up my break for much longer. Last time I was out this long, I think the ponies almost started rioting! They can be so silly sometimes! But the boss says it’s bad for business and I don’t wanna get him mad again!”
The old Chrysalis would probably have ignored this, dragging Derpy away for as long as it took to get what she wanted. But annoyingly, she was actually trying to be a decent pony now. Worst mistake of her life.
“That’s fine, of course… thank you for the help Derpy. I’ll try and figure something out myself.”
“Okay! Come and get me later if you think you need more! I hope what I said helps! Good luck!” Derpy beamed, flying back inside as Chrysalis waved uncertainly, sighing as the pegasus shut the door behind her.
“This might be an issue… I need to get Fluttershy something as soon as I can! If Derpy can’t help me, who else can? It’s not like there’s somepony else that’s close to Fluttershy and knows I’m not evil and dating-” Chrysalis froze as she had a realisation. “Oh no. No! Not him! Anycreature but him! But- ugh. Oh Tartarus I am going to regret this…”
—
“I am already regretting this.” Chrysalis sighed.
The Changeling had barely managed to avoid yet another loud and distracting musical number on the way back from the post office, taking what felt like an eternity just to reach an uninhabited patch of the Everfree Forest. It had also taken a while to find somewhere she wouldn’t be disturbed, and be able to keep her low profile.
Now all she had to do now was summon the most annoying creature in Equestria. She took a deep breath.
“Discord actually isn’t annoying.” she said with a blank, dead stare. “He is actually very helpful and Fluttershy totally appreciates him mor- hack!”
It wasn’t just the sheer hate that made her choke, more the sudden cloud of smoke that, while incredibly annoying, at least confirmed her plan had worked.
”Chrysalis!” Discord smirked. “What a pleasant surprise! I always knew the day would come when you would require my assistance!”
”Discord. I would say it’s wonderful to see you but Fluttershy said I should try to make a habit of lying less.”
”How rude!” Discord scoffed, raising a claw in mock offence. “And after I come in your hour of need! I never thought I would see the day when you would use the emergency summon I told Fluttershy about! Could you tell I came up with the command myself?”
”It may have crossed my mind.” the Changeling sighed. “Look Discord, I need you to-”
”Hold that thought!” cried the draconequus. “Just catching up on the fic so far. I need some context if I’m supposed to help you properly.” He rapidly flipped through a script he had pulled from nowhere, finishing it in seconds before tossing it behind him, Chrysalis wondering if she should be concerned by the sound of an explosion that followed.
”Oh ho! Well isn’t this an interesting yet seasonally timed development of suitably light hearted proportions.” He laughed, Chrysalis glaring at him in annoyance. “And now you’ve found in your heart what you’ve always known! That I, as Fluttershy's best friend, is the only one suitable for the task of finding her the greatest gift ever!”
“Don’t flatter yourself.” Chrysalis rolled her eyes.
The identical copy of Discord feeding the original compliments got up and left with a peeved expression. “Well that’s just rude. I thought you were supposed to be nicer?”
“I am nicer!” she snapped. “Just not towards you! You are annoying, random, and seem to thrive on nothing but my own misery!”
“Oh please, Chrissy. Don’t be so ridiculous! It doesn’t suit you.” He laughed as Chrysalis growled and threw off the clown wig that had appeared on her. “Besides, I thrive on lots of ponies' misery! The entire world doesn’t revolve around you after all.” The ground spun around the Changeling, eventually making her dizzy enough to fall onto her front.
“Quit doing all that! Ugh, I liked you better when you thought I was Tree Hugger.” she grumbled.
“For the record, I never thought you were Tree Hugger. I could smell the Changeling magic on you from miles away. I only didn’t mention it since I thought it was rude!” He leaned down.
“Just give it a rest already!” snarled Chrysalis as she got to her hooves. “Are you capable of being serious for even a single moment and assisting me?!”
“Ugh, fine. Pack it up everyone!” he shouted behind him, all the Discord copies holding various devices and other ridiculous items groaning in unison as they stormed away. “Is that better?”
“Much.” She sighed in relief. “Now that you’ve got that out of your system, can you help me out?”
“Fine, fine…” he grumbled. “Guess that is what nice people are supposed to do and all…”
“Exactly!” Chrysalis beamed. “That’s why I’m nicer than you!”
“Why I never!” gasped Discord in mock offence. “Honestly, you crash one first date and you never hear the end of it…”
“For very good reason…”
“Anyways, there’s no use dwelling on that!” Discord clapped his hands. “You are here for my great and powerful assistance after all.”
“For better or worse…”
“I’ve got it!”
“You have!?” questioned the Changeling. “What should I get her!?”
“Oh I didn’t mean that.” laughed Discord. “I just got something else. A cease and desist.” He threw away a pile of paper that had suddenly appeared, earning another furious glare for his antics. “Ok fine! Fine! I’ll put my serious face on.” He turned around to a hat stand that had appeared, taking off his head and pulling another identical one off the hanger, placing it on his neck.
“Has anycreature ever managed to have a conversation with you without going insane?” asked Chrysalis with a tired sigh.
“For your information, plenty!” He crossed his arms. “In fact, I’ll have a mostly normal one now just to prove you wrong!”
“How generous of you.” Chrysalis drawled. “Now, do you have any ideas for what I could get Fluttershy?”
“Oh plenty! Allow me to share in the form of a song!” He cleared his throat in preparation.
“No! No singing!” snarled the Changeling with a stomp of her foot. “Just straight answers! Please! For the love of Tartarus!”
“Oh relax Chrissy!” he sighed. “I swear, changelings have no taste for the fine arts. How about you get her… a pet birdhouse!” he snapped his fingers, a flying birdhouse hooting on his shoulder as he waved his arms in excitement.
“How would that be a good gift?” Chrysalis accused.
“I don’t know!”
“But you’re supposed to suggest good ones!”
“Oh I was, wasn’t I! My mistake!” he laughed, Chrysalis resisting the urge to slam her head into the nearest tree. “Then how about a shrink ray! So she can avoid all social situations when she doesn’t want to!”
The Changeling thought for a moment, narrowing her eyes before shaking her head. “First of all, that's completely ridiculous. Second of all, you know she shouldn’t be hiding away! She’s trying to get better with other ponies!”
“I suppose you're right. Oh well! There’s plenty of other options! A cloud maker! Complete with chocolate rain setting!”
”What? No! Why would she-“
”An umbrella that doubles as a drill!” Discord cried before she could finish, holding the spinning parasol high.
“B-but that’s stupid! Fluttershy would never-“ Chrysalis attempted to regain control of the conversation and failed miserably.
“A self-driving car!”
“What’s a ca-”
”A multi-purpose sonic wrench! The king of current hedgehogs! An upside down tree! A notebook that writes itself! A teabag you drink? Oh how about-”
”ENOUGH!” shrieked the changeling. “All of those are utter nonsense! Fluttershy wouldn’t want a single one! She’d want something important! Something simple! Something-” She paused, an idea and realisation hitting her at once as she glared at the smirking draconequus.
“Well?”
“You are officially the worst. Ever. You actually annoyed me to make a point. On purpose. And it was helpful.”
“I have my moments.” he smiled. “As tempting and amusing as it sounds to give you bad advice, I care more for Fluttershy’s happiness than petty things like that.”
“Thanks… I suppose.” grumbled the changeling begrudgingly. “But this does not make us friends.”
“Oh certainly!” he smiled. “Let me know when you have that second date so I can crash it too!”
“I would, but we already had it.” she smirked, Discord’s jaw dropping in shock.
“W-what? How! I made sure I was always in the loop! Unless…” he gasped. “No! You were behind that wild goose escape from Fluttershy’s cottage!? I was looking for that thing for days!”
“And it will go down as one of the happiest moments of my life.” smiled Chrysalis.
“I’m almost in awe at how chaotic you can be. But oh well! Catch ya later Chrssy! Make sure to get Fluttershy something good enough!” he laughed before teleporting away, Chrysalis not even getting the chance to put another word in.
“By Tartarus he is annoying.” sighed the changeling, turning around before narrowing her eyes. “But he somehow was actually helpful. I’m overthinking this. I just need something easy. Something simple! Something obvious that doesn’t require overthinking! And I should have the perfect gift in mind.”
—
“Chrysalis?” Fluttershy’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of her disguised marefriend in the doorway, even more so to see that she was visibly nervous, blushing and looking down at her hooves. “What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t going to visit until after the holidays!”
“I-I know…” her blush deepened, turning to the side in an attempt to hide it. “It’s just that it’s Hearth's Warming tomorrow… a-and I wanted to give you something…” she muttered, pushing the box on the ground towards her shocked marefriend.
Fluttershy blinked, before gasping in surprise with a blush. “Oh Chrissy! You didn’t have to get anything for me! I didn’t even tell you about Hearth's Warming since I thought you’d have worried about it… I know how busy you were with the hive and didn’t want to get in the way…”
“Fluttershy! You would never get in the way!” Chrysalis flushed. “You are my marefriend. That comes before anything. And besides… I wanted to.”
“O-oh…” Fluttershy smiled nervously. “Well, you can come in… if you want. It’s pretty cold outside. Even if this is just a quick visit.”
Chrysalis only found herself blushing more as she slipped inside, though if anycreature asked, it was only because of the increase in room temperature as she removed her disguise. “Thank you… but anyways. Here is your present. The traditional pony ritual is complete and I will now return to the hive before you can open it and find it most displea-”
“Chrysalis!” Fluttershy narrowed her eyes. “Don’t say things like that! And don’t worry so much. I’m sure whatever you got me had a lot of thought and love put into it.”
Chrysalis began to sweat regardless, the pegasus gently opening the gift with her long, delicate wings. It felt like the opening took forever, Chrysalis breathing a sigh of relief as Fluttershy beamed at what was inside.
“Oh Chrissy! It’s exactly what I needed! I completely forgot I needed a new padlock for the guest enclosures! How did you…”
“I remembered you complaining about it a few months back and asked Derpy to check for me…” smiled the Changeling. “Since as you know, I refuse to fail at anything, including gift giving!”
“And you did wonderful.” beamed Fluttershy, nuzzling up to her marefriend. “As you always do. And… well. Since you're here, I probably should mention I got something for you too.”
“Wait… y-you did?” The changeling blinked, watching as the blushing pegasus pulled out a box wrapped in black wrapping paper from under a nearby chair. “You didn’t expect me to get you something but you already had it ready?”
“Well… Hearth's Warming is a pony holiday…” she muttered weakly. “It felt wrong to not get something for you.”
“T-thank you…” muttered Chrysalis with a blush. “I’m… not really used to gifts and… ugh, why am I stuttering so much? I am a queen! I am confident! I- ah please don’t raise your eyebrow like that it’s really cute…”
Fluttershy simply grinned.
“Oh, I am not liking the ways I am rubbing off on you…” remarked the Changeling as she opened the present, raising an eyebrow at what she saw inside.
“A… lamp?” Chrysalis stated in confusion, staring at what was within the box with a rise of her eyebrow. “I don’t mean to offend you Fluttershy, but…what?”
“Don’t you recognise it?” asked the pegasus with a smile. “I suppose you didn’t get a good look at it before though.”
Chrysalis glared harder, confused for a few moments before the realisation clicked. “Is this… the cursed thing that knocked me out!? When we first met… well properly. You decided to give me this? W-why?”
“Well, it’s sorta what brought us together, in a way!” Fluttershy beamed. “If I hadn’t used this, then we would never have properly met! So I thought you would love having something that embodies us back in the hive!” she beamed, her tone unchanging as she added. “And if you’re still annoyed about how it bested you, which knowing my grumpy bug you certainly are, you now have it totally at your mercy! I’ve already ordered a spare for myself.”
“Oh my Tartarus it’s perfect.” The changeling smiled smugly. “You know me so well.”
“I do my best.” Fluttershy smiled. “I thought you would love it.”
“You were right of course. There was no way you could be wrong!” Chrysalis boasted. “My marefriend is the smartest!”
“Y-you really don’t have to p-praise me…”
“Too bad, I’m doing it anyway.” Chrysalis smirked. “You deserve it.”
“You deserve praise too, Chrissy.” smiled the pegasus, wrapping a wing around the changeling with a grin. “Come on, we have a few hours before I need to head to the castle for the Hearth's Warming celebration. Let’s have some alone time for a bit.”
“I… I would love that. Let’s catch up. Love you Fluttershy.” she whispered with a blush.
“And I love you too, grumpy bug. Come on.” her marefriend reassured, walking towards the table and sofa with a happy sway in her step. The changeling followed, smiling just as wide, both smug and relieved that she had been able to so effortlessly conquer the traditions of a holiday mostly unknown to her.
But for now, she would forget about that, and all the worries and stresses, and simply spend time together with her marefriend, a fitting reward for all the trouble she had gone through. And considering she was still feeling warm inside from Fluttershy’s gift, maybe ponies were onto something with this holiday after all.
