Work of the Heartby Joshua CrapoChaptersChapter IChapter IIChapter IIIChapter IVChapter VChapter IWell, today marks one year since Pharynx rejoined the hive. Since then, I never really had the chance to work up an update about him. He’s become a real help in assisting me and Carve’s duties ever since Twilight, Sunset and Aita were called by the tree of harmony. Most of that is probably because he was brothers with a king. I mean he never asked for the knowledge of our duties, but he figured he might as well use it. So, here I am, sitting on the throne, thinking of what to do for him. Funnily enough, he comes up to the throne room. “Greetings, Pharynx. Have you wondered what day it is today?” “I’ve lost count. Inform me, queen.” “The day you returned to the hive?” “Oh, that. Has it been a year already? Wow…” “I know we haven’t done anything casual in a long while. But how does a vacation sound?” Pharynx looks surprised by this offer. “A vacation? You’re willing to do that for me?” “With how much you’re involved with my duties, Pharynx, why not return the favor?” “Sure. I’d love to relax for a while. Let me know when you want to get started with that. It looks like that will have to wait, because we have a relatively young drone looking for a place in Equestria to stay.” “Okay. Invite the drone here. Once living arrangements are in order, that’s when we’ll go on vacation.” Pharynx nods at the finalized plan. But before running off, he smiles. “Before you regained your throne, Chrysalis. I never imagined you would ever have taken up letting the hive share love. And now authority of Equestria comes to you for help.” I chuckle a little. “Why would you ever think otherwise would happen?” “Well, because you and Areola used to try to conquer the nation by stealing love.” “But not all of it. There was Las Pegasus, where Carve normally lives.” “Come on, Chrysalis. She first returned after Thorax left.” Upon hearing such a familiar name, I become a bit unamused. Pharynx is aware Correal is no longer around because of his brother. “Just retrieve the drone, Pharynx.” “Will do.” Pharynx finally proceeds to dash out of the throne room. After five hours of putting my trailing skills to the test, I find the changeling who was looking for a place to stay. Of course, he’s in Silver Shoals; his scent trail leads here. Still following, I’m led to a wide white trailer on the beach. Another thing to note is that the trail signature seems eerily similar to Chrysalis’. I land and sigh. Now there seems to be another signature present, also similar to Chrysalis’, only older. I knock on the door of the trailer, the answer coming from an old changeling with glasses on. She seems to be hunched over. “Yes?” “Hello there. I caught word of a changeling around here looking for someplace to stay,” I reply. Suddenly, she stands up straight. “Oh! You mean my grandson? I’ll get him in a jiffy.” The changeling now turns around and holds a hoof on her cheek. “Patch! Someone’s here to see you!” The trailer suddenly starts creaking, prompting the old changeling to jump into the air and fly while another comes, presumably Patch. “What is it, Grandma?” he asks in a curious tone, then catches sight of me. “Oh, hi. What are you doing here?” “I came to see if you wanted to live in the hive. We still have a spot or two open; it’s no big deal.” Patch growls and flies back to where he came from, leaving his grandmother confused. “Uh sorry. You’ll have to excuse him. He’s not usually like this.” “Do you not bring up home?” I ask. “Well, we already are home.” I rub my chin, thinking. I can’t return home emptyhooved. Maybe I could at least try again. “What if I just talked to him? I’m sure a little reasoning could help.” The grandmother steps out of the way for me to enter. This trailer sure looks cozy. The living room on the left alone has a loveseat and a recliner, both piled with bedding. Going into the small hall past the living room, I see a bathroom converted into a walk-in closet to my right, and up ahead seems to be Patch’s room. There he is, sitting on the twin bed in the corner ahead, the only furnishing in the room. “Um, apologies for earlier, Patch. I guess it’s a touchy subject for you?” Patch nods. “Well, you said you were looking for a place to stay.” “In Equestria, Pharynx. I can’t live here forever; I need a place to call my own before I’m forced to,” he explains. “I just figured you’d have the option to return. But why isn’t it for you?” “Jus- I don’t wanna talk about it.” “Patch, I’ll find out one way or another. Either tell me, or your grandmother will.” “B-but she wouldn’t do that, would she?” “She probably would, judging by how she let you fly off in a huff like that. I’ll see for myself what happened if you don’t tell me.” Patch gets out of bed when he hears me talking about his grandmother, obviously looking offended. “Are you saying Grandma is a doormat?” “Let's hope she isn’t.” I decide to leave Patch alone so that I can talk to the grandmother. “So Pharynx, how did it go?” “He didn’t budge. Something about the hive is definitely bothering him.” “Hm… Patch did come to live here after the wedding of Princess Cadence. Do you think that has something to do with him declining your offer?” “Regardless, I’ll have to tell the queen about it. She’ll be disappointed, but your grandson is old enough by now to make his own decisions, just so you know. Would you happen to have any pears around?” “Well, I do keep a tree around in case I have to contact the throne. It should be around back. I seldom use it.” “Good enough for me. Be right back.” I fly out of the trailer and go around back. Sure enough, there is a pear tree full of pears. I float four off and take them inside. Chapter IIComing back into the trailer, I give two of the four pears to Patch’s grandmother. Once we reach the seeds for each one, we take them out to the tree I got them from. Once arranged, they send a call signal to the throne room. Chrysalis looks around and sees the two of us. “Pharynx? What are you doing at Mother’s place? I thought you went to retrieve the young one.” “That’s exactly what he was doing, dear,” replies Chrysalis’ apparent mother. I guess that makes Patch Chrysalis’ son. “Patch has lived with me since he became an adolescent.” Chrysalis’ eyes widen as her mother mentions Patch. “You mean to tell me that Pharynx was talking about my SON?!?” “Seems like it, queen,” I say. “I know this makes my-” “Don’t worry about it, Pharynx. Carve may be home, but my old teacher can take over the throne while I’m away. She used to be a queen herself. I’ll be over there as soon as possible.” Chrysalis teleports out of the throne room, causing the signal to disperse. About fifteen seconds later, she teleports in. Her mother looks pretty impressed by this. “I didn’t realize you could teleport, dear. Must be that new-fangled way of ruling your kingdom powering that.” “Quite accurate there, Mother. Now, this must be the place Patch must live in with you, right?” “I am not sure why, but your son doesn’t seem to think highly of his home kingdom,” Mother explains to me as we and Pharynx head inside. “But that’s absurd. Why during my reprise?” “Dear, you won’t know unless you address it to him. You did the same for Wavelength forty years ago. You’re Patch’s mother, and as your own, I suggest you dust off that technique for your own family.” “Okay. But first, Pharynx, you can go home for now.” Pharynx nods at me and flies back to the hive. “Good. Now that that’s taken care of…” I head in the direction of Patch’s room. The split second before he sees me, he seems to be playing a board game of some sort on the floor. I have no idea what it’s about, but it seems to involve borders and roman numeral tokens. When he does notice me, he looks up and his calm look quickly sours into a scowl. He then gets back to playing his game. “No greetings, Patch? Are you not even going to wave to me?” Still playing, Patch waves his hoof for me to exit the room. He is so deliberately glued to his game that he’s barely acknowledged me. I think back to the time Twilight told me about getting Aita’s attention shortly before Hearth’s Warming. She had to forcibly put away his DS. Seemingly unlike Patch though, Aita was simply homesick. Here, Patch clearly has something against me. I can’t just take his game away without getting harmed. “Patch?” My son puts down any tokens he’s floating and scowls at me again. “What do you want? I’m trying to play some Risk.” “Patch, it’s me…” “I know who you are.” I get down on my stomach to meet Patch at eye level. “Listen. I just wanted to catch up with you.” “Well, I can see by the fact that Pharynx was here that this reunion means A LOT to you.” “But I had no idea he was talking about you until he called me. That wasn’t even the point anyway. I haven’t seen you in years, and as your mother, I was hoping to-” “Question willing assistance? Circumvent living arrangements? Go to session? Use a groom for cheap power? Who knows what else after I left to live with Grandma?” “No… reconnect.” Patch growls, gets up and starts walking off to the living room. I simply continue sitting, watching him leave my view. If he wants his space, I might as well give it to him. Did Patch even use to be like this? I understand my first few years as queen bothers him, but that was true at the time too. Well, he never really avoided me before… until the attack on Canterlot nearly seven years ago. When I gathered my hive back home, Carve wasn’t the only one missing: it was him too. That invasion must’ve been the final straw for him. He didn’t even mention anything from after the wedding directly. This isn’t even like with Twilight. She may’ve had a personal disdain for me following my actions, but Patch was a child when he lived in the hive, not even an adolescent. Each realization leaves me more and more distraught. Mother walks into the room sits down next to me. It feels surreal that she’s only the height of a normal changeling. “Is everything okay, dear?” “...I never realized just how much my actions hurt Patch. His childhood must have been devastating for his development.” “He… never really goes out much, and he’s always with me if he does.” Mother sees me wipe a tear from my right eye, prompting her to scoot toward the front and rest her hoof on mine. “Chrysalis… I know your son is deeply hurt by what you did as queen. If you’re going to reconcile with him, I’m the only one who can personally help you.” Mother is right. She’s the only one who could give me advice if I really need it. She knows my son even better than I do… yeah. “Well, which changeling is he in custody of anyway? If you incline to help, then I’ll take your word for it.” Mother and I share one last hug before she begins walking to the living room ahead of me. She stops one last time to look at me. “I know you’ll have this all under control, Chrysalis. And don’t let anyone else make you think otherwise.” I get up and turn around to see her leave. “Thanks, Mother. At least you still believe in me.” Wait a minute. Equestria trusts me too. Everypony will easily recognize me for my most recent self. They can be a great resource of help. Chapter IIII head back to the living room, where only Mother is present. It seems Patch stepped outside while I’m still here. “Looks like I have an idea, Mother. I am allies with Equestria, and that includes the Princess of Friendship herself. She actually has a younger changeling - Aita - living with her at the moment. If I write to her, then he could call me.” “Any other changelings living in Equestria?” she asks after a light laugh. “You always want to have more than one option at your disposal.” “Well, Carve lives elsewhere. She could do the same. In fact, she’s my normal substitute.” “Ooh, that’s an even better option. Have Carve call you.” “Excuse bursting that bubble, but Aita is the more reliable one.” “Oh. Who is Aita anyway?” Mother inquires. “Pretty unusual name for a changeling.” “Never mind that. When I’m done writing, would you like to accompany me for the call?” “Certainly yes!” I look around and immediately find a quill and paper on the kitchen table behind the entrance. I begin writing. Dear Princess Twilight, I originally sent Pharynx to fulfill living arrangements for a changeling that was looking for a place to call his own. That happened to be my son, Patch, who refused the offer due to my actions from when he was a child. I would like Aita to call me once you get this letter so we can discuss what I can do to reconcile with Patch. yours truly, Queen Chrysalis. At Canterlot, I am accompanied by Starlight, Aita and Spike as we approach Joe’s donut shop. “Now, tell me if you recognize this place,” I say to Aita, who looks above the entrance. His eyes widen. “Oh! Is this the donut shop you went to visiting your old friends?” I nod and point behind Aita, seeing five ponies coming from there: Moondancer, Lyra, Minuette, Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine. “Yep. In fact, here they come right now.” “Twilight! Spike!” Minuette excitedly shouts giving me a hug. “You came to have donuts, didn’t you?!?” “Ah! Starlight! Aita! Good to see everyone again,” Moondancer remarks. “I dropped everything upon learning about your arrival. We should do this more often.” “So, how’s your studies coming along, Moondancer?” asks Starlight. “Any new ideas for games?” Moondancer starts updating us all as we enter the shop. “I’ve been refining all the math I implemented in Sim Hive. I haven’t gotten any ideas yet, but it’ll come to me eventually. I’ve actually found a new book in the library here in Canterlot: The Premium Guide to Foal Street. It shows all the ins and outs of the MSE and its history since the founding of Manehattan.” Suddenly, Spike steps away from us and burps up a letter. When he unrolls the letter, he looks a little excited reading the very bottom. “Hey Twilight! Chrysalis just sent a letter!” “She did?” I float the letter and read it. I gasp. “She has a SON?!? Aita, Spike, would you mind us stepping outside for a minute? She’s requesting a call from us.” “In a minute, Twilight.” Aita teleports in four pears and gives them to me, Spike, Starlight and himself. “First, we’ll need to eat these.” Once we have only the seeds left, Spike and I follow Aita as he takes the seeds to the back of the building. There, Aita sets the seeds on the ground in a way that magically makes them open up with a holographic signal. On screen, Chrysalis is accompanied by an old-looking changeling. “There you are, Aita. And I see you brought Twilight and Spike with you.” Aita nods at Chrysalis. “Good. So where are you all? I thought you’d be home.” “Oh, we were just meeting with Twilight’s old friends in Canterlot,” Aita answers. “We’re just around the donut shop. So who’s that with you?” “I’m Membrane, Chrysalis’ mother,” says the older changeling. “So, your letter said you want our help to do something for Patch, right Chrysalis? To get him back on your side?” asks Spike. “Accurately so, Spike. I have you three on my side, so I am open to what you’d like to do.” I take a moment to think. I’ve never met Membrane, just her daughter. I didn’t even meet her grandson. It’s probably not going to work but… “Membrane, have you ever met Moondancer?” Membrane shakes her head. “I thought so. She was a unicorn that aspired to be like me, but closed off when I didn’t attend the one party she threw before I was sent to Ponyville.” “And after several attempts of contact, they got her to open up eventually by doing the same for her,” Aita finishes. Chrysalis looks to Membrane and smiles. “She was also the pony who made the code for the game we made Aita for his birthday.” She then looks back to us. “So Aita; Spike and Twilight got Moondancer to open up with a party, right?” Aita nods. “True, with the help of Pinkie Pie, of course.” “Then perhaps we could start with that. I’ll give you three some time to prepare, since I have to retrieve my son anyway. Do you think you can handle it?” Spike confidently gives a thumb’s up. “You bet, Chrysalis! Our destination will be Sugar Cube Corner!” Chrysalis nods as the signal putters out. “Why Sugar Cube Corner?” I ask, prompting Spike to shrug. “That’s where we hold most parties, right?” “Except for the Hearth’s Warming parties… although Twilight hosts those herself. Those cookies at the dining room sure were good.” Aita stops when he realizes what he just said. “Wait a minute. Cookies… Oh! I know who we could invite! I’m sure Starlight’s okay with inviting him.” I’m curious now. “Who is it, Aita?” “Just follow my lead. Once we get back to Ponyville, we’ll invite Firelight. Oh, and you, Starlight and I will need to get the whole group there.” Spike and I start following Aita as he trots back into the donut shop to update everypony on the whole situation. Chapter IVInside the donut shop, Starlight seems to be hitting it off pretty well with Twilight’s friends. Everyone is in stitches when Twilight, Spike and I reenter. “Good one, Starlight!” Lyra heartily exclaims. “It’s so simple, yet so true! Oh! Hey guys! Starlight just told us the pun Sheriff Mangle made!” “Oh, did you mean the one that went-” I momentarily change into Mangle, thinking exactly the same thing everypony else probably is. “Nice try on the wording there Stellar Flare. Clarify OR YOU’RE FIRED!!!” Twilight’s old friends start laughing again along with Starlight as I change back. “Never had he ever screamed Crubbs more than that. So Starlight, I just called Chrysalis. We’re going to be throwing a party at Sugar Cube Corner for Patch, and I figured out who might be the perfect pony to invite. I’m positive you won’t mind, but better safe than sorry.” “It’s okay, Aita. You can invite Dad,” replies Starlight. “You remember, don't you? So, are we going to be taking Twilight’s old friends?” “Well, would you girls mind coming to Ponyville? Starlight, Twilight and I can take you.” Moondancer shrugs. “Why not? It’d be good to see Pinkie Pie again.” Once everypony else agrees, Starlight grabs Twinkleshine and Spike, I take Lyra and Lemon Hearts, Twilight holds Moondancer and Minuette, and we all teleport to Sugar Cube Corner. Looking around, all I around us is the bakery itself. Nopony is in here, at least in the lower level. The lights are all off too. I wonder what the hours here are. I attempt to open the door with magic, but the door is locked, so I turn the lock momentarily so I can open the door. On the front, I see a small post. It seems Sugar Cube Corner is only open in the morning on weekends. “So Sugar Cube Corner, eh Spike?” I tease. “Seems we should’ve gotten here earlier.” Hello? I hear a familiar voice call from upstairs. Aita, is that you? As soon as I hear a click, the lights in the dining room come on. Pinkie Pie then comes downstairs. She gasps in excitement when she sees everyone here. “I didn’t know we were planning a party! Anypony else coming?” “Well, we were planning on inviting Dad over,” explains Starlight as she teleports in a scroll and quill to write out the invitation. “That and Patch, Chrysalis, and probably Membrane are also coming.” When Starlight talks about Chrysalis’ family, everypony is confused except for Twilight, Spike and me. “Look, we have some time, since Chrysalis has to get Patch at Silver Shoals, but that leaves us with enough time for Dad to make it traditionally.” Twilight begins sending everyone instructions. “Okay. Spike, you send the invitation to Firelight. Moondancer, you prepare the spread. Starlight, you can help with cooking. And Minuette, decorations. Pinkie Pie, you can set up the games.” “So what can I do?” I ask. “I’m glad you asked, Aita. You can take Firelight as soon as he receives the invitation.” I follow Twilight’s instruction and teleport to Firelight’s house in Sire’s Hollow. I knock on the front door, Firelight answering soon after. He instantly recognizes me. “Aita! How’s it going?!? Long time no see!” “We’re about to throw a party for a young changeling over at Sugar Cube Corner. We’re doing it because of his situation with Chrysalis being similar to Moondancer’s.” I jump out of the way as the invitation arrives. “Princess Twilight Sparkle personally invites Firelight to Sugar Cube Corner. Aita should be there already to pick you up. Sounds amazing, Aita. I’ll be there as soon as possible.” “GREAT!” I grab onto Firelight and teleport us back to Sugar Cube Corner. Mother and I fly back to her trailer in Silver Shoals to take my son to Sugar Cube Corner, as Spike proposed. When I approach, a new package seems to’ve arrived in Mother’s mail. Nopony is out there now, but the package is easily visible and never was there when I first visited. When we land, Mother floats the package inside and begins taking it into Patch’s room. She gestures me to come with her, which I follow. “Oh hey. The new game a-” Patch stops short when he sees me. “Hello. Satisfied with that, Mom?” “Patch, you know she doesn’t need that right now,” Mother scolds. “Besides, your mother is taking us to Ponyville for a party.” “A party? You?” Patch scoffs. “That’ll be the day.” “Come now, son. Would you really miss a party from one of the biggest extraordinaires in Equestria?” Patch becomes puzzled from what I say. “I-is that a bluff?” I shake my head. “There is no bluff. Pinkamena Diane Pie is the best there is.” “Even so, I can’t attend parties. With my nymphhood, I would just get lost and bored.” “Patch, if it makes you feel any better, I will go with you.” “Still Grandma, I don’t know. I’d rather go looking for my own place, or - if I could do it in peace - begin unboxing.” Patch levitates a pair of scissors off the shelf in the corner and cuts through the tape with one blade. He then pulls open the top of the box with his magic. The game he floats out of the box appears to be quiz-oriented. “Well, there it is. I’ve been waiting to receive a copy of Know Nonsense for months.” I smile a bit for his fleeting moment of bliss. “Well, you’ll get to try that out as soon as you get back home, okay? We have to arrive at the party in Ponyville. If not for us, then for Princess Twilight.” Patch’s eyes widen. “Wait. Twilight is going to be there? As in… the Princess of Friendship?” I nod, showing him that he is correct about who I’m talking about. “Ready, dear?” inquires Mother seeing my opportunity arise, to which I confirm. I grasp Mother and Patch under each wing and teleport them in front of Sugar Cube Corner. Chapter VSo when Mother, Patch and I enter Sugar Cube Corner, the lights are off. There appear to be eleven guests. I can’t tell exactly who they are, it being so dark in here, but one of them flips the switch in the back, turning the lights on. SURPRISE!!! everyone shouts. With the lights on now, it is revealed that Twilight has her old friends with her, along with Starlight, Aita, Pinkie, Spike, and who is presumably Starlight’s father. The room is decorated with streamers, balloons, and favors near the ceiling, multiple buffet spreads, games strewn throughout and a piñata hanging at the center. Everything happening all at once startles Patch slightly, but he quickly regains his composure. “Anyone wanna explain what this is?” Twilight approaches the three of us. “It’s a party. Make yourself at home, Patch.” “Uh thanks, but no thanks. I don’t attend parties.” I walk over to him and put my hoof on his back. “I understand. And it appears to be because of my actions. I was so focused on giving my most loyal subjects power, I never stopped to consider what you were going through. And now that I realize how easily power can be gained when I share love, I thought I’d reconcile with you through a party courtesy of the one and only, one we could bond over like we were supposed to when you lived in the hive.” Patch walks away from me and grabs a bat lying around and hits the piñata once. “And you believe this is gonna cut it, huh? Why wouldn’t it? You know, after the many times you let me down as a kid? Sure, the disaster that cost Areola her life was out of your control, but what about the aftermath, huh? What about almost giving into your own injuries? Surely you’re aware of letting us go hungry by failing every venture into Equestria! Then you kidnapped Carina without even considering her livelihood! You never did that with Synth, Carve or Thorax!” When Patch brings up Carina, Aita looks a bit sad. Patch continues however through tears of his own. “And don’t even get me started on that wedding! The fact you used a groom for cheap power made me finally realize you’ve damaged my development beyond repair! That my life in the hive was awful after Grandma retired because of ALL! YOUR! FAILURES!” Patch lets out a scream and gallops into the kitchen, breaking down into tears from there. Everyone else is looking at each other, distraught over the scene playing out, especially Twilight and Aita after hearing Patch mention what I did with Carina as well as the wedding in Canterlot. Starlight and Moondancer gesture me and Firelight respectively to come with them into the kitchen and check on Patch. He’s lying on his stomach with his face behind his hooves. Moondancer is the first to approach him. “Patch…” He looks up. “I know how it feels to have your view on someone come crashing down around you. But my friend Twilight showed me just because she failed me doesn’t mean I close myself off to others.” Firelight and Starlight come next, the former stroking Patch’s back. “I know you experienced quite a lot, Patch, but your mother has clearly learned a lot since you left. I myself have set aside everything my Starlight has done for that very reason.” “There’ve been quite a few changes since the Canterlot incident. The very same queen Thorax and I confronted well over a year ago is now one of my best friends. And she has since come by our side several times over.” Firelight moves out of the way for me to hug Patch. “I’ve faced criminals, my own grave in another timeline, a variety of circumstances. But seeing how my actions affected you, that was one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had, so from the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry, Patch.” After several seconds, Patch finally returns the hug. “T-thank you, Mom. I had no idea how much I needed to hear that… and I’m sorry for the way I acted back at the trailer.” “It’s okay now.” I stop and think. I sent Pharynx to Patch to deal with something, right? Why yes, I did. “Patch, you said you were looking for a place to stay, correct?” Patch nods. “Why don’t you live in the hive, that way we can maintain our newfound bond more easily. I understand if you’re still a little cautious.” Patch and I let go when he tries to think. He looks at me, trying to decide what to do. “Wow… I was so focused on your past, I never stopped to look at you now. You really have changed. Was this from befriending these ponies?” “Well, it was more from Twilight. She was a bit like how you were, in fact she was the last one I befriended.” For the first time since we got here, my son finally smiles. “Alright, Mom. I think I’m ready, ready to live with you.” “That’s splendid to hear, my son. And I think it’s something worth celebrating. Wouldn’t you agree?” “Absolutely.” Patch and I hug one more time. “Let’s finish this party.” So, the two of us are the first to head back into the dining room, followed closely by Starlight, her father, and Moondancer. Twilight and Aita are first to walk up to Patch. “I see you and Chrysalis finally made up. It might’ve stung for me to be reminded of the wedding or for Aita to be reminded of his mother, but I’m glad to see that it eventually led to you making amends.” “Thanks, Twilight. But it couldn’t just take Mom to do that. It took everypony else who came to me. Starlight, Firelight and Moondancer helped show me just how much Mom had changed since I fled to Silver Shoals.” Patch walks past Twilight and Aita over to Mother and gives her a hug. “I know you’re going to miss me Grandma, but just know I’ll be perfectly fine living in the hive.” “Will do, Patch.” Patch lets go and jumps into the air with joy. “Now come on, everyone! Let’s party!” Everyone cheers, Pinkie Pie hammer-spacing a party cannon and firing it off. Well, glad to see everyone in a much better mood now.
Chapter IWell, today marks one year since Pharynx rejoined the hive. Since then, I never really had the chance to work up an update about him. He’s become a real help in assisting me and Carve’s duties ever since Twilight, Sunset and Aita were called by the tree of harmony. Most of that is probably because he was brothers with a king. I mean he never asked for the knowledge of our duties, but he figured he might as well use it. So, here I am, sitting on the throne, thinking of what to do for him. Funnily enough, he comes up to the throne room. “Greetings, Pharynx. Have you wondered what day it is today?” “I’ve lost count. Inform me, queen.” “The day you returned to the hive?” “Oh, that. Has it been a year already? Wow…” “I know we haven’t done anything casual in a long while. But how does a vacation sound?” Pharynx looks surprised by this offer. “A vacation? You’re willing to do that for me?” “With how much you’re involved with my duties, Pharynx, why not return the favor?” “Sure. I’d love to relax for a while. Let me know when you want to get started with that. It looks like that will have to wait, because we have a relatively young drone looking for a place in Equestria to stay.” “Okay. Invite the drone here. Once living arrangements are in order, that’s when we’ll go on vacation.” Pharynx nods at the finalized plan. But before running off, he smiles. “Before you regained your throne, Chrysalis. I never imagined you would ever have taken up letting the hive share love. And now authority of Equestria comes to you for help.” I chuckle a little. “Why would you ever think otherwise would happen?” “Well, because you and Areola used to try to conquer the nation by stealing love.” “But not all of it. There was Las Pegasus, where Carve normally lives.” “Come on, Chrysalis. She first returned after Thorax left.” Upon hearing such a familiar name, I become a bit unamused. Pharynx is aware Correal is no longer around because of his brother. “Just retrieve the drone, Pharynx.” “Will do.” Pharynx finally proceeds to dash out of the throne room. After five hours of putting my trailing skills to the test, I find the changeling who was looking for a place to stay. Of course, he’s in Silver Shoals; his scent trail leads here. Still following, I’m led to a wide white trailer on the beach. Another thing to note is that the trail signature seems eerily similar to Chrysalis’. I land and sigh. Now there seems to be another signature present, also similar to Chrysalis’, only older. I knock on the door of the trailer, the answer coming from an old changeling with glasses on. She seems to be hunched over. “Yes?” “Hello there. I caught word of a changeling around here looking for someplace to stay,” I reply. Suddenly, she stands up straight. “Oh! You mean my grandson? I’ll get him in a jiffy.” The changeling now turns around and holds a hoof on her cheek. “Patch! Someone’s here to see you!” The trailer suddenly starts creaking, prompting the old changeling to jump into the air and fly while another comes, presumably Patch. “What is it, Grandma?” he asks in a curious tone, then catches sight of me. “Oh, hi. What are you doing here?” “I came to see if you wanted to live in the hive. We still have a spot or two open; it’s no big deal.” Patch growls and flies back to where he came from, leaving his grandmother confused. “Uh sorry. You’ll have to excuse him. He’s not usually like this.” “Do you not bring up home?” I ask. “Well, we already are home.” I rub my chin, thinking. I can’t return home emptyhooved. Maybe I could at least try again. “What if I just talked to him? I’m sure a little reasoning could help.” The grandmother steps out of the way for me to enter. This trailer sure looks cozy. The living room on the left alone has a loveseat and a recliner, both piled with bedding. Going into the small hall past the living room, I see a bathroom converted into a walk-in closet to my right, and up ahead seems to be Patch’s room. There he is, sitting on the twin bed in the corner ahead, the only furnishing in the room. “Um, apologies for earlier, Patch. I guess it’s a touchy subject for you?” Patch nods. “Well, you said you were looking for a place to stay.” “In Equestria, Pharynx. I can’t live here forever; I need a place to call my own before I’m forced to,” he explains. “I just figured you’d have the option to return. But why isn’t it for you?” “Jus- I don’t wanna talk about it.” “Patch, I’ll find out one way or another. Either tell me, or your grandmother will.” “B-but she wouldn’t do that, would she?” “She probably would, judging by how she let you fly off in a huff like that. I’ll see for myself what happened if you don’t tell me.” Patch gets out of bed when he hears me talking about his grandmother, obviously looking offended. “Are you saying Grandma is a doormat?” “Let's hope she isn’t.” I decide to leave Patch alone so that I can talk to the grandmother. “So Pharynx, how did it go?” “He didn’t budge. Something about the hive is definitely bothering him.” “Hm… Patch did come to live here after the wedding of Princess Cadence. Do you think that has something to do with him declining your offer?” “Regardless, I’ll have to tell the queen about it. She’ll be disappointed, but your grandson is old enough by now to make his own decisions, just so you know. Would you happen to have any pears around?” “Well, I do keep a tree around in case I have to contact the throne. It should be around back. I seldom use it.” “Good enough for me. Be right back.” I fly out of the trailer and go around back. Sure enough, there is a pear tree full of pears. I float four off and take them inside.
Chapter IIComing back into the trailer, I give two of the four pears to Patch’s grandmother. Once we reach the seeds for each one, we take them out to the tree I got them from. Once arranged, they send a call signal to the throne room. Chrysalis looks around and sees the two of us. “Pharynx? What are you doing at Mother’s place? I thought you went to retrieve the young one.” “That’s exactly what he was doing, dear,” replies Chrysalis’ apparent mother. I guess that makes Patch Chrysalis’ son. “Patch has lived with me since he became an adolescent.” Chrysalis’ eyes widen as her mother mentions Patch. “You mean to tell me that Pharynx was talking about my SON?!?” “Seems like it, queen,” I say. “I know this makes my-” “Don’t worry about it, Pharynx. Carve may be home, but my old teacher can take over the throne while I’m away. She used to be a queen herself. I’ll be over there as soon as possible.” Chrysalis teleports out of the throne room, causing the signal to disperse. About fifteen seconds later, she teleports in. Her mother looks pretty impressed by this. “I didn’t realize you could teleport, dear. Must be that new-fangled way of ruling your kingdom powering that.” “Quite accurate there, Mother. Now, this must be the place Patch must live in with you, right?” “I am not sure why, but your son doesn’t seem to think highly of his home kingdom,” Mother explains to me as we and Pharynx head inside. “But that’s absurd. Why during my reprise?” “Dear, you won’t know unless you address it to him. You did the same for Wavelength forty years ago. You’re Patch’s mother, and as your own, I suggest you dust off that technique for your own family.” “Okay. But first, Pharynx, you can go home for now.” Pharynx nods at me and flies back to the hive. “Good. Now that that’s taken care of…” I head in the direction of Patch’s room. The split second before he sees me, he seems to be playing a board game of some sort on the floor. I have no idea what it’s about, but it seems to involve borders and roman numeral tokens. When he does notice me, he looks up and his calm look quickly sours into a scowl. He then gets back to playing his game. “No greetings, Patch? Are you not even going to wave to me?” Still playing, Patch waves his hoof for me to exit the room. He is so deliberately glued to his game that he’s barely acknowledged me. I think back to the time Twilight told me about getting Aita’s attention shortly before Hearth’s Warming. She had to forcibly put away his DS. Seemingly unlike Patch though, Aita was simply homesick. Here, Patch clearly has something against me. I can’t just take his game away without getting harmed. “Patch?” My son puts down any tokens he’s floating and scowls at me again. “What do you want? I’m trying to play some Risk.” “Patch, it’s me…” “I know who you are.” I get down on my stomach to meet Patch at eye level. “Listen. I just wanted to catch up with you.” “Well, I can see by the fact that Pharynx was here that this reunion means A LOT to you.” “But I had no idea he was talking about you until he called me. That wasn’t even the point anyway. I haven’t seen you in years, and as your mother, I was hoping to-” “Question willing assistance? Circumvent living arrangements? Go to session? Use a groom for cheap power? Who knows what else after I left to live with Grandma?” “No… reconnect.” Patch growls, gets up and starts walking off to the living room. I simply continue sitting, watching him leave my view. If he wants his space, I might as well give it to him. Did Patch even use to be like this? I understand my first few years as queen bothers him, but that was true at the time too. Well, he never really avoided me before… until the attack on Canterlot nearly seven years ago. When I gathered my hive back home, Carve wasn’t the only one missing: it was him too. That invasion must’ve been the final straw for him. He didn’t even mention anything from after the wedding directly. This isn’t even like with Twilight. She may’ve had a personal disdain for me following my actions, but Patch was a child when he lived in the hive, not even an adolescent. Each realization leaves me more and more distraught. Mother walks into the room sits down next to me. It feels surreal that she’s only the height of a normal changeling. “Is everything okay, dear?” “...I never realized just how much my actions hurt Patch. His childhood must have been devastating for his development.” “He… never really goes out much, and he’s always with me if he does.” Mother sees me wipe a tear from my right eye, prompting her to scoot toward the front and rest her hoof on mine. “Chrysalis… I know your son is deeply hurt by what you did as queen. If you’re going to reconcile with him, I’m the only one who can personally help you.” Mother is right. She’s the only one who could give me advice if I really need it. She knows my son even better than I do… yeah. “Well, which changeling is he in custody of anyway? If you incline to help, then I’ll take your word for it.” Mother and I share one last hug before she begins walking to the living room ahead of me. She stops one last time to look at me. “I know you’ll have this all under control, Chrysalis. And don’t let anyone else make you think otherwise.” I get up and turn around to see her leave. “Thanks, Mother. At least you still believe in me.” Wait a minute. Equestria trusts me too. Everypony will easily recognize me for my most recent self. They can be a great resource of help.
Chapter IIII head back to the living room, where only Mother is present. It seems Patch stepped outside while I’m still here. “Looks like I have an idea, Mother. I am allies with Equestria, and that includes the Princess of Friendship herself. She actually has a younger changeling - Aita - living with her at the moment. If I write to her, then he could call me.” “Any other changelings living in Equestria?” she asks after a light laugh. “You always want to have more than one option at your disposal.” “Well, Carve lives elsewhere. She could do the same. In fact, she’s my normal substitute.” “Ooh, that’s an even better option. Have Carve call you.” “Excuse bursting that bubble, but Aita is the more reliable one.” “Oh. Who is Aita anyway?” Mother inquires. “Pretty unusual name for a changeling.” “Never mind that. When I’m done writing, would you like to accompany me for the call?” “Certainly yes!” I look around and immediately find a quill and paper on the kitchen table behind the entrance. I begin writing. Dear Princess Twilight, I originally sent Pharynx to fulfill living arrangements for a changeling that was looking for a place to call his own. That happened to be my son, Patch, who refused the offer due to my actions from when he was a child. I would like Aita to call me once you get this letter so we can discuss what I can do to reconcile with Patch. yours truly, Queen Chrysalis. At Canterlot, I am accompanied by Starlight, Aita and Spike as we approach Joe’s donut shop. “Now, tell me if you recognize this place,” I say to Aita, who looks above the entrance. His eyes widen. “Oh! Is this the donut shop you went to visiting your old friends?” I nod and point behind Aita, seeing five ponies coming from there: Moondancer, Lyra, Minuette, Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine. “Yep. In fact, here they come right now.” “Twilight! Spike!” Minuette excitedly shouts giving me a hug. “You came to have donuts, didn’t you?!?” “Ah! Starlight! Aita! Good to see everyone again,” Moondancer remarks. “I dropped everything upon learning about your arrival. We should do this more often.” “So, how’s your studies coming along, Moondancer?” asks Starlight. “Any new ideas for games?” Moondancer starts updating us all as we enter the shop. “I’ve been refining all the math I implemented in Sim Hive. I haven’t gotten any ideas yet, but it’ll come to me eventually. I’ve actually found a new book in the library here in Canterlot: The Premium Guide to Foal Street. It shows all the ins and outs of the MSE and its history since the founding of Manehattan.” Suddenly, Spike steps away from us and burps up a letter. When he unrolls the letter, he looks a little excited reading the very bottom. “Hey Twilight! Chrysalis just sent a letter!” “She did?” I float the letter and read it. I gasp. “She has a SON?!? Aita, Spike, would you mind us stepping outside for a minute? She’s requesting a call from us.” “In a minute, Twilight.” Aita teleports in four pears and gives them to me, Spike, Starlight and himself. “First, we’ll need to eat these.” Once we have only the seeds left, Spike and I follow Aita as he takes the seeds to the back of the building. There, Aita sets the seeds on the ground in a way that magically makes them open up with a holographic signal. On screen, Chrysalis is accompanied by an old-looking changeling. “There you are, Aita. And I see you brought Twilight and Spike with you.” Aita nods at Chrysalis. “Good. So where are you all? I thought you’d be home.” “Oh, we were just meeting with Twilight’s old friends in Canterlot,” Aita answers. “We’re just around the donut shop. So who’s that with you?” “I’m Membrane, Chrysalis’ mother,” says the older changeling. “So, your letter said you want our help to do something for Patch, right Chrysalis? To get him back on your side?” asks Spike. “Accurately so, Spike. I have you three on my side, so I am open to what you’d like to do.” I take a moment to think. I’ve never met Membrane, just her daughter. I didn’t even meet her grandson. It’s probably not going to work but… “Membrane, have you ever met Moondancer?” Membrane shakes her head. “I thought so. She was a unicorn that aspired to be like me, but closed off when I didn’t attend the one party she threw before I was sent to Ponyville.” “And after several attempts of contact, they got her to open up eventually by doing the same for her,” Aita finishes. Chrysalis looks to Membrane and smiles. “She was also the pony who made the code for the game we made Aita for his birthday.” She then looks back to us. “So Aita; Spike and Twilight got Moondancer to open up with a party, right?” Aita nods. “True, with the help of Pinkie Pie, of course.” “Then perhaps we could start with that. I’ll give you three some time to prepare, since I have to retrieve my son anyway. Do you think you can handle it?” Spike confidently gives a thumb’s up. “You bet, Chrysalis! Our destination will be Sugar Cube Corner!” Chrysalis nods as the signal putters out. “Why Sugar Cube Corner?” I ask, prompting Spike to shrug. “That’s where we hold most parties, right?” “Except for the Hearth’s Warming parties… although Twilight hosts those herself. Those cookies at the dining room sure were good.” Aita stops when he realizes what he just said. “Wait a minute. Cookies… Oh! I know who we could invite! I’m sure Starlight’s okay with inviting him.” I’m curious now. “Who is it, Aita?” “Just follow my lead. Once we get back to Ponyville, we’ll invite Firelight. Oh, and you, Starlight and I will need to get the whole group there.” Spike and I start following Aita as he trots back into the donut shop to update everypony on the whole situation.
Chapter IVInside the donut shop, Starlight seems to be hitting it off pretty well with Twilight’s friends. Everyone is in stitches when Twilight, Spike and I reenter. “Good one, Starlight!” Lyra heartily exclaims. “It’s so simple, yet so true! Oh! Hey guys! Starlight just told us the pun Sheriff Mangle made!” “Oh, did you mean the one that went-” I momentarily change into Mangle, thinking exactly the same thing everypony else probably is. “Nice try on the wording there Stellar Flare. Clarify OR YOU’RE FIRED!!!” Twilight’s old friends start laughing again along with Starlight as I change back. “Never had he ever screamed Crubbs more than that. So Starlight, I just called Chrysalis. We’re going to be throwing a party at Sugar Cube Corner for Patch, and I figured out who might be the perfect pony to invite. I’m positive you won’t mind, but better safe than sorry.” “It’s okay, Aita. You can invite Dad,” replies Starlight. “You remember, don't you? So, are we going to be taking Twilight’s old friends?” “Well, would you girls mind coming to Ponyville? Starlight, Twilight and I can take you.” Moondancer shrugs. “Why not? It’d be good to see Pinkie Pie again.” Once everypony else agrees, Starlight grabs Twinkleshine and Spike, I take Lyra and Lemon Hearts, Twilight holds Moondancer and Minuette, and we all teleport to Sugar Cube Corner. Looking around, all I around us is the bakery itself. Nopony is in here, at least in the lower level. The lights are all off too. I wonder what the hours here are. I attempt to open the door with magic, but the door is locked, so I turn the lock momentarily so I can open the door. On the front, I see a small post. It seems Sugar Cube Corner is only open in the morning on weekends. “So Sugar Cube Corner, eh Spike?” I tease. “Seems we should’ve gotten here earlier.” Hello? I hear a familiar voice call from upstairs. Aita, is that you? As soon as I hear a click, the lights in the dining room come on. Pinkie Pie then comes downstairs. She gasps in excitement when she sees everyone here. “I didn’t know we were planning a party! Anypony else coming?” “Well, we were planning on inviting Dad over,” explains Starlight as she teleports in a scroll and quill to write out the invitation. “That and Patch, Chrysalis, and probably Membrane are also coming.” When Starlight talks about Chrysalis’ family, everypony is confused except for Twilight, Spike and me. “Look, we have some time, since Chrysalis has to get Patch at Silver Shoals, but that leaves us with enough time for Dad to make it traditionally.” Twilight begins sending everyone instructions. “Okay. Spike, you send the invitation to Firelight. Moondancer, you prepare the spread. Starlight, you can help with cooking. And Minuette, decorations. Pinkie Pie, you can set up the games.” “So what can I do?” I ask. “I’m glad you asked, Aita. You can take Firelight as soon as he receives the invitation.” I follow Twilight’s instruction and teleport to Firelight’s house in Sire’s Hollow. I knock on the front door, Firelight answering soon after. He instantly recognizes me. “Aita! How’s it going?!? Long time no see!” “We’re about to throw a party for a young changeling over at Sugar Cube Corner. We’re doing it because of his situation with Chrysalis being similar to Moondancer’s.” I jump out of the way as the invitation arrives. “Princess Twilight Sparkle personally invites Firelight to Sugar Cube Corner. Aita should be there already to pick you up. Sounds amazing, Aita. I’ll be there as soon as possible.” “GREAT!” I grab onto Firelight and teleport us back to Sugar Cube Corner. Mother and I fly back to her trailer in Silver Shoals to take my son to Sugar Cube Corner, as Spike proposed. When I approach, a new package seems to’ve arrived in Mother’s mail. Nopony is out there now, but the package is easily visible and never was there when I first visited. When we land, Mother floats the package inside and begins taking it into Patch’s room. She gestures me to come with her, which I follow. “Oh hey. The new game a-” Patch stops short when he sees me. “Hello. Satisfied with that, Mom?” “Patch, you know she doesn’t need that right now,” Mother scolds. “Besides, your mother is taking us to Ponyville for a party.” “A party? You?” Patch scoffs. “That’ll be the day.” “Come now, son. Would you really miss a party from one of the biggest extraordinaires in Equestria?” Patch becomes puzzled from what I say. “I-is that a bluff?” I shake my head. “There is no bluff. Pinkamena Diane Pie is the best there is.” “Even so, I can’t attend parties. With my nymphhood, I would just get lost and bored.” “Patch, if it makes you feel any better, I will go with you.” “Still Grandma, I don’t know. I’d rather go looking for my own place, or - if I could do it in peace - begin unboxing.” Patch levitates a pair of scissors off the shelf in the corner and cuts through the tape with one blade. He then pulls open the top of the box with his magic. The game he floats out of the box appears to be quiz-oriented. “Well, there it is. I’ve been waiting to receive a copy of Know Nonsense for months.” I smile a bit for his fleeting moment of bliss. “Well, you’ll get to try that out as soon as you get back home, okay? We have to arrive at the party in Ponyville. If not for us, then for Princess Twilight.” Patch’s eyes widen. “Wait. Twilight is going to be there? As in… the Princess of Friendship?” I nod, showing him that he is correct about who I’m talking about. “Ready, dear?” inquires Mother seeing my opportunity arise, to which I confirm. I grasp Mother and Patch under each wing and teleport them in front of Sugar Cube Corner.
Chapter VSo when Mother, Patch and I enter Sugar Cube Corner, the lights are off. There appear to be eleven guests. I can’t tell exactly who they are, it being so dark in here, but one of them flips the switch in the back, turning the lights on. SURPRISE!!! everyone shouts. With the lights on now, it is revealed that Twilight has her old friends with her, along with Starlight, Aita, Pinkie, Spike, and who is presumably Starlight’s father. The room is decorated with streamers, balloons, and favors near the ceiling, multiple buffet spreads, games strewn throughout and a piñata hanging at the center. Everything happening all at once startles Patch slightly, but he quickly regains his composure. “Anyone wanna explain what this is?” Twilight approaches the three of us. “It’s a party. Make yourself at home, Patch.” “Uh thanks, but no thanks. I don’t attend parties.” I walk over to him and put my hoof on his back. “I understand. And it appears to be because of my actions. I was so focused on giving my most loyal subjects power, I never stopped to consider what you were going through. And now that I realize how easily power can be gained when I share love, I thought I’d reconcile with you through a party courtesy of the one and only, one we could bond over like we were supposed to when you lived in the hive.” Patch walks away from me and grabs a bat lying around and hits the piñata once. “And you believe this is gonna cut it, huh? Why wouldn’t it? You know, after the many times you let me down as a kid? Sure, the disaster that cost Areola her life was out of your control, but what about the aftermath, huh? What about almost giving into your own injuries? Surely you’re aware of letting us go hungry by failing every venture into Equestria! Then you kidnapped Carina without even considering her livelihood! You never did that with Synth, Carve or Thorax!” When Patch brings up Carina, Aita looks a bit sad. Patch continues however through tears of his own. “And don’t even get me started on that wedding! The fact you used a groom for cheap power made me finally realize you’ve damaged my development beyond repair! That my life in the hive was awful after Grandma retired because of ALL! YOUR! FAILURES!” Patch lets out a scream and gallops into the kitchen, breaking down into tears from there. Everyone else is looking at each other, distraught over the scene playing out, especially Twilight and Aita after hearing Patch mention what I did with Carina as well as the wedding in Canterlot. Starlight and Moondancer gesture me and Firelight respectively to come with them into the kitchen and check on Patch. He’s lying on his stomach with his face behind his hooves. Moondancer is the first to approach him. “Patch…” He looks up. “I know how it feels to have your view on someone come crashing down around you. But my friend Twilight showed me just because she failed me doesn’t mean I close myself off to others.” Firelight and Starlight come next, the former stroking Patch’s back. “I know you experienced quite a lot, Patch, but your mother has clearly learned a lot since you left. I myself have set aside everything my Starlight has done for that very reason.” “There’ve been quite a few changes since the Canterlot incident. The very same queen Thorax and I confronted well over a year ago is now one of my best friends. And she has since come by our side several times over.” Firelight moves out of the way for me to hug Patch. “I’ve faced criminals, my own grave in another timeline, a variety of circumstances. But seeing how my actions affected you, that was one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had, so from the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry, Patch.” After several seconds, Patch finally returns the hug. “T-thank you, Mom. I had no idea how much I needed to hear that… and I’m sorry for the way I acted back at the trailer.” “It’s okay now.” I stop and think. I sent Pharynx to Patch to deal with something, right? Why yes, I did. “Patch, you said you were looking for a place to stay, correct?” Patch nods. “Why don’t you live in the hive, that way we can maintain our newfound bond more easily. I understand if you’re still a little cautious.” Patch and I let go when he tries to think. He looks at me, trying to decide what to do. “Wow… I was so focused on your past, I never stopped to look at you now. You really have changed. Was this from befriending these ponies?” “Well, it was more from Twilight. She was a bit like how you were, in fact she was the last one I befriended.” For the first time since we got here, my son finally smiles. “Alright, Mom. I think I’m ready, ready to live with you.” “That’s splendid to hear, my son. And I think it’s something worth celebrating. Wouldn’t you agree?” “Absolutely.” Patch and I hug one more time. “Let’s finish this party.” So, the two of us are the first to head back into the dining room, followed closely by Starlight, her father, and Moondancer. Twilight and Aita are first to walk up to Patch. “I see you and Chrysalis finally made up. It might’ve stung for me to be reminded of the wedding or for Aita to be reminded of his mother, but I’m glad to see that it eventually led to you making amends.” “Thanks, Twilight. But it couldn’t just take Mom to do that. It took everypony else who came to me. Starlight, Firelight and Moondancer helped show me just how much Mom had changed since I fled to Silver Shoals.” Patch walks past Twilight and Aita over to Mother and gives her a hug. “I know you’re going to miss me Grandma, but just know I’ll be perfectly fine living in the hive.” “Will do, Patch.” Patch lets go and jumps into the air with joy. “Now come on, everyone! Let’s party!” Everyone cheers, Pinkie Pie hammer-spacing a party cannon and firing it off. Well, glad to see everyone in a much better mood now.
