Work of the Heart

I 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.