The rustle of leaves, the singing of birds, even the padding of distant paws on sod and soil. Chrysalis heard it all.

It was incessant.

With no reason to sleep and little to keep her mind occupied outside of snooping in on the sisters or Sunset, Chrysalis’ mind always fell onto that endless chorus of noise. It changed as the winged singers’ melodies shifted with the sun’s position in the sky. When they fell quiet in the dark, an army of crickets replaced them, changing from soothing calls to a deafening static.

All that wildlife out there didn’t care much for Chrysalis so long as she was behind the castle walls. Quiet, still, listening for the slightest change or difference.

Her other senses could probably pick up on intruders, too. Acute vision that let her focus on small animals far in the distance in the dimmest of light, and an odd sense that Chrysalis couldn’t put a name to that let her know almost precisely where Sunset was within the castle. The sisters managed to evade it, but she could always hear them coming long before that mattered.

Chrysalis had only been awake a few days, only conscious as of recently. Everything seemed so loud, abrasive and exciting, yet she wasn’t sure what to do with the greater world. She had novel concepts like ponies, forests, and Equestria beyond, but it was all so fuzzy and hazy. Little echoes that never quite seemed to be of Chrysalis’ own memory.

They could be Twilight’s, maybe. Far to the north, she was there, Chrysalis’ mind indelibly pulled toward her original creator. She could probably follow that link, the faint physical manifestations of it, and find precisely where Twilight was located. Not that Chrysalis had a need to. She could think for herself and do what she wanted.

A bird landed atop Chrysalis’ horn and chirped. Solid, green lenses focused on the creature, with a soft red-white breast and face, while its back feathers were so dark and glossy they looked like they reflected an unseen night sky.

Curious that the critters seemed to ignore Chrysalis’ presence when she remained still enough. Earlier that day, she saw a small, fluffy animal with a long tail scurry by. Before that, while contemplating one of the breaks in the wall, considering what could be done to patch it up, a pair of fat, long-eared things with grey fur lazily hopped on by. They scattered when she stepped toward them, their fright delighting Chrysalis.

Slowly unfurling her wings, Chrysalis grinned at the bird. It looked beautiful, while she looked ugly. A gross mismatch of parts, made for a nasty purpose. All save her wings, made of glittering green gossamer energy. If one listened carefully, one could hear them, alive even before she took flight.

She wondered if the bird would appreciate them, as fascinating as she found it. It looked innocent and cute, as though it would be friends to anyone and anything. But she’d seen its ilk diving on rodents, digging in the soil for worms.

The bird on her horn had a beetle in its beak, squashed and mangled. Adorable but vicious. A pretty liar.

Wings rose, widening into a net. She could have used her magic for what was next, but Chrysalis feared the bird would sense it, the vibrations in the base of her horn. More straightforward to cast a physical net from one direction than one ethereal from the other.

A snap of a twig rustling in the dirt. Too loud to be a padfooted creature. Chrysalis’ smile slipped, knowing too well what that meant.

The bird chirped and took flight, diving off the edge of the wall to flit between the tree branches. Chrysalis lurched forward, but it was too quick, even for her.

Folding her wings back with a huff, Chrysalis turned her attention to the trail leading to the castle grounds, at the interloper making her shameful way back home.

Strange, it was just the one, just Adagio. Despite the limp, her steps were quick and purposeful, though she kept her head forward and low.

Without her mixed loyalty lackey in tow, Chrysalis surmised that something must have gone wrong with their little plan. She’d watched them leave with interest earlier, following them from her perch on the wall for as long as possible. She’d overheard a little of their plan but none of the details.

Without turning, she watched Adagio make her way into the keep, out of view. With line of sight blocked, Chrysalis took the opportunity to leap off the wall and swoop up to the entrance.

She still wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the sisters. Three more golems, prettier, more colourful. Display pieces, made to be shown off, paraded around.

They’d shown their lies reasonably quickly, like the bird. Though they had far less success than it or Chrysalis. Aria had scars to show her failures, but her blunt nature was endearing. Sonata came across as stupid, but something definitely worked away inside her mind that Chrysalis couldn’t place. Then, there was Adagio, aggressive, with a significant presence bigger than her physical volume. She styled herself as the leader, which she was, in a way.

It made her the most dangerous of the sisters, but she was incompetent enough that Chrysalis wasn’t too worried about being outdone. It just meant that Chrysalis needed to take a less… intimidating approach with her.

Standing at the entrance, Chrysalis tilted her head to better hear what was to be said. It wasn’t like Adagio was quiet most of the time.

The conversation went about as Chrysalis had expected. An initial explanation that wasn’t quite as clear as desired, but a report was a report, news was news.

Aria had been taken, bringing the sisters down from three to two. Fewer creations to contend with, to manipulate, tipping the math in Chrysalis’ favour. Easier still, if Sunset’s furious comeback was any indication, especially after Adagio suggested going back into town, all four of them, to try and retrieve whatever was left of Aria.

“We’re not going.”

Those words were said with a sense of finality. Loud and commanding, but not shouted. Chrysalis didn’t hear anything to suggest it, but she was sure Sunset stamped a hoof for emphasis.

Her frustration with her older creations had crystallised, it seemed. A lack of utility, moronic and destructive behaviour. No wonder she’d put Chrysalis together if that was the incompetence she’d been dealing with.

Adagio’s responses came next. Loud, insistent. A petulant child not getting her way because she lost her toy. She was set on chasing the idiotic plan of hers.

Chrysalis could let herself be roped into it. See where it led and what advantage she could squeeze out of it. At the very least, it might get Adagio to sheath those daggers she kept glaring Chrysalis’ way.

It could also give Chrysalis leverage over them all.

After more pushback from Sunset, the rest of the conversation turned to facts. The castle was yet to be discovered by Adagio’s reckoning. Not that hers could be trusted, but listening out for the distant clank of armour or heavy hoofsteps revealed no further visitors.

When the command to leave was given to Adagio and Sonata, Chrysalis ensured she was hidden from sight and couldn’t be glimpsed by the door. When it became clear the two of them were making their way outside, she quickly scurried up the side of the keep and over onto the curved roof. She wasn’t invisible up there, with little shade from the sun, but neither were likely to look up her way. There was no need to, especially as Chrysalis had set the expectation she’d be on the walls, not the keep itself.

“I hate her,” Adagio hissed at Sonata as they exited, turning to the right and remaining on the grounds. From Chrysalis’ vantage point, so long as they didn’t enter any of the towers, she’d have an unobstructed view of the pair of them.

“You don’t mean that.” Sonata sounded off. Irritated, yes, but more sad and tired. “She’s looking out for us. She’s helping me and helped you and Aria.”

Adagio scoffed. “Because she had to. Her shiny new toys were broken, and she needed them fixed.” She gestured to her back leg, still lame and half-dragging on the floor. Funny that Chrysalis hadn’t noticed that on her return. “Fat load of good she’s done, too. This is what got me caught in the first place.”

Sonata tilted her head. “I thought you two were attacked at the same time?”

Stalling momentarily, Adagio stared at Sonata as she walked before her, turning around.

“I, er…” A deep, unnecessary breath. “It doesn’t matter. One of us got screwed over by Sunset’s shoddy, half-assed work. Useless little princess she is. If Aria wasn’t practically in pieces, she could have kicked butt enough to live. She’d had a few days to get over that.”

Sonata whined. “That’s not fair. We’ve all been kind of figuring things out as we go along. Sunset’s been kind of focused on fixing us all up, but she doesn’t have a lot to work with.”

Rolling her eyes, Adagio forced herself forward, bumping Sonata aside. “Should’ve been better prepared. Half-cocked plans, barely an idea of what she wants to do with us. I bet she didn’t even know what she would do once we got in front of that precious Celestia of hers.”

Celestia. That rang like a bell in Chrysalis’ mind, a recognition of what it meant. Authority, power, something that cowed Twilight and her cock-sure presence without the threat of violence.

It could be fun to meet her, Chrysalis thought. That would have to wait until some other time, though.

Sonata stood still as she watched Adagio walk away. “What are we going to do?”

Adagio shrugged, giving Sonata another glance. “Dunno.” She chuckled dryly. “I’ll give Sunset this. I haven’t a clue how we’re going to help Aria.” Facing forward, she then turned around the corner. “I’ll figure something out.”

Ah, another half-baked plan ready to collapse in on itself in the works. Chrysalis will have to ensure she’s present for when that one unfolds.

Sonata fidgeted in place, two legs rising and leaning as if to follow Adagio. Then, she seemed to think better of it, turning around to head back into the keep.

Adagio splitting off on her own wasn’t uncommon. She’d spent plenty of time since arriving at the keep moping around, and from Chrysalis had squeezed out of Sunset—equal parts literally and figuratively—it was an expected behaviour.

That Sonata didn’t chase her without an order to leave her felt odd, but that was part of that girl’s charm. Stupid, innocent, and ignorant on the outside, but she had inner, unseen depths and capabilities.

As Sonata was likely headed to her room, Chrysalis decided to head her off. She scuttled across the rooftop, silent save for the occasional subtle scrape on slate or displacement of detritus. Reaching the right side of the keep, she then dropped down and fluttered in through the window.

It was weird how bright Sonata liked to keep her room. Chrysalis understood why Sunset wanted light everywhere, she could hardly see a thing without it, but Sonata had better night vision, on par with Chrysalis’.

Maybe it is all the better to display her collection of curios and trash lining the walls and makeshift shelves.

Still, Chrysalis found a dark corner to tuck herself into, sidelong from the door. Instead, she headed Sonata off, keeping her from wandering and retaining some privacy as they talked.

Sonata entered a minute later, her usually cheerful expression absent. She looked a little duller, too. The faint glow in her chest beat a little more weakly. She sat in the middle of the room, looking over her display, her back to Chrysalis.

The right approach had to be considered with dear Sonata. Maybe preying on her innocence and belief in Sunset would be the right way to speak to her.

“Sonata,” Chrysalis started. A little too menacingly, perhaps, though if it made Sonata nervous, that wouldn’t be too bad.

The other golem jumped a little, turning to face Chrysalis as she put herself in front of the door. “Oh, Chrysalis! Hi. Um.” She blinked, looking to the door, then the corner. “How did you get—“

“The window,” Chrysalis said. “I didn’t want to upset your sister with my presence. I get the sense that she’s never too happy to see me.”

With a meek little laugh, Sonata smiled a little, then nodded. “She, uh. She’s just a little abrasive, you know? Been like that since we woke up. I’m sure she’ll come around to you eventually.”

Baring her black metal fangs, Chrysalis grinned back. “Perhaps,” she said before letting the smile flatten out. “Though I noticed she looked a little morose upon her return to the castle earlier. May I ask whatever happened?”

Grimacing, Sonata turned away, looking down at her hooves. “Aria’s been kidnapped. At least, that’s the way Adagio tells it.”

Chrysalis clicked her tongue and shook her head. “That is unfortunate to hear,” she said, exaggerating her words as much as she could to sound convincingly upset. It was a little too uncanny, even for Chrysalis, so it wasn’t surprising that Sonata’s glance looked slightly disbelieving; a sidelong glance sent her way. “How did that happen to unfold?”

“I… I don’t really know.” Sonata hummed and shrugged. “Adagio and Aria both headed into Ponyville. Apparently, they wanted some food for Sunset, which is a good idea, but then they got spotted and chased.” Sonata’s shoulders then sunk, giving Chrysalis the impression that she was halfway to melting with how sullen she looked overall. “Aria wasn’t able to fight them off because she’s still pretty broken, I think. I should have done more or got Sunset to do more, but it’s too late.”

“I get the distinct impression there was little you could have done to prevent that.” With a quick, short laugh, Chrysalis stepped forward, putting a hoof on Sonata’s shoulder. “You’re not exactly as experienced as Sunset is, and she is, let’s be quite honest, very busy and distracted as of late. There’s only so much you could do.” Of course, if the little firebrand actually thought about what she was doing and avoided getting into so much trouble, the situation could have been different. Really, if she wanted to pick so many fights, she should’ve considered being considerably less squishy.

Another shrug, big enough that Sonata shifted Chrysalis’ hoof off her. “Thanks, but she’s still out there. I’m frightened for her, and I want to help, too, but Sunset is kind of right that we can’t do much to help right now.”

Sonata rose and stepped closer to her collection of things, specifically at what looked like a leg joint similar to Chrysalis’s, albeit eaten by rust. It gave off the sense that if it was disturbed in any way, it might end up crumbling to red-hued powder.

“I wish Adagio would let up on Sunset a little. But I also wish Sunset would give Adagio a break. The two of them have been so upset with one another since… Um.” She glanced back at Chrysalis with an apologetic smile. “Since you. No offense.”

“None was taken,” Chrysalis said. Then she glanced over her shoulder to the door, which she pushed shut with sickly green energy until it closed with a near-silent thunk. “I love the drama, but it is a little too much for me. It makes Sunset miserable, so she’s no fun to snuggle with. I can’t imagine how hard it is for you and Aria to deal with your blowhard sister.”

The smile flipped. Sonata had nowhere near the menace she probably thought she did when she got angry. It was like a child not getting any candy. “She’s not a blowhard. She’s just, I don’t know, angry.”

Chuckling, Chrysalis bowed down. “My apologies.” Straightening back up, she took up space beside Sonata. From her taller vantage point, she spotted an arrangement of bolts, some sheered and some pristine. Whatever did Sonata have them for? “It is good that you care for her and Sunset. That said…”

Leaning in, Chrysalis brought her face close to Sonata’s, their noses almost touching. “You will want to carefully consider where your loyalty lies should the worst come to pass. I do so hope the two of them can kiss and make up, but their differences may be…” The ridged, metallic tongue clicked over Chrysalis’ upper teeth. “Reconcilable.”

Sonata blinked a few times, her eyes wide. Worry, alarm, it didn’t matter. Chrysalis had said what she needed to.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” she said. The words came out quiet, meek as if her belief wasn’t exceptionally as steadfast as she wanted it to be.

Chrysalis rolled her eyes and tilted her head, giving a slight shrug. “Mh. I can’t say I haven’t warned you.” She approached one of the windows again, placing a hoof on the sil. “You’d do well to think on that. Just remember who cares for you and who thinks of you as a tool to be used for their own ends.”

Flashing another smile, she clambered outside, fluttering up to the roof.

She could have climbed. Chrysalis learned that trick the night they’d moved to the castle, primarily by accident. She wanted to push a pile of rocks over, but the topmost stone stuck to her hoof until she consciously let go. Since then, she’d loved defying gravity. She could get away with Sonata seeing it, though it would pay to keep that little skill secret from the sisters and Sunset until it became necessary.

Climbing back to the roof, she used that as a vantage point to try and search for Adagio. She’d gone quiet, presumably standing still somewhere. It took little time to spot her mopingly staring off into the forest on the north side, near the crumbling gatehouse. The one thing they had in common was watching the world flitter on.

Unlike Chrysalis, however, Adagio’s insistence was to look toward Ponyville, that distant town Chrysalis only had the scantest memories of, save for Twilight’s workshop and the glimpses she had the few times she’d flow far above the trees.

Bothering her would be irritating and potentially dangerous, given her mood. The latest events, however, opened up the perfect opportunity to get into her head.

Jumping from the roof, Chrysalis flung her wings to glide down and land behind Adagio. A set of light clanks as metal met stone announced her arrival.

Adagio twitched an ear but didn’t bother turning. “What do you want?”

“What do I want?” Chrysalis echoed, putting a hoof to her chest. “I was simply coming to check on you, see how you’re doing. I heard such a commotion in the lab, and it worried me. Might I ask whatever happened?”

Barely turning her head, Adagio scowled at Chrysalis over her shoulder. “Not buying it. If you overheard me shouting, you know exactly what happened.”

That was about the expected reaction. At the very least, it can’t be said that Chrysalis didn’t try to at least offer a little peace, though there were other approaches she could try. She changed her posture, stood taller, and lost some of her feigned grace. “Very well. Yes, I know enough about your little escapade.”

“Go on, gloat. Tell me how I should have anticipated getting my flank kicked.” Adagio waved a hoof in a sudden, fitful gesture. “Clearly, you wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

“Gloat? Me?” Chrysalis stood beside Adagio with a hearty chuckle, following her gaze out into the woods. “I mean, I would enjoy rubbing your snout into the mess you created, but that wouldn’t be very… productive. No…” She cleared her throat, bowing her head down. “I am genuinely worried about you and your sisters. Poor Aria is in way over her head, so to speak.”

“Not buying that, either.” A scoff and Adagio turned to Chrysalis. She lifted her head and squared her shoulders, leaning forward like a wolf making itself larger, defending its territory. “You’ve done nothing but make our lives worse since Sunset put you together.”

Smiling through her wince, Chrysalis straightened up. “Ouch. Right to the heart, that one.” Another minor chuckle and Chrysalis shook her head. “Especially since things weren’t exactly great beforehoof. Ah, but there I go, trying to turn that needle of yours back on you. Like I said, that is hardly a productive endeavour.”

Unmoved, Adagio continued to glare at Chrysalis.

“Fine, fine. I see some explaining needs to be done.” Chrysalis started to pace around Adagio, walking first to the wall’s outer edge, nearing the old, worn-down battlements. Best not to corner Adagio. “You must have some idea as to why Sunset made me the way I am, no? It’s not a hard guess, given your…” Humming, Chrysalis pointedly looked at Adagio’s backside. “Pleasing appearance. Sunset may have given me sentience, breathing genuine life into me. It’s wonderful to think for yourself. But I am clearly here for my utility.”

“We can agree on that, at least.”

“Glad to hear it.” A grin, face plates shifting up to show off every one of those sharp, dark teeth. “Before that, she only had you. Works of art, all three, but nothing more than pretty faces with a hint of personality, trying to understand their purpose and place. Something I can sort of relate to.”

She passed around behind Adagio, cutting off her route to the gatehouse. “I can understand caring for Sunset, truly. I’d rather she didn’t come to harm, too, and a part of me is still attached to Twilight. Doing her more harm than I have is not something that excites me, even if it may end up being necessary again in the future. Yet I was nothing but a curio to her. An interesting thing for her to tinker with and show off to anyone who showed a passing acknowledgement.”

Adagio turned her head quickly to follow Chrysalis as she walked along the opposite side. “What are you getting at?”

Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “Come now, surely you can make the connection. You’re the thing to show off. A display piece, nothing more. The fact you’ve shown at least a little use is nothing short of helpful coincidence.”

For a moment, Adagio broke contact with Chrysalis’ gaze, looking down to the floor. “That’s… That’s not true. Not fully. She’s proud of us, but she doesn’t really know what she has with us around. She’s a moron, but she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to how we work…” She looked back up at Chrysalis, a light sparking in her eyes again. A constellation formed as the sun bounced in the fractured lens. “She’s important. I—we still need her. We just need to make her see that she needs us still.”

A hum. “Fair enough. Though the question there is how long that might last.” Turning to face Adagio once more, Chrysalis looked down her matte snout. “Just do be mindful of what may come along after me. Attachment is not love.”

“Like you’d know.” Adagio scoffed.

“Oh, but that’s the thing. I do. I’ve had little else to do but think, and I’ve already decided where my loyalties lie. Do you know where?”

A little smirk cut across Adagio’s face. “To yourself?”

“To my—“ Chrysalis blinked and laughed. “The wit on you. No wonder you and Sunset tend to argue. Though you are correct.” With a gracious shake of her head, Chrysalis placed a hoof on her chest, lifting her neck and shoulders high. “You’d do well to understand my answer, nonetheless.”

After holding her stare for a moment more, Adagio grunted and turned to face the forest again. “I hate that you’re starting to make sense,” she muttered.

“I love that you understand that.” Chrysalis hopped from the wall with a hearty little laugh, returning to the keep’s main entrance.

Two very effective conversations in one day. Without the wildcard that Aria was involved in, that could well be the tipping point Chrysalis desired.

She did hope that whatever Aria chose to do next didn’t actually harm Sunset, not that she expected that to be the case. She’d rather Sunset wasn’t too hurt in whatever was to come.

The spacious interior of the keep comfortably held Chrysalis. She had enough space to stretch her wings out and touch the walls if she so wished and to walk at a pace quick and comfortable to her. That was even more true of the lab, a former throne room, like it had been built for some, even bigger than Chrysalis at one stage.

A large wooden board had blocked the doorway inside, dragged in place. Only slivers of dim crystal light glowed through the gaps. Concentrating on the board, Chrysalis slid it aside.

Sunset blinked, staring up at Chrysalis.

“I do hope I’m not intruding,” Chrysalis said. Sunset swallowed, then shook her head. “No, I… I was about to get some fresh air. Maybe try talking to Adagio again. Um…”

Sunset looked small to Chrysalis most of the time. Short, round, and weak. Though, to be fair, that’s the experience Chrysalis had with most ponies thus far. Comparatively tiny and meek compared even to the sisters. It’s a wonder they let themselves get beat up so thoroughly so often.

Right then, though, Sunset looked even smaller than usual. Little hints of uncertainty radiated off her, and something that Chrysalis had yet to identify. All she could tell was that it was adjacent to shame.

“Bit for your thoughts?” Chrysalis asked.

A short laugh and a small smile were all Sunset conjured up in response to that. “It's, uh... It’s nothing. Adagio screwed up, but I can’t exactly just stay idle. She wants to get stuff done, and I can hardly blame her when I’m feeling so restless myself.”

Ah. That might lead to a potential reconciliation between Adagio and Sunset. Suitable for the two of them, but perhaps not for Chrysalis, not if she wanted to make sure she kept Sunset primarily to herself.

She stepped forward, plucking Sunset up in her magic and earning a startled squeak from her. “Maybe you should try to relax a little longer.” Chrysalis beamed, briefly slipping the tip of her tongue over her bottom fangs. “See if the energy… subsides. It can’t be a good idea to run back outside with a half-baked idea just because you’re feeling anxious, can it?”

Sunset drifted ever closer to Chrysalis’ torso until she squished against her hardened chest with another squeak. “That makes a little sense,” she said, her squished snout muffling her a little. “But I really should still go try to talk to her. I have a plan, but I need everyone involved.”

More magic slid the board back into place, restoring their privacy. “And whatever will you tell her? I’m fairly sure giving her vibes and reassurance will only go so far.” Trotting to the far side of the room, behind the central table, Chrysalis settled herself down on the floor with Sunset before her. She ensured Sunset’s back legs were pinned beneath her weight, keeping her either sitting awkwardly or forcing her to lay down and accept her fate as Chrysalis’ snuggle buddy. Add a little further squeeze with her magic, and Sunset would drift backwards quickly.

Sunset sighed deeply, accepting the situation and Chrysalis’ words with it. “I guess you’re right. I should at least have a concrete idea to propose.”

“That’s what we want to hear.” Shuffling forward, Chrysalis dragged more of herself on top of Sunset, ensuring that her forelegs’ range of motion was limited by her own.

A blush crept across Sunset’s face, a hidden shade of crimson hidden underneath her flame-bright fur. She didn’t meet Chrysalis’ eyes, focused more on her desk. It delighted Chrysalis, teasing out those little reactions in Sunset. It meant her little reinforcement routine was working.

Teeth came down, a gentle pinch at Sunset’s throat. She let out a little grunt, acceptance and irritation in equal measure, a warning that this wouldn’t last if Sunset could help it.

Chrysalis would ensure she had Sunset right where she was for as long as she liked. It wasn’t as if Sunset could drag herself away, even if she wanted. Even if she wasn’t pinned under her, wrapped in her legs or held in her magic.

Glancing along the edge of Sunset’s face, Chrysalis stared at Sunset’s horn. The inhibitor still sat at the base, marred and chipped from her attempts to remove it. At first, Chrysalis hardly understood the device, but Sunset’s explanation of its functionality was quite comprehensive. Half a dozen possible runic structures and internal mechanisms could be at play. They kept it in place and constantly drained Sunset of excess mana by means of power.

It really didn’t take long for Chrysalis to figure out the inhibitor from that point. She easily identified the precise inner workings and found the little, unseen switches she’d need only toggle to set Sunset free.

She gave it a little tug, and Sunset hissed. Chrysalis feigned ignorance, pretending to struggle to understand the thing. It was fun to pull it, reminding Sunset it was there. It was fun to watch and feel her squirm in discomfort when it gripped the horn tighter and tighter the harder she pulled. So long as she didn’t pull too hard, she could keep up the charade, though she was sure Sunset would eventually figure out some other means of removing it.

No matter. The longer Chrysalis kept it on Sunset, the longer she could figure out her next excuse to remain close to Sunset.

Author's Note

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