How Two Monarchs Definitely For Sure Stole Hearthswarming (Definitely)

Late on Hearthswarming the following day, Chrysalis and Sombra sit alone in the highest chamber of the estate Chrysalis had acquired as a base of operations, a study poking out of the highest floor like a tower. From the window, the two could see ponyville-presently glowing with holiday lights and covered in a dense sheet of snow. Downstairs, the sounds of a number of fillies and colts getting settled in sounded; Chrysalis had excused herself just for a few minutes to consult her partner-in-crime.

“Are you sure you even did anything?” Sombra asks pointedly. “You can see the product of my efforts readily enough, but I begin to suspect you just spent the evening lazing about.” Sombra motions over towards the town, as Chrysalis bristles at the suggestion.

“Of course I did!” The changeling queen snaps. “You may think that your domination magic is all that, but it crumbles the moment the ponies helmets are removed! We need loyal, willing servants to expand our dominion, and I have begun the process of acquiring just that! Not to mention, I took them right out from under the nose of that accursed Starlight pony!” Chrysalis’s gaze narrows at Sombra, as she looks at him suspiciously. “And just what did you accomplish, hrm?”

Sombra scoffs. “What did I accomplish? Simply look around!” Sombra turns his gaze towards the window. “All of ponyville has been trapped in a blizzard! Surely even you are aware of how the ponies fear the frigid wastes of the north, and now I have brought them here.”

Chrysalis looks out the window dubiously; the snowy domain beyond didn’t really seem much different than a typical hearthswarming, but, she supposes, she isn’t necessarily an expert on ice and snow nor exactly what caused ponies to sometimes enjoy and sometimes fear it. Presumably, as the expert on the subject, Sombra did, and criticizing from a place of obliviousness would only make her seem incompetent. “Hrmph! Then this project, which I might remind you was my ideas, has already begun sewing the seeds. First I take Starlight’s work, then I mold it into our own… Yes, I can see it coming together now!”

Chrysalis’s cackle of villainy is suddenly cut off by the sound of a door creaking open, as the Changeling queen hastily dons her ponish form, and Sombra vanishes back into the shadows. A young filly peers into the study curiously, with utterly despicable innocence plain on her inquisitive features. “O-oh, um, sorry, I didn’t realize this was where you went!” the filly quickly backpedals out of the room.

The so-called Emerald Gleam gives a warm smile (Surely, all part of a dire ploy to gain the fillies attention, and not at all because she found them endearing.), and strides towards the exit where the filly was. “Oh, no worries, little one. I was just about done up here, anyways. Why don’t you go gather the rest, so we can open presents?” She sits down and lightly strokes the fillies mane with almost maternal care.

The filly eagerly grins and nods; double present opening in one hearthswarming!? This was undisputably the best hearthswarming ever! As the filly galloped off to gather the rest, Sombra snickers from behind Chrysalis.

“My, playing foalsitter for orphans? How noble of you.” Sombra’s voice is rich with sarcasm, as Chrysalis is silently thankful that she has such control over her transformed bodies reactions; otherwise, she’d have been blushing about now.

“If I don’t keep up the act, surely some of them will go to Starlight and tell her!” Chrysalis snaps in response, perhaps too defensively. “It’s imperative I keep up appearances at least until they’ve fallen under my charms.”

Sombra smirks derisively. “Oh, you have fun with that.” The sarcasm hadn’t left his voice, and Chrysalis is happy to shut the door behind her.

Thankfully for her own self-image, Chrysalis doesnt consciously realize that she is humming a cheerful tune under her breath as she goes to find the painstakingly-picked-out presents she had acquired. All for the purposes of securing the foals allegiances, naturally; only a fool would think she was growing attached to the orphans.

Only a fool.