Chrysalis was already awake. It wasn't a reasonable time of day to be up, but you needed to be up rather early if you wanted to catch someone in the act of something. She tapped her disguised hooves on the counter quietly while she waited for what was to come. Which was.... Well she hasn't figured out. But this day she was going to be CERTAIN to catch Sunset in the act.

It had been about a week, and the shop was closed for the day. 'Moon Glow' quietly worked each day, giving very little away. But every night the 'kirin' would put on overt shows of affection. Last high she told her she was 'proud of her.' Disgusting. Chrysalis only needed her own pride!

Blowing air out her nose in an exasperated manner, she sought to alleviate her boredom. Reaching out over the recently established hivemind between the 7 bugs she began:

"Any awake bugs, report. How goes operations?"

"I am integrating successfully. My target isn't very affectionate. I'm being sure to be extremely careful to not drain too much love from anyone." That would be Femur. See, now that was something worth being proud over.

"Excellent. Stay on guard, all of you. Remember, there is no backup coming for us. We stand together, or die. For the hive, my changelings!"

She was met with some responses of 'for the hive!' from those who were awake.

"Anyone e-" A noise. Was it time? "I must go. I'm gathering Intel on my mark."

It felt kind of wrong to call Sunset a mark, but... that's just how things go. It was the truth. Speaking of 'the truth..'

Chrysalis crept around the cramped home built into the noodle store. She didn't want to risk shifting, if she could get away with it. But nopony ever looked up, so she skittered her way to the ceiling. Peering though the cracked door at the private life of her roommate, she saw her. Still a kirin. Was she too late? But no, their horn lit up like a burned stick, and they began to cast some sort of shape change magic.

Except they didn't change shape...

Chrysalis's jaw hung open. Well maybe not hung, as she was upside down. But she looked onward in utter bafflement and confusion. What the hell kind of spell was that? She quickly skittered to the floor. She'd catch them off guard on purpose, and see what they had to say. She knocked once before entering. Her host jumped a little

"Oh goodness... Morning Moony. Sure as hell wasn't expecting you."

"What are you up to?" She tried very hard to keep the venom out of her tone, but some still seeped through. The Kirin had panic flutter through their heart for a moment.

"Oh uh... Just freshening up!" That was such a dog crap lie. Why was it so bad? She was literally good at this all week?? She held back a scoff.

"Oh I just thought I saw you casting something though the crack in the door. Sorry for spying! Didn't mean to. Kirin magic is just... really pretty." Not entirely a lie. It wasn't as good as Changeling magic, but..

"Oh I uh..." She sighed "Can you keep a secret?"

No. "Yes."

"Ok... It's... You know how I'm a mare right? Well... I wasn't lucky enough to be born as one. Every morning I have to cast this 'heart's shape' spell, to face the body I feel in the inside." Wait. That's it? That's it???

"That's it??" She didn't mean to say that so loudly... or out loud at all. The Kirin looked stunned. "Yes?" she replied timidly. "I didn't think other creatures would be super OK with that, and..."

"Forgive me, but that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" The kirin looked shocked. She was so going to blow her cover, but she could not hold back. "In changeling culture... As I learned in my travels.. because they are shape-shifters, self expression is extremely important to each and every bug. Even in the g- ... the time of Chrysalis, bugs -- apparently were given room to be whatever gender or color they wanted, so long as it didn't interfere with important things like their missions... Getting upset for being yourself is quite possibly the dumbest thing I have ever heard of in my life." She took every statement and stared, unreadable even for an emotion eater.

"You, despite incredible difficulty, found a way to be yourself. That. Is a triumph."

With that she found herself dragged into another insipid hug. Disgusting. Unfortunately she couldn't turn down free love, which is why she wasn't moving. Clearly.

"Thank you. I don't know why I needed to hear that but I did" She couldn't stop her eyes from rolling.

"Almost every creature in Equestria suffers from anxieties. Sometimes we need to hear things we already well know. Make sure we share the same objective truth." With that the Kirin smiled at her.

"You're too kind," she said quietly. Chrysalis wasn't sure she'd ever been kind in her life and she wasn't about to start. Sure, she often put the hive before herself, but that was central to her goals, so it didn't count. And helping this mare was simply to prevent herself from being further annoyed. But she did kind of need to reply. Let's see... her character should be kinda sheepish in this scenario.

"I don't know about that. I'm just throwing facts around," she said bluntly.

"Nonsense. I really appreciate you. You've been a huge help this week and I'm really glad you showed up. Nice to get a look inside your head too. You're always so quiet."

"Sorry," she lied. "It's just how I am, I suppose."

They made a dismissive wave with a hoof.

"Let's get some breakfast. Then why don't we head to your favorite spot?"

Author's Note

That's all you get for today! This chapter's song is named after the track from Sonic and the Black knight. This will not be the last time this happens. I love sonic.

I'm sorry lol.