The Meaning of Chrysalis

Queen Chrysalis walked down the dripping halls of her hive cluster. It was a dark place. A peaceful place, to her and her changelings at least. For the hive was their home. Their sanctuary. Their life. It provided them the few nutrients they needed aside from love with the mists it excreted. Mists eagerly absorbed by their bodies.

But as said, these nutrients were only secondary to the odd trait that fate had chosen to give them. A trait that could only be satisfied in one of three ways:

1. A changeling could earn his or her love. This meant legitimately gaining it in their true or 'fake' forms from another creature: any creature able to feel it, really. Building a relationship from scratch. Building 'true love'. This creature could be something as simple as a puppy, or as complex as a thousand year old dragon. It didn't matter. Though generally, those that could pass a self-awareness test were generally more adequate at providing what they needed.

2. They could impersonate a pony or another creature's 'lover', or someone they loved, and take what they hadn't earned. It was a morally wrong thing to do, Chrysalis had long since decided, yet it paled in comparison of the third technique...

Only a few paces from her personal quarters, the doors to a room no changeling felt good visiting slid open. Inside, a plethora of strange, green pods hung from the ceiling. Giant versions of what one would find a caterpillar in before its ascension into a being of beauty. Yet those within these pods... would find no such fate.

"Good morning, my queen," a voice called from Chrysalis' side.

She glanced downward towards it origin. At her side was a smaller drone, a female: with beautiful blue eyes and a chipped ear. However, despite a form even ponies may call 'cute', she still held a fierce, determined expression on her face. It was that determination that had allowed her to rise all the way up the political ranks to becoming Chrysalis new personal, number one assistant and adviser, a few years ago after Ditto had finally passed away, kicking and screaming while being dragged off to death, of course.

The grim reaper (a mysterious figure only known as 'The Black-Winged Death') probably had a rough time getting her to whatever afterlife awaited them. She never really wanted to go. And Chrysalis didn't want her to go, either. Unfortunately, age-preservation spells could only do so much before entropy had its way.

Nonetheless, she found this new assistant's services to be adequate at least.

"Good morning, Copycat," Chrysalis said to her, in a professional tone.

"Yeah..." she sighed. "Always a good morning having to do this, huh?"

Though she could do without the wise-cracks...

Chrysalis returned the sigh. "It's not fun for anyone, you know. But it's necessary."

Copycat glanced away from her. "A changeling's gotta do what a changeling's gotta do?"

"By that you mean pretty much put a stain on everything moral and right?"

Copycat gave a shrug. "In that case, do you think if I skipped dessert I'd get karma points back?"

Chrysalis gave her a small smile. "Maybe... let's get this over with."

The two entered the room and approached a trio in pods. Chrysalis was used to seeing what was inside them: captured creatures: ponies, zebras, arctic wolves, griffins, you name it. Still, she could barely look into their eyes. Eyes frozen in horror.

They found it best to preserve them when they were... awake.

"Hmmm... always love the selection," Copycat said sarcastically. "The horror in their eyes really swells my appetite." She began to glance about at the various choices. "Let's see: Terrified Captured Creature A or Terrified Captured Creature B... decisions decisions... you know, sometimes I wish I was still out and about so I could earn love the legit way..."

She turned to Chrysalis, a curious look upon her.

"Do you think in some small way they know where they are? That everything they think is real right now... being home with their families and friends, is just an illusion created by chemicals seeping through their pores?"

Chrysalis glanced away from her. "No... they have no idea. You're thinking far too much about this."

She was lying. She had no idea either. The pods were not of her design.

And the drone had a right to think about it.

"Well, that's good, I guess. Time for some noms, I suppose," Copycat sighed.

She drew near to a particular pod, this one of a terrified looking baby dragon, and closed her eyes, as if concentrating intently. As a small beacon of light glowed at the end of her horn, a strange, green mist began to draw from the body, and like a junkie getting his or her fix, she took it in with a dreamy expression on her face.

"God... or whoever is up there... please forgive me for this," she whispered.

Chrysalis closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, before drawing near a pod herself. She hadn't fed in nearly twenty-four hours. Every time she did a side of her was screaming at her,

'You deserve worse than what they've been put in, you coward! You fool!'

And the voice didn't end its barrage of insults when she left the room.

Unfortunately, it was necessary for now. She couldn't afford to leave the hive every time she needed a snack.

She winced in concentration, and began one of the basic spells all changelings knew. The spell for forcefully extracting love. No changeling liked doing it, for if a creature were awake when experiencing it... they would experience a feeling of hopelessness akin to somepony who had just lost a friend: who had just lost a family. A terrible feeling that one would rather quell with death.

Fortunately, however, her victim: a beautiful white wolf with strange markings on her face, was not awake. Though she still wondered if its dreams were becoming nightmares right now. Was the brilliant hunt that it might have been on becoming a disaster? She did not know.

A few seconds later, she finished feeding, but though her being felt full, her soul felt empty. She glanced into the horror-struck, vicious, fighting eyes of the wolf, and she felt, for a brief second, her body was betraying her. It was sending her signals that this was a 'good' thing, yet it felt so wrong.

She shook her head, glancing at Copycat. She looked completely defeated: remorseful.

"I... can't do this anymore..." she whispered, her eyes growing moist. "I... honest to god... cannot do this anymore..."

Copycat gulped, as if unable to decide how to handle this situation. Chrysalis couldn't blame her. How could you console she who meant the world to her? She who was her queen? Nonetheless, she was at least willing to try.

"Hey... you were right, you know. It is necessary..." Copycat said, drawing before Chrysalis and giving her queen a sympathetic smile.

"Is it?!" Chrysalis snapped. "It's all my fault we're in this state! I ordered the attack on Canterlot, and I ordered the expulsion of the griffins that started this whole thing off!"

"Well, it isn't my place to say if that's true or not," Copycat grunted. "I have no idea, I wasn't there. But I can say... I appreciate you staying here... torturing yourself for my sake. For all our sakes. The hive needs its queen. I know... I shouldn't be playing psychologist but-"

Chrysalis' eyes continued to water.

"Alright... I definitely shouldn't be playing psychologist."

"No... it's fine."

At that, Chrysalis knelt down to her level.

"You're a good assistant, Copycat. You know that?"

Copycat's smile returned. "And you're a good queen. Things don't suck that bad. I mean- we might be running out of food. And the world kind of hates us..."

Chrysalis' eyes began to water again.

"Oh crap... uhhh... I'll just... not talk. Yep - not talking. Not talking is good. In fact, I can be the best non-talker in the world! Starting... now."

And the two stood in awkward silence for a moment, as Chrysalis slowly composed herself.

"T-The United Neightions meeting," Chrysalis whimpered, wiping away a few tears. "A-Any news about that? Do you know who's representing Equestria?"

"Errrrr..." Copycat gulped, glancing away from her.

Chrysalis' eyes narrowed. "You know something, don't you? Well, you might as well tell me. I can't feel anymore crappy than I already am."

Copycat blinked innocently. "Wah? Who knows something? I don't know anything... knowing is for the... knowers. Damned, dirty knowers..."

"You're my assistant. That's your job," Chrysalis grunted. Her eye then caught one of the pods nearby, the one with the wolf she had just fed off. "And let's get out of this damned room, already."

"Yeah, with pleasure," Copycat said, taking a deep breath afterward for some reason.

The two made their way out, making their way through the judicial portion of the changeling hive. Essentially, the changeling's capital and only city, known only as: Xen'maria. However, it was large enough to house as many creatures as three Canterlots. Some even said that the tunnels of it, those which twisted and dug into the islands and seabed it resided in, if all put in a straight line, could stretch about the world. It was truly a feat of hard workmanship.

Workmanship that was being put to waste due to a dwindling population, unfortunately. Made apparent by the lack of changelings the duo passed by on the way to Chrysalis' work room. However, if Copycat thought she was getting out of the conversation, she was poorly mistaken.

"So... the United Neightions meeting. Will Princess Celestia be representing Equestria?"

"Errrr... yeah... about that..." Copycat simpered. "You might as well see it for yourself... an intelligence drone brought back a little parting gift from Canterlot while you were sleeping. Are your dreams getting better, by the way?"

Chrysalis sighed. "They've gone from crap to crappier."

"Oh..."

The two remained silent as they entered her work room. It was a neat and orderly place. Bookshelves lined the walls, and a ton of scrolls were stacked in the corner of it. Chrysalis' desk, however, was cluttered with reports from various changelings agents. Military, social, eccetera. Stuff she was having a hard time analyzing as of late.

"On your desk. It uh... didn't really need a report."

Chrysalis raised a wary eyebrow.

"Alright..." she said slowly.

So she walked over to the desk. A newspaper lie there labelled 'The Equestria Times.' She had seen this newspaper before, at least previous issues of it, and didn't take much interest in it since it never usually provided any insight her drones couldn't. However, the particular headline soon put this idea at pause. A headline that made her ears sag in worry.

"Oh crap..."

"Yeaaaaaaah," Copycat winced. "Well, I guess you would have found out about it eventually."

Chrysalis took a deep breath. Below the headline was none other than Twilight Sparkle, a magical, animated image of her waving at a crowd of ponies. However, this was not the same unicorn she had easily dispatched in Canterlot a year ago. In fact, she wasn't even a unicorn anymore, though this she already knew...

However, what she did not know was that she was already taking an active role in politics.

"Once a unicorn, now a princess, Twilight Sparkle, the newest member of Equestria's prestigious, regal body, has been lying low as of late," Chrysalis read aloud. "In an interview taken shortly after her ascension, she was quoted saying,

'I am proud to sport these wings. I am, really. But I don't want anypony, including my friends to treat me any differently than I once was. I'm the same old Twilight Sparkle, the same old unicorn. And because of that, I will not be staying in Canterlot. The life I've grown to love lies in Ponyville, and the life I wish to continue stays there. If Equestria needs me, I'll be there to heed her call, but for now, I am going to continue where I left off, with the added task of studying politics, diplomacy, and everything else I'll need for when that time comes.'

And study the humble princess has been. In one particular field, apparently. Rainbow Dash, one of Twilight's greatest friends was quoted with saying,

'Yeah. Twilight's pretty much gone from egghead to just... nerd, as of late. No offense, Twilight, if you're reading this. Please don't send me to the dungeon! Hahaha na, just kidding. But seriously though, she's been cramped up in that library more than usual lately, with Zecora of all ponies, er zebras - no offense, Zecora. Anyway, I found her in there last night sleeping next to a stack of diplomacy books. Seriously, diplomacy? How boring can you get!? She should be outside checking out my new super awesome moves or flying with me! What's the point of having them if you won't use them?! Speaking of which, ever see a Filly Flyby before? Here, let me show you it!'

The rest of the interview... is not relevant. But this does provide important insight into our newest princess' life. It indicates she may be more than capable of handling the role both Princess Luna and Princess Celestia have blessed her with:

Representative of Equestria and mediator in the 1934 United Neightions Summit in Manehattan, Neigh York.

That's right. At a press release only seven hours prior, Princess Celestia revealed the intention of having her faithful student be the voice of our great nation at this important summit. Called a 'political hellhole' by some and 'the world's saving grace' by others, the United Neightions, since 1912 has, has provided a place for the various nations of Trinity to create ties, to break ties, and to most importantly: provide a discussion area where important issues can be discussed without the need for war.

Topics coming up at this meeting include:

1. A vote regarding the international slave trade: whether it should be continued or not.

2. A debate regarding the changeling nation of *Sinmaria: should they be given a seat to be allowed to voice and explain themselves?*

3. In addition, in concern with changelings: should additional sanctions be placed on them regarding trade? Will new 'red stone runes' that allow changelings to easily be revealed be recommended for international use, or regarded as morally wrong?

4. Will The Crystal Empire be prosecuted for their recent aggression against Artaria, the northern wolven nation?

"Oh this is just peachy," Chrysalis groaned. "Princess Celestia might have been willing to hear me out, but Twilight... after what I did to her? After I screwed with her brother?"

"Why not send Princess Celestia a letter now, then?" Copycat suggested.

"I have... she hasn't responded," Chrysalis sighed. "I was hoping by showing up there it'd force her to make a decision... and that decision would have been to lend support to allowing Sinmaria into the United Neightions, if I got lucky. I could have worked from there."

"So wait, you were hoping she'd just vote for you, even if she hasn't responded to your letters?"

"Yeah... and now that Twilight's there, there's no way we're getting a vote from Equestria."

Copycat raised an eyebrow. "What if Princess Celestia orders Twilight to vote for you?"

"It's... possible, I suppose," Chrysalis grunted. "But I'm not sure if she will. I was Princess Celestia's student once, you know. She's a fan in that whole 'swim in the deep end' philosophy. She wants them to act on their own."

"Ugh," Copycat said, shivering. "I've always sucked at swimming." She held up a hoof, smirking. "These hooves make crappy paddles."

Chrysalis merely glanced away from her, not even cracking a smile.

"Yeah, I know, that was a terrible joke..."

"It's not that," the swarm queen muttered. "It's just... I'm not even sure it's worth going to anymore... why risk humiliation when there isn't even a chance?"

"Hey, chin up!" Copycat beamed. "Seriously, it's not like you'd be going alone."

Chrysalis gave her a stern look.

"You're not coming, Copycat..."

Her pupils dilated. "W-What?"

"I don't want to put you at risk. There's a lot of anti-changeling sentiment in Equestria at the moment, you know."

Copycat gave a cocky grin. "Pffft, you make it sound like it'll be dangerous!"

"It will be. Trust me," Chrysalis grunted.

"With all due respect, my queen, you haven't got a degree in International Relations at Wrymglave. We had to travel to plenty of countries who didn't like us." She wiggled her ear. "Ever wondered how this happened? Thrown pitchfork."

Chrysalis winced. "Sorry, I didn't know."

Copycat smirked. "You can make it up to me when we go. I've always wanted to try that one pony food: what's it called, hay bacon haydogs? Mmmm... I hear they make em' best in Neigh York."

"If we go, you mean," Chrysalis said.

"Can we at least go in disguise then?! Hay bacon dogs!"

"You're a changeling! You eat love!"

"Yeah but... they're really tasty."

Chrysalis rolled her eyes, about to open her mouth to say something more, when suddenly, a violent voice called from behind her:

"My queen!"

The voice was grim, angry... though slightly satisfied for some reason. She twirled about, a look of apprehension on her face, and standing at the door was one of her elite guards.

"Yes, what is it, Grubgarb?" she asked.

"Sorry to bother you, my queen, but we just captured a very... interesting intruder on the southern shores. He came by ship."

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. "You... captured an intruder? Why didn't you just explain to him that these islands are off-limits to outsiders and send them on their way?"

The guard gave her a grim chuckle. "Ooooh... that would have been too nice to who this bastard is. You should have seen what colors that ship was flying."

"Show me him, then," Chrysalis said sternly.

"With pleasure," the guard smirked.

"This day gets better and better," Copycat muttered.

"Maybe it really has. Come on, let's go see who likes our surf," Chrysalis said.

At that, the guard began to lead them a bit away from Chrysalis' workroom, down a small chute that a changeling could flutter down to a few lower levels, and to another holding chamber. This chamber, however, was not only for food... it was for prisoners.

"Over here, Queen Chrysalis," the guard said, a vicious smirk on his face, and he led her and Copycat through the prison. There were various creatures there, usually scum who washed up on their shores: pirates, criminals, griffin Knight Templars off to kill a few changelings to earn some sort of weird 'honor' in the eyes of their gods, you name it. There were even a few changeling criminals, though that was rare. Usually they'd have to have a genetic defect to defy the one constant, mentally transmitted order Chrysalis had for them all:

Don't make trouble.

Most of these creatures were frozen. The one the guard was leading them to, however...

"LET ME OUT OF HERE YOU BLOODY FREAKS!"

Struggling and kicking at the walls of the pod was, for lack of a better word, a pirate pony. He had an eyepatch on his face and a currently vacant sheath at his side, cutlass made. And he was pissed.

"Oooohohoho, they brought the queen, huh?!" he spat with a sarcastic grin. "Well good, I got just one thing to say to you: let me bucking go, damnit!"

"Can I say it?" Copycat said, smirking.

"Say what, you little shit?!"

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow her way.

Copycat nodded to herself, narrowing her eyes. "Oh, I'm totally saying it: you're in no position to make demands!"

The prisoner sneered at her. "Oh, aren't you a funny little runt?! You're shorter than the rest of your lot, ya know that?! What's the matter, mommy bug not feed you enough love?"

Copycat grinned at Chrysalis. "Oh, he's mad." She then turned back towards the prisoner. "You mad?"

The pirate's eye began twitching.

"I'm going to run you through like an Equestrian Marine, you hear that?!" he roared.

"Er- Copycat, why not let me do the talking?" Chrysalis said.

"Sure, I had my fun," Copycat shrugged. "Cliches, I love em'."

Chrysalis rolled her eyes, before narrowing them in suspicion towards the prisoner.

"Who are you? You talk like one of the Colonial Ponies."

The pirate continued to struggle. "Only way I'll answer your questions is if you get me a bottle of rum and make yourself a pretty wench! You can do that, right?"

She took a deep breath, turning towards the guard with an annoyed expression. "What colors was that ship flying? Who's this guy working for?"

The guard grinned wickedly at the pirate. "Oh you're really bucked now, you know that?" He turned back towards Chrysalis. "He's working for Dagger. The Eastern Slave Trade Company."

Chrysalis' eyes widened. She turned back towards the prisoner, snarling.

"So, not here to dig up buried treasure, huh!?"

"Awww, I was hoping he was truly that stereotypical," Copycat sighed.

"Not now, Copycat," Chrysalis snapped to the side, still glaring at the prisoner. "What the hell were you doing here?"

"Plot or get the buck out!" he grinned.

At that, Chrysalis was upon him like a tempest. She literally threw herself at the pod, drawing so close to the pirate if there was nearly only an inch and the wall of the pod between the two of them. The pirate seemed taken aback, though he soon composed himself, folding his arms.

"Alright, I'm going to tell you this once," Chrysalis growled in a low, hideous tone. "If you were here doing what I think you were doing, you better fess up now. Or I'm going to stop playing so nice. Savvy?"

"Pfffft, what are you going to do?" the pirate cackled. "Feed on me? Go ahead! You'll find no love here!"

"That's where you're wrong," Chrysalis grinned wickedly. "Everypony has love in them for something. It doesn't matter if it's for the seas, for a mare, or simply for whatever shitty existence they call a life. Do you want me to take the latter from you? Wanna feel even more hopeless than you already do? Hmmmm?"

"Sticks and stones, bitch," the pirate smirked.

"Oh there's far more ways for me to hurt you than that," Chrysalis chirped.

Suddenly, she closed her eyes, and her horn began to glow a bright green.

"When a changeling forcefully extracts love from someone..." she began. "Let's just say it can be less than pleasant. Tell me... why were you here?"

"You won't do it...' the prisoner scoffed. "Dagger said you're nothing but a bloody wuss at heart..."

Chrysalis ignored him. "Five seconds before I start feeding. You may not be very filling, but I could use a little dessert from earlier..."

"Yadda yadda..."

"Three..."

"Just tell her..." Copycat groaned.

"One..." Chrysalis growled.

And suddenly, as the pirate's eyes widened in a mix of shock and horror, for a green mist was beginning to flow from him. As Chrysalis glared at him, he began to glance about, as if confused, blinking rapidly. Then, he gasped, and began to pant like a dog on the surface of the sun...

Finally, he could take it no longer, just as he was reaching the point of twitching and convulsing.

"STOP! STOP! SWEET CELESTIA, STOP!" he roared.

And Chrysalis did as he asked.

"O-Oh god... o-oh my god... holy shit," he panted, hyperventilating while holding his arms to his chest. He then began to rock back and forth. "H-Holy shit... holy shit..."

"God... I-I still hate seeing them like this... even if it's one of Dagger's goons..." Copycat gulped.

Chrysalis merely remained silent.

The guard, however, had on a satisfied smile.

"Buck him. Nicely done, my queen. While this shithead recovers, want to see what he was carrying around?"

"First: what happened to the ship, and did he come with anyone else?" Chrysalis asked.

The guard shook is head. "He came alone, and the ship left without him. Honor among pricks? Yeah right."

The guard then walked to a corner of the room, before returning with a sack of items held in his mouth. He threw it down on the floor, scattering its contents. There was a few obvious items: a compass, a map, and some rations. However, two peculiar items stood out: a green, glowing rock and four to five strange, metallic devices that seemed to resemble metal rings. One that could fit around a changeling's neck.

"I know what that rock is," Chrysalis growled. "It's one of Dagger's new toys. It's used to reveal changelings in their regular forms. It can even stun them if it has enough juice. This one does..."

"So he was here to capture a few changelings?" Copycat pondered.

"Mhmmm... probably some running around in the jungles topside, the little sneak," the guard snarled. "It appears we're not even safe in our own territory, anymore!"

"That confirms my suspicions. Though the metal collars..."

She turned back to the pirate, lowering an eyebrow and holding it up before him. He still appeared to be panting, though he was no longer rocking back and forth.

"What is this?" Chrysalis asked sternly.

"A necklace," the pirate mumbled. "Helps to identify slaves."

"Nice try," Chrysalis snapped. "But I can sense magic running through this thing. Want me to show you a bit more of my own?"

"Trust me, it only gets worse," Copycat said.

"Hehe... good cop, bad cop, huh?" the prisoner smirked.

"Nope. I just don't like seeing anyone in pain, and believe it or not: that even includes you," Copycat said, narrowing her eyes.

"Right..." the pirate said.

"I'll ask again: what are these things?" Chrysalis said. "And why did you come alone, anyway?"

"Didn't think it'd be hard to capture a few of you stupid shits alone..." he growled.

"Yeah, we're the stupid ones," Copycat said, rolling her eyes. "Listen, just tell us what we need, or my queen is going to make a hangover feel like a pinprick for you."

"You won't like how it feels after several hours."

The pirate took a deep breath. "Fine, alright, I'll tell you... you'll find out soon enough anyway."

Chrysalis glanced at him suspiciously. "I'll know if you're lying."

"Well good for you. Glad you're so perceptive," he grunted. "To tell the truth, those rings are simply for a game us traders play. We throw them at a peg on the ground and try to make a-"

His eyes widened as Chrysalis' horn began to glow menacingly.

"Alright, god damnit! I was just kidding."

"Right... you were trying to see how stupid I was, weren't you?"

"Well... yeah..."

"Try that again and I get a little fuller. Savvy?"

"Will you stop saying that? Only that one pirate Black Sparrow says-"

"TALK!"

"Alright, alright!" the 'trader' growled. "You see the blue ring?" he asked, pointing at it.

"Yes," Chrysalis said, narrowing her eyes.

"Slavers are supposed to wear them. They're able to transmit similar signals that you, a changeling queen, could, to drones wearing the gold collars." He then gave a shit-eating smirk. "Gotta love that hive-minded thing you lot have. These devices wouldn't have worked on any other creatures."

"So... you've gone from just capturing changelings for slavery to making them into perfect slaves... in all sense of the word."

"Pffft, not that I give a shit, but isn't that what you do? You can control em' if you want."

"But I don't."

"Sept if she's really angry," Copycat pointed out. "In which case: dancing is involved."

"Bah," the pirate said. "Whelp, you've got what you wanted, though I doubt I'll just be skipping out of here."

"That's right," Chrysalis growled. "You're going to be here for quite a bit. Don't worry... you won't age in the pods... but you will dream. And I hope you've had a good enough life so those dreams stay good."

Suddenly, the pod began to fill with liquids, and the pirate's eyes widened in horror.

"Oh god damnit, this just isn't right!" he shouted.

"Poetic justice, I think," Copycat smiled. "A scumbag who enslaves creatures for money being fed off those who would starve without him. Heck yeah."

"Bucking freaks of nature!" he roared. "You shouldn't even exist, you know that?! What other creatures need to feed of love, hell, need to feed off anything special?! Can't you just admit that god hates you!?"

Chrysalis took a deep breath at that, closing her eyes. "Maybe, but at least I wasn't given a choice as to who I was. You, on the other hand, were given a choice."

"Yeah yeah, whatever!" the pirate snarled, thrashing about in the pod again. "I'll be seein' you and your little wimpy assistant real soon, bitch! Once Dagger finds out about this! You hear me?! Huh?! YOU HEAR ME?!"

He gave a great yawn...

"You hear.... me....?"

His eyes slowly shut.

"Huh.... feeling... tired...."

And at his last line, he entered slumber.

"Sweet dreams," the guard growled. "I hope they're of him getting bitten by a shark, cus I'm definitely feeding on that bastard tomorrow morning..."

Chrysalis ignored him, and instead seemed to be focusing upon the rings.

"This... this is just barbaric. It's less than slavery, it's having no free will at all. You couldn't even have free thoughts if your owner were to desire it..." She narrowed her eyes. "No, this is not tolerable. The world needs to know about this. "

She gave a whimper, tears forming in her eyes. "W-What we have become..."

She turned towards her assistant.

"Copycat..."

"Yes, my queen?"

"I think... I'm going to do it."

Her eyes widened. "Y-You're... you're seriously considering it still? But the United Neightions... you said it yourself! They have so many sanctions against us it isn't even funny! It'd take a pretty big hammer to even put a dent in our... reputation. And with Twilight Sparkle representing Equestria..."

"I know... but I have to try."

She took a deep breath. Her eyes were sleep deprived as all get-out, though they were determined...

A beat.

"So..." she finally whispered.

"Start... spreading the word,

Tomorrow I leave,

I'm going to show them we too can bleed,

I'll plant the seeds.

A heart not right,

Eyes drawn to blinding light.

And though I may have lost my sight,

I can make them see...

I want to wake up in that city,

Though I cannot sleep...

So I'll ask for not their pity,

But a soul to keep....

...

I'll be with you.

Til the end of time.

It is the duty of a queen,

To turn a nightmare to a dream...

And though the godless skies,

May not see the tears our eyes defy,

We are more than what the world,

Has seeped.

This joke of fate,

With no love to share,

And through the blizzard of their stares,

I must make them care...

And if I can do it there...

We'll do it... anywhere.

It all begins in Manehattan's breeze..."

There was a beat as Chrysalis took a moment to compose herself, before she finally said:

"And I go alone," Chrysalis said, glancing down at Copycat, as her guard stood awe-struck.

"Of course you're going alone," Copycat smiled. "But guess what? I'm going with you!"

Chrysalis gave a deep sigh, a slight smile forming on her face. "You'll probably figure out some way to follow me, won't you?"

"Hit the nail on the head," she winked.

The guard raised an eyebrow. "What shall I tell the High Council, though?"

"Tell them..." Chrysalis began.

And her smile grew wider.

"Their queen is going on an adventure."