The Meaning of Chrysalis

From the moment after the interrogation, Chrysalis was dead-set on preparing for her journey. The most difficult part of this included figuring out a plan, however. Waltzing into Neigh York in her true form seemed like it could be screaming for trouble. However, suddenly appearing at the United Neightions in her disguised form, only to transform, could bring about just as much suspicion. Though since she could figure out no other option, ultimately, she decided the latter may have been the best way to go about business. She would have to show up early and demand to represent her people during the vote. Hopefully that would be enough.

Then came the packing.

"Hmmmm, what do you think, Copycat?" Chrysalis said, glancing into a mirror.

She was wearing an ornate, royal dress, green and black (her favorite colors) with rare gems mined by changelings all over it.

"Definitely makes you look civilized," Copycat noted. "Though I'd suggest doing something without the gems. Remember, a lot of those were mined in territories we took during our... expansionist days."

Chrysalis gave a reluctant sigh.

"You're right," she said. "Details... details. It's driving me nuts."

Copycat gave a smile. "We'll get through it. Just hang in there, my queen."

"Yeah..."

Chrysalis then gave a groan, carefully taking off the dress and putting on a more simplistic, though professional attire: long and black with patches of green, and very gothic in detail.

"That's a lot better," Copycat nodded.

"Thanks," Chrysalis smiled. She then gave a brief chuckle. "Heh, I sort of feel like a little grub again: being so finicky about this sort of thing."

Copycat shrugged. "Well, first impressions and all that."

"True. What will you be wearing, though?" Chrysalis said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, just a simple dress," she noted. "Nothing too intricate."

"That sounds good," Chrysalis nodded, before glancing at herself in the mirror again. "Yeah... I think this is the one."

At that, Chrysalis took it off and set it in a large suitcase nearby.

"Hmmmm," she pondered. "Did you take out that order from the treasury I asked?"

"Two thousand Equestrian bits?" Copycat smiled, and placed two large gold nuggets into her suitcase. "You got it. Should be enough to cover our expenses. Everything taken care of on the home front?"

"Yes, the High Councilor Waspsting will be in charge while I'm gone. He's competent enough, I think I can trust him."

Copycat beamed at her. "Great! So everything's taken care of?"

"That's right," Chrysalis nodded, before glancing at a clock nearby. "And it's only Eight PM... I was hoping to fly to Equestria around nine in the morning."

"So... time to kill?"

"Yeah," Chrysalis said, taking a deep breath. "I feel like I need to think... to prepare myself."

Copycat squinted in thought for a second, before smiling.

"I know where to go to think."

"Where?"

Copycat merely smiled again, before gesturing for Queen Chrysalis to follow.

The changeling home islands were covered from head to toe with jungle. Everywhere one looked a vine-wrapped tree could be seen, and one couldn't step an inch without crashing into a bush. Fortunately, having wings made navigating this type of terrain a somewhat simplistic task.

A fluttering Copycat led Chrysalis towards a far part of the jungle and towards the top of a large, rocky mountain. Eventually, they settled upon a large cliff overhanging the rain-soaked woods below.

Luckily, for tonight, the sky was very clear.

"You found a pretty nice spot, Copycat," Chrysalis complimented.

"Eh, well, I did a lot of exploring in my younger days." She smiled slightly. "And I gotta say, why go to Equestria when there's so much beauty in your own backyard... or above..."

The two then lay next to each other on their backs, and Chrysalis began gazing upon the stars.

"Ten thousand little orbs of light..." Chrysalis whispered. "They've been here since the beginning of time, yet no one still has a clue as to what they are. There are theories, of course, but no proof of anything. Just another uncertainty to life..."

"I know what they are," Copycat said.

Chryalis turned towards her. "What's that?"

"Well... I know what I believe, I mean," Copycat said. "Just an old story. That perhaps they're more than just lights... something much more. I know it sounds sappy, but I'd like to believe those stories: that those stars are... openings from heaven... where those who have long gone on can look down on us."

Chrysalis paused in thought at that, wincing for some reason. The sound of the various animals of the jungle and a million crickets was all that was heard.

"I wonder what my mother would think of me," Chrysalis finally said.

"Your mother?"

Chrysalis gave a grim chuckle. "She'd probably be proud of me. She always was one with that whole 'Manifest Destiny' philosophy. That a changeling filled with love is pretty much the uber-creature, and that we should subjugate the world so we could be the superior race. Use their love to keep and hold power. It had its merits: it'd forever keep us alive, and there would never be a chance of us dying off. And she was right in a way... I did manage to take down Princess Celestia."

"Our queen... boxing down a god," Copycat chuckled.

"I'm not proud of it, though," Chrysalis said. "I'm not proud of anything I've done in the last hundred years."

"I know you aren't..." Copycat said.

"I was... insane, Copycat. Literally, insane. I was so angry at the world for how they treated the changelings in the past, and at Celestia for betraying me... I can't believe I ordered that attack."

"Nopony died in it," Copycat noted.

"Something similar could have happened, though... all of Equestria could be sitting in pods right now... we could be conquering the world. Yet... I'm not sure if I'd be happy with that now." She then gave Copycat a smile. "Though I suppose they say that periods of pain bring about the most growth, don't they?"

"Heh, I hear that."

"The other nations though..." Chrysalis sighed. "They've always viewed us as freaks, and I'm not even going to talk about the griffins..."

"Mmmm, with that shape-shifting god of there's; what's he called, Re'nu?"

"Yeah... apparently, since we can shape-shift, we're an affront to their religion. Can you believe that?"

"The sad part is: yeah, I can believe that. It's pretty dumb, I know. But not all the griffins are like that..."

Chrysalis nodded. "Yeah, true... but their church holds a lot of power, the High Conclave."

Chrysalis took another deep breath.

"I just... hope that I'm wrong about them: that they're willing to forgive. That they won't just sit on their asses about Dagger's slave trading."

Copycat gave a shrug. "Well, I'd say we haven't done more than any other nation when it comes to wrong-doings, minus the attack on Canterlot."

"So I need to focus on forgiveness for that..."

"Yeah, you really do," Copycat said sternly. "You have to figure out a way to explain yourself, or at least apologize profusely. Get Equestria on your side and you'll be in a good place, or at least get their sympathy."

Chrysalis glanced away from her. "You might as well ask me to convince the High Priest of the Conclave I'm not a demon..."

"You can do it... you'll think of a way," Copycat smiled. "And I'll be there to help if you need it."

A beat of silence passed. A shooting star flew by in the distant night.

"They may call for me to step down, you know, for the attack..." Chrysalis said.

Copycat shook her head.

"Hey, like I said, nobody died... what could have happened didn't... and for three hundred years you were considered nothing but a force of good for the world. Make them remember that."

"Who will remember, though?"

"Aria will," Copycat said.

"The leader of Artaria?"

Copycat gave a nod. "She's immortal. She'll remember. And by the way, so will Princess Celestia. She could remind her 'faithful student' of how you used to act."

"But not order her to vote for us..."

Copycat shook her head. "Nope... as you said, she probably won't do that. Just give her a few words in your favor, and that's it."

Chrysalis couldn't help but smile.

"I never thought of that, though." She turned towards her assistant. "Heh, I don't know what I'd do without you, Copycat."

"That makes two of us," Copycat smirked. "We'll give it all we have, my queen. And there's always alternatives if it doesn't work. There will be suffering, but the changelings will never die out."

"I don't want to see my people suffer, though," Chrysalis whimpered. "It hurts, you know. I can literally feel it..."

"We all can... it's the link we have with each other." She then gave Chrysalis a concerned glance. "And I sensed great pain in you when you tortured that prisoner earlier, by the way."

"I know... I shouldn't have done that."

"You're lucky there's no way the U.N. could find out. That's labelled a Crime Against Sapient Creatures. You shouldn't do that again."

"I know..."

Suddenly, Copycat seemed to catch something in the distance. She suddenly stood up, blinking.

"Well, those definitely aren't stars..."

Chrysalis sat up as well, narrowing wary eyes towards the distant sea beyond the jungle. On the distant horizon, one by one, lights were beginning to appear. Ten... twenty... one hundred....

"Who are they?" Copycat asked.

"Trouble," Chrysalis growled.

They continued to watch as the lights grew closer. Some paused a bit out to sea, while others grew very close to shore. She could see what the lights were hanging off when they came that close: massive, wooden ships with blackened sails, the moonlight giving them form.

"Holy crap... It's an invasion fleet..." Copycat whispered.

Chrysalis' eyes widened. "B-But who's invading?"

At what seemed like only seconds later, suddenly, a buzzing sound filled the air. Three changeling soldiers dressed in light armor touched down near her: scouts.

"Glad you're out and about, my queen," one of them nodded, though his voice sounded grim. "Easy to identify you in the link when you aren't around so many changelings."

"What's the situation? Who's fleet is that? Equestria's?"

It wouldn't make much sense if was them. Not only did Equestria have a weak navy, but the fact that Princess Celestia would order a counter-attack just seemed so unlike her. Not to mention the fact none of her intelligence drones in Equestria had even hinted this was in the works. A fleet like that would take years to prepare...

"No, it's not Equestria, ma'm: and you're not going to believe it when I say it."

"Just spit it out," Chrysalis growled. She winced, before throwing the guard an apologetic glance and saying, "Please."

The guard took a deep breath. "It's not one faction's ships, it's two. A mix of Eastern Slave Trading and Holy Conclave vessels."

Chrysalis' jaw nearly dropped. "W-What?! You can't be serious! How is the griffin church working with slave traders?! They condemn slavery!"

"Well, apparently they're making an exception for us!" one of the scouts spat. "Rotten, hypocritical bastards!"

"They're never going to get over the fact that we happen to have the same power of one of their gods, are they?" Copycat groaned.

"W-We have to mobilize the military," Chrysalis gasped. "We have a plan for this!"

"I'll give the word if someone already hasn't," one of the scouts reported, before quickly buzzing off.

As soon as he left, another drone suddenly landed on the cliff-top, this one a with a bit more stiffness. He quickly turned and shot Chrysalis a salute. "My queen! Scout Busybee reporting!"

"At ease," Chrysalis said. "What news do you have?"

"The two leaders of the opposing fleets have exited their ships and are waiting on the Eastern Beaches," he said. "They want to talk to you."

Chrysalis nodded. "I expected something like this would happen... I wonder what they want."

"Maybe to demand some sort of tribute. Slaves, probably," Copycat growled. "Though what the church would want is beyond me..."

Chrysalis' eyes widened in realization.

"Unless they've made more than one exception, though that's just a theory..." She then turned towards the newest scout. "Did they come alone?"

He gave a quick nod. "They did."

"Then so will I."

Chyrsalis then closed her eyes, concentrating deeply.

"Watcha doin?" Copycat said, cocking her head.

"Giving a mental command through the link not to attack, but to prepare defensive measures. We don't need to start aggression out early until we know what these guys want."

A second later, the command seemed to be given.

"Huh, I feel a little more passive for some reason," Copycat said, blinking. "I... never remembered you giving any commands besides 'don't make trouble' before."

"I only do it in case of emergencies," Chrysalis nodded. "And this is an emergency."

"Alright, so when are we going to meet them?!" Copycat grinned.

"I'm going to meet them," Chrysalis said, narrowing her eyes.

"B-But-"

"No arguing. You're more valuable to me alive at the United Neightions then dead on a beach if they try to pull anything. If they attempt to attack, I'll be able to escape... you might not." She then set a hoof on her shoulder. "Plus, I don't want anything to happen to you anyway."

"Yes, mom..." Copycat grumbled, folding her hooves. "But good luck, alright?"

"Heh... well let's hope it's come back to me, then," Chrysalis waved.

At that, she flew like the wind, ripping across the darkened jungle trees and towards the eastern beaches. Upon glancing around, she noticed the island was nearly completely surrounded. And high above, she could see griffins circling in intricate patterns. It was like they were being boxed in at all sides.

As she drew closer to to the eastern beach, she was able to see where to go. Two figures were standing on the it, one, a unicorn, the other, a griffin. The unicorn was preparing a flare spell, a brilliant red orb of light hanging around his horn. As Chrysalis landed, she took further note of him. He was your average size for a pony, though he was, without a doubt, a wealthy one. Though he didn't cover himself with gold and jewels like most overly-rich idiots did, he did wear a distinct, sharp, well-made black suit.

They had met before.

"Dagger," she spat, narrowing her eyes as she warily trotted towards him.

"Heeeeeey, Queen Chrysalis!" he said, in tone that was a mix of insufferable arrogance and someone greetings an old friend. "How's it hanging! Man, haven't seen you in years! Sucks that your wedding went so badly. Though I'm still a little pissed I didn't get an invitation!"

Then, he grinned, and it was something that unnerved Chrysalis even if she had seen it already. He was a pony born with a strange defect, it seemed: his teeth were sharp as daggers, like a carnivores, and it made his grins absolutely wicked looking.

"Cut the bullshit, Dagger," Chrysalis grunted. "You really aren't as charming as you like to make yourself think you are."

"Awww, Chryssy," he smirked. "It's nothing personal: the slave thing. Just gotta do my business, you know? What are a few captured changelings between friends?"

She took a menacing step forward, hissing forth, "We are NOT friends. Now just tell me what you want so you can be on your way. There's nothing we can help you with on this island. Need supplies? Go to Equestria."

"You know very well that that isn't why we're here," Dagger grinned smugly.

Chrysalis rolled her eyes, before turning to the griffin. He was a menacing sight to say the least, and twice the size of Chrysalis as he stood on his hind legs, folding his arms. He wore gold and silver battle armor, and his face was completely obscured by a ornate, battle helmet with two tiny wings sticking out of the top.

A griffin Knight Templar.

"You know, I thought slavery was condemned by The Griffin Holy Conclave," Chrysalis growled.

He merely stood silent, and Chrysalis could practically feel him glaring at her.

"Don't take it personally," Dagger said. "He doesn't talk to anyone, except when he's about to kill them, that is."

"The Conclave has condemned slavery," the griffin suddenly spoke, his voice low and metallic sounding thanks to his helmet. "Except in your case, Queen Chrysalis."

"Yeeeeeahhh, my company may have had a hoof in that," Dagger winked. "But hey- don't blame me, they already kind of hated you. Though still, everygriffin has a price. I give them gold, they give me the fiercest warriors on the world. And Tassadar here works for free."

The griffin stood silent. Chrysalis' jaw nearly dropped. It seemed they were here to forcefully collect slaves.

"It's funny, too, if you hadn't pissed off so many in the past with your little territory takings, they probably wouldn't have jumped on my boat, or my boats, I should say." He gave a chuckle. "Heh, see what I did there?! But yeah, you know how old griffins can live to, right? The oldest lived two centuries! And they never... ever forget."

"The United Neightions would never condone this!" Chrysalis spat. "How many slaves are you planning on taking?!"

"Taking?" Dagger laughed. "We're not here to take friggin' slaves! We're just going to blockade you until you hand over... eh... five thousand changelings sounds reasonable. And we want them to be soldiers." He turned to Tassadar. "Sound good?"

The griffin nodded.

"I know you're running out of food, oh Queen of Deception. If we keep your people from leaving to feeding, they're screwed, and if we keep those abroad from coming back to the hive to absorb the nutrients they need, they're screwed, too! See, this is what kind of genius you're dealing with! I know you inside and out!"

"I will let the world know about this! You're not taking a single slave!"

Dagger gave a chuckle Tassadar's way. "Oh that's cute. She thinks the world will give a rat's ass."

Chrysalis narrowed her eyes. "They may distrust and dislike the changelings at the moment, but this?! This is insanity!"

Dagger gave a grunt. "Alright, even if they do care, this attack is officially condoned by the Holy Conclave, and though they aren't directly controlled by the Griffin King, if other nations were to interfere... hehe, well, let's just say I think it's unlikely someone's going to start a world war for a bunch of changelings."

"You don't know that!"

"No, I don't, but I wouldn't be doing this attack if I didn't think your chances were crap to none," Dagger smirked. "Face it , Chrysalis, the changelings are finished. They've been finished since you stopped playing nice and started going out and taking what wasn't yours. Don't changelings have preschool? You should know that's not the way to make friends!"

Chrysalis gave a snarl, she wanted nothing more than to send a stunning spell his way and begin feeding on him. Nonetheless, she would have to keep that dream for another day.

She took a deep breath, composing herself.

"You're right, Dagger. I screwed up." She narrowed her eyes in determination. "But you know what? They liked me once, and they can like me again!"

"Whatever you say, hot stuff," Dagger winked.

Chrysalis then threw him one last glare, before turning and taking off towards the distant cliff where she had left Copycat.

As he watched her fly away, Dagger turned towards Tassadar.

"Track her."

"With pleasure."