"Please, this is not constructive..." Candance's voice boomed. Discord grinned; clearly she was taking the bait. "Oh, do your worst, you oversized bug!" He cried, sticking his tongue out at Chrysalis as a target appeared on his chest.
Chrysalis buzzes angry. "You really wanna do this?! Really?" She snorts and she readies to charge Discord. Meanwhile the Chrysalis clone gets to the Crystal Heart and combines the power of the crystal with the Crystal Heart. A power flash of energy emits and the magic of the crystal spreads dispelling Celestia's mind control magic before Cadence could react. They have reversed all but Canterlot now. Chrysalis sighs and the clone fades as the air is fixed and Cadence looks to be returning to normal.
"Well, whad'ya know" Discord said, looking around, "It worked! And I didn't even have to get impaled! I'd call that a success." He looked back up at the castle. "We should probably skedaddle though; I doubt Cadance will be much happier to see either of us even without the effect of that spell. I recommend we regroup in Ponyville; work out our plan for the final assault on Canterlot."
Chrysalis nods. "Honestly that would be for the best. Besides, I've had enough of being here. It's almost sickening..." She sigh waits for Discord to be ready to go. They have one last things to do and then all of Equestria will be free. She was not use to being a hero but it did feel good to fix a big problem. She really didn't know what to think of it all.
"Your wish is my command," Discord said, chuckling. He took Chrysalis' hoof, clicked his talons, and in a flash they were back in Fluttershy's cottage. "Ah, my safe port from all storms," He said, relaxing on the sofa. "Fluttershy dear, are you home?" "Discord? Is tha- Eep!" Fluttershy poked her head in from the kitchen, but froze one more at the sight of Chrysalis. "Oh come now Fluttershy, Chrysalis is a friend!" Discord said, with a slight sense of annoyance.
Chrysalis sighs and she sits down. "Don't bother Discord. I'm not expecting anypony to be friends with me. Besides, it will all go back to the way it was after this is all said and done. It's for the best since I have a hive and kingdom to take care of anyway." She says in a distraught sounding tone. "All I wanna think about is ending this travesty in rule. After that, I'll leave to shadows of my hive where I belong. No pony will have to deal with me and no one will care of I am not present. You can celebrate with these ponies if you wish, but I'll have no part."
"Hey now," Discord said, sounding concerned and laying his paw on Chrysalis' shoulder, "I'll care! I've enjoyed spending time with you, and considering the circumstances, that's praise indeed! You may have made mistakes, sure, but who hasn't? At least what you did you did for the good of your hive. Even if these ponies want no part of you, I'd still like to come visit sometime, if you'll have me." "I, um, I'm sorry," Fluttershy said, edging into the room timidly. "I didn't mean to make you feel bad, I hadn't considered that what you did in Canterlot was for hive; that was thoughtless of me," She hung her head, looking abashed.
"I don't blame anypony. But I know where my place is and I cannot say I'm surprised. My invasion of the wedding was my way to feed the hive but at the cost of trust. It's a heavy burden I must bare. I suppose outside visitors would be nice but most either fear me or hate me. As I said, I'm not expecting anypony to be friends with me." Chrysalis's soft tone and soft demeanor was a odd shift from her otherwise typically spiteful nature. In some way, it was a show of a softer, sensitive side of her. Something typically unseen by most.
Discord looked a little crestfallen. "Are we not friends?" He'd thought that they had grown closer during their travels, but now he wasn't sure; he still wasn't really sure how this friendship thing worked; perhaps he was doing it wrong?
Chrysalis sighs. "I don't know anymore. If I may be honest, I at first was using you to a end to get things done, but... the more I've traveled... I've started enjoying helping ponies. I'm now left in confusion and I am unsure what to think now. I'm not use to helping anypony other than my own kind. I guess I'm taken a back, or I'm going insane from all the... friendship in the air. I think it all started with that one curious colt..." She says feeling unsure of anything. A good hearted side of her reveling itself. She maybe isn't as evil as she lets on to ponies.
"I see..." Discord said sadly, sensing she was skirting the subject of their friendship. "Perhaps when this is over, you and your hive could try helping ponies?" He suggested. "Maybe then you could feed on positive emotions you've helped create? I'm sure if we are successful in this, Celestia and ponies in general will be more trusting of you; you could succeed in bringing peace where Sun Butt could not!"
Chrysalis sighs and lays there. "It wouldn't be that easy. It couldn't possibly be that easy. Not after all I've done~" She then closes her eyes and let's herself think. She wasn't sure but she knew Discord was right, she just was having a hard time accepting her softer nature. It just felt so odd to care about ponies. She typically could only perceive her own kind as trusted. She never had a reason to trust ponies and ponies never had a reason to trust her.
"I never said it would be easy, but it might be the best thing for you and your Hive," Discord said, seriously. "I've found recently that cooperation has it's perks."
"Gah! I can't be hearing this right now!!!" Chrysalis says, getting up and storming out of the cottage. She lays by the tree line of the Everfree contemplating her moves and what she will do. She almost wanted to return to her hive now. To be with those she has grown with since the beginning, yet something is stopping her. These feelings have been driving her nuts. She tries to rationalize what she is feeling but it ends up not making sense to her. She personally thinks that she is going crazy! There is no way in all of Equestria that she could accept being friends with ponies, she cannot see it working. It was impossible!
"Hey." Discord said, appearing in the branches of the tree above her. "I know it's hard, believe me; I've spent most of my life seeing ponies as nothing but obstacles and playthings, and to some extent, I still do. But being friends with Fluttershy... it's the best thing that's ever happened to me." He sighed. "Maybe that's just me. You've got your hive; before Fluttershy, I had no-one. I don't think I realised how lonely I was, I'd never known anything else..." He forced a smile. "Ah! Listen to me rambling! I'm sure you know what's best for you and your hive. If you say you don't need ponies, then you don't need ponies!"
Chrysalis then nods. "At least you, I can come to an understanding with." She then sighs. "We need to figure out a plan of attack. I know Celestia's guard will be holding fast the castle. We may need out pony recruits to distract the guards long enough for you and me to take care of Celestia personally." She says, still having taking down Celestia on her thoughts.
"I'll go into town and see if I can gather some volunteers; the pegasi should have arrived from Cloudsdale by now." He said, looking and feeling tired. "You can stay here if you wish; I won't be long, and if you feel like it, you can talk to Fluttershy." With that, he disappeared in a flash.
Chrysalis sighs and she nods heading back to the front of the cottage. She could be feeling off but she has become to enjoy the company of Discord, which she may even enjoy the company of ponies with time. She then shakes the thought. Why would she care about ponies? This place was getting to her... but she cannot shake the fact that the feeling maybe telling the truth.
"Oh, um, hello again, your majesty," Fluttershy said, timidly, upon noticing Chrysalis returning. "Would you, um, would you like some tea?" The Changeling Queen still scared her, but she was making an effort to be more assertive and courageous, besides which Discord seemed to trust her.
Chrysalis looked at Fluttershy with a leer at first but it softened up upon the offer of tea. She then sighs and nods. "Sure. I suppose some tea will ease my nerves a bit." She says feeling herself calm down. Maybe she could bide her time and enjoy Flutterbutt's company for a bit till it was time for her to fight Celestia and return home to her hive. Though she does have a few of her changelings in wait for her call in case things get serious. They certainly have now, but she'll wait till her and Discord invade the front.
