Mirror's Image

Chapter 6

If she squinted, she could just barely make out the mountain on which Canterlot was founded. Everything in between there and here was covered in ashes. "I don't understand." Twilight said, taking in the image. "Why are you still here?"

"Because this is our home." Chrysalis said as she moved beside her daughter. "Yes, it's covered in ash and death but it's ours. We are safe here." She said confidently.

"Safe?" Twilight raised an eyebrow in confusion. "My brother was choking to death! How can this place be safe?"

"Let me rephrase that: safe to us." Chrysalis clarified. "Changelings can survive sulfur-rich environments. Nothing else can." She smirked. "I'm surprised he even lasted as long as he did. If anypony's stupid enough to attack us, we just retreat into our hive and watch as they die on the way here."

"You're a twisted mare." Twilight said. But even she had to admit that there was some merit to her madness.

"That's no way to speak to your mother." Chrysalis playfully scolded. "You're not too old for a spanking."

"Oh, watch as I shiver in my horseshoes." Twilight rolled her eyes.

They left the wasteland for what it was and headed back inside. Chrysalis closed the door behind them, the room darkening as she did.

"You didn't answer my question properly." Twilight said. "It's highly illogical to stay here. I'm Princess Celestia's personal student, I'm sure she would grant sanctuary to all of us." Twilight offered. "She might even be able to help us with that spell."

Chrysalis's gaze hardened. "The day I ask her for help is the day I die." She sneered.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Twilight asked, taken aback by the sudden anger her mother displayed.

"That I'll be dead before I let that hag lay a hoof on my Changelings!" Chrysalis screamed. "She is no friend to us Amaryllis! She left our ancestors to die in molten rock and poison! She left them for dead!"

"I'm sure there's a logical explanation for..." Twilight tried to defend her teacher but she fell silent at the sight of Chrysalis's face.

Her expression had shifted from rage to sadness so quickly. The proud mare seemed to be on the verge of tears.

"She... she left me..." Chrysalis's voice suddenly broke. She looked down at her hooves. "All alone..."

"Huh?" Twilight could feel the distress rolling off of Chrysalis. "What do you mean? Are you okay?" Twilight reached out a hoof to her but Chrysalis took a step back, staying just out of her reach.

"I... I'm sorry." The Changeling queen stammered before turning around and running towards the edge of the platform. Her wings flared open as she leapt off the side.

Twilight remained quiet for a while. She was shocked to see the Changeling queen go from utter rage to despair so quickly.

"What was that all about?" She eventually asked out loud. "And how am I going to get down?"

-

"Stupid!" Chrysalis screamed, kicking her hooves against rocks, gems and the occasional Changeling that didn't get out of her way quickly enough as she marched through one of the many hallways that made up the hive.

"I can't believe she still does that to me!" She yelled, her voice echoing through the old mines. The Changelings knew that tone of voice and it meant 'stay the hay away from the queen or else.'

Chrysalis eventually came to her own room and kicked down her own door in frustration. "OUT!!" She screamed as she stepped over the unhinged door.

Multiple Changelings leapt out of various places and rushed past the queen and out the door. Chrysalis loved all her subjects but some of them did not understand the concept of privacy.