Chapter 8
 
“Christie.”
 
>Your lips straighten, as you stare disapprovingly at her.
>”No, you stay put.” She pushes you back to the chair.
>You cross your arms and sigh, not wanting to go through this.
“I said, I’m fine.”
>You cover your mouth with a hand, swallowing the pricking sensation on your throat.
>She throws you a stoic expression.
>You grin sheepishly, looking to her eyes.
>She raises an eyebrow, still trying to read you.
>You smile breaks, when the feeling on your throat suddenly lurches up your neck.
>You cough violently, spitting out crimson chunks on the ground.
>Your throat burns with the pain, which only couples as you cough.
>You are hunched over to the ground, spewing tiny pieces of your lungs.
>It wasn’t very pleasant.
>Once you finish coughing, Christie puts you back up again.
>You wheeze once, and sit still.
>She clicks her tongue, as she begins to work her magic.
>Your ragged breathing slows down, and the pain begins to cool and fade away.
>Christie hands you a rag, to which you wipe your sweat.
>She also points out a single bloody line running from your mouth.
>You gingerly wipe it, and toss the rag.
>”There we go, your medication for this week.”
“Thanks.”
>”You know- you could’ve mentioned this before.”
“It’s just a minor problem; I just need to start making that medicine again.”
>”Right.” She glances over to the emptied vials.
>”Well then, since you are all patched up, I’m going out.”
“What, again?”
>”Yeah, I won’t be back for tonight as well.”
“Very well…” You sigh.
>She pauses, and looks at you with some degree of worry.
>”Is there… something wrong, Anon?”
“It’s just…” You rub the back of your head.
>”Go on, spit it out.”
“It’s nothing.”
>She has this disdaining look on her face.
>”I can read emotions, Anon. Don’t lie to me.”
“You going out with those stallions again?”
>She narrows her eyes.
>”And what do you mean by that?”
>You shrink to her sudden hostility.
>Okay, clearly this approach isn’t getting the two of you nowhere.
>You stay in silence for a while, slowly looking away.
>”Anything else?” She asks.
>You remain silent, you know not to evoke the wrath of the changeling queen.
“… No.”
>”Excellent.” She turns and leaves, not stopping to look back.
>You kick the dust on the floor and groan.
“Brilliant.” You mutter.
>You look outside of the window, over to the vibrant city of Canterlot.
>It has been… what- a week?
>A week after that massacre.
>After taking charge of the entire changelings, Chrysalis was extra busy.
>She immediately pulled strings, getting the two of you a better home in the lower district.
>It was still the same shit-hole you grew up in, but with cleaner floors.
>Your pantry was full and you had enough bits to have your mother’s gravestone set.
>And you had a warm bed.
>It was safe to say everything was alright.
>But it didn’t feel like it was alright.
>You never saw Christie in the house, and if she was- she would be hurriedly rushing to get some stallion dick.
>No.
>That’s just wrong; you’re not supposed to guess her motives like this.
>She was your friend.
>She had the rights to do whatever she wished, and so did you.
>But you missed her nonetheless.
>Now with money and second-hand power, you had everything.
>No need to beg.
>No need to steal.
>And yet, you eye your pocket knife, fingers twitching and ready.
 
>You slide by a bench, sitting in the corner.
>You look around, spying for possible targets.
>You spot a burly stallion with a large saddle bag.
>You can hear the jiggling of the bits from here.
>He must be working for the bank transport.
>You rise and begin to follow him, slowly making your way to the bag.
>Once you are slightly ahead, you do your usual routine.
>You pretend to fix your shoes, crouching on the ground.
>As he passes by, you take out the knife and stab it to the bottom of the bag.
>You pull it back, gashing a hole.
>You don’t mind the noise; the rabble in the market is enough to drown it out.
>Once the hole is made, you step back, and watch as tiny purses drop out of the bag.
>Other opportunistic ponies notice this too, and move in to take the price.
>You rush in and manage to snag one, and quickly retreat.
>Not only you have to be patient, but also calculating.
>As the poor ponies pile up, you sneak away, unknown.
>You can’t help but to smile, throwing and catching the coins I mid-air.
>Daily dose.
>Speaking of which…
>You enter the bar, taking some corner.
>Some ponies recognize you and make some distance, but you don’t really care.
>You order some cheap wine, throwing in five bits.
>And some bread to go with it.
>You down your food silently, watching as the bar scene unfold.
>You were always a slow eater, and Chrysalis never ate actual food.
>And you bury yourself in thoughts, thinking on where it would go from here.
>To be honest, Chrysalis wasn’t a great leader.
>She was brash, head strong and forceful.
>You knew that all too well.
>In fact, those attributes got her in trouble most of the time.
>With you pulling her ass out of the fire.
>For some odd reason, this brings some peace to your mind.
>The thought of her needing you.
>You smile, and finish everything.
>Maybe you’ll go apologize later.
>On your way back home, you decide to visit mom.
>You sit next to the grave, staring silently at the horizon.
>You watch as the sun set, and the stars fading in.
>You can’t help but to sigh contently, sunsets were always memorable.
>For a few seconds.
>You walk back home, the alcohol barely having any hold on you.
>Okay, maybe a little.
>You stumble onto the door, shakily grabbing your keys and opening it.
>Only when you walk in, you are in a full show of what Chrysalis is doing in the sofa.
>She is wrapped around a stallion, his hooves trailing every corner of her disguised body.
>You hear muffled moans coming from the two.
>You cringe as you see their tongues lazily flop around each other’s
>They seem to be completely engrossed with each other.
>And all you feel is annoyance.
>Their actions pick up, you see them grinding.
>You feel your dinner welling up in your mouth.
>Then you just feel disgusted.
“Hey!” You shout at the two.
>The stop and slowly turn to you.
>”Who’s this guy?” The stallion asks.
>You stride over, and stare at the stallion.
“Get out.”
>”Wha-“
“Get the fuck out.”
>You don’t give him a second to respond, and you grab him on his neck.
>Dragging him to the door, you resist his attempts to break free.
>You open the door, and throw him out.
>You turn to Chrysalis, who looks equally angry and dumbfounded.
>”What do you think you’re doing!” She shrieks.
“Well what the fuck are YOU doing?” You shout back.
“Acting like a goddamned whore, is this how you want to live your life?”
>She transforms into her human form, and stands in front of you.
>In a blink of an eye, she delivers a slap on your face.
>You stare back at her, unwavering.
>”Y-you think I’m doing this because I wanted to?” Her voice begins to break.
>You hesitate for a moment.
>”You think I enjoy doing this in front of you?”
>A tear drops, followed by many.
>”I’m doing this… To save you.”
“What?!” You shout.
“And this is saving me how?”
>Her expression softens a little.
>”You’re dying, Anon.”
“I told you, with the right batch, I can-“
>”It’s not enough!” She cuts you off.
>”Can’t you see? You’re already progressing to stage three; no magic in the world can save you now. The reason I do this- the reason I force myself to the stallions is to… is to- get emotions.”
“Emotions, huh? Like what?”
>”Like love. Lust, anything. I need a lot of energy to restore you every week. Soon it will be days. I have to keep you alive, Anon… You’re the only family I have.”
“Christie…”
>”But you don’t care do you? You just think what you want to think. Why DO you care, huh?”
“I…”
>”Come on, spit it out.”
>You go silent.
>You just can’t bring up the words.
>Your mouth is frozen.
>”I thought so.” She wipes her tears, and walks past you, pushing through.
“Chrys-“ You call out to her.
>She’s at her door now, not intending to stop.
>“And besides, no one will love me.”
“Chrysalis!”
>The door slams close.
 
“I- love you…”