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                                            1.
                                            Chrysalis Domination
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                                            2.
                                            GRENADIERAPPLE
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                                            Posted on Apr 8th, 2014
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                                            6.
                                            Copied on Apr 9th, 2014
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                                            7.
                                            
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                                            8.
                                            
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                                            9.
                                            >your name is Anonymous
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                                            10.
                                            >not that anyone seems to call you that anymore
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                                            11.
                                            >the yellow pegasus on your chest, as well as the white unicorn you're using as a pillow, refer to you as "Master"
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                                            12.
                                            >you stroke Fluttershy's pink mane idly, her warm hug and the rise and fall of Rarity's breathing setting you at ease
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                                            13.
                                            >your ruler, Nightmare Moon, seems to delight in picking the most insulting pet name she can find for you
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                                            14.
                                            >you find that a little sweet, in its own twisted way
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                                            15.
                                            >she calls you "ogre" the way you might've called your Labrador "doofus" before you got pulled to Equestria
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                                            16.
                                            >you accrued another name from the creature down in the dungeon earlier today
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                                            17.
                                            >for some reason "prey" didn't resonate with you as much
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                                            18.
                                            >maybe it was the way that the insectoid alicorn had hissed it
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                                            19.
                                            >maybe it was the predatory gleam in her green eyes, or the way her tongue had run over her fangs afterwards
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                                            20.
                                            >all you know is, you weren't a fan
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                                            21.
                                            >the day hadn't gone how you were expecting it to, at all
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                                            22.
                                            >which was a shame, it had started off so well...
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                                            23.
                                            
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                                            24.
                                            >you'd woken up to Rainbow Dash's stray feathers tickling your nose
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                                            25.
                                            >her wings were splayed out across the bed, as was her habit while she was asleep
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                                            26.
                                            >she hadn't moved from your embrace though, she was still wrapped in your arms, snug against your body
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                                            27.
                                            >clearing your throat gently, she lifted her head up, wings folding back to her side on instinct as she rapidly blinked the sleep away
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                                            28.
                                            >you released her from your hug and she hopped off the bed
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                                            29.
                                            >reluctantly, but she knew the rules by now
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                                            30.
                                            >you gave her a passive wave and she trotted silently back to her room, peeking in to see if Octavia was up yet
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                                            31.
                                            >a quick freshening up later, and you stood in front of the full-length mirror, dressed in your work armor
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                                            32.
                                            >stepping out into the castle proper, you made for the main entrance, eager to get morning rounds over with
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                                            33.
                                            >instead, a guard stood at curt attention outside your door
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                                            34.
                                            >he saluted and passed you a scroll marked with a crescent moon insignia
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                                            35.
                                            >orders from the top
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                                            36.
                                            >"Report immediately to the Southern Dungeon. Ascertain the threat and possible benefits of the prisoner to the Crown. Exercise caution in speaking to them. Do not fail me. ~NMM"
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                                            37.
                                            >you weren't sure why she always ended her written orders to you like that
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                                            38.
                                            >maybe it was just how she was familiar with you, like "Sleep well, I'll probably kill you in the morning"
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                                            39.
                                            >so down to the dungeons you went
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                                            40.
                                            >there were just a pair of guards waiting for you at the door
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                                            41.
                                            "Just the two of you? There are supposed to be minimum two guards for each prisoner,"
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                                            42.
                                            >you start to brush past them
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                                            43.
                                            >"Sir, yes sir. We were stationed here to guard the prisoner."
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                                            44.
                                            >Huh... just the one? Surely there was space for one more in the main dungeon, odd that they had this one secluded
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                                            45.
                                            >Anyway, you pushed open the door, the guards following close behind as you made your way down the corridor
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                                            46.
                                            >a passive glance or two at the cells told you this part of the castle hadn't been used in months
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                                            47.
                                            >Through the next door, though, was quite a different sight
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                                            48.
                                            >hanging by her forehooves, a spanner bar holding her hind legs apart
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                                            49.
                                            >ring around her neck
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                                            50.
                                            >you'd never seen a pony quite like this before
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                                            51.
                                            >you marched up to her, though your guards hung back by the entrance
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                                            52.
                                            >you brought one hand up to her body, running it over the black armor-like skin on her flank and feeling her softer middle... thorax, you supposed?
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                                            53.
                                            >you quickly withdrew it as her head snapped up, reaching for your dagger as the changeling queen hissed
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                                            54.
                                            >her eyes met yours and you felt the familiar tingle of magic slipping over you instead of into you
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                                            55.
                                            >the two of you stared for a few seconds as she recast the spell with the same effect
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                                            56.
                                            >holy shit she was really going to go for a third try
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                                            57.
                                            >the effort actually made you laugh, reaching forward and slapping her before she could muster up another bolt of magic
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                                            58.
                                            "Whatever that was, quit it."
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                                            59.
                                            >there's no malice in the words, you just honestly hated wasting time which is what all magic was to you
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                                            60.
                                            "Now. You ever been captured before? Got a rough idea of how this goes?"
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                                            61.
                                            >she glowers at you but stays silent
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                                            62.
                                            >you count off on your fingers
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                                            63.
                                            "Name, species, position, do you know why you're here, what makes you think you're a match for the Lunar Empire, etc. etc.?"
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                                            64.
                                            >the black bug-queen just glares at you
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                                            65.
                                            >you smile back smugly
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                                            66.
                                            >this goes on for a bit, until it's obvious she's not going to say anything
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                                            67.
                                            "...O... kay then. Guards, how long has she been here?"
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                                            68.
                                            >"Ah... five day, sire."
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                                            69.
                                            >you glance back at the prisoner as you make for the door
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                                            70.
                                            "Alright, well, I'm sure you'll be hungry enough to talk in another five. See you then!"
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                                            71.
                                            >you actually have the door open and one foot out of it before you hear her mutter
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                                            72.
                                            >"Chrysalis. My name is Queen Chrysalis of the Verdant Hive."
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                                            73.
                                            >well, you smile
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                                            74.
                                            >that's better
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                                            75.
                                            >you stay where you are, not bothering to turn around as you talk to her
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                                            76.
                                            "Aaand?"
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                                            77.
                                            >she pauses for another second
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                                            78.
                                            >"I am the Changeling Queen, ruler of my brood of drones."
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                                            79.
                                            >you spin on your heel, striding back to her with the same casual demeanor
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                                            80.
                                            >dangling the reward of food over prisoners' heads was never your favorite method of coercion, but it was damned effective
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                                            81.
                                            "Well, Chrysalis, it is just a delight to meet you."
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                                            82.
                                            >you'd need a mop if there was any more sarcasm dripping off the word "delight"
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                                            83.
                                            "My name's Anonymous, and I'll be your interrogator for today. So, what brings you to the scenic Canterlot Dungeons?"
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                                            84.
                                            >Chrysalis rattles one of her chains experimentally, but it's still holding fast
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                                            85.
                                            >you grab an emptied rations barrel and pull it over so you can sit on it
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                                            86.
                                            >"I came to this land seeking to end what you now threaten me with: starvation."
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                                            87.
                                            >well
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                                            88.
                                            >no wonder your starvation bluff worked so well
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                                            89.
                                            >normally pones at least put on a show of strength for a day or two before they started begging for you to come back
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                                            90.
                                            "And you thought you'd come to Canterlot for that? Not that you wouldn't have been caught eventually, but why not go to Ponyville or Appeloosa, someplace with, I don't know,"
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                                            91.
                                            >you pretend to cast out for the word
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                                            92.
                                            "a, farm?"
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                                            93.
                                            >to your surprise, this time she's the one that laughs
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                                            94.
                                            >"You think I didn't try? The width and breadth of the land is covered with despair; the only place with even a morsel of love to sate my hunger was here."
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                                            95.
                                            >what?
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                                            96.
                                            >you decide to try and interpret that statement while she's answering more questions
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                                            97.
                                            "Whatever. So where's the rest of the hive? No soldiers dumb enough to follow you in here?"
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                                            98.
                                            >she looks a bit shaken at that
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                                            99.
                                            >but she regains her composure quickly
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                                            100.
                                            >"What few drones were not wiped out by the famine were too weak to disguise for long. I may have failed to fetch them food, but I will not let them be harmed due to my mistake. They are hidden; you will not find them."
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                                            101.
                                            >you'd almost forgotten what a ruler who takes responsibility for their mistakes sounds like
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                                            102.
                                            "I think you're confusing me with some other interrogator."
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                                            103.
                                            >you hop off the barrel and pace back and forth in front of her
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                                            104.
                                            >it made you feel like a supervillain when you got to do this, but you have too much fun with it to care
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                                            105.
                                            "See, I'm not here to bludgeon you half to death and maybe pick up some answers along the way."
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                                            106.
                                            >she watches your walk with a dubious glare
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                                            107.
                                            >she's probably used to being on the other side of this
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                                            108.
                                            "I'm just here to collect some information, make a few notes, and report back to the Boss Mare."
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                                            109.
                                            >you jab a thumb at the ceiling
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                                            110.
                                            "You work with me, prove to me that you're worth keeping around, I'll figure out a use for you and we'll come to an agreement. Or..."
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                                            111.
                                            >you draw the thumb across your neck, then point it at the guards on the other side of the door
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                                            112.
                                            "You fight me, and the only use I'll find for you is target practice for the guards after pulling your wings off."
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                                            113.
                                            >another noncommittal shrug before reclaiming your seat on the barrel
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                                            114.
                                            >her face has lost a little bit of its color
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                                            115.
                                            >which is impressive given that it's pitch black
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                                            116.
                                            "So. First deal. Tell me where your drones are, and the orders will be to capture instead of kill-on-sight."
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                                            117.
                                            >she bites her tongue, mulling over her options
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                                            118.
                                            >"You will honor your word?"
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                                            119.
                                            >if this were another common pony she wouldn't have the luxury of your patience
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                                            120.
                                            >but you can accept a little hesitation for her to decide the fate of her people
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                                            121.
                                            "A man is nothing without his word. Don't lie to me, and I won't be made a liar."
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                                            122.
                                            >she sighs, obviously not persuaded by that alone
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                                            123.
                                            >then again, what choice does she have?
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                                            124.
                                            >"...the caves near Trotston, about three miles south. Tell them their queen's black chitin has been broken, they should come quietly."
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                                            125.
                                            >you nod, keeping your face neutral
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                                            126.
                                            >the guards probably wouldn't have thought to check there for another month
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                                            127.
                                            >thank the Moon for cooperative prisoners
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                                            128.
                                            "Good choice. I'll send the guards out to fetch them in a moment."
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                                            129.
                                            >you kick at the food barrel you're sitting on a couple times
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                                            130.
                                            >it lets out a hollow thump
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                                            131.
                                            "First, though, let's talk about getting you some food."
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                                            132.
                                            >you lean forward expectantly, hands on your knees
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                                            133.
                                            >this was what you actually enjoyed about dealing with prisoners: getting to know their ins and outs, what they liked and what they did
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                                            134.
                                            "Tell me, Chrysalis... what would you say your special talent is?"
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                                            135.
                                            >she gives you a blank stare before her lips curl into a devilish smile
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                                            136.
                                            >if she wasn't restrained five ways from Sunday, it might've concerned you
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                                            137.
                                            >"Why Anonymous, don't you know? I am a changeling. We all share a common talent."
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                                            138.
                                            >there's a flash of green as fire licks up her body, engulfing her
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                                            139.
                                            >you never really considered spontaneous combustion to be a "talent"
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                                            140.
                                            >when the flames subside, however, you're looking at a near-perfect copy of Nightmare Moon, hanging where the changeling was chained
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                                            141.
                                            >you very nearly started looking for the keys when your boss's voice bellowed to be released at once
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                                            142.
                                            >the only thing that stops you is the eyes
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                                            143.
                                            >you normally feel your chest tighten when you meet Nightmare Moon's gaze
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                                            144.
                                            >but the pone chained up in front of you has those same green eyes as before
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                                            145.
                                            >you pause, then put the key back in its place and give her a slow clap
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                                            146.
                                            "Bra-fucking-vo! Guess I should've known from a name like 'changeling', but still, well done. I think that's worth a meal."
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                                            147.
                                            >she lets out a little huff, obviously disappointed that you saw through her
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                                            148.
                                            >still, the promise of food does seem to placate her a bit
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                                            149.
                                            >you stride over to the door, leaning out of it to talk to the guard
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                                            150.
                                            "You. Send a platoon to the Shimmering Caves outside Trotston, tell them to bring harnesses. Capture ONLY. If I hear someone 'accidentally' offs a prisoner, I'll see to it they 'slip' into a knife wound or two. Oh, and bring our guest some..."
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                                            151.
                                            >you look over your shoulder, curious
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                                            152.
                                            "Carrots? Apples?"
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                                            153.
                                            >for a starving pone who's being offered food, Chrysalis sure has a weird way of showing appreciation
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                                            154.
                                            >she's glowering at you, like you just made a joke at her expense
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                                            155.
                                            "Uh... meat?"
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                                            156.
                                            >she scowls harder
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                                            157.
                                            >you turn back to the guard
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                                            158.
                                            "Eh... have Octavia bring me a dignitary's sample and send that platoon out."
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                                            159.
                                            >the door closes with a click and you turn around, confused
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                                            160.
                                            "...What? That was the deal, talent show for some food. In case you forgot,"
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                                            161.
                                            you reach up and rattle a chain for emphasis
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                                            162.
                                            "you're a PRISONER."
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                                            163.
                                            >whatever rapport you'd built up had apparently just gone out the window
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                                            164.
                                            >she lets out an almost-feral hiss of rage
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                                            165.
                                            >"Betrayer! Liar! You promise me food and offer me dirt and flesh! What of your word?!"
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                                            166.
                                            >you frown
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                                            167.
                                            >reaching up and over, you give an overhead chain a tug
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                                            168.
                                            >the ring around her neck tightens as you hold it for a few seconds, her hooves thrashing in their bonds
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                                            169.
                                            >when the anger in her eyes gives way to panic, you let go
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                                            170.
                                            >and then give it one more tug, as she's breathing in, just for a second
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                                            171.
                                            "First, another reminder: you're the prisoner. That crown counts for fuck-all down here. Show respect."
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                                            172.
                                            >she only coughs in response, still staring daggers at you
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                                            173.
                                            "Second: If you don't like the food I offer, you can go right back to fucking starving."
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                                            174.
                                            >you wag a finger at her like you would a dog who crapped on the carpet
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                                            175.
                                            "Third: you ever accuse me of breaking my word when I haven't again, I'll have you playing Cassandra in the middle of Canterlot Square, telling ponies all the tales they won't believe about how cruel I am to you."
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                                            176.
                                            >you don't particularly care that she has no clue what you're talking about
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                                            177.
                                            >she engages you in another staring contest
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                                            178.
                                            >makes it almost a minute this time
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                                            179.
                                            >"...I cannot sustain myself on crops or grains, meat or water. I devour love. All else to me is as ash and seawater is to you."
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                                            180.
                                            >Octavia pushes the door open as she finishes speaking, bearing a tray of meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies, and breads
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                                            181.
                                            "Well then, I hope you enjoy the finest ash and clearest seawater Canterlot Castle has to offer,"
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                                            182.
                                            >you sneer
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                                            183.
                                            >Octavia just stares at you, stoic as ever
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                                            184.
                                            >your shoulders slump as you turn to her, happy to see your favorite maid
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                                            185.
                                            >"I brought the food you requested, Master. I took the liberty of preparing an array of drinks, as well. Will this be sufficient, or do you require more?"
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                                            186.
                                            >you give her a smile, though it feels like it takes a lot more effort than usual
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                                            187.
                                            "No, as usual you've been a great help. I think this is all I need at the moment, go practice that Adagio for tonight."
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                                            188.
                                            >Octavia's reserved, grateful smile drops so fast you have to pause and wonder if there was some way your order could be construed as an insult
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                                            189.
                                            >you turn around just in time to see a sickly green light arcing off of Chrysalis' horn
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                                            190.
                                            >she licks her lips as it fades away, the moment cut short
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                                            191.
                                            >"Mmm. Now that was a nice snack,"
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                                            192.
                                            >she smiles to herself, oblivious to everything else
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                                            193.
                                            >you're actually stunned for a moment
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                                            194.
                                            >you grab an apple from the tray and cross the room in four steps
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                                            195.
                                            >pinching her cheeks, you open her jaw by force and stuff as much of the apple in as she can fit into her mouth
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                                            196.
                                            >actually a bit more than she can fit, really
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                                            197.
                                            "Chew it."
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                                            198.
                                            >your voice is like ice
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                                            199.
                                            >she doesn't even hesitate, choking as she tries to bite off a chunk
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                                            200.
                                            >you push more in as soon as she has the first bite off
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                                            201.
                                            >and more
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                                            202.
                                            >and more
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                                            203.
                                            >you make her chew the whole thing, core, stem and all
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                                            204.
                                            "Swallow it."
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                                            205.
                                            >her eyes are beginning to water now
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                                            206.
                                            >you just hold your fingers over her nose and push her mouth closed with both hands, staring in her eyes the whole time
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                                            207.
                                            >she gulps, the apple forming a visible lump as it travels down her throat
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                                            208.
                                            >you reach behind you for the next piece of food
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                                            209.
                                            >a tomato
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                                            210.
                                            >down the hatch
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                                            211.
                                            >after the fourth piece of food, you turn back to Octavia, who is back to her stoic stare
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                                            212.
                                            "Did I not say to practice that Adagio?"
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                                            213.
                                            >she nods once and takes off, moving at a quicker gait than usual
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                                            214.
                                            >you reach over and grab one more piece of food
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                                            215.
                                            >a raw filet of fish
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                                            216.
                                            >you roll it up and push it unceremoniously down the changeling's throat, not even letting her chew it
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                                            217.
                                            >she gags a few times on the meat as she gulps it down, but manages to finally get it past her esophagus
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                                            218.
                                            >you step back, still fuming, and survey her
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                                            219.
                                            >tears are running down her cheeks, but she's quiet other than the occasional cough
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                                            220.
                                            "...If you're as starved as you say you are, I suppose I can see why you would think that was a good idea."
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                                            221.
                                            >she opens her mouth to speak, whimpering
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                                            222.
                                            >"Please, I needed-- it was so delectable... Without love I'll shrivel up and blow away! I'll make it up--"
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                                            223.
                                            >your hand lands on half of a cantaloupe
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                                            224.
                                            >her mouth closes so fast her teeth clack
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                                            225.
                                            "Let me reassure you, it was not."
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                                            226.
                                            >you shout for the guards, and they come running
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                                            227.
                                            >you gesture to the plate full of food, including a raw steak, a decadent treacle, a pineapple, and some plums, among others
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                                            228.
                                            "I will be back after my rounds. She can eat it in any order she wants."
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                                            229.
                                            >you stare into her eyes, so there is no mistake
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                                            230.
                                            "If I find one rind, one pit, one crumb uneaten, I'll pull her wings off myself."
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                                            231.
                                            >you turn to the door and storm out, slamming the door open
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                                            232.
                                            >just before you close it again, you clear your face, look back, and with the most saccharine-sweet smile you can manage, give her a thumbs up
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                                            233.
                                            "Enjoy your lunch!"
 
                         by SiM-Orphans
                         by SiM-Orphans
                         by SiM-Orphans
                         by SiM-Orphans
                         by SiM-Orphans