Chrysalis Domination pt. 2 - After Lunch
GRENADIERAPPLE
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Posted on Apr  8th, 2014
Copied on Apr 15th, 2014


>evening
>or as close to evening as it gets in Nightmare Moon's kingdom, anyway
>you've finally finished rounds in the neighboring villages
>you had to put down a minor skirmish in San Palomino, that took some time
>the green mare leading the opposition showed some promise though
>maybe she'd try to lead a siege on the castle; you loved it when new "heroes" came to break themselves against you
>you leave that little hope in the back of your mind as you make your way down to Chrysalis' dungeon
>as you pass the empty cells, you hope stuffing her like you did wasn't lethal
>it would be a shame to have her die before you discovered what all she could do
>then again, a creature that can't follow your orders or survive its punishment isn't worth keeping anyway
>the two guards look shaken as you pass them, reaching for the door
>one salutes and unlocks it, but neither look in if they can avoid it
>a quick scan tells you why
>the platter you'd left with her is barren
>instead, her stomach bulges at the middle, pulling her whole body forward to strain against the chains holding her forehooves up
>that's not half as interesting as what lay on the ground before her
>a pile of blue orbs, dripping in a thin green liquid, each egg a little bigger than your fist
>she looks at you dazed and struggles to pull herself more upright, but with a groan she sags back to her slouch
>"Urp... please.. no more... food... mercy..."
>her face looks pale again
"For a creature who can't feed on meat or fruit, you sure packed away that tray of stuff,"
>you reply, approaching the pile in front of her
"What's all this though? Trying to hatch a few helpers while I was out?"
>she watches as you reach down and pick one of the pale blue things up, wiping the green sludge off of it
>you look it over, turning it about and holding it up to the light
>"I could not help it... you forced me..."
>she whines, still looking a little ill
>that sounds dangerously like an accusation to you
>you toss the egg back and forth between your hands, now that you've gotten a feel for the weight
"You must be mistaken. All I forced you to do was make the choice between a belly full of food"
>you reach forward and pat her bulging gut for emphasis, rubbing it with one hand
"and a belly full of lead. Never said anything about laying eggs."
>she watches as you chuck the blue shell over your shoulder
>it lands on the dungeon floor with something between a crunch and a splat
>nothing in her face changes, so you reach down for another egg, crushing it under your fingers
>for a Queen willing to risk her life but not her army's, she doesn't seem to care about your casual infanticide too much
>then it hits you
>these are probably barren, if she's been hanging here without interaction for almost a week
>you restrain your facepalm and stand back up, looking into her eyes
"Well, no matter. I'll have them sent down to the kitchen and you can have a nice omelet for breakfast tomorrow."
>that earns you the look of revulsion you were hoping for
>you summon a guard, and set him to the task of collecting the changeling's futile attempts at a brood
>when he leaves for the kitchen, you order him to return with a barrel of apples and a prisoner
>under your breath, you tell him to choose one marked for execution
>that way, you reason to yourself, if things go south all you've done is saved the effort of tying another noose
>when he's on his way, you turn back to the queen and approach once more
>you can tell she's still itching to sink her teeth into you
>but now it's at least tempered with a bit of caution
>she doesn't need to say a word, you recognize progress when you see it
"So... it's been a bit. Where were we?"
>you tap your finger on your chin, trying to remember
"Oh, right. You were giving me reasons not to turn you and your hive into a delicacy for the gryphon chancellor and his entourage who'll be visiting next week."
>you hold your hand out, offering her the chance to speak.
"Come up with anything?"
>"I..."
>she looks you over, but this time it's not like a wolf sizing up a deer
>more like an artist taking in her subject
>there's a flash of green flame, and suddenly you're looking into a mirror
>well, a funhouse mirror
>she's managed to miss some of the finer details on your armor
>and you're sure you don't look THAT fat
>well... you have been sharing more cupcakes with Pinkie lately...
>but still, there are subtle differences that tip you off quickly
>"I can be your double. Take on the tasks you are disinclined to tackle yourself."
>you ponder that a moment
>it would be nice to spend more time on your own tasks
>patrols and enforcement take up a lot of your day
>but you shake the thought from your head
>the guard comes back with the food you requested, and you roll the barrel of apples up to where Chrysalis-as-you is hanging
>you pop the top and grab a single fruit, taking a bite from it as you wave a hand across your throat
>she reverts to her black, overstuffed form
>you take a second bite before stuffing the rest in the changeling's mouth
>she whines like a scolded dog as it touches her tongue
"Nice thought, but my job's not bad enough that I'd delegate it to you or anyone else. Eat it and then try again."
>she just lets out a hiccup as tears form at the corner of her mouth
>you sigh, exasperated
"What, again? Do it or I'll have the guards feed you the whole barrel."
>she sniffles but bites down, chewing another chunk
>you'd think she was trying to swallow sandpaper, the way she struggled with it
>but after five agonizing minutes, she gets it all down
>her gut gives an ominous rumble as she pants, struggling to come up with another use for herself
>"I...I can..."
>she bathes in green fire again
>Celestia, or at least a chubbier approximation, is in chains before you
>"...pleasure you..."
>she practically whispers
>hmm...
>now that's a bit more like it
>you pick up another apple, but step close enough to get a good look at the pudgy copycat
>there were still some minor details off
>your fingers brush her neck; no tight black collar around it
>they pull through the waving corona of her mane; she's still wearing her crown
>you circle behind her and trace your palms down her sides
>not as thin as you know her to be
>you squeeze her waist and she lets out another little "urp" of discomfort
>but as your hands sink into her soft, pliant assflesh, it's indistinguishable from the broken mare upstairs
>you spread it apart, admiring the... craftsmanship, we'll say, of that powdery white ponut
>as you come back around to her front, she follows you with her eyes, now looking more earnest than afraid
>pressing one hand on her inner thigh, you lean in close, inspecting her shimmering eyes, flush cheeks, flattened back ears, pouting lips...
>she makes her move suddenly, lips mashed to yours
>you feel her straining into the kiss like she'd been without affection for months
>you don't break it immediately
>it's definitely not how Celestia does it
>far more tongue (it's reaching for your tonsils)
>but it's certainly not unpleasant
>it's only when you feel that familiar slipping sensation around your temples that you stop
>you open your eyes and meet Chrysalis' green orbs with a look that completely encapsulates the actual words:
>'...really? Again?'
>backing off, you wipe your mouth with the back of your hand
>"I... sorry? I didn't mean to--"
>you backhand her in mid sentence
>holy shit, was there something in her saliva?
>the tips of your lips and top of your tongue feel cool, almost numb, like too much mint
>under different circumstances, admittedly, you'd like that
>not when she's trying to cast some sort of spell on you though
"Okay, we're done here. Guards, fetch the whip. Obviously we--"
>"No! No, please! I can do more, I just... I lost control for one second! I NEED some love, and you won't give me ANY!"
"So the smartest course of action is to directly disobey me?! What the hell even is that spell?"
>she's sobbing now, but you don't doubt she can cry on demand if the need suits her
"Answer me you fucking roach!"
>she hiccups, tears spilling onto the dungeon floor
>the guard comes trotting up, a coiled whip in his mouth
>you snatch it from him and begin to unwind it, circling to her back
>"Please, I'm sorry! Really I am! I'll never try to touch your mind again!"
>...
>that stops you in your tracks
"Touch my mind. You have a spell that lets you manipulate peoples' minds?"
>"Yes! How do you think my people force others to give us their love?!"
>you wind up and snap the whip, the blow landing across her shoulders
>she lets out a hiss of pain, fresh tears rolling down her face
"And you thought you could use it on me?!"
>you snap it again, and a thin line of green runs down her back
>again, and the line on her shoulders was an X
>"T-tell me... you w-w-wouldn't... do the ssssame."
>she doesn't bother trying to turn and look at you
>you bring the stinging weapon down again, this one leaving a lash near her rump
>you hate that she's not wrong
>so you channel that hate into another swing
>she howls this time, but apparently she's resigned to her fate
"...Why didn't you lead with 'I can make people my puppets', if you're so fucking good at it?"
>you puff a little; you really need to stick to that exercise regiment
>a few good swings shouldn't take this much energy
>"Because it w-worked... ssso well on y-you..."
>you ought to give her another lash just for having the gall to be sarcastic
>but the implications of having a puppet master in your employ are starting to catch up to you
>you glare at the back of her head, then coil the whip up around your arm
>making your way to the door, you beckon the prisoner in
>the guards shove the terrified stallion through the door and slam it behind him
>what a bunch of cowards
>at the sight of the thing chained to the floor and ceiling, the stallion starts trying to back away
>he doesn't know what she is, but he knows danger when he sees it
>you drag him back to a place in front of the love-tick
"This is your last chance."
>both of your captives look terrified
>you look over at the grey pone
>he has a pickaxe cutie mark
>but stranger things have happened, so you lean in and ask anyway
"Do you know how to juggle?"
>he shrinks back, looking terrified, before resigning himself to his punishment as he shakes his head
"Good."
>his eyes snap open in surprise as you turn away from him
>you pull three apples out of the barrel and roll them over to him
>he almost has his mouth around one before you speak
"Touch those before you leave the room, and I'll make YOU eat the whole barrel."
>that threat's been working really well today, you think
>pointing at him with your thumb, you stare up at her
"Show me a juggling act worthy of the Wrangling Brothers."
>there is no sign of negotiation anywhere in your voice
>there is no hint of doubt as to what the alternative is
>she gulps and screws up her concentration, a wisp of green light flowing from her horn to his ears
>sweat pours down her face as she forces him to his feet
>you can see him struggling to move his hooves anywhere else
>but slowly, mechanically, he gathers the red fruit up
>he tosses one into the air, then another, catches the first
>it's like watching a robot play catch with itself
>the stallion almost manages to pull away at one point
>but a flash of green and he's back to doing her will
>you throw a fourth apple at him without warning and she incorporates it into his act
>the same with a fifth
>she even gets him to take a few bites as they arc through the air
>eventually he's tossing nothing but cores, still in perfect rhythm
>now that, you muse, is something worth reporting about
>you clap slowly, looking over your shoulder at the straining queen
"Enough."
>the grey stallion drops to the floor in mid-toss like a lifeless marionette
>the apple cores scatter every which way, one landing in his purple mane
>Chrysalis looks to be on the verge of fainting
>slapped around, stuffed full, whipped... she's had a rough few hours
>you'd almost feel bad, if it wasn't entirely her fault those things had happened
"How many can you control at the same time with this?"
>"...I have not tried but three. Given time, I--"
>you hold up a hand, and she goes silent
>and here you thought she'd never learn
"Can you hear what they hear? See what they see?"
>"So long as I keep them near."
>you nod, turning a few ideas over in your head
>a spy that can manipulate other spies
>you smile at the thought of goading a mare like Bonded Courage into trying to face you using her friends as puppets
"...and your whelplings from the caves?"
>she hesitates, knowing you won't like the answer
>"They are loyal to me with their very lives, but they do not share my powers of control. Only illusion."
>disappointing, but all information is good information
>you sigh, and she stammers a bit
>"B-but! They can be made to look like anypony! Surely you could find a use for them!"
>even after today, she still gives a shit about her subjects?
>you might have to bring Celestia down to meet this pone
>show her how real rulers behave
>you settle for a nonchalant shrug
"We'll see. Oh, can you cast your spells while changed?"
>she nods eagerly, transforming into a pink alicorn you don't recognize, her matted purple hair fluttering as the same ill-looking green magic she'd used before flowed from it
>you smirk and she transforms back, not needing your order to do so
>you pace a few more minutes, thinking about other uses for her
>a groan from near the door stirs you from your pondering
>the grey earth pone is awake again
>you look over at Chrysalis
>her mouth is actually watering as she watches him climb to his hooves
"The fuck did you do?"
>you look down at the dazed pone, who just shakes his head as you frown at him
>he meets your gaze cautiously, then looks around, stammering as he realizes he's in trouble
>"I... I don't... huh?"
>you reach down and pick up the core in his mane by the stem, dangling it in front of him for him to see
"Didn't I tell you not to touch these?"
>he can't even seem to get sounds out anymore, just moving his mouth incoherently
>you shake your head, acting disappointed that he can't follow such a simple instruction
>maybe when you first arrived here, you'd have felt bad about this sort of deception
>but seeing as how he was on the chopping block either way, you can't be bothered to show him too much sympathy
>picking up the lead to his neck clasp, you pull him over to where Chrysalis stands, tying the leash to the spreader bar
>to his credit, he at least waits until you're done tying to try pulling away
>"Wait... please, I. I don't... I didn't want to..."
>you roll your eyes and point at the changeling
>she's almost too enraptured with him to notice you talking
"Told you, that was your last chance. She listened, so maybe you should stay here and learn from her."
>you look up at her
>you still don't quite get how the whole "love eating" thing works
>but judging from the look on her face, he'll do
>you take the precaution of shortening the chains on his hooves
>no sense letting her mind-control him into a position where he could let her out
>you make your way towards the door, considering how best to word your memo to the Boss Mare
>as you shut the door, you catch a bit of their conversation.
>"Hello, little one. What is your name?"
>Ah... uh... Diggin' Bones...?"
>"A strong name for a handsome stallion... tell me, Diggin... who do you love?"
>you shut the door behind you
>yeah
>you may send a guard in with a mop before you meet with her again tomorrow
>one less noose to tie