Nearly at chapter 26 and I'm running out of chapter names to be for each letter D: only V X and Z left... yeah, I have been trying to make each chapter start with a first different letter. Don't judge, I thought it looked cool XD good thing Twilaura isn't in this chapter to hear this... she'd go fuming that it's not in alphabetical order!

• Chapter Twenty-two: Queen Of Secrets •

…

Chrysalis felt her insect-like wings buzzing, as she hovered over the forest. It had been years since she had visited her sister Suri Polamare, and she was excited. She remembered when they were young, when she and her younger sister would constantly bicker over who would be more suited for the crown. Chrysalis remembered at some point they had ruled together after their mother had passed away... it was never going to work out, however. Suri was incredibly smart, but she got bored too easily. It didn't take her long to get bored of having to rule over the changelings. Chrysalis wasn't as smart as Suri, but she still had an impressive amount of knowledge. Chrysalis loved what she did, and made the better decisions when it came to being a queen. Chrysalis remembered the day when Suri had told her that she couldn't rule anymore... it had been hard for all of them. Chrysalis had watched, as Suri found a pony exiting a huge building in displeasure, and had attacked the poor pony. Most changelings just made another copy of whoever their victim was, but there was also another way to disguise as the pony... to become the pony itself. Suri had shifted into the pony's soul, and had ran into the Everfree Forest, taking responsibility over eating the ponies whom fell into an intelligent trap Suri had set up.

Chrysalis hovered down once she reached the spot, and the gingerbread house was in view. Chrysalis smiled, breathing in the delectable aroma, before she realised something wasn't right. The food had been nibbled on like it usually had when some greedy foals arrived, but this time it was different... blood was splattered against the candy, and the sugar window had been smashed. Chrysalis was growing uneasy, as she knocked on the chocolate door. "Suri? You there?" When no answer came, Chrysalis's eyes widened. Although her sister had been blinded from the time which she had attacked the pony to become it, and the pony had slashed at her eyes, Suri still undoubtably had the best hearing, and she could not miss the sound of Chrysalis's voice from yards away. Chrysalis powered up her horn, and blasted the chocolate door out of her way. "Suri? Suri?" Chrysalis galloped through the house, until she came to the room which had the smashed window. To Chrysalis's shock, she saw the corpse of her sister lying on the floor. Tears welled in Chrysalis's eyes, as she nosed at the limp body of Suri, searching for a long-gone life. Changelings generally fed off of the love which ponies gave to others, but rarely did they actually give love to others themselves. The love Chrysalis gave to Suri was undeniable, as she wept into her sister's pony form. Chrysalis rubbed the tears from her eyes, before she noticed a shard of sugar-glass lodged in Suri's throat and clotting the sticky blood. "This was no natural death," Chrysalis clamoured, as she removed the shard from Suri's neck with her magic. "Somepony had murdered you." Chrysalis summoned a thread and a needle with her magic, as she began to sew Suri's wounds together. "And that somepony is going to pay." She continued to sew into Suri's dead body, until she finally summoned three buttons, one pale yellow, one aqua and the other purple. She sewed them onto her Cutie Mark, making them identical to the ones which she already had. Then, Chrysalis lifted Suri up with her magic and summoned a Royal Chariot, riding it back to her castle, with Suri in the back. As soon as Chrysalis arrived at her palace, she was welcomed by a group of guards.

"Is there any way we can help you, Queen Chrysalis?" One of the changelings stepped forward.

"Prepare a funeral for my little sister Suri," Chrysalis mumbled.

The changeling guards tried to hide their surprise, and spoke before they flew away. "Of course your highness."

Chrysalis entered her mansion, strutting towards her room. "Why does drama always have to come my way? Firstly I have to rid my life of a pathetic pegasi, now I have to prepare my for sister's funeral! I wonder what's next?" Chrysalis approached her mirror, glaring at her reflection, before speaking. "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"

The face caved it's way onto the mirror. "My queen, you may be pretty by face. But it is Snow Flutter who is winning the race." It didn't help at the fact that the mirror had emphasised Snow Flutter's new name.

Chrysalis was silent, before she screeched. "Snow Flutter? Snow Flutter? That's the wimpy pegasi- change of name? I'm not buying it Discord- Discord!" She roared, before buzzing her horn to life and teleporting the draconequus into the room.

"Winter wrap up, Winter wrap u-" the draconequus spun around in surprise, before his eyes rested on Chrysalis, and he guiltily grinned. "Oh, hey Chrysalis... I see you've found out."

Chrysalis's lip was curled into a snarl, and her eyes glazed with pure hatred. Her back was arched, her bones visible, pointing upwards, and her mane draped over her skin. "Traitor!"

Discord gave an appalled expression. "My, Chrysy, bit strong a word, don't you think?"

"Don't you dare call me Chrysy you lonely pile of scat. How dare you betray me! This alliance never meant anything to you pathetic, unloved backstabber, did it?" Chrysalis menaced forward. "I have tried all my life to maintain peace to my changelings. All the blood I have shed, all the tears I have given! It is your fault! You gave me the prophecy you worthless moron! Isn't this great news, to receive after I find out my sister is dead!"

Discord backed away, realising the danger which was lingering. "I'm sorry..."

"Don't you dare apologise, simpleton! You think that a fool like you could ever make it up to me, the most powerful creature living?"

"Yes!" Discord cheered.

"No!" Chrysalis hollered. "I have had enough of your abysmal antics, your disgusting appearance and above all you yourself... you are welcome to the dungeons now, where you belong... actually, I am being kind, because you don't even belong in the lowly prisons! Say hi to Cadance for me, jerk!" Chrysalis's horn powered up, but the magic suddenly went spazzing, sending electric bolts all over the place. It flickered slightly, before all the energy was gone.

Discord shook his head. "Sorry Chrysalis, can't allow you to do that. This is the part where I run away now. Bye! Nice seeing you! Sorry about your sister!" Discord began to teleport away.

"Coward! I will kill Snow Flutter and then I'll kill you, you liar!" Chrysalis screamed, as the last traces of Discord were gone.

…

"Snow Flutter! Snow Flutter! Awful news!" Discord teleported into the room, in the middle of Snow Flutter and the animals cleaning. The animals let out frightened squeaks at Discord's presence, and fled. Discord ignored them, as he found Snow Flutter sweeping the floor.

"Discord! You're here early!" She purred.

"No time to talk! Chrysalis now knows!" Discord shuddered, and stared into space for a matter of seconds.

Snow Flutter pricked her ears in shock. "What?"

"She found out just then! She's furious!" Discord shivered.

Snow Flutter's face went whiter than a ghost's, before she peered up at him. "We all knew this would eventually happen... what did she do to you?"

"She insulted me... a lot. And she attempted to send me to jail, but I corrupted her magic," Discord explained.

Snow Flutter nodded in relief.

"Then she threatened to kill you and me."

Snow Flutter went afraid again. "Oh no... I'll tell the dwarves... I really don't know what to do... oh my..." She whimpered. "If she's after you, please stay safe... it's thanks to me that Chrysalis now hates you... is there any way I can make it up to you?"

"You already have by being my friend," Discord murmured, making Snow Flutter blush.

"Why of course you're my friend! Actually- not just my friend! My best friend!" Snow Flutter grinned, this time, Discord was awestruck.

"Really?"

"Of course!"

Discord felt his heart melt with bliss- literally, before reshaping itself. He shook his head. "Okay, enough of the sweet, mushy stuff... just promise me you'll stay safe?"

Snow Flutter nodded. "I promise... I will try my hardest."

"That's all I needed to hear," Discord murmured, before teleporting away.

As soon as he'd left, the animals went pouring out of their hiding spots, and continued to clean, as if nothing had even happened just then. Snow Flutter trembled as she swept the floor, but knew that with Discord's help, she could accomplish anything.

…

Once the dwarves had returned, Snow Flutter had instantly discussed Discord's visit with them.

"What are we to do?" Snow Flutter whimpered.

All the dwarves turned to Shining Armour, who narrowed his eyes. "Nothing."

"What?" All of the other dwarves cried at the same time, to Shining Armour.

"We all know that Snow Flutter is responsible enough. Just don't let anypony inside..."

Fancypants interrupted Shining Armour by nudging him. "Group talk."

All the dwarves exited the room, and huddled around.

"I think we should bring her along with us to steal," Fancypants offered.

"Yeah. At least if she is stealing, she would have our protection all the time," Soarin murmured.

Shining Armour shook his head. "She's not ready yet."

All the five dwarves turned to Shining Armour in astonishment. "What do you mean she's not *sneeze* ready yet?" Flash Sentry spat.

"Look at her," Shining Armour opened the door a crack, so they could all peer out and see her.

Snow Flutter was jittering around, letting out panicked cries. "How will she kill me..? I'm so frightened! What is she kills me slowly, not quick... oh my..."

Shining Armour closed the door. "See?"

"Okay, you have a point," Big Macintosh muttered.

"But still... we can't lose her... I'll miss the warm dinners she prepares for us..." Cheese Sandwich murmured.

"Yeah, and the house being clean," Fancypants added.

Shining Armour tilted his head. "You do realise that if we take her with us to steal, she won't be able to clean the house or make dinner?"

"Okay, we're leaving her behind," Soarin rushed, about to leave the room, when Fancypants used his magic to lift Soarin up and put him back where he'd been.

"Not so fast."

Shining Armour twitched his ear. "So do we all agree to leaving her behind?"

"I guess," they all murmured.

The six returned to Snow Flutter, and explained what they were to do.

Snow Flutter sighed. "I will not question your judgement. I know you are all doing what is correct."

"We appreciate your understanding," Cheese Sandwich mumbled.

"One more thing," Soarin smirked. "You keep talking about this Discord, but why can't we meet him?"

"Yeah," Flash Sentry grinned slyly. "D'ya like him?"

Snow Flutter blushed. "I... uh..."

"She's always talking about him!" Cheese Sandwich pointed out, before hopping up and down. "It's a crush! It's a crush!"

"Guys... I'm sure I'd know if I had a crush on Discord..." Snow Flutter's face was more red than a tomato now.

"Yep, sure. Now when can we meet him?" Big a Macintosh queried.

Snow Flutter gulped. "I don't think... he really doesn't like being seen much... and he's sort of afraid that others will fear him..."

"Why?" Shining Armour tilted his head.

"He's not really... a pony," Snow Flutter cowered down, feeling pressured at having so much questions thrown at her.

"Not a pony? Then what is he? A griffon? A dragon?" Fancypants questioned.

"He's a draconequus," Snow Flutter mumbled.

"A draco-what? How do you even pronounce that?" Cheese Sandwich began to attempt to say the word.

"And what is that?" Shining Armour questioned.

Snow Flutter began to cower. "I need to go..." As soon as she'd disappeared, all the dwarves turned to each other, smirking.

"Totally a crush!" Cheese Sandwich shrilled.

"And goodbye to being a dwarf!" Soarin cried, flapping his wings, and doing an ecstatic flip in the air.

…

Snow Flutter was lying on her bed, staring up at the roof, dwindling with a strand of her pink mane.

"I can't love Discord... can I? I mean... we're just friends... we're just best friends. And even if I did like him, he wouldn't like me back!" She stared at her reflection on the mirror across from the room, and sighed at her useless, pathetic self. "Why would an incredible creature like him want to be with the average pegasi like me? I'm not anything special- sure, I might be the fairest of them all according to Chrysalis, but I'm not even that pretty." She remembered the words she had heard years and years before... It is the beauty within that counts the most. She stopped staring at the roof, and rolled over. "Being a pushover... bing too kind... that's what the mirror saw in me..." She sighed. "And that's what Discord sees in me too."

"You're a...

one of a one...

a one of a kind.

That you only find once in a lifetime.

Made to fit, like a...

fingerprint.

A code that clicks open a gold mine...

they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure...

when I found you it was all pitter-patter.

Secretly... I hit the... lottery,

cause you're... brighter than all of the northern lights.

You speak to me, even...

in my dreams.

Wouldn't... let you go for even the highest price.

They say- one man's trash is another girl's treasure...

so if it's up to me I'm gonna keep... you forever.

Cause I understand you...

we see eye to eye...

like a double rainbow... in the sky.

And wherever you go...

so will I,

because a double rainbow...

is hard to find..."

Meanwhile, Discord had fled from his home, in fear of Chrysalis finding him there. He was sitting down somewhere in the Everfree Forest, and began to mumble the song as he thought of Snow Flutter.

"Was a... phenomenon.

When you... came along,

yeah our... friendship was more than it appears.

It was... deafening... loud like... lightning... it was... striking,

you couldn't deny it.

They say, one man's trash is another man's treasure...

the two of us together make everything... glitter.

Cause I understand you...

we see eye to eye...

like a double rainbow...

in the sky.

And wherever you go...

so will I,

because a double rainbow...

is hard to find...

To the bottom of the sea I'd go to find you...

Climb the highest peak to be right beside you...

Every step I take...

I'm keeping you in mind..."

Not noticing, both Snow Flutter and Discord began to sing at the same time as one- despite being a fair distance from each other.

"Cause I understand you...

we see eye to eye...

like a double rainbow...

in the sky.

And wherever you go... (wherever you go...)

so will I,

because a double rainbow...

is hard to find...

is hard to find..!

Oh, is hard to find..!

Once in a lifetime..."

…

Chrysalis found herself scheming, as she wondered what she was going to do about this latest dilemma. She had tried to locate where Snow Flutter was, but her magic had been delayed again- probably thanks to Discord. "How come Discord even cares so much about this pegasi... I can understand him not having the heart to kill the thing, but does he really have to take every precaution in keeping the pegasi safe..." Chrysalis narrowed her eyes, before she gasped. "He likes her! I remember now... it makes sense! When we saw her for the first time he put a love-proof shield around himself with his magic, probably so I wouldn't be able to sense his feelings!" Chrysalis's eyes gleamed. "Oh, he must know everything... the information I can get from him..." She greedily began to peer up at the sky. "I might take a visit to his home, there could be some clues there." Chrysalis got up, before powering up her horn. Luckily for her, Discord hadn't disabled her teleporting spells, as her scenery changed, and she was now in Discord's chaotic mansion. She hadn't came here much, because she really didn't pay much attention to Discord, but she still knew roughly where everything was. She had granted Discord this land, somewhere out of the Everfree Forest. As she trotted through the house, she tried to ignore all the unusual things Discord had... askew paintings with moving eyes, water floating on the roof, and fish swimming in the air. Constant holes in the floors, the drops never ending, and confetti continuously falling out of nowhere. Chrysalis gulped, as she trudged forward, and entered one of the rooms... this had to be Discord's bedroom, and to her relief, he wasn't there. She quickly scanned the area, searching for something which may give her clues. Finally, she found a typewriter, which a long scroll pointing out of the top. In confusion, Chrysalis tore the scroll off the typewriter, and began to read the writing. Her eyes bulged wider, as she realised that this was a whole conversation going on between Snow Flutter and Discord.

Snow Flutter: Hi

Discord: Hey

Snow Flutter: Wow, this thing really works! How are you?

Discord: Great! Chrysalis hasn't found out yet... did the dwarves enjoy the cookies.

Snow Flutter: Yes, they did.

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. "Dwarves?" She read few a few more messages, not learning anything new, except them discussing about what they would do once Chrysalis found out. "Okay... Snow Flutter is staying in the same place." Chrysalis reached the latest message by Snow Flutter, which Discord had't replied to yet.

Snow Flutter: The dwarves really want to meet you... now that Chrysalis knows, and you're not safe where you are, would you like to stay with us?

Chrysalis grinned mischievously, before she went up to the typewriter, and began to write her own message, pretending to be Discord.

Discord: Of course!

Chrysalis waited for a moment, and thought that Snow Flutter wasn't going to reply, before she saw the scroll popping out of the typewriter again.

Snow Flutter: That's great- I really thought you were going to decline! When will you be coming?

Chrysalis began to type her next message.

Discord: As soon as possible. I just need to know where you live first.

Snow Flutter: Um... where I always am?

Chrysalis let out a frustrated cry. "Oops... I didn't think that." She quickly recovered her mistake.

Discord: I thought you were going to escape..? Can you just tell me where you live anyway?

Chrysalis squinted. "Come on Snow Flutter... just tell me the answer!"

Snow Flutter: Are you okay Discord?

Discord: Just tell me the answer!

Snow Flutter: okay, sorry... I live in the Everfree Forest, southeast of the Castle of The Two Sisters, and near a town near Dodge Junction.

Chrysalis smirked. "Bullseye."

…

A few days had passed since the incident Scootaloo and Rumble had been in. Once the two Crusaders had explained the story of what had happened, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Babs Seed were astonished, and had decided that Rumble and Scootaloo wouldn't have to go gather food for the next few days, much to their satisfaction. Gathering food was like a job to them, and it was a privilege to have a few days off. Finally, it was time that Scootaloo and Rumble had to work again.

"You're lucky ya even got days off," Apple Bloom spoke.

"Yeah, but we're still pretty shaken," Scootaloo did a fake shiver.

"Yes," Rumble coughed, winking at Scootaloo. "We are far too weak to join you today... maybe tomorrow?"

"Bought it yesterday, not today," Babs Seed muttered. "Now come."

Scootaloo and Rumble groaned.

"Hey, you two are lucky! I'd do anything to have even one day off!" Sweetie Belle murmured.

Babs Seed caught this. "One day off wouldn't hurt... and Sweetie Belle has been working really hard lately..."

Sweetie Belle gasped at this consideration, and turned to Apple Bloom with pleading eyes. "Yes! I deserve this! Please can I have a day off?"

Apple Bloom sighed, giving in. "Fine, as long as ah get a day off tomorrow!"

"Yay!" Sweetie Belle hopped up in excitement.

"Do you want to make any requests for something we could get for you?" Scootaloo muttered.

"Actually... yes." Sweetie Belle glanced at the ground. "Can I have a rose?"

"Phhtt! A rose in the Everfree Forest? You're kidding, right?" Scootaloo tilted her head.

"No." Sweetie Belle shook her head, giving her friend puppy-dog eyes. "A rose, please?"

"Alright then, we'll see what we can do!" Babs Seed smiled, before trotting outside. Apple Bloom followed, then Scootaloo and Rumble, who were arguing over who was going to find the most food.

As soon as the door was closed, Sweetie Belle sighed, and ran towards her bedroom. Once she had made sure that nopony was watching, she went under her bed and pulled out a box. Finally, she opened the box and retrieved a book.

"It's been a while since I wrote into you," Sweetie Belle sighed, as she opened the book and flipped to the final page, before she grabbed a pen from the box. "I'm surprised Chrysalis didn't even notice this book, I had when she sent me here... hehe, I used to carry it all over the place- I was more gullible then." Sweetie Belle sighed, before she lowered the pen down to the page, and started her sentence. "Dear Button Mash..."

Wow, I really need to stop these 'communication through objects such as typewriter and book' plots. Blame Sunset Shimmer for implanting the idea into my mind.

Btw, the song Discord and Fluttershy sing is Double Rainbow by Katy Perry. It's a beautiful song, and I thought it would fit in at some point in this story :) yeah, I might have changed one of the lines.