Death of a Queen, V2.

by Arkane12

44: Shipping Out

The ship pulled up beside the mountain, sliding into place and leaving only a minor gap between the stone outcropping and wooden deck.

“Let’s move,” Shining shouted, leading the charge out into the storm. The rain had abated somewhat, leaving the drops pounding against the shield sounding less like a jackhammer, and more like a stampede of hooves.

“Don’t fall behind,” Dusti added. She took the first steps onto the ship, followed closely by Quartz and Thorax. A shift of wind sent the ship rocking, widening the gap and nearly sending the poor changeling king plummeting down the mountainside. As they pulled away, though, Shining and Dusti were forced to split their shield into two.

“Go, get them inside. I’ve got this,” Shining ordered, his voice hardly audible above the rain. The rest of the team shuffled into the bridge cabin. Repeatedly, Captain Shield tried to bring the ship back around, but the wind kept pushing him back.

The speakers on the ship roared. “Hold on, Princess. I’m trying to bring her back under control.”

“This is bad. Twilight, any chance your magic’s back yet?” Shining asked.

Twilight tried to activate her magic, only for it to send a bolt of pain throttling through her head along with a puff of pink sparks. “It’s no good.”

“Tighten your shield around the two of you,” Chrysalis commanded. “Conserve as much of your magic as you can.”

“What about you?” Shining asked.

“There’s a reason I built my hive here, silly.” With a sly smile, Chrysalis stepped away from the duo, forcing Shining’s magic to stretch after her. Another step put her out of his range. His shield snapped back into shape, wrapping around the two ponies.

Twilight cried out, but stopped when she noticed Chrysalis’ glow. A faint green shimmer wrapped around her chitin. Wherever a bolt of rain struck, it sent a ripple through the barrier. Chrysalis kept her head back and eye closed, her mane billowing beneath the gale. Despite the danger, Twilight couldn’t help but stare.

“Got it!” the ship’s speakers boomed. The ship lurched back toward the mountain. Twilight and Shining took a running leap, landing clear on the deck. Chrysalis followed suit, though her missing limb resulted in an unsteady landing.

“Inside. Now,” Shining cried. Beads of sweat coated his forehead. His magic started flickering. He and Twilight slipped inside as quickly as they could, while Chrysalis took a moment to cast a final, solemn glance over her ruined home. As the ship pulled away and the mountain drifted out of view, Chrysalis, too, stepped onto the bridge.

And immediately wished she hadn’t.

The crew forgot their current tasks, instead showering Chrysalis with hostile glares. All except for Captain Shield and Quartz. She turned her nose up at them and strode forward past Twilight, past both Captains, and ducked down into the stairs at the back of the room.

“What are you all looking at?” Twilight asked, her cheeks glowing red. “Shouldn’t you be focused on getting us home?”

With a nod, Captain Shield took over. “You lot heard the princess.”

One-by-one, they returned to their work. Twilight shot the captain a grateful look as she followed Chrysalis down into the depths of the ship. Every crewmate they passed just stared in silent contempt. Their exodus eventually took them to the bottom of the ship, and to the large bedroom Twilight had been given.

Once they were inside, Twilight grumbled. “Don’t let them bother you. I’ll have a chat with Cadance when we get back, and we’ll get all this sorted out.”

Chrysalis observed the room with a neutral expression. “If that little display bothered you, then we might have a problem. In that new life you keep telling me about, I’m sure I’ll have to face much more than dirty looks and angry stares.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to just accept it, though,” Twilight argued. After a look from Chrysalis, she swallowed her anger with a deep breath. “Fine. I just thought it might bother you.”

“Don’t worry. When my conquest of Equestria is complete, I’ll make sure they pay for insulting me,” Chrysalis said, striding over to the edge of the bed.

“Right.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “The bed’s yours, by the way.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. I got some rest on the way here. Besides, there’s still some work I have to do.” Twilight kicked the saddlebags sitting beside the desk.

“Very well.” Yawning, Chrysalis climbed into the bed. She let her head fall onto the pillow, adding another layer of dirt to the already soiled pillowcase. Her body curled as it tried to fit onto the small mattress.

“Sorry. It’s not exactly Queen-sized,” Twilight apologized.

“Better than rocks and dust.”

“Really?”

“No, but I thought I would try to be nice about it.” Chrysalis directed her eye toward Twilight and grinned.

Twilight laughed in return. “Seriously, though, you should get some sleep. We’ve got a long trip back to Canterlot, and you definitely look like you need it.”

“As you command, Princess.”

With a smug look on her face, Chrysalis closed her eye and allowed herself to drift off. In the meantime, Twilight scooted her saddlebags closer to the desk, until they were within reach of the chair. Then, with a relieved sigh, she settled into the seat and removed the same book from before from her bag.

Her notes were still set out on the table, held in place by an antique brass paperweight. Dipping her quill into the ink bottle, she flipped the book open to the page where she’d left off before and started reading.

Or tried to, at least. With no lights aside from the occasional blinding flash of lightning, Twilight struggled to identify the small text on the page. This task became marginally easier once the ship broke free from the storm, allowing moonlight to seep in through the back window. In the night, only the sound of Twilight’s scratching quill and the creak of the ship’s wooden frame were audible.

By the time she reached the back cover, the list of possible reagents for her cure had almost doubled. Trying her best to keep silent, Twilight slipped from her chair, settling onto the hard, uneven floorboards. It didn’t take long before that position grew too uncomfortable for sleep.

Twilight fell to her backup plan. She changed to a seated position, leaning back against a large crate stacked amongst the rest of the cargo. Whatever was inside must have been heavy, as the pile didn’t shift an inch as she lay her full weight into it. Though still nothing special, she convinced herself that at least she would be able to sleep like this. Her eyes started to close, only for something to catch her eye.

Moonlight glinted off something metal on Chrysalis’ uncovered body. Stretching her muscles, Twilight crawled to her hooves and crept closer to the bed. A cursory exploration revealed the culprit of the blinding light. Twilight reached out with her magic, trying her best to feel the foreign object embedded in the changeling’s leg stump.

Shockingly, her magic reacted. A faint pink glow surrounded the object. Offering a contrite look to the sleeping queen, Twilight tightened her magical grip. Despite the headache, she focused her magic long enough to pull a small metal shard from the wound. A thin line of blood leaked from the cut, but Twilight wiped it away with the unused blanket.

She inspected the shard. It appeared to be a remnant of Chrysalis’ prosthetic leg. Or rather, part of the mechanism that held her prosthetic in place. With a yawn, she tossed her discovery onto the desk. But she didn’t return to her makeshift bed. Instead, she found her gaze drawn to Chrysalis.

The days hadn’t been kind to her. And that was an understatement. The scars across her face were deep. Twilight wondered if a skilled physician like Doctor Heart would be able to do anything. A prosthetic leg was one thing. But an eye?

Her stare transitioned over to Chrysalis’ mane. The strands were dirty and unkempt. Even so, their color still shone through. A beautiful blue-green, shimmering in a way that reminded Twilight a little bit of the sea. Then to her long, slender neck. Her lithe form, polished like a gemstone, reflected the moonlight, only marred by the occasional crack in her shell.

Her gaze trailed down Chrysalis’ tail. Like her mane, each thread was long enough that it dragged on the floor behind her as she strutted. And the tip of her tail only reinforced that fact, stained with all manner of dirt and mud.

Last, Twilight studied Chrysalis’ legs. Though she stood as tall as Celestia, her legs were far thinner. Large holes were present towards the end, the same as every changeling Twilight had ever met. She glanced at the place where Chrysalis’ fourth leg used to be. The wounds were gnarly and half-healed.

A great sadness swirled within Twilight. In all the time she’d known Chrysalis, both as a villain or otherwise, she had never taken such a thorough look at her. And now, as she stared at the broken form of the once-regal queen, she almost felt sick. Like seeing a priceless statue, shattered against the ground. Or a rare book, torn clean from the spine. A treasure that might never reclaim its lost glory.

As Chrysalis shifted in her sleep, Twilight found something else puzzling. In the cracks between chitin, Twilight could see the soft pink skin beneath. On Chrysalis’ chest, she swore she could see ribs poking through. The more she looked, the more she noticed the signs. Chrysalis’ body was broken in more ways than one. Her thinness that Twilight found so odd had nothing to do with her body, but as a result of malnourishment.

Something like sympathy spilled through Twilight’s veins. Chrysalis resembled a wild animal at the end of its life, lying in its den, waiting for the touch of death to fall upon them. She wanted to reach out, to touch this thing lying before her. And to tell her everything would be okay now.

“Don’t you know it’s rude to stare?”

Twilight nearly tripped over herself as Chrysalis’ eye opened. When it focused on Twilight, she expected to see hostility in its glare. But there wasn’t. Instead, she only saw hollowness.

“I’m sorry,” Twilight said quickly. “There was a shard of metal in one of your wounds, I thought that--”

“Believe it or not, I was young and beautiful once,” Chrysalis said, her voice taking on a somber sheen.

Twilight blinked a few times, surprised by the sudden shift in conversation. “I’d argue you still are.” She stepped forward, her smile catching in the star’s light.

Chrysalis withdrew to the far side of the bed, patting at the small amount of empty space she left behind. In Twilight’s half-asleep state, it took her a moment to catch on to the changeling’s wish. Hesitantly, she slipped into the bed beside Chrysalis. Due to the small size of their arrangement, Twilight was forced to press her back flush against Chrysalis’ chestplate. Despite the tight squeeze, it felt natural for Twilight to be so close, like it was the only place in the world made just for her.

“Are you sure you’re comfortable?” Twilight asked, turning her head slightly. “I’m alright sleeping on the floor. I promise.”

“I’m sure.”

Chrysalis’ eye closed again, and her breathing fell into a steady rhythm, prompting Twilight to do the same. She let her muscles fall slack, felt the tension and control melt away from her body.

But she was dragged violently from the edge of sleep when she felt something cold touch her. Twilight’s eyes snapped open and she looked down to see Chrysalis’ hoof wrapped around her, just above her waist. The jerky motion of Twilight’s shock startled the changeling in turn, causing her to start withdrawing her hoof.

Before she could, though, Twilight caught it with her own.

“It’s alright,” Twilight whispered, moving Chrysalis’ hoof back to where it had been. “You just startled me, that's all. I don’t mind if you want to hold me.” She felt the tension in Chrysalis’ muscles dissipate. She didn’t try to pull away again.

“I’m sorry, Twilight.”

“Don’t be. I like it.”

Twilight heard a sound behind her, an odd mix of a chuckle and a sigh.

“What?” Twilight asked, trying her best to sound offended.

“You sound just like him.”

“Like who?”

Chrysalis’ response arrived after a long pause. “When I was young, I used to live in a hive far beyond the borders of Equestria.”

As Chrysalis spoke, Twilight settled herself. The anticipation in the air made sleep impossible.

“I was the eldest of the queen’s heirs. And I wore that title proudly. I looked down upon the commoners. I treated them with cruelty and selfishness. What I wanted, I took. And there wasn’t a single soul in that city that could stop me. Or so I thought. Then I met a bandit.”

Twilight felt Chrysalis’ warm breath on her neck. The heat sent a shiver down her spine.

“Blue’s arrival changed everything,” Chrysalis continued. “He had been caught trying to rob my sister. Purely to spite her, I rescued him from her, propping him up as one of my personal guards.” A sigh. “I tried constantly to make him miserable, but he never broke.

“At first, his resistance infuriated me. But boredom turned that hatred to curiosity. The more time I spent with him, the more I understood. He was my first real, unbiased glimpse of life outside the palace. For the first time, I saw the pain and misery me and my family caused on a daily basis, not only to our subjects, but to one another.”

Twilight opened her mouth to comment, but decided to keep silent while Chrysalis talked. She had never imagined Chrysalis with another. It brought her a slight pang of jealousy to think about. At the same time, this felt like something Chrysalis had been building up for a while. She didn’t want to interrupt.

“I used to disguise myself and sneak out of the palace with him. He showed me that there was more to the world than cruelty. That there were those who suffered so much because of me still offered kind smiles to me as a stranger. And I realized just how terrible of a monster I’d become. I wanted to change. I wanted to be happy.

“And you remind me quite a bit of him, Twilight. Of my first love.”

“Then, does that mean you love me, too?” Twilight asked.

“I . . .” Another long pause. “I don’t know. I’m not even sure I remember what that means anymore.” Her voice grew quieter. “He was the most gentle creature I’d ever met. And I saw what that kindness cost him. I didn’t understand. I was so young, so foolish.”

“I’m sorry, Chrysalis.” Twilight wasn’t even sure why she apologized. Deep down, she suspected that whatever had happened to Blue had broken Chrysalis, turning her into the jaded and cynical being she first met in Canterlot years ago. More than that, it made her scared to try and live again.

“Without him, I was hurting. And that pain hardened my heart. I forgot how to be kind. I forgot sympathy. This world would take everything from me if I let it. I ran. I ran and ran and ran until I couldn’t think of anywhere else to run. I ended up in Equestria. Alone. Numb.

“Over the years, I forgot the time I spent with him. I nearly forgot his face. But I never forgot the pain. After all this time, that old wound still bleeds.” Chrysalis’ grip on Twilight tightened. “And then I lost everything. My empire. My children. I was alone again. When I woke up in the hospital, I heard you crying over Celestia. You finally forced me to face the truth. I’d become the very monster I had killed so many years ago.”

“Chrysalis . . .” Twilight took the changeling’s hoof and stroked it softly. She felt vindicated. After so long, Chrysalis had finally opened up to her. And what she found was a tale of tragedy that made her heart ache.

“I hated you for showing me the truth. But . . . But that wasn’t all you did. The way you spoke, the way you protected me, all of it reminded me of him. You . . . You cared about me. In a way that I haven’t felt since the day I lost my love.”

Something wet struck the back of Twilight’s neck. It felt like warm rain. She started to tear up, too.

“You took me in. You cared for me. Despite everything I’d done to you, you didn’t hate me. You wanted me to be happy. You wanted to show me a new way to live. Everything you did reminded me so much of him. But when I was with you . . . I didn’t think of the pain. I was happy.”

Twilight sniffled. “Then why did you run?”

The touch of rain only grew as Chrysalis chortled. “When we came back from the nightmare, when you told me you loved me . . . I . . . I snapped. I told myself that I had to get away. I told myself that you deserved better, that you couldn’t be happy with me.” She took a breath, deep and shuddering. “And maybe that’s true. But that isn’t why I ran. I ran because I know how this story ends, Twilight. Time and time again I’ve felt the pain of everything I loved being taken from me. And it would only be a matter of time until I lost you. And the pain would return even worse than before.”

“But you couldn’t do it, could you?” Twilight felt her own tears start to fall.

“No.” It was barely a whisper. “No matter how badly I wanted to run . . . I couldn’t. I wanted you. I needed you. I’ve been so lonely, Twilight.”

“Why me? What about your hive? What about Thorax?” Twilight asked. “They still care about you. I know they do.”

“Out of obligation. Thorax clings to me because he thinks he owes me his life. My children heeded me by instinct. But you didn’t. You saw a hurt creature and wanted nothing more than to help me. No ulterior motives. Not a single doubt in your mind.” Chrysalis shook her head. “But you’re just like my bandit. You reminded me of what it felt like to be happy.”

Twilight closed her eyes, struggling to keep herself together. “Chrysalis?”

Another agonizing silence.

“Yes, Twilight?”

“I’m not him. I’m not the bandit you fell in love with.”

“I . . . I know. I don’t mean for you to replace him, just--”

Twilight shook her head. She lifted Chrysalis’ hoof, pressing against her cheek to wipe her tears. “That’s not what I meant. You said you tried to run because you were afraid to lose me. But I’m not him. Our story doesn’t have to end the same way.”

“I . . .”

Twilight freed herself enough to turn in her bed, leaving her muzzle-to-muzzle with a teary-eyed Chrysalis. “I know it’s hard. I know you’re scared of getting hurt again. But listen to me.” She used the back of her hoof to dry the changeling’s eye. “It feels that way because it's important to you. If you’re so scared to lose it, then doesn’t that make it valuable? Doesn’t that mean that it’s worth it?”

Chrysalis clung to Twilight’s hoof. “I don’t want to be alone again, Twilight.”

“You don’t have to be. Maybe someday down the line, this’ll end badly. But doesn’t that mean we should enjoy it while we can?” Twilight offered a tear-ridden smile. “I love you, Chrysalis. It took me a few years to figure that out, but I did. That means that I won’t let you be lonely. You’ll always have me.”

“Twilight . . .” Chrysalis’ cries began again in earnest. “It took me centuries to find someone that cared about me as much as you do. And as much as I want to be with you . . . you don’t deserve that. You deserve to be happy. So, I want to offer you one last chance. One last out. Am I worth the pain--”

Chrysalis’ arguments fell silent as Twilight pushed forward, pressing her lips against the changeling’s. Both mares closed their eyes as their bodies tangled. When they finally broke their embrace, they did so only to sate their burning lungs.

“Does that answer your question?” Twilight asked, caressing Chrysalis’ cheek with her hoof.

“I think so,” Chrysalis said. She laughed, the lines traced by her tears still visible on her face. “You really are something else, Twilight Sparkle.”

“I know.” Twilight leaned in, this time nuzzling her cheek into the crook of Chrysalis’ neck. In return, Chrysalis wrapped Twilight in her embrace. The pony felt the cold touch of chitin all across her skin.

“We should get some sleep,” Twilight said. “And when you wake up, I’ll be right here. By your side. I promise.”

Another tear rolled down Chrysalis’ cheek.

“Thank you, Twilight.”

Comments

[eChameleon]

This story has been truly wonderful, chapter by chapter.

[Ralanost]

I'm terrified of a sad ending. So much so that I almost want this to be the end because I want them to be happy. But we still got an alicorn to heal. I just hope Twilight and Chrysalis can make it to their happy ending. Meanwhile I dread the opposite.

[Stahlseele]

Different than that Bandit, Twilight is an Alicorn.
She is going to be around for a very long time.

[Arkane12]

11816182
Technically, I never said why Bandit isn’t around anymore. Who said it was old age?

[Stahlseele]

11816718
i somewhat still remember the pre rewrite story.
and even if it wasn't old age, by that time it would
have been. Chrysalis is almost as old as Celestia
and Luna and Discord after all.

[GeneraLeeDiscord]

The last 3 chapters got me thinking about an only saying. If you truly love something let it go. "If it returns it's truly your's and is not then it never was" This might not be exactly how this went but in the in Twilight was showing that she was will to give up everything so long as it made Chrysalis happy even at the expense of her own feelings.

Everyone treats Chrysalis as a predator, a thing that cares little for anyone. But anyone that's study's nature would tell you even predators have feelings. How they can care or be gentle. It's only for the one's really close but that doesn't make it any less real.

The more accurate thing about a predator is they do not like to be caged even if it's for there own good.

[DopplerEffect]

Man, when this story actually ends it'll be both a blessing and a curse. I really like your characterization of Twilight and Chrysalis, how they work together and against each other.

[Arkane12]

11817000
That is a good point to keep in mind.

[Arkane12]

11816751
I’ll be honest, I don’t remember if the original ever really even talked about Blue, let alone what happened to him.

[GrandAdmiral MitthRawN]

🇬🇴🇴🇩

[Arkane12]

11817678
What is?

[GrandAdmiral MitthRawN]

11817689
everything man. Day and night my mind drifts to this story now an then. Actually i coundlnt bear the waiting and i re read the original. I thought that i might lose interest since i "spoiled again" but this re write has many new elements. Thats like a new story.

[Arkane12]

11817696
Yup. The original just started as it’s own thing, this one is meant tie a lot more into the series. A lot more backstory and new scenes. Glad you’re enjoying.

[LetTheSkyFall]

Finally.

[Arkane12]

11818331
Waiting for something?

[LetTheSkyFall]

11818366
I've been waiting for this fic.