//------------------------------// // Queen Chrysalis // Story: Lost Opportunities // by Mewrilah //------------------------------// You wandered down the dark, always changing corridors. In a way it reminded you of Hogwarts, except in the movie the students could actually see where the staircase led. Now that you thought of it, the whole situation you were in was odd. Technically you were a prisoner but you’re host, queen bug, decided to let you roam through her hive. For what reason, you were unsure. It was actually the queen of the changelings that found you. You were first interrogated, asked if you had any affiliation with the talking ponies that ruled this world. If you hadn’t thought this was all a dream then, you were convinced that that night out with the guys got you pretty stoned. Anyway you decided to tell the odd looking creature in front of you the truth. The first thing that came to mind was Alien, with their jagged appendages and gleaming jet black exoskeletons. Dream or not, you probably didn’t want to be on these thing’s bad side. “I don’t know any talking ponies. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m not even from this world.” “That much is true,” the queen replied, sneering at you. You could tell she was a female from her voice, unless she was a really high pitched dude. “I don’t think me or any of my changelings have ever encountered whatever species you are.” “So you’ll let me go right? Not a spy or anything, just some species you never met,” you tried. “Not a chance,” the queen cackled. “While I do detect love coming from you there are quite a few other emotions not associated with other creatures. You will be kept here until we can successfully take your form.” You weren’t quite sure about what that meant, but you felt your heart sink as you were now a prisoner. Had you only taken the guy’s offer to crash at their place you wouldn’t be in this mess. You weren’t sure how long ago that was, since you never got to go outside. Surprisingly the changelings were able to accommodate you, picking strange fruits and vegetables that were actually delicious. You in turn fed Chrysalis, and since you two spent so much time together, you found yourself finding feelings for her. Yes she was a little coarse with you, often referring to you as Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner and leaving you alone until it was feeding time. There was that one feeding that went a little awry and you figured maybe that triggered her to being nicer. You went from thinking about parents to just home in general. During a feeding, at least how she had it set up, your minds were linked, kinda like a feeding tube. Every memory you recalled, she was able to see and thanks to her biology, feed off of. Well the more you thought about home, the more bittersweet the memories began to form. How you missed your warm bed, seeing your friends, even your dead end job. This caused your “host” to gag, look at you and then mutter something about needing to get rid of those melancholy memories. She did everything within her power, from having a select few changelings take the forms of your friends to giving you your own room, styled to how it was back home. Even though you knew she was doing it just to make her meals taste better, you couldn’t help but feel that some part of her cared about you. That under that cold carapace and the frigid confines of her heart, she was capable of taking some of your love and actually able to feel it. This is what you were doing right now. Heading to the throne room and confessing your borderline Stockholm’s syndrome. “I didn’t summon you Lunch,” the queen spoke, not really in annoyance but more of curiosity. “I know, my queen,” you bowed. “It’s just that I might have a solution to make your meals taste better.” “I’m listening,” the queen replied with some interest. “What if I loved you instead?” you took the plunge. Chrysalis cocked an eyebrow at that. “Whatever do you mean, human? My changelings already love me and that doesn’t keep us fed.” “No offense my Queen, but they only love you because you are their queen. What I’m proposing is that I love you for who you are. Chrysalis,” you simply stated You weren’t sent flying back into the wall. No magic used to chastise you for your idea. No it was far worse. She simply laughed at you. One of fits of evil laughter, like when she would hatch a plan to overthrow Celestia. “That is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard,” she finally spoke, wiping away a tear. “Nopony could ever love a changeling, let alone me. You thought all those attempts to make you comfortable were me showing you kindness? I figured you smarter than that, Lunch. It was just to make you not miss your home or friends as much, so I could feed off more of your love. Can’t you see, I’m only using you, like livestock. Why do you think I refer to you as Lunch, or Dinner or Breakfast? It’s not some cute little pet name, it’s because that’s all that you are to me.” “That may be true, but even when your attempts weren’t successful you still let me have my freedom. Sure it’s still confined to this hive, but it’s better than just staying in my room all day. There is good to you Chrysalis, even if you don’t see it.” The queen growled before launching from her throne and pinning you down. She leaned close to your face, turning to the side to whisper in your ear. “Listen here, food. You are simply imagining things, that you love me, that I’m being kind to you. All of that is not true. The only thing I care about is feeding my subjects and I and getting revenge on those stupid, pathetic ponies. Feeding off you will give me enough power to strike again. Once I’m strong enough I’ll simply dispose of you, or just enslave you to continue to feed me after all of Equestria is mine.” She stood up, still glaring at you. “Guards!” Two changelings appeared at her side. “Since my food here is thinking that I’m going soft, it’s time to take his privileges away. Change his room into a cell, lock him up and only feed him after he’s fed me. Then maybe they will see there is no ‘good’ in me. Only deceit and deception.” You didn’t resist. You weren’t heart broken either, only disappointed. This may have made things a little more difficult for you but you were determined to show Chrysalis how wrong she was. As the guards led you away you looked back to hold some brief eye contact with the queen. After a few seconds she scoffed in disgust and turned her back to you, resuming her position on her throne. Once you were out of the room, the queen sighed. Even though she didn’t want to admit it, her exposure to emotions meant that she could interpret them well. There was no way she could make the human just ignore the homesickness or mimic it. They were willing to comply so no need for her to force him like Shining Armor. Another reason for giving them their free will was that emotions themselves were genuine, therefore more tasty when they were good. However, they were making her seem like she was good, and she couldn’t have anypony see that. Sure her meals might not be as tasty, but preserving her image was more important. “Nopony could ever love me,” she muttered.