Chrysalis stared out the window at the countryside rushing by as the train headed for Ponyville. The rune, hidden in the stitching of her outfit, gifted to her by Solar Eclipse, seemed to throb with every passing moment. "What does she want with that poor pony?"
"What was that Chrysalis?" Came Twilight's voice as she entered their private car, closing the door behind them.
Chrysalis snapped out of her trance, startled by the arrival of the purple princess. "I- Apologies, I didn't hear you enter." Chrysalis bowed her head. "I was just... talking to myself."
Twilight actually blushed at Chrysalis' demeanor. It was completely different than what she was like before, and she wasn't sure it was in a good way. "Chrysalis, you don't have to act like that around me. What's gotten into you?"
Chrysalis couldn't tell Twilight anything. Both because there was no telling what Daybreaker would do to make good on her threat, and because she doubted the purple alicorn would believe her fully. More than likely it would end with her in restraints again.
"I'm... I'm just worried. About the princesses." Chrysalis lied. Well, it wasn't a total lie, that was a definite part of it.
Twilight gave a sympathetic smile, sitting down beside Chrysalis. "You mean you're worried about Celestia specifically don't you? I've heard you talk about and to her."
Chrysalis blushed now. It was true. She'd fallen for the solar princess. She, the queen of changelings, a hunter and manipulator of love, was smitten. And it was being used against her. "I-I definitely am not motivated by my wish to be able to have Celestia to myself without her sister and alter ego being there!"
There was a long, awkward silence as both passengers of the train car absorbed what Chrysalis had just blurted out. Chrysalis covered her face in her hands and groaned loudly. "Just kill me now."
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Upon arriving in Ponyville, Chrysalis quietly allowed herself and her single piece of baggage to be escorted, in disguise, to Twilight's castle. She felt out of place, especially since the entire trip was an excuse for her to help abduct someone. Another thing, she realized, that she would have been fine with before all this. She really was changed, but was it for the better, or the worse?
Once escorted within the crystal tree that made up Twilight's castle, Chrysalis dropped her disguise. "You didn't need to put me up with yourself, Twilight." Chrysalis said, as she stretched, glad that her disguise had given her an excuse to remove her clothing. Why she needed it was beyond her, her chitinous armor was more than enough to keep herself decent.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden shout. "Twilight! It's Queen Chrysalis, run!" Chrysalis barely had time to register Starlight's voice before a large chair was suddenly being flung at her face. Before losing consciousness, Chrysalis' brain managed to coalesce one last lucid thought.
"I'm not going to regret abducting this stupid wench after all."
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"Starlight! What are you doing?!" Twilight shouted, rushing to the unconscious changeling's side and looking over her injuries. "You could have given her a concussion!"
Starlight blinked slowly. Hadn't she just saved Twilight again? This wasn't the response she had expected. "Ummm... Well I thought I was saving your life, but now I'm not so sure." She admitted, a little sheepish to have overreacted. Again. "Need a hand with her?"
A few minutes later, Chrysalis was coming to, and Starlight was being forced to apologize by a still upset Twilight. The changeling queen only chuckled, taking Starlight's apology surprisingly well. "Do not fret yourself, I suppose my appearance would frighten you."
In all truth, Chrysalis was in no forgiving mood. If Celestia was not in danger, she would likely still feel the need to punish this insult, though likely nowhere near as harshly. The circumstances, however meant that her revenge would be quite harsh in deed.
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Chrysalis mostly enjoyed the vacation while waiting for a chance to plant the rune on Starlight, it gave her time to relax, until Twilight decided Chrysalis needed to properly meet her friends. ...Which of course meant she had to be "proper" in her clothing. She wasn't happy about this First off, having already "met" Starlight, Chrysalis only had one more denizen of the Ponyville castle to meet.
Spike was happy to have Twilight back. Sure he liked having the run of the castle from time to time, but honestly, being alone with Starlight made him nervous sometimes. She could be impulsive, enough to make even Twilight's rashest moments look positively sane. Or at least that's what he was thinking until he saw the guest she'd brought with her.
"Twilight..."
"Yes Spike?"
"Why is the queen of changelings, who if you'll remember has tried to kill you, twice; sitting in the map room?"
"Because she needed to sit down and I was showing her around? We're going to have a meet and greet around town today."
Spike promptly turned around and began heading for the stairs. Twilight jumped to her hooves and ran after him. "Oh no you don't! You're getting properly introduced just like everyone else!"
There was brief pause followed by an uncomfortably high squealing noise before Twilight reappeared, pushing Spike back into the room, the dragon's claws attempting to find friction on the floor making the noise offending everyone's hearing. Eventually she managed to get Spike to the map.
"Alright..." Twilight panted slightly as she spoke. Spike had gained weight at this point, she was sure. "Now... Chrysalis. This is Spike, my assistant. And Spike this is Chrysalis. She's... She's the new court steward in Canterlot."
"She's what?" Spike asked incredulously looking back at Twilight like she just suggested the sun was made of ice cream.
"She's not lying." Chrysalis said with a slight chuckle. "I was ousted, remember? Your princesses were kind enough to offer me a second chance. And I took it, after a long and hard consideration."
Second chance. There was that phrase again. Chrysalis knew she didn't deserve a second chance now. It had always been in her nature to betray. Why hadn't the ponies listened to her and just killed her when they had the chance?