Days would pass before Chrysalis' Gala dress was completed, so Chrysalis knew she was going to be "introduced" to the rest of Twilight's friends. The Princess of Friendship's dedication to spreading her craft proceeded her. First on the list though, was to get herself a temporary room.
In the castle.
Where Starlight lives.
"I am not staying at that unsightly palace." Chrysalis said, walking alongside Twilight, in disguise as an earth pony stallion. He wasn't a pony from town, but Chrysalis couldn't actually remember his name, so she was glad nopony seemed to recognize him.
"And where are you going to stay instead? The forest again?" Twilight asked sarcastically.
"That wasn't my first idea, but I would not be surprised if it was still unoccupied."
Twilight stopped, turning to give Chrysalis an incredulous look.
"It's cozier than it sounds."
"I'm sure it is. You're still staying at the castle."
"You do realize Starlight Glimmer, who I have sworn vengeance upon, lives in your castle, right?"
"How are you still planning to do anything with that? Aren't you supposed to be working alongside Equestria now?"
"My vengeance knows no allegiance, except to myself." Chrysalis replied, puffing out her disguised chest. Upon noticing the look Twilight was giving her, she added, "But I will postpone my vengeance for the time being."
"Good because we're here."
Chrysalis blinked and looked up. She was right at the entrance to the castle... tree... thing. The Castle of Harmony or something, she hadn't been paying attention.
Ka-chunk!
As soon as Twilight opened the door a pair of manacles suddenly latched themselves to Chrysalis' forelegs. She looked down and snorted in amusement before dropping her disguise. Her now strangely shaped legs easily slipped free.
Ka-chunk! Ka-chunk!
Chrysalis looked back down. There were now two pairs of manacles, one pair attached to her forelegs, the other to her hind legs. She was no longer amused. She opened her mouth to call out an oath-
"Starlight Glimmer! Take these manacles off Chrysalis right now!"
Chrysalis was not expecting Twilight Sparkle to defend her. Her mouth hung open for a moment before she caught herself and closed it.
"What did Star Swirled say you learned when we reunited him with the Princesses?"
Twilight rolls her eyes. "That's a trick question, he said he learned the value of friendship and trust from me."
There was a brief pause.
"Well, okay you aren't a changeling pretending to be Twilight."
"How would there even be a changeling-"
Chrysalis started laughing. "S-She thinks I... Oh my that is amusing." She leaned in to Twilight. "Changeling queens only need to be fertilized once Twilight Sparkle."
"I did not need to know that!" Twilight felt the need to boil her ears or something after that.
"I'll just... Come to the map room, I need to check if you're brainwashed."
Chrysalis rolled her eyes and followed Twilight as the alicorn walked ahead, leading her to the inner sanctum of the crystal tree castle... thing. This was still very very strange.
Starlight was currently using the Cutie Map as a table, a series of books were scattered about it, currently reading a particularly old one titled Changelings and You. Chrysalis gave Twilight a sideways glance as she noted the title and gathered the subject matter based on Starlight's paranoia. The alicorn could only shrug sheepishly in response.
"Alright, notable signs of Changeling mind control include headaches, green discoloration to the eyes, lethargy, irritability and stiffness of the wings and-" Starlight's face reddened slightly, "Oh well that one probably doesn't apply to you." She added hastily closing the book and walking over to Twilight to look her over.
Chrysalis quickly grabbed the book with her magic and began skimming through it. "What is this tripe? None of these methods to avoid capture would even work, at least not as more than a speed bump. And unless you think changelings are everywhere how would you know when to put up these defenses?" She paused and paced around reading, until she reached a "diagram" that displayed a changeling with parts labeled biologically. "I'm not a biology expert but I'm fairly certain I have a stomach... since I can see mine!" She tossed the book across the map-table, before slamming her forehooves on the edge of the map itself. "This is pointless! Un-"
Chrysalis' words caught in her throat. To her side a semi-transparent reformed changeling suddenly appeared, his actions mirroring her own, even shouting across the table. Or, at least he appeared to be shouting, for no sound came out. After a few wordless "sentences" the spectral changeling turned and started to walk from the map, fading from view as it moved away.
"Ph-Pharynx?" Chrysalis stuttered in shock, stumbling towards where he'd been. She looked around, trying to figure out where the image came from. "Was... Was he here? Why? What was that? A spirit? A memory?" She felt disoriented, and was hardly conscious of what she was asking.
Starlight and Twilight exchanged worried looks.
"Alright. I believe she's not up to something now. I'll get rid of the chains."