After watching Trixie's show, and all of the other events of the day, Starlight was exhausted. She had passed out in her bed without a second thought.
What followed were, oddly enough to Starlight, dreams of happy times with Chrysalis. In fact, the changeling queen seemed oddly... infatuated with her, often making close physical contact, nuzzling her, and so on. In her dream-state, Starlight only had a vague sense that this was 'off', rather than a clear idea of what the problem was. She was surprised to feel herself reciprocating the affection in her dream, and while she initially resisted, at some point she threw caution to the wind and enjoyed the dream. Things carried on like that, with the scene changing rapidly, until a familiar voice interrupted her.
"Well. This is not what we thought it was."
Starlight glanced over from Chrysalis with a start, only to find herself in a blank, starlit space, staring at the Princess of the Night.
"Luna! Wait... oh, duh, this was a dream."
Starlight facehoofed, while Luna just chuckled.
"I saw Chrysalis in your dreams, and I thought it must be a nightmare, or changeling magic. My apologies for intruding, I... did not realize you were capable of such flights of fancy."
"It's been a complicated couple of days, alright? I'm not even surprised at this point."
Luna laughed at that, and then focused on Starlight.
"I suppose you've had some experience which has caused you to rethink your view on Chrysalis? Your mind is trying to adjust to seeing her in a more positive way, I would guess."
Starlight hesitated, glancing around the empty expanse and considering.
"Yeaaah, you could definitely say that."
Luna nodded. "Your life has been a complex one, and I know your feelings on Chrysalis are colored by your perception of yourself and your past. Do not be ashamed of your perspective; perhaps, someday, it will be the key to helping her and others like her live in peace."
Starlight just stared at Luna for a few moments, and then smiled.
"Thank you, Luna. I wouldn't expect anypony to understand..."
She gestured back in the direction where she and Chrysalis had been nuzzling on the couch.
"Y'know, that."
Luna drew herself up proudly and smiled warmly down at her.
"I am the Princess of the Night, the guardian of dreams. While I erred in intruding, understanding and accepting the thoughts of ponies is my job."
"I can see that now. Thankâwait, what's happening?"
The starry expanse they had been conversing in began to rapidly pull away, leaving Starlight in a black void.
"Something is waking you. It seems you heard something while sleeping. Fare well, Starlight."
"You too, Luna!"
Starlight snapped awake in her dark room, lit only slightly by starlight pouring through the window, and rubbed her eyes.
"Ugh... what a weird dream..."
Starlight rubbed her eyes with a hoof before pricking her ears up. She could hear breathing.
Chrysalis again, probably...
Glancing around the room, however, she spotted a dark figure in the corner near the door. Tensing up reflexively, Starlight mentally prepared to cast a powerful defensive spell if necessary.
"Uhh... who's there?"
The figure strode forward a few paces, revealing Chrysalis, still in her 'Crissy' disguise. Starlight breathed a sigh of relief, before realizing she probably shouldn't be relieved.
"Chrysalis? What are you doing here? Was I... snoring?"
"I had to know."
"Huh?"
Chrysalis strode even closer, until she was standing over Starlight's bed. Starlight, for her part, stayed upright and tense, watching her carefully.
"I had to know what I'd do if I had you in front of me, defenseless."
"... Oh."
Chrysalis' faced screwed up in anguish, and she cast her gaze aside, staring into the corner.
"And I did nothing. I just stayed here until you woke up."
"Well... you got your answer, then."
"Yes, but... I hated you! I hated you so much for all you took from me! You turned my hive against me! You took it all! Why couldn't I just take my vengeance and have it over with?"
Starlight looked Chrysalis over carefully, her concern for her own wellbeing giving way to concern for Chrysalis.
"I don't know. I... I guess I was in a similar position when Twilight first invited me here, but I'd already had a revenge scheme kinda backfire terribly. I'd almost destroyed everything in my attempt to get back at her, and I felt ashamed of myself. What... what do you think is holding you back?"
"I don't know! I just... what you said earlier, about just taking things as they are. I've just started letting go of... so much."
Chrysalis began hyperventilating, and Starlight instinctively pulled her onto the bed with her magic, hugging her. Chrysalis squirmed at first, but Starlight held on tight. Chrysalis' voice came out a mix of hoarse and angry.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"At this point, I have no idea. But whatever you're going through, don't do it alone."
Chrysalis glared at Starlight venomously, but soon her eyes overflowed with tears. She pressed her face to Starlight's neck and wept, breathing heavily and sobbing often.
She's really beside herself. Well... I guess if I had someone to really talk to after everything with my village, I'd have been the same way.
After a minute of weeping, Chrysalis' voice came out between sobs.
"This is so pathetic... so pathetic..."
"No it isn't. There are two reasons ponies weep; because they are in despair, or because they're accepting some kind of major change. That's my experience."
Chrysalis looked up at Starlight, confusion writ on her features. Starlight carried on.
"You're accepting that things are different, now. Moving on. You know what it takes to accept change and adapt, right?"
Chrysalis hesitated, and then pushed her head back onto Starlight's neck, mumbling.
"Strength. We changelings often talk about the strength to adapt."
"Yeah. Exactly. It's not pathetic, you're just... letting go of a lot of stuff. And I'm right here if you want to talk about any of it."
Chrysalis sniffled a bit, and after a few moments spoke back up.
"Yes... I suppose it would be good to speak about the old days a bit. My own family, my servants... what I've lost."
"Alright. But, y'know, Chrysalis... you don't need to be in disguise here."
Chrysalis changed back to her default form with a brief flash of green flame. There was a brief silence while Starlight held the changeling queen before Chrysalis spoke again.
"Starlight... thank you."
"S-sure. No problem."
WHEN DID THIS BECOME MY LIFE