*1 week later*
It was Cleaning Day, well Night in North's cottage.
Nightmare used her magic to clean the carpets and the furniture. Chrysalis was washing dishes and North was picking ripe fruit, vegetables, and flowers for dinner.
"Hey! Pass me the plate, Nightmare" Chrysalis called pointing to the plate that was on the dining room table. The plate was surrounded in a faint cerulean aura as it floated into Chrysalis' hooves "Thanks"
Nightmare hummed a response and began dusting the selves. Her thoughts drifting to Chrysalis in the pink frilly apron as she reared on her hind legs to get the top shelf.
"Do you need that apron?"
Chrysalis stopped moving for a second turning to the alicorn "What's wrong with it? I think it's fine on me"
"It's not that... It's just that it seems unnecessary"
"North gave it to me besides..." Nightmare suddenly felt a hoof on her side "I have a feeling that a certain alicorn secretly enjoys it" Chrysalis teased sticking her forked tongue out.
Nightmare let out a breathy laugh shaking her head "Whatever you say..."
Chrysalis snickered walking back into the kitchen to finish her job. The bounce in the changeling's hoovesteps made Nightmare smile. She was finally opening up completely to them instead of shielding herself behind this royal persona.
The door burst open followed by a basket the size of North's entire body. North herself followed the basket as she placed it down with a huff.
"My Moon! That's a ton of food"
North winked at her "I got everything from Apples to Tulips"
Nightmare's mouth gaped at the spread "Tonight, We shall feast!" She declared followed by exclamations from the other mares in approval.
-----
And feast the mares did...
They had a wide variety of salads, soups, and sandwiches to satisfy themselves with. North even opened up a large wine bottle that she got as a gift.
"So Never have I ever.... had a poster on my wall" Chrysalis slurred.
Nightmare watched as North took a sip of wine. The unicorn looked up and shrugged "It was good band. You royals are just boring"
Chrysalis and Nightmare shook their heads at her.
"Never have I ever... kissed a mare"
Chrysalis took a sip of wine making the other mares stare at her in a drunken awe.
Nightmare twisted her cup in her magical aura "Never have I ever.... dated a bad colt"
Chrysalis and North both took sips and burst out laughing.
"You dated a bad colt! Oh, I have to hear this" Chrysalis slurred suddenly interested in this story.
"Ok! Story time! I dated this foal from my class in middle classes. He used to steal things and give them to me like chocolate bars and stuff. He got in trouble and moved away. Never saw him again"
"That is oddly heartwarming despite the criminal activities of the colt" Nightmare whispered gazing into space for a second.
"What about you Chrysalis. Who's your bad colt?"
Chrysalis' smile faltered a bit "He was a criminal just like yours but on a bigger scale. He.... turned an entire race into slaves. I didn't date him per say, I married him"
North sipped her wine "Ex-husband. I see... he sounds like a bad dude"
"True..." Nightmare didn't say much after that.
After about an hour, the game got boring and North decided to pack up what was left of the wine. Chrysalis helped her clean the mess and the mare stumbled up to her bedroom.
"Goodnight!" The two exclaimed at the same time followed by drunken giggles.
Chrysalis laid on her couch and stared at the black ball of fur that was Nightmare. She couldn't help but feel like the mare was upset with her for some reason.
Chrysalis sighed and drifted off to sleep.
-----
That next afternoon, North nudged Nightmare and Chrysalis making them both groan at their interupted slumber and hangover. "I need a favor since you're living in my house" She grumbled holding her head. Chrysalis waved a hoof pulling the blanket over her head. North swiped the blanket from her grip with her orange magic "You too, Bug Flank"
"At least I have a flank" Chrysalis grumbled turning away from the irksome light that made her head pound. North's face grew hot as she looked at her flank "It's perfectly average, I'll have you know" She said observing her average flank.
Nightmare mumbled under her breath as she arose from her couch "What is our task" She yawned. North perked up "Ah yes! I need you to do some shopping for me in Ponyville. I plan to make something of great importance" She explained levitating a bag of bits and a shopping list around Nightmare's neck.
Nightmare grumbled walking out without a word. Chrysalis, however, was busy falling back into her slumber.
"CHRYSALIS!!!"
Nightmare winced as she heard a crash and screaming before the changeling queen was pushed out of the door. Chrysalis huffed "I swear... She has a colorful vocabulary and a loud voice" She complained unable to come up with a decent insult because of her pounding headache. Nightmare gave her a weak laugh focusing her magic in her horn.
Her entire form was engulfed in a silver glow before a black unicorn stood in front of Chrysalis with average ocean blue eyes. "I see.." She whispered before green flames enveloped her and she stood as a lime green pegasus with a forest green mane.
Nightmare nodded in approval before walking into the trees to be quickly followed by Chrysalis. The disguised alicorn and changeling queen trotted side by side through the trees in silence. For 3 hours...
'Ok, this is just awkward' She thought bitterly "Nightmare..."
"Hmm.."
"About yesterday...or yesternight, is that a thing"
Nightmare stopped and looked at her "What about it?"
"You seem a lot more distant. Did I upset you?"
Nightmare shook her head "Just thinking... I can't remember..."
Chrysalis didn't believe that but she didn't show it. The changeling gave her a stiff nod and continued walking.
Soon, they walked into town and instantaneously they were greeted by a pink earth pony mare jumping on Chrysalis' back.
"Hiya!"
Chrysalis jumped "Who are you? Where did you come from?" She yelped. Nightmare on the other hoof didn't even flinch as she stared at the pink mare.
"I'm Pinkie Pie! I came here from Sugar Cube Corner! WELCOME TO PONYVILLE!!!" She exclaimed
"Pinkie! Oh there you are!" A orange earth pony called walking over to the 3 ponies with baskets full of Apples. Pinkie's smile grew as she jumped from Chrysalis to the orange earth pony.
"Ah apologize for her. She's kinda attracted to the new ponies that come to town. Don't be surprised if you walk into a suprise party" She said in a southern accent. Pinkie pouted "AppleJack, you ruined the suprise. Time for extreme measures" She then disappeared into thin air.
Nightmare's eyes widened a bit. Chrysalis facehoofed "We were just trying to go shopping" She groaned wishing for her comfortable couch. AppleJack chuckled "Ah can help ya find your way around if you need it" She offered. Nightmare nodded grabbing the list with her magic "Do you know where we can get seed from a magic rose" She asked.
AppleJack thought for a moment "Ya might wanna ask Roseluck. Follow me" She advised walked into town. Chrysalis looked to Nightmare and shrugged before following her. The 3 ponies walked into town to see many bustling ponies making their daily commutes.
"Roseluck!" AppleJack called to a scarlet maned mare watering some lilies.
"Oh! Good afternoon, AppleJack" She called back
"These mare," She motioned towards Nightmare and Chrysalis "Were wondering about magic rose seed"
Roseluck perked up "Oh yes, follow me" She asked quickly walking into the endless flowers. Nightmare and Chrysalis followed waving goodbye to AppleJack. Roseluck looked through the flower seed labels before she grabbed one in particular "Magic Roses, they tend to grow in damp shaded environments. They are quite common and if you plant 1 you can grow a whole field-" She froze when she looked at Chrysalis who was about to fall asleep standing up.
Nightmare turned towards her and nudged her with a hoof making the mare squeal as she fell over. "I'm sorry, Miss. Roseluck but me and my companion haven't had a lot of sleep." She confessed. Chrysalis threw her a glare as the earth pony nodded "Oh, that's alright. That will be 3 bits, I guess" She said slightly disheartened.
Nightmare gave her the exact amount of bits and put the seeds into the bit bag. Chrysalis and Nightmare walked away briskly to the town statue. "That mare loves her job too much" Chrysalis commented making Nightmare sigh.
"You can be really insensitive" Nightmare whispered to the changeling.
Chrysalis gave her a look before rolling her eyes "I was taught that way" She murmured thinking about her hive.
Nightmare looked to her and saw a far off look in the changeling's eyes. The two became silent as the conversations of other ponies filled the silence.
After a while, Nightmare turned towards her. "C-" Nightmare froze as she saw tears in the changeling's eyes. Chrysalis wiped them away as quickly as they came "Let's finish the list, so we can go back" She muttered under her breath walking away. Nightmare watched her before following after the disguised changeling.
"We need various foods" She called to Chrysalis who nodded without turning around.
---
After Chrysalis walked away from the alicorn. Her heart throbbed with an insatiable need to mourn. All these ponies... She was taught to hate them but this alicorn was blasting through her emotional defenses.
Did she love her? No, they were friends.
Chrysalis choked as sob after sob burst its way from her throat. She was crying for so many years of abuse that was so long ago. She was crying from the absolute neglect of her children by Celestia based on a foolish betrayal. She was crying for the death of all of her children from various causes.
'All because of the alicorns' A small voice whispered from deep within her
Chrysalis hiccupped 'The alicorns did this to me. To my children' She thought. That fact brought a rage into Chrysalis' chest. The alicorns had hurt her.
'Don't you just want the alicorn to suffer' The tiny voice whispered.
Chrysalis' eyes widened as she thought of Nightmare dying by her hoof. 'No.' She replied curling up. Her head hurt badly like it was going to explode.
Pain.
'No.'
Stress.
'No!'
Struggle.
'N-No- Ahhh!'
Numbness.
'...'
Chrysalis wiped her tears. She was a queen. She was born for the sake for her children. The alicorns were her enemy.
Her eyes glowing a bright vivid blue.
---
Nightmare looked to see AppleJack talking with a cyan pegasus as she sold her apples.
"AppleJack!" Nightmare called walking over to her stand.
"Oh, I forgot your name..."
"I never told you, I apologize. I'm Night Tide" She said coming up with a name on the spot.
"Didn't ya have a friend?"
Nightmare nodded "Summer Grass is going through some things, right now and wants space"
AppleJack nodded "This is my friend, Rainbow Dash"
The cyan pegasus smirked "The fastest flyer in Equestria!" She exclaimed proudly. Nightmare chuckled "It's a pleasure..."
Rainbow smiled holding out her hoof to which Nightmare bumped with her own. AppleJack smiled at the exchange as 'Summer Grass' walked up with a bag of various fruits and vegetables.
Nightmare raised an eyebrow wondering how she paid for the items when she didn't have the bit bag but dropped it soon after. "Hello..." She whispered looking away from Nightmare.
"Ya alright, Sugarcube" AppleJack questioned laying a hoof on her back. 'Summer' nodded and pulled at Nightmare's mane "It's getting late... I want to leave" She demanded in a low voice.
Nightmare looked at the setting sun and began to walk away when AppleJack laid a hoof on her shoulder. "Ya shouldn't walk through the Everfree at night" She advised. "Yea, you could get attacked" Rainbow Dash agreed as the moon began to rise and bathe the town in its silvery glow. Chrysalis glared at them "We will be fine" She insisted walking away.
Nightmare gave them sympathetic looks before running after her "Are you alright?" She questioned her. Chrysalis sneered at the disguised alicorn "Am I alright? Is that your question? Am I bucking alright?" She snarled as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"C-"
"SHUT UP!"
Nightmare fell silent giving the mare a pleading look wondering why she was acting this way. She was fine earlier...
Chrysalis began shaking "You.... You are against everything I stand for... I am insulting my childrens' death by hanging around with you" She pushed Nightmare away. Her mind was filled with scene after scene of her dead children.
Chrysalis shook her head "Your kind are responsible for my childrens' death" She hissed holding her hooves to her chest as she fell to the ground sobbing.
Nightmare attempted to embrace her but was pushed away. Chrysalis gave her a malicious glare before turning away.
"I..." The alicorn started "I didn't kill your children! So don't punish me for the fault of my own enemies!!!" She screamed at her before walking away. She was confused and hurt by the changeling's accusations. Chrysalis' eyes widened as she watched her.
The changeling didn't want her to go. Why did she accuse her of something she had no part in. She didn't know... She found herself breathless trying to get air into her lungs. Chrysalis stood up on her shaky hooves and ran into the Everfree. She was a insensitive heartless monster... How could she say that to her friend. Her only friend...
Nightmare's heart throbbed with a familiar dull ache. She was becoming numb again like she was one thousand years ago. The alicorn felt so empty and alone but didn't know who to turn to...