//------------------------------//
// The Capturing 
// Story: You? 
// by Rosalynne 
//------------------------------//

Queen Chrysalis was surprised that it had worked. It had gotten the queen out of the castle so quickly that she had almost faltered. She observes the four ponies locked in the cages. "I'll let you live if you give me information," she proposes, the light bulb of an idea forming over her head. She widens her eyes in an attempt to look more innocent, but the fact she even bothered was convincing enough.

"Why would we help you?" the blue one with the rainbow mane spits at her, with an added insult that the changeling queen chooses not to hear. "You ruined our lives!"

Chrysalis whips around. "Oh, I ruined your lives," Chrysalis hisses, an inch away from Rainbow's cell, close enough for her to reach her hoof through the bars and prod or punch the infuriating pegasus in front of her. "Oh, now that's a story."

But at this point, she didn't care. Not as she delves into her life, bringing the four with her.

They all look around in apparent shock as they find themselves in the Hive, the home the queen once had. Guiding them over to the throne, they found a younger Chrysalis sitting atop it, watching the young play and the elderly tell the stories. A smile-a true smile was on her face.

They all watch as a young Thorax walks up to Chrysalis, bowing in respect. "My queen," he says, flushing as he gazes into her eyes, lost in them easily. It was apparent of his respect and possibly love for her. It had bothered her in the beginning, but now...

"Yes, Thorax?" she asks, tilting her head with a warm grin towards him. 

The changeling fidgets where he stands, and after a long moment of silence, he whispers, "My mother would like to speak to you about... Things." Thorax offers a weak grin in return, but it doesn't pass inspection.

Chrysalis's smile slackens as she takes him in. Bringing herself closer to him, she murmurs, "Why do you frown, young one? Is everything alright in your family? Here?" She would not allow a single one of her changelings to be harmed or hurt. Admittedly, she was a young queen, one of the youngest there was.

But that had never mattered to her. Once her father died, she was prepared to help lead her own.

Thorax only shakes his head and flushes again before dashing away, his brother's friends laughing at the poor changeling. Chrysalis stands, approaching Thorax's mother gently with a cautious air about her. Trying not to fidget the same way Thorax had-it gave off the sense of weakness, she begins, "Thorax said you would want to discuss something with me?"

Chrysalis raises an eyebrow as if she doesn't believe it,  though she does.

"The Hive needs a strong queen," Kaya says carefully, gauging her queen's every action. "And a good queen has heirs in case something were to happen." As Chrysalis blushes herself, she gestures for the mare to continue. "And I would like to suggest one of my sons, Pharynx."

The young queen could not prevent herself from flinching. Marrying her off to some other changeling? No. She wanted to find love herself. But Kaya was right, and her being one of the older influences, she could easily persuade the others to pressure her into it.

"Fine," Chrysalis manages. "I will marry one of your sons." But a glint in her eyes forms as she smiles and lets her forked tongue slide out of her mouth. "But only if it's Thorax."

"Why the fuck would you want it to be Thorax?" Rainbow Dash blurts, interrupting the memories. Receiving a glare from present time Chrysalis, she wisely closes her mouth and returns her attention to the scene, which clearly takes place later on, before they are married, but when they are bonding.

Thorax leans in to brush a kiss to Chrysalis's neck, and she shivers at the affectionate touch. Although they fed off the love, it could not be produced of their own kind, which was really the only things she'd loved. Tucking a strand of her aqua hair behind her ear, he smiles up at her with quiet joy sparkling in his eyes.

"Why did you choose me over Pharynx?" he asks slowly.

Present time Chrysalis casts a pointed look at Rainbow, which she smartly ignores.

As Chrysalis replies, he begins kissing her again, but this time on the lips, where their tongues begin clashing, fighting for control as they-

"Enough of that," Chrysalis snarls, flushing a furious red.

They were back in the dungeon, the queen looking flustered. "Y-You weren't supposed to see that part," she mutters under her breath, clearly still embarrassed. "Anyway, I was happy. And you took them, Thorax, away from me."

"He never mentioned any of that," Applejack says, somewhat accusing.

"Because I made him forget it." At their shocked looks, she only turns around again and hisses, "That's not the point! I just... You took everything from me. And more. And this is my revenge, my justice. You three will not get in the way of that."

Checking to make sure the cages were locked, she takes a deep breath, shifting back into her cruel, wicked plans and personality. Teleporting away to the kingdom, she grins evilly. It was now, she would exact her revenge. And make the four others die in front of the alicorn.





Twilight shifts around underneath the fluffy comforter of the bed, unable to find a comfortable position. She was restless, and eventually gives up, sitting. She casts a glance at Spike, who's sleeping in his own bed. She could recall when he slept in the tiny basket in Ponyville like it was yesterday. They had not spoken all day, courtesy of their awkward encounter last night.

"My, my, my," somepony purrs from behind her.

With the most calm and controlled tone she could muster, she says into the darkness, "Hello, Chrysalis."

"It's been a long while since I've had you right where I wanted you," Chrysalis murmurs into Twilight's ear. Twilight goes rigid as the changeling grazes the back of the alicorn's neck with her teeth. She lets out a quiet, dark chuckle. This is perfect. There would be justice.

Instead of pleading for forgiveness and salvation as Chrysalis assumed Twilight would, the purple alicorn only flushes and gives her a wry smile, somehow, despite the situation and her inevitable doom. Twilight levels a stare at Chrysalis with a raised eyebrow, and says, "It's been a long while since I've wanted you."

Whether or not it was intended to flatter the changeling queen, she wasn't having it. "Trying to seduce me?" she sneers at the pony before her. "Because it won't work." Chrysalis surveys the scene before her, trying to figure out exactly how she would end Twilight's life. Slowly.

"I wouldn't dream of trying to do that," Twilight states plainly, her face revealing none of the contempt nor disgust that Chrysalis had expected. "In fact..." she trails off as the changeling dragged a hoof down the alicorn's back, unhurriedly and sensuously. "I'd think you were trying to seduce me."

Chrysalis lets out a snarl and a laugh at the same time. "You think you're worthy of my time and efforts? Don't think too highly of yourself, queen." But the possessive gesture she had done moments ago contradicted herself.

Twilight carefully scans her room. That's right, they're in her bedroom. She has many things to keep herself safe here, such as daggers and hidden bombs, which were used at last resort. She ducks her head, as if she were reprimanding herself, but only to flicker magic through the room to reach her collection of weapons.

By the time Chrysalis reacts, it's too late. 

"What did you do?" the changeling shrieks as she collapses into a heap, her wings shredded by the vicious attack. "I'll kill you," she hisses, whipping around to find the painfully smart alicorn. She winces, when her wings twitch, however.

Twilight gives her an apologetic shrug and leans close, whispering to Chrysalis, "Just shut up and stay still." Chrysalis's only response was a shudder as a spasm of pain rips through her.

Chrysalis grits her teeth as she watches Twilight prance around the room, grabbing a few things off her shelves. But she immediately jerks away as the other approaches her, pink magical aura sparkling. "What did I say?" Twilight sighs as she applies the ointment to the broken wings.

Surprise glistens in Chrysalis's eyes, and possibly a bit of gratefulness that Twilight might have imagined. She stays silent as the queen of Equestria slowly begins pulling the knives out from where they were. "Why are you helping me?" Her voice comes out as a broken whisper.

Twilight doesn't answer, and coldly turns away, unable to meet the changeling's gaze. "Leave my kingdom. Leave and never..." she chokes on her own words, tears sliding down her cheeks. "Leave and never return, Chrysalis. Or I will demonstrate just what this cursed and corrupt world has taught me."

There it is. Genuine pain on her face. But Chrysalis only laughs and answers hoarsely, "You may have gotten me now, but just you wait. I'll be back!"

"I'll look forward to it," Twilight says, leaving the changeling more confused than ever.