“Well, this proves it,” Chrysalis decided as the movie came to a close, watching the beast transform into a handsome prince. “You’re trying to get me to reform, aren’t you?”
“I promise I would do no such thing,” Cadance told her, trying to convince her. “I just thought it would be a cute, romantic movie for us to watch together.”
“I hardly think so,” the bug continued. “I know you have ulterior motives. I’m not as easy to fool as you think I am.”
“I one hundred percent promise you, it was just a movie,” Cadance told her as she petted her mane, the bug still resting her head on the comfortable part of the alicorn’s stomach. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”
“Yes, well, you can never trust your enemies,” Chrysalis firmly decided as she closed her eyes. “If I were in your position, I wouldn’t announce that I hope to die after spouting such obvious lies. Even a fool can see what you’re trying to do.”
With that, no more words were spoken, Cadance quietly petting the changeling’s mane as she rested, able to feel her purring softly. Even as she said the alicorn was lying, Chrysalis couldn’t help but know it was the truth. She didn’t know what it was, but it was a feeling she got. It was foolish to think she was being honest, that she knew, but she couldn’t help it. Still, she had to be on her guard, even right now as she purred because of Cadance’s stroking.
It was a nice feeling to be loved though, she decided. She couldn’t tell why Cadance loved her so, but decided she was through questioning it. If the mare wanted to feed her love, she would gladly take it. Not because she liked the affection, of course. It was only because she was a lesser to her, and lessers needed to honor and respect their superiors. Cadance just did it in a weird way, was all.
She kept her eyes closed and enjoyed the feeling for a long moment before her enjoying the feeling was interrupted by the voice of the mare.
“Come up here,” she instructed. “Let me cuddle you properly.”
She obliged her, not bothering to argue, and went to lay her head into her neck. She was only doing this to humor her, no other reason at all. Surely not because it felt incredibly lovely to be held and Cadance was still feeding her love. It didn’t hurt that her fur was nice and soft, and being under the covers with her made her feel warm inside.
“You know, I’m only doing this as your last request,” Chrysalis mumbled, her eyes closed as she pressed into the mare. “I promise I will take the Crystal Empire as soon as I’m finished with you and Shining Armor. I swear it.”
“I’m sure you will, sweetie,” Cadance said softly, petting her side. “If that’s what you want to do, you go ahead. I won’t be able to stop you.”
“That’s right,” the bug agreed tiredly, pressing father into her, wrapping a hoof around her. “There’s nothing you can do. I’m glad you know that now.”
“Of course,” Cadance said, a smile in her voice. “I wouldn’t ever forget.”
The two went back to being quiet, Chrysalis still enjoying the petting she received before Cadance softly said, “I love you Chrissy.”
“Mmm I love you too, Cadance,” she responded automatically, not even thinking about what she was saying. She settled into her more though, feeling… she didn’t know what. More satisfied perhaps? Fuller? It was a strange feeling, one that worried her a bit, but felt good anyway.
She found herself wanting to hold onto the feeling, taking it in and holding the warmth it brought close to her. It made her feel less hungry, if that was even possible. She didn’t think much about it though, only enjoying the feeling and cuddling the alicorn even tighter to receive more of it.
“Hey, Chrysalis?” Cadance asked gently, shaking her shoulder for a moment. “Maybe you should wake up and take a look at yourself, sweetie.” The bug did as she was told, opening her eyes to see, to her surprise, her limbs and body glowing. She had no idea what was happening, and looked to the alicorn to see what was going on.
“Wh- what’s happening to me?” she asked fearfully as she looked at herself, watching as her body became brighter and brighter. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything,” Cadance responded, raising her hooves casually. “I was just petting you and cuddling you when it happened. It was right after you said you loved me.”
“What!”
“I think this is what happens when you reform, Chryssi. That might be what’s going on.”
“Reforming!” she yelled angrily as she looked down at herself. Of course she was reforming! She knew it was a trap! Cadance was waiting gleefully for this moment for ages, wasn’t she? Tricking her with all of that cuddling and movie watching and ‘I love you’ business. She shouldn’t have been surprised by such a maneuver from her enemy. It made her scowl deeply in anger.
Just like that, the show ended. The light show shut off abruptly, almost making Cadance jump in surprise. The queen of the changelings stopped glowing, staying her normal black coated self. She glared angrily as the mare for a second before pushing her away, getting up and out of bed.
“Wh- where are you going?” Cadance asked, confused. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”
“Don’t call me that!” she suddenly snapped, causing the mare to flinch as she sent her a look of hate. “You did that on purpose! I knew you were trying to get me to reform! Your plan was completely obvious!”
“I promise, Chrysalis, I wasn’t trying-” Cadance started before being cut off.
“Don’t give me that!” she yelled. “I don’t want to hear that! I know you were plotting this! You only wanted me to reform! You don’t actually love me!”
She didn’t know why, but the idea upset her. She knew the whole time that the alicorn was just tricking her, but she couldn’t help but be upset and hurt by it. Despite her queenly status and her obvious superiority to Cadance, it felt rather nice to think that she was loved.
“Chryssi, you know I-”
“No! I know you did! Don’t lie to me!” She turned away from her and folded her front hooves together as she sat on the bed angrily. “I suspected I was being tricked, but your awful love worked its way in.”
“I promise you, Chrysalis,” Cadance tried to assure her, “I was not trying to reform you. I only want to cuddle you and tell you you’re a good pony… err, changeling. If you don’t want to reform and become bent on taking the Crystal Empire after tonight and your night with Shining, then that’s okay with me.”
“I don’t believe you,” she said grumpily, angrily, not looking at her. “I know you’re lying, and I don’t want to hear any more of your lies. Now tell me where we’re going to sleep- where I’m going to sleep.”
“Oh, we’ll we’re going to be in here, silly,” she explained. “It wouldn’t be much of a date if you went to sleep on a couch somewhere, would it?”
“Well then, I guess I’ll be taking the spot on the floor then,” she decided, already moving to lay down on the crystal.
“Come on, don’t be like that! You’re overthinking what happened. I wasn’t trying to reform you!”
“Yes you were, and I don’t appreciate being lied to or manipulated,” she decided, curling up.
“Well, there are two things about that you should know,” the alicorn started. “One: you’ve manipulated quite a lot of people. Quite a lot, my husband for one. And second: I wasn’t trying to manipulate you. I honestly, truly wasn’t trying to get you to reform. Can’t you see my emotions and know I wasn’t lying?”
It was true, she could, and her emotions did say that she was being truthful. Still, she didn’t believe her, or at least, didn’t want to believe her. There was no way she would ever reform, not without being tricked at least. She would have to be on her guard even more after this, that much was certain.
“Come on, Chrysalis,” Cadance continued. “Get on the bed, even if we don’t cuddle. You’re gonna throw out your back if you sleep on the ground like that.”
That was true, she guessed. She couldn’t sleep on the ground, not when she had ponies who were clearly enemies to her nearby. Throwing out her back sleeping on the floor would not be good should she need to go on the attack.
“Fine,” she decided, “but only because the bed is more comfortable. Do not touch me or pet me or snuggle me, or I swear to faust, you’ll get it.”
“I promise, I will not snuggle you or cuddle you or pet you,” she assured her. “Now get up here.” She patted her hoof on a spot on the bed to indicate where she should go.
She did as she was told, but made sure to keep her back faced to her the whole time, wanting the princess to know just how upset she was.