My eyes slowly opened; I tried moving a hoof to one of them, but I couldn’t. I looked down and saw a pair of pink, fluffy hooves around my body. I forgot I was sleeping in the Crystal Castle’s master bedroom. I turned my head and looked back; Cadence was sound asleep. I tried to get up but when I realized how tight Cadence’s grip on my body was, I conceded and lied there quietly. Cadence’s soft breaths being the only sound I heard, no wind passing through the trees, no manticore roars, no chimeras attempting to stop my rest, just Cadence and I.
My eyes opened again, I guess I passed out. I stretched my hooves out and stood up. I paused and realized what I just did. Where’s Cadence? My eyes darted around, and I looked back at the bed. She wasn’t there. I started sweating and jumped when a hoof grazed my shoulder.
“What’s wrong Chryssi?” Cadence giggled.
My eye twitched and I coughed, regaining my composure. “Nothing, I just didn’t know where you were.” I grunted.
“Were you worried?” She began. “You can admit you were worried I was gone; you know.” Cadence cupped my cheeks with her hooves. “Nothing wrong with that!” She smiled at me.
“I have nothing to admit. You’re overthinking this.” I turned my face to the side and motioned for her to shoo with my hoof. “Don’t you have princess business to attend to.” I jeered.
“Well… WE have ‘princess business’ to attend to!” She folded her hooves as she said princess business, smirking at me.
“What do you mean we, you’re the princess here.” I looked down at her, confused.
“Well~… We’re gonna talk with Twi, and she’s gonna determine whether you can rule with me or not!” She cheered, clapping her hooves together.
“You… Twi… Rule together!? You know how outrageous it would be to the residents of this kingdom? They all still hate me right now. They see me as some sort of war criminal.” I said.
“Are you not?” She said.
…
“Yeah well the crystal ponies don’t hate you anymore, Shining Armor might, but otherwise nopony hates you here!” Cadence held my hoof and guided me to the window, I looked out of it and saw a giant pink banner with my face on it. The words “CHRYSALIS REDEEMED” plastered on it. I looked down and saw a statue of Cadence and I, and a unicorn giving out balloons that looked like me to fillies.
“Why.” I sighed. “Why all this.” I closed my eyes and tilted my head down.
“So ponies know you’re redeemed!” She just smiled at me, like nothing was wrong with this.
“Couldn’t you have… Simply wrote letters to everypony.” I uttered.
“That wouldn’t get the point across like what I did does!” She patted my back and flashed a big wide grin at me. “Aren’t you happy you’re not a villain anymore?” She suddenly gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Soon all of equestria will know how good you are now!” She smiled and held my hoof.
“Why did you… Why did you randomly kiss me?” I stammered as I was dragged around.
“It’s what marefriends do! Duh! Have you never had one before?” She asked me.
“I… Well, I have. Never as much affection as you just showed me though.” I whispered the last part.
“Well then everything I do won’t be very new!” She chatted. Leading me to the train, we both boarded, I looked at the mare giving out tickets in front of the train, but she barely batted an eye, she wasn’t scared…? Maybe she was just tied, anypony would be tired of that job. We walked in and sat down next to each other, the chatting of other ponies filling the air.
“Why don’t we just teleport or fly. Why do we need to do this.” I ranted.
“Cause I wanna spend more time with you!” She wrapped her hooves around my arm and laid her head next to mine. I sighed and looked away, catching the views of some ponies. Some seemed very confused, but the crystal ones didn’t even mind… Some even waved at me. What…? Why aren’t they afraid?
“They’re not afraid cause you’re not a bad guy anymore!” Cadence giggled.
“Stop reading my mind, Cadence.” I hissed.
“But I like reading it!! It's so cute!” She commented, pressing her hoof against my muzzle.
My cheeks flared up a bit and I looked down. “Don’t.” I muttered. I leaned on her a bit more. Wrapping a hoof around her. My eyes slowly shut.
“Weak.” I heard a rough, gravelly voice. “Letting a princess tame you like a dog.” It said.
“Of course it was you! You were really the weakest link, Chrysalis!” A squeakier voice said. I looked around, in complete darkness.
A red figure caught my eye, I looked over at it and saw a muscular centaur.
"What happened to taking over Equestria?” He said.
“What about revenge on Starlight?” The squeaky voice mocked me, I looked down and saw a pink filly. “I thought you were a big strong queen!” She smirked and flew above me.
“I’m a lord, you’re simply a weak, scared bug that attempted to be among royalty.” His voice boomed.
“You’re soft! I thought I was supposed to be the small one!” She taunted. “Turns out we I would’ve won if it weren’t for you!” She flew closer to me. “You’re on her leash. Do you really think Cadence cares? Why would she care about a simple-minded little insect!?” She was laughing at me.
“Coward.” The centaur grabbed me, he pushed me onto something. I started falling and hit the ground hard.
I looked at my hooves, full and undamaged. I looked up and saw a towering alicorn, a yellow light as bright as the sun shining in the dark, coming closer and closer.
I jumped up, my eyes wide and my breaths heavy… I looked around, it seemed most of the ponies were asleep as well… Except Cadence, she looked at me. “Chryssi… You’re shaking, are you okay?” She hugged me tighter…
“I-I… I’m fine…” I panted, looking at the wooden floor of the train.
“Chryssi, please.” Cadence held me even tighter. “You don’t need to hold it in.” She said, cupping my cheek with her hoof.
I looked at her, still shaking but it was less than I just was… “I… Tirek… Cozy… Is… Is Celestia going to be there?” I muttered.
“Why… Are you worried Chryssi? I’ll ask Twi to make sure she’s not there…” She smiled at me. “Is that what you were worried about?” She asked.
“I...” I looked her in the eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe I do need to talk to… I don’t…” I whispered… What’s happening… I don’t know if I want to talk to her or not… What’s my problem? The train came to a sudden stop, my eyes darted around… Why am I so scared… I shouldn’t be like this… I turned again, I saw Cadence looking at me… She seemed worried… Worried for me. I hugged Cadence.
“Chryssi! Where’s this coming from…?” She chuckled.
“I…” I sighed and let go reluctantly… “Let’s do that thing with Twilight…” I muttered.
Cadence looked concerned, confused too.
“You sure? I can tell Twi to call it off, we can do this another day.” Cadence cupped my cheek and smiled. “We don’t need to do this now.” She commented. She looked me in the eyes, they shined in the daylight. It felt like… There was nopony else in Equestria.
“Cadence…” I whispered. I looked down and sighed. “I can do this with you.” I uttered. Maybe I’ve been too harsh today… I need to prove them wrong… I need to prove her wrong. “I-I… I know I can.” My voice was shaking. I held onto Cadence’s hoof like I’d die if I didn’t. I looked up and saw Cadence smiling at me, she let go of my cheek and held my hoof as well. Our focuses placed themselves on the centerpiece of Ponyville, the giant sparkling castle was… It was honestly a little sickening. “What is this place called again, the castle of FrIeNdShIp??” I sighed, looking at Cadence, my eyes widening when I see her glare.
“Chryssi! Be respectful!” She scolded me. I sighed and walked next to Cadence, holding hooves with her the entire time. “You’re with her sister in l- oh… Wait I don’t know what Twi and I are currently actually… I’m not with Shining anymore so I don’t think we’re sisters in law anymore.” Cadence murmured.
“Good, I don’t really want to be related to Twilight Sparkle.” I coughed.
“Hey! She’s good when you get to know her! You’re just being stubborn about it!” She said, looking up at me. “Can you at least muster up the will to be nice to her today? For me…?” She pleaded.
I sighed, rolling my eyes, and then resting them upon Cadence. “Oh fine! Whatever…” I sputtered. “As long as Starlight isn’t there…” I murmured.
“Oh, she will be!” Cadence stated. I slowly turned my head towards her.
“What.” I managed to mutter those words. “Why would you do that. You should know by now that I hate her.” I said, but I wasn’t angry with Cadence at all… “I have no desire to even look her in the eyes, can’t you arrange her not appearing too.” I said.
“Chryssi…” She sighed and looked at me straight in the eyes… We were almost muzzle to muzzle. I’m afraid to admit this but my cheeks were flaring up. “I know you don’t really like Starlight…” She muttered.
“I hate her.” I said plainly.
“Buuut! To reform you, I need to perform friendship lessons with you! That includes things other than making you my itty-bitty love bug~!” She said that while squishing both my cheeks with her hooves. “So, I need you to at least TRY to be friendly with Starlight.” She smiled at me… That damned smile.
“Alright.” I groaned and rolled my eyes. We walked through Ponyville, it seemed like Cadence was well acquainted with everypony here, they gave me weird looks… It’s understandable, you’re seeing the princess of love, and the queen of changelings hold hooves while walking down the path to the… The Castle of Friendship. I audibly sighed from just thinking of it. Cadence glared at me for, my back straightening out like it was instinct when I noticed her glare. “Can you read minds or something, I didn’t even see your horn glow.” I grumbled…
“I just know you!” She chuckled and gripped my hoof tighter. “You don’t think of the Crystal Kingdom’s castle like that, do you.” She stared at me… Not a glare but it still felt like the air pressure increased severely.
“N-No… Of course not…” I gulped… I wasn’t lying but it probably sounded like I was…
She kept staring into my soul… Then she closed her eyes and smiled suddenly. “Well, you can’t hate something you’ll spend most of your time in! It was silly of me to ask that question.” She giggled and rubbed her hoof against my head. “We’re almost there!” She stated.
We got up to the castle, it’s awfully bright- but I really like it! I totally love how this looks! My eyes kept darting to Cadence then back at the entrance. I jumped slightly when the door swung open to see… Well, what did I expect, Twilight Sparkle was at the door… I looked to the side and groaned a little. “Cadence!” Twilight cheered,
“Twi!” Cadence cheered back. They then both crouched down and…
“Sunshine, Sunshine Ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” They said that in unison… Like they’d done this all before, multiple times… I looked at them, they just acted like nothing happened…
“So, Twi, how’s been being the head princess?” Cadence asked. Head Princess? What.
“Oh well it’s been pretty taxing; I didn’t expect it to be this soon and I feel like I have a bit more responsibilities… But I feel like I’m holding up with my friends! They help a lot…” She chuckled and rubbed the back of her head with her hoof. Twilight’s eyes darted to me, I glared at her in response, till Cadence nudged my shoulder. “Hello… Chrysalis.” She coughed, clearly not used to my presence.
“Hello Twilight.” I said.
…
“H-How about we go inside?” Cadence murmured. She pushed me inside of the Castle. “Chryssi! What was that!?” She scolded me.
“Uh… I’m sorry…?” I shuddered. “I didn’t know how to greet her! P-Plus the head princess thing… A-And ladybugs, y-your little dance! Why did you just randomly do that!?” I sputtered out quickly.
“You need to greet ponies better than that! Understand?” She said to me. Ignoring my comment about her own greeting...
“Yes! I-I’m sorry, I didn’t know how to…” I clucked.
“Well, that sounds like an upcoming friendship lesson!” Twilight suddenly replied. She seems more chipper than she was a moment ago… “First though, you need to meet someone.” She began.
“Please don’t tell me its Sta-“ I was interrupted.
“Starlight come here!” She beckoned her like a dog.
Starlight walked in, clearly a bit nervous. “H-Hi Chrysalis!” She reached out a hoof. I stared at it, then I stared at Cadence. She waved me towards grasping it. I shook Starlight’s hoof. Holding back the disgust I had. Shaking hooves with the mare who took everything from me. I felt Cadence’s gaze on me though… I can endure this.
“Hello, Starlight.” I stared at the pink unicorn, taking a deep breath, and exhaling through my mouth, just like Cadence told me. “It’s been a while.” You took my KINGDOM I could’ve been A QUEEN STILL. I COULD’VE BEEN THE RULER OF EQUES- I stopped my thought. I looked at Cadence smiling at me, she was so proud of me… I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Starlight. I looked back at Starlight. I took a breath. “Thank you.” I said reluctantly… But it was genuine.
“What...?” She looked surprised. “Why are you thanking me, shouldn’t you be mad?” She muttered.
I smiled and looked at her. “I should be, I would be… I would be if it weren’t for you.” I looked at Cadence again, she looked so happy… “Even if indirectly, what you did helped me… I wouldn’t… I Wouldn’t have been with Cadence right now. I wouldn’t be in the process of being reformed. This is all partly because of you.” I shook her hoof. I looked at Cadence, she caught my gaze and hugged me.
Twilight joined the hug, Starlight stood there, looking at the ground. I looked at her and brought her into the hug.
We let go of each other eventually. “Well, then you’re welcome, Chrysalis.” Starlight smiled at me then walked out.
“That was more successful than I thought it would’ve been! I have another pony you’d like to meet!” Twilight chirped.
A tall shadow extended across the floor, a tall horn and what looked like wings behind it. I started walking back, and then a white, out of shape stallion with disheveled blue hair walked out... It was Shining Armor? “CADENCE!” He ran up to Cadence and tried to hug her, but she backed up and he fell on his face.
“No thanks, Twi.” Cadence’s horn lit up and we were teleported to The Crystal Castle’s master bedroom. “Well, that was eventful, wasn’t it Chryssi? I think it was! I think you’re happy with it too!” Cadence pressed her hoof against my muzzle.
“Yes, it was… Thank you.” I hugged Cadence again. I closed my eyes and just enjoyed her warmth. Soaking everything in, this is love. I pulled away reluctantly and saw Cadence’s flushed face. “Why were you so quick about leaving though… Wouldn’t you have wanted to walk with me and go on the train again?” I asked her.
“I don’t want to see Shining Armor right now.” She said.
“Yeah.” I said, both Cadence and I’s ears perking up when we heard the soft whines of a child. We went up to a room and opened the door, it was Flurry having a tantrum.
Cadence went up to her and picked her up.
“What’s wrong?” She said softly.
“I missed Chrysalis…” Flurry said, wiping her tears with a hoof.
My eyes widened, I looked to my sides. I have been babysitting when Cadence was away… I walked up to Cadence and Flurry… “We were… Simply busy, I’m here now. We can play with your mom too.” I smiled at her.
Cadence nudged my shoulder. “Don’t act like you’re not her mom too now!” She chuckled.
“It’s not official yet, I don’t rule with you yet.” I giggled and nudged her back.
“Well, it may as well be!” Cadence brought me towards her and Flurry, hugging us both.