Chrysalis wouldn't admit it, but the tropical beachfront was a pleasant change of scene from her seslidareous hive.
Glancing over Blueblood, his busted lip revealing a metallic misnomer, she noticed a scroll tucked into his tattered leisure suit.
Unfurling it, her frown was lifted.
She had a golden ticket.
==========
The streaking streets below her carriage made her queasy. Her own wings were all she trusted, and her indulgence on Blueblood's chauffeur didn't help.
She was relieved to have snagged a royal without a loving personality. She'd considered the feasibility of abducting Celestia, but even more frightening than the Sun falling on her head was the notion of having to smile and wave.
Dismounting the carriage, she stepped toward the castle gates, leaving her lackeys to attend to her luggage--largely empty, owing to its current owner's ability to materialize clothing at will, but the prince wouldn't be caught dead without a veritable mountain of bags.
==========
"Welcome, Blueblood!" greeted Celestia, beaming radiantly--Chrysalis could sense an unexpected warmness from her.
She gave a curt nod. "Princess Celestia. Apologies for being late, I was forced to take an oblique route to Canterlot."
"It's no matter, preparations are well underway. Would you assist with the buffet menu? Our cooks have already prepared a selection of samples."
While changelings could consume food, it wasn't a matter of if they'd be able to keep it down but rather for how long. "I would love to; alas, I've already dined."
"Very well, you could instead oversee the servants."
"Certainly." A few replacements later, the castle staff looked far more obedient to Chrysalis.
She'd toyed with the idea of spiking the drinks, but Celestia would likely interfere before they could take even a droplet of love.