The train gently rocks back and forth as it sets off on its merry way. One passenger car is completely empty except for Anon, Chrysalis, Lyra, and Bon-Bon. Anon and Chrysalis sit next to each other, while Lyra and Bon-Bon do the same directly across from them.
When they first stepped out into the sunlight, it became apparent very quickly that the front office of S.M.I.L.E. is an unassuming building near the outskirts of Manehattan. While Lyra and Bon-Bon could probably get through the city easily without attracting too much attention to themselves, the same could not be said for the human and tall light changeling walking alongside them. They got a lot of looks, but thankfully, it wasn’t a very long trek to the train station.
With the group finally safe and settled in, there’s a collective exhale. For Anon especially, it’s been a rough few hours. With his eyes half-lidded he leans over in his seat, unabashedly putting all of his weight onto Chrysalis. For a moment, she doesn’t respond. However, after taking a deep breath, she wordlessly wraps an arm around him.
“Awwwwww.” Lyra presses her hooves against her cheeks at the sight. “You two are so cuuuuuute~!”
“Say that again and I’ll turn you inside out.”
“Come on Chryssi, is that any way to speak to the mares that saved your buggy butt?”
Chrysalis clicks her tongue, but says nothing else.
“How are you feeling?” Bon-Bon, the more considerate of the pair, tilts her head with concern. “Especially you, Anon. I was expecting to find you in a cell after they gave you a bump on your head. That alone was enough of a reason for me to be concerned, but imagine our surprise when we saw that you two had made it all the way to the front office without us.”
“Now that the adrenaline is wearing off,” Anon yawns, “I’m exhausted. And my headache is coming back.”
“Yeah, you might want to see a doctor about that. A bonk on the head is an extremely unhealthy way to knock someone unconscious, and is very much not standard protocol.” She sighs while closing her eyes. “Hopefully Princess Twilight’s inspection will weed out some of our more… forceful agents.”
“Speaking of,” Anon starts as his eyes open again, “I had no idea you two were secret agents.”
“You’re lucky we trust you, otherwise we’d have to wipe your memory of that.”
“Told ya,” Chrysalis says with a cocky smirk.
“Wait…” Anon turns to look up at his changeling lover. “You knew that already?”
“I’ve known since I met them.”
“You did?!” they ask in unison.
“Do not underestimate the ex-queen of the changelings.”
“S-so you were just acting like our friend?!”
“In the same way you were ‘just acting’ like mine.”
“B-but we…” Lyra looks towards Bon-Bon, who nods. “We actually kinda like you.”
“A terrible decision, really.” She laughs to herself as she glances down at Anon before looking back at the pair. “But, as much as it hurts me to say this drivel, I’d be lying if I didn’t say the same. Besides, I guess I owe you even more now.”
“W-we didn’t save you because we wanted you to be in our debt!”
“Wait.” Bon-Bon leads forward slightly. “Owe us more?”
“I’ve had a lot of time to myself lately. Being alone with my thoughts is, frankly, horrible, and I hope I never have to do it again.”
“Unlikely.”
“Don’t count on it.”
“Sorry, Chryssi.”
“Et tu, Anon?” She chuckles again, but this one is different. It’s warm and genuine. Her three companions all look in surprise at the fact that she made an actual joke while around ponies. “Anyway, I figured I owe you one for the whole brainwashing thing back in Canterlot.”
Lyra and Bon-Bon share a glance before smiling.
“You know we’ve long since forgiven you for that, right?”
“Forgiveness isn’t something I’m used to, nor is it something I want to count on.” She glances at the floor, her expression suddenly a lot darker. “I… I owe a lot of debts. Forgiveness or otherwise, I plan to repay them.”
“Is that why you stopped the rain?” Anon looks at her curiously, his words still as warm and loving as they’ve always been towards her. “To help everyone?”
“...Yeah.”
“Why’d you make it look like Twilight did it, though?”
Her throat makes a strange grumbling noise that sounds like a mixture of a groan and a sigh.
“Like I said, I don’t need forgiveness. I’m repaying my debts on my terms.”
“That’s the Chrysalis I know.” Anon wraps an arm around her and gives her a squeeze from the side, coaxing a smile out of her whether she likes it or not. “Twilight’s probably gonna figure out it was you, though.”
“I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”
Anon finally looks away from her, instead directing his attention towards the other couple on the train.
“Thanks, you two. You went to a lot of trouble on our behalf. We probably owe you our lives.”
“We just did what was right.” Bon-Bon leans back in her seat. “It’s our job to protect Equestria from the shadows. Monsters, evildoers, it doesn’t matter. We take care of them so that the public never even knew they existed. Meanwhile,” she says as she motions to Chrysalis, “you two are completely innocent. We didn’t do anything more than make up for our own mistake.”
“Regardless of your motivations, thank you.”
“You know how you can make it up to us? Or, more specifically, ME?!”
Lyra beams as she leans forward excitedly.
“Lyra, don’t press them any further.”
“She’s fine,” Anon chuckles. “What’s that, Lyra?”
“I wanna be maid of honor! Pleeeeeeeeeeeease?”
“Lyra, you’re already married. You can’t–”
She tries to make puppy-dog eyes towards Chrysalis, which proves to be completely ineffective. Chrysalis glances away before responding.
“Not like there are a whole lot of other candidates,” she mumbles dismissively.
“Yay~!”
“W-wait.” Anon blinks as he stares at Chrysalis in shock. “You… do want to get married?”
“I’ll admit, I’m still anxious about the whole affair. And I wouldn’t blame you if you were, too. Now, at least.” She awkwardly clears her throat before looking back at him with warmth and clarity in her eyes. “But, if my word means anything anymore, I swear that I have no intention of leaving you alone. Not again.”
Anon leans forward and gives her a quick peck on the lips. It’s nothing like the kiss they shared on the elevator not long ago, but it’s just as meaningful. When he pulls back, he wipes a stray strand of hair from her face.
“Nothing would make me happier.” His eyes dart upwards at her horn before he locks eyes with her yet again, a smile forming on his face all the while. “Heh. I think you can transform back now.”
She looks at him with a puzzled expression for a moment before letting out a contented sigh.
“Yeah, I think I can.”
With a familiar flash of her horn, Chrysalis’s body is quickly engulfed in magical green light. It isn’t quite as severe as when “Miss Stake” transformed, but it’s still a noticeable change. Holes begin to form in her legs, horn, and hair, her body darkens in color, and her eyes return to their familiar, slightly intimidating dark changeling form. Although her wings are still a bit sparkly, the dark changeling that Chrysalis vowed to remain as has returned.
“It’s nice to be me again,” she mumbles. “Never thought I’d ever say that a few years ago.”
She shares a smile with Anon. Neither say another word. After a moment, they both lean to the side, each resting their weight on the other. Anon rests his head on her shoulder, and she rests her head on top of his. He’d love for it to be the other way around, but horns are pointy.
Lyra and Bon-Bon glance at each other before smiling as well, silently watching as the two lovebugs finally give in to their exhaustion and gently fall asleep on top of one another.