//------------------------------//
// Royal Matters  
// Story: A heart that's not so broken 
// by AceInsane 
//------------------------------//

                  When Torn Beat woke up, light was already filtering through the window by her bed, casting a yellow shadow on her blankets. She sat up and yawned. Today was her first lesson with Queen Chrysalis. She threw the covers aside and got out of bed. She walked up to her desk and picked up her brush then went over to the mirror. After brushing out all of the knots and tangles in her her mane and tail, she sat the brush back down and and left her house.

The Everfree forest wasn’t far from where she lived; she lived close to Fluttershy. When she got to the forest, she looked around to make sure nopony was watching, took a breath, and began trudging through the trees and bushes. Upon entering the clearing, Torn was stopped by a changeling guard. 
“Halt! Why do you wish to enter the changeling kingdom?’
“I’m Queen Chrysalis’ student.”
The guard loosened his tense posture and looked at her with sarcastic fluorescent green eyes.
“Yeah. And I’m a dragon.”
“The only difference is I am telling the truth.”
“Did I say I was?”
Torn rolled her eyes and breathed a frustrated sigh. The guard started to speak again.
“Sorry pretty pony, but I can’t let ya in.”
Torn snorted at his stubborness. 
“Fine, don’t believe me, but it’ll be your flank when she comes down here wondering what’s taking me so long.” 
“She’s right, you know.” A new voice interrupted the argument. 
“Qu-queen Chrysalis! Oh, aha, what a lovely surprise I was just um-”
“Arguing?” The slender queen cut him off. 
“Well, you see, what had happened was-”
“Enough. Well, Two-Tone, are you ready for your first lesson?”
The guard’s charcoal jaw dropped.
“Yes, Queen Chrysalis, I am.” 
Torn flashed the guard an ‘I told you so’ look. 
The queen was about to start walking, when she noticed her guard.
“Hulio, are you trying to catch flies? Shut your muzzle, boy.” 
The guard closed his mouth and licked his lips a little bit. “Y-yes ma'am.” 

Torn followed Chrysalis up to her room and reclaimed her spot on the chair. 
“Now.” Queen Chrysalis began. “Your first lesson is going to be mostly based off of your own contributions. I want you to tell me everything you know or have heard about the changelings and I.” 
“Alright...I was told an evil being came into Canterlot and and took the place of Princess Cadance on her wedding day in order to steal the princess’ love and feed it to her bug-like army so she can rule over all of Equestria.” 
Queen Chrysalis thought for a moment before speaking. “Alright. I cannot tell you what you heard is completely untrue, but I can explain to you the real reason as to why I did so. As I’ve said before, love is the most powerful substance in all of Equestria and to absorb it would give me the power to be the ultimate queen but the truth is, my kingdom was dying. We live off of the emotions of others, and you ponies are an excellent source of those.  But, the time came when we could not go into the town. Ponies were beginning to get suspicious. Being the changeling’s queen, I could not just sit back and watch my kingdom die.” Her voice faltered at the end of her sentence and a tear fell from her cheek. “So...in order to keep my kingdom alive, I went for the biggest source of love I could find. I did not do it because I hate ponies or whatever ridiculous reason they came up with. I did it to save the changelings. It was selfish, but I couldn’t let my subjects die.”
Torn nodded in her understanding. “It’s...okay, Queen Chrysalis. I think what you did is...justified.”
“You...you think?” The queen blinked at her, a little shocked. 
“Yes...I do.”
“I...I have sensed something special in you since the day I first saw you. I saw myself when I was younger. You know...everyone used to call me Two-Tone, because of my eyes. I also think you would make a phenomenal ruler. What I’m asking you is...would you like the be the changeling princess?” 
Torn tensed up in the chair she was sitting in and stared in awe into the queen’s eyes. 
“Are...are you serious, queen?”
“Yes...I think you would make an excellent princess.” 
“I...I will have to think about it. I’m sorry, queen.” 
“No, it is alright. I understand. It is a lot to take in at once. Well, in that case, today’s lesson is over. Return tomorrow.”
“Yes, Chrysalis, thank you.”
Torn Beat left the castle to see a familiar guard waiting outside. 
“Ugh, what do you want?” 
“Oh, I don’t know, just figured I’d escort a pretty pony like yourself out of here.”
Torn rolled her eyes. “I’m not a filly.”
“I didn’t say you were, I just don’t want the other guards to do what I did when you came here.”
“Okay...whatever.”
They walked in silence for the rest of the trip to the entrance of the forest. 
“See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah.” 


--- Hulio’s POV ---

Hulio trotted back into the kingdom only to be stopped by a guard. A small shot of fear stabbed through his brain. What if it’s about her? He waved it away and approached the guard. 
“You called?”
“Yes, Queen Chrysalis wants to see you.”
His heart stopped racing. 
“Oh. Alright.” 
He walked in through the black and cerulean doors and up to the queen’s quarters.
“You wanted to see me?”
The slender queen turned to face him. “Yes I…need advice.”
“And you’re asking me?”
She smirked and spat back “I have to use you for something, don’t I?” 
“I suppose. With what do you need help?” 
“Am...Am I doing the right thing, Hulio?”
The changeling sat down across from her; vibrant green green eyes meeting vibrant blue and green ones. 
“With your student?”
“Yes...I asked her to be the princess so suddenly…”
Hulio’s mind trailed off for a moment. If she was princess, I’d get to see her every day…
“...I tried to change her opinion on something she’s probably been told ever since she was little...Hulio, what’s wrong with me?” 
“Well, queen, if you want my honest opinion, I’d have to say you’re caring.” 
Queen Chrysalis’ eyes lit up and a look of mild shock spread across her ebony skin. 
“Me? I’m...I’m caring? No...no that cannot be right.”
“Don’t think it’s a bad thing. I’m happy for you. Ever since you took her on as your student you’ve not been as miserable and I like it.”
“I...suppose...you’re right...but what about her world? Won’t this be conflicting?” The look of shock faded into worry. 
“I...yes, it will be conflicting but, we will cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, rest. You need it.” 
The slender queen sighed and got to her lanky hooves. 
“Thank you, Hulio.”
“You’re welcome...mother.”