//------------------------------//
// Part I, Chapter II - Rolling Over 
// Story: A Queen & You 
// by Lord of Nothing 
//------------------------------//

You're standing outside, staring at your own front door and freezing your ass off, even while wearing a jacket, but still suddenly taking great interest every little scrape and ding that decorates its face. There's not much to look at thanks to your not being a total idiot, but the task still manages to eat up a much needed minute or two. After a second or two more, you begin feeling the need to go inside and heat up, as the snow's still falling like crazy everywhere in and around Colorado Springs.

As you reach for the knob, you do something you rarely seem to do anymore: get serious. Just thinking the word is crazy enough, but you really do need to get your life back together before heading back. You get down, lean back, and silently begin to think.

Suddenly, your phone rings, snapping you back out of your thoughts. The device practically flies out of your pocket and up to your ear, where you greet, "What's up?"

"Not much. Just got a call from the boss-man."

You stand up, alert and ready for anything she had. Your friend honestly wasn't the hardest of workers, which was something you'd known and thought about for awhile, so a call this late from one of the higher-ups could only mean one thing, and you were prepared to be there for her.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. You know, this kind of thing happens to everyone at one point or another."

"What the fuck? It's just a snow day, no need to start getting emotional on me," she says, more than likely making some stupid face at you through the phone.

Apparently you don't watch enough of anything, as that went in the complete opposite direction. Now, you always knew that Target was lucky to have her as an employee, and never doubted her when it came to anything even remotely related to work, but who would have ever thought that an employer could deliver good news past the end of an employee's shift. Either way, all you had to do now was perform a few quick manuevers, then you'd be home free for the rest of the next thirty-ish hours.

"What I meant was, like, my body's more than ready, but I was saying something to the television."

"The...television? Are you bullshitting me?"

She's being rather vulgar tonight, something that she usually tries to stay away from. You wonder what could possibly have gotten in to her.

"Yeah, man, just something sad. Gave me a real good, manly tear, you know?"

"Right," she hisses, the levels of mistrust in her voice incredibly high. "And what might this tearjerker of a program be?"

Your mind, unprepared for such a question, frantically races to think of a show, something that would normally be a breeze were you stuck answering trivia during your lunch break, but nothing comes to mind. What was that show you were thinking of just a few minutes ago? Oh, yeah...

"'My Little Pony'!" you yell triumphantly, the sound echoing down the hallway.

Unfortunately, that wasn't at all what you intended to say. A hand quickly clasps itself over your open mouth, despite no one else being around you, and all you can hear is her muffled giggling on the other end. 

"Really? Isn't that show for people just a bit younger than you?"

You're pretty much stuck between a rock and hard place right now. You stutter for only a moment before formulating a response that, in no way, shape, or form, would make it seem like you really have been watching said show in secret.

"It's not just for little kids."

More giggles follow the reply, but you're quick to continue before she can squeeze another word in.

"Come on, I have a friend who happens to be one of those, like, 'Brownies' or whatever, and he's over right now, so we're watching it."

Nothing but silence follows this time. You think about what she could possibly be thinking, and you don't happen to very much like what your brain comes up with. However, just before you can hang up, delete her number, and smash the phone for good measure, she cuts back in.

"Whatever, dude; I'm just fuckin' with you. Enjoy the time off."

Before you can say another thing, she's hung up, and you're still just standing there with your mouth open like a dumbass. Perhaps it's for the best that she never continued to question you, because what would you have really said about your "friend" that was over? That the "friend" was actually a villain from a show that was already aimed at people years younger than yourself, and that she managed to scare you out of your own domain by doing nothing more than moving around a little bit?

Your shoulders slump, and you brush off the thoughts, finally turning to head back in and escape the cold. The doorknob practically freezes your hand, but you fight through and twist it a bit to the right, your free hand already working on removing the jacket as you push the door inward, the heat of the living space already embracing you. That slight burning smell from minutes ago still lingers in the air, something your nostrils aren't too pleased with, but you know you'll live.

You drop the jacket to the floor, and waste no time in heading back your bedroom. Chrysalis is thankfully in the same place you left her, but still not looking much better, which is both a good and bad thing in your current situation.

"I see you've finally come crawling back to me," she says with a hiss, her narrowed eyes staring you down. "Have you come to finally accept your Queen's rule?"

As fun as this might be in a dream or something, you're stuck in reality, so you know you have to hold your own ground. Maybe you can somehow work out those incredible lying powers you used on your friend a couple moments ago.

"I want you out."

Just like that, you're off to a fantastic start. There's no possible way that anything from here on out can possibly go wrong in any way for you.

"'Out'? Why ever would I want to go back out there? It's absolutely frozen!"

"Listen, I don't know, and I don't care, but please, I think it's time you left."

She took a second, glancing left and saying, "But I've only just arrived, and, besides, how can we possibly have any fun if I'm out the door?"

She finishes with a quick flick of her tail. Though the words came out weak, you're still pretty much able to take away all you needed to, and it would be a lie to say the Internet hadn't managed to make you even a little interested. Still, this is your home, so you need to be tough, though tough doesn't seem to be working, so you'll just have to start compromising instead. 

"Fine, I guess, you don't have to leave, but can you please just stay out of the way for awhile?"

She tilts her head up, hopefully considering what you said. You make back towards the door, placing your hand on the handle and stepping almost completely through the doorframe.

"Why should I - "

You close the door, effectively cutting her off, though it doesn't sound like she's stopped yet. You turn and head to the kitchen, grabbing a few paper towels upon arrival, then head back to the couch, where you proceed to try and soak up all the moisture from the carpeting. Your stupid towels don't seem to do much though, as the floor's still moist even after you deem the task complete.

You sigh and head back to the kitchen, where you assemble the ingredients and make a simple peanut butter sandwich. A sudden hunger overtakes you, and you dig right in where you stand. You finish a whole minute later, not really feeling full, but still knowing that there are bigger things to worry about.

You head back to the couch, and a brief flash of Chrysalis laying across the bed flashes through your mind; you don't know why, but you roll with it and act like it never happened. The cushions seem to be more comfortable right now than they usually are, which surprises you. The television's still silently playing something, but you couldn't even begin to guess what; it looks like something to do with singing.

A single soft knock comes from the bedroom door, startling you back to attention. You just about jump back on to your feet, then quickly make for the door. You waste no time in opening it upon arrival, but are confused after finding only a wadded-up shirt on the floor and Chrysalis still not having moved anywhere. It takes a second, but you remember that that jagged thing on her face is a horn, and what that entails.

"You desire more already?"

"Can it." The words leave your mouth so fast that you're surprised you actually even said them.

"Excuse me?" she asks, snarling as her horn lights up, illuminating the room with a faint green glow.

Shit. You might actually have to think about what you say, and who knows how much effort that's going to take. It's almost as if Chrysalis' arrival is changing your life in more ways than one.

"I mean, uh, what would you like?" you correct, saving yourself from who knows what.

She takes a moment to collect herself again, or something like that; all you really know is that her horn stops glowing.

"Well, creature, what I desire is really quite simple..." she begins, trailing off.

Well, really, you're not sure if she's trailed off or just can't talk right, but you've met more than a few assholes in your time, so you figure it best not to ask. Either way, it would seem she's obviously waiting for you to say something, so you don't have too much of a choice. 

"And that would be?" you ask, motioning at her with your hands.

She lets out something between a sigh and a laugh (a "slaugh", if you will), then focuses really hard directly on you, staring you dead in the eye sockets.

"You, I want you."

Well, this was certainly unexpected; the Queen of the Changelings herself just put it all out on the table for you, probably for her own nefarious purposes, and she's now...what? Expecting you to just take advantage of the offer? That would be totally unlike you, no matter what a few late-night browsing sessions may say towards the contrary.

You roll your head around twice on your shoulders, groaning, then stare the Changeling right in her own oddly large eye sockets.

"Hey, listen, now really isn't a good time, Chry...creature, whatever you - "

Another snarl from Chrysalis' direction gets you back on topic; luckily, she bought out your mistake this time, but you'll have to be more careful.

"Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that you need to leave."

She huffs and rolls her eyes, dismissing your statement.

"I'm being serious here; I'm really sorry the weather's the way it is outside, but you need to get yourself out of here and go somewhere else. I don't even really care where that somewhere else is, I just want you out."

She looks at you pleadingly now, her whole demeanor suddenly seeming to change at the finishing of your statement. It's actually a pretty cute face, but "cute" can't pay the bills around here; in fact, "cute" would only add on to said bills, making Chrysalis even more of a horrible roommate. You see her bottom lip begin to quiver, and she swivels around so her front half now faces you, hanging her hooves off the edge of the bed.

"But, wait, you can't honestly be thinking what I think you're thinking, can you? You wouldn't dare just throw your Queen out in that blizzard, would you?"

Her persuasion skills, if that's even what that was an attempt at, seem pretty weak, but her delivery sounds incredibly sincere, the half-whispered words flowing out of her mouth like honey. You thought you had a pretty sweet handle on the situation, but now you're not so sure.

No, you have to take a stand and make your point; she's a living cartoon, and living cartoons like her are not welcome inside your home. You turn back towards the door once more, this time planning on leaving and returning to an empty room.

You can hear Chrysalis shuffling around on the bed.

"And just where do you think you're going now?" she asks, all previous emotion removed from her voice.

Without turning back to look at any art of her, you simply look down at your hand where it rests on the handle and say, "I'm going back outside, and, when I get back, I want it to be like you were never here."

She doesn't reply at first, instead choosing to wait until just before the door closes all the way.

"Wait!" she shrieks uncharacteristically. 

You open it back up slightly, peeking through the crack to barely see her moving her hooves away from her mouth.

"What could you possibly want now?"

"You...you don't honestly expect me to just throw myself back out there, do you? Out in to the cold and dark?"

You actually take a moment to think over the question, despite having an answer rooted in your mind for the past few minutes. Do you really have it in you to push an extremely rare creature out to fend for itself? Sure, said creature has some gnarly horn-thing on its head, and, yeah, there's some magic in there, too, but the world you live in today doesn't really seem to care for magical anything. Still, your life is something you'd like to continue living in the same fashion you always have, so sacrifices have to be made.

"Yes."

With that, you slam the door before she can even think about getting another word in.

As you plop yourself back down on the couch, you reach for the remote and turn the volume up just a little bit.

"I'll tell you what, Greg, it doesn't look like this storm's gonna be letting up anytime soon; projected temperatures are in the high thirty's, low forty's as this rough patch rolls over us in to about sometime three days or so from now, when it'll start..."

The meteorologist doesn't really trail off right there, but he might as well have, as the volume on the television is muted. 

You sigh heavily, now feeling just a twinkle of remorse for being as rude as you were to Chrysalis; however, she has been characterized as a pretty good manipulator in a story or two you've come across, so your feelings about the situation almost balance themselves out. You decide to wait until the news is over before doing anything else, a decision that saw you doing nothing but sitting and staring blankly at a screen for ten straight minutes. After the last credit fades, you tell yourself you'll do whatever it takes to get Chrysalis gone before she can get the chance to try and ruin your life, then stand up and head straight back to your bedroom, throwing the door open in a rather overly-dramatic fashion.

You survey the situation as best you can in the dim lighting. Chrysalis doesn't seem to have moved an inch during the time you gave her, which means that she, like you, is deciding to be incredibly defiant against what the other party wants.

"Well, well, well," you say just a bit cockishly. "Is there a reason you haven't left yet?"

She says nothing, turning her head slightly away from you. 

"Well?"

You know you sound like an ass right now; it's what you feel is appropriate for the situation, but you also feel a bit wrong assuming such a role. Never before have you ever felt the need to try and be as harsh as you have to Chrysalis, yet, again sacrifices need to be made for the greater good. 

Chrysalis carries her silence on, though she does move her head back again, positioning it in such a way that it looks as if she's staring at you head-on, the soft, green glow from her eyes faintly illuminating the bridge of her snout.

Unfortunately, you have a terrible time picking up some things, such as reading emotions from wide, green eyes, so this part of the encounter is all but lost to you. You can assume, however, that since you want her gone and she knows it, Chrysalis is probably pretty miffed. 

As such, in preparation for an imminent attack, you take the best unassuming defensive stance you can, which honestly isn't that great; if anything, it makes you even less prepared. 

"Creature," you say, "I don't know who or what you are, but this is the last straw; you will leave my house right now, or suffer the consequences."

That felt pretty good to say, making you feel like you really know what you're doing right now, until you realize that, when you said "consequences", you meant "I'll roll over and do anything, just don't kill me".

Things fall deathly silent, and you prepare to beg for your life, but Chrysalis seems to want to take the conversation in a whole other direction. 

"Very well, I'll leave," she says, defeated. 

It wasn't at all what you expected to hear. You actually begin to mentally pat yourself on the back, but she continues. 

"May I ask something of you though, first?"

You quickly decide that, if she's willing to roll over for you, you can do the same for her. 

"Yes, you may."

She takes a deep breath and sighs. 

"Have you ever lost something, Creature?"

"Well, of cour - "

"I do not mean something petty, such as a volume of one's favorite story, or a piece of jewelery, something replaceable; I wish to know if you have ever lost something...more."

You aren't sure if you're tracking or not, so you remain silent. 

"I myself have recently lost a great deal, though it's apparent you wouldn't understand."

"Hey, my dog ran away when I was ten, and it killed me, so I think I know a thing or two about loss."

She chuckles softly at your comment, completely undermining whatever point you just tried to make. 

"A dog? You truly believe that a simple dog could ever measure up to the things I've come to lose? Tell me then, did you have to raise the dog up from birth? Did you ever look upon the dog and see...and see yourself in it's face? Were you helpless to watch - "

Her words catch in her throat. You can swear to see her eyes grow damp, and a soft whine begins to work its way in-between the two of you. Still, she pushes on. 

"Were you ever helpless to watch this dog, this spitting-image of you...die...over and over again because of mistakes you'd made?

You were really at a loss for words now, and actually felt like an even bigger piece of shit than you did a few minutes ago. 

"Have you ever been ripped violently from your home and thrust in to someplace you never knew existed, torn away from everything and everyone you ever - "

This time, it's you who cuts her off, simply holding a hand out in midair. She notices, the whine stops, and her eyes close. You put your arm back by your side and take a moment to think about what to say, wanting to make absolute certain you are one-thousand percent behind whatever your next move will be. 

Her eyes open again, now positioned lower and more closed than they were before, so you assume she's put her head down. The faint glow from before also seems to have become a lot fainter, now leaving her face completely in darkness. 

The room quiets back down, and, no longer fearing attack, you drop your defensive stance. You think you've figured out what you want to do next, but the problem lies in how you want to try and execute it. 

Throwing caution to the wind, you take a single step towards Chrysalis and the bed, testing out the waters; if she's not having any of it, she'll no doubt let you know, which will act as your cue to initiate Plan B. However, she does nothing aside from focus her attention you, though without lifting her head. 

You then take another step, and then another, and then another, until you find yourself about half-a-foot or so away from the edge of the bed. 

"So far, so good," you think, completing Phase One of your plan without a hitch. 

Now comes the hard part: getting her to talk again. Fortunately, you practiced what you planned to say during the seconds-long walk over, and now all you had to do was get it out in the open. 

You look down at her and let your mind take over.

"Hey, listen, Chrysalis - "

Fuck. Shit. 

You mutter another curse out loud; your brain has betrayed you once again.

From your vantage point above her, you can see Chrysalis' ears instantly perk up at your calling of her name. She extends her neck and lifts her head, then leans closer towards you; you notice what appears to be single tear rolling down her cheek.

"H-how do you know my name?"

And, just like that, the hard questions start to roll towards you like an out-of-control train. What would even come close to being an acceptable, or even understandable, answer? 'Oh, you know, I watch your show and read some stuff on the side'? You have to think quickly, lest your whole operation turn to more shit in the blink of an eye.

You open your mouth to begin spewing some kind of nonsense, but she saves you the trouble and instead asks if she can just have a moment to herself, which you agree to without hesitation, but your legs apparently never get the message.

You look over at the little digital clock on the bedside table, trying hard but ultimately just guessing what time the little red numbers display. You really do want to try and explain at least a little bit of this crazy situation to her, and maybe have her do the same for you, but perhaps now wasn't the time for it, especially since she's apparently here to stay for a little while, which is just another thing you'll have to figure out how to deal with. You weigh your options for the night, then end up picking the one that gets you one step closer to actually sleeping sooner rather than later.

You slowly start to move back towards the door, stopping once and turning back to say, "Hey, uh, I'm going to be making a snack or two out in the kitchen in a few. If you want in, just come on out and we'll, uh...we'll figure something out for you, alright?"

She nods slowly and silently, which is when you finally take your leave, closing the door behind yourself. Hopefully she'll come out soon and try to eat something you have, and then maybe she'll reward you even more by never bringing up you knowing her name before she gave it ever again.

You plop down on the couch, getting as comfortable as humanly possible, then, after what must have been a solid five minutes of waiting and staring at the nook that hides away the door to your bedroom, you turn your attention once more towards the silent screen and opt to instead listen for anything from your bedroom.

Two whole commercial breaks go by before the door creaks open and Chrysalis steps out.

She clears her throat hard as she slinks around the corner, though she still sounds a bit raspy as she announces, "After thinking upon your offer, your Queen has decided to come out and feast; She is feeling quite famished after her journey."

Wow. The first thing that hits you, besides the fact that she's actually acting pretty calm for once, is how much different she looks. Now, you don't really have anything to base her appearance off of other than a general assumption that someone of her stature, at least in a cartoon world, would always look prim and proper, with nary a single hair out of place, but the creature in front of you is the complete opposite. Now that she's up, moving, and under actual lighting, you find yourself able to pick up on things you had no way of noticing before, like how the faint and drying trails of her tears from earlier served as interesting contrasts to her otherwise stark black coat, or just how exhausted and worn out she really looked, both physically and mentally.

You figure that, if she is faking this whole thing, she's a pretty great actress.

It takes a second, but you nod at her and stand up, finally turning off the T.V. and heading for the pantry with Chrysalis silently in tow.