Time seemed like an endless thing to Chrysalis. Waiting for the soldiers and royal guards to return and knowing her kid, maybe the last of her kind was just down the hall, and fearing the inevitable was close only made her feel that much colder. Shivers were understatements by then. Her body shook before the cage she was placed in, and the doctor did nothing but tie together what might soon be the circular beast that she’d be killed by.

A monster of its own form, round and coiling in all different directions; not roaring, but definitely keeping her in the frightened mood of things. The sound of dragons flying over her would appear like nothing compared to the instance she’d be in only a few hours from then, when her fate would hang in the balance of one pony.

Princess Celestia, the mare that rose and set both the sun and the moon each day and every night could have her way. To the queen, she knew good and well this judgement could be dismissed by her highness, but it wouldn’t. Princess Celestia wanted nothing more but the utter annihilation of all the changelings. Everypony across Equestria knew this, and welcomed her way of tyrannical thinking.

Her influence on her subjects showed corruption, and nopony chose to fight that. Nopony objected to the ideals she had finally placed within the land; her black and saturated land.

Chrysalis couldn’t take her eyes off the rope being held by the medical physician, nor could she deny the will to beg him for help. However, every word was ignored. Every plea for mercy, just as it had been since she was caught was cast aside for Celestia’s say so in the matter.

Just as she gave up, the doctor finished his work, held the tightly coiled thing up and dangled it before Chrysalis just to taunt her. His snickers, followed my a quick cough was indeed heard, unlike the kindness that didn’t exist.

“You know,” he began after clearing his throat. “I’ve heard from you... About how you’re sorry and wish to be let free. Honestly, if I could, I would show you the level of caring I find within my chest, but I can’t, for it’s completely flooded with eagerness... Eagerness to see you hung before the very crowd you nearly destroyed.” He placed the rope down, took a smell of the air and finished, “It’s wonderful to see Celestia acting so, very reasonable and in the favor of the public.”

Chrysalis scolded him with her anger revealing deep within her eyes, but he didn’t care. All he could do was adjust his mask, and turn the other cheek, content with her demise approaching fast.

“I will be killed, but what of my girl?”

He turned his head a bit, not directly at her, but focused on the words alone. He took his sweet time thinking and figuring out how one could answer such a sudden question. “... I am to remain silent of such things.”

Chrysalis jotted her frame up to grant him one of the most threatening glares she’d given since the invasion. He just stared, but she could see behind the mask that he was amazingly scared stiff. “What will become of her?”

Suddenly, a voice from behind the doctor cut his mumbles off. “Watch your tongue, your majesty...”

Princess Celestia herself had just arrived and stood next to the stallion, half angry looking and half benevolent as always. Even when she intended harm on such a now feeble and harmless race like the changelings, she still found the strength to keep a firm grasp of her enchanting appearance.

Queen Chrysalis gulped while still trying to keep her angered face the way it was. “And what do you want? Why am I gifted with your presence?”

The gate magically opened, and Chrysalis was allowed freedom to walk out, but refused thanks to fear of what might happen if and when she did. A couple of moments passed by, Celestia standing almost perfectly still were it not for her flowing mane and tail. “Come now, I promise not to harm you for now.”

Chrysalis slowly walked out, her head held low and her limp keeping a rhythm with every trot. She asked, “What do you want with me? I’ve told you where the others are, isn’t that enough?”

Unfortunately, her highness wouldn’t speak another word. Not until they walked down the hall and passed the final row of cells where they found a brick wall splattered in dried blood. Chrysalis dared not to pass by the mare she followed, but didn’t need to. The cell blocker behind them shut tight, and the two then became alone.

“My steeds and scouts have returned...”

Chrysalis blinked and said, “Then the deed... is done.”

At that moment, Celestia said something Chrysalis hadn’t anticipated. A shocking revelation that would leave her without the faintest understanding of what’s going on. “They found nothing...”

Chrysalis looked up and stared into the eyes of the princess. “W-what?”

“... They returned without the faintest clue where the others could be.” Celestia stayed standing, but Chrysalis lost her will and sat down with a thoroughly bewildered face. “They found the cave you talked about, but it was empty... Now, I give you one last chance. Tell me where they really are, and nothing bad will befall you or your kin. Not even the others that we find, you have my word.”

Chrysalis couldn’t figure out how to say it. She searched desperately for the path to tell the princess she hadn’t any idea where the other changelings could possibly be. All that left her lips was, “I don’t understand...”

Celestia shook her head and tried to reiterate, “It’s your final opportunity to allow your subjects the chance at completely escaping death, and you can’t tell me where they are?”

Chrysalis grew cold from the tired and weak feeling that’d been coursing through her frame for all this time. Squinting her eyes and standing, but keeping her head low enough to hide her displeased expression, she yelled, “I don’t know anything!”

Celestia kept her posture a humble, unshaken stance, and sighed. “I wish you’d simply tell us the truth.”

“I have been...” The queen raised her head and locked her vision with Celestia. As she stared deeply into the eyes of what she considered a tyrant, Chrysalis paused. Only for a minute, she show Celestia her honesty, but even then, her highness wasn’t buying it. “Listen,” Chrysalis said calmly. “I’ve told you the most recent location of where I left them. I wish they were there, so this can end, but I just don’t know...”

Celestia placed her hoof on Chrysalis’s lips to silence her. “It will be alright...”

For a moment, the mare couldn’t move. Those comforting words, the only ones she’d heard since being with Shining Armor paralyzed her. As the hoof was lowered and settled on the floor, Celestia turned around and instructed Chrysalis to follow.

Once more, they went through the hall, back to the cell, and Chrysalis was locked up. Nothing had changed. Celestia neither assured nor denied Chrysalis the safety of Coad, her daughter. Even as Celestia began to leave, Chrysalis asked, “What will happen to her?”

All she received in the form of a reply was Celestia halting her trot, standing in thought, and then walking off. Up the stairs, Chrysalis observed the ruler’s hooves disappear, and yet again, she was left in the room with the doctor who resumed his work on the rope. However, in the darker imaginings of the changeling’s mind, she knew Coad wasn’t getting out of this alive. Not by a long shot.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob