As chillingly cold water was dumped onto the mare, she shook awake, her body in a mass of bruises and bleeding points. Tears still fell fast from the ridiculously bothersome pain, and from unrelenting concern for her loved ones. Her bones felt shattered and her muscles pushed past the point of further use.

Questions surfaced quickly at that moment of being drenched. What do these ponies plan to do with her? And, of course, would she ever see her last three changeling children again? Suddenly, it felt like she’d been away from them for longer than what it’d really been. She could still recall their cries of hunger as their bodies began feeding on their very muscles despite how puny they’d already became. The last question on Queen Chrysalis’s mind, however, was spoken.

“W-where... am I?” she muttered, her words slurred. Her mouth felt like it was full of cotton, the metallic tang of blood tasted on her tongue. Her jaw felt too sore to move, and her teeth felt loosened, as if someone had hit her face repeatedly with a hammer. Though a hoof was a more likely source.

Her eyes were sore from all the sobbing she’d done on the way there, and sleepiness still remained, so it wasn’t very easy to simply adjust to the sunlight even though it was still incredibly cloudy above head. Soon, she recovered her senses and looked up after rubbing her eyelids for a few seconds only to find herself completely surrounded by the unicorns of Canterlot.

The nobles, the regular citizens, all of them had gathered, casting away social class and responsibilities just to observe her pathetic state. They circled all around her, their eyes hidden by shadows, and mouths keeping an unhappy expression. The air had an unsettling form of smoke looming around it, the kind that becomes red with color and brings all sorts of horrific thoughts to one’s mind. Chrysalis glanced up to the sky and watched drops of rain fall from the swirling clouds up above, shining with startling flashes of lightning that sounded every few minutes.

The clouds, too, were red. It was as though a pool of blood had been evaporated rather than crystal clear water. To Chrysalis, the sky itself was bleeding out, much like her numerous scrapes and cuts. Everything remained amazingly silent, as though the pony civilians waited for her majesty to speak before doing anything else, so with nothing to do, she spoke. It took a moment or two just for her to gather the thoughts she developed and formulate them into words, but when she did, she became almost sure her words would save her.

“I... I’m s-sorry.” Some ponies perked their heads up, giving her their attention while others kept the same intimidating stance. “We never meant to cause you such grief... I never intended this to happen. When we, the changelings, came here to Canterlot, it was a lawless act, and I understand that now... but back then, we just wanted food. What am I supposed to say?”

They all remained quiet, still tentatively listening to her speech. She looked around and resumed, “I care for each of my children with the same level of affection as a mother in this crowd does for her own fillies and colts. When you’re a mother, though, whose children feeds only on love, and you can’t give any of your own to them as a meal, it becomes tougher. It was a mistake to try and steal it. I know that now, but at that time, it was all we could think of.”

Low thunder broke her off for a minute, but it settles quickly. Queen Chrysalis rubbed the red fluid trailing a line down her chin away, and said, “Now look at us. There’s only four left! There’s me, and then my three remaining children who’re, by the way, dying with every hour wasted. I went out in one last attempt to maybe find some scraps of morsels in the Everfree Forest, and they’re expecting me to come back with love wherever I might’ve found it. Now... I fear the worst has passed.”

She attempted to restrain another tear from leaving her bruised eye, but it was a useless act. The thought of her children out there, cold, alone, and on the verge of death was too much to take. Just to make matters worse was the fact she wouldn’t even be with them when they died. What type of queen and mother was she? With tears running down her face, she looked down and asked the seemingly interested crowd, “Please... Have mercy on us.”

Through the masses, one feminine and recognizable voice told each to move out of her path. She crept through and into the clearing to see the broken mare lying on her aching stomach, and waited a bit before speaking.

“So, you think it best if we let you get away with this? You came to our home, took many of us captive, harmed the princess, almost caused a destabilization on our way of life, and you want to simply say sorry and leave?” She chuckled at the thought and continued, “I apologize, your majesty, but it doesn’t work like that with us.”

The queen quivered with fright and pleaded the commander, “Please, we’re no longer a th-”

A clear slap across the cheek was more than enough to shut her up. The commander rubbed her stinging hoof and looked around at the now smirking faces of the crowd. “And are we going to let this thing wiggle its way into our hearts, induce sympathy for her and make it believable that she’s innocent?”

All at once, the towns ponies chanted together, “NO!”

The commander resumed, “Then brothers and sisters, I implore each and every one of you, ignite your horns and allow her to feel the wrath of us all!”

They did as instructed. A spectrum ray illuminated the spot where the demonstration was being taken place, and up above in the high tower, Princess Celestia caught wind of the incident. Then, all magic failed.

Many ponies backed away from Queen Chrysalis and the commander whose back was facing the gliding alicorn. However, as she landed a few steps away from the two, the commander halted and turned around. Immediately bowing before her ruler, she began explaining, “Your highness, we’ve captured the changeling queen, as instructed. She’s weak and defenseless, perfect for execution whenever you give the word.”

The crowd was dismissed by Princess Celestia, and the commander was kindly relieved. “Why don’t you help yourself to some grade A cider within the palace. Your services are no longer needed.”

The tortured queen laid her head on the ground in relief. In that moment before the princess arrived, she thought her end was just upon her. Little did she know, it was just beginning.

The alicorn trotted up to her, lifted her chin with a hoof and instructed Queen Chrysalis, “Follow me. If you make a run for it, you die. Once we’re inside, I have several interrogations set in mind for you. I suggest you cooperate to the best of your abilities, lest you wish further harm upon yourself.”

It came as a surprise the princess intended more torture as compared to leisurely letting her go, but Queen Chrysalis understood then and there that the commander was right. These ponies weren’t going to let her live peacefully, not after what she and her young ones had done. Not by a long shot.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob