Liquid Love

Chrysalis looks down at Chitin, who is bowing before her, begging for forgiveness. The thought crosses Chrysalis's mind that those thoughts were all within Chitin's own self; why should she hold back punishment?

She taps her hoof to the ground, unsure how to handle to complicated situation. She still loves Chitin, and who's to say that the hunger for dominance and anger Chitin displayed in her messed up state isn't within all changelings? She closes her eyes. Next time she decides to play with someone's mind, she'll make sure to be more careful.

Meanwhile, Chitin seems to be punishing herself more than Chrysalis ever could. "I'm sorry my queen..!" "Please punish me..!" "I'm a terrible servant- I'm a terrible changeling- I'm terrible at everything..!" It isn't until Chrysalis raises her hoof that Chitin flinches away and goes silent with a whimper.

"You are not in trouble, my child." Chrysalis comforts Chitin in the calmest voice she can manage. "What transpired was of no one's fault but my own. I should not have cast spells on your mind the way I had."

Chitin stomps her hoof, suddenly, feeling angry at herself. "I-It wasn't your fault, your highness, those thoughts all came from my head!"

Chrysalis allows that thought to sit for a moment before approaching Chitin. Chitin flinches again, still giving whines and squeaks; but Chrysalis doesn't punish her. She gently sets her hoof on Chitin's shoulder.

"Those thoughts may have been in your head, my dear Chitin, but I was the one who put them there from the start." She clears her throat. "You changelings are all my children; but you also share all of your minds with me. All of the anger and the lust for dominance you felt was my own. It was a grave mistake for me to allow you to feel it, and place it above even your loyalty to me." She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath. "For a moment, Chitin, I was afraid it was all real. That those thoughts realyl were of your own free will. That you loved me no longer."

No longer shaking, Chitin uncurls out of her little ball of safety and looks up into Chrysalis's eyes. She notices the eyes of her queen are soft and teary, and there's nothing more heartbreaking for a changeling to see. Chitin practically slams her face into Chrysalis's chest, hugging her as tightly and forcefully as possible, now holding back tears herself.

"I n-never won't love you.." is all that Chitin can manage between her heavy breathing and her crying.

Chrysalis wraps her arms back around Chitin, holding her close enough to feel both of their heartbeats. "And I'll never not love you back."