It was quiet in the castle. A lone guard patrolled the hallways. Light shining from the tip of his brown horn and onto the ground before him. He hated this. Always getting stuck with the graveyard shift. But it payed well, that was the only upside. Steadily he breathed, clip-clopping his way down the meticulous aisles, glittered with frivolous vases, paintings and wall moldings. So unnecessary. But he guessed the princesses liked unnecessary. He sighed. Thinking that he might as well get it over with now. Shit. This part he hated with a passion. Checking up on the princesses. He walked down the their respective hall cringing at what he had heard doing this job for over two years.

Nothing for first time in years he heard nothing from Luna's room. Odd indeed. But bliss nonetheless. Continuing down the hall he could hear muffled voices coming from Celestia's room. Of course he thought to himself rolling his eyes in annoyance pressing his ear slightly against the wood trying to listen in.

Only muffled voices came through. The guard strained his hearing, only catching tiny bits of the conversation going on behind the wooden veil. He grumbled angrily to himself, starting to leave the door be. “It’s so a plan dear sister! Thou hast the most malefic machinations.” Yeah, he left. Moving away from the door at a quickened pace. Praying for the poor bastard on the receiving end of their plan.

xxxxxx

Chrysalis awoke early that next morning. Opening her opaque green eyes onto the sun’s bright rays. A subtle beep could be heard throughout the room. She pondered for a moment, never before had she used an alarm clock. Not that she had ever needed one. Agendas and such weren't really her style. In an effort to raise herself from the bed, she slipped falling to the cold hospital floor with a thud.

A soft "ow" touched his eardrums rousing him from his sweet slumber. Perplexed, he looked around. Nothing was out of the ordinary. Yet. Knowing Ponyville, this place attracted all kinds of unwanted attention from shady characters i.e. Trixie, the Flim Flam brothers, and ~~Queen Chrysalis~~. But thats all in the past. Whatever craziness comes next the Princess’ student would handle it. Like always. Not that he cared, him having to intervene and step up was pain. Taking time away from his work.

He finally noticed. Glancing over to the point where he could see that Chrysalis wasn’t in her bed. Odd… he thought to himself leaning over in his chair catching a wisp of movement from beyond the hospital bed. “Chryssi?” He asked. She replied with a light groan, signaling that she needed help. Cris smiled, “Now love you need to stay in bed and those legs of yours heal.” His magic returned. Somewhat anyway. It would take a few days before he was at one hundred percent again. At least he could manage picking Chrysalis from the floor and placing her back in bed. Which he did.

Something she gracefully thanked him for. “It’s so boring here though! Can’t I just ‘rest’ at your house?” There was a weird flicker in her voice, “I know you will be able to take care of me. After all you defeated that monster.” He obviously winced at that. It wasn’t bad enough he killed the kid, he just wanted to forget.

“Well there’s nothing I can do until you get released. So love your just going to have to stick it out here.” Chryssi went to protest but a knock at the door stopped her. It puzzled them both. No one new that she was here. In fear of being discovered, Chrysalis quickly took the guise of Rose. “C-come in.” she choked out.

And in they came. Two stallions to be exact. One a pegasus and the other a unicorn, both dressed in the fashion of nobles. Their heads hung low in angered and sullen expressions, like they didn’t want to be there. At all. “Herald? Grey? What the hell are you doing?” Cris asked with a catch of the throat trying to contain his laughter.
The grey unicorn elbowed his brother. The black pegasus elicited an exaggerated sigh, "Crimson Link, the princesses of Equestria request your humble presence." they both rolled their eyes, snorting with derision.

"Tell them 'hell no'!"

"Alright it's your funeral." they both uttering sighs of relief.

Chrysalis looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Are you sure that was a wise decision?" She asked, worrying that her lover would be in some sort of danger.

"Oh no, love. Don't worry, they won't do anything to me." He said with a smile full of confidence. Picking up a small book from her nightstand, he chuckled to himself at her confused state and began to read.

xxxxxx

A couple days went by, and nothing else detrimental happened. Surprisingly. All was good, Cris trotted happily down the street towards the hospital. Last night he had errands to run and couldn’t stay with his beloved. Considering the boredom Chryssi was going through, he picked her up somethings. Puzzles, a few books (mostly Cris’ old manuscripts from his childhood), and some board games. All tucked away in the satchel draped over his back. Humming silently to himself, while everpony else went about their business.

He was UNBELIEVABLY happy, nothing could ruin this high. “Crimson Link.” He stand corrected.

“What?” he asked with annoyance in his voice. Flipping around with intent to stare daggers into the pony that destroyed his mood. He laid his eyes upon his best friend. A pegasus adorned in mint green fur, several colors of gold formed her irises, mane a subtle blue, bangs over her eyes masking the right from view. Classic Melody.

“I thought you was in Las Pegasus with Shadowfire.”

Melody replied with a grunt and then a nonchalant smile. “We were. Decided to come back early after losing all our money.”

“Why the hell are you dressed like a guard?” She was indeed. Golden plated armor swaddled her body and head, mane strung through the hole atop and curled in a loop.

“Cause we got goaded into doing this by the princesses.” A voice answered. Another pegasus landed beside Melody. Another pegasus this in time black with a bright maroon mane spiked up in a similar fashion to Spitfire’s, without the helmet of course. He shook his head from left to right, "With promise of pay."

“Tell them to go screw themselves. I’m going to see Rose.”

"...You do realize that they are going to hound you' till the ends of time right? ...." Melody asked, her deadpan expression-telling him she was dead serious.

"...They can still fuck off...." Cris detonated as he walked around them and back towards his destination. Both Melody and the unknown Pegasus looked at each other before following suit, flanking him like they were his own personal guard... And for all intents and purposes they were for the moment.

"Well, seeing as you don't want to go back to them... Would you be Terribly peeved to talk about this new love of yours? We've heard through the grapevine that she's quite a looker... And possibly an enemy of the state..." Melody asked, a mischievous grin became plastered to her face as she pranced up next to him, bumping him in the shoulder every so often to try and get his attention. After a few minutes of her bugging, he snapped.

“GOSH DAMMIT WOMAN! Fine! Dear lords...!” Cris exploded, making Melody rock back on her hooves and laugh uncontrollably at his choice of words. "Fine, fine I will talk, if I will get you to shut up woman! By Job!" Cris cried out as he rubbed his face with a hoof.

"Well, tell us!" Melody squealed, bouncing up and down and around Cris.

"...Alright... Where do you want me to start?" Cris groaned, hearing his own sanity take a nose dive off the Canterlot Clock Tower.

"What's she like! Is she tall, does she have a lisp!.... Is she a mother?! Tell us!" Melody cried.

“None of the above.” Cris snapped his eyes shut holding his head with a pained expression overtaking his face. Trying to form coherent words in his mind, ones that weren’t filled with ill-will for the annoying friend.

“Pegasus, yellow fur, pink eyes, pink mane, cutie mark triad of suns. Savi?”

The mare hm’d it over for a long minute, walking alongside her friend. One that looked liked he was about to yank his mane out, while the other snickered. “Nope! Still want to know more.” She sang hopping up and down like a hyper Pinkie Pie, going berserk for knowledge.

“I want to meet her, and see if she is as great as you say she is... " Melody purred out whipping Cris behind the ear with her tail.

"...Why... In the nine rings of Tartarus.... Would I let you anywhere near her?" Cris deadpanned as he twitched his ear in annoyance.

“Because you know that we will help you protect her no matter what.”

“In what world would a normal pegasus like Rose need protection from? Other than the two of you.” Cris pushed his nerves into the back of his mind. Thinking that Melody was just being her usual self.

“In the world where she is the thought long-dead changeling queen.” Melody whispered in his ear, and pulling back to watch a shocked expression wash over his face. Which what happened wasn't what she had anticipated.

“Hmm...that would be a crazy world,” Cris put on a facade better than anyone ever. He hoped this was one of the rare times when he could actually fool Melody. “I’m going now.” He said with the most nonchalant face he could muster. Mostly latent effort.

He didn't want anymore of a hassle, making the decision to teleport. It wasn't the wise considering his magic was still unstable. All hoping to avoid anymore questions. "I guess you are right," Melody spoke in a soft almost apologetic voice. Emphasis on 'almost'.

And away he went. Leaving in a flash of bright silver color. While the wind blew swaying the leaves and the trees.

xxxxxx

He waited and waited. Just as he had promised. Sitting by her side for past several days, watching, talking, laughing, and playing. Some of the happiest days of his life. Cris smiled at Chrysalis, at which she blushed turning away in embarrassment. He chuckled levitating his quill from the notepad.

He tried to jot something down, but nothing came out other that troubled groans and hollow sighs of relief. "Dammit," he muttered under his breath hoping Chryssi wouldn't hear. Ugh this was hard! Only blotches of ink filled the paper. No coherent wording whatsoever. Only writers block addled candor came from the tip of his quill.

"What's wrong?”

He smiled, crumpling the paper into a ball and tossing at the trashcan. Missing by a longshot, “can’t fucking write shit…”

"Course you can, "she said with a light smile, "after all they sell just as good as A.K. Yearling's Daring Doo series."

"Just as well." he corrected.

"Whatever!" Chryssi snapped, "I have read all of books and I love all of them. You are so talented." Cris sighed, throwing his head back in defeat. He would try again later. Maybe in a week or so. Some time away would help clear his mind and get the juices flowing again.

"My deadlines not for another year anyway." he said aloud in slight despair. Chryssi decided to try and his mind off the subject.

"How is your son?"

"Star?" Cris pondered for a moment he hadn't thought about his son for the past week. He wasn't worried though he new Star could take care of himself. "He's probably out with Aero and Sweetie Bell about now. Why?"

"Just wondering," she replied, looking away in nonchalant manner. This puzzled him deeply. Cris wondered to himself silently for over a minute. Formulating in his mind the possibilities of what she hoped to accomplish with that question. He hoped nothing sinister.

He smiled to himself, fluttering his ears at the sound of voices beyond the door. "Chryssi," Cris whispered, drawing her gaze. His heart skipped a beat, "The doctor is coming to check up on you." Chrysalis instantly snapped back into Rose, save for the pink eyes which became a bright yellow.

They both hoped nopony would notice. "May we come in?" A voice rang. That wasn't the doctor. “Oh damn…” He muttered to himself. The door clicked opened and in came the mane six.

“Not to be rude, but what the hell are you doing here?” He asked coming to a stand. There was obvious disdain in his voice, not specifically aimed though. ''Cris, darling it's been such a long time. Even though we both live in the same town," she stopped for a brief moment, "You simply must try and get out more." Chimed Rarity with a wide smile.

"Sure has and I'll try."

"Crissy wissy!" he groaned, "How have you been? Cause I've been great apart from the Everfree invading and almost devouring Ponyville! I've baked so many treats over the past week! I've baked cakes, cupcakes, fudge, cookies, pi-"

"Pinkie we get it!" shouted Rainbow Dash, "Hiya Cris long time no see."

"Rainbow still being awesome I presume?" Rhetorical question.

"You know it!" Dash heartily replied.

"So Cris did you read the book I gave you on magical theory?" Twilight asked, her eyes shining with anticipation! Finally she would have somepony to discuss it with.

"I'm about to chapter five. Don't worry I'll finish it forthwith." twilight looked down in sadness, longing to chat with someone.

''Fluttershy, how's Sebastian doing?" Cris turned towards the timid mare.

"Oh um well he's doing fine, although he came back from hunting with a snapped wing so I'm going to keep him a bit longer if that's alright."

He smiled, "Sure."

"Applejack."

"Crimson."

Chrysalis raised her eyebrow in surprise at what just transpired. He was so nice with the others what made Applejack any different? "I've asked everyone else, so by social custom I must extend to you the same courtesy," Cris cleared his throat, "How are you?"

''Fine-"

"Okay enough of the of the idle chit-chat. What are you doing here?" He interrupted before she could finish. Not really caring how she was. They all gave each other concerned looks.

"We just came to see how your friend was doing-"

"What do they want?" Cris interrupted, wanting to get this over and done with.

"We want is thine love Crimson Link." For the love of Faust. Chrysalis/Rose slumped down into her bed a bit. A sullen expression overtook her face. If they wanted her lover then who was she to stop them?

Admitting defeat, ''How many damn times must I tell you both No? I am perfectly contempt with Rose, thank you very much."
What?!? She asked herself in surprise. Looking over at Cris as if he were mad. This made her unfathomably happy. He loves me... HE LOVES ME! Strong feelings intermingled in her black chest. A warm, unfamiliar sensation spread throughout. Puzzling the once cold queen.

"Crimson Link as princesses of Equestria, We command you to marry one of us or eternity in the dungeon!" Celestia cast down her hoof as an attempt to intimidate the author. But it only seemed to make him snort in derision and throw his head back in exhaustion from their constant tomfoolery.

"No." He said drawing a gasp from all involved.

"Excuse me?" Celestia asked.

To which he replied with a simple 'you heard me'. A wicked look appeared on her face, one with true authority. Contorting into a malicious smirk, already making others cringe when not fully formed.

This menial authoritative gesture was not enough to sway him. He wiped it off with a mere shrug of the shoulders, waiting for her impending reaction. Anger seethed from the princesses pores. Anger and sadness. Mostly sadness. She really cared about him. Why couldn't he see that?

He was the only one who would stand his ground, and not topple under the weight of her royal charge or the mundane say-so. The baleful expression on her face had finished forming, though quickly collapsing into something more melancholy.

Pained expressions arose from both princesses. "Please comeback to us…”

“I never even went to you in the first place. You’re princesses for crying out loud. And I’m not the only alicorn anymore. Last I checked there was Bea and Twilight, there are your options.” Cris took splendor in his genius machinations.

"Please Cris all my sister and I wish is for someone to eternity with." Luna pleaded.

"I'm sorry but you're not the one that I want." Cris remembered that line, and he was sure that she did too as he glanced casually in her direction.
Defeat. The was of nothing more they could do to sway him.

"I'm sorry," he said with a shrug, then shooing them away without a moments notice. ALL of them. Everyone he just wanted them gone, he wanted this crazy day to be over! He exhaled, telekinetically shutting the door. Sitting back down in his chair he asked, “Some day, huh?”. Holding his head again in a pained expression… Second damn time this week. He turned to her with a smile. Opening his eyes only to meet eyes filled with tears. Happy tears, and not the facades he had come to know, but her real eyes.

“You okay?” His face turning to one of concern.

“Yes… I’m fine Cris… May I uh feed of your love for me? It will help us both get out here faster.” Cris moved to the edge of her bed. Sitting at the corner near her face. He took his hoof and placed on her face, wiping away the salty tears with care. She gave a weak smile back, mixed with a deep blush. Chrysalis went to look away out of embarrassment, but was stopped by a kiss applied to her lips.

“Of course.” He said with love placing his forehead on hers.

“I love you…” She spoke with a shake voice. Cris smiled, placing another kiss on her forehead and whispered:

“I love you too.”

Author's Note

Unfortunately in this chapter I failed to teach you a physics lesson. Co-writer Harbinger-of-script