The Queen's New Companion

Spiral wasn't alone, call it paranoia but he knew he wasn't. Someone was here, somewhere. He didn't see anyone so far, so they had to either be upstairs in his room or down stairs in the cellar. There wasn't anything very important in the cellar unless someone was going to steal gardening supplies. He didn't keep any money in his room, it was here in the kitchen under the floorboards underneath the table.

Which should he check? Up... or down? Upon further thought he'd check the cellar first. He could easily trap who ever was in there just by coming back up the stairs and locking the door. That settles it he would check down there first. Taking a deep breath he went to the door and opened it quietly. He silently thanked himself that he got all the door hinges in the house oiled so that they didn't creek when they opened. Taking his time going down the stairs into the darkness below. It was too dark down here for him to see at the current moment so he kept a tight hold on the wooden rail to his right while his other hand kept against the wall to his left looking for the light switch. He found it, bracing himself and saying a silent prayer to the creator above he flicked the switch.

The lights flickered a moment before turning on and that's when he saw her laying there using the sacks of soil as a bed and pillows. He gulped remembering the description the royal guards released. Looks like an insect, check. Holes in arms and legs, check. Bug like wings, check. Mane made of a type of membrane material, check. He wasn't going to go and touch it to be sure but he'd check that one off anyway. Fangs, check. Finally if the horn is jagged, alert the guard immediately. Looking at the changeling and seeing the jagged horn made him gulp. He had the most wanted creature in Equestria, sleeping in his basement!

He knew better than to scream, if he did not only would it make him seem like a total sissy. He'd wake the changeling and that was the last thing he wanted. Turning around he reached over to the light switch about to turn it off when he heard movement making him look back at the location of the changeling. She was looking at him, she was awake and looking at him. Her eyes were... pretty. He shook that thought out of his head and stayed frozen there as she spoke.

"So it seems you found me pony. Much sooner than I would have liked and now that you are aware of me it seems that you wont be fooled by my magic." Chrysalis said lifting her head from the make-shift bed and sitting up staring Spiral down. "What's your play? You're going to alert the guards of my location I take it?" She looked horrible it didn't take a very hard look for Spiral to see what she'd been through the past few days. The guards did want her captured but what would they do to her afterwards?

"I wasn't too sure about that..." Spiral responded making Chrysalis to raise a brow in question. What did he mean he wasn't sure? "I'm pretty sure I got a good idea who you are but, I don't think you really deserve all the hate you are getting." Now this was definitely new to Chrysalis. She was getting sympathy from this stallion. "My father told me something that I think I should share with you. Everyone makes mistakes, no matter who they are or how powerful. It's how they deal with the consequences of said mistakes that makes them who they are." He looked uncomfortable but he moved a little ways towards her. "So, I don't think I will report you... You should be the one to deal with your mistakes not anyone else. Your past, your problem to solve."

"You are quite the interesting pony Spiral." Chrysalis said a smirk appearing on her face.

"How do you know my name?" Spiral asked looking now very uncomfortable and his wings shifted showing his nervousness.

"I'm psychic."

"Awww crap, you can read my thoughts?"

"Yes."

"Damn then you must have heard my thought about your eyes being pretty..." Chrysalis blushed surprised at his statement and looked the stallion over. He thought her eyes are pretty? What kind of strange pony he?

"Yes I did, now-"

"Wait a second," He said cutting her off, "If you could read my mind then, why would you ask if I was going to alert the guards? You can't read my mind at all can you?" Crysalis sighed nodding having to unfortunately be honest because he caught on so quickly. If she had the strength she'd just debilitate him and drain love out of him for a while but that wasn't an option at the moment. "Well, you must have found out my name somewhere upstairs but I'll introduce myself anyway. My name is Spiral Storm, i'm 24 years old and I work for the Canterlot news paper as a delivery and sales pony." Chrysalis' eyes widen in realization, he was the black pegasus she saw earlier today flying with those papers. Interesting, he must know quite a bit about what goes on in Canterlot. "So, what's your name and you can leave out the age part... I wouldn't want you to think me rude and ask a lady her age." How nice this pony actually has manners.

"I am Queen Chrysalis," The changeling responded standing up and looking down at him. Pegasii are the smallest out of the pony races and she towered over him by at least 2 feet maybe more.

"W-well it's nice to meet you, your majesty." He bowed his head to her! He was polite and gave her respect to boot? Just who in Tartarus is this pony? "I was about to make dinner upstairs before this. It would be very rude of me to make something for myself without asking my guest if they'd like anything to eat as well." Chrysalis could sense his nervousness about having her as his guest but she smiled. She can't actually recall a time she was ever asked if she wanted anything to eat when staying at a house that she entered without permission, or at all for that matter. It normally ended with a lot of screaming, begging for their lives. Sometimes even a lot of forced love making before she either killed them or wiped the memory of her ever being there.

"Acutally food does sound good right now..." He was relatively straight-faced the whole time she was talking to him but he ended up smiling when she agreed which Chrysalis found a bit odd but she shook if off making a note to think on it later. "I suppose that I should disguise myself however, just in case you should have unexpected company. We wouldn't want any stupid ponies being big tattle-tails now would we?"

"I suppose not," Spiral said turning and heading up the stairs. "Oh umm... I do happen to have some clothes that are a quite a bit too big for me in my closet up in my room... I just thought you should know in case you'd like to take a shower or something before dinner. It will take quite a bit of time to prepare."

Chrysalis sat down on the makeshift bed she had made and looked at the floor. This stallion was quite puzzling, he was being nothing but polite to her even after she invaded his home just days ago with an army. Offering clothes, food, and chance to bathe? The sound of chopping on a cutting board reached her ears as she stood up. He really wasn't going to throw her to the guards. There has to be something he wants from her. Something only she could help him with. That had to be it. What exactly... Then it hit her, his mother was coming... He needed a mare-friend. This stallion was crafty, perhaps even more so than she thought. Oh but she would show him soon that she is not to be toyed with.

With a sigh and ignoring the growls of hunger that her stomach was making she changed into the disguise she used earlier today while looking for a hiding place only this time she upped the wow factor with wider hips and a bustier chest. Within reason of course she wouldn't want to absolutely destroy his mind with sexiness at least not until she was strong enough to drain him completely. Upon reaching the top of the stairs she took note of how easily he diced and chopped up the ingredients in front of him. So, He might be a decent cook as well? Chrysalis herself was never much good at cooking. She learned the basics from a job about 50 years ago but she hardly remembered anything from that little diner where she ended up breaking up the marriage of the cook and the waitress so she could suck the love out of them both. Ah, good times.

Snapping back to reality she noticed that Spiral was looking at her and waiting for something. "What?" Chrysalis asked giving him a questioning look.

"Oh, you must not have heard me. I said that your welcome to take a seat anywhere... and I also asked if you wanted anything to drink." He said walking back to the pot he had on the stove turning up the heat a bit and scrapping the diced vegetables and herbs into the boiling water and putting the cutting board in the sink.

"A cup of water would be lovely." She said subconsciously going into the voice and mannerisms of her disguise. Spiral just nodded opening the cabinet to his right and pulled a cup from it and went to the fridge walking right past her. She shook her head when she realized something was off. He wasn't feeling anything that she could eat right now. Not even the slightest hint of attraction. Was something wrong with her disguise? She had to find out. "Do you have a mirror?"

"There's one in the bathroom upstairs..."

"If you'll excuse me then..." She hustled out of the room and up the steps leaving him alone with the cup of acquired water in his hand. He sighed a put it on the table.

"Hmmm weird, she looked all shimmery for some reason." Spiral didn't really have time to think about that now however, he had to set the table for two now but that was fine. He'd never actually had a guest over before today. It was a bit nerve wreaking but he could do it. Right?

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

"Now who in the hay could that be?"