Chrysalis sat, rocking her only son back and forth as he sat in her lap, munching away at the hay burger in his tiny hooves. He smiled up at her, nuzzling her fur, thinking it was Zecora. How Chrysalis has yearned for this. To hold her son in a warm embrace once more, knowing everything was okay. The love deprivation has begun to afflict many drones, causing them to grow I'll and unable to do their duties. A few casualties besides natural causes have begun to show up.

She was only doing her job in feeding her subjects. She had to. Being hated by every species in Equestria only made it even harder. For days she wretched her brain to think of something, anything to feed her hive. To keep her son healthy. Her plan was working smoothly. Flawless so far. Everything was turning out exactly as she wanted them to. Yet, it's not what she wanted. Having to use her own child by throwing him out into a world of hate, seeming cute and caring, but it was all a lie. Shining, Cadence, Twilight, nor Celestia knew what was really going on. What Chrysalis was really planning.

To them, she was only making visits to bring love back to her hive and nothing more. But it was so much more than that. It was something she spent longer deciding to do than working out the plan itself! But these were desperate times. The casualties began to rise faster and faster. She had to act. It was her only means of feeding her hive. She had no choice.

She smiles back down at her son, his large blue pupils showing happily into her gaze. If her plan failed, at least Zecora would be here to care for him. If she succeeded, it was only a matter of hoping things would turn out her way in the end.

"I love you, Zecora!" Night Winger said happily with his muzzle full of food.

Chrysalis forced a smile onto her cheeks. "I love you as well."

"You...won't throw me out like my daddy did...will you?"

"But he didn't throw you out..." Chrysalis thought to herself.

"Of course not."

Night Winger smiled, but frowned moments later. "And you won't lie to me and use me like my mommy did...right?"

That got Chrysalis to choke on her words. Her son felt as if she didn't love him. She began to tear up, her hooves trembling as she held him tightly.

Suddenly the door burst open and Zecora entered.

"Night Winger, what did I-" Zecora cut herself off as she was suddenly staring at herself.

Both changelings turned their heads to the zebra.

"Oh, pony feathers!" Chrysalis sighed.

"I didn't know you had a twin, Zecora!" Night Winger giggled up to Chrysalis, snuggling in her hold.

Chrysalis took a deep breath and changed to her true form, hanging her head.

"M-mom?!"

Chrysalis nodded.

Night Winger sat for a moment, shocked she was here. How did she know he was here? He didn't care. He had to get away, and so he struggled free from his mother's grip and ran behind one of Zecora's forelegs.

"What do you want?" Zecora asked firmly, glaring at the changeling queen.

Chrysalis sighed once more and slowly stood. "What I want? I want for my drones to stop falling dead in front of me, dammit!"

Zecora was taken back by the snap. "Night Winger, go to your room for now..."

Night Winger nodded and quickly moved past Chrysalis and ran up the stairs.

"What are you doing here, then, Chrysalis?" asked the zebra.

"To see my son! Why else?!" Chrysalis snapped.

Zecora frowned. "And why was he alone in the Everfree? He wouldn't be here if it weren't for me!"

"I don't know!" Chrysalis lied. "I let his father look after him for a while, and from there I have no clue where he might have and might not have been!" she lied again.

"Then how did you know he was here? I can sense your lies. Lies that will ruin your bond with him I fear." Zecora said softly.

Chrysalis began taking more deep breaths as tears began to stream down her cheeks. "I'm trying, okay?! I've got a colony of drones to feed and I don't know what to do! I was merely flying past and something told me to come here! Why are you attacking me for wanting to see my own child?! A child I can hardly even feed now days?!"

Zecora was silent for a few moments, taking in a deep breath as well. The changeling queen was in her home and crying.

"I can see it in your heart, Chrysalis. You're trying to do your part, but in a way that will end in crisis."

Chrysalis turned her gaze to the floor, watching as her tears fell one after the other.

"You want to see your Night Winger, on good terms, one can easily figure. But he I know does not want to see one who lies. You can change, Chrysalis. Before his hope in you dies."

"What do you mean?" Chrysalis choked out.

"Did you not see? The way from you he did flee?" Zecora shut the front door and fully entered her home.

Chrysalis nodded.

"You are his mother. Keep going the way you are, and relations you have with him you will smother."

"I had no choice..." Chrysalis mumbled. "My son...my changelings...they need love...they're dying..." Chrysalis closed her eyes, tears dripping down one after the other. "I just want to help them..."

Zecora placed a hoof upon Chrysalis's shoulder. "But is it worth risking your son's love?"

Chrysalis looked down to the zebra. Why she cared confused her. They were enemies of species. Chrysalis didn't answer.

"He looks up to you. He wants a good mother. It's not too late to start anew."

"But I am a good mother...aren't I?"

"I'm sure you are. But a change in perception can take you far."

Chrysalis groaned, unable to wrap her mind around what this zebra has been saying.

"You may have had bad intentions in the past, but don't put your son last."

Chrysalis still said nothing.

"Night Winger!" Zecora called out.

Seconds later, the changeling colt was trotting down the stairs.

"Yes, Zecora?"

"What do you see of your mother? Be honest."

Night Winger looked down, scuffing a hoof into the floor.

"Well...I don't know...really...I want to love her, but...she does bad things..."

That hurt Chrysalis right to the core.

"Thank you, Night Winger. You may go back upstairs."

With a nod, the colt fluttered his wings and he flew slowly up the steps.

"And you, Chrysalis." Zecora began. "You may sleep here, tonight. You've got a big decision to make. I hope you choose the one that's right."

Zecora gaze Chrysalis a gentle nuzzle before going upstairs to be with Night Winger.

Author's Note

Ooohhh! Even MORE suspense AND a cliffhanger!! Jeez, I'm gonna kill you guys with this XD