A Queen's Guard

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Twilight paced around the room, her frantic hoofsteps echoing as she contemplated the sudden turn of events.

Her panic session cut short as Starlight’s voice broke through her trance. “I promised that we’d give her a chance to redeem herself, so we can’t just turn her to stone after accepting her surrender.”

“What if she goes rogue again? It was bad enough when she impersonated Cadence, but letting her stay here could lead to Equestria’s destruction if we’re not careful,” Twilight countered, adjusting a pencil to better align with her desk.

Starlight placed a comforting hoof around her barrel and soothed, “That’s what the magic inhibitor is for. As long as she’s wearing it, she won’t be able to use any magic to transform or hurt anyone.”

“I don’t know,” Twilight repeated, biting her lip with worry. “I still think we should imprison her in Tartarus for a while. Maybe some time down there will make her reflect on her choices.”

Sensing her trepidation growing, Starlight stared up with teary eyes and pleaded, “I know more than anypony how it feels to commit heinous crimes, and it was only through your understanding and forgiveness that I realized how horrible I’d become. You changed my life and helped me overcome the worst parts of myself I never even knew existed.”

Leaning in, she wrapped her in a caring embrace and whispered, “So please, give her the same chance you gave me.”

Twilight’s gaze softened as their shared memories came flooding back. Returning the gentle hug, she pulled Starlight closer and smiled, “You’re right. I’ve always believed in turning my enemies into my friends, and that shouldn’t change now. Thanks for reminding me.”

The two continued hugging until a shout from the floor interrupted their embrace. Turning to face the basement stairs, Twilight gestured a hoof and mumbled, “Uh oh, it doesn’t sound like Thorax and Pharynx are having much luck. I can’t imagine she has anything nice to say.”

Starlight cast a worried glance down the shadowy steps and sighed, “I’m more concerned about what she’ll say to me. I was the one that destroyed her sacred throne and turned her entire hive into essentially a different species. I’m not looking forward to the reunion.”

“Come on, Chrysalis. Aren’t you going to say anything?”

Thorax’s watery eyes stared at the figure in the cell, begging for any sign of acknowledgement or recognition. When none came, he puffed out his cheeks and called, “I know it wasn’t easy to surrender, but now things can go back to normal! Once you reform too, you can lead your hive into a new era of peace, friendship, and lo--”

His voice cut off as a pair of neon-green eyes flashed dangerously in the dark cell. His former queen fixed him with a look of utmost hatred and hissed, “You are no longer my hive! I have no hive! All I see are a bunch of miserable little insects too cowardly to stand up and fight against their pony cultivators!”

Thorax staggered back from her sudden outburst with a look of shock, but swiftly shifted to concern as the device around her horn sent an electric shock throughout her body. Gazing at her trembling form with pity, he shook his head and whispered, “I’m sorry you feel that way. I’m sure the hive would love to have you back if you learned how to share love instead of just take it. It isn’t too late to change paths.”

Pharynx held out a hoof to stop him from speaking. Glancing at the rage still burning in the fallen queen’s eyes, he drawled, “You’re wasting your breath, Thorax. It’s clear nothing you say will reach the Queen’s ears, at least not right now. Perhaps we should give her more time to readjust before talking again?”

“You’re probably right,” Thorax sighed starting towards the staircase. “I’ll try again later once the girls have made some progress. Are you coming, Pharynx?”

Pharynx glanced at Chrysalis’s still furious expression before waving a noncommittal hoof. “Don’t worry about me. I just want to talk to the Queen again before we leave. Go upstairs and tell those ponies we’ll be done soon.”

“Their names are Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer,” Thorax said pointedly. “You’ll need to remember them since they’re responsible for integrating changelings into pony society.”

Pharynx watched his brother ascend the stairs before turning toward the prison cell. Before he could say a word, Chrysalis grumbled, “I never would have expected it of you, Pharynx. Thorax I can understand since he’s always been so meek and wimpy, but I thought my most trusted soldier would have fought back against the pony invasion.”

She glared at the disgustingly sweet shades of navy and purple that adorned his reformed carapace. Pointing out the opals adorning his chest, she adopted a demeaning smirk and shot, “Look, the ponies are already decorating you like their subservient little housepet. I hope you enjoy a life of padding after them and groveling at their hooves, because that’s the fate you’ve doomed the hive to.”

Pharynx waited patiently for her insults to end before taking a deep breath. Glancing around to ensure nobody was in sight, he lowered his head and whispered, “My Queen, you needn’t turn your ire on me. I know you’ve always had the changelings’ best interest at heart, so I’m here to reassure you of my loyalty.”

Chrysalis’s eyes widened as a wisp of green magic surrounded his body. The sleek, shiny colors on his carapace gave way to the harsh blacks and reds of traditional changelings, jagged holes carved themselves into the tips of his forelegs, and his straight teeth elongated back into their normal fangs, sharp and ready for a fresh meal.

After a moment of stunned silence, Chrysalis broke into a wild grin and clambered to the bars of her cell. Fixing him with an approving stare, she hissed, “I see you’ve improved your disguising magic. Not even I could see through your illusion at first.”

Pharynx’s chest swelled with pride under her admiring gaze. Transforming back into his reformed disguise, he whispered, “I can’t stay long or Thorax will grow suspicious. Rest assured that, no matter what the rest of the hive may think, I will always follow you, my Queen.”

Chrysalis licked her lips as he left, relishing the love he had gifted her during his transformation. Gazing around her lonely cell, she began formulating ideas for her escape, all the while savoring the thought that, even though most of her hive had abandoned her, she still had one loyal subject she could count on.