Taking the Queen

As she rounded the third bend, Chrysalis realized just how out-of-shape she'd become recently. Being without sustenance, then with minor sustenance for a short time, all the while without any kind of workout was really doing a number on her body. If she'd had any thoughts of blasting her way out of here on seeing the sky, those were tempered now with the realization that any amount of speed she used to escape would have her out of breath before she reached the outer walls. Perhaps even the inner walls could hold her, as she didn't know if she could even fly that high anymore.

As she started her second lap, a guard joined her. "Nice day, isn't it?"

Chrysalis did not answer. Starlight had wanted two laps, and she didn't dare upset her mistress. She had neither the focus nor spare energy to waste on conversation.

"Actually, it's a little warm for my tastes," the guard continued. "You don't have to answer back; I know you're busy. Anyway, I like the colder weather, myself. Autumn and winter are my favourite seasons. Of course, when I tell ponies that, they instantly think that I just want more Hearth's Warming, and they decide to celebrate a sort of "Halfway to Hearth's Warming" party in June, and I really could just go without. It's the weather that really does it for me, and nopony really cares about that aspect. Give me powder snow over hot sand any day of the week, you know what I mean?"

She did know what he meant. Honestly, she was much the same, preferring the colder weather of the seasons. Rain was her favourite, but snow wasn't so bad, either. The darker days meant she could more easily move in stealth, and a good blizzard would shroud her form entirely.

"Autumn is a bit more tricky of a subject to work around, though. It's not so easy convincing everypony else that you like the three months were everything seems to be dying. Leaves falling off of trees, grass turning yellow and drying up, and all of that. One of the things everypony likes about that season is a legitimate favourite of mine, though. It's the spices. Pumpkin spice, apple cider spice, all manner of things like that. Cinnamon really comes to the front of everypony's mind, and I love it."

That was something she was unfamiliar with. While she knew ponies were into that, she did not need to subsist on pony food, and skipped over a lot of it, with the excuse that she was trying to watch her figure. Even now, she didn't need to, but the way he was talking about it, she kind of wanted to give it a taste, if just for the flavour.

"Anyway, I won't take up too much more of your time. Perhaps we'll talk another time. Enjoy your fourth lap."

As the stallion broke off and made his way to the archery range, Chrysalis slowed to a stop, utterly exhausted. She had not been paying attention to where she was, being lost in listening to him speak. She had doubted that she'd finish the second lap, but she'd finished a third without even realizing it. Was this the overwhelming power that friendship promised?

Panting, she made her way back to Starlight, who was wearing a smug grin. "Made a new friend, did we?"

Chrysalis was panting too hard to answer wholly. A simple nod was all she could muster. There was more to it than a simple yes or no, as she knew nothing about him other than his take on the seasons. She hadn't even looked at his face, and if she were told to point him out, she couldn't. Were they really friends? Were they just two creatures who spoke once and never would again?

"Come on," she said, waving to Chrysalis. "I know we only just came out here, but I wasn't expecting much from you today, what with you being out of practice. It's well past time for you to have a shower."

Taking one of her cables that had been fashioned into a leash, Starlight led Chrysalis inside, and through the barracks. As it was not very far from the training grounds, it wasn't a long walk. Through there, they went into the large open showers. As the guards were expected to be properly bathed for their shift, it was well understood that these showers would always need to be operational.

"This is the stallions' barracks," noted Shining Armor, following them in. "What, did they close down the mares' barracks? Is it all coed now?"

"No, it's not," answered Starlight. "We're coming in here for the stallions, specifically."

Four stallions were showering currently, and one more was toweling off at the far end of the room. They all looked up from what they were doing as the trio entered the room. They were an odd sight, with Shining still dressed in armour, Starlight being a mare, and Chrysalis being a prisoner. All of them were in violation of some rule or another, but with Starlight having a writ to move about the castle for so long as the royalty allowed it, and with Shining Armour being the prince, none of the guards were willing to make the first move.

"At ease," called Starlight. "This is neither an inspection, investigation, nor injunction. If you wish to go about your showers unhindered, feel free to do so. However, it has been well established throughout your ranks that the former queen of the changelings is now servicing members of the guard at my discretion."

"I didn't know that," admitted one of the guards.

Another looked at him. "Really? I thought you had. Didn't you talk about going down there the other day?"

"No, that was a guest room, and a different mare."

"Well, word should have spread to you," continued Starlight. "If it didn't before, it has now. Since at least one of you doesn't know the rules, I'll explain them now. I would have had to add one today, anyway. This," she pointed to Chrysalis, "is Chrysalis. She is being turned into a whore to better serve Equestria. I am overseeing her training. If you wish to assist in making her a more knowledgeable practitioner of the sexual arts, you ask me. Today, she's going to be in here. She needs a good scrubbing, so the bonus rule is, if you want to use her, you have to aid in scrubbing. Any takers?"