Taking the Queen

With the dress made and makeup done, Spike helped Chrysalis into her shoes. Rarity stepped back and examined her work. "The shoulders need a bit more padding, done up tighter. We should thread some fishing line through the hem of the skirt, too, to really add volume. I'm thinking more pressed pleating over the stomach, and we really should have done something about your mane and tail. Wearing them down is fine, but we really should have... Spike, give her a quick bun."

Spike grabbed Chrysalis by the mane and began twisting until the tightness began to wrap around itself. It was quick and relatively painless, and with a small hairclip, Rarity secured it. "Should I do the tail, too?"

"No," answered Rarity, we don't want her to look like a rabbit. We should curl her tail like mine, and we honestly should have done the same to her mane, but we don't have time. It'll just have to stay as it is for now."

"I'm sure it's good enough for what we're doing," nodded Chrysalis. While she still kept her graceful smile up, her eyes were betraying her worry. "Are we almost ready? I'm not ungrateful, I just want to be done with the worry. Anticipating what's about to happen is taking a toll on me."

"You're ready," nodded Rarity, just in time for a knock at the door. "That's probably him, now. Good luck tonight, dear. I hope it's over quickly, or at least not as bad as you anticipate."

Chrysalis swallowed hard and opened the door. Starlight was just outside. "Very nice work, Rarity. She looks perfect."

"Be honest, she looks good enough," snarked Rarity. "I cut a few corners trying to finish on time. There are plenty of places where it's lacking."

"None that I can see. She looks great." Starlight took Chrysalis' lead and escorted her toward the main door. "Nervous?"

"What makes you say that?"

"There's fear in your eyes."

Chrysalis let out a sigh. "That obvious, huh?"

"It's going to be fine. What are you so afraid of?"

"Losing my head, of course."

Starlight scoffed. "I don't buy that for a second. You have all the self-control you need. Even if you do go a little crazy, there'll be guards nearby to keep you in line."

"Good. I don't know if I'll be able to keep from trying to run. I am walking to my death, after all."

"Oh, don't be so dramatic," chuckled Starlight. "Did Rarity really rub off on you that much?" She stopped in front of the main door and checked Chrysalis over one last time. "Are you ready?"

"As I can be." She took a deep breath. "I truly am sorry. Not that it means anything now, but for the reco--"

"Calm yourself," interrupted Starlight. "He's waiting."

The door opened, and they stepped out onto the stairs. Three guards were waiting. Two in light armour, bearing small weapons, and one in a bowtie and blazer. "Wow," smiled the dressed-up one. "You look fantastic."

Chrysalis' heart sank. "Spiceberry?"

He nodded and smiled. "It's good to see you again."

Chrysalis lowered her head. "I wish it was under better circumstances."

"Better circ-- What?" Spiceberry looked around. "What circumstances? I thought this would be nice; a reward for your hard work."

Chrysalis cocked her head to the side. "How is dismemberment a reward?"

The group fell silent. Starlight approached and placed a hoof on Chrysalis' shoulder. "Is that what you think this is?"

"Rarity put me in a dress where the blood won't show, my mane was tied up so the axe would go through my neck easier, and there are guards here to hold me down. What else could this be, but punishment for what happened with Fluttershy?"

She was about to break down in tears until Spiceberry pulled her into a hug. "That's not going to happen. Come on, I'll explain on the way."

Starlight stayed behind as Chrysalis and the guards descended the stairs. Despite their size difference, Spiceberry kept his hoof on the small of Chrysalis' back, gently rubbing. "Now, I don't know what all happened with Fluttershy, as she was very tight-lipped, but we all met up this morning. Twilight, Starlight, their friends, Shining Armor, Captain Poultice, and myself.

"Rainbow, Applejack and Pinkie were all keen to share their stories, but Fluttershy just wanted to say that your treatment of her was better than she deserved, not going into why. I didn't pry, it wasn't my place. When Rarity was asked, she said that she hadn't shared a session with you, and didn't want to. Spike was also opting out, but reserving the right to form his own opinion at a later time; Starlight hadn't invited him due to time constraints, and she wondered if perhaps you wouldn't have been able to accommodate a dragon as easily as a stallion.

"Anyway, we talked for a long time on what to do with you. There was some talk of placing you under house arrest, locking you to a particular area here in the city, then there was a vote to just keep you where you were in the cell, and even the idea of moving you permanently into a brothel was brought up. In the end, what we decided together was that you needed some experience outside of the castle, but at the same time, we couldn't just set you loose. So, for tonight and tomorrow, you're going to be placed in my care, under constant guard as a trial run. Tomorrow night, you return to your cell, and I report back. We then have to have another meeting the morning after that, and yet more decisions."

"So, I'm yours all night?"

"And all of tomorrow. And since it's my job to watch you for that time, we're not restricted by my paycheck. We can go somewhere nice."

Chrysalis was beginning to calm down. She wasn't in any danger, and was, in fact, going for a nice night out with a stallion that she knew now how much she cared for. Why nopony had told her before, she didn't know, but Rarity and Starlight had been correct. She would enjoy this, and it would not be nearly as bad as she was imagining. "Where do you want to start?"