Chrysalis was suddenly aware that she was aware. That was about all her mind could gather at the moment. Nothing filled her thoughts except the realization that she was thinking them. But thinking meant she was there, even if she didn't know yet what being there meant.

But trying to figure that out was at least giving her something to do, which she had a vague feeling she hadn't been doing for a while. The idea of doing something though reminded her that there was more than thoughts. She remembered that she was physical, and that she could move. She attempted to do so.

She then remembered what pain was.

Chrysalis heard a thrum of anguish escape her throat as the feeling of every muscle in her body suddenly screaming made her very aware that it existed. Memories finally came flooding back to her as her eyes shot open and she attempted to assess her surroundings.

The place she found herself was completely unfamiliar to her, but she imagined that her thoughts were probably not all in order quite yet. She seemed to be in a small bedroom of a pony design, all made of wood. As perplexing as that was, it was far from the biggest question on her mind at the moment.

"Why... am I alive?"

There was a sound that made her roll her head to the side from where she lay. This made another shot of pain go through her. From next to what seemed to be a modest bed where she was resting, a door opened. From the other side there was what appeared to be the head of a very small dragon now looking through. The door slammed back shut and Chrysalis could hear the scampering of claws and sudden slightly panicked yelling.

"Twilight, she's awake!"

That name struck a chord in her still struggling mind. She remembered what anger was, and that gave her the resolve to attempt to forget her pain. In her mind she put together what she believed was enough information about what must have happened to her.

She had an opportunity. It was entirely possible her changelings were still alive and probably well fed at this moment. Though she still couldn't command them, she would still be able to retreat back to her hive and try to come up with a plan.

'All I have to do is find a way to best that pony, then my hive will be mine again.'

It was that thought that gave her the resolve to try to push herself from the bed. Her resolve was short lived however as the pain that was barely manageable when she was lying still seemed to multiply many times over the second she moved. She pushed through the agony and attempted to jump from the bed and make a break for the window on the opposite side from the door. She only managed to end up tangled in the blankets that had been covering her, on the floor, and hissing in pain.

"No!" She tried to force her limbs to move. She had to take this opportunity, and tried her best to push past her own body telling her to stay. The hiss of pain became one of anger when a flash of light appeared from the other side of the bed.

"Chrysalis, stop!"

The voice was unmistakable, and thus she was compelled to stop her attempts to flee. Chrysalis attempted to turn on her captor, hoping still to find a way out of the situation. Her body still felt as stiff as death though and she failed the attempt.

"Chrysalis .... lay still, that's an order." Chrysalis growled as her body complied. "I don't want to have to force you to do anything, but if you flail around like that you're going to hurt yourself worse."

Chrysalis sneered as best she could as a lavender magical aura suddenly surrounded her. That aura then proceeded to gently lift her back onto the bed and cover her with the blankets that had partially thwarted her escape attempt.

"There. You can move around if you want to, just don't get out of bed yet." Chrysalis felt the pony emotion of sympathy coming from Twilight, and she hated its sickly sweet taste.

Chrysalis felt her body relax on its own, Twilight's order allowing her movement again. She took advantage of this to turn and glare at Twilight. This caused a thrum of pain to come from her throat again, which in turn made more sympathy come from Twilight.

"Don't you pity me, pony," Chrysalis spat. "If you wish to torture me before you kill me you'll draw no satisfaction from it. I am a queen and I will not be broken."

"You're not being tortured. You're only still in pain because I didn't know what I could do as far as treating you. Pain medication might react badly with your biology and kill you. I'm also not the best with healing magic and without at least a general understanding of your biology I wouldn't want to risk..."

"Don't think me so weak either," Chrysalis cut in. "This pain is nothing..." She had to stop to suppress the thrumming in her throat again as she attempted to raise a hoof menacingly at Twilight. "I doubt anything for a pony would be sufficient to treat a changeling, much less harm them." Chrysalis lowered her hoof slowly and carefully, forcing herself not to show her pain.

More sympathy came from Twilight. Chrysalis felt the urge to feed off of it despite its lack of nutrition. "You seem like you're in so much pain right now. Is there anything I can do?"

"I am a queen," Chrysalis sneered.
"Whatever way you tried to end me I'll recover from in no time. You should have killed me while you had the chance." She was helpless right now, but she knew she couldn't let Twilight know that.

"How long is it going to take you to recover if you consider a steady source of nutrition? Answer me truthfully." Why did Twilight's emotions taste like genuine concern, and why did it again make the changeling feel like consuming them. Chrysalis once again considered escape, but knew she had no choice.

"I'm not sure of the extent of my injuries, but my metabolism is high enough to recover from even near death in about two weeks." Chrysalis didn't like giving information to an enemy, but at least this was something that might discourage ponies from challenging changelings in the future. Once she was free and had her hive back.

"That's great," Twilight exclaimed, apparently not realizing her own inferiority at this news. "Would running a medical diagnostic spell on you work or would your biology be too different from a pony?"

"Don't think your pony magic can give you any advantage against me," Chrysalis hissed.

"Well if you're not afraid of my magic then you won't mind me using the spell, right?" Chrysalis could now confirm that she knew what smug tasted like. Like most pony emotions it was almost too sweet for her liking.

Chrysalis thrummed with anger. "It's not as though I could refuse."

Twilight seemed apprehensive, but her horn did begin to glow. "I don't want to force anything onto you, but I do want to make sure you're ok." The Alicorn's magic began to wrap around Chrysalis. It made her chitin crawl. After a few moments a look of distress came over Twilight again.

Chrysalis held back her initial reaction to this, but still wanted answers. "What is it you think you've found pony?"

Apparently remembering once again that the creature before her could sense her emotions, Twilight seemed to try to reel them back some. "Oh no, don't worry. It's nothing too bad. None of the damage seems like it will be permanent. Like I said, I'm not the best with medical magic, but from what I can tell you seem to be suffering from massive overexertion. It's just... I can tell just how much pain you must be in right now."

"Don't pity me," Chrysalis sneered.

"Stop snapping at.... " Twilight paused, taking a deep breath before she continued. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap, I'm just concerned and you're not exactly being cooperative. I'm not going to give you an order, but you don't need to be so on guard and hostile right now. Changelings might not be the same as ponies, but I'm still sure stress will not help you recover."

"I am in the presence of my worst enemy, what would you have me do? Welcome your attack as though...." Chrysalis stopped as another magical aura surrounded her. She winced as she hadn't been expecting an attack quite yet. Twilight's emotions had slipped, but she didn't think they were that powerful at the moment. She wasn't angry, but the feelings had been building in that direction.

Chrysalis was surprised when the aura cut off without any pain being administered. In fact, the pain seemed to have alleviated significantly.

"I'm sure I'm going to have to say this a lot in the coming weeks, but I am not your enemy. I don't care what you've done in the past to survive. If you're no longer a threat to those I care about, then I am going to try my best to make you an ally."

Chrysalis was taken aback, but found her anger again in a moment. "You think you can be an ally to changelings." She attempted to shout this, but her body still compelled her to lower volumes. Her voice splintered some as she sat up as best she could with her new range of motion. "You have no idea what it means to be a changeling if you think that's true. My last goal as a true changeling queen is to do all I can to save my hive. Something that's impossible if you are to take care of them."

Twilight didn't back down from the tirade. She met anger with anger, and Chrysalis could feel them clash in the air. "If that's true, why haven't you asked me about them since you've been up?"

Chrysalis felt her own emotions slip as a retort to that caught in her throat. In her confusion she hadn't thought to check on her hive. In her anger she'd done the same. She tried to save face in this moment of oversight.

"I am a queen, I know that my hive is alive."

"You can sense the hive, but you can't interact with it. For all you know I could be working them all to death in gem mines or using them as military training fodder." The look of resolve on Twilight's face gave Chrysalis pause.

Chrysalis forced her breathing to stay even. Her mind raced as Twilight's aura of anger seemed to beat back her own in midair. "I know a pathetic pony like you would never have the carapace for such an..."

"And what if I did?" Twilight now stood with her forelegs up on the bed, towering over the bedridden queen. "If you still think of us as enemies, then what would you do in this situation?" She bent low almost bringing their noses together as Twilight glared more deeply than any pony Chrysalis had ever seen. "Tell me, in great detail. That's an order."

Chrysalis felt an unfamiliar chill run down her back, the reason for which she couldn't identify. She chose to ignore it though as she quickly compiled her thoughts. "You'd be dead." She was surprised that this didn't bring any reaction to the princess. The chill crept back slightly. "All of those troublesome element bearers too." That did get a reaction, Twilight's glare deepening. "I've had enough experience with those of your ilk that I wouldn't let threats like that stick around to foil me again. I'd have then kidnapped an entire town and disappeared. I'd spend years building up my forces, and come back to take my revenge on the rest of your race."

"That's what you expect of an enemy, huh?" What happened next did shock Chrysalis. "If that's the case, I guess I'll let you see for yourself what I've done." She smugly drew away, stepping back down off the bed and sitting comfortably. "I give you full access to communicate with the hive mind, though no ability to give orders through it."

Chrysalis's breath caught at the sudden sensation. All at once a wave hit her. Her mind opened up, and for the first time since her defeat she heard the unfiltered voice of her children at the edge of her senses.

"I should apologize. I've been talking with some of the changelings, trying to learn about them, and you. I found out little bits of how the hive mind works, and that since you didn't have any formal standing anymore, you likely couldn't communicate with any of them. And also," Twilight seemed to hesitate just a little, "that not being able to hear the hive mind was likely torture to a changeling. I'm sorry I didn't realize sooner. I'm also sorry about overwhelming you. You were starving and we dumped so much on you at once. It's no wonder you're in so much pain."

Chrysalis would have normally snapped at the obvious sympathy being shown to her. Instead, she closed her eyes as she let the sensations wash over her. Though it was only moments, her instincts stretched the time as she was able to check on her hive for the first time in months.

"They're, all there. They're all safe, and I can hear them." For the first time Twilight had heard it when she wasn't in disguise, Chrysalis's voice sounded almost singular in that moment. The Queen's eyes opened slowly as she turned to Twilight. "Why would you do this for me?"

"For the second time already, I'm not your enemy. Now that you're awake we can start talking about how to integrate changelings into Equestrian society."

Chrysalis scoffed at this. "Even if you're delusional enough to believe such a thing could happen, I doubt any of your fellow rulers would be so accepting."

"It might take some time, but I think I can convince them." Chrysalis rolled her eyes, then tried to go back to listening to the hive mind. "Spike should have sent a letter to Celestia explaining what's happening. If everything goes like I'm hoping, we should..."

"You did what!?" Chrysalis pulled herself from her thoughts abruptly, her eyes going wide.

Twilight pulled away at the sudden outburst. "What? What's wrong? We'll need her help if we're..."

"You'll get me killed. Do you really think telling her that the one who defeated her in combat is hanging around her pupil will somehow endure her to me. I need to get away." She attempted to get up, but Twilight's order kept her from leaving the bed. "You need to let me run, I can't survive her in my current state."

"Chrysalis. I told you you need to relax. The princesses are all reasonable. You have nothing to f..."

Both mares jolted in shock as the exterior wall of the room was suddenly smashed. Through the rubble stood an alabaster alicorn clad in golden armor.

"Princess Celestia," Twilight stuttered, "w, what are you doing here?"

"Your letter said Chrysalis was here. Naturally I came as quickly as I could." Her voice was more menacing than either had ever heard as she materialized a massive war hammer and held it in ready position with her magic.

"Did you read the whole letter? I told you it wasn't an emergency. I gave a whole explanation of what was happening." Twilight was definitely taken aback at this. Even more so as Celestia now turned to brandish the hammer at her.

"Yes, and I'm sure Chrysalis tried her best to make you sound convincing. Rest assured, I'll undo whatever she's done to you just as soon as I'm done with...."

Both Alicorn stopped as a black figure came into both their views. Between them, Chrysalis stood, seemingly in defense of Twilight.

"What is going on here?" Celestia bellowed.

"Chrysalis, I told you to stay in bed." Twilight was shocked and concerned.

Chrysalis stood in a low fighting stance as if ready to attack the elder alicorn. However, as she spoke it was through obvious pain that showed she was in no state to do so. "Do you think I'd be defending you of my own free will?"

"Twilight! What is going on here!?" Celestia demanded again.

The changeling once again felt Twilight's chaotic emotions seemingly be physically wrangled by the mare. With sudden clarity, Twilight attempted to calm the situation as quickly as possible. "Chrysalis, why are you defending me right now? Tell me honestly, and say it so that Princess Celestia can hear you."

Chrysalis winced, lowering her gaze and attempting to address anyone but Twilight at the moment. "The duty of any, lower, changeling is the subservience to and defense of the queen. If they sense any mortal distress from their queen, it is a changeling's duty to come to their defense, no matter the circumstance."

"Do I seem like I'm in distress at this moment?" Chrysalis didn't answer, she only looked up to focus on the hammer twice her body length still floating menacingly above them.

Celestia seemed to be struggling with what she was seeing. Hesitantly, she took a step back. Her horn glowed brighter and both her armor and hammer popped out of existence. "I'll admit, I only skimmed the rest of the letter after learning Chrysalis had come back with you from the badlands. Forgive me Twilight, but I've been on edge since my scouts lost track of you and your friends. Please, tell me what happened. In full detail, so I know how to respond to this more properly."

Celestia's tone was measured, showing no emotion whatsoever. Even though it was off putting to Twilight, she brushed that aside knowing she had a more dire situation to deal with. "See. I was taken aback, but the princess isn't a threat. I'm safe, Chrysalis."

Chrysalis winced as she knew what was coming. Whatever the changeling equivalent of adrenaline was that currently forced her to ignore her own pain cut off abruptly. Despite knowing it would happen, Chrysalis couldn't help the thrum that escaped her throat. She crumpled to the floor as the pain she'd woken up with was now back in full force.

Almost as quickly as her injuries came back to her, they were beaten back again. She noticed a lavender aura surrounding her once more. It didn't seem to make her chitin shudder the way it had the first time as Twilight apparently cast the same pain relief spell as before upon her. She felt herself once again being gently lifted and placed on the bed.

"Please don't get out of bed again. This spell can only be cast twice a day without it being a potential health risk."

"Don't pity me, pony."

Anger attempted to flare up in Twilight's emotions. Chrysalis was puzzled as she seemed to force it back. "It's not pity. I'm showing concern to somepony who is under my care. And at some point, I'm going to get you to understand that."

"You're a fool if you think I'd ever fall for that." Chrysalis winced as her head was lifted, but she suppressed a sneer as she realized Twilight was only placing a pillow beneath it.

Chrysalis noticed Celestia approach behind Twilight. The elder princess seemed to tilt her head in confusion at the interaction. Even more so as Twilight's aura now enveloped the blankets and wrapped them around the disgraced queen with the utmost care. She fully stepped to the side to watch Twilight's face as she began to speak.

"This isn't an order, but I want you to rest. Once you are feeling better, I promise we are going to do all we can for you and your change..." A confusing swirl of emotions seemed to stop Twilight's thought. Despite this, she continued hesitantly. "For our changelings."

An emotion Chrysalis had never felt before now came from Twilight. Despite her hesitation, after getting a taste Chrysalis felt herself feeding on it more. Whatever it was, it seemed to have a remarkable calming effect on her. She felt her eyes fluttering as exhaustion caused from her pain finally caught up with her.

Celestia now stared at Twilight with undisguised scrutiny. "Twilight... are you..."

That was the last Chrysalis remembered before the most relaxing sleep she'd ever felt came over her.

Author's Note

Three hours until the date of publishing, and only now finishing the first full edit. I 100% can't guarantee the next chapter will be on time, but I'd imagine it will be easier than this chapter. This is the infamous chapter that kept me from starting this stories publication a long time ago. I just couldn't resolve the meta narrative conflict I was having with trying to write an angry Chrysalis, with a Chrysalis that is stuck in bed. More edits will come, and the name of the chapter might even be changed again. But none of that is so bad that it won't be published some time tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your amazing comments that have helped give me the creative push to continue working on this story.