Author's Note

Normally two books is the limit but I thought about this story and I was super excited to write it that I couldn't simply wait.

Hope you too you enjoy this story as I did enjoy writing this.

Edit: Sorry for the stupid spelling mistakes. Forgot to proofread this before publishing. Rookie mistake.

Fixing them right now. Refresh the page sometime soon and you'll see the mistakes being fixed.

Hesitant Beginnings

Chrysalis truly felt like a queen now.

She stared down at Throax, she felt raw satisfaction rise as she saw the changeling, who betrayed her for seeking out friendship, shake in fear at her presence. His whole life was dependent on her.

But he wasn't alone, in fact he brought along friends, somehow: a blue pony, which she didn't know the name of, nor will she care too; Discord, the Lord of Chaos, or at least he used to be.

And the most notable of all, Starlight Glimmer, Twilight's student. Chrysalis suspected her to be the leader of the group. She used Thorax as a distraction to get Chrysalis's attention when he was disguised as her. But her plan failed miserably with her attempt to destroy the throne with a tiny plain rock. She even laughed at the fact that she thought that something that small would destroy a big throne like hers.

Chrysalis had to admit that she did feel disappointed that Discord was part of that stupid rescue mission. The Lord of Chaos was a creature like no other. And she will admit that she did admire him. But the admiration died away when she heard that friendship corrupted him seemingly for good. However, she didn't believe the news until she saw it with her own eyes, which she did.

She levitated Thorax off the ground, while making a remark at the lilac pony that was being blocked by her guards.

"Just as soon as I drain every last ounce of love from him and show my subjects what a real leader is!" Chrysalis gave Starlight a snarky look. She enjoyed the fact that not only will she have payback on Throax, but she also enjoyed the feeling of Starlight's desperate gaze fixed on her. She really was useless in this situation, thanks to the ancient dark stone that surronded the hive.

She whipped her head to face Thorax and she opened her mouth to suck the love out of him. A pink beam was starting to come out of Thorax. Inside, Chrysalis was thrilled to finally have a decent meal. And one from a traitor is even better!

"I can feel the love inside me slipping away...!" Thorax said, his voice was strained from pain and exhaustion. "I can't hold onto it much longer...!"

Chrysalis darted her eyes to see her other, loyal changelings. Half of them were cheering for Chrysalis, while others stared at the scene with uncomfortable expressions.

Take a good look. This is what happens when you betray your hive, and most importantly, how you betray me! Chrysalis thought bitterly. She did have her suspicions that the other changelings would soon follow a similar path as Thorax, although she didn't really see any proof or signs of them wanting to leave, but she was aware of it just in case. Now after seeing this moment, they won't even think about leaving her. Or if they did, they wouldn't even think about returning back.

"Then don't!" Chrysalis heard Starlight's protest in the background. Didn't she know that it was game over for them? "Sharing love is what made you different to begin with! You should share yours with Chrysalis! Give her all of it!"

If it weren't for the fact that she was sucking the love out of Thorax, she would've been laughing a bit harder than usual. Was she really that pitiful that there was a way that Thorax would "give" love to her? Wouldn't that make her more stronger? Shows that in times of crisis, ponies are very dumb.

But then Thorax immediately gave in, and forcefully gave the love he had inside to Chrysalis. But it was stronger than she would even suspect. It was that the pink beam suddenly turned into giant soundwaves that was strong enough to knock back Chrysalis and slam her to her throne.

She lifted up her head, and gazed at Thorax in fear, an emotion that she thought she would never feel for a long time. Especially if its about Thorax.

Her suspicions were immediately on Starlight. She must have planned this this whole time. But she saw that even she was stunned by Thorax's transformation, and she could tell that she was not faking it.

Afterwards, Thorax was now inside a cocoon. The changelings that were guarding Starlight were too amazed by the sight that they eventually let her go. Chrysalis was so stunned by the sight that she didn't even stop her. The pony walked up to the crystal, and when she lightly touched it with her hoof, the cocoon began to crack, and a bright light was shown.

After being blinded for a moment, Chrysalis rubbed her eyes and saw Thorax taking an entirely new form, with green skin and having big purple horns. Everyone looked at him in awe.

What kind of dark magic is this? Chrysalis thought, still too stunned to speak.

Starlight turned to face the rest of the Changelings. "This is what happens when you give love freely instead of taking it!"

After a few moments of hesitation, the changelings finally gave in and started to beam out the same pink light like what Thorax did. Then one by one, every changeling did the same thing. Chrysalis couldn't believe that this was happening in front of her own eyes. Was this even real?

She heard rumbling beneath her hooves. Her throne was starting to crack, but strangely, the cracks were pink. She still remained where she was, her hooves were glued to the ground.

Afterwards, a big explosion erupted in the throne room, causing Chrysalis to knock to the ground, with rocks tumbling onto her.

Chrysalis opened her eyes. She was still on the floor, but the rocks were still on top of her body. She could hear friendly murmuring from where she was. Although it was hard to hear due to the rocks.

Chrysalis couldn't believe it. Being defeated by love? How stupid can that possibly get?

Wanting to make her presence known, Chrysalis tried her best to get up, and when she did, her horn glowed a green colored aura, and when the rocks were off of her body, she let out a hiss to the ponies that she assumed was in that direction.

But her horn stopped glowing, and her expression changed when she saw The Mane 6, The Royal Sisters, Cadence, Shining Armor, Flurry Heart, the rest of Starlight's group, all stared at her with narrowed eyes. Their horns started glowing. While the rest of her former followers just gave her angry looks.

To her surprise, the only one who didn't look angry was Starlight. Chrysalis was confused. Was she showing pity for her? Why?

Chrysalis stared at the ground, not knowing what to do. She usually has a plan when it comes to certain situations, but this is of of those rare moments where she was lost. She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice Starlight calmly walk up to her. She just stared at her, too exhausted to hiss furthermore.

"When Twilight and her friends defeated me," Starlight said after looking at the changeling for a brief moment. "I chose to run away and seek revenge. You don't have to!"

Chrysalis still had the same expression, but doubt rose in her. There was no way that she knew the feeling of wanting revenge, or at least to Chrysalis's standards.

"You can be the leader your subjects deserve." Starlight finished her speech, but then placed a hoof out to Chrysalis.

She stared at her hoof for a brief moment. Her soft expression quickly turned to anger and shoved her hoof away "Do you expect me to lead traitors?"

Starlight still remained calm. "No, but you have a chance to improve your life."

"My life doesn't need improving." Chrysalis spat.

"Believe me, it does." Chrysalis could see a tiny bit of annoyance in Starlight's eyes. "Look, whatever you chose to do next is all up to you. If you don't want to be ruler, then Thorax will be the new leader of the hive." She pointed at Thorax, who nodded in agreement. "But don't throw away your life away for revenge. Just trust me when I tell you that."

Chrysalis rolled her eyes. "And what do you expect me to do next?"

"Well, you don't want to starve, do you?"

Chrysalis was a little startled by Starlight's question. "No..?"

"If you don't want to be leader, and unless you want to starve, you can always go on a revenge mission. But there is another option."

"What's that?"

"Friendship." Starlight sighed.

"FRIENDSHIP?" Chrysalis finally hissed. "I'd rather starve."

But Starlight simply just shrugged. "If you want. Its your choice whether you want too or not, but I strongly suggest you take my advice."

"She does make a good point." A new voice came in. Celestia stood over Chrysalis, with Cadence, Shining Armor, and most of the changelings surrounded her. "But if you do choose to escape, me, Cadence, and Shining Armor will put you in the dungeons of Canterlot if you even think about escaping."

While Chrysalis wouldn't care about the dungeon either, she would still miss the freedom and the nature that was around her. She would hate to be locked up in a prison cell for the rest of her life.

"So? What's it going to be?" Shining Armor asked her, bitterness was edged into his tone.

Chrysalis looked around. She really was surrounded by the ponies and of course, the traitors. Starlight looked a little hesitant, as if this was a little bit too much. You and me both. But seeing that she has no other options, she had no choice.

"FINE!" Chrysalis shouted. "I'll do this stupid friendship thing."

"Excellent!" Celestia looked surprised, but had a pleased expression. "I'll talk to Twilight about what she would do with you."

"Why her?"

"Because, if she agrees, then you could be her second pupil." Celestia told her. "Oh, and if you're thinking about trying to escape..." She teleported a round chain to her and placed it on Chrysalis's horn.

"What's this?"

"Its a magic blocker. So you can't use your magic to escape."

"Oh come on!" Chrysalis groaned.

She watched as Celestia discussed with Twilight far away from her, and soon Twilight went to the Mane 5 and Starlight. They all nodded in agreement.

Soon Twilight and Starlight walked up to the changeling.

"We have decided that you'll be under my guide and teach you about friendship. Under close watch, that is." Twilight informed her.

Great, being taught by my greatest enemies. Chrysalis thought with a groan. As if my defeat wouldn't be this humiliating!

The thought of being in a dungeon suddenly sounded good to her.