"Hide her well, deep down in the Crystal Caves. There isn't enough time to bring her back to the hive unnoticed," Queen Chrysalis commanded her subjects. "Conceal yourselves from the ponies until the shield is broken. Do not disappoint me, my children. Too much is at stake..."
The two drones bowed deeply before dragging away their royal victim, who had been taken by surprise in the early morning hours, only days before the planned marriage was to take place in the castle.
It was all up to the queen from there onwards. The changeling group of three had managed to infiltrate Canterlot undiscovered before the protective dome had been brought up by the groom, Captain Shining Armor. For the rest of the plan, the queen would be acting on her own, taking the place of Cadance, the bride.
She watched the green pod with Princess Mi Amore Cadenza disappear around the corner. The two drones that had been accompanying her until now had proven themselves countless times before to the hive. Only the best and most loyal were good enough for the task at hoof.
They made her so proud. A promotion in their ranks would be in order once they had taken over Canterlot successfully. She was in dire need of more strong leaders for the upcoming future as the hive had suffered greatly during the long-lasting famine. Their numbers had declined noticeably.
But it would all end very soon, she swore to herself as she turned around, back into the room where they had overwhelmed the princess moments ago. Her children deserved so much better. It was a last ditch attempt to avert extinction of their species. Failure was not an option.
Queen Crysalis looked around the colorful room. It was apparent that a fight had taken place recently. The room was in a total mess, riddled with letters, gifts, and flowers the bride must have received after they had spread the word of their upcoming marriage, sent from all over Equestria.
The room held strong emotions and the bug could feel her hunger draining away as soon as she stood between the objects that were lying around her. There was so much love for the princess in them, it made her shiver visibly.
As she stood there in the middle of the room, which was lit by a beam of sunshine from the rising sun, she took a letter with her magic and read its contents. Queen Crysalis needed to gather as much information as possible before the act, after all.
Sweetie,
Falling in love with you has been the best thing in my whole life. I still wonder how such a beautiful, loving, and caring mare can love somepony like me. I think I am just the luckiest stallion alive. I promise to always be there for you, to keep you happy and smiling.
Yours lovingly,
Shiny
Queen Crysalis took a moment to indulge in the love the words carried. But it left a strange aftertaste on her. Not further thinking about it, she tore the letter in two.
After going through more letters from family, friends and acquaintances, she held a small bouquet of roses to her nostrils that lay on the side of the chaos. The smell was incredible.
A little note was attached to it saying, 'Your wedding day will come and go, but may your love forever grow.' There was no sender on this one.
She bit off one of the flower heads. It tasted like a praline filled with liquid love. A shiver went down her spine again. It's been a while since she had feasted on love this good.
"How?" The Queen asked herself aloud. "Why do they give each other love so freely, I don't understand... What do they see in marriage?"
Revitalized by it all, she opened one of the many gifts. It was filled to the brim with an abundance of different colored crystals, all in the shape of little hearts. Likely a tribute to the Crystal Heart and the cutie mark of the princess.
They were absolutely beautiful. Crysalis had to smile brightly as she looked at the stones glittering in the sunlight, before realizing that they weren't meant for her.
Crysalis had never received a gift in her entire life. She hung her head a bit at the thought. Some sort of strange weakness overcame her body and she had to sit down for a moment.
As she sat down on a big pillow in the shape of a heart, yet another shiver went through her spine, as it was the most comfortable thing she had ever sat on. It was likely hoofmade and true bliss compared to the rock-hard surfaces of the hive she was used to.
It felt as if she was sitting on the manifestation of love itself.
That was the final straw that made her lose her composure. She started chattering with her teeth uncontrollably, pupils turning to dots, and her instincts took over.
In a swift motion and with buzzing wings, she turned around and held the pillow in a tight hug, biting the heart furiously over and over with her fangs, almost as if she was trying to end it. Cotton-filling soon started to pile around her, only adding to the mess in the room.
Queen Crysalis was so distracted by her little escapade that she almost didn't notice the hoofsteps approaching until the very last moment.
A green flash illuminated the room just before the Captain of the Royal Guard turned around the corner and into the room.
"Cadance? Sweetie? ...What are you doing?" Shining Armor asked bewildered as he saw his love on the ground, having the heart-shaped pillow in a tight hug, bite marks all over it.
"Oh, hello, my love! I..." Chrysalis took a moment to think of an answer. "I'm practicing," she said with a devious smile.
"Practicing?" Shining Armor was even more confused now. "For what?"
Chrysalis gave him the naughty bedroom eyes. "Well, for our upcoming wedding-night, of course!"
The face of the captain turned red. "Oh! I leave you to it then! Can't wait!" He trotted away at the speed of light.
"Me neither..." Chrysalis whispered into the room and bit deep into the pillow one last time for good measure.
