Author's Note

This Chapter took a while to get out not only because I have a full time job and also do work over the weekends on top of moving, but because a friend of mine has agreed to help by leaving me notes on the chapters before I publish. If you go back to the first two you'll see they've been edited a bit to be cleaner and use proper typed English. I hope that while they'll be slow coming that you'll still enjoy reading these. And please do comment your thoughts, especially if you notice a mistake that my friend didn't. I will be happy to fix any mistakes you find.

3

“I would rather see you broken beneath my hooves before I hear you apologize,” Chrysalis said, eliciting a gasp from the “Cuckoo” before her. “Are you the one that I tried to communicate with earlier?” she asked.

“Um, I think so?” the 'Cuckoo' said. “It felt very strange. I wasn't sure it was real.”

“Do you not communicate that way? Has it been taught out of you?” Chrysalis asked, disgusted.

“Eep! Look, I just wanted to apologize about how-”

“I couldn't give a damn about what you want or your apology and I'd like you to leave. I need to rest. I'm sure if you really want an apology, that purple alicorn on the throne would be happy to accept it in my place. I'm under her care after all.” Chrysalis said with a grumble.

The Cuckoo looked her over for a bit, getting too close for Chrysalis' comfort.

“I'm sure that you aren't welcome here,” Chrysalis said. “One word from me and I can have you meet face to face with your monarch.”

“Okay, I'll leave,” said the Cuckoo, flying down to the ground. “It's just, you're so strange! Oh wait that's rude, I'm sor- I mean, You're sleeping in the corner of the ceiling, and you don't look like any creature I know.”

“I am Queen Chrysalis.” she said mustering as much authority as she could without moving. She was nestled into the wall now, stuck there, her neck rotated around. And while she could maintain that position for a very long time, it was uncomfortable to speak with her neck in such a position. “Ruler of the changelings, and future ruler of Equestria!”

The Cuckoo made a snort of acknowledgment and said, “Yeah sure, and I'm the terrible Jabwachital of the Kurshin clan,” before leaving.

Chrysalis knew that the creature didn't believe her and spouted what it believed to be equally as crazy nonsense back. Was that really what she had become now? She had to start over all over again? She couldn't recall in precise detail when she had stopped seeing casual passerbys that weren't the gardeners when she was imprisoned. That part of the garden must have been closed off at some point if she wasn't even recognized.

In a good way, no one knew who she was. No one would assume she would try and destroy them all.

-

Chrysalis was forcibly awoken by the same grey guard that she had seen at the party last night. He would have made a good changeling, Chrysalis thought. He had no flare to his orders, carried them out word for word, and didn't frighten when Chrysalis attempted to scare him. He repeated that he was sent to summon Chrysalis to the throne room for breakfast.

Twilight hadn't invited Chrysalis to actual breakfast. Instead she had a place for her next to the throne, a cushion. Chrysalis raised hell for a moment before Twilight explained that this wasn't meant to be a status symbol, rather, a feeding chair. Twilight would be seeing ponies today that Chrysalis could feed on as long as she didn't “overdue it”.

Three hours passed until ten in the morning came and Twilight said they were done for the moment.

“It is a shame to end this so early.” Chrysalis said, feeling smug from her feeding. “I was getting used to this steady stream of food you brought me. Shall I be getting a proper meal like this every morning?”

Twilight chuckled. “I suppose you can think of it as breakfast. I simply wanted someone there beside me so that it wouldn't be as boring as it usually is. Watching you eat has also been rather educational.”

“Educational?” Chrysalis mused. “I suppose you do seem to be irritatingly focused on details. And you could learn a great deal from me.”

“Yes, I could. For example, your teeth near the front are sharp but closer to the back they flatten out. Which gives a few ideas to the physical food you eat.” Twilight then narrowed her brows. “Although it wasn't very nice of you to do that to that poor farmer, she nearly fainted. Did you have to do that?”

Chrysalis smiled to herself as she recalled the yellow pony that had been rudely staring at her with narrowed eyes. The pony was obviously trying to see if she was a threat or not and would have made some comment about her if she hadn't scared her first. It was premature to defend herself like that, but it was necessary to avoid any ill words about her.

“You don't have much of an image to ruin at the moment so I guess it isn't too much of a problem for you. But it could prove to cause me problems later.” Twilight mused.

“Encouraging words all around,” Chrysalis hummed.

“I suppose it can't be helped.”

Twilight told Chrysalis that she had some things to attend to and to meet up with her for lunch. An odd strategy, Chrysalis thought, letting her wander on her own. No doubt she was being watched, and planned her moves carefully. She would scout around, and when mid-day came she would simply teleport back for lunch. She had eaten enough love that she was confident in using more basic magics with ease.

She hadn't gotten as much rest last night as she had hoped. There was that Cuckoo that followed her last night and troubled her sleep. Could she have become so disgusting if she had given into Starlight when she was offered the olive branch? Perish the thought, she would never have given into Starlight or friendship no matter the outcome.

Chrysalis held her head high and headed straight for the front doors of the castle. She was surprised that no one stopped her or even paid her too much mind. She could still taste the apprehension of the ponies around her as they worked. A chef had passed her with glaring eyes, not because he was offended at the sight of her, but because he wasn't informed what to cook for her.

By the time Chrysalis reached the front doors they were already beginning to open, and she had gained a traveling companion. It was that grey guard pony that was good at his job. Chrysalis said nothing to the guard and continued on aware of his presence but with no reaction. She could taste the satisfaction of this from him. He would have made a good changeling – he was very focused on his job and nothing else. Chrysalis considered asking Twilight for him later – she might not say no if the guard had no issues with it.

She walked through the palace front garden, through the front gates, and into the streets of Canterlot. Shops manned by creatures of all kinds doing business and rushing to get things done. Chrysalis had never paid mind to pony holidays but she had imagined the days following to be calmer than the days before.

Fingerprint Shield trotted closer and in front of Chrysalis, making sure that her path would be unblocked.

Chrysalis, thinking of how to have a little fun, shifted into the guards form. He had been looking forward and hadn't noticed the shift. She had only heard him speak once to announce Twilight and mimicked the same words with perfect clarity.

The crowd around them turned their heads and looked around for a few seconds before turning back to their business, imagining it just a prank. The guard didn't budge. Yes, she would ask Twilight for this one. As much as she hated ponies and the friendship they stood for she could recognize a useful drone when she saw one.

“Well look at you!” a blue salespony in a tweed jacket said as she got up close to Chrysalis. The guard successfully got between the two before they got too close. The salespony didn't take notice of the guard, no doubt used to guards and the like being background noise for the eyes. “Tall dark and handsome! You know it's a shame you haven't got any clothes on! For some that's a plus, but I can tell you that with a dress from our shop you'll be the highlight of the town!”

“Highlight? She'd be the main attraction!” a white Minotaur said from behind the blue pony. “I can assure you anything from our store, be it a hat, tie, coat, or even socks if you have a special some creature, will capture eyes from Equestria and beyond.”

“Come on down to our store and we'll get you fitted, we can even offer a discount if you buy more than three items.” the blue salespony said.

Chrysalis had worn plenty of dresses throughout her years, often as offerings, or for ceremonies where her children insisted she look more grand than usual. That was more than a thousand years ago. clothes had never suited her, and always tore at her joints where the chitin pinched.

Chrysalis lit her horn and she engulfed herself with her magic, recalling one of the dresses she had been made to wear.

At first the two had been shocked by the green flames and look concerned. It was still funny how creatures never change when they see flames, and she appreciated the connection to the destruction it could cause. Then upon seeing her unharmed and in a dress the two sighed.

“You know, Cuckoos usually tend to stay out of sight if they don't want to be sold to.” the Minotaur said.

“What's the big idea being seen anyway? You should just stick to being invisible.” The salespony grumbled as the Minotaur picked it up and placed her on it's shoulders to leave.

Chrysalis was unsure what had just happened. Sure she had intended to get them out of her way, but she was hoping to at least get a word in. She was going to mention how she didn't need their service, that a queen deserves better than what some hacks could give her, to make her status known publicly.

The town looked useless from a strategy perspective. No doubt love was in high supply here, but it was too crowded with stress and work. It didn't resemble a good place for a battle either. Compared to the castle, the buildings seemed very out of place.

None of them were falling down, but none of them were built to be grand, or beautiful – they were all made for the interest of businesses. Chrysalis couldn't understand that. After hundreds of years of the Princess of Friendship running things there was still a rat race for profit. The hive never partook in such things, they only needed to serve her and that was going to be enough one way or the other.

That reaction she had gotten from the salepony brought a good idea to mind. She should take on a disguise until she was ready to announce herself. But to her surprise she didn't need one, as those two proved.

She set her head high, and started walking down the street, the guard walking close to her keeping her path clear. She had picked a direction and would go there until she had to stop or until the end of the city. Nothing she saw was of any value anyway. The high density of creatures she passed only reminded her of Twilight's current prowess. She would have a much harder time than she imagined taking Twilight down. With Celestia, god she may have been, it only took one blast from her with a full stomach to incapacitate her.

She needed intel, and a way to get it.