Chrysalis waited with bated breath for the princess of the moon to show; but, sadly, no one would save her from this waking nightmare.

She sat across from someone she was very familiar with. After all, she had spent some time with him... as someone else.

Shining Armor glared at her with silent fury, anger coming off him in waves like heat from a kirin. He meant her no direct harm, but somehow this was worse. She couldn't stand it. She opened her mouth to speak before being interrupted.

"So, you've been spending and awful lot of time with my wife." He growled. She rolled her eyes.

"So what if I have? Jealousy isn't a good look for you, mon armure." She chided. He grew angrier but softer.

"Don't... Call me that. That's what you called my when you... pretended... to be my wife?? And nearly ruined our wedding? For what, some kind of plot??"

"I'll admit my ambitions did come at the cost of you people... In theory.. But I did everything I had to do for my own." She stated calmly.

"You..." He held his head like he was getting a headache. "You get to be the one who decides one group of creatures deserve happiness over many more all of a sudden?? That kind of behavior is why Equestria was under attack by windigos!"

She looked around the room they were in. The waiting area outside of the meeting hall.. Normally, Shining joined his wife for meetings, but he had been busy with guard duty, preparing for the worst of a crystal winter.

"I'm not trying to take your wife away, Shining. She approaches me willingly, for some... unknowable reason. I don't know how you got this idea in your head."

There was a tiny flicker of amusement, which was weird. It was quickly drowned in annoyance.

"I don't know, why should I trust you? Literally all I've known you to do is lie!"

"Touché," she sighed. "It's in your best interest not to. Doing so would be strategically unwise." She concluded. He let out a tired sigh.

"Was... Anything.. That happened with us real?"

"That's probably not a question you should ask. It's not going to give you good results."

"Answer me.. If I have to look at you each day, I need closure."

She sighed and began.

"Well, most compliments I gave you were true. It's much easier to give a genuine compliment over something minor than to completely lie about it. It makes the actual deception easier if they have reasons to trust you."

"Of course it does." He grumbled. She met it with an eye roll.

"I suppose, if it makes you feel better you're a great kisser. Actually earning one of those from you must make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world! You're agreeable too. Masculine without being annoying about it. Your nerdy side keeps that in check. It's endearing."

Why the fuck did she say all that?

"Glad you found joy in lying to me."

"See this is what I mean, mon armure. Anything I say is just going to make it worse for you. By pony ethics my actions are not widely accepted."

There was a pause before he spoke up again.

"Are you even sorry?" And she thought about that.

"Honestly, until a while ago, no. I saw it as doing what I had to for the creatures I protect. You're a guard, you have to think about the safety of the populace quite a bit. Have you ever entered that state where nothing matters except your objectives?"

He didn't answer, but his face gave her the answer she needed.

"It was the same for me. It... was fun, though. I enjoyed feeling cherished for awhile. I received adoration from my hive, but it was much different than what we had going on."

"You never answered my question. Are you sorry?"

"Yeah... I suppose I am. My bugs often report missing their marks when their cover is blown, and I understand that feeling as well after what happened that day. Are you happy now, Shining Armor? You had a positive effect on my existence, under the false pretenses of doing the same for your spouse."

"I don't know, Chrysalis," he sighed. "I'm not sure if you enjoying my company makes it better or worse."

"This is going to make me puke... but I'll say it anyways. We can start again on real terms. Actually-get-to-know-me kind of thing. Everycreature seems to want to know more about me these days." She sighed and he let out a little chuckle.

"Yup. Welcome to having friends."

"I already hate it here."

"Which is why you offered it to me?" he retorted with a hint of humor. She sighed.

"Right, if you're not going to be annoying about it you're welcome to join us on our walk. Surely that will assuage your woes."

"I'm already over it. No one can replace me. I'm one of a kind." She shook her head. The sound of the meeting concluding could be heard, scattered voices suddenly a cacophony. She smiled.

"Finally. I have been eagerly awaiting these activities.."

Shining laughed at her, to her confusion.

"Wow she was right about you.. That's cute." Fury struck her.

"I am not cute! Right about what??"

"For someone who can read emotions you sure can't read your own." He scolded with a pleased tone.

"What in the pits of Tartarus is that meant to mean?" But Shining just gave her a shrug and a winning smile.

"Forgiveness is going to take time, you know. But if you're willing to start being sorry I'm willing to start forgiving you. Maybe we'll make it together."

Together?

"Maybe." She concluded.

And when that, the doors swung open, not any louder than usual but still deafening, stifling any further discourse.

Author's Note

We're using a skullgirl's track for this chapter's title. A lovely use of one for the second time.

my editor got sick but I do have another update already edited from them. As such it shouldn't slow our weekly progress