Author's Note

Track title is from skullgirls this time.. This is a long one huh?

This chapter had to have sections of it rewritten three times! Normal I get in a flow and then send my first draft to my editor, but I wasn't satisfied. Hopefully the extra effort was worth it!

The lives we tried to reclaim

Chrysalis was pretty sure she didn't have a heart, but there was a burning in the place where it was meant to be.

For long she had struggled with the infernal organ, but now she was giving into the whims of something she wasn't sure she even had. They had taken her to the air. The train was nice, but not fast enough. She needed to end this now.

Her wings buzzed like a hummingbird, but she wasn't satisfied. A quick adjustment, and two massive, birdlike wings grew to carry her to her unlikely goal. Why the hell was she doing this? She wondered if maybe she had been tricked or cursed. But, the fire kept burning. So she stayed the course.

This wasn't nearly fast enough. Huge wings would give her a quick burst of speed, but tire her out soon. She shifted again to something akin to an arrow: The windstream falcon. A magical bird which had the power to change the flow of wind just around it's tiny body. The peregrine falcon would be faster, but in this headwind she thought this the wiser choice.

The first sign she was getting closer was the snow eating at her feathered body. She had thought she was hardened by the Empire, but truth was, the magic around the place kept it much more bearable. Here she could feel it seeping into her hollow bones, but her fire still raged.

Over the horizon, she could see her destination. The palace shot up like impossible spires of ice in the snow wastes. She put everything she had into it.

The place was finally closing in... Only, stopping was proving difficult. It was going to be a rough landing. She quickly scanned over the windows. There! In one, there was that annoying pink mare, and her equally annoying spouse, who gave her this curse. She shot through the window and...

"I hope she's getting along well over there." Cadance paced around the lavish interior.

"Honey, it's only been a few days," Shining Armor reassured her, playing with their young daughter. "Besides, she's tough as h- ..heck. Boy, I gotta watch what words I use..."

"If you teach our daughter any swears, I'm putting you in the dungeon." She smirked and gently bonked him on the head with a hoof.

"Ack! Assault! Help me, Flurry Heart! Oh my stars!"

The tiny alicorn giggled and blew a raspberry at her mother, who began stalking around the room as a pretend-monster for a bit until the group sat down to relax.

"... Shining, do you actually like her? We don't need to do this. Don't force yourself into stuff for me. Chrysalis is tough, and if we shoot her down she'll..." Shining cut through her small panic.

"Relax.. Like I said, if she ever actually figures that out, we'll give it a shot. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. We gotta think about ourselves and our daughter." He lightly tickled the small creature on the belly, much to her amusement. "Would be nice to have another set of hooves helping anyways," he concluded.

That was true. Cadance assumed she had to at least know something about children. After all, she raised a whole hive. Cadance amused herself thinking of Chryssy looking motherly and doting. She was so cute.

When she first detected the changeling was falling for her, she was shocked. More so that they didn't even seem to realize. As princess of Love it was her power to visually see love between groups of creatures. If she focused she could see the bonds between her small family in this very room.

As it went on, she decided to simply throw caution to the wind and try it. Chrysalis was surprisingly agreeable, funny, snarky, and even caring. She was so proud of how far the bug had come already. To help matters, there was a beauty in her slender frame, like a sculpture or a work of art, twisted and strange but intriguing.

This worried her.

She had immediately gone to Shining to explain what was going on. Shining was... combative. He was open to the idea with anyone BUT her. However, after his little talk, things had kind of gotten better. He had seen the good she saw in the former queen when they first started staying at the castle.

If things didn't work out, at least she knew she had a real friend in her. She had far too few of those. Twilight was usually busy. She supposed Sunburst counted. He was a good sort, and their usual babysitter of choice. She should make time to simply visit with them at some point. Who else was there...?

It was at this moment Chrysalis came flying through the window like a knife through her thoughts, cutting them down. A child's scream, a crash, and a groan from a once-bird, now bug. She rushed to the side of the loved one who was currently injured.

Chrysalis shook off the pain and weariness from her small accident, only to see Cadance, already fussing over her. Flurry Heart had already calmed down. That child was so empathetic it was scary. Shining had set her down to rush to her side as well.

"My humble apologies for the rough landing."

She gave the trio a grin. Cadance gave her a surprsingly grouchy look, even for the moment at hand. She turned to her spouse.

"Darling, she's absolutely freezing, get her a blanket!" The concern rang out in her voice.

Chrysalis hadn't yet had the sheer cold hit her, but she was becoming increasingly aware her body shook like a leaf in a storm. The pink princess fussed over her, looking her up and down for injuries.

Cadance had half a mind to give her a quick rap on the head. Saying something so callous when she was clearly in terrible shape! Shining returned with the blanket, and she helped him fold her up in the soft material. That wouldn't do. She was... so unreadable. Those beautiful eyes were jade veils, hiding the truth in plain sight. Years of keeping it all in. Maybe she could even relate.

"I'm going to fetch you some hot chocolate," she decided. "You look like you're going to go into shock if we're not careful."

Chrysalis rolled her eyes at this.

"It's hardly that bad. I simply made some minor miscalculations."

Fury wrapped the princess and Chrysalis looked on in confusion. Why the hell was she mad now?? But she knew the answer. That tiny tinge of concern. She could feel it from Shining too.

"Fine, if you reaaaaaally don't want a hot chocolate." The snark. That was the Cadance she grew to...

Appreciate. Chrysalis let herself laugh.

"Fine, fine. I can't say no twice. Go on." She made a dismissive gesture, trying to look stoic outside; inside she felt like she had BECOME ice.

Cadance gave her a little smug smile and trotted off. She didn't want to see her go, but turning to her side she felt... relief. Shining was still there. For her. The real her. After all this time. She grumpily leaned into the pony, purely for body heat of course.

Cadance watched the two move in and smiled. She could hear soft chatter coming from them. Descending the stairs, she went to a small kitchen, one designed for personal use. The mundane task of preparing a drink could ill distract her from what was really on her mind. Chrysalis. And not just because of her current injuries. She had this heavy feeling in her heart. She knew it well even if she didn't want to acknowlege it. Did Chrysalis make such an insane journey simply to see them? For what reason? She couldn't dare answer her own question. She sat and watched the pot boil, beginning to pace.

Shining was giving Chrysalis that annoying, smug look, but it wasn't distracting from the heavy feeling in her heart. God, how she hated that foul thing. Constantly giving her strange sensations. She had to come to terms, however, with the fact that she now knew why.

Instead, she decided to tease shinning.

"What on equestria is that look for Mi Amore? Did you suffer a sudden injury as well?"

"Nope. Juuuuusst happy to see my favorite bug. You know, even Flurry Heart missed you."

She doubted that.

"I wasn't gone for that long, you fool..." She pointed out bluntly.

"That's what I tried to tell Cadance! But she was still fussing over you. Guess you leave a positive impact, you old grump-bug." He elbowed her gently. Ugh. That annoying sense of humor. Stupid charming Shining. Still, once again, his words dug into her. Why was Cadance so worried for her? She must know she could take care of herself quite well. Maybe she thought she'd start a fight? Or maybe...

No. She dare not answer her own question. The answer, she was simply not willing to accept.

She was saved from her comfortable hell when a small vision of pink entered her view.

Cadance opened the doorway and smiled at the sight of the two, now three, in a pile. The bug was shaking much less, which was a good sign. She set the tray gently down, and carefully handed out the hot beverages. She plopped herself down dirrectly on the other side of the bug, gently moving Flurry Heart to make room. The foal now sat peacefully on her lap. Even with her unreadable expressions, Cadance imagined the former queen grumpily but happily accepting this embrace. It made her chuckle. Chrysalis rolled her eyes at her and looked away, but there wasn't anywhere to look but at Shining, and that was no help.

"Drink your hot chocolate, dear." She gave the bug a winning smile.

Chrysalis took a sip. She was really starting to be a fan of this hot chocolate. And the love coming off this one...well it nearly made her spit it out. Surely this was only her imagination. But her minor discomfort was interupted.

Cadance knew it was time.

"Why did you even make such a dangerous trip?"

Cadance looked her in the eyes, attempting to radiate the soft care she felt for her on the inside, outside. The bug looked uncomfortable in her gaze. Had she been right all along?

"The hive and I are both fine. I simply... had a message which couldn't wait."

Chrysalis hated that look in her eyes. The concern and confusion. Why was this so so hard? There wasn't any getting around it though.

"Thorax has informed me of some feelings I wasn't aware of," declared the former queen.

Cadance felt her heart skip a beat. Was this finally it?? Here and now?? She never thought this moment would come. She steadied herself to say the obvious.

"What... did they tell you?" replied the princess.

Chrysalis felt like there was a rock in her chest. But she had to get this out.

"Thorax believes I am in love with you. However. I am well aware you're a married woman, and I am no fool. Leaving this unsaid, though, would only make things worse for me." Chrysalis paused to gather herself. "You're a worthy ruler, worth looking up to. Kind to a fault, gorgeous by pony standards, even-tempered when it matters. Shining; you already know my thoughts on you, but to reiterate, I find you charming. I've said it all now. Let's all pretend that didn't happen, please."

Cadance refused. She watched Chrysalis's confused expression as she wrapped her in a hug, looking at her like she was trying to detail her out something. Her heart felt light and full.

"No, we won't. I knew how you felt about me. We've already been talking about maybe allowing this. All three of us. As partners."

Chrysalis felt the venom in her throat.

"Absolutely not! You do realize I'm political suicide for you right?? And what about your young daughter. Do you think she's really going to trust a monster like ME?"

As if prompted, Flurry Heart flew over and gently plopped herself on her head like a hat. Chrysalis grumbled.

"It seems to me like she gets along with you fine." Cadance smirked. She didn't need to be a changeling or a princess to read these emotions. They were clear on her face.

"For the record... You're both great, and I'm plenty happy to try this out with both of you. It took me a long time to warm up to the real you, Chrysalis but.. Yeah. I think you're alright. We can work this out. We'll be like...a big family." Shining finished with a smile. "Let's at least try."

And with that they locked eyes. First with shining then with each other. Maybe things could work? Did she dare try?

They locked eyes. First with shining then with each other. She could feel the other's yearning, even as someone who could only read emotion. She opened her eye to it.

She could see the love flowing between them
She could see the love flowing between them

An unknown harmony, invisible to all but her
An unknown harmony, invisible to all but her

Perhaps this was meant to be?
Perhaps this was meant to be?

All she needed was three words.
All she needed was three words.

"I love you." The two spoke together.

And they sealed it with a kiss.

Chrysalis had tasted love many times. But this was so different. It was so pure and filling. Where her heart was meant to be there was a warmth. She didn't fight it. Her lips locked with that.. Stupid.. Cute pink horse.. And she hardly wanted to pull away. She'd experienced so much love but never really knew it. Just this once she'd let the infernal organ do as it please.

Cadance hardly wanted to pull away. This was wrong, right? She was a married woman, but looking over to her spouse, he simply had a smile a mile wide. No, love wasn't wrong. Love was consensual and beautiful. She watched sparks near-visibly fly. Chryssy needed this. SHE needed this. She thought she knew love. She'd experienced it when she first kissed Shining Armor. But here she was experiencing it all over again.

The two finally stepped away from each other. Chrysalis took a second to gather herself. That was.. shell-shocking. But someone was left out, weren't they? That wouldn't do. She marched right to and planted a kiss on that dumb, handsome face. Shining looked shocked, but she didn't care. She had "stolen" his love again.

For old times' sake.

"... Both of you, in fact," Chrysalis added as she looked to Shining. "I love you both."

"You know," Shining said with a smirk. "That was pretty good. But I think another one is in order. Gotta see who the better kisser is, you know."

Chrysalis rolled her eyes and thought about pressing her hoof against his snout. Instead Cadance gave her a wink. She understood the assignment.

The duo planted a kiss on either cheek, and that cute little idiot blushed like a tomato growing ripe.

It wasn't long before she was wrapped up in a joint embrace, stronger together. She felt something pulling at her. Her body was ready to change... But she wasn't.

"Please." She thought. "Let me just have this moment. Not yet."

Her pleas were answered. She stayed her beautiful obsidian self. Right here. Surrounded by more love then she could ever possibly want. Because she had earned it.

This was her new family.

Cold days in the woods were over. Now she had a place she belonged.

She wouldn't let anything come between them.

Flurry Heart wiggled her way into the hug.

"Well, maybe one exception," she thought to herself with a chuckle.