Chrysalis awoke, within her room. High quality furniture, a comfy bed. Sparsely decorated, but she had been informed she was welcome to decorate. Not that she had any clue how to do that.

She opened the curtains and squinted outside at the winter sun. There were no bars on these windows, but she still felt caged in. A prisoner in a gilded cage. A zoo animal to be gawked at.

She sighed. She didn't particularly have anything she needed to do, but she supposed she should leave her room for the day. For one, it was unbecoming of a queen .. well, former queen.. to sulk all day. Second, last time she did that, that pink annoyance came in to "make sure she was ok."

The absolute nerve.

She was certain this was some kind of mind game, but hadn't figured out how yet. More of that insidious friendship, maybe? Perhaps she was making fun of her. Her emotions didn't seem to add up for that to be the case, but Chrysalis was choosing to ignore that.

She was beginning to think of what to do for the day when there was a knock on the door. Ugh.. That would be...

"Good morning, Chrysalis... Or well, afternoon." Mi Amore Cadenza. Great. Just who she didn't want to see. The door was flung open.

"What is it, 'princess'" The pink one only rolled her eyes in response to her tone.

"I've come to invite you to lunch," she said, in an annoyingly pleasant way. Chrysalis had been receiving small doses of love from her during her short stay, so she knew what to expect.

"Fine, make it quick." But Cadance shook her head.

"I mean, actually go out. Get something to eat. Enjoy each other's company, if I may be so bold." She wanted to throw up.

"That sounds horrifying. What are you trying to gain? I've got no military secrets you can steal. I know you've already found my poor bugs." Another eye roll from the princess of sass.

"I don't have anything to gain. I'm just inviting you to lunch. That's literally it."

"Ha! As if you expect me to believe that! I am no hatchling. I will not be easily fooled." Cadance grew frustrated, which was a good look for her.

"There's no trick. There's no secret plot. It's just lunch! You know, food? I'm trying to be nice to you despite you literally trying to ruin my wedding and my life."

"For what, some kind of leverage?"

"To be nice! Because it's the right thing to do!" Chrysalis wanted so badly to retort but couldn't think of one. "You treat everything in your life as a transaction. You need to stop thinking this way. You're able to just do stuff without needing something from it! That's the key to actually enjoying life, instead of staying locked up in your room all day reading Equestrian history."

Chrysalis was silent for a moment. Her comrade would have agreed. That's why she ..

"Fine. I will go." The pink one sighed in relief

"Ok... Ok...I know a good place." And Chrysalis nodded.

The city was very pretty, by pony standards. She imagined the white and purple one must be quite fond of it.. What was her name again? Eh she couldn't be bothered.

Though she walked the streets freely, she still felt like she was a prisoner. She could imagine a collar and chains around her neck, with the princess holding the other end, ready to jump on any infraction. Her walk took her by.. That shop. She got that strange feeling like a rock in her chest. That was annoying. She could probably identify it, but why bother? Hopefully it would end soon. She found herself looking away from her former place of employment.

The restaurant they arrived at was filled with quiet chatter, and the two were seen to a private booth. Cadance ordered something, and, not caring enough to look at the menu, Chrysalis ordered the same.

Cadance sought to break the awkward silence. "So um.. Chrysalis."

"Spare me your pleasantries and tell me what's on your mind." The alicorn sighed.

"Look. I have every reason not to like you. If it wasn't for my sister-in-law, you would have left me locked in a basement. For my own wedding."

"Don't remind me," she grumbled. Though she likely took umbrage with another part of the whole incident.

"Well. If you're going to be here, that means we're just going to have to acknowledge that happened, and find a way to move on anyways. So... Being as I am the princess of Love, I'm willing to try to let it go. As long as I see you're trying to be a better creature, I don't have too much reason to hold our past against you."

"That's far too kind. Literally. You'll leave yourself open to attacks that way." They let out another long sigh.

"Remember, Chrysalis. You're not at war. Not everything needs to be transactional."

"So you're 'forgiving' me even though you stand to gain literally nothing, and honestly would gain more through some extrajudicial punishment?"

"Yes! Maybe not... phrased that way, but yes! If you're willing to turn over a new leaf I'm willing to try to put it behind us. We don't need to be enemies anymore. I'm not sure we'll ever quite be friends... But we can sure as hell try! I think my sister-in-law would approve."

She didn't give a crap what Twilight Sparkle approved of.

"No. We can be.. Companions. But I'm still weary of this pony friendship crap. It was though that which that accursed Starlight took everything from me. Never again."

Cadence... Smiled?

"Sure. Baby steps. We'll work on this. You're not alone, Chrysalis. Not unless you choose to be."

She wasn't alone?

Ugh. Now what was this heart of hers doing? This internal warmth was annoying.

Author's Note

Good evening! This chapter's title is from zeroranger. I wanted to sneak it in here somewhere. The game is so peak.

Also we're back! Haahaa! Editor got busy so we were a little delayed.