Every Prince Deserves a Princess

I fell forward, without an overlarge bug to support me as my hooves hit the cold stone below. Apparently, the giant roach had taken a liking to Shining in her time fucking him senseless, a fact that I'd make a note to rub in later, once we'd gotten out of this ordeal alive. If we got out of this ordeal alive. I took a moment to pant, doubled over with my horn nearly touching the stone below as the orange glow from the fire pit reached out to warm the edges of my face. Truly, the day had taken a turn for the unexpected, followed by a second turn for the insane...

"So... what do we do first, queen? How do we know we can trust you?" Shining coughed a bit before shaking his head in what appeared to be an involuntary shiver. A small, thin trail of dried blood had leaked from his mouth and stretched the length of his chin. He needed medical attention, badly. As conflicted as I was about everything, especially after Instar had made herself known... I refused to let him perish within those god forsaken caves. There had to be a way...

"...queen. It's been quite some time since I've heard that title, Shining. My name is Chrysalis. I suppose we never really did get a proper introduction. Your poor hoof," she cooed, as she took Shining's broken foreleg. The expression upon his face was something indescribable- a mix between hatred, fear, confusion... and a bit of lust. Given Instar's little powder trick and the effect that it had on me, I assumed that her particular brand of pheromone still had a strong influence over him. What a perfect excuse a repeat seduction would have been for Cadance to slip away from him... especially now that my lover had turned out to be anything but.

"...Shining Armor. It's... nice, to meet you? I really don't know. None of this makes sense. That beast is your daughter?"

Chrysalis' expression changed to one of absolute venom, her muzzle a mere inch from Shining's as her wings twittered angrily. "All changelings currently alive are my children... and though she may be misguided, I will not tolerate your judgment of her. That is my prerogative, and mine alone."

Shining merely blinked, unafraid, and perhaps somewhat numbed from his pain. "...I understand, but you have to realize that we can't afford this right now. Canterlot can't deal with this. If you two are planning another invasion..."

"Shining," I began, "these two aren't planning anything... at least, I should hope not. Chrysalis?" The tall changeling looked to me, her expression cold and judgmental. "You speak as though you and your daughter are at odds. Explain the situation, as we get moving."

"Vlad? Where exactly are we going to 'get moving' to?" Shining sighed, cracking his neck as he swallowed hard. Both he and the bug looked to me, and for once, I truly did feel like some sort of leader.

"That depends. Chrysalis. Queen," I began, testing the waters. She seemed to respond favorably to the title, so I made a note to keep it. "Where did Instar leave from? The water tunnel that we used to enter?"

Chrysalis paused, looking around the room for a few moments as Shining and I stood in uncomfortable silence. "...no. She went the opposite way, through the back of the mountain. I would suspect she will lead her victims back through the same tunnels, so as to avoid a run-in with whatever you lot may have dropped on the way in."

"That's it!" I exclaimed. "The chamber where she attacked us! Our rebreathers! We need to locate them, and swim back through the lake!"

Shining nodded, his good knee wobbling a bit as he coughed once again. Chrysalis moved to support him, allowing the large unicorn to lean against her side. "It's a good plan. I just hope I can still swim..."

"It's better than the alternative," Chrysalis replied while shifting her mane from her face. "Come. I believe I know where the two of you were ambushed." Without another word, the queen beckoned me to take her place in supporting Shining, my size much more favorable for the process of assisting in walking. She took the lead, and I followed along, half dragging the duke as he tried to alleviate as much of the strain from my back as he could.

I cleared my throat as I followed the changeling queen, her tail swishing like a pendulum and drawing my eyes to her rump. I had to say... her daughter had a certain set of curves that the older monster seemed to have lost, with her age. The thoughts alone disgusted me... though in truth, I couldn't really be blamed for such things, given their nature and tactics. I opened my mouth to take my mind off the subject, only partially succeeding in my efforts.

"...so... that explanation. Why are you setting us free...?"

"Because my daughter is an idiot," came the snappy reply. Chrysalis angrily swished her tail and ignited her horn in a bright, neon green blaze to light the path ahead. She weaved through the tunnels expertly, and I did my best to follow. "A better question- why do you care 'why' I'm doing this? My people have been the subject of your folk tales and nightmares for generations. To question such a thing is pushing your luck... and I do not particularly need you. Shining, however, must live."

It was an odd sort of feeling, being offended by a predator, rather than terrified. I simply smirked, doing my best to lighten the mood. "Afraid to be in the presence of a true royal?"

"Let me know when you find one," Chrysalis spat back as she trotted into a circular, familiar chamber. As she swept her head to spread the light around the room, I caught sight of a bloodstain upon the wall, and my stomach turned. It was my blood...

"I-I... will... erm... d-do you see anything?"

Shining chimed in as he shuffled off my back, hobbling over to a bent, metal tube, with a shattered mask laying next to it. "...one of us isn't leaving... if any at all are."

"D-don't say that," I stammered out. "There are still the tunnels to the back of the mountain, and there must be multiple exits. R-right?" I looked up to Chrysalis, who offered me no reply, other than to walk farther into the room. Her light reflected off what appeared to be a small screen, and she bent low to pick up one intact rebreather.

"Is this what you two are looking for?" she asked. I had to fight back a smile as I nodded.

"Then, we just need an oxygen tank to match, and the other... mask..." I stepped forward, only to find the third rebreather, the lens shattered and mostly missing, and the entire strap broken in half. I swallowed hard. "Only one of us can leave this place..."

Shining let out a heavy sigh, and for the first time that I had ever seen, his confidence faltered. I found myself unable to blame him as I looked him over- he was quite obviously in severe pain, and his psyche had been twisted by the reappearance of this 'Chrysalis' figure. He was unable to lead... and the task had finally fallen to me.

"You're forgetting something. That's if we can find an oxygen tank in working order. One is here, and broken."

"...as is this one." Chrysalis lifted a charred heap from the ground, holding it out within a magical glow for all to see. The tube had indeed been destroyed, with purposeful punctures made into the surface several times over. That hateful bitch had likely driven her very bones into the device, over and over, to prevent a possible escape...

"Wait!" I cried. A sudden rush a adrenaline swam up through my breast, as realization dawned upon me. "Moss... well, Instar... he left his tank at the lakeside tunnel! It was too heavy for him!"

"Vlad's right! Chrysalis, can you take us to the water exit?"

"Easily, on one condition- if only one of you can leave, it's going to be Shining." Chrysalis shot me a glare, one that I didn't dare return. I mulled over the idea, and the odds that he could make it up the tunnel and across the lake alive with a broken foreleg. His odds were good, and based on some of the tales he'd told me, I knew he had been through worse... but what of me? What was to become of me, down in that cave? Would I be rescued?

Did it matter anymore, to anyone? The only one who had shown me true affection had never existed at all...

"...fine. Shining, you're leaving."

Shining began to hobble toward me, looking determined. "No. I'm not leaving you here to d-"

"Don't argue with me you filthy peasant," I spat, a feeling of dread and determination creeping over me. "Cadenza is in danger, clearly. She needs your protection, and Celestia will, in turn, protect you. I'll be fine. I've... got her." I jabbed my head in the direction of Chrysalis, who was busy inspecting her hoof. I didn't trust her, but Shining was Cadenza's best chance for survival, even in his injured state. There was only so much I could do... and Instar knew far too much about me for my protection to be sufficient. To have any chance of seeing my first love alive again, it had to be him. One day, she would appreciate my sacrifice. She had to...

"...I'm coming back for you," he insisted.

"Fine, but only once Cadenza is being protected by the princesses themselves."

"Fine."

Chrysalis balked, spitting onto the ground. The substance sizzled against the rock, eating a small hole into the surface and inspiring a bit of fear in myself and my traveling companion. "Stop wasting time, the both of you. Support Shining, and follow me." Without another word, Chrysalis trotted for the tunnel, and I braced Shining against my back and acquiesced to her demand. The trip was short and silent, the tension in the air thick as we walked up to the lip of rock at the edge of the water. The oxygen tank was indeed still there, and intact. I sucked in an uneasy breath, and set Shining down before helping him secure the rebreather around his face.

"...I hate you. I really, truly do, especially now. Save her. Protect her. Tell her I'm coming."

Shining nodded, a bit confused by my insistence, but said nothing. I affixed the oxygen tank to his back, biting my lower lip as I watched him sag slightly, his body weak. He was going to make it. He had to.

"Good luck, Shining. I have faith in you."

"...one other thing, duke," Chrysalis offered. Shining looked to her, testing the rebreather and getting a full breath of air as the pumps began to work. "Tell Celestia that I am coming, and that I am to be welcomed. Once I can afford to slip away, I'll give her what information I can, but I can't afford to stay with you lot."

"Why not just tell him?" I inquired.

"Because there are some things neither of you would understand. She might," Chrysalis replied with a definitive tone. I didn't bother to argue, and instead helped Shining to the water, before bracing my hoof upon his back.

"See you soon," I whispered, before pushing him forward and into the water. Shining dived straight down into the dark liquid, and slowly disappeared from sight. I couldn't shake the feeling that it might have been the last time I would ever see him, as Chrysalis approached me from behind.

"Thank you for not being the insistent, entitled jackass that my daughter assured me you were," she hissed into my ear, her face right up against mine. I couldn't bear to look at her, and instead closed my eyes, focusing on the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"...I'm trying. I've been trying to change, partially because of your daughter, when I thought she was... someone else."

"Does the reason really matter? A change is a change... and change is good," she whispered, planting a small kiss upon the back of my ear. It twitched against my will, as I felt a tear slip from my eyes.

"...n-no, I suppose not. Am I going to make it out of here alive?"

Chrysalis hesitated, taking quite a while to answer. "I'm going to try to make it so, in return for your generosity. Shining's life means quite a bit to my mission. I can get you out of here, in due time... but for now, I'm going to have to put you back where I found you."

I had expected the words, and swallowed hard. "...I know."

"...and his escape, as well as my reaction, needs to be convincing..." She lightly stroked my mane with a hoof, a genuine apologetic tone accenting her words.

"...I know..."

"...I'm going to need to hurt you."

I didn't bother to reply with words. All I could manage was a sniffle and a nod.