GooChrys Oneshot

>The sky is clear on this cool summers eve.

>It's been a few weeks since the debacle at the Royal Wedding, and much of the country has been placed on high alert against changeling invasion.

>You were not in direct attendance, even though you knew Twilight well.

>Being the only human in Equestria, naturally you were an object of intrigue and study.

>Your arrival sent ripples through the magic community, but that's a story for another time.

>Tonight, you are simply Anonymous, and you are out on one of your famous midnight strolls.

>The low hanging branches of the outskirts of the Everfree cast shadows on the ground, obscuring the light of Luna's moon on the ground.

>Hands in your pockets, you follow the gravel trail around the woods, enjoying the quiet and coolness of the night.

>All you needed really was a light jumper, enough to keep you warm, but still enough to let you feel the brisk damp air your body longed for.

>Some days you missed being back home, in the cool air out in the countryside, no one around to bother you.

>These midnight strolls alone were the closest you ever came to finally going home.

>Home.

>They always say home is where the heart is.

>And so far, your heart has done nothing but long for the sweet, sweet embrace of finally returning to your world.

>To be an alien in a somewhat hostile world was not the easiest thing.

>Sure, you could fit in somewhat, and the locals eventually got used to your presence.

>But there was nothing worse than being uncomfortable in your own skin.

>And that's when you heard it.

>Something between a gurgling and wracking sobs.

>You looked around, trying to spot what could be making that terrible sound.

>And it appeared to be coming from deeper inside the Everfree.

>Breaking off from the main trail, you head towards the direction you can hear the noise coming from.

>The dense underbrush and uneven ground is immediately noticeable, the thick overhang obscuring much of the needed moonlight.

>Stepping over branch after branch, root after root, you come across...

>Just...

>Just what is that?

>Resting on a stump in the middle of the forest appears to be some kind of insect like creature.

>You watch from the shadows, as the creature shifts around, trying to seemingly change form, but as soon as it gets halfway, it stops, reverting.

>And every time, it lets out a shuddering sob.

>You watch, again and again as the creature attempts to change form, only to break down further into tears each time.

>After about 10 minutes of trying, the creatures gasps, and goes limp.

>You can't quite understand what the creature is, it could be dangerous, but something inside you says that it doesn’t matter.

>It needs your help.

>Taking a few tentative steps forward, the creature stirs, and looks up at you.

>It barely has the strength to lift it's head off the stump.

>”W-who are y-you.?” the creature gurgles

>You freeze in place.

>The acidic tone coming from it's half solid voice makes you shudder slightly

“A f-friend.” you manage to finally squeak out

>The creature stares at you again with half lidded eyes.

>”D-did she send you to f-finish the job?” it mutters, laying back down on the stump, avoiding your eyes.

>You take a few more steps, stopping only a few feet away from the stump.

“No one sent me. I was out for a stroll, and I heard you. Are you hurt?”

>You take a few steps forward again, just barely before stump.

>You can see clearly now, much of the creatures body is almost...

>Translucent.

“What happened to you?”

>”This...” the creature mutters, not even looking at you.

>”This is what happens when we are unable to feed...”

>Feed?

>Feed on wh-

“You're a Changeling...”

>The changeling lets out a hollow laugh.

>”I WAS the Queen of the Changelings...”

>The Queen attempts to sit up on the stump, only to slump back down again.

>Here before you, was currently the most wanted, and perhaps most dangerous creature in all of Equestria.

>Or so at least you thought at first.

>But...

>You sit down on the large stump, next to her.

“You are seriously hurt...”

>”Then either finish me, or leave me alone creature...”

>It breaks your heart to see any creature in pain.

>And even though this one assaulted the kingdom...

>You still feel sympathy.

>You place a hand on her gelatinous back.

>She looks back at you with horribly distressed and sad eyes.

>”What are you doing?” she says, looking you straight in your eyes.

“I'm sorry, but your hurt. You need help.”

>”Why would you help me?”

“...”

>Why WOULD you help her?

>She tried to overthrow the very kingdom you live in.

>She tried to kill the Princess!

>Yet...

>Why do you feel for this creature?

>The creature perks up a little from the contact.

>She looks at you again with those snake like eyes.

>”I can sense your pity creature, and while it isnt much...”

>She breathes deeply, and seems more...

>Composed.

>”So I ask again. Why would you help me?”

“Because I saw someone in pain. To leave anyone or anything in pain when there is something you can do is a heinous crime.”

>What was it that drew you to this creature so?

“You cant stay here alone. I can take you back to my home. No one will find you there, you will be safe.”

>The creatures eyes go wide.

>”And why should I trust you?”

>She has a point.

>But then you remember...

“Feed off me.”

“Taste my emotions, I am being genuine.”

>She looks at you puzzled, then, you can feel it.

>The feeling of the air being tightened around you, ever so briefly.

>”But...”

>”Why?” is all she manages to say, as she collapses.

 

>Her sudden faint left you in a state of panic.

>Without thinking, you grabbed the amorphous Changeling, and hauled her onto your back, and made a break for home.

>The rest was almost a blur.

>Sprinting out of the Everfree, along the trail back home to your cottage on the outskirts of town, and setting her on your bed.

>Just now, you are going over the events in your mind as you watch the Queen of the Changelings chest rise and fall with slumber.

 

>Just as you feel like you've closed your eyes, Celestia's golden sun is rising.

>You close the curtains, determined to let your guest rest.

>You head down into the kitchen, get the morning paper from your doorstep, and make some breakfast.

>Normal routine.

>But only for a few hours.

>Soon, you hear your guest stirring upstairs.

>You grab a cup of coffee, and a muffin, and open the door.

>She is resting against the headboard, clearly trying to recall the memories of the night previous.

“Good morning your majesty.” you say, knocking on the door as it opens.

>”Wh-where am I?”

“My home, I brought you here after you collapsed in the forest. I thought you needed somewhere safe.”

>She looks at you with puzzled eyes.

“Please, relax, you are hurt, and I would like it very much if you would try and eat something.”

>”Changelings do not eat in the manner that other creatures do. You know this...”

>Suddenly you feel very stupid.

“O-of course. Sorry.”

>You place the food and drink down on the nightstand, and sit in the chair on the other side of the room with your newspaper.

>”Why did you rescue me?” she finally says after a few minutes.

>You look up from over your newspaper at her.

“Because, it looks like you needed someone to care for you.” you say with a genuine smile.

>And you believed that too.

>Regardless of what happened, regardless of who she is.

>She was in pain, and needed your help.

>And so, the two of you talked.

>And talked.

>And talked, for days.

>The days passed, and turned into weeks.

>Slowly but surely, feeding off your positive emotion, the Queen started on the road to recovery.

>You learned much about the changeling people, in exchange for information about yourself.

>And it turns out, the two of you had much in common.

>As ridiculous as that sounds, you were similar.

>Both outcasts in a strange world, both wanting to find their way back home.

>In your case, you couldn’t GET home.

>In hers, after the failure of the invasion, she was ousted in a military coup.

>She was thrown from the Hive, and banished.

>She wandered, looking for anything to feed on, but the injuries she suffered from her battle scarred her, and her ability to morph.

>Right now, she was essentially crippled.

>You could see the pain in her eyes every time she tried again to assume a different form.

>You were there when she would sob.

>Both of you essentially wore masks in your daily lives.

>You disguising your displeasure at your current situation.

>Sick of the fact that no matter what you did, some ponies were just naturally xenophobic towards you.

>And for her...

>It's kind of obvious.

>Both of you also shared a common interest in a hobby in reading.

>Luckily, when you became stranded in this technicolour hell, you had your eReader with you, which was solar powered.

>You would spend hours reading to her, and making sure she was well.

>Day by day she was getting better.

>Essentially, she became the focus of your life.

>And for some reason, you couldn’t be happier.

>And at some times, it seemed neither could she.

>The weeks turned into months, as summer changed to fall.

>And soon enough, Fall changed to Winter.

>It had been almost six months you had been together, when suddenly...

>You were preparing breakfast one day, when you heard a commotion come from upstairs.

>Rushing upstairs, you found her in her chitinous state, finally back to normal.

>She exclaimed she could finally transform again, the first time she had tried in some time after multiple failures.

>You were both elated.

>You prepared an extravagant breakfast, which she had started eating, even though she mainly got her nutrition from your emotions.

>You just liked to see her eat and be happy.

>Later that day, the talk came.

>Now that she was better, she felt like it was time she went home, to take back her throne.

>You knew this day would come.

>Although, you wish it didn’t have to.

>And she could sense it.

“I'm happy for you, I really am!”

>”Then why do I taste disappointment? Why do I taste such sadness?”

>You hang your head.

“I...”

“I guess I don’t want you to go.”

>”You...”

>”You want me to stay?”

“Of course I do!” you say, a bit to eagerly than you normally would.

>”Anonymous, we talked about this. My people need me...”

“The same people who tried to kill you?”

“The same people who put you up to a one in a million raid against a foreign power?”

>She stands there looking at you.

>”But they are MY people Anonymous! They are my kin!”

“Then what am I? Some tool to just be fed on?”

“A walking sack of nutrients to be fed on?”

>She stares at you with those eyes you have come to adore.

>You can almost see a pang of hurt in them with each word.

>”What are you saying? I should give up on them? Let them starve?”

“You don't know that! They kicked you out! They left you for DEAD Chrys!”

>She winces at your tone.

“I...”

“I'm sorry. I just...”

“I love you Chrysalis.”

>You wrap her in a hug, not ever wanting to let go.

“Forget the burdens of office. Live here, with me.”

>”Anonymous, I...”

>She breaks the hug.

>”I don’t know if I can.”

“All we can do is try, right?”

“As far as the world knows, you disappeared.”

“Would it really be so bad to stay with me?”

“You asked me once, Why I would help you?”

“It's because I saw a little of me in you.”

“Frightened, alone, unsure of what to do.”

“And now look at us, what does it matter who we were?”

“We are who we are now. Right?”

>She has tears in her eyes.

>”That taste...”

>She returns the embrace, kissing you deeply.

>”Alright.”

>And so, for the first time, the two of you took that nightly stroll that was once tradition.

>And would be again.