>You sit on a bed.
>Large, soft, clean sheets, and all-round comfortable.
>You’re in Canterlot Castle.
>… You’re actually in Canterlot!
>Twilight’s teleportation trick took you all the way to the damn city.
>The motion sickness was horrifying.
>You were quickly brought inside by guards who were ready to receive you.
>The rest of the day was spent resting and recuperating, even though many ponies were full of questions.
>The princesses' welcome was simple and not very grand, which is what you wanted at that time.
>It’s early morning now.
>Today you’re supposed to meet the princesses and talk.
>About your time with Chrysalis, you imagine.
>You’re still pretty weirded out by being in Canterlot again.
>How long have you been gone?
>You had no chance to count the days at Chrysalis’ place.
>You were locked inside pretty much the whole time, after all.
>The room you’re in now is much different.
>The bleak, grey walls are replaced with white, marble-ish ones.
>Everything here is bright and has a sort of friendly, welcoming vibe.
>You’re in a guest room. Or something like that.
>You have a bed, a bedside table, closet, the usual stuff.
>And ample space.
>You stand up and walk over to the closet.
>Opening it, you pull out your clothes.
>You hold them for a moment.
>Then smell them.
>Freshly washed.
>Nice.
>You get them on just in time to hear a knock on your door.
“Who is it?”
>”The princesses are ready to meet you.”
>Some stallion’s voice.
>Goody. Time to get going.
>You open the door and take a look at your escort.
>A couple of stern-looking guard ponies.
>Clad in the usual golden armour.
>”This way, please.”
>You close the door behind you and let them lead you away.
>You walk in silence through a small section of the castle.
>Mostly contemplating how different it is from Chrysalis’.
>Everything is spacious and well-lit.
>Large halls, wide staircases, big rooms.
>And windows!
>Those tall ones with stained glass, portraying a variety of scenes.
>You’re let into a sizeable chamber with a single round table in the middle.
>Celestia, and Luna are already present, sitting by the table.
>Twilight Sparkle’s there too, although that doesn’t really surprise you.
>Celestia’s the first to notice you.
>”Oh, there you are.”
>She gives you a friendly smile as the heads of the two others turn toward you.
>She waves with a hoof, although it doesn’t seem to be at you.
>”Thank you. You may leave.”
>The two guards bow deeply and walk away.
>Luna’s horn glows and the door closes behind you.
>”Please, take a seat.”
>Celestia extends an inviting hoof.
>There’s one idle chair remaining which you seat yourself on.
>It’s surprisingly accommodating for someone of your height, you notice.
>Twilight summons a few pieces of parchment and a quill with her magic.
>”Now that you’re here…”
>You look at Luna who talks.
>”… we’d like to talk with you regarding your time with Queen Chrysalis.”
>You blink.
>Wow.
>None of what she just said sounded archaic as fuck.
>She frowns.
>”Is there something wrong?”
“You’ve been practicing your speech.”
>Celestia giggles.
>Luna just looks confused.
>”Of course I have! A princess must strive to avoid being out of touch with the times and her ponies.”
>’Out of touch’ might be an understatement in her case.
“Alright. So, you have questions?”
>”Yes.”
>Now the talker is Twilight.
>Who has a small, neat stack of parchment with the quill hovering over a piece, being at the ready.
>Nerd.
>… but a cute one.
>”First of all: Why did Chrysalis take you? We haven’t fully understood her plans for you.”
>Well, that’s pretty simple.
“She liked me.”
>All three mares stare.
“No, I mean she thought I was interesting!”
>They seem to understand that.
>Then again, they had been the exact same way once.
>Twilight’s quill scribbles something on the first piece of parchment.
>”So she wanted to study you?”
“… Sort of.”
>She gives you an inquisitive look.
>Celestia and Luna look curious too.
“It was more about amusement.”
>She had made it clear you were her pet and plaything.
>”So… she took you for fun?”
“Basically, yeah.”
>That was how it seemed to have started, anyway.
>The circumstances had since… developed.
>Or something.
>Twilight scribbles some more.
>The two princesses seem to be thinking.
>Celestia’s eyes settle back on you.
>”Did this happen after your interviews with her?”
>Interviews?
>Oh wait…
>Yeah, those times back in the princesses’ dungeon.
>Fuck, that felt like a long-as-hell time ago now.
“Uh, yeah. We talked.”
>”I know.”
>Not like that, Celestia.
“I mean…”
>Are you going to get in trouble for admitting this?
>Could be.
>But you probably shouldn’t keep it to yourself at this point.
>Oh boy…
“I kept visiting her when I was done.”
>The two princesses give you scrutinizing looks.
>Twilight seems to wait for you to continue.
>The tone in Luna’s voice has a hint of warning.
>”What, pray tell, do you mean?”
>Shit.
“I mean I kept going to the dungeon to talk with her.”
>None of the three look like they approve.
“Come on! The chance to talk to someon- somepony like Chrysalis was too good to pass up!”
>Twilight’s quill scratches loudly against the parchment’s surface.
>Luna looks displeased.
>But Celestia looks intrigued.
>”… So you thought she was interesting as well?”
>You think you can detect the smallest glint of amusement in her eyes.
>The other two mares are looking at you expectantly.
>Expecting an answer, obviously.
“… I guess.”
>You did.
>Hell, you even thought she was fun.
>Your kidnapping changed everything, though.
>Then she revealed her more crazy and dangerous side, and became fucking scary.
>Twilight pauses with her scribbling.
>”Did you bond with her?”
>… What?
>The princesses look at her too.
>Twilight looks back in confusion.
>”What?”
>Luna furrows her brows at the unicorn.
>”Twilight, that was a queer question.”
>”So he didn’t?”
“Not really.”
>You got to know each other a little.
>But that shouldn’t exactly count as ‘bonding’.
>”But her decision to take you didn’t have anything to do with strategic value or feeding.”
“I didn’t BOND with her, Twilight! I was KIDNAPPED!”
>Or is it “foalnapped” here?
>Pony vocabulary can still be pretty weird.
>Celestia is smiling.
>Luna also looks like she’s a little amused.
>”So perhaps your charm enamoured her?”
>You stare at Celestia.
>What the hell, Princess?
>Luna looks away and raises a hoof to her mouth in a poor attempt to hide her smile.
>Twilight seems less distracted by the humour and just looks at you.
>You don’t immediately answer.
>You really shouldn’t have to answer that at all.
>Now is not a great time to joke around like that.
“You do realize I just got back after having been her prisoner?”
>That makes her a little more serious.
>Luna’s and her smiles fade somewhat.
>”Yes. Of course. I’m sorry.”
>That’s better.
>”Still, it’s odd…”
>You look a Celestia.
>”Capturing you simply for… entertainment, that is.”
”She doesn’t have a history of doing this?”
>Twilight suddenly breaks in.
>”According to records, there’s not much on her at all.”
>Her teacher gives her a pleased smile.
>”Twilight is correct. Changelings are very secretive and are only open towards other civilizations in extremely rare cases.”
“If you don’t know anything about her, who’s to say what’s odd?”
>Luna leans forward.
>”We are not completely in the dark regarding the Queen.”
>Oh?
>”My sister has told me of other encounters which occurred during my… lengthy absence.”
>Luna turns her attention to Celestia.
>”Yes. There have been other incidents with the changelings and Chrysalis herself than when she interrupted Cadance’s wedding.”
>Both Luna and Twilight give her a weird look.
>You feel a slight urge to do it too.
“Interrupted?”
>”… put simply.”
>Okay, then.
>”But Canterlot has been her most ambitious project to date. At least, that we know of.”
>Luna turns back to you again.
>”We don’t know how much time she has spent in other lands or which exactly, although we do know Equestria was not her first target as Queen.”
>That rings a bell in your head.
>At the wedding, she babbled about how Equestria was by far the most love-filled place she had seen yet.
>Which would imply she had been dealing with other places until then.
>You weren’t entirely surprised with her judgement, of course.
>Ponies are pretty damn…
>Well, friendly.
“So…?”
>”What we have discovered, mostly through envoys and ambassadors to previously targeted nations, suggests Chrysalis is calculated and ruthless.”
>Not a terrible description.
>Although you know much more about her than just that.
>Now.
>”She has not been known to kidnap anypony individually. The closest thing is her seducing somepony through deception and brainwashing them through magic, thus turning them into tools in her plans.”
>Hm…
“She has taken prisoners, though, hasn’t she?”
>”Prisoners of war, yes.”
>Celestia butts in.
>”Changelings don’t often fight openly, and when they do their usual targets are small settlements that are easily overpowered.”
“There’s, like, a trillion of them, though.”
>Celestia smiles with amusement at your exaggeration.
>”Yes, but secrecy and careful schemes seem to be the core of their way of life.”
>Luna looks at Celestia.
>”I do believe we’re getting off topic now. The point of this explaining was that you…“
>She turns her attention back to you and points with a hoof.
>”… are an unusual case.”
>How flattering.
“Well, I AM pretty sure all she wanted was something… fun.”
>They’re all silent for a moment.
>Then Luna tilts her head thoughtfully.
>”Perhaps you should consider this a lesson, then.”
>A lesson?
“In what?”
>”To take our enemies seriously and not try to mingle with them.”
>She gives you a sharp look.
>… Oh.
>You feel yourself crumble slightly under her harsh gaze.
“… Okay.”
>Celestia glances between Luna and you.
>”Maybe we should talk about what exactly happened while you were in Chrysalis’ hooves.”
>That would be fine.
>Twilight puts the current piece of parchment aside and picks a new one from her stack.
>Her quill hovers over it and stops about an inch from its surface.
>Your cue.
”Well… I was her pet.”
>The quill begins running across the parchment.
>Celestia looks a little confused.
>”How so, exactly?”
“Chained to the wall. Fed regularly. All that stuff.”
>Both Celestia and Luna look surprised.
>Twilight pauses with her writing too.
>Thank fucking god she had eventually changed her mind about those circumstances.
“She just kept me around and wanted to talk and, uh, “play” with me.”
>”Play how?”
”Before Twilight and others actually showed up, she once made me think they were there.”
>That was a particularly nasty memory.
>The two princesses seem to figure out what had happened and nod understandingly.
>Twilight continues her scribbling.
>Luna taps a hoof against her chin in thought.
>”This reveals a very different side of her than what we had expected.”
“It doesn’t sound like you knew a whole lot about her to begin with.”
>”True. Still, this is an interesting revelation.”
“Why?”
>”It shows she has a tendencies that aren’t pragmatic or in her changelings’ best interest.”
>In her changelings’ best interest…
>Oh.
>She stated that too during Shining’s wedding.
>Her duty as queen or whatever.
”She does take her work pretty seriously.”
>Celestia and Luna both look inquisitive.
“I mean, when I was stuck with her, she’d often leave me alone. To work.”
>At least that’s what you assume.
>Not like she ever actually told you what she was up to.
>The common changeling secrecy in action, apparently.
>Celestia looks particularly unsurprised.
>”Managing a kingdom and looking after its populace is a responsibility that requires much attention.”
>You can’t say much to that.
>Celestia should be especially insightful in doing this on your own.
>Which seemed to be the case with Chrysalis.
“Yeah, I guess.”
>An unexpected knock on the door steals your attention.
>Luna looks towards it.
>”Enter.”
>The door’s carefully opened and a unicorn maid enters with a cart.
>A pristine white coat and a dark red mane, although you have no idea who she is.
>But then again, you’re not actually acquainted with a lot of the castle’s staff.
>”Your highnesses, as ordered…”
>Luna looks confused but Celestia brightens.
>”Ah! Wonderful. Thank you for bringing it.”
>The maid pushes the cart to the table and magically lifts a tray of snacks onto it.
>She bows before exiting with the cart again.
>The sizeable tray contains biscuits, cookies, and neatly sliced pieces of cake and pie.
>Luna raises a questioning eyebrow at Celestia.
>”Oh shush. It’s perfectly fine to enjoy some sweet things every once in a while.”
>The sun princess levitates a piece of cake and takes a small bite of it.
>You figure these things are for everyone and reach out to take a cookie.
>The two remaining mares soon follow suit and enjoy the snacks as well.
>The talk comes to a halt for a little while as everybody focus on the delicacies.
>Celestia then smacks her lips with a clear impression of satisfaction.
>”This wasn’t so bad.”
>She gives Luna a teasing smile.
>”But there’s one urgent thing that should at least be mentioned.”
>Luna conjures a napkin from thin air with a flash from her horn and dabs her lips.
>Twilight’s lips are by far the most smeared, though.
>”While I’d like to discuss the details of your time with the changelings a bit further, we should also talk about what needs to be done about your security.”
>You pause.
“… I’m in danger?”
>”Of course.”
>”Luna, please…”
>Luna gives Celestia an unimpressed look.
>”We have freed you from Chrysalis, but that doesn’t mean you’re completely safe from her.”
>Right.
>This doesn’t shock you.
>If anyone is vengeful, it’s Chrysalis.
“So… you think she’ll try to kidnap me again?”
>”It’s possible.”
>Celestia looks at you solemnly.
>You mentally brush it off.
>It’s not that big a deal if the princesses can make proper precautions.
>Luna looks entirely at ease with the topic, at least.
“Alright. I assume you know what’s best.”
>You’re a civilian and an alien, it’s not like YOU’d know better.
>Luna smiles at that.
>”Indeed, we’re quite capable of looking after our subjects.”
>It suddenly hits you how she apparently slept through the whole Canterlot attack.
>Still, you give her a smile of your own for her intended reassurance.
>Just to be nice.
“Okay. Then there’s not much to discuss, is there?”
>”There’s plenty. But you need not be a part of that.”
>Figures.
”Then… we’re done?”
>The three ponies look at each other briefly.
>Celestia’s the one who finally speaks.
>”For now, yes. We’ll call on you when we need to see you again.”
>Luna butts in.
>”We’ll need you to stay in the castle, mind you.”
“That’s okay.”
>Not like this place isn’t super luxurious with servants and whatnot everywhere.
>You stand up.
>The mares remain seated.
>”Do enjoy the rest your day.”
>You nod and exit the chamber.
 
>Walking around the castle on your own, you get some time to think.
>Because it occurs to you that you might need that.
>Thinking about getting re-kidnapped by Chrysalis doesn’t unnerve you as much as it should.
>She DID treat you like shit and all that.
>At first.
>But now you trust you won’t be treated all that terribly if she was to get her hooves on you again.
>Hm…
>You actually do?
>… Shit, maybe a little.
>You remember your talk on the balcony.
>She had come to appreciate you.
>But not out of love or affection, she said.
>Like the revelation in her library when she finally understood just what you are.
>You fascinate her.
>As cool as that is, it also causes some trouble.
>You’d still prefer not to be her captive again.
>Her property and pet.
>Completely cut off from all other ponies and confined to her personal living space.
>If the princesses can protect you, you’ll gladly accept it.
>You halt and look around.
>Realizing have no clue where you are.
>… Right, for some reason you tried to make your way back through the large castle without a guide.
>Goddammit.