>You once again sit in Chrysalis’ chamber.
>Chained to the wall.
>Alone.
>The fire in the fireplace crackles softly and its flames dance as the only current activity in the room.
>You feel solemn.
>Or your mood is just plain bad.
>The trick Chrysalis played on you some time ago…
>Fucking bitch.
>It made it horrifically clear that you’re not getting out unless she wants you to.
>And if you ever think things are going your way…
>Better think twice.
>Is this what she wants from you, though?
>Plain amusement?
>Shit, maybe it is.
>She doesn’t seem to consider you much more than her personal toy.
>Kind of scary.
>And, obviously, a cause for some serious worry.
>The door suddenly swings open.
>Unsuprisingly, Chrysalis comes in.
>… with two changelings in tow.
>That’s new.
>She looks at you and her horn glows.
>Your collar suddenly comes apart and drops from your neck.
>What the hell?
>”Get up. You’re dirty and it’s time to be cleaned.”
>Huh?
>Wait, now that you think about it, it’s been a while since you last had a shower.
>Been stuck in Chrysalis’ room and all that.
>Her two changelings walk closer.
>They don’t do anything, though, and just seem to wait.
>You slowly rise.
>Standing up, you take a moment to stretch.
>Being confined to that mattress is still pretty annoying.
>You give Chrysalis a look before letting the changelings lead you out of the room.
>She just looks back, of course.
>You don’t like her.
>Outside the door, another pair of changelings are waiting.
>Now your escort consists of four.
>Well, you’re valued property.
 
>After a wordless walk through twisting corridors, you find yourself at…
>Well, a bath, actually.
>You’re standing in front of a large pool.
>There are actually several, gathered in a single gigantic chamber.
>You probably shouldn’t be surprised, if only due to the enormity of this place.
>It’s like a freakin’ hive or something.
>But you’d think it’s pretty cool that there’s an indoor bathhouse here if it wasn’t Chrysalis’.
>The changelings step closer and cast a bit of magic into the undisturbed, clear water.
>It starts to steam.
>They gave it heat?
>Neat.
>Heh, rhyme.
>Next, they stare at you.
>Right, you’re supposed to wash here.
>You give them a nervous look and hesitate.
>Feeling a little self-consc-
>No, screw that.
>They’re changelings.
>What are they going to do?
>Blush and maybe come up with a few penis jokes?
>As far as you can tell, they’re little more than soulless minions to their Queen.
>Pushing your earlier hesitation aside, you quickly get out of your clothes and drop it in a heap by the edge of the heated pool.
>The changelings watch you closely.
>Their reactions are as non-existent as you expected.
>You dip a toe into the awaiting water.
>It LOOKS warm and pleasant.
>… And it is just that too.
>Huh. Can you actually enjoy yourself here?
>You let yourself into the pool, and the water comes up to your waist.
>The warmth embraces you gently.
>Oh sweet horsedemigoddesses, this is good.
>You bend your legs and let yourself sink further into the water.
>After being stuck in Chrysalis room, this is fucking heaven.
>Out of the corner of your eye, you notice one of the changelings move.
>Your clothes are heaped on its back and it’s walking away.
>It’s taking your clothes.
”Hey!”
>It stops and looks at you.
>You’re probably not in a situation to make any demands, but you don’t trust these things.
”That’s mine. I want it here.”
>It tilts its head.
>”But it needs to be cleaned.”
>You stare.
>Did you just hear a changeling talk?
>The voice was pretty raspy, but also…
>Feminine.
>You look at the other changelings.
>And you start to notice a few things.
>Two are slightly more solid-looking.
>And the others with slightly softer features.
>… Oh shit, now you get it.
>Two mares and two stallions.
>They’re not nearly as dimorphic as ponies, but you can actually see it.
>You turn back to the mare with your clothes.
”I’ll need it.”
>”Yes.”
>She just looks at you with those empty blue eyes.
>No, not entirely empty. There are bright spots that seem to replace proper pupils.
>Freaky.
>You don’t know if she’s calm or just stoic.
>But you turn away and let her do her thing.
>She doesn’t seem like she intends to trick you.
>She doesn’t have that malicious vibe as Chrysalis does.
>Instead you dive beneath the water’s surface and enjoy the pleasant heat enveloping you.
>You hope you get to go to this place more often.
>Chrysalis probably wouldn’t let you, of course.
>That certain corner seems to be your place.
>Hag.
>You rise near the pool’s edge and take a few deep breaths.
>A male changeling suddenly stands in front of you and pushes a chunk of something towards you with a hoof.
>You grab it and inspect it.
>A plain bar of soap.
>Alright.
>You dip it in the water once and rub it between your hands.
>Getting soap all over your palms, you spread it across the rest of yourself.
>You glance at the changelings.
>They seem as cool and uncaring as ever.
>Pity.
>Then you smile.
>Are you actually allowing yourself to be vain right now?
>Seems this place really is improving your mood.
>After washing yourself thoroughly, you dive again to get the soap off.
>Getting to clean yourself again adds nicely to the already pleasant situation.
>Emerging from the warm water, you notice a rather tall guard looki-
>”Having fun?”
>Chrysalis looks at your with an amused expression.
>You freeze.
>What the hell?! Why did she have to show up?
>Standing by the edge of the pool, she tilts her head while observing you.
>Her eyes move slightly down and then back up.
>”So that’s what you look like beneath those clothes of yours.”
>Suddenly you feel VERY self-conscious.
>You sit down, making the water reach your neck.
>Chrysalis giggles.
>”No need to be shy.”
>She then steps forward and into the pool.
>Her movements are slow and careful, and the water only ripples lightly as she enters it.
>”Don’t mind me. I’ve been feeling a little unclean myself.”
>Her damn grin gives away her lie, of course.
>You just look at her.
>And maybe take a small step backwards.
>She lowers herself until only her head protrudes from the water’s surface.
>Her mane spreads out in the water around her.
>It makes you think of seaweed, actually.
>”So, didn’t you enjoy yourself? You’ve been rather glum lately.”
>No shit, Sherlock.
>She moves around you.
>Slowly.
>Like a shark stalking potential prey.
>You turn with her, making sure you’re always facing her.
“You haven’t been very good at making me happy.”
>You figure she wants an honest answer.
>And it’d be nice to get it off your chest.
>It makes her look thoughtful.
>”Have you felt too… imprisoned?”
>She smirks.
>Ha ha ha. Very funny.
>You scowl at her.
>She just seems amused by your reaction.
>”You do realize your position, I’m sure. Or did you expect me to provide you with luxury and satisfy your every desire?”
>She puts a light emphasis on ‘desire’.
>It doesn’t really surprise you.
>Damn succubus.
>You only give her an irritated look.
>Her question doesn’t really need any actual answer.
>You’re her prisoner alright.
>And the thought is, as always, incredibly unpleasant.
>Chrysalis slowly comes full circle around you and stops.
>Her mane and tail flow around underwater like gatherings of creepy tendrils.
>She gives you a rather serious look.
>”You’re not much fun when your mood is that poor.”
>You raise an eyebrow.
>Oh really?
”So?”
>Are you now supposed to care about impressing her or something?
>She rolls her eyes at you.
>”I didn’t bring you here to sulk and brood.”
>Too bad.
“Should’ve tried harder to not make things so shitty, then.”
>That makes her narrow her eyes.
>It’s easy to remember that if she wants to fuck you up, she could easily do it.
>But you can’t fully resist the urge to make verbal jabs at her.
>You’re angry with her (to say the least) and you want her to know it.
>”Are you going to insult your queen now?”
>Ha!
“You’re not my queen.”
>A grin slowly takes shape on her face.
>Oh no, what now?
>”I am as much your queen as anyone could ever be now.”
>What a load of shit.
“I’m not your citizen. I haven’t sworn any kind of loyalty to you, and I’m definitely not about to.”
>”Perhaps.”
>She merely tilts her head and looks at you.
>”But I own you. Your mine as much as any of my subjects. Even more than them, really.”
>You consider it for a brief moment.
>It… makes sense. In a way.
>In that disheartening sort of way.
“I still don’t feel very devoted to you.”
>”Doesn’t matter. Whatever I want is what you must act according to already, as it is. You know that.”
>She had gained an annoying air of superiority now.
>She’s enjoying herself.
“So I’m just supposed to tolerate all the crap you do without any complaints?”
>She gives you a malicious smile.
>You loathe it.
>”Yes.”
>Fuck that.
“I’m not going to.”
>Her smile fades somewhat.
>Annoyance appears.
>”Rebellious, then?”
>She gives you a long, intense look.
>Something about her green, slitted eyes become particularly…
>predatory.
>”I wonder if I could beat that out of you.”
>Oh shit.
>Did you go too far?
>Should you just have kept your mouth shut instead of trying to tell her how much of a bitch she’s been?
>Goddammit, of course she wouldn’t give a shit about being a bitch!
>You sit tight and stare back at her.
>Keeping your composure, at least on the outside.
>The warm water, while soothing, doesn’t entirely ease your tension in this situation.
>This goes on for a few moments.
>You look at each other in silence.
>Then Chrysalis suddenly looks away and frowns.
>Thinking.
>A small degree of relief washes over you.
>Is she thinking about not fucking you up?
>”… Maybe I can improve a few things.”
>Her eyes return to you.
>She no longer looks like she’s about to murder something.
>Namely you.
>She still looks a little annoyed, though.
>You stay quiet. Just to be safe.
>”Very well. I’ll allow you more… comfort.”
>She doesn’t look very happy saying that.
>You figure it hurts her pride or something like that.
>You’re pretty damn happy hearing it, though.
>Now you just hope it’s not another sadistic trick.
>… Yeah, you REALLY hope it’s not another trick.
>But you should probably say something.
“… Thanks.”
>She just snorts.
>”There’s no need for that. I may have been letting myself get carried away with you.”
>She turns around and stands up.
>Walking to the edge of the pool, she steps out of the water.
>It runs off her dark body in rivulets while her soaked mane and tail cling to her form.
>One of the four changelings suddenly appears with a large, richly patterned towel.
>Chrysalis’ horn glows and the towel begins drying her on its own.
>You stand up and begin to follow her.
>”No. You stay in there.”
>You stop.
>She doesn’t turn around to look at you.
>”I don’t need you to follow me now. You may enjoy yourself for a bit longer.”
>She sounds strangely angry, so you don’t question her.
>Besides, now you get the pool to yourself again.
>”My guards will take you back when it’s time.”
>Wrapping the towel around herself, she walks towards the exit.
>The four changelings gather themselves between you and the Queen, returning their full attention to you.
>Diligent folks.
>You hear the heavy door closing as Chrysalis leaves.
>Right, well, back to bathing, then.
>You give the four changelings a final look as they all have their weird eyes set on you-
>No, wait.
>One of the mares is looking at something further down.
>…
>Whoa!
“Hey! Eyes up here.”
>Her eyes immediately dart back up to your own.
>The others give her a quick glance.
>One of the stallions snickers.
>You lower yourself further into the comfortable water, letting it envelop you to your neck again.
>Getting checked out by a changeling feels a little odd.
>... But maybe also a little flattering.
>And after the conclusion to the conversation with Chrysalis you’re feeling pretty good.
”You can look, but don’t touch.”
>That makes the others chuckle while the mare in question looks surprised.