>Alone in Chrysalis’ room, you sit on her bed. >It’s a comfortable bed, actually. >Soft and with some nice sheets. >The sheets are a shade of red eerily similar to blood, but that’s only a minor detail. >Although you wonder how Chrysalis might react on seeing you on it. >You imagine she’d be annoyed. >But then she shouldn’t keep you confined to this single chamber. >You kind of wish she’d let you wander around. >The place is huge and there must be a lot to see. >Not being able to read the books kept here is also a little frustrating. >Why can’t anyone write anything in English? >Most already speak the damn language. >Of course, your current level of movability is already a bit of a breakthrough. >And whenever you try to make her allow a little more, she basically threatens you with the old chain. >Alas, such is the way of the Changeling Queen. >Apparently. >The door suddenly bursts open and Chrysalis trots in. >Followed by a few changelings. >She stops and looks at you. >And her bed. >A brief moment of staring goes by. >Then she ignores you and walks over to her bookshelf, skimming through the titles of her books. >”We’re going to the library.” >The changelings, you see there’s six of them, take up places by the door. “The library?” >You didn’t know there was one. >”Yes, the library.” “Why?” >”Because I’m tired of not being able to find anything about you.” >Wait, she’s been studying you? ”I already told you where I’m from.” >You did, really. >Back when you were chained to the wall. >”Don’t give me that inter-dimensional nonsense again.” >Although she believed none of it. >And when the topic was quickly dropped, you thought that was the end of it. >Surprise, surprise. Apparently. “What would bringing me to your library help?” >You still can’t read anything. >”I want to know what you can read. What you know about. What region you’re from.” >You frown. >She’s taking her suspicions pretty seriously. >This could be either silly or bad. “If you can’t find anything about me, doesn’t that just show you I’ve been telling the truth?” >She turns around and gives you an irritated look. >”No. Just because you’re rare doesn’t mean any foalish story about ‘planets’ and other worlds is true.” >Well, bummer. >She’s being stubborn. >Again. >The changelings by the door exchange looks. “The princesses believed me.” >And holy shit did they enjoy the opportunity to learn about other planes of existence. >The endless questions… >A smug expression decorates Chrysalis' face. >”They’re only princesses.” >Of course she’d say something like that. “Yeah, you’re obviously so much better.” >Two ponies totally didn’t wipe the floor with your entire army. >Her smugness fades for a moment. >But then she smiles wolfishly. >”Exactly. And that is something you’d never forget, correct?” >She takes a few slow steps towards you with that malicious smile. >Oh come on! >Stop trying to make reminders about your imprisonment here. >… Hm… “Maybe. It all depends…” >She gives you a surprised look. >Ha! You’re not bullied that easily. >You notice the changelings stare at your exchange with the Queen. >You feel pretty daring, but decide to try something. “Is a queen more generous than simple princesses?” >She rolls her eyes. >”You’re not leaving.” >Damn it! “Why not?!” >”Because I want you here.” “Why?” >”Because I keep my things here.” “Why?” >”Because this is my personal chamber.” “Why?” >She opens her mouth, but then glares at you. >Yeah, you’re starting to feel a little stupid too. >Okay, no more kiddy techniques. >You hear a changeling giggle by the door. >He’s silenced by a harsh glance from Chrysalis. >”No more of this. We’re going to the library.” “You won’t learn anything.” >”We’ll see about that.” “No, I’m pretty serious.” >”As am I. “ >She gives you a look that quite clearly says ‘end of discussion’. >In her irritable state, you don’t dare push things further.   >Like most other things in Chrysalis’ city-castle-hive, you expected the library to be enormous. >You’ve already seen the one in Canterlot Castle, which was a very respectable size. >This is pretty similar. >The biggest difference is the height of the bookshelves. >These are honestly really tall. >Then again, you’ve yet to see a changeling that can’t fly. >You’re placed in the center, surrounded by rows of stuffed bookshelves, by a wide table. >A couple of changelings are fetching books and placing them on the table for Chrysalis’ perusal. >Chrysalis shows you a map of Equestria. >… and then some? >Curiosity sparks. >You pick up the old paper and look it over properly. >Everything is drawn with simple black. Ink, you assume. >And you recognize Equestria, of course. >You’ve seen maps of it plenty of times before. >But that’s only one of the continents on this map. “Hey…” >Chrysalis looks at you. “What’s all this?” >The northern Crystal Empire is depicted in detail, along with other landmasses both to the north and south that you have no clue what are. >”It’s a map.” >Duh. “I mean, what’s all this besides Equestria.” >She frowns. >”Equestria isn’t the whole world.” >Well, yeah. >You had figured as much even before seeing this. “Can I get names for this stuff?” >She raises an eyebrow. >And says nothing. >You look at her. “What?” >”You’re trying hard.” >Now you frown. >Her stubborn suspicions are getting annoying. >A changeling suddenly drops a heavy book right next to you. >He gives you a weird look before flying off again. >Huh? ”Wha-“ >”Open the book.” >Chrysalis looks at you rather calmly. >You obey, and open it to its first page. >Skimming over its writings… >Well, the system doesn’t look entirely nonsensical like some of the stuff you saw back in Chrysalis’ room. >But no. This shit is gibberish to you. “I don’t know what this is.” >”Of course you don’t.” >Oh for the love of…! “Do you have a pen and paper?” >You decide to show her something. >Chrysalis gives you a suspicious look. >You look back calmly, despite your growing annoyance. >With a wave of her hoof, a changeling is sent to fetch what you asked. >The changeling mare brings you parchment and quill. >And a bottle of ink, luckily. >Dipping the quill, you write a message in your own native language: Good ol’ English. >’You fucking cunt.’ >After setting the final dot, you hand the parchment to Chrysalis. >With a confused look and a glowing horn, she takes it and reads it. >Or tries to. >She’s visibly perplexed. >It’s, admittedly, a pleasing sight. >She spends a few moments studying the letters. >You allow it and just watch her in silence. >You guess she’s trying to compare it to common Equestrian. >Or some other language. She seems to know quite a few. >”… What does it say?” >Probably shouldn’t tell. “So it’s unlike anything else you’ve seen before?” >As she looks at you, her eyes display a mix of acknowledgement and resentment. >You take it as a ‘yes’. “Good.” >She magically puts the paper down. >And stares at it. >She’s thinking. >It looks like some important pieces of a puzzle are coming together in her head. >About time, you think. >”How can you be from another world?” >You shrug. >Hell if you know, honestly. >It’s not like you came here willingly. >Another changeling comes flying with its buzzing wings, dumping a book on the growing stack on the table next to Chrysalis. >”That’s enough.” >With a lazy wave of her hoof she dismisses the minion. >Her former frustration and irritability seems to become replaced with a sense of defeat. >She turns back to you. >”How did you get here?” >You shrug again. “It just sort of happened.” >Chrysalis stares at you with very, very obvious disbelief. “It’s true!” >It is. >Maybe it was some sort rare natural phenomenon that sucked you into Equestria. >But one day you were just suddenly there. “I don’t know what happened. But ‘pop!’ and I was in Equestria.” >Chrysalis still looks like you’re full of shit. ”I’m serious. I didn’t make it happen, it happened on its own. Out of my control.” >You put your hands up defensively. >For emphasis. >Her disbelief eventually seems to turns to weariness. >”Alright.” >She looks disappointed. >You get the feeling it’s not just about your lack of an explanation, but the situation as a whole. >Then again, she was pretty stubborn about not believing you. >Now you give her a weird look. ”I thought you’d already accepted all this, though.” >She’d already called you ‘unique’ before. >Didn’t that mean…? >Chrysalis raises an eyebrow at you. >”Why?” “You already thought I was unique.” >She taps her chin with a hoof while thinking. >”Oh, that.” >And then she smiles. >A playful, wicked smile. >”I was just playing with you.” >Oh really? >Way to have that come back and bite you in the ass. >You smile at her. ”So much for playing.” >”Yes.” >She looks at you. >Really LOOKS at you. >… It’s a little creepy. “Something wrong?” >”Hm…” >Oh no, what now? “What?” >”You know, it seems I was wrong about you.” >Well, duh. >A smile appears across her face. >Her sharp teeth are bared as it slowly grows into a grin. >Uh oh. “Obviously. So?” >She giggles softly. >”When I first stole you from the princesses, I thought I had snatched an exotic individual.” >Okay? >She gets up from her seat. >Starts walking around the table, coming closer. >”I assumed you were from one of the more rare tribes of ape from the south.” >Figures. >She certainly saw you as an ape, that was already pretty damn clear. >Her intense stare, coupled with that unnervingly delighted grin, makes you uneasy. >And she keeps coming closer. >You stand up and abandon your small chair. >”You had your odd boasts about being perfectly unique, coming from somewhere outside this world entirely.” >She chuckles to herself. >An endearing sound if it wasn’t coming from that scary bughorse. >”What a claim.” >You slowly back away while she comes closer. >”Again, I assumed you had enjoyed too much attention from ponies and decided to maximize your gains.” >You notice all the paths between the many bookshelves blocked by changelings. >You can only wander around the table in pointless circles. >”Little did I know…” >She leaves the sentence unfinished and tilts her head, looking at you in a way that makes your skin crawl. >Her utter delight is frightening. >”And in my foalish stubbornness, you actually tried to enlighten me about your true nature!” >You keep up your incredibly slow chase around the table. >Never letting her come too close for comfort while she constantly approaches you. >She leans forward and speaks softly. >”It was very sweet of you.” >Somehow you don’t feel flattered. >Goddammit, why does she have to be such a scary bitch all the time?! >”Now, imagine my astonishment…” >She stands up straight. >As straight as a quadruped can get, anyway. >”… when I think I snatch a rare foreign creature. But instead get…” >Her eyes move down and back up your form. >She then smiles with unhidden glee. >”… something much better.” “Yeah, okay, that’s great, but this is getting weird.” >You can’t stop yourself from letting her know. >Because you’re entirely serious. >Chrysalis stops her walk and laughs. >Loudly. >Her wicked laughter resounds through the library. >She’s enjoying herself a bit more than you like. To say the least. >And then her focus settles back on you. >”Don’t be scared! I wouldn’t allow anything bad to happen to my most precious of things.” >Yeah right. “Pretty sure we’ve been over this before. You haven’t always been very nice.” >She just smiles. >In a sly, ill-intentioned way. >”My apologies. Perhaps I didn’t fully understand what I was dealing with.” >This all feels really, really bad. >Should’ve kept your damn mouth shut and let Chrysalis be an idiot about it. >”But…” >She taps her chin with a hoof while giving you a questioning look. >”What ever could I do with something like you?” >Her tone isn’t very serious, of course. “… How about letting me go?” >Aaaand with all your worry, you go and say something stupid. >Dumb question, fucktard! >But Chrysalis only giggles. >”Oh dear, do you still want to leave? After all this time together.” >You can’t resist frowning. >”And now it feels like we’re only just starting to get to know each other properly.” >Uh, no? >Maybe Chrysalis is finally getting the hang of what you are. >Which honestly surprises you. She usually seems smarter than this. >But you already feel like you understand her nature well enough. ”I’d honestly prefer to be stuck with someone else.” >She sighs. >Overly dramatically. >”A pity. You’re such an interesting thing and you only want to leave me.” “Yeah, it’s such a surprise.” >Chrysalis chuckles. >”You’ve always amused me, you know.” >Sure, she’d given you that impression alright. >Her fangs are bared in another unnerving grin. >”But now I admit you begin to fascinate me.” >Wonderful. >Just wonderful. “Somehow I’m not all that flattered.” >”Oh, but you should be! What could be a greater compliment than a Queen’s interest?” >She gives you a totally-full-of-herself smile. >Yeah, she’s playing with you. “I’ve had that for a while now.” >Her eyes move down as she seems to ponder. >”… Hm… I suppose so.” >And she grins again. >”But now I have even more reason to hold on to you.” >Your turn to sigh. >Chrysalis giggles. >”Don’t fret. You and I can get along just fine when we really try.” >Maybe. >You still feel like watching out, though.