She was surrounded by her ungrateful subjects, their fangs bared and their wings buzzing with anger. "You failed us!" a young female named Nara cried. "We've not eaten in days! We're starving!" She flashed her fangs and advanced towards her Queen one menacing step at a time.
A young male named Cultus gave a low growl deep in his throat that ended in a loud wail of, "GET HER!"
The Queen flew up into the air, her green eyes flashing with fear. Cultus flew fangs-first at her face, and she used her magic to shoot a crooked beam of green light at him, causing him to fall to the ground, lifeless. Nara screamed; Cultus had been her mate. Queen Chrysalis cursed her crooked horn for never letting her shoot out a straight beam of magic and dodged the attack of a twelve-year-old male named Bruto. "Please… stop!" she cried. She caught Bruto in her front hooves and held him in front of her as if he were a shield. "Look at this innocent thing! He's practically still a larva! Do not fight, my subjects!"
Nara wailed, "She murdered the only changeling I've ever loved! KILL HER!" Tears were streaking her black pelt as she wept out these words. Nara slowly rose up into the air, letting her tears fall freely. She shot a beam of black magic at Chrysalis, but it hit Bruto straight in the heart. The young changeling convulsed in Chrysalis's hooves, his eyes bulging. He gasped, then lay still.
Bruto's mother shrieked, shooting a beam of magic at Nara and killing her instantly. "There," she said in a voice that was grim and numb at the same time, "join your lover, you rotten killer." She looked to Chrysalis and growled, "If you hadn't been holding my son, he would still be alive." Her glowing blue eyes clouded with madness. "You deserve to die!" she spat.
Chrysalis was speechless. Three of her subjects had died within ten minutes, she had been told to die, a subject had screamed that they should kill her, and she had killed one of her own subjects. With that, she fled.
XXX
Chrysalis awoke with a start, her sparkling green eyes wide with fear and her entire body covered in an ice-cold sweat. For a moment, she was back in the horrible hive, staring at the dead bodies of little Bruto, passionate Cultus, and distraught Nara. She shook her head softly, turning over and finding herself nose-to-nose with Braeburn. Her touch woke him up, and she saw him flush in the dark.
"Ma'am," he acknowledged sheepishly.
"Hello," Chrysalis answered in an even tone, remembering the fireworks that had exploded behind her eyes when she had kissed him. "How did we get-" She looked around: they were outside, lying on a blanket and observing the stars. "Outside," she finished.
Braeburn smiled. "Well, you fell asleep and I dragged this here blanket outside with you on it. Seein' as you were sleepin' on it, I thought you might wanna wake up to the beautiful country sky. I was hopin' I wouldn't wake you up. Looks like I succeeded." He offered another smile. "Guess I fell asleep too." He didn't mention the kiss.
"Braeburn," the Queen said quietly, "I was hoping… that I might… stay here for a bit. Maybe… a bit longer than we'd both planned."
Braeburn leaned forward and nuzzled her muzzle. "I was hopin' you'd say that." With that, he turned back over and promptly began to snore loudly.
Chrysalis was mildly shocked; she didn't see how somepony could fall asleep that quickly. She closed her black-lidded eyes and tried to relax, but found the only thing that would relax her was wrapping Braeburn in her front legs.
XXX
The sandy-colored Earth pony woke up to a pearly dawn, opening his mouth in a wide, contented yawn. He looked down and saw that a pair of black-furred legs were wrapping him in a vice grip. He could've lain there forever… until he noticed the farmers just beginning to come out of their houses. "Miss Chrysalis!" Braeburn hissed. "Ma'am! Wake up!"
Chrysalis opened her eyes and let out a lazy yawn. "Yes?"
"I dunno how to say this without offendin' ya, but the other farmers are comin' out of their houses now. I think I'd be better if-"
"They did not see me?" Chrysalis finished for him. Seeing his guilty-looking nod, she smiled. "Don't fret, Earth pony. I understand. What's more, I agree." She unwrapped her vice grip and fluttered into the air. "It's good to stretch my wings." Her green eyes sparkled. "I have an idea." She lifted Braeburn into the air and flew into the clouds.
Braeburn shook with fear and excitement. He looked up into the magnificent Queen's eyes. "Miss Chrysalis?" he asked in shaky voice. "Whatever ya do… just don't drop me."
Chrysalis gave a small chuckle. "I won't," she promised. "Don't worry, dear Braeburn. Flying is quite exhilarating." She then dropped him.
Braeburn's stomach dropped as he fell through the air. Tears leaked out of his eyes. How could she betray me? he thought. Serves me right for thinking a beautiful being like her would ever fall for me. I'm just an Earth pony… she's an alicorn. It'd never last. Just then, a bubble of green light enveloped him, and he rose again. He was tapped in a softly glowing, floating green bubble. He rose up next to the Queen whose eyes were twinkling. "I thought you betrayed me!" he blurted out with a crooked smile.
Queen Chrysalis giggled. "I would never even dream of it. Just wanted to… what is it called? Ah, yes. Prank you. There's the word. I just wanted to prank you." She gave the green bubble a tap with her hole-riddled hoof and gave a merry grin. The bubble ripped all over, but stayed strong and floating next to her. "You can fly this way."
Braeburn smiled and put his hooves against the side, prompting causing it to do a turn and make him fall. He chuckled and tried to stand, stumbling but finally catching his balance. "Thank you ma'am," he said, and he meant it.