Buried Heart

>In the still of the night, you drag yourself home to your tiny one bedroom apartment from work, thanking the heathen pony goddesses for the weekends.
>Once you close the front door behind you, you begin leaving a trail of your clothes as you disrobe on your way to bed.
>Now in your room, you smile softly at the ever so firm but still soft enough mattress that cost the bulk of your salary last month.
>Slowly you ease yourself in under the covers and rest your head on the cool pillows.
>The moon even disappears behind a cloud, as if sensing your oncoming slumber.
"Yeah like she'd do me that favor."
>Subconsciously your hand moves to turn on the alarm, but you stop yourself in time and simply readjust your position in bed.
>Your eyes close and you slip away into your own little dreamworld.
>The ringing of a telephone however rips you from your sleepy little fantasies and as you look around the room for your phone the memories from that dream vanish.
>You pick up the receiver just as another ring starts up and you answer with a curt "What?"
>The other end is silent for a moment.
>"Sorry Anon, I kinda figured you'd be asleep but it's an emergency."
"Who is this?"
>"Right, my voice" The caller clears their throat briefly before speaking up again.
>"H-hello Anonymous."
>If you'd never heard her voice again it would be too soon.
"Chrysalis. To what do I owe the displeasure?"
>"Can you come pick me up? I'm at the Neigh Jersey Police Headquarters and this is my only phone call."
"Why didn't you call one of your changeling spies or one of the other villains?"
>"Because your opinion of me can't get any lower and I'm no Queen anymore."
>Well, she's not wrong.
"Fucking hell. How much is the bail?"
>"Five."
"The next word out of your mouth better not be 'thousand' or I'm hanging up."
>"I-It's not! I was gonna say 'hundred' actually."
>You pinch the bridge of your nose and look over at the clock.
>3:37 is what it reads in its orange glowing numbers.
"The trains don't start running until six. And it'll be AT LEAST half a day's ride to get there."
>"I'm... really sorry Anon."
"If I was gonna say no, I would've done so already. Let me guess, don't tell the Princess?"
>"Please?"
"Not like they'd believe me anyway, but we're gonna have a long talk on the way back."
>"Okay, I'm going to be the green unicorn mare named Lovebug."
"Genius fucking disguise there, I'm going back to bed."
>"Sleep tight? And thanks Anon."
"Yeah whatever." You say as you hang up the phone.
>With a tired sigh, you set your alarm for 5:30 and luckily the combination of physical exhaustion and mental exasperation are enough to put you back to sleep.

>The alarm rings but you quickly cut it off and move to a seated position on the edge of your bed.
>Scratching your head, you recall last night's conversation and with an aggravated growl, you force yourself the rest of the way out of bed and start getting dressed.
>The sun is only just peaking over the horizon as you head towards the train station.
>It's been so long since your sentencing that most ponies just accept your presence in the background, mostly thanks to your good behavior.
>It doesn't even occur to the sleepy mare behind the ticket counter that you aren't actually allowed to leave the town without a police escort.
>Then again it's not like she even looked up from her magazine as you slid the money through the slot to pay for your ticket.
>Between the clothes and the bits in your bag, you could probably ride this train right out of the country and start fresh.
>Of course by not showing up to work on Monday, you'll likely just incur the wrath of the powers that be.
"Shit rolls downhill and I'm stuck in a ditch."
>As the train rolls down the tracks, you try your best not to draw attention to yourself and catch some sleep in hopes of keeping the past buried in your thoughts.
>Even if you were heading straight for the source of your troubles.

>At least you managed to rest comfortably for the duration of the train ride, but whether it's lucky or not that you woke up in time for your stop is still up for debate.
>Stepping off onto the platform, you adjust the strap of your bag so that it sits across your chest to deter any would be thieves as the last time you were in this cesspool of a city, you were robbed of several belongings including one cheap pair of sunglasses and an ice cream cone.
"Damn bird horses."
>Some random nearby pegasus shoots you a dirty look, but the glare you fire back is enough to spook him.
>Once street side you hail a taxi cart and luckily it doesn't seem that your reputation precedes you here as you're able to flag one down quickly enough.
"Police Headquarters, and make it quick." You hold a stack of bits over the cash box and once the driver nods his approval, you let the money fall in.
>The pony makes a few slight adjustments to his straps before taking off at a nice canter and overtaking other carts that were merely trotting along.
>"So what brings you to our fine city big fella?"
"Business. I'll give you another five bits if you can cut the small talk too."
>"Spoken like a true businessman." He mutters to himself.
>If only he knew.

>Once you arrive at the station, you pay the pony his fare and the five extra bits you promised for the added quiet.
"Much appreciated." You say exiting the cart and as he trots off back into traffic, you briefly wonder if it's not too late to just go back home.
>Then again you've come this far.
>The why of it still escapes you however.
"Well, not getting anywhere just standing here."
>Taking a deep breath, you walk through the big double doors of the Police Station and approach the front desk.
>"Can I help you... Sir?" The receptionist behind the desk asks as she looks you over.
"Yeah I'm here to bail out my idiot friend."
>"We have a lot of idiots waiting for bail, it IS the weekend after all."
"*sigh*Green unicorn mare, her names... Lovebug."
>"*tch*Damn Hippy Ponies, I'd never call my foal that. Bail's five hundred bits."
>You drop the heavy sack onto the counter causing the money to jingle.
>The receptionist looks at the pile.
"A traveler's check would've sufficed, but I'll go get her paperwork ready."
>Eventually an officer escorts the mare you know to be the changeling queen in disguise out to the front before undoing the magic cuff on her horn.
>"Try to keep your woman out of trouble will you? We got a big enough problems in this city without ponies "looking for love" like her." He barks as he pushes her off towards you.
"I'll make it my top priority officer." You roll your eyes to hopefully get the sarcasm across.

>Heading out with 'your woman' in tow, you hail another cab and luckily your namesake lives up to itself as you're quickly able to find another ride.
>Hopping into the cart, Chrysalis quietly takes the seat next you.
"Train station, not looking for small talk."
>"Um, Anon. I'm pretty hungry."
>You ready a scowl for the insect, but when her stomach rumbles, you realize it had been longer than just the time she spent behind bars she's gone without a meal.
"For fuck's- alright. Can you swing us through a drive through?"
>"You got it pal, anything in particular."
"Chrys?"
>"I could really go for a hayburger."
"You heard her."
>With that, the cabbie pulls into a nearby queue to place the orders and after a few carts move on it's your turn to order as a young pimple faced stallion slides open the window to greet you.
>"Welcome to Burger Barn, may I take your order?"
"Yeah, gimme two orders of the "Double Haymaker Burger", a footlong hot dog, NOT haydog because you do not want me coming back there and three large milkshakes."
>"What would you like on your hot dog sir?"
"Just fuck my shit up with sauerkraut and mustard."
>"And for the shakes?"
"I'll have vanilla and what do you two want?"
>"Wait I'm getting one?" The mare pulling your cart asks confusedly.
"Why else would I order three meals? What kind of milkshake?"
>"Chocolate I guess?"
"Alright, and you chrys?"
>"I-I'll have the same."
"Yeah one vanilla and two chocolate."
>"Okay that'll be fifteen bits, next window please."
>Removing yours and Chrysalis' meals from the bag, you put the remainder up front for the driver who uses her magic to sip on the milkshake while resuming your trip to the train depot.
>The girls allow you to eat in silence as you absentmindedly take in the scenery.
>At least what little scenery downtown Neigh Jersey has to offer.
"Fuck me." You mutter under your breath as you pick off the bit of sauerkraut that fell on your shirt and admire the new mustard stain that adorns it.
>At least they got your order right.

>Finally arriving at the station, you pay the cabbie her fare who then pulls over to the side to enjoy her burger.
>With Chyrsalis in tow, you ask for a room in the sleeper car and pay for the tickets.
>Once again, you're able to board the train without so much as a second look from anyone else and once the two of you enter the room, Chysalis drops her disguise revealing the same chitinous form you haven't seen in years.
"What the hell am I even doing here?" You ask yourself.
>"Helping out an ex girlfriend?" She says nervously.
>Snapping, you grab her by the neck and push her up against the wall.
"Don't you fucking dare call yourself that." You say in a low tone that pushes the nervousness in her eyes all the way to fear.
>"I...'m sorry." she almost chokes on the words.
>Probably because you're actually choking her now.
>Releasing your grip, she falls back onto her hooves and begins gasping for the air you denied her.
"Three fucking years. It's been three years since you got caught impersonating Celestia and almost put me in jail."
>"I never meant to get you caught up in my plans, I was just gonna feed off of your love for her while my changelings integrated into Canterlot society."
"I appreciate the sentiment, too bad that's not what happened."
>"How could I not take advantage of your scheming ways? We did more for this country in those two years than she did in centuries of ruling."
"Yeah, damn shame you couldn't keep up with the lies and got us both caught. If it wasn't for Celestia's testimony I'd probably be rotting in Tarturus right now."
>You bury your face in your hands, wishing you had a stiff drink or at least a cigarette to settle your nerves.
"Two years? I can't believe you had me fooled for that long. Jesus, I wasn't even with Celestia that long before you swapped with her."
>"If it's any consolation, I was only able to fool you that hard because of how blindly devoted you were to her."
"You think I don't fucking know that? I had to have noticed something, but for the life of me I can't think of anything you did that she wouldn't have. Well besides take as much of my advice to heart as you did."
>She takes the opportunity to sit beside you, but a cross look pushes her to the end of the cot.
>"You probably could've taken over the world if it wasn't for me."
"Save the flattery. Celestia would've never accepted my brand of tyranny. I practically militarized the police force to keep the citizens from rioting against all the tax increases. Luckily with that money we were able to expand our infrastructure and bring in plenty of foreign business."
>Of course a lot of that was lost in the months after Chrysalis' defeat at the hands of the elements of harmony in which many of the changes you both made were reversed to "undo the harm" you both did to the economy.
"And now I'm blacklisted from being anything more than a desk jockey at some second rate insurance firm."
>Maybe if you hadn't been seen fighting along side "your queen" you could've played the victim better but as far as you knew it was just the elements trying to overthrow the Princess.
"But hey, at least you managed to escape being imprisoned."
>Crawling up onto the top bunk you lay down on your belly and watch the land roll along outside the window with Foal Mountain passing relatively slower in the distance.

>Chrysalis' crooked horn rises over the edge of the bed before the rest of her head follows suit.
>"I'm really happy you came for me though. I honestly didn't think you would."
"I honestly can't believe I did. I broke my parole, spent a good chunk of my current savings and now for some reason I'm riding in a train car with you instead of wringing your neck for what you did to me."
>"You kind of did do that earlier."
"That was for what you said, not revenge."
>"Then why haven't you gotten your revenge?"
"That's..."
>A very good question.
"I don't know. I should hate you with every fiber of my being, but all this anger I feel isn't even directed at you and I just can't decide what to do with it."
>You roll over to avoid her gaze and stare at the ceiling of the car.
>"Maybe it's because you don't hate me."
"Ha! That's rich, it should be obvious that I... hate you..."
>You turn your head back over to face her.
"Why don't I hate you?"
>Her wings buzz briefly while she tries to form the right words to hopefully keep her neck intact.
>"Since you're asking, I think it's because somewhere in all the lies and even after you learned the truth of what I did, you fell in love with me."
>Rolling off the bed, you land on the Queen and pin her down with your weight and she hardly puts up a fight when you grab her by the neck again.
>"That's," your already halfhearted choke weakens "exactly what she told me."

>Releasing your grip entirely, you help her up to her hooves and don't even bat an eye when she chooses to sit on the lower bunk next you.
"You stole me away from her, that's what Celestia had told me. Plus, because I technically broke so many of Equestria's laws by supporting your agenda she had no choice but to punish me."
>Chancing a peak to your side, you try to gauge her reaction, but she seems intent on hearing you out first.
"I asked her if after I served my sentence if we could pick up where we left off, but she just said "No.", and she didn't even try to blame it on the public opinion. She said it was because I could never love her the same way again and she just left it at that. I was confused, because if you were acting as Celestia then I was still in love with her right?"
>Faced with your question, Chrysalis risks leaning against you, but the urge to kill is non existent.
>"At first, yes, I did everything I could to emulate the Princess so as not to repeat my mistakes from when I attempted to take over Canterlot the first time. However, being your lover was something that I had to let you take the reigns with."
"Yeah, Celly always did love being pampered after all her usual duties."
>"Not only that, despite how easily I manipulated the stallion from before, you were different. Perhaps it's because you possess a stronger will than most, but at most all I could do was make you see and feel the Princess even when I wasn't disguised."
"That doesn't explain how I fell for you."
>"Because that didn't happen until I fell in love with you first." Her head tilts up to look into your eyes. "Your warmth changed me, although I had my plans to have my brood take their place in the city. Yet still I longed for our time together and it wasn't until it was too late that I realized that I was acting less like the Princess and more like myself. At least the myself that fell in love with you."
"So all the little changes was actually our relationship deepening."
>"At some point, everything you loved about her turned into everything you love about me."
>Her eyes close as she tries to move her face closer to yours.
"Hang on, this is just way too much."
>You can see a bit of disappointment in her features, but she quickly relents to laying down in the bunk.
"I understand. With all that's happened, I'm just happy that I was finally able to tell you my side of the story. And even after all these years, I still love you Anonymous."
>Her voice breaks through the haze of your memories from the last five years and you recall every time she said it in her normal voice rather than Celestia's.
>Bringing your hands up to your head, you fight the ache as your altered memories are restored and the reality of every hug, every kiss and every passionate embrace returns.
>Exhausted you lay down on the small bunk with her before before wrapping your arms around the former Queen.
>Despite the amount of exoskeletal portions on her body, there's still a large amount of black furred softness that feels almost entirely new to you, yet familiar thanks to the partial restoration of your memories.
>"Should I change into a pony?"
"No, no this is fine."
>"You don't know how much I missed this feeling. Thank you."
"I've been alone for a long time too, and this is something I've needed more than I care to admit."
>Feeling content with the warmth shared between you both, you quickly drift off to sleep.

>You awaken to the sight of Chrysalis staring at your face.
"See something you like?"
>"You already know the answer to that, I just thought that even after all this time you still have a funny sleeping face. Then again you've always had a funny face in general. My little monkey."
>It's been years since, well, since she's called you that.
"If I'm remember everything correctly now, it was actually you who started calling me that right?"
>"That's right, hopefully you're ready to hear it more often from now on."
"I guess we'll see about that, I take it you don't have a place to stay in Canterlot?"
>"Well I was hoping to impose on an old flame of mine."
"As long you're willing to find a way to pay him back, I'm sure that he'll be willing to put up with you."
>Donning her disguise once again, you and Chyrsalis leave the train station and head back to your apartment.
>"So any chance you can get me a job at that insurance firm you mentioned before?"
"I can tell you where it is, but don't even think of using me as a reference, I'll probably get you blacklisted too."
>"But if an aspiring young mare were to show up and start rising up the corporate ladder, I'm sure she could somehow turn a desk jockey into a secretary. Although he'd probably have more adviser like duties."
"It's probably not a great idea to try to rise to power again, even like this. Then again I fucking hate that place so as long as little miss motivated actually does what she's promised, who am I to turn down a promotion?"
>"This is the beginning of a beautiful relationship Anonymous. Maybe we can even rob a bank, you are a registered villain, even if you don't act like one."
"Just promise me you'll get a better disguise."
>"Fine, but I'll need a source of love to keep my powers working."
"I'm sure you can siphon off plenty from how populated this city is, but if an emergency comes up then I suppose I'll just have to let you use me."
>Opening the foor to your apartment, you hold the door for Chysalis who has to stop and wipe a tear from her eye.
>"I'm sorry, I just can't believe we can finally be together again."
"That's okay, but we're taking things one step at a time. No sense getting in over our heads again, and no more lies. At least not to each other."
>"I promise."
"Good, welcome home Chrysi."
>Today was a good day to split the rent in Equestria.