It shouldn't have been a big deal. Celestia was kidnapped or knocked out or just generally made to seem powerless by whatever idiot with ill intent decided to show up on a nearly weekly basis. As the mighty and immortal Sun Princess, she could escape at any time, but she was happy to play these little games. The daring rescues and bloodless battles gave her ponies such a sense of confidence and purpose!
But this one didn't go as planned. One small, stupid mistake got her thrown to the twisted reaches of the world-prison, Tartarus. Now alone, unarmed, and barely more than mortal, Celestia wakes in a living landscape where everything has every reason to hate her.
And, far worse, she has accidentally picked up a passenger.

Sidenote: This a repost (I tried to go through official channels, I promise!) of a story I wrote long, long ago on an account I foolishly deleted. Back in those days, Tartarus hadn't shown up in an actual episode yet. It's not exactly an alternate universe situation, but it has nothing to do with the canon portrayal of the place.

Super amazing cover art by Cold In Gardez.

Revenge is such an easy concept on paper, yet takes a great deal of effort, intellect and dilligence to achieve in reality. Especially so when your rivals and opponents are the Heroes of Equestria themselves.

But no matter. Everypony has their weaknesses, and everypony eventually falls prey to assuring too much trust and confidence in others when they really shouldn't.

She needed to become invisible to these ponies. To just be another member of Ponyville. Crackle Cosette, the casual photographer, no different from Mayor Mare, Nurse Redheart or all the others.

Just a splotch of colour from afar. Nopony to pay attention to, or to distrust. Just one of many to cheer the heroes on from the background.

Written for Bean's Writing Group under the prompt of 'Chrysalis secretly lives as a pony in Equestria' and 'Entire fic as an inner monologue' as a bonus prompt.

Check the group out, and ask the admins for a Discord invite if you're interested in writing some awesome prompts, as well!

For so long, Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow stood paralyzed in their stone cacoon; unable to move. To speak. To do anything. But that didn't mean they couldn't see or hear everything around them. For age after age.

The Russian version here.

That isn't Fiddlesticks. That isn't her. That isn't her. That isn't her.

info

the current draft is an entry into The Red Parade's The First FiddleDust Festival

the first draft was an entry into the Quills and Sofas Speedwriting Group's Anonymous Contest 2, hosted by The Red Parade

thank you to iAmSiNnEr for moral support