//------------------------------//
// Epilogue  
// Story: Solar Child: Burden of the Crown 
// by Bakmah Genesis 
//------------------------------//

       Chrysalis' hooves padded softly in the grass as she walked through the Whitetail Woods.  The birds chirped their happy tunes while her mother-in-law's sun poured its light down onto her.  She had a sad smile on her face as she walked towards her destination.

The familiar surroundings around her made her smile as she took it all in.  It felt so serene and calm  that it made one completely forget about the gray grave marker that stuck out of the ground in a small clearing.  Chrysalis stopped in front of the two hundred year old grave stone and laid in front of it, tears slowly falling down her cheeks.  

Here lies changeling Queen Metamorphosis, a loving mother and strong ruler.
1236 B.N. - 813 A.C.

"Hey mom." said Chrysalis softly.  "It's been three years, but I'm back.  That invasion thing was a bust.  You would probably roll over in your grave and laugh at me and tell me how right you were about that being a stupid idea.  But, I actually helped my friends confess to each other.  Now they're married and have beautiful twin alicorns.

"I also found somepony.  A princess of Equestria, if you would believe it.  Her name Is Trixie.  I remember you always saying I needed to give you grandfoals.  Well, you have one.  And a daughter in law.  I've been busy."  Chrysalis laughed softly.  "I miss you."

The clearing was quiet except for the slight breeze and chirping of birds.  The forest it's usual cheery self.  Chrysalis smiled and scanned the clearing.

"I remember you taking me here when I was but a pupa.  We can here a lot in those days.  You said this is were you met father before he left.  Even after two hundred years they haven't found his body.  It's sad, really.  I hoped Nympha could at least meet one of her other grandparents."  She laid her head on her hooves and looked at the grave stone.

"One day, when she is older, I will bring her to see you.  I exchange, I want you to look after her.  I'm High Queen of the Changelings and wife of one of the royal family.  Our life is not easy and not exactly safe.  Please, watch over your granddaughter."

"Chrysalis?"  Chrysalis looked behind her to see a worried Trixie staring at her.  She sighed and patted the spot next to her.  Trixie laid down next to her and examined the stone before her, reading the engraving before her.

"How old were you when she died?" she asked, looking over at her wife.

"Just barely one hundred.  Still pretty young in terms of alicorns."

"Was she still young?" asked Trixie, looking at the dates.  She must have been two thousand years old.

"Around thirty in pony terms.  Our parents would be fourty."  Chrysalis chuckled.  "Look at me.  Talking about the past like an old pony."  They lapsed into a silence, only broken by Trixie.

"Can I talk to her?"  Chrysalis motioned to the grave stone with a wave of her hoof, telling her to go on ahead.  "I guess you're my mother-in-law now, even if dead.  I don't know how much you worry for your daughter, but I made my vows for a reason, and I intend on keeping them."  She kissed the bottom of her hoof and placed it on the smooth stone.  "Rest in peace, sweet Metamorphosis."

"You don't even know the changeling yet you bless her grave?" asked Chrysalis, shocked. Trixie smiled and kissed her on the forehead.

"I hardly knew you and yet I'm married to you and have a wonderful daughter that you helped create.  And since she gave me you, how can I not show my thanks." said Trixie.  Chrysalis smiled and leaned their foreheads together.

"You really have a heart of pure gold, you know that?" 

"If you knew me back when I went by The Great and Powerful Trixie, you wouldn't be saying that." said Trixie, smirking.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie?" asked Chrysalis, confused.  Trixie laughed.

"Yes, Trixie knows she is great and powerful, peasent." said Trixie, putting on a wave of self-righteousness.  Chrysalis could see she was laughing on the inside.

"You were a showmare?" asked Chrysalis, chuckling.

"Yeah.  It was so embarrassing.  Thankfully mother came on in and pulled me out of it." said Trixie, calming down.

"And I'm glad she did so." said Chrysalis, laying her head on Trixie's shoulder.  Trixie nuzzled her and stood up.  

"Come on.  Twilight would probably like us to take back Nympha."  Chrysalis nodded and stood up.  They took one last look at the grave.  Chrysalis teleported off.  Trixie was about to follow when she stopped.  She smiled and lit her horn.  Once the spell was finished, she smiled and teleported off.

A single silver rose sat in front of the grave.  To forever last as a marker of the late queen.

~The End~