Celestia had been a fool to trust one stallion with the protection of the city, Captain of the Guard or not. It was almost too easy – she simply had to marry him as Cadance, and slowly convince him that the threat had passed and there was no need for that silly shield anymore. Once it was gone, her children would come in and claim the city as their own.
It hadn’t gone quite so smoothly – Twilight Sparkle’s discovery of the real Cadance had forced her to reveal herself prematurely. But Shining Armor had been firmly in her hoof, and his love was strong enough that even Celestia couldn’t stop her.
Chrysalis looked out over Canterlot and saw her children at work. No waiting, no subtlety, no mind games. Canterlot would be forcibly routed, and the rest of Equestria, whether through might or deception, would soon follow.
Shining Armor was free now, but it mattered little; he was too weak to activate the shield again. When Cadance declared that her love would strengthen him, she scoffed. Love was food for her and her children, nothing more.
Too late, she felt the magic growing behind her. A wave of energy hit her like a charging manticore, casting her and her children back to the wastelands from where they had emerged.
The changelings had been defeated, but they were not gone forever. Chrysalis would wait as she always had. She would bide her time and plan all the while.
And when her hunger grew too much to bear, she would strike again.