A Pony's Heart

by CTVulpin

Epilogue

“Sister, can you spare a moment?”

Celestia lowered the book she was reading and saw Luna standing in her doorway. “Of course, Luna,” she said. “Is something bothering you?”

“No,” Luna said, entering the room. “I just want to talk.” Celestia nodded and waited patiently as Luna obtained a cushion and took a few moments to arrange herself on it. At length, Luna asked, “What do you think of what I’ve just accomplished? With the Changelings.”

“I think you handled it quite well, Luna,” Celestia replied.

“And how does it compare to your recent accomplishments?” Luna asked.

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said.

“I’m referring to the events you’ve orchestrated in the last few years that have changed the state of Equestria,” Luna explained patiently.

“Ah,” Celestia said, setting her book down completely, “like putting Twilight in place to reawaken the Elements of Harmony and save you from the Nightmare?”

Luna rolled her eyes. “No,” she said, “because in the larger scheme of things, that was just restoring the status quo.”

“Reforming Discord, then?” Celestia asked.

“That’s had trivial repercussions, to be honest,” Luna retorted.

Celestia rested her chin on a hoof, thinking. “I give up, Lulu,” she said at last, “what are you-”

Luna slammed a hoof on the floor in frustration. “New alicorns, Tia,” she said. “That’s what I’m talking about. You set things in motion that resulted in Twilight Sparkle becoming an alicorn. And before that, you encouraged Cadance to be get married, and to Twilight’s brother at that! The stars only know what the fruits of that union are going to be like. We could have an alicorn for every major city in the kingdom in a couple generations, for all we know. Even if we don’t, our subjects’ perception of what being an alicorn princess means is being revised.” Luna paused and took a calming breath. “I don’t intend to sound critical,” she said. “I’m just wondering how you think that compares to how I just orchestrated the rise of a new Changeling Queen and changed the relationship of Changelings to ponies.”

“Hm,” Celestia said with a slight smile, “from what I hear, your ‘new Changeling Queen’ isn’t too keen on actually filling that role.”

“Oh, and Twilight was fully prepared to take on royal duties when you gave her wings?” Luna retorted. “Cabbage will adjust to her place in time. She’s actively working with her Changelings and her fellow performers to build a full theater group here in Canterlot. I’m taking that as a good sign.”

“Yes, I heard about that too,” Celestia said. “I think it’s a great idea to help Changelings and ponies learn to work together, but I’m not so thrilled at the rumors that Cabbage has given Chrysalis a position of authority in the group.”

“It’s true,” Luna said, “and neither am I, but Cabbage is adamant on the point. The one consolation is that Turnip holds a position of equal authority, to balance Chrysalis until –hypothetically – her attitude improves.” Luna sighed, and then fixed her sister with a hard look. “You’re still dodging around my question, Tia.”

“I don’t have an answer, Luna,” Celestia said. “We’ve both done things that will likely have profound impacts on the future, but it’s far too early to tell whether my new alicorns or your reformed Changelings will have a larger effect. Perhaps, in the end, they’ll both prove to be as trivial as you think reforming Discord has been.”

Luna pouted. “I guess you’re right,” she said.

Celestia chuckled at her little sister’s expression and slid over to hug her. “No matter what the importance of your actions proves to be for the future,” she said, “I still think you did a great thing for the ponies – and Changelings – of the present. I’m proud of you.”

Comments

[Keairan]

Thank you for finishing this up. I've been following this storyline since your first one on EQD. Kinda sad that this one didn't become more popular.

[CTVulpin]

7257412
Well, it's the latest in a long-running series, ties in pretty much every side-story, and depends on reading most of what comes beforehand to understand what's going on. It makes sense to me that not many people have the time or stamina to make it all the way here from Order-naries, or at least from SS,DC.

[Wydril]

The ending felt almost too-friendshippy. How can any of the changelings trust Chrysalis having a position of authority in their small group when they all rather strongly just rescinded her role as queen after multiple failures that nearly wiped them out? Cabbage wouldn't have...ascended if their belief in her wasn't true and genuine, and it was mostly fueled by their rejection of Chrysalis for not having working plans (while they all knew what historically happened to the then-former-queen).

It may be out of character for Cabbage to act it out, but fortunately there's two dozen revitalized changeling there who know how their species works. I really feel like the ending should have gone down a slightly darker path as far as Chrysalis was concerned.

I enjoyed the story overall, of course.

[CTVulpin]

7258387
The one thing that's stuck with Cabbage throughout her character arc is that she (like most Changeling Queens) gets extremely single-minded and stubborn about how to do things, even if those means become self-destructive. It takes a lot of effort or extraordinary circumstances to push her out of her comfort zone.
In her mind, keeping Chrysalis alive is part and parcel of her destiny to help Changelings. No one, pony or Changeling, is going to convince her otherwise until the anvil drops.

[Wydril]

7258429
Mmm. I'm assuming from your phrasing that the anvil will drop in the next story?

[CTVulpin]

7258445
That would be spoiling :P