//------------------------------//
// Ch 5 - The Royals Duke It Out! 
// Story: Canterlot Friendship 
// by hattafan2593 
//------------------------------//

For what seemed like eternity, the two monarchs faced each other. Celestia's guards narrowed their eyes and crouched slightly, preparing for attack.

Finally, Chrysalis made the first move. She shot out a blast of magic that nearly anypony else would not be able to dodge. Celestia managed to do so with a speed and grace only an alicorn princess could possess. It took the onlookers a moment or two to realize their princess was in the air, her wings flapping majestically.

With the changeling queen's eyes on Celestia, the unicorn guards saw their chance and charged, their spears aimed high. But before they could strike, they were grabbed by tendrils of green magic and flung across the room.

Celestia teleported and gently levitated her guards to the ground.

"I will deal with the Queen. You" Celestia turned to the guard on her left. "find and awaken my sister. You," she turned to the other guard. "gather as many unicorn mages as you can find and strengthen the shield. Hold out as long as you can."

The guards bowed in acknowledgement, and then charged out the doors to fulfill their duties.

With a flicker of magic, Celestia sealed the doors and windows shut and cast several protective bubbles around her subjects, including Cadance and the Element Bearers, ensuring no pony would be hurt in the crossfire.

"Looking to put on a show, Celestia?" Chrysalis asked sarcastically.

Celestia merely raised an eyebrow. "Why not? You've already made a spectacle of yourself."

Scowling, Chrysalis fired a large magic blast. Celestia didn't even bother dodging this time, instead throwing up a shield, which completely dissolved the blast.

Chrysalis' scowl deepened, and she charged forward. Celestia met her halfway and their horns clashed.

"You think this is a game?!" Chrysalis hissed, visibly straining with effort.

"On the contrary," Celestia grunted. "Games are entertaining. This is merely pest control."

With a snarl, Chrysalis pushed away and fired a barrage, all of which Celestia dodged with ease.

And so it went on, both rulers firing and dodging attacks, Chrysalis becoming more visibly unhinged, Celestia not even flinching.

"Shining Armor's love has made you strong." Celestia commented, sending a strong blast. It hit Chrysalis in the chest and she flew backwards, hitting and rolling on the ground.

"But not strong enough." Celestia concluded grimly. 

The hall broke in applause at Celestia's apparent victory. Rainbow Dash whooped loudly as her friends stomped the ground in joy. Only Cadence and Twilight didn't cheer, sharing nervous glances. Something didn't feel right.....

Celestia slowly walked over to the fallen queen. Since her back was turned, Celestia didn't see her evil smirk.

"It's over." Celestia spoke with authority.

Chrysalis slowly turned, her smirk widening. "For you, maybe..."

Without warning, a blinding light burst from Chrysalis' horn, hitting Celestia square in the face. Celestia cried out and stumbled back, cursing herself for falling for such a trick. Powerful as she was, she still needed to be able to see. 

She didn't notice Chrysalis was upon her until it was too late. The changeling queen pressed her glowing horn to Celestia's, and to everypony's horror, Celestia's eyes began to swirl and glow green.

"No!" Twilight screamed, pounding on the protective bubble she was in.

"So, you really care about your subjects, don't you?" Chrysalis asked as green energy began to emit from Celestia's horn and was absorbed into Chrysalis'. "Let's see just how much you care."

Celestia struggled to break away, but Chrysalis' hold on her was too strong, and she gradually felt herself growing weaker.

Chrysalis sighed in bliss as she fed on the sun princess's love for her subjects. "Oh, yeesssssssss....."

Unable to bear any more, Twilight began blasting and kicking at the bubble, until it finally cracked and then shattered.

"Twilight!" Cadence cried, as the pony she foalsat for charged at the changeling queen.

"Let her GO!" Twilight screamed, firing a particularly powerful blast at Chrysalis.

It made contact, causing Chrysalis to release Celestia, who struggled to steady herself. But it was too late; Chrysalis had absorbed enough energy so that the blast had merely pushed her back. Chrysalis smirked, and Twilight's eyes widened in horrified comprehension.

Chrysalis fired a particularly deadly spell, one that Twilight knew she wouldn't be able to dodge in time. She squeezed her eyes shut and braced for impact...

She opened her eyes upon hearing a grunt of pain. Celestia stood in front of her, her wings spread wide, and her back smoking from Chrysalis' attack. Though she had been weakened, she was still strong enough to withstand a spell that would've killed an ordinary pony.

Twilight's eyes filled with tears. "Princess..."

"The elements..." Celestia choked out. "Find the elements. There our only hope now. Hurry. Hurry."

Celestia's face scrunched up as she unsealed the door and dissolved the bubble protecting the girls. Twilight swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded, determined to obey her princess's orders.

She was out the door and into the hall seconds later. The girls were right behind her, their discarded bridesmaid dresses flying into the air. 

Celestia turned to face her opponent, who was giggling madly midair.

"That was only a fraction of your love, and I'm already stronger than you!" Chrysalis cried in perverse glee. "I should've done this weeks ago."

Celestia stood her ground. "You will not succeed. Even if you beat me, you stand no chance against the elements! Harmony will prevail!"

Chrysalis shook her head, as if to a child who had said something foolish. "Oh Celestia...don't you see? I've already won."

She shot a beam of bright green magic at the same time Celestia fired a beam of golden magic. The two stayed locked into a stalemate for a minute or two. But ultimately, the weakened and injured Celestia was no match for the changeling queen, and green dwarfed the gold and struck her hard. 

She skidded across the floor, defeated and unconcious, her horn and back black and smoking. Her crown hit the floor with a loud clang, having been knocked off her head from the blast.

The onlookers looked on in terror and horror at the defeat of their monarch, not even noticing the protective bubbles dissolving or the magic fading from the windows. Chrysalis floated gracefully to the ground.

"Your time is up, princess. Oh! And speaking of time..." Chrysalis smiled as she turned to gaze out the windows. Everypony followed her gaze in time to see the shield covering Canterlot shatter completely.

Chrysalis' grin was feral. "Babies? It's snack time."