Legacy

by Rinnaul


Extinction Event

Luna had been watching Twilight from the corner of her eye as they made their way through the halls. The youngest alicorn had said little throughout the trip, when in the past their rare interactions had often found them discussing her friends and their adventures, or other topics that might arise. She could tell that Twilight was in a pensive mood about something, and hints of anxiety shone through her face as clear as the stars. From her sister’s reaction to Twilight’s announcement, Luna knew she hadn’t expected Twilight to make this trip.

“Are you afraid, Twilight Sparkle?” she asked at last.

Twilight froze for just a moment, then shook her head and caught up to Luna. “I… am, I suppose. It doesn’t feel like the right word for it, though.”

“Apprehensive, then,” Luna clarified. “I could tell Celestia did not expect you to join me for this. Why did you, if you are uncomfortable with confronting the changeling queen again?”

“Because I should, I guess,” Twilight said with a sigh. “I know it isn’t the best reason, but Celestia had a point. The right thing isn’t always easy. If I’m going to be part of giving her this second chance, I need to be able to face her. That, and I’d just like to get over my own insecurities about it.”

Luna nodded. “Those are respectable intentions, and I’ll be glad to have you by my side as I speak with her.”

“Well… I don’t know about that.” Twilight slowed half a step and folded her ears back. “I don’t know if I can really deal with being face-to-face with her again, yet. I’ve probably already seen enough for my nightmares to come back as it is.”

It was Luna’s turn to pause, this time. “Nightmares coming back? You mean you had them after her first attack?”

Twilight nodded with a wry smile. “For months. A lot happened.”

Luna took a step back and hung her head. Dereliction of her duties and abandoning a friend in need—yet more fuel for her incessant guilt complex. “I am sorry, Twilight Sparkle.”

“What for?” Twilight asked, tilting her head. “I’m not a filly anymore. Bad dreams are something I should be able to handle on my own.”

Luna shook her head and looked Twilight in the eyes. “I am the guardian of the night, and that does not apply only to children. Yes, they need my help more than others, but that is the nature of being a child. My protection and aid are for everypony, not just foals.” She sighed and lowered her eyes. “It was I who let fear guide my hoof, and you suffered for my lack of action.”

“I sorry, Pri—er, Luna,” Twilight said, stepping forward. “I don’t think I understand.”

“I have never entered the dreams of you or your friends.” Luna brought her gaze back to Twilight. “Not directly, at least. I have guided them on a hooffull of occasions in the process of aiding others, but I have never entered your dreamscapes to observe your dreams, as I do for others.” She turned away again. “I was afraid of what I might find there, considering I was the first great foe you faced.”

“But Luna!” Twilight moved in front of her again and stepped towards her. “We don’t think of you that way, any of us. You’re the first pony we were able to help! You know each of us considers you a friend, right?”

“In my mind? Yes. In my heart, though?” She met Twilight’s eyes. “I have never been a very forgiving pony, particularly not of myself.” She shook her head and stepped past Twilight. “Come. We should not tarry here any longer.”

Luna began to make her way down the hall once more, but when Twilight hesitated to follow, Luna slowed to a stop, and turned her head back, giving Twilight a half-smile. “I do thank you for your words, Twilight Sparkle. I promise I will be there for you should these events cause those nightmares to return.”

“Thank you, Luna,” Twilight said, giving her a more earnest smile in return and beginning to follow her once again. “Though, I really have to ask… How is she being, er, contained?”

“The Western tower,” Luna replied simply. “As is its purpose.” Glancing back and noticing the puzzled expression on Twilight’s face, Luna chuckled and continued. “Ah, I suppose that for all the time you spent in the castle in your youth, Celestia never told you about it.”

Twilight shook her head, so Luna began explaining as they walked.

“The Western tower is where we accommodate potentially hostile, but diplomatically delicate, guests. You have probably heard the guards refer to it as the ‘special guest room’ in the past.” She paused a moment to take in Twilight’s look of recognition. “The walls are warded in three layers: once for reinforcement, once against magic, and once for security. The enchantments are strengthened by embedded focusing crystals, though I cannot imagine how my sister obtained them during the Crystal Empire’s absence. The walls are strong enough survive a dragon attack, and while the limits of the magic ward have never been tested, I believe it would take at least two of the princesses cooperating to break through it.”

The conversation lapsed as the two princesses approached a set of ornate doors. On each side stood two ponies — one pair of royal guards, and one pair of night guards. Luna paused and gave a questioning look to the guardsponies, and Twilight came to a stop just behind her.

The nearest royal guard and nearest night guard saluted and began simultaneously, “Your high—”, before cutting themselves off and glaring at one another.

Stallions. Luna rolled her eyes, then focused on the guards. “Though you address me, my sister’s sun is in the sky, and thus her guard presides.” A tradition which helped nothing when Discord’s vines captured us and left both bodies in the sky. “Speak,” she said, turning to the golden-armored stallion.

The royal guard allowed himself a smirk at his night-time counterpart’s expense, and then brought his expression back to a calm seriousness when he answered Luna. “Your highness, Philomena arrived with orders from Princess Celestia to establish a checkpoint in this manner. According to the princess, a combined force would be an assurance that the ponies watching the tower had not been compromised.” He frowned at the last word.

Luna shook her head and fixed her gaze on the guard. “Do not take offense. Our trust in the royal guard — all of you — is unshaken. However, if the populace were to learn that she is here, suspicion will fall upon all who dealt with her. That it why my sister will not be in contact with her: she was the one who offered the changeling queen refuge. That decision must not seem to have been coerced. Similarly, our ponies cannot think changelings are infiltrating or influencing the royal guard. That both forces are working together here will be seen as a safeguard against that.”

She could read the warring emotions on the guards’ faces as they glanced to one another before focusing back on her. Anger at being seen as suspect by the ponies they were protecting, something she was familiar with, herself. Doubt in the sanctity of their own ranks. Suspicion of the other. The last two, at least, could be dealt with.

She drew herself up to her full height. “Cease those questioning glances. I will task the Night Watch with monitoring for any signs of changeling infiltration. The Royal Guard will remain secure.”

The guards looked even more ill at ease with that news, and one of them cleared his throat. “But, your highness, is that really necessary? We already use the Trueform spell…”

Luna shook her head. “That is merely a modification of a safety spell used to counter transformation magic gone awry. The Watch have much more thorough methods.” She smirked at the shudders that went through the assembled guards as that statement sank in, though she’d need to decide if the Chief Inspector deserved commendation or reprimand for the reputation he’d allowed the Watch to develop. “Nothing harmful, I assure you. Now, we have delayed here long enough. Princess Twilight and I will see the changeling queen, and discover what, precisely, has brought her to us.”

The guards bowed and stepped aside, one at either side lighting his horn and pulling one of the doors open to allow the princess entry. Luna paused in the small antechamber beyond, pondering her next actions as the doors silently swung shut behind them. It would be prudent to suppress the illusion on the far wall and observe the captive Queen before proceeding through the door in front of them, but she was hesitant to do something that could upset Twilight further.

Then again, considering how weak the Changeling Queen seemed to be, going by Celestia’s description, perhaps she was being overly cautious. As well, it would grant her the opportunity to place the matter in Twilight’s hooves.

Luna focused her horn on the wards on the inner wall and sent a small pulse of magic into them, soon feeling echoes of her own aura, as well as her sister’s and Cadance’s, resonate back. She glanced towards Twilight, who was watching her with a curious expression.

“Confirming something,” Luna said as she turned to Twilight. “As you had never seen the tower, I assumed the wards had never been keyed to your magic, and I was correct. Unfortunately, I cannot attune the wards on the door to you without Celestia or Cadance present, but I can allow you to control the enchantments on the wall.”

“Control the enchantments?” Twilight’s look was incredulous. “Isn’t that kind of a big deal?”

Luna laughed. “Oh, no, not the reinforcement and barrier wards. This antechamber is an observation room, and the wall in front of us is illusory. While there is a physical barrier there, it is transparent, and has been carefully engineered to allow sound to pass through. An illusion makes it opaque to both sight and hearing from each side. Once the wards are attuned to you, you must merely reach out with your magic and will it, and you may suppress that illusion for either or both sides.”

“Oh!” Twilight brightened. “So you can watch what somepony’s doing inside, without them knowing you’re there.”

“Precisely,” Luna said with a nod. “While it is not a tactic we would condone for general use, those held here often call for the utmost caution. Now, if you would, draw up your magic, but do not shape it into a spell. It need not be much — what you might use to open a door will suffice.”

Twilight nodded and closed her eyes, and a faint shimmer of magic sparkled over her horn. Luna drew up her own magic and stepped up to Twilight, touching her horn to Twilight’s and drawing Twilight’s energy into her own spell. Twilight cracked open one eye as they touched, but then closed it again with a faint flush across her cheeks.

Luna kept herself from laughing. Such a shy filly, even now. Still, a smirk was on her face as she turned back to the wall and reached out with her magic, feeling for the echo of her own aura once again. Upon finding it, she cast the spell into the wards and felt the magic shift as the echo of Twilight’s aura joined the others.

“It is done,” she said, glancing towards Twilight, who managed to compose herself before opening her eyes. “You may now watch and listen through this wall, if you wish. For now, I will leave them be, and allow you the decision of whether to see or not.”

Twilight nodded again. “Thank you, Luna. But… is it safe to go in without knowing what she’s doing in there?”

“No, not truly. It is possible that this is part of some grand scheme, but Celestia does not believe that to be the case. And even if she were plotting against us, her current condition would make any attack on me foolhardy, at best.” She gave Twilight a momentary smile. “I am sure I will be fine. Of course, should you find any cause for concern, you need merely lift the spell to confirm the danger, and then alert the Royal Guard and Celestia.”

“I guess you’re right.” She returned Luna’s smile, though the worry in her eyes made it clear hers was forced. “Be safe, Luna.”

“I shall, Twilight Sparkle.” With that, she reached out to the wards on the door, and stepped through as her magic pushed it open, allowing it to quickly close behind her.

Depending on what one was looking for, the tower chambers presented one of two faces to its visitors.

Those who were trusting or unsuspicious saw a display of understanded grandeur; with high, arched ceilings and sparse decoration providing a sense of openness, while those amenities that were present would satisfy a guest of even the highest standing.

Those who understood the room’s purpose, though, saw clear sightlines from the observation area in the foyer, no places for inhabitants to hide, and a clear reminder that a cage with gilded bars was still yet a cage.

The current occupant of that cage sat in the far corner near the bed, the area around her tinted green by the light of her magic.

“Princess Luna, what an unexpected pleasure,” Chrysalis said without looking back at her. “It’s been far too long.”

“Too long?” Luna called back, calling up power of her own as she did — not so much that her horn was lit, but enough to defend herself if need be. “We have never met. I was out of the city when you launched your attack.”

“Oh, it was long before that.” The changeling queen chuckled, though the sound was mirthless. “I’m not surprised you don’t remember. Not only did I look rather different, but your attention was always… elsewhere.”

Luna approached slowly, in part due to caution, though the Queen did not seem to be paying her much attention, and in part because this was the first time she had ever seen the creature. Studying her as she approached, Luna could not help but admit there was something oddly elegant about her form and appearance, black carapace and all. Monstrous and dangerous, perhaps, but graceful all the same.

It was not long that Chrysalis’s form held her attention, however, before her actions took precedence.

“Chrysalis!” Luna stepped back in a defensive stance and allowed her magic to fill her horn. “What is happening here?”

The Queen spared her the briefest backward glance and sighed before turning her full attention back to the changeling soldier she had been wrapping in lines of green energy. “I am cocooning them. They are weak, and will not live much longer without it.”

The light faded from Luna’s horn as she relaxed into a more neutral stance.

“Cocooning them?” she asked.

Chrysalis nodded, and another layer of green wrappings formed around her target, the lower ones darkening into something resembling changeling carapace. “These shells will protect and preserve them, and they will hibernate within, greatly extending the time they can survive without love.” With a faint burst of magic, the shell closed and began darkening on its own, on its way to joining the three others beside it. “I’ve done this many, many times of late.”

Luna stared for a moment, then sat and silently watched Chrysalis work as she moved on to the next sleeping changeling. However, after that one was completed, she couldn’t help but notice that Chrysalis had apparently skipped over one, a drone that didn’t seem to be in the same peaceful rest as the others.

“And what of that one?” Luna asked as Chrysalis began work on the final drone aside from the neglected one.

“She is too weak to survive the process,” Chrysalis explained dispassionately. “At one point, I might have just torn the last of her energy out for myself. Pragmatic, perhaps, but it felt inappropriate, given the circumstances. Instead, I am slowly siphoning it away, and using the last of her energy to save her sisters.”

Luna narrowed her eyes. “That is barbaric. It… she still lives, does she not?”

Chrysalis gave a joyless laugh and turned her head to face Luna. “Barbaric? She desperately needs a large feeding to survive to the end of the day. Who would provide it?” She shook her head and closed the final shell before standing and approaching Luna, sitting in front of the moon princess. “She will know she gave her life for her hive.”

Luna met Chrysalis’s eyes, but her own kept being drawn over the Queen’s shoulder, towards the lone drone still lying on the floor. Still she tried to focus on the creature in front of her. “What happened?”

“Tirek,” Chrysalis said.

“Tirek?” Luna frowned. “Why would he wish to inflict greater suffering on the changelings than he did anypony else?”

“I doubt he intended to do any such thing,” Chrysalis said, shaking her head. “In fact, I doubt he even realized we were any different from the other creatures of Equestria. But we are different. Ponies might believe they can’t live without magic, but it isn’t truly vital for you. You may be weak, you may find yourselves unable to fly or to touch the clouds, and you may find these”—Luna started as Chrysalis tapped her horn with her own—“become nothing but decoration. But you survive.”

Chrysalis rose and stepped over to the dying changeling, looking down at it. “Love, the soul, and magic are deeply intertwined. In some ways, they are three facets of the same thing. Tirek took power from you, but in taking our magic he took our very life force. We were crippled, and in many cases, dying. Worse yet, upon his defeat, very little of that magic came back to us. What did was only barely enough to stave off our total destruction.”

The drone shuddered, and pulled her limbs tighter against her body. Luna couldn’t help but compare it to a foal feeling a chill. Chrysalis let one hoof rest against it for a moment before lying down beside it.

“She has entered the final stage. It will be over, soon.”

Luna stared at the Changeling Queen for a moment, then turned away. “What should we do?”

“There’s nothing to be done,” Chrysalis said. After a moment, she continued, a hint of bitterness in her voice, “Though I suppose some pony researchers would love a specimen to dissect. Perhaps a training dummy for the royal guard?”

Luna’s gaze snapped back to her, and she rose to a stand. “We would never—!” She took a deep breath and let her anger go. Now was not the time, not with the scene playing out before her. “I will ensure that the changeling is given proper treatment. I promise you this.”

Chrysalis glanced her way, then turned back to the drone. “Thank you.”

It struck Luna as strangely sincere. She turned to leave the chamber and summon some of her guards to collect the dying changeling, but paused and turned back towards Chrysalis once more.

“Chrysalis?” she asked. “How bad is it, truly, for your kind?”

There was a brief silence before the Changeling Queen reacted.

“I invaded you with an army of thousands,” Chrysalis said at last, not looking up. “I now rule an empire of dozens.”