//------------------------------//
// The Choice 
// Story: To Give One's Love 
// by TheEveryDaySparkle 
//------------------------------//

	As she slept, she dreamed.

Or was it more like a nightmare?

There she stood, defeated, bloody and broken inside of a cell deep underneath Canterlot castle.

Her attempt to ruled Equestria foiled, she was imprisoned and was now waiting for the moment she would face the princesses to receive her sentencing.

She groaned, more from frustration than the pain she felt all over her body. She had bruises everywhere from her face to her hooves thanks to the beating she had taken from the elements of harmony.

She narrowed her eyes. How dare they do this to her! She was the queen! She could not be defeated by mere ponies! Yet here she was, battered and beaten and wallowing in shame while sitting in a cold, dark and empty dungeon. It was so pathetic she almost laughed at the thought.

As she sat on her haunches, playing with the iron bars that made up the gate of her prison, she heard the sound of footsteps coming toward her.

"Queen Chrysalis of the changeling hive, you are to come with us." Said a castle guard as he stared into the eyes of the insect like creature that was the object of his princess' attention. "The princesses wish to see you."

Chrysalis huffed as she was escorted down the hall and  up to the princess' chambers.

Once there, the guards stood on either side of the door as she entered.  She stood tall in front of them, unwilling to show them any sign of fear or or disgrace.

Celestia spoke up first, saying, "Hello chrysalis. How are you feeling?"

Chrysalis puffed out her chest proudly. "I'm fine, thank you."

Celestia continued. "I assume you know why I have asked you here?"

Chrysalis grew annoyed at Celestia's dragging out her punishment. "Yes, yes, now get on with it." She said, raising her voice slightly.

"Very well then. If you insist."

Celestia closed her eyes. When she opened them again, it was as if the atmosphere had instantly changed. Her eyes were narrowed dangerously. There was no longer any room for formalities. Celestia...was dead serious.

If this were anypony else, they would have shrank back at the sight of the angry princess. But this was not a regular pony. This was chrysalis.

"Queen Chrysalis. You have wronged my people. For this crime, you shall be gravely punished." Celestia said in a cold, calm, even tone as she glared down at the creature before her. The vile, wicked, evil creature who sought to do harm to her beloved subjects. She had to be dealt with. But celestia was not a killer. She did not believe that the death of another would bring peace. She closed her eyes again 

'Death only brings more death.' she thought as she remembered a lesson taught to her by her own mother years ago.

She opened her eyes again. Here was a mother, so desperately in need of love for both herself and her children, that she would go to any lengths, even give her own life for the sake of her children. In a way, she was just like her.

She decided that she would do something...a little different.

She heard her sister Luna's voice from beside her. "What is your decision sister?"

Celestia looked to her sister, and then to Chrysalis. suddenly, to the shock of everyone present given the situation, she smiled.

"My decision is to banish her."

Everyone looked at the princess in disbelief. Had she gone mad? Surely she would rather kill the villainous monster and be done with it. They knew Celestia was kind and merciful, but even she had to have a breaking point, right?

Chysalis was shocked as well. She was just as sure she would be killed as they were. She had even prepared for it, telling herself that as long as her children survived, she would be fine.

Princess Luna looked at her sister in confusion. "Are you certain, sister? Surely you would rather have her executed for her heinous crime?"

Celestia only turned her smile on her sister. "No Luna. I would not. Did I kill you when you betrayed me and took on the mantle of NIghtmare Moon?"

Luna fell silent. She had to admit, her sister had a point. Even she now knew that not all peace could be achieved with force. She cursed herself for having forgotten the lesson her sister fought so hard to teach her. "I am...sorry sister."

Celestia smiled wider now. "It's quite alright. Now then..." She turned her gaze back to Chrysalis, happiness in her tone.

"Back to you."

Chrysalis, who had been checking her hooves for dirt, now returned her attention to the princess.

"As I said, I have decided to banish you. You will spend an entire month in the deserts far outside either of our kingdoms. You may return to your kingdom eventually, but only on one condition."

Chrysalis huffed again. "And what condition would that be?"

Celestia's smile returned to normal, her  eyes showing a great compassion and hope for the changeling.

"You will have to change your ways. Only then can you return to your kingdom."

Chrysalis laughed. "Me? Change my ways? Who do you think I am? I am queen Chrysalis! I will never give in to you!"

"Oh, did I forget to mention?" Celestia added quickly. "If you don't change your was within the month, you will leave me no choice but to execute you."

Chrysalis froze. Her body shook at the thought of the pain she had felt when she had first been defeated. She did not want to feel that again. She did not want to die. If she had a chance to get out of this alive, to return to her children in the hive, she had to take it.

"I...understand."

Celestia heard her and walked up to her, smiling still. "Good."

She activated her magic and created a transportation portal to send Chrysalis off. The changeling walked up to it and jumped inside, the vortex of the spell spinning her as she dropped into the portal, screaming. "Ahhhh!"

"Ahhhh!" Chrysalis woke up from her  dream, screaming. She looked around quickly to see where she was, then she remembered. "Oh yeah that's right! I saved a stallion from death." She looked herself over and noticed that she had been sweating. "It must be from that dream." She said, narrowing her eyes. "Cursed Celestia. i'll be beack one day, and when I do, i'll-"

"You'll what?" All of a sudden a stallion's voice rang out from right beside her. "What are you talking about?"

Chrysalis looked to her right and saw the tan and blonde stallion she saved. She jumped, startled."Y-you! What are you doing here?"