//------------------------------//
// About Chrysalis 
// Story: Embers of Passion 
// by Bakmah Genesis 
//------------------------------//

    Celestia let out a tired sigh as Day Court came to close, the doors to the throne room closing out any ponies from entry before they had a chance to try and get to talk to the princess further.  Only Cadence, the royal scribe, a few dozen guards, and herself remained.

    “If I swear another noble points out my lack of a suitor, I will personally ban them all to the moon.” said Celestia, letting out a rather unladylike groan.  Cadence giggled, standing from her seat next to Celestia.

    “They would just bicker about what portion of the moon was theirs.” joked Cadence.  Celestia shook her head, standing to walk along her niece.  “Besides, you remember the tons of suitors that chased after me before anyone knew about Shining and I.”

    “A dozen every day.” said Celestia with a soft a smile.  “It makes me wonder if our newest princess has to deal with anything similar.  She is almost as old as Luna and I, only a hundred or so years younger.

    “Possibly, but no one really knows how mating really works for changelings.”  Cadence chuckled.  “Though Twilight will be the first to find out, no matter the differences between her and Chrysalis.”  The two of them shared a laugh as they left the throne room.

    “I would not put it past her.  However, I am sure those two will get over their differences rather quickly.” said Celestia.  Cadence raised an eyebrow at the older mare.

    “About that, I sensed that Chrysalis was in Ponyville for a more… personal reason.  Your decision to put them together wasn’t because you sensed the same thing I did, was it?” asked Cadence.  Celestia let out a sigh, coming to a stop in front of one of the large windows overlooking the courtyard.

    “Yes, I did sense there was more going on than she let on; I actually knew it.” said Celestia, getting a look from Cadence.  “I watched Queen while we interviewed her.  She was more interested in Twilight, keeping her focus on her instead of us.  Whenever Twilight would raise her voice and accuse Chrysalis, I could see that her words cut deeper than Twilight knew.”

    “You think its love Chrysalis feels for Twilight.” said Cadence.  Celestia nodded.

    “So I put them together, let them connect and get to know each other better; Well, let Twilight get to know Chrysalis better, that is.” said Celestia.  The two of them stood in silence for a while as the sun slowly set.  After awhile, Celestia’s horn gave off a faint glow as she lowered the sun.

    Once the moon made it’s place in the sky, Celestia let out a deep sigh.  “I feel sorry for Chrysalis.  Unlike the citizens of Equestria, she was raised knowing that she was not socially accepted, she would be hated and turned away.  What others would see as evil was a necessity of life for her and her people.  Maybe trying to help them is my way of trying to mend centuries of pain that has been caused by ignorance and arrogance.”

“You know as well as I do that you had nothing to do with thi-”  Cadence was cut off as Celestia suddenly scoffed, turning away.

“Of course I do!  Your wedding wasn’t the only time that changelings appeared.  The first time I was a young naive ruler that just saw them as some pest that could be stomped out.  What the earth ponies tried to do to the unicorns in the pilgrim days I did to the changelings.  If there was one seen it was killed, burned, disposed of.”  Celestia let out a sigh.  “I thought I was doing good but was only hurting somepony who never hurt anypony.  They just looked scary and did something we weren’t used to.”

Celestia shook her head.  “It was over a thousand years ago, but I know Chrysalis won’t forgive me for what I did to her those many years ago.”





After spending the last couple hours talking about how Chrysalis would present her speech to the public of Equestria, the two of them decided to head from the busy hive center to Chrysalis’ personal living area.

An entire section of rooms and tunnels were dedicated for the Queen’s living.  Spanning from a full library that Twilight would appreciate to a full bedroom and living room.

“I am having one of the drones bring in an extra bed,” said Chrysalis as she guided Twilight into the living room.  “As a guest, I can’t really have you sleeping on a couch or the floor, and too many years have made sleeping on anything but a good mattress torture for me.”

    The younger mare took look around the rather spacious room that she found herself in.  Aside from the few chairs and end tables, there was not much on the floor.  However, the walls were covered in various maps and paintings, as well as a fireplace and bookshelves built into the walls.

    One painting caught Twilight’s attention; a portrait of a changeling that look similar to Chrysalis, but instead of the green, she was a sapphire blue with a smile that could tame the wildest of hearts.  Chrysalis caught the mare’s gaze and gave a soft chuckle.

    “Queen Pupa.  A rather odd name considering it is also used with infant insects, but she was a well loved leader among changelings in more than just this hive.” said Chrysalis wistfully.  “Don’t let the smile fool you, though.  She was fierce and a strict mother.”  Twilight blinked before turning to the former Queen.

    “You mean she was your mother?”

    “Did you think I crawled out of tartarus in full adulthood?” asked Chrysalis with a chuckle.  “Yes, she had me and my younger sister around the time Celestia and Luna took power.  According to her, she said that they would be the ones that would save us from our lives of hiding.”  Chrysalis’ smille slowly faded, looking off in the distance.  “Unfortunately this wasn’t true.”

    “The changeling hunt…” said Twilight, connecting the dots.  Chrysalis nodded.

    “I had to be in my thirties.  My mother was teaching me how to be a leader when the first changeling was caught in what would be Canterlot.  It was a drone who was on his first love hunt on his own.  According to the report he captured his target with ease and had easily slipped into his life.  However, his intel didn’t say anything about an affair with a messenger that bounced between there and the next town over.  He was caught when he failed to recognize her.”

    “He was then publicly executed and a watch was put out for more…” finished Twilight.

    “What your books failed to report was that the drone was tortured for a week before the execution and that he begged for death by the time he was granted it.  Your princess did the deed herself.”

    “You’re wrong!  Princess Celestia would never-”

    “Your Princess did!” growled Chrysalis, causing Twilight to step back.  Chrysalis took a deep breath a continued.  “Five others were caught before me, my sister and my mother went to confront the Princesses.  My mother and my sister went in to talk with her while I pretended to be a guard while the other one was in his barracks puking his brains out via a well place nausea spell.

    “Celestia didn’t give them a chance when they dropped their disguises.  They cried for peace and they were tortured before being executed by the princess herself.  I couldn’t do anything but watch.  I knew if I dropped my disguise the same would happen.  I would be executed alongside them and it would only be a matter of time before the rest of the hive met the same fate.”

    Twilight said nothing, she avoided eye contact as she mulled over what she heard.  Chrysalis let out a sigh, putting a hoof on the younger mare’s shoulder, causing her to jump.  “I may not ever forgive Celestia completely for what she did, but my many years alive have taught me that hate is dangerous and I can’t hold onto it forever.  Nightmare Moon is a prime example.  This is why I want things to change.  Maybe now that times have changed, we actually have a chance.”

    “I can only hope history doesn’t repeat itself… “