//------------------------------// // CHAPTER TEN: Miracle of Friendship and Family // Story: Bookends Part 4: Or Day Of Atonement // by Stormbringer //------------------------------// They all bowed their heads in sorrow. They loved their friend so much, their hearts were breaking. They knew they did what they had to do, but it held no comfort. From the corner of the room, where their things had been put, Twilight’s saddle bag was glowing. The Elements of Harmony, led by the Element of Kindness, floated from Twilight’s bag and attached themselves to their wielders. The Element of Kindness floated above Phantasm. Then the Elements all started to glow as did the eyes of the wielders. Rays of power shot out from their Elements and converged on the floating Element of Kindness. “I love you Pinkie,” cried Trixie, “don’t go!” There was a glow flowing out from Trixie’s chest, it surged to her horn and from the horn to the Element of Kindness. Suddenly a beam of pure light shot down to Phantasm’s Element of Laughter. It glowed brighter than the sun! There was a flash which filled the room. Then the light was gone. Phantasm started to stir. She opened her eyes and saw Trixie holding her. She smiled, reached out and pulled Trixie close and kissed with all her soul. “You’re safe,” said Phantasm putting a hoof to Trixie’s cheek and looking into Trixie’s eyes. The couple smiled and kissed again. The rest of the ponies smiled as well. Then they were surprised by a voice. “She really does love the Mono-Pony,” said Queen Chrysalis. The other ponies looked in her direction. She’d walked up to the group without them realizing it. But there was no hate or aggression on her face or in her bearing. Trixie and Phantasm broke the kiss, embraced for a moment and then Phantasm looked at her mother. “Her name is Trixie, Trixie Pie,” said Phantasm, “not ‘Mono-Pony’. And she’s your daughter-in-law. That’ll never change.” “What was that that happened?” asked the Chamberlain, walking up to her queen. “That was what real love feels like,” said Phantasm being helped up by Trixie. “Freely given love, to the pony it was meant for, not indirect love stolen by trickery. It’s out there, but it can’t be stolen. It can only be given. And it isn’t just out there. It can be in here as well. Everypony is capable of giving it, even our people.” “But that’s so alien,” said Chrysalis, “how can we love?” “I get the same love from Pinkie or should I say, Phantasm, all the time,” said Trixie. Queen Chrysalis had discovered the outside ponies had something which was more powerful than anything she’d ever known. And she was being told she and her people didn’t have to go hunting and stealing it. Plus now she knew the outside ponies knew how to defeat her people with nothing more than focused ill will. The queen was stunned. “I… I don’t know what to think,” said Chrysalis. Phantasm walked up to her mother put her forelegs around her and pulled her close. “I know mother,” said Phantasm, tears in her large green eyes. “And I’ve missed you so badly all these years. Even when I was fighting for my friends, I still loved you, as I do now. Do you know how hard it was not to run to you and embrace you when you revealed yourself at Twilight’s brother’s wedding?” Queen Chrysalis felt the love again. Not the superficial love she’d stolen for centuries, but a love beyond description. It filled her like nothing before. Chrysalis slumped back to her haunches, her forelegs wrapped around her daughter and her face buried on Phantasm’s shoulder. The queen cried for the first time in her long life not out of hurt or anger, but out of love. “I love you my daughter, and I’ve missed you so badly too,” said Chrysalis. Phantasm felt it! Real love from this being who never understood love, despite being what she lived on. Trixie had whispered something to Twilight, Twilight nodded to her. Then Trixie walked over to the queen and her wife. She put her forelegs around them in a group hug. “I love you too,” said Trixie. “Mother of my beloved.” Chrysalis put a foreleg around Trixie as well, here was more love. It was so different and she liked it a lot! “Thank you for loving and taking care of Phantasm for me,” said Chrysalis, “I love you too… My daughter.” Then she felt it. A developing life which felt like a Changeling but felt like a pony. The queen looked at Trixie. The tears of joy doubled. “My dear daughters,” said the queen with a look of joy no pony or Changeling had ever seen on the queen’s face before, “you’re giving me a grandfoal!” Twilight and the rest of the friends were pleasantly shocked, neither Pinkie or Trixie had informed them of this possibility, although Twilight has suspected this would happen with the spell she’d helped Trixie with. Cheers erupted from the gathered Changelings. “Spectra,” called The queen as she waved over the Chamberlain and said something to her, then continued the hug. Never had anypony seen such a content look on the queen’s face. All the Changelings around started cheering and hugging everypony, not just their people. Many of the Changelings wanted to talk to Rainbow and ask her about the foal inside her. Rainbow remembered that Pinkie had said something about most Changelings had never been around foals. The Chamberlain came up to Twilight and addressed her. “I understand you’re a direct representative of the royalty of Equestria.” “I’m Princess Celestia’s protégé, friend to Princess Luna and sister-in-law of Princess Cadence,” said Twilight, not wanting to go into the much deeper relationship. “Then, when Chrysie is ready… I mean, Her Highness is ready, we’ll talk about establishing normal relations with the kingdom of Equestria.” Said the Chamberlain blushing. The ponies around her realized that there was something being hinted at. “For now, the queen wishes she, her daughter and her daughter-in-law have time to adjust and get to know each other. Until then, you and your friends are honored guests of The Hive. Believe it or not, some of our people can cook.” “How can we trust you,” asked Rainbow. “Only a fool wants to live at war forever!” said the Chamberlain. “You’ve read Star Swirl the Bearded!” Said Twilight excited, “we must talk!” The Chamberlain smiled and nodded as she led the ponies to more comfortable chambers, leaving the queen, Phantasm and Trixie alone. They were taken to the queen’s own chambers and some snacks and drink were brought to the, now, guests. The ponies sat around talking, then Applejack asked something that was bothering her. “There’s something I don’t understand,” said AJ. “What’s that,” answered Twilight. “How were we able to use Fluttershy’s element without her being here?” “I think I know,” said Rarity giving AJ a small kiss on the cheek. “Darling, Love is the greatest kindness.” “And without love,” said Twilight, “there can be no Elements of Harmony.” “Twilight,” said the Chamberlain entering the chamber, “we will talk about our sending a delegation to Canterlot to work out a treaty between our people. We’re now joined by the union of our people! Literally with Phantasm and Trixie’s foal, our people are joined physically. A sign of our unity.” “Unity,” said Trixie as she, Phantasm and Chrysalis entered the chamber. “It’s early, but I think it’d be a wonderful name for our child.” Pinkie nodded. “I agree,” said Chrysalis. “And speaking of children…” Chrysalis levitated her crown to the Chamberlain and then walked up to Rainbow, Rainbow was nervous especially after what had been threatened earlier. But what happened next was a surprise to all. Chrysalis knelt before Rainbow. “Rainbow,” said Chrysalis, “there’s no excuse for what I threatened earlier. I only know you as a mother would understand what the loss of a child would do to you. What I threatened to do to you was something driven by rage of the perceived loss of my child. And for me to threaten to do the same thing to you was totally inexcusable.” Chrysalis looked up into Rainbow’s eyes. Rainbow could tell the tears in Chrysalis’ eyes were genuine. “For what I said, for what I tried to do, I’m truly sorry. I humble myself before you; not as a queen, but as one mother to another. I don’t ask for forgiveness, but to ask your mercy.” Rainbow thought. She was still harboring some resentment from what Chrysalis had threatened. But she thought what it might feel like if Zap was taken or killed. How she would react and how she might feel toward the pony who did this. Rainbow wanted to believe that she’d face this with her family and not let anger, hate and revenge drive her. But to tell the truth, she could very well understand Chrysalis’ motives. Rainbow looked into Chrysalis’ eyes she no longer saw the monster that they’d been at odds with for years. She saw sorrow and remorse in the eyes of her friend Pinkie Pie’s mother. Rainbow took the queen by the hoof and helped her up. Then she embraced Chrysalis an honest hug. “If our places were reversed,” said Rainbow with tears in her eyes, “I probably would’ve acted the same. I can’t stay mad at the mother of one of my best friends. You have my mercy and my forgiveness. And I will be happy to call you my friend.” Chrysalis eyes went wide, she didn’t know what to think, she’d had lovers, consorts and associates but never had she had a friend before There were hugs all around. Chrysalis truly liked the love that was being expressed. So much so she hugged Spectra and had a respectable kiss, not caring what pony might see. Canterlot… There was a booming at the door. It was starting to give in. “Can’t we teleport somewhere else?” said Princess Luna. “No!” said Princess Celestia, “enough is enough! This is our kingdom, this is our castle. We don’t deserve it if we don’t want to fight for it.” “But the children,” said Princess Luna. “Shield them!” said Princess Celestia. Luna projected a dark blue dome around them. Zap flew forward in front of his cousins, ears laid back ready to fight for them. The door flew open, a dozen or so Changelings were standing there. Celestia’s horn glowed. “Wait,” called out the Changelings. “Aunt Celestia!” said little Celestia, “they’re not gonna hurt us.” The princess looked at the children. She could tell that both of the fillies were looking odd at her. “Thank goodness we found you!” said a castle guard. “Twilight Sparkle was right about where her children were hiding.” “Twilight told you?” said Princess Luna. Celestia and Luna were surprised to see guard and Changelings together. Was it a trick? “Show them,” said a Changeling, obviously the leader. Four changelings walked to the front of the group, not approaching too closely. They put down four scarab shaped stones. The wings opened and beams of energy connected the four. Then a structure appeared and at the top was a glowing orb. “Princess Celestia, Princess Luna,” said the queen, “I’m so glad my troops found you. You’re not hurt are you? The foals, they’re alright?” “Yes,” said Princess Celestia cautiously. “Good,” said the queen, “I was afraid that my troops may have not got my message in time.” “Your message?” said Princess Luna, lowering her shield. “Yes,” said the queen smiling an honest smile. “Why did you never tell me my long lost daughter was safe with you? It could’ve made things in the past so much easier.” “Your daughter?” asked Celestia. Suddenly, Trixie and Phantasm were appearing with the queen. “My daughter, Princess Phantasm, you call her Pinkie Pie.” Said the queen with the largest smile ever. She then put a foreleg around Trixie, “congratulate me, I’m going to be a grandmare! How can we stay at odds with each other? Our people are now united in Trixie and Phantasm’s foal!” “Congratulations,” said Celestia confused but somewhat relieved. “My sister monarchs,” said Chrysalis, “we have so much to talk about. May I have your permission to escort your people back to you and to their children?” Princess Celestia felt a tapping on her hind leg. She looked back and saw little Luna and Celestia looking at her. “It’s ‘kay, aunt Celestia,” said little Luna. Celestia looked back at the image of the queen and for the first time, noticed the smile on her face was an honest one. “It would be Our honor, Your Highness,” said Celestia. There was cheering among the guards and the Changelings. The same could be heard through the communication spell.