//------------------------------//
// 2 Luna's Prisoner 
// Story: The Final Throw of the Dice 
// by Bronyxy 
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As Pip's father gratefully closed his door, Luna cast a critical eye back towards Chrysalis, who just looked utterly dejected.
“Such love” she sighed sadly.
“Can you fly?” asked Luna coldly, “As far as Canterlot?”
Chrysalis fluttered her tatty yet elegant looking wings briefly and shook her head, “I don’t believe so.”
“Very well” conceded Luna, recalling that Chrysalis had told her already about her internal injuries. She would have had no compunction to force her to fly under other circumstances, but the thought of coming down in inhospitable territory en route when it could be avoided, forced her to conclude that there was only one safe way of transporting her to face justice - a chariot.

Keeping one eye firmly on her prisoner, Luna lit her horn and sent a bolt of magic to her sister in Canterlot Castle. Instantaneously, the Royal bedroom glowed and a light blue aura formed on the white alicorn’s horn, turning to yellow as the mare woke.

“Wha …” she gasped in surprise as she was ripped forcibly away from a dream about the biggest Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness cake Equestria had ever seen, and sat bolt upright. She felt the presence of her sister and heard a telepsychic message in her head.
“Sister, dear Sister? I am sorry to trouble you at such an hour, but I require a chariot and guards in Ponyville at your earliest opportunity.”
“Whatever has happened, Luna?” she asked, concerned, “Are you injured?”
“No Sister, Chrysalis has surrendered herself and is prepared to accept judgement, but is injured and unable to fly for the duration unaided.”
“Chrysalis?” gasped Celestia, “How will I find you?”
“There is not too much activity in Ponyville. It is night time” Luna deadpanned, “I can however wear a carnation if that would assist you in recognising me …”

Celestia chuckled her sister’s dry wit before responding, “Very well Luna. With your permission I shall requisition your personal chariot and a platoon of Night Guard to rendezvous in the Town Square as soon as possible. And yes, a carnation would look most fetching.”
“Thank you, Sister. I shall await your convenience” grinned Luna, “Tell me, were you dreaming of cakes again?”
“No … why of course not…” she blustered, her politician’s ability to mask unsavoury truths not being fully in place so soon after having been awakened.
“Thought so” said Luna with a wicked smile.
“You and your accursed dream walking” Celestia chastised half-heartedly.
“Sister, I had no need; the discomfort within your response provided sufficient evidence. I will see you soon.”

The smile on Celestia’s face melted immediately she broke the link between them. Chrysalis had handed herself in to her sister; this was certainly a coup and she knew she had to move fast before their enemy changed her mind.

Not daring to waste time dressing, she quickly grabbed a robe on her way out of her apartments and thrust the door open much to the surprise of the two guards on duty.
“Your Majesty …” gasped the armoured earth pony springing to attention, his junior pegasus partner copying smartly.
“Be on your guard” ordered Celestia, ”This night may yet hold treachery.”
She ran off down the corridor, wishing not for the first time that she had her sister’s more nimble body and could fly within these narrow confines. However, she could not stretch her wings to the extent necessary for flight without scraping the walls and consoled herself by running as fast as the grip of her unshod hooves would allow on the stone floor.

She barrelled out of the castle and immediately flexed her wings for the short distance to the adjacent garrison. It didn’t save her more than a few seconds, but she felt better in herself for having made the effort.

The two guards at front of the garrison stared awestruck at the sight of the white alicorn thundering towards them. One raised his polearm while his colleague took a few steps to one side to avoid the inevitable collision like being run into by the Canterlot Express. Celestia’s horn glowed yellow and she gently moved the resolute guard over to one side so she did not injure him as she ran headlong into the building.

“Generals!” she barked, sliding to a halt, “Attend now please!”
A flurry of activity followed with ponies running in all directions to drag the Night Guard Generals from their regular nightly activities and the leaders of the Royal Guard from their beds.

A cluster of junior ranking Bat Ponies formed themselves into an orderly line in front of the Sun Princess. They rarely saw her given that their sleep cycles were diametrically opposite, but the fact that she had entered the garrison in the middle of the night in such haste, told them that something was going down and they could expect further orders.

She looked at the first and ordered, “Prepare Princess Luna’s chariot and ready a platoon of Night Guard for immediate despatch to Ponyville. Report back when ready, please.”
It was striking that even in the midst of whatever was going on, she kept her manners, even to those who were many ranks below her.
“Send for the Head Jailer and Spell Nexus, headmaster of the School for Gifted Unicorns” she directed the next two, and finally, calming down, she asked of the fourth “Please prepare Ready Room and ensure tea and cake are available; thank you.”

With all orders put in train, Celestia’s tension visibly ebbed away and she exchanged a few casual comments with the Bat Ponies that predominated the garrison at night time, as she made her way to the Ready Room where she would receive her visitors and, especially importantly, tea and cake.

She didn’t have to wait long before the first Generals appeared and took their seats while Celestia paced up and down on the podium. The junior Bat Pony returned with a cup of tea and immediately her demeanour relaxed, easing the tension in the room as one by one, more ponies arrived to hear what had caused such a commotion.

Before she could begin her briefing, she received word that Luna’s chariot and the platoon of Night Guard was ready. Out of courtesy, she turned to the senior Night Guard General present and requested they may be released for their mission. He, of course, agreed straightaway. As the room was still only two-thirds full, she excused herself and followed the junior Bat Pony down to where the party was ready to depart. She performed a quick inspection and commended them all on their turnout and promptness before informing them that they were to pick up Princess Luna and Queen Chrysalis from the Town Square in Ponyville.

A stunned silence fell on all those present, so she continued, “It appears that Chrysalis has surrendered to my sister, but we all know the tricks she can play on unsuspecting ponies; it could yet be a trap. Make good speed and bring them both back safely as soon as you can, but do not let your guard down for an instant!”
They all snapped to attention, then took off, flanking the chariot as they disappeared into the night sky. Celestia watched them depart, not yet wanting to believe that it was as easy as it seemed, and praying that her sister would be safe. Then she turned and headed back up to the Ready Room.

Entering the door, everypony rose out of respect and as she bade them retake their seats, she looked around, confirming that everypony she wanted to see was there. Good.
She relayed the news as she had to the guards now on their way to Ponyville and was met was gasps of incredulity, then started working through what further actions needed to be taken. 

Firstly, the generals were keen to despatch two more platoons to provide support, just in case there was an ambush by superior numbers. Celestia thought this unlikely as all known changelings except for Queen Chrysalis had evolved into a peaceful race under the leadership of their friend Thorax, but deferred to her Generals and sanctioned the approach. Consequently, one of the Generals offered his apologies and left to make the necessary arrangements.

The bigger problem was how to look after their unexpected guest when she arrived, especially as she had the ability to drain love energy from anypony who got too close. Spell Nexus confirmed that a spell could be cast that would prevent those in contact being drained or in any other way compromised by her unique telepathic abilities, while the Head Jailer listed the attributes of the various dungeons under the castle and in other lesser known locations around the city. 

After much debate, it was decided that it would be better for everypony if Chrysalis were to be kept in the castle, as the garrison was there at hoof should a large number of guards be needed at short notice. Spell Nexus concurred and excused himself to research the appropriate spells so the necessary enchantments could be in place for everypony before Chrysalis arrived.

With a plan established and no further actions, Celestia concluded the meeting and finished her tea which had cooled a little below the temperature she would have preferred, but consoled herself instead with a particularly generous slice of cake.

Luna led Chrysalis through the deserted streets of Ponyville, detouring past Daisy, Lily and Roseluck’s florist. A boxful of spoiled flowers from yesterday’s trading lay discarded, waiting for the early morning refuse collectors to stop by and pick them up. Luna used her magic to rummage through the wilting and damaged blooms, finally retrieving a carnation with a broken stem. She separated the bright red head from its stem and placed it in her mane, looking for all the world like she was a lovestruck teenager.

“What’s that for?” asked Chrysalis indifferently.
“Oh, a private joke with my sister” replied Luna showing a soft smile.
“What’s it like having friends?” enquired Chrysalis.
Luna was taken aback, but then took a glimpse into her prisoner’s life. She had ruled alone; sure she had been mated, but if rumours were to be believed she would have eaten him afterwards. Following this, she would have had no social interaction other than with her own children, all of whom looked identical. Perhaps she really didn’t know what it was like to have somepony to confide in, share a joke with, or just to love.

“A friend is somepony you enjoy sharing things with, somepony you spend time with when they are unwell and somepony who helps you when you need some love.”
“So, love is given freely between friends in your society?”
“I am unsure where you are going with this, Chrysalis” said Luna cautiously, stepping back and checking her anti-magic spell was still in place on her horn, “You still have justice to face before anypony will consent to being your friend.”
“I am very hungry” commented Chrysalis, “I haven’t felt any love since my changelings left.”
“I am not about to let you feed off me, Chrysalis.”

“How much do you know about me, Luna?”

Luna felt her guard go up.

“I know you cannot be trusted. You bewitch, impersonate and betray in your lust for conquest.”
“I already explained myself on that score; I was only trying to secure a source of love to sustain my children. I mean, what do you know about my physiology, Luna?”

Luna now started to feel really uneasy.

“I heard that you ate your mate.”
“Yes, it was his act of supreme love for our children. However, were you aware that I can be both male and female? In short I can breed with a willing partner of either gender ...”
“I trust that is not a proposition?”
“Come now Luna, I could give you physical pleasures you could never even begin to imagine in your wildest dreams …”
“Or nightmares.”
“Ah yes, nightmares … something you know so much about. How does it feel still not to be accepted for what you did as Nightmare Moon? You may have convinced yourself that ponies have forgiven you, but scratch the surface and you’ll see they still don’t trust you and never will. You’re alone Luna; nobody loves you, but come to me and I can create a race of changeling clones in your image …”

“Enough!” barked Luna, bracing her forelegs and striking a threatening head down pose, horn glowing and boresighted unmistakably on Chrysalis. A thin stream of light blue energy shot from the tip and instantaneously two pieces of duct tape appeared in an X shape across her mouth.

She stood, panting with anger that Chrysalis had managed to worm her way into her mind and remained in her attacking pose for much longer than she needed, before finally returning to a more normal posture. She knew that Chrysalis had just tried to tempt her, so she didn’t have to face justice and didn’t want to hear any more in case she got angry and did something to her prisoner that was not in keeping with established courtly values.

Luna stared at Chrysalis, who stared straight back at her through her large, unblinking green eyes that seemed to be probing her for any weakness she could exploit.

“Nice flower, Luna.”
A familiar voice echoed in her head.
“Are you making yourself pretty for me so we can go on a date?”

“Chrysalis!” barked Luna firing her horn once more at her enemy, this time increasing the magic barrier on her horn to prevent telepathic communication.

Then she ripped the carnation from her mane and threw it to the floor where she stamped on it and ground it beyond recognition.

She knew Chrysalis was watching her closely and found it difficult to meet her mocking eyes. She knew she was being goaded and was determined not to respond until justice had been served, but Chrysalis was in her head and they both knew it.

Luna drew her eyes up to meet hers and saw them unrepentant and penetrating, like she could read her thoughts. Another flash of blue light shot out and Chrysalis was wearing a cloth bag over her head with the horn sticking through so Luna could monitor it for magical activity should her inhibition spells fail for any reason.

She paced round the black motheaten shape of her adversary and keeping a forced control of her voice spoke softly, “I know you can hear me. Turn to your right.”

Chrysalis didn’t move.

Luna kicked her forehoof, “Turn right.”

She didn’t move.

Luna kicked her forehoof harder.

Still no movement. Chrysalis wasn’t through playing games and wanted to get Luna mad, but she wasn’t going to rise to the bait and instead walked towards the Town Square, carrying her prisoner in the soft glow of her levitation magic, stopping at the fountain where she put her down again and set about waiting for her chariot to appear.

The clock on the Town Hall indicated quarter past two. She had no idea how long it had been since she had called her sister and indeed how long it may be before she saw her rescue party. Any sympathy she may have had for Chrysalis had been squandered as she had first tried to seduce and then goad her. Her power may have been depleted, but she was still undoubtedly dangerous and had gotten into her head in a short time. What she could do with others was clearly a cause for concern and great care was going to be required in looking after her, lest she use her powers on those with weaker minds. Although she didn’t want to admit it, she was spooked.

Time dragged. She had to keep an eye on her prisoner, because even in this state, she had no idea what she could come up with next and knew she had to remain vigilant.

Chrysalis stood stock still, not moving at all.

She couldn’t have found a way to escape, could she? Perhaps she had replaced the body she thought was hers with a dummy, or something?

Luna walked cautiously over and tiptoed around Chrysalis, still seeing no movement at all.

She had to check.

She tiptoed round to her head and gently pulled up the cloth bag, inch by inch, until it revealed her muzzle, then she pulled it off in one sweep and found herself staring into two big green eyes, mocking her insecurity.

“Damn you!” shouted Luna, “Damn you! Damn you!”

The eyes continued following her, probing her.

“There never was anything wrong with your being able to fly to Canterlot, was there?” confirmed Luna, “You just wanted time to study me and play your mind games.”
She stood back and walked around her as she had done before.
“Sorry Chrysalis, thou didst not succeed.”

Immediately she told herself off; she had spoken in the olde Canterlot tongue as she did in times of stress and given herself away. She rammed the cloth bag back over her prisoner’s head and prepared to wait longer. Once again she had showed Chrysalis that she was in her head; another victory conceded.

Just then, the beating of large bat-like wings reached her ears and her chariot touched down in the Town Square followed by a lot of Night Guard; three platoons, Luna estimated. She cast her eyes up at the Town Hall clock. It was now five minutes before three.