Ever since Celestia defeated and sealed Nightmare Moon on the moon, Equestria entered in a period of peace equal to the one that there was during the rule of its previous rulers, without wars with neighbor kingdoms, without evil spirits wanting to turn everything upside-down and without corrupted princesses wanting to submerge the world in an eternal winter or night.
The day that started to be a celebration to the beginning of summer became a day to celebrate the defeat of Nightmare Moon. Despite the joy of the Equestrians over Celestia’s victory, she couldn’t celebrate anything, being able to make nothing more than an empty smile to her subjects while she cried in the inside the loss of the sisters that had been her best friends during all of her life. She even decided to move to Canterlot, abandoning her castle and not bothering to let it be repaired.
The only pony that could understand all of her feelings was Orion who, just like her, had lost two sisters, even if he had spent most of his life without knowing one of them. However, with time, Celestia had to stop counting with the constant support of her dear little brother, as he started to follow ahead with his life.
Orion and Rose Quartz eventually got married and settled down in a small country outside Equestria that, with effort and work, they were able to transform in an independent kingdom called Britally. Even with the visits Celestia paid to her brother and his growing family, the princess of the sun felt a hole in her heart that she couldn’t fill.
Attentive to all of this was the Lord of Chaos who was waiting patiently for the perfect opportunity to defeat Celestia and, in that way, take down the last pillar that protected his brother’s perfect world from falling into his evil influence.
At that moment, the Lord of Chaos observed Celestia while she was dealing with all the bureaucracy of the day.
“Just look at you, my dear Celestia” the Lord of Chaos said. “Disguising that emptiness you feel in your heart with distractions and that hope of yours that persists in not wilt away… Well, you can smile all you want, but you can ignore all that sadness you’re feeling. However, that hole still exists… and I can take advantage of that to finally make Equestria and all of Pony World bow to my will.”
Turning around to one of his mirrors, he called:
“Chrysalis!”
The image of the Queen of Changelings appeared on the mirror and the Lord of Chaos asked:
“Tell me, are your changelings on position?”
“Of course, my lord” Chrysalis replied. “And they can’t wait to start.”
“And what about our special friend?”
“He is also prepared. All of us are just waiting for your signal.”
“Great!” the Lord of Chaos exclaimed, satisfied. “Well, if the preparations are done, I don’t see a reason to keep our guests waiting. Let the party begin!”
Chrysalis bowed her head respectfully to her lord and master and then her image disappeared from the mirror.
“I hope you enjoy this little gift of mine, dear Celestia, as it will be your last moment of happiness.”
In Canterlot, Celestia, just like the mirror of the Lord of Chaos showed, she was dealing with all the bureaucracy. After making one last signature, her secretary said:
“And that was the last one, Your Highness.”
“Finally!” Celestia sighed. “Please, see if you validate all that as fast as possible.”
“Certainly, Your Highness” the secretary replied, while bowing her head.
She headed to the exit, taking with her the parchments that Celestia had signed. It was then that, suddenly, the doors opened and a guard got in, heading towards Celestia, exclaiming:
“Princess Celestia! It is horrible!”
“What happened?” she asked.
“A disaster, princesss!” the guard said. “Queen Chrysalis and her changelings are attacking a village at the eastern borders.”
“What?!” Celestia asked, standing up. “Are you sure about that?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Then the changelings decided to strike again…” Celestia said. “Now that the Light Kingdom is petrified and I’m the only alicorn in the Pony Reality, they might think that it’s safe get out and do whatever they want.”
“What are your orders?” the guard asked.
“Gather a small squad of your best guards” Celestia ordered. “Put them at the outskirts of the village and order them to ambush all and any changeling that pass there. I will take care of Chrysalis myself.”
“Yes, Your Highness” the guard replied, making a bow and getting out.
After the guard got out, Celestia thought about that sudden attack from Chrysalis. Of course that it was no uncommon having attacks from changelings from time to time, but normally their queen wouldn’t take part of it, being that the reason why Celestia knew that should exist another reason behind all that beyond being just a hunt for love.
At the village mentioned by the guard, Chrysalis was conducting the attack with her changelings, terrorizing the villagers and trying to feed on their love. Chrysalis then immerged from an alley, accompanied by two changelings, and took a deep breath and, after that, she said:
“It feels so good hearing the screams of despair of ponies by the morning.”
“Chrysalis!” a voice called.
Celestia appeared, descending from the sky. The changelings that were nearby stopped after seeing the appearance of the princess of the sun.
“Celestia!” the queen of the changelings exclaimed, cynically. “How are you? I heard that you and Luna had a little… disagreement. What a shame… And it had to be between two lovely sisters! Terrible…”
“Spare me of your cynicisms, Chrysalis” Celestia replied, trying all her best to control her anger. “Get out from the village, Chrysalis. You know that neither you or your changelings are welcome to Equestria. Return to the Desolate Zone and both sides won’t have to suffer any casualties. You and your subjects had fed enough already.”
“Do you really think that I will submit to your demands just because it’s you who is telling them?” Chrysalis asked. “If you want me to get out, then you’ll have to do it in the old fashioned way: forcing me. Unless you have lost some qualities after your little fight with your dear moony little sister… my dear Celestia.”
With her rage boiling, Celestia advanced against Chrysalis and they collided their horns against one another. The princess commented:
“If you really refuse to retreat. Then it would appear I don’t have any other choice.”
“It would appear you do not” Chrysalis agreed.
The two regents retreated and then looked to each other for some moments and then each one shot a magic beam. The two attacks collided and started competing between each other. But Celestia’s attack rapidly got the advantage. Chrysalis, realizing this, broke the connection and opted for a physical attack, ending with the two colliding their horns again and start measuring their strengths.
“I have to admit, alicorns are pretty strong” Chrysalis confessed.
“That’s why it’s fruitless to resist, Chrysalis” Celestia responded. “I ask you again: take your changelings and return to the Desolate Zone.”
“I’m sorry, my dear, but that will not happen” the queen of the changelings declared. “I may have the disadvantage, but I learned to pass over it with numbers.”
Listening this, Celestia noted through the corner of her eye two changelings preparing themselves to attack her. Reacting to that, Celestia pushed Chrysalis back so that she could repel the changelings. However, as soon she did that, Chrysalis was able to execute another magic beam. After repelling the changelings, Celestia turned to Chrysalis and realized she would be able to dodge that attack.
Suddenly, a pegasus stallion put himself in front of her and took Chrysalis’ violent attack. He had a moderate red coat with a pair of wings sided by gusts of wind as a Cutie Mark, a brilliant red mane, reddish brown hooves and deep blue eyes. When he was hit, he fell by Celestia’s hooves. Seeing this, somepony becoming a shield to protect her from Chrysalis, the princess of the son become enfuriated with the queen of the changelings.
“NO!” she screamed, launching a concentrated attack against Chrysalis.
She was thrown against the ground, but, seconds later, she stood up, panting. Making an angry look to Celestia, Chrysalis told her:
“You will pay for this, Celestia! You can be sure of that!”
After saying that, she called her changelings and then took flight, moving away with them.
When Chrysalis was far away and didn’t represented a threat, Celestia turned to the pony that had saved her. He needed medical care at once.
A guard (the same one that had come to announce Chrysalis’ attack) arrived and said to Celestia:
“Your Highness, we were able to capture some of the changelings. What do you wish to do… But who is this?”
He was referring to the unconscious pony.
“He saved me from Chrysalis” Celestia replied. “I’ll go ahead to take him to the castle so that he can receive medical care. Please, round up the changelings and lock them in the dungeons until further notice.”
“Yes, Your Highness” the guard replied, bowing his head.
And so Celestia, putting her hoof over the shoulder of the stallion that had protected her from Chrysalis, she teleported away with him.
When the stallion came to his senses, he noticed that he was on a bed in an infirmary. It didn’t take long for the nurse to come see him and go inform Princess Celestia that he had awaken. Moments later, Celestia arrived.
“Princess Celestia…” the stallion said, while bowing his head to her.
“Please, I should be the one to bow” she replied. “You saved my life and, because of that, you ended up getting hurt… I’m sorry, I still don’t know who to thank.”
“Hepheus” he said. “My name is Hepheus, Your Highness.”
“And my name is Celestia” she said. “After your act of true courage, there’s no need for so many formalities.”
“I just did what any other pony would do.”
“Very few are the ones that would dare to face the Queen of the Changelings, much less serve as a shield to another against one of her attacks.”
“I’m honoured to hear your kind words, prin…” Hepheus started, seeing then Celestia’s look. “I mean… Celestia.”
“That’s better” Celestia said. “Now, you don’t have to worry about a thing, Hepheus. After what you did for me, I insist that you stay in this castle until you recover. You will be my guest.”
“I appreciate your kindness… Celestia” Hepheus replied.
And so Celestia moved away and got out of the infirmary. However, as soon she got out, Hepheus manifested a smile a little diabolical.
The Lord of Chaos was at that moment observing that same scene through his mirrors. He then released a chuckle and said:
“Celestia… so naïve… You didn’t even realize that all of this was planned by me. Now, I have a spy inside of your castle. And believe me that I will make you suffer on the cruelest way possible!”
And the great Destroyer released one of his evil laughs.