//------------------------------// // 21: War Stories // Story: Death of a Queen // by Arkane12 //------------------------------// “Twilight?” Cadence’s melodic voice bounced between the vaulted arches of the castle foyer. She sat at the top of the stairs, positioned perfectly to separate Twilight from her room. “Cadence?” Twilight greeted, not bothering to slow as she brushed past her sister. “Shiny just came storming through. I assume you had something to do with that.” Cadence fell in step beside Twilight, obviously intent on pushing the conversation. “Possibly,” she answered curtly. “I take it the two of you had another . . . civil discussion?” “If you want to put it that way.” Two gold-clad guards opened the way forward, allowing Twilight into the throne room. A crowd of nobles were gathered within, debating the costs and benefits of a new set of economic sanctions. Luna presided over the mass from Celestia’s throne. They seemed too enamored with their work to notice the new arrivals. “Did this discussion happen to involve her?” Cadence made a face like she ate something rancid. “Potentially,” Twilight growled. “And what did you decide?” “I’m really not in the mood for this, Cadence.” “When was the last time you ate?” Twilight stopped, heaving her shoulders with a deep breath. “Would you just spit it out?” Twilight snarled, loud enough to draw the notice of several nobles as well as Luna. The lunar princess cleared her throat, reclaiming the attention of the distracted ponies. Her unamused expression sent a clear message to the intruders. They hurried away, desperate to avoid any more ire from the court. Once in the privacy of the castle passageway, their conversation resumed. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Twilight.” Frustrated, Twilight twirled, putting herself face-to-face with Cadence. “Don’t play coy with me, Cadence. Ever since you and Shining arrived, you’ve done nothing but boss me around and threaten my friends. I’m sick of it.” “We’re not bossing you around, Twilight, we’re—” “Doing what’s best for me, right? Just keeping me safe.” “We are,” she assured. “And here’s the part where you tell me Chrysalis is dangerous and can’t be trusted.” “She is dangerous.” “Stop. Just stop, Cadence. I don’t want to hear it.” Cadence waited for the angry echo to fade before continuing. “When was the last time you ate?” “Why are you so fixated on that? I’m able to take care of myself” “Then answer the question.” The kind smile and soothing tone finally managed to overwhelm Twilight, quenching the fire burning in her chest. Sickness infected the newly formed void within her. “Fine. You win. I haven’t eaten since yesterday. I think. I haven’t had much of an appetite, lately.” “A whole day, Twilight?” “Don’t patronize me, Cadence.” “Look. I know times are tough right now. So, how about we put our differences aside for today? We can grab lunch and spend some time relaxing in the baths. Just take some time for us. Doesn’t that sound nice?” Twilight’s hunger-weakened defenses crumbled. She smiled weakly, already losing herself in the warm touch of the Royal Baths. “I guess that does sound kind of nice.” “Then what are we waiting for?” Cadence turned away, skipping down the carpeted path toward the mess hall. Twilight gathered her strength to follow. She closed her eyes, relying on instinct to lead her down the familiar path. Another set of guards hoisted the oak gate open. Inside, over two dozen pony guards were situated around the room, split into smaller groups. Conversations fell silent as the princesses hovered past. Cadence paused a short way down the center aisle. An inattentive Twilight failed to notice the sudden stop until she crashed into the older princess, knocking herself to the floor. She looked up at Cadence, ready to ask, but hesitated when she saw the mischievous grin. “Why don’t we mix things up today?” Cadence suggested. Twilight frowned. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. It’s fun to change things up occasionally. Come on. Please?” she begged. “Fine,” Twilight capitulated, rolling her eyes. “I’m following you.” Taking her sister’s offered hoof, Twilight recovered, trying and failing to ignore the confused stares assaulting her from every direction. Humming a light tune, Cadence led Twilight to the last of the six tables set out for the guards. A trio of crystal ponies was sitting. Their conversation hushed as the princesses approached. “Would you mind if we joined you for lunch?” Cadence asked. Several of the soldiers exchanged confused, possibly concerned glances. “Of course, Princess. You don’t need to ask.” An older stallion nodded to the others. Given his advanced age and hardened gaze, Twilight guessed he must have been the officer of the troupe. “She wants to eat with us?” A younger, sky-blue stallion piped up, earning a slap from the mare beside him. Cadence raised a hoof over her mouth, hiding a smirk. Both sides of the table scooted farther down the bench, opening a space for the mares. Cadence took her place at the end of the bench. Twilight settled in opposite her. “What was that for?” The pegasus seated next to Twilight rubbed at the red mark on the back of his head. “Don’t be rude to the princesses,” the unicorn mare scolded. “I wasn’t being rude,” he argued. “Can it, you two,” the captain ordered. “She started it.” He crossed his forelegs, pouting. “So,” Cadence interrupted, “what were you talking about?” “We were just discussing our assignment. No specifics, so you don’t need to worry about rumors spreading from us.” The captain kept his head bowed as he addressed his monarch. “Too boring for you, Captain Shield?” “Not at all, Ma’am.” “Enough with the honorifics, Captain. Treat us like you would any other member of your troops while we’re here.” He nodded, turning to his soldiers. “At ease, you two.” “You’re the only one still sitting up straight, Captain,” the mare pointed out. The pegasus turned toward Twilight, his pain apparently forgotten. “Name’s Glaze. Quartz Glaze. The pleasure’s mine, Princess.” He winked. Before Twilight could respond to his chipper introduction, a yellow aura of magic grabbed him by the ear, dragging his head down to the table. “That’s Private Quartz Glaze. Apologies. We’re still trying to teach him basic etiquette.” The unicorn took a bite from her sandwich, her horn still ablaze. “You can call me Dusti Diamond.” “Let go of me.” Glaze flailed his wings. “And this is Captain Iron Shield.” Cadence wrapped a foreleg around the Captain. The grizzled veteran didn’t try to escape her sudden headlock, despite his obvious discomfort. “He’s one of Shining Armor’s most trusted soldiers.” “That’s kind of you to say, Princess Cadence.” She released him, allowing him a moment to press his short-cropped silver mane back into shape. “It’s nice to meet you all. I’m Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight reddened. “But you probably already knew that, being in the Royal Guard and all.” “We’ve all been training under your brother since he arrived,” Glaze said, still struggling against Dusti’s mystic grip. “He’s the whole reason I joined up with the Guard.” “He speaks highly of you, Twilight,” Dusti noted. “That’s enough, Dusti. The Princesses aren’t here to listen to us chat about our superiors. Glaze, why don’t you grab them something to eat,” Shield said. “Because I’m still nailed to the table,” Glaze whined. “Seriously? That’s your excuse?” Dusti released the spell. “Fine, but you just earned yourself an extra week of training. I’ll teach you personally how to deal with magical threats.” “Sounds like fun.” Glaze stretched upward, massaging his abused ear. “What can I get you two?” “I’ll take the same as Dusti.” Cadence motioned toward the Lieutenant’s sandwich. “And you, Twilight?” “A sandwich sounds fine.” Twilight smiled. Glaze flapped his wings, soaring over the other tables to the stand where the kitchen staff was doling out lunch to the most recent wave of arrivals. “So, are there any particular gripes you had with your assignment, Captain?” Cadence questioned. “Don’t worry. It won’t be a problem.” “I will pull rank on you if I must, Captain.” Dusti chuckled, watching the officer squirm under Cadence’s authority. “The Captain’s Crystal Empire, born and bred,” the unicorn explained. “Getting him to leave is like pulling teeth.” “Is that so, Captain?” Cadence waited for the stallion’s reluctant nod. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind for future assignments.” “It’s not something to worry about, Princess. I promise.” Dusti closed the gap between herself and Twilight, injecting herself into the conversation. “I’ll tell you what’s strange about it. Our prisoner.” The group gathered around the table turned their attention to the mare. “I was in Canterlot during the invasion. Those bugs seemed to just pop out of thin air. It only took them minutes to take the city. I feel like we’re just sitting here, waiting for them to try again.” “The Changelings are our allies, Lieutenant,” Shield corrected her. “I believe King Thorax. But her? I don’t know. Feels like she’s planning something.” “Maybe she’s changed,” Twilight whispered, drawing two confused glances from the soldier and a third more akin to concern. “Maybe. Questions like that are above my pay grade.” The unicorn threw her forelegs up in surrender, scooting back to her seat as Glaze returned, two plates balancing precariously in his hooves. “Did I miss anything?” He asked playfully as he distributed the food. “We were informing the princess of our opinions on the prisoner,” Dusti spoke through the final bite of her meal. “You mean Chrysalis?” His brazenness earned him another magical berating, courtesy of his superior. She held him by the nose, rubbing his face into the placemat. “Shut it, Moron,” she scolded. “I’m sorry,” he said in a nasally tone. “What about you, Glaze? Do you think she’s a monster?” Twilight wondered aloud, bracing for another round of insults for her possible lover. In preparation for his answer, Dusti released her hold. “She scared me something fierce the first time I saw her.” He scrunched his features, double-checking to see if his face still worked properly. “But also, I feel a little bad for her.” The slight glow of hope appeared in Twilight’s eyes. “You feel bad for her? After everything she did?” “Yeah. I was standing guard outside her door the other night. She just sits in there quietly all day. No visitors, no friends, no family. It’s got to be awful.” “That’s not a very popular opinion,” Twilight mused. Cadence’s smile wavered briefly. “Probably. I guess that’s part of it, too. If I don’t feel for her, who will?” The Captain cleared his throat. “Perhaps we’d be better off with a . . . happier topic for our lunch conversations.” “How about those new swords we were promised last year?” Glaze accused, drawing the group’s attention to Cadence and Iron. The two of them evaded the question. Meanwhile, Twilight sank inward. She scrutinized the sandwich set out at her place. Two slices of wheat bread containing a wide variety of greens. Colorful flower petals occasionally peeked out between gaps in the foliage. A small speck of drool formed at the corner of her mouth. With the aid of her magic, she raised her lunch to her face, nibbling the edge. An irate growl emanated from her stomach. She experimented with a more sizable bite. The inherent sweetness of the petals was kept in check by a pinch of bitter spice: a common, yet delicious blend. To Twilight, the simple taste burned her tongue. Overwhelmed by the sudden nausea, she gagged, spitting her food back onto her plate and dropping the sandwich. Had she eaten recently, she would probably be sick right there. “Twilight? Are you alright?” Cadence leaned over the table, settling a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “I’m fine,” Twilight gasped. The soldiers watched, trying to piece together the mystery based on what little evidence they saw. “The food here’s not that bad, is it?” Glaze asked, genuinely curious. “Shut up, Glaze,” Dusti ordered. “Cadence, I think I’m ready to get on with our day.” Twilight pushed her plate away, still splattered with the disassembled remains of her lunch. Cadence stood, circling around to Twilight’s side. “You need to eat something, Twilight. Maybe there’s something better on the menu.” “I don’t want to eat.” “This isn’t healthy.” “Princess?” The group looked to the Captain. Cadence frowned. “Princess Twilight isn’t feeling too well.” The looks on their faces made it clear they didn’t buy the excuse, but they weren’t in any position to question royalty. “Did I do something?” Glaze asked Dusti. She shook her head in dismay. “Why don’t you two get a head start on our training drills for this afternoon?” Captain Shield suggested. “We’re still off duty, Sir,” Glaze argued. “Not anymore. Get going, or I’ll have you running laps around the castle until sundown.” The two underlings flinched. The Captain wasn’t known for bluffing. “Well, we’d best get going, then.” Dusti rose and started for the door, dragging Glaze behind her. “It was nice to meet you, Princess,” Glaze called. Now alone with only the two princesses, Captain Iron slid closer. “What’s going on here?” “Like I said, Princess Twilight just isn’t feeling well.” “Princess Cadence. I don’t mean to overstep, but I would like to speak with Princess Twilight privately, if possible.” Cadence stepped closer, hesitant to leave her sister in her current state. “It’s alright, Cadence,” Twilight assured her. She rubbed Cadence’s pink foreleg with her hoof. “I suppose I’ll be over there, then,” Cadence whined as she sulked over to the corner. “I’m fine, Captain,” Twilight promised. “Permission to speak freely?” “Of course.” “I don’t believe you, Princess.” “Your concern is noted, Captain, but I’m telling you to drop it.” The old stallion turned toward the window, staring at the sea of clouds cluttering the sky. “Would you mind if I told you a story, Ma’am?” Twilight shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “A story?” “Just humor an old man.” “Fine.” Twilight rested her head against the table. Her stomach’s demands still clawed at her mind. She prodded the bread slices halfheartedly. “I’ve been a member of the Crystal Empire Guard for a long time. Even before Sombra’s takeover. Upon my promotion to Captain, my superior officers decided that my talents would be most useful in one of the fortresses that lined the Empire’s borders. Wanted me to whip the soldiers there into shape. With such a long period of peace, most of the soldiers were just fresh recruits.” He studied the passing white fluff, as if portraits of the past were painted across them. “Why are you telling me this, Captain?” Twilight flipped one of the slices of bread, considering another attempt to sate her appetite. “I’m getting there. I’d been there about a month when a whole mess of ponies showed up. They claimed to be fighting on behalf of some rebel group and demanded we hand over our weapons and food stocks. I have no idea who they really were. I never heard anything about any rebellion in the area. Didn’t really matter at the time. There must’ve been thousands of stallions waiting for us. “Anyway, I’ve got just a small army of soldiers in the keep with me. Winter’s setting in, so luckily, we were already bunkered down. They beat against those walls for days. Supplies started to dwindle. For most of those recruits, that was their first battle, and it wasn’t going well.” “Captain, I really don’t want to hear—” “You have the same hollow look in your eyes those recruits did, Princess.” The verbal punch struck Twilight square in the gut. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Terror. Those soldiers were ready to die. Most of them refused to eat. A few of them forced themselves, and it just made them sick. In their heads, they lost the fight before they even started.” “And you think that’s my problem.” “It fits.” “Except I’m not a soldier at war, Captain.” “I’d argue that’s exactly what you are, Princess. A lot of the ponies in here don’t realize just how rough the situation is. I’m not one of them. You’re not one of them. We know the stakes, Princess. Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me that you’re handling this perfectly fine, and I’ll drop it and continue on my way.” “You’re . . .” Twilight tried to deny it, but her words crumbled. “Pardon my saying so, Twilight, but you’re a damn fine Princess. If even half of what Captain Shining says is true, then I think you’re Equestria’s best chance for making it through these troubled times. What about you? What do you believe?” “I don’t have the same confidence you do, Captain.” “And that’s your problem. You’ve already given up. Same as my old recruits.” “I haven’t. I swear,” she protested. “Prove it, Princess. Stay strong. No matter what happens, you must see this through to the end. You have to believe in yourself, or you’ll never be able to do it.” Twilight digested the story quietly, but it wouldn’t quell her hunger. “You’re a wise stallion, Captain.” “Take care of yourself, Princess. For Equestria.” The soldier’s old bones creaked as he rose from the bench. He motioned to Cadence, who had been watching with rapt attention. Before he could go forward and gather his squad, Twilight called to him. “Captain? What happened to your recruits?” He marched onward, never looking back. “Are you alright, Twilight?” Cadence asked, hovering over her shoulder like a doting mother. Twilight wasn’t listening. With the Captain’s words still fresh in her mind, she retrieved her lunch, shuffling it back into a recognizable state. “Twilight?” Cadence repeated. Squeezing her eyes shut, Twilight took a bite. “I need to make a note to give the Captain a pay bump.” Cadence lifted her tiara from her head, offering it to the uniformed mare on the other side of the desk. The attendant took the crown with utmost reverence, cradling it like her own child. She relinquished it to the cold security of a safe behind the counter. “I see why Shining likes him. He seems like someone useful to have around.” Twilight still felt discomfort in her belly, but her hunger had been satisfied, if only for the moment. The attendant returned, a pair of white bathrobes and a pile of towels draped over her back. The princesses slipped into the soft wool, floating their towels beside them as they pressed deeper into the Baths. Through the door at the end of the hallway, a private bath awaited them, reserved specifically for the two of them. Sometimes, Twilight enjoyed flaunting her royal status, reveling in the perks it offered. “Welcome to the Royal Bathhouse, Twilight Sparkle,” Cadence announced. The new room felt rather austere. Plain white walls surrounded them. The bath itself consumed the center of the room. A flight of stairs on each edge of the pool led down into the bubbles. An ornate white pillar protruded from the center, spilling sparkling hot water. Clouds of steam billowed from the surface of the pool. “So, is it everything you hoped it would be?” Cadence asked, dancing with excitement. “It’s a lot nicer when you’re not sharing with a bunch of strangers.” “Yup. Just you and your favorite sister.” “My only sister,” Twilight barked. “Your favorite only sister,” Cadence returned. Twilight tossed her towels onto a lounge chair sitting nearby. As she peeled her robe off, she tested the water with a free hoof. A perfect balmy warmth soaked into her fur. “How is it?” “Hot.” Cadence tested it herself. Disrobing, she plunged into the water, sinking up to her neck as she beelined for the center of the pool. Unlike her sister, Twilight preferred the slow burn as she dipped into the tub. The bubbles tickled her skin as she lowered herself below the surface. “Over here.” Twilight could see Cadence waving through the bank of fog. Splashing over to her sister’s side, Twilight noticed the ridge sticking out from the wall. She rested her tired haunches on the stone bench, her troubles bleeding away already. “See? My conversations are a lot more relaxing,” Cadence pointed out. “Cadence, did you lure me in here so you could lecture me?” The room went dark as Twilight nestled down into the bubbles, her heavy eyelids drawing shut. “The opposite, in fact. I brought you here so you could lecture me.” “Cadence, no one loves lecturing others more than I do, but can’t we just . . . not talk.” “Nope,” she sang, adamant. “I tried,” Twilight shrugged. “I want you to tell me everything about Chrysalis.” “Well, as it happens, she’s actually a Changeling Queen. Crazy, right?” Twilight snarked. “Come on, Twilight. I want you to take this seriously,” Cadence whined. “If you wanted me to be serious, you shouldn’t have brought me here.” “Fair enough.” “Thank you,” Twilight said pointedly. The alicorn stretched her limbs, sending small ripples through the surf. She slid forward to the edge of her seat, letting her wings flare to their full span. The injured one still felt a little stiff. It wouldn’t hold her weight for long if she tried to fly, but she could finally move it without hurting herself. “Do you love Chrysalis?” Lost in the ecstasy of her limbered body, she almost forgot Cadence. The sudden question caused her to jump, sliding her fully off her seat and flat onto the floor. She surfaced, shaking the water from her mane. “For Celestia’s sake, Cadence. What kind of question is that?” She turned to her sister, startled by the shaking form of the elder princess. “One you’re avoiding,” Cadence noted. “You just caught me off guard is all,” Twilight argued. Cadence sighed. “You don’t have to answer. I already know.” Twilight clambered back onto the bench, widening the gap between Cadence and herself. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Twilight lied. “I’m the Princess of Love, Twilight. Did you really think you could hide it from me?” “So, what if I am? Are you going to try to talk me out of it? Shining already tried. Think you could do better than him?” Twilight challenged. Cadence leaned back against the pillar, letting a sheet of water wash over her shoulders as she laughed. “I know I could do better than him. Like I said, though, I’m not here to talk you out of it. I know better. You’ve got it bad.” Twilight pouted. “I felt your love that first day, when me and Shining ambushed you in your study. I was so excited that my Twily found love. Of course, I didn’t know it was Chrysalis at that point.” “Try not to sound too disappointed.” Cadence turned to Twilight, suddenly serious. “I thought the changeling was screwing with my magic. When Shining went to talk to you, I paid a visit to Chrysalis. I threatened her, trying to get her to release her spell on you.” “You threatened her?” Twilight squeaked, injured. “I’m not proud of it,” Cadence snapped. “I thought she was trying to take advantage of you. Just being near her scrambled my magic.” “Did it accomplish anything?” Cadence snorted. “Of course not. I would’ve had better luck convincing a dragon to part with his treasure. I had a complement of guards with me. She faced them down like they were scared fillies.” Cadence looked far too invested in a bubble bobbing in the water. “That got me to thinking.” Twilight scoffed. “And what did you think?” “Maybe she wasn’t messing with me. I couldn’t know for sure. Even without my magic, every instinct I had told me she was serious. I didn’t know what to think. It wouldn’t be the first time she misled me. I needed to get you away from her for a bit, to a place where I could wash my magic from Chrysalis’ influence.” “And?” Twilight found herself leaning forward, eager to hear the answer. “I believe you love her, Twilight. I believe she loves you.” Twilight’s body numbed. Her pulse hastened. “Really?” Cadence smashed her hoof into the water, creating a small geyser. “I can’t shake this doubt, Twilight. Something’s missing from the puzzle, but I don’t have the slightest clue what.” A tear soaked into one of the few dry patches left on her face. “Cadence?” Twilight reached a comforting hoof toward her sister. “It just couldn’t have been anyone else? You had to fall for the one creature I hated most in this world.” “I’m sorry.” Twilight shrank. “As if life wasn’t tough enough. Haven’t we suffered enough, Twilight?” Over the course of a minute, Cadence had aged years. “I guess you have,” Twilight whispered. Turning her back to Cadence, Twilight ascended the stairs. Even trapped within the cloud of steam, the air felt cold. “Wait, Twilight, I didn’t mean—” “I know exactly what you meant, Cadence. Celestia forbid I get what I want.” “No—” “Be quiet,” Twilight commanded. “Let me explain—” “This was a mistake, Cadence.” “Twilight—” “If you hate it here with me, why don’t the two of you just go home already? In fact, maybe I should leave. Luna has the cure, what does she care if I go home?” “I—” “This is torture, Cadence. Do you get that? I’ve spent the last week trying to wrap my head around everything that’s happened. You think it’s difficult for you, that I fell for Chrysalis? Did you stop to consider how I felt? Celestia’s dying. Luna’s abandoned me. Worse than that she sent for my brother and sister to try to leash me. And that’s exactly what you two did. “I looked everywhere for solace, Cadence. My loved ones ordered me around and took what little comfort I had left. That monster is the only one to offer me any kind of solace. And you couldn’t even let me have that, could you?” Twilight’s fur bristled with rage. She struggled to breathe; her stomach pain redoubled. “Twilight?” Cadence held herself, eyes wide with fear. “What?” Twilight snapped. “We tortured you?” The question hung in the air, thicker than the steam. “We tortured you?” she repeated. “Yeah, Cadence. Torture. That’s what this has been. And I’m tired of having to apologize for it. I tried to bear it as long as I could, but I’ve hit my limit.” Twilight slammed her hoof. “I didn’t . . . I hadn’t . . .” she stammered. “Just stop.” “I didn’t know.” “Now you do. What are you going to do about it?” “I’ll trust you.” “You what?” “I’ll trust you. I owe you that much, don’t I?” “I want to be with Chrysalis. I won’t change my mind.” “I know. I’ll . . . do my best to live with that.” A bank of clouds drifted past the afternoon sun, darkening the skylight. “So, what now?” Twilight asked, her frustration thoroughly vented. “If I’m still worthy of your company,” Cadence started. “We’ve still got this bath for the rest of the hour.” She offered a pained smile. Twilight locked eyes with her sister. She wanted to cry, or scream. She wanted to hold Cadence tight and listen to that lullaby voice console her. She wanted to flee, tossing her crown into the wind as she escaped. In the end, she settled for a bath. Twilight soaked at Cadence’s side. The water felt much colder now. “I love her, Cadence.” “I believe you, Twilight. And I’ll stand by you, no matter what. Like a good sister should. Even if that means that I have to get along with Chrysalis.” She shuddered. “You think she loves me?” “It’s almost impossible to tell with Changelings. From what I’ve seen, I think so.” Twilight’s core froze, even in the heat of the bath. “What’s wrong, Twilight? Are you going to be sick?” Cadence scooted away. “Probably.” Only one more confession to go. In her head, Twilight compiled a list of things she would rather do: Cursed by Discord, kidnapped by rogue changelings, even facing down Celestia’s wrath. “You’re turning pale, Twilight.” “I need to see Luna.”