This is Home.

by Lucy_Marigold

Chapter 27 - Queens Carry On.

Twilight Sparkle watched as Celestia, Luna and Cadance stood at the end of the balcony, speaking to the crowd below. Chrysalis sat near Twilight, a fanged smile gracing the former villain’s lips. “You’ll do great.”

“But what if I mess up? What if they boo me off? What if I-” Twilight spluttered, pacing back and forth as her undisguised wings twitched.

“You’re over-reacting. By Vendalia, you panic so much, Sparkle.” Chrysalis let loose a laugh, watching her.

“I can’t help it! What if I mess up, Chrissy!?” 

“You won’t mess up because I’ll be out there with you.” The green changeling queen moved her hair to the side, rapidly fixing it.

“Right. Yeah, everything will be fine.” She took a deep breath, glancing down at her holed hooves. “Everything will be fine.” Her heart still ached, but despite that, the reassurances from the rest of her hive rapidly soothed her. 

“-Introducting Queen Chrysalis of the Xenica Changelings and Queen Twilight Sparkle of the Enigma Changelings.” Luna’s voice echoed forward.

“That’s our queue,” Chrysalis said as she rose up, smiling as she led the younger one out to the balcony. Twilight flinched a little as the sunlight shone in her eyes before her jaw dropped. The crowd below was massive, some of Chrysalis’s changelings transforming amid the crowd as they cheered. A smile rose on her face, a single tear slipping forward. Twilight raised a hoof and waved. 

The Xenica queen stood next to her, also waving to the crowd. Although slightly hesitant, a smile appeared on the elder changeling’s face. A genuine smile. 

Magic dissipated around her, the long-distance teleport runes dimming as she stepped forward. Twilight sighed, translucent wings folding against her sides. Celestia and Luna appeared in a swirl of light a second later, joyous laughter echoing from them. “Tis a good day to see thine Hive, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Let her have her rest, Luna. It has been an interesting morning.” Celestia scoffed, trotting down the small stone steps that led to the platform. 

“An interesting morning? Those nobles wouldn’t leave me alone. Maybe I should act like Chrissy every once and a while.” Twilight snorted, smiling as she rolled her eyes. They stepped into the hallway, the portraits of the former queens lining the walls. 

“When are you getting yours painting, Twilight?” Celestia asked, using her wing to point towards the paintings.

“Well, tradition states that we make a painting once the queen produces her first clutch of eggs. Once we fix up the nursery, Thorax says I’ll be laying in a few weeks. Nova is wonderful at portraits.” Twilight held up a hoof, Luna standing in front of her as Celestia stood in front of Odonata’s painting.

“Maybe I should have mine painted. Tis always an honour to have thine painting made by changeling hooves.” 

“Oh! I’m sure Nova will make you one.”

“That would be wonderful, Twilight,” Celestia said, her warm laughter echoing forward. 

“Why don’t I show you the Lunar Wing?” Twilight offered, tilting her head with a slight smile.

“Ah, the wing Lantana dedicated to me after mine banishment. Yes, we shall see it!” Luna declared, a smirk on her face. 

Rainbow Dash sat alone, glancing out at the wild forest before her as afternoon light flickered through the trees. Her wings were folded against her side, her head hanging low. 

It had been over a month but that day still haunted her memories like that infamous December had. Her ears flicked as she heard somepony joining her. Bee trotted up the rickety steps that Twilight had added, their hooves drawing her attention. “What do you want?”

“To talk.” Bee simply said, sitting down beside Dash.

“I don’t want to-”

“I lost my sister, Rainbow Dash, I’m grieving as much as you.” The lavender changeling sighed, flicking her wings. “You were close, weren’t you?”

“We were best friends.” Rainbow Dash quietly muttered, staring out towards the horizon.

“The Queen won’t speak about the matter and Skitter-well, Skitter has put himself into his work even more than normal.” She sighed. “What happened that day, Rainbow Dash?”

“Queen Rhene showed herself and she wasn’t right. She wasn’t acting like she used to act. She-“ The red changeling paused. “She tried to kill Twi’ but… AJ jumped in front of it. Applejack-” A slight sob. “Applejack sacrificed herself.”

“Sacrifice… is a thing ingrained in our heritage. We can’t take back what we lose but we can move on. Come, Midge made cake with the pink one, why don’t you join us?” Bee got up, nudging Dash in the side. 

“Okay.”

Celestia sat beside Twilight as the fireplace crackled. Luna was sitting upside down, hanging from the railings as levitated books around her. The solar regent sighed, wrapping a wing tightly around her former student. Glancing upward, Twilight released a small smile before frowning.

“I know we’ve talked about this, but what are the possibilities of another huge threat? I doubt the elements will work anymore, not without… her.” Twilight whispered.

“Highly unlikely. Although I recently discovered Tirek, one of the many threats Luna and I locked in Tartarus centuries ago, tried to escape. Luna dealt with the problem swiftly last night. We also confiscated a few letters from a Miss Cozy Glow.” 

Luna let loose an unroyal snort, chortling. 

Celestia laughed, continuing. “Luckily, she had only sent a few, mistaking her for one of her family members. We intervened before he could send any letters.”

“Well… that’s reassuring at least. There’s no other centuries-old threats, right?” Twilight shifted in place, levitating over a cup of tea. 

“Not unless Tia sent somepony else to Tartarus whilst we were on the moon.” Luna flew down from her perch, landing with a stack of books in hoof. 

The candle beside Twilight which glowed with an unnatural purple colour suddenly shifted tone, a bright green sparking as a rolled-up scroll appeared. The lavender changeling instantly diverted her attention to it, grasping it in her magic as Celestia cocked an eyebrow. “Practicing telecommunication spells are you?”

“It’s from Chrysalis. We set these up last week. It’s so much easier than sending a messenger.” Twilight sheepishly smiled, earning a light-hearted sigh from Luna as she flicked through the books she had procured.

“Speaking of messenger, how is Spike?” Celestia asked.

“Good, yeah. Spike’s been running the library without me. Apparently, he’s been doing pretty well. He visits once every week or so.” Twilight absentmindedly said as she unfurled the letter, eyes grazing across it. “Now that is interesting.”

“What is it?”

“Chrysalis is popping in for a visit tomorrow to discuss the red queen problem. I do believe she’s relishing the fact the treaty went so well.” Twilight chuckled.

“If she has redeemed herself in your eyes, she is more than welcome to stay on her throne. As long as she behaves herself that is.” 

“Oh don’t worry, Princess. I’ll keep her in check.” She puffed her chest proudly, her smile growing.

“I know you will.”

Twilight stood at the edge of Sweet Apple Acres, a bouquet of flowers from the Everfree firmly clutched in her magic. The sun hadn’t risen yet. The air was cold and crisp, her breath misting around her. She set the bouquet of lilies and roses down, resting them against the cold soil beneath her hooves.

Applejack’s gravestone was a looming reminder of what happened. Etched into the grey stone was both Applejack and Alyssum. Her ancient date of birth forever marking the stone. 

General Alyssum ‘Applejack’. December 23rd, Twenty-seven Celestial Era. - June 30th, Two Selenelion Era.

Carved in the stone were a trio of apples, her stetson resting on the headstone where somepony had left it. A stray tear slipped down her cheek as she fell to her haunches. “Miss Twilight?” An accented voice muttered. “That you?” Applebloom stepped forward from behind a nearby apple tree. The young filly trotted forward, tilting her head. She was missing her signature bow.

“Hey, Applebloom. How are you?” Twilight quietly asked.

“Ah’m fine. But Granny says ah should take a break this year for apple-bucking season. Is it true that mah sister was a changelin’?” The young filly sat down beside her, glancing at the tombstone. 

“Yeah… she was.”

“Ah always kinda knew. But Big Mac told me not ta ask her ‘bout it. Said it was rude ta pry inta ponies business and that ah had no reason ta worry ‘bout it. Was she really that old, Miss Twilight?” 

“Yep. She grew up with my real mother. And she was the best general my mother ever had.” Twilight shakily smiled, patting Applebloom on the head. 

“Really?”

“Absolutely. I heard she once fought a whole army just to save me when I was a nymph.” 

“Nymph? Is that like a foal or somethin’?” Applebloom looked up, slightly confused.

“Yeah, something like that.” She sighed.

“Oh.” 

Silence gripped the two of them, an autumn breeze blowing past as it stirred some of the fallen leaves up. The sun peaked over the horizon, bathing them in morning light. “I should head back. I’ve got a guest coming over today.”

“Alright. Granny said yer always welcome back, Miss Twilight.” Applebloom smiled slightly before frowning again. 

“I’ll take her up on that offer sometime in the future. Goodbye Applebloom.”

“Bye Miss Twilight.”

“Have you laid any yet, Sparkle?” Chrysalis questioned as they trotted through the tunnels throughout the hive, the younger of the pair grimacing slightly.

“No, not yet but Thorax predicts I’ll lay in about a week or two. We’re still repairing the nursery. We’ve been a bit short of changeling power right now.” She led the other queen towards the Royal Wing, passing the paintings before entering the large courtyard. “How have things been in your hive?”

“Oh you know, the usual. Now I do believe we need to discuss our little problem, don’t we?” They trotted up to the balcony, taking a set at the edge of the ornate thing on a few cushions that lay there.

“We can’t kill her.” Twilight sputtered out. “I know she did some horrible things but-”

“I wasn’t suggesting that we kill her, Twilight Sparkle. I was planning on suggesting we banish her instead.” Chrysalis calmly stated, shifting her hooves.

“But won’t that allow her to re-build a hive and take us down in the future? It’s not like we have the Elements of Harmony to lean back on in case of an emergency.” 

“Unless you’ve got a better idea, I think banishment is the best option.”

“I think I have an idea,” Twilight said with a slight smirk, already grabbing parchment and a quill in her magic.

“I hope you know what you're doing, Twilight.” Chrysalis huffed, following swiftly after Twilight. Celestia, Luna and Discord waked in front of her, heading deeper into the Canterlot dungeons. At the end of the musty hall, was a single cell. Using their horns, the two princesses lit their magic alight, the runes glowing and unlocking with a click. 

The door creaked open to reveal Queen Rhene, asleep and bound in chains. An inhibitor ring was slipped around her chipped horn. She stirred, blurrily peering at them through the darkness. Her mouth stretched into a wide smile as she jerked upwards. “Hehehe. Celly’s brought a little pet, has she?” She sneered, fangs shining in the hallway light. 

Discord frowned but refrained from speaking. Even he had been affected by Applejack’s death, no longer making random jokes at the expense of others. “I’m not a pet, you bug.” He hissed a moment later.

“Hehe. Come to talk with little old me, Princesses?” Rhene spat, torn wings flaring behind her. “Or is there something else?”

“Twilight, care to tell her?” Rhene followed Celestia’s gaze, the red queen’s eyes pining on the two other changeling queens. 

Twilight nodded, stepping forward as she took a gulp. “Q-Queen Rhene of the Liberulla Hive, under the jurisdiction of the hives and under the laws of Equestria, I, Queen Twilight Sparkle of the Enigma Hive, declare you rouge and a threat to others. Your punishment, eternal imprisonment in stone.” She shakily stated. Discord flinched at the last part, a scowl appearing on his face.

Rhene’s previous mood shifted, a look of surprise, rage and shock marring her face. “No! You can’t do that!” She spluttered out, tugging desperately on her chains. 

Chrysalis stepped forward, a frown on her face. “I’m sorry it had to come to this, Aunty. But you leave us little options.”

Twilight turned away solemnly as Celestia and Luna lit their horns. Beams of light struck Rhene, the chains vanishing as she screamed. “NO! YOU CAN’T DO THIS! I DON’T WANT TO! STOP IT!” Discord raised a paw, and in a snap, discordant magic streamed forward, joining with the other magic. 

When the light dissipated, the permanent look of panic marred Rhene’s stone face. Twilight buried her face into Chrysalis’s barrel as the older changeling shared a sombre look with Celestia, tears rolling down both the ruler’s cheeks.

The Red Queen was gone, and in her place a statue.