This is Home.

by Lucy_Marigold

Chapter 28 - A Farewell.

Twilight sat on the wooden platform as Rainbow Dash kicked clouds away. Though the days had shifted to colder nights, the morning still held the same wonder it always did. The young nymphs clawed among her hooves, their tiny little bodies blending in with Twilight’s own. Her first clutch, her first children. 

Knowing she was going to birth an entire hive wasn’t as intimating as it would have been months ago. Her strongest, Dragonfly, flittered upwards with a fanged smile, trying to fly on his meager wings. Twilight Sparkle let loose a laugh as he knocked her crown off, tumbling to the planks below them. 

Hooves sounded as they trotted up towards the platform, the new arrival easing herself down beside the lavender changeling. 

Queen Chrysalis sighed, stretching her wings. “By Vendalia, I’m exhausted.”

“Have you moved everything out yet?” Twilight questioned, turning towards her.

“Almost. I’ve sent some drones down into the old Liberulla hive to gather archives and at least get those paintings. Preserving history and everything.” Chrysalis muttered, leaning backwards and against her haunches. 

“I think this is a good decision.”

“Well, there aren’t three hives anymore,” Twilight smirked, nudging the other queen. “So why not unite our hives? It’ll benefit the both of us.”

“I assure you, things are terrible in the Xenica hive. We were invaded by moles and the summer snowmelt flooded a large chunk of the hive. Fortunately, our most valuable documents and objects are stored by my chambers.” The elder queen grumbled, rubbing a hoof against her forehead.

“That’s unfortunate. See it as a blessing in disguise. New hive, new future!” Twilight raised a hoof, pointing it towards the sun in the distance, a smile adorning her face. 

“Yes, a new future,” Chrysalis said quietly, eyes gazing across the treetops before they landed on Rainbow Dash as she rested on a nearby cloud, her usual pegasus disguise blending in with the blue sky. “How is she?”

“Better than some changelings. Midge hasn’t done much and Skitter hasn’t stopped working.” She sighed, running a hoof through her mane. “At least she enjoys looking after these little ones.” 

Twilight levitated up the nymphs with a slight smile. 

“You remind me so much of her, you know that?” Chrysalis smiled, a genuine smile, at Twilight’s confusion. “Your mother. You remind me of your mother.”

“Oh? How so?”

“You have the same sense of wonder and intelligence as her. I always regretted that day, you know. I should have stopped myself. I was narrow-minded and that led to my closest friend, my sister, dying in my brutal attempt at convincing her to join me.” Chrysalis paused, lowering her head. 

“I wanted us to join forces, take over Equis so every creature was under our control. It was a vain attempt at repairing what I had lost. I lost my mother to herself. The hive watched her lose her sanity and will. I wasn’t thinking straight, I certainly wasn’t thinking straight when I attacked your brother and his wife. And I wasn’t thinking straight when I attacked you again.”

“We all make mistakes, Chrissy. It’s if you atone for them or not, and you have. You’ve fixed your mistakes, you’ve helped me bring peace between our hives.” Twilight said sternly, placing a hoof against the other. 

“But is it enough?”

Twilight Sparkle, draped in one of Rarity’s designs, disembarked the long-distance teleporter, Chrysalis, who was also wearing a dress, stepping off with her. The two queens were greeted by Ink Well, Celestia’s assistant.

“Good evening, your majesties, if you would follow me.” The pair of changelings nodded, following swiftly after the beige mare. Classical music could be heard as they were led to the ballroom. 

Twilight let lose a small laugh. “Remember what happened last time we were both in here?”

“Ah yes, I recall you punching in my face because I insulted you,” Chrysalis smirked, nudging the other. 

The doors opened as they were presented to the crowd. “Introducing Queen Chrysalis and Queen Twilight Sparkle of the Everfree Hive.” One of the guards shouted. 

They bowed before trotting into the party. Nobles with glasses of the finest wines in Equestria stared at them as they walked over to Celestia and Luna who were engaged in a conversation with one of the many stuffy nobles. “Princess!” Twilight chirped, gaining the solar regent’s attention. 

“Twilight! Chrysalis! What a pleasure! Thank you for coming.” Celestia smiled widely, joy and love radiating off of her in waves. 

“Well, I had nothing better to do.” Chrysalis slyly stated, earned a rough nudge from Twilight. “What? I was just telling the truth. Isn’t that what you good ponies do?” 

“What a jest, Chrysalis! I see you hast earned a sense of humour.” Luna chuckled. 

“How have things been in the hive lately?” The alabaster alicorn asked, taking a sip from her champagne flute.

“Chrysalis has been retrieving things from the other two hives and bringing them over to the Everfree. It’s been nice to have some company other than my changelings.” Twilight shifted in her gown, her smile reappearing.

“Oh, I whole-heartily agree with that. I can only handle my brood for so long before they get tiresome.” The former Xenica grumbled, levitating over a glass of water before taking a sip. 

“How have things been with you, Princess Celestia?” Twilight tilted her head, her magic grasping ahold of a nearby waterjug before pouring herself a drink of water. 

“Oh, you know, the usual. Day Court and such.” Celestia rolled her eyes, stretching her wings. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say someone’s watching you.” She pointed a hoof towards one of the nobles amid the crowd who then vanished among the bright colours. “How have things been in terms of the public?”

“Ehhhh… “ Twilight said, grimacing. “Not so great. Ponyville has been good but whenever one of our-” She waved a hoof between her and Chrysalis. “-changelings are seen in public elsewhere, it’s not been pleasant.”

“It’ll be a rough start.” Celestia chipped.

“Yeah, I know but it’s still… “ She trailed off, sighing.

“Exasperating?” Muttered Chrysalis, taking another swig of her drink.

“Exactly.”

Celestia trotted down the corridor, the young changeling queen leaning against her. Twilight, half-awake and tired, yawned as her fangs peeked out. Chrysalis had already returned home, retreating back to the Everfree before darkness had struck. Wrapping a wing around her former student, Celestia let loose a small giggle, watching Twilight stumble a little. “Are you alright, Twilight?”

“Hmmm? Yeah. Just a bit tired.” She responded with a yawn, stretching her insectoid wings. “And stressed. We’ve rebuilt everything but now we need to extend it to accommodate Chrissy's brood. It’ll take a while before my brood population catches up to hers though.”

“It’s a big move for you, isn’t it?” Celestia guided her further down the hallway, passing maids and guards alike. 

“Yeah, but it’ll be worth it for us to combine our hives. It’ll be the first of its kind but we’re preserving history in the process. After what Rhene did, we can’t go back to the way things were during Mother’s time.”

“Have you talked to Twilight Velvet recently?”

“Not muzzle to muzzle but we’ve been exchanging letters. She just published a new book.” Twilight was slurring her words, yawning once more. “But, uh, she said she wrote about changelings. I haven’t read it yet.”

“That sounds nice.”

“Yeah… “ She trailed off, blurrily glancing out the nearby windows. “I should get back to the hive. It’s late.”

“Would you like me to escort you to the teleporter? Or perhaps arrange a chariot?” They had stopped as Twilight nuzzled into the folds of Celestia’s wings, the soft feathers draping over her.

“Hmmm? A chariot would be nice.” Twilight leaned against Celestia further, yawning again.

Celestia motioned to a passing maid, an ivory mare with a feather duster as her cutie mark. “Miss Duster, could you ask some of the guards to arrange a two pony chariot for me?” She glanced up and nodded before trotting down the hall, vanishing around the corner. “Hey, Twilight?”

“Hmm?”

“There’s something I’d like to show you before we leave.” 

“Hmm, okay.” 

Celestia led her down the corridor and towards her private chambers. Using her magic, the regent of the sun opened a small door, setting alight to the candles inside as they bathed the room in a warm glow. Shelves engraved in the wall that reached the ceiling, packed full of Celestia’s personal copies. Books from across the millennia, many in perfect condition. She eased Twilight down into a nearby armchair, flying upwards to grab a book with her magic. “When your mother passed, her last letter to me came with this. A book documenting changeling history. It’s one of a kind, I’d like you to have it.” 

Twilight looked at the book, running a hoof along the engravings in the corner, a poppy, a rose, a sprig of rosemary and a daisy, all embellished with gold. “Our entire history?”

“The last few pages are blank but yes, your entire history. It dates back from before the formation of the pony tribes.” Celestia nodded.

“Thank you.” Twilight held the book close to her chest, a smile adorning her face. “Thank you.”

Twilight Sparkle stepped off of the chariot, the guards in gold watching as she did so. “Thank you for the ride, Princess.”

“It was my pleasure, Twilight.” Celestia laughed, a cheerful smile on her face.

“I’ll send you updates through letters.” She chirped, the tunnel opening with a swish of her magic. Flowers lined the entryway now, alive and thriving. Chrysalis stood in the doorway, a smirk on her face. 

“About time.” She said, leaning against the wall.

Twilight turned and glanced back at the solar regent, a smile on her face. “Goodbye, Princess Celestia.”

“Farewell, Twilight Sparkle.”