Clash of the Mothers and Daughters
It was late at night, deep in the middle of the forest. A campfire had been built with Princess Celestia holding her hooves out. Her wing laid on a log she sat next to, still wrapped up in a splint. Nearby, Princess Wanda Young, Twilight Sparkle and Spike had fallen fast asleep. Wanda’s gala dress looked a bit ragged, but she was alright. Celestia looked down at the sleeping younglings and smiled a bit.
“They’ve been through so much tonight,” Princess Celestia said to herself. “The mess of the gala I made, the attack by Queen Chrysalis and her changelings, plus Coldnelius Snap and the Windigo’s Guild.”
Celestia turned her head and looked down at her hooves and her tattered dress. She let out a sigh as she started into the campfire.
“It’s like what happened in La Maresa during the Ponyville Providence Fair,” Princess Celestia said. “But far worse. Unlike with La Maresa, it was directly in our own home. What am I going to do if we make it out? Should I send Wanda away to a place where she’ll be safe? What if she’ll never be safe at all? Was it really a good idea for Wanda to even be in this world at all, or to even exist?”
Celestia turned her head to Wanda, who was still fast asleep. She scooted over towards her daughter and reached out with her other wing, wrapping it around the Man’s Cub. The soft feathers around Celestia’s wing rubbed on Wanda’s face, causing her to wake up.
“Mommy,” Wanda said with a yawn. “What’s going on?”
“Oh I’m sorry, my darling,” Princess Celestia said. “But I’ve been worried about you since the attack.”
“But as long as I have you by my side,” Wanda said. “I’ll be okay.”
Celestia tried to open her mouth. But nothing came out. She looked down at Wanda’s face, who looked calm and collective.
“You’re right,” Princess Celestia said. “As long as you are by my side, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Mommy,” Wanda said as she looked at Twilight Sparkle and Spike sleeping. “I wish we could see our friends again, along with my sisters. I miss them.”
“I miss them too, and I miss my sister as well,” Princess Celestia said. “But don’t you worry. I’m not going to leave your side.”
Wanda smiled as she held onto Princess Celestia’s wing. The alicorn smiled back at her adopted daughter as a tear fell down her cheek.
Suddenly, there was a sound of bushes rustling. This caught the attention of Princess Celestia and Wanda Young, who both got up and looked down. THe sound awakened Twilight Sparkle and Spike, who slowly got up.
“Princess,” Twilight said. “What’s going on?”
“Stay calm,” Princess Celestia said. “Whoever’s out there, I won’t let them get near you.”
The rustling of the bushes grew louder and louder as Twilight and Spike started to become nervous. They inched towards Wanda and held onto her tight as Princess Celestia stared down the night. Princess Celestia picked up a nearby bucket of water and splashed it onto the campfire, drenching it out as Wanda stirred the remains of the fire with the ground with a large stick before Celestia splashed it again with more water.
“Whoever you are,” Princess Celestia yelled. “Show yourself.”
The bushes in front of Celestia rustled violently until Queen Chrysalis emerged. The changeling grinned down at Wanda, Twilight and Spike before Celestia got in front of them.
“You,” Princess Celestia said. “The very bane of the gala. What do you want?”
“Oh I know what I’m here for,” Queen Chrysalis said as she looked over Princess Celestia and stared down at Wanda, who held onto Twilight as close as possible.
“Not my daughter, you witch,” Princess Celestia said in a cold tone.
“Oh ho ho ho, flattery will get you nowhere, Princess,” Queen Chrysalis said. “But then again, you’re in no position to defend your daughter, or even your former student.”
“That’s returning student to you,” Twilight yelled as she slammed her hoof on the wood.
“My, what a naughty little hypocrite,” Queen Chrysalis laughed.
“I don’t care about my own injuries,” Princess Celestia said. “What matters is that you don’t lay a hoof on Wanda or Twilight….or even Spike.”
“Like I said, you’re not in any position to defend your own daughter,” Queen Chrysalis said. “Just look at you. Your own wing will only hold you back.”
Queen Chrysalis flew into the air and stared down Princess Celestia with a sinister laugh.
“It’s over, Princess. I have the high ground,” Queen Chrysalis said. “Flight is now my advantage and your doom. You won’t be able to shoot me down while you stay down there helpless and at a major disadvantage. And furthermore…”
But before Chrysalis could finish speaking, Princess Celestia fired off two blasts of magic, ripping off both of Chrysalis’s insect wings. The changeling queen paused for a sec and looked down at Princess Celestia, who had a smug look on her face.
“You backstabbing, double-crossing, no-good snake,” Queen Chrysalis said before she fell down and hit her body on the grass.
“Now we’re on even ground,” Princess Celestia said.
Queen Chrysalis got up on her four hooves and roared at Princess Celestia, who’s smug grin never left her face. The changeling queen walked up to Celestia and yelled “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW PAINFUL IT IS TO REGROW MY WINGS? THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME I LOST THEM YOU FOOL!”
“Oh really?” Princess Celestia said. “How’d you lose the last pair? Did an Ursa Major tear them off? Did one of my Wonderbolts take them by accident? Did you unintentionally put them through a paper shredder?”
Queen Chrysalis roared even louder, causing Wanda, Twilight and Spike to hold onto each other closely. Princess Celestia immediately turned her head back to the younglings.
“Wanda, Twilight,” Princess Celestia yelled. “Take Spike and make a run for it. I’ll hold her off.”
“But mommy,” Wanda said. “You promised you would keep me safe.”
“And I will,” Princess Celestia said. “As long as I have her at bay, you’ll be safe. Now go.”
Wanda nodded to Princess Celestia as Spike jumped onto Twilight’s back. With a kick of dust in the air, Twilight took off with Spike riding on top of her, all while Wanda ran after Twilight. Queen Chrysalis took notice of Wanda and Twilight running as fast as possible.
“You won’t get away from me, Man’s Cub,” Queen Chrysalis yelled as she leaped forward, only for Princess Celestia to jump in her pathway, blocking her.
“You want my daughter?” Princess Celestia said as she bared her teeth. “You have to get past me first.”
“Whatever magical trick you plan on pulling on me,” Queen Chrysalis said. “You can be sure that I will counter them with a trick of my own.”
“Oh I can be sure, this is no mere magic trick,” Princess Celestia said before her eyes glowed bright and she began to snarl like a wolf.
Queen Chrysalis took notice of Princess Celestia’s eyes, teeth and the snarl she was making. She backed off a bit and said “What kind of stunt are you pulling?
Without a second thought, Princess Celestia lunged at Queen Chrysalis, who attempted to jump to the side. Celestia instead bit down into Chrysalis’s tail, causing the changeling queen to scream in pain. Celestia spun the changeling queen around and around before tossing her into a nearby tree. Chrysalis bounced off and landed on the ground.
Chrysalis slowly got up as Princess Celestia approached her, eyes glowing bright, teeth bare and growling really deep. Chrysalis stared down at the Princess, with not a shed of fear in her eyes.
“Now I understand,” Queen Chrysalis said. “It’s the Wolf’s Breath curse. I should have known better.”
Meanwhile, Wanda and Twilight ran through the woods as fast as possible with Spike riding on top of Twilight. The pony and human were panting as fast as possible as sweat poured from their forehead.
“Twilight,” Wanda said. “It’s not right to leave mommy behind.”
“Princess Celestia knows what’s going on,” Twilight said. “Even despite our fallout, I knew she would protect us by any means necessary. And you know how she thinks.”
“But,” Wanda said. “I don’t think I’ll feel right without her by our side.”
“We’ll be fine,” Twilight said. “Our only hope is to head to a nearby town and take shelter there until the coast is clear.”
Wanda’s mind began to drift as she turned to her backside while running as fast as possible. She shifted her head back towards Twilight.
“Twilight,” Wanda said. “Do you think I would have to move because of what happened in Canterlot?”
“No,” Twilight said. “No matter what happens, Canterlot is the safest place for you to be. Any other place, and you would stand a higher chance of being captured by Coldnelius Snap or Queen Chrysalis.”
“And what about you?” Wanda asked. “I heard you were going to leave.”
“I changed my mind,” Twilight said. “After what I did, I felt like I’ve disappointed myself far more than Celestia did. Besides, I put little Spike here in danger.”
Spike playfully said “Twilight” as he gave her a hug. Wanda’s face beamed with excitement.
“Wow,” Wanda said. “I didn’t know Spike could talk.”
“You do now,” Twilight said as she and Wanda continued to run. “At least once Queen Chrysalis is dealt with, we’ll be safe.”
Suddenly, Wanda’s face turned to concern. She raised her head up and said “Wait. You might not have seen this. But Queen Chrysalis had a daughter.”
“A daughter?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah,” Wanda said. “I saw her before Miss Cinch escorted me out of the castle. She looked as mean as her mother.”
“Oh no,” Twilight said. “If that’s the case, then where do you suppose she is?”
But before Wanda could answer, a black shadow grabbed her out of nowhere, causing the Man’s Cub to scream. Twilight looked up and saw Princess Chrysalis II holding Wanda in the air by her arms.
“You,” Twilight yelled as she skidded to a stop. “You’re Queen Chrysalis’s daughter.”
“And I know who you are,” Chrysalis II said. “But you are of no concern. This fight is between me and this selfish brat.”
Wanda could only yell out “HEEEEEELP” before Princess Chrysalis II threw her through the air. She took off and slammed right into Wanda, jetting her through the atmosphere. Twilight and Spike looked on with horror in their faces.
“Wanda,” Spike cried.
“Come on, Spike,” Twilight said. “We’re going to get Wanda back.”
Spike held on tight as Twilight ran after Princess Chrysalis II and Wanda Young.
Meanwhile, Princess Chrysalis II held Wanda in front of her as she zoomed above the forest. Wanda could barely move thanks to how fast the changeling filly was flying.
“What are you doing to me?” Wanda yelled.
“I was given orders by my mother to keep you occupied until she bested your mother,” Princess Chrysalis II said. “So I’m just going to rough you up you little crybaby.”
Princess Chrysalis II stopped on a dime and released her arms as Wanda fell out of control and landed in the forest, tumbling through the dirt until she came to a stop. Wanda barely got up and spat out bits of dirt and grass.
“Hahahaha,” Princess Chrysalis II laughed. “How did you like that ride?”
“I don’t like it,” Wanda cried as she struggled to get up. “You’re a bad pony.”
“Sticks and stones, Man’s Cub,” Princess Chrysalis II laughed. “Now how about I give you another.”
With that, Princess Chrysalis II grabbed Wanda by the skirt of her dress and flung her towards a tree. Wanda collided with the tree back-first and fell down to the ground.
“Owwww,” Wanda cried. “That really hurts.”
“Get used to it, kid,” Princess Chrysalis II said. “You’ll be feeling this for a long time until my mother wins.”
As Wanda attempted to get up, Princess Chrysalis II sprinted and rammed right into her. The impact caused Wanda to fly off and bounce around on the ground, kicking up dirt with each impact. She came to a stop on top of a nearby slope, and could barely get up.
“Awww,” Chrysalis II said as she flew up and landed near Wanda. “Did I make a boo boo?”
Wanda could barely speak as she tried to get up. Chrysalis II walked up to Wanda and laughed.
“Oh you know I wouldn’t let you die by my hoof,” Chrysalis II said. “I’m just here to rough you up and wake you up to the reality of this forsaken planet. But since I took it too far…”
Chrysalis II held her horn out as a stream of magic poured out. It surrounded Wanda in a mist, healing some of the wounds she got. Wanda was surprised by how warm Chrysalis II’s magic felt.
“Why?” Wanda asked. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“Oh it’s simple,” Chrysalis II said. “I don’t want you to die. I just want to toughen you up.”
Chrysalis II laughed as she transformed from a filly changeling into a giant roc. Wanda screamed really loud before she got up and ran down the hill with roc-form Chrysalis II chasing after her.
“That’s right, little lady,” Chrysalis II said as she flapped her wings. “Run. Run as fast as you can. I know your weaknesses and I know how to exploit them.”
Chrysalis II opened her roc beak and let loose a powerful roar, causing Wanda to freak out, form her wings and begin to fly off. Chrysalis II got her eyes on Wanda and grinned with anticipation.
“Gotcha, my little butterfly,” Chrysalis II said.
The moment Wanda was in the air, Chrysalis II flew as fast as possible towards the Man’s Cub. Wanda tried to move out of the way, only for Chrysalis II to grab her with her roc beak and toss her. Wanda spun out of control as her wings disappeared until she crashed in the meadow area.
“Ahahahahahaha,” Chrysalis II said as she transformed from a roc back into her filly changeling form before flying down towards Wanda. “This was so much fun.”
Wanda got up and began to crawl away from Chrysalis II. But the filly changeling landed her hooves on Wanda’s back, pinning her to the ground.
“Let me go you big palooka,” Wanda cried as she struggled to break free.
“Oh I’m not done with you yet,” Chrysalis II. “We still have a lot more fun left.”
Chrysalis grabbed Wanda by the back of her dress and lifted her up. She flung Wanda into the air before grabbing her with her arms and flying off with her.
Nearby, Twilight Sparkle arrived to see Chrysalis II fly off with Wanda. Spike could do nothing but reach out towards the helpless Man’s Cub.
“Wanda,” Spike cried.
“I know, Spike,” Twilight said. “We have to get Wanda safe from that changeling princesses. She needs our help.”
“Help?” Spike asked.
“Help is what good friends do for each other,” Twilight said. “Princess Celestia taught me this and I came close to abandoning those ideas. Time I made up for what I did.”
Spike held on tight as Twilight Sparkle ran down the slope and through the forest, keeping her eye out on Wanda Young, who was still held by Princess Chrysalis II.
“Just you wait, Wanda,” Twilight Sparkle said. “I will get you back if its the last thing I ever do.”
Back in the air, Princess Chrysalis II flew at mach speeds all while she had a firm grip on Wanda. The Man’s Cub looked to her right to see Canterlot in the distance and a number of airships parked in the skies.
“Airships,” Wanda said to herself. “They must have driven off the other changelings and the cultists.”
Wanda bonked Chrysalis II on the head with her fist, catching the attention of the changeling princess.
“Your own minions have been beaten,” Wanda said. “You and your mother are all that’s left. We will drive you and we will be free from you.”
Chrysalis II just laughed and said “You are such a fool. They played their part in separating you from everyone else. Now all we have to do is to keep it this way.”
“No,” Wanda yelled. “That’s not true. Mommy will beat your bad mommy.”
“Keep dreaming kid,” Chrysalis II laughed. “We won and you lost. So deal with it.”
Chrysalis II came to a stop and let go of Wanda, causing her to lose her grip and fall towards the forest, screaming loudly as possible.
“Is that despair I see, little human?” Chrysalis II laughed.
But before Wanda could hit the trees, her insect wings formed on her back, and she immediately flapped them to slow down her fall. Princess Chrysalis II looked down with a look of satisfaction on her face.
“So she still has some fight left,” Chrysalis II said. “Very well.”
Wanda fell slower and slower until she was only a foot above the ground. She stepped down as her wings disappeared. Then she looked up and saw Chrysalis II fly towards her.
“Oh no,” Wanda said before she turned around and ran off with Chrysalis II pursuing her.
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, Princess Celestia pursued Queen Chrysalis on hoof, still under the effects of the Wolf’s Breath Curse. Queen Chrysalis ran as fast as she could, glaring back at the enraged alicorn.
“So this pony wants to play a beast eh?” Queen Chrysalis said. “Well I’ll give her a beast she won’t forget.”
Immediately, Queen Chrysalis jumped into the air and began to transform. She shapeshifted from a changeling queen into a bugbear, a creature that was as ferocious as a bear, with a stinger and wings of a wasp, four arms instead of two, and the colors of a grizzly bear. She roared as she dove right at Princess Celestia.
“You want to take this beast?” Queen Chrysalis yelled. “Well this one bites back.”
As a bugbear, Queen Chrysalis grabbed Princess Celestia and tossed her aside, causing the alicorn to crash into a nearby tree, breaking it and causing it to fall down behind her. Celestia quickly got up and barked madly at Bugbear Chrysalis.
“You have a lot of spark, that’s for sure,” Bugbear Chrysalis said.
Bugbear Chrysalis dived down towards Princess Celestia, thrusting her stinger right out with the intent to jab her. Celestia jumped out of the way before Chrysalis landed nearby, smashing the stinger through the ground and causing dirt to fly in all directions.
Bugbear Chrysalis got back up and glared at Celestia before swinging back and flying down towards the Wolf’s Breath-addled Princess. Once again, Princess Celestia jumped right out of the way, only to bounce off the ground and leap towards one of Bugbear Chrysalis’ wings.
“No,” Chrysalis yelled. “Not again.”
Princess Celestia sunk her teeth right into Bugbear Chrysalis’ wings and pulled her down to the ground, smashing her face into the dirt. She pulled on Bugbear Chrysalis’ wing and swung her around and around, spinning her as fast as possible until the wing tore off, causing Chrysalis to yell loudly in pain. The result of the torn wing caused Bugbear Chrysalis to be sent flying right into a pair of trees, knocking them down.
Queen Chrysalis transformed back into her wingless changeling form and laid there helplessly as Princess Celestia hovered over her, snarling in anger and with her eyes glowing bright as the moon.
“I should have pulled this off when I had the chance,” Queen Chrysalis yelled.
As Celestia glared down at Chrysalis, the changeling queen hit Celestia right in the face with a small blast of magic. Celestia screamed as the glow in her eyes disappeared.
“What did you do to me?” Celestia yelled as she stumbled away from Chrysalis.
“You were hit by one of my hexes,” Queen Chrysalis said as she got up. “This one is capable of disabling your Wolf’s Breath Curse. Now you won’t be able to use the power of the wolf to best me.”
Celestia shook her face off and turned her head towards Queen Chrysalis, who casually walked up to the alicorn princess.
“You have a broken wing,” Queen Chrysalis said. “And now your best skills have been locked away. All you have is your stupid magic. I, on the other hand, have more than just magic. I can become anything I want. I can become a beast far greater than what you can ever be. In fact, I…”
But before Chrysalis could finish, Princess Celestia fired off a blast of magic from her horn, hitting Chrysalis and sending her flying back into a tree.
“My stupid magic you say?” Princess Celestia said. “I like to keep my options available.”
Queen Chrysalis got up on her four hooves and looked at Princess Celestia. She laughed hysterically and said “That was your biggest mistake. Now let me show you the real beast within.”
Queen Chrysalis leaped into the air and began to transform. Her body grew large as she shape shifted from a thin, bug-like pony to what appeared to be a gigantic, bulky bear that towers the trees of the forest.
The bear-like Chrysalis landed down on the floor of the forest and roared at Princess Celestia, who just looked up at Chrysalis’ face.
“How do you like me now?” Chrysalis yelled. “I have taken the form of an Ursa Major, the most powerful beast of all of Equestria. Even more powerful than a dragon, or even….YOU!”
Princess Celestia just looked up at Chrysalis and just yawned. Chrysalis looked down at Celestia’s face and looked rather annoyed.
“What’s wrong with you?” Ursa Major Chrysalis yelled. “I’m a powerful Ursa Major. You’re just a simple Alicorn Princess. You are no match for me.”
“Whatever,” Princess Celestia said as she turned her back and began to walk off. “I’ve dealt with Ursa Majors before. Just with calm and tenderness.”
“Calm….and TENDERNESS?” Ursa Major Chrysalis yelled. “I’LL SHOW YOU CALM AND TENDERNESS!”
Chrysalis dug her bear claws right into the very earth and pulled out a huge chunk. She took her aim at Princess Celestia and began to drive the chunk of soil right down towards Celestia’s face.
“Amateurish,” Princess Celestia said as she pointed her horn at the very earth chunk that was about to slam right into her face.
Princess Celestia charged up her horn and fired off a beam of magic that pierced right through the dirt, and hit Ursa Major Chrysalis RIGHT in the face. The impact caused Chrysalis to fly out of control into the very forest.
“Uggh,” Chrysalis said as she transformed back into a changeling queen.
Princess Celestia walked up to Queen Chrysalis as the sun began to rise from the east. The rays of the sun shone down behind the alicorn princess and hit Chrysalis right in the face.
“I am not defeated yet,” Queen Chrysalis yelled as she rolled to the side and got back on her hooves. She stood twenty feel away from Princess Celestia and pointed her horn at the Princess of the Sun.
“It’s over, Chrysalis,” Princess Celestia said. “The sun has risen once more, and a new day will dawn for the ponies of Equestria. It will also dawn for my daughters, and for her friends. And I know that your daughter is pursuing mine.”
“So you know how it’s playing out,” Queen Chrysalis said. “You know that once I get my hooves on your daughter, I can turn her into a humanoid changeling, and make her the apex predator of my hive.”
“Not unless I stop you here and now,” Princess Celestia said as her horn began to charge up. “Queen Chrysalis, you are under arrest for terrorism and attempted kidnapping.”
“Never,” Queen Chrysalis yelled as her horn began to charge up as well.
Immediately, the two adults fired off their respective beams of magic right at each other. Both forms of magic push back at the other as the two continue their focus.
“You do realize that if you beat me,” Queen Chrysalis said. “Then my daughter will have your daughter. You’ll have to let me go in exchange for her freedom.”
“I’m willing to take that bet,” Princess Celestia said as she began to sweat a bit.
“Then you are a bigger fool than you make yourself out to be,” Queen Chrysalis yelled.
“I’m no fool,” Princess Celestia yelled. “As Prime Princess of Equestria, I made a vow to protect my people from any threats, no matter where they came from. That includes my daughter. And as long as I still have breath, you will not succeed.”
Queen Chrysalis continued to blast each other with beams of magic, with each end not holding back. The magic ball at the end grew bigger and bigger, about twice the size of both Princess Celestia and Queen Chrysalis, until it shrunk down and exploded, consuming both leaders in one sweep through the forest.
To Be Continued in….
The Spark of Hope