//------------------------------//
// Chapter 29 
// Story: Looking Glass 
// by Hiver 
//------------------------------//

Chrysalis stood inside the shield, facing off against the Princess of Fire without flinching. They watched each other from less than three hooves distance, separated only by Shining Armor's shield.

The sun was still high in the sky, but it was getting closer to the horizon.

Cadence and Midnight stood next to Chrysalis, Shining Armor next to Midnight, Cadence next to Chrysalis.

I stood by Chrysalis’ other side. Everypony looked determined.

Well, most everypony. I was mostly annoyed.

“Now, if everypony is done posing, can we get this over with?” I asked, “I haven’t slept for almost twenty four hours and I am about done with everything.”

That got a reaction, Celestia's lips twitched slightly before she looked at me. Midnight facehooved.

Cadence shot me a slightly annoyed look. Chrysalis looked completely unbothered.

Finally Cadance sighed and looked to Celestia again, “We have… come to an agreement,” she said and looked up at the larger alicorn, “Chrysalis has agreed to join Equestria as an ally. Changelings will be required to use their real forms, no hiding as anypony else. And in return for her changelings to be allowed to feed consensually from the love of ponies. They will also be allowed to graze from the love of the crystal heart at the outskirts of the crystal empire to make up any shortfall.”

Which was basically exactly the same agreement we had in my world and which I suggested to begin with.

So exactly what we spent the last night and day doing was beyond me.

Everypony but me is an idiot.

Or I may just be grumpy because I needed a nap. Likely both to be honest.

Celestia frowned slightly at Cadance before she glanced to Chrysalis before looking back at Cadance and Midnight again, “Are you certain of this?”

Midnight nodded, “This is something very similar to what developed in the other world. It worked very well there. I’m not saying it will be easy for anypony or anyling, it will need real effort from all sides”

Cadence shifted her wings before she nodded as well, “It was the best we could come up with,” she admitted and glanced at Chrysalis, “And… it won’t harm the heart.”

Chrysalis slowly smiled at Celestia, “A balance has been struck. You feed us and we help you. A most… harmonious agreement, don’t you say?”

Celestia’s wings rose in annoyance and I facehooved before I turned to her, stomping my hoof,

“Fucking damn it, Chrysalis. Can you stop being yourself for two minutes so we can get this shit done?” I asked and glared up at her, “I want to go sleep!”

The big bug actually cringed slightly before she looked at Celestia again, “The agreement we have come to is… acceptable,” she said and scraped her hoof against the stone beneath her, “We will no longer capture ponies and we will release any already captured. We will build a new hive closer to Canterlot and the f-ponies.”

Cadance nodded, “And will allow regular inspections to show that no ponies are harmed.”

“Or other creatures,” Midnight added.

Chrysalis bared her fangs for a moment before she nodded, “As agreed.”

“And in return Equestria will assist in defending the hive against any that would harm it,” Cadence continued and glanced at Chrysalis, “They will also assist in the defense of Equestria if we are attacked.”

Celestia looked between Midnight and Cadance before looking to Chrysalis again, “I… want to believe you,” she said, “But I know you.”

“As I know you, Princess of Fire,” Chrysalis said as she faced her squarely, “Because you will follow this agreement, my hive will be safe and flourish. None will dare touch us with the might of Equestria behind us.”

“If you move against anypony else, any agreement would be void.”

Chrysalis simply looked at her smuggly, “Why would we need to? We would have all the food we need right here. Why risk a confrontation?”

“If you can ever trust Chrysalis about something,” I said, “Is that she will do what is the best for her hive. And this is too good of a deal for anypony to leave on the table. Safety and a steady access to food? Doesn't get much better.”

Celestia slowly folded her long beautiful wings to regard Chrysalis for a long moment before she spoke up again, “Shining Armor. You may lower the shield.”

Shining Armor lowered his head and the shield went down, fading away into nothing. You felt it in the air, the air suddenly flowing freely once more.

Celestia slowly held one hoof out.

Chrysalis looked at it before extending her own and taking it.