//------------------------------// // Leap 9 — "A new age of Twilight" — Princess Celestia — Day 2, past midnight // Story: The Queen of the Dark Ch. I // by Forcalor //------------------------------// One lingering thought denies peace for me. We, the ancient ones, made a vow to rid the world of suffering. But how can we conquer suffering without knowing its nature? How many of those who were promising, wealthy, and young, ended their lives by throwing themselves at the blade... Is there any other reason for the pain rather than the pain itself? Untranslated text on an old stone tablet It happened at night. "A children's book? About me? How odd." Celestia lowered her powerful body, looking thoughtful.  Twilight's response was a bashful smile. They still didn't knew each other well. "Can you please read it to me?" asked the Princess, craning her swan-like neck. Twilight cleared her throat, suddenly worrying about her little presentation. She looked down at the lines of text, hoping that she wouldn't stutter in front of the Princess herself. "Here it is... Your part, if I may... 'No matter who you are, what you are, or where you come from... if you've got a good heart and a positive attitude, there's nothing you can't accomplish. I believe in the potential of all ponies to be the best versions of themselves... and as their figurehead, I have to set a good example. Even when life is at its most difficult and darkest, there is always a light in the... darkness...'" She looked at Celestia, curious. "Do you think so too?" Celestia laughed, enjoying it thoroughly. "Oh, did they stalk me for lines, perchance? How precious, and very life-like! Well, when there is darkness, there is always light, that is true... One is incapable to exist without the other, and the light is everything that the dark is not." Celestia winked at Twilight. "I can tell you one secret. Do you want me to?" With eyes full of wonder, the filly nodded. Her ears stood up attentively. Celestia became a little more serious. With a sigh, she raised her muzzle to the window nearby. Almost imperceptibly, she took on her royal visage. "Often even I feel tired, scared, and alone, and during such times, I always take an opportunity to look up at the sky. Have you ever noticed how when the darkness surrounds you, the stars up there shine brighter than ever? It is same with us, equines. In the times of trouble, our light can shine ever brighter, ever more noticeable. Those with good, nurtured hearts, during such trying times, I believe, can inspire fire in others. They can let them carry the same warming light long after they are gone from their lives, and pass this sparkle of hope down to similar stragglers who try to find their way too." "Oh..." Twilight pondered. "So when there are difficulties, it can be a good thing?" "I do not believe it is that simple. Everything needs to be measured and contrasted." Celestia's eyes flickered to the Moon. "Remember this: if you do not let your inner light wane. If you find strength in yourself as well as in others, if you let your light draw them to you, and if you find courage to be drawn to the light of another, then it is possible to not only find light in such times but to be one as well. Be a light that cannot be quenched, whatever the odds. Remind yourself often, that anything is possible in Equestria." "Anything?" Twilight whispered. "Anything..." As they looked at the night sky, they remained silent for a while. Each one thought of something of their own. Eventually, Celestia spoke softly, and nudged Twilight with the muzzle to help her stand up, "It's past your bedtime, you know. It is already past midnight." "Oh." The filly's ears drooped. "I-I've made you stay with me... I am sorry. I know you usually go to sleep earlier than this. You have an important schedule." "I can always make an exception for you." Celestia helped Twilight get tucked in. It was a busy day ahead. "Good night, my Little Light." From the doorframe, shadowed by the light around her, Celestia looked back at the little sleepy filly. She met eyes with hers', and traced three unspoken words. To confess, the Princess of the Sun and ruler of all ponies would've been too shy to speak them out loud. Plain and simple. "Masks and masks and masks again... Tearing apart, all the way down... Until the true self is revealed." This is how it worked, wasn't it? Rectifying the balance was to achieve the position of harmony inside the person, and if it is not possible in the needed capacity, then in the world itself. That's what communication with the Elements of Harmony taught Celestia in the past. Scales must be outweighed, so this constantly chaotic world will have a chance to continue, taking another step toward its growth. Yes—the world itself was growing, just like those who live in it. It is the truth. It is alive. It's up to ponies to guide and inspire its growth, to be positive examples, and to protect and cherish it by kindness and friendship, and in this endeavor, the Harmony is a means to that end. Celestia's gaze slid down to Twilight. She looked at her lovingly. Twilight took on most of the needed aspects, performing the final step before Celestia's very eyes. The Princess couldn't be happier, as Twilight was everything she was meant to be and even more. She was her dream, her redemption and promise, the result of all this millennium-long meandering on the twisted trails of uncertainty: an alicorn who would lead ponies to the heights to which Celestia could never rise herself. For a few moments, but she allowed the sweetest illusion of hope into her heart and was ready to breathe freely. Her mind was filled with the overwhelming light of eternity that will come afterward, this unending and well-deserved bliss, this feast for the soul. Well, Twilight will need some adjustment to her new position and abilities, but Celestia knew that she will happily support her in this as long as the newest Princess will have her. As long as she is needed. As always. "Princess Celestia?" she heard her, and returned from the daydream back to reality. Twilight turned, her flowing mane was filled with twinkling stars, and in her gaze was wisdom and new clarity. "Yes, dear?" the Solar Princess barely whispered with a hoarse voice, full of love. "Celestia, I don't think—" The dimmed darkness on the other side of the Throne Room birthed from itself a loathingly familiar cackle.  Interesting. Well, it could be expected, after all the harmonious resolution of the world could exert any effect on the target of its ancient magic. Just as the future is not predefined, the needed result is not preordained as something obvious. Though Celestia knew that it is something that is decided by the will of the Order, so it could be guessed with relative ease. So Chrysalis is still needed in some capacity? Could it be something akin to what happened to Luna? After all, under Luna's darkness and the immense burden of guilt and pain, there still remained Celestia's loving little sister, and that was what they got in the end... There was this shrilling laughter again. Darkness began to condense, and just like in the stand-off beforehoof, a pair of green eyes glowed in its core once again.  Celestia's muzzle hardened. "So this is what it's all about, right, my darling equines?" The trembling voice of her murderous 'wife' sounded like she was almost hurt by what had occurred. "Everywhere I go, everything remains the same. Ah, yes-yes, I see... No, do not stand up there, Celestia. I still have one last obstacle to overcome, before I get to you." The Queen looked at Twilight. "This is how we are doing this, right?" "You weren't affected at all?" Twilight seemed like she couldn't decide if she was perplexed, amazed, or disgusted and disappointed. "You are just like all the others," Chrysalis's whisper was full of malice. "Pathetic weak-minded fools. I am pure emotion! I am ambition! I am the thrill! And you presume you can rein me in!? Me!? Do you even realize what I am!? I am a creature of lust, of greed, of hunger and pain, of jealousy and fury. I am a creature of sin!" She growled, snapping. "All my existence, wherever I go, whenever I reveal myself, there are always some cretins who wish to change me, to force me to become something that I am not! But I do what brings me joy. Do you want me to define myself by misery, like other pathetic creatures? Like you!? All this loneliness, regrets, affections, and other pedestrian stuff, want to ingrain it in me? In the Queen!? And for what purpose? To relate!?" Chrysalis narrowed her eyes. "Why, I could tell you anything that you want to hear, darlings... You self-serving morons. Want me to tell you that I can become like you? Whyever not, I'll say it, and I'll make you believe in it. I'll do it, and your pathetic weak hope will be on my side, for me to use. But we all know what it really would be: an indulgence in control. You all just want to control me, like all those fools, that is what they are, they are just like I am. Our difference is, I am completely honest about myself! "I am a monster!!" she shrieked, and stood there, panting, baring her teeth. Celestia wasn't sure how to feel about that, but Twilight had some ideas, as always. "If you are an irredeemable monster, then we are trying to guard ourselves against your existence by any means necessary, and there is nothing more to it." Her voice was strained. "You know all about it just as I do. Is it so wrong to hope that even a creature like you can become something better, especially since you are so similar to us?" "Disgusting." Chrysalis rolled her eyes. "Let's just say as a shapeshifter I know: dualism is outdated. Maybe the thing that gets you is not that I am similar to you, but you are similar to me? See, how easily it can be turned around?" "Why did the magic of Harmony left you unaffected!?" Celestia gasped, realizing that she was withholding breath all this time. "What is all this? Did you subvert it? Avoided it? What have you done, Chrysalis?" "It went through me and I sensed it. All your Harmony," the Queen said with utter, almost palpable disdain. "I've slipped past it, I did. I do not need to be cleansed, banished, or changed. I am Chrysalis, The Queen of Equestria, and this is my true self. I am in my rightful place. There can be no more doubts." "The universe will not simply let you refuse its embrace," Celestia stammered out. Either the Queen was right, which was preposterous, or something was terribly wrong. Even if, as Starswirl said before, the paradigm shifted, for all her talk Chrysalis wasn't supposed to remain completely unaffected, no matter how powerful emotional nature she had, or what strength of spirit she claimed to possess. Celestia needed to create a third option, fast, and she already knew what she will do. Her heart was resolute about it from the very beginning. She turned to Twilight urgently, "Have you performed the magic wrong?" "No. I did everything right," the little alicorn shook her head. So, it should be considered that Chrysalis had no internal conflict. Was it because she was so bestial and insect-like? Some trickery was at hoof, Celestia was certain... Such a beast wasn't allowed to exist. This primitive and destructive impulse served no purpose. "Well, now..." Chrysalis licked her lips voraciously, looking at Twilight. "Is this the part where we finally fight? A pathetic inferior creature, all mewling about its Friendship, and who might've foiled my plans once, or twice, or thrice—but nothing more... Gotta say, my darling wife, I appreciate that you always throw out your puny successor against me. Must be all those 'growing pains' they like to talk about!" "I am no one's successor." Twilight ignited her horn, lowered her head. "I am just protecting what I love and cherish!" Chrysalis cackled and narrowed her eyes. And Celestia just watched still, feeling as if all her joints became like a stone. What is she doing?... What are they doing?... No... "Oh, please, it's so obvious that even I can see it," said Chrysalis slowly, savoring each word. "I saw it clearly when I watched you two talk right here, the other day. You are being groomed for the throne. You are a replacement. What, no one told you this out loud?" Celestia stiffened completely. "You're warping it all wrong. That is a severe misrepresentation of what is happening," she heard her own voice, burdened heavily with pain, almost emotionless. "Do not listen to her, Twilight. She is a manipulator. She thrives on others' flaws." Twilight looked back, and in her Celestia already saw that seed of doubt unraveling, this willingness to ask, to test, to question. Her big eyes watched, and Celestia could do naught but smile softly and motherly, just like she always did. "Princess Celestia?" Twilight wanted a clarification now, something to ease her inner turmoil, to distract her. Suddenly, words began to fail Celestia yet again. "Princess Celestia?" Twilight sounded more concerned. Celestia looked at Chrysalis, noting her unabashedly snide grin, downright catty. The monster reveled in their misery. "I..." Celestia barely shifted her hooves, betraying her weakness. She couldn't avoid it: she needed to speak from the heart, even if she always being misunderstood when she tries to do so. She lowered her head, trying to compose herself. Her muzzle, covered with the bride's veil, darkened from thoughts. "Twilight, this realm needs someone better than me. This is our d—" she bit her lip very hard. She's not saying this. Not again. Not to her. "Celestia, we are friends... You always could tell me it directly?" Twilight tried to calm her, and her weak voice now sounded just as uncertain. "Chrysalis tries to pit us against one another," the Princess spoke in same dull, suppressed tone. "You know that I bear no ill intent. Even if I omitted something, it is for the cause." The Changeling Queen leaned forward, barely containing laughter. "Want to know what I think it's all about? Your favorite word, remember? 'Destiny'. If there even exists such insipid banal thing as destiny, it needs to be challenged." "Don't try to provoke me!" Twilight suddenly snarled back to Chrysalis. "I'm not naive. Be silent." "Ah, what cheek in front of your ruler..." the Queen snickered. "Is it always so important to butt in with one last word?" Chrysalis humphed, but apparently, she had too much fun to respond.  Twilight lifted her muzzle to Celestia. Her eyes were searching. Celestia knew how her mind was working, and hated herself for this knowledge. There was naught she could do, but to double down on what she believed in. "The changeling's words are calculated at bringing forth distrust and uncertainty. Yet, we must remain vigilant and steadfast in the face of adversity..." she said, keeping up her poise, and reached out to the little alicorn with a smile. "Please, always maintain awareness of your purpose and your resolve. Remember that you are doing what is best for Equestria, and no one should stand in the path of it. Friendship is the magic that binds us all together, and together we can overcome any challenge that comes our way. Never forget the importance of unity and trust, and always be true to your heart." Her warm and soothing light had found its reflection in Twilight and she curtly nodded, brightened by this reminder. But Chrysalis was relentless. "So wise and noble..." The damnable insect chuckled, listening closely. "Oh, if only you knew what secrets she could spill in the bedroom, with reddened cheeks and the disheveled mane... That is, if the correct pressure is applied well enough. Have you ever imagine how her divine moans of pleasure sound like? I believe I've already granted our Princess more satisfaction than you did in all your years of serving the cause." "How dare you!" Twilight hissed, twirled on a spot, and stepped toward the changeling. They horns were aflame; they were ready to battle. Celestia's heart sank—they needed to be stopped, there was another way to resolve the conflict! She couldn't witness Twilight being hurt. The battle that will follow would be catastrophic. Before she moved to prevent it, her student had a similar thought. Twilight abruptly stopped and shook her head defiantly. "No, no... This is what you want, Chrysalis. There must be something else. Something beyond all this. It is not the whole picture." She lowered her muzzle, thinking, and then looked back to Celestia, trying to hold onto hope. "Princess, are we really friends?" There it was, the question she was afraid of. Celestia closed her eyes, contemplating all pain and truth of her divine soul. "We must remain steadfast in our resolve and continue to uphold the ideals of friendship and compassion, even when faced with the greatest challenges. Friendship requires mutual respect and trust, and we must strive to maintain these qualities. We are stronger together than alone, and together we can overcome any obstacle that stands in our way. Remind yourself that you are not alone and that the power of friendship can overcome any challenge." "Friendships are forged in mutual respect and trust. It takes time to cultivate a strong bond with another being, and it is essential to maintain open and honest communication. While disagreements may arise, it is important to remember that friendships are built upon compassion and understanding. It can be difficult to set aside personal biases, but by approaching situations with respect and kindness, friendships can become even stronger. Our friendship and our trust in one another are the most important things we have, and they must not be shaken by the lies of a trickster. We must continue to work together and stand united against any threat, no matter how great it may seem. Our friendship is the greatest thing we have, and we must never take it for granted." A benevolent sovereign. A loving sister. An alicorn. A mare. A mentor. A Princess. A keeper of secrets. A former Queen. A ruler. A warrior. A demigoddess. An ancient. 'Celestia'. "These are indeed words of a vile and devious creature. To sow doubt and dissent in the hearts of others, and to turn loving friends into adversaries is a shameful and despicable act. It is the greatest test of our strength and willpower to withstand the trials and tribulations that this world throws at us. Friendship is the magic that binds us all together, and with love and understanding, we can overcome any challenge that comes our way. For Harmony, we must remain steadfast in our beliefs and to be true to ourselves, for only then can we face the future with courage and confidence." "Despite the changeling's efforts to sow doubt and division, I believe that the magic of our friendship will see us through. It is a gift that we must cherish, and it is stronger than any threat that the changelings may pose. Always hold true to your values." Sometimes, Celestia wondered, how it would feel to have a true, true friend. But even if she had a friend, even if she knew how to build an earnest connection with other ponies, even if she had time for it, she would need to conceal the fact of having a friend anyway, wouldn't she? In the end, even her connection with Luna was exploited and perverted.  Still with eyes closed tight, she heard how Chrysalis grinned, addressing Twilight, "What if I tell you that behind closed doors Celestia feels like she lacks a purpose herself? I wonder what's your projected purpose, then, besides being a friendly ruler, of course." "Princess Celestia?" called Twilight. Celestia wore a familiar motherly smile, and realized that it was a mistake. Her face fell immediately, and it was a mistake too. How can a creature that lived for hundreds of years truly describe her feelings to others and expect to be understood? She lived through entire cycles of igniting and waning passions, learned and forgotten so many things, and tasted what love and hate mean in full measure. There were times filled with nothingness, there were times filled with bursting activity. There were times when she stared down powerful monstrosities, and there were times when she was worrying about minuscule insignificant things. She longed to be happy for her little ponies and to do her duty diligently, and it was most of what was defining her nowadays. To her, immortality and antiquity weren't something existing apart from her, she belonged to these concepts. How could she really voice the sensation of great sweet sorrow for ancient times when everything was pure and innocent, and yet was confronted by so much more pronounced sincere suffering? When great connections were forged in battles, and betrayals, as well as acts of bravery, defined the futures of entire bloodlines. When peasants could become princes and princes turn into beggars, and when heroism could be found anywhere... When unicorns, pegasi, dragons, minotaurs, and all other creatures, were seen as something truly special, and beyond every corner there was a new revelation, a new adventure, a new song and legend. Twilight was like someone from these days of old magic, and she represented the new world as well. That is why so many things about her must be cherished. Her innocence, her growth... Chrysalis was continuing to mock them, "Do you know how she speaks to Luna? 'Don't do that', 'do your duties instead', 'we have a great responsibility', and so on... We need to sacrifice... Love is a sacrifice... Even there with her, it all this motherly figure. What does she even know about motherhood, anyway? You alicorns can't even spawn children, it seems. Only one foal in all of recorded history, from literal Princess of Love? What a joke. What's so tough about spawning?" "Princess?" Twilight's voice became desperate. She really sounded like a filly again. Chrysalis' insisting voice demanded attention. "Twilight, have you ever heard about night ponies? The whole strain of your kind, which is exiled to caverns for atrocities they committed against their ilk... And if you heard, did you ever question who they are? Why are they so devoted to Luna? It is one of the secrets of Celestia, after all." Twilight remained silent. The world was becoming more and more complicated.  Celestia opened her eyes. She was full of resolve. Fire bellowed from under her hooves and the skirt of the wedding dress was set aflame. She barely noticed. Anger is a loss of control over the situation... Self-control, always this self-control... "You seem to omit my main secret, our secret, dearest 'wife'," Celestia spoke gallantly, with a smirk. "Are you too afraid of speaking it out loud? Come on now. You are a petty miserable truthseeker when it pleases you, don't you?" Twilight looked at the changeling, who snarled recklessly, "Ah, you know, saving the best for last, but if you insist... Ever since we stepped under that stupid wedding arch, I and Celestia are in soulbond." "I see," Twilight replied, and placed her hooves widely, readying herself in a stance. "Then, I know what must be done." The blackness rushed down to her horn, entwining with it in a perverse loving embrace, and igniting it with the darkest of flames. Deep purple seeped in, jerking alicorn upwards, dancing along her coat and hooves, as she willingly embraced this power. A long dark shadow, cast by her frame, snuffed out the torches with wicked freezing touch, and rime spread outwards underneath her, as she panted lingering vapor. A sheet of darkness had enveloped her instantly, and the alicorn took as much of its energy as she could—it was pervasive, it was everywhere. Now, it cemented itself in her, too.  She burned like a dark freezing star, outstretching her hoof to the ceiling and spreading her wings open wide. Quick flap. Another. An unexpectedly powerful gust of wind rushed across the whole Throne Room, sending lying fragments of glass into a small cutting whirlwind. Celestia leaned forward involuntarily, her wings trembling, harrowing gasp on her lips. Chrysalis lowered her head apprehensively, her eyes narrowed into two focused slits.  The black fire on the Twilight's horn surged upwards and wide. With closed eyes, she stretched into an arc, and Celestia saw how enormous power converged on her. The Solar Princess never could imagine that Twilight was capable of this. "Twilight!" she yelled fearfully, no longer paying attention to her own fire. "Twilight Sparkle! What are you doing!? Enough! Stop this, stop immediately!" "I have enough hate right now, believe me," the younger alicorn was quiet, but the echo of the outworld had sent her voice across the whole room. "I can do it, Celestia. If the magic of Harmony didn't help, I will reach into the dark magic that bonded you and tear the bond directly. You will be free." "No! Twilight!" Celestia gasped, memories of Luna flashed in her mind, of Sombra, of all the Dark that she faced in her enormously long life. "You cannot! It is irreversible! You will not go back—" She abruptly stopped. It's time. She knew what needs to be done. Right here, right now, there was only one way for it to conclude, and she was ready for it from the very beginning. Celestia couldn't help but smile. "Twilight Sparkle, turn and face me immediately," she ordered calmly, and her student did exactly so. Her gaze, filled with white, trained on the Princess. Undeterred, full of confidence in what she is doing, the Princess of the Sun pressed her foreleg into her chest. Her mane was flowing wildly. A sweetest smile graced her muzzle, and she looked deep into Twilight's eyes.   "You will never beat Dark with more Dark," she said with great upbeat candor. "There is only one way, my most faithful student. My life, my fate, is linked with hers. You know what it means. Use your power and slay me and her! Do not hold back. For Equestria, for the Harmony to thrive, it is necessary! This is why you're here, my student. Now or never!" A final test. A final gamble. Personally, Celestia was sick to the core of these gambles, but so far they always worked. All as a means to an end. Unorthodox way, but still: the judgment of Antiquity was completely correct and proven to be worthy of her trust. Everything will be saved. They will repel the changelings. The Queen will be defeated. Everyone will be fine. Luna will remain safe. They will forge a better future. And she will be free, her duty will be fulfilled. All giddy, barely containing her happiness, Celestia closed her eyes tightly. Oh, it would be such a fine, fine and beautiful legend, to be sung for the generations to come, to be remembered by all. Prosperity was but a step away, and it was a dawning of a new time when such weathered fables like her will finally end, and they will inspire something better. Celestia could see it all now, all the wisdom of it, all the purpose, all the guidance of fate. Such elegance... In one swift and decisive action, her student will depose both incompetent sovereign and ancient enemy, and thus a new age of Twilight would be born, with throes and labored breaths of an almost ruined kingdom. How glorious. This is why she remained among the living, for this act of bravery, for let it be known—she always was, and will be, selfless. Celestia's smile widened. Now just one, one last finishing touch... Is this... Is this what true friendship is...? ... Her long-deserved deathblow was not coming. Seconds went on. It was long overdue. No, Twilight must understand that there is no other way, that right now is the uttermost critical point, maybe most crucial in all of their existence. Wasn't it the guidance of their destinies? Wasn't it all what it was building up for? If not, then what is the point? There is no other future. It is obvious. Not willing to give in to doubts, Celestia quickly peeked from under her eyelids. Twilight was still there. What does she think she's doing? She heard sobbing. Her ear twitched. She opened her eyes. Twilight was a complete wreck. Twilight cried miserably, all shaking. Her horn, still full of magical power, was directed at the ceiling. Her magic wasn't being fueled by the Dark anymore, all negativity that she felt was suppressed. Celestia's mouth hung open in an utter and complete disbelief.  "I w-will n-not..." Twilight sobbed, successfully controlling her dark magic. "I w-won't do this... No, don't make me... Don't force me... I refuse!" Wait... Wait, wait... Celestia was in a cold sweat now, thinking hard and fast. Why did she expect Twilight to kill her? What a ridiculous notion. Twilight would never abandon her principles, no matter what... She is her student. She is the Princess of Friendship. This kind-hearted filly... Did her own heart truly become so distant? She loved her ponies, yes, but did she cease to understand them? When? "Is this really me? Would I push her this far?" A chilling realization washed over Celestia. Twilight... Real Twilight... She did not know of true pain and war. Yes, she had her share of difficulties, but she couldn't appreciate the value of sacrifice, or understand its necessity and beauty. She never buried anyone close in her life, and she was always surrounded by loved ones. She wasn't raised with legends and abstract ideals in mind, and Friendship was something completely tangible to her. She never knew true hate. She was her hope, and she, Celestia, was truly and utterly failing her. For stars' sake, she too was just a mare. And yet Twilight would try to save everyone, always. She would shine and fight to the end. To her, there never was a possibility of little sacrifices for the greater good, because she always tried to push herself beyond her capabilities. Even if Celestia's life wasn't worth being saved.  Celestia made a mistake. Again. She almost forced Twilight to betray her principles. She almost burdened her with something terrible. What was she thinking... No, Twilight must live a long and happy life... "It will be fine..." Celestia tried to smile again, but her trembling lips just couldn't even fake it anymore. "I... My Little Light, I..." As power was receding around Twilight, her legs touched the floor. Her precious muzzle was wet from tears. Celestia was looking with eyes open wide, hearing nothing but the stubborn beating of her own powerful, idiotic emotional heart... She looked on still when the predator leaped on the little alicorn from behind and slammed her down hard with all her weight, all her might. Chrysalis' wings buzzed, her muzzle contorted into a vicious wolfish grin full of fangs. Twilight groaned from pain; her neck twisted; her head pressed down by the changelings' foreleg. All magic that she collected discharged from the horn in a blinding enormous flow, obliterating a huge part of the wall on Celestia's left. The whole section fell, filling the air with the stone dust. Celestia remained numb to the hit of the rubble and to the deafening rumble of destruction. She watched how Twilight squirmed, trying to resist, to push back against the beast. Her wings helplessly struck against the Changeling Queen's chest and forelegs.  The sheer audacity of it all stunned Celestia. Expressions of shock, terror, disgust, and outrage quickly flashed on her muzzle. The Princess began breathing erratically. Her wings violently flapped in the air, as she tried to rein in a raging flame, growing inside. A loud, terrifying scream was ready to burst from her throat. The bloodlusted changeling weren't paying attention. Pushing her prey into the stone floor, she leaned and sank her teeth deep into Twilight's wing. That wing annoyed her. With sadistic glee, she pulled, and another soul-crushing scream of pain rang in the air. Twilight, fruitlessly kicking her legs, cried a single word. It was an involuntary, high-pitched, pathetic, and primal sound: "Mommy!" ＥＥＥＥＥＥＮＯＵＧＨ！ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ The world was being filled with a summer sunlight, but even she needed some shade sometimes. Nestled on a cozy deck chair under a wide umbrella, Celestia was enjoying a little breather. It was a surprisingly placid day, one of those when the usual routine takes hold and everyone around becomes so slow under the pervasive heat of the Sun. After the weather department regulated certain conditions, it was sort of out of Celestia's hooves for today. She didn't complain at all. On the contrary, she recently discovered that she obtained two whole hours of free time between meetings, and was using them to finish reading a novel she sneaked from the library a few weeks prior. A whole marble table was at her disposal, on which she placed hindlegs in an un-princesslike manner. Nearby, a few colorful songbirds were chirping on a perch above the hanging bird feeder, mounted on the other side of the balcony. The wind gently rushed through the leaves of exotic trees in the garden beneath. From somewhere on the streets, the laughter of playing foals could be heard... Must be the School of Gifted Unicorns having a break, as it wasn't that far from the Palace. Celestia glanced at the pendulum clock inside the living room. She still had some time for herself, and she was very curious how the hero of her little novel here will escape from the predicament he happened to be in. She shifted her hooves and took a sip from a cup of tea. The sweet taste of honey and strawberries filled her mouth. Maybe a little bit too sweet, but still... just right. Soon, a sound of timorous hoofsteps intruded into her tranquility and had stolen her attention. Celestia flicked her ear and smiled merrily. Little Twilight was visiting Spike, who remained for now under the surveillance of court arcanists. In a few months he will be released fully into her care, and Celestia already knew that unicorn filly will approach the task of caring for the dragon with all suitable responsibility. Talks with her parents, as well as personal observations, were enough to compose a very pleasant evaluation of her capabilities. She truly was something special, wasn't she? For example, the another alicorn Cadance was just obsessed with the shy girl, and so were many others.    "Y-your Majesty? P-princess Celestia?" the unicorn obviously was mustering all courage to address her, or even to be standing in her presence. She was still adjusting. They both were. "𝑀-𝒽𝓂?~" Celestia replied with a singing hum, not willing to get too distracted from the book. "𝒥𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒫𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒹𝑜." "Princess Celestia, is it a bad time?" "𝒩𝑜, 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁," she mumbled, suppressing a small sigh. "Can I ask you a question?" Celestia deftly placed a golden bookmark on the current page. She had just enough time to wrap this one up and make it as seamless as it can be. "𝑀𝓎 𝐿𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝐿𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉," she smiled with genuine gladness, and sat more dignified. She finally looked Twilight over. The eyes of the filly were a little red, and her pose was showing discontent. Did someone wronged her? Still, Celestia knew that filly is supposed to begin talking about her worries naturally and without any pressure from the authority figure. So, she continued in the same vein, "𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓌𝑒𝓁𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝓎 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓅𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝓅𝑒𝒶𝓀 𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊. 𝒫𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓈𝑒, 𝒶𝓈𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓆𝓊𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃, 𝓂𝓎 𝒻𝒶𝒾𝓉𝒽𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝓈𝓉𝓊𝒹𝑒𝓃𝓉."   "Princess, I want to know..." Twilight stammered, took a deep breath, and continued resolutely, "I've read that we always end up hurting those we love. Is it true? Why is it so? Is there any way to avoid that?" Oh. Interesting. Celestia slightly tilted her head, trying to understand how to approach that. Years of experience prevented her from conveying surprise. Why does a filly bother herself with such dark topics? Is it normal for children to think about that, and maybe about death as well? She might need to look into it later. "𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝒶 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝓆𝓊𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃," she responded slowly and graciously, buying herself some time to think, and then lit up when the correct words came to her. "𝒴𝑒𝓈, 𝓌𝑒 𝓅𝑜𝓃𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒽𝓊𝓇𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓌𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜. 𝒮𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝓌𝑒 𝒶𝒸𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓇 𝓈𝒶𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓌𝑒 𝒹𝑜 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝑜. 𝐼𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓃 𝓊𝓃𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓊𝓃𝒶𝓉𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓌𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓃 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓂𝒾𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝑜 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝓊𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒. 𝒲𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓅𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒, 𝓌𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝒾𝓃𝒹𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓌𝑒 𝒹𝑜 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝒶𝓎, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓌𝑒 𝓈𝓅𝑒𝒶𝓀 𝑜𝓇 𝒶𝒸𝓉. 𝐼𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓎, 𝓌𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝒶𝓋𝑜𝒾𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒽𝓊𝓇𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓌𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉." She gave her a curious look. "𝒟𝑜𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝓈𝓌𝑒𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓆𝓊𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃, 𝒯𝓌𝒾𝓁𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉?" "Yes, but..." Twilight pondered a bit. It was adorable to see how she diligently mulls over the question. "What if it is unavoidable? What then, Princess? Like, what if you need to tell someone something, or..." her voice fell. "Well..." "𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝓇𝓊𝓉𝒽, 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈," the Princess said adamantly. "𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝒾𝒻 𝒾𝓉'𝓈 𝒹𝒾𝒻𝒻𝒾𝒸𝓊𝓁𝓉 𝑜𝓇 𝓅𝒶𝒾𝓃𝒻𝓊𝓁, 𝒾𝓉'𝓈 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝒽𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓉. 𝐼𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝑜𝓃𝑒, 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓇𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝓇𝓊𝓉𝒽 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝓃𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝒾𝓉 𝓂𝒶𝓎 𝒷𝑒. 𝐻𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓎 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓅𝑜𝓁𝒾𝒸𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓉'𝓁𝓁 𝑒𝓃𝓈𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊'𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝒹𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝐼𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑒𝓃𝒹, 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓅𝓅𝓇𝑒𝒸𝒾𝒶𝓉𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝒷𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝓇𝓊𝓉𝒽𝒻𝓊𝓁." "Princess..." Twilight uttered pitifully, her eyes were welling with tears. It stung Celestia's heart. Is she saying something wrong? She wasn't so certain now. "I don't want to hurt anybody, not those who I love... It is not right, Princess. Why is it necessary? Why must everything be so unjust?" "𝐼'𝓂 𝒶𝒻𝓇𝒶𝒾𝒹 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓈𝒾𝓂𝓅𝓁𝓎 𝓊𝓃𝒻𝒶𝒾𝓇, 𝒯𝓌𝒾𝓁𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉," Celestia decided to speak more openly, slightly perturbed by how the conversation was shaping out. "𝒲𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝓇𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓌𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓃𝑔𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓎. 𝐼𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓂𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓇𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒽𝓊𝓇𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓇𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓁𝓎 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓉'𝓈 𝒾𝓂𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓅𝒶𝓈𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓉𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓈𝒾𝓉𝓊𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈. 𝐵𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝒾𝓉 𝓂𝒶𝓎 𝒷𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝒸𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒶𝓇𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝑒𝓁𝓈𝑒 𝓅𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓉𝑒𝒸𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒𝒹 𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓈. 𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝓂𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒷𝓁𝒶𝓂𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈, 𝒶𝓈 𝒾𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓈𝒾𝓂𝓅𝓁𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹. 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓌𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒹𝑜 𝒾𝓈 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓃 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓂𝒾𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒𝓈, 𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒽𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓎, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉 𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓅𝑒𝒸𝓉." It was like Twilight didn't listen. She nodded briefly, then tucked herself into Celestia's coat. The Princess flinched. Ponies don't do that. How is she supposed to respond? Celestia extended her wing, unsure, and placed it above the little filly. Is this how they do things when they hug someone? The Princess looked around, making extra sure that no one noticed this display of momentarily shared affection. She didn't need rumors right now... No, they were alone... Much to Celestia's dismay, Twilight was still crying, burying herself into the pristine fur. Did she wound her delicate psyche? The Princess placed forelegs above her as well, wrapping her in a comforting, motherly presence. It was the least she could do. "𝐿𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝐿𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉?" she tried to call quietly, and it did the trick. "I do not want the world to be unfair..." the girl breathed out in a child-like defiance, tremulous with emotion. "I do not want it to be unfair, Princess..." "𝐼 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒹, 𝒯𝓌𝒾𝓁𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉," Celestia acknowledged. "𝐼 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝒾𝓉 𝒾𝓈. 𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇 𝐼 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒾𝓉 𝒶 𝑔𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓁𝑒𝓇, 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝒸𝑒. 𝐼 𝓌𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝐼 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓁 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇. 𝐵𝓊𝓉 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑜𝓉 ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ 𝒜lmost 𝒷are 𝓃aked, 𝒾n 𝐻er 𝓂agnificence 𝒮he 𝓈tood, 𝓁ooking 𝒶t 𝓉he 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝒷𝑜𝒹𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝓇𝒶𝓏𝑒𝓃 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒬𝓊𝑒𝑒𝓃, 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓁𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝓉𝑒𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒾𝒹𝒹𝓁𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒯𝒽𝓇𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝑜𝓂. 𝒩𝑜 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓇𝓀𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈, 𝑜𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝐻𝑒𝓇, 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒯𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑀𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑅𝑒𝑔𝒶𝓁. 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝓂𝒶𝓃𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓁 𝒷𝑒𝓁𝓁𝑜𝓌𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒻𝒾𝓇𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝒾𝓇𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝒸𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓊𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈. 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓇𝒾𝓈𝑒𝓃 𝒽𝒾𝑔𝒽. 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝓁𝒹𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒾𝒶𝓇𝒶 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒫𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓈𝓁𝒾𝒹 𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓃𝑒𝒸𝓀, 𝓂𝑒𝓁𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒶𝓌𝒶𝓎, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒻𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝒻𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓇 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝓅𝓊𝒹𝒹𝓁𝑒, 𝓊𝓃𝒶𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓉. 𝐼𝓃 𝒻𝒶𝒸𝓉, 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝒻𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓇 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹𝓃'𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓉 𝑒𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇. 𝐼𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝒸𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓂𝒶𝓃𝓎 𝒸𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓀𝓈 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝐻𝑒𝓇, 𝓂𝑒𝓁𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓁𝒻-𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓎𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝑜𝓃 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝒸𝒽 𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓈𝒾𝓉𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓈𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓃𝒹𝓈 𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓁𝒾𝑒𝓇. 𝒜 𝓁𝑜𝓊𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑜𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓃 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓈. 𝒞𝑜𝓁𝑜𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓀𝑒𝓃 𝑔𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓈 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓎𝑒𝒹 𝓂𝓊𝓇𝒶𝓁𝓈 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓆𝓊𝒾𝒻𝒾𝑒𝒹, 𝒷𝑜𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝑒𝓃𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝓉𝑜 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝒹𝓊𝒸𝑒 𝓈𝓊𝒻𝒻𝑜𝒸𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓅𝑜𝒾𝓈𝑜𝓃𝑜𝓊𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝓇𝒾𝓈𝑒 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒶𝒾𝓇, 𝑒𝓁𝑒𝒸𝓉𝓇𝒾𝒸 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓅𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇. 𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒶 𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓅, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜𝓁𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝓎𝒶𝓁 𝒫𝒶𝓁𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝓈𝒽𝓊𝒹𝒹𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒. 𝑀𝒶𝑔𝓂𝒶 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝑜𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝑔𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝓅𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝑜𝓊𝓉𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑒𝓉𝒸𝒽𝑒𝒹 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝑔𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒷𝒶𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒. 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓃𝓈𝒾𝒻𝒾𝑒𝒹. 𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎, 𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝑒𝒶𝓇𝒸𝒽𝑒𝒹 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓇𝒸𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝑒𝒶𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑔𝒶𝓏𝑒, 𝒽𝒶𝓁𝒻-𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓎𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓈 𝒸𝓇𝓊𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝒸𝑜𝓇𝒸𝒽𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓅𝑒𝓇𝓋𝒶𝓈𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒹𝒶𝓇𝓀 𝓈𝓅𝑜𝓉𝓈. 𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝒶𝓌 𝒶 𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝓅𝒾𝓉𝒾𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝒸𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝒸𝑜𝑔𝓃𝒾𝓏𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓉. 𝐼𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝑔𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉 𝓅𝒶𝒾𝓃, 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒷𝑒𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒹𝒾𝓇𝑒𝒸𝓉𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝓉 𝐻𝑒𝓇, 𝒷𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓁𝓎 𝓈𝓊𝓇𝓋𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝒷𝓁𝒶𝓏𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝑜𝓁𝒶𝓇 𝒻𝒾𝓇𝑒. 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝒻𝓊𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓅𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝒶𝓁 𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃. 𝒫𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝒶 𝒸𝑜𝓇𝓃𝑒𝓇, 𝒶𝓈 𝒻𝒶𝓇 𝒶𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝓈 𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒷𝓁𝑒, 𝒾𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓃 𝒶𝑔𝑜𝓃𝓎, 𝒻𝒶𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝒷𝓁𝒶𝒸𝓀𝑒𝓃𝑒𝒹 𝑒𝓎𝑒𝓈, 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝓉𝓇𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝒽𝒾𝑒𝓁𝒹 𝒾𝓉𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈, 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝒹. 𝐿𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝒽𝑜𝓇𝓃 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝒻𝓁𝒶𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝓇𝓊𝒾𝓉𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈𝓁𝓎... "𝒯𝓌𝒾𝓁𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉?" 𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝓇𝒾𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝒶𝓎, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒻𝒾𝓇𝑒 𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓇𝑔𝑒𝒹 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝓂𝑜𝓊𝓉𝒽 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒶 𝒹𝑒𝑒𝓅 𝓇𝓊𝓂𝒷𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓇𝑜𝒶𝓇. "𝒪h, Twilight..." Realizing what is going on, she took a step closer to the little alicorn, and then immediately recoiled, blinking fast. Scream of pain finally was comprehended by her, and she plunged into the deepest guilt. The fire receded enough for the alicorn girl to stand up, to try to look at her again. In her expression Celestia saw dread, pure terror. Destruction of a worldview. A realization of her own worst fear as a mentor, as a ruler of ponies. There was no coming back from this.  "Remember that I always loved you, Twilight Sparkle," Celestia mustered. She raised her horn, launching a ray and enveloping her former student in radiant golden magic. It was the only way she could stop all this, the only way she knew how she could keep her safe. From herself. From monsters. From anyone. It happened quickly. She saw Twilight's helpless look, as she was unable to stop this spell, designed specifically for a certain situation. The moment she launched it, Celestia couldn't cancel it either, and she watched how in a few heartbeats the little alicorn turned into a living statue of herself. A look full of fear and betrayal remained carved into her features. And then, Celestia collapsed on the floor in complete anguish. She felt... such shame. She gave into it, knowing full well that she deserved it. She was never meant to... take away someone's innocence. Not her. Not Celestia, the alicorn Princess. She wailed, covering herself with wings, tucking her muzzle into crossed forelegs like a filly.  It was so wrong. She was of Equestria, of land of magic and enchantment, she was of wonder and mystery. It was truly, utterly beneath her. Until she cooled down enough, tears were instantly evaporating on her muzzle. Then they fell, one after the other. Another, another mistake. Even if the price of a fable was a lie and an illusion, it was too painful to discard it... Truly, what purpose does she serve, if she doesn't bring out the best in others? She was meant to inspire, not to bring someone down. Not like this! Not her! She didn't inspire in the end and didn't protect anyone. Complete failure. Celestia, breathing hard and fast, pressed hooves into a half-solidified small pit that she was lying in. It looked like a crater. With a groan, she slowly began to rise, hissing in a whisper, "Forgive... me... Twilight..." "I can forgive you," a cheerful voice of her student answered. Startled, Celestia jerked up her head. The Changeling Queen was right before her, sitting on the statue of Twilight. The impudent insect had nestled her body on top of a smaller figure, crossing front legs on Twilight's head, and tucking hind legs somewhere on the back. A huge scorching wound was on the changeling's chest, deep and terrible enough to say with full certainty that the impossible creature was completely heartless. The wound was stitching itself up with flesh and green cinders. "What are you?" Celestia breathed out, hushed. "I can be whatever and whoever you want me to be," Chrysalis replied, and looked at her without any malice and contempt, without anything that defined her before. This beast was looking with understanding. By stars, her ugly black muzzle was almost beautiful in its inviting serenity. She continued talking, and her usual arrogant and cutting voice was completely different, frighteningly gentle, "And you can be whomever you want. I will always accept you, even at your worst. I will never judge you. Whisper me all of your darkest secrets, and they will always remain safe with me, only for us to know..." Celestia was helpless before the overwhelming feeling: she was supposed to be angry, but there was a promise of equality and freedom in the words of the changeling... "Are you here to torment me?" She frowned. "I can save you just as well... I can absolve all of your sins. I can make you truly happy, like no one else can," offered Chrysalis in a silken, soothing voice, and the Princess knew that it wasn't a lie. "Invite me into your heart, let us rule together... Let us tear this world asunder, and remake it by your design, my precious Princess... I will be there with you at every step. I will always support you. I will give you everything that you wish, and with me, you will never be lonely. Never lost." Maybe this is who she needed to change this unjust world: someone who can push her forward and who will always listen. She couldn't deny, her heart greatly desired to accept this offer, and to turn away from all her failed morals and be with her fated Queen; to embrace her dark and effective ways... And she won't need to worry about hurting others and being feared. Maybe to be feared and revered by others is in her nature anyway, so why keep struggling against it? Maybe it all led to this? Maybe this is how their shared destiny is supposed to look like by design. She could imagine it already. Her fiery might, burning away all doubts... Her visage is no longer distorted with intentions to be... warm, and calm... and placated... The power is something that brings happiness, and it is time for her to let it flow. She earned it. Her godlike forbearance was another illusion anyway, and everyone need to learn the truth and to know how truly fiery she can be. Oh, she do need to be honest, doesn't she? As Equestria will grow, THE GREAT KINGDOM will cover the lands with its radiant presence, and she will take with iron hooves everything that it's worth. Sun-blessed realm deserved better... She deserved better... And the ponies? They did not deserve the blessing she graced them with. She always knew it at the back of her mind. Too long she had been taken advantage of. TOO LONG THEY PRESUMED THAT HER KINDNESS IS SOMETHING LIMITLESS. TOO LONG SHE WAS GIVING ALL WITHOUT RECEIVING ALL IN RETURN. THE WORLD IS UNJUST? SHE WILL SHOW THEM 'UNJUST'! AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE MISUNDERSTANDING, FOR ALL WILL SEE HER IN HER PRECIOUS WRATHFUL GLORY, THE ONE THAT WAS BORN TO REIGN, THE ONE TO FORCE THEM TO KNEEL. TOO LONG SHE WAS OBEYING TO THE RULES, AND IF IT BROUGHT HER ONLY HEARTBREAK AND MISERY, THEN SO SHALL IT BE. IF THE WORLD NEEDS HER WORST THEN SO IT WILL HAVE HER. THEY WILL LOVE HER IN ALL HER MAGNIFICENCE, EAGERLY AND WILLING, FOR SHE WILL BURN AS THE BLAZING STAR. IF SHE WAS DENIED OF CHOICE AND HOPE, THEN SO THEY WILL BE TOO. SHE IS A DEITY. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Celestia giggled like a little girl. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ She shook her head, and the last embers of her wildfire went away. Celestia kept laughing with abandon until she finished with a long content sigh.  "Oh, out of all who wanted to be my suitor... You almost got me this time, Chrysalis. You really did." Celestia glanced mischievously from underneath her flowing mane. "You can rape me, threaten me and my subjects, besiege my capital, deceive me into marriage, make me turn my successor into the statue, somehow even merge our very fates itself, but you will never, ever force me to change my nature. I will always remain who I am: the Equestria itself, the Princess of the Sun, the demigoddess and protector of these lands! All you've managed is to remind me this!" If Celestia was a lesser mare, she would've given into the repeated promise of absolution. Chrysalis was right earlier in that one thing: she really wanted to give up control. But no. And she almost hated herself for it, for this inability to properly surrender.  Chrysalis remained silent. Her muzzle fell, and her big green eyes became even bigger than before. Why did Celestia imagined before that she was beautiful? Celestia stretched, not caring that the beast kept staring. "Your silly ridiculous temptations... Too bad that life is not a brick road we walk, laid out by easy solutions. I almost envy you, Chrysalis." She grinned. Slowly blinking, Chrysalis bent her neck forward, gave a strange look, and croaked, "You really are a demigoddess?" She did a double take. "Seriously?" "Who else can I be?" Celestia sneered. "You kept talking yourself: I am the Sun." Chrysalis let out a series of soft clicking noises. Then, spoke as if unsure, "I thought I was being facetious. Isn't the Sun can be moved around by the unicorns?" "Please. You believed that?" Celestia snorted and then burst out in laughter. It quickly became more and more insulting, until she made an effort to stop herself and clear her throat. "Get off my student," she ordered, waving foreleg. The Changeling Queen she gave out a wary, but still murderous look. Her horn shone, and caught in her aura, Twilight rose in the air. The Queen leaned to it and hugged the stone neck with holey hooves. Her long tongue went across the statue's cheek, marking it with saliva, and she challenged, "Make me." Solar demigoddess raised a brow, then shrugged, and slowly turned. The Changeling Queen levitated in front, not willing to leave her field of view. Celestia stepped forward, and the statue levitated back, keeping the distance. They moved to the exit leading deeper into the castle. ═════════════════════════════ 𒀭𒀭𒀭 ═════════════════════════════ 𒄉 And here they were. The radiant figure which graciously stepped upwards the long stairway, and a hunched gnarly beast that is sitting on top of the small statue. The Royal Palace, severely damaged and devoid of nobles and staff, remained quiet, as, not knowing beforehoof how their conflict would resolve, Celestia took measures to remove all ponies in the vicinity. Chrysalis turned the statue so Twilight's fearful expression was staring into Celestia's muzzle, but attention of the alicorn remained on the Queen. Celestia examined her, and then cut through the tense silence, "Who are you, really?" The Queen buzzed her wings to keep the balance and didn't spare an answer. "You are far more resilient than a mere changeling. Is this normal to your species?" Celestia extrapolated. "I am exactly what you see," the Queen snarled back, regaining some of her ill-natured vigor. "Anything but a mere changeling." "Apparently you are," Celestia scoffed, sensing some sincerity. It didn't really mattered. They made their way to the royal chambers, which remained completely undisturbed. Chrysalis floated right in front of Celestia, so it made the alicorn's next actions far easier than they had any right to be. The Princess moved closer, disregarding Chrysalis' hiss and bared teeth, and leaned tenderly to her muzzle. Celestia's whisper crept through all the tension between them. "My lovely wife..." Oh, she was easy. The changeling completely froze up, as no one tried this with her in all of her life, that's for sure. Her brows shot up, and for a few lingering moments she dropped her guard completely, trying to figure out what to do with the unwarranted affection for her true self. It was more than enough. Celestia immediately pressed the horn to the creature's temple, and surged powerful magic blast point-blank. The Queen fell like a log, smashing her head against the bed's footboard for good measure. Celestia caught Twilight and placed her aside, then leaned to the creature with a quiet "Oh, dear". Not willing to spare more magic than necessary, she tried to tuck in the tongue that fell from the changeling's maw, then sighed, pressed an ear against her chest. There was some faint breathing, so she deduced that she wasn't overdoing it.  The alicorn's horn shone brightly as she stepped around the Queen and quickly bound her in several paralyzing spells, at the same time lifting and wrapping tight by a shimmering vine-like rope. She made a few passes with it around Chrysalis' head, bounding her eyes, and then let her fall into the growing pool of blood from the damaged head. The changeling groaned, reaffirming that she's still alive. Celestia barely contained a sigh. To leave the beast without oversight would be a dubious idea at best, as it still was charged with power. To drag her around wasn't smart either, Chrysalis would find a way to break free eventually. To be frank, Celestia was sure that Chrysalis would tear her way out of any confinement as of now, and her revenge would be on ponies. So it would be a nightly vigil with her, and maybe a little sleep. Celestia glanced at the old clock in the corner. And she is on a schedule, as always... She walked over to the balcony, carrying the statue along. Canterlot, soaked in rain and blood, was quiet and dark, as if nothing bad was happening at all. Celestia felt harbored pain in her heart. So much meaningless suffering because of something that wasn't worth it... With horn alight, she cleared the sky of the storm clouds, getting a better view. Celestia looked around, noting that fighting had definitely ceased, then turned back to the room. Chrysalis was already stirring, trying her binds. Celestia sealed her with yet another paralyzing spell, and clicked tongue in mild disappointment. "It will be fine," she promised to the poor girl at her side. "Be patient a little more, my Little Light. It will end soon." The statue disappeared in a flash of teleportation. One day. She needs just one more day... Celestia traced her hoof up to peytral, and the gleaming purple stone in it dissipated, revealing the Seed, now shining in her grasp. The Princess inspected it for any damage or change. Then, placed it back on where it belonged, being pressed tightly against her chest. She slowly lowered her powerful body, keeping a thoughtful gaze on the Changeling Queen. ═════════════════════════════ 𒀭𒀭𒀭 ═════════════════════════════ 𒄈 In a few hours, the night gave way to the first rays of sunlight.