//------------------------------// // 17: With Spear and Armor // Story: Death of a Queen, V2. // by Arkane12 //------------------------------// A blinding purple light filled Twilight’s workshop, vanishing just as quickly as it had appeared. Cadance glanced around the room, but Twilight was nowhere to be found. Now alone, she let her shoulders slouch. She hadn’t expected her conversation with Twilight to be so hostile. Perhaps Chrysalis was getting to her faster than anypony realized.  But she didn’t have time to dwell on that now. Without the room’s only other inhabitant gone, Cadance shifted her focus onto the room itself. Despite her extensive experience dealing with her daughter’s messes, she found herself impressed by the clutter that Twilight managed to inflict in the short time since she had arrived in Canterlot.  As she snooped about the lab, Cadance tried to straighten up. Stacks of books taller than she was were leaning haphazardly. She didn’t dare try to understand Twilight’s sorting methodology, but still steadied the piles until she was sure they wouldn’t collapse on their poor exhausted master. She couldn’t help but peek at a few of the titles as she did: Potions and Poisons, Volume Three, Studying Assassination, and Ancient Magicks of Equestria.  “I hope you know what you’re getting into, Twilight,” Cadance muttered to herself.  It took half an hour, but she managed to clean everything she dared to touch in the lab. Satisfied with her work, the princess left. Only to stop short just outside the door. She frowned, glancing up and down the hallway.  She closed her eyes. In her mind, she summoned a map of the castle. Unfortunately, in the years since she had lived here, holes had started burning their way into the map.  “Well, if I go right, I’m going the right way, right?”  Cadance strolled down the right path. From there, she took the left path. Then another right. Down a flight of stairs, she took another right. She kept an eye out for any other ponies wandering the halls. Sure, it would be embarrassing to admit to a guard or servant that she was lost, but it would certainly save her time.  Eventually, after several minutes of aimless wandering, Cadance spied a pair of guards on duty. Her heart leapt as she spotted their shiny gold helmets. Putting a bit of energy into her steps, she approached the guards.  “Excuse me, Sirs.”  The two sentries snapped to attention. “Princess Cadance?”  “I was hoping you could help me out, I’m looking for . . .”  Cadance trailed off as her thoughts turned to static. She swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. The fur on the back of her neck stood on end. Chrysalis was nearby. “Is everything alright Princess?” a gray-haired unicorn asked.  “Y-Yeah.” She shook off her surprise. “Officer, can you tell me whose room this is?”  “These are Chrysalis’ chambers, Ma’am.”  Of all the places she could have ended up, it had to be here. “Chrysalis? The changeling queen, Chrysalis?” The name made her tongue sizzle. “She’s staying here? Right next to Twilight’s room?”  “At Princess Twilight’s decree, Your Highness”  Cadance couldn’t pry her eyes from the door. Her heart started to race. She had imagined that they kept her in a cell down in the dungeon. Or, at worst, one of the smaller rooms a couple levels down. But directly next to the Princesses’ chambers? “I wish to speak with her at once.”  The two guards exchanged a concerned look. “She’s been quiet for a while now. She’s likely asleep, Princess. It would probably be best to let her. You know what they say about sleeping dogs, right?”  “She has plenty of time to sleep,” Cadance growled. “Open the door.”  At first, neither guard moved. Cadance wondered if they could hear her heart beating as loud as she could. After a few seconds of pause, the younger of the pair pulled a set of keys off his belt and unlocked the door. The hinges creaked as the door drifted open to reveal a dark void on the other side.  Straightening herself, Cadance marched forward. The second guard, the one without the keys, followed closely behind her, leaving his junior out in the hallway. The ashen princess could feel a presence, watching her from the dark. She raised her head. Her horn cast a dim light over most of the room, including the empty bed.  “Show yourself. Now,” she commanded into the dark.   “I thought I recognized that scent.” The cold rasp sent a shudder down Cadance’s spine. “An endless sea of overwhelming love, poisoned by a deep, venomous hatred. It’s as poetic as it is unforgettable.”  Chrysalis dripped down from the ceiling like spilled oil. The magical light reflected off predatory eyes and razor-sharp fangs.  “Chrysalis.” Cadance bristled.  “How nice of you to visit, Cadance. I was worried you’d forgotten all about little old me.”  Cadance sneered. “I’d give anything to forget you.”  Chrysalis flipped her mane with a hoof, her lips curled into a smile. “Oh, Candy, you say the most flattering things.” Cadance’s stomach churned at the sound of her nickname coming from such venomous lips. She didn’t try to hide her disgust.  “You’re speaking to a crowned princess of Equestria, prisoner. Show some respect,” the guard snarled, jabbing forward with the sharpened tip of his spear. The steel head cut a deep scratch into her chitin. The force made her stumble back. With a growl, Chrysalis turned her focus to the soldier.  “Touch me with that again, and I’ll shove it down your throat.”  Cadance stepped in front of the stallion. “That’s enough, Chrysalis.” The changelings narrowed her eyes, but blew it off with a scoff. “Candy, as much as I love insulting you directly to your face, I’m rather tired tonight. So, say whatever inane dribble you came to spout and let me get back to enjoying my imprisonment. ”  Cadance could feel her temperature rising, but bit her tongue. “I came to issue a warning. And I would suggest you heed it–” “A warning? From you?” Chrysalis laughed.  “Listen to me you pompous bug, I’m here for Twilight’s sake. If you’ve done anything to her, I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your life rotting alone and forgotten in the deepest cavern beneath my castle.”  Chrysalis bit her lip to hide a smile. “Aww, you make it sound so cute. Let me be clear, Candy.” Chrysalis stepped forward.  Cadance clenched her teeth. Her body quaked. “I’m not playing around--”  Chrysalis slammed a hoof into the ground, causing the other two to flinch. “Do you really think you can intimidate me, Cadance? You’d be dead twice over if not for Twilight. So, how about you pack up and run home with your tail between your legs before you even think about trying to play these games with me. I can promise you that you won’t win.” When she finished, Chrysalis turned with a flourish and started walking to her bed.  Cadance blinked a few times, completely overwhelmed with Chrysalis’ onslaught.  “How dare you speak to the princesses like that!” The guard charged forward, thrusting his spear towards Chrysalis’ exposed flank.  The changeling’s fangs flashed as she twirled around, knocking the spear aside. Taking advantage of his shock, she grabbed the spear and pulled, yanking the old stallion off balance and sending him into the floor with a violent headbutt.  Green magic enveloped the spear, pressing it tight against the dazed soldier’s throat.  “Drop the weapon,” Cadance commanded. Blue light flooded the room, forming barriers around the exits.  “I warned him what would happen if he tried that again.”  “I don’t care. Drop the spear.”  An eerie grin crawled across Chrysalis’ lips. “And if I don’t? What are you going to do?”  In response, Cadance’s horn flashed with magic.  Chrysalis just laughed.  “Alright, Candy. You seem determined to play with me. Let’s play, then.”  Cadance’s eyes glowed with ethereal energy. “Drop. The. Spear.”  “Nu-uh. That’s not how this game works, Cadance. You want me to drop it, you’ll have to kill me. Do you think you can do it? Can you take my life, Cadance? Tell you what, I’ll even give you some more incentive.”  Chrysalis tightened her grip on the wooden shaft, drawing a single bead of blood from the pony’s exposed neck. “Stop!” Cadance barked.  “Do you even care if I kill him?” Chrysalis taunted. “Come on, now. You were just spouting all of those wonderful threats. But I don’t think you’ve got the stomach for it. So tell me, Princess, your ideals, or his life? I know where my bits are lying, but what about you?”  Cadance unleashed a burst of magic, firing it past Chrysalis’ head, close enough to slice through a piece of her mane. The changeling didn’t flinch.  “You missed,” Chrysalis scoffed.  “I’m only going to warn you one last time, Chrysalis. Drop the weapon, or I will take you down.”  “How far do I have to push you?” Chrysalis asked. “Do you think this makes you special? Do you think playing pacifist makes you some sort of hero? Because right now, I think this poor guard would prefer you kill me. So, why don’t you? Luna would. Even Celestia would. I’m still working on Twilight, but at least she has an excuse. What about you, Candy? What are you going to do?”  Cadance could hear the thundering of metal hooves in the hallway. Reinforcements. She only needed a bit more time.  “What’s the point of this, Chrysalis? Do you want me to kill you? What will that accomplish?”  Chrysalis rolled her eyes.  “I’m proving a point. You walked in here and threatened me, and expected me to bow down to your whims. That’s not how this works. You want me to listen, you’d better prove that you’re someone worth listening to. So, what’ll it be, Princess? Are you worthy of my respect?”  Cadance almost laughed. “You expect me to believe you respect anyone but yourself? That might be the funniest thing you’ve ever said, Chrysalis.”  The changeling frowned. “There’s only one way to find out.”  Chrysalis’ voice fell low, laced with a violent determination. She raised the spear by less than an inch. Cadance tensed. For the briefest of moments, the world came screeching to a halt. Then the spear slammed down.  Chrysalis roared. Stone cracked. Cadance screamed. A flash of magic.  The reinforcements could do nothing but wait for the smoke to clear.  When it did, they saw Cadance, steam billowing from her horn. Across from her, Chrysalis stood over the spear. The steel tip of the weapon had been driven into the floor, missing the soldier by less than an inch.  Though Cadance gasped for breath, Chrysalis didn’t move.  Chrysalis shook her head. A small cut had opened on her cheek, spilling a few droplets of blood. Behind her, a hole still smoldered in the brick. She released her grip on the weapon, leaving it implanted in the stone as she turned and walked toward her bed.  “Are you insane?” Cadance screeched.  “I’m disappointed in you, Princess Cadance. At least Twilight has the nerve to follow through on her threats. But you? You’re just a coward. I’m tired now. Leave me.”   The changeling’s wings buzzed and she lifted up into the rafters of the room. With the stronger light, Cadance could see the prisoner curl up and close her eyes. Her hooves felt like lead. Her muscles, like jelly. Her weakness left her anchored to the spot. With a whine, her shields fell, allowing the armored convoy to rush in. The soldiers took up positions around the princess, their spears up. A few dragged the injured soldier out. Yet, Cadance couldn’t help but stare at the spear embedded in the stone: It didn’t have a drop of blood on it. Chrysalis had missed.  Chrysalis had missed.  As thrilled as she was that the guard had escaped with only minor injuries, the scenario around it bothered Cadance. Was this . . . mercy? Some sort of trick? Maybe this was the result of Twilight’s work? Or maybe that was what Chrysalis wanted her to think? Her thoughts swirled, leaving her a little dizzy.  “We came as quickly as we could, Princess,” one of the guards nearest to her said.   “Sorry we were late,” another followed. One final set of armored steps came from outside. Another soldier arrived. Younger, smaller, and dressed in a lighter suit of armor.  “Princess Cadance?” “What?” she asked, her voice quiet.  “Princess Luna has sent for you. Something’s happened with Celestia.”  Twilight turned the handle above the bathtub. The pipes in the wall gurgled as the water flowed through them. Every muscle of her body relaxed at just the sound of the water spilling from the faucet. She put a hoof under the water, wincing at its cold touch.  Drying her fur on a nearby towel, she made her way over to the toilet. Double-checking to ensure the lid was closed, she sat down and buried her head in her hooves. The ache in her head forced her to squeeze her eyes shut. She massaged her temples to relieve the mounting pressure.  Her breathing slowed. The air turned warm. When she opened her eyes again, a thick cloud of steam had covered the room. She tested the water again. Finding it acceptable, she stepped over the lip of the tub and pulled the curtain.  Magic tugged at the chain hanging from the showerhead. For a moment, the water stopped. Pipes rattled. Then the spray erupted from the upper faucet. A shock of cold water was followed by a warm, soothing rain.  Twilight turned, allowing the water to flow down her back. Her fur and tail flattened as the rain soaked through them. She leaned back, dipping her mane and neck into the stream. For what felt like the first time in nearly a week, Twilight’s body unwound. She sat toward the end of the tub, letting the water wash over her.  As she closed her eyes, the memories of the last few days washed away with all the other filth that clung to her fur. The pain in her head subsided, replaced by a welcome lightness. It could have been seconds, it could have been hours. To Twilight, time had lost all meaning.  Then a knock at the door dragged her from her stupor.  “Twilight? Are you alright in there?”  She recognized Shining Armor’s voice.  “Not in the mood, Shiny,” she yelled back.  “I was just making sure you’re okay. You’ve been in there a while.”  Twilight sighed. “Shiny, I don’t get to relax very often. Would you please leave me alone for tonight? I really don’t feel like talking.”  No response.  Her immediate relief quickly soured into guilt. Tomorrow, she decided, she would apologize. Explain that she had been buried under stress. Explain that she understood that Shining and Cadance only wanted what they thought was best for their little sister.  Twilight’s stomach turned.  No matter how long she sat beneath the massaging touch of the shower, one thought refused to spiral down the drain with the rest of its kin. The Changeling Queen herself. Once the terror of all Equestria, distilled down to Twilight’s own personal nightmare. Circular arguments turned her mind into a battlefield.  But beneath all of that, she felt exhausted.  With her muscles finally loose, her body threatened to collapse. Her knees wobbled and her head spun. How long had it been since she had a good night’s sleep? How long had it been since she had enjoyed a decent meal? She didn’t remember.  She soaped and rinsed quickly before turning the shower off. The pipes clicked and unleashed one final splash of water before falling silent. She levitated a towel off the rack and used it to dry her body. A second fit snugly around her horn, almost like a makeshift crown. Lastly, she retrieved her bathrobe and tied it firmly around herself.  When she stepped out of the tub, her fur had already started to dry. Yawning, she opened the door that led back into her bedroom. She turned the handle and pushed, but the door wouldn’t budge. A second attempt yielded similar results. She could feel a heavy weight against the door, holding it shut.  Unleashing an annoyed huff, she reared back and slammed her forelegs into the door, sending it rocketing open with a metallic clash. She stepped out of the bathroom to find a dazed Shining Armor lying on the tile.  Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Shiny? Were you blocking my door?”  “Not intentionally.” Shining straightened his helmet as he stood. “I think I fell asleep waiting for you. Apparently, you still take really long showers though.”  “Like I said, I don’t get to relax very often. I take it where I can,” Twilight said, striding past him. “The better question is: Why are you still here? I told you I wasn’t in the mood to talk tonight.”  “I know you did.” He groaned. “Look, I’m sorry for what happened with Princess Luna back there. I thought you knew the plan.” He waved a hoof dismissively. “But I’m not here to talk about that. No Luna. No Chrysalis. Just me and you. Brother and Sister.” Twilight’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know, Shiny.”  “I thought you might say that. So I brought hot cocoa.” He motioned to a silver tray sitting on the small table beside the couch. Two large mugs emanated wisps of steam.  She raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you trying to bribe me?” He scratched the back of his neck. “I had the kitchen scrounge up some of those tiny marshmallows you like.”  “Shiny, you can’t just . . .” She interrupted herself with a sigh. That sweet, chocolate-y scent melted her defenses. She looked at the drinks, then back at her brother’s unconfident smile. She rolled her eyes. “Alright. You’ve bought yourself ten minutes.” Shining’s smile widened.  Twilight climbed up onto the couch, taking the mug closest to her and holding it tight to her chest. As promised, small bits of pillowy fluff floated in the chocolate. She took a small sip, wincing as it burned all the way down to her stomach. Meanwhile, Shining stacked firewood in the hearth. Once he added enough logs and tinder, he lit the pile with a match. It took a moment for the flames to catch. He babied the blaze until it could finally sustain itself.  “You know, I was away for so long I had almost forgotten how cold Canterlot winters could be,” Twilight said, watching her brother climb onto the opposite end of the couch. “I guess it doesn’t bother you, though. Now that you live in the Crystal Empire.”  “Yeah. It’s cold up there all year long.”   Twilight took another sip. This one hurt a little less. “How’s Flurry Heart? I feel like I haven’t seen her in years.”  “Years? She’s not even two yet, Twilight.”  “I was speaking metaphorically.”  “Sure you were.” Shining shook his head. “She misses everyone. She got really excited when we told her we were going to Canterlot. Which only made the tantrum worse when we told her she had to stay behind.”  “Does she know what’s happening?”  “I don’t know what she thinks. She’s smart, but I don’t know if she can comprehend the severity of the situation. Heck, I’m not even sure I can comprehend it too well. I’m trained to handle crises, but this . . .” He shook his head. “This is on a whole other level.” He watched his sister over the rim of his mug. “What about you? Are you . . . you know?”  Twilight’s steely gaze met his. “Am I alright?” she asked.  Shining bobbled his head side-to-side. “I don’t expect any pony to be alright in your position. But I know that you’re not just any pony. But I also know you’re prone to freak-outs. Be straight with me, Twilight. How are you holding up?” She hung her head. “Terribly. I’m not eating right. I’m not sleeping that well. I feel like I’m losing my mind.” She could feel her heart rate spike. The words poured forward uncontrollably. “I feel like I’m alone here, Shiny. I feel like everyone expects me to know what I’m doing, to know how to handle this. But I don’t. I have to fight tooth and claw for every inch of progress I make, and don’t have the slightest clue if any of it will even matter in the end.”  A hoof wrapped around her shoulder as Shining pulled her in for a tight hug. She hadn’t noticed her tears until they bled into her brother’s coat.  “I know things are tough right now, Twilight. I can’t guarantee that everything is going to end well, but I know that whatever happens, we will make it through this. And we’ll make it through this together,” he assured her.   “Will we?” she asked, pulling away from him. “You promised me you would always have my back. But tonight it seemed like you and Luna were against me, too. I know Chrysalis is dangerous. I get that better than most. But I can’t just turn my back on a pony that needs my help.”  When she finished talking, she nestled back into her brother’s hooves.  Shining stayed silent for a long time, holding his sister tight as she cried. “Twilight?”  She sniffled and cleared her throat before answering. “What?” “I promised that I would always have your back.” Another pause. “But more importantly than that, I promised that I would keep you safe. As both a princess, and, more importantly, as my little sister.” Twilight dried her tears. “I’m not a filly anymore.”  “You are to me. You always will be. And I want to do everything in my power to keep you safe. You know that, don’t you?”  She sighed. “I know.”  “And sometimes, I can be a bit overprotective.”  Twilight laughed between sniffles. “Definitely.”  “Look, I don’t think I can ever forgive Chrysalis. The things she did to me will haunt me for the rest of my life. Some days, I can’t even look at my wife without this whispering in the back of my mind, wondering if it’s really her, reminding me of all the nightmares she inflicted on me.” He paused. “It’s not that I won’t trust her, I can’t trust her.”  Twilight squeezed her elder sibling. “I’m sorry, Shiny.”  “But I do trust you, Twilight. So tell me, do you trust her?”  For what felt like hours, they sat, listening to the crackle of the fireplace.  “She’s lost everything. Her family, her kingdom, and almost her life. She’s broken, Shiny. Maybe it is all an act. I wouldn’t put it past her. But no matter how angry she makes me, there’s a voice in the back of my mind. What if you’re wrong? What if she’s serious?” Twilight freed herself from her brother’s embrace and moved back to her end of the couch. “This world has enough hurt in it. I don’t want to add to it.” Shining stared into his hot cocoa, as if the melting marshmallows held the answers he so desperately sought. “Do you trust her, Twilight?” he asked again.  “She’s opened up to me. She’s helped me with my cure for Celestia–” “But do you trust her?”  “I . . . I do.”  Shining leaned back against the sofa. “Then I trust you. I’ll talk with Cadance and Luna. I can’t make any promises, but I’ll see what I can do.”  A tremendous weight lifted from Twilight’s shoulders. “Do you really mean that?”  “I really mean it.” He flashed her a morose smile. “But don’t forget, I’m your guardian first. If she tries to hurt you, I won’t hesitate to kill her. Do you understand, Twilight?”  The bruise on Twilight’s chest burned. “I understand, Shiny. Thank you. You’re the best big brother I could ask for.”  “And don’t you forget it,” he chuckled, taking a drink from his mug.  A frantic knock at the door interrupted their peace.  “Princess Twilight?”  Shining gave his sister a sideways glance. “Duty calls.”  “It better be important. I did hope I could sleep some time tonight,” Twilight muttered as she walked over to the door and pulled it open. The terrified look on the guard’s face sent her pulse skyrocketing. Her mug of cocoa splashed on the floor. “Princess Twilight, we have an emergency!”