Chapter 3
A Queens Triumphant Return
“Finally, after four long years, this conflict will end” Chrysalis said as she looked up to the castle that was once in her families. Now the lord of the manor was her uncle, which came to her as no surprise. “And I will finally be able to see Cadence” Chrysalis than marched in with her army behind her, bursting the door in with her magic. Her uncle was standing there before herself in shock, though he tried to regain his composure as he was confronted by his niece.
“So the daughter of the old dead king is here to take my place?” he said nervously as he reached for his sword.
“Of course, and the only way I can take your place is to kill you” she said not even pulling out her own, but activating her magic.
“Hah! So full of yourself to think magic will save you?! I’ll kill you in one blow!” he yelled as he charged her, the men getting ready to jump in front of her. Chrysalis put up an arm to stop them and simply walked forward, seeing his sword glowing with magic and her arms glowing with their own.
“DIE!” he yelled swinging his magically infused sword, but the queens magically charged swung forward, slicing through the blade and through her uncle. He coughed up blood, and looked down to the gash in his side. “H-How?” he said looking to his wound as he fell to his knees.
“It is only a spell the Monarch in charge would know, and my father taught me this spell so I could kill you” she said raising her magically charged arm.
“WH-What?! Th-Then that means-!” before he could finish, Chrysalis had swung her arm down, lopping his head from his body with her arm.
“That…was for my mother and my brother…” Chrysalis then walked over and picked up the head, carrying it outside, her soldiers parting the way for her. When she stood outside, there before her were her people now. It didn’t matter if they served the former ictator, or if they were for her. Now they were all HER people.
“A NEW RULE HAS BEGUN!” she shouted tossing the head down onto the ground. “TYRANNY NO LONGER RULES THIS NATION! THE PEOPLE THROUGH ME SHALL RULE THIS NATION! MY PEOPLE THAT I CARE DEEPLY FOR!” she shouted again, her soldiers and those who supported her cheering, while those who supported her uncle were not so enthusiastic. She didn’t care though, and walked inside to be met by Atticus.
“We need to work on your speeches” he said walking with her into their new home.
“I know. It was something to get them by for now, but we have something important to do” Chrysalis said walking into what looked to be an office. “We need to write a letter to Equestria” Chrysalis said causing Atticus to raise an eyebrow.
“Indeed your majesty?” he asked pulling out a quill pen and ink pot. Then he pulled out a parchment and looked to his queen for what to write.
“You can write it in words better than I can. But the basic need for the letter is to tell them in one year’s time we wish to become alleys with them” she said looking at her teacher and alley, who began to write furiously.
“Of course to the princess of the Sun I’m assuming?” he asked getting a nod from Chrysalis. “And to your friend?” he asked causing her to blush.
“I-I will write a letter to her” she said getting her own ink quill and her own parchment for herself.
“Of course my queen” he said smiling to her, and continued with his letter.
Inside of Equestria, Princess Celestia sat in her chambers sipping some coffee while she read one of her latest reports from her faithful student. Of course her concentration was broken as a guard walked in holding two letters for Princess Celestia.
“Princess Celestia, two letters from the queen of Noraak Thu’m have arrived for you” he said walking into her chambers. Celestia raised an eyebrow remembering that a king had recently ruled over the nation, one who was tyrannical.
“Is that so?” she said standing up and walked over to open the first letter. She read through it and began to smile as she read it, once finishing up she rolled it up and handed it back to the guard.
“May I ask what the letter said?” he questioned as he grabbed it back.
“Due to recent events the king has been replaced because of how he poorly treated his people. And now the queen wishes to help repair her country and in one year’s time become our alley” she said as she reached for the second letter.
“Noraak Thu’m wishes to be peaceful? This is news to me” the guard said handing her the letter. Celestia only smiled as she took the letter, looking at the outside. Once she read the note written on the outside, she smiled and handed it back to the guard. “My queen?” he asked raising an eyebrow.
“This is a letter not meant for my eyes, but for Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s” she said with a smile, and he nodded, leaving at once for the residence of Celestia’s niece. Celestia then smiled and sat in her chair, sipping her coffee once more. “So, Chrissy was the future change of a nation then Cadence?” she said to herself, only smiling at the possibilities this alliance could bring. “Maybe even a wedding between a changeling and a pony.”
Princess Cadence sat in the new home her parents had recently acquired, a large mansion fit for royalty, which of course she honestly couldn’t care less for the size. She only wished for one thing and one thing only.
“Chrysalis…” she whispered as she sat in her room, drawing a picture she believed would be the way Chrysalis would look at this age. Her train of thought had been cut though as she heard a knock on the front door. Of course being the only main family member in the house at the moment, she went to answer the door, stopping her maids from doing so, just in case it was Chrysalis.
“Hello Princess Mi Amore Cadenza” the guard said with a smile as he pulled out the letter for her. She was slightly disappointed as she saw it was a guard and only a letter.
“Thank you Lightning Strike, may I ask who it was from?” Cadence said impressing the guard with the memory of his name.
“The new Changeling Queen” he said, seeing Chrysalis’ eyes go wide and a big smile spread across her face.
“THANK YOU!” she said jumping to hug him, then went back inside, closing the door behind herself. She immediately went to the nearest chair and table, opening the letter, and began to read.
Cadence,
My love are you well? I need to send this to you, for the news of what has happened. My uncle, the former king, has been defeated. I survived these four long years, and yearn to be with you. But I know my duty, and selfishly request you wait one more year for my return. There is work to be done in this nation, but I swear that in one year’s time I shall come and see you again my love! I have not broken my promise to you, and intend never to break my promise.With Great Love and Joy,
Chrysalis.
Cadence nearly leapt for joy as she read the letter, a few tears coming to her eyes knowing her love was successful and that she was going to see her again. ALIVE! “Chrysalis, I cannot wait to see you again my love” she said to herself, wiping her tears away, knowing her fears had been for nothing, truly happy that she could now finally see her love once more. Or at least in one year’s time she could see her, and one year was nothing to wait compared to four. So Cadence dashed upstairs, leaving the letter downstairs on the table, to continue her drawing of Chrysalis.
What Cadence didn’t know, was her father was returning home now. In fact by the time she was upstairs the door had opened and he walked inside with her mother.
“St. Patrick I’m going to go say hello to my daughter and freshen up” Valentine said kissing her husband and walked up the stairs.
“Mmm…” he said walking into the kitchen, seeing a note on parchment on the table. “What’s?” he asked himself, picking it up and began to read. He stood there in disbelief, reading, re-reading, and reading once more to be sure. Then fury, not anger, fury coursed through his body, and with letter in hand, marched upstairs, walking past his wife.
“Darling?” she asked only watching him go into Cadence’s room. St. Patrick ignored her and walked directly into his daughters room.
“F-Father! How was-?” Cadence was interrupted as she suddenly felt the back of his hand slap across her face, knocking her to the ground. She looked up, fear obvious in her eyes to her father.
“WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!” he said throwing the crumpled letter to her. “SO YOU’RE SOME SLUT IN LOVE WITH A CHANGELING?! IS THAT IT?!” he said smacking her again and again, Cadence wailing out as she was beaten by her father.
“PATRICK?!” Valentine called out running into the room. “STOP THAT! STOP THAT RIGHT-!” but her mother met a backhand to the face to, falling to the ground in disbelief.
“AND THIS?! A PICTURE OF YOU’RE CHANGLING WHORE?!” he said grabbing the drawing, grabbing it and crumpling it too, then he began to search her draws, until he found one of various drawings of a female changeling. “YOU STUPID CHANGELING LOVING SLUT!” he said smacking his daughter, who only curled into ball, sobbing as she refused to look at what was her father. He then took every single picture of Chrysalis she had drawn and tossed them into the fire along with her letter.
“F-Father…why?” she said looking up through the tears.
“IF I FIND ONE MORE PICTURE, OR ONE MORE LETTER OF YOUR SLUT I WILL DO MORE THAN BEAT SENSE INTO YOU! MUCH WORSE THAN THIS!” he growled out, causing his daughter to go wide-eyed, fear in her eyes as the tears kept pouring out. “DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!” he said to her, causing her to nod. “GOOD!” he then turned and marched out of the room, his wife already gone. To wear? Cadence didn’t know past this night.
“Chrysalis…” she sobbed as she lay there, trying to get over the pain of being beaten by her own father. And now feeling very worried for her safety.
One year later…
“Are you sure we shouldn’t have taken more guards with us?” Atticus asked his student.
“Atticus, we’re here to make peace talks with the Ponies, not declare war” Chrysalis said looking back to the two changelings guards. “And remember these two were with us through all of the fighting, and are the top men we have, right Lunarch and Monarch?” she said and both gave her a yes ma’am. “Don’t worry, we’ll be fine” she said with a smile. In all honesty though, she was excited more than anything.
“I can finally see her again…” she said to herself as she walked with Atticus, who only smiled as he followed her into Canterlot Castle.
“Halt, do you have an appointment with the princess?” one of the guards said as they guarded the gates to the castle.
“Of course I do” she said presenting a letter written back to her from Celestia. The guard read it over, and shook visually as he read that standing before her was the Queen of Noraak Thu’m.
“O-Of course indeed! Open the gate!” he yelled and soon the doors opened for her and her troop. “R-right this way!” he said bowing, the other guard bowing and letting her walk through. The small group of six made their way to the grand hall, where Princess Celestia sat reading another report from her student. She looked up to see Chrysalis and her men bowing to her.
“A queen doesn’t need to bow to a princess” Celestia said with a smile as she stood up and walked down from her thrown.
“I wish to be as proper as I can to the ruler of the pony nation, and set an example for our peace talks” Chrysalis responded, and stood up, Atticus and the soldiers following suit.
“Of course, now come with me, we will talk over a meal” Celestia said leading the group into the meeting hall. She sat at the head, with Chrysalis sitting at the other head of the table.
“May we join sister?” another voice called out, belonging to Luna, Princess of the night, who took a spot next to Celestia.
“Of course” she said with a smile and looked to the changelings.
“First let us introduce ourselves” Chrysalis said standing and bowed once more to the sisters. “I am Chrysalis, the changeling queen” she then leaned back pointed to her teacher. “This is my most trusted advisor, Atticus, and these two are my personal guards, Monarch and Lunarch” all three bowed to the sisters before taking their seats.
“And I am Celestia, Princess of the Sun” the sun princess said as she stood and bowed to Chrysalis.
“And I am Luna, Princess of the Night” the younger sister said bowing as well.
“Then shall we begin?” Celestia said with a smile and Chrysalis only nodded with a smile.
The peace talks went on for about roughly two hours, talking of the changelings past aggressions and how conflicts should be avoided. Things went well honestly and Chrysalis seemed to get along fine with Celestia and Luna.
“Then we have come to an agreeance?” Celestia said as she stood up with a smile.
“Yes, changelings will allow entrance to any pony who wishes to come Noraak Thu’m” Chrysalis said with a smile.
“And Ponies shall allow entrance to Changeling’s, with the condition of them entering and staying in their changeling form” Celestia gave her own answer which Chrysalis could understand.
“Neither countries shall have restrictions on trade between the two, taxes on trade cannot and shall not be extreme” Atticus said standing.
“And in both countries, ponies and changelings have the right to become a citizen of either, or both countries” Luna said as she stood as well.
“Then are we all agreed?” Celestia said, each nodding in confirmation.
“Then it shall be done!” Celestia then used her magic and began to write frivolously each condition of the treaty for both sides. “In this case I, Princess Celestia, sign and approve this treaty of peace between Equestria, and Noraak Thu’m” she said leaning down, signing her name.
“We shall also sign this treaty and approve” Luna said taking her quill and began to sign her name onto the treaty. Celestia then walked around and handed the treaty to Chrysalis.
“I, Queen Chrysalis, sign and approve this treaty” Chrysalis said leaning down and signed her name onto the treaty.
“Then it is done!” Celestia said clapping her hands. Two guards then came and took the treaty, walking out of the room with it. “We shall make an exact copy for you, and if you wish you may have one of your men watch us make the copy” Celestia said and Atticus stood.
“I shall volunteer your majesty” he said bowing to Chrysalis who nodded, then bowed to Celestia who nodded as well. He then walked out and followed the guards.
“Princess Celestia, I have one question for you” Chrysalis said smiling to the sun Princess.
“What is it you wish for?” Celestia said with a smile.
“To see Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, where might I find her?” Celestia didn’t change her expression, but she knew this had to be seen. She would Chrysalis see what has happened.
“In the chapel down two floors, my guards will show you there” she said nodding and clapped once more, two guards walking into the room. “Take them to the chapel” she commanded and they nodded and walked with Chrysalis, who bowed before leaving.
“Sister…dost thou not know what has become of Cadence?” Luna asked as she looked to her elder sister.
“She doesn’t, but either way I don’t like the arrangements of Cadence’s marriage” Celestia responded as she looked to Luna. “But trust me, I have a plan” Celestia said standing and winked to Luna, who just blinked in confusion, wondering what her sister could possibly be up to.
Cadence stood there in front of the altar with her future husband, Shining Armor, sighing as she let the priest go through the motions of how the ceremony would happen. This was the practice day before the wedding, where they had to get themselves ready and see how the motions would play out for the big day.
“Hey you ok?” Cadence snapped back to attention, looking over to Shining Armor and smiled sheepishly.
“Yeah! Everything’s fine really” she lied as she thought of Chrysalis. She wondered how she could tell her one true love that she was forced into marriage, but still had the threat of her father, especially when he was right in the room with her.
The doors soon clicked open and she spun around seeing two guards walking in guiding none other, than Chrysalis.
“C-Chrysalis!” she said with wide eyes, watching as the Changelings expression went from smiling, to confusion, then to visual hurt.
“So…nobody told me there would be a marriage today” Chrysalis said as she walked towards the altar, St. Patrick visually displeased as he saw three changelings in the same room as himself.
“Are you the changeling queen here for the peace talks?” Shining Armor said with a smile walking toward Chrysalis.
“I am…and you must be Cadence’s future husband…” she said faking a smile.
“Captain of the Guard, Shining Armor” he said bowing before her.
“Chrysalis, Changling Queen” she said looking down to him, and while he was looking away from her, shot a look of hurt to Cadence.
“Please let me introduce my fiancé!” he said with a smile, extending his arm to Cadence, and Cadence walked slowly to her future husband, looking to her father who just glared at her.
“H-Hello…Ch-Chrysalis” she said looking to her true love.
“Hello again Cadence” Chrysalis said flatly. “So, I guess this is what you really wanted then?” she said to Cadence, who went wide-eyed, tears brimming as she wished she could have just told her the truth of the situation.
“I-I’m…I-I…” Cadence couldn’t talk, and Shining looked between the two of them.
“Do you two…know each other” he said looking to Chrysalis raising an eyebrow.
“We did” she said not looking at him, a look of hurt clearly on Cadence’s face. Chrysalis then turned away, walking to the door. “I wish you luck with your marriage” she said before walking straight out, the guards closing the door behind her. Cadence just watched her walk out, then let go of Shining Armor, running out a side door to be alone, and cry.
“Cadence!” Shining called out, looking to the door, not knowing of the situation, then looked to the front door of the chapel, still not knowing Chrysalis and Cadence’s relationship. St. Patrick though had a look of satisfaction on his face as he believed the changeling wouldn’t show her face again.
Cadence however was in what appeared to be a prayer room, bawling and crying. “I’m so sorry Chrysalis! I’m so sorry!” she cried as she knew she broke her loves heart.
Later that night Chrysalis was in her guest room, drinking her problems away as she sat on her bed.
“Wh-Who needs love huh?! Wh-Who needs someone wh-when all they’ll do is betray you!” she slurred as she kept drinking from a bottle of wine. “After all it’s not like I fought four years of my life to be with her!” she threw the bottle against the wall, shattering it to pieces.
“It’s not like I killed so I can see her again!” she said grabbing the blankets and threw them to the floor.
“It’s not like I reformed my country so I could be with her once more!” she said grabbing a vase and threw it towards the door. Though was caught by magic, as none other than Princess Celestia walked in.
“So this is how you use guest rooms then?” Celestia said as she looked around the room, seeing the utter mess caused by the drunken queen.
“Wh-What do you care?” she said as she sat on the bed, reaching for another bottled of wine.
“Whoa there, that’s enough for tonight” she said pulling it away from her hand.
“I-I can have a little more if I want! I-I need to wash it away!” she said to the princess.
“Wash what away?” she asked raising an eyebrow.
“THE PAIN I FEEL FROM BEING BETRAYED BY THE ONE I LOVE!” she yelled, than tears began to form in her eyes. She then put her hands over her face, and cried. “Look at me…crying in front of another ruler…” she said between sobs. Celestia only kneeled in front of her, waiting for her to pour it all out.
“I fought these past five years so I could be with Cadence once more…I come here and find out she’s getting married!” she sniffled, sobering slightly.
“I fought…and killed…and put a country together, all so I could see her again…” she said to her. “Those nights we spent together before I left must have meant nothing to her…” she said to her as she sniffled on the edge of the bed.
“How many years did you two talk to each other at night?” Celestia asked.
“Six…” Chrysalis sniffled.
“You talked with and spent the night with her every single night?” she asked her and Chrysalis nodded.
“Maybe you’re right and she lost interest after waiting five years” Celestia said standing up. “I find it strange though that after four years of waiting for you, and receiving your letter. Her mother left her and her father was always within eyesight of her” the Princess told Chrysalis, who suddenly remembered Cadence’s father. The hate he had for Chrysalis when he found out they were playing together.
“After all, during those four years, Cadence would always come visit me, and would tell me all about you” Celestia smiled and reached into her pocket. “Though last year after her mother left, Cadence came to me and handed me this drawing she made of you and her” out she pulled a folded piece of paper and handed it to Chrysalis.
“She…did?” she said as she unfolded the paper and visibly gasped. It was a beautiful drawing of her embracing Cadence, underneath the tree, with the flowers blooming as they bloomed when Cadence enchanted them with her love. Chrysalis began to cry once more, holding the paper, remembering those hurtful things she said as she walked into the Chapel.
“I don’t think Cadence could replace those six years when you two spent every single night together underneath that tree” Celestia said with a smile, stood up, and walked towards the door.
“When’s the wedding?” Chrysalis asked.
“Tomorrow, at 2 pm” the Sun Princess responded before looking back to Chrysalis. “But you need to sleep before you make your big entrance” Celestia said casting a spell that put Chrysalis right to sleep, and made it so she would wake up soon enough to get herself prepared to crash a wedding. “She needs to sleep off her alcohol” she said with a smile and walked away. “After all no one wants to have a hangover before crashing a wedding.”