Two weeks had passed before I finally returned to Canterlot. The people of Equestria were still wary but since the only thing found after the events of the invasion were the craters we had left in the forest where we had landed the people of Equestria assumed we had retreated and they easily went back to their peaceful lives. So you can imagine how suprised the Royal Guards were when a seemingly average pony stepped up to the castle gates wanting to turn herself in for something and it turned out to be queen of the changelings herself. The expression of their faces was so priceless I couldn't help but laugh. After that I was immediately arrested without a struggle and thrown in chains. I waited in the castle dungeon for most of that day before I was finally brought to see Celestia herself.
"My apolgies for the delay in our little meeting but thanks to you I've been bed-ridden with an injured horn for the last two weeks."
Celestia's words still held an air of benevolence but you could feel the anger in her voice despite her attempts to hide it. It was completely justified too.
"I apologize for that but in my defense I did not expect to survive that blast if it hit me directly and I had merely intended to minimize the damage with a blast of my own. The fact I was able to actually overpower you shocked me just as much as everyone else."
"And what of the invasion of my country? Or ruining my niece's wedding? Or the endangerment of my own people? How do you intend to justify these actions?"
"You know just as well as I that changelings feed on love and we were desperate. By the time the full scope of our predicament had become apparent to us we had no other alternative. Your niece was getting married to the Captain of your Royal Guard who I knew you would entrust with defending Canterlot once we announced ourselves. It was never personal, they were just part of the plan and I would sincerely apologize to them given the chance. As for your citizens we never intended to harm them. Most changelings bear no grudge against any of your people and would also be against the idea of harming any of you to begin with. Contrary to what many may think we are not heartless monsters, but we will do what we must to survive and we would expect no less from anyone else. And while I may have been... WAS drunk with power after our little confrontation the invasion was never intended to succede in conquering Equestria; merely to gather enough love to hold us over until a more viable solution could be made. That's why I started all this in the first place and then gave myself up; to try and help my people. My intention now is to negotiate with you for just that purpose; to apologize for my actions, to atone for how I've wronged you and your people, and atone for how the carelessness under my watch led to this problem in the first place. Until then I have placed myself in exile from my own people and will not return."
Celestia paused to consider what I had said. Then she let out a deep sigh.
"As hesitant as I am to forgive you for what you've done I do believe you did act for the benefit of your people and that you are genuinely sorry for what you've done. And from what you've just said I would assume your people are well enough that you could afford to take the risk to make these gestures, correct?"
I simply nodded to confirm her assumptions.
"Then here are my terms. I will do all within my power to see that your people are pardoned for their actions, are well taken care of and also make them citizens of Equestria; you included. In return they will be expected to work for the betterment of Equestria and it's people and you will be expected to continue to stay in exile from you people indefinitely under the supervision of someone of my choosing. Once you have proven that you can be trusted you may return as the leader of your people if they are willing to accept you, in which case you will lead the changelings in my name."
"I graciously accept your terms, your Majesty."
"Very good then. We will have to work out the more exact details and officialize this agreement later on but I am glad we have reached an agreement, Lady Chrysalis."
The next day Celestia appeared before her subjects and announced our intentions and I did the same to mine. My people were hesitant to accept Celestia's offer but they trusted my judgement. The real trouble was not knowing if, when the moment of truth came, we'd be able to coexist with the citizen's of Equestria. There was initial distrust of course but Celestia's subjects proved to be far more trusting than I had expected and as they interacted more and more with the changelings they realized we meant them no harm and they even accepted us, almost like familiy. It was almost disturbing how forgiving they were. Over the course of te next few months changelings became a common sight all over Equestria and they worked hard to earn their place. The changelings finally had a home where they would not go hungry or be persecuted. Celestia had pulled off a miracle and held up her end of the bargain. I owed her and her people so much I could never hope to repay them, but I still had to do what I could. On the day before my sentence was set to begin Celestia allowed me to say goodbye to my people. They were sad to know that I would be leaving them and didn't know when I'd be allowed to return. It saddened me a great deal as well. In the end we all agreed that the home we had gained was well worth the heartache. I suppose that this was Celestia's way of punishing us for what we'd done, and it was a just punishment. As I left with Celestia questions raced through my mind.
"Where would I be exiled to?"
"Would it be somewhere far away and dangerous?"
"Who did Celestia pick to watch over me during my sentence?"
"Why did Celestia pick him?"
"How long would it take for me to convince him I was trustworthy?"
"What if I couldn't convince him?"
Her refusal to answer these questions was almost terrifying.