//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 – Why Can’t I Just Sleep In Peace?! // Story: Can't a Princess Get Some Sleep? // by runner2 //------------------------------// Chapter 2 – Why Can’t I Just Sleep In Peace?! Luna was in the middle of a wonderful dream when she was awoken again, not by noise or someone trying to get her attention; but by someone using some strong magic in and around the castle. Rolling over to look at the time it displayed it to be about 2pm. As tempting as it was to remain in bed, Luna couldn’t ignore such a strong unknown magic signature so she rolled out of bet and stood. Putting her attire back on, she walked to the door and tried to open it… only to find it sealed with magic. Confused and somewhat alarmed by this she started to scan the magic to try to find the source. After a moment of scanning she detected the source coming from the two guards outside her door… but they seemed off. Her normal guards didn’t have sickly green magic signatures and certainly wouldn’t seal her own door. Something about the magic seemed strangely familiar so she thought on it for a bit. That’s when it hit her… changelings. Using her power to detect the two false guards outside her door, she levitated them and slammed then into each other, knocking them both out. Opening the door she saw the two changelings unconscious on the floor and a few more patrolling down the hall. She quietly tied up the two changelings with a rope from her curtains and placed them in a wardrobe to be dealt with later. After securing those two she used her magic to blend into the shadows and quietly search for the source of the powerful spell. After a short search she discovered one strong source… a group of changelings near the front doors using magic to seal off the castle from outside interference. Ignoring them for now she continued her search. Reaching the throne room she discovered several changelings using their strange green substance to block off the windows. She passed them for now since they weren’t much of a threat and continued on toward the treasury. After bypassing a few more changeling patrols, she finally discovered the source of the powerful magic. Queen Chrysalis was standing in front of the doors to the Elements of Harmony trying to use raw magic to breech them. Alerting Celestia by giving a slight tug on the sun, Luna sealed off the room since Chrysalis was the only one in there aside from her, and stepped out of the shadows to approach her. Luna made it a few lengths behind Chrysalis before she spoke. “CHRYSALIS! What are you doing here!?” The changeling queen jumped and lost concentration on her spell before turning to face who shouted. She relaxed a bit upon seeing who it was. “Oh look who it is. The little night princess.” Chrysalis smirked and started pacing around Luna, “You should go back to bed before you get hurt.” After Chrysalis faced her, Luna noticed how weak she looked now. The several months since the changelings were tossed from Canterlot haven’t been kind to them it seemed. “It is not I who would be hurt if you attacked. I would like to know why you are trying to get into that chamber. Only Celestia, Twilight, and I have the ability to access it.” Luna stated. Chrysalis sneered, “I was able to defeat your sister easily enough. I can defeat you without any effort.” Chrysalis lunged toward Luna, only to be stopped short by a magical barrier. After sliding to the floor, Chrysalis managed to stand and glare at Luna. “Chrysalis. You can’t hope to win against me. I am nearly as strong as my sister and you only defeated her by siphoning off the love of Shining Armor for an extended amount of time.” Luna sighed and began pacing toward the angered queen, “Just give up and go home. Take your changelings and go.” “I can’t!” shouted Chrysalis, “I need those artifacts to be able to provide for my changelings! If I can’t get them then we could all starve.” Chrysalis just sat down, knowing she stood no chance against Luna in her current condition. Luna decided to try speaking with Chrysalis and find out a few things. “Chrysalis, if you and your changelings feed on love, why did you attack Canterlot several months ago? Attacking us would get you no love. Only hate.” Chrysalis looked up with wide eyes. “I… I expected to force ponies to give up love. We were running low on reserves back then and my subjects demanded something be done to restock… so I came up with the plan on a whim, never expecting it to go so badly.” Chrysalis said before lowering her head. “I understand the need to provide for your subjects… but why resort to violence immediately? If you and your changelings would have made yourselves known then we could have lived together peacefully. Equestria has plenty of love to give… but doing what you are now will never get you any of it. I know that your kind conceals yourselves among ponies to gain love that way, but if you were to show who you really are, act kindly, and not try to steal it then ponies would be more willing to give it to you freely.” Luna stated after sitting across from Chrysalis. Chrysalis gave a small smile but it quickly dropped, “Ponies would never allow us to openly live in Equestria with what I have done. I might have doomed my subjects and myself by my actions.” “Just give it time and do it gradually. I will speak with Celestia about it and maybe we can come to some sort of agreement. But for now you should probably go, Celestia is on her way and I don’t know how she might react to seeing you again.” Luna said. Chrysalis winced at that, but nodded and said, “I know. Please don’t take long with your response.” Chrysalis then stood and gave a slight bow before turning toward the exit. Luna thought for a moment and decided to do something to help. Gathering some of her own love for her sister, she directed it toward Chrysalis. Chrysalis stopped mid step and turned around to see what Luna was doing. Luna just smiled and nodded. “Thank you.” Chrysalis said with a bow. “You’re welcome. If you would like I can teleport you and any changelings you brought to the edge of the Bad Lands so you don’t have to waste energy returning.” Luna suggested. “I would like appreciate it if you could.” Chrysalis replied. ---------- After gathering all of the changelings that were in the castle, as well as the two unconscious ones, Luna wished them well and teleported the group back to their home land. After finishing the teleport there was a bright flash from Luna’s side and Celestia appeared. “Luna! What is wrong? I felt you pull at the sun to get my attention and came as quick as I could without arousing suspicion.” Celestia asked while approaching Luna. Luna smiled and sleepily nuzzled Celestia before replying, “Everything is fine now sister. I was awoken by the changeling queen as she was trying to breech the door to the Elements of Harmony. I confronted her and we spoke for a while about why she was doing it. I found out that she wanted the Elements to try to provide for her subjects. I suggested to her to try and peacefully come to Equestria, rather than try to conquer it since that would gain them no love. She agreed to try a peaceful approach and allowed me to teleport her and her changelings back to their homeland so I could speak with you about allowing negotiations with them.” Celestia just stood there speechless. She had no idea how they could have gotten into the castle but was thankful that Luna was able to deal with them peacefully. While Celestia was thinking things over, Luna stated, “I’m going to try to get back to bed now. Please don’t disturb me unless it is important.” Snapped out of her thoughts, Celestia just replied, “Umm, alright sister. Sleep well.” The pair nodded to each other before Luna made her way back down the halls toward her room. She thought ‘Hopefully this time there will be no interruptions’. She tossed her royal attire into the corner again before throwing herself into her bed where she swiftly drifted off to sleep.