Idyllic

by lollipopchica


Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Celestia stared down at the parchment on her desk.

It was a very explicit petition from neighboring towns and cities demanding the death of any and all changelings found from the failed invasion. The Sun Goddess could not hold back the sigh that escaped her lips.

Much to everyone's relief and confusion, no one had been able to find a single changeling.

After extensive searches, increased security patrols, and tighter border patrols, nothing had come up. She was actually in the process of relaxing her efforts. Her personal defeat at the hooves of the Changeling Queen had been caused quite a shock.

Looking back on the situation, Celestia wondered how she could have missed the signs that she had. True, Chrysalis had done a good job of fooling them but there were obvious differences between the changeling and her niece.

Especially that day she found the other crying in her library.

The sun goddess remembered the misery and frustration that shone in the other mare's eyes. If nothing else was real, she was positive that had been no fabrication. The changeling had been desperate and conflicted over something besides her disastrous wedding.

"Princess Celestia?" At the sound of her name, Celestia looked up from her reading.

"Yes?" A timid pony by the name of Triste had stepped inside her domain and waited patiently for her orders. "Has there been a change in the prisoner?"

Triste shook her head allowing snow white tresses to spill over her shoulder. "There has been no change in condition in the last 12 hours. Felizi is with her now." Both she and her twin Felizi were albino with honey colored eyes.

The ethereal looking mare stood from her desk and stared out the window at the city she'd dedicated her life to. Canterlot was in no danger, she was sure of that. But Celestia was not in the habit of lying to her people. True, no changeling had been spotted since the day of her niece's wedding, but there was one in custody.

"Thank you Triste... You are dismissed."

"Princess, I do not mean to overstep my bounds, but, why do you keep her?"

Celestia stared at the curious mare who had been an integral part in her newest 'guest' containment. She and her sister were magically gifted when it came to holding spells and medicinal magic.

"Answers..." Had been the monarch's response. "I want answers."

*-*3*-3*-*3*-*3*-*

"How's the Sol tour coming?" Cadance asked with a hopeful smile on her romantic features. The alicorn of love sat across from her lover on their private veranda as they enjoyed a quiet breakfast. The sun streamed down upon them casting its warm glow on everything. The city of Canterlot appeared golden thanks to its early morning haze.

Shining Armor blinked as he looked up from the brief he was reading. He stared into her bright eyes and felt a wave of affection for the mare he had taken as his wife. "So far so good." He watched as her anxious features melted with relief. Nowadays, he had to really try to talk to her, but today there was an easiness that reminded him that Cadance had always been his friend.

The Sol Tour was something Celestia had started to insure the citizens that all was well and that no species would do to them what had been done to her kin in Canterlot. Today he'd be travelling to Ponyville with the Princess. He hoped to see his sister while he was there and he expressed this with his wife. "Yea, Twilight's been so busy. Since the wedding," was his careful pause, "I realized I don't see her enough. She's my only sister."

Cadance nodded not reacting to the mention of their union. "Lucky me, I'm an only child." Was her joking response in reference to visiting arrangements. Shining Armor raised a brow as a soft smile stretched across his face as he thought of something. And just as soon as nostalgia set in, he immediately pushed the thought away and frowned. Cadance had watched the whole thing play out until he blinked and looked away in guilt. She too then stared at a spot on the table as she popped a strawberry into her mouth. She could guess what he thought about and she was pretty sure it wasn't about her.

"What're your plans for today?" Was Shining Armor's quick change of subject as he cleared his throat.

"I don't know," she hummed following her husband's lead as she ate another berry.

"Maybe you and your friends can volunteer at the Canterlot Home for Girls today," he suggested.

Cadance broke out in a coughing fit as her face twisted as if she'd bitten into something rancid.

"Are you alright?" Asked the Captain with concern.

"Yeah!" The love alicorn recovered swallowing loudly. "Bad berry," she coughed as she quickly took a long sip of water to wash the taste out of her mouth. He looked over the berries she was eating missing the flash of anger on her pink face. "I think I will," She forced a smile. "It was a lot of fun, from what I remembered and I'm sure the girls would like to too."

Both exchanged strained smiles as their discomfort grew.

"Captain, the Princess is waiting for you." Came the voice of a blue roan pegasi with darker colored hair. Cadance nodded in greeting at the pony who was now her private guard. It was something her family had insisted on after she returned from her honeymoon. To Shining Armor's relief she had accepted the security provision with little complaint.

Shining Armor quickly gathered his things and kissed his wife on the forehead. "See you when I get back."

Cadance relished in the small act of affection, "be safe, sweetie. Tell Twilight I'll see her next time!" She watched as he strode away to do her Aunt's bidding.

Faust, the name of the pegasi that didn't mind laying down his life for the beautiful alicorn let his dark blue eyes appraise the mare. "Is everything alright, Princess?" Despite being a simple pony, he was very observant reading into others and situations in ways that rarely allowed him to make a mistake.

She blinked. "Everything's fine!" She assured despite numbness that ghosted around inside her. "Why wouldn't it be?"

The stallion gave her a look that effectively communicated his lack of belief in her statement. "Whenever you're ready, Princess..." He sighed turning his gaze to the stare out at the city. He waited patiently as she relished in her illusions. "It's almost as beautiful as you," he said offhand, to which Cadance blushed.

He was so forthcoming. She watched him as he watched the view. Sometimes ignorance was bliss. Her guard didn't believe in that and it frightened her sometimes.

*-*-*-*-*

The journey to Ponyville took less than an hour by train.

Celestia and her royal party made appearances and talked to the people in the peaceful town making sure no pony had seen or been threatened by anything. She had given Shining Armor permission to spend the day with his sister Twilight, as she had more than enough of her guard around to protect and fight should something happen.

They finished up with all of their agenda about three hours after their arrival, and the alicorn had no problem with giving her people a couple of hours to themselves before they returned to Canterlot.

She stopped by the library to converse briefly with her student and retrieve her Captain. Once she'd gotten there, she could hear the two talking amongst themselves.

"I don't know Twiley," the older Sparkle was saying.

"It's normal for you to have a disconnect like that after what you two went through. Just give it time, Big Brother. Everything'll work out. You'll see."

Celestia heard the other sigh. She knocked on the door not wanting to snoop anymore than she had. "Hello, hello!" She beamed at the siblings announcing her presence.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight gushed with wide eyes.

"Twilight," She greeted affectionately. She nodded at Shining Armor making a mental note to talk to him once they returned to the castle. There was something he needed to know.

*-*-*-*-*

The ocean crawled out to the horizon sparkling with the setting sun. The sky was exploding with swirls of brilliant magentas, lavenders and gold. The Zephyr broke water as its aged bow cut through listless waters of a darkened aquamarine.

Two ponies stood on deck of the small ship staring somberly ahead. Despite the calming sound of breaking waves and the smell of sea salt air, a cloud of dread and confusion hung over the two figures.

Castaways, who promised labor in return for passage, the younger of the two was the most worried. Kirai's dark olive eyes were besieged with a sentiment rooted in worry. She hugged the ship's rail as she kept her gaze on the orange ball of fire ahead. The sea sprayed her lilac colored coat and braided, onyx mane, but the pony paid no mind to her surroundings.

Her companion stood close to her back as she worried much for her. Jedzia's green eyes never left Kirai's anxious figure. Her newest form had a coat of pale vermillion and a thick mane the color of raw umber.

Neither had ever wondered too much about pony life as they imitated it often enough. But every since they had recovered from the disaster that had been Canterlot, the two found they could change no longer. All their changeling senses had been muted along with their magic.

To find yourself alone and hurt in enemy territory with no way of protecting yourself was truly horrific. Luckily, neither mare had been seriously injured as they hadn't experienced the expelling head-on as most of their kind had.

Jedzia had awakened to Kirai's body wrapped tightly around her in protection as the other was lost in prayer for her proverbial sister. Upon regaining consciousness neither had a clue about what was going on. They didn't know where their brethren or their Queen were. They had never thought they could be anything else than what they had been.

However, it seemed as if fate had different plans and both were stuck.

So, the duo did the only thing they could think of:

They tended their wounds and caught a ride back home, hoping to make sense of everything that had happened.

"Everything will work out," Jedzia spoke up.

"What if... what if she didn't make it?" Kirai's voice barely carried over the wind as her eyes misted.

"Kirai, don't. " Jedzia warned.

"What if that's why we can't..."

"She wouldn't give up like that."

Kirai felt a comforting hoof on her shoulder and it gave her strength. As long as she had Jedzia she could withstand all that had happened. "We have to find out what happened to the others," her voice was stronger as her eyes narrowed in determination burning with the glow of a fading sun. "We have to get back and if- when we find 'her,' we'll bring her back too."

The two were well on their way and nothing would stop them.