Later, two Celestias sat side-by-side. One sipped her tea quietly, and the other looked less certain. "Are you certain I should?" she asked with Celestia's voice.
The other, true, Celestia smiled gently. "They can all be trusted, and they know enough to begin guessing wildly. Better they know the truth." She turned to set her eyes on Silver. "Especially her."
The faux Celestia let out a little sigh, then smiled at them. "Yes... First, sorry. You probably don't buy it, but I really did think this would work out a lot better than it did."
The true Celestia tilted her head. "On the contrary, you've exposed a severe problem for me to address. It isn't entirely your fault that Silver was treated that way."
Silver looked between the two. "Hearing what amounts to Celestia talking to herself is a little amazing." She flashed her fangs at the two as she bounced her colt in her forelegs. "Why don't you take your normal form?"
"I..." The faux Celestia glanced away. "I've gotten so used to being this way. I am her, mostly... I'm not trying to deceive you now, honestly. You know who I am."
Night leaned forward a little, looking over the changeling princess. "How did you meet her?"
She took a slow breath. "Long ago, a hive of changelings tried to move into Equestria. They came quietly and gently, moving in one or two at a time, until they were simply part of the population, feeding on friends and families they made with the ponies here. Equestria was invaded... softly... That love was returned. With no queen, that hive simply wanted to survive, and they did, making families with non-changelings and feeding and growing. They had children..." She looked up. "I'm one of them."
Fast perked her ears. "Wait a second! Where are all the changelings then if they were all over the place?!"
She reached out a hoof and rested it on Fast's shoulders. "We bred and loved and were loved and spread and spread and soon, there was very little difference. You, I've heard all about you, little changer." She leaned in close to Fast. "You are as close to a changeling as any pony can be."
Fast's ears flicked back as her eyes widened. "Oh, Celestia..."
Night coughed into a hoof. "I see, so how did you get involved with Celestia, specifically?"
The true Celestia unfurled a wing to wrap around her double. "I encountered her when her parents came and confessed their presence to me, begging to be forgiven and welcomed, retroactively. Imagine that, being told my country had been infiltrated completely, and being asked to accept that." She sat up. "To make it more complicated, their daughter had the potential to be a queen. They didn't want that. They were happy being independent changelings, just living, loving, working, like any pony."
The faux Celestia allowed her true self to be displayed. "Here I am, another pony who would be queen, but refuses." She smiled a little wistfully. "Just like her. They gave me to her, begged her to take care of me, but also to protect them all, from me... She did both, and raised me well. I learned her magic, her looks, her way of behaving, and eventually, I became more of her than myself. I would say I am Celestia, but I don't want to hurt her feelings or offend her."
"It's alright," said the true one, nodding at her. "This recent fiasco aside, you've served me very well. It is perhaps my fault that you are in this situation. I haven't seen to your needs, as a pony. You should have your own goals and desires, separate of me."
Silver clopped her hooves, carefully balancing her returned son. "No wonder you were surprised when Chrysalis suddenly showed up."
They both looked sour at that. The true one nodded. "Yes, that was... awkward. I thought all the changelings were quiet allies, to have a queen suddenly appear, ready to wage war... It was quite a surprise."
The other's expression turned even more sour as she grunted, ruffling her wings, back to looking like a twin of Celestia. "The repelling of them sent many innocent changelings hurtling from the city, myself included, and thank goodness for that. I was able to catch many plummeting souls before they were injured, and ferry them back to their worried families. Imagine the surprise of some, so distantly changeling they had no idea, to be suddenly tossed off the cliffside of the city, hurtling towards a certain death. They weren't even changeling enough to be hurled upwards like some, they were just rudely tipped off the sides. The lucky ones were inside, and bumped up against a wall instead."
The true Celestia gently wrapped a leg around her double. "It's a hard time for her to consider, for reasons I'm sure you understand."
Silver gaped at the both of them. "How did you hide something like that?"
The true Celestia blinked. "Hide? It was all over the newspapers. 'Canterlot Saved, minimal losses.'"
Faux Celestia snorted. "It's always minimal when it isn't you or somepony you love... Let's put that aside." She smiled. "Now that you know me, as me, maybe we can be friends?" She fixed her eyes on Silver. "I'm told you can forgive anyone. Am I an exception?"
Silver slung her colt over her shoulder and offered out the opposing hoof. "Come here." They met in a gentle hug. It was forgiven, and both knew it. "You don't need to hide around me. We're not that different, really. We're both something we don't appear to be, living in a world that would be confused at our true selves. Just... no more foalnapping, right?"
"Right." She looked to Night and Fast. "And you two?"
Fast sat up. "Tell me everything! Am I really part changeling? That explains so much!"
Night swat Fast lightly. "Tell her, or she'll never be happy. As for me, I've devoted myself to being married to her." She indicated Silver. "Which means forgiving as she does, unless it comes back to hurt her."
Silver tilted her head suddenly. "Does that include Starlight?"
Night rolled her eyes. "I didn't jump on her the dozen times I could, that's as best I can offer until she really comes clean and becomes a... normal pony."
Celestia cleared her throat. "If you are feeling better, perhaps you should see your other wife, hmm? Twilight is going to grow concerned and begin asking uncomfortable questions. Speaking of... If we could keep this entire affair... quiet."
Silver sighed and nuzzled Morning Glory. "There's nothing to be gained from sharing that." She looked up at the Faux Celestia. "Is Samantha alright?"
She shrugged softly. "She wasn't in contact with anypony, which is smart of her. She's gone into hiding. On the positive, that means she's probably well." She took a soft breath before releasing it. "Fast, I'll visit, promise. We can talk." She put a hoof to her chest, then pointed at Fast. "Halfbreed to halfbreed."
With the matter set down gently, they parted ways. Fast moved up beside Night. "Can I ride you back?"
Night raised a brow. "Not that I mind, but why don't you do it yourself?"
Fast circled around Night quickly. "What? I like riding my mare."
Night rolled her eyes. "60 percent." She turned away. "Come on you. You have the foal well, Silver?"
Fast hopped up onto Night with a giggle, hugging her tightly. "Onwards, loyal steed. I'm so happy to have such a fine mount. She gives such delicious rides."
Silver leaned in to nuzzle Night. "You're very kind to put up with this. I have him, let's go." With wings spread, they both took off into the sky, and made their way back to Ponyville.
They came in for a smooth landing before the tower, and it wasn't on fire. It didn't sport any new holes or show any other signs of trauma. They let out a little breath of relief together and trotted up as Morning Glory giggled.
There was conversation floating in from the map room, drawing them closer. It sounded emotional, then a moment of silence followed by happy talking and what Silver could have sworn was the sound of a group hug. What did group hugs even sound like? How did she have a clue of what one might be? Somehow, she was certain.
The door to the map room opened and a pony Silver hadn't seen in a while emerged. "S-Starlight!" Silver smiled brightly, then it fell. "Oh, please tell me you didn't come back for revenge, please."
Starlight looked uncomfortable, but Twilight rushed out. "She did, but we worked it out, as friends." She put a leg over Starlight, hugging her firmly.
Silver blinked slowly. "I... I am not complaining... But, what?"
Starlight licked over her lips. "I borrowed your cutie mark, do you remember?"
Silver nodded. "I do. It was a bit hazy. I wasn't feeling well back then. What did you do with it?"
Starlight rolled a hoof. "I modified a spell, using my own practice, and your talent, and did something..."
Twilight leaned over Starlight suddenly. "Amazing! She modified a Starswirl spell to an astounding effect. I mean, sure, she almost destroyed all of Equestria."
"What?!" cried Silver, Night and Fast in unision.
Twilight went on as if they hadn't spoken. "But it was a really clever adjustment. I had no idea Starlight was so talented at magic! We really have to swap notes. I think we could both learn so much from each other."
Starlight stepped closer to Silver directly. "It sounds like we may be closer together now."
Silver felt heat rushing to her cheeks. "I... I found out why things worked out the way it did."
Starlight recoiled. "What? It wasn't just... really bad luck?"
"Not exactly." Silver hung her head a moment. "I'm not sure if it was me, or those I was with, but we were being poisoned."
Starlight began to color with a renewed fury. "W-who?! That's barbaric! Terrible! That's... That's even worse than Twilight did! I'll de--"
Twilight gently squeezed her and gazed into her eyes.
Starlight began to calm down, breathing quickly, but slowing. "I... still want to know. Are they still doing it?"
Silver shook her head. "No, it's stopped. I'm not the 'stud of the land' anymore'."
Starlight sagged, looking disappointed in that.
Twilight's eyes darted between the two, then looked to Night. "Please break this down for me. I know you can figure this out."
Night nodded. "Starlight wants Silver's foal, but more accurately, Starlight wants to be a part of Silver's life."
Starlight bit her lower lip, glaring at Night a moment.
Silver leaned in and nuzzled at Starlight gently. "You get used to that. She's a very observant pony."
Starlight took a half step back. "But I can't. You're married." She waved over the three ponies standing there. "Twilight just forgave me. I don't want to give that up right away."
Twilight smiled. "You can be part of all of our lives without marrying us or swapping foals. You can be our friend."
Fast snorted. "That was a perfectly Twilight answer."
Starlight gave a little smile towards Silver. "She's not wrong. I do want that friendship, with or without a foal. I suppose you have enough of those." She looked to Morning Glory, resting on top of Silver with a sleepy smile. "What happened to that timid little princess in a cage I met? Or that brash young male, ready to claim any mare that crossed her path?"
Silver shrugged softly. "I grew up, I suppose. That doesn't mean we can't be friends." She offered a hoof, and they were soon hugging gently.
Perhaps things could work out.