The sun shone bright and the city of Canterlot was as beautiful as it’d always been.
The smell of wildflowers and sweets perfumed the air as ponies smiled and went about their daily business. Children kissed their parents goodbye as they scampered off to school. Nothing was amidst and for once the streets were clear of any protest and disgruntled citizens. Today was a day of great celebration for Equestria, or reckoning if one wanted to call it that. Today a changeling would be put to death in a prison of stone.
Despite the solemn expression on her face, Chrysalis could not recall much of her last walk. The pegacorn was lost in a haze of imaginings and dread as she was marched along that familiar path. Unlike her trial, there was nothing to fight for anymore. Celestia had decided and her word was law.
There were flashes of faces, sight and sound, but nothing that caught her attention. The day was storybook perfect, but the future, her future, seemed bleak in its surreal-ness. Before she knew it, her unsteady vision had cleared to reveal her entrapment.
A stone pedestal with glittering chains awaited her.
Moments later she was shackled and on display before a country of ponies who felt as much animosity for her as she did for them. Despite the number of bodies in attendance, she didn’t have the mind to pay attention to the jeering and booing the crowd had to offer.
She would die a spectacle and no one would mourn her passing. How fitting, were her rancorous thoughts as iron chains chaffed her skin. The sound of wings could be heard as feminine shadows were cast upon the earth.
The people were silenced as their Princesses descended from the sky. Sun and Moon, ethereal in their radiance, provided a genial display of might and beauty.
The monarchs stood tall as they regarded her. “The time has come for you to pay for your wrongs against this country.” Celestia’s voice bore down top of her despite their lack of difference in height.
Luna stared on with a mask of calm. While she did not agree with her sister’s punishment she understood her burden. “Any last words?” she prompted, mentally empathizing with the detached creature before her. To this day her banishment still played lucidly in her mind. Judgment was a trying thing.
Perhaps if she bowed or cried, remorseful of her actions, maybe her life would be spared, the changeling thought. But lives had been lost and while she regretted that gamble, she did not regret acting in hopes of bettering for her people. She could not and would not grovel, and for that reason Chrysalis was still defiantly unapologetic. A sentiment not lost on the sol alicorn.
If only she hadn’t been so proud, Celestia thought. “No? Well then, let us proceed.”
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stood off to the sides of the stone stage that held the fallen monarch. The two sisters stood tall as they began the enchantment that would allow them to turn the changeling into stone.
Chrysalis tried her hardest to stay strong, but knowing all that she was leaving and what was about to happen was breaking her. She’d been strong for so long and now it seemed when she needed her strength the most it was beginning to flee her.
Where was Shinning Armor? She had wanted to see him one last time. Perhaps he sat with their daughter, a thought that hurt more than she thought it would.
Tears blurred her vision and sparkles rained down before her eyes. At first she thought it a flicker of light or maybe her mind was playing tricks on her, but it soon became apparent that it was not.
The crowd began to murmur.
“What’s that?”
“Are you seeing what I’m seeing…”
“I don’t know… Am I?”
“That looks odd…”
“Tia… What’s going on?” Luna vocalized as the spectacle began to catch her attention as well.
“I’m not sure…” Celestia squinted as she tilted her head studying the magic in the process of activating.
Slowly the dazzling particles before Chrysalis gathered closer together, rippling in suspension. As the scintillation took on a more definite form, it shone an electric blue that revealed a great beast the color of gilded tomes. As the spectacle grew, it showed a great creature mounted by a maroon eyed mare who stared back from the other side.
“Tia! Do something!” Luna warned not liking the look of this.
Chrysalis’ eyes widened considerably as time slowed down. The behemoth tore through the wall of astral energy with a mighty sound that shook the walls of Canterlot. The changeling fell back as far as her chains allowed as a sense of self-preservation kicked in.
The mare that rode the great beast’s back smirked down on her magical sire. Her eyes brightened as she magically communicated her wishes to her companion. The behemoth whirled around, its tail slicing through the air as it dropped its gaping maw and blasted the two sisters with a sandblast that would’ve killed lesser ponies.
The two were knocked clear across the grounds away into a building as the scorching heat sapped them of their strength and the earth pelted their coats. They groaned as they slunk to the ground in heaps of limbs and manes. Once the creature was done, it drew back, inhaled and hit the two again, this time with a stronger and longer assault. Luna screamed as she and her struggling sister were hit again, forcing their bodies deeper into the structure they had before. The structure was ultimately blown away, swallowing them in its debris. The world around her faded into something dismally bland as her vision was rendered black. Celestia groaned, before surrendering herself to the same abyss. Both mares yielded to the bliss of unconsciousness.
Kikyo had no qualms about sucker punching anypony. Especially an alicorn. Using a behemoth to do so only upped the appeal of the underhanded tactic.
Magnus Kron was truly a sight to behold with its bared teeth and unfolded wings.
Chrysalis kept her eyes on the behemoth as she tugged fruitlessly against her binds. It dwarfed most everything around it with its size.
Pandemonium had broken out as the Equestrian citizens witnessed their Princesses being struck down.
Ponies were screaming as bodies tried to scatter away from this unwanted guest.
With a loud groan, the great creature took to the sky swooping in on anything that its rider indicated. It took the royal guard all of three minutes to respond to the crisis. They didn’t even notice a trio of ponies slip through the wall of energy just before the dazzling particles froze and shattered as they crashed to the ground.
Ponies were running for their lives as the beast used a much less potent blast of wind to deter and swat away any who tried to overtake him.
Three ponies loomed over the defensive mare when all of sudden the one in the middle broke out into a wide grin.
“Chrysalis!” Kirai cried out as the other two descended upon her.
That voice…
“You’re Majesty! We… we feared the worst,” the mare continued.
“…. Ki…rai?” The former monarch looked horribly confused.
“Mileena, chains!” Jedzia commanded tugging at the metal bolted to stone.
Nonononono… This couldn’t be right… Could it? “Jedzia…” She breathed as a flicker light was ignited in her soul.
“Right!” The mare quickly set to work. “Good to know we made it in time.” Mileena channeled her
magic and focused on activating the tumblers in the cuffs that kept Chrysalis prisoner. “The hive will be happy to know all of this wasn’t for nothing.”
"Sweet maker… I don’t- how is this possible?” They were alive… All of this time… And they were okay. “Why?" Chrysalis asked with tears in her eyes. She couldn’t think as she was beyond stunned. “You’re real… This is really happening?”
"Yes, my Queen, we’re real. We came for you. You chose us when everything inside of you wanted to choose something different... And now we're returning the favor."
"I thought you... I thought you all had died.” Her laugh was full of disbelief. “I mourned you and... Yet… You’re really here!" Joy was an odd thing.
"You did it!” Kirai assured. “It was because of your love for us that we were able to survive. You made the ultimate sacrifice."
“Done!” Mileena grunted as the chains clattered to the ground.
Chrysalis couldn't believe it as she threw her forelegs around the trio and sobbed... Her people were alive and had swarmed Celestia's city to save her. Kinda, at least.
"I don't mean to sound impatient, but we need to leave NOW, preferably while Celestia's guard is distracted by that behemoth." Jedzia rushed. The mares looked to see Kikyo having the time of her life atop the behemoth as it flew through the sky, dipping down to rip the earth with its claws making it harder for ground forces to stage.
The quartet were clamoring to move when Chrysalis’ voice halted them. "Wait!"
"What?!" Jedzia groaned this was only going to work if they scattered.
"Gemma!"
"Who?" Kirai was confused.
"My daughter! I won't leave her! She's mine!"
"Your what?!” Mileena exclaimed.
” Since when-" The other two chimed in.
"Gemma first, questions later!"
*-*-*-*-*-*-*
The guards outside Shining Armor’s door were staunch individuals who didn’t care that he used to be their Captain. Celestia had given them a job, and even though it was a little twisted, they would carry it out to the best of their abilities.
The stallion stared at the window wishing he could be where everypony else was right now.
He had promised her he’d be there.
Just as his thoughts were about to take a darker turn, a muffled roar priced the air as the castle shook.
Cerulean eyes widened as the stallion stumbled before catching his balance.
He could hear a slight panic from outside and at his door.
He looked towards the window of his room, but ultimately dismissed it as his room was on the opposite side of where everything was taking place. His ear twitched as he heard the guards talking.
“We can’t just leave our post-”
“A behemoth attacked the Princesses! This is way more important than a bug-lover!”
“Yea! Shining Armor might be whipped, but he’s no traitor- let’s go!”
“Maaaaan…. We’re going to get in so much trouble!” Footsteps could be heard as the trio hurried away.
The stallion wasted no time checking the door to see if it was locked.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Slinking around Celestia’s castle in midst of an emergency worked well for the changeling who could not disguise herself. Ponies were so focused of the commotion Kikyo caused that none truly paid attention to the small group of mares running the opposite way.
When Chrysalis finally located the royal nursery where her daughter was held she immediately burst through the door pausing unsurely when she caught sight of Elytra cradling her flesh with a serene expression on her face. Gemma laughed and gurgled reaching up to tug on coral manes.
The other three crowded her flank as they stared on unsure of what to make of their Queen’s newest development as well as the alicorn ahead.
“Elytra…”
Plum eyes were dream-like as they continued to look down upon the little life pale forelegs cradled. This child made her think of her own. She slowly crossed the floor to stand a meter or so away from the former Queen. “I believe she belongs to you.” She blinked, before gracing Chrysalis with a soft smile.
That voice, dark eyes narrowed. “You were the one sending me the dreams!” Kirai exclaimed with a step forward. For months her dreams had been filled with that voice leaving her hints and showing her things she hadn’t understood until later.
“Yes… I would never let you fall for my transgressions.” The alicorn adopted a more serious expression. “I’m sorry you had to suffer as you had.” Chrysalis moved forward, wanting answers and her child.
“I… Why didn’t you tell me they were alive? All those months…” Joy was a rush like water over a fall, but anger was a flash and for a moment all the changeling could process was sense of betrayal.
Elytra had lied to her… Kept her purposely in the dark and at the mercy of a scorned Celestia. She’d been depressed for months. Suicidal even due to grief, guilt and loneliness.
“I couldn’t tell you. Not at the time. I needed to keep them safe while leaving Equestria in the dark. At least this way all of you can choose the life you’d like without fear of retaliation. I saw the darkness around your heart, but I was certain you could handle it. And look what you did… You gave birth to your little girl and haven’t looked back.”
“I- ” And just as soon as the anger reared, the joy overpowered it as it calmed to reveal a pulsing thankfulness that made the former realize that Elytra was right- there were more important things.
Elytra nodded genially as she handed the baby to its mother. Using her wings, Chrysalis secured the smaller filly to her back.
The group turned to leave. “Wait!” Gold magic washed over charcoal chitin as the alicorn broke the spell that prevented Chrysalis from changing and utilizing her magic. “Go… before it’s too late.”
*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Shining Armor wasn’t sure about what was going on, but he knew he needed to get to his daughter. He had just skirted by a couple of guards to take a flight of stairs when he saw a small group of ponies going the complete opposite way.
‘What’re they doing?’ He thought. With a roll of his eyes, he was sure the mares were confused and scared.
“Hey!” He shouted in what was a much more authoritative voice than he meant.
The group tensed as they all stopped and craned their necks around. One turned completely and a filly that looked a lot like his giggled and pushed her head through feather soft wings.
“Gemma… What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Shining Armor narrowed his eyes as he lowered himself into an offensive position. Jedzia and Mileena dropped into their own aggressive stances and lunged at the stallion. Shining Armor fired off a magic bolt that hit one of his aggressors head on. The other dodged his next bolt, reared and struck out at him. A small scuffle ensued that resulted in the stallion surrounded by two mares and having one’s throat beneath his hoof.
The females sneered at their attacker, and when it was clear everypony wanted some pony severely hurt Chrysalis who’d watched the whole thing wide eyed and surprised, finally snapped out of her stupor. ”Shining Armor, don’t!” She quickly dropped her form.
The stallion looked taken back before a sense of relief fell over him. A hiss brought him back to reality as another set of green eyes filled with disdain glared up at him. He swallowed as he slowly released the mare, who quickly stood. Despite the dirt on her coat and the bruise forming from his hoof, she was still quite alright with only an injured ego. The other two carefully and quickly went to her aid.
Obviously they were leaving… But could he really just let them- her- walk away with all that was going on.
Mileena threw a look at Chrysalis. “He doesn’t want to let us go!”
Jedzia was the first to speak, still annoyed with the entire situation. "Are you kidding me? Get out of the way! There's four of us and one of you."
"Zia no... wait...” Kirai placed a calming hoof on the annoyed mare. “They'll kill her if you don't let us take her. And your daughter will never know her mother."
"I can't..." These people had outright attacked what he had sworn to protect, he couldn’t just not do anything… Could he?
"Are you serious?” Came Jedzia’s disgusted tone.
“You'd let them kill the mother of your child and later turn her against her?" Kirai was in disbelief.
"You're asking me to betray everyone..." This was an act of treason, he thought remembering Celestia’s words earlier when she’d had him locked away.
"Against Who? Your wife is done with you. Your people no longer trust you ... Who would you betray by letting us go? We just want to leave. No pony knows who we are." Mileena shrugged at the looks received. So what if she was a bit of an empath.
"Gemma... She's my daughter too and I won't- I can't leave her alone." He thought of the tiny creature he'd helped deliver. The child he didn't know he needed.
"Then come with us!" Chrysalis pleaded. "Come with me." Her bright green eyes burned into his and Gemma peaked up at her father with shiny black eyes as she reached out to him. Wordlessly communicating the same, she gurgled and laughed excited to see the stallion she loved so much.
An uncomfortable silence fell over the group as they awaited the stallion’s decision.
“You were right…” He exhaled. “I can’t save you… You’ve never needed me to.”
“Wha-“ It had taken her ten years to ask and the answer was as she always feared.
“But… But I can let you go.”
“Don’t be st-“ She wanted to beg.
“Chrysalis, we have to go!” Jedzia wasted no time ushering her queen away. Mileena hurried to help. Chrysalis’ will to leave was low and the mare knew they didn’t have time for this.
“But…”
“Let’s go!” They half pulled, half pushed her away and down the corridor. Only one lingered.
“You’re an idiot.” Kirai managed. “But thank you!” She quickly followed after the others and that was last time the stallion saw them.