“Self-doubt does not fit a princess.” I can still hear Celestia’s words echoing in my ears even as I fly. To my right a carriage holds those who will join me on this quest. To my left another carries a burden I would be rid of.
Celestia will have need of her student soon. Even now I cannot help but feel I race the inevitable letter to Ponyville. Prince Shining Armor has proven himself in my eyes but he is still no match for Sombra. Princess Cadenza is powerful in her own write but she has neither the skill nor the determination to fight as Sombra must be fought. Even together it will only be a matter of time before they fall. Celestia does not trust me to repeat my last acts before madness overtook me so the task will fall to Twilight. I have need of her first, there is a burden I would be rid of and my heart trusts none other to bear it.
I cannot say why I did not tell Celestia. More than any other she deserves to know so why does the thought of telling her fill me with such apprehension?
Twilight Sparkle is not unused to royalty simply dropping in. She rises from her studies into a cordial bow. After an exchange of pleasantries she compliments me on my speech. The less said about (or in) the Royal Canterlot Voice the better. ‘Twas a ridiculous custom in its own time and I have come to regret partaking a thousand fold.
I was a fool for binding Twilight in an oath. Her life is far more important than any secret I care to keep and her word is worthy of much more trust than I showed. Luckily it was not too late to release her and she saw the spells as a mere curiosity.
Finally I explain my purpose and reveal my burden. Twilight gasps as black cloth parts to reveal Chrysalis, frozen in time. She bites back bile when she sees the broken spearhead in her chest, the point only a hairsbreadth from her heart.
On the battlefield when I wrest the spear from her brother’s grasp I saw Twilight as I had seen her those years ago. She floated into the air as the glory and power of Harmony wreathed her and her friends. She struck and instead of the destruction my crimes warranted she brought healing to my very soul. Whether it was by her decision or by her nature she had mercy on me, and try as I might I could not ignore that.
When Twilight does break the spell she will have that choice to make again. Chrysalis can still recover but she will be helpless for a very long time. Live or die, it is Twilight’s decision now.
-L
This does really speak to the characterization of Luna in this story, turning over Crysalsis to Twilight. It shows she still doesn't fully trust her own decisions, her doubts being perhaps MORE than Celestia's. She's instead left the choice to someone she see's as a better pony than she is. Again makes me wonder if in this setting the choice to make Twilight a princess was Celestia's, maybe it was Luna or perhaps is was the sisters first true joint decision after Luna's return?
Chrysalis isn't a pony and there is no reason to assume that her anatomy is remotely pony-like... or even typical for a vertebrate animal. There is no telling what her body can handle.
As for Sombra...? It seems interesting that Luna definitely seems to think that Twilight is necessarily the pony to send on this mission. Of course, she knows better than most how Sombra will choose to fight and, perhaps, she understands how Twilight may be uniquely suited to defeating his wiles.
I have to say that bit was a turnabout. The last chapter or two made it fairly evident that Chrysalis was dead, and it feels a bit counter-character for Luna, thus far, to give Twilight a suspended animation Chrysalis and burden her with that. Why didn't she just let the poor creature die after tormenting her and killing her?
Also, you told us that Chrysalis was basically a sitting duck with next to nothing left, so I can only assume as I suggested above that she is in suspended animation and would probably die if released.
So, where's this idea that she kept herself alive somehow fit in?
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I'm not convinced that it isn't and the author is practically telling us that itmis. If the outward shape is similar why should the insides be vastly different? We aren't talking about while they are transformed. Presumably they still have to move and breathe. If their anatomy was different why should a spear thrust to "the heart" (or so we presume) necessarily be fatal without treatment?
P.S.
How did the elements heal Luna? To what extent could Discord's influence be considered harmful?
It was cruel of her to pass the burden of that decision to someone like Twilight. Luna already butchered the rest of the species, she could at least have cleaned up her leftovers herself. Now she put Twilight in the position of either committing murder, or trying to "fix" someone into being thankful for only getting brutalized, instead of killed along with her people. That can only work out well.