Chapter 28 - A welcome back.
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Chapter 28 - A welcome back.
---------------------------------
Chrysalis opened the door of her house and found a depressing scene, many balloons everywhere, food on the table, a table with some games, and a huge stereo, an excellent party was wasted because of Celestia, but the queen was not sad, the scene made her happy, even though nothing could be used, all this was prepared for her and her son, It was not the welcome she expected to have, but it was one of the best she had ever had because even though there was no one waiting for her, she could feel the feelings of her friends in every ornament, in every plate of food, in every record of music, wherever she looked she could feel the concern of her friends for her and her son.
"What a pity all this went to waste." Cheerilee commented as she entered the house.
"What was wasted?" Asked the queen bending down to get Clear Spark off her back.
"All this, the balloons, the food, the party, was supposed to make you and Clear Spark feel welcome."
"I feel welcome, they wanted to throw us a party without needing to, they prepared all this food and put up all these balloons to celebrate when I came back, I didn't ask them for anything and they still wanted to do all this for us, of course, I feel welcome, just because the party didn't turn out like we all hoped doesn't make it any less important." Replied the queen with a smile.
"It's good to know that the party did some good, even if Pinkie will be disappointed, she worked hard organizing it together with Twilight."
"Surely she'll be throwing a second surprise welcome party one of these days."
"I'd love a new party, with balloons and all my friends." Said Clear Spark jumping up and down in excitement complaining of pain as he fell on one of the jumps.
"I'd better check you over, I don't want to run into any surprises in the morning." Said the queen walking to the bathroom to get the first aid kit.
"Can I at least eat cake?"
The queen disguised that she was thinking of the answer to hide that she also wanted to eat a piece and not want to cook anything.
"I guess it would be bad to waste this food, we'll eat a piece after we check on you."
"Ok." Clear Spark sat on the ground while the queen checked him over and healed a couple of bruises and the occasional flesh wound.
Cheerilee cut a few pieces of one of the cakes and served them on the table for everyone to eat, but before anyone could get a bite they heard a knock on the door, the queen stood up from her seat and walked over to open it.
"Lyra?, Bon-Bon?, what are you doing here?" The queen asked.
"Hello, Chrysalis." Lyra greeted with her usual dynamism. "After Twilight woke us up she told us that you would be here and we wanted to know if you were okay, so... are you all okay?."
"Ummm... yeah, we're fine, together we were going to eat a piece of the cakes."
"Great, can we eat too?" Lyra asked cheerfully approaching the door but being stopped by a cream-colored hoof.
"Lyra... you can't just invite yourself into a house." Bon-Bon said looking at his companion disapprovingly.
"And why not?" Lyra asked intrigued and blankly.
"It's okay, this was supposed to be a party and we have a lot of food that we're not going to be able to eat, come in both of you, there are plenty of dishes in the kitchen, help yourselves to whatever you want."
"Thanks, I can't wait to eat Pinkie's lemon cake." Said Lyra entering the house without worrying about anything else, Bon-Bon sighed defeated, and went inside a little later.
"Sorry about Lyra's impulsive personality, sometimes that mare drives me crazy." Bon-Bon commented.
"That's how love relationships are... we are attracted to their attributes and fall in love with their flaws." Replied the queen closing the door while a blushing Bon-Bon preferred to say nothing and go on her way.
The queen sat back down at the table when she felt someone else knocking, she stood up again and opened the door.
"Hello, Derpy, Dinky what brings you here?."
"Hello Queen Chrysalis, Twilight told me what happened and we wanted to know how you and Clear Spark were doing."
"We are fine thank you, we were going to eat some cake when Lyra and Bon-Bon arrived, would you like to come in too?"
"We would love to, I know Pinkie made some chocolate muffins I want to try." Replied the pegasus entering the house next to the little unicorn.
"Come on in, make yourselves at home." Said the queen closing the door and returning to the table when she heard another knock, opening it it was AppleJack next to Apple Bloom.
"Hello Chrysalis, we heard what happened and wanted to come and see how you are doing, well... I wanted to come early tomorrow morning so you could rest but Apple Bloom insisted on coming today."
"CLEAR SPARK IS OK?" Asked the filly yelping and quickly turning red. "I mean...as a friend I'm concerned for his safety and wanted to know how he's doing."
"He's fine, a little banged up but nothing serious, he's at the table eating next to Dinky, if you want you can help yourself to some cake and join him." Chrysalis stepped aside and Apple Bloom could see Clear Spark talking very animatedly with the little unicorn causing Apple Bloom to quickly enter the house and head for the kitchen in search of a plate.
"Sorry to bother you." Said AppleJack
"Don't worry, it's good that Clear Spark's friends are coming to see him too, even though I don't think my son and your little sister will be mere friends for long." Replied the queen causing a chuckle between the two.
After the farm mare entered and Chrysalis closed the door she headed to the table again but a strange feeling made her turn back to the door and open it just as another pegasus was about to knock.
"Hello, Fluttershy."
"hmmm... hi...."
"Would you like to come in?"
"Yes...thank you."
The pegasus entered the house but before the queen closed the door out of simple curiosity she looked outside and saw that several ponies were waving at her from afar as they walked home.
"I'd better leave the door open..." Commented the queen to herself as she returned to the table wondering if there would be a free chair left to sit in.
During the rest of the afternoon, more and more ponies were arriving, almost the whole town was present and the party was bigger than expected, they had to move some tables to the backyard with the food so everyone had more room to move or dance, all the little ones were playing in Clear Spark's room while the adults were having fun dancing downstairs, some ate too much, and some had too many drinks, Rainbow Dash with a few glasses of cider on top had an argument with Chrysalis for dancing with Soarin when it was her turn insisting at every moment that it was not jealousy, ending up monopolizing the pegasus during the whole night, Soarin for his part did not look upset, the little ones with the permission of Chrysalis and other parents ended up having a sleepover, and some were already too tired or somewhat drunk to return to their homes so they fell asleep on the couch or simply where they were.
The next morning Chrysalis felt a knock on the door and got up from her bed to find out who it was, she slowly opened Clear Spark's door to check on the little ones before walking down the stairs, she walked quietly and opened the door of the house, to which a couple of chickens and a goat flew out, surprising the one who knocked.
"Did I miss something?" Luna asked intrigued.
"Pinkie's party." Replied the queen.
"And why the chickens, and... the goat?"
"Please don't ask..." Replied an embarrassed yellow pegasus as she walked out of the house. "...I'm sorry about what happened, I'll come by this afternoon to clean up, come on Harry." A huge bear appeared behind the queen and with a bit of work left the house and along with the rest of the animals followed Fluttershy back to the cottage.
"Last night we found out that there are certain cakes that bears are not supposed to eat." The queen moved to the side allowing the princess to enter the house. "And how is your sister?"
"Furious, she tried to break the bars of the dungeon with her hooves, and then tried to bite them while muttering something, I think she was cursing you."
"It was to be expected that reaction when she woke up after what happened yesterday, do you want something to eat?."
"I'd love to, I always delight in the snacks prepared by Pinkie Pie, and Twilight came back to the castle?". Asked the queen helping herself to a piece of cake.
"I don't know, she was here last night." Chrysalis looked around but didn't see the princess of friendship. "Twilight, are you here?" Asked the queen into the air.
"MmmmmMMMMMmmm..." Said a voice complaining from behind a couch.
"Are you feeling okay?" Luna asked.
"Mmmmm... AppleJack's super special cider sure hits hard."
"You better eat something, we need to talk about what happened yesterday and what we're going to do about Celestia."
"How is she?" Asked a hungover Twilight as she sat down at the table and the queen served her a piece of cake and a glass of juice.
"Angry would be putting it mildly, after I locked her in the dungeon I woke her up and tried to talk to her, but it was no use, she still thinks she's right and that she's the only one who can save Equestria."
"But we can't leave her locked in the dungeon forever either."
"There's still my plan to send her to the moon for a thousand years." Luna said eating a piece of cake.
"We're not sending Celestia to the moon." Twilight replied drinking the juice almost in one sip.
"Twilight is right, we won't solve anything by sending your sister to the moon, besides I want her to understand that my race is no longer a threat to Equestria and that we want to live peacefully, and I can't do that with her on the moon, also the ponies will see that we changelings are not spiteful and it would help me a lot that image." Replied Chrysalis as she poured more juice for the young alicorn.
"So you plan to set her free?".
"When I feel that she finally understood that we are no longer evil I will consider dropping the charges for endangering my son's life, until then I don't plan to let her out of prison."
"So my sister will stay in prison serving a sentence while we try to reform her, any ideas on how to do the second part?". Luna asked as she drank some juice.
"The conversation with Princess Celestia was that bad?." Twilight said.
"I'm not knowledgeable in all the slang of this era but I'm sure she made up insults to refer to Chrysalis, some were very... They weren't suitable for minors."
"Then we need another approach to talk to Celestia, do any of you have an idea?."
"I think I know someone who might be able to help, but before Celestia meets her I would first like to talk to your sister alone."
"I also know someone who could talk to my sister so we could convince her to reform, so if you don't mind I would like to meet who you propose and compare it to who I have in mind, after all, we are talking about my sister's mental sanity and I want the best pony for that task." Chrysalis nodded her head before eating some cake.
"I don't have a problem with that, but I don't like the idea of Celestia being locked up for years in a cell, and if you agree I would like to propose something that I also think could help her not to feel betrayed."
The three mares continued discussing the subject for a long time until they reached a solution that would leave everyone happy, they discussed how to make Celestia's sentence public, the way to reform her, how the power would be administered between Luna and Twilight, and how they could integrate the changelings to the society.
After a few hours of conversation, the three of them came up with a solution, it was not the best plan but it was the safest in the long run and the first part of it was a conversation between Chrysalis and Celestia, face to face.
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Considering despite the evidence she still wishes to believe that she is evil I don't see how a conversation will help. I say hit her with the elements and let them decide what to do with her.
11483885
You learned nothing from stygian!
I jest... but this IS a tough situation...
A conversation can save equestria!
Both in the story, and for the writer.
Well I mean, making Celestia a changeling would be a fitting sentence...
11483904
If I thought a conversation would work I would be glad but she refuses to listen to those close to her why would she listen to the one she wishes to destroy. Maybe the elements can knock sense into her head like they did Luna.
11483933
Oh, the irony. Starswirl kept insisting he was right, too. The difference is that because he wasn't being childish about it, he came across as the authority on magic he's been known to be, and because of that and the individual in question not showing contrary signs, most everyone believed him.
11483942
Considering they were supposed know stygian and the evidence was so weak it wasn't even good to be circumstantial. For all they knew he could have been planning a big surprise for them. Celestia on the other hand they never expected that losing a battle would cause her to lose her mind considering that this wasn't her first fight and nobody can win all the time.
Also, we must remember that Celestia for a thousand years defended Equestria completely alone managing to keep it safe from all danger, and on several occasions went against Chrysalis, so to be defeated by an eternal enemy and that basically from one day to another claim to be good is understandable that Celestia does not trust her at all, and feeling that those she loved the most turned their backs on her made her mind simply collapse, maybe she didn't make the best decisions to deal with every enemy since she was educated by the proclaimed most powerful wizard in history (except for Gusty the Great, gosh, I'd love to know his story).
1000 years is a long period of time, much more than anyone could consider, one may think that in two years you could change your mind about someone, but on that scale is a concise period of time and much more considering that this is someone who always looked for different ways to destroy what you love the most (I do not think I'm wrong but Chrysalis is the villain who appears more in the series in all its formats).
I personally don't find Celestia to be right but her point of view is entirely understandable, besides the wounds of old wars take a long time to heal, and sometimes resentments just don't go away.
11483933
Actually, it makes sense. The ones close to Celestia couldn't convince her that Chrysalis was good. This is because Celestia never had the chance to just listen to Chrysalis directly. You say that because Twilight and Luna couldn't convince her, there's no way that Chrysalis can convince her. I say the opposite. Chrysalis is the ONLY one who can bring Celestia back to her senses. Perhaps all it takes is for Celestia to get the chance actually to get to know Chrysalis. Perhaps it won't be an immediate fix. But it will likely at least plant that seed of doubt in Celestia's mind.
11484031
She didn't want to listen from the moment chrysalis was captured she assumed that she was up to something bad even when there was no evidence of any such thing. She grew frustrated because she is expecting one thing and not getting it and refuses to see that maybe she looking at this in the wrong way.
11484040
You're right. She never wanted to listen in the first place. She never even tried. But the difference here is that now Celestia is in a position where she has no choice but to listen. Whether Celestia believes what Chrysalis says is up for debate. But Chrysalis has been given a chance that Celestia never gave. And that is for Celestia to hear her out. Previously when Celestia didn't want to listen, she could just walk away and leave Chrysalis in the cell. Now Celestia can't just walk away. So whether or not Celestia wants to listen to Chrysalis is no longer a factor.
11484051
I just don't believe that she will listen. The evidence and everyone have been telling that chrysalis has changed and yet she refuses to see it to the point where she rather endanger a child than face being wrong.
11484051
Being stuck with someone doesn’t necessarily mean you’re forced to listen to them.
11483933
Perhaps. It was simply a jest you see... a joke.
But in seriousness, it depends on who is talking to her and what they say.
I'm just a humble pleb, not a psychologist... but if we did HAVE to talk to her to fix it... I personally think this could st least help...
If they can turn the mirror on her and make Celestia question herself, they can weaken her barrier of hatred.
The barrier is more like a wall of fire anyway... it can't burn this bright forever.
But yes, the elements are the obvious first step.
But if this was passed the canon of the elements being destroyed, that would rule this option out.
They have to weaken the barrier by having her doubt her doubt herself and/or weakening her hatred.
Then appeal to the better part of her.
Maybe have Chrysalis relate to her...
Say she understands her, forgives her.
And if Celestia gets angry at that because she "doesn't need forgiveness, chrysalis does" have others say they already did.
Maybe thank Celestia for the good things she did, one person at a time. Ending with Chrysalis thanking her for the world she helped build.
Unless her heart is stone now, or... I guess obsidian?... I dont see her hatred lasting.
If that doesn't work you can brute force it by turning her hatred onto herself.
It's a dirty tactic, but it can get it done.
11484254
I don't how long it would take for her anger to die down considering Luna was still mad 1000 yrs later.
11484259
My head canon is she was in stasis.
Because it couldn't in my opinion.
Also, I edited last mesage a bit, sorry.
11484259
But even if so, she was in isolation, not with friends around her that love her and want to see her get better. That changes things maybe?
Again, these are just my ramblings of a madman and probably shouldn't be taken seriously.
11484266
Maybe but Celestia wasn't alone to begin with she just refused to let anyone in . She pushed everyone away because they didn't agree with her. Luna never had anyone besides Celestia in the first place.
11484272
Just a counter pov
What Celestia had before Cadance, Twilight, and Luna's return was superficial. She was just as "alone" as Luna. No one who would be honest with her. No one she could be herself around. No time to hang out with her sister let alone with "friends..." which back then likely mostly consisted of two-faced nobles who wanted power.
That's why she pushed so hard for Twilight to not end up like her and her sister. To have Twilight learn her most important lessons with her friends.
So honestly, she was quite alone.
11484272
Just a counter pov
In fact, I would argue even Twilight was not Celestia's friend until she stopped being her student.
And Luna and Celestia didn't reconnect until the vacation episode.
Cadnce was busy.
In fact, I argue the person who has the best chance of becoming Celestia's first true friend... is ironically Chrysalis
I have an idea for them becoming... more... but that is not for here in someone else's comment section
11484355
She could have created a relationship with cadence but chose not to. She pushed everyone who could be close to her away from her and I get that she been alone for a while but if you never let anyone in you always be alone.
11484362
Truthfully I don't think twilight was ever her friend considering she never lost that unhealthy hero worship and Celestia never bothered to actually try to make her a friend afterwards.
11484399
That is true... both those statements can be true depending on whether we take into account what could be happening off screen of the show or the differences the writer decides to take into account in their Alternate Universes.
But, I have a few counter points of view. Some conflict. But they are ideas.
1. Celestia could have a reason for doing so... maybe something deep seated in her past.
2. She is still focused on leading her country until she can retire and we were shown that the lives of the princesses are very busy.
It wasn't until Twilight was experienced enough she could go on vacation with her sister and finnally do some things she wanted to do. To which those two desires conflict and hence the vacation episode.
3. Cadance has her own life to live, and who is to say she didn't let cadance in and that is why she is most upset at Chrysalis for threatening her.
4. She is punishing herself for her past misdeeds and wants the ones she cares about to find someone else to love instead of her. Except for Luna who she wants to be with when she retires.
Unhealthy hero worship... I dissagreed a bit... not entirely, but a bit.
Celestia is her mentor and hero, yes... but her obsession was more built around not disappointing and failing her... to which I relate. It was more like she never left school and she also was afraid of failing that.
Either way, Celestia might not TRULY have friends depending on who you ask... and I think that is eating her up inside, but she obviously wanted things to be better for Twilight. And Celestia learns things too when Twilight does. Because the lessons Twilight learns are directly from the world and untainted by the old and bias mind of Celestia.
A writer can use or make a reason and exploit that for a solution.
What I'm saying is, there could be many ways of going about this.
Including just blasting her with Rainbow friendship lasers or even making her irredeemable.
But again, I'm personally not a fan of that route.
11484400
I seem to have misrepresented my intent. I am merely providing an... ranting rambling about alternative view for possibilities and personal opinions.
Not actually arguing or criticizing.
I didn't actually mean to make a big deal about this.
I apologize, I will leave thee be now.
11484057
11484069
Maybe she'll listen, maybe not. But it's the most likely for her to listen because of the circumstances. Celestia never saw Chrysalis change because she literally never saw her change. It doesn't matter how many times Luna, Twilight, or even Cadance were to tell Celestia how much Chrysalis has changed. Because it's still just hearsay. Celestia has to see with her own eyes that Chrysalis has changed, which she hasn't seen yet because she's been focused on other things.
11484254
It's currently in between Seasons 6 and 7. The Elements aren't destroyed until Season 9.
Personally, I don't think coto616 realizes that after Season 3, 1 Season = 1 Year. I think he's under the assumption that because Seasons 1-3 are just 1 year, that math stays the same. On a side note, technically there's a full year between Seasons 8 and 9. The Hearthswarming special shows that it's not the same year as The Hearthswarming Club. So the entire series (including the Season 10 comics) span a duration of 9 years (not including the Epilogue).
But I digress.
11484272
That's actually a good point. Dealing with Celestia/Daybreaker won't be the same as dealing with Luna/Nightmare Moon. What caused their corruptions are different, thus dealing with that corruption would equally be different.
11484362
I don't think Cadance was too busy before Luna's return. She was Celestia's adopted niece after all.
But I do like the idea of Chrysalis becoming friends with Celestia. It makes sense because Chrysalis has been the only constant with Celestia over the millennia. I think it will be a rocky start, seeing as Celestia has a way to go before considering Chrysalis a friend, and Chrysalis has to be able to look past the fact that Celestia put Clear Spark in danger. I even like the idea of them ruling Equestria together. Before, I would've liked to see her ruling with Luna to integrate Changelings into Equestria.
I think that Celestia should be banished to the moon. Not for 1000 years like Luna originally intended, but for just 1 year. In that time, the other Princesses can work together with Chrysalis to create a new Equestria. The Changelings could potentially be a defense force for Equestria. When Celestia returns and sees Equestria thriving with the help of Chrysalis, this may help her rethink her priorities.
11484638
That is why I say give her the same treatment Luna got and let the magic jewelry decide what to do with her. It might not be fun for her in long run but it might get some sense in there cause I don't believe that she will listen to anyone including chrysalis otherwise.
11483918
That would be hilarious! Wonder if there's a Heart Swap spell that could work here....
11484645
Fair enough. In the case of Nightmare Moon, the reason why the Elements were necessary was that her emotions possessed her, taking the control away from Luna. So it makes sense that Celestia won't listen as long as she's Daybreaker.
11484720
Possible. But to be fair, Celestia didn't get to talk to a defeated and depleted NMM.
But yes, that might make it worse not better. So fair point.
11484671
I think it's hilarious in just about any circumstance. I'd be lying if I didn't have the tempting thought myself once upon a time
(Edited 25 min after posting) I do not wish to blather any more after this. This will likely be my last post. I have rambled FAR too much with my nonsense.
11484645
Fair.
11484638
Fair enough, like I said, it was just a thought. A possibility for someone to use.
11482331
I actually will dissagree with and contest this... but what I type is still just the opinion of a pleb...
when you can not take care of something that way you want it done... you get someone to do it. Not pro-reformation? Maybe... but someone as old as her would know that they would return. Also, how would she reform the others? She does not have that ability.
I think after her sister turned evil she realized what some villains are, and she started seeking out a way to bring harmony a better way for all.
I think she knew it could bring harmony back to her sister in the right hands.
And I think Celestia knows that she is not the right mare to reform villains... and also, eventually, no longer the right mare to rule the lands either.
Her student did better than her... just the way she wanted it.
A being that old wouldn't leave the future of her kingdom and everything she worked hard for on chance. She would have a plan. And that plan was unity. Maybe she didn't orchestrate the details. But she planted the seed. It is all a mother can do in the end. It's crazy to me to think Celestia wouldn't think, in a world where the hearthswarming tale exists, a thing like the elements of harmony... power by litteral friendship... wouldn't want Twilight to try to make friends first WHEN POSSIBLE. and wouldn't put her faith in such a thing if she didn't want it. But maybe you are right... but that is one HECK of a happy accident.
Again, perhaps I'm wrong, but even if so... so what? Most wouldn't and didn't reform. And those that did, Celestia pardoned them. Some with little to no punishment. Starlight and Trixie being contenders.
Also, I love comics, but they are essentially professionally commissioned fictions. They are canon in name only.
They are great to use, I want to use the Umbra Sombra one for a background of Umbra vs Changelings.
I have a feeling that Luna still resents Celestia for being banished to the moon. :)