Evening, once the sun began to set, and the land’s far off mountains were slowly set to glow, while preparations for the gallow stand had finally been completed. Everything was ready for the execution. Some even gathered around early in the town square for the promising show.

All the ponies were silently spreading rumors on whether their guardian ruler would hold true to her ways, some speaking about the filly they’d heard of being let go, and many denying those accusations while defending Celestia all the way, claiming she’d killed it herself.

Nopony knew for certain if Coad was finished off, and nopony ever would. Not until Chrysalis had left this world through death. This was either because Celestia didn’t want her to be happy even for a second while the moment of truth was upon the princess’s subjects, or for her to be placed in the position of being the messenger. The last thing anypony in the crowd wanted was to see her smiling for any reason.

Even if Celestia didn’t kill Coad, it wouldn’t make much difference other than to taunt Chrysalis. Celestia still wished dearly to maintain some of her dignity as a royal alicorn, even though this act of genocide left her with hardly any. To her, it was best if Chrysalis didn’t know what fate befell her last child.

Inside the cell she occupied, tears streamed down her face and passed over her closed cuts while stinging the fresh bruises made by the commander. The doctor had left a few hours prior, as ordered to help in the building process. Along with the rope, he took his medical bag and went on his way, not even glancing towards Chrysalis or saying a word to her.

Sniffling slightly at her memory, the queen scoffed at her treatment. Inside, she was shivering. She missed the sunlight, and wanted nothing but freedom. To smell the sweet air again, and be done with the worrisome complications that had rose rather quickly in the recent years of her life would be heaven to her.

Just as she was starting to remember her days before the invasion, a long, loud creak from up the stairs rang through the hall. Princess Celestia emerged from the shadows with a pair of intimidatingly large guards. In their mouths they held her shackles, but as her majesty’s cage was opened, Chrysalis struggled with them, trying desperately to escape from her fate.

One swift blow to her gut was all it took, forcing Chrysalis to her knees, admitting defeat. A rusty collar soon strangled her. The binds that held her hooves close prevented her trot to be without pain. Just as an extra measure, a muzzle was tightly fastened around her mouth, keeping her from breathing easily.

Celestia looked over the mare once more, this time with her being completely drained of any decent features. The wounds that plagued her body, head, hooves and very soul brought about a satire ugliness, both physically and mentally.

By that time, Chrysalis could no longer controlled her hatred she’d developed for the ponies with ease. Rescue would not need to come in the form of her being taken from this place, but instead, of every last being in Canterlot passing away by whatever means might be dished out.

She kept her cool, though; knowing full well they’d only be provoked by any sort of attitude, Chrysalis remained emotionless, all except for her eyes squinting, just barely. She was led out and into the red atmosphere, where the hordes of ponies cheered.

The setting that followed the gates she was guided from was best described as the gallow stand and a fine line blocking everypony from passing, guards lining along all sides of the walls keeping all the chanters at bay. What was usually stores and petty shops were quickly becoming posts for stallions, just in case something unexpected happened.

Torches on all corners of the stand lit the dim streets and faces of the celebrating crowd, and just beyond the circle of rope hanging from the top, Chrysalis could see the setting sun, which had soft pink rays of light that still waved to the land. Night was closer than anything. Even closer then Chrysalis thought.

Celestia reached the stage, pulled Chrysalis along by her chain and adjusted the changeling to keep behind the rope. However, before wrapping it around the mare’s neck, the princess made one last offer. “Tell me where they are, and all this will be avoided. You need not die like this...”

If she could, her majesty would reveal where they were, but because even the faintest clue of where they were located didn’t exist, she merely stood there, staring deeply into the alicorn’s eyes apologetically.

Celestia nodded solemnly, looked out at her subjects, and waited. As they all fell silent for their ruler, Celestia gulped, turned back towards Chrysalis and placed the rope around her neck while magically removing the collar. The hanging thread was soon constricted, and just like that, Chrysalis was placed over the trap door.

Celestia backed away from the front stage, but found it hard to hold back her own tears. “This day,” she started strong. “We send the guilty away. Permanent as it may be, it will let all know not to threaten our kingdom ever again... You have requested this to be done, and as much as you probably know, I disagree with whatever good may come of it. Still, the many that voted on public death has outweighed the few who disliked the notion.”

Clopping of hooves filled the air as she resumed. “It’s time... Chrysalis?” The queen raised her head to peer over. “You are charged with heartlessly assaulting Equestria and her citizens. In your defense, the ponies hereby find nothing to support your freedom. Discussions turned into full debates between myself and Cadence, along with the others you see before you. Believe it or not, I must disappointedly sentence you the rightful punishment... of death.”

The doctor trotted forward from behind a group of guardians, walked up and onto the stand, reached forward and grasped the lever. He waited along with all the other eager subjects of Canterlot to be given the signal, and end one’s life.

Just in the distance, her majesty spotted the final streak of light disappear behind the mountains. To cope with the noose tightening around her neck, she closed her eyes, lowered her head, and huffed what she was sure to be her final breath.

… And yet, nothing happened. Instead of the sudden sensation of weightlessness overcoming her frame, Chrysalis heard a gasp leave the doctor’s lips. “Wh-what in the world’s going on?!”

She opened her eyes and looked to the left. He stood transfixed, his line of sight locked dead with the sky over the range. As Chrysalis whipped her head in that direction, her jaw dropped at the sight.

Beginning from the very bottom stars, boundary points of azure lines touched each brightly lit point, beginning from the bottom of the jagged edges and reaching all the way, only to stop at the next star and circle around.

It slowly but definitely started to paint the picture of wings, sharp and highly notable. Everypony turned to see the marvel, though as beautiful it might’ve been, it remained just as frightening. Eventually, the first parts were formed clearly. Then, the ambient channel raced nearly to the middle, but stopped well before the center.

As it curved up, Celestia herself had to ask, “What’s going on?”

Rather quickly, the stars that were beginning to resemble dots lined each other up in the symbolic formation of an alicorn. In the heart of the phenomenon, one final, brilliantly blinding star shined the most. Unlike the others, though, that one moved statically. It came closer and closer to the land, until finally, it stopped gleaming so ferociously.

Chrysalis couldn’t contain herself once she realized just who this being was. Touching down right in front of her, an unannounced alicorn princess with a stellar mane stood before the baffled city as though nothing had happened. It was the very same princess she’d seen in the swamp vision just recently.

Celestia approached with an offended expression to question the interruptor. “What’s the meaning of this?!”

Chrysalis gazed at the blue being as she greeted Celestia with a quaint bow. “My name is Luna, but I am not here to speak with you...” She returned to Chrysalis, cleared her throat, and asked, “Are we welcomed?”

For the longest time, Chrysalis couldn’t say a word. Whoever this princess was, she didn’t appear to be acquainted with Celestia. Even though she looked like her, Luna had an odd glow about her, almost as if she didn’t belong in the world.

The queen said nothing. Petrification overtook her will to speak, but even then, she needn’t explain anything. Luna knew well enough what was occurring, even though she didn’t say so at first.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob