It was late. Far too into Luna’s night for the three to venture any further, let alone to Canterlot. Chrysalis and Luna was thoroughly spent, and required rest above anything else. Just before leaving Coad’s sanctuary, though, they made sure to collect plenty of fruits for their starving stomachs. Neither had eaten in hours, not that Queen Chrysalis could.

For all that time searching, they passed by some berries and edible foods. Luna didn’t hesitate, wishing to retain whatever energy she could, but Chrysalis refused. Luna had lost count of exactly how many times she offered an apple or some grapes to the changeling along their route; Chrysalis simply wasn’t having it.

This was only because of the paranoia, and stress she was going through at the time. Regardless of her personal health, Chrysalis couldn’t eat, not without knowing if her child was dead or alive. It wasn’t until after finding Coad, while trotting along towards the exit of the jungle, and even after they set up camp, she was able to calm down and enjoy a few morsels, but Luna could tell she was still troubled.

With what minor magic she was able to muster after getting some nourishment into her system, Princess Luna took the liberty of bringing forth a bright fire within a clearing, a pair of low leveled tents, and got to work on her companion’s head injury. Not only did this provide her the chance to bond with the changeling more, but it also made it possible for Luna to ask, “Are you… alright?”

Coad, who’d been on her mother’s back the whole time, turned around and looked at Luna. She appeared nothing like in the dream. No cuts or bruises, no missing eyes, and for the most part, a well treated, blue mane. It matched her black coat well, and she looked like any normal changeling child, if only a bit more playful. She even had some of her mother’s hair in her mouth.

Luna smirked, giggled a bit, and said, “No, not you.”

Chrysalis turned her head around to kiss Coad once more, then returned her line of sight to Luna who was still healing her. Though she behaved happy when attending to Coad, Chrysalis was still hurting inside. “It’s my other children…”

Luna frowned, then took a deep breath. “I should’ve known… Of course you’re still pained by that loss. I would be, too…”

Chrysalis looked away, then muttered, “I don’t want to talk about it.” As she laid her head down on her hooves, Queen Chrysalis closed her eyes and said, “It’s been a long day. Let’s just get some rest.”

Even though Luna wished to provide her words of comfort, she reluctantly nodded, looked over her friend’s fully healed injury, and returned to her own bed to rest up for the upcoming travel. A few times during the night, Coad awoke to adjust herself, waking Chrysalis. That only happened a couple of times, though.

The remainder of the evening was filled with blank dreams. Both Chrysalis and Luna slept, sure. But, neither of them dreamed. It was bitter darkness, no nightmares or fallacies, but for her majesty, that was better than anything. It let her know she’d forgiven herself, and though the guilt of her past actions would never truly leave, they’d refrain from giving her such traumatic imaginings during the night for good.

The morning’s journey to Canterlot was quiet except for Coad. She kept jumping off her mother’s back to scurry around and play, only to be lifted back up and returned to where Chrysalis believed she’d be most safe. By the time they all reached the edge of town, Luna decided not to bring her new friend through the cities, but instead, lead them to the back entrance.

Only delegates and guards, princesses and royal blood ponies were allowed to use this special means of direct passage into the castle halls. It was the best way to avoid attention, and with it being so early in the day, most of the royal guards would be busy patrolling. As they entered, unavoidably, the two stallions keeping watch dropped their jaws once seeing who was trotting along the drawbridge.

“P-Princess Luna?”

“And Chrysalis!”

The princess raised a hoof, commanding them to lower their rising spears. “At ease. She’s a friend.”

The leading commander came closer. “How do we know this isn’t a trick?”

Luna rolled her eyes. “Because, does thou honestly think the queen herself would come unarmed, without soldiers, and with an infant?”

He looked from her to his lower ranking shield guard, then crept around her highness towards the changelings. Seeing the state Chrysalis was in, and knowing how weak she probably was, this would’ve odiously been the worst form of sneak attacking the changelings would’ve ever attempted. He sighed, “Well…”

Luna walked by, and Chrysalis followed, her head low, and her expression worried. Another thing that made it clear to them that this was no trick was Luna’s ability to magically open the door. Once it loudly creaked open to allow them entry, her highness explained, “Nopony but myself, guards, and my sister can do that. Now, we must be on our way…”

The leader watched them disappear into the inside darkness while his shield guard voiced, “Something about this… doesn’t sit well with me.”

The other closed the door, and said, “There’s nothing we can do.”

The castle innards were exactly as Queen Chrysalis remembered. Elegant, regal, and welcoming. Hardly anypony but unsuspecting maids and gentlecolts wandered the halls. None paid much mind to the two except when seeing Chrysalis. Though they were too busy with daily chores to wonder about her, a few did give second glances.

Her majesty came closer to Luna, low to the ground, just as she was when being directed in her dream by Celestia. “Mmh, they’re staring…”

Luna remained strong, walking tall with her head faced forward. “It’s alright. You’re a guest here. Nothing bad will happen to you.”

“But, I’m nervous.”

Luna looked over her shoulder. “I’m the same way. I’m scared, Chrysalis. Scared my sister will not meet eye to eye with me, but we must stay strong.”

They took one last turn down a wide hall, and came across intricately designed double doors ascending high above. Luna sighed, and placed her hoof on the surface, but waited a moment. While she did, Chrysalis snatched her child to place her on the floor. “Now, Coad. You need to be on your very best behavior for Princess Celestia. Okay?”

Luna stood still, and asked, “She can understand you?”

Chrysalis huffed. Getting to eye level, she said, “I believe she does. Even though she might not know what I’m saying, I think she can figure out what I’m telling her.”

Princess Luna smirked, then said, “Well… here we go.”

The doors slowly and silently slid to show Princess Celestia herself sitting at the throne, looking over a fairly sizable stack of papers, and appearing unaffected by them entering. Chrysalis hid behind Luna with her kid happily walking in between her mother’s hooves.

“Ah, Luna. Good. I was worried about you,” Celestia said, not looking away from her work. “Where were you?”

“Getting a friend, somepony you might know…”

Celestia looked up with a smile, but still hadn’t seen who Luna was talking about. She began walking over while asking, “Well, who is it? I’d be delighted to see an…” She stopped speaking momentarily, walked along the side of her sister at a distance, and soon enough, saw who Luna had brought. “Old… friend…”

It became awkwardly silent after that. Chrysalis sat behind Luna holding tightly to her child. Luna looked unmoved by all this, but Celestia was profoundly shocked to see the ruler of the changeling race within her walls of all places. “Sister,” Luna began. “You know Queen Chrysalis, right?”

Celestia nodded, her mouth open ajar. “Yes… but, what’s she doing here? Have I not told you about her infamous crimes?”

Luna motioned away from Chrysalis so Celestia could get a better look at her. A moment passed, Celestia taking in what she was seeing. She could plainly make out every scar, bump, mud stain and bruise on her majesty’s body. “What happened to her?” Celestia asked timidly.

Luna walked up to her sister, grabbed her hoof, and lead Princess Celestia to the back room to explain the situation in full. Chrysalis was left there with her child while the two sisters discussed, even argued about this. After only a few minutes, fifteen at most, Celestia and Luna returned from the door across the way.

The sun princess sat down before Chrysalis, looking at her child, and asked, “Is what Luna tells me true?”

“... Yes.”

She nodded, looked over at Luna, then back at Chrysalis to say, “Then, I must right the wrong I’ve done.”

The queen looked up hesitantly. “Huh?”

“... I’ve caused something unforgivable.” Celestia blinked a tear away, letting it slide down her cheek. “It wasn’t directly my fault, but with the scouts acting under my rule, it falls to my will. I never intended this to happen, but it did. So, I have a responsibility to uphold.”

Luna kept her posture. “And I shall do everything in my power to help as well.”

“You see, Chrysalis. If your story is true, then I am solely at fault for causing this… I don’t want to call it a genocide, but that’s exactly what it was.” She breathed, then continued. “Under my roof, you shall be considered an ally. I’m not sure how we’ll cope with the whole love thing, but I’ll find a way.”

Luna stood to come close and sat with the group. “I can help with this. I’ve already developed a certain liking towards Queen Chrysalis. With time, perhaps, so will some of the guards.”

Celestia agreed, “That would be helpful, but Chrysalis…”

The mare looked hopeful. “Y-yes?”

“You need to remember, this is only temporary… And, the citizens will no doubt be confused. That is why instead of delaying the inevitable, I’m going to confess this change of events tomorrow through my personal use of the equestrian tabloid.”

Chrysalis gulped, and asked, “But… are you sure that’s such a good idea?”

Celestia looked out at a nearby window, walked up to it and gazed outward at a few ponies walking along the streets. “They’ll understand. They trust my judgement, and when I inform them of what we, the ponies have done to you, no one will dispute nor argue my decision.”

Chrysalis looked at Luna, and then back at the approaching sister, and asked, “What do you need of me in return?”

Celestia shook her head. “You act as if you owe me for this. I have broken lives by being so foolish, to allow my ponies to hurt you so. It is I who owe you. Rest assured, those that did these unspeakable acts, and separated you from your kin, killed them in the process… Well, let’s just say, we kept records.”

Chrysalis asked, “... What will happen to them?”

Celestia looked down, and said, “We can’t go around executing, for that was outlawed so, very long ago. Many were stripped of their places when we found out about them beating and abusing those that they managed to find. Here I thought most had stopped such treatment, but according to you and my own sister, that isn’t the case.”

Luna chimed in, “Those that had been assigned to seek out any surviving changelings have undoubtedly been packing together over the months. We’ve been getting false reports claiming that no changelings were found. We know now that those were falsified, though, as we suspected all along.”

Celestia brought forth a parchment list, on it containing various names that were assigned to the Everfree Forest camps, and other areas. “All of these ponies will be brought back for questioning, and needless to say, will be placed through a magical lie detector test.”

Chrysalis blinked. “You think they’ve been secretly hunting down and killing my subjects? Keeping this from you? I thought that’s what you ordered!”

Celestia averted her head, and said, “I commanded them to bring changelings in. I never issued the order to assault, and I certainly would never have one of my supposedly loyal guards kill another, no matter the circumstances.”

Chrysalis became even more emotional, letting her tears escape. “Why…? What’s the purpose, Celestia? Was what I did really so horrible that they had to destroy all I had?!”

Celestia could barely fight her own building tears, and had to bite her bottom lip. “I… cannot excuse their behavior, and those who were in cahoots with the traitors will be punished. I'm unsure on what I'll be doing about that, but as for you… and Coad, was it?” Chrysalis nodded. "You two... s-should..."

She turned around, unable to keep herself together. Luna placed her hoof on the queen’s shoulder to direct her and the young one out of the throne room while saying, “Follow me to your room, please.”

Just before the three left Celestia, she had one last thing to say. “Chrysalis…” The changeling mother stopped before exiting through the double doors, faced her ear towards Princess Celestia and heard her say, “I’m sorry…” Shortly after, they left the alicorn to her work.

Author's Note

Coauthored with RainbowBob