Epilogue: What You Leave Behind

Chrysalis swept into the Senate with an air of confidence, her state robes fluttering out behind her, and sat in her accustomed place. “What did I miss?” she asked her two guards, who had been watching the proceedings for her.

“Well,” one of them said uncomfortably. “It looks like old man Cator's head is about to explode. He's been shouting thunder and glaring lightning for about five minutes, but I think he's coming around to the meat of the issue.”

The Queen let her gaze wander over the floor. Indeed Cator was standing in the speaker's spot and before him a white-faced Seianor looked like he wanted nothing more than to flee and hide out in the farthest reaches of Zebraca. Even the rest of the senators looked like they were scared for their lives.

“But Praetor,” Seianor pleaded with his hands spread, that same subservient posture he had used to try and mollify Chrysalis not so long ago. “The information I provided, …”

“Was rubbish!” Cator shouted with a red face. “Two of our best agents have been arrested after starting a food fight in the streets of Manehatten! Years of infiltration wasted, when our man inside the United Oats Corporation groped the breasts of the chairmare's daughter, the sister of his cover identity I might add, during a board meeting!”

“But, …” Seianor still tried to intercede, but Cator went on relentlessly.

“And the spy ring we had in the Canterlot Royal Guard was completely exposed, when they asked the Duchess of Trottingham how much she wanted for the night!”

Seianor was almost crying at this point. When Cator spoke at full volume, there was little any politician could do against him. “I … I received some bad reports … The person you should be blaming …”

Cator slammed his fist onto the stand before him. “I don't care if your informant was Princess Celestia herself! You should have checked those reports before presenting them to the Senate! This is your responsibility!”

One of the guards bent down to Chrysalis and whispered in her ear. “You knew all along that he was gonna try and take the full credit, didn't you, my Queen?”

Chrysalis smiled faintly. “Of course. I also knew that he was so full of his own cleverness that he wouldn't notice how I set him up for his fall. Even if he did try to shift the blame on me now, he'd only make it look like he was covering his own ass.”

The guard shivered. “You are truly terrifying, your majesty.”

She said nothing, but flashed him a vicious grin.

Cator went on to have Seianor removed from the Senate floor, deaf to his pleas. At one point, while being dragged away by the guards, he shot a pleading glance at Chrysalis. She simply smiled and waved at him.

The old statesman at the speaker's desk had calmed down and looked at Chrysalis. “Your majesty. Ninety percent of our agents have either been captured or exposed. Celestia will not let this stand. I'm afraid Equestria will declare war on us any day now.”

Chrysalis stood up and looked over the Senate majestically. Time for the sucker punch. “I'm afraid you are right, Praetor. Now that it has come to this, we only have one choice. Strike at Equestria before they can strike at us. My mother and grandmother had the highest respect for this noble Senate and would no doubt seek your wise counsel.” She made a pregnant pause to let that sink in, then she put on a carefully selected face of sheer disgust. “I on the other hand am not above saying: I bucking told you so, you old fools!”

There was murmuring among the senators. Even though some of them seemed angry, none of them seemed to have the guts to respond to her bold declaration. After all, the only thing that could safe them now was the Royal Army that was commanded by the Queen alone. Even Cator lowered his head. “What would you have us do, your majesty?”

“What needs to be done,” she stated plainly. “I am the only one who can resolve this crisis. We must show strength and unity in the face of the Equestrian threat. I can not do that, if I have to run back to the Senate for approval for every decision I make. It'll make us look weak in the face of the enemy. I therefore ask this Senate to confer unto me all political rights concerning foreign afairs, internal security and budget allocation until this situation is resolved.”

Now some of the walking corpses cried out, trying to keep their political power intact, but remarkably Cator held up his hands for silence. “Fellow members of the Senate. You know me well and that I have seldom seen eye to eye with the Queen. However in this situation I must support her request. A vote will be held to grant her majesty emergency powers to resolve this war.”

A smile played around Chrysalis' lips. Her biggest opponent had just given her a free pass. Now it was only a matter of time. “I shall await the Senate's decision in my quarters,” she said and strode out of the room.

* * *

Just like always after a Senate hearing, Chrysalis had retired to her apartments, where the servants tended to her every need. She was receiving a massage, when Cator entered the room. “That was quick, Praetor,” she greeted him neutrally.

“There was no need to draw out the discussions,” he responded just as calmly. “The Senate has voted you unlimited emergency powers to deal with Equestria, though with only a slight majority.”

Chrysalis smiled. “I couldn't care less how slim the margin was. The important thing is, I'm not gonna have them interfere with my business for a while.”

One of guards stepped forward and knelt before his Queen. “Should I assemble the General Staff, your majesty?”

But she raised one hand and shook her head. “Just send them up to the border and have them do some exercises. They are not to invade without my express permission.”

The guard blinked. “Your majesty?”

Chrysalis glared at him. “Did you not hear my order? Now begone, I must speak with the Praetor in private.”

“Yes, your majesty,” he replied, still a little befuddled and left the room. Then Chrysalis summarily dismissed the rest of her servants until only she and Cator were left in the room.

No longer having to keep up appearances, the elder statesman relaxed his shoulders visibly and spoke with a smile. “So you're not attacking Equestria?”

The Queen grinned. “Not yet, anyway. Equestria can wait. It'll still be there. I want some time to strengthen my power. While the senators still think there's gonna be a war, I can deal with them one by one. The Senate is finished. They don't know Celestia like I do. Even with our agents exposed and our armies marching up and down the border, she's never gonna make the first move unless we actually invade.”

Cator chuckled. “Brilliant. You used Seianor to get rid of the Senate and now your rule is absolute. I daresay future generations of historians will call this strategem the 'Chrysalis Gambit', sacrificing your agents abroad to strengthen your power at home.”

Chrysalis stretched her hands above her head. “I am horrible, aren't I? What are the lives of a few of my agents compared to getting rid of those meddlesome fools in the Senate?” Then she cast a sly, side-long glance at the Praetor. “History will also not forget that it was the humble Praetor's plan in the first place, even though he did a magnificent job of playing the Queen's greatest political adversary.”

He bowed mockingly. “Your servant in everything, my Queen. I'm too old to care how history will judge me. I just have one question. Will I see the invasion of Equestria in my lifetime?”

She pondered that for a moment. “I'm not sure. I told Celestia she'd see me coming. But that might be with a diplomatic corps at my back rather than a battalion.”

Cator raised an eyebrow. “Oh? That would be one for the history books.”

“Hm, perhaps. But they say 'Make love, not war.' The ponies certainly have enough of it to spread it around, as I've witnessed. I'm gonna need access to the senatorial archives, before I make my decision.”

“Ah.” He nodded his head slowly as her plan dawned on him. “I see. You're planning to bring about a second 'Golden Age' by forging a pact with the ponies like in the old days.” He sounded only slightly sarcastic.

“Would that be so wrong?” she asked honestly.

“Not at all,” he admitted. “I've studied the matter myself and it does sound like paradise, a beneficial trade for both ponies and Changelings.” Cator paused, stroking his long beard thoughtfully. “And yet a lasting peace with Equestria doesn't sound like you, Chrysalis.”

She closed her eyes, imagining a future only she could see at the moment. “True. But I didn't arrive where I'm at today by being predictable.” Opening her eyes, there was a fire behind them that seemed to be able to take on destiny itself. “The Hive's future starts now.”

“And Celestia? I would think she'd have a hard time trusting you.”

Chrysalis took a deep breath and then began to laugh. “It doesn't matter what she wants.” With an amused look and her voice dripping with malice she went on. “Either by treaty or strength of arms, I'm gonna make Celestia my bitch. And she's gonna like it, when I slowly fuck her up the ass.”

Cator chuckled, although he wasn't quite sure whether his Queen was speaking figuratively or literally. Either one or both were possible with her, after all. “Now I'm relieved. For a moment there I had thought you had gone soft on me.”

She feigned a shocked outrage. “Me?” Then she flashed her fangs at him. “Never.”

The End.

Author's Note

Alright. Bring on the M. Night Shyamalan jokes. I know you wanna!

A big thanks once more to Overlord-Flinx for coming up with the initial premise! And thank you, dear readers, for your support, up-votes and comments!