To Love and Forgive
Chapter 1
The Attack
It has been roughly a month since Cadence and Shining Armor, with Twilight Sparkle and her friends, have saved the Crystal Empire. Today they are returning to Canterlot to discuss the people’s wish of having them be their new King and Queen of the empire.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit much? Going from being the Captain of the Guard to the King of an empire?” Shining asked his wife as they approached Canterlot.
“It certainly is quite a jump, which is why we have to talk about it with Auntie Tia before we tell the Crystal Ponies if we’ll accept” Cadence assured her husband. “I don’t think I could handle being a Queen, being a Princess is enough of a hassle” Cadence smiled though as she spoke her mind.
“Either way hopefully Princess Celestia can give us advice” Shining turned his head towards the castle smiling as they grew closer. However once they grew closer, something suddenly caught their eyes.
“Shining doesn’t there seem to be…a lot of people outside of the castle?” Cadence asked squinting her eyes.
“Yeah, though who are they?” Shining was looking as well until it finally dawned on him. “Cadence those are changelings!”
Indeed it was. Standing and sitting in the front courtyard and into the street in front of the castle was roughly 2000 changelings. However both quickly noted that all of the changelings were women and children and that the guards had surrounded them.
“Why are there only women and children? Where are the men?” Cadence looked all around the crowd then to her husband.
“I don’t know, but let’s ask one of the guards” Shining Armor then approached one of the guards, who quickly turned and saluted to him.
“Welcome back Captain of the Guard” the soldier addressed him.
“At ease soldier. Where did all these changelings come from? Does Princess Celestia or Luna know about this?” Shining asked.
“Yes sir. These people came through the front gates of Canterlot being lead by Queen Chrysalis” the soldier answered. “She came holding a white flag and requested to speak with Princess Celestia. We surrounded her with armed guards and lead her to meet with the Princesses” the soldier answered.
“Are they in the audience chamber?” Cadence asked and the soldier nodded.
“Thank you soldier, come on Cadence! Let’s go see what’s going on!” Shining said grabbing his wife’s hand and lead her into the castle. Soon the two of them arrived into the audience chamber, with Celestia standing at her throne, Luna standing next to her, and Chrysalis facing the two of them surrounded by armed guards. Cadence quickly noticed though that Chrysalis’ legs were shaking! And she looked as if she was about to pass out!
“Cadence! Shining Armor!” Luna quickly noticed them causing everyone to turn torwards them.
“Aunt Celestia! Aunt Luna! What’s going on? Why are there changelings here?” Cadence asked looking to them. Then she looked to Chrysalis who was literally panting.
“B-Because…m-my people…n-need…” however before Chrysalis could say anything, her legs gave out and she fell to the ground. The guards stood back, preparing their weapons as they looked to Chrysalis on the ground. Cadence however just groaned and rolled her eyes.
“Move! I can help her!” Cadence said pushing her way through. Her kind side always came out even when it was a former enemy of hers in need of help.
“Cadence that’s Chrysalis! She attacked us at our wedding!” Shining called out.
“And she came with a white flag and is exhausted. Do unto others Shining” Cadence scolded with a smile. “Changelings feed on love, so maybe if I give her some of my love…” Cadence then closed her eyes and leaned down, resting her horn against the changeling queen’s. Soon Cadence’s horn began to glow and she poured some of her love Directly into Chrysalis.
“N-Nnng…” Chrysalis’ eyes fluttered open, and she looked over to find Cadence smiling down at her. Chrysalis however blushed brightly when she saw her, and stood up, looking away to hide her blush. “Th-Thank you…” she said looking away.
“You’re welcome. Don’t think you’re off the hook though” Cadence said with a smile. Chrysalis however didn’t respond and looked right back to Celestia and Luna.
“Now that you are back on your feet, tell me Queen Chrysalis why have you come today?” Celestia asked looking to the Changeling queen.
“Desperation Princess Celestia. My people are on the verge of extinction” Chrysalis answered causing everyone to stare at her in disbelief.
“What do you mean? When you tried to invade there were thousands of changelings attacking!” Luna stated.
“Yes. The last 2000 men of our species” Chrysalis answered them. “When Princess Cadenza and Shining Armor expelled us from Canterlot, none of them survived” Cadence gasped going wide eyed, her husband just staring in disbelief.
“T-That can’t be right! Something else must have happened!” Shining Armor tried to defend Cadence and himself.
“The blast was specifically for changelings. We were sent flying such a distance that only I could have, and only I survived” she said looking right at them. “However luckily I was able to store your love and all of the love my soldiers had after they died until I could return to the hive” Chrysalis looked back to the Princesses.
“Then you and your people are in a very desperate situation. Your children are too young to breed and you are a species of only women” Celestia said with a sigh.
“Like I said Princess, we are on the verge of extinction. I come to you out of desperation” Chrysalis then knelt before them. “I will not ask for forgiveness, I did what I thought was right for my people, and was horribly wrong. Now all the men of our society are dead because of me” Chrysalis then looked up to Celestia and Luna. “Do with me what you will, but please help my people. If you wish to punish me for the attack, go on ahead. But remember none of your people died, and only 2000 of mine are left” Chrysalis then turned to look at Cadence, who looked away from the queen.
“If I may ask Chrysalis what happened to your reserves? Surely you changelings would have had enough to ration them out, especially after you took the last of the love your soldiers had” Luna asked.
“You’re right Princess Luna. We had enough reserves stored in our crystals to last us fifteen years. However, out of nowhere we were attacked” Chrysalis then looked down. “This beast was a black unicorn in steel armor, with a mane of black flame, and glowing green and red eyes!” Chrysalis gritted her teeth as she remembered the attack. “Because of him fifteen years of love was gone! He stole every single drop of love our crystals in the hive had!” Chrysalis growled out.
“That sounds like King Sombra! But we defeated him a month ago!” Shining piped up. “When did this attack happen?!” Shining asked.
“Two weeks ago. Ever since then I’ve had to feed my people with my love alone, exhausting myself to the point of collapsing as you saw” she answered looking to Shining.
“Something’s wrong…if Sombra attacked you then, where could her be now?” Cadence asked rubbing her chin in thought.
“RIGHT HERE…” a voice suddenly boomed out inside of the throne room.
“Where did that come from?! Is Sombra here?!” Luna asked looking around.
“That bastard! He followed us! He followed my starving people!” Chrysalis cursed looking around.
“INDEED I DID…AFTER ALL, YOUR CRYSTALS FILLED WITH LOVE GAVE ME MORE POWER THAN BEFORE! AND NOW I WANT MORE!” finally Sombra’s form appeared before them.
“Sombra! You should have been destroyed by the Crystal heart!” Cadence glared at him.
“A SMALL PIECE OF ME SURVIVED, AND I WAS ABLE TO LIVE AGAIN! NOW, TO DESTROY THE PRINCESSES AND RULE EQUESTRIA!” Sombra growled out as he charged towards Luna and Celestia drawing his sword.
“I won’t let you!” Cadence flapped her wings and shot out in front of him, putting up a protective barrier to stop him.
“HA HAHA! WEAK!” he growled out and Cadance’s barrier was shattered. Cadance then went wide eyed as she saw Sombra’s sword being thrust at her. However she was suddenly pushed out of the way by Shining Armor, and looked up to see the sword of King Sombra stab through his chest.
“SHINING!!!” she screamed out as she fell to the ground, seeing her husband impaled on Sombra’s sword.
“N-Ngh…Y-You won’t…h-hurt them!” Shining gagged and coughed up blood as he glared at Sombra.
“FOOLISH BOY…YOU DIED FOR NOTHING!” Sombra grinned as he twisted the sword in Shining’s chest causing him to scream out. Sombra however was stopped as he suddenly felt something impale him from behind. “W-WHAT?!” Sombra gagged out and looked back, seeing Chrysalis had grabbed one of the guard’s swords and shoved the blade through him from behind.
“THIS IS FOR MY PEOPLE!” she growled out as she shoved the blade further and twisted it herself. Luna and Celestia had already descended to either side of Sombra, and Shining had reached forward to grab Sombra.
“Y-You’re not going anywhere!” Shining smirked as blood trickled out of his mouth.
“Sombra! For your crimes against the people of the Crystal Empire, Changelings, and Equestria, we hereby sentence you to death!” Celestia growled out as her horn glowed.
“And this time we’ll make sure every last piece of you is destroyed!” Luna growled out and both shot their magic out to the trapped king stuck between Chrysalis and shining armor.
“NOOOOOO!!!!!” Sombra screamed out as he was destroyed, and this time none of him existed, not even the sword he carried. Shining armor then fell backwards onto the ground and his blood poured out of him.
“SHINING!” Cadence whimpered out as she quickly got to her husband’s side. Chrysalis knelt down by him as well.
“I’m sorry, I should have realized he was following us” Chrysalis lamented.
“Y-You were worried for your people. A-And he’s dead now…so it’s all right” shining said with a smile and looked over to Cadence who had tears streaming down her face.
“Shining…” she whispered and he just smiled up to her.
“D-Don’t worry Cadence…w-we’ll see each other again someday…p-plus it’s what I get for what I did to the changelings…” he whispered. Cadence just remained silent sniffling as she held her husband. “T-Take care of her and your people” Shining said looking to Chrysalis, who just looked confused, then nodded. “Cadence…I love you…” he whispered.
“I-I love you too…” Cadence whispered back smiling, her husband smiling and closing his eyes, falling limp as he died in her arms. Cadence then clung tightly to her husband and bawled, tears streaming down her face as she held onto him. Chrysalis just extended her hand and rested it on Cadence’s back, knowing she could do little to comfort her. Celestia actually shed a few tears as well, and Luna looking saddened as well as the Captain of the Guard lay dead.
“Today a hero has fallen protecting his country, and the one he loved…” Luna announced and walked over to Chrysalis. “For the evening we’ll bring food and bedding for the Changelings to rest outside. Tonight we must mourn for our comrade” Luna told Chrysalis who just looked up and nodded. She then stood up and Luna walked her towards the door.
“We’ll discuss what must be done for the changelings after then” Chrysalis stated as she walked, looking to Cadence as she sat there holding her husband. She could feel pain in her chest as she watched the heartbroken Cadence. Chrysalis wondered why she cared, but for some reason she felt she needed to comfort the Princess of Love. However she knew that wasn’t for the best.
Roughly a week and a half had passed since the death of Shining Armor. A funeral was held for him and many people had shown up for it. Twilight of course was bawling at the loss of her brother, being comforted by her friends. Cadence was silent throughout the service until she had spoken for his eulogy. Either way all of Canterlot was in mourning as well as the Crystal Empire for the loss of Shining Armor, remembered as the hero he was for saving the Princesses.
During this time the changelings were given a temporary place to stay outside of Canterlot. They were given beds water and food, and were allowed to feed on only the guards in rotating shifts for love. Chrysalis herself was staying with her people letting the people of Canterlot and Princesses have their mourning.
Current Day…
Chrysalis was now walking through the halls of Canterlot Castle again to meet with Princess Celestia and Luna. Though as she rounded a corner, she bumped right into Princess Cadence.
“O-Oh I’m so sorry” Cadence said looking up to Chrysalis, then she blushed and looked away.
“N-No it’s all right…” Chrysalis said blushing and rubbed her head. “Cadenza…I’m sorry for your loss…if it wasn’t for my people your husband would be alive…” Chrysalis lamented.
“No I don’t blame you…if anything I blame myself” Cadence whispered. “I-I shouldn’t have jumped in front of Sombra like that…i-if it wasn’t for me S-Shining would still…” Cadence suddenly felt the tears build up and began to cry. Chrysalis immediately reacted, and wrapped her arms around Cadence pulling her into her arms. Cadence went wide-eyed as she was held, finding it odd Chrysalis was trying to comfort her.
“Don’t blame yourself. Shining wouldn’t want you to keep blaming yourself for what happened. He would want you to mourn for him and move on” Chrysalis assured her, even if she was a little blunt.
“B-But…I-I miss him…” Cadence whispered and just accepted Chrysalis embrace, leaning into her shoulder, and crying onto her shoulder as she was held.
“I know you do…” Chrysalis whispered and just let Cadence cry. Chrysalis wasn’t exactly sure why, but…she enjoyed this closeness. She even felt butterflies in her stomach as she held the princess of love.
Heavens, what is happening to me?