Chapters "Chrysalis?! On the Council!?" Luna slammed her hooves on the table. The dawn-white alicorn sitting across from her sighed.
"Luna, this could be the only way of making peace with the changelings." Celestia rubbed her temples. The changelings had been giving them trouble ever since Cadance's wedding, with repeated attacks on small towns being reported.
"Why are we making peace with those bugs anyway?! You know Chrysalis, she'll stab us in the back the first chance she gets!" Luna sat back down and crossed her forelegs. A weary smile crossed her sister's face. "You look awfully cute when you do that."
Luna harrumphed. "Twilight, surely you think this is a bad idea."
Twilight briefly glanced up from the law textbook they kept during meetings for reference. "I don't know, Lulu. An alliance with the changelings would be beneficial to Equestria as a whole. I think you should give it a chance." She smiled warmly. "Maybe you'll like Chrysalis. You didn't even see her during the wedding."
"From what everypony told me, I could figure it out fine."
Twilight and Celestia ignored her. Celestia hovered a quill in golden magic. "Dear Queen Chrysalis...."
Chrysalis sat perched on her throne, staring down at her hive. The throne sat at the top of a stone pillar, allowing her to see the entirety of the luminous green sphere the changelings called home. Little rooms covered the walls, from which changelings darted in and out. It filled the queen with the warm glow of pride when she looked upon the thousands of drones she had at her disposal.
A letter materialized in front of her. Her green glow reached out and snatched it before it could fall. She yanked it open and read it.
Dear Queen Chrysalis,
We understand you have no reason to accept this offer, seeing as we forcibly ejected you from Canterlot the last time you were there
Chrysalis snorted. She continued reading.
but we think it would be beneficial to both parties if you accepted a position on the Equus Council, along with the griffons and Discord. This way you would have a say in all laws passed, therefore avoiding any anti-changeling laws being passed. Please respond if you wish to take up this position, or if you would like to send an ambassador in your place.
Yours truly,
She reread the letter a few times. A place on the Equus Council.....that would be nice. The anti-changeling laws that were passed had been incredibly bothersome, and now she had a chance to get them repealed. That did sound incredibly nice. And the fact still stood that Canterlot was overflowing with love. If she could make it so changelings could legally live in Equestrian cities, then her people would benefit, as well as the ponies, but who cared about them.
She scrawled a message on the back, Yes, I would like the position, thank you very much. , then sent for a messenger.
The four princesses stood at the palace gates, waiting for Chrysalis and her entourage to arrive. Twilight fidgeted. Luna paced, occasionally throwing venomous looks at Celestia. Celestia and Cadance were the pictures of serenity, though you could tell Cadance was hiding fear.
A black alicorn about Twilight's height, along with an entourage of four changelings, touched down. Chrysalis had taken this form so as not to intimidate the princesses. She regarded them all with varying levels of interest, Luna receiving the longest look.
"Allow me to introduce you four to my elite." Chrysalis's voice was smooth as silk, and oddly seductive sounding. "Jade, Reason, Thought, and Forest." The four creatures bowed as Chrysalis said their names.
"We are honored to meet you all." Celestia was the first to speak. The four changelings nodded, then bowed.
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Princess of the Sun." The changeling they recognized as Jade spoke in a raspy voice.
"Changelings can talk?" Twilight blushed. "I'm sorry, Queen Chrysalis. I thought only you could talk out of the changelings."
Chrysalis bristled at this, but spoke anyway. "It is alright, Twilight Sparkle. Only a few of our number know your language, I understand your surprise."
Luna mumbled something under her breath, but Celestia quickly silenced her. "Allow me to show you to your rooms."
They led the changelings and their queen to a secluded guest room, nearest to the east side of the castle. "Here we are." Twilight cast a lovely smile back at their guests. "I assume these preparations will be adequate?"
"They are fine. Thank you very much." It was clear Chrysalis didn't want to talk any longer. Three out of the four princesses left, but Luna stayed, glaring at the changeling queen.
"I know what you're up to. And you won't get away with it on my watch."
"I'm not 'up to' anything, Princess Luna." Chrysalis's neutral look frustrated Luna to no end, and she accidentally-on-purpose slammed the door.
Dinner was an awkward affair, especially since Chrysalis had decided to sit next to Princess Luna. Luna had initially started glaring daggers at the queen in an attempt to get her to move, but had given up.
There wasn't a sound save for the clink and clank of tableware, and the occasional burst of conversation. Eventually, Chrysalis decided to talk to Luna.
"Canterlot is a nice city."
"It is. It's Equestria's capital, you know." Because you attacked it , Luna thought savagely.
"Maybe you could show me around sometime? I'm going to be spending quite a bit of time here."
"Possibly." Luna glanced at the feathered wings at Chrysalis's sides. "Do you fly often?"
"I fly when needed, but I don't fly for fun."
"Maybe we could fly over Canterlot." Luna ventured. "It looks gorgeous during nighttime."
The two began to chat in a hesitant manner, breaking the endless silence.
Author's Note
Edited to make Lulu and Chryssy slightly less friendly with each other and Twily and Celestia not talking about them hooking up.
Chapter Two: Operation Matchmaker
Luna paced in circles atop the tower where she raised her pale moon every single moment Celestia lowered her bright sun. She always enjoyed sitting and admiring her work, but tonight, her mind was focused on something else. She was tense. Her offer to the changeling queen wasn't the smartest. A flight over Canterlot? That monster was no doubt going to backstab all of them, and she'd unwillingly aided her plans!
And yet...maybe she was just trying to help her people. Maybe she actually was a nice...changeling.
She snorted and continued pacing.
A snakelike creature slithered down the tower and began to watch her pace. After a few moments, he asked her, "What's eating you, Lulu?"
She turned to face him. "Don't call me Lulu, Discord. And it's none of your business."
Discord feigned offense, holding a paw to his chest. "Madam, you wound me. You have no problem with Tia calling you Lulu, and talking to her."
"You aren't Tia."
"True that. But I am many other things, and among those things is a decent listener. And I repeat; What's eating you?"
Luna sighed. One of Discord's talents was guilt-tripping her. "I'm trying to wrap my head around why I randomly suggested that me and Chrysalis go for a flight over Canterlot."
"Ah. You know, randomly asking ponies if they want to do something for no real reason is a hallmark of possible friendship."
"We are not, and never will be, friends. We are diplomatic acquaintances. Not that you would know anything about diplomacy."
"So you admit to being acquainted to her."
"Go away, Discord."
He slithered away, throwing one last look at Luna. Luna stared after him for a moment, before resuming her pacing.
Celestia watched Luna pace, sipping tea alongside Twilight, who was reading. This time it was a volume about the various ancient beliefs about love.
"I assume that means you're okay with starting Operation Matchmaker?"
Twilight bit her lip, smiling. "I'm eighty percent on the bandwagon. You have Discord on your side, you barely need me."
"Did somepony say my name?" Discord slunk in from the shadows. Twilight jumped.
"Don't scare me like that." Twilight scooted a little closer to Celestia.
"Sorry." Discord didn't look particularly sorry as he curled up like a snake. "I went to talk to Lulu. She didn't seem to want me there."
Twilight snorted. "What a shocker."
"Don't interrupt. Anyways, she was apparently trying to wrap her head around why she asked Chryssy to go fly with her. She didn't mention a date."
"She didn't mention a date at dinner, either." Twilight piped up. "Maybe tomorrow after the Council meeting Discord could talk to Chrysalis and I could talk to Luna, set up a definite time, and possibly station one of Tia's guards in an indiscreet location to spy on them, then report back to us."
Celestia looked impressed. "Twilight, for someone who's only eighty percent on the bandwagon, that's a nice little plan."
Twilight looked proud of herself. "I take it that's what we're doing, then?"
"Unless someone else can come up with a better plan." The two princesses turned toward Discord, who was messing with a stress ball. He dropped it when he noticed their stares.
"Don't look at me. I destroy plans, not create them. Unless I feel like it."
Celestia and Twilight let out an inward sigh. Twilight looked through the small library that occupied Celestia's walls. "Celly, do you have a book on interspecies relations? I want to see if ponies and changelings have been in relationships before, see what we're up against."
Discord laughed uproariously for a minute or two before Twilight gave him a deadpan glare.
"Oh, you were serious? Sorry, Twilight, but pony/changeling relations are nonexistent. I've looked through history books on occasion, and not once has pony and changeling breeding been mentioned. We're going to have to fly solo on this one."
Twilight looked a bit green at the prospect of having to do something not laid out for her in a book. Celestia rested a wing on her back.
"It'll be fine, love. All we have to do is nudge a few things into place."
Twilight looked up at her lover, the slight increase in confidence evident on her face. She turned to Discord once more.
"Why exactly are we 'shipping' Chrysalis and Luna again?" She made magical air quotes around the word 'shipping'.
"Because they're made for each other. Both emo ex-villains attempting to recover from their less-than-savory pasts. Luna's had more exposure to modern society than Chryssy, so she'd show her around the city, et cetera...and then they live happily ever after! Isn't it simply adorable?" Discord's voice dripped with sarcasm.
Celestia sighed. "This was all my idea, really. I figured Luna could use a friend, or more-than-friend. And like Discord said..."
The corners of Twilight's mouth twitched. "So you sent Chrysalis an offer to join the council just so you could play matchmaker?"
"Well, no. Making peace with the changelings would be a wise political move as well. It's a win/win." Celestia said, smiling thoughtfully while picturing ponies and changelings finally coming to peace.
"But what if Chrysalis and Luna don't get along?" Twilight tilted her head in curiosity.
"Well, we'll just have to make them get along." Discord smiled. Twilight had come to associate that particular smile of his with a Discord in the mood for some major mischief. "All in favor of Operation Matchmaker?" He extended his paw.
Celestia put a single white hoof in the circle. Twilight hesitated. "What if Chrysalis and Luna find out?"
"They won't." Celestia assured her. "We'll be sneaky."
Twilight's face had uncertainty written all over it, but she put her hoof in the circle.
Celestia smiled and floated over some quills, ink, paper, and tea. "We'll have to work out a detailed plan..."
Author's Note
That's right, bitches, Twilestia's back and better than ever.
Chapter Three: Discussions and Dates
Luna walked down the hallway that led to the dining room, so out of it that only the sound of her hooves clopping against the marble floors kept her in the real world.
Normally she slept during the day, with her sister managing affairs while her sun hung, golden and gleaming, in the air. Then, when Celestia lowered the sun and she raised the moon, she would handle affairs while her sister rested.
But during Council month, Celestia had insisted she take her meals during the day with the rest of the Council members. For some socialization reason. She hated Council month.
"Luna, wait up!"
Luna stopped and waited as Twilight ran up to her. "I was hoping we could walk together. I think we're the last ones to get to the dining room."
"You're usually one of the first ones there." Luna remarked, walking alongside Twilight.
"I was up late writing a letter to the girls, and I overslept. I always feel a little lonely during Council month, when I have to stay in Canterlot."
"I understand." Luna murmured absently.
"Luna?" Twilight tapped the Princess of the Night on the shoulder.
"Oh! Sorry, Twilight. Going from nocturnal to diurnal sleep is always a pain." Luna smiled apologetically.
"It's fine. I imagine I'd oversleep the first few days, too." Twilight returned the smile.
They walked alone in silence for the next portion of the trip from the sleeping quarters to the dining room. A few minutes before they reached the door, Twilight mentioned;
"Last night at dinner you suggested to Chrysalis that you and her could go flying sometime. You didn't mention a date." Maybe it was Luna's imagination, but she could have sworn she spotted a drop of sweat run down Twilight's face.
"That's because a suggestion was all it was. I assume if she really wanted to, she would have mentioned a date she could go flying."
"That's true, but maybe she was waiting for you to suggest a date."
More silence, until Luna spoke up. "Why is this such a big deal?"
"I'm not trying to make it into a big deal, Luna." Twilight spoke gently. "I'm just wondering whether you were going to or not. Because I think if you give it time, you two could become friends."
Twilight let the conversation drop after that, and the two entered the dining room.
Breakfast was rather uneventful, with nothing of mention going on except the arrival of the Griffon King, Ravenclaw, who was rather dull, but kindly. Discord managed to catch Chrysalis afterward.
"Hello, Miss Chrysalis."
Chrysalis turned to face the chaos spirit, a quizzical, curious look in her turquoise eyes. "I assume you're Discord?"
"Spirit of Chaos, King of Strife, and general well-meaning prankster around these parts, that's me." He made a hat appear on his head and took it off in a bow. Chrysalis rolled her eyes and continued back to her quarters.
"Hey, wait!" Discord flew after her, stopping next to her. "I wanted to talk to you about something."
Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Last night Luna mentioned going on a flight over Canterlot with you. Did you plan on going?"
Chrysalis thought for a moment, tapping her chin and assuming a rather confused expression. "I did assume we were going to go flying at some point. I would like to get to know the princesses better."
"You didn't set up a specific date." Those who knew Discord well could see right through his rather impressive mask of curiosity and interest, and could spot the turning gears in his scheming mind. "You could just go ahead and tell me and I'll relay it to Luna."
The two were silent as Discord waited for an answer and Chrysalis thought of an answer. Eventually, Chrysalis said, "I was going to talk to Luna about the prospect of a flight with her at dinner. Instead of telling a chaos spirit who says he'll relay it to her but for all I know is going to tell her something ridiculous."
Discord made a hissing noise. "Ooh, you're good. Guess I'll be off, then!" Discord teleported away with a snap of his fingers, a taunting grin on his face. Chrysalis rolled her eyes and kept walking.
The three schemers noticed that Chrysalis and Luna were both rather quiet at dinner. They had sat next to each other again, but weren't saying anything. Twilight nudged Princess Celestia.
"Say something to Luna, or something." Twilight whispered. "We need to kick this part of the plan into gear, Twister's the only one of your guards available, and only tonight!"
"I'm aware of that, Twilight. Be patient, and quit fidgeting. You're drawing suspicion." Twilight then shut up and continued eating. Celestia nudged her sister.
"What?" Luna looked annoyed.
"Aren't you going to talk to Chrysalis?" Celestia raised an eyebrow.
Luna sighed. "Twilight bugged me about that this morning. Yes, I will." And at that very moment, she took a long breath and turned to Chrysalis, blankly staring at the changeling queen. "Excuse me, Queen Chrysalis? I was wondering if you would like to go flying with me after dinner." Chrysalis gave a slow nod. Internally, she agreed. She just wanted to get that flight over with.
"Are you sure?" Luna turned to Celestia and gave her sister a triumphant smirk.
"Yes..." Chrysalis resumed eating.
Discord gave a low whistle. "Didn't know it'd get under her skin that much." He whispered to Princess Celestia.
The princess looked equally surprised. "I didn't, either."
The rest of the meal passed without a fuss. As the castle servants took away the last of the dishes, Luna and Chrysalis both rose, walking out of the hall. Nopony made a move to stop them.
As the pony and the changeling made their way toward the Lunar Wing, where Luna's tower was, Chrysalis examined every inch of the place. No portrait or statue was safe from her keen eyes. Occasionally she would ask where one of them came from, or who made it, and Luna would answer.
"Who are these ponies?"
Luna stopped and turned around. Chrysalis was pointing a hole-ridden hoof at the portrait of their parents, Queen Arendelle and King Galactica. They were at the very spot where the colors gradually became darker, and the architecture more Gothic. The spot where Celestia and Luna - day and night - met. Luna swiped at her eyes.
"Our parents."
"Are they-" Chrysalis began hesitantly, but Luna cut her off.
"They're dead now. And I don't want your pity, I've long since accepted it." She continued walking at a slightly faster pace, Chrysalis hurrying after her.
Luna stopped again at the door to a tall tower in the Lunar Wing. "This is the entrance to my tower, where I raise the moon. It's tall, so we'll get the best view. Only I can open the door." Luna lit her horn, and the door opened, prompting the two to hurry inside. Chrysalis stared upward in amazement. When Luna said tall, she meant tall. The changeling queen wouldn't be surprised if the tower stretched all the way to the heavens.
"You coming?"
Chysalis's gaze flicked back to Princess Luna, who was already a good ways up the flight of stairs that led to the top. "If you're coming, get moving. Don't stand there and gawk."
Chrysalis hurried up the stairs, soon keeping pace with Luna fairly well. They eventually made their way to the top of the tower, Canterlot by night in all its glory sprawled out below them, a dazzling display of light and sound. Chrysalis felt a very slight pang of regret at destroying it.
"It's beautiful."
"This is nothing on old Canterlot, back before the whole Nightmare Moon incident. Sister had the whole city redesigned, new start and all. Even though we didn't live there at the time." Luna smiled ruefully. She stood on the banister. "Now, let us fly."
Chrysalis was a tad nervous. She had never flown solely for recreational purposes until now, and before now she had never flown for more than half an hour at a time. Nonetheless, she didn't want to appear weak, so she got up on the banister as well.
"On the count of three." Luna paused, Chrysalis on tenterhooks. "Three!" Luna shot off into the night.
"Wait!" Chrysalis leapt off and beat her small wings furiously to try and keep up. Curse these tiny things!
They soared around, through, and over the various towers and spires the castle had to offer. Chrysalis had to hand it to Luna - the night really was beautiful. The sky appeared thin and dreamlike, as if Chrysalis could fly right through it and go straight to heaven if she wanted, with the moon a gleaming pearl in the air.
Eventually Luna stopped, and waited for Chrysalis to catch up. The princess looked rather lovely with the moon backlighting her form, her spectral mane waving in a non-existent breeze. She was panting slightly, a look in her eyes only found in a pony that is truly free.
"That was wonderful!" Luna threw her front hooves in the air to emphasize her point.
Chrysalis gave Luna her best deadpan glare, given the circumstances.
"Oh, um, we should get going." Luna turned towards Canterlot, going at a steady pace so Chrysalis could fly alongside her. Luna pointed out various famous locations in the city as they went.
If Canterlot from the top of the tower was beautiful, Canterlot from the skies was bedazzling. A blazing torch of a city, lighting up the mountainside where it stood, the entire place gleamed with a sort of spit-shine beauty you just couldn't get anywhere else. She couldn't imagine why she wanted to convert this thing of beauty into a hive.
"And there's the Royal Orchestra Hall, standing since the Discordian Age." Luna's eyes shone with passion as she described these places and how much they meant to her. Chrysalis's hard-as-diamonds stare she typically wore softened. She really does adore her hometown, and her night.
After about an hour, the two looped back around to the castle, touching down on the balcony of Luna's tower. "That was rather nice." Luna said, nodding to her comrade. "I'd like to do that again some time."
Chrysalis nodded as well. As she headed back to her own room, and settled down to sleep, one thought dominated her mind.
I think I'd like to do that again as well.
Twister watched as Princess Luna flew up to her bedroom, her navy wings steadily beating like a raven's. She unfolded her own wings and flew up to Celestia's chambers. She had a report for the princesses.
Well, and Discord. That snakelike thing creeped her out.
