“Why?” Princess Celestia asked. Queen Chrysalis stood in her room with a ragged look on her face. The room was small, had no guards in it and was locked. Celestia had been enjoying her time when Queen Chrysalis appeared in her room. Princess Celestia had jumped in fright at the sight of the Changeling Queen but now held her glowing horn at the Queen’s neck.
“Why?” Princess Celestia repeated, not taking her eyes off Queen Chrysalis. “You know that coming here you will be sent to trial, then to jail where you will rot like you deserve!”
“I’m dying. My species, my race, we’re dying.” Chrysalis coughed. “We’re on the brink of extinction. We needed food and we were desperate. I’m sorry.”
“Extinction?” Celestia asked and blinked in confusion.
“You don’t seem to realize that there are other species other than your ponies, Celestia. Changelings are an ancient race. We were peaceful beings that fed off of love, until you and your sister gained the throne. Then ponies began to hate us and see us as less than ponies. We were driven out of Equestria. We began to starve. We tried to survive, but slowly we began to die.” Chrysalis explained. “I’m sorry for invading, Equestria.”
“Why didn’t you try to work something out with me, Chrysalis? I would have helped you,” Celestia said and lifted her horn off the dying Queen’s neck.
“Changelings are a proud race. We weren’t sure if we would be fully accepted by the Princess of the race that has been killing us for a long time and begging for help would not have helped us look any better in the eyes of our enemy,” Queen Chrysalis coughed. “I am still so sorry.”
“Is there anything I can do for you? Is there any hope left for your race?” Celestia asked desperately.
“It’s too late,” Chrysalis said as she kneeled to sit on the floor to cough a cough that shook her body. “I came here with one last request. Will you fulfill it for me?”
“Of course.” Celestia nodded.
“Well, it is and I have a request. As a changeling, it is in my nature and pride to die alone. But I have a request. That is why I have come to you. I may not trust you, but I have no other choice.”
“What is it?” Celestia asked Chrysalis who stared at the floor.
“I have… a daughter.” Chrysalis admitted. “I have given her the last of my meal. She is alive and healthy. She is old enough to know how to feed and I told her I am sending her to you. I have told her that you are my sister. Will you take care of her?”
“I didn’t know that you had a daughter.” Celestia said softly.
“I had many children, before they died.” Chrysalis said angrily with another cough. “Our lack of food has not made it easy for them. However, my youngest has survived.”
“What’s her name?”
“Heart Felt.” Chrysalis said and started to cough again and this time when she stopped, it left her shaking. “Heart Felt, dear?”
Heart Felt appeared in a green zap of teleportation. She was a filly, but she sported a long pink mane that was long curly. She had light pink eyes and a hard shell that covered the back of her like all changelings, except it was pink. Her light pink wings buzzed as she quickly zipped behind her mother. She peeked out at Celestia with her huge pink eyes.
“This is your Aunt Celestia, Hearty. Say hi.” Chrysalis said in a sweet motherly tone that surprised Celestia. Heart peeked out from behind Chrysalis and smiled.
“Hi.” She said cheerfully.
“That’s right. You’re going to be staying with her for a while.” Chrysalis said.
“For how long?” She asked in an adorable voice. She stared at Chrysalis with huge adorable eyes that made Celestia want to hug the changeling filly. She restrained herself.
“Until I come back.” She said and began to cough again and collapsed. Heart’s ears drooped.
“You’re never coming back, are you?” She asked. “You’ve been coughing for days now ever since Tubby got sick. Everychangeling has been getting sick except me. Am I going to get sick too?”
“General Tubby was a good changeling. He got sick for another reason. I’ll be better in no time.” Chrysalis lied and coughed again. “I want you to stay with Aunt Celestia and be good. I’ll come back for you. You can’t get sick. I protected you with a spell.”
“Ok.” Heart said and nuzzled Chrysalis’s side. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Chrysalis said. “Now, I’ve put all your things over there.”
Heart and Celestia turned to see farthest corner filled with two suitcases and a teddy bear. Heart ran over to it in glee as Chrysalis looked up at Celestia.
“Be good to her. Please,” Chrysalis pleaded. “Teach her to live a normal life as the last changeling. I want her to be happy. She can’t get what I get. I’ve made sure of that. But I want her to be loved. One day, you must tell her that I’m never coming back. I’ll let you decide when that day is.”
“I’ll do my best.” Celestia said as she watched Heart Felt talk to her teddy.
“I never particularly trusted you, Celestia. But I want her to be happy.” Chrysalis said and bowed her head. “So I may die in peace.”
“I will take care of her. I promise.”
“Now, I am able to go to a place where I may die while my ancestors watch over me.” Chrysalis said. “Now I will die in peace.” Chrysalis stood up slowly and looked over at Heart Felt.
“Goodbye Heat Felt.”
“Bye Mommy.” Heart said as she turned around. “See you when you get back.”
“See you.” Chrysalis said and disappeared in a flash of green light. Celestia stared at the spot where Chrysalis was. She looked back to Heart who was grinning up at Celestia.
Why would Chrysalis entrust Heart Felt to her? It would only make sense that she was the only pony Chrysalis knew if changelings were not exactly social creatures, but why her? Why not a random pony off the street? Perhaps Heart Felt was a bit different from regular changelings. But how? Was she a trap? Her instincts told her no and that Chrysalis really had died. Still, something was off about Heart Felt. She was different somehow. No. She had to clear her thoughts. Nothing was wrong here. Nothing at all...
“Heart Felt? What kind of room do you like?” Celestia asked as she floated the young changeling’s things into the air. She took in a long breath and looked down at the adorable changeling who seem quite interested in everything.
“A room with a view.” Heart said shyly. She hopped over to Celestia who opened her bedroom door. “And a lot of ceiling space.”
“I know the perfect place.” Celestia said. “Follow me.”
Heart Felt followed Celestia outside the room as the Princess reluctantly shut the door behind her.
