Set the Stage -Prologue 1-
The large, curtained stage was surrounded by a loud, roaring crowd. Its backdrop was the imposing and beautiful Canterlot palace. On the stage, just as imposing and beautiful, stood Princess Celestia.
She waited, ever patiently, for the crowd to settle down. Most of the ponies had no idea why they were here - some had heard rumors, though. That their princess was pregnant, or getting married - or that she was dying for some reason. Even things like a possible war had been brought up, at one point or another. At the very front of the crowd, stood three very important figures - None other than Princess Twilight, Princess Cadence, and the Captain of the Royal Guard. They all looked equally as confused as the rest of the ponies gathered there, and seemed to be whispering amongst themselves. On the far right of the stage stood Princess Luna, looking deeply upset. She was looking everywhere but at her sister on the center stage.
The crowd became blanketed by a sudden hush as the curtains, ever so slowly, began to part. Celestia looked over her shoulder, and smiled. She turned and walked several feet to her left, to allowing somepony else to take center stage.
From between the curtains, a beautiful mare emerged. Her fur was a deep grey, her eyes a piercing green. She was taller than your average pony, but not terribly so. She walked slowly, with a grace rarely seen in those who are not royalty. Her main and tail were of a deep blue-green. Her horn, longer than the average, stood tall and proud atop her head. Her presence commanded every bit as much of the stage as Celestia's did. For the four ponies at the front of the crowd, something familiar seemed to lurk in her hooded eyes, although they couldn't tell what.The unknown mare came to a stop at the front of the stage, and smiled down at the crowd. Attention was drawn away from her, however, as Celestia began to speak.
"My dear Citizens," She began, "There is a secret which I have been keeping from you. It has only been two years, but that alone is far too long. I have made several decisions, and taken several measures which I feel that you, the citizens of my country, have the right to know. I would like to quell now your fears and say that no, this does not have anything to do with a war, or an new enemy - rather, a new friend." Celestia paused to look over at the mare standing at the center of the stage. A warmth filled her eyes as she looked at her. "As some of you have guessed, I seem to have acquired a Special Somepony of my very own.
"I am aware that there has been some issues in Equestria with same-sex couples before, but as of ten years ago next month, we have been free of nearly all prejudice of that nature. So the gender of my lover is not why I made this such a big event, although I do expect a small amount of shock about that matter." Celestia looked at a few couples in the crowd and nodded her head at them.
"No, this event is about a much bigger, ah, issue. I suppose that I have done enough beating around the bush...Before i tell you all her name, i would like to state that all love i hold for her is my own, and no spells of any sort have been cast." Celestia turned to look at her lover, beginning to speak again just as a green light encased to grey mares' horn.
"Her name is Chrysalis."
Gasps and loud shouts filled the air as the green magic faded away, leaving a tall changeling the the place of the mystery mare.
Celestia tried to speak several times, but the crowd could not hear her. She even shouted once, but nothing helped. She walked over to stand next the Chrysalis, but still she could not get the crowd to quiet.
At last, one voice shouted over the rest -
"BE QUIET AND LET THY PRINCESS SPEAK, YOU FOOLS!" Princess Luna, fed up with the noise, used her royal Canterlot voice to drown out the crowd. She looked angry and tired, and left the stage immediately after.
The crowd was startled into silence, but luckily stayed that way. Celestia, finally, was able to speak.
"Please, ponies, calm yourselves. Let me explain. This is not an act of sudden infatuation or of little thought - I have been together with Chrysalis for two years now, and she has yet to betray me. I am not asking you to let go of centuries worth of hate for another race in one day - I am not asking you to let go of years of hate for her right now, either. I am simply asking for understanding - I am asking for you, my dear little ponies, to try.
"The changelings have done bad, even horrible things in the past - Chrysalis included in this. But so has another, one whom we all know as Discord. He has become a normal and accepted part of our society, a friend to many in the five years since he was reformed. And he was our enemy for far, far longer than the changelings. We cannot condemn an entire race on the bad actions of their forefathers.
"Chrysalis and I wish to bridge the gap between out species - and not through war, or deception. Through kindness, and our mutual love. Chrysalis will be staying in the castle with me until further notice - Any servants who do not feel comfortable living with her can feel free to come to me, and I will aid you in finding another place of work for now. You will always be welcomed back, however.
"And to those of you who are wondering - Why now? Why did I just decide to tell all of you about this? Well...There is actually another rumor that has truth to it, after all. Yes, I am with foal. We discovered it last week, and it will still be around eleven months before the foal is born. if Twilight, Cadence, and Shining Armour could join me in the castle, i could explain things to you further." Celestia turned to walk off the stage, hearing the dead silence of the shocked crowd. Chrysalis, who had been staring down at her hooves for most of Celestia's speech, looked out to crowd one more time before turning and following her towards the castle.
A shocked Twilight slowly began to follow, along with her brother and sister-in-law.
It was not the reaction Celestia had been hoping for, but it was better than the one she had expected. Things were doing fine...for now.
