Five weeks had passed since the Changeling infiltration and failed Coup D'état.
It had taken Princess Celestia two weeks of bed rest to recover from the blast Chrysalis had hit her with and it had taken Princess Luna just as long to get over the guilt of not being there to help her sister, but someone had to defend the Forbidden Archives. It then took two more weeks to finally calm their subjects' fears and organize the repairs to the city.
It was during the fifth week, when Luna had began to wonder why Chrysalis had led such a massive assault against Canterlot. Though to be honest, in Luna's mind the attack wasn't directed at the city or their subjects, but against herself and her sister. The Night Princess knew the diplomatic relations between Equestria and the United Changeling Hives had soured around three hundred years after her banishment, but she didn't think Chrysalis would ever condone, let alone, lead a full scale invasion and personally attack Celestia in broad daylight.
No, something must have happened between her and Celestia to seed the resentment that led to this attack, Luna thought to herself as she walked to one of the private balconies to join her sister for lunch.
With questions still swirling her mind, Luna took her seat across from her sister at the small table with a light lunch already laid out. The sisters exchanged their usual pleasantries, but Luna was quick to ask her sister how she was feeling when she noticed she still looked rather tired.
"I'm fine, Lulu. There's just a lot on my mind lately," Celestia replied as she looked down at her salad.
You've been saying that quite often, sister, Luna thought with an internal sigh at the trite response.
While she could sense Celestia's powers and health had recovered in full, Luna could also sense that something was weighing heavily upon her sister.
As a matter of fact, the Night Princess thought as she popped a strawberry from her fruit salad into her mouth, I haven't seen Tia acting like this since we talked about my banishment a few days after my Return. Perhaps now is the best time to ask.
"Tia, may I ask you something?" Luna asked, looking to her sister.
"You can ask me anything, Lulu," Celestia responded warmly as she placed her hand over her sister's.
Luna smiled and squeezed her sister's hand reflexively, before asking the one question that had plagued her mind for so many days, "What happened to make Chrysalis hate us so much that she would attack us?"
Luna felt her sister's hand tremble and saw a brief flash of some dark emotion pass over her sister's face.
"Tia, are you alright?" Luna asked with a frown of worry.
Celestia did not respond immediately, but bowed her head, as though in shame, before quietly replying, "No Luna, I am not."
"Sister, what happened in my absence?" Luna asked, her concern quickly growing.
"I happened," Celestia replied, her normally kind voice turning distant and cold, "I did it. In my grief and madness, I did it."
"Tia, what did you do?" Luna asked with worry plain in her voice. "What could you have done that turned a friend from our childhood against us?"
With a resigned sigh, Celestia sat up in her white oak chair and faced her sister. "I've told you how, in the early years of your absence, I had to become more militant to keep our borders safe from any who would prey upon our people. Well, it didn't take long for me to become very... controlling after a few successful campaigns."
"That's not too surprising, Tia," Luna said with a shrug, internally hoping that was the worst of it.
"You don't understand," Celestia replied, looking down at the table.
"Please, explain it to me, sister," Luna said, despite her building nervousness.
Celestia stared off at something in the sky for a long moment before sighing and looking towards her sister again.
"It was in the throes of my own maddening grief when my cruelty fell upon Chrysalis," Celestia continued not recognizing her sister had spoken, "She came to me and asked for border crossing permission so her people could feed and survive."
"Why? We had always allowed the Changelings free travel," Luna asked sitting back into her chair, apprehension clawing at her heart.
Celestia let out small mirthless chuckle as she clenched the arm rests of her chair. "Because six months prior I had denied her people entrance to all of Equestria. I had ordered that any and all Changelings found in the kingdom were to be arrested and deported on sight. Then," Celestia closed her eyes as memories forced their way into her mind, "Then I made Chrysalis grovel and beg for her people, no, for her children's survival..."
With a her mouth hanging open, Luna fell back into her ebony chair, not wanting to or fully absorbing Celestia’s confession. Her head reeled at the implications, no at the very implicit idea of abusing their childhood friend. Luna’s teal eyes turned steely as she turned them upon her sister, who now looked so very small in her own chair.
"And there's more, Lulu," Celestia said with eyes downcast, "Around her fourth visit to plead for her children's survival..." Celestia paused taking a deep breathe as she gripped her chair's armrests tightly, tears did not brim her eyes, but an overcast of grey seemed to befall her, as if her very sun hid itself out of her grasp, "I told Chrysalis, the only way she'd get my permission to feed would be to submit her body to me."
"Sister, how... how could you..." Luna stammered out with eyes wide in shock, before Celestia interrupted her.
"That wasn't the end of it, Lulu," Celestia replied, her voice nearly devoid of emotion, "I imagine it was desperation that made her agree the first time, but then I did it again and again and again. Each time I made her submit, she was never in her true form, but those whom could get the most love from me. In my… darkened state, there weren’t many.” Letting her eyes glance quickly at her sister, she let the implication rest before continuing on. “As our meetings, if I can call them such, continued I fell deeper and deeper into darkness. Luna… I was not gentle nor were my words in any sense flattering. I was a monster."
Luna was silent as her trembling hands gripped the table's edge, her nails digging into the wood of the table.
"Eventually, Chrysalis stopped coming to me for permission and simply had her children infiltrate the kingdom to steal the love and other emotions that could replenish her Hive's magical reserves. I think it was then that her hate led to planning the attack," Celestia finished looking away from her sister.
"How could you turn against Chryssy like that?" Luna asked scowling at her sister.
"Perhaps because I was jealous of how close you two had been all those years ago. Perhaps because Chrysalis wasn't there to help me to try and save you. Even now I don't know Luna," Celestia replied sounding bitter and exhausted.
The tension between the sisters was nearly a palpable after Celestia had finished her tale.
"Why?" Luna asked, her normally cheerful voice cold and dark.
"Why, what?" Celestia replied without looking up, clutching her seats armrests in a white knuckle, death grip.
"Why didn't you mention any of this sooner?!" Luna yelled at her sister with a glare of betrayal as she jumped up, knocking over her ebony chair, slamming her palms down onto the table sending the plates and silverware tumbling.
Celestia glared right back at Luna, ignoring the pain that was shooting through her head. She had lain her secret out to her sister leaving her weary and vulnerable, she could not handle Luna jumping at her. Not now, she had no patience, nor desire to deal with it.
"What the hell did you expect me to tell you after your return, Luna?!" Celestia shouted right back at her sister, her face flush with anger.
"I expected you to be HONEST!" Luna practically screeched, causing the stained glass window behind her sister to quiver from the sheer power of her voice.
Celestia stood up and slammed her fists onto the table sending cracks across the white oak like glass.
"Oh should I have told you, 'Welcome back Lulu! Oh and guess what?! The only friend we had left now hates us because of me!?'" the Day Princess retorted venomously.
"You should have told me something!" Luna demanded, her voice cracking as hot tears began running down her cheeks, "We are sisters! We are together again! We are supposed to trust each other now, damn it!" Luna finished bitterly before turning away from her sister and falling to her knees, her tears giving way to racking sobs.
Seeing her younger sister breakdown, Celestia's anger vanished leaving her with nothing, but her oldest companions of shame and guilt.
With a resigned sigh Celestia walked over to Luna and sat down beside her on the grass and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm sorry Lulu, I'm so sorry."
"She was all we had left..." Luna sobbed out as she halfheartedly tried to push her sister away.
"I know, Lulu," Celestia replied closing her eyes as her own tears began flowing down her cheeks.
"Chryssy was... our last friend," Luna sobbed out before burying her face into her sister's chest, "We lost Discord and Sombra betrayed us..."
"And I poisoned Chrysalis against us in my anger and grief," Celestia whispered with her tears flowing freely as she admitted one of her greatest mistakes and regrets.
- The Badlands -
Deep within the cavern kingdom of the United Changeling Hives, Queen Chrysalis sat at her vanity, wearing only her silk undergarments, while a pair of her handmaidens tended to her nearly healed wounds. The handmaids' movements were precise and efficient as they replaced the bandages on their queen's dark skin. Chrysalis would've granted the pair a compliment on their skill if she wasn't still sore and tired from her less than graceful exit out of Canterlot.
At least the invasion wasn't a total loss. I was able to secure enough love to boost the hive's magic for several more months. Plus, I was finally able to put that bitch in her place, Chrysalis thought to herself, smiling wickedly as she remembered Celestia's expression when her magic blast knocked the fat cow of a woman over.
The Changeling Queen's reminiscing was interrupted when one of the small bottles on her vanity began to vibrate and rattle loudly. The two handmaidens jumped at the unexpected sound and quickly charged their magic into their hands to blast the perceived threat.
"Stop," Chrysalis commanded in a tired, but firm voice that left no room for questions.
The handmaidens quickly dissipated their magic and took a step back with their heads bowed submissively.
Chrysalis delicately picked up the rattling corked bottle and slowly looked it over. Even with the blue pigment faded from age she could see the bottle's crystalline surface had been sloppily painted. The Changeling Queen wore a perplexed expression as she inspected the aged bottle vibrating between her thin fingers.
When did I get... Chrysalis wondered before an old memory flashed through her mind and she remembered who had given her the tiny bottle.
-The Castle of the Two Sisters, 1,600 years ago -
"Chryssy! Chryssy! Wait, don't go yet!" a ten year old Princess Luna shouted as she ran down the corridor that lead to the exit of the castle.
A thirteen year old Princess Chrysalis paused before the open doors and turned to see the hyperactive little royal running towards her while Celestia followed at slower pace, "Lulu, my carriage is waiting for me. I told you before I'll be back next year, but right now I have to go."
"But I made you a going away present!" Luna shouted before coming to a skidding stop before her Changeling friend.
"Did Dizzy help you make it?" Chrysalis asked with a dark cerulean brow arched suspiciously.
"No, I made it without anybody's help," Luna replied proudly holding up a small crudely wrapped box with a silver bow holding it together.
"Don't worry I kept Discord busy so he wouldn't do anything to it," Celestia explained with smile.
Chrysalis turned and smiled at the older, pink haired royal sister. "Oh good, I didn't feel like being covered in chocolate milk again."
"But I thought you liked chocolate, Chrysalis?" Celestia asked with laughed.
Chrysalis rolled her eyes with a smile and was about to give her cake loving friend a snarky reply, when a certain blue haired princess decided she had been patient enough.
"Chryssy! Open it already!" Luna whined, stomping a foot impatiently and holding up the little gift.
"Alright, alright," Chrysalis muttered accepting the small gift and feeling a pleasant tingle of agape love along with it.
The Changeling Princess smiled as she pulled off the bow and wrapping paper before taking a small corked crystal bottle, that looked like it had been dunked in blue paint, out of the box.
"Isn't it pretty?" Luna eagerly asked with eyes wide in anticipation.
"Uh, yes. Yes, it is," Chrysalis replied glancing to the royal sisters, "What is it?"
"It's a commoonu- communi-caw," Luna tried to annunciate, before giving up with a high pitched, frustrated grunt, "It's a letter bottle."
"A letter bottle?" Chrysalis asked, looking to the older sister for an explanation.
"It has an enchantment that can instantly teleport letters between that bottle and the one Luna and I have. My sister came up with it all on her own," Celestia explained with a smile patting Luna on the head.
"Oh wow, this will make writing to you so much easier. Thank you!" Chrysalis said pulling both of the royal sisters into a hug.
"This way we'll be able write each other whenever we want and be friends forever!" Luna declared with a smile clinging to her Changeling friend.
- The Present -
Queen Chrysalis stared at the little gift, from what left like another age, for a long moment before uncorking the bottle.
From within the little bottle a small swirling cloud of blue magic poured out of it and landed on her vanity's tabletop before transforming into a scroll tied closed with a silver ribbon.
"Your Majesty?" one of the handmaidens asked timidly as she glanced between the scroll and her Queen.
"Leave me," Chrysalis said in a tone terrifyingly devoid of emotion.
The handmaidens quickly bowed and left the room, fearful of their queen's tone of voice.1
Chrysalis sighed and picked up the scroll, quickly unfurling it before she could have any second thoughts.
Chrissy,
Celestia told me everything.
I know there are no words that can make things right between you and my sister. I imagine you blame me just as much, for if I hadn't left, then this would have never happened. I freely admit I am just as guilty for the suffering Celestia inflicted upon you and your people.
I know I am in no position to ask for your forgiveness. Your anger and resentment are justified. Yet I hope that one day you will forgive me for abandoning you, for nearly driving my sister insane with guilt, and for leaving you alone to deal with her when her heart was hardened.
Please Chrysalis, all I ask is that you still consider me your friend. Even if I am to be unforgiven and in exile from you. I will accept that. Just please grant us a chance to hold onto some strand of what we once had.
Love,
Lulu
Chrysalis' face held no expression as she finished reading the letter. She did not feel tears well up as she sensed the anguish that was within each written word. She felt no stirring within what was left of her heart as she noticed the tears staining the edges of the scroll. The only thing Chrysalis felt was a bone deep weariness that seem to gnaw at her soul. With a heavy sigh she opened the bottom drawer of her vanity and withdrew a blank scroll, a quill, and an ink pot.
- Canterlot Castle -
Luna sat alone in her room, curled up on her bed, and clutching her letter bottle close to her chest. Though her tears had dried up hours ago she remained in her bed, all the while silently waiting and hoping for a reply of some kind. Even if it was full of venom and hate, it would be better than nothing.
Suddenly the little bottle she clutched began shaking. Quickly as she could, Luna pulled the cork from the bottle and watched as the small cloud of green mist swirled and coalesced into a scroll tied closed with a green ribbon.
Luna's heart hammered in excitement as she stared at the roll of parchment. She was elated that Chrysalis had written back.
No, do not give in to joy only for it to be crushed, Luna thought as she took a deep breathe to steady her trembling hand, then gingerly untied the green ribbon and unfurled the scroll.
Princess Luna,
For many years I thought over the words I would say to you upon your return. At first I thought I would welcome you back with open arms like in the bygone days of our youth. Then, after enduring your sister's madness and cruelty, I thought I would spit upon your face, declaring you traitor and oath breaker. Now after centuries of survival in this harsh wasteland I am forced to call home, years of neglect from your people, and the loneliness of the Badlands I cannot bring myself to feel anything so strong as love or hate for you.
So much time has passed that I find myself at a loss when faced with a day that I believed would never come.
Though I will not forgive your sister and I cannot bring myself to grant you forgiveness either, I also cannot find it within myself to push you away.
We three are all that remains of those old days, are we not? The others are stone and lost to shadow.
For their sake I will grant you opportunity. One chance to prove to me the happiness of the old days is not lost forever. Not now, but soon.
— Queen Chrysalis of the United Changeling Hives
The moment she finished reading the letter Luna felt the tension in her chest further tighten as the weight of the Chrysalis' words sank in.
"One chance," Luna muttered to herself, carefully picking up the green ribbon and holding it between her fingers. "Only one chance to start mending this broken circle of friends."
— This is not the End —
Author's Note
- The implication being that for a race that feeds on emotions something devoid of emotion is terrifying because they can't comprehend it.
