Chains In The Mind

The Solar Monarch felt… tense.

Only a few minutes remained until the Patriarch returned, and she was on edge. Thoughts swirled within her immortal mind, flitting into centre frame before sinking into the endless limits of her consciousness. She’d received word from Queen Umbra four days past that the Patriarch had succeeded in his mission, and while ordinarily she would be most pleased with the creation of a new alliance with Equestria’s northern sister, the message bore with it an ominous warning; the Patriarch had been most deeply torn by what he had been forced to do, and had abandoned his two week delegation the very day after he’d arrived, stating in no uncertain terms he intended to return to Canterlot and beg his wife to absolve him of his sins.

Umbra had done what she could to control the situation, communicating she’d had her personal witch brew a concoction that would ease the stress in the Patriarchs mind, and wipe clear the memories of the evening, but Celestia never felt comfortable with a situation unless she was in direct command, and would only know there was no risk of a serious resurgence in Shining Armours memories once she had personally been able to peer within the Patriarchs mind and hide such thoughts from his consciousness

“You know he’s probably going to be furious with you.” The lone guard by her side giggled, her eyes flashing briefly with an intense Emerald hue. “I mean, Faust Damn, Celestia, have you ever seen Queen Umbra with your own eyes? She’s gorgeous.” A fond expression drifted across the mare’s muzzle. “Oh my time in the north, how I miss it, I have such fond memories.” She licked her lips. “They train their stallions hard in the north…”

Celestia sighed, rolling her eyes. “Chrysalis, please.” She sighed; certain none would hear her low voice. “I have little time for these… jokes of yours, if I could describe such filth as mere jest.”

The disguised changeling grinned back. “Your highness, your most humble servant would never mock her Diarch

The pair were stood within the magnificent stain-glass cathedral of the Canterlot Rail Terminus, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of urban life. Celestia could feel the city alive beneath her; the deep bass groan of industry beneath the mountain, the vibrations of moving machinery through the marble floor, the hubbub of chatter as the ponies around her went about their business, their laughs cries and shouts carrying through the summer-perfumed air. She took a deep breath of it, letting the familiar scents of industry, commerce and life flow through her, wash over her. Calming. Soothing. For several brief moments she held the serenity in her soul before guard once again interrupted her thoughts.

“Sunbutt? Suuunbuuutt?” the Guard asked, reaching a hoof towards the royal flank. “Celestia, you there?”

“Yes, Chrysalis.” the Solar Monarch responded coolly, seizing the hoof in her magic and locking it in place. “Your most holy diarch is very much here in the present.”

Chrysalis’s expression of jest slipped quickly, replaced with a foolish scowl of anger. “You’re not my queen, Equine.” The changeling hissed back, tugging against the royal magic, the golden glow wrapped tight around the limb. “We’re allied and no more.”

“I’d weigh your next words most carefully, Chrysalis.” Celestia replied, returning her gaze even and level. “Your drones swarm beneath my city and feed upon my citizens, your commanders bed down with my aristocracy and you feast upon the unrequited love of my own Patriarch. And why?” Celestia leaned in towards the hive-queen who, in her reduced form, stepped away from the intimidating visage of the solar monarch “Because without them you will all die. Without them the last of the Ancient swarms shall starve and wither and perish. You survive because I allow, because I willingly let you into my home and treat you like my own foals.” The gap between them shortened until there was but inches between, Celestia holding the Hive-queens gaze with her own fearsome expression of raw power; her face a mask of power that had gazed upon creation for over ten thousand years. “You are helpless without me. You’re no hive-queen without me. Does that not make you mine?”

Chrysalis felt something within her soul wail in despair, even as her mind raged at the temerity of Celestia to attempt to impose control upon her swarm, hers. “I… I…” she managed, trying to formulate a reply. “You can’t jus-”

A sudden scream of high pressure steam silenced the hive-queen, both her and Celestia turning to watch as the blunt, iron black form of a steam-driven locomotive began to pull into the Terminus, coming to a gradual halt at the platform. There was the sharp hiss of steam as the brakes were released, porters and foremen moving across the platform towards the vehicle even as conductors aboard began to open the carriage doors and allowed the passengers to disembark. “It would seem my husband as returned.” Chrysalis murmured with a deep purr, her eyes glowing brightly.

“Indeed” Celestia agreed, her eyes scanning the packed crowd, eventually spying the signature dual-tone mane and white coated form of the Patriarch towards the rear of the locomotive. “He has come back to us.”

Though he’d been sent north in a private convoy of three carriages, the swift return of the Patriarch had prevented the readying of his state-provided transport, causing him to rely on the public services provided to reach home. Though this meant he’d left all but his own private affectations north in the Empire; traveling with little more than a saddlebag of personal possessions and the venerable weapon Starlight Wrath, as Celestia caught sight of the Patriarch, taking in each and every detail of his form; drinking in the symmetrical perfection of his muzzle and the soulful sparkle of his ultramarine eyes, she couldn’t help but feel heartache seize her soul, as had become customary whenever the Patriarch was insight.

Yet it was only when the stallion came to a halt before her, wearily raising an unarmored hoof in salute that Celestia realized just how exhausted Shining Armour had become. Black bags of exhaustion hung under his eyes, indicative of lost nights stirring in restless thought, while his coat seemed to have lost his lustrous shine, the stress of the week’s events spoiling the stallions well-groomed beauty. He seemed to jitter slightly, Celestia worrying if the wards and barriers she’d placed in his mind had induced some form of physical trauma; every few seconds or so Shining Armour would twitch, a faint spasm at the corner of his eye, or slight flicker of his ears hinting at troubling thoughts running deep beneath the surface. Yet even through his weariness, Shining Armour was a soldier through and through, his hoof held in salute even as it twitched and flickered ever so gently. “Your highness” he managed; his voice weak and raspy, as if he hasn’t slept in days.

For a few brief moments Celestia was stunned into silence. From the moment she’d met Shining Armour, as a new-born foal all those years ago, the stallion had always given an aura of authority and self-control, prized qualities in equestrian society. Not once had she known him to have a lock his mane out of place, or his armour missing, or his dual-tone mane to be so ragged and unkempt. Comparing the mental image in her mind to the stallion stood before her, Celestia felt something within her soul wail in misery as she saw just how exhausted Shining Armour was, just how close to the brink he’d been pushed in the name of service to his nation, service to his queen. She held his weary gaze, fearing that tears would begin to slip down her cheeks.

What had she done to him?

“At ease, Patriarch.” The reply came quietly, Celestia seemingly distant and removed.

The weak stallion managed a smile, though he looked as if he were about to break down into tears at any moment. “I am pleased to report that my mission was a success, Your Highness. I have successfully secured an alliance between our nation at the Crystal Empire of Queen Umbra in the far north.” A pleased look crossed his muzzle, and Celestia felt something in her heart fracture; even after all she’d done to his mind, he still served with unwavering loyalty. “If your highness is willing, I would like to request an authorized leave-of-absence for three days to regain my strength.”

Celestia nodded mutely. “You have served with the greatest dedication, Shining Armour.” She replied softly, her soul deadening like it was made of lead. “Return to your wife and rest, it is a fitting reward.

A dull smile lifted Shining Armours exhausted features. “Thank you, Dear Princess, thank-” A sudden gush of blood streamed from the Patriarchs nose, his pupils dilating as a wave of exhaustion washed over him, a surge of blackness blinding him as he staggered. Celestia felt an involuntary squeal loose from her throat as the stallion suddenly seemed to pass out, staring at her and the disguised changeling queen for several moments before simply collapsing to the ground, the stream of blood still leaking from his nostrils. Objects swum in the patriarchs blurred vision, distant voices screaming like the cries of drowning men. A white blur with golden eyes appeared above him, followed swiftly after by one with black fur and emerald green eyes, they were saying something, something about him, but he couldn’t quite make it out, couldn’t quite grasp their meaning. Something delicate cupped his cheek, a quite voice breaking through the pulsing roar of blood in his ears.

“Shh, it’s alright. Rest… my little patriarch.”