Don't Bug Me, Chrysalis...

Twilight paced back and forth, staring at the melting candle. Even in the middle of the night, the red ribbon was supposed to signify a message of extreme importance that requires an immediate response. What could be keeping Celestia from writing back? Another half hour passed, before she finally heard the telltale belch of dragonfire. Moments later, her assistant stumbled quickly into the room, a scroll held tightly in one hand and another thermos of tea held in the other. She was going to have to get him to start cutting back on his tea drinking, that much fluid couldn't be healthy for a creature that small.

Taking the parchment carefully from the drake's digits with a thoughtless levitation charm, she brought the paper up to eye level and began to read out loud.

Twilight,

Get out of your castle immediately. Leave the convict bound in whatever location she currently is in. Make sure to secure her fully, you have authorization to use containment spells up to and including Atlus's Eternal Sealing.

Twilight stopped and reread the first section multiple times to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Atlus's Eternal Sealing was an ancient spell composed of some of the most vile black magic. Its design used the magic of the victim against themselves, allowing anypony who learned it to trap even the strongest unicorns for an unlimited period of time, assuming the victim stayed alive. Spending eternity in Tartarus was generally agreed as preferable to having your own thaumic energies driven into your flesh as chains. The pain was supposedly unimaginable, and using it would normally cause global sanctions.

Being told she was allowed and encouraged to use such a spell by somepony who she always believed to be the pinnacle of pacifism was not processing well into Twilight's thoughts, her brain rejecting such an idea absurd. Filing the thoughts away for later review, she continued reading.

The First, Second, and Third wings of the unicorn corps are on there way via chariot, along with the full day and night guard. Additionally, I have summoned the full Wonderbolts squadron, including those in reserves. Reinforcements are on the way from the Crystal Kingdom, including both Prince Armor, and Cadenza. Luna and I are on our way, though we will be a few minutes behind the calvary due to certain circumstances.

For safety reasons, I'm going to disable your dragon's fire temporarily after this message sends. I'll restore it once this whole fiasco is over, but I don't want the Queen tracking you down based on the thaumic pathways.

Princess Celestia

Twilight slammed the parchment down onto the table in fear, pacing back and forth. "Oh Spike... what do I do?!" She asked, her expression frantic with worry. "P...Princess Celestia always knows best... b...but she clearly wants to hurt Chrysalis! The Queen is nearly dead already!" She bit her lip, staring out a nearby window with worry. "What's wrong with the princess? That doesn't sound anything like how she normally writes. It was so overly formal... is the situation that bad?"

Spike frowned, sitting himself down on a nearby beanbag chair. "I dunno, Twilight. I dislike Chrysalis just as much as everypony else... but Atlus's? I... wouldn't even wish that upon Tirek. And she doesn't seem to be much a threat right now. As wise and wonderful as Celestia is... she could end up killing Chrysalis way too easily. Maybe you should just... uh... stay in your castle and not let anyone in until the princesses get here? If you could talk to Celestia, I'm sure you could find a better way to do things."

Twilight looked out the window, before turning back to the clock. "You're right Spike. That would be the best thing to do... if we want to keep Chrysalis safe. Then... I guess we're... going to have to prepare the castle for a siege. We probably don't have any more than an hour before the wonderbolts are fully assembled."

Spike hopped back up, looking at Twilight with worry. "A siege? Can't you just... tell them not to enter? You're a princess too!" He said, pointing towards Twilight's wings for emphasis.

Twilight shook her head. "No Spike. They're going to think I was brainwashed by Chrysalis. We're going to have to hold out as best we can with them fighting their way in." Spike only gulped in response as Twilight began casting protective wards over the windows and closing the shutters. "Spike. I need you to find Rainbow Dash before any of the wonderbolts do. We need her on our side... I have enough troubles keeping her out of the castle when she smashes through the windows by accident. I don't want to see what happens when she forces her way in on purpose. But... don't tell her about Chrysalis. Just tell her that I need her help immediately, and I'll explain when she gets here. If you see any of the other girls on your way, get them to come too. We'll need all the help we can get."

Spike bit his lip, thinking for a second before nodding and jumping to his feet. With one last look at his mother/boss/sister, he darted towards the door, hearing the sounds of spells being cast behind him. This was going to be a long day.

Chrysalis meanwhile had started to panic. She wasn't able to hear much more than panicked yelling and shouting, muffled by the dense crystal walls around her. Moments later she began to hear the telltale sounds of runes being etched into crystal, and her eyes bugged out... uh... excuse the pun. If I don't get out of here soon, this place is going to be impossible to escape! The bug pony thought to herself. I know ponies hate me... but this level of protection is ridiculous! It's like she's trying tot keep all of equestria trapped inside, not just me!