Commander Twilight sighed as she sat against the wall beside the now undisguised Chrysalis with a plate of food held in her magic. “So how are you Queeny?” she asked.

Chrysalis sighed as she held her own plate in her magic. “Worried about our daughter and your student being out there.”

“Relax Queeny, Dawn can take care of herself and there is no way she will let anything happen to Violet.”

“Twilight you know I can feel how worried you are so there is no point in trying to hide it.”

Twilight sighed and let her ears droop. “I ever tell you how annoying your empathic abilities are?”

“On more then one occasion when it comes to your emotions that you are trying to hide.”

Twilight sighed once more then took a bite of her steak. “Ok, I am worried sick but I can't just go out there and tear up the town looking for them so I'm going to rely on Dawn to do what she always does, survive and take care of Violet.” she said with a nod. “Anyways how are you doing? The little incident earlier wasn't exactly the best.”

“It's not the first time someone I was with panicked when I dropped my disguise. I just hope she didn't injure herself further.” Chrysalis said as she poked at her food with a fork.

“She will be fine, you did a good job dressing her injuries.” Twilight said patting the Queen’s head resulting in a small smile from the changeling.

“I’m glad, I didn't have a lot to work with in the med kit and only able to check on her as she slept. Then I find out our cover was blown big time when I find you.”

“Not by choice.” Twilight said coldly.

“Twilight, deep breaths, in and out and focus on something more pleasant.” Chrysalis said a bit firmly.

Twilight did as she was told, closing her eyes and taking several deep breaths as she thought about Violet’s 9th birthday. On her 7th breaths she opened her eyes. “Thanks.”

Chrysalis smiled. “Anytime.”

“Now...my more immediate issue….” Twilight said as she looked over at her sister-in-law standing in line for food, still wearing her stealth suit.

“What about her? She can take care of herself, the soldiers in the infirmary can testify to that.” Chrysalis said as she looked over at Cadance.

“That's not what I'm worried about.” Twilight said as she looked back at Chrysalis then gestured to all the rebels in the eating area. “A lot of them saw my memories, and the rest heard all about it…..”

“And now…..Cadance may find out…”Chrysalis finished.

“Exactly.” Twilight said as she took another bite. “60 years…..60 years I've kept what I am secret….had a few close calls but now…..there is no way I can keep her from finding out…..”

“yes…...that is a problem…” Chrysalis sighed.

“And as soon as she does….”

“Tartarus” Twilight finished and Chrysalis nodded as Cadance came over with her own food humming happily.

“So!” Cadance said as she took a seat the other two. “How are you both?”

“Good.” Twilight said cheerfully. “Bit annoyed you some how bypassed my security measures and hid under my dinning room table….again.”

Cadance chuckled nervously. “Just making sure you're safe. You and Chissy are my next closest family outside of Flurry.”

“Yes...and the fact I live inside fortress doesn't mean I'm safe?” Twilight asked arching a brow.

“yes and no, I mean it's never a bad thing to test that security from time to time.” Cadance chuckled and Twilight joined her.

“No, suppose it's not.” Twilight said taking another bite. “Still weird that my sister in law regularly breaks into my home.”

Cadance shrugged and smiled. “I see it as a good bonding experience.”

“Bonding experience?” Chrysalis asked in surprise.

“Yes, I mean Twilight is all about the army and so I figured what better way to spend time with her then helping test her soldiers?”

“I...suppose that makes sense….in a weird way.” Chrysalis slowly. Dealing with Cadance and her odd way of thinking was always interesting, she never was the same after her husband had died protecting her.

“So….how are you doing? I mean...you did gallop through the Everfree in an unknown reality.” Twilight asked. “Not to mention fighting your way through a base filled with soldiers from all around the world.”

“Well a few soldiers from around the world.”Cadance said. “Most of them seem to have barely any training at all.” she leaned close putting a wing up to shield her mouth from being seen by the rest of the room. “and honestly none of them are up to EDF standards.” she whispered then giggled.

Twilight chuckled as did Chrysalis. “I doubt many would have ever even come close to the same type of training as the EDF.” Twilight said smirking.

“But I'm sure you'll be changing that soon enough.” Cadance said as she started to eat.

“We will see, I was in the middle of being briefed on things here when you ran your little test.”

“Oh…..sorry….heheh….” Cadance said ears drooping.

Twilight sighed. “Look, it's alright. Honestly you helped me get a look at how these rebels operate and showed some weak points so it actually helped a bit.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Twilight said smiling. “I’ll be making a few adjustments to perimeter security to close the gaps you revealed.”

“Well then glad I could help.” Cadance said happily. “Anyways how are you two? I heard there was a bit of trouble in Town, something about a small scale battle and a rescue?”

“Yes…..we rescued two rebel agents about to be executed.” Twilight said.

“I would comment on how romantic that could be but seeing as you are married to Chrysalis that's not really an option.” Cadance said with a giggle.

“Not married just dating.” Twilight corrected.

“Yes dating for the last decade, living together and having a daughter. Face it you two are basically married.” Cadance said smiling.

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Well not married by pony standards but by Changeling standards we are mates.” Chrysalis said resulting in the two alicorns looking at her, one happily the other flatly. The Queen just shrugged. “It's true.”

“Anyways…” Twilight said turning to look back at Cadance. “I have to admit it wasn't the cleanest extraction ever but it got the job done.”

“Yes, I'm sure Violet and Dawn had a blast.”

“We…..don't know….we got separated and they never reached the rendezvous point before Chrysalis had to leave….” Twilight said ears drooping a bit.

“Oh…..” Cadance took her sister-in-law’s hoof. “I know those two are okay Twilight, if fact I'm sure they are causing trouble for who ever they are with. You know how those two are when left alone together, you'll be able to find them just by following the trail of property damage.” she said and smiled. “What was it you called them? The CMC on steroids?”

Twilight smiled. “something like that, though I doubt they will be experimenting as Violet doesn't have access to her lab and Dawn doesn't have her work shop.”

<<>>

“This is just a minor set back!” Dawn said as her and Violet used curtains to try and put out the fireball that was once Dawn’s desk at the schoolhouse as the other students ran around in a panic having abandoned their own arts and crafts projects, Cheerilee arriving with a bucket of water.

<<>>

“Yeah true, hard to run one of their experiments without their equipment.” Cadance laughed behind her hoof as Twilight and Chrysalis joined her. “So I doubt we have to worry about them. They are smart.”

“Yeah, true.” Twilight said smiling as she felt better, Cadance always seemed to know just how to help calm her.

“So….what else have the soldiers told you about the situation?” Twilight asked carefully.

Cadance watched her as she took a bite of her food thinking. “Nothing I didn't already know.” she finally said.

“Didn't already know?” Twilight asked tilting her head slightly.

“Yes, I mean we are sister Twilight, I doubt there isn't anything I don't know about you. I mean you said it yourself I've been spending time with you for decades.”

“So you…”

“We are sisters and you're my last living family. Family watches out for each other. Shinning did for me and I do the same for you.” Cadance said looking at Twilight with a slight hardness Twilight had never seen in her eyes. “I would never let anything happen to my family….”

<<<>>

10 years ago

Twilight sighed as she walked down the streets of Ponyville, her stomach already starting to show her pregnancy and she had begun to feel the effects the book had warned her about. Well not soar hooves as steel hooves don't exactly feel discomfort but everything else seemed to be trying to make up for that.

The mood swings were the worst, she was taking a walk due to a sudden but of anger that nearly caused her to attack Chrysalis for no reason. She had barely stopped herself and now she was working on clearing her head with a walk around time. Chrysalis had wanted to come with her but Twilight had deemed that a bad idea and the Queen had conceded.

Twilight had been randomly walking around town for about half an hour, no real destination in mind, just enjoying the town as it was bathed in the light from the setting sun. It was always relaxing to her to watch the beginning of a new day or an ending of one.

She turned down a side street deciding she was ready to return home and was halfway down the street when she hear hooves gallop from a side alley straight at her. She barely ducked as a bat swung through the area her head had been a split second before.

She lunged forward slamming her shoulder into the chest of her attacker driving the air from his lungs a second before she cried out as she felt a sharp pain in her flank. She bucked on reflex and heard a yelp of pain followed by a crash. Looking back she saw a small knife buried in her flank.

Using her magic she pulled the blade free a second before about a dozen ponies poured out of the alleyways armed mostly with various melee weapons but a few had pistols. It wasn't hard to recognize members of the Purists as they wore the armbands with the groups symbol, a pony’s hoofstep. Twilight despised this group as their entire group was centred around their motto. “Equestria for ponies.” and we're the most adamant about driving the changelings from Equestria as they never forgave the hive for the invasion so many years ago.

They had also been buzzing like a kicked hornets nest once it was finally reveled Twilight's foal was Chrysalis’. the Royal Guard had been monitoring them closely incase they members tried anything, seems the guards missed this….unless….

Twilight’s thoughts were interrupted as a pegasus mare took aim with her pistol and Twilight barely rolled to the side just in time to miss being shot, the injury in her flank burning but she ignored it as she had more pressing matters.

Twilight came up with her own pistol and the mare wasn't as fast as Twilight and her head snapped back as a hole appeared in her forehead. The others surged forward intend on taking Twilight down and the once peaceful street echoed with the sounds of gunfire and yells.

Then as quickly as it had started silence claimed the street once more except for the distant sound of sirens approaching fast.

A few moments later royal guard cruisers skidded into the street, having been called by residents who heard the gunshots. The guards jumped from their vehicles weapons drawn as they came upon the scene of a dozen downed ponies, all but two of them dead and an injured alicorn.

<<>>

Chrysalis threw open the hospital room door as she rushed in to find Twilight sitting up in bead sipping water from a glass. “Twilight are you alright? I was told you were shot.” The Queen said as she practically galloped to the bedside, worry clear on her face.

“I was, I’m fine now, doctors took care of everything.” Twilight said.

“And?”

“The foal is fine.” Twilight said placing a hoof on her stomach. “Shots it me in the shoulder...I'm not as fast as I usually am.”

“And you're just going to get slower. Twilight I’m assigning a protection detail till we figure out what happened and I won't take no for an answer.” Chrysalis said firmly.

“Okay.” Twilight said as she sipped her drink.

Chrysalis blinked. “You agree? I had...expected resistance….”

“Normally I would but in this case you are right, I'm just going to be getting slower and if a hoofull of thugs can actually send me to the hospital then it I should have some added backup.” she looked at Chrysalis. “I trust you have already made the arrangements?”

Chrysalis slowly nodded recovering from the unexpected turn of events. “Yes, two MID operatives will shadow you for the next few months.”

“Excellent, I trust they will remain hidden unless needed?”

“Of course, they wouldn't be very good intelligence operatives if they were out in the open….are you sure you're alright? Normally you insist on taking care of yourslef.”

“I am fine but as I said I'm only going to get slower as time goes on and it's not just my life on the line anymore.” She set the glass to the side. “What can you tell me about those who attacked me? I don't think it was entirely random they knew I was alone.” Twilight arched a brow.

“I thought not as well...the timing was to we'll done and Captain Kilo thinks the same thing, he’s called in internal affairs to take a look at the guard station.”

Twilight nodded. “Good, I trust they will be able to handle it but off them any EDF support they may need.”

“I will Twilight.” Chrysalis said as she took a seat beside the bed and sighed.

Twilight reached over and patted her head. “I’m alright Queeny, really and I know those responsible will be found and dealt with.”

“I know...It's just….when I heard you'd been shot….” she said and Twilight took her hoof before pulling her close to nuzzle the larger quen causing her to relax.

“I’m alright.”

<<>>

Lieutenant Charon growled as he read over the report of the shootout in the street. “That thing survived.” the earth pony spat.

“Yes but we came close to removing it.” Sergeant Crimson said from where the pegasus sat on the other side of LT’s desk in the basement of the local guard station.

“I knew those bafoons couldn't have taken it and we should have gotten outside help from other in the guard.” Charon said as he dropped the report on his desk. “How in all of Equestria could one of our Princesses ever go to bed with such a disgusting creature I’ll never know.”

“Neither will I but we can try again in a few month to remove the thing from her belly.” Crimson said.

“If we can, I heard talk IA was being brought in so I think the captain suspects some one here in the station.” Charon said as he sat back.

“Relax, we covered our tracks well and the report said none of the others survived so there is no way to trace it back to us.” Crimson said smirking as he sat back. “We will be perfectly fine.”

A moment later a knock came at the door and Charon sat up straighter as did Crimson. “Come.” Charon called.

The door opened to revel some one neither guard expected to see. “P-Princess Cadance.” Crimson said as both guards stood and bowed.

“Both of you may rise.” Cadance said and they did. “I must say that was a rather poorly thought out plan to jump Twilight, she may be pregnant but she is still a well trained soldier so jumping her in the streets never would have worked.”

“You…..you know?” Charon said as his blood turned to ice. “B-but how?”

“You and I both know the Crystal Empire has some of the best intelligence services on the planet and Twilight is my sister-in-law, do you think I wouldn't figure out who arranged to have her attacked?”

Charon’s blood ran colder and colder till it felt like ice water in his veins with each word she said. “So…..what now?” He asked licking his lips as he imaged IA coming in any moment to arrest him and the sergeant.

“Relax I have no intention of sharing what I know with anyone.” Cadance said.

This cause Charon off guard but then he thought, it was no secret the history the Princess of Love and the Changeling Queen had and that they were not friends. Perhaps he could have a powerful ally in the pink alicorn. He relaxed as he smiled while relaxing in his chair, the sergeant doing the same as he came to the same conclusion as Charon. “Well then, what do we owe this visit for then? I know you have no love for the Queen. Perhaps we could enter into a sort of arrangement to remove that which neither of us likes?”

“I think you misunderstood me lieutenant I have no intention of helping you.” Cadance said firmly.

The smile on Charon’s face was replaced with confusion. “Then why…”

“Let me explain something to you Lieutenant, I don't like Chrysalis and it will be a long time before I ever forgive her for w hat she did. But she makes Twilight happy and so I will put aside my feelings towards her for my sister’s sake.” she said her voice growing cold. “and that means I will never tolerate those who would try to harm her and will never forgive those who harm hurt Twilight as you have.” The alicorn stepped into the room. “And I will always protect my family.” she said as hee horn lite and the door closed.

<<>>

Royal Guard Internal Affairs
Investigating Officer: Blueberry Crepe
Date: 03-12-08
Case: Assault on Princess Twilight Sparkle
Case Number: 482677

Investigation revealed ties to Manehatten chapter of Purist movement which denies any involve the in crime. Upon suggestion from Captain Kilo report of incident hide the two surviving suspects. Upon interrogation with help from EDF suspects indicated that Lieutenant Charon and Sergeant Crimson of Ponyville Royal Guard had Princess Twilight under surveillance since information on the other parent of the Princess’ unborn foal.

Once the Princess was alone on the evening of Tuesday the 9th the suspects were contacted by sergeant Crimson via payphone. Phone record and surveillance camera from store across the street confirmed it was Sergeant Crimson. Upon further investigation it was found sergeant Crimson commanding officer was also involved.

Both Lieutenant Charon and Sergeant Crimson became primary suspects. A search of both their offices and their homes revealed no trace of suspects however did revel evidence of extreme hostility to the Changeling Hive. Evidence suggests both suspects left in a hurry as they took none of their clothes or any personal items.

Both suspects bank accounts have been frozen and their pictures have been released to national news outlets and both former guard have had arrest warrants issued.

Author's Note

I was tempted to have the flash back be in Soldier Series Stories but decided to put it in the chapter.

Also I still draw breath