It had been a hard journey across Equestria. Her children were starving and ill, the journey getting slower as more and more needed to be carried and cared for. But none of her children were going to be left behind, they were either going to be saved together, or die together.

Chrysalis knew that it would be the end of her reign. However, she had no choice and had to put her swarm first, it was her duty.

The final day of the journey had been brutal, the weather turning into freezing snow and strong winds. But the glow of the destination final came into view.

Inside the Crystal Empire, Shining Armour was busy shouting orders to the guard as they rushed around putting their armour on and organising themselves.

“Come on, we have been training for this” the white unicorn shouted, already kitted out in his glorious purple armour and a sword floating in his aura.

“Prince Shining Armour, stand down!”

The guards stopped what they are doing and looked to the Crystal Princess hovering above them, before gracefully landing.

Shining armour trotted over to his wife and a rather annoyed tone started “But Cadence, the enemy...”

“I said, stand down Prince Armour” Cadence outranked her husband and although didn’t usually want to show that, this was no time to worry about the stallions feelings. She could make it up to him later.

Shining Armour reluctantly sheathed his sword, and took his helmet off. Cadence turned and address the guards now milling around

“Full out attacks are not the changeling style. We know that first hoof.”

Shining Armour grimaced at the memory.

“So, to show themselves as they do, mean they are here for something else than to fight, at least directly. Charging into battle will not help protect the empire.”

Glancing to the side, she saw her husband shoulders drop a little. She turned to him and addressed him directly. “However, precautions need to be made and we must be vigilant. It would make sense to get the guard to protect the Crystal Heart, as this will be our main defence should it be required,”

“Of course” Shining Armour nodded to his commander and chief wife, before turning and organising a defencive line around the Crystal Heart and the streets leading towards the castle.

Cadence knew that would be pointless, but it would give the guards something to do as well as making Shining Armour feel a little happier. Besides, Cadence suspected that the reason Chrysalis had come was for something else in the castle, on the third floor.

In the nursery.

The train station was empty by the time the swarm reached it, and so Chrysalis led her swarm inside[1]. It was a little cramped for them all, but it was out of the wind and relatively warm with the hearth still burning. Checking to make sure her swarm were all present and accounted for, her thoughts turned to her final journey.

She thought about saying goodbye, but knew she had to be strong for her swarm. Walking as majestically as she could, difficult given the state she was in, she walked out of the train station and towards the Crystal Empire itself.

Pausing just at the edge of the protective shield, that separated the harsh winter weather from the protected atmosphere of the Empire, she wondered if the shield itself would kill her. But unlike in the past when she would have had an underling go first, this journey was hers to do alone. She took a deep breath, and stepped forwards

Chrysalis passed right through the shield and except for a minor tingling, seemed unharmed. The warmer air inside hit her pleasantly and she took a deep sigh of relief. This will be a perfect home for her children.

The first few minutes were spent walking along a well trod path, but she soon reached the city itself. She walked slowly through the streets of the city, the crystal ponies watching her from the relative safety of their houses with fear. Usually she would have loved the feeling of creatures fearing her, but that is not what she needed. However, she was getting something she did need.

Love.

There was a palpable field of love in the air, and despite it not being nourishing enough to be rejuvenated quickly, given how starved she was it was enough to give her the energy she needed to be dignified for her final act as Queen. Complete and unconditional surrender to the ponies she had harmed the most, Princess Cadence and Shining Armour.

A pair of ponies that not only did she physically and mentally harm, but also ruined their supposed happiest day of their lives. Given she was now going to be completely dependant on their mercy towards her swarm, she hoped she knew ponies as well as she thought she did.

Approaching the castle at the middle of the empire, she saw the Princess looking down from a balcony above, whilst Prince Shining armour had a squadron of guards circling the base of the castle.

Chrysalis stopped, and bowed her head as low as she could go. “I have come to surrender” she called out as strongly as possible.

Cadence looked down at her former captor, and could see the state she was in. She looked weak and with no backup visible was putting herself into venerable position. This didn’t seem to be a good ploy if it was an attack. Shining Armour tighten his grip on his sword, but had yet to pull it out. Let her make the first move

Silence fell over the trio for a moment, Chrysalis not moving from her bow and the pair watching her. Cadence jumped off the balcony and landed with an authoritative stamp on the ground. Chrysalis flinched as the dust was kicked up, but didn’t move.

“Follow me” Cadence ordered.

The changeling queen could see Cadences shadow so followed behind, her head still bowed. She just took it as a good sign that she wasn’t attacked and restrained (or worse) on sight. She could also tell Shining Armour followed behind her, no doubt keeping an eye out for any funny tricks.

The journey through the castle seemed to last forever as she walked in the awkward position. She was glad her swarm could not see her now - her chiefs were aware that she was going to talk but at least they last saw her with her head held high.

She entered a room and was surprised.to find carpet under her hooves and came to a halt as Cadence stopped and turned.

“Raise your head” the Princess asked gently and Chrysalis complied, surprised to find themselves in a grand room rather than some harsh cell. “Please, take a seat. Do you need a drink?”

Chrysalis and Shining Armour both looked at her in disbelief, and Cadence rolled her eyes “There’s nothing to say we can’t be civil over all of this, is there? I had to be tough around the guards, but this is a private sanctuary.”

Out of surprise more than the need for comfort Chrysalis complied and soon found a cup of tea levitated towards her. An awkward silence fell over the pair. Chrysalis was on the back hoof, Shining Armour were staring daggers at her and Cadence had the look Princess Celestia often had - neutral, yet you know something was up behind thouse eyes. And eventually, letting the changeling stew for a while, the pink alicorn was the first to speak.

“So, surrender?”

“Yes, what are your terms? Although - ” Chrysalis chuckled a little “- given the state both myself and my swarm are in I doubt there's any conditions I will be able to say no to.”

“Unconditional surrender it is then.” Cadence half smiled and she sipped her tea very casually.

Chrysalis had to admit Cadence knew how to play it cool, and so tried the same “I throw myself at your mercy, please help my swarm. They need Equestria’s help to survive”

“Why here, why now?” Shining Armour demanded

“Isn’t it obvious darling?” Cadence replied

Seeing the confusion on the stallion's face, Chrysalis smiled a little “As a parent, you will understand what somebody is willing to do to protect their children, and make no mistake my changelings are my children, physically as well as emotionally.”

Shining Armour thought about how his own priorities seemed to change as soon as he found out that Cadence was pregnant, and again when Flurry Heart was born “I think I understand”.

“Yes, I needed to find somepony who will look after my children, regardless of what you will do to me. They are starved of energy, please help them!”

Cadence picked up on the increasingly desperate tone of the Queen “Why not ask Equestria for help earlier?”

“Princess Celestia would never understand.”

Cadence smiled “I think you misunderstand the compassion Princess Celestia has...but that doesn’t matter right now. The important thing is to make sure we get your children cared for,”

“That could take a while to organise.” Shining Armour mused “We will need to limit numbers, and keep close guards on them.”

Cadence openly giggled “I don't think that's going to be an option dear.” She stood up and motioned for the others to follow her out to the balcony, which overlooked the empire towards Equestria, with the train station and main road in view.

And a view that surprised Chrysalis the most.“But...what?”

The crystal ponies were helping the changelings, in many cases physically carrying them into the city from the train station.

“One curious pony went to the train station to have a look at what was going on.” Cadence explained “No doubt on seeing the state your swarm is in, they rushed back to get aid, and the result is all the crystal ponies doing...this"

“You knew this was happening the whole time...how could you tell?” Shining Armour

“I can feel the flow of all emotions in the empire, and the spike in compassion was enough to tell me. I can also sense the changelings emotions now they are within range of the Crystal Heart, and I know they are too grateful to be trying to do anything funny.”

Cadence stopped talking as Chrysalis fell to her knees, crying.that her children were finally safe. The alicorn put a comforting hoof on her shoulder, and then turned to her husband.

“Shining, please see to it that the following message is explained to all the changelings - they are free to live in the city and to passively absorb the energy. Under no circumstances are they to shapeshift, nor use magic or fly unless it is an emergency. They are also to remain at least 50 paces away from the Crystal Heart...for the time being at least”.

Shining Armour nodded, gave a final partily suspicious look to the former enemy, and reluctantly left the pair.

Cadence let Chrysalis get her tears out, and was ready with a tissue when the changeling finally stopped crying. “Sorry about that...hearing that pushed me over the edge. But...what do you plan to do with me?”

Cadence gave a sorrowful look “Yes, about that. Follow me.”

Chrysalis looked over the Crystal Empire and could see her changelings would be well looked after, then obediently followed Cadence up another flight of stairs and found herself in front of another door. She could sense a powerful magic shield around the room, no doubt turning it into an effective cell.

“Enter” Cadence order, and Chrysalis opened the door to her new prison...but again she was surprised as this time she found herself in a nursery.

Cadence smiled having tricked Chrysalis again “We had to surround the Nursery with a shield to protect Flurry Heart from teleporting or flying away by accident.”

Cadence saw Flurry Heart was awake and so trotted over to the crib and lifted “Upsy Daisy” she cooed as she lifted the foal out before giving her a tender nuzzle.

“Queen Chrysalis, may I introduce you to Flurry Heart.”

Chrysalis looked at the small foal with massive wings, knowing that this little bundle of joy was the reason she was there. From the reaction of Cadence, she may not have needed to wait, although given Shining Armours understandable distrust, waiting for him to be a parent may have been a good idea.

Flurry Heart scampered off to play with some toys, and seeing her foal was awake Cadence walked away to get a bottle of milk for her mid afternoon feed. This left Chrysalis alone with Flurry Heart much to the changeling surprise.

Cadence returned a few minutes later to a sight she wasn’t quite expecting, and just raised an eyebrow in surprise. Flurry Heart was nestled and almost sleeping between the front hooves of the former evil mastermind. “Chrysalis?” she spoke softly and with a hint of mischief.

“Well, when I sat down, Flurry Heart came over and looked at me. I sat still as not to scare her but then she crawled on me. I...I didn't want to move and disturb” her Chrysalis blushed a little as she looked down at the sleepy foal lying on her.

“Of course not” Cadence suppressed a giggle.

Chrysalis scowled but was genuinely surprised “You’re okay with this? I mean, being this close to a pony means that, well….”

Cadence gently lifted the foal who eagerly took the bottle in her mouth “Passive love taking doesn’t hurt us Chrysalis. Your changelings are in need of love. My Crystal ponies are used to giving love off freely. It seems to be a match made in heaven.

“But...we’re evil”

“I don’t believe you are evil, Chrysalis. You were despite and doing what you thought was best for your swarm, even if it was misguided. And you didn’t actually harm anypony. You might have taken a little too much glee in it that makes you perhaps a little cruel, but that's probably from many lifetimes of being Equestria's enemy.”

A few minutes latter, with Flurry heart fed and winded, Cadence turned back to the changeling “Would you like to act as a pillow for her again?”

“I’m not some big softie you know.” Chrysalis tried to scowl.

“I will just point out you had my foal resting on your hooves, and have made no attempt to move away” Cadence poked out her tongue

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna didn’t visit the Crystal Empire too often simply because every time they did seem to involve overwhelming ice somehow. But this was not a visit just to see their niece, but the new alliance which was in full evidence as they made their way to the palace.

The changelings were helping fix up the outside of some of the building, using their flight and magic to help with the raw strength of the crystal ponies. It was the perfect symbiotic relationship, one that Celestia in particular could never have imagined.

Upon reaching the castle, they were greeted by all the royals, along with Twilight and all her friends who had come up a few days before.

The alicorn of the night started the greetings and nodded to each in turn “Princess Cadence, Prince Shining Armour, Queen Chrysalis...”

The changeling held up a hoof “Actually it’s Duchess Chrysalis now” Seeing Luna raise a eyebrow in surprise, she continued “Queen would imply my rule over the changelings was unchanged and was going to drop any honourific completely…”

“I wasn’t going to let that happen” Cadence interrupted

“...But Princess Cadence wasn’t going to let that happen -” Chrysalis continued with a bit of a smirk “- and so I choose a rank befitting my status as leader of the changeling culture.”

Princess Celestia smiled “Chrysalis, it’s unusual to see you as agreeable and as, well, ‘you’. And in a formal outfit no less, that's a first.”

“I hate wearing dresses.”Chrysalis scowled.

“Oh come on!” Rarity cried out. “Do you realise how difficult it was to come up with something that worked with black and green?”

Applejack walked over to her “Err, Rarity, should you be shouting at royalty like that?

“Apologise Ms Belle, that was most ungrateful for me. I am still not...familiar...with being given things rather than stealing them. I am sure it is a very generous act.”

Luna put a hoof on her shoulder “I must say I'm not too fond of dresses myself, they get in the way of combat.”

Celestia rolled her eyes “Not everything is going to be about combat, there's more to life than fighting”.

“You’re only saying that as last time we met I won.” Chrysalis sniggered, before placing a hoof over her mouth.

Everybody let out a gasp but Celestia let out a massive laugh “Not sure about that, but it’s all water under the bridge hey? Besides, I believe our overall score is five - one?”

Author's Note

[1] - As shown in the Christmas Special comic, the inside of the train station is massive!