Princess and Queen: Mother and Daughter

-the previous night-

It had been a little while after Chrysalis and Flurry had retired to their bedchambers, little did they know that they were not the only ones still awake; on the other side of the Spire, the Princess of Love was busy having a chat with her clearly exhausted husband. "I just don't get it Shiny, no matter what I say Flurry won't listen to me...have I really failed to the point she allowed Chrysalis to brainwashed her into being this way?"

Shining purposefully drug out the yawn he had been holding in, after a long trying day he was ready to get his forty winks of shuteye. "Cady please, can you hold off until tomorrow morning and we discuss this over breakfast before we have to kick our daughter and her fiancée out of the Empire? Please reconsider that foolishness in the first place, Flurry is mature enough to care for herself, and it seems that Chrysalis has turned over a new hoof and is going to properly care for the Flurry of our Hearts. I never thought I would ever say this but...Chrysalis has my blessing to marry our daughter." Then, in a moment clearly caused by lack of sleep, he said "Thou shalt not covet thy daughter's bughorse wife" as a mutter as he drifted off.

That remark stopped Cadance from continuing to wear a rut the floor more than the indention she had already wore into it. "You too huh..." Her voice was soft spoken but the hurt, and hint of anger, was clearly evident in her tone. "Not surprised really, you have fallen for her mind control spells before so of course you would approve of her marrying that curvy piece of chitin..." That made Mrs. Sandmare briefly leave Shining alone and he stared at Cadance wide eyed as her body siezed up. "What the hay did I just say!?!? No, I refuse to let that insect control me! That settles it, I'm going to Canterlot to see my aunties; maybe they can exterminate the problem I am having in my home, Empire, and family while Aunt Lulu frees me from this damned to Tartarus nightmare. Enjoy your rest dear because I've awoken and I'm taking back control."

What she didn't know, or at least notice, was that Shining had fell asleep halfway though her speech so it was like she was talking to air as she teleported to Canterlot. Having both her aunts' schedules memorized by heart, she knew that Celestia would be up on a midnight cake run while Luna was eating lunch so she simply short range teleported into the dining hall and stood at the end of the table. "I need your help aunties...I need your help to make Flurry see reason..."

The fact Cadance had come to them at the dead of night, let alone it being an issue about Flurry, was an immediate cause for alarm for the Diarchs, who beckoned their clearly strained niece over to them. "What seems to be the issue Cadance?" Celestia asked in a mother like tone. Cadance then went and explained the whole situation, and as much as she wanted to bend the truth she didn't because she knew better than to lie to them. Cadance's hope died when Celestia shook her head and sighed. "I'm sorry Cadance but I fail to see any issue, whereas Chrysalis has done some pretty aweful things in the past, everypony can turn over a new hoof. I think you are letting a deep burning personal vendetta cloud your judgment, I suggest you remove the rose colored glasses you are wearing niece."

Luna nodded. "I agree dear sister, despite being just 16 she is mature far beyond her years, the fact she reformed Chrysalis is a feat in itself much like what Flutters did to Discord and look how happy they are together."

Cadance scoffed. "Please, you two are sounding like Shiny right now, am I the only pony who is seeing through Chrysalis' ruse!?!? I swear it's either that or you are turning a blind eye to your most wanted enemy and that is a sign of poor leade-" She was cut off by being slapped across the cheek by the Solar Diach's right hoof, stunning Cadance into silence as she looked up to the Princess of the Sun, who now stood at her full height and was sternly looking down at her. Even in her stunned state Cadance knew she just bucked up...badly.

"First of all..." It was taking Celestia every last bit of willpower to keep a level tone and a clear head so she didn't buck the living Tartarus out of her own niece. "Don't question mine and Lulu's leadership, second of all.." Her tone rose to her Royal Canterlot Voice. "GET A GRIP OF YOURSELF PRINCESS MI AMORE CADENZA! Flurry is the one in the right, and while I would not have preffered this route, all foals eventually have to leave the side of their parents and make their own way in the world."

Deep down Cadance knew she had a point, and she did not bother interrupting as her flaming aunt continued the lecture. "Flurry has an incredible future ahead of her, it just saddens me to know that you have decided to cut yourself out of it. That is all I am going to say on the subject, so I bid you a goodnight Cadance and I hope you see the err of your ways before you lose your daughter forever." On that note, Celestia magestically trotted out the dining hall back towards her room while eating the last piece of a Red Velvet cake that she had been snacking on before Cadance had interrupted her's and Lulu's meal.

"I bid you a goodnight as well Cadance, I must go watch over my subject's dreams, which I will try my best to keep yours sweet; however I suggest you head my sister's dire warning and take it to heart." Luna then lit up her horn and teleported away, leaving Cadance alone to her thoughts. For a solid hour she debated the words with her feelings but in the end it was a futile effort. Her resolve cracked as the full weight of her actions crashed down on her like a tsunami of lava.

"What have I done..." Cadance thought before teleporting back to her bedroom and waking up Shining Armour. "Oh Shining what have I done?! I'm going to lose my daughter and it's all because of who she is marrying?" The waterworks then flowed as her mental dam broke, soaking Shining's coat and the bedsheets underneath them. If Cadance words didn't snap Shining to full consciousness , the tears and emotion his wife was pouring out did.

"There there Cady, it will be ok, you have made your bed now you must lie in it. In otherwords, you got to deal with the consequences of your actions. I tried to warn you dear but now it's too late, today at noon you have to watch our daughter walk out with Chrysalis and their changelings. Now as I suggested earlier, please come to bed and sleep, I will comfort you the whole time." In resignation, Cadance nodded and climbed into bed beside her husband, crying herself into a restless sleep as Shining held her close with his hooves.

Chrysalis and Flurry stared at Shining as he finished recounting the previous night's events, both Alicorn and Queen completely left shellshocked but before they could ask any questions Cadance came in. "As for how he knows what took place in Canterlot..." She said with a yawn. "Aunt Lulu visited him in his dreams and told him. Flurry...Chrysalis...from the bottom of my heart I am sorry..."

"Bit late for that don't you think?" Flurry bitterly said, each word being like a dagger in Cadance's already wounded heart. "Considering that it is time for me to leave...Also, I hope you never have another foal, that way you don't raise it into being a changeophobic, hypocritical bigot. The times are constantly shifting like badlands dust mother, it's time for you to change with it, now this is goodbye."

Flurry then got up and made her way for the door, stopping only long enough to look to her fiancée. "Let's go Chryssy, we aren't welcome here and I will not allow our drones to be in an area that will show them hostility for one filly second longer."

Chrysalis' jaw dropped at Flurry's words, and after a few seconds of stammering she hung her head. "Yes my Queen..." She then proceeded to follow Flurry out the door and out the Empire, every drone in tow. As they went into the distance and out of sight, Cadance collapsed from not being able to cope with the pain she was feeling...

and the Crystal Heart shattered...