The Lost Changeling: Taken it Back

The morning after my talk with Carve, I arrive at the field south of the roundabout in Ponyville. However, Starlight Glimmer already is present.

“Heh, quite the early bird today, aren’t you?”

“Chrysalis... we need to get to Canterlot right now. Twilight was gone when I arrived and I haven’t seen her at all ever since.”

I gasp.

“Then we have no time to lose! Come on, Starlight! She might be in Canterlot right now!”

And with that, I use my horn to teleport us over to the entrance to the Canterlot Palace. I sigh, trying to ready myself for the worst case scenario.

“Let’s go in...” I say in almost a whisper.

;=;

Starlight and I finally arrive at the throne room. When I check my surroundings, no guards seem to be present. Through the peephole, I see that Princess Celestia’s currently on her throne alongside Princess Luna.

...well, hopefully Luna, if she ever pays us a visit, it won’t be as we were told of her. I do like a good surprise myself off and on.

“She... she did tell them, and... and it sounds like we still have a chance. Starlight, you’ll have to enter first, as I’m trying be careful upon entrances to ponies like these.”

“Okay. I understand. Let me knock first.”

BONK BONK BONK

Oh! That must be her, sister! Luna exclaims.

Come in!!

Starlight opens the door and enters the throne room.

Good morning Princesses. So, you probably heard about Twilight right?... but yeah, about that. Recently, it turned out Chrysalis has been seeking to be our allie.

Hmm... how do you know, Starlight? Celestia asks, cueing my entrance.

“Earlier this week she went to spend the whole day with me as a griffon. I didn’t exactly notice until she revealed herself. She really doesn’t mean harm anymore.”

Luna raises her left eyebrow.

“So... Queen Chrysalis? Care to explain?”

“Yes. The changelings reconstructing my role as queen was when I realized invading Equestria was not going to get my hive the love it needs. There have been iconic individuals from my hive known to Equestria and beyond: Carina... Thorax... Carve, my new stand-in queen... who knows the countless others of my kind that had left between One Thirteen and Ten Nine? If the aforementioned three have found a better source of love, I might as well follow in their examples. And because I am a changeling queen, a recrowned one in fact, it is my role to validate Equestria as their allie, even when they no longer roam the waking world.”

Celestia chuckles a bit.

“Well, why didn’t you just say so when you first planned to kindle Equestria’s faith in the changeling kingdom? You could’ve simply come here to save Twilight all that time. What do you think, Luna?”

“...Hmm... I can actually relate to your situation quite a bit, Queen Chrysalis. If you were looking for Equestria to be your friend, it would be no surprise that Twilight wouldn’t believe you at first from past experiences. Ponyville was like that when I first arrived for my holiday.”

Next thing I know, Celestia begins to smile warmly.

“Everypony relates to both you and Twilight, Queen Chrysalis. Change may be tough to enact, but will be quite rewarding when enacted with the intention you speak of. Starlight knows what I’m talking about, right?”

“Yes. Time and time again, I had let my old ways take my thought process over... the compilation incident, Trixie getting under my skin... those two were just the top of the palace. I understand your motives, Chrysalis, and it’s admirable what you’re doing that is driven by those motives. I guess not everypony needs an outside influence like I did to better themselves.”

Celestia puts her left hoof her chin.

“Kind of like what Discord went through? In fact, he turned good twice.”

“Wait a minute, are you referring to when he joined Tirek? I know Twilight and the gang told me about it when I first got a glance at him.”

I chuckle in thought of Starlight’s out loud thoughts.

“Perhaps that conversation will be for another time. For now, I have some curiosity, Princess Celestia. Since Twilight had told you about me before I came, who would you believe?”

For the time being, while Princess Celestia starts pondering, I get a look at Starlight again. Right now, I can sense a hopefulness in her. Suddenly, the princess casually clears her throat, having finished her thoughts.

“Okay... Queen Chrysalis, I have thought about every angle of the current situation. As I can see, you have changed quite a bit since Shining Armor and Cadence’s wedding, and have learned of a better way of feeding your kingdom. While I can understand Twilight’s concern, your current understandings in leadership have the potential to ease those concerns. I gladly thank you for coming to Canterlot to honestly reveal yourself as having learned from your past experiences. The only thing I ask of you now is to let me know of whatever you need. I will be more than happy to help you out with whatever situation you end up in.”

As Princess Celestia voices her thoughts, I begin developing a smile I haven’t truly had ever since my recoronation. I got quite close when Starlight befriended me, but it was nowhere nearly as notable. When Celestia finishes, I feel almost ready to hug her. Luckily, I refrain from that extension of enthusiasm and simply bow.

“Thank you, Princess Celestia. I will return if I need anything of you.”

“It was no trouble really. Your reprising time as a ruler has the potential to be truly great for your hive. You’ll usually be able to find me in Canterlot if you need me.”

Take a swift sigh after getting up.

“Will do, Celestia. It would be best if I return to my hive. I wish you and your sister farewell.”

;=;

So, I look out the front hole in the throne room in time to see simply Chrysalis returning to the hive. A few minutes later, there she is, enter the room.

“Hi, Chrysalis!”

“Hello, Carve.”

“Wow. You seem happy.”

Chrysalis nods.

“Yes. I had received acceptance from Princesses Celestia and Luna, which feels like such an accomplishment.”

“Well, I’m very unsure about that, Chrysalis. Even with that said though, there’s still Twilight.”

“Well, at the very least, they can talk to Twilight whenever they need to. I’m sure that they can help her understand my efforts to validate Equestria as an ally to-”

Suddenly, the two of us hear a hole open up in the wall next to us. The one that prompted the open hole looks particularly familiar.

“Chrysalis! We need your help! My friends and I have developed a search party, but we can’t find Twilight anywhere in Ponyville!”

“P-Pinkie Pie?!?” I stutter.

“Okay, Pinkie Pie. Will do. If Twilight isn’t anywhere to be seen in Ponyville, then my top drones and I will have to track her down in various surrounding cities. She couldn’t have gone terribly far from Ponyville if it has been less than a day that this has come up.”

“Good!! I’ll get Starlight then!!!” Pinkie happily shouts.

And just like that, Pinkie disappears, leading the hole closing, and leaving me simply speechless.