"Princess Celestia!" A guard called while running towards the Princesses' thrones. "Queen Chrysalis has been found lurking around the city! The others have cornered her!" Celestia nodded with a firm face, her eyes shining with authority.
"Bring her to me!" Celestia commanded.
"Right away, your highness." The guard left, galloping out the doors and towards the Changeling Queen.
A group of guards soon returned, spears turned towards a badly injured Queen.
"What shall we do with her, your highness?"
"Let me talk to her." The princess responded, seeing the Queen look at her with pleading eyes. She had never seen Chrysalis this way before, and it was shocking. "Alone." Celestia clarified. The guards reluctantly left the room, glaring at the wounded Queen.
"Princess Celestia..." Chrysalis pleaded. "I know I will face death... But..." Celestia's firm face wavered. "My race is dying!" The queen cried. "And I have one last request." Celestia nodded, her face softening slightly, but tensing a moment later.
"What is your request?" She inquired.
"Bear my child..." The queen begged desperately. "Please. I don't want changelings to go extinct!" Celestia was shocked and confused at the same time.
"And how would I bear your child?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Changeling magic..." Chrysalis said simply, her eyes pleading for the race to be saved. "I could plant a child in you, which will be birthed normally. Please! I promise it won't be difficult!" Celestia thought about it for a moment. This was the only chance to save the dying race. Though the changelings were a threat. Chrysalis put her head down, tears threatening to spill. "I understand..." She breathed. "That offer can't be followed through-" Celestia interrupted her with a simple smile.
"I agree." The Queen was startled, and started to cry.
"Thank you Celestia..."
The princess nodded, allowing a gentle smile to grace her face. The queen couldn't hold back, as she tackled Celestia with a hug. She sobbed into the princess' shoulder, over and over muttering thanks. Celestia hugged back, her eyes expressing bewilderment. She allowed her face to soften though, as she closed her eyes and nuzzled the poor mares mane. She was going to save the changeling race.
Chrysalis stood in a prison, chains around her ankles and horn. The sound of heavy hootsteps echoed throughout her temporary prison. There was a small click as the doors wer unlocked.
"Chrysalis." A firm voice announced. "I will remove the band from your horn, but if you try to attack, I won't hesitate to kill you." The queen nodded in understanding, guilt in her eyes. What she had done was cruel, but for years, her Changelings had gone hungry. She only did it for their lives. But now, no one would give them love.
As soon as the brace on her horn was removed, Chrysalis preformed the spell. Celestia was startled, but soon a warm feeling overtook her. But as quick as the feeling came, it left.
"Thank you." The queen said softly, guilt dripping from her words. "I hope you treat her better than I ever could." A smile played on the Changeling's face, her eyes closing gently. Celestia's horn lit up the room with bright magic, shooting towards chrysalis. A numb feeling spread throughout the queen's body. She could feel her heart stop beating, her consciousness slipping from her body. She felt as if she was resting from a long winding day.
The last thing she felt was her body hitting the cold hard ground. In a way, this was a relief. She hadn't had a good life, losing many of her soldiers and family. Knowing each Changeling would die along herself, painless and full of comfort. This was because of their connection with the queen. They were still their own pony, but if their queen died, they would too. In the same way as well, either painless, or in agony.
It was a funny thought. They could each die, the queen uneffected, but if the queen died, they would all leave the world at the same time.
A pang of sadness hit Celestia's heart, tears dripping from her eyes. This wasn't the first time this happened. Every time she had to execute a criminal, the same thing happened. She collapsed, regretting her choice. She knew deep in her heart, that this was the right choice, but her mind told her it was wrong. Her brain would remind her of the families that would mourn her death, even though Chrysalis wouldn't have any family left. This thought seemed to make her angry. Not at the world, but herself. She had killed an entire race, yet saved it at the same time.
She wiped her tears away, leaving the dungeon. She headed up a staircase and around the winding hallways towards her room. She opened the door gently, closing it quietly. As soon as she was seperated from the outside world, she collapsed on her bed, crying. How could she have deprived a race of a chance to live? Even if they did some horrible things, they deserved to live, right? No, this was the right choice. It may have seemed to be cruel, but she'd start the race anew. She would raise Chrysalis' child. She would keep her promise.
A knock interrupted the princess' train of thought.
"Come in..." She responded with a sigh. In entered her beloved sister, Luna. The blue alicorn sat on the bed of Celestia, stroking her mane.
"You made the right choice, sister." She reassured, knowing full well Celestia acted this way after execution.
"Chrysalis did some horrible things, and she and the changeling race needed to be put to rest... As for the child..." Luna sighed. "I'm glad you decided to agree to Chrysalis's request..."
Unbeknownst to the sisters, a faded shadow was watching in the corner. A faint smile stretched across it's face, it's eyes shining softly. Tears seemed to fall down it's face, disappearing when they fell to the floor.
Thank you... And with that, it faded.
Who knew that 9 months later, a baby holding a piece of the queen would be born, ending the war between pony and Changeling. This pony was Mirror, the first Changeling pony hybrid.
