Spike's Concern, Luna's Visit
Twilight trotted home from Quills and Sofas, quite confused that Chrysalis worked in Ponyville. What's worse was that it seemed that everypony just forgave her for trying to conquer all of Equestria. "Hi Twilight, were you able to get your quills," Spike asked as Twilight entered the library. "No, but more importantly why didn't you tell me Queen Chrysalis worked there," Twilight inquired.
"Well it didn't seem important at first then after The Canterlot Fiasco I knew it would upset you." Spike solemnly spoke. Twilight didn't doubt Spike's good intentions but couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed. "I just wish you'd told me, instead of me making a fool of myself today," Twilight spoke in a somber tone. "I'm sorry Twilight, I was planning to tell you eventually," Spike admitted.
"I know... I think I'm just going to lay down until my head stops hurting," Twilight droned as she walked up the stairs. "Ok, by the way, what did you want for dinner?" Spike called after her but received no answer. Twilight's horn lit up with magic, gripping the doorknob with telekinesis. She slowly opened the door, walked into her room, and gently closed the door behind her.
Her small bedroom was bathed in the golden radiance of the setting sun. Twilight strolled toward her balcony doors, normally she would admire the sunset from her balcony. Unfortunately, her mind was too preoccupied at the moment to fully appreciate the beautiful scenery. The curtains were pulled shut by her telekinesis before Twilight leaped onto the nearby bed.
The bedroom now eclipsed in darkness, Twilight began to mull over the events of the day without distractions. After several extremely long minutes, Twilight came to three very disturbing conclusions. The first being that Chrysalis was, in fact, trying to win a bet and not really evil. However, that might imply that Princess Luna was extremely manipulative and uncaring.
The second possibility was that somehow Nightmare Moon resisted the elements and now plots with Queen Chrysalis. Unfortunately, that meant that the benevolence of Princess Luna was nothing but a charade. Then the last and possibly worst scenario was that exposure to the element of magic had driven her insane. That all the adventures with her friends were nothing more than delusions of her broken mind.
Twilight, the bright unicorn that she was, would never have entertained such absurd thoughts. However, in her compromised mental state, she could feel herself falling deeper into the darkness of doubt. Twilight pulled her hind legs toward her torso curling into a ball. Her left eye began to twitch, Twilight was stroking her tail and muttering incoherently to herself.
Without warning a poof sounded in her room, followed by a flash of dark blue magic. Twilight was so shocked that she leaped off her bed and landed on the floor with a loud thud. Slowly Twilight poked her head over the bed, her jaw dropped in astonishment as Princess Luna stood in her bedroom. In a swift motion, Twilight leaped over the bed and landed in a bowing pose.
"Rise Twilight Sparkle," the lavender unicorn did so as Luna continued to speak. "We have received word of thine unrest," Luna finished in a regal tone. "Queen Chrysalis is here in Ponyville," Twilight blurted out before thinking. Luna stood there, thinking upon Twilight's words, her brother's wedding suddenly came to mind. Luna was about to speak but stopped, remembering her sister saying that a stoic approach wasn't always necessary.
Softening her tone, Luna spoke in a deep gentle voice. "Please explain what your dilemma is Twilight." Upon hearing these words Twilight went into a full analytical rant. Beginning with Chrysalis making everypony mistrust her, then her imprisonment under Canterlot. Almost attacking the real Cadance out of fury, watching her immobilize, her mentor, Princess Celestia.
Twilight's voice was starting to squeak a little from her long explanation. Taking a deep breath, she continued listing her reasons to mistrust Queen Chrysalis. Twilight continued with their failure to reach the Elements of Harmony. How the day was barely saved by the transfer of power from Cadance to Shining Armor. Then earlier today Queen Chrysalis said the entire incident was nothing more than a bet.
Twilight then explained the preposterous theories that resulted from her over-analyzation, leaving out her mental collapse beforehoof. Luna carefully considered Twilight's words, "it sounds like we arrived just in time," she finally replied. Luna trotted over and sat on her bed, patting the spot beside her for Twilight to sit.
Twilight had to admit it felt different to sit beside Luna. When Twilight sat beside Celestia, the atmosphere was always lighthearted and comforting. With Luna, Twilight didn't know what to expect. Her thoughts were interrupted when Luna began to speak. "We'd like to apologize to thee, it was not our intention to villainize Chrysalis or cause undue stress to anypony else."
Twilight couldn't believe her ears, an apology was the last thing she was expecting. "Chrysalis had worked with us for so long that we assumed everypony knew of her," Luna stated with a hint of regret in her voice. "Why would Equestria want to ally itself with creatures that literally feed on the love of others?" Twilight asked incredulously. Luna was shocked that such prejudice could come from the unicorn that always promoted friendship.
"It's true that changelings feed on love but what thou seem to forget is that love can be given freely," Luna sternly addressed Twilight. Falling silent, Twilight contemplated what Luna said, while Luna sat quietly. The gears in her head were turning but cooperate was the only concept she was able to grasp. The thought of ponies and changelings living together just seemed unsettling to her.
"I'm sorry Princess Luna but I just can't see changelings living harmoniously with ponies, "Twilight honestly replied. Keeping in mind that it was her brother's and former foal setters wedding, Luna spoke in a calm tone. "We think thou personal feelings are clouding thy judgment." Luna's accusation was spot on but Twilight just couldn't let it go.
"Even if the invasion was on a bet, that didn't mean my brother wasn't actually hypnotized." "That didn't excuse having imprisoned Cadance then later myself." "That definitely didn't pardon Chrysalis from endangering everypony." Twilight was shouting by now. She was angry at the Changeling Queen and ashamed for such anger. Twilight felt torn between the two emotions, she looked up at Luna, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Am I a bad pony for feeling this way," Twilight croaked, trying to hold back tears. "No matter how I approach it, I just can't forgive Chrysalis." "It feels like an attack on me, upon my family, how can you forgive something like that?" Twilight whimpered. "Why should I..." Twilight was interrupted as Luna pulled her into a hug. "Shhh... I'm not asking you to forgive her," Luna spoke softly.
Twilight let all her pent-up emotions go, in the cradling arms of Princess Luna. The hug was so warm and comforting, almost like a mother's embrace. Luna held Twilight close, stroking the back of her head comfortingly. She could feel her chest fur becoming saturated by Twilight's tears. Luna didn't mind, helping a fellow pony, outweighed tear-stained fur.
After several minutes, Twilight's sobs stopped, the lavender unicorn broke away from Luna. Sitting next to the princess once again, she looked at her with bloodshot eyes. "Did Princess Celestia know what you two were up to," Twilight asked calmly. Luna smiled, summoning her magic, "she was aware, it was actually her idea," she replied as a scroll appeared on the nightstand.
Twilight turned toward the scroll, using her telekinesis, she unrolled and read the short message. Shortly afterward, Twilight rolled the scroll back up and passed it to Luna. "So the Changeling Invasion was actually a test of Canterlot's security, so why did Chrysalis say it was a bet," Twilight asked. Her anger was slightly vanquished since she now understood why the invasion had to feel like a legitimate attack.
Luna smirked as she began to explain, "Chrysalis didn't want to participate for fear that ponies might begin seeing her as a villain." "It was the wager of one million bits that got her on board though," Luna stated with a small chuckle. Once Twilight organized her thoughts did she begin to speak. "If I understand this correctly, all three of you made a plan to determine Canterlot's vulnerabilities."
"The only thing I don't really understand is were did me and my friends fit in," Twilight asked. Luna's face contorted into a small frown as she spoke. "Able to wield the elements of harmony, the Bearers of Harmony are considered defenders of Equestria and had to be tested as well," Twilight drooped her head and ears, remembering their capture. "Even though thou were captured, Chrysalis reported that it was a valiant fight."
Twilight immediately perked up upon receiving praise from Princess Luna. Feeling that her task was done, Luna was about to hop off the bed when a pair forelegs wrapped around her midsection. "Thank you for helping me Princess Luna," Twilight graciously spoke. "Thou'rt quite welcome Twilight," replied Luna as she returned the hug. They broke away a few moments later, Luna hopped off the bed and faced Twilight.
"Even if you can't forgive Chrysalis, don't condemn her for the Canterlot Incident," Luna asked. Only after seeing Twilight nod her head in acknowledgment did Luna teleported away with a poof sound. Twilight got off the bed and headed downstairs, her stomach was beginning to softly growl. Walked into the library she saw Spike asleep on a table, a quill sticking out of an open inkwell.
Twilight suspected that he had sent a message to the princess, although she did wonder why Luna answered instead of Celestia. It hardly mattered now besides Twilight was glad that Luna had responded. Despite her traditional speech, Twilight surmised that Luna could be an amazing mentor. She gently levitated Spike up and carried him to bed. After tucking him in, Twilight went back downstairs to find something to eat.