Steely Heart, Perpetual Spark

It was several hours before they reached Canterlot, confirmed by the announcement over the intercom. They rose from their seats and made their way onto the platform. It was a weird sensation to be returning to Canterlot again. To their right was a deep indention next to the road where patrons could procuring a carriage.

Clearing the platform, they walked ahead several feet before stopping. Realizing she'd left her bits in her rush Sonorous was eyeing the long road into the city. It would certainly give her a chance to stretch her muscles, especially from the long train ride. A tab on her shoulder caused her to look directly into the eyes of Octavia.

"We're going to rent a carriage did you want to join us," she asked. Although her mood brightened because of their chat, a concern still nagged at her. Sonorous reluctantly accepted and after paying for the carriage, they took a seat inside. Moments later heavy steps from the hitched stallion could be heard as they started to move.

After several minutes of silence, Sonorous spoke up, "Do you think everypony deserves forgiveness?" Shocked at such an out of the blue question both mares stared at her. Their awe quickly subsided as Sonorous' sincere gaze met theirs.

"Of course we do," Octavia replied as Vinyl nodded in agreement.

"Even if they've done something terrible?" Sonorous added.

By now they were wondering if she was leading up to something. Placing a hoof on her knee, Vinyl gave her a concerning look that befitted a well-known friend. Sonorous felt a lump forming in her throat while maintaining her composure. She debated whether or not to reveal everything to them.

She quickly dismissed the idea, no pony would ever forgive the things she'd done she thought. Instead, she purposed a hypothetical scenario where Queen Chrysalis was forgiven. They didn't burst out laughing as she thought, in fact, their responses actually brightened her mood.

"I guess it would be possible for her to earn forgiveness. Although it would definitely take time to offset her crimes," Octavia finished. Sonorous shifted her gaze to Vinyl who was finishing up her explanation. Taking the notebook, she read her words out loud.

Returning the notebook she thanked them for their opinions in an uplifting tone. Before another word could be spoken the carriage came to a stop. Opening the door they file onto the marble walkway. Following the group, they passed several equines that had stopped to admire the beautiful sights.

They soon reached a set of ivory stairs leading to the castle entrance. At the top stood a pair of guards on either side of elegantly crafted doors. "Presenting Princess Celestia of Equestria," a guard boldly declared after the doors were opened. Everypony bowed as the gentle steps of Princess Celestia sounded throughout the courtyard.

"Welcome to Canterlot, it warms my heart to see so many eager performers. Whether you're here to support Ponyville or to test your mettle upon a grander stage is of little consequence. What's important is that ponies of every trot of life have gathered to make this event the best it can be."

"Without further ado, I present to you the schedule for the following week. Within this pamphlet, it lists the theaters we were able to procure and each scheduled performance. Fret not on how to pass the time, we've organized a week-long festival that'll coincide with the performances. The attractions, concessions, and events can be found within.

Finally, a map of Canterlot has been included for those that may not be familiar with the city." Having concluded her speech tables emerged from several spheres of radiant gold. With another display of magic, stacks of pamphlets sat upon the tables.

Everypony applauded thunderously before trotting to the tables a few moments later. Sonorous suddenly stopped, causing the ponies behind her to bump into her. Ignoring the grumbles of passing ponies, a sinister voice rang in her head. "Fight as you might, my will is law," the raspy voice sneered.

Covering her ears, she dropped to the ground struggling against the indomitable force. Her strange behavior soon attracting the attention of the crowd, guards, and Celestia. Vinyl, closely followed by Octavia, pushing through the crowd to stop by her side. The sight sent ripples of fear throughout their bodies.

Choking down a lump in her throat, Vinyl cautiously reached out to her. Seconds felt like hours before her hoof finally tapped Sonorous' shoulder. The innocent contact seemed to snap her back to reality. Lifting her head, she stared at them with bloodshot eyes.

No longer obstructed, tears streamed down her cheeks. Her lower jaw quivered as she attempted to speak. After several attempts, she weakly said the word run before streams of smoke burst from her eyes. The crowd immediately dispersed as additional streams of smoke emerged from her body.

Heeding her words, Octavia was about to run but stopped as Vinyl remained stationary. Gripping her hoof, she pulled Vinyl away. Her body convulsed a few more times before the entity took full control. Her prestigious form fell away to reveal the chitin skin of Queen Chrysalis.

Summoning her scimitars, she turned to face the guards and Celestia. Charged at them after a violent hiss, she morphing her tail into the tail of a manticore. She parried the spear of the first guard before plunging the stinger of her tail into their throat. After several venomous infusions, the guard dropped to their knees, eyes rolled into their head.

With a swift swing of her tail, the guard slid from the stinger to slam against the marble. The other guard was closing in quick weapon poised to attack. Spotting the discarded spear, Chrysalis levitated and launching it through the air. Realizing that Celestia was the intended target the guard threw her spear.

Her aim struck true as both spears clanked together before falling harmlessly against the marble below. Shifting into a tatzelwurm, tentacles rushed from her mouth. Wrapping around the waist of the guard, screams echoed as they were ripped in half. Tossing the bloody halves aside Chrysalis leaped onto the balcony the princess occupied.

Reverting to her normal form, Chrysalis slowed the transformation of her head. The sickening sound of tri-angled jaws fusing and visible rows of razorlike fangs worked well in unnerving her. The appalled alicorn stared at the warmongering changeling. A mixture of tears and sweat dripped from her face.

In a flash, a sharp pain formed in the right side of her chest. "Burn in Tartarus," Chrysalis sneered. With a sudden twist, a pained gasp followed, she slowly extracted the ethereal blade. Celestia dropped to the floor with a dull thud as blood pooled around her.

"Sister," came the shrieking voice of Luna as she, accompanied by a group of pegasus guards, arrived. Shifting her gaze upward, Chrysalis smiled maliciously. A folly of green bolts soon followed her deathly stare. With little effort, Luna deflected them with an erected barrier.

"We both knew this was unavoidable," she mocked. Despite Luna's attempt to control her emotions, storm clouds began to emerge. Gathering her magic, a dark blue crystalline scythe appeared in front of the Night Princess. Diving down, weapon readied, Luna confronted Chrysalis.

The joyous ring of metal reverberated through the town below as weapons clashed. Breaking apart, they charged again attempting to overpower the other. As before, the scrimmage ended in a draw of green and blue sparks. Desperate to gain the advantage she swung the blunt end of her weapon catching Chrysalis in the jaw.

Initializing a vertical flip with fluidlike control, she scored an additional strike on the backswing. Several drops of green blood splattered onto the marble floor. "At least one princess knows how to dirty her hooves," Chrysalis smirked. An emerald aura manifested around her in a show of power. In turn, Luna manifested an aura of midnight blue.

Giving a light hmph, Chrysalis brought her swords to eye level. Likewise, Luna drew her weapon to her side. Streaks of blue and green filled the air as they swung their weapons at blinding speeds. The resulting sparks lit up the sky as If an unscheduled festival was taking place.

Realizing that they couldn't assist Luna, they opted to safeguard the civilians instead. More than once sparks bathed them as Luna foiled Chrysalis' attack. Tiring of their stalemate, Chrysalis plunged a dagger into her thigh as they clash again. Momentarily distracted Luna, her pained groan escalated as a pair of blades slide across her chest.

Crashing into the stone railing, she laid unconscious in the rubble. Landing a few steps away, Chrysalis flourished her swords on either side of her. Grimacing at the sight of her superficial chest wounds, she drew both blades to her throat. As Luna's skin gradually parted, a crazed delight flooded her mind.

Before she could deliver the fatal strike, Chrysalis was sent flying over the cliff. Attempting to regain her balance, she flipped and spun several feet away. Beside Luna, a mysterious equine lowered an ear to her chest. After determining that Luna would pull through, they set their gaze on the now righted changeling.

Chrysalis stared in disbelief, the alicorn she saw appeared to be Celestia but simultaneously wasn't. Instead of her quadri-colored hair, flickering flames of orange and yellow. Her white coat had shifted to a very pale yellow/white hue while her regalia resembled an overly intimidating version of gothic armor.

Finally with eyes of red, irides of gold, and thinly slit pupils the alicorn glared at her. Focusing on the latest adversary, she charged at the fiery alicorn. An intermingled flame of green and red arched into the air as her hoof struck the alicorn's jaw. Chrysalis was beside herself to see her punch was completely ineffective.

Streams of fire shot from the alicorn's nostrils as it exhaled. "You dare sully my coat with your filthy hooves," she scoffed.

"You should be dead Celestia," Chrysalis shouted. Earning herself another strong jab that knocked her back a few feet in the air.

"My name is Daybreaker," she replied in a chilling tone. Her flaring mane and tail illustrated her anger of being misidentified. Reviving her emerald aura, Chrysalis refocused her concentration. "Perhaps you could be entertaining," Daybreaker added. Sensing the sudden increase in magical energy Chrysalis raised a shield.

Not a moment too soon as Daybreaker unleashed a dense beam of energy that engulfed her position. Several moments later, thinking Chrysalis dead, Daybreaker grinned in satisfaction. Diminishing her magical output her smugness immediately faded as a sphere or green energy remained.

"You may be strong but lack control, perhaps Celestia could teach you," Chrysalis taunted. An enraged Daybreaker charged her horn again, Chrysalis followed suit. Having evacuated the citizens to the outer rim of the city, the guards were returning to the castle. A huge shockwave cascaded from the point of the colliding energy.

Due to the partially damaged railing, Luna slipped over the side with several chunks of rubble. Spotting a blue object falling, they doubled down to coax whatever speed they could. Several blocks from her estimated trajectory, a few more explosions sounded above.

Pushing that aside for the moment, the furthermost guard reached out his arms while arching into a gentle incline. Realizing that the incoming collision was unavoidable, the guard pulled Luna as close as she could. Remembering a lesson from flight school, she prepared to tuck and roll. Due to her excessive speed, they rolled up the mountainside a little way.

Small protruding rocks felt like jagged blades as her body scooted over them. Kicking off with her rear legs both ponies flew away from the cliff face. Pain shot through her back as the guard attempted to fly. Positioning herself so that she'd hit the ground, she silently assured Luna of her safety.

Reaching the apex before the plummet a pair of arms cradled the guard's backside. Her relief eased the sting her body felt from their contact. Finally reaching the overhanging balcony, they laid both guard and Luna down. Upon seeing her wounds, another guard picked Luna up and rushed to the hospital.

A half an hour later, Daybreaker landed beside them. "Where is Luna," she demanded in a panicked voice. The strange alicorn shifted back to Celestia as they were relaying Luna's location. Levitating the injured guard, they made their way to the hospital as well.