Almost two hours later they were done working out the points on paper. The structure was there now as well as the details needed.

For now it was determined that changelings would live in disguise under the populace without exception. Shining Armor didn’t seem too happy with that and he voiced that much. The Princess did of course convince him to give up that position. At least for now and the near future. Obviously there would be great conflict if they just up and went around undisguised.

It would have to be done sneakily as well. Migrating a few here and there instead of a large mass. Just to slowly push them in. Though all of them had to be registered with their location. A network for that needed to be built, meaning Canterlot was the first city that would invite them, with others slowly following along.

A slow approach. But one that Chrysalis expected. This was going to be difficult. She was still going along with it of course, though her mood was a bit more muted for now.

The changeling queen stretched her neck a bit from the long sitting, relieving a blissful crack before standing up.

“If there is nothing else, I will return to my quarters for now.”

“Actually,” Shining piqued up, “I think it is good manners for me as Guard Captain to show you around the palace.”

That made the changeling queen raise a surprised brow at him. She was about to call out that she did know her way around the castle, because of the invasion incident, but then decided to play along, if just to see what he was planning.

She also might have liked the idea of spending some time with him, despite it also making her slightly nervous, considering they went apart in a manner that wasn’t quite perfect.

Still, queen she was, she wouldn’t show weakness by avoiding him. If there was something he wanted to say, she would take it head on.

“Very well then. Lead the way, captain.”

Shining smiled happily at this and nodded before leading her out.

Princess Celestia watched this curiously, but shrugged it off for the moment, choosing to ignore it for now.

Chrysalis hummed thoughtfully as he led her to the garden, stopping and waving his hoof around.

“The royal garden. A plethora of many flowers and plants grow here, not to mention the special part of it with many exotic animals, as skittish as they may be,” he explained naturally.

“Fascinating,” she said with thickly dripping sarcasm, rolling her eyes. “But I doubt you lured me out here in the night to tell me things I already know.”

Shining turned to her, but instead of anger or disapproval he had a melancholic smile. It surprised her and made her heart skip a beat.

“W-What are you gawking at!” she growled, but despite her sharp teeth and threatening posture, the foal didn’t even flinch. Worst of all, she felt a light blush emerging on her face.

“Oh, nothing,” he said all too innocently. “Just thinking how it is still you. How you haven’t changed at all. I kinda missed that.”

The proud queen shook her head, “Just what are you saying Shining? Haven’t changed? You are aware that we never really interacted like this. That you never really talked casually with a changeling queen in front of you.”

“But I did,” he pressed, “Sure, you were a bit more pink, but it was still you. Or do you want to tell me that you weren’t the mare that was purring like a little kitten when I brushed her mane at night?”

A loud embarrassed groan escaped her, making her want to either tear him apart, or hide behind her hooves. She wasn’t quite sure. The former after all would make a big mess and cause her troubles with Celestia.

“I thought we agreed to never talk about this again!”

“We did. At least if it was you.”

She let loose a slight growl, “Fine then. We were chatting things up before, sleeping in the same bed and going on dates additionally, if that makes you oh so happy to hear! Honestly, saying these sappy things makes me want to puke!”

Shining smiled happily. Something that made the changeling queen not happy at all. At least mostly. She still felt an infernal small part of her blooming at seeing his foalishly joyful expression. A foal that he most certainly was from the many days she had spent with him.

“Anything else? Or are you just here to degrade me, because I actually came back to do things your way? If so, I will just leave now,” she told him with some bite, turning around and ready to walk off, but Shining quickly followed after her.

“Wait!” he told her, going around her and standing directly in his way.

The stallion looked at her with a contrite smile, seeming sad. A sadness that reminded her of that fateful day. The day her plans crumbled to dust.

“I...I’m sorry, Chrysalis.”

Strange words. These were such strange words to hear. Words she never heard from a pony said to her in her true form. Words so genuine, and yet so delicate.

It made her even more sick. So she snarled.

“For what?! Just what is your endgame here?!”

“To reconcile,” he stated determined, pressing on, one hoof stepping forward, in spite of her venomous dripping fangs bared before him.

Surprised by his naive answer as she was, she held her tongue as the stallion in front of her pressed on.

“I want to reconcile with you. And I apologize for not talking to you sooner and for only offering my hoof when it was too late.”

Chrysalis rubbed her temples, she felt a headache coming in.

“Are you even listening to what you are saying? I bet your lovely fiance would tan your hide for this alone. Not only because you are saying it to a changeling, but also because that very changeling imprisoned her and then robbed you of your first time. And despite all this, despite how even a foal can see just what a horrible idea this is, you still want to reconcile and act like nothing bad happened?”

Shining Armor nodded resolutely. “Pretty much.”

The changeling queen just stared at him in disbelief for a long moment, before her lips cracked into a smile and a snort escaped her, though she quickly covered it up with a hoof to her face.

“You are the dumbest specimen that ever crossed my path, you know that?”

The stallion in question puffed his chest out. “I aim to please!”

“That is not a compliment you foal!” she chastised him good-naturedly, shoving his side.

She chuckled. It was a sound she didn’t want to let her lips escape, but in this moment it felt great doing so. Shining joined as well, seeing the humor in their little back-and-forth.

It held on for almost a minute, the mirth in the air palpable, going as far as even giving the changeling tears at the edge of her eyes that she wiped away with a hoof.

“I missed this,” he suddenly said, smiling at her once more.

Chrysalis avoided her eyes as she scraped her hoof along the ground.

“I guess...I did miss it too. To not have a reliable servant like you by my side,” she added the last part in quickly as an afterthought. No intention to go too soft on him right now.

‘And yet, it was this softness and acceptance that was drawing me in to begin with. A weakness which in turn weakened me. Makes me sometimes wonder who the fool really was in the end.’

She then smirked at him. ‘And yet he is too innocent. So I would say he got a lot to learn from me as well. I should return the favor. Teach him, strengthen him, make him mine.’

Her tail swished a bit eagerly as she sidled up to him.

“I accept your request for reconciliation, Shining Armor. Even more so as I will now need a guard for this prolonged stay. If you have time freed up in your schedule, you best make sure to keep it open for me.”

He leaned his head to her cheek, nuzzling her. “I will do that then. Don’t want to anger a foreign diplomat after all.”

She nodded haughtily, “You don’t. I can be rather demanding after all.”

“Oh, I am well aware,” he told her with a smile. A smile she returned as their heads turned towards each other.

Chrysalis could practically feel the heat from his body and the soft warmth of his fur on her chitin. A new experience, albeit a welcome one that she felt like she could get used to, and with how he looked at her, he could get used to it either.

Seeing this, she couldn’t help but smirk smugly in triumph. Her head darted forward, meeting his soft white lips.

He didn’t pull back, or flinch, much to her surprise, but accepted it, pressing softly back as if to give his approval of this.

A strange stallion indeed. Though she hopes he wouldn’t just kiss any maid that willingly back either. Otherwise she would be quite displeased.

It was a fleeting thought though and in this moment, it didn’t hold any weight. The only weight that mattered was the one on her lips. So she basked in it, just like the stallion, unaware of the pink form, glaring at her from a balcony.

Shining Armor’s trotted up to his and Cadance’s room, an elated skip in his step.

His reconciliation with Chrysalis went really well. Even more so than he had imagined. It laid his fears to rest. There was after all the possibility that she would blow him off and keep a distance between them. A distance he wouldn’t have liked at all.

The changeling mare with all her flaws and quirks was for him delightful to be around. It was something he wanted to have back.

This notion of course wouldn’t make his life easier. Even less since he did harbor romantic feelings for her. But herds were a thing, so he hoped he could get Cadance to become accepting of Chrysalis over time. It would be the ideal situation...at least if he could get the pink mare to let go of her grudge.

She was imprisoned by changelings, so it was understandable, but Cadance brought this to xenophobic levels. There was a hatred inside her that he had tried to soothe for months with no result. Another one of his worries he would have to face now that Chrysalis is back and doesn’t have to face any punishment. Something that does rile up Cadance even further, no doubt.

A formal apology of Chrysalis to Cadance is in order. It might not solve this, but it at least would be a first step in the right direction. And they had to start somewhere. Chrysalis wouldn’t be going anywhere in the near future. If they didn’t work things out, chances are one of them will blow up and do something they will all regret. And right now he has a feeling his fiance would be the one that does the exploding.

Despite that he was hopeful as he reached their room, pushing the door open and allowing himself into the luxurious wide living room with an adjacent kitchen room that was open. Stairs led up to a higher elevated area that oversaw their accommodations. Doors to a large bath were right between the stairs and beneath the open bedroom.

“I’m back, Cadance!” he called out, his eyes scanning the room to find his pink mare. It didn’t take long as she was laying on the couch disgruntled, glaring at him.

He cocked his head to the side, having a slightly apprehensive feeling.

“Cadance? You alright?”

The pink mare snorted, “Am I alright?” she echoed, her scowl only deepening. “I am not alright! How could I be alright! With her! And with you!”

The white stallion took a step back at the outburst, planting his derriere on the ground and lifting his hooves in a placating manner.

“Woah, woah, woah, Cadance! What has gotten into you?”

“The more accurate question is, what has gotten into YOU!” she growled, standing up from the couch. “I saw you and Chrysalis. How you were all ‘friendly’ with each other and the k-... k-...k-...” she started, but couldn’t really say the word.

Shining for his part cringed at that. This was not a good way to introduce the topic.

“Well, she did. I-I mean, Chrysalis is an affectionate mare, once you get to know her and I am sure you would have a blast with her if you gave her a chance,” he argued. But it only fell on deaf ears as he saw the sheer unbridled rage in her eyes.

“Giving her a chance?! Has she brainwashed you again?!” she screeched, horn aglow as it swept over the stallion, but she couldn’t detect any changeling influence.

“Cadance! You can’t just use magic to scan me like this! I thought you are trusting me!”

“Oh, you mean the stallion that is out and about letting mares kiss him? I think not! And the fact that I can’t detect her vile magic and what you say is something you do with your own words makes it even worse! She is a changeling Shining! A love-sucking monster! And yet you defend her and the entirety of her wretched race! Aunt Celestia is crazy enough as it is in her desperation to get anything back resembling her sister, so much so that she is even willing to invite a gang of timberwolves over for dinner! I don’t need you spouting naive tales about how monsters can live together with ponies in peace!”

Taken aback by her words, Shining stepped back, but Cadance simply took a step forward, to keep their distance short as she gave him a disapproving determined stare.

He shook his head, trying to comprehend just what she was saying. What this pink mare was saying. The pink mare what was supposed to be his fiance. He knew she was mad, but like this, in her rage, he hardly could recognize her. Scratch that. He couldn’t recognize anything of the mare he fell once in love with.

‘Just what happened to you Cadance? Where did I go wrong?’

In spite of asking this question, he already knew. The foalnapping. Her imprisonment. His lack of action despite the feeling something was different.

“I’m sorry Cadance. I am really sorry that happened to you. It was not fair to you and it hurt you. But I need you to trust me. We can build a great future together. But for that you need to think more clearly. Revenge will only bring destruction to an entire race. A race that doesn’t consist of monsters. They are like us, but they just don’t know how to create bonds yet. But you, Cadance, the Princess of all things Love can help them. You can help the changelings grow. Become an accepted race among ponykind. Friends and lovers alike. With your help we can manage to do something great. And I cannot do it alone. Please, Cadance. Can you give me your hoof in support and marriage?” he asked her with a hopeful but remorseful look as he walked up the last of the distance and reached out his hoof in friendship and love.

And then Cadance slapped it away.

The smack was loud as it was painful, Shining Armor wincing at the throbbing in his fetlock. His eyes turned up to his fiance, a sneering mask of rage.

“Oh, buck off!” she snarled hatefully, “‘It was not fair to you’,” she mockingly mimicked his voice, “You are right, Shining! It wasn’t! None of it was. It wasn’t fair to have you enjoy your days with this bitch while I was trapped in a dirty crystal cavern! That you loved her and cared for her! And that you had that magical first time with her! But no, that isn’t even the point here! You aren’t able to listen to the easiest of things! Changelings! Are! Love-sucking! Monsters! They have no business in a pony society! And now get out! And don’t come back until you come back to your senses!” she told him coldly, pointing to the double doors of her room.

Shining Armor looked at her saddened, before lowering his head and heaving a sigh. He turned around and walked out of the doorway, not turning back as the doors closed behind him.

The Princess held her glare until he was out. Once he was she walked around and threw herself belly-first on the couch, burying her head in a pillow. Steaming hot tears escaped her.

She was sad, she was mad, she was frustrated, and yet she wasn’t regretful. She meant what she said. Changelings were a threat. As a Princess it was her duty to keep ponies safe first and foremost, not changelings. And if she ever had any kind of naivete on the subject, it was drained from her during the imprisonment.

So she just laid like that by her lonesome. But her thoughts didn’t stay idle for long. Celestia’s plan came to her mind. A disgusting plan she needed to stop. She needed to pull all of her political influence, all the weight her small crown could carry and if need be take more drastic measures.

With that thought in mind she drifted off to sleep, not at all looking forward to the upcoming day.

The next day came all too soon and Celestia knew something was wrong.

Cadance wasn’t there for breakfast, nor was she there for lunch. To be fair, neither Shining Armor nor Queen Chrysalis were. It made her huff. If necessary she would have to make those mandatory. If only to make sure their society would work.

It all depended on Cadance of course.

Shining Armor and Chrysalis were on board. She wondered if the captain could manage to talk some sense into her.

This after all was important. And having Cadance as an enemy in this was unacceptable to her. She didn’t need another alicorn defying her within these very walls.

There was a bit of trepidation settling in her stomach, but she steeled herself. She was the Ruler of Equestria. She would handle this.

With a confident nod she finished up all ner necessary duties as it got closer to evening. Hopefully everypony would have cooled off by now. It was barely an hour later that she was back in the meeting room. And only a short time crossed following that before the next arrivals made their way in.

Shining Armor and Queen Chrysalis came hereby in at the same time, curiously enough.

Her eyebrow rose a bit as she watched them take their seats quietly, only exchanging a simple greeting with her, leaving only one mare missing.

Barely a minute later the doors slammed open and Cadance walked in. Her stare was hard and her steps clacked noisily along the marble floor.

“Cadance,” Celestia nodded to her. The pink alicorn didn’t even acknowledge it.

This action was already making the white mare taken aback. It was rather disrespectful and quite unlike her.

She stood on the opposite site of the table, her gaze sweeping over the two beings sitting beside her.

“Cadance!” Shining Armor started, but she just scowled at him.

“This is not the time for it Shining.”

There was a clear edge to her words before her eyes fixed on the regal ruler of Equestria.

“Not the time, you say?” Celestia started as she steeled her own gaze. She wasn’t about to be cowed by her. A mare that had never in her life ruled anything of importance, or had to fight any real horrors. The foalnapping being the only exception of her having a hardier experience.

“Does this mean, you made a decision?” she asked further. Not that there needed to be any inquiries with the clear defiance she displayed.

“I did make a decision. I am against this, just as much as I was yesterday. What you are doing is reckless, Celestia. You are endangering ponies. Just for some vague hope. A selfish personal wish.”

“It is better for Equestria if Princess Luna returns. So it hardly is selfish,” she argued right back, her stare only hardening at the slight insult. “Still, your worry is acknowledged. Now be a good mare and sit down, if you don’t have anything else to say, so we can get back to it.”

Cadance was appalled by that notion, stomping her hoof.

“Did you even listen? I openly veto this proposal with my power as a princess!”

She only got an disbelieving stare from Celestia in turn.

“Do you now? I think, I need to set some things right. This is not your decision to make, Cadance. I ruled Equestria for far longer than you have even lived. So don’t even think for a second I am asking for permission from you. It is already decided. The only question that remains is, if you will sit on the table while I am finalizing it or not.”

“B-But-!”

“No buts. You may be a princess, but you are without land to rule. Therefore you have no political influence in this matter.”

Cadance grit her teeth as she stared at her aunt and mentor. The mare who had guided her and now disregarded her opinion in her mad chase of her sister.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out, because what could she even say that would reach her? In what way could she convince a mare with simple words that was so stuck in her desperation. There was no reason she would listen to. And there was no pony to support her. No, not even Shining Armor was on her side in this.

There was no other choice. No fair route for he to take.

‘If that is how it is, then I can only play dirty,’ the mare admitted to herself. If she wanted to act the part of a princess and protect the citizens from a once so beneficial ruler, there was no way she could stay on the righteous path. No speech was grand enough to sway her.

She didn’t like it, but she needed to do what was best.

“If that is how it is going to be…” she started, her heart hammering in her chest, but her resolve absolute as she glared at the white alicorn mare, “...then I will have to spread this news amongst the populace of Canterlot. To spread how you have gone mad and want to bring changelings into their homes in secret and destroy Equestria in the process.”

“Cadance! You can’t do this!” Shining Armor cried out in protest as he stood up. Chrysalis stood up as well, surprised by how far this pink alicorn was willing to go.

“I can and I will! You two leave me with no other choice!”

Celestia chuckled. It was a frail and almost broken thing. One could hear a slight tone of sadness, but also bitterness in it. Not to mention a tone of muted rage.

“I just wanted to say the same, Cadance. You leave me with no choice. You act like you know everything better. As if you could gauge the risks and rewards of this game. But you can’t. You are just a simple mare. One that hasn’t lived long enough to make the right call. It is a pity, truly. I didn’t want for it to come to this…” she told her, a grim expression forming. One that made Cadance want to gulp and take a step back.

The white alicorn mare’s head swiveled to the sides, where her loyal guards were posted.

“Guards…” she started, pausing for but a moment. “Arrest Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Imprison her in the dungeons.”

Everyone looked shocked at this as there was a silence in the room. A moment later the guards came out of their shock and approached the mare, one of them holding an inhibitor ring.

“No!” the mare screeched, trying to blast them back, but Celestia of course was prepared, already having Cadance’s horn in her magical grip and disrupting her casting. The pink mare gasped as she wasn’t prepared for this. And the guards used that movement to close in.

“No!” Cadance screamed again, jumping over the table and bucking it into the guards as she ran straight up to Celestia, Chrysalis and Shining Armor with a growl.

She charged her magic again as Celestia stepped forward, quickly firing a blast. Cadance met it with her own, both meeting in the middle.

The pink alicorn grit her teeth, her forehead scrunching in concentration as sweat dripped from her brow. She gave it her all and yet felt the magic being pushed back.

Quickly she erected a shield, or tried to, but a pink shield formed in front of her legs, disrupting her own as it came in contact.

That moment of concentration loss was all that was needed as Cadance was blasted back and tumbled on the ground, before coming to a halt. She groaned, helpless as the guards quickly put the ring on her horn.

The disconnection was something she noticed immediately. She wanted to stand up, but the guards held her already, overpowering her.

Princess Celestia gave her a cold look as she approached her. Shining Armor and Queen Chrysalis following more reluctantly.

At this moment she wasn’t sure who she should glare at more. The hated changeling queen, her betraying husband, or her wretched aunt.

In the end she settled for the last one, seeing as she wasn’t easily going down.

“You will not get away with this! Ponies will notice that I’m missing!” she tried to refute the plan, but Celestia simply shook her head, as if she was a foalish filly.

“You are easy to forget the simplest things,” she reprimanded as her head turned to the changeling queen. “Chrysalis. You will take Cadance’s place. You are well-versed in it. And it will make it easier for you to move around unhindered.”

Cadance looked dumbfounded as she heard this. One of her most profound fears seemingly materializing out of thin air. But with this fear, there also was a powerful hate. A hate that unloaded in this very moment.

“YOU FILTHY WHORSE!” she screamed at the changeling queen in question who took a step back.

“Transform,” Celestia simply ordered the queen, who could do little more than spark her horn, green flames washing over her body as she still stared at the pink alicorn.

“THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!” Cadance continued to rage, tears forming, as the ring on her horn sparked as she tried with all her might to throw a powerful spell at the cursed changeling queen.

Shining stayed right at the queen’s side, albeit looking clearly saddened at Cadance.

“Enough of this folly! Drag her off!” Celestia finally ordered, having enough.

The guards nodded in respect before forcefully dragging the pink body away as she still cursed and tried to fire beams at Chrysalis.

Shining Armor turned away, not being able to look at the alicorn any longer. Tears were stinging at the corners of his eyes.

Chrysalis simply stared. She couldn’t say anything. She couldn’t do anything as pink fur sprouted and her mane changed to that of the mare before her. She wasn’t sure what to think in this moment. The situation was hitting her hard.

The solar princess seemed to have less trouble as she threw the doors to the outside open, the cool night breeze playing along her fur as she walked out on the balcony. She stood there for a moment, back turned to the situation and seeming thoughtful, maybe even a bit conflicted, before she took off.

There was nothing else said, besides the angry and desperate cries of the pink alicorn as her form was dragged down underground into a dinky dungeon cell.

With these events there was also a great amount of uncertainty, albeit no one dared to speak of it. No one dared to question their supreme ruler.

Many wondered what the future might hold, however, it was only speculation in the end. Their trust was placed in the sole ruler of Equestria alone and so they would continue to follow her into an uncertain future.

Author's Note

Another chapter that certainly does work into the other characters. Rather interesting to write. I hope you all find it just as interesting.