Quiet, depressing quietness had been on the build upon the years. Creatures came and went, all different yet the same. And for Twilight, new faces became figures of old. One day came a two-year-old, the next a fifty-year-old, both the same pony. Her dreary eyes became duller and duller the longer she was. No one that was there when she became 'Princess of all Equestria' was here now. They've gone.
As the week turns, the holy day of Hearth's Warming rears its head towards the alone lavender alicorn. It's like a punch to the stomach. Instead of companionship on this day, she takes strolls in the Royal garden by herself, alone.
This year is the same as the last.
Light snow falls upon the once-prosperous garden in Canterlot castle. And as subtle steps make their way towards the centre, the gentle sound of a winter breeze and streaming water can be heard in the nearby lake. Too can trees standing in columns along a pathway brushing off their last hanging leaves. These columns lead towards a statue. A statue with three figures upon it, made of hard magical stone. Hard stone that Twilight helped with creating.
What was many years ago a pony filled with determination and will to go on, now had lost its spirit. Who once was a proud hero of Equestria, had lost herself amidst the growing unreliability of friendship, being immortal. Was this how Celestia felt for a thousand years? She pondered. Was this how Luna felt, on the moon? Celestia, Luna, faces Twilight has not seen Since... Since...
Twilight Closed her eyes, she felt her heart burn. She always had someone by her side on this day, someone who cared, who saw, who knew. Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Flurry Heart, Shining, lest not forget her friends. All left her. The last time she had someone who knows how it feels, who knows the pain, was years and years away from her. Not one pony on the face of this planet understands her pain, her suffering. All but Perhaps, Chrysalis...
Her eyes shot open, like the youngs' bedroom door in the morning of this holy day. turning towards the statue eyeing the former queen in her stone eyes, still showing her common wrath in them. Unwilling to accept defeat, even to the last moment. A trait that Twilight would, amongst the years, grow to love, the inability to give up. To still fight, even without purpose. A thing she lost years ago.
But how should she comfort herself with Chrysalis whilst she is rock hard, literally?
Chrysalis, when she heard Discord had been turned to stone so many moons ago, she had presumed that it was as if you were asleep. All time is gone in an instant while you dream, in paradise essentially. Lost to fate. Yet, her theory had a problem. Why not do that from the beginning and give yourself an ever-living life of happiness?
But as it seems, she got an answer.
There is no paradise, no dreams, nothing but black and muffled voices of creatures outside. No hunger, no thirst, no will, no dreams. She could sleep, but that only made the noises outside quiet. This had gone on for what felt like eons and she had given up on getting out.
Yet, Just when she thought she would be stuck in this hell for eternity, she heard a sound. It was a loud rumbling noise and suddenly, the ground under her began shaking. And as the last of the stone crumbles away from Chrysalis, she stands firm awaiting her worse punishment, if not death. Not without taking in the thought of relief by ending the cycle of being awake and asleep. Alone in the darkness of her thoughts. After viewing the balcony, her head turned in curiosity of where she was and as such, meeting eye to eye with the old Alicorn fiend, Twilight Sparkle. Who is quite tall.
“Chrysalis?” The Alicorn spoke, seeming delighted by Chrysalis’ appearance.
“Twilight,” Chrysalis responded with a low growl in her voice. “What a Pain to meet you,”
"I have heard that one before,” Twilight responded.
“You look... different." Twilight chuckled in response. Chrysalis took in that Twilight, her most hated fiend, is not in a defensive pose, nor an offensive one. This was by far not the most shocking feature of the alicorn by any means no, she looked tired, mentally exhausted.
"Well, I am quite old, and you’re probably confused, I reckon” She assessed. “Last time you saw me, I was a naive little princess. but now…” Her voice halted in what seemed to be an involuntary gesture. Chrysalis could feel the aura of regret and dissatisfaction. She lowered her stance and tilted her head. Was this the same twilight?
“But now?”
“.. No matter,” Twilight quickly answered, clearly trying to hide her quite obvious emotions.
Though Chrysalis ignored it. “Why did you wake me if it was not for more punishment?” She asked Twilight.
“I… erm,” Twilight Hesitated, “I wanted company,”
There was silence, dead silence. Chrysalis stood stunned as Twilight blushed. Did she say she wanted company from her? “Why me?” Chrysalis broke the silence. “Why not Celestia, Luna, Disc-”
“I wanted you!” Chrysalis eyes were at full size. Does Twilight actually want me? She pondered. She has never been wanted before, not even by her own damned hive. "Just Please... Please don't leave me," She pleaded, not wanting to go back to the hell of foretime.
"No, I…” Was Chrysalis really going to pass the moment of finally achieving that hard-fought-for revenge? But instead, reconciliation? Her mind began drifting. The thought that all that ill-willed pain was for nought, evaporated as she spoke her answer. “I won't," Chrysalis, perhaps for the first time, comforted Twilight. “I won’t ever, as long as my heart beats, leave you,” For Chrysalis, It felt warm to speak these words, to 'mean' it as well. “Let us get some heat, Okay?"
As an answer, Twilight gallops into Chrysalis' hugging embrace. The warmth of a thousand summer suns could not compare to the feeling Twilight was feeling. For the first time in, what must have been three hundred years, she felt understood. "So," Chrysalis tried to leave the addictive and comfortable hug, only to be met with resistance from the alicorn. As such, a chuckle escaped her. "How long was I out?"
