Author's Note

Happy mother's day everyone/creature, I've come out with a short interlude from the point of view of Aurelia's mother Queen Zagria.

Interlude: A Daughter's Gift

1012 ALB

Being a queen is hard.

Now being a queen, fighting a war AND raising a child, even harder. But I make it work even as we’ve reached the second year of war with Equestria, and our forces have pushed deeper into Equestria and are currently within city limits of Las Pegasus, while the ponies have put up a stiff resistance, sooner or later Las Pegasus will fall. But despite my commitment to assisting Queen Chrysalis in the ongoing war effort, I try to find time for my daughter, Aurelia, even if it's rare these days.

Even now as my daughter leads me through the hive with great enthusiasm, I walk along with a small smile on my face, following her to wherever she may take me. I wonder what is it that got her this excited? Well whatever it Is I’ll find out soon enough.

We reached a set of large double doors flanked by a guard on each side. I saluted both guards and they saluted back and opened the doors to let us through. Which led out to a lush garden outside, with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and a gentle breeze carried the soft rustling of leaves. The garden was a kaleidoscope of colors, with every hue from the palest pastels to the richest jewel tones. You’d be forgiven if you forgot that there even was a war going on.

My daughter guided me to a specific spot in the garden, bouncing as she went. She came to a sudden stop and turned around, beaming at me with her eyes sparkling.

“Come on mom, it's this way.” My daughter said with uncontained excitement and continued bouncing.

I let out a light giggle. “Slow down dear, you’ll tire yourself out before you can show me.”

Aurelia let out a giggle in response.

We soon arrived at our destination which was a secluded spot underneath a tree in the garden. Beside it stood an easel that had a tarp covering it. my daughter eagerly ran towards it, motioning for me to follow and then asking me to stop. I stopped and settled down to my haunches, I watched as my daughter levitated the canvas and hurried back towards me.

“Here mom look!” My daughter said, as she removed the tarp which had revealed a canvas with a beautiful painting of the two of us sitting together on a hill, beneath a cherry blossom tree, gazing at the sunset.

I began tearing up as I heard my daughter speak. “Um, I hope you like it, um Ms Chisel helped taught me how to paint and I thought that i’d make something, you know since I barely see you and-”

I caught my daughter off guard as I suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace. “It's not just I like it, no I love it, and thank you I will cherish this forever and always.” I said and my horn lit up and I cast a preservation spell on the painting.

I looked back down at my daughter, who was still wrapped in my embrace, I heard her speak softly. “I love you mom.”

Smiling softly “I love you too sweetheart.” Was my response as I stroked her mane and heard her soft coos, I watched as her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep. I then gazed up at the sky, taking in the view of the sunset.

And I hoped that this damned war would be over...