"P-punishment, Princess!?" Cadenza's worry was unmistakable as her panicked eyes quickly shifted back and forth between my calm mentor and her fuming sister.

"Well, of course, Cadenza!" Celestia kept her eyes on the bug. "We can't just have someone overthrow a monarchy, usurp that nation's throne, and then attempt to conquer another nation without there being any repercussions for that criminal."

...

"Not to mention kidnapping and impersonating an officer of the Empire's military," Shining Armor stated flatly.

"BABE!?" The princess was caught off guard by her husband's blunt statement, that much was clear from her use of a nickname.

But I guess we're supposed to be being casual now.

I was all for such brutal honesty, though. It's not like Chrysalis was sorry for what she did.

"And let's not forget trying to murder one of the Elements of Harmony," I said through clenched teeth.

"You too, Sunset!?" Cadenza looked at me, saddened by my cooperation with her husband.

"You cannot allow the atrocities that Chrysalis has committed to go unaddressed, Cadenza." Cantata was firm as well, not an iota of mercy in her. She may have no longer held a grudge against the Bug Queen, but it was clear she knew what it took to keep proper order of her land.

"I know, Mom. I know... It's just..." Cadenza's head fell.

"Just what, Cadance?" The Queen's arrogant snort drew all of our gazes. "Even I knew the tyrant wouldn't let me off scot free."

"Tyrant?" My teacher raised a dissatisfied eyebrow. "I'm being quite congenial, if I do say so myself." She turned to the former queen of the Crystal Empire. "Forgive me for... unearthing the past Cantata, but the new... queen must understand the dire predicament she is in."

"By all means, Your Highness," Cantata grinned deviously, giving her consent to the Sun Princess. "Do not hold back anything for my sake."

"Yes, tyrant..." Chrysalis sneered, seemingly in delight. "Let me have it!"

"You believe yourself to be so wise, Chrysalis," my mentor rubbed her forehead with a hoof, the arrogance of the beast visibly affecting her. "Perhaps a creature with your abilities should change into someone a bit more respectable."

"Petty insults?" Chrysalis suddenly looked overjoyed, sitting up straight in her chair. "Is that the best you can do? You do not live up to your reputation, tyrant. Not. At. All."

"And you do not hold a candle to the ones that came before you." Celestia powered her horn. The changeling tensed, energizing her own horn, but looking completely unsure of herself. "I guess we are both disappointments, aren't we?"

Celestia's spell went off in a brilliant explosion of sunlight, encircling her body in a wall of green flames. Such a sight was a rarity for me, but it was also familiar. What replaced her true form seconds later was equal parts horrifying and breathtaking.

Everyone in the hall trembled at the sight of the princess' sudden transformation. I felt my own lips lift in satisfaction. It wasn't the first time I'd seen Celestia utilize her expertise of transfiguration. If she so desired it, the Princess of the Sun could become a massive dragon that towered over the palace itself with little to no effort.

Becoming a simple changeling is no problem for her.

The new creature was a bit taller than Chrysalis herself, -- maybe by a few inches -- but she looked quite similar to the Changeling Queen. They looked so similar in fact that it was almost as if the Bug Queen was now sitting before a mirror. "Celestia's" mouth was a bit wider and her eyes were a bit softer. The only real notable differences between the two were the color of the mane, tail, and irises that my mentor now had. Each was a dazzling fuchsia as opposed to the venomous jade that the queen possessed. While there was a gloomy darkness to the Bug Queen, there was an ethereal light to "Celestia's" new body.

"Chrysalis..."

Even the tone of her voice was an almost exact duplication of the bug's, though it still contained the Solar Princess' inherent authority.

The insect's jaw shook for a moment before her head snapped to the side. Her teeth were clenched tightly, the fierce glare directed at the floor an indication of just how flustered she really was.

"You... YOU DARE!?" she hissed, though she could do little else. "My mother is dead, YOU MONSTER!" It was an impassioned shout. She still couldn't look at the "changeling".

...

"I'm glad," "Sanagi" smiled that familiar maternal smile as countless times before.

...

"You're... you're glad?" Judging purely by her voice, there was no way to be sure if Chrysalis was outraged or heartbroken by the statement.

"You may not believe this, Chrysalis, but your mother was quite shrewd." My mentor's words drew a look of bewilderment to the queen's face. The princess continued in spite of the bug. "Did you honestly believe you could send spies throughout Equestria and I wouldn't know of it?"

"What does-" The bug tried to answer, not realizing it was a purely rhetorical question. My mentor wasn't going to allow her any quarter.

"Did you think I wouldn't have my own agents operating within the hive?"

That question caused the Changeling Queen's eyes to widen in disbelief, but only momentarily.

"Y-you... you couldn't!" the bug steeled herself, staring daggers at her "mother". "I am intimately aware of each and every one of my children! YOU LIE!" Even in her enraged state it was clear she was struggling to look the imitation of her "mom" in the eye.

...

"All those centuries ago, when I first encountered your mother..." my mentor sighed. "When she assured me that the changelings were worthy of retaining their existence... I trusted her. When Marengo gave himself up to the Hive..." she turned to face Cadenza. "for both your sake," she returned her attention to Chrysalis. "and for yours, I knew the queen had been honest with me."

"What are you saying?" Chrysalis' countenance -- as well as her head -- fell.

"Your parents were fully aware of your plans to betray them, Chrysalis," "Celestia" stated calmly.

"That's not..." the bug was absolutely stunned by the revelation. I hadn't seen her in such a frazzled state since she realized that I had defeated her. "That's not possible."

In another blaze of the green flames my mentor returned to her true form.

"Thank you for confirming my first suspicion," the alicorn smiled down at the trembling queen. The bug grinded her teeth, the fact that she'd lost the first round driving her fury to new heights.

...

"Your Highness?" Cadenza spoke when it became apparent that Chrysalis wasn't going to say another word. "What do you mean?"

"In spite of whatever attitude of obstinate superiority your sister may be trying to project to us..." my mentor covered her mouth with a hoof, stifling a quiet giggle. "She does in fact regret what she did to her parents."

"I... I see," a wondrous smile bloomed on Cadenza's face.

"I guess it's a start..." Shining Armor wasn't nearly as happy as his wife.

"Not much of one," Cantata crossed her forelegs, somehow managing to keep the apparent pout she had concealed.

"I think you're misunderstanding the princess' intentions, dea- err, Cantata," Sunburst turned a bright red before looking at the Princess of the Sun with admiration in his eyes. "This is just the preliminaries."

So he can understand too?

As the one next closest to Celestia after myself in the hall, it made sense the orange unicorn could also recognize her less complex tactics.

"Indeed," Celestia's confident smile betrayed just how many moves ahead she actually was. "Now that I've a better sense of the condition of her heart, I can decide on an appropriate sentence."

"Your Highness?" Cadenza said meekly.

"Yes, Cadenza?"

"Should not I be the one to pass judgment on Chrysalis? She invaded my Empire."

Cadenza...

It was an admirable attempt at a play, but it was one that wouldn't have any effect whatsoever.

"I'm afraid not. Chrysalis' crimes extend far beyond the borders of just the Crystal Empire," Celestia stared down the fuming queen. "Regicide in the Changeling Hive does not fall under the jurisdiction of your authority, Cadenza. Nor does utilizing her children to spy in my cities. I'm sorry, dear. Truly, I am, but that is not a feasible outcome."

"I-I see," Cadenza lowered her head slightly. "Forgive my foolishness, Your Highness."

...

"Do not fret, Cadenza," my mentor smiled at the pink alicorn. "I know how much you love your... 'big sister'. I will take that concern into account."

"Your reverence for this... TYRANT is absolutely sickening, Cadance," Chrysalis spat, interjecting. Her eyes were still locked on the Sun Princess. "How can you even sit there and claim to know a single thing about me?" she smirked. "I am a changeling. My entire existence is deceit. Who's to say you haven't simply fallen for my tricks, just like EVERYONE else?"

We all grew quiet, collectively turning to Celestia and waiting for her response. It was a pretty smart move by the queen. Instead of attacking the princess directly, -- who she knew she stood no chance against -- she decided to try to turn the rest of us against her.

To get them to doubt her.

...

Snake.

"You think so very highly of yourself," Celestia was completely unfazed by the monster's tactics. "Sanagi was ten times the changeling you are, Chrysalis, and not even she could ever hope to deceive me." Chrysalis winced, but endured. "The beating of your pulse doesn't lie, queen."

The bug looked away.

"Nor does the sweat dripping from your pores."

She covered her forelegs with a hoof.

"The trembling of your hooves does NOT lie."

...

...

...

"Just get this over with," the queen was incensed, grinding her teeth and turning away. "There's nothing you can do to me anyway."

"So you won't even try to ask for forgiveness?" Cantata was thoroughly annoyed by the bug's arrogance.

"Why should I!?" Chrysalis snapped at the former monarch. "Apparently, she already knows my heart, does she not!? Let her pass her judgement on me!"

...

...

...

Another long silence.

Another instance of my mentor being completely unperturbed.

"You are correct, Chrysalis. At least in that way." Celestia bridged her forehooves again. "There's very little I can do to you that would not sully the relationship between the Empire and Canterlot." As a satisfied smile came to Chrysalis' lips, my mentor moved to stand to her hooves. "That's why I'm not going to do anything to you."

Chrysalis' smile evaporated, a look of confusion taking her features.

"What is that supposed to mean, tyrant?" The bug tried to muster a semblance of courage, but even she knew Celestia had everything under her control. The alicorn placed her hoof on the seat behind me.

"You hurt my disciple."

She walked around the table stopping at Sunburst and doing the same to his seat.

"You harmed one of my most loyal retainers."

She walked over to Shining Armor, doing the same to his seat.

"You would have done the same to Twilight's brother, but my agents did not allow that to happen."

"WHAT!?" Chrysalis barked.

"Is..." Shining Armor looked at the Sun Alicorn, completely stunned. "Is that why Sagi was so kind to me?" he mostly asked himself. Celestia nodded regardless.

"The changelings themselves will always be a reflection of the one who is leading them," Celestia began, watching the queen carefully. "When Sanagi was on the warpath, they followed her without question, every bit as bloodthirsty as their ruthless queen. When the monarch finally found peace, they did the same." The princess frowned. "Now, unfortunately... they have a degenerate for a mother."

"Better a degenerate than a tyrant!" Chrysalis growled.

"I truly wonder..." Celestia walked up to Chrysalis' chair. The bug drew back on instinct alone, her horn glowing a pale green as she glared up at the looming Sun Princess. "I spared the hive in the past because Sanagi proved herself to be honorable."

Well, that AND Marengo's "sacrifice".

My mentor giggled, looking first at me, then at Cadenza, and then finally at Cantata.

"Yes, and that as well." She cleared her throat before looking back down at the confused bug. "Let us see if you have inherited that same sense of honor, shall we?"

"I can assure you," Chrysalis sneered. "I have NOT!"

"One," Celestia lifted her hoof, pointing it towards me. "Two," she pointed at Sunburst. "Three," at Shining Armor. "And Sanagi and Marengo," she lowered said hoof. "That is five by my count."

"What of it, you pompous fool!" Chrysalis was still raging, but there was a thin layer of sweat covering her brow.

"Five thousand." A cold aura emanated from Celestia.

"What!?" Chrysalis jerked backwards.

"Your hive will pay with five thousand," Celestia looked down her nose at the insect.

"Such a paltry sum," Chrysalis cackled. "So that was your goal? You intend to enslave my children? Not only are you a tyrant, you're a slave-driver."

"Enslave?" Celestia's head tilted. "I have no intention of putting your children to work, Chrysalis." Her godly aura flowed off of her in waves. She had decided to finally make her move.

Chrysalis cowered at the sheer force of it all. The rest of us were filled with an unknown strength, or at least, I assumed they were as well. I suddenly felt like I could take on the world if I had to.

"Then what-"

"They will face execution."

...

...

...

Celestia's declaration shook the room, drawing a look of disbelief to the bug's face. The rest of them were just as surprised, though Sunburst appeared a little more savvy to the strategy the princess was utilizing. I kept an even expression on my face.

"Their lives are forfeit because of the choices you have made, Queen Chrysalis. You will not be allowed to ever forget that."

Chrysalis was irate. Then she was shocked. Then her rage boiled back up again. And then, she stood to her hooves, her fury barely contained as she got directly in Celestia's face.

"IT IS A TRIFLE!" the bug screeched releasing all of the anger in her.

She sighed, her head falling.

"R-regardless of the paltry sum... I refuse." She growled, working up her nerve as best she could before looking back up at the Princess of the Sun. "You can NOT harm my children!"

Celestia's horn ignited, the spire almost as blinding as the surface of the sun itself.

"And just who would presume to stop me?" she lowered her head, their noses touching as the queen shrunk down lower. "YOU!?"

Chrysalis could do little more than stare back in desperation, looking altogether stupefied. She knew the alicorn was much stronger than her, -- we all did -- but she also knew she couldn't just give in to such a cost.

...

"Your Hi-"

I caught the pink alicorn's attention with a raised hoof. When she looked my way I shook my head, but just barely. She moved to protest but instantly thought better of it, dropping her gaze and looking defeated instead. Chrysalis did the same, opening her mouth to say something but instead lowering her gaze to the carpet.

"If you've nothing left to say, then I will make preparations t-"

Chrysalis whispered something.

Celestia's brow raised.

"What was that?" My mentor asked. She'd heard what the queen had said. Celestia's senses were second to none.

No, this is another play.

She wanted everyone to hear what the bug had said. That's why she'd done it.

"Please... punish me."

...

None of us were prepared for that.

"And exactly what would you have me do?" Celestia didn't let up a bit. "As you said yourself, quite concisely I might add, there is nothing I can do to you."

Chrysalis kept her head low. The rest of us remained quiet.

...

"If you are willing to spare my children... I will gladly accept any punishment you see fit."

Once again, we were all stunned into silence. All of us, except for my mentor. She took a deep breath in through her nostrils.

...

That doesn't make any sense.

"Why?" I demanded, drawing the gazes of all present save one. I stared at the changeling who still hadn't looked up. "Why do they matter now? You didn't seem to care all that much about them when you murdered your subordinates."

Chrysalis glared at me, though we were familiar enough with one another that I didn't flinch.

"Speak not of matters you know nothing of, Sunset Shimmer!"

I'm certain if my mentor hadn't been in the room at the moment, the bug would have lunged for my throat.

"I would have your answer, Chrysalis," my mentor said firmly.

...

"I'm certain you're aware, Your Highness," Chrysalis shifted her rage to the alicorn. "There is a vast valley between murder and killing."

I winced.

Celestia did not.

"Then what is the reason your subordinates were-"

"If you truly knew my mother you'd know she would have done the same." The bug's smile was sickening as she frantically looked around the room. "We are not like you pathetic ponies!" she cackled like a madmare. "No true Queen of the Changelings will EVER tolerate weakness or failure from her children or herself!"

"Chrys..." Cadenza sighed, visibly deflating.

Cantata, Shining Armor, and Sunburst were all disgusted.

"What am I to do with you, Chrysalis?" My mentor was in deep thought, scrutinizing the bug closely.

...

That's it!

I sighed as well, completely in awe of my mentor and just how potent her foresight really was. I rubbed gently at the base of my horn.

"Your Highness?" I smiled. The Princess of the Day looked my way.

"Yes, Sunset?"

"I think I have an idea..."

She smiled.

I don't think I even had to say anything else.

She already knew.

Author's Note

Nother one. Sorry.