The Moth, once again, is drawn to the Flame
The sky above the crystal empire always looked glorious, as Celestia lowered the sun.
She smiled truly, stretching her wings, seeing her sun set in the horizon, giving way to the moon and the aurora that danced in the arctic sky.
Slowly, the orange huge turned to purple, and faded into that deep blue, and she watched it with quiet glee.
“...Shall we join the others?” Luna yawned quietly, stretching her wings. “Despite my love for the cold, I hunger, and would not mind the comfort of a fireplace...”
“Go on without me. I want some fresh air before I go…” She inhaled, and exhaled slowly, watching the condensation flow out of her nose.
“Certainly, sister. Take all the time you need. Shall I save you cake slices?” The Queen of the Night was already making her way to the door.
“Oh, they know better than to claim cake without my presence.” She amused herself with a snicker. “You go on ahead.”
With a friendly nod, Luna left, and Celestia was alone.
That quiet solitude that was accentuated by the cold, she couldn’t help but cherish it for a moment. Drinking in the simple glee of her family, larger than ever, waiting for her in the palace below, and above, the heavens danced expectantly, waiting for her.
She leaned on the railing, amusing herself with the little clouds of vapor that formed whenever she breathed out.
Perks of being the sun Queen, increased body temperature. She stretched her wings, and wondered if she could sneak in a quick fly across the aurora before her family got worried.
But before she could move, a bird landed on the railing near her.
Her eyebrows shot up at the sight. A snow dove, at these high altitudes, at this hour?
“Good evening, friend…!” She whispered with a friendly smile. “Are you lost?”
No response from the bird, except for shuddering with the cold and blinking.
Celestia noticed its green, glowing eyes. It took her mere seconds to deduce the true nature of this animal. “Oh, you must be joking.”
“I can explain!” The bird spoke strangely, yet in a quite familiar voice.
“Really? Explain?” The Queen of the sun huffed, irritated.
“Hear me out!” The bird leapt to the balcony, and with a flash, Queen Chrysalis was before her, in all her powerful, miserable, wretched glory. “I come in peace this time, I promise!”
“When has any promise you’ve ever made been worth anything?” Celestia leaned on the railing, completely unafraid, simply irritated. “Honestly, Chrysalis. A month, and you’ve escaped?!”
“It was an eventful month! I had lots to think about.” She smiled apologetically, pleading for eye contact. “I promise, this is no ploy of mine. This time, I'm… I really just want to talk.”
“My entire family is currently feasting in the castle below. They’re expecting me.” She smiled, almost sarcastically. “Should I tell them that we have an unexpected guest?”
“L-look, I just want to talk, about, um, what happened last time.” For once, the Queen of Vermin acted almost sheepish. “You know, the um, thing–”
“--Do you mean raiding the Canterlot armory, or do you perhaps mean attempting to blow up the changeling hive that you no longer rule over? The same hive that now inhabits all of your former subjects? You are alone.”
“No, nothing about that. Those ploys were courageous and cunning, certainly–” She huffed in frustration. “But I was mostly wanting to talk about, um, well… What we discussed when I was in chains.”
“You mean when you pleaded to me, in tears, to be my ‘private consort’ in exchange for you abandoning villany?” She raised a skeptical eyebrow.
“I did not CRY!!!” She gritted her teeth. “And I did not PLEAD! Queen Chrysalis does not beg.”
“That is not what I recall…” Celestia teased her with a coy smile.
“URGH.” That smile, and that face, drove the Queen of Vermin to hysterics at times. “The point is: I would like to talk about that. That conversation.”
“Elaborate.” The alicorn raised an eyebrow.
“You know what I mean.” She snarled angrily. “A-and I just want to say, if you would like to graciously plead for me to reinstate the offer–”
“No.”
“If you would pretty please be gracious to accept my offer–”
“Also no.”
“RAAARG!!” The Queen of vermin buzzed her wings, and forced herself to look away. “You wretched beast! You never cease to torment me!!” She crossed her arms and pouted.
“If all you wanted out of this visit was to beg and deceive, fly away now.” Celestia commanded, not even sparing her a glance. “But if you’d like to speak honestly and earnestly about your feelings, I can afford to stay a little longer.”
Silence, as Chrysalis looked down shamefully, full of regret. She leaned on the railing, regarding the scars on her legs, caused by the mare right beside her, so many centuries ago.
“I am not accepting bribes so that you cease your villainous ways.” Celestia said sternly. “And I am certainly not entertaining the thought of eloping with an enemy of the state– My state. Do you understand me, Chrysalis? Even if I were to entertain this ridiculous offer, it can’t work as you are. You must change. Everypony else has.”
With an exhale, gritting her teeth, the Queen of Vermin shuddered.
“I’m, um…” She groaned, and muttered. “I’m… I’m… I’m afraid of…”
“Excuse me?
“I am afraid of change…!”
“I did not hear you.”
“I AM AFRAID OF CHANGE!!” She bellowed out in anger. “I AM AFRAID OF CHANGE, MY FLAME!! I FEAR IT DEEPLY AT THE CORE OF MY BEING!!!”Her wings buzzed with intensity.
Celestia was stunned, and taken back, for a moment, she simply regarded her old nemesis, reduced to a pitiful, frustrated, almost… Mortal state. This was the first time she had ever seen her so utterly vulnerable, and even admitting to feel fear. “Oh…! Would you like to elaborate…?”
“Decades, centuries, and then a Millennium.” The changeling snarled. “All of them, I lived with a smile. My people were strong, united– And you were my enemy. We fought endlessly, and I enjoyed every SECOND of it!!” Her antennas twitched in frustration. “A-and now, in so little time– it’s all over! It’s OVER! Don’t you see?!”
Celestia took a more careful, more kind tone. “...That does not have to be a bad thing, Chrysalis.”
“But it IS! I’ve lost nearly everything!” She buzzed her wings in annoyance. “My hive, my conquest– All of my changelings, they are flower-crown-wearing idiots now!! My enemies, they are… They do not even see me as a threat! Your daughter, and that nerd pupil of yours– They will take the throne of Equestria soon. And where does that leave ME?!”
“That will not happen soon, Chrysalis. They are still in training. And they have every incentive to take their time…”
“But I can see it in you. In your eyes, every time I’ve seen you, the past years– You’re done, aren’t you? You’ve already decided. You’ve already decided that it’s OVER!” Her anger masked her sorrow.
“In a way…!” She chuckled ironically, shaking her head. “If antagonizing another alicorn of my ‘caliber’ is what you seek, my sister intends to remain in Equestria for a long time still. Make up for the time she spent on the moon…”
“She is NOT of your caliber.” Chrysalis snarled. “W-what a joke. And what are you going to do? Where are you going to go?!”
“Anywhere I want.” She looked beyond the horizon, to the aurora above. “For a while, a few decades, I think… I intend to take it as retirement. Simply wander, make new friends, see old ones… Ensure that my family is doing well… Ensure that my daughter is eating her greens...”
“Ugh. And after?”
“There.” Celestia pointed upwards. Beyond the aurora, beyond the clouds, beyond the stars, nebula, the universe, anything and everything. “I will… Return to the stars. It is the ideal ending, for any alicorn such as me. In fact… I will be the first, if all goes well. And if all goes well after that, the first of many…”
“I-I can’t follow you there. I-I can’t.” Through bitter, gritted teeth, the Queen of Vermin looked down. “W-what am I supposed to do now? I have nothing…!! Y-you… you were the last thing I had. You were my nemesis, through everything… And now you’re retiring.”
“You can change.” Celestia smiled warmly. “Don’t you see…? This isn’t the end, Chrysalis. It’s the beginning of something new…!”
“I… B-but…” She shook her head. “I r-refuse! I’m perfect as I am, I’ve… I’ve always been!”
“If that is what you believe, then you do not need me, old friend.” She shrugged, turning around. “And you can continue to be alone, at your leisure. Goodbye.”
“I need you!” Chrysalis pleaded with a frustrated whisper. “I need you, my flame. I need you. I need a reason to go on, and you have always been it.”
Celestia stopped, taking a moment to look back in surprise, with a slight fluster. “...Elaborate.”
“L-look, I… I hate this. I hate this mushy, messy, stupid, delicious feelings shit.” She gritted her teeth, shaking her head. “B-but, I don’t think I… I don’t think I can go on alone. I don’t… I… What else could I do…? Don’t you think you’d have some space in the next decades for me, maybe…?”
“Space?” Celestia raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Speak your mind, Chrysalis.”
“W-we had some fun, didn’t we…?” The Queen of Vermind carefully approached. “All these centuries, battling each other… Do you feel what I feel, in any way…?”
With an exhale, Celestia blushed slightly, but retained composure. “...In a thousand years of having no family, I did appreciate having a constant, even as a mere enemy.” She approached too, quietly, carefully. “I wouldn’t have spared you, so many times, if I did not… Respect you and your power.. . And you were right. About me wanting to have a lover of my… Caliber.”
Chrysalis’s wings buzzed expectantly as she was blushing, speechless.
“But if this is going to work… If I am going to consider this…” She tilted her head, avoiding a fluster. “You’ll have to get past my family.”
With a short, giddy laughter, Chrysalis nodded emphatically, flustering. “Ohohoho, getting right into it, huh?? You want me to kill your family so we can be together?! That is downright malicious, and I LOVE it!!”
“NO, CHRYSALIS!” She stomped a hoof on the floor, silencing the changeling. “I said ‘get past!’ If you want me to consider ever accepting you in any way other than an enemy– Especially a lover, you’ll have to convince my family that you are worthy. Not just me. You will have to actually change.”
The monumental weight of the task settled upon the shoulders of the Queen of Vermin, as she pouted, looking down.
Bringing a hoof to her cheek, Celestia smiled warmly. “I would very much like to see who you could be… If you attempted to truly change, after all these years…”
“...Can’t we just bang once and then I go on my way…?”
“Goodnight, Chrysalis.”
“O-OKAY I'LL DO IT!!”
And so, the gauntlet began.
The irony was not lost on Chrysalis. Her ‘lover’ awaited her at the highest tower, and she had to get past floor after floor, dealing with each adversity that could possibly slow her down. Like some sort of twisted knight in shining armor, of which she absolutely wasn’t.
Another irony that she was keenly aware of is of how she had never even once beaten any of Celestia’s esteemed family members in fights, however fair they were.
But there was no reason to stop now. She was committed to this idea, however bad it was.
She had nothing else left.
She opened a grand set of doors, and found a banquet hall, where the food was laid out and growing cold.
There were more than a few guards surrounding the room, and the Captain himself glared at her from the corner.
Sitting at the helm of the table, was an annoyed Princess Cadance, frowning at the mere sight of the changeling queen.
“Hah! You’re the first one? Okay, this won’t be so hard. You don’t even fight, do you?” Chrysalis mocked.
“I’m a lover, not a fighter.” The words were spoken through gritted teeth and anger by the Princess of Love. “But I could make exceptions to the monster that nearly ruined my wedding day.”
“And you’re outnumbered.” Shining armor called out sternly from the sidelines, with all his guards at the ready. “So behave.”
With a shrug, Chrysalis leaned on the table, and snatched a few grapes. “Don’t mind me. I’m starving.”
“Okay, for the love of–” Cadance groaned, rubbing her temples. “What exactly are your intentions with my aunt?! Because you’ve ruined a perfectly good family dinner, and now you’re insulting me with your presence.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand.” Chrysalis mocked, fluttering her wings, looking away. “The connection I have with Celestia is like no other. A thousand years worth– You’re just an infant.”
“Well, she’s not going to settle for somepony that her family doesn’t approve of.” This time, Cadance was the one that mocked her. “In fact, her daughter and her sister will be out for blood, if you approach them this way.”
“W-well, I will–”
“And how do you intend to get past them exactly? Eating their dinner? Insulting their haircuts?” She raised an auspicious eyebrow. “The Princess of the Sun and the Queen of Night will end you for merely considering yourself worthy of Celestia.”
“If that’s what you think, then can I just go through already?! What do you want from me?!” Annoyed, she looked away.
“I want you to admit your feelings. Your real, true feelings and intentions. No lies, no deceptions, and know that I can read your heart.” Her eyes glowed, and her horn sparkled. “So no lies.”
Chrysalis took a moment to think of her answer, pouting.
Cadance’s eyes twitched, as she looked into the queen’s feelings. “And STOP THINKING ABOUT HER ASS!”
“MAKE ME, PINK!” The changeling snarled.
“--Oh well, this isn’t going to work.” With a sigh and a shrug, she waved at her husband. “Guards, will you escort the former queen off the premises, please?”
“W-WAIT!! I LOVE HER!” Chrysalis pleaded in desperation.
Cadance sat back down, raising an eyebrow, smiling only slightly, the guards stopped in their tracks. “...Go on.”
“I don’t know when it started, I… I HATE love. These stupid, mushy, delicious feelings…” She snarled, looking away, flustered. “The first day we met, we fought. I was raiding a city, and she descended upon me like a meteor. And I loved it. Finally, a being worthy of me. An opponent that could match me...”
She presented her legs on the table– torn, scarred, but forever standing. “She gave me these scars, and I wore them with pride, every single day of the following centuries. I could have shed out of them, grown out of them– But I refused. It’s her mark on me. I suppose… I suppose she’s always owned my heart, one way or another. I just refuse to lie about it anymore.”
Cadance nodded along, reading her heart as she did it, with a perpetual frown.
“And now… Now that I’ve lost everything else, I want to be with her. No more lies, like you said.”
“You don’t know the first thing about love.”
“Ironic, isn’t it? I thought I was above it.” Chrysalis gritted her teeth, looking down shamefully. “But here I am, down here quivering at the thought of it like any common pony. Oh, how the mighty have fallen…”
“U-unbelievable…” Bitterly, Cadance exhaled. “...Well… After reading your heart, I can confirm that your feelings are genuine, and run deep. Deeper than you even realize.” She made eye contact, accusing, angry. “And even still, I don’t think you’ll ever be good enough for her. The fact that you think as much is insulting.”
“And yet, here I am.” She smiled teasingly, tilting her head. “What are you going to do about it, Pink?”
She let out a sigh. “...Treat her right, please.” Her expression softened, as she beheld the changeling queen. “She is old, weary, and she could use a good relationship. I mean a real, good, fulfilling one. She’s… Never had that. And she deserves it, more than anything. More than ever...” Cadance almost pleaded, looking tired. “And no, I don’t mean you just have to fuck her right.”
“I wasn’t thinking of that.”
“Yes you were.”
“Yes I was.”
“Listen, I just…” She exhaled, looking away. “Do you realize what you’re in the precipice of? If you play your cards right…? Do you get how monumental it is, to get to be in a relationship with the Queen of the Sun?”
“I understand the stakes more than any ever will.” She huffed, raising her muzzle. “I’ve known her for a thousand years, remember?”
“And yet, neither of you have ever been in love.” She tapped her hoof on the table, raising an eyebrow. “I need you, for both her and your sake, to take this seriously.”
The Queen of Vermin nodded slowly, cautiously. “...Okay.”
A silent moment of understanding passed. “...Okay, then. Go on.” Cadance waved a wing.
“R-really??” The changeling nearly hopped of excitement, vibrating with joy.
“I’ve read my aunt’s heart. I know how she feels about you, and I don’t intend on getting in the way.” She closed her eyes.
“Wh–” Chrysalis’s jaw dropped. “D-d-does she love me back?? WHAT??”
“I didn't say that.” She frowned in annoyance. “Twilight is waiting for you on the next floor. Don’t let Celestia down.” With a nod, the Princess of Love looked away, and began drinking from a wine glass.
“I-I won’t. I won’t.” Chrysalis leapt out of her seat, getting ready to leave the room in a hurry.
“For the record.” With a single hoof raised, Cadance stopped her in her tracks. “I’ve known you were in love with her for a long, long time.”
“Huh?! How?!” Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“Ugh… It was after one of your ploys. I don’t even remember where specifically but… she beat you in a fight, and pinned you down while restraining you. …And I made the mistake of reading your heart.”
“What do you mean?!”
“Please don’t make me say it.” Cadance grimaced in annoyance.
“Oh, hahah. Yeah, I was pretty aroused. Hell, did you read my heart when she put a muzzle on me? ‘Cause WOW, I was–”
“Please leave.”
Chrysalis grinned stupidly. “Nice talking to you, Pink.” And left the room in a hurry.
Silence befell the dinner room, accentuated only by a sigh of the Princess of love.
Slowly, Shining Armor approached her with a confused look. “...I can’t believe you actually let her go.”
Cadance took a full swig of wine. “If Sunset doesn’t kill her, Luna will.”
“Library. Of course.” Chrysalis muttered, narrowing her eyes, as she walked in.
The Crystal palace’s library was not modest by any means, enormous, multi floored, and had several comfortable places with fireplaces for the occasional relaxed reader.
The Princess of Friendship, with her brows furrowed, read a book in one of such places, completely entrenched in it.
Silently, the Queen of Vermin approached her old enemy.
Twilight did not respond in any way.
Chrysalis snickered, and began passing by making no noise, intent on progressing.
“H-hey!! No cheating!” Angrily, the Princess closed her book, and flared her wings. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice you sneaking by!?!”
“Actually, yes.” She had to contain her delighted laughter at the expense of her opponent. “But you seemed like you were enjoying yourself, so why don’t you just go back to reading your book, and I’ll be on my way?”
“No way! Stop right there!!” Her horn sparked as she frowned– And Chrysalis knew she meant business.
Obediently and carefully, she sat down with a careful grimace. “Look, nerd, do you even have a horse in this race? You’re not even related to Celestia. Just let me pass, and I’ll treat her right–”
“You’ve got to be kidding. After everything you’ve done?! I think it’s in my vested interest that my girlfriend’s mom doesn’t get together with you!”
“Why?” Chrysalis shrugged, genuinely unaware.
“Um, I don’t know– How about almost ruining my brother's wedding? How about centuries of conquest and antagonizing our kingdom, how about all the many ponies you’ve hurt?!” Twilight stepped closer, staring her down.
“That was a long time ago, I’ve changed, I’m better now!” She couldn't help but have a mocking tone in her voice. “Isn’t that your whole thing? To reform villains? Just add me to that list, and I’ll get going–”
“I don’t buy it. Any of it. This is just another ploy, isn’t it?!” Twilight stepped closer angrily, her horn alight. “You’re just infiltrating our family for more of your evil deeds! The only difference is you’re not disguising yourself anymore!”
“Ugh, I should have figured the Princess of Friendship wouldn’t believe in second chances.” Chrysalis rolled her eyes condescendingly. “What’s so wrong with trying to be better?”
“SECOND chances?!” Twilight blinked in disbelief. “You’ve been alive for a thousand years, you’ve had EVERY chance!”
“And only NOW things are actually changing! Only NOW have all my changelings left me!! Only NOW Has Celestia considered stepping down– Only NOW I get that my time here is l-limited!!” Twilight became silent, observing the grief in the queen’s face. “Only now I can see that there’s an ending to this. It’s not all fun and games. Not anymore. If my nemesis leaves, I won’t have anything else. I need to make up for lost time. I need to be with her.”
Twilight sat back down, huffing, closing her eyes, still skeptical. “...No wonder Cadance let you pass. You really mean that.” If nothing else, the Princess of Friendship had first hand experience in beating Chrysalis, and could measure her threat accordingly– As well as being keenly aware of how much the changeling had lost.
“I do. So can I just go?” She pleaded quietly. “This is wasting my precious time, and I need to–”
“No. No you don’t.” Sternly, the Princess shook her head. “You don’t get to steal Celestia like she’s a prize, don’t you see?! This isn’t what this is about. She wants us to approve of you, yes– But she also wants you to approve of US.”
“I… What?”
“We’ve never been more united! Celestia has never had a family this big before– And she loves us…! If she loves you too, then… She will want to commit. She won’t want to lose either.”
“I’m… Not sure I get it.”
“Did you imagine yourself having dinner with us tonight?”
The changeling tilted her head, puzzled. “No, why would I be allowed to?”
“See? That’s the problem!” Twilight groaned? “You want her, but don’t you realize that’s a package deal? It involves being part of our family, and making friends.”
“Sheesh. It’s always about friends with you, isn’t it.”
“At least I have some.”
“Touché.” She gritted her teeth, looking away, blowing raspberries. “Look, this is all new to me! I figured I’d just be… I don’t know. I would have been satisfied if she kept me as a secret piece on the side. Frankly, I thought that was going to be the deal. Maybe with a leash.”
Twilight raised a skeptical eyebrow. “That’s not Celestia’s way of doing things. She’s about commitment, and strong connections. I figured you would know that, after a thousand years.”
“Oh, I do. I just… Always figured it was a standard I could never live up to.” She looked away in silent shame.
Silence, as the Princess observed the hesitation on the Queen’s body language, and the fear in her eyes.
“Celestia deserves somepony that will want to be a part of her family, that will take her in every possible way.” Twilight stated simply. “...If that’s enough to dissuade you, you should leave.”
“It isn’t.” She affirmed without hesitation. “It’s a new age in Equestria, thanks to you and that girlfriend of yours. What choice do I have but to… Change?”
“Good. You understand, then. No more villany, no more evil, alright?” She pouted, sitting back by the fire. “When me and Sunset take the throne, we will NOT tolerate you slipping up.”
“I would expect nothing else, Princess.” She grinned deviously, bowing.
Twilight huffed, looking away, considering many angles.
Chrysalis’s expression softened, as she looked away shamefully. “...So, do you think I can do it?”
“Do what?”
“Change.”
“...I don’t know.” For a moment, Twilight simply regarded the fireplace, ignoring everything else. “...But Celestia has believed anypony can for over a thousand years. It’s the core belief of my entire method of… Ruling. It’s the reason I even… I even have somepony to rule with now.”
“Yeah, Celestia’s daughter used to be pretty bad, right?” Blowing raspberries, Chrysalis sat down. “Kind of surprising, that any daughter of hers wouldn’t be perfect right off the bat, even adopted.”
“Nopony’s perfect. …But Sunset gets as close as anypony could.” Twilight affirmed with a flustered whisper. “And of course… She’s living proof that anypony can get better. So… Don’t take this chance for granted, okay…?”
“I won’t.” Chrysalis affirmed, with a genuine smile. “...So does that mean I can…?”
“Yeah, you can go. I’ll leave the deeper scrutiny to the others.” She frowned, opening up her book again. “Don’t make me regret this, alright?”
“Okay. Thank you, nerd.” She smiled almost warmly. “If there’s anything I can always count on you for, it's you being mushy, heheh.”
“Don’t push your luck.” Twilight spared her a glare.
“Y-yes, yes, I’ll get going.” She nodded emphatically, and made her way out… But then stopped. “...What book were you reading?”
“I was researching what gives grounds to send a monster to Tartarus. You know. Just in case.” She raised a defiant eyebrow.
“Hahahahaha okay I’ll be going now!”
The next room was a bit intimidating. It was an armory– But it had been rearranged to leave plenty of room in the middle.
Plenty of room for fighting.
She didn’t see anyone, but her nerves were high, and she had good reason to feel nervous.
“Twi let you pass? No fucking way.” A voice snarled from above, and Sunset Shimmer flew down from a ceiling perch she had been waiting upon. “What did you do to her?!” The alicorn before her flared her wings and her horn emitted fiery sparks, as her mane lit up.
“I-I didn’t do anything! She let me pass because of the power of friendship, and um, stuff!!” The Queen of Vermin backed up slightly, knowing intimately how flammable she is. “Look, kid, I know we’ve had our differences–”
“You’ve tried to take over the kingdom half a dozen times in my lifetime– And despite only getting wings recently, I’ve had to fight you several times already. Remember how that went for you?” She grinned, but it didn’t hide her anger. “So don’t even try it. You know you can’t win.”
“Your mother and I have an agreement, okay?!” She shouted out, matching the alicorn’s anger. “Why do you think I’m even here?! I wouldn’t be, if she didn’t want this!!”
“There’s no fucking way that my mom wants to be with you, of all the hundreds of thousands of creatures that exist in Equestria right now.” Sunset snarled, taking a battle stance. “And even if she did, we all know you’re not good enough for her. So leave, now.”
“I’m not going to.” Chrysalis refused to take a battle stance, standing tall. “And I’m not fighting you, either. Never again. There’s no reason to.”
“What?!”
“Look, your girlfriend, she… She made a good point. I thought I could be Celestia’s occasional pound partner–”
“Shut the fuck–”
“--But I realized this isn’t going to work for any of us if I don’t commit. Besides, I want to mean more to Celestia, and that’s what I’m going to do.” The changeling sighed, fidgeting. “If I have to be part of this mushy messy snuggly family… So be it.”
Sunset relaxed her stance, only slightly. “It's… Disturbing how genuine you sound right now.”
“I’ve done bad things. Most of my existence was evil and conquest. But thanks to you and your girlfriend… Times are going to change, for all of Equestria.” She blew raspberries. “I don’t have my hive anymore, nor any of my subjects, nor anything else… So it’s time I change too. …Haven’t you also made mistakes?”
“If you try to do the ‘we’re not so different’ speech, I’m going to bite you.”
“What I’m trying to say is… Your little nerd saw the potential in me to let me pass. So…” She gave a coy smile.
“Ugh.” Sunset exhaled, shaking her head. “...Yeah, I guess we should let you at least… Try to change. Damnit, Sparkles, why do you have to be so sweet…! I was so looking forward to kicking your ass.”
“Sorry to disappoint, kid.” She grinned, tilting her head. “But me and Celestia, we have a connection that spans over a thousand years. None of you would understand… But you’ll get there someday, I’m sure.”
Looking at her own wings, Sunset chuckled. “...Yeah. I will.” But then her expression hardened again, as she stared down the changeling queen. “...But you better treat my mom like a fucking angel, okay? If you step and inch out of line, I’ll be there to end you.”
“I would expect nothing else, Princess.” She grinned deviously, bowing.
“And I’m not calling you mom. Ever.”
“That’s alright, sweetie.” She made kissy faces.
“Get out.”
The next room was dark. Too dark.
Large windows, large curtains, and paintings decorating the surroundings, deeply regal.
There was a long balcony, with the night sky beyond, letting cold air in. The moon illuminated the room as its only source of light.
Chrysalis had to squint to see a figure in the distance, lighting the way with her own horn. She was, however, intimately familiar with that particular brand of cold. “...Hello?”
“I CALL ON THE PALE MOON LIGHT.” Luna’s voice boomed and echoed throughout the room, as she spread her wings on that balcony, and the darkness intensified.
“Oh shit”
Like an arrow of dark light, the Queen of the Night flew through the air with murderous intent towards the Queen of Vermin– The light of her horn and the moon intensifying as one.
Chrysalis yelped and leapt out of the way, narrowly dodging a killing blow.
“H-HEY! NO FIGHTING!” She snarled, avoiding attacks with agility.
Luna’s eyes were devoid of any feeling except anger. “You audacious, wretched vermin.” Her horn was alight like a silver blade, as she slashed Chrysalis viciously, who herself dodged desperately, keeping her distance. “You think I would simply sit idly by and allow you to reach my sister?!”
“H-hey!! Didn’t we establish rules to this?!” The changeling took flight, getting ready to dodge once more. “We’re meant to be talking, not fighting!”
“You do not deserve another word. This is the end for you, Queen of Vermin.” Luna declared with a snarl.
“Oh, you are NOT getting between me and her.” Chrysalis snarled back.
Transforming into a bird, she swiftly dodged the aerial strikes that Luna delivered.
Transforming into an ursa major, she swatted the alicorn, and pinned her against the floor.
“STOP fighting. This isn’t what your sister wants!” She roared.
“Don’t you DARE presume how my sister feels, you wretch!! How dare you even attempt to seduce her!?” She began biting the bear’s paw aggressively. “You are NOT good enough for her, your mere presence here is an INSULT!!”
“I’m here because she WANTS me too, you lunatic!!” Chrysalis gritted her teeth.
“LIAR.” With a flash, Luna teleported, and slashed at the bear's face with her horn. “You’ve done some form of wicked mind control on her– My sister would NEVER consort with the likes of YOU!”
Transforming into a serpentine dragon, Chrysalis avoided the strikes and gathered momentum to pounce, the fight became an aggressive game of dodging and striking, only to dodge again.
“It’s not my fault you don’t get how your sister feels, you fool!” Chrysalis avoided the strikes with her draconic agility.
“You are kidding yourself, if you feel any affection towards the Queen of the Sun, Vermin!” The alicorn declared with a snarl. “She will never feel anything towards you other than DISGUST!!!”
“Wrong again.” Grinning, Chrysalis transformed into a falcon, and swiftly dodged the strikes as she flew around the room. “Because she already likes me!”
“The delusions of a monstrous maniac!!” The Queen of Night desperately and viciously gave chase.
“The heart wants what the heart wants.” Transforming back into her normal form, the changeling smiled with teeth. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand.”
“Shut your wretched mouth.” Luna flared her wings, and began blasting her relentlessly with magic.
Chrysalis stood her ground, was pushed back, but insisted on blocking those blasts with her own magic. “Hey, you were stuck in the moon for all of the years me and her knew each other! You could never understand our bond!!”
“You are an ENEMY!” The Queen of the Night charged forward, and the fight became more physical. “And a delusional fool, there is no ‘bond’ between you!! All my sister feels for you is PITY!”
“You’re the delusional one.” Chrysalis flipped her over and pinned her down. “You think you’re going to get anywhere trying to control your sister’s future?! Let her do what or who she wants!”
“Says the Queen of Vermin! The liar, the manipulator, the enemy of all we hold dear!!!” Luna snarled back. “And you earnestly think you’re good enough for her?!!”
“I KNOW I’m not good enough for her, asshole!!” The changeling yelled back. “WHY DO YOU THINK I’M HERE?! I’M TRYING! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A THOUSAND YEARS, I’M TRYING TO BE BETTER!!”
“You don’t deserve her.”
“On that, we agree. But unlucky for you, I’m selfish enough to take what I want, regardless of how I feel about my worth.” She grinned, tilting her head.
With a shove, the alicorn pushed her away, and stood. “Wretch.” She muttered, still in a battle stance. “We are finally a happy, united family. And here you are, coming to ruin it.”
“On the contrary. I’m here to be a part of it.” She resigned, letting go of her battle stance, only lightly. “So can we stop fighting? It’s not what Celestia would want.”
“...I hate you.” Luna gritted her teeth. “But you are right. She would not want this… You are, however, kidding yourself if you think you can change, after everything you’ve done.”
“Why, because you didn’t? Because Sunset didn’t?” She narrowed her eyes daringly.
“Do not speak of my niece that way.”
“You were Nightmare Moon once, and Celestia’s daughter was a demon, once. What makes me so different?!” She gritted her teeth, towering over the alicorn. “I wouldn’t expect this family to have a double standard on forgiveness. Celestia doesn’t.”
“Reverse psychology and mind games won’t work on me.” Luna flared her wings once more. “You are well aware of what you’ve done. Speak out of line again, and I will crush you.”
“Times are changing. You know it, I know it.” Chrysalis muttered, looking away. “And I love your sister. If I have to fight you to be with her, so be it. But I also know that it’s not what she wants.”
“...Yes. She wants an united, loving family.” Luna groaned, rolling her eyes. “And she doesn’t yet understand that you could never be part of that. But she will.”
“Times are changing, Loony.” Chrysalis smiled deviously. “Anything is possible.”
With a long, prolonged sigh, Luna folded her wings on her side. “...You know what? You will never get past the final hurdle, anyway.” She turned away, heading towards the door. “And even if you did, you and my sister won’t last. You’ll slip up, and when you do, I’ll be there to do what we do with annoying insects.”
“Get ready for disappointment, Loony.” Chrysalis snickered with malice and glee. “Celestia knows better than anypony, you can’t get rid of me easily.”
“We’ll see.” Coldly, the mare of the moon left the room with her blood still boiling.
Departing with joy, the changeling queen left with the intent of loving Luna’s sister even more just to spite her.
The final hurdle was nigh.
The last room was strange… It was a playroom. Plushies were enormous, many toys littered the floor, and a music box played somewhere, the color pink was plastered in many decors.
Chrysalis looked around in confusion, wondering if she was in the right place, until she heard a foal's garbles.
“Baabaaa…” Flurry Heart announced, sitting on the floor, playing with a few colorful blocks that had letters on them.
“...A foal?! You are Cadance’s, aren’t you? Flurry… Something?” Chrysalis grimaced in confusion. “Well, um…”
“Bwuh?” The baby responded, tilting her head.
“I’m just passing through, baby.” The changeling tiptoed around, trying to simply go towards the next door. “Don’t mind me…”
“Googoo.” Flurry Heart stood, and raised her wings, with her horn flared, taking a battle stance. “...Gaga.”
“Oh shit.”Chrysalis declared, before the baby flew towards her with violent intent.
After so many trials and tribulations, exhausted, bruised, Chrysalis made it to Celestia’s room.
She entered it quietly, wondering if the Queen was even awake at this hour.
She was.
Sitting by the balcony, the Queen of the Sun observed the aurora dance in the night sky, while a fireplace crackled quietly in her room.
Without even turning around, she acknowledged the changeling’s presence. “...Flurry didn’t give you too much trouble, did she…?”
“...That kid plays hard. Nearly broke several of her toys, playing with me.” Chrysalis shuddered, but smiled all the same. “After telling her some stories, she fell asleep pretty easily. Sweet kid. A bit crazy, but I guess that runs in the family.”
“It does.” Celestia smiled warmly, observing the changeling Queen sit next to her.
Comfortable silence passed, until Chrysalis spoke up. “...You’re not… Surprised I made it?”
With a chuckle, Celestia shrugged. “If Cadance did not kill you, I imagined you would make it here by stubbornness alone.” She turned, coming closer. “...And I’m glad you did, Chrysalis. It’s good to see you like this…”
Blushing heavily, the changeling gritted her teeth, looking down at her own legs, at her own mane, grimacing. “...Strange. I figured that if this ever happened, I would… look different. Like my former subjects do now…”
“Oh, have you forgotten what you said before?” The alicorn raised a loving eyebrow. “You are perfect as you are, Chrysalis.”
The changeling was speechless, flustering to oblivion.
“...So… Shall we kiss?” The alicorn suggested clumsily.
“YEAH”
Slowly, but sweetly, Celestia kissed her, and the changeling queen froze, not recoiling from it, but being surprised all the same.
“I am… Gleeful that the moth has finally made it to the flame.”Celestia muttered lovingly, almost with a whisper.
“A-am I dreaming?” Chrysalis looked around dumbly, blushing. “T-this is a dream, right? Any second now, your sister is going to pop out and say ‘gotcha’!”
“It is no dream.” She muttered lovingly, their breaths showing in the cold night air. “I am here. You are here… We are here, Chrysalis.”
“Heheheh…” She snickered, but it didn’t manage to come out devious. It felt relieved, cherishing, and loving. “...You’ve fallen for my ploy, Queen Celestia. Here and now, after all these centuries… I finally have your heart.”
“Oh dear. Your most devious ploy yet…” She played along, giggling. “And what shall you do with the heart of the Queen of the Sun…?”
“Cherish it.” She came closer, and nuzzled her affectionately, letting out a profound sigh of relief.
And they simply were, if only for a moment.
Enemies no more.
“This… Still doesn’t feel real.”
“Take a moment to drink it in, if you need to…!” Celestia chuckled, looking up at the night sky. “Whenever you are ready, we can discuss what happens next.”
Chrysalis took a second to drink in the strangeness of that moment, that tenderness and affection she had never experienced nor desired until so recently.
And now, she wanted more, much much more.
“...What happens next?”
Celestia spoke every word with affection and calm, almost melodically. “Family dinners, family gatherings… Travels, meetings, some bureaucracy, but mostly… We can simply be, for however long we desire.”
“And… What happens now?”
“...Anything we want.”
And so, despite everything, these thousand-year-old enemies grew into something different together. The moth had reached the flame, and gloriously, this time, she wasn’t burnt.
Another kiss, another embrace, they started anew.
And this lovely night, the first of many, greeted them with ease.
Author's Note
Thought of how funny it'd be to have a scott pilgrim-like parody but instead of fighting evil exes, you have to get past a lovers family lmao.
I considered having a Blueblood scene, where Chrysalis beats him by simply motioning that she's going to attack him and he immediately folds, but realized I would rather die than acknowledge that guy as somehow part of Celestia's family hvfdhbfd
But hey lets pop some bottles!!! Chrysie DID IT!!! SHE TAPPED THAT CELESTIA BOOTY!!!! and in that same note, CELESTIA DID IT!!! SHE FINALLY GOT LAID!!!
I really like the idea of Celestia retiring and just traveling places with Chrysalis lmao. the weirdest honeymoon, the weirdest of duos, but the sweetest of moments.
Honestly I wasn't sure if I wanted to have Chrysalis morph like the rest of her changeling people, tbh, I don't think its necessary? Her design is already so great. But if you want to, you can easily imagine a version of this story where she grows beautiful colorful wings and a flowing mane!
But I suppose its the same vibe as the beauty and the beast where belle is like "Hey wheres my furry husband, oh god hes a human now, rip" lmao. Celestia just goes "Wait wheres my wretched bug wife??"
Either way. I'm glad I got to write more of this crazy family, even if its with them on separate rooms. Also that Flurry moment was one of the funniest things I've ever written. Googoo... Gaga🔪
One problem I ran into on this fic is I kind of realized how... Succinct my writing is? Like, I don't meander, I get right to the end, so it can wind up feeling rushed! I hope it didn't this time! I suppose its the fate of one shots, tbh
Either way. Decided to write this little short, if nothing else, to give Chrysalis that booty at least once.
isn't there somepony you forgot to ask?
