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Arrival in Canterlot

The train slowly moved to a halt as it pulled up to the platform of the train station.  Twilight sighed upon seeing the majestic city and castle back into the state it had been in so long ago.  There seemed to be guards on every corner, standing like statues among the rest of the ponies.  The pink dome was again, engulfed around the mountainside, which could only mean one thing.  It was most likely Shining Amor's spell.

When Twilight approached the castle walls, she expected what had come next.  Guards appeared from the walls, pointing their spears and javelins directly at her.  Her brother then appeared, and allowed her to enter the castle walls.  It was an entire process of Deja-vu to Twilight.

"Shiny!"Twilight exclaimed running to Shining Armor.

"Twiliey!"He responded by catching her in her forelegs to embrace in a brief hug.

"So Chrysalis is back...?"Twilight asked curiously.  Her stomach twisted and churned the longer she received no answer.  Shining Armor knew what she didn't want to hear.  Sadly, he had no choice but to be honest for the safety of the land.

"I'm afraid so...I thought we had nothing to worry about after last time but...I guess we were all wrong."Shining Armor responded.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"Twilight asked as they started walking into the castle.

"Of course, but you'll have to speak to the Princess about that."Princess Celestia may as well have been the first thing Twilight saw when she walked in, as she was standing in the entrance hall when they opened the doors.

"Princess!"Twilight exclaimed.

"Hello Twilight.  How's my faithful student doing?"Celestia asked.

"Just fine...it's a shame no one else could come though."Twilight cooed in worry for her friends.

"It's for the greater good.  Though the elements of harmony would be useless with just you, it's better to still have five left if something..."Celestia hesitated and gulped at the thought of a tragedy, "...were to happen to you."

"Don't you worry about me Princess.  Shining Armor told me to come to you if I wanted to help out.  Any chance I could get on the roster?"Twilight asked.

"Actually, you're already on there.  I waited to tell you, that you and I will be taking a trip to Princess Cadence in the Crystal Kingdom."Celestia explained.  "Cadence left about a month ago, and we're just doing a round trip to check up on her and the condition the Crystal Kingdom is in."

"Is Shining Armor coming along?"Twilight asked.

"As much as I know how much you miss Cadence, you must stay here and keep order around here while I'm gone.  However I'm leaving my sister in charge of the castle.  You understand, don't you Shining Armor?"Celestia asked in a low tone.

"Yes your majesty."Shining Armor looked down in disappointment.

"Thank You Shining Armor.  You are dismissed..."Celestia said, before turning to Twilight, "As for us, i'de better get packing."

"All ready to depart Princess, do you two have everything you need?"A pegasus stallion asked, preparing to take off and tug the carriage to the north.

"All set.  We may go anytime you please."Celestia responded.  Twilight looked back at Shining Armor, and waved.  He waved back, as he put his helmet on, and disappeared from sight.  The carriage pulled away, leaving the castle, and eventually leaving the city.

From the sky, they could see the entire city of Canterlot.  All the ponies, all the soldiers, the surrounding lands.  It was breathtaking.  Celestia then lowered the sun calmly, and soon Luna's moon invaded the night sky, along with hundreds of stars.

"She's getting better at this...I think I might retire soon."Celestia said humorously.  Celestia and Twilight both shared a moment of laughter before Twilight brought up the topic on Chrysalis.

"So...what will happen if she shows up?"Twilight asked in a worried tone.

"...To be honest Twilight, I am not sure.  I don't think anypony wants to think about what will happen if she does turn up."Celestia responded modestly.

"I can't blame you.  I don't get why some of these ponies are so power hungry.  Why can't they accept what they've got and be thankful for it?"Twilight had a good point, but Celestia had different thoughts.

"Oh many things can cause anypony to become like that.  It could be the influence from one's peers, or the rivalry between two leaders."Celestia explained.

"Two should not be divided because they have different opinions...it's not the way it should be."Twilight responded.

"That's very true.  I believe the same way..."

Shining Armor walked slowly through the dark, desolate castle.  The moonlight shined through the glass stained windows, making colors flare upon the walls and floor of the interior of the castle.

The immense quiet was unbearable to Shining Armor.  Something wasn't right.  Something was missing.  That silence, that wasn't right, that had something missing, was quickly broken by a shatter of glass.

Shining Armor gasped.  "Who's there?"He asked in an assertive tone.  The door to a room was open, and Shining Armor could see a shadow from outside the room.  "Hello?"

"What do you want?"The voice asked.

"That voice sounds...familiar."Shining Armor walked around the corner, and saw Princess Celestia in her chamber, cleaning up what appeared to be the remains of a clay pot.  "Princess!?"

"What is it you wan't Shining Armor?"She asked.

"I...I thought you were with Twilight on your way to the Crystal Kingdom..."Celestia grinned slightly.  "You went to go check on Cadence to make sure Chrysalis wasn't...wait..."Shining Armor realized what horror he had just come across.  "You impostor..."Anger filled him, as he stepped towards Celestia."GUARDS!"  He called.

Two guards appeared quickly behind him, and came to his sides.  "Seize her!"He ordered.  The two guards did nothing.  "That's an order!"

"How about I help..."Celestia said, teasing Shining Armor.  "Seize HIM!"She said.  The two guards tackled Shining Armor.

"What are you...Let me GO!"He flailed and bucked trying to come free.  He opened his eyes, and saw Princess Celestia becoming engulfed in green flames.  The flames burst into thin air, and revealed the Changeling Queen.

"Ahahaa...that was far easier than I thought.  With you out of the way, I can lock you up with the rest of your men."Chrysalis said, looking into Shining Armor's eyes.

"What did you do to them!?"

"Did you really think that all the guards you had under "Command" were your allies?  I've had changelings undercover for months, and you managed to only find one!"She exclaimed in joy.  The two guards holding Shining Armor burst into flames, reappearing as changelings.  "Take him away."

"No!  Let me GO!"More changelings appeared out of no where to help control the tempered captain.  One bit him, and injected him with a tranquilizer.  Shining Armor fell helplessly on to the castle floor, dazed, and disoriented.  The last thing he saw before blacking out, was the horrifying body of Chrysalis laughing uncontrollably in the night.