Princess Celestia was starting to have fun, something that she sought not to have after losing her sister to her own darkness. Chrysalis was also having as much fun, racing with the princess up and down the streets. Many of the ponies living in the small yet quaint village that Chrysalis had picked for their time together were also having as much fun as the two royals were.

Celestia turned a corner and looked behind her as she ran down the street, giggling like a little filly. She saw that Chrysalis wasn’t behind her. Instead, there was a blue mare with a golden horn and sky-blue wings following her. “That’s odd. I wonder where Chyralis is. I don’t think she could have outrun me this quickly,” Princess Celestia thought to herself.

Celestia was about to say something to the mare that was following her when she heard, “Celestia, watch out for that stall--”

Before Princess Celestia could react, she ran into a stallion who just coming out of a small tavern in front of her. Celestia found herself toppling head over hoof in a mess of hooves and wings as the two rolled down the street. Trying to pick herself up from the tangle, Princess Celestia was pleasantly surprised when the stallion's eyes locked with her eyes. His eyes were of the most beautiful purple she had ever seen, framed by a face covered in lilac fur. The only imperfection Celestia could see was a strange, circular, bald patch of rough skin on his forehead. “Oh, excuse me, Your Most Gracious Highness,” he said timidly to her, offering a weak blush and bright smile. Trotting over to the two, Chrysalis was grinning from ear to ear when she saw the two toppled upon each other.

“Oh, there you are, Your Highness.” Chrysalis changed back to her normal royal form--something that went unseen by Celestia, so entranced was she by the new stallion--then continued, “I was beginning to wonder when you were going start having fun.”

Celestia paid little attention to Chrysalis, something that the queen noticed but also liked. Smiling warmly, her horn glowed bright green while she gently picked up both Princess Celestia and the stallion, separating them. Once she was satisfied that neither was hurt from the collision, Chrysalis set them both down gently. Celestia said as her hooves touched the ground, “I am so very sorry for running into you like that, er...I'm sorry, but I don’t know your name.”

The stallion looked at her, then bowed deeply to her, saying softly, “Storming Winds, Your Highness. I am the guardian of this village.”

“Oh, I see. A guardian. Well, I again humbly apologize,” Celestia blushed as she continued, “It was not my intent to humiliate you in front of your village, Storming Winds.”

“That is quite alright, Your Highness.” Storming Winds nodded, and the crowd disbursed. “Why not join me at the tavern. I am sure your race with Queen Chrysalis left you both very hungry.”

A soft but noticeable rumbling was heard from Celestia's. Blushing more deeply, she said, “Oh, my. I, uh, I think I would like to try your food in this village. By the way, what is this village called?”

“It is called Ponyville, Your Highness. Now, if you two will please follow me, I am sure we can find something really yummy to eat at the tavern.”

Celestia smiled as she watched Storming Winds turn around and trot lightly down the street, having rolled a ways down the street. Chrysalis looked from Storming to Celestia and laughed. “Well, I must say, Your Highness, you seem quite smitten with your new friend.” Chrysalis lightly shouldered Celestia, a slight smirk on her face. When Celestia didn't respond, Chrysalis stepped in front of Celestia waving her hoof in Celestia's face, trying to get the other's attention. To Chrysalis's delight, she saw that Celestia kept looking over her, trying to take in as much of the stallion as she could. Grinning, Chrysalis poked Celestia in the side, saying, “Well, shall we join him for some food, or would you rather stay out and gawk at him some more?”

“What? Oh, uh, yes. Yes, let's go to the tavern.”

“I think somepony has a crush on that stallion.”

“Your Majesty must be mistaken. I don’t have a crush on him.” Celestia blushed deeply. “He is kinda cute though, isn’t he?”

“Cute? Yes, I suppose he is very cute, although I wouldn’t know about that firsthoof. I prefer to spend my time with--” Chrysalis cut herself off and started to walk down the street. Looking back, she saw that Celestia wasn’t following her. “Your Highness, are you coming?”

“Yes, I'm coming. I was just trying to figure out what you were going to say, is all.”

The two headed down the street. While they walked, Celestia kept looking around, something that Chrysalis noticed. “Is there something bothering you, Your Highness?”

“Well during our little race, I saw a blue mare with a golden horn and sky-blue wings following me. I thought you had gotten ahead of me somehow. Yet when the mare spoke, I could have sworn I heard your voice instead of somepony else's voice.”

“Hmm.” Chrysalis stopped placing a hoof to her chin “You must have been seeing things. I lost track of you during the race and only found you a few moments ago when I helped you out from your entanglement back there.”

Celestia looked at Chrysalis, slightly turning her head to the right. Chrysalis laughed, then began to walk towards the tavern. Celestia followed, still unsure if her new friend was telling the truth.

The two arrived at the tavern a few moments later and were greeted pleasantly by Storming Winds, who smiled warmly to both royals. Offering them, a seat he looked from Chrysalis to Celestia, saying gently to the latter, “If Her Highness will please pardon me? I must speak to Her Majesty Queen Chrysalis in private for just a moment.”

“Of course, Storming Winds. While you two chat, I will order us something to drink and eat from the tavern owner.”

Celestia raised her right hoof into the air as Storming turned his attention to Chrysalis. His face showed not delight or friendship, but anger. Queen Chrysalis swallowed hard, something that Storming Winds caught right away. Before she could protest, he pointed his wing towards the door, saying only, “Outside. Now.” Chrysalis lowered her head. Knowing she was all but defeated, she followed Storming Winds outside of the tavern.

Outside, while she still hung her head low, he snarled, “What were you thinking, using your shapeshifting abilities like that, Chrysalis?”

“I was just trying to have some fun, Storming Winds. I didn’t mean anything by it. Besides, you should have more respect for me. After all, I am a que--”

“I’ll show you the respect you deserve when you start acting like a true queen of the changelings!” Storming snorted angrily. “I am not trying to disrespect you, but you must remember what happened last time you got caught here in this village. You can’t use your magic like that again.”

“How do you know I used my shapeshifting abilities? You were not running with us.”

“I may have lost my horn twenty-five years ago, but I still retain much of my magic.” Laying a gentle hoof on her shoulder he continued, “I know it's difficult, but you’ll be able to use your shape--”

“Difficult!” Chrysalis spat back in rage. “You don’t know the first thing about it. I want to show Celestia what I can do, but I can’t, because if I do, I risk causing a panic. I would love nothing more than to be able to walk into this village, use my magic, and have the ponies cheer rather than flee in terror.”

Storming Winds was about to say something further, when Celestia came out of the tavern saying, “Is everything okay? I thought I heard shouting.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Everything's fine. Just fine,” Chrysalis replied bitterly. “I have to go. I need to get back to my kingdom and see to some…affairs.”

Looking at her a bit sadly, Princess Celestia said softly to her, “A-Alright, I’ll walk with you to your kingdom.”

“NO!” Chrysalis's eyes went wide when she realized her mistake. “Uh, I mean, thank you very much, Your Highness, but that's not necessary. I will be fine on my own. Besides it is a nice time to fly, and I think you need to lower the sun and raise the moon now.”

“Yes, I do need to that. Alright, if you insist, I'll do that, then. If you want, you may come to my castle any time you would like, day or night.”

Celestia bowed deeply to Queen Chrysalis, who returned the bow. Storming also bowed, saying, “I will escort Your Majesty to the northern border of the village.” Turning back to face Princess Celestia and ending his bow, he continued “I will be back in an hour, Your Highness. I look forward to showing you around the village tomorrow. Uh, that is, if you will be staying here tonight?”

“Yes, I think I would like that very much. I shall wait for you to return in the tavern. Until then, I wish you a safe journey.”

Storming Winds nodded, then took the air, following Queen Chrysalis. Once he was sure the two of them were out of Celestia's hearing range, he called out to Chrysalis, “Chrysalis you need to land. I need to ask you something.”

Chrysalis landed in the very most outskirts of the town and waited for Storming to land. Once he was safely back on the ground, she said, "What is it, Storming? I hope you're not planning on giving me another lecture. I swear, you're as bad as my mother.”

“Chrysalis, I have something important to ask you. It's personal, but I have to know.” After a readying breath, he asked, "Are you pregnant?"
Chrysalis's eyes went wide as she snapped, “How dare you pry into my personal life! What in all of Equestria gives you the right to ask me something like that?”

“First off, I ask because of your foolishness back there when you changed into that blue mare with the golden horn. Did you forget that same mare was the one that cut my horn off? Did you forget that same mare was the one that killed your mother and vowed to kill all changelings? Second, it is very much my right to know because I swore to you, your mother, and Star Swirl the Bearded that I would watch out for you.”

Chrysalis didn’t reply. She lowered her head, sobbing softly. Storming gently pulled her into him, allowing her to cry on his powerful shoulders. Once she was done, she wiped away her tears, saying softly, “A-Alright, Storming, you win. I’ll be more careful. I swear I won’t use my shape-shifting abilities unless I have too. And yes, I am with a little one. I will be giving birth in a few months.” Turning to leave, she stopped when a thought occurred to her. Looking over her shoulder, she continued, “How is it that I am able to walk into Ponyville without any pony attacking me?”

“That is because of my magic. I am right now shielding you from their eyes. All those ponies in Ponyville see is a white mare with a lime-green mane, but each time you use your magic, it weakens the shielding spell I have cast over you. Now please, Your Majesty, return to your home and do not come here again. I cannot protect you much longer. After twenty-five years without my horn, my magic is finally starting to fail.”

“I understand. I will obey your wishes, but I would like to be able to visit Celestia at her castle every now and then.”

“You will be able to do that, but you must remain away from this village for as long as it remains standing. I do not wish to bury you the way I had to bury your mother. So please, for the safety of your unborn baby, I am pleading with you to remain away from here.”

“Alright, I will do as you request. I don’t want to put my little one in danger. Perhaps Celestia can think of some way to help that you haven't considered. But I must be going now. Good night, Storming Winds. Despite your lecture and you scolding me like a filly again, it was good to see you. Oh, and before I go, please look after Celestia for me. I think she could really use your company, if you know what I mean.”

Storming Wind smiled to Chrysalis as he watched her go. Turning around, he, too, left for the tavern, getting back there an hour later. Landing near the tavern, he saw Princess Celestia talking with two of her guards. She had a very frightened look on her face. Sensing something was very wrong, Storming Winds held back a bit as he watched her leave with her guards. Wanting to know more, and wanting to comfort her, he followed her to her castle.

Once at the castle, Celestia took notice of him. Her guards barred his way when he tried to approach, but Celestia said, “Let him through. He means me no ill will.”

Storming Winds approached. “What's wrong, Celestia? Why did you leave in such a hurry?”

“It's Star Swirl," she said sadly. "He's dying.”

Next Chapter: Mistaken Identity (Edited by and Titled by Icecreammac) Estimated time remaining: 17 Hours, 15 Minutes