CHAPTER 5: TIME

Chrysalis didn't know how to react when she'd heard what transpired near the frozen north. She felt stunned, unable to react to such news. While she was training in Canterlot gardens, Princess Celestia eventually returned, but not to continue with her training but to hurry and attempt to hide her in her room. Chrysalis was curious to know what had the princess so panicked, but she realized it wasn't her place to ask. She simply allowed Celestia to take her to her room, and keep her there until further notice. Soon after, all hell broke loose throughout the castle, Chrysalis placed her ear on the door trying to pertain what was happening. She thought to herself It must have something to do with that strange explosion and dark sky. That would be the most reasonable assumption. Chrysalis continued attempting to listen, she'd picked up small pieces of conversation at the time, things that made her feel overwhelmed with shock.

The guards spoke openly about what had happened, in the halls.

"Seems like Discord is finally destroyed." , "Good riddance."

This made Chrysalis's eyes snap wide, Discord's dead? They made it sound as if that were good news, and it likely was, but Chrysalis couldn't help but feel sorry for Discord, and sadness for his untimely passing. She recalled the last time she'd seen him, it felt like so long ago. When he'd given her odd praise and pity, and mentioned how they were one in the same basically. How he doubted he'd see her for a long time. She'd also wanted to prove to him that she could change, it's too bad she'd never get that chance. It made her heart ache somewhat, but it was fleeting, she felt Discord deserved somepony there for him, even if he was chaotic, she allowed herself a moment of silence in his memory, before continuing to listen in on the guards trotting throughout the halls. There was another piece of info that made her feel stunned. Princess Luna was injured? What had happened out there? Chrysalis felt she could connect the pieces somewhat, Discord dead, Luna injured, even Princess Celestia seemed a little roughed up when she'd seen her. But the last time she saw Discord the three of them were allies, weren't they? It all felt so confusing, but Chrysalis didn't want to dwell on it any longer, she didn't really have a place in these affairs, it didn't matter what she thought.

She gathered herself and made her way to her bed, climbing atop of it slowly, she'd been practicing quite a bit and due to her drained physique, her small body ached, some rest would do her some good.

As Celestia paced back and forth at Luna's bedside, she was flustered, scared, worried for her little sister. Luna remained in her bed, in a peaceful sleep, she still hadn't woken up since they'd gotten back. Celestia just continued that same motion until coincidentally, finally, Luna opened her eyes slowly. She peered upward, unsure of what was happening as Celestia immediately rushed to her side with a heavy sigh of relief. She pulled her close, nearly crying as she shook her gently.

"I'm here sister, it's me, Celestia, you're alright." Celestia smiled as her voice shook  "T-Thank goodness..."

Luna eyed Celestia, seekingly, as she muttered "Discord?"

Celestia's eyes widened as she looked to the lower left, she'd looked saddened by her sister's curiosity in the matter, but of course she wanted to know what became of Discord. Although Celestia herself didn't like the outcome, she wasn't going to deny Luna what she'd wanted. But she was confused, wait, so Luna didn't remember about what happened in their encounter with Discord? This troubled Celestia greatly, she looked to Luna with a smile "H-He's gone sister, we won."

Luna smirked, pleased with the news as she leaned upward "Excellent, then it's all finally over."

Celestia nodded to her as she then looked somewhat hesitant to ask, but managed to get out the words "Luna, do you recall what happened? What had occurred when we engaged Discord?"

Luna gave a simple nod "Of course sister, we annihilated him, to think, his arrogance would be his undoing."

Celestia's eyes widened to this response "Then, you, are aware of what you did? Of what you were like?"

Luna raised a brow towards Celestia, as if offended by her question "Of course I know what I was like! What sort of question is that? We did what was necessary, and now we can focus on other matters."

Celestia didn't know what to say, it was as if Luna were aware of her actions, but she saw them in a different sense. This wasn't like her, for if it was, Luna would have certainly been irked by the fact she put all of them, including their subjects in danger with her reckless actions. But Celestia wouldn't argue about such a thing at this moment, this would require time, research, she only hoped she could stop it from happening again before it was too late. Celestia looked down, she cared for her sister deeply, and now this, this foreboding presence within her, was appearing, she couldn't bare the thought of losing her forever. She wasn't going to lose Luna, every step had to be careful, calculated. Celestia thought once more of Chrysalis, her face darkened into a somewhat cold and emotionless expression. "I will return sister, I have business I need to take care of."

Luna simply smiled at her older sibling, nodding in understanding "Of course sister, don't let me keep you." Without saying anything, Luna was quite aware this business had something to do with Chrysalis, but, she wouldn't interfere, she wasn't in the mood. She laid back down in her comfy bed, resting up.

Celestia remained for a brief moment before turning and making her way to the door, leaving as she did so.

As Chrysalis relaxed in her bed, she was interrupted by a crash through her door.

CRASH!

Celestia made her way inside, shutting the door behind her.

She yelled to the changeling "Awake Chrysalis! We must speak!"

Chrysalis rose up almost immediately afterword, tripping and stumbling out of bed, she stood at attention in front of the princess, extremely nervous, she gulped as she looked up at her. "O-Of course princess."

Celestia's expression was much more callous than usual, she'd usually been caring, but not this time, she was quite serious, and Chrysalis noticed it. Celestia sighed heavily before beginning to trot slowly around the changeling "Things have changed. We are going to need to push you harder in your development, I know you are aching but, it'll make it that much better once you achieve our desired goal." Chrysalis nodded, remaining attentive with a curious expression as Celestia just continued "Tomorrow we will practice magic as usual, but we will also focus on you learning how to mimic other's appearances."

Chrysalis raised a brow, confused "Uhm...w-what?"

Celestia eyed Chrysalis with annoyance, it was as she suspected, the little changeling was practically a foal even when it came to knowledge of her own race, why was this? Was she truly that young when we'd found her? Celestia rolled her eyes, she didn't have time for these questions, she'd already assumed as much anyway. "I will focus on attempting to teach you your kind's unique magic, although I myself cannot perform it, I am sure I can deduce the process. This will be priority, for in order for you to learn how to be like us, you must live amongst more ponies than me and Princess Luna, I'm sure you're aware of this. You absolutely cannot feed, it is forbidden, if you feed then everything we're attempting to achieve would be for nothing. Your diet will consist of simplicities, common pony delicacy. You will learn much little Chrysalis, and it will be hard, rigorous, tough, but I expect much from you, and I know you will be able to succeed where your kind has not. You will be able to prove to all of Equestria, you can live amongst us in harmony.  Many days ahead will be a challenge, but I will be there to help you." Celestia remained silent, thinking of Luna, and she would not risk her sister with her petite kindness no longer. Celestia couldn't just rely on kindness and understanding like she did with Discord, Discord had rebelled, and it costed him his life, and it nearly costed them theirs. If she were to teach Chrysalis, then it must be perfect, and she must be disciplined, and ensure to never rebel, she wouldn't lose her sister to some creature she barely even knew, and she wouldn't be betrayed again. These steps would ensure perfection, and on the slim chance they didn't, she'd risk, no more. Celestia gave a grim look towards Chrysalis who just peered at her curiously, if it didn't work with Chrysalis, the changeling would certainly be too much of a threat to be kept alive. Everything would go according to plan.

Or it'd be erased entirely.

Celestia raised her head at the changeling "Do you have any questions for me?"

As Chrysalis looked up at her, yes, yes she did have so many questions, dozens. But this wasn't just some casual conversation, and Chrysalis knew by looking into those harsh judgmental eyes, that the Princess was asking only out of mere courtesy, she already knew what she wanted, and it wasn't Chrysalis's opinion on the matter, or for her to delve deep into her process, she simply wanted the changling to go along with it obediently. Chrysalis looked down, it pained her, for some reason she knew from here on out it would be different, whatever had turned Celestia into this stern mentor wouldn't be leaving, at least not for quite awhile, and there was nothing she could do to earn back that caring motherly figure she'd wanted. Wait, motherly figure? Hah, she was a changeling, what was she thinking, what a foolish thought. Chrysalis smiled to herself softly, with saddened eyes, before looking up and shaking her head at Celestia "No Princess, no questions."

Surprisingly Celestia's cold demeanor melted away as she eased up somewhat, she smiled at Chrysalis in relief "Good, then I will leave you to relax. I will give you the rest of this day off but starting tomorrow we begin at first dawn. I expect you to be ready bright and early Chrysalis, it irks me to be unpleasant so, but the powers at work here are eager to see me fall, and I will not allow it, not at this point. But we will make it through this, all of it, together, you and I, but yes I am lingering. I shall be off then, until tomorrow Chrysalis, make sure to get plenty of rest as said, it will be a long day." Chrysalis's eyes widened as Celestia gave her a courteous bow with her head, as if they were equals, it made her giggle somewhat as the Princess left soon afterwords.

I guess, it's not so bad, Chrysalis thought. The princess may have changed somewhat in her approach, but ultimately she was still pretty much the same. As she watched the beautiful alicorn leave her room with that familiar grace, her beautiful mane flowing as she did so, Chrysalis felt that same hint of deep admiration for the princess. Celestia was right, they'd make it through this, together, she was the first of something big, and she was determined to see it through. Chrysalis was so innocent at the time, so young, unaware of the true meaning of being a leader, ensuring the safety of your subjects, of having ulterior motives, of going to great lengths to ensure you did what you thought was best. Perhaps however, it was that young innocence that saved her in the tough times ahead, for if she'd never had it, she'd likely have died fighting a long time ago. Life makes habit of molding everything into place, through the good and the bad, and inevitably, Chrysalis would learn all this with time, and regrettably, all good things eventually must come to some sort of end.

As fleeting as it may have seemed, as unimportant it may have looked, this single moment, perhaps if played out differently, could of changed the tragic course of history things would inevitably play out in, perhaps. Chrysalis kept that innocent smile on her face, unaware of what awaited her down the road. Luckily for us, the future queen would remain as such for the time being, until fate would decide she was ready to bare the seemingly insurmountable responsibilities she had. However, this was the beginning, the beginning of the end, of the short tale for our tragic queen.

Another end, another moment in time.

Further down south, towards the badlands, the remnants of the changelings remained.

Tired, broken, hungry, they traveled further and further towards the southern tip of Equestria. Majority of them seemed sad, their heads lowered, they'd looked like they'd given up, obviously still failing to have recovered from the loss of their kingdom.

As the band of changelings travelled, one stood at the peak of a small mountain, watching over his fellows as they moved along the mountainous trail. It was the dead of night, and as he peered down towards them all, one could tell he was different. He was not like the others, broken and lost, he seemed, determined, brave, focused on guiding his race towards a more ideal future. As he continued to watch over them from topside, another changeling approached him, this one however was female.

She wrapped her hooves around him gently from behind, joining him.

"They, seem so broken, I guess in some fashion, we are, but we aren't left with nothing."

He glanced back at her with interest as she smiled softly, and continued.

"We still have each other, all is not lost, we will learn to thrive off something else, I'm sure."

The male changeling looked back down at his fellows, then peered up towards the sky.

"You know, i've been getting this feeling recently, that as hopeless as it seems, we will make it through this."

The female continued to smile, as she simply listened to his words.

"It's something I cannot shake, and cannot let go of, it keeps me going, perhaps, we'll just have to wait."

The female looked down, saddened, as she patted him on the head, then began to make her way down.

"We may have lost our kingdom, we may have lost our way of life, but-"

He glanced back at her once more, as she continued.

"We will rise again, away from the ponies, and we will persevere."

With that she continued to make her way down, back with the others, back on the trail as the male remained.

He simply stared off into the sky, as a gentle smile crept onto his face. "We will rise..." Next Chapter: Chapter 6: Foreshadows Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 60 Minutes