Chapter 4:Peace and Threats
"Hello, Chrysalis." This simple statement was enough to send the Changeling Queen into a panic. She backpedaled quickly away from Celestia and dove behind her children. Green mane and Leaf wing bodily covered her while Fang and Tunnel Borer stood in front of her protectively, growling slightly."Celestia!" exclaimed cadence," What are you doing here?! And why did you bring the elements?" Celestia kept her emotionless tone as she said," Shining Armor informed me of the Changeling threat during my weekly correspondence." Cadence glared at Shining Armor, cowing him. "I didn't think she would react like this!", He said, scowling. Cadence turned back to Celestia and said,"Celestia, the Changelings are no longer a threat. We have nearly finished peace talks! There's no need to harm them in any way." Celestia finally showed some emotion, a hint of anger showing on her face."You forget, Cadence..." she began harshly,"...The Changelings may have attacked during your wedding, but they also attacked my capital city! There has to be some compensation for that! And since I have yet see any reason otherwise, the Elements of Harmony are my only option." Luna, who had been silent up to this point, spoke out," Besides, we have yet to repay the changelings for attacking while we slept!" Chrysalis whimpered quietly at Luna's voice, catching the attention of one of the Elements of Harmony, Fluttershy. While the princesses argued back and forth, she slowly approached the cowering Queen. When Fang glared at her, she simply said," Please?" in a quiet voice. Fang eyed her warily but stepped aside for her to pass. She stepped in front of Chrysalis, who was covering her head with her hooves."Um... Excuse me?", Fluttershy said with her quiet voice. Chrysalis jumped slightly and peeked from behind her Hooves." Are you really what Princess Cadence says you are? I mean, are you really a nice pony?" Chrysalis nodded slightly and whimpered," I didn't mean for the invasion, I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I'm sorry for all of it! I swear... I was just trying to feed my children when things got out of hand." Tears were threatening in her eyes and she covered her face with her hooves again. Fluttershy stared at her for a minute before turning to the still arguing alicorn's and saying," Excuse me?" They ignored her and kept arguing," She's nothing but a selfish insect that will turn on us in a moment!" yelled. Celestia." Excuse me!", Fluttershy tried again a little louder." You're wrong! I've been to her hive and have seen what she would do for her children! that is something no monster would do!" yelled Cadence right back. As the two continued to bicker, Fluttershy began to get more and more frustrated. Finally, she snapped when she heard Celestia yell," They only deserve to be destroyed by the elements!" Boiling with her rarely seen anger, Fluttershy yelled in a voice that rivaled Luna's," Quiet!" Every pony turned to stare at her, stunned. A small part of her wanted the cower at the attention, but she was too angry to listen to it." How dare you!" She nearly screamed hovering directly in front of Celestia," How dare you condemn an entire race for one unforeseen mistake! They made a single mistake and regret it! Besides, Chrysalis was just trying to feed her children! That is a noble cause and I will not hurt them for something so just!" There was a tense silence as Fluttershy floated over to Chrysalis again and said," I will not use my element to do something cruel!" There was a hush in the courtyard of the Castle that lasted for what felt like hours. Chrysalis had uncovered her head during Fluttershy's tirade and was watching the Pegasus with wonder. Finally, gaining some courage from the support, Chrysalis slowly stood, her daughters stepping aside. Taking a breath, she turned to Celestia, Luna, and the other elements, and said," It is true that I attacked your capital, Celestia, but I want to make amends. I will do anything to protect my children. If that means I'll be subjected to any form of punishment you wish, I will." The silence only intensified as all of those present, except for the changelings and Fluttershy, were slack-jawed with shock. One of the other Elements of Harmony, Applejack, had seen the truth in Chrysalis' words and stepped forward." I reckon Fluttershy's right." She said," Plus, Chrysalis wasn't lying. She wants to make good on her promise." She stepped up to the changeling Queen and said," I'm with Fluttershy on this one, I'm not using my element either." Soon the other elements followed suit. Rainbow Dash flew forward and eyed the Queen warily," I trust my friends enough to know when they're doing what's right." She landed next to Applejack and mumbled," Besides, the the thought of using the elements on a whole race leaves a bad taste in my mouth." Rarity then stepped forward and simply said," One mistake isn't enough for this kind of punishment." She stood next the Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie didn't even say anything, just hopping over to stand next to Rarity with a smile. Twilight shook her head in annoyance," I don't see enough of a reason to punish The changelings." She then stood next Fluttershy. Six of them formed a line in front of the changelings showing their unwavering decision. Celestia was about to protest when to her surprise the walked past her and said directly to Chrysalis," We can sense any malicious thoughts in all the dreams of the world." She smiled and continued." But we have seen none come from changelings." She stood next to Chrysalis, who was shocked to say the least. Finally, Cadence and Shining Armor stepped into the other side of the Queen as Cadence said," You already know our opinions on the matter." Celestia had her head down in her eyes closed and thought. She was like this for a few minutes before smiling and opening her eyes." Perhaps," she started," Perhaps my views have been somewhat biased. I now see that my views on the changelings were grossly incorrect." She stepped closer and said to Chrysalis," I am sorry for my behavior hope we can move past this. You came to Cadence and Shining Armor for peace,... And I would like to extend my own offer as well." Chrysalis was beyond stunned. The unexpected support and even a peace offer from the one she feared the most. Unable to handle the shock of the whole situation, Chrysalis simply collapsed, her legs splayed out to her sides." That would be great." She said in a barely audible voice. On the ground, she was close enough to Fluttershy so that she was the only one that could hear her say," thank you." Fluttershy just smiled and bowed her head to the changeling Queen. Regaining the use of her legs, Chrysalis stood and said," Can we please get all of this figured out? I don't think I can take much more excitement!" her hopes were dashed, however, when a guard stallion sprinted up the group and after a moment to catch his breath, exclaimed," you're Highnesses! There's something coming from the mountains to the north!, Confused, the lot of them looked in the direction that the stallion pointed. Coming from the mountains with the great mass of cloudy waves flying towards them. Cadence and Shining Armor felt that they should recognize the mass but couldn't place is. That is, until two eyes and a fanged maw appeared at the head of the mass. The whole group felt a chill run on their spines as a booming and cruel laugh reached them." Sombra!" came the same terrifying name from all the ponies. The changelings were at loss but figured by the ponies reaction that this was not a good thing. Celestia turned to Shining Armor and Cadence and exclaimed" Get to the crystal heart! Put up a shield before he gets here!" Cadence nodded and shot off to the Castle, Shining Armor in hot pursuit." Who is Sombra?!" asked Chrysalis in a panic. Twilight turned and said in an anxious voice." Sombra was an evil dictator that enslaved the Crystal Empire a thousand years ago and returned with it. Cadence was only just able to defeat him last time.", She then added fearfully," we thought he had been destroyed!" Chrysalis realized the threat and had a quick inspiration." If we help get rid of this beast..." she thought," we won't have to prove our intentions later." Then, with a smile, Chrysalis flew into the air and faced the direction of her hive. Taking in a deep breath, she thought to herself," I really hope this call gets that far." She then let loose an extremely loud warbling scream. The ponies still on the ground covered their ears, Rarity simply fainting on a random couch. After a few moments, Chrysalis stopped her call and flew back down to the ground." What the hay was that!?", Asked Applejack loudly. Chrysalis grinned sheepishly and answered," Basically? A call for help to my children. They should be here in a few hours." Luna looked puzzled as she asked," But isn't your hive farther than that? We thought it took you nearly a day." Chrysalis smiled even broader as she said," I love my children and my children love me just as much as I do them. They will fly here as fast as as they possibly can.", Then under her breath, she added," If they heard my call, that is."