Celestia looked distastefully at the failing draconequus and the glowing changeling. She regarded Chrysalis coolly. "Last time we crossed horns, you had caught me unawares. This time you shall have no such advantage." Her horn began to glow. Discord shook his head as he held back the guards; dramatic monologues were supposed to be his area of expertise! A sharp pain in his shoulder brought his focus back to the task at hand; a spear had gotten through his defence. These spellbound guards fought with no style or flair, but they did fight as a unit, and they were unrelenting. He would only be able to hold them back for so long...
Chrysalis then nods. "It's time then isn't it." Suddenly a bright light flashes and the magic was dissipated, but something was wrong. The magic still held strong around Celestia. Chrysalis then smiles, just as she suspected. Celestia wouldn't let Chrysalis fix her that easily. It was time to face Celestia with her power withered down. Chrysalis summons her magic bound Katana and readies for a fight.
The guards paused and blinked for a second as the magic on them dissipated, but upon seeing their Queen under attack, they pressed their attack anew. Discord rolled his eyes and groaned as he proceeded to hold them off once more. Celestia's brow furrowed with what may have been a shadow of annoyance. She lowered her horn and sent a flurry of arcane blasts in Chrysalis' direction.
Chrysalis's eyes squint as she focuses on Celestia's attack. The barrier around Chrysalis that was invisible before, now shows itself. It cut through Celestia's attack like it was nothing. Chrysalis readied her katana and fought back making a lung forward and casting a postemtive strike on Celestia with her magic. Chrysalis wasn't going to underestimate anything at all and readied for a counter to her attack as she approached.
Celestia staggered from Chrysalis' attack, and threw up her own magical shield. Floating into the air, she raised her hooves and filled the room with a blindingly bright light.
Chrysalis stops and backs off some, knowing that Celestia is trying to ward her off. She stands her ground and shoots another shot of magic blindly into the light in hopes of hitting her or her shield at least.
There was a crackle and a smell of ozone as the shot found it's mark on Celestia's shield; the light died down, and revealed Celestia looking around in a confused manner. The effect of Twilight's spell seemed to be weakening with her shield. Noticing Discord attacking her guards, and Chrysalis standing below her, sword drawn, she narrowed her eyes and circled the room, casting down bolts of light at her attackers.
This was time. Twilight did what was needed and Chrysalis could use the crystal again. She puts the crystal in from of her and the lightning was attracted to it like a lightning rod. That magic was enough to fully charge it and Chrysalis unleashed it, finally reversing the magic gripping Celestia. Chrysalis seemed to be gone after the energy from the crystal was unleashed. Chrysalis did it, but it seemed she ported away before anypony would give her notice. Discord was all that was left in the room aside from the guards and Celestia.
"Discord?" Celestia returned to the ground and motioned for her guards to stand down. "What is going on?" "We just saved you, and all of Equestria, from yourself!" Discord responded, grandly. "I- I see," She responded, looking troubled. Checking the room, she frowned. "We? I see only you here; did Twilight help you?" Discord snorted. "Hardly; this was her doing in the first place! But I'm sure she'll be eager to explain all of that herself..." He looked around in concern; what had happened to Chrysalis? He left the throne chamber, ignoring Celestia's calling after him, and wandered back though the castle, in search of his changeling companion.
Chrysalis appeared outside Ponyville and she looks behind her at the town and city. Maybe one day she could be allowed among ponies, just not today. She walks into the Everfree, heading home. She has no idea Discord was looking for her. She looked at the Crystal as she waked under the canopies of the forest. This crystal saved all of Equestria... The power can be used for good and for evil... but yet she chose to use it for the good of the Empire.
"You know, It's rude to disappear like that," Discord said, appearing on a low bough of a nearby tree. "Especially when doing so leaves a certain someone to talk to Celestia." He pulled a face, making his opinion about talking to the Princess clear. After realising she was no longer in the castle, Discord had reasoned that Chrysalis must have teleported herself somewhere. Luckily, they had been travelling together long enough for her to show up on his special map, along with himself and Fluttershy, so tracking her down hadn't been too hard.
"Why do you care if I left? I know Sunbutt will not want to have anything to do with me! I know her and Cadence despise me. Staying at the castle and saying that I saved the empire from a mind control spell is less then believable. I would be thrown in the dungeon for just being there." Chrysalis says, showing some anger that Discord would ever think that she would stay.
"I wouldn't have let that happen, not that I think it would have; if she forgave me, she would've forgiven you too. But that's not even the point." Discord looked a little pained. "You left without even saying goodbye. I came here out of concern for a friend, but I'm starting to think it was a wasted trip."
Chrysalis then lowers her ears. "I-I'm scared..." She says softly. Her body language suddenly changing. "I've never felt so conflicted in my life... There is a part of me that cannot stand ponies... but yet I've grown to like your company." She lowers her head. "No matter how I try to reason it, I feel like I've done something wrong... like I haven't given ponies a chance to know... the softer me..."
Discord dropped out of his tree and wrapped a comforting arm around Chrysalis' shoulders. "It's not easy," He said, gently, "And it takes time, but working with them is easer than working against them; being the villain, standing alone against so many, it's not a good way to be. You don't have to open yourself up to them all at once. Foal steps." "When you're feeling up to it, and once the dust has had time to settle, we can go to Celestia together, and explain what happened. It's not just us; Twilight, Fluttershy, and countless other ponies know the truth of it, and your part in all this should be more than enough to buy you a truce with Celestia. Where you go from there is up to you."
Chrysalis then sighs. "I suppose that I could try. Though... I don't know how many really would trust me. They only know that I helped free them. It's not like I did something super huge like fight off some sort of all powerful dark lord." Chrysalis says, still doubting things.
"You did something better than that; you restored their personal freedom, but you're right; it won't be as simple as that. As I said, it'll take time to gain their trust, even I haven't fully managed that yet, as inherently trustworthy as I am," He said, with a grin. "Ponies live short lives though," He reminded her. "Memories fade and opinions change quicker than you might think. Look at Luna; it's only been a few years since her transformation, and she's already well loved."
Chrysalis then nods. "I understand. I suppose I should try and face this head on. I've been running long enough." She says smiling. "Let happen what happens."
"That's the spirit!" Discord beamed. "Now, if you'll excuse me..." He staggered back against the tree, clutching his wounded shoulder, before collapsing, unconscious. The physical and mental strain of the last few days, as well the lack of sleep and the slash left by the Royal guard's spear, had taken there toll, and now that things seemed to have been wrapped up, he could sustain no longer.
Chrysalis gasped and runs to his side. She uses her magic to heal him and she drags him out of the Everfree to Fluttershy's. She couldn't let him die. She lets him rest on the couch and she wait for him. She hopes he'll be okay.
