Mirror's Image

Chapter 19

Celestia couldn't believe how the evening had turned out. One moment, she was strolling through the sleeping city of Canterlot with her sister and the next, she received a torn cry for help from Spike.

Now however, she stood in the middle of the ballroom, having returned there as quickly as she could. Of course, Luna had stopped her by warning her of the dangers of teleporting into the fray. For all they knew, Celestia could've ended up in the middle of a fight.

Though in retrospect, upon seeing the torn and still body of Twilight Velvet, Celestia wished that she had ignored Luna's advice and had teleported into the ball room immediately. Perhaps showing up mere seconds sooner could have averted a tragedy. Perhaps it could have made things worse. She had no way to ever know.

Celestia looked at the scene in front of her, silent in absolute perplexity. All over the ball room there were signs of struggle. Tables upturned, decorations smashed and broken glass littered the floor.

She noticed several downed changelings and one that looked like he was just about ready to topple over. Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle had rushed over to him, the later carrying a first aid kit in her mouth.

Applejack and Sir Macintosh were tending to Spike and the other crusaders, while Pinkie Pie was quietly crying, holding on to the little changeling nymph. Rainbow Dash tried her best to comfort her friend.

Seeing just what situation they had ended up, Luna gave her sister a curt nod and quickly disappeared in a flash of magic. Soon, she would return with help but until then, Celestia would try and do her best to help out. And perhaps find out what happened as well.

"My little ponies," Celestia uttered, shocked by the chaos all around her. "What happened here?"

However, her question remained unanswered. Nopony seemed to pay attention to her, as there were more troubling matters at hoof.

Amidst the chaos, Celestia walked over to Twilight Sparkle and Night Light, who were both unconscious. For a brief second, Celestia had feared that they too had suffered Velvet's fate but their slowly rising and falling chests assured her that they had not.

"A bit late to the party, aren't we?" the Great and Powerful Changeling remarked, though her voice was not her own.

"Chrysalis," Celestia whispered. "What happened here?"

"The details are still unclear, but some mad stallion came into the ballroom, started to make accusations, and next thing I know..." she said, taking a glance and pointing with her hole-ridden hoof at the lifeless body nearby.

"The whole hive felt Amaryllis' grief. They are furious, and it is no wonder. Twilight Velvet was a brave mare, standing by her... daughter till the end," Chrysalis said. "Unlike some other mares I know."

She turned back and glared at Celestia, who could not help but step back at the sight of those eyes, staring at her with anger burning in them.

"Even so, I tried. I trusted you to keep my daughter safe, and you've disappointed me again. Why am I not surprised?" Chrysalis snarled, baring her fangs at Celestia. However, her expression was quick to soften, if just a bit. "But my guards appear to have been inadequate as well," she admitted.

"I- I was only gone for a few moments! I could not have foreseen this", she tried to defend herself. "But I assure you, I will keep Twilight safe."

Chrysalis laughed in her face. "No, I will. Tell your guard that you'll have visitors in the morning. For now, I will leave my daughter in your hooves, as I have a hive to calm down."

Celestia expected Chrysalis to leave abruptly, as she had done before. Instead she made a quick round around the ballroom, to check on her fallen guards, to see that they were okay and stopping to whisper some soft words to them.