And so days passed.

Since Bitter Truth's visit, Nightmare Moon came every night with her claymore carried by Major Antares, and a new way to tease Chrysalis, which forced Aglowing Shell to defend her mother with her sword. This was a pretext for their training session, the time varied according to the child's only desire, who later discovered a passion for Equestrian Astronomy.

One morning, in the badlands, a silhouette entered Chrysalis' private apartments. Without especially trying to be discreet, using his magic to light his way to the hanging, the pony slipped into the alcove.

The queen, who was lying on her stomach and bent over herself, was woken from her dreamless sleep by the presence that crept into her alcove, her mind still disturbed by the sudden awakening, convinced that it was Aglowing Shell that woke her up. She smiled a little. "How many times-" She was cut off by a kiss on the lips, and the sensation of fizz that invaded her mind made her have a gesture of retreat. "What-" She was not allowed to speak, the kiss took hold of her, the fizziness overcame her spirit, she sighed as she succumbed, the kiss lasted for a while, giving power to the queen, until Bitter Truth slipped a slice of the fruit of love between her lips eagerly looking for another kiss.

"Your loyal subordinate arrives, may you have the kindness to reassure her, we have to discuss a matter of life and death concerning your daughter."

It didn't take long, Chitin arrived in a hurry, opening the door with a crash. "My queen! Are you all right?!” They were cut off in the momentum by a snap. An order from Chrysalis to not make another step.

Chrysalis was gathering her thoughts. "Yes, Chitin. He came to bring me breakfast in bed, that's all. Go with my daughter, and make sure she doesn't come to disturb us."

Chrysalis' low tone said nothing worthwhile to the warrior, so they followed her instructions without blinking, closing the door behind them.

The queen looked at the unicorn and glared at him, "Funny are those obsessions you have, pony."

Bitter Truth, who illuminated the alcove with his magic, gave her a softer look. "Isn't that the duty of a jester to entertain the Queen? If you don't mind, I'd dare ask to offer you a hug while I explain to you how to save your daughter once again. Your power will be a necessary asset, believe me."

"It's not like you've been wrong so far." She sighed exasperated. "All right, go ahead. But about your explanations, don't beat about the bush this time. I'm not in the mood," she said as she went back to bed.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The oracle clung to her side, and placed his head on her back, at the height of the heart of the changeling. "Your daughter next year will have the opportunity to meet her father, who will try to kill her. If you want her to be saved, the only way is to dig Pepper Chilly up, during the night between Sunday and Monday next week. She's the only one who can save her. I didn't see a plausible future where anypony else could."

"The parasprite is dead, I don't see her saving anypony once she's dug up," Chrysalis mocked. But the silence that followed left her with a headache as she savoured the love she was receiving, a very surprising sweet and salty mixture. "I reduced her heart to jam, and you want me to believe that she survived that?"

"It was only one step towards her complete destruction. You have seen her true appearance. What she did to Celestia transfigured her. She has not only consumed the power, but Celestia’s very essence. And even though the Princess was as old as her kingdom, she wouldn't have died so easily."

"Let's pretend I believe you." she sighed, focusing on what mattered most, her daughter's well-being. “Then what, I pull her out of her hole? I apologise for killing her, and beg her to save Aglowing next year?"

"That would be the worst thing to do. Pepper doesn't know yet she's immortal, and she can't know that, not right now. Imagine, if you were her. You wake up one day, and let’s say her Highness Nightmare Moon greets you, tells you that she personally destroyed your heart and yet you are still alive, how would you react?"

She thought about her reaction. She would have found a way to get revenge while conquering Equestria. "Very badly," she summarised. "So I have to lie to her?"

"Tell her a beautiful story, how her magic saved your race from hunger, that you were forced to syphon her magic without stealing her power. This will explain that her magic that hid her true form has dissipated. She won't be able to blame you. Not after your confession. And when the question of her needs comes up, explain to her the virtues of your cocoons, moreover I advise you to produce some of them, you will need them."

"The cocoons? It's not something I can produce in abundance, do you know how much love it takes to produce one? What a question, how could you, you visited my hive in the past to steal a few."

"I had to study the virtues of the fluid you fill these cocoons with. Equestria could make use of such a gift you know. You could save lives with this."

"Too expensive in love to produce, and for what result? A few bits? We are not cows."

"Why do you think I'm here for your breakfast?"

"How generous. Is there anything else you should know about Pepper?"

"Have her thrown into the underground lake as soon as your daughter is asleep, the human will wake up at dawn, not before. Make sure in person to tune her violins to the little story you told your daughter. Don't do the half measure, as long as you don't say that you killed her, everything will be fine."

That story of bad blood in her head had slipped her mind. "Is that all?"

"Hide your daughter's sword in the farthest part of the hive, where she wouldn't go for it immediately. Pepper must not see it when she wakes up." Bitter Truth lied. He could not say that in the very same day she would release Pepper, Chrysalis' life would be in danger of death.