The moon shone brightly and the stars painted a stellar array of constellations across the sky as the newly-crowned Queen Firefly stared pensively out into the night. Not long ago, this kingdom belonged to her Mom and Auntie, and now it was hers. It had all happened so fast, she’d hardly had time to prepare for or even process it. But tonight, in her first moment of quiet since the coronation, it was finally sinking in.

“What troubles you, my daughter?” A voice spoke up from behind. She heard hoofsteps approaching as her mother, the Queen Mother Chrysalis, came to her side.

“Just…taking it all in, I guess,” Firefly answered. “I can’t believe I’m…in charge of all this.”

“Ah yes, the musings of a new Queen,” Chrysalis nodded knowingly. “I was in the same position long ago, when I first looked upon my kingdom. Exhilarating, isn’t it?”

“I guess…well, not really,” Firefly admitted. “I didn’t see this coming at all. Just one day, ‘Surprise! You’re the Queen now!’ And there was like, no time to get ready for it all. It was just…sprung on me.”

“Typical of Celestia to pawn her duties off on the young and weak.”

“What?”

“Nothing, dear. Go on.”

“And on top of, y’know, running a country, I got all this other shit going on,” Firefly continued. “My grandchildren are getting old. Ollie’s funeral was just last month and I couldn’t even go because of all this world-leader bullshit! My family’s dying off before my eyes, Mother!” Tears welled up in her eyes. “Don’t you know what it’s like?”

“Of course I do,” Chrysalis said in an oddly cold tone. “I have watched many members of my hive perish over the centuries. But you must carry on, or you will crumble and your kingdom will fall with you.”

“Wow, thanks,” Firefly let out a tearful, sarcastic laugh. “No pressure or anything, right?”

“That is just the way things are, dear,” Chrysalis stated matter-of-factly. “A Queen has to be strong and make sacrifices, anything to keep her kingdom on top. Don’t you dare let them see you at your most vulnerable.”

Firefly continued to sob quietly, taking in her Mother’s words.

“Now compose yourself and save your tears for later. Understood?”

“Yes, Mother,” Firefly brushed a wing across her eyes and swallowed the lump in her throat.

“Good,” Chrysalis held Firefly’s chin up. “Look at you, you are already dealing with this so well. Your cousin is an absolute wreck and your brother is running away from his problems like a fool. But you, you will do just fine as long as you heed my advice.”

Firefly smiled in acknowledgment, but then frowned. “Aren’t you worried about Phil a little? We haven’t seen him in awhile.”

“Of course, dear, but are you really surprised? This is all part of his silly ‘emo’ act, he will come to his senses and return in no time,” Chrysalis sneered.

“Well his family died too so I can’t really blame him for being upset,” Firefly admitted. “Even if he was married to a total freak show. But his whole attitude he’s always had, I never got it. Like, lighten up a little, your life doesn’t suck that much, does it?”

“Philia has always had a penchant for overreaction, even as a grub. If you asked him, he would say I ruined his poor life by making him feed off of wild animals. Only the occasional young canine or feline, but he took it as something far worse.” Chrysalis turned to Firefly with a sad-looking frown. “But there was no other option for us. I had to sustain myself and my son somehow. I did what any mother changeling would to ensure the survival of my young. But of course, he doesn’t appreciate my efforts.”

“Damn…” Firefly grimaced. “That sucks. Hell, you were just trying to help him live and shit, you did what you had to out of love, right? He should be over that.”

“Indeed,” Chrysalis’ expression immediately hardened into a more emotionless stare. “Now off to bed with you, dear. You have duties to attend to in the morning.”

Firefly yawned. “Yeah, I am getting tired.” She began to make her way towards her chambers. “Thanks for the advice, Mother. I needed to hear that.”

“But of course dear. After all,” a sly grin grew across her face, “Mother knows best.”