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                       Family Bonds                        
                      -by VisualPony-                      
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                You went too far this time!                
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You went too far this time!
Family bonds
You went too far this time!
Moonsinger was using her magic to wield a broom in the reception area of the Timberhead. There had been many visitors to Gemini lately, and Bright Light just never seemed to take the time to clean his Inn on a regular basis. This was why she did it at least two times a week, if her other duties around the town allowed it. The Changelings had been very active in the vicinity of the garden recently, but she didn't worry too much. Their mothers barrier was eternal, and it had protected them for over a thousand years by now. Chrysalis had certainly tried to break it down, but the heavy casualties the children of the night had inflicted on her hive, had taught her a lesson. At least that was what Moonsinger believed, when two blood soaked foals charged through the door of the Timberhead.
On their backs they carried a small Unicorn filly with a light brown coat, orange mane and dark brown ears. Immediately Moonsinger dropped the broom and hurried over to the scared little foals.
“What happened?”, she shouted, taking her daughter from their backs and giving her a quick check up. After making sure that it was nothing too serious, she turned her attention to the two colts again.
“Changelings... We were on our way to Master Zecora for our weekly lessons when they attacked us.”, one of the colts said in a quivering voice. Moonsinger recognized Flametails son only by his voice. His coat was soaked in red blood, which meant that it was that of a Pony.
“What about the rest of your class? If I remember right there should be six of you.”
“They.... They didn't make it... We were barely able to get away ourselves... There... There was no way we could have helped them.”, cried the other colt whom she identified to be Frostmanes son.
“Ok... I don't blame you. It was very brave of you to bring Stardancer back, and I am very grateful for that. Tell you what, your ice-cream is on the house from now on.”, Moonsinger tried to calm the frightened foals. Usually such behavior irritated her to no end, but there were more important matters then that right now.
“And one more thing. Firehoof, you go home and tell your father about what happened. He will have to increase the patrols on our borders. And you Cookie Jar, I want you to go and tell your mother to meet me at the usual place in ten minutes. She will know what I mean. And now hop hop hop, off with you.”
The foals obliged, happy to get home to their families and away from Moonsinger. They knew that the calm exterior that she displayed was nothing more then a mask, meant to calm them. They had both seen her explode more then once, and they didn't want to be anywhere near where it happened.
Ten minutes later
Moonsinger trotted up to the barrier, where Frostmane was already waiting for her. Her friends mane flowed in a non-existent breeze, like that of their mother, yet she was no Alicorn. It was that mane, that was her namesake.
“YOUR LATE!”, Frostmane bellowed even before Moonsinger had completely rounded the corner of a building. Apologetically she looked at her fellow Unicorn, sticking out her tongue.
“Sorry. Star had a few scrapes that I needed to patch up before I could leave. Took me a little longer then I expected.”
“So your really planning on doing this?”, Frostmane asked more calmly now.
“You know me, and you know our mothers teachings. We must protect our families at all cost. Those who harm our families must suffer the consequences.”, Moonsinger replied, her expression changing to a serious one. Frostmane sighed.
“I always thought you took our mothers teachings a little to serious, but in this case I have to agree with you. When has it last been that we had to do this? Fifty or fifty-three years ago? They truly forget fast, considering that you almost blew the place up the last time we were there.”
“This time, I won't try to hold back. This time, it's more then personal. They hurt my daughter....”, Moonsinger growled, resembling a Timberwolf more then a Pony.
“I'm with you there. Cookie only has a few bruises, but I guess it's time to use my namesake again to show them how dangerous it is in the “cold” of night.”, the lightblue Unicorn snickered.
Without any further conversation, the two mothers made their way towards the Changeling hive, leaving their mothers barrier behind. Both of them knew that there was a good chance that they didn't return, but they just had to do this. In their early years in Ever-free the Changelings had harassed both of them more then once. Back then, their mother had still been with them which frightened these Insects enough not to overdo it. Ever since the Princess of the Night had been banished however, they had gotten more and more “brave/foalish”.
It didn't take long for Frostmane to spot the first Changeling that was hiding in the darkness, most likely thinking that he had not yet been spotted. Her glittering blue mane shot towards the bush in which the creature was hiding, freezing it solid in an instant.
“That's one for me. Your falling behind “Mom”.”, she teased her friend, who was still wearing a dangerous expression on her face. Frostmane knew that, if Moonsinger used “it”, she would have to run for her life if she didn't want to be caught up in the blast.
“Mphf.... That wasn't even a guard.”, Moonsinger snorted as they walked on in silence.
Several minutes later
Frostmane willed her mane and tail to extend as far as she could, encircling the entrance to the Changeling hive completely. About twenty of the insect like creatures had been standing guard there, when she turned them in to frozen statues. Moonsinger smiled at the display. Her friends special talent had originally been used to freeze sweets and making ice-cream. That was why her Cutie-Mark was an ice-cone with three different colored ice-balls on it. She would guard the entrance, while Moonsinger would enter the hive. There was somepony in there she wanted to “talk” to.
She was met with surprisingly little resistance on her way to the hives throne room. Only a few drones that had not been fast enough to hide from her, or thought they could please their queen if they killed her, had made the attempt to stop her. This had been a useful thing for her. Because of it, she was now covered from head to hoof in Changeling blood.
Casting a teleport block over the room before entering, she thrust the doors to the throne room open. There she sat on her black throne. “Queen” Chrysalis.
“Oh my... I would have thought that little Luna had raised you better then to just storm into a room without knocking. Why are you here? You know you are not welcome in my hive.”, the Changeling Queen said, almost bored by the sight of the blood soaked Unicorn.
“Don't play with innocent with me! You know exactly why I'm here. We're going to settle this ONCE AND FOR ALL! How low can one sink to attack foals?”, Moonsinger growled at her adversary.
“You can hardly blame my drones. Your young ones trespassed on Changeling territory. It was our right to defend what is ours.”, the Queen yawned. Moonsingers fighting instincts kicked in. Something was off about Chrysalis behavior. She was way too calm. Could it be that....?
“Don't tell me you fed on them yourself....”
“Alright, then I won't tell you. Anything else you wanted before I kick your worthless flank out of here?”, Chrysalis taunted, when a telekinetic blast hit her straight in the face, knocking her and her throne over.
“THIS IS IT! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!”, Moonsinger shouted, her green eyes beginning to glow pale white, like the moon itself. Her charge was met by one of Chrysalis, who had stood up as fast as she could to defend herself.
The two mares exchanged blow after blow with their magic, hooves and horns. Chrysalis even bit Moonsingers flank when she tried to evade one of the Queens blows. No natural weapon was left unused. Slowly but surely, Moonsinger could feel the spark of her mothers magic fade within her. If she didn't end this fight soon, she would die. Panting heavily, and bleeding from several wounds, she channeled her most lethal spell. The blood on her coat started to move, and formed whips that were as thin as a single hair. Red and green shimmers danced around her body now.
She was satisfied when she noticed the panicked look on her opponents face. The Changeling Queen had obviously hoped she wouldn't use her trump card.
“What's.... the matter... you insect? Scared of a little blood?”, she wheezed, letting her whips lash out at Chrysalis. The Queen tried to avoid the many strings of blood that came towards her, but there were just too many of them. One pierced through her throat like a thin spear. The wound was not big, but it made it hard for Chrysalis to breathe. Blood began to seep into her lungs. She had lost, and she knew it. A few more of the thin strands grabbed her, as she tried to catch her breath.
“It's over.”, Moonsinger panted, her eyes slowly loosing their glow, when something cut her strands and positioned itself directly in front of Chrysalis.
“Stop this Moonsinger. You have made your point. I promise that our Changelings will never again try to harm you, or your fellow Children of the night. Now go, please.”, The “other” Changeling Queen pleaded calmly. Her white mane hang limp on her neck, and her eyes showed nothing but sorrow. Moonsinger knew that Diamond was strong. She could not defeat her in her current state, and she didn't even want to try. Diamond had never done anything to harm her. She even considered Chrysalis daughter her friend.
“Alright.... You win Diamond. Just make sure your mother keeps your promise. If I ever hear of you guys hurting any of us again, I will personally stomp your hive into the ground. You know I can do it.”, the Unicorn said, barely above a whisper to which her friend nodded.
“I understand. I apologize on my mothers behalf. To be frank, I hoped that we would meet again under better circumstances....”, Diamond said ashamed, when she was cut off by the gurgling voice of her mother.
“What are you.... doing? Get... her!”
Chrysalis watched in horror, as her daughter shook her head.
“I do not wish to fight Moonsinger, and you should know better then to mess with her kind. Let this be a lesson for you. Next time I might not be nearby to safe your flank.”, she said, turning her back on the Unicorn that had beaten down her mother. Diamond knew, that Moonsinger would never strike her from behind. The sound of the doors closing, told her that her friend had left. All that remained now, was to clean up her mother mess..... again.