Flare of Hope

"Dear Prince Flare: I learned something today. You're psychotic. Sincerely, Falling Star." The unicorn's horn glowed, as the small scroll rolled itself up, and tucked itself under Flare's wing. "And delivered."

"I'm not reading that."

"Why not?"

"Because I heard you reading it out as you wrote it. And the only reason I got like that was because I was worried about you."

"Awww, that's sweet. So, why are we in these tunnels?"

"That changeling mentioned someone named Lady Seduction. And that just has bad news written all over it."

"Wait... all stories I've heard say that changelings change into the one somepony loves the most, and feeds off of their love for that pony." Star looked at Flare, and raised an eyebrow.

"Mhm. What about it?"

"Well, when I was trapped in the caverns, I watched the changeling turn into me. And when I blew its head open, it had gotten a lot more powerful... Is there something you want to tell me, Flare?"

"Well, you're my fillyfriend. It's only natural that it would copy you."

"Sure, babe. Now, how do you plan on finding this Lady Seduction?"

"Well, I figure we just follow that army of changelings up there." Both ponies stopped in their tracks, and gave each other a look of sudden fear, as the massive formation of changelings turned and set their sights on the two ponies. "Well, thar doesn't look good."

Star looked at Flare, then back to the changelings. "Yeah, this looks bad."

"Eeyup. Can you still do that head-explodey thing?"

"Only when I'm really angry."

"Hmmm... well, Twilight's not here, so I guess it's up to m- oh. Convenient." Flare chuckled, as he watched a few if the changelings take the shape of Twilight Sparkle. "Oh. Did I ever mention that Twilight's a better kisser than you? I know it's kinda random, given the situation, but if we survive this, I'm totally gonna tap that purple flank."

Mission accomplished. Star was furious. Changelings everywhere started either going up in flames, or just plain being blown to bits. Flare was genuinely scared, and began to back away slowly. While most ponies would've been satisfied just giving the changelings a good knock on the head, and leaving them as defeated, Star wanted no such thing. She was out for blood, and she was going to get it. Flare watched in a slight shock, as Star used any means necessary to annihilate the small army of changelings. Flare figured it was a good thing that Star tended to get so jealous. Now the only two things he had to worry about were this Lady Seduction, and the wrath of a pissed off little unicorn once she got done with the changelings. He couldn't even decide which one he should worry about more, as he watched her rip the horn off of one of the Twilight look-alikes, and hurl it through one of the unchanged enemies that tried to flank her, all while laughing maniacally.

When the few leftover changelings started to run away in terror, Flare decided it was time to intervene. He quickly wrapped Star in a magic nullification bubble, effectively shutting down her rampage using a spell that she had taught him. "Okay, baby. We're gonna sit here, until you cool off. Cool?"

"I'm gonna rip your wings off, and shove them up your ass, Flare!"

"As appealing as that sounds, babe, I like my wings."

"FUCK YOU AND YOUR WINGS!"

"See, that kind of attitude won't get you anywhere."

"You should be one to talk! I'm gonna shove my hoof so far up your flank that you'll feel like a hoof puppet!"

Flare let out a sigh. "Now isn't the time for foreplay. Just take a few minutes to cool off, and I'll let you out."

The tunnel was silent for a few moments, until Star let out a long sigh. "Alright, Flare. I'm calm. I'm sorry..."

Flare nodded, and the bubble faded. "Alright, let's go."

"I'm sorry, but I'm about to burn your dick off!"

"Oh, fuck."

"Sing for me, pretty boy!"

Meanwhile, in the depths beneath Canterlot:

"My lady! One of the changelings just reported back that Larvaea failed to exterminate the prince, and he, and a unicorn just wiped out the third platoon. What are your orders, mistress?"

Seated on a throne of skulls as pure white as her coat was a stunningly gorgeous alicorn mare with a flowing red mane and tail that resembled a vapor of blood. Her glowing red eyes rested upon the small black unicorn that had just galloped into the chamber, and sighed in discontent. She looked directly at the minion before her, and spoke, her voice as smooth as silk, and as lovely as a field of roses. "Lovely. First, my brother gets his neck snapped by a pegasus, and now this. Let them come, and I shall deal with them myself. Send a message to Chrysalis, telling her that should anything else go wrong, I will personally snap her neck with my own two hooves."

The unicorn bowed, and exited without another word, happy to carry out her mistress's orders.

A few moments after one of her many minions left the chamber, the alicorn stood, and walked over to the large wall of reflective crystal that occupied one of the stone walls of the chamber, and grinned, admiring her reflection. "Yes, my sweet prize, come to me. I will show you the sweet pleasure of death. Well, after I have my fun with you, first." She then threw her head back, in a wicked laugh.

Back above the surface, the changeling army had begun their assault in the city. Everywhere throughout the city, mares, stallions were running in fear from the changeling army, as they easily overran the capitol. From every direction, screams of terror could be heard, as the guards were taken by surprise, and knocked unconscious by the overwhelming force. The elements of harmony, themselves were fighting to hold their own, praying for salvation.

Back on the edge of the city, a small group of changelings had cornered a mare and her foal in an alleyway. "Please! Somepony help us," the mare cried out, her cries of distress being met only by the wicked cackles of the approaching changelings. Just as all hope seemed lost, the mare closed her eyes, covering her foal's face. Within a few seconds, the sound of hooves striking, and bones cracking filled the air.

A few seconds later, a friendly voice reached the mare's ears. "Are you two alright?"

The mare opened her eyes, to see a pure white pegasus stallion with a bright blue mane and tail flowing in the wind, green ooze covering his hooves, as he stood atop a mound of fallen changelings. "Th-thank you, sir. May I have the name of my savior."

The pegasus turned, and stretched his wings, as he prepared for takeoff. "The name's Breaker. Skybreaker." And with a quirky grin, he was gone.