Chrysalis held her son for what seemed like an eternity. They cried in each other's arms, making what they could of this moment, since moments like this weren't all too common. Night Winger nuzzled his mother's neck, weeping his last few tears as she held him tight. It hit him pretty hard how he assumed Chrysalis had no use for him, when she really loved him. He now felt like the bad one. He'd apologize, but cuddling seemed to be of great consolation for that. He even purred lightly, his forelegs around one of Chrysalis's. All in all, he was just glad to be with his mommy again.

Chrysalis, on the other hoof, was still keeping secrets from him. Despite her second thoughts, she still felt she needed to go through with her plan. It was fool proof! To her at least. She was making a rather large gamble in the way she is going to feed her son and her hive. She knew those changelings would try and rid themselves of Night Winger, so she stuck around to see to it he wouldn't be harmed. Sadly she wasn't around during the Timberwolf attack, which ached her heart plenty. She hated herself for it. Knowing her son was almost killed, and still she's decided to follow through with her plan.

Whether he would still love her or not, she needed to feed him and her hive, no matter the cost.

She looked down at her son to find him laying still, content on top of her chest. Moments like these she wished would last forever, but with the current situation, it surprised her she was even holding him to begin with. He gazed up at her, meeting her eyes and smiles.

"I love you, mamma." he says softly.

Chrysalis puts on a small smile. "I love you too, my little Night Winger."

She wished she could just feed him love like ponies can, but changelings can only take, and are unable to give love without taking it first. If a simple snuggle, or a nuzzle, maybe even a small hug would radiate even the smallest hint of love, it would make things so much easier on her. Her race hung in the balance, her subjects falling left and right due to love deprivation. Even her relationship with her son was hanging by a single thread, for if Night Winger discovered the truth, this may be the last time she'd be able to share this moment with him. As of now, she could only pray. Pray things would for once turn up in her favor.

She chuckled a little. "Funny," she thought to herself. "Love The strongest possible force of the world, pure in goodness without a trace of evil is what makes our lives nearly impossible."

"It's time to go, Night Winger," Chrysalis kissed her son's head, followed by getting off the bed.

Night Winger tilted his head. "Are we going back home?"

"Sort of."

Night Winger shrugged and with a flare of his wings, he fluttered onto Chrysalis's back.

Chrysalis trotted out of the room and down the stairs, Zecora was there, tossing random things into the massive cauldron. A few bones, a potion or two which changed the color from blue to purple, then red. Next was a feather, and a rose pedal it seemed. This was then followed by chanting and rhyming words and the color changed a third time. Chrysalis stood and watched for a moment since this was somthing she had never seen before. It confused her as to what the zebra was doing which made it so fascinating.

Finally, Zecora took a ladel, taking a bit of the mixture, and pours it into a small vial.

"Chrysalis." Zecora turned her gaze to the pair of changelings.

Chrysalis stood silent for a moment before approaching. "Yes?"

"I have made a special brew. A potion, just for you." the zebra replied, holding the vial, filled with yellow liquid.

Chrysalis eye'd the small vile suspiciously. "What does it do? Do I drink it?"

Zecora laughed in the slightest. " Your intentions are blind due to your stresses, I know. This special potion when you drink it, will reveal a new road, and a better path it will show."

"Huh." Chrysalis took the vial,, her suspicions strong, but her curiosity stronger, and she drank the contents of the bottle. "How will I know if it works?"

"In time it will show, at the right moment, but for now, you must go."

Chrysalis nods and turns to the door.

"For the right answers I know you seek, this potion will give you a peak."

Chrysalis gives another nod and leaves the hut. With a heavy sigh, she's brought herself to get ready for the last phase of her plan. The one that would make or break her and everything she knows and so deeply loves.

*****

Shining Armor backed away from the flaming creature, fear in his pin prick sized eyes as he backed into the wall. Twilight stood tall and ready for battle if the situation called for it. She glared at the creature.

"Who are you and what do you want?" she said firmly.

The white alicorn with red eyes, and a mane burning of fire, with a tail to match approached Twilight.

"Where is Night Winger?!" came Celestia's voice.

Twilight gasped in shock, taking a step back. "P-princess Celestia?!"

The pony nodded, and slowly, her mane and tail calmed, and as her eyes changed once again to purple, her fiery mane became a beautiful flowing rainbow of colors. "Wherever Night Winger is, I promise, we will find him, Twilight."

Twilight failed to answer. Who can answer to any question, anyway, if fall unconscious?

Author's Note

For some reason, this line seems familiar to me:

"For the right answers, I know you seek, this potion will give you a peek."

And sorry...this makes for the new shortest chapter. I'll try and make the next one over 2,000 words to compensate.