The Lost Changeling: Taken it Back

Because of how soon Carina had visited after my recoronation, Carve as well, the changelings are now resorting to the love I gave them from the ceremony, which will last only a few more days. That changes when I look over to the front of the throne room to see two familiar urban adventurers enter. I notice that the two are panting.

“Rusty Flashlight, Pane Fall, what are two doing here?”

“We... We just came here to look for Carve. She hasn’t been home for days.”

“I know, Rusty. She’s stayed here because I’m trying to build good terms with Equestria. So far we’ve made two attempts. The first one was a bust because Carve was exiled from Ponyville by Twilight. The second one was successful as a test, but it will take months in order to find the level of success I’m looking for.”

“How many more attempts do you have to experiment on now?” Pane inquires.

“Two more? Three if you count the two of you vouching in the event of an emergency.”

“Wait. Your third plan is for me and Rusty to vouch for you when all else fails?”

“In the order I plan on doing it, Pane Fall, Carina’s plan (Carve in Ponyville), Cervix’s plan (every pony each spending a day with me in disguise), Seta’s plan (being nothing but frank with Ponyville), THEN Brand’s plan (you two vouching for me). Carve also has one, but that is essentially only when absolutely necessary.”

Hello?!?

“Hmm? Hold on here... is that... Twilight’s drake?”

“Drake? As in dragon?”

“Yes, Pane Fall. Did you ever see him?”

“Once.”

Out of the corner of my left eye, Spike peeps in, looking slightly nervous.

“Come on in, Spike.”

“Uh... y-you wouldn’t happen to see Carve anywhere, would you, Q-Queen... Chrysalis?”

“Actually, the last time I saw her, she was headed to her home in Las Pegasus. Is that all?”

“Um... yeah?”

“Very well. Rusty Flashlight, Pane Fall, can you escort Spike to your homes?”

“Will do, Chrysalis. Let’s go, Pane.”

With that, the three of them exit the throne room, off to Las Pegasus.

;=;

After about a half hour, Spike returns to me and Trixie with Pane and Rusty in tow.

“So Spike, how did it go?”

“Well Starlight, we’ll have to go to Las Pegasus if we’re going to get anywhere with finding Carve. At the very least, Chrysalis was pretty helpful for us on the front of searching for one of her subjects.”

“Well, Las Pegasus it is then. Ready everypony?”

Rusty, Pane, Spike and Trixie all nod.

“Good. Let’s go.”

After forty minutes of walking, Trixie decides to come up next to me.

“So Starlight, do you know where Rusty Flashlight and Pane Fall live?”

“Well, all I know is where Las Pegasus is. Rusty and Pane would have to lead once we arrive."

Suddenly, near the horizon, I faintly see what looks like a pro-Chrysalis changeling.

“Huh... who’s that?”

“Where, Starlight?” Rusty asks.

I point ahead of us, prompting him to gasp.

“CARVE!!!”

The distant changeling shows her eyes, looking surprised. Soon after, she sprints towards us.

“Rusty! Spike! Pane! Trixie! What’re you all doing here?”

“We’ve all been looking for you.”

“Oh, Starlight, right?”

I nod at Carve.

“Yeah. That’s me.”

“So, I know you, Pane and Rusty all trust Chrysalis for now, but what about Spike and Trixie?”

Spike shrugs.

“Well, there’s the whole ‘you going missing the day you arrive in Ponyville’ thing.”

“And there’s the fact that a pro-Chrysalis changeling of all kinds of ponies is quite sensible... most of the time,” Trixie adds, causing Carve to facehoof.

“Ugh... Trixie, the important thing is that-”

“Yeah, I know... that I didn’t have anything to clean after returning from Appleoosa.”

“Good. Now, I was headed back to Chrysalis’ hive to search for Pane and Rusty, but they’re here now. So... Las Pegasus anybody?”

...Yep, definitely not your average pro-Chrysalis changeling, and that REALLY makes me happy. I know Chrysalis is now on my good terms, but I don’t know about the changelings that returned to her side. I’m just glad Carve has nothing against me. I simply pick my right hoof up.

“I’m in.”

;=;

“Hey Carve?”

“Yeah Starlight?” I ask as the six of us continue further into our trip.

“Do you think the changelings will not like me anymore for showing them a way that had failed in the long run?”

“Well, at the very least, you had called the queen out on her actions, right? What was the last thing you said to Chrysalis before she ran off from the hive?”

“I was offering her to change her ways at the very moment, but...”

“...but...”

“...but I... I guess that really wasn’t on her mind so much at the time, because she had lost her home.”

“...Starlight... you aren’t wrong for offering Chrysalis a new way. But that offer has already been there for Chrysalis the whole time. The offer shone bright enough to be taken when she was recoronated... Do you remember Thorax?”

Starlight nods at me.

“He had taken that same offer to change when he left for the Crystal Empire, trying to build good terms with them. He had done everything Chrysalis is currently doing, only nobody offered that reformation to him at any single point.”

“So, uh, what should I have done differently then?”

“I really wouldn’t change it. What you did really showed that Chrysalis isn’t perfect.”

“Well, wanna see for yourself, Carve? I have managed to master Refulgo Publicus.”

“Sure, why not?”

“Rusty? Pane?”

The two shrug, prompting Starlight to light up her horn and fire an aura that projects a visual. What everyone sees is a scene in Starlight’s perspective where she and Chrysalis are confronting each other in front of the hive that is present.

What if you didn’t have to?

RIDICULOUS!!!

Starlight tries to run, but is thrown into another point in the hive and becomes pinned, Chrysalis appearing in front of her a few seconds later.

The hunger of changelings can NEVER be satisfied!

Exactly! Thorax left the hive and made a friend! And now he doesn’t need to feed. You don't have to live your lives starving all the time!!!

Suddenly the pictures hones in in front of Chrysalis, looking up.

You know nothing of the changelings or what it takes to be their queen!

Ooh. Getting thrown into a hive wall must’ve hurt.

I decide what’s best for my subjects! Not some muling grub!

...A real leader doesn’t force her subjects to deny who they are. She celebrates what makes them unique, and listens when one of them finds a better way.

Finally, the picture dissolves into the aura, prompting that to fade as well.

“So, uh, what do you think?”

“Well, Starlight? I actually think you and Chrysalis were both right. I can understand her frustration, because I lived through what you did. The only difference between you and me is that I chose to live with Rusty and Pane after they found me. And now, Carina, Aita and I all provide love that is enough for the hive. Chrysalis agreed to have me live in Las Pegasus as long as I visited the hive, which was partly best for the hive.”

“So, I made a good call?”

I nod.

“Yeah. You and Chrysalis both.”