The Lost Changeling: Taken it Back

During the blackout, I try to take in my surroundings, but all I see... is a void: a void that contains Twilight within my line of sight whenever I look in a certain direction.

“Huh... Twilight, what happened...? I’ve been within the dream realm before to visit Jon, but it was never dark as a void.”

“I... I don’t know.”

We do though.

Letting the voice echo in my head, it hits me. That voice is extremely familiar, in such a familiarity, it almost makes me angry. I clear my throat to push the anger away, and study how Twilight reacts. She seems to be speechless, like something too good to be true had just happened to her.

“Are you thinking of who I’m thinking of, Twilight?”

“...Yeah. Last time I saw him, he visited Ponyville when Dragon Lord Ember did.”

“Hmm... that doesn’t give me much of a clue as to-”

Suddenly, another voice interrupts my thoughts.

Heh, you don’t recognize him, Queen? It looks like Twilight does.

“I’d rather not recognize that one voice. Are you sure it wasn’t you? Whoever you are?”

Yes, it’s two, for now, the first voice answers, prompting me to gasp in horror.

“Oh... no... I thoroughly know you.”

Then, the voices reveal themselves into what is presumably the spotlight Twilight and I are currently in. The one on the left looks quite like Carve, Carina, and anyone else in my hive. However, the one on the right looks just like the very changeling that single-hoofedly dethroned me.

“Heheh, I should hope so. You kept alluding to me when you were talking to any of the princesses, when you were trying to build good terms with Equestria yourself. Really took me back to my first arrival at the Crystal Empire. Oooooh, the memories I had with Sp-”

“Um, hello? I think Chrysalis still doesn’t dig you after what you did to her kingdom.”

“Well, something like that, Correal. Thanks for settling him down there. So, why have you two come to visit me and Twilight Sparkle?”

“Correal and I wanted to say... congratulations on trusting each other, Chrysalis and Twilight. I thought that would happen sooner or later when Carve went to talk with Twilight in Ponyville.”

“I assume that you didn’t tell her. If you did, she would not’ve been so worried about me at some points within the search for Celestia’s successor.”

“Well, um, no. Should I have-” Thorax starts.

“Never mind. It’s completely in the past now, as Twilight and I are now on good terms with each other.”

“So, does that mean you also forg-”

“NO, Thorax! At the moment, I can’t feed because I am unconscious in the waking world! Even if I did taste true remorse for your actions, I wouldn’t be able to forgive you for dethroning me, only to neglect the hive!... However, since everything else has worked in favor of my relationship with Equestria, I am able to place that event behind me, and move on.”

“Okay, at least we can agree my rule was in the past. I guess that’s all that really matters.”

“Um, Chrysalis?”

“Yes, Twilight?”

“Was that why you said I didn’t have to trust you?”

“Exactly. Yes, many ponies were replaced, which was absolutely awful of me and my changelings to do. I thought it would’ve been very difficult for myself to be trusted. But because of how I showed the ways that I’ve changed, I am friends with ponies who would not’ve trusted me otherwise. I could see why you didn’t trust me at first, because of your experiences with me.”

“And it seems the same with you and Thorax.”

I suppose it is so.

The final changeling to enter, now having joined the conversation, appears to look quite a bit like my modern day self. I instantly recognize her.

“I-is that...?”

“Yes... it is. I’m very glad that you recognize me, Chrysalis. What you have done this week shows me how far you’ve come since you were my student.”

“...T-Thank you so much, Queen Areola. I-I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything, Chrysalis. Now, Correal, Thorax and I must depart. It looks like you two are about to regain consciousness.”

“Okay. See you later tonight, Areola?”

The past queen nods, and exits the “spotlight” alongside the other two changelings, just before the void fades into a white. I can no longer see Twilight now.

;=;

“What the... Twilight? Chrysalis? Is that you?”

I open my eyes again to see that Twilight and I have now landed in my throne room instead of remaining near the train station in the Crystal Empire. Twilight gasps in tasty positivity, turning her head to face the familiar voice next to us.

“Starlight!!!”

When Twilight gets up to hug her pupil, I notice that her legs are the height and a half of Starlight’s, which prompts me to gasp.

“Twilight! What happened to you?!?” I inquire exclaimantly.

“I agree. How did you get so tall?”

“Huh... I guess I didn’t notice it when I first woke up. But OOOH I’m so glad you’re fine!”

“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be? In fact, I shared a laugh with Mio a couple of hours ago.”

I whip up a smile, and get up on my own hooves, as Starlight approaches me.

“Then that’s good. I’m glad you had a fine time here.”

Suddenly, as I hug Starlight, I notice something different about my hoof. It’s still within a color of near black, but I don’t see any holes in it. Letting go of Starlight, I blink a few times to make sure my hoof still looks the same as it always has. Well, I can’t say I was successful, because when I put it in front of me, it completely blocks my view, as opposed to being able to somewhat see where I’m looking. I take a quick look at my back to notice whole wings, though still made out of the same clear blue chitin I’ve been familiar with all my life.

“Hmm... it looks like Twilight isn’t the only one who’s had some changes. My true form seems to have become whole now.”

“Looks like it. Even the mane and the tail both look devoid of holes. I have to admit, you look more like a queen now than you did before.”

“Why... why I’m flattered, Starlight. Thank you.”

Suddenly, Carve teleports into the throne room, looking quite worried.

“Glim Glam! The ponies are getting worried sick again!”

And then she collapses at my hooves. I decide to levitate the sleeping stand-in before I start yawning.

“Okay... Twilight, Starlight, you two go to the Crystal Empire. It’s already past astronomical.”

“You got it! Come on, Starlight. Let’s go.”

Starlight nods before following Twilight out of the throne room, leaving me with Carve. I look down at my slumbering successor soon to be, and pet her little mane.

“Hmm... Carve, before I join you in your dream, I want to thank you for all of your help alongside all of the top drones with befriending Equestria. Tomorrow, you’ll be back in Las Pegasus, where you truly belong, with two urban adventurers that are happy to call you a friend. With Equestria as our ally, we will receive the love we earned from this past week’s efforts, thanks to every pony and changeling that helped, including you. I’ll see you in the dream realm.”