Author's Note

My apologies for the long long wait, but here is chapter 3. I couldn't have done this without the help of my friend NineTailBeastBall, but don't you worry, I've got more chapters coming your way, so stay tuned for more chapters and remember to keep on bronying on.

Coming To An Agreement

Once he was scared for the changelings not being able to have their second chance. However, now Spike was relieved that his big sister, Twilight Sparkle would help him work something out with Princess Celestia so that Queen Chrysalis and the last of her changeling followers could stay. Chrysalis was still fairly new to the whole “love” thing, so as a result, she just rolled her eyes, still having thoughts about love being a weakness.

Throughout Chrysalis’ whole life, all she’s really cared about is draining the love out of others for the sake of obtaining the power to overthrow the princesses of Equestria and take over their land of Equestria. Now, here she was, in a hospital bed, being pitied in front of her own changelings by an 18-year-old dragon and his adoptive alicorn sister.

Chrysalis didn’t understand why he was being so kind to her, despite everything she had done that was considered a crime to all of Equestria. She was expecting the young, purple dragon to take her to the dungeons in Canterlot where she’d live the rest of her life in isolation. However, Spike has chosen to take a more merciful approach and save her from a life of misery. He even went so far as to take responsibility for saving her life and taking her to the hospital. To make things more weird for her, she just can’t figure out why her chest keeps beating.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of her changelings hissing in a hostile way. They didn't want to have anything to do with Spike or the Princess of Friendship. They feared for their leader's safety, even though Spike gave his word to not turn them in.

“Don’t think you can fool us, you lowlife dragon! You just want to use that as an excuse to send us and our queen off to the dungeons where we’ll live the rest of our lives in isolation!” hissed the red-eyed changeling.

“You ponies and dragons are all the same, you can't be trusted!” said the light blue-eyed changeling, as she glared daggers at Spike.

Twilight stepped in between the changelings and her little brother. “How dare you even think about saying something so unforgivable as that! Spike wouldn’t even think of throwing you in a dungeon! If he wanted to, he would have told me to contact the princess and bring the royal guards over. Instead, he chose to save your lives so all of you and your leader could hopefully reform yourselves!" she said, filled with anger.

“Bah! Why should we believe you?” snarled the dark blue-eyed changeling. “For all we know, you could have been coming up with a plan to lock us all up behind our backs. I wouldn’t even be surprised if Celestia’s guard was outside the entrance of this damn hospital right now.”

“As for that dragon,” said the green-eyed changeling. “All he’s good for is filling up our empty stomachs with love. The perfect meal wagon! I wouldn’t be surprised if he came back to feed us again. It feels so good to have a full stomach, especially when he never even puts up a fight.”

Spike felt a twitch of anger coming from Twilight, judging by the sparks emitting from her horn.

“Mock me all you want, I don’t care what you say about me. But when you talk about Spike that way, I will not forgive you! Now take back what you said about him, or else!” she shouted.

"Or else, what? You’re gonna throw us in the dungeon? How do you think your pwecious wittle bwother would feel if you did that?” the changeling with the red eyes changeling asked, infuriating Twilight even further.

Unable to take it anymore, Twilight gripped all four changelings by their throats with her magic. “I don’t make idle threats here, and don’t you dare try to send me on a guilt trip like that! Now, I’ll say this once more and only once more, take back what you said about Spike being your meal wagon, or I’ll send you all off to the dungeon on stretchers!" she threatened.

“TWILIGHT, STOP!” Spike shouted. He got in front of Twilight and put his hands on her shoulder. “Look I understand why you're so angry, but they’re just scared of what happens to Chrysalis.”

“I don’t get it Spike, why are you even trying to stick up for them? They said those terrible things about you and they don’t even bother to apologize for it! I can’t allow them to go unpunished like this!” Twilight insisted. But no matter what, Spike still refused to let Twilight do this.

“I’m well aware of the rotten things they just said about me, but I still want to help them. Nothing good is gonna come out of this whole situation if I don’t give them a chance,” Spike insisted.

Chrysalis looked over at Spike as he kept arguing with Twilight. She didn't say anything, but she was surprised at how the young drake was dedicated to this decision. Any other creature would jump at the chance to send her and her underlings off to the dungeon.

Twilight thought about it for a second and sighed in defeat. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand you, Spike. Then again, this is what makes you who you are,” she said shaking her head. Finally calming down, Twilight gently sets the four changelings on their beds, allowing them to grip their necks.

Spike approached them, only to get hissed at by them. He managed to close enough so that he was only a few inches away from the four of them.

“I’m sorry, girls. Are you gonna be okay?” he asked, genuinely. "You don't have to trust me if you don't want to, but I give you my word. I won't turn my back on you or Chrysalis. Everypony deserves a second chance, even you girls."

The changelings' stare went from a predatorial glare to puzzled and confused. But then... “Wait, hold on, Spike, did you just call them “girls?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah, all of these changelings are female. Nurse Red Heart gave me the heads-up when I first paid them a visit to check up on them yesterday,” Spike explained before he turned his attention back to the changelings.

“As soon as your queen is feeling better, I'll make sure you all feel right at home. Although, I don’t think I ever got your names, would it be alright with you girls if you told me?”

"And just what is this suppose to be, an interrogation?" asked the red-eyed changeling, her tone just as hostile as always.

"No, this is what we usually call an introduction. I’m trying to prove to you that I’m not a threat,” Spike explained while raising his hands up out of self-defense. He was almost intimidated by the group of hostile changelings. Whether or not they actually trust him completely, the green changeling spoke first, albeit in a bitter tone.

“We do not have names, you overgrown lizard! Our queen has always told us names are worthless in the real world. I am called Tarantula, so there!” she scowled with a hiss at the end. The other changelings sighed in defeat and just got it over with.

"I’m known as Hornet, so don’t forget it!” the dark blue-eyes changeling said with an equal venom in her voice.

Spike then turned to the red-eyed changeling, gesturing for her to speak up. “Oh alright, I’m referred to as Arachnea!” she snapped.

“If it’ll get you to stop pestering me, I go by Aphid,” the light blue-eyes changeling said, turning away.

“Are you satisfied now?” Arachnea asked.

Spike nodded, hoping in due time, these four would warm up to him as long as he remained patient with them. He also made sure to keep the new changeling ruler Thorax in the dark about this for the time being. He also told Twilight not to tell Thorax about this, in fact, he made her Pinkie Promise.

“Are you quite finished with your little charade?” Chrysalis asked squinting her slit eyes.

“Yes, Chrysalis,” Spike made sure he didn’t roll his eyes at her, but her changelings got hostile for some reason.

“That’s “Queen” Chrysalis to you, scaly!” they said in unison.

“Okay, sorry! My bad!” Spike said, raising his hands up in self-defense. “Twilight, did you bring any paper with you? I want to make sure to send a message to Princess Celestia.”

“Yeah, I brought along a feather pen and some paper just in case,” she answered handing the items to her assistant.

Hornet walked up to Spike with a growl as he prepared to make his letter. “I’m warning you, don’t you try anything funny or the girls and I will drain you of your love until you look like a deflated whoopee cushion!”

“I assure you, there will be no funny business! Though if it makes you and the others feel better, I’ll ask the princess if you can join the meeting. I know you and the others don’t trust me, but that’s why I’m going through these great lengths,” Spike explained.

Twilight levitated the paper and feather pen to Spike after his little chat. Spike then wrote down the following:

Dear Princess Celestia

There’s something urgent I need to talk to you about. I want you to come down to the Ponyville Hospital. Recently, the fallen changeling leader, Queen Chrysalis was pinned underneath a burning tree and she’s recovering at the Ponyville Hospital, along with her four changeling followers. I wanted to talk to you in regards of letting them stay with me at the castle with Twilight. I feel like if I can help turn their lives around, Equestria won’t feel as threatened as it was before.

Yours truly,

Spike

P.S: It would be for the the best if you don’t tell Thorax and the changeling kingdom about this. I don’t want them to come after Chrysalis with hostile intent, especially since she has yet to make a full recovery.

With that, Spike rolled up the letter before setting it ablaze. Twilight opened up the window a bit and watched the magic stream drift outside. When it was completely out of view, the purple alicorn smiled and closed the window back up.

“Well, that takes care of that. Now we just have to wait for her response,” Twilight said. She walks over to one of the chairs and sits down while Spike sat in between the changelings and Chrysalis’ bed. Spike reached out to grab Chrysalis and Aphid’s hands, but they swatted him away from them.

“You’d better keep your filthy hands off of me!” Aphid hissed, making Spike to flinch and take a step back.

“I agree, I’m in no mood to be touched right now,” Chrysalis said, calmly but harshly. She didn’t want to risk making the pain worse for herself if she were to raise her voice. “But, I will show a little gratitude that you chose not to let Thorax know about this. I don’t ever want to see that disgusting traitor.”

Furrowing a brow, Spike really wanted to correct Chrysalis’ statement, but he kept his mouth shut to prevent another argument.

Meanwhile, in the Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia was going over her large pile of paperwork when all of a sudden, a message appeared in front of her. She a felt a wide smile grow on her face, as letters from Spike and Twilight almost always brighten her day. Almost always.

Unfortunately this time, the message she got from Spike was everything but something to be happy about, well sort of. She read the entire message and got a little worried. She feared for Spike’s safety and even had thoughts on bringing the royal guard with her.

However, Celestia calmed down and took a deep breath, trying to be to hasty with her decisions. She began to think it through carefully.

‘Hmm, the situation appears to be quite serious. Spike has matured quite a bit over these last few years. As the princess and his mother, I’m not sure if I should refuse or go along with his decision to care for them. Watching over one unreformed changeling is one thing, but four changelings and a queen is another. One thing I do know is that nothing will be resolved if I don’t confront him on the matter directly,’ she thought.

After Princess Celestia finished gathering her thoughts and making her final decision, she set her paperwork aside and rose up from her throne. The royal guards beside her saluted their princess as she descended down the steps.

“Shall we prepare a carriage for you your majesty?” the guard on the left asked, but Celestia shook her head.

“That’s quite alright dear guards. I think it’s for the best if I deal with this on my own,” she answered. Both of the guards bow to her as they obeyed her order.

With that, Celestia began to conjure up her magic, preparing to teleport herself into Ponyville. Due to her playful side, she works rather surprise her adopted son and former star student than let them know beforehand that she was on her way. As Spike has requested, she wasn’t going to let King Thorax know about this.

Back at the Ponyville Hospital, Spike was pacing back and forth waiting for his adoptive mother’s response. All the while, Chrysalis’ bodyguards wouldn’t stop giving him the cold shoulder since he told Celestia about their presence.

Right when they were about to tell him to stop walking back and forth, a bright flash appeared before them. Once the light had died down, the changelings minus Chrysalis, couldn’t help hissing at who had just arrived. Spike had expected a letter from the princess, but instead here was Celestia herself.

“Hello... mother,” Spike said walking up to the white alicorn to give her a hug. This action only disgusted the changelings, who had not stopped their hissing.

“Hello Spike. And hello to you too, Twilight,” Celestia greeted releasing the purple dragon from the loving embrace.

“Hi, princess,” Twilight replied before she gave her a hug as well.

Princess Celestia turned her attention to the injured former changeling queen, Chrysalis and got all wide-eyed when she saw the state she was in. As for the changeling bodyguards, they still kept hissing at Celestia. She hardly felt threatened by the four bodyguards. She stared at the fallen changelings for a little while longer until she turned her attention to Spike.

“Listen, Spike,” she began. “I know you’re a noble dragon who is you’re willing to do whatever it takes to help others and believe me, I’m very proud of you. Still, I just don’t know if it’s a good idea to let you care for them. You are aware that even though they’re still recovering, they can still drain the love out of you.”

“I know, mother, but this is something I have to do. I even offered to give them some of my love so they wouldn’t go hungry. I couldn’t let them starve,” Spike confessed. Celestia got more worried when he told her this.

“Spike, that’s dangerous!” Celestia scolded. “You know they are draining your energy as they feed off of your love! If you keep doing this, you’ll soon be at their mercy!” she raised her voice a bit, grabbing his shoulders. Spike gently took her hands off of his shoulders and held them.

“I want to prove to them that I’m somepony that can be trusted,” he said squeezing his mother’s hands. “I understand the dangers I’m getting myself into, but it’s worth it if it means that they get to start over. I refuse to believe that all changelings are evil. Thorax was the one who taught me that after all.”

Chrysalis could no longer contain the hiss that escaped her lips after Spike mentioned Thorax’s name. However she silenced herself when the young drake turned to look at her.

Celestia sighed as she approached the dethroned ruler, who glared at her. She returned the glare, as it was hard to overlook all the things the changelings have done.

“Whether we’re referring to a leader or a subordinate, I now know that there’s no such thing as pure evil. So please, mother. I want to look after the changelings. I’ve decided when I rescued them that I would prepare myself to take on such a huge responsibility, so I’m not backing away from it!” Spike shouted strongly, causing the sun goddess to look back at him impressed.

“If this is your final decision, then I don’t see any reason to prolong this argument any further than it already has. I can sense that deep down inside that big, strong heart of yours, you’re doing what you feel is right. Spike. Therefore, I will allow you to take full responsibility and look after these changelings.”

Queen Chrysalis quirked an eyebrow, trying to take in what she had just heard. ‘She can’t be serious about this! Me? Under the care of her misshapen son?! What an insult!’ she thought absolutely incredulous.

“Will that be a problem?” Celestia asked, turning to Chrysalis with an eyebrow raised. She didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. She and her subjects are homeless, she has no throne and going back into the Everfree Forest was only going to make matters worse. Chrysalis sighed in defeat and clenched her fist a bit and loosened it up 5 seconds later.

“N-No...” she answered begrudgingly.

“My queen! You can’t be serious!” Aphid said, slamming her fist on the bed.

“You can’t expect us to live with that disgusting reptile over there!” Arachnea added.

“SILENCE!” Chrysalis demanded. Unfortunately, her shouting caused a jolt of pain to shoot out through her body. Laying back down, she started panting heavily, waiting for the agony to end. Still, her yelling did the trick, as none of her bodyguards protested anymore. Though they did shoot some icy stares towards Spike and Celestia.

“The princess has made her decision. We don’t have much of a choice anymore. We’re at a dead end and her “son” is only chance we have left,” Chrysalis stated in a much calmer voice. By now her, pain has gone down.

“I believe it’s about time I take my leave. Spike, Twilight, I’m putting my trust in you to take care of these fellow changelings,” Celestia said firmly and they both nodded.

With that, the solar monarch lit her horn and disappeared in a bright flash.