A cold, dry wind blew across the dead landscape of the changeling kingdom. Even in the pre-dawn light the landscape was horrifying in its desolation. From high in the sky, Dawn Wings, in her corvis form, surveyed the familiar barneness with a frown. She’d been expecting to come back with an army of ponies (and she swore to herself that she would never allow that to not sound weird) ready to storm the changeling castle and apprehend their queen. She was expecting to infiltrate the tick mound again and lead the princesses to the center of the hive. She was expecting to watch the solar princess drop a giant sphere of burning plasma on top of the hive and burn the ticks like ants with a magnifying glass. Hell, she was expecting that maybe they would lay siege to the whole structure, starving the ticks until they surrendered.

She was not expecting a small group, consisting of Princess Celestia, Captain Ropeman, a half dozen royal guards, and a couple dozen metamorphosed ticks, lead by High Reaver Thorax, to be camped out on a hill outside the dead-zone, waiting for Celestia to raise the sun and begin their diplomatic mission.

If she were less collected, she’d probably be screaming right now. The sheer ascanineness of the plan saw fit to that.

*Two days ago, Canterlot*

All of the assembled members of the impromptu council regarded the maps and intelligence reports Dawn Wings had produced.

“This… this is terrifyingly accurate.” Thorax said as he regarded the maps. “At least the outer and middle regions. But I can’t confirm the innermost layers of the hive. Even I’ve never been allowed that deep.”

“Impressed beetle-boy?” Dawn Wings said, earning an irritated glare from Thorax.

“How in the name of Love did you make this?” Thorax said as he regarded the pegasus with horror and awe.

“That’s for me to know, and you to wonder.” Dawn Wings said. “Just because we’re supposedly on the same side now doesn’t mean that I trust you yet, bug.”

“Dawn Wings…” Luna said in a warning tone.

“Fine.” Dawn Wings huffed. “So, regardless of my methods, what’s the game plan for taking out the bitch queen? I’d suggest dropping a solar flare on that mound, but I know you’re not going to agree to that, so let’s hear what you’ve got instead.”

An irritated sigh escaped princess Celestia as she regarded Dawn Wings.

“I already told you, that’s not how we do things here.” She said as she glared at the corax, who didn’t even have the decency to look abased by her admonition. “Before you returned, Thorax and captain Armor visited several changeling outposts and managed to convince them to turn away from Chrysalis’s ways. There are now over two dozen purified changelings on our side, and we’re hoping to convince the rest, including Chrysalis, to abandon their destructive ways and be reborn.”

“And how exactly are you going to do that?” Dawn Wings said tersely as she eyed Thorax.

“Thorax, Shining Armor and I are going to head to the changeling kingdom, along with the other true changelings, and attempt to negotiate with the hive.” Celestia said. “It will be a gamble though.”

“Why?” Dawn Wings asked “Because you’re going to be walking right into enemy territory into the middle of an army 2,000 plus strong?”

“Not just because of that.” Thorax cut in. “Because of the dead-zone.”

Dawn Wings turned to him. “And what is that?”

Thorax regarded the corax with slack jawed surprise.

“You… didn’t feel it when you were in the hive?” Thorax said, his voice incredulous. “The queen has something… something she keeps deep in the hive that suppresses the magic of any creature other than a changeling within twenty kilometers of the hive. How could you have not noticed your magic being blocked?”

Dawn Wings’ mind raced as she took in this new information. Twenty kilometers was the edge of the dead-zone where the vegetation became stunted and withered. And, if the distance in the umbra was any indication, was the extent of the area covered by the bane that was bound…

“…her throne.” Dawn Wings whispered. “It’s her throne. That’s the source of the dead-zone. Gaia, how did I not make that connection…”

Turning her attention back to Thorax, Dawn Wings smirked viciously.

“That’s something you’re just going to have to wonder about.” She said. “But, regardless, I know what’s blocking the magic in the area. It’s Chrysalis’s throne. It’s the epicenter of the dead zone. I’m betting that if we destroy it…”

“… the dead-zone fades.” Shining Armor said, before turning to Thorax. “Thorax, can you or one of your changelings reach the throne?”

“No.” Thorax said regrefully. “Only the queen’s elite guard, generals and the queen herself are allowed into the deepest parts of the hive. They’d kill us before we ever got close…”

Turning his head towards Dawn Wings, he smirked. All as one, everypony else at the table turned to Dawn Wings.

“Why do I have an idea where this is going?” Dawn Wings said with an amused smirk. “You want me to infiltrate the hive and wreck the bitch queen’s throne. Is that right.”

“Wow, you actually are smart.” Thorax snarked at the corax.

“I’m surprised you could notice.” Dawn Wings snarked back. “And what will you be doing while I’m risking my neck.”

“We…” Celestia cut in, “…will be conducting our diplomatic mission. Hopefully, with us distracting the rest of the hive, you’ll have the chance to slip in and wreck the throne. That way if the negotiations fail, we’re not helpless.”

“I see.” Dawn Wings said, all mirth leaving her voice. “So, you’re going to use yourself as bait while I go and break the throne? Is that it?”

“Essentially. Though I’m hoping that we can resolve this without it coming to any sort of violence.” Celestia said.

Dawn Wings looked at the rest of the ponies and the changeling in the room.

‘This is… the dumbest idea I’ve ever had to deal with, and I’m friends with garou.’ Dawn Wings thought.

“Well, if that’s how you want to handle this, then I guess I’m onboard.” The corax said as evenly as she could. “I just hope this doesn’t go completely pear-shaped.”

“Then it’s settled.” Princess Celestia said, “Thorax, will you and Shining work out the logistics?”

“Of course your highness.” Thorax said, “But what about you.”

“I’ll be along momentarily. I need to speak with Dawn Wings in private for a moment.”

The others in the room nodded and rose to leave. Once they were alone, princess Celestia dropped her translation spell.

“So, what do you need from me, your highness.” Dawn Wings said as she regarded the incarna.

“I just need a promise from you.” Celestia said as she regarded the corax.

“Okay. What?”

“I need you to swear to me that if you find Chrysalis, you won’t kill her. Incapacitate her if you must, but I want her brought in alive. Do I make myself clear?”

“Princess… I don’t think…”

“Dawn Wings, I know that’s not true. You’re constantly thinking, so don’t sell yourself short.”

Dawn Wings narrowed her eyes and chuckled.

“Okay, fine, you’re right. But still…”

“I know it’s a leap of faith for you, but you’ve seen what can happen when Harmony is given a chance. Please, let me show you that our ways work too.”

With a sigh, Dawn Wings shook her head. This was stupid. This was beyond stupid. She didn’t need to make this promise.

Actually, that wasn’t true. She did need to make it. Because if she didn’t, the princess might revoke the deal she’d made. And she didn’t feel like being alone again. Not after starting to find something somewhat worthwhile here.

“You’re all nuts, you know that?” Dawn Wings said as she regarded the princess. “But, this is your show, so… as much as I hate it… I’m going to play by your rules. You want her alive? Fine. I swear to you that if it comes down to it, I won’t kill her. Unless it’s her or me, then all bets are off.”

Celestia regarded the corax for a moment, before a small smile worked its way onto her lips.

“Thank you Dawn Wings.”

*present time, changeling kingdom*

Princess Celestia’s power faded as the sun rose across the horizon. As the princess finished raising the sun, she and her entourage began to make their way towards the tick’s mound. As they passed the edge of the dead-zone, the princess’s mane lose some of its waver and fell flat against her body. The other ponies with her all stopped to stare, before Celestia drew their attention and got them moving again.

‘Guess the beetle was telling the truth.’ Dawn Wings thought as she flew ahead. The ticks would notice the princess and Beetlejuice soon enough. That meant she needed to get into the mound as quickly as possible.

Pumping her wings as hard as she could, Dawn Wings sped ahead.

As she neared the mound, she spotted a lot of activity near the northern entrances, which were the ones in the direction that the princess was coming from. Hundreds of ticks wearing armor and wielding weapons made from the same resinous substance as the hive came flooding out.

‘I really hope you know what you’re doing princess.’ Dawn Wings thought as she circled the long way around the hive, and, once she was sure that nobody’d seen her, dove into one of the ventilation shafts.

*Hill overlooking the hive, at the same moment Dawn Wings entered the hive.*

“She’s heading in now.” Celestia said to Thorax.

“How can you be so sure?” The former High Reaver said as he stared down at the changelings massing below.

“I just can. Trust me.” Celestia responded as more changelings approached.

“Your highness, please.” Shining said as she stepped up to the princess, the other guards flanking him. “Let us at least stand in the front. You’re too exposed like this.”

“I appreciate the concern captain.” Celestia said, “But this is where I belong.”

Shining bristled.

“I don’t like it.” He said.

“I understand captain Armor, but I need you to trust me on this.” Celestia said with a smile.

“I… very well your highness.” Shining said before turning to Thorax, his eyes narrowing. “I’m holding you responsible for her safety Thorax. Do not allow any harm to come to her.”

“As one soldier to another, you have my word that I will keep her safe, captain.” Thorax said as he stepped up next to Celestia, his eyes meeting her’s. “Are you ready, your highness?”

“I am Thorax. Let’s go and free your people from Chrysalis’s clutches.”

And with that, the two of them, along with their entourage, began to descend the hill towards the waiting swarm. Despite her calm outer demeanor, Celestia was genuinely concerned. Thorax had been right. The dead-zone was blocking her magic. She’d never felt so naked and weak before. Even back when she was still a mortal unicorn, she was never this vulnerable. It was a strange sensation, to be sure.

She wasn’t sure if she exactly hated it, if she was honest with herself.

She pushed the thoughts aside as she neared the horde. Now was the time to see if her gamble was going to pay off.

“Princess Celestia.” A large changeling in High Reaver armor said as he approached, his voice cold and condescending. “You were foolish to come here. Perhaps you’ve come to surrender to our queen? A wise choice.”

“No, I haven't come to surrender, only to talk.” Celestia said as she stepped towards the High Reaver. Out of her peripheral vision, she could see the other changelings of the horde begin to circle around her and her entourage, boxing them in. “Tell me, High Reaver, what is your name?”

“We have nothing to say to you, pony.” The changeling responded as he began to charge his horn. “If you’re not going to give yourself up, then I guess we’re going to take you by force.”

“Brother! No!” Thorax said as he stepped past Celestia and interposed himself between the other High Reaver and the princess.

“Brother? You dare mock me…creature. You’re no brother of mine. My brother is gone!” The High Reaver hissed as he lowered his horn, preparing to fire his magic.

“Pharynx, it's me. Thorax.” Thorax said as he approached the other changeling. “Please, brother, stop!”

Pharynx’s power died down as the spell he was preparing faded and he regarded Thorax, his eyes wide with horror and wonder. As he did, a murmur spread through the rest of the horde, whispers of Thorax’s name and questions about what had happened to him drifting through the air.

“Thorax… is… is that really you?” Pharynx said as he approached Thorax. Reaching up, he touched his brother’s sternum, trying to comprehend what he was seeing. “By the Hunger, what’s happened to you brother?”

“I’m free, brother.” Thorax said, “The Hunger. It’s gone.”

“The Hunger is gone? Impossible. Oh, what’s happened to you, brother? You… you… this… what happened?“ The High Reaver said as he regarded his sibling with pain in his eyes. Seconds later, he snarled and wheeled around to face Celestia, his horn re-igniting as he pawed the ground. “What have you done to my brother, you miserable pony!? What have you done!?”

“She did nothing to me Pharynx. I simply learned the truth.” Thorax said as he rested a hoof on Pharynx’s shoulder, causing the smaller High Reaver to flinch. “All these generations, the queen has been lying to us. Deceiving us. She has always taught us that love is to be taken. But, there is another way.”

“No, there isn’t.” Pharynx said as he backed away from Thorax and regarded him with suspicion.

“Yes… there is, brother. My new form is proof of it. Love need not be taken. Love can be shared, freely, and willingly.” Thorax said, his voice confident yet calm. “All these years, Chrysalis has lied to us. Manipulated us to do her bidding. How often did we nearly starve when we were younger, because she hoarded all the love to herself?”

A murmur passed through the horde as some of the changelings began to agree.

“If the love we gathered was shared equally among all changelings, I’m sure that we wouldn’t have had to collect even a tenth of what we always did. But, we always needed more. And it always went to the queen. Never to us.” Thorax continued. “We starved while she gorged herself.”

“It is her right as the queen!” Pharynx protested. “That is how it has always been.”

“But it need not be, brother.” Thorax replied, “When I was held captive by the ponies, I was starving. Even with the love they’d captured from our nest in Ponyville, there wasn’t enough to keep us all alive. But, when princess Cadance shared her love with me, and I willingly shared it with the others who were too weak to feed, I was changed. The hunger vanished, and I was reborn! Please, brother, do not be poisoned by Chrysalis any longer!”

“I… no… you’re wrong. You’re being deceived by pony trickery.” Pharynx protested.

“He’s not!” One of the changelings from behind Thorax said as she stepped forward. “He’s telling the truth, High Reaver.”

“Who are you?” Pharynx said as he eyed the new changeling suspiciously.

“My name is Elatra, High Reaver. I was one of the changelings under Thorax during the mission to Ponyville.” Elatra said as she bowed her head slightly to Pharynx. “When we were captured, the ponies had us imprisoned in the catacombs under their castle. They tried to take care of us, show us kindness and mercy, but without love, we began to starve. In the end, we were too weak to feed when they realized they would have to give us love to keep us alive. But, your brother was strong enough to hold out, and, with the love they gave him, he saved us. He shared the love he was given freely. And when we did so too, we were transformed. Purified of the hunger.”

Another murmur spread through the horde.

“We all were saved.” Another changeling came up from behind Thorax and Celestia. “My name is Hemelytra. Thorax came to us over a week ago. We were skeptical at first, but we trusted him, and when we shared the love we’d gathered, we became what you see now.”

“We all came to see that there is another way, High Reaver.” Elatra said, “Please, trust in him, and cast aside the lies that Chrysalis has fed you for too long.”

Pharynx backed away, his face pained and confused.

“Brother,” Thorax said, “do you remember when we were younger. When I stole an extra packet of love so that you wouldn’t starve. You trusted me then to not kill you and keep it for myself. I’m asking you to trust me now. Please, brother, trust in me…”

“I… I can’t.” Pharynx said. “I…”

“I’ll do it!” A voice from within the horde said.

Looking behind Pharynx, they spotted a slight female changeling step forward.

“Ocellus, what are you doing?” Pharynx said. “Stay back.”

“Pharynx, I trust him. Your brother… I want to believe in him. I want to believe that the hunger can abate.” Ocellus said as she regarded the brothers.

“And if it’s a lie. You will give up what little love you have for nothing.” Pharynx snapped.

“I’m willing to risk it.” Ocellus said. “What must I do, Thorax?”

“There is no great secret.” Thorax said with a gentle smile. “Simply will the love within you to be shared with everyling around and the metamorphosis will happen.”

“I…I understand.” Ocellus said.

“Ocellus, no!” Pharynx protested.

“It's fine, High Reaver. I trust him.” Ocellus said as light engulfed her, releasing a ring of pink energy that spread to the nearby changelings. As it did, Ocellus was lifted into the air, and engulfed in a chrysalis of light. In moments, the light receded, leaving a pale blue, light amaranth maned changeling in her place.

A gasp escaped the horde as Ocellus opened her now cyan eyes and looked around.

“Ocellus, are you…?” Pharynx said as he approached the younger changeling.

“It… it’s gone.” Ocellus said, her eyes wide with wonder. “The Hunger. It’s gone.”

Pharynx stepped back, eyes wide with shock.

“That’s impossible.” He said as he looked to Thorax. “You… you were telling the truth! But… how?”

“I don’t know brother.” Thorax said as he stepped forward, his voice pleading, “But, you see the results. The Hunger is gone. Think about it brother. We can be free. No more Hunger. No more hiding in the shadows. We can live in the light, not skulk in the dark. Please, brother, be reborn and join us in this new world. Please, trust in me…”

“I… I’ll trust in you…” Pharynx said, eliciting a gasp from the horde.

“Thank you, brother.” Thorax said as he turned to address the horde. “All of you, you’ve seen what sharing love has done for us. What it can do for you. You have been deceived by Chrysalis’s lies for far too long. Share the love within you with the others around you, and be reborn. Be free of the Hunger!”

“Let us heed his words, my brethren.” Pharynx called as well. “I’m willing to trust in him.”

And with that, Pharynx let the love within him flow outward, willing it to be shared among the others. One by one, the other changelings followed suit, each one rising into the air and becoming engulfed in light. As more and more changelings joined in, the energy grew in power, until it erupted outward in a burst of energy, spreading across the landscape, before passing through the hive. Moments later, the chrysali of light receded, leaving an army of transformed changelings in its wake.

As the wave receded, Celestia felt two things. The first was her magic returning to her. From a quick look behind, she could tell that it had returned to Shining as well. The second was a spark of solar essence rapidly retreating to the south.

‘Dawn Wings.’ Celestia thought. ‘Where are you going?’

Turning to Thorax, who was in the midst of being swarmed by the transformed changelings, Celestia considered their next move. As she did, she felt Dawn Wings draw power from the sun, her solar essence flaring up violently.

‘No! Dawn Wings, please, you promised.’ Celestia thought. Because she recognized that flaring. It had happened the night that Dawn Wings had killed the changeling in Ponyville. It had happened the day she’d brought Thorax to them, his wing muscles destroyed and his skull nearly cracked open. And it had happened the day that Twilight had first found that Dawn Wings was the entity connected to the sun. And on two of those occasions, it meant she was on the attack.

“High Reavers.” Celestia said as she approached Thorax and Pharynx, “I fear that queen Chrysalis has fled to the south, and may be in terrible danger.”

Pharynx and Thorax shared a look.

“How do you know, your highness?” Thorax asked.

“I cannot say, but I ask you to trust me.” Celestia said urgently, “We need to go now if we want to take her alive.”

“Why should we?” Pharynx said with contempt. “That witch has been lying to us and using us for years.”

“Because,” Celestia said, “She deserves a chance, just like all of you.”

There was a mumur through the horde, most of the changelings not willing to risk themselves for their former queen.

“I’ll go.” Thorax said.

“Brother?” Pharynx replied, his eyes wide.

“The princess is right. She deserves the chance.” Thorax said, his face determined. “Even if she hasn’t earned it. Even after all she’s done to us. She may be saved. And if she can’t, she can’t be allowed to roam free. She has to be stopped. Here and now.”

“Then go. We’ll deal with the rest of the hive. Show them the way to break free.” Pharynx said as he hugged Thorax. “Stay safe, brother.”

“Thank you. Princess, are you ready?” Thorax said as he turned to Celestia.

“Yes. Lets go.” Celesita said as she took to the air.

*Fifteen minutes earlier, in the depths of the hive*

Dawn Wings hid herself in another alcove as a squad of armored tick charged by. Whatever was going on outside, it was stirring up almost every tick in the hive. Many of them were rushing to the north side of the city, or hunkering down and preparing to defend one of the junctions leading deeper into the hive.

And while it made penetrating the hive easier, as most of the guards had moved to the northern section opposite where Dawn Wings had entered, it meant that those left were on high alert. Still, the infiltration was almost embarrassingly easy thanks to just how many nooks and crannies there were in the walls of the hive. Did the ticks never suspect that there would be anyone willing to infiltrate their hive? If so, it was either pure foolishness or arrogance on their part.

Hearing a group approaching, Dawn Wings ducked into another hole in the wall, waiting for the ticks to pass. Pulsing the area and feeling the nearest threats heading north, with hundreds of others moving around erratically, she exited her hiding place and moved deeper into the hive.

As she hid from another passing group, she racked her brain to figure out what to do next. Her mission was to destroy the throne, but she wasn’t sure how she was going to do it. If Chrysalis was absent from the throne room, she might be able to simply smash it by pushing it over. But that wasn’t guaranteed to work. And of course she didn’t ask the ponies for explosives, assuming they had them, because that would have been thinking ahead. Then again, carrying a bomb around with her in the hive wasn’t the best idea.

Seeing the coast was clear, she glided out of her hiding place and penetrated deeper into the hive. After another ten minutes of playing chicken with the patrols, she reached the gates to the inner sanctum. Seeing them sealed shut, she cursed her luck. She’d need to step sideways into the umbra.

Right into the middle of all the banes.

But, it was her only choice.

Flexing her spiritual energy, she pushed through the membrane separating the physical world from the spiritual. Emerging into the umbra, she ducked into an alcove in the ceiling.

There were two dozen or so assassin bugs, including a big one, blocking her way.

Thankfully, they hadn’t noticed her. But, there was no way she was going to get by them easily.

Not without a distraction.

Reaching down with her beak and plucking a feather loose, she pushed her fury into the pinyon. Even without her other gift sharpening and hardening it like steel, it would still inflict damage. She just hoped it would be enough to draw the bugs off.

Sighting one of the banes off to the far end of the tunnel, she flicked her head and sent the feather flying. Empowered by her rage, the pinyon flew strait and true, before piercing the bane between the eyes, sending black ichor everywhere and causing the bane to emit a shriek of pain.

All at once, the other banes turned towards the wounded one, their eyes staring at it with menacing hunger. Then, they charged. The wounded bane didn’t have time to respond before it was set upon by the others, their probosci piercing its body even as it thrashed, desperately fighting back.

Taking to the air, Dawn Wings paid the bane being devoured no mind as she flew into the inner reaches of the hive.

*****

Dawn Wings stepped sideways out of the umbra and into the inner sanctum. As usual, the corridors were empty.

‘Looks like even in a crisis, the bitch queen doesn’t want anyone in here.’ Dawn Wings thought as she made a beeline straight towards the throne room. Arriving at the door, she landed and listened. Inside, she could hear four voices, one of which she knew was Chrysalis’s. Edging towards the entrance of the room, she chanced a peek through the door.

Inside, she saw Chrysalis seated on the throne, three large ticks on the ground below her engaged in a heated debate. From what little she could gather thanks to her month listening to the tick’s language, something had gone wrong with the force sent to subdue princess Celestia. Something to do with an unknown creature arguing with the High Reaver leading the horde.

‘Guess that’s Beetlejuice.’ Dawn Wings thought to herself as she watched the argument. Eyeing Chrysalis’s throne, she growled internally. ‘No way I’m getting at that thing now. Not without getting myself killed in the process. Damnit, how am I supposed to…’

Dawn Wings never got to finish her thought. The hive shook violently under her feet as a wave of pink light swept through the chamber, passing through the assembled ticks. Yet, the moment it struck the throne, the fetish began to violently shake, dozens of cracks and fissures forming on its surface. Chrysalis looked down at the throne, her face contorting into one of shock and horror as the seat began to rattle and shake violently. With a startled scream, she lept from the throne as it exploded, throwing her to the ground.

The effect this development had on the queen was instantaneous. Turning to the other ticks, she barked out a series of orders. The others looked at her, then solemnly nodded. In a flash of green flame, each one transformed themselves into a duplicate of the queen, and rushed out of the room, prompting Dawn Wings to duck into an alcove as they passed.

‘Guess they’re going to go play decoy.’ Dawn Wings thought as she turned back to the throne room. Pulling herself to her hooves, Chrysalis was briefly engulfed in flame as she transformed into a regular changeling drone. Turning, she swiftly made her way to the east wall of the chamber, and pressed a series of hidden buttons, causing the wall to split open, revealing a secret exit. Looking back once, she ducked into the corridor and vanished.

Wasting no time, Dawn Wings took to the air and pursued.

She considered just attacking the queen right then and there, but decided against it. The space was too confined for her to properly fight, especially since Chrysalis had access to her magic. No, she’d have to wait until they were outside, where she could use her mobility to her advantage. So she chased the queen tick through the corridors as she fled. As the corridors became less and less well lit, she pushed her spiritual energy and her willpower into her eyes, allowing her to see in the dark as clear as if it were day.

Deeper and deeper into the earth they went, until the corridor began to turn upward. Moments later, Chrysalis stopped and, glancing behind her one last time, used her magic to push a large stone slab out of the way, revealing the outside world. Wings thrumming, Chrysalis bolted for freedom, quickly followed by Dawn Wings.

As she landed by the entrance to the cave, Dawn Wings spotted the queen tick flying off towards the south.

‘You’re not going anywhere bitch queen.’ Dawn Wings thought as she called on the change, her form rapidly shifting into her crinos form. Galloping forward, she took to the air, pushing her primal fury into her wings to give her a burst of speed, allowing her to rapidly gain on the fleeing tick.

‘This ends here.’ Dawn Wings thought as she sent spiritual energy into her wings, causing the feathers to harden like steel and take on a razors edge. Plucking a feather free, she poured her fury into the feather, and, twisting her arm below her, brought it around in a wide angled pitch and threw the feather.

Chrysalis, moving at such high speed, didn’t hear the feather approaching, and didn’t know what hit her when the pinyon buried itself right between her wings, the shaft piercing a quarter of its length into her and punching directly into her flight muscles. Chrysalis screamed in pain as she tumbled out of the air, her speed causing her to bounce and tumble across the rocky terrain, leaving her dazed.

‘Now’s my chance!’ Dawn Wings thought as she flapped her wings hard and angled downward. As she dove, she snapped her wings out, intent on using the leading edge to sever the queen tick’s head.

In an instant, she remembered her promise to Celestia.

She was to take the queen alive.

But she was a threat to Equs. A parasite. A tumor that needed to be removed.

She had to die.

But… she’d seen how Thorax had shed his Wyrmtaint. How he’d been redeemed.

This wasn’t her world. Her ways were not their ways.

The weight of her promise to the princess slammed into her chest like a truck.

‘I hate you so much right now, Sun-butt.’

Seeing Chrysalis beginning to recover, Dawn Wings cocked back her arm and raised her fist. Chrysalis barely had time to scream before Dawn Wings flew straight past her, slamming her fist into the queen tick’s head, the force of the impact sending her head slamming into the ground and knocking her unconscious, causing her to revert to her natural form.

Wheeling around, Dawn Wings flew back and landed next to the tick, shaking out her forelimb. She was sure she’d probably fractured some of the bones from the impact, and forced her spiritual energy into the limb to heal it.

‘You owe me for this Sun-butt.’ She thought as the bones mended themselves. ‘Now, what to do with you…’

*****

Princess Celestia, accompanied by High Reaver Thorax, flew rapidly to the south-east, following the beacon that was Dawn Wings’ solar essence.

“Are you sure she’s this way?” Thorax called.

“Positive.” Celestia said as she flew. They were practically on top of Dawn Wings now. Chancing a look down, she spotted an unconscious black form on the ground.

“There!” She called as she began to descend, Thorax right behind her.

Landing, the two of them cautiously approached the battered form of the former changeling queen.

“Is she alive?” Thorax growled as he approached his former queen, rage and hate filling his heart as he looked on his tormentor.

“Yes, she is. She’s just unconscious.” Celestia said as she observed the fallen queen. Calling on her magic, the princess cast a shield spell the changeling.

“So, what happens to her now?” Thorax asked.

“My hope is that she accepts the purification, and would be willing to put aside her hate. But, in the event that she doesn’t, then it’s up to you and your kind now Thorax.” Celestia said. “Even if she’s my enemy, she’s still a changeling. Had she been in Equestria, she would be subject to our laws. But, she’s not, and I won’t impose Equestrian law on your people.”

“I… in the name of our new friendship, I think it should be both our people that chooses her fate.” Thorax said, looking at the princess, “I don’t believe we’d be able to hold her if we kept her. Would you be willing to detain her until we can offer her the chance to purge the Hunger from her body. And if she refuses, then we’ll have to come to an agreement about what to do with her. Does that sound fair?”

Smiling, Celestia nodded.

“It does.” Looking at Chrysalis, Celestia’s brows narrowed. “Thorax, would you be willing to retrieve Shining Armor? I’ll stay and make sure Chrysalis doesn’t get away if she comes to.”

“Of course. Please stay safe, your highness.” Thorax said as he spread his wings and took to the air.

Waiting until he was out of sight, Celestia turned her head towards one of the nearby trees.

“Dawn Wings, you can come out now. I know you’re there.” Celestia called.

“Once again, not surprised you knew I was here.” A familiar and terrifying voice said from the hollow of the dead tree. Soon, a black, feathered form emerged from the trunk and, spreading her wings, fluttered over and landed on a boulder by the princess, before bowing respectfully, then raising her head to look at the alicorn princess.

“Well, I kept my promise. She’s alive.” Dawn Wings said.

“You did indeed.” Celestia said, “I’m proud of you, finding mercy towards something that you despise so much.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea princess. If it hadn’t been for the promise I made you, you’d be seeing just how long this roach would have lived after I chopped her head off.” Dawn Wings said coldly as she regarded the unconscious Chrysalis.

“Still, regardless of why, I’m glad you spared her nonetheless. Perhaps there’s hope for you embracing harmony yet.”

“I wouldn’t hold your breath, your highness.” Dawn Wings replied as she turned her attention back to Celestia. “I like the way I am, thank you very much. Just because I’m willing to play by your rules doesn’t mean I’m going to be domesticated by you and your ponies.”

“I don’t suppose you would be, would you?” Princess Celestia said with a sigh. “Still, you did good work here today. You have my thanks.”

“Well, thank you, your highness.” Dawn Wings said with a slight bow. “So, what now?”

“I suspect Chrysalis will stand trial for what she’s done, both to the ponies, and to her own people.” Celestia said with a tired sigh, “If she accepts the metamorphosis and vows to change her ways, she might be allowed to continue as monarch of the changelings. But, as I doubt she will, the most likely outcome is that she’ll be imprisoned in Tartarus, or petrified to serve out her sentence.”

Nodding, Dawn Wings looked at the mid-morning sun.

“And me? What happens to me now?” Dawn Wings said, “I’d like to think I’ve proven my worth.”

Celestia chuckled a little at that.

“You have indeed, Dawn Wings.” She said as she regarded the corax. “In the future, I may have need of your skills, but for now, I would recommend that you return to Ponyville and continue your lessons with Twilight and her friends. From what I understand, you’ve begun to make friends with a few ponies there.”

Celestia saw one of Dawn Wings’ eyebrows rise slightly.

“I suppose that’s true.” Dawn Wings finally said after a few moments. “You’re never going to stop trying to tame me, are you?”

“Don’t think of it as taming Dawn Wings.” Celestia said with a warm smile, “Think of it as giving you a few lessons in harmony.”

“You say tomato, I say deadly nightshade.” Dawn Wings said as she heard the beating of wings in the distance. “Well, I better make myself scarce. See you back in Canterlot, your highness.”

Taking to the air, Dawn Wings sped off into the distance. As soon as she was out of sight, the princess felt the presence of solar essence vanish.

Chuckling to herself, Celestia looked towards the rapidly approaching forms of Thorax, Pharynx, and a dozen other purified changelings, as well as her solar guards with two carriages being towed behind four of them, one carrying Shining Armor.

“Indeed. I’ll be seeing you soon too Dawn Wings.”

Author's Note

We're close to wrapping this thing up. I suspect there's just an epilogue to go, and then I can put this one to bed.