Oaths and decisions.

(Diego POV)

I turn to face the wall, feeling a strange surge of magic.

~~Luna! What was that?~~ I call through. The wall opens again, Luna walking out with a strange pattern around her horn.

"Don't worry, Diego. I am fine." Luna assures me.

~~I'm glad to hear that. What happened? I barely heard anything. Something about a mark?~~ I ask, seeing Chrysalis emerge behind Luna.

"A mark of binding. It is a pact made by Ascended. Think of it as an unbreakable vow. I have made a promise to help Chrysalis and her hive, as long as this mark remains." Luna explains.

~~What? And how long is that?~~ I ask.

"As long as it needs to be." Luna answers. I sigh, feeling exasperated.
Seriously Luna? I get trying to be peaceful right now but that's a bit much.

~~Well, what happens if you try to break it?~~ I ask curiously.

"I cannot. My magic won't allow me to. I have made a promise and on my name, I shall complete it." Princess Luna declares.

~~And nothing can be done to stop it?~~ I ask rhetorically.

"Diego!" Luna scolds.

~~Sorry, sorry! I'm being a pessimist again. So, we better head home and tell Celestia, right?~~ I ask, turning to face one of the walls.

"That is correct." Luna answers. I raise my hand at the wall, charging up a laser blast.

~~Alright, let's go.~~ I say before Chrysalis stops me.

"Do not blow a hole in my hive!" She yells at me.

~~Well, how else are we supposed to get out of here?~~ I ask silently.

"Can you please show us the way to the exit then, please?" Luna interjects. Chrysalis looks at her for a second before focusing on the walls of the hive.

"Yes. I can escort you to one of the exits. Follow me." Chrysalis says, flying into the air. "Pharynx! You are in charge while I am gone!" She orders as Luna and I fly after her.

(Outer space)

(The Lost rock)

"GaH! FiNaLlY! ArGh! ThOsE dAmN rUnEs WeRe PaInFuL!" Extermia shouts as she stands up, her legs now fully repaired.

«What do you expect? They were not meant to be used on sentient beings.» Grogar says as Extermia slowly stretches her limbs.

"GrOgAr! GoOd, My RePaIrS aRe FiNaLlY cOmPlEtE!" Extermia announces.

«About time. Now, can you fly?» Grogar asks impatiently.

"I wAs AbOuT tO dO tHaT!" Extermia screeches. "StArTiNg ThRuStErS." She recites, falling back on her training. Jumping into the air, her legs light with purple plasma, carrying her into space. "HaHa! SuCcEsS!"

«Good to know.» Grogar says.

"Oh RiGhT, YOU'RE sTiLl HeRe." Extermia groans.

«If that is enough of your childishness, we can proceed.» Grogar says.

"PrOcCeEd HoW?" Extermia asks.

«Can you return to Mystacor?» Grogar asks back.

"MyStAcOr?"

«The white machine's planet.»

"Of CoUrSe I cAn ReTuRn ThErE!"

«Then do so. We shall occupy the white machine.»

"ReTuRn To ThE pLaNeT aNd HaVe My ReVeNgE. UnDeRsToOd." Extermia says, turning towards the distant planet.

«Good. Make your way there and Discord will keep him busy. While that happens, you come to me. I have something for you.» Grogar explains.

«And you don't want to miss it!» Discord cuts in.

"ShUt Up AlReAdY!" Extermia yells.

(The Heart of the empire)

Zarkon stands inside a dark room, typing away at a computer.

"Hmm. This will not do. He may be immune to my weapon. It will need to be recalibrated to deal with the threat. Testing must be done to see if the recalibration is correct." Zarkon speaks privately, looking up at his secret weapon. "Once you are revealed, all galaxies will tremble at my power. None shall match the might of Zarkon. Not even you, White Knight. You and all your insignificant friends shall fall before me. Just as my father did, just as Daibazaal did, you shall as well. None shall stand above lord Zarkon." Zarkon monologues as he continues working on the console, preparing to destroy his enemy.

(And finally, Mystacor)

(Fantasia)

Landing again at Fantasia palace, a disguised Chrysalis and Luna in tow, we make our way to the throne room, hearing a large clamour inside. Entering, everyone goes silent.

"Luna!" Celestia, looking relieved and of her right mind, rushes forward, tackle hugging her. "I was so worried!"

"Do not fret, sister. I am fine. But I have something to-" Luna begins, parting from her sister before Celestia starts speaking again.

"What happened?! I woke up in the middle of day court and you were gone! The nobles said that I was acting strange and that they hadn't seen you! I was about to organise a searching party… who are you?" Celestia suddenly asks, looking at the disguised form of Chrysalis with confusion.

"Sister. There is something I need to tell you." Luna suddenly says, making Celestia look at her face and see the mystic lines on her horn. Celestia gasps as she sees them.

"Luna, is that a-" Celestia is shushed by Luna pressing her fingers to her lips.

"Let us all talk in private." Luna states, grabbing hold of Celestia and guiding her to her own room, Chrysalis and I following behind. A few doboshes later, all of us stand in Luna's room.

"Sister, what happened and why do you have a mark of binding around your horn?" Celestia asks.

"Please sit down, this will take a moment to explain." Luna says, guiding Celestia to her bed. Sitting her down on it, she begins explaining.

She was kidnapped. She was held hostage as a being known as a changeling took her place. That changeling then forced Diego to come with her to her hive far away from the capital. The changeling's name was queen Chrysalis. She needed Diego.

"Needed? Why?" Celestia interrupts.

"Because she and her race are dying and they need the energy that Diego has to sustain themselves." Luna continues.

"What?"

"The changelings possess the ability to become the shape of someone else but they also are afflicted with a deadly hunger for energy. Because Diego has so much, she kidnapped me to force him to her hive." Luna explains.

"Then why did she, did they not simply ask?" Celestia questions.

"Because we were afraid. Afraid that you would say no. We were desperate." Chrysalis answers. Celestia looks at her with surprise before turning to anger. She stands up and moves towards the queen. I stand between the two.

"Diego. Move out of the way." Celestia orders.

"Sister. I have promised to help them." Luna says, standing next to her sister.

"What?! She kidnapped you!" Celestia exclaims as Chrysalis drops her disguise, momentarily stunning the sun princess.

"Now do you see? Would you truly have agreed to help a being that looks like this? Would your people?" Chrysalis asks, moving out from behind me. Celestia stares at her, looking up and down her deformed body for a moment. She keeps glaring at her before she sighs.

"I… understand your fear. And your actions. But I still do not forgive you for kidnapping my sister. The only reason you still stand before me is because Luna is bound to you. Do not test my grace." Celestia threatens before moving away from Chrysalis.

"Thank you, sister." Luna says, knowing that could have ended much worse.

"What must you do?" Celestia asks Luna.

"I have promised to aid the changeling's in any way I can." Luna states.

"And in exchange, I and my changelings agree to return the kindness shown to us. We shall ally ourselves with you, in any way we can. Changeling's are excellent spies and espionage agents." Chrysalis adds. Celestia looks between the two, considering her options. She finally turns to Chrysalis.

"If you indeed promise to help us as allies, as my sister has promised to help you, then we may come to trust each other. What will be required to help the changelings?" Celestia asks.

"The light… quintessence, I believe princess Luna called it. We need quintessence." Chrysalis says. Celestia raises an eyebrow at her slip and looks at Luna. She nods. "Very well. The quintessence forest should have more than enough energy." Celestia agrees.

"We tried that already. Those purple people didn't let us get close." Chrysalis says.

~~I can deal with that. I can get Kolivan to give you a small section of the forest for your kind.~~ I butt in, stepping forward.

"Diego says he can help with that." Luna replies. Chrysalis sighs in relief before bowing her head to Diego.

"You have my gratitude, sir Diego. And that of my changelings."

~~Make sure you don't make me regret it.~~ I reply.

Author's Note

Chapter, go!

Comments are appreciated.