Flame of the Sun

Farasi Hive, October 31, 1502

Chrysalis had scheduled a meeting with the Southwest Lair on this day with intent for routine planning, but her timing could not have been more perfect. The very moment she stepped into the former Farasian territory, the night fell, and suddenly the day rose again. It was remarkably apparent, however, that the sun and moon were locked into such a position that the world was divided between night and day. The stellar objects didn't move for some time, and it was obvious what had happened.

"Damnit," Chrysalis muttered in a tone of discomfort, "I knew the gryphons were hiding something, but I didn't think they were this stupid."

She looked visibly upset, but with good reason. She wasn't one to fear any equine, but knowing that both Daybreaker and the Nightmare were active was a direct threat to more than she could fathom though she wished not to admit it—even to herself. Beside her, however, was a particular changeling dressed in fantastic attire and he seemed rather unphased by the event as he nonchalantly observed the splitting sky before proceeding forward. An Inquisitor or advisor of sorts he was, but it was difficult to say. Even for Chrysalis, who wasn't quite certain of why she kept him around; this changeling was a strange one to understand. Mindcarriers spread word of a "rogue" agent, which turned out to be a changeling who had managed to get loose of the hivemind. While the very idea of that was a blasphemy, Chrysalis realized quickly that it made for rather expansive opportunities given the state of the world. After all, Chrysalis only liked killing on her own, not having to do everything else.

"From what I know of the Nightmare," he pondered aloud, of course knowing as well as Chrysalis what had happened, "she has likely destroyed her captors."

"How do gryphons manage to capture an alicorn, then get destroyed by one?" Chrysalis retorted with a tone of disgust, "I can't understand how one would have the power to capture yet not contain."

"Perhaps they only met a particular threshold of power," the changeling replied as they approached the meeting area, "toying with powers they don't understand enough in a desperate attempt to combat the Solar Enemy. After all, Princess Luna and Nightmare Moon may be the same creature, but they do not possess the same willingness to use their power completely as you do."

"So it would seem," Chrysalis muttered. While flattered, she was a bit too stressed with the state of things now to put on her usual demeanor. The presence of the Nightmare changed things, and while the two sisters might have began immediately to fight one another, the survivor would surely know of her and stop at nothing to wipe her and her armies from existence at any cost—even the world itself.

The Queen and her Inquisitor stepped forward within an area encircled by hive material that was slowly shifting yet keeping a circular shape. It wasn't much of a 'meeting area' per se, but the Changelings cared little about style and more about efficiency. A circle on the ground would do well enough for what they required. Waiting for them within the encircled area were two drakes; these drakes, who were not so keen on medals and uniforms, were instead prideful of their natural appearance and all that it had to offer. After all, no armor could match the solar-resistant scales upon their flesh. They weren't very gratuitous nor kind, and they very possibly were not capable of smiling. They seemed callous to anything and everything, even concerning themselves which meant that the alliance with the Changelings was only 'as-needed' rather than 'as-wanted'. Knowing this, Chrysalis made no effort to display the pretentious diplomatic smile and rather jumped straight to the point.

"We were going to meet about an invasion of the empire," Chrysalis started, "but as you might be able to tell things have changed a bit."

"The solar ancients have risen to demolish the world," one of the Drakes scoffed, "you call that a 'bit' of a change?"

"A friend once told me to get outside more, Duke Hel'rath," Chrysalis retorted, doing her best to force a confident look which worked only for the drakes, but not her inquisitor, "because that's how you know to ignore these silly prophecies of 'worldwide destruction' and whatever other nonsense. The whole of Equus has been through worse, we should orient our focus around killing them rather than trying to stop the silly scribblings of old and dead equines from 'coming to pass'."

"I notice you've brought one of your bugs," the other drake said, "I thought they were all the same."

"Baron Pyr, have some sense about you," Chrysalis scoffed, "the very nature of a changeling is implied in it's name. Sameness is not a trait of us."

"Then tell me, little bug," Pyr said, leaning down to the changeling in an attempt to be imposing, "what is your name?"

The changeling looked him in the eye without hesitation, smiling confidently.

"Thorax."

Crystal Empire, October 31, 1502

"You took a remarkable risk, Flash," Sunrise pointed out.

It was late, and the two had finally arrived to her bedroom in the Crystal Palace. Sunrise was still rather contemplative in the back of her mind about how everything had played out, but she cast aside her ponderings and frustrations to embrace the moment. Flash laughed to himself a bit, scratching his head after removing his helmet.

"Ah, I wouldn't say it was remarkable," he admitted, "but a risk, sure."

"Oh?" Sunrise said with a quirked brow, as she stepped closer to him and leaned forward with a smile, "how is it not remarkable to say something like that to the Nightmare—let alone to even speak to her when my soldiers were paralyzed with fear?"

"Well, it's really simple," Flash explained, "she might be an alicorn, but she's still an equine with very equine interests at heart. Besides, if the alternative was you dying the very moment I happened to see you after so long, then what would there be to lose in trying?"

Sunrise smiled, stepping back and turning around. After a moment of thought, she glanced back.

"Tell me, Flash," she said, "are you being loyal, or loving?"

She figured the question might stump him, that he would ask her to repeat it or clarify something, but instead his answer was immediate.

"I don't believe there is a difference, so, yes, I was."

It took even her off guard. He wasn't bluffing, lying, or spicing up his words for an important princess. He spoke truly and honestly, from his heart, and without restraint. She admired him all the more for it; she only wished she was able to do the same.

"We've. . .had a very long day," she said as she closed her eyes with a smile, sitting upon the bed, "let's get some rest."

"Sunrise, if I may ask," he said cautiously, "which room should I go to in order to sleep?"

Sunrise looked at him for a moment as if he had four eyes, before laughing to herself.

"Your task tonight is to keep me warm," she said, patting the empty space beside her, "now get comfortable, we're going to have to be up early tomorrow."

Flash began to speak but quickly stopped himself, realizing he wasn't sure exactly what to say. He sighed softly, approaching the bed and laying down. He didn't have the intent of taking advantage of such a circumstance, and was hoping that Sunrise did not either. Fortunately, she didn't. As he made himself comfortable, she rolled over to him with a bright smile. Without a word, she leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss before closing her eyes and drifting into a warm and peaceful sleep. It took Flash a moment to process what just happened, but after doing so he closed his eyes with a feeling of romantic bliss before shifting his wing to wrap around Sunrise. His final thought before passing into the realm of dreams was so simple, yet so convoluted. Easy to say, but difficult to mean. Yet, he managed.

"Maybe the things leading to this were worth it."

Trotslyvania, November 1, 1502

After the successful Gryphonian invasion, Trotslyvania was nearly halved in it's population. Whether by execution or overexertion from slave labor, many of the once-proud and primarily Thestral citizens and warriors were now reduced to a suffering few. The few hundred of the Empire's soldiers that were left behind in the attack, however, were rotting away in mass graves dug out mostly by the very equines who filled them. The Empress knew why Nightmare Moon wanted to meet there, to remind her of her failure to do everything right—but it was impossible! Surely she couldn't do everything simultaneously, but then again, that may just be what Nightmare Moon wanted her to think.

None of that mattered, now. What was done was done, and she couldn't concern herself with the past, only the present. The Empress landed amid Trotslyvania to the sight of armed Thestral soldiers adorned in very makeshift lunar armor escorting dozens of Gryphonian prisoners to ad hoc concentration camps to work or be executed. The Empress expected a reaction of fear, but instead found that she went. . .unnoticed. As if she were invisible, even the prisoners couldn't acknowledge her—given their state, of course, it's not like they could acknowledge much of anything—but the lackey guards in their poor armor hadn't even the slightest hint of fear in them. The Empress stopped one of the escorts calmly to speak to the Thestral in charge.

"Excuse me, miss. . ?" Daybreaker said with a smile, waiting on the Thestral to introduce herself.

"Nightfury," she replied calmly, "is there something you need, Empress Daybreaker?"

"A soothing of my curiosity, perhaps," Daybreaker replied, "everywhere I have went, I have felt fear from all those who looked upon me. From my enemies, from my friends, from my very people. Why is it that I feel no fear here?"

Nightfury turned towards the prisoners who had their heads to the ground.

"They have no fear because they've been broken beyond sanity," she said with a simple gesture, "whatever suffering you can give them will be a mercy compared to Mother's Wrath."

Daybreaker quirked a brow. Mother? Was she not their mother?

"As for us," Nightfury continued, "Mother will protect us in this life. If not in this life, then in the afterlife. If then, she is killed, then we will either bring her back or spend eternity with her. There is nothing for us to fear from you, and I believe that is more to your benefit than otherwise."

Nightfury continued along with the prisoners as Daybreaker was left a bit dumbfounded by the response. How could Luna, being as weak as she was, command such a respect that even the fear of death and torment meant nothing to her followers? Before the Empress could lose herself in thought for too long, however, the Nightmare herself showed up behind her.

"Remarkable subjects they are," she said proudly, before noticing Daybreaker's expression. With almost a look of concern, she leaned around to get a better look at her sister, "are you alright, Daybreaker?"

"Yes, I am fine," she said, shaking her head, closing her eyes, and taking a deep breath. Nightmare chuckled.

"You're an awful liar," she replied. Daybreaker turned to face her with a frustrated expression, "but, that aside, you are rather early. By three hours, in fact. How come?"

"I wanted to see what remained of my soldiers," she said, pausing for a moment before continuing, "and to see what you had accomplished in the meantime. I hate to say, but your ability to renovate and rebuild is admirable at worst."

"That's the spirit, sister," Nightmare Moon replied with a chuckle, "come, I shall show you around."

The Empress wasn't so keen on being called 'sister' by Nightmare Moon, but a petty argument would fix nothing. Nightmare knew just how many buttons she could push without bumping into the big red one, per se. It was annoying, but among the many things Daybreaker, as an Empress, had to deal with, this was simply one of the most irritating of them. However, as her frustration subsided, she saw the great constructions of Nightmare's new subjects and was in awe at their efficiency. The speed of Changelings, the beauty of Equines, and the technology of Gryphons. Within just a day of her release, she was already developing the stepping stones for a great Empire.

Daybreaker couldn't help but to feel a bit of pride for her sister, as many times throughout their walk the Nightmare had expressed an underlying gratitude for the things she was taught by the Empress during her rule as mere princess. Her ability to coordinate and act were unparalleled, but even so it seemed that Trotslyvania was just a temporary setup. Daybreaker noticed this rather quickly as many more supplies were stored away for transport than were being employed for construction.

"So, where are you putting your capital?" Daybreaker asked suddenly. The Nightmare turned back with a look of confusion.

"How do you mean?" she asked. Daybreaker gave a grin as she gestured to the stored supplies.

"Those cargo boxes were used by Gryphons to transport safely over vast distances in their trade with Ho Chi Mane and Shanghay," Daybreaker pointed out, "they're built for long trips across rugged terrain and were sent across every stretch of this continent from Sugar Maple Grove to the Banyan Timbers and the Desolate Wild. You're not planning to setup a capital here, and standard containers could not be shipped in any direction without being airlifted."

"You have a good eye for detail, sister," Nightmare Moon said with a smile, "We are sending these supplies to Cobblerock to be used in the reconstruction of Graymourne for my capital city. We'll be developing many cities around it along with industrial water supplies from the rivers stemming from it's moat."

"Fascinating," Daybreaker said, "and how did you get the Reindeer to agree to that?"

"I asked nicely," Nightmare Moon replied. The two of them stayed silent for a moment before turning to look at one another and laughing heartily.

"You must be aware I know exactly what that means," Daybreaker said as she calmed from her laughter, "you must have taken apart one of their cities as a show of power and gotten them to comply."

"On the contrary," Nightmare Moon retorted cheerfully, "I don't like to destroy architecture, I just split one of their soldiers in half and told them they weren't necessary, but still welcome to engage in trade with the Gryphon's number one star."

" 'Oh Deer, what are we going to do?!' " Daybreaker mocked, the two of them laughing more. As they continued jeering back and forth about the Reindeer, a carriage rolled up behind them that was pulled and led by a party of Solar Empire guards. Sunrise Sparkle and Flash Sentry stepped out, approaching the two Alicorns who were too caught up in joking back and forth to notice them—much to the Inquisitor and her lover's confusion.

"You two seem to be getting along nicely," Sunrise said. The laughter stopped as the two turned around as if they'd been caught doing something wrong. Of course, their straight faces quickly broke into more laughter. Sunrise turned to Flash who returned a shrug.

"Let's just say we share some views in common about the Reindeer," Daybreaker said before clearing her throat, "Nightmare tells me that they'll be positioning their capital building in Graymourne soon. Likely five minutes!"

The two laughed again only to be met with more confusion. Nightmare gestured towards them before looking at Daybreaker and swinging her hoof over her head and making a woosh sound. More laughing ensued as the two were almost in tears.

"Didn't the two of you hate each other just yesterday?" Flash Sentry interrupted with an unamused expression.

"Silly pony," Nightmare replied, "hatred is so dichotomized nowadays. Of course we hate each other, but we can't get anything done if we let our emotions take control of us!"

"Precisely," Daybreaker continued, "but I do believe we should get down to business. Have you a place for us to convene or should we have dinner while you build a new structure?"

"Oh please," Nightmare replied with a chuckle, "I have prepared a spot for us already in the center of Trotslyvania; in fact, we're almost there!"

"You mentioned earlier you had something 'big' you were working on from the apprehended Gryphon technology?" Daybreaker asked. Nightmare gave a sinister grin.

"Call it a flyswatter," Nightmare said, "but a flyswatter with the ability to split an atom."

Klugetown, November 1, 1502

Seven equines and two Gryphons sat in a small basement room silently. All but Starlight Glimmer at least, who was pacing back and forth as she considered the implications of this 'stellar event'. Nova sat on the far side beside Gilda, who was beside Rainbow Dash. The rest of the mane six followed with Sunset at the end. After several minutes of silence excepting the frantic hoofsteps of Starlight, the unicorn gave a loud and exaggerated groan.

"Starlight, are you alright?" Sunset asked.

"No. . ." Starlight answered with a frown, "intel came in while we were making our way here. King Taurus was gutted with magic, intestines just ripped out! What an inconvenience this is, but I suppose he had it coming, and maybe the Nightmare is willing to trade given she's trying to raise a new empire from the bottom up."

"I hate to snuff out your optimism," Nova chimed in, "but the Empire Press has showcased Nightmare Moon's work. They call it a 'speed to rival the Changelings'. You have to face the fact that you might lose the Empire as a trade partner given their ad hoc alliance, and that spells certain destruction for our entire region as we'll only be able to work with the Changelings."

"Damn it!" Starlight shouted, stomping her hoof on the ground as the mane six excepting Sunset jumped in a bit of a fright, "all of this work and gods-damned Luna had to butt in and ruin it!"

"Oh cut the crap Glim Glam," Gilda scoffed, "you've made it through worse."

Starlight paused in silence for a moment earning the confused expressions of those in the room before she turned slowly to Gilda. Gilda had a smirk on her face that was very self-confident, and it sickened Starlight. She approached her slowly.

"What are you going to do," Gilda taunted, "blast me aw—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Starlight had thrusted her against the wall before drawing a knife from Gilda's side and stabbing through her talon and into the wall. She let out a shout of pain as the others jumped back in fear of what Starlight was going to do.

"Do not call me that," she said slowly and through deliberate breaths, "you do that again and I'll make sure that you'll swallow your intestines before you die."

She stepped down and walked away as Rainbow Dash quickly attempted to assist Gilda with the knife. Starlight gave a relieved sigh before Sunset slowly walked up to her. Starlight turned to her with a smile, that smile fading quickly in response to the look of disappointment on Sunset's face.

"Starlight, can we talk?" Sunset asked under her breath as she gestured her eyes to the door. Starlight sighed, looking down before walking towards the door. When the two of them made it outside of the room, Sunset looked around for any witnesses before closing the door.

"I imagine you didn't really. . .approve of my stabbing her talon," Starlight said quietly.

"Didn't really approve?!" Sunset exclaimed in a whisper, "you just stabbed her talon over a nickname! What would even possess you to do that?!"

"She deserved it!" Starlight retorted, "and violence is the only language she speaks anymore so she'll get over it!"

"Why is it that no matter where I turn, there's just violence everywhere?!" Sunset shouted as she looked up with widened eyes, "Daybreaker is having executions, Chrysalis is tearing out hearts, Nightmare Moon is ripping out entrails and you're stabbing talons! What else have you done?"

"Well, I've uh. . ." Starlight said quietly with a nervous chuckle, "I've done quite a lot worse than that to get where I am."

"Like what, killing?" Sunset asked sarcastically. Her expression turned from frustration to shock as Starlight looked away with no response, "you. . .you haven't done that, right? I mean, the whole reason I was so happy to see you aside how long it's been was that Sunrise was going after you. The entire EMPIRE was! And I thought 'no, surely she couldn't'."

"Yes, I could," Starlight said with a harsh and determined tone as she looked Sunset in the eyes, "and I did, because that is how the world is now. If there's a problem, the quickest solution is to kill it. And oh ho ho have I encountered some problems! Foaledo, Klugetown, the Isolationists in New Haven. We wiped them out to provide a greater opportunity to the entire world where everypony can live in perfect equality! Wouldn't that be great?"

"Wh-what the Hell Starlight?!" Sunset shouted, causing Starlight to wince back, "that's not even possible unless you crack down on everypony with an Iron Hoof, and what, you've decided to kill anypony in your way?"

"If it's necessary!" Starlight said as her eyes began to water, "I'll kill anyone to have the utopia!"

Sunset was silent for a moment, turning away from Starlight as she took a deep breath. Starlight waited for a response, sniffling a bit as she intently stared at Sunset.

"Starlight. . ." Sunset said quietly, "I can't recognize Twilight anymore. I can't recognize Celestia."

Starlight stepped backwards as Sunset turned to her slowly.

"I thought at least I'd be able to recognize you, and I almost did," she said quietly before walking past Starlight and up the stairs to exit the basement. Starlight was frozen in place as she heard the door slam behind her, wincing from the sound as a tear fell from her eye. Then another, and another. She clenched her teeth, hissing as she held back the urge to sob before sitting down on the cold concrete floor. She jumped as the door to the room beside her opened and Nova stepped out.

"Hey, you done talking with. . ." Nova's voice trailed off as she noticed Starlight, who was turned away from the room and sniffling. Nova quickly sat down beside her as the door closed once more and put a foreleg around her, "Hey, hey what's wrong Starlight?"

"I. . .I can't. . ." Starlight stuttered before quietly weeping. Nova gave her a hug, patting her back.

"There there, don't worry about it," Nova said softly, "you'll be alright, just let it out."

Nova was never a particularly affectionate friend. She'd never thought of herself as someone who would take the time of day to console a crying fanatic. In fact, she never thought she would be the one to be there for someone like Starlight, because she never thought of Starlight as one to cry. She was always stupidly optimistic, charismatic, and very successful at getting things to go her way. This was new, yet she acted on instinct to provide for a friend, and perhaps the only one she had.

It felt magical.

Trotslyvania, November 1, 1502

"Maginuclear weapons?" Sunrise said with a sense of awe. The two sisters turned to her, both grinning maliciously.

"This is the future," Daybreaker said, "and the best part is, with both myself and Nightmare Moon armed. . ."

". . .we won't be able to use it against one another after the Changelings!" Nightmare Moon finished with a chuckle, "it's genius, right? Weapons so powerful they could destroy the world if used by two powers that had them. . .so by arming to the teeth we level the playing field for a fair fight."

"Mutually-Assured Destruction. . ." Flash Sentry pondered aloud, taken aback by the very idea of such a powerful weapon.

"Yes!" Nightmare Moon said with a smile, "what a genius he is. How do you manufacture equines like these, Daybreaker?"

"They aren't manufactured, Nightmare Moon," Sunrise replied, "they are the foundation that withheld the pressure of changing times. The dull ones are simply not around to tell their tale."

"Impressive as ever, Sunrise," Daybreaker said before turning to Nightmare Moon, "anyway, shall we have the supplies organized by tomorrow?"

"Yes," the Nightmare replied gleefully, "and we will prepare an assault next week. Prepare your stallions for war!"

Half an hour passed after the meeting had concluded. Daybreaker was back in Canterlot to discuss military arrangements while Sunrise was left in charge of situating the civilian population comfortably into a war economy. Since she and Flash Sentry were taking the carriage, it was going to take a while before they got back giving them a bit of time to chat amongst themselves. The chat, however, was not all so satisfactory.

"Sunrise, this is a bit. . .a bit much, don't you think?" Flash said, looking to the floor. Sunrise tilted her head a bit.

"More than a bit, it's a lot," she replied, "even I wasn't sure atoms could be split, but the fact that the Gryphons were never able to conclude that research before we could get our hooves on it was a miracle. We could take out the entire western continent in a matter of days with that kind of power! It's fascinating!"

"Sunrise, that's a lot of lives," Flash Sentry started before Sunrise held up a hoof.

"Yes, and it's a tragedy," she said, "but this is war. Let's not worry about that now, alright? We have another six hours before we make it to the Crystal Empire so we might as well enjoy our trip."

She leaned forward and gave Flash a gentle kiss on the cheek. Flash couldn't help but to smile, though in his mind he wondered what this was all really going to become. He knew Sunrise had changed—by the gods, she had a different name now! Nothing about her was the same, not even her appearance. Though, he could still see a bit of Twilight in her. Just a bit kept away, but he feared it was slowly fading from her with every passing moment.

Wandering Woods, November 1, 1502

Thorax roamed around the woods often to relieve himself of the stress of consulting with the greatest overgrown child in Equus history. Something about the feeling of grass on his hooves, the wind blowing across his wings, and the cool shade with occasional rays of sunlight was, to him, a perfect catharsis. No other changeling shared that feeling, or even the capability of feeling—they hadn't broken free. In fact, the very reason Thorax was able to break free eluded Chrysalis herself, though she wished not to admit it. Thorax was certain, however, of what the changeling secret was. Not a magic spell, and not divine intervention. He thought back to a time earlier; it was the 12th of October sometime around noon when he was walking through those same woods.

It was a one-changeling job, though several were spread out across the woods. His ears perked up to the sound of crying, and with caution he continued towards it. Several feet ahead of him was a small filly who must have gotten lost from Sire's Hollow. A long walk, he thought, given Sire's Hollow was so many miles away. Perhaps she was left here intentionally. His first instinct was to leave her be, but had she been found by another she would have immediately been killed. He gave a sigh and approached her as she continued to cry.

"What are you doing here child?" Thorax asked sternly, "Don't you know you could be killed?"

She turned to face him with a smile, and he noticed her eyes looked strange. She didn't seem to be focused on him, or anything for that matter. It seemed she was blind.

"H-hey!" she said gleefully, getting up for a minute before stumbling over a rock, "oof!"

Thorax quirked a brow as she got back up, turning from side to side in a hope to at some point appear as if she were looking at the one she was speaking to. Still with a gleeful smile, but with tears likewise still present. Thorax leaned down to get a closer look.

"My name is Drizzlepop!" she said, "what's yours?"

"Thorax. . ." he said slowly. Drizzle giggled.

"That's a funny name, you're not a pony are you?"

"I am a Changeling."

"Oooh!" Drizzle exclaimed with awe, "A real changeling! I've only heard stories about you!"

"What stories. . ?" he asked with a tone of confusion. She giggled again.

"A big attack on Canterlot, and-and you have a queen who fires green lasers!" she said, making sound effects and motioning with her hooves to convey the story in childlike detail. It was at this moment Thorax realized she wasn't born blind, but had somehow become blind. He wondered how as she continued, "and you eat love from ponies! But I don't think it's true."

"Huh?" Thorax asked. The filly calmed down with a smile.

"I don't think it's true that you guys don't have hearts," she said, "I think you just aren't allowed to use them!"

"Oh come on, that's nonsense little filly," Thorax retorted, "why don't we get you back to your parents and—"

"No no no!" she ran to him and gave him a hug. Thorax was taken aback by her sudden reaction, "I like talking to you!"

The changeling was not sure of what to say or do, but he knew the woods very well, along with some of the herbs within it that were used for a range of cures to different ailments. Often changelings would find Zebras roaming the woods to plunder it's resources for those very same purposes. Thorax, however, had an idea of his own.

"Alright, I need you to be quiet," he said, leaning down for a whisper, "but I'm going to take you somewhere special."

The filly smiled, and after a while of leading her silently through the forest and avoiding the occasional patrol, he made his way to a particular group of flowers that were glowing with magic. The filly laughed to herself, keeping quiet but still enjoying the sensation much to the confusion of Thorax who could not yet feel. He knew that changeling magic was detected across the hivemind, so in order to avoid rousing suspicion he grabbed a few flowers, crushing them onto a rock and mixing them with a bit of clay from a nearby puddle. Hoping it would work, he turned to the filly.

"Drizzle, come here," he said quietly. She happily trotted over and sat down, "there's magical flowers here, I'm going to try something alright? So stay still and close your eyes."

"Alrighty!" she said with a bright smile. He took hold of some of the clay and brushed it gently over her eyelids. After doing so, he thought to himself for a moment and realized that it would take a bit of extra magic to activate. He knew that if he did, the others would come to investigate, so he would have to be quick in getting her out. Reluctantly, he lit his horn and cast the spell on the clay, which spread across her eyelids before fading away and leaving only the essence of the crushed flowers which seemed to drain through her eyelids, "oh, that feels weird. . ."

"Okay, now open your eyes," he said. She slowly opened them, revealing that they had returned to normal. Drizzle was speechless, it'd been the first time in years that she was able to see. Before she could thank him, however, two changelings had appeared behind them.

"Thorax, what is this?!" one shouted, "you're supposed to kill those things, not perform experiments on them!"

The changeling lit his horn before Thorax suddenly let out a shout, firing at the first of the two and killing him immediately. Drizzle let out a scream as the other one charged them with a spear. Thorax quickly moved out of the way, grabbing the spear and sending a hoof into the changeling's face before turning the spear around and driving it through the changeling's skull. A loud crackling was heard as a hivemagic reinforcement signal was fired in the air. Thorax turned to Drizzle.

"We have to go, NOW!" he said, taking hold of her and flying out of the wandering woods.

Thorax smiled at the thought. How nice it was to save that filly that day, and how much nicer that he managed to explain it all away with a mix of "misinformation and error". It was a miracle that he got away with it, really, but frightening was the thought of being exposed. He surely hoped he would never have to save a pony again, but he would never take back the day he did.

Solar Empire, November 1, 1502

"Is it almost ready?"

"Yes, Empress Daybreaker."

"Good. Soon we shall have a 'flyswatter' of our own, then."