The sun's rays came through, into the sky. After what felt like hours of a dark, dreary Hive, the brilliance of the sun gracefully greeted the group of Ponies and Changelings. The captured souls were broken out of their cocoons, and were helped back onto their hooves. The Changelings looked... much more different, after their eventual new leader, Thorax, had essentially knocked Queen Chrysalis back with the love he had stored. After that? He transformed. To a much higher level than just some disguise. Soon, every other Changeling had joined in, and the Throne of the Hive exploded into rocks and stones.
Thorax, the generally decided, newer ruler of the Changelings, stared ahead at the friends being assisted by his new subjects, and each other. He beamed. They did it. They dethroned Chrysalis..! He didn't truly think it would be possible until now, but... he supposes he was proven wrong..? He looked off for a little longer, before taking a short glance towards a pile of large rock. The ancient stone that soaked up outside magic the way they soaked up love. The stone that kept the Hive safe. His eyes scanned the rocks, and then he noticed- what he noticed, was... a foreleg? A dark foreleg, with holes shot through almost every inch of it. He blinked, before taking steps to approach it. He leaned his head down to expect it ever so slightly closer.
"..." That was Chrysalis's leg, he knew so. He kept silent for a while, before humming under his breath. He hesitantly reached out his own foreleg to gently lay it on the still limb. He knew full that this could be considered very stupid. There was no excuse for this. He was... very surprised when the limb felt-- chilled.
"(...Chrysalis-?)" He mumbled under his breath. Wasn't... wasn't that a sign of passing? Dying?
His slightly concerned expression blankened. She was dying. She was dying quick. He backed away. The limb didn't move. The rocks didn't shift at all. She was really dying. It was something he didn't actually expect. He expected her to break out of those rocks and be as strong as she had normally been. But... it seems... that isn't the case.
...
"Thorax?"
He jumped, turning around to see his small dragon friend- Spike. "Hey.. uh.. you okay? What're you.. uh.. looking at--" He peeked over past Thorax, and he went silent for a second. "..Is that Chrysalis's leg-?"
...Thorax nodded.
"Oh. Uhh.. I don't think we should be so close then.." He started backing away, unsubtly afraid of her jumping out of the rocks and attacking someone.
"...I- don't think.. that'll be an issue, Spike, she's..." He glanced back to the others, who were very occupied with each other. He leaned down to Spike's level, and simply whispered the information he seemed to be getting in her current state, on why being scared isn't necesarry. Sure, the others are busy, but he doesn't wanna go blurting out that the Queen herself is dying, praying he doesn't contradict himself. Spike's eyes somewhat widened at the news. He turned to her foreleg, and then back at him.
"...You really think-"
Thorax only nodded in response. Spike went silent once again, before awkwardly chuckling.
"Well.. ah.. at least she- w-won't be a problem anymore.. right?" He saw that as a good thing. No more Queen Chrysalis reekng havoc on innocent Ponies, right? Thorax looked down at the ground, and nodded again. In silence. "...Hey- uh- let's- get back towards the others- I think I heard Celestia wanted to say something to you." Spike decided to try and brush off the whole 'former enemy is now dying/dead' thing. He motioned for Thorax to follow him. And so he did. Once closer to the the group of Ponies and Changelings, one of the Princesses of Equestria, Princess Celestia, noticed him, and stepped forward to speak.
"Thorax. As the new leader of the Changelings, I look forward to discussing how we can improve our relationship in the future. However, for the moment, perhaps it is best that we leave the Changeling Kingdom, to the Changelings."
New leader? Wait- he's the leader now?? He momentarily eyed Spike, who didn't regard him right away. The others had started talking about going somewhere, but he wasn't really paying any attention. How-- how was he- was it just because he looked bigger than everyone else? Was it because he was the first to transform like this?
He looked around at his-- subjects?? Apparently? He squinted somewhat, thinking about how this could've really occured. That- being a leader- is a huge responsibility. At least in his eyes. These Changelings... sure, they looked different- very different, but he knew they have the same exact mindset as before. And he'd hardly believe they'd be easily accepting to change. It would take some time. He doesn't even know if HE could--
..He looked back over at the pile of rocks. Where her body was. He- was gonna take her place. Her job. Could he even do it without the Changelings turning on HIM next? He doesn't know how well they'd the idea of no longer taking the love of other Ponies- or anyone in general- or not being extremely violent in general. They had been living like that for... generations. For that to just- become the past? Could he do it? He was never really confident in the leader role. Maybe he could- get help from somebody! Or.. let someone- else?
No, he doesn't want to put the responsibility of ruling over the Changelings on one of the others. Nothing would change then. He'd rather.. the ways of the Love-Taking rule to change. Be in the past. He stared at the ground, taking in a deep breath. Maybe- maybe he could do it. Maybe he could make a change. Maybe..
He just- had to have some faith in himself! Right... faith! This'll work.
Hopefully.
