Reapplying my invisibility I start making my way back towards the throne room when Luna speaks to me again. “Are you sure you got everypony out? Sister and the rest of the guard returned to Canterlot this morning and apparently there were a few ponies wondering why their special somepony wasn’t with the convoy.”

“Haven’t we done musters every morning and night to ensure our headcount? Celestia should know if anyone is missing or not, did they check the names of the supposed missing against our roster?”

“I’m not sure…. It sounds like chaos over there. Tia says she can’t even get the names from the spouses at the moment, they must be inconsolable.”

Raw Intelligence Check.

9 + 5 = 14.

Something about this isn’t right. I’m extremely unsettled right now, but why? “Luna, some-”

“It would seem there was just some kind of miscommunication. Tia says the situation is resolved.”

“Is she sure? Something seems really off with the whole situation.”

“I agree. We can investigate when we return, you need to focus on your own situation for now. As long as Chrysalis is down there you are not safe.” Luna is right.

“Alright, I’m just about in the throne room. Can you throw down a scry and watch my back?”

“I did that as soon as I established the communication link. Currently this isn’t a series of Sending spells I’m directly linked to you.”

“No pressure, huh? I can’t disappoint my Goddess, haha.”

“You say that like you’re going to fight her. We agreed on this, you are just observing.”

Whatever I was going to say to Luna died in my throat as I entered the throne room. Chrysalis is sitting on her throne and to the right of her is Aurora’s corpse dangling in the air. A jet black spear is coming out of the ground and the tip of the spear is through her neck. She’s just hanging there with her lifeless eyes staring at one of her drones cowering on the ground in the middle of the room.

Stealth Check.

14 + 9 = 23.

Why didn’t I have advantage? Does Chrysalis have true sight? Can she see mana?

“It’s your choice, drone. Will you be exiled from the hive and go seek refuge with the ponies, or will you renounce your birth mother and serve your new queen?” Chrysalis gives her ultimatum to the changeling.

The drone looks between Chrysalis and the lifeless Aurora with tears in its eyes for several quiet seconds before finally giving its answer. “I… will receive the exile, Queen Chrysalis.” It barely manages to speak, just barely above a whisper.

A tiny glass bottle of raging red and blue fire begins to lightly vibrate as a small crack dashes across the surface.

It’s taking everything I have to suppress the whirlpool of feelings as they rampage in my gut. It’s becoming more clear that I’m not suppressing my emotions, I'm merely bottling them up. Within an instant of the drone giving its answer the guard standing next to it stomps and crushes the neck of changeling on the ground. Killing it instantly.

Why? It wasn’t even disrespectful with its answer. What just happened?

“My queen, why are we deceiving them with the illusion of exile? This feels….cruel.” The guard to the left of Chrysalis seems to mirror my thoughts.

Crack.

“If they knew the only other choice was death then I would not be able to trust that they have true loyalty to me. Noling would choose to die. I agree it’s not the most elegant solution, but with our love supply being cut off from the rest of the world we need to thin the hive and ration what we have. Until I can formulate a plan to bring us more captives, this is the only choice right now.” The queen replies.

Crack.

I can’t do this. I can feel it slipping.

Stealth Check (Disadvantage)

9 and 11. 9 + 9 = 18.

“Ignis…. Ignis! You have to leave, now!”

“Bring in the next drone. Also someling needs to go check on the pods, there’s glimpses of rage coming from that direction. Subdue it before they break out of their cocoon.”

A rapid flash of images of Tala, Father, scenes of elven children playing games in a brightly colored forest.

Crack. Crack.

“That’s it I’m teleporting you.”

Intelligence Saving Throw. Do you choose to willingly fail the save?

No.

19 + 9 = 28.

“LUCA-”

Another drone is brought in and after a chitin hoof crashes into the back of its head it drops onto the ground, shaking like a leaf. After being pummeled a few more times while instructions are barked at it, the drone finally manages to position itself into a formal bow. Chrysalis presents the drone with the same two choices the previous drone had, convert or exile.

The drone looks between the two queens while silently crying before it starts to mutter to itself. “Mom. My queen, t-the hive. M-mom please help me.” The feminine sounding drone devolves into full on wailing before being assaulted by the guard again.

“You dare put on such a pathetic display before the Queen?! Queen Chrysalis has ordered you to make a decision, you will announce your choice. Now!” The guard barks out over the dull thuds of chitin striking chitin.

Crack.

On complete autopilot my feet start slowly moving forward towards the scene of tragedy in front of me. A series of tingles and shocks shoot up my body from where the Moonblade is connected to my waist. A reminder of the state my body is in flashes in front of my eyes as I slowly put one foot in front of another.

Exhaustion Level: 2.
Exhaustion Level: 2.
Exhaustion Level: 2.

The onslaught of the changeling guard is silenced by Chrysalis. “Enough! Drone, you must give me your decision.”

More images flash of Lucas’ parents, an office full of humans smiling towards a camera as they all collectively hold up a trophy, and teenagers laughing in a dimly lit room as they surround a set of TVs with controllers in their hands.

With both of its forelegs tucked behind its head from where it was attempting to soften the guards blows, the drone replies. “Please Queen Chrysalis! Separating from the hive is an impossible choice, it pains me to make such a decision. I wish to continue to serve the hive, for the betterment of the hive, but please I cannot renounce my dead mother! What you ask is too cruel!”

Hearing the changeling cry out in grief for her mother sends a shiver down my spine. My eyes open wide and my breath catches in my throat as my feet stop moving just a few steps from the grieving drone. The scenery shifts and the drone is replaced with a young Ignis getting snatched up by his father in a moonlit forest.

Crrrrrrack.

The scenes shift again and I’m looking at Zarra’s eyes as she holds me. “Don’t cry my sweet boy.” She smiles down at me. “I’ll only be gone for a few weeks. You know what your mother does is very important. Of course the main teachings of the Dark Lady are to treat all creatures as equals and always put your best foot forward. However, it is also our responsibility sometimes to go and vanquish evil. There are thousands of lives at stake just a few towns over and it is our responsibility to help them and protect them. One day it’ll be your responsibility too. That is why we are given our blessings and strength from Eilistraee. We are born strong to help the weak. You’re such a kind child, so I know you’ll naturally understand and reciprocate these feelings when you’re old enough. Since you are going to walk the path of the bladesinger you won’t be able to heal or cure like I can, but you will strike at evil and protect the weak just the same.”

She holds up her Moonblade. “That’s what this sword represents, Ignis. If you wield this sword you must only wield it to protect. Never forget that.” I watch as my mother closes her eyes and leans her head down to kiss me on the forehead.

The glass bottle shatters.

Changeling Throne Room 3rd Person POV

This whelp has tested my patience and insulted my mercy for long enough. Chrysalis thinks to herself as she looks toward the guard standing over the drone in question. She gives the guard a nod and watches as it raises its foreleg up one last time to kill the insolent drone.

Suddenly the center of the room erupts in a bright flash of fire causing everyone, including Chrysalis to shield their eyes and glance away. A loud booming sound erupts from the center of the flash and a wave of murderous intent washes over the room. The feeling is so intense that every changeling guard in the room that was beginning to charge towards the fire freezes in places. Millions of neurons begin firing off in the changeling queen's brain that give her an unsettled feeling. If she was a human all the hair on her body would be standing straight.

That feeling combined with the killing intent, familiar sinister presence, and bright wall of flames cause the changeling queen to mutter out a single word. “D….Daybreaker?!”

Much to her shock though, when the light dims down what she sees is not an alicorn, but a familiar bipedal man. Only now his silver hair is replaced with golden blonde hair streaked with orange wavy lines and red tips. In one hand is a familiar emerald longsword and in the other is a dismembered changeling head that is still wearing a fresh look of shock on its face.

The room is in complete silence as the elf drops the changeling head and crouches down next to the crying gray colored drone. The queen can only question where he came from as she watches the elf start to gently rub the drones head. “I’m so sorry little one. I truly am sorry. I tried with everything I had to save your mother and I failed. I failed to save your sibling as well just a few moments ago. Your devotion to your people is respectable. If you had chosen exile you would’ve been killed. You’re going to be okay now, though. Once this is over I’m going to take you and all your siblings back to Equestria with me, okay?”

Every changeling in the room watches as the elfs face contorts into one of pure rage as the trails of tears on his face turn into steam and rise into the air. He rises back up to his feet and faces the throne.

6 seconds prior.

Ignis 1st Person POV

Emerging from the memory of my mother I feel every emotion I’ve been bottling up since I got to this planet surge within me. As I stare at the changeling queen's face I remember the scene from when I woke up in the carriage.

CHRYSALIS! I WILL NEVER LET YOU GO! I WILL HUNT YOU TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH AND I WILL KILL YOU!

Everything in me is screaming with the purest hate to kill her. I want to kill her. Pure hate is running rampant in my mind as I feel a tingle in the back of my head and a system pop up appears.

Error. Error. Conditions not met. Error.

Subclass Acquired. Oath of Vengeance.

Error. Due to insufficient level: No subclass features have been unlocked.

We meet again, bladesinger. To think you’d become dearest Luna’s plaything, pathetic. Your rage and hate and intent to kill are so much purer than hers, though. So much so that you’ve even caused me to awaken. I was wondering why she was tinkering around with her connection to the moon so much, but it seems she was trying to give you a true connection to her source of divinity. I understand now. If it was anypony but you I’d just laugh at her, but if you’re willing to feed me so much delicious hate I will indulge the both of you.

I, Nightmare Moon, the dark side of the moon, acknowledge you as the true Chosen of the night.

Error. Subclass evolution.

Oath of Vengeance - The Nights’ Chosen.

Wisdom Saving Throw.

14 + 6 = 20. Corruption resisted.

You can even resist my control, hah. Truly extraordinary. We’ll see how long that lasts, bladesinger.

Time unfreezes and all of the surging emotions finally explode as the changeling guard aims for the grieving drones neck. My mana surges and ignites as my body moves on instinct. In a flash of fire I’m suddenly next to the guard and my blade is slicing through his neck. After giving a quick apology to the drone I just saved I stand back up and stare at Chrysalis. Once her look of shock fades into a neutral stare. I speak.

“Chrysalis.” Even I’m a bit surprised by how cold and dead my tone of voice is, but after a brief pause I continue.

“I’m going to kill you now.”

Author's Note

Summer Eladrin transformation is basically purely cosmetic. Only benefit is that he gains a single free cast of misty step that causes a surge of fire. Normally fire does 1d6 but I'm making it cosmetic only.

My several thousand mile move is finally concluded and I'm back on my desktop. As such on weekends like this I have much more free time and am less tired. Basically I'm saying expect another chapter tonight or early tomorrow. Won't leave you guys hanging for the rest of the fight for too long :P.

Thanks for reading!