Time is a relative term to some but an inevitable factor to all. Long had the days transitioned into weeks then months and Thorn grew and learned the ways of the hive. Upon turning seven he sat with his mother in his chambers staring at his reflection, his black eyes having lightened slightly over the years and his hair having grown. He glanced lovingly at his mother who did the same.

Thorn ran his hand upon his face, “Mother.”

Chrysalis smiled slightly, “Yes my prince?”

Thorn sighed, “Who was my father?”

Chrysalis sighed in slight frustration tinged with a heavy heart. She knew one day Thorn would want to know of his origins, but so soon? She had prepared for this for years and cleared her throat.

Chrysalis placed a hoof upon her son’s shoulder, “My prince you must understand that your parentage was…different from conventional relationships. Your father was…different from other stallions but none the less he was loyal to me,” her teeth clenched, “Until someone took him from me.”

Thorn turned to look at his mother, “Was he a brave warrior?”

Chrysalis looked to the heavens with a dreamy smile, “The bravest. He had no rival in combat.”

Throne crawled onto his mother’s lap as he hugged her, “I wish I could’ve met him.”

Chrysalis stroked his hair, “As do I my prince, as do I.”

*

Three years passed by and Thorn was sitting upon a secondary throne garbed in dark insect looking armor with a bored expression, “Mother must we listen to them prattle on? Wouldn’t it be easier to just execute them?”

Chrysalis shook her head, “My prince you must remember what I have taught you.”

Thorn sighed, “You must be respectful to the hive and its drones. I don’t know how you do it.”

Chrysalis smirked, “I tune them out on occasion when it gets too boring.”

Thorn chuckled at that, “You need to teach me that.”

*

Three more years passed the youth by and he was currently in a struggle with a drone. His teeth gritted in effort as the drone tried to pin him down. Its horn glowed with magic and it prepared to blast Thorn in the face. The changeling prince lifted his right hand and closed it around the drone’s throat and reversed the grapple. Thorn then quickly planted his elbow firmly upon the back of the drone’s head and began to push.

Chrysalis walked in and yelled out in regal anger, “What is going on here!”

Thorn quickly stood as the drone scampered off, “Mother I…”

Chrysalis scolded her son, “Thorn what have I told you?”

Thorn glanced at the ground, “Never attack or kill one of our own. A wounded drone wounds the hive, but Mother-“

Chrysalis silenced him with a look, “No buts! Why were you breaking that rule, I taught you better than that!”

Thorn sighed, “The drone insulted my lineage and referred to me as a filthy half breed.”

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow, “Oh he did, did he?”

Thorn nodded, “Yes and you always told me to defend my honor should it ever be wounded.”

Chrysalis nodded, “Your words ring true, very well. Seek your retribution,” she raised her hoof, “BUT bring the drone before me alive, what you do to him in between that is up to you.”

Thorn smiled then cracked his knuckles, “It will be done mother.”

*

The passage of time changes many individuals over time and Thorn was no exception. As he grew so too did his knowledge and combat skills. His natural abilities became more honed but alas he did not possess the full set of abilities that even his mother possessed, most importantly was magic. He however had grown into a fine young man; he stood at about six foot two and was lean in build. His hair had darkened and grown just below his jawline, his eyes though black had slightly lightened over time. To some drones in the hive whenever he walked into a room they would mentally insult his breed for they learned what would happen if it was ever heard aloud. Some drones still carried the memory of what their queen had done to that one fool all those years ago. Thorn would soon be seventeen and he was ready to face the world at large, or so he thought. Chrysalis was adamant on him not being ready yet much to his annoyance and shame.

But on the day of his seventeenth birthday he received a gift that changed some things. He gazed at the package his mother placed before him with confusion. But not wanting to disappoint his Mother and Queen he opened the package and gasped at what was before him. Sitting in the package was a long sword, but it was unlike any weapon Thorn had seen before. The handle grip was faded and brown whereas the actual handle was jet black. The sheath resembled a series of black skeletal spider legs gripping and encasing the blade.

Thorn turned to Chrysalis, “Mother, it’s magnificent. How in Equestria did you acquire such an instrument?”

Chrysalis chuckled slightly, “It was an easy task once I gave the smith the materials.”

Thorn grasped the handle and gasped as the spider legs seemed to resonate to his touch and retracted into the blade itself. The blade of the sword if looked at in a certain way closely resembled his mother’s horn only that it was a bit straighter and less gaps were visible. He stood and did a few practice swings.

Thorn’s eyes shined, “It’s like it was made for me. It feels so natural.”

Chrysalis approached her son as she placed her hoofs upon his shoulders, “It is made for you, a fragment of my own horn was melted into the metal used to forge it. So not only does it resonate with your very being but it does one other thing.”

Thorn stared in wonder at his present, “Tell me.”

Chrysalis reveled in her son’s eagerness, “You see that rock over there? Point your sword and use your will upon it.”

Thorn did as he was told and two things happened, first he felt a sudden surge through his body. The second occurrence was the blade took on the same glow as when his mother used her magic and a bolt of energy shot from the blades tip and smashed the rock into oblivion.

Thorn gawked at the blade, “Magic?”

Chrysalis nodded, “Yes, the one thing you have craved all your life. This sword is a part of my love to you my Prince.”

Thorn pressed the sword to his side as the sheath refolded onto the blade and melded to his armor. He turned to his mother and hugged her. Chrysalis returned the gesture but then pulled away almost immediately; she then motioned for Thorn to follow her.

Chrysalis did not meet her sons look, “Thorn, you know that the hive has many enemies correct?”

Thorn nodded, “Of course mother.”

Chrysalis continued to lead him through the cavernous halls of the hive, “How many times have I told you of my first defeat?”

Thorn looked to the side, “Many times mother. The crystal Princess and her husband banished you from the royal city of Canterlot and have prospered ever since.”

Chrysalis smiled, “Indeed they have, but that time is coming to an end.”

Thorn raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”

Chrysalis turned to face her son as she stood before a bird bath with a glowing liquid within, “Gaze into the glass and you shall see.”

Thorn looked down into the pool and witnessed a picture form before him.

*

The Crystal Empire had long been a beacon of love and hope for all of Equestria whenever it shed its light across the skies. One thing was for certain, the city reflected its rulers quite well. They were kind and welcoming but always proper when needed…except for one pony. That pony in particular was a princess, not the ruling one, more like the one next in line. Though sometimes one would confuse her for a regular mare her age enjoying everything she could as well as shirking her responsibilities. This time in particular was no different. The pony in question was lounging atop a tree looking at the clouds without a care in the world. Her coat was a dark pink and her mane and tail closely resembled her mothers in style abet slightly shorter and was a dark indigo with a yellowish streak. Her wings were folded and the tips were a darker shade of the ones that her mother had as well. Her cutie mark was that of an azure crystal heart in the center of a gold wreath.

Princess Skyla sighed as she watched the clouds roll by, “Now THIS is how royalty should relax.”

The sound of a throat being cleared alerted her to an interloper in her fun time, “Hey dad.”

Shining Armor looked up at his daughter, “Skyla why are you up in that tree?”

Skyla waved her hooves in a half-hearted manner, “Chilling out, all those delegates from the neighboring kingdoms are boring.”

Shining Armor sighed, “Skyla you know it’s your responsibility to be with us when the delegates come for the annual summit.”

Skyla turned over and stared at her less than amused father, “I never got why though.”

Shining rolled his eyes, “We've been over this countless times. They have to see that you’re fit to rule the kingdom when your mother steps down.”

Skyla’s face was neutral on the matter, “Uh in case you haven’t noticed mom hasn’t aged…like at all. So I think she’s got everything covered,” she turned over to look at the sky once more, “Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to catch some sun while I nap.”

Shining looked down and noticed her royal adornments were discarded on the ground, “And why are these on the ground?”

Skyla’s eyes were closed as she waved the comment off, “To hot.”

Shining narrowed his eyes, “I’m giving you one last chance to get down here before I go get your mother.”

Skyla chuckled, “What am I four?”

Shining shook his head, “Sometimes you act like you are,” he then trotted back into the palace to retrieve his wife.

Skyla soon started doze off when a familiar voice awakened her, “Princess Bella Mira Skyla, get down her this instant.”

Skyla slowly turned her head to come face to face with her mother, “H-hi mom.”

Cadance just stared in a scolding manner, “What did I just tell you?”

Skyla sighed as she glided down to ground level, “But-“

Cadance pointed to her adornments then the palace, “March young filly.”

Skyla put on her adornments and turned to her mother once more, “But-“

Cadance pointed once more, “March.”

Skyla sulked past her and into the palace as Cadance looked to her husband, “Do you think I was a tad hard on her?”

Shining nuzzled his wife, “No you did just fine; you know she needs a firm hoof sometimes.”

Cadance sighed but then chuckled, “She reminds me so much of myself at that age.”

Shining laughed, “Oh yeah I remember. You barely ever attended the meetings and slacked off when nopony was looking.”

Cadance nodded, “Yep those were the days, and then I got married.”

Shining chuckled, “Yeah…HEY!”

Cadance laughed as her husband mock chased her into the palace.

*

Thorn was slightly confused at the scene, “Mother, it seems the Empire is still going strong.”

Chrysalis sneered at the picture, “Not for long.”

Thorn was skeptical at that, “Mother?”

Chrysalis took a seat, “As you well know, beings known as humans have come on gone through Equestria in the many years you have been raised. Therefore their appearance though sometimes mysterious is now common knowledge which is why I have brought you here to see this image. Thorn, it is time for the hive to strike back.”

Thorn’s face lit up, “You mean.”

Chrysalis nodded, “Though I may think you naive in some regard, you have proven yourself strong and cunning as I am. Therefore I am giving you this assignment to prove my doubts false and to further show the hive that their future king is a capable if not reliable ruler.”

Thorn kneeled down, “What is your bidding.”

Chrysalis stood and spread her wings, “You are to go to the Crystal Empire, assimilate yourself into their culture and earn their trust. Once that is done, collect intelligence on the barrier surrounding the city. Once you have completed these tasks contact me for further orders. I believe in you my prince, do not fail me.”

Thorn stood up, “How am I to enter the kingdom undetected?”

Chrysalis grinned showing her fangs, “Feign innocence.”

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