Brigade was having second thoughts about this. He had checked his 'cousin' out of the castle guest registry and was escorting her home. However they were not headed home. Glint had taken a form she saw in a fashion magazine, some swim suit model out of Trottingham. She had tried to make herself more regular looking, but ponies till stared at them as they walked through the streets. Brigade was keeping to public areas in what Glint assumed was an attempt to force her to stay in pony form. Regardless she was enjoying the fresh air and smells of Canterlot nightlife. She hadn't spent much time in town before she was captured, and was enjoying being out side once again after several months of being caged. But that same freedom was tempered by the memories of those awful ponies and she clung close to Brigade.

"This way." Brigade broke the silence, leading her down a large set of stairs and away from the busy streets. Brigade wasn't saying much, he didn't say much anyway. That was one of the reasons Glint liked his company. Brigade didn't need to speak, he expressed himself with actions. Like bringing her outside and into Canterlot, that one act of trust spoke more to his character than any dialogue. Brigade lead her out of the stairwell and into a small park overlooking the valley. Ponyville could be seen glowing slightly in the darkness. One of Canterlots signature waterfalls was shielding this little balcony garden from the rest of the city and the glow Apple trees gave the area just enough light to see where you were going. The view was awe inspiring. Glint almost didn't notice the other ponies nearby, just out of view in the darkness.

"What is this place?" Glint walked up to the railing and looked off into the valley.

"They call them nooks, private areas hidden in the city," Brigade whispered right in her ear, she could feel the breath of his speech, "Im sure you can feel the other ponies here?"

"I can, why are we here?" She could feel several other ponies in the dark. She was getting worried. Brigade wouldn't try anything on me, would he? Her thoughts went very dark, and she suddenly was very scared of her supposed protector.

"To feed." He whispered, motioning to a empty bench just off the path.

"Oh, I-i see." Her nerves settled, I cant believe I was worried about him, he is the last pony I would expect that from They moved over to the bench sitting rather close to each other.

Glint closed her eyes and reached out to steal what ever emotions she could gather. Behind them was a couple, passionately necking in the grass. They were sweet but not filling, she moved on. In the bushes a ways away were two stallions. Their silent heaves were tasty but a little too tangy, again she moved on. A little farther away was another couple. They were older and just enjoying each others company, and apparently the company of the youngsters enjoying each other. Their love was old and pure, like fine wine, but she still moved on. With the couples explored she moved on to Brigade. From him she felt his determination and desire to protect. She could feel it off of Acropolis too but his was more general. Acropolis wanted to protect Equestria, Brigade wanted to protect her. His eyes darted around constantly scanning the area for threats. She had had ponies protect her before, love her before, have compassion for her before, or rather who she was pretending to be. But not him. He was protecting her, not a facade, he wasn't under a spell, he held her no obligation. He had brought her here to feed, knowing she feed off of love, he brought her to a lovers corner to feed. He had actually given thought to his actions, he wasn't just acting on impulse. If she didn't know better she thought maybe she was falling for him. His emotion was the sweetest in the grove, like sweet tea on a warm summers day. The statuesque stallion beside her wasn't the most filling meal in the grove but it was the most fulfilling.

"Thank you Brigade." She leaned her head on his shoulder. Taking in a deep breath of the water kissed cool night air.

"Your welcome." He replied flatly while surveying the grove. Even if she couldn't see it she could feel him blush. Time seemed to stop as they sat on the bench. His warmth countered the chill of the night air. In this public place, in the dark, surrounded by strangers, she finally felt completely safe.

A knock at her door shook Luna from her thoughts. Her mind spiraled from Asyl, to Chrysalis, to her guard, to Hannibal, to Celestia, and back around. A lot had happened in such a sort time period and it was beginning to wear on her. She turned down her music and moved to her door, prepared to give what ever the guard beyond it a verbal thrashing. Opening the door she was surprised by who stood at her door.

"Evening Princess." Chrysalis bowed, "May I come in?" Luna was surprised by her sudden appearance. It hadn't been two hours since she had attacked the Queen and now she was here at her door. In her confusion Luna simply nodded. The Queen entered her chambers and took a few moments to look around passively. "Truly your decoration style reflects your personality." the Queen moves a helmet hanging from the wall.

"Y-yes it does," Luna shook herself from her stupor, "Chrysalis why are you here?"

"In Canterlot? or in your room?" she asked taking a seat at Luna's small table.

"Both." Luna sat down opposite her.

"As you know I tried to invade Canterlot, and was quite spectacularly defeated." Chrysalis made little circles on the table with her hoof. "Since then my hive has fallen, we are few and far. The actual hive was destroyed by Diamond Dogs and their Wyrms." Her expression was pained. "My absence and the lack of my main force at my hive lead to its fall. My haste and failure, lead to the near eradication of my children." Chrysalis looked on the edge of tears. "The starvation I hoped to avoid with my invasion instead lead to more death than any starvation could render. My forces are destroyed, I am throne less, my hive in shambles, my kind even more detested than before, so that. That is why I am here." Chrysalis swallowed to hold back her tears.

"To do what exactly?" Luna was still unsure why the Queen was here. Her hive destroyed? Why not return to her homeland? What kept her here?

"I am tired and defeated. I have lost more than I have ever gained. You know I can feel my children all over Equestria, slowly starving and dying? They are to far from me to hear me. To hear my calls. My voice. But I can hear them, or rather, I could hear them, Before I answer, how many changelings do you think are in Equestria?"

"A couple hundred?" Luna guessed her genuine estimate.

"36." Chrysalis' reply struck Luna. Shinings shield couldn't have killed them all, and they couldnt have all starved.

"H-how?" Luna was beginning to understand why the throne-less Queen was here.

"After the invasion a bounty was placed on any of my children found alive, and then killed." Chrysalis began to tear up, a single tear ran down her face. "100 bits for the head of a Changeling." She spit out the window, her face twisted into disgust and hatred.

"No bounty was issued by the courts." Luna was shocked. It was very strange that bounties were placed without their knowledge. And no bounty was placed on Chrysalis or changelings, Celestia had made sure of that.

"That is one of the reasons why I came here." She recomposed herself, "No pony in Canterlot would honor an illegal bounty."

"The other?"

"You." She answered plainly.

"Me?"

"Yes, I figured we had something in common." Luna was taken aback by her words. Her have something in common with a changeling queen?

"Oh? and what is that?" Luna's tone was dismissive.

"We are both dethroned Queens, and we both want our thrones back." Chrysalis smiled slightly at Luna. Luna had no words to reply. Her mind raced with thoughts of her insurgence, the battle, and her time on the moon. Did Chrysalis recognize Luna as the rightful Prin-, no, Queen of Equestria?

"Q-queen?" Luna stammered out.

"Yes, I wish to restart my hive, here in Canterlot." Chrysalis brought the conversation back on track, as if she hadn't said anything.

"How? where?" Her tone wavered still shaking off the thoughts of the moon.

"I hear you have a rather large cavern under the city, it contain this Asyl place, and your sewer facilities. I construct a hive in this cavern and my changelings assist in Asyl and other utility maintenance."

"Seems fair, but im not to sure if Canterlot is ready for a hive under its streets. They are barely getting used to the Lunar guard, and the invasion is still fresh in their minds." Why am I on board with this idea? I should want to kill her.

"In time Princess, this will not happen tomorrow." Chrysalis chuckles slightly, "We shall regain our thrones in time." She smiles wide.

"Your throne." Luna corrects.

"Oh, yes, silly me. My throne." Chrysalis looks away from Luna and sighs pleasantly. Her situation explained, and Luna didn't kill her. This went better than expected.

The next morning

Brigade stood in his shower letting the warm water wash over him. He had long since made himself clean, this was one of those thinking showers. He stood, motionless, the rushing waters drowning out all noise. Deep in thought. his mind rambled from what he had done to why he did it, and to what Flash is going to do to him. At best hed lose his job, at worst hed be executed.

"Buck." He said softly to himself as he turns off the water. again he collects his thoughts, Letting the residual water run off him for a moment. I am so screwed. Grabing a towel in his magic he heads back into his bedroom. Drying himself he goes out onto his balcony. The sun is coming up, i'm sure by now i've been labeled a criminal. Collecting up his glass and whiskey he does a shot and sits in his chair. These past few days have been very eventful, heck the past few weeks have very eventful too. He does another shot. And now i've gone and messed it up, Acropolis im sorry. But you knew it would come to this. I seem to collect broken souls. Burlap, Spini, and now Glint. Again another shot. I guess I should go and turn myself in. Brigade turns and looks into his bedroom. There in his bed is the sleeping Glint. She had night terrors, and demanded Brigade sleep in the bed with her. She had spent the night curled up against his chest, with his forearms wrapped around her. He didnt know what would happen to her, and it terrified him.

"I guess," He downs his last shot putting his glass away, "Its time to go get court marshaled."

"WHAT!?" Doc's voice boomed in the conference room. Celestia, Luna, Brigade, and Glint were all present as well. Acropolis and Rune were still asleep, and hadnt bothered to come. The room was well lit by the suns natural light. Luna hadnt slept since she had spent the night chatting with Chrysalis. Celestia looked like Celestia. But Doc was enraged. "YOUR NOT GOING TO PUNISH HIM!?"

"For what?" Celestia asked rather flatly.

"FOR WHAT?" Doc hollered back.

"Remember your place Doctor." Luna chided harshly. She was in no mood for this. Brigade brought her back, she was unharmed, no harm no foul. Besides, she was with Brigade. She could have walked into Tartarus and been safe with him around.

"BUT, He removed a dangerous sample from the castle." Doc's use of 'sample' made Glint twitch.

"Doctor," Celestia sighed deeply. "Glint and Chrysalis and guests, not research samples. Maybe Glint was initially brought here with the intent to study but priorities have changed along with diplomatic standings."

"D-D-D-DIPLOMATIC STANDINGS!" Doc was hollering again.

"Yes, actually Brigade did his duty before I even ordered him to it." Celestia smiled down at him. Him and Glint still shocked that neither of them was going to the gallows. "After all Glint is a Princess."

"P-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-Princess?" Brigade stammered out his mind felt like it was on fire.

"Yes," Luna interjected, "Glint is Chrysalis' natural born daughter, and that makes Glint a changeling Princess. And since Chrysalis as sought refuge here, her standing applies to next of kin." Luna turns to Glint, "I welcome you formally to Canterlot, and enjoy your diplomatic asylum, Princess." Luna bows slightly, but quickly regain her posture. "Now if you will excuse me Im off to bed. Daylight is not my forte." She swiftly leaves the room.

"Well, I have duties, Glint you have been assigned regular quarters in the Lunar wing, and have free access to the simulated swamp in the labs. However please do not leave the palace unless escorted by Brigade. Who has been assigned to your detail. Good day." Celestia leaves as well. The remaining trio stand in shock.

"Diplomatic." Doc spits and quickly leaves them standing there in silence. After and excruciating pause.

"Buck." Brigade breaks his silence and promptly passes out.

Celestia stood with Twilight on the throne. Guards were milling about preparing for the days duties and getting the courts cleaned for use. Twilight was laden with books and research material which wasnt really that odd for her. Celestia was finishing up her report from Twilight.

"So, the rumor you were going to study with Rune Shift are true." Celestis smiles.

"Yes, she is doing research into non-unicorn magics and I have some books on the subject that she might find useful." Twilight didnt need a reason to study, but it helped.

"Well, just remember Twilight." Celestia leans in closer to her. "Never take down a fence until you know why it was put up in the first place."

"Who said that?"

"Starswirl, He was wise beyond his years. Anyway he did some research on this subject too. You are welcome to the Starswirl wing of the library. But please Twilight, be cautious."

"Dont worry princess, ill look over the fence before I take it down." Twilight smiled. However it did not shake this feeling Celestia had.