DJ watched on in horror as Scout’s body hit the floor of the throne room, his new friend not moving after being skewered by Queen Chrysalis. “SCOUT!!!” he cried out, stopping all fighting in the room. They all looked over to see the fallen changeling bleeding on to the floor.

“Brother!” Sting yelled as he flew to his hatch brother’s side. He cradled Scout’s head in his hooves, trying to keep him awake. “Scout, come on man, don’t do this to me! You got stay with me! MEDIC!!”

Nopony knew what to do, not even the changeling guards thought of fighting anymore. Seeing one of their own killed by the queen mother was far too surreal. Pixel Berry turned to her companion. “Help him, Gilda. He is a friend.” Gilda shook herself from staring and faced Berry. She looked ready to argue, but Berry’s face showed no sign of backing down. With reluctance, Gilda agreed and flew over to Scout to attempt first aid.

“Please help him!” Sting pleaded to the griffon. Gilda looked at him with compassionate eyes.

“I’ll do everything I can,” she said simply. From there, she got to work trying to patch up Scout with the few supplies she had in her saddlebag. DJ couldn’t pull his eyes off the dying body of his new friend, it was unreal to him. Scout had been such a good friend that something like this never occurred to DJ; he never thought that his friends would be killed in this battle. Neither did Malice.

Did… did Chrysalis just…?

Yeah, yeah she did.

Malice was quiet for a moment before screeching within DJ’s mindscape. AAAAHHH!!! LET ME OUTTA HERE KID!! I’M GONNA POUND THAT BUG BITCH INTO THE FUCKING GROUND!!!

I can’t. We promised Insectum that—DJ was pulled out of his thoughts when a hoof touched his shoulder. He looked over to see it was Insectum, tears in her eyes, still watching Scout. “I cannot believe what has just happened,” she began. “My mother has always said she cared deeply about every last one of us; she was never supposed to hurt us like this.” She turned her head and looked DJ in the eyes pleadingly. “Prince DJ of Equestria, I beg of you, please help us. We cannot do this alone.”

DJ understood her perfectly: she wanted him to take Chrysalis down. DJ nodded with determination and fire in his eyes. “It will be done, Princess Insectum of the United Hives.”

“I only have one request: please do not kill her. We need not stoop to her level and there is much she must atone for her,” Insectum asked of him. DJ agreed and then turned towards Queen Chrysalis. DJ felt another hoof on his shoulder, causing him to look at the new pony: his dear wife, Twilight.

“Be careful, my love,” she told him with calm, understanding eyes. “You have two daughters back home who are waiting for their daddy to return.” She kissed his cheek and backed away.

DJ smiled brightly, newfound confidence finding its way into his soul. Then he hardened his glare right at Chrysalis. He remembered all the good times he had with Scout and Sting; the laughs they shared, the training they did together, becoming close friends in a small amount of time. His fury burned from deep within and he could feel his eyes changing into the rage voids and his magic was becoming fiercer.

This is gonna be good. So, kid, how are you gonna do it? Summon the Elements and take her down? Or are you gonna run her through with the swords?

We’re not going to kill her, Malice. We are stallions of our word. But, the one to fight won’t be me. DJ then turned towards the front pocket of his jacket, which had been returned to him along with his swords, and spoke. “Discords,” he called. Out of the pocket, five miniature Discords appeared.

“Yes?” sung Cinco.

“Yes?” came from Quatro.

“Yes?” Tres sang.

“Yes?” Dos sung out.

“Yes?” sung Uno.

“YES?” they finished together in true barbershop style.

“What can we do for ya, boss?” asked Uno.

“I need the formula,” DJ said simply. The five mini-Discords paled.

“Uh, you sure, boss?” asked a fearful Tres. “You know we don’t like the other guy very much.”

“Remember Scout?” he asked them. They nodded, remembering DJ briefing them on everything that had happened over the past two months. DJ pointed a hoof out on to the battlefield, prompting the Discords’ gazes to follow. They landed on Scouts motionless body that was being attended to by a griffon. Their jaws dropped, now understanding the situation fully. Cinco brought out a tiny bottle of gray liquid and handed it to Quatro. Quatro gave it to Tres, who gave it to Dos, who gave it to Uno, who then threw it up, causing it to grow to its original size, where DJ caught it mid flight. “Thanks guys.”

“Give ‘em hell, boss!” Dos called out as they all filed back down into his jacket pocket.

Ohohoh, there will be hell alright! LET ME OUTTA HERE KID SO I CAN BASH THAT BUG INTO THE GROUND!!

Just remember Malice, don’t kill her. We have to make her suffer.

I can get behind that. Just let me do my thing!

DJ swirled the concoction within the tube a little before returning his attention to Chrysalis. “Chrysalis!” he called out to her, getting hers and the rest of the room’s attention. “YOU’VE GONE TOO FAR THIS TIME!! Nopony messes with my friends, NOPONY!!”

Chrysalis snorted at him. “You are no threat to me, Prince. You got lucky back in the human world, but here, the advantage is mine! You are too weak to be a threat to me!”

DJ glared harshly at her. “That may be true of me, but my other half…,” DJ uncorked the potion and downed it all in a second, before throwing the glass to the floor where it subsequently shattered. Not a moment later, DJ’s body began to shine as the potion took effect, changing his blue coat grey, his brown hair black, and his cutie mark changing from a blue-white snowflake to a black-grey one. DJ’s head hung low, but then raised back up, revealing sinister smile. Gone was DJ Sparkle, it was not the time of the demon, Malice.

“…has no problem with putting you in the fucking ground!!” he roared at the changeling queen, who recoiled in shock at the sudden change in demeanor.

“Wh-what trickery is this?! What has become of the Equestrian Prince?”

“He’s taking a rest so I can deal with you personally.”

Chrysalis was in shock for another moment before regaining her composure. “No matter, I will simply—OOF!” She was cut off by a grey blur slamming into her gut, sending her flying back. She landed on the floor in a heap, but staggered into a standing position soon after. She looked towards the object that struck her, gaping at the sight of the grey pony glaring her down. “What... what are you?” Chrysalis gasped out.

“The name’s Malice. And I’m gonna take you apart!!” With a roar of fury, Malice launched himself at Chrysalis once again. He jumped, using the moment to propel his rear leg right into Chrysalis’ face. She was prepared for it this time, but was unaware of the ferocity of the strike, causing her to stagger back slightly. But Malice wasn’t done. He landed right in front of the changeling queen and delivered blow after blow against her barrel. Each strike was another wave of pure pain to Chrysalis, but she finally had enough. She lit her horn and fired a burst of green magic, sending Malice flying back. He braced himself upon landing, scooting back still standing. He glared at Chrysalis, who was looking at him smugly. “What are you so proud of?” he demanded of her.

Her smile widened as she raised two cylindrical objects in her magic: the lightsabers! “I now possess your weapons, Malice. I know that you draw your powers from them, so now you have no chance against me! Mwahahaha!!” She laughed evilly at him, but Malice simply smirked. His amusement began to grow slowly from an innocent chuckle into a full maniacal laugh. This highly unsettled Chrysalis. “Wh-what is so damned funny?!” she barked at him.

Malice’s laugh calmed down and he looked at her with sinister amusement. Instead of answering her with his voice, Malice lifted both forelegs towards her and let them spark. Chrysalis gasped, but he didn’t give her any chance to prepare. With a cry of power, Malice fired a fierce storm of Force Lightning upon the queen. She screamed in pain as the electricity coursed through her body, spasming intensely. Malice let up on the barrage after a moment, allowing Chrysalis to catch her breath, only for a moment, though. Malice quickly called upon his magic, letting his horn light with dark grey aura, and levitated dozens of stones around him. Most would think that Malice would simply fire them at Chrysalis like a Gatling gun, but he had another idea, one that would be much more effective. Malice rose until he was standing on his two hind legs, freeing up his forelegs, and clapped once, sending out a loud ‘ding’.  He smirked at Chrysalis’ confusion. Malice pulled on hoof back, levitated a stone in front of him, and punched the stone with all his might. The stone went flying, sparking with alchemy and transforming into a large spear head that was aimed right at Chrysalis. She saw the change and moved as fast she could to get out of the way, but the shock from before was too effective, slowing her movements. Just as she moved her body away, the spear flew by, causing her to shriek in pain.

The spear crashed into the opposite wall, imbedding itself in the rock. Chrysalis turned to look at her left side and gasped at the bloody sight: her upper side had a large groove cut into by the spear, shearing right through her wing which now lied on the ground in a bloody mess. She looked at Malice in fear, which he simply returned with a sadistic grin as he clapped his hooves again and readied another stone. Chrysalis got to her hooves and ran, Malice constantly firing alchemic spears at her as she did. She just kept running, knowing that stopping meant death at the hooves of a malicious pony.

Eventually, Malice used up all his stones, not that Chrysalis noticed, so he clapped his hooves one more time and slammed it into the ground. There was a small spark, but that quickly escalated into a column of light that sent a bolt of alchemy speeding towards Chrysalis. The ground broke where the alchemy touched, causing the ground to rise into a massive stone fist that slammed into the panicked queen, throwing her into the wall once again. She crumpled onto the ground and Malice approached her slowly. He summoned his two swords to his side and reached out a hoof that caused Chrysalis to rise, choking as she did. He lit one lightsaber, clipping the other away, and aimed it right at the queen.

“Stop!” called out somepony. Malice turned to see Insectum standing near him. “She must be defeated by a changeling. Please stop.”

Malice glared at her, but still let Chrysalis drop to the ground and deactivated the lightsaber. He then forced the sword into Insectum’s hooves. “Then you do it,” he said simply before walking away towards Twilight and the others, leaving a dumbfounded Insectum. “Discords!” he called out and the five Discords appeared from his pocket.

“Y-yes Malice, s-sir?” stammered Uno.

“The Antidote, give it to me.” The Discords looked at him with amazed faces, but quickly pulled out the tube containing the rainbow-colored antidote. Uno lifted it up and Malice took it in his magic. As he uncorked the bottle, the Discords bid a hasty retreat back into the pocket. Malice down the formula in an instant. He grimaced as he body was surrounded by a circle of light that returned DJ to the outside world. DJ shook his head, clearing it perfectly.

Thank you, Malice.

Just doing my job, kid. Nothing more.

Right. DJ smiled and walked over to Twilight, who hugged him immediately and he returned it along with a happy smile. Back over with the queen and Insectum, who was now standing in front of her mother with a fierce scowl. Queen Chrysalis looked upon her daughter with an emotionless expression.

“Do it, Insectum. Kill me, just as I killed your grandmother. It is who you are: a killer. We are the same,” Chrysalis coughed out through the pain.

Insectum ignited the lightsaber in her hooves and swung with all her might, cleaving through chitin. Chrysalis shrieked in intense pain, but realized she was still alive. She looked at her daughter confused, until she saw her horn laying at Insectum’s hooves, paling at the horror. “I won’t kill you mother,” Insectum spoke, making the queen look her in the eyes. “No, that would be too easy. For your crimes against the United Hives, I, Queen Insectum, hereby sentence you, Chrysalis, to life imprisonment. May the years be long and hard for you down in the dungeons, mother.” With that, Queen Insectum turned her back on Chrysalis and briskly walked back to the others, leaving Chrysalis flabbergasted.

When Insectum approached, DJ had a questioning look. “The loss of ones horn is seen as a symbol of great shame in changeling society,” she explained. “Unlike ponies, our horns do not regrow, but are the source of all our magic, including shape shifting.”

“So, cutting off Chrysalis’ horn is the greatest shame you bestow upon her!” Twilight finished intelligently. “Brilliant!” Insectum stared at Twilight in surprise, but quickly smiled and chuckled slightly. Then she turned over to where Scout was, now surrounded by the other changelings. DJ made his way over to where Gilda was packing up her medical equipment.

“How is he Gilda?” he asked with concern.

She looked at him and sighed. “I did all I could, but the wound is fatal. All we can do is make his final moments last.” DJ nodded in understanding, even though it hurt deep in his heart. He trotted over to Scout whose head was still in his hatch brother’s embrace. Scout’s head turned slightly, his eyes half-way open, but he still smiled at the sight of his Equestrian friend.

“Hey DJ,” he greeted in a pained whisper. “Di-did we do it? Is Chrysalis defeated?”

DJ nodded, smiling brightly and trying to prevent himself from tearing up. “Yeah, Scout, we did it. Queen Insectum severed Chrysalis’ horn and I clipped her left wing.”

Scout began to laugh, though it was pained. “Oh, oh maker that’s hilarious. Oh, the irony! All these years, she’s preached that everypony has to make themselves useful to the hive and now, she’s of no use to anypony. I think they call that poetic justice, right there!”

DJ chuckled a little himself, fully grateful to see Scout in a happy mood. Insectum then appeared at his side, causing several of the changelings around them to bow to their new queen. She waved them off and focused on Scout. “You have done your country proud, Scout. I hope you know that.”

“All I did was get my flank killed,” he responded humorously.

Insectum shook her head. “No, Scout, you are a hero and you will be remembered. That I assure you.”

“A hero, huh?” Scout said, now looking up at the ceiling. “Well, then can a hero make a final request?”

Insectum nodded. “If it is within my power as Queen, then I shall do so.”

“I was thinking, after everything Chrysalis has done, our country needs a new identity; one that will let the rest of the world know that things have changed. May I make a suggestion for a new name?” Insectum nodded again. Scout was silent for a short moment, staring up. “Amare-ica. The United Hives of Amare-ica. What do you think?”

DJ smiled and chuckled politely. “I think you’re a patriot through and through.”

Insectum smiled herself, a few tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. “Who am I to deny the request of a hero? From this day forward, the United Hives of Amare-ica shall stand proudly together.”

“Heil ‘Murica!” Scout said proudly with a salute. He smiled at the group of friends and family around him. He lifted up a hoof. “Vive la revolution?”

DJ grabbed the hoof strongly. “Vive la revolution, Scout. Let it be long lived.”

“Thank you, DJ. Thank you… for every… thing.” And with that final breath, Scout was gone from this world.

**********

It has been a whole day since the Changeling Revolution for freedom. After the death of Scout, Insectum addressed the entire hive from the balcony of the throne room, pronouncing the defeat of former-queen Chrysalis and Insectum taking the crown. The majority of the hive bowed before their new queen, though some were needed to be imprisoned for speaking out in favor of Chrysalis, only because they were already planning an assassination. The remainder of the day had been used to discover how much damage had been done. In all, one hundred and one changelings had fallen in the revolution, including Scout. It was the night after and here, in the massive coliseum, everypony had gathered here in memoriam. In the center of the arena, all those who were lost were spread out on tables, their bodies covered in cloaks. Many of the changelings were crying over seeing so many of their siblings lost in the violent uprising, though none more was Sting, who stared out at the central altar, where Scout lay under a green cloak that was embroidered with gold trimming.

DJ patted the mourning changeling’s back, trying in vain to comfort his friend. DJ and his rescue team were currently seated near Queen Insectum, all understanding the somber situation. Twilight was dressed without her traveling cloak, sitting next to DJ, while Spike was sitting on the ground in front of them, now back in his smaller size and wearing his cloak with the hood down. Shining Armor and his fellow guards were wearing their armor, shined to perfection, though they had their helmets held to their hearts. Insectum walked by all of them, looking to each of them with grateful eyes, stopping at DJ and Sting. She bowed to DJ who returned it in kind, though not as low. Insectum then gripped Sting’s hoof, giving him a sorrowful smile. Then, she walked past and up to the podium that was prepared for her.

“Today is a dark day in changeling history,” she began to the assembled colony. “Today, many lives were lost in the pursuit of revenge by our mother, the ex-queen Chrysalis. She was blinded by her revenge against the Equestrians and she was taking us, all of us, down a dark path that would only end in our extinction.” There were many whisperings from the crowd. “I tried to make her understand, to make her see reason, but she was far too gone. Even an outsider, a pony, tried to make her see reason. It was all in vain, so only a takeover would keep our kind alive. The only regret I have is that it came at the cost of so many lives, including many who were friends of my own. That is why we gather here tonight, to honor those who gave their lives so that we may continue on. They were true heroes who have allowed us, their fellow Amare-icans, to continue on their legacy. So, please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance of these fallen heroes.” Insectum clasps her hooves together and bowed her head, all around follow in similar fashion.

After a few moments, Insectum raised her head and looked to one her guards and nodded. The guard nodded in turn and waved a few orders to his fellows. A moments later, all the altars in the coliseum were lit ablaze, marking the passing of true heroes. Sting got up from his seat and proceeded to the podium. Insectum had charged him with a making a speech of his own.

“As I watch below me,” he started, “I cannot stop the tears from coming from my eyes as I say my final goodbyes to my hatch brother. Scout and I have been inseparable since birth and seeing his lifeless body burn tears out my heart. But, I know he did not die in vain. It is because of my brother that the rest of us can live with freedom and choice. Because of Scout, Faust can bless our country. So, I encourage my fellow Amare-cans to join me in song as a tribute to my brother and all those who have fallen.” Thanks to all of the singing that DJ trained him and Scout in over the past few weeks, Sting knew he could pull this off; he had to pull it off.

Staff edit:  Copyrighted lyrics removed

DJ couldn’t have been prouder of his friend, not even halfway through the song, Sting had gotten every changeling, over five thousand as Insectum had once told him, to join in making it a truly memorable night indeed. Though DJ couldn’t help, but think that something was wrong. Then he looked over to his gathered friends and family and noticed the lack of two certain someponies. He leaned into Twilight and whispered, “Where’s Pixel Berry and Gilda?”

Twilight leaned over and noticed it too. “I thought they were right behind us. Maybe… maybe she took off again. She did tell your mother that she wouldn’t be coming home anytime soon.”

DJ grimaced. “Well, I hope that wherever my sister finds herself, she’ll be safe.” He then looked out at the singing crowd and clapped with the others as the song ended. May the Force be with you, Berry. Always.

**********

Down the lower portions of the central changeling hive, there are many dark corridors that wind to and fro within the dungeons. Deep in the lowest level, concealed in unending darkness, there lies a single cell, untouched for nearly a millennium… until now. Two figures walked in the darkness, the cell being their destination. One held a torch in her taloned hand, while the other was fine with a simple light spell culminating in pink magic from her horn.

“Are you sure she is down here, Gilda?” asked Pixel Berry. “This place seems a little too… evil.”

“These were the coordinates that we received thanks to you. With our leader by our side, nopony will be able to stop us.”

“Okay now you sound like a cliché villain from the sixties.”

“Again, stop making references that only you understand. Now come on, it’s only a little further down.” They walked in silence for the remainder of the time until finally coming to a stop outside of the cell a few minutes later. Within the cell, they could see the lone prisoner shuffling towards them. Gilda bowed before the figure. “Your highness, it is an honor to see you after so long.”

“It will be a much greater honor when you set me free, my young griffon,” responded the figure with a soft, feminine voice. There was no malice or harshness, but it still had the aura of command. Berry stepped forward and used her magic to construct a pixel key. She inserted it into the lock and the cell door clicked open. Just as the figure within stepped forward. Berry held out a hoof to stop her.

“Don’t make me regret this. You promised to tell me what you know. I am breaking a lot of laws and betraying my mother to help you, so you’d better hold up your end of the deal, Romare Keys.”

Out from the shadows, an alicorn came forth, just under the height of her mother, Celestia. Her hooves looked as if they were stained with paint, while the rest of her coat was a pure white. Her magenta eyes blended well with her paint-like hair that shimmered in all colors of the rainbow, mixing well with her cutie mark of a painter’s brush and palette. She smiled at Pixel Berry. “Do not worry, young princess. And that’s Princess Romare Keys to you. Come and I shall tell you all that you wish to know, all that has been hidden by Princess Celestia.” Her horn lit with magic and she cast a teleportation spell. “Come, young ones and here of the story of Pixel Berry’s lost brother.”

**********

Chrysalis brooded quietly within her cell this night, listening to the sounds of her children celebrating her dethronement. She hated how ashamed she felt; she lost her horn, her flight, and her kingdom, but what was worse over all was the loss of her children’s adoration. Chrysalis did love her children, ever last one of them, but everypony must live for the hive, not for themselves. That was the truth she knew; the one she had been taught.

Chrysalis took another look around her cell, glaring at it, knowing it was the same prison that had held the Equestrian prince for the past several weeks. Another insult added upon her injuries. She sighed and lowered her head, preparing for her first of many nights held within this cage.

“It has been a long time, Chrysalis,” spoke a voice out of the dark. Chrysalis’ head jumped up from where it lay. She knew that voice, one that she hadn’t heard in several decades. It was the voice of one she had trusted above all. “How the mighty have fallen,” the voice said again.

Chrysalis leered outside of her prison. “You lied to me. You told me that if I followed your instructions, then my hive will flourish.”

She heard the voice chuckle. “I have never lied to you, Chrysalis. Your hive will indeed flourish, now. I never once said that you would be the one to make it flourish. Certain events needed to take place, all leading up to this point. And now, the changelings will have peace and their kind will flourish all over.”

“While I sit here and rot!” Chrysalis spat. “I should have never listened to you! What was the point to all this?! Tell me!”

Again, the voice only laughed her off. “Consider it… a foundation. One I have been laying for near millennia. And, thanks to you, another building block has been laid. Only a few more need to be placed before everything is ready.”

“What are you planning?” she asked him, dubiously angry at being tricked.

She saw a twisted smile form from the darkness. “I am planning a better world, young changeling. One that will not be twisted by the works of others.” The voice seemed to go into thought for a moment before speaking again. “It seems another block is being laid as we speak; another of my works has been freed. Now, I bid you farewell, Chrysalis. Enjoy life in prison, you truly deserve it.”

“Wait! Don’t leave me here to die alone!” she called out.

“Never forget, the storm is always the most dangerous at the midnight hour, Chrysalis. Fear the dark!” Chrysalis whimpered pathetically as her cell was shrouded in shadows. She laid down her head and let the darkness take her, the source of the voice still smiling as it made its way from its pawn. Everything is coming together and soon, nothing will be able to stop the encroaching storm.