"Why can't you just cooperate...?" seethed Pharynx as he hoisted Thorax up and threw him over his shoulder, the younger changeling stifling a cry of pain as he felt a break in his chitin around his withers.

"Why do you force me to resort to pain?" He then reached down, his hoof forming into a pincer-like claw, to grab hold of Thorax's chin and force him up and towards his own face as Pharynx said, "You know we'll get rid of your so-called friends and the Crystal Empire will be ours for the taking! You can be a part of that as well.

"Side with us, help us! You would be welcomed back into the Hive as a hero!"

"I could deliver all of Equestria to her..." Thorax groaned painfully as he glared as much as he could through his swollen eye. "She'd kill me all the same! She loves power but is obsessed with control. You know I'm right, Pharynx!"

"Oh Thorax..." Pharynx shook his head almost in sympathy but more in disappointment. "Still the sissy little grub you always were, letting others push you around, why I had to step in an stand up for you-"

*BOOF*

Pharynx found himself stumbling back, though he managed to stay standing as he then clutched his aching cheek... and gawked at Thorax, who had clearly just sucker-punched him. The younger changeling, despite being bruised, his eye swollen, and a trickle of green blood dripping from his lip, stood defiant even though he still shook with a little fear.

But that didn't stop him from saying, "I don't let anyone push me around anymore, big brother. Including you."

Pharynx couldn't believe it. Never once, in their entire lives together, had he seen his little brother stand up for himself, much less get physical. He wasn't fooled that Thorax was still scared, but regardless. It took guts to do what he just did, even if he was afraid.

Since when did he grow a thicker exoskeleton...? Pharynx couldn't believe it... but then a strange feeling bloomed within him. It felt joyful somehow, but not for himself. For his brother. A semblance of respect, which itself baffled him. But then he realized what it was!

Thorax... I'm... I'm actually proud of yo-

From out of nowhere, Magic Arrow spells were launched, striking several changelings around the brothers, stunning them. Pharynx barely had time to dodge one and launch himself away, only to realize he'd been fooled as a turquoise aura enveloped Thorax and levitated him away. Towards the passage that led to the chamber with multiple tunnels, and from it appeared the ponies and drake Pharynx could have sworn they'd gotten rid of!

"YOU!!" Pharynx snarled as his swarm buzzed angrily and they got ready for a fight.

"Pharynx!" Midnight's horn lit up and he bore the claws of Nightfall, "Stand down..."
"All of you are under arrest!" Shining Armor raised his sword and conjured a Shield spell.
"You might have us outnumbered," Astral spun his swords around like a dervish, "but you're outclassed!"
"If you just come quietly, we won't hurt you," Sunburst suggested, preferring not to settle this with violence that he didn't even summon his sword.

"WAIT!!" Thorax stood between both sides, "We don't have to fight! We can settle this without anyone getting hurt.

"Pharynx..." Thorax turned to his brother with a pleading look, "Please! We haven't always agreed on things, but one thing we do agree on... is we both want to protect the Hive! I know you can't disobey the queen, but you don't have to throw away your lives in a fight you know you can't win. I know you - You don't engage in a fight unless you're certain you can win or at the very least salvage what you can from a strategic withdrawal.

"Just stand down, undo what you've done to the crystal ponies, and you can get out of this peacefully."

Pharynx glared at Thorax as the moment took a pregnant pause, as all eyes were on Pharynx and his response. Only Thorax noticed, but in Pharynx's purple eyes... he saw a shadow of regret before he answered:

"Peace... was never an option."

The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife, as both sides stood their ground, daring the other to make the first move. When something hurtled through the air and landed between them with a sickening SQUELCH noise... and they saw it was the mangled and eviscerated corpse of a changeling!

One of Pharynx's drones HURK'd before puking his guts out at the sight of the corpse, and Thorax whimpered in abject horror, "Wh- what happened to him?!"

Wait... Pharynx realized, judging from the direction the corpse had been thrown from- "Oh no...!"

He looked towards the back of the chamber, where a large doorway, mostly gew'd over, was shadowed by a large mass behind it, and a strange buzzing growl echoed from it into the hive chamber, sending chills over everyone in it!

"Okay, dumb question," Astral raised a claw before nervously pointing and asking, "What's behind door number one?"

The answer came in the sound of a ferocious buzzy and skittery ROAR reverberating off the walls of the hive chamber as the solidified gew was suddenly shattered apart as out burst a massive beast! It was big. Bigger than a full-grown yak or buffalo, but more slender. It had a strong and leonine body that was armored with plates of chitin, mostly on the back, forward half of the body, and the exterior of its legs. Otherwise, it had dirty golden-brown fur, some of sticking out between the chitinous plates, and around its neck was a mane made up of feathery antennae similar to those of moths, and a long pair of goat-like horns extended from its skull. Its face was definitely that of a lion's, except for its large changeling eyes that glowed a menacing red, its whiskers moved like feelers, and it bore a frightening pair of saberteeth that were serrated! On its forelegs were paws while its hindlegs had cloven hooves that had on shackles, the chains apparently melted somehow, and on its back buzzed a pair of translucent wings that gave off a sound similar to a helicopter, and likewise blew a gust of wind of considerable force. But then they saw it raise its tail... it was pale white in color, with chitin running along its length in green designs. But the tip of the tail.... was alive with the head of a snake! It opened its mouth to reveal fangs dripping with venom, its eyes red like the eyes of the main head, and it extended a hood to reveal it was like a cobra, except the edges of the hood were jagged and spiky!

"Is that...?!" Midnight had heard of them, but he never actually saw them during the second Changeling Invasion of Canterlot.

"It's a hybrid! Everyone get clear!" Thorax shouted.

Unfortunately, this caught the attention of the hybrid, its eyes falling upon the changeling doubled over after puking his guts out. The poor changeling never saw it coming, for, without hesitation, the monster pounced and agonized screams filled the chamber but only for a few seconds as the beast gorged itself on its latest victim.

Thankfully however, it had been distracted long enough for the others to get clear and hide behind the hive huts in the chamber.

The five heroes huddle together, staring apprehensively at the monster as it finished its latest meal, when they noticed Thorax and Astral looking especially nervous but something seemed to have dawned on them.

"Guys, what is it?" asked Midnight with a soft voice.

Thorax and Astral shared a look before Thorax whispered, "Right before we left, when I was talking to Elytra... she mentioned dreams or visions she'd seen through the Hive Mind.

"She didn't really understand them confusing one for a lion, another for a snake, and hearing some kind of bleating."

"I didn't get it before, but now it makes sense!" Astral spoke up as he stared at the monster before them. "This thing... it's a chimera!"

"A changeling-chimera hybrid, actually," Thorax corrected. "Oh, what was Pharynx thinking bringing this monster here?!"

At the same time, Pharynx was hiding with his swarm, thinking, Curse it all, how did it get loose?! Of all the things that could've gone wrong...

"Ph-Pharynx?" said one of his underlings fearfully, "What're we- what're we gonna do?! The hybrid is clearly out of control!"

"Shut up! I'm thinking..." Pharynx hissed as he took in the situation.

The hybrid was resting in the middle of the hive chamber, lazing and growling softly. But it'd take notice of them all soon enough. He noticed his brother and his group hiding behind another hive structure to the right of the passage, to which he and his swarm were located to the left. It was in that moment that Pharynx made eye contact with the alicorn prince Midnight Blaze. They glared at one another... when something crossed both their minds. And they shared the same distasteful look.

Groaning as he slumped down onto the floor, Midnight facehooved before he heard, "Midnight, what is it?"

He looked to his brother-in-law and the rest before saying, "Guys... the enemy of our enemy is our friend."

It took a few moments for those words to sink in before Astral scowled, "Oh no... You cannot be serious!"

"Well, we can't risk this thing getting out and attacking the empire," Midnight reasoned, "and we stand a much better chance of killing it if we work together with Pharynx and his swarm."

"I'm afraid Midnight is right," Thorax agreed, albeit with his own apprehension. "Hybrids are much more dangerous than regular changelings, depending on what creature they're a hybrid of! Chimeras are fierce, deadly, and are known to breathe fire. That alone will make facing it hazardous, but it can also fly thanks to its changeling wings."

"I can provide cover for its fire," Shining Armor offered, "not to mention this could be our chance to settle this without fighting Pharynx and his swarm, a way to show them we can work together for a common goal!"

"Even if he rejects those views afterwards, it could still mean something to him," added Sunburst. "Midnight's right, we have to work together with them."

"If anything, Pharynx will agree for the sake of self-preservation," nodded Thorax. He peered around the hive hut and saw Pharynx looking back, apparently aggravated but willing all the same.

And then the brothers shared a nod of agreement.

The hybrid was done eating and lazing, as it now prowled around the large chamber, knowing its prey was hiding in there with it. It buzzed softly, its tail flicking its tongue out while the front head sniffed, smelling food. Nice and fresh too.

Then it heard numerous hoofsteps on all sides, and took notice of the many prey running alongside the walls on both sides of the chamber. It sensed aggression and extended its claws as it let out a challenging snarl, ready for a fight!

Pharynx confirmed his swarm was in position before relaying that to Thorax by softly buzzing his wings as a means to signal him.

Thorax whispered to his friends, "They're ready when we are."

"Alright, guys, on three!" Midnight spoke softly before raising the tufted end of his tail and manipulating the fur at the end to resemble three "fingers" as he mouthed 'One! Two...'

And then aloud, he yelled, "THREE!!!"

"AAAAAUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!!!" Everyone shouted as they lunged out from their hiding places, ponies, changelings and a drake, baring their weapons. While Midnight bore his clawed gauntlets, Nightfall, Shining Armor and Sunburst their knightly swords, and Astral his dual swords, the changelings wielded spears with the spearheads shaped like barbed stingers, shields shaped like black beetles, and wore helmets that had stag beetle jaws.

The hybrid took notice of them all but its eyes were drawn to its former captors as it seemed to hock in a disgusting way before it spewed a seething gew-like liquid at Pharynx and his swarm!

"SCATTER!" Pharynx yelled to his subordinates and while he and most did so, a few were not so lucky as they were doused with the strange gewy substance.

To everyone's horror however, instead of being held down by something sticky, the gew burned and corroded the poor changelings as they let out horrific screams of agony!

They didn't scream for long.

Their chitin dissolved, revealing their soft insides that melted into a goopy mess that in no way resembled the changelings they once were.

"What in Haydes just happened?!" Sunburst cried out in alarm.

"It's hybrid of a chimera!" Thorax answered fearfully. "Ordinary chimeras breathe fire, but since this one is a changeling hybrid, its changeling gew must have become some kind of acid instead of an adhesive!"

"Well, this just got more interesting!" snapped Astral sarcastically before he threw a dirty look at Pharynx, "What were you thinking bringing this monster here?!"

Pharynx just glared back and growled at Astral while Midnight yelled, "Never mind that! We need to take this thing down; it can't be allowed to leave this chamber alive! Shining!"

"I'm with you!" Shining Armor raised his sword and Midnight bore his claws as the brother alicorns rushed towards the monster. It roared as it pounced at Shining Armor, who raised a spherical Mana Shield to protect himself while Midnight zoomed forward and raked his gauntlet threw the hybrid's wing, causing it to roar in pain as its wing was now shred to useless ribbons.

The snake tail let out a vicious hiss as it struck towards Midnight, but he raised his own Mana Shield to stave off its fangs. The snake headed tail continued to hiss in frustration before it bore its fangs and spewed his acidic poison at Midnight. But thankfully his Mana Shield held as the poison slid off it like rain on a glass window.

With the hybrid mostly distracted, Pharynx took the initiative as he morphed into a large insect-like monster and snarled to his swarm, "ATTACK!!"

He led the charge, tackling the hybrid, now roughly its equal in size and mass, while his swarm thrust their spears towards the soft underbelly and between the plates of chitin armor on the beast.

Sunburst and Thorax held back, the unicorn asking, "Thorax, any idea on how to best take this thing down?"

"Hybrids aren't stable," answered Thorax, "they're mostly bred for war and combat. Afterwards, they're disposed of, partly because they need more positive emotion to nourish them than regular changelings do. They feed on anything, desperately trying to sate their hunger but they can't.

"Eventually, they'll even eat other changelings, which is what makes them so dangerous."

"So... if it had a source of positive emotions to nourish it, it could be placated?" asked Sunburst.

"For a little while, sure, but where would we get some? The situation isn't exactly ideal for it," Thorax pointed out as the hybrid forced Pharynx back and was cheap-shot by Midnight with a lightning bolt to its face.
"I have an idea, but it's risky."

"If you think it'll work, I'm all ears," Sunburst pressured with a slight tone of urgency, keeping his eyes on the battle and his sword and a shield spell at the ready to cast.

"Just protect me for a few moments..." Thorax closed his eyes and focused, reaching out with his natural sense of empathy.

All changelings were empaths, able to sense the emotions of those around them. It was a little similar to the telepathic nature of the Hive Mind, but their empathic ability only worked on other creatures and didn't give them access to their thoughts. Only insight on their emotional states.

Normally, changelings only used their ability as empaths to seek out positive emotions to potentially feed on, as well as get an idea of what others were feeling in order to complement their deceptions.

Chrysalis always taught them never to embrace the feelings they sensed that were not their own. To feel others' sadness, misery, pain, anguish, to sympathize. It was a weakness that could not be allowed to poison the Hive.

Thorax had always had neglected to adhere to the queen's doctrine. Only the Hive Mind had kept him in check... up until Shining Armor and Cadance's love-empowered magic somehow freed him of the Hive Mind's sway, and from then on Thorax embraced emotions not simply as sustenance but as a means to relate and understand other creatures.

It was Thorax's most fervent hope that he might do the same for his fellow changeling and so free them all from the tyrannical enslavement of Chrysalis.

Finally, after rifling through the fear, the determination, the anger, the distrust, the courage, and other feelings associated with battle, Thorax sensed a source of positive emotion that didn't feel right.

It was located... in the chamber from which the hybrid had emerged!

Got it! Thorax opened his eyes and looked to Sunburst, "We need to sneak around and get into the next chamber. You with me?"

"Let's go!" Sunburst nodded and he followed Thorax as they scurried along the wall, hiding behind hive huts to avoid the battle.

Unfortunately, they didn't escape notice, as the hybrid's snake-headed tail saw them and spewed more of its acidic poison in their direction!

Luckily, Sunburst had kept an eye on the battle and saw the poison hurtling their way and quickly pushed Thorax forward while raising his own Mana Shield to protect himself. But now the monster had its eyes on Thorax, seeing him as easy prey.

"Thorax, keep going!" Sunburst was terrified but adrenaline spurred him as he raised his sword in Thorax's defense.

Pharynx and the other changelings were exhausted and Midnight had been knocked unconscious from being thrown into a pillar. Shining Armor was being helped to his hooves by Astral, who saw the hybrid advancing on Thorax and Sunburst.

The unicorn was struggling to be brave but Astral could tell Sunburst wasn't up for this kind of battle. The hybrid raised his large paw to swipe at Sunburst, only for Thorax to barrel into the unicorn just in the nick of time as they both felt the wind of the monster's claws cutting through the air, too close for comfort.

The hybrid and its tail snarled and hissed respectively as they glared hungrily at Thorax and Sunburst, the former putting himself between the beast and his friend. He was afraid. not for himself, but for his friends. For the place he called home. For the ponies who had accepted him.

For his sister.

The hybrid appeared ready to pounce as it raised his hindquarters up for its snake-headed tail to rear up... and then lunge forward, its fangs poised to strike!

"THORAX!!" The changeling never saw it coming.

Astral had flown in out of nowhere, putting himself between Thorax and the monster, pulling his friend into a protective embrace... and he felt the fangs pierce his aching shoulder. Ordinarily, Astral's scaly skin was very durable, but getting his shoulder bruised had softened the skin there up just enough for the fangs to penetrate deep enough to inject its horrible poison!

Astral then felt his shoulder inflame with pain as the snake-headed tail tore itself free, Astral's blood spilling while he could barely utter a word and buckled, startling Thorax as he held Astral up. The pain was so intense! Astral couldn't even muster a scream, but it stayed localized in his shoulder. Regardless, he was now incapacitated and helpless to keep his promise to Elytra to protect her brother.

Seeing its prey now helpless, the monster licked its lips, ready for an easy meal.

Shining Armor had taken it all in, as he'd seen his good friend, Astral, risk his own life to protect another. Now, he was injured and in mortal danger! He felt his cutie-mark tingle with the sensation of pins n' needles, as it reminded Shining Armor, the Shield & Sword of Canterlot, the Emperor of the Crystal Empire, a Prince of Equestria, a Knight of Harmony, of his one true purpose: To protect.

He put everything he had into his lunge, his wings carrying him as he zoomed to put himself between his friends and this abomination, and his sword in hoof as he felt it reach out to him and the words made themselves known in his heart and mind, and so he uttered, "Shine and rise... Valiant Heart!!!"

The sword and its wielder both lit up with a blinding, shining light!

The hybrid snarled as it closed its eyes and looked away and everyone else in the chamber shielded their eyes from the intensity of the light!

Shining Armor felt a power awaken, in his sword and in himself. His body became clad in Harmonic Armor and Helm colored Gold, Crystalline Blue and Deep Magenta. His sword changed as well, growing in size until it was as longer than he was and thicker and heavier, the blade becoming a translucent blade of crystal, the guard now designed to resemble a fractal snowflake, his cutie-mark emblazoned above the handle which bore all the same shades of blue as his own mane.

As the light dimmed, all eyes, even those of the hybrid, gazed in awe at the Knight who had come into his own as Shining Armor hefted the claymore-sized crystalline Valiant Heart onto his withers and glared boldly at the beast.

Although the chimera/changeling hybrid sensed this new threat, its hunger distracted it... that it foolishly tried to leap over the Harmonic Knight, extending its claws towards the injured Astral and horrified Thorax-

"CRYSTAL BARRIER!!" shouted Shining Armor as he stabbed Valiant Heart into the ground while facing it towards his friends in peril.

Almost immediately did appear a translucent barrier of crystal blue, appearing faceted and adamant, protectively surrounding the drake and changeling and the moment the hybrid came into contact with it, it suddenly burst with light and repelled the monster's attack, sending it sprawling backwards.

While the beast was knocked for a loop, Shining quickly checked on Astral and Thorax, "Are you alright?"

"Urgh, we'll be okay, but that thing's snake-tail managed to get some of its poison in me...!" Astral winced as he grasped his shoulder. "I can't fight anymore...!"

"Sit tight, soldier," Shining Armor gave Astral a gentle pat on his uninjured shoulder before turning to face the monster, "I'll take care of the rest. Thorax, watch over him."

Without waiting for Thorax's answer, Shining Armor charged the beast as it was getting back on its hooves and paws, and then Shining Armor raised Valiant Heart straight up and yelled, "Heart's FIIIIRRRRRRRREEEE!!!!!!"

From the tip ignited a literal heart-shaped flame colored deep magenta as it burned with a magical heat. The hybrid snarled as it closed its eyes and looked away, feeling this heat that was so very much like standing right in front of a roaring bonfire. But for everyone else in the chamber... it was warm, comforting, and even soothed their aching wounds and injuries, even Astral felt the pain from the poison abate somewhat, while at the same time it harmlessly burned all the gew away into ashes. Pharynx and his remaining swarm were stunned at the magical nature of this fire coming from Shining Armor's sword... but deep down inside they all felt a strange discomfort, a... guilt?

Satisfied his Heart's Fire had done its job, Shining Armor snuffed it out before baring Valiant Heart at the hybrid as it shook off the discomfort and roared at him. Shining Armor wasn't afraid. Not for himself. What fear he felt was for everyone else if he did not put this monster down lest it escaped and did more harm.

Without hesitation, he charged the hybrid again, holding Valiant Heart at the ready as it ignited with prismatic fires that wreathed its mighty blade, and Shining Armor leaped into the air, using his wings for boost, Valiant Heart raised as he roared, "BLAZING ASSAULT!!"

The magnitude of power and force the alicorn displayed as he soared at the monster struck fear into it that it panicked a bit as it lunged to the side to get away. Unfortunately, it was just a tad too slow and though it hadn't been his target, Shining Armor lopped off the snake-headed tail, causing it to fall to the ground and writhe in hissing agony while the hybrid roared in pain.

Everyone watched as the cobra-like snake tail writhed, confused, angry, in pain... until final it stopped and strangely it began to dissolve into a gew-ish substance but more goopy and viscous. Ignoring it, Shining Armor looked to the hybrid as it glared with bestial hatred at the alicorn that had hurt it, and it began to make hocking sounds, similar to somepony hocking a loogie, before its cheeks bulged out... and it spat a glob of acidic gew at him, the size of a beach ball.

Shining Armor quickly realized that even if he dodged it it would splatter all around the chamber and hurt his friends and the changelings. He quickly pointed his sword and exclaimed, "CRYSTAL FREEZE!!!"

A resplendent blizzard of crystal snowflakes howled from the blade itself, and engulfed the huge globe of acidic gew, causing it to quickly freeze solid and hit the ground with less impact from having been slowed down by the force of the frigid bluster.

Seeing its weapon rendered useless, the hybrid was getting more and more afraid! Its instincts told it it was time to flight rather than continue to fight. Shining Armor noticed the beast peering towards the passageways out of the chamber and knew it was about to make a break for it.

It lunged towards the nearest passageway, only for Shining Armor to swing Valiant Heart around as he yelled, "Linking Luster!"

From the tip of the blade conjured energy links that formed a long and winding chain of kaleidoscopic color as it lashed out and ensnared the hybrid, around its neck, its middle, and even its legs, before they secured themselves to the ground and a nearby wall, trapping the beast. It began to panic, snarling and spitting and roaring as it struggled to break free.

On some level, Shining Armor felt pity for this creature.

It was created just to be a weapon, and most likely it would have been disposed of after it'd served its purpose. But this wasn't a sapient being like himself. It was a dangerous monster that would kill innocent sapient creatures, such as his subjects, if it were allowed to escape.

As the hybrid was distracted, trying to break free, it noticed too late when Shining Armor had zoomed right up to it, poising Valiant Heart to its face as he gave it a look of regret, before he uttered, "...Shining Force!"

At the top of Valiant Heart, a tiny orb of radiant light ignited, building up, radiating with energy, before it formed a halo of light around the middle of the blade and then it unleashed a devastating blast of shining prismatic power so intense it lit up the room with blinding light that everyone had to cover their eyes as an eerie silence befell them!

Unbeknownst to them, the beam of Shining Force not only obliterated the hybrid's head, but it blew right into the ceiling of the chamber and burst out of the ground outside, launching skyward for all in the Crystal Empire to see, until the beam of light dissipated.

The sound of something heavy hit the floor, and once everypony (and everybuggy) was able to see again, they saw the headless corpse of the hybrid laying dead at Shining Armor's hooves. His armor, helm, and sword gave off another flash of light as the armor and helm turned to energy that was absorbed into Valiant Heart, which shrank down to its regular size. The sword was then absorbed into Shining's body, and he heard someone approach him. He looked to see it was Pharynx and the two shared tense stare-off for a long moment... before Pharynx gave Shining Armor a respectful nod.

"You saved our lives, so in exchange..." Pharynx nodded to his swarm and they brought forth a large cocoon brimming with pastel colored energies, "we return the emotional energy we harvested. Simply break open the cocoon and the energies will return to the ponies they belong to, and they will recover."

"You still have to answer for your attack on my empire and my subjects..." Shining Armor narrowed his eyes at Pharynx, who smirked.

"On the contrary, my swarm and I are leaving," Pharynx then lifted up a phial of purple liquid, "assuming you want this medicine to help your dragon friend's poisoning."

Shining Armor growled softly when he heard Astral groan and he looked to see his friend starting to look sick and Thorax gave Shining Armor a worried look.

Sighing bitterly, Shining Armor said, "Fine. Give me the medicine, and so help me if it doesn't help Astral...."

"Just have him drink it and then let him sleep," Pharynx instructed as he motioned his swarm towards the opening in the chamber ceiling. "He'll sweat it out and be in the clear after he wakes up."

Once Pharynx's swarm had all flown out the hole in the ceiling, he moved to stand directly underneath it before he set the phial on the floor. He peered past Shining Armor, looking at his brother, and Thorax gave his brother a neutral look.

The two said nothing to each other but could read enough from each other's faces and understood enough. Thorax knew, as much as he wished his brother could, Pharynx could not defy the queen's Hive Mind Control unless he was disconnected from it as Thorax had been. Pharynx likewise knew that Thorax was right. The queen didn't serve the Hive, only herself. He hoped that whatever miracle had worked to free Thorax of the Hive Mind perhaps another would save them all as well.

Pharynx then took flight and zoomed out of the chamber, just as Midnight and Sunburst were coming to.

By morning the next day, all was well. After breaking the cocoon that had contained the stolen emotional energies, it had all zoomed out and returned to the ponies they belonged to, and they all made a miraculous recovery. Likewise, with the crystal ponies no longer afflicted by the draining effect of the changeling magic, the Crystal Heart was cured as well, bringing it back to its pristine radiance.

Astral was in the clear too, as he and the rest of the heroes were treated to a breakfast feast in their honor! Afterwards, Shining and Cadance bestowed medals of honor onto Astral, Thorax, and Sunburst. Midnight had declined, since he was doing his duty.

After the ceremony had ended the group of friends were all in the dining room to further discuss about what happened in the catacombs the previous day.

"You mean to tell me that you got bit in your bad shoulder while protecting Thorax and Sunburst?" Cadence said, looking at her friend that had an arm in a cast.

"It was a split second decision." Astral grumbled.

"Well at least you're still alive." Cadence said before looking him in the eyes, "But if I hear you do something stupid that injures yourself more, I'll be sure to have you sent to Yakyakistan for medical help."

The drake's eyes widened before he started begging for forgiveness causing everyone to laugh at him since one of his first missions was in Yakyakistan and the doctors were not happy with the workload from the collateral.

As soon as everyone finished laughing, Midnight spoke up, "I hate to put a damper on things... but didn't anyone find it odd as to how small Pharynx and his swarm was?"

All eyes turned to him as he elaborated, "I mean, sure, you can't have too large a group when infiltrating enemy territory, but counting Pharynx there were only about a dozen changelings! Has the sweep turned up anything that might be changeling related?"

"We've had patrols with the necessary means to tracking changelings and their magic on the streets around the clock," reported Firestorm. "They'll continue for the next few weeks to be certain, but it appears that, apart from Thorax and Elytra, there is no longer a changeling presence in the Crystal Empire."

Midnight hmmm'd, looking troubled, that his wife, Twilight, asked, "Midnight, what's wrong? You guys did it! The Empire, the citizens, and the Heart are all safe and sound."

"It's just... Pharynx gave up all that emotional energy just a tad too easily for my tastes," Midnight answered, looking out the window towards the edge of the empire. "You'd think he'd have tried to take some of it with him back to the Hive."

"What matters is everyone is safe, Midnight," Shining Armor assured, "The catacombs will be secured so they can't be used to infiltrate us again and whatever the Hive is up to, we'll be ready for it."

Next Chapter: 396. Crystal Quest - Epilogue Estimated time remaining: 10 Hours, 58 Minutes