Vector was trapped.

There was no escape.

She was pinned down by the two mares who for the previous several months revolved around. They were suppose to be dead. True she was relieved they were alive, she was no killer herself, but she had no regrets if someone else did it instead. As far as she was concern the moral dilemma was to hers if that was to be the case.

It wasn't.

Now she was trapped in her office with them being interrogated. She feared how this would end up. She didn't want to but killing them was the only option. She just needed to bide her time. She spared a glance at the tank which was about to release the massive thresher changeling but it would take sometime for it to finish. Her eyes wandered back to Trixie's who had a calm look about them. No anger or hate, just curiosity.

"Tell Trixie, what do you know about us?" the blue unicorn asked again.

Solarflare scoffed clearly feeling impatient. "Let me just beat it out of her, Trix!"

"NO!"

"But-"

"She's crippled, Flare." the unicorn said pointing to her missing wing.

This always made Vector feel very self conscious.

"Then let me pluck the other!"

"Why are you acting like this? You were never this aggressive before?" Trixie asked stepping between her and the pegasus. "What's with you?"

"I-I don't know. I just feel angry seeing her for some reason."

"That's because you use to work for me." Vector managed to blurt out in her stupor.

Both unicorns stopped and stared at her.

"You, Solarflare use to work for me." Vector clarified. "Months ago you and your sister and younger brother assisted me in helping the changelings invade Canterlot, in exchange for helping me be rid of Trixie."

That caught their attention. Instantly the two unicorn s ceased to speak giving the mare her undivided attention.

"A few months ago you helped me get in contact with the former Queen Chrysalis to plan an invasion to take Canterlot and feed the starving changelings." she reached slowly for her desk, as to not antagonize the mares, and pulled out a large file filled with papers. "These are all my notes I've taken for the last several months."

A moment later she realized she spoke without thinking, and decided to roll with it.

She splayed all the papers on the desk letting the mares read them. "It turns out the changelings were in worse shape than we were let on. Most were so malnourished they were dying during the invasion. In fact, while I studied the... corpses, for lack of a better word, I discovered most of the changelings were too weak to fight and many of them starved to death during the fight."

She gave a quick glance at the tube which was now half empty of all its fluids.

"Back then I got in contact with you Solarflare, to help me get a changeling corpse during the invasion. True to her word she delivered. That's where he came from."

Trixie went over to the tank to see the hulking changeling as the fluids completely drained out. A low deep throat growl emitted from him as he began to grow in size. Trixie stepped back cautiously towards the door, but Solarflare remained in front of Vector with the tank behind her.

"What else?" the red mare asked not noticing the retreating pony behind her.

Vector grinned looking at the changeling rise in the tube. It's dark empty gaze zeroed in on the red mare.

Vector looked deep into Solarflare's eyes as the door slid open slowly behind Trixie. Behind her was Blaze in her red armor ready to strike. Trixie turned just in time to see a red energy blade swing past her face cutting her mane cutting it shorter. Trixie rolled to the side next to the tank where the changeling focused on her and began bashing its head against the tank, cracking it.

Solarflare turned to see a deathly familiar face. She was sure she knew this pony, she looked just like her minus the armor, but something inside her broke the moment she opened her mouth.

"Hello dear sister. I was really hoping you were dead, but alas no such luck."

"Blaze stop talking and just take care of it!"

"Shut it you whore! I'm trying to talk to my dearly beloved sister who I missed sooo much." the red mare said sweetly putting on an innocent face that made everyone in the room gag.

Suddenly with a great burst of speed, she charged past Trixie and tried to strike her larger sister in the chest with her blade. In an instant all of Flares memories flashed by in her mind. An old instinct kicked in as a result. She lifted her arms blocking herself and lit her horn. Using her arms as mediums for her magic she formed a magical barrier that deflected the blade, but just barely.

Once she realized what she did, Solarflare jumped forward opening her arms and gripping the smaller mare around the waist with a full body tackle. The force sent both mares flying through the door, taking off the hinges. Trixie got up to help her friend but stopped as a red bolt of energy flew past her face missing by inches.

Vector stood up with a red gem gauntlet similar to Blazes on her left arm aimed at Trixie. Her lab coat was now on and she had a see through visor across her eyes. A small red cord went into her chest and back where a small pod was strapped to her. The visor beeped and her left eye blinked. It was brief, like a wink, so quick and hardly noticeable.

Just then the tank withdrew the glass into the ground leaving the massive changeling contained. All three unicorns set their eyes on the beast as Vector gave an order, "Kill them." She glanced at Blaze. "All of them."

"Oh, you bitch!" Blaze roared fleeing as the changeling gave chase crashing through the wall focusing on the red mares leaving Trixie and vector alone with a massive hole in the wall.

Vector quickly dashed out firing at Trixie making her roll off to the side, which gave her the opening to pass unharmed. Trixie recovered and immediately gave chase after the fleeing mare. The pegasus ran up the left most stairwell, the other had collapsed making it impassable.

*Elsewhere in the Castle*

Princess Amarith sat beside Luna and Celestia while the nobles sat in their chairs in Luna's court. The long ongoing discussions of what to do to help, or be rid of the changelings was an everlasting battle. Also present was the ruling couple of the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor and Cadence.

Amarith sat with her head resting on her left arm. Letting out a long bored sigh, she inspected her clean hoof like it was the most interesting thing in the room. To her it was, the nobles demands on the changeling noble ranged from insensitive to down right outrageous. Giving up her throne and surrendering all involved in the invasion.

Several times her sister, Chrysalis was mentioned, the nobles called her a monster and that she should be beheaded for the monster she was. The most notable outburst came from none other than Prince Blueblood himself. The high Prince regarded the changelings with great prejudice, calling them filthy changers, and spoke the worst about Chrysalis.

"-and that's why we should bring her hear and have her hung. Then we should lock all the rest up in a cell until they rot!" The Prince finished with a mighty stomp, earning nods of agreement from almost all present.

Clelestia held a neutral expression, while Luna, Cadence, and to everyone's surprise Shining Armor scowled at the obnoxious prince. Cadence was the first to replied to him. Standing up on her throne she looked down at her cousin judgmentally.

"Cousin! How can you say such awful things?"

He snorted tilting his head away in disgust. "And how can you bare to sit beside them? The filthy bugs nearly ruined your wedding, destroyed most of Canterlot, and killed hundreds of ponies."

"That is an outright lie." Princess Amarith said still inspecting her hoof. All eyes fell on her. "You say you lost hundreds, I know that's not true. We, lost hundreds and only a few dozen ponies died. Most were just too sick or old and died in hospitals because you ponies were a bunch of cowards to stay and help them. Wanna know how I knew this? I was there, in charge of the field medical division of our forces. We healed and tended to the sick and injured."

She used her magic to pull a small red bow out of her mane and showed it the the nobles. "I received this gift for helping a young filly who hurt her leg running from us. She's fine now, thankfully." she finished with a look of relief replacing the ribbon in her mane. She then glared at Blueblood making him step back. "You don't like us, quite frankly I don't like you, Prince, but I'll be damned if I let you bad mouth my sister Chrysalis after she-"

"You dare!" the Prince bellowed, his voice rising to par with that of the Canterlot Voice. "She was a monster just like you!"

"Now see here you obnoxious pile of defiled excrement!" all eyes turned to see Shining Armor as he jumped down and rammed his head into Blueblood's. "Chrysalis was not a monster! Sure she was evil but not a monster. She was protecting her subjects who were starving and dying! Celestia would have done the same had she been forced too."

But Blueblood retorted, "You think you have the right to say so? What makes you know her so well?"

"Because I was with her for over a month! I knew she cared about her subjects! At first I thought since she was Cadence she meant the ponies, but after I learned she was Queen of the Changelings I realized just how much they meant to her."

Everyone listened to the blue maned stallion, even Amarith was interested to hear what the newly appointed Prince had to say about her sister.

"She loved her subjects, so much she cried at night." a single tear fell down his cheek.

The two princes pushed back and forth like two colts fighting for dominance. It was clear Shining Armor understood the former Queens feelings for her subjects as he fought the spoiled prince. But Blueblood wasn't having any of it

"That monster nearly ruined your wedding! Stole your wife and killed hundreds of ponies!" he said headbutting Shining. "You should be grateful to what I'm saying!"

Shining Armor responded with a headbutt of his own. Candace tensed up seeing her husband in such a state. She never knew that he knew the queen so well. Then again she never asked him. It made sense to her that Chrysalis was scared for her subjects, from what Princess Amarith said they changelings were on the verge f extinction. The invasion was a last ditch effort to feed a dying race.

"You know nothing!" Shining replied to the Prince.

While they did this, the chatter among the nobles intensified tenfold. Voices echoed over one another talking of all possibilities of how to deal with the changelings. Some wanted them to be put on trial for their deeds, others said the Queen should carry the sole blame, a few said both should hold blame.

But even among the voices, Princess Amarith could hear a desperate cry. It was part of the hive mind. A young hurt changeling lingered in the castle, afraid. Angry. Sorrow. So many emotions plagued the poor soul. She wouldn't stand for this. She stood up and without missing a beat or stopping to give anypony a glance she walked out of the crowded hall while the nobles, too caught up in their debate to notice her, continued to argue among themselves.

Luna and Celestia watched as the mare exited the court heading deeper into the castle.

*Outside*

Blaze ran up the stairs with Solarflare at her heels along with the massive changeling.

It's large black body rammed through the walls like they were wet paper. Blaze kept her distance from her sister who was still chasing her but had no weapons or her signature armor. She knew it would only be a matter of time before the red mare remembered what she could do in battle. Then I'll be screwed. I have to end this quick, if only that damn changeling wold leave us alone! she thought glaring viciously at the hulking black mass.

They were in a long hallway that ran down past at least fifty rooms. Each was laced with intricate designs in gold and silver depicting various flowers and other fauna. Each had an elaborate table in a deep brown color with flower arrangements on each. Blaze used her magic to throw several of these at her pursuing sister and the changeling. Solarflare's old instincts kicked in and she dodged them with ease not even realizing what she was doing at first. It seemed so natural to her.

The changeling however didn't take well to having his face assaulted by the various objects and flowery confections. Each made him flinch and finally after the tenth one he roared charging his horn in a bright green glow. He stopped suddenly, using his claws to come to a skidding halt leaving claw marks behind. He stomped clamping his claws to the ground securing himself, as his horn went brighter.

The unicorns stopped after no longer hearing him in pursuit. The changeling fire a blast that tore the hall apart making each mare dodge to a door to evade him. Blaze opened one to find a scared maid standing there, and quickly threw her into the hallway. The poor mare screamed as she was discarded into the path of the blast. She realized at that moment this was the end for her and let out a terrified scream. She clenched her eyes and curled up into a ball awaiting her doom.

But then she felt herself being carried by a magical aura that flung her into another room. She flew into something soft and furry. Opening her eyes she was met with the warm gaze of a beautiful red mare. She blushed realizing the mare just saved her life.

"Thank you."

"Stay here. I'll draw him away." Flare said putting the maid down and exited the room to see the changeling clawing at the wall where Blaze hid. A dark red bolt hit him in the face bouncing of his dirty black chitin.

"Die, you beast!" Blaze yelled at the retreating beast.

The black changeling growled firing another blast into the opening he created. Blaze raised a magical barrier protecting herself from the blast, but the room was demolished. A large opening was now behind her aside from a circular shaped piece of the wall protected by her barrier. The force of the blast plus her barrier put a great strain on her horn as it slowly began to fracture.

"Wh-what power. The professor knows her profession too well." the mare verbally applauded the pegasus.

She watched the changeling as ti readied itself to charge her again. He fired another blast, much smaller, grazing the mares shoulder before she had a chance to react. The pain of the tiny beam bowled through her shoulder sending a wave of shock and pain over her whole body.She fell to the floor gripping a bloody hole in her shoulder where the small concentrated bean penetrated her. But the changeling wasn't done.

With a great burst of speed rivaling that of the fastest pegasi, he charged forward at Blaze who was still collapsed on the floor. She was hit full force and flung over the building and the changeling not realizing how short the distance flew out the side of the building and fell to the ground below.

Blaze was in the air. She could see the world become a blur as she spun around and around like a rag-doll in the air. She was sure she was going to fall to her death. She knew she was well out of reach from the castle, her fall was certain. While in the air, she couldn't help but appreciate the irony of the situation. Here, months earlier her sister fell nearly dying from the fall she suffered. Now it was her turn.

"Karma's a bitch." she laughed grunting from a sharp pain in her side. "Gah, i'm gonna die here and Ruby, poor Ruby."

"BLAZE!"

Admitting that her life was over was the hardest thing the mare had ever done. But this was not to be. Moments after she had been flung out of the room, and the changeling fell, Solarflare flew out of the room and caught her sister with a jet-stream of fire igniting from her hooves making her fly.

She held onto her sister tightly making sure she wouldn't slip from her grasp. Blaze was on complete shock. Never in all her life would she had ever thought her sister would save her, not after all she'd done. Yet in spite of all that transpired between them she was saved by the very mare who she'd condemned. What hurt worse was what the mare said after.

"I'll never let you die alone."

Blaze's eyes teared up.

"I don't know what happened between us before. But we should let it die in the past and move on. Don't you agree?"

Blaze looked away. She couldn't hear this. It's as if the years of cruelty never affected her. Blaze thought. Can this really workout?

She fell deep in thought as they flew over Canterlot heading off to the outskirts of the city.

*Canterlot Castle Towers*

Vector fled with great speed down the halls. Nearly evading Trixie on several occasions, had it not been for the ever so dutiful castle staff ratting her out at every turn. Though in truth she couldn't blame them. Playful chases between the Royal Sisters was so common that seeing two full grown mares running around the castle seemed like a typical day to them.

Vector turned around a corner where she ran into several nobles who were lost in the castle trying to find the night court room. She turned and fired missing Trixie but nicked the wall beside her.

Vector then threw a table down and shot blindly behind her. There was a loud scream as a maid dropped to the floor gripping her stomach whimpering. Trixie jumped over her and continued to pursue the blue pegasus.

"Why are you running?!" Trixie yelled at her. "I just want answers!"

"So you can kill me for taking your life? Never! I worked too hard to lose everything I worked for and I won't give it up!"

She fired again but this time Trixie deflected it with a magical barrier. The pink bubble shined brightly as the bolt deflected off the surface harmlessly and hit the nearby wall. Trixie sighed, she didn't want to hurt the mare but she wasn't going to let her hurt anypony else while she fled. She had to catch her and disarm the device on her so nopony else got hurt.

Vector then ran down turning left and entered a small doorway. Trixie followed. Inside was a massive storage room where tons of crates were stored. It was dark and dimly lit from single torches scattered between groups of crates. Each seemed to contain about six to a dozen crates each before a meter of space separated the next. There was no sign of the pegasus mare.

Unable to find her initially Trixie decided it was high time to try diplomacy.

"Your name is Vector, right?" Trixie called out, her voice echoed slightly.

A moment of silence passed and there was no response. But before she could get another word out Vector's voice called back from the shadows, "How did you know that?"

"I remember you. At least part of you, I think." Trixie replied unsure.

Her memory was foggy but she defiantly knew the mare. She remembered a picture in a dark room with a letter in great detail. But why it was so important to her she couldn't remember. She just knew this was important and she clung to this hope that meeting the mare would ignite more of her memories.

"Please, I just want to talk."

'Why should I trust you?"

"I didn't hurt you. My friend wanted too but I stopped her. The least you can do is hear me out!"

I took a while but eventually Vector emerged from the shadows with her arm raised up trailing Trixie. The unicorn turned to see her and gave no indication of being scared, just curious.

"What do you want to know?"

"I just want to know who I am." Trixie replied. "Do I have a family?"

"Yes." Vector replied.

"Do I have children?"

"Technically."

"A husband?"

"Er, no. You had a mate. Her name was Spitfire."

"Spitfire?" Trixie tapped her chin, she knew the name of the famous Wonderbolt but never dreamed she was the famous mares mate. "Were we close?" She asked.

The crippled pegasus cringed answering through barred teeth. "Yesh."

Then Trixie got to the big question. "Why? Why did you do this to me?"

"Why? WHY?! Because I loved Spitfire! I loved her for so long it hurt!" by now the mare was in tears and she was no longer composed . She flailed her arms as she spoke her heart out,"I loved her and she left me! She left me after she promised to be with me forever! She USED ME! She used me and didn't give a damn about me!"

She then fell on her knees and buried her head in her hooves sobbing. Trixie slowly made her way towards the downed mare. Vector made no attempt to get away, but she was sure as heck not going to let her comfort her. She hated the blue mare, no that was a lie she hated Spitfire. All this time she wanted to make her understand how she'd suffered alone.

When Trixie approached she made sure to keep a close eye on the gem armband, she was sure the pegasus would shot her if provoked and did her best to look as non-threatening as possible. Trixie reach down touching her back making her flinch which in turn made Trixie pull back, but stood her ground.

She would have felt bad for her had she any recollection from her past perhaps. But all she knew now was she wouldn't hurt her. She took her memories and her family but that was no reason to harm her. Not in Trixie' mind anyway. All she wanted was to get to know herself and the family she once knew. She wanted to put this chapter of her life behind her.

She knelt by the sobbing mare patting her back.

"Don't worry about it. We can work this out." she said to the pegasus.

That didn't seem to sit well with Vector. The pegasus mare let out an almost feral scream rolling away from her and fired a shot directly at Trixie hitting her in the chest. This made Trixie keel over gripping herself as she screamed in pain. Vector stood over her, arm aimed at her head, "Don't you dare! DON'T YOU DARE FEEL SORRY FOR ME!!"

Feeling very weak form the hit, Trixie had to use all her strength to look up at Vector. She had tears in her eyes, not from fear but the shear pain she felt. This was it, the moment Vector had waited for all her life. A chance to be rid of Trixie once and for all. Now she could be rid of her and have Spitfire all for herself, however twisted it may be.

But she hesitated.

Somewhere deep down she was conflicted.

She knew Spitfire loved her deeply. And somehow she always knew Trixie was alive. Was it right for her to want something so bad that she'd give up what few morals she had? Truth was she was willing to do almost anything to get what she wanted. Almost anything.

Almost.

Murder was not one thing she could bring herself to do. Back during the invasion that was why she allowed Blaze to deal with her sister. She didn't have the stomach to kill someone on her own, but by using someone else it wasn't on her conscience. But could she bring herself to ruin this mare's life just because she wanted what she had?

Trixie used this moment of hesitation to her advantage. She used all her strength remaining to sweep kick Vectors legs from under her making the mare hit her head on one of the crates knocking her out cold. Slowly Trixie steadied her breath she stood p and using her magic to removed the strange device on Vector's arm and placed it on hers. She fiddled with it until it fired a red bolt while it was aimed at a large crate.

The bolt borrowed through it with ease leaving a smokey red hole in its side. Trixie then aimed it at Vector.

Author's Notes:

The end is near.

All has to end with one final decision. many of you are familiar with the idea of having to make the tough choices in life and especially in games during your first play though.

So now we come to the decision I mentioned sometime ago, should Trixie spare Vector, or should she murder her dead?

You decide! But this will be the final decision and it'll affect how the story progresses later on down the road. And there are no do overs...

I'll leave the polls open for a month from now when I will tally the votes and then begin writing for the next arc of Wonderbolt my Heart.